InsaneJournal

TB/X fanfic: Family Matters - 18
Fandom: Tokyo Babylon, X/1999
Story Arch: Decagram
Story: Family Matters
Chap.: 18 - Lunar Eclipse
Rating: NC-17


Disclaimer, Warnings, Spoilers, Summary: see Family Matters 00 -- Introduction

Additional Disclaimer: The real persons included in this chapter are used strictly in context of their public position at the time of this fiction. Characterizations are entirely fictitious. No insult of any kind is intended by their inclusion in this work.

Additional Warning: Character Death

Spoiler for Tokyo Babylon Vol. 7 and X Vol. 16 pp 100-109

Special thanks go to my editor solo for stomping on my blinkers!

Chapter summary: Body and Soul.

_______________________________________________________________________



A. Kniggendorf: Family Matters -- 18: Lunar Eclipse


_______________________________________________________________________

A Tokyo Babylon / X fanfic
based on the homonymous manga books by Clamp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He came in the small hours of the night. The almost-full moon high up in the sky drew the otherwise silent park in silver fog and shadows, erasing the difference between the world of the living and the world of the dead. And in spite of all efforts the Tree had made, its Sakurazukamori was still closer to the second than to the first. In the moon's pale light, he even looked as if he'd crossed the line for good. The silver-grey turtleneck and black pants protecting him from the chill only added to that impression.

He accepted the embrace of the branches willingly from the moment the eternal maboroshi closed around him. He settled against the trunk and the Sakura felt his heart beating in perfect sync with the power pulsing through its veins.

Sei-chan was accommodating today. Very accommodating. Even the blossoms caressing his neck and cheek weren't brushed aside. Too accommodating. The Tree tipped his head back. ...What do you want?...

"The Sumeragi are being stubborn." He didn't blink in the intensified glow of the Sakura's crown. "I need an authority of theirs to support the plans, or we'll never get the official changes passed."

...Su-chan won't do?...

The diminuitive had him tense in its hold. Interesting.

"No," he said tersely. "We'll need Amaterasu's heir to change their minds."

The Tree stilled. ...He will demand compensation... The air in the spirit world filled with a whirl of torn blossoms and blood-tinged petals. ...There's nothing we can offer...

Seishiro straightened in its embrace, despite the bark rasping over his skin. "There is. And you have known it since Subaru-kun walked into my maboroshi seventeen years ago."

...Once you've regained your ch'i...

The Sakura tightened its hold even before Sei-chan said it out loud: "There's not enough time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,
Kasumigaseki
April 17, 2000 -- 09:00

The morning rush hour was already abating by the time Subaru left the crowded Kasumigaseki subway station, heading towards the white twenty-floor skyscraper of Central Common Government Office Building no. 2. The automatic glass doors parted before him with a faint hiss.

"Good morning. My name's Sumeragi." He inclined his head for the receptionist. "I've got an appointment with Minister Hori of Home Affairs at nine fifteen."

"Good morning," she replied. "Welcome at the Central Common Government Office Building number two. The Home Affairs offices are on the eleventh floor. Minister Hori's anteroom has the number 11-02. Take elevator number three." She reached for the phone. "I'll announce you. Have a nice day."

"Thank you."

He passed Seishiro reading a newspaper in the waiting lounge on the way to the elevators. They'd come separately; too much depended on this meeting.

And on the next.

Elevator three spat a group of grey-suited, file-case-carrying officials into the lobby, and Subaru entered and pressed the button for the eleventh floor. His eyes met Seishiro's over the edge of the newspaper, held them until the door closed between them, leaving him alone with their task.


The last time Subaru had contacted the ministry in person was after the loss of his eye, when Noda had still been in office. His successor, to whom Subaru presented his card now, turned out to be a man in his fifties wearing a crisp business suit and metal-rimmed glasses.

"I am honored that you would meet me at such short notice, jichi-daijin. Please accept my apology for inconveniencing you like this."

"It's not an inconvenience to meet the leading onmyoji of our country in person, Sumeragi-san. I've been looking forward to meeting you." Hori indicated one of the two arm chairs in front of his desk. "Your work is of great importance to the country we serve." He placed the card next to his right hand on the writing pad. "So, how may I help you?"

An atypically fast opening. Subaru decided to be equally direct. "The spiritual situation since last year has become increasingly complex. The danger for the population and the personal risk for involved practitioners have risen significantly, and erroneously assigned cases have become a considerable threat for everybody involved. We have to strengthen and streamline our responses to meet these challenges."

"I am aware of these unfortunate developments," Hori confirmed. "But I'm afraid I don't see how the Ministry of Home Affairs can help with that."

"Right now, critical time for preparations and precaution is lost when practitioners are assigned to cases not within their scope of experience." Subaru told him. "Japan's spiritual defense is divided between my house and a group called Sakurazukamori--"

Hori's eyes narrowed slightly at the name, but he nodded for Subaru to continue.

"--who are managed by a different department. This arrangement weakens us significantly." Subaru drew a deep breath, calming himself before he continued. "In order to maintain Japan's spiritual safety, the Sakurazukamori and I have to join forces. Incoming cases have to be assessed by practitioners who can make educated decisions about who is best suited to do the job," he finished, inwardly praying that Hori didn't take offense. Non-practitioners like him often saw their work solely in terms of qualifications and if the minister took his words as criticism of his performance--

"Sumeragi-san," Hori said cautiously. "I see the tactical advantage of your proposal, but it is a lot more difficult than you may be aware of. Such a collaboration is without precedence."

"Please excuse my bluntness, jichi-daijin, but I beg to differ," Subaru said with a bow of respect. "Before the Meiji era, there was a special government office held by onmyoji, solely responsible for the country's spiritual safety. The Onmyo-Ryo's alignment with the Ministry of State dates back even to pre-Heian times. Its reinstitution as a coordination office for the Sakurazukamori and my people would be a good solution to the current situation."

The minister considered him. Subaru only hoped he also considered his idea. Even as a sub-department, they'd need his approval, and even more they would need his support for their plans in the Diet, or-- "Allow me to be equally blunt," Hori said. "Do you know with whom you would have to work if your suggestion is approved? What kind of man you would have to face on a daily basis then?"

"Yes, jichi-daijin." Subaru inclined his head politely, relief warring with amusement. "I am aware that the Sakurazukamori can be a taxing character from time to time, but I don't think there's anything that can't be overcome."

The minister looked at him incredulously.

Taxing was one way to put it. Subaru suppressed a smile. Maybe he should consider getting a tax return. He quelched that frivolous thought, when Hori cleared his throat.

"It will be extremely difficult to convince the Sakurazukamori to limit his personal influence by sharing responsibility in the manner you propose," he stated with obvious unease, "but I will try to discuss your proposal with him at the next scheduled meeting."

"Why don't we ask him now?" Subaru asked with a small smile. "He's waiting downstairs."

"He's waiting?" Hori looked stunned.

Subaru nodded.

The minister pressed a button in the intercom. "Sumida, I've been told Sakurazuka-san is in the lobby. Please ask the receptionist to send him to my office."

=Jichi-daijin.= The secretary sounded nervous. =Sakurazuka-san is here right now.=

"Then send him in, please." Hori closed the line.


"Thank you, Sumida-san," Seishiro said as the door opened. "Your coffee was delicious as always, but there's no need for another cup. This won't take long."

"Weren't you going to wait for me downstairs?" Subaru asked.

"Yes, but Sumida-san's coffee is a lot better than what you get in the lobby." Seishiro smiled, taking a seat in the second arm chair and nodded at the minister. "Hello, Ko-kun. Let's keep this short: I know about Subaru-kun's proposal, it's fine by me, and I suggest you take this meeting as minister of Home Affairs and chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, because I lack the time to have this discussion twice."

Ko-kun? Subaru threw a wary glance at Seishiro. Seishiro was on private terms with--?

"I see," Hori said stiffly, glancing doubtfully at Subaru and back to Seishiro. "You truly agree to a collaboration with the Sumeragi?"

"Who would refuse to work with such a beautiful colleague?" Seishiro asked, arching a brow, and Subaru fought the urge to kick his shin. "Besides, Subaru-kun's proposition will certainly spare my secretary from calling the Sumeragi under an assumed name to reroute those cases that should have gone to them in the first place. Two very strong selling points in my books."

"You are supposed to return cases through official channels!" the minister reminded him sharply.

"Which takes half a year. By then, they've become my responsibility, and I'm held accountable if the Sumeragi don't notice that in time." Seishiro shrugged. "I'm sorry, but that's just too tedious." Subaru gave him a warning look, silently reminding him that they still needed Hori's support for their plans. Certainly--

The minister snorted. "And why do you think I'd reduce government control over an ethically critical operation such as yours?"

"Because it virtually eliminates the problem of erroneously assigned cases that put the lives of innocent civilians and valuable Sumeragi practitioners at risk?" Seishiro suggested. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the desk and added in a soft voice through his steepled fingers, "And it saves you from any personal responsibility for the next Sawada."

Subaru suppressed a sigh. A threat was not likely to get them Hori's support. "You wouldn't relinquish government control, jichi-daijin," he said calmly, laying a hand on Seishiro's sleeve to keep him from interrupting. "In fact you will gain control, because you still supervise all cases handed to the Onmyo-Ryo and you can be sure that my people will do their utmost to clear the cases that don't require the Sakurazukamori's service."


Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Kokyo
April 17, 2000 -- 10:11

Seishiro stopped the Aristo on the public parking lot near the Imperial Science museum and retrieved a meter-long, thickly silk-wrapped object from the trunk, before locking the car.

"What's this?" Subaru asked, surprised.

"My keycard." Seishiro carried it in the crook of his elbow. "I know the new models are more conveniently sized, but I'm fond of mine." He smirked and started towards the pedestrian bridge to the Kitahanebashi gate into the Kokyo East Gardens.

Subaru shook his head and followed. "I hope you're going to show more restraint this time," he said after they'd passed the gate. "We were lucky that the minister didn't take offense this morning."

"I showed him respect," Seishiro stated. "He's still in his chair."

"That's not the point."

"In Hori's case it is." They followed a narrow path along the dark green Inui moat, keeping the Tenshukakuaku to their left. "I'd lick his boots to outshine the neon-ads if it was necessary to achieve my goals, but that would be just a waste of spit."

"Our goals," Subaru corrected grimly and added with a firm nod at the silk packet over Seishiro's arm, "and I don't want one of your funny surprises here."

"And here I thought I did well this time." Seishiro sighed. "We're there."

A narrow dam bridged the moat in front of them. Large, polished stonewalls topped by a single line of trees and grass rose nearly ten meters out of the muddy waters. A tall steel fence with a padlocked gate and "no trespassing" signs blocked access to a bannister-free drawbridge that made up the first five meters of the crossing. Tall shrubs and small trees hid the place from the public park.

"I guess your keycard doesn't work on this," Subaru commented, laying his hand against the steel bars. "Forced leap?" They were still dragons of Heaven and Earth.

Seishiro nodded.

Subaru felt the surge of power in the marks when Seishiro drew on the Sakura's strength to follow him.

The Kokyo's strong wards and protective kekkai, made and maintained by Amaterasu's closest living descendant on Earth, closed warm around them as they reached the actual dam. For the duration of a step, Seishiro's marks on Subaru's hands flared painfully hot. Still, Seishiro, with the long package safe in his arms, seemed unperturbed.

Keycard indeed, Subaru thought, hiding his frown.

On the other side, old pines closed around them. Their smell mingled with the scent of fresh green and crushed rotten leaves from previous years. Tokyo seemed to be a distant memory by the time a small, wooden guest house appeared in front of them. It was a traditional structure with a polished floor. Some of the shoji between the dark rosewood beams supporting a wide roof were pushed back. Silk veils hung from the ceiling, shielding the room from insects and eyes.

Seishiro ducked through the veils without hesitation. Subaru followed. A man in a plain, powder-blue kimono sat beside a central fire place, waiting for them. The upper half of his face was obscured by a gauze veil hanging from a wide straw hat. An iron tea set -- kettle and cups -- stood on a polished wood tray between him and two laid-out sitting cushions. Water simmered in the kettle above the fire.

Fire and water. Not yin and not yang. Both, Subaru noted. And nothing, like the unbleached silk of the cushions; something that would be defined entirely by the people using them.

"There are no living names within this room," their host stated quietly; his voice that of an old man. "So that we all can deny this meeting." He turned towards Seishiro. "Identify yourself." The words were as quiet as before, still the voice of an old man, and it held an authority Subaru had seldom heard before.

Seishiro wordlessly unbound his silk bundle. His 'keycard' turned out to be the sheathed sword Subaru had seen only two days before -- as a spirit blade laid against his throat. But this jian was undoubtedly real; even after fourteen hundred years its ancient steel gleamed cold in the warm firelight. Why--

"I never thought to see the 'sword in the shadows' with my own eyes," their half-veiled host said. "Aren't you afraid to let me see your face, Sakurazukamori?"

"Are you seeing my face or my illusion of it?" Seishiro asked with a raised brow and sat down on the left cushion, placing the jian respectfully on his right. A sheathed sword intended to be used would be placed near the left. "The weapon of truth is deceit." And caution.

"Indeed." Their host nodded; then his focus found Subaru. "Have a seat, Sword-in-the-light. You and I have met before. It is good to see you again in good health." He stoked the fire and flames danced up towards the copper flue, leaving Subaru to claim the remaining cushion to Seishiro's right. The ancient jian lay between them. The 'sword in the shadows' it had been called, symbolizing the border that kept them apart.

Their host offered the first cup of tea to Seishiro. "I always wondered who asked your family to be the judge of the emperor."

Seishiro took the sword, turned his wrist sharply and presented a crest engraved on the hilt next to a stylized sakura blossom. "Empress Suiko. She didn't want Amaterasu's heirs to become what they fought."

"Yes," their host nodded. "That's something she would have done."

Seishiro laid the sword down again and took the offered cup with a respectful bow.

The second cup was offered to Subaru, who accepted it with long-practiced ease, thankful for his grandmother's insistence on perfection in the ritual. Otherwise he'd have spilled most of the tea over his pants right now. The judge of the emperor. He was going to have a talk with Seishiro regarding secrets affecting their plans.

"I assume your request has something to do with the miasma that clouded the spirit world three days ago," their host said, now that they had both had their ritual sip.

Seishiro put his cup down. "Let us say that last Thursday's events were a powerful reminder that the current system is a hindrance at best and a cause for disaster at worst."

"I see," their host nodded thoughtfully. "Can you elaborate on the events?"

"Only in so far as that I do not wish to repeat the experience."

"Is that your position as well, Sword-in-the-light?".

"Yes. It is inacceptable that a loyal servant of the country should go without the spiritual protection his position demands," Subaru confirmed.

"I do believe that the Sword-in-the-shadows can look after himself." A small smile tugged at the lips just visible beneath their host's veil.

"I am aware of that," Subaru said, struggling to keep his speech even. "But it is my family's pride to have provided this protection since the dawn of the state. In his case, we have failed. It is my wish to correct that."

"Your wish? Or your clan's wish?"

"My wish. The Sakurazukamori and I are opposites, but we aren't meant to be opponents. Since the end of last year, the Dao has taken hold. In this new world, we need to work with instead of against each other. Unfortunately, my clan doesn't see the wisdom behind our plans yet."

"And yours, Sword-in-the-shadows?"

"My methods of convincing are less consensual in nature," Seishiro replied dryly. "An advantage in this case."

"Indeed." Their host nodded. "I assume the Sword-in-the-light objects to subjecting his clan to your style of convincing?"

"Not if the feud is to remain ended," Subaru said firmly.

"Indeed, indeed." Their host chuckled.

A breeze moved the veils between the rosewood pillars. The heavy scent of wet earth and pines mingled with the leafy aroma of the tea in their cups and the sting of the glowing coals in the stove.

"The Sword-in-the-light is Amaterasu's disciple and may ask a favor, but why should I hear you, Sword-in-the-shadows?"

Subaru froze. Seishiro was meant to pay for--

"In exchange for your support, I offer the elimination of a threat to Imperial lives that my house has struggled to contain since before Empress Suiko ascended the throne," Seishiro said as if he'd expected the demand.

But certainly, he wouldn't risk facing--

Their host nodded. "An impressive offer, but I was told this particular threat would be impossible to destroy."

Especially after the loss of almost all of his ch'i--

"For one of us alone, yes," Seishiro confirmed. "Together, we may prevail."

--and certainly all of his mind! Subaru struggled not to do the inconceivable: interrupt Amaterasu's heir to tell Seishiro that he was completely insane to think of going anywhere near that ghost this summer.

"May?"

"I cannot promise certainty where there is none. During the next full moon, we will require unlimited access to the East Gardens, the place where the spirit last manifested within contemporary Tokyo."

"The next full moon is tomorrow night," their host pointed out. "Can you meet that?"

No! Subaru snapped inwardly.

"Yes," Seishiro confirmed quietly.

It was madness. Suicidal madness. He had to make sure Seishiro's insanity didn't have lasting repercussions for the state. "I humbly suggest that the Imperial family leaves Tokyo while we perform the ceremony." Subaru forced his hands to remain still on his knees. "For safety in case of failure. Kyoto's wards are well-maintained. My family would be honored to be of service."

"I'm sure they will." Their host faced him. "And it will conveniently demonstrate Imperial support for your plans, Sword-in-the-light. I see you gave this plan of yours a lot of consideration."

Subaru inclined his head noncommittally. Somebody had to learn a lot about the meaning of 'collaboration'. If they survived Tuesday night, that was. If.

"In that case--" Their host inclined his head. "Before I decide this, Sword-in-the-shadows, tell me how often your blade touched Imperial skin."

"Twice," Seishiro replied. "But it didn't have to cut through."

"May I ask whose skin it was?"

"That remains between the Sword and the Emperor in question."

Their host took up his cup, nipped at the tea, then: "A hypothetical question. Would you have killed Meiji or Showa in order to stop Japan's descent into war?"

The silence was absolute until Seishiro said, "I can answer that, but the weapon of truth--"

"--is deceit." Their host put his cup down with a sigh and straightened. "The Kokyo Gaien will be closed tonight and sealed for tomorrow. None of the Imperial family will remain in Tokyo tomorrow night. Go now, Swords-of-shadow-and-light. Act wisely. You have only one try." A brief nod dismissed them.

"And Sakurazukamori-san," their veiled host said when Seishiro was about to pass through the veils. "My honored ancestor asked much of your family."

Stillness. Then a quiet nod.

"She chose well."

Seishiro actually bowed over the sheathed sword before he left the guest house.


They left the way they had come. Subaru remained silent while they crossed the dam and the fence back to the public area.

"Distraction spell," Seishiro said quietly as they left the park through the Kitahanebashi gate a few minutes later.

"Please?"

"The reason why the tourists didn't see us crossing the fence. Don't tell me you didn't worry about those."

Subaru hadn't even seen them. He'd been too busy keeping himself from laying his arms around Seishiro's neck and strangling him. "I assume you left your brain in the car," he said, clipped, as they stopped at the pedestrian crossing, waiting for green.

"Not that I know of," Seishiro replied, seemingly amused. "Distraction spells are a lot easier than illu--"

"We were offered a month for preparation! More, if required! He'd have waited for us to be ready, and you--" He closed his mouth over the profanity on his tongue.

"He would. The Mori wouldn't." Seishiro started across the street as the traffic light gave them green. "We've fought the Emperor's Murderer before. Without prior notice and with you unused to shielding against your own magic. We'll just--"

"There won't be a 'we'!" Subaru snapped. "I will not have someone with reduced ch'i within the circle. For sure not someone who'll draw the spirit's wrath rightfully! That spirit would have you for breakfast!"

"You're exaggerating. Getting a bridge into my back wasn't good for my ch'i, either, and we managed." Seishiro fished the car keys out of his pants pockets as they reached the parking lot. "I don't see--"

"That's right," Subaru cut him off. "You don't see. You said it yourself: you're no exorcist! Believe me, with that you're right!" He opened the passenger door of the Aristo with a sharp jerk. "And now get us back to Sakuragi! I've got less than two days to figure out how to get us out of this mess you got us in!" He sat down and closed the passenger door with a reverberating bang. Seishiro, about to get behind the steering wheel, winced -- likely about his precious car -- but he didn't remind him about the safety belt.

~:~:~:~:~

Ueno-Sakuragi-cho, Tokyo
2 hours later

Subaru watched Seishiro sleep.

Standing in the bedroom doorway, his shoulder propped against the doorframe, he followed the soft lift and fall of the glossy black cover caused by Seishiro's even breathing.

Subaru knew he did that a lot these days, but a part of him was glad that he could, despite his current anger about Seishiro's idiocy. Or thoughtlessness. Or anything in between.

A collaboration meant working together.

He hadn't argued in the car - no reason to risk a traffic accident on the expressway. But he'd made himself clear after they got home -- and Seishiro hadn't said much in his defence. Which meant either he knew he'd messed up or he didn't care.

Subaru silently balled his fist. "We may prevail," Seishiro had said. May. 'May' wasn't enough. They couldn't risk going blind into a confrontation like that. But whom to ask about somebody who wasn't even mentioned in the chronicles of his own clan? Except...

Subaru pushed himself off the doorframe. He fetched his writing materials and a sheet of the white washi that Seishiro had brought before the Diet case, he sat down at the unheated kotatsu.

Uchiyama washi was associated with winter and Amaterasu's brother Tsukiyomi, god of the moon. A fitting material for his purpose. He prepared the fuda with the mantra of Green Tara to overcome duality on one side, and the character for Moon on the other. Then, satisfied, he capped the ink.

Outside, he knelt among his ferns deep in the shade of the ancient ginkgo. His hands felt cold, as if the paper of the fuda was made of snow and not just bleached with it.

°°° Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha °°°

He waited. A light breeze moved the fan-shaped leaves of the tree above him. Nothing.

°°° Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha °°°

°°° Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha °°°

°°° Om Tare Tu-- °°°

"You don't have to shout, Second-source-of-the-Dao," the first Sakurazukamori said behind him. The ancient spirit sat on the roots of the ginkgo. "I am dead, not deaf." He tugged his earlobe as if to stop his ears from ringing. "I see you're already making good use of your garden--"

"I don't have a garden," Subaru protested. "I merely planted some ferns!"

"Your ferns may have a different opinion, but I concede that to some extent it may be a matter of perspective." Yue shrugged daintily, resting his chin in his hand. "I assume you didn't call me for gardening tips?"

"I need information about the Emperor's Murderer."

The request changed the spirit's demeanor dramatically. All roguish mischief was gone from the silver eyes; a grey clad foot, solid enough to make an audible thump, hit the ground. "Leave it be." Yue stood. "You shouldn't ask me about him."

"You're the only one I can ask," Subaru insisted. "Seishiro offered his removal from the realm in exchange for the Tenno's support."

"When?" The word was a single breath of air.

"Tomorrow night. I--"

The ginkgo's branches overhead whipped in a storm that didn't reach Subaru's skin. Ferns rustled around entirely solid legs as the spirit pressed forward, growling something that sounded like 'foolish child in need of spanking'.

Subaru blocked the first Sakurazukamori's path to the house. "If the situation weren't as critical as it is, I'd hold him for you. -- But there's no time," he continued swiftly. "We both know it's too early. I cannot allow him into the circle. I need a better idea of what I'm going to face. You fought him," he argued, now that he had the spirit's attention again. "You must know what happened and who he was."

Yue stilled. "Come here," he said.

"I'm not in the mood for games," Subaru warned, eliciting a wry smile from the ghost.

"You learned well, but I'm not going to shout this across your ferns. Sit beside me and listen or go into your fight unprepared. The Sakura is fond of Seishiro; I'm not." He returned to the ginkgo and sat on its tallest root, back comfortably rested against its trunk.

Subaru gave in.

"He was a commoner going by the name of Sado." Yue said after he'd sat down. "Though I don't know if he really came from that island. He was a hedge-wizard with an exceptionally strong gift, as strong as yours, but he wasn't taught, otherwise he would have been an outstanding practitioner."

"If he wasn't taught, what techniques did he use?"

Yue shrugged. "The basics, mostly. What you can learn by observing nature and the few rituals performed in those days." He inclined his head, thinking. "The ying-yang principle was known to him, also some -- if not all -- of the five elements. Nothing of the I-Ging, of that I'm sure. He's been imprisoned since before the time of Empress Suiko--"

There was a small dissonance in the words at the name, but Subaru decided to say nothing. There were stories better left untold at the moment.

"Sei-chan's runes block him completely, but I don't know what Sado learned in his captivity before that. Not being in the flesh might have slowed him down, but as you can see..." Yue smiled, creating a glowing sakura petal with his fingertip to blow it at Subaru. "It's not truly a hindrance."

Subaru frowned. "Who was he as a person?"

"He was as fierce as he was physically beautiful. Smart, ambitious, and totally unscrupulous."

"You describe the virtues of a good Sakurazukamori," Subaru said dryly.

A wicked laugh erupted from the spirit. "I desired his body. I abhorred his soul." Leaning forward, he trailed a cold fingertip down Subaru's cheek. "I did well separating them. You fit this body much better than he."

Subaru brushed the intruding hand aside, but for once the fingers weren't solid enough to be grasped. "Stop that!" he growled and Yue settled back against the trunk, laughing silently. "What happened back then?"

The laughing stopped. "He killed Sushun-tenno to convince Shotoku-taishi of his gifts of prophecy. Then he used Sushun's corpse to put the blame on the powerful Soga clan, who opposed his 'client'--" Yue raised his brows at the word. "--Shotoku in court."

"Are you implying that--" Subaru frowned.

"I am implying nothing." Yue snorted. "I did not care for Sushun-tenno -- he was a violent and volatile man, if there ever was one -- but I couldn't let Sado's plan to ruin the Soga bear fruits. I was a recent immigrant. Losing the protection of the Soga clan would have been fatal for me."

"What did you do?"

Yue sighed. "I disembodied him, but I couldn't move him on, or seal his magic so that the Tree might process the spiritual essence without getting burned."

"So you put his spirit into a box and continued with your life," Subaru concluded.

"A cave," Yue corrected, "but basically, yes." He sighed again. "His spirit was the responsibility I most regretted passing on."

Subaru remained silent for a long time. Wind moved the fire-scarred branches of the old ginkgo above them, creating an ever-changing pattern of shadows and sunlight. Sunlight and shadows. "I will try to move him on," he said finally, "but just in case..." He kept his eyes on the delicate fronds of the ferns, moving gracefully in the breeze as if bowing assent to his decision. "What do I have to do to bind him to the Tree?"

~:~:~:~:~

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Kokyo East Gardens
April 18, 2000 -- late afternoon

On April 18, the local headline of Asahi Shinbun's morning edition read "Kokyo East Gardens closed for inventory and botanical pest control". The same message was displayed on noticeboards in the nearby subway stations.

"Pest control," Seishiro chuckled as they passed an extra-large sign at the pedestrian crossing towards the East Gardens' Otemon gate. "I guess that's one way to put it."

"It's a tourist attraction." Subaru pushed the shoulder strap of his satchel into a more comfortable position. "They had to give a reason for cordoning it off."

"Pest control." Seishiro was still smirking. "I guess your family isn't too happy to be aligned with 'Roaches 'R' Us'."

"I think they'd object more to 'Ghostbusters'." Subaru shrugged. "At any rate, since it's an Imperial decree they'll suffer in silence."

"Did they send observers?"

Subaru nodded. "Elder Makoto will witness for the council." He glanced at Seishiro. "Will your people be around?"

Seishiro's expression closed. "Tonight, unlikely. Probably tomorrow. To check the results."

"Whether the spirit was disspelled?"

"Whether I'm finally dead."

"You won't--"

"This area is closed to the public." A stern-looking guard officer blocked the gate in front of them. "Please--"

Seishiro produced his passport. "Sakurazuka and Sumeragi. We're the bug busters."

Subaru shook his head and showed his own ID. The officer compared their names with the list on his clip board and, apparently satisfied, handed their passports back.

"My name's Kisaraki." The guard introduced himself with a polite bow. "If you would follow me now. Chief superintendent Shiibatani awaits you."


Their guide knocked briskly on the dark wood door, before disappearing behind it. "Chief superintendent. The onmyoji are here now."

"Send them in, please," a strong voice said and the door was opened wide, their guide bowing properly and closing it silently behind them.

"Good afternoon, Sumeragi-san." The man in the blue-grey courtesy uniform of the Imperial Guard was young for his position. "Sakurazuka-san. Nice to see you using the gate for a change."

Seishiro shrugged. "The helicopter wasn't available."

Shiibatani ignored the comment and indicated the leather chairs in front of his desk. "Please have a seat. I'd like to get a good idea what to expect tonight. The Guard is ordered to assist you to the best of our ability, but for that we need information." With a glance at Seishiro, he added, "As far as it can be given, of course. In addition...

"Sumeragi-san, you see me confused. Until now, we had orders to do our utmost to keep you and Sakurazuka-san separated when you were on Imperial ground, and now you two are apparently planning a major joint operation on Imperial property. May I ask how that came to pass?"

Subaru frowned. "I didn't know about such an order being given." He glanced at Seishiro. "You?"

"I'm afraid not, though I have a pretty good idea who was behind it."

"My grandmother can be overprotective," Subaru explained to the chief superintendent. Pointedly ignoring Seishiro's snort at the word 'overprotective', he continued, "Speaking of my grandmother, I ordered equipment for the exorcism to be sent from Kyoto. Do you know if it has arrived by now?"

"Two members of your clan arrived an hour ago, Sumeragi-san," Shiibatani replied. "They were given guest rooms. One of them asked permission for a wakizashi within the park. I assume that's the item you requested."

"A wakizashi?" Seishiro inquired warily.

"Yes." Subaru said, to both of them, then added for Seishiro, "The personal blade of Sumeragi Susumu, last used after the battle of Sekigahara." In fact, Susumu had opened his belly in ritual suicide. Subaru hoped that Seishiro didn't know that much about his clan's history. Still... he would know about the significance of a bloodied wakizashi; it should have occurred to Subaru to tell him about the sword earlier. We're both too used to working alone.

"Do you want a guard to protect you and the historical sword tonight?" Shiibatani asked.

"No, chief superintendent. In fact, I want nobody but us--" He indicated Seishiro and himself. "--and the representatives of my clan within the park before sunrise. You wouldn't be protecting us, but putting us in danger by providing possible vessels for the spirit we are going to exorcise."

"Guard the gates and the prohibited area of the Kokyo from the other side of the moats," Seishiro said at Shiibatani's obvious unease. "They are built to protect, thus they are strong natural wards."

Shiibatani nodded and made a swift note.

"I need to confer with the representatives of my clan as soon as possible," Subaru continued. "And we require a quiet room and a washing facility for purification."

"You may use the facilities at the Saineikan. Your relatives are already waiting there," Shiibatani answered. "Kisaraki will show you the way."

"Thank you. That will be very helpful." Subaru inclined his head.

"Do you need anything else?"

"Five military grade glowsticks with steel anchors and maximal glow duration," Seishiro demanded.

"Glowsticks?" Subaru asked.

"Yes." Seishiro nodded. "Preferable to torches. They are a lot harder to extinguish and if the casings are broken, the luminescent chemical spreads and thickens the barrier instead of thinning it."

"But will the glow last long enough?"

"The strong ones last up to five days, Sumeragi-san," the chief superintendent said calmly. "Though the SDF objects to handing out expensive consumables." The latter was directed at Seishiro, who shrugged.

"Put me on the phone, if they cause you trouble."

"Rest assured, I will," Shiibatani returned dryly. "Anything else?"

"The attendance of at least two gardeners with a sod-cutter and compactor would be very much appreciated."

For the first time, the chief superintendent seemed surprised. "Excuse me?"

"You don't expect me to do the digging myself, do you?" Seishiro asked.

Shiibatani just shook his head. "I'll have a group of technicians and gardeners to assist you ready in thirty minutes. Please keep the damage to Imperial property to a minimum."

"Rest assured, I will," Seishiro answered mockingly.

Subaru's heel dug firmly into Seishiro's right shoe. "Chief superintendent. Please accept my apology for the trouble we are causing. We're very grateful for your help and would not want to occupy more of your time than necessary. If you would send for our guide now, we'll be on our way immediately."


Kisaraki was already awaiting them in the corridor. "If I may precede you," he bowed briefly and led the way in a brisk pace.

Outside, Subaru slowed and touched Seishiro's sleeve, signalling him to also fall behind. "I won't ask about the reason for a sod-cutter," he said in a low voice, "unless I should worry about my feet or the hem of the shikifuku during the exorcism."

"You don't have to." Seishiro chuckled at the image. "Trust me."

"Yes. And you can trust me about the wakizashi," Subaru said. He didn't want to do this. Not here, not now. But he had to do better than Seishiro if he wanted this collaboration to work. A lot better. "Whatever is going to happen, trust me that I won't kill myself." He stopped them, raised his hand for Seishirou to see the pentagram scar on its back. "You own my death. I recognize the claim." He searched Seishiro's eyes, tried to make him understand. "And I expect you to recognize mine!" He reached for Seishiro's hand, brushed bare fingertips across the pale pentacle scar there.

"You claim my death?" Seishiro asked with a raised brow. "Why, I'm touched--"

"I claim your life," Subaru corrected.

Seishiro's eyes widened at the emphasis, as if he almost--

"Sumeragi-san? Sakurazuka-san?" Kisaraki cleared his throat nervously. "If you may follow me? The Saineikan is not far any more."

"Of course," Seishiro said smoothly, the mask back on his face. "Please excuse our slowness."


Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Kokyo East Gardens - Saneikan

"Subaru-san." Elder Makoto stood and bowed at him when he entered the room. She hesitated a second, then bowed equally politely at Seishiro following him. "Sakurazuka-san."

Politeness, Subaru noted. With the end of the feud, Seishiro -- whatever they thought of him and his house -- was the head of another clan deserving respect.

"May I introduce Shiro Ameru to you? He took it upon his karma to transport the item you requested, Subaru-san." Makoto indicated a slender man in his fifties, waiting patiently a few steps behind her. He also bowed in respect. "Sakurazuka-san--"

"It isn't necessary to introduce us, Makoto-san," Seishiro said with a smile. "Shiro-san and I already had the good fortune to meet."

Shiro shot him a warning glare.

"May I ask how that came to pass?" Subaru inquired warily.

"We share an interest in geckos." Seishiro smirked.

"With the utmost respect, Sakurazuka-san," elder Makoto said, "may I request that you leave, while we help Subaru-san preparing for this exorcism. From what I was told, the spirit in question is highly volatile and may gain a hold on Subaru-san's body if he goes unprotected."

"Elder Makoto," Subaru said, "I do know how to shield myself."

"Yet you asked for Susumu's blade," Makoto said sternly. "Do believe me that I know what that means! Ameru-kun is a specialist in protective spells. Please allow us to help you."

"Yet it is not your place to ask my partner to leave," Subaru stated firmly.

"I am aware of that," the old woman returned. "And I mean no disrespect." She bowed again at Seishiro, "But I cannot help being disquieted by his presence and I do not wish to make mistakes regarding your safety. Please--"

"Let it be," Seishiro said unexpectedly. "I've got to set up the banning field anyway." He glanced at his watch. "The gardeners should have arrived by now." He gave a mocking nod at Ameru and the discomfited elder. "Be seeing you."

Elder Makoto clapped her hands the moment the door closed behind him. "Let us not waste time. Given the situation, purification will take a while. Please remove your clothes so that we may begin."


Fifteen minutes later, the pungent scent of skin ink, prepared from auspicious oil filled the air. A fine rice straw brush scratched over Subaru's bare skin, writing protective spells down his back in swift, sure strokes, forming twin lines left and right of his spine. Twins...

"...there are peculiarities regarding twins in our line that allowed us not to burden you with the necessity to preserve the exceptional gift of your line..." his grandmother had told him.

Twins were rare. The last time twins like he and Hokuto had been born to the Sumeragi had been twenty years before the rise of the Tokugawa. Sixteen-year-old Sumeragi Susumu had spent three months at the sickbed of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Susumu had staunchly supported the Toyotomi, thereby alienating Tokugawa Ieyoshi, a man famous for remembering insults. When the Tokugawa rose to power, Susumu had ended his life, allowing the Sumeragi to continue as a renewed house with the son of his twin sister as the new head. Subaru was that son's twelfth successor, and if today went wrong, the last. Susumu's wakizashi waited for him on a cushion of white silk, stitched with red pentacles.

The brush stopped at his right arm. "What caused this scar?" Ameru, kneeling beside him, asked. "I need to know whether special shielding would be prudent or not."

"There's a titanium strut supporting the bone. The Sakurazukamori broke my arm in 1991."

Ameru frowned. "Was he the same man who holds the position now?"

"Yes. He also broke my ribs."

Ameru lowered his head, dipping the brush back into the ink.

...and killed my sister. Subaru added in his thoughts. When gendermixed twins were born into the Sumeragi, the male had always died young with the female continuing the line...

...until Hokuto had offered herself to the Sakurazukamori in his stead. And now he was preparing for spiritual war, with Seishiro's words on his mind:

"I'd ask myself why my magically inept sister had to ask my arch-enemy to spill her blood for her magic to work."

"Raise your arms, Subaru-sama," Ameru's quiet voice told him and the drawing of spells continued around his hips.


Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Kokyo East Gardens
April 19, 2000 -- 00:58

The white floodlights mounted on tall masts along the paved walkway bathed the wide lawn in front of the Tenshukakuaku in brilliant cold light. Subaru felt their heat through his shikifuku, causing the auspicious ink on his skin to itch the moment he got out of the police car. Chief superintendent Shiibatani personally had driven him and Seishiro. None of his people would remain in the park until one of them gave clearance for it -- or the sun rose, whichever happened first.

The glowsticks marking the circle in the middle of the lawn were half a meter high and reached equally deep. Subaru's zori sank into the wet grass as he left the paved area. His white tabi were smeared with green by the time he reached the bare area between the glowsticks. Seishiro had insisted on having the grass removed. The Imperial gardeners had dug it out carefully, placing the sods aside to put them back afterwards; then the bare earth had been tamped down. Seishiro would have had the place concreted, had there been the time for it.

Subaru wondered if his grandmother would see the connection between a bald spot in the Emperor's garden and the time she had used grass blades against Seishiro.

Probably not.

On the bare earth, narrow black daggers pinned blood-written black ofuda, laminated to avoid decay, to the ground with in a second circle. The power pulsed within the circles even before they'd been invoked. A faint scent of sakura mingled with the smell of raw earth. Seishiro had drawn a lot of power from the Tree. Ultimately, this banning field would be paid for in blood. In lives. Lives to replenish the power the Tree provided for it...

...and the longer they took, the more expensive it got.

...are you less of a murderer because you didn't know?...

...are you less of a murderer because you are Sumeragi?...

Subaru was no longer ignorant and whether or not he was still Sumeragi...

...would depend a lot on what happened tonight.

He looked towards the fire-lit top of the Tenshukakuaku. Elder Makoto was sitting on a backless chair. Ameru was standing behind her. Their vigil in full vestments reminded him that he wasn't trustworthy in the eyes of his clan anymore.

His grandmother had remained in Kyoto. If they failed tonight, she'd be the twelfth and the fourteenth head at once, facing the very first practitioner of their line as an enemy.

"If I fail to protect myself in this exorcism," Subaru said without looking at Seishiro. "I want you to kill this body. Do not allow my ancestor to leave this place in the flesh."

Seishiro studied him calmly. He'd changed his suit for a shikifuku. A black shikifuku, with a blood-colored nagajuban underneath. A breeze blew leaves from the Tenshukakuaku across the place. Light golden eyes without glasses, an even lighter smile. "I shall." His nagajuban flashed crimson as he indicated the circle. "Shall we?"


A wide clay bowl stood in the exact center of the circle. Once Seishiro had freed and relocated the spirit from his basement compartment into the prepared circle, he'd retreat to maintain the circle from the outside, leaving Subaru to deal with his ancestor. Seishiro hadn't been happy, but Subaru had been adamant about it.

The spells written on his skin flashed hot when Subaru entered the prepared circle. Kneeling, he placed the sheathed wakizashi between him and the bowl and exchanged a final glance with Seishiro on the other side of the glowsticks. Then he raised the pot of purified water and began his incantation. Pouring the water, he created the mirror to reflect hidden truths.

Seishiro tied up his sleeve. The floodlights reflected on his knife.

Subaru wouldn't close his shields until the spirit had arrived, and they couldn't seal the circle until its transfer was complete. Today, he wasn't prey. He was bait.

The water stilled, perfecting the mirror. The incantation reached its first crescendo.

Seishiro began to sing, his voice providing a counterpoint to Subaru's. Flashing, the knife cut into Subaru's skin. Blood welled down his arm onto his hand. With slow, heavy strokes he painted the runes into the earth. Their song didn't waver as he balled his fist, increasing the blood flow, forcing the spirit to manifest.

The Emperor's Murderer -- Sado -- couldn't have been older than sixteen when his body died. But in his day and age, sixteen had been the age of a grown man. A wide coat, made entirely of white feathers, rippled in the spirit wind. Red-colored Toki skulls broadened the shoulders, the long, curved black beaks clicking at every move, while angry green eyes lined with khol searched Subaru's --

The spirit wind flared, spreading Sado's feather coat wide as he pointed a solid right hand, red-lined nails aiming at Subaru's heart, reaching for the body that should have been his.

Green light enclosed them. Seishiro had triggered the glowsticks.

"Begone from my flesh, usurper," the spirit ordered. "Return what is rightfully mine and go on to the netherworld as a whole, while I shall have the slave to the Sakura weep before my feet this very night!"

"I don't think so," Subaru returned, closing his shields.

"Then cease in fragments!" Spells flared to life as the spirit lashed at him, their bright light blinding even through the cloth. Nails scraped over Subaru's skin, unable to break it. Ameru was good a spiritual protection--

Hissing, the spirit rebounded.

"Sado," Subaru called to him. "This is my life, not yours, and my time. Your actions are unnecessary here. Our house has achieved the station you dreamed of a long time ago. The onmyo's power was established over a thousand years ago." He decided against mentioning that it had also been dismantled after Heian dissolved in the warring states. "I have come to correct the wrong the servants of the Sakura did you. You don't need my body. You can move on peacefully now."

Black-lined eyes traced the perimeter, stopped at Seishiro. "Move on? Peacefully?" A sharp, bitter laugh. Red-colored Toki skulls rattled as he raised his hands. "First, I will toss the head of Amaterasu's heir to the Sakura in gratitude for its hospitality!" A flash burst out of red-rimmed fingertips, melting two of the glowsticks. So much for moving him on peacefully.

Subaru freed the wakizashi from its sheath. "I won't allow you to threaten his Imperial majesty."

"I told you before to be still when your elders speak," the spirit snarled at him. "I won't have you interfere with the emperor's timely demise!"

Subaru wrapped a piece of rice paper around the unprotected blade and laid his fingers around the paper-wrapped steel, setting the wakizashi's tip against his abdomen. He prayed that Seishiro believed him. "If you continue with this, I will kill this body and your line ends here and now."

"The line continues with the sister. The male was never required for that!"

Subaru's grip tightened around the blade. The steel felt cold as it broke through the paper into his skin, then the heat of the pain followed as the nerves of his fingers registered the cut. He banished the sensation from his attention.

"Go on!" the spirit challenged. "I can wait for the next incarnation of my flesh."

Subaru raised his head, his hand slowly moving along the blade. "There won't be another reincarnation. My sister is dead. There is no descendant!"

"No!" The spirit flared, hair and feathercoat flying. "That's a lie!"

The mirror of truth shattered. The incense urns overturned. Shards and burning wood clattered against the banning field, against Subaru. Shields against magic didn't stop ordinary objects hurled by magic. Refocussing, he ducked away from a fingerlong piece of burning wood. A shard hit his face.

The marks on his hands flared. He turned. "No! Don't--"

Too late. Seishiro had entered the circle. "Truth!" he yelled against the turmoil. An illusion enclosed them, suppressing Sado's raging in its entirety. Seishiro wouldn't be able to hold that for long.

Hokuto's death seen through Seishiro's eyes filled the circle:

The white shikifuku glowed in the twilight under the Sakura. Prayer beads clicked. Pale sakura petals danced on the spirit wind around her, shining almost red against the pure white of the silk. The shikifuku was blown against her back, flying up before her.

"There are spells that only I have the power to cast," she said in the eerie quiet. "I knew the Sakurazukamori's true being. That's why I want you to kill me instead."

"I shall," Seishiro replied in the illusion. The voice sounded lighthearted, carefree. It was easy to imagine the speaker with a smile on his lips.

Subaru forced himself to watch. Crimson shikifuku. Prayer beads bouncing away. He felt the tranquility of the decision in both -- her and Seishiro, who withheld nothing, not the sensation of his hand buried in her body, not the spell powered by her life enclosing him, not her weight in his arms, her last words...

"I want Subaru and you to live..."

The sensation of her hand, clean of blood, touching his cheek.

"...a person who can't fall in love doesn't exist... Sei-chan... Su..."

He heard his name on her last breath and felt the ripple of change unraveling structures set in stone by traditions for over a thousand years. The ancient sakura towering above them remained utterly quiet, while she dissolved in sakura petals as white as her shikifuku had been.

The illusion faded when Seishiro's power faltered. Sakura petals, tiny flames ignited by Sado's rage, became a burning tempest, enclosing Seishiro. Long nails clawed for his eyes and heart--

Subaru stood, the wakizashi bare in his hand. "Sado!" he yelled. "He's mine!"

The spirit stopped, eyed him incredulously. Then the feather coat flared and the toki skulls rattled as Sado stepped aside with a gesture of mock chivalry. Subaru ignored it. Blood drops glittered on the steel of the wakizashi as he stood over Seishiro. "Why?" he asked him in the shadow of the sakura. Why did you kill her?

"I don't know," Seishiro said.

Wind whipped up around them. "Liar!" the spirit snarled, while Subaru studied Seishiro's face, raising the wakizashi with one hand, shielding his wrist with the other. Silk tassels and crane feathers flew in the storm. His eyes didn't waver from the murderer of his sister.

"Lie!"

Lightning flashed overhead, reflected blindingly white on the raised steel. Subaru gripped the wakizashi more firmly. Wetness trickled down his throat, soaking the collar of his nagajuban as he threw the blade--

--and nailed his ancestor to the Tree. "Truth," he said softly. The sudden quiet filled with the rustling of the Sakura, tearing and devouring his ancestor's blood-bound spirit. Seishiro collapsed to his knees. Subaru reached for him, through the marks and with his hands, and held on tight.

Like Hokuto had held on.

To them both.


to be continued in
Family Matters 19


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes:

(1) jichi-cho - Ministry of Home Affairs existed from July 1, 1960 to January 5, 2001 when it became a part of the newly formed Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Minister of Home Affairs (jichi-daijin) usually doubled as the chief of the National Public Safety Commission (NPSC).

(2) Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha. Mantra of Tibetan Buddhism.

(3) Sado. In ancient and pre-ancient Japan, commoners were identified solely by their given name, often identical with the place they came from. Sado (Sadogashima) is a large island, about 50 kilometers off the coast of Niigata, already mentioned as populated in 544 in the Nihonshoki. There's a special breeding program for Toki (Japanese Crested Ibis) there.

(4) Saineikan is the dojo of the Imperial Guards on the grounds of the Kokyo East Gardens.


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