Death's Kiss

by Josh Reynolds

  •••

  As Kasami strode towards the front of the house, the sound of voices raised in argument grew more strident. She spied Nozomi hurrying towards the gate as well, a look of concern on her face. “It is Totara Ikki and his cronies. They’re demanding entrance. Something about a stolen purse.” She gave Kasami a meaningful look. “Does your master still wish to see them?”

  “Unfortunately. Will they cause trouble? I would hate to have to kill them.” Kasami’s finger tap-tapped against the hilt of her sword. Nozomi glanced first at her finger, and then at her, expressionless.

  “Forgive me for saying so, but I do not think you would hate that at all.”

  Kasami ceased her tapping and pulled her hand away from her sword. “Perhaps I am a bit hasty. My apologies.”

  “Do not apologize. I would enjoy watching you remove their swollen heads. But Lord Batu would suffer if you did so, so I ask that you restrain yourself, if possible.”

  Kasami took the gentle chastisement with good grace. Nozomi was not wrong – she was spoiling for a fight. It had been too long since she’d drawn her blade with any purpose save to sharpen it. And practice with Shin was not the same as a real fight.

  At the gate, Batu’s men were trying ineffectually to calm the trio of bushi who were demanding entry. The three were dressed well, in rich robes bearing their family crest – though the robes were stained and disheveled. All three were armed, though from the look of them Kasami thought they were more a danger to themselves than anyone else, given the state they were in. Even so, it would not do to give them an excuse to spill blood.

  “Let them past,” Nozomi called. “We will escort them to the house.”

  The guards stepped back reluctantly, allowing Ikki and his fellows to spill past. “Make way, make way, we demand to speak to the magistrate,” the tallest of the three slurred as he stumbled up the walk. He gestured expansively.

  The shortest and broadest spoke up then. “Where is Batu? Is he not brave enough to meet us himself, after having sent a peasant to cheat us?” He gestured with a sake jug at Nozomi. “He sends his woman instead. I am insulted. Are you not insulted, cousin?”

  “Deeply,” the third replied. He was not as drunk as his fellows, but there was a feral glint in his eye that Kasami did not like. This one wanted to fight, to make trouble. She was starting to understand how Shiko Gen had wound up dead, if these were his companions.

  The third one pushed away from the others, swayed slightly, and braced the two women. He pointed at Kasami. “Pretty bird, where is your master? I am Totara Ikki, and I have words for the Crane – and I would have my money back.”

  Kasami eyed him, noting his unsteadiness and the way his hand fiddled with the hilt of his sword. “Oh? And what money might that be?”

  “The money his man stole from us. Step aside now, for your betters.” He made a dismissive gesture. “Step aside, I say.”

  Kasami glanced back at the house and saw that Hiro, Batu’s servant, was waiting by the door. The boy was huddled, ready to take their swords. But the look on his face said he’d rather have been without that particular responsibility.

  “We will be happy to do so, Master Ikki,” Nozomi said. “Once you and Masters Giichi and Aito have handed over your swords.”

  Ikki spun, his gaze settling on her. “And why should we do that, then? So that you might slay us, the way an Iuchi yojimbo slew our dear cousin?”

  Kasami blinked. Such rudeness could only be explained by Ikki’s inebriated state – or perhaps he was simply mad. She’d met many mad bushi in her short life. Shin had a way of bringing that madness out of them; that urge to cut down whatever offended them, with no thought to the consequences.

  Ikki continued. “Are you any less an Iuchi dog, woman? Waiting to add more Ide blood to the tally, eh?” He pressed close to Nozomi, stinking of alcohol and stupidity. “Maybe we should even the score, ha? Take your head, the way you took Gen’s…”

  Kasami’s sword flashed from its sheath, and the flat of it tapped against the underside of his chin. He froze, and his companions cursed and scrambled for their own blades. Nozomi stepped away from Ikki and faced them, her hand on the hilt of her weapon.

  “Think carefully about the next few moments,” Kasami said, not taking her eyes from Ikki. “Think about how this will be spoken of when the blood has dried. Who do you think will be there to tell the story? You – or us?”

  Ikki swallowed. “This is outrageous.”

  “No. It is only to be expected, given your behavior. You insult us, you insult the Iuchi, and you insult yourselves with this shameful display. Now take your feeble fingers from your sword before I remove them.”

  Ikki did as she bade. Kasami retracted her sword and sheathed it. She looked down at the others. “Leave your swords – and the jug of sake as well. You will be provided refreshment of a more dignified sort inside.” She caught Nozomi’s eye as the three men sheepishly handed over their swords.

  “I trust that was restrained enough?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Profit

  Shin studied the three bushi as they were shown in to the receiving room. From the sound of it, they’d arrived inebriated, but something – or someone – had sobered them up between the gate and the door. He suspected he knew who. That was good. Newly sober men often had an easier time with the truth.

  Batu sat in his accustomed place, glaring at the three. “Idiots, all three of you. If it were within my power, I would have you driven from the city and barred from ever returning.” At his curt invitation, they sat in a row before him, eyes properly downcast. “Why are you here?”

  Ikki looked up, flushed – angry. “This Crane stole our money!”

  “That is a lie,” Batu said, bluntly. Ikki flinched, as if struck. “I know it is a lie, for you three have not a koku between you. So it is someone else’s money that was stolen.”

  Ikki rallied. “It was given to us.”

  “By Lady Nishi, one assumes,” Batu said. He shook his head. “This is how you thank her for her generosity. Shameful.”

  “Watch your tone, Iuchi,” Ikki growled. Batu fixed him with a steady look.

  “Or else what, Totara? Will you challenge me? What do you think will happen then?” Batu leaned forward. “Do you imagine some outcome by which you benefit? If so, I would dearly like to hear it.”

  Ikki fell silent. Batu stared at him a moment longer, then nodded. “I thought not. Since you did not give me an acceptable answer, I shall tell you why you are here. We have questions for you. You will answer them. If you do not, I will put you in a cell until you feel like talking. Is that understood?”

  “You cannot do that,” Ikki protested. “The Ide – she will not let you!”

  “Why would she care? You are not Ide, you are not Shiko – indeed, locking you up is the easiest way to ensure the negotiations are free of the trouble you inevitably cause.” Batu let them think on this for a moment before adding, “But I am a generous man. You will answer the Crane’s questions, and then you will leave.”

  “With our money?” Ikki asked.

  Shin reached into his kimono and produced the bag of koku he had taken from Kitano. He tossed it onto the floor before them. “I trust it is all there,” he said, softly. Ikki glared at him, but only for a moment. He and his companions hurried to gather it up.

  When they’d finished, Ikki made to speak, but Shin interrupted. “I appreciate your willingness to speak with me.”

  “Of course my lord,” the short one – Aito – said, in an obsequious tone. The other two nodded, heads bobbing like corks on the water. Aito swallowed and added, “Though, it must be said that we have already given testimony as to what occurred, and the ronin confessed. Surely that is an end to it?”

  Shin gave a thin smile. “Ordinarily, yes. Even so, I would like you to tell me what happened that
day, to the best of your recollection.”

  They looked at one another. It was as if they shared a single mind, and any decision had to be agreed upon by all three. Shin hid a smile and waited for them to decide who was going to talk. As he expected, it was Ikki. The lean samurai braced his hands on his knees and cleared his throat. “It is as we told the magistrate, my lord. Cousin Gen wished to confront his intended, and we could not in good conscience let him go alone.”

  “Why?”

  “The bodyguard, my lord. She is vicious.”

  Shin nodded. “I see. Please continue.”

  Ikki swallowed. “As we told Lord Batu, we – Gen – confronted them in the market. Gen spoke harshly to Lady Aimi, and her bodyguard attacked him. We were not quick enough to prevent what followed.”

  “She attacked him. Unprovoked?”

  Ikki glanced at the other two and nodded. “Before we knew it, she had drawn her sword and split him open.” His face twisted into an expression of frustrated grief. “She never even gave him a chance!”

  Shin saw Aito look away, and pounced. “Is that true, Master Aito?”

  Aito jolted and turned. “It is as Ikki said, my lord.” He swallowed. “Though… Gen may have had his sword in his hand.” Ikki glared at him, but said nothing.

  “Ah. Would you not consider that provocation?”

  “He would not have hurt her,” Ikki insisted.

  “Was she to know that? Or her bodyguard?” Shin stroked his chin. “Why did Gen see fit to attack his intended in such a manner?”

  “Gen claimed someone had told him that she was unfaithful,” Ikki said, sullenly. He scratched at his throat. “That she had a lover.”

  “Was there a name to go with the gossip?”

  “It wasn’t gossip – it was the truth,” Ikki insisted.

  “How do you know?”

  “She didn’t deny it!”

  Aito cleared his throat. “To be fair, she did. Several times.” He glanced at Shin, shamefaced. “Gen wasn’t in the mood to listen.”

  Shin fixed Aito with a steady stare. “Because you had convinced him to drown his sorrows, I take it?”

  Aito’s eyes fell. “It seemed the thing to do,” he mumbled.

  Shin looked at Ikki. “So, you encouraged him to confront her. Why?”

  “I just said–” Ikki began, but Shin cut him off with a gesture.

  “The real reason, please. There was no satisfaction to be gained from such a confrontation, and you knew it. So why?”

  Ikki licked his lips. “The Zeshi are arrogant. They think themselves better than us. I wanted to be there when Gen threw her dowry back in her face.” He grimaced. “A bit of fighting would have been good for him. Good for us.”

  Shin sat back. “What happened after he challenged her with this revelation?”

  Ikki fell silent. Aito looked at the floor. Shin switched his gaze to Giichi. The tall man swallowed nervously and his eyes skidded about, as if seeking some escape. Finally, he said, “He… might have threatened her life.”

  “Might have?”

  “He did,” Aito sighed. “We all heard him. But it wasn’t serious. Gen was all bluster.”

  “Did she know that?”

  The three men were silent. Shin waited. Aito grunted and said, “There was still no call to kill him. That ronin was just waiting for the opportunity.”

  “Why do you say that?” Shin asked, sharply.

  Aito flinched. “You… You could tell, my lord. You can’t trust them. Ronin, I mean. Disreputable, clanless – not trustworthy.”

  “And that is your reasoning?”

  “No! No. I mean, she was always watching him. Us. As if we were a threat.”

  “Did Gen – or you – give her some reason to think of you as such?”

  “No,” Ikki snapped.

  “Yes,” Giichi said. He looked at the others, as if daring them to stop him. Then, “Gen paid her a visit one night. He was drunk. He made some…inappropriate comments and she had him thrown out.”

  “You know this how?” Shin asked. He could imagine what sort of comments they might have been.

  “We were there,” Aito said. “Outside. We might have… encouraged him a bit before he went in.” He swallowed. “A bit of a joke. No harm was meant.”

  Ikki glared at his cousins in disgust. “It was his right. They were to be married.”

  “In point of fact, such a thing is not within the rights of a man, married or not. I am surprised he did not perish then and there.” Shin paused. “Am I correct in thinking that this incident fueled his eagerness to believe that he had a rival for Aimi’s affections?”

  The other two looked at Ikki, who flushed. Shin nodded. “Ah. Not just him, then.”

  “Something was going on,” Ikki spat. He shook his head. “Why else would she be so… so cold, eh? Gen was a good man.”

  “Good at getting into trouble,” Aito muttered. He subsided as Ikki glared at him.

  “How did Gen feel about his marriage?” Shin asked.

  “He was pleased,” Ikki said. “And why wouldn’t he be? She was a suitable match, even if she was a Zeshi.” He met Shin’s gaze. “That is why he acted as he did. Her treachery hurt him, and he was right to confront her – what would you have done, my lord?”

  “I would not have gone after her with a naked sword in my hand,” Shin said, softly. “And I certainly would not have pickled my wits in sake first.”

  Ikki flushed a deeper hue, and made as if to rise. Batu stirred, and the other two stopped Ikki with looks and gestures. Shin watched them and made no comment. He was certain that they were telling the truth, insofar as they knew it. They were not cunning enough to lie, at least not to him. “I asked earlier if you knew who might have told Gen of this supposed treachery. You never answered me. So I ask again – who told him?”

  “He never said,” Aito insisted.

  “Take a guess,” Shin murmured. “Who might have told him?”

  The three traded glances. Finally, Ikki said, “Reiji. I think it was Reiji.”

  “Zeshi Reiji?” Shin raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think that?”

  “He… brought Gen something. Something that upset him.”

  Shin digested this. He needed to speak with Reiji as soon as possible. “And have you spoken to Zeshi Reiji since?”

  “No, my lord,” Aito said. “We thought it best to keep our distance from the Zeshi, and they from us. No one wanted another… incident.”

  “Wise,” Shin said. He gestured airily. “I thank you for your time, my lords. You may go. Though I may wish to speak to you again in the near future.”

  But as they made to rise, Shin spoke up. “One more thing, if I might…” They froze, waiting. “On the subject of Zeshi Reiji – I am told he is in debt to certain individuals of low morals. Is this true?”

  The three looked at one another. Ikki nodded. “Yes, my lord. The little… fool fancies himself a gambler. He’s in it up to his neck, last I heard.”

  “To whom does he owe money?”

  Another pause. What might have been a look of calculation passed across Ikki’s face, and he said, “Honesty-sama.” Batu hissed in surprise. Shin ignored him.

  “Ah. I have heard that name several times since arriving, but have not yet had the pleasure of the man’s company. Is he so fearsome, then?”

  “I would not know,” Ikki said, quickly. “I know only what I hear, and what I hear is that Reiji is desperate to pay off his debts. Honesty-sama isn’t the sort of man to care much for a man’s status. He’ll bury a bushi as quickly as a peasant.” He looked uncomfortable as he said it, and Shin gestured.

  “Thank you. That is all. You may go.”

  They went. When they had safely departed, he turned to Batu. “What do you think?”

  “I think they told
us nothing new.”

  “Perhaps. Earlier, Shijan implied that Aimi was the one who provoked Gen, so as to get out of the marriage.”

  Batu frowned. “That’s… interesting.”

  “I was thinking of another word.”

  “So was I,” Batu said. “Convenient.”

  “Yes.” Shin paused. “Shijan was angry, but he was frightened as well. It might have been a ploy to make me more sympathetic to his revelation, but I do not think he is that good an actor.” He gestured with his fan. “Something has him worried, and I do not think it is us.” He paused. “At least, not us alone.”

  “Shijan has much to lose if it comes to war, and he knows it,” Batu said. “He is not the sort of man to guide his family safely through such a storm. If the worst occurs, the Zeshi will send another to take over operations in the city.”

  “What of Aimi?” Shin asked.

  Batu considered this. “Aimi is too young. Too headstrong. In a few years, with the right teachers, she might make a capable leader. As it stands, neither of them is experienced in such matters.” He shrugged. “Then, neither are the Shiko.”

  “And yet they might be willing to risk it, if the reward is great enough.”

  “That is what my mind sticks on,” Batu said, suddenly. “The reward… What is the reward here? What is to be gained? We still have no answer to that question.”

  “No, and that worries me. Shijan has given us a neat solution to the conundrum. A headstrong girl, looking to escape an unwelcome situation, engineers the death of her intended. Perhaps she did not mean for Gen to die, but die he did. And Ruri, being the loyal yojimbo, seeks to protect her mistress.”

  “But what about what she told you? About her and Ruri?”

  Shin shook his head. “Nothing she told us contradicts Shijan’s revelation. Indeed, it only strengthens the theory.”

  “But you do not believe it,” Batu said.

  “Do you?” Shin ran a hand through his hair. “You’ve known her longer than I; is Aimi capable of such deception?”