Chapter Hundred and Nine

Weightless

 

They didn't fear Sakami, really. Nobody would. But her presence and knowledge of Abihiko and Nekohiko being in Nagare still felt worrisome.

To Nekohiko, at least. By now, he'd spent a lot thinking about her involvement in his downfall. And how subtle yet steady her proximity to Abihiko had grown in the recent years. Was this woman truly naïve and simple-minded as she seemed? He'd been inside her personality and hadn't noticed anything beyond her incessant politeness and adherence to social norms and... well, meekness.

But personality didn't equal mind.

What was Sakami thinking? What had she always wanted? Only to serve Morokata while she had been in the Palace and only to wait for Abihiko to marry her?

What that really it? A woman so talented and incredibly well-versed in illusion spells, wanting nothing but forced marriage?

The dining section Sakami was sitting in had the embedded seating, with the floor under the table breaking down into a much lower level. Everyone dining could dangle their feet down below instead of folding them underneath themselves. As was typical of such sophisticated establishments, the table was brimming with delicacies in several courses, and already a few wine jars amidst them, the early afternoon hour notwithstanding. A blue and purple flame burned at the center of the table in an elegant bowl, lighting up the faces of the diners.

And what faces those were!

Sakami sat among these men like a gentle flower amidst lavish jewels and trinkets. What was the occasion? Nekohiko couldn't tell at a glance, but he could bet it had something to do with diplomatic relations between House Nagare and House Hisome. Maybe even some marriage propositions -- to snatch the girl who had come the closest to being the Empress.

Speaking of which, did they know Sakami wasn't married?

How did that reflect on the fact that Morokata had not yet told anyone about the switch of the Imperial brides?

"Mikawa, I just wanted to say hello," Sakami said timidly. "Umm... hello."

Mikawa struggled to answer, so scared he became.

Apart from Sakami, who was dressed in a very simple Nagare-fashion dress, black with feathers trimming her collar -- every other diner here was one peacock trying to top another in their flamboyance. Five young Nagare gentlemen, none of which looked like the militaristic and dutiful side of the family.

Yes, Kasuga's and Kazuragi's side had always devoted themselves to serving the people and the country. They slept on rigid, hard beds, lived in cold environments, trained their body and soul for hardship and minimal demands -- their hearts burning solely with the passion for war and noble sacrifice.

But not all Nagare family members could do that. The Nagare method was centered all around innermost desires and passion, so it wasn't hard to see why the family was split so cleanly between the desire for battle glory and desire for peacetime luxury.

It was just that Nekohiko didn't have much respect for this side of the Nagare family.

Mikawa made a rigid bow to Sakami.

"Hello, my Lady. I wish you a wonderful meal," he stammered, trying very hard to not shiver when the Nagare relatives gave him their scornful looks.

"No hello to your elders?" one of the Nagare young men scoffed. He waved at Mikawa to lift from his bow and solely put his attention to Nekohiko and Abihiko behind the boy.

His and other Nagare men's curiosity had a dismissive quality to it. They clearly didn't expect anyone important to be in Mikawa's circle and couldn't recognize Abihiko in his disguise. So they were already prepared to ignore all three of them. What irony. These same young men had crawled and fluttered so slavishly around Abihiko when he had visited that Nagare reception event a month ago. How they had sung to make him pay attention to them...

Abihiko smiled politely and drew back, pulling Nekohiko with him.

"Good day, kind masters. We will be off for our own meal. We hope we didn't disturb you too much--"

"Yes, sorry to have interrupted," Mikawa mumbled, also trying to sneak away.

Sakami watched them, mortified and sweet as usual. "Mmm."

But before the three could move too far away, all of a sudden -- she spoke.

"Such a beautiful opportunity, haaah... I was just telling the noble Nagare masters about the destruction of The Doll Palace and how many people have been hurt by it, including my own family members. And then, to see you two here..."

Though her voice was small and her manner very meek, she had enough courage to point at Nekohiko and Abihiko.

"Noble Nagare masters, here are my two cousins -- Hisome Himari and Hisome Sakura. I cannot believe... they are here. I missed them so much. May they please dine with us today?"

...

Himari and Sakura

? Spirits, are you serious?

A lot of Hisomes named their children after flowers, but at least Himari sounded somewhat decent, fitting both a young man or a woman. But Sakura... was just such an ultimate girly name?

Nekohiko gave Sakami the coldest of looks. Was she mocking him?

"We would rather not--" Nekohiko told the Nagare nobles, but one of the richest-dressed already flapped his hand at the servers.

"This will be a grand Hisome-Nagare peace-establishing feast! Three members of House Hisome, who would have thought?"

"Yes, yes, please come here, Master Hisome, Lady Hisome." Another of the nobles freed a seat for Nekohiko and Abihiko.

And Nekohiko could only seethe.

Which one did they just define as Lady Hisome, he wondered?

Definitely not the tree-tall Abihiko, he could bet.

"Mikawa..." One of the nearest lords sized the boy up and down with vivid distaste. "You may go. This is more of an... adult gathering, you see?"

"Uh... but--"

Mikawa blinked fast at Nekohiko and Abihiko as though desperate to help them get away. The unpleasant aura of scorn emanating from the Nagare lords had an almost physical feel to it, and Nekohiko pained at what it must feel like for the boy, to stand here amidst so many hateful faces and try to stand up to them.

"I'm sorry, hon, but Nagare and Hisome only, see?" Another of the lords encompassed the table with his hand. Then winked. "Military secrets."

"Diplomacy," the third one agreed. "People the level of servants shouldn't bother their superiors. Leave."

...

Hells, could these people be any more obnoxious. Nekohiko almost wanted to barge in and saw that even Sakami's fair face lost its color as she flashed an upset look at the young men who had said that.

But neither of them had to do anything.

"People the level of talentless hacks shouldn't tell the Lord of Nagare where to go and where not to," Mikawa snapped all of a sudden. His voice trembled, but his eyes had a steady, fierce light in them.

And that light had a tint of an electric current in them.

The Nagare aura, obvious in the boy's very image.

...

Huh.

It had done him well that he and Nekohiko had had a falling out previously, no? Apparently, having learned to stand up to Nekohiko had made Mikawa... not a pushover anymore?

Nekohiko didn't know if he should feel proud of this accomplishment or unnerved.

"Let us go and dine," Mikawa told Abihiko and Nekohiko and wanted to lead the way out. He didn't even look at the stunned Nagare lords nor did he care to say his farewells.

Not that any one of them wanted to call him out on that.

But their retreat was simply not bound to happen.

"Mikawa, you go ahead. We cannot really refuse our dear cousin Sakami, can we?" Abihiko said. He subtly nudged Nekohiko in the side and toward the seat.

Unsure, Nekohiko gawked. Then, as Abihiko's finger jabbed him much harsher in the side, he understood.

Oww!

"Yes, master Mikawa, thank you for helping us find the road to this place," he squeezed out miserably. "But we would rather have a meal with our dear cousin Sakami."

He and Abihiko sat down, in such accord of their motions that Nekohiko didn't doubt he guessed Abihiko's intentions correctly. And why, to sit here with Sakami, it was important for them to get rid of Mikawa.

Without Mikawa, this would be a more intimate gathering of "Hisomes" and Nagares. So, the gathering of Nekohiko's primary enemies and those of the Nagare family who were known to plot and scheme behind everyone's backs.

Abihiko must have seen this as a first-rate opportunity to gain insight into what these recent schemes might be.

Go, we need this, Nekohiko whispered under his breath, certain that Mikawa would hear and understand.

The boy did. And as soon as he left, one of the nearest Nagares leaned to Nekohiko, whispering in a seductive tone.

"Time for you get acquainted with a real Nagare, isn't it?" His hand inched toward Nekohiko's waist below the table, and Nekohiko flinched. "That Taira Mikawa brat may hold the Nagare magic due to his daddy warming Kazuragi's bed for a while. But in which way does that give him the claim for the Lord of the Skies' power? Pfff."

"Yes, let us show our dear sweet lady Sakura the true hospitality of House Nagare!" Another young man saluted to Nekohiko's face.

...

Nekohiko understood. Since Sakami was only one girl, most men jumped at an opportunity to claim the second-best Hisome girl by this table? But... why him?

What was it about him that made them think he was a girl apart from the stupid name Sakami had made up?!

"Khm-khm." Abihiko lay an arm around Nekohiko's shoulder possessively. "Sakura and I are married, so I think she'd be fine without the true Nagare hospitality."

The man who had previously tried to grab Nekohiko pondered about it.

"Aren't you related? I thought Lady Sakami just said you were both her cousins..."

"Yes, we are!" Abihiko flashed a beautiful smile, snatching the nearest cup full of wine. "But you know House Hisome. Never assume we all aren't incestuous creeps, ha-ha!"

Sakami's gaze brimmed with confusion and futility. She sat across from the two of them, blushing a tender pink.

Nekohiko had no idea why she had even wanted them to sit at this table -- but now that they were, the reason started to show subtly.

She wanted to know why they were here, in Nagare. And since the two of them would simply avoid her in any other circumstance, the only way she could find out was when they would be forced to play nice with the present Nagare nobles.

She didn't react to Abihiko's taunt, only smiled innocently at the other young men.

"Dear cousins Himari and Sakura have eloped because they both were engaged to other people." She grew saddened going on. "Naturally, our family is not very happy about it, which is why Dear Cousins are sneaking away from House Hisome here. They know there would be trouble if they showed their faces in front of Dear Cousin Morokata.

"He is an incredibly patient man, and kind," she murmured, "but it would be silly to think he would not punish them severely for making our House lose face."

...

Very subtle, Sakami.

Are those threats? Wow.

"Oooooof." One of the nobles shook his head. "I would not want to be Morokata's enemy, if you ask me."

"Just seeing him here when the delegations came to discuss with Kasuga a week ago," another added. "That was scary."

"He is not," Sakami sighed with a gentle smile. "He is the most innocent person I know. Which is why it hurts him so when his trust in others is betrayed. He rarely deserves that. If somebody betrayed my trust, that would not be a crime. I am not worthy of anyone keeping up their promises to me. But Morokata..."

Sipping from his cup, Abihiko tensed up at Sakami's evident dig at him abandoning her, but she seemed so oblivious, she didn't even pause here.

"Dear Cousin wants the people of the Empire to thrive. His work is going to bring peace and justice to the land. Everyone who opposes him fights on the wrong side of history," she ended softly.

"Absolutely."

"That man is a savior to the crumbling Empire," the nobles echoed her.

"Ha-ha-ha! Khem-khem." Nekohiko couldn't help himself. "I am sorry. Something lodged in my throat..."

"Ahh. It is dangerous when things lodge in one's throat!" Sakami said, sounding worried. "Please be careful, Dear Sakura, or you won't witness Dear Morokata rising to power. That would be very depressing because of how positive his influence on the Empire will be."

Sakami.

You...

...seemed to have grown a spine, too, just like Mikawa? But a spine still hidden within frailty and a tender tone. And so much admiration for Morokata that Nekohiko couldn't help but wonder if Sakami wasn't actually being sarcastic just to torment him with her words.

It almost sounded as though... she believed everything she was saying.

"Have you not noticed that the Spirits have gone calmer in the Empire ever since the Imperial Wedding?" she asked everyone around the table. "After the Wedding, all claims of reign over the Empire passed down to Dear Morokata for the duration of the Imperial honeymoon."

"Oohhh, and we thought the Spirits were happy due to you becoming the Empress," one of the lords told her, flirtatious.

Sakami hid her gaze beneath long eyelashes. "No, how could it be? My dear husband Lord Abihiko prefers men. Everyone knows that."

"One man, in particular," someone blurted. "I wonder what sort of a monster in bed that one must have been, to have impressed him so."

Chuckles exploded amidst the nobles, and Abihiko's pose became ever more relaxed as he reclined in his seat, his arm safely wrapped around Nekohiko.

Nekohiko, on the other hand... was slowly stewing in brimming rage.

Monster in bed? You have no idea, he wanted to growl at everyone. They do not call me Calamity for nothing.

"Thus, though he and I married, my presence on the Throne is minimal," Sakami continued to the commiserating glances from the young Nagares. "No, if the Empire's Spirits are at peace for the last two weeks, it is solely because Dear Morokata is reining the land and the people. What would be any other explanation?

"The Spirits recognize their true master."

"Cheers!" 

"Yep, cheers! Long live Morokata!"

Nekohiko's insides clenched and his jaws tightened. He found it harder to focus on digging his chopsticks through his meal in a performance of eating and wanted nothing more than to leave. Or to give a snarky reply.

Abihiko was quicker.

"So many Savage Beasts still roaming the land, though. In a day's ride from here, cities and towns are being threatened by the Spirits driven insane with conflict," Abihiko said, pleasant. "So many young people screaming in the streets about the non-Binding revolution and murdering all Binders. The Empire seems so peaceful, absolutely."

"If only everyone listened and followed Dear Morokata," Sakami said. "None of that would have happened. As I said -- whoever opposes him is in the wrong. They are only prolonging the misery of the Empire."

"Including Lady Kasuga?" Abihiko cocked his chin at the Nagare nobles. Then at Sakami. "Kasuga, who gave you sanctuary here from Dear Morokata's wrath --?"

"Kasuga is... an unfortunate leader," the fanciest noble muttered, leaning over. "Rather inconvenient, if you ask me."

"I bet she is." Abihiko smiled like a cat having caught its prey as he studied the man's face.

But Sakami only batted her lashes, toying with her food. "Ah yes. Because my Dear Husband Abihiko is not interested in me, I ran away and summoned anger from Dear Cousin Morokata. But I am not worthy of a sanctuary, Dear Himari. I know full well I am merely an instrument of diplomacy between our great Houses. As the new Empress, is it not my duty to try and promote peace between Houses Nagare and Hisome in this turbulent time? The enmity between our Houses has to end. At the Trial, you will see, I can safely promise that. And I always keep to my promises."

...

Spirits.

Morokata had been right. Sakami was a very bright young woman. She might be meek and tender and bruised easily like a flower, but she did have a core in her.

She would have made a strong Empress.

"Does Lady Kasuga feel better, by the way?" Sakami asked Nekohiko and Abihiko, concerned. "I thought she looked a bit pale yesterday."

Nekohiko's first urge was to say no, but Abihiko took it over from him.

"How would we know? We are nobodies and haven't interacted with Her Majesty Kasuga once since coming here."

...ahh, was Sakami subtly prodding them about the reasons for them being here? Nekohiko started sweating in the realization that she had almost baited him to tell her the truth!

"But you do interact with Dear Mikawa, no?" Sakami retreated, looking down bashfully. "Is Dear Mikawa not Kasuga's most trusted family member? You must have been introduced to her, too, at some point."

A collection of snorts and scoffs came from the Nagare nobles' side, but all these men had long become invisible to Nekohiko. Only Sakami remained and her sweet, yet steady pushing in the conversation to make either of the two of them reveal anything about their presence in Nagare.

Unlike Nekohiko who grew grimmer the longer the discussion went on, Abihiko looked entertained.

So many other news he snatched out of the gradually-more and more drunk Nagare nobles. Their opinions about Kasuga's reign and their collusions with the members of other Houses. Or how they had tried to influence the Emperor's council in myriads of ways, in the past and in the future.

The news about there being still so many diplomats and spies and councilors from each House here, in the Nagare city. Nekohiko and Abihiko hadn't left their inn rooms much, so they weren't very aware of the social and political scene in the city. But apparently, there were tons of Utsuro, Hira, and even Towa delegates here, doing their best to capitalize on the upcoming Trial.

Vastly disinterested in all such scheming issues, Nekohiko tuned the conversation out and didn't even resurface from it after he and Abihiko finally left the toxic table.

The mood was forlorn, but clearly only for him.

A social butterfly that was Abihiko seemed rejuvenated after the dark suffocating dinner in the restaurant. As the two of them emerged back into the brightly-lit outside, he slid his fingers in between Nekohiko's and tangled them together, pulling.

"Now dessert," he announced.

And Nekohiko almost wanted to groan.

"I'm tired. I want to go back to our room and my legal ledgers," he sighed. "This dinner was such a mess. I feel wrecked."

"Neko. Sakura," Abihiko teased, stopping in the middle of the packed street to drag Nekohiko into a hug. "We found out so much about Morokata's general plans for the Trial. It was great!"

...

"Did we, though? I haven't noticed," Nekohiko said dryly.

"Come on, let's go celebrate. Or at least have a date in the city -- the Nagare is such a beautiful place! All we do is spend time in our dusty little room. What kind of honeymoon is that?"

Nekohiko frowned, thinking.

The Nagare city was indeed splendid. He had always believed so, but hadn't been able to properly enjoy it while he'd been here as a cat and a snake. The last and only time he truly loved being here was...

Five years ago.

When he and Abihiko had spent about two weeks here, running all around the city... holding each other's hands... hugging each other at night.

Doing other things...

A prod in his heart took him out of his misery. He raised his eyes. "Didn't we already have our honeymoon leisure days in Ise? I... liked that city very much."

"Ise? Pfff." With shame, Nekohiko remembered how little Abihiko could relax in Ise due to the Spirits hating him. "Ise was boring as hell. I only tolerated it because you seemed so enamored with it."

Huh?

Abihiko took Nekohiko's chin in his fingers, lifting it up demandingly so that their eyes met. "Now it's my turn to enjoy our honeymoon together. And I want a real date -- a whole day with you, in Nagare."

...

Well, when you put it this way...

"What's that?" Abihiko became sidetracked, drawn to the gold-and-silver-colored store at the corner of the street. A whole array of small Bound flying toys in its front yard burred and whirred in dozens of tiny Aspect engines working.

Already a crowd of children frothed over there, giggling and exclaiming in awe. If someone like Abihiko wasn't immediately attracted to that place, the world would have to erupt in fire for making no more sense.

And really... perhaps this was a much better distraction for Nekohiko's foul mood. Being annoyed at Abihiko's agitation about the toy vehicles rather than feeling like a failure in political communication among Nagares, Sakami, and Abihiko.

"I'm buying myself one," Abihiko told him decisively.

Of course, Abihiko was giddy about the state-of-the-art toy airships. But Nekohiko remained very numb next to him. They were out of money for such lavish expenses. Did Abihiko seriously expect Nekohiko would purse out on some stupid toys?

"We are here, in Nagare," Abihiko told him, appalled. "The money that we were given was meant to get us here, and now we are. We can spend the rest of them in any way we want."

"On toys?" Nekohiko asked blankly. "You are the Emperor, Abihiko. Have some shame."

Abihiko's eyeroll resembled his bratty attitude of their childhood so much, Nekohiko actually felt flushing at the sight.

"I had some shame, and it didn't work on pushing you away," he said with a knowing squint. "Now I am trying the opposite. We'll see how it fares."

"No money on stupidities!" Nekohiko snapped his sleeves, turning away from the storefront. "What if we have some other expenses later? Tch."

"As if it was your money to begin with. It was Hira household money," Abihiko grumbled, following after him down the street.

"I am the Emperor. All the money in the Empire belongs to me."

"Unless it belongs to me first!"

Abihiko's sulking about the toys didn't last long, though. Because of course he got distracted by the gambling parlors next, and bothered Nekohiko about it for almost an hour until Nekohiko caved in and gave him a small golden rice coin. Just to get rid of him.

But as one might have predicted, Abihiko's gambling talents had not gone to waste from his sitting away in the Palace for five years. The single golden rice coin quickly turned into two, then into four. Then into eight.

And with that done, him running off to raid the toy store with his newly-gained money didn't even seem all that wasteful.

Wasteful of Nekohiko's time, maybe.

Because all this gambling and visiting The Heartstring to eat air desserts paid by Abihiko's gambled money and going all around the Nagare streets, holding hands -- took almost an entire day out of Nekohiko's life.

The day ended with him and Abihiko, rushing toward the Nagare air docks at the edge of Suzumegara's tail end -- and renting a small air boat to surf it through the rising currents of the crisp, autumn winds. Unlike the day view of the city, with Suzumegara's colossal wings merging in color with the lost horizon of the azure skies -- now, at dusk, the deep-blue wings surging up and down with a barely-noticeable slowness evoked a magical, legendary mood.

The dark skies above them glittered with the first pecking stars of the oncoming night. The dim glow of the city far from the air boats drifting beside Suzumegara was gradually lighting up in the true, sizzling-bright colors of the electric luminance of the Nagare.

He and Abihiko sat side by side in the boat, wrapped in cloaks they'd bought with more of Abihiko's hard-earned money. Nekohiko pondered the view of the city and the far below. Breeze prodded his hair, tickling his nose, and he rubbed his face against Abihiko's shoulder to get rid of the itch.

Abihiko glanced down at him with a blissful smile, and Nekohiko stilled, feeling just as happy in return. Weightless, as if floating without any air boats to aid him.

When he reached up to put his lips on Abihiko's and lose himself in a tender, slow kiss, it was one of the sweetest times that Abihiko didn't reject him, dodge him, or make it seem like a joke on his part.

He accepted the kiss. Then he responded.

Clearly lost in it, himself.

And exhausted and emotionally over-stimulated as Nekohiko was, he also...

...had quite enjoyed the day, after all.

All Sakamis and Nagares be damned.

 

 

---

***

 

 

The next day met them going back to their old routine with the documents and file work. But due to the slight change in the habit yesterday, it went much faster. Nekohiko even felt refreshed to delve into the dusty old scrolls Mikawa brought today -- not that he hadn't enjoyed them before.

The young boy gave him intrigued looks but refused to talk, still. He was shy, probably, and didn't know how to traverse the gap between him and Nekohiko after their falling out.

Great that Abihiko was there to help alleviate the awkwardness.

"Did you tell Kasuga to come here today?" He gulped down from his teacup with a wince. The Nagare teas annoyed him, he said. They were just too bitter and unappealing for his sweet-tooth taste buds. "Last night, on that dinner -- ooooh, so much stuff I learned about those four Nagare members."

"Mn," Mikawa said rigidly. He reddened. "They... they said a lot about Elder Sister?"

The room was filled with a whirr of tiny Bound air toys Abihiko had bought yesterday as they fluttered and zoomed beneath the ceiling. Nekohiko smacked some of them away from his face irritatedly, giving Abihiko a chance to grin at him each time that happened.

Himself, Abihiko was boyishly-happy with his toy aircrafts, and he frequently paused in his paperwork to fuel them again with his Binding so that they flew faster and farther through the rooms.

"Yep," he answered to Mikawa's question. "Just as I expected of them. All traitors, all sellouts to the Hisomes and Hiras. Not all of them. I think Lord Magari is different from the others and is a true Nagare patriot. So Kasuga can ignore him. The others, though..."

Mikawa slowly drooped over the edge of the table. With one hand, he cupped his ear as though listening to something out of sight. "She is coming, but she is a bit busy with some... logistical issues with the Utsuro dignitaries about the trade agreements over the precious lumber--"

Abihiko shuddered. "Couldn't care less. Trade agreements, ugh."

But Nekohiko, on opposite, perked up. "What trade agreements? Which region and sector?" Animated, he rustled a map of the Empire to show Mikawa. "This sounds so interesting!"

"Precious lumber, oh yes," Abihiko drawled under his nose, back in his own papers. "How extremely interesting."

"You seem to be very into precious lumber when we are alone," Nekohiko mouthed at him, impassive.

In his side-eye, he saw Mikawa's vivid blushing, but his attention was solely devoted to the oblique rosying up of Abihiko's ears and cheeks.

Because Abihiko was smirking at him over his cup. "Please stop harassing me, husband. I haven't even touched any precious lumber since that one night in Ise. Your flirtations are all empty words. Aren't they?"

How dare you.

I constantly try to prod you into some sensual... activities. You are the one who rejects me!

Nekohiko wanted to argue, but Mikawa screamed, jumping to his feet and pointing to the door. "Elder Sister! Elder Sister, you are here, at last!"

His desperate face could not have been more eloquent. Thank you, save me from these people -- was written all across it.

Kasuga patted Mikawa's sticking-out short hair, then gave the room a cursory look. What she saw here seemed to put her at ease, though she did invest a very particular focus to the buzzing airboat toys under the ceiling.

"How did the logistics talk go?" Nekohiko asked her.

"Apart from the general Nagare air shipments which I am fine with -- people keep asking me to bring stuff to them or to fly them into specific spots all the time," she said, sagging to the floor beside the table. "Am I a Bound aircraft dummy for them?"

"Well, only the Nagare Lord or Lady has the power of near-instant flight," Nekohiko sighed. "It does seem useful."

"Not to me," Kasuga cut, irritated.

Sure, sure.

If anyone could fly so fast, maybe they would relate. 

"Speaking of which!" Abihiko flicked his fingers, then issued a begging face at Kasuga. "I need a favor of this sort, please. I really need to fly to Utsuro one of these days."

"..."

Kasuga's mouth tinned, its edge twitching with dismay.

"Pretty please."

"Do not listen to him," Nekohiko said with a crushing sigh. "He's become quite... unruly lately. I can't help but feel it is my fault."

Abihiko winked, but that only increased the aggravated tension in the room.

As usual, Mikawa's patience cracked first.

"I will fly you to Utsuro!" the boy chimed, and with that out of the way, the routine could go on as intended.

However, with Kasuga, the preparations for the Trial stalled out. She and Abihiko were now mainly devoted to talking about the intricacies of the Nagare family's schemes and tangled intrigues. And as always -- Nekohiko found it supremely boring.

The only highlight of today was the fact that Abihiko and Kasuga bonded over...

Not only the political intrigue talk, no. But over the toy airships and other Bound vehicles Abihiko had bought yesterday.

"Is that Hinoo¹Hinoo was the name of the First Legendary Nagare Lord.-Three?" Kasuga asked, squinting to the ceiling where a small Bound airship was whooshing back and forth with incredible tiny menace. The girl turned, baffled, to search through the small swarm of other vehicles. Then indicated one in the corner with her chin. "And that one -- Kazuragi-Seven?"

Abihiko made huge eyes, clinking his empty cup down.

"You know all the toy lineups just by their appearance? Also, are all Nagare aircraft toys named after the previous Lords of the Skies?"

As though proud but afraid to show it, Kasuga brightened. "Mn. But, not only the previous ones. There is a Kasuga toy line in the designs. I think they begin releasing them in spring."

"How do you know so much about toy air vehicles?" Abihiko demanded. "Do not tell me--"

"Yes." Mysteriously, Kasuga almost smiled. A-almost. She seemed pleased, regardless. "Military advancement research goes with small copies first -- very toy-like, then we make them full-sized for our army. Kazuragis, in particular, are something we are very proud of, in case of any intrusion from over the sea. And Kasugas..."

"Tell me." And Abihiko leaned in to whisper at her in secrecy.

Which Kasuga very much enjoyed doing.

"As fast as swallows, and small," she gushed, gesturing with her hands as though trying to describe the design of the aircrafts to Abihiko. "One-person seat, increased velocity -- fluid lining."

"Ahh, now I need to see it! Do you have a prototype?!"

Kasuga could only nod, so emotional she became with Abihiko's excitement.

Her emotions didn't show very obviously because she forced herself to remain focused at all times, but Nekohiko saw: however faint, she was beaming from the inside.

...

"Tsk. I do not like toys much," Mikawa whispered wistfully into his stack of papers. "I only like books."

"Me too. I adore books!"

And Nekohiko gave him a satisfied smile which scared Mikawa off.

That, or the ledger with rows of numbers that Nekohiko showed him.

"N-not this kind of books..." Mikawa mumbled as politely as he could. "But you must be enjoying this work here very much, huh?"

Actually...

Yes.

This is the happiest I've been since... I cannot even remember when.

He didn't even notice how the days flitted by and only a few remained before the Trial. Almost an entire week in Nagare passed by like a dream.

It was soon time for them to leave and go to the Adamantine Mountain²Hira capital ^^ to meet with Aomi on their way back to Nara. But before they did, something else needed to be done first, and quickly.

Abihiko's and Mikawa's promised trip to Utsuro.

For whatever reason, Abihiko really wanted to push it to the very last day they were in Nagare. He said he wanted to take something important from the Northernmost Kingdom. But what? Nekohiko didn't know.

Because Abihiko refused to tell him, damn it!

"It would be too intense for you if you knew what it was," Abihiko told him right before his and Mikawa's flight.

He and Nekohiko had gone out to the city again, to have their last stroll down the main streets lined with the glassy-black stones and filled with the flying, magnetically-charged dummies and swaths of people in colorful clothes. Hira fashion, Hisome fashion, a lot of Towa fashion dresses -- in blazing reds, powdery pastels, cool, watery flowing robes... Indeed, the place was packed with tourists and dignitaries from each Kingdom, everyone brimming with tension in the anticipation of the Trial and the recent summit between Sakai, King of Utsuro, and Okinaga, King of Hira.

Notably, Utsuros and Hiras were the most prevalent people in the vicinity, so Nekohiko felt very stressed out by the idea of meeting someone he knew.

He had his glamor disguise, of course, but... aaah, Hira Okinaga was here now. In Nagare. What if he and Nekohiko met by accident on the streets or in the restaurant Nekohiko was currently in? The Heartstring was a very romantic place, so Okinaga might never want to come here -- but what if?

Good thing that Nekohiko and Abihiko were leaving Nagare later today.

Just after this small quick dinner in The Heartstring and after Abihiko's flight.

Abihiko squeezed Nekohiko's fingers under the table. The orders in the restaurant were fulfilled very slowly, and Abihiko told him he would return with Mikawa before the dessert with the maple-syrup-flavored air would be served.

Which, all right.

"Be careful," Nekohiko said, feinting indifference. "Air desserts cost money, and if you don't come in time, I would have to eat both of them, and I don't want to. So much maple syrup will make me sick."

He was still sour about Abihiko refusing to tell him why he was leaving for Utsuro, but... whatever.

Yet as though reading his mind, Abihiko reached out for his ear and murmured.

"You can spy on me through the seashell. It will be a surprise. As long as you keep watching."

And before Nekohiko could respond or turn his head to catch Abihiko's hot breath and inhale it -- Abihiko withdrew and got to his feet.

"I'll be gone no longer than a blink of the eye."

He ran off, almost knocking the waiter out of his way and not even apologizing after. Nekohiko looked after him, wanting to both shake his head in disappointment and in... pride.

Why? Why was he proud of Abihiko's obnoxious behaviors?? What was wrong with him?

He was just so happy about Abihiko's "surprise" for him. What could it possibly be that it was intense that Abihiko couldn't tell him now? Nekohiko couldn't wait to find out.

But it still didn't stop him from realizing he had fallen entirely for Abihiko.

After the murder. Yes, after all the lying. And even after the continuous rejections of Nekohiko's advances. And the stupid gambling and toy-hoarding! Argh.

He had still fallen for Abihiko again.

Howwwww? HOW?

Ah well. Not like he would complain about it.

"I can't believe him," Nekohiko said, meaning mostly himself. 

...

But someone must have thought he was talking to them. From over the next table, some very drunk-looking lady shuffled over, her face twisted in a suggestive smirk.

"I know, right?" She giggled, taking a major sip from her hidden flask with no-doubt something very potent. In a drunken sway of her arm, she pointed in the direction where Abihiko had run off to. "Such a rash young man, but so sexy, daaaaamn. Tall, lean! I can't help but ogle all men like that! Not many of them in the world, are there? Most are pretty short... Not like Sakai, for instance, or even the Emperor. Whatshisname... Abibaka. Ha-ha!"

Wait. The woman's voice...

Nekohiko froze, afraid to blink.

"!"

The woman almost tripped on someone's leg as she neared Nekohiko's table and sank down beside him. 

"Tell me about your boyfriend, pleeeease. I am so starved for some good gossip and some steamy romance. My life is... hicc! So... Ugh. Excuse me." She leaned an elbow on Nekohiko's shoulder heavily, and the stench of stale alcohol breathed at him from her face.

Yet he couldn't move. Couldn't even think. Her face, both familiar and unrecognizable...

Spirits...

"I just wish your boyfriend didn't wear that Hisome glamor shit on his face to disguise it, haaaah. I wonder if he's not very attractive in the face, though?"

...

The chill of trepidation covered Nekohiko head to toe as he regarded the woman's features. Her changed, emaciated face.

After five years, to meet her here.

Out of all of his five bodyguards, to see Chinatsu -- last. The Utsuro Imperial bodyguard of Nekohiko's.  The most talkative, the most warm-hearted, the least disagreeable of all his bodyguards. Her light and funny attitude of five years ago had evaporated, though.

Look at her now. 

She was unrecognizable. As though these past five years had eroded her into nothing.

"That said, you also wear the Hisome glamor shit on your face," Chinatsu blared, utterly wasted. "What are you, Hisome sissies or what? Te-he-he. Ugggh, I am so, so tired of this stupid place, and those fucking dignitaries and councils and meetings swarming around the Birb Queen Kasuga... All that -- you know what? Meaningless."

She waved a hand with her drink, splashing some of it onto Nekohiko.

"I've been in this situation already once. All the talk, talk, talk. All the scheming, intrigue, plotting... hicc! And you know what? I just saw them all today, those bastards we have plotted with, years ago. That fucking Okinaga and Sakai, too. Can't see their bastardly faces without wanting to drink myself till blacking out." She swayed, even sitting. "They'll all die soon anyway, you know. Everyone who has plotted alongside them... is dead now. Yeah. And they ask me while I'm drinking? Pffhaaa!"

She overturned another gulp into her throat, and a shiver passed through her as she swallowed. She stared before her as though hypnotized.

"Daichi. Etsu. Now Arata... Holy shit, I am next, am I not? Ha-ha-ha! That dumb guy we plotted against... he was like... insane or something. Everyone said so. Demonic... A complete Demon, I tell ya. Monster. Ca-la-mi-ty. I swear he's come back from the hell to murder everyone who has had a part in his offing. Like a vengeful ghost. I swear on my heart. Fuck, I need more drink... Ha-ha-ha! I'm next. I'm telling you I'm next in line on the murder ship! That ship is sailing sooooooon. Waiter?! Waiter, bring us more booze!"

...

Nekohiko stared.

Chinatsu waved to the waiter maniacally, then shook her head as though to clear it up from bad thoughts. 

"Anywho, whatever. Now tell me more about your hot boyfriend? He sticks in you, or you in him?" Chinatsu grinned, hugging Nekohiko from the side. "Lighten up my mood, sweetheart. I am depressed as hell."

...

...

...

"Neko?" Abihiko's voice came to him through the seashell somewhere far, far away. "Neko, we're here, in Utsuro! Are you ready for your surprise?"

 

 

---

***

 

Another surprise?

You people want me to have a heart attack with so many surprises at once, or what?