Tomoe spun to face her and her brows shot to her hairline. “Did you have another plan? I kind of like it here. I was talking to the priestess, Suzume, turns out she’s the emperor’s second wife’s daughter, so we’re sisters! She said I could stay here; the dragon will protect me. And then there’s Yuuto, he’s going to teach me to fight...”
“Tomoe, we’re going back to the temple.”
“What? But you and Shin?” she stuttered.
“What’s between us doesn’t change anything. You are meant to be the kamigakari.”
“The head priestess was going to send me back to the palace because I had no power. You don’t need to bring me back.”
Akane shook her head. “The head priestess hid your power to protect you. If the yokai found out they would have killed you.”
“You’re a yokai.”
“I am a temple guardian. And the fate of the kingdom and the war depends on you taking your place as kamigakari.” She reached for Tomoe to try and comfort her, or at the very least help her see reason.
But Tomoe backed away from her, hands balled into fists at her side. “The whole reason for this stupid human and yokai war is because the kami have been gone from this world for five hundred years!”
“That’s not possible.” Akane waved away the very notion. “Then who has been taking the bodies of those girls, all the kamigakari before you?” Akane asked.
Tomoe’s hand fell to her side as she frowned.
“See,” Akane said, and slung her arm around Tomoe’s shoulder. “It’s going to be alright, accepting the kami is a blessing.”
Tomoe rolled her shoulders and freed herself of Akane’s embrace. “No. I refuse.” She stormed out of the room.
“Tomoe!” Akane shouted after her retreating back.
22
Leaving Akane that morning had to be the hardest thing he’d ever done. The memory of her hands clawing his back left him aching for more. The halls of the dragon’s palace were lit with early morning rays, and the yokai he passed in the halls bowed to him with a smile as he passed. Once they returned Tomoe to the temple, he would make a home here for Akane and himself. It might take time for her to adjust to living amongst her own kind, but he felt confident she could adapt. For so long he’d thought his suffering would never end. And now after five hundred years as Akio’s dog, he was nearly free. His chest swelled with joy, so much he thought he might burst.
A kappa rushed toward him. It stooped into a low bow, nearly spilling the water in the bowl-shaped indent on top of its head.
“The dragon requests your presence,” said the kappa messenger.
“He does?” Shin arched a brow. The dragon had never been formal with him. They were friends. If he had something to say, he could come to Shin himself.
He was in a good mood and he decided to play along. Shin followed the waggling, turtle shell back of the kappa. The kappa had to weave his way through the crowded palace halls. Being smaller than most yokai, this was easy for him, despite the dense crowds that swelled in the halls. Shin smiled as he squeezed past them, but got only somber expressions in return. Some didn’t even bother to acknowledge him. They were too busy whispering, heads pressed close together.
The kappa led him, not to the map room, but a formal entertaining space. The scent of fresh paint and new tatami flooring tickled his nostrils as he entered. The dragon sat on a plush cushion behind a low table, a steaming tea kettle and two cups were set out. The dragon wore a blue kimono with a pattern of two dragons battling embroidered into it. His sash was a dark blue almost black and his hair had been slicked back into a tight top knot.
“What’s all this about?” Shin asked.
The dragon gestured with one hand to the fat, ruby red cushion opposite him. “Take a seat.”
“You’re acting strange.” The cushion didn’t look dangerous, but the dragon wasn’t acting like himself. He’d seen this version of his old friend only when speaking with important allies, ones he was hoping to woo to his cause.
“I’m setting the mood.” The dragon flashed a grin, his eyes dancing with humor. His expression smoothed. “Kenshin.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. The dragon must mean business if he was using Shin’s true name. A yokai’s real name was secret, never spoken aloud, because it held power over them. It could be used to bind or command. In Shin’s case, only two people knew his true name. The dragon and his creator, The Lady of the Forest.
He had revealed his secret name to the dragon as a sign of trust and to swear himself into the dragon’s service, during the war of heaven and earth, eons ago. The dragon had never once used it.
“I would implore you, resume your place as my right hand, as my confidant and my general.”
A laugh burst from his lips. “You would think you’re asking me to marry you.” Shin doubled over as mirth rippled through him.
The dragon watched him, his expression giving nothing away. The dragon wasn’t joking around.
Shin stood straight, his eyes trying to meet his old friend’s. He’d seen this look in the dragon’s eyes before, only once before, when his back was against the wall.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Shin sunk down onto the cushion across from the dragon.
“I’m in desperate need of your help,” the dragon said. His hands resting on the table were balled into fists. “There is a battle ahead of me that I cannot win without you.”
Shin ran a thumb along the collar around his neck. For now the head priestess’ binding held, and prevented him from doing Akio’s bidding. “You’d want me, even after I betrayed you?”
The dragon threw his head back and laughed. “We all do selfish things for love.” A shadow passed over his face, then he shook his head.
“You knew how I felt about Rin?” Shin rubbed the back of his neck.
“I have eyes, don’t I?”
Shin forced a laugh. Perhaps his old feelings for Rin hadn’t been as subtle as he thought.
“I wanted to talk to you about this last night. But you snuck away.” He raised his eyebrows.
“What is it you want to talk about?” Shin said, trying to steer the conversation away from him and Akane.
The dragon smiled, exposing his white teeth. “I know you’d made a deal to protect Rin. And if I’m being honest, I was hurt you’d turn your back on me like that. But I think you’ve suffered enough. You say the word and I will skewer that pig myself to set you free.”
Shin laughed, for real this time. “I never knew you cared so much.”
“I need you back.” His gaze was piercing. In all their years of friendship, Shin had never seen him look quite so desperate.
“I’ve got it figured out. I am taking the girl back to the temple, and once I return I promise to return to my old place at your side.”
He’d never expected his friend to save him. The only way the dragon could free him was if he could kill Akio. But it wasn’t as simple as he made it sound. Akio never left his palace. It was incredibly fortified, and he surrounded himself with the most powerful yokai. And until Shin broke free, he could command Shin to attack his friend. The huntsman had almost broken through the head priestess’ bindings as it was.
The dragon smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. But don’t be gone too long, or I’ll come looking for you.”
The dragon poured Shin a cup of tea, which Shin took, taking a slow sip. It had a pleasant floral aroma.
“Now are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and that she-wolf?”
Shin choked on his tea. He coughed as he set his cup down.
Across the table, the dragon smirked as he slapped the table. “I knew there was something between you.”
Shin took another sip of his tea to avoid answering. The dragon watched him all the while. Shin knew that glint in his eye. He wanted details.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shin said, after draining his cup. He reached for the kettle to refill, if onl
y to have something to do with his hands.
“It was her that had you so distracted last night, wasn’t it?”
“She’s uncomfortable in a crowd. I wanted to make sure she was alright, that’s all,” Shin replied with a shrug. It was all so fresh, he wanted to keep it to himself, just for a little while longer.
“Do you really think I’m going to fall for that?” The dragon gave him a look. Back in the day they’d often bragged of their sexual exploits to one another. But perhaps holding back information was the wrong tactic because now the dragon was like a dog on the scent.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Did you take her to your bed last night?” the dragon asked with a salacious grin as he leaned across the table.
Shin bristled, they may be friends but even he had his limits. “Are you trying to pick a fight?”
The dragon whistled long and low. “You’ve got it bad, my friend.”
There was nothing he could say that wouldn’t get him in too deep. Shin shook his head and stood. “I’m sure you’ve got other matters to attend to.”
“Don’t be like that,” the dragon called as Shin headed to the door.
Before he could escape, the dragon caught up and slung his arm around Shin’s shoulder.
“I mean no offense. I’m just happy for you. I gave up on Rin for you, after all.”
“You gave up on Rin because you were bored.”
The dragon shrugged. “We both were. But enough about my old flames. What about you? How is she between the blankets?”
Shin slid the door open and stepped out of his grasp. He turned with his back to the open door.
“I would appreciate you not speak that way about the woman I love.”
The dragon’s eyes widened. Shin hadn’t thought it such a strange proclamation. Then again it was the first time he was saying it out loud. But it felt right, being with Akane felt right.
“Can we talk?” Akane said from behind him.
“I’ll leave you lovebirds alone.” The dragon slid past them and out the door. As he strolled down the hall he whistled to himself.
There was a crimson stain across Akane’s cheeks. She must have heard him. It wasn’t the ideal way to confess his feelings to her, but he supposed it was going to be said one way or another.
“We can do more than talk.” He waggled his eyebrows and took her hand, drawing her into the formal meeting room. He’d never done it in here, but there was a first for everything.
She looked at her feet. “I had a lot of fun last night.”
He pulled her close, pressing her chest flush against him. “There’s even more fun to be had.”
There was so much more he wanted to say. But he couldn’t find the right words. That she drove him mad with desire, that he’d never found a woman who balanced him so completely, who challenged him as a man and as a wolf. She pulled back in his embrace, putting a hands breath distance between them.
“I appreciate your feelings, but—”
A cold chill swept over him. No, not again.
He dropped his hold on her taking a step back.
“But you don’t love me, is that it?”
Her brown eyes fixed upon him, darting across his face. Then she looked away, gaze once more on her feet. “I have a duty to the temple.”
There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Had he been a fool to even hope for a future with her?
“I see.”
“I’m sorry.” She reached for him, but he stepped outside her grasp.
“No. I understand.”
They stood in silence. Shin studied the table where the tea kettle and cups remained. The water had cooled and the cups were empty. His cup had a small hair fracture. Inside he felt similar cracks spreading over his heart. Perhaps this was his lot in life, to forever long for love and never have that desire fulfilled. He wouldn’t beg her to love him, he had more dignity than that.
“Then I suppose it’s time we brought you back to your temple.” He turned toward the door.
“Shin.”
He stopped in his tracks. Hopeful. Desperate. She would take back what she’d said.
“Thank you, for everything.”
Inside he was shattered.
“Don’t thank me, I only did it to get my freedom.” He walked out of the room before she’d see just how completely she’d destroyed him.
They set out for the temple. Akane and Shin hadn’t spoken a word since they left. She stayed close to Tomoe, who walked with her head hung low. Any joy he might have felt at his impending freedom was muted by his heartbreak. Each step felt like weights were attached to his feet. Even looking at Akane felt like the point of a knife to his gut. So instead, he scouted the forest up ahead in wolf form. Letting his grief roll off him as the forest floor passed beneath his paws.
The forest was eerily quiet. Leaves crunched under his paws, echoing back at him. Then like a whisper, he felt an immense power brush against him. Shin spun around, racing back toward Akane and Tomoe.
When he found them again, Akane had shifted into her wolf form and she stood her ground in front of Tomoe. At least fifty yokai surrounded them on all sides. Shin rushed in, knocking them down with powerful paws. But they only tightened ranks, their sheer numbers holding him back.
Inside the circle Akane was snapping at anyone who came near, while Tomoe picked up anything she could get her hands on to toss at the assailants. The bitter scent of metal hit him like a blow to the face. Shin rolled, a second before the ax was embedded into the ground where he’d just stood.
Teeth bared, Shin faced the huntsman.
Akane roared and charged the yokai. They swarmed over her, climbing onto her back, weighing her down with their sheer numbers. Tomoe had picked up a stick and had started beating on the nearby yokai to no avail. A lizard yokai snuck up behind her and pinned her arms behind her head.
Shin pushed through the crowd, but they made an impassable wall of flesh.
A lizard yokai had climbed onto Akane’s back and his jaws were hovering over her throat. The poison would kill her in an instant. She squirmed against the boar and monkey yokai who had pinned her to the ground, but she couldn’t shake them off.
“Don’t hurt her,” Shin growled. “It’s me Akio wants.”
The huntsman yanked his ax from the ground and returned it to his holder on his back.
“Fight me and they both die,” the huntsman said. His voice lacked any inflection. He stepped toward Shin, and each footstep seemed to slam into his chest. The collar felt as if it had shrunk and was choking him. It was better for him to die than Akane get hurt.
The huntsman stood before Shin, his dark gaze a bottomless pit. He crouched as he grasped hold of Shin’s collar.
“You never were going to escape.”
He closed a fist over the collar. Fire spread across it, and flames licked against his neck. Shin did not turn away. He faced it.
“Shin, no!” Akane cried out his name. She rocked against her captors to no avail.
The bindings the witch had put upon it were turned to ash. Shin collapsed to the ground as Akio’s power over him pulsed through him.
“You will lure the dragon to Akio, and there you will kill him.”
“You don’t have to do this, Shin,” Akane shouted.
“If you fail, they will die. If you warn the dragon, they will die. If you disobey in any way, they will die.”
Shin lowered his head to the ground. “Understood. I will do as I am commanded.”
23
Blindfolded and hands bound behind their backs, Tomoe and Akane were transported in what she assumed was a palanquin. She was laying on a hard surface, her back to Tomoe. They jostled and rolled as they traversed over different terrain. The only indication of where they were was the changing scent. The salt of the sea faded quickly and was replaced by musky pines. They moved quickly, impossibly so, over great distances. Tomoe had found Akane’s hand and squeezed it in a death grip. The
palanquin came to a jolting stop and Akane and Tomoe slid forward, nearly slamming into the wall of the palanquin. Tomoe whimpered softly as she lost hold of Akane’s hand.
“Don’t worry. I’m here.” Akane soothed her the best she could. All the while her mind was racing. If she could get these bindings free, she might be able to surprise their captors and overpower them. But having Tomoe was a liability. Her first responsibility was to protect Tomoe. Could she fight and protect her at the same time? She wasn’t certain and she didn’t want to take a risk. The best option was to wait for the opportune moment.
Wherever they were, it smelled familiar and the energy of the place prickled against her skin. The doors of the palanquin swung open and the stench of yokai filled her nostrils. They grabbed Tomoe first and she screamed.
“Tomoe!” Akane shouted.
“Shut her up,” one of the yokai growled.
Akane flopped toward the sound of Tomoe’s voice. Her head swiveled around, searching for her with scent and sound. She called out, “Tomoe, don’t worry. I’m here.”
Something hit Akane hard against the back of her head.
“Quiet, you,” said a disembodied voice.
She slumped forward and fell into the arms of her captor. Then she was dragged out of the palanquin. The warmth of the sun prickled along her skin and there was a faint hint of jasmine on the air. Nearby, Tomoe sniffled. Judging by the echoing footsteps, they were being led down some sort of corridor. Akane tilted her head to and fro, catching their scent. There were fewer people holding onto them. But if she were inside a palace, getting them both out would be a challenge. If only she could see where they were going.
They came to an abrupt halt, forced to their knees, and then their blindfolds were removed. Akane blinked into the bright light surrounding her. The room was enormous. The ceiling reached up to the heavens and pillars lined both sides. At the far end, an enormous boar consumed the space. Around him yokai attendants held platters of food and large saucers of sake aloft. He snatched up the saucer and drank deeply from it, dribbling onto his chin. He smacked his lips and dropped the saucer down, almost sending the cup-bearer tipping over.
Okami: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling Page 16