Duty had drawn Sen’s consecrators into the marshes of northern Araji, and if they had arrived any earlier, it would surely have damned them.
There was a strong sense of trepidation among the warriors as they crept through that profane landscape in search of some spirit of malevolence. From a distance, they had witnessed the seething of black rains, the flailing of fanged tendrils, and needed no further evidence that an inhuman abomination had broken the boundary of Xia’an. Purging such corruption was their charge, and they would carry it out with ruthless efficiency.
Lin watched their approach wearily from her gnarled forest of thorns. There were perhaps fifty soldiers clad in armoured uniforms, all of them moving in a single formation. She saw the moment they found the fading remains of the Ideas- lifeless lengths of bone and flesh entangled in broad vines and large, narrow spikes. Their reactions were devoid of emotion, and they exerted caution only as a matter of protocol. Advancing as one, they encircled Lin’s position, trudging through mud and reeds, navigating a thicket of thorny vines. She knew they would reach her before long.
Behind her, Kana and Rie were sitting on the damp earth of the marsh’s bank. They rested against one another, half asleep. Lin wished she could join them. A flood of living vines had ended her struggle against the Ideas of Heaven, a flood fueled by the energies of her companions and enemies alike. Lin had lost consciousness after that, but not for long, it seemed. Sleep was a luxury she couldn’t risk.
The soldiers were not her enemies, though trusting them to reciprocate that judgement promised only danger. She brandished her sword, then delicately returned the weapon to its sheath. Her battle had left the blade chipped and dented, and she refused to place her faith in a damaged tool. And if I did, what then? Right now, defeating a force like this would be impossible even with an unbreakable weapon. Sword or not… I can’t fight them all.
Taking a deep breath, Lin stepped out to meet them. She stood as tall as her weariness would allow, resting one hand on her wooden hilt and carrying her unloaded rifle in the other. Warning calls sounded between the soldiers. Their formation tightened. There was an order from the rear of the ranks, and a small group edged out from the centre ahead of the rest. She made no attempt to flee as they surrounded her.
When she had seen the consecrators the previous day during their battle against Sen’s revolutionaries, they had been too far away to notice any details about their appearance. In their close presence, it was clear that they were unlike any of the other soldiers Lin had met. While their weapons were mostly the same, they were more lightly armoured, wearing uniforms of scarlet cloth and boiled leather padding. Thin rows of black steel joined with silk string lined the clothing to provide a lightweight defence. Their heads and faces were all cleanly shaven, leaving only their eyebrows. Many, if not most, were decorated with intricate tattoos.
One of the soldiers broke from the main force and strolled through the encirclement. He was no younger than forty and had a messy scar on one side of his face that appeared to have been inflicted by claws or nails rather than a blade. Judging by the salt-and-pepper stubble covering his jaw, he hadn’t shaved as recently as the others.
“Explain yourself,” he demanded in a voice that was dry and husky.
“My name is Lin Ko,” she said as amicably as she could manage. “You and your group chose a good time to arrive. Won’t you offer me an introduction?”
The soldier examined her with a wary eye before taking a step closer. “Ryōgen Saitō. I hold the title of Monk Commandant.”
“Is it true then? Are you religious consecrators?”
“That’s one name for us. We’re the Righteous. Some call us the Giryoku. We hunt the hateful and otherwise inhuman.”
Lin tilted her head playfully. “Are you hunting me?”
Ryōgen didn’t smile. “I haven’t decided. Tell me what happened here, then maybe I can make up my mind, hm?”
“Monsters attacked me. They’re dead now.”
“And you defeated these monsters, all by yourself? What were they?”
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. I can’t remember.
“And what about this nest of thorns and vines? What about the black rain that fell on this place?”
“I don’t remember any black rain,” she replied, but as she spoke, faint images flashed in her mind. “I… don’t know.”
“If you were here, you must have seen it.”
Lin shook her head, lowering her gaze. “I’m not sure.”
“And the vines?” Ryōgen pressed.
“That was- they’re mine,” she told him dismissively, catching herself a moment too late.
He stared at her, his eyes a piercing cold. “Liar.”
“I’m not lying to you,” she tried to say, but the sounds of a struggle drew her attention behind her. Her words froze in her throat.
“Two individuals,” came a soldier’s report. “One male and a younger female.”
The consecrators had found Kana and Rie’s hiding place. Dragged by their clothing, Lin’s companions were thrown flailing into the flooded morass. Kana stopped his struggle upon seeing the rifle trained at his head. Rie broke from the water and gasped for breath only to be seized by one of Ryōgen’s men. A tanto’s blade pressed against the soft skin of the young girl’s throat. She instantly stiffened, her pale eyes wide and pleading.
Lin whirled back to the Monk Commandant, “She’s Daimyō of the Araji prefecture, let her go!”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Ryōgen’s mouth. “Out here? Is that true, or just another desperate claim? I know which is more likely.”
Rie wailed. It was a small-voiced cry drenched in fear. Though Lin’s body seemed at the point of collapse, she was already moving to intervene. A shadowy hand secured the consecrator’s tanto with a steadfast grip. Thorn-tipped roots rose from the sodden mud. Lin didn’t allow herself to hesitate. The pointed tendrils entered through his inner thigh and abdomen, burrowing a gruesome path into his viscera. He tried and failed to pull away, spasming in agony as his vital organs were ruined one after another. Beside the dying man, Lin took the little Daimyō in her arms.
“Lin, I’m- I’m scared,” Rie sobbed.
“I’ll keep you safe,” Lin swore. “They can’t hurt you. I’ll tear through anyone that tries.” Her vines had already sought out Kana’s attacker, dispatching the man quickly, though hardly painlessly. More of the soldiers pushed closer. When she tried to lift her arm to ward them off, it felt like a dead weight. That’s fine, she decided. As long as I still have control over my vines, that’s enough. I’ll protect them with everything I have left.
“Wait, Yuki!” called one of the consecrators. He was following hurriedly after his comrade, a tall man whose face was twisted by rage. Dashing through the water, he lunged, driving a spear through Lin’s furred coat. Thorns snagged the spearhead, stopping it short of her skin.
This fight is all that matters. If I ever do one thing right, then giving Rie, Daimyō Araji, another chance at life, maybe that’s good enough. I’m sure she’ll live to do great things. It’s my responsibility to make sure of it. If that’s my responsibility, then I’ve succeeded, haven’t I? All of this… can finally be over.
“Stand down, all of you!” Ryōgen ordered. “She isn’t an enemy. Hm, even if she was, none of you could beat her.”
Weapons were sheathed and stances dropped. Lin couldn’t understand. She stood swaying like a stalk of bamboo, pooling all of her concentration into maintaining her balance.
“You’ll have to forgive me for not believing you, Lady Ko. I’ve heard the stories of Lady Sio, but I never thought I’d meet one of her kind.”
“Lady?” Lin shook her head dazedly. “I’m not…”
“As one of the Heavens’ Hosts, you are an authority to their followers,” he said, then bowed, almost planting his face into the marsh’s murky water. “If you require any help, the Righteous can assist you. We will proceed at your discretion.”
“Find a place away from here. Somewhere… we can rest,” she requested. Feeling the full effect of her fatigue, her legs finally gave beneath her. Someone’s arm caught her by the waist. Looking back through half-open eyes, she saw Kana standing over her. Exhaustion overtook her, and his concerned expression faded away.
You were getting ahead of yourself there. To surrender and call it sacrifice, that is no success. Nothing has ended. Did you think it would be such a simple thing?
Lin awoke to the sound of rain pattering upon a tent. For some time she lay there with her eyes closed, listening to that constant, calming noise, slowly gathering the energy to face the world.
Kana was waiting by her bedside with an intense look on his face. Rie was sleeping on another futon a little further away. Although the tent was large enough to fit perhaps a dozen personnel, there was no sign of anyone else.
“Stop glowering,” Lin said softly from where she lay, “It doesn’t suit you.”
His attention instantly snapped to her. A half smile brightened his face if only for a moment. “Doesn’t it? I was trying to match that sour look you’re always wearing.”
“Very charming,” she replied, flashing him a sarcastic grin.
“I always am. I’m glad you’re awake.”
Lin’s blanket fell away as she pushed herself upright. Bandages had been wrapped around her shoulder and abdomen to cover her wounds, but she wore nothing else above her waist. A hot flush tinted her cheeks. Kana averted his eyes, but not quickly enough.
“Where do you think you’re looking?” she asked, her voice dangerously calm.
“I’m sorry,” he replied.
“For what are you sorry?”
“For… seeing.”
She frowned. “Look at me.”
“What?”
Lin struggled to stand, treading slowly into his view. “Look at me, Kana.”
“What are you talking about?” the shinobi asked, blocking out the sight with his hand.
“Look at me!” she shouted. Taking his wrist, she pulled him to his feet. With her body in front of him, his gaze could drift nowhere else. “What do you see?”
“I see you,” he replied abashedly. His usual confidence had vanished. “Why are you making me do this?”
“You knew I was undressed under that cover, yet you didn’t say a thing.”
“I’m sorry, okay? I was distracted. Besides, we had to undress you so Rie could treat your wounds. I’ve already seen everything.”
“How thoughtful.” Feeling a nervous smile creeping across her face, she turned back to her futon and wrapped herself in a blanket.
“So?”
“...Do you want a review?”
“I want to know what you’re thinking.”
Kana returned to his seat, running his fingers through his short hair. “Fine. Somehow… you have more beauty than raw strength. Without the toning of your muscles and the bandages covering your wounds, you’d look more like a precious noble than a fighter.”
Lin wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “Was it worth it, then? The view you bought with my dignity?”
The shinobi blinked. “You have dignity?”
“You’re done,” she growled, but a newcomer entered the tent, interrupting her murderous intent. Bald, tattooed, and clad in that red and black uniform, he was undoubtedly a member of the Righteous.
“To be standing and prepared to fight already, you must be very strong,” the man remarked. Other than a few faint scars, his face and voice were soft enough that he could have only been a few years older than she or Kana. “The Monk Commandant sent me to check on you and your companions. Since you’re able to walk, why not feast with our company?”
Kana glanced questioningly at Lin. She shot him a fierce glare.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll need my clothes and weapons before I go anywhere. Where are they?”
“In the safe keeping of our leader. Strangers aren’t permitted to carry weapons in our camp.”
Lin shrugged, “Whatever makes you comfortable. I still need something to wear.”
“I can arrange that,” the soldier nodded. “Your mask is undamaged, but the clothes you were wearing are badly torn. How do you feel about wearing one of our uniforms?”
“Anything’s better than a blanket,” she replied. “Just don’t go thinking that makes me one of you.”
The soldier’s enthusiasm faltered, slightly but noticeably. “I understand. It isn’t rare for people to fear or despise us for what we do. Our work is distasteful, but it’s more than necessary.”
“That isn’t what I meant. I don’t know much about your people. I just won’t be able to stay here for long, so don’t get used to me being around.”
That seemed to brighten the soldier’s face a little. “I doubt it will be a problem, but if you want, you should be free to stay with us as long as you like.”
“Where are we?”
“We made camp in a clearing a few miles from where we found you. Given your condition, it was decided that the company wouldn’t move until tomorrow. Still, now that you’re better, the Monk Commandant wouldn’t seek to keep you here against your will. Whether you stay or leave, your choice is your own.”
“You’re certainly trying to make me feel welcome,” she said with a raised brow.
“We must give you all the welcome you deserve. You are one of the Heavens’ Hundred. As such, you are a representative of our idols, and an honoured guest in our camp.”
Lin couldn’t bring herself to look into the man’s eyes. “You don’t need to put me on a pedestal. I’m just me.”
“That’s more than any of the people in this company could ever dream of. The blood of something otherworldly is coursing through your veins. You alone have the ability to carry out their will. What could be greater than that?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Greatness?” she murmured. “Some time ago, I dreamed of being the first to cross Zetian’s Bridge and walk the surface of our twin planet, but even then, I knew it was just a fantasy. The greatest thing I wished for was a family, and for a chance to live without fear. The Heavens won’t grant me peace. I just want to be left alone.”
“My apologies,” the soldier said quickly. “I shouldn’t presume. If I’ve offended you-”
“Say whatever you want. I’m not your better, and this is your camp. I’ll be fine.”
“I- I see,” he stuttered, backing away towards the tent’s entrance. “I should be going. I’ll return soon with some clothing, and then we can meet with the Monk Commandant. Oh- only if you want to, of course.”
“That’s fine with me. I’ve a few questions for him, and then we’ll be on our way.” Her tone was gentle, though it did nothing to calm the man’s nerves. He bowed his shaved head before hastily making his retreat.
In his absence, a quietness returned to the tent. Lin seated herself beside the sleeping Daimyō. Kana stood and watched her for a while, eventually wandering over to join them. “We’ll find it,” he assured her. There was sincerity in those dark eyes, as well as warmth and poorly hidden worry. She said nothing in return.
Two days had passed since their struggle in the swamp, or so claimed the soldier that had brought Lin her uniform. It fit her well enough. Rie had woken up by then, and she was more than willing to make small alterations to suit Lin’s build perfectly. She gave the young Daimyō thanks and a playful rub on the head, as impressed with the girl as she was grateful. Her talents in healing and tailoring were second to none, and Lin made sure to tell her so.
They ate shortly after noon under a sun dimmed by dull clouds. Gathered along with several of the Righteous, Lin sat beside Kana and Rie at the edge of a smouldering campfire. Despite the earlier rain, the earth beneath them was warm and dry, a welcome change to the squelching quagmire of swamps and marshes they had trudged through in days past. The camp was several miles east of where Lin had collapsed, and as Kana told it, he had helped to carry her the entire way. Tents had been set up in a clearing surrounded by hills and dense maple forest. Running alongside the camp was a foamy river where consecrators washed and drew water. Only a few of the soldiers had joined them to eat, and none seemed to be comfortable with their choice.
Lin bit into a piece of salted beef. It was tough and dry, and unsurprisingly salty. She’d reached for her battered sword when the Monk Commandant had first handed her the meat, and realised two things at that moment- the first being that she was still unarmed and grasping at thin air. Her second realisation was that this meat might be somehow safe. It was preserved for long journeys and hadn’t been butchered recently, meaning it had already been in her presence for over a day. She confirmed as much with the consecrators, leaving her more mystified than before. What was so different about this meat that it refused to reanimate?
“I shouldn’t stay long,” she said suddenly, taking the others by surprise. “Though I’m grateful for your kind hospitality.”
“Leave whenever you wish, but we’d be sorry to see you go so soon,” Ryōgen replied. “Is there something we can assist you with?”
Lin stared at each of the consecrators, weighing her next words. Their armoured uniforms were impressive, but their ink-wreathed heads were a much more interesting sight. “Death is drawn to me. I’m like a shining beacon for whatever shuffles around in the shadows of Xia’an. Wherever I go, vicious freaks warp the bodies of the dead, and if I don’t force a slug of medicine down my throat, something inhuman is born from black waters.”
Ryōgen swallowed a mouthful of rice porridge and washed it down with a swig of Shōchū. “We saw a downpour of black rain before we found you. Is that what happened in the marsh?”
Lin nodded, “I think so, at least. I can barely remember. My only memories of that marsh are flashes of faces and gloomy scenery.” She cast a sideward glance at Kana. The expression he had worn was the clearest of them all.
Leaning away from the fire, Ryōgen held her under a measuring gaze. “Is it a curse?”
“Not quite, but it’s close enough. We’re headed northeast, to the Clouded Sea. I was told I could find help there.”
“Is that right?” Ryōgen murmured. “Are you familiar with our group, Lady Ko?”
“I know that you’re militant consecrators. You accompany Sen’s armies. There was a battle a few days ago at the base of a mountain with General Taira. Were you there?”
“I was. We were fighting some self-proclaimed revolutionaries, though they were just young men who took up arms looking to make a name for themselves. See where it got them.” Ryōgen’s mouth twitched, and he swallowed another mouthful of his alcohol. “So, what was I saying? The Righteous… we root out the hateful and otherwise inhuman. Hatred breeds war, and war breeds hate. Both create seedbeds for demons. Anything that crawls out of the Xia’an Abyss is our enemy.”
“That’s something we have in common.”
“As you know, I am Ryōgen Saitō, one of five monk commandants leading the Righteous. The men sitting beside me are my sons, Mitsuhide and Yukihiro,” he told her, gesturing as he gave their names. She recognised Mitsuhide as the soldier she had spoken with in the tent. He was well-built, though his face was soft enough to invite kindness. Looking at his taller, foul-expressioned brother, she realised she had seen him before. Yukihiro had nearly impaled her with his spear back in the marsh. Faded reminders of old wounds marked his sharp nose and brow. Only now did she notice the subtle glare he watched her with.
“Next to Mitsuhide is Akemi Nishiki and Kyo Yoshiori. Kyo mothers some of these boys like they’re her own.”
Lin had avoided looking at Kyo and Akemi for as long as she could. Though the men of the company were a strange sight, seeing the women with their bald, tattooed heads was even more unusual.
“Lastly, the young man sitting with you and your companions is Jun’ichirō Kohatake.”
“Call me Jun. It’s easier,” said the man beside Kana. With a furrowed brow, he seemed to be constantly frowning, but there was no real anger in his eyes.
“They are my consecrators,” Ryōgen continued, “There are close to a hundred more scattered around this camp. If you’re willing, I’d like to suggest you join us in our journey north. The Righteous exist to protect these lands from the foul touches of Xia’an. These soldiers are capable of fighting the inhuman, and we will escort you toward your destination if only you agree to it.”
Lin sat quietly as she considered his offer. Another bite of the salted beef left her with a tired jaw and a mouthful of dry, leathery meat, and she was no closer to reaching an answer. The consecrators were all focused on their own meals, either too busy or uninterested to pay attention. Ryōgen’s expression revealed nothing.
When she spoke, she made no attempt to soften her words. “I killed two of your people. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Anger flashed in Yukihiro’s eyes. Before anyone else could move, he was already treading through the glowing embers of the dying campfire. His spear sought her heart.
“Disorderly dog,” Ryōgen snarled. Lin almost didn’t notice his words, but she certainly couldn’t miss his intervention. He slammed his foot hard against the ground, opening a crack in the dry earth that grew rapidly in length. As if chasing Yukihiro, it spread like a bolt of lightning, and upon reaching the embers beneath him, a powerful burst of fire erupted at his feet. Yukihiro recoiled. He held out his arms to protect himself, but the flames rushed over him, setting his uniform and exposed skin alight. Though alarmed, the other consecrators merely watched.
“Mitsuhide,” Ryōgen commanded over his son’s cries. Mitsuhide was on his feet in an instant. He plunged both hands into the flames engulfing his brother without hesitation, somehow dousing them with a single touch. The Monk Commandant coughed harshly, then spat out a bubbly wad of mucous. He dismissed his sons with a wave of his hand. Slowly, and no less uneasily, the consecrators returned to their seats.
Yukihiro staggered towards a tent, managing less than ten steps before he collapsed into his brother’s arms. He struggled as Mitsuhide began to lead him away in the direction of the river, though his resistance was short-lived.
“Apologies,” Ryōgen said, his tone lacking any hint of remorse. “My son has disgraced himself. More than most, he needs to learn his place in this world. Being in the presence of Heaven’s Host would put him on the right path, don’t you think?”
Lin gave no reply. Kana was to her left, his demeanour calm. Adrenaline had quickened his breathing. That much, he couldn’t hide. Rie was to her right. She gripped her bowl tightly. When she spoke, her small voice quivered.
“Wh-why?” she asked weakly. “Why did you do that?”
Ryōgen laughed, “Why did I stop him? He was about to get himself killed. I saw the look in your friend’s eye, Araji. She’s given me enough proof of her strength.”
Rie shook her head, baring her teeth. “What you did was cruel.”
“I protected him, which is more than he deserved. Only a fool attacks a Host of Heaven, but still, that fool is my son. I’d rather not see him dead.”
Lowering her head, Rie said nothing more. Lin leaned closer, resting a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “You were brave, speaking up like that,” she said reassuringly. Turning to Ryōgen, she spoke more firmly. “I want you to apologise to the Daimyō.”
The Monk Commandant sat upright. A slight smile masked his frown. “For what, Lady Ko?”
“Human torches don’t usually make good entertainment for guests. You’ve clearly upset her, Ryōgen.”
“That wasn’t the intention. My apologies, Araji,” he smirked. “You’re in strange company. What brought you from your castle into such a filthy marsh, hm? Wouldn’t you be happier in the safety of your home?”
Lin glanced worriedly at the girl. “Daimyō Araji can do as she wishes. Her path is her own.”
“Araji Castle is gone,” Rie spoke up. She lifted her head, holding Ryōgen under a sightless gaze. “If anything still remains there, it is surely grotesque. Lin told me what she saw that night. Devils swept through our halls, maiming and twisting anyone caught in their rampage. You talk of rooting out the hateful and inhuman as if you are an arbiter of the Heavens. Where were you then, when Xia’an visited my home?”
Ryōgen’s smirk vanished. “Fighting a war on too many fronts. We’ve spent months trailing up and down the coast of the Kaibun Sea, every day putting blades and bullets through would-be reavers. The Emperor is in the East laying siege to Keisato. His armies are dispersed throughout Sen, and it seems any man who arms himself believes he’s fit to rule. I’ve lost count how many bands of raiders and pirates we’ve scraped from these shores. If even a single day passed without our efforts, the tragedy of Araji Castle would be repeated again and again.”
“How so?” Lin asked.
“Hatred breeds war, as I told you before. War breeds hate. It’s a bloody cycle of grievances that feeds itself on the mountains of corpses it creates. What do you think is left after the efforts and sacrifice of those that dedicated their lives to fighting these wars? Carrion. Resentment. The fallen rot, and the living seethe. Between the dead and the dense clouds of malice, battlefields might as well be open doors from Xia’an to our world.”
Lin felt suddenly cold. “That’s all it takes? Corpses and emotions?”
Ryōgen almost looked relieved. “Do you see why our work matters so much? We must burn or salt the dead of every battle, as well as making sure hate doesn’t spread among the survivors. In the West, there were guerrilla fighters occupying patches of territory from here to Shachihoko Sands. None survived General Taira. In the East, Emperor Naga will slit the throats of Keisato’s invaders, and I’ve no doubt General Tenryū has already seized Solong. We are headed to the North to assist Fuyuri Mokuzai.”
“More resistance?” Lin guessed.
“Pirates. They’re invading from the northern island of Jian, and they’re led by one of the Heavens’ chosen,” explained the Monk Commandant. He paused then, his gaze unwavering. “We will escort you north, Lady Ko. If you could lend us your strength, this invasion of our lands will be over all the sooner.”
There it is. “Sen’s wars… they aren’t mine to fight.”
“Years ago, the words I spoke to my uncle were almost identical. Can you see where they landed me? We all act eventually. Time pulls like a rug beneath us, leading the way to an inevitable future. Just like Lady Sio, you’re a Host of Heaven. We need you to fight, and eventually, you will.”
I’m not who you think I am. “If your enemy truly has a Mandate of Heaven, you’re a fool to fight them.”
“Instead, should we let them raze our villages, slaughter our people and burden our women with their children? We will fight regardless of their strength. The question is, will you? Your thorns are a weapon stronger than anything we Righteous carry. Who knows how many lives they could save? Help us, Lady Ko. Show them the power of a Heavens’ Host.”
My thorns? They were never mine. This fate was forced upon me. Lin stood, turning her back to the burnt-out fire. “All I am, is myself,” she told him. The words weren’t as strong as she’d intended. Unsatisfied but finished, she retreated to her tent.
Afternoon rolled into evening. Soon enough, night fell, and the day’s rain returned with renewed fervour. Frogs had been croaking by the river when Lin had gone to draw water earlier, but little could be heard now beyond the drumming weather and the indistinct chatter of the Righteous.
In the light of a single lantern, wispy strands of black smoke converged in a formless haze. Focus inward. Look outward. Visualise yourself. Recognition is a requirement for projection, yet without the ability of understanding, all you will project are twisted parodies of the truth. Allow yourself the opportunity to fail. Understand that you will not always understand, so that through listening, you may grow.
Sio had spoken those words long ago. Lin had listened intently, but it wasn’t a lesson that had been much help. Her skills were the result of years of repetitive training. Now older, she understood well enough what Sio had meant. Mindfulness and visualisation were indispensable for magic if nothing else. It was the last part of her lesson that Lin disagreed with. Ever since she’d left the Solace Valley, she’d done nothing but listen to others. Nothing good had come from it. Simply listening wasn’t enough.
“Spectral reach.” The shape of a hand emerged from the smoke. One after another, Lin touched her fingers against her thumb. The shadowy projection mimicked her movements perfectly.
“If you’re that bored, why not join us?” Kana asked. Sitting opposite, Rie dropped a die into a wooden cup and began to shake it.
“You’re the patron this time,” the young Daimyō told him with a smug eagerness. A pile of roughly carved playing tokens lay before her. Kana had only a small handful remaining.
“What are you playing?”
“Ketoshi’s Game. Kanmaru taught me how to play back at the castle,” Rie explained, slamming the cup on the ground. She lifted it just enough to brush a finger over the die’s surface. “You should give up now, Kana. Your fate is already sealed.”
The shinobi held out his own die, ready to roll. A flicker of hesitation was masked by a confident laugh. “That’s an obvious bluff. I’m not falling for another. You’ve had a string of lucky victories, but that all changes here!” he declared, and cast his die across the floor. It landed with one dot facing upwards. “Never mind. I’m bored too.”
“I never said I was bored,” Lin told him. “This is important training. I need to be stronger.”
“Ever diligent,” Kana remarked, then shrugged, “You’re strong already. I’ve seen you cut down things I can’t even recognise.” He looked down, the firelight casting wavering shadows across his face. “If I’m being honest, I wish you wouldn’t fight them, but… I guess that’s not a choice either of us get to make. If you’re going to face danger like that, I want you to be stronger, too.”
Lin flashed him a smile. “You’re acting nicer than usual.”
“I care about you.”
“It’s a little suspicious.”
“Is it?” he asked. He took a moment to gather the dice and cup before handing them to Rie. An indication with his thumb invited Lin outside. “Will you join me?”
Her curiosity outweighed her tiredness, and she followed after him.
Red curtains thinly separated the relative comforts of the tent from the raging torrents pounding the earth around them. When Kana untied the seals holding the curtains together and drew them apart, Lin was certain they would be blasted by a gust of wind and rain, yet as she joined him in the entranceway, only a slight mist reached them. Gloomy clouds smothered the night sky, though not completely. Hanging low over the grey horizon was a beaming gibbous moon, its light just barely illuminating the landscape.
“Has there been something on your mind?” Kana spoke up from her side. He was close, and his tone was warm. Lin still felt cold. She looked out across the camp, glancing between the tents, each slightly glowing with a fiery light.
“Should I feel guilt for the consecrators I killed?” she asked, staring into his eyes. “Because I don’t. I’ve hardly even thought about them.”
“You were protecting us. There’s no shame in that.”
“I was, but that isn’t what I mean. The only person I’ve been able to think about is Sio. She’s the only reason I’ve been able to come this far. These vines, this restorative blood, this is her strength. Without her, I’d be nothing.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Isn’t it? Sio gave me everything. She raised me and trained me and taught me all that I know. The Righteous spared us because they think I’m the same as her. I was a little excited when they called me a lady, but the truth is, I’m just riding the coattails of her authority.”
Gently grasping her shoulders, Kana brought her closer. “That monster saw you as a canvas, painting you with her bloody colours in an attempt to make you her own. What you make of that is your choice, and yours alone. You aren’t a product of your abuser.”
Lin felt small in the shinobi’s arms. His touch was reassuring, though filled her with an even deeper anxiety. Among what little she remembered of their struggle in the marsh, she couldn’t forget that expression she’d seen upon his face. She didn’t know what it meant, but her imagination was cruel. Too many scenarios had run through her mind, and all were too much to bear.
Lin suddenly broke from his embrace and stepped out from the shelter. She took Kana by the hand, though didn’t face him until she was adequately soaked. “You really are kind,” she smiled, hoping the rain would hide what she could not.
“I really do care about you,” he replied, raising his voice to be heard over the downpour. His clothes and hair were already drenched. “I want to see you happy, and I’ll do whatever I can to make that happen. If you ever need my help, I’ll give everything I have to protect you.”
Standing unsteadily in the ceaseless rainfall, Lin was sure she looked like a sodden rat. “Why?”
Kana lowered his gaze to where their hands were still joined. “Because I admire you. I always have. From the moment we met, I was surprised by your skill and wanted to fight you, but more than that, I wanted to spend time with you. We’ve fought, and we’ve fought together, and I’m glad that now, for at least a short time, I can be at your side. I’ve travelled with you without ever needing to worry about where I belong, and…”
“And?” Lin whispered. Kana leaned closer, speaking in a much softer tone. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her neck.
“And somewhere along the way… I must have fallen in love with you.”
Wearing a bashful expression, he held her gaze as he backed away. The red shade across his cheeks was dimmed by the paleness of the moon.
In his presence, her concerns seemed so very far away. As she took his words into her heart, she knew that their feelings had long been intertwined.
“You were my friend, Kana. At least, that’s what I thought until we eavesdropped on the Traitors’ Summit. You tried to kill me, and then when you couldn’t, you disappeared for months, only to reappear with Sio, acting like nothing had happened. I hated you at that moment, but at the same time, I was relieved to see you safe. I don’t hate you. The more time I spent with you, the more I began to see you as something closer than a friend.” Lin paused briefly, wiping her blurry eyes. “No matter how I felt, something was always keeping us apart. Hidden truths, unspoken feelings, we’ve always stood on different sides of an invisible barrier. So I thought. I’m only just realising that it was just my own insecurities. Though, there is one thing you’ve kept hidden from me. You never told me your real name.”
Kana looked at her with wide eyes. “Yukio Kanamori.”
“I’m Rin Yanami. It’s nice to meet you.” Taking hold of his other hand, she pulled him closer. He gave no resistance as she leaned in to kiss him. His lips were softer than she’d imagined, and were warm despite the cool rain. After a few seconds, Lin pulled away to speak, her voice as meek as her expression. “I love you too, Kana,” she said, the words somehow unshaken by her thumping heartbeat.
Time didn’t seem to pass as they stood under the weeping Heavens, holding one another in an unbreakable embrace, and no matter how cold or heavy the rain could fall, neither felt any desire to leave.