Chapter Twelve
Open Case

>>>Night - May 4, 1583

The meeting chamber of Iga Castle was a very simple room, reflecting the elegant efficiency of the Iga Ninja Clan. Polished wooden floors bereft of furniture stretched towards paper screens eclipsed in darkness by the descent of evening upon the world. Only two stone statues, representations of legendary clan masters, adorned the north side of the room. That being said, three people also occupied the room.

Ninja Master Hikari was the very image of an Iga Ninja. Clothed in a dark blue shinobi shozoku with the face mask currently removed, the master of the Iga Clan appeared much younger than she actually was. Her stern, angular face and perfectly straightened black hair crafted the impression of a strict businesswoman, but comparatively soft brown eyes gave away the compassion that lay underneath her cold exterior.

Before Hikari sat one of her most trusted kunoichi, Haohmaru Kagome. The younger assassin was dressed in a similar manner to her master, with the exception of the shinobi shozoku being a dark shade of crimson. Kagome always kept her hair short for functionality, the dark brown locks coming to an elegant halt just above her shoulders. A gleaming Iga medallion shone the moonlight, stationed as it was on the red headband that Kagome had never been seen without.

The last occupant of the room always seemed steeped in shadow. Hikari had never gotten a very good look at the woman's face, but she wore a simple black kimono and white obi that seemed to envelop her entire body. The woman was a client of the Iga, but she had an odd habit of never meeting by daylight. Only two other things stood out about this customer: a very long mane of black hair, and the ridiculously long tachi blade that she always carried. Even after several meetings, Hikari had never gotten the woman's name. It wasn't unusual for clients of any ninja clan to keep their identities a secret, but the ninja master never felt comfortable around this girl. It was almost as if this client gave off an aura of suspicion and dread.

"So," Hikari stated. "What news comes from the honorable Kumo regarding the events at Mt. Gozaisho?"

Kagome bowed low while responding. "The insurgent faction gathering at Mt. Gozaisho has begun to make their move. The area surrounding New Komo Town is likely to become a hotbed of activity within the next few days, possibly endangering our province and most definitely disrupting our assignment in the area."

"Assignment in the area?" Hikari asked. "I was not aware that we had an operative in the vicinity of Mt. Gozaisho aside from Kumo."

"Indeed, we did not have another ninja at that location until just recently." Kagome replied. "Shisho Kumo is temporarily cooperating with Tanizaki Megumi in her assignment to assassinate the ronin, Ueda Takashi. It should also be noted that they have already met with difficulty regarding that mission due to the activities of the High Yaen Master Raijin and his followers."

>>>Midday - May 6, 1583

Yamamoto Fuji found it very difficult to avoid thoughts of sleep as he continued his work. It had taken all night to create enough paper charms to encircle the area, and posting them on the dense pine trees was taking even longer than the apprentice had initially imagined. He began to shift through the kanji-laden papers, counting how many remained. Twenty-three more to go. Just beautiful.

It was only by a stroke of pure luck that the group had even found a place to mend their wounds from the last battle. With Takashi nearly beaten to a bloody pulp, Noriko severely injured, and Yuki blinded during the final moments of the confrontation with the mysterious Hideaki, none of the travelers were in any condition to move, much less fight. Noriko, the de facto leader of the group up till now, had gone curiously silent following her battle against Jiro Matsuda, so it had fallen to Fuji to get the party moving. On their way back to New Komo Town, the group happened upon Tomoe, little sister to Nobumitsu, the chief of the nearly non-existent town militia. In thanks for the group's earlier heroics in her hometown, Tomoe offered to lead them to a somewhat closer haven: the Yunoyama Onsen at the base of Mt. Gozaisho.

The area surrounding the onsen had proven beneficial to defensive purposes, positioned as it was in a depression on the east side of the mountain. The heavily forested land could be imagined as roughly circular in shape, thus allowing a perimeter to be established with relative ease.

Fuji placed the next charm upon the side of a large, distinguishable pine tree and began hammering a nail through the top of the paper. It took several tries due to the solidity of the ancient tree, and the apprentice quickly frustrated himself, settling down with a massive sigh of exhaustion amidst the roots of the gigantic plant.

Come on, Fuji thought to himself. You've got to get this finished. There's no telling when the enemy will attack again. You have to protect everyone.

Protect everyone? Since when had that become his responsibility? Fuji's thoughts drifted back toward the beginning of his journey two weeks ago. He had set out from the Shrine at Ise to save the world from an approaching disaster, but the apprentice was no closer now to understanding his earlier visions than he had been when the journey began. Fuji had chosen to go along with a group of warriors for protection on his journey, but now he was getting caught up in their problems and taking responsibility for their well-being. Just what was he doing here anyway? It wasn't that the apprentice didn't care about his companions, but he still had a mission to complete that he couldn't even understand yet, much less work towards.

Fuji kicked one of the tree's roots in further frustration. He had expected to have a direction in life once this journey began. He had expected some sign regarding where he should go and what he should do. In the end, however, it looked as if Fuji would be as directionless now as he had been during every previous year of his life. Fuji hated that feeling, like he was lost in a labyrinth with no way out. What he hated even more than that, however, was the feeling of being watched.

The apprentice readied the Fan of Uzume and leaned toward the left side of the tree, ready to deal with whatever had caused the rustle of footsteps among massive clumps of pinestraw.

>>>Night - May 4, 1583

Ninja Master Hikari sighed. "Maybe it's best if we take this from the top. Give me a summary of our findings on the people involved in the current situation."

"As you wish," Kagome responded. "The target of our honorable client's request is a man by the name of Ueda Takashi. Approximately 20 years of age, he originates from Old Komo Town, trained under the Yaen Master Anakouji Jeffery for two years, and served under Nobunaga Oda until the time of the ruler's death in 1582. There are some reports that list him as one of the only Nobunaga loyalists to survive of the accidental conflagration at the Honnoji no Hen."

"Interesting." Hikari interjected. "Continue."

"Ueda Takashi traveled northward for some time, reaching the southern tip of Mutsu Province before changing course and heading almost directly south. Although there are no direct eyewitness accounts, we attribute this change of direction to an oath of service by Takashi given to one Itagaki Noriko.

"Itagaki Noriko is known as a rogue swordswoman in the northern regions of Mutsu Province. She has no remaining family, and pursues the identity and location of her father's murderer across Japan. At the onset of our assassination attempts against the ronin Takashi, this Noriko proved a most difficult obstacle to remove from the combat zone. Despite the fact that Tanizaki Izumi, the first Iga Ninja sent after the ronin, managed to separate the two, she still fell in combat to Ueda Takashi."

Hikari tightened her fists as the memories of that incident flooded back into her mind. When Izumi's body and Iga medallion had been retrieved and her death thus confirmed, there had only been one who grieved more than Hikari herself. Even now, the Ninja Master still felt the growing concern for Izumi's sister, Megumi, who everyone feared had begun to lose her sanity on that day.

Kagome paused before continuing with her summary. "It was the loss of one of our most skilled kunoichi that motivated our clan to seek out a new strategy against the target ronin and his accomplice. As you might well recall, Tanizaki Megumi, sister to the deceased, volunteered for the mission with more than a little vengeance evident in her motivation. Do you remember why it was that we allowed her to go regardless of her emotional instability?"

Hikari sighed. "One could hardly forget it. A novice to our clan made the first successful use of the Dominus Ninjitsu; a technique that even the elite of the Iga had given up attempting to execute properly. It was unprecedented, and most certainly a useful skill for the situation."

Kagome nodded. "It was this factor that allowed Megumi to become a part of the ronin's party and work her infiltration from within. After the group's departure from Tado Town at the northernmost tip of Ise Province, they met with the Yaen Master Anakouji Jeffery, who had trained Takashi in the way of the sword several years prior. His reason for travel involves some kind of cursed blade, but this was not our concern at the time. Cursed blade or not, Anakouji Jeffery was a solid wall of combative skill that would invariably thwart any attempt on the ronin's life. It was during our contemplation of that obstacle that the fifth member of Ueda Takashi's current entourage arrived.

"Yamamoto Fuji, surrogate son to Head Priest Yamamoto Genji of the Grand Shrine at Ise, offered his assistance to Anakouji Jeffery exactly 15 days ago. He was not considered a threat to our objective at first, but it has since been discovered that the Shinto apprentice wields the legendary Fan of Uzume, which was thought to be sealed inside the Grand Shrine from whence he came. This weapon has proven a serious setback in the last two weeks of the operation due to its ability to blind foes for a period of approximately three days. Anakouji Jeffery, Shisho Kumo, and at least one of Raijin's followers have all fallen victim to the fan since its appearance.

"The final member of Ueda Takashi's group is Yuki, a young female raiju. Although only half-demon in blood, she possesses superhuman powers that, when combined with an almost rabid dedication to protecting the target ronin, adds yet another chaotic element to an already difficult situation.

"With matters getting more complicated as Ueda Takashi continued to travel south, Tanizaki Megumi asked for assistance from Shisho Kumo in order to eliminate the ronin before he reached Mt. Gozaisho. If Takashi were to have died at the hands of Raijin's followers, our contract would have been void, and Izumi's death would have been in vain.

"However, the attempt on Takashi's life failed due to some mistake on Megumi's end, and the ronin was allowed to enter the Mt. Gozaisho area. There was a brief but deadly confrontation between Takashi's entourage and Raijin's followers that almost eliminated the ronin and his companions, but a last-minute action by Yamamoto Fuji altered the course of the battle and preserved the lives of his friends."

"Curious, isn't it?" Hikari commented. "Three men managed to defeat the Takashi's entire group of warriors and we could not even take care of the ronin himself. Just what kind of fighters has High Yaen Master Raijin come across?"

Kagome shook her head. "We've only come across a scant amount of information regarding those who follow the raiju Yaen Master since the group last appeared in southern Ise Province several months ago and executed an entire team of our best ninja."

"Well," Hikari replied. "I'd like to hear what we've found out so far."

The Ninja Master noted something odd about the female client to Kagome's right. She was grinning widely as Kagome recounted these events. What was so funny, or even joyous about it? The more she saw of this eerie client, the more she found to hate about her. Hikari seriously looked forward to the day when the Iga Clan would regain its former glory, and with it the ability to refuse such customers.

"As you command, Hikari-sama," Kagome continued. "We've been attempting to keep tabs on High Yaen Master Raijin's activities since his return to Japan 19 years ago, but he has become quite adept at eluding us. That, in addition to the chaos caused by Oda Nobunaga's attempt to exterminate our clan, has created large gaps in our record of his activities. Even after all this time, we know very little about Raijin himself except for the fact that he is a pureblood raiju demon of untold age, widely regarded as being the first to perfect the difficult Yaen style.

"The follower we have the most relevant information about is Wild Card, a man who claims to be a famous foreign assassin. According to sources, there was indeed a series of unsolved murders across northern Europe that had been attributed to a card-wielding assassin. However, these murders occurred over 30 years ago. Considering the comparatively young appearance of the Wild Card that travels with Raijin, it is unlikely that he is the same man responsible for the murders attributed to the famous assassin. His skill, however, is frightfully unquestionable, perhaps even on par with the Yaen Masters themselves.

"Matsuda Jiro is the third Yaen Master, having trained alongside Anakouji Jeffery under Raijin many years ago. He disappeared about the same time as his master, but was not with Raijin upon the demon's return to Japan. We are currently unable to account for his activities in those 19 years, but it is known that he is the newest of Raijin's current entourage. His combat skills are said to be equal to those of Anakouji Jeffery, but according to our latest observations, we believe him to have become slightly better than his peer in the 19 years since his disappearance.

"The follower we have the least information on is the enigmatic Hideaki. He is a pureblood raiju demon, similar to Raijin, but he also seems to have some familial connection with the half-demon Yuki in Takashi's group. It is suspected that he trained under Raijin for most of his youth, crafting him into a total warrior. Ill-tempered and very dangerous by our observations, he wields a gigantic chain in battle which he refers to by the name 'Ikazuchi'. A few accounts from our spies indicate that the chain has power over lightning, but it is as yet unconfirmed by any ninja of substantial rank."

Hikari put a hand to her forehead. "This really is a complicated situation, and there can be no small price for this task if our client wishes a continued pursuit of the target ronin. Is a 10 increase in our fee acceptable to the honorable customer?"

The shadowy woman next to Kagome nodded slowly. "Money is not a problem, but I expect quite a bit more than what I've heard today from the infamous Iga Clan."

"Understood." Hikari responded. "Now, Kagome, how do you recommend we proceed?"

Kagome's eyes almost glowed with fierce determination. "The ronin and his allies currently rest in an injured state at the abandoned Yunoyama Onsen on the eastern slope of Mt. Gozaisho. Anakouji Jeffery has left them, and all of their able-bodied fighters have been crippled as a result of the confrontation with Raijin's forces. A decisive strike to take advantage of their weakness would minimize casualties and accomplish the given task with flawless efficiency."

Hikari nodded. "That is indeed the way of our clan, Kagome. Please deliver the message to-"

"Your plan is flawed." the woman in the shadows suddenly interceded.

"How dare you!" Kagome shouted. "No one may interrupt the Ninja Master when she is speaking! Hikari-sama, give me permission to teach this woman the meaning of respect!"

"Excuse me for that," the woman in black replied. "However, I cannot help but notice an obvious flaw in your plan."

Hikari did her best to keep calm. Naturally, she felt the same as Kagome about this odd client, but they did need the business, especially from someone with such deep pockets as this woman.

"We shall let it pass," Hikari managed to say. "As long as the honorable customer is kind enough to explain this 'flaw' to us."

The woman in the shadows nodded. "Thank you, Ninja Master. However, I must point out that when I called this flaw in your plan of action 'obvious', I meant that it was obvious only to me. Allow me to illustrate this: if you kill Ueda Takashi now, I shall not consider his death satisfactory to our agreement."

Hikari frowned. "I do indeed recall agreeing to execute the ronin in a manner specified by yourself, but why do you wait until this time to speak of it?"

The woman in black smiled widely again. "Because I have just now thought of it. Is it not true that you value the lives of your ninja?"

The Ninja Master narrowed her eyes. "This is true. What of it?"

"I ask because my plan guarantees the very lives you value so much." the woman in black continued. "I suggest that you simply allow the two opposing forces on Mt. Gozaisho to eliminate each other."

"Interesting," Hikari responded. "Explain further."

The woman in black took pleasure in the anger on Kagome's face before proceeding. "Itagaki Noriko wishes to avenge her father on Matsuda Jiro. Hideaki wishes to kill Ueda Takashi. There are strong emotions both pushing both forces against each other and tying them together as well. By allowing the situation on Mt. Gozaisho to resolve itself under your ninjas' supervision, I will regard our current contract as complete."

"What about Noriko?" Kagome inquired. "Your original wish was for Itagaki Noriko to live. Has that changed as well?"

"No." the woman in shadow replied. "You see, Noriko is the most skilled out of all the warriors accompanying Ueda Takashi with the exception of the now departed Anakouji Jeffery. By this logic, she will fall in battle last. As long as Itagaki Noriko is the last to die, I am satisfied."

Kagome turned to Hikari. "Ninja Master, you can't possibly be considering this."

Hikari paused for a moment before giving her verdict. "Kagome, you shall instruct Megumi and Kumo to follow our client's advice and allow the conflict between Raijin's followers and Takashi's entourage to unfold. Guide the progress of the confrontations if necessary, but take no active part, is that understood?"

Kagome clenched her fist in anger. "Hai."

>>>Midday - May 6, 1583

The noise was really getting to Fuji now. He flattened his body against the base of a pine tree and leaned in its general direction. It sounded exactly like footsteps, slowly approaching from his backside. Whoever it was had almost rounded the tree! Fuji instinctively lashed out with the Fan of Uzume, causing a beam of intense light to shoot out across the forest.

"Hey, Fuji."

The apprentice unclenched his eyes to see Yuki standing right in front of his fan.

"Aah!" Fuji jumped in surprise. "Gomen nasai! I thought it was one of our enemies! Gomen!"

The female raiju giggled playfully. "Oh come on, stop apologizing. I don't think the thing works twice in a row."

"Oh, right." Fuji realized, remembering that Yuki had failed to shut her eyes when he used the fan against Hideaki. "So what are you doing out here? Isn't it difficult to find your way around without your eyes?"

"Not really." Yuki responded, sitting down next to the apprentice and pulling at her ears. "What do you thing these big things are good for anyway?"

Fuji laughed. "I guess that's true. Has Takashi woken up yet?"

The catgirl sighed. "No, and Noriko still isn't talking to anyone. I think that battle with Jiro really freaked her out."

"I guess it would." the apprentice speculated. "She finally found her father's murderer, but she can't avenge his death. That would probably depress me too. What about Megumi?"

Yuki giggled again. "She's got her hands full helping out Gateau-san with the laundry. Or is it Gateau-san who has her hands full teaching Megumi not to swallow the soap?"

Fuji couldn't help but laugh at the thought of that. The onsen's lone tenant, a middle-aged woman by the name of Gateau Ari, seemed nice enough on the surface. For some reason though, the apprentice felt his skin crawl every time he came near her.

"So how about you?" Yuki asked. "What're you up to?"

Fuji laid out the paper charms in front of him. "I'm setting up a perimeter."

Yuki looked confused. "With paper? What good will that do?"

Fuji grinned. "Well, if you're thinking about keeping people out of the area, it won't do any good. However, I've tuned these charms to my chi frequency. If anything crosses the lines made by these charms with malevolent intent, then I'll know about it. At least, that's how I'm hoping it'll work."

Yuki raised an eyebrow in partial disbelief. "Like an early warning system? Have you ever seen that work before?"

"Not really." Fuji admitted. "There's not many people who come to the Grand Shrine of Ise bearing harm. At least, not many people who fear for their safety."

"Well," Yuki said as she rose to depart. "I guess we'll be the unwilling test subjects for your theory."

"It's funny though." Fuji commented. "If these things fail, then we all die without even knowing what hit us."

Yuki turned back toward the apprentice. "Why would you say something like that?"

Fuji looked downcast. He really hadn't meant to start this kind of conversation with Yuki, but now that he had . . .

"I just keep feeling like I'm not making a difference here." Fuji continued. "Even after how hard I tried for everyone, Jeffy just ran off without saying a word and Noriko won't even talk to me now. I know that I haven't been with them long, but I thought they could at least talk to me about important things."

"Hey," Yuki began to reply. "First of all, Noriko isn't talking to anybody, so that problem isn't yours exclusively. Second, wherever Jeffy is right now, I know that he's just trying to look out for us; it's what he does best."

Fuji gave a dry laugh. "You sound so sure."

The catgirl gave the apprentice's shoulder a playful punch. "Of course I'm sure! You need to have more faith in people. And if you still think you don't make a difference, think about what would have happened in that last battle if you hadn't been there."

Fuji did indeed stop and think about that for a second. It was true, if he hadn't been present in the last battle, there was a high likelihood that all his companions would be dead now. Was this his mission? To save the lives of these warriors when they needed him? Whatever the case, it did make him feel important to hear that. It made Fuji feel like he had . . . a direction.

"Okay!" Fuji stated, rising to his feet. "Screw whatever my original mission was! I'm helping you guys out to the end, and that's that!"

"That's great!" Yuki exclaimed. "So what's your original mission?"

The apprentice froze. "My what?"

The catgirl gave Fuji a quizzical look. "You just mentioned an 'original mission'. What is it?"

The apprentice simply walked off toward the next big pine tree. "I didn't say anything like that. Must've been your imagination."

Yuki fumed and chased after Fuji. "Imagination my butt! What the heck were you talking about anyway? Are you listening to me!"

Fuji laughed heartily. What a group he had happened upon. A ronin who runs from his past, a swordswoman who allowed vengeance to eclipse her soul, a former kunoichi who possessed no combat skill, and an ageless catgirl who was supposed to have died eight years ago. Somehow, Fuji would unravel the riddles these people had twisted their lives into. Somehow, Fuji would find out what his mission from Amaterasu actually was. But for now, Fuji would do exactly what he wanted to; he would be there for the people that, like it or not, mattered greatly to him.

(End Chapter Twelve)

Japanese Dialogue and Terms (in order of appearance):

onsen - the word for a natural Japanese hot spring. Is most often used to refer to any structure(s) that surround the hot spring as well.

shinobi shozoku - basically translates as "ninja uniform". Consists of a jacket, obi, trousers (?), tabi boots, sleeve protectors, and a face mask. Made to cover the ninja's entire body but also allow freedom of movement.

ninjitsu - an ancient body of spiritual and martial arts teachings designed for spies and assassins. In real life, this refers to special techiniques, but the word ninjitsu can also be used to describe a dark type of magic. In this case, the latter applies.