Part Four -- Tou Hashiba
The castle of Tou Hashiba was not what one expected for a country called "The Bank of the World". Instead of illustrious towers and colorful roofs and all around magnificence, the castle of Tou Hashiba was short, squat, and . . . well . . . economical. It was only about ten stories tall, with large, fat bricks imported from the mountainous Luga. The castle was circular in nature, with four gates on each compass direction. The only tower of the castle was smack dab in the middle, lifting three extra stories, and provided the extravagant view of the city.
Tou Hashiba was the largest inland city of the known world, at the intersection of almost every major road and highway of the country of Hashiba. The city itself had underground sewers, fountains at every square and sturdy wooden buildings; some of which dated back to the Fifty Year War.
Shuten looked out upon the city from the castle tower. Even though he had visited the capital several times as a youth, he had never seen the city from above. He found it gave him a sense of superiority. Shuten reveled in it.
Take right now, for example. Shuten was watching the out and out parade that was being made of the return of the fabled Touma-sama. His capture and return to the king almost always caused a spectacle, with people lining the wide streets to see their future king, at least once, before he was once again locked away somewhere in the castle. The numbers watching today however were reaching near double what was normally expected.
Shuten grinned as he continued to roll dice in his free hand, the other holding the ledge of the tower. The dice were of his own creation, loaded to fall snake eyes unless he held the dice. He recalled how insulted the serpentine Naaza had been when he heard the term.
Tossing the dice and then continuing to roll them in his hand, he studied the procession that was coming in through the south gate, following the South Avenue up to the castle. There were indeed five of them. Shuten carefully set out his magic to the five, examining their ki and learning what he could for them. Like the spring season, Shuten absorbed energy for his own personal growth, and now he grew to know the five troopers that were riding in.
The first in the procession was the blue haired prince himself, the mighty Tenkuu no Touma. Even from the distance he was at, Shuten could see the slumped shoulders and the hanging head. He rode his white stallion bareback, with a score of soldiers carefully surrounding and "protecting" the prince. Shuten smirked, sensing that, in fact, they were caging him. Shuten planned a much more confining prison. When he was through with the prince, he would be forbidden to see the light of day. Shuten would watch with great joy as the blue haired prince would slowly pale and become sick, weakening to the point of being unable to even leave his bed. Surely even that would be satisfactory to the ever mind-changing and blue skinned Badamon. Much as Shuten would want the prince to die, and die horribly from the fate the Kitsune had set out for him, Shuten settled himself with watching Touma waste away.
The next in line was the light elf, or as he liked to be called, Korin no Seiji. His gold and white palomino wore Touma's saddle, and to it Seiji was tied, looking for the entire world like he had been given the worst insult ever bestowed upon him. Shuten grinned. He and the other three had much more in store for them. If the lofty Seiji felt he was being insulted now, then just wait. Shuten decided to add a slight. He moved his perceptions down to the palomino and absorbed the ki from the mounts right forefoot. The horse tripped, sending the light elf lurching forward in the uncomfortable saddle. Seiji glared for a moment, then looked around.
Shuten withdrew from the elf. He had forgotten that elves, both light and dark, could sense another's presence with greater ease then most. Anubisu in particular was very sensitive to such sensations. He had gone after the Kitsune Shuten with a blade when he had first sent his perception to the dark elf.
The monk Shin-sir was next. Shuten never understood adding the suffix "sir" to a priest's name. The sir was also tied to his saddle, the mighty staff missing from his mount, as was Korin's sword. The brown haired Shin gazed upon the crowd that was watching him, a mixture of confusion and modesty on his face. It was obviously the first time he had been seen by so many people, and also the first time he had ever been arrested. The sir seemed to be trying to make the best of the situation, confident that justice would be served. In that sense he was fairing much better than the prince and his emissary. That confidence would change. Shuten would make it change. He would show the sir and the world how unfair the Hashiban justice system was, how everything was based on who your father was and if you were an Oni.
Behind Shin-sir rode the burly Lugan mercenary, Shuu. As the other two, he was tied to his saddle. Unlike the other two, he was perfectly calm. He was even smiling to the crowd and entertaining them by attempting to wave. The motion was jerked to a halt as the mercenary was reminded how short the rope binding him was. Several laughs emitted from the crowd, and Shuu laughed with them. Shuten sensed that the orange clad Shuu had been arrested before, and that the process what nothing new to him. Shuten nodded, appreciating the feeling of almost being arrested. It was a memory that he did not want to dwell on, so he pushed it aside and moved on.
Shuten sent out his perceptions to the red clad unknown. Rajura, despite his best efforts, could not even gather the man's name. Shuten wanted to scoff at the Gen's inability. He wanted to, but he did not. The five of them had been traveling together for two weeks, and during that time, they had all been introduced EXCEPT the unknown? That was unlikely. There must have been maho at work. There was no other way to explain how they had not learned the unknown's name until now. Shuten intended to correct the matter as he looked at the ki of the red clad and tiger eyed man.
The man, bound in rope and tied to Shuu's charger, turned his head and seemed to look directly at Shuten.
And smiled.
Shuten's perceptions were hurled back at him, with no new information except one thing. The form the unknown was in was not his only form. Shuten reeled. Not his only form? Was he human? He was obviously not elfin, but then what was he?
Shuten found himself gripping the ledge of the tower with both hands and breathing hoarsely. His dice had rolled not far away, showing box cars. What in the world of gods was THAT?
Shuten took a deep breath and slowly brought his body back under control. The procession was already halfway up the South Avenue, making their way to the south castle gate.
There was a creaking sound, and Shuten turned to see the lecherous king had come to the tower to watch the spectacle as well.
"Shuten!" he said graciously, a smile on his lips. "I was expecting you to be going over the accounts. Again."
Shuten bowed to the king and replied. "I already have. There is no mistake. A substantial amount of funds have been diverted from the central and sub vaults. Someone has been taking money from the treasury in staggering amounts."
"Have you found the culprit?"
"Of course." Himself. But Shuten wasn't about to admit that he took the all the ohash and put it in a private account in Yuuki; at least what he had not doubled at the tables. Instead he said, "I fear that the name will disturb you. The one who has been taking money for over a year in order to feed his rampant and obsessive need for gambling, and also to fund his continual escapes outside the castle, is none other than you young nephew; the recently returned Touma-sama."
King Hashiba gasped. "No! That can't be! He told me that he hated gambling!"
"I believe that he hates loosing, O-sama."
"I must look into this," the king said. He turned to Shuten. "I'm sure that you've prepared a report for me?"
"It is in you study, waiting for you, O-sama," Shuten replied blandly. "If you will excuse me, there are some personal matters that I must attend to."
The king of Hashiba grinned widely. "You mean that little vixen of yours?"
"I do."
"Why do I never see her? I would prefer to see for myself that one as fine as you is already taken."
"It is for that reason that I keep her from you. I fear that seeing her may make you want to investigate the other sex, and I would broke no other's hands on her but my own."
The king nodded. "Practical as always, Shuten-kun. If a little bit exaggerated." The king placed a hand on Shuten's shoulder, squeezing it slightly before reentering the tower to greet his wayward nephew.
Shuten brushed the dirty sensation off of his shoulder, grimacing as he did so and wondering yet again why he was putting up with that lecherous old man. But then, the false vixen he had concocted gave him the time he needed to make the right contacts. Right now, he had to harden his stomach to meet the one eyed Gen.
"How long have you been in the city?" Shuten asked.
"Got in last night."
"And you didn't come straight to me? That king is going to call an audience with me any minute and I'm not going to know how to run the set up."
Rajura rolled his eye. "Try to keep up with the obvious, Shuten."
"I would, except you always play with a marked deck."
A sigh of one who was talking to a child escaped Rajura's lips before replying. "I'll be glad to spell it out for you, really I will. Why do you think they came in bound?"
"They've been arrested," Shuten said dismissively. "I know that much already. I'm not totally stupid."
"Really?"
"Don't start with me," Shuten said in a low voice. "Much as I'd like to cut the cards with you, I don't have the time. Why were they arrested?"
"I had them attack Captain Watanabe and his mercenary soldiers. The unknown lead the attack."
"How did you pull that off?"
"Do I really need to explain that?"
"You never gamble part way. You always lay it all on the table," Shuten replied. "They've been traveling together for two weeks. How did you get Watana-whatever to believe what he saw with his eyes?"
Rajura pursed his lips, not liking to give away the subtleties of what he had done.
"Watanabe thinks that the three have some hold over the mighty Touma and his boot licking lackey, the Korin. Does that spell it out for you sufficiently?"
Shuten let loose a small burst of a laugh. "More than satisfactory. Good work, Rajura. However inadvertently, you've stacked the cards in my favor. I'll remember how helpful my assistant was when I report this to Badamon-sama."
Rajura let loose an equally small laugh. "Try it, and you'll find out why I was the one who was deemed capable of finding those five."
Both men laughed lightly, neither smile reaching their eyes.
Touma paced in the meeting room, his blue hair standing slightly on end and his feathers fluttering with the speed in which he paced.
"For what purpose are we in chains?" Seiji demanded, not for the first time.
"I have nothing further to say to you barbarians," Captain Watanabe said evenly, his face professional.
"Barbarians?" Shin responded. "Surely you don't honestly think that we would attack your men. For what purpose would that serve? Ryo-san here told you back in the Outlet that numbers were the preferred way of travel. I don't understand why you think that we've hurt your men."
Captain Watanabe said nothing as he waited for the king. After entering the city, the four prisoners' ropes had been replaced with chains. They went immediately to the meeting room, and were now waiting for the king, Touma's uncle, to appear.
"Relax, Shin," Shuu said good-naturedly. "The Hashiban justice system is said to rival that at Luga. Everything will be fine."
"Yes," Ryo said calmly. His face remained placid, with even the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "Everything will be just fine."
A red haired man, obviously of Kitsune heritage, stepped out from behind the throne that everyone was waiting in front of. His large if narrow green eyes surveyed the group before him, his mouth twisted slightly into a lopsided grin.
"His High Benevolence, the Head of the Bank, the Smartest of Accountants, the Fountain of Gold, Hashiba no O-sama!" he announced.
Touma rolled his eyes and continued to pace as his uncle appeared from where the announcer had come and took his place at the throne.
"Touma."
"Uncle."
The king was not an old man, as one often pictured. He was of middle age, lines only just beginning to show on his face. His hair was an even lighter blue than Touma's or even Touma's father, and the tell tale lock of hair fell into his eyes, much like his nephew. He squinted slightly, examining the four prisoners. As Touma expected, it was not long before he got off the throne to get a closer look. He circled each prisoner, sizing them up before returning to his seat. The red headed Kitsune leaned over and whispered something into the king's ear.
"It really is a shame, Touma, that they are such criminals," the O-sama of Hashiba said. "Those four would get along really well with me."
"UNCLE!" Touma shouted. "It's bad enough you say that kind of stuff in private, please don't say those things in public!"
"Now, Touma," the king said with a scolding tone. "You're in no position to lecture me after what you've done."
Touma faltered. "'What I've done'?" he repeated. "What did I do besides the usual?"
The king shook his finger in front of the prince. "Now, now. Don't play dumb with me, Touma." The king looked to the red head. "Shuten?"
The Kitsune nodded, and stepped forward until he was directly in front of Touma. Wordlessly, he hands the prince a small stack of documents.
"What's this?" Touma scanned the document quickly, taking in the numbers and calculating as he went. "Uncle, someone's diverted almost a tenth of Hashiba's capital!"
"And of course you wouldn't know who that is," his uncle said blandly.
"No," Touma said, his face frowned in confusion.
The king sighed. "I almost believe you, Touma. But things have gone on far enough. I know that you don't like the idea of having the crown. Because of that, I've let you run away in hopes that you clear your head and eventually come to realize that you are the only one who can take my place. But it appears I've given you too much of a free hand. Using the Vault capital for personal gambling and for the funding of your 'trips' has gotten to be too much; and I can't allow it anymore."
"Me?" Touma almost shouted. "You think I'm the one diverting the funds?"
"Look at the documentation," Shuten notes. "Every diversion has been in your name; and there is evidence that you have been using the funds to gamble away in the countries that you visit."
"Do I look that stupid?" Touma demanded. "I hate gambling! How many times have I told you that, uncle?"
"I don't think you hate gambling so much as you hate losing. But I don't think I have to explain myself anymore, do you?" The O-sama leaned back in his chair. "Your rather large and outstanding debt is an insult to the family name. I had thought that we Tenkuu would be free of the obsession to test our luck, but it appears that I've been proven wrong. I am officially grounding you-"
"WHAT?"
"-and hope that someday you'll understand what I'm trying to do for you. Shuten, show him to his room."
"With pleasure, O-sama." Shuten meant it.
With Touma and the redheaded Kitsune gone, the king looked to the four prisoners, each with a Hashiban guard.
"And you! I'm shocked that you had the nerve to show your faces in this country! It's bad enough that you're the ones to put my poor misguided nephew in debt-"
"EH!"
"--But to intend to kill me to put him on the throne and then blackmail him to do what you want is despicable! Even the handpicked elfin emissary was in on it! It turns my stomach to think that people like you exist! How did you even plan to kill me? Never mind, don't answer that. You've all been placed under arrest with the charge of assaulting Hashiban soldiers, correct?" Captain Watanabe nodded enthusiastically. "Very well then, you can expect me to add on the charge of treason as soon as Shuten and I find more evidence on you. Enjoy the trial. Take them away!"
"But--" started three out of the four prisoners. Ryo remained quiet.
"No buts, now get out!"
The following morning, Shuten had his five enemies gathered in the king's private conference room. The king was surrounded by only two guards, but this was Hashiba. Archers were hidden throughout the room with arrows waiting for something to happen. The five were seated at one table and Shuten sat at another. Along the back wall were several other prisoners in chains who would be his witnesses, including Rajura in disguise. This was going to be a performance. Since only the king was allowed to make rulings in cases of high treason, Shuten had this sham of a trial in the bag. He'd had the king's ear since he returned to Hashiba over three years ago. The dirty-minded king trusted Shuten more than his own nephew right now. The cards were all in his favor.
Fingering the dice in his pocket, Shuten stood.
"My king, shall we proceed?"
"Yes, Shuten."
The unknown stood and bowed. "Your majesty, should we not have a priest-sir to view the proceedings? As a man of your high position and honor must know, a monk-sir can see the difference between deceit and truth."
The king smiled broadly at the young man in red. "You may put your mind at rest. I have studied the truth-reading of monks. I know what to look for."
"As you command," the tiger-eyed man replied, seating himself.
"Without further interruptions," Shuten slyly interjected, "I shall begin my case." He pulled out the papers he had the previous day. "You have already seen these papers, my king. A very large amount of funding has been diverted from the Hashiban treasury. As most of the world knows, Hashiba is a very forgiving country. As long as its citizens don't mind paying their taxes, they can swindle and steal as much as they want. However, the whole purpose of their money gathering is to get money into our treasury. That is why we are so stable. However, in order to abide by those rules, one must love Hashiba." Shuten paced in front of the king. Why not. He might as well spill some things now.
He stood in front of Touma. If his prince was so scared of being a king, Shuten would make sure he'd never become king.
"One must love Hashiba. Love Hashiba even more than one's own family. Touma-sama, do you understand that? If someone chooses to love their family or themselves more than this country, they are marked as an Oni." Touma looked quizzically up to him. Evidently the filthy king had not informed Touma of the fate worse than debt.
"Shuten," the king said somewhat crossly.
"An Oni is not something someone wants. If you are given an Oni mark, your entire family is wiped out. Any that survive know that their descendents will be marked as well. We Hashibans love to follow our blood back generations upon generations. One knows that one has an Oni mark. And so does the king. From that point forward, an Oni must live his life in terror of the rest of Hashiba knowing, thereby throwing him out never allowing him to be a part of the country he loves."
"That's enough Shuten. Get to the point," the king said sternly.
"Of course, your majesty." He turned once more to Touma. "Do you have any idea what you have done? You may have placed an Oni mark on yourself, which simply can not be allowed on the royal family of Hashiba. You must understand the seriousness of your crimes, since the ones beside you who hold your debt over your head do not love this country enough to understand."
Touma was looking at Shuten in absolute horror. Since the great prince had not known of this tiny bit of politics, he was obviously having some difficulty with it. However, his look of horror was all Shuten needed. It would make him look as guilty as rigged races to the king. Perfect.
I know you're having fun right now, Rajura chided in his mind, but I'm the actor. Get on with it.
Even Naaza could do a better job than you. Let me enjoy myself. The royal family is going to pay for giving me an Oni mark and killing my family.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just get going!
"Now that that is out of the way," Shuten calmly brought out the papers again. "As I have already stated. Large amounts of funds have been diverted. All have been in your name, Touma-sama. However, that is just the start. This alone is enough to give you an Oni mark upon your family."
Shuten placed the papers in front of the king. "I believe you have already seen these, my king." He turned back to the five.
"However, Touma-sama, gambling was not enough for you. You have also used these diversions to fund your little excursions from the palace. However, the debtors you are seated with are even worse. Surely, you could have at least gambled with nicer people. But we won't get into that now. Captain Watanabe, please step forward."
With the captain now here, Shuten grilled him on the trip from the Outlet. He spent more time on the illusions that Rajura had given them rather than the meeting before Rajura started to follow them. Since the unwitting captain had believed what he saw, he was telling the truth. Still, Shuten had to be careful with "truth". He'd never known that the king could tell the truth from a fixed roulette wheel. In fact, he didn't know that monks of Kaosu could do that, so he had to be careful of whom he questioned. He fingered the dice in his pocket again.
After he was through with Watanabe, he used some of his sub officers, going through the same thing. The king's face was showing more and more betrayal as he went. Shuten knew how to stack a deck in his favor, there was no doubt about that.
I said that I am the actor, curse it! Now get me up there!
"You, with the scar on the eye, come here."
Rajura stepped forward disguised in his illusion. It's about time!
"You," Shuten paced around Rajura's and his illusionary face. "You were one of the persons who attacked our noble captain Watanabe, were you not?"
"The pay was good," Rajura replied his voice deeper than it normally would be.
"Why did you attack?"
"Good pay."
"What were you ordered to do?"
"Fight."
Shuten sighed. "Can you be more specific?"
"Fight."
Shuten took a rather pleasing delight in hitting Rajura to the ground.
Why the curses did you do that!
Answer my questions better, you fool. The king needs answers, now give them!
Rajura grumbled quite a bit as he got up.
"Perhaps now you will be more cooperative."
The unknown, however, stood up. "Your majesty," he bowed yet again. "I was a graduate of the Hashiba University," several people, including Shuten sweatdropped and fell to the ground. He was what? That school produced the smartest people in the world!
"As an undergraduate, I studied some of your justice system. I don't believe striking a witness was something that was approved of."
The king of Hashiba groaned and swatted away his sweatdrop. "You must realize that this case is rather different than how things normally go. I notice you have not brought up the fact that there is nobody here but us."
"And I understand that, your majesty, but I don't feel it right to strike someone down like that. Though I do not know this man, seeing him struck down is not something I can tolerate."
The king of Hashiba leaned forward, his eyes narrow. "You do realize that you're stretching the truth somewhere in there, young . . ." Shuten didn't hear the name, despite his keen ears, "if that is really your name."
The unknown smiled. "Then allow me to clarify so that I may be more precise in my honesty. Yes that is my name. No, I do not know that man, but I have my suspicions on who he is, but I can't get into right now, since we are not here to defend ourselves at this time. I do not like seeing him struck down." The red clad man's smile grew wider. "If I was lying, and I did know that man, I would still not like to see someone under my employment struck down. If I pay such good money as he says, it is because I care."
The king leaned back. "You are a very interesting young man. I wish I had seen you before the trial."
"UNCLE!"
"Alright. You've been telling quite a bit of truth. Any halfwit monk could see that. However, something about this doesn't seem right. Shuten will continue now, but he will not strike anyone else down." The king turned to Shuten. "Will you, Shuten?"
"No my king . . ."
"Very good. Continue."
Who is that unknown? Rajura demanded.
He maneuvered the king to believe him! Shuten fumed. I have to almost start from scratch!
"Shuten? Will you continue now?"
"Forgive me, my king," Shuten replied, bowing low. "I was taken by surprise that this young man has graduated from our illustrious school. Normally criminal minds come from the bottom of the gutter, not the top of the crop."
Good save, Rajura chided. Now question me. I'll be more forthcoming.
It's about time.
"Now then, who was your commander?"
Rajura pointed to one of the chained men along the back wall.
"Let's try a different approach, who was your purse string?"
The unknown was pointed too.
"Who were you ordered to attack?"
The disguised one-eyed man pointed to Watanabe.
"Do you know why?"
"That's for my boss. I just do as I'm told."
"Very well." The boss of the mercenaries was brought forth. Shuten looked him over appraisingly.
"You led the mercenaries that attacked Captain Watanabe?"
"A good merc doesn't talk about his employer," the ragged man replied, glaring back to Rajura. So his illusion had slipped. What a shame. Shuten filed that away to see how he could use turn the tables against the Gen for Arago-sama's favor.
"Need I remind you that you will be sent to the dungeons for what you have done? It is merely a question of how long. If you cooperate with us, your time will be shorter. If not, it will be longer."
The man ran a chained hand through his mop of hair.
"As I understand it, you have a family back home that you are trying to support. Would it not be better to give us the information we are looking for so that you may return to them as soon as possible?"
Looking down, the man avoided Shuten's eyes. Excellent. He was in the palm of his hand now.
"Very good," he continued. "Who hired you?"
"Depends on who you're looking at."
"Explain."
"Guy in red had the money. One in orange gathered us."
"Can you name them?"
"Not the money-man. Too high and mighty to give his name. Guy in orange is Shuu. One of the best in Luga."
"What else can you tell us about them?"
"Long-ear gave info about the column. So'd the monk."
Shin stood up, slamming his hands down on the table with great force. "That is a bold-faced lie! I would never plot something like that or give information to someone who is seeking to harm another! O-sama," Shin turned to the king. "You know I speak the truth since you understand the face as I do!"
Seiji and Shuu pulled Shin back down into his seat.
The king leveled his stare to the young priest. "You have not been paying attention," he calmly stated. "Otherwise you'd have seen that everyone who has stepped forward has spoken the truth as you do now."
"That's what I can't figure out," Shin replied quietly. "How can we all be speaking truthfully?"
"As king, I will judge that. Now," the king looked up above all their heads. "Should there be any more interruption by anyone, put an arrow in their shoulder. Let's move along quickly. I don't like have possible murders in my conference room for very long."
There were several gulps. Shuten smiled inwardly. The king wasn't taking any chances. That meant the old lech was leaning towards Shuten's thinking since Shuten had one thing in his favor. The accounts of the diverted funds. They couldn't lie or tell the truth. They were fact. His doctored fact, but fact none the less. No matter what would be said, he had the trial in his dice.
Stop gloating and get on with it!
Will you leave me alone!
Cursed Kitsune.
Shuten repressed a sigh and continued his persecution of Touma and his associates. He more or less had Touma-sama, the priest, the merc and the unknown imprisoned. The only one he had trouble pinning was the Korin. As an emissary who only arrived the day before Touma-sama's latest escapade, he wouldn't have known about Touma's "debts", nor would he know the others before hand. Another problem in trying to convict the light elf was that the Hashiban royal family knew more about Elvin culture than most. They would know that Seiji was hand-picked to be emissary, therefore would have an impeccable record. Tarnishing that proved difficult.
Still, Shuten was rather pleased with his results. While conviction of the Korin elf was questionable, he drove the nail through the coffins of the other four. At least he would be satisfied to watch Touma pay for the crimes his family bestowed upon Shuten's.
"So, my king," Shuten said as he gracefully started to conclude his case, "Touma-sama has diverted funds for his own uses and his debtors have hung that over his head in hopes of coming to Hashiba and putting him on the throne. May Kaosu-sama forbid we ever find out what they would do if they had succeeded."
The king of Hashiba looked seriously at everyone gathered.
"Touma, my nephew, these are some very serious accusations against you. I expect you to act accordingly. I am appointing your red-clad friend to defend you, since you have not had experience in court before. He seems to have had training, and is far more intimate with the situation you find yourself in. Tomorrow, he will defend you and your companions. You will be confined to your room for until then, and the other four shall be taken down to a secluded part of the dungeon so that they may discuss your defense."
"But Uncle!"
"No buts, Touma." The king leaned back in his chair, looking older than he had when he first appeared. "I want you to think about how serious this is. I will visit you later tonight and discuss it more with you. I am sure you have questions."
"But Uncle!"
The king firmly stated, "That is enough Touma! Guards."
Shuten inwardly laughed. The unknown had no chance of undoing everything he'd done today. Not even an act of Kaosu could help.
Shut. Up. I did all the work!
Shuten didn't even dignify Rajura with a response, he just went to his room to gather some marked decks and decided to hit some of the more private games for the rest of the night.