Blood Legacy: The House of Alexander (17 page)

Ryan paused, breathing deeply the mountain air and fresh smell of the Isuzu river. This was truly one of the most beautiful places on earth, and although she had little patience for religious institutions, she did find something sacred about this shrine. She took a moment to wander through the structures, amazed at how faithfully they had been reproduced over the centuries. She thought for a moment, trying to remember what year it was, and realized they would be rebuilding it again on the adjacent property in a few years.

She passed through the shrine like a ghost, into the areas where no tourists were allowed, and then beyond those. She passed into the innermost sanctum, but did not stop there, either. Few if any knew that there was anything beyond this chamber.

Ryan paused in front of a door that would not be visible to any but those with preternatural eyesight. She pushed aside the heavy stone that blocked the way, then pushed open the heavy wooden door and started down the stone steps that disappeared deep into the mountainside.

The path was lit by torches, tended by ancient priests who saw that the light in this passageway never went out. She could feel their presence, and they could feel hers. Although she could not see them, she had the mental impression they bowed to her in respect.

Ryan felt the cool air as she approached the end of the tunnel. She exited the side of the mountain into a perfect gorge, lush with surrounding greenery, the true inner shrine. The layout was similar to the two outer shrines, simple gravel walkways, a wooden bridge, a Shinto gate, all leading to a simple wooden structure lit from within. Ryan glanced up at the full moon shining down through the trees. Although she walked on the gravel, there was no crunching noise.

She walked up the wooden steps, and slid the screen to the side.

Kusunoki looked up. “I have been expecting you.”

Ryan removed her shoes, then bowed in the doorway before entering. “I expected as much.”

Kusunoki watched his former pupil move into the room with same lithe grace she had always possessed. She moved across from him, and settled into a kneeling position before the small table.

“Would you care for some tea?” he asked calmly.

“Yes, I think I would.” She glanced around the room as he poured the tea into a bowl. “I see your accommodations have not changed.”

He smiled. “It is all I need.”

Ryan agreed. “It is all anyone needs.”

She took the steaming tea from him, holding it in both hands, enjoying the sensation of heat.

“I saw your statue in the imperial garden, the one on the horse, it is quite impressive.”

Kusunoki said nothing, sensing his pupil’s wicked sense of humor coming into play.

“—Although I must say a few of the tapestries made you look a little plump.”

Kusunoki smiled despite himself. He inhaled deeply from the green tea, then took a mindful sip.

“So when exactly did you change your name?”

“From what?” Kusunoki asked, feigning ignorance.

Ryan gazed balefully at him over the rising steam from her bowl.

Kusunoki sighed. “Tsukiyomi no Mikoto became a burden.”

Ryan nodded in understanding. “But they still revere you above.”

The thought gave Kusunoki no pleasure. “I think that all of our Kind have inspired legends at one time or another.”

Ryan’s thoughts flitted to the discotheque. “I would like to find who is responsible for a few of the more idiotic of those legends.”

The two settled into silence and finished their tea. Kusunoki waited patiently for his young pupil to speak, but was surprised by her words when she did.

“Perhaps you could offer me shelter for a brief time,” Ryan said. “I feel the need to sleep.”

Kusunoki was startled by the request, but quickly corrected his manners. “Of course. You are always welcome here. Forgive me for not offering.”

Ryan shook her head. “It is a strange request, I know. But I feel the need to dream much these days.”

Kusunoki pondered the words, and their meaning. He would have to spend much time reflecting on this statement.

The two stood simultaneously, and Kusunoki gestured to one of the many sliding doors. “Your previous accommodations are nearly as you left them.”

Ryan nodded her thanks and stepped from the main anteroom. The sleeping chamber was exactly as she remembered it. A simple bed, a lamp, a small stone fireplace, and a ceramic washbowl.

She settled on the bed, her long frame taking its entire length. It was limited in terms of comfort, but to her it brought the unparalleled comfort of familiarity.

Ryan rode alongside Victor, enjoying the easy movement of the horse as it clopped along the dirt road. They were attracting a great deal of attention, even more so than usual. It was typical of the handsome pair to draw the eyes of humans, but now their Western features were strikingly different from everything around them. Ryan’s fair hair and light eyes were a startling contrast to the predominantly dark-eyed, dark-haired Japanese.

The hooves of the horses made a hollow sound as they clopped across a wooden bridge. Victor pulled the reigns of his horse and dismounted as a priest appeared from the gate. He bowed and took the horses reigns. Ryan nimbly descended from the horse’s back, and the priest took her horse as well. She followed Victor through the Shinto gate.

They entered a neat enclosure with several wooden structures spread about. Several priests nodded to them, but did not cease their tasks. Victor and Ryan continued through the shrine until they came to a heavy wooden gate that appeared to lead nowhere. Victor pulled the gate open, revealing a long stairway that disappeared down into the center of the mountain. He began the long trek downward, and Ryan followed, pulling the heavy gate closed behind them.

It seemed they continued for several minutes at a good pace. The passageway was well-lit, although their vision would have been just as clear had it not been. Ryan sensed fresh air ahead, which surprised her.

They exited the tunnel, coming out into a small, beautiful valley. It was a perfect replica of the outer shrine, if perhaps a bit more meticulously maintained. Ryan realized it was probably the other way around, that the outer shrine was a copy of this place.

A handsome, distinguished man stood at the other side of the bridge, waiting for them. Ryan knew instantly that he was one of their Kind, and in fact, had felt his presence for some time. What struck her about him, though, wasn’t his power or his beauty, both of which were considerable, but rather the utter stillness about him. It went beyond mere motionlessness, as if the particles in the air itself around him had stopped.

Victor approached him, then stopped about a foot before him, staring at the man. Ryan felt a bit uneasy, uncertain what was about to happen. But the man held Victor’s gaze for a moment, then dropped his eyes and bowed deeply from the waist. Victor waited for the man to stand upright once more, then he, too, bowed deeply, returning the respect.

As Victor stood upright, the man’s eyes sparkled and he smiled, instantly transforming his forbidding expression to one of mischief. Ryan noted that the man had a dazzling smile. He grasped Victor’s forearm with his own.

“It has been too long, my friend.”

“Yes,” Victor agreed. “Too long. I have been,” he paused, glancing at Ryan, “A little busy.”

“Ah yes,” Kusunoki said, “I can see that.”

Ryan felt weight of the man’s sudden scrutiny. It was similar to the attention of all Old Ones, both piercing and enveloping at the same time. And yet somehow, this time was different. It was as if the man’s perception was tuned to a different place, as if he were searching for, and finding, very different things in her.

“Hmmm,” he said, examining the girl, his expression unreadable.

Victor put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “Rhian, I would like you to meet Kusunoki Masahige.”

Ryan wasn’t certain whether to bow or offer her hand, but the man solved her dilemma for her. He reached out and grasped her hand. Ryan felt the shock of connection as power flowed through her.

Kusunoki eye’s narrowed. He felt it as well.

“Hmmm,” was all he said. He released the hand and turned his attention back to Victor.

“I trust you will like your accommodations.”

Victor and Ryan settled into adjacent rooms, and it wasn’t long before Ryan’s inherent restlessness took over and she began to wander the compound. Kusunoki watched her from the front terrace.

“So how did you manage that?” he asked quietly, sensing Victor’s silent approach.

“It is,” Victor began. He stopped, searching for words. “It is complicated,” he finished delicately.

Kusunoki eyed the girl. “Too much motion in that one.”

Victor did not respond.

“And not much discipline.”

Victor did not mince words. “She is completely wild.”

Although Victor tried to sound disapproving, Kusunoki sensed nothing but pride in his old friend. With good reason. He turned his attention back to the girl.

“She reminds me of someone else I used to know.”

Victor’s tone turned diplomatic again. “Which is why I brought her here. I had hoped you might have the same effect on Rhian as you had on me.”

Kusunoki shook his head. “She will be worse.”

“Most likely,” Victor said agreeably. “But it took ten years of work with me.”

“She will take twenty.”

Ryan took that opportunity to walk up to the terrace. She stood at the bottom of the steps, lightly kicking the dirt. “You know,” she said conversationally, “I can hear every word you two are saying.”

Kusunoki glanced over at Victor. “Maybe thirty.”

Ryan stood across from Kusunoki in the open courtyard, her heavy English saber held lightly in her hand. He stood across from her, holding what appeared to be farming implements. Ryan eyed the so-called weapons a little dubiously.

“Please,” Kusunoki said, as if asking Ryan to humor him. Ryan shrugged and assumed an approach stance. With blinding speed she attacked, thrusting the saber forward with a lightning strike. Just as quickly, the left sai flashed, and then the right, arcing downward in beautiful circles and trapping the sword. When Ryan attempted to withdraw the sword, it was held in place by the triton shaped weapons and Kusunoki’s strength. He eased his grip, and the sword was released.

Ryan stepped backward, impressed. Kusunoki resumed his stance, indicating that Ryan should try again. Ryan altered her own stance, and took another tact. Instead of lunging forward, she feinted, turned and brought the sword down in a slashing arc. Again, the left sai was there to catch the sword, while the other one came twirling toward her in a deadly sweep. It was all Ryan could do to duck out of the way, and she had to abandon the trapped sword to do so.

Victor laughed from his seat on the fence. “I see you’re having no better luck with him than I did.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “One more time. But give me that.” She nodded toward the sword hanging at Kusunoki’s side. Kusunoki glanced down. “You think that you are qualified to wield this sword? Here.”

He removed the sword and tossed it to her. She caught it by hilt, and the beautiful blade gleamed in the sunlight. It had a deadly curve to it, and the sharpest edge she had ever seen. She hefted its weight; it was perfectly balanced.

Ryan swung the blade a few times. It was shorter and much lighter than her saber. After a few more experimental swipes, she resumed her stance. “Okay,” she said nonchalantly, “Let us try this again.”

Kusunoki indicated he was ready, but instead of lunging forward, Ryan simply stood there. A stillness descended upon her, as if she were calming the very air around her. Kusunoki could have sworn that the wind itself died down, that the birds and trees silenced themselves at her request.

This time he did not see the attack coming, and it was only centuries of training, and reflexes well into the preternatural realm that allowed him to block the slicing blade. He countered, the sais twirling and flashing in the sun, but the sword was there to meet them both. He went on the attack, turning in a graceful and deadly strike, but the sword flashed here and there, meeting the tritons at every turn. The air was filled with the clanging of metal and flashing light.

Finally, in a stunning acrobatic maneuver, Kusunoki trapped the sword and kicked Ryan’s feet from underneath her. She nearly recovered in mid-air, falling only to one knee, but Kusunoki finished the movement, thrusting the sai forward. The sharp tip of the small sword hovered an inch from Ryan’s throat.