Samurai Awakening Page 24

  With nothing to do in the Palace and with the news the Prince had flown back to Tokyo to consult with the Emperor, David, Takumi, and Yukiko left the Palace to explore the historic sights of Kyoto. Once again dressed as tourists, the family and their guards were guided through the city by one of the House Attendants, disguised as a tour guide.

  Their status and escort allowed the Matsumotos and David through all the major historic sites without having to wait for lines or ticket counters. This let them see many of the major sites in Kyoto far more quickly than usual. David was especially glad to play tourist since he was able to get souvenirs and pictures from many of the locations they visited for his sister and father. As soon as they saw their first temple David was sure he would have plenty of non-samurai material to talk about the next time they spoke.

  When they returned after the second day of tours, it was to find Masao waiting for them, triumphant. Once they were alone in their room, Masao spoke quickly, excited and energetic despite days with minimal sleep.

  “I found it!” Masao crowed. “I actually found it! There is a ritual we that will obliterate the Kami within Rie without killing her or dispelling her soul. It talks of needing the ‘Emperor’s Sword’ referring to the Imperial Regalia, and using it to cut out the corrupt Kami from within the yūrei.”

  “Isn’t the ‘Emperor’s Sword’ a copy the Matsumotos made centuries ago? The first Seikaku would have dissolved when Ninigi died,” Takumi said, confused and looking at his father as if maybe he needed more than sleep.

  “Exactly, which means we need a Seikaku, not the Emperor’s Sword.” Masao smiled, showing them an ancient text. Everyone looked between David and the text, uncertain but hopeful.

  “Great, then all we need to do is find her, you tell me what to do, and I’ll cut the Kami right out of her,” David said confidently.

  “It is not quite that simple.” Masao sat, the weight of his search finally getting to him. “We are going to have to capture her and bring her back to the shrine. Not an easy task. And it is not as simple as just stabbing her with the Seikaku. We will have to be very careful otherwise you will dispel whatever is left of Rie instead of killing the Kami inside her. I have made copies of the text explaining what we need to do. The Crown Prince needs to see us before we head back to track her down. Let’s go.”

  The second meeting with the Crown Prince went without all the ceremony. They met in a small comfortable room away from the prying eyes of house staff.

  “The Emperor, my father, sends his greetings to Yukiko, David, and Takumi,” the Crown Prince said somewhat stiffly. David looked to Masao, but if his host father noted the greetings had not included him, he ignored it. “We are both overjoyed that you have found what you need, and realize you are all in a hurry to return to the hunt for Rie. If we can offer any assistance, please let us know, though of course we do not have the resources we once did. We must also keep these things secret from as many people as possible.

  “David. You are the first Jitsugen Samurai in many years. You have a great responsibility and we may need to call on you in the coming years. Takumi, we charge you to continue the Matsumotos’ tradition. Help the Jitsugen Samurai, help David, in any way you can. David, although the Imperial Family are little more than figureheads now, we do still have some influence.

  “We know you have already made significant sacrifices for our country, and may make more. In accordance, you will never have to worry about school, money, or having a place to live. It has been a long time since there has been a Jitsugen Samurai, and circumstances have changed much, but I promise I will find some way to begin to repay your efforts. You have the resources of the Imperial House behind you, if discreetly. We would like you to visit both here and Tokyo as often as possible, so that you can get to know the country you protect more fully. We trust your training to the Matsumotos. Masao, as your fathers have done before you, do not fail. Though few will know it, David is now our greatest asset, as was Ninigi and all Jitsugen Samurai after him.

  “If we were in the olden days, David, you would have been made a prince of the Imperial Family. As things are today, we hope our meager offerings are enough.

  “And do not think we have left you out, Kou, for without you, David would not be what he is. My words were for you as well. We thank you both.”

  David, overcome, merely bowed. Kou, however had no issues speaking, Crown Prince or not.

  “Thank you, I accept on behalf of David, who is a bit embarrassed,” Kou said, smiling with David’s face. “He still does not yet believe that he is indeed special. As a Kami, I know better. Neither of us take our position lightly, however, right now, all we wish is to find and help Rie. Please call on us if you need us.”

  “Thank you. My guards would not much like this if they knew, but if you would indulge me… May I see the Seikaku? I have always wondered…” Nakahito’s eyes glowed, a bit of boyhood mischievousness breaking through the crafted public mask.

  With a smile and a nod from Masao, David closed his eyes and summoned the Seikaku. It appeared before him. Catching it lightly, he demonstrated both forms for the Prince, holding the blade lengthwise in both hands before him.

  “Amazing,” said the Crown Prince, nearly speechless while he examined the fine sword. “I never thought I would actually see one. This is better than the sword you made me Masao… Though I guess I should expect nothing less.”

  A few more remarks ended their brief stay in Kyoto. The family was once more dressed as tourists heading home on the train. The guards following were easily apparent to anyone with Matsumoto training.

  “How long are they going to keep following us?” David asked leaning in towards Masao.

  “Just until Himeji Station. They are mainly there for protocol. Nakahito knows we would not need them in a fight.” Masao nodded off to sleep, and David sat back, reflecting on the amazing sites and events of the last few days.

  ‘We need to find Rie.’

  ‘We will. I have some ideas about that.’

  Search

  July,

  Although we were emboldened by the trip to Kyoto, Masao-san’s revelations about the ceremony we would have to perform once we found Rie weighed heavily on our minds…

  Back at the Estate, the Matsumotos filled Natsuki and Ryohei in on what they had found during their trip. Natsuki looked particularly pleased to have the Matsumotos back so it was no longer just her and Ryohei on the Estate.

  Masao’s information came from a book written when one of the Imperial Household became a yūrei. In the days the book was written, the Imperial Household had been far, far larger than the constitution restricted House of modern times.

  Somehow, the Matsumotos had not been able to record the incident. It seemed the author had not been aware of the full story, only that a samurai had used the Emperor’s sword, and a complex ritual to cut the demon out of the Prince, saving him. The author had been at the ceremony but the story was a passing anecdote in a longwinded biography.

  With everyone back at the Estate, and no problems while they had been gone, the Matsumotos, Natsuki, and David met to determine their next steps. Yukiko sat close to Natsuki, giving her a few more details about the Palace and the trip to Kyoto. As with any trip in Japan, the family had also brought her a large quantity of omiyage. Presents and souvenirs, mostly of food, omiyage was a way of thanking Natsuki for keeping an eye on things while they had been away, and also for enduring Ryohei’s presence. David finally understood what Yukiko’s shopping had been all about while they were in Kyoto.

  “I will need some time to study the text and determine exactly what we will have to do once we catch Rie. Luckily, the author was very long winded. He gave a detailed account of everything that happened in the ceremony, including the words he heard used by the Shinto priest. Anyway, that part is clear at least, we have to somehow capture her. Any ideas on how to find the ōkami lair?” Masao was still exhausted and spoke grimly as he looked around the table.

&
nbsp; “They will probably need to capture new prey to feed off, right?” Kou asked. “We should be on the watch for any disappearances or people acting strangely. They might be able to lead us to the ōkami. Also, David and I want access to everything you have on yūrei. We need to know how our enemy will be thinking, if we are to save Rie.”

  “Of course, Kou.” Masao sat back thinking, then gestured to Takumi, Natsuki, and David. “I think I would like the three of you to patrol Nakano and the surrounding countryside at night from now on. I will help where I can, but I will have to ensure this ceremony does not go astray. School also starts in just two weeks, then it will be time for the Nakano festival just after. Ryohei, any help you could offer would be appreciated.”

  “Why don’t I take a trip to Himeji?” Ryohei floated closer, the temperature dropping with him. “It will be easier for me to float around there than for any of you to go, and that seems the likely place to find them if they aren’t here.”

  “Sounds fine, thank you,” Masao said. “Natsuki, you can take the rest of the day off. We appreciate you watching over the Estate.” With a smile, Masao waited for Natsuki to leave before turning to the boys. “David, Takumi, come with me. It is time you know exactly what you are up against.”

  The meeting broke, with Natsuki heading home, Yukiko off to prepare dinner, and Ryohei on his way to Himeji. Masao led David and Takumi out of the main house and through the garden, heading towards the Dojo.

  ‘Where do you think we’re going?’

  ‘Probably to the Matsumoto library.’

  ‘I’ve never seen a library.’

  ‘They must have one, where do you think Masao and Grandpa always disappeared to when doing ‘research’? Or where Takumi got the Book of Swords from?’

  ‘Oh. Right.’

  Masao led the pair around the dojo to another outlying building David had never entered. It looked to be little more than a shack. When David entered, his impression was just that. Old tools, broken and rusted, lay organized but untidily around the room. If he had entered before now, he would have left just as quickly from the sheer lack of anything interesting.

  Expecting more than meets the human eye, and having been led there by Masao, David attempted to use his training to examine every detail of the room. Frustrated, he finally looked to Masao for answers.

  “Nothing? Good, even you and Kou are fooled.” Masao nodded to Takumi, who reached behind a pile of rusted and rotting scythes. Not even the dust was disturbed as what had been old floorboards, opened to a steel staircase.

  Below, another scanner gave them access to a rotating door. Beyond was a labyrinth of humidity and temperature-controlled rooms. David caught glimpses of spaces that by themselves were much bigger than the shed overhead. In one room, he saw blocks of wood with kanji carved into them as an old style of printing. As they passed darkened rooms, he saw books, scrolls, paintings, and even a section of pottery and other artwork. Although each successive room was ever more impressive, all the paper, wood, and earth could not compare to the exhibit on the rear wall of the largest and brightest room.

  In separately mounted cases, a copy of nearly every Seikaku ever made, along with the name of Jitsugen Samurai and Kami, graced the wall. Some cases were empty, but amazingly, they showed the history and development of the sword over the centuries. From the straight, double bladed to the more traditional katana of later. Each gleamed with a unique design meant to portray their elemental forms. The wall was not overly large, and there was still room for more.

  “This vault, for it has been designed to withstand even a direct nuclear blast, contains the most accurate record of Japan’s last several hundred years in the world. There are two copies of everything here except the swords, one at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto and another in Tokyo. But here, are the originals of the Matsumoto legacy.” Masao walked forward, through the cases and shelves, the jewels of the Matsumotos surrounding them.

  ‘So few, yet so many swords in all those hundreds of years.

  David twitched in the unnatural air of the place, Kou’s feline tendencies surfacing as he reflected on the history around him.

  “Why didn’t you show me this before?” David asked, astounded and surprised by the treasure that had rested beneath his feet the past months.

  “The lessons we need to teach you, we learned from the Jitsugen Samurai past. That does not mean you need to learn all those lessons, at least not yet. For now, your access will be limited to the knowledge I think you’re ready for. You do need to know what you are up against. As for the rest… in its own time.” Masao explained the room’s system to David. In addition to their most used volumes, an un-networked computer kept a database on most subjects. David was given access and shown how to get information on much of the history of the Jitsugen Samurai as well as a compellation of everything they knew of the world’s dangers.

  David and Takumi spent the next several days down in the library. Although they eventually read everything the system could offer on the ōkami, oni, obake, and yūrei of the last thousand years plus, David was not satisfied.

  “This isn’t what we need,” David said, pushing away from the computer. “I need to know how a yūrei interacts with its host, not at what age it can summon a ‘Giant-Horned-Demon-With-Higher-Than-Average-Damage-Potential.’ We both know Rie. I need to know if we should be looking for Rie, part of Rie, or something we can’t predict.” David rubbed his eyes, weary from hours of fruitless search. “The legends and histories don’t seem to be doing it.”

  ‘I hate being stuffed up in this underground box. Necessity or not, at least outside we can run a bit,’ growled Kou.

  With a sigh, David resigned himself to spending the rest of his summer vacation days down in the Matsumoto library. While they still trained harder than ever before, and spent their nights prowling Nakano in search of Rie, the library became their second home. They were so focused on the search that, although it would mean many questions and the fierce disapproval of their classmates, David and Takumi both bowed out of the summer badminton competition. Luckily, Yukiko had been able to procure doctor’s notes that got them off the hook with their teachers, if not their friends on the team.

  On August 26, the second semester of school started with the second years’ class decidedly smaller. Those students who had been in town had gone to Misaki’s funeral. The kendo team had taken to wearing black armbands in memory of her. Rie’s absence was explained away as a transfer to another school. The Jeong brothers’ disappearances created a stir among the staff. Chul Soon had been such an outgoing and engaging student that many of the teachers expressed sadness at his sudden departure. Rounding out the disappearances was Enya Miyagi. A student David had met only occasionally since he was in another class, Enya had lived on the other side of Nakano with his father. In a secluded part of south Nakano, few people knew the family well. The gossip was that his father had suddenly moved without telling anyone. Yonamine was so busy that he had requested a special investigator from Himeji.

  ‘Sounds suspicious to me.’

  ‘Maybe we should check out his house on tonight’s patrol.’

  David, Takumi, and Natsuki exchanged significant looks at the news. David spent the entire time Moriyama talked to them about dealing with abandonment issues trying to remember everything he could about Enya, but with the age gap, there was little he could think of.

  That night after their usual training, they set out to the Miyagi residence. When they arrived, David changed into Kou to give them an extra set of senses. Checking the outside of the house, they found only a few mud prints that could have been from anyone, or anything.

  Inside, the house was as empty and quiet as Ryohei when he thought no one was around. Ghosts tended to be so utterly quiet that Ryohei had to make a concentrated effort whenever he spoke. Splitting up, they searched the house. There seemed to be a rudimentary attempt at making it appear as if the family moved out, but little things, like pictures left behind and garbage
in the trash can, pointed to a more sinister explanation for the pair’s disappearance.

  “Rie was here,” Takumi said as Kou stalked into the living room. He stood in the corner of the room, his back to the door. In his hands was a box of Pocky, a Japanese snack. “Only Rie would eat banana Pocky. There isn’t a single bit of food anywhere in this house, yet here, there’s an unopened box with a tag from the supermarket over in the center of town. I mean there’s a shop just around the corner that has all kinds of snacks.”

  Though David was unconvinced, Takumi was sure that Rie had left the banana frosted covered sticks behind for him to find. He took it as definite proof that the ōkami were responsible. Back at the Estate, it was hard to argue with Takumi’s unwavering certainty, especially without proof to the contrary. The consensus on the Estate was that the Miyagi family had been abducted, and the ōkami pack had done it.

  At school, life continued as if nothing had happened, though the third years seemed split in their feelings and reactions to David. Since returning to school, David could sense the hostility from Koji’s friends in the hallways and at lunch. It was a bit surreal for him, living a semi-normal life during the school day, albeit with the threat of being cornered by the school’s one bad egg, and then at night tromping through the city as an adolescent tiger. Sitting through a math lesson did not feel like the kind of thing a person who met Crown Princes and could summon a deadly sword at request did. Nevertheless, with school back in swing, David was obliged to spend his time studying and practicing badminton, rather than searching for Rie every minute of every day as he wished he could. Despite all his efforts, his host sister remained elusive. Their only clue, a banana-flavored snack box.