Session Seven; Suspicion Sets In

Katsumi had been running through scenario after scenario in her head. Every possible outcome of the situation with Kitsuki played out with her choosing a side between her duty to her family and her duty to her ward. She wasn’t in the business of breaking promises, but Kitsuki was just making it so very difficult to keep him alive and to uphold her loyalty to her clan. She stared at the floor, not wanting to look him in the eye. She didn’t want him pushing her into a decision she would regret, like he had attempted with the note. He volunteered her to help him, and then told her she had to do something. He didn’t get to direct her actions, and he sure as Jigoku didn’t get to pit her against her family.

“Asahina-sama,” a voice said from the other side of the door, which promptly slid open to reveal a rather irate Asahina. He entered in a huff and stared down Kitsuki. Apparently, Asahina took the ‘threat’ to his life a lot more personally than Katsumi had imagined he would. Granted, he wasn’t aware that Negisa had orchestrated the whole ordeal so Asahina faced little to no possibility of being harmed. That was information he wasn’t going to learn either. Nevertheless, Katsumi hadn’t expected Asahina to be so worked up about such a small attempt on this life.

“So, what was that?” Asahina demanded.

Kitsuki’s face went slack and he shook his head staring off at the wall. He wasn’t even looking at Asahina.

Asahina spun on Katsumi looking for an answer, “Anything to add here?”

Katsumi blinked. What did he expect her to say? Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t know any more than Kitsuki would be able to divulge. If Kitsuki hadn’t told Asahina about Negisa being maho tsukai, there was no reason he should be asking her. Denial was the safest route here. “I cannot speak for Kitsuki’s actions.”

“I was hoping you would have some sort of explanation,” Asahina turned back towards Kitsuki and waited.

Katsumi watched Kitsuki as well. He had to choose his words very carefully; otherwise, he’d bring the wrath of the Empire down on everyone. On himself, on Negisa, on Katsumi, this whole town, and the whole Spider clan.

“I don’t want to bring up sensitive subjects,” Asahina’s voice changed from demanding to snide, “but how are those legs?”

Kitsuki pressed his lips and flexed his legs, bending at the knees and showing no difficulty whatsoever in movement. At least he was keeping quiet. Katsumi could prevent further disastrous events from befalling Asahina and anyone else as long as Kitsuki didn’t spread what they both knew.

“Okay,” Asahina nodded, shifting his weight from one foot to the next. “The way it is right now, you’re looking a lot like an imposter. An assassin. Part of some farfetched, ridiculous plot for what reason I don’t know. And… I just…” Asahina raised his hands. That was something Katsumi had seen before. The action like he was throwing his hands up in the air, ready to just give up, but he holds back, not lifting them above his waist. He had no idea what was going on. That was a good thing. It kept everyone safe.

“But you don’t believe that,” Kitsuki finished Asahina’s thought. Katsumi gave the faintest shake of her head without even intending to. Kitsuki just needed to keep his mouth shut. There was a way out for everyone if he just kept his mouth shut.

“It doesn’t always matter what I believe. Honestly, I prefer a simpler explanation than something like that,” Asahina snapped.

“I can’t give you a simpler explanation,” Kitsuki looked towards the floor, not meeting Asahina’s glare.

“Yeah,” Asahina retorted, “I know.” He again turned to Katsumi, waiting for her to make sense of everything. “Do you have any suggestions? You’ve been sitting with him for hours. Has he given you any indication of what his motives were?”

Katsumi also avoided Asahina’s gaze, locking her eyes on Kitsuki. “I cannot speak for Kitsuki’s actions.”

This time Asahina threw his hands up completely. Whatever he had come for, he wasn’t getting. He shook his head at Katsumi, a gesture that wasn’t needed. What did she do wrong? Then shook it at Kitsuki. However, instead of turning to go, he stopped. Katsumi watched as Kitsuki met Asahina’s glare then inclined his head towards the open door and nodded.

Katsumi glanced to the door, the Spider guards were still standing there, as they should be, outside. Asahina sighed and paced to the door, closing out the world so they could speak behind walls only the polite would pretend to not listen through. Katsumi shook her head again, she didn’t like where this was going. Whatever Kitsuki had planned couldn’t be good if he wanted to keep anyone but the three of them from being part of this conversation. He lifted his wrists as if asking to be released and mouthed the word, “Note.” He wanted to write some more. This was not good at all considering the last note he wrote was wrought with paranoia.

Asahina, however, obliged. He shuffled around the room finding paper and charcoal then watched Katsumi closely as he leaned towards Kitsuki and unhooked the clasps for his acupuncture cuffs. Katsumi would have smiled if she didn’t have such a great feeling of dread. Asahina was either intimidated by her, or unsure of her involvement in the whole situation. If Kitsuki had named Negisa earlier, he could have named her just as well and kept that from her. The growing concern for what Kitsuki would spin and what Asahina would believe overshadowed the compliment Asahina inadvertently made to Katsumi’s prowess. She jumped to her feet and joined the two on the floor so each of them could see what Kitsuki was writing.

Kitsuki began to scribble out the characters, Katsumi squinted her eyes to try to read it before Asahina was passed the note. She wanted to make sure Kitsuki wouldn’t say anything foolish. Unfortunately, the lack of sleep from the night before was quickly catching up with her and it was impossible for her to read upside-down and from that distance with the small amount of light in the room. Kitsuki finished his note and slid it towards Asahina, who picked it up and read it. He then handed the paper to Katsumi for her to read.

“We must not speak before the Spider guards. And we must not send them away or they will be suspicious. We also must not be silent for long, or they will know we’re writing.”

Kuso. Katsumi glared at Kitsuki. This was exactly what she was worried about when she thought he might say something foolish. He just implemented the entire Spider clan in his paranoid delusions. Who else was he going to drag down with him?

“Alright,” Asahina said calmly. “I don’t know how this is going to pan out. I’m going to try to convince people to allow this to go to trail, but that isn’t customary.”

“I would appreciate that, and thank you for trusting me, at least,” Kitsuki responded. Katsumi grit her teeth and pressed her lips, she hoped Asahina wasn’t trusting Kitsuki as much as Kitsuki believed he was. Kitsuki was on thin ice and if he made another accusation like the one he had, he might not breathe for very much longer, whether Asahina was in the room or not.

“And this trial, with your newly exposed capability for walking, perhaps you might save some face through a duel. Who knows?” Asahina rambled.

“I don’t know why I can walk now,” Kitsuki said. Katsumi almost snorted, but at least he was keeping some secrets buried. “But when you set the trial date, please allow time for some Dragon elders to arrive so they can speak on my behalf. I know right now it appears that I may be some kind of assassin, that I may have deceived you, so I’ll need some people to testify on behalf of my character.”

Kitsuki scribbled on the paper once more and once done Asahina picked it up to read it. Again, he handed it to Katsumi as soon as he started talking.

“What I’m sure you understand is that I will be seeking out answers or explanations in order to…” Katsumi began shaking her head slowly, complete seriousness on her face. That was the worst idea, to delve deeper into this. Obviously, her action gave Asahina pause; he narrowed his eyes as if trying to understand why she was saying no, and then continued his former thought, “In order to save the face of our group.”

Katsumi looked down at the note, reading the last thing Kitsuki had written.

“I want no trial. I wish to stop or stall her, and then commit seppuku for everyone’s safety and my honor. Buy me time.”

Katsumi sighed. He wasn’t going to make it out of this if things kept going this way. Katsumi just needed time to figure something out. Time Kitsuki was trying to snatch away from her with every word he spread to Asahina. She just needed Kitsuki to be quiet, and then she could have her time.

“Thank you, Asahina-sama,” Kitsuki said.

Asahina nodded and took a few steps away towards the door, turning and waving Katsumi over. She got up and neared him, worried what he was going to say that couldn’t be said in front of Kitsuki.

“Katsumi-san,” Asahina gently muttered, “Try to get a little rest. I know you’ve-uh… You seem a little stressed out. It’s been a weird couple of days.” Then he left.

Katsumi stared at the doorway. Did that just happen? Asahina had called her by her first name, and then showed concern. She was certain he regarded her with suspicion with everything Kitsuki had been saying, and now he was worried about her wellbeing. If it were anyone else, she would have believed they were trying to convince her to sleep in order for them to set Kitsuki free, or end his life, but not Asahina. He was much too honorable for such underhanded things.

She shook the thought from her head and closed the door.

***

Kyuzo rubbed his neck as he walked to his room. This whole situation was becoming more impossible the more he learned. As it stood right now, Kitsuki was in the middle of some sort of intricate plot where Kitsuki had been working either with, or against Negisa. Or so Kitsuki was claiming. Maybe this was all a ruse to pin something on the Spider that didn’t exist. But then, Kitsuki had such conviction, it didn’t make sense if he was making it all up. Kitsuki believed Negisa was a threat, and Kitsuki’s belief was influencing Kyuzo’s. Kitsuki had no reason to put his life on the line after he had already done so by attacking Kyuzo. This was all so complicated.

“Asahina-sama, how did it go?” Kyuzo looked up to see Tsuruchi waiting in the hallway by Kyuzo’s room. Apparently, he wanted to be kept abreast of the situation.

Kyuzo just shook his head. There was nothing he could really say at the moment to make things any more reasonable than the intricate and elusive conspiracy that Kitsuki was spinning.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Tsuruchi suggested.

“Yeah. Let’s go.” That was something Kyuzo could get behind. He still didn’t want to talk here, and the further they got from the house, the better. He wasn’t sure whom he could trust anymore. They walked for a bit, slowly, just taking in the evening scenery. Night had fallen and fireworks had exploded above, commemorating the wedding. The Spider did know how to make something mundane like marriage into something grand and largely public.

“Well, Tsuruchi-san…” Kyuzo tried to figure out where to begin.

“Do you trust those two?” Tsuruchi said looking over his shoulder. Kyuzo followed his gaze to the Soshi twins who were standing twenty or so feet away. They were looking at Tsuruchi and himself, but they seemed to be keeping a respectful distance, allowing Kyuzo to have his conversation in private. Well, as private as one can get outside.

“I trust them to be them,” Kyuzo said. The Soshis were strange and always aware of what was going on, this was probably just another way they kept tabs on things. He expected no less, honestly. “But, I feel like the Scorpion want the Spider to have their ways around here and that’s exactly what’s happening.”

“That’s actually a fallacy,” a male voice called from the shadows. As if wrapped in the blanket of night and discarding it when he spoke, a middle-aged man stepped away from a nearby wall and bowed to Kyuzo. “Lord Asahina,” he said. He wore a half-mask covering the bottom of his face, which indicated he was a Scorpion, but he wore no mons for his clan, his family, or his school.

“Samurai-sama, master of stealth,” Kyuzo tried not to give away his surprise at the man’s sudden appearance.

“Please,” The man said plainly, “You honor me.”

“I’m sure you’re already aware a lot of strange things have been happening,” Kyuzo said, defending his previous statement that the Scorpion knew what was going on and allowing things to take place.

“Yes, that’s why I’m here,” The Scorpion responded.

“I’m sure you’re also aware that we’re out here attempting to have some privacy.”

“Understood. But know that I’ll always be close if you need me.”

“And you are?” Kyuzo pried. These Scorpion, you couldn’t keep track of them even if you tried. Always appearing out of nowhere and living up to the vile rumors about their dishonorable behavior.

“Shosuro Tomori,” He bowed again.

“Alright, Shosuro-san, if you’re going to hear our conversation, I’d at least appreciate if you do it openly and give us input,” Tsuruchi crossed his arms. Kyuzo shrugged. He hadn’t intended to allow Shosuro to take part in the conversation, but Tsuruchi had a point, how would they even know if he was there or not? Might as well get something out of it by having him take part in it.

“We have our suspicions as to whom it is, but I’ll hear yours first,” Shosuro explained, not even giving Kyuzo the option to decline the request.

“I’m just trying to gather my thoughts, at the moment, and be very clear on exactly why I suspect who I do,” Kyuzo carefully placed the words together. He had been told Negisa was behind everything, and suspected that if she was, then Kitsuki’s strange behavior was also a result of whatever Negisa had convinced him to do. However, that didn’t explain Kitsuki’s ability to walk. Or why Kitsuki followed through with the attempt to harm Kyuzo in public. That had to be Kitsuki’s own choice to do those things. “It’s really hard to distinguish between my beliefs and what I’ve been told. Though, the main reason I suspect this person would be because of the weird circumstances following the trial with the first Tsuruchi.”

“What weird things?” Tsuruchi asked, obviously unaware of the whole story of his brother’s trial.

“Well,” Kyuzo rubbed his neck, not wanting to go into details. The whole thing still bothered him. “Your brother resurfaced after I released him at the behest of Daigotsu Negisa. After I believed he was going to be executed by her hand.”

“If I may, Lord Asahina?” Shosuro interjected not waiting for a response to continue, yet doing so. “It seems that Daigotsu Negisa had tortured him for a day, and then held him, sending a letter to Meintaro here, with the intention of turning him over when he arrived. But upon arriving, he abandoned his brother and Negisa promptly took his head.”

“Right, okay.” This was information Kyuzo hadn’t been presented with before. Why had no one told him Negisa had tortured Tsuruchi, or that he was being held to face his brother? “I still don’t know though. It’s the way the whole thing occurred. I mean, who tortures people like that? And who ends up looking like that? I mean, after a day of torture I understand one wouldn’t look too pleasant, but-”

“Well, when you drain most of someone’s blood, it tends to make them look fairly pale,” Shosuro said in such a matter of fact way that Kyuzo began wondering if he had experience blood letting.

“And that’s just disgusting,” Kyuzo remarked unable to hold back his disdain for the knowledge held by Shosuro on torture techniques.

“Hm,” Tsuruchi grunted, “Knowing the punishment for arson, I would hate to know what the punishment for attacking the daimyo is.”

So would Kyuzo. He didn’t want the Spider getting involved this time around. If torture and beheading were normal punishment, then Kitsuki would be in store for something much more horrific.

“What information did Kitsuki give you?” Tsuruchi pressed.

“Not much,” Kyuzo admitted. Kitsuki hadn’t said hardly anything. He had claimed ignorance on his ability to walk. He had claimed ignorance on his murderous rage. Moreover, he had only indicated that Negisa needed to be stopped, but from what, or why, he hadn’t said.

“Well, suspicion alone is not enough to do anything,” Tsuruchi remarked.

“Yeah, and all we have is suspicion right now,” Kyuzo agreed.

“So, what do you think we should do about Kitsuki?”

“I’m afraid that he’s…” Kyuzo sighed and shook his head, unhappy with the answer he had to give. “He’s doomed at this point.”

“Why’s that?” Tsuruchi inquired.

“He did disrupt a wedding of the Spider, the first wedding in the Empire, in a Spider town, also the first in the Empire, by attacking the magistrate of that town.”

“Right. It did seem a personal amount of rage directed at you in particular. He did yell your name before he brandished a weapon at you.”

“Yeah, I know,” Kyuzo groaned. “And there doesn’t seem to be a reason for that.”

“If you truly believe he’s innocent and if you and Kitsuki have resolved your differences, it might be better to show your peaceful and forgiving side than-”

“I respectfully disagree,” Shosuro interrupted again. “The problem with that line of reasoning is that if you show you have a… softer side, the Scorpion will see it as a weakness. Same with the Spider, I can almost guarantee.”

Kyuzo knew Shosuro was right. The Spider wouldn’t allow him to go lightly on Tsuruchi Airo for attempted arson; they weren’t going to allow him to go lightly on Kitsuki after this grave insult. “Yeah…”

“If you truly believe he’s innocent,” Tsuruchi began again, giving Shosuro an intimidating stare, “Perhaps a lesser sentence, such as banishment, would be appropriate.”

“You could banish him to the Burning Sands. That could work,” Shosuro agreed.

Kyuzo shook his head. Banishment wasn’t really a ‘lesser’ punishment. Yes, Kitsuki got to keep his life, but he was removed from the Celestial Cycle. That seemed much worse than death to Kyuzo. “I want to consult with the Dragon leadership of this town. But other than that, I can only offer him a chance at seppuku. That really is our only option. That’s what is going to end up happening.”

“We have our doubts that he intended to harm you, anyway,” Shosuro added as if to assure Kyuzo he wasn’t alone in believing something was amiss with the situation.

“Exactly,” Kyuzo nodded.

“I also have my doubts that he is even capable of harming Asahina,” Tsuruchi smirked.

“I have no doubts in that regard,” Shosuro agreed.

“So, here’s the thing: Somebody used Kitsuki to get to me, and he’s the one that has to die. That’s a problem for me,” Kyuzo laid it out. It was obvious what was going to happen to Kitsuki, the problem was he didn’t know why it had to happen and who was behind it.

“Agreed, and unfortunately we have no leads to that,” Shosuro shrugged. “We believe that the first Tsuruchi, my apologies for speaking ill of your brother, was sent for a similar reason. Considering that he was attempting to destroy the town.”

“Honestly, it looked like someone was trying to point it to the Scorpion in this town with the last Tsuruchi thing as well,” Kyuzo revealed his suspicions. The way it had happened and the way Tsuruchi had said it was the Scorpion’s plot, it just didn’t feel right. Like someone was trying to start a fight between the Mantis and the Scorpion.

“That is why we are looking into this matter, as well,” Shosuro affirmed. “We actually think that this may go higher than that. There may be bigger and darker strings being pulled. Why take a Scorpion town and make it into a Spider town? Yes, we are in unaligned lands. Yes, we’re not supposed to be here. But why do it? Why not have them build a town somewhere that hasn’t already been claimed, and isn’t already thriving instead of taking it from us?”

“Good point,” Kyuzo nodded. He hadn’t thought about that before. Maybe this was bigger than Tsuruchi, than Kitsuki, than whatever the plot is for this town. Maybe it has to do with pushing out the Scorpion. It was as much a possibility as any other farfetched theory he had conceived today with the small amount of facts and large amount of hearsay that had been going around.

“Also, you might want to keep an eye on those Kitsune of yours,” Shosuro directed the suggestion to Tsuruchi.

***

“Who? All five of the town guard?” Meintaro remarked sardonically. Matsu was supposed to be in charge of the town guard, and it seemed that she hadn’t been doing her job. Who knows how many people had actually been recruited, or who was running things.

“Is that what they’re supposed to be doing?” Shosuro jeered. This guy was nothing but a mouthful of rude remarks, Meintaro thought. He had back talked Asahina, interrupted everyone, and now he presumed to tell Meintaro how to keep watch over his clan members.

“It is,” Meintaro stated firmly.

“Have you checked up on them recently?”

“I expect that since they are samurai, they’d keep their word on it,” Meintaro retorted. Who did this guy think he was? Just because he could sneak around in the shadows, and just because Asahina didn’t prevent him from minding his words didn’t give him the right to question everyone’s intentions and abilities. He was a Scorpion; they may not have morals, but the Mantis surely did.

“They’re keeping their word, in a sense. They report to the town guard, at least, what there is of it. Speaking of, have you got your Captain of the Guard established yet?” This time Shosuro was directing his pointed question to Asahina.

“That’s just it, more distractions. With the wedding and all of the goings on, I feel like this is just a distraction as well,” Asahina rambled.

Meintaro wasn’t entirely certain where Asahina was headed with this line of thinking. However, he knew full well that Matsu hadn’t been taking charge of her duties. Meintaro also lacked a position and saw this as his opportunity to step in, prove himself capable of handling something more than… well, than nothing. He didn’t have anything to do, and watching people work proved to be tiresome because he wasn’t doing anything but watching.

“She is marrying the head of the Daigotsu household here in town, who apparently takes trips often, so she will have to take care of the affairs of the house as well now,” Meintaro hinted, trying to convince Asahina that she wasn’t right for the position.

“Did you ask the Kitsune what they were doing here?” Shosuro brought the subject back to Meintaro and his ability to lead. Of course, he asked. Of course, he knew what was going on. He wasn’t useless, far from it.

“They said they had come back to their homelands,” Meintaro eyed Shosuro.

“Tell me again, whose lands are these?” Shosuro mocked.

“These are our lands, and that’s why they serve.”

“And what did they tell you? Doesn’t that seem strange to you at all?”

“It seems like they have nostalgia for their prior home,” Meintaro intoned. The Kitsune hadn’t been part of the Mantis clan for long and had previously lived in the same area this town now stood. Who wouldn’t want to go back to the place of their birth? Or even the place they grew up?

“Could be,” Shosuro skeptically considered Meintaro’s answer. “I realize that deviousness doesn’t come to other clans as easily. Forgive me for questioning one’s motives. So they told you they were coming here to return to their homeland?”

“Right,” Meintaro drawled. They had already gone over this.

“And all you did was tell them to go join the town guard?”

“Right,” Meintaro stated. This was getting nowhere fast. “I asked them if they had any objections and they had none, so-”

“Of course not,” Shosuro broke in, “You’re in charge of them, technically, so they followed your orders in addition to doing whatever they were doing. Maybe you should ask them about that.”

“I have a feeling you already know what they’re doing,” Meintaro monotonously declared.

“Sort of…” Shosuro pressed his fingertips together. “We know that they’re doing something but the specifics elude us. It’s definitely magic, it’s definitely not maho, and it’s not something that any of our shugenja recognize, so… we don’t know what they’re doing. And it pains me to admit that, too.”

“It’s a great day to be in charge,” Meintaro scoffed. Asahina had more on his plate than he realized.

“But they are doing something…” Shosuro assured Meintaro. Maybe he was warning Asahina. You never knew with the Scorpion.

“Alright. Once again I feel like I’m in over my head,” Asahina sighed. Meintaro could see that. He was thanking his ancestors he wasn’t in charge of this mess. Subversive failed plots, a cripple who wasn’t a cripple, unidentified magic, and a Captain of the Guard who wasn’t captaining, it was a knotted mess and there wasn’t any way to untangle things easily. And then the Naga, speaking of…

“Kitsuki was bitten by the Naga, and I’m not sure if they’re venomous, and if they are, he might be dead very soon regardless of our plan of action,” Meintaro pointed out.

“Talk to the Soshis, they know a little about Naga,” Shosuro suggested, pointing towards the women standing a short distance away.

“Soshi,” Meintaro called.

“Come join this conversation, Soshi-san,” Asahina waved the twins over.

“If you’re going to listen, you might as well,” Meintaro remarked snidely.

“It’s very hard to listen from twenty-feet away,” One of the twins said.

“I’m sure,” Meintaro fibbed. “Do you know if the Naga are venomous?”

“This one in particular is,” The other one answered. Meintaro hated when they did this. However, it was better than switching every other word as he had experienced from them in the past.

“How venomous?”

“It’s not any kind of venom that will last over time. It’s more of a… more of an acid.”

“Do you think it could kill someone in Kitsuki’s current condition?” Meintaro pushed.

“No. It’s used for digestion, rending flesh before they consume their prey. It’s very short acting and unless he got a massive dose of it, it’s not going to kill him.”

“Well, that settles that,” Meintaro turned back to Asahina. “He’ll be fine. When is Kitsuki’s trial?”

“Well, it’s more likely to be a sentencing than a trial,” Asahina rubbed his neck.

“They usually are,” Meintaro agreed.

“I figured we’d give him a few days to heal, and it will also give us a chance to consult with the Dragon leadership in this town so they have the chance to save their clan name, I suppose. In the face of all this tragedy, that’s all I can really offer. Like you said, we can’t run off our suspicions, just keep our eyes open, I guess.”

Asahina was getting the picture; Meintaro could handle any obstacle that was thrown his way. Maybe it was time to push for that Captain of the Guard position again. He had just proven that he could accomplish things quickly and efficiently. Even Shosuro noted that Meintaro was the only one who directed the town guard in any way, even if he was belittling his decision. Moreover, Asahina obviously listened to Meintaro’s advice; otherwise, he would probably be jumping at his suspicions and not actually considering the consequences of alleging someone in this convoluted plot who may be innocent.

“So, do you think you’re going to need a new Captain of the Guard?” Meintaro decided to test the waters. It never hurt to ask.

“No, I think she’s okay. I mean, she’s been very distracted lately, but otherwise she’s fully capable. And besides, we have had a bunch of contingencies coming in from different lands, I’m sure she’s handling it at her own pace. Allowing them to get here and get comfortable before sending them straight to work.”

“Hm,” Meintaro grunted. He didn’t believe Asahina really felt that way. Matsu had proven to be incapable, otherwise the Scorpion wouldn’t be asking about it as well. People were noticing her lack of initiative.

“We’ll keep all the eyes and ears open for you,” Shosuro commented, ending the conversation. It was headed there anyways; Meintaro could feel it. Everything had been said, at least everything that could be had been.

“Alright,” Meintaro answered for Asahina.

“I have no fear of wrongly accusing somebody in these circumstances. My intuition definitely lies against the favor of that certain individual. So, keep me posted,” Asahina imparted Shosuro with that bit of direction.

It was a shame that Asahina hadn’t said exactly whom he suspected. It was obviously the Spider, and he had a feeling it was Daigotsu Negisa, but Asahina hadn’t outright named her. Besides, what did his brother’s trial and his involvement with Negisa have to do with Kitsuki? He supposed it didn’t really matter. Meintaro was aware they were not related, as much as it amused him to hear Asahina refer to it time and time again in this new, overtly obtuse plot to… to do what? He never really got to the supposed end goal of what Kitsuki was being used as a pawn in. Asahina was too trusting of those he considered friends. Kitsuki was obviously a liar; he could walk, and probably could the whole time.

“As you wish, Lord Asahina,” Shosuro bowed and stepped against the shadow-draped wall.

Meintaro watched as he ducked below eye-level and snuck around the corner. Tricky way to do it. He looked at Asahina who obviously didn’t follow the Scorpion as well, since his eyes darted left to right, looking for what direction Shosuro had disappeared to. After a moment, Asahina turned and walked away. This whole affair proved to be less fruitful than Meintaro had originally anticipated. He had hoped that he alone could guide Asahina and advise him on how to proceed. Instead, it turned into Shosuro degrading Meintaro and giving Asahina most of the information that had positioned their next move. It was disappointing.

“Maybe tonight won’t be a complete disaster,” Meintaro sighed. “Soshi, would you care to join me for a trip to the brothel?”

Both of the Soshis grinned at each other, sharing a knowing look before asking, in tandem, “Do you know which one of us you bedded last time?”

Meintaro truly didn’t. He looked each of them up and down; they were so similar he had a hard time even telling who he spoke to on most occasions. Let alone whom he had slept with, especially while they were clothed and purposely attempting to confuse by being so alike. Well, if it was going to be a guess, he had to give it a shot. He pointed to the sister on the right.

“Good guess,” They responded, both taking his side and accompanying him.

***

This was the worst day of Anjin’s life. It really couldn’t get any lower than right now, sitting in a room with Daigotsu, being treated like a prisoner for something he couldn’t explain why he had done, let alone imagine doing in any sort of sane mindset. He remembered that he had attacked Asahina, or tried to, at least. It was futile with Daigotsu sitting between the two of them, and Shiba had also joined in the defense of Asahina. That wasn’t surprising. But Daigotsu, she was supposed to protect him, and now he was sitting in a room, thankfully not shackled any longer, being guarded by the sister of whom he believed arranged the whole debacle to take place. He wasn’t sure how yet, he didn’t know how Negisa could have forced his hand in this matter. Nevertheless, he knew she had to be behind it. He had never resorted to violence in all of his life, and in a moment of the most overpowering rage he had ever experienced, that was his only thought, he had to kill Asahina. It didn’t make sense on his part. She had to have done something. Maybe drugged him. Maybe it was a side effect of her maho. He hadn’t really discussed the details of what things had changed inside his body because of her spell. Yes, he could walk now, and well if he wanted to, but what did maho do to the rest of him?

Earlier he had revealed his suspicions with Daigotsu Katsumi about Negisa bringing this on him. Daigotsu didn’t refute it. She only asked if he had told Asahina about getting involved in maho. Of course he didn’t, he wasn’t about to throw away what little shred of honor he had left. It may come out in the future, but for now, it was their secret. Plus, he didn’t want Daigotsu Katsumi being dragged into this mess as well. Unfortunately, she was smack in the middle of everything and her name might get thrown in the dirt simply by association, that wasn’t something Kitsuki wanted.

Daigotsu, however, proved to be difficult to read on what her intentions were. She didn’t side with Anjin when Asahina was questioning him. Instead, she sat silently and shook her head in that menacing way she had done to get her point across that things were not to be spoken of. The way she had when Asahina was asking about Anjin’s poor night of sleep over a month ago, when she had kept him up because of her Curse of the Lord Moon. He remembered it because the look in her eyes said she wasn’t afraid to silence him if he said the wrong thing, and tonight she had that same look. Being a relative to the culprit may have more pull than doing what is right in the Empire to Daigotsu. This would prove to be disastrous to Anjin.

Quickly he wrote down a question to her. He wanted to explain why she needed to be on his side, why Negisa was not worth protecting.

“Will you allow me to stay her hand? I now only wish to save Asahina’s life. I fear he is in great danger.”

Anjin slid the paper forward, towards Daigotsu who was still standing near the door, having just closed it minutes prior when Asahina left them. Daigotsu picked it up and stared at it. She didn’t answer. That was not a good sign. She didn’t even look at him. That was also not a good sign. You didn’t often look at the people you were planning to betray, at least, that’s what he believed was the case in people. Shame presented itself in a very particular manner no matter how big or small, and not looking at someone was a sure sign of it. She was going to turn on him he knew it. Anjin began writing a more detailed explanation. He had to convince her she was making the wrong decision.

“If you tell her, Asahina will die. If you must protect her, then allow me to protect him. Allow me to write a confession taking full responsibility for the attempt on his life. Then let me take my own to preserve his, and to keep my lie from discovery.
But you must not tell her! He must be saved.”

Anjin lifted the paper and held it out to Daigotsu who stood over him. She had to understand he just wanted to keep Asahina safe. Daigotsu took it and slowly read it. She must have gone over it twice with how long it took her to finish. Anjin waited anxiously. If his life wasn’t worth saving to Daigotsu, maybe she would consider Asahina’s worth saving. He had noticed the time Asahina and Daigotsu spent together, including the walk she decided to take on the full moon with him. She at least considered him a friend, if nothing else, and Anjin wanted her to understand she would be putting two friends to death by telling Negisa of their plans.

Daigotsu folded the paper and slid it up her sleeve. Anjin closed his eyes and sighed. She had obviously made her choice. It didn’t surprise him when he felt Daigotsu lifting his wrists into the acupressure manacles, locking him up again. He opened his eyes and stared at her forlornly, she couldn’t be putting family before duty. Asahina was her lord. Anjin was her ward. Negisa was an obviously misguided woman who threatened the very fabric of the Empire. Anjin had no words for Daigotsu’s actions. She was going to tell Negisa and doom everyone.

Once Anjin was cuffed again, Daigotsu picked up the paper and charcoal, stowing them where Asahina had found them. Then she sat directly in front of Anjin. It only surprised him a little when she pulled out her wakizashi, the sharp steel reflecting the lanterns in the room. She was going to end him right here, he was sure of it. Daigotsu held it against her hand, blade down and her palm up, then she dragged it across her palm, slicing it open. Anjin recoiled. Daigotsu practiced maho too! Panic gripped his chest, she would turn him inside out, or drain his blood, or whatever it was that maho tsukai did.

Daigotsu slid her wakizashi away and held up her palm to Anjin, showing him her oozing wound. She shook her head and mouthed the words, “I won’t tell her,” giving them barely a breathy whisper.

What? Anjin had no idea what just happened. Daigotsu cut herself and promised not to tell Negisa. He knew he looked perplexed, he was perplexed, this act made no sense to him. Then she did it again, at least the shaking of the head and the repeating her promise not to tell Negisa. He glanced at Daigotsu’s face, then at her hand, which had stopped bleeding as the flesh knitted back together. That was not normal. There was no scar or mark where she had just been bleeding. It must be maho, what else would heal like that, and so quickly? Like his legs.

Anjin was now even less sure of where Daigotsu stood. Either she was choosing now to start lying to him, or she was just insane. Maybe it was some sort of explanation on why she wasn’t going to turn against Negisa. After all, if Negisa was maho tsukai, and Daigotsu was maho tsukai, her reputation was as much on the line here. Whatever it was, it was frightening, and even more confusing than when Anjin believed she just didn’t want to go against her own family. He cautiously watched her as she wiped the blood on her dark shirt, cleaning her hand of any trace of what had just taken place. He questioned her intentions when she opened the door and whispered something to the guards before shutting it and returning to a seated position. And he wondered about what the future held for him under her problematic care.

Anjin began scrutinizing every detail from the moment they met. If Daigotsu Yanagi knew both Negisa and Katsumi were maho tsukai, he could have planned this from the very beginning. From the very first time he met the Spider, this may have all been laid out. Yanagi placed Anjin under Katsumi’s care, so she could watch him and eventually lead him to the road where Negisa waited to pounce. If they managed to corrupt Anjin, as they believed to have done before Anjin’s conscience kicked in, then they could have had him carry out any number of devious plans. But because he showed resistance, Katsumi probably informed Negisa and they had decided he needed to be silenced before he could give them away. It was too perfect; they had maneuvered themselves into the optimal position. Now Katsumi watched over Anjin, if he died in his sleep, who was going to say anything? Who would say anything if they made it look like he attacked Daigotsu and the guards restrained him violently?

A knock at the door pulled Anjin out of the terrible web the Spider were weaving. Daigotsu opened it and was handed a small pouch and a teapot. She set them down on the ground and backed into her room, returning with a mortar and pestle. He watched as she dumped the pouch of what appeared to be plants into the pestle and ground them a few times, then bagged them in cheesecloth and dropped it in the teapot. She was going to poison him. Only cowards used poison, but considering how devious the Spider had proven to be, he had little doubt they were all cowards.

Daigotsu snatched a cup from Anjin’s tea set and poured the poison into it, then kneeled before him. “Drink this,” she commanded.

Damned if he was going to do that! Anjin pressed his lips and made no movement to obey. He wasn’t going to willingly let her kill him. However, he couldn’t put up a fight either, at least not a physical one, because that would allow her to use force back. So Anjin sat there, refusing to give into her demands.

Daigotsu sighed. “If you don’t drink this willingly, I’ll find another way to put you to sleep,” she said exasperatedly.

Not happening, no way. Anjin kept his mouth closed.

Daigotsu pinched his nose. Why didn’t he think of that? He held his breath as long as he could, but eventually he had to open his mouth to take in a few gasping breaths. At which point Daigotsu wrapped her arm around Anjin’s head, cradling it backwards and poured the tea into his mouth. He tried to close his throat and spit it out but the angle she held him at forced the tea down within fractions of a second. She had done it; she had accomplished her goal at snuffing out his life. Anjin was done for.

He glared at Daigotsu as she calmly backed away, setting the teacup back by the pot. He was going to remember this in his next life. He was going to remember the face of the girl who had murdered him. He was… going to… feel fuzzy. The poison was working. Anjin felt his body tingle and shut down. He felt his head grow heavy, and his eyelids weigh down, drooping closed. He couldn’t hold himself up any longer and toppled to his left, the darkness of the world swallowing him up, like he had Daigotsu’s tea.

***

Kyuzo had just entered his room when another knock came from his door. He looked at Sara as if she had the answers of what was going to come next. The day had been a long and trying one, and Kyuzo toyed with the idea of not answering, pretending he had already turned in for the night.

“Lord Asahina,” a male voice called from the other side of his door.

Kyuzo sighed and gave in, opening the door to a servant who was bowing in the hallway. “Yes?”

“Daigotsu Katsumi-sama wishes to speak with you,” the man said.

Kyuzo looked down the hall, she wasn’t in sight. “Where is she?”

“She is in the room of Kitsuki Anjin.” Did she really just have someone fetch him to come to her? It had better be important, he thought to himself.

“Thank you very much,” Kyuzo muttered and proceeded to Kitsuki’s room.

When he approached the Spider guards both bowed and opened the door for him without a word on Kyuzo’s part. That was the kind of behavior that he expected, not having to go to someone for their convenience. He stepped through the doorway, Sara following behind him and closed the door. As soon as he turned around, he noticed Kitsuki passed out on the floor in a peculiar angle.

“How’s it going?” Kyuzo asked raising a brow at Kitsuki’s countenance and Daigotsu’s lack of worry.

“I need to sleep,” She said, obviously exhausted.

“Yeah, I didn’t get much sleep last night either,” Kyuzo admitted. It should have been obvious, all of them had returned to town in the middle of the night, though he had spent most of the morning in conversation with Soshi.

Daigotsu flashed across the room and shoved herself between Sara and Kitsuki, who was now in an even more peculiar position. It appeared Sara had lifted him and repositioned him while they were talking.

“Inka?” Sara said. It could have been a question; it went up like a question did. Kyuzo wondered if inflection was the same in their language when questioning something versus stating something.

“You see what I’m dealing with, right?” He pointed to Sara while asking Daigotsu. Sara had made the last two nights nearly impossible to sleep. This is what he had to look forward to every night. Every night until she repaid her debt. A debt he didn’t even want to collect.

“Do not touch him again,” Daigotsu hissed.

“Dowansssin uusssana,” Sara replied.

“I find that if you talk to her normally, she gathers most of it,” Kyuzo offered.

“Do. Not. Touch him. Again.” Daigotsu slowly growled each syllable.

“Sara, just… calm down. Be still,” Kyuzo pleaded, trying to help.

“Untasssona duinsssinai,” Sara pointed to Kitsuki. Whatever she was trying to relay was lost on Kyuzo. He shrugged and turned back to Daigotsu who was watching Sara with burning eyes.

“So what do you suggest? Do you want me to help you with this? You want me to stand here while you get some rest? Because, I’m exhausted to tell you the truth.”

Daigotsu’s entire demeanor changed. She dropped her posture and looked down to the ground as if ashamed. “I apologize, Asahina. Go ahead and get some sleep,” She humbly offered.

That was a Daigotsu Kyuzo hadn’t seen before. In addition, did she just say she apologized? Had she ever apologized before? He tried to remember when she took her mon from him, she didn’t even say sorry then, well, not personally. She had wrote it in a letter that Kyuzo was still unconvinced came from her.

“I’ll tell you what, why don’t we do shifts? You get some rest and I’ll wake you up in a little bit when I start to get exhausted… well, beyond now,” Kyuzo offered. He couldn’t tell her no in good conscience and force her to stay awake another night. That, however, meant he would be spending yet another night getting half the rest he normally did. The people around him were going to be the death of him. Kyuzo glanced at Kitsuki at the thought, apparently some more literally than others.

“Thank you,” Daigotsu said glancing inside a pouch Sara had just gifted her. Yeah, Kyuzo was pretty certain Daigotsu hadn’t even heard him.

Sara withdrew an arrow and held it up. “Thank you,” she responded.

Daigotsu shook her head, which prompted a head tilt from Sara. “Arrow,” Daigotsu said slowly, then grabbed the end of the arrow and repeated it, “Arrow.”

Sara knocked Daigotsu’s hand away hurriedly. “Unna nana isssuni,” She hissed. “Usssadin indada tunginin, bleh,” Sara finished the sentence with an act that looked much like vomiting. Then she shook the arrow and repeated after Daigotsu, “Arrow.”

“Yes,” Daigotsu nodded. Well, at least Sara learned something correct from someone. She now knew what an arrow was.

Sara pointed at her head, “Yes.”

Kyuzo sighed. So much for learning something correctly. Daigotsu gave him a questioning glance, “What have you been teaching her?”

“I didn’t teach her that,” Kyuzo defended himself, “It was Matsu- er, Daigotsu- whatever she is now.”

“Right…” Daigotsu smirked.

“So she just gave you some medicine, I guess,” Kyuzo tried to change the subject.

“Yeah,” Daigotsu nodded sliding the pouch away.

“But this guy is already out,” he pointed at Kitsuki with his foot.

“Yeah, I gave him something. He’ll be out for a while.”

That’s what he had thought. It was somewhat obvious from Sara’s jostling of Kitsuki that he wasn’t asleep on his own accord. Any normal person would have woken easily because of it. Though, why Daigotsu drugged him was beyond Kyuzo’s understanding. Maybe Kitsuki asked her to, maybe he couldn’t sleep with his nerves on edge and Daigotsu concocted a way to help that. That also meant she knew how to make such things, which was a nice piece of information to have if it was ever needed. Kyuzo knew how to do most poultices and wound care as well, but he didn’t know everything. Combined they would have a wealth of knowledge on medicine.

“Would you like to sleep first?” Daigotsu offered.

“No, I got some rest this morning,” Kyuzo said, “Why don’t you get some?” He was certain he could go another few hours without passing out. Daigotsu, though, might not be able to. She had asked him for help, and how often did she ask for help? Not often, which meant this must be something she wasn’t sure she could overcome.

“Okay,” Daigotsu responded curling up on the floor of the room.

Kyuzo blinked, apparently Daigotsu planned to sleep right there. He looked over his shoulder towards her room, granted, he couldn’t see through walls, but he knew which direction it was in. He shrugged. If that was her choice, he supposed he had nothing to say on the matter. It was odd, but this was Daigotsu, who was always odd. Sleeping on the ground, without a futon, in a room with a prisoner, and a guard who could watch him, yeah… Daigotsu was an odd one.