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
Betaed by Zim'smostloyalservant
Adopted to Finish what a Friend Began
Summary: Triumph and disaster! Hiruzen, Yojimbo of the Queen of Shadows and mightiest of the Circle of Generals, infiltrated Tobe Castle to learn of the nature of the Shirogeta clan's power. Power that can seal not only a General, but an entire tribe. Only to be lured into a trap, facing them might of the Shogunate in the Shadows' officers.
Though the mighty shinobi defeated nearly all of those sent against him, his final foe was Nonki the Peaceful Musician, who demonstrated why the low-keyed balladeer is regarded with such fear. His illusions and music that "appeals to the world for favors" proved enough to allow him to defeat Hiruzen, and by extension the Shinobi tribe.
Now the Shogunate in the Shadows possesses two masks, and the leaderless Shadowkhan remain ignorant of the nature of the threat.
Yet despite these battles and reversals, the war for Nihon's fate is far from finished.
The Plunge
It was everywhere. Kuro-Ri-Chi could not deny this simple fact.
In the chart room that mapped the oceans in ways mortals could only dare to understand. And yet which had failed to guide his fleets to victory over this Pirate King.
It was also present in his meetings with his officers. Even the promotion ceremony for a talented young officer to command of the new cannon ship.
Even the meetings off the record with Jirobo, who continued to seek advantage in the situation. Kuro wondered if it was sincere ambition, or if plotting was simply to the other General what training was to some of the others.
Even the shrines of the Kamikiri, or the gardens of the Queen's plateau he walked with permission, it was there.
Fear, anxiety, a miasma of dread for the unknown.
The 96th Queen began the war for fear of a coming age when all the supernatural races of Nihon would be at the mercy of the pitiless greed and envy of mortals. It had seemed an extreme course of action for a fanciful notion. A fine excuse for pursuing greatness and to rally. But the conquest gave lie to how much a threat humans were.
The Eight Immortals were gone, and they had been opposed to the Shards of Calamity. Beings who existed, it seemed, for no purpose but to bring woe to all in their path. The Shadowkhan had suffered under their carnage as well. Indeed, if not for the treachery at the Mountain Fall, Kuro expected the Eight would be revered by the Shadowkhan.
Exceptions, and stories from the distant past.
But now, on the heels of the conquest of Kyushu, their race had suffered two of its greatest defeats since Po Kong. And unlike there, why and how remained a mystery. The war of conquest for dominion of Nihon had become a war for survival. The humans of Nihon were clearly as dangerous as the late Queen had suspected.
Kuro stood now in the shrine to his predecessors, depicted in all their glory, elegant scrolls containing each image, and luminescent water in glass spheres lighting them as if in sunlit depths.
"Forefathers, grant me the tides and winds to destroy them. I offer all that I am, even my spirit to Yomi if that may avert this doom," He bowed his head.
Tobe Caverns:
It was not the same cavern where they had confronted Hiruzen. According to Lord Rokutaro, it was in a similar chamber the masks were made. There was certainly a power here. She glanced upward, not tilting her head to give away the observation.
It felt as if something was watching from the stone teeth of the ceiling above. Not a threat, but a presence.
Or was she simply letting her instincts be deceptive? Her instructors had warned her of paranoia, of Demon Quellers who came to see the supernatural at work where it was not. Besides, a threat would have acted. So it was either an ally, a lingering presence of something long departed, or just one of the innumerable apathetic kami who seemed to exist only to exist.
Never mind. They had gathered here for far more serious matters.
The black mask had no eyeholes, and the mass of mandibles for a mouth also lacked any holes for air. Yasashi ran her finger down the inside of the mask. Smooth; it felt like wood, even though before it had almost felt silky. Simply concave, it seemed like it would fall off your face.
"If you are hesitant, I can simply ask one of my samurai to perform this test," Rokutaro pointed out. The Lord stood a ways off, but not so far his voice did not carry easily. Gurando and Rosuto stood slightly in front of and flanking the elderly daimyo. Weapons drawn, ready to act in the leader's defense. And behind her, General Murakami stood ready.
"I have been trained to recognize and resist demonic influence, Lord Rokutaro. As Himitsu and Nonki preemptively said, they would not wear a mask. Thus, I am the most qualified. And if I cannot hold my will, then we can be certain this power cannot be safely wielded and simply lock it away," She said.
"Either way, I am grateful for your service. But know this — in addition to my command, I have entrusted your fate to my faithful General's judgement. Give him a reason to doubt you in this test, and he may kill you without consequence."
"A Demon Queller who is not ready to die overcoming the malevolent supernatural is unworthy of the calling," Yasashi declared. With her left hand, she pressed the mask against her face, the light vanishing behind the mask.
Nothing. She blinked, feeling her eyelashes brushing the mask even as her nose was pressed against it.
Then it grabbed her face.
She released the mask as if burned, but it held on.
A step back, a pitch forward, almost falling. Sound also vanished. Panic.
Then her eyes opened, and she took a breath. It came as a gasp, and the sound distorted.
"Who are you?" Lord Rokutaro asked. She straightened up and looked to him. Rosuto had an arrow aimed right at her, she could smell magic on it.
Hmm, yes, it was a scent. A faint one behind her too, with a metallic flavor. Murakami had a magic sword? It had seemed to be a normal one, and it had never shown such power.
But the question, right, ignore the smells.
"I am Yasashi Ken, at your service, my lord."
"Can you prove you are indeed her?" Rosuto demanded. Rokurato stepped forward, and gestured silence from the Deadly Merchant. He stroked his beard, looking her over.
"Strange to see such a face be twisted to the feminine. And what question could be asked that we could not be sure would be plucked from a possessed mortal's mind? Let us proceed on faith for the moment," the daimyo said.
She nodded, and her mandibles clicked. Blinking, she extended them into sight. Bizarre — they were both felt, but did not feel a part of her. Feeling her face, it seemed like it would look nothing like her, rigid hard, and this bizarre maw. But she could not feel her own face underneath.
Yet… no. Yes. A seam line behind her ears, covered and replaced with mounds of earholes. The fever hot carapace giving way to human flesh.
Exploring the border, her fingers slipped under the mask. She felt the mask grab her face again. A moment of keen awareness of having two faces. No, a face and a mask. With a sucking sensation, it came away, cold air hitting her sweat-covered face.
The men relaxed, and the scent of magic was gone.
"Well done," Rokutaro said. He was smiling, and she smiled back, before bowing in thanks for the praise. Feeling her face, she was pleased to find nothing wrong, no cut or even soreness. Just a bit of sweat, like she had been in a hot spring.
"Are you willing to try again?" Rokutaro asked.
"Lord Rokutaro, I am," she answered. She held the mask up, staring at the fallen monster in its frozen face. For all the victims, he was not only fallen, but his power was now theirs, to truly turn against his comrades.
She put the mask back on, barely flinching this time, the power flowing into her. Not this Shadowkhan's power, no more than a sword commanded its own edge. It was theirs now!
Queen's Tower:
Jade sat in the tub as Koeri combed her hair. The pale kitsune's arms were tainted green from the potion, even though by now Jade had been rinsed clean above the low line.
Pausing in her work, Koeri leaned around, cracking a ruby eye open to look at Jade's expression.
"And I thought your back was tense. You should make use of that bathhouse again. The bath here fails to ease any tension."
"Last I checked, I was banned."
"A Queen banned from the royal bathhouse. Are you the Queen of Shadows or the Mikado of Nihon to be ordered around by your own court?"
Jade turned her head just enough to glare at the kitsune.
The eye closed back into a slit, and Koeri pulled back behind her. Setting the brush aside, Koeri gently lifted the wet hair to place it forward over Jade's immaculate blue shoulder. After a moment of loosening up her fingers, Koeri reached out to feel along Jade's neck.
Jade sighed, leaning back into the massage.
"There we go, a woman's touch is just what you need. Hohohoh."
"More touch, less talk," Jade grumbled.
Tobe Caverns:
They needed an army. But how did you call it? Perhaps a wizard who could summon youkai and other spirits could give her insight. But they were not here, and she was not going to run to them.
The mask was back on her face, the power flowing through her once more. When Gurando swung at her, she leapt up and found herself contemplating trying next time to land on the mace. A needless move; her blademaster and other teachers would have switched her and set her to floor scrubbing for pointless risks. It was not, after all, the Demon Queller way to take risks that offered no reward. One fought to win.
This power yearned to be used, it called her to experiment.
So, even though taking to the sky was often ill-advised, this time it let her knee Gurando in the face. Well, mask — for some reason, he had chosen a red-fanged war mask today. It cracked under the blow, and he stumbled back.
Rather than press the attack, she raised her sword into position and waited. The massive siegemaster ripped the useless mask off and glared at her. She liked the mask better than that face, she admitted.
"Impressive, but not the point of this exercise," Lord Rokutaro said. They were watching, and while no longer a step behind her, the General was still lurking. Ready to take her head if he thought this mask was controlling her.
Foolish, the mask served her now. Giving the sword a test swing, she wished Houka was here, but in case of something going wrong, Lord Rokutaro had insisted her ancestral weapon not be at hand.
This sparring was supposed to help her uncover the secret to calling forth the sealed tribe. Rokutaro and his mysterious source claimed it was possible. Shadowkhan like this mask, empty and prepared to serve the will of the one who wears it.
But no one seemed to know how it worked.
Yasashi threw the blade aside.
To his credit, Gurando did not stop to contemplate this. He saw the opening and attacked, not giving a moment.
She ducked under the blow, but did not retreat, preparing to strike at him. To see if her strength was truly so enhanced. And the massive man, using the momentum of his strike, was slamming into her before she realized that tactic was very flawed.
Knocked back, she kept her feet, but was dazed. A gauntleted backhand hit her on the mask; she felt the blow twice. That sent her to the ground.
"Do not relent," Rokutaro called out. Blinking, Yasashi looked up and saw Gurando stepping up, mace raised, not overhead but to his shoulders. With a cry, he brought the blow down toward her.
"Ahhh!" Yasashi cried out as she caught the mace. He had aimed for her chest, not the mask, Rokutaro's orders.
The mace only paused a moment in the foolish block, and slammed her hands awkwardly into her chest. Her armor burst from the body from the blow.
"HAAUFGFF," she gasped out, as her lungs were wrung of air like a rag. Broken bones, collapse? Dead dead dead? Nononnoo.
Her mind reeled, and she watched as the giant smiled down at her, and now raised his mace over head.
'STOP HIM!' she called out in her head as the words couldn't pass her mouth. Darkness shot up, cutting her sight off from Gurando.
The Gani Khan dispersed, even as a claw grabbed Yasashi and dragged her to the left. The mace did not hit the floor, Gurando pulling it back with quickness telling of his strength and skill. He stepped back, looking between the three Gani moving between him and Yasashi and the one that pulled her to her feet and let her lean against it.
"Stand down," Rokutaro commanded. The Shadowkhan obeyed, dropping into restive postures and not moving. Gurando, for his part, stood ready to attack.
"Demon Queller, you are in control?" Rokutaro asked. Yasashi took a breath, and was surprised it came so easily. Head already clearing, she pushed herself carefully away from the monstrous crustacean and stood on her own.
Apparently, despite the pain, she was more durable with the mask. Her eyes found the pieces of her breastplate on the ground. Black smoke rose from the pieces. Blast it, the Shadowkhan bones had dissolved!
"Yasashi Ken?" Rokutaro asked.
Right, she thought, mind returning to the task.
"Kneel," she commanded. The Shadowkhan went down on one knee each, facing her in subservience.
"Excellent. No, magnificent," Rokutaro said. He sounded pleased, and looking to the Lord, she saw he was smiling widely. Oh, so was she. She pointed to the Khan next to her, and gave another order.
"Kill."
The Gani didn't even try to defend itself, and it vanished in a puff of blue smoke when the closest of its peers crushed its head in a clawed strike.
Someone cackled dryly, punctuated by a clicking sound like dry sticks together.
"It truly works as promised. Now it is only a matter of discovering how to command greater distance and complexity. Then Nihon shall rise to a greater dawn," the Lord declared.
'And the Shadowkhan will pay for everything,' She thought, as she silently ordered the Khan to slaughter themselves.
Glorious.
Meanwhile, Queen's Tower:
The Queen stepped away from the towel. Koeri let her, stopping in her drying of the little royal. The bathing was done, and now the drying and the final bit of womanly pampering before bed. And was the room a bit chilled?
The petite blue girl was frowning, looking off toward one of the walls.
"Your Majesty?" the kitsune asked.
"I feel… something. I am not sure what. But it feels familiar," The Queen said. Then she shivered, and started rubbing her upper arms with her hands. Koeri huffed and scooted over to resume toweling off the naked child.
"Well, you are definitely feeling cold, Your Majesty," the kitsune remarked.
Hong Kong:
It really is the little things in life, Shendu thought. The great Demon Sorcerer of Fire and Emperor of China reclined further in his great metal tub. His head rested sharply back against the rim, pointing upward, exposing his throat, while his claws casually gripped the rim.
One did not need to keep their guard up when they were invincible, after all.
The oil bubbled around him, heated by only slightly enchanted fire that humans were blowing on through wooden tubes. Two other slaves stood precariously on ladders that let them lean over the rim and stir the oil, creating a pleasing rippling sensation. Finally, a young slave girl was using another ladder to polish the spiky crests on his head with a handful of pumice.
Yes, and all after a fine meal and no less than fifty prisoners executed, along with a foolishly corrupt lesser demon official. Corruption was not something the Emperor objected to, but the fool had been taking a slice of the dragon's share in the Empire's vast incomes. There was stealing, then there was a roundabout way of asking the Great and Dreaded Shendu to kill you in a creative and entertaining way.
Ah yes, days like this made him think of his dear siblings sitting in that horrid void. His laughter nearly sent the girl falling. She did not cry out this time, of course. Having her tongue removed but sparing her life for the good job she did was another example of his superior style of rule, he thought.
Then the gong rang.
Everyone stilled, and Shendu growled.
A well-dressed eunuch approached his presence, kneeling before the tub as Shendu cast an unamused eye on the gelded wretch.
"Oh Great Destroyer and Ruler! An urgent report, the Master of Veiled Truths wishes to speak to Your Most Infernal Majesty at once," the eunuch reported.
"Hssss, tell him he may enter, but if I deem his report unworthy of disrupting my leisure, he will not leave alive," Shendu declared.
The eunuch scuttled off, and Shendu tried to settle back into his bath, the slaves resuming their work.
The dark wizard entered, but Shendu did not bother looking at him as he went through the courtly motions and greetings. It could be rather tedious, but there was no point in being Emperor if you did not force everyone to subject themselves to ceremony for the slightest bit of your attention or favor.
"You had better have good reason for disturbing my pleasure, Ban Buwei. If you are wasting my time, I will throw you to my daughter spawns," Shendu told him. Thankfully, Ban got straight to the point.
"We have strong evidence that two of the Shadowkhan Generals have been sealed. Including the Yojimbo," he reported. Shendu looked to him, almost knocking the girl off her perch.
"All slaves leave," Shendu commanded. They packed up their equipment and ladders with the expert ease of their years at this task, and were gone with commendable speed.
"Chamber captain. Kill all but the girl, all but Young Ban are to leave," Shendu ordered.
Soon enough, he was alone with his spymaster, and the great dragon pulled himself upward to stand in the tub and glare down at the black-robed man with the tall purple hat.
"Tell me all you know," Shendu commanded.
A short time later, Shendu stood before his tub, heating his body to burn away the oil. He glanced at a glistening arm; yes, well done.
He looked to the spymaster, who had not moved while his Emperor considered the knowledge he had presented. Shendu remained silent as he grabbed his evening gown and dressed himself in the fine silk, enchanted by much blood magic.
"We will not interfere. But you will monitor the situation. I no longer care about any sacred warrior agents in Heian Kuo or the daimyo courts. Or whatever relics Po Kong might have kept hidden away. Every eye and ear we have in those isles is to watch this conspiracy and the Shadowkhan in their war.
"It seems whoever prevails, it could work to my advantage. If the Queen prevails, whatever sealing magic is at work the Shadowkhan will surely destroy, but her forces will be weakened greatly. And if the humans win, a potential rival will be removed at no cost to myself.
"Now go, make my will manifest!" Shendu commanded, pointing back toward the door. The man rushed out with courtly haste. Shendu smiled, his chuckling echoing in the cavernous grandeur. It seemed something interesting was about to unfold to the east.
X X X
Ugh, here we go again, Jade thought, sitting in the waiting room. This time, she had opened the cabinet and sat down facing it. Giving serious consideration to the kitsune tail in there. And she had confirmed foxfire came in this color from Koeri, so it definitely was one. But why was it here?
Not "here" as in the Fortress; she expected the Shadowkhan in general, and each tribe in particular, had plenty of trophies, tribute and assorted swag squirreled away. But why was this tail here in the Queen's waiting area behind the throne? A personal trophy of some Queen kept here as a silent pep talk of sorts? Maybe a warning instead, a prop to some cautionary tale?
Even with the library, she missed the internet. Heck, even an encyclopedia would be great. Even with the Kamikiri organizing and maintaining that cllection in the face of research, the books had no summation or internal indexing, hardly at all. The only way to be absolutely sure a book didn't have some very useful tidbit was to read it carefully cover to cover.
And was she deluding herself with this conviction that one of the books must hold the secret she needed to get out of this and back to her life and family?
And the fact was that the story of this tail might be so very common knowledge that asking about it would out her.
Jade tapped the table, calling in another tea platter. Yeah, clap meant she was ready to meet with the Generals, tap meant bring more tea.
On second thought, smelling this tea, she decided to go ahead with the meeting. Though she did eat one of the sweets before getting up. Taking the time to clean her lips and check her kimono first, of course.
She announced herself with a clap and let herself out.
After an informal meeting made it clear that even picking rotating schedule order for this would be political, she had effectively told them she would let herself in, as they could not seem to even agree on door opening without Hiruzen. Much more politely worded, of course, but the reactions of those present had made it obvious her meaning had gotten through.
It was all routine now, of course. The only thing she bothered to take note of was the pearl suspended in place of the moon. Her research had stumbled on that one's origins. Apparently it was quite a powerful item, and she guessed it was used to power wards on this room in addition to being a disco-less white disco ball.
The guards before her screen were all the remaining tribes. The one ready to draw the curtain was a Reza; apparently they had at least been able to decide that.
So settling herself on her throne, Jade gave the signal, and the meeting opened.
The fact was, despite being impeccably groomed and garbed, the Generals were clearly uneasy. It should have been pleasing. After all, it meant she had succeeded in reducing them from a luxurious existence of casually conquering and caring more about oneupmanship and courtly politics than struggling to survive heroic vendettas.
But really, it was so annoying to deal with this, that the queenly frown came natural. It did not waver as they went through the bowing and other motions of respect.
Jade herself was to start the meeting.
"General Jirobo. When last we spoke, your scouts were attempting to step into the place of the Shinobi in our spy rings and contact with allies," Jade stated. Not a question; questions implied an equality, and she did not want them comfortable.
"We have carried out that course of action. But the Shinobi tribe covered its trails well. What we knew, and what we have learned from their records, is incomplete. The exact details needed to contact or locate are absent. And their ciphers, which may hold such keys, we have been unable to decipher. And even then it seems likely that the most vital information is both encoded and hidden with all the skill of the Shinobi elite, with ample time to choose their hiding places, no less.
"What contact we have made has been disappointing. It would seem many of the human ninjas revered Hiruzen in truth more than Your Majesty. His defeat has left them uncertain. At least one allied clan has fallen into war. Their jounin challenged by a kunoichi, of all things, supported by-"
"The petty details of mere human ninjas' succession does not concern us at this time, Jirobo. Have you anything substantial to report beyond the seeming fact you have learned nothing?" Jade demanded. Yes, that was a question, but it was a very evil way to ask it.
"No, Your Majesty. Forgive my failure," he said, moving back from the table to abase himself. As one of the most dangerous and clever Generals, Jade had decided giving him that impossible task was a good way to keep him down in the ranks.
"General Kuro-Ri-Chi, your own reports," Jade continued.
"The fleet of the Pirate King seems to be on the move. I assume Tobe to be the center, with all that has happened, but they are proving oddly difficult to track. I can no longer dismiss that the kami of the sea may be involved somehow.
"Our own informants confirm the rumors. Lord Rokutaro, the master of Tobe, is massing an army. Not simply the usual, but monks, hedge wizards, and strange folk from beyond the province. Only rumors from Tobe itself; someone has been eliminating our spies quicker than we ever expected. As a result, several have simply deserted us as best they can."
"Very well. General Ozeki?"
"Despite our losses, the Empire faces no danger of collapse. Slave escapes have increased substantially, and in several instances we are working to retire the slave labor output to pre-Awaji levels. At present, I believe these issues would be resolved in time, but we should proceed with the understanding that the status quo cannot be assumed to endure."
"General Kamisori?"
"The gathering of elites is nearly complete. All await whatever is needed for your decision," the Reza General reported.
"High Priest Sanshobo, what have you learned?"
"This unworthy one regrets to report that our research has revealed nothing new. We follow many threads, but with no certainty to warrant your time or consideration, oh Divine Majesty," the Kamikiri General said. He sounded a bit strung out. Since they were the wizards, being stumped on a magic problem seemed to be grating on him.
General Hishu reported progress in training his fledglings. Though with no great ability yet revealed it seemed they were to be spies more than warriors. A hasty report, as if embarrassed; but what could be done? She dod not frown at him, and politely accepted the report. She recalled too well times sh had been called o with insufficient answers before a class.
Only one remained, Ikazuki, the recently conquering warlord. If being called last bothered him, he did not show it.
"General Ikazuki, my conqueror. I trust all is well in hand?" Jade asked. Let that throw them off, calling him last but treating it as if it was because she was confident in his abilities.
He certainly seemed to soak it up in his presentation.
"Despite losses, thanks to the recent conquest our borders are secure for the time being. Granted, this security is against military might. The vastness of the territory versus our numbers means that the possibility for individual or small group infiltration of the hinterlands remains. At present, with the loss of the terror troops of the Gani and the Shinobi scouting forces, I can say my tribe's armies are masters of all they survey. Which is to say we can guarantee the control and security of any area we are present in and guarantee nothing for areas we are not occupying."
"Hardly ideal, but it may be the best we could hope for under the circumstances. On the matter of armies, you will all prepare your troops for the eventuality of waging war under a united command," Jade declared. That got their attention. Was she implying a Warlord appointment or a Yojimbo?
The second could be had without the first, but would it? Would she want her strongest warrior by her side or leading the charge? It seemed highly unlikely she would appoint a Yojimbo just to risk him immediately in battle.
They were on edge, so she changed the topic without resolving it.
"High Priest, a matter has occurred to me in meditation that has been affirmed in this very meeting. Each tribe has certain specific roles, and this system has served well. But now, with entire tribes being ripped from the race, we face the prospect of being left deprived of vial resources swiftly. The most obvious remaining exclusion is your tribe's sovereignty over magecraft and mystic lore. This is no longer ideal. Each tribe's General will select five mystically-talented Shadowkhan of their ranks, and you will begin training and dedicating them at your earliest possibility."
"My Queen! This is…! The age of such is past! Since before Po Kong it has been understood that other tribes' talents lag far behind our own! This mandate even Daigoro never challenged. What is more, it will only take time from several of our scholars who are both best at this task you have set in discovery and set them to cross purposes by having to waste time training those who lack eyes to see!"
"Is that defiance of the Queen?" Ikazuki asked smugly.
Jade actually gasped as the air chilled around her. A blue flame had ignited behind Sanshobo, towering over the masked general. It made no noise and moved to an unfelt wind. The Kamikiri General placed the butt of his scythe hand to the bottom lip of his mask.
He was about to take it off!?
"Enough!" Jade roared. Darkness burst out from the throne. It was more a black firework with a gust of wind, but Jade realized she had just reflexively harnessed and used the substance. And it had brought the temperature back to normal apparently.
She would be pleased and surprised, as accidental magic like that didn't happen to her these days, it was memorized to the point of reflex! Or that would be how she would feel if she wasn't angry from being freaked out at the possibility of seeing basket head's face.
Jade did not conceal her anger for a moment, and let that display kill the flames and send the half drawn katana of Ikazuki back into its sheath. Then, a bit appeased by the villains' obedience, she slipped the serene but displeased regal mask back on.
"Clearly, the Circle is lacking these days. Such poor decorum. It's clear this meeting being continued will serve no purpose."
She waited on the throne, and despite herself blinked, looking around at the Generals seated below her.
What?
Oh, was it her job to officially closer the meeting now? Probably. Yeah, it was definitely-probably her job at this point.
So, how exactly had Hiruzen worded that?
Queen's Plateau, Later:
Jade slammed the door to the meditation chamber closed behind her. An attendant samurai in hakama rather than armor stood awkwardly, before sliding the door back closed from its rebound.
Ugh, the new attendants were far too visible. And awkward, Jade noted. He back-paced to his spot under her glare. Jade walked to the stairwell, considering where to go. She had dismissed Koeri earlier. Did that kitsune just hang out in her hut when not in use?
No, going outside to check was just more time wasted.
She needed to be in the library. Doing research. Order her magic lessons to resume. The Kamikiri had practically vanished into arcane studies and spiritual searching for answers or signs of guidance in the crisis. Though if she demanded it, they would obey…
She ended up in her room, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
This sucked. She didn't feel like doing anything. She should be building off her success. After all, the fit from a General being sealed aside, she had just helped bring down the top General. Heck, with Queenie MIA, he was basically the Big Bad of this piece. She had subverted the story convention and had the king be toppled before his vassals.
She had won, she was winning, awesomely destroying the Shadowkhan from the inside. So why didn't she feel better?
And when had they left a tea tray?
The tea was hot, but she decided not as good as her own. She was certain Shadowkhan prepared it, they would ever delegate such a task. So the old tea master was likely a sealed shinobi.
The food was likewise not up to par. Not just taste, she was still hungry.
She clapped her hands, summoning a samurai, who opened the door.
"Another tray, and more refreshments on it this time," she snapped. He obeyed, Jade's ire rising with each obscene clattering of porcelain as he gathered up the tea. She practically expected him to close the door behind him with a foot!
Two more trays and dinner and she was at least full despite the subpar service, she thought. Sitting in the tub brought in for her bath, she scowled at her reflection in the green potion as Koeri scrubbed her back.
"You need to relax, Your Majesty. Your back will knot up again with all the stress flowing and clogging in it," the kitsune advised her.
Jade splashed some of it back in the furry woman's face in answer.
X X X
"We humbly thank you for your time and attention, Most Honorable Circle of Generals," The spokesman of the delegation said, bowing deep.
There was neither Queen nor Yojimbo present to dismiss them formally, so by virtue of his lapsed rank as Warlord, it was Ikazuki who dismissed them. Each representative of the remaining tribes left, with perfect etiquette.
The Generals turned to regard one another when the doors closed behind the delegation. Some tapped claws on the tabletop. Other glanced to the Queen's empty throne. And most of all, while trying to keep an eye on each other, they tried not to stare at two spots at the table. Lacking any established tradition for these circumstances, the seats of the lost Generals were draped in white silk. Shrouds, stark against the dark colors of the chamber.
"They were quite polite," Kamisori noted. Jirobo gritted his teeth.
"Impertinence cannot be polite, General. Only spun to appear as such," the Bat Khan said. Ozeki scowled, his tea cold and untouched before him.
"You would rather be deaf to their concerns?" Ozeki demanded.
"They tell us nothing we should not already know," Ikazuki growled, "We are in crisis, yet our only action has been to assemble the elites once more. And to what purpose? There is no vacant General seat to be filled, not without the tribes."
"To select a new Yojimbo, obviously" Kuro-Ri-Chi said.
"We are the candidates for that post. None of our subordinates are more worthy than us," Jirobo snapped.
"Jirobo, prideful rider of the winds," Sanshobo spoke up, "Are you angry that the Queen shows so little faith in this Circle, or that she shows so little faith in you she would perhaps appoint a vassal to preside over you?"
"No one is here to tell us not to fight. But we must not regardless," Ikazuki declared, removing his thumb from his katanna's guard, letting his sword slip back into its sheath. Two other Generals likewise stood down.
The silence was far from calm.
"Sanshobo, is there a lawful way to pressure the Queen into choosing?" Ozeki asked.
"No. The only other situation even close was the ascension of Daigoro, and he was swiftly appointed. The Shadowkhan have not been without a Yojimbo for so long as this since the Interregnum."
"The Queen must choose, and appear before the vassals. They grow frustrated by our inaction in the face of crisis. The know their history — such a power vacuum preceded the greatest disaster in our race's history. They question how this Circle cannot see the urgency and act."
"And they want the assurance that the Queen is well," Kuro finished.
"They cannot think we are being dishonorable toward the Queen? It's ridiculous," Jirobo said.
"The Queen is being reclusive. She was close to Hiruzen-sama and sent him to his doom, it would seem. And after losing her mother so young. Even the divine blood can shed tears, and it's wondrous depths can hold sorrow beyond the limitations of unworthy ones such as us."
"So what are we to do? What do your scrolls and laws direct us to do?" Ikazuki demanded. The High priest was silent bead clicking as he worked them with his strange hands. At last he spoke.
"I do not know. It is in Joo Heike's hands."
Shirogeta Domain:
Himitsu's workshop had once been an abandoned peasant's hut. It had not been unoccupied too long, not more than two years by the Knowledge Thief's estimate. Secluded in the woodlands that dominated this part of the Shirogeta domain, he had guessed the former occupant to have been a hermit of some sort.
What remained told a story of self-sufficiency, and the structure, while no marvel, had been well built and maintained. He assumed the youkai he had slain and harvested nearby on an unrelated matter was the cause of the former occupant's demise.
He had, of course, expanded the structure. Several payments in services had gotten the peasants he needed for the labor, and beguiling them to forget details and then intimidate them into silence on what they remembered had been easy. After all, secrecy was often the first and greatest defense a wizard had.
It was large enough for his needs, and its perimeter well warded against any supernatural threat. The illusion he had woven into the trees was enough for the natural. Though truth be told, here he pushed the limits of his ability. Skill could take him far, but the truth was knowledge did not increase capacity. Understanding a magic did not mean he was capable of wielding it.
For now, at least. With immortality, who knew what he might eventually know and thus be able to achieve?
For now, he rested on a simple mat, looking older and weaker than ever as he conserved strength for use later. A useful technique found in his westernmost travels. Bothersome in its demands, but excellent in allowing him to avoid much of his aged limitations when needed.
So, considering this vulnerability and the security of his location, when the door to the workshop swung open, his eyes opening in surprise and panic was to be expected.
Sitting up, bamboo wand in hand, to see Nonki glancing in, he did not immediately lower it.
"Nice home. Did you do the additions yourself?" the musician asked. He did not cross the threshold. Was he wary of the wards, or just being polite?
He had stolen the Roc feather with no effort. Good manners, then. Curses, Himitsu thought. Better then to invite him in and retain a position of authority.
"This is no home. I have outgrown such sentiment. Enter, if you will," Himitsu said. His body regained a certain color and tone as he got to his feet, movements surer and smoother with each moment.
Nonki nodded, seemingly to himself, closing the door behind him. He had a sake gourd on his belt, the wizard noticed.
"Likewise, but the memories, they do endure, don't they? Attachment to the past can be such a folly, but without the past to consider, we would simply repeat the same mistakes in endless folly. Just goes to show that in this mortal life, there is no escape from-"
"I have no interest in your philosophy. Neither in hearing it nor debating its dubious merits. You have interrupted me by seeking me out, I am well entitled to demand to know why," Himitsu said.
Nonki tilted his hat to better look at the wizard and have an easy smile. Then, cocking his head, sniffed the air and looked around.
"I am here to offer you a chance to celebrate our continued success. The world whispers to me. And its hushed anticipation of conflict to come. It's important to celebrate before such; reflection serves men like us little at this point. Better to indulge, lest one never have another chance," Nonki said.
Himitsu's eyes narrowed as Nonki bent at the waist to inspect jars on a shelf, settling on two particular pieces of ceramic. Squat and round, with varnishes of black and white, respectively.
"You know, in the stories, wizard lairs are far more stunning. Strange corpses hanging. Noxious fumes. Eerie artifacts on display. This place smells like a medicine maker's hut with a bit of butcher's and tanner odor lingering."
Himitsu walked up next to him as Nonki opened the white jar and looked at the white powder within. Taking a pinch, he ran it between his fingers.
"Ah, but looks can be deceiving. Powdered human bones."
"From a pure and holy maiden. The black jar, the bones were a dark wizard of prodigious power," Himitsu said. He plucked the jar lid from Nonki's fingers and replaced it. The Peaceful Musician turned away, uncorking the gourd.
"Such different lives lived, and it amounts to the color of their jar on a wizard's shelf. But you already said you weren't interested in pondering such things. Let's sit and drink, then."
Nonki sat himself down on a mat before a work table, and Himitsu, with a loud breath, fetched a pair of saucers.
Soon enough, they both sat and emptied the first saucers of rice wine.
"I take it you had some particular news to celebrate?" Himitsu asked.
"Quite. Ken-chan has been practicing with the mask of the Gani. She was able to call several of the empty vessels of that tribe. And it seems her mind remains her own. At least for a short time, but she was able to remove it."
Himitsu frowned at the news.
"So you were not informed either. Seems a tad odd to keep both of us out of the loop. This new kind of army is quite disturbing — they only obey orders."
"Seems a fine thing to me. Such an army will not needlessly destroy, murder, and rape. More an instrument for the commander's will."
"That may be so, but in that case, the army is only as restrained as its commander. Men often become beasts at war, but not always. And an army that does not need to be appeased will mean far greater riches for those who control it. Wealth and power that need not be shared and an army that is far less expensive to field? War made so easy and profitable can only bring more suffering. And power so potent and seemingly easily wielded would corrupt even the purest souls."
"We wield power," Himitsu pointed out.
"And we may use it nobly when opportunity or whimsy allows. But we both could do more for people. But our paths to power make us men who generally see little point in being heroes. Is that why they hide the power of the masks being harnessed? Having served our purpose, do you suppose we are more feared than valued? A trick against treachery from us, or perhaps our great Lord Rokutaro sees in us a problem to be solved. After all, many magic users and monks now come to him. None as skilled as either of us, but nor are they as dangerous or controversial as myself or you, the Knowledge Thief."
"Nonsense. The Shadow Shogunate has won victories, but the Shadowkhan sill hold the edge. It would be unpardonable folly to turn on one another now."
"Agreed. Yet I have seen so much self-destructive foolishness, the argument of good sense can lose its luster. Likely, it's just heat lightning on the horizon. I feel more at ease for the talking, my thanks. Keep the rest of the sake."
He left without asking leave. Himitsu poured himself another drink when he was alone again. It was the kind of common drink he associated with the other wanderer. Strong, but lacking refinement.
It was a fool's fear. True, he had fulfilled his task by gathering what Lord Rokutaro needed, and Hiruzen was now disposed of. But these new armies were untested. And Rokutaro would lose nothing by keeping his pledges.
There was no need to be concerned with men; the Shadowkhan were reason enough to worry. So long as the Queen and even a single tribe remained free, the war was anyone's.
X X X
The Generals were in conference, Koeri noted. They had secluded themselves to a degree as well. There were anxious, weak. And that weakness of uncertainty frightened them, thus they trued to hide it from their subordinates.
The night of the Shrouded Moon was upon them all. The time for haunts. But it wasn't only humans who could be haunted.
Koeri rose from her bed and shifted into her humanoid form, tails waving around her and eyes narrowing to slits. A refined, delicate hand went to her jawline, and jerked it loose. A small grunt of pain was the only concession as her dislocated jaw dangled, relaxing herself with breaths, eye wide and then rolling up in her head as the hand passed through her mouth and extended to travel down her throat.
The moments passed, entirely still save for the bulging motions in her neck as long fingers probed her stomach. Then the motions stilled and her eyes focused. She ripped her hand from her mouth, retracting fingers clutching a pearl as wide as her thumb was long.
The pale sphere darkened in her hand, blue veined with red. And the kitsune paled to white as the orb changed. Snapping her jaw back into place, the kitsune smiled, showing off a single long, sharp tooth.
X X X
"Very good," Koeri said. The key could only be handled by a Shadowkhan, which meant the portal was glowing bright just now.
Let it be seen, there was no one to see, after all! She chuckled at the little absurdity, glancing at the snoring door guardian. All around the tower, Shadowkhan lay like birds that had been caught in her poison fumes in the past. Too strong to die of it, but she just changed the nature. They had so conveniently given her a sample of such deep magic tied to their race. And such time tp onder and unravel it.
Walking up the stairs, the guards appeared to challenge her, only to fall by the wayside. There was no inherent hostility in a sleep spell to activate the tower's defenses for Shadowkhan. And her scent was making them impulsive and trusting, as planned.
Reaching the brat's door, she sighed. Recalling the times with the child. A brat certainly, and strange. But they had been times spent with a lonely child.
But as ever, one's destiny is not ruled by one's desires. Even the kami must bow to fate. Who, then, was she to question her destiny in this matter?
Opening the door, she shed her clothes into mist, letting her scented aura take its fullest effect. The girl was different, and a single shriek would ruin all.
There was no choice.
X X X
Jade was surrounded by lights, dancing in the mist. No fires, green light, and beyond the dancing lights, a figure rendered black in the mist.
One of the green fires went out in the grasp of a shadow who advanced toward her. Jade pulled back, stunned at the violent act in this serenity. More fires came, barring their path and for Jade to watch as they danced.
Her eyes opened to green fire. Held above her in a slender white hand, which along with the rest of the woman, was partly dyed green by the light. Koeri had gone back to her old look, Jade noted, pulling a hand out from the covers with a smile. She looked better with it.
Koeri leaned forward from her spot straddling Jade on the bed, her red pupils stark in the dancing green of her eyes.
"The fires dance, as do the foxes. Child, would you dance with us?" she asked, her eyes alone in the misty white.
Jade reached her hand up and stroked the foxfire held toward her. It was warm, like Scruffy.
"I, shouldn't?" Jade asked. She shook her head, puzzled by the words. The eyes narrowed, and drew closer; now the voice whispered into her ear.
"No need to fear fathers and brothers. Mischief beyond sight of the moon is beyond punishment. Don't you want mischief? You need never return, so you need not face a punishing hand."
Oh, right. She had wanted to leave. But the stupid raccoon. And stupid Shadowkhan…
"I want to play videogames!" Jade whispered loudly.
"…Then come along," Koeri whispered. Jade let the arm wrap around her and pull her into the chest. Good thing she had fur without her clothes, Jade thought, or this would be really weird. She laughed at the notion.
KRACKOOM
The balcony door burst open, and Jade was struck by a gust and the stench of ozone. The mist gave way, and the pretty fire went out.
"HRUUUU!" Jirobo shrieked, burning with magic fire as he pulled himself to his feet, crawling and limping towards her, blades drawn.
Gasping, Jade pulled herself deeper into the woman's embrace.
"What? What?!" Jade shouted as Koeri leapt backward, the green fire bursting from her. It was hotter this time.
Too hot!
Jade screamed as the fox cackled.
"Not quite, foolish shadow!" Koeri cackled, and as the Bat General lunged with wordless fury, fire carried them away from all sight and sound beyond the roaring blaze.
Author's Note: Hope it was enjoyable. Wish an update for "Queen of all Oni" would come so easily.
Long days and pleasant nights to you all.