I do not own Sengoku Basara
Chapter Five: Shadow and Light
Were it not for Lady Noh and Lord Oda's watchful eyes, I probably wouldn't have been able to eat much. As it was, my hashi only touched a small amount of fish and rice, the plate of grilled eel going ignored.
As per usual, Mitsuhide was absent from the table, probably eating alone or sharing a meal with his equally traitorous daughter. Even so, I couldn't say anything to that effect. It was their word against mine, and all Mitsuhide would have to do is mention my family, and any argument I had would be crippled.
And for all I knew, they could've meant it in another way, perhaps rather than sabotage, they were actually aiming to accelerate Lord Oda's goal. And pigs might fly too, I thought, taking another mouthful of fish. No, I needed definite proof first, and to get that, I needed to let the plan get to a point where it would become crystal clear whether I was looking at secret attempts to help, or treason.
After dinner had ended, Lady Noh took me to one side, performing all those motherly actions she usually reserved for Ranmaru, checking my forehead temperature and looking into my eyes. "Nightmares again?" She asked, shooing away the maid that had come in to clear the table.
"That's…part of the problem, my Lady."
"The rest?"
I moved my gaze away, staring at my black tabi rather than at her face. "Nothing I can't handle, honestly." When I forced my eyes upwards, I was met with a soft frown, but Lady Noh didn't press the point, probably knowing how little success she would have.
Searching for a way out of the discussion, I casually searched the room, halting when I turned my head. There was a small child there, hands held in front of them, as though cupping water. Perhaps most startling about her appearance was that she wasn't completely solid, the panels she knelt before easily visible through her form.
Back still turned to me, the child straightened, revealing two hastily tied tails of hair and ran from the room, giggling at something or other. Despite her departure, the paralysis held in my muscles, lasting even after Lady Noh left the dining hall, asking to see me in the morning.
Nodding and mumbling something, I watched her back until it hid behind one of the panels, and then finally found the strength to move. Ignoring the strange look from the maid who'd deemed it safe to come back in, I hastened into the hallway, looking left and right for the child. If I had seen a ghost, I'd rather get a nice description for the exorcist than leave them poking at the walls and ceiling.
My luck held, to the right, the opposite of where Lady Noh had vanished, the child was still standing, rocking on her toes and still giggling. Once she saw me hovering, she all but skipped from my sight, moving down the corridor at a leisurely and playful speed.
Despite the mature, sensible part of my brain telling me to calm down and not jump to conclusions, I found myself following the spirit, being pulled through several halls and courtyard, and one point even stopping where I'd left my shoes, as though she was willing to accommodate me in this foolish pursuit. Further evidence of this was found in her silly laughter, as it grew louder in volume whenever I lost sight of her for longer than a second.
Finally though, just as night was dawning, her happiness settled to low humming, our chase coming to an end by the koi pond in the main garden. Turning her head slightly at my approach, the little girl crouched down, hands wrapped around her knees. "I want to be like a salmon when I grow up."
"Why's that?" I whispered, resting my hand on the hilt of my bokken, ready to unsheathe it at a moment's notice. If I needed to, I'd have no qualms about beating this spirit from the castle. "What's so special about a salmon?"
"Don't you know silly?" Bristling at being called silly, I actually pulled the wooden blade out a bit, but the girl had already carried on talking, "They meet every challenge, and climb waterfalls, even though it seems hard to us. Haven't you ever wanted to try that?"
"Not really. It's silly to try." Ignoring how I'd thrown her own insult back at her, the little girl shrugged, even leaning forwards to try and grab one of the fish. As she reached out, I caught a glimpse of her face, those familiar eyes looking back at me with a sad frown, "I think you hold your head a bit too high to be who I'm looking for."
Eyes widening in confusion, I suddenly noticed just how far she was reaching, and raced forwards to grab her arm, both to save and to question her, just as her balance ran out and she fell into the water without so much as a splash. No head bobbed to the surface, no arm flailed for help, it was just me in the garden, staring with disbelief at my reflection.
Daybreak found me surprisingly well rested, as though the little spirit had done more than wax lyrical about salmon and climbing waterfalls. Determined not to waste what may be my only day of full energy, I dressed in one of my better yukatas, and reported to Lady Noh I would be visiting the temple before attending to my duties. She granted me permission, but only after making sure I went with protection in the form of Talon, the hunting falcon Lord Oda had bought me on my fourteenth birthday. A year on and he still thought my hand was a piece of carrion.
Despite this little hiccup in our relationship, he really was protective of whoever gave him his last meal. So before I dared even put the glove on, I picked up a small scrap of meat that I'd begged off the kitchen staff and faced him. "Right, we have to get over this problem. See this?" I dangled the raw scrap in front of his beak, pulling it away just as he made a grab for it. "No, this is for after you- Ow! Little demon!" I yelled, sucking on the steady blood flow erupting from my palm.
One of the falconers came to my rescue, draping the hood over Talon's head before he decided to test just how nice the rest of my fingers tasted. "Are you alright ma'am?"
"I'll live." Facing my now blinded falcon, I frowned sharply, "Him on the other hand…"
"If you'll excuse the disrespect ma'am, it's your own fault, teasing him like that." Whipping round to confront the falconer, I sucked in a breath at what I saw. Like every falconer in the mews, he wore thick leather gloves to protect his fingers from claws and beaks, but there the similarities stopped.
Warm brown eyes held court over a friendly smirk, separated by layers of freckles. Black hair sprang out at unruly angles, and small locks drifted in front of his forehead. Finally, he didn't wear the usual long hakama and patterned haori, somehow making his fairly threadbare jacket and short hakama in various shades of brown and black look regal.
Sniffing slightly, I returned my attention to Talon, who was resting silently on his perch, as though listening to our exchange. "I don't recall asking for your opinion. Now, help me leash his talon." Giving a mock bow to me, the boy carefully looped the cord around my falcon's leg, even carrying him off the perch for me. Whilst I wrestled into the armguard I'd already set to one side, he watched me carefully, smiling when I held out my arm, as though we were old friends. "What's your name?" I demanded, holding my nose up to try and gain a little superiority.
"If you're planning on alerting the main keeper, you'll be sorely disappointed ma'am."
"Oh and why's that?"
"I don't work here. I'm doing a favour for a friend. Word to the wise, if you're planning on drinking half the night, make sure you don't have work the next day."
"I'll keep that in mind." Ending the conversation on a huff, I let him slip Talon onto my wrist, removing the hood when he deemed us safe. Shrieking slightly at his new position, the falcon soon shut up when I threw him a bit more carrion.
"Ma'am?" The boy called as I left the mews, leaning on the doorway, "My name, it's Hanzo."
Softening, I turned on the spot, giving him the merest hint of a smile. "Mine's Sayomi. And I'm not a ma'am."
"I'll keep that in mind, Miss." Hanzo held my gaze, his smile far wider than mine. But then his face suddenly twisted into fear, "Miss, look out!" His warning came a little late, Talon's beak clamping around my ear before I could move away.
