by C. J. Anaya
He let out a dark huff of a laugh when I threw the dagger at his face. He easily batted it away and shoved me to the floor. Then he raised his sword high above my brother, his wicked intent clear. He was going to kill Saigo despite the fact that my brother remained unconscious, no longer a threat to him if he had ever been one at all. Before he could proceed, however, I heard a shout from behind him. The nekomata tensed and cried out in pain, falling to the floor in a heap. My father stood behind him with the nekomata’s blood dripping from the discarded dagger.
“You never should have touched my son,” he said in an eerily calm voice.
I continued to stare at the ground where the nekomata breathed its last breath while my father dropped to his hands and knees and pulled Saigo into his lap. I stared in amazement as he tenderly caressed Saigo’s face, wondering at the fatherly expression of love he held. I’d never seen my father behave like this, behave as if he cared about anyone or anything. He preferred Saigo over myself, but I didn’t think he was capable of loving him.
My father turned steely eyes on me. “You should have done more to protect him,” he shouted.
I felt stunned by his censure and my own guilt clamoring through me. What did he think I could have accomplished when I had never been allowed to train with Saigo or learn to fight and defend myself? What little I had managed to do was better than what my father had done while Saigo and I were attacked. He had stood there, silent during the entire exchange and only came to help when Saigo was injured. Would he have done anything at all if Saigo had not been present?
“Father, give him to me, and I will heal his injury,” I said. I raised my chin and defiantly met his eyes. I wouldn’t try to defend myself against a fool like my father. Not when my attention needed to be focused on my brother.
“I’ll hold him,” he said in a gruff voice. “You heal him.””
“Absolutely not,” Katsu’s enraged voice came as he barreled through the door. He took in the dead nekomata on the floor and the bloody dagger at my father’’s feet. “What has happened here, Fukurokuju?”
My father rushed to explain. “A demon from the underworld held me at knife point, but Saigo distracted him long enough to allow me to slay the beast. His actions were brave and selfless.”
I glared at my father. He wanted to hide his involvement with the nekomata and the army he had begun to build. His previous ignorance concerning the true identity of his associates mattered very little. His behavior was treasonous and needed to be brought to Katsu’s attention.
“Is that what happened, Mikomi?”
I opened my mouth to report on the real events taking place, but I felt my father place a hand upon my knee and give it a painful squeeze.
“We have more pressing matters to attend to,” he said in a measured tone. “Your brother’s suffering cannot be ignored, and you can be sure others in the kingdom will suffer if he is not made whole within the hour.”
My father’s threats were clear. If I imparted any of this information to Katsu, the people in the empire would suffer the consequences. I had no way to prove that my father had been building a kami army or that he had been a witless pawn in the demon god’s scheming. The word of Saigo and myself would be given little weight, though I knew Katsu would believe us. We needed several kami on our side to overthrow my father.
I needed Akane and Musubi, and I didn’t have much time to make my escape with Saigo and Kenji. I had no way of knowing how many restored nekomata were still planted within the palace, but once they discovered their leader had failed to return me to their master, they would set out to finish the job he had started. If my blood had restored them to their true forms, they would appear like any other kami. I would be fighting blind, unable to recognize my enemies before it was too late. My father would no doubt seek them out and destroy as many as he could, but not before one of them managed to get to me.
I had to leave with my brother and Kenji tonight.
“Mikomi,” Katsu said in warning, bringing me back to the present.
I looked at Saigo’s unconscious form and my concern grew. “My ki can handle this. Healing a broken nose will take barely any effort at all.”
“If it isn’t life threatening then he can heal on his own. I know this sounds harsh, but after everything your body has suffered, I cannot risk your ki being unprepared for the ceremony taking place seven days from now.”
At this point my ascension was the last thing on my mind, though it seemed the best way to thwart the demon god. I had every intention of ascending and playing my part in this war, but I had to find the kami my soul was destined for.
“As the emperor, I command her to perform this healing.”
“And where were you when your son was injured? Cowering behind your table?” Katsu asked.
I thought it was a good question and waited for an answer.
“I already explained this. The nekomata held a blade to my throat, a black blade from the underworld. I couldn’t risk even being nicked by it. You’re aware of the repercussions.””
Katsu grunted, “Yes, a slow and painful death. It’s a shame you favor your own life above that of your children. Saigo might have been spared his injury if you cared less about yourself.”
I felt a light suddenly illuminate the darkness of my father’s impenetrable invincibility. Akane had mentioned there was a way to kill my father. I glanced to the right of him where the nekomata had disintegrated and spotted the dagger on the floor. The black blade glinted enticingly where it had fallen. I had to get that blade to Akane, but how to retrieve it without my father or Katsu noticing? I had an idea and hoped it would work.
“Katsu, may I at least check Saigo to be certain that the damage to his nose is minimal? He is still unconscious and this worries me.”
I flicked my eyes at Saigo resting in my father’s lap, his head leaning on his shoulder with blood dripping from his nose.
“Fine,” he reluctantly agreed.
I scooted closer to Saigo and positioned myself next to the dagger, quickly throwing the ends of my shirt over the top of it. I placed my hands on Saigo’s head, anxious to assess the extent of his injuries. According to his ki, there was a minor break on the bridge of his nose, and he had suffered a small concussion from the impact of the nekomata’’s blow, but he would recover with no lasting side effects. I demonstrated some impressive restraint by refraining from accomplishing what was only natural for me. Instead of healing Saigo, I focused on shifting enough so that I was practically sitting upon the weapon from the underworld.
“He will be fine,” I said to my father, who eyed me angrily. His anger toward me was unjustified, but so many things my father felt for me or did to me fell within that category. I dismissed the guilt I felt at not healing my brother with the idea that I could easily sneak into Saigo’’s rooms tonight and rectify that situation without Katsu being the wiser.
My father’s angry glare slid to Katsu. “You will pay for your interference in this instance. You have far more to lose than you realize, Katsu.”
Katsu’s eyes flashed as he grabbed my father by the throat. “I tire of your threats, Fukurokuju. You don’t seem to realize that the days of your power as emperor are fast coming to an end. Our First Parents will not allow the abuse of your position and power to continue much longer.”
My body stilled at the threat of violence hanging in the air. It was disconcerting to realize that Katsu had known my father for much longer than I had, and their shared history together conveyed the strength of their sincere hatred for one another.
“Fortunately for me,” my father wheezed, “not every kami in creation is concerned with what our First Parents will and will not allow. They are not quite as invincible as you think, warrior god.”
Once again my father had more tricks up his sleeve, some mysterious leverage he could use at a time when it suited him most. Ever the strategist, it seemed as if it would never be possible to get the best of him. Unless he supposed I hadn’t
any tricks up my own sleeve. I took advantage of their distracted state and swiftly slid the dagger in my boot, grateful that the stockings I had borrowed from Saigo were so thick.
Katsu released the emperor with a growl and turned to me, pulling me to my feet.
“I must insist that we place you in your rooms and double the guards at the door until I make certain that there are no other threats to your safety,” Katsu said rather formally.
He reached his hand out to me, and I took it, feeling a sudden apprehension overwhelm me in regards to Saigo’s condition. It was difficult to walk away from him in his injured state.
As Katsu led me back to my rooms the guilt set in. I had used the opportunity to check on Saigo for a chance to grab the dagger. Instead of healing him and defying Katsu, I opted to grab the weapon. I had failed to protect my brother and then failed to heal his injuries. I was the worst sister in the world, but more terrible still came the knowledge that even with the training I had received I was still hopelessly short of the skill set necessary to fight like Akane and Musubi.
I was incapable of protecting the people I loved and swiftly running out of time to become a skilled fighter.
I had to learn how to effectively defend myself against the nekomata, and I had to do it now. As I pondered upon the hopelessness of my situation, an idea began forming. I needed to speak with Akane as soon as possible.
“I think it would be best if I take you away from here until it is time for your ascension,” Katsu said as we reached my quarters.
“What?”
I couldn’t possibly have heard him correctly.
“I am not only attempting to protect you from this war with the rebels, but I am now faced with a debilitating number of the demon god’s assassins and your own father willing to risk your health and quite possibly your life in order to accomplish his own selfish desires.”” He pulled me in and held me, resting his chin on the top of my head. “I can’t leave you alone to strengthen the veil when I know that you are not safe here.”
“Then arrest him, place him in the dungeons. Surely he has endangered my life enough that you can do so without anyone challenging your authority.”
“That’s just it, Mikomi. No one can prove that your father forced you to break through the veil, and no one can prove the abuse you have suffered at his hand due to the fact that there are no witnesses and your body instantly heals, obscuring all of the evidence. He would have to do something absolutely despicable, and in front of more than one individual, for those charges to be levied against him. Even then, I’m uncertain as to how long I would be able to justify imprisoning the emperor when his own generals would most likely break him out within a day or two, and then we’re right back to where we started.”
“What about the next kami in line to take power once I ascend? Surely Hachiman will understand the situation and relieve my father of his duties.”
Katsu sighed and then pulled away. “He was the first kami I sought out when I discovered the abuse you had suffered, but I haven’t been able to locate him.”
“Can’t you use your connection to the veil to track him?”
Katsu shook his head in frustration. “That’s what makes this situation so frustrating. If a kami doesn’t want to be found they can mask their own ki or their ki can be masked through another kami’s power. The monks at the shrine told me he went on a pilgrimage several years ago and hadn’t planned on returning until your ascension.”
I felt panic overtake me. I couldn’t leave with Katsu. If that happened I would never be able to take Saigo and Kenji and escape with the rebels. I had to do something to ensure that I would have enough time to enact our escape, and I had to warn Katsu of the danger those restored kami presented to all of us.
“What if I had proof of a far more serious crime than abuse to my person?”
Katsu peered at me with apprehension and opened my door, pushing me through and closing it behind us.
“Mikomi, what are you talking about?”
“I believe my father is planning on declaring war on our First Parents. He has created a kami army under the guidance of Amatsu’s assassins.”
As I went into full detail about the blood Aiko stole from me and the bondings my father had subjected me to, Katsu’s pallor grew sickly, and he immediately sat down upon the nearest chair.
“Why didn’t you tell me this the moment you suspected what he was doing? Why wouldn’t you come to me for help?”
“My father threatened to kill you. His threats led me to believe that he possessed a weapon from the underworld and held no reservations in using it against you if I attempted to thwart his plans. And now there are reformed nekomata within the palace walls who follow Amatsu. There is no way to know who is an enemy or an ally. This nekomata attack was carefully planned and executed. Amatsu must believe that he has a strong enough foothold in this realm to come after me now.”
“Your blood is capable of restoring nekomata to their former glory and turning humans into kami.” His bewildered visage gave me pause. This news had shaken him to his very center. The magnitude of my father’s rebellious actions against the gods was overwhelming to be sure.
“Then it is enough for you to arrest him?”
Katsu remained silent for a moment, no doubt considering our options at this point. “If we had proof, then yes, but I will need more than the word of a young woman to present to the gods of fortune, many of whom seem to have disappeared, which is also troubling, and considering what you’ve just revealed to me, more than a little disturbing.”
My eyebrows drew together. “Do you think my father has something to do with Hachiman’s disappearance?”
“If not your father, then most likely the nekomata he unknowingly aligned himself with. Consider what your father wants more than anything in this world.”
“Power,” I immediately replied. “He wants to continue to remain in power.”
“And who could possibly stand in his way?”
“Hachiman and any other kami in line to rule Kagami.”
Katsu stood with a grim glint in his eye. “If he has sunk so low as to use his own daughter’s blood to create a kami army and incarcerate any god of fortune that threatens his position as emperor, then there is absolutely no way I am allowing you to stay here a moment longer. I must journey to visit the gods of fortune, however many may remain, and inform them of Fukurokuju’s actions. He has declared war against the gods and most of them are completely unaware of the threat he poses.” He took me by the shoulders, his eyes begging me for understanding and acceptance. ““I know you do not wish to be separated from your brother, but come tomorrow morning, you and I must leave Kagami.”
No! This was not the outcome I had in mind when presenting Katsu with all of the facts.
“Surely all the information I have imparted is enough grounds for an arrest.”
“By whom, Mikomi? Despite my own elevated standing amongst the gods, I have no power in this kingdom and no allies who will help incarcerate Fukurokuju long enough for a divine tribunal to be established amongst the gods of fortune. We need more than a few sympathetic guards willing to throw the emperor in prison, especially with reformed nekomata roaming the palace grounds. We’’re fighting against two separate enemies at the moment, and we literally have no idea whom to trust and who might wish us harm. Do you really think I’ll leave you alone to deal with these invisible threats to your safety while I head off to plead my case to a higher authority? You’re coming with me. End of discussion.”
“No! That is not the end of this discussion. I am not leaving my brother or Kenji behind.”
Katsu peered at me in astonishment, but I no longer cared what he thought of my outrageous behavior. “If we are leaving, then they are coming with me.”
“There is no reason to believe that they will be in any danger—”
“Yet danger exists within the palace walls, and I won’t risk their lives simply because you deem it unnecessary to bring them
with us. I won’t leave this palace without them.””
Katsu inched forward, trying to intimidate me with his foreboding expression.
“I can understand that the stress of our current predicament might cause you to behave in ways you normally wouldn’t consider. I can forgive you this outburst, but I will not be moved from my current position. We must travel as quickly as we can to reach the gods of fortune, and I can only travel at inhuman speeds with one person at my side, not two, and certainly not three. I’ll agree to take Kenji and your brother as far as the gates of the temple, but that will be the extent of their journey with us. They will be on their own from there.”
“Not good enough,” I hissed.
Katsu glowered at me in outrage and shook me roughly by the shoulders. “You seem to be forgetting that the only individual who truly matters in all of this is The Healer. Amatsu’s minions won’t look twice at your brother or Kenji, but everyone desires to have you in their possession.”
Is that what I was to everyone involved? A possession or perhaps a pawn in this power struggle between him and every other kami in existence? I understood the responsibilities tied to my identity yet I was constantly being reminded of it. I wanted to rail against these stipulations he handed down, but I knew a more submissive approach was the answer. I chafed at the restrictions after experiencing so much freedom, but I was merely a woman with very little power, standing before a kami who had everything to lose if I didn’t smile and nod like an obedient wife. I couldn’t alienate him, and I didn’t want to, but I also couldn’’t behave like Mikomi in his presence. Only The Healer would do. Always The Healer.
I meekly bowed my head. “Forgive me, Katsu. I simply cannot bear the thought of leaving behind the only people in this palace who so unconditionally loved me. I will worry for their safety. I don’t know that I can endure their loss. Please, Katsu. Please allow them both to come. Please.”” I peered up at him, praying for a softening in his demeanor.