She was contemplating what this all meant when she was startled from her reverie by sounds.
No, not just sounds ... voices.
♦ ♦ ♦
Despite the myriad creatures that served her mother in all of their different forms and visages, Kisaki was well aware that she looked different than most of them. She resembled her mother in some ways, although not nearly as stunningly beautiful, but in others did not. For instance, their hair and skin colors differed. In addition, Kisaki lacked the fine row of regal horns that rested upon her mother’s head, something she always rued.
If anything, based on the many images she’d seen during her countless hours of study, she most closely resembled humans in appearance. Or at least she thought so. The truth was, most of the humans depicted in her lessons had been male warriors. Though their features were similar, their bodies were typically much broader and muscular than her lithe form.
The beings approaching her, chattering away in a strange language, looked vaguely like the humans she’d seen in her studies. However, these creatures were dressed very different from the armored forms she expected. Their body shapes varied, too. One of them was quite rotund, whereas three were thin, even thinner than she.
They noticed her and approached, pointing in her direction.
All at once, Kisaki grew fearful again. The distance she’d crossed, and now creatures – humans – approaching her, having apparently seen her?
This was like no illusion she’d ever heard of.
And then, in the back of her mind, she asked herself something she’d been subconsciously avoiding since arriving. What if this isn’t an illusion?
The newcomers kept approaching, continuing to chatter away as they pointed at her. They stopped while still on the beach. Truly their dress was strange. Not regal finery by any means, and certainly not armor, but unlike any peasant garb Kisaki had ever seen – flimsy pants that stopped at their knees and simple but colorful tunics upon their upper bodies. One, with long black hair, wore slippers upon its feet similar to Kisaki’s, but missing the front so that its toes showed through. This one was different from the others, more closely resembling Kisaki than them. A human female, perhaps?
The other three – males, she concluded – wore short, white boots upon their feet.
They continued to point and chatter at her. Kisaki briefly considered the quill within her robes. It was currently useless, but if it was once a sword, then perhaps it could become one again ... if she could figure out how to do so. But then, quite suddenly, the humans’ chatter changed to laughter, something she understood.
If they were laughing, then maybe they didn’t mean her harm after all. If anything, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. After a few moments, Kisaki realized it was contagious and she joined in, which caused them to start talking among themselves again.
And that’s when something strange happened. As she listened to their chatter, utterly unintelligible mere moments earlier, she began to understand them.
“...water...”
“Look ... her...”
“Why is ... laughing...?”
“... she’s ... stupid.”
“She has to be.”
“Yeah, look at her ... standing there in the water like some dummy.”
“Look at the way she’s dressed.”
“Is she getting married?”
“She probably escaped from a circus.”
Kisaki couldn’t believe her ears. Their tone aside, she understood what they were saying. One moment, their language had been utterly alien to her, the next she had near perfect clarity. She decided to test it out with her own tongue. “Can ... you understand me?”
“Hey,” the rotund one said. “The freak can speak!”
“Ask her if she ran out of detergent,” another of the males said.
“You just did, stupid.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Detergent?” Kisaki asked. Though she seemed to understand the basics of their language now, it appeared she didn’t have perfect comprehension over the nuances.
“Yeah, it’s what you use to do your laundry, freak, instead of wading into the ocean wearing it.” That caused the humans to all start laughing again.
Kisaki wasn’t stupid. She knew she was being made fun of for some reason. Still, unlike the ferret youkai she’d met before, at least these creatures weren’t running from her.
“What, haven’t you ever seen water before?” the girl asked.
“Water, yes, but not the ocean,” Kisaki replied.
“She’s a freak and a liar,” the large one said, causing the other males to chuckle.
“I am no liar. My name is Kisaki. My mother is...”
“Awww, are you gonna cry for your mommy now?”
“Cry?” She was feeling a lot of emotions right at that moment, but the urge to weep wasn’t one of them. Such strange creatures, these humans. Even stranger than Shitoro had made them out to be.
Kisaki began to walk back toward the beach, but the four humans moved to the edge of the water to block her. As she approached them, she realized they were all a good head shorter than she. Were these human cubs ... children?
“Please allow me to pass, I...”
“You can’t leave,” the round one said. “You’re not finished with your laundry yet.” He stepped forward and gave Kisaki a shove. She hadn’t been expecting it and, as a result, lost her balance and fell backward into the water.
More annoyed than hurt by this creature’s impudence, she glared up at him from where she sat, the water drenching her robes.
“Let’s dunk her!” one of the other males said, much to his friends’ approval.
As the large one started forward again, another strange thing happened. For a brief moment, the world greyed out around her, and she saw someone else standing before her ... a strange ghost-like image superimposed upon the reality in front of her. Another person, a much larger human male, was standing where the human boy was. All at once, she saw what appeared to be her own leg kick out, striking the ghost image in the side of the knee and knocking him down.
The odd vision ended just as quickly as it had appeared. Before Kisaki was even really aware what she was doing, she mimicked the move, kicking out from her prone position. She knocked the rotund boy’s legs out from under him, causing him to topple into another of his friends. They both fell into the water beside her.
As they cried out with indignation, Kisaki felt a stab of heat at her side, as if something were jabbing her. It was coming from where she’d hidden the sword turned quill. Almost as if it were...
“Hey! What are you doing? Leave her alone!”
10
“Leave me alone.”
“But, master...”
Ichitiro glared down from the council table at the diminutive ferret demon, silencing him immediately.
Midnite felt pity for the little youkai. To be saddled with such a cruel master for eternity must’ve been a burden even for an untrustworthy thief such as Ito. He was well known among the denizens of the palace. She’d continually cautioned her own servants against fraternizing with him. Items went missing whenever he was around – never anything of great importance, but annoying nevertheless.
Of course, whenever confronted about his servant’s sticky paws, Ichitiro would deny it all but vow to punish him nevertheless. Midnite had a feeling he was lying about the first, but feared he wasn’t regarding the second.
Something must have gotten Ito into a tizzy if he was daring to interrupt the celestial court while it was in session. Though they weren’t arguing about anything they hadn’t already debated to death a hundred times before, there was still protocol to be maintained. Such an interruption was allowed, but it was understood it should be for matters of importance only.
She much preferred reaching out with her mind to her chief servant, often at regular intervals. It allowed Tanaki to convey to her any matters of
interest while avoiding the annoyed stares of Midnite’s brethren. However, such workings were subtle, requiring mental clarity. Such things were not Ichitiro’s style, if indeed he was even capable of it. Matters of the mind were not his specialty.
Still, the interruption reminded her to check in. Not enough time had passed for Tanaki to report any results on her investigation – although listening to the other daimao drone on about the humans made it seem as if decades had gone by. However, the proceedings were currently halted as Ichitiro dealt with Ito.
She initiated contact. How goes it, Tanaki? she thought in a bored tone.
Mistress? Oh, thank goodness! I was just on my way to the council chamber to see you.
That caught Midnite’s attention. As dogged as Tanaki’s respect for protocol was, she had never once interrupted court in person. She was a smart youkai, preferring to solve problems rather than dumping them at her mistress’s feet. It was a virtue that Midnite highly respected. For her to even consider changing tactics meant that something out of the ordinary had occurred, something that even the resourceful badger demon felt she could not handle alone.
What is wrong?
I don’t know how, or who ... it is impossible, unthinkable!
Slow down, Tanaki. Tell me what happened.
The Taiyosori, mistress! It’s been stolen!
♦ ♦ ♦
It was with supreme effort that Midnite did not launch herself out of her seat at the news. Tanaki had been right to panic. It should have been impossible. The Taiyosori would automatically protect itself, lethally if necessary, against transgressions by anyone it didn’t acknowledge as master. A few had tried in the distant past, and the lessons of their demise served as a reminder to all others, even beings as powerful as Ichitiro.
Was her servant somehow mistaken?
No, that was unlikely. The Taiyosori, in its spot above her throne, was hard to miss.
That made two mysteries in the space of less than an hour, albeit this new one eclipsed the old many times over in importance. The Taiyosori was a weapon capable of incredible destruction. Worse, it had been bequeathed to her by the elder gods. Should they sense it missing and awaken, untold cataclysm could unfold.
“I call for a recess,” she said in a voice far calmer than she felt.
“A recess?” Reiden asked from his spot at the head of the table.
“Yes. It would seem one of Ichitiro’s servants has urgent business with his master.” The war daimao shrugged as if to disagree, but she ignored him. “Surely he would not disturb us otherwise. Besides, I believe we can all agree that the matters before us will not be solved this day.”
Most of those gathered, save Reiden, nodded in agreement. Though time meant nothing to those gifted with eternal life, that didn’t mean they were immune to growing bored of the same tiresome discussion.
“Very well,” Reiden proclaimed, his tone dispassionate. “These proceedings are hereby suspended.”
Despite her near panic, Midnite allowed herself a smile. Regardless of his love of protocol, Reiden too had apparently grown weary, although he would never admit to any such thing.
If she was able to solve the mystery of the missing Taiyosori in short order, she might consider indulging in a long bath as reward for her troubles. Such a thing would do wonders for her rapidly fraying nerves.
Ichitiro approached her before she could leave, doubling her resolve to bathe as talking to him always left her feeling somewhat dirty.
“Dearest Midnite,” he greeted with an exaggerated bow, his eyes drinking in her form as he did so.
“Brother.” Her tone practically oozed disinterest. She needed to end this conversation quickly, return to her quarters, and see what had transpired. A long, drawn out session of him pathetically flirting with her was utterly revolting during the best of times, much less now.
“Thank you for your concern regarding my servant.”
“I am sure Ito had news of great importance to dare interrupt his betters. Surely it is a matter to which you should attend,” she replied, hoping he took the hint.
Ichitiro leaned against the wall, blocking her way forward. “Doubtful. His mind is as slow as his paws are quick. Chances are he merely lost some unimportant bauble somewhere and is now in a panic about it.”
“If so, then I would hope you would explain to him the error of his ways.”
“Have no doubt he will be dealt with accordingly.”
Midnite’s skin crawled at the insinuation. She knew Ichitiro to be a bully of the highest order. The lower the caste of his victims, the more cruel he became.
Even the least servants of the daimao were more durable than their earthbound cousins, thanks in part to the many enchantments upon the palace. That, combined with the potent healing waters that flowed through the palace springs, meant that Ichitiro could afford to indulge his twisted cravings without fear of having to replace a servant.
“I am certain that talking to him would be more than sufficient.”
Ichitiro stepped in closer to Midnite, uncomfortably so. “Why waste words when actions are so much more satisfying?”
It took all of Midnite’s willpower to not spit in the war demon’s face, even more so to not unleash a hex upon him. But that would not do, especially not in the court chambers. Fortunately, salvation was near.
“Mistress, mistress!” Tanaki cried as she came racing up.
No matter what happened to the Taiyosori, Midnite owed her thanks for her timely arrival.
“Yes, actions are more satisfying,” she replied to Ichitiro. “But, alas, mine are currently required elsewhere.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“Slow down, Tanaki, and explain it to me again.”
The badger demon took a deep breath, despite her pace back toward their wing of the palace remaining frantic. “As you wish. I was preparing to...” She looked around, didn’t see anyone within earshot, but still lowered her voice to the barest of whispers. “...conduct the other matter we discussed.”
“Go on.”
“My plan was to ask Shitoro to invite some of his associates over for tea.”
Midnite smiled slightly. Though Tanaki had been around for a long time, she mostly chose to keep to herself. Shitoro, however, was on good terms with many other servants. That was an excellent place to start. Invite them over for some friendly conversation, then subtly discern if they had heard of anything strange going on.
“When I went to prepare your audience chamber to receive them, however, I found it in disarray.”
“How so?” Midnite asked, curious to hear what her servant had to say. Tanaki’s version of disarray often greatly differed from her own.
“The doors were unbarred and the Taiyosori was missing. There was a gouge in the seat of your throne. I fear it may have been a message meant for you.” She lowered her voice even further. “You may have enemies about, mistress.”
It seemed a very subtle message to her if indeed she had, as Tanaki put it, enemies. Still, the fact remained that the sword was missing. That was a difficult detail to ignore. The weapon wasn’t something that could simply be misplaced.
Tanaki had sent word ahead of their return. The grand doors were opened from within as they approached. Midnite did not even need to step in to see that Tanaki had spoken true, not that she had cause to doubt her.
The Taiyosori had been strategically positioned to be as visible as Midnite herself to all who were allowed entrance to her domain. The combination was a formidable one – her atop her obsidian throne with one of the most powerful weapons in creation hanging above her head as if waiting for her command.
She had kept it that way for centuries. But now it was simply gone.
“Tanaki, I want this entire room torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up.”
“Mistress?”
“We cannot afford to let anyone else know the Taiyosori is missing.” She wasn’t quite prepared to declare it
stolen yet. As far as she was aware, such a thing simply wasn’t possible. Though she would barely admit it to herself, she found it more than a little frightening to imagine that the unthinkable had occurred. “If any dare ask, tell them that I grew bored with the stagnant look of this room.”
“How shall we rebuild it, Mistress?”
“You know my tastes. I trust you will come up with something suitable. The more important matter is that it will give us time should any of my siblings request an audience with me.”
Left unsaid was that it was time that would be spent discovering the whereabouts of the sword, retrieving it, and punishing the transgressor, whoever they might be. Midnite silently vowed they would not escape her wrath. They...
The doors leading further into her wing of the palace burst open and Shitoro stepped through, looking a bit out of sorts. He saw her and immediately bowed deeply. “Ah, mistress! My apologies.”
“Apologies?” Midnite asked, only partially paying attention.
“For my rude entrance. I was looking for Kisaki.”
“Kisaki?”
“Yes. She is late for her studies and I have not seen her for some time.”
11
“She pushed me into the water!” the large child complained to the newcomer, a girl of roughly Kisaki’s height.
“I saw what happened, Hojo. You started it. You’d better apologize.”
“You’re not my mom, Tamiko.”
“No, but she works for my dad, so maybe I can tell him about it.”
Kisaki had no idea what the two humans were talking about. She’d been distracted by the apparent activity from the quill in her robes. However, whatever it was, it appeared to have ceased with the appearance of this new girl.
She seemed to be talking down to the first group of humans, the ones who had dared to manhandle her. Perhaps they were servants. Though they were only children, maybe the girl intended for them to be whipped for their impudence.
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