In the garden

It had been two days since Enkai had formed a treaty with Ame in her palace.

On this evening, he had decided to stay back in order to ‘work through the finer details’ of the treaty.

Once that was done the media in both kingdoms would have to be alerted. He half dreaded what would happen when both kingdoms found out there was now peace-not real peace but an uneasy one.

                 Of course had had his own reasons for staying back longer than was called for. Enkai could now remember most of what happened in the other world-well half of it. He did not remember how they came here,nor did he recall the events before that. He did recall ,however, that Ame and himself were once….

He sighed heavily leaning against the balcony that held a view of the garden.  Jasmine, himself and Ame had sat together in one of the halls for luncheon that very day. Ame-though tired-was still every bit the woman he remember. Charming,sweet,graceful.

And yet not so the Ame he remembered. She was graver somehow,her face had lost some of his roundness. Her eyes previously would sparkle but they looked deeper. She looked more like a womanly queen than the young maiden he had fallen for two years ago.

And what made him stay was the fact that she had given him no indication that she remembered him too. It had been hard for him to look at her face and not stare. He kept expecting to find the eyes that he had adored so much  to look at him. Look at him the same way she had always used to look at him. But whenever she did it was a fleeting second-and it was just as a friend that she did so. He started pacing the room as it grew dark. He was angry at her-how could she forget him so easily?

And what had she gone through while he was not around? He remembered her screams from her fit and sat on the bed heavily.

Those screams of pain-her wails-they were clear as if it was yesterday. 

What in the world had happened? 

He remembered the panic and agony as he watched his healer take are of her and soothe her.

Enkai clasped his hands together in fear. He was worried about her,but she didn’t recall him. How was it that the love they had had disappeared from her head? He imagined sometimes that he caught a glimpse of quiet confusion on her face. But it was all in his head he knew.

Jasmine did not think so of course-When they had talked in the garden…

He smiled in spite of himself. Jasmine still believed Ame felt for him-somewhere in his heart. He wanted to believe her-he did believe her…but it hurt him seeing Ame look at him like a stranger , just a friend. After all they had meant everything to each other. And  after remembering all the time spent together he was at a loss on what to do. He had tried to make her remember-but she didn’t.

Was there really nothing he could do? He sighed as the light came on in his bedroom and restlessly went out to the balcony,leaning on the rail.

Really he thought to himself it wasn’t to be wondered at how beautiful the place was. It really did suit Ame in a way. Back home, he had gone through trouble to try and convince her that pretty things and garments were not the worst thing in the world. He had wished he could shower her with all the pretty things and clothes he saw on the courtesans and empresses in the paintings he saw . But now-seeing her in them-he felt that his old Ame had made a fair point.

 She had never been interested in things like that, the one thing she had ever loved to wear was the kimono he had got for her. She had looked like something of a rain sprite herself when she wore it. Now she wore expensive gowns and jewels to match. It made her look as beautiful as he imagined.

And unattainable. She looked less like his Ame and more like queen Ame.

Feeling the breeze on his face he dwelled on the irony that she was so near and yet so far away. How would he ever be able to win her back? This new Ame had skirted his advances and he had foolishly scared her to boot.What was he thinking?

He felt cross with himself. Even in the other world she had been shy to him even if she was kind.

Looking out on the fountain he wondered if she would ever remember.

Jasmine had remembered..so perhaps there was hope.

Wasn’t there?

He let himself out of his room,nodded to the guards at the entrance,informing them he was going to the garden  and went for a stroll. Ame had told him he could wander as he liked here and it was somehow soothing to breathe in the scents of the flowers here.It was chilly-Jasmine's garden had been filled with the smell of lily's and crocuses. Sweet,invigorating. 

Here however the air was musky and floral. 

 

He heard murmured voices up ahead and froze. Who could be about at twilight like himself?

Then he heard a giggle and recognized it immediately.

He grinned to himself and was about to stroll right up to the sound when he heard a deep chuckle along with the giggle. He stopped in confusion and heard the voices-Ame and someone else- a man-move slightly away. Before he could stop himself,he found himself walking very quietly towards the bushes and peering through the trees.

In one of the gazebos that was now lit with fairy lights casting a glow over the grass was Ame and with her…who? Enkai could not see his face Ame's hair was in the way-they were talking genially-as they sat down on the swing right in the center of the gazebo Enkai saw him.

General Tamahome?

But not Tamahome as he had previously seen him. Tailored blue-black slacks, the sword was at his side but instead of the usual regalia of chest armour he wore a silk shirt with two buttons artistically open. A loose orange ascot finished off the look along with shining styled hair.

Enkai was alarmed-and then saw Ame was also attired in a simple yet beautifully embroidered dress that shimmered slightly in the dim light. He heart beat faster

Was this a date?

He moved closer to hear what they were saying but he could only hear disjointed words as the swing they were seated on swung back and forth. Ame's hair was pinned up a glittering clip and it swayed when the swing moved. Enkai watched with some alarm at this date-in-progress . She shivered and Tamahaome smiled at her and - Enkai watching in amazement and horror-saw him drop his coat over her shoulders.

His jaw dropped.

That good for nothing loud mouthed weasel!

He was going to put a stop to this when he spotted Ame looking at his face ever sweetly and smiling at him.

He gawped. Why didn’t she brush Tamahome off like she had done to him?

Stunned he saw Ame take Tamahomes's hand in hers and smile up at him. 

It wasn’t possible…

All the fight drained out of him there and then.

Then it happened. Tamahome-smiling in a way that one would hardly think anyone would fall for-gently pushed her face up by her chin. Ame's hands still coiled around his hand actually snuggled to his side. The swing was still moving when Tamahomes lips brushed her cheek gently.Enkai saw Ames face turn to his-Tamahome's hand brush a tendril of hair from her face. He hovered his lips closely over hers for a moment. Then he pressed his lips to hers and wrapped his hands around her. 

 

Enkai was faintly aware that he had stopped breathing. The image of Ame-his..Ame- finding happiness in the arms of-Tamahome-of all people-made him want to yell,scream and electrocute the the man into a crisp.

He was faintly aware of his heart hurting.

She-doesn’t love me anymore.

The single thought reverberated in his head with the all the doom of a funeral bell. Abruptly he turned and stormed off to his room half angry half unseeing choking.

He lost her. 

He  had actually lost her.

 

The black wind

Yumemi spotted the unfinished game of chess atop the pedestal and remembered a conversation she had with Tsuke some months before. How he had described battle like a huge chess game and that only when all the pieces where in place would victory be assured. She went up and  examined the dusty chess board and realized the black queen piece was missing. Wheeling around she poked around his collection of metal and glass sorcery pieces till she found it. Secreted away in the back was the missing piece.

She grabbed it and examined it briefly-the queen piece was heavy and its crown glittered with gems.
           She placed it carefully in its place on the chessboard where it made checkmate with the white king. There was a grinding sound of cogs in the work and the chess board slowly moved outwards in an arc to reveal a deep recess in the pedestal. From within rose a black embossed dome carved with symbols Yumemi did not recognize. And she saw them shimmer for some time before she realized the symbols were moving over the dome. She gulped-these symbols looked very very old. But she steeled herself since she had to go through with her revenge. Thinking of Cameron and Crave made her feel angry again and she slammed her hand on the eye at the top of the dome.
                      The symbols stopped moving and glowed purple before a loud CRACK emanated from the eye splitting the dome in half. The halves retracted into the pedestal revealing a glitter from the hollow interior
Yumemi held her breath for a moment ..and saw a dingy old book with an black leather bound cover lying on velvet locked with a gold lock glittering with studded pearls. For a minute Yumemi looked at it with a sense of both awe and annoyance.
Seriously she could still not believe this mangy book was the dark tablet of power. Apart from its gold and jewelled lock it looked too frail and old to be considered worthy in her eyes.
Yumemi reached out to examine it but before she could a loud rushing wind blew through the room making her screech in surprise. When it had died down she saw the shadows in the room had blackened somehow more than before-and felt an ominous presence in the room.


“Good evening my precious Queen. How fortunate that you should come precisely when I require your-services”

Yumemi froze and saw a shadowy form walk out from the shadows of the bookcase. She knew that voice and a cold fear gripped her.

“Lord Cameron” she spat “You filth. You followed me!”

         Cameron smirked at her, running his hands through his unkempt hair. “Indeed. And how sweet of you to show me the place where the dark tablet of power is hidden. But Tsuke would be most disappointed after all the trouble he went through to hide it”
Yumemi who stood still with anger moved at the mention of Tsuke “Don’t you DARE dirty his name with you foul mouth you filthy son of a-”
“Uh uh uh no swearing my pretty mouthed queen. Especially since Tsuke and I are one now since he kindly lent me his flesh to move around in this realm-”
“DIE !!”
Yumemi screamed loosing all her power to fling a materialized black spear straight at this heart.
         Cameron stood calmly as the spear went through his chest with a sickening sound of metal on flesh. He raised an eyebrow at her heaving with rage and calmly pulled the offending item out of him.
Yumemi again felt cold fear engulf her as Cameron smiled wanly at her, examining the spear tip. 

“It appears without your shadowy counterpart, you don’t even have a chance of damaging me”.

                    He tossed the tip to the side before raising  a hand  so the shadows gathered from around the room. Waving his fingertips he coiled them around Yumemi and pinned her arms to her side, gagging her mouth for good measure. He then closed his eyes momentarily healing the wound before dusting himself off. Yumemi’s struggled and screamed through the gag uselessly and  Cameron walked forward  taking the book ,a triumphant look on his face. Feeling the leather that bound it before stowing it safely in his shirt, he flicked his hands and Yumemi twirled into a vertical position mid-air . Yumemi made even more struggles as  Cameron took a vial from his cloak and uncorked it . The vapor seeped into Yumemi’s nose till her struggles ceased and she floated limply ,her eyes fighting to stay awake.
           
       Cameron smiled at her and bent down to her ear and whispered ‘I hope you realize those symbols you broke could only ever be undone by a true mortal with the blood of Kuraizen’s royal running through them. If you-in your anger and recklessness and arrogance-had stayed put I would not have been able to open the seal let alone touch the sacred Dark book which is the source of dark power handed to you by the gods themselves.’
The oily voice slipped away as Yumemi felt true panic and foolishness-she was to blame-she had spoiled everything-

‘No’ she thought in a panic as her eyes drooped as tried to focus on Cameron’s face-it seemed to her that she could see Tsuke’s face marred with distress and disappointment as she fell into a deep slumber.
     
                Cameron looked at her unpityingly . Not surprisingly, the foolish girl had led her right to the tablet as he had anticipated. Tsuke’s mind was indeed very useful-it had helped greatly in analyzing her behavior . He held his hands out holding her bodily before commanding the shadows back to their place. As her thing weight settled in his arms he felt a speck of pity for her.
It passed quickly.
Her sleeping form would soon be tied up at the central palace. And he would contact Dorian to tell her he secured the dark tablet.

'It has finally begun' he thought swirling his cloak around him,clutching Yumemi and speeding through the door and its traps.

The sneak in the shadows.

An hour had passed before Lady Yumemi spotted the shades inside dim and got up from her hiding place gingerly. Her legs had cramped due to her sitting in the same spot for so long. Her cloak had stopped her from the cold but her face felt chilled. She slowly eased her legs out ,stretched and used her shadow form. The shadow form was a primitive form of dark magic-one that required deep concentration for novice users and was supposed to be a higher level form of dark-stealth magick. As Yumemi made her way through the archway-past the guards sticking to the shadows-and through the main hallway she recalled the training she had. It had been hard she though and made for  the furthermost room at the end of the building. She had not appreciated the tests-it felt like they were measuring her worth  through her dark magic powers-why weren't her governance enough for them? Though she had to admit-she never really felt in control since most of the government chose to keep her out of things they thought she was 'too young for'.
           She snorted at the memory as she made her way along inside the building.The same purple shades were hung everywhere ,there were whispers as agents met behind closed doors and along the hallways. Her footsteps made soft sounds against the black carpet but her clothes rustled too noisily for her liking. It would be easy to get caught but for hidden shadows in every part of the place. She passed wooden panelled halls lined with purple silk and black alike with statues of the the first black Widow agent Kumoha Bonde and his followers.
              Yumemi dodged each agent and flitted from shadow to shadow cursing as agents nearly stepped on her when she wasn't able to get out of their way in time. She peeked out around the next corner -checked it was clear-and then bolted for the second room door."Almost there!" she thought in some elation,although doubt had began to poke at the some of the anger she was experiencing.

Did she seriously want to kill Lord Crave?...He did deserve come up pence for his betrayal but death seemed too much.
Or perhaps too little. She wanted him to suffer the consequences before she decided what to do with him.

There was no doubt ,that the vile Dunlop was with him as well-she would have to contend with his interference.

                 And she didn't really know a way with which the dark tablet could make her a goddess,let alone the ritual for doing it. But the idea of being a dark goddess,beautiful,unmatched in rage and merciless was a temptation she loved to entertain.  The tablet was a powerful dark object ,heck she had held it with her own hands and felt its power pulse faint within.  She looked around surely,the moon filtering dimly through the window, before moving a lamp post alongside the wall. She screwed up her eyes-it was hard to tell in the dark and she traced her hands along the surface before she found what she was looking for. She grinned as her fingers brushed along the etchings of a black window spider hidden on a small stone in the wall. She placed her hand beside it for a few second letting her hand warm the surface.

                   Then a panel of wall no more than 6 foot height and 3 feet in length disintegrated itself beside the spider mark. Candles in brackets beyond lit the way up a hidden curved stairway ,gilt with bronze and black metal. Yumemi entered and turned placing her hand on a similar emblem on the inside of the doorway-the wall misted and formed itself back after her hand once again warmed it's surface. She hurried up the staircase passing both the first and second floor and breathed in some relief when she reached the third floor.
She also hated stair. She placed her hand on the wall near the spider emblem and opened the seal before entering the room and re sealing it-this time feeling the wall pulse under her fingers before she closed it. Entering Tsukes old getaway room-his bedroom of sorts-brought back memories of him in his life. His shoddy smile,his suffering though she hardly knew what it was to be taken over by your mind. Sometimes it did feel as though Tsuke and herself shared the same streak of insanity-when she told him that he has pushed her away,refusing to let her come closer. The place was just as he left it.Moonlight filtered through the only where a hammock acting as his bed was strung .

            A metal bookcase filled with every book imaginable-old ones new ones-some with leaves of pages sticking out and figurines. Shelves containing glass and metal bottles of poisons Tsuke used in his spy and necromancy  work. Tsuke had placed a huge round mahogany table in pride of place near the near place on the opposite side of the room .  A chessboard with a game still in play lay upon it.The fireplace was made of stone,beautifully carved and still contained a pit in the middle where Tsuke used to make his preparations for spells he did in secret.
If she remembered correctly the tablet could only be got if one proved themselves in the versed ways of dark magic...although she did not know what that meant.

Lady Yumemi's plan.

“Run!run! " screamed the voice in Yumemi's head.

'I must make sure that he never gets the tablet! He must NOT get my tablet! I WILL not allow him to have it! The dark tablet of Kuraizen is mine to protect and he will never get it!'

Yumemi has managed to get away from Jasmine's suffocating confines in Kina. She had made her way with some trouble to the Kuraizen border with a stolen horse from Kina.

Where she was met with a border patrol who asked for her papers.

        She was so angered that  she could barely control herself from cursing him into next week Then she let the horse into the nearly wastelands and  snuck into back of a travelers van . When the border patrol searched the caravan she hid under a sheet and hid in a corner shadow .Safely across the border,she allowed herself to travel a few more miles in the van before it turned and she jumped off hurriedly  She had nearly tripped in the process and cursed before regaining her balance. The chill weather blew round her thin arms and legs and she wrapped her cloak around her more tightly. Clearly the frilled dress gave her no protection but her feet were relatively warm in their small boots.Scuttling to the side of the road,Yumemi started along the road ,recognizing it in the light that came from the dying sun , as the main road to enter the central kingdom.

Yumemi's thought were hurried and anxious at the thought of what Lord Cameron would do with the tablet if it was in his possession.

She meant to tell Queen Jasmine-she wanted to so much-but something had stopped her.

She didn't even know why she hadn't told her. It had felt like a strange sense of home when Jasmine had rescued her,had petted her.

Lying on her lap allowing Jasmine to stroke her hair-she felt like she was safe.

Like family.

It scared her.

How could Jasmine BE like  family? It was absurd.

Jasmine was like a beauty,royal and so open hearted.

She on the other hand...a misfit,cursed.

Utterly alone.

Right?

It scared her to feel so safe. Every time she had felt safe,something horrid happened.

She realized this when her anxiety had got the best of her in her bed at the Kina palace..

'What if he did find her? What if he found the tablet? Would he come after her?.' 

She realized if he did come after her she was putting everyone around her in danger.

She was putting Jasmine in danger.

That thought hurt her and her face felt red with anger and regret. She did not want to feel like this..she hated that Jasmine made her worry for someone else beside her own welfare. She had to be ruthless and Jasmine had somehow seen right through her.
It wasn't right. 

She didn't want to feel helpless which is what she felt when she was around Jasmine.  

'No..first find the tablet...make sure it's safe...'

The tablet meant more to her. Her best friend Tsuke...her only friend, had died trying to stop Cameron coming back into this world. 

'He had been a fool.' she thought savagely to herself.
After what seemed like an hour ,the capital kingdom came into view and she broke into a run. Clutching her cloak close to her and hooding herself she felt her skirt swish and stick to her knees. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she ran,her breathing started to get ragged. The sky was turning to a deep black blue-perfect cover for sneaking past any nosy soldiers that dared cross her. When she saw the guard posts she slowed to a trot and crept into the stray shadows that had formed over the grounds. A line had started to form at the  circular guard posts which bore the emblem of the Kuraizen kingdom.
This creeping around was irritating her...without faithful Shadow she could only cower and hide and cast minor illusions,instead of allowing Shadow to take care of the vermin that dared to cross her. She wondered vaguely if Shadow was alright but then checked herself. Shadow was fine when she acted alone her time in the forest proved it. She only hoped Cameron did not follow Shadow . Silently  she crept near the line and hid in the shadow of a rider and horse . The pair seemed to creep along the line and Yumemi's patience wore thin. The horse did not smell to great and it stamped it's hooves annoying her.
Ugh if she had Shadow she could cross this border and kill anyone who would stop her...
But no she realized-if she did that it might alert that menace and she wanted to make sure she did not cross him. Cameron's power scared her-he had shown her a taste of his true power and fear filled her as she pictured his face.

No..he must not be allowed to get the tablet-the chaos it would cause.

  She had a sudden mental image of Jasmine lying dead upon a rock,lifeless eyes, pale skin cold, hair fluttering in a cold breeze.

Never to walk again.

'No!' she screamed in her head.
'Next!' cried the guard and she nearly sighed in relief. The minutes passed as the guards inspected the rider on either side lazily. Yumemi  pressed her lips together in frustration as time seemed to stretch-and then finally-''You may go through'
Yumemi sighed in relief as they passed through and she looked about her with growing confidence-she was here-practically home-but she still had to be careful. As soon as she was clear from view of the gates she bolted to a nearby building shadow. She composed herself for some minutes ,composed herself and calmly walked along the pavement. She did not let her hood fall but she let some air penetrate the folds-the cloak was stuffy.
Guards seemed to be everywhere and remembered that elections had been held.
She smiled smugly to herself

'Cameron cannot take my queen ship the whole populace will rise against his foul deeds'.

She walked along the stoned path of the main city and she slowed her when she spotted a small crowd. It was gathered around a glass plaque that  hung in the light of a dim streetlight. Curiosity peaked as she heard her name mentioned faintly and she again held her cape and cloak to herself and edged towards them. Most of the populace also wore capes and scarves-the chill winds of evening brought about warmer attire in winter. She heard snatches of conversation that confused her.
'New governance'.
'New major of the kingdom'.
then
'Lord Craven'.

She froze- Craven? Impossible!-That sounded a lot like him . She remembered the cowed figure in the chair who had tempted her. When she finally got close enough to read the plaque ,she was horrified by the text of  bolded letters.

'New Mayor of Kuraizen capital,Lord Crave,according to the council held by himself and the Lady Yumemi has imposed a curfew and strict vigilance upon this capital and the entire kingdom. Citizens are ordered to produce papers of their loyalty wherever the the authority asks.'

It had a seal on it-HER seal.

Yumemi stood in shock for a spilt second before anger swelled inside her head and inside her heart. She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into the flesh.

'That-that..that worthless piece of filth' her mind uttered and she could have choked in anger.

A Seal.-HER ROYAL SEAL?! HOW DARE HE!

She would kill him...she would KILL him..Crave....Lord Crave..MAYOR OF HER CITY?!!!

'He must die' she thought viciously.

She nearly ploughed into an old man in her haste to leave and made a beeline for the House of the Black widow. Her anger grew-Crave would die for this betrayal. He had taken over HER city...HER kingdom...was using HER seal to impose a curfew?! And keeping stock on the loyal ones using paperwork??!

She must find the tablet-and she would USE it-she would assassinate Lord Crave..and then perhaps she would try becoming a goddess and lay waste to that Sadistic pile of garbage called Cameron-she would take the tablet and use its power to ANNIHILATE him to the bowels of hell.

Her anger was so much that it seemed a mere few minutes to get to the Black Widow sanctuary. Even MORE guards were here but since it was night fall she again closed her cloak and vanished into the shadows that surrounded the spiral turreted buildings. It felt easy to cross the high metaled wall,covered with spikes as it was. Clutching at these was child's play-she had snuck in once as a dare from Tsuke and he had been very angry. Not only had she surmounted the iron wall,but she  had gone inside and come out again with the vice head's dessert spoon which bore his seal as proof. She climbed atop the wall albeit as a shadow form but luckily the guards head turned and she slipped to the other side.

All was quiet in the House of the Black Widows. 

The the bare ground at her feet made no sound as she spotted the entrance-luckily the house of the black widow kept lamps dimly lit at certain witching hours.  A oval of pillars in black stone bordered the entire place. Thus she found a pillar and rested in its shadow waiting for the time when the lamps would dim. It would be useless to go in when the purple light lamps were bright,the black widow spies were very very good at their job. She smiled and thought to herself ,

'Lord Crave..Master Cameron..I will dispose of you and will perhaps use the tablet to take over ALL the land...and nothing either of you can do can stop me'

Character pictures

Queen Jasmine of Kina

Lord Haruka of the House of Nexus

Queen Faina of Aurora Kingdom

Lord Enkai of Ashenvale

 

Lord Medivh of Earth

 

Young Lord Tadayoshi of Nexus

 

Lord Cameron And Lady Dorian of Dark and Earth respectively

Queen Yumemi of Dark Kingdom

 

Queen Ame of Mizutenrai Kingdom

Chance Meeting

I sat on the balcony in the room Ame had provided us and looked out over her garden. It was beautiful, especially in the late evening with the sun setting beyond the borders of her country. Although the scene in front of me was the last thing on my mind.

'She didnt remember'. I frowned as i went over the meeting in my mind.

She was the same as Yumemi. They had completely forgotten everything. There had been no recognition at all when Ame set eyes upon me. I shuddered a little, and wrapped my arms around myself.

"Jasmine."

Hearing my name brought me out of the daze i was in only to realize the sun had set and the only light in the distance was the stars shining. I turned to see Dion, again with his worried expression. He cared so much for me and all i could do is make him worry.

"Yes?" I asked quietly.

"Its getting cold out so maybe you should come in. Maybe get some sleep." He says coming towards me.

I just nod and move towards him. But instead of letting me pass him he grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.

"I know there is alot going on in your head Jasmine. But please if there is anyway i can help you let me do so."

I look up and all i can do is nod. For a moment everything seemed alright. I had a place i belonged and finally remembered who i was. Maybe noone else did, but i could and would make them remember our past. And once we all remember the war would end and we would all have a place. I doubt we could ever go back to Japan but a part of me knew that noone else would be willing to leave this land. This was where we belonged. I pulled myself free from Dion.

"I am going to walk around the palace. Perhaps maybe i can run into Ame and talk to her more privately than we were able to do this morning."

"Do you want me .... " Dion started before i cut him off.

"No i shall be fine. Kina is at peace with Mizutenrai. Nothing shall happen."

I made my way out of the room and headed down a long hall. The palace was decorated as to exume a calming presence and i couldnt help but think that it suited Ame very well. I walked aimlessly until i found a set of stairs. Something was guiding me and before i knew it i was in the garden. I smiled a little and went to find a bench to sit on by the fountain in the center. What i saw there shocked me and made me freeze in my spot.

Enkai sat there deep in thought, as i had been not to long ago. He had a sad expression on his face and my heart ached at the thought of his sadness.

"Lord Enkai it is quite a surprise to see you here."

He looked at me and stood quickly. He smiled for only a second and his eyes lite up before his expression changed to calmness. It was like he was trying to hide back joy to see me. It looked like for a second the expression he gave me after chasing Yumemi and I down after we fled the city.

"Please dont be so formal Jasmine. We agreed to that at least."

He smiled but it was forced. His eyes were sad and i wanted to make it go away.

"Yes we did agree to that Enkai. So tell me, what brings you to Mizutenrai?"

"A peace treaty with the queen. After the last battle ... " He sentance trailed off while he took a moment to compose himself. "The war must end."

He ended it bluntly. He was hiding something from me.

"Enkai, if i may be so formal, what is troubling you so deeply?"

He sighed and shook his head. It only took him a minute to decide to confide in me.

"Ame doesnt remember." He said sadly sitting down again.

Everything froze. My heart stood still and words spilled from my mouth before i could stop it.

"Remember what?" I spoke the words cautiously

"Me .... or the sakura trees .... or japan." He looked up and smiled sadly. "But i am sure you have no idea what i am talking about."

I couldnt control myself at that moment. I fell to my knees and the tears started falling freely. I covered my face with my hands and they were wet with tears in a second. Before i knew it Enkai was on his knees beside me pulling me close trying to comfort me. He had no idea what had happened.

"Jasmine please stop crying, whats wrong?" He seemed panicked

"You remember too. Noone else does. I found Yumemi and she didnt even remember me. I thought i was all alone. I couldnt make anyone else remember no matter how hard i tried."

Everything spilled out between the sobs. And the more i spoke the closer he pulled me. He was shaking as much as i was by the time i had calmed down. Once i stopped crying Enkai helped me to my feet and he smiled at me. A true smile, the smile i had seen hundreds of times in all our years together.

"Im glad to have you back Jasmine."

"Me too." I smile back wiping tears away.

We started talking, reminising about Japan. The night passed quickly and neither of us noticed.

Confession

A very flustered Ame came down the hallway after a long meeting with Enkai was finally over. She sent a messenger to Emiya with the documents for the treaty and found only her guards waiting outside for her. Even Entei had left due to his captain duties. She rounded a corner and nearly crashed into Tamahome who was also coming her way. 

"What's the rush?-" he chuckled with a raised eyebrow "The world doesn't end for the next couple of millenia at least you know"


"Sorry Tamahome " Ame said adjusting her tiara "The meeting's done-I told Emiya to draw up the treaty-he must be happy"

"Wow ,sealing two country's fate took the pair of you sometime...but is it me or is that his royal ingeniousness makes you want to run and puke too?" Tamahome grinned.


"Well the sealing wasn-what was on his ..mind...um..well .in a manner of...speaking. " Ame said with some trepidation.


"I don't find that hard to believe coming from the man who reputedly prefers virgins over dessert ...so what  was on his mind could you enlighten me?" Tamahome said taking  a step closer and looking directly into Ame's eyes with some suspicion.

Ame leaned closer quietly and said in a low voice "Can we talk about this in some room and not in the hallway where myriads of servant eyes and the like are watching?"


Tamahome did not look pleased at that. "So I am guessing whatever was on his mind is less saintly and preachable than the Holy priests words in the temple? Well fine-please let us go to your boudoir. I can't wait to hear the reasons for which I will kill him in the near foreseeable future"


Ame rolled her eyes and pulled him into a nearby room,one that served as a spare room for dining. Sheets hung over most of the furniture although some of the window seats were not covered. The air was slightly musty from non use. She locked it with her bodyguards on the other side(who she noticed exchanged a look with each other before she closed the door).
 
 Ame paced to the window and said "He thinks I'm lying to him when I told him I didn't recall my memories " and she pouted puzzled by Enkai's behaviour.


Tamahome crossed his arms "Hmm..I wonder if that is a kill worthy reason" Ame cracked a smile and he said "Oh well,since you did not provide me with a suitable reason I think I'll just kill him because I hate the color of his coat ." Ame burst out giggling and Tamahome smiled. He then gave Ame a serious look "Well on a more serious note pay no heed to what that fool says .While why he thinks you would bother to lie to him about your mental health is an  attribute to that deluded notion that he has." Ame looked confused at this 
"You know about the whole solar system and every female in it-all being there for the sole purpose that is him" He said tartly rolling his eyes.

 Ame giggled again and said "I wouldn't,except he genuinely looked like I broke his heart when I told him " She pensievly looked out the window "I mean,why would he care? Even though he has been flirting with me. But he looked so serious when he asked about my memories. Like,well I don't know as if they were important to HIM. Any guesses why are beyond me" Ame said with wrung eyebrows her fingers tracing shapes on the window.

"He genuinely looked distressed? " Tamahome asked annoyed and raised his eyebrows further "Aren't you sympathising a little bit too much? Where is that little otter creature that always tailed you before anyway ?Occupy yourself with him not this Lightning flirt. Ame, he just looked serious-you may believe his sincerity when he drops dead .At all other times please remember the guy is a nonchalant impenitent rake" Tamahome stepped closer and wrapped his arms affectionately around Ame's waist.Ames eyes widened at this daring move on his part-he usually acted more proper than this. She tried to laugh it off.


"My fox cub is with the maid I can't have it tailing me in a meeting " She poked him pointedly "Impertinent he may be but I don't sympathize for no reason-I'm TELLING you something is up. I wish I knew what...though it is suspect he came after Jasmine came to the kingdom."
She paused at this and said thoughtfully "You think he likes her?"
Tamahome looked mischevously at her and said "To put it in the nicest possible way : he likes anything vaguely female and preferably untouched so my answer is a) : yes could be..who cares? and b)what are you doing for dinner tonight? "

Ame giggled and then stared at the mischevous look on his face.He was being serious.
"Hold on. WHAT?! YOU..EH?" She found herself stuttering in a not-so-royal manner that Emiya would have killed her for but she hardly cared " Did..you just..ask me.out? On a..dinner date?"

He smiled genealy "Yes.Are you free? "

Ame's mouth open and closed like a fish out of water  and she stuttered again "I-I -That was direct! Since when did you become so-bold?" She stared up him ,blue hair,green eyes and all and was very aware of how warm his arms felt around her. She remembered how much in love with him she was-but this? She didn't expect THIS-it was straight out of the blue!

He replied "Since I realized I might have competitions for you attentions ....aaaaand
Ame was so stunned at this she burst out giggling again "That General was corny..oh so corny"  and she continued giggling and poked his chest again.
" Oh? perhaps some sort of guarantee is in order "
Tamahome abruptly dragged her face in and kissed her deeply.  Ame's head instantly blanked out and her eyes closed. It seemed nothing had prepared her for how delicious a kiss-and a sudden one at that-from him would feel. She leaned in and felt him smile into the kiss and he held her tighter. Her heart started to yammer in her ears.And as sudden as he kissed her he retracted ,loosening her waist. She opened her eyes (wait when had she closed them?) and blurted " I'm free?"

He laughed at her ,pleased with himself and his pleasure increased when he saw the scarlet blush across her face "Ha!-well now you are"
Ame felt indignant and peeved said "Oi show some respect I'm the queen!"
Tamahome smirked and said "Hmmm ,not now for now you are the woman that I uhh...well the woman that I dont want to see in the hands of that rake .You have exactly two seconds to choose now : you're options are yes....or yes" Ame gawped at him and then "Ooops,time's up! See you tonight then and take care to be punctual. We dont want the queen to be setting a bad example now do we ?" He dropped his arms and sailed away to the door . Ame's jawdropped and she spluttered 
"Wait hold it!I never-Tamahome GET BACK HERE!" She yelped as he unlocked "Wait! did you just confess to me?!! Damn you DO IT PROPERLY!!"
He opened the door and exited ,not bothering to look back and only a wave in acknowledgement that he had heard her,saying "Dear madam, if you want to interrogate me, I'll be at your service tonite at 10 sharp. "
Ame stared at the now closed door light hearted, stunned and properly confused. she thought dealing with Enkai would be a puzzle-now she had someone else to wonder on too.