me. I might not see any of them again.”
“I’ll be with you,” the demon said earnestly. “Always.”
In the corner of his mind where his self now had residence, Mamoru sighed. Why did he have to be possessed by a love-struck demon?
More importantly, why was their clan still involved with Advisor Yoshida? He was the man who’d hired them to attack the Fox clan, a venture that had ended in complete disaster. Maybe he’d find answers in Kyoto.
They left early in the day, for the clan house was isolated in the mountains and they would have to travel far before they could spend nights indoors again. They rode horses suitable for their pretend station of poor but proud nobility and were escorted by four fellow shinobi pretending to be hired mercenaries. The four were like ruffians, with clothes gaping open to reveal scarred chests, swords carried over the shoulder in a less-than-aristocratic manner, and loud personalities.
Mamoru didn’t know these men’s names and wouldn’t have asked anyway, to preserve their cover. It was possible their usual assignment was to be a roaming group of mercenaries who took jobs in places where information of a sensitive nature might be gathered.
Usagi surveyed their escort. “Well done. We’ll look quite desperate to have hired such bodyguards. Any bandits we may meet will be wary of engaging men who look as cruel as themselves.”
As soon as they hit the road, the questions began.
Hey, hey, what’s that bird’s name?
The demon kept their shared body’s eyes upon the bird so Mamoru might have a good look. Its orange face and neck gave away its species. That’s a robin, Mamoru said.
Look, this tree is white instead of brown. Is it sick?
This species has natural white bark. Haven’t you seen trees before?
I couldn’t see colors before, not like you do. I like them.
At their first meal stop, they were given nothing but plain rice to eat. This was not a shock to Mamoru, but the demon felt differently.
What do you mean we didn’t pack any dessert?!
Chapter Eight
Akakiba
A kakiba didn’t usually find it trying to spend time on the road. But neither did he usually have to carry a distasteful, energy-stealing sword along.
The thing raised his hackles like nothing else. He watched it constantly, as though it might come to life and leap on him. He kept it wrapped up and hidden in a pack when they were on the move, but left it away from them and their horses at night.
“How are you feeling?” he asked when they set up camp in the evening.
“Hm?” Yuki blinked at him. “Oh, I’m saddle sore, but otherwise fine.” He rubbed his behind as if to demonstrate exactly how saddle sore he was. “You set a hard pace. Shouldn’t we slow down?”
“You saw what proximity did to those trees. I worry about our health and the horses’.”
Yuki grimaced. “You have a point, but so does my behind.”
They hadn’t seen the Sanae impersonator lately, although they’d once or twice caught glimpses of red ahead. It was in the spirit’s interest to keep its distance from the sword, but Akakiba missed its random visits. It, at the very least, listened when he spoke instead of staring at nothing while having a private conversation with somebody else.
A further week of travel greatly shortened the distance between themselves and Nara, the city where they would find the temple to which Jien and Aito belonged. If neither of them were present at the time, Akakiba planned to speak with the highest ranked monk available. He would have been embarrassed to admit aloud he didn’t know who the temple’s abbot was or whether the man was likely to agree to meet with visitors.
They were glad to sight the city. The horses found new energy and trotted the rest of the way, hoping for the proper care, food, and rest to be found in a stable.
Akakiba felt much the same, if one substituted “stable” for “inn.” Luxuriating in a hot bath would be most welcome.
Regretfully, the matter
“I’ll be with you,” the demon said earnestly. “Always.”
In the corner of his mind where his self now had residence, Mamoru sighed. Why did he have to be possessed by a love-struck demon?
More importantly, why was their clan still involved with Advisor Yoshida? He was the man who’d hired them to attack the Fox clan, a venture that had ended in complete disaster. Maybe he’d find answers in Kyoto.
They left early in the day, for the clan house was isolated in the mountains and they would have to travel far before they could spend nights indoors again. They rode horses suitable for their pretend station of poor but proud nobility and were escorted by four fellow shinobi pretending to be hired mercenaries. The four were like ruffians, with clothes gaping open to reveal scarred chests, swords carried over the shoulder in a less-than-aristocratic manner, and loud personalities.
Mamoru didn’t know these men’s names and wouldn’t have asked anyway, to preserve their cover. It was possible their usual assignment was to be a roaming group of mercenaries who took jobs in places where information of a sensitive nature might be gathered.
Usagi surveyed their escort. “Well done. We’ll look quite desperate to have hired such bodyguards. Any bandits we may meet will be wary of engaging men who look as cruel as themselves.”
As soon as they hit the road, the questions began.
Hey, hey, what’s that bird’s name?
The demon kept their shared body’s eyes upon the bird so Mamoru might have a good look. Its orange face and neck gave away its species. That’s a robin, Mamoru said.
Look, this tree is white instead of brown. Is it sick?
This species has natural white bark. Haven’t you seen trees before?
I couldn’t see colors before, not like you do. I like them.
At their first meal stop, they were given nothing but plain rice to eat. This was not a shock to Mamoru, but the demon felt differently.
What do you mean we didn’t pack any dessert?!
Chapter Eight
Akakiba
A kakiba didn’t usually find it trying to spend time on the road. But neither did he usually have to carry a distasteful, energy-stealing sword along.
The thing raised his hackles like nothing else. He watched it constantly, as though it might come to life and leap on him. He kept it wrapped up and hidden in a pack when they were on the move, but left it away from them and their horses at night.
“How are you feeling?” he asked when they set up camp in the evening.
“Hm?” Yuki blinked at him. “Oh, I’m saddle sore, but otherwise fine.” He rubbed his behind as if to demonstrate exactly how saddle sore he was. “You set a hard pace. Shouldn’t we slow down?”
“You saw what proximity did to those trees. I worry about our health and the horses’.”
Yuki grimaced. “You have a point, but so does my behind.”
They hadn’t seen the Sanae impersonator lately, although they’d once or twice caught glimpses of red ahead. It was in the spirit’s interest to keep its distance from the sword, but Akakiba missed its random visits. It, at the very least, listened when he spoke instead of staring at nothing while having a private conversation with somebody else.
A further week of travel greatly shortened the distance between themselves and Nara, the city where they would find the temple to which Jien and Aito belonged. If neither of them were present at the time, Akakiba planned to speak with the highest ranked monk available. He would have been embarrassed to admit aloud he didn’t know who the temple’s abbot was or whether the man was likely to agree to meet with visitors.
They were glad to sight the city. The horses found new energy and trotted the rest of the way, hoping for the proper care, food, and rest to be found in a stable.
Akakiba felt much the same, if one substituted “stable” for “inn.” Luxuriating in a hot bath would be most welcome.
Regretfully, the matter
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