Hideo gripped Shojo’s arm and pulled him through the rapidly dispersing masses, not letting go until they arrived in the courtyard of the house. Sitting the boy firmly down on a bench overlooking the front karesansui (dry landscape) garden, he fisted both hands at his hips. “The Prince may not care to know, [...]

Shojo contemptuously sheathed his sword, turning to face the approaching Prince. In the Prince’s train he spotted the aged face of his uncle, Minamoto Hideo, looking set and furious. Obviously the morning’s conference had not gone well. From the other end of the crossroads another herald cried the approach of Ashikaga Katsuhito, [...]

The burly no Ashikaga narrowed his blue eyes. They were a blue as hard as the reflection off the mountain ice, and glittered like chips of aquamarine when he was angry. Which he was. His burdened companion plucked at his sleeve again, uncut blond hair shivering before his eyes.
“Don’t do this, Tetsuo, [...]

Late summer greened the heights of the mountains, snow-tipped even in high and hot summer, which cupped the city of Hitokori as in a delicate pottery bowl. Even the gashed flanks of Fuji-san, besieged by lava every few years, displayed signs of the season. The city huddled itself away from the holy volcano [...]