Author's Notes: So, Christmas bonus chapter, well, not exactly a bonus, but I am putting it up on Christmas. This chapter is rather a frameshift, and we get to say goodbye to Ise for a little while and introduce the other very important character. There's a lot more on the Mizuho in here, and I think this is a good chapter overall.
To reviewers: Ise is indeed using a spear, whether it does anything special or not, well, you'll have to wait to see him fight. As for Saki, her role here will be minor at best, since this story isn't about her, but I felt like offering that little portion, since its three weapons, not two in the whole plan.
Additional reviews, good or bad, short or long, are strongly encouraged!
Chapter 3- Gifts of the Blood(the next day)
Mizain Yuki stared into the flames, watching the slow dance of red and yellow as it wove its way slowly across his vision. Edges formed and faded in the blink of an eye, but he caught every motion and seared it into memory, following the pattern as the flame wove its way across the pool in slow consumption of the surface. The patterns moved in a strange line, their pace uneven, as a tapestry of smokeless color revealed itself before the photographic image in Yuki's calculating mind. The surface burned, but never was a single droplet below that gleaming tension touched.
With slow serenity the flames reached the stone barrier at the other end of the square pool, flickered a last time, and died. Yuki gave one moment over to a smile at the pure art of the flaming dance before his thoughts turned to what had been revealed. The picture within his mind was not pleasing; indeed he saw the future and looked upon it with terrible anger, though his body displayed naught but serenity. Inside his thoughts flames burned.
"How I wish there was strength to burn it all away," He muttered softly before the water, a favorite wish of his, one he fully believed he would realize, and within his own lifetime. Thirty years old, Yuki fully expected to be a grandfather within the year, his oldest son was seventeen now, and had married, as he had himself, within the bloodline. The great plan Yuki had seen when he was but a boy of ten was coming to fruition. Soon the fifth generation of the Mizain would come into being, the second to be sired by a union of two who carried the power of Mizuho. It would be the critical generation, numerous and strong, but it would be years yet before the time came. Twenty years had been Yuki's grand plan, to emerge in power then, with three generations of Mizain still of age to fight, all of the generations that had broken with the old ways of the Hidden villages or been sired since. His plan for the future was far-reaching and ambitious, but Yuki had watched it grow perfectly according to his wishes for some twenty years.
Now the flames, his eternal guide, had revealed to him how all his design might well be taken from him before the time was right. "The one who was at first my savior, gateway into the vision I saw, has now come to threaten it all," Yuki hissed with controlled irritation. "I hid us so well, why could you not have forgotten, rebel, why must you have remembered us?" He shook his head. "Still, it is to be expected, you were a great man then, and it seems that in twenty years you have lost nothing. I should have anticipated this might happen." For long moments Yuki stared into the empty pool of crystal clear water, pondering what had been revealed in the flames. He knew what he had seen, the hand of Mist reaching out to claim the Mizuho once again. The Mizukage had not forgotten the Mizain as Yuki had hoped he would. For twenty years they had hidden from all seekers, but the memory of the Mizukage and his Warlord, who recalled the dangers of all bloodlines, was not so easily thwarted. "They will have sent seekers to find us," Yuki knew, he understood the mind of Mizukage; he had seen the man when he led the rebellion, a man similar to himself, ruthless and long considering. "Why I do not know, and it does not matter." The concerns of the outside world no longer mattered to Yuki. Whatever crisis called for Mizukage to seize a weapon long hidden was not the concern of Mizuho. So long as they could remain concealed until they were ready it would not matter. Concealment was all-important, twenty years had seen the Mizuho forgotten by all but a bare few among the wise and cunning leaders of the ninja, but Yuki knew that should the powers of his clan be revealed the wrath of other ninja would be terrible and immediate. "We must not be revealed. I cannot allow the seekers of Mist to find us."
Yet the flames had revealed more than simply seekers to the vision of Mizain Yuki, a dark truth had dawned in the light of the flaming dance. "We cannot hide and succeed, the ones who come will be armed with knowledge others have lacked, and they will find us if nothing is done," Yuki's eyes closed slowly as he went deep in thought. He was faced with the prophecy of the flames, and he knew it to be true, his memory, a supreme recollection that had not failed him in twenty years, sought the echoes of Mizukage, and the dark image of the man Akai, who became Warlord of mist. "They have the power, should they require it, we cannot block the power of their search and remain hidden."
Yuki sighed, the problem could not be solved by redoubling efforts to hide his people, a task that had only increased in difficulty as their numbers increased. A novel solution was required. He considered for a moment, wondering what he could do to avoid this threat to his grand plan, a plan that must not be compromised, no matter the cost. It was to be the culmination of the Mizuho, the greatest power the ninja had ever known, and Yuki would not consider failure. "I cannot avoid the seekers of Mist, not for long enough. When one cannot win in battle, submit before the enemy to lull him away while you rebuild your armies stronger than before, till you have the power to overcome him," Yuki quoted ancient wisdom, and slowly a cold smiled crept across his thin mouth. "Perhaps that is the answer. I shall give the Mizukage what he wants without revealing us. Yes, sacrifice a piece of little importance while the rest of the army flees in the night, a classic feint." The idea appealed to Yuki greatly. As he considered it further an additional aspect heartened him, perhaps by giving the Mizukage what he needed he could avert whatever crisis faced the Mist as well. He knew whatever threatened those ninja must indeed be grave. "Mizukage and his Warlord despised all bloodlines, for them to reach out to take aid from one signifies great need," Yuki smiled with a predatory hunger in his eyes. "It would be best if they did not fall, it shall serve my plans better if this world does not much change until we are ready."
At this point the leader of the Mizain stood, and walked forth from the pool. Give the Mizukage what he wants. It was a simple plan, and Yuki had already determined what was required. It will be a sacrifice, but not one I cannot easily bear to pay. With that, his resolution was complete.
Mizain Yuki stepped forth from his meditation room with a swift, but silent stride. He did not walk further down the hall, but turned to a small and shadowy figure that stood by his door. This motion made enough noise to indicate to the watcher that his master had left the room.
"My lord?" the young ninja requested. He was a boy of only fifteen years, garbed all in black and carrying a sword as if on a mission. One of the several ninja who had been born since fleeing Mist to parents not within the Mizain family by blood, but related through marriage, he did not bear the power of Mizuho. As such, he was relegated to service as Mizain Yuki's errand boy and guard dog.
"I have learned something important," Yuki told the boy in tones of absolute command. The total master here, he was to obeyed instantly and without question. "Summon the council together, and find my daughter Yi and bring her before us."
"Yes, my lord," the young ninja replied. He did not understand the reason, but rushed to obey.
Yuki, as he watched the boy hurry with absolute obedience, smiled again. Today would be a small setback, but all would come together in time. He walked slowly to the council chamber.
The sun was bright this morning as it shone down in the lush forest surrounding the hidden compound of the Mizain ninja clan. The potent yellow rays brought clarity to the dim world rarely equaled, save through the light of fire. Walking through the forest, Mizain Yi found it to be delightful, everything clearly illuminated and easy to see. How nice it is to be able to see the world in brightness, and not from behind the shroud we usually hide behind. Idly Yi saw a flower in the distance, bright blue in color. It was a large blossom, one that must have opened in the past two days, since she had last walked here. I wonder…With a sudden motion Yi ripped a shuriken free of the pouch at her right hip and whipped it around.
The blossom was ripped apart as the cruel metal throwing star slashed through its bloom with pinpoint accuracy. Yi laughed in delight. "My best throw in days!" She spun around, arms wide, looking up through the canopy to catch a glimpse of the sun. "What a nice day, maybe I can finally have some fun!" She spun around and jumped through the forest, leaping up into the canopy suddenly and then diving down along a vine so she hung only a few inches from the ground. She laughed again.
Suddenly Yi heard a rustling noise to her left. She tensed instantly, and flipped down to the ground. Who? She wondered. Yi did not expect anyone here, she was far from the compound, farther than she was supposed to travel, but she liked it that way. Her days off were often spent getting as far away from that oppressive place as she could without leaving the forest. This area was one she frequented, and few others of the Mizain knew of it. They had no reason to be here. Is it an enemy? Yi wondered, concerned. Then she looked around and remembered where she was. Though the sun was potent today, she was still in a lush rainforest, and it had rained heavily during the night. A slick coating of water remained on every surface. If it is an enemy, they are about to make a grave mistake. Yi's hands curled slowly, her index and middle finger extended, her ring and pinky curled in to the palm, and her thumb half bent. She stepped out from behind a tree. "Who comes?" she demanded, her voice as harsh as she could manage in its high soprano tones.
"Lady Yi!" Yi heard the cry and immediately relaxed, recognizing that youthful voice instantly.
Another ninja came running through the forest. He was garbed all in black, included a mask over his face, in sharp contrast to Yi's much more open uniform of green and brown pattern clothes. He spun to a stop in front of Yi, panting heavily from great exertions; the sword strapped to his back rose and fell visibly with the heavy breathing.
Yi looked at him quizzically. "What's the crisis, Shiro?" She asked, recognizing the other ninja. The youth was a year older than Yi's own fourteen years, but he appeared far younger, with a youthful face and voice that could have fit well on a boy of ten, and height to match. They had grown up together, and he was one of the few ninja among the Mizain that Yi had considered a friend. That is, until he had become her father's errand runner four months ago. Now seeing Shiro was dangerous, for he might carry a message from her father. Given his hurry, Yi feared the worst.
"You're the crisis, Lady Yi," Shiro almost screeched, his voice having remained childishly high even as he matured. "You father demands you meet with him and the council, but you could not be found. It took me two hours, even knowing all your haunts."
Damn! Damn! Damn! Yi thought, there goes my day. What does my father want? In Yi's experience her father's interest in her was never good. None of his children liked seeing him, well except the oldest, which was now old enough to serve their father's purpose. Mizain Yuki had nine children, of whom Yi was the fourth, the second daughter. Their family was not as other families, for their father was lord of the Mizain, a masterful ruler with a first of Mizuho. His children were not regarded as anything more than preferential servants. To Yi he was a fearsome god, potent and terrible, and not to be trifled with, not a loving father. She was loyal to the clan, but she did not love her parents and relatives, they treated her as a means to an end, just as all the others. Shiro is the lucky one, born without our power; he has lived a better life. Yi's face spasmed in a moment of anger, directed nowhere useful, before she quashed it. "My father wants me before the council? Did he summon all of us?" it was the only reason she could think of for appearing before the leaders of the Mizain.
"No Lady Yi," Shiro replied cautiously, knowing his former friend's temper, a trait common among Mizain. "Just you, I believe he has some task for you. We must hurry, your father does not like to be kept waiting."
"I know Shiro, I know," Yi replied. "I'm coming. Let's go." As the two ninja took to the trees and headed swiftly back through the rainforest to the Mizain compound, Yi felt worry assail her. Her father had a task for her? She did not understand what such a thing could be. All her life only three things had been expected of her, training as a ninja, concealing her presence from the rest of the world, and preparing for aiding in the production of a new generation of Mizain ninja. He doesn't expect me to marry someone now, does he? The thought filled her with horror. Yi knew the day would come, and soon, when she would be expected to marry one of her more distant cousins, but she had hoped to wait at least two years more. I'm too young yet. I want more time! Yi believed her father would wait at least a year or two more, until he knew the strengths of all the Mizain her age completely, to make the pairing, but she had trouble thinking of any other task he would want from her. It cannot be a mission; only the older ninja go into the outer world for those. What is it? Yi felt she might well collapse from fear before meeting her father. It was a struggle to hold together the control of her muscles needed for ninja treewalking.
"We are here Lady Yi," Shiro said, dispelling Yi from the fog fear had placed over her thoughts.
Yi blinked, and discovered that indeed they had returned to the cluster of stone buildings that served the Mizain clan as home in this hidden rain forest lair. They were rough buildings, lacking in much comfort or amenity, for the ninja had built themselves, or forced captured peasants to labor in their service, all to maintain secrecy. The whole cluster of torrid buildings echoed hurt and pain, and a deep loneliness that afflicted all who lived there. Such were the measures warding the Mizain from discovery by the rest of the world, a wall of misery.
The building that held the council meetings was the largest, the one housing her family, the descendents of the leadership of the Mizain, Yuki and his wife and children. There was one large open hall in the structure, the only room of its kind in the whole compound, a room that could hold hundreds, far more than those who lived here now, but in a testament to the vision of Mizain Yuki, by the time his scheme was completed the Mizain would fill it to the walls with their strength.
For now the great empty room served many purposes, for all major events and ceremonies were held here, inside a dank and cold stone environment. The small council that ruled the Mizain also met here. The council was a group of five, all older ninja. This was expected, but the great oddity was that their leader was the youngest member of the council, thirty-year-old Mizain Yuki. Two others were older siblings of their brother, while the final two were old ninja, from the generation that had come before, the siblings of Mizain Mihiro. They had never fully forgiven Yuki for what he had done twenty years ago, still believing that had the Mizian stood with the other bloodlines of Mist they migt have triumphed. It was denial of course, but these older ninja and the others of their generation represented what little opposition there was to Yuki's absolute domination of all the ninja who shared his bloodline.
When Yi and Shiro entered the five members of the council awaited them, seated on cushions. Yi looked at her father and saw terrible flames burning in his red eyes. She quivered in fear, and knew his displeasure. Trembling she sat before the council members. Shiro took a position against the wall, silent and, as far as everyone else was concerned, not present at all.
"Mizain Yi," Yuki began. "You are late to respond to our summons. I am displeased, it seems you have been journeying too far again. I would have you punished for it, since we have had to caution you before." At this all four other members of the council nodded, they might disagree with Yuki's plans in some things, but they all agreed on the need for secrecy to survive. "However, it does not matter anymore."
What? Yi was shocked. Always before her father had disciplined her harshly for traveling beyond lands deemed safe. She had expected a severe punishment in addition to whatever else happen this afternoon. Why has he let it go?
"However, in your absence the council has come to a clear decision," Yuki continued. "A decision made unanimously," There was some shifting of eyes on the part of the other council members at that pronouncement, but nothing more, and Yi knew that whatever her father had done to coerce them it had been minimal. "Mizain Yi, listen well to my words. At dawn tomorrow you will be banished from this compound, never to return so long as you live!" Yuki's voice rose with the pronouncement, so his final words echoed clearly off the stone and lingered with pain.
"What?" Yi could not contain her shock.
Standing against the wall, Shiro silently collapsed to his knees.
"I meant precisely what I said, daughter," Yuki answered the accusation stolidly, his expression totally even. "You will leave this compound and not come back, I am sending you forth."
"But…but why?" Yi managed as her mind sought some desperate focus.
Yuki glanced at the rest of the council. "I suppose it will do no harm to tell you," the others nodded their assent. "Our situation has changed, daughter, the flames have revealed to me that our secrecy is in jeopardy. The ninja of Mist are coming to find us, and that must not be. To keep them back we require a sacrifice. They seek the Mizuho, and so you will be set forth, for them to find. With your sacrifice the rest of us will be preserved. That is why." The words were cold as ice, and merciless as a sword cut.
The words crashed over Yi, and she found tears streaming down her face. Her mind swam through forsaken seas, and she could not comprehend what was happening. "Why me?" She demanded, not knowing what else to say. "Why me of all of us?"
"The answer is simple enough daughter, you fill the needs of Mist. Your ability with the Mizuho is strong, perhaps as much as any of my children. With you they will not come searching for anyone else. Likewise, we lose little when we lose you, for you are not married and have no children, and your rebelliousness has made you likely to reveal us by accident." Yuki spared not a word of apology, for he truly was not sorry. The moment he had set his mind to this course of action, Yi had been revealed as the perfect candidate, and consoling her would be pointless. "Now, control yourself, there is nothing you can do about this, so you must get used to it quickly."
"How will you keep me from coming back?" Yi demanded, her anger finally rising against the awesome tide of betrayal.
"I'm afraid I will insure that," one of the two older council members stood and approached Yi. "We will place within you mind a block of genjutsu, preventing you from ever revealing any knowledge of this location or our clan to others. I learned the jutsu long ago; it is a common practice to conceal secrets, used on many ninja. Do not worry, you will not be harmed, only go to sleep."
He stepped forward, and Yi, confused, troubled, and unable to respond, did nothing to stop him. Her family, everyone she knew, had betrayed her, cast her out, she was not ready to resist anything.
The older Mizain placed his hands one each side of her head, and began to form seals in the air. Then he reached out and pricked each air with a small needle. With a sharp squeeze he induced blood to flow and drew a seal in blood over each ear. "Memory sealing technique." He whispered slowly.
The seals of blood flowed in through Yi's ears and she felt them settle deep into her mind, forming a block that stole expression from her. Thus, the secrets of the Mizain were protected, and she would never be able to find her way back home. Yi's mind recoiled in abject horror, and she pulled forth a sudden surge of strength to fight this viscous attack, not to no avail. Here she found her body failed her, for it was already dragging her deep into sleep. No! She screamed inside. No! Don't send me away, please, I don't deserve this! Father! Father!
Then all was darkness.