Chapter XIV

  “Energy”

  “The Art of War”

  ~by Sun Tzu~

  After spending an evening with my mother, a courier came for me from my Sensei. It was Cho. I had to leave with him. We spoke as we walked.

  “You enjoyed your first night back I hope?”

  “It was the most comfortable I have been in years.”

  He laughed. “Domo arigato for getting me the job with Sensei.”

  “Don’t thank me. I only asked him to see if he could get you a job.”

  “He never told me that.”

  “He wouldn’t. It would take away from the mystery.” We both laughed at that. “You’ve

  been enjoying the work?”

  “Yes, very much. It is far more interesting than making bricks.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked as we walked into the castle.

  “I don’t know. Well, I know but I don’t know what the significance is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s a room in the labyrinth, but it’s empty.” He shrugged.

  Cho led me into the labyrinth beneath Goemon Toshi. There in a large dark room, illuminated by only a single candle, Sensei stood waiting.

  "Hiro san, you look well."

  "Arigato gozaimasu, Grandfather."

  He smiled.“Cho san, you must leave now. I will meet you in the dojo when this is done.”

  “Yes, Sensei.”

  He bowed to Grandfather, who returned it. Once my friend had left he said, "You are to be rewarded for your service to our House."

  I looked at him puzzled. Then, I looked around the dark room. “Are we alone,

  Grandfather?”

  “Yes. You may speak freely.”

  “I did not think Masao even liked me.”

  He laughed. “He does not. He dislikes you because Eita is fond of you but he is not stupid. You defeated a horde of oni with a force of five men, when most of his commanders would have fled or died.” I nodded. "Also, there is a chance you will not survive this." He smiled. “So that could be motivating him as well.”

  I didn't know what to say to that. Then, from the shadows, I heard a door open. Two young Onmyoji appeared before me. Sensei stood there quietly. So I did the same. The Onmyoji removed my clothing and my daisho. Soon, both of them had discarded my clothes and were pushing me down onto my stomach. Then they clasped chained manacles to my wrists and ankles, pulling the chains taught until all of my limbs were stretched out. They secured these and left.

  "I thought I already went through this in my last month of the Bei-oshi?"

  Grandfather said, “You did. This is the second portion.”

  I smacked my forehead against the floor.

  An older Onmyoji came into the light carrying a large silk bag. He laid it down and began to pull a collection of tools from it.

  “And what is this supposed to do for me? If I live.”

  “One of my assistants will administer the scars for your ability to create shadows, while my other assistant administers the brands that will grant you the ability to give temporary blindness. I will tattoo you for your death touch.”

  “That sounds painful.”

  “You have been through this before.”

  I heard the old sorcerer preparing something. Metal on metal sounds was all that told me he hadn't left. After what seemed an eternity, the metal grinding sound stopped and was immediately followed by chanting from all three wizards. They kept it up for an hour. It was the only sound in the room. Finally the sorcerers finished chanting. I couldn’t see the old Onmyoji from my prone position but I heard him say, “This will be very painful.”

  I became nervous. Without ceremony one of the younger Onmyoji stabbed me in the right

  shoulder blade with something that seemed to burrow into my chest. I don't know how long it took. All I know is it hurt so bad I forgot to scream.

  Once the wizard pulled whatever it was away, I remembered. I screamed. I screamed until my voice gave out. And then, thankfully, I passed out.

  I awoke in my sensei's suite with him sitting next to me on the tatami mat. I got a glimpse of him before I realized it was too painful to open my eyes. I heard someone scratching at his shoji screen.

  "Come in." I heard the screen open and close.

  "Is he alright?" Lord Eita asked.

  "Yes, my lord. He will live."

  "It went well then?"

  "Yes, but...."

  "What?"

  "It is just something the Onmyoji said."

  "Go on?"

  "He commented on Hiro's tattoo. I looked and he was right. It is the kanji for Goemon, like the one our forefather wore before he founded our House. Before he met Shotoku."

  "What is the significance of that?"

  "Well, every tattoo is different, depending on the person receiving it. The old man said it was nothing but... he acted like he was hiding something."

  "…We'll gauge the importance of it by what Masao does. I have no doubt the old sorcerer went running to him first thing."

  I know I shouldn't have eavesdropped but it's in my nature. Eita left the room soon after that but I had fallen asleep without knowing it. When I woke I felt no better. I opened my eyes to Sensei still sitting there. I said, "This really hurts.”

  He laughed. "I should think so! I could not have the Onmyoji bless the wounds as he said it would affect the quality of the results. That means you are in for a long healing time."

  "How long?"

  "About two weeks before you can stand.” He had my full attention. "Once you have healed we will start working with you on how best to use your special skills."

  "Yes Sensei."

  "I have sent Cho to your mother to let her know something has come up and it will be two weeks before you can return."

  "She is going to love that."

  "I doubt it.” He said. “Get some sleep, Hiro san. You need your rest.”

  I fell asleep easily. And I was very surprised when I awoke. There was my mother sitting next to me doing some sewing and Tanki sitting just behind her talking with Sensei about the war between the Bandai and the Karafuto.

  Once I had my mind working and realized I was still in the labyrinth and that was my mother, I said, “Mother? What are you doing here?”

  She stopped sewing and smiled. “Waiting on you to wake up.”

  “How did you get here?”

  She sighed. “Everyone assumes I do not know my way around this town.” I just looked at her. “I know this labyrinth better than your sensei. While he was a child playing in the Nokizaru lands, I was playing here. In this very room.” She smiled. I tried to nod but couldn't. My neck hurt from being forced to the side as I rested on my stomach. She continued. “What did they do to you?”

  “Nothing I can talk about, but I will not be able to stand for a couple of weeks.”

  She was not happy about that but she seemed to understand. It was unusual for me to be seen without a shirt or kimono covering me so this was the first she had seen me with my back exposed since the Bei-oshi. She could see the new tattoo and the wings on my back. She never told me but she had been Koga long enough that she recognized them for what they were.

  Mother stayed with me the two weeks I was on my belly in Sensei's dojo. We talked about the latest news and I had a few visitors during that time. They always brought some new point of interest. Eita on one visit mentioned the Karafuto had managed to seize another Bandai castle on the coast and were using it as a staging ground for an invasion of the Bandai territory.

  Cho brought a message from my Honshu friend Nobu. It had come by way of messenger pigeon. Nobu was inquiring as to the well-being of myself and my four friends and sent a nice update as to the defenses of the chasm. Kokujin Nobu went on to say he had settled the survivors in his town doing merchant work as it paid better for them and seemed a more just act than sending them back to the rice fields. We sent back a message of good tidings to Nobu and wished him well.

  Sashi and the others were enjoying their vacation. Sashi and Kai were the only two who were married and their families lived in the castle so mother knew them and had checked in on them for me while I was weak.

  Mother had some concerns as a purse of 250 silver had arrived like always. But before the purses had been sent by me and she did not know where this one had come from. I played dumb for a time to harass her but I did eventually admit it was from an investment of mine.

  The two weeks eventually passed and one morning Sensei allowed me to get up, with Tanki and Cho's help. I managed to get dressed, and walk around a little bit but it would be another two days before I was able to move on my own. When that time came we all said our goodbyes to the labyrinth and decided to go to my mother's favorite tea-house for lunch, “The Lotus Tea-house," our old friend Yoji's establishment. He walked up to us as we entered and greeted Sensei, Mother and Tanki first.

  "Cho san, welcome back."

  "Domo arigato, Yoji san. You remember Hiro do you not?"

  "Yes. Shotoku Hiro sama. It has been too long."

  "Domo arigato, Yoji san." We bowed to each other.

  As he walked us to a table he said, "I remember when I would pay you two to sweep up around here. It is a pity that the children now days are not as well mannered. This, is your favorite table I believe, Cho san?"

  "Yes, Domo arigato." We sat down while Cho went on to say, "The children now days are fine Yoji. You are just old and cantankerous." He grinned at the man.

  "Oh! Now that I think about it. You were always rude too." He walked off and sent a girl to serve us. Cho ordered the green tea while I rested my back against the wall. Sitting there I noticed, Nokizaru Anaido, the merchant. He looked to be in his fifties now. I nudged Cho and pointed.

  "Huh? Oh, Anaido? Yes, he still works from here."

  "Is he any good?"

  He shrugged. "He makes money and very few enemies. If that is good, then I guess he is. You want me to call him over?" I nodded. "Anaido sama? Come see an old friend." He walked over after he had given instruction to a younger merchant.

  "Cho san, your taste in company is improving. Sensei sama, always an honor and Ai sama I have not seen you in ages. Always a pleasure.

  They all bowed to each other. It was funny. I hardly ever heard my mother's name so it kind of threw me when he called her that.

  He went on to ask, “And Cho san, who is this?"

  I spoke up. "You do not remember your favorite pupil, Anaido san?"

  He looked a little confused and surprised all at once. "Hiro sama? Is it you?"

  I nodded. He sat down with us.

  "Well, this is a momentous occasion, my lord.... I will buy!" He slammed his fist onto the table for punctuation.

  Cho added, "You'll get no argument from us."

  "I didn't think I would. How have you been, Hiro sama?"

  "I have been busy. And you? Cho tells me you prosper, as always."

  "A man only gets better with age where money lending is concerned."

  "Yes. And it is because of that I was hoping you could help me out with something." He leaned in close. My friends were all listening.

  "Yes. What is it?" He almost whispered.

  "I came into some Bandai coins, after the price fell. I have become a little too busy to manage it personally. I was hoping you would handle it for me.”

  "Easy enough. How much do you have?"

  "A little over 500 silver." He whistled. "What is your usual share?"

  "I take the Emperor's standard, like most merchants." I thought a moment.

  "I am not familiar with that term, Anaido san."

  "The Emperor takes 90% of the crops from any Daimyo as his. In this case you, being the Emperor, would get 90% of whatever I made for you."

  "That sounds fair. I will still monitor your progress and check the books from time to time.”

  He grinned. “I should hope so. I did not train you to be an idiot.”

  We ate and drank with him for another half hour before I had to get some rest. I was feeling well enough to make it home. He said I could find him here any day of the week. I nodded to him and left with my family. The walk home was nice. We stopped and spoke with many of the people I knew as a child. They honestly missed me. It was like I was back from the dead, and it felt great! We made our way home where Grandfather and Cho stayed to have dinner with us.

  Mother introduced me to Himeko the maid, and Jeru the gardener. Himeko was the daughter of Eju the blacksmith, whose life I saved as a child. He had apparently told her the story judging by the way she acted around me. She was a good maid none the less. The other two maids, Chiyoko and Hotaru were young but very nice. My uncle Tozasu and aunt Pe were waiting for us on the porch so mother invited them in when we arrived. It was a great meal, though I ate it laying down. On pillows.

  I felt better every day of the next two weeks but neither Mother nor Sensei would allow me to do any training. Instead I would read and sew with Mother. I did continue to receive many visitors. Even Daimyo Daiki stopped by for one of his visits. His wife Akiko was doing well as was his daughter Ketsumempo. He had heard nothing but good things about my success with the Bandai. I took this time to speak to a few carpenters I knew from my childhood to build individual rooms for the maids. My mother had mentioned it to me one evening while we were sewing and I thought it was a nice thing to do. So, why not?

  When the two weeks ended and I was finally allowed to resume my normal schedule, I sought out Brother Yuri. I had heard the old monk was still in town. I found him on the edge of the city in his old spot. He was still instructing the Heimin in the art of Kara-Te. I watched until the end of his day just before he started his lessons on the Dao. I walked onto the practice field barefoot, which is the tradition.

  He looked at me and said, “The student thinks he has mastered enough to take his old sensei?”

  The peasants were watching with some concern. Many of them did not know me.

  I smiled. “I had thought you did not recognize me, Yuri sama.” I took my stance.

  He smiled and met me on the field. “Your aura stands out, Hiro sama.”

  We stood studying each other for a few moments until it erupted quickly when he yelled,

  “Kaiya!”

  He lunged with a low kick. I lifted my leg to step over the swing and stepped in with a punch to his midsection. He easily slid to the side before I connected. The fight only lasted a few moments. But we were both getting exhausted. I had spent my young life learning many very dangerous things. Brother Yuri however, practiced Kara-Te, studied the Dao, ate and slept. So he was very focused and an expert martial artist. I was not sure which of us would win until I managed to slide him into an arm lock and was about to force him to the ground when I realized my mistake. I released the hold and stepped away.

  “My apologies, Sensei. It just came naturally.”

  He nodded and smiled at me as he rubbed and flexed his arm. “That is fine, Hiro sama. You would have won. You should be happy.”

  “No Sensei. I should have not used another art when fighting you.”

  “Well I was impressed. Ju-Do, I think?”

  We bowed to each other. “I have picked up a few things in my travels.”

  “That is good. One should always be learning.”

  “I agree. But now I must await a rematch to prove I am the greatest Kara-Te master!” I looked off into the distance and made an overly serious face when I said it.

  He smiled and laughed. It was just so ridiculous. I spent the next hour talking with him. I had not had the chance to see him in years and he was still strong and fast. He had a full life, he said. Teaching the poor to defend themselves and the enlightenment of the Dao. It did not hurt that our Daimyo was very supportive of his cause. Before I left I made sure he knew that if he ever needed anything to contact me. I still felt very much in his debt.

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  Grandfather came for me the next day. Apparently I had more training to complete. He spent two months with me teaching me how to kill someone with my death touch. How to bend shadows to work with me or confuse my opponent. How to blind temporarily. On top of that he also went through endurance training for me to lengthen my mist-state. We practiced it until I could do it for an hour. I practiced my ‘light fall’ until I could hop against the wind without it affecting me and carry another person. It was impossible to water walk holding another person but using it in conjunction with the ‘light fall’ you could hop across a lake with another person on your shoulders.

  After I had completed these lessons, my next assignment came in. It was an easy sabotage operation. All I had to do was to sneak into the Honshu Hall of Ancestors, in Shiro no Utsunomiya, and place a copy of the Bandai manual for training courtiers. The insult here was that no one from another House is allowed into the Hall of Ancestors. It is sacred ground and no other House has ever seen the inside. In reality our spies conduct business there every day as it is a safe place when dressed as a Honshu, but the Honshu know nothing about that.

  I packed my backpack, with a change of dark clothes, a shogue, some caltrops, and food. I packed a disguise, Honshu samurai. Sensei came to see me before I left. We met alone in my mother's garden behind her home.

  “Our Daimyo has given me a gift to pass on to you, Hiro san.”

  I was a little concerned when I asked, “What gift, Grandfather?”

  He handed me a box. I accepted it and removed the lid. I was not sure what I held. It looked like something's...

  “Grandfather, is this an oni's face?”

  He nodded. “Yes. One of your oni's faces actually. It is called an Oni Masuku.” I looked at him confused. “Kajiru does not know how to make these but he knew enough to skin the three you killed, discretely, and hold onto them until he could speak with Masao.”

  “What does it do?”

  “Once the right incantation is spoken over it, the mask grants the ability for the wearer to look like anyone he wants. Real or imaginary.”

  Then he motioned for me to try it. I was a little put off by the thing as it looked like... Well it looked like the skinned face of a demon. He just kept looking at me. So I went ahead, took breath and put it on like a hood. When I opened my eyes and looked at Sensei he leaned back a little in mild shock and then bowed to me.

  “Tetsuya sama. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

  I returned his bow and said, “Domo arigato, Saibankan san.”

  The voice I heard was that of our old Daimyo, Masao's father. When I looked down my clothes were the same but I was larger and stockier like Tetsuya.

  “This thing is amazing, Grandfather!”

  “Yes, but be discreet with it.”

  He motioned for me to remove it. I complied and concealed it in my kimono. We spoke for some time, but evening was coming and I would have to leave soon. I explained to my mother I would be gone for a week or two but I would return. She was concerned but I reassured her it was not a difficult job. Just a little time consuming. With that she hugged me goodbye and I picked up my pack and left. The trip to Shiro no Utsunomiya was interesting. I decided to stop off to visit Daimyo Daiki. His castle was on the way and I had several friends there I wanted to check up on. I traveled at night, as usual, but the nice part about traveling now was using 'light fall' to bound my way through the landscape. I was able to hop about 40 feet at a time so the trip only took me an evening instead of the usual couple of days.

  I had planned to report to the city gate in the morning but as I neared my destination I noticed a small fire in the woods. I went to mist and headed towards it to investigate. What I found was a party of four ronin. One was on guard standing with his back to the fire so as not to ruin his night vision. The other three slept in their bedrolls. I misted to a large tree limb a few feet off the ground and solidified in a squatting position on the limb. The guard did not notice. He just kept slowly walking his circle.

  “And what do we have here? Four bandits taking a break?”

  He was pretty fast. He had managed to draw and make eye contact with me before I finished my first sentence. But he did look scared.

  “No, Koga sama. We are just ronin resting for the evening.” He said as he put away his sword.

  “And why are you in my lands?”

  His friends began to wake. When they realized he was talking to a Koga samurai, they sat up and bowed. I returned it.

  “Your Daimyo, Nokizaru Daiki, is recruiting ronin. We came looking for work, Koga sama.”

  That part was true. Daiki had mentioned he needed to recruit some ronin to support his part of the efforts with the Karafuto.

  “Very well. Finish your sleep and in the morning report to the city guards.”

  With that I stood, grabbed a limb and swung behind the trunk of the tree. The moment I was out of site I went to mist and floated to a better place to watch them. After a few moments one of them went to investigate the tree but found nothing. They talked nervously for a while but eventually decided to finish resting before eating breakfast. They did swap out guards but other than that remained where they were.

  Come dawn I watched them eat and discuss the odd boy from the previous night. Well after dawn they started putting what little they had away. Their party was just about to leave when ten Nokizaru samurai rode up on horses and partially surrounded them. They appeared to be a Yoriki and his men as they wore the crest of the Nokizaru Machi-bugyo.

  The Yoriki said, when he came forward from the middle of the pack, “You men lay down your arms. You are under arrest.”

  The ronin complied with looks of exasperation. “And may we ask to what crime we are accused, Yoriki sama?”

  The Yoriki look unimpressed. “The town of Juju was raided two nights ago. You are obviously responsible.”

  “We have not been to the town of Juju. We traveled across country to get here and are on our way to Shiro no Nokizaru seeking work.”

  The Yoriki made no comment so I stepped out of the shadows and said “That would be in

  keeping with what I have seen, Yoriki sama.”

  He looked a little startled at me as I was only a few feet away from him. “And who are you?”

  “I am of the Shotoku family, Yoriki sama.”

  Unfortunately..., one of his Doshin laughed at that. I leaped the distance to the Doshin and sliced his head off in mid jump. I had flicked the blood from my blade and was putting my weapon away as I landed. All of that before his head hit the ground. The horse started to list and canter to the side as his body leaned and threw its balance off. I walked back towards the ronin while the samurai on their horses tried to get control of their animals while staying away from the dead body. I turned to face the Yoriki once I was there. He had regained control of his mount.

  “Who are you, Shotoku?”

  “I have eaten rice with your Daimyo and his family many times. I am Shotoku Hiro.” I bowed and did not wait for him to return it.

  The Yoriki got off of his horse very quickly and went into a face down bow to me. His men followed suit immediately.

  “Please forgive me, Hiro sama. I was only trying to apprehend the men responsible for the crime. I did not realize these men were with you.”

  “They are not with me. I came across them last night and continued to watch them to see if they are bandits or not. From what I have seen, they are four ronin down to their last bowl of rice. If they have raided Juju then they certainly have nothing to show for it.”

  “It is a terrible mistake on my part, my lord.”

  The ronin were so surprised by everything they had not known what to do this whole time. I had just noticed them subtly motion to each other to sit and bow. When I saw this I turned towards them and motioned them to stop.

  “Pick up your weapons.” I then pointed at two of them. “You and you. Go get that animal under control. Then get the body ready for transport back to Shiro no Nokizaru.”

  They nodded and complied. The Yoriki had brought no eta with him. Since ronin were lower than eta I had no choice but to make them deal with the dead Doshin. I could have made some of the Yoriki's men do it but it was a pretty big insult. Yes, even bigger than killing one of them.

  I made the Yoriki report what had happened in Juju. I found that three of his men present were actually the Doshin and two Komono from Juju. Their Yoriki had died in the raid along with several heimin. It had been a force of fifteen bandits and I got the impression the Doshin did not like grabbing the first four ronin they had come across but he was of no station to comment.

  I squatted down in front of the Yoriki. “One of our towns is raided. We have people killed. And your answer is to grab anyone you can blame it on?”

  “Gomen nasai, Hiro sama.”

  “I do not care about your apology... Are we Honshu?”

  “No, Hiro sama.”

  “Are we Bandai?”

  “No, my lord.”

  “Are we Koga?” He nodded. “…Our House does not exist to make your life easier, Yoriki. You exist to defend our House.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “The other Houses may wish to run their business with blindness but we are Koga. We look for proof. I want the people who murdered our Yoriki because they are going to do it again. I do not want some farmer or some ronin you want to pretend did it.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  I left them, sitting and bowing until the body was almost ready. I then told everyone to stand. I had the three from Juju take their mounts and stand off to the side.

  “You will be returning to Juju and you will be taking these four ronin to reinforce you.” The Doshin from Juju nodded. I gave a silver to each of the ronin. I had a purse of 50 silver, which was a lot of money. I gave what was left to the Doshin. “You will pay them a silver a piece every month. For now this purse should guarantee their employment for the next five months. Get them a place to live. Get them cleaned up and fed. Issue

  them whatever armor you have and find – those - damned – bandits!”

  I then pointed to four of the Yoriki's men. “You four double up with your friends.” I then had the two remaining ronin secure their mounts and stand with the Doshin of Juju. The body was finally secured to his mount so I had the ronin hand the reins to the Yoriki after he had mounted. I sent him and his men home and sent the Doshin off with his new ronin the other way.

  I heard one of the ronin comment to one of his friends, “See? I told you last night asking him 'who are you?' would have been a bad idea.”

  After they were all gone I took my time to investigate the ronin's campsite just to be sure I had not made a mistake. I didn't find anything unusual hidden anywhere so I continued on to Daiki's home. I walked the remainder of the distance as I was sure the extra time would give him an ample chance to hear the story and come up with some creative complaints for me when I arrived.

  It was late morning by the time I got to the gates of Shiro no Nokizaru. The city looked good. The Gunso at the gate informed me that Daimyo Daiki had asked me to his court when I arrived. I bowed and thanked him as I headed to Daiki. I slipped quietly into court and made my way to the front as he was passing decisions on the different issues that had been brought before him. He frowned through his tattooed mask when he recognized me in the crowd but continued with court until he was finished an hour later. When he stood, at the conclusion of court, he waved for me to follow him to the garden.

  “Hiro san, do you have any idea how much your morning has cost me?”

  “I believe it is one Doshin, my lord.”

  “And what of his family? Wife and children I must now care for.”

  I hadn't thought of that. “I did not realize. I will cover their cost. How many people was he responsible for, my lord?”

  “None. But that is not the point.” I just looked at him. “What about the cost of the four ronin in Juju who will have to be paid. Regularly.” I just kept walking with him. “I mean when your money runs out.” He was trying not to smile. “Alright. Why did you kill the man?”

  I shrugged. “He was stupid enough to laugh at me in front of 13 witnesses.”

  He nodded as we sat on a bench in the garden. “But I laugh at you all the time, Hiro. Am I to start worrying about what you will do to me?” He said in mockingly fearful tones.

  I smiled. “You are Daimyo Nokizaru, and as such, you may laugh at me all you want.”

  He gave a big grin. “What would you do about Juju?”

  I thought on that a moment. “I would promote the Doshin to Yoriki. He did not like the idea of blaming just anyone for the raid. That shows an intelligence we need in our Yoriki. And if the ronin prove useful in finding the real bandits? Then, I would promote them to Doshin.”

  He thought a moment. “Simple. I like it. Are you staying for dinner?”

  “If you will have me. I had planned on a short visit today before I have to leave tonight.”

  “Good. My wife and daughter will be happy to hear that.”

  We spoke for a little while longer before his next court session. When he left for that, I excused myself to a small room he had near his office so I could get some sleep. Three hours later a servant, who must have been informed about my sleep schedule, woke me with fresh water for a bath and some tea. The life of the nobleman is so difficult.

  Once I was cleaned and dressed I followed her to Daiki's suite and awaited his guard to admit me. The servant bowed and knocked on the door. The door was opened by a courtier, who listened to the servant and then closed the door. Giapan was nothing if not formal.

  Soon the door was opened and I was invited in. They escorted me to a side room where there was more scratching on shoji screens and knocking on wooden doors. Eventually I made it to Daiki's library. The room was spacious, with a high ceiling and tall opened windows. The walls were made of mahogany, and each of them had intricate borders and carvings covering their surfaces.

  Many bookshelves, desks, and tables filled the room comfortably. Daiki sat behind a large red enameled desk, on top of which were strewn many scrolls. There were four men present with him in the room. I remembered them vaguely from my stay here.

  Daiki was smiling. “Hiro san, I thought you would never get here. I have been waiting for so long.” Same Daiki. Always acting as if he is insulted in an effort to make you nervous.

  “Gomen nasai. I came as soon as I had a chance, my lord.” I knelt and bowed to him, almost touching my forehead to the floor. The effort wasn’t lost on him; he returned my bow with a very deep one of his own.

  “We will not be but a moment.” He said.

  He finished giving directions to his men before sending them out.

  “I understand you are on business for Masao.” I nodded. “I will not harass you with giving me details you are not sure you can give.” Whew. “Is there anything I can do for you though?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I could use Xai's assistance if you can do without him for a few days.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Has someone made you that angry, Hiro san?”

  I smiled slightly. “No, my lord. I need transportation, and I thought he would like a legitimate reason to fly. If I could have your permission, my lord.” I bowed again, not wanting to take anything for granted.

  “I will send for him. My wife loves his conversation so she will not mind if he joins us.” He returned my bow.

  “Arigato gozaimasu, my lord.” I said as I bowed low again. He bowed back smiling.

  Daiki and I talked for a few moments as we moved to the dining area of his home. We were there for several moments before his wife, Akiko, arrived with their daughter Ketsumempo.

  Ketsumempo was so excited to see me that she almost forgot herself and started to hug me. She caught herself when she was raising her arms and did a kind of arm swinging thing back and forth like a child to cover her blunder. I didn't notice any of this as I was still dumbstruck from what just walked into the room. To say she had blossomed was an understatement. I was just staring at her for a while, until I noticed her hand waving in front of my face.

  “Hiro san?”

  “Ketsumempo sama. A pleasure to see you again.”

  “Obviously.”

  Her parents had that smile adults get when they see the awkwardness of youth. It was not funny.

  We bowed to each other and she sat next to me at the table. I managed to force my way through any goofiness on my part until she and I were having a very pleasant conversation. After a few moments of this Xai arrived looking very surprised to be invited. We all greeted and he sat next to Akiko.

  The food that followed was wonderful and the conversation was very good. Even Daiki seemed to be genuinely happy. It became common knowledge at the table that I wanted Xai to fly me somewhere.

  No sooner had it come up than Ketsumempo commented, “Oh, Xai san has been teaching me to fly. I could fly you where you wanted.” She smiled.

  Her mother said, “Not if he wanted to get anything accomplished.”

  I could feel my face starting to get warm from embarrassment. The dinner continued. Painfully at times. But I got through it. As the evening ended Xai and I said our goodbyes to everyone and departed for his home. I explained to him once we were alone what I would need.

  “And why do you need me, Hiro san?”

  “I do not need you. I just thought it a good chance to visit and get you away from your usual duties for a time. This is a good opportunity for you to get all of that flying out of your system.”

  He laughed. “I doubt that.”

  “How long do you think it will take us to get there?”

  “I have flown there before. It will take an hour to get there and an hour to get back. So,

  depending on how long it takes you to handle your duties...” I had not told him what it was. “We

  should be back by morning.”

  “The mission is a simple one. It should not take but a half hour at the most.”

  I had him pack some food and water and something to read and then we walked south out of the city. Once we were well away he strapped me to him and we lifted off. He carried me across the Honshu Mountains without effort. A trip that would have taken me days on my own, if I was lucky. He continued to carry me to the outskirts of Shiro no Utsunomiya. There, we set down and I changed into my disguise.

  Once I had finished I walked with him most of the way to town. The conversation was

  good. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed his company. We were in the same boat you see. We both had duties that we abhorred.

  He hid near a stream with easy landmarks for me to find on my return and I continued on to the city wall. Once I was well out of sight from Xai, I removed the Oni Masuku and put it on. The three story wall of the city took me two hops to clear it and a light float down to the ground. Then a normal walk to the Hall of Ancestors. I went to mist just outside the doors and went above the guards’ heads so as not to attract any attention. Then I simply misted to just over my target location, the foot of the burial tomb of Honshu himself.

  The guards were observant but they weren’t looking for a ninja. Once the guards had changed for the night I floated to the floor. The guards had never left off their duty for conversation but they did walk a steady pattern. This made it easy for me to predict the best time for the drop. I placed the manual right in the middle of the footing of the tomb and then just misted back up to the rafters and out of the building.

  Once I was at the stables across the street I simply went solid and walked back to the wall. Two hops over and done and back to Xai. It didn’t take long. The lights all over the castle were being lit while Xai and I were getting ready to take off.

  In true Honshu form, no one ever got excited the whole night. I found out later that the next day, after the search had ended, it was decided that the three guards on duty would commit seppuku for failing in their duty. Honshu are very quick to cut themselves.

  We traveled back to Shiro no Nokizaru. I was there for two weeks. I told myself that it was because I had to follow up on the Juju situation but in reality I was enjoying Ketsumempo's company, something her parents thought was hilarious. During that time Xai flew me to Juju. It was a nice little village. Hard to believe there was a raid recently. Daiki had promoted the Doshin to Yoriki and they had a good lead on where the bandits were hiding so they had gone out and ambushed them as they slept.

  Five of the bandits had survived. The Yoriki had lost none, though he had a wounded Komono and one of the ronin had taken a slash to the side. Xai was able to help with that but they would need a couple of days rest. The four ronin looked much better in their new armor and seemed to enjoy being of service. They liked the town and the Yoriki seemed to be a good man to work for.

  Once we had helped as much as we could we investigated the five bandits. Daiki had been insistent on getting all of the information from them. Xai set up in one of the cells and had the others out of arm's reach of us or the victim. The ronin helped me bind the man to the floor and then I asked them to leave.

  Xai asked, “I do not suppose you would like to confess everything now, before we get started?”

  I had seen this before. Man strung out on the floor. Three candles and a mat full of tools. Even through the ‘Father’s blood’ haze the man managed to look defiant.

  “He is a fool.” Said one of the bandits.

  I calmly looked to their cell where an old angry looking man stood up and approached the bars.

  Xai said, “Continue, please.”

  “He has never seen your kind of work before. He thinks his anger will see him through it and that he will stay strong just to spite you.”

  “But you know better. Do you not?”

  “Yes. I was once a Kyushu samurai. Before this.”

  “If you wish to regain your honor, telling me what my master wants is probably a good start.” Xai said.

  The ronin thought a moment. None of the other three did anything. They sat there and watched. They just looked frightened while he thought about it. The man on the floor finally spoke.

  “Don't tell them anything, you traitor!”

  Xai looked at him. “You are a brigand and know nothing of honor. Shut up while the men

  talk.” He looked back to the old ronin.

  “In the cave where your men found us is a hide where we keep our plunder.”

  The man on the floor started to scream names at the old man. Xai quietly stabbed him in the thigh with a jagged knife and said, “Shhh.” Then motioned for the ronin to continue.

  “It is on the right side as you enter, covered by a stone that takes two men to move.”

  “Your wish is to commit seppuku and regain your honor?” The old man nodded. “If your

  information proves true then we will assist you.”

  We sent the Yoriki's ronin out to check the old man's story and they did return with what had been taken from the town as well as profits from raiding three other towns across the Koga territory. With those results Xai and I escorted the old ronin out of his cell and allowed him a bath. Once he was clean, we walked with him to a shady spot of the Yoriki's courtyard and had him kneel down. Xai handed him a long knife and a clean white strip of silk. I stood to his right and drew my sword.

  “I am Shotoku Hiro and it is my honor to assist you this day, Kyushu san.”

  He nodded and smiled. He had been called “Kyushu” one last time. He removed the weapon from its saya and wrapped the silk around the base of the blade leaving a good portion exposed. I held my katana in both hands over my head and focused on my target, his neck. The old mononofu pierced his stomach very deeply with the blade pointed to the right and then began to pull the blade toward his right side. When I heard a slight catch in his throat, I knew it was my duty to end it before he uttered a sound and dishonored himself. My blade came down and his head came off.

  We all stood there for several moments before one of the Yoriki's ronin said, “He did die well.”

  That brought us out of our reverie and we started cleaning our things and putting away our weapons. The eta came and dealt with the body. The Yoriki had him buried in the graveyard of the Machi-bugyo where all of the policemen are buried. Daiki was very pleased at the returned goods and money to the town as well as his increase from the discovery.

  The man on the floor turned out to be one of the leaders of the bandits so I had the ronin drag him out to the yard and cut his head off without ceremony. The remaining three were young scared men. These Daiki sent to his mines for three years. The next two weeks in Daiki's court helped improve my mood immensely.

  When it came time to go home, Xai was allowed to fly me home and stay for the week. Daiki was very happy about the extra goods and money Xai had found. The visit was great, and mother loved Xai's coldhearted sense of humor. I never told her why he had it.

  There were other jobs over the next six months; frame an Awaji courtier for the theft of a spell scroll in Shiro Asahikawa, leave proof that the Okayama are funding bandits in the Etorofu lands, and take a load of stolen cargo to Kyushu Toshi to frame a Kokura merchant with it. This last one was very simple, the local Machi-bugyo didn’t like him and he was tired of the Kokura getting away with things.

  There were other missions but I honestly forget what they were. Most of my work didn’t keep me away for any longer than a few weeks. Masao must have realized I was happy because the next one was going to take months to complete.