Under the Sky: A Noble Flame
Chapter 2
Goemon's timing was, as always, impeccable. He arrived at the designated temple ahead of the others. Inwardly, he allowed himself to gloat. Ishikawa Goemon never lost to anyone. Confident that the others would not arrive for some time yet, he decided that a little reconnaissance would be beneficial to building a clearer picture of what he was getting into. Naturally, he already knew the exact details of his mission, but being told and seeing for oneself were two very different things. As he leapt from roof-top to roof-top, he analyzed his given instructions.
Arrive at the temple, meet Hanzo, and meet the Kusunoki heir - simple.
If she chooses you as her guardian, take her into your custody, lead her to Iga in secret, and protect her with your life - tedious, time-consuming, and possibly boring enough to make him regret accepting Hattori Hanzo's offer. Technically, he was no longer a part of Iga and held no obligation to listen to anything its leader had to say. But, in this case, he made an exception. His agreement to this mission had been motivated by a two things:
First - he owed Hanzo a debt.
Second - the man had promised him a full pardon from Goemon's former master, Momochi Sandayu*.
Not that Goemon particularly cared if the man was still upset about the light transgression a few years back that resulted in his original banishment from Iga. Just that, the young man was starting to get tired of his career as a charitable thief, and running missions as a sword-for-hire wasn't paying off nearly as much as being affiliated with a Clan. He dreaded the moment when he would have to bow his head and apologize, especially after the man had tried to throw a pot of boiling water at him when he found him in bed with his very lovely - and very naked - wife. Despite himself, he grinned. Truly, he wasn't to blame. What man wouldn't want to take advantage of something so plainly offered? Though he'd originally planned to resist the woman's advances, when she'd come to his room and stripped off her kimono, he decided that it would be criminal to decline.
"Please come this way, Sayuri-hime. The others will be here soon." Hanzo's voice caught his attention. Goemon paused in mid-jump, landing on a nearby ledge as soundlessly as a panther. He saw Hanzo walking in the alley below with a young girl. Since Hanzo did not typically entertain young girls, he assumed that this had to be the famous Kusunoki heir. With feline grace, he followed Iga's leader and his charge in the shadows, carefully observing their interaction. Naturally, he was more curious about the girl than his old comrade. After all, it had been nearly ten years since the fateful night at the temple when he'd found her half-dead in a dresser. Golden eyes narrowed in appreciation as they slid down from her narrow shoulders to her small waist and gently rounded hips. Not the most voluptuous lady he'd ever courted, to be sure, but he supposed she had enough appeal to be considered comely. Her hair had grown longer. Although tied back with a modest ribbon, it still reached down past her hips. He watched the tips sway with the movement of her steps, smiling impishly.
"The others? May I ask what you mean?" Her voice was rather sweet, he thought. As she asked the question, she turned her face to the side. The action afforded him a good view of her profile. By his calculations, she was at least eighteen years old, yet her face and small stature still reminded him of a child. Not particularly to his taste, but what right did he have to complain? After all, he wasn't planning on seducing the Kusunoki heir. At this stray thought, he chuckled. Unless she offered. Then, of course, it would be criminal to deny a sweet-faced girl a few hours of pleasure.
"I have gathered the best from Iga, Koga, and Fuma to assist in bringing you to my village. There, we can protect you better."
"Fuma? I, that is...in my studies I read that the Fuma Clan had broken away from Iga and Koga due to some conflict of interest."
Well, well...seems the little girl isn't completely ignorant, Goemon mused.
"That is true, yes. However, Nobunaga does not plan to give them any sort of immunity. Therefore, they have no choice but to ally themselves with us for now. It's a tense truce, but I'm confident that we can put aside our differences."
"We will be traveling together?"
"Is that not to your approval, Sayuri-hime?" She quickly waved her hands in denial.
"Oh, no, that isn't what I meant." Goemon's gaze dropped to her lips as she worried the bottom one lightly between her teeth. "It's just that, grandfather has never hired more than one person to travel with me." A smile. "It will be nice to have many people to talk to on the way."
Too sweet - Goemon suddenly concluded. Too sweet and too naive. This girl was supposed to be the Kusunoki heir? This sheltered child? He watched as she nervously tugged on her sleeve. Hanzo smiled. Really, the man was too gentle when it came to girls.
"While I'm sure everyone would be honored to travel with you, Sayuri-hime, you must choose one from them."
"One?"
"It will be safer if you travel with just one so that we don't attract a lot of unnecessary attention."
"I see. Will they also be...ninja?" The way she spoke the word confused him. She'd laced it with hesitant disapproval, as though she almost dreaded the prospect. Hanzo frowned, then.
"I understand your hesitation, Sayuri-hime. But, please be assured that the things you have heard about us are primarily propaganda spread by the Ashikaga Bakufu* to sow seeds of hostility."
"Please forgive my rudeness, Hanzo-san. It was not my intention to insult you."
Too polite, too self-conscious - Goemon frowned. Too formal. No, this girl was not to his taste at all. Sighing, the ninja decided that it was time to make his presence known. After all, he had no doubt that the girl would choose him out of their group. No woman would refuse, especially an impressionable little kitten like this. His way back into Iga's good graces was practically in the bag. He stepped forward and jumped down, landing behind the Kusunoki princess so quietly that not even her hair was disturbed. He saw Hanzo's eyes widen and his hand fly to the katana at his waist. When he recognized him, however, he immediately let out a breath of relief.
"Please don't be alarmed, Sayuri-hime. The man behind you is one of the guardians I spoke of." The girl whirled around faster than lightning, her already large eyes wide in her delicate face. The shock had drained the color from her cheeks. She backed up until she ran bodily into Hanzo, who gently cupped her shoulder in reassurance. Goemon set his customary mask into place - a charming smile full of arrogance and flirtatious admiration.
"My, my...I didn't mean to frighten you, little bird." A beat. Had his surprise scared her speechless? He glanced at Hanzo, who frowned disapprovingly.
"This is -"
"Ishikawa Goemon," the red-haired ninja announced with a flourish. He made a show of looking her up and down. She blushed. Satisfied by her reaction, he laughed. "You are shorter than I imagined, but curvier, too." Her blush intensified and she folded her arms across her chest, her gaze flitting away from the blatant heat in his eyes. Hanzo's hand tightened its grip on her shoulder.
"None of your games, Goemon. This is serious. Where are the others?"
"Oh, I expect they'll be here any moment now. But, does it matter? I already know that the little bird here will choose me."
OOO
Sayuri tried to look everywhere but at the newcomer before her. She didn't dare meet his eyes again. At least, not until she prepared herself emotionally. Ishikawa Goemon was not the first man to comment on her looks, but he was the first to make her feel so uncomfortable with mere words. His last remark irked her. The way he spoke, the way he stood - with a hand at his hip as though he had all the time in the world - and even the way he smiled bellied a cluster of vanity. The girl wasn't spiteful, however. She would not deny that he had some right to be confident, what with such an attractive face and natural allure. She briefly glanced at him again, taking in the way his clothing accented his lean torso, broad shoulders, and long legs. The color of his shoulder-length hair reminded her of her favorite Chrysanthemum flowers - vibrant, rich, and bold. Just like him...
Too bold - she lamented inwardly. Too conceited, too...worldly.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ishikawa-san," she replied in a neutral monotone. His imperious smirk momentarily faltered. Or had she imagined it? In less time than it took to wonder, he recovered. He stepped forward and took one of her hands in his own. Sayuri's heartbeat quickened when he brought it to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Call me Goemon, little bird. There's no need for such formality between us." She felt her face catch fire, immediately pulling back her hand and hiding it in one of her large sleeves.
"O-of course there is," she stammered, mortified at the overly familiar physical contact. At that moment, Fate chose to take pity on her. The wind shifted, and in the blink of an eye, three figures appeared around them in a semi-circle.
"At last," Hanzo whispered under his breath. "Sayuri-hime, these are your other guardians." He pointed to each man in order. "These are Kirigakure Saizo and Sarutobi Sasuke of Koga, and Kotaro of the Fuma Clan." Sayuri bowed politely. "Saizo, Sasuke, Kotaro - this is Kusunoki Sayuri. You will protect her with your lives and treat her with utmost courtesy."
"Hello, Sayuri-chan," a ninja with silky orange-blonde hair greeted. Sasuke, was it? Despite the fact that she'd only just met him, she recognized that his smile was contagious. "I've heard a lot about you from Hanzo, but he never said you were so adorable." His green eyes matched his emerald dogi, accented by fringes of golden thread to compliment his hair.
"Sasuke is the fastest ninja in Koga and Iga combined," Hanzo revealed. Sayuri nodded in acknowledgement and looked at the next man. Where Goemon's eyes had been filled with heat and Sasuke's green orbs reminded her of the forest, this ninja's eyes seemed to freeze her blood. Cold, frigid, voidlike, the blue in his irises sent chills down her spine. The black hair that fell forward to frame his face only accented the color, as did his indigo dogi. He inclined his head to her, but said nothing. The subtle motion jostled an interesting ornament in his hair - a snow-white feather dangling from a golden chain.
"Hello," she offered hesitantly, a bit disturbed by his silence.
"Saizo is our master of stealth and disguise. He bends both shadow and fog to his will."
"That's really amazing," the girl murmured. Saizo shrugged.
"You should hurry up and make your choice, Princess." He said her title with a hint of annoyance. "Dragging a civilian across the countryside will surely be a slow process."
"Saizo," Hanzo intervened, angry. "I said you will treat the Princess with utmost courtesy." Again, the ninja shrugged. This time, he bowed deeper.
"Apologies, Hanzo. I will refrain from speaking my mind henceforth."
"It's alright, Hanzo-san," Sayuri insisted. She hated to admit it, but Saizo's blatant rejection stung. His attitude was too much like the villagers'. People could truly be cruel to each other - cruel, judgmental, and hurtful. At last, the final ninja spoke up. He walked up to her and bowed deeply. Unlike the others, his manners were reserved, his motions curt and extremely formal.
"It is truly an honor to meet you at last, my Princess." He removed a black mask that hid most of his face, affording her a proper view of his features. Something clicked in her mind. Was it the color of his hair, or the angle of his jaw that reminded her of something? His face was so familiar...Suddenly, the pieces fell into place. She gasped. A spike of adrenaline nearly caused her knees to buckle.
"You..." she whispered breathlessly.
"Sayuri-hime, are you alright?" Hanzo's voice felt far away. Black crept to the edges of her vision.
"You're the one," the girl continued as though she didn't hear him. "In the fire...I remember, I saw your face." Clutching at her chest now, she felt her throat tightening. Her lungs contracted, cutting off her air supply. "Your eyes...red, like blood..." No one said a word. Apparently, her revelation had shocked them all. Only when she stumbled sideways after a few moments did Hanzo finally speak.
"Sayuri-hime, you remember Kotaro?" She allowed his arms to support her, feeling drained.
"He saved me...in the fire..." Suddenly self-conscious of her actions, she forced herself to straighten up. To this day, no one knew of her phobia of fire. Not even her grandfather. No one knew of her nightmares, or how closed spaces could drive her to madness. It was best to keep such things to herself and to try to bury her fear in prayer. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's just that I was very shocked. I begged my grandfather to tell me the name of the man who had saved me, but he insisted that it was a random traveler who happened to be passing by." Delicately, she wiped a drop of sweat from her brow with the edge of her sleeve. Seeing that Kotaro was still speechless, she bowed to him. "For so many years, I have wanted to thank you for saving my life. Thank you, Fuma-san. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you." When she lifted her head again, she saw that Kotaro's cheeks were tinged with a very faint pink.
"No need for such a gesture, Princess. It is my duty to keep the Kusunoki heir from all harm."
"Are you alright now?" Hanzo pressed.
"Yes, thank you." He seemed to visibly relax.
"Have you made your choice, Sayuri-hime?" The man named Goemon was completely out of the question. His attitude would probably kill her faster than any kind of danger. Saizo was...well...he reminded too much of things she wanted to forget. Sasuke was a good option as well. Clearly, he was very kind and gentle. But...
Kotaro is the one I have been dreaming of this whole time. If I can repay him somehow for what he did on this trip, then perhaps I will feel at ease.
"Fuma-san, would you forgive me if I imposed on your kindness one more time? Could I please go with you?" He bowed wordlessly. No matter that he really had no choice. Although she felt guilty about that, she desperately wanted to at least travel with someone she knew she could trust.
"Then it is decided," Hanzo said with finality. "We will leave on the morrow. Saizo, Sasuke - since you are free to go now, I have another mission to discuss with you. Meet me in the inner temple courtyard."
"See you later, Sayuri-chan," Sasuke said with a wink. In a flash, both he and Saizo disappeared.
"Goemon, I also have a task for you, so don't leave yet." He turned to the silver-haired ninja. "Kotaro, please escort Sayuri-hime to the temple. From now on, you are not to let her out of your sight." Kotaro bowed and looked at Sayuri. His face was expressionless, like a Noh* mask. Somehow, such a complete lack of human emotion unnerved her. Nevertheless, she followed him inside, stealing only one final look at Goemon. He was focused on something in the distance. She kept looking back, but even after a few minutes when she and Kotaro reached the entrance to one of the branches of the temple, he still did not glance her way. For some reason she couldn't identify, she felt just a little hurt.
OOO
Kotaro Fuma followed his orders to the letter. Not only did he escort Sayuri to her chambers; he also refused to let her out of his sight. Although she didn't particularly mind his company, the girl wasn't the least bit comfortable. She'd lived in temples for as long as she could remember, and in all instances the monks avoided her unless they needed her for something. In the villages and out in the market, people tended to give her a wide berth. Even her grandfather, the only man she really trusted, was so busy that he rarely had time to spend with her. Thus, she grew accustomed to being alone. When she returned to her chambers, she decided to try and read to get her mind off of the recent events. However, paying attention to the book was futile while Kotaro was in the room with her. The fact that there was a man in her room was already disconcerting enough, but Kotaro made things worse by refusing to sit down. He stood like a living statue in the corner of her room, his hawk-like gaze watching over everything.
"Fuma-san, would you like some tea," she ventured. He shook his head. "Are you hungry at all?"
"Thank you, Princess, but no. I am fine."
"Would you like to have a seat? You look uncomfortable standing there."
"Thank you for your concern, Princess. However, my orders are to guard you."
Sayuri frowned. "Can't you do that while sitting?" He shook his head. She sighed and tried to focus on reading again. Nearly an hour passed. When she realized that she'd been reading the same page over and over the entire time, she finally gave up on trying to concentrate. All these years, she'd wondered what she would say if she could meet the man who saved her life. On the darkest and loneliest nights, she'd imagined that she was talking to him, telling him that she wasn't wasting his efforts and that she was trying her best to live as well as she could. Now that he was right in front of her, however, words escaped her. The awkward and unnatural silence in the room suffocated her so much that she stood up and cracked upon the narrow window above her futon.
"Are you feeling alright, Princess?"
"Just a little hot." Situating herself so the outside breeze would blow back her sweat-dampened hair, the girl released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She let her thoughts wander. In her heart, she admitted that Hanzo's arrival made her very happy. True, she feared the danger that no doubt loomed over the horizon. But, at the same time...
Finally, someone said they needed me. Someone said I could do something to make a difference in this world. If they need me, then I'll do whatever I can to help them.
Another few minutes passed by in silence. Then -
"Princess?" Hanzo's voice echoed just outside her door. He knocked three times.
"Yes, Hanzo-san. Please come in." He slid the door open and bowed as he entered. Within her tiny chamber, he looked entirely out of place. Granted, Kotaro was also tall, but Hanzo was at least a head taller than him. Having both of them in her chamber at once made the room seem like a part of a dollhouse. "Is something wrong?"
"I need to speak with Kotaro for a moment. I assure you, he won't be gone for long." He tried to lace his voice with reassurance, but somehow Sayuri saw right through him. Hanzo was hiding something. Nevertheless, she smiled and nodded. It wasn't her business to pry in their affairs.
"Of course." When the door shut behind them, Sayuri jumped to her feet and padded over to her cherry wood dresser. She'd been dying to change into fresh clothes ever since she returned from the market. In truth, she wanted to take a bath, but she feared worrying Kotaro if he returned to an empty room. Reaching into one of the smaller drawers, she took out a piece of parchment, her brushes, and some ink.
I'm sure it will be alright. We're not leaving until tomorrow, and I'm perfectly safe here at the temple. I'll be quick.
She scribbled a note explaining the situation, slipped quietly through her door, and padded down the hallway.
OOO
As Sayuri neared the baths, she heard a set of voices coming from the Hokke-do* across the hall. Strange. Only the head priest and a few others were allowed in the room. It was reserved strictly for meditation. Had Kohei summoned the monks for prayer? Why hadn't the bell been rung? Curious, she pressed her ear against the large, double-doors. The last thing she expected was to hear four very familiar voices.
"I can't approve of this, Hanzo. That scrawny child cannot lead us." Saizo's glacial voice echoed off the marble within the Hokke-do.
"Watch your mouth, Saizo." She recognized Sasuke's baritone. "I thought you said you weren't going to talk like that any more."
"In front of that girl, no. But even you, with your thick head, can see that I'm right. We came here to find the Kusunoki heir. She is supposed to unite all of the clans and help us solidify our alliance. Nobunaga will not fall to a child. What we need is an experienced diplomat, at the very least."
"Saizo," Hanzo began.
"No. I won't let you disagree. I told you coming here was not the solution we needed. Instead of prancing around Iga with this girl, we should be fortifying the villages and sending for more to join our cause." The dark-haired ninja's voice didn't tremble in anger or waver with emotion. Despite the biting remarks he spat out like poison, his tone remained cool and controlled.
He's right - Sayuri admitted bitterly to herself. I'm just a temple girl. What can I do?
"The Princess has been trained and has received a fine education. She isn't an ordinary girl. You're underestimating her, Saizo," Hanzo countered.
"I can tell just from looking at her once that you're wrong. I'm just glad that Kotaro has to deal with her and not me." Those words hurt. Sayuri clutched at the neckline of her kimono, her eyes stinging. "Why didn't you just tell him to come in the first place instead of summoning all of us? We wasted time traveling here when we could have been running missions elsewhere."
"Saizo, if you say one more bad word about the Princess I'm going to break your jaw," Sasuke warned.
"Back off, Sasuke. Although Saizo's words are also making me angry, I called you here to listen to your honest opinions regarding this issue."
"We don't need her. That's my opinion." The finality in his words stomped out whatever flickering hope she'd recently felt. For a moment, she came dangerously close to shedding tears, but stopped them before they could fall. If she started crying now, just because of a little adversity, she would confirm all of Saizo's terrible accusations. She wouldn't give into weakness. Steeling herself for the rest of the conversation, she waited for the men to continue speaking.
"I've heard enough. Sasuke, Saizo - you will be sent on the mission we discussed. I expect you to return by the time Kotaro and the Princess arrive in Iga."
"Understood," Saizo replied curtly.
"Hanzo, I still don't think it's a good idea to send just Kotaro. It's not that I'm doubting his skills. It's just that...considering the situation...it will be dangerous for just the two of them to go." Suddenly, she heard one of the men step closer towards the door. Terrified that they'd realize she'd been rudely eavesdropping on their conversation, she tip-toed backwards and made her way towards the baths. The girl hoped that her socks wouldn't make too much noise across the polished, wooden floor.
"The situation..." she mumbled. "What did Sasuke mean by that, I wonder."
"You're quite daring, little bird," a voice drawled from behind her. Sayuri whipped around. Goemon stood less than a few feet away. She marveled at the fact that she hadn't even heard him following her. Had he seen her standing at the door and listening? Just like earlier that day, her face turned a dark shade of red in shame. He grinned, clearly pleased that he'd unsettled her. His fierce eyes seemed to simmer in the dim candlelight of the corridor.
"Ishikawa-san..." He stepped forward. She stepped back. They continued this until her shoulders hit the wall behind her. Sayuri tried to count the floorboards. "I thought you'd left already," she finished lamely. Without preamble, he cupped her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him.
"And I thought that I asked you to call me Goemon," he countered lazily.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop. It's just...all of this is so sudden...and I wanted to know more about what was going on. I was going to the..." His face loomed closer. "To the bath...and then I heard voices."
"Do you really want to know?"
"What?"
"Do you really want to know what Sasuke meant?" She nodded, praying that he would let go of her chin soon. No one had ever touched her so familiarly before. "Assassins. We've confirmed that assassins have been sent to kill you. Although we've made them an offer of peace, the Hachisuka clan of ninja have joined Nobunaga. That's the reason we came to retrieve you now instead of letting you live your quiet, boring, little life. If they kill you and word of it reaches the ninja clans, our treaties and negotiations will be void. Unless they're united the clans won't stand a chance against the invasion." He paused, for effect. "Knowing that it's very likely that you may be killed, would you still step out of your comfortable boundaries and do this?"
He's trying to provoke me - Sayuri thought irritably. In an action completely uncharacteristic of her normally placid nature, she swatted his hand away from her. Eyes flashing, she answered him heatedly -
"If Hanzo-san says he needs me or if he tells me that others need me, then I don't care if I die. All these years, I've wished for the chance to make a difference somehow. And now, I've even met Fuma-san who saved my life." Once she started, she suddenly couldn't stop. The words tumbled from her lips with the speed and force of an avalanche. "I won't just sit here and hide. I'm not a coward. I may be a sheltered temple girl who doesn't know anything like Saizo says, but that doesn't make me useless." For a long while, Goemon stared at her without comment, his powerful gaze trying to find fault with her bold statements. Apparently, something she'd said troubled him. For the first time since she met him, he didn't appear completely confident.
"You," he began. "You really don't remember me, do you?"
She wanted to ask him what he meant - wanted to ask why his brow furrowed in frustration and why he insisted on remaining so close to her. But, before either of them could do anything else, the wall behind Sayuri exploded in a spray of marble, fire, and dust.
OOO
Appendix:
Momochi Sandayu - according to history, this man was Goemon's teacher in Iga. When he found him having an affair with his concubine, he banished him from the village.
Hokke-do - In Tendai Buddhism, a hall whose layout allows walking around a statue for meditation. The purpose of walking is to concentrate and seek the ultimate truth.
Bakufu - alternate term for Shugunate
Noh - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles.