The dawn had barely broken over the early chill in the inner dairi when the emperor began his meditation out on the engawa of his royal dwelling. After Aku's demise, he had made it a point to allot a moment of reflection in these days of peace. Though he was only sitting straight with legs tucked under, his bones and joints still ached from old wounds. After years of enslavement, the wrankle of chains and the cold feel of shackles still haunted him like a fresh memory, but as he had done so before, he would endure it. Especially now, in this time of freedom.
He had just finished his morning ritual, when his wife joined him, her timing impeccable as always. "Should I have tea sent?" She asked, taking a seat beside him. The emperor smiled, warmth brimming in his eyes as he looked to her. To him, she was still as radiant as in her youth even with the aged lines of unspoken hardship.
"No, it's fine. I would like to drink in the beauty of the morning…" he said, then cheekily added, "...and of my lovely companion."
The empress scoffed but her eyes sparkled. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear. Just like his, her hair had been dyed to bring back the semblance of the former nobility before Aku. A simpler and happier time.
She reached out for her husband's hand, giving it a soft squeeze, her features dissolving into a worried expression. "I...talked with Mr. Nakamura."
The emperor instantly matched her mood. "It did not go well then?"
His wife sighed and looked out into the splendid garden, watching the gardeners tend to the azaleas around the moss and gravel. "He would not even see her...and I had hoped this time would be different."
The emperor patted their entwined hands with his free one. "He'll...come around." He did not sound convinced though. The empress closed her eyes, then rested her head to her husband's shoulder, "I lost him for seventeen years…" her words ached like her heart, "We've been through so much. I just want things to be better…I want him to be happy."
The emperor nodded in agreement. There had been too many sacrifices already, with countless innocents and lands laid waste upon by Aku. It was their duty to bring back stability from the years of turmoil and to lead and safeguard the future, which included heeding the three-generation rule.
Three generations of the royal family had to be established in the present at all times. Of course, that streak had been broken for decades now. His father, the emperor before him, had died shortly before the conception of his grandchild, Shinjiro. Then, when Aku rose to power, the lineage was the least of their priorities.
But now, the advisors sought to make the prince a touchstone of renewing that very tradition.
The emperor would not have minded biding his time, if not for the pressure of the royal court. New blood had to replace the old.
In his heart's mind, he knew that his son would honor that duty. In was in his blood to shoulder the burdens and fulfill the responsibilities for his country, which included finding a bride and providing an heir. The only mystery was when. So far, he had rebuffed all potential matches. They even had to extend the pool outside of noble ladies. The famed geisha from Kyoto had been one of them. One of his councillors who frequented the teahouses of different regions recommended her with more praise languished upon than a decorated general. "A promising beauty..." were his very words. She was called the golden blossom, and that was all the royal couple cared to know.
Unfortunately, the young lady's requested appearance had been for naught, as the prince stubbornly refused to meet her like all the other candidates. He was still mourning the mysterious lover in the distant future he had apparently spent decades in, in a world that was beyond their comprehension. Still, they tried their best, but their sympathies could not breach the invisible walls that surrounded him. Only time could crack through the barricade, and the emperor hoped that a splinter, no matter how small, had already began.
"I want him to be happy too…" He said quietly. "Nothing….and I mean nothing in this world would bring me more joy than to see our son smile again."
"Good morning! Mother! Father!" rang a cheerful voice.
The royal couple blinked, not quite believing what they were seeing - their son leaping over their residential gate and approaching them. Smiling. Even the gardeners were startled by the sight, regarding him with open-mouthed wonder as he passed them. The gravel crunched under his sandaled step that had a spring to it. As he drew closer, the parents could see that while he still wore his ritual montsuki and haori, he was a completely different man. His hair was neatly pulled up into his signature topknot and by the gleam in his hair, he had even applied hair oil .
"Shi-Shinjiro?" The empress was stunned.
"Mother, Father…" the prince chuckled as he stopped directly in front of them, "My. Both of you look as though you've seen a ghost."
"Wh-wh….h-huh...?" Even the emperor, known for his command of words, was at a loss.
Jack clucked his tongue in amusement at his parents' odd behavior. "I was just passing by to say hello. I have many preparations to oversee this morning."
"Preparations! What preparations?!" The empress shrieked, terrified that their son had finally snapped and was happily plotting some disturbing arrangement to end his misery.
Jack beamed, undeterred by his mother's expression. "I have a guest coming over. I want to make sure nothing is short of perfection when she arrives."
The emperor and empress immediately looked to each other, their bewilderment mirrored in each other's eyes. They turned to their son again, both speaking at the same time.
"A guest?"
"She?"
At this, Jack sighed in contentment, a hand splayed across his chest. "Ashi."
The empress let out a distraught gasp, as though confirming her earlier thought. "Ashi?! The lover from Aku's future? But you said"-
"Yes, I mean no…" Jack touched his nape. Seeing their puzzled faces, he decided to forego complicated explanations. "...It's the geisha."
The emperor furrowed his brows. "From yesterday?"
"But we were told you rejected her!"
Jack shifted his feet, eyeing the sky with a contrite sigh. "And that was a horrible transgression on my part…" He then shook his head and once more beamed at his parents. "But that has been rectified, she will be coming over today. Oh-!" He suddenly realized something. "You must meet her as well! It's only right. If you excuse me, I have to go get ready now!" The prince laughed, bending to press a kiss on the temple of each parent. He waved them goodbye as he retreated enthusiastically, hopping on the flat stones of the garden path like a child. He even plucked a flower as he went.
The gardeners went idle in their work to gawk in confusion. And they were not the only ones. It was just a few moments after their son disappeared behind the gates that the empress tugged at her husband's sleeve, eyes wide as saucers.
"I heard this geisha was good… but…!"
"...Damn." The emperor finished for her.
Jack spent the whole of the morning instructing the palace staff. Everything had to be meet his meticulous standards. It was the first time anyone had seen him take on such an active role inside the court. Before his withdrawal, he had spent most of his time directly aiding the reconstruction, shedding sweat and blood beside his fellow men. His actions had made him not only a legendary hero in slaying Aku, but a people's prince for his humility and generosity.
But this morning, as the palace chamberlains and maids would attest, he played the role of an affluent societal prince perfectly. He sat in a room, servants admitting several people with their expensive wares and services. Mediating was the royal chamberlain, Mr. Nakamura, who looked miffed over the whole affair. After all, he had made gorgeous arrangements for the same guest just yesterday.
"Inform the tea master that it has to be koicha from Uji, with apricot blossoms to be used for the chabana. Make notes to coordinate with the one assigned for the ikebana in the receiving room." Jack ordered as he laid out cutouts of silk samples before him as though arranging a game of karuta. The messenger bowed and headed out, with two more taking his spot, awaiting their orders.
"Here," Jack pointed out the two silk pieces, "I want to commission this design but with this type of silk."
"As you wish, your highness."
"Oh, and I would love to have it ready as soon as possible and in this specific color I had in mind…" When he told them which one, their jaws all but dropped.
"Such a rare color, your highness...but we will prioritize it without compromising quality." Even if it would require a hundred skilled hands, it would be done.
Jack was satisfied and dismissed them. Mr. Nakamura, though vexed, could not help but grunt his approval at the prince's taste.
As he was about to go over the dinner plans next, a runner arrived with an urgent message.
Jack unscrolled the tightly-wound missive.
He did not need to read it twice to spur into action.
The cold came like a thousand icy needles on her bare skin as they lowered her into the large basin once more. Ashi held her breath, sealing her lips to prevent the water from infiltrating her lungs until she was hoisted up again. She willed herself to ignore the burning pain inside her nostrils and kept coughing to a minimal, merely taking cautious gulps of air and dared not move as she was held upside-down, suspended by the rope bound to her feet like an oppressive snake. Her arms were tied behind her as well. She had learned that desperation shortened the time between her and the water.
Her teeth chattered as the wintry air delivered a punishment equally brutal. The lightheaded rush of blood pounded mercilessly to her head as Ashi tried to look to her mother, who stood regally in front of her ordeal.
"A true daughter of Aku can withstand the harshest of elements." She said, her crimson mask staring indifferently at Ashi. "If you die from something as unremarkable as this, then you deserve such a fate. Besides..." She moved forward, bending so she could dip her clothed hand into the murky grey water. Ashi held her breath as her mother placed her chilled hand to her cheek in a mocking caress. "The rice water does wonders for your skin."
Ashi jolted awake.
She immediately felt for her arms, which were free and covered in smooth silk. A flood of relief washed over her as she remembered where she was...and where she was headed.
A voice chuckled from across her seat. "I hope you had a good nap."
Ashi flushed in embarrassment for dozing off, it was unlike her to be so unguarded. She'd been trained to fight off fatigue after all. It was also unbefitting for her status in the okiya to be making rookie mistakes as of late.
"I apologize Oka-san." She said, touching the back of her hair to make sure it was still in order.
"Oh, don't stress, child! With all that excitement last night, I imagine it was hard to fall back asleep."
The older woman had not stopped putting on airs since last night's impromptu visit from the prince and preened like a prized rooster when four carriers arrived with a large lacquered palanquin bearing the seal of the royal family. The townsfolk would have something to talk about for days.
The matriarch radiated from her good fortune, wearing her best kimono for the special visit. Of course, she made sure Ashi could not be outdone, having the young geisha dress in a formal ofurisode of soft gold adorned with the flowers of the four seasons. It was the best kimono they owned, appropriate for any time of the year.
This same extravagant dress had been intended for their last visit, but changed at the last minute as to not appear eager and presumptuous in flaunting her marriageability. But after last night, Oka-san saw no need for pretenses anymore.
The matriarch shuffled closer to one side, which made the box momentarily dip before the carriers adjusted accordingly. "It's a shame we cannot be seen, I would have loved to see the envious glances of the capital women." She said, peering through the slits of the closed windows.
Ashi smiled at her good humor before looking down her lap, smoothing out invisible wrinkles. "It's still somewhat surreal to be returning to the palace so soon."
"Oh, I would not say that." Oka-san clucked. "The prince was very taken with you, I was half-afraid he would just carry you off on his horse and worse…!" She paused with a mischievous wink. "...I would have let him."
Thankfully, they had only caught little snippets of Ashi's late night conversation with the prince, readily buying the story of his "love at first" moment in the balcony, which spared the geisha the arduous task of explaining his absurd claims of another version of herself. For the nth time, Ashi mulled over the events of last night. The prince was unlike what she had built up in her imagination. The Order had fostered the image of a cruel, arrogant wastrel, who drew swords before questioning. But the man she had met last night seemed more like a soft-headed eccentric. Not that it changed anything, her mission remained absolute, goal unchanging. She would not be swayed by appearances. For just like her, he could only be pretending to be somebody he was not, hiding his true and hideous form from the world.
"Ashi," Oka-san could not keep the excitement from spilling into her words, "I trust you'll make a more favorable impression in court. If we play our tiles right…" She leaned out of her seat, with Ashi doing the same until their faces came to a conspiratorial distance. "You may have a prince for a danna."
Ashi feigned modesty and lowered her lashes meekly. "Oh, that is an honor unworthy for someone such as I."
"Oh hush! What nonsense!"
Ashi inwardly agreed. Of course the prince would be her danna. More than that, she would become his lover. His interest towards her far exceeded that of a regular patron of the arts, and though her inner being would revolt against his touch, she would stomach everything and convince him of her own fabricated desire. The deeper the relationship, the deeper his grave.
Ashi smiled sweetly as she brought up her fingertips to lightly tease the fluttering strips of her kanzashi which, like the rest of her hair ornaments, carried a deadly secret. Danger camouflaged in the trappings of exquisite beauty.
Just like her.
"What...do you mean….he's not here?"
Nakamura looked ashamed. "I beg your forgiveness once more, honored guests. But the prince had an urgent matter to attend to and I am not allowed to disclose details of his departure."
Ashi's face twitched. "So...he's standing me up...again?"
The moment they had stepped out from the litter, Ashi instantly suspected something was wrong. She guessed as much from the presence and apprehensive smile of the old chamberlain. Nakamura winced at Ashi's tone. "I assure you both, the prince would not break appointments unless something of greater importance came about."
Ashi drew herself to full height. "Am I not of great importance?"
"Ashi!" Oka-san gaped at her brazen arrogance.
"Oh but you are! I stake my very life on that!" Nakamura assured, half-tempted to divulge the events of early morning and the prince's light and devoted attitude. "He will personally apologize upon his return."
Ashi's eyes narrowed. "And when is that exactly?"
The old man almost whimpered under her withering gaze. "Two to...three days?"
If not for present company and the ruse she had to maintain, Ashi would have let out a stream of choice words.
The last of the bandits fell back, the blade flung from his hand like a bird. Sweat channeled down his pale terrified face like liquid fear leaking out of his body at the sight of the imposing swordsman before him. A sword or any blade was only worth half its steel in the hands that wielded it.
And the man that wielded the sword before him was no ordinary man.
There was no honor in surrendering but at the very least, he figured as he prostrated himself to the cold earth, he would live. Two guards soon came to apprehend him.
"We've rounded up the rest of his lot, your highness." One of them spoke as they lifted the bandit to his feet.
Jack kept his mouth in a grim line as he expertly sheathed his sword.
"Casualties?"
"Injuries mostly. But if there are any, it's the village elder who can give you the official count."
"I've heard of this happening in far flung regions," The other sneered, not bothering to hide his disdain towards their captive, "but to venture near the capital is bold and stupid."
Jack dismissed them and watched them drag the criminal away. He then set off to the monastery situated near the hilltops. At the foot of the hill, a guardsman immediately attended to his horse as he dismounted. Climbing up the stone steps, Jack could see why the people sought refuge in the old monastery. The steps were steep and narrow, which required one's bearings at all times. It was also undoubtedly easier to ward off attackers from above, as one misstep could send them falling to their deaths.
As he approached, a group of people gathered at the large gates, mostly men armed with farming tools. Though the situation had already been dealt with, their urge to protect was still aflamed. Jack acknowledged the crowd with a nod, but since he was not wearing his family crest, nobody deferred to him.
He found a young acolyte among them, who obediently led him to the refectory, where the village elder and head monk had their heads bowed together in what seemed like a terse discussion. But they immediately abandoned their topic when they spotted him.
"Your highness!" The monk smiled. "Thank goodness you came!"
At once, all conversation ceased around them, but then quickly revived with Jack as the new topical interest. Jack could not help but feel awkward as everyone eyed him with fascination, murmuring amongst themselves.
"I haven't seen you since you were a young boy!" The monk slapped him on the back with surprising might for his old age. He had been one of Jack's first teachers as a boy, back when he was assigned to the old capital. "Unfortunate you had to visit with the trouble and all."
"Please," Jack said, bowing his head. "Think nothing of it."
The monk snorted. "Can you believe this boy?" He spoke to the elder, poking Jack on the shoulder with derisive headshake. "Saves our lives and he's the one who bows? He's come a long way from the brat that nodded off during my lectures."
The elder who had not spoken since his greeting was visibly distressed at the old monk's informality.
"Please," Jack could not help but blush, "we should put off the reminiscing for later…" He then smiled stiffly at the excited audience surrounding them. A child, barely reaching Jack's knee, ventured forward.
"Is it true?! Are you really the hero prince?" His young eyes glittered with idolatry. Jack smiled and came down to his knees. "It's a pleasure to meet you, young man." His actions triggered a response and he was suddenly lost in a sea of children, chattering excitedly, their tiny hands reaching out to him. Jack was able to pacify them with stories as they followed him around.
The oil lamps were lit by the time Jack finished his rounds of morale. He'd visited the infirmary and helped with the medical treatments. Fortunately, none were too severe.
"It was yesterday morning, around the First division of the Tiger," his old teacher explained as he led Jack down a passage, a lick of flame to guide them. "These fools came and broke into homes to hold civilians, mostly women and children, hostage in the square, demanding for cooperation and everything of value in exchange for their lives." He shook his head at the memory, as though to remove his frustration. "Thankfully we managed to sneak a page out to the capital. We're grateful you came swiftly..."
"How many?" Jack asked.
There was no need to elaborate to be understood, as the monk stopped in his tracks and bowed his head.
"Ten."
Jack hissed through his teeth.
"But from the temple's own. Warriors in training who were inside one of the inner sanctums." The old man pivoted around and gave Jack a consoling yet affirming nod. "Do not hang your head in shame, my prince. They died with honor."
Jack clenched his fists at his sides. Ten lives lost. The pain of failure echoed back to his time in Aku's hopeless dystopia, of commonplace massacres and enslavement. He'd been nearly pushed to the brink from his own despair, psyche and spirit tattered.
"My prince? We are nearing the crematorium. We've prepared their bodies, would you like to continue…?"
"Lead me."
The Yoshiwara district was no place for a proper woman.
Ashi had shed her fine silks for common cotton to venture out into the infamous area as a serving girl. The streets were filled with men, heads bobbing like moving water that channeled out to storefront displays of beautifully adorned women that sat behind the red-barred windows in bright colors with beckoning smiles. Men of different classes, flowed in and out of the establishments - from loud fishmongers to samurai men concealing their faces. The district was near the beginning of the Tokaido road, incoming and outgoing travelers insured a constant stream of revenue.
Ashi held the bundle of dry kindlewood close to her as she weaved through the busy crowds. She abandoned the trained grace of a geisha for the bumbling awkwardness of a kitchen girl, rendering her invisible in the glamorous fog of heady sin. It was already the Second division of the Pig, and Ashi thought it was rather fitting, as she watched inebriated men tromp around in a squealing lot, harassing prostitutes with lewd words and gestures.
"Hey little girl!" Someone called out to her. "Where you off to?"
Ashi ignored the catcalls of three men propped against a wall as she passed them. They were obviously too poor or indebted to enter a brothel and were taking a sport at her. Ashi kept on walking but they proved to be a persistent bunch. She did not have to look back to know they were following her and purposely turned to a deserted alley.
She stopped at a dead end and eyed them with feigned terror, hugging her kindlewood to her breast, her shrunken form made her an ideal prey to her would-be predators. Their silhouettes loomed, blocking the only exit point.
"It's just you and us now, little kitten," chortled the biggest one in the middle, licking his lips with anticipating delight, "don't worry, we'll play nice." He took one step forward- and then suddenly staggered back, a spray of blood bursting from his throat, a long piece of wood sticking out from it. In a quiet, gurgling scream, he bled to the ground, writhing in pain until he ceased. His two companions stared down in horror before they swiveled back to the woman, who was no longer there save for the wood stack.
Then, a loud, sharp crack.
One turned to find his companion's head bent unnaturally to the side, face contorted with protruding eyes. Two small dainty hands held the sides of his head, with their owner's eyes coldly staring at the last man with glittering intent.
"Play with me?" She asked mockingly, dropping her second lifeless victim.
The man's fear lodged in his throat, managing only a pathetic whimper. He stumbled around the fresh corpses and tried to flee the scene. Ashi rolled her eyes, watching his retreat as she reached inside her kimono. Just as she was about to pull out a throwing knife, her target suddenly stopped dead in his tracks - literally - falling forward with barely a sound.
A new figure revealed themselves at the mouth of the alley.
Ashi straightened. "Aki."
"Ashi." Her sister replied simply. She bent over to her victim to retrieve her blade, expertly slashing it in the air to remove the blood. "Do you intend to flee on the Tokaido? You know the penalty should you attempt to leave." She tucked her weapon into the plain obi of her striped yukata. Her pulled sleeves were tied and the knotted white headband she wore indicated she was disguising as a restaurant worker.
Ashi frowned as she crossed over the dead bodies. "I am not abandoning my mission. I only wish to speak with our aunt."
Aki raised a skeptical eyebrow but made no comment. Turning around, she simply began to walk away in silent instruction. Ashi pursed her lips but followed her all the same.
"They died quickly…" The monk said. "There were no signs of registered pain on their faces when we found them."
The white sheets had been pulled away from the bodies laid on the stone tables for Jack to inspect. In accordance to ceremony, they had been cleansed and completely shaved, their wounds sewn shut. Jack repressed his dark feelings as the scent of death mingled with the oil and incense. He had to act on official business first.
"These wounds…" Jack observed, peering close to the sewn gash between their rib cages. "There's only one in each of them. A clean strike. Hardly any bleeding I imagine."
"Yes," confirmed the older man, "they look like a small minor cut but when you turn them around, you'll see the exit wound on their backs. This could only be a product of a skilled swordsman."
"This doesn't make sense." Jack mused aloud. "I've seen and fought with the bandits firsthand. They did not have the caliber of skill to pull off something like this." The assailants had relied on their numbers and the vulnerability of the simple townsfolk. But individually as fighters, they were hardly seasoned or coordinated.
"Did anyone else see the attackers in the monastery?"
The monk shook his head. "Most were out to provide aid and rescue. The people who did this must have left the same way they entered when they realized they could not manage holding down such a large closed-in area teeming with monks and warrior students. More of our people were also coming back with those seeking refuge."
Jack took in the information with a nod, though none of it answered any of his concerns. There obviously had to be another party. The gap in technique was too great. It was also highly unlikely for two different attacks to take place at the same time by coincidence, meaning only one thing.
"The commotion in the village was a diversion." Jack said. "The real intent was here within the walls of the monastery. Was there anything taken? Gold or silver perhaps? Anything of value?"
His former teacher shook his head once more. "No. The sanctum in which we found the bodies is where we keep archives of old temples."
Jack stroked his chin in thought. "Then it must have been information they sought. You wouldn't happen to keep a record on every document there, would you?"
"We do, but it would be an enormous task to account if anything was taken. It could take months to go through everything."
Jack listened as he gazed down upon the peaceful face of one of the deceased. A young student who had been on the cusp of becoming a great warrior, either in Kyuba no michi or bushido; the world would never know as his life had been snuffed out before he could even set out on his own quest. Carefully, Jack lifted the shroud and returned him to his eternal sleep.
He turned to the monk again.
"Then it will take months."
They never talked. Not really. For as long as Ashi drew breath, her interactions with her six sisters had been nothing short of relaying missions and strategies of the Order. They exchanged more blows in training over anything else. Camaraderie was a sign of weakness, one that distracted the mind and shifted focus away from their true purpose in life.
"You will die for our Lord and Master, Aku." Their mother would always say. "But never for each other." And so they lived their lives accordingly with an unspoken tension.
"We're here." Aki said, pausing in front of a grand building of lacquered wood and red pillars. Lanterns hung under the eaves and overhang like scattered moons as men queued outside. It was the most successful brothel in the district. Both sisters entered the servant's passage to the back, the kitchen producing mouth-watering smells. Aki continued to lead them, navigating through a maze of shoji panels that seemed to vibrate from joyous laughter. They ascended up a staircase until they faced shoji screens of gold and crimson flowers. A young kamuro, barely a few summers dressed in an exquisite robe, came out to meet them, her rosebud mouth pinched in distaste at their attire, but nonetheless allowed them inside.
The scent of perfumed flowers washed over Ashi's senses and the opulence of the room was almost blinding. The screens were washed with gold, the dark wood frames engraved with gold spheres. More red blossoms painted a clear motif and beautiful kimonos hung as tapestries. The warm light of the brazier made everything glow.
In the center, laying sideways on piles of silk cushions and sheets was a woman who captured the very image of a woodblock portrait. Her ebony hair was piled high with extravagant tortoiseshell combs, kogai kanzashi protruded like antlers or gold ribs from the front section. The robes she wore could have placed her in a palace court with the myriad of vivid colors and overlapping patterns that spilled all over the tatami. It was held together by an obi of heavy brocade tied in the front with a heart-shaped knot. Another kamuro, identically dressed as the other one, sat by her side.
"My, what a surprise." Her voice tinkled. She beckoned both her child attendants closer and with a whisper, dismissed them from the room.
When the panels shut, she sat up and gestured Ashi and Aki to sit. "You caught me at a good time, I'm not accepting clients today." As tayū, she held the highest position and the liberty to choose her clients. "What brings you two here? Would you like tea?"
Ashi fell into a bow. "I wish to speak with you, Aunt."
"Oh? Already? I didn't expect you to seek my counsel so early."
"It pertains to the mission."
"Aki, will you excuse me and your sister?"
Aki did as she was asked. The aunt did not say anything right away, pulling a box of confectionery treats from behind her. Ashi sat, quietly waiting. Unlike her mother, her aunt did not seem confined to the rigid structure of the Order, able to do whatever she pleased. Perhaps, it was due to the fact that she was among the founding members and nobody dared question her position.
As she sucked on a piece, she studied Ashi.
"You look horrible." She sighed dramatically. "All that training in the fashionable arts and you show yourself to me in rags."
"I did not want to draw attention." Ashi replied, only a bit self-conscious.
"Yes, I suppose so. It would raise awkward questions as to you being here." She laughed at the mental image of it. "You should have been a trained courtesan but your mother insisted on something more," a roll of the eyes, "...distinguished. But enough of that, what did you want to talk about? Would you like some?" She offered the box of sweets.
Ashi shook her head. "No, thank you….I'm here because of the prince."
"Oh yes! You met him yesterday, did you not? Well? How did it go? Was he taken with you?" She leaned closer, as though she were engaging in juicy gossip and not at all a mission report.
"Err…" Ashi began, "I suppose he was…"
"Oh. So he requested to see you again?"
"He asked me to come with him to the palace."
The candy piece she was about to eat dropped from her aunt's fingers, mouth closing and opening in surprise. When it faded, a stream of laughter gushed past her red lips before covering it with her sleeve.
"Oh Ashi…" Her aunt spoke again, and Ashi felt her cheeks redden despite herself. "I knew you were good...but damn."
Her aunt listened as Ashi retold the events of her first meeting with the prince, sparing no details of his weird behavior. When she finished, her aunt leaned back against her pillows.
"Hmm...that is odd. But a stroke of luck nonetheless. He's delusional. Take advantage of that. "
Ashi blinked. "What?"
"It makes the job easier if he believes you to be his lost soulmate."
While that was true, it still did not make Ashi any less uneasy. "But you don't find it suspicious?"
"Well, it certainly puts everything way ahead of schedule. I will have to send a raven to your mother about what you told me. If there are any changes you will know. For now, just continue charming the prince."
"But what of him asking me to live with him?"
Her aunt waved off her concern with her sleeve. "Our associates have already begun their move. It is not worth the risk of planting you there prematurely and cast suspicion. Let him chase you for now. Men love the thrill of the chase."
Ashi felt a protest bubbling inside her throat but she drowned it with her acquiescence. Finished with the discussion, her aunt offered sweets and wine but Ashi declined, having already stayed longer than necessary. She graciously thanked the older woman and excused herself.
When the screens shut, a smirk broke over the tayū's porcelain face.
"This is all going according to plan."
Two days passed and Jack held the reins to his horse as he bade goodbye to his former teacher. The old man smiled and wished Jack and his men health and fortune on their journey home, giving each one a talisman.
"Thank you." Jack said, touched by the gesture.
"It's the least we can do to show our appreciation."
"You've provided more than enough," Jack insisted, "I just wish there was more we could have done."
The monk raised his almost non-existent eyebrow. "You saved us and helped us stand on our feet again. My boy, what more could you have done?"
Jack hesitated a moment.
"I should have been here sooner…" He confessed, his eyes cast down in shame and sorrow. His horse, sensing his mood, nickered against his shoulder.
The monk laid a bony hand on the other shoulder. "My prince, you cannot be so arrogant to think you have control over death. You do not possess the omnipotence to have prevented it. You may have a sword forged by the gods, but you are not a god, only flesh and bone."
Jack lifted his face, crossed with varied emotions. "But I"-
"Enough!" snorted the monk firmly. "We cannot do any more for the dead but to honor them by seeking out our own happiness. And," the old man coughed, a twinkle in his wise eyes, "something tells me that your happiness is back at home."
Jack gaped, color staining his cheeks, much to the amusement of the wise teacher.
"Go home, young prince." He said. "Or perhaps, we can convince you to stay a few more weeks"-
"No thank you!" Jack said, a little too quickly. "I really must return to the capital." He mounted his horse and waved to the large crowd gathered back. Looking down once more at his teacher, Jack smiled. "Thank you."
A whistle and a signal, they were off, the ground rumbling with the beat of more than a dozen horses. Children lined the rice fields beside the road, waving and cheering their heroes as they passed. Jack let the wind whip his face, the sun bearing down on him.
He was alive and happiness awaited him.
I'm sorry this took so long but as you can see, there was a lot going in this chapter (and in my life too). I would also like to take this chance and say that there is no established real time period in this story; it's a mix and blend of different eras, whatever's convenient. Thank you for your patience and whatever errors you find, I'll rectify at a later time.