The Shadow Princess
By kira
Author's notes: Special thanks to my beta, Jen, for helping me get this one all sparkly and shiny. This one is turning out to be rather fun, eh?
FYI: Hour of the Rooster is 5pm-7pm.
Ojou-sama is a term of respect similar in meaning to "milady."
Hime-sama is term of respect when one is speaking to a princess and using her title alone.
Dono-sama is also a term of respect when addressing a daimyo or the lord of a manor; it's similar to "milord."
Waka-sama is a term of respect that means "young master."
While it seems as the Shichinintai are being addressed with exaggerated politeness, they are in a unique position of power here and as result are being treated somewhat as equals due to the nature of their mission.
Chapter 1: Double trouble
888
Renkotsu looked up from the letter he was reading and slid it across the low table towards Bankotsu. "This one sounds pretty interesting, Oo-Aniki."
"Yeah…?" the young leader of the Shichinintai responded tiredly. He was sick of going through the piles of letters asking for their services. "What'd they want?"
Renkotsu grinned. "They want us to transport a princess."
"What?" Bankotsu looked up at him like he had three heads. "Transport her where?"
"From one clan to another, but the catch is it's got to be done as quietly as possible. Some daimyo probably wants to strengthen his clan by marrying her off to another more powerful one's son."
"So? That happens all the time without our help, Ren."
"True, true… but not all of them have another daimyo who wants to keep them apart. It seems if these two clans get together, there's the danger some other daimyo with a lot of power will lose some of that and he's not going to be happy about it. In fact, he's sent us a letter asking for help in keeping them apart." Renkotsu handed another letter to his leader.
Bankotsu skimmed its contents and laughed. "Think we should accept both jobs? We'd just have to be careful not to get found out playing one against the other."
The fire-breather thought it over. "No, besides the obvious danger in possibly having to fight against one another, I can't see a way to do both and maintain our reputation for always finishing a job once we accept it. I did read the other one first, and besides it pays more."
"Then it's settled. Write back and tell Chichi-ue, we'll make sure his little darling arrives at her husband's in one piece." Grinning broadly, Bankotsu asked, "So who do you think should come with us?"
Renkotsu quirked an eyebrow at him and sighed softly. Am I that obvious? "Well, besides, the two of us, we should probably bring Sui in case we need a doctor…"
"And…?" Bankotsu prompted.
"Jak, because if we don't bring him, he's going to have a fit and then some."
"Hell yeah…" Bankotsu sighed as visions of a beautiful princess danced in his head along with visions of said princess being cut to shreds by an irate Jakotsu.
888
"Tell me again why you're going whoring with Mu when we get back?" Jakotsu said testily as they headed out on their mission.
"Because we had to leave him home, that's why, Sweetness," Bankotsu replied.
The cross-dresser rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but… Well, ummm… You've left me home before and never took me anywhere special when you came back."
"But that's because you don't like to go whoring."
Jakotsu growled in frustration. "Never mind!" he huffed. He shoved his hands in his sleeves and pouted.
A few paces behind, Renkotsu chuckled softly.
"It's not funny, Ren," Suikotsu said quietly.
"But it is, Sui." He grinned.
The claw-bearer sighed. "No, it's not. It's either going to spark a huge fight, which could jeopardize our mission, or it's going to fester until we get home, which means I'm going to have my hands full with him. Honestly, I wish it would just blow over and quickly." Suikotsu rubbed tiredly between his eyes.
"Looks like you got your wish, Sui," Renkotsu said.
"Indeed." The claw-bearer looked up and smiled.
Up ahead, Bankotsu had snaked an arm around his paramour's waist. Whatever he was saying to Jakotsu must have mollified him, because a few minutes later, the cross-dresser was happily hanging all over him as they walked.
"Anyway, I wonder what this princess looks like."
"Why should that matter?" Suikotsu asked.
"Well, if she's pleasant to look at it, it'll make the whole thing a lot easier."
"True, but if she is, then it could create a whole new set of problems, especially if Oo-Aniki takes a fancy to her," Suikotsu pointed out.
"Damn…"
The claw-bearer chuckled. "Whatever she looks like, we won't know until we get there, so it's best to keep an open mind. For all we know, she could be a little girl."
"Or an old woman…"
"Exactly."
888
The rest of trip went uneventfully, although Renkotsu found it amusing that the closer they got to their destination, the happier Jakotsu seemed to be.
"You'd think he'd be the last person you'd expect to be this happy about meeting a woman," Renkotsu observed.
Suikotsu's eyes twinkled with amusement. "That has nothing to do with meeting the princess and everything to do how he's been spending his nights," the claw-bearer chuckled.
"Don't remind me," the fire-breather groaned.
"Things could be worse, Ren."
"How?"
"Oo-Aniki could pull a groin muscle," Suikotsu deadpanned.
Renkotsu shot his friend and lover a horrified look. "Don't even think that!" He briefly closed his eyes, bowing his head as he brought his hands together, while they walked along and murmured something under his breath.
"Praying for Oo-Aniki's health, hunh?"
"And Jak's. The last thing we need are any, uh…'problems.'"
"Good thinking, Ren."
Before the fire-breather could reply, their leader and his paramour, who had been walking several paces in front of them, sneezed in unison. It sparked a flurry of concern over Bankotsu's health by the cross-dresser.
"I'm fine, damn it!"
"You sure, Aniki-chan? We can stop and Sui could have a look at you."
"No! I'm fine, Sweetness," Bankotsu said. "Really I am. You sneezed too, so I figure Ren was probably talking about us again."
"Oh…" Jakotsu said as the two of them looked back over their shoulders at their fellow teammates.
"Everything okay, Oo-Aniki?"
"Yeah…"
888
They arrived at the daimyo's palace the next day. For a minor warlord, his palace was impressive. It rose like a manmade mountain from the middle of a flat plane and was surrounded by three rushing rivers making a rich farming area. His nearest neighbor lay to the east in the foothills of Owari. The daimyo, who he wished to unite his clan with, lay to the south in Ise.
Kato, who preferred farming to waging war, actually led a surprisingly peaceful existence, supplying rice and fish to his fellow warlords. Ito, who controlled Ise, had a son of marriageable age and after many talks, it was decided the two clans would unite. Unfortunately, Suzuki, whose only son was still an infant, was not happy that the rice in the area would be controlled by his rival in the south. As a result there had been many attempts on Kato's daughter's life and the quicker and quieter he married her off, the better. So the decision was made to have the Shichinintai escort the princess to her new home.
After they were given rooms to rest in and shown where they could wash the grime from their travels off, the four members of the Shichinintai were told they would be meeting the daimyo, at the hour of the rooster, for a private dinner where they would also meet the princess. Since it was late afternoon when they had arrived, they did not have much time to get ready.
"You really don't have to do that, Sweetness," Bankotsu said. He stood off to the side with the others, waiting to leave.
Jakotsu looked up over his shoulder. "It's important we look good for the daimyo, no?" He had been busy painting the violet fangs under his eyes, although the one under his left eye was half finished, giving him a strange look.
"Well, yeah, but…"
"But nothing, Aniki-chan. Just because we're meeting some silly princess doesn't mean we can't look the way we always do when we show up for a mission," the cross-dresser pointed out. Finished with painting on his remaining fang, Jakotsu rummaged around in the small box of makeup, he brought with him, for a pot of rice powder to set it with.
"True…"
"So come here," the cross-dresser said, pausing just long enough to apply some lip paint, "and let me paint your star on. And if you don't mind, Sui, I'd like to do Ren's stripes next since I can do them quickly."
"Okay."
"Sweetness, we're going to be late."
"Aniki-chan, if we don't arrive looking like the Shichinintai, then they're going to throw us out of here."
Renkotsu shook his head. "He's got a point there, Oo-Aniki."
The cross-dresser smiled smugly. "See? Even Ren knows I'm right."
Renkotsu stood there, with his mouth hanging open. Oh hell! There's going to be no living with him now!
Suikotsu, eyes twinkling with amusement, patted his lover on the back as Bankotsu openly laughed.
"Okay, Sweetness, let's do this as quickly as possible."
"Then sit!" the cross-dresser said as he pulled out a pot of purple colored make-up.
888
"I figure, with a bit of luck, we can have the princess in Ise in two weeks, three at the most…" Bankotsu mused out loud. "That's barring any unforeseen trouble, Kato-sama."
Kato nodded. "Any way you can get my daughter there quicker…?" He once again turned his attention to Jakotsu, who seemed blissfully unaware of it.
"Does she know how to ride? If you can supply the horses, then I believe we could have her there in a week, maybe less, depending on how well she can ride."
"I see…"
"So does she ride?"
Kato looked back at Bankotsu. "Ride?"
"Yes, if the princess knows how to ride and rides well, we can cover a lot more distance which would shorten the travel time," the young leader of Shichinintai patiently explained.
"Oh. No, I'm afraid she doesn't."
Bankotsu thought it over. "What about an ox cart? We can dress as peasants and she can ride in it."
"Hmmm… it sounds like a good idea, but what if you're attacked?"
"We can defend ourselves, Kato-sama, as well as the princess. Plus if need be, we can always use the cart as a shield."
While they continued to hammer out the details of the mission, Renkotsu leaned towards the claw-bearer and whispered, "Is it me, or is Kato-sama more interested in Jak than he is in listening to Ban?"
Suikotsu discretely looked over at their host. "You're right, he is staring at Jak. Thankfully he hasn't noticed."
"Yeah… You don't think he's one of Jak's old clients, do you?"
"Oh Kami, I hope not." Suikotsu stole another quick look at the daimyo. "No, this is something else… but what? He seemed surprised to see him, but Jak barely acknowledged him. So I doubt they ever met before."
"Maybe Jak looks like someone he knows."
"Maybe…"
The daimyo cleared his throat, and looking over to his right just as the shoji was slid back, he said, "My daughter, Misaki-hime."
The Shichinintai leaned forward as one in a low bow.
"Ojou-sama," Bankotsu said respectfully as they sat back up.
"Waka-sama," she replied. Bowing slightly at what she took to be a few of her father's retainers, she found it hard not to stare at them as she tried to figure out who they were.
"Oh great! I knew we shouldn't have worn the 'war paint' as Jak calls it," Renkotsu groaned softly.
Suikotsu chuckled. "You're the one who agreed with him."
"Don't remind me."
888
Dinner was surprisingly pleasant in the fire-breather's humble opinion. Not only was he seated across from the princess, but she was not in the least bit afraid to make small talk with him, having given up on the cross-dresser who steadfastly ignored anything she said. Misaki was very interested in how they were going to get her to her beloved's castle as well as how long it was going to take.
"It's several hundred ri away. Since you don't ride, it'll take us anywhere from two to three weeks to get there on foot," Renkotsu replied.
"I see… But I have never walked farther than the confines of the palace."
"Oh…"
Suikotsu, who had been following both conversations, spoke up, "It sounds like our leader has a plan in mind where you can ride in a cart."
"Really?" Misaki asked.
"Yes. I believe you'll be traveling as a peasant."
Misaki giggled. "It sounds like fun."
While everyone was busy discussing the mission and enjoying their dinner, Jakotsu sat there, quietly wishing he was elsewhere. He toyed with his food, having lost his appetite under the daimyo's intense scrutiny. The fact that his daughter would also occasionally glance his way only added to the cross-dresser's discomfiture. When his fellow teammates also started surreptitiously throwing looks his way, Jakotsu was ready to explode. What the hell is everyone staring at?! He rubbed his forehead tiredly.
Bankotsu leaned towards his paramour, and whispered, "Are you okay, Sweetness?"
The cross-dresser shrugged.
"Sweetness?"
"Yeah…" I just wish everyone would stop staring and then I'd be fine…
"Okay." And with that, Bankotsu turned back to discussing the mission with the daimyo. "With all due respect, Dono-sama, the less people we have with us, the better."
"I'm well aware of your reputation, Waka-sama, that's why I hired you, but this is my daughter we're talking about."
"I know, and don't worry; she's going to be safe. I've brought my best men with me."
"I can see that…" Kato let his gaze wander again towards the cross-dresser.
Bankotsu, sensing the cross-dresser's mood had gone from vaguely upset to angry, said, "Excuse me, Dono-sama, but I've noticed you keep looking at my third-in-command. Do you two know each other?"
Kato had the good graces to blush. "Uh, no. But he does look very familiar…"
Jakotsu sighed. "I've never met him, Oo-Aniki. If I did, I know I'd remember him." I remember my old clients and you know that.
"Really? From the way you keep trying to catch his eye, I was under the impression you were old friends." Or lovers… It's not that long ago that I rescued you from that bathhouse, Sweetness…Bankotsu stole another look at his paramour.
"Chichi-ue, I was thinking the same thing. You do look familiar, Jakotsu-sama," Misaki added. "Perhaps you are the son of one of my father's friends…?"
The cross-dresser heaved another long suffering sigh. "Unfortunately, I don't know either one of you. Nor do I know who my father is," he stated flatly. "So if I may, Dono-sama, I would like to be excused. I'm feeling a little tired and I want to be fully rested when we leave." Which won't be a moment too soon!
"Of course, Jakotsu-sama! Forgive me! I seem to have lost my manners!"
The cross-dresser smiled wanly at him. You just noticed that now?
"Waka-sama, we'll discuss this further tomorrow, then?"
"Yes."
When everyone stood up to go, it finally hit Renkotsu why the daimyo and his daughter thought Jakotsu looked familiar. "You see it, Sui…?" he said softly to the claw-bearer.
"See what?"
"This…" Renkotsu reached out and pulled the hairpin from the cross-dresser's hair.
"Hey!" Jakotsu cried.
"Yes…" Suikotsu said.
The cross-dresser's hair had fallen in wavy cascades around his shoulders and down his back. He had fixed the fire-breather with a deadly stare, and holding out his hand, he said, "Give it back, Ren."
"Wait, Jak." Renkotsu turned to his leader. "You see it, Oo-Aniki?"
"See what?" Bankotsu said as he wondered what had gotten into his second-in-command. Stealing a glance at the daimyo, he had a moment of fear that they had lost this job, when the older man smiled.
"Daughter, can I have your hair ribbon?"
"Chichi-ue?" Misaki asked. She was just as puzzled as the rest of them, but she moved to comply. She tugged on the silk ribbon that held her ponytail high on top of her head. Minutes later, her hair was also falling about her shoulders and back like the cross-dresser's.
"Now do you see it, Oo-Aniki?"
Bankotsu's mouth hung open as he nodded. "Yeah…" He grinned.
"What?" Jakotsu whined.
"It's not an exact match, but close enough. Brilliant, Ren!" Suikotsu added.
"Thank you," the fire-breather said, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"I'm sorry, I don't it see…" Misaki said.
"Neither do I…" Jakotsu quietly added.
"You two look close enough alike that you could be siblings," Kato said.
"What?!" the princess and the cross-dresser sputtered.
"It's true, Jak. You can pass for her and she, you." Suikotsu turned towards their leader. "Oo-Aniki, do you have a plan, yet?"
Bankotsu thought it over.
"Oo-Aniki, what if they act as a shadow warrior for each other?" the fire-breather suggested.
"Yeah… that could work," the young leader of the Shichinintai replied.
"I would have to act like a man…?" Misaki looked at her father.
"Yes, do you think you can do it?"
Misaki nodded. "I think so, Chichi-ue. I suppose I could watch their movements and copy them…" She frowned prettily as she thought it over. "But what about Jakotsu-sama?"
"Don't worry about him, Ojou-sama; he knows how to be a woman, don't you, Jak?" Renkotsu said.
Jakotsu rolled his eyes.
"I will increase your pay, Jakotsu-sama," Kato added.
"Fine, I'll do it," Jakotsu grumbled when he suddenly brightened. "I get to wear her pretty clothes, right?"
"I guess so since she'll be wearing yours, Sweetness."
"What?!"
"How else do you think she's going to pretend to be you?"
"I don't know…" The cross-dresser pouted.
"Please, Jakotsu-sama," the princess said. "It looks like there's no other way and I promise to take good care of them."
"You can keep them…" Jakotsu replied with a dismissive flick of his wrist.
"Really?"
He nodded. As if I'm going to wear my kimono after some filthy woman has worn it…
"That's very generous of you, Jak," Renkotsu started to say. "I didn't know you were that willing to give up your armor and the Jakotsutou like that and to a woman of all things. I'm impressed."
The cross-dresser's face fell. "Hunh?"
"Well, she's going to need everything you've got to impersonate you, including this." The fire-breather held up Jakotsu's hairpin.
"But…"
"But nothing. You don't want to go back on your word to a lady, now do you?" Renkotsu smirked.
"Ren, you know as well as I do, Jak didn't mean that," Suikotsu said, before a fight could erupt between the cross-dresser and the fire-breather. "Ojou-sama, the offer only extends to his kimono."
Misaki pressed her lips together, hiding her smile. "I knew that. Jakotsu-sama, I will look after your things like they were a priceless heirloom and I thank you for allowing me to use them."
"You're welcome…"
"And I will let you keep my kimono, it's only fair." Turning to her father, Misaki said, "Chichi-ue, if it's alright with you and the Waka-sama, I would like to take a day or two to get to know Jakotsu-sama, so that I can better impersonate him."
Kato looked at Bankotsu, who nodded. "Good, then it's settled. You will both spend time in each other's company and so that this will work."
Jakotsu turned to his lover for help.
"Sorry, Sweetness, but there's no other way. Don't worry, Kato-sama, your daughter's virtue will be safe with him."
"I...I, ummm…" Kato said; torn between worry about his daughter's safety and insulting the men he hired to help them.
"He doesn't care for women, Dono-sama," Renkotsu added helpfully. Although, there could be trouble, since he does spend a lot of time in Ban's company and her virtue isn't safe with him.
"That'll make his being the Princess's personal bodyguard that much easier, since they can be trusted together," Suikotsu pointed out. What better way for Jak to keep an eye on her and make sure she stays away from Oo-Aniki's charms.
"Fine, then it's settled," Kato said. "I'll give you one week to perfect your performances and then you'll go." And with that everyone was dismissed as Kato called for minster to prepare a message to be sent via messenger pigeon to his fellow daimyo and ally, about expecting a short delay.
888
As they walked back to their rooms, Renkotsu chuckled to himself.
"What's so funny, Ren?"
"Nothing, Sui..." He grinned. "Well, seeing how 'fond' of women Jak is, it is rather funny he's been ordered to spend time with her."
"True, true…"
"And she'll no doubt be heavily chaperoned just in case…"
Suikotsu nodded. His eyes went wide when it hit him. "He's going to be surrounded by women in the inner palace."
"Yup! And I can see Mu getting all annoyed about it too when he finds out."
The claw-bearer chuckled. "And then some."
"And Ban had better behave about it too. Jak's going to be pissy as it is, and all we need is Ban ticking him off further by asking about his day."
"You're right. I will talk to Jak about it and hopefully we can nip any nonsense in the bud."
"I'd talk to Ban, but that'll just piss him off, Sui."
"Well, we'll just have to let things be with him and hope for the best."
"Exactly…"
888
Bankotsu quickly closed the shoji behind them while the cross-dresser walked over to the low table in the room. He lit the lantern that rested on top of it, and picking it up, he used it to light the room's andons. Sighing softly, he joined Bankotsu on the futon, after leaving the lantern on the table.
"Are you sure you're alright, Sweetness?"
"Yeah…"
Bankotsu reached for his hand and held it. "You don't sound alright. If you don't want to do this, we'll think of something else."
"No, it's a good plan, Aniki-chan." Jakotsu smiled wanly at him. But it means I'm going to have to spend time with that stupid princess and her women, eeewwww… he whined to himself, letting out a raspy sigh as he threw himself back onto the futon.
Looking at him like he did not believe him, Bankotsu none-the-less decided to let the matter drop. Waggling his eyebrows suggestively, he said huskily, "Wanna nookie?"
The cross-dresser sat up and kissed him. "What do you think?"
"I think somebody wants a bit of fun!" He pounced on his paramour.
Jakotsu, landing once again on his back, giggled as he reached up and pulled his lover close.
