Sword and Mirror

by Kate Grove

“What is it you wanted to talk about?” Yuki admired the black and gold, lacquered cup in her hands.

  “I didn’t have the opportunity to bring this up before, but… when Ciara was kidnapped and I fought, I was injured on my arm.”

  “I remember,” Yuki carefully sipped the hot tea.

  “My hand was coated with blood, and I threw it at the enemy to distract them, but what happened was…” Katsuo shook his head as he trailed off, not sure how to describe it.

  Yuki put the cup down, her eyes wide.

  “You injured them.”

  “Exactly! It’s as if—”

  “You inherited the Blood Blades,” Yuki said, taken aback.

  “Blood what now?”

  She cleared her throat.

  “The Blood Blades. The magic in your blood transforms it into a weapon if you find yourself in a dire situation.”

  “How does it work? Do you have this ability, too? Did Father—”

  Yuki held up a hand and he fell silent.

  “One question at a time. Yes, I do have this ability, and no, your father didn’t inherit it.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “Maybe it skipped a generation.” Yuki shrugged.

  “Do you think Takeru has it?”

  “No idea. I’m surprised you have it.”

  “It is very useful. We should find out,” Katsuo said, eager to stand up and find his brother.

  “Calm down, boy,” Yuki said, using her grandmotherly voice. “It might seem useful, but you can’t rely on it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You can’t train. It’s not connected to your will or emotions like your other abilities,” Yuki explained. “It’s connected to instinct. You might be injured, throw your blood, and nothing happens. It’s completely random.”

  “Oh,” Katsuo settled in his seat.

  “But once it appears, it could be very powerful, maybe your most powerful ability,” Yuki smiled at him.

  “I just don’t have control over it. Great.”

  “Katsuo, I know you’re used to being in control,” Yuki told him, “but there are things we cannot. They make life all the more worth it.”

  “Are talking about the Blood Blades?”

  Yuki slurped her tea. “Maybe.”

  42

  The rest of the day went by slowly as Yuki gathered supplies for her journey, collected her newly sharpened naginata from the blacksmith in town, and decided to pay one last visit to Benten’s pagoda.

  Unfortunately, she had a hard time getting there, as Katsuo gave permission to selected servants to be on the pagoda grounds for the preparation of the festivities.

  Katsuo was holding a strategic meeting with his vassals regarding the information Takeru brought from the Northern border. Taiki had found him later, buried under paperwork, reporting the rise of suspicious people appearing in town. Katsuo was reminded of the thugs in dark alleys when he was looking for Ciara.

  “Deal with them,” he told Taiki.

  “You mean—”

  “Keep the streets clean and safe. You can use whatever means to drive them out of town,” Katsuo confirmed. “Report back to me when you’re finished.”

  “Yessir,” Taiki bowed low and disappeared. Katsuo didn’t even have time to protest at his behavior on this occasion.

  A knock sounded on his door, and Takeru looked in.

  “Perfect! Just who I need!”

  Takeru’s face brightened. “How can I assist you, brother?”

  “Sit down.” As he did, Katsuo put a stack of papers on his side of the table. “These are yours.”

  “What?” The smile fell off Takeru’s face.

  “The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can go celebrate.”

  “But there’s no end to it.”

  “You’re right. Maybe I should hire an aide to deal with all this paperwork. This is ridiculous!” Katsuo said, contemplating while putting his seal on a document in front of him. If he had someone to take care of these things, he could spend more time with Ciara. He realized he was getting distracted again.

  Takeru sighed and picked up a report to read through, resigned to his fate of spending the entire afternoon in this stuffy office.

  Ciara spent the afternoon with Yura, discovering the festive events in town. She was a bit worried with just the two of them going around after all that happened last time she visited the castle town.

  After she shared her concerns with Yura, she got a soldier, who was off-duty, to volunteer to keep them safe. Ciara was thankful for the company and the added feel of security.

  They stopped at the town square, where a stage had been erected and a handful of people acted out a play.

  “Oh, I love this part!” Yura gasped. “This is where Benzaiten descends to the human world!”

  Ciara could hear a biwa and a few other instruments in the background as the narrator commented on what was happening. Apparently, as the goddess arrived, an island rose up to meet her feet. Her husband, a white dragon, followed her soon, making people panic. Ciara couldn’t hear the end of the story because her attention was drawn to elsewhere.

  “Say, Yura, what are they doing over there?” She nodded in the direction of a group of adults and children who were sitting in a semi-circle just on the side of the road. The servant girl followed Ciara’s gaze.

  “Oh, they’re making chōchin.” At Ciara’s puzzled look, she explained. “Paper lanterns for tonight. There’s a narrow river at the edge of town. That’s where the procession will end tonight.”

  “Procession?”

  “There’s always a procession,” Yura said, furrowing her brows. She glanced at the guard just behind her. “Right, Riku-san?”

  He nodded. “It starts at the pagoda, Milady,” he added. “Usually, Katsuo-sama performs a short ceremony to honor the goddess Benten, then a procession will follow through town so everyone can give their respects and receive the goddess’ blessing.”

  “What’s in the procession?” Ciara asked, intrigued.

  “The goddess!” Yura said, excited.

  “The goddess?”

  “You will see, Ciara-sama,” Yura said. “It all ends at the river where we let the paper lanterns go. Would you like to see how they make them?”

  “That’s a great idea!”

  Eventually, they ended up making a few paper lanterns themselves. Ciara couldn’t help noticing the looks Yura and Riku exchanged when they thought no one was looking. She smiled to herself, thinking they looked cute together. I wonder if they’re a couple? she mused as her hands created her first lantern. It was a bit sloppy and ugly, compared to the others surrounding them, but she made it and was happy how it turned out.

  The hours went by quickly, and the trio decided to get some food from one of the stalls lining the streets. Yura and Ciara settled on dango while Riku opted for a couple of fried fish. It gave them enough energy to make it back to the castle for the opening ceremony.

  “Eeh, it’s Takeru-dono this year,” Riku remarked as they made their way to the small crowd near the pagoda. Katsuo’s most important vassals and some high-ranking officials were invited, but no one stopped the trio when they saw Ciara leading them.

  “This is so exciting; I’ve never seen it from this close!” Yura whispered as they stopped among the men. “Usually, if I’m lucky, I can sneak a peek from one of the castle windows from up there!”

  The crowd left a half-circle cleared in front of the pagoda’s gates.

  “Shh, it’s starting,” Riku warned, and Yura immediately fell silent.

  Takeru appeared from one side and was dressed in white except for the red rope which held his robe together. He was holding something, but Ciara couldn’t see it clearly because it blended it with his clothes. Takeru was chanting a beautiful song, but for some reason, Ciara couldn’t understand the words.

  When he got closer, she was able to make out the white snake winding around his hands. He was cradling the serpent in his arms, n
ot the least bit afraid of it. Ciara looked on, mesmerized by the entire scene. The sound of a biwa played in the background, and Ciara’s eyes found Katsuo’s form under the trees. His music perfectly complemented Takeru’s chanting.

  Lady Yuki appeared behind Takeru, wearing a long, flowing dress. It wasn’t a kimono, which was known to restrict movements, but something lighter. Its long sleeves and skirt fluttered as Yuki danced. The color of the dress was light blue, like the spring sky or the clear water in a pond. The whole performance reminded Ciara of a dancing waterfall.

  Yuki’s movements were graceful and complemented the sound of the biwa and Takeru’s chanting voice. As she watched, Ciara felt something blooming in her heart. It was as if it was being filled up with hope and joy. A warm feeling spread in her chest and just when she thought she could bear it no more, suddenly, everything stopped.

  Katsuo held the biwa, not playing it, and Yuki froze mid-movement for a moment before slowly bringing her arms down to clasp them in a prayer. Takeru was silent as he lifted his arms with the white snake striving toward the sunlight.

  “Goddess Benten, patron of our family, guardian of our town,” Takeru started. His voice rang out strong and not even insects could be heard. It was as if nature itself was anticipating what came next. “We would be honored to receive your blessings for the coming year.”

  Takeru finished and kept the snake held up. Ciara sensed everyone hold their breath.

  “What are we waiting for?” she whispered, almost inaudible, afraid to break the quiet reverence that seemed to envelope everyone.

  Riku, on her right, whispered, “Now we wait for the goddess to answer.”

  “How do we know if she answers?”

  “Watch and wait.”

  Her curiosity was soon satisfied. The white snake unexpectedly lunged at Takeru, biting his arm. Ciara gasped in shock and looked around, but nobody moved. Did they not see what happened? She steeled herself to break through the ranks of samurai, but before she could do anything, Takeru brought the snake down, carefully embracing it.

  “May you shine our path in this coming year. May prosperity find us,” he said as he headed for the pagoda. Lady Yuki followed, then Katsuo finished the line. Nobody went in after them.

  “Is he all right?” Ciara asked, worried.

  “It’s part of the ceremony,” Yura said. “Don’t be concerned, I don’t know how they do it, but you won’t find a bite mark the next day.”

  “How do you know?”

  Uncharacteristically for her, Yura ignored Ciara’s question. Soon, Katsuo and Yuki appeared, a beam on each of their shoulders. A tiny palanquin followed, and Ciara could see the white snake relaxing peacefully on a silky pillow inside. Takeru brought up the rear, holding up two beams with his hands.

  The samurai made way for them as they proceeded down the path that led to the castle courtyard. When they reached the common areas, soldiers appeared at their side and each took a beam to support the palanquin and free Yuki, Katsuo and Takeru from their burden. They wore white sashes over their crimson uniforms.

  Ciara immediately headed for the trio, but it took her a while to get there because everybody who was at the ceremony was going the same way. The samurai quickly reached the palanquin and gave their respects to Benten, symbolized by the white snake, without stopping the process.

  Finally, she could check on the injury.

  “Takeru, are you all right?” she hurried over to him, still worried despite Yura’s earlier words. He grinned at her, hiding his arm behind his back.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Then why aren’t you showing me your arm? And why is your face so tense?”

  Takeru sighed.

  “Here,” he lifted his arm for Ciara to inspect. There was no bite mark.

  “Are you really okay?”

  “Yes. How did you like the ceremony?”

  “It was mesmerizing, all of you were,” she glanced around at Yuki and Katsuo.

  “It was Takeru’s first time performing,” Katsuo said.

  “Really? Nice work,” she beamed at Takeru.

  “Thank you. Brother, do you mind if I refresh before joining the procession?”

  “Go ahead,” Katsuo said. With that, Takeru hurried off. Ciara followed him with her gaze and noticed his arm twitching. The one he didn’t show her. She tsked.

  “I knew it.”

  “What did you know?” Yuki asked, coming up beside her. Ciara almost forgot she had an audience.

  “He showed me the wrong arm. He looked pale,”

  “He’ll be fine,” Yuki reassured him. “Katsuo has done it plenty of times, and he is here, isn’t he?”

  “I suppose…”

  “I want to confirm I am definitely here,” Katsuo remarked, putting a hand on Ciara’s hip. His comment elicited a chuckle from the others.

  43

  The procession advanced slowly through town while the four guards who held the palanquin were changed every hour. They reached the edge of town at sunset, and the river looked like a flaming, fluttering ribbon in the orange-hued sky. The palanquin was set on a stage on the riverbank, giving the opportunity for the rest of the public to pay their respects.

  A group of people stood near it, giving out chōchin. A huge pile of paper lanterns was stacked beside them. Ciara stood in line with Katsuo to receive one, hoping her ugly lantern wouldn’t make it here.

  Alas, she was surprised when she saw Katsuo picking up one from the ground. It was hidden underneath the pile of lanterns. And it was the ugliest she’d ever seen. Even so, she immediately recognized it. Her eyes widened.

  “Milord, please have this one,” the man next to Katsuo said, offering him a perfect one. “This one’s better. That one was made by an amateur.”

  “I like it,” Katsuo insisted.

  “A-are you sure, Milord?” the man asked, sweating under the piercing gaze of his daimyō.

  “It’s all right,” Ciara spoke up and offered the perfect lantern in her hands. “Let’s switch.”

  “There’s no need. This is perfect in its imperfection. Natural.”

  “You say the sweetest things,” Ciara said, snaking her free hand around Katsuo’s arm.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked, heading for the next group of people, in charge of lighting the lanterns.

  “You know, what he said was true. It was made by an amateur.”

  “I can see the care with which it was created. I like it.”

  Ciara gently squeezed his arm.

  “I’m happy you do.”

  Her comment left Katsuo puzzled, but she didn’t elaborate. Soon, the sun was completely set, and the riverbank was full of blinking little flames. If one saw it from a distance, they might mistake it for a field of fireflies.

  “What happens next?” Ciara asked, excited.

  “Takeru arrives and lets the serpent back to the river.”

  “It came from the river?”

  “It didn’t. It’s just a symbol since Benten is primarily a water goddess.”

  “Ah, I see.” Ciara nodded. “Basically, the serpent symbolizes the goddess, and when you let it into the river, the goddess returns to her usual place. Is that how it is?”

  Katsuo looked surprised for a moment.

  “You’ve grasped that quite well for a Westerner.”

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

  “It was,” he replied, turning toward the stage. “Look, there’s Takeru.”

  Just as he said, Takeru carefully retrieved the white snake from the silky pillow in the mini palanquin and slowly walked toward the river. Everybody fell in reverent silence as he walked amongst them with the representative of the deity in his arms. Katsuo was the first to move, and the crowd parted before him. Ciara followed him as they lined up behind Takeru.

  One by one, people quietly joined the procession. Katsuo stopped a few feet behind his little brother as Takeru lowered the white serpent to where soil and water met.
r />   “Thank you for your blessings, beloved Benten,” he murmured as the snake slithered out of his hands and into the river.

  He straightened and faced his brother who nodded in approval, making Takeru beam with pride. Katsuo walked over to the river with Ciara by his side. A couple of people stood to the side and lit the small candles installed in the lanterns. As Katsuo gently put his on the water, Ciara copied him. The chōchins swayed slightly as they journeyed down the river.

  Soon, several other lanterns joined in, and the river became an orange ribbon in the dark night, celebrating the goddess Benten.

  “How did you like the festivities?” Yuki asked as she suddenly appeared next to them.

  “Today was amazing!” Ciara exclaimed happily.

  “Well, there’s still a dance and feast waiting for everyone. Make sure you enjoy tonight.”

  “Thank you, Yuki. You too.”

  Yuki had a sad smile on her lips.

  “I’m afraid I need to depart,” she said. She looked up at Katsuo apologetically. “But I’ll try to make it back to your wedding day. When will it be?”

  “In a fortnight.”

  “Oh, I might be late, then,” Yuki’s expression fell at the news.

  “We are happy to have you here whenever,” Ciara quickly jumped in. “Right, Katsuo?”

  “Indeed.”

  “You take care of each other,” Yuki told them. “And Ciara?”

  “Yes?”

  “Be careful, darling. The sun might darken but only for a moment.”

  “Okay?” Ciara looked at her, puzzled. Yuki smiled and waved goodbye. “Take care, Yuki!”

  She quickly disappeared among the celebrating crowd.

  “Well, that was cryptic,” Ciara commented on Yuki’s last words.

  “She does that.” Katsuo chuckled. “You’ll get used to it.”

  Will I? Will I stay long enough to get used to it? Ciara silently wondered, not for the first time. She could definitely get used to waking up in Katsuo’s arms each day. But what of her family? Her life in the modern days? If she were to stay, both of them would need to agree it was permanent. Right now, this arrangement was only for two more weeks.