The Problem with Parallel Paths

Miscellaneous

Now that his newest guest had been settled in, Lord Aotsuki Tsukamoto opted to use what remained of the night to meet with his wife. Their shared chambers seemed slept in, but were empty when he arrived at them. Curious, Aotsuki followed a low sound and soft light down the halls to Ōtsu Castle's main meeting chamber. His wife was inside. Aotsuki could hear Tokku-hime's voice, but he wasn't able to place just who she was speaking to.   He could have stood outside the door and eavesdropped, but what kind of husband and lord would do that in his own castle? Aotsuki slid the door and stepped inside.

Of all the companions for his wife to be entertaining, Aotsuki hadn't expected to see Tokisaki Hikaru sitting within. The chipper priestess' identity was a bit of an open secret. Still, she had obviously snuck down here from Takamagahara against Izanagi-no-Mikoto's wishes, so Aotsuki took the prudent path and did not openly acknowledge the divinity in his midst. His Sheele were less subtle. Kagami, Tama, and Tsurugi all gathered happily around Hikaru. They were obviously comfortable and content, as though reuniting with a beloved old relative. That probably wasn't far from the truth of the matter, in fact.   Aotsuki politely greeted his wife and unexpected visitor. He filled them in on his strange experience of the morning so far, and how he'd managed to catch a bit of sleep at least, if unintentionally. More importantly, he was curious about Hikaru's presence in his castle. She was welcome, of course. Absolutely. But the sun did not simply descend from the heavens for no reason.   Indeed, Tokisaki Hikaru had word from Amaterasu, a task for her Champion. There was something happening at Mount Myōjin. Something bad. Aotsuki hadn't heard of the place, although Miwa-myōjin was a bit more known to him. To his surprise, Hikaru didn't recognize that in turn. Perhaps there was a reason that particular temple was hidden deep underground. Regardless, the town of Ustunomiya, in the shadow of Mount Myōjin, was in a crisis. Whatever was bothering them happened at night, away from the eye of the sun, so Amaterasu could not actually pinpoint the problem. It was dire enough that they were praying to the Sun Goddess daily, however.   There was a temple there, in Utsunomiya, that would welcome Aotsuki. He agreed, of course, to travel there and look into the matter. It was his duty as Champion, not to mention that he would be driven to lend his aid regardless. Hikaru seemed plenty pleased with that response, then excused herself about as quickly as she'd come. It wouldn't do to remain on Earth, after all. Last time she had braved the Heavenly Bridge like this, the sun almost hadn't come up in the morning.   Aotsuki fondly saw her off, then returned to his wife. Matters of the gods were not within her particular expertise, so Tokku-hime had been waiting patiently for Aotsuki to finish his meeting with Hikaru before she spoke again. Before she could, however, her husband surprised her by producing a carefully-wrapped parcel from behind his back. The gift was unexpected, but more concerning to Tokku was the gleaming golden arm that held it. Before pleasure, there was worry in her eyes.   This was what Aotsuki had been dreading, at least a bit, but he pushed on bravely. First, he flexed the golden arm, wiggling his digits around to show that it functioned just as well as the real thing. Then, Aotsuki told the tale of how he had come across it. From their departure at Baharna to the battle and the black sun within the Sunken City, he laid it all bare. Tokku listened patiently, and was relieved at least that her husband was safe after such a dangerous experience.   Doubts now assuaged, Tokku finally returned to the gift Aotsuki had brought her from the Dreamlands. The princess' eyes glowed as she lifted the glazed vase from the packaging and beheld the beautiful mosaic upon its face. Within his chest, Aotsuki's heart swelled. She obviously loved it. Indeed, Tokku was amazed at just how good of a gift it was. She hadn't known Aotsuki was even aware of her love of pottery. He could hardly have done better, it seemed.   As she carefully set it aside, however, there was something ever-so-catching in Tokku's tone. A tinge of regret, or perhaps guilt, wound between her words of thanks. Aotsuki's wife was remorseful, it seemed, that she couldn't do much for him in return. Certainly, she had her work with the Suitengu Society, but that was bureaucracy. It never seemed too vital in the grander scheme of things.   At first it seemed as though she was simply bored. Thinking quickly, Aotsuki offered to take her to Ryūgūjō, that castle she had once dreamt of beneath the sea. Tokku was open to the idea, but it wasn't quite what was bothering her. Now, Aotsuki caught what he wished he'd noticed before. His wife was struggling to find a way to really make a difference, to aid him; a true purpose that would bring her more in line with the change her husband was creating in the world.   Like a key turning in a lock, Tokku seemed to realize at the same time just what she was pining for. The two were tuned to the same frequency now, and immediately set about figuring out just what Tokku could do to make a difference. Part of the issue, as Aotsuki determined it, was that things were still largely the same as they had been when she had joined him in marriage. Certainly, the Aotsuki Clan and Suitengu Society were bound together now, but both had more or less gone on without overly affecting the other. They were parallel, rather than integrated.   He pitched his idea. Perhaps the Society and those in Ōtsu Castle could get used to working with each other more. If they brought some individuals from the Biwa Abyssal Fifteen up to the surface and sent some of their own generals to help out in the lake, it would help to start building a real bond between their two organizations. A bond forged in action, rather than on paper, would be all the stronger for it. Tokku took to the idea immediately. Hesitant though she might be at times, she had a true mind for organization. It wouldn't be entirely without difficulties. Some of the Abyssal Fifteen, like Yajji and Yamma, simply did not work well with others under the best of circumstances. The place to start, she proposed, would be to look at each general's capabilities and break them into groups where they could naturally complement each other.   Aotsuki was delighted. He'd just been brainstorming, but to see his wife pick up the idea and run with it, he was sure that he'd hit on something. With an agreement that Aotsuki would be available for questions and edicts as needed, Tokku-hime got to work.