Moon and Star Episode Two: Book Two of the Moon and Star Saga (The Jakai Chronicles 1)

by Mike Bergonzi

  "I'll ask again. Do you know who murdered my wife?"

  Kaito shook his head. "No, that's all I know."

  "First my son, now my wife? You have no honor. Leave my sight. I don't want to see you again unless it's on the tip of my blade. Take him away."

  The guard nodded and grabbed Kaito, holding on much tighter now and yanked him away from Sora and his father.

  He tried to break free from the man's grip but found himself exerting more energy than necessary. Eventually, he gave in and allowed the guard to lead him to the castle's dungeon.

  Sora's face showed guilt and was the last thing Kaito saw before being taken away.

  Chapter Eight

  When Yuri arrived at the inn, the place was more crowded than usual. Were all these people here for the lesson? Were they all Tsenzu?

  She didn't mind the extra company, but the amount of potential students tripled after one night. She expected the same number of people from last time. In fact, not a single person from last night was here.

  Maybe they're already downstairs, she thought. No, the meeting wasn't for another two hours. Something was definitely off about this scenario. She tensed, cupping her hands together and doing her best to not stand out.

  It was the perfect opportunity to learn all she could about the group. If they were the one's involved with Jin's death, then she would find out. However, they seemed too peaceful to hurt anyone. Someone else had to be pulling the strings.

  And Lord Kasaju was the prime suspect. Even if he did want her to investigate Jin's death, all the evidence she had pointed towards him. Still, a part of her felt uneasy. Not because she might have to face Lord Kasaju, but due to the simple fact of why he'd bother assigning Yuri the task in the first place if he was the one who did it.

  Lord Kasaju might strike fear into people with the mere mention of his name, but he wasn't stupid. Arrogant, maybe, but not the point of doing something so rash.

  Which meant there was another angle here. Someone else at play. The Yoritomo? It made the most sense, but still. If they knew about Jin's passing, why not attack? No, whoever was behind this, it wasn't the Yoritomo clan. They didn't have the resources to pull off an assassination of this caliber. The funding must have come from elsewhere, Yuri thought. But where? Who had the motive and enough resources to mount such an intimate and personal attack?

  Yuri re-read the letter from Jin, trying to understand any sort of ulterior motive for Lord Kasaju or the Tsenzu. All she could come up with was what the letter already explained. They wanted her back for another lesson.

  The one thing which still bothered her was the Tsenzu's knowledge and ability to perform as a ninja would. The men and women were foreigners, yet they had knowledge of secrets and techniques forbidden to those who aren't ninja. Even a relatively normal person such as herself was clueless to what really went on in the world of a ninjobi. How did they know so much about something so secretive?

  Yuri overlooked the thought for the time being and focused on listening. The meeting wasn't going to start for a while now. She had to do her best to learn any information she could before it started. Think. There must be someone here willing to talk.

  Yuri surveyed the room. Everyone had someone to chat with. Most of the women sat with the other and the men sat with the men. There were a few families together, laughing and having a good time. Whether or not they were simply guests at the inn or part of the Tsenzu was hard to determine.

  The laughter of the inn keepers daughter broke her train of thought. She sighed. It wasn't like she had anyone else to talk to and she had time to kill.

  She got up and walked over to the inn keeper's daughter who was busy wiping the countertop. She looked up, still cleaning the surface, and smiled.

  "Hey, Yuri, I'm so excited for today's lesson. Are you really going to decipher the ancient text?"

  "Ancient text?"

  "Yeah," she said. "Didn't Sesshu tell you?"

  Yuri frowned. "He didn't tell me anything about reading anything out of the ordinary. All he said was that he wanted today's lesson to focus on the creation myth."

  "Oh, yes, I ..." The girl cleared her throat and said nothing more, scrubbing harder on the wooden boards.

  "Is there something I should know about?" Yuri asked.

  Again the girl said nothing and continued to clean. Someone tapped on Yuri on the shoulder and soon it became clear why the girl had stopped talking as she turned around.

  Sesshu appeared to be listening to their conversation. How much of it he’d heard, she did not know, but she gathered it was most of it.

  "Why didn't you tell me about the text?"

  "Oh that," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's just something I found on one of my travels. You seem the kind of person who can translate it."

  "What's the language?"

  Sesshu shrugged. "It's definitely Eastern in origin if that's any help. Now then, I'm sure you're eager to get started. The meeting's about to start. If you follow me, I'll show you the text before we go downstairs for the lesson."

  Yuri followed him to his room at the inn. The old master painter went to his tatami and lifted it up. He pulled out a scroll, undoing the red ribbon which bound it together. The paper unrolled, stopping less than a second after the ribbon was removed, its length far longer than she was made to believe.

  Sesshu handed her the scroll. She read it, wondering why a man like Sesshu needed a translator. He should be able to read this. It's written in Kanjiku. What kind of Jakain man can't read Kanjiku?

  She continued pretending to read, all the while thinking about what this revelation meant. This man couldn't be Sesshu Tomo. Someone who didn't know the Jakain language, despite being born in the archipelago, was unheard of. Ridiculous, even.

  Yuri lowered the scroll. "You're not Sesshu, are you?"

  The man smiled. "You're more perceptive than I thought. Too bad it's too late. What does the scroll say?"

  His voice was different. He sounded much younger than his outward appearance led her to believe. Her hunch was correct. This man was an imposter. But why tell her now? What was his endgame? It made more sense to reveal one's hand after he had got he wanted.

  Unless the words on the scroll weren't what he required for his plan.

  The words themselves were ordinary, nothing special about them. They weren't a message to anyone in particular. In fact, she'd argue it was the ramblings of lunatic, not to be taken seriously by anyone.

  Yuri froze, realizing who the author was.

  Emperor Daigo.

  "You're working for Eiji, aren't you?"

  The Sesshu imposter nodded. "On a purely contractual basis. Of course, we owe him a lot more, he did train us after all. He was quite interested when he heard about you, and once we deliver you, we'll be rewarded … handsomely."

  The last word out of his mouth was different. A female voice, rather than a man's

  Yuri cocked her head. Several Tsenzu members blocked her one exit. She was trapped. But what did Eiji want with her?

  The least she could do was figure out Eiji's plan. If he truly was back, where was he set up? The Chaiku were banished from Jakai. Like the Tsenzu, their presence in the archipelago was forbidden and if there were any left, it meant they were in hiding. What could have happened to change the status quo this much without anyone noticing?

  She blinked. No, it couldn't be. The Shugo, who was assassinated by his own soldier. That was Eiji's doing.

  Part of the Chaiku Emperor's ruthlessness came from his conservative nature. The man was not only hesitant of change, but opposed to it. The fact he didn't attack was a testament to his devotion to Chaiku's morals and culture. If he were going to rule Jakai like he once did, he'd have to do it a specific way, which meant if Yuri could somehow stop it from happening, he wouldn't be able to go through with his plan.

  She sighed and let herself be taken away. Her will to fight left her and she accepted her destiny and all it entailed.

  **
*

  The Tsenzu threw Yuri into a room and locked the door from the outside. She looked around. There were no windows on this story and the lock itself was something she'd never seen before. Must be a western invention, she thought.

  She didn't know much about lock picking. Other than it took a skilled hand and the right set of tools. Both of which she did not have. The alternative lock bypassing wasn't an option in this case. How could she have been so foolish? Lord Kasaju was right not to trust them.

  The rest of the room appeared unchanged from the rest of the inn's rooms. A tatami mat large enough for two people was positioned on the floor, slightly off-skew from the center. She rested her head on one of the straw and sighed.

  What were they planning to do with her?

  The door unlatched. Yuri scurried towards it in case an opportunity to escape presented itself. Someone else was thrown into the room with her. His head and face were bagged and his legs and wrists bound like an animal.

  Yuri removed the bag. "Shinobu?"

  The Captain looked at her, but said nothing; instead passing out from exhaustion. What had they done to him?

  She tried waking him up but he was too far gone. They must've gotten him while he slept. The thought of skilled assassins being able to sneak into the castle made Yuri nervous. For the obvious reasons as well as one's she never thought came out of her head, had she not done it herself.

  "Is Lord Kasaju safe?" she asked.

  With what seemed like his last bit of remaining strength, Shinobu shook his head. After that, he passed out again. Yuri put an ear to his chest. His heart had stopped and did not resume beating. She fought back the overwhelming sadness and placed a hand to her mouth, trying to muffle her screams of horror.

  If she ever got out of here, the Tsenzu would pay. Shinobu was a simple bystander. He didn't know the depth of the infiltration. It's all my fault. If I hadn't asked him to investigate …

  No, she couldn't afford to think that way. It wasn't her fault. If anyone was to blame it was the Tsenzu, and the person who hired them: Eiji Daigo.

  Her mind now focused, Yuri thought of a plan to escape. It would be dangerous, but she was running out of options and she didn't have much time left before the sun came up.

  Chapter Nine

  Eiji couldn't stop thinking about what the boy had said. They couldn't be related. He was Jakain and therefore beneath him. His son wouldn't be so weak, even if he didn't know his own heritage.

  He couldn't let his plan be sidetracked by the boy's claims. If anything, he insulted his family's honor by the mere mention of his wife and eldest son.

  Yet what of Sora?

  It was as if they had met before, but how was that possible? Sora had left the village one time. Eiji's men found him passed out in Reikutaun. The boy had no memory of where he'd been. Could he have met Kaito before getting knocked out? Did Kaito himself hurt him somehow? No, when they found Sora, a spider's poison was already taking its toll on his body.

  Eiji scoffed and walked back to his tatami. He sat down in the lotus position and sighed, closing his eyes.

  Someone tapped on the door.

  He opened one eye, then closed it, letting out a deep sigh. "Enter."

  Sora came into the room. His usual timid nature had increased since the meeting with Kaito. What did he say to him to make him this afraid?

  "Do you know that boy?" Eiji asked.

  He shook his head. "No, father. That was my first time meeting him." He paused and opened his mouth as if to say something else, but closed it before making a sound.

  "What is it?"

  "How does he know you, father?" he asked. "You acted like you knew him from somewhere."

  "I was tasked with bringing him to Yoshino safely. One of my former students contacted me, saying the son of Jin Minamoto was on the run. I met them in Reikutaun and left a few days before you were found. Are you sure you don't remember bumping into him?"

  "The last thing I remember is being found by your men. I did have ... dreams about someone. She claimed to have known you. Could it have been your student?"

  Eiji said nothing. If what the boy said was true, Mayumi was the one who rescued him. The bite mark on his leg was a match for many poisonous spiders in the forest between Reikutaun and Kyotomo. Besides, she wouldn't dare hurt him.

  "In these dreams, what did the woman say?"

  "How did you know it was a woman?" Sora asked.

  "Answer the question and I'll tell you."

  "She said to find her when I arrived home. Is she Kachaku like us?"

  Eiji shook his head. "Her name is Mayumi, and you were incorrect in your assumption. She is my former student."

  "Why did she save me?" Sora asked. "And why tell me to meet her in Yoshino?"

  "I'm not sure. Why don't we ask her? If she's anywhere in the city, it would be the inn, assuming it's still there."

  "You mean because of the storm?"

  Eiji ruffled his son's silky black hair. It was a shame Sora wasn't the eldest of the two boys. Maybe then all this wouldn't be necessary.

  But tradition was tradition and he wasn't about to turn his back on something proven to work. He wasn't a barbarian like the people of Jakai—–who would willingly put someone like Kasaju Minamoto in charge. When it came to governing a nation, the Minamoto clan didn't have right the mindset to rule a single province, let alone an entire nation. At least, the Yoritomo wanted the system of government to be the same after their independence from Chaiku. If only they had listened to their more level-headed brothers. Then maybe all this could've been avoided.

  Eiji sighed. How did Kaito know his wife was murdered? No one outside the castle walls knew about her death. Either he was lying or Sora wasn't telling the whole truth. Whoever was to blame, he'd find out. But right now, he needed to prepare for the solstice.

  ***

  Kaito woke to the sound of clanging metal as the door to his cell unlatched and another prisoner was sent inside. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was Yuri.

  He ran up and hugged her. He longed for something familiar. The warm embrace of someone he thought he'd never see again was comforting. She held him too and wouldn't let go.

  "What are you doing here?" he asked.

  Yuri sighed. "I'm afraid all that's about to happen is my fault. I'm sorry, Kaito. I wish I could've stopped them, but ... spirits, I don't even know what to say anymore."

  "I already know about Jin's death."

  "Do you know it wasn't a suicide?"

  Kaito shook his head. "What are you trying to tell me?"

  Yuri's lip quivered, but she said nothing. Instead, she wept openly in front of him.

  "Your father was murdered by the Tsenzu. They were hired by Chaiku's Emperor, Eiji Daigo. He …"

  “Former Emperor,” Eiji said. “But that will soon change, thanks to you.”

  Kaito turned around and saw the man smiling with delight.

  "What are you after?" Yuri asked. "Is this supposed to avenge your wife's death?"

  Eiji scowled at her. His face flushed with anger. "Do not speak of my wife as if you knew her. She would never associate herself with people beneath her."

  "Why did you come here, to taunt us?"

  "No, I merely wanted to drop off some more guests. Tomorrow Jakai will be under a new rule. Back where it should have always been."

  He snapped his fingers and two guards carrying bagged prisoners entered the area right before the door to the cell. The prisoner's entire bodies were wrapped in cloth bags. Kaito knew they weren't dead because something alive inside struggled to break free.

  "Enjoy your stay," Eiji said.

  He undid the leather straps on one of the bags and from then on, Kaito realized how out of their depths they truly were against this man.

  It was Mayumi.

  It can't be, he thought. "They got you too?"

  Eiji left them without undoing the leather strap on the other bag. Whoever was inside, had given up their fight. But if Mayumi wa
s in that bag, that meant ...

  "Spirits, no."

  He looked over at Mayumi, who said nothing. It was all he needed in order to understand: Naomi was dead.

  "I'll leave you with one last request," Eiji said. "I'm only going to say it once. If you are my son, kill your former guardian. Do it, and I will know you are worthy to be my successor.”

  He left them and locked the door behind him.

  Chapter Ten

  Kaito paced the room. They were sitting here, doing nothing. Meanwhile, everything his father worked to maintain was about to go up in flames. It angered him. What was the point of this journey? What was the reason they fought Chaiku in the first place, if not to be rid of them? Now, everything was about to be undone.

  He'd noticed it when Mayumi first stepped foot inside the locked room: Tsuki no ha-ken was gone. It made sense.

  "Is there seriously nothing we can do?" he asked.

  They didn't even look at him. Kaito threw his hands up in the air and sat down in front of the locked door, studying it. He stood up kicked the door again and again. There had to be a way out.

  "Don't bother, Kaito," Mayumi said. "The man trained me. He knows every lock pick and bypass technique I do. He wouldn't have locked me up if he knew I'd escape so easily."

  "Are you just going to sit here, even after what he did to Naomi. I thought you said you promised your sister you'd protect her. Is this how you keep your promises?"

  "Naomi died before Eiji even stepped foot in the room. I wish I knew what happened, but I don't and that's something I'll have to live with the rest of my life."

  "This is all my fault," Yuri said. "I led them straight to Lord Kasaju. I gave them nitsu seiba."

  "You what?" Mayumi shouted.

  "I should've known what they were up to. Spirits, I was so blind and stupid."

  "Do you realize the danger you've put everyone in this world?"

  Yuri continued to mope, ignoring Mayumi's question

  She grabbed Yuri off the floor and slapped her several times across the face. The red handprint on her chalky-white skin did nothing to snap her out of her stupor.