[story] in windy fields (of memory)
author: gyoku
email: theprawnsandwich [at] gmail dot com
Noboru makes his way into a corner of the school cafeteria, dutifully ignoring the curious stares of his fellow students, fully aware of his lesser social status as a transfer student. He opens the bento his mother has prepared for him. His heart lifts at the sight; she has prepared all his favourite food, clearly to cheer him up at the prospect of starting anew at another school.
Behind him, he hears laughter ringing out from one of the tables. He turns his head to look at the source of the voice - it's Shimizu Hideki, his class secretary. There are a few other boys sitting around him, including some upperclassmen.
They must be a sports team or something, Noboru surmises as he chews his egg roll, watching the easy camaraderie within the group. He looks up again, and he makes eye contact with Hideki. Hideki gives him a small wave and a sheepish smile. Noboru only nods back in acknowledgement.
Perhaps this school won't be too bad after all.
"So, it looks like we're stuck together for this project," Hideki tells Noboru.
Noboru looks up from where he has been doodling on his sketchpad, fingers smudged with pencil stains. "Hnn. Yes," he mutters noncommittally.
"Do you have any idea where to start?" Hideki flips open the instructions. "We have to have a written section and another with pictures and graphics."
Noboru shrugs. "You write. I can do the art."
"Don't you think we should discuss first before you make up your mind?" Hideki asks, mildly annoyed. '
Noboru does not say anything, but he flips open his sketchbook to the latest page and shows it to Hideki. It is a picture of the schoolyard, with students playing; Hideki can spot two of their classmates on the benches. He blinks in surprise - one of the boys is himself, smiling as he kicks the ball into the goal.
"Oh." Hideki says, rather stunned by the detailed illustration. "Fine," he agrees, deflated. "You do the art."
Noboru smiles, eyes crinkling through his bangs.
"Who's that?" Keisuke asks, pointing to Noboru, who is seated at the corner of the school field. "He's been here the past few days."
"Who?" Hideki asks, as he looks over to where Keisuke is pointing. "Oh, him. He's my classmate."
"I haven't seen him around before."
Hideki wipes the perspiration off his forehead and tries to catch his breath. "New classmate, that is. He's a transfer student."
"Well, if he's not playing, he should stay away. I don't want any complaints about balls hitting him or anything," Keisuke instructs Hideki. "Or even better, try to get him to join."
"You sure about that?"
"We could always use more players. Besides, some of the seniors are leaving by the end of this year anyway."
"True enough. I'll speak to him about it, then."
"Do you have a club yet, Yoshida?" Hideki asks Noboru, as they walk together to the library to do their research.
"No."
"Have you thought what club you want to join?"
"I was hoping to join the art club, but Eitaki-sensei's not taking any more students for the year."
"What about sports then? I saw you in PE the other day. You aren't too bad at soccer."
"I play for fun. I'm not really big on sports otherwise."
"Oh, what a pity," Hideki says, crestfallen. "We could use more people in the soccer club."
"Don't you have enough players already?"
Hideki shakes his head. "Okazaki-sempai and Honda-sempai are already in third year. We could use some back-up in the junior years."
"Hnn." Noboru nods noncommittally.
"We're having tryouts next week. Why don't you sign up?"
Noboru stares at Hideki dubiously.
"It's not like you'll have to play, we just need enough players in case anybody gets injured or if the seniors go away for their exams," Hideki coaxes. "Half the time, people end up waiting on the bench anyway. Give it a go, Yoshida."
Noboru gives up protesting, sensing his impending defeat at the hands of Hideki's powers of persuasion. "Fine. I'll think about it."
Hideki beams.
"Told you you'd spend most of your time on the bench," Hideki says glumly from where he is seated at the sidelines, his swollen right ankle propped up on the next seat, wrapped in a bandage with an ice pack attached to it. "Though I didn't think I was going to join you."
"I'm sorry you got injured," Noboru says earnestly.
"Yeah," Hideki replies, wincing when he moves his injured foot accidentally. "So am I." He stares at the rest of the team playing on the field, a morose look on his face as he contemplates his misfortune. Noboru keeps quiet, sensing that it would be better to let Hideki work off his bad mood on his own.
"What are you doing?" Hideki asks. "Drawing again?"
Noboru shrugs one shoulder. "Just keeping myself occupied."
"May I see?" Hideki asks, curiosity replacing his downcast mood.
Noboru shakes his head. "Not yet."
"What? You've always let me see your sketches before."
"Not this one," Noboru says. "Later."
"What's so special about this one?" Hideki challenges. Much to his amazement, Noboru shifts slightly, as if to protect his sketchpad.
"You'll see."
"But you will let me see it eventually?" Hideki demands and Noboru agrees.
"Of course."
Hideki grins then, pleased at having won another concession from Noboru. He pauses suddenly, overcome with a sensation of déjà vu.
"Something wrong, Shimizu?" Noboru asks, and Hideki shakes his head, dispersing the sudden fog that had descended on his thoughts.
"Nothing, nothing. But for a while there, I thought..."
"Thought what?"
"That we'd had this conversation before."
"Like what?"
"Like this," Hideki says, waving one hand between them. "Like we'd argue, and then..."
Noboru cocks his head to one side, waiting for Hideki to explain further. Hideki scratches his head, suddenly embarrassed.
"Never mind. I'm just being stupid."
"You're never stupid. Never say that," Noboru replies quickly, with such fierce conviction that Hideki stare at Noboru in surprise.
"You should call me Hideki, by the way," Hideki says, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "All my friends do."
"And this is your friend?" Mrs Shimizu asks Hideki, who studies his mother in consternation; she is pale, one hand gripping the edge of her apron tightly as if in fear.
"Yes. Yoshida Noboru. He's a transfer student."
"Pleased to meet you," Noboru enunciates clearly, very unlike his usual drawl, and he bows deeply, almost formally, to Mrs Shimizu.
"I'm pleased to meet you too, Yoshida-kun." Mrs Shimizu acknowledges the greeting. "I understand you've been helping my son in school while he was injured with that bad ankle of his."
"It's what friends do," Noboru's eyes flick briefly to Hideki, who mouths "suck-up" back to him.
"I hope you'll continue taking care of Hideki." Mrs Shimizu replies, mouth pinched in a tight line. "He can be a bit of a handful."
"It would be a pleasure to do so."
Hideki stares at the two of them; somehow feeling as if his mother and friend are engaging in an intricate dance that only they know the steps to, leaving him on the outside, looking in.
"Brilliant!" Hideki cheers, throwing his hands up in the air. The results of their social studies project have come back, and their project scored the highest grade in the class. He punched Noboru on the shoulder. "Told you we made a good team!"
Noboru walks alongside Hideki, hands tucked his pockets, a pleased smile playing at his lips. There is no point ruining Hideki's good mood by reminding him about his original reservations about them working together. The two boys stroll together until they reach the park near Hideki's apartment. It is late in the evening, and the sun is setting, bathing the trees and plants in a warm glow.
Hideki sits on one of the swings, long legs sticking out comically as he tries to fit himself on a seat meant for a child. He tilts his head back, staring at the sky above him.
"Hey look," he points to the sky above. "The stars are coming out. Pretty aren't they?"
Noboru stands next to him, leaning against the metal supports of the swing, joining Hideki in studying the night sky. "Yep."
Hideki fidgets on the swing, swaying back and forth. "They make me feel lonely though."
"Who?"
Hideki laughs. "The stars. They're so far away. So distant." A melancholy expression enters his eyes. "Unreachable."
Noboru does not say anything in response.
After a while, Hideki lets out an embarrassed laugh. "That was stupid. You must think I'm weird, don't you? Right, Noboru?"
He turns to look at Noboru, but the other boy is also looking heavenward intently, paying Hideki no heed. Hideki opens his mouth to say something, but something in his throat catches when he sees the naked longing in Noboru's eyes.
"Here," Noboru tells him suddenly, shoving a large envelope into Hideki's hands. "Happy birthday."
"How did you know it was my birthday?"
Noboru raises an eyebrow, and Hideki turns red. His desk is full of trinkets and stuffed toys from girls both in and from outside their class.
"What's this?" Hideki asks, fingering the mouth of the envelope.
"Don't open it here," Noboru says hurriedly. "Open it at home."
"Why can't I open it here?" Hideki asks, teasing. From the size and shape of the gift, he is pretty confident he knows what Noboru has given him.
Noboru scratches his nose in a self-conscious manner. "I don't want anybody else but you to see it."
Hideki nods in understanding, feeling something like pleasure blooming within him. "All right. Fair enough."
"Hideki," Mrs Shimizu knocks on the door of his room. "Dinner's ready."
She frowns at the continued silence. "Hideki?"
She opens the door only to find it empty. Puzzled, she enters the room; Hideki's belongings are still there, a pile of presents from his classmates on his desk. Then she turns to the bed and lets out a small cry. With trembling hands, Mrs Shimizu picks up the drawing that her son had left behind.
It is a portrait of Hideki. He is dressed in formal robes of deep blue, sleeves limned with silver embroidery. He is standing alone in the pavilion of a majestic castle, a contemplative look on his face. There are no trees to be seen; there is only the vast sky ahead and beneath him.
Beneath the illustration is a single line: Lord Yasuhiro of the Northern Court.
Mrs Shimizu sinks slowly to the floor, panic overcoming her. He remembers.
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Hideki asks Noboru, one hand idly tracing patterns on Noboru’s t-shirt.
Noboru makes a vague gesture of indifference, "How could I have told you anything without sounding crazy?"
"It still sounds crazy," Hideki laughs.
"But you remember now, don’t you?" Noboru asks, anxiety lacing his words and Hideki leans forward to press a quick kiss on Noboru’s lips.
"Of course I do," he reassures Noboru. "How can I not remember now that you've reminded me?"
"Good," Noboru says fervently, clutching Hideki’s shirt. "I was worried I'd never find you."
They lie quietly for a while, squeezed together on Noboru’s bed.
"My mother knew, didn’t she?" Hideki asks later, his voice breaking the silence.
"Yes," Noboru replies, "She did."
"Is that why she acted so strange around you?"
Noboru laughs in a self-deprecating manner. "She doesn’t like me very much. Never did."
"She's a snob," Hideki complains, realising that he's not talking about his mother now, as she is, but instead about her other self. "I don't get it though. How come I’m the only one who didn’t remember?" he asks, frustrated.
Noboru strokes Hideki’s hair in a soothing gesture, preferring not to tell Hideki of the beaten, damaged body he had found, or the murderous rage on his part that had followed.
"Speaking of your mother, you need to go home," Noboru reminds Hideki, who makes a face at him, but he continues regardless. "She’s waiting for you. I'm sure she's worried."
Hideki tugs Noboru closer, obliterating the space between them. "Later," he says, slipping a hand underneath Noboru’s T-shirt. "I can go home later."
"Love across two lifetimes," a feminine voice says, ringing across the vast chambers of the throne room. "In two different worlds. That is quite enough for me. It is time to allow them to return."
There is a disparaging snort. "Trust a woman to say that sort of sentimental drivel."
"Oh my, did the Black Tortoise actually deign to address me?" General Sawa asks, voice deceptively tinged with honey. She turns to the windows in a deliberate gesture. "There must be a solar eclipse ongoing."
"You insolent wench!"
"And I see you're as charming as ever, General Hashiratani," comes tart reply. Behind her, General Sawa's two guards shift slightly closer to her throne.
"If I could interrupt your argument, please," says the older man seated in the eastern quadrant of the room. "The Vermillion Bird is right. It has been more than a decade, Tetsuji. Let it go."
"Easy for you to say. That boy killed a Captain of my Court!" General Hashiratani rails from his position in the northern quadrant. "Captain Morishige was vital to our armed forces!"
"That particular Captain also happened to have garnered a reputation for wanton violence," General Sawa points out immediately. "Violence that extended beyond the battlefield into his own household. One could say his death was deserved."
"It was not for a lowly guard to decide what sort of justice Captain Morishige deserved. I will not tolerate such insubordination!" General Hashiratani continues, ignoring General Sawa’s remarks.
"It seems to me you’re more concerned about the boy’s rank than Captain Morishige's shortcomings," General Morioka points out. "Would you have preferred a courtier to have killed Captain Morishige instead? Perhaps a colonel? I agree with Homare. Enough is enough. Let them come back."
"I'm glad to to see that General Morioka agrees with me," General Sawa interjects, smiling sweetly at General Hashiratani, who glowers back at her. "But that's only half the Council. What about you, General Imamura?"
She turns to the youngest of the four Generals, seated in the Eastern Quadrant.
General Imamura lets out a small cough and shifts on his throne. "I always thought exile was too harsh a sentence in the first place," he finally says. "Tadashi was only defending Yasuhiro, as any guard would. I know of many guards who would do the same for their master. Tadashi's loyalty to Yasuhiro is commendable."
General Sawa does not miss the short look General Imamura gives to his own guard, the one standing to his left behind the throne.
General Morioka turns to General Hashiratani. "Come now, Tetsuji. Be sensible. That makes three out of four."
General Hashiratani glares at his compatriots, clearly annoyed at having been outnumbered. "Fine! But they are no longer welcome in the Northern Court!"
"That is no problem. My own Court is as yet incomplete," General Imamura says. "Tadashi can resume his training under Captain Tanaka instead."
"And where would you place Yasuhiro?" General Sawa inquires. "I cannot imagine him wishing to go back to his household."
General Imamura shakes his head. "That is a small matter. Tseih She is empty. It has been difficult to find suitable candidates to fill that seat."
Enlightenment dawns upon General Sawa's face and she smiles in approval, tucking a hand under her chin. "Ah, I see. The Demon Star is a binary system after all. They can be together, finally. A truly fitting solution. Well done, General Imamura."
"Hmph. The Pile of Corpses. How apropos. A love founded on fratricide," General Hashiratani comments darkly. "You would reward them, Makoto?"
"I see no reason to prolong their exile," General Imamura states calmly. "They have endured enough."
"And well, technically, it's not fratricide. It wasn't his own father Tadashi killed," General Morioka points out.
"The Azure Dragon is just being pedantic," General Hashiratani harrumphs. "All right, then. I wash my hands off those two. You can have them, Makoto!"
"Thank you," General Imamura nods gracefully to his more senior colleagues.
"Yuji," he calls to the second guard standing on his right. "Make arrangements to have Lord Yasuhiro and Tadashi retrieved, please."
The guard in question bows in acquiescence, and leaves the throne room immediately.
"You’re making a mistake," General Hashiratani rumbles. "Just you watch, Makoto."
"I’m sure with a bit of work, they’ll assimilate well into life in Court again," General Imamura demurs. "But what about Lady Yukari?"
"Let her finish out the rest of her sentence," General Morioka says firmly. "What she failed to do, what she permitted happen to her son... That was not acceptable."
"But may she return?" General Imamura persists.
General Morioka looks at General Hashiratani. "She's from your Court, Tetsuji. What say you?"
General Hashiratani snorts. "Captain Morishige’s staff and household were given to Captain Nagatomo when I promoted him. There is no room for Lady Yukari in the Northern Court now."
"Then I'll take her too, when she completes her exile," General Imamura offers. "Yasuhiro will definitely want his mother with him."
"It is true then, what they say," General Sawa comments. "The White Tiger is most forgiving. We could use more of that in our Courts." She flicks a sideways glance at General Hashiratani, a sour look on her face.
"So, we are agreed?" General Morioka asks the other three generals, who indicate their assent. He pretends not to hear the dissatisfied mutterings of General Hashiratani. "Good. I will report our decision to Marshal Ogara."
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," General Hashiratani says. "I wish you luck with them, Makoto!"
With that parting shot, General Hashiratani sweeps out of the throne room, his guards running to catch up with him.
General Sawa rolls her eyes. "The old man always has to have the last word, doesn’t he?"
"Homare, a little more respect please," General Morioka chides the lady general, but there is no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes. "I had best leave too. That report to Marshal Ogara should not wait. We have two additions to the Courts to process."
The oldest general exits the throne room, leaving the other two generals alone.
"Come, let us walk together, General Imamura. It has been some time since we talked," General Sawa invites General Imamura and they fall in step together, walking out of the throne room into the corridors of the Imperial Castle.
"That was very kind of you to offer the boys positions in your Court," she says, her guards keeping a careful distance behind her. "Not everybody would have given them a second chance."
"We all make mistakes during our youth," General Imamura replies. "There is no reason for Tadashi to suffer when he can be given a new start."
"But you are uncommonly compassionate to those in the lower ranks," General Sawa's face takes on a mischievous look and her eyes look up to the face of General Imamura's personal guard. He looks back stoically at General Imamura, not betraying any expression. "I wonder why."
General Masahiro blinks, but does not miss a beat. "It is my duty to take care of those who need my protection after all," he says, and General Sawa nods, pleased with General Imamura's quick response.
"I’m sure Tadashi will do well under your tutelage, Captain Tanaka," she says, surprising General Imamura again when she addresses his subordinate directly.
"I hope to be worthy of that responsibility," Captain Tanaka bows to the general, murmuring his thanks.
"And I'm sure equally sure Tadashi and Yasuhiro will do well under your care, General Imamura." That impish smile appears again, and she continues. "Both your cares, that is. I cannot imagine who else would be better suited to watch over the two boys. Or who else could empathise more with Yasuhiro's situation."
"General Sawa is most lavish with her praise today," General Imamura replies.
"It is not praise when it is fact," General Sawa says. "Do tell me when Tadashi and Yasuhiro return. With your permission, I would love to speak to them. I hear Earth has changed a lot since the last time I was there." With that, she turns and walks away, her long robes trailing behind her.
"She knows," Captain Tanaka says in a low voice as the two of them watch General Sawa and her entourage fade from sight.
"It seems so," General Imamura agrees. "But it would also seem that she does not care. She always had a reputation for being a free spirit after all. But that is neither here nor there. Has Yuji left?"
"Yes," Captain Tanaka says. "He took the latest meteor ride passing by Earth and will be back before the next lunar cycle."
"Good," General Imamura says, clapping his hands together in satisfaction. "Let us get ready to welcome them home."
Epilogue
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS KILLED IN DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT.
Police have arrested Mr Ikeda Goro, 38-years-old, a partner at a local law firm, on suspicion of drunk driving. He is implicated in the deaths of two local teenagers, Yoshida Noboru and Shimizu Hideki, both 17-years-old.
END
Author’s Notes: This story takes inspiration from Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones. Liberties have been taken with the interpretation of Chinese astronomy and the story title is adapted from one of Basho's haiku.
email: theprawnsandwich [at] gmail dot com
Noboru makes his way into a corner of the school cafeteria, dutifully ignoring the curious stares of his fellow students, fully aware of his lesser social status as a transfer student. He opens the bento his mother has prepared for him. His heart lifts at the sight; she has prepared all his favourite food, clearly to cheer him up at the prospect of starting anew at another school.
Behind him, he hears laughter ringing out from one of the tables. He turns his head to look at the source of the voice - it's Shimizu Hideki, his class secretary. There are a few other boys sitting around him, including some upperclassmen.
They must be a sports team or something, Noboru surmises as he chews his egg roll, watching the easy camaraderie within the group. He looks up again, and he makes eye contact with Hideki. Hideki gives him a small wave and a sheepish smile. Noboru only nods back in acknowledgement.
Perhaps this school won't be too bad after all.
"So, it looks like we're stuck together for this project," Hideki tells Noboru.
Noboru looks up from where he has been doodling on his sketchpad, fingers smudged with pencil stains. "Hnn. Yes," he mutters noncommittally.
"Do you have any idea where to start?" Hideki flips open the instructions. "We have to have a written section and another with pictures and graphics."
Noboru shrugs. "You write. I can do the art."
"Don't you think we should discuss first before you make up your mind?" Hideki asks, mildly annoyed. '
Noboru does not say anything, but he flips open his sketchbook to the latest page and shows it to Hideki. It is a picture of the schoolyard, with students playing; Hideki can spot two of their classmates on the benches. He blinks in surprise - one of the boys is himself, smiling as he kicks the ball into the goal.
"Oh." Hideki says, rather stunned by the detailed illustration. "Fine," he agrees, deflated. "You do the art."
Noboru smiles, eyes crinkling through his bangs.
"Who's that?" Keisuke asks, pointing to Noboru, who is seated at the corner of the school field. "He's been here the past few days."
"Who?" Hideki asks, as he looks over to where Keisuke is pointing. "Oh, him. He's my classmate."
"I haven't seen him around before."
Hideki wipes the perspiration off his forehead and tries to catch his breath. "New classmate, that is. He's a transfer student."
"Well, if he's not playing, he should stay away. I don't want any complaints about balls hitting him or anything," Keisuke instructs Hideki. "Or even better, try to get him to join."
"You sure about that?"
"We could always use more players. Besides, some of the seniors are leaving by the end of this year anyway."
"True enough. I'll speak to him about it, then."
"Do you have a club yet, Yoshida?" Hideki asks Noboru, as they walk together to the library to do their research.
"No."
"Have you thought what club you want to join?"
"I was hoping to join the art club, but Eitaki-sensei's not taking any more students for the year."
"What about sports then? I saw you in PE the other day. You aren't too bad at soccer."
"I play for fun. I'm not really big on sports otherwise."
"Oh, what a pity," Hideki says, crestfallen. "We could use more people in the soccer club."
"Don't you have enough players already?"
Hideki shakes his head. "Okazaki-sempai and Honda-sempai are already in third year. We could use some back-up in the junior years."
"Hnn." Noboru nods noncommittally.
"We're having tryouts next week. Why don't you sign up?"
Noboru stares at Hideki dubiously.
"It's not like you'll have to play, we just need enough players in case anybody gets injured or if the seniors go away for their exams," Hideki coaxes. "Half the time, people end up waiting on the bench anyway. Give it a go, Yoshida."
Noboru gives up protesting, sensing his impending defeat at the hands of Hideki's powers of persuasion. "Fine. I'll think about it."
Hideki beams.
"Told you you'd spend most of your time on the bench," Hideki says glumly from where he is seated at the sidelines, his swollen right ankle propped up on the next seat, wrapped in a bandage with an ice pack attached to it. "Though I didn't think I was going to join you."
"I'm sorry you got injured," Noboru says earnestly.
"Yeah," Hideki replies, wincing when he moves his injured foot accidentally. "So am I." He stares at the rest of the team playing on the field, a morose look on his face as he contemplates his misfortune. Noboru keeps quiet, sensing that it would be better to let Hideki work off his bad mood on his own.
"What are you doing?" Hideki asks. "Drawing again?"
Noboru shrugs one shoulder. "Just keeping myself occupied."
"May I see?" Hideki asks, curiosity replacing his downcast mood.
Noboru shakes his head. "Not yet."
"What? You've always let me see your sketches before."
"Not this one," Noboru says. "Later."
"What's so special about this one?" Hideki challenges. Much to his amazement, Noboru shifts slightly, as if to protect his sketchpad.
"You'll see."
"But you will let me see it eventually?" Hideki demands and Noboru agrees.
"Of course."
Hideki grins then, pleased at having won another concession from Noboru. He pauses suddenly, overcome with a sensation of déjà vu.
"Something wrong, Shimizu?" Noboru asks, and Hideki shakes his head, dispersing the sudden fog that had descended on his thoughts.
"Nothing, nothing. But for a while there, I thought..."
"Thought what?"
"That we'd had this conversation before."
"Like what?"
"Like this," Hideki says, waving one hand between them. "Like we'd argue, and then..."
Noboru cocks his head to one side, waiting for Hideki to explain further. Hideki scratches his head, suddenly embarrassed.
"Never mind. I'm just being stupid."
"You're never stupid. Never say that," Noboru replies quickly, with such fierce conviction that Hideki stare at Noboru in surprise.
"You should call me Hideki, by the way," Hideki says, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "All my friends do."
"And this is your friend?" Mrs Shimizu asks Hideki, who studies his mother in consternation; she is pale, one hand gripping the edge of her apron tightly as if in fear.
"Yes. Yoshida Noboru. He's a transfer student."
"Pleased to meet you," Noboru enunciates clearly, very unlike his usual drawl, and he bows deeply, almost formally, to Mrs Shimizu.
"I'm pleased to meet you too, Yoshida-kun." Mrs Shimizu acknowledges the greeting. "I understand you've been helping my son in school while he was injured with that bad ankle of his."
"It's what friends do," Noboru's eyes flick briefly to Hideki, who mouths "suck-up" back to him.
"I hope you'll continue taking care of Hideki." Mrs Shimizu replies, mouth pinched in a tight line. "He can be a bit of a handful."
"It would be a pleasure to do so."
Hideki stares at the two of them; somehow feeling as if his mother and friend are engaging in an intricate dance that only they know the steps to, leaving him on the outside, looking in.
"Brilliant!" Hideki cheers, throwing his hands up in the air. The results of their social studies project have come back, and their project scored the highest grade in the class. He punched Noboru on the shoulder. "Told you we made a good team!"
Noboru walks alongside Hideki, hands tucked his pockets, a pleased smile playing at his lips. There is no point ruining Hideki's good mood by reminding him about his original reservations about them working together. The two boys stroll together until they reach the park near Hideki's apartment. It is late in the evening, and the sun is setting, bathing the trees and plants in a warm glow.
Hideki sits on one of the swings, long legs sticking out comically as he tries to fit himself on a seat meant for a child. He tilts his head back, staring at the sky above him.
"Hey look," he points to the sky above. "The stars are coming out. Pretty aren't they?"
Noboru stands next to him, leaning against the metal supports of the swing, joining Hideki in studying the night sky. "Yep."
Hideki fidgets on the swing, swaying back and forth. "They make me feel lonely though."
"Who?"
Hideki laughs. "The stars. They're so far away. So distant." A melancholy expression enters his eyes. "Unreachable."
Noboru does not say anything in response.
After a while, Hideki lets out an embarrassed laugh. "That was stupid. You must think I'm weird, don't you? Right, Noboru?"
He turns to look at Noboru, but the other boy is also looking heavenward intently, paying Hideki no heed. Hideki opens his mouth to say something, but something in his throat catches when he sees the naked longing in Noboru's eyes.
"Here," Noboru tells him suddenly, shoving a large envelope into Hideki's hands. "Happy birthday."
"How did you know it was my birthday?"
Noboru raises an eyebrow, and Hideki turns red. His desk is full of trinkets and stuffed toys from girls both in and from outside their class.
"What's this?" Hideki asks, fingering the mouth of the envelope.
"Don't open it here," Noboru says hurriedly. "Open it at home."
"Why can't I open it here?" Hideki asks, teasing. From the size and shape of the gift, he is pretty confident he knows what Noboru has given him.
Noboru scratches his nose in a self-conscious manner. "I don't want anybody else but you to see it."
Hideki nods in understanding, feeling something like pleasure blooming within him. "All right. Fair enough."
"Hideki," Mrs Shimizu knocks on the door of his room. "Dinner's ready."
She frowns at the continued silence. "Hideki?"
She opens the door only to find it empty. Puzzled, she enters the room; Hideki's belongings are still there, a pile of presents from his classmates on his desk. Then she turns to the bed and lets out a small cry. With trembling hands, Mrs Shimizu picks up the drawing that her son had left behind.
It is a portrait of Hideki. He is dressed in formal robes of deep blue, sleeves limned with silver embroidery. He is standing alone in the pavilion of a majestic castle, a contemplative look on his face. There are no trees to be seen; there is only the vast sky ahead and beneath him.
Beneath the illustration is a single line: Lord Yasuhiro of the Northern Court.
Mrs Shimizu sinks slowly to the floor, panic overcoming her. He remembers.
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Hideki asks Noboru, one hand idly tracing patterns on Noboru’s t-shirt.
Noboru makes a vague gesture of indifference, "How could I have told you anything without sounding crazy?"
"It still sounds crazy," Hideki laughs.
"But you remember now, don’t you?" Noboru asks, anxiety lacing his words and Hideki leans forward to press a quick kiss on Noboru’s lips.
"Of course I do," he reassures Noboru. "How can I not remember now that you've reminded me?"
"Good," Noboru says fervently, clutching Hideki’s shirt. "I was worried I'd never find you."
They lie quietly for a while, squeezed together on Noboru’s bed.
"My mother knew, didn’t she?" Hideki asks later, his voice breaking the silence.
"Yes," Noboru replies, "She did."
"Is that why she acted so strange around you?"
Noboru laughs in a self-deprecating manner. "She doesn’t like me very much. Never did."
"She's a snob," Hideki complains, realising that he's not talking about his mother now, as she is, but instead about her other self. "I don't get it though. How come I’m the only one who didn’t remember?" he asks, frustrated.
Noboru strokes Hideki’s hair in a soothing gesture, preferring not to tell Hideki of the beaten, damaged body he had found, or the murderous rage on his part that had followed.
"Speaking of your mother, you need to go home," Noboru reminds Hideki, who makes a face at him, but he continues regardless. "She’s waiting for you. I'm sure she's worried."
Hideki tugs Noboru closer, obliterating the space between them. "Later," he says, slipping a hand underneath Noboru’s T-shirt. "I can go home later."
"Love across two lifetimes," a feminine voice says, ringing across the vast chambers of the throne room. "In two different worlds. That is quite enough for me. It is time to allow them to return."
There is a disparaging snort. "Trust a woman to say that sort of sentimental drivel."
"Oh my, did the Black Tortoise actually deign to address me?" General Sawa asks, voice deceptively tinged with honey. She turns to the windows in a deliberate gesture. "There must be a solar eclipse ongoing."
"You insolent wench!"
"And I see you're as charming as ever, General Hashiratani," comes tart reply. Behind her, General Sawa's two guards shift slightly closer to her throne.
"If I could interrupt your argument, please," says the older man seated in the eastern quadrant of the room. "The Vermillion Bird is right. It has been more than a decade, Tetsuji. Let it go."
"Easy for you to say. That boy killed a Captain of my Court!" General Hashiratani rails from his position in the northern quadrant. "Captain Morishige was vital to our armed forces!"
"That particular Captain also happened to have garnered a reputation for wanton violence," General Sawa points out immediately. "Violence that extended beyond the battlefield into his own household. One could say his death was deserved."
"It was not for a lowly guard to decide what sort of justice Captain Morishige deserved. I will not tolerate such insubordination!" General Hashiratani continues, ignoring General Sawa’s remarks.
"It seems to me you’re more concerned about the boy’s rank than Captain Morishige's shortcomings," General Morioka points out. "Would you have preferred a courtier to have killed Captain Morishige instead? Perhaps a colonel? I agree with Homare. Enough is enough. Let them come back."
"I'm glad to to see that General Morioka agrees with me," General Sawa interjects, smiling sweetly at General Hashiratani, who glowers back at her. "But that's only half the Council. What about you, General Imamura?"
She turns to the youngest of the four Generals, seated in the Eastern Quadrant.
General Imamura lets out a small cough and shifts on his throne. "I always thought exile was too harsh a sentence in the first place," he finally says. "Tadashi was only defending Yasuhiro, as any guard would. I know of many guards who would do the same for their master. Tadashi's loyalty to Yasuhiro is commendable."
General Sawa does not miss the short look General Imamura gives to his own guard, the one standing to his left behind the throne.
General Morioka turns to General Hashiratani. "Come now, Tetsuji. Be sensible. That makes three out of four."
General Hashiratani glares at his compatriots, clearly annoyed at having been outnumbered. "Fine! But they are no longer welcome in the Northern Court!"
"That is no problem. My own Court is as yet incomplete," General Imamura says. "Tadashi can resume his training under Captain Tanaka instead."
"And where would you place Yasuhiro?" General Sawa inquires. "I cannot imagine him wishing to go back to his household."
General Imamura shakes his head. "That is a small matter. Tseih She is empty. It has been difficult to find suitable candidates to fill that seat."
Enlightenment dawns upon General Sawa's face and she smiles in approval, tucking a hand under her chin. "Ah, I see. The Demon Star is a binary system after all. They can be together, finally. A truly fitting solution. Well done, General Imamura."
"Hmph. The Pile of Corpses. How apropos. A love founded on fratricide," General Hashiratani comments darkly. "You would reward them, Makoto?"
"I see no reason to prolong their exile," General Imamura states calmly. "They have endured enough."
"And well, technically, it's not fratricide. It wasn't his own father Tadashi killed," General Morioka points out.
"The Azure Dragon is just being pedantic," General Hashiratani harrumphs. "All right, then. I wash my hands off those two. You can have them, Makoto!"
"Thank you," General Imamura nods gracefully to his more senior colleagues.
"Yuji," he calls to the second guard standing on his right. "Make arrangements to have Lord Yasuhiro and Tadashi retrieved, please."
The guard in question bows in acquiescence, and leaves the throne room immediately.
"You’re making a mistake," General Hashiratani rumbles. "Just you watch, Makoto."
"I’m sure with a bit of work, they’ll assimilate well into life in Court again," General Imamura demurs. "But what about Lady Yukari?"
"Let her finish out the rest of her sentence," General Morioka says firmly. "What she failed to do, what she permitted happen to her son... That was not acceptable."
"But may she return?" General Imamura persists.
General Morioka looks at General Hashiratani. "She's from your Court, Tetsuji. What say you?"
General Hashiratani snorts. "Captain Morishige’s staff and household were given to Captain Nagatomo when I promoted him. There is no room for Lady Yukari in the Northern Court now."
"Then I'll take her too, when she completes her exile," General Imamura offers. "Yasuhiro will definitely want his mother with him."
"It is true then, what they say," General Sawa comments. "The White Tiger is most forgiving. We could use more of that in our Courts." She flicks a sideways glance at General Hashiratani, a sour look on her face.
"So, we are agreed?" General Morioka asks the other three generals, who indicate their assent. He pretends not to hear the dissatisfied mutterings of General Hashiratani. "Good. I will report our decision to Marshal Ogara."
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," General Hashiratani says. "I wish you luck with them, Makoto!"
With that parting shot, General Hashiratani sweeps out of the throne room, his guards running to catch up with him.
General Sawa rolls her eyes. "The old man always has to have the last word, doesn’t he?"
"Homare, a little more respect please," General Morioka chides the lady general, but there is no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes. "I had best leave too. That report to Marshal Ogara should not wait. We have two additions to the Courts to process."
The oldest general exits the throne room, leaving the other two generals alone.
"Come, let us walk together, General Imamura. It has been some time since we talked," General Sawa invites General Imamura and they fall in step together, walking out of the throne room into the corridors of the Imperial Castle.
"That was very kind of you to offer the boys positions in your Court," she says, her guards keeping a careful distance behind her. "Not everybody would have given them a second chance."
"We all make mistakes during our youth," General Imamura replies. "There is no reason for Tadashi to suffer when he can be given a new start."
"But you are uncommonly compassionate to those in the lower ranks," General Sawa's face takes on a mischievous look and her eyes look up to the face of General Imamura's personal guard. He looks back stoically at General Imamura, not betraying any expression. "I wonder why."
General Masahiro blinks, but does not miss a beat. "It is my duty to take care of those who need my protection after all," he says, and General Sawa nods, pleased with General Imamura's quick response.
"I’m sure Tadashi will do well under your tutelage, Captain Tanaka," she says, surprising General Imamura again when she addresses his subordinate directly.
"I hope to be worthy of that responsibility," Captain Tanaka bows to the general, murmuring his thanks.
"And I'm sure equally sure Tadashi and Yasuhiro will do well under your care, General Imamura." That impish smile appears again, and she continues. "Both your cares, that is. I cannot imagine who else would be better suited to watch over the two boys. Or who else could empathise more with Yasuhiro's situation."
"General Sawa is most lavish with her praise today," General Imamura replies.
"It is not praise when it is fact," General Sawa says. "Do tell me when Tadashi and Yasuhiro return. With your permission, I would love to speak to them. I hear Earth has changed a lot since the last time I was there." With that, she turns and walks away, her long robes trailing behind her.
"She knows," Captain Tanaka says in a low voice as the two of them watch General Sawa and her entourage fade from sight.
"It seems so," General Imamura agrees. "But it would also seem that she does not care. She always had a reputation for being a free spirit after all. But that is neither here nor there. Has Yuji left?"
"Yes," Captain Tanaka says. "He took the latest meteor ride passing by Earth and will be back before the next lunar cycle."
"Good," General Imamura says, clapping his hands together in satisfaction. "Let us get ready to welcome them home."
Epilogue
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS KILLED IN DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT.
Police have arrested Mr Ikeda Goro, 38-years-old, a partner at a local law firm, on suspicion of drunk driving. He is implicated in the deaths of two local teenagers, Yoshida Noboru and Shimizu Hideki, both 17-years-old.
END
Author’s Notes: This story takes inspiration from Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones. Liberties have been taken with the interpretation of Chinese astronomy and the story title is adapted from one of Basho's haiku.