Shadow Fan (The Shadow Fan Series #1) (6 page)

He nodded, shot to his feet
, and followed the Lord to the town. Smoke billowed thicker than before. Screams rent the air, pushing Naru faster. But he was uncoordinated, and stumbled several times before falling on the rocky path. He hadn’t used his legs in many months. The fan tumbled from his hand and came to a stop at the Lord’s feet.

With wild eyes, Lord Osamu snatched the fan from the dirt and opened it. “You are too weak, Naru. But don’t worry. I heard everything Spirit Yoshino said. I will save t
he town. I am bread of nobles. Surely I have a balanced spirit.”

Naru pushed himself up on his elbows, blood trickling to the dirt. He ignored the pain from his scraped forearm. “You must give it back, honorable Lord. You must have heard her warning—” Naru struggled to
his feet, but the Lord departed.

“I must save my family!” He shouted over his shoulder.

Naru chased the man down, struggling with his own heavy limbs. By the time he caught up to the Lord, he had already turned the fan black side out. Naru dove for it, only to have it swiped from his reach. That simple movement began the draw of shadows.

Naru stepped back, behind the Lord. He watched in awe as Yoshino’s spirit was summoned into the Lord’s body. Her image translucent over his, she grimaced as the fan forced her to submit.

Naru blanched. She didn’t say it would actually summon her spirit to the user’s body. She had trusted him with a weapon equal to a leash tied around a dog’s neck.

The Lord’s feet stepped precisely from one side to the other. His wrist gracefully arced the fan as he danced the shadow summoning dance. His form swayed in elegant grace as the temperature dropped.

Naru watched in horror as the shadows from every crevice lengthened to the Lord. And finally, the carnage of the invading soldiers stilled.

Despite the sudden quiet, the Lord’s body continued to dance.  The village was still far off, but he could see the people’s forms. All bodies before them fell to their knees, writhing in agony.

“Stop.” Naru stepped as close as he dared. He didn’t want to disturb the delicate balance and injure Yoshino in return. “You must stop now. The people—”

“The people are not safe yet. The enemy is still aliv
e.” The Lord’s body did not falter in its draw of power.

Naru fell to his knees as the women and children lay in searing pain, slack-jawed. The fan coaxed the very shadows from their mouths, nostrils and ears. Their innards drawn out with the shadows attached to them, spilling onto the streets.

“Aya!” He screamed. “Aya, run!” He turned to Yoshino inside of the Lord. “Please, make him stop. He’s killing her.” But Yoshino couldn’t answer. She was trapped unless the Lord himself abandoned the use of the fan.

The sound of tearing fabric marred the air beside him. A dark length rent space and time. The smell of burning earth filled his nostrils as Aya fell out of the hole in the sky. The gaping rift cl
osed quickly, but not before he saw a flash of a red tinted
Mushi
.

Naru’s chest heaved as his arms went around her little body. Blood flowed from her eyes, nose
and ears. “Aya?” he whispered in her ear. She opened her lids to expose blood filled orbs. She stared straight ahead, as if blinded.

Her hand wandered up his chest to touch his face. “Naru?” She croaked. “I was floating
… Have I died?”

“No.” He crushed her to his chest. “I’ve got you. I won’t let go this time.” Her hand dropped to her stomach as she passed out. Naru fought his quivering chin. “I won’t leave you again. I promise.” 

He looked out over the village. The roads ran red until all was silent. No life breathed before them.

The Lord finally stopped. The dance complete. His arm dropped and Yoshino’s spirit left him. “Finally, the evil is destroyed. I have saved them.”

Naru gazed down the mountain side, over the village to the banks of the river. “Who have you saved, my Lord? There is not a soul left alive.”

But the Lord did not have time to understand his great error. His eyes rolled into the back of his skull. He fell to the earth, dead.

Naru took the fan from his fingers and knelt before the Lord. “And so your life is the payment for taking the lives of thousands.” He needed to fix this, somehow. He needed to speak directly to his teacher. He welcomed the release of his soul from his body. Yoshino waited in all her glory to teach him.

“The Lord was a fool, but so was I.” He swallowed as he looked down over Aya’s body. “I will ask your forgiveness later. But, for now is there any way to save these innocents? The women and children… Aya.”

“There is a way.” Yoshino touched the white side of the fan. “If you focus your mind on only the villagers, and dance with the white side out, you may revive them.” Yoshino’s fingers rested on his chest, just over his heart. “But, you must calm your spirit, Naru. If your being is not in balance the fan will take you as payment, also.” She walked to Aya’s curled body and knelt beside her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do anything for your fiancé.” She smiled. “
Mushi
typically have the intelligence of a bug. But Tomo was exposed to your blood when you fell. Somehow, through the absorption of your physical makeup, he knew exactly what you needed. He brought Aya to my world then dropped her back off in yours.”

Tomo
. The little
Mushi
did curls up Naru’s arm until he settled around his shoulder. His new crimson light left Naru wondering what exactly his blood had done to his glowing friend. Either way, he felt indebted to Tomo.
As long as I live you may dwell with me in whatever way you please.
He bowed to Yoshino while petting Tomo. “Thank you,” he said to both of them. A moment later he was back in his body.

Naru closed his eyes. Breathing slowly, he tried to erase the carnage before him from his mind. In the end it didn’t matter if he had to give his life, as long as Aya lived. He needed focus. He trusted Yoshino. She would do what she could. She needed the humans on her mountain as much as he did. With feet together, he calmed his mind. He needed to be balanced, an impartial judge. He was simply setting a wrong to right.

When he opened his eyes again his feet spread. Turning the fan white side out, his arm arced through the air. He felt her power slide through his body. Just as before, he surrendered himself to her movements. Her warmth and balance filled his limbs. The light coursed through his senses, blinding him. So this was why the Lord could not tell he was killing his own family as well as the enemy? Naru felt his leg tug to the left, and he allowed his foot to be moved. His mind focused on reviving the innocent people in the village and Aya.

One balanced step after another and he realized he knew some of these moves. They were fighting moves, only softened and graceful. The fan was Yoshino’s sword, and elixir of life.

Once the dance finished, Naru felt the spirit withdraw from his body, out his arm, and back to the fan. He opened his eyes to see Aya stirring. He rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Now we will see if I die,” he breathed. He buried his face in her dark hair, breathing in her scent of cherry blossoms.

Yoshino came to stand beside him. “You are a good student and an honorable priest. You will not die today.”

Naru bowed over Aya’s body, folded the fan and held it out to Yoshino. But she only smiled at him. “You are worthy of my power. I entrust the fan to your care.” As she touched his shoulder he looked into her eyes.

Bright flashes in Naru’s consciousness revealed scenes of distant lovers.
What’s happening to my head? I feel like these things haven’t happened, yet…
A human man and a spirit woman clung to each other in the Border Lands. They lived as one in his world, never leaving each other’s side. They loved so deeply. When he regained control of his mind he blinked the images away. “I’ve just seen the future.”

Yoshino nodded. “That would be Tomo’s influence. I’ve seen this happen before. You might have this new gift for the rest of your life.” Naru continued to stare at Yoshino as if she were a stranger. Her brow creased. “What?”

Naru still couldn’t believe what he’d seen, but he knew it was the truth. “You will fall in love with a priest of my lineage.”

Yoshino scoffed. “Me? In love with a human man? I would never be so foolish.”

Naru nodded, blushing. He’d just seen Yoshino in a very vulnerable way. “He will be a child of triplets. His birth will be a miracle, as will your love.”

Surprised by his revelation, Yoshino fell silent. As the noise in the background picked up he turned to take in the village. The people were conscious, and cheering for their lives. Naru couldn’t help but smile at the joy when a warm, delicate hand cradled his face. He gasped as his gaze met the sparkling, healthy brown eyes of Aya.

She blinked tears away. “My husband. You’re back.” He tightened his embrace and nodded against her. “I knew you would come.”

Aya’s hand slipped under his chin, and his lips dipped to meet hers. Lost in her passionate sighs and moans, he ignored the calls to him from the distance.

“Am I invited to the wedding?” Aya broke from the kiss, and Naru looked up to Yoshino’s smiling face drifting very near theirs. Naru chuckled. She always did have a bit of a silly side.

“Who is this?” Aya asked, confusion creasing her forehead.

Naru was never going to get used to others being able to see the Mountain Spirit. “Aya, this is Yoshino, Spirit of the Mountain, and my teacher.”

Aya’s eyes grew wide as she nodded vigorously. “Y-yes.  Please come to our wedding. It would be an honor.”

Yoshino leaned back. “And what should I bring as a gift for your union?”

Aya blinked. “Oh, you don’t have to… Um.” She grew quiet. “Actually…” She leaned in and whispered to Naru. Her breath tickled as she asked if he agreed.

Naru smiled down at her. “My bride was wondering if you would be so good as to bring some butterflies to our celebration?”

“Wonderful.” She clasped her hands. “I think that’s a splendid idea for a wedding.” She bowed as her form started to fade.

Naru and Aya got to their feet. “I wondered how long you would be visible to everyone.”

Yoshino looked down the mountain at the ascending vi
llagers. “Tomo’s abilities do not last long. But I’ll still be nearby, in case anything else comes up.”

“Of course.” Naru and Aya bowed deeply as Yoshino disappeared.

Wakana and her husband embraced Naru, welcoming him back. But their joy was short lived as a cry of pain echoed over the mountain side. Aya and Wakana noticed the crowd around their mother, and hurried to her. She clutched Lord Osamu, sobbing.

Aya caught Naru’s hand. She leaned into his chest to cover her face. “Why didn’t my father come back?”

Naru held her close and cleared his throat. Loud and steady he addressed the crowd. Many of them gasped seeing him alive and well. “The Lord used the shadow fan of Yoshino to destroy the enemy, knowing it could take his life. He cared only of his family and the villagers he so loved. He is a hero, and will be celebrated as such.” Aya’s face turned up and some of the pain melted away. Her relief was the only reason behind his exaggerated words. “Your father was an honorable man.”

She swallowed, shaking her head. “He killed the invaders, but you are the one who brought us back.”

Naru wiped a tear from her emotional face. She didn’t need to know he was the one who caused everyone so much pain. “His actions were in ignorance. He didn’t have the training and understanding I do. He wanted to save you. He tried to save you. Let’s leave your mother and sister to believe the good deeds were all him. And you, too.”

EPILOGUE

Naru peppered his new wife’s neck and shoulder with kisses before slipping out of bed to the cool night air. He leanqed against a supporting beam and slid to sit on the polished, wooden walkway. The moon shone full in the distance, basking Yoshino’s shrine in its glow. He sipped on some water as he enjoyed the view.

He hadn’t seen Yoshino all day, but he knew she was close by. “Thanks for the butterflies at our wedding today,” he said to the shrine.

“It was as I agreed.”

Naru jumped, and pulled his barely-on kimono tighter. “Yoshino, what are you doing here?”

She sat next to him, dangling her feet off the side. “I had some questions for you, like why you l
et everyone believe that silly Lord was their savior? He only caused pain.” Her chin raised to the night sky. “If you had used the fan as I had specified then no one would have suffered.” She shot an annoyed look at him. “Where is the balance in that?”

Naru leaned back with a little smile to gaze at his wife. “That’s why. The balance goes to her. The honor of what they believe her father did lessens her grief. And so she is able to sleep at night.”

Yoshino huffed. “You are the one who should be praised. The only credit given to him should be that of an impatient fool.”

Naru smiled. “He loved his family. Love turns us all into fools.” He drank in his wife’s sleep
ing form, ready to crawl back into bed with her.