Twenty-third Day of the Second Month, Year One Thousand Ten of the Reign of the Ichiya Dynasty

Maiko

A sense of relief washed over Maiko as they followed the Eastern Sun to the small, nameless village she had called home. For a moment, it felt like a miracle that Shizuku, Horobei, and herself all made it back in one piece. Of course, that was by design no doubt. The sting of her meeting with Masashi still hung like a rope around her neck, and the sight of her familiar home could only do so much to alleviate the stranglehold it had.

“Where to next?” Horobei interjected into her thoughts, forcing her back into the moment.

Fortunately, Shizuku answered while she collected herself. “Maiko-san has a small house in this village. In theory, our allies should be arriving within the next day or so.” Shizuku quietly stalked towards the house, even as the other two paused.

“She is…. Intense,” Maiko commented.

Horobei chuckled. “I’ve known her since she was my protector when I was a boy. To say she’s always been like this is an understatement. But I think it’s admirable.”

“Yes, well. First thing’s first. Let’s get you settled in. I apologize, my hut is not the Imperial Capital, but I hope you’ll find it comfortable regardless.” She offered an apologetic smile, but was surprised when he waved it off.

“Come now, Maiko-san. I think saving my life is far more valuable than the perceived comforts of a home, no? That you invite me into yours is another blessing that I am honored to accept. Please, lead the way and give me a tour.”

Maiko nodded, stepping forward to lead the way and hide the slight bit of embarrassment. She half expected him to tell her to stop calling him -Sama. Fortunately, that hadn’t happened yet, and she opted for a slightly circuitous walk through the village, starting with Daisuke’s house.

As fortune would have it, Daisuke was standing outside. The old man waved at her cheerfully. “Maiko-san!” He called. “The roof work has held up wonderfully! Thank you so much. Who is that? A partner, perhaps?!”

Maiko suppressed a small laugh. “Daisuke-sama, you know that I’ve no plans for a partner. This is a friend of mine, Hachi. He’s visiting for a few days while we wait for my other friends to come by and pick him up!”

“Gonna be leaving again so soon, hm?” The old man grinned, leaning against his rickety fence. “Tell me you’ll be back in time for the fall harvest.”

“If I’m not, I will be sure to find a replacement,” she promised, giving him a wave as the two walked past him.

Once out of ear shot, Horobei eyed her curiously. “Hachi?”

“First name that came to my head,” she explained with a light shrug. “I don’t distrust Daisuke-sama, of course, but we should still act as if the possibility of spies exists.” She noted the look of discomfort on his face and shook her head and whispered. “With respect, we don’t have the luxury of knowing exactly who our friends are. I know it’s not as… heroic as the tales, but the world rarely is.”

“It’s not that,” he admitted quietly. “I’ve just never had to lie… seriously like this before.”

“Oh,” she giggled. “Well, my friend. Leave the lying to me. I regret to say that I’ve become tragically good at it.” The two continued on to her hut in relative silence. As Maiko had come to be far too used to, the rest of the village recoiled away from her or shunned her outright. She avoided their gaze, focused on the road ahead. At the least, she could tell herself that this didn’t bother her anymore.

She opened the door and held her arm back to prevent him from entering immediately. Her eyes darted around the room, but when Shizuku was the only figure inside, she motioned him to follow. Fortunately, Shizuku had been kind enough to make tea for the trio. The three sat around the small table and drank in silence for what felt like an eternity.

But the silence eventually had to break, and it was Shizuku who broke it. “When Himari-san and Misao-san return, you should leave us, Maiko-san.” Her tone was almost too relaxed, as if she was commenting on the weather, or a nice hat.

But before she could respond, Horobei interjected. “That doesn’t make any sense. She saved my life, Shizuku-san. She saved your life. And you would turn her away?”

“I would,” she replied calmly. “We simply cannot know if she is loyal to you or not. Her history is too murky, and I will not risk your safety over an assassin who could well be working with our enemy.”

“There must be another way,” he argued. “Maiko-san has shown no interest in-”

“Enough.” Maiko spoke calmly. “Please, Horobei-sama. I can speak for myself. And while I appreciate your vouching for me despite our only having recently met, you must admit that Shizuku-sama’s words are well founded. Even if I were to disclose the full nature of my allegiances, I don’t doubt that it would do little to assuage the concerns of Shizuku-sama or Himari-sama. With that in mind, it is likely in your best interest and mine if I departed your company once your safety is as secure as possible.”

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Horobei’s disbelief was painted on his face. He seemed ready to interject, but he sighed in resignation instead. “Very well. If I am to rule, let it be known that I do not rule by forcing my potential subjects to act against what they perceive to be their best interest. I do not want you to go, of course, but I trust you to know what you need in the current moment.”

“Who is going where?” A voice from behind startled Maiko to look. Standing in the doorway, her torn and weathered clothing doing nothing to hide her regal bearing, was Sato Himari. She spoke with that same confidence she always seemed to project. “I don’t recall us agreeing that we should be allowing anyone out of our circle at this time.”

As she stepped inside, Misao was only a step behind her. Maiko opened her mouth to ask a question, but it was answered for her as a brightly red headed blur darted into the room and tackled her. “Oh, I missed you so much, Maiko-chan!”

The voice wasn’t familiar. But was familiar, as she got her bearings with this surprise tackling, was a pair of fox like ears, and an orange fox tail that thwapped at her leg. For a moment, she was stunned stupid, before she finally hesitantly let out. “S-sakura?”

“It seems we’ve all got some revelations to discuss,” Misao comments with his typically light tone. “Sakura-san, I don’t suppose I could persuade you to sit up and let our mutual friend breathe while we discuss business? It is terribly difficult to take her seriously while she is smashed up against the ground.”

Sakura’s nose scrunched from above Maiko, but she did as she was told, moving to sit up and helping Maiko along. Himari moved to sit next to Sakura, and Maiko took note of their hands grasping under the table. “I really have missed a lot, it seems.” She commented lightly. “Shall we catch each other up?”

And so the two groups took to explaining their situations. The soldiers of Suppai Mura, the attack on the Dojo in Takasu. The training in the Realm of Spirits. They took turns speaking and listening both, though Maiko only really interjected necessary details about her own experiences. Mentions of Masashi and the beating she took stayed mercifully unmentioned and unquestioned. Thank the Kami she had the medical knowledge to keep the swelling from being too noticeable.

As the group finished, Maiko rose and bowed. “Well, I’m glad we are all caught up. You can feel free to use the hut until you’ve got your plan together and in motion. I’m sure Daisuke-sama will let me stay in his house until I’ve decided my next move.”

As she moved to leave, the door quickly became blocked by her Kitsune friend, arms crossed in disapproval. “And what do you think you are doing?” She growled out, surprisingly animalistic.

“I’m. Leaving?” Maiko thought that part was obvious.

“I see that,” her tone dropped an octave. A tinge of anger managed to escape. “So what you mean to tell me that after missing you for over a month, after finally being able to see you in a form that I can say actual words to you in, you plan to just walk away now? And why pray tell, do you think this is a good idea or something that is wanted?”

Maiko’s expression was set into a neutral look. “I’m sorry, Sakura-san. The only one who wants me here right now is you. I am… dangerous to these people, and everything that they are working to. Even if my intention is not to hurt them, my presence is not something they can tolerate. So I have to leave. For the good of their cause.”

The response came from behind Maiko, catching her fully off guard. “And who decided that? You?” She turned, and was surprised to see the taller Himari looming over her. “Because I don’t recall being consulted on what is best for our cause or not.”

“This was decided between Shizuku-sama and myself,” Maiko hesitated. She didn’t like the idea of Himari being more angry at her, but given the last time they’d seen each other she wasn’t sure how this was going to go.

Shizuku chimed in from her seat, “Yes, Tenth, Maiko-san is right. It is my professional opinion that her uncertain allegiances form an unacceptable risk. What if she is feeding information back to the Usurper’s forces?” In a weird way, Maiko was thankful for that suspicion.

But Himari’s answer shook her. “I hate to say it, but Maiko-san’s investment in my survival means that I think in that sense, we’ve no need to distrust her.”

Maiko blanched in surprise. “Himari-sama, with respect, I don’t think that is-”

But Himari’s hand was held up to quiet her. “That is not to say I fully trust you. I do not know what is going on between you and Masashi-san at this point. But keeping you close is now safer than sending you away.” Her eyes shot briefly to Shizuku. Maiko cursed the fact that Sakura was in the door frame. “And I think that keeping a spy and assassin closer is much safer than letting them report on our movements at will, Seventh.”

The ever chipper voice of Misao pierced the room, announced with a single clap of his hands. “Well! I think we have discussed this matter enough! Shall we take it to a vote? All in favor of keeping Maiko-san close?” Maiko looked around, and realized that only two hands were left lowered. Hers, and Shizuku’s. “Well,” the eighth Chosen continued, “I see no reason to belabor the point. I do apologize, Maiko-san, it seems that your plan to exile yourself from the rebellion has borne no fruit.”

Maiko let out a heavy sigh. “I’d have thought you would want me to be as far away as possible, Himari-sama,” she let out, numbness filling her chest.

That numbness was surprisingly warmed when she felt the taller woman wrap her arms around her. At first, Maiko just froze. She had no idea how to handle this, positive human contact was so rare. But as Himari started to let go, Maiko’s arms wrapped around her, clinging tight. That position was held for… too long. She wasn’t sure how long was too long, but eventually decided this was it. She stepped back, looking at Himari’s face with a feeling she couldn’t quite describe.

But Himari smiled gently. “Sorry. It took me a while to admit it to myself. But I did miss you, Maiko-san. And I should stop punishing my best friend because she did what she thought was right in the moment.”

“I…” Maiko spoke. Then closed her mouth. Then spoke again. “I don’t know if I deserve that title, Himari-sama. But I will do everything I can to make myself worthy.”