"You know what?" Kenta turned to meet her eyes, offering a soft smile of reassurance. "You sound like a person who hasn't had many friends before, aside from Rin, of course. And trust me, because I know from experience: Imari's one of the best, most loyal friends you could have. If she wants to start acting like a friend to you, you should go with it. And if that means she wants to step in when you're in trouble, that's her choice to make."
"But what if I don't want her to make that choice for me?" Kaede sighed, glancing over at Imari once more. She and Takeshi seemed to have calmed down, but they were turned away, so she couldn't see their faces. Instead, she studied the loose braid falling down the middle of Imari's back, running through the middle of a white lily. "She's got plenty of her own problems. If she starts trying to fix mine, too, it gets awkward. She barely knows me."
Kenta’s smile became a smirk. This time, he made contact when he reached out, giving her shoulder a friendly nudge with his fist. "Oh, she's getting to know you, Kaede. And she likes what she's getting to know. I haven't seen her look at someone the way she looks at you in a long time."
A sliver of moonlight finally broke through Kaede's shroud of gloom. "What? Really?" She likes getting to know me, and what did Kenta mean, “the way she looks at me”? Her heart did a flip in her chest, and a good deal of the tension finally eased. "So, this arguing…"
"I'm not saying my brother's jealous, but I think he's concerned about more than just a possible threat to Imari's safety. Trust Imari to tell him to back off. He's not stupid. He'll get the message. In the meantime, sit tight. Things will get a lot better." He sat up and stretched his arms up to the sky, preparing to stand.
"Kenta?"
He paused in the middle of getting up. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. And for what it's worth, if that lame cousin of yours comes around, I'll help you kick his ass. Okay?"
Kaede laughed. If this was what having friends was like, maybe it wasn't so bad. "Okay. You've got it…friend."
Chapter Eleven
THE CITY OF YIN had once been great. The sweeping jade roofs, the great tiered towers, and the broad staircases leading to the upper levels of the city told Imari that much. As they led their horses past the outskirts, however, she began to understand why some referred to it as the City of Ghosts.
Faded green banners flapped in the breeze, but they seemed worn and old, as if someone had forgotten to replace them. Any mon they had once held was no longer visible. The edges of the street had crumbled, and the horses’ hooves echoed eerily on the broken road. The glittering green roofs needed a thorough patching, and Imari caught the occasional whiff of garbage and manure from the alleyways. Strangest of all, there were hardly any people. The marketplace should have been packed to the brim at this time of day, bustling with merchants, craftsmen, and even samurai. Instead, only a few lonely stalls sat on the sides of the road, and a good number of those weren't even occupied.
Her companions were similarly unsettled. "It's the middle of the day," Kaede murmured, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Where is everyone?"
"Maybe they heard you were coming and went to hide," Kenta teased, but even his voice had lost some of its brightness. Takeshi gave him a look but didn't comment. He had been somewhat withdrawn and cold the past three weeks, although true to his word, he hadn't brought up the subject of Kaede's cousin again. At least, not directly. Imari had caught him circling the camp in the middle of the night more than a few times and had thought it better not to bother him about it.
"I'll admit it's creepy," Imari explained, "but from what I've read, it makes sense. Yin used to be a thriving port before the Jade Sea solidified, but when the ships stopped coming—"
"The people stopped coming too." Kaede nodded. "That explains why the buildings look so old. It's like stepping back a hundred years in time."
It was an accurate description. Fine as they had once been, the architecture did seem outdated—a politer word would have been “picturesque.” It was nothing like Mirai, with its solid shapes and firm foundations. There was a handmade quality to these buildings that would have been charming if not for the lack of people.
"So, what do we do?" Kenta asked. "This place doesn't exactly seem to give warm welcomes."
He craned his neck, looking around. A few vendors waved, trying to catch his attention, but their efforts seemed halfhearted at best. They had passed desperation and slipped into lethargy, just like the city itself. The ones who noticed Rin recoiled in fear and ducked behind their stalls, a fact the wolf didn't seem to mind. The city didn't bother her like it did the rest of the group. Her tongue lolled and her tail stood up proudly, the tip wagging slowly back-and-forth.
Imari frowned. They did need supplies, and someone in this city was bound to be grateful for a few gold coins, spirit wolf or not. "First order of business is to find a place to stay, preferably one that serves food. There has to be an inn around here somewhere, right?"
"Right," Kaede said. "Should we check on the other side of the square?"
"We can try." Takeshi aimed a sideways glance at Rin. "But I wouldn't be surprised if some of the innkeepers bolt their doors and pretend not to be home. Our party is a little strange, you have to admit."
Kaede gave him a frown, and Imari stepped in to cut off the brewing confrontation. "I'm sure we'll find someplace, Takeshi," Imari said, in a tone that implied he should shut his mouth. "Not everyone is afraid of the yokai. I welcomed Rin into Mirai, didn't I? And you and Kenta allowed her into your home."
"Besides, Rin is cute," Kenta added.
"I am a wolf spirit," Rin growled, the picture of offended dignity. "We are not cute." Still, Imari had been observing Rin closely enough along their journey to catch a sparkle of amusement in her blue eyes. If she'd been human, she would’ve been smirking.
"Fine, you're not cute,” Kaede said. “You're fierce." But the way she reached over to scratch Rin's ears belied her statement.
Maybe Rin isn't cute. Imari’s mood perked up when she saw Kaede's smile return. But you definitely are. She stuck to admiring Kaede's grin at first, but gradually, Imari found her eyes slipping lower without her permission. Even though she'd had several weeks of close contact to drink the vision in, something about looking at Kaede still made her heart skip a beat and her breath quicken. Her arms were strong, but also lean and graceful, and her hands—
Imari blinked. She didn't have time to consider how rough or soft different parts of Kaede's palms might be. But still, her instincts told her the looks she offered weren't entirely unwelcome. Kaede had caught her a few times in the past, only to blush and look away while hiding what Imari hoped was a smile.
"There," Takeshi said, pulling her from her thoughts. They had crossed the marketplace only to arrive at a building slightly less run down than the others. It was two stories, and judging by the siding, someone had made repairs recently, even if they were a bit shoddy. An ornate sign hung above the door, older than any other around the square, but it was clear that someone had been doing their best to maintain it. Nonetheless, the green wood had grown dark with humidity, and the golden edges had long since lost their shine. Several bronze Tsun’i characters—Zhong An Inn—had been etched in the middle. Perhaps a long time ago, that name would have been widely known, but Imari couldn’t place it.
"This is probably our best bet." Kaede glanced at the window screens, studying them closely. "Second floor? No trees or balconies to make breaking in easy."
Takeshi nodded. At least they agreed on one thing: keeping her safe. Even she saw the sense in their decision. "Okay, second floor it is. Let's see if they have any vacancies, shall we? And before you ask, Takeshi, I won't flash my circles around. The fact that we came in on horses will attract enough attention."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Kenta said cheerfully. "Thieves aren't going to mess with us while we have Rin on our side, right?" He scratched her ears, a gesture Rin had graciously given him permission to perform, a
nd her tail wagged back and forth.
"Good point,” Imari said, glancing thoughtfully at the door. Still, we shouldn't bring Rin in yet. I'll go check it out."
Kenta nodded. "And I'll keep an eye on the horses."
"Need some help?" Kaede offered, but Imari looped an elbow through hers, urging her to hand off her reins to Takeshi.
"Nope. You're coming with me, Kaede." She leaned in, brushing aside a loose strand of Kaede's auburn hair and whispering beside her ear. "Please, don't leave me alone with Takeshi. I need to see a smile once in a while or I'll go nuts."
Kaede didn't smile, but a crimson blush did bloom across her cheeks. Her lips moved soundlessly, as if she wasn't quite sure what to say, and Imari felt the ticklish wings of butterflies flutter in her stomach. The flush was even better than a smile, in her opinion. She only hoped she wasn't wrong about what it might mean.
"I'll…you and Rin can handle it, right, Kenta?" Kaede mumbled, patting his shoulder in passing and heading toward the door. Imari was pleased to notice Kaede didn't attempt to unlock their arms, either. Together, they entered the inn, with Takeshi a step behind.
The inside wasn't quite as depressing as the outside. Clean and warm, there was enough light to bring a little life into the place. Imari stepped out of her sandals and loosened her grip on Kaede's elbow in order to put on the slippers provided.
Kaede looked up and saw a plump, smiling woman dressed in Tsun’i fashion hurrying across the mat to greet them. She wore a qipao dress, orange and purple, and although it had seen better days, not a thread of the floral stitching was torn or frayed, speaking to a certain fastidiousness. Her hair was pulled back from her temples and knotted together in a horizontal bun on top of her head, with a rose ornament pinned to one side and a brooch to the other. They must be family heirlooms, Imari thought as the woman clasped her hands in front of her and bowed.
"Good afternoon, dear guests. Welcome."
Imari gave a shorter bow back. "Thank you for allowing us to trouble you. Do you have rooms available?"
"Oh yes, my lady," the woman said. "It would be our honor to take care of you. How many would you like?"
"Two, please," Imari answered, before Kaede or Takeshi could say anything else. "We have a party of four, so two futons in each one. Is that possible?"
That got Kaede's attention. Her eyebrows rose and her mouth dropped open a bit until she seemed to realize she was gaping. Her jaw snapped shut, and she looked away, clearly embarrassed but showing the edges of a grin.
Imari smirked as well. It was far too soon for that kind of thinking, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy a few minutes alone with Kaede in their room, either.
"Of course," the innkeeper continued. "And if I may be so bold, is your party planning to visit the Jade Sea? It is quite beautiful this time of year."
Takeshi's brow furrowed. "With all due respect, that isn't your business."
"My deepest apologies," the woman said, bowing again. "I wasn't trying to pry into your personal affairs. It's just that most travelers to Yin come here for that reason, and I was going to make a suggestion."
"Please, go ahead," Imari said, aiming a silencing look in Takeshi's direction. "We would love to hear any advice you have."
"Most of the guides who escort travelers such as yourselves along the edge of the sea gather at the pier during the day, waiting for customers. If you would like to leave your things and go in search of a guide, I will be more than happy to prepare your rooms."
Imari nodded. "Thank you! That sounds perfect." She looked to her companions, stifling a giggle as Kaede reached back to rub the base of her neck.
"Just one other thing, ma'am. How do you feel about a wolf spirit sleeping in your stables?"
***
"So, what did the innkeeper say we were looking for?" Kaede asked as she descended the steps to the pier, shielding her eyes with her hand. It was late afternoon, going on evening, and unfortunately their group of four faced directly into the setting sun. "Not that I can see anything. Ugh, my eyes are watering."
"Should have worn your hat," Imari sang from a short distance ahead. "Let's keep going. If this is their profession, I'm sure the guides will find us. Oh, Sun and Moon!"
Imari's exclamation didn't sound upset, but Kaede stiffened anyway, hurrying to close the gap between them. When she came to a stop at Imari's shoulder, she saw what had caught her friend's attention and couldn't help gasping too.
They had reached the middle of the wide stone steps, and from this vantage point, she had a clear view of the Jade Sea. A brilliant green, it sparkled as brightly as the Empress’ jewels in the low light. Its surface seemed to shift and stir like any other ocean, but Kaede knew it was an illusion. It had been frozen for hundreds of years, and all that remained were remnants of the ancient waves.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, staring in awe. The longer she stared, the more shades of green she saw: bright ones that glowed almost yellow at the peaks of the waves, and darkening to deep hues that bordered on blue.
Imari reached out to take her hand, giving her fingers a warm squeeze. "Yes. It is."
The awkward sound of a throat clearing made Kaede pull her hand back, although she found she missed the feel of Imari's palm against hers. She turned to see Takeshi staring at them with his usual blank, serious expression, while Kenta wore a smug, knowing look on his face.
"We should…" Kaede mumbled, hurrying down the steps at the head of the group. On the way, she shot Imari a look of apology. She hadn't really wanted to withdraw her hand.
When they arrived at the bottom of the steps, Kaede felt the same eeriness that had come over her in the marketplace creep back in. The harbor had been beautiful once, judging by the buildings and the grand wall separating the city from the shipyard, but it was in a depressing state of disrepair. Parts of the wall were old and crumbling, and no one had seen fit to fix them. The buildings seemed mostly abandoned, as if their inhabitants had fled into the city itself. There were only a few carts around, and some of those didn't even have merchants.
"Our adventure in the ghost town continues," Imari said, taking it all in.
"Ghost town is right. Look." Kenta pointed out toward the sea, and Kaede followed the gesture. There, a few yards out from the docks, were ancient looking ships. Or, more accurately, the bottom halves of ancient looking ships. The tops had rotted away, but the sections under the water remained, preserved as if in amber. The waves were clear enough to see through, and Kaede could make out the bottoms of the boats perfectly.
"Wow. I don't know whether that's creepy or cool."
"Cool," Kenta said.
"Definitely cool," Imari agreed.
Even Takeshi looked intrigued. "It is fascinating."
"Guides," Kaede reminded them, after a moment. "We have to find one who’s actually willing to go across the sea with us instead of just hitting the tourist highlights."
"If you're looking for that kind of guide, perhaps I can be of assistance?"
Kaede stiffened in surprise. The voice came from just a few centimeters behind her, and she whirled around, instinctively reaching for her katana. When she caught sight of who had spoken, however, she breathed a sigh of relief. The person was standing uncomfortably close, but they were only a small figure in a hood. She couldn't tell much about them, not even gender, but she did suspect the stranger was old from the way their back bent and the wrinkles on the visible part of their face.
"Excuse me," she said, taking a step back to regain some personal space. "We are in the market for a guide. We have to get to the other side."
"Then you've found the right person.” The stranger bowed and Kaede bowed in return. "You may call me Bo. I'm the most experienced guide in this city."
"The most experienced?" Imari placed her good hand on her hip as she rose from her own bow, studying Bo. "My name is Homura Imari, and did this just become a job interview?"
"Perhaps," Bo said. "Where does your journey take you?"
"To Hongshan," Imari said. "Ever heard of it?"
Bo paused, lifting a hand to their chin. Upon closer inspection, Kaede could see a little more of their face, but not much. They still hadn’t lowered their hood, and aside from pale skin and dark eyes, their features seemed soft and nondescript. "Hongshan. That is an unusual destination. I know where it is, but few travelers wish to go there. If you don't think me rude for asking, don’t you find the rumors of dragons frightening?"
"It’s not dragons we’re looking for," Imari said, "but a certain person we believe may be living there. Will you help us?"
Bo nodded. "I will take you there for thirty golden circles, half to be paid in advance. You will buy your own supplies. We leave in two days' time. Are those terms agreeable?"
Imari gave Bo a shrewd look. "Fifteen circles," she said, lips pressing together. "The innkeeper did say we would have our pick of guides if we came to the harbor."
"Oh, Ancestors," Kenta sighed, as Takeshi muttered, "Not again."
Kaede aimed a sidelong look at Kenta. "Does she haggle often?" So far, they had mostly used their own supplies, so she hadn't had a chance to witness Imari's bargaining prowess in action.
"Unfortunately, yes," Kenta whispered back. "For a wealthy daimyo's daughter, she really can be a cheapskate unless it's for charity."
Bo did not seem intimidated. "Twenty-five circles. I guarantee you, none of the other guides have been to Hongshan before. Few bother venturing to the dragon mountain these days. You won't find anyone who knows the area better than I do."
"Twenty," Imari countered. "Final offer."
Kaede waited with bated breath, but thankfully, Bo nodded. "You drive a hard bargain, Homura Imari, but I agree to your price. Twenty circles it is, although that is a fairly cheap price for a new hand."
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