"She can save herself."
45
Dawn broke over the horizon, painting the sky pink and orange. Long shadows were cast over the garden Suzume's room overlooked. Fingers of darkness crept toward her where she stood, half in shadows herself. It would have been a beautiful morning had she not been on her way to kill Kaito. Her last hope was that Rin could warn him in time. Hopefully by the time she reached her destination he would have gone into hiding. She scoffed at her own thoughts. Knowing the dragon, he was probably already on his way here to try and save her from herself. That's what Hisato had wanted, to force them together. If she was lucky, he'd kill her for certain this time.
Her maid came in and Suzume turned away from the window and the growing light of day. She donned the warrior priest attire, wearing all black with her staff strapped to her back. By the emperor's decree she was to go and kill the dragon—who Izume and Hisato had led him to believe was a threat to the kingdom. If only she could get close to the emperor and explain the truth to him. But Izume had made sure Suzume couldn't get near him. Not that she could break Hisato's command anyway.
"Up already?" Tsuki asked with a yawn and a stretch as he entered her room.
Suzume clenched her mouth shut. She didn't want the lies to spill out of her. Hisato's orders had been clear—tell no one where you’re going.
"I-" she started to say. No, I won't do it.
Tsuki frowned as he got closer to her.
"What's wrong with you?"
You can do this. Fight him. "We-" she started again but all that came out was a strangled growl.
She swung at the wall, punching it hard, as she'd seen Kaito do when he got angry. Pain rippled up her arm, radiating outward and flames flickered there. Kazue had taken her self-harm as an indication Suzume was in danger. If only her power could burn up the bond between her and Kaito.
Akira shifted into view, taking Suzume's hand in hers. "What is the matter with you?" She touched Suzume's bloody knuckles. The wounds were already starting to heal, just more proof that Suzume was no longer human.
"Don't let me-" she started to say, but her mouth clamped shut. Kazue's fire had given her only a few seconds of control.
The pain was only a momentary distraction. But it wasn't enough. She'd have to bash her head into the wall to get more time, but she might lose consciousness before she could warn her friends too. What was the use? Even if she warned them Hisato would use that against her too. He had won. Every moment had been orchestrated by Hisato. Even the people she thought she could trust betrayed her. She slumped to her knees, collapsing beneath the weight of her realization. There was no way she could stop Hisato. He would always be two steps ahead.
"The emperor has sent us on another mission," Suzume replied.
"You said, ‘don't let you?’" Akira frowned.
"I misspoke," Suzume said in a hollow, defeated voice.
"What are you not telling us?" Akira said, her voice more authoritative.
"It's not the mission," she lied again. "I just don't want to leave the palace."
"You're not acting like yourself."
They've begun to suspect. If they are going to be an obstacle, then they must be removed, Hisato's voice cooed inside her mind. Suzume's head shot up.
"No!" Suzume cried out.
"Suzume?" Akira reached out for her, but as she approached her, Suzume leaped to her feet.
The first notes of the song of binding poured out of Suzume. Tsuki took control of the body he shared with his sister but not quickly enough. The song wove around him, freezing him in place. His betrayed expression cut her deep.
I don't want this. Why are you doing this?
Hisato's laughter filled her ears in reply. This is who you are, Suzume. Embrace it.
Noaki rushed in just as the stone Tsuki was sealed in clattered to the floor. He swerved around the room, moving quicker than her eyes could trace. She raised her hand, flinging flames in his direction. He dodged and came up behind her, ready to knock her unconscious. But as he prepared to land a blow, she held up her hand. "Stop."
Noaki froze in place. "Suzume, this is not you," he said.
I wish I could stop this. Flames crackled in the palm of her hand.
Do it, Hisato urged her. She imagined him watching her, smiling with glee as she betrayed her friends.
"I can't," She croaked, as she flung the fiery ball at Noaki straight into the center of his chest. It sent him flying backward, crashing into the painted screen at the back of her room. Before he could take even a moment to recover, she sang the song of binding. As the last notes of the song faded away into the emptiness of the room, she fell to her knees and stared at the place where Noaki had been. All that remained was the shattered remains of the screen. You belong to me now.
She was well and truly on her own now. If only she had been stronger, then none of this would have happened. The door opened and Suzume did not even raise her head as Hisato strode in.
"I see you’re ready." He reached out to cup her cheek. "I must thank you for helping me. By sending the kitsune, you've perfected my trap. He will be wary of you for certain, but the dragon cannot resist rescuing you."
She stood up and followed Hisato out to the courtyard where her escorts were waiting. Several warrior priests were among them—ones she had gone on other missions with. Thankfully Ryuu wasn't there. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she had to face him again. This had been her fault, for even daring to trust him. It was obvious now. He'd been working for Hisato all along. He had led her to Izume, so they could bring her back here where she could continue influencing the emperor.
The journey to Kaito's palace would not take long. They took the same route they had when she had gone to Osaka. Hisato joined them up until they got to the docks.
"I shall join you at sunset with my army," he said.
Before the day was out, one way or another, she and Kaito would fight and this time one of them would die.
Suzume got onto the ferry boat and watched as the countryside rolled by. A few miles downriver the waters became rough. The calm river should not have had tossing waves, but the wind picked up and blew everything around on deck. Suzume stood, clinging to the railing to keep from being tossed overboard. She half expected to see Kaito but though the sky overhead was a bleak gray, and thunder cracked, there was no sign of the dragon.
Instead the crew and priests had all focused their attention to the shore, where two figures stood. The breeze carried with it a familiar power. Hope sparked inside her as she got closer to the edge.
"Spread out. Keep the princess safe," the leader shouted.
Warriors pulled her back from the side of the boat, but not before she caught a glimpse of Souta whose arms were outstretched as he sang to the wind. Ryuu, beside him, glowed with power, his eyes flashing through the storm. Souta's wind was bringing them closer to shore.
Kill Ryuu, but spare Souta, Hisato commanded her. She thought Ryuu was on Hisato's side, but perhaps she'd been wrong. If allies remained to her, then there might still be hope.
Souta's wind knocked back the soldiers as the boat was pulled closer and closer to shore. Suzume raised her hand and a fiery ball appeared there. She could see the pupils of Ryuu's eyes, so she was close enough where her flame would destroy him. But she hesitated, seeing them there had given her hope to continue fighting, hope that this wasn't over yet.
The boat crashed against the shore and still she held her power. The soldiers got back to their feet and rushed over the side of the boat to attack Souta and Ryuu.
"Do it now!" Hisato shouted inside her head.
Suzume let go of the flame, closing her eyes as to not watch her last hope die. Souta shot a torrent of wind toward her fire which combined with it and swirled together to become a flaming tornado. Guided by his song, the flames were doused in the river where they could do no harm.
The soldiers surrounded Ryuu, who fought them all off single-handedly. Souta's song changed mel
odies, awakening a powerful longing inside her and it ignited a blaze within. The inferno was rekindled, fed by Souta's wind. It gave Suzume freedom, but Hisato wasn't done with her.
You think you can escape? Hisato taunted.
Inside her two sides warred—Kazue stirred deep within her, just as her body fought the compulsion to do as Hisato commanded. She froze in place.
Unfortunately, while Suzume was immobilized, the soldiers had regrouped and were attacking Souta and Ryuu. Ryuu drew his sword and was fighting off three at a time, trying to shield Souta who was still singing and keeping Suzume immobilized. One of them got past him, however, and attacked Souta, breaking his song and with it Suzume's war.
Hisato regained control of her body, to the point where she felt as if she were floating outside it entirely. Kill him. Now.
She leaped forward, her body moving with skill she did not have, heading straight for Ryuu and Souta. As she attempted to attack Souta and stop his song for good, Ryuu blocked her, stopping her staff's strike from hitting him with his blade.
The blade pulsed with yokai energy, and while she was disconnected, she still felt the call of it from both Souta and Ryuu.
"Fight it Suzume. I know you can," Ryuu shouted.
Without warning, Souta's energy slammed into her chest. Not an attack, but him sharing his power with her in the same way she had done with Hikaru in the past. It knocked her backward and she lay sprawled on the ground, clutching her head which felt ready to burst apart. She wasn't sure who was in control anymore—her, Hisato, Kazue. There were a thousand voices chattering away inside her head, all of them overlapping into an unrecognizable hum. But slowly, coming through the noise was a song, one she'd never heard before and yet seemed so familiar. It filled her with that same aching feeling that she couldn't explain.
Suzume blinked and stared up at the blue sky. The only sound was Souta's song. It was the song she'd heard through all the other noise. The notes died away, until the only sound that remained was the rustle of wind through the trees. Suzume held up her hand, once more in her control.
"I've pushed him out, for now," Souta said as he knelt down beside her, offering her a hand. "But it is not a permanent fix. He's not going to give up easily."
She took his hand and stood, gazing at the unconscious soldiers who surrounded them. "How did you know?"
"I knew he was plotting something, but I never thought the darkness would have this kind of power. Had I known, I would have sealed you sooner. He's getting stronger."
She shook her head. "It's my fault. I took his power inside me and it bound us together."
The old man patted her head. "The darkness is inside all of us. We cannot be separated from it. All he's done is manipulate the doubt in your heart to his own ends. You can fight it."
"I don't think I'm strong enough."
"You are." Ryuu spoke for the first time. He handed her the stones in which she had sealed Tsuki, Akira, and Noaki.
Suzume's hand closed like a fist around them. "All I've ever done is hurt those around me. I can't control this power. I wasn't meant for it."
"You're right," Ryuu said.
His brutal honesty stung, but at the same time, he was the first person to ever say that to her.
Ryuu grabbed her by both shoulders. She met his blue eyes, which reminded her so much of Kaito that she had to look away. "It's true that the power was not originally intended for you. But despite it all you're still fighting to save your friends. If you're anything, Suzume, it's a fighter."
"Maybe before, but what's the use? I can't get it right. I'm better off living with Kazue sealed."
"Right now you have a choice. I will take you away from here, hide you from Hisato. Or..."
"Or?" Suzume asked.
"You fight."
She looked at the stones in her hand. All she had been doing was running away and it hadn't fixed anything. If anything, it had made things worse. Maybe Ryuu could hide her away for a while, but Hisato would find her in the end. But she realized it wasn't the offer he was making that made the difference. She'd chosen to fight before because she felt like it had been her destiny. He was giving her the option. She could walk away now, no questions asked.
"I need time to think," she said.
"We have until sunset," Ryuu said, pointing to the sky which had just reached its peak.
There wasn't much time to decide on her fate. Noaki, Akira, and Tsuki were freed from the seal by Souta and Ryuu and after explaining the situation, they were surprisingly forgiving. With Souta's seal Suzume was cut off from her power, but it also kept Hisato from controlling her. It could always be like this. She could go back to the way things were.
But walking away meant putting everyone she'd come to care for in danger. And for the first time, she couldn't just think of what was best for her, but those she loved as well. Her father who'd fall prey to her mother's plot, her brother caught up in her ambition, and Kaito who would fight a war because of her.
"I've made my decision," Suzume said.
"I'm ready to fight. I want to end this for good."
46
They journeyed to Osaka, where they were reunited with Rin and Hikaru. There wasn't much time to explain, but Suzume had a plan. The sun was starting to sink on the horizon and Suzume saw Hisato's army approaching. She watched from the far shore. The only relief was Kaito had not come to rescue her. It hurt to think he had given up on her, but in the end it was for the best. She didn't want to put him at risk. Even with Souta's seal, she felt Hisato nearby. He knew that she had found a way around his orders, and he would be coming for her soon. But she planned on going to him first.
Hisato's army lined up along the shore, preparing for their attack. She had to get to Hisato before the yokai were drawn into the battle. As they drew onto the shore, there was a brief moment of silence. The thunder of the ocean rolling echoed the hammering of her heart.
"Are we ready?" Hikaru asked her as he came to stand beside her.
Suzume nodded. Souta and Hikaru had both unleashed their power and it prickled against her skin, making her sick with wanting. The seal Souta had put on her soul pressed against the inside of her chest, making it difficult to breathe. When he'd cut off Hisato, he'd also divorced Suzume from her powers. Part of their plan meant she'd have to rush in relying on her friends’ protection until they got close enough. They couldn't risk Hisato taking control of her again. With Souta and Hikaru's support she could fight it by awakening Kazue.
Suzume took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
They slipped down the shore, using the long shadows cast by the forest and the trees to hide them. Hisato would not be near the frontlines but hidden away from the fighting, and that's where she had to go. They were almost upon the army when a high shriek and a roar filled the air.
The group turned to see hundreds of yokai pouring out of the ocean, bursting up from the floor of the sea. The warriors shot arrows at them. The first line of yokai fell, just as many humans were torn apart by yokai claws.
"No!" Suzume shouted.
The combination of yokai energy and spiritual energy was almost overpowering. Suzume’s stomach churned as she felt Kazue push against the confines of Souta's seal. Their plan would be ruined. With the yokai attacking they were all in danger. Hisato would use them to create more of those hybrid monsters.
She motioned to go join the fighting to try and stop it, but Ryuu grabbed her arm, stopping her. "The only way we're going to stop the fighting is by destroying Hisato."
He was right of course, but it made her sick to think of all the innocents who would die. They resumed their quest, heading toward Hisato. But as the battle raged on, the seal continued to flake away, like old paint.
A group of yokai found them, stopping them in their tracks. They gnashed their dagger-like teeth together trying to intimidate them. Kazue, sensing Suzume in danger, sent sparks flying from Suzume's fingertips.
"I'll handle them. Get her out of here!
" Ryuu shouted.
This left Suzume and the others to continue onward without him. And the further into the battle they went, the more dangerous it became. They were attacked by one of Hisato's hybrid monsters, a fierce beast that wore torn clothes and had green, scaly skin and a human face.
"Keep going," Tsuki said, smiling with glee. "Me and my father will take care of this brute."
They lured the monster away, leaving Suzume, Hikaru, and Souta on their own. Everywhere was chaos. They had to fight their way through yokai and soldiers and with each successive battle, they were pulled further apart.
As they moved together, fighting their way through the crowd, one of the monsters leaped in front of Suzume. It had the height of an oni and one single bloodshot eye bulging in its socket, but the arm on one side was underdeveloped. As she approached it, she used her staff to hit its underdeveloped arm. Souta and Hikaru were on the other side, fighting their own battles.
She reeled backward, trying to escape. As she turned to run away, another monster cornered her. This one was of average size and height, but when he grinned a snake-like tongue came out. He exuded immense energy, and when he sang it froze her in place. Suzume wriggled against his control to no avail.
There was no one to help her. She would either have to use Kazue's power now or die before she had the chance. As she reached down to break the already weakened seal, one of the monsters gave a pained grunt before slumping over. She spun her head toward the creature that had frozen her in place to find it was glaring at Kaito. Joy and terror warred within her. The last person she wanted to find on this battlefield was him.
Kaito took out the snake-hybrid with ease before coming toward her. She stepped back and away from him. Even now she felt Hisato's orders burning at the back of her mind.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, backing away from him.
"I think you should be saying, ‘thank you.’"
It was as if nothing had happened between them. It was just like old times.
The Song of the Wind Page 32
