Samurai Awakening Read online

  ‘Rie must not be back from training. I guess she decided to stay longer since school is out.’

  ‘Maybe. I wonder what Grandpa is going to do about her. He must be preparing something since he has not been at our evening practices.’

  After breakfast, the trio met a few classmates for a game of soccer. Although summer break was in full swing, the small Nakano town left students without vacation plans little to do. While Takumi, David, and Natsuki were far busier than their friends were, their classmates were generally ignorant of the Matsumotos’ other activities. In order to keep up appearances, they made a point of showing up around school. Enough students turned out for four full soccer teams. They played until lunch, at which point Natsuki started packing up her bags. Before leaving, she ran back to David.

  “I don’t care if the world is ending,” Natsuki whispered. “No turning into Kou or I’ll stab you with my new sword! I promised my dad half-a-day with no training. I won’t be by tonight.”

  Natsuki smiled and with a wave, she ran off again, leaving David and Takumi together. Takumi stared after Natsuki.

  “What was that all about,” he asked. Turning, David realized how her whisper might look to him.

  “Oh don’t worry… She just threatened to stab me if we summoned her tonight. Dinner with the parents or something,” David said lightly, trying to make it sound like more of a joke than Natsuki had.

  ‘Definitely not someone to cross lightly. For all we’ve been through I don’t think we’ve seen Natsuki’s bad side yet.’

  ‘I like the fact she has some claws of her own.’

  Takumi laughed, pulling David out of his conversation with Kou. Gesturing, Takumi led the way to the local convenience store to grab lunch and hang out. They passed the time playing video games with Naoto and Tsubasa.

  “I’m surprised the third years didn’t clobber you in soccer today. I was sure that’s why they picked you,” Naoto said while Tsubasa and Takumi were playing. David tried to shut him up, but the damage was done. Takumi turned away from his game. “Koji-sempai wants to kill you when second semester starts.”

  Takumi’s eyes widened just enough for David to catch, but then he turned back to his game, leaving Naoto to continue talking about what had happened. It was nearly six in the evening when Takumi pointedly suggested they head home.

  “You better tell me everything,” Takumi began. With a raised hand David stopped him, then told him exactly what had happened with Koji. With Takumi occupied with his sword making, David had hoped the incident wouldn’t get back to the Estate.

  “I wanted to make him pay, but I kept my promise, I didn’t do anything. It’s not my fault the girl went and blabbed to everyone,” David said, annoyed at having to defend himself.

  “Koji-sempai is going to try to make your life hell,” Takumi said. “Now there’s almost no way you’ll avoid another fight with him before he graduates. He could be an ōkami you know. Dad said there have been disappearances in the surrounding towns over the last several years.”

  Annoyed that Takumi was less than appreciative about how he had dealt with the situation and the subsequent rumors, David decided to change the subject on him.

  “So what’s the deal between you and Natsuki?” asked David leaning in.

  “It’s complicated,” replied Takumi shortly.

  “Why not just tell her how you feel?” Kou asked aloud, still a rarity for him. Takumi sighed at Kou’s sudden input.

  “That’s not how things are done in Japan. Besides, she’s your Partner,” Takumi said slowly, as if every word was being dragged out of him through some obscene torture.

  “I dunno… it just seems wrong somehow. You two fit together so well. You stayed friends even with Rie’s disapproval. While we get along now it’s still like we are constantly at war. Look at today. Besides, who says you can’t date a Jitsugen Samurai’s Partner?” David was sick of dancing around the issue of Natsuki. He had no interest in her. He would not have even thought of her in that way if it was not for Takumi’s obvious interest and Kou bringing his attention to it.

  “If you’d read more of the Matsumoto histories, you’d know that dating a Partner doesn’t usually end well for the suitor, one way or another. Anyway, I thought today went pretty well.”

  During one of the soccer games, David had tried to stop Natsuki from scoring. Instead of going around him, she had dropped, sliding under David while still controlling the ball. Once she was behind him, Natsuki had brought her hands together, first fingers out and jabbed him in his behind to the raucous laughter of both teams. The kancho, a favorite of elementary and junior high students in Japan, was one of those unique cultural differences David still had trouble getting used to. David had learned early on not bend over lest he get kanchoed. While everyone laughed, Natsuki had popped back up and scored.

  “Don’t worry about that. It just means she’s warming up to you. She was a terror in elementary. She even got the teachers!” Takumi said while laughing. David’s face remained red until they passed the Police Station. Its taped window, and the memory of Jahangir’s attack, sobered him.

  “Well it’s too bad she hasn’t outgrown it yet then. Why do you do that in Japan anyway?” David asked, completely forgetting about their earlier topic.

  “It’s funny isn’t it?” Takumi stared into the distance.

  “Not if you’re the target.” David’s eyes darkened for just the slightest instant before lightening.

  ‘There really was not any of the meanness that you Americans attach to such actions. It was not an act to ostracize you, but more an affirmation of your belonging to the group.’ Kou’s thoughts on the subject made David take a hard look at his reactions to Natsuki.

  “It’s like swirlies or that wet-finger-in-the-ear thing,” Takumi said, missing David’s inner conversation.

  “I dunno, maybe your right,” mumbled David, lost again in thought. David and Takumi turned onto the main road.

  “Have you talked to Rie lately?” Kou asked, taking advantage of David’s distraction.

  “No I haven’t. I wish you’d stop bringing her up. She’s obviously happy with her new loner lifestyle,” Takumi replied hotly. He was still mad she had ditched him during his most important rite of passage as a Matsumoto.

  “I’m not so sure she’s been alone,” David said carefully, jerked out of his subconscious by Kou’s mention of Rie.

  “What, you mean Chul Soon? Yea they hang out together between classes and stuff, but that’s just him, he’s always been really outgoing. They’ve been friends since nearly his first day.” Takumi shrugged, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

  “Chul Soon? No, I meant Chul Moo… he’s always hanging around, stalker-like. And Misaki—” David was cut off as they turned off the main road to find Ryohei coming towards them.

  “Masao-san sent me to find you. You better hurry, he seems really agitated,” Ryohei said. His willowy voice reached them before a normal person’s would have. David shared a brief glance with Takumi before changing into Kou. Masao would never send Ryohei outside the Estate for less than an emergency, yet even more disturbing was the thought of an agitated Masao. Kou was off in a flash of fur. Takumi and Ryohei came just behind, Takumi stuffing David’s clothes into his bag.

  Kou made it to the Estate first. Using the trees, he was able to cut a straight path to the entrance, rather than follow the winding road. If he had not been looking so serious, David would have been amused at Masao’s lack of reaction when Kou dropped directly in front of him from the gate.

  “What is wrong?” asked Kou bowing quickly.

  “Grandpa is missing. Wait for Takumi and Ryohei, then come meet me in the dojo, I am going to get Yukiko.” Masao turned and walked towards the house.

  ‘Grandpa is missing?’

  ‘That’s strange; I thought he was still on the Estate. Maybe he tried to go find Rie when she didn’t come back from her training this morning.’

  Kou pace
d, the tension of the situation bringing out the animal in him. Before long Takumi came barreling through the gate, nearly slamming into Kou, who jumped nimbly aside.

  “We are all supposed to go to the dojo,” Kou said bounding towards the main house. He entered the main house from the outside sliding doors, and then jumped into his room just long enough to transform and throw on a pair of shorts before going to the dojo. Takumi and Ryohei caught up with him just before he got to the entrance.

  David was lean and well muscled from the months of training, taller and with bigger shoulders and arms than Takumi. He was beginning to look formidable, the tension running through him lending a ferocity David usually only associated with Kou on the hunt. Masao was waiting with Yukiko at the low table in the dojo.

  “Grandpa is missing,” Masao said without preamble. “I have not seen him around the Estate. All I had was a note saying he could not do your evening lessons on Friday and possibly Saturday. I began to be concerned when he did not show, as far as I know, Dad has never had to use his wiggle room.” Masao shifted, looking from Yukiko to Takumi to David as he spoke. “Then today, Ryohei found me and told me he saw Grandpa leaving the Estate. Normally I would not worry, but he did not warn me in advance that he might be gone longer. Rie is gone as well. I thought she was just training as usual, but she did not return last night or this morning, as is the custom. At first I assumed they were training together, but Ryohei said that Rie left before Grandpa.”

  David sat, his eyes glazing orange.

  “He has been gone three days?” Kou spoke for David, his mind still racing, trying to remember every detail of their last conversation.

  “Yes. Apparently he left late Friday afternoon,” Masao said, looking at David questioningly. Takumi also turned to David, the surprise on his face at Masao’s words turning to confusion at Kou’s.

  ‘He must have tried to follow after Rie. Did something we said mean more to him than to us?’

  “I think I know where he went, and at least part of why,” David said, pulling on his shirt from Takumi’s bag. The entire table looked to David as his head popped out again.

  “Oh he went after Rie didn’t he? You should have done something about her sooner,” Yukiko said, glaring at Masao.

  “I’ve been trying to track Rie. I don’t know how long she’s been sneaking out, but once I knew how she was leaving I tried to follow, or anticipate her, but no matter what I tried, she always followed the stream, then went into the mountains and disappeared.”

  Agitated, David stood and began to pace, his words blending with Kou’s.

  “We couldn’t think of anything to do, so we went to Grandpa to see if he could help. Three days ago, we told Grandpa everything we knew about Rie since our… transformation. Something I said must have meant more to him than he let on. We didn’t even realize he was gone from the Estate.” David stopped pacing, realizing the entire family was staring at him. “What?”

  “It’s hard to follow you…” Yukiko said, blinking. “Your voice keeps changing between Kou and yourself.” Although her soft features were full of confusion, Yukiko still maintained her usual tact.

  “Yeah, you’re creeping me out,” Takumi added, much less concerned over David’s feelings at the moment.

  “So you are saying Rie has been leaving every night and going to the mountains?” Masao asked, ignoring the others.

  “Yes, I think maybe she is helping Misaki, the girl who ran away,” David said.

  “I am not as familiar with that area as Grandpa is, but I cannot think of any reason for her to go there. You had better show us where you lost her, and see if we can’t track Grandpa. Takumi, get your sword and armor. After all, there may still be ōkami around. I am sure Kou will want to do the initial tracking.”

  David nodded for Kou. Suddenly, the dojo’s sliding door slammed open.

  “One Night! I asked you not to transform for ONE NIGHT! Takumi! Where’s that sword so I can stab him!” Natsuki stomped up the stairs into the dojo with an explosion of yelling and raw fury. She stopped short seeing Masao, Yukiko, and the boys sitting around the table, with Ryohei floating nearby.

  “Good, you are here. Happy Birthday. Takumi, fill her in while you get her armor and a sword for her, I know you have not had a chance to finish hers yet. Everyone meet in the garden when you are ready.”

  Takumi steered Natsuki to the back of the dojo. They emerged seconds later with their armor. As Takumi whispered to her, they headed to the house to change and retrieve the swords. Yukiko got up to prepare traveling equipment, while David went and donned his own armor. Leaving the back room, he changed back into Kou.

  “Do you really think we will need full battle gear?” Kou asked, surprised by the Matsumotos’ sudden action.

  “No, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I feel… that I have missed something important about all this.” Masao waved his arms vaguely, searching. “I have something for you by the way.”

  Masao disappeared into the back of the dojo. A few minutes later he came out wearing the full armor he had worn with Grandpa during the Golden Week mountain outing. He was also carrying several large bundles wrapped in cloth. Opening them before Kou, Masao produced sections of armor.

  “You may soon come up against an enemy with a sword, arrows, or a gun. As a Kami you have a great deal of protection against some things, but you should also have some extra protection from anything not of the spirit world,” Masao said, crouching down to Kou’s eye level. “You are still smaller than you will become, so Grandpa made these for you. They have the same qualities that allow David’s armor to disappear with him. It will stay with you, no matter how many times you transform, unless you take it off. David has the Tiger Armor we gave him before, and now you have yours. There is another set for when you grow larger.”

  Masao took one of the largest bundles and withdrew a tangle of synthetic leather and metal plates. Unraveling it, he placed it on Kou’s head. It fit him perfectly. Made of brown material and reinforced with black and orange metal plates it was designed to protect and enhance Kou’s furry head, yet remain flexible. The armor was also adjustable, with straps so that it would adjust as he grew. Kou worked his jaw, flexing experimentally.

  The helm gave Kou a fierce visage, masking the cute baby tiger beneath its hard lines. Masao then attached the rest of the light armor. As with the helm, it molded to Kou’s lines, leaving his movement unrestricted.

  “This will not stop everything of course. It is mostly just an extra layer of protection. You will need help with the bindings when you put it on or take it off.” Masao spoke automatically. His mind was on the mission, Rie, and his father, rather than on Kou’s armor.

  “Thank you very much.” Kou’s eyes flashed blue as David spoke for them both. Kou looked in a nearby mirror, standing with his paws on the wall so he could get a better look.

  “Hey! I look good. Of course, my fur is better, but I like the helm.” Kou gave a menacing growl, and then laughed.

  “I am glad you like it,” Masao said. “He out did himself working on this. I have to get my sword. Meet the others in the Garden and we will be off.”

  Masao left for the main house, the rustle of his armor audible only to Kou. With one last glance in the mirror, Kou disappeared into the shadows.

  Sacrifices

  July,

  The cloud was back, stronger than ever. It was that hanging feeling of something dark on the horizon, a growing danger to not only ourselves, but to others…

  Ryohei hovered in his usual spot over the stone bridge above the pond. Natsuki and Takumi stood next to a shaped tree in full armor, their swords sheathed, heads hidden by helmets and their individual scowling face guards. Coming up silently on the pair Kou heard Takumi whispering to Natsuki.

  “I’m really sorry we had to drag you into this, and on your birthday.” Takumi’s voice was surprisingly soft in the still night air, but even so, Kou heard him as well as if he shouted.

  “It’s G
randpa,” Natsuki said with a sigh. “I would do anything for him. Just don’t tell David that.”

  “Good to know you are not too mad,” Kou growled from behind Natsuki. Both teenagers jumped at hearing Kou’s voice from so close behind them.

  “I really am sorry though. I would not have transformed if I could avoid it,” David added as Natsuki glowered down at Kou.

  “Just be glad Takumi hasn’t finished my sword yet or I might have accidentally found a way to prick you with it,” Natsuki said dangerously. “Do you know how hard it is to sit through dinner with your summons pulling at me? My parents kept asking if I had to go to the bathroom. So embarrassing.” Natsuki had her usual bluster, but David and Kou were learning to read her too well, easily recognizing it as a façade.

  “We’ll make it up to you. Your sword will be the finest ever made short of a Seikaku. Matsumoto blade, Jitsugen Samurai sheath.” Once again, David and Kou’s words blended. Their thoughts so close together they forgot to distinguish themselves while talking. Moments later, Masao and Yukiko came out of the main house carrying a bag with supplies.

  “Kou, please lead,” Masao said, eying everyone present. “Natsuki and Takumi, take the flanks, I will follow behind. Stay alert, I do not expect any trouble but let’s be ready in case there is. Yukiko, stay here in case either return. Use the disposable phone if you have to make any outside calls.”

  “Rie left the Estate through the hole in the wall where the stream flows through. She probably got the idea from David,” Kou said, leading them to the opening. Kou eyed the soft ground, sniffing and extending his senses. “It looks like both Grandpa and Rie have been there, but I have no idea when. Grandpa’s marks are almost obviously clear, though he would not have been able to fit through.”

  “Interesting… let’s check the other side, Kou lead the way via the Estate’s main entrance,” Masao commanded. Dutifully, Kou led the group back around to the front of the Estate, past the retirement cottage and through the gates. As soon as they made it back to the stream, Kou was able to pick up Grandpa’s trail again.