Katsumi was, as Katsu found out, full of questions… about everything. Emotionally she was a child, with a child’s curiosity. But then, since she’d literally been born yesterday, that was to be expected.
Still, Katsu wondered how much of her personality was in Katsumi’s? And had she been quite so.. trying… to her parents? She didn’t remember being that young, but she presumed she must have been the same.
Katsu bought a small selection box of pastries for her mother before they left the cafe. It wouldn’t do any harm to surprise her with a small gift, just to say thank you… and if Katsu also meant it as an oblique and rather belated apology for being tiresome as a child, than that was neither here nor there.
As they walked through town, on their way to the Yamato family home further up the coast, Katsu did her best to answer Katsumi calmly and honestly. Although she couldn’t help glancing out to sea, at the long low shape of the battleship at anchor. Briefly she caught a glint of light from the ships optical tracking system, which were basically a pair of large telescopes either side of the high castle-like bridge. Katsu couldn’t help thinking that they were analogous to eyes and wondered if the ship was watching them…
“Katsu?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know a young oni girl, with pink hair?”
Katsu glanced at Katsumi, frowning.
“That sounds like Jiao, Tatsuo’s little sister. Why do you ask?”
“Hm.. I thought she looked familiar. Just.. she’s on the beach, near the water, surrounded by three men and she doesn’t look happy.”
Katsu scowled.
“Where?”
“Starboard bow, Bearing 027.5 degrees relative. Range thirty one yards. Behind the large rock group in front of us.”
Katsumi pointed at a cluster of boulders that marched down to the sea across the beach. Without saying anything, Katsu slithered down the slope of the concrete sea-wall and marched across the beach. Reaching the boulders she placed the paper bag containing the daintily wrapped box of delicate pastries carefully on a dry rock, and scrambled up the boulders.
Standing on the boulder, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, she scowled down at the tableau. Jiao was backed up against the boulders, near the sea’s edge, effectively backed into a corner. In front of her was man in a suit. Either side of him were two men, one holding a large video camera, and one holding a boom microphone with a large fluffy cover. The man in the suit was asking Jiao something so intently, he was almost shiny faced with emotion. Jiao seemed to be almost on the verge of tears.
“Hoi, you! What do you think you are doing?! Leave the little girl alone!”
The men looked up at Katsu.
“Who do you think you are, interfering in the right of the free press!”
“The ‘press’ has no right to bully small girls into tears!”
“That’s not a girl, it’s an oni!”
Katsu growled… a low dangerous sound at the back of her throat, and settled into her first stance, ready to draw. The camera man and the sound man both backed up half a step, but the reporter put his hands on his hips.
“She is a young girl, legally, who you are harassing and have just insulted. YOU will leave now.”
“This is a public beach, we have every right to be here! Who do you think you are interfering with the free press?!”
Katsu felt… strange.. as if her skin was too tight and something inside her was fizzing and boiling over. She closed her eyes, and spoke in a cold, tight, voice.
“Who am I? I’m the person telling you to leave for your own good! While you still can walk. I am the Goddess of Battles, Protector of the helpless, Defender of the innocent.”
Katsu wasn’t sure where that last bit had come from, it was as if someone else was speaking through her, but as soon as she said it, she realised it felt right!
She opened her eyes, and looked down… the ground seemed strangely far way, and the pale faced men seemed oddly small. She stepped down off the rock she was standing on. The sand somehow seemed to be higher up on this side… at least, at first.
But as she stepped forwards, she realised that she’d grown… the reporter barely reached her knees. Katsu had a brief moment of panic as she thought perhaps she’d taken on her Kaiju form, her clothes ripping to shreds as she’d suddenly increased in size.
But she could feel the hilt of the sword under the palm of her hand, and it felt the same size, in proportion. A glance downwards reassured her that she was still fully clothed and no different in shape at least… if somewhat scaled up so she stood at least eighteen feet tall.
She bent down, and with her forefinger, she flicked the video camera out of the camera man’s grasp, and then crushed it under her heel.
“I don’t know what you were doing, but I very much doubt she gave you permission to film her and even if she did, she is a minor, and therefore cannot legally give informed consent. Final warning. Leave. Now.”
The cameraman and the sound engineer grabbed an elbow each of the reporter, and dragged him away, still protesting about his rights…
“Katsu, I can hit those three with a shell from my secondary guns in a few more moments, once they are far enough away.”
Katsu turned to look eye-to-eye at Katsumi, where she was sitting on a boulder behind her. She shook her head.
“Tempting, but no. Better to let him go and let others know they cannot behave like that without consequences… besides, once he’s been sued into oblivion he’ll wish we’d just killed him.”
“Still...”
“Katsumi. No. That’s an order.”
“Yes Teitoku!”
Katsumi didn’t quite salute at Katsu’s tone of voice, addressing her as Lord Admiral… but she definitely twitched as she repressed the urge to do so.
Katsu glanced down, and to one side, where Jiao stood opened mouthed and wide-eyed, looking up at her. Katsu suddenly wondered if perhaps she’d inadvertently traumatised Tatsuo’s little sister?
“Um, Jiao? It’s just me Katsu. Are you… ok?”
“Katsu?”
“Yeah...”
Katsu braced herself as Jiao took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
“THAT WAS SO COOL!!”
Katsu took a step backwards in shocked relief, wincing at the volume, and leaned back against a boulder as Jiao jumped up and down in excitement in front of her. She was fairly sure Tatsuo would be shocked to discover that his Imoto knew some of the gestures she was directing at the retreating men’s backs.
Jiao left off her impromptu victory dance, and hugged Katsu’s knees.
“Thank you! They were being mean and they wouldn’t leave me alone! They wanted to know everything about Tatsuo, but I think they were too scared to confront him directly, so they were pestering me instead. I… think they know about you and him… the reporter asked some very rude questions about Oni and human women which I think meant he was trying to get me to say Tatsuo forced you to..to..”
“I get the idea Jiao.”
“Anyway, I thought I could hide among the rocks.”
“But why didn’t you go and get help?”
“Oh, I was on the beach anyway looking for driftwood, and they wouldn’t let me leave! So I ran and hid here instead … and then you came.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Katsu glared in the direction the reporter had been dragged off in by his crew, then shook her head.
“Did you get his name Jiao?”
“Mmhm.. yes. I should make a complaint, shouldn’t I?”
“We will go and make a complaint to the police.”
“Um. Katsu… maybe you should change?”
Katsu nodded, then hesitated…
“Ah… I’m not...”
Katsumi spoke up.
“I know how Teitoku. If you’ll permit me I can help.”
“You know how?”
“Yes. It’s similar to how I incarnated myself. But… mostly you just need to relax.”
Jiao glanced up to where Katsumi sat cross-legged on a boulder, and raised an eyebrow.
“Katsu… should I be concerned that you appear to have an evil twin sister? Perhaps I should tell my Nīsan?”
Katsu’s lips twitched in amusement at the thought.
“Jiao, this is Katsumi, who is not my evil twin. She’s… sort of my Herald. Something like that anyway. It’s complicated.”
Katsumi shrugged.
“I am the incarnate spirit of the Battleship Yamato, given life by Katsu.”
Jiao blinked.
“Oh… I would have thought you were her sword.”
“That too. As she said, it’s complicated. Katsu, with your permission, shall I help you shift forms?”
“Ah.. yes… I think we should go home and I don’t want to alarm my parents.… um, alarm them even more than we will anyway. Plus, doorways would be impossible like this.”
“Ah. Yes… clearances. I recall having similar problems with bridges. Very well, please could you sit down so I can reach your shoulders.”
Katsu nodded, sitting down on dry sand further up the beach, with her back to a suitable bolder. wondering what she was about to do. Katsumi stood on the bolder, reached up, and started to massage the muscle groups in Katsu’s shoulders and back. She almost asked Katsumi what she was doing, but recalled she’d said something about relaxing, so Katsu said nothing, but closed her eyes, trying to relax.
After a few moments, Katsu felt a warm sensation of relaxation form between her shoulder blades, swiftly spreading outwards. She sighed, giving into the sensation. Moments later Katsumi stopped, remarking.
“There… done.”
Katsu opened her eyes, and slowly stood up, finding herself eye-to-eye with Katsumi as she hopped down off the bolder..
“Where did you learn to do that?”
“You have memories, which I share, of being massaged by someone hired by your sensei after a tournament.”
Katsu paused in brushing the sand off her clothing.
“Oh… yes. I remember that now. You copied her, just from memory?”
Katsumi nodded.
“Just so. I can recall those memories I have perfectly. I’m not sure why it works like that, but it’s useful.”
Katsu glanced up and down the beach.
“Ok, we should be going. Jiao, come with us, Tatsuo would want me to keep you safe. We can call the police from home and make a report about what happened.”
Jiao nodded slowly… looking up the beach towards the town and wherever the reporter had gone.
“That’s maybe a good idea… I don’t like that man, he was mean! I don’t think he liked the idea of yokai being treated like people.”
“I think you may be right. Luckily, there’s a lot more humans who do.”
The Yamato family, or rather Katsu’s branch family of the Yamato clan, had lived in the same place for at least 900 years. Nothing remained of the original dwelling, but the home had been added to and expanded upon by every generation. Sometime before the end of the Genroko era in 1704, a high roofed wall had been built around the compound, fortifying it. The three girls stood in front of the massive, iron bound wooden gate in the wall. Jiao without saying anything reached up and slipped her small hand into Katsu’s.
Katsu flipped up one of the apparently ancient domed iron nail heads, each as big as the palm of her hand, and pressed her thumb against the concealed electronic lock. There was a muted beep and a soft click as the smaller postern door unlocked, then Katsu pushed open the door that took up the lower right quarter of the massive slab making up one half of the gate.
Katsu paused in the courtyard beyond the gate house, glancing at her watch.
“Hm, assuming nothing has happened to disturb their routine, Mother and Grandmother will be in the old tea-room behind the main house at this time.”
Jiao perked up slightly.
“I’d like a cup of tea I think...”
For some reason, that amused Katsu, although she wouldn’t say why. She smiled enigmatically and lead the way between the maze of buildings.
The tea-room was a long rectangular, single story pavilion, enclosed by paper screens that could be slid aside or removed entirely. Katsu and Katsumi slipped their shoes off on the veranda, putting on the soft black slippers that sat neatly in rows on a rack. Jiao was slightly surprised at the number of pairs, there had to be at least a dozen. There was even a pair small enough for her feet. She guessed they must have visitors quite often.
Katsu slid aside the screen door, and bowed before entering…
Inside, the ‘tea-room’ was empty of furnishings, the floor was entirely covered in tatami matting, with free standing racks of weapons, swords, spears and so on, against the shorter walls at either end.
In the middle stood two women, wearing white gi over black skirt-like hakama pants. Jiao could immediately see the resemblance between Katsu and the younger, brown haired woman...and on second glance, the similarity between her and the iron-grey haired older woman.
Jiao’s eyes went wide as she took in their clothing and stance, and then she gasped as there was a sudden flurry of movement, ending in the younger woman landing with a thump on the matting. She immediately sprang to her feet, bounding up without using her arms, and bowed to her partner.
“Daughter, we have visitors.”
The brown-haired woman glanced at where they stood in the doorway, her eyes going wide.
“Katsu, daughter… perhaps you’d like to explain why you seem to have acquired a sister I did not know about?”
Jiao could see Katsu swallow, even though her face remained impassive.
“Mother, grandmother… this is Katsumi. She’s ah...um..”
Katsumi bowed, and spoke.
“I am pleased to meet the Yamato matriarchs. I am Katsu’s Herald, the Battleship Yamato. I thought it would be easier to meet in this form. I apologise for borrowing your daughter’s outward appearance, I don’t have much experience at being human and this was the only example I had to copy.”
The older two women exchanged a look, and then Katsu’s grandmother shrugged.
“I think this calls for tea, Yua.”
“Hm, yes Mother. I’d say so too. Katsu, you are covered in sand, and perhaps your guests would like to freshen up as well?”
Katsu nodded. Without saying a word, she lead Katsumi and Jiao out and into the main house. After a few moments Katsumi quietly asked.
“Are you, no, are we in trouble with your mother and grandmother?”
“I might be, I don’t think you are. I think they just don’t know quite what to make of you. Paul-san told father you were alive, but I think everyone just thought of you as a ship until now. Not something.. someone, who would be suddenly here and not able to be ignored any more.”
“Ah.. so now they have to think what to do about me?”
“And how to react to what you are… although, your introduction was smoothly done. That might help. Hmm.. Jiao-chan, could you be extra charming? So when we tell them what happened, they’ll focus on that instead.”
Jiao grinned, looking even cuter than usual.
“I think I can do that Onēsan!”
Katsu’s lips twitched upwards in a fractional smile.
“Yes. Like that.”
Jiao glanced backwards over her shoulder.
“Do they fight like that everyday?”
“Practice sparring, and yes, most days. My Obāsan says it keeps her fit, Mother agrees. Since Grandmother wins most of the time, she’s probably right.”
Katsumi glanced at Katsu.
“Do you not train with them?”
“Sometimes, usually with Mother. I don’t think I could compete at Grandmother’s level. She was an Olympian silver medallist in Judo and national champion in Aikido. I prefer kendo and archery instead, even though I compete at school in Aikido too. With my frame, I’m better suited for kendo or archery anyway. I have a longer reach, and can handle a stronger bow.”
Katsumi grinned.
“We have bigger guns and a greater range, yes?”
Katsu’s lips quirked upwards.
“Exactly so.”
Katsu slid the door open to her room, saying as she did so.
“We’ll pick out something for you to wear Katsumi, I don’t think a Goddess’s Herald should go around looking like a gang member.”
Katsumi nodded as she stepped into the room behind Katsu. She glanced to one side, and let out a strangled gasp, back-stepping so violently she careened into the door-frame, which sent her spinning out into the corridor, almost colliding with Jiao. Katsumi ended up collapsed against the far wall, white faced and panting, her eyes wide and filled with fear.
Katsu stared in bewilderment for a split-second, at a loss as to what could have caused Katsumi to react like that. She looked in the direction Katsumi had glanced before she reacted… and saw her mirror. The mirror that she’d gotten from the sea-life centre, and was decorated around the edges so you looked like you were underwater.
Realisation dawned, and she hurried over to where Katsumi had her face buried in her palms, sobbing.
“It’s ok Katsumi, you’re safe. It was just a painted mirror, that’s all.”
“I...I remember...dying. Being drowned, and rotting away. I… Oh Katsu, I’m scared!”
Katsu wrapped her arms around the terrified girl, holding her against herself.
“You’re safe. It can’t happen again. You are here, your soul is in the sword, you said. Even if the battleship part of you sinks, the rest of you is safe, and we can raise that up again. I promise, I will keep you safe.”
Katsumi sniffed, and nodded.
“I’m sorry… it’s just..”
“I understand. Jiao, could you take down that mirror for me please.”
Jiao nodded and disappeared into the room for a few minutes before calling out.
“Hoi, it’s too heavy for me to lift, but I’ve turned it around for now, is that ok?”
Katsu looked at Katsumi, who nodded in return.
“That’ll do Jiao-chan, thank you.”
Jiao reappeared in the doorway, looking concerned.
“Are you going to be ok Katsumi?”
Katsumi nodded slowly.
“Mm… I think so. My… prior existence is not something I recall very well. The memories evade me.”
“Like a dream, or a very bad nightmare I suppose, yes?”
Katsumi nodded in agreement with Katsu.
“Yes, just so. Most of the time, I don’t think of it. But...but seeing myself.. like that. It was too vivid a reminder. For a moment, the memory of that was all I could think of, as if I was..was.. there.. again.”
Katsu nodded.
“They call that PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. I’ve been doing research on it, after what happened to me. I.. I died and drowned too.”
“I know. I think...I think that’s why our souls reached out and formed a bond. There was no-one to save me before and I didn’t know how to save myself… but I could give you the power in me, and save you from the same fate.”
Katsu stared into Katsumi’s eyes as she knelt in front of her.
“I… think I knew that. Deep down. So, when Kiko and Inari worked their magic, I .. reached out, wanting to return the favour with the power I was sending back to you.”
“Hm. That’s how it felt to me too. Like you reached down into my dark grave in the ocean, and pulled me back up into the light and air. Out of gratitude, and to save me from what was nearly your fate.”
Katsu nodded.
“We share a lot. Fears too… although I knew that mirror was there, and I’ve been using it to face that fear. I should’ve realised it would affect you the same way.”
“You’ve been staring into that mirror since you got back?!”
“It’s just a mirror. I even remember when I bought it. But when I look into it, I remember drowning too. Every time. That’s why I kept it. Fear loses it’s power if you stare it down.”
Katsumi looked at Katsu wide-eyed for a moment, then shook her head.
“I couldn’t do that. Not like that. I think you’re stronger than me Katsu.”
“Not stronger, more stubborn. I won’t let anything control me. Not even my own fears.”
Katsumi considered that, then nodded.
“I can be that strong, I think.”
Katsu smiled a little.
“No, you already are. It was worse for you, you suffered longer. It makes sense it would be more than you can bear alone. But now I’m here to help you too, you don’t have to face your fears alone, because they’re not just yours. We can stand together, and be strong enough for each other.”
Katsu stood, and reached down a hand to Katsumi, who clasped it with hers, smiling wanly, and allowed herself to be pulled up. Katsu nodded as she pulled Katsumi upright.
“That’s what families do, after all. Help each other. And we are sisters, regardless of where we came from. Now, let’s get you some proper clothes, and wash the sand and salt off before it starts to itch too much.”
Katsumi nodded, and although she held onto Katsu’s hand, she stuck out her tongue at the mirror’s back as they passed it.