Empire of the Sun
By: Katreju
Chapter Three
The sun had barely peeked over the mountains by the time Orihime and Ulquiorra arrived at the main gate. He had advised her the night before that they must leave before dawn if they were to arrive in Tenkū by mid-day. At that time she had willingly agreed to his plan, but now she was regretting her support as she yawned and groggily went through the gate with eyes half-opened.
On a road heading into the plains, there was a boy who looked no older than twelve years of age holding onto the reins of the black horse which belonged to the General. As they drew nearer, Orihime took interest in the child's features. His black hair, amber eyes and fair skin reminded her of someone, but at the moment she could not place who.
"Good morning, Master!" The boy bowed at Ulquiorra. "I made sure your horse was well fed and had plenty of water for the trip. I also packed some extra feed in case he gets hungry again."
Ulquiorra acknowledged him with a nod and the child turned his attention on Orihime.
"Would you like me to help you up, Lady Inoue?" the boy asked.
"Oh…" Orihime said, his question snapping her out of her daze. "That's alright. I can manage by myself."
The boy looked at her skeptically. "…Are you sure, my lady?"
She smiled at him. "Positive! This shouldn't be hard for me to handle!"
Orihime walked over to the horse and placed her hands on top of the saddle. She pushed herself up and leaned forward using her knee to steady herself, but quickly lost her balance and yowled as she tottered forward with legs exposed in the air. Her cheeks flushed, she looked back over her shoulder to see Ulquiorra's sharp eyes giving her an incredulous look and the child awkwardly looking away from the scene. It then dawned upon her why she should have taken the offered assistance.
Her normal riding attire would have consisted of a kosode, umanori and waraji, but since she currently had limited choice over her clothing, she had to dress herself in a fuchsia kimono patterned with white lilies and a soft-pink obi. The garment was beautiful but much too elegant and constricted for horse riding, which she had just proven by the foolish spectacle she made of herself.
Orihime laughed nervously before quickly adjusting on top of the saddle, her legs dangling on the left side of the horse. "I'm sorry! I'm sure you guys didn't want to see that!"
Not saying a word, Ulquiorra mounted on top of the horse behind Orihime and secured their traveling pouches over his shoulder. He then circled his arms around her to take hold of the reins which caused her to scoot slightly forward so there was at least minimal space between them.
The boy waved at them. "Please have a safe trip!"
"Arre arre," Ulquiorra commanded and the horse instantly took off into the plains.
Once they were several miles away from Naitsu, Ulquiorra felt the girl shifting in her seat. He tried not to pay her any mind and kept his focus on the road. It was not until she was trying to lift up her right leg that he shut down his apathy and broke the silence. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to make myself comfortable," Orihime replied. After one more attempt, she was able to finally bring her leg over and sit in a straddle position. "This feels much better!"
Outlandish, he judged.
Was this girl truly of noble blood? Even though she was deemed a daughter of the Inoue clan, it was obvious from the moment they met she was not Japanese or at least mixed with another race and more likely one from the Northern Countries. If that was the case, then the rumors about her might hold some verity. After all, her lineage had still remained ambiguous.
Orihime let out a long, dramatic yawn. "I'm going to try to go back to sleep. Please don't forget about the stop we have to make before going to the capital."
"I have not forgotten," he assured.
It did not take long for the red-head to fall asleep with her head unintentionally resting against Ulquiorra as if he were a pillow. Of course he did not approve of the role he was now playing in her comfort, but there was no other alternative for him given the situation. He then further justified that if she remained asleep then she would be unable to create any mischief that would draw attention to her, or him for that matter.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something warm and wet spreading across his shoulder. He instantly looked down and noticed that she was sleeping with her mouth wide open and leaving a puddle of drool on his kimono.
Ulquiorra slowly lifted his head back up and returned his eyes on the road.
This was going to be a long day.
. . .
Tatsuki Arisawa travelled along the misty, narrow road leading from the rice fields into the quiet rural-mountain town that was her home. As she approached the gate, she noticed a small group of ashigaru loitering nearby and proceeded on by without acknowledging them.
"You look a bit roughed up, peasant!" one of the soldiers shouted at her. "Been messing around in the fields all night? If you like, I can give you a better time than what you seemed to have enjoyed!"
Hearing the other soldiers snickering alongside him, Tatsuki resisted the urge to go over and knock them out. As much satisfaction that would bring her, she did not have the energy to waste over worthless dogs. The last two days had pushed her body to its limits. She was tired, dirty and sore, but most of all she was livid.
She slammed open the front door of her family's house then walked inside to find her parents talking with the chief monk from the nearby shrine.
Her mother, displaying concern all over her face, stood up and quickly walked over to her. "Did you find out anything?"
Tatsuki angrily looked away from her. "No."
"I'm sorry, dear," she replied sadly.
"I'm not giving up yet," Tatsuki stated. "I just need to rest for a moment then I'll go back out."
Her mother nodded. "I'll make some breakfast for you."
Tatsuki's mother then went into the kitchen while Tatsuki walked over to her father and the monk. Both men stood to their feet and her father placed a firm hand on her shoulder, causing her to angrily look down at the floor. "I'm fine, Pa."
"I know," he said gently as he watched Tatsuki's scowl deepen. "Go take a bath. After you've had something to eat and some rest, we'll go look for your friend."
"…Alright."
He patted her shoulder before walking out of the house and shutting the door behind him.
"I sense that Lady Orihime is alive," the monk said with great confidence.
Tatsuki quickly moved her blue eyes onto him. "How do you know that?"
"While I was praying last night, an odd vision came to me."
"A vision?"
The monk nodded. "There was a spirit shrouded in great darkness. It positioned itself in a fighting stance, with a katana in its left hand while protectively holding a gem cut like a hibiscus in its right. As you may already know, it's not common for one to carry their sword in their left hand, but my attention was drawn more to the accessory that this spirit possessed."
Tatsuki had a puzzled look on her face. "I don't follow."
"Since the Heian period, the hibiscus has been the symbol of the Inoue clan." He watched Tatsuki nod slowly. "Therefore, it is my belief that the accessory might represent Lady Orihime."
She lifted an eyebrow. "And the shadow thing?"
"It's unclear to say, but given the current circumstances, it might be a representation of the people who attacked the castle."
"…So you're telling me, because of this vision, you think that Orihime has been kidnapped?"
The monk nodded again. "It's very possible."
"If that's true…then she's even further out of my reach…" she said glumly.
"Please do not despair," the monk smiled warmly. "There is no distance between two people whose hearts are connected."
As corny as his comment was, Tatsuki could not stop her frown from turning upward into a grin.
"There's that lovely smile of yours," he said.
After lightly slapping his arm, Tatsuki went over to the door leading to the back of the house. Before opening it, she turned around to face the monk once more. "It's no surprise why you and Orihime get along so great."
"What makes you say that?" he asked.
"You both are very kind and inspiring people. Something I'm definitely not," she snickered. "Lord Sora was the same, ya know, but he's…it's still too unreal to believe…but I'm going to keep pushing forward for Orihime's sake. And…I'm not much of a spiritual person, but if you can ask the gods to listen to me this once, I'd be very grateful."
"You don't have to ask me to do that, Miss Tatsuki, even though I believe they already hear your prayers."
Tatsuki snickered again. "You're way too nice, hōshi-sama."
"You're the one who is being too nice. You can just call me Hachigen."
"Nah, you're still a monk and deserve respect. So I'll just call you 'Monk Hacchi'," she smirked.
His smile broadened. "That is fine by me, Miss Tatsuki."
. . .
Crouching on the shore, Orihime cupped her hands together and submerged them into the crystal blue waters of the lake. She then brought them upward and splashed her face with the small amount she collected, delighting in the water's coolness as it saturated and refreshed her skin. She started patting her face dry then turned to her companion who was busy quenching its thirst.
Despite the many horses she ridden in the past, this was the first time she had ever seen a true black. A stableman once told her that their breed was very rare and if you came across one then Daikokuten smiled down on you with great favor. Now that she had seen one up close, she understood why and marveled at the grandeur of the stallion next to her. Strong-built, compact yet elegant with a thick mane and tail, she could not help thinking that the stallion was somehow fitting for the General.
Her hand reached forward and stroked his mane. She smiled when he did not flinch away from her touch, pleased to know that he did not inherit his master's cold temper.
"We will be leaving shortly," she heard from the other side of the horse.
Orihime stood to her feet then peeked over to see Ulquiorra straightening the collar of his kimono. "Did you get the stain out?"
His expression remained neutral as his eyes met hers in a stare down.
She cocked an eyebrow. "A simple 'yes' or 'no' is fine, you know!"
"Does it concern you that much?" he asked.
"Not really! I mean, I am sorry that you had to suffer with my drool getting on you. It's pretty disgusting and rude even though I wasn't aware of what I was doing. But if you're going to continue acting this way and not accept the tenth apology that I gave you, then I'll stop feeling guilty about it and be unsympathetic should it happen again in the future."
He walked over and stood next to her. "If you are done babbling, I will help you onto the saddle."
Orihime inspected his kimono then pouted her lips at him before accepting his assistance. Ulquiorra placed his hands on her waist, lifted her onto the saddle then lifted himself and took his seat behind her. As she resumed a straddle position, he secured the pouches over his shoulder once again and steered the horse away from the lake and back to the crossroad.
"We have to go down that road to get to the village," she said with her finger pointing toward the east. "The other one will only take us to the castle."
"You do not have to tell me," he stated matter-of-factly. "I am familiar with this area."
The implication behind his words was like a stab in her heart. She pressed a hand over her chest as though it would ease her discomfort.
"…Of course you are…" she replied somberly.
Ulquiorra stared down at her briefly before commanding his horse to go forward. As they rode into the woods, Orihime kept her brown eyes on the path ahead and her hand clinging to the collar of her kimono. She thought about her best friend and all the families who lived in the village and hoped they were not experiencing a great loss like she was.
I'll be there soon, Tatsuki.
. . .
As if a voice called to her in the wind, Tatsuki awoke from her nap and looked up at the noonday sun from underneath the tree branches. She quickly sat up and rubbed away the sleep from her eyes. "I must've overslept."
Picking up the knapsack her mother had prepared for her, Tatsuki placed a straw hat on her head and set out toward the village dōjō. It did not take her long to get there and when she arrived, she found her father tidying up the training hall while whistling a peculiar tune. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the door frame. "What do you have stuck in your head now?"
Tatsuki's father acknowledged her with a smile then resumed aligning the wall scrolls that were next to the altar. "I'm not sure, but I heard several people singing it during yozakura and I haven't been able to get out of my head since."
Tatsuki grinned mischievously. "Was this when Danno and his pals got wasted and danced like fools in the fields?"
He laughed heartily. "No. That is a song you'll never hear coming out of my mouth. I was referring to the one about the spring season, specifically about the cherry blossoms. I don't quite remember the words, but perhaps Lady Orihime might know it and can teach this old man after we find her."
Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "You're thirty-eight, Pa. That's hardly old."
"Tell me again when you're my age," he said as he began shutting all the doors.
Tatsuki snickered before changing the subject. "Anyway, Ma told me to tell you not to worry about anything. Oki and her family will keep an eye on her while we're gone."
"We are privileged to know good people. It's rare to come across in this day and age."
"No surprise, really. The good folks are either overshadowed by corrupt idiots or preyed on by the jerks who abuse their power."
"An unfortunate world we live in." He picked up his knapsack and walked over to his daughter. "We can leave now if you're ready."
"I am," she stated with no hesitancy.
"Then let's be on our way."
After leaving the dojo, the two decided to take a back road that snaked out of the village and into the mountains. They wanted to avoid suspicion with the ashigaru and leave without creating any hassle that could delay their mission. Once they succeeded crossing through the rice fields, Tatsuki became less tense but kept her defenses up as she lead the way.
"Do you have any ideas as to where we should look first?" her father asked.
"No," Tatsuki frowned. "But I thought maybe we can search around the neighboring towns before completely leaving the province."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Orihime couldn't have gone unnoticed. With those big eyes and that fiery mane she has, people had to have seen her."
"True. And we might be able to gather information about the army occupying the castle," He paused, his face stern. "It's still hard for me to believe that Lord Inoue would have enemies, especially ones that would take drastic measures to end his reign. This conduct was common back in warring days, but it is unfounded in this new era. I hope that the Shogun will step in and take control of the situation before it can spread and get any worse."
Tatsuki scoffed at his last remark. "I doubt he'll do anything. The Shogun already has demands and issues that take precedence over his own people. That old man will be near his grave by the time he realizes one of his own fudai is dead."
"Watch your tongue," he rebuked. "People have been known to lose their heads over what they speak about the Shogun."
"Don't worry, Pa," Tatsuki said, swatting him on the back. "Your heir will still be in one piece before you retire."
"When you can learn to rein in that mouth, I'll believe you."
Their conversation cut short when the sound of a galloping horse became audible in their ears. Tatsuki suspiciously looked at the road up ahead and placed a hand on her tantō. "It's coming toward us."
Her father tilted up his straw hat. "It might be a government official or a samurai." He positioned his hand over his tantō. "Be on your guard but don't attack."
Tatsuki nodded as she waited for the stranger to reveal their identity, tightening her grip on her weapon. However, when the rider came into closer view, her eyes became wider and her heart quickened.
Coming from the opposite direction, Orihime had spotted Tatsuki and her father standing in their path and yelled out frantically. "Please stop the horse!"
Understanding the reason behind Orihime's sudden outburst, Ulquiorra shifted his weight back on the saddle and pulled the reins until his horse stopped a few yards away from the traveling duo. Orihime immediately jumped off the saddle and hastily ran ahead until she had embraced Tatsuki in her arms.
"Tatsuki," she said, letting a few tears fall from her eyes. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Too stunned to say anything, Tatsuki returned her friend's embrace and held back her own tears. "Silly, of course I'm alright. It looks like you are too."
Orihime said nothing but nodded.
Tatsuki's father smiled down at the girls before placing a hand on Orihime's shoulder. "It appears that we won't have to go searching for you, my lady."
"You both came looking for me…?" Orihime asked in surprise.
"Of course!" shouted Tatsuki.
"Did you think we wouldn't set out to find our beloved friend?" said Tatsuki's father.
Touched by their words, Orihime held back her second wave of tears and genuinely smiled for the first time in days.
While the three were caught up in their reunion, Ulquiorra stepped off his horse and casually headed toward them. He ceased his steps when he was within closer vicinity but kept his eyes fixed on the young red-head.
Tatsuki's father eventually noticed the samurai's presence and acknowledged him with the bowing of his head. "Thank you for bringing Lady Orihime back to us. We're very grateful."
"You have the wrong impression," Ulquiorra said dryly. "I brought her here for a visit and nothing more."
"What do you mean 'only for a visit'?" Tatsuki asked defensively.
"That girl is not staying with you. She will be returning with me once she has finished her tasks here."
"Is that so?" Tatsuki glared at him, releasing her hands off Orihime. This man's attitude was rubbing her the wrong way and she did not want to hurt her friend with her strength. "And what makes you think that I'm going to let you take her? I don't even know who you are."
"That is irrelevant, as are you in the matters concerning her."
Tatsuki stepped forward with her fist directed at him. "I dare you to come over and say that to my face!"
"Calm down, Tatsuki," her father said, now observing the two swords tied to Ulquiorra's waist.
Tatsuki looked back at her friend. "Who is this guy, Orihime?"
"Um, well…" Orihime said, fumbling for words. "He's my escort..."
The black-haired girl raised an eyebrow. "This jerk is your escort? Is he a member of your clan?"
"No…he's not. He's-"
"General of Lord Sōsuke Aizen, Ulquiorra Cifer of Naitsu," Ulquiorra boldly interrupted. "I am also the guardian of his betrothed and the daimyo of Tenkū, Lady Orihime Inoue."
Silence tensed around everyone like a vast ocean.
Once Tatsuki had processed the information, her blood started to boil. Finding out that Orihime could be their new daimyo was a huge and unexpected revelation, but to find out that she was now engaged to some man probably twice her age? Who without a doubt might take advantage of her and ruin her life?
Her hands tightly clenched into fists, she initiated an intense staring match with the stoic General. "…There is no way that Orihime would ever agree to that."
"You can choose to stay in denial," Ulquiorra replied nonchalantly.
"Shut up! You're nothing but a lying-!"
"He's not lying, Tatsuki," Orihime gently intervened. "I am the daimyo of Tenkū and I do intend to take Sōsuke Aizen as my husband as soon as we're able to be married."
A dead silence commenced again as Tatsuki slowly turned and stared fearfully at her friend.
Not saying anything more, Orihime feigned a smile.
Glossary:
Umanori – Tight-fitting trousers (hakama) that are divided in the legs and can be worn for horse-riding.
Waraji – Sandals made from straw. Standard footwear for commoners, but were also worn by the samurai and ashigaru.
Hōshi-sama – Respectful title used for a monk, typically one who practices Buddhism.
Daikokuten – One of the Seven Gods of Fortune (or Seven Lucky Gods). God of wealth, commerce and trade.
Fudai (daimyo) – Class of lords who held close standing with the Shogun and were part of the inner court. These were vassals who had pledged their allegiance and garnered the trust of the Shogun before his ascension, or were descended from those served his clan. The opposite of this is Tozama (daimyo), who were considered outsiders for either having fought against the Shogun or remained neutral during the war.
Tantō – Short sword, like a dagger or knife, which was either single-edged or double-edged.
Disclaimer: I do not make any profit from writing this story. I'm simply borrowing Tite Kubo's characters for my sheer enjoyment. Also, most of the historical context has been researched and taken from various books and the internet. That being said, certain artistic liberties may still apply when seen fit for the story.