Ukiyo - Chapter Six
~ * Six * ~
Arthur looked up and found Alfred waiting for him. They were at the theatre where they had ended the evening last time, so as to waste no time getting to where the action would be this evening.
From the light pitter-patter of rain, and the chill in the air, he could safely guess that it was neither summer nor winter right now. More like autumn, he realised, looking at the full head of leaves on the red and orange maple trees scattered around the edge of the island.
After taking in those few brief details, he looked back to Alfred, and saw the other in another wearing a magnificent red and gold kimono, and a brave mask on his face. A little stony from over-compensation, but Arthur couldn't blame him. He was a nervous wreck himself, and the only thing stopping him from letting his guard down for a second was the knowledge that Alfred depended on him.
They never knew when Kiku was watching; they had to pretend that this was any other night. As far as the kitsune was meant to know, Arthur still didn't know he was a spirit, because Alfred hadn't had the heart to tell him. And it was supposed to seem as if the two men were not yet so close as to leap into each other's arms at every meeting.
When in truth...this was it. The last night they would ever see each other.
And for Alfred it was even worse. He'd been through this before. For the third time in his life, Alfred believe this was the last night he and Arthur would ever spend together. And no matter how many times he went through it, it never got any easier.
"Good evening, Arthur," Alfred smiled, though his eyes were screaming at him in pain through the dark of the witching hour. "I hope you will enjoy the play tonight. It's a thrilling story we're putting on this time." Again, it was all for show. Kiku was probably watcing them from the shadows nearby, or a window, perhaps. They had to lie even amongst themselves to fool him tonight.
"I enjoyed the love suicide," Arthur said as he stepped foward to share Alfred's umbrella. "Or what I got to see of it, anyway. But it might be nice to watch something exciting and a little less tragic."
"Well, today's offering is the story of a legendary kitsune warrior, during a great war several centuries ago. Let me tell you what you've missed of the play so far and then I can take you to your seat. We have some special guests, too, so I'll tell you the right thing to say, or how low to bow, should any of them speak to you."
Arthur followed Alfred inside and up to his room, where they could set the plan in motion.
Of course, most of the work had to be done during the rest of the year, while Arthur was in purgatory. Poor Alfred had had to do it all alone, risking everything everyday with no support, just hoping and praying he didn't make a mistake.
But it seemed he had managed to get everything ready, and enlist all the help he needed without anyone turning him in to Kiku. For when they arrived in Alfred's room there was a kistune waiting for them. He was looked young, maybe even a teenager, and had only one bushy blacky tail sweeping the ground behind him. His face was a blank like Kiku's always was, but it didn't seem as cold and venomous as Kiku somehow managed to be. There was a vobrant sparkle in Hong's eyes, and Arthur felt hope swell in him that their plan might succeed.
"Arthur, this is Hong Li," Alfred said, voice sounding a little as if his heart was in his throat, though he kept it from spilling out.
"Thank you for helping Alfred, Hong-san," Arthur said with a low bow, sending the kitsune a look of thanks fromt he bottom of his heart.
"I don't care about helping Alfred," Hong said coldly, waving a hand non-chalantly in the air and quite surprising Arthur. "I just care about getting a chance to trick Kiku. I'm the best trickster of all the kitsune, and if I can fool Kiku, people will start to take me seriously and admire my jokes."
Arthur nodded dumbly, supposing that it didn't matter why Hong was helping so long as he didn't betray them.
"We don't have much time. Someone should be distracting Kiku now so he won't come near this floor for a while, but we can't take any chances. Hong, show us what you can do," Alfred said, interrupting them.
Hong nodded and scanned Arthur carefully, from head to toe. Then he closed his dark eyes, scrunches his forehead in concentration, and Arthur watched in sheer amazement as Hong's features simply melted into his own. It was like watching your reflection ripple in the water until it calmed and formed your face again.
He stared in shock, and Hong smirked at him. "Not many kitsune bother imitating yuurei. Kiku won't suspect a thing."
"Don't be so sure. Even when he has no reason to worry, Kiku is always suspicious and careful," Alfred said sharply.
He took a deep breath, eyes closed as he readied himself. Hong and Arthur exchanged a quick glance before looking back to Alfred as his eyes opened, bright and sparkling and ready for action.
"So Hong. You will come down to the theatre with me. Remember to keep staring at me lovingly all throughout the play," he said, with a quick grin at Arthur. "Kiku won't be able to sense that you are a kitsune in disguise, because the room is full of so many other beings and powers and auras. He will only be able to use his sight, and it will tell him Arthur is in the audience. If he gets close to you, then just trick him into thinking you are Arthur by acting like him. It will be tough but - "
"I can trick anyone! Kiku's barely even a challenge!" Hong snorted, arms crossed. "He may be a big shot in Yoshiwara and have contacts all over the place, but he's no match for me."
"Prove it," Alfred challenge, fixing his stare on Hong until the other was fired up and ready to take the challenge.
Alfred turned to Arthur, then, eyes flashing with worry for only a moment before he hid it behind a mask so natural it was hard to see.
"Arthur, you will sneak into Kiku's room and take his star ball. It's basically his soul and - "
"I remember," Arthur said, hand gripping his sword. "Kitsune have a star ball and if you can steal it from them, the kitsune must do your bidding."
Alfred nodded. "I've finally found where he keeps his star ball when it's not on his person, and I'm almost certain he will have left it there tonight. I've learnt that he doesn't like carrying it with him on nights when he joins the audience, because there are too many untrustworthy characters down there. It wouldn't be beyond many of them to pickpocket his soul right off of him and make him their slave."
Arthur shuddered inwardly at the thought of one of those ogres from last time being in control of his whole life. No wonder Kiku would keep it safe when they were around.
"Where is it? How will I find my way to his room?"
"It's in a small, black music box. I've found you a guide who can take you to it. She can go about undetected and has learnt the layout of the building very well so she can take you around quickly." Alfred paused for a moment, cocking his ear towards the thin paper door of the room. The three men stilled, but there was no sound outside in the corridor so they relaxed, but only slightly.
Alfred lowered his voice further and continued. "Some of her friends should be distracting Kiku now. We've never had such a large group of her fairy tribe visit before and he'll have to find ways to accomodate them.
"We must thank you, too, Hong," he said, turning to the kitsune, still disgusied perfectly as Arthur and making it a bit of an odd sight for the real Arthur to watch. "Not only for your disguise but for helping spread the idea amongst your tribe and family to come here tongiht."
"Adopted family," Hong interrupted quickly with a glare. It may have been strange but watching "himself" glare at Alfred was rather englightening for Arthur: he suddenly realised just why people rushed to obey him on board his ship. It was a very impressive glare he had.
"Hong's adoptive family is here and they are incredibly important in the biggest kitsune city over China," explained Alfred. "With such honored guests, Kiku decided to make it a grand event tonight, with a brand new play and everything, and he'll be distracted the whole time, if all goes well."
Arthur nodded, hoping and tension and despair and adrenaline battling it out in his stomach and making him wonder how being dead was any different to be alive. He still felt everything he felt when alive - heat, cold, pain, sadness, happiness - and still just as much fear for Alfred's safety as he ever did for his own life. Or more, apparently, judging from past experiences he couldn't quite remember.
"Now..." Alfred turned to Arthur after a moment of tense silence, and fixed him with a piercing look. Hong seemed to sense this would be an intimate exchange, and quickly looked away.
"Arthur. I hope this part of the plan will work. If not - "
"It will. I will see you after. Tell me what happens next," Arthur said confidently They both knew it was a ruse, and that they were each as nervous and unsure as the other. But they could at least pretend, just to make things easier.
"Get the star ball," Alfred said firmly. "If the music box doesn't open easily, just bring it with you. From the time I leave this room, you have exactly fifteen minutes to get to Kiku's room, find the music box, and get the hell away from here. I've organised a big fight to go off soon after the play begins, and I'll be whisked away to safety. I'll sneak away from there and join you at the shrine where your body is buried. Kiku will almost certainly meet us there soon. Now...if he manages to catch me before I can get to you..."
"Just hurry and you'll be fine," Arthur whispered, hands tangling in Alfred's hair and pulling him down into a long, sad kiss.
"We could try my original idea. Just bring the star ball to the stage and confront him there so I don't have to - " Alfred whispered hurriedly, eyes darting in torment and anxiety between Arthur's steady green gaze.
"We agreed last time that confronting him with other kitsune about might backfire. If there really are many of Hong's clan clan present, they might jump to Kiku's aid rather than let him handle it hismelf. And that really will be the end of it. We will be fine getting to the shrine. Don't worry, my love. I trust you."
Alfred nodded and planted a last kiss on Arthur's mouth, leaving it there to grow and give the English spirit the strength to succeed at his mission.
Arthur brushed his finger once through Alfred's shining hair that had first made Arthur look his way, and they stared at each other, trying to ingrain this moment in their memories so that they could relive it for the rest of their days after they were separated.
Suddenly there was a soft knocking on the door, and Hong opened it. Arthur was a little surprised to see no one there, until he noticed a flying green rabbit darting inside, wings fluttering at rapid speeds that mimicked Arthur's heart beats.
"You!" he exclaimed, realising it was the same flying bunny as before.
"Nice to see you again, Arthur," she smiled at him, nodding recognition (obviously not fooled by Hong-Arthur standing right beside her).
"It's time," said Alfred, and Arthur felt his heart crack.
With one last, desperate look at Arthur, Alfred was entwining his arm with hong, and the two of them were out of the door, smiling and looking at each other as if the world revolved around them.
The bunny floated over towards Arthur. "I'm sorry about all of this," she said, tapping a tiny paw on hs shoulder, supportively.
Arthur heaved a deep breath, then looked at her with eyes bright and determined. "It's quite all right. It wasn't going to be easy getting Alfred out of Kiku's clutches, so I appreciate your help. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name last time."
"Mint," she said. "At least that's the English word for it - in my language it's a bit different but slightly more unpronounceable for humans." She smiled briefly then fastened her beady black eyes on Arthur. "Come on then. Let's do it. For Alfred."
"For Alfred," Arthur agreed with a firm nod, and a tight grip on his sword.
They set off out of Alfred's room and Mint led him upstairs. They kept silent, but there was obviously no one about with such a big important show happening two floors below. Plus, Arthur knew Alfred would have gone to great lengths to make sure no servants were wandering around inconvenient places. He'd been working on this plan for two years, after all, and had plenty of time to orchestrate every detail. That wasn't today there would be no snags along the way, but, at the very least, Mint and Arthur managed to reach Kiku's room without mishap.
They slipped inside, sliding open the wooden frame of the paper door as quietly and gently as possible.
The room was a little less bare than Alfred's, but not by much. There floor was empty of any futon, and no table or chairs were to be seen in the large square space. All that stood on the tatmi were a dark mahogany chest of drawers, and a screen in a corner with beautiful looking designs painted over it. Though Arthur couldn't see too clearly in the dark od the unlit room.
Mint nodded towards the mahogany drawers, and Arthur crept after her, the flapping of Mint's feather wings the only only sound in the still, black room.
Sitting on top of the drawers were a mirror, an empty vase and a small, black music box, whcih looked like nothing more than a shadow in the dark.
Artur glanced at Mint and she nodded quickly. Arthur reached out, feeling almost as if he were moving in slow motion but feeling years of adrenaline rush through him at the same time. His hand landed on the lid of the music box, and he paused, waiting for Mint to urge him on.
"It's too easy," he whispered and Mint seemed to agree. She fluttered down to the drawers and perched on the shiny surface, which shone a little red in the light of the moon through the round window.
She sniffed around the black box carefully, brushing it with her whiskers and touching it lightly with her flickering nose only to flinch back quickly.
"I'm sure it has magic protecting it. I can't figure it out, though, my magic is very different to Kiku's. It's not keeping it locked but...I can't tell what it will do."
"Get behind me, then,"said Arthur, nodding back to the door of the room. "If it's a trap intended to kill the thief, it's best I open it. It can't harm me now, can it."
Mint nodded hesitantly and flew away to the door, hiding behind the framework and peering around carefully to watch.
Arthur placed both hands on the lid, and not letting himself dwell on it, flipped it open.
The inside was so beautiful that it took his breath away, and left him so completely entranced that he forgot he was meant to be scared, and in a rush.
Inside was a perfect copy of the night outside. There was a small island that appeared to be floating on crystal clear water. And it wasn't just a painting it ws real: real grass, real water, real tiny maple trees in reds and gold and orange. In the middle of the ring of maple trees around the island were a line of red arches which Arthur had seen often around Japan: archways to nowhere, two long legs and a simple frame on top stretching wide, all painted a bright, enigmatic red. At the back of the little line of miniature archways there was something made of stone, a little display - but it was too small to see just now and Arthur was still so busy looking at the rest of the scene he was qucikly distracted. Not only was there the island and the lake with its many flower lanters drifting across the water, but the sky actually rose above them. Arthur didn't know how the sky could be contained in a box, but it was, and there were clouds drifting across it, and even the full red moon hanging over the island.
"Arthur! The star ball! We need to hurry for Alfred!"
Arthur snapped back to himself at Mint's panicked voice.
But there was no star ball in here. Just a little shrine and the night sky tucked inside...
And the moon.
Now that Arthur looked at it closer it wasn't like the rest of the nimiature scene, was undoubtedly real, a whole world inside the music box. No, the moon may have been glowing but it looked more like a pearl suspended over the scene, and not a miniature moon made of rock.
Ever so carefully, Arthur reached in and plucked the pearl out of the sky in the box.
He could tell that this was it. Kiku's star ball, his very soul in Arthur's fingertips. Because from the skin brushing the smooth surface of the pearl, a heat, a sadness, a longing, an anger, all manner of emotions began flowing through his body. And finally they reached his mind, clashing together at once in a blast of colour and nosie and sensation, right in the centre of his mind...
And he remembered everything that had happened the first time he met Alfred, and all those days as they fell in love, and the night he had died.
"Where's the music?" Mint's voice reached him through his sudden waved of memories.
He brushed the tears out of his eyes, reliving all those emotions from the first time leaving him feeling a little weak. But as soon as the rabbit fairy's words registered in his head throgh the clamour of his new old memories, he was alert.
He hadn't even noticed, but as he turned to face Mint by the door that little fact clicked into place in his head. "It's a music box...but there's no music."
Mint stared at him, and at the very same moment, they both heard footsteps running up the stairs leading to the Kiku's room.
"The window!" Mint shouted, dashing forwards on beating wings as Arthur struggled to slide open the wooden frame.
They were 3 stories up, but Arthur had to tell himself he was already dead, and it didn't matter what happened to him now. So as Mint darted out into the night air, Arthur clambered ontop of the dark chest of drawers and leapt out of the window.
He could only clench his eyes shut as he fell through the wind that rushed up to meet him. He didn't know if it was his imagination or if he really could sense the grund getting closer.
"Arthur, I've got you!" Mint was calling at him, and suddenly he felt something touch his feet - something solid, and big. He could feel it under him and was compeltely disoriented - hadn't his his head been hurtling down to earth a second ago? But somehow, during his fall, he'd turned upright again, Mint had grabbed on to his collar with her teeth and had lowered him safely to the ground. There must have been some magic involved, too, but Arthur didn't have time to think about it ebcause Mint was zooming ahead of him into the trees behind the theatre and Arthur was following her. He was still confused, his head in the air, feeling like he was still falling, wondering if the world had turned upside down or if it was just him. He wanted to sit down for a moment and get his head back into gear, to be able to help Alfred properly. But right now, he just had to keep hold of that star ball clenched in his palm, and get to the shrine, for Alfred's sake.
Somehow, Alfred was already there, waiting for him.
It was precisely the scene nestled in that little music box. Surrounded by rustling maple trees, the scent of rain and damp dead leaves soaking the air, the shrine behind the theatre was truly beautiful, even if Arthur didn't understand what it all meant. Arch after arch, in one row so long that he couldn't see the end of it, marched off into the shadows further into the island. The vibrant red of the nearest arches were quite visible, but as Arthur looked down the path leading under the arches, it dissolved into darkness, looking like it led into a void. He had the odd sensation that if you followed that path, you'd end up somewhere quite different from the island or Yoshiwara.
"Arthur!" Alfred exclaimed, grabbing onto his shoulders and clenching the man's uniform in his fists. "Kiku just leapt up from his seat in the middle of the show and dashed off! I was so worried! I left the stage and ran straight here!"
"I don't understand, either," Arthur panted. "But we have the star ball."
He grabbed Alfred's hand and slapped the star ball into his palm, closing his own hands over Alfred's as they stared down at the connection, and then back up.
"You did it," said Alfred, looking more stunned than excited, but Arthur could barely blame him.
"Now undo it," said Kiku, appearing silently through the trees right behind Arthur.
He quickly moved to stand side by side with Alfred, hands still clasped together around the star ball. Mint darted over to hover by Arthur's side, and he was grateful for her sacrifice, her loyalty.
"I am disappointed in you, Alfred," said Kiku, though his voice betrayed no emotion at all, either disappointment or anger. "Using tricks and deceit to get what you want? So you don't think you even deserve to be set free? You don't think you have the right to get out on your own? Take back this foolishness, return the hoshi-no-tama and I shall forgive you."
Alfred's hand clenched tighter under Arthr's grip.
"I didn't want to trick you. I wanted to do it honestly, but this was the only way. You made me promise last time. I traded a lifetime in your service if you could bring Arthur back, and you bound me to that promise through your magic."
Arthur couldn't help but gasp and turn to Alfred in horror. Alfred had done that for him! It made him sick to think he might have been the cause for Alfred to be trapped here forever. That was exactly what he didn't want. What neither of them wanted.
"It was a mistake for me to make that vow, and you knew it!" Alfred continued, ignoring Arthur's gaze on him, but blushing furiously at his confession. "You KNEW Arthur would come back as a spirit, whether I made that bargain or not! Because his purpsoe was not fulfilled, and his soul is so strong. You were the one who tricked me into giving you my life for free, and now I've had to trick you to get out of it."
He glanced sideways at Arthur, needing a boost of strength from the spirit beside him. And Arthur nodded his encouragement, hope and pride bubbling in his chest even as they heard voices in the distance.
"We have your star ball, Kiku. You must do as we say," said Alfred.
"I do not take orders from ghosts," said Kiku calmly, looking pointedly at Arthur.
Arthur blinked at him, unsure if it was a trick.
"Fine, then your soul belongs to me, and I am your master now!" Alfred declared, head held high and standing tall and proud. Arthur could tell he was shaking on the inside, and that those voices in the backgroudn probably belonged to kitsune who were coming to Kiku's aid. But Alfred was a brilliant actor, and from the show of strength he put on, even Kiku was weighing him with a new light in his eyes.
The kitsune said nothing, but the way his ears twiched slightly, and his tails swept across the ground behind him with a gentle swish betrayed that he was nervous. Whether he was stalling until his kin arrived, or too scared to speak, or whether he couldn't say anything against the will of his new master, Arthur didn't know. But the voices were getting louder, and there seemed to be many, and they had little time.
"I command you to bring Arthur back to life," said Alfred, starign fixedly at Kiku.
"Alfred! NO! There's no time for this!!" Artur pleaded, tugging on Alfred's kimono as he turned wide, frightened eyes on him. "The other kitsune are coming! They'll overpower you and get the ball back! Do what we came here to do! NOW!"
Alfred didn't look at him, only stared at Kiku, who was smiling.
"Do as I say, Kiku. You must obey me," Alfred said, voice even, but chest obviously heaving under his loose red kimono.
"I cannot bring someone back to life," said Kiku. "But there are other things I could do to help yo. Let me tell you your options and you can choose which suits youbest, master."
"NO!" Arthur interrupted. He let go of Alfred's hand around the star ball, and grabbed the American's robes to drag him round so they were face to face. "Alfred. I will be with you, always. Now let me go. Don't let my death be for nothing. Set yourself free and get out of here."
Tears spilled out of Alfred's blue eyes and he couldn't look Arthur in the face. He hung his head and turned back to Kiku.
"Kiku. I command that you release me from my contract with you. Let myself, and Arthur's spirit, and everyone who helped us tonight, leave Yoshiwara unharmed. Do not ever come after us. Do not send or suggest or influence anyone to harm us on your behalf. Do not let your kin take revenge on us for what we've done to you. Let your existence never touch our lives again, nor those of people we hold dear. Leave us alone forever."
Kiku glared, and it was like ice. Form the darkness behind him, kitsune of every shape and size - some in human form, some as foxes creeping along the ground, some a bizarre mixture of both bodies - loomed out of the shadows. Their stares were like daggers, he could feel the wrath emanating off of them, and Arthur knew if Alfred had left any loopholes in his command, they would be dead already, and his spirit tortured in ways he couldn't even fathom.
Arthur dropped his hand and grasped Alfred's fist again as they stood side by side, staring down the army of kitsune, and Kiku at their head.
"It is done, master," Kiku said, the words grit out as if he were letting a foul poison slip off his tongue.
"Promise me that after I return your star ball, you shall keep that word. Obey the command I have just given you even when I hand back your soul," Alfred said firmly. In all his years dealing with Kiku and the supernatural kind, he knew their tricks. He had fallen for them last time he was trying to save Arthur's life, and he would not do it again. He would leave no pass, no possible way for these immoral trickster creatures to touch his life again. He was done with them.
"I promise you, Alfred F. Jones."
Alfred nodded slowly, jerkily, as if afraid to lower his head and let the kitsune out of his sight for even a split second.
"Excuse me if I don't trust you," he said. "I will be leaving now, and I'm taking your star ball to the gate of Yoshiwara. You can meet us there and I'll return it once I'm safely outside this damned place."
Kiku said nothing, but the kitsune parted in two leaving a path for Arhtur and Alfred to walk down.
Mint dashed to Arthur's shoulder and sat there, shivering.
Arthur couldn't blame her. They could only pass through the ranks of kitsune and pray Alfred's words and Kiku's promise was good enough.
Arthur squeezed Alfred's hand, and they shared a brief glance before setting off through the trees and the kitsune. Every face they passed gave them a look that pierced to their very core. Human faces, pointed faces, foxes snarling at them from the ground - faces that would haunt them in the future. Or would hautn Alfred, at least. Because once again this was the end for Arthur, and they must be parted soon.
Leaving everything behind, Alfred left the estate. Crowds of strange creatures were gathered outside the theatre, trying to catch the reason for all the commotion. Hundreds of eyes, from monsters and magical beings of every shape and size, watched them leave, with the army of kitsune filing after them like servants.
Alfred and Arthur stepped off the island onto the wooden bridge, and walked in silence. They knew the kitsune were behind them still: their footsteps were too light to be heard but their stares swere so heated they could feel them on their backs.
It was raining a little harder now, and Arthur soon found his hair palstered to his forehead, and his hands slippery wet over Alfred's. But they kept going, right up to the gates of Yoshiwara which opened for them on their own.
"Now I will give back your star ball," said Alfred, turning and facing Kiku finally. "But when I do you must all turn back the way you came and let me go in peace. Promise me. Even once I've given back your soul, you must obey that command."
"I promise we shall turn back and let you leave in peace," said Kiku.
It should have been so simple, but Arthur's heart was still racing in fear that they would be betrayed.
Alfred, too, looked hesitant, but he could not stand here staring down the kitsune forever.
So with a graceful arc of his arm, he threw the star ball to Kiku, and the two men and the rabbit fairy stood with baited breath.
Kiku caught the ball in his hands, and let out a sigh.
He looked up at the trio, and they flinched back in fear, wondering what he would do now.
But all Kiku did wa turn, sending a last glare over his shoulder as he was forced to leave, the other kitsune leading the way back to the island out of sight across the lake.
"They're gone," said Flying Mint Bunny.
Alfred nodded, but both he and Arthur waited until the last kitsune folk, with Kiku at the tail end, disappeared into the dark in the distance, before they finally turned to look at each other.
"You did it, Alfred," Arthur smiled. "You lef them no ways to sneak thorugh your commands. You're really free."
Alfred nodded once, tears welling up in his ears, looking red and painful in the that same moon Arthur had grown so used to seeing.
"Thank you for helping me fulfil my purpose," said Arthur, feeling his eyes sting with sharp tears, too. "I suppose..."
"Arthur," said Mint, bouncing off his shoulder to hover between them. "I don't suppose you knew, but I am a Rabbit of the Moon. I see what the moon sees, she shows me what people do when the world is at its darkest. And you managed to shine through."
Arthur didn't understand what Mint was saying, and by the look on Alfred's face he didn't quite know where she was leading with this, either.
She smiled at their bemused faces. "I saw you and Alfred the first time you fell in love," she said, eyes lighting up at the memory. "You forgot all those rules holding you back because you saw what was right and you did it. I saw you help Alfred become the man he was meant to be, and give up your own desires to make sure he found his. I saw you sacrifice yourself for Alfred when Kiku tried to kill him in a jealous rage. And I saw you come back every rainy night with a full red moon and do it all over again. You could have let Alfred bring you back to life tonight, but you didn't. You could have asked him to stay and remain a spirit with him, but you didn't."
"I suppose I'm a little selfish," Arthur smiled. Alfred frowned at him in confusion. "All I want is for Alfred to get his own life back, so I'll make sure I get that no matter what."
Alfred hung his head in grief, but Mint just laughed softly.
"Well, I couldn't promise anything earlier because I needed to know for certain. But I have all the proof I need from you Arthur. And now I just need something from you, Alfred."
"From me?" Alfred asked.
"If you can give me a bit of payment, and ask the right wish, I might be able to fulfil it for you."
"I'll give you anything you want." The words came tumbling out of Alfred's mouth in time with heavy tears that began to flow down his cheeks, dropping down through the cracks in the bridge and into the lake below their feet. He clutched Arthur's arms in hope and desperation and stared at Mint through the film of water in his eyes. "I'll give you anything, happily, if you can bring Arthur back to life."
Mint smiled at him.
"I want something that makes you special. Something that has been your life until now, something that you've cared for and cherished and which has helped you rise above everyone else. if you can give that up, I'll have everything I need from you, too."
Alfred reached down to Arthur's hip, and drew the sword of the scabbard resting at his side. "Alfred, no!" Arthur cried, fearing Alfred was going to do someting dramatic and dreadful.
But Alfred stepped away from the Englishman's grasp and swept the sword behind his head in one, swisssshing slice.
He pulled his hands from behind his head, sword in one palm and his long golden ponytail in the other.
"Perfect, " said Mint, as she stared at the ponytail. It vanished before their very eyes and Mint smiled up at them, ignoring their worried stares.
"I daresay your hostess friend is waiting for you at the gate of Yoshiwara with your bag, Alfred. It would be rude to keep her."
Alfred grabbed the rabbit out of the air, holding her gently but desperately all the same. "Is it - "
"See for yourself."
The fairy and Alfred looked to Arthur, and the American's eyes widened as he took int he sight of Arthur before him. Arthur looked down, not feeling any different...
But his navy coat was blue and gold once more.
He whipped his head back up to Mint, but her enigmatic smile was back, full force. Those supernatural beings could be helpful, but none could resist a good prank, even if it was a benevolent one.
"If you don't trust me, you'll just have to see for yourselves," she said, looking very pleased with herself. "But I wouldn't have any worried about leaving Yoshiwara now, if I were you, Arthur. Nor you, Alfred."
Still, neither man could speak, not even to manage a 'thank you.'
But somehow, Mint didn't seem to mind, happy to have left them both speechless, proof that her gift was really superb. "I have to go back to my tribe now. We must get back to the moon before she gets too high in the sky. I will make sure to see you seen, though."
She flew out of Alfred's weak grasp and fluttered up to kiss them both on the cheek. Before they knew it she was zipping away back across the bridge.
Arthur and Alfred stared at each other for a few long minutes, hands eventually reaching out to hold each other, both trembling and as sweaty as each other.
"We'll...we'll just have to see what happens," Arthur said, though he felt...he felt whole again. When he was a spirit, he had felt off, he'd known that all along so that when Alfred told him, it made sense. Now...he felt different. Maybe it was just knowing Alfred was free, maybe it was his heart beating for a reason in his chest again. Maybe it was both. All they could do, all either of them could do, was leave Yoshiwara and see what happened.
Arthur pulled Alfred closer by their clasped hands leant up kiss him. It was brief, but warm and soft, and Arthur hoped that he really was alive again so he could have more of those in the future.
"Come on, my love. Let's go."
They walked up to the back gate of Yoshiwara, which opened of its own accord as usual. And then, hand in hand, the two of them set off up Naka-no-chou, towards the front gate of Yoshiwara - where they would find out if they really had mde it this time.
Unbenknownst to them, it was already past 3 o' clock in the morning, and they had nothing to fear. They had made it out.
Together.
The end.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am fully aware that this story would be much better as a tragedy. But, honestly, fuck that. USUK brings me happiness and fills me with love COUNTLESS times everyday. Why would I taint that with sadness and loss and horrible things? People can write tragedies if they want, but I'm going to protect these babies and make sure they get all the happiness they deserve. I'm not writing this just for me, or potential readers - I'm also writing it for them, to give them a happily ever after. And I want them to be happy, so I'm not going to turn it into a tragedy just in case it might get more reviews. As long as my babies are happy, I'm happy. Sorry if you think Arthur should have disappeared into the mist or whatever. Just no. That's not how I roll here in Sunshine-and-Rainbows-Fluffy-Ever-After-Disney-Influenced-Sweethearts-Ville. (You can find us just south of Sugar Top Mountain, and west of La La Land.)
Historical Notes
Hong = Hong Kong. I know he has several human names, but I didn't know which one would fit well with this time period, so I made it Hong because I often call him that in my head as a shortened version of Hong Kong.
star ball / hoshi-no-tama = in Japanese folklore, kitsune do, indeed, have a star ball that is believed to be their soul. It grants them special abilities when they reach a certain age, so they guard it closely. If someone can steal it from them, the holder becomes a master to the kitsune and they must obey him/her. This is why getting possession of Kiku's star ball is Alfred's best bet for ensuring Kiku sets him from Yoshiwara.
a kitsune promise = Alfred makes Kiku promise to obey his orders even when he has given up the star ball. Kisune (and many other supernatural creatures) are notoriously tricky with their words. You have to be EXACT and leave no loopholes or obscurities or grey areas in your commands or wishes otherwise the supernatural creature will use that to screw you over in revenge for ordering them around. So Alfred has to be very careful and clear in his command that Kiku will never harm them again - either personally, or by getting someone else to do it on his behalf. He knew what he was talking about, after spending so long around Kiku and his kind, so his words will keep him, Arthur, Mint, Hong and all the others who helped that night, stay safe from Kiku forever.
rabbit of the moon = in Japan and China, they say there is a rabbit in the moon, not a man in the moon as we say in the west. (This was covered in a Hetalia comic and episode once.) So Mint's tribe are moon bunnies! She's a fairy, a yousei (like how England sings in his character song: "Yousei-san! Yousei-san! Ahaha-ha-ha!")
bringing Arthur back from the dead = I know it seemed lame, but in my research I found it written that the Japanese believed some fairies could bring the dead back to life. I didn't even make it up! It just worked so well - fairies can brign the dead back to life. It was PERFECT for Arthur!
Alfred's hair = cutting off your hair in Japan can often symbolise a new beginning. So it was very appropriate for Aflred to give that up at this point in time about to satrt his new life. Plus, fairies often ask for sacrifices in payment for various things, and Alfred's famous hair which had made him special all this time, was a classic sort of sacrifice. (You see hair as a sacrifice in "Howl's Movig Castle" by Hayaoi Miyazaki, too. In fact, a lot of his heroines end up getting a haircut a the end...)
the red arches = they're called torii, but Arthur doesn't know that
the music box = this AU (Japanese style !Alfred, kisune, etc.) is generally caled the music box AU, based on the name of the MMD that made it famous. So I had to get one in somewhere. There was no music in Kiku's music box because only he can hear it. When the lid opens, he hears the music in his own ears. That's why he rushed out fot he play so suddenly - he heard the music box in his ears and knew someone was trying to get his star ball.