The Hinomoto Rebellion (31 page)

The thought made him feel even more ill.
I can either sacrifice my family or Andrea, a much needed rebellion, and every ronin in the country. This isn’t fair! And I’m awful for not doing the right thing here. I always thought I’d be better than this but,
he sighed,
I guess I’m not. I can’t sacrifice the few for the many... And I hate myself for it so much right now.

“It can’t be... Foxfire! I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Foxfire looked up to see three men sitting down at the table he was at. He smiled at them. “Cougar, Aakash, Iolani.” Foxfire said, nodding at each man as he said their name.

Cougar was a sleek, well-built man with tawny hair that had red undertones to it. His eyes were brilliant green and had the look of a hunter in them, even when he was being personable. The way he moved, with the grace of a cat stalking its prey, and his thick torso and lean legs had earned him the stage name Cougar years ago, back when he was still young. He wore tight red jeans and a dark gray sleeveless t-shirt, and nearly came up to Foxfire’s eyebrows in height.

The second fighter, Aakash, was long and lean, with broad shoulders and a tiny waist. He was small, and always reminded the dark-skinned
ronin
of a stereotypical teenage boy that hadn’t filled out yet. He knew better than to underestimate Aakash, though, because like Andrea he was deceptively strong and fast.

Iolani was one of the few olive skinned fighters that Foxfire had ever met, though he was sure there had to be more of them. He had a thick mop of wavy dark hair that hung over his forehead and obscured his black eyes. His outfit consisted of lots of black and red fishnet and pants with chains and straps hanging off of them. Foxfire had a thought that the pants probably weighed a good twenty pounds on their own.

Cougar spoke first, his face sporting a large, friendly smile. “We were beginning to wonder of you had gotten caught in that fire over at Tony’s Place. Man, who would’ve thought that Tiger would snap like that, huh?”

Foxfire gulped. This was the last opportunity he’d have to not contribute to Yasakuto’s twisted scheme. But then he thought of his family, and he knew he couldn’t lose them. “Well actually, I have some interesting information about the Tiger.” he said as he picked up his mug of beer. “She’s... joined a rebellion.” he said before he practically shoved his face into the mug, taking a large gulp of the liquid in an attempt to steady himself.

“What? You’re kidding! The cold, heartless bitch? She murdered everyone at Tony’s Place, burned it down, and then joined a rebellion?”

“The people at Tony’s Place were killed by police!” snapped Foxfire before he knew what he was saying. He immediately steadied himself. “She did burn it down though. But she didn’t kill anyone. In fact, she’s joined up with this group that’s going to... they’re going to overthrow the government. There’s going to be a vote announced tonight about making Martial Arts legal again, and the results are going to be revealed at some press conference on Tuesday. This group that she’s joined, they’re going to be their, and they’re going to attack some corrupt Daimyo as soon as the announcement is made.”

Foxfire knew he was never going to stop hating himself for this.

Iolani turned to the other two men. “This is awesome! We can’t vote in the law change, but we can go to the press conference and help the Tiger! They’ll need all the
ronin
they can get!”

Foxfire’s eyes filled with sadness as the three men started talking excitedly about rounding up as many
ronin
as they could to crash the press conference.
I’m going to have so many deaths on my hands if the Daimyo has his way.

“Wait... since when was
I
going to this banquet thing!? You can’t be serious!” protested Andrea, backing away from the group with her hands out in front of her.

“We’re marching straight into enemy territory, of course we’re going to need you! You’re our strongest fighter!” Fushi retorted.

“‘Marching into enemy territory’ is precisely the reason I
shouldn’t
go! Remember the Shark’s Den incident?! They are
looking for me.
”

“Yeah, but I doubt they’ll recognize you in the outfit we have for you.” an almost sadistic grin stretched across the red-head’s face. Andrea’s eyes widened. “No! Absolutely not! I’m not going and that’s final
.
”

The forgotten temple in the overgrown Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens was the scene of pandemonium as the Aka Ryuu prepared to leave for the banquet a short while later. Fushicho, Kanjou, and D stood in the dining hall dressed in evening wear. The two men both wore full tuxedos and black ties. Kanjou had even removed his red headband and attempted to comb his hair into order. Fushicho was wearing a green satin dress and full-length green gloves with an embroidered floral pattern on the back of each palm and around the wrists. She had her hair out of its usual half-ponytail so that it cascaded in a fire-red waterfall all around her face. Roni, Aki, and 26 knelt at the table, talking excitedly and giggling every once in awhile.

Finally, a voice in the hall broke through the light-hearted chatter. “This is
never
going to work. I’m not going... especially not in this stupid outfit.”

The Aka Ryuu grinned to each other. “Come on, Andrea! Let’s see!” shouted Roni.

There was a pause and then she stepped into the doorway, looking indignant. She was wearing a dark blue dress that reached all the way to the floor. It was strapless, except for four strips of fabric and two strings of beading that wrapped around her biceps. She was wearing white elbow-length gloves, mainly to cover the bullet hole wound in her forearm. A pair of rectangular glasses sat perched on her nose, and part of her hair was gathered up into a ponytail that hung down her back with two braids going back above her ears and a hair comb perched at the top of her head. Her bangs still hung in her face: the silver-haired
ronin
had threatened to kill Fushi if she moved her bangs or put her hair up any higher than her shoulders.

Looking like a body building, satin clad angry schoolteacher, Andrea put her gloved hands on her hips and glared evilly at the Aka Ryuu. “I hope you know that if we get into trouble and I have to fight, this stupid get-up will be the first thing I rip to shreds,” she said with an angry scowl.

The Aka Ryuu, sans D, all burst into uproarious laughter. Andrea’s face flushed with either anger or embarrassment and she crossed her arms over her chest as she shot a glare at D. The greenhaired
ronin
was still staring slack-jawed at Andrea, his face pink and his mis-matched eyes wide. After a moment he walked a few steps toward Andrea and offered her his hand.

“You look fantastic,” he breathed.

Andrea glared at him out of the corner of her eye. Then, with a scowl, she put her gloved hand in his. D grinned and gripped her hand just tight enough so that she couldn’t pull away.

“Alright, let’s go!” exclaimed Fushicho.

After a walk out of the Gardens and a ride in a large black car that Shinrai had arranged for them weeks in advance, the four Aka Ryuu arrived at the banquet. They went inside without incident despite the heavy Media presence outside since most of the photographers were concentrating on the Daimyo and other celebrities that were arriving.

Inside the hall, a huge brass and crystal chandelier rained soft light down on the ladies in gowns and the men tuxedos. The main entryway consisted of double doors that opened onto a top-level wrap around balcony overlooking the main hall. On the main floor below, dozens of tables were set with white table cloths and expensive looking flatware. The left side of the room contained two tables that were set up in an “L” shape. Caterers swarmed around the tables, setting up food. At the far side of the main area a small circular stage was built into an alcove in the wall. A table and a small podium had been set up on it. The two levels were connected by a set of gently curving stairs that were flanked by beautiful brass handrails.

The four Aka Ryuu found themselves standing on the balcony, staring in awe at the scene before them. None of them had ever been inside a room so extravagant before. Everything was placed so it would complement the other things in the room, all of the decor prim and perfectly matched, the surfaces polished to a high sheen without a speck of dust anywhere.

“Oh my god.. We’re going to break something..” Andrea muttered under her breath as she stared at the methodically set tables with their good china and silver.

D leaned close to her. “Just don’t take anything,” he muttered, a grin across his face.

Andrea shot him a look, but didn’t say anything else. “Come on, let’s go down there, grab a table, and schmooze We may never get a meal so good ever again,” Kanjou said, grabbing Fushi’s arm and heading for the stairs.

D bowed slightly and held out his arm to Andrea. She stared at him for a second, then rolled her eyes and took his arm, allowing him to lead her down to the main floor. They headed for a back corner and grabbed a table with four chairs. Andrea immediately picked the chair that faced out on the entire hall and sat in it. The other three looked at her with raised eyebrows.

Andrea gave them a look that said she wouldn’t be budged. “I’m a master at reading body language, not at conversation. So unless you want me to completely blow it tonight, I’ll just stay here and keep an eye on things.” She raised her left eyebrow a little more for added emphasis and crossed her gloved arms over her chest.

There was a brief discussion that Andrea won quickly, and then the other three
ronin
dispersed into the crowd. They milled around while Andrea watched them chat with politicians and the social elite as though the three outlaws belonged in this world of jewels and satin. Several men came over and asked Andrea to talk with them in the first twenty minutes she was there, all of whom she gave an icy stare to over the tops of her fake glasses. About a half an hour after they’d gotten there, there was a rather large commotion up at the top of the steps. Everyone in the hall turned to look up and saw a multitude of camera flashes going off outside. The reporters that were restricted to the outside walk until later in the evening were shouting questions as a group of people were pushing through to get inside.

Andrea’s eye narrowed as she watched the group enter the banquet hall. “Shogun Kunota... and Daimyo Yasakuto,” she said under her breath.

As though she could be heard from across the noisy room, Daimyo Yasakuto turned and glanced in her direction at that moment. Andrea’s eyes narrowed more as the Daimyo seemed to stare right at her and smile before turning away.

It was over an hour before dinner was served at the tables and the speeches began on the small stage at the front of the banquet hall. Andrea finished her food quickly. She’d thought at first that she wasn’t going to like it because it was “fancy food,” but then had to admit it was rather tasty, though she could’ve done with a bigger portion.

Andrea listened only with feigned interest as the politicians spoke. Her head was resting on her gloved palm as she stared at the stage, though her attention was on Shogun Kunota and Daimyo Yasakuto. The two were sitting on opposite sides of the table; the Daimyo was alone, while the Shogun had his wife with him; and yet Andrea perceived tension in the ten meter space that separated them. Yasakuto would glance toward Kunota now and then, a smug grin across his lips, and Kunota would sometimes glance in Yasakuto’s direction, a worried scowl making creases in his face.

Right around the time where most everyone in the Hall had finished eating, the Shogun was announced by the last Daimyo to speak. “And now, without further ado ladies and gentlemen, Shogun Tetsuo Kunota.”

There was a round of applause from the tables as the Shogun stood and walked toward the podium. The Aka Ryuu sat up straight, knowing that if something was going to go wrong, now would be the perfect time. Kanjou found himself wishing they had gotten a closer seat, just in case Yasakuto tried something.
Oh well, too late now,
he thought, frowning.

Shogun Kunota shook hands with the Daimyo that had announced him before turning and placing one hand on either side of the podium. He smiled out at the gathered crowd, his eyes friendly behind his silver-rimmed glasses. He cleared his throat and waited for the applause to die down some before he spoke.

“I know that everyone is getting antsy to get going, so I’ll try to make this as brief as possible,” he said with an impish grin. There was a low laugh from the crowd.

“I have... some very important things to speak about tonight. There are very exciting developments going on in our country that are moving us forward with the times. Science and technology are no longer a thing that we are striving to conquer as our ancestors did. We have overcome the tragedies of the past and exceeded all hopes for ever having so-called modern conveniences again.

“Along the way, we have lost many things, and gained many more. Some of the things we have lost, however, should never have been thrown by the wayside in our struggle to recover. As a society– as a country– we should be interested in preserving where we have come from, because it defines who we are and who we will be.”