Chapter 34: A Show of Strength
"My Lord, I have interesting information for you," Kenji said as Touga entered his study, not really surprised to find Izayoi's assistant there. He'd given silent signal during the morning meal that he needed to speak with him. Before he could begin to question him, Tsutomu appeared at his door and stepped inside, as well, and bowed to his Lord.
"I also must needs speak with you immediately, my Lord," he said.
Touga cocked a brow in surprise as he sat down on his cushion, facing Tsutomu and Kenji and hitting Kenji with a direct look, as he'd approached him first. "Kenji?"
"Hibiki, Kisashi, and Masaki have confronted Hisashi with their belief that he is Ryukotsussei's spy and broken ties with him. He has already killed Kisashi, though for some reason he has not yet killed the others."
Touga blinked, considering what he'd been told. And then he looked at Tsutomu, who was looking at Kenji with a wry smile.
"Tsutomu?" he questioned.
"Hisashi has become... desperate. He's been trying to get spies back into the palace, or at least get information from those still inside." Tsutomu smirked slyly at Kenji, "When he killed Kisashi, my spy notified me, and I had my men that were still in the city catch him before he could... finish his dirty deeds. They are holding him at my house in the city."
Touga leaned back on his cushion and stared at Tsutomu. "And just how did you two get this information when I've closed the palace off?" he asked, pretty sure he knew the answer, but wanting to be sure.
That sly smirk remained. "Am I not a master of spells, my Lord? It was not hard to get word to my people in the city below, nor for them to pass it back to me."
Kenji just said one word when Touga looked at him. "Imoshinai."
Looking at them both just a little suspiciously, Touga waved that matter away, at least comforted to know that he didn't have another weakness in his palace guards. "So... Hisashi has pretty much announced his guilt. I wonder what his angle was? He would never have truly bowed to that bastard dragon, so he had to be playing us against each other..." his brows furrowed in thought, "... probably hoping to know the location of the jewel so that once I was engaged in combat with Ryukotsussei he could take it for himself. Yes," he mused, rubbing his chin, "that sounds like something Hisashi would pull. Too bad for him he will never know where I have hidden the jewel."
His eyes sharpened then, on Tsutomu. "By the way, my new head of the council, where is your 'guard'?"
Tsutomu chuckled, his fingers stroking his graying beard. It was full and luxurious, something he was proud of, as most youkai and indeed humans of their homeland did not grow much body hair. "You mean Arata?" he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, he is still abed, recovering from his night of debauchery. I introduced him to someone who shares some of his... proclivities, and they took to each other quite... well."
Touga frowned. "I'm going to have to speak to him. He's letting his duties slip for pleasure. I cannot have this in a person in a position of trust – especially now." He sighed. "He takes the normal kitsune temperament to the extreme, and always has."
A new voice spoke up from the door, which was just now being slid open. "Ah, but perhaps I wasn't shirking my duties, Touga, or did you ever think of that?" Arata asked as he slipped inside the door, startling everyone with his appearance. He was very good at illusions and hiding himself – with good reason. A kitsune's magic was often his saving grace, and in his position he'd had need of just that grace many times. He didn't have six tails for nothing.
"Oh?" Touga's brow slid up enquiringly. "Then what would you call seeking your pleasures and letting your 'captive' get away?"
"Catching a bigger problem, that's what. Tsutomu here could have no idea, but I came across the very same male that he introduced me to in Ryukotsussei's court some few years ago. A sly, slick trickster, he slithers through the fringes of youkai society and sells his... 'favors'," he said pointedly, "to whoever pays him. He's been in that dragon's employ for years now – apparently, he pays quite well to those that please him, and Kokuei* was very good at what he did." He smirked as he sauntered over to the group and took a seat. "Just not as good as me. He won't be around to need any more of Ryukotsussei's money again, no worries," he finished, smugly examining his claws and flicking a bit of dried blood from them.
Needless to say, this announcement stunned the three others in the room, and it took a moment for Touga to take in what his friend and vassal was saying. "How long was that male here, Tsutomu?" he asked, a dark look in his eyes.
Tsutomu cleared his throat and blinked, then looked at his Lord. "Four or five days, I believe. Certainly, he was here before your orders to seal the palace."
"Hn." He sat back and considered all that he'd been told, and then said, "Kenji, you are dismissed to your duties to my wife. Watch her back," he warned, and Kenji nodded soberly as he stood and bowed, before leaving the room at a good clip. Touga turned back to the two still in the room with him and spoke again. "Arata, see if you can find Shiisaa and send him to me, and Tsutomu, take my sigil-," he quickly wrote out a short command for passage into the city below and then back into the palace with his escort, "-and gather your faction. Bring them to the palace, along with any others from the former council that you feel are trustworthy, and find me when you are back. It is time to form a new council. While you are at it," he said, quickly but neatly writing out his new orders, "take this proclamation with you outlining who exactly will be required to participate in the coming war. All those of age and good health are to begin reporting to the soldier's bailey outside the palace in five days, no later."
Tsutomu's brow rose as he listened to his instructions, but after a moment's contemplation, he thought he understood his Lord's reasons for doing such a thing with the council now. He was not concerned with the orders on who was to attend the battle – he would be there, and that's all he cared about. "You have decided to gather all those most loyal around you," he said, watching his Lord's face closely.
At that, Touga almost chuckled. "No, Izayoi decided it was time I surrounded myself with those most loyal," he said, to Tsutomu's surprise. "When she brought it up I decided that she was correct, and so you have your orders," he nodded down at the small scroll the male now held even as he held out the second, somewhat longer scroll.
Tsutomu sighed and smiled as he stood and took the second scroll, preparing to depart on his errand. "Your wife is certainly intriguing, my Lord. I have never met another female like her, I must say."
"That's because there is no one like my Izayoi, Tsutomu," his Lord's voice followed him out the door. "And there never will be, either."
Tsutomu shook his head as he headed down the corridor, and his smile remained with him all the way down into the city.
~oOo~
The women's court was rather more informal than the male's, and whilst Izayoi dealt with her duties, different females drifted in and out, and gossip was rampant even when they were in the room. That was why it was such a good place to listen to what was going on – half the time, the females knew the news before even the males did.
And so that was what Nami did, paying attention to the gossip drifting from different parts of the room to the small dais she sat on behind her mistress. She looked over at Mine and winked, and the small dragon female blushed shyly but smiled back.
While she was listening to the gossip, Mine was keeping close watch for any negative movements or surprise attacks. Coming from the background she had, she was actually very adept at this, since it had been a matter of survival for her to have the warning that an attack was coming.
So far, so good, despite a few spiteful looks that Izayoi had ignored completely, nothing else of moment had happened.
None of them were foolish enough not to realize that this was simply the calm before the storm. An attack would come, sooner or later. All that was left was to see what manner of attack it would be – and who would be behind it.
Already knowing that Touga's proclamation about who would really be going to war would soon be spreading throughout the palace and the city below, Izayoi merely waited for word that it had been posted before finishing her duties with the head of the servants. It finally came as a breathless female entered the room at a rather rapid pace and sat down near what were obviously her cronies, and began whispering to them. Before long, the very thing she'd been waiting for had come, as the gossip spread around the room and she was able to hear it.
Nodding to the chatelaine, which is technically what she was though the language was different, she said, "My Lord has decided that the servants, those too old or infirm, and those females with children shall not be forced to go into battle with us." She didn't miss the female's quick inhale of breath as she said that, and looked at her questioningly.
"Pardon, my Lady... but as servants, we are not really taught to fight. Oh," she added at seeing the look on Izayoi's face, "we are capable of defending ourselves as youkai, but that is a different matter than going to war. I have no weapon to defend myself with except my claws, and that is not nearly enough in a war."
Izayoi nodded at that, understanding the woman's relief, then. "Tell me... who rules here in Touga's place in instances such as the coming war?"
The woman, whose name was Chifumi, answered hesitantly, looking thoughtful. "Depending on the circumstances, it could be one of several people, my Lady. If you were not going with your Lord husband when our forces march to face the dragon, you would. As it is, Touga-sama will appoint a Seneschal from those who are left. Since he has disbanded the council, however, I cannot speculate on who that might be, Izayoi-sama," she said respectfully.
When questioned, even Nami could not be certain, but Kenji, who had just entered the room, threw out a couple of names and said it would most likely be one of them.
"Why so concerned, Izayoi-sama?" he asked, curious. "Touga-sama would never leave the citadel unprotected."
She shook her head. "That's not why I asked. I was merely wondering on what he might do now that the council has been disbanded and with the fact that almost everyone else will be following him into battle." Looking back over at Chifumi, she dismissed her to her duties. "If there are any concerns, come directly to me, Chifumi-san."
The woman bowed to her and then left the room, and Izayoi looked around the room slowly, her gaze measuring as she studied each group of females. There were even some males, mostly lower-ranked courtiers, from their clothing, although... sitting towards the back of the room in shadows reclining almost regally on a cushion, idly watching her was someone she'd never seen before. Her brows rose and she narrowed her eyes just slightly.
"Kenji," she said softly, not turning her gaze from the male that was holding it, "who is that male at the back of the room – the one who looks as though he owns it?"
Frowning just slightly, Kenji looked to the back of the room, but was unable to see who she might be speaking of from his position. "I cannot see anyone from here, my lady," he began, getting ready to move when his sister spoke up.
"I can see who she speaks of," Nami responded, her tone pulling Mine's attention to the lounging male, as well. "He does seem to give off the air that he owns all he is surveying, does he not?" she asked, her voice suspicious and distrustful. "I've seen him around the palace for a few days now – he appeared just before Touga-sama ordered all traffic into and out of the palace halted."
Izayoi refused to be the one to back away from the male who was smirking faintly with a knowing expression that had her hackles up. After a few minutes of that, he finally looked away, responding to one of the nearby females that had apparently spoken to him.
"I do not trust him," she said after he'd turned away, her senses screaming that he was trouble.
Kenji looked at her, then, very surprised at her words. Izayoi wasn't usually quite so mistrustful. "Izayoi-sama?" he asked slowly. "Is there some reason this male bothers you?"
She glanced at him, then looked back to where the male had just been lounging, only to find him now gone, and frowned uneasily. "He was challenging me, Kenji. I know not why he is here in the palace for certain, but his presence does not sit well with me. He is trouble."
Kenji exchanged concerned looks with his sister and Mine, as well. "I will find out who he is and why he is here," he said softly, "do not concern yourself, Izayoi-sama. But what you've said worries me – please, my Lady – never leave your escort behind. Kirara, myself, my sister, and even Mine-san. I would not like such a one as that to catch you alone."
A shiver went down her spine as she remembered the look in the male's eyes. No... she didn't want him to catch her alone, either... though it wasn't her life she feared for in such a situation.
No, the look in his eyes hadn't spoken of death, that was certain.
~oOo~
"So, sister," Koume purred as she rubbed against Kotake sinuously, "has our... friend made contact with the tame miko that Touga has found himself?" She continued on past Kotake slowly, taking a seat in their dark hall with a sinister smile.
Kotake nodded shortly. "Yes. A little while ago. Let us hope that he can handle his end of the bargain – if he can take this infernal female out, destroy her mind, then we won't have to worry about facing her in battle. Also..." she smirked faintly, "... we will have Ryukotsussei in the palms of our hands, for he will owe us much if our strike hits true."
"Then you are correct – let us hope he can handle the job. There isn't much time, so he will have to move quickly."
"True," her sister answered, her eyes glinting frigidly in the strangely hot yet also cold room. "And we still do not know the whereabouts of the Shikon no Tama – to Ryukotsussei's great chagrin." Her fangs caught the light as she smiled jaggedly, the air around her becoming colder. "He is a petty tyrant with little finesse," she dismissed lightly. "It is just too bad that Touga is not a dragon – his get would be powerful indeed – and much more intelligent than our current... partner." She said that word with amused contempt. "Well, my love, we will see what we can see, and since Ryukotsussei's traits won't affect the young we will get from him, it is a moot point."
Koume's eyes flashed and little flamelets danced up and down her body as she agreed with her sister. "And once we have our young, we will simply kill Ryukotsussei and then we will rule the North. The lands will tremble before us, sister!" she purred loudly, the rumbling sound echoing in the great stone room.
Yes... the lands will tremble before us as our young grow in power and strength... and then one day, we will rule all of this land!
Kotake joined in her sister's guttural purr, and her ice flared up around her even as the flames dancing along her sister engulfed her, and when their elements died back down around them, there were two tremendous dragons laying curled around each other contentedly.
The rumbling sound in the stone room increased in strength as the two that were also one let themselves fall into a deep sleep, coils restlessly twisting together even as they slept.
~oOo~
Mine stiffened as she watched the room carefully; there was a heavy sense of antagonism and disgust, suddenly, and her eyes narrowed as she studied the people within signaling to Nami that she was aware as well that something was about to happen.
The air of anger and menace that suddenly pervaded the room was not missed by their mistress, however, and Izayoi had already allowed her reiki to rise within her, just waiting for her call to be used. However, she didn't give away that she knew anything was wrong, and continued on speaking to those who came as supplicants begging for some favor or other with a calm demeanor that actually managed to fool almost everyone there.
Nami, however, having learned quite a bit about her new mistress in just a few days, was positive that her Lady had already noted the swirling miasma of hate that had entered the room, even as the talk and gossip suddenly stopped, the entire room falling silent under the cloud of twisted emotions that one or more persons were broadcasting.
Here it comes...
In the blink of an eye, Nami found the entire dais being shielded as the attack that had come out of nowhere fizzled out against it, nowhere near strong enough to stand against the might of this priestess. Nowhere near.
A deadly silence filled the room, and then Izayoi stood, gracefully, her body stiff with anger and determination. Her icy gaze passed over the assembled beings, weighing and judging them before moving on. She knew who had attacked simply because power leaves a signature, giving the lie to who it came from. But she knew that everyone there was judging her, even her attendants.
No one said a word as Izayoi parted her own barrier and walked outside of its protection, shocking both Mine and Nami, but she ignored their surprised cries, standing small and slender against an entire room of jealous bitches and greedy courtiers with no more than a still kitten-sized Kirara sitting calmly on her shoulder for protection. Even Kenji was concerned, though not as much as the others; he knew what his mistress was doing and applauded her – she was showing her strength to all those assembled here, so that the tales of her power would spread.
Izayoi stepped down from the dais calmly, a purring Kirara sitting on one shoulder helping her keep calm and not go overboard in her anger. If she did, she would regret it later, and Kirara didn't want her to be upset for one of these worthless jackasses. So she purred, though she kept all her senses open against the next attack she knew would come.
Sweeping the room with an angry glance, Izayoi smiled coldly as several of the females and courtiers tried to sneak out of the room. Before they could reach them, they slammed shut and sealed themselves closed.
"Until the person who sent that attack steps forward and faces me in honest combat, I will not unseal those doors. So we could be here some little while, for a person that would attack in secret out of the blue has no honor and no courage," she said, her voice icy cold and sounding a great deal like Sesshoumaru in that instant. "If you wish to kill me, then come forward and try." She paused, and then pinned her gaze on one small knot of scowling females, her eyes going straight to the guilty parties and boring holes in their suddenly uncertain demeanors. "I do know who sent those attacks, so don't think that you are fooling me."
Two of the females in the group pulled back, sullenly glaring at the Lady. In the middle of the group, reclining leisurely as if she hadn't a care in the world was one of the many noble ladies that spent their time here in the courts, defending their family's interests and trying to cultivate a relationship with the Taisho so as to further their own power. It was mostly her power that had been sent against Izayoi, and she tilted her chin up, gazing scornfully at the suddenly narrow-eyed female youkai.
"Are you afraid to challenge me, then? Afraid of a 'mere human'?" she bit out, her eyes beginning to glow with silver and pink light. "I must take this up with Touga... youkai with such little power and less sense should not be here in the Citadel. Weakness is not to be tolerated," she finished as her hair began to blow around her as her power picked up, not noticing the being that was standing just outside the barrier in the shadows watching her thoughtfully.
His eyes flashed eerily as he heard her words, and then narrowed; that was definitely something he would say, and he was surprised to find her saying those same words – and so coldly. His frown deepened as he watched the confrontation, just so confused by this little woman who was and yet wasn't human.
The silence was broken by an angry shriek from the woman who'd attacked, and she stood, pushing aside her cronies to get out and face Izayoi. She had no choice now – she had to challenge her or risk shaming her family's name and honor. She wouldn't mind in the slightest being the one to kill the human...
"You useless human bitch!" she hissed as she pushed through the crowded room. "You would dare to face me? Who do you think you are?"
Eyes piercing and stealing the light from the room in an unnatural show of power, Izayoi spoke again as her eyes bled silver and white light, frightening a great many in the room. "I think I am Izayoi of Setsuna, Lady of the West and wife to the Inu no Taisho. I think I am also a priestess – with power far above your own. You will either submit to me now or be destroyed. Don't take all day deciding – I've got a lot of other things to do."
As impossible as it seemed, the silence in the shocked room actually deepened, and Izayoi could clearly hear the sounds of fabric shifting as those there tensed.
Izayoi tightened her will, knowing that she was going to have no choice. If this female submitted to her, her family would be shamed and would probably kill her to be rid of the problem and try to placate an angry Touga.
No... the female had bought her death the moment she even considered trying to kill her, and Izayoi prepared herself for what she was about to do.
As predicted, the female, realizing she had been caught out and was being challenged, snarled and with little warning attacked her again, a stronger burst of energy attacking the seemingly defenseless little human female. Izayoi allowed the attack to near her, and then formed a barrier around the youki, purifying it completely.
I'm getting tired of these stupid showdowns already, she sighed, and felt Kirara's amusement and agreement as she nuzzled the side of her face affectionately. With barely a fraction of her true power, she took hold of the female as soon as she stepped into striking range and held her there, captive and angry and suddenly afraid, knowing she was doomed to die because of her big mouth. For if Izayoi didn't kill her, her family would to purge the disgrace, and if they didn't get ahold of her, Touga-sama would... and she knew the kind of death she'd find at the hands of her family or Touga. If she was to die, she would prefer to get it over with and not drag things out.
Izayoi was amenable to her wish, surprisingly enough. With a gentle and beautiful shimmer, Izayoi's form began to glow softly, her aura causing the wind to pick up around her. Face set, she was truly beautiful in that moment as she stood against her enemy and waited for her to attack again, dropping her to the floor and waiting patiently for the female's decision.
When another surge of youki slammed against her, she formed another barrier and forced the swirling energies to merge, taking the female's power over and subverting it to her own use.
And in the end, it was her own power that killed her – power that Izayoi had stolen from her. It became very clear to everyone there that day that this woman had untold amounts of power – and wasn't afraid to use it. The battle, if you could call it that, didn't last long, and Kenji was glad this part of things was over – or was about to be, at any rate, he thought ruefully.
At least for today, came the unpleasant acknowledgment. At least for today. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?
As power in its most pure form rose in the room, he watched with knowing eyes as Izayoi of the West took the life of her second opponent with a stony expression which granted no forgiveness nor mercy to one who would challenge her strength – and then turned to those companions of the now dead female, for it hadn't been just her power that had been used.
None of them would leave this room alive without submitting – not that they would.
But despite her dislike of taking life for little reason, Izayoi would not be the one to back down, so death loomed in the room as everyone else scrambled to get away from the doomed group of women.
Kenji was fiercely proud of his charge in that moment – this showdown would race through the palace and city below like lightening, and everyone would be even more wary of her and her power.
Fear was always a good thing, useful for keeping beings in line, and there was plenty of it in this room at this moment.
He tilted his head back and inhaled the scent with evident enjoyment, a dangerous smirk on his face. It just smelled so good...
~oOo~
"My Lord Ichirou!" came a breathless voice, and with a questioning frown, he turned to see one of the servants bowing before him.
"Yes?" he queried, wondering why the servant seemed so out of breath.
"Your Lord father has summoned you immediately to his study, Ichirou-sama," the man replied, and with a short nod and a deepening frown, the heir apparent of Setsuna turned from his previous path and headed for his sire's study.
He knew his father all too well – there must be something very important going on for him to call him in this manner. Normally, his father was quite placid and easygoing, but when he exercised his will you didn't argue.
Mayhap he has had word of Takemaru's doings, he thought, scowling thoughtfully as he turned down a pillared hall to reach his father's large study. Knocking sharply on the door, he slid it open immediately on being beckoned inside and then closed it, meeting his father's gaze with rampant curiosity.
"You summoned me, father?" he asked with a respectful bow, and then took the seat his sire indicated. His face was stern and serious, and Ichirou's blood heated – something was coming.
"I've had word from Shinji, twice, actually. Apparently, Takemaru has done as I surmised and approached Takeda with the information of who Izayoi was betrothed to. From what he said, Takemaru seems to think that she has yet to be wed, probably expecting the more formal courtship and betrothal." His brow cocked then for a moment. "Takemaru seems to have convinced himself that Izayoi's outburst in defense of my choice was merely the obedience of a dutiful daughter, and feels it is his destiny to free her from such a horrible fate – and take over as Lord of Setsuna, as well, of course."
Ichirou thought about that for several minutes, his father not interrupting his ruminations as he ran the situation through his mind.
"I bet Takeda's next step will be to contact some of our other allies – probably Hojo, since he had also asked for Izayoi's hand. I think we should be watching – I have no doubt those two will descend on us to try to convince you to break the betrothal." His face shadowed, then, as he met his father's gaze. "Once they realize it is too late, Takeda at least might break your alliance. Hojo probably won't, at least not right off, since they need as much support as they can get since losing the regency. Be careful, father... I would not put it past either of them to try to force you out as Lord, and push me into taking over."
Hiraku nodded at his son, pleased with his insight. That was exactly what he would have figured would happen in this situation, and it was apparent that he'd taught his son well in the ways of politics and what greedy men may do to take what they willed.
"You are most likely correct. And when they realize that Izayoi is already out of their reach, they probably will move to do such a thing." He sat back a little, idly pursing his lips as he thought about it. "They will probably call for a conclave of all their allies who are also mine, and then come here to attempt to remove me from the Lordship."
"So what should we do, then?" Ichirou asked, tensing. There was no doubt that they were treading a dangerous path – but then, they'd already known that from the moment Hiraku had given his blessing for Touga to court and marry his daughter. It was all a game... a game of intelligence and pitting your mind against your adversaries... and like his father before him, it made his blood heat and run swiftly though his body with excitement. This was where human power-plays were made – not in personal combat with inherent powers, but in games of wits and nerves.
Only those with the highest intelligence and nerves of steel would succeed in this battle of winner-takes-all...
There was a reason the Setsuna name was so well respected and feared, and now, the final showdowns would begin – against Takemaru, and against all of Nihon, as well, for their uniting in alliance with youkai.
Even the Taishogun was watching this situation with weighing eyes. Ichirou's determination strengthened – they would not falter, they would not fall...
They would rise to even higher prominence than they now held, and to hell with those who were too blinded to see what the future could be with peace between the races.
"What will the council say, do you think?" he asked musingly, beginning to gather all the information he could so that he could arrange it methodically in his mind just as his father had taught him.
"Doubtless there are a few which could be turned to support what Takeda and/or Hojo are sure to demand. You know who they are." Ichirou nodded. "The rest will fall in line with my wishes – for now. They are watching no less than the rest of Nihon is to see how my plan turns out. So even though there would be a few on the council that would back a demand for me to step down, there won't be enough to make it happen."
"Hm. So... we are most probably looking at a play for Setsuna's power, then. I almost bet that Takeda would think that I could be set in place as a puppet Lord controlled by his strings. He's young-" Ichirou smirked, since he himself was also young, "-but not well schooled in political maneuvering, since his seat of power is still relatively new. Perhaps we should spike his wheels a bit," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he thought about it. "Send out an announcement to all our allies of Izayoi's marriage and new title – and the fact that Touga of the West is now bound to come to our aid if called. That will put a neat hole through their plan, because most of those we are allied with would not dare to incite Touga's rage. A human army, that can be dealt with. But a human army, backed up by a youkai one?" He shook his head. "No... I think that will keep them all bolted to their seats, save Takeda. He's hotheaded, and he really desires Izayoi. He's the only real problem here – besides Takemaru himself."
Hiraku's face, blank and studied until now as he watched his heir plot, broke out into a wide, proud smile. "I need have no fear when I leave this earth that I am leaving my lands in weak hands. You will do me proud, and hold all that is ours with a tight grip that no one will be able to pry open." He chuckled as his son blushed a bit at the compliment – he didn't give them that often, but when he did, they were heartfelt and meant – because they'd been earned. Reaching across his desk, he opened a small drawer and pulled out his ink and brush, the small bowl to mix it, and the cube of expensive India ink, along with the little bottle of water to wet the little bits of ink he would shave into the bowl.
"I think that was a very good idea," he began as he expertly mixed the ink and then reached for the larger drawer where he stored the parchment for writing, "and I will write that announcement out right now, then have my assistant copy it. I think I will have them readied to be sent tomorrow... that way the messengers have time to make it to each one of the Lords. We want to make sure we get the message out before Takeda opens his mouth if we wish this to work in our favor."
"You might want to use some of the other means at our disposal, father, to make sure the message reaches the farther daimyo in time, yes?" he asked, clearing his throat discreetly as Hiraku glanced up sharply at him, his hand pausing in his writing as he considered his heir's words.
"Perhaps," he allowed slowly, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Yes... for some of the ones that are so far away, that might be a good idea. I dislike doing that, but in this case it is a game of timing right now, and we don't want to be caught out behind."
Ichirou nodded and allowed his father to finish his proclamation quietly, the silence humming with the tension that came from trying to outmaneuver your opponent – whether it was on an actual battlefield or on the political one. It was just as exciting to him as battle and he was relishing the coming days, though he knew the price of failure quite well.
But they would not fail.
His ruminations were interrupted as his father called a servant to send for his assistant, and then looked back over at him with a curious expression.
"What?" he asked cautiously, his own eyes narrowing in suspicion of the look on his father's face.
A twinkle greeted the look Ichirou was gracing him with, and he smiled. "Tell me, my boy, how goes the courting of your wife? She has seemed much more content, lately, and a little less nervous, now that Izayoi is gone," he finished sadly, obviously missing his daughter greatly.
Ichirou couldn't help feeling the same, missing her sweet laughter and mischievous eyes peeking at him with that little smirk that was just so funny. After a minute, he sighed. "It is fine, father. Airi is kept busy and has little time for trying to dip her fingers into the games around here, which is a good thing. She has not the head for it as Izayoi does. Oh, she's not stupid, not by a longshot, but any real potential she might have had was wasted, since she was 'merely a female' and so not trained by her family."
"Yes," his father hummed agreeably, "it is such a shame that so many houses ignore potentially brilliant minds just because they are female. There's no way to tell just how much untold talent has been lost to their foolishness," he sighed. "Still, perhaps you should slowly teach Airi a few things, and see how she takes to it. You might be surprised."
Ichirou shrugged. "Maybe. I don't think now is really the time, though. We've got enough to concentrate on for the foreseeable future."
"True." Hiraku leaned on his desk and steepled his fingers, obviously thinking about something, and Ichirou waited patiently enough for him to think through whatever had occurred to him. After several moments, he said, "We also have a new ally in all this, one that we should not ignore, since he seemed open to what we are trying to do here. The new Lord Souichi."
A frown furrowed Ichirou's brow. "But what use would he really be, father? He has no political clout at this point, just having been given his title and lands."
Hiraku smirked deviously. "Ah, but you are not quite correct. He has leverage with Ashikaga, as he is the one that just awarded him his estates and thanks to your idea, we capitalized on that by offering lands to him, also impressing the Shogun. You know as well as I do that Ashikaga is a shrewd man, and he is watching what we are doing. So... if Souichi is in our corner, as he owes us much support for what we have given him, and Ashikaga is behind him, that bolsters us even more. As well, you know your uncle has that same clout with the Shogun – and he would never speak against us. There is more. Yoshiro. As a monk that is high in his order, he also has some authority to speak in this matter. And we both know that he will support me – even if he is still uncertain of some of what we've done."
Blinking rapidly as he took that in, Ichirou followed that through to its obvious conclusion, and nodded. "I see. I must admit, I had not thought of that."
"Oh, I have no doubt you would have eventually realized it, Ichirou. You are very shrewd yourself, and very good at catching angles in different circumstances that most would not catch. One person cannot know everything, after all," his father replied complacently. After a moment's thought, he waved his son away, having a need for some solitude for more consideration of the situation now facing Setsuna. All the pieces were in place, and soon, he would know if his gamble was going to pay off.
He watched Ichirou step out the door as his assistant entered it and sighed, giving him the scroll to be copied, and then dismissing him.
It's a good thing my son inherited my nerves. He's going to need them in the coming months and years, no matter what the outcome of my ploy.
If we fail, he will end up Lord of nothing but ashes...watching his inheritance disappear like smoke in the wind.
Kami preserve us.
~oOo~
"You – come with me," a soldier ordered one of the lower-ranked courtiers, who stared in obvious shock and outrage when the soldier didn't even wait and simply took him by the arm and pulled him from the room he was in.
"How dare you touch me! I will have your head for this!" the discomfited male shouted, his voice echoing loudly down the corridor.
The soldier merely shrugged. "I'm simply followin' orders, mouthy, so you'll have to ask Touga-sama for permission to do that when you see him – which is right about now," he said bleakly, stepping into the audience room and pulling the still shrieking courtier in behind him.
He shoved the male towards Touga, who was sitting watching with a stony expression.
The foolish male straightened once he was freed of the soldier's hold, and glared mightily with all his offended dignity at the soldier, who shrugged again and stepped back. He turned back as Touga's voice echoed in the room.
"You are a spy for Hisashi," Touga stated bluntly, shocking the male speechless. Wide-eyed, he stared at the Western Lord. "You will be held in the dungeons until such time as this war is over, since I will not have my plans being broadcast throughout the lands by loudmouthed spies. Once the war is over and I have returned, you will leave the palace complex immediately and will be escorted off my lands. Do not attempt to return, because if you are seen again the sentence will be death."
He jerked his head to the side with a stony expression on his face, ordering the soldier to get him out of the room and taken to the dungeons that had been prepared for a rather large influx of 'guests'. It wasn't like he was the only one, as he spluttered and blinked at Touga and the soldier, blindsided by being called out as he had been – he was going to be joining a whole group of people that had been spying for various factions. However, the ones knowingly spying for Ryukotsussei would be put to death – no quarter given.
The harder part was going to be getting rid of the tiny spies, the insects. There were probably a hundred or more scattered around the palace, some of which were his own – like Myoga. But they also would have to go – he wanted none but his own spies in the palace – even if that wasn't entirely possible. The insects were hard to catch at times, so there would probably be several that would escape the sweeps he was having his soldiers and some of his own spies make through the shiro.
How to get rid of them all... he tapped his fingers impatiently at his desk as he waited for the next spy to be brought in for his judgment. I can not afford any leaks getting back to that damned slithering, overly large snake, he thought with contempt. I suppose the best we can do is continue having my people sweep the palace until all are caught...
It occurred to him in that moment that perhaps there was another way... Izayoi had shown a very marked sensitivity to the aura of the tiny spies... it might be worth seeing if she would be able to sense the tiny youki signatures and find any that escaped his soldiers. It would be a tiring process, for her to have to walk through the entire complex, but worth it if it plugged the last of the leaks. He sighed, aggravated, as yet another spy was brought before him – sometimes, being Lord was such a tedious duty.
For now, he would finish sentencing as many as he could, and speak to his wife later on the subject, to see what she would have to say about it.
Just as the next spoiled female spying for her house was brought to him, he felt his wife's reiki flare strongly, and stiffened, his eyes reddening and fangs lengthening, startling and scaring the female and the soldier, as well, though he held his bearing. So... more of the importunate bitches in the place were trying their hand at harming his little wife. He could feel her, through the bond – feel her determination and strength of will, and smirked dangerously as he forced himself to stay where he was and continue with his duties.
His wife was well protected, besides being a dangerous opponent herself, and he had to let all those in the palace know that he had no qualms about the female he'd chosen to stand by his side – he trusted her and knew she could handle herself against anyone that tried her. And even if she was attacked at once by several, those that he had chosen to protect her would take care of the problem. As hard as it was in that moment not to fly to her aid and absolutely destroy those that would challenge her, he had to let her do it. If the feel of her emotions right now was anything to go by, she wasn't at all worried – simply angry.
"It would seem my wife is taking care of some of the other useless toadies and parasites that infest the halls of my palace. By the time we are both done, it seems the shiro will be damn near empty," he growled out at the cowering female before him. "You will be returned to your family's house in the city, and forbidden access to the palace until this war is over." He motioned for the soldier to once again haul her off, ignoring the female's pleas of innocence.
A tedious duty indeed – but it must be done, for by the time the other Lords arrived, he wanted the yamashiro completely locked down, a dead zone for anyone else.
He cocked a slender brow as Kajiko, the Southern Heiress, dressed to her station in battle dress frog-marched the next being in, her face a study in contempt as she shoved the male to the floor with little care for the dangerous-sounding growl the male let out at her handling of him.
"Kajiko?"
She shrugged. "I had nothing better to do, and this little spineless toady has been following me around for a while. Since it's time to clean the palace, I decided that he could go out with the rest of the trash."
Touga frowned. "I find myself curious as to who he was spying for," he said slowly, eyes narrowed on the male that was currently scowling at Kajiko from his place on the floor – as he'd attempted to get up, she'd simply pinned him down with a booted foot to the back, keeping him subjugated.
"That's a good question, Touga-sama," she said tersely. "But does it really matter?"
"It might," he replied absently as he stared down at the now silent and unmoving male. "If he is not affiliated with any of the clans in the West, that means he is an outsider – but from which seat? North, South, or East?"
"He isn't one of my father's, that I can tell you," she responded, eyeing the youkai narrowly. "But... he does seem to be very interested in me..." she trailed off thoughtfully, obviously thinking it through. My best guess is that he is from one of the Southern clans, sent to watch me and possibly even kill me. There are a great many pretenders to my father's seat that would love for me to drop dead, after all, since at this time, there is no other heir from my father's line to take over my place were I to die."
Touga nodded, pretty sure she was correct. He'd been watching the male as she talked, and he'd twitched a little when she'd spoken, his eyes flashing to the side to look up at her with surprise he'd not been able to completely hide.
"In that case, as your father's heir and the target of this particular insect, I will leave it to you to decide what you want to do with him," Touga said, amused as the male's eyes widened in sudden fear.
Expression stony and brooking no argument, Kajiko simply doused the male in the fire of her family's line, the male barely getting out an agonized scream as he burned to a fine dust within seconds of being touched by it.
Surprised a little at her seemingly bloodthirsty actions, he cocked a brow at her in question.
She shrugged again before bowing correctly and turning to leave. "One less bastard for us all to worry about," she said shortly over her shoulder. "I'll send in a servant to sweep up the little mess I made," drawing Touga's amused eyes to the pile of dust sitting on the floor. He chuckled, then shook his head. She was a strong heir for the Southern Lord, there was no denying that. She was greatly like Sesshoumaru in many ways – his amusement faltered – or as Sesshoumaru could have been, had he not been such a terrible father. But there was still some hope of his son one day becoming the daiyoukai he knew he could be – his son had been much quieter the last few days, and much less aggressive towards Izayoi.
It was clear that she confused the boy, but that slowly she was gaining his respect... at least a little. He had always surrounded himself with the strongest, the most dangerous, having little time or patience for those who were weaker than he. But Izayoi was not weak, and his son could not deny her strength. It called out to him, to his instincts, and left him conflicted and confused.
Maybe that's what he needed, he thought as yet another being was escorted into his presence, someone to bring him back down to earth where all the rest of kami's creations had to live. If she could get his head out of the clouds and back to reality, he would be forever grateful. And so would the West.
He turned his attention back to his duties and continued sorting through all the spying and lying that was going on in his palace. It would be lunch soon, and he was actually quite hungry. Instilling fear in the rats that were absolutely infesting his shiro was hungry work, after all.
He grinned menacingly as the newest male to be brought before him by a bored looking Arata eyed the neat pile of dust on the floor near his feet, not needing to be told just what that pile was. He wasn't blind, and he'd seen the Southern Heiress escort someone into the Lord's study – and walk out tellingly alone.
It was not looking to be his day...
~oOo~
The Western Lady stood cold and remote before her current attackers, having already killed the strongest of them. The three that were left were already snarling, though fear was clear in their scents.
By contrast, Izayoi gave nothing away, simply waiting once more for an attack. This time, one of the remaining females took on her true form, that of a sleek black panther, leaping at Izayoi in the midst of her transformation.
Concentrating fiercely, Izayoi immediately formed the one close-quarters weapon she was yet comfortable with, a tall staff, from her reiki alone. This was a skill she was still working with, because it was a very advanced one. Most miko never managed to learn it, and those few that did had been in training for years. She had only had three, so she had to concentrate a little more than she did for most anything else.
Still, as the female went for her throat, Izayoi brought the staff of light she now held up and smashed it into the female's throat, purifying her on contact. Her remaining friends were right behind her, and a snarling Kirara tore the throat from one, having leapt down from her mistress' shoulder as soon as the first female had attacked, while Izayoi dissolved her staff once more and simply infused her hands with her power, killing her opponent and turning to make sure Kirara was okay and that she had taken care of hers. She had; the final female lay on the floor, eyes blank and blood soaking the floor beneath her. With nary a word, Izayoi allowed her power to form around the body and destroy it, leaving the floor clear of blood, merely a coating of dust to outline where her attacker had died.
The room was completely silent as Izayoi looked up, her dangerous gaze sweeping the room and meeting every pair of eyes that dared to look directly at her. Finally, after looking over the entire room with danger in her eyes, she said, "You had all best take note of what happened here today. I have no desire to kill Touga's entire court to make my point, but I will if I am forced. Take heed to my power and my words, and you may yet live through the next few moons."
With that, she allowed the seal on the door to dissolve and with a stiff wind blew them back open, at which point a slew of frightened and angry people ran from the room, leaving it barren and empty once more save for Izayoi's ladies, Kirara, and Kenji, who didn't immediately stand when she dropped the protective barrier she'd placed over the dais as the two females did. Instead, he watched her thoughtfully, wondering whether he should take her to task for leaving the protection of her barrier, as ultimately, it had left her in some little danger.
But after thinking about it for a few moments, he decided to leave the subject alone; his sister and the other female were doing a good enough job of that, and there was little point in him repeating their words – especially when he was completely aware that Izayoi would listen, smile - and next time do the exact same thing. He sighed. She will be the death of me...
Rising to his feet, he approached his mistress and bowed lightly. "I did not know you had progressed in your studies so far that you had learned to use your reiki to form a weapon. That is a skill that few miko have ever mastered, and not usually until they were old, having studied and perfected their control over a lifetime," he said, looking at her curiously, but his voice a bit disappointed that she hadn't told him of such an achievement.
Izayoi smiled at him wryly. "It is because it isn't yet mastered. Or not to my satisfaction, anyway. It takes a great deal of concentration to do such, and that could be a danger in a place I might have call to use such a skill because it distracts me. But it was safe enough to do it in this instance, and the more I use it, the easier it will get, after all," she said, shrugging just a bit, allowing her formality to lessen just a little while alone with her friends.
Kenji frowned, one finger idly tracing a cheek, then looked at his Lady. "What are you going to do after the meal?" he asked, knowing that the bell for the meal would be sounding within a very few minutes.
Shrugging again, she picked a thread from her sleeve, just then taking note of the fact that one of her opponents had actually managed to touch her – barely, and for a moment only, but still – she needed to move quicker when fighting youkai, since they had speed she normally did not. She stared at her arm musingly for a few seconds, then said, "I do not know for certain what my Lord has planned. If he has no need of me, then I wish to find a place and practice that skill. For as it stands, if I happen to lose my weapons in battle, my bow and my staff, then I would be left in a dangerous position. If a youkai loses their weapon, they still have claws and their youki based attacks to defend themselves. And while I could infuse my hands with my reiki, if someone were to come at me with a weapon that I could not get past, then I could conceivably be killed in that manner. If I can perfect this skill, then I would not have to worry about a weapon at all."
Mine nodded as she heard her lady speaking, knowing from her experiences in her father's house that you needed a skill, a hidden weapon to defend yourself if you were caught unawares. She had developed a few such skills that even her husband did not know of. "It would be a good skill to have, especially as we are soon to go to war," she agreed, Nami adding her voice to Mine's in approval.
Nodding, Kenji looked to his mistress. "Where would you wish to practice?" he asked, his tone of voice showing that he was already several candlemarks ahead of them in thought, planning.
At that question, Izayoi tapped a finger against her chin absently, running through the options in her mind. Finally, she said, "Practice yards. I wish to practice making not just my staff, but my bow and arrows, too."
The meal bell sounded, then, and the group turned to leave the room, Izayoi in front with Kenji to her side and her ladies behind, Kirara still curled up on her shoulders purring. 'Practice is good, my Kagome, but your thoughts on being caught in battle without your weapons and alone will never happen because I will always be with you, no matter what. I have not waited for you for so long only to lose you so quickly. And I believe that Kenji and Nami and Mine, as well, will be there to guard your back, for Touga-sama would never leave you alone in a battle.'
'I know,' Kagome returned, sighing. 'But anything can happen in the chaos of war, and being ready for the unexpected and the dangerous is what keeps you alive. We will all protect each other, and to do that to the fullest extent that I am able, I need to master this skill.'
Kirara's purring increased in approval, and she felt a mellow contentment invade her system as Kagome's aura stroked hers, calming both of them down from the little contretemps they had just had.
That same contentment swept through Kagome as they walked, and she felt herself begin to unwind, her body calming from the surge of adrenaline that always came with combat. Even the eyes plastered to her from all around did not phase her, though she noted that many that had been more hostile to begin with were now projecting a neutral aura. It could not be denied that the new Western Lady was not weak – human or not. She had shown her power several times, even facing down Sesshoumaru, which was no mean feat.
Youkai only respected strength, and Izayoi was proving hers to them all.
~oOo~
Edited 01/01/14
