by C. J. Anaya
Chapter Fourteen
Akane started up her usual nervous pacing when we informed her of the sentries we discovered and my decision to remain behind. Saigo and Kenji had been brought in to discuss the change in plans and possible logistics of the situation.
“I must admit, I will fight with less preoccupation knowing you are safely ensconced within the forest, but we will be certain to leave a few soldiers with you and Saigo as a safety precaution. I suggest we also leave Aiko behind. She will be a help to you in case something goes terribly awry. Not that I think it will.” She stopped her pacing and turned herself to face us.
“I have no problems staying with my sister to make certain she remains safe. Should anything go wrong, what are your directives?” Saigo asked Akane.
“If we do not come out of the palace within an hour of entering, you must assume something has gone terribly awry and travel back to the rendezvous point within the cave behind the waterfall. Do you remember how to get there, Mikomi?”
“Yes, but I know we will have no need of it. I am confident you will all exit the palace with your rescued friends. I’m assuming you still have kami blood that will enable you to enter the palace without sounding any alarms.”
Akane pulled out the vial of kami blood attached to a leather thong about her neck. “We have prepared for every detail. I’m only concerned about our inability to plan for circumstances that may surprise us. None of this is foolproof.””
Not the most reassuring thing she could have said, but I appreciated her honesty rather than an attempt to coddle me from the truth.
“I need to go make my rounds and scan the various deaths our soldiers are facing,” Akane said.
“You don’t wish to do that with any of us?” Saigo asked.
“No need, young Prince. You will all be far away from the battle, and I’d rather not know the date of your natural death if I don’t have to. It’’s difficult to have that knowledge concerning those you care for.”
For the first time I wondered at the burden Akane’s gift forced her to carry. She was much stronger than I had ever before surmised.
“Before you go, I must ask what you wish us to do if no one arrives at the rendezvous point,” Kenji stated.
Musubi’s grave expression led me to believe I wouldn’t like the answer.
“You must take Saigo and Mikomi and leave Kagami. The most you will be able to wait is one day, but no more. Kenji, do you know how to leave the empire of Kagami and enter the human world?”
Kenji nodded. “Few have that ability, but I have studied the folklore around the hidden empire for years. I promise you, if it comes to that, we will leave Kagami as you have stated.”
“No,” I said.
“Mikomi, you will follow these instructions—”
“I’m not leaving you to be imprisoned or worse.”
He rubbed his hands along the length of my arms. “The emperor will not be able to hold me forever. I promise I will leave Kagami and find you no matter where in the world you may be.”
I didn’t argue the point, but I wasn’t about to agree to anything. If Akane and Musubi failed to come out in the time allotted them, then I was going in, no matter what anyone said.
“Can you make the memory transfer now for Musubi and myself? Though we don’t plan on attacking until tomorrow night we need to be prepared in case we are discovered and must up our timetable,” Akane said.
“Of course,” I replied.
I stepped forward and placed my hands on either side of her head, conscious of Musubi’s curious gaze upon my form. I had to remind myself that he believed this to be an extension of my empathic abilities and not a direct link to powers The Healer might possess. I focused my thoughts when fresh frustration at my inability to tell Musubi the truth coursed through me, momentarily distracting me from my purpose.
Zeroing in on my own memories of the twists and turns throughout the palace, my father’s study, and the secret door to the dungeons that lay beneath, I shared that information with Akane by embedding them into her memories. After finishing, I waited to see if it worked.
“Do you see the path clearly now?” I asked.
She rapidly blinked a few times before fully opening her eyes, and then tilted her head as if she were scanning her memories for the information she sought. With a dazzling smile she confirmed the success of our experiment.
“It is your turn, Musubi.” She gestured for him to stand in her place and then moved to the side.
As he stood before me, I had to tilt my chin up to meet his eyes, blushing at the hungry look they held within their depths and noticing that their once frosty appearance had been replaced by a fiery heat that caused pleasant tingles to ripple through my body.
“Be gentle,” he teased and then gave me a wink.
I failed to suppress the wide grin his flirting caused as I reached my hands up to cup either side of his head.
I closed my eyes and followed the same procedure, allowing my own memories to become embedded within his. I pulled away after a few moments and nodded. “Everything should be there for you to easily access.”
“Good,” he said. His arms surrounded me, and I relaxed into his embrace.
“None of that now,” Saigo said in disgust. “After all, it isn’t as if you’re really married.”
I laughed, grateful for the distraction, my thoughts teeming with the disturbing vision of Musubi at the mercy of nekomata. I turned from Musubi to swat at my brother, who deftly ducked away, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Perhaps we should be,” Musubi said.
I peered up at him. His look of uncertainty as to my response filled me with an aching desire to dispel any lingering doubts as to the outcome of our future.
“I’m fairly amenable to that idea.”
The slow smile that spread across his lips and lit his eyes with a happy fire nearly took my breath away. To see him uninhibited by the demons that had plagued him for so long was such a delight.
“You are the god of love and marriage, Musubi,” Akane said. “Aren’t you able to bond the two of you together?”
Musubi’s expression dampened for a moment.
“Unfortunately, I only wield the power to unite other couples together. I can’t perform a bonding upon myself, though I can help her with her ascension. Hachiman is the only one who can perform a marriage ceremony that would legally bind our souls for eternity.””
“Then our quest to rescue Hachiman is two-fold,” Kenji said. “I pray that this endeavor goes on without a hitch.”
As I reached for Musubi and relished the feel of his arms surrounding me, I promised myself with grim determination that nothing would keep me from being united with the man I loved, no matter what obstacles might loom in the distance.
* * *
The next day was tedious. Moving such a large number of armed rebels through the forest without attracting attention from my father’s soldiers took slow, careful precision with plenty of down time where messages were passed back and forth between Akane and her several generals in command of separate parts of the rebel army.
The closer we came to the outskirts of the forest, the more danger we faced. Sentries from the imperial guard marched wide circles around the palace in groups of two every few minutes, and search parties for possible rebel activity were always underway around the villages and forests. By the time darkness descended, my insides were wound in a tight anxious knot. Though I would never admit this to Musubi, I nearly feared to hope for a happy outcome. The idea that I might have everything I always wanted seemed too good to be true. I would have so much to lose and so much further to fall if I lost anyone I loved tonight.
Those soldiers responsible for surrounding the south side of the palace were already in place, and those coming in from the north and the east were also in position. I waited with Musubi, Akane, Yao, and Chan just beyond the outer wall of the gardens. It would be my job to use my kami blood in order to open t
he back hedges and allow passage for their party. Saigo, Kenji, and Aiko awaited me to join them several yards back.
Akane gave a signal to one of her soldiers. It was time for them to enter. Once Akane’s group reached the dungeons and freed the prisoners, it would be the rest of the armies’ responsibility to rush the palace and cause a distraction while those within escaped through the gardens.
“You promise to return immediately to Kenji and the rest?” Musubi asked. He lifted my chin so that his eyes could pierce the honesty of my response.
“I promise. I want your only worry to be that of rescuing your friends and returning to me in one piece.”
He gifted me a gentle kiss and then his affections became more intimate as he deepened our exchange and pressed his hand against the small of my back, guiding me flush against his chest.
“As much as I hate to interrupt this promising public display of affection, we really must get going,” Akane said.
Musubi crushed me to him in one last, desperate embrace, and then reluctantly let me go.
The desire to fling my arms around him and keep him close to me nearly overrode my good sense. I forced myself forward, pulling a pin from my hair and pricking my finger. I squeezed a few droplets of blood upon the leaves of the hedges and waited for them to curl in upon themselves, creating a space wide enough for their party to cross through.
Musubi was the last one to enter, but before he disappeared completely, he turned back and gave me another soft kiss.
“No matter what happens here tonight, I need you to know that I love you. You are my everything, Mikomi. If things do not go as planned remember that no matter where you go I will eventually come for you.”
“And I will always be waiting.” I lifted my lips to his ear and whispered, “I love you,” before forcing my arms to my sides.
His eyes glistened in the moonlight with unshed tears. For the rest of my life I would never forget the visage of his perfect happiness, joy, and fulfillment at my declaration of love. I hoped to be the cause of that expression for the rest of eternity.
* * *
I made my way back toward the edge of the forest where I saw Saigo and Kenji waving frantically in my direction. I was concerned that they weren’t taking more care to hide their position. Any sentry within a few yards would easily spot them.
Upon reaching them I noticed Kenji dabbing at some blood on the side of his head.
“What on earth has happened?” I asked.
“It’s Aiko,” Saigo hissed. His panic was hard to ignore. “She told us she was going to scout the area for possible soldiers, deviating from the original plan. When Kenji put a hand on her arm to convince her to stay she took the butt of her sword and cracked him over the head with it.”
“What? I don’t understand. Why on earth would she attack you? Do you think she feared for my safety and was desperate to check for possible threats?”
“Quite the contrary,” he said. “I believe she has shown her true colors and demonstrated where her loyalties reside.”
I blinked in unwilling comprehension, refusing to come to terms with Kenji’s assessment. If Aiko was still working for my father, then she held enough information to bring this rescue mission to a crippling halt. I felt my entire world bottom out as I realized the danger Musubi and his companions were in.
“She waited until she was left with you two and there were no guards to prevent her departure. She’s left to warn the emperor.”
Kenji’s head jerked in agreement.
“How long ago did she make her escape?”
“We noticed her absence only a few minutes ago, but we were looking out for your reappearance. I honestly have no idea how much time passed between her escape and our discovery of her absence.”
“That means she could be within the palace walls at this very moment, sounding the alarm. We have to warn the others immediately.”
“Let’s go,” Kenji and Saigo both said in unison.
I was grateful for such brave, trustworthy men on my side.
We pushed through the underbrush at a brisk pace, not even bothering to muffle our approach. I think all three of us felt speed was of paramount importance. The back hedge of the gardens had already closed. I agonized at the precious seconds it took to prick my finger and smear enough drops of my blood on the leaves to activate the spell. Once there was a space wide enough, I dashed through, only pausing long enough to check Saigo’s and Kenji’s progress. I kept myself alert for any signs of imperial soldiers, but we seemed to have a few more minutes before another round made their way through our current location.
Our best bet at this point was to circle around the left side, leading to the back entrance into Saigo’s quarters. If Aiko had already managed to warn my father of the attack, then my father’s attention would be directed toward my living area where Akane and Musubi had intended to enter. I whispered my intentions to my companions. As I took a step toward the next towering hedge, a pair of guards surprised me by circling around it, bringing themselves within two feet of our position. Shock registered on their faces and momentarily paralyzed their response time, but that was all the leverage I required.
I stepped forward and then shot to the floor, swinging my left leg around and sweeping out the legs of the guard to my right before he had time to pull his sword from its sheath. He came down hard on his side, his temple hitting a protruding rock bordering the hedge. It caused a hollow sounding thunk that made my insides cringe and bile rise to my throat.
By the gods, did I kill him?
Saigo was already engaged in battle with the other soldier, but this particular threat had height and weight to utilize against my brother. He must not have recognized the emperor’s son. The guard found an opening in Saigo’s defenses and thrust his sword forward only to be blocked by Kenji’s trusty cane. Blood boiled in my veins at the thought of this man hurting my brother. Without thinking, I rushed forward and grabbed the back of his neck. My orders to his ki were simple. His heart seized half a second later and he slumped to the floor.
Dead.
I stared at the man’s body, dazed at what I had just done as a sharp ringing in my ear and the loud pounding of my heart joined together in a deranged kind of death toll.
“What happened?” Saigo asked. “I didn’t see you hit him? How did you knock him unconscious?”
I opened my mouth to confess the finality of this soldier’s fate, but the words failed to form.
I’d just killed a man.
With my power.
I killed him.
He’d nearly killed my brother, and my one thought was to eliminate the threat. I’d literally held his life within my hands and then snuffed it out as easily as if I doused the small light of a burning candle.
I felt exhilarated, unstoppable.
My lack of disgust and censure concerning what I had just done absolutely terrified me. There wasn’t time to analyze my strange departure from my normally dogged determination to help rather than harm. It would have to wait until we warned our friends and escaped the palace.
Kenji knelt down and placed two fingers at the base of the man’s throat. After a moment his head shot up and his eyes bored into mine. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. My tutor was truly alarmed. He knew I could have knocked the guard unconscious rather than taken the man’s life. There was nothing I could say that might defend my severe actions.
“We need to hide their bodies and keep moving,” I said. My voice sounded strange to me. Dull and emotionless. Kenji stood, his eyes studying mine, searching for answers I couldn’t give him. After a strained moment he nodded and the three of us hid the two guards at the back behind a large stone statue. Wordlessly, I turned and led us around the statues and trees, restraining myself from breaking into a run. That encounter had cost us precious time. Time that Musubi, Akane, Yao, and Chan did not have.
The trickiest part to maneuver through undetected was a large expanse of terrain filled with nothin
g but flowers and little else to hide behind. We would be exposed for several moments before reaching the back entrance to Saigo’s quarters.
“I’ll go first to make certain no guards approach. On my signal you two come as quickly and quietly as you can. We’ll enter Saigo’’s quarters together.”
Saigo’s tense shoulders lifted and his mouth formed a protest, but I turned quickly and stepped forward before he could verbalize it. I felt vulnerable as I scurried along the path between a vast array of snow blossoms. Their cheerful presence struck a morbid chord against the sinister shadows and sliver of moonlight that threatened to expose my location. My lungs burned as I finally let go of the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The entrance to Saigo’s quarters was merely a few yards away.
I turned back, ready to signal Saigo and Kenji forward, when a short, staccato sound echoed from the dense foliage and trees several yards to my right. I peered into the darkness, failing to focus on anything substantial until the one causing the noise materialized not five yards from my position.
Standing within the flowered path, wearing black ceremonial robes and a satisfied smirk on his face was none other than my father with my maid, Aiko, by his side.
For one random moment I considered the rage Musubi had carried for so many centuries and found that I could finally relate to the uncontrollable hatred that the betrayal of a loved one can create.
She had led him directly to me. I couldn’t bear to look at her, after the faith and trust I had placed in her and the way I had given her the benefit of the doubt—convincing Akane that she had simply been a pawn and nothing more——it was difficult to believe that the woman who had cared for me for all of my life had an entirely different agenda.
I gave a furtive glance from the corner of my eye and prayed that Saigo and Kenji would be wise and remain undiscovered. Then my gaze moved to my father as he stood there relaxed and smiling as if he had already won.
It was astonishing to see him outside the palace. If he was outside in the gardens to greet me, then he had most likely captured my friends within.