Chapter Text
After settling things with Asahi and concluding that there is naught to do but to wait for further news on the exchange of prisoners, you had packed up your things, said your goodbyes and set sail back to Eorzea. Much as you wished to enjoy the new sights and oversee the new beginnings of the Doman Enclave, as Thancred had once succinctly put it, the Warrior of Light is ever burdened with new responsibilities to attend to, slaying primals, thwarting leguses and whatnots.
So you were surprised not a week later, you received an urgent missive, handwritten from Lord Hien that summoned you back not at once, though on a specific date. You had look at the Haiku,a poem with a tilt of your head though, the letter has not made a word of note about new developments on the prisoner exchange, just urging you to appear in Doman Enclave on February 14. When you tried to question the poor seasick Doman who actually took the week's journey to set sail to Eorzea and hunt you down; a difficult feat in itself, he merely shook his head and was only told by Hien to hand-deliver this letter to you personally.
Come to think about it, when you bid farewell to Hien, he had looked troubled and appeared to want to tell you something. When you spoke out and asked if something required your help, he had sigh and merely give you a wry smile, saying it's nothing. You have known Hien for a time and being reticent to speak up his mind did strike you strange, but you merely brushed it aside thinking surely a head of state like himself have many worries of his own. Nonetheless, you earnestly held both of his hands and forced him to promise you that should there be anything you can help, he would tell you straight and you would swing right down to help him; even Varis zos Glavus himself would not be able to stop you. He blushed and looked away, shaking off your hands immediately, and honestly you felt a little hurt.
Perhaps it's not the right decorum to do so in Doman customs?
If things were urgent, Yugiri or Gosetsu would have paged you a SOS on the linkpearl, but they are strangely silent when you attempt to probe them on your end. Sensing something is amissed, your head conjured up with dreadful possibilities; did Asahi make his move already?
Wrought with worry, you decided to forge ahead first with a simple note to the scions and teleport directly to the Doman Enclave aetheryte.
You arrived at the aetheryte with your weapon out and poised to do battle at a moment's notice, yet your eyes were wide open with surprise, for there was naught amiss. Everything in Doman Enclave appeared the same, including the same repairman who helplessly clinged on to the roof tiles of a tower.
Maybe... Except for a scared little Doman boy in front of you who fell and peed his pants because you looked outright ready to murder.
After spending some time to calm the boy down and parting a mirror apple to appease, you set off to look for some familiar faces, preferably Hien, but anyone; Hakuro, Yugiri who can shed some light on this urgent missive.
You are unable to find any in immediate vicinity, though from speaking with the Doman people, it appears everything is running along fine, rebuilding and all. In fact, everything was so smooth sailing, they are working to put together a Spring Festival for celebration on February 14.
Is that why Hien wanted you to come on that day? To oversee the proceedings and ensure the success of said festival?
You finally relaxed your shoulders and heaved a sigh of relief. Trust Hien to write a terribly confusing letter without explicitly stating the reasons. However, there were some Domans who looked at you with a knowing smile when you asked after Hien, and they told you he is physically fine, healthy as a bull, except certain matters of heart is keeping the poor man, melancholic and somewhat painful to watch.
"Is he shouldering a lot of responsibilities that I can be of help with?" You asked worriedly.
Mitsuba, the female roegardyn whom you are speaking to merely laughed heartily, slapping you hard on your shoulders," Yes, yes. Not responsibilities specifically, but this is something only you can relieve him of. Lord Hien is a fine handsome young man, do you agree?"
"Of course." You nodded confidently," A man of his heart and caliber is indeed rare and far-between. A true honorable man whom I trust immensely. Yugiri and Gosetsu are intelligent and powerful individuals on their own, and Sh- Lord Hien had inspired them so in his worthy cause. It's my greatest honor to know and count him as my friend."
A loud familiar gruff of laughter could be heard, and as you turned, you spotted Gosetsu heaving and holding his stomach up in glee. Beside him were Yotsuyu on his left, who was as usual having a dango in her hands and Hien steadily walking on his right.
"DID YOU HEAR THAT, MY LORD!?" You could hear Gosetsu's loud exclamation, but you could hear no further when you could see Hien had side elbowed him hard on his gut, and they both seem to have a short and tense (?) conversation that you could not hear from the distance.
Mitsuba left your side as she could see you are in familiar company, and you beamed, waving happily at the trio as they approached you.
Is it just your imagination that Hien's ears were a little red? Perhaps from the cold?
"Welcome back, old friend!" Gosetsu exclaimed in his usual unintentionally loud boisterous manner," What manner of business have you back at the Doman Enclave so quickly? Is there news from Eorzea?"
You shook your head and smiled," I received an urgent missive from Hien, and on my part, I assumed the worst and took flight here first thing in the morning. Though from what I gathered from the locals, naught is amiss and I gathered tis' merely a misunderstanding."
"A missive?" Gosetsu blinked a few times before realization colored his eyes and he erupted into another burst of loud laughter. Hien was speechless as well, pinching his nose, sighing deeply, but you noticed his ears were now growing a crimson red. Only Yotsuyu remained blissfully unware, though she looked at Gosetsu quizzically with an uneasy smile, not sure if she is able to share in on the joke.
"My deepest apologies. ...I did not mean to alarm you." Hien finally regained some composure, yet his eyes were darting nervously at Gosetsu whose laughter has yet to die down," There's nothing new coming from the Empire and I gather Asahi is still making good of our agreement. The rebuilding of the Enclave, as you can see, is proceeding along smoothly. We are having a festival a few moons after and I... I merely wanted to invite you along. Did I have you in an inopportune time that you have to return to Eorzea urgently?"
You gave it a short thought in your head, running through the things you have to do, but nothing seemed so urgent that you could not kick back and relax for a few days. You mentally reminded yourself to send a linkpearl message to Alphinaud and Tataru later so they need not worry over your short absence.
You shook your head," Nothing that I can't do later. Will it be alright if I stay in the Enclave till the festival is over?"
Gosetsu seemingly wanted to reply but Hien was quick to cut in, with his usual brand of sunny smile on his face," Really?! That's great! But hmmm, where to stay..."
"Why not have the Warrior of Light stay in Kienkan?" A familiar feminine voice cut in, and your elegant friend and comrade, Yugiri walked in and join the company. When Gosetsu gave her a scandalous look, Yugiri shrugged," The local ryokan is currently full as more and more Domans are returning to the Enclave. Why not Kienkan when it is a huge manor with many rooms to offer? You and 'Tsuyu' are staying there temporarily anyway."
"A good idea!" Hien crossed his arms and nodded," Will it be alright if you show our friend the way? Gosetsu and I will need to have a word. Tsuyu, do you want to head back to the Kienkan first as well?"
Yotsuyu shook her head, immediately dodging to hide behind Gosetsu, but the big man has a tender gaze for her and nudged her along," Go on, Tsuyu. I will bring back more Dango for you if you do so."
"Really?" Yotsuyu eyes brightened up and smiled innocently," Okay!"
It was... honestly hard for you to see the day and night difference of Yotsuyu without her memories. Knowing the history between the former Viceroy and the Doma Samurai, you wondered briefly how did the intense hatred between them then, have become something so meek and heartwarming now?
Thinking it is not something you could understand, you shook your head and followed Yugiri walking towards the Kienkan. As you approached, you noticed a whole row of makeshift stands filled the entire T path junction in front of Hien's manor. There were many people attending to the stalls, woodwork hammering sounds can be heard, and many were busy stocking up the stands with items or building their own. You would have thought children should be busy playing and exploring, but they too were roped in to help out, with happy and relaxed smiles on their face.
"It was Lord Hien's idea." Yugiri supplied, watching your eyes open with wonderment," Haru Matsuri, or Spring Festival used to be a huge event in Doma. The Enclave used to be the melting pot of culture and commerce; trade items came from all over the world, and those were sold here during the festival. Lord Hien thought for all the work the Doman people have done, they deserved a short break and celebrate. It maybe a bit hard to emulate the scale back then, but we will do what we can to make it lively and fun."
Even as Yugiri nodded to the Kienkan Guardsman and they lead the way to your room; a medium-sized tatami room with a window that faced out to see the beautiful cherry blossoms. You were however distracted since your head was spinning from the possibilities and the things you could do to help.
As Yotsuyu depart for her own room, the Guardsman went back to his station and Yugiri was about to leave you there to your own devices, you piped up," Is there anything I can do to help?"
Yugiri smiled," You have helped plenty, dear friend. You should take it easy and enjoy the festive."
"But the festival is still a few moons away. I would feel ill at ease just simply sitting on my hands, waiting."
Yugiri thought for a minute and asked," The last few times you were here, we were busy attending to matters of the Empire. Even though we did take the Ambassador on a tour of Yanxia, it was not for your benefit. Would you want to take this time to explore the area? Along the way, though I would rather you rest... You can help the people who you meet, if they are in need."
You nodded," That I will do then once I have settled in. Ah! Yugiri, since I will be here for a while, tis' alright if I borrow some Doma clothes to blend in?"
Yugiri laughed,"Sure. Give me a moment, I will have someone to attend to you shortly. Though... You remind me of a certain someone..."
"Certain someone?" You asked.
"A man who always has his heart set out to help others, even when he is troubled with his own problems. It's only my faintest hope that people such as you and him, are all the more deserving of a rest and actually begin to do so." Yugiri looked out of the cherry blossoms thoughtfully, then turned to you with a strange question.
"Now that the rebuilding of the Enclave is well under way, do you not think Lord Hien should have a companion to help him and stay by his side? As a lover and someone whom he can share his deepest thoughts?"
It immediately conjured up an image in your mind; the thought of a beautiful and dignified woman standing beside him, who understood the weight on his shoulders, and ever be the person to lend him a hand or a ear whichever he required. And just as quickly as the image came, your heart strangely ached at that thought. That woman then took on the face of Yugiri, and you looked on at your friend who was still gazing at you thoughtfully and patiently waiting for your answer.
You do so carefully even as you puzzled over the strange ache in your heart," As I have mentioned earlier with Mitsuba, I think Hien is a great man with indeed a lot of responsibilities. I do think having a partner by his side would definitely lift some weight off his shoulders."
Yugiri smiled and seemingly satisfied with your answer, and though you wanted to ask more, she had then left to fetch someone to help you with your clothing.
You were left alone to puzzle over your feelings. Why did the thought of Hien having a lover hurt you so?
Hien is heir to the throne of Doma, and you do not need Alphinaud to be here to tell you how important it would be to have Hien pick a suitable wife and preferably having a half dozen children at his feet to continue the dynasty of subsequent Emperors. You thought back of the day to day interaction you have with him at the Azim Steppe; how the both of you have listened to the Oronir elder under the starry sky, about the Dawn Father Azim and the Dusk Mother Nhaama. You then had also hoped Hien would be able to find his Moon, as he had also vocally hope that you will find your Sun.
So what changed from then to now?
You were not able to put further thought into it as Yomogi and even Yotsuyu came in with bundles of what appeared to be, yukata to your room. They were mostly of a plain design as compared to the Lady's Yukata you acquired in Eorzea, yet they suited you just fine since you wanted to blend in, and the hard work you were expecting to help out with, would dirty and destroy finer textile. In the end, you chose a dark blue yukata with tights to go along. Yomogi helped and explained how to put it on and gave you a long piece of cord, Tasuki, that would help tuck up the yukata sleeves, making way to help you do menial work if time comes.
Deciding to put the matter of Hien to one side, you tied up your hair and walked out of Kienkan with utmost confidence, happy and ready to help out.
Just as you round the corner to take a look around, you see the man that troubled you so, leaning against the walls of Kienkan.
Waiting for you.