Chapter IV The Tiger Escapes.
Kirio Hikifune was quickly unrolling and rolling back ancient scrolls on the Four Beasts, she lost herself in the research among myths. The reins of the beasts were given to the ancestors so long ago that nothing but legend remained. If what she read was true, only the Spirit King could bring the beasts back to their resting. It was almost two in the morning and outside the Gates, the Banquet continued uninterrupted.
Kagaya Hokori was walking majestically along the corridor in the guest section of the Hagetora mansion, her thoughts whirling in all directions.
"The news probably already spread" she could almost hear it in whispers among the indiscreet, drunk lesser nobility as they murmur to each other with sparkly eyes "Ryukubo will be spending the first hours of the new year with the Kagaya of Hana Niwa. I would buy such splendid flowers too, if I had the means."
Suddenly something bumped in the folds of her kimono and almost got tangled in the layers. The boy jumped back immediately and looked at her with two brilliantly blue eyes, his face went pink.
Kagaya smiled. "A few years to early, boy" she said mockingly. "And yet, what wouldn't I give to read you bedtime stories, instead of going where I'm going." The boy was maybe seven and just stood frozen on the spot. Kagaya continued on her course, when from behind she heard a sudden
outburst of indignation "I can read myself." Then a door opened and by the time she turned back the boy was gone, an old, stubby nose examined the hallway and closed the screen doors firmly when he saw the Geisha.
She entered the designated bedroom of Lord Ryukubo, he wasn't there. Her eye swept the room for anything helpful in her endeavor, then she opened the screened.
The room was on the second floor, near the tile roof connected to another complex. Kagaya drummed her fingers on the wood of the window seal, behind the panel door parted. In came a jovial Ryukubo. He saw his Geisha and almost instantly dropped the haughty mask he displayed in the corridor. He grabbed her neck and fingered it's smooth skin.
"Indeed, A beautiful doll you are." he commented.
Kagaya looked into his eyes.
"And those eyes of yours, black enough to incrust the shell of the great turtle." he said.
"Undress me." commanded Ryukubo.
Kagaya did as she was told. "Come old geezer" she repeated in her mind. "Forget yourself, and I will forget you."
Ryukubo stopped her hands half way into undoing his sash, he ripped her kimono apart, as a raven digs out a nut from its husk.
The decorative flowers on her head flew off, and her hair came undone. He threw her down to the floor and started kissing.
Kagaya grabbed one of the high geta which lay discarded on the floor and aimed it at Ryukubo's skull.
The man looked bewildered for a while, then in a fit of rage he tried to retaliate and pushed her hard into the floor. Her head slammed on the tatami, she felt her neck getting warm with blood as sparks danced in front of her. Ryukubo was furious, he wanted to grab her hands, but she managed to get past his drunken grip and hit once more. For a little while she thought that he will take out his decorative short sword and pin her to the ground permanently. But, he just looked dazed and toppled down. Hokori grabbed his sword, cut her outer kimono into strips and bound his arms and legs, then gagged the mouth.
The party was in full swing, even the guards now lurked more around the kitchens then the main building.
Hokori climbed on top of the roof and swiftly jumped from one tile to another, along the ridge of the building. Her head pounded. If anyone tried to stop her and was to inquisitive, she was ready to use the sword, even if that meant death. Anything, just not another year in the Geisha House.
She peeked before crossing each corner, there were some Soulreapers on the street, but she managed to dodge them and then, from another corner appeared another one, this time a woman. Hokori stopped and they both looked at each other. The Fireworks announcing the hour of the Tiger erupted overhead.
The woman was about to stop her, but she just turned her head in the other direction, from where Kagaya felt a strange gust of wind that did not wash over her, instead it penetrated into her body and flew out as it came. Hokori got over the feeling, but the woman wasn't there anymore.
Genryusai Yamamoto listened gravely to what Kirio Hikifune had to say, his expression didn't change, but Kirio wasn't sure if he won't burn her down with his Ryujin Jakka soon.
"So, with the sudden death of Hegatora Shinzo yeasterday. The Great White Tiger was set free."
Yamamoto's mustache quivered.
"And how long have you known about this Captain Hikifune?!" he demanded.
"Since yesterday evening."
Someone rapped on the door of squad 1.
"Enter." boomed the Head Captain's voice."
In came the Lieutenant carrying a scroll sealed with nine seals of the heavens.
"Correspondence from the Holly Palace, sir." commented needlessly Lieutenant...
Yamamoto ordered Kirio to return to her squad for further notice, and not to discuss the details with anyone.
Meanwhile, he undid the nine seals and instead of reading the customary blessing for the New Year, he read an order:
"A Captain is to report to the Holy Guard and take up the mission of finding the holy beast. The Soul Society is to continue as it was, weaker and less blessed."
Yamamto could feel that the thunder of trouble will roll soon over Seiretei. The King was punishing Seiretei for the trickery of it's nobility and the attachment to position they displayed.
He himself went to the House of the bereaved family. The announcement of Shinzo Hagetora's death was to be postponed to the third day of the new year, but Central 46 gathered already to sanction the House.
Kirio Hikifunne left the same day that the funeral took place and ever since then she was on the trail of the White Tiger, but finding it was a difficult task.
"Tigers step lightly on the white snow and attack fiercely." she repeated to herself, traveling from dimension, to dimension, always seeing only a glimpse of it's tail.