Maiko

Maiko had long lost any awareness of how long she and Horobei had been running by the time they finally stopped. In truth, she’d have preferred to keep pushing for more distance, but hearing her new charge gasping for breath meant that she had little choice but to call for them to rest. She led him to a particularly thick copse of trees, both to keep them hidden and to provide cover if more assassins started throwing Shuriken at them.

As Horobei found back support at a nearby tree, Maiko supplied him with a waterskin and a few bites of dried fish. “I’m sure they’re not the comforts you’re used to, my Lord,” she said quietly. “But I’m afraid fresh sushi is off the menu when traveling like this.”

Horobei let out a small chuckle, smiling genuinely to her. “I appreciate your concern, but you needn’t worry. Takasu Dojo was not exactly known for being a place of comfort.” She saw the hint of sadness in his eye as he spoke about his home. For a moment, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to have a place that one missed. He took the water and fish without complaint and started eating them, looking all together placid in the moment.

Maiko, meanwhile, clambered up one of the trees that guarded them and worked to get their bearings. As she peered towards the west where they had come from, she couldn’t discern any hints of pursuers. This didn’t mean that they were out of the woods, of course, but she still allowed herself a moment to exist without that concern. She started to wonder why she ever accepted this assignment? If she had just told Masashi to pound sand a bit over a month ago, she could be at home with Daisuke and Sakura. She hadn’t had time to think about how much she missed that silly little fox… no, that silly little Kitsune.

As she looked east, she spotted the hints of a fire near where she and Shizuku had planned to rendezvous. A small breath escaped. They were only about a mile away, and with any luck they wouldn’t have to deal with any more assassins until they had Shizuku with them to help fight. Despite his bravery that morning, Maiko still didn’t trust the poor princeling to be able to do what he had to do a second time.

As she climbed down, Horobei was just finishing his little meal and pushing to his feet. She gave him a reassuring smile. “Would you like the good news or the bad news first?”

Horobei actually took a moment to consider seriously before he shrugged. “I suppose the bad news first. Let us end on a high note, neh?”

The little joke did actually manage to steal a small chuckle from Maiko’s lips. “Well, the bad news is that we’ve no visual on the assassins. We could have completely lost them, or they could be right on our heels.” She knew that wasn’t at all comforting, so she continued quickly to keep the conversation moving. “The good news is that we are close to Shizuku-san. If I had to guess… about ten minutes travel and we should be there.”

“That is both of those things, yes,” he nods his head. “Do we have any way of figuring out where they might be?”

“Alas, it’s not so easy,” she shook her head. “We’ll just have to continue being quiet and careful.” He nodded in understanding, and the two continued on their way.

As they moved towards the smoke, Maiko’s attention focused outward, watching for anyone who wasn’t Shizuku. At first, it seemed as if they were going to get away without further incident. However, as they closed on the campfire, Maiko noticed a shadowed figure stalking towards it. She pushed Horobei back, holding one hand for him to stop, and a finger from her other hand to keep him quiet. Once he nodded in understanding, she stalked into the darkness.

She stalked slowly towards the shadowed figure, one eye kept on the fire ahead of them. A shadow flickered around the glow of the flame. And the assassin in front of her lifted a blow gun to his lips. Not waiting to give him a chance, her hand flashed, and her tanto buried itself into his back. A sound of shock and pain escaped the would be killer, and he fell forward, rolling down into the light of the fire.

A surprised gasp emanated from the fire, and instantly Maiko recognized the voice. She motioned for Horobei to follow, stalking up to the edge of the camp. Shizuku was indeed alert and aware, searching for threats. While Maiko thought at first that she might let the Chosen suffer in ignorance, ultimately practicality prevailed, and she stepped forward to reveal herself. “Apologies, Shizuku-sama. It’s just, I thought that if I let you die that our young charge might resent me for failing to act. If I startled you, know that it was not my goal.”

Shizuku relaxed as she saw Maiko. “Maiko-san. I hope you were successful and are not coming here to report a failure. That would be… bad.”

Before she could say anything, Horobei stepped into the light next to Maiko, giving a very casual bow to her. “Oh, Shizuku-san, you needn’t worry. Maiko-san here has been quite a great help. I dare say she saved my life at least three times today alone.”

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Shizuku’s expression softened as she saw the young man. She rushed to his side suddenly, her arms wrapped around him in a tight hug. “Horo-kun, I am so relieved that you are safe. When everything started happening, I feared the worst for you. To say that I am glad to see you alive and whole is a blessing from the Kami themselves.”

“Yes, right,” Horobei broached hesitantly. “I have been given to understand that something has happened, but Maiko-san has been remarkably quiet on the details. Perhaps you might explain things to me?”

Shizuku looked hesitant, but motioned to the fire. “Maiko-san, would you keep watch? This is… a long story, Horo-kun, and I think you will prefer to be sitting for it.”

Maiko noted the look of uncertainty in Horobei’s eyes, but he moved to sit as she turned to keep watch. She listened as Shizuku explained everything. Himari and Kosuke’s discovery of some plot. Himari’s leaving the city, and she and Misao being sent to follow them. Their returning to the capital in time for the beginning of the coup, and the failure to save his father. Maiko couldn’t help but feel sorry for the boy. He wasn’t that much younger than she was, and was forced to deal with the death of his family on the same day he lost his found family in his Dojo.

The camp was uncomfortably quiet for what felt like hours after the explanation had ended. But finally, Horobei spoke. “What about my brother? He should be the heir, yes?”

Maiko spoke before Shizuku could. “Unfortunately, the best we know is that he was in the capital when the coup started. And I suspect anyone who carried the name Ichiya in the capital didn’t survive the day.”

Shizuku nodded in agreement. “The first thing that the Usurper needed to do to cement her rule was erase all potential resistance against her claim. That started with the Ichiya. If she’s as thorough as I think she might be, that may well mean that she’s even killed cousins and others who don’t share the name but carry the blood. Given the steps she’s already taken, it’d be a vain hope to expect otherwise.”

“So,” Horobei said slowly. “We are operating as if I am the last to carry the name Ichiya.”

“Exactly,” Maiko said. “Which means our goal at this point is to put you on the throne. Sorry.”

Shizuku shot Maiko a look before she picked up on the conversation. “We don’t have another choice, my Lord. We cannot let the Usurper get away with this, but without you we have no real leg to stand on. You are our banner of hope right now. Our rallying cry against the lawlessness that she has wrought upon this world.”

Horobei stared at the fire for a long time. When he finally spoke, it was with a soft voice that Maiko had to strain to hear from the edge of the camp. “I never had any interest in the throne. No interest in politics or the cutthroat actions of Courtiers that would do anything just to get my father to spare them a glance. Kami above, the reason I left for the Takasu Dojo was to live a life of peace away from all that expectation.

“But, it seems that Fate has designed that I am not allowed to sit idly on the sidelines. Maiko-san, I am sure you could tell, but I detest violence. I had never even thought to take a life before today. And I have no interest in taking more. But we will do what we must to protect the Empire for those with evil designs toward it. So what do we do next?”

Maiko gave poor Horobei a sympathetic smile. She felt for him, in truth. “The new Tenth chosen, Sato Himari, will be waiting for us in a little village on the western border of the Black Forest. We need to get there next. With any luck, she’ll have come up with a force that we can start planning our attack against Makoto with.” A glance from Shizuku caused her to correct herself. “The Usurper, my apologies.”

“It sounds as if you all have been planning this for a while,” Horobei marveled.

“Long enough to get this far,” Shizuku said with a deep chuckle. “My lord, you should get some sleep. You have had a long day. Maiko-san and I shall split the watch between us.”

Horobei looked to protest, but a deep yawn escaped his mouth. His cheeks turned an amusing shade of pink, and he finally nodded. “I suppose I should, yes.” As he moved to find a place to lay down, both Maiko and Shizuku worked to put out the fire. They stepped a bit away, enough that the two could still see him, but could have a low conversation without him hearing.

“I don’t like this,” Maiko whispered. “The fact that they attacked today, as I happened to be getting there, can’t be coincidence.”

Shizuku’s eyebrows rose. ‘You think that the attack was staged?”

Maiko nodded. “Masashi is in charge of the assassins, and we’ve no reason to think he isn’t still alive. He’s too clever to have been killed out of hand.” She hated admitting that about him. “He might be playing both sides in the brewing conflict. He might be toying with us before he sends his people in for the kill. I am almost certain he is not fully on our side no matter what else is happening.”

Shizuku’s eyes narrowed. “And you still work for him, no? Are you still not supposed to be protecting Himari-san?”

“I’ve no contradicting orders. And you’re certainly right not to trust me at this point. If nothing else, rest assured that if I had any orders to harm Horobei-sama, we would not be having this conversation right now. And I know you don’t believe me, but… I wouldn’t have accepted orders to hurt anyone.”

“Funny, you didn’t seem at all hesitant to kill that assassin.” She shot back.

“I feel as if I should not have to explain to you why defending my allies against an assassin is not the same as being ordered to kill an innocent boy,” she snapped back venomously. If there was one thing she was growing increasingly tired of, it was those exact assumptions.

“I…” Shizuku stopped in her tracks. “No, you are right. I should be better about taking your actions into account, your loyalties or no.” She sighed. “Get some rest, Maiko-san. I can keep watch for a few hours more.”

Angry as she was, Maiko didn’t argue. She found a tree wide enough to cover her back in case of attack and crossed her arms. She wouldn’t sleep, necessarily. But at least she could get some bit of rest.