So not confident in this chapter. But that's really true of most of this story. I'm not really trying my hardest. Oh well.


Exactly what Kasshi had been worried would happen happened: in the morning, Aku was caught sleeping with Kasshi.

After Aku dispelled their fear that a youma was attacking her, the situation had been met with nothing but curiosity. It turned out people outside of Houzan knew nothing about nyokai. So she tried to explain—how a nyokai lives for her Kirin, how it was she who had cared for Aku in her infancy and well into childhood, how she was closer to Kasshi than she was to anyone else. Eventually she gave up trying to explain and summarized by saying Kasshi was her mother. That seemed to make sense to them. They asked Kasshi to stay out so they could talk with her too, which she very reluctantly did. Nyokai didn't make a habit of being very conversational with anyone but their Kirin, so she was mostly a silent presence.

Kasshi's presence brought forth other curiosities. Most everyone knew that Kirin commanded shirei—youma they had bound to their will that they could call from their shadow. Just most people had never seen one before. So with an internal sigh, Aku called out her more impressive shirei who actually agreed to participating in the spectacle. For things like this she asked rather than commanded, and the prouder the shirei the less likely they were to want to do this kind of thing, so she didn't end up with her best. Nansou, for example, didn't want anything to do with it. The people were still impressed anyway.

They weren't at all concerned about sleeping out in the open—this was much a different place than Kyou—so they took a pretty direct route, not even stopping in towns. A few days passed, filled with more and more horrifying stories about the state of things in Kyou—though, oddly, they seemed easier to bear as the miles went on—before they reached the prefectural seat. There were more refugees from Kyou here, Goushi explained, than most anywhere else in Han. It was a convenient coincidence they were so near to it—except not really, because it was second on her and Nansou's flight path. Goushi was confident that, should the king be anywhere in Han, this was the most likely place to find him. Aku wasn't as confident as he, but she figured her chances were at least slightly better here than in the less populated areas of the borderlands.

On the banks of the Suika, the city of Yuutei was a pretty impressive sight. The river, a pleasant blue color, ran right through the city. Yuutei was a large collection of buildings, overall larger than Eishou Palace. Building after building after building. Some of wood, some of stone, some low and flat, others towering three or four stories. The streets stitched curving paths through the city, giving the place a more organic feel. And of course, it was colorful, like light thrown by gemstones. For a moment Aku stopped just to take the place in. Thousands of people must live there. More.

Goushi suggested a plan. The Kyou camp was on the opposite side of the city. His collection of people would go around to join them, while Aku would go in to find an inn for the night. Aku considered protesting the arrangement, but decided they would just get into another argument he would end by saying it would make him happy. It was already plain he had quickly learned to abuse that phrase when trying to get her to do something. So she left her people and made for the city.

This was unlike anywhere she had been before. The buildings stretched above her head, leaving portions of the streets in shadow. And the streets were filled with people, people of all sorts. If she weren't actively moving between them she would surely run into someone there were so many. It was hard for her to believe, even after years of shouzan and the towns she had seen before, that so many people would live in one place. She had hardly gotten a glimpse of the capital of Han—at the moment she couldn't even remember what it was called—but she imagined it would be a similarly bustling place.

It took a while to find someone who would direct her to an inn. The man gave her an odd look when she described the kind of place she was looking for; she didn't have the appearance nor bearing of someone who would seek such low-class lodgings, but her supply of money was limited. He gave her two options. She picked one, and he summarily gave her directions. Almost before she got her thanks out, he was gone. Either he was busy, or just rude. Though she didn't think it likely that someone who was either of those would give her directions at all.

She nearly got lost finding the place. Actually, she did get lost finding the place, and had to rely on Nansou to get her there. She wasn't used to finding a single building amongst so many distractions. Her shirei were kind enough to give her a detour around a butcher along the way. Even so far away from it she could smell it on the wind. As she walked her steps seemed to get lighter, as though a pressure were slowly being lifted off her shoulders. She hadn't realized being with the refugees had made her so downcast. There was also a bubbling excitement rising, this sensation more foreign. It was almost as though she were looking forward to something that was very near fruition. Was she really that eager to be on a soft bed again? Sleeping on the ground hadn't been that bad. She tried to ignore it.

The inn wasn't nearly so bad a place as the man had made it sound. It was four stories, solidly built, painted in wildly bright reds and blacks. Rather like her, she thought with a smile. Stepping inside, she saw the place was clean, as though the owners took good care of it. There wasn't someone waiting for her at the door though. She waited for a moment before deciding to search for help. She moved to what the many tables and chairs indicated was a dining room of some sort. Due to the time of day the place was mostly empty, but there were a few people seated. She took a quick sweep of the room, looking for someone who could help her.

It hit her like she had run into a wall of rock at full speed. Which she had actually done before, so she knew what it felt like.

There was nothing particularly special about the person. She would be a little shorter than Aku standing at her full height. Her hair was a silky black, interspersed with grains of deep brown, running in a tight braid down her back. Her eyes were the deep blue of Unkai. She wore very simple clothes, a little threadbare, and they fit her pretty loosely, as though intended for someone larger than herself. Even through that, Aku got a pretty good impression of her form. It was clear she worked here, as she was currently bent over washing a table.

Aku's breath hitched. She was suddenly struck with the most intense feeling of happiness she had ever experienced. For a moment that's all there was—Aku, the woman, and pure elation. The blooming sensation working all through her veins made her dizzy. That wasn't all. A powerful heat worked through her. It was the opposite of blood sickness—where the other was painful, this was euphoric. The heat emanated and concentrated in a few particular places in her body. Her heart pounded in her throat. A host of thoughts paraded through her head, fueled by her imagination, each one only adding to the onslaught of sensation. Her dizziness worsened the longer she stood there. A great pressure started building in her, though this one, she knew, could not be released simply by hyperventilating. Her body twitched, trying to force her into action, to live out the fantasies that flooded her mind. She felt a visceral connection with this complete stranger, as though they were joined together at a level she could not put words to. This second group was similar to feelings she had had before, though multiplied a thousandfold. It was familiar enough that she could recognize what was going on.

She had never been more sexually attracted to anyone in her life.

She swallowed.

Trying to conceal her nervousness, she pulled a cheerful smile onto her face. It didn't take much effort; she felt so incredibly happy she couldn't stand it. As she walked forward, she did her best to force her limbs to move smoothly, move naturally. She tried to keep her breathing even. As she got closer and closer, her body screamed at her louder and louder, until she was worried she wouldn't be able to feel or hear a thing. Forcing calm into herself as hard as she could, she slid out a chair at the table the woman was cleaning, and sat down. "Hi." It surprised her how even her voice was. Good. Calm.

The woman looked up at her. Aku was instantly pulverized by those startlingly blue eyes. "Hi," the woman muttered, a little cautiously. Even just with that, Aku found her rough voice the most beautiful song she had ever heard.

With those eyes on her, she knew she wouldn't be able to lie. So she said exactly what was on her mind. "You're cute."

The woman rolled her eyes before returning to wiping. "You're gay."

Aku had heard the word used all of once. She was pretty sure it meant someone who was only sexually interested in the same sex. As far as she could tell from the feelings she had had in the past and present, it was probably accurate. "I suppose I am."

"You suppose."

"I haven't quite put it to the test just yet."

The woman rolled her eyes again. "And this is where you ask for volunteers."

"Actually, this is where I ask for your name."

Now she sighed. "I don't give my name out to every traveller what flirt with me." She picked up her rag and bucket of water and moved on to the next table.

Aku followed her, and sat at this next table too. "Of course not. Like everything precious, it would devalue it."

"That's gotta be the corniest line I ever heard."

Aku had gotten so distracted watching the woman's neck, and the muscles tensed within it, that she had almost missed what she had said. "It was my first one. Nice to know I struck gold on the first attempt."

Now the woman gave her a look. To Aku's imagination, it was a softer look than she had gotten before. Then her gaze traveled downward somewhat. Aku could tell she was taking in her clothes, but she liked to think it was for other reasons. It would just be perfect if the woman were as attracted to Aku as she was to the woman. "Expensive clothes."

"I suppose," she admitted.

"What you doing here?"

"I don't have a lot of money on me. I didn't buy these clothes, you see."

The woman, staring down at the table she was washing, frowned. "Servant?" she said after a moment.

"Sort of. Yes."

"Who's your master? Anyone I heard of?"

"I have but one master, but I haven't found her yet." Wait a second. A strange thought struck her. Was this, what she was feeling for this woman, her revelation? She immediately cast the idea out. That was impossible. It couldn't possibly be. Tentei wouldn't give her her revelation through intense sexual attraction. That would be much too strange. Best not to consider such insanity. But even so, that sense of connection with this woman was increasing with every moment.

The woman let out an aggravated sigh. "Another line."

"It would be my second. It's true, though."

The look the woman gave her now was definitely softer, with a curious tinge. Aku wondered what she was doing to sway her. Or maybe she simply felt it too, their connection. "Touke."

"I'm sorry?"

"Touke. My name."

"How do you write that?"

Touke put down the rag and dried her hands off on her clothes. She grabbed Aku's wrist and turned it so she could write on her palm. From where their skin met came a wave of sensations she couldn't describe—a sort of heat, a sort of tingling, a sort of tension. So much from such a simple touch. Aku paid special attention to Touke's finger tracing on her palm. The first meant lamp or candle, and the second meant rarity or hope. Interesting name. Touke dropped her hand and went back to her wiping.

"That's a pretty name."

"Right, sure."

"Do you want to know mine?" she asked. Touke wiped off a hand again, and held out a palm. Aku took it, trying not to think overmuch on how smooth her skin was, how good it felt just to touch her. She drew the characters, saying her name aloud.

"Pretty," Touke said as she retracted her hand. "Suits you."

There was a rush of heat and excitement in her, and Aku's face almost hurt with how hard she was smiling. "Thank you."

"Stupid. Shouldn'ta said that," Touke muttered.

"Why not?"

"Just gonna encourage you."

"Now, I thought that was exactly why you said it."

Touke gave her a grimace as a response. This time, Aku wasn't successful in holding in her laugh. It went a good deal toward releasing a pressure she hadn't even realized was building. With the end of her laugh, again it started mounting, just at the edge of her awareness, as subtle as the sound of a small bug flying around through the air.

"Touke," came a voice from the direction Aku had come. "You know better than to talk to customers when you should be working." Aku turned to see entering the room a short, severe-looking woman with hair whitened from age.

"Sorry, ma'am. Aku here came looking for a room, and there's no one up front, so she asking where to." Good guess.

The owner, Aku guessed, was giving Touke a look like she didn't believe her. Aku stood up and said, "I do need a room for the night. Maybe a few nights." The owner nodded, and gestured for Aku to follow her back up front. "Can we continue this later?" Aku whispered back to Touke.

Touke nodded, and pointed at a table in the corner. "Late." Then she turned away, and moved to another table. Aku had, she thought, stalled her on those two tables far longer than she should have been there. She turned to leave. It seemed each step further from Touke tore her apart from the inside, but pushing herself as hard as she could she made it away. After a few steps she was breathing heavily from the psychic exertion.

Soon Aku was alone in the room. It was little different than the other rooms she had had. She sat on the slightly hard bed, drumming her fingers on the surface. It still hurt being away from Touke. She was still nervous, and she wasn't even around Touke anymore. What had Touke thought of her? What kind of impression had she made? Was Touke thinking about her right now? She hoped she was. What was going to happen later tonight? Possibilities flicked through her mind, everywhere from exciting, to depressing, to terrifying. She stayed on her bed, jittering in place a little in her anxiety.

"Kyourin." That was Kasshi.

"Don't just talk from my shadow," Aku said. Now her voice was shaky. "Come out where I can touch you."

So Kasshi did. She sat on the bed, wrapping her arms around Aku from behind. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little shaken."

"Is she the queen?"

Aku took a moment to consider. The jumble of emotions and sensations was just too confusing. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Either she is, and Tentei has a sense of humor, or she's not, and I just want sex."

Even though Aku couldn't see it, she knew Kasshi was frowning. "Sex?"

"I'm very attracted to her. Very. It doesn't feel right, off somehow."

A short pause. "Strange."

"You're telling me."

When Kasshi next spoke, her voice was thoughtful. "Revelations come in all forms. It's possible. What do you mean by 'off'?"

Aku shrugged. "I'm not sure. It just doesn't feel natural." Aku thought for a moment, trying to put her feelings to words. "It isn't just the attraction. I feel connected to her. Like… Like when a strong sound causes an object to vibrate, and create an echo. Like that, resonance."

"She's the queen," Kasshi said with confidence.

"You're sure?" muttered Aku, still disbelieving.

"Sure enough to protect her."

Aku nodded her agreement. "The king is found," she said to her shirei. Long ago, she had set up code phrases to give orders without having to explain it every time. Just saying those words told a collection of her shirei to jump over to Touke's shadow, and work to protect her from anyone who might harm her. She felt them leaving her in a rush. Letting out a long sigh, Aku leaned back against Kasshi, who tightened her arms around her. "What do I say?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to change her life forever. What do I say? How do I even start that conversation?"

Kasshi had nothing to say to that.


Suika: 翆河

Yuutei: 攸坻

Touke: 燈希