The Song of the Wind

by Nicolette Andrews

"That's not necessary. It's just a scratch."

  The maid ignored Suzume's protest and hurried out of the room, leaving the two of them alone together. "I came as soon as I heard. If I had known you were in danger I would have protected you better. I've ordered guards to watch you day and night. I will not let this happen again. If this had turned out differently..." he trailed off as he searched her face.

  Did he send the yokai to attack me, just so he can put me under guard? But that didn't make any sense. If that's what he wanted he could have done that from the start.

  "I can take care of myself," Suzume said, yanking her hands away. Her words were harsher than she intended. After everything that had happened today she forgot who she was speaking to. She bowed her head in apology. "I'm sorry, your majesty. I spoke without thinking."

  The emperor placed his hand on her shoulder. "There is no need to apologize. Perhaps I am getting carried away. Ryuu told me you fought the yokai on your own. He seemed impressed." He smiled. "Ryuu is never impressed."

  Suzume fought the smile that threatened to spread across her face. This was all part of his manipulation. He didn't really think she was impressive. He was trying to keep her compliant. They were both playing this game, but she intended to win.

  "Nonetheless, I would feel better if there was someone on hand to protect you. I have asked Ryuu to be your personal guard."

  "What?" She turned to face him. "How can you trust him? Don't you know—"

  "Ryuu is loyal to me and he will keep you safe. That is all that matters."

  She felt like a petulant child, arguing with him. She'd spoken without thinking. She had not come here to please her father. She had to free her friends first. But this would only make matters more complicated.

  16

  Flying through the sky and feeling the wind ripple around his body was a feeling Kaito could lose himself to. Everything fell away up above the clouds. There was no marital alliance, there were no personal betrayals, there wasn't even a kingdom for him to rule. There were him and the endless horizon. It had always brought him comfort—it helped everything fall into place. He didn't have to worry about his brother's ambitions or the fractured state of his kingdom.

  A large cloud loomed in front of him and he sped up, spearing through it. Mist clung to him as he passed through and the cloud broke apart, scattering on the wind. He weaved and dived, playing along the breeze and the clouds. The landscape zoomed along beneath him, and his serpentine shadow snaked over the trees, hills, and lakes. Occasionally he'd pass over a rice patty, and farmers would stop their work to tilt their heads back and watch him pass overhead. They'd convince themselves it was a trick of their eye or they'd think it was the wind or the clouds.

  Humans were so slow to believe even when the truth was in front of their faces. But there are still those who are hunting us. For as long as he could remember, he had thought of humans as nothing more than harmless insects, far below his notice. But as he passed through lands he had once known, domains which had once teamed with yokai a few centuries before, he found human farms and human towns. And no matter how much he searched, he could not find his kind. Not anywhere.

  As Kaito continued his lazy journey across the countryside, he felt a flicker of power close by. It was enough that he slowed his progress to better pinpoint it. But as quickly as he had sensed it, it disappeared. Could there still be powerful yokai left in Akatsuki? There were those who had the ability to cloak their power. Kaito doubled back, trying to find the source of the power, even the smallest hint would have been a comfort. But after several fruitless minutes of searching, he found nothing.

  Hana had said many of the big and powerful yokai had gone into hiding in recent centuries. Whoever it was, they didn't want to be found. The brush against that power reminded him of the purpose for his journey. All the dragons had set out to contact his former allies, and he was on his way to meet with one of the descendants of his old general. He only hoped the son maintained the same loyalty as his old friend. Ai's offer of marriage had to be a last resort. Everything he had, he'd gotten on his own. And he wasn't ready to shackle his life to another’s to get what was lost.

  The landscape grew more rugged as he approached his destination, and as he was preparing to glide over a mountain peak, he felt a brush of that same power again. Just a glimpse, enough to let him know it was there.

  Kaito reached the peak of the mountain and wrapped his serpentine body around it so he could survey the landscape. The clouds hung around the top of the mountain concealing him from view. The feeling was gone. But he was certain he had been followed. Perhaps they were not as benign as he had thought. Kaito spread out his senses, searching for a hint of them, but found nothing. They had to be powerful indeed to disguise themselves this well. He waited a few more moments for them to attack, but when they didn't he continued onward.

  For the rest of the journey Kaito was waiting for their attack, his eyes scanning all around him, above and below. But no attack came. He reached the mountain ranges of his destination, where the thick forest cloaked the outside world. Snow peaked the mountaintops and coated the ground. Even Kaito, who breathed ice, felt the chill of this place. The land was wild and devoid of humans. In fact, Kaito had not seen any humans in hours.

  This was one of the last strongholds of the yokai. He could feel it in the air—the energy of his kind crackled all around him. It was as if no time had changed at all, this was how the world used to be. When the forest became too thick to see where he was going, he transformed into his more humanoid form and walked up a stone pathway. The yokai palace was a massive structure in the center of the forest, hewn from the rock itself. There was no real artifice to the place. It was a palace of function. A stronghold. The walls were made of stone and manned by massive oni. Their thick arms were corded with muscle and they possessed massive swords that were almost twice Kaito's size.

  Walking up to the gate, Kaito had to tilt his head back to see the top of it.

  Two massive oni were on the top of the gate and leered down at him. They had large underbites, and fangs protruding from their lips. Their skin was a mottled blue and green. And strapped to their backs were weapons that would cleave Kaito in two.

  "State your business," the oni said in a booming voice.

  Kaito cupped his hands together to shout up to them. "I am the great dragon, come to see your leader," he said. "My messengers should have sent word of my arrival."

  Kaito had expected such a greeting. It was in their nature. He waited patiently, hands at his side. If he posed any threat at all, they would attack first and ask questions later. The oni who had shouted down to him disappeared and Kaito occupied himself by gazing at the scenery. On the rest of the island winter was not far off, but it had already gotten its icy grip on the landscape here high in the mountains.

  After a few minutes the gate opened with a thundering creak and the oni was standing there waiting for Kaito.

  "This way," he said, gesturing for Kaito to follow him. The courtyard was brimming with oni. They were practicing their swordplay, using their massive two-handed blades to bash into one another. Their footsteps rattled the floor beneath them as they thundered toward each other.

  Kaito was led up the main steps into the building beyond. There was a long hall which appeared to be a simple room where more oni were gathered drinking and gambling together. They did not even bother to glance at him as he walked among them. Their leader sat, not at the head of the room, but gambling with a group of oni. Kaito only knew him by the enormous blade strapped to his back, which was bigger than any he had seen before.

  Kaito was left standing there, waiting for acknowledgment from the leader, while he placed bets. After a time long enough to be an insult, the oni turned to Kaito at last. He had the look of his father. Long, thick, black hair fell over his brow and from his forehead protruded a single twisted horn. His skin was a green, bordering on black, his arms were corded with thick muscles, and a thick gut hung over th
e edge of his animal-hide pants. He wore several animal pelts tied together over his torso with the neck exposed and a necklace made of bones the size of human femurs. There was something in his keen eyes, which made him stand out against his more brutish and stupid underlings.

  "You are far from home, dragon." The oni gave him a quick once over, dismissing him with a glance before turning back to his game.

  It irked Kaito's pride and he shot an icy spear at him. The ice grazed the oni leader's cheek, sheering off a forelock. A chunk of the oni's dark hair fell onto the floor beside him.

  Every oni in the room leaped to their feet at once, grabbing their weapons as they did. Only the leader remained sitting. He stared at the hair which had fallen onto the ground.

  "You are bold to disrespect me in my own domain."

  Kaito laughed, giving him a chilly smile in return. "You are the one who has not shown the proper respect to the ruler of Akatsuki."

  He turned toward Kaito, his amber eyes glittering with amusement.

  "No one has ruled Akatsuki for five hundred years."

  "I admit I overslept a bit," Kaito said, flashing razor-sharp canines at the oni.

  "Do you think you're the first dragon to come here claiming to be the great dragon? Everyone knows he died five hundred years ago, and with him a unified Akatsuki."

  "Oh? I guess I didn't get the message."

  A smile curled the yokai's lips. "I let you come because I wanted to get a look at you. But you're no different than all the rest. Leave now before I take your display as a real threat." He waved his hand and turned his attention back to the game. The other oni had not sat down however.

  "Your father would be ashamed to see you grow so lax," Kaito taunted.

  He rose up this time, drawing his massive weapon as he did so. "You pretend to know my father? I should strike your head from your shoulders for that."

  "Try," Kaito said, holding out his hands palm up.

  The oni pulled back his blade and swung backward. Had it hit Kaito it would have sent him flying, but the weapon was overlarge and bulky and he had plenty of time to dodge before it struck.

  It collided with a nearby pillar, splintering it as he pulled it out. He stalked closer toward Kaito, who was dancing just outside of his reach.

  "You're much slower than your father, perhaps it's that massive blade."

  "Are you saying I cannot wield Tetsuyama?"

  Kaito laughed. "That is not Tetsuyama." He remembered clearly the blade his friend had wielded, more an extension of himself than anything else. This blunt object was not that legendary sword.

  "Do not waste my time. I grow weary of it." He swung his massive sword once more and Kaito dodged it again.

  The son was a capable fighter, but with a sword whose only benefit was brute strength he was no match for his father's skill.

  "What happened to his sword?" Kaito taunted as he continued to dance just outside his reach.

  The oni was chasing after him, swinging his too heavy blade and destroying his own hall, without landing a strike upon Kaito. His men stomped their feet and cheered for their leader. But it was no use, Kaito came up behind him and placed a quick hit to the back of his neck.

  The oni's knees crumpled beneath him as he fell to the floor and as he crashed dust burst up around him. Kaito stood over his defeated opponent with a hand on his hips.

  The oni that had been circling around him closed in but before they could lay a hand on him, the leader rose up and held out his hand to halt them.

  Tears welled up in his eyes. "It is you. You've returned from the dead."

  Kaito walked over, offering a hand to the son of the man he had known so well.

  "I am and I have a request to make of you."

  In the typical oni style, talks were done over drinks and a meal. Oni brought out massive platters of whole roasted deer, mounds of rice, and miles and miles of side dishes. The oni ate greedily, grasping with their hands. The sake was poured from large jugs and the oni drank deeply, getting louder as the drinks flowed.

  Kaito sat beside the leader of the oni, Katsumi.

  "My father would have been so happy to see you returned to your place. He spoke highly of you," he said, wrapping his arm around Kaito's shoulder. There were still a few stray tears in his eyes. He was so much like his father.

  "Your father was a good man." Kaito held up his sake to cheer with the younger oni.

  "An even better fighter," said another yokai, continuing the cheers. They all drank.

  "A superb leader," said another.

  They drank again. There were several more rounds of drinking, and Kaito was starting to feel the effects of the drinks upon him.

  "I never thought he'd fall in battle. It wasn't until that bastard came around," the oni said, slamming his fist onto the table.

  "Who was it that he fought? Akio? Goro? Shinobi?" Kaito asked.

  The man nodded his head. "A half-breed."

  Kaito tilted his head. "Your father was killed by a half-breed?"

  The man puffed up his chest, as if he needed to defend the honor of the dead. "He wasn't just any hanyou. He was unnatural. They say he had control of both human and yokai ancestry. It was said he could take any shape he wished and wielded spiritual power as a priest. He was something the likes of which we've never seen before."

  "How long has it been since your father has fallen?"

  The yokai lord had tears rolling down his face. "It has been almost two hundred years now." He dissolved into tears and large drops poured out of him. Kaito patted his back, trying to give him comfort.

  "There was no fighter who rivaled your father and with Tetsuyama in his hand, he was unstoppable. How did this happen?"

  "It was a trap. That bastard made us believe you'd woken again, my father went to you. And when he arrived he was slain. He took Tetsuyama!" he howled and pounded his fists onto the table.

  What would a half-breed want with a yokai sword? And he had taken Kaito's image. If he ever found the man, he'd gut him for the offense but that was a concern for a later time.

  Kaito stood up to face the crowd around him. "You have suffered loss, but I am here to tell you I am going to bring back Akatsuki to its former glory. I will find the bastard who took Testsuyama and bring it back home!"

  There were cheers all around as the oni stomped their feet.

  17

  Light had just barely started to filter through the cracks in her door when Suzume was awoken by the sound of footsteps approaching her. She laid immobile on her futon, her eyes screwed shut while her fingers inched toward the staff she left hidden under her blankets. A hand came down on her shoulder and Suzume bolted upright, parrying her staff toward her attacker. A frightened maid stumbled backward, knocking over a tray of tea and cakes that she had set down not far from Suzume's bed. The tea spill spread across the floor.

  Suzume lowered her staff, but not entirely. She'd already been tricked by one maid. There was no telling if this was just another yokai in disguise.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "My lady, I brought you breakfast," she stuttered and hurriedly put herself into a kneeling position on the floor.

  Her entire body was shaking, so either she was an expert of disguise or Suzume had truly terrified her.

  The spilled tea spread out soaking what had been her breakfast. It dawned on Suzume that this was exactly as it appeared. The woman had only brought her breakfast as was her duty, not everyone was out to kill or kidnap her.

  Suzume lowered her weapon to her side.

  "Don't sneak up on me like that," she said and turned away from the servant, too embarrassed to admit she'd forgotten what it was like to live in the palace. She'd grown accustomed to fighting for her life. That, coupled with the recent attack, had left her on edge.

  The servant cleaned up the spill, and the only sound in the room was the chink of the china as she scooped it off the floor.

  "Am I interrupting something?" Suzume turned around to se
e Ryuu standing in the middle of her room. Once more she was much too underdressed to be receiving guests.

  "What are you doing here?" she snapped.

  "We have training, or have you forgotten already?"

  Suzume flushed. She hadn't forgotten, in fact she'd spent a restless night thinking about how she was going to slip his notice.

  "You didn't have to come and remind me," she snapped back at him.

  He smirked at her and there was something familiar about that smile. "Well, I'll leave you to get dressed then and we shall head to the temple together."

  The prospect of journeying to the temple with him was less than pleasant, but she knew there was no room for argument. She had to play the emperor's game if she wanted to free her friends.

  The servant returned, noticeably shaken and Suzume did her best to try and be kind to her. But it felt as if gentleness was a trait she would always lack. Her clothes were not the opulent multi-layered style of a court lady, but something closer to what she'd worn as a priest—a hakama and hoari in muted grays. When the clothes were on she felt the most at ease she had felt since she'd returned to the palace. I can move in these clothes.

  Ryuu escorted her out, and the halls were empty but for a few servants bustling about. No one would be out and about until much later. Suzume didn't notice the palanquin waiting for them. It had been such a long time since she had ridden in one that it did not even occur to her that she would ride in one now.

  "Where are you going?" Ryuu asked as he stood by the open door of the palanquin.

  "To the temple." She gestured to the distant outline of the temple on the horizon.

  "It's much too far to walk." He pointed to the palanquin.

  "Of course." She coughed, realizing too late her mistake as she hurriedly got into the palanquin and took her seat beside Ryuu.

  The ride there was uncomfortable to say the least. Ryuu’s presence seemed to fill the space and whenever she tried to avert her gaze, her eyes were constantly drawn back to him. There was something about him that was almost familiar and strange at the same time. As if she'd known him her entire life but she'd only just met him. She'd never seen him before and yet he moved about the palace as if he'd always been there. She still hadn't ruled out the possibility that he was working with Hisato. It could not just be a coincidence that twice he'd been nearby to rescue her from potential kidnapping.