Chapter XX

  “The Army on the March”

  “The Art of War”

  ~by Sun Tzu~

  I would wake up and pass out again several times over the next few weeks. I remember the ship ride took forever, or maybe it was a cart. I didn't fully come to until I was safely in Goemon Toshi. I remember, vaguely, seeing one of my ronin sitting next to me on the boat, Jerukukami or Menuki, one of those. I remember dreaming of a white dog snuggling with me in my parents' house. I awoke when Shogun Eita came in. I was in my Sensei's room.

  "How is he, Grandfather?"

  "He will survive, my lord."

  "Will he be... useful?"

  "Oh Yes. Gunso Toritono came by and worked on him for several hours. He said his body is broken and his spirit is broken. But his mind is sound. His opinion is the body will heal and then the spirit."

  “So he is not insane.”

  “Eita sama, he was clearly insane for a little while. Would you have been any different?”

  "...No. But he is lucky. Only ten RyuKyu lived through his attack."

  "I would say they are lucky. I did tell you after his fight with that Honshu he would be quite good, my lord." I heard Eita laugh at that.

  “So what do we do if we ever have to kill him?” Eita asked seriously.

  “…Send more than 100 men and hope he does not have a friend with him.”

  I could hear Eita sit down close to my side. “Koga-ko...”

  They had both fallen silent but I could hear them drinking. I was not sure what to do. I did not feel like getting up but I did not want to stay either. Sleep. Sleep would have been good but I was too tired. They turned to me immediately when I started to rise. My left arm was slung around my shoulder and my left eye was bandaged.

  "My lords." I was tired.

  Grandfather put his hand on my shoulder. "Lay still Hiro. You have many wounds to recover from."

  Eita spoke next. "You did well, little brother."

  "Domo arigato, my lord."

  "It is nothing, but rest now."

  I nodded and said, "How are the ronin?"

  He laughed. "Stubborn. They refuse to leave until they have seen ’their‘ lord."

  He looked disappointed when I didn’t laugh. I wasn’t in a laughing mood.

  "I knew they were loyal."

  Sensei nodded to me. "You chose well."

  We talked for several more moments and then Eita had to leave. They told me the ronin had healed me up. Brought me and Ketsumempo's body back. They had hired porters for the trade goods at Mura Ibusuki. Once we were just outside of the Koga lands they paid off the porters, changed back to ronin cloths and hired more porters to bring us back to Goemon Toshi. They were waiting for me at a tea-house just outside the castle. Eita had tried to make them leave but they wouldn't. He was hesitant to kill them, out of respect for a friend he said. Masao had interviewed all of them and Koruko. Koruko had come ahead of the ronin by a few weeks. He had realized someone very powerful was going to be upset about the death of Ketsumempo and he wanted to soften it as much as possible. Her funeral had been a few days ago but Daimyo Daiki and his wife Akiko were still in town. No one was sure why.

  “To kill me for failing them.”

  He shook his head. “No. Daiki knows these tunnels. He could have come down at any time and done that.”

  “If he wants revenge his victim has to be awake.”

  He shook his head but couldn't muster the words to disagree with me. Grandfather helped me to rise and dress. He thought I should rest. The beating I took would require much of it but I just couldn't. Before I left I asked him to arrange a meeting for me with Lord Masao.

  "Easily done. He wants to see you as soon as you have handled this ronin issue."

  "Take me to him please."

  "Should you not deal with the ronin first?"

  "I have a favor to ask of him. If he grants it or not will alter how I handle them." I limped after him towards my Daimyo. Luckily he was in the gardens so the walk would not be long. I limped up each painful stair and finally out into the gardens. Lord Masao had been talking with his brother. I saw Eita step to the side as we entered. I heard her before I saw her. Crying. When I looked to see where it came from she was in front of me. Akiko. Her hands were engulfed in blue flames and she punched me in the chest. The strike was so hard it sent me falling back several feet until I crumpled to the ground. The pain was almost too much for me but then she was standing over me screaming.

  “YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HER, HIRO!... You were supposed to...keep her.....”

  All I could do was watch as she knelt to the ground crying into her hands, until Daiki came up behind her and grabbed her by the arms. I don't know what he said to her but he was able to get her to stand before he walked her out of the gardens. It broke my heart to see his tattooed face so sad. With help from Grandfather and Eita I was able to stand again. I walked back towards Masao and bowed to my Daimyo. Very stiffly. He did not return it. I knelt as best I could before him.

  "I have just heard that you were awake." He sounded displeased again.

  "Yes, my Daimyo."

  "I dare say the RyuKyu got the message."

  "They did."

  "I am surprised at you Hiro. I send you to destroy some goods and leave a note. Instead you maim and mutilate over seventy samurai and burn down their entire smuggling operation!” He stared at me for several moments but I didn’t have anything to say about it. “I left explicit orders for you to deal with these ronin."

  "I have a request, my Daimyo. How I deal with them will depend upon your answer."

  "Well, since you have never requested anything from me before, I might be inclined to grant it. What is it?"

  "I would be most grateful if you would grant me the Shiro no Kuninoko to the north west of Goemon Toshi, my Daimyo."

  He seemed to give a light chuckle. "You wish to become a farmer, Hiro san?"

  "No, my lord. I wish to try my hand at managing a castle."

  "And the fact that this is the ancestral home of your ronin, that has little to do with it I assume?"

  "It does have a little to do with it, my Daimyo."

  He thought for a moment before yelling, "No! You destroy the RyuKyu property in the most brutal of fashions and get my favorite Onmyoji killed due to your ineptitude! And you expect a reward?! No!" There was another long pause. “Do to my fear of reprisal I have sent your mother to Teikoku Toshi no Kyoto to stay with your father. I have also sent your uncle Tozasu and his wife to stay with your uncle Kagi just to be sure they will not be harmed.” He smiled. “Unfortunately at this time housing for samurai is in short supply so you will have to find new accommodations, Hiro.” I just sat there and stared at the ground. "Do you have anything else to say, Hiro?" I was very careful not to let any venom slip into my next words.

  "I await your orders, my Daimyo."

  "Get out of my sight." I carefully stood to leave. "Hiro san?"

  I turned to face him. "Yes, my Daimyo?"

  "You are a disappointment."

  At that he rose and walked away. I thanked Eita and Grandfather for helping me but I needed some time alone. I left them in the gardens as I limped the long walk out of the castle. The tea-house was a short distance away. As I approached I could hear an argument.

  "I do not care what you are doing! We do not want you here!" My ronin sat at a corner table in the back of the room. Masakari was trying to calmly explain himself to three very angry Koga samurai. I had managed to limp to the doorway before I had to stop.

  "We will not leave until our lord has released us, Goemon sama."

  I was about to speak when I saw something I never would have expected. My old friends, Sashi, Kiki, Kajiru and Kai all stood from a back table and walked up behind the three Koga. From their posture it looked like they were displeased with these men. I saw Masakari lean to the side from where he sat and look at Sashi and my friends. I do not know what he saw on their faces but he leaned back to his sitting position and said, “I think you have something far more pressing than me, just behind you Goemon sama.”

  The mononofu were smiling as they looked behind them. That is until they saw Sashi and the others. Apparently, they were not laughing.

  Taisa Sashi spoke, "These men are in the employ of a friend of ours, boy."

  The mononofu blanched. "Sir. I..."

  “We have been to war with their lord.” The mononofu just stood there stunned. “Something we have in common with these men...” He nodded towards Masakari and the others. “So you can understand why my friends and I want to kill you and your friends.”

  “Gomen nasai, Taisa sama,” said the samurai.

  "Leave!" Sashi yelled.

  They did. Masakari bowed to him and Sashi returned it. Then Sashi, Kiki, Kajiru and Kai sat down with my men. I limped in towards them. Masakari looked up and saw me.

  "My lord!" My men walked quickly over to me and knelt with their heads bowed.

  "Rise." They had many questions, all of which I had to put off answering. "Wait for me outside. I must thank my friends before I can join you."

  As they left, my four other friends stepped forward.

  "You have looked better, Taisa." Kiki said.

  I nodded. "I wanted to thank you for helping my men."

  Sashi replied, "It was the least we could do. We are to be promoted again."

  "Congratulations." I should have felt happy for them.

  "No, it is because of our finding that caravan you told us about."

  "I am glad I could help but I am afraid that I must go now." They nodded.

  "We will be going with you," said Kajiru.

  I shook my head. “Daimyo Masao hates me. I do not think it wise for you to be around me right now.”

  Sashi replied, “Taisa, we do not care. We owe you much and if you are correct about Masao, then you need all the support you can get.”

  “I am too beat up to argue.”

  Kiki smiled. “Good because you look like you need help walking.”

  With that she supported me and helped me limp back outside to my men. We walked together to a shrine outside of the castle. Not many people came here this time of day so we would have some privacy. We sat and talked for a while.

  "Masakari, I told you, you were released from your contract."

  Masakari replied to me. "And we believed you, Hiro sama. But we all agreed we couldn't just leave you unprotected." The others nodded. "So we watched and waited to see if you needed us." Kubikiri butted in. "We are all very sorry we couldn't save, Lady Ketsumempo. We will miss her.” I didn’t need to hear about my failure again!

  "It was not your fault. The RyuKyu made the right decision. They killed the Onmyoji first. Normally that would have been the correct move."

  "We were all pleased to see you made them pay for their error." This came from Menuki.

  I nodded. "I am not sure I will be able to afford all six of you indefinitely."

  Yumi replied with, "Then we will work for nothing."

  I could see that they meant it. As much as I wanted to be left alone, I realized they weren’t going anywhere. I sighed.

  “So you are not buying the ’I am poor‘ story?”

  Hoko chimed in with, “We simply do not care, Hiro sama.”

  “Well we will need a place to live. As I was just telling my four old friends here, I am not a favorite of Daimyo Masao at the present so I no longer have a home.”

  “Ronin?” said Menuki.

  I shook my head. “No. Just homeless.”

  Kai asked, “Why is he being so cruel?”

  I shook my head. “He has always disliked me. Now I have finally given him a reason.”

  Masakari stated, “We have heard he has forbidden any of the Koga from renting or selling you a room or house. But your friend… Anaido?” I nodded. “He says we can use his warehouse and that you would know the one.”

  "Very well then. Kubikiri, have you been keeping track of our finances?”

  “I have my lord.”

  “How are we sitting?”

  "My estimate puts you at two and a half times what we left with, once everything is sold."

  I nodded. “10,000 gold pieces?”

  “Yes.” He said. Like it was nothing.

  I kind of shook my head at his obtuse behavior. “How much do we have in coin?”

  “Just over 7000.”

  "Where are the goods and money being kept?"

  "Anaido's men are guarding it for us while they work with their inventory."

  I nodded. “Does anyone know what happened to my things from my mother's house?”

  Hoko stated, “Yes, a Komono named, Chi, told me your mother left them with your Sensei.”

  “Good. Chi is a friend from my childhood.” I told them so they would know he could be

  trusted.

  “Does anyone know what happened to Koruko?”

  Masakari answered. “After the funeral he went back to his lord's court at the castle, though we have seen him several times since we arrived.”

  “Has he been acting odd in any way?”

  “No. Do you suspect him of something?”

  “No. But if he had been up to anything you would be able to tell. He is very talented but not as a liar. Kajiru will you take Menuki and her brother Hoko into town and find a carpenter named Shotoku Hiroki?” He nodded. “Tell him I want him to come by Anaido's warehouse. I have some work for him.” The three of them bowed. When I returned it they left. “Kai, will you take Yumi and Jerukukami to the castle and find my Sensei? Pick up what things he has for me and be sure to tell him where we live now.” They nodded and left as well. “The rest of us are going home.”

  Masakari helped me to rise and we strolled, slowly, to the warehouse. Anaido was there and very happy to see me. Thankfully, many of the items Ketsumempo had purchased were furniture, so we would be able to make ourselves pretty comfortable here. Anaido and I discussed business in the office while the others set things aside that we would need to live. I paid him his half for any items we kept.

  “Hiro sama, that is not necessary,” he said.

  “Just because I have had a bad month is no reason for you to take a loss my friend.”

  “As you wish but you have already made me a rich man.”

  “Well at least something good came out of this...”

  “It is funny. I no sooner got the Hokkaido goods moved out than I suddenly had three carts from some Bandai I had never heard of.”

  That actually got me to smile a little. “I had planned for everything. Except what to do with the extra goods she traded for.”

  He laughed. “It was fine. I caught on very fast. But ten carts in one day were a bit much.”

  I laughed. “You should have seen her. She would bat her eyes and whisper to them. “I must have at least ten copper a foot for iron rods my lord.”

  “You are kidding me?!”

  “One of my men asked if it was a spell. Those merchants had no idea what they were agreeing to.”

  Anaido laughed so hard at that. Then I remembered she was gone.

  “Hiroki is coming by to do some work on the warehouse. I'm going to have him add some rooms to the second floor and a porch and bath.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  I shook my head. “Where are the ledgers?'

  We spent the next half hour going over the books and notes from what I had sent in. It was nice to have something else to think about. Hiroki showed up and I told him what I wanted.

  “That is not hard. Since this is a warehouse all of the support beams are already in place. Eight silver should suffice for all of it, Hiro sama.”

  “...word got out that I'm rich I take it?”

  “Hiro means generous, you know.”

  “I will pay you two now, two when you are done and I will generously forget you said eight.”

  “That sounds fair.” he stated.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  We bowed and he left. My men had all returned from their errands and were in the office with us.

  Anaido asked, “There are better carpenters in town. Why did you choose Hiroki?”

  “Because his work is acceptable and he has a big mouth. Everyone in Goemon Toshi will know where to find me by nightfall.”

  The work took a week. Hiroki had two sons and two daughters to help him. They were a pretty good team. The first thing I had him do was to construct the rooms that would actually give this place a second floor. Right now it just had a high two story ceiling. I didn't want to take all of it as that space was useful when Anaido had big cargo to store, but the stretch across the front of the building could be sacrificed. He was able to build three rooms above the office with a walkway. I went ahead and paid him an additional two silver for a balcony across the front. Then he was able to finish the porch that wrapped around the office to the back of the building. At the far end of the porch I had him build a concealed large heated bath. Once all was done, I tipped him two more silver.

  He looked at the coins in his hand and looked at me with an odd sort of squint.

  “OK.” Then he bowed and left. The whole job did cost me eight silver.

  I had given Masakari the first room upstairs. Since they were family, I gave Menuki and Hoko the second room while the other three got the last room. I took the office as I was still not very good with stairs. I liked the porch. I couldn't sit properly because of my wounded leg and being in an alley meant people didn't notice me. I sat there a lot over the next month. During that time my bandages had come off. I found out my left eye had been destroyed by the explosion. And I was very stiff. There were also many more scars now on my face, arm, leg and chest.

  I went back to practicing my Kara-Te, Ju-Do and Ninjutsu before the sun came up. My men would join me about that time and we would practice Koga Jujutsu together and I would finish with my Bandai Jujutsu after sending them to get cleaned up. But I was still very stiff and sore. I was pretty well beaten, in every sense, and my lifestyle choices came down to drinking sake like water or sitting on my porch.

  For whatever reason I chose the porch... Usually.

  A few weeks later I was on my porch, after a rough night of not having chosen the porch. My head was hurting when I felt a presence in front of me. I looked up to see Daimyo Hiroki. I tried to rise but he stopped me.

  “Hiro, …you look like hell.”

  “Domo arigato, my lord?”

  He sat down across from me. “Is this tea?”

  “Yes. My man Hoko actually has a gift for it. Let me call some...”

  He held up his hand to interrupt me. “No, I am not so feeble or vain as to need a servant for tea.”

  I smiled a little. “What brings you to the warehouse district my lord?”

  “You... Do you know why I do not like women, Hiro?” I shook my head. “...When I was a young man I had a woman I loved. She was not the prettiest or the smartest but I loved her and we were betrothed by my father... The bitch left me for a common Hanchou.”

  A Hanchou is a squad leader in charge of ten samurai. “So your honor was hurt?”

  “Oh I would have told you “yes” at the time but it was not true. I wanted to believe it was a loss of face, but that is a lie as well. No. My heart was broken and I was angry.”

  “What happened?”

  “I became a bitter old bastard.” I gave a small laugh while he finished his tea. When he finished he set down the cup and got up to leave. “I think Masao did you a favor evicting you to the warehouse district,” he said as he looked around. “It is peaceful here. That is good for healing.”

  I laughed again. “I hope so.”

  He looked at me, “Get better Hiro. The others are dull without you.” Then he bowed and left.

  I'm not sure why, but it was easier to choose the porch after that talk. How much time later, I cannot recall but a few, weeks? I think. I found myself being joined by my man Masakari.

  “I never thanked you for saving my life.” I said.

  “I never thanked you for giving mine purpose again.”

  I smiled. “Domo arigato, Masakari san.”

  He bowed a little. “Do itashimashite, Hiro sama.”

  We drank some tea before he spoke again. “I have been waiting for the right time to ask...”

  I looked at him. He looked pretty serious. “What is it that concerns you?”

  “When we were traveling back, all of us had seen it at one time or another...”

  “What?”

  “A white kitsune. I would see it lying next to you with its head on your chest and when I looked again it was gone.”

  “...It was probably just a trick of the eye.”

  He looked at me. “Tricks of the eye are usually black and without a specific shape.” I really didn't know what to tell him. “What was it?” he looked at me. “Really?”

  I sighed a little. “I met a Myobu once. She apparently felt like checking on me.”

  “How did you get her to like you?”

  I shrugged as best I could. “I kidnapped a child she cared about.”

  He was a little surprised. “No wonder the Myobu do not like me.”

  I had been about to swallow my tea when the sudden laughter caused me to spit a mouthful onto my leg. He was apologizing as he helped clean me up. Once he had gone and collected another kimono for me, I asked him to give me some time alone. I changed clothes and sat back down with my left leg sticking out in front of me. It was still too sore to sit properly. After he had been gone for a few moments and no one was around I said, “Myobu Ainu? Are you still here?”

  She slowly appeared sitting in front of me. “Hiro san.” She smiled.

  She was still incredibly beautiful. I remembered our first meeting in the woods and started to look away.

  She laughed. “No tricks this time. I promise.”

  “Domo arigato. How have you been?”

  She thought on that a moment. She had a cute habit of moving her head from one side to the other when she was thinking. “I have been better.” I didn't expect that from a Myobu. “Seeing you this hurt has bothered me for a long time.”

  “I do not understand why you care.”

  She thought a little. “You honored our agreement.” Apparently I had a look of unbelief on my face. “Alright. The cub liked you. You played with him and he enjoyed your company. OK?”

  I smiled. “How is he doing?”

  It was her turn to smile. “Very well. His father keeps him in the capital now.”

  “Always a good decision.”

  “And he is enjoying the city. He still talks about you.”

  “You should educate him about what I am.”

  She shook her head. “He knows. His father told him. Makes no difference to the cub. I would ask how you have been but...”

  “About as bad as can be expected.” She nodded with a smile. “I need you to tell me something.”

  She looked a little worried. “...What is it?”

  “How did that archer kill her in one shot and not get a single arrow off at me before I went crazy?” She started to look elsewhere like she didn't want to make eye contact. “Ainu?”

  “...I am not sure any of this will help, Hiro.”

  I nodded. “I could not get any lower.”

  “You are about to, Hiro san...” I motioned for her to tell me. She took a deep breath. “The arrow that killed Ketsumempo, was meant for her.”

  “...That is logical. She was obviously an onmyoji.”

  She shook her head. “No. The archer killed her because he knew you loved her. He knew you would go crazy… He knew it would hurt you.”

  I sat forward a little. “Who is he?” She shook her head a little. “Who?!”

  “I do not know. Every time I try to see him I get nothing but a vague image… of a spear

  wielding oni...”

  I sat back. “Is the archer a demon?”

  “No. He is protected by some base magic I cannot seem to pierce. When I try to see him…” She looked off at the wall and seemed to be reaching for something she couldn't quite get. “Nothing. I get nothing, Hiro san.”

  “Masao?”

  She shook her head confidently. “No. I do not know what game he is playing but he did not do this. That much I can see clearly.”

  “Do you know what House he is from?”

  “He has no House. Just the Oni and I am not sure what that means.”

  I nodded. “What else do you know?”

  She made an odd face and shook her head. “Nothing.” She smiled.

  I looked at her intently. “Tell me.”

  “Hiro, it will hurt.” She actually whined a little.

  “Tell – it.”

  She looked down at her hands in her lap. “She was pregnant with your daughter...” I fell back the few inches to the wall and slumped there. Ainu had been right. I was lower. “You would have named her Ai-Akiko after your mothers.”

  I shook my head. “…I am beaten. I have an enemy to destroy and I can do nothing about it because I am mangled. Completely.”

  She raised her head and gave a quick nod. “Then it is time I did something about that.”

  She leaned forward and put her hands on my ankle. I felt an odd warmth. She paused there a moment and then slid her hands under my kimono up my bare leg. Normally, a beautiful woman doing this would have been extremely erotic, but the warmth was different. My leg was feeling good and the warmth wasn't like what I had with Ketsumempo. It was more like when you mother hugged you goodnight when you were little. She slid her hands across my wounds and everywhere she did, the pain and soreness left. She made her way up my neck and removed the bandage over my eye, slowly caressing my ravaged face. She ended by kissing me on the forehead. When she leaned back I looked at her and realized I could see out of my left eye again.

  I said, as I touched my face, “Arigato gozaimasu, Ainu gozen.” She smiled when I referred to her as princess.

  My face was smooth again and I could tell by my arms and chest all that was left of the damage were faint scars. After a few moments of wonder, she stood and extended her hand to me.

  “Come Hiro. We have much to do.”

  I took her hand and stood up. When I flexed my leg and arm there were a few pops but they quickly began working properly.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It is a surprise. You will hate it I am sure.” She smiled.

  Then everything went kind of blurry for a moment and when it cleared we were in the woods. She let go of my hand.

  “What do you think?”

  I looked around. “How much time has passed?”

  She made a face. “Just a few moments.”

  “So, why is it you did not use that method the last time.”

  “You were a kidnapping murderer who tricked me out of my ball,” she answered pleasantly. “Now, what do you think?”

  I looked around some more. “It is quiet and peaceful. No one is watching us. I see several good places to hide until Amaterasu goes to sleep.”

  She looked at me. “This is why I have not had many Koga friends.”

  “Well, if I were an artist, I would paint the beauty of this scene. If I were a poet, I would write a poem about the grace of the foliage. But I am a Koga, and all I see is a good place to hide on my way TO KILL SHIT!”

  She started walking away so I had to follow. “Tell me about Ketsumempo?” she asked lightly.

  “She was a girl.”

  “What did you think when you first saw her?'

  I retold all the things I could remember from my history with her as we strolled through the woods. She would prod me with another question whenever I faltered, but slowly she started getting all that I remembered of her. I was just telling her about how I flubbed dinner the time she came out and had blossomed, when we stepped onto a road and Ainu stopped.

  To our right, a short distance, was a village. “Where are we?” I asked.

  “I believe they call it ‘Ninja's Grace.”

  “Never heard of it.” I continued to cross the road. I heard her sigh and catch up to me.

  ”Where were we?” she asked.

  I continued where I had left off. I am really good at navigating across land. You have to be in my line of work. So I know we didn't turn left or turn right by accident. There was no mysterious wind or odd blurry moment. I didn't look at her and she dazed me into a trance. None of that. I was just telling her about the first time Ketsumempo kissed me when I stepped onto a road. I looked to my right. Same village.

  “I am not going in there.”

  “I really think you should.”

  And I continued to cross the road. I heard her make some kind exasperated sound and she

  caught up to me again.

  ”Where were we?” she asked.

  And I continued where I had left off. Same as before. I was just at the part where I rolled

  Ketsumempo over and saw that she was gone, when I stepped onto a road.

  “I am not going in there!”

  “You! – really! - need! – to!”

  “Unless there is a giant spider attacking those people I do not want to see them!”

  “We can do this all day Hiro. If we stay here long enough I can get my fifth tail.” She smiled.

  I looked at the town. It was very busy with people moving everywhere and there were

  decorations hanging and lanterns waiting to be lit. I could hear music as well and smell food cooking.

  “I do not remember it being this big.”

  “Oh they have had a lot of growth since the attack.”

  We started walking towards the town. “What is going on?”

  “Ah, today is the anniversary of the naming of the town. Last night would have been the attack but today marks the time when everyone returned to find the Yoriki and the Doshin still alive.”

  “No. It was a Doshin and a Komono. There was no Yoriki that night.”

  “No. There is now. When the Honshu Daimyo heard the story he came personally to promote the Doshin and give a daisho to the Komono. They still live here.”

  We walked on into the town. There was a large tori arch over the road as you entered. I could see the fangs of the Jorogumo mounted to it and a large Buddhist bell hanging between them. As we entered,

  “DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”“DONG!”

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at us. They seemed stunned.

  “What did you get me into?”

  She slowly stepped out of arms reach. “Sooo the most powerful Onmyoji in the Honshu may have come here and blessed the tori arch, so that if any of the eight ninja should ever return it would chime. Eight times.”

  “Why is no one looking at you then?”

  “Because I am not wearing a ninja's hood.” I looked at her. “He added that as well... In case two people walked through at the same time.” She smiled.

  Everything had stopped in the village. The people and I just stared at each other for a few

  moments. Eventually I started to walk farther into the town. Then, the people started to approach. They were very quiet but when they got close they bowed and put their heads on the ground. To be fair, I guess I would have done the same in their place. I was standing there in a black Shotoku Kimono wearing a Ninja mask and a triple bladed daisho.

  As I kept walking I said, “No. No. Rise Honshu.”

  They did but they stayed a respectful distance away. Very soon I saw a Yoriki and a Doshin approaching. They had been speaking to their men but they waved the others to stay where they were. They bowed in the same very respectful manner as everyone else once they were close. I returned it of course.

  “Rise my friends.”

  The Yoriki said with a small smile, “Domo arigato for returning, Shotoku sama.”

  “Do itashimashite, Maebashi san.”

  “May I ask, what has made you return today, Shotoku sama?” asked the Doshin.

  I looked around for Ainu but she was no longer standing next to me. I caught a glimpse of a white fox sitting on one of the far rooftops.

  I looked back at them and said, “A friend told me about your festival and thought I should see it.” They nodded happily. I looked at the Yoriki. “The last time I saw you, you were on your knees praying. Domo arigato, I assume?”

  He smiled. “Would you have done differently in my place?”

  I laughed. “I did the same on my way into the woods.”

  We spoke for a few more moments. I congratulated them both on being promoted and expressed how much they deserved it. We eventually walked farther into the village. The people seemed to relax more the longer I was there. A ninja is a frightening thing to normal people. Even one that has saved your village. Eventually the Doshin let slip who was visiting.

  “The Honshu Daimyo, Utsunomiya Yamamaya is here, as well as several of our lords. He will want to meet you.”

  “Wow. What is he doing here?”

  The Doshin shrugged. “The festival is a big event for us. It is not often another House risks themselves for our people.”

  I nodded. The Doshin must have caught a glimpse of the runner before telling me this because as I looked up I could see a Honshu Courtier coming towards us with that, “I'm on official business” look to his step. As he approached he said, “Shotoku sama, domo arigato for visiting our village again. Daimyo Yamamaya would very much like to meet you and give his thanks personally, if you would follow me?”

  “Yamamaya sama is a great man. It would be my honor to be introduced to him, Kofu san.”

  He smiled. “And would it be acceptable if I had your name, my lord?”

  “No.”

  “Very well, Shotoku sama.” He smiled and led the way.

  I touched my two friends on the shoulders and motioned for them to come along. It was not every day they got to meet their House Daimyo and I wanted to make sure they got the chance.

  The courtier led us to a large gazebo at the end of the street. The street I noticed was much wider and longer than the little village we fought in that night. The food for the celebration was deep fried spiders with salt and spices. They smelled fantastic! But I would have to wait until after introductions were made. The lords saw us coming and you could see the pure curiosity in their eyes as they saw me approaching with my friends. The courtier bowed and introduced us.

  “My Daimyo, I present to you, Yoriki Magome, Doshin Maebashi and of course one of the eight saviors of this village, Shotoku sama.”

  We bowed as we were introduced and Yamamaya returned each one with a somber smile. He was a large man in his forties and physically intimidating. He looked at me for a few moments and said, “Am I to just call you Shotoku then?”

  “Yamamaya sama, a man of your station may call me whatever he wishes.”

  A few of them laughed at that. To his right a distance I saw a familiar face. Kokujin

  Utsunomiya Nobu, lord of Honshu-ko. He was eying me as if he suspected.

  The Honshu continued, “Will you join us, Shotoku san? I have so many questions.”

  “Of course my lord. May my friends come with me? They are the two that deserve the most honor for their actions.”

  He looked at them and smiled, “There are very few men in this world that I admire, but Aoi and Jirou are two of them.”

  He motioned for us to join him. We bowed and accepted. He wasn't lying, they all had many questions. I gave them a not too exact explanation of what happened that night and how we came to be there. I gave the story of what we did and why.

  I asked, “What did happen to the man that came and begged us to help?”

  Yoriki Aoi replied, “What man?”

  “There was a man in torn clothing that begged us to help. He was the only reason we came. He was gone by the time we got back so we just assumed he came back to the village.”

  Doshin Jirou shook his head, “No one entered the village after you left until the morning,

  Shotoku sama.”

  “And the side you came from lies between the village and the Jorogumo's lake. No one would have run that way for fear of any children she had.” said Yoriki Aoi.

  After a few moments of dead silence Yamamaya said, “Maybe the story is true, Shotoku san. The spirit of the woods sent eight ninja to save the town?..”

  …So the conversation eventually picked back up to less surreal topics. Soon there were

  performers taking to the streets with various acts to entertain and many of the lords and courtiers went to enjoy themselves. While on my way to the acrobats Nobu approached me.

  “You remind me of someone, Shotoku sama.”

  I looked at him. “We Koga are trained to act the same, Nobu sama.”

  “You sound like him as well.”

  “I am sure it is the mask. It has that effect on the voice.” I smiled.

  He nodded. “And I was never introduced to you, so I am not sure how you knew my name.”

  “...I call everyone “Nobu sama,” Nobu sama.” He still looked dour but I could tell he was

  fighting not to laugh. “How is Honshu-ko?”

  He smiled and nodded. “It is good. We have had several attacks from the chasm but so far we have held. I should not admit this but I worry a little.”

  “Why so?”

  He thought a moment. “I have all of the mononofu we can spare and many peasants to support them. My Daimyo has been very supportive but our clashes have been too close for my taste.”

  “You would prefer more samurai to be safe.”

  “Very much so. I have tried recruiting ronin and have had some success with the people of Morijunin being just a few days to the south, but...”

  I thought a moment. “I know the Honshu are not fond of arming peasants, but if I were in your position, I would draft every heimin and hinin you had into ashigaru.” Those are armed and armored peasants.

  He grimaced a little. “That is generally frowned upon. I doubt I would stay my Daimyo's

  favorite after that.”

  “What I know is that in Giapan, the victor gets the honor. If you lose the fight for the chasm, you will lose your honor.”

  He nodded. “What if it is just my fear making me act like an old woman?”

  “Then you will still have the best trained and motivated military force in the Honshu. Your peasants will look forward to battle because they may distinguish themselves and be awarded a daisho... Think of what that means to an eta...” He grimaced again and I laughed a little. “It may make you uncomfortable to think of it but I know a strong dedicated man can accomplish a lot on the battlefield.”

  We discussed it for a long time and when the other lords, his Daimyo included, came by they would offer their own opinion. The discussion was exactly what I needed. My idea was not their favorite choice but it prompted them to think about their options and led to a good lively conversation. I finally got my hands on several of the fried spiders. They were exceptional with sake. Night had fallen and the party was still going when I saw Ainu waiting for me near the exit from town. I was sad but I had to go.

  “My friends, this day has lifted my spirits more than you can know. I am truly grateful to have met each of you, but I am afraid it is time for me to leave.”

  The Honshu were sad to see me depart as well but they understood. A Shinobi can easily

  overstay his welcome. It had been a great day though.

  “Did you have fun, Hiro san?'

  “You were right. I had a wonderful time.”

  She smiled. Things went a little blurry again and I was back on my porch. I could hear my men sitting on the front porch just around the corner. They were discussing where they thought I might be but they didn't sound too worried yet. Myobu Ainu was gone.

  “Domo arigato, Ainu sama.” I whispered.

  I sighed a little and prepared myself for all of the questions I knew would follow as I walked around the corner to my friends. They had many questions. Not least of which was about my eye, though they were most pleased at how renewed I seemed.