More Alike Than You Think

"Mei, bring something for Honda here to eat. I'm sure he's famished after the long walk." Yao said, sitting down before him.

Kiku quietly murmured about not being hungry, but Mei had already left the room. Xiao, by Yao's orders, was out of sight. Kiku nervously looked towards Yao, his hands resting delicately in his lap. He had not taken his katana with him, but kept a knife at his side in case of bandits on the road there.

Yao looked him over evenly, smiling. "I am delighted to see that you have come." He spoke Japanese with ease, obviously showing off years of practice. However, an accent inevitably slid through.

Kiku's first impression of Yao was a single word: crane. Yao had long, delicate limbs and a slightly tanned, smooth face. Had he been a woman he would have been remarkably beautiful. He was similar to one regardless. His voice was slightly high pitched and his eyes had a feminine slant to them. Kiku didn't know why he associated femininity with the scholar. He drove the thoughts out of mind, like shaking sand from his sandals.

"I would not have denied your invitation, Wang-san." He said, the different languages clashing despite his soft tone.

"This could easily have been a trap to eliminate the town's greatest warrior."

"You would not do that." Kiku responded.

"What brings you to such a strong opinion?"

"Why would you trouble yourself with killing one warrior when there are plenty of greater ones in bigger cities?" Kiku sighed. "It seems like too much trouble for someone as petty and inexperienced as I."

A pause, then Yao filled it slowly with a low chuckle. "You are humble, I see."

"Thank you, but I only speak the truth."

"Then you want me to be curt with what I want from you, I assume."

Kiku nodded shyly. Mei returned to them carrying a bowl of brown rice and a sliver of fish on the side. He thanked her and took it, eating it out of respect. He ate noisily, indicating to Yao and the servant who prepared it of his enjoyment. Yao waited until he had finished.

"We could have poisoned you." Yao said.

"What would you gain from that?" Kiku asked. He fought growing anxiety with logic. He didn't think the scholar would want to kill him so soon.

"Quick to trust I see," Yao said. "But do not worry, we wouldn't kill you now of all times. We need you after all."

Kiku waited for him to elaborate. He stared at the designs curling around the table in gold and in jade. Yao had wanted a piece of home, it seems. Other than the expensive table, the rest of the room was barren of any luxuries. Kiku had seen paintings in the other rooms, but this one was nearly empty save for a sheet of bamboo for Yao to sleep on and a closet for his robes.

"We want you to join us. You are an able fighter, and I want opportunities to open up to you, more than there."

"I was planning on joining the country's capital and fighting the impeding war." Kiku said.

Yao nodded, "So you are certain that you've been admitted in?"

Kiku didn't respond.

"You see, here you will have a chance to bring your village great honor, and to become yourself fully. Do you not want to achieve a perfect self, Honda?"

Kiku began to debate internally. Could he leave behind his village and join this strange man? He had already brought embarrassment often these past few days. The idea of becoming nearly omnipotent was nearly irresistible. Perhaps Kiku could do this.

"No." Kiku said, shaking his head firmly. "How can I trust you? How can I simply leave my home?"

Yao stared at him, pulled the sleeves of his light grey hanfu back to expose his thin wrists. Light scars crossed along the flesh of his forearm. "To answer your first question, you must know that we are more alike than you think."

Kiku stared hard at him.

"Don't you believe me?"

"I believe that we can be similar."

"We have suffered the same way."

Kiku pressed his lips together. Yao stood. "Mei, shut the doors." He said. A child's shadow crossed the sliding doors, intersecting the midday sun. She pushed the doors shut and her form vanished into one of the halls.

The hanfu Yao wore was simpler than most: an outer coat-like fabric over another bound with a sash. Yao slid the coat off and set it aside. He undid the belt. Kiku flushed as Yao shamelessly slid the rest of the robe off, dropping it so that it hung on his ankles. His chest was covered by a thin undergarment. The fabric rustled like shuffled feathers. Kiku looked away when Yao pulled up the white sheet and exposed his lower torso.

"Don't fear, Honda. I said I am like you."

Kiku cast his eyes upwards briefly, and then relaxed at once.

A thin scar took the place of Yao's genitals. The smooth slope shocked Kiku and caused him to feel tears springing to life in his eyes. It made sense, of course. Yao's arms were longer than most men and his voice was higher. Yao was a scholar. He must have been castrated at birth.

"I had assumed the child was yours." Kiku said quietly. His hand went between his legs to his own empty loins. Kiku didn't know the cause to his castration, he had never asked. But sparring was easier from it. He didn't worry about receiving a crippling blow there. Kenta had joked, saying he was indestructible.

Yao replaced his clothing, pulling it on to his person smoothly. Once he was dressed he told Mei to open the doors and to come into the room. She padded over next to him and looked at Kiku. Yao raised his hand and pointed at her face. He pressed his thumb to her dark cheek and removed it, showing a film of dirt.

"Her skin is lighter than mine." He said. "Also, her eyes are a different shape than mine. These are phoenix eyes. I adopted the homeless child and she pays her debt by being a messenger. However, I care for her like a daughter and she has her freedom too. I do not wish to arrange a marriage for her. I will give her that freedom. It's almost taboo, isn't it?"

Kiku nodded. "I apologize."

"Do not, Honda. It was an easy mistake." Yao dismissed Mei and she scampered out, presumably to play some more. Her hair had been done up this time, in a style Kiku recognized as the split-peach.

Yao watched his eyes.

"She wants to become a geisha, but she is not Japanese. She mimics their hair." He said.

Kiku listened to the doors open and shut. "Why does she want to be a geisha?"

"She thinks they are art. They are delicate and beautiful. When she has grown older I will explain why this is a poor choice and she will then understand why I do not allow her. For now, I tell her that foreign girls are not allowed in okiya."

"You are wise." Kiku said, radiating respect.

"Now, your second question is easily answered." Yao went on, almost ignoring the compliment save for a shimmer in his gaze. "First I must tell you what I want you to do for me. There is no use of lying at the present."

"Am I to be a personal body guard?" Kiku asked.

"Yes, of the village." Yao said. "You will be my assassin. I have been hired to protect this area of the country and to do so I need a man stationed in each village. I have five so far, I need seven. You will be the sixth."

"I see."

"Do you think this is a worthy cause?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then we must make you disappear." Yao stood and walked towards his closet. He pulled a drawer open and pulled out a vial. "This is a mixture of my own. I call it Fool's Fate." He held up the contents which, in the sunlight, looked like gold. "I will have someone slip this into your meal. You will, under several surprised witnesses, take it. I will send someone in to save you from the poison. You will be pronounced dead. Then you will train here with me and protect your city."

"I will be a phantom, then?"

Yao nodded. "We can call you the Ghost of Fog."

"Why fog?"

"Fog is dense and it is hidden, a mystery. It's denser than mist and softer than stone. You'll figure out the true reason soon enough, child." Yao said. His voice was rich with sympathy and a hint of kindness.

Yao let Kiku consider. He left the room, shutting the door softly behind him. Kiku watched the shadow recede. The vial remained on the table where Yao had set it. Kiku took it in his hands and rolled it between his fingers. The smooth material inside shifted. Kiku went to sniff it but thought better of it.

Yao returned shortly afterwards. He had let his hair loose. A jade chain ornamented it near his left ear. He stood behind Kiku.

"How did you know I'm a eunuch?" Kiku asked.

"I do not know of any man who could withstand a kick to the groin, especially when someone as trained as Xiao delivered it. There had to be a reason you barely flinched and I deduced it."

Kiku stood abruptly. "Is that why he fought me?" He asked.

"No. He fought you to test how well you withstand a battle. Then Mei began to weep to test you again." Yao said. "You did well."

Kiku felt his face flush. It was as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. A flicker of light, however, crossed his heart. He did well. He impressed the scholar and supposed master at some form of martial arts. At least, that's what Kiku though considering Yao's build and his easy, silent steps.

"Have you made your decision?" Yao asked.

"Yes." Kiku said, standing. His expression hardened and he bowed, low. "Now I can call you my master—informally." He added quickly.

"Call me what you wish, Honda." Yao said, already turning away. He paused at the doorway, his hand resting on the wall. "Is it true that once a samurai's master is killed, the samurai must die as well?"

"Yes, master." Kiku said.

"When I die, or better when I am killed, find a new master. This is not official, of course. Find a new name and leave this village. Cut your hair. Change your appearance. But remain living." Yao said. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added:

"Despite all the pains that will haunt you."

These chapters have gone up in bulk because this is one of the few times the internet has not betrayed me. I apologize for any inconvenience.