Two Spirits

Lin rushed, but she was calm.

After all, the dead are in no rush.

The hills spilled before her, slowly sloping into mountains and diffusing into blue. Her hair whipped behind her and her staff was latched firmly on to her back. She gripped the reigns and flicked them. Even if there was time left, she didn't want to waste it.

Another set of thumps came from her side. She turned, slowing her horse down. He whined in protest, beating the ground. Lin looked around and saw a guard of the city approaching her on his horse. He had a long bow slung across his back, but Lin couldn't see any arrows.

The horse came to a stop next to her. The man frowned.

"Do you not allow strangers in?" Lin demanded.

Her voice commanded authority. The man shrunk. She grabbed the end of her staff, waiting for the man to retort.

"We allow strangers, but this is a time of war. We cannot allow everyone in without taking several precautions."

"The war hasn't started yet." Lin said, letting go of her staff. Fighting would be useless now. "Will you let me pass? I am not entering your village but visiting my uncle here in the outskirts." She pointed towards the house.

The man did not smile or show any signs of softening. He began to move away, nudging his horse along. "You may pass."

Lin narrowed her eyes as he passed.

Their friend was dead. Lin thought about how to tell Yao as she began a slow descent down the mountain. She clutched the reigns. A pack on the side of her saddle, the gift she meant to bring Yao the following day, bounced against her legs. She was wary.

And she had no choice but to fight.

. . .

"Masumi, did you see who that stranger was?" Kiku asked. He ducked as the wooden sword passed over his head.

Masumi slid off his horse and approached Kiku. Kenta struck Kiku's legs, sending Kiku falling down. Kenta's grin vanished when a blow slammed against his calves, sending him stumbling backwards.

Kiku leapt back to his feet, searching for an opening as Kenta scrambled to fight upright. Kiku was quicker and hit his back. A bruise would blossom there, but Kenta's muscles were stringy and durable. He flinched at the hit and brought his sword hard against Kiku's side in desperation. Kiku hissed in pain.

"The stranger was a woman, obviously not from here. Her Japanese was heavily accented." Masumi reported, watching as the two friends fought.

Kenta began to laugh as Kiku plumped down on his stomach, smothering his sword. "Looks like I might win!" He declared. He brought his sword down as if to behead Kiku. Kiku, unable to use his arms, swept his legs through Kenta. The heavier man tumbled down with him. Kiku began to laugh, getting to his feet.

He snatched Kenta's sword up and stood on top of the fallen man. He swiped the two swords parallel to each other in opposite directions, essentially cutting Kenta's throat. Kenta grunted and rose to his feet. "Ah, who was I kidding? Of course you would win." He patted Kiku's heaving shoulders.

Kiku grinned and walked away from the sparring ring. He poured from a carafe and splashed water on his face, taking a sip every once in a while.

"You've gotten even better than before." Masumi observed. "In fact, I daresay you're almost too good. You could be used as a weapon. They'll dress you up and through you in battle, hiding you under horses and defeating your enemy as easily as one would pluck grapes."

"I appreciate your kindness, Masumi," Kiku said. He rubbed water on his neck, smoothly stepping to the side for Kenta to wash up. Kiku approached Masumi, pushing his bangs back. His teacher said that in a week or so they would shave the top, so he could wear helmets properly. Kiku felt he would miss his hair.

Masumi noticed his movement and rumpled the small man's hair. Masumi was taller than most, his pony tail longer than most, and his heart most likely bigger than most. Kiku grunted and pretended to bat him away.

"Well, I'm off." Masumi said, returning to his horse.

"Going to visit your young lady, perhaps?" Kenta joked. Kiku felt his cheeks crimson. Only Kenta could talk about the most private things out loud without any hint of shame.

Masumi looked at his horse, running his hand along its mane. "I think I will take Chiharu as my wife."

"A thousand springs…" Kenta said with a firm nod. "Yes, she is a very beautiful and kind woman. I am sure she will happily accept."

"Thank you," Masumi said, though he wasn't sure if that was the correct response.

Kiku gave him a look that he should get going. Masumi nodded silently and mounted his horse, moving along the empty paths towards Chiharu's house, ready to make his proposal.

Once packed up and finished, Kiku and Kenta parted ways. Several leaves flickered in the light, falling slowly down to the clearing. They speckled the dirt floor like splattered paint. Kiku watched several of them fall before he returned home.

As he walked he heard a soft singing. He stopped and turned towards the okiya. The sound was muffled and distant. He approached the beautiful sound, at once recognizing Noriko's sweet voice, like trickling water or the chimes of bells.

He stopped before a tear, placing his hand on the smooth bark, and he listened. Noriko stood in the garden with her shamisen, alone. At least she thought she was.

"Two spirits, two parts of a whole

Two spirits, opposing forces

Two spirits, fortify, unite, part, forget"

Kiku clapped. Noriko started, looking around. Her eyes were wide in confusion and embarrassment. When she noticed Kiku, however, she visibly relaxed. "Ah, Kiku…"

"It's beautiful, Noriko." Kiku said gently.

"Thank you, but it is a poem I wrote. It's not quite finished yet."

"So far I enjoy it." Kiku said.

Her eyes met his briefly. A shadow of pain rushed across them, a black horse crossing a meadow. "Thank you." She said with a note of melancholy. She turned towards her garden and idly plucked at the strings, sending the remorseful notes out.

As Kiku walked away, he couldn't help but wonder just how brilliantly Geisha incorporated their emotions into their music. They could turn their hands and hearts heavy as they moved or sung. They could lighten a room or they could create a storm. They could join two spirits, too, perhaps.