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Act IV
Danger close to Home
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Chapter Ten: Thieves in the night
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Mission: Discover the source of conflict
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It was a warm night, very dark and with a light breeze. Perfect, really. The Godha clan was quite, most of its inhabitants in peaceful slumber. A year had passed since the takeover of the Iekazu estate, and with the sudden advance in power, the Godha clan was at its peak in security. The Azuma ninja had returned home to their southernmost estate, their most beloved. The rivers, the forest, the air, all of nature seemed purer and more alive here. Childish giggles sounded out in the night, for there was one group of people refused to sleep when the beauty of nature was there for them to enjoy.
Rimiko slowly danced with her twin blades, already near mastering both her sets of weapons. Flawlessly she swung her blades in harsh jabs forward, jabs that could take down several men at once. Then, with a sharp twist of her arms, the blades were sheathed at her waist and she drew her sword. With a giant leap forward she brought her blade down and let it smack against the ground, cutting the very grains of sand along the dusty street. She then spun and jumped up, her sword spiraling around her body and then lifted to the night. When she landed she heard the applause of several people.
Rimiko spared the group a quick smile and then went back to her exercises. Her twin was across the street with the three healer girls Shoko, Chiharu, and Bikki. Atsutane sat with them, busying himself with writing a letter by the flickering light of his lantern. Tomoyo was next to him, every once in awhile poking him in the stomach and trying to distract him. Rimiko smiled as she beheld her friends.
They help to ease the loss of Kenichi, Rimiko thought sadly. It had been exactly a year ago since the boy had departed. It was a sad sort of night, but she was determined to keep herself composed.
"Now this one you use for open wounds, real messy ones that are hard to close." Shoko explained, holding up a bottle for Sayako to inspect.
"And it's really powerful," Chiharu commented, "You only need to use a little bit."
"It's difficult to make, so you really must be sure not to waste it." Bikki finished.
The three girls were giving Sayako a quick lesson in medicines. Sayako was unnerved by her lack of knowledge in the area and the girls were eager to teach her. Sayako was being very studious and actually took notes. The three healer girls, the favored students of Hinageshi, seemed very proud to be teaching.
"Atsutane..." Tomoyo said, poking him in the stomach for the ninth time.
"What?" Atsutane ground out.
"Why are you writing her another letter?" Tomoyo asked.
"Because I feel like it." Atsutane snapped.
"Well apparently she doesn't feel like responding." Tomoyo pointed out.
"Shut up! She is probably too bust to respond. I don't mind."
"Come on Atsutane, you're so boring anymore. All you do is write Amana letters and wait around to see if you get any back. You're going to lose your edge in fighting."
"I will never lose my edge. Stop pestering me."
"I'm not pestering! Come on, Atsutane, all you do is sit around. How about we race?"
"I'm not racing you! You've beaten me thirty times."
"Thirty two." Tomoyo corrected.
"Thirty two. All right. I get the point. You run faster then me. Happy?"
"Yes. Thank you."
This was pretty much the style of conversation that Tomoyo and Atsutane perpetually had. The group was secretly hoping that Tomoyo would eventually break Atsutane of this boyish fascination with a Geisha who would never give him the time of day.
Rimiko couldn't resist the lure of her friends. She sheathed her sword and walked over to them as she fixed her ponytail. She wore it high and messy as her mother did, whereas Sayako wore her hair down in a sleek and long braid. That and the fact that Rimiko was more muscularly built whereas Sayako was more willowy were the only ways to tell the girls apart.
When Rimiko joined them the group seemed complete, and they began to joke and laugh into the night. Every so often a light breeze would stir their hair and kiss their cheeks. These were such peaceful times.
Footsteps sounded to their left and the group held themselves ready to run. Not a one of them were supposed to be up so late. They were all relieved when Rimiko recognized the ki. Juriette walked up to them with a huge smile on her face and a tray in her hands.
"I thought your mother forbid you to be out this late?" Rimiko questioned.
"Well, she did. I sort of snuck out. I brought you all some snacks!" the girl exclaimed happily.
This got Atsutane's attention. "Well come here!" he said, finally putting down his letter. Tomoyo made a mental note that he was easily distracted by food.
Juriette held out the tray, and just as they were all about to take the offered food several whistles pierced the night. Juriette was so startled that she dropped the tray, all her carefully prepared food spilling out onto the street.
"Oh no!" Juriette cried, being more dramatic than necessary. She sank down to her knees and inspected the food, which was now inedible. She appeared to be close to tears.
Tomoyo was already running toward the sounds of chaos. Atsutane hesitated, debating on whether or not to go back and retrieve his letter, but after hearing several more whistle shrieks he followed after her. Rimiko was trying to haul Juriette to her feet and Sayako quickly grabbed all the medicines and notes and thrust them into the arms of Bikki.
"You four get out of here!" Sayako ordered.
Chiharu and Shoko both grabbed a hold of Juriette. They struggled under her weight and hobbled off slowly. Bikki was also weighed down by the items in her grasp and was not going much faster. The twins watched as the girls made their pathetic getaway.
"Fine! I'll go with them!" Rimiko hissed. "You go find out what's happening, and bring me back full details!"
Sayako nodded and tore after Tomoyo as Rimiko went back to help the girls. Sayako ran as fast as she could and eventually caught up with Atsutane. The boy was already huffing. Tomoyo had been right. He was losing his edge.
"Where's Tomoyo?" Sayako asked.
"Up..." the boy started, then vaguely pointed ahead of them.
It was easy to spot the area of conflict. An entire group of guards were standing in a half circle around the doors of a building that looked familiar. Sayako studied it for a moment and then realized that this was the largest storehouse of the entire estate, where all the Godha clan's raw materials were held. She and Atsutane approached the group and peered inside the dark innards of the building.
It was completely empty. All its contents had been stolen.
Sayako shook her head furiously. Who could have done this? She looked around at all the angry faces and felt sorry for the guards who were now blaming themselves for this theft.
A shimmer of light caught her eye. She stared in the center of the half circle and spotted one lone dagger lying on the ground. It was of a design she had never before seen.
"Well now that's interesting..." Sayako muttered, realizing what a long night this was going to be. Now she truly regretted the loss of those snacks.
***
"No money stolen, no art, no clothing, no food, no supplies. Nothing at all of importance!" Taro exclaimed furiously. "The only items stolen were raw materials used in the creation of weapons. I do not understand! Why would someone steal the materials to make weapons and not just the weapons themselves?"
Taro knelt in front of Lord Godha, Ayame, and Bano, shaking in rage. He was not taking this situation well at all. This theft was going to reek havoc on the clan's reputation.
"Please relax, Taro. There is still hope that we shall find the culprits." Lord Godha said kindly.
In actuality, Lord Godha was in an even greater rage than Taro. The fact that he hid his anger in order to console Taro showed of his great affection for the boy.
"Taro, you have proven yourself to me time and time again. Never once have you failed me in any way. I am not blaming you, nor should you blame yourself. We shall find the culprits. I am sure of this."
"Lord Godha is right, Taro. Now, what of that dagger you had mentioned?" Ayame questioned.
Taro held up a dagger for them to inspect. "This dagger was discovered outside the warehouse. Before the thieves made their escape a guard from the second unit was able to engage in battle with their apparent leader. During the scuffle the thief apparently lost this and was unable to retrieve it."
"How many thieves were there?" Godha inquired.
"Three, my Lord. I have never seen a weapon of such making." Taro said.
"Neither have I." Ayame commented as she picked up the dagger and weighed it carefully in her hands. "It's of brilliant make. One of the best crafted weapons I have ever been blessed to hold. The dagger's maker is truly a master of his craft. Have you ever seen anything like this, Bano?" Ayame asked.
The man hesitantly took the dagger. "No..." he mumbled. "Never." And quickly handed it back.
Lord Godha was still consoling Taro, and did not notice this interaction. Taro gave Lord Godha a weak smile, but still seemed rather upset. For the entire rest of the night he scoured the area surrounding the estate, hoping that the culprits had been so weighed down with their pilferage that they had not gone far. Ayame and Bano assisted him whereas the rest of the ninja were set to patrol the estate for fear that this event was a prelude to an attack.
Sayako joined up with Rimiko and recounted everything that had happened. Rimiko in turn told her that the girls were all right, though Juriette was still upset about the food.
"But where are Atsutane and Tomoyo?" Rimiko asked.
"Helping the guards." Sayako responded.
"Well, that just leaves you and me, sister. I guess we should start patrolling as well." Rimiko said.
The two girls unsheathed their weapons, Rimiko taking her time and finally deciding on the twin blades.
"Don't you ever get confused sometimes as to what weapon you should choose?" Sayako asked.
"Nope! I just get an instinct on which one would be better for which situation. What I don't understand is how you fight with just one weapon. Doesn't that get boring?" Rimiko asked.
Sayako twirled her twin scythes with ease. "Nope. These scythes are all that I need."
The two girls laughed and talked, not seeming too fazed by the situation. The rift between them had long since been lifted. Sayako seemed more relaxed as of late and Rimiko was very happy with her twin's new calmer demeanor.
"Sayako, it seems that...it seems that a great burden has been lifted from you recently." Rimiko said, vainly trying to articulate her meaning.
"Well, much has changed in the past year. If you'll remember the time of the Eastern clan takeover, I had been angry with mother, and..."
"Oh! That day you two hugged when she came back!" Rimiko exclaimed, suddenly recalling the event that she had so long forgotten.
"So you noticed that?" Sayako asked.
"Of course I did! I'm not dense. Just because you notice everything doesn't mean that I don't notice some things." Rimiko said, offended.
"That was not my meaning and you know it." Sayako reassured. "Well, at that time I was frustrated with mother. I can not help but feel that she keeps many secrets from us."
"Yes, I've been of the same mind for awhile now. I think there is much in mother's past that she has not yet come to terms with. I sometimes wonder what it is that she hides from us, but I decided one day to be patient. She will tell us in due time."
"Oh Rimiko, I wish you had told me this sooner!" Sayako exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, I never thought to mention it. I'm glad you and mother made up. Give her time, Sayako. She'll eventually tell us what is in her heart."
The twins smiled at each other appreciatively. Now the rift was truly gone. They both laughed and then began to speculate on how fat Atsutane was going to get. This continued on into the night and then to the morn. The girls slept through the following afternoon and awoke that night to start all over again.
They met briefly with Atsutane and Tomoyo to exchange information. So far nothing had been found, but the guards were still searching. Atsutane and Tomoyo headed off together to assist in patrolling. The twins went their own way. Rimiko and Sayako walked side by side, their eyes keen for any hint of trouble
"Hey, do you think those two will ever get together?" Rimiko asked.
Sayako was about to respond when they suddenly saw two shadows flit across the night; one to their left, one to their right.
Both girls nodded wordlessly and headed in separate directions.
Sayako's shadow moved in a strange pattern. It appeared in front of her, disappeared, then reappeared many steps away. She followed it all the way to the outskirts of the estate. She used her grappling hook and flew over the tall gates and landed without a sound. She then tore off across the uneven ground and finally reached a small hill.
A dark figure was standing atop the hill. Sayako's eyes widened in recognition.
"You..."
***
Rimiko huffed, completely beyond frustration. She could clearly sense three kis, and she followed behind them eagerly. But...they were going around in circles! It seemed as if the trio she was following had no idea where they were going.
She picked up her pace and finally got them in her sights. There were three tall men, each moving slowly with their backs to one another. They had full view of their surroundings, which prevented Rimiko from getting any closer without being spotted. They moved with great patience and discipline. It seemed as if they were determined not to slip up.
Rimiko pulled out her grappling hook and launched onto the nearest rooftop. She followed them from rooftop to rooftop, getting closer with each jump. Finally she lay in wait above their heads and was able to overhear their conversation.
"Where could they be holding it?" one of the voices asked.
"I do not know. Perhaps we should depart without it." another responded.
"But that was your masterpiece! You must have it back." yet another voice said.
What are they talking about? Rimiko pondered.
Suddenly the voices went silent, and one of the figures made a quick movement. A metallic flash was the only evidence of a grappling hook slicing the night. The hook shot up to the rooftop and wrapped around Rimiko's leg.
Rimiko cried out painfully as she was pulled from the rooftop and slammed to the ground. The impact knocked the air from of her. She mentally cursed herself for being caught off guard and prepared herself for the worst.
"Do not hurt her! Use the blow dart!"
Rimiko heard this statement and looked up. She caught a brief glance of sorrowful eyes, and then there was an itch in her left arm and she saw no more.