Sapphire Ambassadors

Choudai sat in his by-now accustomed spot.

His time in Teitaku was running down apace, and he had opted to stick with the things he'd miss going forward as much as possible.

So the Sunset Leaves' excellent kitchen was called upon one more time.

An excellently-run establishment, all things being equal. He was glad he'd backed it.

And gladder still when a casual nibble indicated that the recipes he'd sent over had at least been looked at.

I can't say I'll miss this town, any more than I miss Naishou or the Painted City... but I'll miss this place.

"Bayushi-san," he heard that voice. Hatsuki wore a brilliant smile when she saw him. "May I join you?"

He rose to his feet and bowed, but not in time to hide his own smile.

"Shosuro-san, it would make the entire day worthwhile. Please do."

She walked over and settled herself down carefully, folding her skirts under her. "I have another thing to do that," she murmured as she leaned over to sit.

"You know, I happened to run into the person who helped Doji-san here the other day? Isawa Kojiro-san."

"Oh? I presume he's behind her latest, er... look?"

The poor Crane had done her best while covered with scribbles.

"What sort of impression did he make?"

"He's... unusual. He walked in arguing with someone he left behind about divination," she replied with a small chuckle. "During the course of this, he did one for me without really noticing I was there to prove a point. Apparently, I would present a good piece of art the next day, defeat my greatest rival in three years, and give birth to twins in a few months."

His heart skipped a beat.

"Twins, Shosuro-san? And he seemed... sure of it?"

He paused.

"I mean, after all, you always present a good piece of art, so that's a simple prediction to make, but..."

TWINS!

"Twins are a blessing."

Like you, for example.

"Well, from what Doji-san said, he was effective in his work, so it's not unreasonable to think he'd apply a similar dedication to his other work," she reasoned. "I suppose we'll eventually see how it pans out, but... I don't know, I just... had a feeling. It does put another piece in the bowl of confirmation."

She laughed a little. "In the end he seemed like one of those very self-assured people, so it's hard to say if it's well placed or not."

"Twins."

He shook his head and smiled.

He also mouthed, "sorry" to her, then winked.

Sometimes, just sometimes, life is wonderful.

"As you say, he helped Doji-san. Let's trust him this far."

Nothing was solved, his children wouldn't know he was their father, he and Hatsuki wouldn't be able to live together as a family, and yet...

"And thus, I would say a celebration is in order."

He meant it. He wanted to dance around the Sunset Leaves.

Her eyebrows twitched up and she couldn't help but smile at the apology. Maybe she'd find a way to make him show his sincerity. The response tempted a grin.

"I agree entirely. I even went to the shrine to thank the fortunes yesterday. I'm so happy about it."

"Maybe a big party when we get home... but for now?"

He signaled a server for another pot of tea.

"And some mochi, I think. A bit of indulgence seems justified under the circumstances... so."

He was doing his best not to beam at her, but it was taking a great deal of effort.

"I may have to drag my own sorry carcass back to the shrine to add some thanks of my own."

At the party comment, she chuckled softly. I wish... I wish we could go home and celebrate that we were having twins as a family that was about to grow and was blessed with good fortune, rather than pretending something else.

She smiled, trying not to show her slight melancholy. "Hai... I feel like someone listened to my prayers this time, at least."

"First time for everything, right?"

He chuckled.

He wanted to take her hand, but...

"I'll have to ask the shrine keeper about which Fortunes would make sense. I'm quite bad at keeping track of them all."

I thank Benten daily for at least letting us meet.


How empty, how hollow my life would be if we'd never met.

She chuckled. "That's the truth. Well, worst case, Bayushi-kami? He'snot a Fortune, he's a Kami, but still. Scorpion twins."

"True enough."

He sighed happily as the mochi arrived.

"And in a pinch, I'll just offer a sort of generalized thanks."

She sighed. "For all the pressure, it's been nice here..."

With you.

"It will be a bit sad to return home."

"Yes, well, you never know. If they sensibly name you an Ambassador, maybe you can swing through again..."

Check on our investments.

"I'm certainly going to miss the Sunset Leaves."

When you're here.

"True... I think they've done very well with this particular teahouse," she agreed. "I also enjoyed the hedge maze."

Those two places were ours here.

"That hedge maze... I never did figure out the routes flawlessly."

I got to know it like the back of my hand. It was more genuinely intimate than the times we shared in your room.

"A puzzle I never tired of, though."

TWINS!

"It was nice to get a little lost in it," she replied, sighing happily. "... I wonder who they'll be? Male or female? Artisans? Bushi?"