Archive of Our Own

The faint smell of bellflowers and irises permeated the morning air as the Golden Tentacles crew was making the last preparations to leave for the capital. They may have arrived late into the night at the inn, but that didn't hamper Tagitsuhime's enthusiasm first thing in the morning.

"Taaaakkkkiiiii, where did you put my yukata?" her voice rang down the hallway.

"In your drawstring bag, right next to the mess you made in the room where you slept last night. And still haven't cleaned up."

"Ok, thanks!" she chirped as she paid no heed to the last part.

"Sharkie, please quiet down and get dressed. It's getting late," Shiro-uneri's gentle voice interrupted the trumping of her steps.

"Hey hey, don't make it sound like we're gonna be late because of me. I dress up very quicky, unlike a certain someone!"

The certain someone turned a deaf ear to her remark and continued to comb his hair in the mirror, displaying zero tolerance for any imperfections. As the finishing touch, he tied a loose string of pearls around his half bun, leaving the ends of the string to cascade down his long white hair, a pleasant contrast to his emerald green yukata.

Try as he might to hide it, but he was just as giddy as Tagitsuhime to arrive at the capital in a few hours. He threw another glance at the elegant brush strokes on the letter Hizz was guarding in earnest by the pillow, and adjusted his yukata one last time.

After all, it was Seimei himself who had invited them.

-

The shade of the oak and zelkova trees surrounding the shrine grounds leaned over the boisterous crowd of humans and spirits strolling around the stalls. As soon as they passed the imposing west gate with its striking vermilion lacquer, Taki began his lecture.

"Remember, the food stalls and the decorated floats may look attractive, but this festival is first and foremost a major purification ritual, so mind your manners around the Gion Shrine. The float procession begins on the opposite bank of the Kamo River, then advances towards the center of the capital and draws to a close in the early afternoon, so make sure you stay with us and don't wander off-"

"She's already at the food stalls." Shiro-uneri interrupted his monologue.

"Guys, loooook! They're selling some funny looking mochi covered in sparkles! Do you want some?"

Taki didn't need to scream, the cicadas were already doing it for him. He let out a sigh and headed towards her.

"She doesn't have any money on her," he mumbled.

Before he got the chance to approach the stall, his path was blocked by two older women, each carrying a small wooden box in their arms.

"Mister, you seem to be a nobleman with a keen eye for jewelry," they beamed at him as they practically shoved the boxes into his face and startled Hizz who had been resting on his shoulder.

"Already so popular, young master," Shiro-uneri teased. Taki threw him an unimpressed look.

"You should check out these exquisite protective amulets. They're adorned with blue agates and embroidered with the cyan feathers our beloved queen bestowed upon us. Surely you've never seen anything like these before!"

Taki let out his second sigh of the day and lowered one of the boxes with the tip of his fingers.

"Thank you for your kind offer, but-"

A pause. Now that they were at a distance his eyes could actually make out the contents of the boxes...

"...they are exquisite." He couldn't conceal the awe in his voice. The intricate embroidery of a peacock opening its tail decorated with minuscule pieces of blue gemstones was unique for an amulet, even for the standards of the capital. Upon closer inspection, the two women weren't wearing a yukata or jinbei like the rest of the crowd, but loose-fitting, light-colored clothes reminiscent of those worn in desert areas. They didn't seem to be from around here.

"Indeed, they were made on the queen's order by the finest artisans of the Peacock Kingdom!" the women proclaimed as if they could read his mind. "Her Majesty deeply regretted she couldn't attend the festival, so instead she has sent her people to strengthen the alliance between the kingdom and Heian-kyo. Therefore, mister, would you like to contribute and consolidate our alliance by buying some amulets?" And just like that, the boxes found their way once again in Taki's face. "Four for the price of three, how does that sound?"

"I'll go take care of the mochi," Shiro-uneri chuckled after having had his fill of the amusing show unfolding before him. Leaving the mildly exasperated Taki to his own devices, he headed towards Tagitsuhime.

"Perfect timing, Shiro-uneri! Can you please buy five of these sparkly mochi?"

"It's still early. Are you going to eat five of those before the procession has even started?"

"Of course not! One is for me, one for you, one for Taki, one for Hizz and one for the captain. She's definitely sad she couldn't join us, so I want to bring her something nice," she grinned, revealing her razor-sharp teeth.

Shiro-uneri was taken aback by the frank response and couldn't resist patting her on the head.

"It can't be helped then," he conceded with a smile and reached for his yukata sleeve. Only to realize that instead of coins, he had put his scalpels and tanto knife in there.

Ah. I've left my money with Taki to make space for those.

As he pondered over the pros and cons of prioritizing blades over money at a festival, a female voice came to their rescue.

"Five chigo mochi was it? Here you go."

"Thank you, miss!" the vendor cheerfully took the coins.

"This is very generous of you, but you didn't have to," Shiro-uneri awkwardly said as he watched the unknown woman hand the sweets to Tagitsuhime. She wore a purple yukata and carried herself with grace, setting herself apart from a regular civilian. Her dark hair was loosely tied and the strands covering her temples framed a pair of tranquil blue eyes tinged with playful mischievousness. There was something peculiar about her. "We do have money on us, so I'll pay you back."

"Oh, there's no need for that. Consider it a small gift for helping my friend a while back."

"Your friend? Shiro-uneri, do we know this nice lady?" Tagitsuhime asked while munching on her free snack.

"Hmmm. Oh, could you be...?"

-

"Thank you, but one is enough. Keep the change." Taki put on his best smile, grabbed an amulet and left before the women could introduce their new "ten for the price of nine" offer.

He headed towards the food stalls ready to deal with another inconvenience, only to be met with the sight of his two crewmates engaged in an animated conversation with an unfamiliar woman.

"So you've also been to that frozen sea?! I tell you, when I went there, I did not expect the queen to be so stubborn. You know her too, right?"

"I do, I know her quite well," she laughed. "Ah, I see everyone is here now."

Tagitsuhime and Shiro-uneri turned their heads in unison.

"Oh, the sellers were right about your keen eye for jewelry."

Taki threw Shiro-uneri another unimpressed look. He moved to tie the amulet to the tasuki sash holding up the sleeves of Tagitsuhime's yukata, then set his eyes on the mild-mannered woman.

"This is Yao Bikuni," Shiro-uneri answered his questioning look. "She-"

"She treated us to some mochi! There's also one for you and Hizz," Tagitsuhime chimed in.

Taki let out a soft gasp at the name. "You are one of Seimei's friends. It's a pleasure to meet you. Apologies, were we late to the meeting place?"

"Not at all. I was helping Mr Hiromasa and Kagura prepare their costumes since they will be part of the procession. I ended up finishing quite early, so I was just strolling around the stalls when I caught sight of your two friends who matched Mr Seimei's description." She paused and the corners of her mouth slightly moved upward. "You also perfectly match his description, Mr Taki."

There was something about her words that prompted him to look to the side at empty air and clear his throat, so all he could add was a clumsy "I see."

As the four of them started chatting, a voice came from the left side of the mochi stall.

"There you were, Yao Bikuni. I think we can go to the dance hall now to wait for..."

The voice paused for a second when the rest of the group came into view, then resumed the sentence with an unmistakable smile.

"...Taki."

The man in question felt the rush of a yet to be acknowledged emotion pass through his body. He turned his head to meet a familiar pair of blue eyes matching the clear sky of the festival, a colour he had longed for during the stormy nights spent at sea after their parting.

"Seimei," he returned the smile.

Their eyes remained locked for the briefest of moments and warm memories resurfaced like bubbles rising from the deep sea. It's been a while, they both wanted to add, when a dramatic gasp followed by a squeal of unbridled delight interrupted their thoughts.

"Mr Grand Celebrity, we missed youuuu!!" Tagitsuhime jumped at Seimei's neck without a moment's hesitation and hugged him tight enough to squeeze the air out of his lungs. "The past five months felt like an eternity!!" She somehow managed to squeeze him even tighter with her small arms.

"I missed you too, Sharkie." He chuckled as he gasped for air and patted her on the back. He felt an additional set of small claws crawling timidly along his right leg and added, "I also missed you, Hizz."

The little iguana nuzzled his head on Seimei's shoulder at the words and let out a happy hissing sound, ignorant of the feigned look of betrayal on Taki's face, who hadn't even noticed when the small companion abandoned his shoulder.

"Wait, wait, what are you doing! That's Kohaku's spot!" The white fox accompanying Seimei protested against Hizz's display of affection.

"Whoah, you're so fluffy and cute!" Tagitsuhime exclaimed at Kohaku, whose grumpy expression loosened at the praise. Likewise, Hizz crawled down Seimei's leg towards him to curiously run his fingers through the white fur and nuzzle his head on it. By that point, Kohaku had been completely pacified.

"It's good to see you too, Shiro-uneri," Seimei managed to let out when Tagitsuhime eased her grip. He smiled and bowed his head in greeting.

Seimei's eyes eventually landed on Taki once again.

"How was your journey to the capital?"

"The weather was good, so we did not encounter any issues."

Taki couldn't help but let his gaze linger. He was used to seeing the onmyoji in his usual blue kariginu, but today he was wearing a loose fitting white and navy blue yukata with gold accents. Strands of white hair hung down his chest and the rest was tied in a high ponytail, leaving no space for his eboshi hat. For once, he looked casual and free of worries. Taki really liked it.

Yao Bikuni quietly observed the exchange between the two, then glanced in Shiro-uneri's direction. He nodded in confirmation at her silent question and her grin widened, pleased to see that her intuition was as sharp as ever.

Soon after, they heard the telltale sound of flutes, taiko drums and gongs signaling the beginning of the long-awaited Yamaboko procession. Guided by Seimei and Yao Bikuni, they headed towards the south gate.

Humans and spirits alike swarmed around the elaborately decorated first float. A striking naginata was set on top of the roof, with the edge of its blade facing ahead to cut and drive away all evil from the path to the center of the capital. Riding at the forefront of the float was the chigo, a young boy chosen amongst the noble families of Heian-kyo to serve as a vessel to one of the enshrined gods. His small hands slowly drew a ceremonial sword and, with a swift swing, cut the shimenawa rope hanging from the left to the right side of the road, thus eliminating the barrier between the divine realm and the human world. The procession officially began.

Tagitsuhime, Shiro-uneri and Taki followed the float like a pair or cats, not taking their eyes off it even for a second.

"The silk tapestries covering it are woven with considerable mastery, while the golden flower motifs at the edges of the roof are exceptionally meticulous and the sunlight-"

"It's enormous and so shiny!! It must be very, very heavy!"

"-refected on them further highlights the engravings on the wood, most likely lacquered cedar," Taki continued, too absorbed in his monologue to mind the interruption.

"Can I also ride on it like that kid? Can I? Please?!"

Seimei couldn't help but smile at the unrestrained enthusiasm displayed by the two of them.

"Unfortunately, you can't do it in the middle of the procession."

His answer didn't deter Tagitsuhime's resolve, but at the very least she didn't seem like she would do anything rash with Taki around. Seimei glanced back at him and opened his fan in a vague attempt at obscuring the softer edges forming around his smile. He took half a step closer in Taki's direction, content on standing next to him throughout the procession. It was only then that Seimei realized just how much he had missed his presence.

"There are peacock feathers on the chigo's headwear," Taki suddenly pointed out.

"Oh yes, a gift from the people of the Peacock Kingdom. They were imbued with great spiritual power."

"Hmm, I see business is going well for them," Taki mumbled to himself.

The procession advanced slowly, allowing the spectators the time to admire each and every float with their lavish decorations. Among them, one float in particular intrigued the public when its banner bearer came forward accompanied by a marching band of musicians. The small float adorned with a large rooster-patterned umbrella was separated from the group of musicians by three unusually dressed dancers.

"This is the Ayagasa float," Seimei explained to the crew. "It's known for its musical performances and dances."

The procession temporarily stopped and the musicians surrounded the dancers to set the stage for their number.

"Look, it's Mr Hiromasa," Yao Bikuni drew their attention to one of the flute players involved in the performance. He was dressed in a half white, half dark blue yukata like the rest of the musicians, but his dignified presence made him stand out.

"He really is something else when he plays the flute," Kohaku added drily.

The main dancer held out a bo staff decorated with tassels on each end, then, accompanied by the drum beats of the two other dancers, began his vigorous performance under the scorching sun. Rather than his rhythmic jumps and the effortless spins of the staff, Tagitsuhime was more entranced by his attire. He wore a pair of orange tattsuke-bakama pants and a gold and navy blue outer garment with scale patterns, but his face, covered with a white cloth, and the bright red wig above were his most striking features.

Noticing the million questions in her eyes, Seimei tried to answer a few, "This dance is called bofuri odori. The dancer, or the bofuri, is attracting and entertaining evil with his dance, then disperses it with his bo staff. He's trying to clear the path for the portable shrine procession that will arrive tonight."

"I want to dress like him!"

Taki involuntarily let out a laugh at her sudden conclusion.

"Why are you laughing?" She feigned a pout. "It'd still take me less time to dress like that than it took you to put on a yukata this morning."

"Sharkie, don't tease him," Shiro-uneri intervened. "Our first mate was just excited for the festival." The smirk in his voice was palpable and Taki's laugh got stuck in his throat.

He switched the subject with a frown and a dignified cough, "Is that young girl playing the gong your friend Kagura?"

The group turned their heads. Among all the towering men marching along the Ayagasa float, there was one delicate girl wearing the same half white, half dark blue yukata as them. Despite the crowd, she took notice of her friends and greeted them with a subtle wave of her hand.

The floats continued their stroll towards the center of the capital. Each one, whether impressively large or small, draped in luxurious tapestries or decorated with pine tree branches, was the subject to Tagitsuhime's endless awe. Shiro-uneri was holding Kohaku in his arms to give him a better view of the procession, while engaging with Yao Bikuni in a conversation about the toxic proprieties of medicial plants, most likely prompted by the chrysanthemum emblems on the Kikusui float. Taki ignored the topic and instead cast a quick glance at the man still standing close to him. To his surprise, Seimei was already looking at him, his face partially hidden behind his folding fan.

"Taki," he spoke softly.

"Yes?"

"Were you looking forward to this festival that much?"

A pause. Taki edged closer to his ear.

"Of course I was. More than you could imagine."

Seimei lowered his fan to reveal his smile.

"I'm glad you came."

Whether it was because of the midsummer heat or the warmth of that smile, Taki felt another rush of irrepressible emotions pass through his body. The clear blue of those eyes gently drew him in and Taki willingly allowed it. He was itching to grasp the hand holding the fan, when-

"Master Seimei, we deeply apologize, but we need your assistance. It's an emergency!" an unknown frantic voice rose from behind.

The two of them reluctantly turned to the source of the voice, a pale-faced onmyoji of the capital. Seimei had already switched to his serious face.

"What happened?"

"The...The chief priest of the shrine was supposed to perform one last purification ritual before the portable shrine procession, b-but..."

"But?" Seimei prompted.

"But he had a heat stroke and fainted..." he finished meekly. "Please, Master Seimei, we need you to perform the ritual in his place! You are the only one whose spiritual power is on par with the high priest's."

Seimei let out a sigh, closed his folding fan and turned to Taki and the rest of the group.

"I need to go back to the Gion Shrine. I don't know how long it'll take, but I'll be back as soon as I can." His eyes darted to Taki with a quiet "I'm sorry."

Shiro-uneri placed Kohaku in Yao Bikuni's arms and quickly stepped forward. "Wait. I will go with you. I want to check on the chief priest." He turned to the confused onmyoji to explain. "I'm a doctor."

And just like that, the two of them left, a disappointed silence settling between the remaining members of the group.

"Well, you heard Seimei. They will be back soon. Let's keep watching the procession."

"Aww Taki, don't be sad." Before he had the chance to protest, Tagitsuhime had already shoved one of the chigo mochi from earlier in his mouth. "This is super tasty. It'll make you feel better within seconds!"

Taki felt the need to pat her on the head.

"But y'know, I'm kinda sad too. So you should give me a bite of yours."

He flicked her forehead instead.

With only a few of the floats left to see from their spot, they slowly started walking along the procession. After eating half of the chigo mochi, Taki gave the rest to Tagitsuhime, a sight that made Yao Bikuni chuckle. By noon, they had already walked in a straight line from the shrine to the center of Heian-kyo, when suddenly, the procession slowed down.

"We should walk faster. We're getting closer to the tsujimawashi spot," Yao Bikuni explained. "It's where the floats change direction and head further towards the center of the capital. It's quite the sight. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Not only was it a sight, it was a spectacle. The already numerous crowd doubled in size, everyone eager to see the strenous turn by pulling manoeuvre of the floats. Under the colossal wheels of the floats, men placed thinly split pieces of bamboo and sprinkled them with water.

Tagitsuhime followed the process carefully and Taki could already see dozens of incomprehensible ideas flashing through her mind. He was sure the sight would have prompted a similar reaction from Shiro-uneri.

"I wish Her Majesty could have seen this too!" A distinctly lively voice interrupted Taki's musings. He turned his head and sure enough, the voice belonged to one of the amulet sellers earlier that morning.

Twenty men pulled vigorously on the ropes attached to one of the floats and dragged it over the wet bamboo pieces.

"She's been so busy lately, but ahh, she should spend some time with her fiance too!" the other emphasised with a lovesick sigh.

Instead of sliding sideways like the rest, this one got stuck. The crowd broke into murmurs.

"Oh my, have you actually seen Her Majesty's fiance? Lucky you, I wasn't in the capital that day!" the older woman continued, clearly too engrossed in the gossip to pay attention to the float anymore.

"No, not at all. I wasn't there either. But I heard the rumors! He's very handsome. I was really hoping to see him at the festival today."

"My, my, tell me more! What does he look like?"

"Haha, I actually have no idea. All I know is that he's handsome!"

The float finally glided on the bamboo pieces and turned the corner, accompanied by the loud cheers of the spectators.

"Then how were you hoping to see him if you don't know what he looks like?" She burst into laughter, her volume loud enough to perturb the remaining coherent thoughts in Taki's head. He distanced himself from their animated conversation, wishing only to watch the procession in peace.

Soon after, all the floats successfully turned the corner and followed their designated route, drawing to a halt at the center of the capital. It was already early afternoon and the group was worn out from the long walk under the burning sunlight. Luckily for them, the area was bustling with food stalls selling cold beverages and sweets.

The supposedly tired Tagitsuhime lit up at the shaved ice and dragged Taki towards the stalls without a moment's hesitation.

"Yao Bikuni, what kind of flavour do you like? Taki is gonna treat you for the mochi you got us. " Her cheeky smile widened.

"So I only have to buy shaved ice for Yao Bikuni, correct?"

Yao Bikuni laughed at Tagitsuhime's comically offended expression. "Mr Taki, can you please buy a watermelon flavoured one for Kagura? I will go to the Ayagasa float with Kohaku to see if she's done."

Before he even got the chance to accept, Tagitsuhime had already dragged him in front of the stall.

"Hmm, what should I get~"

"What? You don't know what Her Majesty's fiance's looks like?! Then you came to the right guy!" The vendor at the nearby stall proclaimed loud enough to draw Taki's attention.

It was not his distinct clothes, but the two women he was cheefully chatting with that confirmed he was also from the Peacock Kingdom. Taki didn't understand how he had managed to bump into their silly gossip all day, but he really didn't have any-

"He's handsome, yes, but he has long white hair, blue eyes and he's very elegant and well-mannered, like a true gentleman!"

...interest in it.

"My daughter herself saw him six months ago. He rode a carriage with the queen around the capital."

"So what was his name?!"

"Hmm, that's a good question. I don't know," he sighed. "The queen is so secretive about her private life."

For some reason, the shaved ice in Taki's hand felt unusually cold.

"No way!" Tagitsuhime exclaimed with glee. "Taki, they're talking about you!!"

An abrupt silence followed her words.

The three vendors snapped their heads at Taki in unison. White long hair, blue eyes, elegant. It would have been comical had the foreboding feeling caused by the eagerness in their eyes not sparked the beginning of a headache.

"You're the generous young man from this morning!"

"My, if we knew, we would've sold the amulets at a lower price!"

"Master, you're indeed very handsome!"

Taki lost track of how many sighs he had let out that day, but he made space for another one. He threw a quick glare at his troublemaking crewmate, then directed his most sociable smile at the vendors.

"I am flattered by your kind praise, but you have the wrong person."

"That's because he's already married to his work!"

Taki flicked Tagitsuhime's forehead as hard as he could.

"Please excuse us."

He took the shaved ice cups, bowed, then left for Yao Bikuni and Kagura.

"He's so modest! No wonder Her Majesty likes him," one of the vendors whispered not so softly.

Taki flicked Tagitsuhime's forehead again. He was going to have a headache.

-

"You were so cute playing the gong during the procession! Just like a little doll I've always wished I had! I'm Tagitsuhime, by the way."

"Thank you. I'm Kagura. Nice to meet you, Tagitsuhime."

Despite the composed attitude, she bowed and showed a small, yet genuine smile, clearly pleased by the unusual praise. Taki found the contrast between the two quite endearing.

"You can call her Sharkie. She likes it," he said as he handed Kagura the watermelon flavoured shaved ice.

"Thank you! You must be Mr Taki." Her eyes darted to his shoulder. "And you must be Hizz. Pleased to meet you too," she bowed again and Hizz let out a joyful sound at the gesture. "Seimei and your doctor friend aren't with you?"

"Duty called and they had to go back to the shrine."

"Ah, Hiromasa also had to go back to the shrine to prepare for the portable shrine procession tonight..."

Seeing Kagura's slightly dejected look, Tagitsuhime intervened, "They'll be back soon, so we should go have some fun in the meantime. I saw a bunch of crowded stalls on the way here. Let's check them out!"

Goldfish scooping, ring tossing and underwater coin dropping made time pass in the blink of an eye as the heat diminished in the afternoon. Tagitsuhime got the chance to show off her proficiency in fish snatching to her new friend, followed by Taki, who effortlessly dropped coins inside the smallest bowl at the bottom of the deepest tank. Yao Bikuni proved to be a worthy adversary for the two of them, taking full advantage of Taki who, for some reason, seemed to get distracted easily by his surroundings.

"Sharkie, there's a beigoma stall here. I can teach you how to play." Kagura gestured towards a particularly crowded stall.

Taki's interest was piqued by the handiwork of the ivory shells stuffed with molten sand. He would have certainly liked to take a closer look at the beigoma, but the occasional whispers of "That's him! That's him!" and "I'm so lucky I got to see him!" made him hesitant to approach the crowd. The urge to flick Tagitsuhime's forehead again only grew stronger.

"Wow, you're still turning heads. It's nice to see your efforts this morning paid off," the tranquil timber of Shiro-uneri's amused voice drew closer.

"You're back," Taki ignored the remark. "It took you longer than expected. What happened?"

"I performed surgery on the chief priest."

At the look of utter disbelief on Taki's face, Shiro-uneri clarified, "It turns out he wasn't suffering from a heat stroke. He had stones in his kidney, which caused him severe pain and dizziness, so I took them out. He's resting now."

"Good thing your scalpels came in handy," Yao Bikuni joined the conversation, leaving Kagura and Tagitsuhime to play together at the stall.

The satisfied look on Shiro-uneri's face was hard to miss. Taki pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So where is Seimei?"

"Some onmyojis stopped him a few stalls back to thank him for the help." A sudden idea seemed to flash through his mind. He quickly glanced at Yao Bikuni, a quiet agreement in their eyes, then back at Taki. "You should go to him. He seemed interested in one of the stalls there. It wasn't as crowded as it is here."

"Don't you want to come too?"

"Don't worry about us. Just go spend some time with him. He must be tired."

Taki couldn't refute such upfront prompting. He cleared his throat and added a quiet "Thank you" as he excused himself.

Not far from the beigoma stall, he saw Seimei walking away from a group of onmyoji eagerly expressing their gratitude and bowing to him. Their eyes met and an apologetic smile crossed Seimei's face.

"I made you wait. I'm sorry."

"Hmm, then repent by playing a game of kaiooi with me."

Seimei raised his eyebrows, not expecting a challenge.

"Shiro-uneri said that one of the stalls here caught your attention. It was the kaiooi one, since it's quite unusual for a summer festival. Am I correct?"

Seimei let out a laugh. "You know me quite well, don't you?"

Taki smiled despite the little pang in his chest.

"Sure, let's play. But I'm quite good at this game. Will you be able to keep up?"

The smile on Taki's face widened at the challenge. They approached the stall and the vendor, a rather delicate aquatic spirit, lit up upon seeing Seimei.

"It's good to see you again, Master Seimei!"

"Hello, Shouzu. It's been a while."

"Will you and you friend play together? I must warn you though, this is not the usual game of kaiooi where you just match halves of clam shells."

"Are the inner sides of the shells painted with literary scenes?" Taki asked as he examined the clams.

"Exactly. Instead of the regular 360 shells, you will only play with 100. In order to win, you must not only match the shells, but also name the source of the images depicted."

"So this is more of a means to test the players' literary knowledge than their attention to details."

"A bit of both," Shouzu chuckled.

"I like it. Let's try it, Taki."

"Gladly."

They sat down on the cloth Shouzu laid on the ground, then waited for her to prepare the shells. She put together three concentric circles: ten shells for the inner ring, sixteen for the middle and twenty four for the outer ring. She took one shell out of the box where the remaining forty-nine were stored, and placed it at the center of the circle.

"You may begin."

Sitting face to face, the two men exchanged glances. When Taki motioned for Seimei to start, he took the shell at the center and started searching for its match. He soon found it in the inner ring, so he slowly brought the two sides together, then opened them to look at the paintings.

A rock at the center of a river. He smiled.

"Like water rushing down
the river rapids
we may be parted
by a rock, but in the end
we will be one again."

"It's Emperor Sutoku's poem, isn't it?" Seimei asked, his eyes not leaving Taki.

"Correct!" Shouzu clapped her hands. She waited for Seimei to put the two shells aside, then placed another one in the middle.

Taki immediately found its match and analyzed the pictures. A lonely man looking at the moon, crying. The Milky Way was visible on the night sky. He thought for a while, then finally found an answer.

"As I gaze unseeing
on a moon as empty
as the sky
I grieve, my teardrops flowing
as Heaven's Starry Stream."

"The first chapter of the Tale of Heichu. A poem composed by the lonely hero who was gazing at the moon and started missing his friend."

Shouzu nodded and placed another shell in the middle.

"Heichu sent the verses to his friend who also happened to be looking at the moon that night," Seimei added. "It's a beautiful scene showing how well their feelings harmonized."

Taki wanted to keep looking at his soft smile.

Seimei found another match. A man leaving a village, heading towards a mountain peak covered with pine trees. He considered it for a moment.

"Though I may leave
for Mount Inaba,
whose peak is covered with pines,
If I hear that you pine for me,
I will come straight home to you."

"Ariwara no Yukihira's poem," he answered decidedly, then chuckled at the pun.

"Would you really?" Taki teased and Seimei felt the urge to open his folding fan.

Shouzu placed another shell and the game progressed smoothly, without a single blunder on the players' part. It was specifically designed to be difficult, but the two were unperturbed and went on with their banter. By the twentieth round, she couldn't restrain her awe anymore.

"You two are truly something! No one has played this far without making mistakes, but it looks like child's play with you!"

A small curious audience had also gathered to follow their competition.

Taki smirked as he found another match. This time he took a moment to admire the intricate paintings of those two particular shells. Multiple carriages in disarray, one trapped behind another one. Easy.

"Chapter nine of the Tale of Genji. The carriage quarrel between Lady Aoi, Prince Genji's wife, and Lady Rokujo, his mistress." For some reason, the words left a bitter aftertaste.

Seimei quickly matched the next pair. This one proved to be a challenge. A young nobleman on the banks of a river, surrounded by blooming irises. He thought for a moment.

"I have a beloved wife,"

Taki twitched involuntarily.

"familiar as the skirt
of a well-worn robe.
And so this distant journeying
fills my heart with grief."

"The Tale of Ise. A nobleman was traveling alone on the countryside. He was missing his wife and composed the poem on the banks of a river." He peeked at Shouzu, then sighed in relief at her confirmation.

Seimei felt Taki's eyes on him. He glanced back, but instead of being greeted with a casual grin, his opponent averted his eyes, going straight for the next shell. He matched it with its half, then threw a brief look at Seimei and back at the shells, his expression unreadable.

That was unusual. Seimei waited.

Before Taki had the chance to name the scene depicted on the clam shells, an urgent voice approached Seimei.

"Master Seimei, we deeply apologize for disturbing you again."

Seimei let out a deep, deep sigh on the inside.

"What happened?"

"Since the chief priest is still recovering from his, uhm, surgery, we also need your cooperation to perform one last purification ritual at the otabisho before the procession..."

He turned to Taki with an apologetic look.

"The otabisho is the temporary location where the portable shrines are brought at the end of the procession. It's not far from here, so it shouldn't take too long."

"Don't worry. They rely on you, so I understand. We can play kaiooi some other time."

Seimei wasn't entirely convinced, so he added, "I really will be back soon this time."

He thanked Shouzu for the game and left in a hurry with the onmyoji. Taki finally exhaled. He looked back at the shells in his hands. A boat adrift at sea, the rudder far behind it.

"Crossing the Bay of Yura
the boatman loses the rudder.
The boat is adrift,
not knowing where it goes.
Is the course of love like this?"

"Sone no Yoshitada's poem," he concluded with a half-smile.

Shouzu clapped again. "You were both amazing! For now it's a tie, but I know for sure that the game would've still ended in a tie if Master Seimei continued playing."

Hizz, who had been resting quietly on Taki's shoulder throughout the entire game, nuzzled his head on his friend's neck to congratulate him.

"Thank you," he crooned as he rubbed Hizz's chin. "We really are similar, aren't we..." Taki thought to himself. White long hair, blue eyes, similar demeanour.

He gathered the clams, put them back inside the box and returned them to Shouzu.

"Thank you, Master Taki."

"Father, that's not him," a distant whisper reached his ears.

"Are you sure? He totally fits your description."

"I am! The man I saw looked like a human onmyoji."

"So Her Majesty's fiance is an onmyoji. How fitting!!"

"Yes! And he's a very respectable one from what I've heard."

"Oh my, that can only be Master Seimei! I've heard so many people talking about him while staying in Heian-kyo."

A buzzing sound sharp like the claws of a wild animal scratched the inside of his head, trailed down to his chest, grasped whatever it could find on the way and squeezed tightly.

"Master Taki?"

He blinked once. Shouzu was trying to take the box, but his hold was unbudging.

"Ah, excuse me, I got distracted. Here you go." He smiled and finally let go of the box. "Thank you for today."

He bowed courteously and went to look for his group.

The cry of the cicadas was deafening that evening.

-

"Aaahh, he had to leave again?" Tagitsuhime whined. "I wanted to show him the moves Kagura taught me with the beigoma."

"You can show me instead."

"Hehe, will you buy me some sweets if I beat three players in a row?"

"Six players," Taki challenged.

"Deal!"

Taki stood to the side of the stall and watched the little pieces of ivory shells being wrapped in thin cords, then launched onto the playing surface to knock each other out. The quick spinning motion of the beigomas was oddly captivating, but despite his efforts to focus, his thoughts drifted like pieces of wood washed by the waves of an agitated sea. Fragments of whispers involuntarily reached his ears again as the buzzing threatened to return. His eyes landed on the blue peacock amulet tied to Tagitsuhime's tasuki sash.

"I beat nine players. You owe me double the deal," her wide grin interrupted his musings. "Kagura, Kohaku, come here! Taki will buy us chimaki mochi!"

She grabbed his arm and led him around the bustling area where sugary fragrances blended with the gentle aroma of hot tea and the irresistible smell of savory dishes.

"Taki, let's check out that dango stall!"

"Taakii, there's a yakitori stall too!"

"Taaaakkiiii," her voice echoed endlessly into the lively street.

Yao Bikuni and Shiro-uneri stopped to enjoy a cup of green tea and quietly watched the group zigzagging the area.

"He acts strict, but can't resist indulging her. It's quite amusing."

"Always," Shiro-uneri assented with a laugh. "But something's bothering him. He prefers to keep his emotions to himself, but I think Sharkie noticed too."

"Oh, how can you tell?"

"From the way she clings to him and drags him around everywhere. She's trying to cheer him up," he chuckled. "Though I'm not sure how effective it is."

Yao Bikuni took a sip of her tea.

"Something must have happened while he was with Mr Seimei."

As the temperature slightly lowered in the evening, Tagitsuhime's energy tripled in intensity. Holding onto Taki and Kagura's arms, she turned a corner in search of more stalls to explore. His legs were starting to ache, but at least the buzzing had subsided.

"Taaaaaakkkiiiiii, there's a-...oh, there's Mr Grand Celebrity!"

As if pricked with a needle, he became alert and followed Tagitsuhime's line of sight. Not so far from them was Seimei chatting with a young vendor. She was short and her plain red and white garments almost made one mistake her for a shrine maiden, but her chirpy attitude set her apart from one.

"But isn't fall their season?" Seimei hesitated.

"Hehe, these are special! Consider them a blessing from yours truly," the vendor declared with pride and winked at him. "Visit my shrine later to thank me." Her eyes caught sight of the man drawing closer, then added, "And take him with you."

Seimei turned and saw Tagitsuhime approaching with Taki and Kagura. Whatever he had brought from the girl, he had already slid into his yukata sleeve. Seimei thanked her, then rushed to his companions.

"You really came back quicker this time!" Tagitsuhime beamed. "Taki bought us some treats in the meantime. Here's your share!"

She and Kagura took out a handful of amezaiku candies and showed them off in perfect unison. Seimei couldn't help but laugh.

"I see you've had fun."

He shifted his attention to Taki, "Thank you for the sweets."

He smiled in response, then turned to Tagitsuhime, "We should have some tea with Shiro-uneri and Yao Bikuni. I think we're all a bit tired."

Seimei nodded and opened his fan. That's odd, he thought, he's averting his eyes again.

He moved to the right side of Taki's shoulder, wishing to walk side by side just like they did during the float procession. He quietly observed his friend. Maybe the irregular pace of his steps was only Seimei's imagination.

The small teahouse Shiro-uneri and Yao Bikuni were resting at had three benches shaded by parasols at the front entrance. The two girls shared their sweets with the rest of the group and sat down on one of the benches as Kohaku dozed off at their feet.

"Sharkie, what's the most dangerous place you've ever sailed to?

"Aha!" she perked up at Kagura's question. "The Cape of Devils, of course! Have you ever heard of it?"

"No, I don't think so."

As Tagitsuhime started eagerly recounting her tale, Hizz got off Taki's shoulder and accidentally knocked over the small piece of candy in his hand. Lost in his own thoughts, Taki didn't notice its absence and the round candy rolled to the right side of the bench where Seimei was sitting. He stopped it with his index finger and sent it back to Hizz with a gentle flick. The little iguana caught the candy and contemplated for a second, then pushed it in Taki's direction. He scratched at his thigh and hissed once or twice to attract his attention.

"Taki and Mr Grand Celebrity over there are the only people I know who've successfully navigated through it," she paused. "Though Mr Seimei did need some of my help in the end, hehe."

Taki looked down in confusion, then smiled faintly at his companion who just wanted to play. He flicked the candy back to Hizz. Happy to see he was willing to play, Hizz pushed the candy towards Seimei. Eventually, a harmonized game of back and forth took shape between the three of them.

"Navigating through it is one thing, but once you reach the Cape of Devils, you must confront the Killer Waves."

"The Killer Waves?"

Seimei peeked at him. It wasn't his imagination after all, Taki's mind seemed to be elsewhere. A chatty crowd passed by and a frown briefly appeared on his brow. When Hizz pushed the candy in his direction, Taki flicked it too hard and it rolled off the bench.

"Ah." He immediately realized his mistake and reached for it.

Instead of the candy, Taki's hand touched Seimei's. He was just trying to pick it up, so he did not expect Taki to jerk his hand away as if scalded.

"It's the name of some giant waves feared for their unpredictability. They can strike even when the sea is calm!"

Seimei paused for a brief second, his face betraying no emotion, then picked up the candy.

"Sorry...You can give it to Hizz to play with it since it fell on the ground," Taki spoke softly.

He still averted his eyes.

"But you seem to find them appealing," Kagura laughed.

"Well, more or less. Because you can discover some amazing treasures when you face dangers head on with a capable crew. The Golden Tentacles is living proof of that!"

Seimei opened his folding fan and gave a quiet hum of agreement. He flicked the candy back to its new owner, but Hizz nuzzled his hand instead.

Yao Bikuni didn't miss the exchange between the two. She took one more sip of her tea.

"Speaking of treasures, Mr Seimei, do you remember my black hairpin with moonflower ornaments? The one I bought last week."

Seimei was taken aback by the question.

"Yes?"

"It's been on my mind all day, but I think I dropped it near the Shijo Bridge right before we arrived at the shrine this morning. Can you please go bring it to me? I fear I might never find it once the portable shrine procession ends."

He stared in confusion.

"I'd go myself, but you see, I've sprained my ankle earlier and I can't move. Isn't that right, Mr Shiro-uneri?

"Yes, I can confirm."

"You and Kagura are the only ones who know how the hairpin looks like, but I wouldn't send her on such an errand. So I'm counting on you."

"Taki, you should lend Seimei a hand. You have a keen eye for jewelry and hair ornaments. Don't you think so too, Seimei?" Shiro-uneri grinned into his cup.

Taki stared at him so hard one would think he was trying to dig holes into skin with his eyes.

Seimei brought his fan closer to his face and glanced at the man in question.

"He does."

Taki cleared his throat and stared into empty space, muttering a stiff "Thank you."

"Ah!" Kohaku woke up. "Kohaku also knows how it looks like. And my keen sense of smell is better. I can go look for it inste-"

Hizz crawled down the bench and hissed some incomprehensible whispers in his ear.

"Really?! Aheam, on second thought, Kohaku's sense of smell has been dulled by the earlier nap."

"Sharkie, wouldn't you like to see it too? The ornaments glow in the dark just like real moonflowers."

"That sounds cool. Yeah, I'd love to!"

"Great, then I'm counting on you two to find my precious hairpin." She clapped her hands and directed her most persuasive, slightly threatening smile at Taki and Seimei.

They sighed and got up from the bench.

-

The Shijo Bridge crossed the Kamo River, which separated Gion Shrine from the center of the capital. Seimei lost count of how many times he had walked the same route that day, but unlike morning and early afternoon, a less crowded walk in the evening proved to be more enjoyable.

He turned his attention to the man striding a few steps in front of him and wished to understand why there seemed to be a glass wall between the two of them. It hadn't been there earlier that day, so what was the need for it?

Their friends bluntly gave him the opportunity to find out, so he decided to tap on that glass for the time being.

"Taki."

A pause. "Yes?"

"You're walking too fast. I'm still tired, so please slow down."

Seimei found himself smiling at his immediate compliance. A less tense silence set between them this time.

However, that silence was soon filled with the powerful voices of men shouting "Hoitto! Hoitto!" and the jingling sound of the bells decorating the portable shrines carried on their shoulders. The men were clad in white, a stark contrast to the three golden shrines getting jostled about with enthusiasm.

The procession was heading towards the otabisho at the center of the capital. Among the hundreds of shrine carriers there was also Hiromasa, too fired up to even take notice of his audience. It was not as lavish as the float procession, but the fervour of the carriers was a spectacle in itself.

As they approached the Shijo Bridge, Taki took one last look at the departing procession.

"Sharkie will love this." A genuine smile seemed to finally grace his features.

As he stood there, a soft breeze drifted from the river and blew through his hair. The gentle glow of the setting sun caressed his skin, casting warm tones on his hair, blue eyes and the scales of his tail. He seemed light, but something still weighed at the edges of his mind.

The riverbank was lined with cherry trees, yet the crowd from that morning was nowhere in sight. The only sound left was the cacophonous buzzing of the cicadas. It was time to tap harder on the glass.

"Taki, have you enjoyed the festival so far?"

"Certainly," he answered absentmindedly.

"It must have been a while since your crew had the chance to relax on land."

"Indeed."

"Not to mention that it's rare to see you all dressed in a yukata," he said as he brought his fan closer to his face. "Emerald green looks go-"

"Seimei, are you engaged?" Taki blurted out.

"...-od on you."

Seimei blinked once. Then twice.

"What?"

"To a queen from a faraway land."

"What."

Taki sighed.

"Forgive me, I will get straight to the point. I have been hearing people gossiping about it at the food stalls. I did not pay attention at first, but then I kept hearing about a certain man matching your descripion."

"And yours!" Tagitsuhime's ever cheery voice creeped into the jumbled mess of thoughts that resided in mind, but he refused to entertain it.

"And when they also said your name I couldn't help but-

Feel like a fool for looking forward to seeing you again.

For keeping you in my heart all this time.

-wonder why you'd choose to omit this piece of information about yourself. I know it's a personal matter and that you are a very private man, but after all this time I would have at least liked to know this before-" getting my hopes up "-hand."

The humming of the cicadas long stopped, making the silence that followed deafening. Taki tentatively raised his eyes from the unfortunate rock that suffered the brunt of his stare during his inquiry and saw Seimei pinching the bridge of his nose.

Taki stared in disbelief.

The man who had been patiently listening to him let out a soft sigh. He sat down on the log lying at his feet and gestured towards Taki with a mildly amused half-smile.

"Sit down. It's quite the long and ridiculous story."

-

"So you were only playing pretend to catch a blackmailer? A blackmailing cat?!"

"It sounds like a preposterous lie when you say it outloud, but yes," Seimei chucked. "I only visited her to thank her for her kindness."

"Was it her idea?"

"Yeah, it was all hers."

"And what did she ask you to do while playing pretend?"

"We walked around the capital city in a carriage."

"Hmm." Taki eyed him. "What else?"

"She asked me to have a dance with her." Seimei opened his fan and brought it closer to his face. Taki stopped it between his index and middle fingers.

"What else?"

"She, uh..."

"Hmm?"

"She asked me to, uh, share a bed with her. Only share it, nothing more."

"Oh my, aren't you a charmer, Seimei."

Don't say my name like that when your smile isn't reaching your eyes, Seimei wanted to talk back, but the hole he dug for himself trapped the words inside his throat.

Taki sighed and let go of the fan. "Well, you played your little game of pretend months before you boarded my ship, so I understand now why you didn't mention it." He rested his chin on his palm as his smile finally reached his eyes. "I suppose there has been someone else to keep your thoughts busy lately."

"Oh my, aren't you a charmer too, Taki." Seimei laughed incredulously.

The distant murmur of the festival filled the comfortable silence that set between them. Seimei slowly reached inside his yukata sleeve.

"So, was the queen pretty?"

His hand jolted along with his thoughts.

Huh?!

Seimei snapped his head in confusion at Taki. Oddly enough, he was still resting leisurely on his palm, but instead of a smile, there was a pout. Seimei couldn't help but stare, unable to stop the corner of his mouth from going upward.

He reached into his sleeve with ease, then gently placed eight small light purple flowers in Taki's hair. By the time he processed the gesture, Seimei's fingers had already reached his left cheekbone, slowly moving downward to linger just below his lips. Tonight was a new moon and the stars were shining brighter than usual, so the faint blush on Taki's dazed expression was impossible to miss.

"I think the sight before me is breathtaking in comparison," Seimei answered his question.

Their eyes were locked and Taki seemed to have forgotten how to breath. Unfortunately, Seimei's fingers abandoned his face too soon and a cool breeze caressed his lips instead. His hand moved towards his sleeve to take out one more purple flower.

"You're well-versed in literature. Do you know the meaning of shion flowers?" Seimei asked while playing with the tiny petals between his fingers.

With a swift motion, Taki grasped his wrist and kissed his hand, starting with the fingers holding the petals. His face was burning and he still hadn't quite remembered how to breath yet, but he pushed forward.

Reminiscence.

He took one last look at Seimei's face before closing his eyes and the remaining distance between them.

I won't forget you.

The jingling sound of the portable shrines was getting farther and farther way, making this intimate moment feel like it belonged only to them. Seimei's lips were soft against Taki's, while the grip on his hand was only getting tighter. It was intoxicating. He wanted more of this man.

I'm thinking of someone who is far away.

Seimei placed his free hand on Taki's chest and slowly moved it upward as he kissed him back with equal enthusiasm. At last, his palm cradled his nape and his thumb playfully caressed his earlobe, causing Taki to let out a soft, almost imperceptible moan. But Seimei caught it and decided he'd like to hear more.

Suddenly, he felt the tip of a tail coiling languidly around his ankle, an endearing gesture that made Seimei's heart leap in his chest. His head was buzzing with want, so he took the cue and deepened the kiss, enjoying every soft gasp he could draw out of Taki's lips.

For once, it really felt like this one moment only belonged to the two of them.

-

By the time they got back, the procession had already ended. The streets were lined with lanterns and the exuberance of the festival had subsided, allowing the gods of the Gion Shrine to rest for a while.

"Have you found my hairpin?"

Seimei quietly handed it to her.

"Oh. Wow, you really found it." She twisted her hair into a low bun and secured it with the hairpin. "Teamwork is great, isn't it?"

They both nodded in agreement, avoiding the teasing look in her eyes.

"Aha! There you were!" Hiromasa approached in a jovial mood. "You're Taki, right? Kagura said she had fun hanging out with you and Sharkie today. Thanks for taking care of her. I'm her brother, Hiromasa."

"Don't mention it. I am pleased to finally meet you. You played the flute magnificently today."

Hiromasa beamed at the praise.

"You're finally back!!" Tagitsuhime sprinted with Hizz in her arms. Kagura, Kohaku and Shiro-uneri followed suit. "Taaakiii, Hiromasa is so cool! He convinced the musicians to let us ride some of the floats." She had sparkles in her eyes as she spoke. "They're so tall it's like you're riding a ship on land!!"

Taki patted her on the head and chuckled.

"Oh, the hairpin is beautiful," Shiro-uneri commented casually, then turned to Taki, his expression unreadable. He pointed at the top of the green yukata tightly closing around his chest and neck. "Were there mosquitos at the river?"

Taki stared at him with caution. "Yes."

"I see, then you should use the flowers in your hair to treat the bites. They're anti-inflammatory."

Taki bit the inside of his mouth. Seimei opened his fan. It was a good thing the sun had already set, otherwise everyone in the street would have noticed the bright shade of red spreading all over their faces.

Oblivious to the awkward silence that set between them, Tagitsuhime shifted her attention to the equally clueless Hiromasa.

"Will the portable shrines stay in central Heian-kyo for good? I wanna try lifting one up."

"Haha, no way. There will be another procession next week and the deities will return to the Gion Shrine."

"Oh, so they're going home around the same time as us."

There was a tinge of regret in her voice, so Hiromasa continued, "But they come back every summer. It's not like they leave forever."

"I agree," Taki added as he gracefully adjusted the collar of his yukata and made space for Hizz. "Besides, even if they don't, people can always go visit the shrine on their own."

Seimei noticed the brief glance Taki cast his way. He smiled to himself and closed his folding fan.

"Speaking of which, where are you planning to stay over the week?"

"I have seen a few inns around the shrine. I will send a notice to the inn from last night and have them send our luggage in the morning."

"Hmm. And here I prepared rooms for everyone at my place."

Tagitsuhime and Kagura perked up.

"You sure?! So I can spend more time with Kagura?" She effortlessly picked her new friend up and spun her around. "Mr Grand Celebrity, you don't mind?"

"Not at all."

If her arms weren't full of Kagura, she would have also picked Seimei up.

Taki stepped closer to him and lowered his voice, "Are you really sure you don't mind?"

"I'm the one who invited you here. Aren't you my guests?" His voice dropped to a soft whisper, "Besides, the stars are quite beautiful tonight. I wanted to enjoy a drink with you while gazing at them."

The sweet smile in his voice sent a shiver down Taki's spine.

"I'd love that."

The group eventually walked away from the busy streets, leaving behind the lingering sound of flutes, drums and gongs for tonight.

Seimei didn't miss the way Taki drew closer to his side every time chatty passersby seemed to steal glances and whisper with excitement. His hearing must have been very sharp. Seimei chuckled and bumped his shoulder playfully.

Taki watched him for a moment, then carefully took one of the shion flowers from his hair and tucked it into his ponytail with a pleased grin. Seimei bumped his shoulder again.

He couldn't wait to have that drink with him.