It was the second time in a week he'd taken a room with another man, and a different one, too, no less. He couldn't bring himself to meet the tavernkeeper's inquisitive gaze.

Toshi brought up water for them. He'd insisted on seeing to Shion's back before he took a turn himself, and so Shion had turned and stripped himself to the waist, blushing furiously all the while.

"Your back is horribly bruised and swollen," the youth murmured, running a wet cloth lightly over his skin.

"It is not the first time it has been so, my lord."

Toshi's slight touch paused. "I was told that your master beat you."

Shion nodded.

"For what reason?"

"Any reason he needed. Sometimes none at all." Shion shrugged and immediately regretted it. The movement made his back knot up in pain. "He especially objected to my going out to see other men." Toshiwara already knew about this. He saw no point in attempting to keep it secret.

"Would he have objected to you going out to see women?" The gentle caressing continued.

"I'm not entirely sure," Shion sighed. "I never made the attempt."

As Toshi's bare fingers brushed at his skin, he took a sharp, wavering breath.

"I am certain this will hurt you, but please, be patient."

Shion nodded. The light pressing sensation continued. It seemed as though Lord Toshiwara knew exactly what he was searching for.

"Do you have medical training?," Shion asked quietly.

"I only possess what knowledge I have gained in the field. It is foolish not to know certain things when your life is at stake and there is no one to tend you."

He thought of Kamui, with his bandaged and splinted arm. It would have healed well enough, had the infection not set in.

Toshi's hands pressed lower. Suddenly he felt as though he couldn't breathe.

"My lord-"

"Yes. I feel it." The pain was even worse when he touched the other side, so much so that Shion barely managed to stifle a cry. "Here, as well." Toshi sighed before drawing his hands away. "You have cracked no less than three of your ribs, Shion."

He lowered his head. No wonder he'd been left so utterly helpless to defend either himself or Kagamine.

A sudden touch to his shoulder left him with an altogether different feeling from the pain he'd experienced before.

"Rest and do not exert yourself."

The sound of Toshiwara's voice lit a multitude of tiny flames underneath his skin.

"I suppose I am to take that as a command, my lord?"

"Yes. You most certainly are."

The hot flames began to dance and chase after one another.

"Shion," Toshi suddenly murmured, "forgive me for being so intrusive, but- what is it like, being with a man?"

His stomach tensed and fluttered. Shion dared a glance behind him. Toshiwara didn't seem as though he meant anything by it. His expression was simply curious.

"I would rather have died than asked Lord Kamui such a question."

Shion studied him for a moment, without knowing quite how to answer. "I suppose that depends on who you're with. Perhaps, in the end, it's not much different from being with a woman."

Toshiwara bowed his head. "I do not expect I will ever know, one way or another."

"Because of your leg?"

Shion shifted himself around just in time to see the youth's despondent nod. Toshiwara seemed so utterly disheartened by the prospect it was all Shion could do not to reach out and embrace him.

Instead he vehemently shook his head. "Nothing about your injury prevents you from experiencing it the same way as anyone else."

"That is not exactly what I meant." Toshi sighed, gazing up at him. "I despair that anyone will now have me, or even spare me a second glance."

That wasn't true. Not at all.

"You are kind and courageous, Toshi, and, at the very least, you have a handsome face. Anyone would be happy to have you."

The youth shook his head. "Just *anyone* is not enough. I have a status and a bloodline to maintain-"

Shion felt a sudden unaccountable surge of anger. This, too, was somehow familiar. He turned away with downcast eyes.

"Then any man in existence would be useless to you, Lord Toshiwara."

"Forgive me." The sound was no more than a subdued murmur. "I did not seek to offend you."

Shion knew he shouldn't have been offended. Whatever Toshi was after should've been none of his concern, only, for some reason-

It hurt.

"That man, Amasu- what did he tell you?"

Shion turned towards him.

"First allow me to see to your leg."

Toshi seemed taken aback, as though he'd expected Shion to give up on the matter entirely. Then he smiled.

"You are every bit as stubborn as Kagamine."

"My lord, you made a promise." Shion paused. "Do I have permission to touch you?" The words felt strange in his throat, as though they were meant to be said to someone else.

Toshi hesitated. "I should uncover it, should I not?"

Of course. He was-

Self-conscious about his-

Shion let out a frustrated groan. All these damnable impressions- when would they leave him? Nothing in the world seemed right any longer. Everything was somehow off. He was no longer certain which existence he found himself inhabiting, moment to moment-

"Shion?"

A concerned face, gazing out at him.

"I'm fine, Kagamine," he answered.

*No. I'm not. Not at all.*

Someone's hand pressed against his forehead, testing him for fever.

"No! I don't want to go to sleep now. Father won't be here anymore, once I wake up-"

He frowned. Someone else had left him, as well, but- who? Who was it? It was important, and he should've remembered, but- he couldn't-

"Shion, stop!" Hands were shaking roughly at his shoulders. "You sound like Kamui did, just before he-"

Yes. Kamui. Kamui was dead here, wasn't he? He had made an altar and laid his offering upon it. His lord had said he would protect Shion, and afterwards-

Was this how Kamui had intended to do that?

Why could he not control it? Had something within him rejected Kamui's gift?

What exactly- was he rejecting?

A desperate face suddenly appeared, hovering above him.

"Toshi?" His voice sounded weak. Had he fainted?

"Yes," the youth murmured gently. "Toshi." Warm fingers stroked at Shion's hair. He tilted his face towards them and smiled.

"I'm sorry. That must have frightened you."

"I have faced down death more times than I can count, but I have never felt so truly helpless-"

"Nor, my lord, have I."

The stroking stopped. Toshiwara suddenly drew his hand away, seeming hesitant and shy.

"What happened to you? You stopped making any sense whatsoever, and I thought you might have taken ill with a fever, but when I checked, your skin was cool-"

Shion smiled incongruously. "I think I'm going mad."

"If you were, I think perhaps you would not feel obliged to say so." Toshi sighed. "What you have endured of late must have been very difficult for you. A little rest in a safe place will do you much good, no doubt."

Shion closed his eyes. "No place is safe," he answered, with a little shake of his head. "There is no escape from what I see. What I feel."

The young samurai studied him for a moment. "What is it that you see, Shion?"

"The future, or perhaps the past. I am not certain."

"Have you- always seen it?"

Shion opened his eyes. Toshi was staring down at him with an intensely thoughtful look.

"Sometimes, but never like this. After Kamui left us, the sensation grew much stronger. Much more intrusive." He hesitated, uncertain exactly how much of his secret he ought to reveal. "When Kagamine and I were out riding, I knew there was going to be an ambush, but- he wouldn't have believed me if I'd told him. There was no way I could have stopped it."

"What makes you so certain of that?"

Shion shook his head. "Would *you*? I could tell you many things you would find unbelievable, Lord Toshi, many things you would wish to run from, because they would *hurt*."

"A samurai runs from nothing. Not even from death."

"Perhaps you wouldn't run from *that*, but you *would* run from *me*." He closed his eyes again. "I don't need to examine you. I already know what's happened, because you've already told me. I can trace out the scar along your thigh, because I've already seen it. I can tell you that the bone is broken and hasn't mended properly, that if it were to be broken again and properly seen to, you'd be ready for war in the spring. That if it is not, it is only a matter of time before you cannot walk at all, or ride, or hunt, as you are wont to. I could tell you that if that should happen, the girl you wish to marry will reject you, along with many others. I could tell you that-" Shion suddenly opened his eyelids, gazing up at him. "You and I have been intimate together. Even that we loved each other deeply."

Toshiwara stared at him wordlessly. He saw fear clearly reflected in the boy's wide eyes.

"I could also tell you that you are, even now, considering taking your own life."

Toshi's gaze dropped away.

"That your fear of becoming a burden is entirely unfounded, that your mother and father will be overjoyed when you return safely home. I've been there with you already, my lord. I have already seen it. I have- planted the garden with you, the one which you so love. I have- carried you in my arms-" Shion choked back tears. "And yet, knowing all these things, I am absolutely powerless to sway your fate one way or another."

"No," the youth whispered gently. "You are not powerless at all."

He suddenly gazed up at Shion and smiled. It made his heart ache to see it.

"It seems I can hardly kill myself now. There would be no one left to take care of you."

"I'm hardly worthy of your concern-"

"As I am not worthy of yours?" Toshi arched an eyebrow at him. It reminded him so much of someone else-

Shion's trembling fingers reached up to touch the young man's forehead.

"I should tell you about the bandits-"

"Later, Shion." Toshi patiently removed his hand. "For now you have told me enough, and you sorely need your rest."

"Promise me- you will return tomorrow-"

The youth nodded. "Nothing could ever prevent it." He paused. "I will send someone up with food. If you are going to tell me you are not hungry-" Toshi gave his forehead a light, quick kiss, so quick Shion barely noticed it at all. "I must forbid you from doing so."

His sweet, perfumed scent lingered in the air long after he was gone.

Perhaps, Shion considered, he'd revealed too much, but-

Toshiwara hadn't been driven away, and Kagamine was safe, at least for a time. The worst hadn't yet happened, and it was still possible- it might not-