by Paul Kidd
Lord Raiden gave a bow. He sat himself down on a stool that was placed before the Magistrate.
“My Lord Masura’s presence is always welcome – in the Emperor’s name.”
Lady Tosakingyo had slipped Chōisai back into his tub of water, where the beautiful fish splashed joyously about, nuzzling his mother’s hand. Magistrate Masura turned to make the introductions.
“My dear Lord Raiden. May I introduce you to Tosakingyo Asahiro and his wife? They are carp spirits. They have consented to accompany me on my travels.” He beamed at the beautiful, gleaming fish. “And this is their son! Tosakingyo Chōisai. An absolute prodigy, don’t you agree?”
Lord Raiden Katsura was forced to look politely at the magnificent Chōisai.
“Truly he is a credit to his parents, Masura sama.” Lord Raiden bowed stiffly to the Tosakingyo. “My compliments upon your handsome son.”
“A most handsome son!” Magistrate Masura was struck by a sudden delightful thought. “But you are a fish fancier yourself, Lord Raiden. You are having a showing of new breeds at your castle in a few days’ time. I believe I shall attend. Surely your guests would be intrigued to meet the Tosakingyo family in person? They would all enjoy an introduction to young Chōisai, so that all in the empire may know exactly who he is, to what family he belongs, and who his patrons are.”
Lord Raiden seethed.
“You put me at a disadvantage, lord. I am unsure whether we can accommodate you at such short notice.”
“Oh, I have a traveling court. We are well used to living in the rough, as you see! But I do think the personal touch is very important in keeping the peace within the empire.” Lord Masura was utterly clear. “I shall look forward to our invitation to your fish viewing ceremony.”
For an instant, Raiden Katsura was in a cold fury. He flexed his hand, thoughts clearly upon his sword. But Kuno was right at the Magistrate’s side, his hands conspicuously relaxed and balance slightly forward – ready to draw. And the imperial samurai were prepared to make an instant attack. Hijiya Hoichi watched Lord Raiden like a hawk, his men circling to cover all possible retreat.
Lord Raiden had no choice but to back down. He bowed, trying to keep his seething rage out of his voice.
“In the Emperor’s name…”
Raiden Katsura made to leave. He bowed to his host.
“With your permission, lord, I will return to my capital to make preparations for your arrival.”
Kitsune Sura had been sitting happily nearby eating a chicken wing – feeling outrageously well entertained. She now wiped her hands and swivelled forward, bowing with much fake humbleness.
“My lords! Forgive my interruption, but surely we can bring great convenience and glory to Lord Raiden in this matter!” The fox placed a hand against her heart. “Think of his increased standing amongst his fish fancying comrades, were he to reveal that he is a patron of the Tosakingyo family. If he were to sponsor young Chōisai’s education – perhaps sign over a few hundred koku of rice land to him - it would bring immense lustre to his reputation amongst his friends!”
The fox beamed at one and all – a predatory gleam sparking in her sly green eyes. “Imperial Magistrate Masura would be pleased to handle the details. There is nothing he does not know about all of these affairs!”
Lord Raiden flashed a glare at the fox – but she had him caught. The man looked away.
“Will two hundred koku suffice?”
Magistrate Masura stepped in at once.
“Most generous, my lord! Your good sense is a shining beacon of enlightenment to us all.”
Raiden Katsura bowed to Magistrate Masura, cast a cold glare at the Spirit Hunters, then arose. He spoke no more, but marched to his horse, mounted the beast, and cracked his crop across its rump. He sped off, back towards his own lands with his bodyguards galloping wildly behind him.
With Lord Raiden gone, a great weight lifted from the assembly. The carp spirits released tense, pent up breaths, and Reiju let her shoulders bow. Only Sura seemed carefree. She turned to the platters of food nearby and found a chicken leg.
Magistrate Masura favoured her with a considering glare.
“Reibai Kitsune Sura. One day you will press matters too far, and I will be unable to pluck you from the fire.”
The fox gave a merry bow.
“I merely follow the advice of the Great Sage, my lord. ‘Never give a sucker an even break’…” Sura leaned closer and arched one brow. “Does the Great and Honoured Imperial Magistrate wish to offer an official comment upon the activities of these humble wanderers?”
“I assure you that there will never be an official comment upon any of these events at all.”
Magistrate Masura drew out the letter Kuno had left with the carp samurai before leaving the Tosakingyo home.
“We were, or course, stationed within reach of the borders during the Raiden’s ‘troop exercises’.” The magistrate raised a tea cup to Kuno in salute. “Your letter almost came too late, Kuno san. We were able to come here only by exhausting our fastest horses.”
Kuno gave a gracious bow. “I humbly apologise for the inconvenience I have caused.”
“No no, Kuno san. This was your only recourse. Shameful deeds done in darkness must be fought by bringing them to light.” Magistrate Masura looked at the Spirit Hunters, and nodded in approval.
“Well done, Spirit Hunters. Well done.”
Chapter 6
Sometime later, the camp had finally found time to relax and enjoy the morning. Imperial samurai practiced their archery in a sunny field, calling out praise to Kinoshita nō Toshiro as he struck the bullseye from clear across the range. The young samurai was delighted and embarrassed by the praise. He blushed, secretly radiant as he was presented with a bow from Hijiya Hoichi’s own hands.
Sura walked with Reiju along the banks of a lovely little stream. The banks were hung with willow trees, and late summer flowers bloomed. Dragonflies zig-zagged slowly back and forth across the water, idly drifting through their day.
Sura and Reiju walked over to a little bend in the stream. The water here formed a pool – brilliantly clear, with fallen leaves shining brightly on the bottom. The Tosakingyo family were sitting by the water, utterly lost in joy. Little Chōisai was carefully released into the stream to play, and then his parents shimmered and changed into their fish forms, flopping out of their clothing and down into the stream. The three beautiful fish splashed and frolicked together in the water, chasing each other joyously in the sun.
Reiju watched the carp family. She smiled for them, feeling at peace.
“My friends have a future unclouded by woe. I thank you once again, Sura san.”
“It is our pleasure.”
Reiju felt a sad little sting of guilt. “But you have spent your own money and time on an enterprise that could bring you no profit.”
A willow tree nearby spread soothing shade across the grass. Here, Kuno had laid out soft bedding in the quiet. Chiri – feeling horribly seedy – lay there in the shade. Bifuuko fanned her gently with her wings, while Kuno laid a cool cloth across her forehead. There was quiet love and devotion in his touch.
Sura smiled.
“Even our worst calamities can provide benefits, Reiju. Let us hear no more of gain and loss.” She tossed a gold coin up into the air and caught it in her hand. “Anyway! We made one koku. Maybe we’ll buy Chiri san a drink!”
Chiri overheard. She groaned and put her hand over her eyes. It would be a while before the rat felt like drinking sakē again.
Tonbo sat just nearby at the edge of the stream, watching the carp family at play. He quietly smiled, feeling well satisfied.
Sura ushered Reiju forward with a quiet bow.
“In any case, my friend – a companion waits to greet you.” The fox turned. “I shall find lunch for us all.”
Reiju bowed. She walked forward to greet Tonbo, turning with him to watch as Chōisai made a startling golden leap clean up out of the water. Su
ra watched with them for a moment, then softly walked away.
Tail swishing, Kitsune Sura padded softly along the banks of the stream, following it back down towards the camp. Water bubbled over great brown rocks, bringing a beautiful tang of cool into the air.
Magistrate Masura sat in the shade beside the rocks, on grass mats with a rough and ready picnic all around him. Sura walked in past the samurai and foot soldiers nearby, bowing to them as old friends. Magistrate Masura bowed to her and motioned for the fox to join him.
“Would you care to eat, Sura san?”
Sura happily sat herself down. Aside from his inevitable group of distant bodyguards, Magistrate Masura was entirely alone. He took great delight in bringing forth several little plates of food and arraying them out before her.
“I have just been sampling these rice balls you made, Sura san. My compliments!” The man held a rice ball up and admired it. “The small grey balls of seasoning give them a nutty flavour! And there are occasional strange juicy bursts of savour in the centre.”
Sura absolutely beamed. “They are Tonbo’s favourite, my Lord.”
Magistrate Masura gave a wise and knowing smile. “Ah. The love that goes into making them shows…”
Sura blushed – and then she noticed that her host had provided crispy roasted pork belly and little honey dumplings. Sura helped herself to food, Magistrate Masura gave himself an extra helping of bug-and-rice balls, and all was well with the world.
In a little village down on the Raiden side of the mountains, a great grove of ancient trees shaded an old inn. The staff were cheerful and extremely discrete – the inn was renowned as a trysting place for star-crossed lovers. It had the great benefit of being isolated, and absolutely, utterly quiet.
Hako lay full length on the inn’s back porch. The ninja felt ill – unbearably, absolutely ill. After passing an appalling night being shuttled swiftly away by her men, she had woken to find herself still drunk.
She was horrified. It was entirely unfair – you went to sleep, you woke up, and you were sober. Possibly sick – but sober. But the roof spun, the floor was moving, and Hako just wanted everything to end.
A ninja was disciplined. A ninja did not fall prey to weaknesses of the flesh. But for the moment, this particular ninja just wished that either the floor would stop moving, or that the world would end. Either alternative was perfectly acceptable.
Hako sat up, trying to keep her back straight and shoulders squared. It was a heroic effort, and it almost killed her. She reached out to sip from a tea kettle filled with cool water, and wished that every fox and rat on earth would burn in hell.
One of her team leaders came racing noisily across the inn, bringing a second agent hurrying grimly in his wake. The team leader knelt beside Hako, and delivered his report in an excruciatingly firm voice.
“Leader!”
Hako tried to wave the man into lowering his voice.
“Shhh! Shhh!” She swallowed, trying to keep her stomach under control. “Wh-what is your report?”
The team leader bowed.
“Lord Raiden was unsuccessful, leader. One of the imperial magistrates came to meet the Spirit Hunters, and Lord Raiden is at a stand.”
The second operative scowled.
“Lord Raiden may blame the clan for this failure.”
Hako glowered.
“Lord Raiden allowed futile greed to place him in an untenable position. He has come off easily enough.” She irritably took another drink of water. “Foxes. I hate foxes!”
The second operative looked on in concern.
“Please excuse me, leader – but how do you feel?”
Determinedly gathering her resources, Hako stiffened up her back.
“A ninja cares nothing for sickness. Infirmity is a matter of mind.” She waved a hand towards the common room, summoning another man. “I will eat now and regain strength!”
Seeing Hako’s signal, one of her junior men came hastening from the depths of the inn. He carried a tray piled with platters, plates and bowls. The man set it all proudly out before Hako, sitting back with a smile.
“Leader – the inn sends its specialty! It is fish swimming in finest sakē!”
A bowl in the middle of the tray held a large poached fish half drowned in sakē. The scent of it hit Hako in one great foul, nauseating wave. The ninja woman clamped a hand over her mouth, somehow shot up to her feet, and ran madly off to be sick into the garden.
Rats and foxes! Hako damned the wretched creatures straight to hell.
On the road back to his castle, Lord Raiden Katsura rode up onto the crest of a hill. He swung his tired, wheezing horse about, and sat to stare back towards the south – towards the lands where Magistrate Masura and his men were encamped.
Lord Raiden’s hatamoto – his bodyguards, generals and close advisors – all closed about beside him. The armed and armoured men glared back towards the south.
Lord Raiden clenched his hands about his reins in cold, pure fury.
“We have bowed and scraped to the Emperor’s representatives for the last time.”
One of his hatamoto hissed, then resignedly shook his head.
“We must obey the Emperor, my lord.”
“Then we need a more biddable Emperor…”
Lord Raiden turned his horse back towards his own lands.
“When the ninja leader reappears, tell her I have a message for her to deliver.” The samurai lord settled his sword in his belt.
“It is high time we took matters properly in hand…”
The warlord whipped his tired horse. The beast lumbered forward, heading off into the north – towards his castle.
In the lands beyond, the Raiden commanded tens of thousands of armed men. Hundreds of thousands of koku worth of land. The power to make and break a realm…
His heart dark with rage, the warlord rode on.
Ninth Encounter:
Playtime’s End
Chapter 1
A gorgeous sunny morning drifted with hazy, golden light. The upland hills looked down over a great, wide forest that glittered with dew. Here and there, the first few leaves were beginning to turn to shades of scarlet, straw and honey-brown. The great ocean of trees stretched away into the distance, finally fading off into a haze.
Far-distant hills were vanishing beneath a curtain of rain. But here on the little sunny road, all was well. Kitsune Sura revelled in the sharp, fresh breeze. She ran along beside the path, chasing dragonflies. The fox revelled in the flash and shimmer of the insects, the wind stirring at her long orange pony tail – its white tip flashing in the sun. Sura laughed, simply in love with the world.
Kuno, Chiri and Tonbo walked along the road just behind her. The dirt road was covered with windblown leaves which felt delightfully soft underfoot. They strolled happily along, surrounded by Sura’s enthusiasm, holding hat brims to keep them steady in the breeze.
Four well-mounted armoured samurai came down the road ahead, leading the way before a pair of beautifully decorated palanquins. The palanquins were carried by well-dressed porters and accompanied by a gaggle of servants and maids, and a small group of happy foot soldiers. The Spirit Hunters waved to the samurai and gave the procession room to pass.
The curtains of one palanquin lifted up. A young woman dressed in bright cheerful robes looked forth. In her arms she held a bright little six year old boy.
Sura rippled and changed into her half-and-half form, fox face grinning. The child was absolutely enthralled. He bounced and waved, tugging at his nurse’s robes in excitement. Sura threw the boy a flower, and bowed merrily to the foot soldiers. The entire procession bid the Spirit Hunters a cheerful good morning, then turned to take a side path off towards the great, green forest.
Sura walked on down the road. She ran her fingers through the seed-heads of the tall grass growing on the verge, throwing seeds up to come raining down upon Kuno and Tonbo. She looked out over the hills, the forest, the sunshine and the distant rain, t
hrowing her arms open to the wind.
“This is so pretty!” The forest climbed off and away, with hills and valleys all hidden beneath a sparkling brocade of leaves. “So this is Sano territory?”
Kuno dusted off his beautiful armour, shedding grass seeds all about his feet.
“They are not the largest of clans, but fierce and well respected. They are descended in a minor degree from the Imperial family.”
Sura turned to look at the lands stretching all around them. “So does Sano territory run far?”
“Well – there are many scattered estates…” Clans – particularly the oldest clans such as the Ishigi and the Sano – held parcels of land and various manors scattered widely up and down the sacred isles. “But their heartland is here – the north bank of the Sano River.”
Sura looked the road up and down. Apart from two peddlers, the little procession of palanquins and a pair of wood cutters with a pack horse, there was nobody else sharing the roads. “Pretty quiet for a heartland!”
“Indeed.” Kuno nodded. “This is not an important province. It is quite small.”
Sura struck a pose. “Yeah! But perfectly formed!”
Kuno seared the fox with a lofty glance. Sura swatted at him.
“Oh come on! I’m witty and decorative! Two for the price of one!”
Tonbo gave a nod. “Also noisy.”
Sura threw open her hands. “That’s not noise! That’s charisma!”
The big samurai raised one eyebrow. “Charisma?”
“It’s like noise, but it has a cuter tail!”
Kuno cleared his throat. He was keen to continue his lecture.
“If I may be permitted to continue?” Resplendent in his pink and white laced armour, Kuno pointed north towards the hills. “Over those hills it is the Imperial heartland: the estates that support the Imperial samurai – estates of the court nobility… After many days walk, you come to the lands of the great Buddhist Temples – and finally to the capital itself!”