The palace courtyard was the perfect place to exchange wedding vows. Walkways crisscrossed the gleaming ponds and connected to romantic gazebos. Flanking the water on all sides were cherry trees in peak bloom. The water reflected them in all their bridal glory.

Sasaki glanced up at the full moon. "The Hour of the Rat has begun."

Holding his staff high in one hand, he stepped onto the raised walkway. He sensed four presences besides Kaya and himself: Reika, the two princes, and ... someone else? Something else? It was hard to tell.

He sniffed the air.

"Snow is coming," he reported. "These blossoms will die soon."

"Good riddance," Kaya muttered. She was shivering in her thin night robes and carefully not looking at the cherry trees. Sasaki recalled her face when he'd mentioned them before.

"Lady Kaya, if cherries have something to do with the crown prince, you need to tell me. It could be a clue."

But she was shaking her head. "No, it's ..." Then her face froze in a rictus of terror.

Sasaki quickly stepped in front of her, pointing his staff and raising his holy beads. The silk-draped gazebo was in shadow.

"Who goes there?"

Prince Munehiro sauntered out of the gazebo with his hands raised. "Don't zap me, my good onmyoji! I promise I'll be good."

Seeing who it was, Sasaki lowered his weapons with an irritated snort. Kaya stepped around him and faced the prince head on. "What did you do with Lady Reika?" she snapped.

Munehiro spread his palms sideways, the picture of innocence. "What can I say? She ditched me. You've got to hand it to my brother, she's a real one-man woman." He yawned. "Anyone got a drink? It's not a party without alcohol."

Kaya snarled something incomprehensible and lunged for him. Munehiro stumbled back, looking bewildered.

"Oy, Sasaki! Muzzle your fox, will you?"

He ran in circles around the gazebo, Kaya on his heels.

Why did I ever think she needed my protection? Sasaki thought fondly. Gods help anyone who wake that woman's righteous anger.

"Sasaki!" Munehiro bellowed. "Do I have to say, 'In the name of my father the emperor?'"

Sasaki snapped to attention. With a sigh, he reached into his pouch for his sacred stones. "Kaya, on guard!" With that, he cast a protective barrier around Munehiro.

The silvery bubble hummed to life around the prince. Kaya, bouncing off it, tumbled backwards into the water.

"Kaya!" Sasaki rushed to the edge of the walkway. "Are you hurt?"

She'd fallen on her rear in the shallow pond. Water ran in rivulets down her face, and her robes clung to her slender frame. He'd never seen this expression on her face: as surprised as if she'd swallowed a frog.

He chuckled. "I did warn you. Now do you believe in my powers?"

She glared up at him, the effect somewhat reduced by the lilypad on her head.

"I don't know what's worse," she spat. "That you don't know what that man is like, or that you do know and defend him anyway."

Sasaki's smile faded. "Kaya--"

She clambered to her feet, ignoring his extended hand. "Dog of the emperor," she hissed. Turning on her heel, she splashed off through the pond.

Sasaki could not follow without jumping into the water. He watched helplessly as she disappeared toward the opposite bank.

Prince Munehiro snickered. "You've got to know how to handle women like that."

"Handle?"

"You know, show them who's boss. Kaya's first time, she was what--thirteen? Cried like a baby. But next time I brought some rope and tied her to a pillar." He licked his lips. "Real spicy.

"And don't forget to send some cherry blossoms the morning after," he added.

Sasaki turned toward him slowly.

"Your highness," he growled. "Please tell me exactly what you're talking about."

* * *

Kaya wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. This side of the courtyard was forbidden to everyone but the emperor and his beauties. Accessible only by boat, it was called Matsukaze, or Wind in the Pines.

So this was it, huh.

Just a clearing of the softest, springiest moss imaginable, ringed by tall pines. Curious stones lay here and there, like creatures that had yet to wake.

And at the center, a stone well. A boy teetered on one foot on its high edge, staring down into darkness.

Takamitsu.

Kaya's heart leaped to her throat. If she cried out, he might lose his balance. If she did not, he might throw himself down.

Rooted to the ground in agony, she trembled with the force of her silent scream.

And then he spoke.

"I used to climb to the top of everything. You know why I did it?"

So casual, as if they'd been talking over supper. She swallowed. "Because you wanted to be taller than Prince Munehiro."

"No. Well, yes, that too. But the real reason was how you looked when I did it."

"Which is how?"

Now he was hopping up and down on one foot on the narrow well rim. Kaya inched toward him slowly.

"Like I mattered more to you than anyone in the world." Hop. Hop. "Not 'the crown prince.'" Hop. "Me."

He stopped hopping and looked down at her with a sad smile. "I love you, Kaya. But I can't do this anymore."

Suddenly, a girl's shrill voice issued from the trees. "I knew it!"

Takamitsu froze. Glancing over his shoulder, he called out hesitantly--"Reika?"

At that moment, Kaya rushed the well. Grabbing him by the waist, she pulled him down, cushioning his fall with her body.

Reika hurried to Takamitsu's side. Dropping down beside him, she started beating his chest with her tiny fists.

"It's not fair! We've known each other forever. Whatever burden you're carrying, tell me. I want to carry it with you." Her sweet voice had gone ragged with grief. "Why would you try to leave this world without me?"

At this, she burst into tears. Takamitsu struggled up to a sitting position and patted her back awkwardly.

Then he stood abruptly and untied the sash of his top. Pulling it off his shoulders, he let it fall dramatically to the ground. "Look at me," he commanded.

His slim torso shone palely in the moonlight. Strips of white cloth were wrapped around his chest.

"You're injured?" Reika ventured. Then she looked closer. "Oh."

"Yes, Reika," Kaya said heavily. "Takamitsu was born a girl. Raised by Lady Sumire and myself to take the throne in place of Munehiro, who was, shall we say..."

"I get it," Reika said.

Well, Munehiro sure was one for making a bad impression quickly.

Reika said nothing else. After a moment, Takamitsu picked up his shirt, put it on, and started walking out of the grove.

Kaya called his name sharply. He waved without turning around. "I'm all right. Just a little thirsty."

There's a well right here, Kaya thought. Clearly, though, Takamitsu needed his space.

And Reika? She was staring blankly ahead of her, like a festival doll.

After a long moment, she pushed herself to her feet and began taking off her bridal robes, one layer after another.

Kaya watched in stunned silence. Reika left only one outer layer, in cherry blossom pink. The other eleven lay in a crumpled rainbow around her feet.

Then she turned and walked in the direction the prince had gone.

"Reika." Kaya's voice was raspy, broken. "Takamitsu loves you."

Reika stopped. "I know. I just didn't want to go to him as the royal princess. Reika is Reika."

Then she looked back at Kaya. Her sweet baby-faced smile was gone. In its place was the pride and strength of five generations of empresses.

"And Reika loves Takamitsu. Always."

* * *

Kaya sagged against the well and let out a long, rattling breath.

At some point when she wasn't looking, the children had grown up. All she could do now was give them the time and support they needed to work this out together.

Just then, she heard rustling in the bushes. She turned to see a man stepping into the moonlight.

"I've always wanted to have a sister," said Prince Munehiro.

Of course he'd trap her in a mossy clearing without a trace of dirt, sharp stones, or sticks. That left her only one choice.

"Dearest Munehiro," she said sweetly. "I've been waiting for you."

She turned to show the elegant curves of her profile in the moonlight. Discreetly, she tugged at her robes so that they fell away in the back, revealing the snowy nape of her neck.

Munehiro was silent for a moment. Then he stepped out toward her, his eyes wide with wonder.

"What a night," he breathed. "First I gain the throne I deserve. And now my empress is finally mine."

Kaya stared at the approaching prince. How had he managed to get a split lip, black eye, and nosebleed in the time since she'd last seen him?

He slipped around her to lean against the well's edge. Reaching out to her face, his forefinger slowly traced from her earlobe to the V of her breasts.

Kaya hoped her smile didn't look too homicidal. "Takamitsu only thinks of love," she said. "I've finally seen that you have a larger vision for the future."

Turning to face him, she pressed him against the well wall and wrapped her arms around him. Shoot, she couldn't push him over the well from this position. Pushing down on his shoulders, she made as if to straddle him. Sit, you idiot.

Leaning in, she brought her lips to his ear. "Did you know a kitsune can bring you to the highest pitch of ecstasy?"

Munehiro chuckled. "I do know. Though how you do, I could hardly guess. You're no kitsune."

She froze. Munehiro had wrapped his arms around her, too--like iron bars.

"Sasaki told you." It was a statement, not a question.

But Munehiro gave a low laugh. "Sasaki? Hardly. That man's so in love with you he doesn't know which way is up."

Munehiro lifted her bodily with a strength she hadn't known he had. Turning around, he sat her on the edge of the well and grabbed her hands tightly in his.

"No, with kitsunes, I'd say ..."

He grinned, showing sharply pointed teeth.

"...it takes one to know one."

He lifted her hands with his to remove his court cap. Out sprang two copper-colored fox ears. His eyes now shone a brilliant gold.

When he spoke again, it was with a woman's musical lilt.

"Prince Munehiro was gracious enough to let me into his body. I bring him the pleasures of this world. He will give me the vengeance I desire."

The kitsune pinned Kaya's arms painfully behind her. Bending to her ear, she bit down hard. Kaya swallowed her scream and glared at her, refusing to be cowed.

"You will drown yourself in the well tonight, Kaya. In my robes I have your suicide note that explains everything. You couldn't bear to see your beloved prince marry another. And now your conscience forces you to reveal he is a woman who can never inherit the throne."

Kaya kicked the kitsune's shin. Then she brought her knee up, aiming for the groin. The kitsune watched these struggles with an indulgent smile.

"Kick all you like, dear. I don't feel this body's pain when I'm in possession."

Then the voice deepened and multiplied. A hundred, a thousand women now, howling with insatiable rage.

"And there is not a man in this court who is worth saving."

Sasaki's face flashed in Kaya's mind. But then Munehiro's face warped and contorted dangerously, his eyes and mouth stretching down as if melting. Kaya squirmed in horror. His body could not contain the force of this spirit.

She squinted and held her breath against the blast of malefic force. When it died down, she looked up at the spirit curiously.

"What did the former emperor do to you?" she asked. "I mean, I've heard the rumors about a 'vengeful lover.' But there has to be more to it. Tell me what happened. Who hurt you?"

Now she looked bewildered, like a lost child. "I-i-it's been so long," she whispered. "But no one ever asked me that question."

Then Munehiro's face stretched out again, more horribly than before. "DO NOT BACK DOWN. KILL HER. KILL HER."

Kaya forced herself to rise against the howling chorus. It had swallowed whatever trace there was of that single lost voice.

"I don't know what happened to you all," Kaya said. "But I'm sorry." She put her arms around the kitsune. Then, holding her tightly, she threw her weight backward into the well.

* * *

Kaya was floating in darkness.

Munehiro had fallen past her; she'd heard the abrupt end of the kitsune's shrieks. For some reason, Kaya still hung belly-up in midair, looking up at the moonlit sky. Had she died somehow and become yet another vengeful spirit?

With some effort, she swam through the air to the wall of the well. Clambering upward, she scaled the wall and pulled her head over the top.

Sitting on the edge of the well was Sasaki. He had his face in his hands and his shoulders were shaking.

Curious, Kaya poked him in the back. "Are you crying?"

He lifted his face from his hands. Kaya gasped. Angry scratches covered both cheeks, and bruises purpled his mouth and one eye. Part of his left ear had been torn off. His black robes had been shredded, blood seeping through the holes. From the way he stretched out his left leg, she suspected something was broken.

He wasn't crying, though. She wished he was. His haunted eyes held too much despair for tears.

"Oh my goodness, Sasaki!" She climbed out of the well and came to sit beside him. "What happened to you?

"I battled the kitsune down to a single voice," he murmured, "but then it threw me off the palace roof.

"I came as soon as I could. The Lady of the Nine Tails is sealed in the well now. But you're hurt."

Gazing into her face, he gently touched her forehead where she'd hit it when she fell. His expression did not change, but Kaya could sense a rage on par with the kitsune's. She swallowed.

"No, you were a huge help," she said, smiling at him. "I couldn't have fought them all the whole time. Plus I had these." She fished around under the neck of her robes and pulled out the talismans.

"I think one of them saved me when I was in the well. You want them back?"

Sasaki had averted his eyes. "It's fine," he mumbled.

"Oops, were they not supposed to touch my breasts?"

"I said it's fine." He had turned away completely, but the ear facing her was bright red.

Gods, he was fun to tease. She punched his arm lightly. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure you're still pure."

Then she sobered. "Sasaki?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I find out who the voices of the Lady of the Nine Tails are, even though they're sealed away? I want to write their stories, if they're willing."

"If you had a high level of spiritual cultivation, maybe."

She cocked her head. "Is that something you could teach me?"

Sasaki's eyes widened. Then he gave her a wry smile. "Should I take this to mean you believe in what I do now?"

Kaya put her hand on his. Snuggling closer, she lay her head on his shoulder. "Well, I believe in you. I think the rest is coming along."

* * *

Takamitsu stood in the pine grove watching Kaya and Sasaki.

"Guess the old lady's finally growing up," he told Reika with a grin. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

Reika tilted her head sweetly. "Why don't we just bring her some violets? I saw some by the stream."

Hand in hand and smiling, they walked off in search of the flowers.