Toyo and Enid were walking under the cherry blossoms. Enid sighed wistfully. Her enhanced senses were sorely missed at the moment. She could see spectrums of light; Smell scents humans could only dream of it was like she was half blind.

“Will you tell me the story of how you used chopsticks as weapons?”

Enid smiled and pushed her hair behind her ears. She blushed a bit. Toyo’s glances and polite half smiles were sending the butterflies in her stomach into a panic.

“Everything is a weapon in the right hands and circumstances, Toyo-san.”

“Tell me of these circumstances, please, Enid-san.”

“Men who served another lord came after me. They endangered my adoptive father, his wife and his daughters. I had no weapons with me, we were eating dinner, so I grabbed the chopsticks off the table. I killed the attackers except for one and sent him back to his lord with a single chopstick as a message that his lord was next. Then I attacked his…compound killed the lord’s men and stabbed him in the heart with a chopstick. I always keep my promises.”

Toyo laughed softly.

“You are truly a formidable woman. And very honorable to serve your family so well. Did this cause a war?”

“No, the lord’s allies beheaded all of his samurai and gave them to me as a gift, ceding all their territory to my family. My attack on his compound was brutal and was done as a message to them. My message…was more strongly worded then I had intended.”

“It sounds like you did what was necessary to honor yourself and your family Enid-san. Once again you regret what you should not.”

“You seem, more open than I had expected a Shogun’s son to be.”

“You are aware of my clan’s position then?”

“Of course. I try my best not to interfere with mortal affairs, but I am aware of them. Though I thought you were based in Kyoto.”

“Father came out here because Taichai summoned him.”

“He…seems to have more power than when I knew him to be able to summon a Shogun.”

“It is through his advice my clan has become as powerful as it is.”

“Ah, and what was his price?”

“That we protect his lands.”

“Where does he call home these days?”

“In a sea cave under our compound here.”

Enid nodded.

“Sounds like him.”

“He is adamant that you must see him.”

“Yet we are under the cherry blossoms.”

It was Toyo’s turn to feel a bit self-conscious.

“I feared he might send you away on some task.”

“That also sounds like him, but I fear he will be disappointed. I seem to be a mortal now. I have no more power than you.”

“How is such a thing possible?”

“I do not know Toyo-san. I seem to be at the whim of some power I do not understand. I was gifted with mortality with my last husband. After Hazel was born and no longer drinking milk, I lost the gift.”

“You will not go after the demons then.”

“I am afraid I must. It is my duty. I am a skilled fighter. I am well versed in the ways of the Samurai and many others. I am not sure how I will stand a chance even at full power the fallen ones are more powerful than I. I can only hope my experience with many battles will aid me.”

“You are as honorable as any samurai Enid-san. You know you will die but you still choose to complete your duty.”

Enid laughed.

“Others would say I am crazy, my daughter for instance.”

“She seems like she will have an opinion on this.”

“If she thinks I’m going after the demons she’ll likely steal my sword and go on her own. So, she must not know. She is young and doesn’t understand a parents love for their child and willingness to sacrifice for them.”

“I am fascinated by you. You seem so youthful in appearance, yet you show the wisdom of an elder.”

Enid shrugged.

“I am older than I look, but I am no wiser than you. You should take me to see Taichai, Toyo-san. And with me being mortal, I won’t even notice the smell.”

He laughed.

“You are correct, Enid-san.”

He led Enid to a building that had a statue of Taichai on a pedestal and several long strips fabric with ancient Japanese on them. He led her into a back room and slid a stone slap that moved easily. He motioned to the stairs.

“I’ll go alone from here, no sense in you needing to smell him.”

Toyo-san bowed. Enid returned the bow and started down the stone stairs holding up her kimono. She could smell him from here even without her enhanced senses. She grimaced and continued downwards. She found him there in the cave dressed as she’d last seen him. Which was a warp of fabric over his genitals and that was it. He looked up and laughed.

“The stray I saw coming!”

“What do you want Taichai?”

“Have we met?”

“Not yet, but we will.”

“How curious, what language is this?”

“English, are you a fucking Angel?”

He laughed holding his fat belly.

“No more then you are, I had expected…something more.”

“I am a mortal. You get what you get.”

“Oh, you tricky girl. Hiding your true self. I was wondering how you would defeat my brother.”

Enid rolled her eyes.

“Fucking angels. I should have known.”

“I am not an angel. I used to be, before my brother’s rebellion. I was on the fence then, so now I’m on the fence for eternity.”

“So much is clear now. What do you want?”

“My brother has escaped his cell. But he is in a trap I designed; But I did not consider all the ramifications.”

“Oh boy. How did you fuck it up?”

“You know, for a woman you’re very rude.”

“You didn’t summon me here for my manners Taichai.”

He pondered for a few moments then laughed and nodded.

“I set up a trap so only mortals could pass the boundary. See he can summon demons to his heart’s content, but none can escape the cave with the hell portal. However, he… started summoning them outside the barrier.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Seriously? You didn’t make it a protective circle? That is supernatural imprisonment 101.”

“Yes, well let us not dwell on what went wrong and instead determine how to correct it without unleashing a fallen angel onto the world hmm? But you’re a mortal so you can waltz right through. All of the portents say you can defeat him.”

“I wonder how many favors I have done for you were because you fucked up? What is in this for me?”

“You do the world a favor?”

“Taichai that isn’t how this works, you make bargains, you can only make bargains. I need something out of it, no freebies, as you told me long ago, but also not yet.”

“You do know me, don’t you?”

“I am too familiar with you.”

He licked his lips as he looked her up and down.

“Eew, not that close. I just threw up in my mouth.”

“No need to be rude.”

“You have no shortage of lovers in the future. Now what is in it for me?”

“What do you want?”

“Maybe you could tell me why limbo is barred to me?”

“I cannot. I can tell you some things you’ll need to know to get home?”

“You know more then you’re letting on you disgusting sea slug.”

He shrugged.

“If you ask the right question, I’ll give you a straight answer.”

“No, if I go take on this fallen angel as a mortal, you’re going to tell me what I need to know to get home.”

“How about, I tell you what I can about your predicament and get you in touch with someone who can start you on the road home?”

Enid sighed and offered her hand. He took it and the shook. She felt supernatural agreement form between them.

“I’ll deal with the infestation. You better not try and screw me or I will stab you in the face with my soul-drinker…in the future.”

He laughed.

“I am an honest business Oni.”

“You always say that, and I never trust it. Good-bye Taichai.”

Enid shook her head and made her way back up the steps and into the shrine. With some effort due to her mortality, she managed to get the slab moving back into place. When she got outside, she saw the younger boys and men training. Hazel was watching them. Toyo was leading the training. She walked beside her daughter who immediately wrinkled her nose and made a face.

“What the hell is that?”

“Taichai. Just imagine if you were in the same cave as him?”

“It is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever smelled.”

“Yes.”

“Mom, what are they doing?”

“That in particular attack is called iaijutsu. Basically, quick draw. Swordsmanship is called kenjutsu, it doesn’t match a specific style I’m familiar with. The wooden swords they train with are called bokken.”

“You know how to do this?”

“Yes, I trained for nine years in kenjutsu, along with karate and aikido. Then spent several years learning kung-fu of various styles.”

“Mother, why didn’t you teach me to fight like this?”

“It didn’t exist in your area of the world or your time. Why would I teach you styles that don’t exist for you?”

“Will you train me now?”

Enid shrugged.

“I suppose I can. I have some things to do first, who knows how long I will be mortal for this time. But I will start your training as soon as I can, okay?”

“Thank you, mom!”

“Don’t thank me, it’s hard and requires more discipline than I forced on you when I taught you how to fight with sword, claws and teeth.”

Hazel was still grinning ear to ear.

“You keep watching I need to go speak to the Shogun.”

Enid left Hazel and walked to the Shogun who was pacing on the wooden walkway of his summer home. Enid approached him and bowed. His guards put their hands on their blades, and he waved them away. They gave the pair some privacy.

“What do you need woman?”

“Taichai-san has requested I kill his brothers as soon as possible. May I have a horse and a map to their cave?”

The old shogun’s eyes went wide.

“You? Alone?”

“Yes. It is too dangerous for my daughter and your men. May she stay here? And should I fail…will you care for her until she is strong enough to fight them herself?”

He still had his hands folded behind his back. He looked at Hazel then back to Enid.

“She may stay but she must either chose to train with the men, or the women. I will not have her lying about.”

“She will train with the men. Shogun. She must not know where I go. She will try and follow me, and she will die.”

“She is like my children then.”

“She only seeks to protect me, but this is my duty, not hers.”

“You seem, less, then impressive. I will not send a woman to her death.”

“I am a well-trained Samurai, Shogun.”

“Prove it.”

He motioned to the training field and called out to Toyo. Enid bowed.

“As you wish Shogun.”

He bowed to her slightly. Enid walked past Hazel and shrugged she picked up a bokken. The Shogun yelled out.

“You will use steel.”

Enid sighed and picked up one of the wakizashi’s tying off the belt on her waist. One of the samurai stood out and faced Enid. Enid bowed to him, and he bowed to her then he lunged with a quick attack. Enid spun out of the way and grabbed his wrist sending him flying into the dirt of the training grounds, she took his Katana and slid the wakizashi into its sheath. She stepped up to him putting his sword to his neck.

“Stop.”

He looked to his father. The shogun yelled out.

“Two this time.”

Enid bowed to the fallen samurai offering him the katana back. He stood and dusted himself off. Another samurai joined him on the other side of Enid. She bowed to them both. They both attacked her at the same time she spun so she was sideways and the katana’s passed on either side of her she struck with her right fist with a quick knuckle strike to the samurai’s throat then slammed her back against him kicking the one on her left in the chest and sending him stumbling backwards a few feet. Enid pulled on the katana on the samurai she was still holding. She twisted his wrist with her right hand while parrying the other’s katana blows with her wakizashi. The one she had held cried out as she almost snapped his wrist with her quick jerk of her hand and she grabbed his katana and parried the next blow with both swords. She hurled the shorter sword at the one on behind her pinning his kimono leg to the dirt. She went to blows with the remaining samurai forcing him into a corner and then she kicked his wrist with a solid snap kick. Then hit his katana with a solid two-handed blow sending it flying. She caught it and spun the movement ended with both katana’s poised to behead him.

“Stop!”

This time it was the Shogun’s voice. Enid offered the katana’s back to their owners and bowed to them. Then to the shogun. He bowed to her. This time deeper than before. Hazel was blinking at her mother. She had never seen anyone fight like that. Toyo motioned for the men to go back to training and approached Enid. He bowed. Enid bowed to him.

“I doubted you when you told me you were skilled in the arts of the samurai. I will not do so again. You are a master of the blade and the fist. To know what you are capable, and yet see how well you have trained. It is humbling.”

Enid bowed to him. He bowed again and went back to training. One of the Shogun’s guards approached her.

“The shogun would like to speak to you in private Enid-san.”

Enid bowed to him. She placed the wakizashi in its rack and walked into the Shogun’s courtroom. He was kneeling on a dais, and he looked to her over as she approached. She bowed low and he motioned for her to kneel on one of the arrayed pads. Enid did so, she placed both palms in front of her and touched them with her forehead.

“You honor your family, and yourself. I had my doubts of your skill. You fight with styles we have not seen, but I can see that they share many things.”

“Yes shogun.”

“Is your daughter as skilled as you?”

“No, I did not train her in the ways of the samurai. She was not ready. She is now.”

“I will provide you with my fastest horse, a katana and armor appropriate to your skill. I will also provide you with a map.”

“I am honored shogun but I do not have time to have them crafted.”

“I cannot send you naked with no weapon.”

“I have armor and a sword, shogun.”

“I must see this blade you speak of.”

“I left it in my rooms, Shogun. I believed it would be disrespectful to carry it as a guest. I trust my safety in your house.”

“You honor me. But we both know you need no blade to defend yourself. As you told my son, anything is a weapon for some people. Even their hands and feet. Go, return with your blade, in your armor I will judge if they are fit for this mission.”

Enid stood and bowed. She sighed and pulled on her Atlantean armor which was dry by now. She strapped Lucius to her back and returned to the Shogun. She bowed when she entered and took her place again.

“This is armor?”

“It is powerful armor. It is hard to explain, Shogun. Perhaps if one of your guards were to strike me you could see for yourself.”

He nodded. Enid stood and bowed to the guard who approached he drew his sword and swung it at her chest. Enid didn’t move. The armor plates formed instantly, and his sword was flung from him and stuck in the floor of the court. The shogun smiled.

“I see.”

“Against normal Oni and weapons, it is effective, their leader It will slow down but I will be injured.”

“And your sword.”

“Of course. Lucius behave.”

Always my love.

“What was that?”

“My sword has the spirit of my husband in it. I was asking him to not attack you.”

Enid drew Lucius and held him in her palms holding it up. The shogun took Lucius by the hilt and looked at himself in the blade. The only markings on its surface where a series of Atlantean runes. The rest was a mirror finish. He swung Lucius a few times. He felt the edge and looked a bit shocked as the blood from his thumb vanished into the blade. He offered Lucius back in the same way Enid had offered him, on both palms. Enid took the sword and sheathed it.

“The shape is strange, but the quality is as great as our greatest craftsmen. Who made it?”

“I did, shogun.”

“I find your armor and weapon capable of your task and will grant you my fastest horse and the map you requested. I will still craft you a proper sword for killing men. Yours seems like it should only be used on Oni and their ilk.”

“You are very wise Shogun.”

“We will await your return.”

Enid put her palms down and touched them with her forehead again before standing and bowing again.

These folks seem very… ritualistic.

“They are very concerned about decorum, honor and face.”

I wish I could have visited here.

“You would like the future better; Teenage girls wear short skirts when attending school.”

Did you wear one?

“Every single day of classes. I have pictures in my pack.”

I think I would have liked to live through that with you.

Enid laughed. She looked to Hazel and smiled imagining her in Japan in high school. Then she laughed again. The teachers would go crazy. Toyo motioned Enid over. Enid approached.

“I am told by my father’s guard that your daughter will be joining our training.”

“I am sorry, he doesn’t want her sitting around.”

“No, I am honored to start her instruction.”

“I apologize because she’s an undisciplined brat.”

“Much like my sisters then.”

Enid smiled and stifled her laughter.

“Your father is providing me with a horse to go fight the demons. Please, if I do not return, ensure my daughter is taken care of?”

“It would be my honor to ensure she is cared for.”

“Thank you, Toyo-san.”

“When will you leave?”

“Tomorrow before dawn. While she still sleeps. I need a good night’s rest before I head out.”

“I will tell her that Taichai has sent you to complete a task. I will not tell her what task.”

Enid bowed to Toyo.

“Thank you, Toyo-san.”

“Perhaps…perhaps when you return, we can discuss your future?”

Enid found herself blushing deeply.

“We will see. So long as I am mortal, I cannot try to get home again. Who knows I might not survive this…I’ll speak with you when I return Toyo-san.”

A very small and very brief smile graced Toyo’s lips.