"Life is full of uncertainties, perhaps one day some unforseen circumstances would bring her into his life once more." - Muraski Shikibu, The Tale of Genji
Thus, Crown Prince Gonkuro returned back to his regular royal life in the capital with his parents. He felt good and happy being backed home and things becoming more normal again. Yet, he also felt a sense of dissatisfaction, unfulfillment, and emptiness within him. He felt an incomplete loneliness within him and still felt some unhealed heartache over Ashi's loss. Nonetheless, he was determined to try to boldly go on with grit, regardless of his inner wan demeanor and unhappy weariness that still seemed to dwell within him. Though he kind of felt less meaning in his life because of not having a significant other to be his potential Empress consort but still has a degree of hope and would let things to be as they were. How he's now in another chapter of his life and how he should deal with it anyway. He had a desire to want to break free of his inner frustrations but know he had to really go on. What a noble, exemplary, strong-willed, and promising young man he was. Therefore, what meaning and such will he had to go on as the regal, elevated, gallant, renowned, country loving, and modest Crown Prince of Japan. How important it was to be and act on his essential stately duties and keep up with a firm, sober countenance and attitude, regardless of life's unlikable woeful disappointments. He knows that life sadly doesn't end up as a bright fairy tale, especially with a happy fairy tale ending. He was willing to valiantly go on with his life with action. He, for the time being, went on with his royal duties and leisurely private, palatial yet reserved life. Though he would look at and solemnly think about the things he made and did with Yuka, as he kept them in his living quarters as his personal possessions. But, he mostly longed for Ashi, rather than for Yuka. He would often like to sit besides his bedroom window and reflectively see the stars and the moon feeling mixed feelings. He would also write down his memoirs about his time traveling throughout the world training to defeat Aku to when he finally defeated Aku and attempted to marry his dear Ashi. He felt good at writing it as well as think it be good for his people and their future prosperity. He wrote in a diary as well. He also took the opportunity to exercise his creative skills, especially with painting. He especially attempted to paint a picture of Ashi but felt sadden at it and it wasn't completed. He would escape into literature and attempted to learn things, like calligraphy, to make up for lost learning time. A lot of the time, he was alone and felt lowly, as he didn't attempt to really seek out friends at this time, whether old or new. However, he did regularly socialize with his parents including going on walks and even going to places like to a chashitsu with his mother and her ladies-in-waitings. He also prayed at temples and shrines along with attend public events with his parents. He tried to get to know Takako and she seemed to become a comfort and reassurance to him as they socialized together. What a somewhat interesting person she seemed to be and kind of came close to another significant other of his since Yuka, in a certain sense. She was loosely a female friend of his. What an aura of somber and miserly loneliness he felt under a princely mask. He privately, when not doing his princely duties, had his hair loose in bereaved memory of Ashi. One day, he thought while randomly passing by, saw a woman passerby that resembled Ashi and tried to get a closer glance but decided not to pursue the matter any further, including how the woman surely wasn't Ashi.
Ashi would often occur a spot in his dreams, including whenever he dreamt of memories they made together. At times, he had some women wanting to be admirers of him but willingly refused their attention. His parents even suggested to him to try to find another potential wife through matchmaking or arranged marriage. Gonkuro politely declined their concerned offer. He would like to go on individual walks of reflection both day and night. He sometimes liked to go to Zen (and general) gardens and sit down to soundly meditate. He occasionally somewhat played with the local children and donates alms (which shown the subtle influence of Yuka). He sometimes drank some sake to feel better. He took a particular liking in strolling alone at nights, which reminisce of when he would stroll lonesomely through the countryside when he was traveling in bereavement. He felt some bittersweet anxiety looking up to try to conceal himself and observed the beauty of the stars and the moon as he thought about the good days with Ashi and even Yuka. He also got remained of his loneliness he felt when he was traveling in Aku's future trying to find a way back home. Though he was glad he was past the great loneliness he faced during that time, he technically had really never overcome that great sad loneliness in a sense and doesn't know how he would overcome it now, unfortunately. As he strolled on with the nightly breeze blowing his loose hair away with a brief stop, he imagined the desirable hard to reach satisfying happiness he wanted to complete and fulfill. Yet, he sadly couldn't reach that aspired dream state he wanted to accomplished as he wished. But in a paradox matter, for the time being felt fine and desired to be single, probably for the rest of his life, unless good fortune and chance would come along. How he sentimentally longed for and missed his dear, yet now ungraspable Ashi.
Yuka, after her fateful break up with Gonkuro, felt downtrodden and sadly lonesome. She often would think of him and now she was wearing a white kimono in reminisce of him. She hadn't made complete sense of her break-up and even wondered what he was exactly going through in his mind. She in her loneliness often got reminded of him as she goes around her household, including her bedroom. How she missed the joy of being with him and the things they did together. How she had enjoyed him and his smile. What such promise they felt together and a surprised significant grief their break-up caused as a result of it being broken. How she wanted to be a regular part of his life, even if she didn't know his own plans. What a bright and positive significant influence he had been to her, and what hope had had been until it was blown away. How she would like to see him again and why would this, thinking insightfully about it, had to happen? Though she does surely understand how much he still had to cope with his previous romantic loss. Will she be with her darling Gonkuro again? How long does she have to suffer waiting for him again and not feel bad about it anymore? She hoped to bond with him again, even if it was on the set condition of remaining as friends. Is it really the end of their relationship period or what? Was it really even a true romance to begin with? She still had something for her lost love, including how she at times after her break-up would get out Aoki's urn jar and look at it for sentimental value. But she really likes Gonkuro and wants to develop something for him. She even thought maybe perhaps she could give the urn back to Aoki's parents, but the remaining attachment and love she still had for him is a barrier in doing so. Since the break-up, she technically continued her daily routine, including the exercising of her creative talents like kato playing but in a more solitary subtle matter. From the hint of it, it seems her fellow family members and the household staff as well seemed more sympathetically restrained as a result. Her parents even offered an arrange marriage for her but she politely declined, demonstrating no interest in getting married or moving on anytime soon. Deep inside, she certainly wanted Gonkuro to return. She longed for a gap to fill her heart from the loss of Aoki and how Gonkuro was able to fill in that gap. She was eager for him to come back and what found memories they had with each other. How Gonkuro had become an essential part of her. How she vividly spent time with him like they became a crucial part of each other and how quite lonely she felt in contrast. She was anxiously waiting for her brand-new old flame to come back! She would even at times sing about him when she would in solitude play her koto and other instruments. Her environment in contrast to when she first met him, at least from her point of view, feel more somber and blander, especially after he went away. How positively far she has gone in her life then unfortunately torn zigzag after a short pleasant season.
A group of village children were playing a game of toryanse (or which they were singing a song with that title as they played a London bridge like game) and were enjoying it. They were playing in an opened field near their (still reconstructing) village. Then they decided to quite their game and played something else, especially how the leading boy player proclaimed how he was bored and felt like wanting to do something else. The leading girl player agreed along with some others and so decided to play kagome kagome and sing its accompanying song (in which they knew the lyrics to it better in comparison to the previous game they were playing). Meanwhile, as the children were joyfully playing their game, some mysterious yet glancing and menacing cat eyes peeked from the nearby woods at them from a near distance. At the same time, the village woodcutter was approaching the village with his workload. He stood still for some moments in the woods. He next decided to continue on, regardless of the mysterious movements continuing on a bit more. At the end of a round of kagome, one of the children happened to turn back and noticed the staring shadowy cat's eyes. The child felt scared as a result. Another child on the circle's center, who just uncovered her face, notice how one of her playmates seemed scared and still. The playmate asked him what's wrong before noticing the same. Another one of the children turned and noticed the same thing. An air of apprehension was now active. The children felt a subtle dominant threat nearby and decided to try to swiftly run back to their village to try to informed their parents and elders. The mysterious creature slyly came out and it turned out to be a black cat like creature. Right afterwards, a couple of bandits came out alongside the cat. They stood there in a sly subtle matter for a few minutes with a gripping look before deciding to charge down at the village at a fast yet brutal pace.
When the woodcutter was in view of his village, he was astonished at seeing it being ambushed by bandits. Feeling very chickened out by the sight, he decided to try to turn back and ran away. Unfortunately, however, a bandit suddenly stood in his way and pointed a sharp-edged stick at him. The poor woodcutter felt nearly frighten to death. The hostile bandit asked the woodcutter, in a speedy spitting matter, if he was a villager. The woodcutter at first did not answer, feeling frighten like he was encountering a murderous monster like Aku or an oni. The bandit seemed very anxious to want to get on with a reply, as the woodcutter was developing an angry look.
Fully armored Samurai Jack was firmly riding his motorcycle aimlessly on the raw plain with the brightness of the sun behind him. He long been a man of his own affairs yet he felt a great burden upon him, but is strong enough for him to face. He feels a will to survive alongside it. How this dilemma had kept him from any good self-reflection. He feels downtrodden yet impressed by the beauty of the landscape. He tried to mentally shove away his burden but it kept going back to him. How the burden had really fallen intricately upon him, and therefore wondered what to do. How tense and badly pressured he felt in an exhausting way. Such emotional drain he felt and could almost feel like he could falter away, but will manage. He felt tied to himself and how he and the burden will effectively survive. He thinks that he's flying the burden away in this direction and how he traveled on. He happened to eventually spot a nearby oasis and instantly drove to it. How he subtly could feel the increase hint of the pressure. He stopped his motorcycle, got off, took off his helmet (with its accompanied oni mask) to reveal his loose long hair and bearded self. Regardless of the significant burden he seemingly carried, he thought about what he was content with, like with having his precious kantana with him in it designed sport in his motorcycle. He took a deep relaxing breath and stood there in meditative silence for a bit. He then walked towards the oasis's pond and kneeled down to stare at his reflection while taking a sip and putting some water on himself. Afterwards, he stared at his reflection and smiled a little before an odd, eerie occurrence then happened. He suddenly saw his reflection turned into the black neck down pageboy hair image of his lost Ashi. How thrown back, scared, surprised, yet very happy at seeing her again, including the burden for the time being happily lifted. He smiled in a wider and content matter as he glanced at her and with her smiling back. However, what next took place would unsettle Samurai Jack.
She began speaking in a down voice, "Jack, I know we both love each other and will always love each other still, but you need to know it is really time to courageously move on and get over the great burden of my loss. You will always own my heart but Yuka's heart is what is really meant for you I would like you to really continue to serve as a noble beacon of bright light you are. You can't always be in this pitiful state which cannot help matters. How you will always be a triumphant hero over the forces of evil. You have already accomplished the heinous task of saving the world from Aku and how you will have more heroic tasks to accomplish in your life to come. But you unfortunately had fear understandably overcame you as a result of the notable despair over my loss. Yet see, my dear Samurai."
Jack reacted with astonishment and attempted to defend against what she said before witnessing the further odd occurrence of Ashi's image turning into Yuka and an interesting yet great vision occurred to him. To sum it up, it was of an alternate reality where Yuka married one of her suitors and never returning back to live in her beloved homeland again. Her and her husband unfortunately became enslaved by Aku when he eventually conquered the Pyukyu Islands. After ending up on brutal enslavement, Yuka and her husband after a while died from exhaustion and harsh treatment. However, a child of theirs managed to survive to adulthood and raised a family of its own. However, the child continued to be enslaved along its family and was enslaved for at least a couple of more generations. Then he saw many generations passed of Yuka's child's lineage until it stopped at a vicious woman in striking dreaded grab who turned out to mothered Ashi and her sisters in her dreadful Aku cult. This really shocked Jack to know that Yuka was apparently an ancestor of Ashi in the now alternate Aku infested future! Jack just founded it hard to grasp to behold this astonishing fact that was pushed in front of him right then and how it shook him to the core! He felt both loving loyalty to Ashi and Yuka but how can he can come to grip with this? He especially still felt a bound with Ashi. Then behind the image of Ashi in the pond, he saw images of the allies and people he had saved over the years manifested and cheering on along with her. Jack felt even more dumbfounded as a result of seeing this further manifestation. Strangely next, it began to rain which helped continued to fuel his bewilderment.
Yuka then said straight to him, "How I love you so very much and is counting on you along with others to re blaze your ennobling endeavors that are within you still."
Next, he sensed a significant bright light manifested near behind him on his right and looked back to see it. He did indeed see a portal of bright white light a short distance away from him. Yet, as he turned away and reflected with closed eyes on what was happening to him, he wondered how he overall would come to grip with all of this? After all, he was surely past his momentous trial of trying to defeat Aku and being stuck in the past. Thinking about that, why not get past the inevitable disappearance of Ashi and get on with his current life he wanted for so long? He knows he will, of course, always love Ashi, with her having a spot in his heart. Yet, he got the feeling how it is surely justified to go on from Ashi. He could go on with Ashi as a motivator in his courageous life. After all, it looks like there is probably a woman more suitable for him and it was probably Yuka. Regardless, he at the moment still hadn't completely gone over Ashi but was now was assured of having a happy desire to ride into that mysterious portal entrance of light. The rain oddly seems to be helping him feel happy acceptance of this matter. Also, what Ashi and Yuka been telling him had touched his heart even into his subconscious it seems. Thus, he swiftly put his masked helmet on, went back on his motorcycle, and rode right into the portal that seems to be a relief and positive escape, as the images in the pond watched him on. After entering the portal, he felt triumphantly how his fully armored and disheveled futuristic self transformed into his clean-cut and noble traditionalistic white kimono clad self. He now felt renewed determined confidence, riding on a noble white stead traveling on a brisk steady pace. Then it all went blank.
Prince Gonkuro suddenly woke up from his night sleep and deeply sighed. He thought of what just happened from the restless dream. He glanced around his bedroom, including at the Tale of Prince Genji hand scroll besides his bed that he was reading at bedtime. A good, somewhat relatable, yet bittersweet literary work it was and had some other handscrolls on a shelf for his own personal reading elsewhere in his bedroom. He also happened to glanced at the window and saw it still was night outside, probably getting close to dawn. He turned sideways a bit, sighed again, and with his eyes closed thought more of the dream he just had. How odd, different, and realistic that dream was, including being his now discontinued unkempt rogue self in it (but, however, he lately was sleeping with his hair loose). The dream itself left a lasting touching mark on his heart and mind. The dream probably was an important message of some kind. He thought it more deeply, especially the messages the dream supposedly was trying to send. At last, he came to the thought agreeing how he should try to happily move on from Ashi and how he should let it be. Similar to how he felt in the dream itself, he knows how there was more than Ashi in his life and how destined her disappearance from existence was. So, he finally, in his own way, now mostly accepted Ashi's sad but meant fate of disappearing apart from him forever. But he will always miss and cherish her. He probably will never completely overcome it. She will always have a place and reminiscence in his heart and memories. Anyway, she will satisfyingly live on in his dreams as well. His dream reassured him that she probably moved on as , how he still felt the romantic touch of his relationship with Ashi and the true assured love they felt together. He knows now how he will surely move forward in his life with Ashi living on in spirit in him. Anyway, since Ashi made possible the spring of his past to bloom within and had she really loved him and wanted him to be happy. How she saved a whole lot of people and other things from Aku's wrathful carnage. He especially recalled that bitter yet hopeful day with the ladybug and being besides a tree whose species was mostly gone away through Aku's wrath. So then how he should be a happy, regular man and moved forward in his life. Anyway, regardless of the shame it is to think about it otherwise, as how illogical it be to marry your nefarious enemy's daughter and have his blood in your family's veins from then on. By the way, how she really belonged to the now non-existent world of Aku. But what an impact they made in their limited time they had with each other.
He felt more renewed and purposeful now. A challenge it was in getting over Ashi's demise but glad to overcome the lowliness he felt with it. Anyway, this ordeal really can't hold a candle to the other ordeals he faced. But now Ashi really supposedly wanted him to continue to be the righteous and determined hero he is. He sighed but was more positive this time. Perhaps, he could try to find love again, especially Yuka, at the upcoming Tanabata festival. It felt coincidental but probably again wasn't, especially the dream and its message came close to the date and how he partially was brought up in his culture that some if not most things are meant to be. He deep inside certainly still loved and have an interest in Yuka and how is now opened to renewing his relationship with her. Regardless, he also felt the possibility he might not reconciled with her again and find another to be his true love, but who knows? He side-glanced in the direction of his still dark window and next decided to go back to sleep. How he knows she will certainly move completely onward to his best, everything considered.
The day of Tanabata arrived and it was a long, fun, yet was mostly lonesome and unsatisfying day, in a sense, for Gonkuro. Gonkuro, his parents, and some of the accompanying ladies-in-waitings played a significance part at the local Tanabata festival where the Emperor and Gonkuro gave speeches and the common people had the privilege of meeting, complimenting, bowing, and getting autographs from him. The royal family participated in a parade that was held some time afterwards. Eventually, the royal family and their attendants were able to freely participate in the festival's events themselves, including being able to make paper wishes and sticked them on bamboo trees. At one point, Gonkuro requested to his parents to roam alone on his own, especially for a time. His parents were fine with his request though hinted at being reluctant to accept it. Prince Gonkuro roamed around and had fun on his own for a time. However, he just went to a couple of places- a kimono selling vendor and tried to throw rings over some sake bottles. At the former he purchased a polka dotted teal colored yukata and quickly changed into it. At the latter, he won top prize and was awarded a hachimaki. However, he got to witness a traditional dance which amused him. He felt uplifted by the persisting sound of drums from some distance away. Gonkuro wearily smiled as he felt the presence of rushing bamboo leaves with papered wishes and the elaborate sight of the complex and pretty night sky, including being remained of his time he was in outer space and encountering beings from the stars. Sometimes, some admirers attempted to woo him including a maiko from a distance but tried to avoid it. Through it all, he inside felt a longing and patience desire to want to reunite with his beloved Yuka. He thought of the myth of the weaver girl and the cowherd and how it mirrored his romantic life. Like the supposed annual reunion the weaver girl and the cowherd are having right now, he hoped to unlike them find a lasting love, especially tonight. He even wouldn't eat yet, regardless of some hunger spasms. He didn't eat because he hadn't satisfyingly found her yet. He tried to look for the stars that represented the weaver girl and the cowherd. He was happily entertained by the fireworks that at times sparkled in the sky. He also was wondrously amused by the sight of hanged colorful paper decorations that were like balls with paper tails.
After a seemingly long while roaming around the festival, he to his pleasant surprise thought he finally saw what looks like Yuka but only was dressed differently (as she was dressed in a blue colored yukata with a red cherry blossom imprint). However, he unfortunately noticed that she was with a different man, along with being part of a general group that conspicuously was her family and a different kind of family. It looked like she might have founded another man and witnessing it stirred up some insightful feelings in Gonkuro. He felt more strongly how he surely loves Yuka after all, and how he would certainly want to try to romance her again. What regret he felt at letting her go (but still understood the justification of leaving her at the time) and how he wanted to get out of his entrapping single situation he was in. He would like Yuka to know how he really is the rightful man for her and how it be sorrowfully restless to continue without her. Hope he will be able to effectively reconcile with her and try to how her know how they indeed are soulmates for each other. Yuka then glanced at Gonkuro and was surprised at seeing him. Gonkuro gave a welcoming smile back with Yuka shortly deciding to approach him and tried to inquire of him. Unfortunately, her beau grabbed her back and he intimated Gonkuro instead, as the group he was a part of watched. The beau happened to be wearing a dark blue yukata and had his hair up in an uptight ponytail. He was most probably Yuka's wooing suitor that she had mentioned beforehand and therefore finally had the chance to finally meet him. The suitor had an arrogant yet protective demeanor about him. He seems to be frostier than Hiro was. As he confronted Gonkuro, he suspiciously inquired who he was that brought attention to Yuka.
Gonkuro, with a serious demeanor, replied, "I was Yuka's beau before you and had come to the realization how I really love Yuka and how she is actually special to me."
The beau sighed before replying back, "I don't understand, as you are really wasting your time, especially how you have dumped Yuka and why would you want her again for? I think I am a better lover. Thus, I am really hers then. I have shown more love to her then you ever did."
Gonkuro looked meaner as he firmly replied back, "I really genuinely lover her as my heart's desire and is concerned for her. I sincerely hope to reconcile with her and expressed my honest repented love for her. Even though only one can unfortunately have her, I hope you will understand how I am her true love of her life. How she really admires me and I genuinely had a recent dream that confirmed how she is indeed the true love of my life." With a mutually even meaner demeanor, the beau replied, "Maybe perhaps you could but I know from Yuka how I am her sincere heart's desire. I still think you are honestly still wasting your time trying to reconcile with her, and I do not think you are being truthful."
There was some silence between the two and Gonkuro was thinking what he wanted to do next as he sighed. He was confused about this love barrier situation, including how he wish it could be peacefully resolved to his own end. He was especially convinced that he knows that he was after all indeed Yuka's ultimate soulmate. Yuka, who was witnessing all of this from a short distance, along with the group she was with, felt embarrassed and bewildered by her current beau arguing with her ex. Additionally, Yuka felt great disappointment. However, she felt that out of the two who her heart's desire sincerely is.
Then her current beau challenged Gonkuro, "So you can have Yuka again as long as you adhere to a challenge I propose to you- which is you go to a supposedly ransacked town called Sippo elsewhere in the land, where allegedly some recently organized criminals, some of which originally worked for Aku, are stationed and seemed to be part of a greater conspiracy to ransack and maybe take over the whole country."
Gonkuro looked a bit puzzled at what he just said before Yuka's father went up to Gonkuro and explained more clearly what Yuka's current beau was trying to tell him. Gonkuro felt more puzzled.
Yuka's father explained, "There has been strong hearsay about how some supposedly organized group of bandits had raided and took over a certain area of the country and possibly want to spread out. Coincidently, that town happened to have some treasure from my family stored in a temple there. I, come to think about it, agree with Buka that trying to stop those bandits and see how my family treasure is doing is an adequate challenge for you to have my daughter back as her suitor. I also like you to try to check the treasure as well and bring it back if the situation is convenient. By the way, did you know about the rumors beforehand, especially considering how you're the prince of the land?"
Gonkuro replied, "I vaguely heard of such a thing but it seems hearsay enough for me and especially my father to not really take it seriously at this point."
Yuka's father then whispered to him, "I honestly prefer you over Bunka and I like to have your sure worthiness approved through this challenge which I really think you will succeed."
Gonkuro softly remarked, "So that is Yuka's current suitor's name."
Yuka's father nodded yes before continuing, "First, we have to have you father's approval."
Just then, Gonkuro's father's voice asked in a puzzled tone, "What is this?"
Gonkuro and Yuka's father turned sideways to see Gonkuro's perplexed parents approached them.
Gonkuro himself was seemingly sheepish before he explained to his parents, "I was given a challenge by Yuka's current suitor that's approved by Yuka's father. I have to go up to Sippo to investigate an alleged bandit raid and check on some Satoaki clan treasure that's stored in a temple there. Do you know of hearsay about bandit raids around Sippo? I think we should try to think more about responding to those rumors."
His parents were surprised with the Emperor replying, "I vaguely heard about those rumors but to me it rather sounded like hearsay and something that Sippo's prefecture government should take care of. However, you make me come to realized how I should had considered it seriously, especially as it does sound like the issue was more serious then I assumed. I will let you be the one to investigate, my son. It will further show your valiant courage and this forthcoming challenge I think doesn't hold a candle to your ordeal in defeating Aku."
Gonkuro's mother nodded in agreement. Next, the Emperor managed to convince Yuka's father and the other people in his group to have him, his wife, and his son joined them and have his son still have fun with them. Yuka's father and Bunka (though the latter with reluctance) agreed and so Gonkuro and his parents continued on in the fun along with Yuka and her group. Gonkuro spent more fun time with Yuka, even if it wasn't solely with her. They got to do some pleasurable things like eat yummy vendor food and some gold fishing. Gonkuro agreed with adhering to the challenge even if it was still an unlikable barrier to court with Yuka again instead of just doing group dating with her. He was courageously willing to risk himself to selflessly defeat the alleged growing sly criminal group that was organized around Sippo. He saw it as one righteous way to further prove to his father, Yuka, Bunka, Hiroshi, and others what a very upright, worthy, and selfless hero he indeed was.
So, within the next couple of days, Gonkuro got ready and eventually went on his quest to Sippo to largely investigate some alleged happenings there. He got to be allowed to use his father's sword as he and his father thought it could come in handy in such a situation like this, especially no telling what kind of people the alleged wrongdoers could be (including how some of them supposedly formerly worked for Aku). He got advice from a local cartographer on how to go there. Gonkuro with brave determination went off, but was able to give his farewell to some people like his parents and Yuka (though the latter he actually did when she and her family left home from the Tanabata festival as he planned to arrive back to her home whenever he would arrive back to his parents after completing his mission). On through the countryside, hills, and mountains he firmly rode on his stallion in the spirit of bushido. He carried some limited items like some food and medicine. He wore his white kimono, geta, straw hat, and father's kantana. Gonkuro thought of wearing full armor but otherwise thought he would blend in less suspiciously if he just wore his regular civilian clothes. Anyway, wearing basically the same outfit and weapon when he was in Aku's alternate future suited him fine. He not just felt the spirit of determination but also felt the spirit of the samurai and felt Ashi in spirit with him as well. He could feel Ashi's loving courage within him as he rode on to his task.
Eventually, he was able to successfully arrive at his destination after a few days of traveling. He stopped his horse and viewed the village from a distance. How scenic it looked yet in some sense felt apprehensive suspicion. Upon more careful exanimation, he noticed how devoid of people it looked. Before going any further, however, he decided to eat since he felt he was on an empty stomach. After a while, especially after he ate and tied his horse to a tree, he managed to go down directly into the village and strolled through it at a gradual pace. He analytically and suspiciously gazed around. Indeed, it mostly looked empty and somewhat ruined. He did see any human remains though he possibly saw minimal animal remains. However, He eventually thought he saw something. As he tried to get a closer look, it then went out of his sight and so tried to follow the direction it supposedly went. He, after going through a couple of streets and an alley, at last arrived at a Buddhist temple. The structure looked abandoned and felt an eerie apprehensive feeling about it, including how it looked vandalized to some extent (including a couple of sad looking guardian statues had a kind of odd mantra marking on them). Thus, the lone samurai paced towards the Buddhist temple and looked sideways. He felt further feelings of strange unease as he paced onward towards the building. Perhaps the temple has some answers to the chilling rumors he was sent to investigate, along with it being the probable place to find Yuka's family treasure. He finally got to go up the quiet steps of the temple and entered in. Right before entering in, he noticed how there seemed to be an odd, enigmatic emblem with accompanying words below it. The emblem looked like a two-tailed dark cat laying his paws on a skull with the words saying, "I came, I saw, I conquer! Beware of the great upcoming power and sure rule of the mighty Nekomata!" Reading that chilled Gonkuro, especially how he grown up hearing about Nekomatas, which were mischievous two-tailed cat yoka creatures that liked to dwell in mountainous areas. He especially heard a legend of a nekomata who one time tried to harm a member of the royal family. Though this particular nekomata was eventually defeated in the story itself, the nekomata in the story still chillingly touched him to this day. Nonetheless, he was alright with the emblem and its warning, especially how it possibly be figurative, and he entered in with a courageous attitude.
Inside, it was dark and worn out. It unsettled him but was still determined. He paced a bit more before finally stopping and analyzing his shadowy surroundings. He could see the buddha statue at the other side of the place. He just thought he glanced at what appeared to be a chest like thing. Perhaps that's the family treasure he was meant to try to find and so next decided to swiftly paced towards it. But before he could reach it, he thought he heard a sneaky, impending noise. He slowed down still and curiously glanced back. Turns out, to his surprise, was a basket head goon approaching him with his sword out to harm the samurai. Chillingly, he also thought he sensed more goons in and around the place. Indeed, he was unfortunately right, as he got to see semi-silhouettes of more goon like figures approaching him from different angles. He looked more severed as he could feel the raising tension within him and slyly stood there for several more seconds as he swiftly then started to fight back. He swiftly slew the one from behind him. He simultaneously kicked another one that was coming on a counterclockwise direction and firmly slew him along with a companion on the right of him. He next slew some more approaching goons behind him. Then for some seconds he stood still and sighed before continuing on, especially noticing the scary sight of some goons going down towards him by ropes. He even thought how he could get through this dilemma of being surrounded by hostile goons. He fought them like a dance with a swift speed and heard rowdy shouting from them at times. What an atmosphere of intensity it was, including fighting and slaying a small goon group counterclockwise. At one point, he thought things slowed down and it looked safe to continue approaching the treasure container. Right before he finally could touch the treasure, to his odd surprise thought he heard more approaching nearby. It turned out, to his astonishing dread saw a mischievous black cat wobbling his two tails along with a few of the goons pacing besides it. What great dismay and puzzlement mixed with dread he felt. For a few long seconds, he stood there in confused stillness before deciding to try to strike the scary cat and its accompanying goons in such a personally perplexing state. He thought he swiftly slew one of the accompanying goons but was overwhelmingly beaten and strangled to unconsciousness by the wrath of the nekomata's two tails. He thought he saw some of the goons dressed as Aku's minions and others were dressed in a rather flamboyant style. He also briefly got the impression that, at least, some of the nekomata's accompanying goons had an eerie air about them.
Meanwhile, the Satoaki family and Gonkuro's parents continued their daily lives all the while waiting for him. They felt fine though only after a few days. They started to be concerned about him still being gone. Yuka felt lonesome as she thoughtfully sometimes gazed out, wondering with mixed feelings about Gonkuro and if she should continue a relationship with him. Yet, as she would gaze out with the nightly breeze on her, felt a tint of mysterious longing for him. Of course, she courted Bunka to an extent and had some pleasure courting him, but it felt hollow in comparison to her previous courting with Gonkuro. One night, she had a down point in her relationship with Bunka prior to bedtime when they were having a conversation with each other, which involved reading some poetry they made for each other.
Bunka asked Yuka, "Do you surely love me enough, Yuka?"
Yuka was mute and Bunka grew wearily suspicious and hinted at wanting a reply.
However, she responded with a lowly sigh and eerily replied, "When the cherry blossoms bloom again then we be able to gaze upon their great beauty."
Bunka sighed and thought about his relationship with Yuka. Shortly thereafter, he decided to leave her for the night as Yuka, before going to bed, decided to gaze upon the night sky with its accompanying moon, in a thoughtful relaxing matter. She partially thought about her uncertain future and destiny, especially being more thoughtful then she had been during her recent nighttime gazing. She, as she gazed upon the moon, thought of Gonkuro and hoped for his safety and his accomplishment of his task. She softly smiled and then thought how she be willing to reconcile with Gonkuro, including how there wasn't much to forgive. Thinking about it, perhaps Gonkuro is indeed the one for her after all not Bunka. Even her father implied that he rather preferred Gonkuro over Bunka and being alright with ditching a marital alliance with that family friend of his (as he now probably thought it be okay to just be friends with them). Yuka sighed again and took all her thoughts to her heart and next decided to now go to bed. She remembered a proverb about wishing for good luck by sleeping and waiting. But she couldn't help think about a contrasting proverb that said, 'to wait for luck is the same as waiting for death.' Who knows what will happen but she still hoped for the best, including for Gonkuro. She also hopes she will have tranquil dreams tonight as well. She peacefully, in a soft lax sense, went to bed with the nightly breeze smoothly touching her for the last time tonight from the cool night.
Yuka dreamt a dream filled with weary ominous suspense. It felt mostly vague but moved with a vivid energy and seemed to be told like a consistent vision. She overall saw a mysterious, pretentious, yet malevolence presence eventually encompassing Japan, though not as bad as Aku. She saw Gonkuro being imprisoned and being harshly interrogated somewhere in Sippo. She saw him eventually being consumed by darkness with Yuka wanting to turn away. What dramatic longing to really wanting to make things right she felt; nonetheless, she also felt a still, startled, static, and puzzled aura she founded difficult to overcome.
Benzaiten's silhouette appeared on the moon sagaciously telling her, "Crown Prince Gonkuro Denka needs to be urgently saved or else Japan will eventually be consumed by the upcoming spreading criminal darkness from have the greatness, even of the sun, to save your dear prince. I will, if you will adhere to my counsel, effectively guide you."
Yuka listened with distressing surprise. Yuka cluelessly replied, "Why should I attempt to rescue him in such a high risky situation and how can I therefore really help him out?"
Benzaiten was silence and Yuka felt pitiful yet a contrasting sympathetic determined desire to want to follow Benzaiten's counsel. She thus far witnessed a firm justification in adhering wise Benzaiten's counsel and how she even plead for help. She felt like she was in a dire situation. She felt a paralyzed move on in her direful yet tense and loose foreshadowing dreadful circumstances. She even was determined against all odds to climb a mountain with doomful thundering overhead. Finally, she almost in a victorious yet weary matter seemingly almost reached her security destination at the mountain's top. Unfortunately, before finally realizing her desired goal, she happened to distractedly look back and saw the foreboding sight of Gonkuro as a ghostly yurei, which means he had his long hair unkempt and loose, had on his white robe, had a hitaikakushi on top of his head's front, the bottom of his body being invisible, and had a woeful, staring, and semi-gaunt complexion (though he still had retained his handsome features). For some moments they stared at each other as the thunder blank around them.
The yurei then aguishly, in pitiful concern, asked Yuka, "I wonder if I ever can escape this persistent despair I am in? How come you could not rescue me?"
Yuka as a response dolefully looked down before an awfully loud boom of thunder then sounded as yurei Gonkuro's eyes turned menacing.
Yuka restlessly awoke from her sleep and sat silently half-way up as she glanced around a bit. It looked like it was the crack of dawn and for some time she sat up there and pondered. She felt like she could had yelled no or informed her how she loved him and is willing. She honestly still loved him, of course, but did not have sure confidence in him anymore. She still had mix feelings for him. However, she gave some more thought on it, especially in an in-depth introspective matter, including thinking about the sorrows she lately had been experiencing. This further led her to examine how honestly empty she had been. How she lately felt dreamless and come to think about it, how she actually did indeed lose her true dream and she, deep inside, had a desire to want to get it back. She further thought how she surely loved the crown prince enough to want to save him and how she felt passionless being at home. However, she obviously knows that it was a man's job to save someone, not a woman's. In speaking of home, she felt a firm willingness to follow her dear prince from now on, regardless. How sincere she felt about that. She felt she purposely belonged to him and how she needs to act upon it to experience the reality of her love for him, regardless of the overall perturbing perilous situation.
She thought upon Benzaitan telling her that she had the greatness of the sun and the positive symbolic meanings associated with the sun. She thought of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, eventually going out of a cave to end an era of darkness and inflicted justice upon her brother, Susanoo, who led her to hide in the cave in the first place. Not to forget to mention how Gonkuro is technically a descendent of her and therefore how special enough to try to respectfully rescue him. All those thoughts and more gave her motivation to desire to save the crown prince. How she should escape her dreary house to fulfill her sincere dream for her true beloved. How she should struggle to fulfill her heart's dire dream and desire and attempt to reach high for him. Anyway, she saw how her life is really in her own hands, especially to make it the way she really wanted it to be. Anyhow, she's an adult and she think she might find renewed meaning being with him. She glanced once again at the rising dawn and how she would try to make it her own desired day. She also thought of her thoughts relating to Benzaiten saying she has the greatness of the sun and perhaps she will do an important honor to the sun goddess in rescuing and beneficially court her descendant, Gonkuro. She also thought how she'II need to soon get ready and ride to Sippo to ruthlessly help out her beloved. How she is going to see her sincere sunshine of her life and be herself. She with steadfast, heartfelt, urgent, and powerful passion go to seek out what she thinks will turn out to be her true life dream after all-to be her soulmate's abiding wholehearted confidante. After all, he had truthfully taken her heart away. An epiphany she felt, especially what such love and direction she genuinely felt and really realized for him, more than ever before.