Smoke and Jewel, page 1
part #2 of Yokai Treasures Series
Smoke and Jewel
(Yōkai Treasures book 2)
written by Kate Grove
Smoke and Jewel
Written and published by Kate Grove
Copyright © 2020 Kate Grove
Kate Grove asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work, under the Act LXXVI of 1999 on Copyright.
https://kategrove.net
#yokaitreasures
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or portions thereof, in any electronic or mechanical means, without prior written permission from the author.
Paperback ISBN: 978-615-00-7652-2
E-book ISBN: 978-615-00-7653-9
Hardcover ISBN: 978-615-01-7263-7
Cover design © Lauren Bearzatto of Sly Fox Cover Designs
Editorial work by Red Loop Editing
This book is a work of fiction. People, names, places and events portrayed in it are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.
Happy reading!
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***
Smoke and Jewel
A fugitive ninja. A kind-hearted witch. 16th-century Japan. Traitors don’t deserve a happy ending, do they?
Karen has finally found a clue to her cousin Ciara’s disappearance. But before she can follow, she’s kidnapped and finds herself in a war-torn, 16th-century Japan. The madman that kidnapped her forces Karen to use her magic to enchant weapons in a castle full of half-yokai. To top it off, her magic is restricted. There’s no escape… unless she trusts an untrustworthy ninja, Taiki.
Taiki is an excellent spy and assassin. He’s also a traitor, as Karen learns.
If he’s willing to betray someone as powerful as Katsuo, what would he do to her? Which is worse; trusting a traitor or facing a bleak life as a slave enchanting weapons? To complicate matters further, she’s falling for the aloof ninja even as he struggles between saving her life at the peril of his own. If he helps her—and is caught—he risks certain death. Will her heart survive any outcome?
To Maryse. May you have an enjoyable journey becoming an author.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35: Interlude
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63: Interlude
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Epilogue
Author’s Note
About the Author
Blades and Feathers: Chapter 1
Chapter 1
They’re getting closer. The ninja frowned as he retrieved his dagger from the body of his pursuer. The other two had already been dealt with, and Taiki let out a tired sigh as his sharp gaze swept around. It was nearing dawn, and darkness enveloped his surroundings, making it hard to see.
When he was sure no one else was in the vicinity, he pulled down the mask covering the lower half of his face and breathed in the crispy air. He closed his gray eyes for a moment and dragged a hand through his short, black hair, thinking back to how he ended up in this situation.
Not long after he left his old master, the Kitayama daimyō1, and while he was doing his next job, he encountered a lone shinobi. He didn’t know if it was a spur-of-the-moment or planned action from the other party, but Taiki was almost assassinated.
Three days later, two more ninja2 appeared, and this time, Taiki was sure he was specifically targeted. It seemed his location had been exposed and reached the ears of the elders. It didn’t matter that the warrant for him had been issued fifteen years ago; it was indefeasible.
They still haven’t given up on exterminating me, he concluded as he crouched down to wipe his dagger in the black uniform of his victim. His thoughts turned to the comfortable years spent in Shirotatsu castle. For some reason, his kin had never found him while he worked there. But as soon as he parted with that place and its people, he was already being pursued.
He glanced at the Easter horizon, which was just starting to get brighter. It was time to head back to his master. When Juro had contacted him after all those years, he’d felt conflicted for the first time after his desertion of the hidden village. Truthfully, he owed his life to him.
***
He jumped down from the rooftop as soon as he felt a wave of dizziness. Little Taiki shook his head to get rid of the sensation, but that only made it worse. He careened and plopped down on the dusty road, leaning on his fists. He shivered from cold but could see drops of sweat land on the back of his hands.
Poison, he thought before remembering a prick on his wrist when he had run into that woman near the festival and she had grabbed him briefly. She must be one of them.
Taiki pushed himself to his feet and stumbled as soon as he took a step. He landed on all fours as his breathing became harsh.
“You’re pretty resourceful for a brat,” a man next to him spat.
“Don’t underestimate him,” the woman from before remarked. She sounded nearby, but Taiki had trouble focusing. “All the others previously had died.”
The man huffed.
“Still, doesn’t this make you uneasy?” another man said. Taiki tried to lift his head, but it felt too heavy, and he tumbled forward. He collapsed on his stomach. “I mean, three of us against a skinny little brat?”
Someone nudged his side with the tip of their footwear.
“How despicable indeed,” a new voice agreed.
“Huh?”
“Wha—?”
“Who are—?”
Taiki’s three pursuers exclaimed at once before their voices jumbled together with shouts and screams.
Who is it? The boy silently wondered. He felt a rush of threatening energy prickle his skin as he his consciousness slipped. Are they here to kill me, too?
He didn’t know how much time had passed in the darkness, but suddenly, all his senses came back and he sat up, gasping for air. His brain was in overdrive as he tried to get his bearings.
The futon under his fingertips felt bumpy and rough, but it smelled freshly washed. Taiki looked around the small room. Other than a low table and a dresser in the corner, it was void of furniture. The wooden planks outside the room creaked as someone arrived.
The door slid open before he could come up with a plan, and a man with sharp features and indistinguishable age stood there, looking at him. Taiki gulped and tensed his muscles, ready to fight at any second. The man’s calculating gaze gave him shivers.
“No need to be so wary. I did save you, you know,” he said. His smooth voice seeped into Taiki’s ear and spread out. His body relaxed and he immediately calmed down.
Taiki narrowed his eyes as soon as he realized his unnatural reaction to the stranger’s words. The man’s clothes and weapons indicated he was a samurai, but his appearance was rugged and Taiki felt something off as he observed him.
“I’m not going to ask what a young boy like you did to have those assassins on your heels.”
In Taiki’s opinion, that was even more suspicious. “What do you want?”
“Ah, he speaks.” The man chuckled as he sat a few feet away from Taiki’s futon. “I would be lying if I said a little gratitude wouldn’t be nice.”
“What else?” the boy continued to interrogate him. Then he cleared his throat, and the man held out a gourd for him.
“It’s water. Drink it.”
Taiki eyed the gourd. He had no idea of the mysterious man’s intentions. Eventually, he took the flask and screwed the top off. He smelled the liquid inside, and it didn’t look suspicious. Still, as a ninja,
Taiki knew there were undetectable poisons.
He had used them himself on several occasions.
He had to survive.
“Why did you help me?” he asked instead of drinking.
“Well...” The man scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed. This made his short, tousled black hair stand on end, and he looked away for a moment before fixing his ebony gaze on the boy. “You reminded me of myself.”
The gourd slipped out of little Taiki’s hands.
“What—?”
Taiki snatched at the gourd, spilling the water a little.
“A child left alone in this harsh world to fend for themselves. You and I are alike,” the samurai explained.
“I can take care of myself,” he replied, and the man fixed him with a skeptical look. Unawares, Taiki sipped on the water. By the time he realized what he was doing, it was too late. He froze at that, waiting for the aftereffect.
But none came, no matter how long he eyed the flask in his hands.
“As I said, it’s clear water. No need to be so on guard,” the man reminded him before sighing. “Although I can understand your wariness.”
“What do you want in exchange for helping me?” the boy asked, his voice small. Defeated.
The samurai smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Still, it was the first friendly gesture Taiki had had ever since his friend died at the shinobi exam and he fled the village.
“Just a friend.” The samurai reached out to pat Taiki’s head, but the boy recoiled. The man froze before he put his hand back down on his knees. “Call me Juro.”
Chapter 2
On the other hand, Katsuo Kitayama treated Taiki as if he was his own brother and gave him shelter and purpose. He couldn’t comprehend such feelings, but he was grateful to Katsuo. Cue his inner turmoil when he was contacted by Juro after a decade. Just when Taiki was beginning to think the ground had swallowed his old benefactor, he showed up and required his assistance.
It was a difficult decision to make, but if it hadn’t been for Juro, he wouldn’t have survived back then. He wouldn’t have met Katsuo either.
In the end, he betrayed the Kitayama family and returned to his former master’s side. Taiki pushed the disturbing thoughts away and set off. His shape blurred as he sprinted back to the small shrine Juro was recuperating in. Just as the first rays of the sun peeked out in the East, he arrived at the building and quietly made his way inside. Immediately, a nauseating smell assaulted his nose, and he pulled the mask up again. He knew where it came from. Its source was the two bodies in the back of the house, the priest and miko3 who had lived there.
“You’ve returned.”
Taiki knelt before his master.
Juro didn’t seem to mind the smell or the shabby appearance of the shrine. He reclined comfortably on a cushion, sipping sake from a small dish. Black hair framed his face, too short to pull back but too long to keep it tidy. There was no sign of him having been injured by a magic spell and a pistol mere days ago unless Taiki counted his tense expression.
“How many were there?” Juro inquired. Naturally, he knew of the ninja’s pursuers.
“Three.”
“Hmm...” Juro seemed to be contemplating something. His red eyes settled on the shinobi. “Once we return to the castle, you don’t need to worry about them. They won’t be able to get close anyway.”
“I am thankful for your consideration.” Taiki bowed his head.
Juro ignored his words as he continued. “It’s almost time to get the other witch.”
Taiki inclined his head, listening.
“How long would it take to bring the mirror to the castle?” Juro asked.
“At least a day.”
“Hmm...” Juro tapped his chin. “Make sure it gets there before sundown. I’ll follow you in a bit. The solar eclipse is tomorrow.”
“As you wish,” Taiki replied and rose, turning around to leave immediately. It was easy to get used to being ordered around with such coldness. It was just like back when he was a child growing up in the hidden ninja village. He was a tool, a weapon for his owner. The years spent in Shirotatsu castle seemed like a dream, and now that comfort was out of his reach. That time was just a small detour in his life as a shinobi. Taiki silently berated himself for becoming too complacent while serving Katsuo.
“Oh, one more thing,” Juro said, making the ninja stop at the threshold. “I’ll need your cat.”
Taiki turned back with a question in his eyes. Juro smirked.
“You can’t allow your wounded master to go back to his castle on foot, can you?”
For a moment, rage engulfed Taiki, and he wanted to strangle Juro for treating his precious companion as a pack mule. However, he forced himself to calm down. The ninja nodded stiffly, and a small black figure melted out of the shadows in the corner. It hopped up, and Taiki caught the cat in his arms as she climbed to his shoulders and wound her two tails around his neck like a scarf.
“Take Juro-sama to the castle,” Taiki ordered his cat. “I’ll wait for you there.”
The animal meowed and bumped her head against Taiki’s cheek before jumping down and landing gracefully. She stalked over to Juro and sat in front of him, tilting her head to the side. Her ears twitched as the samurai chuckled.
“Good girl.”
Taiki exited the shire, leaving the stench behind. Thank goodness he had left some leeway when informing Juro of the timeline. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to make it by nightfall. As he sprinted off, his figure blurred once again. He had to use his maximum speed because the hidden location of the mirror was quite far. Taiki moved nimbly through forests and circled around villages until he arrived at a tall waterfall. There was a cave hidden behind it, where the mirror had been left for safekeeping.
As he walked closer, he meticulously deactivated the traps he had set. Thankfully, there was no indication of an intruder. His footsteps made no sound in the rocky cave, and he made his way in front of the mirror. Scant light filtered through the waterfall behind him as he stopped in front of the oval-shaped item. It was a bit shorter than him and gave off a silvery shine, probably because of the unusual lighting in the cave.
Taiki looked at himself in the mirror for a moment. He felt as if someone was watching him and turned his head to the side when a shadow moved in the corner of his eye.
But everything was still around him. He furrowed his eyebrows. He had always needed less sleep than the average person, but was he pushing his limits in the last few days? He’d been going on non-stop for three days now. He decided to get some sleep once they arrived at his master’s castle. Until then, he just had to bear with it. Juro wasn’t a person to take others into consideration, and Taiki was currently the only one he could depend on; so of course, he had to do his best.
He pulled a blanket out, and just as he was about to cover the mirror, he noticed his image in it seemed to be a bit delayed. Taiki’s eyes narrowed as he stopped mid-move. He eyed his image in the mirror’s silver surface, waiting to see something that would prove his suspicions, but all was back to normal.
Taiki frowned under his mask and threw the blanket over the mirror. Goosebumps broke out on his arms as he heard a low chuckle.
I really need some sleep. He was convinced it was sleep-deprivation, that his mind was playing tricks on him. The ninja lifted the mirror, which was lighter than one would first expect. It would still slow him down on his way to the castle, but he should be able to make it in time. Taiki set out immediately, putting the strange occurrence regarding the mirror away in the corner of his mind. He had a task to finish.
Chapter 3
Let’s break up.
Karen choked on her orange juice as she read the text message.
“Hey, girl, are you okay?” her best friend asked, gently hitting Karen’s back.
“No,” she managed between coughs. When she finally got over the life-threatening situation, she showed her phone to Brianna.
“That shitty idiot!” her friend exclaimed. Thankfully, the background noise of the cafeteria swallowed her shout. She put down her half-eaten sandwich. “Where is he now?”
