Author's Note: Again, (*) denotes a word or phrase that may need special
explanation.
Kuraireikan

Fishing for Fiends I

Akiko was surprised at how quickly everything fell into place once she had agreed to help the widow with her plan.

The first step had been acquiring an appropriate location. And, considering that the perfect bit of property was empty and waiting; well, it really was as if the gods were watching over this venture.

The property was small—just a strip of land between the fields of two farms—and consisted of little more than the plot the building sat on and the path leading to it from the road.

The house itself was square and tucked neatly into the middle of a square yard surrounded by a wall. Stone up to three feet, topped by another three feet of bamboo slat, and broken only by the front gate.

In the right corner of the front yard was a small koi pond under a tiny shade tree while the left corner held a small stone well fronting an array of vibrant green plants.

The front entrance of the house led into a hallway that ran straight through from front to back. A tidy little kitchen to the left served the sitting and dining area to the right that looked out over the koi pond in the front garden. Just beyond the kitchen and sitting area was a second hallway that ran all the way from left to right. Entrances from this hall led not only to the kitchen and sitting room but to two sleeping chambers behind them. At the end of the main hall another door led to the walkway that ran along the back of the house and to the sleeping rooms to either side before stepping down to the rear yard.

Aside from the small shed in the left rear corner, the majority of this yard was devoted to a vegetable and herb garden.

It was more than they needed for this venture, granted, but the main thing was that it was decently set apart without being completely isolated.

It was perfect.

It was also empty, to Akiko's complete surprise. Until she found out why.

Apparently there had been a recent rash of deaths here. Some form of illness had claimed three out of the five members of the previous owners' family. He had sold it off for a pittance and the widow's brother-in-law had been all too happy to buy it once he realized that he would be spared any possible future visits once his late brother's widow moved to such a remote location.

Little did he know that his sister-in-law had no intention of ever setting foot in this house.

But no matter, she thought. What he didn't know wouldn't kill him...probably.

It was a shame though. It really was a lovely little house.

Had they not been using it for this purpose she could have seen herself living here for many years, and not just for the house.

Akiko had come out a week earlier to begin establishing herself and had grown fond of the area in general. She had changed her style of dress to match that of the locals, and getting out in the sun as she walked to and from town had put some color back into her skin. The people here in Mibu and in town were friendly—for the most part—and she was good enough with her sewing and painting that there was never any lack of work for her

She had more than enough money to see her through the time she would be here; the widow had seen to that, but she liked knowing that if it came down to it, she was capable of making enough money to support herself if she should ever need to do so.

As for her neighbors, they all thought her a distant relative of the previous owner and she didn't bother to correct them.

Then suddenly, it seemed to her, before she'd even had time to think about it, everything was ready.

The hook was on the line, the line was in the water. All she needed now were the fish.

o0o0o

They walk to town for supplies and—I've heard—for candy. They often stop by the orphanage on their way back. I wonder how many of those children are there because of them.

It was to be expected of someone so young that, once her decision had been made, she rather pointedly neglected to consider anything else as an option. Therefore, her resolve to see this through would not be easily shaken.

She knew that having such a hardness within her was the very reason why she had failed to become a priestess like her sister.

But, she seemed to have the perfect temperment for this work.

Was it possible that her having been assigned as the caregiver had been—as the widow believed—the work of the gods? That this plan was their destiny?

She told herself that it must be when the house had fallen into their laps so easily.

She told herself that it was obvious when the very job she needed to cement her disguise and her reason for being there was open and available.

She told herself that it just had to be as she set her left foot down between two stones and allowed her body weight to carry her sideways.

She'd been careful to make sure they were heading back this way before doing such a thing to herself. And thank the gods she had.

Akiko had believed this would likely turn out to be the most difficult part of the entire plan, and she'd been right.

She knew it was the most crucial.

Had the injury been too bad she would never have been able to get away afterward. Not bad enough to warrant their intervention, and she would have had to injure it again. The very thought of having to do that to herself while already in pain nearly made her sick.

Fortunately she'd gotten it right from the start.

She knew from experience that this was not a bad injury, but that it would smart for a few days. She could play this well for the sympathy she needed, but once wrapped she would be able to move at least well enough to get back to town.

She was ready.

Or so she thought.

Until she saw them.

The two men walked the old dirt road from town at a leisurely pace. The sun would set soon but there was no hurry in their steps even now. Their lack of conversation seemed more a sign of ease in each others' company than awkwardness.

Akiko marked their approach and was surprised to find herself nearly gasping for air. Whether in fear or anticipation, she didn't know.

There was no need for doubt now; she was completely prepared for this.

Then why was her stomach in knots? Why were her hands and face nearly dripping with sweat?

Because she knew there could be no turning back from this once started. If she chose to follow this path, she wouldn't be able to settle for half measures. Not with this. If she chose...

She could run.

The widow's reach was long. Even with the ability to disguise herself, Akiko could not hope to out run someone with the kind of money and power that the widow possessed. Even if only in her own mind, if she ran now, she would be running for the rest of her days.

She could lie.

When the widow asked, she could say she had done it. She could use the widow's own descriptions of what should happen to make it seem real enough.

Akiko didn't like to lie but in this case, to save lives and the soul of the widow—not to mention her own—yes. For this she could lie.

She could hide.

Before she had even realized what she was doing, she had turned her back, closed her eyes and begun to pray. Don't let them notice me, again and again, like a mantra. It wasn't impossible after all. She was across the field and practically hidden behind a large stone.

Let them go on about their business and she would be on her way.

Please please please, she prayed to every god she could remember, just let them pass me by.

The gods laughed.

o0o0o

You must be careful not to lose yourself to that boy's pretty ways. They call him The Demon's Child for a reason. Once he takes a sword in his hand, he takes it into his heart.

"Hello!"

Akiko opened her eyes and turned to see the two she had spied earlier in the distance now standing on the road directly across from where she sat.

"Are you alright out there?" asked the smaller of the two; the one the widow had called Okita.

The tall one—he must be Hijikata—could not have looked more bored if he'd tried.

Her heart skipped a beat. There was no turning back now.

"No," she hedged a bit as she called back, "not really."

At Akiko's admission, Okita immediately started in her direction to the obvious vexation of his companion. They seemed to be having a small argument. Okita—walking backward—was laughing, wheedling, and gesticulating wildly, while Hijikata—determined not to follow—found himself halfway across the field before finally giving up.

By the time they arrived he was in a rather unpleasant mood, balanced though it was by Okita's bubbly nature.

Yes, she thought to herself,

The gods are laughing.

As the two walked around the large stone and came to a stop in front of her, she could not help but be anxious and awestruck in nearly equal measure.

Looking up at the younger man from her position on the ground—she'd been told he was a boy, but he was obviously older than Akiko—was bad enough, but Hijikata seemed a giant by comparison, his head nearly blotting out the sky overhead.

"Oh, sorry," said Okita, and with that he dropped unceremoniously to the ground next to her. After which he reached over, grabbed a handful of Hijita's yukata*, and yanked. The glare he received in return could have cut glass.

"Well then, sit down," the final word emphasized by yet another yank. "If this poor girl has to stare up at you any longer her neck's going to break."

This last was followed by a playful grin that did nothing to soften the continued glare. However, the very tall—at least from this angle—Hijikata did take a seat; by the stone, as far away from them as he could get without being rude, and where he could lean back in some semblance of comfort and remain as uninvolved in all of this as humanly possible.

The widow had been right.

This realization was almost as disheartening as it was thrilling

How could she have known what would happen in such detail?

Akiko could only guess the answer to that, but she knew what it meant for her. That she would likely be well on her way to dead already had she not followed the widow's instructions to the letter, and that she could still end up there if she weren't careful.

With her head spinning on such things it was no wonder she nearly jumped out of her skin when the young man seated next to her spoke again. She turned to him in surprise to see his eyes a near perfect match for the surprised O shape of his mouth. She couldn't help herself; she laughed, blushed furiously and apologized, only to laugh again.

Finally she gave up and simply buried her face in her hands. The stress must be catching up to her. She was becoming hysterical.

"Serves you right, imp," came the deep timber of Hijikata's voice from off to her right, "I told you she'd be better off without your brand of assistance."

Akiko peeked over her hands in time to hear a smirking imp say, "Don't mind Hijikata-san. He scares everybody. In fact, he's so scary we use him as a litmus test for new recruits. Anyone who can look him in the eye and not drop dead gets to try out."

As his previous smile returned in full force—just in time to catch a flying sandal in the face—Akiko knew she had no choice but to carry through with her reason for being here, no matter how much she might regret it later.

She would either die laughing or lose herself to his pretty ways, as the widow had called them, if she didn't kill this man as planned.

Notes: * yukata are robes most often worn by men in Japan during this time period.