Alright folks, Remember to thank my hard working editors for me being able to put these out so quickly for you. I want to let you all know that some of the facts of this chapter are actually based on truth.
Kojima Shiro's(A.K.A. Captain Sozo Sagara) body (Or what was left of it) eventually was transported to his family's home, and it was buried in a local grave yard. Which is actually how I came up with the idea for this story, and thanks to Character Profiles provided in Ruruoni Kenshin chapters. Learning the history behind parts of my story and the RurKen story was half the fun of writing this.
Sano cursed lightly. He'd been wandering around looking for that stony area Tatsou had told him about. Tatsou had said the paths were straight forward, if you followed any of the paths long enough you'd wind up back at the house. Sano had been going downhill for the first hour, then the path had turned back up hill at a sharp hill face. The stone of the ledge had almost seemed to be cut for stairs but they were a little tall and smashed in some areas. Sano would have worked out at that stone area but it had been such a small area. He was sure the area Tatsou had talked would be much bigger.
Sano looked over his shoulder again, the path behind him was nearly invisible, but he could have followed it back if he'd kept an eye on the path. The path in front of him was easier to follow for some reason, like the path wanted him to move forward rather than back. Besides if he back tracked it would be three hours back towards Hiraru's house, whereas it might just be another hour to the house if he went forward.
The path ahead led around to the next area of trees and brush. Sano stuffed his hands deeper in his pockets and trudged further up the path. When he came around the bend he picked up the sound of chanting. He picked up his pace a little and turned another bend and found himself standing at the edge of a graveyard. There were stone laid paths between each of the rows of graves. The closest to Sano were worn out from years of wind and rain, the wording on their sides nearly invisible, but the copper monk staffs on top of half of them were well cared for and every grave was carefully weeded and recently cleaned. Sano looked closer at one of the stones with a monk's staff on it. The stone read Nedale Hiraru, age forty-eight, husband of Guardian Nedale Sango, father of Hiraru, Tozo, and Miza, and grandfather of five. May his spirit guide as his body did in life.
The one next to it was for the Hiraru's wife, and the one next to hers was his son Hiraru. It followed the same path; Hiraru, Guardian, Hiraru. None of the other names listed were seen, though there was typically more than one. There was a large shrine like building in the center of the graves it was from there that the chanting was coming.
Sano skirted around the graves, and toward the main path to the building. He passed a five set that surprised him. One was blank, the one to its right was Akira Midori Hiraru, on the other side of hers was Daiki Hiraru neither of the Hirarus had the staffs on them. Sano paused to read what else it said, Daiki Hiraru, age 20, beloved son and brother. He fought in a war not his own and died before his time. May his sister find strength in his passion; His name lives on. This was the only place where the Hiraru-Guardian pattern was broken as far as Sano could tell. On the other side of the blank stone was a joint stone it had the names Kojima Hiraru and Kojima Shiro on it. Under the dates it read; Never did two love each other more, they lived for each other and their four children. May their smiles and wisdom light the paths of those they left behind.
Sano reached down and traced the words Kojima Shiro, remembering Hiraru had said that was the real name of Captain Sagara. She'd told him how some of his men had stolen his body and deliver it to her mother. They must have buried him up here. He looked at the name next to Kojima's, another Hiraru. Sano closed his eyes trying to remember how she'd looked. He remembered her long dark hair, let loose around her shoulder. She'd had dark eyes, that had been cold at first, then as the night had worn on they had steadily warmed until they'd danced at dinner, then turned cold again as the Sekiho had left. She'd had a more feminine curve to her face then Hiraru, but a soft, all-knowing smile that mirrored hers. She'd worn layered Kimono because it had still been cold out, and the color and design of them had been just out of the current style. The Lady had still looked like royalty, and her every gesture had a practiced grace to it, like a dancer.
"She liked you…" Sano's eyes popped open and he looked toward the building to see Hiraru standing three rows away, one hand resting on a head stone. Her hair was on her shoulders just like her mother's had been so many years ago, but it was much shorter. It stood out on the shoulders of her white Kimono against the red Hakama pants. She had a cold expression on her face, completely wrong for her personality. She looked like a painted doll of a shrine maiden. Sano was sure she hadn't been wearing that when she'd left the house this morning.
"After you and… Dad… left she told me…" Hiraru continued. She paused every now and then as though she was having trouble picking her words. Sano had never known her to be like that, "She told me you'd live through the war, Dad saw to that… She also said you'd grow strong… you'd be a fighter… and that you'd meet someone who'd save you from yourself. I don't know what she meant by that, Mom and Grandmother always knew things… things no one else could."
Sano stood straight, "What about you?"
Hiraru shook her head, "I can't see anything special. Grandmother said all the Hirarus had a power, I never showed any signs of power though… No one else in the family has either… The only thing I can do is fight, fix things and…" She shook her head again, "Nevermind… What are you doing up here?"
Sano put his hands in his pockets again, and shrugged, "Got lost. I took this path your brother told me about to go work out and it brought me up here. I was looking for some place out of the way to punch stuff."
Hiraru sighed, "You took the wrong path. The only one that leads to a good even area is ten feet west of the one you took. It's easy to mix them up, sometimes the trees look the same." She smiled ever so slightly, "If you wait a while I can escort you back down to the house, and to the right path if you like?"
Sano grimaced, "Aren't the men suppose to escort the women?"
"Not when the woman is the Hiraru and the man is intruding on the Hirarus' graveyard," Hiraru smirked.
"That's what this place is?" Sano looked around again.
Hiraru looked in the same direction, "Yes, they're all buried here. Over a hundred Hiraru's and their Guardians, There are even a few Hirarus that died before they took the title, or married in my Granduncle's case. This is what lays at the end of 'Heaven's Gate'. Only Hirarus and Guardians are allowed up here… This is where I'll start the ceremony to become the Hiraru. Taki and my guardian-to-be would be my only escorts, then I'd go down to the house and cleanse both my mind and body. Finally under escort of ten monks and both priests, and two maidens chosen by Taki from the town, I'll go down to the main Temple, recite the prayer and oath of the Hiraru, and I'll take my guardian through his, or her, oaths. Then I'll be just like them…"
Sano looked back to her expecting her to say something else. He was surprised by the look on her face. There were confused emotions there, like when she looked at her brothers; longing, unhappiness, grief. It was like she couldn't decide if she wanted to be a Hiraru or drop the name and run. Sano reached out for her shoulder, "Haru…"
She pulled away from him, interrupting, "Come, I want to show you something." She headed straight for the building. It was big enough that she could walk in standing tall. Sano stood at the door. The building wasn't much bigger than the dining room at the house, but there were several sets of screens that made the room smaller. Each of the screens had paintings on them, most weren't very large, except for one or two every other screen. Some had portraits, others just words, one or two had landscapes of the mountain or the view from the mountain.
"What…" Sano looked around amazed, one had what looked like a small family tree.
"It's the Shrine of Light. This is where every member of the Hiraru's family is remembered and honored," Hiraru shuffled through the screens until she found the one she wanted. It was near the back, "This," She pointed to the highest left picture. It was an ink painting of a Monk and a young girl in a kimono. The monk looked only at the girl and the girl hid behind the sleeve of her kimono, "This is the first Hiraru, and his wife. Back then her brother was the first guardian, Here." She pointed to the picture next to it. A man that looked like a Samurai, he was stepping carefully, his spear ready to strike and a set of swords at his side. "Grandmother told me the first Hiraru was a great seer, his power unequaled. He had other powers too; purification, blessings that held for generations, and the power to heal."
She shuffled the screens again, coming to the one closest the door, "This was my Granduncle." She pointed to his picture, a young man with an easy smile. He looked a little like Shiro, his hair pulled back into a topknot. He didn't have the facial hair, and sat against a door way. Despite the sword at his side a song bird ate grain from his hand as the bird's mate fluttered nearby.
"Here's a picture of my Grandmother, and the one next to her is Grandfather in his youth," She gestured to the one next to the other. The woman was releasing flower petals into the wind, a proud and happy smile on her face. Akira-san however walked a path, his sword drawn and a frown on his face. Only the facial hair made him look like Shiro, his hair was pulled back in the same style as the other man's. His look however was angry, guarded. Next to the picture was a poem about the dragon's roar and the din of battle.
"These are great and all, but I'm not much for art," Sano said leaning against the door way.
Hiraru gave him an all-knowing smile, "You might not be, but this one should interest you." She pointed at one near the end. It was the picture of the captain, a smile on his face. "When I visited Tsukiako-san I asked if he had any pictures of… Dad… He told me that he gave you one like that, but I might like to have a one with him smiling. I suggested making one different than yours and he made it with… Dad's eyes open. I hope you don't mind."
Sano shook his head, "I don't mind…" He paused for a minute looking from the picture to Hiraru, "You know you and the Captain have the same eyes…"
He noticed her smile, "Mom always said that… That's her next to him. She was sixteen when Grandfather had that painted." It was almost a younger version of Hiraru. Her hair was pulled back in a low tail with a white, belled cord. She wore nearly the same clothes Hiraru was, except they were more ceremonial, and they flowed behind her, as she danced on the paper. There was even a smile on her painted lips, like she'd never been happier. "It was painted on the anniversary of the Shrine, by the next year she'd disappeared with your… I mean Dad. That anniversary Grandmother got a letter telling her; Mom was pregnant. Grandfather was never happy about that… He wanted that version of Mom to last forever. After all the… Dad was two years older than her, how could he take care of Grandfather's only daughter?..."
"The Captain took care of everyone…" Sano nearly growled.
Hiraru nodded, "At least he tried… Dad would never have been able to convince Grandfather of that. He wanted Saito to marry Mom, she wanted love." Finally Hiraru looked at Sano, "She choose to give up the title of Hiraru for the man she loved… For your captain, and my father." Hiraru looked back to the screen carefully closing it. She leaned her forehead against the frame, "I really wish I could get her advice right now… Hers or Grandmother's."
"Haru… Do you want to be the 'Hiraru'?" Sano asked.
Hiraru looked at him a shocked look on her face, "Sometimes I… I mean I have… I… I Just… I need to change, can you wait outside?"
"Haru…" Sano started.
"No, just wait for me outside. I'll take you down to the house when I'm done." She pushed him out and closed the door.
Sano blinked at the closed wood door. Hiraru was avoiding the question. Was it because she didn't know the answer, or did she not like the answer. She came out of the building a few minutes later, and closed the door behind her, making sure it was locked. She led the way passed the graves letting her fingers run across their sides.
Sano watched her for a while, wondering how he could make up for upsetting her. Finally he just said the first thing that came to mind, "How come you changed clothes while you were up there?"
"I was praying, cleaning up the graves, you know… Taking care of my Duties as the Shrine Maiden," Hiraru shrugged, "I just always put my robes on when I do that."
"So is that where you've been every day?" Sano asked as they reached the stairs.
Hiraru nodded, and watched her step. The stones were steep but wide, Sano had to watch his step too. "You should have seen it before I started working," She smiled a little. "As I told you, only the Hiraru and Guardian are allowed up these steps on normal days. On the death of a passing Hiraru or Guardian any family member can be here. But as I was saying, only the Hiraru and Guardian are allowed, so that leaves my grandfather, the last Guardian, and myself, the next Hiraru. While I was gone Grandfather tried to take care of the graves, but these stairs are hard on his knees. I don't think he was able to come up more than once a month… Only Grandmother's grave was really in good shape. There were lots of weeds to pull, I had to thoroughly wash each grave, and then leave the proper prayers and offerings."
Hiraru smiled again, after a pause, "Then I needed to fix up the shrine of light; a couple of the paintings had to be redrawn, took me hours per picture. I must have gone through nearly every piece of paper Grandfather had, but there's a trick to copying a picture exactly as the Artist made it. Grandmother taught it to me. I also had to fix some of the screens… I've been working on it since we arrived, slower… but when Tatsou arrived… I just wanted to be up there more… In the silence working on something only I could do… You ever feel that way?"
Sano stopped for half a second to look at her before continuing, "Yeah, sometimes… I spent so much time alone after the captain died, that I really couldn't stand to be alone after a while. I was anyway, until I pulled in a few buddies… But when I was looking for a fight… I didn't want my friends with me… I don't know why…"
"May be you didn't feel like they deserved to be part of your fight," Hiraru said softly.
"Nah…" Sano scratched the back of his head, "I beat most of them up before I became friends with them… I even fought Kenshin, or he helped me out in a fight… That's how I met him… But, Ah… I met more of my buds from fighting than anything else… Ya know?"
"Sort of like how you decided you liked me?" Hiraru chuckled softly.
Sano blinked at her then turned away and blushed, "Well, the second time yeah…"
"Liar." Hiraru cat-called, skipping ahead, then turning to face him, "Fighting is in your nature." Sano stopped looking down at her, that all knowing smile on her face, "You fought me the first time you met me, when you tried to beat me up the tree, then there was the time in the tea house, and the one in front of the Dojo. Finally you fought for me, and against me, when you learned I was a girl and the captain's daughter." She counted them off on her fingers, "That's four if you don't count me coming to your apartment, and trying not to fight." She turned her back to him and started down the steps again, Sano followed right after her. If he hadn't he wouldn't have been able hear her say, "May be that's why I trust you… You fight for what you believe in…"
They went down another five steps before either of them spoke. "So you don't like having all your brothers here, do you?" Sano asked.
"I do like being able to see them all after so long," Hiraru started. "It's just I don't like the fact that they argue over every little thing… Tatsou wants me to have a life away from the temple, he feels like I'd be happier free. Shiro wants someone to take over the temple, he wants the honor of it to stay in the family. Sozo couldn't care less what I do about that, he wants me to be happy."
"Yeah, and your grandfather would rather see you happy, surrounded by friends, than here…" Sano mumbled without thinking about it.
Hiraru stopped and Sano had to stop and look back up at her, "Is that true?"
Her expression was so surprised and terrified Sano didn't know what to say. He opened and closed his mouth several times, like a fish, trying to think of what to say.
Hiraru sat down on the step behind her, "Grandfather would let me give up my responsibilities just to be happy?"
Sano watched her then decided to lie, "I don't know… I see the way he smiles when you laugh, and I think he'd rather have you happy than anything else in the world. I could be wrong though."
Hiraru looked at him, her face fell slightly. She stood slowly holding herself like she was cold. She walked down the steps until she was on the same one as him and looked up at him. "Sano…" She started, and then paused her mouth open, an unsure look on her face.
She paused so long Sanosuke responded, "What, Haru?"
She closed her mouth and looked down the hill then back at him, giving him a half hearted smile, "It's nothing, never mind." She started down the stairs again, "Come on. We're half way down and we've still got to get cleaned up before dinner."
Sano jogged a little to catch up, "You know you've really lost a lot of weight the past few weeks, you've got Megumi on all of us to get you to eat a lot more."
Hiraru laughed, "What is she threatening to shove food down my throat?"
"Not yet, but I wouldn't suggest it to her," Sano put his hands in his pockets, "Seriously though, how come you're not eating?"
Hiraru shrugged, "It's probably just the stress of living in the house with so many hostile emotions, especially since their coming from my brothers, aimed at each other but about me. That house wasn't meant to hold ten people, much less so many teenagers… It's just too tight, that's why I have to get away sometimes."
Sano sighed, "Fine just next time try to eat some more and take a lunch with you when you leave. That'll keep the fox lady from hitting and yelling so much…" He grimaced.
Hiraru just chuckled.
Sano's afraid of Megumi! He might be dumb, but he's not that stupid. Well I hope you all continue to REVIEW, because that's what makes me what to post. So Get to it! Press the REVIEW button… Press it… You know you want to.