by M. H. Bonham
Akira… Kasumi’s mental voice was filled with terror.
Akira took a deep breath and scanned the room. The Guardian stood at the demon gate in her tiger form; her guard stood ready as well. None of Nanashi’s men had reached the small island. “Where’s Nanashi? I thought he had to be here to open the Kimon.”
Hiroshi frowned. “I don’t see him anywhere. I just see his troops and demons.”
A lightning bolt appeared from nowhere and struck the churning water. The kappa screamed and flailed as its body caught fire, and the overwhelming stench of burning kelp and frog flesh filled the room. With a sudden burst of light, an old man appeared on the edge of the Kimon’s island. Even from this distance, Akira could see that the man was easily in his seventies with a stooped posture. He wore samurai armor with red and black coloring and an oni emblazoned on the chest. His black helmet had demon horns protruding from the top.
That’s Nanashi! Kasumi hissed, her tail lashing furiously.
“Of course, he’s a warlock; he’d be able to turn invisible,” said Hiroshi, shaking his head. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
The Kimon guard attacked. Nanashi laughed and stretched out his arm. From his fingertips issued lightning. The bolts hit the tigers and threw them back, smoldering.
No! shouted Kasumi. With that, she leaped out of Hiroshi’s invisibility shield and changed into a tiger in mid leap.
“Kasumi! Wait!” Akira took a step forward and felt Hiroshi’s arm grip his.
“We can’t do anything against that.” Hiroshi stared wide eyed at the daimyo.
“I can.” Akira pulled his arm away from Hiroshi. He rushed forward, following Kasumi. Nanashi’s men charged him as he ran, and he swung the great no-dachi, cutting through their armored bodies as though they were rice paper. Kasumi’s roar pierced the din of battle as she ripped through the warriors.
They had both made it to the water’s edge when Nanashi raised his hands against the Guardian. Lightning issued from his hands and hit the Guardian as she sprang at him.
No! Kasumi screamed and jumped into the cavern’s pool.
“Kasumi, wait!” Akira was right behind her, floundering in the water.
The lightning knocked the Guardian off her feet, and she was thrown backward, hitting the supports of the gate as she did. For a moment, Akira thought the Guardian was dead, but she slowly rose to her feet and shook her head. Nanashi sent another barrage of lightning, knocking the Guardian back again. She stood up, much to Akira’s amazement, and leaped at the evil warlord.
Fire issued from Nanashi’s fingertips and slammed into her. The flames licked her, and she screamed in agony.
Akira, do something! Kasumi bounded onto the Kimon’s island and charged at Nanashi.
For a brief second, Akira thought she would break through his defenses. Instead, he threw up a hand, and a wall of force batted Kasumi away as though she were a kitten. She tumbled back into the pool.
“Kasumi!” Akira shouted, half running, half swimming to her. He sheathed the no-dachi, despite the rivulets of water running out of the scabbard, and pulled her head out of the pool. Kasumi twisted in his arms and changed back into human form. Her beautiful body was bloodied and bruised. An oozing gash ran from her ribs to hip.
“Akira-kun,” she gasped. “Nanashi will open the gate, and all will be lost.” She stood up and turned to the Kimon.
Nanashi no longer faced them but held his hands up toward the demon gate, speaking in a guttural language of hisses and clicks.
Akira frowned. This is it, he thought to himself. He looked at Kasumi’s battered face. He glanced behind. Nanashi’s samurai were overtaking the Neko and had pushed them back to the water’s edge. There was nowhere for them to go. He kissed Kasumi gently on the cheek. “Don’t worry, Kasumi-chan. I will stop him.”
Akira, what are you doing? Rokuro’s voice came into his head.
“I’m doing the only thing I can, Sensei,” he whispered. “Forgive me.” It didn’t matter anymore whether he lived or died now. If the demon gate opened, they would all be dead. Becoming Tengu was meaningless now. If the Tengu chose to kill him or take him back to become one of them, he could accept that, if only Kasumi lived. Akira closed his eyes and summoned the spark of Tengu magic that he had buried inside himself. He reached deep and felt the magic crackle around him as he called the winds together...
Nothing came. Akira opened his eyes and blinked. North Wind! he demanded, trying to summon the wind kami.
“Akira-kun, what’s wrong?” Kasumi looked at him.
Akira looked up at the cavern ceiling. No air moved within it. He frowned. “I can’t use my Tengu powers, Kasumi-chan. It’s like something is blocking them.”
You’re underground, Akira-san, came Windspirit’s voice. The Tengu’s domain is the forest and sky. You cannot call a hurricane down here.
Akira stared at Nanashi as he continued to chant in the terrible language. To his dismay, something within the torii began to swirl wildly. Kasumi morphed back into her tiger form, but Akira stroked her shoulder. “Stay here.” And with that, he charged.
Chapter One Hundred Three
Akira leaped at Nanashi, swinging the great no-dachi. Nanashi turned around in time to see the sword bearing down upon him and sent a bolt of demon lightning at Akira. Windspirit twisted in Akira’s hands and caught the lightning, absorbing it and vibrating in Akira’s hands but leaving him unharmed. Akira brought the sword crashing down on Nanashi.
The old daimyo was quick, and an invisible shield met the no-dachi’s blow. Akira spun around and slammed Windspirit into Nanashi, but again, the demon lord somehow evaded the blade. Nanashi threw a ball of demon fire directly at Akira. Akira parried it with the no-dachi and swung the sword down. Nanashi disappeared.
Akira looked around and saw the daimyo standing by the demon gate. Nanashi turned to him and smiled. “Who are you, boy, who can defeat my best magic?”
Be careful, Windspirit warned.
Akira stalked forward carefully, not trusting the warlock. He raised his sword in a defensive position. “I am Takeshi Akira Stormhammer, son of Takeshi Isao and Ikumi Stormdancer, a Tengu.”
Nanashi nodded. “A half-Tengu? That would explain much.” He smiled. “I cannot destroy you with my magic, and you cannot reach me with your sword. I’d say we are at an impasse.”
Akira glanced at the Kimon. The gate still roiled with its own maelstrom. “Close the gate and I’ll spare your life.”
The warlock laughed. “You think I would trust the word of a Tengu?”
“Perhaps not,” Akira said. “So take the word of a samurai, for that is what I am.”
“Samurai?” Nanashi spit the word in contempt. “Look at your samurai, boy. They are weak and foolish. So weak that my demons can control them. And where is your great samurai lord, Takeshi? Where are his troops? I see nothing but Neko here.”
He’s baiting you. Don’t listen to him, the sword said.
Akira scowled and raised Windspirit. Nanashi dived into the demon gate and vanished. As he did, another figure coalesced in the Kimon. An oni stepped through the Kimon, and Akira backed up. It was nine feet tall with red skin and ox horns sprouting from a long black mane. Fangs jutted from its mouth, and it snarled as it swung a kanabo—a spiked iron club—at Akira. Akira dodged. The demon swung again, and Akira brought Windspirit up to parry. Sparks flew from the blade, and the blow jarred Akira’s arm, knocking him to the ground.
Akira heard a roar, and the demon screamed as Kasumi in tiger form pounced on it. She knocked down the demon, grasped its throat in her teeth, and tore out large chunks of flesh. Holding it between her front paws, she raked through the demon’s belly and ripped into the monster’s guts, sending blood and entrails flying.
Close the Kimon, Akira-kun! Kasumi shouted.
“How?” Akira staggered to his feet and looked at the torii. There was no obvious way to close it, unless…
Akira brought Windspirit up and slammed the no-d
achi into one of the torii’s upright posts. Lightning flashed around them as the sword’s blade buried itself into the stone supports and sliced straight through. Akira smashed the blade into it again and again. Each time, fire and lightning swirled around him. Then the Kimon torii began to topple.
“Come on!” Akira shouted to Kasumi. Kasumi jumped off the dead demon and followed him to the water’s edge.
The torii’s stone flashed with an unearthly light, and the horizontal crosspieces fell with a resounding crash. The maelstrom within the Kimon flashed and sent a powerful shock wave through the entire chamber. Nanashi’s samurai and demons turned and fled.
Akira stared at the battle as the Neko warriors and cats chased Nanashi’s army from the cavern. He felt a nudge at his shoulder as Kasumi walked over to the broken body of the Guardian.
Kanayo lay bleeding, her body contorted at an odd angle, suggesting that she had broken her back. Black burn lines crisscrossed her beautiful white pelt, and even as Kasumi approached, Akira could see that the Guardian’s eyes were glazing over.
Kasumi lowered her head, and Akira stroked her fur gently. When she looked back up at him, he could see the pain in her eyes. She’s dead, Akira-kun. She’s really dead.
Movement caught Akira’s eye, and he turned to see a tiger swimming toward them. The tawny tiger stepped out of the water, and to Akira’s surprise, her coat began to change. As her paws touched the sand, white rushed up her legs and soon the orange fur became white.
Keiko-sama. Kasumi bowed her head to the white tiger. Guardian.
Akira stared. “Guardian? Your mother?”
Yes, I am the heir to the Guardian. For though Kanayo was old, I am her eldest firstborn female descendant, Stormhammer-sama.
Akira shook his head. “I—I don’t deserve that title, Keiko-sama. I…”
Keiko shook her head. But you do, Stormhammer-sama. For you are indeed the storm hammer that all should fear. Keiko met his gaze. The Tengu named you aptly, Akira-sama, for you have done what none other could do—destroy the Kimon’s torii and close the demon gate.
Akira looked down at Windspirit. The sword was oddly quiescent. He sheathed it carefully and bowed. “Thank you for your words, great Guardian, but I only did what I had to do.”
Indeed. She looked at the ruins of the Kimon torii. The gate will have to be rebuilt.
Akira cocked his head. “But isn’t the Kimon destroyed? There will be no need for a torii or a Guardian.”
Kasumi hissed in warning, but Keiko merely smiled. The Kimon still exists, Stormhammer, even though you do not see it. When you destroyed the torii, you closed the Kimon, but nothing—not mortal or immortal—can truly destroy the demon gate. Hence, there will always be a need for a Guardian. She turned to Kasumi. Daughter of mine, you have made an ill choice to save yourself, but perhaps that can be forgiven given the outcome of today. Do you love Stormhammer?
Yes, Guardian.
A thrill raced through Akira as she said it, and he gently laid his hand along her back and stroked her fur. “I would do anything to protect her, Guardian.”
So I have noticed. The Guardian swished her tail thoughtfully. Then perhaps you are the one who can save her. She paused. My daughter, you cannot stay here as long as you are marked by the demon, but there are ways of breaking the demon’s curse. One is through love.
Love?
The Guardian smiled, baring her teeth. A demon cannot love.
The world spun around them, and Akira found himself standing beside Kasumi, in human form, dressed in a silver-blue hakama and tunic. They were outside, on the inner wall walk of the castle. A cool breeze danced around them as they stared into the setting sun. Below them in the harbor were twice the ships as before, and the newcomers flew flags that looked oddly familiar.
Akira watched in wonder as warriors marched out of the new ships from the dock. They carried red and gold banners with a hawk rising. He caught his breath. “Kasumi,” he whispered, “those are my father’s ships.”
Epilogue
The wind kami danced playfully around Akira’s hair as he stood at the bow of the ship staring ahead at Tsuitori-jima. The island loomed in front of them, shrouded in mist, and Akira could just make out the tea tree and rice terraces that rose above Yutsui and his father’s estate. Farther away were the Tengu forests where he had trained. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There it was: the faint scent of jasmine flowers. He could almost imagine being home again.
But what was there for him?
The world changes, just as we change, said Windspirit. Tsuitori will never be the home you once had; you know that.
Akira nodded and looked up as he heard a hawk cry. A russet hawk flew overhead, no doubt lost. It landed on the junk’s rigging and watched him with golden eyes. “No, it will never be how it was,” he murmured.
Just then he felt Kasumi’s warm hand slide into his own. He turned and looked at her, smiling. “How do you feel?” he asked.
“A little better. It must be the demon-sickness,” she said softly. “Either that or I still get seasick.”
“It won’t be long before we’re home,” he said, brushing her tawny hair with his hand. “You didn’t tell me you would take on the colors of a tiger in your hair.”
She shrugged. “Most men find it distressing.”
He shook his head, grinning wryly. “I don’t.”
“Excuse me, Takeshi-sama.”
Akira turned and saw his father’s retainer, Masashige, standing beside them. “Masashige sensei,” Akira nodded his head in greeting.
The old warrior bowed. “We’re only a few hours from landfall. Your father will be there to greet you. You may wish to get ready.”
“I’m ready, Masashige sensei,” he said as Kasumi ran her hand through his unruly hair. “My father will have to accept me for who and what I am.”
Masashige bowed and turned to leave.
“Wait, Sensei,” Akira said.
The old warrior turned around. “Yes, Takeshi-sama?”
“Why did my father send the army after we quarreled? He didn’t believe in the Kimon.”
Masashige smiled. “But I did. And so did you.” He paused. “Sometimes the faith of a samurai’s son is enough to change a daimyo’s mind.”
Akira grinned and nodded, wrapping his arm around Kasumi’s waist as he gazed at the island. “Don’t worry, my little Neko,” he whispered. “We shall find a way to nullify your bargain.”
Kasumi smiled and laid her head against his shoulders. “I believe that, Akira-kun. I really do.”
THE END
Note to my Readers
Samurai Son is a Japanese fantasy, but it is not set in Japan nor is it Japanese history any more than Lord of the Rings is set in Europe or is a history of England. It is not an attempt at retelling Japanese myths and legends. While I try to maintain some authenticity in the culture, I frequently do modify the story, language, names, and other conventions to suit my needs.
Naming Conventions
I try to follow standard Japanese naming conventions where the last name begins first, followed by the given name. So, “Takeshi Akira” is last name followed by given name. In prominent families, it is typical for the head of the household to simply go by the last name. So, Takeshi is Akira’s father, Takeshi Isao.
Titles follow the name. So, Takeshi Isao’s title of daimyo is actually “Takeshi Isao daimyo.” Honorifics such as –san and –sama follow the name, such as Akira-san and Akira-sama. –san is simply a polite way of addressing a person, such as “Mr.” or “Ms.” -sama is used for lords or someone with a higher station above the person addressing him or her. –kun and –chun are terms of endearment.
In Japanese, there is no plural and singular with nouns. So the word, “ninja” is for both singular and plural and it is up to the reader to discern whether one is talking about one ninja or several ninja. “Ninjas” is incorrect.
Guide to People, Places, and Things
Takeshi
Clan
Rokuro sensei – Akira’s training master.
Takeshi Akira – Akira, son of Isao and Ikumi.
Takeshi Ikumi – Wife of Takeshi Isao. Acts in the Takeshi’s absence
Takeshi Isao daimyo or Takeshi – Lord of Tsuitori, father of Akira, Samurai lord.
Nanashi Clan
Nanashi – Sorceror daimyo and samurai lord.
Naotaka – Samurai sworn to Nanashi.
Naotaka Jiro – Son of Naotaka samurai. Half-brother to Kasumi.
Naotaka Kasumi Neko – Daughter of Naotaka and Keiko Neko.
Neko Clan
Kanayo Neko – Guardian of the Kimon.
Naotaka Keiko Neko – Mother of Kasumi Neko.
Ninja/Shinobi
Shinobi Hiroshi – ninja.
Shinobi Shigeko shonin – master ninja.
Tsuitori Denizens
Stormwind – Female Tengu.
Tenko – kitsune and wizard.
Windcatcher – Male Tengu.
Windstorm – Female Tengu.
Other Creatures and Things
Akuma – fire demons
Amaterasu – Goddess of the Sun.
Bakeneko – demon cat.
Kami – supernatural creatures, encompasses everything from oni to gods
Kappa – a creature similar to a kelpie. It will lure, drown, and eat those who enter the water.
Karasu-Tengu – Crow Tengu.
Katana – long samurai sword.
Kimon – The demon gate.
Kuan Yin – Goddess of Mercy.
Kyotori-jima – Imperial Island.
Naginata – A type of pole arm.
Ninjato – A straight blade with a climbing platform used by ninja.