Capítulo 679: 22
Chapter 22:
"Good to see you two, again," said Shinrei with a friendly grin at Kyo and Sasame. "It looks like life in the outside world has been treating you well." His eyes met Ruby's and his expression suddenly became inquisitive. "Who's this? Don't tell me you two got busy out there."
"That's not even physically possible," said Sasame with a dismissive snort. "We haven't even been gone a full year." She didn't even need to comment that she and Kyo weren't in that kind of relationship anyway.
"I guess that's a bit short to have a nine-year-old," said Shinrei nodding to himself. "So you picked up a stray."
"I would hardly call her a stray," said Kyo, smiling at Ruby, "certainly not this little gem." Ruby found herself beaming at his description for her. "This is Ruby Rose...and she's our new little sister."
"Ah...adopted...gotcha," said Shinrei, smacking the palm of his hand with his opposite fist. "She's a cute one for sure, I'll admit that much. I wonder how your mom will feel about having a new daughter."
Kyo's mom...? Ruby blinked, realizing that she'd never given much thought to the fact that Kyo had parents of his own. Kyo and Sasame had mentioned them offhandedly during the journey, but Ruby had never really been induced to ask. Would Kyo's parents accept her?
"Please," scoffed Sasame. "She'll be over the moon. You know how much Sora-sama loves children. If anything, it's going to be a fight to keep her from spoiling poor Ruby-chan rotten."
That lifted Ruby's spirits.
"In any case, we should inform the captain that the ship is now safe from pirates," said Kyo. "Those pirates were the reason you were out here, weren't they?"
"Yep," said Shinrei. "We'd been getting word from the local fishermen that suspicious outsider vessels had been spotted in our waters. I came out to investigate. Who knew I'd find pirates raiding a ship bringing you guys back."
Kyo looked around at the mess they'd made of the deck. "We owe the captain an apology for all this mess. I don't suppose we could ask you to help clean this up?" He looked plaintively at Shinrei.
"By 'help,' you mean have me do it for you," grumbled Shinrei. Then he chuckled. "Sure, no problem."
He held out his hand and Ruby gasped as water swirled out from his empty palm in a sort of stream. He closed his hand on it, like the handle of a sword, and slashed downwards. The stream expanded explosively, becoming a wave of water that washed across the deck, picking up the scattered blood and entrails, before carrying everything over the rails and into the ocean below, leaving the wood of the deck pristine, as though nothing at all had taken place here.
"Now then, let's let the captain know it's safe to let the crew out of the hold," said Kyo, heading back to the bridge.
"I feel we do owe you an apology for all the trouble we've caused," said Sasame, bowing to the ship's captain as he saw them off at the docks.
They'd landed in the seaside fishing village of Uzumaki, their intended destination. It was a lovely town, wooden buildings clustered along a sandy shore, docks extending out to the medium-sized fishing vessels that went out on a daily basis. The air smelled of brine, with the faintest whiff of a slight fishy odor, but one that was hardly disconcerting.
"Didn't lose a single man...got hardly a scratch on my deck..." The captain cracked his neck. "I took a bit of a jolt, but you fixed me right up, so I ain't got no complaints. Besides..." He turned his head to take in the crates that were now being loaded into the hold of his ship. "For a king's ransom, like this, I'd take you to the other side of the world, if it suited your fancy."
Kyo and Sasame had told Ruby that the smugglers would be generously compensated for their services. And now Ruby could see that they hadn't been exaggerating. The crates currently being loaded onto the ship were full of unrefined Dust, worth millions of lien on the open or black markets.
"Yer okay with us taking so much?" asked the captain.
"Please do," said Kyo pleasantly. "We're glad to have you take it off our hands."
"You mine so much Dust you have this much excess?" asked the captain, staring in confusion at the stack of crates waiting to be loaded.
"Ah, we don't mine Dust specifically," said Kyo. "This is a byproduct. This Dust comes from a titanium mine in the local area. It was in the way. We don't have much use for Dust, but we do keep what we do mine, mainly because disposing of it is a tricky matter, which makes it convenient for situations like this."
"Huh..." The captain scratched his chin. "It's hard to think not having a use for Dust. But I won't question your way of life, not when it's making me and my crew such a tidy profit." Truth be told, they'd make out like bandits, once they got back to Sanus. Getting this much Dust, their sole expense would be the associated costs of making the journey back and forth across the sea. They'd be rich.
The captain shook his head and shrugged. "In any case, I'm more than happy with this. I've got no complaints about our arrangements, unexpected obstacles and all. Besides, I heard this lass..." He reached down and ruffled Ruby's hair. "...fought for me when I was laid out by that pirate."
Ruby blushed and looked down.
"If'n you ever need passage, and you're in the neighborhood, look me up," said the captain. "My ship and my crew are at your service, eternally."
"Thank you," said Sasame. She and Kyo bowed politely. Ruby looked between them for a moment before nervously following suit.
They left the docks, heading towards Shinrei, who was waiting a short distance away. As they did, Ruby gently tugged at Kyo's sleeve.
"What is it, Ruby-chan?" asked Kyo, looking down at her.
"I was wondering, could I learn to use two swords?" asked Ruby, her mind going back to the fight on board the ship.
Kyo and Sasame blinked, sharing a glance between them.
"Where did you get that idea?" wondered Sasame.
Ruby began to haltingly explain the process of the fight, as well as how she'd ended up drawing her wooden sword along with her real one in order to land a blow. Both Kyo and Sasame listened with raised eyebrows.
When she finished, the pair looked at each other once again.
"Well well," said Sasame, breaking into an exuberant smile. "I wasn't expecting this."
"Me neither," said Kyo. "And she reached this conclusion naturally, free from actual instruction. I'd thought it odd, though helpful, when she stared practicing her strikes with both hands. But I had no idea it was leading up to this."
"It's not wrong?" asked Ruby.
"No! It's wonderful!" said Sasame, kissing Ruby's forehead. "We're impressed. We never taught you anything about this."
Kyo looked down at Ruby expectantly. "Can you show me the stance you settled on when you drew your second blade?"
Ruby nodded and moved into the stance she'd taken when facing Morgan on the bridge. Both Kyo and Sasame blinked, then smiled.
"Unbelievable," said Sasame, her voice filled with wonder. "She came up with the method on the spot, and naturally intuited the most effective stance to suit her level of training."
"So I could learn to use two swords?" asked Ruby hopefully.
"You certainly could," said Kyo, taking Ruby's hand and leading her the rest of the way towards Shinrei. "In fact, if you wish to learn a two-sword style, you should spend some time studying under Shinrei. His style, the Mumyo Saigyo Ryu, is a two-sword style at its root."
"Huh? What's this?" asked Shinrei, only hearing that last part of their conversation.
"We were thinking of having Ruby-chan spend some time learning your school," explained Sasame. "She was showing interest in two-sword styles."
"Oh! Well then..." Shinrei raised an eyebrow and stared down at Ruby, who swallowed and looked nervously up at him. "We'll have to see. Makoto-sama and his assistants handle most of the teaching these days. I'm a bit busy with my duties. But I'll see about her joining our other students."
"If you would," said Sasame. "We can worry about the details later. Let's get back to Onmyo for now." She smiled over at Ruby. "There is every chance you might find a style that suits you better. But it's never wrong to try something new, so long as don't neglect what you're already learning."
"All right," said Ruby.
"Well then, we should head out," said Kyo, looking to Shinrei. "Are you coming with us?"
"Yep," said Shinrei, nodding in satisfaction. "My job's done, so I should go back and report to Sora-sama."
"Where are we going?" asked Ruby.
"We're heading to Onmyo, the Mibu Clan's capital," said Sasame. "This settlement is only about four days away, by foot. It's the closest port. When we travel to and from Sanus, this is always where we come from or to."
"Oh," said Ruby.
They began to walk along the streets. As they did, Ruby noticed people moving out of their way. It was far cry from how citizens had reacted to their presence in the settlements that dotted Sanus. Over there, they had celebrated Kyo's arrival. Over here, they looked suspicious and wary. People cleared away, giving their party a wide birth, looking at and whispering to one another, hiding their lips behind the wide sleeves of their kimonos.
"Is something wrong?" asked Ruby, confused by the odd behavior of the people around them.
"Well, we Mibu seem to have an easier time managing the Grimm than the Kingdoms do," said Sasame. "They are largely considered little more than pests over here. Because of that, Kyo's presence doesn't have the same...impact...it does in the Kingdoms' territories."
"That and I'm afraid I have a rather unpleasant reputation over here," said Kyo.
"Why?" asked Ruby.
"It's a bit hard to explain," said Sasame. "You've, no doubt, noticed Kyo's eyes."
Ruby nodded slowly. Kyo's eyes were a singular crimson color, always shining faintly with their own luminance. They were strange to look at, at first, but she'd grown accustomed to them during the months spent on the road with him.
"The Crimson Eyes are an extremely rare trait within the Mibu Clan," said Sasame. "They appear sporadically, and only amongst the oldest, strongest bloodlines tied to the ancient ancestors of our clan. Those that possess them are born with eyes of any normal color. However, during moments of stress, intensity, when one's blood is boiling, the Crimson Eyes can appear. It is generally considered a sign that the possessor has enormous potential strength within them."
"But Kyo's eyes..." Ruby frowned, looking up at Kyo.
Sasame nodded. "Yes. Amongst those who possess the Crimson Eyes, the trait becomes visible only temporarily. And, even then, only those from the most potent bloodlines can make the trait appear in both eyes. More often than not, when it happens, the trait appears in just one eye.
"Kyo, on the other hand, was born with his Crimson Eyes fully active. He has had them all his life. The Crimson Eyes only appear so strongly in a single bloodline, the oldest, most powerful bloodline of our clan...that of the Crimson King."
"Who is the Crimson King?" asked Ruby.
"That would be my father..." said Kyo, "...currently."
Ruby gasped loudly. "You're the son of the king!?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Does that mean you're a prince?" Suddenly, she felt as though she'd stepped into the pages of a fairy tale.
It was Shinrei who laughed the loudest, nearly doubling over from the force of his mirth. However, both Kyo and Sasame laughed as well.
"I'm afraid not," said Kyo, after he recovered. He brushed his fingers through Ruby's hair fondly. "My rank...if it can be called that...is somewhat nebulous. I have no authority, and it's not considered a given that I will ascend to take my father's throne at some point...not that I can actually call it a throne."
"Why not?" asked Ruby.
"Though he holds the title of Crimson King, Kyo's father does not rule the Mibu Clan," said Sasame. "His mother does."
"His mother..." Once again, Ruby felt a certain sense of trepidation at the thought of meeting Kyo's parents.
"Kyo's mother, Mibu Sora, is the leader of the Taishiro, or the Four Elders, of our clan," said Sasame. "For simplicity's sake, it's best to think of them as our clan's equivalent to the Kingdoms' Councils. For all intents and purposes, she is the true ruler of the Mibu Clan."
"Is that because she's married to the king?" asked Ruby.
"Nope," said Kyo and Sasame in unison.
"Bloodlines are meaningless when it comes to governance," said Sasame. "One can only earn the rank of Elder through merit. Sora-sama earned her position through hard work, such that she ascended to her rank in record time. Makoto-sama, the previous leader of the Elders, was so impressed that he only waited a couple of years before stepping down and naming her the new leader, and deciding to serve under her."
"Wow..." said Ruby. Then she shivered. The idea of meeting such an exalted, accomplished person made her nervous.
"You have nothing to worry about, Ruby-chan," said Sasame. "Sora-sama adores all children. In fact, the Elders as a whole cherish the young. And I know that Sora-sama will be especially impressed by you."
Ruby blushed, looking away again.
"Anyway, back to Kyo's eyes," said Sasame. "The Crimson Eyes are something of a taboo in the clan. They are simultaneously considered both sacred and profane. Even if it currently holds no authority, people respect the throne and the one who sits on it. But, when faced with Kyo and his eyes, as well as the fact that he holds no authority himself, most people tend to view him with wariness...at best."
"I don't understand," said Ruby.
"It's all right, Ruby-chan," said Sasame. "It's not something you need to worry about anyway."
"In any case, we have a little bit longer," said Kyo. "I hope you don't mind the walk."
"Of course not," said Ruby.
Compared to the journeys between settlements in Sanus, their trip between Uzumaki and Onmyo was strangely brief. Kyo and Sasame continued Ruby's training, making her practice her exercises and techniques at the end of each day's trip. This time, they didn't go through the alternating pace of walking and running, but remained walking at an easy clip. As Ruby trained, Shinrei looked on, evaluating her with a discerning eye.
On the third day of their trip, he held a brief, whispered conversation with Sasame and Kyo, before approaching Ruby as she ran through the basic kata Kyo had taught her.
"You certainly seem diligent," he said, coming to stand a short distance away, refraining from speaking until she'd finished the kata.
"Th-thank you," said Ruby, a little disconcerted by him speaking to her. Shinrei seemed pleasant enough overall, and was clearly good friends with Kyo and Sasame. But he was unfamiliar to Ruby, and she had no idea what he thought of her.
"I've talked with Kyo and Sasame," said Shinrei. "If you're willing, I'll give you a primer on two-sword techniques."
"Okay," said Ruby, hoping her voice didn't betray her eagerness too much.
Shinrei grinned at her muffled enthusiasm, silently approving of her self-control and discipline. "For starters, wielding two swords is not as easy as you might think. Taking up a sword in each hand generally means you wield it with less than half the power of a sword you swing with both hands."
Ruby frowned and looked down at her hand, her left currently closed around the handle of her kodachi.
"That, of course, means that it takes extra training," said Shinrei. "You have to train so that you can make cuts you would normally make with both arms with just one arm. We have a saying: a sword wielded with one hand cuts flesh, while a sword wielded with two cuts bone. If you really want to learn two-swords, you must be able to cut bone with one hand."
"O-okay," said Ruby, thinking she got what Shinrei was saying.
"That said, what do you think the advantages of using two swords at once are?" asked Shinrei.
"Um..." Ruby narrowed her eyes in concentration. The first thing that occurred to her actually stemmed more from what Shinrei had said about swinging a sword in one hand, rather than two swords at once. "Flexibility...I can swing wider with my sword in one hand...and my reach on that side increases. If I have two swords...then I can have that same reach on both sides at once."
Well, I'll be... thought Shinrei fighting back the approving grin that threatened to show on his face.
Ruby's assessment, while a bit awkwardly worded, was correct. Wielding a sword with two-hands increased the power of one's swings, true. However, it also limited the range and angles that the sword could be swung at, because one arm would always be crossing the body in order to execute said swing. In contrast, wielding a sword one-handed, while limiting power, enabled one to swing much wider, out at angles they couldn't reach while holding the sword in both hands. Using two at once meant that both sides could be covered to the fullest reach of the arms and shoulders simultaneously.
"What else?" prodded Shinrei.
"Um...It makes it easier to attack and defend," said Ruby. "If I use a sword to block an attack...I could attack with the other one faster than trying to attack with the one I blocked with."
"Also true," said Shinrei. "Besides the power issue of using your blades one-handed, what other problems might there be with using two swords?"
"Uh..." Ruby frowned, her eyes narrowing. "It's tricky. When I use both arms, both arms sort of want to do the same thing. But...I'd have to be able to move each one on its own...at the same time...right?"
"Correct," said Shinrei, his eyebrows going up at Ruby's insight.
Just like playing a musical instrument, using any two-weapon style, including a two-sword style necessitated being able to move both arms and hands separately from one another, performing different tasks at the same time. For many people, it was a tricky skill to acquire.
"It seems you have a good idea of the pros and cons," said Shinrei. "Are you still interested in learning?"
"Uh huh," said Ruby, nodding quickly.
Shinrei muffled a chuckle. "Well, all right then. Let's start with your first technique. Right now, we're going to work on developing your one-handed skills."
"All right," said Ruby.
Shinrei held out his left hand, water flowing out from his palm, streaming up and becoming solid, not freezing, but crystalizing into a solid object, a clear, short blade. It was formed of two curving forks in a crescent shape on the end of the handle, the lower fork extending out further, with a slightly wavy curve to its edge, while the upper one was shorter, just curving out and ending a little over halfway along the length of the lower fork. Then he created one in his right hand as well.
Ruby stared up at the blades in awe.
"This is a separate thing," said Shinrei, referring to the blades he'd just conjured. "Just focus on my motion for now. You've already learned a few one-handed swings, right?"
Ruby nodded vigorously. Kyo had taught her a few basic ones.
"Good," said Shinrei. "Now I'll teach you a set of sequential strikes. You need to get the timing and flow of the motion down, otherwise your swords will wind up hindering one another. Draw both your weapons."
Ruby nodded and pulled out her wooden sword to hold in her left hand. Shinrei walked her through a set of three strikes, alternating between her weapons.
"Each time you start over, switch your leading hand," said Shinrei. "And, when you do, make sure you trade swords as well."
"Why?" asked Ruby.
"Your metal sword is heavier than your wooden one," said Shinrei. "Switching your swords when you switch hands will keep one arm from getting more of a workout than the other. Ideally, you should try to keep the strength of both your arms equal."
"All right," said Ruby.
Shinrei watched her go through the strikes, until he was satisfied she had the basic form down. He informed her to keep practicing, but to keep her movements slow and steady, focusing on form, rather than speed or power at the moment. Ruby agreed, having gone through this with all the techniques Kyo had taught her. Satisfied that she could manage on her own for a little while, he returned to Kyo and Sasame.
"What do you think of Ruby-chan?" asked Sasame in a teasing tone.
"I think you've picked a real winner," noted Shinrei. "She's smart, observant, and dedicated. As students go, she's got the total package."
"Talent and dedication are rarely found together so naturally," said Kyo, nodding in agreement. "You should keep an eye on Ruby-chan. Whenever she learns a new technique, she tends to let her excitement get the better of her."
"You mean she'll start playing with it?" asked Shinrei, imagining her trying it on trees, or even seeking out Grimm to test it on.
"Oh no," said Sasame with a laugh. "She gets so into her practicing that she'll be at it all night, if we don't stop her."
"Really now..." Shinrei frowned and got up, heading over to check on Ruby.
She was still practicing. What truly amazed Shinrei wasn't that she was still going through the technique. It was the fact that she was still going through the moves he'd taught her so slowly and carefully. Many students grew impatient, and started to speed up their movements, ultimately losing their grasp on the form in the process. Ruby, on the other hand, was still going through the moves slowly and carefully, making sure each strike was perfect, before she moved on to the next one.
Even more engrossing was the faraway look in Ruby's eyes. Her mind was completely absorbed in the moment, in the movements of her own body, with no thought or focus spared to her surroundings.
It's a good thing she's been traveling with Kyo, thought Shinrei, mildly amused by the notion. With Kyo and Sasame watching over her, Ruby was as safe as could be, which was good. A rampaging herd of Goliaths could have thundered through, and Ruby wouldn't have noticed in her current state.
Settling in, Shinrei continued to watch her, fascinated. He noted that she already appeared to have a proficient grasp on the form of the sequence of strikes he'd taught her, but she continued to repeat them endlessly, showing no signs of impatience.
He started when Kyo rested a hand on his shoulder. Silently, Shinrei chided himself for his lapse. He, one of the Goyosei, the elite military leaders of the Mibu Clan, had dropped his guard and forgotten his surroundings, having become completely transfixed by the sight of Ruby's training.
Kyo noticed and grinned at Shinrei. Then he went out to Ruby, who continued to swing her swords. Like Shinrei, Ruby didn't notice that Kyo was there, until he rested a hand on her shoulder. Yelping in surprise, Ruby jumped and looked up at Kyo with wide eyes.
Kyo merely smiled down at her. "It's time for bed," he said.
"O-oh..." said Ruby, blinking, her expression becoming dazed.
"Sheathe your weapons," instructed Kyo.
Ruby's arms shook as she tried to guide her kodachi into its sheath, barely managing it. Then she tucked her wooden sword into her belt as well. Now that Kyo had stopped her training, all her fatigue from the continuous working of her arms and legs had caught up to her at once. But none of that had translated to her movements while she was still practicing.
Kyo chuckled and scooped her up in his arms, Ruby beginning to nod off, even as he carried her towards the campfire, where Sasame was laying out her bedding. Shinrei looked after them, then back to the spot where Ruby had been training. Finally, he turned and followed Kyo and Ruby back to their camp.
Ruby was already asleep, Sasame seated by her, gently stroking her hair. Looking up, she watched as Shinrei took his own seat and stared at the girl intently. Leaning over, she whispered into Kyo's ear. "It seems Ruby-chan has enchanted another one."
Kyo chuckled. "So...what do you think, Shinrei?"
"She's..." Shinrei paused, trying to think of the right words. "She's something else all right. Where did you find her?"
"In Vale," said Sasame, continuing to brush Ruby's hair. "Poor thing ran away from home out of a desire to become a Huntress, after her family refused to let her."
"She wants to be a Huntress?" Shinrei frowned. "But you brought her back here. You want us, the Mibu, to train her, and then turn her loose in the outside world. What are you getting at?"
"We just want to help her fulfill her dreams," said Sasame with a giggle. "She's such an endearing girl that we couldn't help but want to help her. You shouldn't be reading so much into it, particularly when you know that Kyo isn't capable of such layered thinking."
"As much as I resemble that remark, I still feel I should protest," said Kyo wryly.
"True enough," admitted Shinrei, his gaze going to Sasame and his eyes narrowing intently. "Also, while Kyo may not be capable of it, you certainly are. You're telling me that there's no ulterior intentions behind giving a girl training in distinctive techniques that will definitely draw people's attention by how different they are from what the rest of the world understands, ultimately drawing attention to us, one way or another? We've spent centuries apart from the world. The past few decades, we've been content to let the world outright ignore us. Now, all of a sudden, you're into outreach..."
"Having spent so much time in the outside world, I've come to learn a great deal about it," said Sasame. "It has its flaws, to be sure. But there are things that we could benefit from there." She giggled coyly. "I have to admit, I understand Sora-sama's jealousy of their communications technology."
"Hmm..." Shinrei frowned, his brow furrowing. His eyes drifted to Ruby.
"But that is not a matter that concerns Ruby-chan directly," said Sasame firmly. "I truly do desire to help her achieve her dreams, to become what she aspires to be. Both Kyo and I genuinely love her, and want to help make her happy. Never even think of doubting that."
"Point taken," said Shinrei, raising a forestalling hand.
"And now, you've taken an interest in her as well, haven't you?" prodded Kyo playfully.
"That's...true," admitted Shinrei, somewhat reluctantly. "I've never seen such a fitting student. She practiced faithfully...for hours, even though it was clear she had what I taught her down pat after the first few repetitions."
"That's our Ruby-chan," said Sasame.
"But you think she should learn the Mumyo Saigyo Ryu?" asked Shinrei.
"I believe she should study under you for a time, at least," said Sasame. "If that's what she chooses, then that's fine. Truth be told, though, I think Ruby-chan will be one of those rare people who can create a style unique to her by sublimating other, disparate arts she's learned."
"You want everyone to take a hand in teaching her?" asked Shinrei.
"Those who are willing," said Kyo. "We want to give Ruby-chan a little taste of everything, and see what excites and inspires her."
"That's asking a lot," said Shinrei. "But we'll just have to wait and see how the other Goyosei react. Aside from that, what are your plans?"
"Her training aside, the rest is tricky," said Sasame. "Our statuses could complicate things for her. I would like to have her attend regular school, with students her own age. Every child needs that kind of social interaction."
"But if she's a ward of the Mitarai Family, or the royal family, depending on who takes her in, and she's getting specialized instruction from several of the most prominent and influential members of the clan, that could complicate the whole social interaction prospect," noted Shinrei. "What you have planned for her...there are countless Mibu children who'd jump at the chance for it...but you're giving all this favor to an outsider."
"That is a complicated issue," admitted Sasame. "I'm hoping to ask for Sora-sama and Kyoichiro-sama's input, in hopes that they might have a solution. She will definitely be in the care of the royal family though. My parents would never accept her."
"Yeah," agreed Shinrei, nodding thoughtfully. "Gotta say, I'd love to see that conversation go down...be like watching fireworks."
"Hush," admonished Sasame, flicking the tip of Shinrei's nose with the tip of her tail, with enough force to knock his head back slightly.
"Well, those problems can wait," said Kyo. "We'll be in Onmyo tomorrow."
The next day, the group resumed their walk. Ruby looked around eagerly. The terrain didn't look all that different from what they'd passed through on Sanus, mostly woodlands. They followed a clear trail, a dirt road leading west and slightly north. Eventually, the road began to slope upwards, the changing elevation making Ruby's legs strain, despite all the miles she had put on them during the trek across the previous continent.
It was all worth it when they crested the rise. Ruby gasped as she got her first clear view of the Mibu Clan's capital.
First came the fields, rows upon rows of vegetation. There were grains and vegetables, as well as orchards, almost seeming to encircle the capital from her view. They seemed to stretch on forever, curving around the boundary of the city and off into the distance on either side of it. Encompassed within that boundary of agricultural land was a city that took her breath away.
Streets ran in orderly lines, a grid pattern marking out lines of homes, as well as various businesses. White stucco walls stood, side by side, with those fashioned from wood, painted in a variety of colors. Sloped roofs rose upwards, some coming to points. Here and there, square, tower-like constructs rose up. There was nothing matching Vale's skyscrapers for height, but there was an organic sense to the architecture which made it seem more…alive…to Ruby's eyes. Compared to this, the architecture of Vale, for all that it was so much more advanced, seemed stale.
Then the gridlines of the city streets gave way to rolling parks of green grass and winding, curving roads and pathways, winding their way up to a gentle slope, with larger, more ornate and complex buildings sprawling out between them. The slope and roads continued up, until they reached a set of massive walls, which blocked off the rest of the city from a single majestic building, built into the slopes of the large, rounded mountain the city rested at the foot of.
The building itself was a sprawling complex of corridors, linking together various smaller buildings and courtyards. At its center, a massive building, with walls of black stone, rose upwards, its roof consisting of the same angled design as most other buildings in the city. Resting on the wall facing the city was a massive rendition of a taijitu symbol, not unlike the one that decorated the back of Kyo's kimono.
"Woooooooow!" squealed Ruby, her eyes shining as she took it all in.
"You like our home?" asked Sasame.
"It's beautiful!" squealed Ruby, practically dancing in place. "Ooh! What's that big building on the far side?"
Sasame giggled. "That, Ruby-chan, is the Onmyo Palace, the center of the Mibu Clan's government, seat of the Taishiro...and the home of Kyo's parents."
"So it's Kyo's home?" asked Ruby, looking up at Kyo in amazement. "I can't believe it!"
"Is it really so hard?" asked Kyo, even as Sasame and Shinrei both stifled laughter at his expense.
"Yep," said Ruby, beaming. "I really can't see you living in a posh place like that."
Sasame and Shinrei couldn't stifle their laughter any longer and were doubling over with amusement.
Kyo blinked, then shrugged. "She's not wrong."
"In any case, let's keep going," said Sasame, taking Ruby's hand. "The capital looks big enough from afar. Walking all the way across it is quite the chore. It's going to take much of the day just to reach the palace gates."
"Let's go!" said Ruby eagerly, barely resisting the urge to bound down the slope, trying to tug her older sister behind her.
Sasame laughed, and the group made their way into Onmyo.
Sasame hadn't been kidding about the walk. Passing through the fields seemed to take forever, from Ruby's point of view. Then came the endless grid of the streets of the outer city. Still, there was so much to take in that Ruby didn't mind in the slightest, her eyes darting from one sight to another as she strained to take in as much as possible with every step they took.
At one point, a large shadow passed overhead. Ruby looked up and gasped, seeing a massive construct soaring overhead. It was an airship, of a kind she'd never seen before, its rounded fuselage dwarfing the comparatively small passenger-section, which appeared to have been built into its underbelly.
"That is a zeppelin," said Sasame, when Ruby asked. "Unlike the Kingdom's airships, ours fly, or float rather, through the use of lighter-than-air gasses. They are nowhere near as fast or maneuverable, but they've served us admirably well over the centuries."
It wouldn't be the last airship she saw, on their trip through the city, as Ruby soon found herself picking out several others, drifting through the sky like unusually-shaped clouds. Their movement was so lethargic, compared to the airships she'd seen plying the skies of Vale, that she'd initially mistaken them for clouds themselves.
Even though the novelty of the city was enchanting, there was an undercurrent of unease that tickled Ruby's senses. Once again, the people were shying away from Kyo in a manner she found disconcerting. She remembered what Kyo and Sasame had told her about the Crimson Eyes. Are they really that strange? Ruby wondered. Having spent so long with Kyo, she'd gotten plenty used to his eyes. They were unlike the eyes of anyone else she'd ever seen. However, despite the explanation she'd received, Ruby still didn't quite get why people would be so repulsed by them.
The streets of the capital were bustling. Even with people shying away from Kyo, there was still plenty going on in the background. Ruby was grateful for Sasame's hand holding hers, gently tugging her on, or Ruby would have likely found herself distracted by the countless things she saw, and getting separated from her companions.
Given the things she'd learned about the Mibu so far, Ruby wasn't all that surprised to note a complete lack of automobiles. The vehicles the Mibu utilized consisted entirely of horse-drawn wagons and carriages. Granted, that wasn't a far cry from the state of some of the more rural settlements, like Dunedain, that they had passed through on their way. But it was hard to imagine the capital city of an entire people being so...quaint.
When they reached the upper portion of the city, their surroundings changed dramatically. The crowded streets, with their straight lines, intersecting at carefully-planned angles, gave way to winding pathways with broad swaths of green grass, dotted by the occasional, artistically planted tree, stretching around them.
"Where are we now?" asked Ruby.
"This is the upper city," said Sasame, "home to the Mibu Clan's upperclass. The inhabitants of this section are from old and noble families, though their lineages don't command nearly as much power as they used to, in most cases. While the homes are private, of course, the parks up here are open to the public, and Onmyo's schools were established in this portion of the city as well."
"Ooooh..." gasped Ruby, her head practically mounted on a swivel at this point.
"Sasame is a member of one of those old noble families," added Shinrei.
"Really?" gasped Sasame.
"Yes," said Sasame in a tone that almost sounded...exasperated. "The Mitarai Family is an old and distinguished lineage. Those of us born into that family often possess an affinity for the healing arts as well, which is how I ended up becoming a healer."
"Wow!" exclaimed Ruby.
Sasame, giggled and gently rubbed Ruby's head. "Sadly, my parents are conservative fussbudgets. I don't get along with them very well. I'm afraid that they would not like you very much...nor you them."
"Oh," said Ruby, quailing slightly.
"It's their loss, Ruby-chan," Sasame assured her with a loving smile. "With any luck, you won't have to deal with them. In the meantime, you'll be staying with Kyo's parents, who I'm sure you'll love. They are two of the kindest people I know."
"Okay," said Ruby, once again feeling nervous at the prospect of meeting Kyo's parents...who were also two of the most important people in the Mibu Clan.
Out here, there was so much more space, and also fewer people. It was hard to tell if the people around here were giving them a wide berth or not, as many seemed only to consider the paths suggestions, and wandered freely across manicured lawns, or meandered through colorful and artistic gardens. She saw people reclining in the shade of trees, and having picnics out in the open. She would have liked to spend some more time here, but got the feeling she'd see plenty of it in the future.
Her legs were beginning to get tired. She was amazed how much of a chore it had been, walking across the capital. Sure, it was nothing, compared to wandering over the broken terrain of Sanus, as they moved from settlement to settlement, but this was proving to be quite the journey in its own right.
"Here we are," said Sasame, calling Ruby's attention to the wall that loomed over them, with the massive wooden gate set into its center. The wall was pure, white stucco, while the gate was stained a pale shade that almost matched. It stood open, revealing what almost looked like a woodland path on the other side.
"This is the first of the Five Shining Gates," explained Shinrei, answering Ruby's unspoken question. "They serve as the main entrance into the palace.
"There are five of them?" gasped Ruby.
"Yep," said Shinrei. "Each gate is technically the responsibility of one of the Goyosei, though that responsibility is largely ceremonial nowadays, and it's rare that all of us are present here at the same time."
"Who is here right now?" asked Kyo.
"Saisei and Taihaku," said Shinrei. "Chinmei was off checking the condition of the northeastern settlements. Keikoku is down in the southwest. At least, that's how things were, when I left to handle those pirates."
Ruby noticed a twitch on Sasame's eyebrow. "Well...I suppose it was too much to hope for," she said with a sigh. "Saisei-sama hardly ever leaves anyway."
"Um..." Ruby blinked and looked questioningly at Sasame.
"Saisei-sama is one of my teachers," Sasame explained. "She is the one who taught me the Mumyo Kodama Ryu. That being said...she is a rather...difficult...person, at the best of times."
"Very harsh and cynical," added Kyo.
"But one of the most senior members of the Goyosei," added Shinrei. "So she warrants a lot of respect."
They passed through the first gate, and they found themselves following a path through what looked like a forest of ancient trees. It looked almost exactly like the woodlands that Ruby, Kyo, and Sasame had traveled through in Sanus, save that the ground between the trees was inordinately clean, apparently swept clear of the detritus of rotting leaves and cleared of the loam that usually made up the forest floor. Instead, emerald-green ground cover, winding vines, and bushes filled the spaces in between trees. It gave the whole setting a strangely clean air to it, making Ruby feel as though she'd wandered into an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale.
Heading through the wooded courtyard, they found themselves reaching another wall. This wall almost seemed to have been made out of the trees themselves, coaxed into growing and winding together into a full-barrier, forming an arch in their center, into which the second gate was set, also hanging open.
"Well well well..." commented a wry voice from off to the side, as they approached the second gate. "...you've returned."
They all turned and Sasame's faced turned calm and composed as she brought her hands together and bowed to the tall woman that approached them. "Saisei-sensei," she said. "It's good to see you again."
Saisei was a tall, willowy woman, draped in white robes. Her jet-black hair flowed freely down her head to trail all the way to the ground, and then some. It framed a slightly narrow face of elegant beauty, which was only enhanced by the slight wrinkles gathering in the corners of her eyes and on her cheeks, which were slightly sunken, just enough to add an aristocratic tint to her appearance, but not enough to seem unhealthy. Her lips were pulled out into what seemed to be a permanent, cynical smile. She surveyed the group with dark-brown eyes that made Ruby think of the freshly-turned earth of some of the farmlands they'd passed by on their way here.
In her right hand, she gripped a wide, white jug, with a deceptively delicate-looking hand around its narrow neck. A faint scent wafted out that Ruby recognized all too well, seeing as it seemed a permanent accompaniment to the presence of her uncle. It seemed that Saisei was a heavy drinker as well.
"Shinrei," said Saisei, her eyes going to the young man in question. "I presume that you finished your investigation."
"Yes," said Shinrei, his behavior reserved, but less subservient than Sasame's had been. "I was on my way to report to Sora-sama on the matter."
"I see," said Saisei. Then her eyes went to Kyo. "I see you're still alive," she observed sardonically. "How disappointing."
Ruby bristled, but remained still as Sasame rested a gentle, but firm, hand on her shoulder.
"You won't be rid of me that easily, Saisei," said Kyo cheerfully. "I intend to be a bother to you for a long time coming."
Saisei exhaled in what seemed to be a disappointed sigh. Then her gaze alighted on Ruby, who swallowed and tensed nervously, feeling all too clearly the intense scrutiny she was under. "And you've picked up a pet in the outside world," she observed.
"A sister, actually," said Sasame, her tone only the slightest bit defensive. "We are taking her to introduce her to Sora-sama and Kyoichiro-sama now."
"And they will dote on her ceaselessly, I have no doubt," said Saisei with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I imagine your own parents will raise quite the ruckus, when they learn of her."
"That is their problem," said Sasame earnestly enough. "If you're finished, Saisei-sama, we shall be on our way."
"I'm still wondering when I can retire, my dear student," prodded Saisei. "Have you not yet grown tired of traipsing across the outside?"
"Not quite," said Sasame. "And you are not nearly so old as you pretend to be. Taihaku-sama is considerably older, yet makes no such complaints."
"Taihaku doesn't have a peculiar student more than ready to take over his position," countered Saisei. "Do make your decision soon, Sasame. I grow impatient."
"Then perhaps you need to relearn patience," Sasame countered. "I am not ready to take your position, yet." With that, she led the rest of the group through the gates, leaving Saisei behind.
"I-is she always like that?" asked Ruby.
"Unfortunately, yes," said Sasame. "Don't hold it too much against her. But Saisei has always been the bitter sort. She's a pessimist by nature. But she has served with distinction for a long time. I doubt you will have much to do with her, as I doubt you have much of an affinity for the Mumyo Kodama Ryu."
"All right," said Ruby, holding tightly to Sasame's hand as they entered into the courtyard of the next gate.
Passing through the second gate had brought them into a tunnel. From an enchanted woodland, they suddenly seemed to have entered some kind of subterranean passage. Despite the lack of any kind of downward slope, Ruby felt as though they were making their way through the bones of the earth.
An abyss loomed in front of them, the rocky ground giving way to a crevasse that dropped off into pitch-black darkness, illuminated only by lights around their gate and ones that seemed to hover in the air over the abyss, as well as a set of lights around the stone gates on the other side of the space between the two walls. There wasn't a lack of a visible ceiling, just walls stretching up into the darkness above, with no sign of the sky. It truly felt as though they were underground.
Looking around, Ruby spotted rocky spires jutting up from the darkness below, thinking that she might be in some kind of subterranean gallery.
"This is the third gate, officially the domain of Chinmei of the Goyosei," said Sasame. "Chinmei is the Goyosei of Earth. As you can see, his gate reflects that."
"What's he like?" asked Ruby, remembering that this one was supposed to be away.
"A different type to be sure," said Sasame with a giggle. "He looks like the wild sort, but he has a good heart and a kind nature. You might find him intimidating at first. But once you speak with him, I'm sure you'll get along with him just fine."
The abyss was bridged by a single wavy path of stone that reached the flat, spreading top of a spire about midway between the two sides. Ruby held very tightly to Sasame's hand as they went across, feeling nervous, as she wondered if the path they were taking could even hold all their weight. However, they crossed without incident and made their way through the third gate.
They emerged into the sunlight again, Ruby sighing in relief, even as she blinked while her eyes adjusted. The territory of the fourth gate was an open courtyard, tiled with gray stone. Off to either side was a fountain, stone dragons winding around one another, water spraying from their nostrils and mouths, tinkling into the basins below them with a sound like countless tiny bells.
The courtyard was centered in a depression of sorts, with a raised section running around the perimeter walls, so that they had to descend a set of steps when they entered, and ascend another set after crossing and approaching the gate.
"Like it?" asked Shinrei, grinning at her. "This is my territory."
"It's pretty," said Ruby. "But it feels...sorta empty."
"She's not wrong," said Kyo, as Sasame laughed lightly, while Shinrei pouted.
They passed through the rather plain-looking wooden gate, and into another courtyard. It was similar to Shinrei's, at least at first, having the same basic layout of an open rectangle. However, the only raised section was the set of steps leading up to the fifth and final gate, which was set into the base of a pagoda-like structure, complete with a second story directly above the gate itself. The tiles of this courtyard were an off-white color, white enough to gleam in the sunlight, but not so white they reflected the light up into the faces of the people who walked over them. It was even more empty than the fourth gate's courtyard, devoid of any decoration, whatsoever.
There was an unusual quality to the air here. Just being in this courtyard made Ruby feel relaxed, at peace. It felt as though there was something that gradually drained the tension from her body. She felt safe here.
"Welcome back," rumbled a deep voice, with a rich timbre that made Ruby think of distant thunder.
The man who emerged from the fifth gate was tall and well-built, standing a good head taller than Kyo. His broad shoulders supported a plain, green kimono, tucked into a set of white hakama, which, unlike Shinrei's, were untied at the ankles. The kimono was left slightly open, displaying a view of his chest and abdomen, which looked as though they had been hewn from mountain stone. The movement of his arms pulled back the sleeves enough to reveal powerful muscles. His skin was a rich, bronze-color, the product of long exposure to the sun and wind.
Just looking at this man should have made Ruby quail. His build alone made him seem positively titanic to her, and the power he radiated should have made her mouth run dry. However, she felt strangely at ease.
Part of it was his face. It was framed by white hair that ran down to his shoulders, along with a short, white beard that descended from his chin, tapering to a point. His aspect was stern and dignified, with a chiseled jawline and flat, solid-looking, cheeks. However, the look in his gold-colored eyes was kind and gentle, his lips turned up in a warm smile that looked as natural and permanent as Saisei's cynical one had looked on her face.
What was more, this man was clearly the source of the serene presence that filled the courtyard. When his gaze went to Ruby, his expression immediately softened, and she felt even more at ease, feeling as though she could walk up to this man and he would immediately sit and pull her onto his lap, as though she were a favored grandchild.
She caught motion out of the corners of her eyes. Looking around, Ruby was shocked to see that, not only Sasame, but Kyo and Shinrei were bowing to this man as well. Blinking, and looking back and forth between the three of them, she hesitated, before doing her best to mimic the gesture.
"It is good to see you again, Taihaku-sama," said Kyo, a reverence in his voice that Ruby had never heard before. She weighed what little she'd learned about the Mibu so far with the reactions of her companions. Sasame had bowed to Saisei out of obligation as her student. However, Kyo and Shinrei hadn't bowed, Kyo for reasons Ruby wasn't sure of, but Shinrei, probably, because he and Saisei were the same rank, even if she had seniority over him.
However, all three of them had bowed without hesitation before this man. It spoke of intense respect...and Ruby could understand why.
"You've grown stronger, again, Kyo," observed Taihaku with a wry quality to his voice. "I suspect that the day you surpass your parents is not far away."
"I appreciate your assessment," said Kyo, lifting his head, the others following suit.
"Sasame, I suppose Saisei has badgered you again," Taihaku observed, his gaze drifting to her.
"Indeed she did," replied Sasame. "She will have to be content to wait a while longer."
"Shinrei, I presume your mission went well," said Taihaku.
"That it did," said Shinrei in a cheeky tone. "I even picked up some walking souvenirs." He grinned, gesturing to the rest of their group.
"So I see," said Taihaku with a rumbling chuckle. Finally, his eyes settled on Ruby. "And what is your name, young lady?"
"R-Ruby R-Rose," stammered Ruby, not certain how to address this powerful, clearly-exalted man.
Taihaku merely chuckled again and fully descended the steps. "Come closer," he beckoned.
"Go on," said Sasame in an encouraging tone, her tail gently nudging Ruby forward.
Ruby did as she was bid, approaching the giant of a man, who stooped and gently clamped his hands around her waist, before straightening up to lift her off the ground. He looked her over intently, his eyes seeming to miss no detail about her appearance. Despite that, Ruby felt safe, comfortable even, in his hands.
"Hmm..." rumbled Taihaku. "Have Sasame and Kyo been training you in the Way of the sword."
"Uh huh," answered Ruby, nodding.
Taihaku smiled, the expression filling her with warmth and comfort. "They truly have discerning eyes. I do not know the circumstances of how you came to meet each other. I hope to hear the tale in full soon. However, I can see that you have the quality of a true warrior to you, Ruby-kun."
"Th-thank you," said Ruby, a bit thrown by the honorific that Taihaku had added to her name. She was used to Sasame and Kyo calling her "Ruby-chan", which Shinrei emulated. However, she didn't get the feeling that it had any negative implications.
Taihaku set her down. "And what is your relationship to her?" he asked, looking to Kyo and Sasame.
"We've adopted her as our sister," said Kyo plainly.
Taihaku chuckled. "Is that so? Well, I imagine that Sora-sama will be pleased. You're off to see her?"
"That's right," said Sasame.
Taihaku rested a hand atop Ruby's head. "I look forward to seeing you grow, Ruby-kun. I too enjoy teaching young ones. So feel free to seek me out, if you wish for a lesson or two."
"Th-thank you," said Ruby, beset by the feeling that she'd just been granted a tremendous honor.
"Please go on ahead," said Taihaku, stepping aside to let them past him and through the fifth gate.
They bowed to him again and filed past. As they left the gate and its courtyard behind, Ruby slumped a little. In Taihaku's absence, the air felt a tiny bit heavier and colder by comparison.
"It can be like that," said Sasame, gently draping her tail around Ruby's shoulders. "Taihaku-sama's Aura is quite potent."
"You all have so much respect for him," said Ruby, looking up at her three companions.
"Taihaku-sama is the leader of the Goyosei, having served the longest out of all of us," said Shinrei. "His strength is transcendent. He's a true master, easily the strongest of us."
"His offer to teach you is definitely something you'll want to take advantage of, later," added Sasame. "He is unmatched with a sword."
"Even better than Kyo?" asked Ruby.
Kyo laughed and grinned sheepishly. "When last we sparred, yes," he admitted.
"Only the Taishiro and the Crimson King are stronger," added Shinrei.
"He called me Ruby-kun," said Ruby. "What does that mean?"
"-Kun is an honorific that a teacher, like him, often uses to refer to his students," said Sasame. "In school, it is also used by upperclassmen to refer to those in the years below them."
"Does that mean you don't think of me as your student?" asked Ruby, feeling slightly worried as she looked at Sasame.
"Of course we do," said Sasame, hugging Ruby. "You are a wonderful student, Ruby-chan, one of the best I've ever seen. I called you Ruby-chan when I first saw you because you're so cute and endearing. After that...well...even if we see you as our student, we see you as our sister first. I hope that's acceptable."
"It is," said Ruby, hugging her back.
"Do you want us to call you 'Ruby-kun' from now on?" asked Sasame.
"No," said Ruby, smiling. "I like being called Ruby-chan by you. It feels nice."
"I'm glad it does." Sasame kissed Ruby on the forehead. "Now, let's move on. It's time to meet Kyo's mother."
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder