by M. H. Bonham
The wind kami wrapped around him, filling his nostrils and mouth with the briny scent and taste of the sea. Stormhammer? the wind said. Is this the Tengu who denies his heritage?
I am Stormhammer, Akira admitted. But I will not use my magic. I ask you to fill our sails to take us away from this battle.
The Sea Wind laughed, but it was not a comforting sound to Akira’s ears. There is another who has control over me, the wind said. Should you use your Tengu powers; that would release me. Otherwise I must heed the demon call.
Akira opened his eyes to watch as the wind kami left him the junk’s sails went slack. The sailors cursed and shouted.
“Do something!” said the captain. “If you have any magic, use it now!”
“Akira?” Kasumi asked. He turned to her to see her eyes wide with unspoken fear.
“Get ready,” he said. “We may have to fight our way out of this.”
The warship drew close enough to where Akira could see the men aboard. It was a huge battleship with four sails and soldiers along the gunwales. It had been painted or pitched black with crimson sails and dark flags depicting oni. At that moment, Akira heard a scream overhead. He looked up.
The hawk had returned, and with it danced several wind kami. It circled and dipped a wing toward the masts, and the wind kami leaped into the junk’s sails and filled them at once. The ship lurched forward and, with supernatural speed, put distance between itself and the warship.
The junk’s sailors cheered, and the captain grinned. “Good job, Takeshi-sama!” She went back to the stern as they all watched the warship grow smaller in the distance.
Kasumi hugged him. “That was amazing. I didn’t know you could do that.”
“I didn’t,” Akira said. “It was the hawk. It must be a Taka-Tengu, but why it has chosen to help me, I don’t know.”
Kasumi looked up. “Hawk? I haven’t seen the hawk since it flew west.”
Akira looked up again. The hawk was gone.
#
Hiroshi watched from high on the stern, sitting against the aft mast and watching as the sails filled with wind. He had seen Akira try to convince the Sea Winds to fill their sails to no avail. But he had also seen the Taka-Tengu bring the wind kami. The wind had called Akira by his Tengu name, Stormhammer.
The sailors moved around him as though he didn’t exist, and in a way, he was invisible to them. The simple ninja spells confounded most people, although they were difficult to use against those with kami blood or trained in the secrets of energy and the martial arts. He had tried the concealment magic around Akira and Kasumi and noticed that it seemed to work with them only if they were distracted. But then, he couldn’t really be certain it worked. Akira and Kasumi could see him if they were looking for him. Perhaps to them, the magic was no more than a suggestion.
Hiroshi had been ready to kill Nanashi’s samurai but was glad the junk had escaped the warship. A skilled ninja such as he might survive the encounter and slip onto the warship, but that would not help if Nanashi had indeed opened the Kimon. As the junk sailed toward the hidden harbor, Hiroshi pondered their next step. Kasumi was right when she said he had not been on the island. He wondered how they would get through to the Neko city or if there would be a city after the battle.
He wondered, too, where his loyalties lay. His orders were clear enough—kill Akira and Kasumi—but he had been too intrigued with the danger to the demon gate to act upon those orders. Not that Akira had given Hiroshi many chances to kill him and make his escape. He told himself that if he had killed Akira on Tsuitori that Takeshi would suspect him and he would be captured and put to death. The ship was not much better, and Akira had that magical no-dachi that seemed to alert him whenever Hiroshi lurked nearby.
He sighed, his mind torn between duty and curiosity. The Neko were as secretive as the Shinobi. No ninja had ever entered the inner walls of Neko-tori, the inner city of the Neko. The temptation to see this city was too great. He would deal with Akira and Kasumi soon enough, he told himself. Part of being a ninja was patience.
#
The junk entered the hidden port on the northwestern side of the island at sunset. Kasumi had directed the steersman into the cove safely, and they now stared at the sharp cliff walls that lined this part of the island. The dark rock face seemed impenetrable to Akira. Covered in vines, moss, and other vegetation, it rose hundreds of feet above them. Here and there, waterfall trickles ran down the slate gray rock. The air was fragrant with flowers Akira had no name for.
The cove hid in shadows when they entered, and the crew lit oil lamps so they could see. The wind kami left them, and the crew grabbed poles and long oars to move the ship through the placid water. There was no shallow water here and no apparent place to disembark. Akira wondered if Kasumi had remembered the place correctly.
Kasumi snuffed the breeze. “The entrance to the secret passage lies along that rock face,” she said, pointing to the ominous cliff ahead.
“There’s no way we can get close enough to it without dashing the ship against it,” said the captain. “Are you sure there’s even a passage there, Neko-sama?”
“Quite sure but I’ve been through it only once.” Kasumi stared at the rock wall with the characteristic expression that told Akira she was sniffing for the entrance.
“We’ll have to wait for high tide.” Hiroshi appeared beside them.
Kasumi’s nose wrinkled and her eyes narrowed. “What do you know of our island?” she growled.
Hiroshi pointed to a place that looked ten feet above the water. “There’s a variation in the rock in that spot. If you look closely, you can see a small ledge.”
Akira, somewhat chagrined, studied the place Hiroshi pointed to. Even with his superior Tengu sight, he hadn’t noticed the subtle differences in the rock. Now, looking at it, he could see the retainer’s point. He has better powers of observation than you do, Windspirit said reproachfully. Maybe if you weren’t so enamored with the Neko…
“I see what you mean,” Akira said. “But I’m not sure the captain will be willing to wait that long.”
“We can’t stay here,” the captain replied. “The cove is almost too small for us as it is. When the tide comes in, it’ll shove us up against those walls.”
“We’ll have to use the skiff,” Akira said. “It’s the only way we’ll be able to get to it.”
“Agreed,” said the captain. “And I’ve agreed to take you here to Neko-shima, which I’ve done. I’m willing to part with a skiff to keep my end of the bargain, but I’m not willing to stay in this cursed place any longer than I have to.”
Chapter Ninety-Two
Akira watched as the junk moved slowly out of the cove, being propelled by poles and long oars. His throat clenched as he watched their only means of escape slowly drift away. The skiff bobbed up and down as the junk sent waves, combined with the normal flow of the sea, against the small boat. Akira looked askance and saw Kasumi bite her lower lip as she, too, gazed after the retreating ship. Somehow, with that single act, Akira knew he was committed, for good or ill. Yet with that choice, he felt freer than he ever had.
This is what it means to be samurai, Windspirit said.
He took Kasumi’s hand and gripped it, feeling the warmth of her skin. Her hands were calloused, as his were, from years of training with the sword, staff, and empty-handed combat. She was samurai, same as he, yet they were so much more. He was human, yes, but Tengu as well, just as Kasumi was both Neko and human. Somehow, she had come to terms with her Neko and human sides. Perhaps he could learn from her how to accept his human and Tengu mix. Maybe they weren’t mutually exclusive. Maybe he could just accept what he was.
Being samurai is not necessarily a human trait, Windspirit said. It is often said that the sword is the soul of the samurai.
No truer words were spoken, Akira agreed. For if there is anyone who is truly samurai, it is you, Sensei.
Windspirit said nothing but Akira had the distinct impression the swor
d was pleased.
“Do we wait now?” Kasumi murmured. “I don’t know when the next tide is.”
“We’re at the peak of low tide,” Hiroshi spoke up, the first time since they had left the junk. “It’ll take hours for it to rise to high tide again. I’d much rather climb and see what we can do to get into the passage.”
Akira looked up at the rock face. He couldn’t see the variation of rock color on the sheer cliff that Hiroshi had pointed out to him earlier. He wondered if they had indeed imagined it, but if Kasumi said the entrance was here, it had to be. He glanced at Hiroshi. “I don’t think we can climb it.”
“I can,” Hiroshi said. With that, he stood up, and much to Akira’s surprise, the boat hardly rocked at all. He slid something that looked like talons onto his hands and, with a sudden leap, launched himself from the boat and clung to the rock wall.
He’s wearing shuko and ashiko, the sword said. The ninja use those.
Akira swallowed hard. If the man was ninja, the chances that he took Shigeko’s commands were good. In which case, he would most likely have orders to kill them both. Still, Hiroshi hadn’t attempted to kill anyone, although he seemed to have the ability to make himself scarce.
Hiroshi scuttled up the rock wall nimbly until he stepped on the shelf. To Akira’s surprise, the shelf was bigger than it appeared, wide enough for a man to stand comfortably on and long enough to allow more than one person. Hiroshi peered over the ledge.
“There’s a lock here I don’t think I can open, but maybe Kasumi can,” he said.
Kasumi looked up. “I can’t climb that.”
“Don’t worry; I can get you up.” With that, he produced a tiny ladder of rope and wood, about as wide as a foot instep. At the top was a nail where the two pieces of rope joined. Hiroshi scrambled halfway down the rock face and, with a small hammer, nailed the odd ladder into the rock. He did the same with another one about a shoulder width away from the first one and a bit staggered. He yanked on them and nodded. “They’ll hold.” He scrambled down the rock a little farther. “Give me your hand, and I’ll hoist you up. Stick your foot in the ladder rungs.”
Kasumi glanced at Akira, who slowly nodded. “I’ll lift you up,” he said. “I can probably get up there by myself.”
Kasumi stood up, causing the skiff to rock from side to side. Akira stood up too, trying to help her balance. She growled under her breath, so only Akira could hear her as he took her in his arms. “I could jump this as a cat.”
“But could you climb the wall?” Akira said softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you if you fall. I’ll be right behind you.”
“I don’t trust him,” she whispered back.
“I don’t either but I think we’re fairly safe at the moment. There’s no other way he can get off the island if we’re both dead.”
Kasumi nodded and let him hold her. She was light in his arms as he lifted her by her waist. The skiff rolled back and forth dangerously, and Akira felt Kasumi tighten in his arms then spring.
Kasumi launched herself toward Hiroshi. Hiroshi swung out and, whether by some supernatural skill or luck, grasped her arm and hauled her up, hooking the shuko claws into her armor along her forearm. Kasumi swung wildly, clutched one of the ladders with her free hand, and swung her feet up. At that same moment, Akira’s skiff capsized from the movement, tossing him into the sea.
Chapter Ninety-Three
Takeshi stared out at the setting sun, his heart heavy and his thoughts on his son. He stood in the empty garden, wondering how he could have misread Akira so terribly. The Neko girl had no doubt bewitched him, but Takeshi had never imagined that Akira would leave with her. He wondered if perhaps Masashige had been right; he had been away from home for too long. Perhaps he should’ve brought his family to Kyotori-jima, even though they would be under the scrutiny of imperial and enemy clan eyes. At least there he would not have lost his wife and nearly his son to the Tengu. Or so he told himself.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn’t hear Masashige approach. “Takeshi-sama,” the samurai said. “I have word as to the whereabouts of your son.”
Takeshi turned, his expression still grim. “What have you heard, old friend?”
“That your retainer, Hiroshi, had booked passage for all three to Neko-shima aboard Captain Maki’s junk.”
“Maki? She took my son to Neko-shima without my permission?” Takeshi felt rage boil up inside.
“Hiroshi must have forged the documents because everything was in order. There was no reason for Captain Maki to assume the orders were false.”
A lump settled in Takeshi’s stomach. “Hiroshi? Hiroshi is a ninja.”
Masashige stared. “A ninja? You had a Shinobi as a retainer?”
Takeshi nodded. “Hiroshi had been working for Nanashi but came under my employment after an agreement between me and his shonin. If Hiroshi has gone with Akira, I fear for my son’s life.”
Masashige shook his head. “There is another possibility, my lord. The ninja may be helping Akira and Kasumi to aid the Neko against Nanashi.”
Takeshi frowned. “You think Hiroshi may believe the Neko girl about the threat to the Kimon?”
The older samurai shrugged. “May I speak frankly?”
“Of course, my friend.”
“I, too, believe the Neko girl.”
Takeshi considered the older samurai. “You believe that there is a danger?”
“I do. And I believe that Akira has seen the danger as well.” Masashige shook his head and turned to leave. “But it is not my place to counsel you.”
A silence ensued and the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the mountains, throwing them into twilight. As the shadows stretched over the garden, Masashige bowed and left Takeshi alone with his thoughts.
#
Akira floundered as the boat pitched him into the frigid water. He splashed frantically to keep his head above water as his armor weighed him down. He gasped for air and got a mouthful of salty water for the effort. Panicked, he considered changing into a Tengu to fly away.
Don’t, said Windspirit. Remember that the Tengu will kill you for that. Keep your mouth closed, your eyes open, and quit thrashing so wildly. Swim with long strokes.
Rokuro’s voice brought Akira back to his senses. Just as he followed his old sensei’s advice, the weight of the waterlogged armor made him slip underwater. As he did, he saw a flash of orange and heard a splash. Before he could react, he felt teeth slice through his armor and slide along his back. Suddenly he was hauled up to the surface, coughing and sputtering. Kasumi in her tiger form swam while holding him and her head as high out of the water as she could.
Are you all right? she asked him.
Akira coughed but did not want to worry her. I’m fine, Kasumi-chan. Thank you but you revealed yourself.
I would’ve anyway. Hiroshi will learn our secret once he comes inside. She swam toward the wall and the capsized boat. Can you climb on top of the skiff if I bring you to it?
I think so.
Kasumi swam to the skiff, and Akira reached out and grasped the slippery hull. The little boat bounced violently as Akira struggled to climb up on the bottom. It was hard to grip, so he drew his tanto and sank the blade into the wood. He used the knife as leverage and hauled himself up.
The boat rolled side to side, reminding him of a freshly caught fish floundering out of water. As he gripped the sides, the movement became less alarming and he was able to look up to see where Kasumi and Hiroshi were. Kasumi treaded water beside him; Hiroshi clung to the wall but had moved lower as he watched Akira and the tiger in the water.
Hiroshi-san, I need your help, Akira thought to him, and the man jerked his head back in surprise. I can’t jump as far.
All—right, Hiroshi replied haltingly. He stepped slowly down the cliff face and held out a clawed hand. Akira hesitated and grasped Hiroshi’s wrist above the shuko claws. With what seemed superhuman strength, Hiroshi hauled Akira up. Akira scrambled, u
sing his tanto to gain purchase until he gripped the bottom rung of the tiny ladder. He pulled himself up, relying on his Tengu-enhanced strength and agility. He then turned to see what Kasumi would do.
Kasumi made a leap first to the skiff and, without stopping, jumped right up to the shelf. Akira marveled as he watched the feat of amazing dexterity. He climbed up after her.
The tiger filled the shelf, so as soon as Akira climbed up, Kasumi shape changed into her alternate cat form. She became a small cat with stripes and splotches of black and orange mottling her body. Akira bent down and scooped her into his arms as she mewed plaintively. I so hate getting wet while in cat form.
Akira stroked her gently as Hiroshi climbed up. “You’ve lost all your things, Kasumi-chan,” he whispered to her. “Your swords, your clothing…”
It’s all right, she said. I am home now, and I can get more.
But your tail… As soon as he said it, he knew he had spoken too quickly. She buried her head in his arms.
It is a reminder of my obligation to the demon, Akira-kun. Her mental voice quavered.
“Oh, Kasumi,” he whispered, stroking her gently. “I will change that; I will.”
Hiroshi studied Akira and the cat for a while, saying nothing. When he spoke, his voice could not mask the awe. “So this is the secret of the Neko clan. They really are Neko.”
Akira nodded slowly. “They can take several forms.”
“So I have seen.” Hiroshi’s face was inscrutable. “So now we are on the ledge and there is a secret entrance here with a lock, only now I know the secret to that too.”
Akira cocked his head and winced at his own reaction. “What secret?”
Hiroshi pointed to the cliff face. On the wall was the indentation of a tiger’s paw. “I think Neko-sama can open this.”