Journey Through Fire (18 page)

H
ana rushed to Tatsuya's side.

“We could not kill you,” she told him, placing a hand on his arm. “And you're
not
dead.” Hana looked up at me, her eyes pleading with me to forgive Tatsuya.
How can she be so good?
I thought.
A moment ago, this boy was pressing death against her throat and now she's comforting him?

I kneeled down beside the two of them. Tatsuya looked up at me, his eyes streaming.

“I'm sorry,” he said. I could see that his spirit had broken. Who was I to make him feel any worse? I reached out a hand and rescued his sword from the ground.

“You'd better put this back in its sheath,” I said, handing it to him. “Tell us what's happened to you.” In the distance, we could hear people call out to each other in greeting as they collected for the Shogun's meeting. We didn't have much time. “Who are you here to kill?”

Tatsuya looked across the garden, toward the main part of the compound.

“The Shogun,” he said dully. “Tonight.”

I gave a start and Hana flinched back.

“Oh, Tatsuya,” I said. “Why?”

Tatsuya looked down at his hands and rubbed them together, trying to encourage blood into the deathly white fingertips. “I knew who it was, coming after me…when I was kidnapped by the ninja,” he said. Hana and I exchanged a confused glance. “You see, I was lying to you even back in Master Goku's school.” He stood up and walked a step away. “I have always been a liar,” he said bitterly. He turned around to face us. “I don't deserve your friendship. I never have! My father…my father is a ninja leader and when those men snatched me away, they were taking me back to him. I bet you can hardly bear to look at me now, can you?”

Hana got to her feet and walked over to him. She rested a hand against the side of his face. “Tell us the rest of your story,” she prompted.

“My father sent me here to kill the Shogun,” said Tatsuya. “If I did that, he said, I could be released from the brotherhood of the ninja. I would be left alone to forge my own path in life. Of course, this freedom would come with a price—I would have to live with another man's blood on my hands.”

“A good man's blood on your hands,” I interrupted.

Tatsuya nodded. “A good man's blood.” He threw a desperate glance at Hana and me. “I thought I could do it. Thought I could harden my heart. Until…” He gazed at Hana and affection flooded his eyes. “Until you two arrived. Just the sight of your faces brought so many memories back. Memories of honor and training, codes of conduct, of Goku…That's why I couldn't bear to be around either of you. It was too painful, knowing what I had to do.” Tatsuya sank back onto the bench.

“You don't have to do this,” I said quietly. “You have a choice. Look at the Shogun—such an honorable man. He does not deserve death. You would never be able to forgive yourself if you killed him. Would you?”

Tatsuya gave a hollow, bitter laugh. He gazed over the walls of the Shogun's compound toward the forest beyond, a hiding place for so many secrets.

“Perhaps that's what my father wanted,” he said. He drove a fist into his open palm. “How could I have been so stupid? Father knew I would be tormented for the rest of my life by such an assassination. That was part of his plan, part of his revenge for me not wanting to join him as a ninja from the beginning. He wants me to live a life of misery.” Tatsuya's eyes
narrowed with anger. “Oh, my father is an excellent ninja. He can kill a person without using a sword or a knife. He can kill their soul.”

A gong rang out, calling people to the Shogun's meeting. Its sound reverberated in the air between us.

“We have to go,” I said, getting to my feet. “We won't say a word. But, Tatsuya—you must not do anything rash. Don't go ahead with the assassination—promise me.”

Tatsuya nodded. “I promise,” he said weakly.

But I wasn't convinced. Something awful had happened to our friend. He could see no way out. What if he did something desperate? Another urgent peal of bells rang out.

“Hana,” I said gently, letting my sister know that we had to go. The fate of our family was waiting for us in the Shogun's meeting room. We strode out of the garden, Tatsuya leading the way. But an uncomfortable question kept hammering away in my head. Someone had commissioned the ninja to kill the Shogun—why else would Tatsuya's father ask his son to assassinate this man?

Is this another part of Uncle's plan?
I wondered. If he was sending ninja into the Shogun's compound, it could mean only one thing. He really was after the greatest prize of all—the title of Shogun.

Mother was waiting for us with Moriyasu. He looked very grown up in his outfit and his cheeks shone from the cold water he had splashed over his face.

“There you are,” said Mother. “Where have you been? What's happened to your clothes?” Hana and I hurriedly brushed the dirt from our kimonos.

“Kimi tripped and I helped her up,” Hana explained, shrugging her shoulders. Fortunately there wasn't time for Mother to question us further.

As we stepped into the hall, I gasped. Low wooden tables were ranged around the edges of the room, and at the tables kneeled more lords and councillors than I had ever seen at my father's gatherings. These were the men who would decide our fate. They were resplendent in their outfits of silk and brocade. Their hair was well oiled and scraped back. Some of the men wore stiff
eboshi
caps; each wore the
mon
of their family. A blind
biwa
player sat in a corner, plucking at his lute until the meeting was ready to begin. The scent of wood sorrel filled the air, and through the sliding screens, the play of light in the garden cast shadows over the men's faces, though nothing could disguise how serious they looked.

Hana came to stand beside me. “It's impressive,” she said. Her voice trembled.

“Let's hope we impress them back,” I replied.
Mother walked ahead of us, her hand on Moriyasu's shoulder, and I stepped forward to follow. But I heard my name sound out behind me, and when I glanced around I saw my friend Emiko peeking from behind a sliding door. She waved a hand at me, urging me to join her. I glanced hesitantly back into the main hall. Hana was frowning at me, waiting for me to follow.

“You go ahead,” I said. “I'll catch up.” Then I ducked behind the sliding door.

“I'm sorry to disturb you,” Emiko said. She twisted a dirty cloth between her hands, and I tried not to notice how shabby her clothes looked. Councillors cast us curious glances as they walked past into the main hall.

“What is it?” I asked. “Is everything all right?” I knew Emiko had to have a good reason for drawing attention to herself in this way.

“I wanted to thank you for helping me in the stable,” she said. “And I'm sorry that you were thrown into a cell. I would never have willingly brought such dishonor upon you. I haven't been able to sleep for the guilt.”

I laughed. “Is that all?” I asked. I wondered if I should tell Emiko about all the situations I'd already been in—sleeping in an inn full of drunks, hiding beneath floorboards, disguising myself as a boy, and climbing among trees. A few hours in a cell had been
nothing! But as I looked down at my silk kimono, I wondered if she would believe me. I shook my head. “Go back to the kitchen,” I whispered. “I don't want you getting caught. You still have a lot of people to feed outside these walls, remember?”

Emiko's face flushed with gratitude. “Okay.” She nodded. “Thanks for everything, Kimi. Oh—and one other thing. I've heard that some of the powerful families here have been speaking out against your plight. But don't worry, the servants tell me that many more families speak up for you. Now is your time!” Then she ran down the walkway, back to the clouds of steam in the kitchen.

“I hope so,” I said to myself as I watched her disappear.

I stepped back into the main hall. The Shogun and his mother sat on the raised platform, in front of a painted screen. The Shogun looked composed and sure of himself. Had he already made up his mind about what to do? I felt my throat go dry at the thought of what lay ahead.

“Remember what I said,” hissed a voice to my left. I paused and noticed that from behind a lacquered screen poked the edge of a peacock-blue kimono. I looked around me, but all attention was on the Shogun. I stepped to one side and leaned back so that I could see behind the screen.

It was Akane, with Tatsuya. What were they doing? I felt the hairs stiffen on the back of my neck and I drew closer.

“I can't,” said Tatsuya. “I refuse!” I could see that he was doing his best to be brave, but his voice trembled.

“You have no choice!” Akane said. She brought her face close to Tatsuya's and her features distorted as she narrowed her eyes and sneered.
How did I ever think she was beautiful?
I thought. “You must complete your mission by the end of this meeting,” Akane continued, “or I promise you I will complete it for you—and put an end to
your
life, too. Don't forget, little one, I have more fatal knowledge in my little finger than has ever filled your empty head. I could crush you like that!” And she snapped her fingers in his face.

It hit me instantly. How could I have been a fool for so long? I had admired her strength and poise, but this woman was the evil at the heart of the Shogun's compound.

As she turned to slip out from behind the lacquered screen, I stepped boldly forward, as if I had been doing nothing other than walking confidently into the hall. I bowed my head at Akane as she passed and she flashed me an insincere smile. But as she walked in front of me, I noticed the arch of her neck
and the flash of white behind her ear. There, I saw the sign of death. It was the ninja tattoo, kept hidden for so long by the thick swathes of her hair. She was another ninja!

I stepped into the hall, my heart racing. Akane took her place next to her powerful husband, and I knew there was nothing I could say or do. The meeting had begun. I remembered what Akane had told me over that game of Go—timing was everything. My hands bunched into fists beneath the sleeves of my kimono. I would not be a helpless bystander; I would bide my time.

And when the time was right, I would know what to do.

I
took my place beside my mother. Across from us sat Daisuke and the monks. Each of them wore prayer beads and their heads were closely shaved. The folds of their robes hid the panels of their armor, but their swords were by their sides. Daisuke looked across the room and I smiled. Even though my senses were drawn tight, it was good to see a friend. I ached to race across the room and tell him everything I had seen and heard, but we were surrounded by councillors. Now was not the time.

The Shogun raised a hand and the
biwa
player fell silent. “I have come to a decision,” he said, addressing the room. He did not raise his voice, but he did not have to—we were all listening keenly. Beside him, his mother gazed down at her lap, her face unreadable. “But before I tell you my thoughts, I would like to hear what the clans have decided.” He nodded his head at the Administrator.

“I speak only for the greater good of my fellows,” the
Administrator said. He stood tall and looked proud. It made my hackles rise. He swirled around and cast a dismissive hand in the direction of my brother. I was proud to see that Moriyasu did not flinch. “This
boy
is no leader of men. Hidehira has proved himself to have the skill and leadership to inspire.”

I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out. Inspire? My uncle had not inspired anything but fear and intimidation; surely everyone knew that. I cast a startled glance at Mother, and she shook her head. I knew there was nothing I could say. I had to sit here and listen to these words, hollow of any true meaning. But there was no trace now of the kindness he'd shown on his wedding day.

The Administrator continued talking as the councillors listened respectfully. “In less than four moons Hidehira has converged several estates.”
Converged?
I thought.
Or attacked?
“This vigor is impressive. It's enough to persuade me to stand by Hidehira's side. Moriyasu is still a boy, preoccupied with games. My wife has told me about his endless games of Go!” He ended with a sneer.

Men and their wives in the room chortled. I glanced at Akane in her blue silk—the color of a strutting, posturing peacock—the color of deceit. She gazed straight ahead, batting a fan before her face. The fan was painted with the pattern of peacock feathers and
they shifted between different shades of blue as the silk of the fan moved through the air. For a moment, it was mesmerizing. But then I looked past the fan at Akane's eyes and saw there the cold glitter of a deadly foe. She had never cared for our family, I realized. She only wanted us close so that she could keep a careful eye on us, and we had been fool enough to accept the embrace. She smiled at the Administrator and for a moment I suppressed the urge to throw myself at her, scratching the smile from her face.

It was Daisuke's turn to speak. His robes glowed in the light and gave him a quality that made him look as though he were from another world. He looked around the room, taking all of us in one by one. The Administrator sat stiffly as we all waited for Daisuke to begin.

Daisuke raised a hand at an open window. “Out there, people are starving,” he said. “Villagers have no food, communities are plagued by sickness, and innocent people dare not sleep in their beds for fear of attack. I have nursed the sick and dying under my master, but I have never seen devastation like this. Soon, even you”—he shot out a hand at the Shogun—“may feel the impact of Lord Steward Yamamoto.” People around the room gasped. “But this doesn't have to happen. Not if we fight back together. Moriyasu comes from a lineage of honor and respect. Let
those qualities live on in our people. Let Moriyasu take his rightful place as
Jito
, and we will save thousands of lives.”

I looked at the Shogun. Daisuke's speech had been a dangerous one. People talked urgently among themselves, discussing what Daisuke had said. Frightened that opinion was turning against my friend, I looked over at him. But he remained calm and serene.

Someone else raised a hand, requesting permission to speak.

“Oh no,” I whispered to Hana. It was the older woman who had done so much to offend my mother and our family with her rude remarks. She would surely speak out against Moriyasu. I looked at my brother; his face had turned pale.

The woman bowed respectfully to the Shogun and then to the Shogun's mother. Then she nodded stiffly in the direction of our mother.

“This woman came to court a widow,” she said. “And I could not understand why a widow would travel through the countryside, without her husband to protect her. To my mind, it was a scandal. It broke every rule….” She paused and I felt my throat constrict as I waited to hear what she would say next. “But I was wrong.” I saw the way her lip trembled, as she struggled to contain her emotions. “I, too, have a family. And to see this woman's composure and
grace, after so much has happened to her, is a lesson to us all. It is surely a lesson her children have already learned under her example. I stand for Moriyasu and pledge my clan behind his cause!”

The voices in the room sounded out even louder. This was becoming a debate beyond anything I expected. This was no longer just about the right thing to do, the proper thing to do—I could see that people's hearts were being touched. All because my mother had behaved well in court and impressed her peers. Her strategy had worked, after all. Her gentle, polite behavior had done more than my angry casting about. It had won us friends.

“I am sorry I didn't listen to you,” I whispered to Mother. She nodded her head in acknowledgment, then bowed once to the woman who spoke up for us.

“Thank you,” Mother said. She turned to the room at large. “Thank you to all of you. I know you will make the right decision.” Two spots of red appeared on her cheeks. She knew as well as I that our lives were in the hands of these people. “My children are more than capable of carrying on my husband's legacy. They have made me very proud. I know they will continue to fill me with pride. They are the light of my lives; they could light the way for the province, too. I only hope that you allow them to shine.”

“Enough!” interrupted the Shogun. He stood up, his silk robes shifting over his limbs. Nervously I glanced around the room. Where was Tatsuya? Did the Shogun have any idea that people were planning his death? “My decision is confirmed by everything I have heard. I shall strip Hidehira of his
Jito
title and pass the stewardship to Moriyasu.” My brother's face flushed with pleasure and he straightened his back, as he gazed around the room, nodding his head in thanks to the councillors. “And I will support the monks in their push against Hidehira. We will fight by their side. This meeting is over. You may depart.”

People climbed to their feet and huddled in groups, talking low and fast. Some men strode out of the room in disgust.

“There will be war,” one of them commented to a neighbor. “This is a disaster.”

Other people gathered around our family to congratulate us. I pushed my way through the crowd to see the Shogun helping his mother to her feet. The Administrator was also up on the platform and whispered furiously to the Shogun until I saw his mother silence the man with a short, angry remark.

Beyond the crowds, I spotted Akane. She was motioning to someone. My eyes traveled across the room, but I already knew who I would see in the doorway.

Tatsuya.

The moments slowed as I watched. I saw the way that Tatsuya's face contorted with indecision. His eyes came around to meet mine, and as we shared a long glance, I knew with deadly certainty that Tatsuya was near to breaking his promise. He wasn't strong enough; Akane had won.

When I looked back around, Akane was watching me, her face frozen.
She knows that I've uncovered her secret,
I realized. She had seen the shared glance between Tatsuya and me. I watched as Hana went over to speak to Tatsuya. Had she seen the same things I'd noticed? Perhaps she was going to persuade him to stay strong. If only I could do something to stop what was unraveling. I took a step toward the Administrator's wife.

“There's a killer in our midst!” Akane called out angrily. She pointed at Tatsuya, who was still in the doorway. I had never seen anyone look
less
like an assassin. Tatsuya's eyes widened, and Hana looked around in alarm.

“That soldier!” Akane went on. “Arrest him! I have just found out on good authority that he is planning to kill the Shogun. Look on his neck—you'll see the sign of the ninja.”

“No!” Tatsuya called out. Hana flung herself in front of him protectively, but it was no use. The
soldiers surrounded him and dragged him away, and I heard my friend's cries echo off the walls. I looked back around at Akane, and she cast me a superior, jubilant glance.

I've won,
she mouthed at me. Then she began to walk out of the hall. I was watching evil turn its back on me. I would not let this happen. Ninjas had already escaped me once at the monastery and again at the compound.

I would not let it happen again.