by C. J. Anaya
“Mikomi,” Saigo shouted. I turned around to see my brother running toward me from the direction of the kitchens.
“I see you were attending to your stomach while I toiled away the hours with tedious study and reflection,” I teased in an attempt to lighten my frustrated mood.
“It’s truly amazing how Kenji’s lessons can increase one’s appetite,” he replied as he reached me and held me in a tight embrace. “Glad to have you back in one piece, big sister.”
I stepped back and gave him a conspiratorial wink while Katsu was distracted with guards reporting their findings to him.
“Honorable Katsu, we recovered the arrow meant for the princess,” one of the guards said. He lifted it in his hand as if he were loath to touch it, presenting it to Katsu while quaking with fear.
I puzzled at the black coloring of the arrow and its familiarity, plucking at a distant memory.
Katsu grabbed it, his eyes wide. “This is impossible. I didn’t sense another breach against the veil from the demon god.”
“What?” I looked from Katsu to the arrow, and then realization came crashing down. The arrow hadn’t been shot from some disgruntled soldier’s bow. It came from the bow of a nekomata.
“We need to secure the princess within the palace where we can better protect her. We’re too exposed here in the courtyard.”
The moment Katsu finished his sentence, sounds of battle carried from without the gates. Katsu and Saigo grabbed hold of me on either side to pull me further into the palace, but a strange hissing noise zipped through the air. I was thrown to the floor as something smolderingly hot whizzed just above my head. The sound of an object hitting the palace walls and exploding reverberated throughout the courtyard. I lifted my head to glance back and saw the wall had been scorched black by a fireball, smoldering a few inches from our position.
My eyes widened in disbelief as the flames and blackened marks against the wall disappeared moments later.
“We’ve got to get the princess inside, Saigo.” Katsu grabbed my arm and roughly pulled me to my feet. A violent commotion of screams and battle cries carried from the gates’’ entrance where more soldiers had gathered. Without warning I was knocked to the floor again as something large and black threw itself at Katsu.
I rolled away from him as he struggled with the nekomata. My training kicked in, and I moved forward, ready to launch an attack to distract the monster and give Katsu the upper hand.
“Go,” he shouted as he struggled with his assailant. “Saigo, get your sister out of here! Go!” Saigo shoved me forward while I voiced my protests.
“I cannot leave him behind.”
“You will only be a distraction, Mikomi.” Saigo shook my shoulders. “Do you desire to be the cause of his death?”
The truthfulness of his words pierced my harried thoughts.
“Run, Saigo.”
We dashed through the chaos into a side door and down a hall that would lead to my father’s private study. My goal was to open that damnable door that led to my father’s private torture chambers below the palace and hide there until Katsu came to retrieve us. With his ability to sense my ki, I knew he wouldn’t have any problems locating us once he had dispatched the demon god’s assassin. I only prayed there weren’t any more of them. I didn’’t know if Katsu had the power to take on several at one time.
After tedious minutes of negotiating the discombobulating maze of hallways and corridors within the palace, we reached my father’s study and rushed through. I stopped short as I saw a gigantic nekomata lounging on the desk at the end of the room, holding a black blade to my father’s throat. To his credit, my father looked entirely unruffled by this horrific turn of events. Almost as if he didn’t care.
He most definitely should have cared.
The threat of a weapon from the underworld was nothing to sniff at.
I wasn’t sure how the nekomata had known to come to that particular spot, but there wasn’t time to ponder on the unexplainable.
“The Healer,” it said in a guttural, unnatural voice. “I wondered when you might be stopping by.”
“What is it that you want?” I said flatly.
I had positioned myself in front of Saigo upon seeing the ugly beast, but Saigo had drawn his sword and maneuvered himself next to me, unwilling to stand down. I was fiercely proud of his bravery, but knew he was no match for this creature. I alternated between fear for my brother and a frustrated anger toward my father. Why wasn’t he putting up more of a fight? He was one of the most powerful kami in creation. Why wouldn’t he make a move?
“You, of course.”
“I’m here, am I not? Just kill me now and leave my family alone. I won’t put up a fight.”
The nekomata bared his teeth and let out a strange chuckling noise, almost a growl and a purr. For a moment his form shimmered and then dissipated, reappearing in the form of a familiar looking soldier, one who had given my blood to several of my father’s generals. The same man whom I’d caught in the gardens with Aiko. My father was working with nekomata? With the demon god? I shot him a look filled with pure hatred, but confusion set in as I sensed his terror and mortification. Had he not understood who he was working with?
“Brave words, young healer. There are many of us who would have you killed immediately. Those that do not wish to be imprisoned any longer in the world of the dead, but the rest of us follow the demon god and he has instructed that certain steps must be taken before you can be put down.”
My mind whirled with this information. “Certain steps? I don’t understand. Are you saying that not all of you follow the demon god?”
“Like any kingdom there are bound to be factions sprouting here and there when individuals become dissatisfied with the way things are run.”
“So those nekomata that tried to kill me previously, they weren’t sent by your god?”
The nekomata’s eyes darkened. “No, but they have paid the price for their disobedience through their own demise. Katsu is a formidable opponent, not easily destroyed. To kill four deserters of the underworld is no easy feat.”
“How did so many get through? I was under the impression that nekomata couldn’t leave the underworld without the powers of their demon god.”
“I believe we have you to thank for that. Penetrating the veil and taking the powers of life or death within your own hands.” His unnaturally slitted eyes glittered as he tsked in mock disapproval. “There are bound to be consequences, child. One cannot expect the powers that govern this world to be abused without severe repercussions.” He slid his inky black gaze to my father, and his mug turned up in a disturbing smile full of sharp teeth and jagged fangs. “Convincing your father to abuse your powers over the years was more than easy to accomplish.”
Was that why my father had me torture so many of his soldiers for over a decade? He had unknowingly been influenced by a nekomata?
“You will not get away with this,” my father hissed in outrage. “Do you have any idea who you are dealing with?”
The nekomata’s grip upon my father tightened. The dagger inched closer to the vulnerable flesh under his chin.
“Of course I know who I’m dealing with. As does my master Amatsu. Your greedy desires for power and dominion played right into my master’s plans. Did you really believe this kami army we built was for you and you alone? Did you honestly think that all of the blood we’ve taken from your daughter over the years went to your soldiers?”
Over the years? I sickened as I considered the implications of Aiko’s involvement in this.
“I find it hard to believe that you had no idea who this...thing was aligned with. At this very moment you have a weapon of the underworld in your possession. You threatened Katsu’s safety,” I growled. I wanted to believe that there was at least a smidgen of good within him or at least an ounce of common sense. How could he align himself with Amatsu?
My father choked back a cough as the nekomata’s dagger hovered precariously close.
“I am not in league with Amatsu. The weapons I obtained were collected from the nekomata who Katsu dispensed with in the garden,” he whispered in a hoarse voice. “I have no interest in destroying the veil, or allowing that demon spawn to take over what is rightfully mine. I had no idea that the demon god had planted his minions within my walls. It shouldn’t be possible. They do not possess kami blood.”
“No, but your daughter’s blood holds interesting properties that have managed to sustain us for quite some time.”
“How long have you had access to my blood?” I asked in horror. I knew about the few generals my blood had been given to, but how long had this practice been going on?
“Your blood, young healer, has the power to overcome death, just as your ki has the power to overcome illness and injury. As dwellers of the world of the dead, we nekomata are not able to stay in the world of the living on a permanent basis, but your blood within our system over a period of time is able to reverse the effects of our fall, restoring us to our original glory. While we’ve given plenty of blood to your father’s soldiers, we have managed to revert several nekomata back to kami throughout the years. And your father, intent upon building a kami army for himself in order to maintain his position as emperor, aided us in this endeavor.”
“You devil spawn. This plan will never succeed. With the few nekomata you’ve succeeded in restoring, your numbers are pitifully low.”
I shook my head at my father’s goading words. He had a dagger from the underworld held to his throat, yet he still assumed he held the upper hand in this situation.
“Why have you waited so long to attack? Why take me now when, according to you, you have had access to me all this time?”
“It has taken many years to cross over a sufficient number of nekomata in order to stand against Katsu, or any other kami intent upon protecting you. We needed time, but we also had a deadline in place. Your ascension and subsequent joining with your soul mate can never be. It is time to return you to my master and end your part in the prophecy for good.”
“You’re taking me to Amatsu this very moment?”
His beady eyes gleamed. “He is quite anxious to meet you.”
The nekomata’s words raised more questions than answers, and all the while my father stood motionless without lifting a single finger to help me. I glared at him in anger.
“Fine. Wherever you need to take me, just do it now.”
“Your cooperation is greatly appreciated,” it sneered.
“You’ll take her over my dead body,” my brother warned, stepping in front of me and brandishing his sword. I had nearly forgotten he stood at my side due to the startling revelations this particular nekomata had shared.
“As you wish,” the frightening creature hissed.
The nekomata came sprinting toward him faster than I could follow. Saigo’s movements were quick and certain as he raised his sword and brought it to bear against the black dagger of the nekomata, smashing it from its clawed grip. Unfortunately, the assassin was much more skilled, kicking Saigo’s feet out from under him and wrenching my brother’s sword from his hand. He took the butt of the sword and smashed it against Saigo’s face, rendering him unconscious as blood spurted from his nose.
I picked up the blackened dagger from the floor and stepped in front of Saigo, trying to remember everything Musubi had taught me and knowing it wouldn’t be enough. The nekomata grinned wickedly and thrust my brother’s sword forward, slicing the fabric on my shoulder and leaving a superficial cut there. I gasped as the stinging spread, angered at the nekomata’s laughter. He was toying with me. He’d already stated he wouldn’t kill me. That didn’’t mean he wouldn’t hurt me. Still, I held my ground in front of my brother and easily moved into the different fighting stances that Musubi had taught me, jabbing and thrusting with the nekomata’s dagger, but my movements were slow and inaccurate, the nekomata easily deflected everything I attempted.
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 look
ed 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.