Kaito stopped in his tracks and looked up as a bird cried out. The ronin from earlier. Their bodies hung from trees by their necks. Others hung from their stomachs, hunched over branches. One of the bodies came crashing down next to him along with a tree limb. He screamed and flinched, jumping out of the way. Whoever did this was good. Those men were tough. They would’ve killed Kaito if he told them his real name. Could the people who killed them also be after the bounty? He examined the body that fell from the tree. The blood was dry. Whoever did this was long gone by now.
The bird cried out again. This time Kaito looked up and saw a blackbird with a grey and yellow underbelly. Its beak was long. The longest he’d seen on a bird. The creature hopped along from tree top to tree top and pecked at the corpses. It wasn’t eating the flesh. Rather, it seemed curious about the whole situation. The long-beaked bird then started to squawk non-stop. Kaito covered his ears, but the screech easily penetrated his hands. He couldn’t take the noise. If it didn’t stop soon it would drive him mad.
He picked up a pebble and chucked it at the bird. It stopped and turned to look at him. Kaito sighed in relief. The bird started its screech once again, this time louder. What was with the bird? Even when threatened it refused to move from the spot.
Kaito looked back down and gazed across the blood-stained forest floor. Something clung to the fallen branch. At first he thought it was a bee hive and kept his distance. Looking at it closer, he realized it was a nest. Baby birds lay smashed and torn. As if someone took their time torturing them. Who would do such a thing? Kaito could barely keep his eyes away from the site. Something primal inside him made him stare—but his gut reaction was of sorrow, horror, and anger.
The mother bird stopped it's screeching and flew down on Kaito's shoulder. He smiled at the bird and it whistled a tune so beautiful it left his eyes misty and his throat dry. Seems I've found a companion in this little creature, he thought.
"I'm going to Yoshino. Would you like to join me?"
The bird chirped and hopped happily back and forth on his shoulder. He took it as a sign.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you ... Naomi."
Naomi, he hadn't thought of her in years. Somehow this bird reminded him of her. The love of his life's beauty still amazed him, even in his memory. He pictured her long, dark hair flowing freely in the wind as she opened her eyelids, revealing the blue color underneath. The image was so visceral, Kaito could imagine himself next to her.
But she would never fall for a guy like him. Not after learning the truth. It was only a matter of time before news of Kaito's heritage became common knowledge. If it wasn't already. Even as children, she was more interested in Go-zhuk. The three of them laughed and played ever day before tensions started to brew between the two clans.
Naomi's own family had sided with the Yoritomo and since than nothing informative ever came to his attention. It was like she disappeared without a trace.
If only I'd told her how I really feel.
Kaito sighed. Yet another thing on his list of regrets.
***
Kaito’s journey was coming to a close. He could smell the salt from the ocean ahead and the sweet aroma of fish lingering in the air. He exhaled, remembering the first time he went fishing with his father. It was the first and only time Kaito was allowed outside the castle walls. To this exact town, no less. He’d been ten at the time; far too old to be starting to learn how the fish. While the other kids reeled in the big fish for their families, Kaito was still catching weeds and grass in his net and tangling them on his spear. Yet another way his father failed him.
Naomi the bird tweeted and cocked her head inside a small sack made out of tree twigs and tree bark, looking into Kaito’s eyes as if it knew what he were thinking. He smiled. This must've been what it was like to have a child.
He stroked the birds head as it rubbed its beak against his palm. It nuzzled up to his hand and closed its eyes. Kaito sat down and looked up. Seemed the bird was a better tracker of time than himself. The sun was halfway behind the horizon before Kaito took notice of the lack of light in the sky.
He removed his hand, careful not to wake his feathered friend up. The moon was a crescent shape, about to become three-fourths filled with light with the right side shrouded in darkness. He wondered what had happened to Mayumi and the lunar blade.
Morning came and Kaito was off. The bird's eyes were closed, still. They'd been shut for most of yesterday afternoon and all of last night. Despite the rough terrain ahead, the bird remained asleep. Kaito traversed the dying rivers and rocky plains until he heard a small chirp. Naomi hopped on his shoulder and flapped her wings, making a deep clicking sound with her beak. It was odd hearing a sound that low coming from such a small creature. Kaito patted the creature on the head. It chirped and hopped off his shoulder, back into the carrying bag made of Kaito's old clothes.
The smell of salt water grew stronger the further south he went. By his calculations he'd reach Reikutaun within the afternoon light. If he made it there before dark, maybe he could catch a boat to Yoshino and not have to spend the night in the port city. A lot could've happened between the time when he was ten and now. Like them switching sides. He wasn't positive, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Kaito wondered if she was still living there. Naomi Ashinaga, the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. He could picture her hair, falling down past her shoulders, hear the sound of her laugh; sweet in tone, but assertive in the way she did it. He sighed, knowing it would never work out. He wasn't her type. She needed someone skilled, strong. The exact opposite of like him.
As he approached the town gates, Kaito became amazed at how much Reikutaun had changed. The gates themselves were closed, but it looked like there had been a celebration not too long ago. Ribbons shreds of colored paper littered the streets and shrubberies in front of the archway leading into town.
Someone jumped out of one of the bushes. Kaito did not jump or get startled by the person's childish actions. Instead he cleared his throat and placed both hands behind his back. He bowed.
"It's been a long time."
"You've certainly matured," Naomi said. "What happened to that boy who could barely hold a stick without wanting to run into battle; even if there wasn't a battle to be fought."
She was as pretty as he remembered. Her hair was shorter, but smelled nice and potent, as if her hair were still as long as it had been all those years ago. She smiled. Butterflies fluttered inside Kaito's stomach. He swallowed and opened his mouth. It became dry in an instant and soon he became unable to think or speak. His mind went blank as she continued to stare at him. She giggled.
"Guess things haven't changed that much," she said. "You're still hopelessly in love with me."
Those last words snapped Kaito out of his stupor. He shook his head, denying the infatuation he had with her. It wasn't wrong for a boy to like a girl. In fact it was natural. But how did she know he liked her?
Naomi took a step closer, waited, and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”
So forward, he thought. Just like he remembered. Part of him wanted to kiss her back. The years of wanting to kiss her and, in an instant, it was over. He wanted more intimacy. More … passion in a kiss. Not something easily forgotten.
Naomi grabbed his arm and lead him away from the gate. Their path was linear, almost like a square. When she stopped and Kaito had control of his legs again, the two of them looked into each other's eyes and then …
Kaito leaned in for a kiss on the lips. He thought he wasn't being obvious in his attempt, but he stopped inches away from her face for he suspected she knew what he was planning. The warm air from her breath touched his lips and he opened his eyes. Hers were wide open. They showed no sign of disgust or even pity. Instead they seemed filled with joy and carefreeness.
Did she like him back?
“I knew it. You’re totally in love with me. Mother was right. Then again, she always was
when it came to boys.”
She motioned him to follow her. He could see the great docks of Reikutaun now. A plethora of ships, big and small, rocked back and forth on the ocean's surface.
Dozens of armed soldiers surrounded them.
***
Naomi strolled over to one of the armed men, letting her kimono expose more of her skin than was appropriate. All the guards were younger than usual soldiers, not men by any stretch of the imagination.
That was her weapon. A person's imagination was a much more fantastical and erotic place than she could ever hope to entice them with. After all, she was a virgin.
She walked behind the man, tugging on his uniform and dropping down below the belt. Kaito squirmed. The soldier did his best to maintain composure, but she knew he'd break. They all do. She crawled underneath his legs, her lips pressed against his groin, then turned away, letting her warm breath linger there long after she left.
Kaito petted the bird, whispering something in the creatures ear. He was ignoring the situation. Ignoring her. Out of all the men and boys Naomi had known, Kaito Minamoto was the strangest. Why didn't he pay attention to her?
One of the guards noticed the bird and snatched it. Kaito took a step forward, but a second guard restrained him from behind and prevented him from moving any further. He struggled, but the soldier was twice Kaito's size and his arms were three times the width of Kaito's neck.
The third guard took the bird from his friend, holding the creature by one of its wings. It shrieked in pain or terror—she wasn't sure which—but it made Kaito furious.
"Where'd you find the bird?"
"Let her go!" Kaito shouted.
"Or what?"
Naomi looked at Kaito as he struggled harder, his face turning blue. She swallowed, unsure of what to do. What she could do in this situation.
"Come on, boys," she said, letting her seductive tone of voice come to the surface. "What do you want with a bird and a stupid boy? What about me?"
Her last words made one of the boys tremble at the knees.
"What about you," the one holding Kaito said. His knees were strong, built like his arms.
Naomi clenched her fists, frustrated. That usually worked. Why didn't it now? All the boys from her village would kill to have her as their own, even for a night. Her tongue and voice were a weapon. Her body a trap used to ensnare expecting victims, promising them rewards they couldn't get from their wives. She wasn't a geisha. She had more pride than that, but she recognized the power they held over men from an early age. And she coveted it.
But in this situation, she was powerless.
"Come on, leave them alone."
"And what are you gonna do to stop us?" the third boy said.
He was the skinniest of the group, but by no means the brains of their little gang. The captain's insignia on the first soldier's uniform was damaged and falling off, but looked official. He was in charge of Reikutaun's military.
The bird cried out. This time it struck a cord deep within her. She didn't want to hear that poor creature cry out in pain anymore.
"Let. Her. Go," she said.
"Or what?"
Chapter Ten
The ground shook beneath Kaito's feet. Naomi's eyes were white. Glowing with an intensity he'd never seen before. The three men remained where they stood to the best of their ability, but the rocks and dirt rumbled and shook. An earthquake was possible, yes, but to have one occur when they needed a way out was unbelievable.
Kaito looked at Naomi. Her expression was the same. Eyes still white and face showing signs of strain as the earthquake increased in power and magnitude.
One of the men began to run, but the ground beneath him jetted upward, knocking him off-balance. Several more stones became pillars. Each one surrounded the three soldiers. In the blink of an eye, they were trapped behind a cage made of stone. The man who tried to run was knocked out. Blood trickled onto the soil.
The man holding the bird backed up and placed both hands around her neck. Kaito stepped forward. One arm raised as if to stop him.
But he was too far away to make a difference.
"Don't hurt us," the man said. "I … I'm warning you."
Naomi the bird squawked her last breath as the man's hands squeezed the bird's neck until it popped. The moment it did, Kaito felt his heart sink.
He wasn't angry or upset, not like he expected. Instead he felt empty and alone. Despite the fact that the real Naomi was next to him. I'm too weak to even save a bird, he thought. Some warrior he turned out to be, in spite of the fact that he had no training in combat. The thought of being unable to protect the bird buried his heart in grief and shame.
The ground continued to shake. Kaito fell down, scraping his knee against a sharp stone. The cut wasn't deep, but it stung. He winced in pain, then looked up at Naomi. Her eyes were still white and the earthquakes weren't slowing down. How is she doing this? It is her, right?
Kaito took a step forward and fell on his cut knee. He cried out. "Naomi, it's over. You can stop."
No response. The earthquake increased in power. The rocky prison which trapped the two soldiers began to crack. Its pattern and shape was that of a many bolts of lightning, zigzagging until …
Crack!
The prison fell to pieces and the two men ran for their lives. One of them got their foot caught in between two boulders.
Out of nowhere, a giant tidal wave of water crashed down onto everyone in the vicinity, including Kaito and Naomi.
What the … Where did this …
The water was filled with salt. But there was no ocean within eyesight. How the heck did … Mayumi? He looked up at the sky. It was close to nighttime, but the moon wasn't in the sky. It could've been a new one. If that were the case, the wave wouldn't have hit them.
Kaito's thoughts left him as wave after wave bombarded him. He coughed, trying to tread water, but the water level was rising too fast. Soon he found himself beneath the ocean's current.
The water carried Naomi away, showing no signs of slowing down. Without thinking, Kaito swam after her, but the amount of water seemed to increase. Before long, he was submerged in water, barely able to hold his breath.
Naomi dropped deeper into the infinite source of sea water. I'm not gonna lose her too, he thought and dove down after her.
***
Yuri was freaking out. It’s not there, she thought. Lord Kasaju is going to kill me.
Nitsu seiba was gone. But how? No one else knew about the secret door. This was bad. If someone from the southern courts got hold of the sun saber, the war would be over before it began. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. The slightest noise made her jump out her skin. Her heart raced faster than normal when she heard one of the fool guards trip and fall. He looked like he was carrying a note. Yuri snatched the note from his hand before he had a chance to speak.
“I don’t have time for this,” she said.
We have your sword. If you want to see it again, send the other blade to the place located on the map.
Yuri turned the note over and saw a map on the other side. The drop off point was in the city of Reikutaun. The small port-side settlement near Yoshino. Last she checked the village was neutral ground between the northern and southern courts. She worried, however, that the villagers had changed their neutrality in favor of siding with the southern court. The way events were being played out, it wouldn’t be too surprising.
The sun’s light blinded her. It seemed brighter than normal, or perhaps that was her mind playing tricks on her. Whatever the case, she needed to find nitsu seiba and fast.
The note said to bring the other blade. Whoever stole it knew about the twin moon and star blades. Most people thought them to be of legend and rumor. Most people who believed were dead, killed by Kasaju during the first great war using one of the legendary blades to wield the power of the sun.
But she had no idea where the lunar blade was…at least, she didn’t know its location. She did, ho
wever, know the current owner: Mayumi Shingen.
She hadn’t seen her since the start of her mission. Before Yuri wondered if she was even still alive. After what happened to Takato and his son, it was as clear as today’s sky that she was still alive. The best bushi-ama warrior Kyotomo had in their employ and her loyalty to Jin was true and strong. She’d rather die than tell the enemy anything. If Kaito was with her, he’d be safe.
Whether she was alive or dead was of no concern of hers, or at least it had been before receiving the ransom note. Something about the letter troubled her, and it wasn’t the simple fact of someone wielding one of the most powerful swords in existence. No, what worried her more was that someone knew of the other sword: tsuki no ha-ken.
If Mayumi and Kaito were traveling together, then their destination had to be what, exactly. He was safer here. Why leave at all?
She pondered the thought for a few minutes before leaving the room and closing the secret door behind her. She wouldn’t find any answers here.
The next day, Yuri received word from Lord Jin’s father. He wanted a status update on his son’s death investigation. She wrote to him in a specific manner, careful not to reveal too much. The last thing she wanted was for him to find out nitsu seiba was gone.
When she finished the note, she sent it away with one of the fool guards. With everyone else needed for training purposes, they were the only people left to do menial tasks such as deliver messages. At least they could do that right.
The place had been scrubbed clean more than a week ago. The same day they found Jin’s body, to be exact. No idea where to start, Yuri sat down on the shogun’s pillow. It was cold from lack of use. She wondered if anyone moved it, other than to clean it.
Yuri cracked a window open and let the breeze come inside. A cherry blossom petal blew past her face and landed on Jin’s stack of art. It was as if the Enlightened One himself wished her to see them. Perhaps the leaf was trying to tell her something about his death. She knelt beside the knee-high stack of paintings. Each one unfinished according to Jin, but all beautiful nonetheless. Yuri always wondered what motivated him not to finish what he started. Jin loved art and having a negative motivation made more sense than him loosing interest. It was a shame how all these paintings would never see the light of day. Jin, however, would want to keep it that way. He was a perfectionist, but also knew when to let the inner creative out and have free rein. Those moments were some of the best in his political career.
Moon and Star: Book One Page 7
