Kenta heaved a sigh. He hadn't been thrilled at the thought of walking the whole way, as he had declared several times that morning already.
"Don't make that noise," Takeshi said. He seemed to be making do, but his forehead furrowed more than usual in concentration. "The horses couldn't carry all the supplies, enough water for the trip, and us."
"Hey, I just don't want to fall," Kenta protested. "This stuff is more like glass than stone."
Kaede shot a grin over at him. "Trust me, we should stick to walking. At least this way, you won't fall with a horse on top of you."
Kenta snorted, but he did smile back, looking a little more cheerful.
"And I thought you were the clumsy one, Kaede," Rin said with a playful growl. She had less trouble on the slippery surface than the humans in the group, although Kaede could hear her claws scrabbling a little in search of purchase.
"Well, we can't all be as graceful as wolves. For a human, I think I do all right." She turned away from Rin and faced forward once more, sliding down the edge of the next wave in a controlled skid. She managed to make it without losing her balance, and she looked at her companions in triumph. Unfortunately, none of them seemed to notice. Imari, Kenta, and Takeshi worried about their own paths, Rin rolled her eyes at the unnecessary display, and Bo was much further ahead.
Like Rin, their guide seemed to have little trouble keeping their footing. Bo climbed up and down the rolling waves with the agility of a person far younger than they appeared to be, only looking back to make sure the rest of them were following. "Come on," Bo called, motioning for the group to hurry. "We have a long way to go before the sun rises too high."
"I’m not looking forward to that," Kaede whispered as Imari came to stand beside her. They fell into stride together, cautiously picking up their pace to catch up with Bo. She couldn't tell exactly how their guide was moving so quickly, obscured as they were by their heavy, dark robes, but it was impressive nonetheless.
"Me neither." Imari gestured past the long shadows their bodies cast with the moon directly behind them. "Look ahead of us. It's a whole lot of nothing. No trees, no mountains, no place to get any kind of shade."
"Stop it," Kaede laughed, "you're making me sweat just thinking about it."
"Oh?" Imari's brows arched, and Kaede flushed as she realized her friend was studying her face with obvious, intense interest. Something unspoken and suggestive hovered between them until Kaede cleared her throat and looked away, back toward where Bo waited for them atop one of the waves.
"We should—"
"Yes." Imari continued stealing glances at Kaede as they picked their way forward, and Kaede continued pretending not to notice. Sometime soon, they would have to address this tension between them, both their mutual attraction and Imari’s infuriating insistence on fighting battles that didn’t involve her, but for now, contentment washed over her. It's actually kind of nice. Scary, but nice.
It wasn't often that women took notice of her. Men, sometimes, but most women didn't show their interests so brazenly. Many were content to wait for her to make the first move—something Kaede wasn't comfortable doing, especially since she was a woman herself and didn't want to create an uncomfortable situation for a lady who didn't belong to her court, or one who didn’t understand her situation as a lady of autumn. But Imari was different. Imari wasn't at all shy about showing her interest, and Kaede got the sense it was only a matter of time before the two of them discussed it more openly. And what then? If she does bring it up, what am I supposed to say?
There were many reasons she and Imari shouldn't take their relationship beyond friendship. She was on the run from Hayate and Setsuna and her lack of experience with romantic relationships. But still, would it be so bad?
She had plenty of time to ponder the question as they made their way out to sea. Its surface flattened the further they went, and Kaede was able to walk a little faster. She looked over at Rin, who returned the glance with a knowing one of her own.
Somehow, I don’t think she approves and I can see why. Hayate almost killed Imari last night, all because of me.
Despite the promise she had extracted, Kaede had a feeling that convincing Imari to stay back next time would be impossible. Imari had wanted to tail Hayate and Kaze through the city after their escape over the garden wall, but Kaede had managed to talk her out of it. With any luck, they wouldn’t find themselves in a similar situation again. Kaze wouldn’t be able to track them as easily across the sea—or, at least, he would pretend he couldn’t.
That did remind her of something, though, and she cleared her throat, speaking up to get Bo’s attention. “This is probably a stupid question, but where are we supposed to use the bathroom?”
Bo turned to look at her, and Kaede thought she saw their guide smile beneath their hood. “Pick a place,” they said, gesturing at the open space. “Any place.”
“Great,” Kaede sighed, wrinkling her nose in distaste. This is going to be a really long three days.
By the time afternoon arrived, Kaede's calves were stiff from picking her way up and over the waves, and her face dripped with sweat. They stopped to take a brief rest, but it didn't do much good—without any shelter, the heat from the waves and the absence of any breeze was wearing her down.
"If enough people crossed the Jade Sea, it would become an ocean again," Imari said during the worst of it, wiping a hand across her brow.
Kaede laughed between pants. Although she and Imari walked together, neither of them had much energy to waste on talking. Every breath made her mouth dryer and the stitch in her side worse.
Eventually, relief came. A tall shadow began to take shape against the fuzzy horizon, offering a dark triangle of shade on top of the sea’s glittering green surface. "That almost looks like a mountain," Kaede said to Imari and Rin.
It was Bo, however, who answered. Their ears must have been very keen, because they responded to her whisper from several yards ahead. "Not a mountain, Iori-san, but a wave."
"A wave?" Kenta said. From his expression, he seemed skeptical. "That big?"
Bo slowed down to match the rest of the group's pace, and Kaede thought she caught a hint of a smile under their hood. "It's the kind of wave that can only be found in the middle of the ocean; the sort you hear about in sea stories. That one is fourteen meters high."
Kaede squinted, trying to get a clearer look, but the monster wave stood fuzzy and indistinct against the sky. It did seem to be as huge as Bo claimed. Beside her, she noticed Imari grinning. "This will definitely be a story to tell my father when I get back home.”
Bo seemed to approve. Their eyes lit up, and they turned back to look at her. "So, you're a storyteller, Homura-dono? One of the noblest arts, to be sure."
Imari nodded. "Not a storyteller so much, but a story collector, certainly. I read and listen to any stories I can get my hands on."
"Do you, now?" Bo seemed to lose themself in thought for a moment, and then come to a decision. "And do you know the legend of Lady Tsukine?"
Kaede frowned. Everyone in Akatsuki Teikoku was taught the legend of the moon, practically since birth.
"Yes," Imari said, similarly confused. "Why?"
"Oh, not the children's story," Bo said, waving their hand dismissively. "I mean the legend. The real thing."
"The real thing?" Kenta skipped a few steps ahead to catch up with them and Takeshi followed.
"There is only one true story," Takeshi insisted. "Are you saying Lady Tsukine wasn't real?"
"Oh, she was real," Bo told them. "But she wasn't a beautiful white-haired goddess who descended from the heavens. You see, Lady Tsukine was a dragon."
Kaede's eyes widened. This was certainly not like any telling of the tale she had ever heard. She leaned in, eager to hear more. "A dragon? You mean a dragon yokai? The kind that flies around and breathes fire and everything?"
"Tsukine was not a member of the kasai clan, but she was indeed a dragon. And of course she could fly." Bo
tilted their head up to the sky, where the moon was just coming into view. "Back then, dragons had little to do with humans—even less than they do today."
"They still don't have much to do with us," Kenta added, only for Imari to shush him.
Bo smirked, but continued without complaint. "The dragons had their lives, and humans were not part of them until one day. Tsukine was the wisest of them all—"
"And the most beautiful?"
Before Imari could chastise Kenta again, Bo laughed. "Dragons do not think of beauty in the same way humans do, but yes, I suppose you could consider her to be beautiful. One day, she was sleeping in the shadowed forest beneath Mount Hongshan when she heard a noise. It was the cry of an injured deer, and she followed the sound to see what the matter was."
"I know this part," Kaede said. "That's where she met Yama."
"Yes, although he did not let the deer go from the hunter's trap, as some versions of the legend say. It was he who had caught it, because everyone needs to eat to survive. But unlike the other hunters who took from the forest without a thought for their greed, Tsukine saw Yama give thanks to the deer he had taken. When he took what he needed, he buried the rest, so its antlers could become trees and its bones could become the hills outside of the forest. Tsukine had never seen another hunter treat the animals of the forest with such reverence. Yama understood an important piece of knowledge only the dragons had possessed before: life is precious, no matter its form." Bo paused, and Kaede felt the weight of their eyes fall on her. "Perhaps it is because his own life was not easy. And yet, he still treasured it. Tsukine was impressed. She revealed herself to him, and Yama was amazed."
"He would be, if Tsukine was a dragon," Takeshi muttered. Even he seemed to be getting into the story, and apparently hadn't found it too blasphemous.
"She presented herself as a woman at first," Bo explained. "The legend is not all wrong. As some of the most powerful yokai, dragons can take many shapes, including human forms. As a human, she spoke to Yama and asked him what he had done."
"And then they fell in love?" Kenta asked.
"Not quite," Bo said, "but they did become friends. Tsukine came to him at night, when the world slept and her powers were at their strongest. She was a dragon of the water, you see, and her abilities were tied to the moon."
"I guess she was a moon goddess after all," Imari said, with more than a little breathless awe. "She was just a dragon, too. I wonder why most versions of the legend leave that part out?"
Bo smiled wide enough to show their teeth. "You haven't seen a dragon before, have you, Homura-dono? Most humans find them terrifying."
"Not me," Imari insisted. "I find them fascinating."
"Of course, you do," Takeshi muttered, but Kaede saw that his smile was more indulgent than she had expected.
"More than anything, dragons are powerful," Bo explained. "They are capable of great good, as well as great evil."
"Like us, then," Kaede said.
Bo nodded. "You understand the yokai well, Iori-san. Dragons and humans are much more alike than most humans think. Both have transformed the world more than any other living creature, for better and worse."
"Finish the story," Kenta begged. "Please? I want to hear the part where they fall in love." A look of worry crossed his face, and he bit his lower lip. "Wait. They do fall in love in your version, right?”
"They did indeed," Bo said. "It is extremely rare for a human and a yokai to fall in love, but that is what happened in this case. Each night, Tsukine lingered a little longer by Yama's side, and each night, they parted with more reluctance."
"That's beautiful," Kenta sniffed, but Kaede ignored him. Instead, her eyes drifted over toward Imari.
"But that wouldn't have worked," Takeshi said. "Yama was human. Tsukine was a dragon. She would have lived a lot longer than him."
"Yes, but dragons are not without their resources." Bo gestured up toward the sky where the stars still shone, beautiful, winking white diamonds across smooth black velvet. The falling moon brought out a different, softer color in Imari’s face, one that almost seemed to glow.
"Ancestors," Kaede sighed, looking up. "The sky's even clearer out here than it is at home." Warmth surrounded her left hand, and she looked down to see that Imari had grasped it. Despite her surprise and the slight jolt of her heart against her ribs, she didn't let go. She merely squeezed to let Imari know she welcomed the touch.
"When Yama reached the end of his life, as all humans do, Tsukine placed his face in the moon. That way, he would always be with her."
For a moment, the whole group looked up at the sky, seeing the familiar shadow anew.
"You mean it's his face up there?" Kaede asked. "Not hers?"
Bo chuckled. "Think about it. Why would Tsukine want to see her own face? Whose face would you put in the moon, Iori-san, if you had that power?"
Kaede struggled to stop her eyes from sliding left, but they did so without her permission. When Imari met her gaze, she glanced away, blushing furiously.
Thankfully, Bo didn't seem to expect a verbal response. "Some say Tsukine is still alive, working to make the world a better place. The spirit of Yama still burns within her, and for him, she watches over humanity, because she knows the good they are capable of."
"You know, I think this is my favorite version of the legend so far." Imari adjusted her grip, and Kaede sucked in a soft breath as their fingers laced tighter together.
"What did you think of it, Rin?" Kaede asked, searching for a distraction so she wouldn't make quite so much a fool of herself. She glanced over at her friend, who was padding softly beside her. "You've been awfully quiet."
Rin snorted. "That's because, unlike the rest of you, I know it's rude to interrupt a good story." She bowed her head to Bo in obvious approval. "You have told the legend well. It is refreshing to hear my own clan's version of the tale for a change."
"Wait," Kaede said, brow furrowing, "you mean the wolf clan tells the same story?"
"Almost all yokai clans tell the same story," Rin said. "We haven't added flourishes and embellishments the way you humans have because the story doesn't need them. The truth is beautiful enough."
"And you've never thought to tell me any of this before?" Kaede asked, shaking her head in disbelief. She wasn't sure whether to be amused or mildly annoyed.
Rin gave her a blank look completely free of guilt. "You never asked."
"She's got a point," Imari murmured.
"That's not fair, though," Kaede protested. "How am I supposed to get a true answer if I don't even know which questions to ask?"
"Well, now you know," Rin said. "And although you haven't asked, I will tell you that I have remained your friend for so many years because you exemplify the traits that made Tsukine fall in love with Yama. You respect all life and are open to living in harmony with animals, yokai, and every living thing."
"Oh? This isn't a love confession for Kaede, is it, Rin?" Kenta said. "Because I think you might have some compete…ow!"
A sharp nudge from Takeshi silenced him, but Kaede flinched anyway. She tried to remove her hand from Imari's, but the grip on her fingers tightened. Eventually, she sighed and let it be. She didn't want to stop holding Imari's hand anyway.
"Don't worry," Rin said, and Kaede recognized a glint of amusement in her blue eyes. "I have no desire to take any mate, let alone a human, but you should be honored by the comparison to Yama, even more so since he was a gentleman of spring."
That got everyone's attention.
"What?"
"Really?"
"Wait, but didn't they have children?"
Kaede didn't say anything. Instead, she looked at Bo. Thanks to her smooth face and breasts, few people recognized her as a lady of autumn. But to her immense relief, Bo’s face read acceptance. She breathed out a sigh, her worry evaporating before it really had a chance to take hold. It was unlikely a mysterious person like Bo, who seemed to have no discernable gender themself, would have a
problem with her, but it was nice to be sure.
"So, he was,” Bo said. “And Hibana-san, there are many ways to have children besides the usual one. Theirs were adopted, and all went on to become great daimyos, leaders who exemplified their mother's kindness and their father's respect for the balance of life." A small smile pulled at their lips. "Some even say their descendants have a special connection to the yokai, passed down through the generations."
"Hey," Kenta said with a note of excitement, "that could be you, Kaede!"
"I don't think so," Kaede said, but she did feel Rin's muzzle nudge affectionately against her shoulder. She laughed, draping an arm around the wolf's thick neck. Tiredness aside, this felt good—travelling with Imari on one side and Rin on the other, on a beautiful moonlit night, listening to a magical story.
***
Nothing. Hayate had spent hours walking the coastline, waving off beggars and would-be guides, searching every grimy, rotting dock in the harbor, and still: nothing.
No signs of Kaede and her companions since early that morning. He had returned to the inn just before dawn to watch for their departure, but he'd been too late. According to the proprietor, Kaede and the others had left the night before. He hadn't even bothered threatening her for more information, although it might have made him feel better. He'd been in too much of a rush to get to the harbor in the hopes of catching her.
But Kaede had vanished, and no one had seen her leave. Even mentioning a giant white wolf had brought only confused stares from the people he asked. That had led him to where he was now, stuck staring out over the Jade Sea from the harbor with no idea where to go next. As the light faded, so did his spirits. He hung his head, ignoring the sticky, warm wind that blew into his face. Kaze still hadn't returned from his latest search, but his other attempts had been fruitless. Why would this one be any different?
What am I supposed to do now? Hayate wondered, peering down at his sandals. Just give up? Setsuna would never accept me back without Kaede. I promised I would find her, and I've as good as failed. Even after everything Setsuna has done for me. Old pain opened in his chest, and he swallowed thickly. Yet again, he was a disappointment to his mother. Yet again, Kaede had bested him.
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