Takeo's Chronicles, page 63
But Takeo wasn’t in a position to point this out.
“Well,” he said, “I’m simply being honest. I have information you will want to use at your discretion, and if I reveal it now amongst so many, the power may well be out of your hands.”
“Not a chance,” Qing repeated. “Not again.”
She seemed about to go on when Zhenzhen raised a hand, silencing the room. The shogun was staring intensely at Takeo, her eyes tracing down his figure. At first, she seemed in agreement with the ninja, but then something changed in her features. Her smile took on a mischievous edge, and she waved to the guards.
“Everyone leave,” she said. “All but Takeo.”
“What? My lady, not again. No, please,” Qing replied, turning sharply.
But Zhenzhen kept her hand poised and turned a harsh gaze in reply. Qing went silent and stiff, biting her lip. The girl nodded meekly and then bowed. Virote just sighed and stood up from his chair. He hobbled across the carpeted stone and tapped one of the ten on the shoulder.
“Let’s make this quick,” the old man said. “Never keep your shogun waiting.”
They all filed out with Qing in the rear. “We’ll be right outside, my lady,” she said loudly, and then shut the doors.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Lady Zhenzhen’s gaze hadn’t lessened in its intensity, and Takeo was beginning to think there was something different in that look. Not madness, maybe, but something he wasn’t used to. She seemed to take particular interest in his tattered kimono, a green one he’d stolen off of one of Lady Xuan’s bodyguards, stained with blood and ruined by his rugged travels. Zhenzhen moved forward to the edge of her bed and swung her legs over the back, facing Takeo. The slits parted, and he could see clear up to her thighs.
“You’re a cocky one, Takeo Karaoshi,” she said. “I don’t know of any lowborn samurai who would dare ask for a private audience with me. Also, your timing is rather poor.”
“I didn’t ask,” Takeo replied. “I warned. I would have told you in front of everyone, but you would have wished otherwise.”
She shrugged and then pressed her chest together again with her elbows. Takeo looked at the floor so as not to be distracted.
“Well let’s hear it then,” the lady said. “What secrets does the dirty ronin have for me?”
Her tone was playful, like they were sharing a joke. Takeo didn’t see the humor.
“Well, truthfully,” Takeo started, “this won’t be a secret for long. You’d find out eventually, if you don’t already. I just want you to know that I’m not hiding anything from you. I don’t want to be betrayed again. I’m assuming you know who travels with me?”
“I’ve heard, yes,” she said.
“The young ogre child?” he clarified, then continued when she nodded. “That’s not an ogre at all. That’s actually a rakshasa cub in disguise.”
Zhenzhen’s eyes flew open and her jaw dropped. Her powdered face went a touch paler, and a gasp escaped her lips.
“I know, I know,” Takeo said quickly, trying to curtail her fears. “I’m guessing Qjang didn’t tell you before she died?”
“The rakshasa pair Xuan was after,” Zhenzhen whispered. “I knew about that, but Qjang was injured before finding out what happened. All I knew was that Xuan had captured the male. It calls itself Qadir, right? Are you telling me you captured his female?”
“I did,” Takeo replied. “Or rather we did. I couldn’t have done it alone.”
Lady Zhenzhen touched a hand to her mouth and went deep in thought. Her mind was racing, her eyes darting between possibility and apprehension.
“A rakshasa cub,” she whispered. “This is interesting.”
“It is, and I’m requesting that the cub stay with my group,” Takeo replied. “Believe it or not, it is safest with us. Trust me.”
Lady Zhenzhen balked. “Trust you with a rakshasa? That’s quite a bit of trust, Takeo. You think I’m just going to let that beast go about my kingdom after what happened to Lord Ichiro?”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking you to keep her in my care,” Takeo answered. “You know my story; you know I have no love for the rakshasa kind. The moment this cub shows any signs of following in Jabbar’s footsteps, I’ll dispatch her myself. I’ll have to, because in a year’s time, she’ll be too powerful for anyone else to do it.”
Zhenzhen slowly closed her mouth and leaned forward, resting her chin in her outstretched fingers. She sat there a moment, thinking intently, and bit her lower lip. Takeo clasped his hands in front of him.
“According to Qjang, that might be the last female rakshasa left in the world. That’s a powerful bargaining chip you’ll be holding,” Zhenzhen said.
“You’ll be holding it, not me,” Takeo replied. “I’m merely keeping her safe and guarded. The longer she’s in my protection, the longer you can keep her presence a secret. Like I said, word is going to spread eventually, as too many in the Nguyen family know as it is, but the pace will be slowed by keeping her in my group of misfits. Not to mention that the first place anyone’s going to look for this girl is in your keep. If she’s with me, she’ll keep moving, and that means she’ll be far from royalty but close to many swords.”
“And how do I know you can control her?” Zhenzhen said. “What’s your leverage? The threat of death?”
Takeo shook his head. “No, I’m not that stupid. The Nguyen family holds Qadir by giving him power, protecting him from genocide, and promising to continue his species. It’s a mix that’s sure to cause their downfall in time, but we’ll have to dispatch them long before that trees bears fruit. As for this cub, she’s held in our sway by another means.” He hesitated, unsure of how to say the next part convincingly. “For some odd reason, the cub has taken a liking to our ogre. She calls him father.”
Zhenzhen paused and then burst into laughter, and then paused again to check that Takeo was serious. When his face revealed he was, she burst out loud again.
“That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” she said.
“And yet it’s true.”
“What happens when she grows older then, hm?” Zhenzhen pressed. “Surely she’s not going to love this ogre forever. Aren’t they short-lived creatures anyway? What happens when he dies, or when she decides that power is greater than love? What happens when she decides to find her own kind? Or until then, what happens with the Nguyen ninjas come looking for her?”
“All great questions that I’ve thought of myself,” Takeo said. “And in time, we’ll find the answers, but for the moment, it’s better to have the cub within reach of my sword. In a year that may change. It might even change by the time I get back from this silly errand, but for now, let me keep the cub. I can control her, and if need be, kill her.”
Zhenzhen ran a pointed finger along her red lips. She leered at Takeo, humming quietly to herself. It finally occurred to Takeo that perhaps Lady Zhenzhen was acting so strangely because she was in a good mood. He half considered asking but then decided against it.
“You drive a hard bargain, my ronin,” Zhenzhen said. “I’ll accept on one condition.”
“And what is that, my lady?” he replied.
“Take off your clothes.”
Takeo went still and his heart skipped. His mind went blank, and he thought he’d surely misheard. However, his blood turned cold.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” he said. “I don’t think I heard you correctly. What did you say?”
“Take off, your clothes,” Zhenzhen whispered slowly, enunciating each word with extravagant lip and tongue motions. “All of them.”
Takeo swallowed down a dry throat. His heart raced. His eyes darted to the sides, mostly because he couldn’t match the gaze Zhenzhen was giving him. He started to sweat.
“My lady, I’m not sure I understand,” he stuttered.
“Don’t play dumb, Takeo. You know exactly what I’m saying. You’re not embarrassed, are you?” Lady Zhenzhen teased, and then added a giggle. “Oh, how sweet. The hard, harsh ronin is shy. How endearing. Come on, now. Do as your shogun commands. You’ll have to exchange those tattered clothes for Hanu gear soon anyway. Drop them, for me.”
She bounced an eyebrow, and Takeo tried to settle his pulse. Several moments passed, and he seemed unable to conjure a clear thought. Unable to delay anymore, he stood up and raised a hand to his kimono. Slowly, grabbed the knot that kept his kimono tied shut.
“Yes, that’s it,” Zhenzhen whispered.
He untied and dropped his kimono back, revealing his war-torn body, a heavily contoured map of scars and wiry muscles. He paused to take a deep breath, and then tossed aside his undergarments next. His stomach flipped as Zhenzhen hummed, and he refused to look her in the eye.
“Oh, my word,” she whispered and licked her lips. Lady Zhenzhen touched a hand to her thigh and squeezed her clothing there, pressing her legs together. “Hm, now that’s they body of a warrior,” she said, biting her lower lip. “You drive a hard bargain, Takeo Karaoshi, but we have a deal. You may keep the cub with you, for now.”
Takeo bowed and picked up his clothes in the same movement. He dressed quickly, and all the while the shogun watched. This wasn’t the first time he’d been made to be naked, but somehow, it felt exceptionally different than any time before.
He didn’t like the feeling.
“Thank you for being reasonable,” he said.
“Oh no,” Zhenzhen replied, lying on her side again. “Thank you.”
Chapter 4
Takeo’s heart was pounding by the time he exited Lady Zhenzhen’s chambers. He shut the door behind him and held it closed. He expected to find Lord Virote and the others in waiting, but only two guards stood nearby who cocked an eye at him. He ignored them, hung his head, and walked away as fast as he could.
Emily, Emily, Emily, he repeated in his head. He tried in vain to summon her face to his mind. Ever since he’d struck that deal with the jinni in the desert, his memories of her had been destroyed. Not completely, but fundamentally changed in a way he hadn’t expected. He could still recall warm nights in the winter snow, the touch of her small hands against his chest, but he remembered them the way one remembers a painting. He could see the action but couldn’t feel it. When he dug up fragments of his past, he couldn’t smell her hair or taste her kiss. While he remembered holding her hand, he could never feel the pressure of her skin. By way of knowledge, he knew she had green eyes, brown hair, and freckled skin, but try as he might, he couldn’t put the loose collage of features into an actual face. He had tried to accept that over the past year, but in this moment, he felt nothing but regret.
“Emily,” he whispered. “Damn it, come on.”
He stopped and faced one of the stone walls. His breath had quickened, and he felt a surge of hatred boil up from his stomach, directed at himself.
“Remember her,” he said through gritted teeth. “Emily.”
Nothing. He tapped his head to the stone.
“Emily!”
Nothing. He tapped again, harder.
“EMILY!” He slammed his head against the stone so hard he collapsed to his knees.
His whole world rocked, and everything turned to a blur. A maddening pain rushed through his skull, and beneath it, he could have sworn he saw something, a girl, one with a small smile, cute features, and a confident aura. She was there only briefly, and Takeo imagined that if he could remember Emily, this is how she would appear. Yet he couldn’t tell if that image was her or just dream, especially through the pain.
He moaned and cradled his head, rocking on his knees. Quiet murmurs slipping from his parted lips, and when he pulled his hand away, there was blood on his palm.
“Well that’s just great,” Takeo muttered. “Good luck hiding that. Get it together. That wasn’t that bad. She didn’t even touch you.”
Takeo stumbled to a stand; perhaps too soon, as he immediately fell against the stone wall. He used it for a brace, breathing deep and letting his head regain control. Once he was ready, he went down the staircase, one hand tracing the wall to keep him steady.
“What in the world was that?” Takeo whispered. “Don’t lose yourself ever again. Rule one: remain calm.”
Then another twinge of guilt struck as he realized he’d broken rule two, as well. He’d let himself be disarmed.
Okamoto would be ashamed.
Takeo swallowed and pressed on. He needed his sword back as soon as possible, as it seemed he was losing his mind without it. He was halfway down the spiral staircase, taping his forehead to make sure the bleeding stopped, when his path became blocked. He glanced around his forearm to see the young ninja, the one called Qing, leaning up against the center column of the stairs. In her hands, she used a tanto to pick dirt under her fingernails.
Takeo froze. She didn’t look up at him.
“So sorry to ambush you like this, but I thought it best to catch you in private,” an old yet strong voice came echoing down a hallway off the staircase.
Takeo’s eyes flicked that way to see Virote Yang walk into view. Hands behind his back, he took a hunched stance next to the young girl and raised his chin toward Takeo. He looked between them, but Qing still hadn’t moved, not even to acknowledge Virote’s presence. Takeo decided to ignore her in kind and stared at Virote.
“Can I help you, my lord?” Takeo asked.
“Oh, I certainly hope so. It took some convincing to get everyone to leave, assuring them another assassination attempt wouldn’t occur, but this should be worth it,” Virote answered, then paused. “Did something happen to your head?”
“I bumped it,” Takeo answered. “It was my fault. But what do you mean another assassination attempt?”
The old man frowned and glanced up the stairway. “Hm, best you come forward, please,” he said. “Lest our voices carry too far.”
He motioned down with his hand, but Takeo looked slowly to Qing’s knife. Virote followed the gaze and then tapped the young girl roughly on the belly. She froze, gave Virote a cold stare, and then sheathed the knife.
“You know I can draw it faster than a samurai,” Qing said.
Takeo shrugged. “Maybe most, but not me.” He paced down the steps until he was within arm’s reach of them.
“Shut it, the both of you,” Virote growled. “If you two want to have a pissing contest, drop your drawers and get on with it. I don’t have the time or patience to deal with the insecurities of youth. Takeo, I’m sorry to catch you like this, but I’m in need of your help, and this is of the upmost secrecy.”
“That can’t possibly be true, Lord, if you’re sharing it with me.”
Virote smirked, deepening the aged lines his face. He nodded and sighed. “Yes, well, war and necessity make for strange bedfellows. I’m sure you know that. Normally, I wouldn’t trust you with anything important so soon, but you’re a unique person in a unique position. You have a treacherous reputation, Takeo—undeserved or not—it’s only a matter of time before someone gets to you. The way I see it, that person might as well be me.”
Takeo looked sidelong at the ninja girl. He’d heard those words and that tone many times in service to Ichiro Katsu. Behind every shogun, or rather every warlord, was a plethora of lesser leaders constantly trying to undermine and subvert each other. Through threats, treaties, and tact they vied for wealth and influence, and it was nigh impossible to avoid picking a side. Takeo had always just followed Okamoto back then, and Okamoto had always followed Ichiro directly, as that shogun had ruled with an iron fist so strong that it was safest to report to him in person.
Unfortunately, Takeo had no idea how Lady Zhenzhen stood. For all he knew, she was a moment away from toppling, and attaching himself to her would only bring him down, too. He needed to be ready to jump ship if that was the case. At bear minimum, he needed to know where her closest associates stood, Virote and this ninja specifically.
“I’m listening,” Takeo said.
“Good, good,” Virote started, bring his hands from around his back and rubbing them together. “I’ll start with the part that everyone knows, or the part you’ll find out soon enough. Did you know we have Lord Oiu Nguyen in chains? The youngest Nguyen brother?”
Takeo nodded. “I’d heard. Honestly, now that Lady Xuan is dead, you’re better off slitting Oiu’s throat and saving the food it takes to keep him alive. Lord Pircha doesn’t give a damn about any of his brothers.”
Virote winked and kept his voice low. “I’d be inclined to agree with you were I not a man of planning,” he countered. “But only the dead have no value, and even then, some. Now, have you heard that Lady Zhenzhen was almost assassinated visiting Oiu recently?”
Takeo blinked and shook his head.
Well that explains the shogun’s jubilant nature. She was feeling elated from a near-death experience. Or at least I hope that was the case.
“Sounds like something you should be talking to Oiu about,” Takeo said.
Virote drew close to Takeo, enough to feel the heat from the old man’s breath. “We’re working on that,” he said, “but until then, I have an opportunity for you to gain my trust.”
Takeo didn’t touch the lord, but he did raise his chin to create space between them, and also made a show of looking down. “Before you begin, Lord,” Takeo started, “I have to admit that I don’t know the value of your trust. It’s nothing personal, but I wouldn’t be alive today if I wasn’t skeptical.”
Virote watched Takeo lean back and seemed offended, but then then he pursed his lips.
“Hm, yes,” the old man whispered. “Well, I suppose I can’t fault you there. Fine, I’ll give you the option to exclude yourself, but I want a definitive yes or no before you leave. Yes? Good. Now, ninja attacks are nothing new in Juatwa, especially attempts against our Lady. However, we usually stop them long before they ever get to her. This one, obviously, cut things far too close. Someone on the inside made this attack possible, and whoever it was had more access than some lowly, paid-off guard. We have reason to suspect this particular assassination originated from within our kingdom’s hierarchy. Are you familiar with the families that support the Hanu clan?”
