Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie Chan Adventures.
Queen Of Shadows
A Jackie Chan Adventures fanfiction
Written by Eduard Kassel
Created by Nocturne no Kitsune
Beta'ed by Zim'sMostLoyalServant
Adopted from Nocturne to finish what he began.
Summary: Last chapter, after recovering from the ceremony, Jade was initiated into mystic arts of the Shadowkhan. And also has come to realize further implications of her role as the Queen when encountering the new Shadowkhan.
The Shadowkhan, under their new Warlord, Ikazuki, are preparing for war. And in Tobe Castle, friction arises between members of the Shogunate in the Shadows. Meanwhile, Lord Rokutaro is shown to be in league with an unknown force beneath his castle.
While warriors and armies gather for the war to come, Jade continues to scheme for her own bid for freedom from the gilded cage she finds herself in.
Rated: T
Chapter Eight: Loosed Arrows
Jade glared at her reflection through narrowed red slits. And wiped her face again with the wet rag from the ornate washbasin.
The smeared makeup had been scrubbed off her body already. Not that she had cared too much for that; being unconscious last time had helped.
This Ritual had been much simpler, only a brief prayer before getting shadowed by the Generals in residence. She had not passed out afterward, and it was not expected she would again.
Overall, the experience was much less trippy, and that sadly made it more real. This was something that would be a monthly routine. Monthly, frack it!
She threw the rag into the steaming water, splashing water across the mirror. She tried to stomp her way to her bed, but had to stop, getting a bit dizzy.
"Hrgh!" she growled, pushing wet hair out of her face. Getting her bearings back, she walked to the bed and pulled herself on top of it.
How long could she keep this up?
How many times could she create Shadowkhan? They said that word again, which made the word "birth" swirl around her head like an obnoxious fly. Trying to swat the thought would only make it buzz louder; nothing for it but to wait for it to settle.
The only upside was that it relieved the hurt of those cramps. They were still there, but less frequent and intense.
Puling herself under the blankets, she resolved to get some sleep. Ikazuki was due back for some final review. Her presence was not required, but Hiruzen said there was a chance her intervention might be needed to expedite things. Ugh, these guys.
She tried to focus on the spell as she drifted off. Yes, that at least was going well.
XXX
Ikazuki looked over the report and realized he had read it before. Here in the privacy of his office, he allowed himself to close his eyes and gather himself. He had led many campaigns, but never as Warlord.
This was his test. It would be used to evaluate if he was fit to succeed Hiruzen to the highest male office. As much as he reiterated it was merely a campaign same as any other, it could well advance or destroy his dream.
The meeting had been just like this. Going over well-worn details one final time with Jirobo and the other Generals resident – Kuro would meet him at the fleet. Ozeki was already on Kyushu. And Kamisori was idling near the fleet anchorage.
Tsume was on the prowl in the holdings, inspiring fear to allay any thoughts of rebellion while so much of the military was occupied. Not that there was any chance of significant damage, but there was the pride of the Race to consider. Glorious conquest should not be besmirched by trouble in long subdued provinces.
All was well, but his peace of mind. The door slid open, and his adjutant bowed deeply.
"Warlord Ikazuki, General Jirobo is here for his appointment," the faithful samurai reported.
"Show him in. Do not bother with tea or sake, this will not be long," Ikazuki stated, carefully clearing his desk. He finished placing the scrolls in their proper baskets as the Bat General gave him a bow that was proper in form and lacking in spirit.
"Thank you for meeting with me, oh mighty Warlord," Jirobo said.
"Be seated, General. We are soon to head to war; what business do you have that you could not speak before the gathered Circle?" Ikazuki demanded.
"Your campaign plan is sound, General. But it is also… typical. You play to your strengths and experience, but I think if you heed my counsel, this could be a war worthy of song, and we will be able to expand our domain again much sooner."
"Ah, you would lure me by dangling a war against Tobe like a daikon before a horse. You are intelligent, Jirobo, but you fail to respect the intelligence of others.
"Joo Heike placed the mantle of Warlord upon me, not a martial heretic like yourself or Kuro. In peace, she was pleased to indulge your whims, but for real war, she turns to real warriors.
"I will seize victory, using you and all under my command as I see fit. No one will say it was your victory and I was merely in command.
"Leave me, schemer. Small wonder the fewest new Shadowkhan emerged from your shadow," Ikazuki waved his hand and drew another scroll.
When Jirobo left in quiet fury, Ikazuki smiled, revealing his many teeth. Ah, the authority to put that arrogant flyer in his place. But Warlord was a temporary title; to gain this privilege as a right, he must truly impress his Queen.
XXX
Jade was taking refuge in the library. The cheeriness of the gardens was striking a sour note with her. And her music seemed to be nothing but sour.
So, in what seemed to have been the style of the real Queen, she retreated to the library.
It was the eve of her chosen Warlord's departure. At dawn, he and everyone else involved still at the Fortress would ride out. Dawn was as symbolic to the Shadowkhan as it was to humans; shadows thrived more in the light of day than in night's darkness. Yet they loved the Moon, for Tsukiyomi had saved their race in its infancy, and by his power the race multiplied.
War was so close, and she had unleashed it. Jade could offer a long list of justifications, or of how she had made the best of it. But it did not banish her guilt. Or her anxiety that she could have done more. Or wondering if her efforts had actually made things worse than they would have been, somehow.
She slammed the history book shut, and grabbed another text. She had called a ninja in and ordered a variety of books to read.
There must be something to distract her! Her cramps had even banished her hunger; sipping the tea that had since cooled had nearly made her vomit.
Shaking her head, Jade tried to focus, deep breaths. She could not afford a freak out. Could not blow her cover when her disguise was so near workable.
What was this book about even?
Insects? Really? They had books like this back, whenever?
Of all the stupid things to put in a book! Wait, one of these Queens had an interest in bugs? Yet another hobby for the decadent shut-ins? Still, she was not gong to get up or call a ninja in, so she focused on the page.
Locusts.
'Ah, theme appropriate, eh? Thank you for kicking me while I am down universe; I needed that. Really! Why not just aim for my pointy teeth next! A good solid tap of the boot to improve that smile.'
Yes, locusts. Like Shadowkhan. Swarming, leaving desolation. Nearly unstoppable.
The hungry Khan seemed to be crabs, but they were loner brutes, really. Horror monsters. Really scary is a swarm. Tiny pieces working together. Feeding, swelling like ticks. Pulling down stronger enemies.
No Shadowkhan like that. No locusts of darkness. Army ant, piranha.
Piranha is not an insect.
"Okay, next page," Jade gasped, blinking. When had it gotten so hot?
She smacked her right hand on the open book with a splat.
Splat?
She blinked, looking down at her hand. It was coated with sticky shadow, and it was spreading on the book. Making a face, she pulled it clear and raised her other hand.
Both her hands were sticky, and her left one, closed into a fist, would not open. Grabbing it with her free fingers she pried, and realized they were stuck too.
She was hot all over.
Looking down, she watched her purple kimono blacken as the inky shadows seeped through the silk and blinked as a trickle reached one of her eyes.
With a cry, she tried to stand, only to fail. Legs locked together, kneeling, and adhered to the mat.
Then the cramps hit worse than ever.
She screamed like a little girl.
XXX
Ikazuki would later think it was good the door to the Queen's Tower had been left open. Possibly Hiruzen's orders, to keep the door safe. He practically flew up the stairs, and tore the corner into the library.
At which point Kamisori grabbed him, turning them both in a circle, dispersing the force of the charge. The Reza held him for a moment when they stopped, and then released him.
"Calm, now," Kamisori intoned, before stepping aside.
All the Generals in the Fortress stood in the room, and for once there was no plotting or maneuvering. They stood in awe and terror before the unknown.
"That…?" Ikazuki managed.
"Yes," Kanisori said.
A mass of shadows as large as Ozeki stood throbbing in the room next to a toppled table with scattered books. Thick, dribbling inky darkness through its seams, and marked by bulging veins, veins anchoring it to the ground as it pulsed.
The shadow chi emitting from it was unmistakable.
The Queen?!
"Sanshobo, what is this?" Hiruzen whispered. Eyes turned to the Yojimbo, who was standing before the mass next to Sanshobo. The masked priest was chanting.
Even Hiruzen did not know.
The Yojimbo seized the High Priest's shoulder and slid a tanto under the mask.
"Answer me or perish!" Hiruzen roared. Ikazuki realized his terror could deepen, at this display. The seconds stretched, and Ikazuki wondered if perhaps Hiruzen had slit the Kamikiri General's throat.
"…Do not fear, Shadowkhan. This is a glory returned to us. To think we should witness such. It is our place to remember, and it has been so long I am not surprised our tribes' lore has forgotten," the priest said. He sounded… normal.
"What? What is happening to our Queen, Sanshobo?" Jirobo interjected.
"This is… glorious birth," Sanshobo said. Hiruzen frowned, but withdrew the dagger, gesturing to the mass with it.
"But it's not. It's not even night," Hiruzen muttered.
"This is a thing of Queens, not gods. Amaterasu gave this gift long ago in the river. It is not hers to bless or withhold anymore," Sansobo said. Kamisori may not have been the first to realize it, but he was the first to speak.
"A new tribe? A new tribe is being born, but how? That knowledge was lost when the Mountain Demon drove us into exile. The secret passed down from Queen to Queen orally, and the chain broken with her untimely death," Kamisori demanded.
"So we thought. But this 'is', my brothers! Maybe it was never a lesson to be taught, and we in our ignorance assumed lies were truth? It matters not!
"Feel it! She desperately pushes him toward life; her chi sings the song of typhoon, earthquake, and inferno! The song of life unbridled; of miracle and calamity!
"His song rises. He rushes toward life, toward the light! FORM THE CIRCLE! OFFER YOUR SHADOWS! AGE'S PEN SCRIBES BEFORE YOU, TAKE IT UP!" The priest practically screamed, flinging his arms out.
Hiruzen stood, clasping Sanshobo's hand and Jirobo's, his shadow latched to the chrysalis. It was not pulling, like the Queen did under the light of the Ritual. It was stabilizing, he sensed.
Perhaps that was why they stood joined, not apart. They were not acting as progenitors; their role here was to provide balance to the Queen and to the new brother coming forth.
Something shifted, and with a wet ripping sound, a cut formed on the mass, dripping black ichor.
"Prepare yourselves!" Sanshobo shouted.
The warning was appreciated. There was no gore, as he thought there might be, like with the birth of a Queen. Instead, the ichor seemed to self-ignite. Burning blue without heat, it drove their shadows back with such ease it was like a slap in their faces.
The mass was consumed, and two figures were revealed. The Queen stood wobbling and naked, her eyes unfocused.
"Go," the priest commanded, letting his hand go.
He went and scooped her up before she could fall over. And was bitten on the shin.
"Don't!" Sanshobo shouted, coming forward.
"What?" Hiruzen demanded, his free arm already poised to stab his attacker with the tanto. Then he looked at his attacker.
A small, greenish-blue Shadowkhan with messy orange hair, a single horn, and four crablike legs holding him up. Also naked.
"Young one, we are your brothers, your mother our Queen. Recognize us," Sanshobo said, and flared his chi.
Taking it as a cue, Hiruzen did the same, and one by one every General in the room followed suit. To his surprise, the Queen even jerked awake and briefly flared her shadow chi, sending a wave of invigoration through him, and surely the others, before her eyes fell closed again.
"…Brothers?" the new General pulled his fangs from Hiruzen's shin, dripping blood. Quite sharp, it seemed.
"Yes," Hiruzen said, and knelt so that the new General could better see the Queen was well.
"I am Hiruzen, Godaime Yoijimbo, sworn above all others to the safety of the Queens. What is your name, brother?"
"I am Hishu, of the Swarm," the new Khan answered. He looked quite puzzled that he knew that, understandably.
"He is small. Will he get bigger, like with mortals?" Ikazuki asked.
"No. And compare not our new brother to mere mortals! For he brings forth a new tribe, what glory shall they claim? What power that we have not shall they add to the Royalty's glory?! I must issue orders to the priests – praises must be sung and new ones scribed, we must-" Sanshobo resumed his normal ranting.
Almost reflexively, Hiruzen carried the sleeping Queen away, the Generals parting for him. He held her so as to best cover her nakedness, and without thinking let the new General follow.
XXX
Hiruzen stepped out of the Queen's chamber, leaving her with the monks, and Hishu.
In the stairwell, the other Generals in residence stood.
"She sleeps, it is as Sanshobo said," Hiruzen reported.
"Four days, or six, at least. Possibly more – never do the records indicate such happening with a Queen so young. Always before the birth of their heir, or even conception. But full grown Queens nonetheless," the High Priest commented. He stood there, straight and arms crossed in his robes. Hiruzen never thought he would miss the Kamikiri's dramatic language.
As it was, Kamisori spoke up from where he leaned against the rail.
"You all know I am not one for signs and omens. But on the eve of invasion, this happens? What is the meaning, Sanshobo?" the Reza General inquired. He, too, was calmer than usual.
A pity Ozeki was not here. Hiruen would have appreciated that General's thoughts.
"I see two possible meanings to this," the High Priest declared.
"This is a sign of divine favor. On the eve of expansion, our Empire is already strengthened in a way we could never have hoped. Beyond Hishu and his tribe, it is possible the Queen will know how this happened, and the lost knowledge will be fully restored to the royal line.
"This heralds glory to come. Victory and honor to the tribes and the assurance that Joo Heike shall supplant the Mikado's rule.
"But it could be a gift, to see us through darkness. Just as heroes like Daigoro the Bold emerge when needed, the new tribe may herald calamity. We could be moving into a time of great trial and loss.
"I can offer no assurance of one over another now. With your leave, I would meditate on the matter," Sanshobo said.
"Denied for the moment. The Queen ordered this campaign commenced, and there is no strong evidence that this changes matters. And the time it takes her to awake could allow the humans to better prepare to meet our invasion.
"Ikazuki, you were named Warlord. In the matter of this campaign, you are second only to the Queen. Do you say we proceed as planned, or do we wait for her to awaken and watch for signs?"
"Yojimbo! Signs do not come so bidden," Kamisori objected.
"Well, what will it be, Warlord?" Jirobo asked, and smiled. Ikazuki had been about to speak, but met the glare of his rival now.
Fools rush in. But a coward hesitates. Two vices; one would be placed on him whatever path in the fork he took. So he would walk as a samurai.
"The Queen's blessing is upon us. Kyushu will fall," Ikazuki declared.
"So be it," Hiruzen nodded.
Ikazuki was soon ready to ride, his mighty steed saddled. Thinking of the bug's words, he wondered if it might be both.
Who could threaten them? Shendu was the obvious answer, and Hiruzen's. His brothers underestimated the humans. The thought of disaster turned his thoughts to Tobe. Yes, there was danger there; he had no doubt of that.
But he could not strike it now. Instead, if a storm was coming, he would strengthen their position by crushing Human Kyushu, so that their might could come down unhindered on Tobe.
'If a hero is needed. Could it be my destiny? Hmm.'
XXX
"So, the campaign has begun?" Jade asked. She took a sip of her tea after she spoke. It tasted wonderful.
To be honest, she felt great since waking up. Even hunger was not unpleasant, at least so long as they kept swapping in a full tray. Hiruzen was seated across from her, along with the… new General.
She had changed into a fresh kimono before meeting and eating. But other than that, she had only pinned up her hair. They did not seem upset about how out of sorts she was looking.
"Officially, yes. But we have yet to receive word of first blood. It should not be long," the Yojimbo reported.
"More tea?" Hishu asked. Hiruzen frowned at the impertinent offering of the teapot, but Jade found herself smiling as she held out her cup. He topped it off with almost too much.
He had orange hair tied up into a topknot, but other than that was just wearing black robes cut to his form. He was actually her size!
"Will this… happen again?" Jade asked, pointing her chin to Hishu.
"No. Among what we do know is that a Queen can only ever make one tribe in her life. And as it records, you are quite rejuvenated by the act," Hiruzen said.
"Quite true. And what happens now?" she asked.
"Little for you to concern yourself with, my Queen. In the past, Queens conducted spiritual instruction to new Generals, while the Yojimbo oversaw their education, as they had their place in the Circle determined. But the laws set down by your ancestors clearly state that instruction now falls to the High Priest.
"We shall take care of him, where this fledgling will not disturb your routines."
"But brother, I wish to be with Mother!" Hishu objected. He raised his voice and stood.
"What you desire is irrelevant. The Queen has granted you the gift of life. I allowed you to stand guard over her while she slept because it would be cruel to deny you something so natural.
"But now it is time you learned your place, and you have not earned a place by her side," Hiruzen stated firmly.
Hishu turned black-beaded eyes to her. She got a feeling like a sad puppy.
Oh crap.
"Listen to Yojimbo Hiruzen, Hishu," she said.
"General Hishu," Hiruzen gently corrected.
"Of course," Jade said. They left soon after, Hishu following his elder out, and stopping to look back. She did not look at him.
The food wasn't tasting so good now, she discovered when she resumed her breakfast.
XXX
The Song of Summer Storms, a new one for Jade to try, but it seemed appropriate. She sat playing her tsuchibue in the glade by the pool. The more violent sing fit with her feelings at the moment.
'Misjudged my breath,' she thought, breaking off playing. Sighing, she set aside the instrument into its carrying case, and picked up her cup of tea from the tray she shared the bench with.
War had begun. Hiruzen had reported, and Jade had declined to hear details. He accepted that, and stared she would be informed of any aberrations or deeds that would require her attention.
That was two days ago. And really, her life was unchanged. If not for Hiruzen, she wouldn't even know the war was happening now.
She had unleashed war on innocent people, and she found it hard to care, because it hardly felt real. Some people left, and then word came back describing a few things. But other than that, life just… went on. Shouldn't it be more dramatic?
Though, one thing had changed.
Hishu, the new General. Proof that the Shadowkhan race was not going to just leave her alone in her niche until she escaped.
He was shrimpy for a Shadowkhan. As he was beginning to realize himself, as Hiruzen trained him, to try and discover his special abilities.
Jade frowned at that thought. They were distressingly common, flashes of insight on what that General was thinking, feeling, or experiencing when she thought of him.
Sanshobo said it was normal. It did not only occur between a first General and his… creator. If a Shadowkhan created by the current Queen rose to General rank they would also be thus linked.
The Shadow Tie. Connecting Queens to their offspring, though passive save for Generals, and the most accomplished Queens who could allegedly experience the very senses of their progeny to guide Shadowkhan warriors in victory.
Jade worried it may work two ways. What if Hishu discovered her fraud? Nothing good – that question was answered simply enough.
'Jade, don't stress yourself into a panic attack. Think about the magic,' she told herself.
Jade smiled at that thought and set the tea aside. Closing her eyes halfway, she started to chant, and the shadows came to her.
The feeling of them running up her legs had lost its strangeness, leaving only an appealing feel of power and accomplishment.
She had not been able to solve the problem of maintaining a good coverage disguise for a decent length of time. But the solution had come to her right before this pond.
She didn't practice looking human where others could see her. But she could practice the shadow armor technique, which required similar concentration and mental imaging.
Practicing on one hand, trying to make it more efficient, she had noted that for all she could see, it was a black hand connected to a black arm.
Duh, she did not need to disguise her whole body for however long. A human appearance only required a disguise for the parts of her that people saw. Which amounted to her hands, neck and head.
She could swing that.
Which meant what she needed now was to just get out. Free and human looking, and from there she could improvise with the ol' Chan moxy.
"My Queen," the tower steward in his hakana appeared. Jade glared at him and turned to regard him, her skin still coated in hardened shadows.
"Why do you intrude on my reflections and ponderings, steward?" she demanded.
"An intruder has been apprehended. Hiruzen-sama wishes to know if you shall pass judgment on it," the fancy Ninja Khan stated, head already pressed to the cobblestones.
"Intruder? Within the Fortress?" Jade was shocked, and it slipped through.
"NEVER!
"Forgive me for the outburst, Divine Majesty. The tanuki was caught well within the forbidden circle of territory all youkai are warned to observe around the Fortress."
"…My curiosity has been piqued. Tell Hiruzen that when I have eaten and changed, I will attend to this. I would also request any writing he deems relevant to refresh myself on such activity," Jade declared.
XXX
Once again, Jade sat on her throne, behind a screen that let her see the throne room, but concealed her from sight. The veil hung over her face beneath her eyes, which were focused on what did not belong.
The prisoner, the tanuki. The four Generals residing currently in the Fortress sat between her and it. The grand map had been removed before her arrival, and the tanuki chained in place to the floor, a Kamikiri monk looming behind him. She had no doubt that at a word from her, or the wrong move from him, the insect monk would lop his head off like it was a dandelion.
Jade glanced to the guards next to the throne, and the samurai archers with arrows notched. The archers would be hidden from the prisoner's sight, but she had come to realize many hiding places invisible to those in the hall proper were revealed when you sat on the throne. Angles or magic, it was impressive.
And boy, were they paranoid.
"Tanuki vermin. You are guilty of trespassing. You still live only because you surrendered immediately once discovered, and your tribe has not been a traditional foe.
"Would Her Majesty hear his defense, or shall he perish now?" Hiruzen asked, without looking back.
The steward looked to Jade, who raised her right hand, two fingers extended. The steward rapped his staff twice.
"Give thanks, lesser youkai. The Queen of Shadows deigns to hear what you have to say in tour defense. Choose your words well, for they will likely be your last," the Yojimbo stated.
The tanuki practically threw himself on the ground to prostrate himself. He looked like a beggar who used to be a big shot. He wore a hakama that had once been purple and green, but was now faded and dirt stained. The patches were almost comical.
He looked like a fat raccoon man, which he was. With a bushy white mustache. And he smelled; she crinkled her nose at the odor. He was filthy, to put it simply, and also had no pants! Thankfully, thick, if unwashed, fur was in play here.
He was almost unspeakably out of place in the well-kept Fortress and its diverse but highly maintained inhabitants.
When he spoke, he was also revealed as old.
"Oh great, wondrous, and most mighty Queen of Shadows! This lowly raccoon-dog thanks you for hearing him!
"I meant no offense in my trespass. Who under the heavens would seek to offend you, oh hidden beauty of beauties?
"As you can see, I am an old and miserable excuse for a tanuki. Once I was grand, but these times are harsh. My territory and mates have long since been seized by more robust males.
"I live as a scavenger, and not even a respected scavenger among scavengers, at that. I crossed the furthest bounds of your personal territory, hoping I might find something to eat where so many feared to tread.
"I would not take anything you desired! The rotting corpse of a deer. The bugs that feed on it. The old bones of a slave chased to their death. I know there is no place for the finer things for a wretch like me.
"But it was foolish, and my life is yours to take. But I beg you, my trespass was born out of foolish desperation, not a lack of reverence, or ill intent to your greatness!" the old tanuki begged.
Jade kept her face still. Harsh times, true enough. She was finally meeting a victim of the evil around her face-to-face. She could finally do something about it, and she had an idea how this could bring her own plans to fruition.
Jade motioned for the steward to approach her. She whispered into his ear. To her pleasure, he did not glance in surprise or hesitate. When she was done, he simply returned to his post, and announced her ruling.
"The Queen accepts your plea. But your trespass must still be punished.
"You serve the Empire as a slave for all your remaining days. Failure or attempt at escape shall only end those days quicker.
"You will be confined to the dungeons until your role in slavery has been determined. General Hishu shall be held as supervisor of your captivity," the steward announced.
Jade tuned out the tanuki's pathetic thanks. Ugh, it was like the bugs if they sounded whiny and uneducated.
Still pushing the thought of close proximity to that smell away, Jade raised her fan. Not only to get rid of the odor, but to conceal a small smile.
If she could pull this off… If she had the number for Hishu, she could finally be free.
XXX
Himitsu sat at a tea table on a balcony in Tobe Castle, overlooking a Zen garden in the castle's interior. An old scroll was laid out before him, held in place by pebbles. He was in the process of copying the scroll's contents onto a new scroll.
A door slid open to reveal the Musician, carrying a bottle of sake. He raised an eyebrow at the enigmatic wizard doing something so mundane, and actually seeming relaxed for once.
"What do you want?" Himitsu queried, a slight edge to his voice. Clearly, he disliked the intrusion on his moment. The Musician seemed oblivious to the edge, and merely smiled while lifting the bottle.
"I was planning on having some sake, but to truly enjoy it, company is required. How fortunate I stumbled on you," he answered.
XXX
Yasashi wandered the halls of the Tobe Castle, silently broiling from the latest meeting. Normally it would be the Merchant that brought her temper to the front, but this time it was that pig of a man, Gurando. If not for their leader, she would have gutted him then and there for such a comment, but he was a fellow member, and that protected him from her wrath.
But that did not stop her from idly fingering the hilt of her katana, even if it was more for practicality then use. She preferred her naginata, Houko, over a katana any day, but carrying it exposed in public raised attention, and according to her leader she was to avoid undue attention without good cause.
With an idle sigh, she decided to head to the balcony on the interior. She found the way it overlooked the garden relaxing, and it reminded her of the way the balcony in her family mansion did the same, before the Shadowkhan came, and the good times that she had had there.
Yasashi brushed a finger through her hair and out of her face, and continued down the hall towards the garden balcony, but she heard voices as she got closer. When she got to the paper door, she could see a pair of shadows on the other side. Sliding open the door, she could now identify the voices and shadows as Nonki and Himitsu. She bowed her head a respectable degree.
"Nonki-san, Himitsu-san, I did not expect anyone to be here. Did I disturb anything?"
"No, solitude has already been destroyed; with three, you can at least reduce my chance of interacting with him," Himitsu huffed. Studying a character he had just made, he uttered a strange word and struck it with his finger; the space was now perfectly blank.
"By all means, Lady Samurai, join us. We have sake and good company, two things that are always best when shared," Nonki commented, as he produced a third saucer, which joined his and Himitsu's untouched vessel.
A raised yet elegant brow was her only response, but she did undo her katana, and set it on a well-placed sword rack. Apparently, when the balcony was built, they had the thought that there might be a meeting of some sort or another here. Once she was sure her blade was properly placed and secure, she adjusted the hem of her clothes and took a seat on the other side of the table. With a small word of thanks, she took up the saucer and took a small sip, before looking up at her unexpected company, and a slightly curious look graced her face.
"May I kindly ask how you and Nonki-san came to be here, Himitsu-san? I thought that this was a little known part of the castle, and free for me to calm myself in peace and solitude."
"I came here for peace to transcribe. As for why he is here, I do not know," Himitsu answered.
Yasashi nodded, and turned to look at Nonki, a questioning look on her face.
Nonki, for his sake, just smiled and raised a saucer of sake with a grin on his face. "I came to simply to enjoy myself, my sake, and my music. That, and our dear friend the Merchant did not seem to appreciate my musical stylings in the main hall. But I seem to be in luck today, for instead of having to settle for enjoying this gracious blessing of sake from our local sake seller, I find myself in the company of our ever-wise Himitsu-san and yourself, our elegant Lady Samurai, to share it with."
A few idle plucks came from Nonki and his instrument, as he suddenly gained a contemplative look before looking back over at Yasashi, a now curious inflection in his already constantly airy-sounding voice. "But tell me Yasashi-chan, if Himitsu-san is here for the peace, and I am here for the enjoyment of my drink, what brings you here?"
A frown crossed the female warrior's face, as her eyebrows knitted together. If she actually did not have her eyes closed at the moment, as she slowly sipped at her sake, he would think that they would be glowing with an inner fire. He idly eyed the saucer in her hand, and was somewhat happy he had given his female companion one of shaped and stylized silver instead of the traditional kind, for if the tense muscles that showed beneath the skin were any hint, a lesser saucer would be little more then dust at the moment. Her voice, while polite, was tense and carefully controlled. "I came here to allow myself time to calm down. The last meeting has left me… tense… so to speak, so I believed that I needed some time to allow my temperament to settle."
Nonki simply nodded in response and continued to play by way of answer, adding a pleasant atmosphere. Still, between the not-quite released tension of Yasashi and Himitsu's continued corrections of his work, the mood remained unsettled.
Both of the new arrivals were somewhat surprised when the old sorcerer actually sighed. With practiced efficiency, he put away his writing kit with speed surprising for his unimpressive form. Though aware of his magical prowess, Yasashi was surprised and impressed by the display of coordination and speed, guessing he could shift from his former position to battle easily, and without misplacing a single brush.
Himitsu took up his saucer finally, and sipped it with the casual elegance of an aristocrat. After draining the saucer, he refilled it, only to set it aside. He swept a measuring gaze across his companions.
"Why are you here?" he asked them.
"Didn't we already explain?" the lady samurai answered, somewhat puzzled and irritated.
"Perhaps Himitsu-san meant it in a broader sense? Why are any of us here, after all?" Nonki added unhelpfully.
"I mean, why do you follow Lord Rokutaro? Our peers are transparent in their motives, but you are not the types to be motivated by secular ambition or material gain. So why?" he reiterated.
Yasashi was actually mildly surprised by the question. Of the many questions she had been asked before, she had never been asked about her motives. It was simply something that did not come up, never had and supposedly never would. Looking over to the strumming Nonki, she saw that he looked rather accepting of the question, almost like he expected it. Polishing off her saucer, she laid it back down on the table and pushed it aside, deciding to refill it later. "An interesting question, Himitsu-san. No one has ever bothered to ask for my reasoning, besides our leader. But I find myself now wondering the same of you and Nonki-san."
She paused for a moment's breath, considering some thought. Nonki could see them almost, behind her green eyes, the thoughts racing and the mind working. The warrior was actually quite pretty when she was not so focused. But alas, further observations were cut short, as the lady samurai seemed to come to a decision and continued. "I shall speak of my reasoning for my actions, if you shall speak of your own. I have watched, during the meetings, and I too see that you are both the type who would desire more then the material gains or status that come from our leader's vision, unlike Rosuto or Gurando. What do you say, Nonki-san?"
The musician took the question in stride, and gazed up and to the small piece of sky above, a thoughtful look on his narrow, unshaved face. He hummed to himself slightly, and almost seemed to be in a trance of sorts, before he returned to earth and graced them with his answer with a light chuckle. "Of course, I would be delighted to share my humble ambitions with you. I have shared my sake, and my music, so it is only just that I share the dream as well. But please, Yasashi-chan, do lead by example for this matter. I find myself wondering of your goal.
"Though perhaps I can guess it, trusting in assumption has ever been the downfall of gods and mortals alike."
She passed a roving look over both Nonki and Himitsu, trying to find any form of deception in the two. Finding none, she took a deep breath and began. "My purpose, and my reason for joining the Shogunate in the Shadows, is a simple and perhaps unworthy one. I desire revenge, and a reckoning with the Shadowkhan.
"I grew up on the Island of Shikoku, which as you well know is the land now under the total control of the Shadowkhan and their Queen. My family was a mighty and prosperous one, and our clan compound was one that was regarded by all Shikoku as truly mighty.
"We were a family of youkai quellers, as Lord Rokutaro told you, hunters of the creatures of dark magic and evil. And we based our arts on the samurai teachings, though we took the art further to better combat our chosen foes.
"In my childhood, much of Shikoku was already under Shadowkhan rule, but the lands of my family still remained free, and I grew and learned in those somewhat peaceful times.
"I was taught the family arts alongside my cousins, and my other relatives, for my family had little care for the ways of society and their rules on the places of girls. If you proved you could swing a sword and not kill yourself with it, you were taught to wield it. That is, or was, the simple truth.
"But the peaceful times came to a sudden end shortly after the celebration of my 11th year, and my appointment as Successor of the Clan's Bladesmaster. In broad daylight, while we trained and many of the adults were out hunting or tilling the fields, the Shadowkhan laid a sudden siege upon my family compound.
"They came in unprecedented force, led by General Ikazuki himself. We stood little chance, and the warriors of our clan were quickly separated and dealt with before they could unite against the invaders.
"Those who were not trained were quickly subdued and put in chains, and hauled away. I was lucky, for my Okaa-san had called me away and into the kitchen to help her with her duties because she was ill. We were the farthest away from the fighting when it all began, and my Okaa-san took me away to the family shrine. She gave me our family's sacred artifact, the empowered naginata Houka, created by our ancestor, and helped me escape.
"To my misery at the time, she herself was not been able to join me in the secret tunnel our people had built against such disaster. She closed the passage to keep it secret and save my life. No one else escaped. The preparations only amounted to a single girl retaining her life and freedom, with a weapon she was too small to even wield.
"After my escape, I eventually came to Honshu, and the countryside around Tobe. I buried Houka, as I could not yet wield it, and resolved to isolate myself until I could carry it with pride.
"A child's ignorance. Soon enough, my skills in the forest proved lacking, and with lesser weapons I became a bandit. Only taking what I needed to survive, but a bandit nonetheless.
"I used what training I had, and survived and honed my skills, until the day I could wield Houka.
"Eventually, I came to Tobe itself after Lord Rokutaro's agents recruited me to his cause. At his order I have waited. Now, I seek to use the Shogunate's goals to further my own. I shall have my justice against the Shadowkhan, and see my family free if any still live."
As she spoke, Yasashi seemed to fluctuate, her voice going from calm and happy, to almost a fever. To Nonki, the changes were as visible as night and day. But something piqued his interest, as the female samurai seemed to pause during her explanation of the years after her escape from Shikoku Island and the time spent in the countryside of Tobe. The Musician lifted his saucer to his lips and took a deep drink, and listened as she continued.
"And that is why I am with the Shogunate, and why I follow our leader and tolerate such men as Rosuto, Gurando, and General Murakami," the lady samurai stopped, and with a deep breath, was apparently finished. She reached over and took hold of the bottle of sake, and poured herself another saucer. After a small sip, she looked over at her two companions. "Now you have my story, tell me yours, Himitsu-san. Unless you wish to, Nonki-san?"
Nonki simply smiled and gestured to the wizened man next to them. "No, no, I could not. Not yet at least, I simply must hear more before I share my simple goal."
"I shall tell you my story, then. I shall not be forthcoming on some of it, for it's a lengthy tale, not all of it tied to my current goals.
"I was born long ago to a powerful clan in the northern reaches of our land, before the Shadowkhan emerged to wage war on our people. As the third son of a third son, there were few prospects for me, and being of a scholarly inclination, I was pledged to a temple in the hopes of bringing honor to my family by achieving greatness among holy men.
"However, my nature was too curious for their narrow disciplines, and I was too idealistic to detach myself from the world. I left the temple of my own accord before they evicted me.
"Not long after, a village I was staying at became plagued by a weasel spirit. I witnessed an exorcist contain and banish the spirit, and was enthralled by his magic. After much begging and many promises, I became his apprentice. My sensei initiated me into the arts of magic and understanding the world of youkai and kami. In only a few short years, I surpassed him and struck out on my own.
"I increased my knowledge by binding spirits before exorcising them, interrogating and studying them for secrets. In this manner, I became very proficient in my trade, and came to enjoy the employment even of daimyo in purging or warding their strongholds.
"I also became a thief of knowledge. Whether by fair means or foul, I wrested knowledge from hedge witches and sages. I also used my status as an exorcist to gain access to scrolls of rarity to copy or steal for my own use.
"In time, I became bored with the Land of the Rising Sun, the remaining secrets of this land beyond my reach as I was then. So I journeyed to the Continent to continue my trade and quest for knowledge. In many harsh ways, I was shown how small of a fish I was in an ocean of sharks. The journey of three decades ended what remained of my youthful passion, but invigorated my desire to reach my goal.
"My goal is to achieve absolute knowledge of magic, to understand it in all of its forms and manifestations, human, elemental, demonic, and heavenly. I traveled north to the frozen tundras of the Khans, south to green isles of eternal summer, and west to the land of Buddha's birth. I learned a great deal, but no lesson was greater than the scope of my ambition.
"To the west of the Middle Kingdom is a land of mountains, mountains higher than any in these islands, and the range nearly equal to the largest of our isles. Amongst those peaks, people have lived and thrived for centuries on what is called the roof of the world. Yet amongst these heights, a great peak rises to dwarf them all. Its height is such that no mortal has ever set foot on the summit, though for ages brave men have sought to do so.
"As far as I know, the peaks I have conquered are merely foothills to a mountain as imposing as the unscalable peak of the Continent. I seek immortality to gain the time needed to realize my ambition.
"Six years ago, my wanderings took me to the peninsula, the Land of the Morning Calm. There I discovered a cave sealed by old and rotting magic. It had been the hideaway of a demon thief, and contained the prize that cost him his life. He had stolen a copy of the History of the Shadowkhan.
"Though the scroll was old and crumbling, I wrested much knowledge from it with my skill. And what wonders opened to me.
"The Shadowkhan are not Oni, not as we use the word. Their origin is in fact divine."
Yasashi listened carefully to the words of Himitsu, and found herself intrigued by his history, a seeker of knowledge, through darker means. Nonki as well found himself deeply intrigued by the man's words and his tale. As a seeker of knowledge himself, he admired Himitsu's tale.
As the wizened man continued, both found themselves listening carefully as he told his story, and Yasashi found herself at the edge of her seat at the mention of the Shadowkhan and their history. As a warrior, she knew the value of knowing your foe. But the words that came next shocked the both of them, as he told them of the Shadowkhan's divinity. This, especially, shook Yasashi, who spoke aloud. Nonki, on the other hand, kept his thoughts to himself, but one could tell he was being very thoughtful at the moment.
"How could such creatures be divine in origin?! They are evil, they enslave and kill without care, and they seek conquest upon us humans. What god would unleash such evil upon us, with such little regard?"
"The gods' intent does not always reflect in their actions. The origins of the Shadowkhan go back to the days of the beginning, the times when Izanagi and Izanami still roamed the earth.
"After her death in childbirth, Izanami descended into Yomi. Her coming was like a torch cast into the void and drew the attentions of the kami of death. He ravaged Izanami and she gave birth to his child, a girl child of midnight blue skin and eyes like hot coals that shined in Yomi's endless darkness. The exhaustion of birth drove Izanami to eat of Yomi's fruit, and thus she became rotted and polluted. Seeing this, the girl child refused the fruit of Yomi, though she starved for want of food.
"When Izanagi came for his wife and was forced to flee, the girl child was among his pursuers. But her goal was not his capture, but to follow him from the polluted lands. She succeeded, and when Izanagi reached the exit, she escaped between his legs before he sealed Yomi.
"She fled Izanagi in fear after his denouncement of Izanami, and was overcome by her hunger. She found a peach tree heavy with fruit, but was too short to reach the fruit. Seeing her shadow for the first time, for in lightless Yomi there are no shadows, she asked for it to get the fruit for her. The shadow was flattered and rose as a man in her likeness, plucking a peach for the denizen of Yomi, which she devoured, pit and all.
"Having devoured the fruit, she became part of our world and has remained ever since, the solitary and enduring Queen of a race of men. From that one servant, all Shadowkhan have come, and she is the source.
"I learned other things about them, but the thief did not gain a full copy, and much was lost to time and decay. But I know that in places where the worlds touch, wonders occur.
"The peach tree in the tale is one of the Trees of Life. If a mortal eats of such a tree, they gain immortality, just as the untainted of Yomi are freed by its fruit. The full and complete Shadowkhan history in their fortress surely holds the location of the tree, and thus the key to my immortality and fulfilling my ambition of absolute knowledge.
"Not to mention Lord Rokutaro has promised me the spell books and knowledge that the Shadowkhan have hoarded over the ages. Do not be overly harsh with yourself, lady; my motives are purely selfish.
"That is two tales, what do you have to say, minstrel?"
Both Yasashi and Nonki raised their brows at this revelation. Nonki, for his part, allowed Yasashi to speak before he started his tale, and she did. "So Himitsu-san, you say that the Shadowkhan are the creations of the Queen, the bastard child of a violated goddess and the shinigami, kami of death, perhaps Lord Enma himself?"
Nonki nodded, agreeing with the Lady Samurai. He spoke up, a very questioning tone to his voice. "I myself, Himitsu-san, find myself in rare disbelief. Such a thing is something beyond what I have come to know in the many tales I have heard and spoken in my journey of life.
"Why has such a thing never been recorded before, or become known through song and lore high or low? Surely the Queen, the child of two gods, is a god herself, is she not? There is little else she could be. Please, enlighten us, before I begin my tale? I find myself in much confusion. Your tale is one of wonder, and if it is true then we must know more.
"I myself do not believe that I have the luck and guile to challenge a god, or a child of one, without knowing more. If it is in your ability to tell us, please do so."
Yasashi nodded in agreement. "I am sorry as well, Himitsu-san, but I agree with Nonki-san. Is there anything else you can tell us? If what you say is true, I seek vengeance on a god and its creations. Surely, Lord Rokutaro knows this? How can he pursue such madness? And why would this ancient Queen seek war on humans?"
"Hmm, it seems you appreciate my dilemma. The more one knows, the more questions one gets."
"My information is incomplete, but I do know more of the Queen. Shortly after her eating of the peach, she was found by the new kami Susano and Tsukiyomi. Susano recognized her as a creature hailing from that realm, for the filth that Izanagi had washed from himself still lingered on her. He made to slay her, but for some reason did not or failed to. The relevant passages were turned to nothing by decay.
"However, the Queen, I do not believe, is a great power unto herself. Among the passages that endured, I found a piece of the Shadowkhan history honoring seven heroes of their race. In times long passed, the Queen ventured forth from her place of safety with an escort and became besieged by Oni seeking her death. The ambush was brutal, leaving only three of the Sumo tribe and four of the Razors alive. The Razors fled for help, each turning to delay their pursuers until only one remained, who reached the stronghold to complete his mission before dying of wounds. Similarly, the three sumo fought back to back around the Queen, refusing to die before reinforcements arrived.
"The tale was recorded to honor their skill and dedication, but it reveals the Queen is dependent on her armies. She may be a god, but not a strong one I think. From the peach tree to the present, she relies on servants to meet her needs. Her Generals are known and feared throughout the south, but no human has laid eyes on the Queen in recorded history.
"The Queen may be the Shadowkhan's strength, but I think she is also the weak foundation to their empire. If we can wrest her armies from her, I do not think she could regain them easily. I think she is closer to a princess than a warrior like yourself, Slayer."
The both of them, the Lady Samurai and the Musician, nodded in agreement, but were otherwise silent. Yasashi contemplated the meaning of Himitsu's words, and what they could mean in the future. Nonki, on the other hand, with his questions answered for the most part, decided it was time for him to share his tale. For the moment, he set his instrument to the side, and finished his saucer of sake. Once he had done so, he spoke.
"That is quite the tale, Himitsu-san, and if it is true, then there is much to be wary of. To think, the foe that stands across from us is a god in nature, or perhaps something else if not quite a god. But it leaves much to think about; that can be assured. I wonder how our leader and you plan to so easily rip away the lands she has conquered and end this war?
"I think she will not take kindly to such actions, but if what you say is true, she is only a ruler, and little else," Nonki paused for a moment, eying his saucer and wondering if perhaps he should fill it up again before he started his tale, but decided against it. "But I would guess that is a tale for another time, so I shall start my own tale."
Nonki looked at his two companions, gauging their reactions before he started. Himitsu was clearly paying attention, while Yasashi seemed to be doing the same but with her mind slightly wandering, most likely on what was said about the Shadowkhan. Without reason for further delay, he started his story.
"I was born a simple child, little more nor little less. Born on a simple farm, outside a simple village, deep in the heartland of our country. And such as I was born did I live, a simple childhood that grew into a simple adulthood dominated by simple tasks. But as I grew, so did something else, for a desire for my peaceful life to last forever became my fixation, and I left my village to search for it. I knew that my village would not remain peaceful forever, so I knew I had to leave.
"After I left, I grew to love music, for after I left my simple village I soon found that no matter where I went, there was always peaceful music no matter the conflict or peace. I once came across a dying man, shortly after I left my village in search of a peaceful life that would last forever. Even as he lay dying on the edge of the forest, struck down for whatever reasons, he was at peace, for he played a simple flute.
"I asked him how he could find peace in the music of a simple flute, and he told me the very same thing I had only started to believe at that time. He told me that music is always peaceful, no matter where you go. Music holds no ill will or evil intent; it is merely music. As long as he could enjoy the music of the flute, he could be at peace. To you, it might sound strange or even somewhat crazy, but as one who has devoted their life to music, I say otherwise.
"And so, I continued my journey. I eventually became a musician, and I was found to have a natural talent for it. There was little I could not play, no music too complex or grand, and no instrument beyond my mortal skill. And so I traveled, and learned to love music even more. But as time passed, I saw that there was no peace anywhere in our land. Word reached me of my village, and how its peace as well had ended, and it was little more then ashes and its people leaves upon a wind.
"One day, I had a realization. Life, now and forever more, is not peaceful. Life is conflict, life is battle, all things and everything comes back to the simple acts of violence. At this thought, I became distraught, and I wandered without heart for days on end throughout the land, until I came upon a great field. But I found something I had thought I could never find. I found a place that was at peace. No matter where I looked, there was silent, perfect peace. Tell me, can you imagine what I saw that day in that great field?"
For once, Nonki looked serious. To Yasashi, he looked almost dangerous in his calm. She was used to seeing him always relaxed, always calm. But now, he was different. It was as if he was a different person now, and it impressed upon her just how little she knew of this man. But he had asked a question, so she would answer. Or at least as best she could.
"No, Nonki-san, I can not imagine what you found that day."
Himitsu was impressed. Unlike the two of them, this man came from humble origins, having his path laid by no one but himself. The quests, while different, were also similar in nature. Sadly, he too had long realized conflict was the constant of life, where even trees waged brutal wars for sun and soil. Yet it seemed some revelation had rescued this artist from a truth that the wizard had seen crush others.
"I believe you found something that gave you hope. Hope that the unscalable mountain can be conquered?" Himitsu answered, adding a comment acknowledging the similar nature of their wanderings.
Nonki smiled, but the smile was lacking in his common mirth. Even with this, Yasashi was still confused. Until Nonki continued, "You can say that, Himitsu-san. I found the peace I was looking for, and perhaps a hope. But I think the only person here who can understand the peace I found, is one who has experienced it themselves, like our dear Lady Samurai here. She has seen this 'peace' before, have you not Yashashi-chan? Perhaps, you have even… Made it?"
The look of confusion on her face grew more focused, before a slight look of horror over took it, and was finally replaced with a very grim look. Her tone, when she spoke, carried the same grimness, "You, Nonki-san, are a very dark man to find peace in a dead battlefield."
The mirth, strangely enough, returned to Nonki's smile, and his eyes almost glittered with an inner light. His voice, formerly serious, went back to its playful and airy tone. "Yes, I guess you can say that I am. But I found it there, nonetheless, peace among the broken blades and bleached bones and a smell of iron in the air as wildflowers danced to the dead in the wind. Life is conflict – to live is to fight, to wage a war against all that is living. But death, I both happily and sadly realized that day, is peaceful. Death is when we put to rest our cares and worries and settle to a peaceful sleep. But I also grew fearful that day, when I learned of peace. For what if beyond that veil that I could not see through, there was not peace? And so I did decide to ensure my peaceful afterlife, and I started a new journey to seek it out."
Himitsu snorted at this statement.
"I had begun to think you had some measure of wisdom, but it would seem you possess madness instead. Only fools seek death; it already seeks us. I have come close to death many times in my wanderings. The curse that left me with this withered form saw me hanging to the edge of the abyss by my fingernails, and I saw no peace. Death is an ending that makes mockery of our efforts. I survived because I refused to surrender my ambition to oblivion, and I seek immortality to guard my ambition from the shinigami," the sorcerer answered, "But there is more isn't there? How does your desire for the afterlife bring you here?"
Nonki chuckled, the sound both dark and yet light at the same time. With an idle wave of his hand, almost like he was dismissing Himitsu's words as little more than an insect, he responded.
"Please, Himitsu-san, do not mistake me for seeking death. I have never said I sought it, merely that I have come to realize that there is a peace in death that we cannot yet fully comprehend. I truly admire the fact that you have not surrendered your ambitions to the idea that the void will take them and make them into little more then mere memory, and have struggled to continue your course. What other men feel the need to so fervently chase down knowledge?"
A smile spread across his slim face again.
"I said I seek peace in death, but not death itself. What I seek is the assurance that when my fated time comes to be, that in death I can find peace. So, you are right. There is more to it than just this that brings me here. What I desire from my efforts here is something I think the Shadowkhan have, or at least know where to find it.
"Like you, I have studied them to a degree, but not like you have. I know that they have been around for as long as Japan has existed, or almost as long. Be they demons or the creations of a bastard child of the gods, the Shadowkhan have lived in our homeland for as long as anyone human can remember. So, I believe that they can help me find what it is I seek, or even have it hidden in their own deep, dark libraries."
"Enough baiting. It's a bard's nature to hold back for drama, but time waits for none of us. What is this knowledge you would seize from our enemies that you would gamble your life without even being certain they possess it?" Himitsu pressed. Though he affected sarcasm, the other two could detect the hunger beneath. It was apparent that he had spoken the truth of his obsession with knowledge; curiosity dominated perhaps too much of his being.
Yasashi, for the sake of civility, did little more than scowl before her response. "Perhaps you could, Himitsu-san, so kindly inform me with the aid of Nonki-san then why the Shadowkhan have waged this war? I see little reason, to my humble knowledge, as to why the Shadowkhan and their Queen would so suddenly raise war with our kind, but then again no one has ever even seen this Queen. For all accounts including yours, it might be some demon or another holds the Queen hostage in her own palace and commands her minions in her place? For if she has kept peace with our kind since the start of our world, why not in these most recent generations?"
Nonki simply shrugged, and rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I have little idea Yasashi-chan, the workings of the world beyond my goals and music escape me quite easily. But as Himitsu-san has said, I have done more than enough for setting the dramatic stage; and it seems you wish to move to another topic. So I shall reveal my goal with little hesitation now."
A rather fake cough followed, most likely Nonki clearing his throat, before he schooled his face into one of seriousness again. "You see, what I seek from the Shadowkhan is a legendary melody, a song, written by the divine hand of Amaterasu herself. It is said that those that hear the music of this song will pass into an eternal and forever peaceful Nirvana at the time of their deaths. This is what I seek, to ensure my peaceful afterlife."
"I have heard of the Music of Heaven; it certainly sounds like one of those melodies. Though I had always been told that humans can only harness the music of mortality, and nature. However, if any deity were to grant her song to us mortals, it would be Amaterasu," Himitsu pondered aloud. Nonki simply nodded, accepting the statement for what it was. Himitsu emptied his saucer before addressing Yasahi's question.
"It pains me to admit it but I do not know. I can and have infiltrated the lands of the Shadowkhan, protected by my enchantments, but their fortress is something I would not risk lightly. In fact, in my time with the Shogunate, I have captured Shadowkhan to study and interrogate. But their will truly surpasses iron; not one Shadowkhan of any variety has given up a piece of information, despite what I have tried.
"Our stories are known now, but our enemies, I think, will only be revealed when battle is truly joined," the old sorcerer mused.
Yasashi, question answered, was still unsatisfied, and her temper flared in the back of her mind. But she was not so shallow a person to not accept what she had to, and with a deep breath and sharp focus calmed herself before looking to Nonki and Himitsu. "Both your goals interest me, and seem as personal as mine. While I do not care for your actions or your cause, I do not judge them, Himitsu-san. I perhaps have done worse in my own pursuits than stealing of others' knowledge. As for you, Nonki-san, I find your goal to be wholesome in a sense."
With a sense of purpose, she reached over and took hold of the sake bottle to refill her saucer. After a sip, she continued.
"I must agree with you Himitsu-san, we have now learned of our stories, and will most likely learn more as the battle is met. But I wonder, what stories does the Queen of the Shadowkhan have to tell? If I must, I will draw the tale of why this war rages even if I must make her tell it at the edge of my blade. I will learn why she enslaved my family, and why she does such evil."
"Well, that time may be coming, but it is not here. And I must prepare for travel," Himitsu said, getting to his feet. His joints did not crack or strain, as the two younger people had expected.
"Well, it has been a most enlightening round of drinking. To where do you go?" Nonki asked cheerfully. Himitsu narrowed his eyes in consideration as he picked up his package.
"Shikoku. Now that the Shadowkhan have begun their attack on Kyushu, I can more safely meet with my informants on the island."
"Isn't that Rosuto's task?" the warrior woman asked. Himitsu smiled.
"He does not command the obedience of youkai. Their greed and fear has served me well. Already I can sculpt the fortress of the enemy from their reports. And who knows what secrets may have flown loose in the midst of the Shadowkhan's great movements?"
"…Would you care for company?" Yasashi asked.
XXX
Jade was in the meditation chamber, geta discarded by the door as she sat on the pedestal, breathing in the incense in steady rhythm.
She had not intended to meditate, but she had found it preferable to otherwise waiting in anxiety. A lot of anxiety.
She had given clear orders not to be disturbed by the guards, even for tea. And that was the extent of the plan in her hands. There was nothing else she could do; the rest lay in Hishu's hands.
Trusting in a Shadowkhan for this alone would be bad enough. But it was so apparent how much could go wrong.
Getting a private meeting with him had been easy. A meeting on his progress was only fitting for any General learning his trade. And asking to handle it without Hiruzen present seemed to fit well enough, as this was hardly dangerous.
The young General had been dubious. Which was only proper – it only made sense to her because she knew the truth of herself. She had implied it was a test of some kind, of his personal loyalty to her.
A good lever to pull, though it made her feel… guilty.
"I will not fail you, Queen Mother," he had said. His spirit simply screamed discord and doubt; she was tearing him between his correct gut instinct and some deep drive to please her. That it made her feel so guilty was proof she had to get away. If she stayed, how long might it be before she started making excuses for the Shadowkhan's evil and forgetting where the line between light and dark fell?
But that all assumed this worked. If Hiruzen watched Hishu, or kept closer watch on the prisoners than Hishu thought. Or for Hishu to just say a few words to Hiruzen or any other General…
She had an excuse ready. But it was unlikely to work. They would look hard and finally see an impostor.
'This is it Jade, time to roll for all or nothing,' she told herself.
Opening her eyes, she watched as Hishu rose from the shadows, the unchained tanuki at his side, trembling.
"Greetings, Tanuki-san. How would you like to have your freedom back?" Jade asked.
XXX
Bachi stood in silence in the grove as the little fool sent the fool General off. They were outside, and some distance from the Fortress walls! Getting out even from here was no easy task, but he could do it.
But his silence was not from relief; he could hardly even keep up his foolish playing of the manners of his shameful kinsmen.
"You are certain. This seems… I could accompany you from afar?" the small General asked. Bachi had never heard tales of this one. Perhaps it made him less dangerous, but dealing with Himitsu had taught him ignorance could be deadly.
"I grow ever more weary of you questioning me. Am I not your Queen- Mother?" the brat demanded haughtily.
He was silent from sheer disbelief. He had known he was doomed when the Shadowkhan caught him. The best he could hope for was a quick death.
But he was not dead yet, and the kami he never prayed to had granted him a boon so great it almost terrified him.
The Queen of Shadows herself delivered into his paws, into his jaws!
Oh, it already was making him salivate. He had grown stronger, wiser, and more virile than his kin, feasting on human maiden flesh. Often disguising himself as a mendicant monk, charmingly foolish, getting them to let him into their homes or letting them decide to share their shelter with the harmless old fool for the night.
Until that cursed Himitsu had found and bound him. All these decades being banned from not only human flesh, but also the flesh of all life that could speak! Having to settle for dumb meat, and plants!
He could practically feel himself growing dumber, weaker, and less potent. But he could not hope to challenge the wizard for freedom, and running would also fail.
This girl was not just a maiden kami; she was a maiden-mother kami! What power might her flesh give him, he wondered?
Finally, the General vanished back into the shadows. The girl, in her fancy black and blue kimono and headdress, took a breath and started to chant.
He watched with worry, taking a step back, as her shadows lengthened and flowed to her.
It was a relief when the darkness gathering on her skin changed, giving her a human appearance.
"There, just like any mortal girl," she cheered.
"Oh, so much more pretty than that," he cheered, clapping his hands in fake excitement. Such hair, fine garbs, and immaculate pale skin? She only looked like a human princess now, minus the makeup. Idiot had probably never seen a peasant.
"Onward, a child slips her binds to seek adventure! And I, now a wise man who can see us well on our way!" Bachi laughed. He scooped her up onto his shoulders, using his fool charm to disguise pragmatism as eternal gratitude.
Even if her absence wasn't noted for long, when it was discovered, a typhoon of steel would be on his heels.
One reason to contact Himitsu and use the foolish child as leverage for freedom – let Hiruzen and the Circle pursue her current captor, and perhaps he could escape before their attention turned to him? And doing so would all but ensure the withered mortal's demise.
Hmm, but if he ate her up, what power might he gain? Perhaps enough that he need not fear even Hiruzen?
Hmm, tempting, but no. Such power may be like trying to drink a lake – it could destroy him. And self-preservation and regaining the virility his maiden eating provided was his goal.
Besides, eating her would also anger Himitsu, who wanted her alive. Even such power was not worth having both the Shadowkhan and Himitsu hunting his trail.
Meanwhile, he cracked an old joke that made her laugh. She was so thrilled, so foolish. So doomed, like a turtle that had abandoned all reason by forsaking its shell. But her madness was his gain.
"Finally free," she whispered, as they slipped soundlessly through the brush.
"Free as a bird in a typhoon!" he cheered in a mock hush.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Been awhile. And one of the recurring questions is now answered.
And if Jade seems foolish in her decisions, she is. Jade is getting desperate, and despite trying to switch to more of a crafty hero, she still has a lot of action girl impulse. Not so easy to change, especially with a lot of stress from both her secret identity and getting freaked out by being seen as a mother when she still very much sees herself as a kid.
Growth is rarely a smooth process, and Jade here is making a major misjudgment. Not helped by the fact that any tanuki stories she heard would make her assume this guy is less dangerous than he is.
It was a major moment for me to get that backstory scene out. Nocturne and I created the rough of that back in 2009. To see it finally get into the light and laid before the readers, well it makes me feel I achieved something by adopting this.