It was Kiso and Akio's turn to laugh. “To help us?” Kiso said. “How can you possibly help us?”
“I have information,” Furi said.
“We are not information poor,” Kiso told her. “So tell us what you have and we shall see if it is anything we do not already know.”
“Fine,” Furi said, and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I'm sure that you know by now there is a daimyo who is prepared to make a challenge for shogun.” Kiso and Akio nodded. “And, this daimyo is Suenaka, from the large city nearby.” Again, both nodded. “Do you know that Ratnakar has already offered to help Suenaka achieve this and, in return, he will become daimyo?” Kiso nodded but Akio did not. He sat still, curious as to what this woman's end game could be in revealing this information.
Continuing, Furi said, “Do you know that if he loses the challenge, Suenaka will wage war on the compound and on you?”
Kiso spoke up. “We have already learned all of this, Furi. There is nothing new here.”
Bowing lightly, Furi said, “So I see.” She took a small step forward. “Do you know that your sword, the fire soul…” She pointed to Akio's sword, “is the only thing that can stop this invasion?”
“How is one sword going to stop this from happening?” Akio said.
“The fire soul is the mortal enemy of the dark dragon,” Furi said. “I have seen it in visions and in ancient books. It is the only thing that can keep the powers of evil at bay.” She watched their faces as they listened. “And, I can help you ensure that this happens.”
***
Couriers came and went all evening and the following morning. However, Akio had ordered every letter, every parcel, to come through either he or Kiso before it was delivered. So far, there had been nothing but family letters, merchant orders, and an occasional love note. But this letter was different. Kiso knocked and then barged into Akio's room without worrying who was inside.
“I apologize, Akio, but you must see this at once,” she told him, thrusting the letter in front of his face.
Akio paused in what he was reading to look at the paper. It had a daimyo's seal on it. The letter was from Suenaka to the emperor and had the seal of imperial mail on it as well. If they were caught with it, with opening it, there could be hell to pay. However, on the document lay the information that Akio needed against Suenaka. It was Suenaka telling the emperor that he would be challenging Akio after the celebration and that if he were not made shogun, he would take the position by force.
“This is it,” Akio said, looking up at Kiso with a huge smile. He stood up and hugged her tight, their faces only inches apart.
She pushed away after welcoming his grasp. “It is. We have everything we need against him now,” she said. “What do you plan to do?”
“How about a little surprise?” Akio said with a huge smile.
***
“Sir!” Kujo came running into the library where Ratnakar sat with Fate and Karma. “I'm sorry to disturb you, but this is important!”
Ratnakar raised an eyebrow. “Yes, yes, go on.”
“It's the monk, sir,” Kujo said, out of breath.
“The monk? Asas? What about him?”
“He's vanished.”
Chapter Fifteen
The courtyard of the compound was decorated to the highest standard, the tables filled with wine, and too many delicacies to sample even for the biggest eater. Akio was overwhelmed at the sheer number of people that the emperor had invited. Kiso was on the prowl throughout the celebration for anything that could be out of place. Sitting at the head table with the emperor, Akio was thrilled to see everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. However, his thoughts kept coming back to what was coming. His eyes flicked lightly to Suenaka, busy in his ale and women.
Soon, the emperor made a toast to Akio, announcing him fully as the new shogun. People cheered. After the emperor's toast, Akio stood up to make his own toast. He thanked the emperor, thanked the previous shogun, and many others who had helped him reach this decisive day. Before he was finished, though, he headed down a darker path.
“Now that I have gotten some of my thankfulness out, I feel that there is something else that I should address,” he said to the crowd, who went almost silent. “As you know, I am one of the youngest shoguns in history. And, I know that some of you do not care for this. You feel that there should be someone more knowledgeable, more battle-hardened, more aged. Just more everything, in this place. Instead of giving me a chance, you are ready to do things that could cost you more than just your seat at a party.”
Suenaka began to squirm in his chair as he realized that his plans had been conveyed to the shogun.
“I actually understand this,” Akio said. “I understand the idea of needing someone older who knows the ropes in the shogun position. What I do not understand is that some of you will go to great lengths to try and eliminate me immediately.”
He snapped his fingers and men surrounded Suenaka.
“Usami Suenaka,” Akio said in a loud, booming voice, “you are hereby charged with undermining the government, plotting to overthrow the government, and being a traitor against your emperor.” People everywhere at the celebration gasped in shock and began to talk and whisper about what was happening. Kiso looked up at the emperor who sat with an amused smile across his face. “Take him to a cell and hold him there,” Akio commanded as the soldiers pulled Suenaka from his seat.
“You will pay for this, boy!” Suenaka screamed as he was dragged off. “I am not the only one here who is ready to take you on!”
Akio smiled and waved at the man before they turned a corner and he was gone. Then he sat back down in his chair next to the emperor.
“I had no idea you had such drama planned for this evening, Akio,” the emperor said with amusement. “I do love the surprise.”
“I am sorry that I had to do that here,” Akio apologized. “However, Suenaka was planning to challenge me and invade the compound tomorrow.”
“I know,” said the emperor.
Akio froze, his glass midway to his mouth. “You knew?”
The emperor nodded and grinned. “Of course I knew, Akio. Do you really believe I know nothing of how things work here?”
Floored, Akio asked, “Were you planning to tell me or just see how things played out?”
“Oh, I would have told you,” the emperor said, “eventually.” The man grinned at Akio. “You must understand, I wasn't sure how things would go between you and I. With the old, powerful shogun leaving and wanting me to assign someone so young to the position, I wasn't sure what type of person you would be. I had to make sure that there were... options.”
“So you chose to back Suenaka?”
The emperor shrugged and smiled. “What's done is done.”
Akio struggled to sit through the remainder of the celebration next to the emperor. He had thought the two were becoming friends, thought they understood each other better. It was a hard lesson to learn that he could not trust the man who had put him formally into office.
***
As Akio’s soldiers neared the back of the compound, a group of the emperor's guard met with them. “We will take him from here,” the emperor’s men said.
“We were not told of any swapping with the prisoner,” one of Akio’s soldiers said.
The emperor's guards laughed. “You don't need to be told of anything. Suenaka comes with us.”
The new shogun's soldiers reasoned the emperor’s orders took precedence over their own boss, and besides, they did not want to get caught up in a fight with the imperial guards. So they relinquished the prisoner and watched as they walked off, out of sight.
***
From deep in the shadows, Kuninaka watched as the imperial guard took the prisoner from the shogun's guard. He was furious that the emperor was pulling this type of a stunt. He followed the group as close as possible without being caught. The group stopped just s
hort of a gate toward the back of the compound.
“Now go,” one of the guards told Suenaka. “The emperor says he will expect your challenge as soon as you reach your city and have control of your own guard again.”
Suenaka rubbed at his wrists where he'd been dragged. “How am I to get there? Walk?”
“Outside the gate is a horse, waiting for you. Ride quickly and do not stop for anyone,” the guard told him. “Now go! Before we are seen.” The imperial guards turned and walked away, leaving Suenaka at the gate alone.
When Kuninaka had been a younger man, he would have rushed in, attacking Suenaka and besting him in a fight, then pulling the bastard into a cell himself. But he was no longer young and could not move nearly as fast as he once did. He was forced to watch the traitor escape and the imperial guard walk away.
***
Ratnakar's horse was quiet as they carefully navigated the darkened roads between the monastery and the city. He was searching for the monk, but also wanted to make contact with another gang of men in town. Being seen would not be the best thing for him right now. The other two men who accompanied him were masters of quiet, ninjas in their own right. He was thankful that they were loyal to him. He knew that Suenaka would not wait until morning to make some type of gesture, some type of move toward the shogun. He had to be on the offensive now.
Their trio of shadows cast by the moonlight was the only other thing out there in the dark woods with them.
***
Furi waited just outside of the compound where Suenaka's escape horse waited. Her mount was sleek and strong, where the one they had provided for him was large and cumbersome. When he appeared outside of the gate, he froze when he saw her waiting there.
“So they've sent an assassin for me, huh?” he said, remaining perfectly still.
“Oh no,” she said with a smile, “on the contrary, I'm here to ensure that you get back home. Ratnakar sends his regards.”
“Does he now?” he said, still not moving.
“Come on,” she said, “we need to get out of here before Akio realizes that you're not in your cell.”
He moved to the horse that was waiting for him and swung himself up onto it. The two rode quietly through the city and toward the main gates. When they were finally outside and moving down the roads through the fields, he asked, “Why would he send you – a known assassin – to help me escape?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. I simply do as I'm asked.”
The daimyo grunted. “I doubt that.” He spurred his horse and it took off. She did not give chase. Instead, she continued to ride at a normal pace toward the woods where he had disappeared.
***
As the celebration neared its end, Akio was thankful that it was over. He was angry and let down with the emperor and all that had happened, but he was also happy that he had Suenaka in custody so that he could avoid any issues in the next few days. Still, he would have to do something with him – and his position – fast.
He moved down the corridor toward his room, with two guards at his sides, and a shadow moved ahead in the darkness. The three men froze, guards drawing their weapons. A friendly voice called out in a loud whisper, “It's me, kiddo.”
Kuninaka was waiting ahead for him. “What are you doing out here like this?” Akio said as he neared where the man stood. “You shouldn't be back here; it could have gotten you sliced!”
“Well, that would be a story, wouldn't it?” Kuninaka said with a grin. “But I came to find you to tell you that your prisoner has escaped.”
“Which prisoner?” he asked, already fearing the answer.
“Suenaka.”
“How the hell did he escape?” Akio was furious, and a little nervous, at the prospect of the man being on the loose again.
Kuninaka's face clouded. “The emperor's guard came to swap him from your men, who did not know better. Then, he was let go by the back gate.”
Akio was quiet. His anger was close to boiling over at the emperor's stunt. He looked at Kuninaka. “I think we should speak of this in private,” he said. “Please come with me.”
Kuninaka followed Akio and the guards to Akio's room. He had one of the guards go in first to check the area. After a few moments, the guard returned: it was clear. He turned to the guards. “I am to know all visitors who come to the door,” he told them. “However, you shall not let anyone in unless I specifically ask for them to come in.” They both nodded.
Akio and Kuninaka entered the room and Akio went to the side bar to pour them both a small drink. “What do I do now?” he asked the former shogun. “Surely you had those who would challenge you.”
Kuninaka let out a light laugh. “More than you know Akio. More than you know.” He accepted the drink thankfully. “However, each one is a little different.” He paused to take a sip. “With Suenaka, you have to be extremely careful. He is a dangerous and desperate man.”
“I realize this,” Akio said. “So what do I do before his army arrives?”
“First,” Kuninaka said with another sip, “we need to send all of the women – your mother, my daughters, and so on – to your compound immediately.” He paused to look at Akio. “As a precaution.”
“I agree.” Akio went to the door and rang for one of his servants. When the servant arrived, Akio told him that he wanted his mother, Saru, Uba, Seki, and all of Kuninaka's daughters packed and sent to his compound right away. “I want them to leave within the hour,” he told the servant who nodded, bowed, and left. Then Akio headed back into the room and closed the door. “What next?” he asked the other man.
“Now we plan,” Kuninaka said. “And we have to plan for both Suenaka's challenge and attack and the problem of the emperor.”
***
Back in his own city before dawn, Suenaka gathered up his top advisers and began his preparations. No one questioned what he was asking, even if they thought it. While he wanted to strategize as much as possible, he knew that by now Akio had been made aware he was missing and possibly knew that the imperial guard had let him go. He grinned slightly at that fact and wished he could have seen the boy's reaction when he learned that he was no longer a prisoner in his compound. However, he had to consider the fact that Akio knew he was coming and would be ready. They had to launch an attack as soon as possible to catch them off guard if they still could, or at the very least give them no time to organize their troops.
The planning took about an hour and then each of his advisers rushed off to do their part. The bell was sounded that alerted the citizens that all men of fighting age needed to come to the barracks in the compound immediately.
As the bell's sounds rang throughout the city, Suenaka sat back in his favorite chair with a cup of ale and a grin. Soon, it would be him ruling as shogun and not that young chump.
***
As they neared the city’s perimeter, Ratnakar and his companions heard the bell tolling. They paused in the dark of the forest, still well outside the view of anyone. Crouching down behind a large clump of fallen trees and brush, Ratnakar rubbed his face. He already knew what this meant.
“They are summoning all men to the compound for war,” one whispered.
“Why?” asked the other.
“Because Suenaka is going to attack the shogun,” Ratnakar told them. “We cannot go into the city now.”
The other two were quiet. He assumed this meant they agreed. They could not afford to get caught up in this and pulled into a battle that they did not want to be a part of. A noise on the road caught their attention. There was a lone guard from the daimyo's property heading toward the monastery. One of the men stepped forward to intercept him, but Ratnakar caught his arm and shook his head.
After the guard had galloped past, Ratnakar whispered, “I do not want our men caught up in this either. If the guard gets there and I am not present, they cannot force anyone to go with just one soldier.”
The other two nodded. “So, what do
we do now?” one asked.
Ratnakar looked straight ahead, rubbing the hilt of the dark dragon. “For now, we will wait here and see what happens in the city.”
***
Her sleek horse rode almost silently down the road in the woods. At a slow gallop, Furi was alone with her thoughts once more. Continually, they rotated back to the two swords and she had to force her mind to think of something else, such as the coming battle. She needed to find Ratnakar but she did not want to head to the monastery just yet. She paused just outside Suenaka's city limits, unsure if she should ride through or go around.
From inside the city, the bell began to toll. At this hour, she knew what that entailed. Her decision was made for her. She would skirt the area.
Picking her way along the trail in the dark, she was thankful to have a smart horse. He carefully placed his feet as they went along. Birds and other small creatures moved around them in the peaceful quiet. She found herself in a state of Zen as the darkness surrounded her. Her thoughts drifted once more to the two blades and the two sides. Good and evil.
All of a sudden, a small voice penetrated through the murk that was her thoughts like a ray of sunshine through the clouds, bringing her closer to some astounding knowledge. Breathing deeply, she felt something shift inside her and a startling realization hit her like a battering ram.
She had been working for the wrong side this whole time. There was no more hesitation now.
Furi knew what she had to do.
***
Under the beautiful, quiet forest, Aichu was working furiously. She felt the unrest around Akio and knew that he was about to face a strong test. Somehow, she needed to reach him. Even though he could count on the power of the fire soul, he needed her and he also needed guidance.
Sending out her mind, she found the woman that she had been searching for. Her mind still fought against the knowledge that there was evil in the side she had already chosen. However, as Aichu continued to send out every bit of her calming Zen, she felt something inside the other finally yield. She felt something finally shift. After that huge change, she sent out instructions on what she needed to do to help Akio.
Samurai 2.0 - Destiny: A Harem Fantasy Adventure Page 20