“So how many people will be here tonight?” David asked, curious about his first New Year’s Eve in Japan.
“A bunch of people from town. There will be other gatherings of course, but this is the biggest Shrine in Nakano, and the only one with a bell,” Rie answered, her voice light on the cold breeze.
“Shouldn’t you two change back to your human forms? I mean, what if someone sees you. I have Takumi’s clothes.” Despite her words, Natsuki did not appear too eager to give up Reimi’s fiery heat.
Reimi popped her head out, saying “Fine, but only if you let me go flying later. We never get to practice.”
“That’s because I end up climbing twenty trees when you do,” Natsuki said. “I’m not some flying squirrel.” Though her words were true enough, Kou easily saw the smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Chuckling with their tiger growl, Kou loped off to his clothes. Though he had a special set of armor that would transform with him, he could not very well run around in tiger striped armor while groups of outsiders were on the Matsumotos’ Estate. In a blink, Kou had David’s clothes in his mouth and was gone. Natsuki left Takumi’s clothes behind a tree and walked away with Rie.
David was the first to rejoin the girls. Jumping out from a tree, he smiled at Natsuki’s foot, an inch from his face.
“Tsk tsk,” David shook his head seriously. “You really shouldn’t go around kicking everything that jumps out at you. I mean who else with my skin and hair color would be around here?”
“That’s why she stopped,” Takumi said in a voice newly deepening. Shorter and slighter than David but coiled and strong as a snake, Takumi ducked out from behind a tree. His thick winter kimono melded into the dark shadows of evening despite the white snow behind him. “She still has better control than you. Sorry about Reimi, she really wanted to fly.”
“We better go. It’s almost eleven-thirty,” Rie said. With a smile, she took the lead, weaving through the familiar trees of her ancestral home.
“Good. Kou might be warm, but I’m freezing,” David said. Appearing naked in the snow was not fun for him after being warm and comfortable as Kou.
Covered in white, the clearing looked completely different than it had the last time David visited it. The bright colors of fall were gone, but so too was the crater. After its destruction when David had saved Rie, the Matsumotos had expertly rebuilt the shrine in secret. Waiting before the Shrine, Masao and Yukiko Matsumoto stood with Natsuki’s parents. On the right side of the clearing, tents had been set up with some of the local restaurants offering variations on toshikoshi soba, a traditional New Year’s Eve noodle dish. David spotted several of his classmates crowded around the tents, enjoying the warmth of the steaming food and lights.
Masao turned the instant they stepped out of the forest’s shadows. He touched a small box next to the stairs leading up to the new Shrine. A gentle glow sprang from rows of lighted lanterns that marked a path through the trees. With a gesture, Yukiko led the way left from the Shrine. Hidden among the trees, a snow covered pagoda blended into the forest. The lanterns encircling the wooden structure added a warm glow and illuminated a large bronze bell.
“What’s that?” David asked.
“It’s a Buddhist tradition to ring a bell one hundred and eight times before midnight. Though not Shinto, it has become a tradition here. Everyone will have a chance to ring the bell. It’s a way to purify ourselves before the New Year,” Masao said, leading them around the pagoda to a set of stairs. Behind them, David realized the rest of the townspeople had followed and were lining up for their turn to ring the bell. Kou chided him for not paying better attention to his surroundings. They were both relieved to note that the local school bully, Koji, had not shown up.
After Masao, Natsuki, and the rest of the Matsumotos went, David walked up the stairs and grabbed the rope he had seen the others use. The rope pulled a chained log that he swung forward. When the log hit, the bell rang with a loud, solemn peal. David shivered as the vibrations washed through him.
‘It’s like something really is gone. I guess my old life is over, isn’t it,’ David thought as he walked back down the stairs.
‘It is, but in return we both have a new life to live. A powerful one, full of meaning. Together, we are a Jitsugen Samurai, the culmination of hundreds of years of tradition. Traditions are an important way of learning from the past. Let’s go find some toshikoshi rat before midnight strikes.’
‘We’ll go hunting later, I promise,’ he thought in reply. ‘You know, most people would be concerned if another voice answered their every thought. But I’m glad you’re here.’
Within him, the kami growled in pleasure as they walked back out of the forest in search of food. As the last bell tolled at midnight, David felt other possibilities, the other ways his life might have turned out, fade away with the deep, low sound.
Rie found him a bit later staring off into the forest. Noting his still familiar vacant look, she pulled him gently toward the Shrine.
“Talking to Kou again?” she whispered. “Come on, we have to pray to our ancestors for a happy New Year.”
Though he had been talking to Kou, David felt on edge. The Matsumoto forest usually felt like home, but with the snow covering familiar paths, the whole place felt different. David followed Rie after one last look into the forest’s depths. As he neared the Shrine’s steps, his mind drifted back over the many times he had been there. The accident that had left him possessed by a Japanese god, his triumph during their Golden Week games, Rie’s possession by an evil spirit, and his success at bringing her back all flashed before his eyes. Then Takumi appeared beside him and jerked him out of his revere.
“Here take this. It’s good luck,” he said, handing him a small brass coin with a round hole in the center. David recognized the five-yen coin. “Throw it in the box, and then follow along.”
Takumi bowed to the Shrine then took his own coin and threw it into a small box. Reaching up, he shook a thick white rope, which rang two large brass bells. Then he bowed twice, clapped his hands twice, and bowed again. Turning, he moved aside for David who repeated the movements, a bit unsure what to think about it all.
‘You know, I was brought up in a semi-religious family. Is it okay to do this without really knowing what it means?’ David thought, hoping Kou would answer.
‘You know by now that there is something to the Japanese legends and traditions. What harm can it do to ask your ancestors for a good New Year? We must be mindful of those who came become before us. The Matsumotos, kami, and even your ancestors may prove to be powerful allies if only we ask.’
Thoughtful, David looked up from his last bow and caught a glimpse of Ryohei, the Matsumoto Estate’s resident obake floating around one of the trees up the mountain. With a wink to him, David turned away to make room for the next group of people.
“So what happens now?” David asked. “In America we usually make a lot of noise, have fireworks and stuff. It’s strange having an almost somber New Year’s.”
“Some people will probably do fireworks in town,” Natsuki said, smiling. “Most will just go home and spend their time quietly. We are going for a hike.”
“A hike?”
“Yep,” Takumi said. “Though I guess I could let Reimi fly.”
Takumi and Natsuki, partners through her bond with his kami, walked off. David just caught Natsuki say, “You better not go off and leave me with just your clothes,” before they were out of view.
As David began to follow, Yukiko motioned to him and Rie. After ensuring there was no one around to hear, his host-mother bent close.
“Make sure you keep your senses open,” she said, unusually stern. “I’m sure that last week was not a lone event.”
“Don’t worry. Kou’s on it.”
“Come on, let’s go” Rie said, pulling him after Takumi and Natsuki.
An hour later, David sat with the other three young samurai high above the Matsumoto Shrine. The walk up the snowy mou
ntain had been quiet. David had matched Rie’s pace, but he could not help but think on Yukiko’s words.
‘If there is another attack…’ As they reached the top, their silent conversation ended. Instead of Takumi and Natsuki as they expected, there was only a small open area surrounded by pine trees at the top of a cliff. The area was quiet, though they could hear some of the conversations floating up from below. David tensed.
“Relax,” Rie said. “They’re probably just making out over in the woods.”
In response, Natsuki dropped out of a nearby tree, causing David to whirl and summon his Seikaku, the powerful dual-nature sword that he could summon at will.
‘If only Jessica could learn to be that quiet,’ David thought with a wistful sigh. Even dropping from a tree, the girl who was normally so loud at school had been eerily silent. His sister had struck up a fast friendship with Natsuki after her visit. Every other day he had to translate another note between them or send messages over Skype. ‘At least I get to hear what she’s up to again.’
“Reimi’s around here somewhere,” Natsuki said. “And we were not making out.” To emphasize her point, she punched David hard in the arm. Though he could have dodged, he let her connect, and then followed up with a backhand to her forehead. It might had turned into an impromptu sparring match, but then Reimi distracted them with an aerial somersault that nearly ended with her smashed into a tree.
Below the cliff, the warm lights of Nakano Town glowed just past the Estate’s trees and the main road to Himeji. Takumi reappeared and helped them unpack the few supplies they had brought up the mountain. David smiled at the awkward distance he tried to keep from Natsuki.
A bit later, Rie stirred beside him on a log, and David again wondered why they had not become partners. Kou had no answers for him. Whether it was because they had just broken their bond with Natsuki, or for some other reason, he was just as free as he had been for those first few days he could talk to Kou. Their glimpse into just how strong and important the connection between Jitsugen Samurai and partner could be tainted their enjoyment of that freedom. Murmuring something too quiet for him to hear, Rie sat a little closer.
‘Females.’ Kou thought the word almost like a curse. David chuckled. ‘They are difficult to hunt. Why are we sitting up here freezing? We could be hunting or lying in a tree.’
Rie shivered beside them. Although prepared, David saw that the others were just as cold as he was.
“How long are we going to be up here?” David asked.
“A few more hours,” Takumi said. He stared out over the cliff into darkness, while Natsuki stole occasional glances toward her partner.
“Kou and I will be right back. We’re going to get some firewood.” David stood, and loped off into the trees. Once they were out of sight, David transformed, sighing as Kou’s tiger fur insulated them from the cold. Light over the deep snow, Kou was able to round up enough wood for a fire much faster than David was, despite his lack of opposable thumbs. Kou’s animal senses, so much more potent than David’s, also ensured no stray beasts would ambush them again. In just a few minutes, Kou had a stack of wood next to their friends.
‘I could use a bit of your fur right about now,’ David thought as he braced himself for the change back to human form.
‘Why not? We used to get mixed up. Maybe we can put some fur on you.’
‘Some things best not left to chance. What if we make a mistake and I end up orange haired forever?’
‘It would be an improvement.’
David growled at his other half and willed himself into his human form, pink skin and all.
“Good thing I was a boy scout,” he muttered a few minutes later as he moved the last twig into place.
After a few tries, David coaxed a feeble flame with a few matches from Natsuki’s bag. Afraid the faltering sparks might die; he leaned in to blow on the flame. A sudden gasp made him turn just as something small and dark rushed past him.
The fire erupted into an inferno that heated the entire area. Surprised, David rolled away from the flames as the girls scooted back from the waves of heat. Takumi was gone.
Looking into the flames David saw that Reimi was no longer a small gray bird. Instead, an iridescent whisper of fire resolved into twinkling eyes and beak. Fluttering in and around the flames, Kou suspected she was feeling as he felt stalking through the forest. Reimi was free and at home. Laughing, David sat again with Rie, and together the three students watched the phoenix play in the flames. Sometimes she seemed nothing more than another flicker of heat, while at other times she was a shooting star of red feathers and flame. The flames began to wither after consuming nearly every bit of the wood Kou had gathered.
“I’ll go get some more,” David said, getting up.
Rie pulled him back down. “No, don’t. You’ll miss it.”
With a last few sputters, the flames died as melted snow erased the last embers. A small gray head poked its way out of the mush. Shaking herself off, Reimi hopped out of the sludge and over to Natsuki.
“That was fun. We should do that more often,” she squeaked.
“If I had known all you need is a bit of fire to enjoy yourself so much I would have slept in front of the kotatsu burner instead of having to try to follow you up trees!” Natsuki said laughing.
With a look at David, Reimi fluttered out of view. David followed after with Takumi’s clothes. They made it back just in time to watch the first sunrise of the New Year peak over the hills above Himeji.
“You know,” whispered Rie as the sun’s rays hit them, “it’s the year of the Tiger.”
BACK TO SCHOOL
Choices… I had spent my whole life avoiding them. It was always easier to follow, to do what others wanted me to do. Yet it was always there, the nagging feeling that something was wrong, that I could be more than I was…
Although it was a holiday, David did not expect to escape their usual morning training. Most of the time, David and Kou looked forward to the mental and physical challenges of their practices. Still, they were pleasantly surprised when they returned from the mountaintop and Yukiko announced they all had a day off from their usual routines. Natsuki stayed for breakfast before heading home to spend the rest of New Year’s Day with her parents. The Matsumotos and David enjoyed the traditional New Year’s bento lunch boxes called osechi that Yukiko had ordered months in advance, and then relaxed for the day.
David understood a little better all the preparations that had gone on before the holiday. Yukiko had mobilized everyone when not training to clean out the entire house. Instead of spring-cleaning, the Matsumotos wanted to be sure that everything was ready for a new year. David had especially enjoyed helping to make mochi. With the twins and Natsuki, David had helped smash steamed rice into sticky goo. They had filled some of it with sweet beans to make a very tasty treat. Rie had taken three big rounds of mochi, stacked them, and topped them with an orange. The offering was a centerpiece at the Shrine, and David finally understood what all the plastic decorations he had seen in stores were supposed to represent.
With the work done, the entire family was able to relax. Later in the day, the mailman arrived with a stack of postcard greetings for the family. David was surprised to receive a stack of his own from classmates and other students at the school.
‘I’m embarrassed. The only presents and letters I sent were to my father and Jessica. I didn’t send any to our classmates—and I don’t even know half of these people.’
‘It seems you are more popular than you thought,’ Kou growled from within him. ‘I’m sure Jessica will enjoy the picture of you and the twins you sent. I bet she’ll scratch out your face and focus her hunt on Takumi.’ David took the opportunity to growl back.
Though David’s father and Jessica had visited a few weeks before, they were still unaware of his life as a Jitsugen Samurai. It had been easy enough hiding the changes from his oblivious father, but it had been far more difficult to hide them from his sister. Dav
id knew his father cared, but also knew that very few things could hold his interest for long. Fortunately, Jess had been more interested in telling David about her friends back home than in prying into David’s life.
It helped that she grew silent whenever she saw Takumi. With secrecy so essential to his and the Matsumotos’ survival, David could not afford to let his family know about Kou. It was safer for them that way. With a sigh, David went to find Takumi so he could ask what to do about his lack of greetings for other students.
Outside the main house, David jogged toward the forge, a low building that bordered the traditional Japanese garden behind the main house. With a burst of speed, David leapt over the small stream that ran through the Estate. The recent snows had frozen the top layers, but he could still see water running below. He had cleared the stream so many times that he was shocked to find himself wet, cold, and gasping for air beneath a layer of ice.
Struggling, he convulsed in the shallow water. His whole body bumped against the rocks as something dragged him closer to the pond in the center of the garden. He twisted against the pull on his leg. His arm caught a tree root and gave him just enough leverage to turn his face, but the ice kept him from getting any air. With a shock of panic, he smashed his head through the ice just long enough to pull in a quick gasp of air.
A strong jerk dragged him back under. David pulled hard with stomach muscles developed by hours of sit-ups. He caught sight of a translucent blue form in the water before his head banged against a rock and he had to straighten out.
‘A little help here?’
‘I did the last one. I will let you have this hunt.’
‘Just cause there’s a little water.’
David growled, and shut his eyes against the water. He moved faster through the water as his body relaxed. He mentally followed the tingling flow of energy to the core of his being. There, he sensed the remaining metal that had impaled his heart so many months before at the Shrine. Calling it forth, his Seikaku appeared in his hands. As they entered the pond, David had enough room to maneuver. Even as the squirming little kappa tried to drag him to the bottom, David lashed out with the wooden form of the Seikaku. The transparent form that had held him dissolved into the surrounding waters.
Revenge of the Akuma Clan Page 2