Gloria Oliver (41 page)

“No, here, daughter, next to me.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Toshi saw Himiko close her eyes and moan softly. One of her sleeves rose to dab at her eyes even as she hurried to sit by her father. As she did, Asano gave her a wide smile. He then riveted his gaze to Toshi’s face.

“So, Kazete-san, would you grace us with the telling of your involvement in these matters?”

“I’ll tell you all I know, Asano-sama, though you may not believe all I say.” He hoped that, if he cooperated, Asano might deign to explain some things as well.

“Do not concern yourself with that.” Asano waved the thought aside. “Just begin at the beginning.”

“Hai, Asano-sama.” Butterflies stirred in his stomach as he reached for his teacup to wet his suddenly dry throat. Haltingly at first, but then with rising confidence, he told his tale.

More than three hours later, Toshi was able to wind his tale to an end. Drinking his cold tea, he glanced up at his two listeners, trying to gauge how much they had decided to believe. To his chagrin, he found both their faces unreadable. He sighed, feeling drained. His shoulder throbbed and he was hungry, but there was one thing he just had to know.

“Sir, might I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t mean to seem ignorant, but I don’t understand how a seal could hold so much power.”

“Ah, yes, I see.” Asano stared off in the distance for a moment before speaking again. “The seal you saw belonged to my lord. It was the seal he used for important matters of state. No document would be considered legal unless his mark appeared on it. On his disappearance, no evidence was found to indicate he had not done so willingly. There was nothing to show something had actually happened to him. Many were of the opinion he’d secretly gone to a monastery to watch how we’d react and thereby finally decide who’d be his heir.

“Once I’d taken possession of his house as bade in his orders, however, a paper was found. On it were written suspicions of a plot against Lord Shura, and a riddle. It was then I understood the daimyo was dead. The puzzle had to do with his seal and how he had hidden it for safekeeping.”

Toshi shifted uneasily, still not understanding.

“You see, since Lord Shura’s death could not be proven, if his seal were found by those who had gotten rid of him they could forge documents with it to give themselves power. At the very least, they could have written new final orders and left them for someone to find. These new orders would have stated Tsuyu’s adoption by Shura, giving him and his clan claim to all the lands, including mine.”

“Those honorless bastards.” Himiko’s eyes were blazing.

“Yes,” Asano agreed. “A few years ago, Tsuyu arrived and hinted he’d recovered the seal for his father but hadn’t seen fit to give it to him just yet. He also implied he’d use it against me unless I cooperated. His people had been at the temple, and he knew too much for me to assume he was bluffing. The Tsuyu family is well known for their internal strife. So, I bided my time, looking for any sign he was lying, knowing my turn would come, though, in so doing, I was forced to alienate those close to me.” He sent a look in his daughter’s direction. “And you brought my turn to me, Kazete Toshiro.”

Toshi stared at the floor, trying to understand all the complexities of what Asano had revealed. He wasn’t sure he was cut out to play such games.

“So, you say Asaka and his retinue are here?” Asano asked.

“Yes, Lord. I wouldn’t have survived the ninja attack without them.”

Asano nodded slowly. “Then it would seem I’m being a very irresponsible host. Let’s go at once to meet them.”

Toshi scrambled to his feet, wondering if this was just a test to prove he was crazy. He retrieved his wakizashi and returned it to its sheath. He had to work to hide a grin as his mind pictured Asano’s and Himiko’s expressions once he’d proved his companions were real.

Guards joined them as they exited Himiko’s rooms. As they reached the main level, Kirin joined them as well.

“Lord Tsuyu and his men have been escorted to the outskirts of the city,” Kirin informed them.

“Hm, excellent.” Asano nodded, pleased. “Tsuyu Akira won’t give up as easily. But, between the destruction of his ninja lackeys and the expulsion of his son, we’ve bought ourselves some much-needed time.”

They all followed Asano out into a night-filled courtyard.

“Lord Asano, if I might beg your indulgence? I think it might be easier to find Asaka-sama if I went looking for him alone,” Toshi said.

“If that is your wish. Do not hurry, however. I have some long-overdue conversations to hold with those dear to me.”

Toshi bowed to Asano and the others and, after borrowing a lamp, took his leave. With sure but tired steps, he left the main courtyard and made his way to the place where he had spent his two-day vigil.

The night was quiet, the air holding a slight chill. He rubbed his shoulder, staring at the still puddles of water left from the previous night’s storm. Not long after, he entered the isolated courtyard. Stopping to rest for a moment, he sat down on the raised stage, already feeling beads of perspiration gathering on his brow despite the cold in the air. He felt drained and euphoric at the same time. He’d done it! It was finally over. Asaka and the others would now be free.

“Asaka-sama,” he called.

He waited expectantly, yet nothing disturbed the night’s stillness. A tingle of apprehension worked through him. If they were truly free, did that mean they had already gone?

He stood, saddened by the realization he’d not even gotten a chance to say goodbye. With a sigh, he made his way to the courtyard’s entrance, wondering how he would explain this to Lord Asano. The lord would think him mad for sure. Farther in the back of his mind, though, was the question of what he would do now that his ordeal was over.

“Toshiro-san.”

It was Asaka. Toshi stopped as a dozen pairs of glowing eyes lined the trees around him. With a quick smile, he dropped to his knees and bowed to the ground.

“Lord.”

“Stand and report.”

He stood, still unable to get rid of the smile on his face. He stared at each of the dark forms around him before returning his gaze to Asaka.

“Sir, I have met with Lord Asano and presented him with the kettle as you requested.” The green-lit eyes behind the demon mask flashed with a new intensity. “Lord Asano wishes to grant you an audience, if you’re willing.”

“He knows of our presence here?” Asaka asked.

Toshi wasn’t sure how to read the samurai’s tone. “He asked me to tell him what had brought me here, and how. I told him all I could, and he didn’t seem to doubt me. He asked for me to find you and bring you before him. He felt he might be neglecting some of his guests.”

The samurai hesitated for only a moment. “Then we should not keep Asano-sama waiting.”

His exhaustion momentarily forgotten, he led the group to the main courtyard. Miko joined him.

“How are you, Toshi-kun? We’ve been very worried about you,” she said.

He stared at her white Noh mask and the blue light shining from its eyes. His smile grew wider. “I’m happy, Miko-san, happier than I’ve ever been, now that you’re here,” he admitted. “I’d started thinking maybe you had all left before I’d had a chance to see you again.”

“Silly boy,” she chided, “we would never do that to our appointed savior.”

He looked away, feeling his cheeks grow hot; but his smile, if anything, grew wider.

As they neared the lit courtyard, Miko dropped back to stand with Asaka. Leaving the group in the shadows, Toshi approached the castle’s lord.

“Asano-sama, Lord Asaka wishes for me to convey to you his willingness for an audience.” He felt Asano’s gaze fall heavily on him before it shifted to look past him. Himiko hovered near her father, her excited face going from Toshi to the shadowed forms behind him and back again.

Asano leaned forward and spoke softly. “If you would, Kazete-san, ask him to please present himself before me.”

Toshi nodded and rushed back to his companions.

Asano’s guards clustered about their lord as Asaka stepped forward. He stopped a short distance away and bowed low. As he looked up, gasps ran through those close by as they saw the green glow coming from behind his mask’s eye slits.

“It has been a very long time, Asano-sama.”

“Much too long, Asaka-san.” The samurai lord looked unperturbed by the enigma before him.

“It is my great shame I couldn’t come sooner,” Asaka replied.

“It’s to your greater honor you’ve been able to come at all.”

Asaka lowered his head for a moment but said nothing.

“We have much to discuss, you and I,” Asano added. “Much is owed. Many things are left to be taken care of. Would you take a stroll with an aging man?”

“I would be honored,” Asaka said.

“Father, no.” Himiko clung to her father’s side. His guards surged forward, fear reflecting in their eyes.

“This man is my trusted vassal,” Asano roared. “He has made every sacrifice a samurai can make for his lord and more. Do not shame me by your actions! There’s nothing to fear.”

Himiko released her father’s arm. His men reluctantly fell back. Walking side-by-side, Asano and Asaka moved past Toshi and the others, who moved to let them through.

“Who’s the young lady, Toshi-kun?” Miko whispered. “She seems to be trying to catch your attention.”

“Huh?” He drew his gaze away from the direction the two lords had taken. “Oh, that’s Lady Himiko, Asano-sama’s daughter. She helped me figure out a way to get an audience with her father.”

“Do you know her well?” Miko asked.

“I guess so,” he replied. “We’ve kept each other company during most of my stay here.”

Silver bells tinkled in the night as Miko nodded her head knowingly. “Have you pillowed with her?”

He choked. “Miko-san! She’s the lord’s daughter!” He glanced behind him, hoping Himiko hadn’t overheard them somehow. The geisha’s soft laughter cascaded to his burning ears.

“Oh, Toshi-chan, you are such a delight!”

He glanced back again—Himiko was, indeed, trying to gain his attention. “Miko-san, would you—would you like to meet her?”

Though he had hoped for this often enough, now that the opportunity was there he was no longer sure.

“Oh, yes, I’d love to,” the geisha said eagerly.

He left Miko’s side and went to join Himiko. As soon as he’d come into the area protected by Asano’s samurai, she rushed forward to meet him.

“Kazete-san! It’s true, it’s all true,” she said. “I beg you to forgive me. I thought your recent fever had clouded your mind. Though I had tried not to, I doubted your tale.” She wouldn’t look him in the eye.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” he told her. “You believed in me enough to help me and that’s what counts.

If I’d been in your position, I would have never believed a word of it.”

A soft smile crossed her lips before she turned shyly away from him.

“Himiko-sama, I’ve someone I’d like you to meet,” he said. “It’s someone who means a great deal to me.”

Her wide almond eyes turned to meet his own. “Meet? One of them?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “It really would mean a lot to me. I’ve hoped for some time the two of you might meet.”

“The geisha?”

“Yes.” He tried to read her slightly paling face.

“You want us to meet?” she asked again.

“I’d like it very much.”

Himiko glanced in the skeletons’ direction. After a moment, she straightened up, a smile on her face. It was only a little frayed around the edges. “Please introduce us. I’d be honored to meet her.”

She took his arm as he led her away from the ring of guards toward his companions. Miko left the shadows and met them partway. She bowed deeply. The two of them quickly did the same.

“Miko-san, I’d like to introduce you to Lady Himiko. Himiko-sama, this is my friend, Akiuji Miko.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Akiuji-san.” Himiko’s awed and frightened gaze wouldn’t leave the geisha’s white mask.

“It’s my pleasure,” Miko said. “I see there’s much of your father in you.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

“We’re grateful you helped Toshi-kun achieve his task. By helping him, you helped all of us.”

“I truly did nothing,” Himiko countered. “Kazete-san did all the work. I was just grateful for his company, never suspecting how much more he would eventually do. If not for him, my father and I would never have gotten our lives back from those who’d stolen them.”

Toshi blushed crimson.

“He does that rather well, don’t you think so?” Miko asked mischievously.

A small smile lit Himiko’s face. “Yes, I think you’re right, Miko-san. He does do it quite well.”

With his cheeks now burning even more intently, Toshi stared helplessly from one to the other as they laughed behind raised sleeves.

“This is why practicing the way of the sword is better,” Mitsuo confided quietly from behind him.

He glanced at his teacher, nodding in agreement with the stooped samurai.

“Kirin-san.” Asano’s deep voice startled them all as it cut across the courtyard. Kirin hurried off in the direction of the call, to reappear moments later. He stayed in the courtyard only long enough to pick out a couple of men before disappearing with them into the castle.

Wondering what was going on, Toshi stared after them. In less than two minutes, the three men reappeared. One carried a mat, the other a table. Kirin’s arms were loaded with paper, brushes, ink and several other items. The three stepped without explanation across the courtyard and off in the direction Asano and Asaka had gone.

Silence settled as everyone waited to see what might happen next. As the minutes dragged on, a low murmur of whispers could be heard growing on both sides. Silence instantly reigned again, however, when the two guards rushed back into the courtyard.

The two men hurried to the middle of the open yard and set the mat on the ground with the table on top of it. Kirin returned, soon followed by Asaka and Asano, who were still deep in conversation. Toshi couldn’t help but eavesdrop as they walked by.

“His clan has always used many dishonorable methods,” Asano said. “I am not surprised he hired an assassin to thwart your mission, even if it meant sinking your ship and taking the assassin with it. There was no way you could have known.”