Tenth Day of the Second Month, Year One Thousand Ten of the Reign of the Ichiya Dynasty

Himari

Five days of hard riding had brought the three Chosen and Maiko to the outskirts of the city. A quick breakfast of dried fish and water was eaten quietly, and the quartet were on their way. No words passed between them for a long time. As the city of Kyūsoku Toshi came into view, they stopped suddenly as they realized what they were seeing on the road ahead of them.

At least a half dozen columns, each with at least five dozen soldiers, stood outside the gates of the city. The sounds of shouting and battle emanated before them, leaving Himari stunned. They were too late. The attack had already begun.

Fortunately, it was the voice of Shizuku that brought her back to the moment. “The gate is compromised,” her tone stayed collected. She seemed relaxed and ready despite the situation. “I’m going to rally the Defense Forces. Seventh, with me. Tenth, you are aware of where the tunnels are, yes?” As Himari nodded her head in confirmation, Shizuku continued. “Take the tunnels. Secure an escape route for the Emperor, and get to the throne room to support however you can. Maiko, was it?”

Maiko nodded her head. Himari marveled that she seemed so prepared and serious. But perhaps her readiness was just another secret withheld from her.

Nevertheless, Shizuku continued. “Go along with the Tenth. I know you are not a Chosen, but right now we are all hands on deck. Watch each other’s back, and be prepared to withdraw if the situation becomes dire. You’re no good to anyone dead.”

Maiko nodded quietly, but resolutely. “Will do, Shizuku-sama. Thank you for your trust.”

“Right. Let’s get moving. If anything goes wrong, come back here and wait for us. Good luck.” With a kick to her horse, Shizuku road off to the west, Misao following behind.

Himari took a breath and dismounted her horse. She tied the reins to a nearby tree, and Maiko followed suit. “We’ll need to move quickly and quietly,” she whispered. As much as her heart raced, she knew she needed to tamp down her feelings. Fortunately, Maiko simply nodded, and the two began their trek.

A circuitous trail through the forest took them to a small clearing where a hidden trapdoor led into the catacombs below. As they peered to that clearing, however, Himari cursed to herself. Two guards stood over the tunnel entrance, watching very attentively for any who might intrude on whatever was happening below. Her eyes looked over to Maiko, and she motioned for the other woman to trail around. Maiko seemed to understand, stalking through the treeline with her eyes kept determinately on the guards. Himari watched her with her eyes narrowed. She didn’t have time right now to prod Maiko about where her skills came from. But it was added to her list of things to discuss later.

Himari held up her fingers and counted down from three. The two were a blur of motion, and by the time the guards realized what was happening, it was too late. Himari’s katana slashed her guard shoulder to hip in a swift, practiced motion. As she looked to her left to help, Maiko’s guard was already falling, his neck cut from ear to ear. “Another secret kept, hm?” She commented, trying to keep herself sounding bitter.

That didn’t work, apparently, as Maiko flinched. “I’m sorry. I will explain more when we have time, I promise. Suffice to say, I’ve a few more skills I’ve failed to mention.” Himari shook her head and sighed. She had so many questions, but now just was not the time. She opened the trapdoor and took a breath. “Ready?” Maiko nodded, and down they went.

The tunnels were old. If legend was to be believed, they were the very same tunnels that the Kami Sato and Ichiya traveled to slay the Eternal Emperor over one thousand years ago. The symmetry was not lost on Himari, even if she was moving to save an Emperor instead of killing one. The two stalked as quickly as they could, hamstrung slightly by their need to keep noise down. If Makoto’s forces had already known about the tunnel, then…

As they reached the first major fork in the road, a pair of Samurai came into their vision. For a long moment, there was no movement whatsoever. Then, all four burst into action. Himari dove straight for the man closest to her, throwing her shoulder into his chest and driving him hard into the close by wall. She’d hope that the sudden impact would be enough to knock him out, but found herself disappointed by the driving of his fists into her back. She stifled a yelp of pain and grabbed his legs. As she twisted left, she felt another sharp blow, but heard a surprised grunt as he found himself moving with her and landing on the ground. She didn’t have much time to think, so she pushed herself quickly to her feet and brought her heel sharply into his nose. The crack she heard caused her to recoil. What she hoped would simply drive his head back shattered his nose as well. He was out. Maybe for good.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Himari centered herself briefly. This wasn’t the first person she’d killed, not even today. She reminded herself that this was part of her duty, even if doing it so viscerally was… uncomfortable. A reminder in her head had her looking to Maiko and her dance partner, but she had already taken care of him. Another clean cut to the throat. “You really are well acquainted with that,” she muttered, nodding to the knife.

“Every bit as you are with that blade of yours,” Maiko said wryly, but Himari just scowled. The stakes were too high for the levity they’d previously shared. She wasn’t sure that they’d ever be able to share that levity again.

There was little time to consider that further, however. The pair continued running, and Himari cursed their getting sidetracked, even to save their own lives.

As they finally found the ladder that would lead them into the castle, Himari wasted no time. But as she’d climbed about a head up, she felt a tug on her hakama. She looked down at Maiko, confusion on her face. “Maiko-san, we have to hurry. The Emperor could be in danger. We can’t delay any further.”

“Well… what if he is, Himari-sama? What do we do if the Emperor is already dead?”

Himari froze in that instant. She had not even considered the possibility. “My father is with him. The Emperor isn’t dead yet.” She hated that she didn’t have conviction when she said that. Nevertheless, she continued. “And if somehow they both are, then I will avenge them both or die trying.” That, she could say much more confidently.

“And who do you serve by throwing your life away?” Maiko asked calmly.

Himari dropped from the ladder and stared at her for a moment, fury briefly flashing in her eyes. “What is there to serve if the Emperor is dead, Maiko-san? What good is one Chosen by the Emperor if there is no Emperor to be Chosen by? There are but two ways that today ends: with the coup ended and the Emperor safe, or with all the Chosen dead. And if you plan to get in the way of that, then you should leave now.”

Maiko considered Himari for a moment. “If that is what you say,” is all that leaves her lips, her tone so neutral that Himari could gleam no intention from them. “We should keep going, then.”

Himari let out a breath she didn’t know she held. She felt a pain tinge her chest at the utter lack of emotion from her friend. Was she her friend? Himari wasn’t sure anymore. What she was sure of was that she couldn’t bear to fail here. She rushed up the ladder as fast as her legs could take her, and the light clack of wood from behind her was the only indication she had that Maiko was following behind.

The tunnel system let out into a small room that sat under the dais. Vaguely, she could hear voices from overhead.

“This is as far as you go, Makoto-san.” The voice of her father lightened her heart. He was still alive. She wasn’t too late. “This foolishness ends now.”

A voice she didn’t recognize, but figured to be the Imperial General responded. “Stand aside, Captain,” the venom in her voice shocked Himari deeply. Who was this woman, and how could she hate someone so much? “The Emperor dies today, and you die with him if you do not move.”

Himari moved to open the heavy wooden trapdoor. She had to get up there. Had to move to stand at her father’s side. She had already failed to warn him, so she had to make it up to him here. But as she pushed at the door, she found that it would not budge. She threw her body into it. Kicked it as hard as she could even. But she could barely get it to move even a bit.

“The Emperor shall not fall so long as I live,” she heard Kosuke’s voice again even as her eyes feverishly searched for another way into the throne room. But nothing came to mind. “I will tell you again. This foolishness ends now.”

The muffled sound of steel clashing against steel rang through the small room. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense. Why was the Emperor still up there? Why was the exit sealed? She spied a wooden box in the corner, and her eyes shined with hope. Quickly, she rushed to it and dragged it under the door. She climbed it, then she pushed against the door with all her might. She could still hear the sound of battle above her. For a brief moment, a powerful joy hit her as she felt the door finally start to push. Something heavy must have been on top of it…

…and as she looked out the crack made in the door, her elation turned to horror. A powerful downward slash of an impossibly large No-Dachi slashed through her father’s torso. As she watched him slowly fall to the ground, she felt her world shatter. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t even scream. In that moment, all she could do was stare at her father. It… wasn’t right. His waist and his chest weren’t supposed to be in two separate pieces.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. She saw confusion in them. As if she wasn’t supposed to be here. He mouthed something to her. Through stricken tears, she could barely make it out. “Run.”

She felt rage overtake her body, and with all her might, she started to push against whatever held down the door. She felt a surge of strength, like nothing she’d felt before. Like a rushing current, she felt unstoppable. She was going to push through. She was going to save him.

Then she felt the prick. A little thing, like a mosquito biting at her neck. Her eyes began to lose focus. The door that had started to lighten felt like a ton atop her back. She gritted her teeth, pushed as hard as she could. Sounds that were so clear but a moment ago started to distort. She opened her mouth to make a sound, but all she managed was a confused noise.

Before the door finally closed to her forever, she saw Takahashi Makoto’s No-Dachi cleave against the throne. She fell off the box. She was suddenly so tired. Her hand reached up to the door, then fell to the ground with a light tap

The last thing Sato Himari saw before the world faded away was Maiko staring over her limp form, regret stricken over her face.