Shadow Fan (The Shadow Fan Series #1)

Copyright © 2013 Shelley Martin

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Published by Silver Seraphim Press

Cover art by Linda Issa

Edited by BriLee Editing

Acknowledgments

Than
k you to Heavenly Father, who has made me all thatq I am. Thank you to my husband, whose support led me to where I am. Thank you to my children, who have taught me patience, and share it with me while I disappear into my “writing worlds.” Thank you to my critique partners, you know who you are, and I know where you live. And a big thank you to my beta readers, who are too many to mention, but I am grateful to every one of you!

Glossary

Spirit
- A being existing without a body. They can be very powerful or weak. The more powerful become guardians over portions of our world and the Border Lands.

Mushi
- Life in its purest form. Because of their nature, their shapes and forms are ambiguous. Some you can see, some you can’t. Some can even take on human form. They are as simple and various as the insects of our world and mostly live in the Border Lands.

Yokai
- Often translated as “demons,” they can be portrayed as good or evil, but are always mischievous. They have a variety of abilities and often have animal-like qualities. The more powerful the Yokai, the more humanoid they appear.

Border Lands-
The land between this world and the next. Mushi and a variety of spirits live here, as well as human souls who have become lost once departing their body.

Oni
- A large troll like creature, with two horns protruding from their head and sharp claws. Their skin can be any color. In tales of old they are often the ultimate bad guys.

Shrine
- A platform within a small building or simple roof, containing an object or statue connected to a being of greater power; usually a spirit or God. These can be found on large sacred grounds or small roadside plots.

Priest/Priestess
- A man or woman devoted to a lifetime of service to a greater being.

Japan, 1513

CHAPTER ONE

Naru wasn’t exactly proud of eavesdropping. As a young Japanese man, honor was an important quality. But the village lord never came to Yoshino’s shrine. Something unusual was going on.

“So all the girls have just disappeared?” A priest asked.

Lord Osamu nodded. Although, as the father of two marriageable daughters, he didn’t look very worried. “About seven of them from the neighboring valley. All daughters of nobility.”

Another shrine priest joined the conversation. “So, that’s why you’re here? To watch over Lady Aya as she visits the shrine?”

The Lord yawned as if bored. “Yes. Well, it seems I’m not needed. The issue ended weeks ago. I’m sure the girls just ran away. After all, they have no decent men to marry in that valley.”

The men laughed. Naru rolled his eyes. If they weren’t going to be serious about keeping Aya safe, then he would. He could never let anything happen to the Lady.

The sound of rustling silk made him duck. He quickly went back to pretending to pull weeds. After the person passed, he peeked back up through the slats of the raised walkway. His breath stilled as the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen appeared in her long, flowing blue kimono. Lady Aya, youngest daughter of the Lord Osamu, smiled as she greeted the priests. Naru wished he could stand beside her and receive one of those heart-stopping smiles. Instead, he was suddenly staring at a weathered old groundskeeper.

“What are you doing here, son?” The old man was usually kind and patient, but right now he gazed at what was clenched in Naru’s hand.

Naru sighed and handed over the weeds to prove he wasn’t up to anything. “I was just trying to thank the spirit Yoshino, in my own way. By pulling the weeds. There’s mushroom growing around the back right corner, near the shrine as well.”

The groundkeeper’s graying, bushy brows rose. “Forgive me. With all feudal Japan at war with itself, one can never be too careful. If you want to go into the shrine, you may do so, son. We will not hold you back.”

Yes, but I’d look like the impoverished street dweller that I am next to her.
He bowed. “Thank you for your kindness, sir.”  He backed away and headed for the forest, away from Lady Aya. At least no one would stare at his ragged clothes there.

He was just within the veil of trees when a young woman stepped into his path. He jumped back with a start to avoid touching her expensive kimono. “Oh, I almost ran into you. Forgive me.” As he bowed he got a close up view of the silk pattern. It wasn’t Aya’s. Rainbow waves broken by ribbons of gold stared back at him. He knew the pattern of this kimono…

He straightened to see the lovely woman smiling at him.q

“You like Lady Aya
, don’t you?” She said in a hushed voice.

Eyes wide, Naru gulped. “It’s you.” He stepped back and carefully sank into a fighting stance.

The girl cocked her head as her delicate hands folded before her. Her eyes held a hint of mischievousness.

He couldn’t believe she was actually speaking to him. “You’re an
Oni
, aren’t you?”

A scowl shadowed her sweet face. “Do I look like a troll to you?”

Did she?
He glanced over her, searching for horns, warts, or yellow eyes. But the woman presented a flawless image. “Uh, no.” He ran through his mind what else could explain this woman’s existence. He lived in the forest and he’d often seen her in the distance. She’d appear like a ghost. Then when he’d follow, she’d vanish.

“You must be a
Yokai
then.” He swallowed as her brow rose.

“Really? You think I’m an earth-bound demon?”

He nodded mutely. “I’ve heard really powerful
Yokai
can take the form of a human.”

The playful glint returned to her eyes. “Yes, but they are mostly born of enchanted animals.” She leaned in close. “Do you see whiskers on my face? Or a tail from my backside?”

His eyes searched her face, her ears and hands. Then he blushed.
How am I supposed to check her backside without seeming rude?

She smiled knowingly. Putting one foot over the other, she turned slowly. Naru could se
e she wasn’t hiding any extra nonhuman body parts under her spotless kimono. Once she faced him fully, he relaxed and stood normally.
If she is something evil, wouldn’t she have attacked me already?

She smiled confidently. “Well, have I passed your test?”

He nodded. “Only, it doesn’t make sense…”

Her smile faded. “What doesn’t make sense?”

“Your kimono.” He studied the golden obi wrapped tight around her waist, and the edge of the layers under her sleeves. “There isn’t a speck of dirt on you. How could you be in the forest so often, in that very kimono, and not be even a little dirty?”

“Oh, that.” She checked her clothing, and smiled again. “Well, I can assure you, I’m no
Oni
or
Yokai
. But that’s exactly why I came to see you.”

Naru’s brow drew together.

“There is a
Yokai
here. At this shrine.”

He shifted his weight. “Really?”

The woman nodded. “It was chased out of the neighboring valley after killing several wealthy, young girls.” The muscles in Naru’s arms bulged as he tensed. “
Yokai
believe eating the daughters of wealthy men will grant them power.”

He looked back over to see Aya leaving. He never would have imagined the girls were eaten.  His sight didn’t leave her form until she was well down the mountain.

The woman stood next to him as they watched the procession disappear out of view. “I can help you. I can make her yours.”

His scowl deepened. “You’re crazy. I’m lower than the poorest peasant. I have no home, my clothes are filthy and too small. I don’t even have any friends. I’m too disgusting for people to notice.” He glared at her penetrating eyes. “Don’t give me false hope. It’s impossible. Go tell the priests if you think there’s a
Yokai
here.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Her chin dipped. “Because you are the only one who can see me, Naru.”q

His eyes narrowed.
That explains why no one else has ever seen her.
She had to be the ghost of a dead villager. “You seem to know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“You know my name,” she said softly.

He sighed. “Every time I tried to talk to you, you vanished. So no, I don’t know your name.”

Silence hung in the air so long Naru figured she was done talking. He turned to go.

“My name is Yoshino.”

His foot paused mid-air. Surely she couldn’t be
that
Yoshino.
Her parents must have named her that after the Great Spirit of the Mountain.

Like a little girl she hopped from one stone to another along the forest floor. “Did you know your father used to be a priest of mine?”

Nope. That statement sealed the fact that she was indeed who he feared she was. He put his hanging foot down. “He was disowned by the temple for falling in love with my mother.
No one
speaks of his time as a priest.”

She stopped and stared down the mountain, at the village. “He was one of my favorites. I sent dreams to the
High Priest to allow the men to marry. It was a foolish law their ancestors made up, to have a priest live his life as if he were 'married' to me.” She snorted. “As if a human man could keep up with me, let alone a whole temple full.” She sighed. “But your father understood my dreams. He was the only one who accepted them as a true message. When he followed my wishes he was cast out.”