Mitsuki

Mitsuki

 

Once Azusa decided to leave the colony where his parents lived and go to Jurai, Seto, per Azusa’s mother’s wishes, became his guardian and teacher. In a land that he had never set foot in, where he knew no one, Seto took on the roles of both mother and big sister.

Normally, Seto called him “Azusa-dono,” but in private, she sometimes teasingly called him “Azusa-chan.” Azusa hated it when she addressed him like that. He did not know why exactly, but he probably unconsciously rejected her treating him like a child, stemming from his desire to become strong after the pirate attack.

“We’ll be leaving tomorrow. Are you ready, Azusa-chan?!”

“I’m ready. So stop calling me that!” He tried to put on a brave front, but he was definitely going to miss his parents. That night, he slept between them in their bed, where he vowed again in his heart that he would become stronger. Of course, Seto later teased him relentlessly for this.

 

A few days later, they reached Jurai, and Azusa received a grand welcome reception the likes of which he had never seen. It was more than another visiting head of state would receive, but justifiably so. He may have been young, but Azusa was the head of House Masaki, one of Jurai’s four Imperial Houses.

Azusa was taken aback by the assembled crowd. “This is…amazing.”

“Stop looking around like that. Stand properly, Azusa-chan.”

“I know!” he yelled at Seto. It was not very convincing, as there was a large ribbon on Azusa’s head. Seto had tied it there in his sleep as exhaustion overtook him on his first long trip away from his parents. Azusa was oblivious and looking nervous. The crowd along the route tried to stifle their laughter. They were not laughing at him, but rather felt sympathy and affection. Juraian custom called for men to wear ribbons as an accessory on occasion. But the one Azusa was wearing now clearly emphasized cuteness, like something a little girl would wear. Of course, every citizen knew it was the work of Seto, beaming next to him, and they also knew she would only do this kind of thing to someone she was fond of. Hence their laughter.

Azusa started to catch on that something was odd and saw himself on the gigantic screens broadcasting the parade. His attention was drawn specifically to the fact that he was wearing a ribbon! “When did this happen?!” Red as a beet, he reached to take it off.

“Oh, but it’s so cute. Why are you taking it off, Azusa-chan?”

“H-how could you do this, you old bat?!” The moment Azusa shouted this at the top of his lungs, a hush instantly fell around them. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see Seto’s reaction to Azusa’s insult. All of Jurai, save for the youngest generation, feared Seto as “the Oni-hime of Jurai,” or “the Ogre Princess of Jurai” if you will, due to the valor and power she had demonstrated during the war against the largest pirate guild in the galaxy. Only the current Emperor of Jurai or Seto’s own husband, Utsutsumi, could call her something like “old bat” to her face.

Seto took one look at Azusa’s face, which was flushed with anger, and let loose a hearty laugh. It echoed through the silence.

“I’m going home…!!” Azusa declared and tried to get out of the vehicle. Seto, still laughing with tears in her eyes, grabbed him from behind. The crowd, finally released from their spell, started clapping, cheering, and laughing.

This was how Azusa’s ordeals on Jurai began.

 

“H-how rude!!” exclaimed Amaki Shuzan, one of the Imperial Family assembled in the great hall to watch the broadcast. On the screen was an extreme close-up of Seto laughing and holding the struggling Azusa. Shuzan was one of those opposed to Azusa returning as an heir to the throne for House Masaki. He felt threatened by this increase in the number of heirs. “Your Majesty! I can’t accept allowing someone like this to join the Imperial Family!!”

There were several who nodded in agreement and started criticizing Azusa. Meanwhile, Seto was laughing her head off on the other side of the screen, and Utsutsumi, her husband, was laughing even louder. The head of House Kamiki also seemed to have taken a liking to Azusa, just like his wife.

“Your Majesty!”

“Shuzan, put an end to this,” the Emperor of Jurai said at Shuzan’s protest.

“So, we shall send back that insolent…”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Sir, then what…”

“A young member of our very own has come home. He is our family. This is too stiff. Let us do without such formalities. We need to loosen up, right, Utsutsumi?”

“As you wish.”

“But…o-old bat… What a riot. Ha ha ha ha!!” The Emperor of Jurai burst into laughter, unleashing what he had been holding back. Such exuberance took the wind out of the sails of the ones opposed to Azusa’s rejoining the Imperial Family. Only Shuzan, who was taking the lead, remained to gnash his teeth.

“Now that this has been decided, let us go.” As soon as these words were spoken, the Emperor leapt up and left the hall. Formalities be damned. Azusa’s welcome party was on.

The Juraian citizens received Azusa’s and Seto’s performance and triumphant return well, not to mention the Emperor’s proclamation of a party. As such, Azusa was quickly given recognition. Azusa himself was embarrassed to death, but if Seto had placed that ribbon anticipating these developments, she was quite the schemer.

And then…what awaited Azusa on Jurai were endless days of training to become an Imperial Family member. He was with Seto, his guardian and teacher, around the clock. During puberty, he had a slight crush on her, but his sexual frustrations were worked off through extra hard special training that began around then. Seto herself knew how he felt, so she was using the utmost care and attention, in her own way.

One of Seto’s friends who noticed Azusa’s passionate glances at the time once asked her about it, and she laughed and replied, “If I didn’t have a husband.”

Azusa never uttered one complaint, no matter how harsh the training was in the martial arts. However, there were some things that were difficult for him, and that was his education in matters of refinement, such as traditional flower arrangement, the tea ceremony, and fine arts. Dance performances were a special sore spot, since they were selected based on Seto’s biased preferences; Azusa was always trying to avoid it.

“No way. I’m not dressing up like a girl!” Seto was always selecting the feminine dances, and on top of it all, she wanted to put a ribbon on his head for no good reason.

“Come back here!”

“I’m not wearing that, you old bat!”

“Trying to escape is pointless, Azusa-chan!”

“Stop calling me that!!”

In fact, he was never able to escape her fully. But once caught, Seto would never be angry at him, since this also served as part of his training.

 

Three years passed since Azusa came to Jurai, and Azusa was now thirteen. That day, yet again, Azusa was running away from Seto. Recently he had learned to set a variety of traps, but Seto was always two steps ahead of him, and had turned some of those traps against him. Azusa’s transport pad trap captured him instead of Seto.

“That old bat!!” He phased out of transport mid-yell, assuming he would see Seto in front of him with her hands at her hips. But he could not see her anywhere. He looked around at a beautiful garden he had never seen before. “What’s this…?” The sounds of a Juraian lute interrupted his confusion. His interest piqued, he wandered over as if floating on air.

Azusa pushed aside the undergrowth and saw a woman playing the lute on a terrace in a discreet corner of the garden. He realized that he had come here by mistake and tried to go up to her to ask where he was, but now fascinated by the strange melody, listened transfixed instead.

How much time passed? The woman stopped plucking the strings and spoke to the boy peering through the trees, “Oh, I haven’t had a visitor in a long time. I’m happy to see you.”

Azusa came to his senses at the sound of her voice and promptly stood up.

The woman chuckled, “Seto-sama isn’t here, Azusa-dono.”

“H-how did you- I mean, greetings, my lady… Do I know you? Er, I mean, have we been introduced?”

The woman chuckled again, “You called her ‘old bat’…there’s nobody on Jurai who doesn’t know you.”

“Oh… Um, I’m sorry I interrupted you. Excuse me.” He was sick and tired of hearing about that incident, but the woman looked so delicate that he feared his very presence would disrupt this space. He bowed without another word and turned to leave.

“Azusa-dono,” she called out after him. “If you don’t mind, could you stay and talk to me a while?”

Azusa paused. “But…”

“Would that be an inconvenience for you?”

Her sorrowful eyes turned to him as she placed the lute beside her. Azusa was not so mature that he knew how to refuse those eyes. He also secretly wanted to stay. “No, that’s not at all what…”

“Oh, good…” she smiled at him.

Her name was Amaki Mitsuki. She was as beautiful as her namesake, the moon, and her pale blue hair that looked almost white was far longer than she was tall. She was about the same age as Seto. She told him she had spent most of her life in this garden, and since she was of ill health, she was not able to fulfill her royal duties. They talked about their circumstances. Azusa had gotten used to Juraian customs but felt he had not been this relaxed in a long time. But then, he could not stay forever.

“I better get going.”

“It’s so late already… I’m sorry I kept you.” Mitsuki saw the long shadows extending from the terrace and turned reluctant eyes to Azusa.

They were far apart in age, but Mitsuki seemed like an abandoned puppy. Azusa found himself saying, “I’ll be back…”

“Really?”

“I promise. I’ll run here the next time Seto-sama tries to put a ribbon on me.”

Mitsuki chuckled, “I’ll be waiting for you… Oh, Azusa-dono, don’t tell anyone you were here or that you met me. Keep it a secret.”

“Why?” Azusa saw her sadly cast her eyes downward and did not press further. “All right, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you.”

He said goodbye and left. She followed him with her eyes until she could no longer see him; every time he turned around, he waved his hand heartily. It did not bother him in the least. Heh… So her name’s Mitsuki. He did not know if Seto had made a mistake in setting the trap, or if it was a coincidence, but he was grateful for this accident, as it made him wholeheartedly feel, for the first time, glad to have come to Jurai. After this, Azusa went to visit Mitsuki often.

 

It was another horrible day. In a recital to which the Imperial Family was invited, Azusa was again forced to dress like a girl and perform a feminine dance. He seethed and complained, causing Mitsuki to say to him with a chuckle, “You puff your cheeks out so much that you look like the moon, Azusa-chan.” Mitsuki called him Azusa-chan, just like Seto, whenever he acted childish. But unlike Seto’s teasing tone, Mitsuki’s was kind, and not at all insulting. Before he knew it, Azusa made a habit of pouting on purpose just so she would address him like that in her gentle way.

“Say, Azusa-chan… Oh, sorry, you don’t like to be called that way.”

“That’s not really true. I just don’t like it that Seto-sama does it to tease me.”

“Then can I keep calling you Azusa-chan?”

Azusa nodded. “…Sure.”

“Can you call me Mitsuki, too?”

“I’ll think about it…”

“Thank you, Azusa-chan. Say, it’s the full moon tonight. Let’s go out to the terrace.” The terrace, on a low hill, commanded a panoramic view of the starry sky and the land of Jurai, a veritable sea of trees. In the sky shone Jurai’s moon, a thirteenth of Jurai’s size, and its light dimly illuminated the land. A city could be seen between forests, but it was in perfect harmony with nature without detracting from the landscape. They enjoyed the view silently for a while, but then a thick fog gradually blanketed the area.

“We can’t see it anymore…”

“It’s the fog seal.”

“Fog seal?”

“It’s a folktale… Long ago, there were many gods who fell in love with the beauty of the moon goddess. But none of them could reach her in the sky. Alone among the gods, the god of water could make the moon his by reflecting her on the water’s surface. The other gods got jealous, agitated the water, and erased the reflection. The moon goddess returned to the sky, but the water god hid her with fog so the other gods would not see her. That’s why there’s often fog on the nights of a full moon, when the moon is most beautiful…”

Mitsuki’s beauty captivated Azusa as she gazed at the sky.

“So, Azusa-chan, that’s what the fog seal is…unh!”

“Mitsuki-sama?!” Azusa rushed to Mitsuki, who knelt to the ground, suddenly dizzy. “I’ll get a doctor!”

“No! Don’t do that. Or you’ll…” Mitsuki clung to Azusa with a grim expression.

“Me? But…”

“I-I’m fine. I just felt dizzy… It happens often.”

“Are you sure…?” Azusa felt relief when Mitsuki nodded, but after interacting with her up close, his heart was pounding so loudly he thought she could hear it. “Your eyes…” Seeing her face close to his, he noticed for the first time that one eye was a different color from the other. “Your eyes are different colors… Oh, sorry.”

“It’s all right. It’s not a big deal.”

Azusa lent a shoulder to Mitsuki and tried to lead her toward the large bench in the indoor garden, when he heard a woman’s voice and stopped.

“Mitsuki-sama. Mitsuki-sama…” They probably had a way to monitor changes in her condition. Normally, only the Guardian Units could enter the garden outside of emergencies, but there was someone here.

Mitsuki stepped away from Azusa, worried about the impending encounter. “Oh no. Hurry!”

“But…”

“I’ll be fine. Just go…”

Reluctantly, he left her behind. He did not notice that a lady-in-waiting was watching from the shadows.

 

The next day, Azusa, worried about Mitsuki, blew off his morning training to go to the garden. He went through the transporter, headed to the garden terrace, and found Mitsuki sitting still on the bench. “Mitsuki-sama.”

Mitsuki turned around at his voice, but then cast her eyes downward with a sad expression.

“Are you all right now?” He thought it was because of her illness, but at the same moment, a man appeared from the trees behind him.

“Why, Azusa-dono, the head of House Masaki. Rather unexpected to see you here… Or perhaps blood will tell.” It was Amaki Shuzan, with a repulsive grin on his face.

“Shuzan-dono, good morning.”

“Good morning? Heh…that’s a good one. Hahaha!” Shuzan laughed loudly at Azusa’s oblivious greeting.

“What’s so funny?!”

“Haha. How happy-go-lucky can you be after committing such a serious crime? The head of House Masaki, bold and daring. Heh heh heh.”

“A crime?!” He looked over at Mitsuki, but she kept her eyes down.

“You don’t know? Well, this is a serious situation. We will have to question what exactly Seto-dono’s been teaching you.”

“Shuzan! This is… Azusa-dono is…” Mitsuki opened her mouth for the first time to protest to Shuzan, seemingly happy contrary to his words.

“Aunt Mitsuki! No matter the reason, he is not permitted to enter this garden.”

“Why not?!” Azusa asked, genuinely curious.

Shuzan scoffed, “Hmph, it’s…”

“Shuzan! Please…don’t…”

“Shut up, you’re a disgrace to House Amaki!” he berated. Mitsuki hung her head.

Azusa stiffened. ‘A disgrace? What happened to her?’

“It seems you don’t know anything, Azusa-dono. All right, I’ll tell you what she and the Masakis have done…” Shuzan began to tell him about Mitsuki. She had a special ability: by merging her consciousness with Tenju, the giant tree that housed the Imperial Palace, she could perceive everything happening within. It was where the Imperial Family lived and Jurai’s political power was concentrated. In other words, Mitsuki was able to gather all sorts of classified information, whether public or private.

When Mitsuki was very little and had no clear notion of right and wrong, a member of House Masaki discovered her ability by chance and plotted to overthrow the then-Emperor by using inside information on House Amaki.

“After that was discovered, the only person Aunt Mitsuki was allowed to see was the Emperor of Jurai. Simply setting foot in this place is a crime, especially for those who are in line for the throne.”

So that’s why she insisted I don’t tell anyone I was here. Now understanding the situation, Azusa looked at Mitsuki, who hung her head.

“…I can know everything happening in Tenju without setting a foot outside,” Mitsuki stated. “That’s how…I’ve been watching you. The chase between you and Seto-sama. It seemed so fun, and I wanted to talk to you, so I reprogrammed the transporters so you’d end up here…”

Azusa’s heart beat faster at Mitsuki’s words. She had been watching him, even looking forward to meeting him. She had chosen him. It made him happy that she had needed him so much.

“You are a voyeur. You were locked in here with this shameful power…” Shuzan laughed derisively, looking down upon Mitsuki.

“Stop it…”

Shuzan kept ignoring Azusa. “And it wasn’t enough for you, so you pulled in a male…”

“Stop it!!”

“Azusa-chan, no!!” Mitsuki clutched Azusa to stop him—he had put his hand on his sword.

“Azusa-dono, can I take that to mean you’re challenging me to a duel?”

“Please, don’t.” Mitsuki’s desperate pleas loosened Azusa’s grip.

“Yes, that’s smart. I will report that Azusa-dono was a victim here, forced against his will. Everything was this shameless whore’s doing.” Shuzan maliciously and deliberately taunted Azusa, knowing that it was worse for him to hear Mitsuki insulted than himself.

“Y-you bastard!!” In indignant rage, Azusa drew his sword; seeing this, Shuzan smiled, drew his own sword, and assumed a stance.

“That’s what makes a Juraian man. Come…any time you’re ready,” Shuzan said.

“No. Don’t do this, Shuzan!”

“Shut up, don’t touch my sword with your filthy hands!!” Shuzan hit Mitsuki’s cheek with his left hand.

“Mitsuki!” Azusa ran to the collapsed Mitsuki.

“Feh. This is a farce.” Shuzan clucked his tongue and made to leave, when Azusa yelled at him.

“Don’t you dare run!”

“Run? With your inexperience and lack of insight into an opponent’s capabilities, you can’t even tell you just escaped getting killed. If death is what you want, bring it on.”

Azusa repositioned his grip on his sword and charged with the intent to kill.

“No!” Mitsuki tried to stop him but it was no use; grabbing his sleeve was the most she could do. Ironically, that was fortunate for Shuzan, who had completely underestimated Azusa. Without the minor delay from the tugged sleeve, Azusa would have killed him. Shuzan was the one who lacked insight into his opponent’s capabilities.

But now in fight mode, Shuzan was slightly more skilled at the sword. Azusa thrust with all his might, but Shuzan parried him at the last possible moment. Shuzan toyed with him with his elegant dance-like moves.

“Dammit…!”

“The head of House Masaki should not utter such vulgar language!” The sword of light struck Azusa’s body. Either could have killed the other.

“Azusa-chan!” Mitsuki ran over to the collapsed Azusa. The wound was shallow, as he’d blocked at the last second, but the shock of the plasma rendered him stunned.

“Time for the coup de grace!” Shuzan had underestimated the child, but the shock of almost being killed had agitated him beyond self-control.

“Stop! It’s over already. This is no longer a duel!” Mitsuki covered Azusa with her body to shield him.

“Stand aside!”

“Shuzan! I will not allow this to go further.”

“Why you…” Shuzan could continue no further; her aura of intimidation overwhelmed him. “Hmph…no matter. Now both House Masaki and House Amaki… heh. Haha.” Recovering his senses, he sheathed his sword and left the garden.

“Azusa-chan, are you all right?”

“Dammit, I can’t believe I lost to him. Dammit!” He remembered what happened three years ago. Fierce emotions welled in him and blasted his limbs awake. He wanted to get stronger. Strong enough to protect those he cared about. The perfect circle of the moon illuminated Mitsuki and Azusa, now left alone. The fog did not hide the moon that night.

 

When he came to, Azusa found himself in confinement. Shuzan had reported his visit to Mitsuki, and he was locked in the palace prison. It was carved out of a Royal Tree, and even a first-class Jurai warrior would not readily be able to escape. However, Azusa had experience through his games of chase with Seto. He remembered her words: “If you want to become close to the trees, talk to them.” And so he started talking. This communication was not through direct language, but he intuited the tree’s feelings, and got it to open the prison and managed to escape.

Azusa did not realize that this ability to communicate with trees was an important quality necessary for someone who would become Jurai’s Emperor. Seto taught him because she knew that he had it in him.

He made his escape easily, and tried to find Mitsuki, but the Imperial Family had closed the transporter he had used to go to the garden.

“I guess my plan to surprise Mitsuki one day ended up useful.” He climbed down the outer surface of Tenju’s bark. Azusa had inferred the location of the terrace from the scenery visible from it and had plotted a route that bypassed the force fields. This was only possible because he had developed the ability to communicate with the trees. He traversed the complicated path, and finally reached the garden skylight.

“Mitsuki… Wh-who’s that?!” Azusa was happy to find Mitsuki, but next to her was the most powerful man on the planet, with a long beard and penetrating, dignified eyes: the Emperor of Jurai. Azusa was breaking all sorts of rules just to come here, but if the Emperor of Jurai were to find him, his and Mitsuki’s standings would be in jeopardy. With reluctance, he remained watching them from the skylight.

“It’s all my fault. Azusa-dono is…”

“I know… But even so, I had no choice in order to protect Jurai. That is the fate of those in our position.”

“But… I have feelings, too. I-If you had only let me die…I wouldn’t have had to suffer like this. I… I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, Grandfather. But…” As she remembered her past, the normally brave Mitsuki sobbed uncontrollably.

Mitsuki… Looking down on them through the skylight, Azusa wanted to leap in and comfort her, and he struggled to fight the urge.

As Mitsuki broke down in tears, the Emperor gently laid his hand on her. “I’m the one who should apologize. I could not have predicted that you and House Masaki would suffer so much. Forgive me… But I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

“Grandfather…” Mitsuki leaned against him and wept.

“I’ll do whatever I can. Cheer up, Mitsuki.”

“I-I’ll try…”

Shortly after the Emperor left, Azusa snuck into the garden. “Mitsuki!”

“A-Azusa-chan?! How did you get here…?”

Without answering, Azusa aggressively grabbed her hand. “Mitsuki, come escape Jurai with me!”

“What?!”

“You’re locked up in here because you’re on Tenju, right? Then just leave Jurai… I’ll protect you.”

“Azusa-chan…” Mitsuki’s eyes welled up with tears at Azusa’s sincerity.

“You said you wanted to see the outside world. Then I’ll take you. Let’s go see it together.”

“But Azusa-chan…you were finally allowed back on Jurai…”

“I wanted to be stronger, strong enough to protect my mom and everyone I cared about. It wasn’t because I wanted to be in the Imperial Family or to become Emperor. I don’t care about any of that stuff!!” He spit out everything that was in his heart. He was not mature enough to clearly express his feelings for her, but those words were enough for Mitsuki. However…

“I…don’t feel I have the right,” Mitsuki was unable to acknowledge his feelings.

Suddenly, there was the sound of clapping behind him. “Who’s there?! Gack… Seto…sama.”

Seto was standing behind him. “You are the first to ever declare he doesn’t care about Jurai, Azusa-chan.”

“D-don’t call me that, you old bat!!”

“…I guess I can’t call you that anymore,” she mumbled sadly, then turned to him with a serious face. “But you can’t take Mitsuki-dono.”

“Why not?!”

“I won’t let you.”

“…?!” In front of the bewildered Azusa, Seto’s body radiated a rush of awesome fighting spirit. Her intimidating aura far eclipsed that which he’d felt three years ago. It was evidence of her resolve. She had taught Azusa for over three years, so she knew fighting halfheartedly would not do anyone any favors.

Azusa, however, did not flinch and held his sword. “What…?!” He did not know why he did it, but he reflexively leapt towards Seto.

Seto chuckled softly with a mixture of surprise and happiness. Most people would run when faced with such an aura. But trying to escape from someone more powerful does not automatically translate to success. In this case, instead of needlessly expending energy by running, stepping forward and fighting was the best strategy for survival. Azusa swung his sword down, which Seto met with her own. Both swords sparked with fierce energy, emitting plasma. In the flashing light, Azusa thought he saw Seto smiling.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” she murmured in a voice too quiet for anyone to hear. And then Azusa lost consciousness.

 

When he awoke, Azusa found himself grounded and told to stay in his room. Seto kept an eye on him around the clock so he was unable to escape or see Mitsuki, and spent his days unable to think straight. When he asked her about Mitsuki, Seto would not answer and would only look Azusa in the eyes. A few days later, a deacon came to inform him that he was freed from confinement and that parliament would convene a supreme council. Even though a boy of thirteen, he was still the head of House Masaki.

There was no need to guess what the agenda would be. There was no reason for Azusa to stay on Jurai, but since he could not take Mitsuki, he must at least leave the planet and take responsibility for her crime as well. He was prepared for that.

The promised time came, and he entered the parliamentary room from the passage reserved for the head of House Masaki. Everyone except for the head of House Amaki was already seated. Seto was also seated, even though she rarely meddled in political matters. Only later did he find out that the true Supreme Council was something else entirely. Seto was a member of the Supreme Council, and they determined all important decisions and general courses of action.

A few minutes after Azusa was seated, Shuzan strode in with extreme pompousness. He glanced at Seto and Azusa, and slowly made his way to the seat for the head of House Amaki.

“Shuzan-dono, that is not the seat for you today,” Seto declared with authority as Shuzan tried to leisurely take a seat.

He was clearly discontent, but her different demeanor caused him to be overawed. As such, he stood up again. “Seto-dono, what do you mean? This seat isn’t mine, the head of House Amaki?” His tone was gentle, but his clenched fists were trembling with rage.

“You are a proxy of the Head of House, Shuzan-dono.”

“True… But the seat has been vacant for the past several hundred years. Then I might as well be the Head. That’s how it’s been recognized so far… Or are you saying the Head of House is coming here today?”

“Mitsuki?!” Azusa exclaimed, cutting off Shuzan’s words. Mitsuki was standing behind Shuzan. A shock went through the chamber. Most of them had known of her existence but never seen her in person before. Her arrival was a surprise, but everyone also held their breath at her beauty. Azusa was no different. Mitsuki in her official dress, with her hair tied back, looked like a different person. But Shuzan was the most in shock.

“Why is Aunt Mitsuki here? This is not a place for you. Wait in the garden for the judgment…”

“Shuzan, thank you for your long years of service representing House Amaki.”

“What?!”

Seto raised her voice, “Halt! You are in the presence of the head of House Amaki.”

“A-Aunt Mitsuki…”

Seeing Shuzan intimidated by Mitsuki’s dignified presence, Seto pressed a hand to her mouth and smiled. More murmurs rippled through the room.

Mitsuki…is the head of House Amaki? Discovering the identity of the person he had been seeing, Azusa was simply stunned.

Shuzan had no choice but to sit glumly in a spare seat. Whatever the reason, there was no denying that Mitsuki was the head of House Amaki, and any further argument would only be detrimental to him.

After everyone took their seats, the Emperor looked around and declared, “Before we get to today’s discussion, I inform you all that the case brought by House Amaki has been dismissed.”

Having his own case so easily tossed aside, Shuzan could not help but stand and shout, “Wh-what?! What do you mean?! The head of House Masaki…”

“Shuzan-dono!” The moment Seto interrupted him, a force field was established so the two of them could talk in private. These were used when individual conversations and advice were needed during the council, and time was accelerated within the field so that it only took an instant to those outside.

Inside the field, while everyone outside seemed to be standing still, Shuzan was yelling effusively at Seto. “Wh-what is the meaning of this, Seto-dono? If Aunt Mitsuki is going to use her authority as Head of House to crush my complaint, I could propose a motion of no confidence in her!!”

“What if I were to say I have evidence against the lady-in-waiting you sent…?”

“Th-that was…in case something happened… In fact, the head of House Masaki got into the garden. You’re responsible for this, too, you know.”

“You also entered the garden, did you not?”

“I went to catch them in the act. Since it was an emergency, I had no choice.”

“The rules state ‘for any reason.’”

“But…”

“Did you think the Emperor did not have any surveillance in place? He’s already aware of the intentions of Mitsuki-sama, Azusa-dono, and Shuzan-dono. But the act of personally sending someone to infiltrate…” As soon as Seto said that, the force field was broken.

“No objections…” Shuzan had no chance to win if they had knowledge of his spy, so he could do nothing but slump back into his chair.

The Emperor of Jurai began talking in a quiet but dignified voice. “Then we’ll get to the topic at hand. The reason I brought you here today is none other than Azusa, the head of House Masaki.”

Staring at Mitsuki’s face in profile, Azusa prepared for the worst. Shuzan’s case was dismissed, but it did not erase Azusa’s crime. He looked over at Shuzan, who was also looking at Azusa with lips curled in a smile. His plans may have failed, but he looked like he would at least get to depose Azusa. Azusa ignored him and looked toward the speaker.

Without changing expressions, the Emperor stated, “He may be a fledgling, but he is the head of House Masaki. Continuing without a Royal Tree of his own would set a bad example. So we will conduct the ceremony of tree selection.”

“What?!” Azusa looked at the Emperor in surprise.

“Understand, Azusa?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty. I humbly appreciate your kind words.”

The heads of all four Houses approved the ceremony, and they decided to have it take place the next day. After the meeting was adjourned, needless to say, Shuzan sat there dumb­founded.

 

That night, Azusa headed to Mitsuki’s garden via his secret route. “Mitsuki… Mitsuki…” Through the trees and by the terrace, he looked for her. But the one waiting for him there was Seto.

“I knew you would come here.”

“Seto…sama. Where’s Mitsuki…?”

“You’ll be able to see her tomorrow. She’s supposed to attend your ceremony, Azusa-dono.”

“Really? She won’t be punished because of me?”

“You heard the meeting today. It’ll be all right.”

Relieved, he left the terrace towards the garden. “The transporters are working. Climbing back up by that route will make you late.” Seto, looking unusually gentle, spoke to Azusa’s running back.

 

The next day, the Imperial Family quietly held the ceremony of tree selection. More than three witnesses were required to make it official, but the principal Imperial Family members from House Masaki, House Amaki, House Kamiki, and House Tatsuki all showed up despite there being no request for attendance. No doubt, they all wanted to see Azusa’s moment of pride. Though young, he was honest to himself, and once he got something into his head, he only faced forward. This slightly willful young man was beloved by everyone.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the boy himself was not nervous about the ceremony, but relieved to see Mitsuki among the Imperial Family. However, going up to talk to her was something he could not do. On the terrace in a hollow in Tenju, Azusa walked through the people standing around the Royal Tree, and headed to the doors to the transporter in front of him.

The Tree Selection Ceremony… it was conducted to choose the Royal Tree that would become a life partner. The ceremony itself was simple: a Tree either transported someone to it or left them on the transporter. If a Tree did not transport the candidate to itself, that person would be granted a Third Generation Tree. If a candidate was transported, they would greet the Second Generation Trees, and if one Tree in particular spoke out, it became the candidate’s partner. Most of the Imperial Family received a Third Generation Tree here, as few were transported.

Now relieved that he had seen Mitsuki, Azusa stepped onto the pad without hesitation. The next moment, the view around him changed, and a Second Generation Royal Tree floated in front of him. He had been transported inside Tenju.

“Congratulations, Azusa-dono. You’ve at least been chosen by a Second Generation Tree.” Azusa heard Seto’s voice from behind him. Seto, the Emperor, the head of House Tatsuki, and Mitsuki had come along as witnesses.

He stepped onto one transport pad after another, advancing while receiving the Royal Trees’ welcome.

“Stop looking around and listen to the Trees’ voices. You can talk to Mitsuki-sama at our leisure later,” Seto whispered. “Do you hear any voices calling you?”

“They’re welcoming me, but…”

“Anything about becoming your partner?”

“What does it mean that his Tree isn’t here?” asked the head of House Tatsuki, perplexed.

“It’s a fact that the Trees are welcoming him. Perhaps he heard wrong…” The Emperor brooded, and then came to a conclusion. “If not…could it be?!” He gasped and raised his eyes, and Mitsuki nodded.

“Azusa-dono. This way, please.” Mitsuki spoke to Azusa as the head of House Amaki for the first time, and stood on a transport pad a little further back.

“Isn’t that the path to the First Generation Room…?” the head of House Tatsuki mumbled in surprise. Beyond the pad was the door leading to the First Generation Room where only three had ever set foot, even among the Royal Family. If he was welcomed, but there were no Trees ‘here’ that had chosen him… Then there is no other explanation.

Mitsuki turned around and beckoned to Azusa. “Come, Azusa-dono.”

“But that’s…”

“It’s all right.”

Azusa felt the warmth of Mitsuki’s hand on his shoulder, believed in her words, and slowly walked forward. As they were about to pass through the pad, Seto, the Emperor, and the head of House Tatsuki saw them off without moving.

“Was this for the best?”

“I don’t know. But it was what Mitsuki-dono wanted.”

The Emperor nodded to Seto and watched Mitsuki get further away. His heart was wracked by the impulse to go after her, but he did not show it on his face, or act upon it. It was not because of his position as the Emperor of Jurai, but because he loved his granddaughter, despite her tragic fate. To grant her final wish…

And then Azusa and Mitsuki disappeared.

 

In front of Azusa was a Tree incomparable to a Second Generation Tree. “Wow…” For a second, he thought he had ventured outside Tenju. He saw a lake as far as the eye could see, blue skies, and five paths leading from the transport pad where he stood. At the end of the paths were the First Generation Royal Trees.

“This way, Azusa-chan.”

Mitsuki walked down to the entrance to one of the paths, and Azusa silently followed. Since it was still the middle of the ceremony, he refrained from talking to her, and remained silent until the end of the path. At the end was a First Generation Tree. “Mitsuki… sama. What’s this tree?”

“We’re alone now… Please call me Mitsuki, as usual.”

“Okay…”

Mitsuki placed her hand on the tree and turned to Azusa. “Azusa-chan, this is my Tree.”

“What? Yours? But this is a First Generation Tree, isn’t it?” It was natural for him to be surprised. While not absolute, status within the Imperial Family depended on the rank of one’s Royal Tree. If someone with a First Generation Tree so desired, they could become the next Emperor of Jurai even against the current Emperor’s wishes.

“Say, Azusa-chan…this Tree doesn’t have a name yet. Would you name it for me?”

“Name it? Do you mean…”

“Yes, I want you to take this Tree.”

“Wh-what are you saying, Mitsuki? This Tree belongs to you. Besides, I can’t hear this Tree’s voice.”

“You are hearing it.”

“What do you mean…?” Azusa looked at Mitsuki, bewildered by her cryptic words. He thought he saw Mitsuki, smiling, grow more faint, or transparent. “Mitsuki?!”

Mitsuki suddenly buckled to her knees. Azusa ran over and held her in his arms, in a panic. “Mitsuki! Hang on, Mitsuki!!”

“I’m fine.”

“You look so pale. We need a doctor… Let’s go back!”

“Wait…! I still need to talk to you… Please.” Mitsuki desperately grabbed his sleeve; life was rapidly draining from her face.

“That’s not the issue right now!”

“Please… Azusa-chan.” Mitsuki looked him in the face and clung to him.

Azusa noticed that the hand holding his sleeve was trembling slightly. He tried to spin words together in a last resistance. “But Mitsuki…”

“Please. I don’t have much time left…”

Seeing her smile, he realized her death was drawing near. He wanted to do something. For her. But if there was something she so desperately needed to tell him… He choked down his tears and sat her at the base of the Royal Tree. The fire of life within her was fading. Why? Why?!

He clenched his eyes closed to keep from crying, and Mitsuki held his hand. “There are so many things I have to apologize for.”

“About getting me into the garden? I don’t mind.”

“That’s not all. It’s my fault that your mother isn’t permitted to return to Jurai.”

“What?”

“What Shuzan told you isn’t the truth. Shuzan…or anyone for that matter, besides the Emperor and Seto-sama doesn’t know the truth.” She looked at the cloudless blue sky, and Mitsuki slowly began her tale.

Mitsuki’s father was foreign-born, just like Azusa’s father. Her father was an intelligence operative sent by a pirate guild in hostile relations with Jurai, and once he discovered her ability, he gained information through her. Innocent and young, she harmonized with Tenju as he told her to, just to see him be happy.

One day, the head of state of a country friendly to Jurai was on their way to visit when a pirate fleet detected and attacked them, even though their route was supposed to be top secret. Mitsuki’s ability had leaked the information to them. Fortunately, since the pirates used a large-scale attack, Seto’s intelligence network detected it during maneuvers, and the closest Masaki Imperial ship averted the crisis. However, almost all ships beside the head of state’s were annihilated. After this incident, Seto conducted an internal investigation, and discovered that Mitsuki’s father was a spy, and that Mitsuki had an unusual ability.

“We could not make the facts public, of course,” Mitsuki stated. “It would destroy the relationship of trust we have with other countries, our citizens’ trust in the Emperor of Jurai, and cause the expulsion of foreigners. The information I had was capable of destroying an entire country. And even though I was young, my crime was a severe breach of trust, and deportation was inevitable… If I were in good health, that’s what Grandfather would probably have done… But I could only survive here…” Mitsuki looked at Azusa sadly, and looked away again.

“You can only survive here?”

“I don’t know if it’s because of this ability… But I can’t survive without power from the Royal Trees. I can’t live without life support from all five First Generation Trees.”

“Then if you left Jurai…”

“The man from House Masaki who saved the head of state found out,” Mitsuki continued. “And for me, he took all the blame, had everything taken from him, and was banished from Jurai… He was your mother’s older brother.” A tear ran down her cheek. “That’s not all. I was about to do irreparable damage to you… About Shuzan… everything… Yet I did nothing and thrived on everyone’s misfortunes.”

“That’s not your fault! If you didn’t have such an ability, you could’ve…”

“I’ve lived long enough. It may be short as an Imperial Family member, but for an ordinary person…”

“But you never got to have ordinary happiness!” Azusa’s voice grew louder with unbearable emotions.

“Azusa-chan…”

“My mother and my uncle weren’t unhappy! They didn’t care about not being able to return to Jurai! The fact that I was ever mad about it is stupid. When I got mad, the old bat would laugh, and they laughed with her! My uncle would hear my mom’s stories and laugh about them with her. You’re the one…who got the short end of the stick!!” Azusa clung to her and cried.

How could reality be this tragic? Could someone be this unfortunate? Why did it have to be Mitsuki? She was so kind. So kind. Why did it have to be like this?!

Mitsuki patted Azusa’s head as he sobbed uncontrollably. “Azusa-chan, don’t cry… I wasn’t unhappy. Grandfather and Seto-sama were very good to me, and I met you at the end. I was happy.” She hugged him gently.

“Don’t say it’s the end!”

“Azusa-chan, will you accept this Tree?”

“What are you saying? This Tree is your life. And I can’t hear its voice…”

“You can hear it. You are…” She placed her hand on his cheek and turned his head towards her. “I’ve always been watching you…since you came to Jurai.”

“Mitsuki, your eye…it’s a Royal Tree…”

Mitsuki’s right eye was a prosthetic, made of Royal Tree amber. “Yes, I’ve always… watched…” Her hand on his cheek went limp and slid down.

Azusa grabbed her hand and yelled at the top of his lungs. “Mitsuki! Hey, Mitsuki!!”

“Take me with you, Azusa-chan… You said you’d show me the outside world, didn’t you?”

“I’ll take you! Wherever you want to go, I’ll take you there!! So please…”

Mitsuki smiled happily at his words. “Azusa-chan… Azusa-chan… I love you…”

With that, she quietly closed her eyes.

“No. This isn’t real. Open your eyes. I’ll take you, I promise. So please, open your eyes. Mitsuki! Mitsuki!!” Azusa shook his head, throwing a tantrum, as if he could shake off reality.

 

How long had he been there, holding Mitsuki’s hand, now cold? The sun was about to set, and the bright red light of the evening sky enveloped them. His eyes, puffy from crying, were caked with dried tears. Without a will to move, he stared at her face, then twitched. A beautiful melody gently soothed his ears.

“This…is the one Mitsuki was playing…” A small sphere of light was dancing between the trees. “The Royal Trees… I see, you’re mourning, too.” Azusa leaned into the melody the Trees played and looked at the stars that started twinkling in the sky. “I’ll take you, Mitsuki… I promise. With this Tree… always.” He picked her up and entered the hollow of the tree. Inside was a pool of crystallized sap, like a small spring. He laid Mitsuki there. She quietly sank into the crystal. All his emotions melted into the Tree, along with her gentle voice and sad smile. The moment he let go of her hand and she sank completely, a single tear fell from his eyes. “Mitsuki…”

 

When he emerged from the hollow, it was already dark. The beautiful full moon floating in the sky illuminated him. “The moon…the fog seal.” He looked at the moon and remembered the folk tale she told him. “Fog seal… Kiri…to…” he mumbled quietly. Kirito…that would be the Tree’s name. He would live his life with the Tree, with Mitsuki. It would become a ship, and he would take it everywhere with him. “Is that all right, Mitsuki?”

At that moment, a voice rang out within him. “…zusa… Azusa…” It was Kirito’s voice.

 

“I was a child and immature, and I could not save her…” he told Funaho, looking at the moon.

“But… I’m sure Mitsuki-sama was happy to have met you.”

“I hope so.”

“I’m sure… I know it was so!”

“Thank you…” Azusa was a little surprised at her insistence, but thanked her. He was happy for the thought that she was trying to make him feel better.

“I envy her…” Funaho mumbled.

“What? Did you say something?”

“No, nothing…” Blushing, Funaho shook her head.

Enveloped by the Light Hawk Wings and floating in space, a point of light grew closer. “Young Master, I’ve come to fetch you,” Jijii’s excited voice rang out. The point of light was Kirito, refitted with the Unit removed by the pirates.

 

Azusa went to the Asumi residence to deliver Funaho to Earth. Funaho spotted Asumi waiting by the entrance and ran to him to exchange a joyful embrace. “Grandfather!”

“Funaho, I’m so glad. So glad…” Asumi noticed Azusa watching from a short distance and gave a light nod while lovingly holding his granddaughter. Azusa nodded back.

“Funaho-dono, Asumi-dono. I apologize, but there’s a place I must visit. Please excuse me.”

“Where are you going?”

“It’s not a big deal. I know someone in the area, so I wanted to go pay my respects…” Azusa turned to Funaho with a smile.

“Please come back…”

“What?”

“No, nothing… Have a good trip, Azusa-sama.” Funaho swallowed all her emotions.

Azusa left the Asumi residence and returned to Kirito, and told Jijii about the mysterious voice he heard while he was trying to escape from the pirate fleet. Kirito responded by displaying on the screen that the voice came from the moon.

“I see, we should go take a look.” Kirito turned to the moon, found a decrepit spaceship that had crashed there, and landed next to it. Up close, it was clear the ship was from Jurai, but it was quite an old model, built from metal.

“Young Master, the ship’s plate shows who it belonged to.”

“Who is it?”

“Brace yourself. It belonged to Masaki-sama, the younger sister to Jurai’s first commander-in-chief.”

“I knew it. I figured as much since this planet was registered around the founding of Jurai. But I didn’t expect his younger sister…” Azusa stepped outside. The spaceship interior had mostly stopped functioning, but there was still an operational Unit in its center. This was not surprising; there had to be a functioning unit if someone had spoken out while he was in the pirate ship. Azusa’s First Generation Master Key reacted, and the Unit’s doors opened. Inside was a place of verdant green, characteristic of a Royal Tree Unit. The dome was a window to outer space, where Earth floated, beautiful and blue.

Azusa found a small tree planted in the middle of the Unit, and realized that while it was a Royal Tree, it was a graft and not the main tree. In other words, the energy blast that attacked the pirate fleet came from Kirito, and this Tree acted as a relay. “Then that voice…” Azusa asked himself, when the Master Key emitted a glow, to which the tree reacted and a spirit appeared.

“An Astral Copy…” The technique was only allowed to Imperial Family members who possessed Second Generation Trees and above: to make a reproduction of your body, memories, spirit, and astral body. It was Masaki.

“Nice to meet you, Azusa-dono, Crown Prince of Jurai.”

“You must be Masaki-sama,” Azusa bowed respectfully, not knowing that he was about to be privy to her terrible and momentous fate…or not.

“Golly, it’s been several thousand years since I’ve spoken to anyone. This place may be out of the way, but seriously, nobody came? Doesn’t Jurai ever send any research vessels? What gives?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Are you saying nobody cared about me? Oh okay, I see how it is. The current Imperial Family sounds heartless. I went through alllll that trouble to make the voyage back then and made it here at last.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. But didn’t you not want to be found?”

“Huh?”

“You rigged it so that it wouldn’t appear registered as a colony until someone deliberately inquired about it.”

“Well, whatever… I forgive you. Anyway, tell me what’s trending in Jurai right now. While I was there…” Without answering Azusa’s question, Masaki prattled on. All her pent-up boredom from several thousands of years gushed out, and she talked and talked to Jijii and Azusa, who were simply stumped. At first, Jijii was happy to meet this living witness to prehistory, but after five days of it, they were forced to make an escape under the pretense of overseeing the treatment of the captured villagers. Her topics were so common and lowbrow that they were not at all informative of history.

But perhaps it was inevitable. After all, the people she knew may have been great historical figures for Azusa and Jijii, but they were friends and family to her.

Jurai’s foundational period was a history of pioneering. To expand territorial space and planets, tens of thousands of scouts were scattered outwards, with Jurai as their center. Not all of them returned. Some perished in accidents or battle, or otherwise lost their lives in the journey. Masaki was one of them… but to summarize her long-winded tale, she had escaped from her nosy and watchful parents and older brother, found this planet that she fell in love with through good luck, and spent the rest of her natural life here. Azusa felt a little sorry for the first commander-in-chief and their parents, but of course he had no idea that several decades later, his own son and daughter would do exactly the same thing.

Later, Masaki had taken the Royal Tree to Earth and planted it, coincidentally, on the island nation where Azusa just was, and settled there herself. Had Funaho’s genealogy been traced back, perhaps Masaki’s name would have popped up. But before she left for Earth, she had filled out its colony registration and left her Astral Copy on the moon, since it saw little fluctuation, for future Juraian descendants. Azusa suggested that she come to Jurai with him, but Masaki said she wished to gaze upon Earth for a while longer.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…”

Azusa breathed a sigh of relief that her answer released him from her long-winded chat.

 

By the way, 800 years in the future, Masaki Tenchi’s son will end up having to listen to her for the rest of his life. But that’s another story.

 

When Azusa returned to Kirito, what awaited him was a pale—though since he was a machine, it was hard to tell—and panicked Jijii. “Young Master, this is serious!”

“What happened, Jijii? If Masaki-sama is calling, you go instead.”

“That’s not it. Th-the Emperor of Jurai is in critical condition!”

“What?!”

The information was sent through the Royal Tree network, so there was no doubt. Jijii advised that they return to Jurai immediately. Having possession of a First Generation Tree meant absolute power on Jurai. But power alone did not run a powerful nation. It required a political upper hand and a number of conservators. Even though he was Crown Prince, his base was weak, and if he were not present on the planet when the current Emperor’s health was in danger, let alone the moment of his passing, who knew how the others would take it. If another person among the Imperial Family should gain a First Generation Tree, Azusa might find himself ousted. It was no exaggeration that politics was the element common to all worlds. Of course, on Jurai, they said such things happened less often than other countries, due to the Imperial Family’s optimistic and positive temperament, and the existence of the objective auditors that were the Royal Trees.

“Young Master, please return to Jurai at once.”

“But…” Funaho’s parting words were at the back of Azusa’s mind.

“Please come back… No, have a good trip, Azusa-sama.”

He had pretended not to have heard, but he could not ignore her wishes. He asked, “Isn’t that right?” to Mitsuki in his heart.

“Are you waffling over Funaho-dono? I did not think you were so smitten…”

“I at least want to thank her for taking care of me.”

“Young Master!”

“Please, Jijii…” Azusa ignored Jijii’s stubborn persistence and set Kirito’s course towards Earth.

 

He wanted to fulfill Funaho’s wishes, but he also considered going down just to look at her, and leave without saying goodbye. Talking to her would make parting worse. But his feelings for her weren’t halfhearted enough to let himself leave without seeing her. Debating internally, Azusa found Funaho as before, looking at the scenery in the corner of the yard. “Funaho-dono…” And just like before, he could not help calling out to her.

Funaho reacted in disbelief… which gradually turned into a wide smile. “Azusa-sama, w-welcome back…”

“I’m home…” he stopped himself from saying that. He could not say such a thing when he was about to leave for Jurai.

Asumi approached them as they stared at each other. “So you came back, Azusa-sama.”

“Asumi-dono…” Azusa knew that he had broken his promise to Asumi to leave before his granddaughter’s love would result in heartbreak. But Asumi was gently smiling as usual, with no trace of the bitterness he showed at the time.

“You seem to be smiling, in a complete change from yesterday. Hm, Funaho?”

“Th-that’s not true. Peace has returned to the village since the Orochi was vanquished, and I’m just happy that Father and my sister will come home and we can all live together as a family,” Funaho argued hastily.

Asumi looked at Azusa this time and said, “Azusa-sama, Funaho worried every day you’ve been gone that you might not come back.”

“Um…” Funaho’s cheeks turned beet red at Asumi’s teasing words.

“Is that so? I apologize. But…”

“But?”

“I know this is sudden, but I was just informed that my grandfather has collapsed with an illness and is in critical condition.” Azusa chose his words carefully. He called the Emperor his grandfather because he figured Asumi would be too confused if he told him the bare facts.

“I see. Then you’re returning to your home?” Asumi said gravely, and Azusa nodded.

“Oh no…” Azusa heard a slight voice and turned, and saw Funaho with her sad face cast down.

“Funaho-dono…”

“U-um… I’m going to go fetch some water.”

Azusa could not call out to Funaho as she ran off, and turned a self-deprecating smile to Asumi standing next to him. “I’m so sorry, Asumi-dono. What you feared has come true.”

But the old man’s response was unexpected: “I don’t think so…”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, no matter.” He smiled and dodged the question, and Azusa shot him a questioning look.

‘What should I do…?’ Azusa stood there, resistant about leaving Funaho this way, when his Master Key reacted. He heard Jijii’s voice, growing ever impatient.

“Young Master, please hurry!”

“Y-yes, that’s right.” Azusa could not make up his mind without somebody reminding him. He gave Asumi some parting words and started walking towards the transport pad.

He walked a while and told Asumi the send-off was enough, when Funaho’s voice called to Azusa. “Azusa-sama!” She ran over, breathless.

“Funaho-dono…”

“Azusa-sama, here. Please take these to your grandfather back home.” In the basket she held were persimmons, chestnuts, and mushrooms. They were all the foods Azusa liked while he was here. She must have run around the hills and fields so that Azusa could take them home. Mud and scratches covered her limbs. There were no tears on her face; only a smile.

Azusa felt in his heart her strength, kindness, rustic simplicity, and vulnerability. Her pure earnestness wormed its way into his heart. He opened his heart to her. It’s no use. He stretched his hands out to Funaho, holding the basket out to him, then bent over and scooped her up in his arms.

“A-Azusa-sama?!”

“Will you come with me to Jurai?” He turned back to Asumi behind him. “I’m sorry, Asumi-dono!” He began to run, as if he were making off with her.

“Azusa-sama…”

“Funaho, stay with me, please.”

Funaho saw his serious face, and nodded, burying her face into his neck, “Yes, please take me with you…”

Yes, he would take her, anywhere. He would protect her, no matter what happened.

He remembered his wish from when he was young, and ran, holding her with all his strength.

“Haha, I knew this would happen. Hahaha!” They heard Asumi laughing behind them, seeing them off. Azusa, Jurai Crown Prince, found his perfect life partner, to whom he would wed for life.

And then…

 

A little girl sat on the grounds of a small shrine. She thought she heard someone calling her name and turned around. There stood a young man who looked like a stalwart samurai and a woman who looked exactly like her, all grown up. The little girl smiled happily and ran to the woman, calling her name. The woman knelt down to the girl, who was only half her height, and told her she would not be able to see her again because she was going someplace far away, even though they had already been apart so long. The girl started crying, and the woman gave her a hand-carved comb, telling her to think of it as hers.

The girl fell asleep after the man and the woman left, and woke up at the voice of her father coming to get her. She had not seen him in so long that she leapt into his arms in joy. The father noticed the comb she was gripping and asked her about it, and she said she received it from her sister. The father, watching the girl’s innocent delight at a comb, realized he would probably not be seeing his other daughter again. But oddly, looking at the comb, he felt no desolation. She was going to be happy.

“So Funaho went with him…” He smiled and looked up at the sky. From between the clouds, he saw a beautiful full moon.

Shortly after, a thick fog descended upon the entire village.

 

Later, people in this region would tell the folk tale about a fog seal for time immemorial.