A/N: Hi all, hope you've all been well. Thanks for everyone who left a review, I appreciate it - it was fun reading them! I know this community doesn't get as much traffic anymore, so it's always nice to see there are readers still out there.
This story is going to be a bit of a slow burn, but I think it'll get even more interesting in the next few chapters here. I'll be trying to make more regular updates, hopefully once every 2-3 weeks. Fingers crossed.
Chapter 4
To the ears of the travelers, the sound of water splashing against the sides of the boat sounded like more of a chant than a lullaby, and the creak of the wooden paddle in the soldiers' steady hands supplied the rhythm. It had been a long time since they left, but the tunnels were so dark one would think it was still the middle of the night if it weren't for the sunlight that secretly followed them. Now and again the light would peek through the cracks and holes above with an almost childish delight, reminding them that it was the start of dawn.
The boat rode the waters on and on, until the tunnel ended, and it reached the bars of a metal gate. Here, land replaced water on the other side. One of the soldiers pulled on the gate, keeping a sturdy stance as the boat whined in disagreement. Finally, the gate began to move - it was just enough for a person to get through.
Shizuru heard a pair of footsteps, and a different soldier, one she had not seen before, appeared ahead. He gestured for her, and she slipped effortlessly through to the other side. Curiously, she looked back and watched the rest of the soldiers gather to help the other woman. One soldier held out his arm, and the woman reached out a hand from under her cloak. From a glance, her skin was pale and fair, and looked as cold as snow.
There was a jangle, and Shizuru peeled her gaze away to look in the direction of the sound. The soldier who had gestured to her earlier had gone to fetch a horse. It was neither small, nor too large, and its muscles moved beneath brown skin with vivid strength. A saddle was strapped onto its back - simple and well crafted - with a brown pack hanging from its side.
"There's water inside and a few days worth of food," the soldier said to her. He pushed the reins into Shizuru's hands.
The rest of the soldiers had led the other woman to the side of the horse, and they carefully lifted her up to sit in the saddle. In the light, the cloak she wore shone gold and blue, and they settled elegantly down the sides of her body.
Shizuru looked at the reins in her own hands, and down to her dirty clothes. She couldn't remember when she last allowed herself to be treated this way - as if she was nothing more than a mere servant. How ridiculous. Despite her thoughts, she lifted a hand to her lips to cover up a chuckle, and turned to catch the rider on the horse staring at her from beneath a hood. Shizuru stared back briefly, her red eyes shining strangely with an unbridled amusement.
"Here is a map," one of the soldiers said, interrupting. He showed Shizuru a piece of parchment and pointed at a spot. "We've brought you here to the outskirts. I'll place this in the pack."
Soon after, the men gathered together. One by one, they gave the woman on the horse a low bow and whispered a farewell with their eyes facing down. The hooded woman made a small move with her head to acknowledge them. It was only after, when all the men piled into the boat, that Shizuru pulled the horse and they began to walk.
The trail was empty, and it was silent here, save for the light sounds of birds calling. Shizuru pulled out the slip Yamada had given to her earlier. The location of their next stop was penned beautifully: Town of Tago, where the weary rest. Slender fingers folded the paper, and placed it into a pocket to be destroyed later. She knew this town; she'd stopped by once before, years ago.
After a stretch of time, Shizuru pulled the horse off the trail. A small stream trickled by, and she led the horse to drink. Tiny red flowers bloomed near the water, beautiful and delicate. Shizuru reached down and plucked one gently. She brought it up to get a closer look, her fingers twisting the stem slowly. The flower spun, and a small smile graced her face.
The moment was brief, and the feeling of being watched caused her to pause. She carefully placed the flower in a pocket and took the reins again, pulling the horse back toward the trail.
"It seems we haven't yet introduced ourselves," Shizuru said, still feeling the other woman staring. She looked up languidly at the hooded figure. "What should I call you?"
The woman on the horse did not speak for a long time. When she did, her voice was quiet. "Natsuki."
Natsuki, Shizuru repeated the name in her mind. The voice that had come out of the other woman's lips was slightly lower than she had expected, but it was pleasant and a little husky. "It's a pretty name." It was a polite reply.
After some time, Natsuki asked, "And you?"
"Hm?" Shizuru gave a small, non-committal hum.
"Your name?"
Ah. At the question, the red-eyed woman placed a finger on her chin, as if to weigh some thoughts. In the moment she started to feel slightly regretful - perhaps she shouldn't have started the small talk. Yamada had warned her, after all, the less she knew the better. Her lips pulled up at the corners and she replied cheekily, "It's a secret."
After that, it was silent and Natsuki did not ask again. Shizuru could feel the other woman's resentful gaze boring into the back of her head. I'm awful, she thought, and bit back a smile.
Time passed by, but the travelers moved fast, and Shizuru did not stop again, cutting the days trek short. The trail opened up, and Shizuru could spot buildings in the distance. There weren't many, and she could see the entire town from where they were. In fact, describing it as a town was deceptive - it was more of a village, if anything. It hadn't changed at all from when she last visited.
As they neared the gate, a small figure moved out from behind one of the wooden posts. It was a child; a young boy. He was covered in dirt with wild hair, and a strand of straw stuck out from the side of his mouth where he bit. Circled around his neck was a chain, and he lifted it, revealing a red mirror attached to the end. He then dashed to the left, and hid behind a tree.
Shizuru raised a brow and pulled the horse in the direction of the boy. Every time they neared, the boy would appear again and run to another hiding spot. He led them around the gate, through a quieter road, and into a field, where an old house stood. There was smoke coming out of its stone chimney, and against the top of the door hung a chime made out of broken glass.
The boy came out from his hiding spot and stuck his small hand in front of Shizuru. She stared down at it, thinking. "You want payment?" she asked him, knowing Yamada should have already paid the boy days before.
The boy gave a few curt nods, and stretched his little arm further up toward her.
"Wait," Shizuru said, and went to the side of the horse. She paid no heed to the rider, and opened the pack to search inside. A small bundle of white cloth caught her eye and she unwrapped it. Inside sat three buns dusted with a fine yellow powder. They smelled sweet.
"Here," she beckoned the boy over. Shizuru barely had time to finish the word; the boy spit the straw from his lips and shoved two of the buns roughly into his mouth. His small fingers fumbled with the third one and he dropped it, but picked it up before madly dashing away.
A light chuckle came from Shizuru's throat and she folded the cloth back into the pack. She felt herself being watched again and almost sighed, but instead went to the front of the house and knocked on the door. The chime above the door rang at the movement.
There was the sound of wood creaking from the other side, a small thump, and the door opened. An elderly man with a rounded face opened the door. His eyes were kind, and Shizuru held back her surprise. She gave him a smile and said, "We seek refuge for the night."
Hearing the disarming way she spoke, the old man smiled back, crow's feet forming at the sides of his eyes. "Yes. Why, of course. You can call me Jin. I was expecting you, but you're early. Come in, come in."
Jin turned and went back into the house hurriedly, and Shizuru looked back at Natsuki, who made no move to dismount. She waited a little longer, but there was still no movement. The hooded face glanced down, and Shizuru could see those pale hands clench in what she could only guess was embarrassment. My, my. Shizuru tapped her chin lightly, and her eyes narrowed in an almost feline manner.
A mischievous thought tickled at her, prodding at the corner of her mind, but she stopped the impulse. Instead, Shizuru went to the side of the horse and held out a hand. She felt Natsuki's fingers slip into her palm, and Shizuru held the younger woman steadily until she was on the ground.
Without a word, Shizuru then led Natsuki into the house. The home was small but clean. In the corner was a wood fireplace, and inside, a pot of stew sat in chains, suspended over dancing flames. Next to it was a table and four chairs. All the furniture seemed to have a purpose with no excess, and it was simple but still comfortable.
To the side there was a set of stairs that led up to what Shizuru inferred were the bedrooms, and it was down these stairs that Jin came to meet them for the second time.
"I've prepared your rooms upstairs," he said genially. "There's a bath set up in each one. It doesn't matter if you use it or not, I'll change it when you eat. You'll find clothes and items sent from Yamada. Change into them and leave the ones you're wearing. I will dispose of them."
He headed to the front door. "I'll take care of the horse now. Once you're done, the stew should be finished."
After all the years contracting for Yamada, Shizuru had been accustomed to such situations and didn't think twice when heading up the stairs. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Natsuki did not follow, but she kept on without a pause and went straight into the room set for her. Once the door was shut, Shizuru took in a breath, letting her eyes flutter shut. Although she hadn't shown it, she had suffered a night with no rest, and the walking had exhausted her.
Shizuru held that position for a while. When she opened her eyes, she took out the parchment Yamada had given her, along with the red flower from her pocket, and set them aside. As Jin had said, there was a large wooden basin filled with water waiting for her. Checking that the windows were closed and the shades drawn, she slipped off her clothes and stepped into the bath. The water was just lukewarm - perhaps Jin didn't have time to heat it fully before they arrived - but it soothed her aches and she gave a satisfied hum.
She washed leisurely and dressed in the clothes set out for her. It was a nondescript but form fitting outfit that was darkly colored, nearly black. Pockets lined the inside of her sleeves and the sides of her thighs, perfect to conceal hidden weapons. A matching cloak was to be paired with it, but Shizuru left it neatly folded to the side for later.
After her hair had dried, she took Yamada's parchment and went down the stairs.
As Shizuru turned on the bottom step, she saw that Natsuki was already sitting at the table. She was dressed in nearly identical clothes as her own, and had both hands folded in her lap. A bowl of stew sat steaming in front of her.
It was the first time Shizuru had seen the woman clearly since their first meeting, and she took her time studying Natsuki's face. The girl was fairly handsome, Shizuru decided. She had elegant features, soft and pretty, with delicate lips and a pointed nose. Her dark hair contrasted with her fair skin as it fell, tucked behind an ear and against the side of her face. Natsuki held no expression now, and the image was cold and almost lonely. Her green eyes were lowered, and she seemed to be staring down in a daze.
Shizuru had approached without a sound, and when she pulled on one of the chairs, the whine of its legs scraping against the floor was jarring. She hadn't meant to startle Natsuki so, and when those green eyes turned to look up at her, they were frosty through and through. For a moment Shizuru felt a chill in her breath, and reflexively stilled.
The silence was tense, but it was only a few seconds before look on Natsuki's face began to falter. The snow in her eyes seemed to melt with uncertainty, almost as if to say, who are you? Natsuki did not seem to recognize her.
Was Reito's costuming really that convincing? Shizuru mused, narrowing her eyes softly. Or perhaps, she thought, maybe it was the contrast of how she looked now compared to this morning. A sound came at the front door, and it was Jin who confirmed the latter thought with his words.
"So," he said, walking through the front door, causing the glass chime to ring. "I could hardly believe at first, but you really are one of Eibin's Voices."
Shizuru stiffened imperceptibly at the title and found herself almost frowning. She did not know how much Yamada had told his men about herself - it changed from contract to contract - but she had counted for him to be at least more tight-lipped than this. She would have to have a word with him when she returned.
As if hearing her thoughts, Jin smiled warmly at her and said, "Even if I wasn't told, I could still tell. Shizuru, was it?" He fetched a bowl and scooped in some stew. "I know of the horror stories told now, but when my wife was still alive, we used to visit the sanctuaries often. There used to be one nearby, further north." He placed the bowl on the table. "Please, have a seat."
Shizuru flicked her eyes down at the hot broth, and slowly sat down. She made no move to confirm nor deny his words.
"You look just like the rest of them," Jin continued. "All of you had angelic faces and golden hair - although yours is slightly darker, it might as well be the same. And your eyes too, quite different. The others usually had softer colored eyes - red is a bit bold in comparison - but still, very pretty. I suppose Eibin was really fond of beautiful things." He nodded toward the slip of paper in her hand. "Did you want me to burn that?"
Shizuru had almost forgotten about it, and nodded kindly, "Please." She handed him the parchment, and Jin tossed it unceremoniously into the fireplace. He watched the paper until it fully burned to ashes before speaking again.
"You'll be heading to Orran next. It's a much larger city. You'll be staying at a place called the Swinging Door. As always, try to stay discreet." Jin placed a wrinkled hand on the table with a clink. When he lifted his hand, a few gold coins appeared underneath. "Here's part of your payment. We've hidden more in your agreed spots. You'll get more when you reach the next stop - oh, and of course, Yamada told me to remind you that there will be more when you return for good."
Jin looked at Natsuki, his expression turning grave. "I've received a follow up message from your earlier inquiries, too." He bent down and whispered in a voice so skillfully quiet, even Shizuru could not hear.
Shizuru watched the fleeting expressions on Natsuki's face. A mix of pain and sadness flickered through her eyes, followed by an almost unearthly stoicism, as if the muscles and bones beneath her skin had frozen to marble.
"Well then," Jin perked up again. "When you two are done, just leave your dishes here. I'll clean them later. If you find yourself restless, feel free to go for a stroll. There won't be any unexpected visitors coming through here. I'll be cleaning your rooms now." He went up the stairs, and the clear sounds of his footsteps could be heard above.
Shizuru picked up a spoon and stirred the stew, all the while continuing to watch Natsuki. The dark-haired woman had tilted her head slightly downward, her gaze fixed to the edge of the table. It was quiet; the atmosphere felt awkward at best, and Shizuru set her spoon down. She had lost her appetite. The firewood burst into a crackle, and finally, there was a change in the scene. Natsuki's face was still motionless, but her lashes had fluttered into a sort of quiver, as if she was afraid to blink.
Shizuru found herself biting the inside of her cheek. Was the girl about to cry? Shizuru couldn't remember the last time someone had cried in front of her this way. She was used to wailing screams and begging, the snotty tears and thumping of fists, but certainly not this - and she suddenly felt inept.
But hadn't she been taught to handle these situations at the sanctuary? How many times had they drilled the procedures, the right words to say, and the proper expressions into her head? Shizuru could not remember them at all now. Something stirred inside of her, and she impulsively spoke.
"Natsuki." The sound was restrained, barely above a whisper, and sounded strange even to her own ears.
The dark-haired woman didn't look up, but her lashes had stopped moving. Shizuru drew her lips into a line, a bit surprised at herself. Had she really spoken just now? She sighed inwardly. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep. She dearly needed to rest well tonight.
More silence filled the air, and what was awkward before turned even more uncomfortable now.
Natsuki stood up with a clatter. Shizuru, unsurprised, glanced up and caught her gaze. Natsuki did not seem to be looking at her, but through her, and the green eyes looked angry now, not with rage, but with some sort of heavy grief. She watched Natsuki's lone figure disappear outside the front door, and the sound of the glass chime rang once more.
Jin came down a moment later with a bundle of clothes. He looked at Shizuru who seemed to be in deep thought. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Shizuru slowly turned. She gave him a helpless smile, and asked, "Do you happen to have some tea?"
It was later in the day when the clouds rolled in the sky, almost tumultuously, painting it a dark blue. Although the clouds seemed to puff and grow, the palace scholars said there would be no rain tonight.
One, two, three, four.
Sakomizu sat on a chair beside the Third Queen's bed, holding her wrist in his hand. His two fingers were pressed against her wrist, and he had been checking her pulse for quite some time now. This was the fifth time he had checked today. And each time, the pulse grew weaker.
There was a quiet knock at the door, which had already been slid open. The soldier who had made the sound knelt down patiently.
After a few counts, Sakomizu motioned for the man to enter. The soldier moved close to Sakomizu and whispered into his ear. It was only after Sakomizu nodded in acknowledgement that the soldier retreated out the door, and back to his post.
Sakomizu felt the arm in his hand twitch, as if impatiently waiting for the news. He cleared his throat.
"The job was accepted. They have traveled from the capital to Tago and will be moving to Orran next. The princess is…" Sakomizu softened his voice purposely, trying to sound reassuring. "The princess is safe." At least for now, he thought.
The Third Queen lifted the corners of her lips weakly, as if to smile. Good, Sakomizu almost heard her say. He sighed and started up the count again for the pulse. It wouldn't be long now.
And he was right - it wasn't long until the pulse slowly faded, flickered, and ceased. He counted again, or tried to count, thrice, before lowering his head in defeat. Saeko Kuga, the Third Queen, was dead.
He frowned and grit his teeth, trembled for a moment, and steeled himself. There was still work to do. It wasn't over yet. He placed the Third Queen's arm gently on the bed and cast one last look down at her sleeping face, before turning toward the door.
He motioned, and six soldiers marched in, one by one, holding torches in their hands. The firelight was strong, and cast long, black shadows across the walls and ceilings. Sakomizu's face darkened from the glow.
"It's time."
When those words fell, the soldiers touched their torches on the sheets.
They set the room on fire.
