"Well, speed would be nice, but you're right: maybe we should try to remain unseen as we meet up with Kirika. As of my last conversation with Ikishi, she was not aware of a connection between Kirika and me, though she probably suspected one. No need to confirm her suspicions this early."
Takao looked at the crowded streets and frowned. "You really think a rickshaw will go faster than walking? Anyway, lead on, oh master of stealth."
Well, as it turns out, the rickshaw isn't appreciably faster than walking given the chaos raging across the streets, but it is a good deal more comfortable. Soon, Takao and RZA arrive at Park Row, and from there it's just a matter of searching through several dozen nigh-identical guest houses for the right one.
The more immediate concern, however, is a a very large mountain hawk-eagle that rides between the stars above the two, calling attention to herself with a very sharp cry of "Kiiiii!" RZA beckons for Takao to move, but the bird follows, sounding off every ten seconds or so.
"Bloody nuisance," RZA mutters, now dearly wishing for his quiet weapons before he starts reaching for his pilfered "Sparrow" handgonne. The bird, however, takes that as a sign to dive down and flutter to a landing in front of them. "Ki!" it cries one more time, then spreads its wings, revealing the small scroll strapped to its body.
A quick, nervous removal of said scroll later, Takao and RZA lay eyes on a quick account of the three Ayami ninjas and their past few days trying to pick up Takao's trail - penned by Toshiba and addressed to Kirika Kamura. The message might not have quite found its intended recipient, but all things considered, Takao himself isn't exactly a bad choice, either.
"So your friends have split up," RZA opines. "Now that's all well and good, but doesn't exactly lead us to them, does it?"
At that, the bird "Kiii!"s once again, hopping around and flapping its wings as if miming a takeoff.
Takao watches the bird contemplatively. "You don't suppose it's trying to tell us something? Nah, that would be ridiculous. It's just a bird.
"Perhaps it'll fly back to its owner, though. And that should be Toshiba, judging from who wrote the note. Go, fly, bird." Takao waves lightly at the bird, as if to shoo it off.
"I just hope it doesn't go straight across the roofs."
Adjacent to Park Row lies Shrine Hill, a very creatively named hill that houses a plum orchard and a few zen gardens, with -yes - a brand spanking new shinto shrine at the peak. (For those of you asking how there's a significant hill in such marshy terrain right next to a major river: it's actually artificial. Your tax silver at work!) Usually, the hill sees spring travelers coming to see the blossoms, which give the orchard a dense sea of purple and white to awe every viewer, but with the sun down and the city in chaos, it's not exactly tourist's hours anymore, so RZA and Takao find it easy to follow the bird all the way to the top while remaining out of sight.
Once at the peak, they find that the shrine affords a good vantage power over the lower Northern outskirts of the city, Park Row included. It is here that the bird swoops down again, lands in front of the shrine and "Ki!"s once more.
Takao can see RZA's hands tighten around the grips of his pilfered gonnes. "That's a proper lonely place for an ambush, cutter," the ninja says.
"Good thing we'd taken all the good hiding spots first, then," the Blue Oni says. The bandit shrugs off a cloak covered in foliage and plum blossoms, seeming to rise up from the very ground. "'Tis good to see you, Takao. You too, RZA. Ikishi's influence over Hetechi appears to be back home safely, we had a wonderful time trying to track you through that swamp, and for what it's worth, Firebolt lost our opening bout, but I do not doubt he'll return. How about you two?"
"It's good to see you as well, Toshiba," Takao replies. "This is your bird, I take it?"
"It seems like you were one step behind us, though I appreciate the rescue attempt, and I wish I could have been there for Firebolt's thrashing."
"Yes, I got Kichirou out. I've also worked on another one of Ikishi's allies - Lord Shira. I was very surprised at this revelation, but I think he's coming around to the right side." Takao quickly tells the story of Shira, his blind daughter, and her mother. "I think Shira is ready to abandon Ikishi, but he has to know his daughter is safe. Himiko is a headstrong young woman, though, and she wants to confront her mother first. I would like to enable that meeting, but I can't go with her, since Ikishi knows by now that I'm not on her side. If she could have an escort of ninjas, though, that would be ideal. Of, uh, less obvious ninjas, Toshiba, no offense to your armor or plum blossom cloak." Takao coughs a little. He quickly adds:"We could be nearby, though, in case something happens. "
Konoko "Ki!"s in response when referred to, but soon flaps away.
"How nearby are we talking about?" Kagemaru says, stepping out of RZA's shadow.
"Bloody Noh-Ra!" RZA says, flinching away from the living shadow behind him. "How long have you been there?"
"Since you started to relax," Kagemaru says, his grin shining through the mask. "So, escort from the shadows, done. What's the, uh, engagement envelope like? When should I interfere, or is this strictly observation only? I mean, here's an idea, if I just watch, I could probably follow Ikishi, see what she does."
"Nobody's that sneaky," RZA says.
"Try me," Kagemaru says.
The argument is stopped by another "Kiii!" as Konoko returns and drops a freshly-killed spring hare in front of Toshiba before gliding around him and landing to perch on the shoulder of his armor.
"What's with the bird?" RZA asks.
"She just does that," Kagemaru says.
Toshiba bends down to start dressing the hare, dividing it up equally between anyone who wants some. "Konoko's the Oni's bird. I suppose it took her a while to figure me out, but she's here now and she's been helpful. She got us all here, for one."
As he stands, he addresses Kagemaru and RZA. "From what I have seen - or haven't seen - he is that sneaky. I'd say use your best judgement, but don't get caught. That's good news about Shira; seems Ikishi's fond of hostages, whatever form they may take."
Takao doesn't flinch at Kagemaru's sudden appearance, but raises a concerned eyebrow.
"How long has he been doing that?" he asks Toshiba. Then, to Kagemaru: "Yes, that is what I had in mind. Does that work in bright sunlight, too, or do you need a shadow? You start interfering when it looks like Ikishi might do Himiko harm or try to abduct her. Following Ikishi is a good idea, but I'd rather save that for a future encounter. I'd like you to escort Himiko back to safety this time around."
"Yes, it's good to see that we have Shira on our side, but it also shows to what length Ikishi will go to get what she wants. Looks like there is little she won't do."
"Have you seen Kirika lately? I assume you came here with her?"
"No," Toshiba answers. "Like you said, we have been one step behind you. We've been keeping a low profile ever since we entered the city. Kirika has something brewing to get on Ishikawa's good side, and I believe she's handling Itanu as well. Meanwhile" - Toshiba produces paper and ink - "we'll help you free Shira from Ikishi's grasp."
Finally found T. H's toys are back in the box where they belong. Will handle S next.
He wraps the note around Konoko's leg once again as he feeds choice bits of hare to the hawk-eagle. "This message must reach Kirika. Go!"
Konoko greedily snacks on some choice rabbit heart before "Ki!"-ing again and taking off to deliver Toshiba's message.
"Stick with Himiko, kick ass if Ikishi makes a move," Kagemaru repeats from Takao's instructions. "Got it."
This is the right time for Kiara to swoop in from above, landing with a dramatic flourish of her dragon wings and the sheathed Dragon's Will glowing red on her back. RZA's hands twitch again before he recognizes her.
"Cor blimey," he says. "How are you Ayami not rolling over every bloody clan?"
"There's not a lot of us," Kiara says. "And I think we've been kicked out anyway. Oh, speaking of kicking and clans! I met some Killer Bees. They were after you."
"You mean trying to find and rescue me?" RZA asks.
"One or the other," Kiara says. "They started threatening me and they weren't even any good at it. The fight was kinda interesting, I guess. Does 'Ghostface' ring any bells?"
"The Ghostface Killer?" RZA asks.
"That's the one!" Kiara says. "Uh, I hope he didn't owe you money or anything..."
"Oh, bollocks," RZA says.
"They started it!" Kiara says.
"Of course they bloody did," RZA says. "And now that you've made me look proper rogue and all - missed recall, search party hacked to mince by my new friends - the only question they'll ask is how to get paid for ganking us."
"Pft, that's easy," Kiara says. "Ikishi will pay them."
"Exactly!" RZA retorts. "Are you starting to see the problem here, love? You kicked the hornets' nest and now we've got my whole bloody clan after our necks!"
"Okay, so," Kiara says, "you're saying I get to fight more ninjas and they're all amoral mercenaries working for our biggest enemy, so I don't even have to pretend to feel bad?" She smiles. "Gee, I wish I had a lot more problems like that."
Kagemaru coughs. "Maybe be a little more solemn?" he says. "Whoever they choose to fight for, they're still RZA's friends."
"Ehhhhh," RZA says. "They're a couple likely lads, hardly my best mates. 'Amoral mercenaries' is our clan motto, after all. It's just that we're pretty well stocked up on enemies."
"One crisis at a time," Kagemaru says. "I suggest we wait for word from Kirika and handle the Himiko situation tomorrow."
"Huh, I thought we already were on Ishikawa's good side," Takao replies to Toshiba. "That's where we were before we came over here. She gave us these," he takes out one of the minigonnes. "Kind of sad, actually. She has all of these ideals of how to run a safe, just city, and they're all going up in smoke right now. I think she'd throw in with us if we can convince her that things will go back to her normal when we are done with Ikishi."
"There was another weird thing that happened. When we were out in the swamp, we met a strange old guy who was living by himself and kept rambling on about spirits and how he was the Emperor's Medium and a High Lord. I thought he was a bit out of his mind, but as he guided us through the swamp, I saw strange things and heard strange voices. We later found some kind of drug smeared onto the masks he gave us o 'fool the spirits', so I figured it was just mumbo-jumbo. But now I see Kagemaru practically turning into a shadow, and Kiara flies with a glowing sword. Makes me wonder if there wasn't something to it. One interesting thing he said was that the previous emperor, Toshi's father, hired him to exorcise an evil spirit, and he identified that spirit to be Lady Ikishi."
"So, what next? Are we going to support Kagemaru in his mission of escorting Himiko? Or is there something else we need to do?"
"Ikishi might not be human..." Toshiba muses. "But... the Blue Oni is not really an oni. My guess is she's loaded up with mystical or ancestral artifacts like we are. Otherwise, no, I think we've been separated long enough. Let's keep our group together as Himiko meets with Ikishi."
Lady Ishikawa might not want you anywhere near the reunion of Himiko and her supposed mother, but Himiko's impatience wasn't difficult to guess and her arrival in town by horse-drawn carriage is similarly easy to track. As the carriage approaches the 4th Public Square, a plan is quickly formed: Kagemaru will stay within easy range of Shira's daughter to intervene if necessary, while Kiara and Toshiba will watch from the rooftops - with RZA and Takao lying in wait in an alley nearby, ready to cover the carriage's escape if necessary.
As she climbs out of the carriage, you get a first good look at Himiko outside of her father's estate; with her drab kimono and walking stick, she'd easily blend into a crowd, and her anonymity is further helped by her unfurled hair hanging in long tresses over her face. Lady Ikishi, for her part, has also chosen a less ostentatious outfit to wait by the square's ugly centerpiece statue. That location doesn't give Kagemaru a lot of good options, but the shadow cast by the statue will have to do to hide him.
"I received your summons, Shira-ojou," Ikishi says just as Himiko stops her approach, sweeping her walking stick in an arc in front of her one last time to feel for obstacles. "To what do I owe this meeting?"
"Let us speak plainly, mother," Himiko says. "We both know why we are here."
"So we do," Ikishi says, her expression souring. "You should have kept your discovery to yourself, Himiko. My enemies will now be yours."
"Is that all you care about?" Himiko says. "Your enemies?"
"No," Ikishi says. With quick steps, she approaches Himiko - who raises her stick in defense, but Ikishi easily brushes it aside as she...
...embraces Himiko.
"You are all I have in this world, my daughter," Ikishi says, almost sobs. "And I pray you will never know the pain that has haunted me, for every day that I could not be part of your life."
"Wh...what?" Himiko says.
"You've no doubt heard all the awful rumors about me, the whispers in court and on the streets," Ikishi says. "And they're all true. I'm...I'm not a good person, Himiko. The only thing I could do for you was to not burden you with being a part of it. Of course your father would tell me of your life, your gentle soul...staying away from you was the only wise course of action. For this I have suffered greatly, but...gladly."
And with that, Himiko slowly raises her arm to return the embrace.
"I...I have heard many things about you," Himiko says. "But the pain you speak of...nobody deserves that."
"Thank you," Ikishi says, squeezing tears from her eyes. "Thank you for your kindness, my daughter. Soon, this will all be behind us."
"What do you mean?" Himiko asks.
"My enemies are gathering their strength," Ikishi says. "Even now they stalk me."
"No!" Himiko says. "I came al...alone..." Her legs betray her, though, and Ikishi's embrace becomes a firm grip on her daughter's side as she lowers the fainting Himiko to the ground.
"I believe you," Ikishi says. "But traceless though they might be, they would be fools to miss our conversation. Is that not right?"
Having laid Himiko down, Ikishi stands up and calls out to the night.
"Am I mistaken?" she shouts. "Show yourselves, assassins!"
"Right," Toshiba whispers to Kiara. "Coax us out of hiding, claim she's the victim, sway Himiko and get a good look at us all for the price of some words? I think not. And what the hell did she do to Himiko? The girl is laid out as surely as if an Ayami blowdart struck her."
So there Lady Ikishi stands, all alone in the square except for her daughter at her feet, and nobody, ronin or ninja or anyone else, comes rushing out of the shadows to confront her in her moment of peak theatrics.
Well. That is awkward.
But it doesn't last long; Ikishi gathers up her daughter and slings her over her shoulder before walking away, picking her way through the shadows to a side road where her private carriage awaits. A shadow darts underneath her feet as Kagemaru clings to the undercarriage, and then the vehicle is off into the night, presumably to Ikishi's own residence or another safehouse in the city. Team Ninja reconvenes shortly thereafter in the alley where RZA and Takao waited for their cue.
"Right, then," RZA comments as their observations are exchanged. "Shadowman's on the case and the Cunt-in-Chief none the wiser. Call it a night?"
Takao's fist is still clenching and unclenching. "That was one of the hardest thing's I've done lately, not run out there and cut that snake down where she stood. Her own daughter!"
"Call it a night?? Himiko is still out there! How about follow the carriage?"
"On foot?" RZA asks incredulously.
"Or from the skies," Kiara suggests, wiggling her wings a bit.
"Oh no," RZA says. "Oh bloody hells, no. I'm not riding piggyback on a bloodthirsty half-dragon!"
"I could dangle you by your feet," Kiara suggests, "but I don't think you'd enjoy that, either."
"You're bonkers, the whole bloody lot of you," RZA says. "And what if we get made, huh? The whole point of this little trip was not to get noticed, which I do say we've done a bang-up job of so far. Heck, the sneaky guy is getting a free ride to the boss bitch's hideout! He seems a competent bloke, I'm sure he can handle it."
"It's cute that you still think you get a vote," Kiara says, then turns to Toshiba and Takao. "Boys?"
MikeS
