"Are you alright?" he asked.
She refused his help, instead climbing to her feet on her own with some difficulty. Getting up too fast made her head spin again, and she reached out for something that would keep her from falling, which turned out to be her rescuer.
The man caught her and for a single moment she leaned into him before remembering this was a stranger. She lurched backward and almost fell once more and then righted herself. She squinted at him. Maybe it was because she'd had too much to drink, but he seemed familiar.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
The man helped her stand upright. "I do not believe I've had the pleasure," he said with a smile that could only be called charming.
A handsome and heroic stranger. There had to be something wrong with him. "Who are you? Why did you save me?"
"Let's just say, I don't like seeing women in danger."
"I'm not some sort of woman in need of saving."
"Clearly."
He turned as if to walk away from her, leaving her in the middle of the forest. She should have let him go, she was lucky he didn't ask for anything. Perhaps it was the drink but she felt compelled to follow him. She chased after him.
"I'm not buying it. No one does anything without getting something for themselves."
A smile pulled at the corner of his lips, it was cheeky and dangerous. "Yokai liquor is much too strong for a human."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Ryuu."
"That's not what I meant and you know it. You're not like the others." She nodded in the direction she assumed the inn was.
"No?"
She scowled at him—it was just like a yokai to be intentionally vague. "Are you working for the dragon, did he send you to spy on me?"
Ryuu laughed softly. "Can't say I've ever met him."
She narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't sure what to think of him.
"Let me give you some advice," Ryuu said, "Don't mention the dragon. He has enemies everywhere. Your connection with him will only put you in danger."
Suzume frowned and was preparing a retort when Tsuki and Noaki came running up from behind Ryuu. They had their weapons drawn, but as they approached Ryuu held up his hands in the sign of surrender.
Tsuki and Noaki placed themselves in front of her, blocking her from Ryuu.
"Are you hurt?" Noaki asked.
"You're a little late for the rescue." Suzume rolled her eyes. "Not that I needed rescuing."
"She had everything well in hand when I arrived," Ryuu said, feeding into her lie.
She frowned in his direction.
"We got caught in that mess you made back at the inn," Tsuki said. "We didn't even realize you'd left right away."
"I can see you're in good hands. Goodnight, Suzume," Ryuu said, interrupting their conversation. He bowed his head toward her before strolling away. She wanted to chase after him. She wasn't done asking him questions. But Noaki placed his hand on her shoulder and gave a small shake of her head. How did he know my name?
7
Too long had he been away from his domain. It had been even longer since he'd allowed himself to fly in his true form. Thick, white clouds surrounded him, cloaking him from any casual observer's view. Though any mundane human who might have seen him would have convinced themselves it was nothing but the trick of the eye. The sea beneath him sparkled like thousands of diamonds. At times he would dip down, letting his legs skim the surface of the waves. Sea spray fell onto his scales and fed his spiritual power. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to be this powerful, to be where he belonged. As he indulged in this euphoric sensation of freedom, of rightness, the toxic anger that had been gnawing at his insides started to lessen.
All of Akatsuki had been his dominion before, but this coastline was his home. He took his time re-familiarizing himself with his surroundings. It felt as if both no time had passed and too much time had passed all in one. The landscape had changed dramatically in his time away. The mouth of the river which poured into the bay had gotten wider. Cliff faces had eroded, collapsing into the sea and leaving large gouges in the land. In some places he did not recognize anything at all, but some permanent features such as the mountains were unchanging.
More than the waxing and waning of nature, was the mark humans had left upon the landscape. There were more human dwellings than ever before. Since he'd been freed he'd seen glimpses of their swelling numbers but it was much more evident here at the coast. He'd been faintly aware of their quick reproductive cycles, but their numbers had doubled and tripled, while the yokai numbers continued to dwindle. He could not help but wonder how the world might have been had he not been sealed. Seeing human towns so close to his own palace rankled him a bit. It showed just how little respect they had for his kind—just as the dragons had said.
Though they had numbers, their strength could not rival that of a true yokai. Of that he was certain. Humans were just as weak and stubborn as before, and they didn't know what was best for them. The anger he'd been trying to release bubbled up in him once more.
In need of a distraction, Kaito stretched out his spiritual energy and let it roll over the land, searching for more like him. The time was coming when he would need to summon them all to his palace. Already repairs were underway to return his home to its former glory, but he wanted to get a sense of who was close at hand.
He traveled along the coastline for miles and miles, but he found not a single trace of a powerful yokai. The only thing apart from humans he sensed was the occasional low-level yokai—mindless creatures who were little more than animals. He felt almost nothing and was growing discouraged until he got to the mouth of the river. It was the largest river and not far from his palace.
He felt energy there, an intense diversity of human and yokai. It was so powerful he could not untangle one from the other. The place vibrated with energy and he was drawn in by it, as if under its spell. He hovered overhead in the clouds. He was not so reckless that he would fly straight in without thinking. But there was something about this place. It felt familiar, though he had known no towns when he had ruled here. All he had remembered being here was a single shrine—oddly enough one that had been dedicated to him. This place could not be the same.
Kaito flew down to get a closer look. Upon closer inspection it was a town of relatively large size. The town was nestled between the ocean and the mouth of the river. Along the seaside, ships of varying sizes were lined up. On the riverside were docks and more ships, presumably ones that took goods inland.
Hundreds of humans bustled up and down the streets trading and visiting different establishments. Apart from the waterways, there were roads leading into the town as well. He was intoxicated by the sights, sounds, and smells of the place and decided to go in.
Kaito landed and transformed into his human visage. He was reminded of the old days, when he had been curious about humans and had disguised himself as one of them. He walked into the town, eyes casually grazing on everything. The place was filled with sounds—horses neighing, men haggling, and in the distance he heard street musicians playing.
The human town was alive. Pulsing with spiritual energy, it seemed to be woven into the very fabric of this place. How odd, he thought. It was hard to tell where the shrine that once stood here had been, since the landscape had changed so much. I wonder if I should be offended that they took it down? But he couldn't bring himself to be offended. This place had a certain charm that was hard to deny.
As he strolled down the street he spotted a woman standing at the door to a building shouting at the passing crowd.
"Good food and drink here." She flirted and winked at men passing by who were drawn in by her good looks and then, hooked by the scent of fried food coming from within, took seats at the myriad of tables. He stopped to watch her, amused by her charms. There was an energy about her, her voice was melodic, like a song and the spell it wove brought people in by droves it seemed. The restaurant was bursting at the sea
ms.
"Sir!" She waved at him when she caught him staring, and Kaito found himself being drawn in by her spell as well and walked over.
"A nobleman like you shouldn't be out in this heat." She gestured toward the sky. In fact, it was rather a pleasant day. But he wasn't about to tell her otherwise.
Kaito's lips curled into a smile. "Perhaps I could have a drink." He gave her a flirtatious smile. She flushed prettily before ducking beneath the hanging cloth over the entrance to show him to a table.
The space was an open area beneath a roof hung with lanterns and raised up above street level. Almost all the tables were filled. Humans from all walks of life drank and ate, their voices overlapping and becoming a low-level buzz. Kaito was shown to a table along the edge of the covered space, giving him a view of the street beyond where he could watch the people ambling by. The pretty young woman set a glass in front of him, setting a bottle of sake on the table without asking.
She poured him a drink. "I'll bring you some food." He didn't even have to order. She seemed to know her job well. He had no real interest in human food, but rather to learn more about this town. He sipped the sake as he listened to the chatter around him.
"The army is on the move again," one middle-aged man said. He was balding on top but he was trying very hard to disguise it by combing his hair over.
Another man with a round belly and fine clothes sat at his table. "I hear there's trouble in the capital. They say the general turned on the emperor."
"I heard the mother of the emperor's fifth son wants to put him on the throne," said a third thin man with a narrow little beard on his chin.
"Those Kaedemori are all power hungry. We'd be better off without them," said the balding man.
Kaito shook his head. The humans were no threat to him when they continued to squabble amongst themselves, just as they had five hundred years ago. They were so worried about grasping for power in their short pointless lives that they could not conceive trying to attack the yokai. Kaito took another sip of his sake. It was weak and watered down. Perhaps not surprising given the nature of this establishment.
The humans were not the threat to the yokai. The real threat was Hisato, out there somewhere. He needed to build up his army to stop him. But how could he make the dragons understand that without making himself seem sympathetic to humans?
The woman returned with food and drink, and set them down with a smile. It occurred to him he didn't even know the name of this town. Or how it had gotten here. The girl moved so fast she was turning to leave before he could even form a question. He grabbed her by the wrist to stop her.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"This isn't that sort of place." She yanked her arm away from him and for a moment he felt a spark of spiritual power in her. The sensation reminded him faintly of when Suzume's powers reacted to him. But this was different. It was a much weaker feeling. It explained her ability to lure in customers.
He shook his head. "Not this establishment, this place." He made a wide wave toward the street.
She scrunched her nose up, thinking he was a crazy person. "Eat your food."
She marched away and Kaito let her go. He didn't need to be shamed by some human woman. He glanced down at the plate of food. What had smelled delicious outside looked limp and unappetizing on his plate. He had no intention of eating, but instead listened more to their talking. Eavesdropping was the best way to gather information. Perhaps one of these people would say how this town had come to be erected on a shrine ground.
A man came and sat down across from him. He wore a straw hat pulled down low, so Kaito couldn't see his face. But he sensed his energy as soon as he came close.
"This town is Osaka," he said, reaching across the table to take Kaito's sake bottle and pour himself a drink.
Kaito scowled at the man. His spiritual energy was strong, but he could not get a clear read upon him. Kaito wasn't certain if he was human or yokai.
"This used to be a shrine to the great dragon," Kaito said as he tried to discreetly see beneath the man's hat.
The man laughed. "It has not been a shrine in centuries. Not since the Great Dragon disappeared. Now this is the main port between the capital and the south."
He peered sidelong at the man. "Who are you?"
The man turned away to take a drink of his glass. He set down the glass with a quiet thump. "Just a lonely merchant looking for some company."
Kaito scowled. He was tempted to reach across the table and tear off the hat he was wearing. But decided against it.
"Do they still worship the dragon?" Kaito asked casually.
The man chuckled. It was a deep, hearty laugh. "Oh yes. They attribute all of their wealth to the great dragon."
Kaito smiled to think of it. The shrine had been a favorite of his. When the local fisherman prayed here for calm seas he'd always listened to their prayers and they had often left him offerings. It was good to see it was still the same.
"It is too bad the dragon is gone," the man said as he lifted his head so Kaito could see his mouth curl into a mischievous smile. And the dragon caught a glimpse of the man's storm gray eyes. Deep lines were carved into his face. He was not yokai, that was certain, but he wasn't a normal human either. There was something almost familiar about him.
"Perhaps his blessing still remains on this place, despite his absence," Kaito said as he attempted to probe the man's spiritual energy for answers. But it was a locked box he could not break open.
"And I hope it remains that way." The man set coins down on the table. "Thanks for the drink."
The man stood and Kaito did as well. He had more questions for him. As he tried to pursue him however, a strong wind blew through the restaurant and the woman carrying a tray of food had it knocked from her hand by the gust. The platters and jug of sake fell to the ground with a crash. Kaito turned to see what had happened.
When he turned back to the man he was gone. Kaito leaped out onto the street to search for him. The wind blew through the streets, almost removing hats from heads and sending door coverings flapping in the wind. There was no sign of the strange man and people walking down the street gave Kaito a wide berth, watching him as he stared. That energy, not human but not yokai either. It was very similar to... he shook his head. He didn't want to go down that path.
Kaito tried searching for the man but his search was in vain. After spending the better part of the afternoon looking, he headed back toward the palace. As he was reaching the edge of town, he felt a yokai presence following him. At first he pretended not to notice anything, and continued at a leisurely pace. There was a nearby gap between buildings, and he walked down it, listening as footsteps followed him. Then without warning he turned on his follower. He launched into him, pinning him against the wall of a nearby building. Jirou gave him a devious smile.
"How did I know I'd find you here?" Jirou said, revealing his pointed canines.
Kaito bared his teeth back at him. "You were following me?"
"I came looking for you, brother. You were gone a very long time."
"Don't you have better things to do?"
"Not since someone took my place." He laughed as if it was all a joke, but he could see the resentment in his eyes. They'd always been rivals, but time had only made it worse. And his recent defeat could make him dangerous. Kaito would have to watch him.
Kaito let go and stepped back. "If you wanted to come drink with me you should have told me," Kaito said, laughing off the tension.
Jirou dusted off imaginary dust from his clothes. "In a human town?"
"Why not? They're harmless enough."
His brother glanced around the village, his nose crinkling. "I don't know how you can stand the stench."
He was trying to bait him, but Kaito wouldn't rise to it. "Better than how you smell."
His lips curled into a smile. "Have you always loved humans or was it just once you sheathed your sword in one?"
Kaito bit down on the rage
that was threatening to bubble up inside him.
"Why did you really follow me?"
He strolled over to a nearby cart and stole a piece of fruit from it. "I came to warn you. It would be better if you distanced yourself from the humans."
Kaito balled his hand into a fist. "Is that threat?"
"Remember your kind, brother. The others may not know all the details but I do. I know you loved that woman, and you'd give your life to protect her."
"She's dead," Kaito growled.
"I wasn't talking about Kazue. I was talking about Suzume."
8
The shrine was a palace unto itself. A long walkway of multiple bright red torii arches separated the outside world from the holy place of the divine beyond. Hikaru stared at the long pathway. It twisted slightly and the red arcs blurred together to make a long red tunnel. For the past twenty years this place had been home for him. This place had also been his prison and he had not even known it. Trapped by his own forgotten past, he'd been cut off from the woman he loved for more than two decades.
As if reading his thoughts, Rin squeezed his hand. He turned to his wife. They'd spent centuries together, been through it all. But leaving her behind again after such a short reunion was the hardest thing he'd ever do.
"I lost you for twenty years, I will live for a few nights we are apart," she said, seemingly reading his thoughts.
He tugged on her arm, bringing her close to him. He rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her, burning it into his memories. How could I have forgotten her for even a moment? Every breath I took while we were apart should have been dedicated to finding her again.
"But how will I survive without you?" He ran his hand over her head, tangling his hands in her hair. Rin tilted her head back, a mischievous smile on her face.
"If you're not careful I might not let you go."
"Is that a threat?" He leaned in close, capturing her lips in a kiss. How he had missed this feeling. There had been an ache in him for so long that he could not fill. And it was this, feeling her hands around his shoulders, his lips against hers.
The Dragon Saga Box Set Page 78