Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything was painted dreary, muted tones, mostly shades of grey. Even the tree limbs drooped under the weight of the water and constant barrage. I felt all the gods of storms, rain, and thunder seemed to mock me with their never-ending parade through the sky. It had been raining, in varying degrees of intensity, for days and there was no end in sight. I found myself stopping to look out over the garden more and more as the days wore on. Each time I said a silent prayer for the rain to stop. “Maybe I should make some rain ghosts…” I thought aloud as my shoulders slumped sadly. With shuffling steps, I passed through the castle.
Although I tried to do it for brief moments at a time and when it wouldn’t interfere with my work, it was clear people were starting to notice. I had just about decided to give up on the whole foolish notion when I happened upon Lord Shigezane.
“Say, Doll, what’s had you so down lately?” His voice was bright as ever but there was a distinct look of concern in his eyes. “You’re not getting sick, are ya?” He placed his head on my forehead, pushing my hair up and out of the way. “You don’t feel warm…” He muttered pulling his hand away.
“No… I feel fine, thank you, Lord Shigezane. I was just hoping it would stopping raining soon. Even if it’s just for a day or two.” I replied trying to bury my despondence and smile for him. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Something you want to do but can’t because of the rain?” He asked simply enough but I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell him the reason. I looked away considering how silly it might sound but he pressed me. “Awe, come on, Doll! You can tell me!” His cheerful smile instantly set me at ease.
“Well… I heard some people in town talking about a shrine in the mountains. They said that if you make a wish from the heart your departed loved ones at the shrine will bless you.” I replied as I clasped my hands to my chest and looked out at the garden with a fond smile. “They said the shrine’s blessing is most powerful during the rainy season.”
“Hmm…” He tapped his finger on his chin lightly, a thoughtful expression accompanying it. “But it would be a hard and dangerous trip to make alone with good weather…” He said at last.
“Exactly!” I chimed as I looked over at him.
“So, you’re hoping the rain will stop long enough to go.” I nodded enthusiastically. “I tell you what, Doll. If it does stop raining, I’ll go with you.” My eyes lit up in joy at his casual suggestion. Lord Shigezane was always so kind to me. But, I couldn’t help but wonder…
“Do you have a wish you’d like to make, Lord Shigezane?” I was curious if maybe he had something he wanted as well.
“Maybe I do, Doll. Maybe I do.” He answered with a wink. I looked away and blushed lightly.
“Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Shigezane. I look forward to it.” I replied trying to sound as casual about it as he seemed to be.
“You should go on, Masa will be looking for dinner soon.” He replied with a chuckle, as if he knew I was trying too hard.
“OH RIGHT!” He reminded me I had been on my way to make Lord Masamune’s dinner when I had stopped.

I watched her jog off and couldn’t help but chuckle at how cute she was, Grabbing the corner and skidding around it in her haste. Every little thing she did tugged on something inside me. It drove me mad trying to figure it out to start with. In time, I came to realize what it was. But she was hopelessly devoted to serving Masamune and would never give me more than a passing smile. Besides, if I got too attached, Kojuro would just swoop in a take her from me like all the others. I clicked my tongue irritably at the thought of Kojuro taking another one from me. No, I couldn’t let that happen this time. No matter how fleeting, I would do anything to see that smile. I looked out over the garden trying to puzzle out a way to make her smile in spite of the depressing air. Then I thought of a story she had told me from her childhood.
“Oh yeah… That’ll do…” I smirked before jogging off to put my plan in motion.

When I woke the next morning, I hoped against hope that I would be greeted by light streaming through the paper doors of my room. Alas, this was not the case. With a defeated sigh, I got dressed and ready to face another colorless day. I slid open the door and immediately froze in my tracks. Hanging from the eaves in rows, like soldiers warding off the constant downpour, was an army of rain ghosts. I followed them down the eaves in both directions. Realizing they were concentrated outside my room.
“What… what is this?” I mused as I stood on my tiptoes to take one of the lowest hanging ghosts in my hand. I gently pulled it down and pressed it close to my heart. “Lord Shigezane…” I murmured fondly as I closed my eyes and said another prayer for the rain to end. I carefully placed the rain ghost in my sleeve before taking off for the kitchens. Though I cannot be certain, I believe I might have skipped the whole way there.
Later that day, I went to Lord Masamune’s chambers to serve the lords their afternoon tea. As I poured the tea, Lord Kojuro caught a glimpse of the rain ghost as it made a bid for freedom from my sleeve. “What is that?” One eye brow quirked up as he pointed to my sleeve.
“Oh!” It’s a rain ghost!” I proclaimed taking it from my sleeve and handing it to him. “You make them and hang them from the eaves to ward off rain. Someone made a bunch of them and hung them from the eaves outside my room.” I went on as I focused on serving the tea again.
“I guess a certain someone noticed… UMPH.” Lord Kojuro had started to speak but stopped abruptly. I shot my glance to him concerned. “Forgive me, it seems I was far too hasty to enjoy your tea. It’s still a bit warm.” He replied in answer to my look, a sheepish grin on his face. I smiled and nodded before going back to the tea again
“Say Shigezane. You were asking the maids for… Ahhh…” This time Lord Masamune started talking and was cut off. “The tea is very warm…” He groaned, holding his side with one hand and his cup with the other. I looked over at Lord Shigezane suspiciously but he was just sipping his tea, nonchalantly as ever.
“I think the temperature of the tea is just fine, Doll.” He smiled at me from behind his cup.
“Th… thank you…” I replied still suspicious of what just happened. “Well if you’ll excuse me…”
The rain hadn’t stopped when I went back to my room at the end of the day. Still, a hopeful smile found its way to my face as I saw all the rain ghosts lined up on the eaves. “Tomorrow.” I said reverently as I bowed to all the little ghosts trying so hard to make my wish come true.
The following morning, I stretched myself into waking. As I became more awake I realized the ever-present drone of rain on the roof wasn’t nearly as loud. I sprang out of bed, throwing the door open without even thinking to change clothes. The first thing that caught my, a multitude more rain ghosts hanging from the eaves. Their territory had expanded down the eaves in both directions, a veritable army of them fighting off the rain. Their work seemed to be paying off because it was barely sprinkling now. Though, it looked like the clouds could open up in a downpour at any moment. Still, I was hopeful. I got dressed and readied myself to start my day with more energy than I had in weeks.
Going through the day, I thought it might not be a bad idea to get the ingredients ready to make lunch for Lord Shigzane and I in case it did stop raining. As I was prepping everything, a happy voice met my ears, filling me with a pleasant warmth and cheer.
“Here ya are, Doll. What are you making?” Lord Shigezane wondered as he moved next to me, scrutinizing my work with a light-hearted smile.
“I just thought it was a good idea to get all the ingredients ready now in case it stopped raining. That way I can prepare lunch quickly so we can…” My voice trailed off when I realized he might not want or be able to go now.
“Don’t go getting all bashful on me. I meant what I said, if it stops raining we’ll go.” He seemed to realize what I was thinking and his words brought me a measure of relief. He continued to watch me silently while I mustered up the nerve to ask the question that had been on my mind since yesterday.
“Lord Shigezane, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about all the rain…”
“Oh right! I just remembered there’s something I need to take care of!” He cut me off before I could even finish my question. “I’ll see ya around, Doll!” He smiled jovially as he waved at me over his shoulder while he strode quickly away. So quickly it was more than a little suspicious… I chuckled to myself, turning back to what I was doing. If he were trying to make me think he had nothing to do with it, he’s being far too obvious.
I returned to my room that night, the rain still falling lightly from the dark sky. “Tomorrow for sure.” I said resolutely from under a canopy of rain ghosts. I said my prayer once more before going to bed.
The next morning came bright and early. Wait… Bright?! My eyes snapped open then closed immediately as the glare of the sun through the paper panes caught them. Giddy as can be, I flung the blankets off and rushed to the door again. This time when I tried to spring out of the room, I was instantly tangled in a curtain of rain ghosts. At some point, they had multiplied again to the point they were hanging from each other. Not know this had happened, I ran headlong into them becoming trapped like a fish in a net. I soon heard a muffled chuckle as Lord Shigezane approached, still in his night clothes.
“What is all this?” He wondered, gingerly pushing aside the rows of precipitation wards as he made his way to me.
“I was hoping you could tell me…” I glared at him in feigned annoyance as he grabbed the strings tying my arms. He gently bobbed my arms up and down like I was a puppet. Oh, if only he knew he pulled on my strings long before now.
“Sorry, Doll. I don’t know anything about this.” He had an amused grin on his face when he finally started helping me get free.
“I find that hard to believe…” I muttered looking at him dubiously. “I think you know more than you’re letting on.”
“You can think that all you like. Won’t change the fact that it stopped raining and we have a hike to go on. You get changed and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I’ll make sure to tell Kojuro and Masa where we’re going…” His eyes darted around mischievously. “Well maybe not exactly where we’re going.” Before I could point out how illicit he made our trip sound, he was gone.
I was just about finished with the last of the taiyaki when Lord Shigezane appeared in the kitchen. He stole one right out of my hand as I moved to pack it. He instantly took a huge bite out of it. A bite he would quickly regret…
“This might be hot…” He managed to get out as I hurried to get him a drink of water.
“Well it just got done cooking.” I sighed in exasperation. For my chiding, all I got was a sheepish grin over the cup. After letting the taiyaki cool, he finished eating it while I packed up our lunch.
“Here let me carry that.” He took the pack of food from me, sliding over an umbrella before slinging the whole thing over his shoulder. With that, we set off for where the trail into the mountains was.
The sky was becoming overcast was we started ascending the trail. The cloud cover combined with the early morning light and humid air cast an odd, ethereal glow to the trees lining the path. It seemed to give credence to the idea that this forest might be a place to commune with the spirits of the departed. It was still and quiet save for the sound of dripping from the waterlogged leaves overhead and our feet sinking into the muddy trail. Occasionally, a bird would sing or a rustle would draw me out of thoughts of how close Lord Shigezane was. I couldn’t help but steal glances over at his back as he led the way. Randomly, he reached down and took my hand with a firm grip.
“There are some rock steps up ahead but they’re wet and look slick.” He explained, glancing over his shoulder at me. “Better keep a hold of my hand so you don’t fa…” At that moment, he slipped and almost fell over. He caught himself on a tree branch before falling over completely but I had still been yanked closer to him as a result. It was only made worse when he righted himself and our bodies pressed together. “Maybe I should hold your hand so I don’t fall over…” He muttered sheepishly, a grin gracing his handsome face. I stared up at him from my place at his side and saw a slight blush on his cheeks. Something about his blush was endearing.
“I think we established long ago that I’m the klutzy one here…” I teased reaching up and poking his cheek gently. “So, how about we keep each other from falling?” He looked down at me, smiling in earnest as he nodded.
“All right, but I think this is the best position for that.” He replied letting go of my hand and wrapping it around my waist. He pulled me right up next to him. Thankfully, he was looking ahead or he would have seen the bright crimson blush of my cheeks. Now all I could hope for was he didn’t hear my heart pounding in my chest…
We continued up the stairs without incident and soon the trail opened next to a stream. Willow trees lined the slow move water, precipitation burdened limbs dipping into it. It reminded me of a lover caressing the face of their beloved with gentle fingertips. A romantic sigh escaped my lips and Lord Shigezane stopped walking. He turned to where I was looking.
“That looks like a nice place to stop and eat, doesn’t it?” He mused and I nodded in agreement. We sat down on a pair of rocks that were relatively dry. Though I regretted the loss of Lord Shigezane’s warmth at my side, this was still quite pleasant. “I wonder how much further it is…” He looked up the path. “Not that I mind if there’s still a long way to go.”
“Everything I heard suggested it would only take a day to get there and back.” I answered as I nibbled some onigiri.
“We should be getting close then.” He nodded in approval as he looked back to me.
“Thank you again, Lord Shigezane.” I commented with a slight bow. He chuckled and looked at me a bit troubled.
“You know I volunteered to come. And… you don’t have to be so formal with me. Ya know… when we’re alone like this.” He was uncharacteristically awkward right now. The words seeming to be harder to say than he would like. The fact that he couldn’t look at me seemed to emphasize this point.
“Are you sure?” I was pleasantly surprised so I just wanted to make sure I heard him right.
“Yeah… You can just call me Shigezane. If you want to that is.” He was blushing as he spoke and something about it made me blush as well. “It only seems fair since I call you Doll all the time.” He added hastily as if he felt he needed an excuse.
“All right… Shigezane…” I thought all the conditioning would have made it harder to say. Surprisingly, his titleless name spilled from my lips without an ounce of effort. His gaze shot to me and I had to look away to hide my blush. When I peeked up again, he was smiling like a fool. Why did something so simple make him so happy?
We had only been walking a few minutes after lunch before water started dripping down on us much faster. “Oh no! It must be raining again.” I sighed as I stopped and looked up at the dense canopy.
“Yeah but it shouldn’t be too bad under all these trees to start with. Besides! I brought an umbrella!” He grinned proudly as he handed me the pack. With a certain flourish, he pushed the umbrella open and handed it to me.
“But what about you?” I asked as the drops came down more frequently and larger. The rising volume of the leaves overhead punctuating that it was raining harder.
“I’m a man! I can handle getting a little wet!” He puffed up his chest as he spoke and patted it with vigor. I smiled at him uneasily. While I wouldn’t mind seeing him all wet, it was cool in the mountains and he could get sick.
“I would feel bad if you got sick because of me…” I whispered guiltily.
“Then I guess we don’t have much of a choice.” He jeered as he sauntered up and took the umbrella with one hand. With the other he pulled me close by the waist again. Once more I had his warmth at my side and that made my heart pound. I stole a glance at the easy smile on his face. As I did, a rain ghost fell out of the umbrella, his umbrella, and bounced off his head. I caught it quickly, eyes wide. He stopped and looked at it surprised.
“One of them most have gotten in my clothes this morning.” He commented as he removed his hand to take it from me. He offered me the umbrella to hold as he fixed the string to one of the braces. As I watched I noticed a series of tiny cuts and pin pricks all over his hands.
“Lord Shigezane…” I gasped taking one of his hands with mine. “You did make them, didn’t you?” When I looked up at his face he was looking away, blushing slightly.
“I may have made a few of them. But I told you, Doll, I had nothing to do with that many of them showing up.” He replied awkwardly. “But I have a few ideas…” He added with a grumble as the blush on his cheeks deepened. Having the same idea who his accomplices might have been, I felt warmth despite the dropping temperature as the rain started to filter through the canopy in earnest.
“We are both very lucky, aren’t we?” I mused with a genuine smile as my hand slid from his.
“Yeah. I guess we are.” A nostalgic lilt laced his words as he turned to look up the trail again. “Shall we?” He smiled brightly as he offered me his hand again. I nodded sharply and we were off once more.
I would like to say that this was the last major event of our ascent. Unfortunately, there was one last twist on our way up the mountain. In the midst of a torrential downpour we stood at a fork in the trail. We both glanced down each path before looking to each other.
“No one mentioned a fork in the trail…” I sighed in defeat, shoulders slumping under the weight of my disappointment.
“Awe. Don’t be like that, Doll. What’s the worst that could happen if we choose the wrong path?” Lord Shigezane offered with his typical, ready smile.
“We end up stranded in the forest during a torrential downpour at night?” I replied stoically as I turned to start back down the path. He grabbed my arm immediately pulling me chest to chest with him. I looked up at him wide-eyed but, still he smiled. He poked a finger to my chest right on the sternum.
“What is your heart telling you?”
That it’s pounding… and it aches... and it wants nothing more than to be with you…
I looked down long and hard down both directions again before making my decision. “That one.” I pointed to the path off to the right.
“Sounds good.” With a gentle nudge from Lord Shigezane we were on our way again. The rain started to lighten up as we climbed higher until it stopped altogether as we reached a clearing. In the center of the clearing was a grove of cherry trees forming a perfect circle around a large rock. The branches were woven together forming a roof, of sorts, making the whole thing look like a building crafted by nature. It was recognizable as being deliberately fashioned there and yet seemed completely natural. Even though it was so late in the year, cherry blossoms hung down, delicate petals falling to the ground from time to time.
“Wow…” I whispered in wide-eyed, breathless awe. I had never seen anything more beautiful in all my life.
“That really is something…” Lord Shigezane murmured, equally awestruck. I hadn’t realized it before but, at some point, one of us had grabbed the other’s hand and we were squeezing each other tight. “Well come on! We came all this way! It’s time for you to make that wish!” His awe faded into a jovial tone has he pulled me quickly towards the shrine. We slowed, approaching the rock reverently. We prayed in silence for some time and stood in silence even longer. “So, what did you wish for?” His voice was cool and quiet as if he was trying not to break the spell of the place.
“Nothing…” I replied honestly.
“But…” He started to question, deep confusion marking his features until I pressed a finger to my lips to silence him. I bore a serene smile as this place put me at ease. Whatever anxiety I knew I should be feeling, given what I was about to say, was not there. No burden on my heart I told him the truth of how I felt.
“The thing I wished for most was to be able to spend a day alone with you. My wish was already granted the moment we left the castle. I would feel very, very selfish to ask for anything more.” I let out a long, contented sigh. “But, if I were to ask for something… I would wish to spend the rest of my days happily with you. No matter what happens, no matter what struggles or hardships may befall us…” I turned and looked up at him misty eyed. He was looking down on me with the most profound look of shock on his face. “No matter what, if I’m with you, I know I’ll be happy.” I looked away from him again. “I don’t expect you to feel the same. Just let me stay by your side, however you want, and I’ll be happy.”
“Doll…” He sighed almost inaudibly. The umbrella landed on the ground with a soft thud but before I could even look at it, Lord Shigezane was crushing my head into his chest. His embrace was so tight it as painful, not just for my body but my heart as well. “Doll there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” The sadness in his voice made me brace for the worst. I had accepted the possibility that all I would ever be was a friend at best. I had accepted that but, my heart still ached and tears pooled in my eyes for what was about to come… And never came…
“Oh look! Visitors to the shrine!” An elderly man beamed as he trotted out of a small inn I hadn’t even noticed until now. Lord Shigezane instantly released me and took a step back. “If you two just got here, you must have walked through the rain!” He went on looking deeply concerned. He gently grasped my hand and gave it a firm rub between both of his. “Just as I feared, practically frozen!” He sighed with a deep frown. “We can’t have you getting sick!” He turned around, took each of us by the hand, and yanked us along at a pace which seemed unnatural for a man of his age. We had no time to explain or object.
“This inn is free to anyone who makes the trek to the shrine and we have a lovely hot spring in the back that will warm you right up!” He explained as he marched us through empty halls. “It’s not divided but there’s no one else staying here so feel free to make use of it immediately! I’ll have something hot prepared and brought to your room straight away!” With that, he practically shoved us in a room, with only one set of bedding, shut the door briskly behind him, and was gone.
“What… in all the Hells?” Lord Shigezane hissed opening the door and looking back down the hall. “He’s gone!” He drew his head back in and looked at me utterly bewildered. I’m sure I looked much the same.
“Well at least now we can get warmed up and rested. We can always make the trip back down tomorrow even if it is raining.” I mused at last, trying to make the most of the situation. Lord Shigezane looked uneasy but nodded.
“You can use the hot spring first. I’ll wait here and tell the old man to give me a separate room when he comes with dinner.” He answered with a stern look on his face.
“Or maybe just a separate set of bedding?” I said a bit worried myself. “This is a really strange place and situation and all. I think I would feel better sharing a room.” I sincerely hope that didn’t sound as desperate to him as it did to me considering what I had just confessed. His concern faded to an exasperated smile.
“All right, Doll. I’ll stay in here tonight.” Though he looked exasperated, his voice was gentle. “Well go on then, I’ll wait here until you get back.” I nodded happily before getting to my feet and leaving the room.

I blew my chance! Now I have to wait for another perfect moment to tell her!
I chastised myself after she left the room, flopping over backwards in frustration. Staring at the ceiling I pondered just how well I could behave myself being in the same room with her all night. If that old man hadn’t shown up, I would have told her everything and kissed her and who knows what would have happened next. I’d probably go to hell for desecrating a shrine and take her right down with me. No, this was probably better. This way I can tell her tonight, when it’s quiet, under the stars. Maybe take her back out to the cherry trees…
I had become completely absorbed in my thoughts until a shrill scream snapped me out of them and to my feet. Feet that carried me down the halls to the hot spring out of sheer instinct…

Chapter Text

He had become completely absorbed in thought until a shrill scream snapped him out of them and to his feet. Feet that carried him down the halls to the hot spring out of sheer instinct…
Shigezane rushed down the halls of the inn until he happened upon an old lady leaning against a wall with one hand, hiking the hem of her kimono up with the other. “Oh, excuse me, Milord. I tripped on the hem of my kimono and almost fell.” Shigezane let out a relieved sigh figuring that was the scream he heard.
“Well I’m glad you’re all right.” He flashed her a smile and she grinned back at him as she righted herself. “There was something I wanted to ask the guy that showed us in…” He looked around uneasily.
“Oh well I’m his wife so I can help you.” She mused as she straightened her clothes.
“Well there was only one set of bedding in the room and we really need another.” He explained easily enough.
“Oh sure! I can bring an extra set after dinner. Though…” A cheeky smile crept across her face. “I doubt you’ll need it.” She winked at him knowingly and his face instantly twisted into confusion. “This place has a way of bringing couples together.” She answered his question before he could even ask it as she tottered by him.
“We aren’t a couple…” He mumbled in a barely audible whisper.
“YET!” The old woman’s voice beamed from behind him.
“Yet?” He spun around out of equal parts amazement that she had heard him at all and confusion from what she had said. His mouth fell open when he realized she was nowhere to be found. Only a trace of cherry petals on the floor where she should have been. His head swiveled from one end of the hall to the other, mouth flapping up and down though no sound came out.
“Oh, that’s it, there is something seriously off about this place!” He tore off towards the hot spring again. “There is no way I can leave her alone in this place…” He growled as his pace picked up. He slid to an unceremonious stop at the door labeled ‘hot spring.’
“HEY! I’m coming in so cover up!” He cracked the door open just enough to be able to hear but to his dismay, there was no sound coming from the hot spring. “HEY! Did you hear me? I’m coming in!” His heart started pounding in his chest as fear welled up inside him. When it was apparent the only answer he was going to get was the pounding of his heart in his ears he threw the door open and rushed in. He looked around the small, enclosed area frantically. “Damn it… Where could she have gone and who could have taken her?!”
Shigezane punched the door jamb out of frustration when something caught his eye. A mass of cherry petals seemed to be hovering in the air near an opened gate. His eyes narrowed as he regarded the mass with suspicion. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of a breeze so how were the petals moving like that? All of his time with Masamune and Kojuro had taught him to never discount the supernatural… He clenched his fists and moved towards the mass but it passed out of sight through the gate. He followed it, his path illuminated by an unnatural feeling number of fireflies on either side of a narrow stone path. The path opened at the front of the inn, the shrine in full view beyond a stone covered courtyard. In the center of the of the shrine was the one person in the world that filled his heart with such joy.
Shigezane watched as the mass of petals wafted to the shrine and stopped near her. She was an absolute vision under the dropping cherry blossoms, lit only by a thin crescent moon and the inordinate number of fireflies that seemed to fancy this place. She didn’t seem real, as if she were a ghost, already taken from him before he could tell her the words buried in his heart for so long. In that moment, his heart broke and tears welled up in his eyes. His breath caught in his throat as the mass of cherry petals seemed to explode, drawing her attention right to him.
“Lord Shigezane? Is that you?” She squinted in the darkness to make out his profile.
“Why are you out here, Doll?” His feet took off running even though it was clear he didn’t need to be in such a hurry any longer. He had to run to her. He had to touch her and know she was real and alive and he still had a chance. He became instantly apparent of how alive and real she was when he tripped on an uneven stone and fell right into her. He managed to twist his body so he landed on the ground instead of her but, the ground was surprisingly soft… When Shigezane opened his eyes thousands of cherry petals were raining down around them like snow. He looked to either side of his head and realized he had managed to land in a bed of petals he hadn’t even noticed before.
“Lord Shigezane are you all right?” Her frantic voice brought him back in the moment.
“Yeah, are you?” His voice was small and confused. Everything that had happened just in the last 10 minutes was all rolling around inside of his head.
“Yeah…” She replied with a smile before starting to get up. “When you landed you sent all these petals into the air!” As Shigezane looked up at her as she started to move she became bathed in the same strange combination of moonlight and ethereal firefly glow. He pushed himself up to a sitting position and she kneeled between his splayed legs. They both looked around in complete awe at the sheer number of petals and fireflies all around and yet, not touching them.
“This is so beautiful…” She finally whispered through her awe.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you.” Shigezane replied quietly, looking directly at her. Seeing only her, strikingly beautiful in that soft light. She gasped as her gaze shot to him. Despite the dim light it was clear she was blushing. He smiled at knowing this.
When she started to put space between them Shigezane gently grasped her wrist and pulled her into his lap. Supporting her with one leg and an arm, he cradled her cheek with the other. “Can I kiss you?” The look of complete adoration in his eyes told her everything she could possibly need to know. Her head bobbed up and down just enough for him to see. He smiled out of pure happiness as he leaned down to do the one thing he had wanted to do for months. In this space of time, he didn’t care about all the strange things that had happened to get them to that point. Nothing could happen now to ruin this moment. Or at least that’s what he thought…
“Here you two are!” The old man called jovially as he hobbled out of the inn carrying a lantern. Shigezane hissed through his teeth as he pulled himself out from under you.
“Yup! We wanted to see the cherry blossoms. In the moonlight!” He called helping you to your feet.
“Looks like someone had a tumble…” The innkeeper smiled knowingly.
“Yup, yup. That I did!” Although Shigezane is doing well to hide how annoyed he is about being interrupted, He has a very firm grip on your hand.
“Well glad to see you weren’t seriously, hurt! Well then, right this way! Dinner is waiting for you in your room!” The innkeeper merrily for them to follow him back him. Sure enough, dinner was waiting for them in the room. Shigezane side eyed the one set of bedding but kept his comments to himself for now.
She did say after dinner…
Almost as soon as they both set their chopsticks down, the old couple announced themselves at the door for the dishes. As soon as the old woman laid eyes on Shigezane’s dirty clothes she gasped loudly, almost dramatically. “Now this just won’t do! No not at all!” She hauled him to his feet with strength she ought not possess and began stripping his clothes off.
“H… hey now!” He protested turning the most brilliant ruby red as he tried to keep his clothes on. “What are you doing?!”
“Your clothes are all dirty! We can’t have a lord of your stature running around with dirty clothes!” She explained as the old man moved in to help. He glanced over the old man’s shoulder hoping his love would say something but she had already turned completely around and was hiding her face in her hands.
“If… if you know my standing you should how inappro…pri.. ate…” His voice trailed off as he realized he was suddenly standing in there in nothing but his fundoshi.
HOW DID THIS EVEN HAPPEN?!
“Now you can change into this after you have a nice soak in the hot spring!” The old woman handed him a pair of bedclothes. Stunned he just stood there staring at the wall trying to process what the hell just happened. The door slid shut and it was just the two of them in the room again.
“You should go take… take a bath since you’re already…” Her voice trailed off in her embarrassment but there seemed to be something else mixed in her voice. Was she… excited? Her voice pulled him back into himself.
“No.” He said firmly. “There is something completely off about this place and I’m not leaving you alone here.”
“But you must be tired from the hike up here…” She tried to encourage him. “I’ll be fine!”
“Absolutely not.” He was complete cemented on this point.
“Well I guess I could sit with my back to the water if you’re so insistent.” She finally conceded after a few moments of silence.
“Or you could just take a bath with me.” He knew as soon as that offer left his lips it was going to go over as well as a kite on a windless day. Sure enough the conversation sailed right into the ground.
“Or I could sit with my back to the water…” She replied meekly.
“That sounds like a great idea…”
Great job…
Shigezane smacked himself on the forehead before slipping into the bedclothes he had been given. “You can look now.” She turned at the sound of his voice and saw his outstretched hand waiting for her. She took it readily but she was just as red as he had been just moments ago.
“Oh…” She gasped seeming to remember something. She picked up a cherry bough and looked around the room slowly for something to put it in. None of the buds on the branch had opened yet, unusual indeed for this time of year. Something about the sight of it unsettled Shigezane.
“Where did you get that, Doll?” Shigezane wondered in genuine confusion.
“I found it on the ground at the shrine. I was just about to place it on the stone when you found me. I thought it might have been an offering. I guess I forgot all about it in the rush.” She smiled warmly and Shigezane just internally sighed in exasperation.
Doesn’t any of this strike you as odd? Anything at all? You… are far too trusting. Keeping you safe is going to be no small task…
Despite the lecture he was giving her in his head he took the branch and placed it in an empty sake pitcher left behind. “We can bring some water for it when we come back.”
“Oh! All right.” She smiled brightly as she nodded, taking his hand once more. Although either of them could see it, one of the buds on the branch sprang open. As she suggested, she sat with her back to the water. Still Shigezane couldn’t shake the desire for her to be in the water with him. This place had him on edge and the closer she was to him the better he would feel, he just knew it.
“Owe… owe… owe…” He feigned being in pain to get her attention. “I must have hurt something when I fell earlier…” He sighed regretfully. “Now I can’t wash my back properly. If only there was someone to help me…” He waited for her to say something but he was met only with silence. “Hey… are you there?” His voice took on an air of concern. “Hey, Do…” A wall of water lurched up over his head as he turned around to look at her. He coughed and sputtered until he felt something wrapped around him from behind. It felt distinctly like a naked body.

“Well would you look at that! Two of them are already open!” The old woman jeered as she jabbed the old man in the ribs with a boney elbow. “I told you, we weren’t going to need the extra bedding! Now pay up!” The old man smiled wryly as he leaned over and gave her a peck on the lips.
“The night is still young. He might not get it out before they leave…” He replied in light of her menacing scowl.
“Only because you have the worst sense for timing ever. Now you leave them alone out there or you’ll get a good ole wallop!” She held up both fists to emphasize just how serious she was.

“AH!” Shigezane gasped as soon as the foreign touch registered.
“I… couldn’t scrub your back from where I was… could I?” She said meekly in response.
“Well… no… I suppose not…” He stammered as heat ripped through his body. Heat definitely not caused by the water. “But… this isn’t what I had in mind either.”
“Well… what exactly did you have in mind?” Her voice was quiet but there was a certain determination in it.
“It’s just… this place is really bizarre and weird things keep happening. I just feel better if you’re close by.” He explained honestly, albeit at a bit faster speed than usual considering his nerves. He shifted listlessly in the water as her hands slid off his chest and retreated behind him.
“Shi… Shigezane…” She whispered. “Why are you so worried about me?” Shigezane laughed awkwardly as his shoulders slumped.
“Ya know, Doll… I’ve been trying to tell you something all night.” He said at last in a very serious tone as he started reaching back for her hand. “The truth is…”
“Yes?” There was no lack of anticipation in her voice. Her body lurched forward slightly all on its own. Just before Shigezane could grasp her hand…
“Pardon me! I was just wondering if you needed anything! Maybe some nice sake…” The innkeeper chimed from the other side of the door. Shigezane’s face smacked into the water hard and bubbles started flooding up around his face.
“AH! Are you all right?” She screeched grabbing his shoulders. He sat up immediately, hair flying backward send an arc of water with it.
“I’m fine! You’re fine! Everything is fine! If we need something we’ll let you know!” Shigezane yelled quickly as he ran both hands through his hair to get it in some kind of order.
“Very good, Milord! Have a nice night!” The innkeeper chimed back merrily and the open shut.
“We… should go back to the room…” She said with a disappointed sigh.
“Yeah…” He sighed in defeat, shoulders slumping again.

Go back together
“You go ahead and get out first, Doll. I won’t peek.” Shigezane went on after a long moment of silence. His voice was lighter now. His offer was punctuated by the soft patter of rain falling to earth. “Just in time…” He grumbled smacking the water in exasperation.
“All right.” She replied quietly before slowly drawing out of the water. She shivered violently against the cool night air. He chuckled at her overdramatic reaction but, true to his word, he somehow managed not to look. Even though he wanted to. He REALLY wanted to. He heard her wet feet across the stone and knew she was right there… completely naked… He should have gotten out first; his self-control was telling him this was a big mistake. The increasing pace of the rain seemed to spur him into action faster.
I have to tell her first. It’ll ruin everything if I don’t.
“Hey…” He pushed himself out of the water and sat there, on the edge, staring into the water. He heard her immediately stop what she was doing behind him. “There’s something I’ve been trying to say all night but… kept getting interrupted. If I keep waiting for the perfect opportunity, I may never get to say it.” He let a self-deprecating laugh fall from his lips and hang in the air a moment. “I love you. I have loved you for months now… I never thought I stood a chance against Masa and Kojuro… I always lose to Kojuro if I go for the girl first, you see… Every damn time. I was so afraid to tell you. Hell, I was afraid to even admit it to myself for the longest time…”
Silence fell over the space until it was broken by the sound of fabric falling to the ground. The light swish followed by the sound of feet smacking the rocks at a hazardous speed. “Hey don’t run! You might…” Too late, mere inches away from him, she slipped on the wet rocks and came stumbling towards him. He stood up and caught her but it sent them both into the water with a huge splash. When they both broke the surface, coughing and sputtering, they looked at each other. There was a crack of thunder overhead. The sudden noise seemed to break the trance between them.
“I’m sorry… It’s just… I’m so happy to hear you say it. I love you too!” She was starting to cry but the rain falling caused the tears to get lost. Shigezane just smiled softly as he started wiping her tears away.
“You know… It’s hard to see your tears in the pouring rain…” He mused as he held her face in his hands. She reached up and took his face in her own hands.
“You know…” She repeated teasingly, sobbing out a laugh as she did. “It’s hard to see your tears in the pouring rain too.” He hadn’t even realized he had been crying. His wide-eyed expression made her giggle.
“I just… can’t believe this is real… That… We’re together…” Lightning ripped through the sky somewhere in the distance. In the flash of illumination, it was clear there was something in his eyes she had never seen before. It made her blush, certainly, but it didn’t frighten her. She had wanted this for so, so long. And yet… He wasn’t acting on it…
Does he not want to right now?
“I’m just waiting… The moment I try to kiss you that damn innkeeper is going to burst through that door and tell us to get inside because of the rain…” He answered her question as if she had said it a loud. The scowl on his face as he spoke made her giggle. Rather than waiting for him, she pulled his face to hers and gave him a peck on the lips. Short and sweet as it was, it was more than enough. His worst fear assuaged, he trailed his hands down her cheeks to her neck. Further still they ventured until they reach her hips. Pulling her into his lap, their forehead pressed together.
“If you do something like that… I might not be able to stop myself…” A hoarse whisper in the dark drew close to her ear.
“I… don’t think I want you to stop…” She whispered back with equal strain in her voice. Shigezane groaned in buried his head into the crook of her neck.
“Don’t say things like that! You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this!” He lamented trying to steel his resolve. Warm, soft fingers on his chin pushed it up to face her once more.
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this either…” The lightning that ripped through the air this time illuminated the depths of desire hidden just behind the glossy surface of her eyes. Without a second thought, Shigezane reached behind him and grabbed the bedclothes he had been given to wear. He wrapped it around her body, still in the water, before pulling her legs around his waist. Clutching her waist with one hand and the back of her head with the other, he stood up and pulled them out of the water. He stopped and bent down to pick up her soaked clothes. He smiled as he plopped them down on her head and kept walking. He hoped the innkeeper stumbled upon them now. Maybe this way he would get the hint.
Once back in the room, the wet clothes were flung over a wooden screen to dry and a pair of wet bodies sat in the dim lantern light. Water dripped from the tips of her hair as she tried to fix it in to something akin to order. The drops splattered on her bare thigh, drawing his attention there. “You are so beautiful…” He muttered once more awestruck as he moved to her. He took her hands in his and kissed his way up to her face. “Are you sure you want this so soon? I mean we just…” She silenced him with a kiss. His cheeks flushed, a shade of red to match her own.
“I was ready long ago… ever since I saw you training without a top on…” She answered as she moved his hands to her hips. With her hands free she ran them up his strong arms, across his chest, down to rolling hills of well-toned muscles making up his abdomen. “The question is, are you ready to know for sure?”
“Know what for sure?” His voice caught in his throat as she settled her hands on his hips bones.
“That this isn’t a dream…” She replied whispering in his ear with as much courage as she could muster. He gave her hips a squeeze and pulled her forward, up his thighs. She wrapped her legs around his back and arms around his neck for support. He groaned at the feeling of warmth and wet meeting his tense eager muscles.
“You act like you’ve done this before…” He teased with a smile before laying her back in the bedding. She unwrapped herself from him and stared up at him blushing.
“Actually… I have some experienced but I haven’t actually…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes shifted off to a dark corner of the room. A gambit to hide her blush made in vain. Shigezane looked at her eyes wide, mouth agape. He had to admit, the thought of other men being here before him made jealous roil up with in him. While this information should have been a relief, it also put tremendous pressure on him. He smiled down at her uneasily for a moment as he drew in a long slow breath.
“I’m glad you told me that.” She looked up at him again, relief in her eyes. He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll have to play nice for your first time. But I gotta say, Doll, you aren’t making it easy looking at me like that…” His voice was lower than she was accustomed, his desire tripping off every syllable.
“What do you... AH!” Her question ended in a gasp as he claimed of her nipples with his mouth, sucking on it gently at first. One hand supported him as he hovered over her, the other roamed over her soft skin, barely touching her. She moaned beneath his touch and squirmed, until a shiver wracked through her. She pressed her hands into his chest and whispered his name. As his hand trailed over her skin again, tiny goosebumps littered the once smooth expanse. Sporadically, water would drip off his hair, scattering over her bare chest. Each time it did she shivered violently.
“Mo.. more… please… I need more…” She whispered breathlessly while her legs wrapped around his hips. She was surprisingly strong as she yanked him down to meet her. He smiled into the soft flesh of her breast at how eager she was being. But he needed her to be a little less eager right now. He was already painfully aware of how eager he was, her grinding against him desperately was not helping his cause.
“Just a little longer…” He sighed out half-tease, half-exasperation. “I don’t want to hurt you, your first time…” A cheeky smile tugged on his face when he took one of her hands and pulled it down to his member. He drew her fingers from the bas all the way up to the tip, watching her eyes widened at the realization of his true size. “All of this… has to fit in there…” He directed her hand to her wet entrance, running her fingertips over moist lips, stopping them on her own sensitive nub. He pressed her fingers against as he pressed his body against hers. “I promise I’ll make you feel really good if you just wait…” She blushed in face of his mild chastising which, only served to make him smile. He kissed down her neck to her other breast.
As soon as he released her hand, it retreated to her side. With her nipple still in his mouth, he laid down beside her. He slid one arm under her neck to support her head. The other slid down the center of her body, stopping just before reaching the sensitive flesh she so longed for him to touch. She whimpered pitifully and he chuckled at the sound of it. He kissed her temple before abruptly diving his hand into her slick folds. She cried out in a mix of shock and pleasure as one finger worked its way inside her and his thumb grazed over the sensitive bundle of nerves on the outside.
“See? That’s a pretty nice reward, isn’t it?” He teased between licks at her neck. She couldn’t speak, just nod quickly. “That’s just the start…” He continued his work until three fingers fit inside her and she was a dripping moaning mess. It had taken every single ounce of strength in his body not to take her before he was sure she was ready. He was on the verge of losing his sanity as he settled himself between her legs. He lifted her hips up to meet his better with one hand, positioning himself at the ready with the other.
“Breathe…” He whispered look down at her tension form. She took a deep breath and before she could exhale he pushed into her gently. As he expected, the act caused her to exhale sharply. “Keep breathing.” She nodded lowly as she bit one of her fingers. “Are you all right?” She nodded again. He rocked his hips up and down slowly, each time working just a little bit further in. Once he was in completely, he waited for her to get comfortable. “Whenever you’re ready, Doll.” He kissed her sweat slickened forehead and she nodded.
“I’m ready.” Her voice sounded so different to what he was used to. The desire was clear and it made him throb inside her. He nodded as he started pumping into her slowly. Her reaction was immediate, her body arching to meet his with each smooth movement of his hips. It seems he may have done a bit too well preparing her as he felt the muscles he was driving into constrict and pulse.
That’s not good…
He bit down on his bottom lip trying to regain some sense of self-control but it was too little too late. She went spilling over the edge and everything about her orgasm snapped the unraveling threads of control he had fought so hard to maintain. With one final drive, he collapsed on top of her heaving body.
“Sorry…” Shigezane whispered sheepishly once he had time to recover. “I usually last longer than that…” She laughed, a loud, hearty laugh as she wrapped her arms around his head.
“There’s always next time, Shigezane.” She answered fondly.
“Next time…” He liked the ring of that…

Go back alone
“You go ahead and get out first, Shigezane. I won’t look.” She said quietly after a long moment of silence.
“I wouldn’t mind if you did…” He mumbled under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing… nothing.” He mumbled as he moved to get out. She turned her body to look away as he dressed. “You never got a chance to get washed up, did you?” He sighed just now realizing it. “I’ll wait outside the door.”
“All right.” She waited until the door shut before she got out of the water. She kept splashing periodically as she got dressed to make it sound like she was washing. She needed a few moments away from Shigezane to gather her thoughts. She followed the narrow stone path to the side gate. She followed the illumination of the fireflies back to the shrine once more. Something drew her there now just as it had hours before. As she rounded the corner of the inn, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Standing in the center of the shrine was a person… she thought. She couldn’t be sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. She blinked quickly a few times. Still there. She screwed her eyes shut hard and counted to five. Still there… She pinched herself on the arm as hard as she could. Still there…
They were tall, so very tall, easily twice her height. They were facing away from her and there was a curtain of hair streaming down their back. It was so long it flowed all the way to the ground and pooled there. It was white at the roots and graduated to blood red at the tips. They turned ever so slightly, eyes trained on the crescent moon in the sky. When they turned, she could see their kimono was snow white at the top with a pattern of cherry blossoms that grew darker in color and more prolific as they trailed down to the hem. They had snow white skin and dark violet eyes. The being seemed to glow all on their own, not just their skin and hair but their clothes as well. Though the glow seemed gentle, the being was so imposing in stature it easily illuminated the whole shrine. There was a cherry branch in their hand with only two open blossoms on it. The rest were just buds, waiting to spring open.
“You don’t have to keep standing there. I’m not going to hurt you.” A smile graced their lips and she judged from the voice they were male. He reached his free hand out to her and her feet started to move all of their own. She was scarcely breathing as she drew closer. Suddenly, a mass of cherry blossoms pooled at her feet and pushed her into the air so she was at chest level with him. Somehow, the mass became solid under her feet. “There we are, now I can see you much better.” He mused in the most soothing voice she had ever heard.
“Who are you?” She managed to get out in an awe-filled whisper. He just handed her the branch in his hand.
“Why I am the deity of this shrine.” His smile broadened. “Think for just a moment, Beautiful, and you’ll know who I am…” His smile broadened as he gestured down to the branch. She looked down at it, studying it briefly before her eyes grew large as saucers. Her head shot up instantly, color draining from it completely.
“You… this is… Kanzakura?” He smiled so broadly wrinkles formed at his eyes. “And that means…” She looked down at the branch and gasped again.
“You have been given a gift from a sacred tree; the nature of that gift surely does not elude you…” His voice drew her gaze back up to him.
“It means I’ll find love soon.” She whispered and he smiled once again. “But who?”
“You already know the answer to that, don’t you?”
“But he never said anything after I told him…” She looked down again, sadness in her eyes.
“Yes… well… If a certain meddlesome innkeeper would learn to have a better sense of timing…” He grumbled as his shapely pink eyebrows pulled together in exasperation.
“I just don’t understand…” She muttered looking down at the branch in her hands.
“What’s not to understand?” He titled his head to the side as he gently coaxed her face upward with slender fingers on her chin.
“What I could have possibly done to deserve a blessing like this.” She started to cry. She knew the tales, a branch from Musubi, the deity of love, meant you were guaranteed to find love.
“The blessing is not just for the young woman who receives it.” He replied with a laugh. “You have proven yourself a woman with a strong and noble heart. You sacrifice much for those you love and you deserve someone who has done the same. Someone who has lost many he has cared about to another and still managed not to hold a grudge against any of them. For noble heart such as those belong together.” He explained with a warm smile as he leaned down to eye level with her. “Loves takes two…” He added kissing her on the forehead gently. Her eyes were wide as he pulled away. “The branch only guarantees love. The kiss guarantees an enduring love. A love that shall survive even death itself. Death will surely take you both one day. But your heart will be light because you’ll always find each other again.” He went on as he righted himself.
“I still don’t quite understand why…” She uttered, voice stolen by her disbelief.
“This is what happens when you catch the eye of a deity.” He replied simply. Suddenly, he coughed into his hand, pointing in the direction of the inn with his head. “Seems your absence has gotten the attention of certain lord…” There was a teasing quality to his voice as she turned around. There was Shigezane froze in his tracks gawking at the bizarre sight.
“Nice to finally meet you, Date Shigezane!” The deity called jovially with a wave.
“What the…” Shigezane stammered falling right on to his butt when all his strength gave out on him.
“Awe now don’t be like that! Come say hello!” A mass of cherry petals picked Shigezane up and brought him over, still in a sitting position. “There we are now…” He went on as Shigezane was pushed into a standing position, floating next to her on a mass of petals.
“Who the… what… the…” He just stared up at the being before him.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.” The deity replied with a bow.
“Home?”
“Invitation?” She looked stunned. “You mean… you… I picked the wrong path on purpose?” The deity smiled sheepishly, a look that seemed in complete juxtaposition with his elegant, transient beauty.
“Well actually you were on the wrong trail to get where you wanted to go from the start. I might have seized on the opportunity to bring you here though.” He answered honestly. “You really shouldn’t try to follow such vague directions from strangers. It could be dangerous, you know.”
“Thank you!” Shigezane exclaimed. “I’m always telling her to be warier of strangers…” He added in a grumble.
“Like me?” Shigezane’s head quirked to the side at the odd question the glowing being had broached. “You have very good reason not to trust me. I do hope you’ll forgive me all the false alarms but I have a gift for you now!”
“False alarms?”
“That’s Musubi…” She whispered holding up the branch. Shigezane’s eyes got huge as his gaze darted between her and the deity. The deity just smiled ambivalently.
“All right!” The deity mused as he clapped his hands together. “The innkeeper should be finding himself well and fully passed out right now so… On you go!” There was an explosion of petals causing them to close their eyes. When they opened them, they were alone in the shrine, feet planted firmly on the ground. Shigezane took her hands in his, grasping them as firmly as he could.
“There’s something I’ve been trying to tell since we got here.” He went on rubbing the bark on the branch, now entwined between their hands. “I love you. I have loved you for months but I didn’t think you felt the same about me. You were so devoted to Masa… and you spent so much time with Kojuro… I thought… I thought how could you ever love me when you could have either of them…” Tears flowed from his eyes unbidden though he was still smiling. She cut him off before he could say anything else.
“I could never have either of them…” She smiled as she looked up at him bashfully. “You’re the only one I could ever love.” His eyes went wide and even more tear poured out. His hands found their way to her cheeks and he leaned in to kiss her, at long last. He paused, reflexively looking at the inn. When no interruption came he smiled and finished his descent to her lips.
“No matter what happens now… I will always love you. I vow this to you on this sacred tree, on Musubi, on every god there is to swear by. No matter what happens, even if death takes me… I’ll find you again.” He cried as he hugged her into his chest, tightly, as if he thought he might lose her immediately if he didn’t…
Gods in heaven… if this is a dream I don’t ever want to wake up…
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…” Shigezane snapped straight up from a dead sleep and looked around wildly. He didn’t remember falling asleep, let alone being in his room at Yonezawa when he did. The sound of rain pouring outside the only sound.
It was only a dream after all. That was pretty damn cruel…
There was a sudden rustling of fabric and his eyes shot down to the bedding next to him. There she was, smiling serenely in her sleep.
“I love you… Shigezane…” She murmured as she rolled over and grasped his arm, yanking it out from under him. He fell over in the bedding a chuckle escaping his lips. He propped himself up again and noticed a cherry branch, in full bloom, in a vase on his writing desk.
“Was it worth the wait?” A much shorter deity of love asked from the open doorway. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared out at the sky with a smile.
“You sent us home?” He whispered.
“Couldn’t have either one of you getting sick… You two have a long, happy life together.” The deity replied as he pushed off the door frame.
“Thank you.” Shigezane bowed as deep as he could in his position.
“Take good care of her. That will be thanks enough.” He turned his gaze into the room and pointed a slender digit at the writing desk. “There’s something on the desk. I want you to give it to her on your wedding day. If you can resist the urge to open it. You will be rewarded handsomely.” There was an explosion of cherry petals and he was gone. Shigezane looked over at a small, red, fabric covered box.

--- --- --- --- ---
“You still haven’t learned to stop breaking the rules.” A woman’s voice called out as Musubi passed through the garden of Yonezawa. He froze in place instantly. “Even though you knew it couldn’t have been her.”
“Amaterasu…” He bowed reverently. “Yes… I knew it wasn’t her but…” He looked over his shoulder briefly.
“Soon Musubi… I promise one day she’ll be reborn and when she is, you’ll be together forever.” Amaterasu smiled warmly. “All of you…” Musubi smiled back at her.
“I know…”

--- --- --- --- ---
“What is this?” She wondered as Shigezane handed her a small red box.
“You know what, Doll? I have no idea. Musubi told me to give it to you on our wedding day.” He explained with a shrug. Her eyes lit up and she handled the box like the sacred object it was. Slowly, reverently, she pushed open the lid. Inside was a crystal cherry blossom, the color of rose quartz on a chain.
“A necklace! It’s beautiful!” She gasped as her fingers hovered over it, afraid to touch it.
“Let me put it on you.” Shigezane offered and she handed the box to him. She turned so he could clasp it around her neck. Once secured, she turned to face him again.
“How does it look?” Shigezane just smiled.
“Nothing in the world could ever be as beautiful to me as you are right now…”