“You know if you wanted me to hold you, you just had to ask.”
She shoved off his chest and took a few steps away from him for good measure. Then, gaze forward, she strode away with her arms swinging at her side.
“You’re going to have to talk to me eventually. I’m the one leading this search, aren’t I?”
She turned, giving him a death glare. “I’m not stupid. I know we’re going to have to speak. But I have nothing to say to you right now.”
“Maybe you could tell me a bit about yourself. How did you become a temple guardian?”
She moved so quickly she was a blur of motion. One second she was walking away, the next her index finger was inches from his nose. “Let’s get something clear. I’m only going with you because the head priestess commanded me. I don’t trust you and I definitely have no interest in making small talk with you.”
He couldn’t hide his smirk. She had a lot of fire. Maybe a little too much. It really was a good thing he didn’t need to bring her back to Akio. She likely would have torn him to shreds if he’d really tried. “As you wish.” He gave her a mocking bow.
Her mouth clenched and her lips were pressed into a thin white line. A muscle ticked in her jaw.
“If you have something else to say, just get it out now,” he taunted. He just couldn’t help himself. Getting a rise out of her was a rather amusing way to pass the time.
Her exhale was ragged. “You’re not worth the effort.”
“To find out what yokai took Tomoe you’re going to have to talk to yokai, you know.”
“I can handle a few filthy yokai.”
“You love lying to yourself, don’t you? You play human, but you’re just as yokai as me.” No matter how he looked at it, her hatred of yokai didn’t make any sense to him. Clearly she was a powerful yokai herself, though she pretended to be otherwise. Why hide it and limit herself to the position of temple guardian?
Hands balled into fists at her sides, she said through gritted teeth, “I don’t play at being human. I am a temple guardian. I am sworn to the divine.”
“Sure you don’t. If you had transformed into your true form, then we wouldn’t be in this mess, now would we?”
“If I had, we’d all be dead!” The words had burst out of her, echoing across the forest around them and startling birds out of their roosts. They squawked in protest as they flew away.
Now that was not the response he was expecting.
For a second her eyes had changed color. Power rippled out of her, and like a wave it slammed into him, nearly knocking him over. Shin’s mouth hung open. The power she kept hidden was more immense than he’d thought. He snapped his mouth shut.
An oppressive silence fell over them. She stood stone still. The only movement was the slow rise and fall of her chest. After a few movements she emerged from her meditative state, and her eyes had returned to their usual brown.
He’d taken it too far. Perhaps he’d spent too long in isolation, and he’d forgotten how to talk to others. In a calmer tone Shin said, “Alright. Clearly we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot—”
She scoffed.
“Let’s start over. Whether we like it or not, we have to work together.”
“Just don’t ask me again about—” She swallowed hard, her eyes focused on the ground. She took another deep breath and her gaze snapped back up to him. “I’m only here to make sure you do as you promised.”
“Believe me. More than anything, I want this off.” He touched his fingers to his collar. Whatever spell the head priestess had put on it left an ambient warmth.
Akane’s eyes trailed over the collar. Most people avoided looking at it. Because anyone who tried usually got a beating for it. There was a hint of pity in her gaze. Then with a flip of her braid, she stomped away. It left him feeling exposed.
They ventured deeper into the forest. These woods should be crawling with lesser yokai: immortal creatures that had little more intelligence than their animal counterparts. Normally they were drawn by greater spiritual power, like moths to a flame. But the forest lacked any at all. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. The energy here felt tainted somehow. A dissonant note ran through the forest’s pure energy. Like one wrong note played on a koto.
Shin stopped in his tracks and sniffed the air. He hadn’t been mistaken, there were no yokai nearby. But what caused this crawling feeling over his skin?
“What are you doing?” Akane asked, arms crossed over her chest.
“This area has a strange energy; don’t you feel it?” She couldn’t be this disconnected.
“No,” she scoffed.
Shin frowned. An okami of her power should have been able to sense it too. “If you keep suppressing your power like that, it won’t end well.” Energy needed to flow, like a river or the wind through the trees. Locked away and unused it rotted inside the yokai. It turned their very true selves against them. Shin had seen yokai locked in Akio’s cells go mad from the lost connection to their spiritual power. Others became feral beasts losing all sense of themselves. That’s why prisons like Akio’s dark cells were so effective. Cut off from the flow of their spiritual energy, a yokai was better off dead.
“I don’t need a lecture from you.”
He shrugged and said nothing more. It was her risk to take.
The forest came to an abrupt end. The valley had been cleared out by farmers, and was zig-zagged with rice paddies in the hillsides. The setting sun stained them crimson, contrasting starkly against the lush green of the rice plants. Against the haze of a dying day, smoke rose on the horizon. This was what the strange feeling had come from. It was death.
Beside him, Akane gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. “What happened here?” Her voice was muffled by her fingers.
Shin’s nostrils flared. The air stank of blood, fire, and smoke. There was the stink of something else hidden beneath the carnage. Yokai. It was not entirely unheard of for yokai to attack humans. But normally attacks were on individuals who’d roamed into yokai territory. On a rare occasion a starving yokai might raid a village. Never before had he seen this sort of carnage. He couldn’t tell Akane his suspicions, not until he knew more.
“I’m going to investigate,” he said.
“I’m going with you.”
He jerked his head toward her. “We don’t know if whoever did this is still around. It might be dangerous.”
She swallowed hard. “I can take care of myself.”
They made their way through the valley toward the remains of a village. It was nothing but ash and charred bodies. Their arms were outstretched, bodies splayed as if burned while trying to escape.
Akane stared at it in wide-eyed horror. Her arms were wrapped tight around her torso and her body trembled. It hit him then how naive she was. She had likely never seen carnage of this magnitude while sheltered inside her temple.
“If it’s too much.” He reached out to comfort her, but she stepped just outside his reach.
“No.” She choked on the words. Then she cleared her throat and said, “I can handle it.”
They made their way through the village and up the hill toward the Imperial Palace. There was not much left but the blackened skeletal remains of the building. Bright red embers still glowed. A thick cloud of smoke choked the air, and Shin covered his mouth with his sleeve.
The paint on the gates was bubbled and curled. One had been smashed through, jagged fragments strewn across the ground. The courtyard was littered with the burned corpses of the servants and soldiers. The latter distinguishable by the weapons they clutched in their hands.
Akane’s gaze was fixated on a dead woman who’d fallen on the steps leading into the courtyard. Perhaps she had been a lady of the house who’d been trying to flee. The corpse was not completely burnt, and her red and gold kimono stood out against the destruction around her. Her pale, dainty hands were reaching for the hand of a small, charred corpse.
“We should go, there’s noth
ing for us here,” Shin said turning away. He was unable to look upon the senseless loss of life. He’d seen plenty of death and destruction in his long life, but it never got easier. Yokai had done this. Beneath the bitter scent of ash were boar and monkey. This had been Akio’s doing.
Akane was frozen in place, sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Akane?” he touched her shoulder.
She jumped at his touch. Hands raised in defense, she twirled to face him. “Don’t touch me.”
Shin held up his hands in surrender.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
A growl rumbled at the back of her throat. Her appearance was more wolf-like now - her ears had shifted higher on her head, her hair grown down her face, her nose was more muzzle-like, and her teeth were sharp points.
“Make sure you don’t do it again.” She shoved off him and strode out the remains of the palace.
He watched her go, rubbing his bruised throat. What was that about?
They made their way to their first destination amidst oppressive silence. The sun had set by the time they arrived at the yokai inn. Lanterns hung suspended in air, emitting a soft yellow glow on the cobblestones. The building was multiple stories and impossibly tall. Any human structure would have toppled over. The windows, which lined all sides, were cast in a golden glow. Red lanterns dangled from the sloped eves.
Music and laughter floated on the air. A trail of yokai in bright yukata made their way down the path toward the inn. A boisterous yokai pushed past Akane, shoving her aside. Shin caught her by her tense shoulders.
“You alright?” he asked.
She ripped herself out of his grip. “What are we doing here?”
“Getting information.” He gestured toward the inn. Akio had often sent him to this place to get information on the dragon. Shin was certain Akio wasn’t keeping the priestesses in the palace, which meant they were being taken somewhere else. Inns were neutral ground and where yokai met. One thing yokai loved was to gossip. If Akio were behind the kidnapping and burning of that palace, then other yokai would be talking about it.
They entered the crowded inn. A yokai with shaggy hair covering his eyes and a horn protruding from his head sat behind the front desk.
“Welcome back, Master Shin,” the innkeeper said with a bow.
Shin leaned against the desk. “Is my usual room available?”
The yokai bowed his head. “It is, and you have a guest?”
“Yes, and please bring a meal for two.” Shin waggled his eyebrows.
“We are not together,” Akane said.
“Don’t be shy,” Shin said, slinging his arm over her shoulder.
She slid out from beneath his arm before shoving him hard. He stumbled backward into a nearby patron.
Shin bowed in apology. “Excuse me,” he said.
“Shin?” said a familiar voice.
It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dunked over his head. Time slowed. Slowly he raised his head. A waking dream stood before him, a smile on her face. Her bright red hair was tied up in a pin and she wore a bright pink kimono. She looked healthy, happy. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t think. He’d endured five hundred years of agony so that she could smile this way. The collar around his neck burned against his flesh. He covered it with his palm.
“What are you doing here?” Rin cocked her head to one side.
Words caught in his throat. Shin had sworn he’d never let Rin see him this way, as Akio’s slave. She kept trying to reach out and over and over he pushed her away. It was too shameful to have her see him this way.
Akane looked between Shin and Rin, her posture erect. She reached for her bow but did not draw. “Do you know one another?”
“We’ve known each other a long time.” Rin smiled and tried to catch Shin’s eye but he studied the ground instead. The warm metal bit into his palm. If only he could tear it from his throat.
Rin bowed in introduction. “I’m Rin, and you are?” Her brows quirked and she gave a mischievous smile, as if Rin had caught him with some fling. As if the past five hundred years hadn’t happened. For her little had changed, he supposed. She lived her life, married the man she really loved.
“We were just going.” He grabbed Akane by the wrist and dragged her down the hall.
Once they were alone, she tore herself free. “What was that about?” She gestured toward the entryway.
Shin rubbed his palm against his face.
“Just someone I’d rather not see right now.”
“Shin!” Rin’s feet slapped on the floor as she ran to catch up with him. He kept his back to her.
“Go away, Rin,” he said.
Akane frowned, and then realizing she was invading on a private moment, removed herself discreetly. He wished she would have stayed, it could have given him an excuse to not speak to Rin. Before he’d been Akio’s slave, Shin had been one of the most powerful yokai in all of Akatsuki, second only to the dragon who ruled Akatsuki. He and Rin had both served the dragon together. And for centuries he’d watched over Rin, hiding his longing for her because he feared to lose the precious friendship they shared. Then she’d fallen in love with another man and he’d realized too late he’d lost his chance with her.
“Won’t you even look at me?” she asked, her voice small.
It felt like a knife to the gut. More than anything he wanted to turn around, to take her into his arms.
“Rin, there you are...”
Shin’s entire body stiffened.
“Shin, what are you doing here?” Hikaru, Rin’s husband said. He was getting that question a lot today. He hadn’t expected to run into Rin here. He had to salvage some shred of dignity. He turned to face them, a fake smile plastered on his face.
“Just having a bit of fun. If you don’t mind I don’t want to leave my lady friend waiting.” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder.
“I know when you’re lying to me,” Rin said, as the smile left her eyes. “Did Akio send you here?”
Shin ran his hands through his hair. “What does it matter to you?”
Rin’s face crumpled. She wouldn’t cry, she was much too strong for that. Hikaru put his hand on his wife’s shoulder. Shin’s eyes fixated upon it. He’d given up Rin so they could be together. It didn’t make seeing them together any easier. That old, familiar jealousy squirmed in his gut.
“Priests and priestesses have been going missing, and we think Akio is behind it. Do you know anything about that?” Hikaru asked.
What he meant was have you been kidnapping them on Akio’s behalf? It stung. But it wasn’t a far stretch from the truth. He was Akio’s dog, and had he ordered him to do so, he would have.
“Doesn’t ring a bell. Now if you don’t mind, I have things to do.” He turned to leave.
“Wait,” Rin called. “Whatever you’re doing, I know it’s not your choice. I don’t care what he’s making you do.”
The collar was choking him, preventing any words from escaping. He wanted to tell her about the head priestess’ deal. But he’d learned to hedge his hopes. If he failed, only he would know. And even when he was free of Akio, things couldn’t go back to how they were.
Shin trudged his way to the room they’d been allotted. When he slid the door open, Akane was seated on a cushion in front of a low table. A meal had been served along with tea. A slow curl of steam rose off the kettle.
“Friend of yours?” she asked.
Shin ignored her and sat down. Sake would have been preferable. Despite that, he poured himself a cup of tea he didn’t want. His hands shook and tea splattered onto the wood tabletop and left aromatic droplets.
He cupped the tea in his hand, letting the warmth seep into his skin. Rin’s look of betrayal stared up at him from the surface of his tea. He swallowed the scalding liquid in one drought.
“Well, while you were out having a reunion, I found out where Akio has been taking the priestesses.”
His eyes flicked up towar
d her. “How?”
“It wasn’t hard. The maid who brought the tea in told me about it.” She gestured to the setting in front of her.
“How could a maid know something I didn’t?” Even now a part of him doubted the rumors. Could Akio really have been plotting something this sinister right under his nose?
Akane leaned forward. “Exactly.”
She shoved off the table and headed for the adjoining sleeping quarters.
“I didn’t lie to you.” He stood up. After Rin’s doubt in him, he felt compelled to defend himself.
She slid the door closed violently. The tableware clattered. Shin slumped back down on the ground. Maybe there was no more goodness left in him. He’d spent too long under Akio’s thumb perhaps. Besides what did it matter if she believed him or not? Once they found Tomoe, he would never have to see Akane again.
10
Akane’s heart raced. An oni stomped the perimeter of the encampment, dragging behind it a massive club. She pressed herself flat against the boulder she was hiding behind as the oni’s thundering footsteps passed by. She peered once more around the rock.
The camp was squeezed into a gash in the earth, where an ancient earthquake had torn the land apart, creating a crevice, which had been further carved out to make room for crudely made buildings. Boulders were scattered across the landscape by some long-ago volcanic explosion.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. There was the distinct feeling of being watched. The early morning light washed everything in a dull gray. Nothing moved. She exhaled. She thought for certain Shin would have followed her.
After pretending to go to sleep, Akane had snuck out of the yokai inn in the dead of night. Though she’d known from the start she couldn’t trust him, she needed to know where Tomoe was before she left him behind.
The maid’s information had been good, and she’d found the yokai camp without a problem. When she got close enough, she just had to follow the stink, a mix of rotting flesh and brackish water. Underneath it all was the acidic stench of fear. They had humans here, she was certain of it.
Okami: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling Page 7