by C. J. Anaya
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“They’ll assume I’m going to take the freeway as fast as possible. Then they’ll sneak up behind us again. I’d rather let that van get back on the freeway at the next exit while I get off. Hopefully, it will take them a while to realize they’re not actually following us anymore.”
He slowed down even further and flipped his hazard lights on, but we still got quite a few honks and rude gestures from fellow drivers. He took the next exit, hung a right, and followed the road into an industrial area with a plethora of copper colored warehouses.
“This should do nicely,” he said.
“We’re going to hide in an abandoned warehouse?”
“Just for a few hours,” Victor said. “We need to hide until we’re sure we’ve lost them. Then we can make our way to the airport.”
“We can’t stay here,” Angie said. “Warehouses are creepy. It’s the perfect setting for a homicide.”
“You don’t feel safe with me around, Angie?” Victor asked.
I turned in my seat just in time to catch her glaring at him.
“You couldn’t have picked a mall? What exactly are we going to do to fill up the time?”
Victor gave her a smug smile.
“We still haven’t finished our conference. Lots to go over.”
Angie let out a grunt of dismay.
“You get sick satisfaction from bossing people around, you know that? We’ve talked this subject to death. We go to Kagami, get the prophecy, and Hope and Tie save the world.”
Tie pulled up to the back of the warehouse furthest from the road and parked the SUV.
“The prophecy is the problem, considering the translated one is incorrect and no one can read the original…or find it for that matter,” Tie said.
“Which comes to our next order of business,” Ms. Mori said. “We need to figure out where the gods of fortune are or else that prophecy is going to be about as helpful as a blind seeing-eye dog.”
“What?” Kirby asked in confusion, missing her metaphor entirely.
“Let’s get inside that warehouse and get situated. We have much to discuss,” Victor said.
I felt my head grow heavy with the implication of more complications. Wasn’t our situation desperate enough?
***
“Okay,” I said, once we found a light source for what seemed to be a storage facility for fish–and-game inventory. Angie was right. This place screamed of criminal activity. “Tell us what happened to the other gods of fortune.”
It was Tie who spoke first.
“Four of them are still missing, and two are dead.”
“Gods of fortune dead? Are you kidding me? I didn’t think that was possible!”
Victor listed them by holding up two fingers. “Hotei and Kitchijten were murdered.”
“Fukurokuju had already slaughtered them by the time Amatsu’s minions won the war against our rebel army and imprisoned him,” Tie continued. “Which is ironic when you consider Fukurokuju is the god of longevity and the one entrusted with the scrolls of every single person’s lifespan. He likes to play god in more ways than one, but I don’t have to tell you that, Hope. You know from personal experience.”
I nodded solemnly as his hand gently rubbed my back in a comforting gesture.
“He’d been using weapons from the underworld to torture them. We found their bodies during one of our raids through the palace. This was before the war was lost to Amatsu,” Victor said.
I felt horrified at this pronouncement. How could the emperor have murdered them? Why?
“Why did he torture them?” Kirby asked wide-eyed.
Tie turned to him. “He was searching for information, but we aren’t sure what exactly he was after. There’s a chance he was looking for a specific god of fortune and thought the others knew that particular god’s location.”
“Who would he have been looking for?” Dad asked.
“Benzaiten,” Ms. Mori said. “The goddess of words and knowledge, music and eloquence.”
“But what knowledge did he assume she had that he wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else?” Angie asked.
“Benzaiten knows the mysteries of the universe. She understands all that has been and ever will be. Since Fukurokuju’s goal is so similar to that of Amatsu’s, namely world domination, it stands to reason that both of those heinous gods would be interested in any information Benzaiten could give them, no matter how unwilling she might be,” Tie said.
“So the gods that are missing are…?” my father asked.
“Benzaiten,” Victor responded, “Bishamonten, the god of warriors, Ebisu, god of hardships and overcoming them. He’s actually been dubbed ‘the laughing god’ due to his ever positive attitude in the face of tribulation, but his laugh is supremely annoying—” he cut off as if realizing what he’d just said. Neutralizing his irked expression, he continued. “The last one missing is Daikokuten, the god of wealth.”
“I remember Tie assumed that the emperor had kidnapped them along with Hachiman all those years ago,” I said. “If the emperor is now Amatsu’s prisoner, is it safe to assume that the other four gods are either dead or prisoners as well?”
Victor slumped against a tall box with a grim expression. “It’s really the only conclusion we can come to. They’re either dead or their skills are being used to further Amatsu’s agenda. Neither situation bodes well for the future.”
“How can we find out and possibly save them?” Angie asked.
“We have to get to Kagami, first, and that in itself is going to be quite the challenge. We’re being hunted even as we speak,” Ms. Mori replied.
The loud crash of several fishing rods hitting the concrete floor made me jump. Kirby peeked his head around an assortment of containers and gave us a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t touch anything.”
Tie chuckled. “You break it, you bought it.”
I took a deep breath before broaching this next subject. “Nekomata are at our heels and things are getting very dangerous.” I looked at Angie. “It would really help if you remembered all of your samurai training.”
Angie’s eyes widened and her face went white.
Victor was already shaking his head.
“She doesn’t need to remember anything, and we don’t have time for her to be in a coma while she does.”
“I’m actually going to have to agree with Victor on this one,” Angie said. “According to Ms. Mori, we have threats coming from three different sources and zero time for me to be floating around in La La Land trying to remember my past lives. I honestly don’t think I can handle memories of a previous life at the moment.”
Angie was refusing to remember her sweet ninja skills? I hadn’t seen that coming. My brow crinkled in confusion. I got ready to argue with a girl whose stubbornness rivaled that of a diseased ridden pack animal when Tie did it for me.
“It couldn’t hurt, Angie. Nekomata aren’t the only thing we have to worry about. When Hope died and her spirit was held in that statue, the rebels were quickly overrun by the kami army that Fukurokuju created. He was then imprisoned, and the province has been run by Amatsu ever since.” Tie looked worried. “Kagami isn’t safe anymore.”
“Wait. The demon god is running Kagami via the Underworld?” I asked.
He nodded. “It’s given him great pleasure to incarcerate the emperor for over a millennium, I am sure, but the real issue here is they have sent their scouts out to locate your whereabouts ever since your rebirth. The only safe place in Kagami is the temple where the Holy Cherry Tree stands and the monks reside. Hachiman enchanted the temple and the grounds to keep out Amatsu’s minions.”
“I thought the nekomata couldn’t access the grounds or the temple due to its sacredness.”
Victor let out a frustrated grunt. “Amatsu’s hold over Kagami comes with a price. Evil has permeated the whole of it. Nothing is sacred anymore.”
I shook my head as I realized we were headed tow
ard the very being I absolutely had to avoid.
“The closer we get to Kagami, the more likely we’ll be discovered and captured by Amatsu’s scouts,” I said. “I want Angie to be able to handle herself in a fight against any threats we may face.”.
“Look, as much as I love the idea of kicking some psycho cat arse here, I really don’t want to have to remember all the people I failed to save in my previous lives.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise. I couldn’t believe I’d been so callous as to not consider the many horrific memories she’d have to process due to her gift and the circumstances surrounding her upbringing as Akane
“Angie, I think it’s possible for me to access certain memories for you,” I stated.
“You can do that?” Victor turned his attention to Ms. Mori. “Why is she capable of so many abilities we were not aware of. She can maim and kill with her ki, and now she is able to access memories…even assessing whether a person has lived a previous life.”
“I’m sitting right here, Victor. Please quit discussing me as if I’m a problem that needs fixing.”
Victor shot his hard eyes to me and blew out a frustrated sigh. “Were you able to do this in your previous life as well?”
“Yes. Though I trained quite a bit with Tie, I was able to access all of Akane’s training memories and use that knowledge to advance my own abilities. Since I have control over a person’s ki, I can command hers to stop repressing certain memories and allow them to resurface in her conscious mind,” I turned my attention to Angie, “without the other memories you don’t wish to have access to. The only thing you’ll remember is how to fight like the commander I remember you to be.”
I hoped. It wasn’t an exact science.
Angie thought about that for a few seconds and then finally nodded her agreement. “I think I can handle that. Does this mean I’ll suddenly become boring and lose all fashion sense in the process? I really don’t want to start dressing like a samurai commander.” Then she gasped in horror. “I’m not going to turn all serious and responsible, am I?”
“Doubtful,” Victor said. That one word managed to convey a comical level of regret.
Angie gave him a sly grin. “When do we get started?”
“Now,” I said. “We need you battle ready by the time we fly out of here.”
If Angie could take care of herself, there would be less to worry about. I had a terrible feeling we would run into more interference as we made our way to Japan, and I did not plan on losing anyone in the process.
“Am I going to pass out once these memories come rushing back to me?” Angie asked.
She sat on a sturdy box with her arms wrapped around herself in a protective hug. Her guarded look gave me pause. I hated to have to bombard her with memories she’d have to accept as her new reality. It wasn’t an easy undertaking. Heck, I was still trying to work through my previous life experiences…without any real success, either.
“Since you’re not going to be given access to your entire life’s memories, you should be okay. I’ll monitor your cerebral functions while I help you remember.”
It was just the two of us in the far corner of the warehouse. This situation felt extremely personal, and I didn’t want an audience gawking at her while she tried to process everything. I reached my hands out to place them on either side of her head, but her next words brought me up short.
“Do you miss Akane?”
I studied the bright green of Angie’s eyes, taking in the intensity of their color and the repressed moisture she blinked away. It shocked me, this serious side of my best friend. This need to tackle difficult things and air them out really wasn’t her style.
“I just wonder if maybe you wish that I was a little more like Akane and a little less like Angie.”
I sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug. The large box gave a little, but held our collective weight. She rested her head against my shoulder and took in a few shuddering breaths. I felt terrible that she had, for even one moment, assumed I wanted her to be someone else.
“Ang, I loved Akane like a sister. The friendship I developed with her is something I’ll never forget, and I will always miss her.” I wiped a traitorous tear that made an unwelcome escape down my cheek. “I watched her die…you die…in my arms. You were there one minute and gone the next and I had no control over it and no way to fix it. It feels like it happened yesterday, and I can’t—” I had to stop as a sob nearly ripped through me. Angie tightened her arms around me, giving me support when I was the one trying to give that support to her. “For me, you’re like two different people. You don’t even look the same. It doesn’t matter that your soul is the same because I’ve developed two very different friendships with you, and while I will love and miss Akane, I wouldn’t be able to bear it if I lost you. I need this version of you in my life now. I am not trying to give you back a few of your memories in some sick attempt to resurrect Akane. Okay?”
She gave me a tight squeeze and eased out of our embrace.
“Okay.” She swiped her fingers under her eyes and gave me a watery smile. “So basically, you just want me to be able to kick the crap out of everyone, huh?”
My rueful grin spread across my lips as I stood up.
“It would be helpful if I didn’t have to worry about nekomata getting the jump on you.” I resumed my earlier position with my hands on either side of her head. “I’m very serious about you defending yourself, Ang. I won’t watch you die again. I’m not interested in losing another person I love.”
“I’m like a bad penny, Hope. There’s really no getting rid of me, much to Victor’s dismay.”
“You mean Ms. Mori’s? I think Victor is starting to come around.”
“Ha! Like I’d care. Victor would never be able to handle me anyway. He’s too rigid and strict.”
“He’s exactly what you need.”
“Again, I say ha!”
I smiled at that and then studied her face for a moment.
“I’m okay now, Hope. Let’s just get this over with.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep.”
I took a deep breath and connected with her ki before either one of us could change our minds. It never ceased to amaze me how vibrant Angie’s ki felt whenever we connected. Her special talents and personality must have accounted for it, but I’d never felt anything similar to it. I quickly went for her memories and watched them unfold like a story in a picture book, sifting through her life experiences until I came across her first memories of Tie.
I remembered the process I had used to transfer her knowledge and training to my own brain, but this was going to be a little different. No transfer was necessary. The memories needed to be highlighted in the same way I might highlight a passage in a book with a colorful marker. I instructed her ki to recognize that first memory with Tie. Once it did, I asked it to take every other memory she had of him and reveal it to her mind, lifting it from the darkness of her subconscious and bringing it forward to her conscious mind. I had nearly finished the process when I felt something tug me from my connection with Angie. I snapped into myself and pulled away from her with a start.
“Hope. Come back to me. We have to leave, now.” Tie’s urgent tone brought me to attention. Angie still sat with her eyes closed.
“What’s happening?”
He reached for Angie and shook her awake. She jolted when she saw him and then jumped to her feet.
“There are two police officers sniffing around the area, and I mean that in a very literal way.”
“Police officers? The nekomata took on the form of police officers? How annoyingly resourceful of them.”
“They’re currently checking out the warehouse two buildings down from us.”
“We need to get out of here…” Angie swayed haphazardly on her feet, and both Tie and I made a grab for her, but the immortal kami was faster than me.
He threw her over his shoulder and reached for my hand.
“I thought you were only going to restore a few of her memories.”
“I did,” I said as we hurried toward the front of the warehouse and made a silent exit. Victor stood next to the SUV and silently motioned us to get in. The others were already seated inside. The sight of Angie unconscious made his face scrunch up in concern. He pulled her off of Tie’s shoulder, carrying her in his arms.
“What happened? I thought this was supposed to be safe for her,” he whispered.
“I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t able to properly break the connection, and I don’t know how many memories have been brought to the surface.”
“You drive,” Victor snarled, shoving the keys in Tie’s hands as he cradled Angie in his arms and jumped in the back with her.
Tie and I took our places in the front just as the two police officers rounded the corner of the building and booked it toward us.
“Now, Tie,” I shouted.
He started the car and took off, narrowly avoiding one officer while the other jumped on the hood of our car and morphed into a nekomata right in front of us. Talk about your worst nightmare come to life. The uniform shifted with it, but ripped along the sleeves and chest. Its fangs elongated, and he let out a hair-raising growl that was loud enough to be heard through the windshield. Tie swerved the car to the right and then made a sharp left onto the street, but the creature held to either side of the windshield, refusing to be dislodged. Then it lifted its fist back and punched it forward, cracking the middle of the windshield and sending out spidery grooves in the glass.
Tie hit the brakes hard, throwing me and everyone else forward. I positioned my arms across my face and braced for impact, wishing I’d had time to put my seatbelt on, but Tie’s swift reflexes held me in place before my face smashed against the dashboard. He was out of the car in a flash and racing toward the nekomata who’d been flung from the windshield, barely pulling himself to his feet. I watched with my heart in my throat as Tie flashed to his side, jumped in the air, and came down on him with his elbow grinding into the back of the feline’s neck.