Kaede recognized it as self-hatred. "There's nothing to deal with. Hayate and Suanni have already spoken up on your behalf. Apparently, Suanni is one of the Empress's advisers."
"And what about the fact that I killed fourteen samurai?" Imari asked, beginning to shake. "Doesn't that matter?"
Kaede held her tighter. "It matters, but that doesn't mean you're to blame."
Imari was silent for a long time. At last, with a soft kiss to Kaede's lips, she left the hug and straightened her shoulders. "All right. Thank you, Kaede. For everything. No matter what happens, I wanted to…I want you to know." She hesitated, as if she couldn't find the words.
Kaede ran her knuckles along the curve of Imari's cheek until the gesture earned a smile. "I know. I love you, too. Want me to help you get dressed?"
"Please. I don't have the heart for fashion right now. I trust you to make me look…"
"Presentable?" Kaede finished for her.
"I was going to say, 'not like a crazy murderer,' but yes. Presentable.”
Black as the joke was, Kaede took it as a good sign. It was the first time Imari had said anything even slightly humorous since the cave. "Well, I think we have some mon of yours that aren't covered in blood," she said, squeezing Imari's hand. "Hold on. Let me go through your pack."
Once Rin had made a graceful exit into the hallway, it didn't take them as long to dress as Kaede expected. She was able to clean up and put on several layers of formal clothes without much difficulty before suspending her own efforts to help Imari.
"Three hands are better than one, I suppose," Imari mumbled as Kaede finished fastening her obi behind her. "I never really appreciated the servants back home until I had to dress myself during our travels with…you know."
"Well, I'm always happy to help." Kaede placed a kiss on the back of Imari's neck, feeling a bit guilty when she shivered. She had meant for it to be chaste. "Sorry."
"It's fine." With a deep breath, Imari went to stand in front of the copper mirror hanging on the wall. After a moment, she said, "I haven't looked at myself since the cave, you know. I don't know what I was expecting to see, but it wasn't this."
Kaede went to join her at the mirror, resting her chin on Imari's shoulder. "No monsters then?"
Imari shook her head. "No. Just me. A tired me." She poked at the bags beneath her eyes before sighing. "Normally I'd be horrified going before the Empress looking like this, but right now, I don't have the energy to care about the little details." Her eyes drifted away from the mirror, shifting over to her sword and scabbard. Kaede caught the glance at once and went to retrieve it, but Imari shook her head. "No—wait. I don't know if I want it."
Kaede stopped. "That's your choice, Imari."
"But?"
"No but," Kaede said. "Yes, I have an opinion, but it isn't the one that matters. You should be able to do whatever you like."
Imari smiled. "Sometimes, I don't know how you manage to be so perfect. What is your opinion, then?"
Kaede looked at the sword once more. The green stones of the pommel gleamed, as if the dragon carved into the hilt watched them. "I know you're ashamed of what you've done. I would be too, if Kyuubi had taken control of me instead of you. But I don't think you should blame the sword. Think of all you went through to get it. You fought bandits and my cousin, traveled all the way across the Jade Sea, and rode on a dragon. You trained for months to learn how to use it. And, yes, you drew blood with it. But I think it can still do great things. I still think you can do great things. You shouldn't throw it aside as some kind of symbol because you're hurting."
Imari took a long time to digest those words, but at last, she came to a decision. "Kyuubi can stuff her own tails." She strode over to the table and picked up the sword. She tied the scabbard at the back, just as Wen Ling had taught her, and as the sword slid into its proper place, she let out a calming breath. "Wujian is my sword. I'm not going to let her ruin it."
Kaede grinned. "That's my girl," she said, tucking back a lock of hair that had escaped Imari's braid. It wasn't the fancy fan hairstyle most women would choose when seeing the Empress, but it did make Imari look more like herself. "Come on. Let's go before Takeshi comes back to hurry us along."
They exited the room to join Rin only to see a pair of imperial guards waiting beside her, dressed in traditional red and gold. With them was another familiar face. Suanni—or, rather, Bo—wore a fine purple kamishimo befitting the station of the Empress's adviser. Still, Kaede found that their gender remained indiscernible even with their face revealed. They wore the mon of the Empress: a rising golden sun with outstretched rays of light set on a red square.
"Homura Imari, Aozora Kaede," Suanni said, bowing. "It's time we talked.”
Kaede took a moment to adjust to hearing her real name, but the awkwardness passed quickly. She distracted herself by looking at the guards, who were acting as though they couldn't hear anything at all. They didn’t even seem fazed by Rin’s presence. All they did was stand there, still as stone, holding their famous black, steel-tipped spears in their hands.
Suanni noticed her staring. "Don't worry. Empress Tomoyo's imperial guards are used to situations like this. They have sworn oaths under penalty of death not to release any information the Empress deems secret."
"And just how much does the Empress know?" Imari asked.
"Come with me and I'll explain." Suanni started down the hall, motioning for them to follow. Kaede did so, with Imari and Rin on either side and the guards a few paces behind. "When I left you in Yukimura, Kaede, I headed for the capital to warn the Empress, but there was another reason I didn't go inside the cave with you. A dragon's promise is their honor, and unfortunately, I made a promise to Kyuubi several centuries ago."
Rin growled. "A bad promise, I expect."
"I'm afraid so. Long ago, before I knew her true nature, Kyuubi asked for my protection. She pretended to be injured and afraid and asked me to shelter her. I gave her my word then that no dragon would harm her."
Realization dawned. "You can't touch her," Kaede murmured. "That's why you sent us to the cave alone and flew away."
Suanni nodded. "I have bound myself and my kin to that oath. My time was better spent elsewhere, but I felt I owed you an explanation. I didn't want you to think I would let you and your companions walk into danger casually, without good reason."
"If you can't touch her, what's to be done?" Imari asked. Her voice bordered on angry and Kaede noticed her fists clenching at her sides. "She needs to be stopped. I won't let her do to someone else what she's done to me."
Suanni smiled in approval. "That's exactly how I hoped you would feel, Imari. I fear Kyuubi has bigger plans than this. Toying with one human and forcing them to betray their conscience is a game to her. She has a lust for power, and the fact that she has taken a shogun like Setsuna under her control is deeply disturbing. It makes me wonder if there are others."
"Another shogun?" Kaede asked. "Or other people of power?"
"Both," Suanni said. "But I will let the Empress explain."
With surprise, Kaede realized that they had arrived at their destination: the reception hall. She had been inside many times before to speak with Setsuna, but the doors seemed higher and more intimidating than usual knowing the Empress was behind them. Four more guards were stationed outside to remind her of the fact, all wearing the Empress's golden-red mon.
Kaede turned toward Imari, half-expecting a look of fear on her face, but instead, she found only blankness—perhaps more concerning. "Are you going to be all right, Imari? If you don't think you can go in?"
"I can." Imari's soft voice allowed no room for argument. "I have to."
"I'll be right beside you," Kaede said. "No matter what."
Suanni nodded for the guards, and together, they entered the throne room.
***
The moment Imari entered the throne room, she found it difficult to breathe. Her chest constricted, her throat closing with fear. She had stepped
through the door determined, ready to meet the Empress's judgment no matter what, but as she looked toward the raised platform, her courage fled. Even though Kaede and her friends had told her time and time again over the past two weeks that she couldn't be held accountable for her actions, she found herself doubting their words. And part of her believed she should be punished.
After a brief, blind moment of panic, Imari felt a soft nudge at her shoulder. Rin’s blue eyes were staring into hers, and then they shifted over toward Kaede. She was remaining perfectly still instead of approaching the platform.
“Move,” Rin whispered. “She won’t go without you.”
That jolted Imari into action. Kaede was risking dishonor and disrespect by remaining with her. With barely a glance at the impressively dressed figure on the platform, Imari moved forward, taking the lowest posture on the long tatami mat as Kaede did the same beside her.
"Please rise, both of you," a voice said, one that sounded high-pitched and youthful to Imari's ears. With permission given, she lifted her head and looked upon the Empress at last.
Empress Tomoyo didn't give the appearance of someone intimidating. Short and slender and through her white makeup, looking no older than the fifteen years Imari knew her to be. Her hair was styled in a large fan, and pinned to one side was a kanzashi of gold and silver. Her kimono was lavish, high-necked, with white blossoms patterned across the plush purple fabric. Seated below her was Hayate, looking much more respectable than Imari had seen him in the past. He seemed uncomfortable, though, and Imari couldn’t help wondering if it was because of the Empress, or because Kaze wasn’t with him. Or perhaps it’s because of me. I did try to kill him. His kamishimo concealed most of his neck, and Imari couldn't help glancing toward it, checking to see if any mark was visible. From this distance, she couldn't tell.
“Please, speak,” the Empress said.
"We're honored, Heika," Kaede said, inclining her head. "We want to help resolve this situation any way we can."
Empress Tomoyo smiled. "I'm sure you do, Aozora Kaede. My adviser Bo has already told me many of the details, but I need to hear them from both of you."
Imari's mind raced. She didn't want to defend herself. She didn't want to speak of what had happened in the cave. All she wanted was for this to be over, and it wouldn't be while Kyuubi still lived. Kaede had given her strength and a purpose again, but without a goal, she would be adrift in the same sea of blood.
"Please, Your Majesty," Imari murmured, lowering her eyes again, "I must beg one thing of you. I'm willing to answer for my actions however you see fit, but first, please allow me to make amends. Bo has told you of Kyuubi, the fox spirit who put all of this in motion. With your permission, I wish to bring her to justice. Then, you may deal with me as you like."
The Empress was quiet for several moments, and Imari was certain she had overstepped her bounds. But at last, Empress Tomoyo replied, "I'm afraid I must deal with your actions now, Homura Imari. It cannot wait. Do you agree to submit to my judgment, or would you defy it?"
Ice ran through Imari's veins, but she kept her head lowered. "Yes, Your Majesty. I do."
"Heika—" Kaede protested, risking rudeness by interrupting, but Empress Tomoyo held up her hand.
"Wait, Aozora Kaede. You might not find my judgment disagreeable. Homura Imari, it is true that you have taken the lives of fourteen noble samurai. However, you did so in the pursuit of Yukimura Setsuna, one of my shogun, who we have discovered to be a criminal. I have it from several reliable sources that she has been conducting profane experiments on the yokai. These experiments could not continue, and by taking her captive and bringing her here, you helped end them."
Imari raised her head, looking at the Empress in disbelief. "Your Majesty, Yukimura-sama is no criminal. She was manipulated by Kyuubi like I was. She didn't know what she was doing."
The Empress smiled. "Oh? Well then, what would you suggest her punishment be?"
"Nothing. She needs doctors and a long rest under observation, not to be thrown in jail."
"Then wouldn't it make sense for you to receive the same treatment, since you were also manipulated by Kyuubi?" Empress Tomoyo asked, eyes twinkling.
Imari closed her mouth. The Empress had outwitted her. She couldn't ask for her own punishment without demanding that Setsuna suffer the same fate as well. She wasn't certain whether to feel relieved or guilty at the outcome.
"Enough of this nonsense then," Empress Tomoyo said. "Homura Imari, upon the condition that you do your utmost to find and stop the dangerous fugitive Kyuubi, your crimes against Yukimura will be forgiven. Yukimura-dono, is this acceptable to you?"
She turned toward Hayate, who had remained silent on the mat beside the throne. He nodded. "It is, Heika. Through my cousin, I know Homura Imari to be an honorable woman. Yukimura will not demand her blood.”
“Very well then,” the Empress said. “That business is settled. We have much more to discuss."
Imari let out a breath. The subject of her fate had been settled so quickly and easily she couldn't quite believe it. She was torn between laughing and begging for a harsher punishment. In the end, determination won out. She still had a score to settle with Kyuubi. Her guilt was self-serving at best. It certainly wouldn't help the men she had already killed, or Kyuubi's future victims.
"Bo has told me a great deal about Kyuubi in the past few weeks." The way the Empress emphasized the words “the past few weeks” came as something of a surprise, and Imari's eyes slid over to Suanni. She wasn't quite sure, but she thought their expression looked the slightest bit guilty.
Who would have thought it, a fifteen-year-old girl chastising a dragon?
"The fact that she was able to take control of shogun Yukimura is frightening indeed. It makes me wonder if there were others."
"What makes you think there were others?" Kaede asked.
"My mother, for one," Hayate said. "While you were spending time helping Homura-san recover, I was helping her."
Imari saw a shadow of guilt cross Kaede's face, and it took an effort of will not to reach out and grasp her hand in reassurance. Such a gesture of affection in front of the Empress wouldn’t have been proper at all.
"And?" Kaede asked. "How is she doing?"
"Not well," Hayate confessed. "She sleeps fitfully most of the time, and when she wakes, she screams. Sometimes she speaks in broken sentences. She claims Kyuubi is manipulating other people besides her."
Kaede frowned. "Do you think she’s talking about the other shogun? You said yourself she was delirious."
"You should listen to her," Imari said. "I remembered a great deal after I was freed from Kyuubi's spell. It started with the pearl she gave me—"
"That has already been removed," Hayate said. "It was set into a hair ornament Setsuna wore. I destroyed it myself."
"Then she might be regaining her senses like I did." She suppressed a shudder, trying not to let her mind drift back to the ocean of blood. "At least, messengers should be sent to check on the other shogun and find out what's going on."
"I agree," Empress Tomoyo said. "However, we have another problem. The shogun are currently in Asahina fortress, gathering for their five-year meeting."
Imari's stomach dropped like a stone. "It's a perfect opportunity. If Kyuubi has taken control of the other shogun, they would be in the best possible position to cause trouble."
"Worse than trouble," Suanni said. "With the shogun under her control, I can't imagine the chaos Kyuubi would be able to cause. A coup, war. This is the sort of thing she lives for. This business with Setsuna reeks of a mere distraction, a way to get the Empress all the way to the north, far from Asahina and the capitol. Normally, she arrives in the middle of the session to hear their proposals."
"But now she's stuck here dealing with Setsuna," Kaede said. "It all makes sense. We need to go to Asahina and find out what's going on."
"I'm glad you think so," Empress Tomoyo said. "Bo recommends I stay here for my own sa
fety, but I can't let this situation go unmonitored." She paused. "Homura Imari, Aozora Kaede, I know both of you have suffered much in the past few weeks. The fact that you have survived at all is admirable. But I need to ask for your help again now. I want you to go to Asahina with Bo—confront Kyuubi if she's there, protect the shogun if she isn't. The Empire cannot fall into chaos, and if we don't act swiftly, I fear that is exactly what will happen."
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Imari answered at once. She had already made her decision long before Empress Tomoyo's request, and she wouldn't change it now. "It would be my honor. I see stopping Kyuubi as a way to pay penance for my crimes. I won't let her manipulate anyone else."
"I'll go too," Kaede said, and Imari turned in time to see her smile. "I'm Lady Homura's yojimbo, after all. Someone needs to watch out for her."
"What about your companions?" Hayate asked. "Are they willing to join us?"
"Us?" Kaede asked. "You aren't coming too, are you?"
"Of course, I am," Hayate said. "Kyuubi is the reason Setsuna is…" He paused then rephrased. "I feel it is my duty to Her Majesty.”
"It's all right, Yukimura-dono," Empress Tomoyo said. "I know you have a personal reason for going after Kyuubi. You have my permission to join Aozora Kaede and Homura Imari."
"Our companions will come with us," Imari said. "Hibana Takeshi and Hibana Kenta are skilled samurai and loyal friends."
“So will my brother and I.” Rin approached the throne as well, and though she didn’t lie down, she did recline her head respectfully toward the Empress. “Kaede and Imari are under my protection, and as a yokai myself, I can’t allow one of my own people to cause this much devastation. This is not who we are.”
Empress Tomoyo smiled. “I would expect nothing less, wolf-clan. Your people have always been honorable. It’s reassuring to know we have yokai on our side, too.”
"Then we have a plan," Suanni said. "Imari, Kaede, you and your friends will leave with me as soon as possible for a sneak attack. I’ll take you myself.”
“Meanwhile, regiments of my imperial guard will move in to support you from the eastern shores. However, if you need to return without slaying Kyuubi in order to save the shogun and update me on the situation, you will not have failed."
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