by Paul Kidd
Lord Sano looked at his daughter, quite appalled.
“Only four!” The man started to swing his horse around. “I will mobilize the entire army! We will sweep the forest with ten thousand men!”
Sano Moko put a hand upon her father’s bridle.
“Father! With respect, that is what our experts told me not to do. The forest monsters will merely retreat into hiding.”
The old man whirled to glare at the great, dark forest.
“We should cut the forest down tree by tree!” He turned to look at his daughter in absolute disbelief. “Four warriors!”
“Two warriors, my lord. Two warriors, a rat and a fox.”
Ever stern, ever dire, Sano Moko bowed to her father.
“My lord – I humbly ask you to respect my judgment on this matter. I guarantee the Spirit Hunters with my honour and my life.”
She moved close beside her father. Sano Moko kept her voice quiet and her eyes upon the trees.
“Father. You did not want a daughter. But I ask you to respect me as a retainer and as a samurai.”
Frustrated, Lord Sano wrung his reins in his hands. But Moko’s words held great weight. Finally, he bowed his head and agreed.
“Samurai – I trust your judgment.”
Magistrate Masura rode into the village with Hijiya Hoichi at his side, and a bodyguard of two dozen imperial samurai. The magistrate rode to Lord Sano, and the men grimly greeted one another. Even in his distress, Lord Sano was deeply moved.
“My Lord Masura! We are most honoured that you give this matter your personal attention.”
The magistrate nodded. “The emperor holds your house in high regard, Lord Sano.”
Masura was absolutely grey with worry. He had neither slept nor eaten.
The man looked anxiously to Sano Moko. “Has there been any sign?”
“None, my lord. “
Magistrate Masura exchanged a look of extreme distress with Hijiya Hoichi.
Sano Moko sat at the head of her ranks of Sano samurai, grimly waiting. She watched the tree line, stern and utterly unmoved.
The village headman came scampering from the field nearest to the forest. He pointed excitedly back towards the forest with his sword.
“My lords!”
From the edge of the forest charged a gleeful wave of grubby children – all of them as naked as the day they were born. Behind and amongst them came Kitsune Sura, who strolled along talking joyously with a bloodstained, merry youth. With them came Tonbo, Kuno and Chiri – who walked alongside a gaggle of naked Sano samurai.
Tonbo carried little Yukiwakumaru, the Sano heir, up on his armoured shoulder. Chiri sent the masses of grubby children racing to the village, where their weeping parents ran to them in joy.
Tonbo knelt down to place Yukiwakumaru on the ground. The little boy toddled forward happily towards his kin. Sano Moko and Lord Sano vaulted from their saddles. They raced to the little boy and held him in their arms.
Kitsune Sura strode along with the youth, Mifune. She had a pair of loaded dice in her hand, and was showing him how to sneak loaded dice into a cup. He listened to her with wide-eyed fascination.
“See? Pinch them between your fingers and keep them out of sight on the back of your hand! They check the other dice – hand you back the dice in the cup. You palm the dice in the cup – slip the loaded dice in like this...!” The fox swapped the dice on one smooth move, and rattled the dice cup on her hand. “Ha ha! Here – loaded dice. Keep them!”
Mifune took the present in his hands and was utterly alight with joy.
“Really?”
The boy caught sight of Magistrate Masura. He waved merrily, and ran over towards him, wreathed in smiles.
“Uncle Shiro! Uncle Shiro!”
Magistrate Masura hurtled himself off his horse and ran to the boy, taking him in his arms. He held him tightly – tears springing in his eyes – then pulled back to frantically assure himself that the emperor was in one piece. It took a moment before he realised that he was holding onto the sacred person of the emperor and immediately let go.
“Forgive me!”
The boy grinned, gripping Lord Masura’s armoured hand.
“Uncle Shiro! I am unharmed!”
Kuno joined them. He was tired and torn, his armour scarred and dented. He rested a fond hand upon the shoulder of the emperor – much to the amazement of Magistrate Masura. Kuno beamed with pride.
“He is your nephew, Masura Sama? Ah – all makes sense at last! The boy is a lion. A prodigy!” Kuno bowed to the youth. “Kenshin Mifune – you will make a wise lord and a prodigious warrior. It has been an honour to fight beside you.”
Magistrate Masura blinked – then suddenly caught on as the emperor gave him an anxious glance. Lord Masura nodded in bemused relief.
“Kenshin Mifune? Yes – of course!”
The emperor was bursting with enthusiasm and excitement.
“Uncle Shiro! Chiri san and Kuno san joined forces with me in the forest. We battled a vast monster made from hundreds of evil corpses. Sura san and Tonbo san had been changed into forest ghosts by the main big ghost! So Kuno san and I attacked the corpse monster to draw its attention, while Chiri san turned into a rat and ran into the forest…”
The boy was carried away with his tale – sharing it with Sano samurai and Hijiya Hoichi. Kuno met Magistrate Masura’s eyes, smiled wearily, and gave a bow.
“My lord – it has been an interesting time.”
Sura and Tonbo made their way over to Lord Sano and Sano Moko. They knelt and bowed cheerfully to the old lord, who now sat cross-legged on the ground with his infant son happily perched upon his knee. The old man gazed upon the Spirit Hunters and joyously preened his fierce moustache.
“I never doubted your success! We must reward you!”
The fox waved the entire thought casually aside.
“We were merely pleased to help, my lord. We need no reward.”
Lord Sano squared his shoulders.
“It is a samurai’s duty to serve without thought of reward. But it is a lord’s duty to be generous.” The man leaned forward – relieved and full of joy. “What boon may I offer you? I must know!”
Sura sat back and artlessly scratched her chin in thought.
“Hmmm… The Sano clan are renowned for their plum wine…”
Tonbo eyed the woman. She immediately put a hand against her heart in protest.
“Just a bottle or three!” The fox called over towards Sano Moko. “Moko san! We could taste some together! At a feast paid for by you?” The fox smiled a smile full of sudden, sly fangs. “Oooh! And you could wear a dress…”
Tonbo swatted Sura on the rear.
“Stop it.”
Kuno, Magistrate Masura and Mifune walked by. Young Mifune was still excitedly relating his adventures to his uncle, waving hands as he talked in the manner of a fox.
“… And out of nowhere, Sura san was there! She cut a hole right through the world with her spear! She made a gate to the realm of hungry ghosts, and hurtled the monster into fire!”
The youth saw Chiri standing nearby, speaking with overjoyed parents. The rat spirit was in her human form – long hair gleaming and elementals hovering prettily at her side. The boy looked upon Chiri with stars in his eyes.
“…But Chiri san is a true hero! And a sorcerer! And she smells nice!”
Chiri partly heard the remark. She turned, blushing pink, and gave a modest bow.
“Mifune san – you flatter me.”
The boy turned and beamed to Magistrate Masura.
“The other girls I know are not beautiful. Not like Chiri san!”
Magistrate Masura kept the emperor well out of sight of Lord Sano. He moved over to the horses, and leaned his head forward into quiet conference with Kuno and Chiri.
“We must get my… my nephew home. He has many duties to attend to.”
Asodo Kuno gave a nod.
“Of course, my lord.”
K
uno turned and looked at the youth. Kuno nodded in great respect.
“My lord – Mifune san has the makings of an excellent swordsman. My old sword master, Sensei Hitohiro Zunioshi, would form Mifune san’s style well.” He faced Lord Masura and gave a bow. “Please contact him, Masura sama, and tell him that I strongly recommend that he accept Mifune san as a student.” The samurai turned and made a gruff noise, eyeing Mifune out of the corner of his eye. “Mifune san must apply himself to the training, however! Sensei Zunioshi is not a man to be trifled with!”
The young emperor looked up at Magistrate Masura in hope. He almost wrung his hands.
“Uncle Shiro?”
Lord Masura relented. He could only nod his head and bow to the inevitable.
“It shall be done.” The man gave a sigh. “Sensei Hitohiro Zunioshi.”
Sura was nearby, arranging for a Sano armourer to repair Kuno’s equipment. She overheard Kuno’s plans, and pricked up her ears.
“But don’t waste his time on too much samurai crap! Teach him about fast talk, monsters and magic. When he gets older, he’ll be a Spirit Hunter!”
Kuno shook his head, then turned back to Lord Masura.
“Truly, the blood of heroes is in his veins.”
Horses were brought. The Spirit Hunters gathered to bid Mifune and Lord Masura farewell. The youth looked upon his fellow adventurers, deeply moved.
He drew himself up. With incredible grace and lordly manner – with love and humbleness, he bowed.
“Kuno san. Chiri san. Sura san. Tonbo san…” The boy spoke in absolute sincerity. “I shall try to follow your example. I shall try to follow on from the lessons you have all begun.” There were tears in his eyes as he bowed once more.
“You have my love, and my gratitude. I shall never forget.”
Hijiya Hoichi knelt. He would have assisted Mifune up onto a horse, but the boy hoisted himself aloft without needing help. From up in the saddle he nodded to the Spirit Hunters once more. Magistrate Masura and the imperial samurai closed up around him, and the group rode off along the road
Kuno and Chiri were sad to see Mifune go. Sura waved merrily to him as the riders turned a bend and disappeared.
Tonbo sighed, and gave an approving nod.
“Hmmph. He will do well.”
Sura gave a smile. “I hope so. Nice kid!”
They walked back into the village. The villagers had their children back at last. Little Yukiwakumaru was being cosseted by the two ladies in waiting. Sano Moko and her father were talking together nearby, full of joy and relief. All was well at last.
The Spirit Hunters watched for a moment, then strolled on into the village, nodding to Sano samurai who bowed in respect.
Tonbo scratched at his hide.
“I want a bath.”
Sura nodded. “And a laundry. These clothes smell of leaf litter.” She gave a sigh. “I’m not sure life as a ghost baby suited me.”
Kuno shrugged, then looked back towards the forest.
“Forgive my curiosity, Sura san – but what were those child ghosts called again?”
“Zakashi-Warashi.” Sura rubbed at her neck and winced. “Ugh. I think my neck still hurts…” She looked around at Kuno and Chiri in approval. “Hey, you guys made a perfect call on the ‘prayer for the dead’, by the way. Damned well done!”
It seemed everyone would be decamping back to the nearby town, where the inn’s larder and facilities would be entirely at the Spirit Hunters’ disposal. As they walked towards the Sano road, Sura cast a sly glance over towards Chiri, flicking out her tail.
“Hey Chiri. I think you made a conquest out of young master Mifune.”
The rat spirit blushed. “I am sure you are mistaken.”
“Hey – he’s Masura’s nephew! A lord!” The fox waved her hand. “I mean, what’s better than that? The emperor?”
Chiri walked shyly along with her friends. “I am very content with what I have, Sura san.” The rat curled her long pink tail. “Very content.”
They walked on through a village that was filled with laughter.
Tenth Encounter:
Stealer of Skins…
Chapter 1
It was a quiet autumn evening in a little village nestled by a stream. The sea was somewhere nearby – the scent of salt and the cries of gulls coloured the night time air. But here, in the courtyard of the village inn, there were great wide oak trees and orchards with fruit heavy on the boughs. The inn was wide and quiet and clean. A slight wind rustled at the leaves, making a restful sound, and all was well with the world.
The Spirit Hunters relaxed in the inn’s courtyard, enjoying a quiet evening. A great basket of peaches was at hand, with a spare bowl for the discarded stones. Chiri sat beside a lantern, peacefully darning some of Tonbo’s clothes, while Tonbo carefully sharpened the edges of her gleaming natagama.
Bifuuko and Daitanishi were playing a board game together – a type of e-soguroku ‘snakes and ladders’ on a board made from painted cloth. The kitsune variant of the game included magic powers, monsters to battle and treasures to steal. The two elementals played avidly away, rolling dice and apparently quite oblivious to the outside world.
In the midst of all the peace and quiet, Kuno sat facing Sura, sitting knee-to-knee. Sura had a large dandelion flower sitting in her cleavage. She held her hands a shoulder’s width apart with palms facing, carefully watching Kuno’s eyes.
Kuno kept his hands at rest upon his thighs. Suddenly he flashed his hand forward. Sura tried to clap and trap his hand, but Kuno was too fast. He somehow plucked the flower.
He waggled the flower back and forth, then stuck it into the front of his robes. Scowling, Sura brushed off her own hands and settled them on her thighs.
She feinted, quirking her hands – but Kuno refused to take the bait. Sura tried to whip her hand up to take the flower, but Kuno clapped and caught her fair and square.
The fox gave a sigh and glared at the flower.
“Why are we doing this, again?”
“To teach you speed. Speed to fast-draw your sword.”
Kuno had a long stick beside him: a smooth-trimmed piece of wood the same length as a sword. He slid it through his belt, then looked over to the fox. Sura sucked at a tooth, and made a little frown.
She flicked out a hand to seize the flower. Kuno blocked her hand, and had his wooden stick drawn and at her belly before she could touch the petals. The fox immediately became petulant.
“I have a spear!” Sura’s spear lay at her side – forever lacking its sheath. “It doesn’t need a fast-draw!”
Tonbo picked up a peach, signed to Kuno, and tossed his friend the fruit. The local peaches were ripe and extremely delicious. Kuno idly caught the peach and set it aside.
“A spear is imprecise.”
Tonbo threw another peach to Kuno. Sura had her spear in a flash, and impaled the peach clean through. She looked at Kuno with a satisfied air.
The man dusted off his hakama and ignored her.
“The sword can be used at close quarters.” Kuno gestured at Sura’s belt. Sura carried a substantial kodachi called ‘Little Brush’ – a weapon far longer than his own wakizashi. The blade was razor sharp. “The iai draw can save your life. I want you to practice it every day.”
Sura gave sigh of resignation. “Yeah, well, I guess I can see your point…” She suddenly widened her eyes, seeing something astonishing off in the garden. “Hey wow! It’s the Buddha!”
Kuno began to jerk his head to look, and tried to catch himself. It was too late. Sura already had the flower. She tucked it into her cleavage and preened herself, flicking out her hair. As Kuno glowered at her, she gave an innocent wave.
“Hey, I’m lovable! Who’d draw a sword on me?”
The samurai folded his arms. “The potential list is long and colourful. It crosses many species lines.” Kuno spoke to Sura in all due seriousness. “You must be able to react at need. A samurai who is looking for a fight will use any
excuse to draw on you. Even having your own sword scabbard clash against his can make him take insult and draw!” He looked over to the others. “Ah. Tonbo san needs you.”
Sura looked over to Tonbo, and felt a breeze as the flower was instantly repossessed. She flicked a wry glance at Kuno, who waved the flower then batted it against her nose.
“Practice.”
Sura stuck out her tongue. She removed the peach from the end of her spear, split it in half, and passed a piece over to Kuno. He savoured the scent of the fruit, and gave the fox a little bow.
Over on the porch, Chiri finished her sewing and neatly clipped off the thread. She fluffed out Tonbo’s robe, inspected her work, then held it out for Tonbo’s approval. He looked at the repairs in delight.
“Thank you, Chiri san. You are a fine seamstress.”
“It is always a pleasure, Tonbo san.”
It was a beautiful evening. A great waxing moon hung in the sky, and it filled the night time with a gentle haze of light. A few clouds drifted high up. The oak tree’s leaves had turned from green to a wonderful medley of yellows and browns. Chiri lay back on the porch, wriggled toes inside her socks and looked up happily at the sky.
“Autumn nights are my favourite. I love the sound of big, dry leaves.” The rat spirit gave a contented yawn. “I think tonight, I shall go to bed early. I have a real bed, warm food – and tonight, I can listen to the trees.” She quietly closed her eyes.
Out in the woods, the night birds called. Some travelling entertainers in the inn were lounging back, talking merrily with one another in soft voices. Sura had ordered a little extra second dinner – and it smelled like it would be fresh-fried fish, piping hot and gently seasoned. There was money in their travel purse, the weather was kind, and the world was full of beauty.
Chiri gave a happy sigh.
“Peaceful. So peaceful…”
A terrified figure dressed in black ran wildly through the upper hills. He crashed through underbrush, almost blind in the deep shadows of the forest. The man’s breath was ragged with exhaustion as he fled uphill and dove amongst the tangled trees. Tripping and stumbling in the dark, desperately clutching a burden against his heart, he found the edge of a great wide hilltop covered in an ocean of grass.