Act VI: What Does Destiny Possess? A week passes. Naitsuu's mother grows very fond of Aritsune and Keiji, especially Aritsune. She invites them to stay as long as they like, and they choose to accept the offer for awhile. Naitsuu, Akari, Aritsune, and Keiji have become a close-knit group of friends. It is the morning of Naitsuu's birthday. He wakes up to find that Keiji and Aritsune have already awakened. He gets dressed and leaves his room with Yamaneko. He finds his mother making breakfast. "Good morning and happy birthday, Naitsuu!" says Aritsune at the table. "Good morning." "Aritsune and I are sorry we have no present for you," says Keiji. "We can only offer are friendship." "That's good enough." Naitsuu's small village plans a small celebration for that night. Something simple like another fire and dance. He receives little gifts here and there from those closer to him, but he does not care what they are. That afternoon, when he gets some free time, he heads to the shrine with some gardening tools. Ever since his vision, Naitsuu has been obsessed with fixing the shrine and discovering more, but has yet been unable to have any vision when there. He often goes during the week by himself to work and concentrate. He is there working for nearly two hours before he decides to take a break. He takes a drink of water and sits down to meditate. In silence he sits concentrating, but again, no vision comes. He is suddenly surprised by a tap on the shoulder. It is Akari. "I have not seen you all day, Naitsuu." "Oh, hello Akari." "Hey! Happy birthday!" "Yeah, thank you." "Did you get anything special from anyone today?" she asks while sitting down next to him. "Nothing too much, but it does not matter," he answers. She then says coyly, "I have something special for you, Naitsuu." "What?" She puts her arm around his neck and catches his eyes in her own. She moves closer to him. She is just about to kiss him when he quickly shies away. He stands up and goes back to work on the shrine. "What is the matter?" she asks while picking up a tool to help out. They both start working on weeding the overgrown dragon ‘island'. "I do not want that." "Want what?" "That!" he says sharply. "I do not need to have this happen to me right now." Akari looks a little too concerned, "What is it, Naitsuu? What is the big problem with ‘this'?" "You. You are going to cloud my mind," he says angrily but then calms down. "It is not you, it is me. It is that if I let this go any further, my thoughts will be on you, and not on my training. What if I were to get in a fight again. Would my concentration be there?" "I can not answer that for you. I am going to leave you alone. I would suggest that you stop working today and spend more time thinking about this. It could affect your whole life." She places the tool back where she found it and leaves Naitsuu. He stands around confused, doing nothing. Finally he just tosses the tool he has to the ground and collapses, not crying, but fiercely upset. He thinks to himself, Why must she do this? Be in my mind? I need to be able to stay focused. I need...what do I need? He folds his legs and starts concentrating just on what he thinks he needs. He draws mostly a blank until his mind is too tired to think anymore. He lies on his back, eyes still closed and feels the wind brush his hair across his face. He slowly sinks into the darkness in his mind until he seemingly wakes up. He looks around him, the place is familiar, but not exactly as he remembers it. It is his village, but almost completely burnt to the ground. He notices he is on a hill looking down at it. He runs as fast as can. Once he reaches the entrance, he dodges behind the remainders of a house. A group of Imperial guards are grouped in the center of the village, Naitsuu listens to what they say. "We believe there are no survivors, sir." "Are you certain that he did not make it out alive?" "Yes, sir." "How about the other one?" "Chances are unlikely, sir." "Good job. Now let us go home and report to the emperor." "Yes, sir!" The guards march out of the town and Naitsuu comes out from his hiding spot. He walks to the center and looks around. Everything is either burning or already burnt. The tavern, the flower shop, the houses. First, he heads to his own house. He sees his mother's koto and remembers how she use to play it to him as a child while both his parent's sung to him. He also catches a glimpse of a small toy ball that is Yamaneko's that Akari knit for him. That brings his attention to her. He leaves his house and heads to hers. Her house is in the same state. The only thing recognizable is a broken vase on the floor with the charred petals of ikebana spread about. Naitsuu remembers Akari's love of flowers. He leaves the house confused and broken-hearted. He slowly leaves the village to find the shrine. Once he reaches it, he collapses and a tear starts to form in the corner of his eye. He is just about to crack when the feeling he felt in his previous vision started filling him. A faint vision of a man appears in front of him. As best as his memory can tell him, it looks like his father. The being speaks. "Naitsuu, Naitsuu, listen to me. This is only a dream, but one meant to show you your opposition." "Father! They, they killed everyone!" "No, my son, they have not, yet. Still, recognize who did it." "The Imperial guards?" "Ordered by the emperor." "What does it mean?" "You will discover the same path that I took. The emperor, he makes himself appear as if he seeks peace. He sets these ordinances of peacekeeping, he sends his secret police around the land and at the more popular settlements of space. But he is really cold at heart." "So, you are telling me I must do anything I can to bring the emperor down." "I tried to do that, son. I failed, and with my failure I failed your mother and you in my promise. The elite warriors of the world are by the emperor's side. It will take much to bring him down." "Yeah, but many people recognize the emperor for what he really is. My new friends despise him. I'm sure there are more. I will lead them to the emperor's destruction! I will join forces will those who oppose the emperor!" Naitsuu is getting excited. "Wait, my son. You will get those who are against the emperor to fight by your side. You will also come across those who may not be against the emperor, but who the emperor is against." "What?" "You know who I speak of." "I do?" "You know who he is, you have seen him before. You were afraid of him." Naitsuu says under his breath, "Rakushoda." His father nods to him. "Be on guard. There are those who care for you that you must not hurt. Remember always what I told you before. It is your duty to protect those you love, but remember your destiny." "What exactly is my destiny?" "That is yet to be discovered." His father slowly fades away. Naitsuu starts to get frantic. "No, come back, father! I have hardly spent any time with you! Do not leave me now!" "Son, it is your own life you must deal with now. Accept what has happened and move on. You will always be close to me when at the shrine. My heart and soul is here. And you can always draw from me." "Now what do you mean?" "You have a lot to discover, just keep looking." The being has nearly vanished now. Naitsuu is reaching out his hand wishing to touch his father one more time. Naitsuu closes his eyes and remembers, It is your duty to protect those you love, but remember your destiny. Naitsuu wakes from his sleep and the sun is setting. He says to himself, "Better hurry up and get home. The celebration will start any moment now." Naitsuu gathers his tools and starts to leave, he momentarily stops and grabs some plants to make ikebana. Then he starts his run back to the village. He gets there and stops in his house. "Nice to see you, Naitsuu," calls out his mother. "They were about to light the fire without you." "I am sorry. I fell asleep." "Okay, you are forgiven. Now, get out there!" His mother rushes Naitsuu outside and he quickly gets to the village center. The people greet Naitsuu and the music starts. Everyone starts dancing and enjoying themselves. Naitsuu starts walking around, greeting people as they greet him. Eventually, he comes across Akari. She sees him and sits down on a porch. Naitsuu walks over and sits next to her. "Hello, Naitsuu. Sorry about earlier." "It's okay," Naitsuu reaches behind him and pulls out the ikebana he made. He gives it to Akari. "I think you need the gift." Akari's face lights up, "Naitsuu! It's lovely!" "I made it for you." "You know the art of Ikebana?" "Just something I picked up from my mother on a rainy day." "Oh, thank you!" She hugs him. "I'm sorry I have no real present for you." "That's okay." "Dance?" "Okay." The two get up and join the rest of the village in the dancing. After awhile, Naitsuu notices Keiji and Aritsune dancing, and Aritsune actually looks like she is having a good time. They move over towards Keiji and Aritsune. "Loosened up, huh?" asks Naitsuu. "You could say so," Aritsune answers. They all enjoy their night as a group, dancing, eating traditional birthday foods and generally having a good time. Sooner or later they become tired out, similar to the last dance, but this time Naitsuu and Akari take a slow walk around the outskirt of the village side by side. They are just spending their time together, but Naitsuu's mind is someplace else, Akari senses it. "What are you thinking about?" she asks. "I think I will be leaving soon," he answers. "Leaving?" "Akari, can I trust you enough to talk to you about my dreams." "Yes." "Really?" "Yeah." "Well, awhile after you left the shrine today, I had a dream. The village was burnt down and everyone was gone. The emperor was responsible for it." "Why would he do that?" "I don't know. Anyway, my father appeared to me. He made me feel like I must end the emperor's rule." "Really?" "Also, he made me remember that man from a few years ago. Rakushoda." "You mean the one you saw kill those two men?" she asks. "Yes. Now, I feel I must leave here. I feel I must assemble a force to oppose the emperor. I am not sure where to start." "Naitsuu," she stops walking and looks into his eyes. "I will go with you." "No, Akari, no harm must come to you." "No, do not be like that. Do not even bother trying to persuade me out of it." "Okay, I know you well enough not to try. Please, though, be careful." "I hope I would be able to take care of myself. I do not want to be a burden on you, but I want to be with you." "I will protect you Akari, no matter what." She smiles at him and he does the same. She puts her arm around his waist and rests her head on his shoulder. Naitsuu, instead of jerking away, responds by placing his arm around her shoulders. They slowly walk together, staring at the stars until they arrive back home.