Kyuzo was up at dawn, always rising
just before sunrise. A routine that had become so ingrained in his
being he had long ago stopped being surprised that it was nearly the
same moment everyday when he opened his eyes. Today was another day he
wasn’t looking forward to. He was restless. It had been a long month of
training in order for him to accompany the Scorpion scouting party on a
mission. A long month of little improvement on his part, he just wasn’t
getting how one could make themselves lighter than they were. Maybe he
just wasn’t suited for the art of silence. He’d keep at it, at least.
Nevertheless, that didn’t solve how much he desired to be out of this
small town where everyone bowed and addressed him as their lord. Just
for a few hours. It wasn’t as if he wanted to run away, he just wanted a
break. Even when he was painting, he didn’t really get that break. It
was the same four walls, the same scenery, and the same people
constantly interrupting him.
Kyuzo took a deep breath before leaving his room. He had dressed and was ready to begin another day of solving menial problems, if there were even problems to solve. The town seemed to function rather well on its own. The only issue that had been brought to Kyuzo’s attention so far was the unfortunate business with Tsuruchi Airo. A business he would rather put out of his mind than use as an example of his brilliant leadership. He was still uncomfortable about the way everything happened. Seeing the ghostly Airo following Negisa around town after she had taken him to enact ‘justice’ was even more discomforting. Then he had simply disappeared shortly after the new Mantis delegate, Airo’s brother, Tsuruchi Meintaro, had arrived. Kyuzo had decided he wasn’t going to postulate on what happened to Airo, he truly didn’t want to know, and so he didn’t ask.
Stepping outside into the backyard, Kyuzo found what he was searching for, or perhaps whom he was searching for. The Soshi twins were diligently directing a few Scorpion add onto the complicated obstacle course he had been running for several weeks. A man was hanging rings on the opposite sides of a beam, as if you were to swing from metal ring to metal ring across the beam, however, instead of some child’s game one would have played years ago, the man was stepping into each ring, and making it look rather easy as well. A deception, Kyuzo had learned from the first day, the Scorpion took a joy in perpetuating.
“Pardon me, Soshi-san,” Kyuzo addressed the two.
Both turned at exactly the same moment, and in tandem greeted him in return. “Asahina-sama, good morning to you.”
They had been acting like this since the day one of them informed him they were twins. It was easier before, when he had just believed Soshi some sort of shugenja that could manipulate time and always end up wherever he was looking for her at. Now they were nearly connected at the hip, speaking the same thoughts at the same time, and when they weren’t doing that they were finishing each other’s sentences without ever overlapping a syllable. Because of this, he tried to spend as little time as possible with them when the two were together. One at a time they were easy enough to handle, but both ended up disorienting him with the constant switching between who was talking.
“Good morning to you,” he responded, getting formalities out of the way. He had an express purpose for seeing Soshi, even if both of them were together. However, he also felt he knew the answer before he even asked it, seeing as how they were building more on the scouting course. “What’s the progress on heading out with our scouts? Are we going to have to train ourselves more? I just want to get the lay of the land, and I know I’m not catching on as fast as I should with this…”
Both Soshis held up one of their hands to indicate for Kyuzo to stop.
“If all you want,” Soshi began.
“Is the lay of the land, there won’t,” The other Soshi continued the sentence without missing a beat. It was going to be one of those times, Kyuzo sighed to himself.
“Be a problem having you ride out with,” They tossed the sentences back and forth creating a flowing dialogue.
“Say, some Unicorn contingencies. It sounds”
“like a wonderful”
“plan to me.”
“But if you’re”
“actually going out on the”
“scouting missions, you’ve obtained”
“the level of…a first year”
“novice.”
“Beginner.”
“In the first week of his”
“first year of training.”
“Yes,” Kyuzo agreed. He was well aware he wasn’t doing well when it came to these convoluted training techniques. “Well, I was thinking - You see, I don’t just want to walk around. I was thinking I could do some hunting. Daigotsu and I actually stumbled upon a boar at one point.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem”
“as long as you take some escorts or”
“some guards, some form of protection.”
“Is there anything else,”
“Lord Asahina?”
Kyuzo shrugged, “Maybe you could point me in the right direction for where I should be hunting?”
“Well, Lord Asahina, there”
“is a Tsuruchi in town and I”
“hear they are excellent at hunting.”
“That Tsuruchi, is he here in the house with us? I have to admit I haven’t been-”
“He’s replacing his brother, Lord Asahina.” They interposed together. Kyuzo already knew that. He just hadn’t given much thought to where Tsuruchi Meintaro was staying. He had assumed the barracks, but if the other delegates were staying in the house with Kyuzo, Tsuruchi should be as well.
“Yeah… that was all so messy. I must admit I’m sort of avoiding him.”
“I suppose that’s”
“understandable, Lord Asahina,”
“considering the situation that”
“happened with the last Tsuruchi.” Soshi nodded at Soshi.
“Yeah… so where is he?”
“As we said”
“before, Lord Asahina,”
“he’s probably still eating breakfast.”
“In the house.”
“Thank you,” Kyuzo headed back indoors. He hadn’t yet eaten breakfast himself, and if Tsuruchi was there, it would be a reasonable time to discuss plans for the day without cornering him and making a conversation any more uncomfortable than it had to be. Breakfast was a good choice.
Kyuzo took a deep breath before leaving his room. He had dressed and was ready to begin another day of solving menial problems, if there were even problems to solve. The town seemed to function rather well on its own. The only issue that had been brought to Kyuzo’s attention so far was the unfortunate business with Tsuruchi Airo. A business he would rather put out of his mind than use as an example of his brilliant leadership. He was still uncomfortable about the way everything happened. Seeing the ghostly Airo following Negisa around town after she had taken him to enact ‘justice’ was even more discomforting. Then he had simply disappeared shortly after the new Mantis delegate, Airo’s brother, Tsuruchi Meintaro, had arrived. Kyuzo had decided he wasn’t going to postulate on what happened to Airo, he truly didn’t want to know, and so he didn’t ask.
Stepping outside into the backyard, Kyuzo found what he was searching for, or perhaps whom he was searching for. The Soshi twins were diligently directing a few Scorpion add onto the complicated obstacle course he had been running for several weeks. A man was hanging rings on the opposite sides of a beam, as if you were to swing from metal ring to metal ring across the beam, however, instead of some child’s game one would have played years ago, the man was stepping into each ring, and making it look rather easy as well. A deception, Kyuzo had learned from the first day, the Scorpion took a joy in perpetuating.
“Pardon me, Soshi-san,” Kyuzo addressed the two.
Both turned at exactly the same moment, and in tandem greeted him in return. “Asahina-sama, good morning to you.”
They had been acting like this since the day one of them informed him they were twins. It was easier before, when he had just believed Soshi some sort of shugenja that could manipulate time and always end up wherever he was looking for her at. Now they were nearly connected at the hip, speaking the same thoughts at the same time, and when they weren’t doing that they were finishing each other’s sentences without ever overlapping a syllable. Because of this, he tried to spend as little time as possible with them when the two were together. One at a time they were easy enough to handle, but both ended up disorienting him with the constant switching between who was talking.
“Good morning to you,” he responded, getting formalities out of the way. He had an express purpose for seeing Soshi, even if both of them were together. However, he also felt he knew the answer before he even asked it, seeing as how they were building more on the scouting course. “What’s the progress on heading out with our scouts? Are we going to have to train ourselves more? I just want to get the lay of the land, and I know I’m not catching on as fast as I should with this…”
Both Soshis held up one of their hands to indicate for Kyuzo to stop.
“If all you want,” Soshi began.
“Is the lay of the land, there won’t,” The other Soshi continued the sentence without missing a beat. It was going to be one of those times, Kyuzo sighed to himself.
“Be a problem having you ride out with,” They tossed the sentences back and forth creating a flowing dialogue.
“Say, some Unicorn contingencies. It sounds”
“like a wonderful”
“plan to me.”
“But if you’re”
“actually going out on the”
“scouting missions, you’ve obtained”
“the level of…a first year”
“novice.”
“Beginner.”
“In the first week of his”
“first year of training.”
“Yes,” Kyuzo agreed. He was well aware he wasn’t doing well when it came to these convoluted training techniques. “Well, I was thinking - You see, I don’t just want to walk around. I was thinking I could do some hunting. Daigotsu and I actually stumbled upon a boar at one point.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem”
“as long as you take some escorts or”
“some guards, some form of protection.”
“Is there anything else,”
“Lord Asahina?”
Kyuzo shrugged, “Maybe you could point me in the right direction for where I should be hunting?”
“Well, Lord Asahina, there”
“is a Tsuruchi in town and I”
“hear they are excellent at hunting.”
“That Tsuruchi, is he here in the house with us? I have to admit I haven’t been-”
“He’s replacing his brother, Lord Asahina.” They interposed together. Kyuzo already knew that. He just hadn’t given much thought to where Tsuruchi Meintaro was staying. He had assumed the barracks, but if the other delegates were staying in the house with Kyuzo, Tsuruchi should be as well.
“Yeah… that was all so messy. I must admit I’m sort of avoiding him.”
“I suppose that’s”
“understandable, Lord Asahina,”
“considering the situation that”
“happened with the last Tsuruchi.” Soshi nodded at Soshi.
“Yeah… so where is he?”
“As we said”
“before, Lord Asahina,”
“he’s probably still eating breakfast.”
“In the house.”
“Thank you,” Kyuzo headed back indoors. He hadn’t yet eaten breakfast himself, and if Tsuruchi was there, it would be a reasonable time to discuss plans for the day without cornering him and making a conversation any more uncomfortable than it had to be. Breakfast was a good choice.
***
Katsumi
resettled herself back at the breakfast table and began sipping her
tea. She had heard her name from somewhere outside, and upon closer
inspection, found it was just Asahina talking with the Soshis about
nothing interesting. The topic of Tsuruchi came up, and Asahina did say
he was avoiding Tsuruchi, which was somewhat interesting, if she really
cared how her housemates were treating each other, which she didn’t. So,
she had stalked back to the table and pretended as if nothing had
happened, because, really, nothing did happen.
A whole lot of nothing had been happening recently. Well, besides Matsu’s little secret. That happened. Katsumi smiled to herself at the thought of her nephew who would be coming into the world in a matter of months. Moreover, she had managed to go a month without succumbing to the will of Lord Moon. That was also something to note. However, she couldn’t really note that with anyone besides Yanagi, who she already told, and Negisa, who she tried to avoid. No one else had been brought in on her little secret, yet. Except Kitsuki, and he didn’t believe she had an uneventful full moon at all. He was still bitter about the first night of the first month, Katsumi supposed.
“Um, Daigotsu-san?” Shiba mumbled. Katsumi set down her tea and stared at the liquid, bracing herself for whatever it was that Shiba felt the need to share first thing in the morning. “I was wondering… if you could have your cooks… make me something that’s… that’s typical of… what you usually eat?”
Katsumi felt the smile spread across her face. She knew it was coming even if she wasn’t conjuring it up. She slowly turned her head towards Shiba, as Shiba progressed with her disjointed request, and grinned with a devilish delight. Nearly a month ago she had offered Shiba a taste of her blood cake, after she had found out it was made with cow’s blood, Shiba had fled from the dining table and evacuated her stomach. It had been amusing. Katsumi had never seen anyone react in such a way, granted, she hadn’t seen many non-Spider members eating Spider food. She was aware the rest of the Empire avoided red meat, and with that, blood, and preferred the more delicate foods like rice and fish. But Shiba had shown interest then and now she was asking again to have something more substantial in her diet.
“Of course,” Katsumi confirmed and rushed to the kitchen. Leaning her head in, Katsumi held up two fingers to the cooks inside, “Scratch my last request, bring me two orders of pepper steak.” They nodded and set to work.
Katsumi returned, yet again, to the table for the third time this morning. Picking up her teacup, she considered how she would spend her day today. She had been extremely lazy when it came to continuing in her training. Katsumi realized it was the power to refuse all others that had allowed her lethargy to overcome her; and at first, it had been fun, but now she tired of having no direction. She had taken care of much of the building, or at least attempted to help just to give her something to do, but the Kaiu weren’t interested in having her do much besides direct and move things. In addition, honestly, she couldn’t remember the last time she had just sat and meditated, as she used to every morning. This town was changing her, and it was doing so in a way Katsumi wasn’t fond of.
“What things do the Spider cook?” Tsuruchi’s drawl drew her from her internal struggle. She blinked, trying to hear his exact question; it was kind of hazy behind the considerations going through her mind. Something about what she eats.
“It’s not much different than what everyone else eats.”
“Well, there’s got to be something special about it if Shiba is inquiring,” Tsuruchi noted.
It was a good point, but Katsumi didn’t always consider that her food was so different, being that she grew up with it. Though, when seeing a full day’s worth of meals side by side, it probably proved to be very different. They still had rice as a staple in their diet, but most harvested food besides that was harder to come by in the lands she once called home, which meant most meals were laden with meat and scarce on vegetables.
“We specialize in red meat.”
“You eat red meat?” Katsumi wasn’t certain if Tsuruchi was surprised. The way the question was formed said he should be, but the way he asked was contrary to shock, it was more like intrigue.
“Yeah, all Spider do.”
Tsuruchi looked at his mostly eaten meal as if he was considering continuing on the conversation. A lull ensued. Katsumi watched him. This Tsuruchi was so much different from Airo. It was perplexing what the two had seen in each other.
“I’ll just stick with what I have…” Tsuruchi finally said and picked up another piece of sushi.
A whole lot of nothing had been happening recently. Well, besides Matsu’s little secret. That happened. Katsumi smiled to herself at the thought of her nephew who would be coming into the world in a matter of months. Moreover, she had managed to go a month without succumbing to the will of Lord Moon. That was also something to note. However, she couldn’t really note that with anyone besides Yanagi, who she already told, and Negisa, who she tried to avoid. No one else had been brought in on her little secret, yet. Except Kitsuki, and he didn’t believe she had an uneventful full moon at all. He was still bitter about the first night of the first month, Katsumi supposed.
“Um, Daigotsu-san?” Shiba mumbled. Katsumi set down her tea and stared at the liquid, bracing herself for whatever it was that Shiba felt the need to share first thing in the morning. “I was wondering… if you could have your cooks… make me something that’s… that’s typical of… what you usually eat?”
Katsumi felt the smile spread across her face. She knew it was coming even if she wasn’t conjuring it up. She slowly turned her head towards Shiba, as Shiba progressed with her disjointed request, and grinned with a devilish delight. Nearly a month ago she had offered Shiba a taste of her blood cake, after she had found out it was made with cow’s blood, Shiba had fled from the dining table and evacuated her stomach. It had been amusing. Katsumi had never seen anyone react in such a way, granted, she hadn’t seen many non-Spider members eating Spider food. She was aware the rest of the Empire avoided red meat, and with that, blood, and preferred the more delicate foods like rice and fish. But Shiba had shown interest then and now she was asking again to have something more substantial in her diet.
“Of course,” Katsumi confirmed and rushed to the kitchen. Leaning her head in, Katsumi held up two fingers to the cooks inside, “Scratch my last request, bring me two orders of pepper steak.” They nodded and set to work.
Katsumi returned, yet again, to the table for the third time this morning. Picking up her teacup, she considered how she would spend her day today. She had been extremely lazy when it came to continuing in her training. Katsumi realized it was the power to refuse all others that had allowed her lethargy to overcome her; and at first, it had been fun, but now she tired of having no direction. She had taken care of much of the building, or at least attempted to help just to give her something to do, but the Kaiu weren’t interested in having her do much besides direct and move things. In addition, honestly, she couldn’t remember the last time she had just sat and meditated, as she used to every morning. This town was changing her, and it was doing so in a way Katsumi wasn’t fond of.
“What things do the Spider cook?” Tsuruchi’s drawl drew her from her internal struggle. She blinked, trying to hear his exact question; it was kind of hazy behind the considerations going through her mind. Something about what she eats.
“It’s not much different than what everyone else eats.”
“Well, there’s got to be something special about it if Shiba is inquiring,” Tsuruchi noted.
It was a good point, but Katsumi didn’t always consider that her food was so different, being that she grew up with it. Though, when seeing a full day’s worth of meals side by side, it probably proved to be very different. They still had rice as a staple in their diet, but most harvested food besides that was harder to come by in the lands she once called home, which meant most meals were laden with meat and scarce on vegetables.
“We specialize in red meat.”
“You eat red meat?” Katsumi wasn’t certain if Tsuruchi was surprised. The way the question was formed said he should be, but the way he asked was contrary to shock, it was more like intrigue.
“Yeah, all Spider do.”
Tsuruchi looked at his mostly eaten meal as if he was considering continuing on the conversation. A lull ensued. Katsumi watched him. This Tsuruchi was so much different from Airo. It was perplexing what the two had seen in each other.
“I’ll just stick with what I have…” Tsuruchi finally said and picked up another piece of sushi.
***
Daigotsu
shrugged. It was a suiting answer for his last statement. Meintaro
honestly wanted her to offer to him whatever meal Daigotsu and Shiba
were going to eat, maybe even push it on him so he wouldn’t seem so
blasphemous when daintily consuming the red meat. He had developed a
liking to it, and although there were other sources of protein, he
hadn’t come across anything as tasty as the flesh you weren’t supposed
to be enjoying. Until the offer came, he was going to save face and
pretend it didn’t interest him.
The room had grown quiet again; it seemed these folks weren’t much for conversation. He had realized that over the last two weeks since he arrived. No one had said much of anything to him, he probably had held the longest conversation with Daigotsu, and he wasn’t even sure she was anyone of importance. She was just a kid.
“Tsuruchi-san, Asahina is looking for you,” Daigotsu divulged as Asahina walked through the courtyard into the dining room.
“Good morning, Asahina-sama,” Meintaro cordially welcomed. Asahina only gave him a passing glance as he started listing out his breakfast order to a servant who made himself available as Asahina arrived.
“I’ll have some grilled mackerel and rice, and some tea.” Asahina took a seat near Meintaro.
He hadn’t spoken with Asahina in some time, not since the day he arrived, and even then, it was short. Meintaro had been more interested in finding the family bow and dealing with Airo than making nice with his new lord and creating lasting friendships. Now that those were taken care of, he still wasn’t interested in creating lasting friendships, but at least being amiable was on the table. Something Asahina hadn’t proven to be.
“Asahina-sama, I heard you were looking for me for something.” Meintaro attempted to initiate a conversation again.
“Yeah…” Asahina rubbed his neck pensively, “I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you much. I’ve just kind of been upset about the ordeal with your brother.”
Meintaro could understand that, he was also upset, though probably for very different reasons than Asahina was. “That’s alright, so am I.”
Asahina nodded. “It’s a very upsetting thing.” There was a pregnant pause as if the conversation was over. That couldn’t really be the reason Asahina was looking for him, Meintaro thought. In addition, why would Daigotsu know that? It didn’t make sense for there to be nothing more than an apology.
“I don’t know,” Asahina finally expounded, “I just felt that we spend too much time in this town. And, originally, I wanted to go on a scouting mission, but I believe that I’ll just get in their way, so… Let’s go hunting. I know that Daigotsu-san loves to hunt for boar.”
At first he didn’t understand what was going on. Asahina was being quite open about the reasoning behind whatever it was he was going on about, but then he said ‘hunting’ and Meintaro didn’t need to hear another word.
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than go hunting.”
“The boar was the prey of opportunity,” Daigotsu clarified. It didn’t matter, he would hunt boar if boar were there to hunt. Meintaro would hunt anything if the opportunity presented itself.
“If boar is too easy, we can find something that will present a challenge,” Asahina offered.
“Well, let’s be off. I don’t see the need to finish breakfast with an adventure like this.” Meintaro was ready and willing to head out this very moment. He had eaten, and if it was something to do that didn’t involve a whole lot of watching, he was ready.
“I’m going to eat,” Asahina insisted.
“Oh, I suppose you haven’t had anything yet.” Meintaro had become so enthralled with the idea of prowling through the woods, tracking down some sort of jungle beast, he had completely forgotten Asahina had only just arrived for breakfast.
“Feel free to have some sake if you’re just going to wait. We have a very good brand.”
“No,” Meintaro wasn’t interested in just sitting around watching people eat, if he was going to be waiting for Asahina, he was going to dress himself for the part. “I’ll go prepare myself for the hunt.”
The room had grown quiet again; it seemed these folks weren’t much for conversation. He had realized that over the last two weeks since he arrived. No one had said much of anything to him, he probably had held the longest conversation with Daigotsu, and he wasn’t even sure she was anyone of importance. She was just a kid.
“Tsuruchi-san, Asahina is looking for you,” Daigotsu divulged as Asahina walked through the courtyard into the dining room.
“Good morning, Asahina-sama,” Meintaro cordially welcomed. Asahina only gave him a passing glance as he started listing out his breakfast order to a servant who made himself available as Asahina arrived.
“I’ll have some grilled mackerel and rice, and some tea.” Asahina took a seat near Meintaro.
He hadn’t spoken with Asahina in some time, not since the day he arrived, and even then, it was short. Meintaro had been more interested in finding the family bow and dealing with Airo than making nice with his new lord and creating lasting friendships. Now that those were taken care of, he still wasn’t interested in creating lasting friendships, but at least being amiable was on the table. Something Asahina hadn’t proven to be.
“Asahina-sama, I heard you were looking for me for something.” Meintaro attempted to initiate a conversation again.
“Yeah…” Asahina rubbed his neck pensively, “I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you much. I’ve just kind of been upset about the ordeal with your brother.”
Meintaro could understand that, he was also upset, though probably for very different reasons than Asahina was. “That’s alright, so am I.”
Asahina nodded. “It’s a very upsetting thing.” There was a pregnant pause as if the conversation was over. That couldn’t really be the reason Asahina was looking for him, Meintaro thought. In addition, why would Daigotsu know that? It didn’t make sense for there to be nothing more than an apology.
“I don’t know,” Asahina finally expounded, “I just felt that we spend too much time in this town. And, originally, I wanted to go on a scouting mission, but I believe that I’ll just get in their way, so… Let’s go hunting. I know that Daigotsu-san loves to hunt for boar.”
At first he didn’t understand what was going on. Asahina was being quite open about the reasoning behind whatever it was he was going on about, but then he said ‘hunting’ and Meintaro didn’t need to hear another word.
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than go hunting.”
“The boar was the prey of opportunity,” Daigotsu clarified. It didn’t matter, he would hunt boar if boar were there to hunt. Meintaro would hunt anything if the opportunity presented itself.
“If boar is too easy, we can find something that will present a challenge,” Asahina offered.
“Well, let’s be off. I don’t see the need to finish breakfast with an adventure like this.” Meintaro was ready and willing to head out this very moment. He had eaten, and if it was something to do that didn’t involve a whole lot of watching, he was ready.
“I’m going to eat,” Asahina insisted.
“Oh, I suppose you haven’t had anything yet.” Meintaro had become so enthralled with the idea of prowling through the woods, tracking down some sort of jungle beast, he had completely forgotten Asahina had only just arrived for breakfast.
“Feel free to have some sake if you’re just going to wait. We have a very good brand.”
“No,” Meintaro wasn’t interested in just sitting around watching people eat, if he was going to be waiting for Asahina, he was going to dress himself for the part. “I’ll go prepare myself for the hunt.”
***
Mikoto
awoke to an empty bed and a quiet house. A house that wasn’t hers,
since she had stayed with Yanagi last night. However, Yanagi was no
longer where she had left him, under her warm embrace. She sighed as she
sat up, last night’s events replaying themselves through her mind. It
had been one of the most trying nights of her life, she had told him she
was pregnant with Asahina’s child, and he smiled at her and cared for
her anyways. She was lucky to have such an accepting family. Yanagi.
Katsumi. She wasn’t sure about Negisa yet, but she couldn’t be that much
different.
Family; the word echoed back. Last night Yanagi had told her they were going to be married in three days. It was happening so fast. She had just found out she was wedding Yanagi a month ago, and now she was actually wedding Yanagi in three days. Mikoto sucked in a breath and held it, trying to calm herself. It was a lot to handle, and she was only just starting her life. Granted, she had been pushed into this situation, so she understood the rush on the wedding. If it were found out she was pregnant before they wed… She didn’t even want to consider the repercussions.
She dressed and entered the family area, finding it filled with ruddy-haired women. Mikoto furrowed her brow in confusion as she tried to comprehend what she had actually walked into. There were five women in the room, sitting quietly in the living area, four she had never seen before, and one a smiling, vibrant woman who broke the spell of silence and caused all the others to turn Mikoto’s way. For all the others to look at her with varying degrees of hazel eyes. It was all kind of eerie.
“Good morning, Matsu,” Negisa cooed.
“Uh… Good morning,” Mikoto watched the faces of the other women who sat patiently. “What’s going on?”
“We have to prepare you for your wedding in two days time, which means we have a great amount of work to squeeze into your small window of opportunity. These Kitsune shugenja will be helping with the… more spiritual side of things. Please, dress in that by the door.”
Mikoto glanced down at a white robe neatly folded by the door of the room she just exited from. She hadn’t forgotten how much preparation a marriage ceremony took, she just hadn’t thought they would be going through the motions with the ceremony being pushed up so much. Well, if they were waiting on her, she better get started. Mikoto swept up the robe and returned to her room to change. She supposed that it explained why Yanagi had left bright and early. If she was going through her things, he was probably off doing something on the man side of things as well.
Family; the word echoed back. Last night Yanagi had told her they were going to be married in three days. It was happening so fast. She had just found out she was wedding Yanagi a month ago, and now she was actually wedding Yanagi in three days. Mikoto sucked in a breath and held it, trying to calm herself. It was a lot to handle, and she was only just starting her life. Granted, she had been pushed into this situation, so she understood the rush on the wedding. If it were found out she was pregnant before they wed… She didn’t even want to consider the repercussions.
She dressed and entered the family area, finding it filled with ruddy-haired women. Mikoto furrowed her brow in confusion as she tried to comprehend what she had actually walked into. There were five women in the room, sitting quietly in the living area, four she had never seen before, and one a smiling, vibrant woman who broke the spell of silence and caused all the others to turn Mikoto’s way. For all the others to look at her with varying degrees of hazel eyes. It was all kind of eerie.
“Good morning, Matsu,” Negisa cooed.
“Uh… Good morning,” Mikoto watched the faces of the other women who sat patiently. “What’s going on?”
“We have to prepare you for your wedding in two days time, which means we have a great amount of work to squeeze into your small window of opportunity. These Kitsune shugenja will be helping with the… more spiritual side of things. Please, dress in that by the door.”
Mikoto glanced down at a white robe neatly folded by the door of the room she just exited from. She hadn’t forgotten how much preparation a marriage ceremony took, she just hadn’t thought they would be going through the motions with the ceremony being pushed up so much. Well, if they were waiting on her, she better get started. Mikoto swept up the robe and returned to her room to change. She supposed that it explained why Yanagi had left bright and early. If she was going through her things, he was probably off doing something on the man side of things as well.
***
Morasahi
stared apprehensively at the meal that was placed before her. It was a
dish of something; definitely meat looking, coated with some sauce and
had slices of peppers mixed with it, served with a bowl of rice. She
honestly wasn’t interested in trying anything Daigotsu ate, but she had
been training on Spider culture with Negisa and Negisa had insisted she
start branching out and imparting herself with what this town was to
become. She thought back to what Negisa had said at the start of their
training a few weeks ago, “I will tell you what to do, and you will do it.”
She had told Morasahi that it was the only stipulation before accepting
her as an apprentice, and Morasahi had agreed. She agreed, so that
meant she had to do as Negisa said. Which, in this case, meant eating
whatever this thing was that Daigotsu was now devouring for breakfast.
Morasahi picked up a piece of the meat and sniffed it. The smell stung her nose and made her eyes water. It was earthy and sharp, spicy. She wasn’t used to spicy dishes. If she wasn’t mistaken, only the Scorpion were ones who enjoyed a little spice from time to time, and that was because they had been exiled to the Burning Sands after their coup. They had picked up many odd food dishes during their time there, before they were accepted back into the Empire. However, Morasahi was learning that the Spider also enjoyed something different, besides the red meat, and the blood… and the human flesh. No, Morasahi tried to push the thought from her mind. It was hard to see the Spider as both cannibals and as a great clan, especially one who was to hold the Winter Court this year.
With an inward sigh, she popped the meat in her mouth. The burning was almost instantaneous. The sides of her tongue inflamed as she choked down the beef. The sensation spreading throughout her mouth. She took another bite of the main dish and tried to swallow without chewing; perhaps it wouldn’t burn as much. Morasahi felt her stomach churn, as it too, began simmering. Quickly she went to her rice and shoveled several bites into her mouth, attempting to quench the fire inside her with the fluffy grain.
Morasahi peeked at Daigotsu, who was eating as if nothing was out of place, eagerly consuming the spicy dish and only taking a mouthful of rice every now and then. She seemed happy to have her mouth set ablaze, picking up another few bites of her entrée with her - wait a minute. Morasahi squinted the mist from her eyes. Daigotsu’s chopsticks… they were bone. How had she never noticed that before? She shuddered at the thought of eating every meal with the refuse of animals. She felt her mouth hanging open and promptly closed it.
“It’s… um,” Morasahi attempted to stifle a cough, “Actually pretty good. Thank you.”
Daigotsu nodded in response.
“It is… much different than anything I’ve ever tasted before.”
Daigotsu stared at Morasahi, as she often did. “If you want, you can inform the Spider cooks to make you anything you want. I’ll just have them make two meals every time.”
“I-I don’t think that’ll be necessary. Thank you.” Morasahi didn’t want to try anything else. She was told she only had to do one meal, this was one meal. She managed to keep the heavy, burning meat down and that was enough for her.
Morasahi picked up a piece of the meat and sniffed it. The smell stung her nose and made her eyes water. It was earthy and sharp, spicy. She wasn’t used to spicy dishes. If she wasn’t mistaken, only the Scorpion were ones who enjoyed a little spice from time to time, and that was because they had been exiled to the Burning Sands after their coup. They had picked up many odd food dishes during their time there, before they were accepted back into the Empire. However, Morasahi was learning that the Spider also enjoyed something different, besides the red meat, and the blood… and the human flesh. No, Morasahi tried to push the thought from her mind. It was hard to see the Spider as both cannibals and as a great clan, especially one who was to hold the Winter Court this year.
With an inward sigh, she popped the meat in her mouth. The burning was almost instantaneous. The sides of her tongue inflamed as she choked down the beef. The sensation spreading throughout her mouth. She took another bite of the main dish and tried to swallow without chewing; perhaps it wouldn’t burn as much. Morasahi felt her stomach churn, as it too, began simmering. Quickly she went to her rice and shoveled several bites into her mouth, attempting to quench the fire inside her with the fluffy grain.
Morasahi peeked at Daigotsu, who was eating as if nothing was out of place, eagerly consuming the spicy dish and only taking a mouthful of rice every now and then. She seemed happy to have her mouth set ablaze, picking up another few bites of her entrée with her - wait a minute. Morasahi squinted the mist from her eyes. Daigotsu’s chopsticks… they were bone. How had she never noticed that before? She shuddered at the thought of eating every meal with the refuse of animals. She felt her mouth hanging open and promptly closed it.
“It’s… um,” Morasahi attempted to stifle a cough, “Actually pretty good. Thank you.”
Daigotsu nodded in response.
“It is… much different than anything I’ve ever tasted before.”
Daigotsu stared at Morasahi, as she often did. “If you want, you can inform the Spider cooks to make you anything you want. I’ll just have them make two meals every time.”
“I-I don’t think that’ll be necessary. Thank you.” Morasahi didn’t want to try anything else. She was told she only had to do one meal, this was one meal. She managed to keep the heavy, burning meat down and that was enough for her.
***
Meintaro
was thrilled to be going on a hunt. The days had grown long, full of
nothing to do. The fact that Asahina invited him only made him more
eager to spend some time bonding in the woods, killing animals and
eating his share of meat. He was a decent hunter back in the Mantis
lands, and respected any man who could track as well as he, or enjoyed
the sport of killing as much as well. He looked in his looking glass,
checking to see if he was properly made up. He had his black war paint
striped across his face. The feathers indicating his success in previous
hunts decorated his hair. He rarely wore a shirt, but instead of just
leaving his skin bare, he had also painted his body with black and
greens in order to better conceal his location while in the underbrush.
He was ready. He grabbed his bow, his quiver, and sauntered to the front
of the house to meet Asahina for their trip.
Asahina was standing by the table, in the same clothes he had been wearing to breakfast. He had a bow on his back as well, and a quiver of arrows, but otherwise he was rather… normal looking. Daigotsu looked as he had become accustomed to her looking, dressed in the Spider Monk outfit. She also wasn’t much different from her everyday appearance. She did have a polearm weapon with her; apparently, she was coming on the hunt as well. Maybe she was Asahina’s charge, some sort of token of good faith the Spider gave to the lord of the town. Whatever the case was, they were rather unimpressive in dress and design.
“Are we ready?” Meintaro asked, expecting Asahina to request more time, surely he wasn’t going to go hunting in his blue and white robes.
“Yeah,” Asahina said. Meintaro’s heart sank. “Where would we be most likely to find game?”
“You said you found a boar. Wherever that was would be a good place to start.”
“Well, the last time, it was an accident.” Asahina shot a look to Daigotsu who didn’t seem to notice. “I don’t think we’ll stumble on another one simply by wandering around.”
“I suppose we should ask someone, then. We don’t want to just be tramping around in the wilderness and come back empty handed.” At the moment, Meintaro couldn’t think of a worse scenario. However, he had just the person in mind. If there were woods around here, and things to hunt, the other Mantis would know where to look. “Follow me, I know who to ask.”
Meintaro headed towards the Mantis camp, looking for Yoritomo, his advisor in the town. Asahina followed. So did Daigotsu. And Shiba tagged along as well. Not to mention the three yojimbo who accompanied them everywhere. It wouldn’t hurt while in town, but later on he had to remember to get rid of the large group traveling with them. Otherwise they really would come back with nothing.
It took Meintaro only a few minutes to find Yoritomo, and even less to determine he wasn’t going to be helpful in finding the ideal location for game. Yoritomo was a merchant, or at least a trader, which in Rokugan meant nearly the same thing, but was very different for the Mantis. But he had expected Yoritomo to, you know, advise. If a Tsuruchi wants to go hunting, he should be prepared to give the location of the best hunting grounds. It wasn’t that hard to figure out.
“To the southwest of town are some woods, you’ll probably find the most game there,” Yoritomo directed.
“Right, so you’ve been there before?” Meintaro baited, knowing the answer.
“No, but the Unicorn probably have.”
“I’ll go talk to them. Thank you.”
He had hoped to glean more knowledge off Yoritomo than he did. Dressed as he was, Meintaro wanted to show people he knew his way around, even if he didn’t. He was well aware no one was expecting anything from him, but he had sort of set himself up to be the big, badass hunter and was turning into a floundering poor excuse for a guide.
Asahina was standing by the table, in the same clothes he had been wearing to breakfast. He had a bow on his back as well, and a quiver of arrows, but otherwise he was rather… normal looking. Daigotsu looked as he had become accustomed to her looking, dressed in the Spider Monk outfit. She also wasn’t much different from her everyday appearance. She did have a polearm weapon with her; apparently, she was coming on the hunt as well. Maybe she was Asahina’s charge, some sort of token of good faith the Spider gave to the lord of the town. Whatever the case was, they were rather unimpressive in dress and design.
“Are we ready?” Meintaro asked, expecting Asahina to request more time, surely he wasn’t going to go hunting in his blue and white robes.
“Yeah,” Asahina said. Meintaro’s heart sank. “Where would we be most likely to find game?”
“You said you found a boar. Wherever that was would be a good place to start.”
“Well, the last time, it was an accident.” Asahina shot a look to Daigotsu who didn’t seem to notice. “I don’t think we’ll stumble on another one simply by wandering around.”
“I suppose we should ask someone, then. We don’t want to just be tramping around in the wilderness and come back empty handed.” At the moment, Meintaro couldn’t think of a worse scenario. However, he had just the person in mind. If there were woods around here, and things to hunt, the other Mantis would know where to look. “Follow me, I know who to ask.”
Meintaro headed towards the Mantis camp, looking for Yoritomo, his advisor in the town. Asahina followed. So did Daigotsu. And Shiba tagged along as well. Not to mention the three yojimbo who accompanied them everywhere. It wouldn’t hurt while in town, but later on he had to remember to get rid of the large group traveling with them. Otherwise they really would come back with nothing.
It took Meintaro only a few minutes to find Yoritomo, and even less to determine he wasn’t going to be helpful in finding the ideal location for game. Yoritomo was a merchant, or at least a trader, which in Rokugan meant nearly the same thing, but was very different for the Mantis. But he had expected Yoritomo to, you know, advise. If a Tsuruchi wants to go hunting, he should be prepared to give the location of the best hunting grounds. It wasn’t that hard to figure out.
“To the southwest of town are some woods, you’ll probably find the most game there,” Yoritomo directed.
“Right, so you’ve been there before?” Meintaro baited, knowing the answer.
“No, but the Unicorn probably have.”
“I’ll go talk to them. Thank you.”
He had hoped to glean more knowledge off Yoritomo than he did. Dressed as he was, Meintaro wanted to show people he knew his way around, even if he didn’t. He was well aware no one was expecting anything from him, but he had sort of set himself up to be the big, badass hunter and was turning into a floundering poor excuse for a guide.
***
“Isn’t finding the prey half the fun of hunting?” Katsumi asked, annoyed at Asahina and Tsuruchi’s need to ask for directions.
She had done a fine job last time, finding a boar within a matter of minutes when she had taken Asahina into the woods. There wasn’t a need for someone to tell them the woods were the best place. And even less of a need for someone to tell them where easy killing was. She honestly believed half the fun was finding something by yourself, with just your eyes, ears, and instincts to guide you towards the unlucky soul who would be dying by your hands for the night. But despite her feelings, their group was tramping to the Unicorn section of town, led by Tsuruchi, who was painted up in the most ridiculous manner.
Katsumi rolled her eyes when he asked for directions to Utaku Yue, the head of the Unicorn in the area. She dragged her feet as they plodded into the barn. And she sighed as Tsuruchi began his unfathomable desire to seek direction when it came to hunting.
“Utaku Yue, I was wondering if you could direct us as to where we’d find a good game trail?” Tsuruchi greeted the Unicorn who was brushing her horse. She was a wide woman, broad in shoulder, and hips.
“It seems you have me at a disadvantage, Mantis, have we met before?” Utaku paused long enough to give a curious glance, and then continued brushing.
“Oh,” Tsuruchi said, as if he had honestly forgotten courtesy. “I’m Tsuruchi Meintaro.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Utaku smiled and reached for Tsuruchi. She looked like she was going to grab him, but stopped short and just left her hand there, waiting. For what, Katsumi wasn’t certain but Tsuruchi obviously wasn’t following through with whatever it was.
Asahina bowed, “Asahina Kyuzo.”
Utaku also extended her arm to Asahina, who also didn’t respond. This was curious. Katsumi decided she wanted to be part of this strange custom and held out her hand, “Daigotsu,” she said.
Utaku gripped Katsumi’s hand. They were now holding hands. It was so unique. Then Utaku shook her arm firmly in a small up and down motion. A smile spread over Katsumi’s face. It was probably the most interesting thing she had ever experienced in Rokugan. People seemed to have an aversion to Katsumi touching them, often she would forget how uncomfortable it made people, but here there was not only a Unicorn, but also the leader of the Unicorn in the area, gripping and shaking her hand. It was kind of welcoming. It made her feel like she belonged.
“A pleasure to meet you all.” Utaku offered her hand to Shiba, who politely shook her head and sunk behind Asahina.
“Now that that is out of the way,” Tsuruchi expressed in a disdain manner, “I was wondering if you could tell us where the game trails are.”
“I can do more than tell you, I can give you a map.” Utaku pulled out a rolled piece of parchment and a chunk of charcoal. Quickly she drew a few items, then rolled it up and handed it to Tsuruchi, who gingerly accepted it. He seemed none-to-pleased to be touching what Katsumi was sure was the hide of an animal. She smirked under her mask and reached a hand out, offering to take it.
“Tsuruchi-san, you want me to hold that, right?”
“Very much.” He couldn’t get rid of it quick enough. Katsumi held her breath; it was all she could do from letting loose a laugh especially after Tsuruchi proceeded to wipe his hands off on his painted chest and arms, as if he was cleaning them by muddying them with paint.
“Is that all you needed, Lord Asahina?”
“Yeah, that should be good. Thank you,” Asahina was watching Tsuruchi smear his makeup as well.
“Not a problem. Let us know if you find anything good. Game has been a little scarce the last couple of days, but that’s still the best place to go.”
“That’s why we came to you,” Asahina nodded as they turned to leave.
“Now we’re going hunting?” Katsumi asked exasperated with the long line of not-hunting errands they had run before they did what they set out to do. She hadn’t agreed to come along so she could converse with others, or watch Meintaro converse with others. At least he wasn’t so long winded as his brother was. Nevertheless, this whole morning had been highly irritating when it came to saying one thing and doing something completely opposite.
“Yeah,” Tsuruchi affirmed.
Good, Katsumi thought. It was about time they set out to do some killing, and maybe eating. She looked over her shoulder at her Shiba yojimbo, who had continued to follow her every move from sunup to sundown. With a flit of her hand, Katsumi waved the girl away, the yojimbo taking note and quickly falling behind.
“I feel like maybe these yojimbo are unnecessary,” Tsuruchi commented, giving a knowing glance to Asahina. “You’re dismissed,” he called over his shoulder. Tsuruchi’s yojimbo also fell behind.
“Well, the Soshis suggest we bring someone to watch our back,” Asahina protested. It was kind of odd behavior, he sounded like the Soshis were telling him what to do, and wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around?
“Did she think you were going alone?” Tsuruchi queried.
“Maybe.” Asahina shrugged.
“Well, you have three others with you. That should be plenty. We don’t want to make too much noise or we’ll turn up with nothing.” Tsuruchi did know a little something about hunting after all. Katsumi couldn’t have made a better argument if she tried. They already had her, Shiba, Tsuruchi, and Asahina. And from what she knew of Asahina, he was going to make enough noise they didn’t need three yojimbo stomping around in the woods with him.
“Alright,” Asahina agreed dismissing the last of the noisy bodyguards and they headed into the forest, the mid-morning sun quickly fading from view behind the thick copse of trees.
She had done a fine job last time, finding a boar within a matter of minutes when she had taken Asahina into the woods. There wasn’t a need for someone to tell them the woods were the best place. And even less of a need for someone to tell them where easy killing was. She honestly believed half the fun was finding something by yourself, with just your eyes, ears, and instincts to guide you towards the unlucky soul who would be dying by your hands for the night. But despite her feelings, their group was tramping to the Unicorn section of town, led by Tsuruchi, who was painted up in the most ridiculous manner.
Katsumi rolled her eyes when he asked for directions to Utaku Yue, the head of the Unicorn in the area. She dragged her feet as they plodded into the barn. And she sighed as Tsuruchi began his unfathomable desire to seek direction when it came to hunting.
“Utaku Yue, I was wondering if you could direct us as to where we’d find a good game trail?” Tsuruchi greeted the Unicorn who was brushing her horse. She was a wide woman, broad in shoulder, and hips.
“It seems you have me at a disadvantage, Mantis, have we met before?” Utaku paused long enough to give a curious glance, and then continued brushing.
“Oh,” Tsuruchi said, as if he had honestly forgotten courtesy. “I’m Tsuruchi Meintaro.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Utaku smiled and reached for Tsuruchi. She looked like she was going to grab him, but stopped short and just left her hand there, waiting. For what, Katsumi wasn’t certain but Tsuruchi obviously wasn’t following through with whatever it was.
Asahina bowed, “Asahina Kyuzo.”
Utaku also extended her arm to Asahina, who also didn’t respond. This was curious. Katsumi decided she wanted to be part of this strange custom and held out her hand, “Daigotsu,” she said.
Utaku gripped Katsumi’s hand. They were now holding hands. It was so unique. Then Utaku shook her arm firmly in a small up and down motion. A smile spread over Katsumi’s face. It was probably the most interesting thing she had ever experienced in Rokugan. People seemed to have an aversion to Katsumi touching them, often she would forget how uncomfortable it made people, but here there was not only a Unicorn, but also the leader of the Unicorn in the area, gripping and shaking her hand. It was kind of welcoming. It made her feel like she belonged.
“A pleasure to meet you all.” Utaku offered her hand to Shiba, who politely shook her head and sunk behind Asahina.
“Now that that is out of the way,” Tsuruchi expressed in a disdain manner, “I was wondering if you could tell us where the game trails are.”
“I can do more than tell you, I can give you a map.” Utaku pulled out a rolled piece of parchment and a chunk of charcoal. Quickly she drew a few items, then rolled it up and handed it to Tsuruchi, who gingerly accepted it. He seemed none-to-pleased to be touching what Katsumi was sure was the hide of an animal. She smirked under her mask and reached a hand out, offering to take it.
“Tsuruchi-san, you want me to hold that, right?”
“Very much.” He couldn’t get rid of it quick enough. Katsumi held her breath; it was all she could do from letting loose a laugh especially after Tsuruchi proceeded to wipe his hands off on his painted chest and arms, as if he was cleaning them by muddying them with paint.
“Is that all you needed, Lord Asahina?”
“Yeah, that should be good. Thank you,” Asahina was watching Tsuruchi smear his makeup as well.
“Not a problem. Let us know if you find anything good. Game has been a little scarce the last couple of days, but that’s still the best place to go.”
“That’s why we came to you,” Asahina nodded as they turned to leave.
“Now we’re going hunting?” Katsumi asked exasperated with the long line of not-hunting errands they had run before they did what they set out to do. She hadn’t agreed to come along so she could converse with others, or watch Meintaro converse with others. At least he wasn’t so long winded as his brother was. Nevertheless, this whole morning had been highly irritating when it came to saying one thing and doing something completely opposite.
“Yeah,” Tsuruchi affirmed.
Good, Katsumi thought. It was about time they set out to do some killing, and maybe eating. She looked over her shoulder at her Shiba yojimbo, who had continued to follow her every move from sunup to sundown. With a flit of her hand, Katsumi waved the girl away, the yojimbo taking note and quickly falling behind.
“I feel like maybe these yojimbo are unnecessary,” Tsuruchi commented, giving a knowing glance to Asahina. “You’re dismissed,” he called over his shoulder. Tsuruchi’s yojimbo also fell behind.
“Well, the Soshis suggest we bring someone to watch our back,” Asahina protested. It was kind of odd behavior, he sounded like the Soshis were telling him what to do, and wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around?
“Did she think you were going alone?” Tsuruchi queried.
“Maybe.” Asahina shrugged.
“Well, you have three others with you. That should be plenty. We don’t want to make too much noise or we’ll turn up with nothing.” Tsuruchi did know a little something about hunting after all. Katsumi couldn’t have made a better argument if she tried. They already had her, Shiba, Tsuruchi, and Asahina. And from what she knew of Asahina, he was going to make enough noise they didn’t need three yojimbo stomping around in the woods with him.
“Alright,” Asahina agreed dismissing the last of the noisy bodyguards and they headed into the forest, the mid-morning sun quickly fading from view behind the thick copse of trees.
***
Tsuruchi
was mystifying. He ducked below branches, crawled along the ground,
Kyuzo was even certain he had tasted the dirt once or twice. The way he
‘hunted’ was foreign and nothing at all like what he had seen Daigotsu
do. In fact, if she was hunting right now, compared to Tsuruchi she
looked to be taking a stroll through the forest. Tsuruchi was simply so…
complex in his execution. They had been walking for some time, Tsuruchi
like a crazed hound sniffing out his prey. Daigotsu closely examining a
tree, a rock, or something inconspicuous on the ground only every now
and then, pointing a direction while whispering with Tsuruchi, who would
take off on his exuberant hunting style.
Tsuruchi paused, holding up a hand to halt everyone. Kyuzo knew what this sign meant by now, Tsuruchi had done it only half a dozen times or so since they started this morning. Tsuruchi crouched on the ground, looking at something, something Kyuzo could actually see. It was some sort of upturned earth, like something had been dragged through here recently. Kyuzo quickly assessed his surroundings, wondering if someone else was hunting out here as well, and if they were still nearby. He noticed neither Daigotsu nor Tsuruchi looking around and took a step closer to the marks on the ground.
“It’s obviously very large,” Daigotsu pointed out.
“Snake,” Tsuruchi said before Daigotsu could finish wherever her thought was going.
A snake? Snakes were little things that hid in piles of dead leaves and grass, not whatever this track was. Maybe Tsuruchi had spent too much time in lands outside of Rokugan.
“Guys, this is going to be very tasty. Here we have a large snake, and I’ve only come across a few of these fellas. It’s bound to provide that challenge we were looking for.”
Kyuzo stared at Tsuruchi. He was serious.
“Erm…” Shiba gulped as she readied her spear. Kyuzo was starting to feel the same way. He strung his bow and decided to keep it in his hand, just in case.
“Shiba, don’t worry, it’s just a big snake,” Tsuruchi assured her, though it wasn’t very assuring.
Tsuruchi seemed sure of himself, but Kyuzo didn’t have as much faith as the Mantis seemed to put in themselves. He studied Daigotsu, who casually began following the trail again. She lagged behind Tsuruchi and his bizarre behavior, with Kyuzo third, and Shiba taking the rear. As they progressed down the obvious path, one Kyuzo could even follow, the ground began changing color. Subtle at first, just a few spots here and there, but quickly the muddy areas grew to be small puddles of something green and liquid. The way it sat on top of the dirt, only soaking in if one stepped on it, meant it was thick as well as wet. Kyuzo had seen something like this before, heard it somewhere, but it was eluding him. He began pouring over all the stories he could recall, something about green liquid and it came to him. Blood.
Kyuzo stopped in his tracks.
“Yeah, so I’m thinking that-” He began cut off by Shiba who must have come to the same conclusion at the same time.
“So…” Shiba also began, quickly leading into her muttered apologies, “Oh, sorry.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Kyuzo looked to Shiba.
“I think so…” She said, in her always-unsure way.
Kyuzo turned back to Tsuruchi and Daigotsu, Daigotsu was nodding as if she also understood the situation. “Have you ever heard of the Naga?”
“What?” Tsuruchi stood, confusion marking his face.
“I’ve never met one myself, but I’ve heard the legends. Didn’t you hear those stories as a kid? Giant snake people?”
“What makes you think that?” Tsuruchi split his question between Kyuzo and the tracks on the ground.
“The green blood,” Kyuzo pointed down to a large puddle of it. Larger than one should be. Granted, he had no idea how big these things actually were, but if it were human, it would have died by now from the loss of blood they had already found.
“Oh, that would do it,” Tsuruchi nodded, seemingly satisfied with Kyuzo’s conclusion.
“We appear to be tracking a Naga right now,” Shiba added.
“Oh,” was all that came from Tsuruchi. For their guide, and a recommended hunter by the Soshis, he seemed to be the last one on the uptake about what they were even following.
“The more intelligent the creature, the more fun hunting it is,” Daigotsu said chillingly. She wasn’t joking, at least it didn’t appear that she was, her voice was cold and steady and her body language spoke volumes about her intentions. Kyuzo brushed off her comment, hoping to pretend like he didn’t hear it.
“Well, this one is wounded. It won’t be much of a challenge,” Tsuruchi said pointedly.
That was a good point. Granted, Kyuzo was already aware the Naga was wounded, it was the reason he was able to draw the conclusion that instead of a snake they were following a Naga. However, Naga were giant, intelligent creatures. They were part human, part snake. They lived in communities so they were never alone. Yet, here was irrefutable evidence that something had injured what Kyuzo believed to be much more hardy and powerful than him. Moreover, if that something could do that to a Naga, then what could it do to their little hunting party?
“So,” Kyuzo decided to give voice to his concerns, “What would wound a Naga?”
The group traded concerned looks between each other. It seemed most of them were also drawing the same conclusion, that whatever it was must be big, must be powerful, and they should be wary if they were to proceed.
“I don’t know,” Tsuruchi followed the trail with his eyes, looking past the trees and bushes, well beyond what Kyuzo was certain he could actually see, “But we should find it to help.”
Now he was talking. “Alright, let’s find it.”
She saw it in the Naga’s eyes too. Her dark black eyes that darted between the four of them who had come across her as she leaned against a tree. Morasahi was pretty certain it was a she. It looked like woman from the head to the navel. From there it was all snake, the cylindrical body going on, and on, and on, a good fifteen feet or so, coming to a pointed tail as a snake should. It was a little maddening to behold. Never in Morasahi’s wildest dreams did she think she would ever lay eyes on such a creature. The Naga’s face was human, besides the eerie black eyes, and green olive skin that shone as if glossy. She had long black hair, human shoulders, human hands, and human arms. Her torso was covered with some sort of armored breast piece that tied on the sides, which was her undoing it would appear. The Naga held both hands against her left side, green blood staining her strange skin and oozing from the wound underneath.
“Are you okay?” Tsuruchi asked slowly. It felt like they had all been staring at each other for eternity. The Naga stared blankly back at the group.
“Do you even speak our language?” Asahina asked in response to the unchanging stare.
“Oorassthniv sthnivakisss.” The Naga whispered, her voice cutting through the space between them.
“That answers that,” Tsuruchi shuffled, obviously uncertain of what to do next.
Morasahi didn’t blame him, she wasn’t certain what to do next either. They found the Naga, something Tsuruchi and Asahina had suggested they set out to do; but now what? Without being able to communicate, they were at a loss for how to proceed. How do you tell a Naga you’re here to help after something has just torn a hole in its side?
Asahina dropped his bag and pulled out a small pack located within. “Can I?” He began and lifted the new pack towards the Naga. “I don’t know… if this will hurt you or not…” The Naga continued to stare, which led Asahina into some exaggerated gestures to portray his intentions. He pointed at his side, the same side she was wounded on, and then pointed at the kit. Tsuruchi began pointing at the kit and making happy faces, nodding while doing so. In addition, Morasahi started rubbing her left side and pretended to wrap something around her as if she were bandaging herself up. Asahina then pressed the kit to his imaginary wounded side and pointed at the Naga outstretching the kit towards her.
Apparently it worked. The Naga retrieved something from a small satchel on her waist and held it up for the group to see. It was small, and white, but not evenly so, the light made it look almost oily, creating an uneven distribution of colors on its surface. It was a pearl. Then it was nothing. The Naga crushed the stone between her fingers and let the dust drift through the cracks in her hand. Then something extraordinary took place. The Naga’s tail shrunk and withered away, giving way to two human legs and the rest of the anatomy that came with it. She was nude, but fully human in form, except for the yellow-green glossy skin tone, and being at least a foot taller than Asahina, who was already nearly six feet.
Morasahi blushed, embarrassed for the nude Naga. She pulled off her outer kimono and took a few steps towards the Naga, offering her shirt as a makeshift skirt. Perhaps it was because her eyes were cast downward so she wasn’t staring at the Naga’s nudity, but she didn’t even see the point that she crossed the line from friendly to threatening. The next thing Morasahi knew, the Naga woman had drawn an arrow, aimed it at Morasahi, and narrowed her now yellow eyes ready to loose the arrow into Morasahi’s body. Morasahi stopped the instant she realized what was going on, an instant that was made clearer by the flaring of the Naga’s hair, spreading out like a cobra’s hood, and obvious change in skin color. She literally became more menacing. Without hesitation, Morasahi rushed behind Daigotsu, the closest person to her, and hid from the threat of death and dismemberment.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” Tsuruchi held his hands up trying to indicate for her to stop. Whatever he was doing was working; the Naga lowered her bow and became more… human again. The darkness that had engulfed her fading away to curiosity.
“It’s okay; we don’t mean you any harm. Obviously.” Asahina took a step forward, with no signs of aggression from the snake. Morasahi watched from behind Daigotsu as Asahina began dressing the Naga’s wound. The Naga watched as well. It didn’t take long and when he began packing his kit away the Naga patted him on the head with a smile.
“Sssarassthnika,” It hissed.
“I think she likes you,” Tsuruchi informed Asahina. Tsuruchi then proceeded to wave his arms about in what would have looked like a fit of some sort of madness except he spoke with each action allowing the group to understand the strange motions he was imitating. “Do… you… need… any… more… help?”
Morasahi watched Tsuruchi, and then peered at the Naga who didn’t seem to understand. It wasn’t much of a surprise. Asahina took a few steps backwards.
“Could you… tie her bottom half, please?” Morasahi muttered from her safety behind Daigotsu. She held out her kimono for Asahina to give to the Naga. “I’m sure you’re enjoying the view, but the rest of us…”
Asahina rolled his eyes and took the shirt, handing it to the Naga with ease. She was obviously favoring Asahina for no reason whatsoever. Granted, he had just patched her up, but before that no one had done anything to her and she had turned on Morasahi. Morasahi sighed; it was just another thing Asahina was beating her out at. He can have the forest creatures, Morasahi thought bitterly to herself. The Naga held up Morasahi’s kimono, studying it, then proceeded to drape it over her shoulders, as one should wear a kimono. Morasahi sighed again. Now she was down a shirt, and the Naga was still flashing her private parts to everyone.
Tsuruchi paused, holding up a hand to halt everyone. Kyuzo knew what this sign meant by now, Tsuruchi had done it only half a dozen times or so since they started this morning. Tsuruchi crouched on the ground, looking at something, something Kyuzo could actually see. It was some sort of upturned earth, like something had been dragged through here recently. Kyuzo quickly assessed his surroundings, wondering if someone else was hunting out here as well, and if they were still nearby. He noticed neither Daigotsu nor Tsuruchi looking around and took a step closer to the marks on the ground.
“It’s obviously very large,” Daigotsu pointed out.
“Snake,” Tsuruchi said before Daigotsu could finish wherever her thought was going.
A snake? Snakes were little things that hid in piles of dead leaves and grass, not whatever this track was. Maybe Tsuruchi had spent too much time in lands outside of Rokugan.
“Guys, this is going to be very tasty. Here we have a large snake, and I’ve only come across a few of these fellas. It’s bound to provide that challenge we were looking for.”
Kyuzo stared at Tsuruchi. He was serious.
“Erm…” Shiba gulped as she readied her spear. Kyuzo was starting to feel the same way. He strung his bow and decided to keep it in his hand, just in case.
“Shiba, don’t worry, it’s just a big snake,” Tsuruchi assured her, though it wasn’t very assuring.
Tsuruchi seemed sure of himself, but Kyuzo didn’t have as much faith as the Mantis seemed to put in themselves. He studied Daigotsu, who casually began following the trail again. She lagged behind Tsuruchi and his bizarre behavior, with Kyuzo third, and Shiba taking the rear. As they progressed down the obvious path, one Kyuzo could even follow, the ground began changing color. Subtle at first, just a few spots here and there, but quickly the muddy areas grew to be small puddles of something green and liquid. The way it sat on top of the dirt, only soaking in if one stepped on it, meant it was thick as well as wet. Kyuzo had seen something like this before, heard it somewhere, but it was eluding him. He began pouring over all the stories he could recall, something about green liquid and it came to him. Blood.
Kyuzo stopped in his tracks.
“Yeah, so I’m thinking that-” He began cut off by Shiba who must have come to the same conclusion at the same time.
“So…” Shiba also began, quickly leading into her muttered apologies, “Oh, sorry.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Kyuzo looked to Shiba.
“I think so…” She said, in her always-unsure way.
Kyuzo turned back to Tsuruchi and Daigotsu, Daigotsu was nodding as if she also understood the situation. “Have you ever heard of the Naga?”
“What?” Tsuruchi stood, confusion marking his face.
“I’ve never met one myself, but I’ve heard the legends. Didn’t you hear those stories as a kid? Giant snake people?”
“What makes you think that?” Tsuruchi split his question between Kyuzo and the tracks on the ground.
“The green blood,” Kyuzo pointed down to a large puddle of it. Larger than one should be. Granted, he had no idea how big these things actually were, but if it were human, it would have died by now from the loss of blood they had already found.
“Oh, that would do it,” Tsuruchi nodded, seemingly satisfied with Kyuzo’s conclusion.
“We appear to be tracking a Naga right now,” Shiba added.
“Oh,” was all that came from Tsuruchi. For their guide, and a recommended hunter by the Soshis, he seemed to be the last one on the uptake about what they were even following.
“The more intelligent the creature, the more fun hunting it is,” Daigotsu said chillingly. She wasn’t joking, at least it didn’t appear that she was, her voice was cold and steady and her body language spoke volumes about her intentions. Kyuzo brushed off her comment, hoping to pretend like he didn’t hear it.
“Well, this one is wounded. It won’t be much of a challenge,” Tsuruchi said pointedly.
That was a good point. Granted, Kyuzo was already aware the Naga was wounded, it was the reason he was able to draw the conclusion that instead of a snake they were following a Naga. However, Naga were giant, intelligent creatures. They were part human, part snake. They lived in communities so they were never alone. Yet, here was irrefutable evidence that something had injured what Kyuzo believed to be much more hardy and powerful than him. Moreover, if that something could do that to a Naga, then what could it do to their little hunting party?
“So,” Kyuzo decided to give voice to his concerns, “What would wound a Naga?”
The group traded concerned looks between each other. It seemed most of them were also drawing the same conclusion, that whatever it was must be big, must be powerful, and they should be wary if they were to proceed.
“I don’t know,” Tsuruchi followed the trail with his eyes, looking past the trees and bushes, well beyond what Kyuzo was certain he could actually see, “But we should find it to help.”
Now he was talking. “Alright, let’s find it.”
***
There was a break in the trees up
ahead, a break the Naga’s trail led directly into. Morasahi was not a
skilled hunter, she had actually never been hunting before, but she had
no difficulty finding these tracks and following them. Naga weren’t
exactly small creatures, if the stories were to be believed. Judging
from the shuffled dirt, this one was no exception. When the creature had
begun bleeding, the trail was only made all the easier to follow, and
follow they did, their hunting mission now turning into a rescue
mission. Or at least an investigation if the creature turned out to be
dead. She thought back to what Tsuruchi had said about eating the snake,
visions of Tsuruchi and Daigotsu tearing into the mangled corpse of the
Naga filled her head, green blood caking their faces and hands. Her
stomach turned. Morasahi felt sick. Breakfast had been a poor choice for
trying something unique to the Spider diet. For the very little she had
eaten, it weighed heavily like several stones knocking together in her
stomach.
The air changed as they entered the small clearing hidden amongst the thick woods and underbrush. Morasahi could feel it. Like everyone and everything was holding their breath. Some sort of unnatural silence where she was suddenly aware of every twig breaking under their feet, every scuff of their sandals, and every ruffle of their clothes from every movement. The world was charged and perched on the edge of some unseen cliff, waiting for some unknown action to take place before everything would go careening out of control.
The air changed as they entered the small clearing hidden amongst the thick woods and underbrush. Morasahi could feel it. Like everyone and everything was holding their breath. Some sort of unnatural silence where she was suddenly aware of every twig breaking under their feet, every scuff of their sandals, and every ruffle of their clothes from every movement. The world was charged and perched on the edge of some unseen cliff, waiting for some unknown action to take place before everything would go careening out of control.
She saw it in the Naga’s eyes too. Her dark black eyes that darted between the four of them who had come across her as she leaned against a tree. Morasahi was pretty certain it was a she. It looked like woman from the head to the navel. From there it was all snake, the cylindrical body going on, and on, and on, a good fifteen feet or so, coming to a pointed tail as a snake should. It was a little maddening to behold. Never in Morasahi’s wildest dreams did she think she would ever lay eyes on such a creature. The Naga’s face was human, besides the eerie black eyes, and green olive skin that shone as if glossy. She had long black hair, human shoulders, human hands, and human arms. Her torso was covered with some sort of armored breast piece that tied on the sides, which was her undoing it would appear. The Naga held both hands against her left side, green blood staining her strange skin and oozing from the wound underneath.
“Are you okay?” Tsuruchi asked slowly. It felt like they had all been staring at each other for eternity. The Naga stared blankly back at the group.
“Do you even speak our language?” Asahina asked in response to the unchanging stare.
“Oorassthniv sthnivakisss.” The Naga whispered, her voice cutting through the space between them.
“That answers that,” Tsuruchi shuffled, obviously uncertain of what to do next.
Morasahi didn’t blame him, she wasn’t certain what to do next either. They found the Naga, something Tsuruchi and Asahina had suggested they set out to do; but now what? Without being able to communicate, they were at a loss for how to proceed. How do you tell a Naga you’re here to help after something has just torn a hole in its side?
Asahina dropped his bag and pulled out a small pack located within. “Can I?” He began and lifted the new pack towards the Naga. “I don’t know… if this will hurt you or not…” The Naga continued to stare, which led Asahina into some exaggerated gestures to portray his intentions. He pointed at his side, the same side she was wounded on, and then pointed at the kit. Tsuruchi began pointing at the kit and making happy faces, nodding while doing so. In addition, Morasahi started rubbing her left side and pretended to wrap something around her as if she were bandaging herself up. Asahina then pressed the kit to his imaginary wounded side and pointed at the Naga outstretching the kit towards her.
Apparently it worked. The Naga retrieved something from a small satchel on her waist and held it up for the group to see. It was small, and white, but not evenly so, the light made it look almost oily, creating an uneven distribution of colors on its surface. It was a pearl. Then it was nothing. The Naga crushed the stone between her fingers and let the dust drift through the cracks in her hand. Then something extraordinary took place. The Naga’s tail shrunk and withered away, giving way to two human legs and the rest of the anatomy that came with it. She was nude, but fully human in form, except for the yellow-green glossy skin tone, and being at least a foot taller than Asahina, who was already nearly six feet.
Morasahi blushed, embarrassed for the nude Naga. She pulled off her outer kimono and took a few steps towards the Naga, offering her shirt as a makeshift skirt. Perhaps it was because her eyes were cast downward so she wasn’t staring at the Naga’s nudity, but she didn’t even see the point that she crossed the line from friendly to threatening. The next thing Morasahi knew, the Naga woman had drawn an arrow, aimed it at Morasahi, and narrowed her now yellow eyes ready to loose the arrow into Morasahi’s body. Morasahi stopped the instant she realized what was going on, an instant that was made clearer by the flaring of the Naga’s hair, spreading out like a cobra’s hood, and obvious change in skin color. She literally became more menacing. Without hesitation, Morasahi rushed behind Daigotsu, the closest person to her, and hid from the threat of death and dismemberment.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” Tsuruchi held his hands up trying to indicate for her to stop. Whatever he was doing was working; the Naga lowered her bow and became more… human again. The darkness that had engulfed her fading away to curiosity.
“It’s okay; we don’t mean you any harm. Obviously.” Asahina took a step forward, with no signs of aggression from the snake. Morasahi watched from behind Daigotsu as Asahina began dressing the Naga’s wound. The Naga watched as well. It didn’t take long and when he began packing his kit away the Naga patted him on the head with a smile.
“Sssarassthnika,” It hissed.
“I think she likes you,” Tsuruchi informed Asahina. Tsuruchi then proceeded to wave his arms about in what would have looked like a fit of some sort of madness except he spoke with each action allowing the group to understand the strange motions he was imitating. “Do… you… need… any… more… help?”
Morasahi watched Tsuruchi, and then peered at the Naga who didn’t seem to understand. It wasn’t much of a surprise. Asahina took a few steps backwards.
“Could you… tie her bottom half, please?” Morasahi muttered from her safety behind Daigotsu. She held out her kimono for Asahina to give to the Naga. “I’m sure you’re enjoying the view, but the rest of us…”
Asahina rolled his eyes and took the shirt, handing it to the Naga with ease. She was obviously favoring Asahina for no reason whatsoever. Granted, he had just patched her up, but before that no one had done anything to her and she had turned on Morasahi. Morasahi sighed; it was just another thing Asahina was beating her out at. He can have the forest creatures, Morasahi thought bitterly to herself. The Naga held up Morasahi’s kimono, studying it, then proceeded to drape it over her shoulders, as one should wear a kimono. Morasahi sighed again. Now she was down a shirt, and the Naga was still flashing her private parts to everyone.
***
Anjin
watched the heimin scrubbing the samurai laundry, talking idly amongst
themselves. He knew how this worked, how the servants would meet up and
share the juicy bits of gossip they overheard or were made aware of
while tending to the needs of the house they were assigned to. Most of
the time it was things that weren’t supposed to be shared, and the
working class knew that as well. Nevertheless, they shared, and they
traded stories, trying to outmatch their working partner. Anjin wasn’t
certain whether it was for entertainment or just to best each other, he
didn’t get that involved in the lives of peasants. In court, it was for
power. Here though, here it looked like it was just a story to tell for
the heimin to laugh about and enjoy a moment in their lives filled with
menial labor.
He wasn’t adept at reading lips. Something he had never seen a use for with courtiers always hiding their mouths behind their fans. Now he found himself wishing he had read into it at least a little. For now, he was only catching bits and pieces, but not knowing who to apply it to the information was practically worthless. It was also abundantly clear that his presence made them uncomfortable, probably the proximity to their chosen location. Anjin was sitting on the hill by the river, about twenty feet from where the small group washed the clothes. And, of course, since he was of the samurai caste, they probably thought he would have them punished for speaking so freely of those in higher status, sharing secrets they shouldn’t be sharing. Only one way to find out. Anjin readied his crutches and rose, hobbling towards the small group whose voices became more hushed as he approached, eventually fading into silence altogether.
“Don’t stop on my account,” He said with a smile. The group looked at him warily. “I promise you, I’m not here to get anyone in trouble. I just enjoy a good story as much as the next person does. Does it look like I get to socialize with many people of my own status?” Anjin gestured with his crutches; making it well known he was a gimp. “As you may know, I’m highly ostracized and can’t find company in the samurai class, so, excuse me if I interrupted, but I was just hoping to join you for a bit and listen to whatever it is that you fine folks are laughing about.”
“It was just a silly story about my niece, samurai-sama,” one woman said, giving the rest of them a warning stare.
“I see, perhaps next time I may get to hear such a tale.” Anjin pretended to turn to go, stopping himself so it looked like he had just remembered something. “Would any of you know where I could find Shiba Morasahi-san?”
“Perhaps the Spider area, samurai-sama.” A young girl bit her lip as soon as she had said it, everyone’s eyes shot to her.
“Oh, why would she be there?” Anjin pried.
“I’ve only seen her there. I wouldn’t know.” The girl shook her head and began scrubbing the shirt in her hands nervously.
“I’ve noticed her there as well,” another young girl added.
“Just taking a stroll through town?” Anjin was starting to crack them; he just had to push a little harder.
“Oh, no, she’s always following that red-haired one. The Daigotsu who runs the Spider in town,” Another woman joined in on the conversation.
“Daigotsu Negisa?” Anjin posed.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Those two are like tealeaves and water, always together.”
“I hear Shiba-sama is trying to switch to the Spider family.”
Anjin smiled and quietly listened as the women returned to their normal gossip routine. He could believe Shiba was attempting to become more Spider-like, after witnessing breakfast this morning. She had asked to try Daigotsu’s food in front of everyone. It was quite shocking. Anjin didn’t have a problem with Daigotsu, or the Spider, they were free to do what they wished as they wished, but Shiba was a Phoenix, not a Spider. He had apparently greatly misjudged Shiba. Keeping himself holed up in his office for so long really put him out of touch with those he shared a roof with.
He wasn’t adept at reading lips. Something he had never seen a use for with courtiers always hiding their mouths behind their fans. Now he found himself wishing he had read into it at least a little. For now, he was only catching bits and pieces, but not knowing who to apply it to the information was practically worthless. It was also abundantly clear that his presence made them uncomfortable, probably the proximity to their chosen location. Anjin was sitting on the hill by the river, about twenty feet from where the small group washed the clothes. And, of course, since he was of the samurai caste, they probably thought he would have them punished for speaking so freely of those in higher status, sharing secrets they shouldn’t be sharing. Only one way to find out. Anjin readied his crutches and rose, hobbling towards the small group whose voices became more hushed as he approached, eventually fading into silence altogether.
“Don’t stop on my account,” He said with a smile. The group looked at him warily. “I promise you, I’m not here to get anyone in trouble. I just enjoy a good story as much as the next person does. Does it look like I get to socialize with many people of my own status?” Anjin gestured with his crutches; making it well known he was a gimp. “As you may know, I’m highly ostracized and can’t find company in the samurai class, so, excuse me if I interrupted, but I was just hoping to join you for a bit and listen to whatever it is that you fine folks are laughing about.”
“It was just a silly story about my niece, samurai-sama,” one woman said, giving the rest of them a warning stare.
“I see, perhaps next time I may get to hear such a tale.” Anjin pretended to turn to go, stopping himself so it looked like he had just remembered something. “Would any of you know where I could find Shiba Morasahi-san?”
“Perhaps the Spider area, samurai-sama.” A young girl bit her lip as soon as she had said it, everyone’s eyes shot to her.
“Oh, why would she be there?” Anjin pried.
“I’ve only seen her there. I wouldn’t know.” The girl shook her head and began scrubbing the shirt in her hands nervously.
“I’ve noticed her there as well,” another young girl added.
“Just taking a stroll through town?” Anjin was starting to crack them; he just had to push a little harder.
“Oh, no, she’s always following that red-haired one. The Daigotsu who runs the Spider in town,” Another woman joined in on the conversation.
“Daigotsu Negisa?” Anjin posed.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Those two are like tealeaves and water, always together.”
“I hear Shiba-sama is trying to switch to the Spider family.”
Anjin smiled and quietly listened as the women returned to their normal gossip routine. He could believe Shiba was attempting to become more Spider-like, after witnessing breakfast this morning. She had asked to try Daigotsu’s food in front of everyone. It was quite shocking. Anjin didn’t have a problem with Daigotsu, or the Spider, they were free to do what they wished as they wished, but Shiba was a Phoenix, not a Spider. He had apparently greatly misjudged Shiba. Keeping himself holed up in his office for so long really put him out of touch with those he shared a roof with.
***
Kyuzo
looked up at the Naga. He wasn’t used to that, looking up to speak to
someone, it made him feel out of sorts, like he wasn’t standing
straight, or as if he were sitting or something. He had never really
considered how everyone he talked to was shorter than he was, it just
was a part of life, but now having to incline his head, it suddenly
dawned on him that this is not normal.
“So what did this?” Kyuzo pointed at her wound then grabbed his side not wanting to bump her injury accidentally. He pointed at his weapons then grabbed his side again. “What happened?”
The Naga watched him with big eyes. She seemed rather young for her race, probably younger than Daigotsu. However, she was easily older than everyone there combined. Naga lived for a very long time. Kyuzo wasn’t certain how long, but he knew it was longer than any man who lived to see old age would be.
She removed her bow from her back, the only weapon she carried and held it out to Kyuzo. “Toone kenia.”
“You shot yourself?” Kyuzo asked. As soon as he did, he regretted it. It was a ridiculous question; of course she didn’t shoot herself in her side with her bow. That was impossible.
In response, the Naga simply pointed towards the woods. Maybe someone out there shot her, though he hadn’t seen any arrows on their trip to the clearing. If she was shot, there should be an arrow somewhere. Maybe she wasn’t actually answering his question, maybe this was some sort of gift-giving ritual. Kyuzo held out his bow for the Naga to take, accepting her bow in return.
“Tana?” She turned her head examining Kyuzo’s bow. She lifted it and tested the pull, shrugging and handing it back to Kyuzo. “Essstini kana.”
Not sure what to do from here, Kyuzo mimicked the Naga. He lifted her bow and tugged, surprised at how strong the wood was. He could hardly pull the string back at all. It was impressive. Then he handed her bow back to her. She repeated the pointing towards the woods, a spot Daigotsu was now looking around at with Shiba one-step behind her.
“I think she wants us to follow her. Over where Daigotsu is,” Tsuruchi voiced. He was getting rather good vocalizing both his intentions with the Naga, and what he believed the Naga was intending to say. The Naga did walk towards Daigotsu, stopping a few feet away from here.
“Can you…” Tsuruchi began pantomiming, “Do you…” The Naga wasn’t paying him any attention. “You seem to be the only one who she will talk with,” Tsuruchi finally said to Kyuzo.
“Yes…” Kyuzo agreed. He had noticed it too. When Shiba attempted to help, she was threatened. Tsuruchi and his wild gestures probably only confused the poor Naga. Daigotsu didn’t say anything, which wasn’t unusual. In addition, Kyuzo was the only one she had actively responded to, both in her strange language and through friendly actions… Like patting him on the head.
“Imma.” The Naga pointed at Daigotsu, not through her, at her. Kyuzo narrowed his eyes, this was starting to make even less sense than her shooting herself. “Ma ni.” She said, again pointing at Daigotsu.
“She wounded you?” Tsuruchi blurted out. That wasn’t possible, when would Daigotsu have time to come out here and wound a Naga before returning to breakfast to come out here and find the wounded Naga? Even in the realm of strangeness that is Daigotsu, this wasn’t believable.
“Sstha ni. E kaboothsss,” The Naga pulled her hand across her own face from left to right.
“How did this happen?” Kyuzo tried again, pointing at her bandage.
“Kssthnatssthena,” She grumbled, lowering her voice. “Akassshna,” She finished off with a hiss.
Kyuzo shook his head. He wasn’t getting whatever the Naga was trying to relay. All she did was point at Daigotsu repeatedly and drag her hand across her face.
“Asahina-san, you might want to ask how many of them are around here,” Daigotsu recommended. “Utaku-san said game has been scarce.”
“It makes sense,” Tsuruchi added, “One Naga can’t eat out a forest.”
It did make sense. Moreover, if one Naga was wounded, it would be logical to conclude that another Naga might need help as well. Whatever did this to them might still be out there, maybe even hurting the others. Kyuzo pointed to Tsuruchi, “One.” He pointed to himself, “Two.” He pointed to Shiba and Daigotsu, “Three. Four.” He then held up four fingers, pointing at everyone again then pointing at his fingers. Then he pointed at the Naga and opened his hand in a questioning fashion.
“There are four of us, so how many are you?” Tsuruchi emphasized. Kyuzo began to wonder if maybe that’s the way Tsuruchi comprehended things, by saying them. She obviously couldn’t understand Tsuruchi, yet he repeated everything verbally.
The Naga raised three fingers and pointed beyond Daigotsu, to the direction she had pointed to all along. She slashed a line with her thumb across her neck.
“There are three dead over there. Okay, I got it,” Tsuruchi nodded.
The Naga scowled and grabbed at her face, making a fist right in front of it.
“Angry,” Tsuruchi commented. “Angry looking thing.”
The Naga began to look irritated. She raised three fingers again and drew the line across her neck again, then repeated the scowl and fist in the air.
“Three dead things,” Tsuruchi nodded again. This was starting to become amusing. “I don’t know why I’m talking to you,” Tsuruchi finally said aloud.
Kyuzo smirked and pointed in the same direction the Naga had, where Daigotsu had been standing but wasn’t any longer. Shiba was also out of sight now. “There are three angry Naga over there?”
The Naga just stared and pointed the same way. With an exasperated sigh, Kyuzo started in that direction. Whatever was over there the Naga wanted them to see it, and he had a feeling Daigotsu had already headed in that direction.
“So what did this?” Kyuzo pointed at her wound then grabbed his side not wanting to bump her injury accidentally. He pointed at his weapons then grabbed his side again. “What happened?”
The Naga watched him with big eyes. She seemed rather young for her race, probably younger than Daigotsu. However, she was easily older than everyone there combined. Naga lived for a very long time. Kyuzo wasn’t certain how long, but he knew it was longer than any man who lived to see old age would be.
She removed her bow from her back, the only weapon she carried and held it out to Kyuzo. “Toone kenia.”
“You shot yourself?” Kyuzo asked. As soon as he did, he regretted it. It was a ridiculous question; of course she didn’t shoot herself in her side with her bow. That was impossible.
In response, the Naga simply pointed towards the woods. Maybe someone out there shot her, though he hadn’t seen any arrows on their trip to the clearing. If she was shot, there should be an arrow somewhere. Maybe she wasn’t actually answering his question, maybe this was some sort of gift-giving ritual. Kyuzo held out his bow for the Naga to take, accepting her bow in return.
“Tana?” She turned her head examining Kyuzo’s bow. She lifted it and tested the pull, shrugging and handing it back to Kyuzo. “Essstini kana.”
Not sure what to do from here, Kyuzo mimicked the Naga. He lifted her bow and tugged, surprised at how strong the wood was. He could hardly pull the string back at all. It was impressive. Then he handed her bow back to her. She repeated the pointing towards the woods, a spot Daigotsu was now looking around at with Shiba one-step behind her.
“I think she wants us to follow her. Over where Daigotsu is,” Tsuruchi voiced. He was getting rather good vocalizing both his intentions with the Naga, and what he believed the Naga was intending to say. The Naga did walk towards Daigotsu, stopping a few feet away from here.
“Can you…” Tsuruchi began pantomiming, “Do you…” The Naga wasn’t paying him any attention. “You seem to be the only one who she will talk with,” Tsuruchi finally said to Kyuzo.
“Yes…” Kyuzo agreed. He had noticed it too. When Shiba attempted to help, she was threatened. Tsuruchi and his wild gestures probably only confused the poor Naga. Daigotsu didn’t say anything, which wasn’t unusual. In addition, Kyuzo was the only one she had actively responded to, both in her strange language and through friendly actions… Like patting him on the head.
“Imma.” The Naga pointed at Daigotsu, not through her, at her. Kyuzo narrowed his eyes, this was starting to make even less sense than her shooting herself. “Ma ni.” She said, again pointing at Daigotsu.
“She wounded you?” Tsuruchi blurted out. That wasn’t possible, when would Daigotsu have time to come out here and wound a Naga before returning to breakfast to come out here and find the wounded Naga? Even in the realm of strangeness that is Daigotsu, this wasn’t believable.
“Sstha ni. E kaboothsss,” The Naga pulled her hand across her own face from left to right.
“How did this happen?” Kyuzo tried again, pointing at her bandage.
“Kssthnatssthena,” She grumbled, lowering her voice. “Akassshna,” She finished off with a hiss.
Kyuzo shook his head. He wasn’t getting whatever the Naga was trying to relay. All she did was point at Daigotsu repeatedly and drag her hand across her face.
“Asahina-san, you might want to ask how many of them are around here,” Daigotsu recommended. “Utaku-san said game has been scarce.”
“It makes sense,” Tsuruchi added, “One Naga can’t eat out a forest.”
It did make sense. Moreover, if one Naga was wounded, it would be logical to conclude that another Naga might need help as well. Whatever did this to them might still be out there, maybe even hurting the others. Kyuzo pointed to Tsuruchi, “One.” He pointed to himself, “Two.” He pointed to Shiba and Daigotsu, “Three. Four.” He then held up four fingers, pointing at everyone again then pointing at his fingers. Then he pointed at the Naga and opened his hand in a questioning fashion.
“There are four of us, so how many are you?” Tsuruchi emphasized. Kyuzo began to wonder if maybe that’s the way Tsuruchi comprehended things, by saying them. She obviously couldn’t understand Tsuruchi, yet he repeated everything verbally.
The Naga raised three fingers and pointed beyond Daigotsu, to the direction she had pointed to all along. She slashed a line with her thumb across her neck.
“There are three dead over there. Okay, I got it,” Tsuruchi nodded.
The Naga scowled and grabbed at her face, making a fist right in front of it.
“Angry,” Tsuruchi commented. “Angry looking thing.”
The Naga began to look irritated. She raised three fingers again and drew the line across her neck again, then repeated the scowl and fist in the air.
“Three dead things,” Tsuruchi nodded again. This was starting to become amusing. “I don’t know why I’m talking to you,” Tsuruchi finally said aloud.
Kyuzo smirked and pointed in the same direction the Naga had, where Daigotsu had been standing but wasn’t any longer. Shiba was also out of sight now. “There are three angry Naga over there?”
The Naga just stared and pointed the same way. With an exasperated sigh, Kyuzo started in that direction. Whatever was over there the Naga wanted them to see it, and he had a feeling Daigotsu had already headed in that direction.
***
“While we’re trading information, tell me, is it true about Asahina-san?” Yasuki Ichio eagerly pressed.
Anjin couldn’t say if it was true or not, because he really had very little clue on what exactly it was. They had been probing each other, the Crab courtier and Anjin. Giving up a slipped word here or there, or mentioning something that they overheard about some other poor soul in this small town. Anjin had just learned much of what he knew already, the Mantis merchants coming in in a few weeks and even more gossip on Tsuruchi Airo and his attempts to burn down the distillery. However, it was becoming much bigger as the story went on, extending now to poor Tsuruchi Airo attempting to set the house Asahina and the delegates slept in on fire in the wee hours of the morning. He was beginning to sound like a monster as people continued to talk about the most interesting thing that had happened since Asahina had taken over.
“Tsuruchi didn’t attempt to set him on fire, if that’s what you’re asking,” Anjin assured Yasuki.
“No, Tsuruchi is old news,” He waved his hand swatting the thought away, “Asahina’s party. You were there, right?”
“I was… indisposed most of the night. I didn’t actually attend. It turned out marvelously, I’ve been told.”
“Yeah, but Kaiu Toturi told me he saw something take place that probably wasn’t meant for the public eye. However, he has a reputation for drinking past his ability and spinning tall tales based on his drunken misconceptions. There you go, there’s another bit for you, now tell me about Asahina and the party.” Yasuki tilted his head waiting for Anjin to spill the rice on Asahina and his party.
Anjin just shrugged, “I can’t say I know what you’re talking about.” He really had no idea. He hadn’t heard anything about Asahina.
“Kitsuki-san,” Yasuki narrowed his eyes, “I thought we were being honest here. I’ve heard something from the Scorpion on the same matter. You can’t tell me you don’t even know who you’re sharing a house with.”
“I’m sorry, Yasuki-san, I really have no idea.”
“Fine, if that’s how you’re going to be about it,” Yasuki dropped a coin on the table to pay for his drink, “I suppose we’re done here.”
“Could you, maybe, tell me what it pertains to besides the party?” Anjin pushed Yasuki’s coin towards the Crab. “Maybe it will jog my memory.”
“Asahina-sama’s penchant for personal parties. The ones you normally don’t hear about outside of a brothel.” Yasuki sat and leaned forward.
“It would seem, Yasuki-san, I don’t truly know those I share a house with.”
Anjin couldn’t say if it was true or not, because he really had very little clue on what exactly it was. They had been probing each other, the Crab courtier and Anjin. Giving up a slipped word here or there, or mentioning something that they overheard about some other poor soul in this small town. Anjin had just learned much of what he knew already, the Mantis merchants coming in in a few weeks and even more gossip on Tsuruchi Airo and his attempts to burn down the distillery. However, it was becoming much bigger as the story went on, extending now to poor Tsuruchi Airo attempting to set the house Asahina and the delegates slept in on fire in the wee hours of the morning. He was beginning to sound like a monster as people continued to talk about the most interesting thing that had happened since Asahina had taken over.
“Tsuruchi didn’t attempt to set him on fire, if that’s what you’re asking,” Anjin assured Yasuki.
“No, Tsuruchi is old news,” He waved his hand swatting the thought away, “Asahina’s party. You were there, right?”
“I was… indisposed most of the night. I didn’t actually attend. It turned out marvelously, I’ve been told.”
“Yeah, but Kaiu Toturi told me he saw something take place that probably wasn’t meant for the public eye. However, he has a reputation for drinking past his ability and spinning tall tales based on his drunken misconceptions. There you go, there’s another bit for you, now tell me about Asahina and the party.” Yasuki tilted his head waiting for Anjin to spill the rice on Asahina and his party.
Anjin just shrugged, “I can’t say I know what you’re talking about.” He really had no idea. He hadn’t heard anything about Asahina.
“Kitsuki-san,” Yasuki narrowed his eyes, “I thought we were being honest here. I’ve heard something from the Scorpion on the same matter. You can’t tell me you don’t even know who you’re sharing a house with.”
“I’m sorry, Yasuki-san, I really have no idea.”
“Fine, if that’s how you’re going to be about it,” Yasuki dropped a coin on the table to pay for his drink, “I suppose we’re done here.”
“Could you, maybe, tell me what it pertains to besides the party?” Anjin pushed Yasuki’s coin towards the Crab. “Maybe it will jog my memory.”
“Asahina-sama’s penchant for personal parties. The ones you normally don’t hear about outside of a brothel.” Yasuki sat and leaned forward.
“It would seem, Yasuki-san, I don’t truly know those I share a house with.”
***
Mikoto
shivered in her drenched kimono. Apparently part of the pre-wedding
ritual consisted of dumping ladlefuls of cold water on her head while
the Kitsune chanted in what seemed like a never-ending melody of
prayers. The only bright side to all of this was instead of having to
repeat this ritual day after day, she was getting it over and done with
in one go. It was the only sweetness she could find in this tasteless
rice bun of a predicament. That and Negisa had been extraordinarily nice
to her. It seemed they all were very similar after all, Yanagi, Negisa,
and Katsumi. Mikoto hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know Negisa,
something she was scolding herself for now that she was spending the
morning being waited on by her soon-to-be sister. It made her feel a
little guilty having Negisa cater to her every need, as long as it
didn’t impose on the rituals, of course. And unfortunately, there wasn’t
much Mikoto wanted at this moment than to be out of these wet clothes,
done with the chanting that was making her ears ring even when there was
silence, and not have to smell another burning incense.
As if an answer to her unvoiced desires, the Kitsune stopped singing and dropped the incense into a bowl, which they put in front of Mikoto. Everyone stood in silence save for one shugenja who held a prayer strip and knelt in front of Mikoto. She turned the strip over the smoke from the incense, as if coating it with the scent, and pressed it to Mikoto’s forehead where it stuck marvelously due to the freezing water they had insisted on dumping on her. The solitary Kitsune started chanting, low and quickly. That was a good sign. Mikoto didn’t know what most of the rituals required, but if only one was speaking than it was definitely a good sign. After a quick minute, the kneeling shugenja removed the prayer strip and nodded. Negisa stood and went to Mikoto, helping her to her feet.
“Go get changed, Matsu,” Negisa soothed, “We’ll get some food in you before continuing on.”
Mikoto’s shoulders slumped. She was tired of all this and didn’t want to be privy to any more water or singing or anything. Negisa must have noticed.
“Don’t worry; we’re done with the Kitsune.”
Mikoto nodded. That was the biggest relief of the morning. She felt rushed and disjointed. She had no idea what was really going on and stared wide-eyed as Negisa orchestrated everything around her. Mikoto supposed she was lucky to have someone like Negisa around, when it really came down to it. No one else would be spending their time making sure she was perfect for her wedding, she was certain if her second mother were here she wouldn’t even make the effort to arrange what needed to be arranged. She smiled. Her new family continued to get better and better as she got to know them.
As if an answer to her unvoiced desires, the Kitsune stopped singing and dropped the incense into a bowl, which they put in front of Mikoto. Everyone stood in silence save for one shugenja who held a prayer strip and knelt in front of Mikoto. She turned the strip over the smoke from the incense, as if coating it with the scent, and pressed it to Mikoto’s forehead where it stuck marvelously due to the freezing water they had insisted on dumping on her. The solitary Kitsune started chanting, low and quickly. That was a good sign. Mikoto didn’t know what most of the rituals required, but if only one was speaking than it was definitely a good sign. After a quick minute, the kneeling shugenja removed the prayer strip and nodded. Negisa stood and went to Mikoto, helping her to her feet.
“Go get changed, Matsu,” Negisa soothed, “We’ll get some food in you before continuing on.”
Mikoto’s shoulders slumped. She was tired of all this and didn’t want to be privy to any more water or singing or anything. Negisa must have noticed.
“Don’t worry; we’re done with the Kitsune.”
Mikoto nodded. That was the biggest relief of the morning. She felt rushed and disjointed. She had no idea what was really going on and stared wide-eyed as Negisa orchestrated everything around her. Mikoto supposed she was lucky to have someone like Negisa around, when it really came down to it. No one else would be spending their time making sure she was perfect for her wedding, she was certain if her second mother were here she wouldn’t even make the effort to arrange what needed to be arranged. She smiled. Her new family continued to get better and better as she got to know them.
***
“If
you ask me, it’s a trade up,” Utaku Chun-li nodded as she scrapped the
mud from her horse’s hoof. “You know he’s the head of the Spider family
around here, right?”
Kitsuki Anjin nodded. He hadn’t actually known, but giving away that he was fishing for information usually caused people to shut down and stop talking. That or they ran circles around him like most of the servants at the house. He had asked one about what sorts of interests his housemates had, and found himself talking about where he grew up. A topic he rarely broached let alone rambled on about for thirty minutes, to a servant no less. It was about then that he decided those living in the same area were much too close to the situation to be of any real use. They were trained well in protecting those they served with misleading answers and the ability to change the subject on a whim.
“Don’t get me wrong, Kitsuki-san, the Matsu are a strong breed of people. Having our men married into their family is a great honor. But it’s better this way if Moto Leon met with such a sad ending. Kind of saves us the embarrassment of having it happen later, after they were married.”
“What do you mean ‘embarrassment‘? I heard there was an accident, but no one is interested in divulging the details,” Anjin pressed.
“There’s not much to say,” Utaku Chun-li dropped the horses hoof and walked to the animals other side to repeat the grooming process. It was somewhat fascinating. There were people who would do that work for any samurai who asked, but the Unicorn were so vastly protective of their mounts that they labored as heimin would. Anjin took in this display along with the gossip Utaku was feeding him.
“Moto Leon was on a ride. Doing what, I can’t say. It doesn’t seem to matter now. I’m sure you know that sometimes horses spook for the most ridiculous reasons. Not our horses, mind you. These beasts here would sooner trample a threat to death than rear and run.” Utaku patted the rump of her giant horse. It was intimidating to say the least, twice the size of a normal steed, and eyes that held intelligence Anjin wouldn’t have believed an animal to possess. “But Moto’s horse, it was just a normal mare. Sure enough, it spooked. Like most men riders, Moto lacked the ability to keep control of the animal and fell to his death. Cracked his head on a rock. That was the end of Moto Leon.”
Anjin nodded again, “I see.” He was aware Matsu didn’t care for her previous fiancé, but the Unicorn lands were several days trek from here, which rendered this accident as nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence. It was still odd, the timing of everything. But sometimes life was just odd in general.
“Now Matsu is ushering in the new Empire. Daigotsu Yanagi and she are the first Spider marriage since they were recognized as a great clan. I would have thought most proposals would wait until the Winter Courts, as most are often made then. But it seems the Spider know how to seize the opportunity. I wouldn’t say who, but I know more than a few Utakus who are less than pleased the Spider’s first wedding isn’t with the Unicorn. But I suppose alliances have to be made with other clans, and the Lion is a good second start, after us, of course.”
Anjin smiled, “Of course. There are no better riders in the entire Empire than those of the Utaku. And your battle prowess is legendary.” Utaku seemed to bolster at the praise. “I’m afraid that’s all the time I have this morning,” Anjin gave a polite bow, “It has been delightful speaking with you, Utaku-san, and I hope we get the opportunity again soon.”
“Absolutely,” Utaku waved a hand in Anjin’s direction and continued with grooming her horse.
Kitsuki Anjin nodded. He hadn’t actually known, but giving away that he was fishing for information usually caused people to shut down and stop talking. That or they ran circles around him like most of the servants at the house. He had asked one about what sorts of interests his housemates had, and found himself talking about where he grew up. A topic he rarely broached let alone rambled on about for thirty minutes, to a servant no less. It was about then that he decided those living in the same area were much too close to the situation to be of any real use. They were trained well in protecting those they served with misleading answers and the ability to change the subject on a whim.
“Don’t get me wrong, Kitsuki-san, the Matsu are a strong breed of people. Having our men married into their family is a great honor. But it’s better this way if Moto Leon met with such a sad ending. Kind of saves us the embarrassment of having it happen later, after they were married.”
“What do you mean ‘embarrassment‘? I heard there was an accident, but no one is interested in divulging the details,” Anjin pressed.
“There’s not much to say,” Utaku Chun-li dropped the horses hoof and walked to the animals other side to repeat the grooming process. It was somewhat fascinating. There were people who would do that work for any samurai who asked, but the Unicorn were so vastly protective of their mounts that they labored as heimin would. Anjin took in this display along with the gossip Utaku was feeding him.
“Moto Leon was on a ride. Doing what, I can’t say. It doesn’t seem to matter now. I’m sure you know that sometimes horses spook for the most ridiculous reasons. Not our horses, mind you. These beasts here would sooner trample a threat to death than rear and run.” Utaku patted the rump of her giant horse. It was intimidating to say the least, twice the size of a normal steed, and eyes that held intelligence Anjin wouldn’t have believed an animal to possess. “But Moto’s horse, it was just a normal mare. Sure enough, it spooked. Like most men riders, Moto lacked the ability to keep control of the animal and fell to his death. Cracked his head on a rock. That was the end of Moto Leon.”
Anjin nodded again, “I see.” He was aware Matsu didn’t care for her previous fiancé, but the Unicorn lands were several days trek from here, which rendered this accident as nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence. It was still odd, the timing of everything. But sometimes life was just odd in general.
“Now Matsu is ushering in the new Empire. Daigotsu Yanagi and she are the first Spider marriage since they were recognized as a great clan. I would have thought most proposals would wait until the Winter Courts, as most are often made then. But it seems the Spider know how to seize the opportunity. I wouldn’t say who, but I know more than a few Utakus who are less than pleased the Spider’s first wedding isn’t with the Unicorn. But I suppose alliances have to be made with other clans, and the Lion is a good second start, after us, of course.”
Anjin smiled, “Of course. There are no better riders in the entire Empire than those of the Utaku. And your battle prowess is legendary.” Utaku seemed to bolster at the praise. “I’m afraid that’s all the time I have this morning,” Anjin gave a polite bow, “It has been delightful speaking with you, Utaku-san, and I hope we get the opportunity again soon.”
“Absolutely,” Utaku waved a hand in Anjin’s direction and continued with grooming her horse.
***
Katsumi
kicked around the area the Naga kept pointing to while Asahina and
Tsuruchi played silly acting games in order to communicate. You didn’t
need any sort of acting to talk to someone. She was aware the Naga
didn’t understand their language, but there were certain things that
surpassed all barriers, like when the Naga warned Shiba to stay away.
That came through loud and clear and not one word was uttered. Nor did
the Naga mime exaggerated actions to make her point known. So when she
pointed in this direction, Katsumi knew this was the way they were
supposed to go. It took no time to find a trail leading away from where
the group stood, and instead of interrupt the fun everyone was having, she decided to follow it until she found whatever it was they were supposed to be looking for.
Sure enough, the green blood started dotting this path as well. If the Naga they found hadn’t come this way, then there was another one or three as she had heard Tsuruchi calling out several times, injured Naga wherever this trail led her. Though the blood was… different. Katsumi stopped and bent closer to the ground. The green color was dark, very dark, nearly black. That wasn’t right. Even dried the blood wouldn’t turn that dark. Katsumi should know, she spent a lot of time around blood. Granted, she had little experience with Naga blood, but even oxidized, the shade of green it was supposed to be wouldn’t turn out so black. Katsumi pressed her lips and carefully continued on, Shiba shuffling behind her.
The blood pools continued to grow exponentially until Katsumi found those who had left them. Three Naga were sprawled about a tiny clearing, smaller than the one they had already met. They were clearly dead, their eyes cloudy and unmoving. One’s head was completely missing, as if it exploded, though that wasn’t the strangest thing about them. A creeping cloud of suspicion settled on Katsumi as she narrowed her eyes, noting all the peculiar things about the dead snakes. It engulfed her thoughts so all she could see was the one word everywhere. Taint. The Naga’s scales were black tinged. Taint. Their once yellow-green skin looked sickened and rotten. Taint. And their eyes, that was the worst of it all, the two who still had eyes to gaze through stared with blood red pupils. Taint.
There was no doubting this was the taint at work; Katsumi had seen it many times before. She came from a clan where the taint ran free. It was Fu Leng’s blessing. It was a gift from the Dark Kami. Honestly, taint itself didn’t bother Katsumi. Though she hadn’t accepted it herself, she knew others who had, and they reveled in the abundance of power they possessed after becoming tainted. The thing that bothered her was there was taint in the woods, in these Naga, and it wasn’t the Spider who put it there. The Naga weren’t pledged to Daigotsu or to Fu Leng, they didn’t deserve the gift and seemed to be impervious to other means in which humans could contract it. In fact, the Naga were the ones who taught the Spider how to remove the taint, for those who had wished to do so. This all just didn’t make sense.
Katsumi scanned the surrounding forest, keeping clear of the bodies. She didn’t want Shiba becoming curious and doing something foolish, like touching them. Yes, it was less infectious than it had previously been, Dark Lord Daigotsu had promised only to spread it to those who accepted it before he gave his life for the Spider, but she wasn’t sure exactly what constituted as accepting the taint, and what was just accidental contamination, which no longer applied. She had found where the Naga had come from, down another path leading to the south, and was about to follow that to see where it led when she heard the crunching and shuffling of Kyuzo from the west, where Katsumi and Shiba had just come from.
“Don’t touch them,” Katsumi called out, warning the group who had yet to enter the clearing.
As if on cue, Tsuruchi stepped into the small opening first, followed by Asahina and the Naga, who descended from the treetops. That was creepy. The Naga waved her fingers towards the bodies, then raised three and made a gesture that clearly was an explosion in Katsumi’s eyes. Obviously, she was explaining their deaths. Asahina, like the foolish, good-natured samurai he was, held out his medical kit towards the Naga. What was he going to do, bring the dead back to life? There was no saving these snakes, and even if he could, Katsumi would keep him from doing so.
“Don’t touch them. Did you not hear that?” Katsumi growled, glaring at Asahina.
“Isshtara dunnada,” The Naga hissed while waving her fingers towards the sky at chest level. “Varasss Kinassthka. Ontada mi nosstha.”
Asahina stared blankly. Why the Naga chose him of all people to try to communicate with eluded Katsumi. She understood what was going on, the Naga was telling them to burn the bodies, something Katsumi would have done without direction. She didn’t want these creatures returning under whoever’s control had made them in the first place. If they weren’t Spider, which she was aware they weren’t, they were an enemy. Katsumi walked over to the two who still had heads and cleanly hacked them off with her katana. She shook the blade attempting to get the sticky black blood off, and found the live Naga next to her, offering Shiba’s kimono. Katsumi gladly took it and cleaned her blade before tossing the shirt back onto the corpses. Katsumi then began piecing together a fire starter while the Naga broke a branch and stripped it.
“Are you trying to make a bow?” Tsuruchi asked the Naga, who blinked back at him. “A bow. Bow? Out of that?” Katsumi was sure he was pointing to his weapon or some other silly action. She glanced at the Naga who was waving her fingers again trying to explain to Tsuruchi what was going to happen next.
“Fire,” Shiba spouted. Good for Shiba, at least someone else was understanding.
“Burn them,” Katsumi ordered.
Shiba nodded, “She wants us to burn the corpses.”
Katsumi peered at Asahina’s back; his string would do nicely for her fire starter. It was perfect to wrap around the stick in order to spin it quickly and build up heat. “Asahina-san, can I have your bow string?”
“Sure,” Asahina chirped. It caught Katsumi off guard. He had been so protective of his bow the last time she asked to use it, now she wanted to wind his string around a stick that was going to create a flame, and he had no issue giving it to her.
“Put kindling around the bodies,” Katsumi directed, “But don’t touch them.”
Everyone set to work building a funeral pyre for the tainted Naga. Katsumi easily got the fire starter to function properly. She had made more than she could count over the years. The group had collected a decent amount of dry wood, allowing the piles to ignite and overtake the bodies within minutes. Katsumi watched, making sure they burned fully. This was something that needed to be handled quickly and effectively, keeping the town from pointing fingers and assigning blame to her clan, to her family. If anyone knew there was taint abound, surely the witch hunters would overrun the town and everything would be put on hold for Fu Leng knows how long, stamping a black mark on the first settlement the Spider were to create. Putting shame on her family, being the ones who would shoulder the responsibility for the failing of the town.
She watched the Naga reach into a pouch on her belt, not the same one she had withdrawn a pearl from earlier. She tossed a handful of some sort of light, powdery substance on the fire and Katsumi gawked as she witnessed the magic the Naga held. The smoke danced and swirled then formed into recognizable shapes. Shapes that clearly told of a story. A story she could feel, as if she were a part of it, and see so clearly in her head there was no mistake made in translation. It was more powerful than any foretelling she had ever experienced, she had no choice but to watch for she couldn’t push it out of her mind.
Three Naga stood tall, surrounded by their people who cheered and adored them. They were heroes in their land, wherever that land was. They were good people. Decent people. Then darkness formed, a darkness that took no shape and choked the heroes, pulling their very souls into darkness. When it released the three they stood there, hallowed of love and only filled with hate and desire to destroy. The darkness pulled back creating a much bigger Naga that was blacker than obsidian. And the three heroes now stood shadows of themselves, darkened husks of who they formally were, unhappy and lost. Katsumi felt the emptiness inside her, and heard the despair from these fallen heroes thoughts. She couldn’t understand them, their hissing foreign to her ears, but she didn’t need to understand the words to know they were crying out.
The Naga who stood beside Katsumi then appeared in this vision of smoke. She was their spiritual leader. She was something to them that these fallen heroes longed to be rid of. A part of their life they desired to seek out and destroy, to snuff out so they would never have to be reminded of who they once were. Then the hunt ensued. That was when the smoke drifted back to just smoke. That was when Katsumi regained control of her being. She stared breathlessly at the Naga woman who stood among them. The Naga’s eyes closed and hands pressed together as if praying. Katsumi didn’t know the extent of her power, but she could feel it now, the raw energy that surrounded her. And she was so young too. Younger than Katsumi.
Sure enough, the green blood started dotting this path as well. If the Naga they found hadn’t come this way, then there was another one or three as she had heard Tsuruchi calling out several times, injured Naga wherever this trail led her. Though the blood was… different. Katsumi stopped and bent closer to the ground. The green color was dark, very dark, nearly black. That wasn’t right. Even dried the blood wouldn’t turn that dark. Katsumi should know, she spent a lot of time around blood. Granted, she had little experience with Naga blood, but even oxidized, the shade of green it was supposed to be wouldn’t turn out so black. Katsumi pressed her lips and carefully continued on, Shiba shuffling behind her.
The blood pools continued to grow exponentially until Katsumi found those who had left them. Three Naga were sprawled about a tiny clearing, smaller than the one they had already met. They were clearly dead, their eyes cloudy and unmoving. One’s head was completely missing, as if it exploded, though that wasn’t the strangest thing about them. A creeping cloud of suspicion settled on Katsumi as she narrowed her eyes, noting all the peculiar things about the dead snakes. It engulfed her thoughts so all she could see was the one word everywhere. Taint. The Naga’s scales were black tinged. Taint. Their once yellow-green skin looked sickened and rotten. Taint. And their eyes, that was the worst of it all, the two who still had eyes to gaze through stared with blood red pupils. Taint.
There was no doubting this was the taint at work; Katsumi had seen it many times before. She came from a clan where the taint ran free. It was Fu Leng’s blessing. It was a gift from the Dark Kami. Honestly, taint itself didn’t bother Katsumi. Though she hadn’t accepted it herself, she knew others who had, and they reveled in the abundance of power they possessed after becoming tainted. The thing that bothered her was there was taint in the woods, in these Naga, and it wasn’t the Spider who put it there. The Naga weren’t pledged to Daigotsu or to Fu Leng, they didn’t deserve the gift and seemed to be impervious to other means in which humans could contract it. In fact, the Naga were the ones who taught the Spider how to remove the taint, for those who had wished to do so. This all just didn’t make sense.
Katsumi scanned the surrounding forest, keeping clear of the bodies. She didn’t want Shiba becoming curious and doing something foolish, like touching them. Yes, it was less infectious than it had previously been, Dark Lord Daigotsu had promised only to spread it to those who accepted it before he gave his life for the Spider, but she wasn’t sure exactly what constituted as accepting the taint, and what was just accidental contamination, which no longer applied. She had found where the Naga had come from, down another path leading to the south, and was about to follow that to see where it led when she heard the crunching and shuffling of Kyuzo from the west, where Katsumi and Shiba had just come from.
“Don’t touch them,” Katsumi called out, warning the group who had yet to enter the clearing.
As if on cue, Tsuruchi stepped into the small opening first, followed by Asahina and the Naga, who descended from the treetops. That was creepy. The Naga waved her fingers towards the bodies, then raised three and made a gesture that clearly was an explosion in Katsumi’s eyes. Obviously, she was explaining their deaths. Asahina, like the foolish, good-natured samurai he was, held out his medical kit towards the Naga. What was he going to do, bring the dead back to life? There was no saving these snakes, and even if he could, Katsumi would keep him from doing so.
“Don’t touch them. Did you not hear that?” Katsumi growled, glaring at Asahina.
“Isshtara dunnada,” The Naga hissed while waving her fingers towards the sky at chest level. “Varasss Kinassthka. Ontada mi nosstha.”
Asahina stared blankly. Why the Naga chose him of all people to try to communicate with eluded Katsumi. She understood what was going on, the Naga was telling them to burn the bodies, something Katsumi would have done without direction. She didn’t want these creatures returning under whoever’s control had made them in the first place. If they weren’t Spider, which she was aware they weren’t, they were an enemy. Katsumi walked over to the two who still had heads and cleanly hacked them off with her katana. She shook the blade attempting to get the sticky black blood off, and found the live Naga next to her, offering Shiba’s kimono. Katsumi gladly took it and cleaned her blade before tossing the shirt back onto the corpses. Katsumi then began piecing together a fire starter while the Naga broke a branch and stripped it.
“Are you trying to make a bow?” Tsuruchi asked the Naga, who blinked back at him. “A bow. Bow? Out of that?” Katsumi was sure he was pointing to his weapon or some other silly action. She glanced at the Naga who was waving her fingers again trying to explain to Tsuruchi what was going to happen next.
“Fire,” Shiba spouted. Good for Shiba, at least someone else was understanding.
“Burn them,” Katsumi ordered.
Shiba nodded, “She wants us to burn the corpses.”
Katsumi peered at Asahina’s back; his string would do nicely for her fire starter. It was perfect to wrap around the stick in order to spin it quickly and build up heat. “Asahina-san, can I have your bow string?”
“Sure,” Asahina chirped. It caught Katsumi off guard. He had been so protective of his bow the last time she asked to use it, now she wanted to wind his string around a stick that was going to create a flame, and he had no issue giving it to her.
“Put kindling around the bodies,” Katsumi directed, “But don’t touch them.”
Everyone set to work building a funeral pyre for the tainted Naga. Katsumi easily got the fire starter to function properly. She had made more than she could count over the years. The group had collected a decent amount of dry wood, allowing the piles to ignite and overtake the bodies within minutes. Katsumi watched, making sure they burned fully. This was something that needed to be handled quickly and effectively, keeping the town from pointing fingers and assigning blame to her clan, to her family. If anyone knew there was taint abound, surely the witch hunters would overrun the town and everything would be put on hold for Fu Leng knows how long, stamping a black mark on the first settlement the Spider were to create. Putting shame on her family, being the ones who would shoulder the responsibility for the failing of the town.
She watched the Naga reach into a pouch on her belt, not the same one she had withdrawn a pearl from earlier. She tossed a handful of some sort of light, powdery substance on the fire and Katsumi gawked as she witnessed the magic the Naga held. The smoke danced and swirled then formed into recognizable shapes. Shapes that clearly told of a story. A story she could feel, as if she were a part of it, and see so clearly in her head there was no mistake made in translation. It was more powerful than any foretelling she had ever experienced, she had no choice but to watch for she couldn’t push it out of her mind.
Three Naga stood tall, surrounded by their people who cheered and adored them. They were heroes in their land, wherever that land was. They were good people. Decent people. Then darkness formed, a darkness that took no shape and choked the heroes, pulling their very souls into darkness. When it released the three they stood there, hallowed of love and only filled with hate and desire to destroy. The darkness pulled back creating a much bigger Naga that was blacker than obsidian. And the three heroes now stood shadows of themselves, darkened husks of who they formally were, unhappy and lost. Katsumi felt the emptiness inside her, and heard the despair from these fallen heroes thoughts. She couldn’t understand them, their hissing foreign to her ears, but she didn’t need to understand the words to know they were crying out.
The Naga who stood beside Katsumi then appeared in this vision of smoke. She was their spiritual leader. She was something to them that these fallen heroes longed to be rid of. A part of their life they desired to seek out and destroy, to snuff out so they would never have to be reminded of who they once were. Then the hunt ensued. That was when the smoke drifted back to just smoke. That was when Katsumi regained control of her being. She stared breathlessly at the Naga woman who stood among them. The Naga’s eyes closed and hands pressed together as if praying. Katsumi didn’t know the extent of her power, but she could feel it now, the raw energy that surrounded her. And she was so young too. Younger than Katsumi.
***
“What’s
with you and Katsumi, anyways?” One of the Spider asked. His face was
hard and eyes were cold, a very menacing scowl and glare directed at
Anjin. Perhaps he chose the wrong group to prod about Daigotsu.
“What do you mean?” Anjin was taken aback by his blunt question.
“Don’t act so surprised. She has a soft spot for cripples, doesn’t she?” A female voice jeered behind the mask of a Spider Monk.
Anjin shook his head. “I was just curious on what you thought of Daigotsu Katsumi, this doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“It has everything to do with you,” the second Spider Monk commented, also female. “Some of us know what it’s like to need a little release every now and then. Surely it’s nothing more than that.”
Anjin held back his embarrassment. He was aware there was nothing going on between Daigotsu and himself, however these Spider were literally pushing him into a corner attempting to tell him otherwise. He hadn’t ever come across someone so outspoken about matters usually hidden behind fans and said in hushed whispers.
“I don’t know what sort of information you’ve been fed-”
“Look, Kitsuki, save us your polite talk you reserve for bailing yourself out of trouble. Just be straight with us. See, Kairo here thinks it’s a big mistake, but I’ve been telling him what people are saying. They notice how much time she spends with you. So settle the bet, you two are more than just town shogunate to each other, right?”
Kairo crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes while the shorter of the two females leaned on him. All three of their eyes were glued to Anjin, waiting for his answer. They were sort of right, but in the completely wrong lands about what type of relationship Daigotsu and he shared. She was his yojimbo, even though he had a Shiba yojimbo as well. It was a prearranged deal with Yanagi, Daigotsu would watch over him and help with the difficulties of a life of a cripple, and Anjin would keep her out of trouble, especially those three nights of the month she often couldn’t control herself. Yes, they were more than just delegates, but they were far, very far, from lovers.
“You have the wrong impression of things-” Anjin began only to be cut off by the third Spider, the female who had joked about Katsumi having a soft spot for cripples.
“He probably wasn’t man enough for her,” she shrugged and looked Anjin up and down, “She’s been following around that Lion, that Matsu they also house with.”
“You don’t say,” Kairo turned his icy stare from Anjin. “Looks like it’s Kitsuki’s lucky day.” He uncrossed his arms and rolled his shoulder. “It would be my duty to tell Yanagi-sama about his sister, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t be too happy about that situation.”
The two Spider Monk females giggled obnoxiously.
“What do you think he’d do? Cripple the cripple?” One snorted.
Kairo shrugged in response, “Whatever it would be, I could tell you from experience, Yanagi-sama is fiercely protective of Katsumi.”
“Thank you for your time,” Anjin quickly bowed and took his leave before they surrounded him again.
“Anytime, Kitsuki. Anytime,” She called after him.
“What do you mean?” Anjin was taken aback by his blunt question.
“Don’t act so surprised. She has a soft spot for cripples, doesn’t she?” A female voice jeered behind the mask of a Spider Monk.
Anjin shook his head. “I was just curious on what you thought of Daigotsu Katsumi, this doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“It has everything to do with you,” the second Spider Monk commented, also female. “Some of us know what it’s like to need a little release every now and then. Surely it’s nothing more than that.”
Anjin held back his embarrassment. He was aware there was nothing going on between Daigotsu and himself, however these Spider were literally pushing him into a corner attempting to tell him otherwise. He hadn’t ever come across someone so outspoken about matters usually hidden behind fans and said in hushed whispers.
“I don’t know what sort of information you’ve been fed-”
“Look, Kitsuki, save us your polite talk you reserve for bailing yourself out of trouble. Just be straight with us. See, Kairo here thinks it’s a big mistake, but I’ve been telling him what people are saying. They notice how much time she spends with you. So settle the bet, you two are more than just town shogunate to each other, right?”
Kairo crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes while the shorter of the two females leaned on him. All three of their eyes were glued to Anjin, waiting for his answer. They were sort of right, but in the completely wrong lands about what type of relationship Daigotsu and he shared. She was his yojimbo, even though he had a Shiba yojimbo as well. It was a prearranged deal with Yanagi, Daigotsu would watch over him and help with the difficulties of a life of a cripple, and Anjin would keep her out of trouble, especially those three nights of the month she often couldn’t control herself. Yes, they were more than just delegates, but they were far, very far, from lovers.
“You have the wrong impression of things-” Anjin began only to be cut off by the third Spider, the female who had joked about Katsumi having a soft spot for cripples.
“He probably wasn’t man enough for her,” she shrugged and looked Anjin up and down, “She’s been following around that Lion, that Matsu they also house with.”
“You don’t say,” Kairo turned his icy stare from Anjin. “Looks like it’s Kitsuki’s lucky day.” He uncrossed his arms and rolled his shoulder. “It would be my duty to tell Yanagi-sama about his sister, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t be too happy about that situation.”
The two Spider Monk females giggled obnoxiously.
“What do you think he’d do? Cripple the cripple?” One snorted.
Kairo shrugged in response, “Whatever it would be, I could tell you from experience, Yanagi-sama is fiercely protective of Katsumi.”
“Thank you for your time,” Anjin quickly bowed and took his leave before they surrounded him again.
“Anytime, Kitsuki. Anytime,” She called after him.
***
Meintaro
waited for the Naga to finish her praying. The story he had witnessed
through her magic dust and the fire answered so many questions they
hadn’t been able to correctly get across to one another. He understood
everything so much better now. There was a threat, something evil that
turned the smaller Naga against this one in front of him. That threat
needed to be vanquished. The Naga opened her eyes and Tsuruchi launched
into his questions. First, he raised three fingers and then lifted his
arm to indicate a bigger Naga.
“The big one, see? Three little ones and the big one.” Meintaro pointed at his hand that looked sort of like a forest monster with his colored paint on it. “Where did this one go?”
The Naga grabbed Meintaro’s hand.
“Okay… you got the big one?”
“Tsuruchi-san, the trail goes that way,” Daigotsu explained, pointing towards the south where there was a rather obvious trail now that he was looking for it.
Meintaro looked at the Naga who still held his hand and didn’t seem to be giving any other sort of indication of what to do next, then decided his best bet was probably to check out where this trail went. It was a new trail, and long, made by the three smaller Naga and they had been moving quickly through the woods by the looks of it. Asahina tramped behind him, and Daigotsu and Shiba were somewhere back behind the Naga, who was right behind Asahina. No one said a word as they wandered through the woods. Honestly, Meintaro had had enough conversation for today. It felt like a lot of things were getting nowhere fast. If this didn’t pan out then they had found a Naga and a bunch of dead Naga and both of those really equated to a headache and not much else.
Finally, the trees broke and Meintaro came across a campsite. There was food encased in some sort of… yeah, he didn’t want to know what that was. There were skins hung on racks, boar, rabbit, and a deer or two. In the middle was a large campfire, larger than a human would need, much larger. Moreover, throughout the entirety of the camp, not one set of very large Naga trails existed. Only four sets, the three smaller, and the one that the living Naga created. The Naga group had been here for a while, which meant the three others hadn’t turned until they were out here. There had to be a fifth set somewhere, maybe he was just missing it.
It was obvious that acting wasn’t Meintaro’s strong suit. It was time to try his hand at something everyone could understand, pictures. The Naga created that story from smoke, Meintaro had little doubt he could relay a message similar in clarity with a stick and some dirt. So he picked up a stick and began scribbling. First, he drew three lines, all about the same height. Then he drew a much larger line that towered over the other three.
“Here,” Meintaro said tapping at the three on the ground. He pointed to the woods from where they came and pointed at the three small lines again. Then he pointed at the larger line and pointed north. “Or,” Meintaro then pointed east, “Or,” south was the next direction, “Or,” west the final direction he pointed.
It seemed to be working. The Naga nodded in understanding and pointed at the ground. Not at the lines he had drawn in the dirt, but at the actual ground. Meintaro drew his bow and took in his surroundings. The thing was here. At least, he had thought it was here until the Naga pushed his hand away from his bow, bringing his attention back to her. She pointed down once again, towards the ground.
“It’s in the earth,” Asahina clarified.
“You think so?” Meintaro began digging below him.
“Nisstha ah inssshnin dita kata. Nisstha tonta,” the Naga almost seemed to be laughing at him.
“It’s like… a spirit or something,” Asahina elaborated.
Suddenly Meintaro felt extremely foolish. He had thought maybe it was some sort of tunneling snake, those existed. He folded the dirt back into the tiny divot he had made. “I think you’re right.”
It was obvious they weren’t going to find whatever it was that had brought about the change, at least not at the moment. Moreover, Meintaro didn’t know how to combat spirits either. He also felt confident in assuming Asahina, Daigotsu, nor Shiba could do it either.
“I suppose that’s that, then,” Meintaro dusted off his hands and began walking back towards the town. It was going to be a decently long walk, several hours at least. “Do you guys think we should bring her back with us?”
“I… don’t think that will go over well with the town,” Asahina commented.
“Why not?” Meintaro countered, she was wounded and couldn’t stay out here by herself with some sort of evil spirit roaming around that corrupted Naga. “The Naga have done nothing but help the Empire throughout all of history.”
“Yeah, but superstition might play a factor,” Asahina argued. “People have a hard time accepting the things they don’t understand.”
“Asahina-san,” Daigotsu interrupted, “I think the decision has been made for you.”
Meintaro turned, Daigotsu was right. She was starting to be right a lot. She didn’t say much, but when she did it had some substance to it. The Naga was tailing Asahina. From the moment Asahina had bandaged the thing, it had followed him, and continued to do so. When Asahina stopped, so to, did the Naga. Well, at least they weren’t going to leave her out here.
“The big one, see? Three little ones and the big one.” Meintaro pointed at his hand that looked sort of like a forest monster with his colored paint on it. “Where did this one go?”
The Naga grabbed Meintaro’s hand.
“Okay… you got the big one?”
“Tsuruchi-san, the trail goes that way,” Daigotsu explained, pointing towards the south where there was a rather obvious trail now that he was looking for it.
Meintaro looked at the Naga who still held his hand and didn’t seem to be giving any other sort of indication of what to do next, then decided his best bet was probably to check out where this trail went. It was a new trail, and long, made by the three smaller Naga and they had been moving quickly through the woods by the looks of it. Asahina tramped behind him, and Daigotsu and Shiba were somewhere back behind the Naga, who was right behind Asahina. No one said a word as they wandered through the woods. Honestly, Meintaro had had enough conversation for today. It felt like a lot of things were getting nowhere fast. If this didn’t pan out then they had found a Naga and a bunch of dead Naga and both of those really equated to a headache and not much else.
Finally, the trees broke and Meintaro came across a campsite. There was food encased in some sort of… yeah, he didn’t want to know what that was. There were skins hung on racks, boar, rabbit, and a deer or two. In the middle was a large campfire, larger than a human would need, much larger. Moreover, throughout the entirety of the camp, not one set of very large Naga trails existed. Only four sets, the three smaller, and the one that the living Naga created. The Naga group had been here for a while, which meant the three others hadn’t turned until they were out here. There had to be a fifth set somewhere, maybe he was just missing it.
It was obvious that acting wasn’t Meintaro’s strong suit. It was time to try his hand at something everyone could understand, pictures. The Naga created that story from smoke, Meintaro had little doubt he could relay a message similar in clarity with a stick and some dirt. So he picked up a stick and began scribbling. First, he drew three lines, all about the same height. Then he drew a much larger line that towered over the other three.
“Here,” Meintaro said tapping at the three on the ground. He pointed to the woods from where they came and pointed at the three small lines again. Then he pointed at the larger line and pointed north. “Or,” Meintaro then pointed east, “Or,” south was the next direction, “Or,” west the final direction he pointed.
It seemed to be working. The Naga nodded in understanding and pointed at the ground. Not at the lines he had drawn in the dirt, but at the actual ground. Meintaro drew his bow and took in his surroundings. The thing was here. At least, he had thought it was here until the Naga pushed his hand away from his bow, bringing his attention back to her. She pointed down once again, towards the ground.
“It’s in the earth,” Asahina clarified.
“You think so?” Meintaro began digging below him.
“Nisstha ah inssshnin dita kata. Nisstha tonta,” the Naga almost seemed to be laughing at him.
“It’s like… a spirit or something,” Asahina elaborated.
Suddenly Meintaro felt extremely foolish. He had thought maybe it was some sort of tunneling snake, those existed. He folded the dirt back into the tiny divot he had made. “I think you’re right.”
It was obvious they weren’t going to find whatever it was that had brought about the change, at least not at the moment. Moreover, Meintaro didn’t know how to combat spirits either. He also felt confident in assuming Asahina, Daigotsu, nor Shiba could do it either.
“I suppose that’s that, then,” Meintaro dusted off his hands and began walking back towards the town. It was going to be a decently long walk, several hours at least. “Do you guys think we should bring her back with us?”
“I… don’t think that will go over well with the town,” Asahina commented.
“Why not?” Meintaro countered, she was wounded and couldn’t stay out here by herself with some sort of evil spirit roaming around that corrupted Naga. “The Naga have done nothing but help the Empire throughout all of history.”
“Yeah, but superstition might play a factor,” Asahina argued. “People have a hard time accepting the things they don’t understand.”
“Asahina-san,” Daigotsu interrupted, “I think the decision has been made for you.”
Meintaro turned, Daigotsu was right. She was starting to be right a lot. She didn’t say much, but when she did it had some substance to it. The Naga was tailing Asahina. From the moment Asahina had bandaged the thing, it had followed him, and continued to do so. When Asahina stopped, so to, did the Naga. Well, at least they weren’t going to leave her out here.
***
Anjin
was careful with the Scorpion. After his encounter with the Spider, he
wasn’t keen to put himself in a position where he didn’t have the upper
hand again. This time he had waited around one of the trade areas in
town. Making it obvious he was watching the Mantis. He tried standing
conspicuously in the street while they went amongst their merchant
business; that didn’t seem to draw anyone out. He tried dropping prying
questions to the heimin around the area, about how he was looking for
information on Tsuruchi Meintaro. Most of them blinked at him and
hurried along with their duties; that also didn’t bring about any
Scorpion who might have been paying him any attention. He even stopped
for lunch by the Scorpion section of town, making sure not to be in
their section, and lamented about how mysterious his housemate Tsuruchi
Meintaro was; Anjin was disappointed to not be joined by at least three
Scorpion willing to strike a deal about his problem. It wasn’t until he
finished his soup and readied himself to leave that someone seated
themselves across from Anjin.
Victory at last! The Scorpion woman wore a half-mask covering her nose down. It was designed in a style that reminded Anjin of a jester; a leering smile frozen with red lips and red circles on the cheeks overlaying black lacquer. Besides the mask, she looked very much like every other Scorpion he had known, dark eyes, dark skin, dark hair, and round-faced. There was a subtle beauty to her, but nothing like Matsu, Negisa, or Soshi had. Maybe it was the way her eyes were painted and exaggerated, probably to better suit the mask she wore.
“You shouldn’t be so noisy when asking for our help,” She scolded, “All you had to do was actually ask, Kitsuki-san. Now the whole world is watching you, wondering what secrets you cannot keep.”
Anjin reseated himself, “That was not my intention. Nevertheless, you have to admit, you aren’t easy to find. It’s not as if I can walk to a door, knock, and request an audience with someone who would be willing to converse with me about what I’d like to know instead of running me in circles about my place of birth or where I grew up.”
“How was your child home, Kitsuki-san?” Her eyes crinkled in the corners; under her fake smile she had given a real one.
“It was a place that taught me much. One I’m not fond of revisiting.”
“Fair enough,” The woman crossed her hands on her lap, “So tell me, what is so important you must stoop to painting yourself a fool in order to converse with us?”
“Important is a strong word,” Anjin drawled, “I’m merely interested in getting to know those who I’ve come to share a roof with, and it turns out certain people are better at finding things out over others. I’ve been terribly busy-”
“With your paperwork. We know.”
“Yes, and because of this it turns out I’m learning all sorts of things I hadn’t been able to ascertain myself.”
“You would be wise to pick which fruit is ripe, and which is filled with rot,” She warned.
“Will I have to judge yours the same?”
“Of course not, everything from the Scorpion is at the peak of perfection.”
“Then tell me about our latest delegate. I’d be curious to know what sorts of things he keeps hidden from us. Anything I might… I should keep watch for?”
“We understand your concern, and share it as well. It seems the new insect is the brother of the old one. After his quick demise you can rest assured we have been keeping this new addition under the magnifying glass.”
“Anything else to note?” Anjin was hoping for something more to go on. He was cautious to trust the new Tsuruchi for the very reasons the Scorpion seemed to be cautious.
“We’re not the only ones watching. Other arachnids have been spinning webs in the corners of our homes. They haven’t proven to be aggressive, and so we allow them to stay for the time being. But they’re watching, and they’re waiting.”
“I see,” Anjin murmured. It seemed Tsuruchi wasn’t going to be an issue no matter the case, with both the Scorpion spies and the Spider… whatever they were good at besides being brusque; Tsuruchi Meintaro didn’t have enough room to even consider damning the town, let alone the space to take action.
Anjin placed his hands in his crutches, pushing himself up to his feet. “I think I might stop for lunch at this very place the next time I’m looking for some company,” He mused before shuffling out the door.
Victory at last! The Scorpion woman wore a half-mask covering her nose down. It was designed in a style that reminded Anjin of a jester; a leering smile frozen with red lips and red circles on the cheeks overlaying black lacquer. Besides the mask, she looked very much like every other Scorpion he had known, dark eyes, dark skin, dark hair, and round-faced. There was a subtle beauty to her, but nothing like Matsu, Negisa, or Soshi had. Maybe it was the way her eyes were painted and exaggerated, probably to better suit the mask she wore.
“You shouldn’t be so noisy when asking for our help,” She scolded, “All you had to do was actually ask, Kitsuki-san. Now the whole world is watching you, wondering what secrets you cannot keep.”
Anjin reseated himself, “That was not my intention. Nevertheless, you have to admit, you aren’t easy to find. It’s not as if I can walk to a door, knock, and request an audience with someone who would be willing to converse with me about what I’d like to know instead of running me in circles about my place of birth or where I grew up.”
“How was your child home, Kitsuki-san?” Her eyes crinkled in the corners; under her fake smile she had given a real one.
“It was a place that taught me much. One I’m not fond of revisiting.”
“Fair enough,” The woman crossed her hands on her lap, “So tell me, what is so important you must stoop to painting yourself a fool in order to converse with us?”
“Important is a strong word,” Anjin drawled, “I’m merely interested in getting to know those who I’ve come to share a roof with, and it turns out certain people are better at finding things out over others. I’ve been terribly busy-”
“With your paperwork. We know.”
“Yes, and because of this it turns out I’m learning all sorts of things I hadn’t been able to ascertain myself.”
“You would be wise to pick which fruit is ripe, and which is filled with rot,” She warned.
“Will I have to judge yours the same?”
“Of course not, everything from the Scorpion is at the peak of perfection.”
“Then tell me about our latest delegate. I’d be curious to know what sorts of things he keeps hidden from us. Anything I might… I should keep watch for?”
“We understand your concern, and share it as well. It seems the new insect is the brother of the old one. After his quick demise you can rest assured we have been keeping this new addition under the magnifying glass.”
“Anything else to note?” Anjin was hoping for something more to go on. He was cautious to trust the new Tsuruchi for the very reasons the Scorpion seemed to be cautious.
“We’re not the only ones watching. Other arachnids have been spinning webs in the corners of our homes. They haven’t proven to be aggressive, and so we allow them to stay for the time being. But they’re watching, and they’re waiting.”
“I see,” Anjin murmured. It seemed Tsuruchi wasn’t going to be an issue no matter the case, with both the Scorpion spies and the Spider… whatever they were good at besides being brusque; Tsuruchi Meintaro didn’t have enough room to even consider damning the town, let alone the space to take action.
Anjin placed his hands in his crutches, pushing himself up to his feet. “I think I might stop for lunch at this very place the next time I’m looking for some company,” He mused before shuffling out the door.
***
“I
understand Katsumi and you have become rather close,” Negisa smiled as
she set out the cups and returned to the kitchen to fetch the teapot.
Mikoto smiled as well, Katsumi brought out the happiest part of her, and
they had become close recently. Very close. “How long has she been
taking care of you?”
“A while. Over a week. Maybe two,” Mikoto tried to remember the first time Katsumi showed up in her room, or the first day Katsumi spent every moment with her. The month had been a whirlwind of events; it was hard to tell when one thing took place compared to others that were completely unrelated.
“I see,” Negisa returned with the kettle and set it on the table, “And has she done a divination to see if the child is healthy yet?”
Mikoto felt her breath catch in her throat. She felt her lungs refuse to inhale. Negisa knew about her secret pregnancy, the one she just told Yanagi about last night. With that being the case, she probably already knew it was not Yanagi’s as well. Mikoto was mortified. Soon everyone would know why this wedding was being pushed up if word had gotten out already.
“Didn’t you know?” Negisa began pouring the tea. “Katsumi has the gift of sight. She does readings.”
Mikoto wrung her hands under the table. She didn’t know Katsumi had any gift, but that wasn’t what was on her mind at the moment.
“Has she done anything awkward, like taken a sample of blood or hair?” Negisa asked calmly.
“Now that you mention it…” Mikoto recalled the lunch that seemed to have been years ago, not just months, when she first met everyone and sat down to eat with them. Katsumi had collected hair off Mikoto’s kimono; she remembered how odd it was at the time. She also remembered how she had hoped it was a token of love; some sort of keepsake Katsumi looked at longingly before bed. “I was wondering what she did with that hair.”
“I’ll take that as a yes, that’s a good sign. At least she’s doing some of her duty,” Negisa pressed her lips and sipped her tea.
There was a long spell of silence in the room, Mikoto waiting until her hands stopped shaking from the sudden adrenaline that shot through her system with the recent inquiries before she dared reach for her cup. Negisa looked to be lost in her own thoughts for the time being. Maybe if she didn’t acknowledge the baby, it wouldn’t be brought up again, Mikoto thought.
“I suppose a little history is in order,” Negisa finally said.
“About Katsumi?” Mikoto chirped. Negisa let out a feminine giggle.
“No, about the Spider. It’s time you learned what you’ll soon become.” Negisa set her tea down and began pouring over the rather short history of the Spider clan. She covered how they ran their households, which was a strange mixture between the Lion and the Scorpion, if one could imagine something of that sort. She talked about the clan’s wealth, but failed to mention where it came from, just that there were stockpiles of it secreted away. She even brushed the dirty subject of maho, and how the Spider no longer practice it since the Chuda refused to give up their identity in order to be accepted as part of the Empire. Eventually the topic turned to those Spider in the Ivory Kingdoms, which prompted Mikoto to finally ask a question.
“What about Yanagi? I barely know him and I’m going to be marrying him in three days.”
“You two will have plenty of time to get to know each other,” Negisa smiled.
“Yeah, but I’d like to know something about him before then,” Mikoto pleaded.
“Fine,” Negisa waved a hand, “Yanagi is a well renowned Spider Monk. He was trained with the first of the Order when they formed roughly a decade ago after the dissolution of the Order of Venom.”
Okay, he was a Spider Monk, Mikoto already knew that.
“Needless to say,” Negisa continued, “he is highly skilled in everything combat related. That has always been his place in the family with Koto as a father. Koto always did draw out the fight in people…”
Koto was their father’s name. Mikoto knew he was dead, first because Yanagi wouldn’t be head of house if that wasn’t the case, and second because Katsumi had said something about it at that lunch they had.
“Luckily, he retained some of his earlier teachings on etiquette and courtesy before Koto and continued to develop his social graces; otherwise he’d be a walking disaster like Katsumi. As it stands, he can hold his own in most conversations. Other than that, he is quite the hunter and I know you’ve already learned a thing or two about his bedroom manner,” Negisa grinned wickedly. “Yanagi will take care of you in every way that a husband should.”
“What about Katsumi?” Mikoto asked, “Will she continue to take care of me as she has been?”
“That’s for Katsumi to decide.”
Mikoto nodded and sipped her tea. She hoped Katsumi would. She would have to ask her once she saw her again… whenever that would be. All these marriage rituals were taking up her time, and then she would actually be married, and with that being the case, she wouldn’t be sharing a home with Katsumi any more. Joining her family felt more like she was driving a wedge between the two of them.
“A while. Over a week. Maybe two,” Mikoto tried to remember the first time Katsumi showed up in her room, or the first day Katsumi spent every moment with her. The month had been a whirlwind of events; it was hard to tell when one thing took place compared to others that were completely unrelated.
“I see,” Negisa returned with the kettle and set it on the table, “And has she done a divination to see if the child is healthy yet?”
Mikoto felt her breath catch in her throat. She felt her lungs refuse to inhale. Negisa knew about her secret pregnancy, the one she just told Yanagi about last night. With that being the case, she probably already knew it was not Yanagi’s as well. Mikoto was mortified. Soon everyone would know why this wedding was being pushed up if word had gotten out already.
“Didn’t you know?” Negisa began pouring the tea. “Katsumi has the gift of sight. She does readings.”
Mikoto wrung her hands under the table. She didn’t know Katsumi had any gift, but that wasn’t what was on her mind at the moment.
“Has she done anything awkward, like taken a sample of blood or hair?” Negisa asked calmly.
“Now that you mention it…” Mikoto recalled the lunch that seemed to have been years ago, not just months, when she first met everyone and sat down to eat with them. Katsumi had collected hair off Mikoto’s kimono; she remembered how odd it was at the time. She also remembered how she had hoped it was a token of love; some sort of keepsake Katsumi looked at longingly before bed. “I was wondering what she did with that hair.”
“I’ll take that as a yes, that’s a good sign. At least she’s doing some of her duty,” Negisa pressed her lips and sipped her tea.
There was a long spell of silence in the room, Mikoto waiting until her hands stopped shaking from the sudden adrenaline that shot through her system with the recent inquiries before she dared reach for her cup. Negisa looked to be lost in her own thoughts for the time being. Maybe if she didn’t acknowledge the baby, it wouldn’t be brought up again, Mikoto thought.
“I suppose a little history is in order,” Negisa finally said.
“About Katsumi?” Mikoto chirped. Negisa let out a feminine giggle.
“No, about the Spider. It’s time you learned what you’ll soon become.” Negisa set her tea down and began pouring over the rather short history of the Spider clan. She covered how they ran their households, which was a strange mixture between the Lion and the Scorpion, if one could imagine something of that sort. She talked about the clan’s wealth, but failed to mention where it came from, just that there were stockpiles of it secreted away. She even brushed the dirty subject of maho, and how the Spider no longer practice it since the Chuda refused to give up their identity in order to be accepted as part of the Empire. Eventually the topic turned to those Spider in the Ivory Kingdoms, which prompted Mikoto to finally ask a question.
“What about Yanagi? I barely know him and I’m going to be marrying him in three days.”
“You two will have plenty of time to get to know each other,” Negisa smiled.
“Yeah, but I’d like to know something about him before then,” Mikoto pleaded.
“Fine,” Negisa waved a hand, “Yanagi is a well renowned Spider Monk. He was trained with the first of the Order when they formed roughly a decade ago after the dissolution of the Order of Venom.”
Okay, he was a Spider Monk, Mikoto already knew that.
“Needless to say,” Negisa continued, “he is highly skilled in everything combat related. That has always been his place in the family with Koto as a father. Koto always did draw out the fight in people…”
Koto was their father’s name. Mikoto knew he was dead, first because Yanagi wouldn’t be head of house if that wasn’t the case, and second because Katsumi had said something about it at that lunch they had.
“Luckily, he retained some of his earlier teachings on etiquette and courtesy before Koto and continued to develop his social graces; otherwise he’d be a walking disaster like Katsumi. As it stands, he can hold his own in most conversations. Other than that, he is quite the hunter and I know you’ve already learned a thing or two about his bedroom manner,” Negisa grinned wickedly. “Yanagi will take care of you in every way that a husband should.”
“What about Katsumi?” Mikoto asked, “Will she continue to take care of me as she has been?”
“That’s for Katsumi to decide.”
Mikoto nodded and sipped her tea. She hoped Katsumi would. She would have to ask her once she saw her again… whenever that would be. All these marriage rituals were taking up her time, and then she would actually be married, and with that being the case, she wouldn’t be sharing a home with Katsumi any more. Joining her family felt more like she was driving a wedge between the two of them.
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