When she arrived at the castle gate, a lack of guards stationed at the post made her tense. What were they thinking? Anyone could walk into the castle and kill ... who? The Shogun was dead and the only other person inside of any importance was Lord Kasaju. No one was stupid to try and assassinate him. Or at least, there was no one skilled enough still living.
She opened the door to her room and closed the door, letting out a sigh of relief she had been holding in without realizing it. She locked her door and made her way to her tatami mat. Her meal for tonight sat there, cold and uneaten on a wooden tray. Yuri started a fire to warm up the food. She could've eaten it raw, but she wanted something hot on this particular night.
Once the fire was going and the steam slowly began to cook the rice, Yuri noticed a letter on the wooden tray. The handwriting was unmistakably Lord Kasaju's. He apparently wanted to see her earlier in the day. What should she say to him?
The truth was out of the question, but she was never good at lying to Lord Kasaju. Something about being in the same room as him made her want to reveal secrets she did not wish anyone to know. And they had nothing to do with the Tsenzu. Rather, they involved Kaito and the story of his birth.
Yuri sighed and went to bed. Thinking about this would only make her more anxious in the morning. The last thing she needed was for Lord Kasaju to learn the truth about Kaito's birthright.
Before closing her eyes, she stared at the ceiling. Various noises entered her ears from in and outside the room. The hoot of an owl and the scurrying feet of a mouse on the soft grass outside. She got up and watched as the owl swooped down and grabbed the creature in his claws. The mouse struggled, but eventually, the will to live left it and the rodent collapsed in the creatures talons.
She laid back down, trying to get some rest before sunrise, but it was hopeless. Instead, she walked the castle walls, thinking about tomorrow and her future as a whole. What was the best action to perform?
The Tsenzu were suspicious, but only in so much as they claimed Jin to be one of them. Did Lord Kasaju know he was a member? Should she tell him? No, telling him would only reveal all the lies she'd already told him. If what the Tsenzu said was true, what more was there that she didn't know about the former Shogun.
She needed to play these next few days carefully. There was no telling what to expect. For all she knew, Lord Kasaju may want a simple update. Nothing more, nothing less. However if she played it too careful, the chances of her standing out increased tenfold. She needed to put on a mask. Not a physical one, but one she could wear while with Lord Kasaju and the other with Sesshu and the other Tsenzu.
But it took discipline and time to learn. Something she did not have as the Yoritomo clan made their approach to the northern capital. She could sense them. The owl from before was not native to this part of Jakai, only in woods down south on a separate island. This meant war was coming and sooner than anyone expected.
She couldn't worry about this, not with her future as bleak as it was. Someone needed to tell Kaito the truth and she was the only one who knew.
The sun rose, its light entering her room as she returned to it and closed the door.
***
Yuri traversed the castle, wondering how much Lord Kasaju knew about her involvement with the Tsenzu. She passed the door to his chamber twice now, still trying to muster up the courage to enter. He expected her since yesterday and one didn't keep Lord Kasaju waiting for this long. Her mind was still waking up. It was the reason she walked the halls for as long as she had.
With the next hour approaching, Yuri steeled herself and turned around to face the direction of Lord Kasaju's chambers. When she reached the door, she knocked twice before hearing his voice.
"You may enter," he said.
Yuri slid the door open and stepped inside. She bowed, waiting for the Lord to give her permission to rise. He said nothing. The next words out of his mouth were something she herself had forgotten about.
"Where is nitsu seiba?" he asked.
She gasped a little, trying her best to conceal it. How did he know the sun saber was gone? It was only a matter of time, she supposed, but she thought she had more time.
The situation raised an important question, however: why didn't the thief make their move? If the Yoritomo clan were behind the theft, why not use the tachi's power to destroy Kyotomo?
The whole situation wasn't right.
"Well?" Lord Kasaju asked.
His voice snapped Yuri out of her thoughts. She raised herself after realizing she still bowed before him.
"I wasn't aware nitsu seiba was missing. Are you sure you aren't mistaken?”
Yuri bit her tongue, wishing she hadn't asked. She could feel Lord Kasaju eyes on her. No one dared question him, not even the Kanrei. It wasn't so much as law, but a sign of respect ... or rather fear.
"If you present me with the blade before the new moon, I'll forgive that last comment. As for failing to guard the sun saber in the first place, I want an actual explanation for your inaction."
Yuri bowed. "Forgive me, Lord Kasaju. With the addition of finding Jin's killer. My time has been divided as well as my attention."
"Yes, I can see how you could get confused."
Yuri did her best to contain her outrage at the remark, but she felt it show on her face. Kasaju made no remark. Instead, he waited for a reply. She unclenched her fist and sighed.
"Yes, your Lordship. It's my fault nitsu seiba is gone. That being said, I can't possibly look into Lord Jin's death and this at the same time. I'll need some help."
"I see your dilemma and I will grant you your request. Notify Captain Kura of the blade; have him deal with the missing tachi. If that is all, you may go."
Yuri bowed. "Of course. Thank you, Lord Kasaju."
***
The castle's interior was starting to rot, or at the very least looked less than appealing to someone who spent most of their life inside its walls. Shinobu sighed as he waited for Yuri to exit Lord Kasaju's chambers. What could they be discussing in there? It wasn't like Jin's father to summon Yuri. His friend didn't care for the arrangement which brought Yuri along with Kaito, back when the boy was first born. But it wasn't the captain of the guard's job to worry about such things. Protect the border and train new soldiers. That was his job.
And yet, Lord Jin died inside these walls. He felt a painful sense of guilt as if he himself had done the deed. He knew it was impossible. The wounds were self-inflicted, which was what worried him the most. Even if he didn't commit the deed, the Shogun died while he stood outside his chambers. Maybe if he had paid closer attention, he could've stopped him. Seppuku was an honorable way to leave this world, but there had to be another way. He wasn't sure why Jin would need to commit ritual suicide, let alone want to do the deed. What was he hiding? He gripped his knee tight.
The shoji rolled open and Yuri walked out. Shinobu stood up and bowed.
"Lady Kanrei," he said. "What did Kasaju want?"
"Captain, can we discuss this somewhere ... private?"
Shinobu nodded and walked with her to her chambers. The room was dusty and unclean. Insects littered the floor and crawled over pots, pans, and other dishes. He looked over at Yuri. She appeared exhausted. Large bags swelled under her eyes like bruises. She sat down on the floor and sighed.
"Lord Kasaju wanted me to investigate Jin's death."
Shinobu stepped back, out into the hallway. He walked in again and slid the door closed. Did he hear her right? Kasaju suspected Jin's death to be foul play? Yuri looked at him. The innocent look of a child cropped up on her face.
"What do you mean 'wanted?'" he asked.
"The sun saber is missing. It's been stolen."
Shinobu shook his head in disbelief. Did she say... I thought it was just a legend. "Nitsu seiba is real?"
"I'm afraid so, and someone has it."
"Well, we must inform Lord Kasaju immediately. If a sword that powerful has fallen into the hands of an enemy clan, then
..." He paused, thinking. "He already knows, doesn't he."
Yuri nodded. "I thought I could find it before he discovered it gone."
"Is there anything I can do help?" he asked.
"I'm going to be honest with you. If you want to walk away from this, by all means you're free to do so."
She gestured to the door. Shinobu stood his ground. Whatever she had in mind, he wasn't going to leave without hearing her out.
"Lord Kasaju has asked you to take over the investigation of nitsu seiba's theft."
"What about Jin's murderer?" he asked.
"Leave him to me."
Her face showed signs of fatigue and the bags under her eyes appeared more swollen than normal. He hadn't seen her like this since Kaito was a child. The kid certainly was a handful back then. Wonder where he is now? I haven't seen him since Jin was killed.
Then it hit him. "You know who killed Jin, don't you."
Yuri nodded. "It's Lord Kasaju. He's responsible."
Shinobu opened his mouth to retort but decided against it. The least he could do was hear her out. He sat down in front of her and waited for her response. It took her a while before she began to speak.
"It's just a theory, but after reading the note, I'm more convinced than ever about his involvement in Jin's death."
"Do you have any evidence?" he asked.
Yuri shook her head. "Nothing concrete. The note was the first real piece of evidence I've seen. Before, all I had to go on was my gut. That and the bounties he placed on several members of the Tsenzu a day after my meeting with them. He might not be behind the murder, but he doesn't trust me. That much is certain."
Shinobu stroked his beard. "I'll speak to Kasaju about this. I'm sure it's a simple misunderstanding."
"No," Yuri said, "you can't. At least ... wait until I find the sword. Maybe then he'll spare my life."
"This is Kasaju we're talking about," Shinobu said. "He's not going to forgive you for finding a sword you lost in the first place."
She sighed and looked at the ground. "I know, but please, you at least have to give me a chance."
Shinobu lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. "We'll find out who did this. I promise."
Yuri nodded and thanked him for his help, telling him not to tell Lord Kasaju about her suspecting him of killing Jin. He agreed and they were both involved in the two biggest mysteries Kyotomo had seen in a long time.
Chapter Four
Kaito took in the scenery, or rather, what was left of it. To think, this was the second most populated city in Jakai and its southern capital. Wooden shacks lay broken and abandoned. Their inhabitants coughing, probably shocked at what happened that they couldn't see the sheer amount of destruction the storm caused. Most of them weren't so lucky. Planks and splintered boards littered the ground and floated atop the sea where he assumed the docks were once located.
He still couldn't believe Mayumi would pull such a dangerous maneuver. They were here safe and sound, but at what cost. The people living here appeared sick. Their faces gaunt and their bones showed through the skin. All of could barely stand. Even the people coming down from the northern, untouched part of the city looked pale and weak in both stature and health. Those men wore uniforms and were spread thin trying to help people remove fallen debris from atop their bodies.
These were his people. The cloth he was cut from and the ones who would take him in as one of their own. What happened here? These couldn't be the same people who threatened his former home.
The way Sora acted made it seem like the Yoritomo clan believed him dead. Would they believe him when he told them who he was? Kaito grew worried about the initial encounter with his people. Accepting him as one of their own was one thing. Saying he was the son of their Shugo was something else, and coming back empty handed seemed the wrong thing to do.
Sora said they wanted the sun saber for themselves. Kaito was supposed to be the thief tasked with taking it. It seemed an improbable task for a child less than a year old to comprehend and memorize for a later date. They must've had a contingency plan, but who did he know that was from here? Who was supposed to help him retrieve the sword?
Mayumi pounded twice on the gate. The door's wooden frame rattled in his ears and then opened, revealing a place worse off than the village itself. People laid in the streets as other's stepped over them and went about their business. Flies surrounded several of the bodies. Kaito gagged from the sight and smell. It reeked of rotting flesh. An odor he was all too familiar with, having spent several nights with one on his way here. He hoped to never smell it again, but this was much more potent than the crazed man's rotting corpse. How long have the bodies been lying here, he wondered.
"It's worse than I thought," Mayumi said to herself.
"What is?" Kaito asked. "Does this have anything to do with you using tsuki no ha-ken to get here?"
She shook her head. "No this place was bad before, but to think things have gotten this much worse? We need to get you inside. You are the only hope these people have."
"What do you ..."
"There's no time. I'll explain later. Right now just follow me. I know a place where we can stay."
Kaito did as requested and let the subject drop for now. His mind tried to fill the answer in by itself, but each one he came up with was speculation at best. He followed Mayumi to a nearby inn and they walked inside. Naomi appeared from nowhere and hugged her aunt from behind. When did she ... Last time he saw her, she was in Reikutaun. How did she get all the way here?
Kaito looked at where Naomi stood. The state of her hair was chaotic and unkempt. Far from the locks of beautiful black hair she’d kept so perfectly groomed. She must've stowed herself away in the ship somewhere.
"What are you doing here?" Mayumi asked.
Naomi shrugged. "I was bored. So I decided I'd go with you."
Mayumi arched her eyebrows in disbelief. Kaito didn't believe her either. He stared at her, trying to pin down the truth. She wasn't telling them for some reason. She caught him looking at her. Color rushed to her cheeks and she turned away.
"We'll talk later," Mayumi said. Her voice was stern like a parent’s. "Right now we need to get some rest." She entered the inn, leaving her and Kaito standing side by side.
Naomi elbowed him in the gut before walking towards her aunt. Kaito rubbed his stomach and followed them. She was weird––beautiful, but weird. Mayumi got them two rooms. One for her. The other for Naomi and Kaito to share, because those were the only two left at the inn.
When they settled into their respective rooms, Naomi did something unexpected. She got undressed. Kaito felt his cheeks grow warm.
"What are you doing?" he asked, covering his eyes.
"You've never seen a girl naked before," she said. "What a sad life the son of the shogun has."
He could hear a slight smile in her voice, as if she enjoyed making him uncomfortable. What is with this girl?
Kaito did his best not to look, but a perverted sense of curiosity pulled at his arms, making him want to lower them and see all of Naomi's beauty. He resisted the temptation, whether or not it was intentional on her part.
"You can open your eyes now," she said. "I'm dressed."
Kaito opened his eyes in hesitation and nearly fainted upon seeing her exposed skin. Even though he knew it was wrong, he couldn't help but stare. His first encounter with a girl. A girl he'd liked since he first met her and all he could do was gawk.
She giggled and walked closer, He didn't even see her move until she placed a finger on his dirty kimono and dragged it down in a zigzagged pattern. Kaito's heart raced. When she reached the area below his belt, she stopped and spun around like a goddess. He saw her eyes twinkle for a moment before she turned her back towards him.
"Help me get dressed?" she asked.
Kaito swallowed the saliva in his throat and stumbled forward like the steps were his first. When he reached her, he froze. He didn't know what to do. Naomi held out her hand expe
ctantly, waiting for her clothes.
"Where do you ... keep your ... clothes?"
His voice was jagged, uneven. She used her extended hand and pointed to the door, leading out into the hallway. He arched his eyebrows, wondering what she'd say next.
"Get me some. I didn't bring any with me."
Kaito nodded and opened the door a crack and left, then realized he didn't have any money.
"Oh, and Kaito?"
He turned, waiting expectantly for something he didn't even know he wanted; unsure of what the thing even was and why he wanted it in the first place.
"Go get tsuki no ha-ken from my Aunt. I'm sure she's asleep by now."
Kaito didn't know what to say. He was dumbstruck that she would suggest such a thing. How could he steal from someone so skilled in the art of deception? It was impossible. She had him outclassed in both skill and life experience. To steal the lunar blade from someone who more than likely slept with their senses heightened ... it was stupid.
"Kaito," Naomi said. "The door's still open."
His cheeks grew hot and, without thinking, he shut the door–finding himself on the other side of it. He blinked, still attempting to process Naomi's behavior and why she wanted tsuki no ha-ken. What reason could she possibly have for needing a magical sword?
It was getting late. The moon was out and nearing its second largest phase. A few more nights and the moon would be full. The first time since he'd left Kyotomo. He wondered what kind of power it had while at its strongest. Perhaps that was why Naomi wanted the blade. Curiosity? He himself was interested in finding out what tsuki no ha-ken could do when the moon was full. The thought tempted him to the point where he actually thought he had a chance to steal it from Mayumi.
Without thinking, he knocked on the door to Mayumi's room. There was no response, but the door was left open. It could be a trap, Kaito thought. Or was she so confident in her skill to detect things that she didn't need to lock the door. Whatever the reason, he didn't like the way it sat in his stomach. He felt guilty for even thinking about stealing the sword. If it ever got into the wrong hands, there'd be no telling the damage it could cause. He saw the destruction the sword unleashed in a waxing gibbous phase and he did not want to see it again.
Moon and Star Episode Two: Book Two of the Moon and Star Saga (The Jakai Chronicles 1) Page 2