Moon and Star: Book One (2 page)

“I don’t want you going. It’s too dangerous”

Kaito’s heart sank into his stomach and bubbled there until he could no longer contain his rage.

“It’s not fair!” he shouted. “You always do this. How will I ever learn to become a ruler if you keep holding me back?"

“Kaito, I ...”

“That’s enough. I’m going. With or without your permission.”

***

When did that boy become such a handful,
Jin thought as he walked back to his chambers. He was at that age, but he wished there was more warning.
You’ve had sixteen years to prepare yourself, Jin. Plus, he’s bound to find out sooner or later.

When he arrived in his quarters, he closed the door and sat down in front of a blank roll of washi. He exhaled and began to paint. After a few strokes, he stopped, examining his work.

He was tired of black. He wanted something with more color. The monochromatic hue was too boring and dull for a world filled with life and beauty. His sensei said color would come to those who needed it.

Jin took out his experimental ink, made of crushed berries and other natural ingredients, and dabbled his brush into the ceramic bowl. He wrote his name on a separate scroll as he always did when trying something new in the arts. There was no sense in getting the black and red mixed together on the final product. Jin smiled. He’d have to make note of this concoction. It was perfect; the red deep enough to capture one's eye, but not blackened enough by too much berry juice.

He pulled out his sketchbook and looked at a chart that showed him the contents and mixing ratio of the last few attempts to add color.

Sixty-seven wild berries and eighteen freshly ripened cherries. Jin circled the recipe and placed it beside the two scrolls. He exhaled again, getting into the proper state of mind.

Jin noticed the shadows on the floor grow longer. Time certainly did fly whenever he painted. It couldn’t be helped, however. He had less than ten minutes to try and paint before the sun set. Working by candlelight was not good for one's eyes or art.

Meditation and visualizing the final piece took up most of his time. Out of all the years he’d painted, Jin had only finished one portrait. It was of Kaito, when he was first brought to him as a prisoner of these accursed times. It was his most prized position and not nearly his best one.

Then again, Jin always found ways to improve his art. He’d touched up several paintings, adding more depth and shadow to his work; the final product turned out less and less like the original envision as he “fixed” certain aspects. More often than not, they turned out horrible and he'd abandon them. He lost count of how much time he’d wasted throwing ink paintings away. Perhaps sculpture and ceramics was more his thing. Regardless of how he felt, he got up and greeted his expected guest.

Jin returned to his meditation. It was times like these where he wished he had more privacy. What with tensions brewing the way they were, it was a surprise he had any time to paint. At least his family was safe.

Father and mother treated him like adult at a young age. Sure he was gifted, but hard effort trumped natural talent in his book every time. Wind blew past the broken down shoji and blew out the candle Jin used for light. It wasn’t dark outside, but he found keeping the candle close made him more careful about what changes he might add to “enhance” the work.

Jin turned his head and frowned. “You’re late, Mayumi.”

Mayumi was the very definition of beauty. He held her in his arms the night they first met. He remembered the event well. She had done a mission for her father. Something which ate away at her soul. They were more brother-sister than husband-wife. It was strange. Even after all this time and she hadn’t aged a bit. The last time he saw her, his father had sent her on a ninjutsu mission. It was simple stuff; find out what was happening in Yoshino and report back to his father. The mission before the current involved the assassination of

“I assume you’ve already been to see my father?” Jin asked, grabbing a brush.

Silence. He could hear the hesitation in her throat before she even spoke. When she did, the answer was one that didn’t surprise him. However it did make him curious.

“Why did you not see my father first?”

“I did see your father,” she said. “He … didn’t know I was there.”

Jin frowned. “You spied on my father?”

“It was unintentional, I swear.”

He heard the unravelling of cloth. Jin raised his hand, telling her it wouldn’t be necessary. He believed her. What reason did he have not to? The way Mayumi acted was disconcerting, sure, but her intuition was almost as valuable as Yuri’s.

He got up and walked towards her, giving her his kimono. She shivered and blushed, saying thank you. Jin smiled. It was the least he could do for such a dangerous mission.
What happened to her? She was always so calm.

“I assume you’re back for good?” he asked.

Mayumi nodded. “Until I’m called for, again.”

“What did my father speak about?” Jin asked, settling down in front of her.

“He wants to kill Kaito.”

Chapter Three

Kaito waited near the city gate for what felt like hours, but it was probably more like a few minutes. It was early out and the guards were changing shifts, meaning no one was at the watch station.

He clenched the scroll in his hand. The one he was supposed to get his father to sign. Of course, he signed it himself. He wasn’t about to let this chance slip away.

Two men—one shorter than the other walked towards him at a nice, even pace. In their hands was something made out metal. It glistened, causing him to sweat. Whoever they were, their outfits blended in with the surrounding night sky and various grey-stoned buildings. They moved around as if they were shadows. Every time he blinked, they vanished only to reappear closer after he closed his eyes again.

He tried to get them to focus better, but soon felt the cold feel of steel against his chest and throat. Kaito tried looking down, but all he could see was his nose. The blades were dangerously close to slicing his head from his body.

Assassins.

A flash of light blinded him. All he could hear was sword against sword and metal against flesh. The sharp edge pressed against his throat and chest vanished.

The light subsided and the two assassin’s lay on the ground, unresponsive. Presumed dead.

How is that possible,
Kaito wondered. He stared in awe at a sword of reflecting light. The blade glistened in the sun's early gaze and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared.

The wielder of the tachi stood over the assassins bodies. The blade he'd seen moments before was gone, replaced with an ordinary sword.

“Who are you?” Kaito asked. “And who are those people? Why did they want me dead?”

The person wore all black with grey around the eyes, arms, and kneecaps. He looked at Kaito and took of his mask. It was a woman.

“Your father sent me to protect you.”

Kaito felt his face grow warm. He couldn’t believe he was saved by a female. He wasn’t so much ashamed as he was shocked. Every twenty years, women were chosen to become bushi-ama warriors based on their family’s class status. Out of the twenty years, only one female was given the rank of bushi-ama warrior. They were able to live independent from their husbands. Some would say they were in a whole other league compared to male bushi-ama warriors. On top of that, this woman was as old as his father. Kaito had never heard of a female bushi-ama warrior lasting this long in the line of duty. The missions they went on were dangerous and few survived past adolescence.

“My father sent you,” she said.

“My father?” Kaito asked. “How do you know my father?”

She nodded. “I’m Mayumi. We don’t have much time. We need to leave Kyotomo, tonight. I’m sure the Hatake clan won’t be the only one’s after your head.”

Kaito shook his head and stood his ground. “Not until you tell me what’s going on?”

“There’s no time. We need to move.”

Without thinking, he blurted out, “Show me the tachi.”

Mayumi raised an eyebrow. “What tachi? This?”

She unsheathed the sword. Kaito blinked, confused. When did she sheathe the blade?
She's fast,
he thought.
Super fast. I didn't even see her move.

She grinned. "You looked impressed. Come with me and I'll teach you my techniques."

"Show me that sword again and I'll be even more impressed."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," she said.

"Why?"

"Come with me and I'll answer any questions you may have."

Kaito paused, deep in thought. On the one hand, learning how to fight with a sword was a dream and this woman was an expert. She took down Go-zhuk and his father without breaking a sweat.

"Well," Mayumi asked. “Are you coming or not?"

Kaito nodded. "All right, I'll come."

He looked down at his feet, realizing if he left he'd be labelled a ronin. The desire to leave became less pleasing as time passed.

Mayumi placed a hand on his shoulder. Kaito looked up into her eyes. They were a deep blue. The same color as his own. She smiled, eyes closed. For some reason he trusted her. He felt safe with her, as if nothing bad would happen as long as she was with him.

"Should I get my things?" he asked, pointing towards the castle.

Mayumi shook her head. "Too dangerous. We'll get some supplies on the way to Yoshino."

"Yoshino? Why are we going there?"

"It's the one place you'll be safe," she said. "I assume you already know the reason."

Kaito shook his head. Yoshino was home of the Yoritomo clan and the enemy of his own. Why did she think he'd be safe there? There was something he wasn't telling her and it worried him.

"Here, put this on," Mayumi said.

She threw him a sand-colored cloak. Kaito put it on. It was a bit large on him, but he could still move around. She grabbed a fistful of dirt from the ground and smothered his face and clothing with it. Kaito coughed and sputtered.

“What are you doing?”

“A commoner shouldn’t have such a pretty face,” Mayumi said with a smile.

“Who said I wanted to be commoner?” Kaito asked.

“You don’t have a choice, assuming you want to survive. The land between here and Yoshino is dangerous. Ronins travel those parts, looking for a reason to fight. If you so much as look at them wrong, they’ll attack. I shouldn't have to explain what happens if they find out you're the Shogun's heir.”

“No, and I still don't understand why we have to leave.”

“Because you’re a fugitive,” Mayumi said, “and everyone will want your head on a spear. Including your grandfather.”

Kaito stepped back, shocked. "Why am I ..."

"I'll explain once we're safe. Now let's go."

She pushed him forward. Kaito turned around and took one last look at his home, wondering if and when he'd ever return.

***

Kaito dragged his toes in the soft earth, letting them touch the cold dirt and soft rocks which compiled it. Their smooth texture and temperature relaxed his aching feet and provided a cure for his boredom. The sun had set twice and was on its third ascension into the sky.

His legs wobbled underneath his small body weight. He could barely stand without feeling the tension in his legs disappear like a gentle breeze. He collapsed on the ground, the feeling in his legs gone. His bones replaced with something malleable and unstructured. He tried getting up, but his legs and feet were exhausted from all the non-stop walking.

Mayumi turned to look at him, then looked up at the sky. "We'll camp here for the night, but we leave the moment the sun sets, all right?"

Kaito nodded and let his body fall on a patch of grass. Dirt flew in his eyes and nose. He coughed, wiping it from his face. It was bad enough he had to wear such disgusting clothing, but now he was covered in dirt and pollen. He took in a deep breath and exhaled, letting the air cause his lips to rumble. He could see Mayumi smirk through the corner of his left eye.

"What's so funny?"

"You just remind me of Jin when he was little. He hated wearing clothing that made him look anything but important.”

”What else do you know about my dad?"

"A lot," Mayumi said. "We were friends as children. We did everything together.”

“What happened?” Kaito asked. “Did you have a falling out?”

“No, nothing like that. My … work just got in the way is all.”

She clenched her toes and sighed, but said nothing more. The silence between them elongated. The air grew cold and Mayumi started a fire. Kaito found it fascinating to watch a warrior make something out of practically nothing.

“You’re a bushi-ama warrior, aren’t you?”

“What makes you say that?” she asked.

Kaito pointed to the two swords laying next to her. “Because normal warriors don’t carry two swords.”

“I see. Well, I should take that as a compliment. It means I’m doing my job well.”

“So you aren’t a bushi-ama warrior?”

“Well, for right now, yes. In my line of work I’m whoever the Minamoto clan needs me to be.”

“What exactly do you do?” Kaito asked, leaning in closer to the fire.

The heat didn’t bother him. He was used to sleeping with layers upon layers of silk back at the castle. The fire felt good on this cold night and was the closest thing he had to experiencing the warmth of his bed.

Despite all the walking, he didn’t feel tired anymore. His legs were sore and his mind was a flutter, but he felt at peace now. More than he ever had at home. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. What was going on in his absence?
Father must be worried sick. I hope he’s okay.

“Mayumi?” he asked.

“Hmm?”

“Why am I a fugitive?”

Mayumi sighed and repositioned herself so she sat cross-legged in front of the fire. She patted the ground next to her, motioning Kaito to sit down.

“How old are you?”

“Seventeen,” he said, sitting down.

She smiled and stared up at the sky. “Your father was the same age when he said he’d tell you the truth.”

“What truth?” he asked.