Akashi Keiji was now a man, and he reached forward to grab Hanako’s sleeve. “Hurry, Empress, we need to get you to somewhere safe, they;ll be here any minute now! They’re from my country, and if they get you they’ll take you to Katsumi and Tsuneo!”
Hanako froze, her guardian’s words echoing in her head. They’ll take you to Katsumi and Tsuneo.
It seemed, perhaps, that the Heavenly Emperor had given her another way.
First, however, in case she was wrong… she quickly jerked her arm free from Akashi Keiji’s grasp and lunged to the futon, grabbing Daisuke and shaking him roughly.
“Dai-chan, wake up! I need you!” She whispered, and the little boy blinked open sleepy eyes.
“Whassit, Hanako-oba-sma?” He said, rubbing at his eyes, and Hanako took his hands and hauled him to his feet.
“I need you to listen to me, Daisuke,” She said solemnly. “Bad men are coming to take me, but you and Kenshin-chan must stay safe.”
I will die before I let Princess Katsumi lay a finger upon my son, She thought fiercely. “So I need you to hide, and keep Kenshin-chan safe for me. You’re his big cousin, so it’s your duty to protect him.”
Daisuke nodded solemnly. “Yes! I’ll do it, Hanako-oba-sama!” he said, scowling fiercely and scrunching his little brow in determination.
“I know you will,” She said with a soft smile. “I have faith in you. Now, quickly, into the clothes-chest and hold your arms out.”
Daisuke immediately scrambled inside, and Hanak scooped up the form of her son, watching in dismay as he began to stir awake. However, a long-fingered hand swept over Kenshin’s face and the babe’s eyes drifted closed again. Hanako looked gratefully up to the fox. “Oh, Thank you, Akashi-dono! I’m afraid I have one more task for you.”
“Anything, Empress.” He said lowly, and Hanako nodded before turning back to her nephew, hidden in the clotheschest.
Carefully, she settled the now-comatose Kenshin in Daisuke’s arms. “Take good care of him, Daisuke-dono. Swear upon your honor as the Prince of Nagisa.”
“On m’honor as ta Prince of Nagisa, I swear!” He said solemnly, and Hanako accepted his oath with a smile. Then she turned ot look at the fox. “Please, Akashi Keij-dono… hide in here, and keep them safe at all costs, until their father arrives.
The Fox looked at her, his sharp golden eyes deeply displeased, but he changed into a fox and jumped into the chest, and Hanako closed the lid carefully.
She turned around to meet the crimson gaze of Tamotsu Eiji, who stared down at her from an impressive height, the long fall of his dark, iridescent hair swaying faintly in a breeze Hanako couldn't feel.
“I know what you are doing.” He said solemnly, and Hanako nodded.
“I am Empress.” She said softly, “And an Empress does what is best for her people, regardless of the personal consequences. Besides, this way Kenshin will be safe, and if anything happens to me, he will be Emperor. No matter what happens, all will be well.”
“Very well.” THe Dragon said. “But you will take me with you. You are my traditional charge, and I will not leave you in your darkest hour.” In the next moment he was a dragon, a tiny one, thin and small as a snake. Before Hanako could even think, the jade and blue dragon had slipped into her sleeve and coiled around her arm, safely out of sight.
She turned to face the door and lifted her chin, and despite the nervous quailing in her heart, she did not flinch when the door stealthily slid open.
*****
Something was wrong, Shichiro thought. What, precisely, he was not sure, but he knew something was.
His apprehension was confirmed when Momoe Chiyo stood up abruptly, immediately ceasing all discussion.
“Something is amiss.” She said solemnly, her usually calm voice strained ever-so-slightly. “My honored husband is rapidly moving away from the palace.”
Shichiro rather felt as if someone had stabbed his own sword into his heart, and he leapt to his feet. “And the Empress? Do you know where she is?”
Momoe Chiyo shook her head. “She may have been born in Karigane, but she was raised in Akiyama, and therefore is one of my second son’s people. I cannot track her.”
The ronin resisted the urge to snarl at the Immortal Goose, turned, and ran out of the room. He had spent much of the last days walking about the palace and memorizing the corridors, for with a war on the way and without his eyes, he could not indulge his unfortunate habit of getting lost. He heard footsteps chasing after him, Isao and Tatsuya and Ichiro he guessed, but he paid them no heed as he skidded to a stop and scrabbled to slide open the door. He finally managed to jerk it open just as Isao and the rest managed to catch up, and he leapt inside, hand on the hilt of his katana.
“Hanako! Are you in here?”
There was an echoing silence, followed by a faint scratching noise.
Isao blinked in confusion, gaze zeroing on the clotheschest in the corner of the room. The sound seemed like it had come from thence… He stepped over and lifted the lid.
Staring up at him from a crumbled nest of cotton was his son, clutching a child close against him, a fox curled protectively next to them both.
“Daisuke!” Isao burst out anxiously. “Are you all right?:
“Papa…” Daisuke whispered, his eyes wide and scared. “Aunt Hanako-sama’s gone, but I protected Ken-chan like I promised.”
Shichiro fell to his knees limply, all strength gone from his limbs, and at the noise Kenshin stirred and began to wail.
To fox leaped out of the box and became a man, reaching down and taking the distressed baby from Daisuke’s arms. Akashi Keiji turned then to Shichiro and frowned.
“Are you just going to sit there like a useless lump of pickled radish, or are you going to take your obviously distressed son and do something?”
Shichiro stirred and obediently held out his arms, and fox deposited his son into his grasp. Instinctively the ronin cradled Kenshin closer, hoping to calm his son’s cries.
Kenshin seemed to recognize his father’s presence, however, and the wails slowly faded off into unhappy hiccups
“What happened, Fox-dono?” Isao asked, and Akashi Keiji’s eyes narrowed and lips thinned in displeasure.
“There must be a spy somewhere amidst your ranks, Tatsuya-dono, for Katsumi and Tsuneo were apparently aware of the Empress’ presence and sent shinobi to capture her.”
Shichiro turned his blindfolded gaze on the Fox and scowled. “How come you didn’t sense them coming, then, if they were from Akiyama?”
Isao watched in surprise as ice crawled into the Clever One’s gaze, and Akashi Keiji frowned heavily. “There are more things and powers in the world than the Celestial Guardians, little mortals. And my kin and I are not all-powerful, and there are ways to work around that power. And some things exist out there that are stronger than I, and some of them walk a far darker path. Katsumi has appeared to have gained their aid, and rather foolishly, I think. Anyway, it enabled them to hide their presence from us until it was far too late.”
“But…” Shichiro said, “I don’t understand… why didn’t she try to run? Why didn’t she send you to us for help? Why didn’t she have the Dragon protect her?” His heart was beating in his chest like the drums of the Festival of the Passed, and Shichiro breathed in deeply, attempting to calm himself before he disturbed Kenshin.
“Ah, well…” Akashi Keiji said. “I can’t claim to know exactly what was going through her mind, but I know she was unhappy with the prospect of the war, and was also concerned for the safety of Daisuke-chan and Kenshin-chama. She seized the opportunity to draw any potential attention away from them… and the opportunity to face her enemies herself.” He scowled and narrowed a gaze at the ronin. “Perhaps her husband has been rubbing off on her far too much, after all.”
Isao quickly pinched his nose in an effort to hold in the snort of amusement that defiantly wanted to escape. “So, what is the plan?”
The ronin stood up swiftly, his
jaw firm and his child clutched protectively in his arms. “We’ll fulfill the empress’ wishes--we’ll end this now, without the drawn-out bloodshed of war.”
“That sounds very good, but how are we planning on doing that?” Tatsuya asked cautiously.
Shichiro grinned, sharp and fierce. “We’ll go and rescue Hanako-san from her captors, and remove the very reasons for this war, namely, my honored father and mother-in-law.” He turned and put a sleepy Kenshin down on the nearby futon, Shichiro’s hand darting back and forth over the soft hairs on the child’s head.
“I will need your aid, however. As much as it pains me to admit it, I cannot do it alone.”
A hand settled on Shichiro’s shoulder, warm and firm, and Isao’s voice sounded in his ear. “Do you even need to ask, little brother?”
Shichiro smirked to match the one he knew was on his brother’s face. “No, I suppose I don’t.”
“I owe you a great debt for your help in reclaiming my country,” Tatsuya said cheerfully, “And I’m glad that at last I finally have a chance to repay you in whatever capacity I can, though I wish the circumstances were more pleasant.”
The ronin shook his head once. “You already repaid me when you extended kindness and sanctuary to my wife and my son, but your help is greatly appreciated none-the-less.”
“And I will aid you as well,” the voice of Ichiro said, and Shichiro grit his teeth out of habit. “However, I fear that I will be less effective without my brother.”
Shichiro froze.
“Ah, yes, the brother… perhaps something can be done about htat, since we would only need to transport one.” The Clever One mused softly. “GIve me some time, and perhaps your brother will meet us outside the estate where the Empress is kept.”
Ichiro expressed his thanks, but Shichiro wasn’t listening. “Wait, brother? You have a brother, shinobi?”
“A twin brother.” Ichiro said.
“A twin brother!” Shichir exclaimed. “Wait… does that mean that there were two of you this whole time???”
There was a little silence.
“Yes.” Ichiro said calmly.
The ronin breathed in through his nose, one long deep breath, in an attempt to calm himself. Then suddenly he grinned. “Ha! Since there were two of you, that means you were cheating. Which means I am superior to you!”
“Not necessarily.” Akashi Keiji said. “After all, you are not exactly a simple swordsman, and you have an unusual advantage of your own. Few indeed are those blessed by the Guardians at birth. What do you think, Isao-dono?”
Isao hummed thoughtfully. “I think that makes them even. Both have rather unfair advantages, after all.”
Shichiro snarled at his elder brother, who merely smiled peacefully at the wall.
“Well, that’s settled then.” Isao continued. “We’ll need to prepare supplies--there are too many of us to travel by celestial this time, so we’ll just have to make do with horses. Luckily the enemy’s encampment is only two days away, however, plans have to be made.” He stood up, Ichiro immediately flicking to his side like a faithful shadow, and Tatsuya made to follow him.
The Clever One, now a fox, wandered off into the gardens on some inexplicable Celestial errand, leaving Shichiro alone with a sleeping baby and a quiet Daisuke.
Daisuke crawled onto the futon, sitting next to the slumbering Kenshin, and looked worriedly up at his uncle.
“Unca Ronin? Dida do a good job?”
Shichiro smiled softly and placed a hand on his nephew’s head. “Yes. you did a very good job, and Hanako-oba-sama would be very pleased indeed.”
*****
Hanako had not had a particularly pleasant couple of days, but she did her best to maintain her composure, especially when she was brought before Shogun Tsuneo and the Princess Katsumi.
As soon as she entered the room, Katsumi rose from her seat in a flutter of brilliant silks and rushed over towards her daughter. Her arms were opened wide and her lips were curved in a perfect, painted smile.
“Oh, Hanako, it’s been so long,” She cooed softly, taking Hanako’s hands in her own. “I was so very impatient, waiting to see my beloved daughter again at last.”
Hanako pursed her lips and looked at the princess sadly. “I guessed as much, mother.” She said softly. “After all, you committed high treason in kidnapping the empress.”
Katsumi twitched, but covered it up smoothly. Cool, cold hands, like the scales of a serpent, cupped Hanako’s cheek. “I was so very distraught when I was told you had fled, my daughter, and I searched everywhere for you in my distress. I want very much to forgive you, of course, but there is something you must say first before I do.”
“Yes,” hanako said. “There is something I need to say, before you forgive me.” She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and firmed her will in an attempt to quell the shivering of her insides. “Shogun Nishimura Tsuneo of Masaki and Princess Fujioka Katsumi of Akiyama, I, as the Empress Apparent of Azuma-no-Kuni, hereby formally demand the surrender of yourselves and your armies. If you do so now, I will be lenient.”
They stared at her in shock, and then Katsumi’s eyes went cold as Tsuneo’s features twisted in anger.
“Hanako-chan…” Katsumi said carefully, her voice as sickly sweet as a fruit touched by an early frost. “This does not have to be difficult. Merely apologize and agree to work with us, and there will be no need for anything to become unpleasant.”
Part of Hanako’s heart, the part that still loved her mother, cried out hopefully at this chance, but Hanako firmed her resolve. This was far greater than Hanako and her loneliness, than Katsumi and Shichiro and Tsuneo--this was about thousands and thousands of people who depended upon her.
“I am Empress,” Hanako said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “And the Empress bows to only One.”
Katsumi had shrieked in anger, Tsuneo swore angrily, and Hanako eventually found herself locked in a small room, accompanied only by a futon.
She sighed morosely and looked of tow here she believed the south of be. She wished dearly that her honored husband and both her children were here with her, though she knew they were far better off where they were.
There was a knock on the door, and Hanako blinked at it, bemused. “Come in,” she said softly, and the door promptly slid open to reveal a young girl in the garb of a princess.
The girl was a small thing, and very pretty, with rich dark brown hair and eyes to match, and a smile as bright as the sun. She stood up and slipped into the room and closed the door behind her, pausing for a moment as if listening.
“My lady, my name is Nishimura Manami, youngest daughter of the First Wife of Shogun Tsuneo. My father ordered me here some time ago in order that he may have someone on hand to keep an eye on you here when you arrived. However, now that you are here…” And the girl sank into a deep bow, nearly pressing her forehead to the floor. “I pledge my loyalty to your Imperial Highness, Empress-sama, from now until I take my last breath.”
Tamotsu Eiji stirred against her arm in his hiding place, and Hanako felt warmth and relief well up in her chest. It was nice indeed, to know she was not alone in this place. “I thank you, Manami-dono,” She said gently, and smiled. “I hope that we can be friends--my husband and his brother have spoken many times and fondly of their beloved little sister.”
Manami sat up and reached out, clasping the older woman’s hand comfortingly. “Of course, Empress-sama! It would be my greatest pleasure. And if there is any way that I could help you, you need merely to ask!”
Hanako blinked, then tilted her head thoughtfully. “Well, there is one thing, perhaps. I have no doubt that my husband will be coming to fetch me soon--could you help him find his way through the palace?”
Manami nodded firmly, her eyes shining in determination. “It shall be done, my lady! I swear it!”
****
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE FIGHT AND THE VICTORY
The plan is that Tatsuya, Ryota, an
d Masahiko sneak amongst the ranks of the armies and set off a signal that those loyal to the Empress should stand at the ready.
While this is happening, Akashi Keiji leads Isao, Shichiro, and both the Ichiros (the other Ichiro being flown over with the help of a snake) into the estate where Hanako is kept.
Akashi Keiji leads them to Manami, who has been on the lookout for their arrival. Once they meet up with Manami, they quickly split up-- The Ichiros go after Princess Katsumi and her shinobi guard, with Akashi Keiji to lead them, and Isao and Shichiro follow Manami, who takes them to Hanako.
Once Hanako is secured, they go after Tsuneo and his guard. Shichiro challenges Tsuneo to a duel and they fight, and Isao engages Tsuneo’s guard to keep them off Shichiro’s back.
With the gifts granted to him by the Guardians, Shichiro manages to slay his father. Just as he does so, however, a wounded guard that Isao had thought he killed off rose up and made one last desperate lunge at Shichiro. Hanako, in a panic, runs forward and manages to grab ahold of the guard’s sword, giving Shichiro enough time to spin around and kill the enemy.
This however, results in cuts on Hanako’s hands and fingers.
“Hanako, are you all right?” Shichiro gasped out, stumbling towards her, hands reaching out to grab her own.
“Do not worry, dearest husband,” Hanako said gently. “They’re little more than scratches, and will heal soon enough because of the virtue of my blood. And besides,” She added with a tinge of sorrow and pride in her tone, “If a few cuts and thin scars are the price I must pay for peace, I will gladly pay it. It is but little in comparison to the sacrifice you have made.”
She stared sorrowfully at his face, now baref for all the world to see now that his face had slashed the blindfold from his face. The scars were deep and spoke of an unimaginable pain, which Hanako had been helpless to heal.
The ronin sank to his knees before her in exhaustion, and Hanako reached out, delicately brushing her fingers across his mutilated visiage with aching tenderness, frowning in dismay when she stained his face with her useless blood. As if sensing her frown, he reached up and gripped her cheeks with his warm, calloused hands, and brought her forehead down to rest against his.
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