Death's Kiss

by Josh Reynolds

  Shin smiled at that. “Nor will you, if things go as I hope.” He bent to his food. “Be about your duties, there’s a good fellow.”

  Recognizing a dismissal when he heard one, Kitano bowed low and saw himself out.

  •••

  Batu stood before his window, considering the pale fingers of morning now clutching at the sky. He had slept, but not well, and risen early, as was his wont. Shin was still asleep, of course. No early mornings for Daidoji Shin.

  He rubbed his head, feeling the beginnings of a headache take root. It was going to be a long day. He was certain that formal protests from both the Zeshi and the Shiko would be delivered later today, after they’d politely attended the luncheon he’d invited them to. Batu sighed and leaned his head against the wall beside the window. Eyes closed, he tried to think of something pleasant.

  Seeing Shin standing there had been something of a shock to his system. The last time they’d seen each other had been the day that Batu had finally been sent home in no small disgrace. He’d accompanied Shin on one too many of his hare-brained exploits and paid the price. He’d known it was always a possibility, but in the arrogance of youth he’d assumed that possibility would never come to pass.

  For people like Shin, it never did.

  And yet… it was as if they’d picked up where they’d left off. He thought of Shin standing in his study as if he owned the place. Shin cajoled, Batu surrendered. It was just so blasted hard to say no to that Crane. He’d never been able to resist Shin, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to start now.

  “My lord?”

  He turned. Nozomi stood attentively in the doorway. “You called for me, my lord?”

  “Yes. You did well yesterday. I am pleased.”

  “Thank you, my lord. Though, if you had business, one of us should have accompanied you, surely…” She paused. “Two Step is not safe for a man such as yourself. If Honesty-sama thought he could rid himself of you, he would take any opportunity, no matter the risk.”

  “I am aware. I was not thinking. I apologize if I worried you.”

  She flushed slightly, disconcerted by the apology. Hastily, Batu added, “Have the servants fed the ronin yet?”

  “I saw to it myself, my lord.”

  “And her mood?”

  “Sullen. Angry.”

  Batu almost laughed. “Lord Shin does have that effect on people.”

  Nozomi nodded. He read the question on her face, and though he knew she would never dare ask, he answered it regardless. “No, I do not care for him.” The words tasted like a lie, and he hoped Nozomi didn’t notice. “He is a preening fool, and I find his company tedious. But he is here now, and at the request of the Iuchi, so we must play the good host. I trust the room was to his liking?”

  “He was very complimentary, my lord.”

  “Of course he was.” Batu blew out a ragged breath. “He will cause us much trouble, you know. If I had known it was him, I might have written that protest after all.” He paused. “Not that it would have done any good, probably.”

  “My lord?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. Tell the servants that I will take my morning meal here. I wish to go over last night’s reports while I eat.”

  Nozomi bowed low. “As you wish, my lord.” She saw herself out without another word. Batu seated himself and began going through the papers. He was interrupted by a light knock at the door. Thinking Nozomi had forgotten something, he said, “Enter.”

  “And a good morning to you, Batu.”

  Batu looked up at Shin. “You’re awake.”

  Shin smiled and closed the door behind him. “You sound surprised.”

  “I am.”

  “I often awaken early when there are matters to be dealt with.” He paused, as if listening for something. “Also, I’m hiding from my bodyguard. She has taken it into her head that I have been avoiding sword practice, and has become annoyingly diligent in shoving a practice blade into my hand first thing in the morning.”

  Batu shook his head. “You work hard to avoid your responsibilities.”

  “Such labor is its own reward.”

  “You still wear your swords on the wrong side, I noticed.”

  “Left, right, I get them confused so easily.” An obvious lie. Shin didn’t get confused. At first, Batu had thought Shin’s propensity for wearing his swords on the right was a jape, to better annoy his Daidoji kin. But soon, he’d realized it was more akin to a gambler’s sleight of hand – obvious evidence of his foolishness. A way of gulling his opponents into thinking him a simple-minded fop.

  Shin leaned over his writing desk. “What are you looking at so intently?”

  “Reports.” Batu slid the papers out of sight. “What do you want, Shin?”

  “To talk.”

  “We spoke last night.”

  “We argued last night. I wish to speak, one investigator to another.”

  Batu snorted, but gestured for Shin to continue. Shin sat before him. “This will be easier with your assistance. But I am aware of the political tightrope you must walk, as I am aware that any further investigation will only irritate those involved.”

  Startled, Batu looked at him. “If you know this, why do it?”

  Shin answered his question with a question. “Why did you not protest the dispatch of an outside investigator?”

  “How did you know I hadn’t?”

  “I didn’t. You just told me.” Shin smiled.

  Annoyed, Batu turned his attentions back to his reports. “Same old Shin.”

  “Same old Batu.” Shin paused. “How are the headaches?”

  Batu frowned. “They come and go.”

  “I hope I will not be the cause of them while I am here.”

  Batu felt the muscles in his shoulders tighten. “Too late for that.”

  “Ah, well, one can but apologize.”

  Batu waited. “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “Apologize.”

  Shin smiled again and made a placatory gesture. “I will. I find it best to save my breath until the end. Apologize for everything all at once.” He paused. “Batu, have you ever studied the investigative techniques of Agasha Kitsuki?”

  Batu frowned. The name was familiar. He wondered why Shin was bringing it up now – though he feared he knew the answer. “I might have heard of them,” he said, carefully. “Some nonsense about studying the body or some such, isn’t it?”

  “The collection of physical evidence is part of the method, yes. I have added my own refinements to the process. A form of analyzation that I think is far superior to the more commonplace observational methodology espoused by the Kitsuki family. There is only so much one can learn from a bit of ash or dried blood, after all.”

  Batu shook his head. “It sounds like you’ve just added more nonsense to the other nonsense, but fine. Pray, enlighten me.”

  “The Kitsuki observe and develop their theory based on that observation. But I find that mere observation is not enough to truly plumb the depths of such matters. Facts are important, but the framework in which the facts hang is equally vital. One must see the whole picture to appreciate it.”

  “Murder is not art, Shin.”

  “In this case, no. But even here, the facts do not explain why the event occurred. And the why is as important as the how.”

  Batu rolled his eyes and sighed. “What does this have to do with anything?”

  “I am attempting to explain why I am here. It is not to cause you grievance, but to solve a crime.”

  “The crime has been solved. You spoke to the culprit yourself.”

  “She was singularly unhelpful.”

  Batu looked up. “I did warn you.”

  “You did. I did not listen.”

  “You were never very good at that,
as I recall.”

  “Luckily, my other talents compensate. She’s not guilty, by the way.”

  Batu stared at him. “She murdered a man.”

  “In self-defense.”

  “Even so, someone must be made to pay for it. The Shiko demand it. Otherwise I would let her go. You know that.”

  “She’s clearly protecting someone,” Shin said. “Her mistress, I suspect. There’s more going on here than is immediately apparent. She ran because she was ordered to run. Why would her mistress do that, unless something else was going on?”

  “Zeshi Aimi is well known for her soft heart,” Batu said, but even to him the explanation sounded weak. This whole affair had bothered him from the start, but he’d seen no way forward save to do what duty demanded. “The bodyguard admits her guilt. That is enough for the families.”

  Shin dismissed this with a wave of his hand. “Even so. You’re not blind, or deaf, Batu. You have a brain. You can see that something else is going on as clearly as I can. There were other witnesses, I assume.”

  “Yes,” Batu admitted, grudgingly. “Gen’s cousins. From his mother’s side. Drunken louts.” He toyed with his stylus, staining the tips of his fingers with ink. He looked at Shin. “What do you intend to do?”

  “I thought I’d made that clear – I intend to investigate.”

  “Investigate what, exactly?”

  “We don’t know why Lord Gen attacked Lady Aimi – what prompted him to do something so idiotic?”

  “Well, Gen was an idiot,” Batu said, without thinking. He saw Shin smile and flushed as he realized what he’d said. “Smile all you like, but you know nothing of this place or these people. These are not Crane lands, and these are not Crane vassals. Things are handled differently here. Justice is rough and delivered swiftly. You would be wise to remember that fact, before you find yourself in a situation you cannot talk your way out of.”

  Shin looked away. “Crane lands or not, some things are always the same.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “The scales of justice are weighted towards expedience. Why bother to find the real perpetrators if there is a convenient one already to hand?” Shin gestured. “Everyone wants the matter settled, and yet so long as the truth is hidden there will never be a real peace.”

  “What do you care?”

  Shin frowned. “It offends me.”

  Batu sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He’d heard that argument from Shin before. It never led anywhere but to trouble. He composed himself before continuing. “I follow the path set before me. I always have. You, on the other hand…”

  “I make my own path.”

  Batu inclined his head. “Even so.” He was silent for a moment. This was the Shin he remembered, and yet not. Something had changed in the other man. Whether it was for the better or not, he could not yet say. “The families will not like it. They will complain.”

  “Yes, I expect so,” Shin said. “I will need to speak to the members of both families, as well as the matchmaker.” He paused, considering. “I assume there was a matchmaker?”

  “Yes, of course. We are not bumpkins.”

  “Good. I should like to speak to her today, if possible.”

  Batu frowned. “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  Batu’s frown deepened. “A less flippant answer, please.”

  Shin sighed. “The matchmaker will have spoken at length to both Gen and Aimi, as well as their respective families. If anyone noticed anything untoward or suspicious in the behavior of either, it will likely be them.”

  Batu grunted. “Maybe.”

  “And if not, we are no worse off than before. It is a good place to start, at least.”

  Batu rubbed his face. “You make me very tired. The matchmaker is named Suio Umeko. She is the personal matchmaker for the daimyo of the Ide family, Ide Tadaji. As such, she is beyond reproach.”

  “I do not intend to reproach her, Batu, just ask her a few middling questions.”

  Batu fixed him with a wary look. “See that you remain pleasant, at least. An insult to her is an insult to the Ide, and that is the last thing we need at the moment.”

  “I will be on my best behavior, I assure you.”

  “Is there anything else you will require?” Batu asked, somewhat sourly. He was annoyed with himself for agreeing so readily. But it all sounded so reasonable. Almost dutiful, in fact. Maybe Shin had changed after all.

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I think of something.” Shin rose. “For the moment, all I ask is that you give me the opportunity to do as I was sent to do.”

  “The Iuchi did not send you to solve this mystery – if there is a mystery here at all,” Batu said, warningly. “You know that.”

  “I disagree. I think that is exactly why I was sent.” Shin smiled down at him. “Whatever the Iuchi as a whole intended, Iuchi Konomi knows me better than that. She sent me here to help her cousin, and I intend to do that very thing – one way or another.”

  Chapter Nine

  Bitter Welcome

  The preparations for the afternoon’s meal were minimal, despite Shin’s helpful suggestions. Indeed, Batu seemed almost determined to make the affair as dull as possible. The magistrate had shut himself in his study to complete his work for the day before the arrival of his guests. Shin was left to entertain himself as best he could.

  This he did in the traditional Crane fashion, by taking the preparations in hand and overseeing the whole affair to his satisfaction. As Batu’s servants bustled about, setting out ceremonial tatami mats and adjusting the internal walls to make room for the guests, Shin busied himself with decorations. Nothing ostentatious or out of balance. Tasteful, and in the colors of the Unicorn and the Crane.

  He’d brought a Daidoji banner and hung it beside the Iuchi one directly across the room from the entrance. He positioned the blue banner somewhat lower than the purple, so as not to imply equivalent status, or cause offense to their guests. The Crane had no authority here, save what the Unicorn allowed.

  When he’d finished, he stepped back from the banners, hands clasped behind his back. “What do you think? Too much?”

  “I was wondering why we brought that,” Kasami said, from behind him.

  “I like to be prepared for any eventuality.”

  “I wish you put as much effort into sword practice.”

  Shin turned. “And I wish you’d cheer up a bit. This is supposed to be a social occasion. How will it look, you glowering at our guests?”

  “Am I to be in the room, then?”

  “Do you wish to be?”

  “Not especially.” Kasami stepped past him and adjusted the Daidoji banner slightly. “They’ll be bringing their own guards. Nozomi and I will keep an eye on them.”

  “You’re quite taken with her,” Shin observed. Kasami turned.

  “She is easy to get along with. We have much in common.”

  “I expect so.”

  “We both have difficult masters, for instance.”

  Shin smiled and turned his attention to the rest of the preparations. After a moment he said, “Keep an eye on the prisoner.”

  Kasami frowned. “You think she will try to escape?”

  “No. But I would be remiss if I did not consider that someone might take the opportunity to bring this matter to an end, regardless of what we intend. She is alone and unprotected.”

  “Nozomi has already made preparations,” Kasami said. “Two men will be watching her at all times. No one will be allowed in or out, unless accompanied by Lord Batu.”

  Shin nodded. “That will do, I suppose.” He ran over the guest list in his head – representing the Zeshi would be Lord Hisato’s daughter Aimi, as well as her younger brother, Reiji. The latter was newly returned to the city, having been away on business. Reiji was rep
utedly something of a rakehell, even by the standards of the Unicorn. Hisato’s nephew Shijan would be there as well. He was somewhat surprised that Lord Hisato wasn’t attending, but gave the matter little thought.

  The Shiko would be represented by Lord Koji, brother to the slain Gen, and his wife, Lady Himari. Shin knew little about them. Batu had mentioned that Koji was in bad sniff with the local merchants’ association, for reasons which were undoubtedly as dull as they were inconsequential. Even so, he made a mental note to learn more, should the opportunity present itself.

  His train of thought was interrupted as one of Batu’s servants, the boy Hiro, ushered in a young woman clad in plain, but well cared-for, robes. The woman carried a shamisen close to her chest, and with her free hand tapped a cane against the floor. Hiro pointed at a mat set against the side wall and said, “There.”

  The young woman cocked her head. “Perhaps if you could help me?” She had a lovely voice, low and throaty.

  “Against the side wall,” Hiro said, brusquely. “Find it yourself.”

  Annoyed despite himself, Shin stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Very good, Hiro. Please return to the kitchens. I shall deal with this.”

  Hiro hesitated, and then bowed his head and scuttled away. The woman turned, following the sound of Shin’s voice. “There is no need to trouble yourself on my unworthy account, my lord. I am capable of finding my seat.”

  “I am certain of it. I merely wished to study your instrument more closely. The body – catskin, I believe. And finely treated.”

  The woman ducked her head. “It is a foolish musician who treats their instrument with disdain, my lord.”

  “Even so.” Shin studied her. “I am fond of the biwa, myself.” She was shorter than Kasami, underfed but not malnourished. She moved with a certain, particular grace. A familiar grace, in fact. His eyes flicked to her cane, noting, among other things, the angle of her wrist and the sound it made as it tapped the floor. “Would you allow me to guide you to your mat?”

  She hesitated. The look on her face was one of wariness. “If you wish, my lord.”