บท 7: Chapter Three - News of a Traitor (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion - "Flowery Wind by composer Yoko Kanno"

She woke up to the melodious sound of birds singing and sunlight caressing her face. Rolling out of bed, she woozily regarded the empty floor — the Emperor was gone. Leaden feet taking her outside, she saw the warhorse idly grazing in the distance. There was no sign of its arrogant master.

"Where did he go?" she wondered, strolling towards the black stallion.

The animal sighed and flicked its ears at her approach. Reaching out, she caressed its velvety coat, enjoying the soft, bristly texture.

"How rare. It seems Yan has taken a liking to you."

Inka jumped, a hand over her heart. "Don't ever do that again!"

Kyou's chuckle was mean as he proceeded to saddle up the horse. "I'm sorry. I had no idea you have such a weak heart."

"I don't. I was genuinely startled," she objected, continuously stroking Yan who soaked up the attention. He was much preferable than his master. "Where have you been? I woke up and you were gone."

A corner of his lips curved, a dimple appearing. "Why? Did you miss me?"

"Absolutely not," Inka snorted. "I thought how peaceful it was without your almighty presence."

"So, you admit that I am significant," he stated as a matter-of-factly.

This time she rolled her eyes. "I was being sarcastic, but you are the 'Emperor', aren't you?"

"I don't like it when you call me that. The way you say 'Emperor' makes me sound like the dirt beneath your feet. Your discourtesy would see you punished in court." He slipped Yan a sugar cube, casting her a sidelong glance. "You don't have a very high opinion of authority, do you?"

She contemplated her answer carefully. "Well, I don't hate you although you do test my patience." That earned her a light scowl. "Emperor or not, I have no reason to trust you. You may rule the Kingdom but, my ancestors believe you can never conquer a person's spirit unless he or she is willing to give it."

He grunted. "I am a man of logic. I don't believe in such drivel."

"It's not drivel, it's the truth! Now I understand why you're such an uptight prick." She rounded the horse, coming close enough to stare into simmering black pools. "Do you not care about anyone in your life?"

"No." His answer was direct. "Probably not how you believe I should. An Emperor has no room for emotions except a fine head on his shoulders and to rule with a firm hand. Feelings interfere with my judgements and that makes me unreliable." Kyou's gaze narrowed. "And I have never been called an uptight prick before."

"That's not entirely true," Inka disputed fiercely. "A good leader can only consider what is best for his people after he has walked in their shoes. That's what my father taught us. If you don't understand the people's pain, how can you understand and fix their problems?"

"Your father must have been a wise man." His calm astonished her. She was certain he would be furious. "It's logical to think that way but implementing it in reality is the hardest part. I'm not making excuses because it's unrealistic to believe that I can save everyone. For all the victories won, there are bound to be casualties."

"Choice and consequences." She echoed his thoughts.

"Exactly."

"It must be tough on you to shoulder it all," she commented. "Maybe I was too quick to judge you."

The way her crooked grin roused a strange, fluttering warmth inside him - something he didn't understand - made him lashed out frostily, "Don't get cozy with me witch, it won't earn you any favors and I don't befriend useless people."

Just like that, his words pounded out whatever good she felt within him. Her smile faded. Vexed at herself for lowering her guard, she decided it best not to continue this conversation. She hated to admit that his words hurt, and she didn't know why she cared. Spinning away from him, she changed the topic. "What should we do now?"

Kyou witnessed her walls rising and believed it was for the best. This woman evoked too many emotions he had buried for years and his attraction was another problem. "Yesterday I dispatched a few men to search for Kusunagi's whereabouts and there are reports of people sighting him in the West. Most likely wherever he is headed to is his base camp. That's where he will be preparing to ambush Lord Daifuku's manor."

"Where in the West should we go?"

"We'll go straight to Xin, the capital of Shiryuu. It's a good start to collect information about the rebellion."

The capital of Shiryuu was a stone's throw away from her ruined village. Inka was ashamed to have never explored the outside world, ignorantly content to stay within the clan. Her tribe was situated at the desert mountain foot, where greeneries grew abundant but out here in the city, it was a cluster of mud and straw houses weathering occasional sandstorms. They arrived by mid-noon, dismounting as they entered the bustling town.

People of all walks of life trudged up and down the streets, dressed in strange outfits and shop owners were aggressively flagging down potential customers to purchase their food and merchandises.

"Be careful not to get pulled by one," Kyou cautioned, his gaze alert.

Inka realized that while he appeared deceptively calm, he was ever vigilant. Soon, her attention drifted to a bun seller and coincidentally her stomach grumbled. They hadn't had dinner or breakfast. She flushed in embarrassment when Kyou turned to stare, arching a questioning brow.

When the stubborn witch was too proud to admit her hunger, Kyou sighed and caught her by the arm.

"What's wrong?" She glanced up innocently.

It enthralled him each time he looked into her moonlit colored eyes, how they changed according to her mood. Right now, they were a stark metal. "Come along," he dragged her to a restaurant.

She dug her heels in at the entrance, prying his hand off. "Why are we here?"

"We're hungry and if we want to find Kusunagi, this is the best place to start."

"B-but what about money?"

Kyou was genuinely puzzled. "You are travelling with a man who owns this entire Kingdom. Why do you worry about such things?"

His arrogance left her speechless as he hauled her inside. They sat by the window, overlooking the crowd while Kyou ordered their meal. Inka admired the oriental red staircases leading to the upper floors and the glowing lanterns hanging off the tented ceiling. Curious eyes observed the gambling customers in the back area, falling upon a table of loudmouthed ruffians.

What were they doing?

"You would make a terrible spy," Kyou disrupted her scrutiny. "Don't stare so intently or you'll attract unwanted attention."

All this new excitement made her breathless. "Are those men who we are looking for?"

"Perhaps," he replied evenly. "It's always the bad-looking ones we suspect most, don't you agree?"

Inka caught the subtle bite in his tone, uncertain if she had unknowingly offended him. "What do you—"

"Your steamed buns," the waiter announced, serving their meal.

Inka's mouth watered at the sight of the fluffy white mantou stuffed with fragrant pork belly. "Tell me, why didn't the waiter recognize you?"

"I only leave the palace for official businesses and those who see me often draw their final breaths on the battlefield."

Her nose wrinkled in disapproval. "How grim and dull your life is. Don't you know how to have fun?"

"Fun?" The word rolled off his tongue. "An Emperor doesn't have time for fun. For every minute I waste, someone in this Kingdom dies."

Inka was beginning to see Kyou in a new light, unable to imagine shouldering such heavy responsibilities at his age. In contrast, her childhood was filled with fun, danger but also love. "But aren't you wasting time now?"

"Kusunagi is a threat to the Kingdom's fragile peace. His rebellion must be eliminated or Shiryuu will plunge into chaos. I don't want his cause to inspire more insurgents."

"I don't understand. Why are you personally hunting him down?" The question had plagued her since the beginning. "You're the Emperor. Don't you have a Commander or a soldier to do your bidding?"

"Kusunagi dug his own grave when he made a fool out of me. I'm only setting an example to those who would dare to cross me in future."

"You're awfully confident of yourself." There was no malice in her observation, just pure wonderment.

He offered her a steamed bun. "What is a ruler without confidence? He who wavers, falls. The same goes for war. A single mistake might end your life."

She accepted the food and took a hearty bite, moaning in delight. She paused when she caught him flinching. "What's wrong?"

He cleared his throat, yanking his gaze from her lips. "Nothing, just a bit of an itch."

She figured he was lying but shrugged it off. "I never asked but exactly how old are you?"

"I'm eighteen. I'll be nineteen by the winter solstice."

Inka nearly choked as she swallowed. "Why, that makes you just a year older than I am! And the nerve of you calling me a little girl. You certainly don't look your age."

"It doesn't bother me. The older I appear, the more serious the council elders will take me."

"Now I understand why you get all touchy when someone judges a book by its cover," she teased, helping herself to another bun.

In the corner, the drunk ruffians started making a ruckus. One of them was manhandling a terrified waitress and she screamed when he leaned in for a slobby kiss.

Inka shot out of her seat, furious at the drunkard's impudence. Kyou stopped her with an unbreakable grip around her wrist. "Don't."

"You can't expect me to look on while she's being assaulted," she bit out, exasperation in every tense line of her body. Kyou's burning gaze reflected her sentiment, and she immediately calmed down.

"Please let me go!" the waitress cried, tugging her hand desperately.

The man laughed at her distress, crudely mimicking her pleas.

In a blink of an eye, he stiffened and collapsed to the ground. The waitress scrambled to safety.

"What the—" One by one, they collapsed, leaving a single man standing. Fear and confusion gripped his features as his eyes darted aimlessly.

Kyou stood and all eyes were on him as he approached the bamboozled drunk. Silence ensued. Inka's own lungs seized up. What had just happened?

Terror poured off the ruffian in waves, his legs stumbling backwards. "Please, we were just having some fun. Don't hurt me!" he begged pathetically.

Kyou was disgusted by his cowardice, controlling his urge to end the miserable worm's existence. Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, he showed a surprising amount of strength by lifting the thug off his feet. "Tell me, do you know of a man named Kusunagi?"

"T-there is o-one who recently came into town recruiting men."

"Yes, that's him. Where can I find him?"

"Kusunagi is an elusive snake! No one can find him unless he wants to be found!"

Crushing the man's throat, Kyou grounded out. "Maybe I'm not making myself clear. I'm asking how I can find him not what kind of a man he is."

"D-down by the river b-bank, there's a ferry man who might know something!" he choked in fear, the blood draining from his face.

"If you are lying to me, there will be no place for you to run or hide."

"It's the truth! Just look for a man named Saru! Tell him that the Oni sent you!" The ruffian was sobbing now.

Repulsed, Kyou released him. "Get out of my sight!"

Scuttling off like a cockroach, the man ran for his life. Fists balled in resentment, Kyou watched him disappear, believing the Kingdom would be better off without wastrels like him, but it was wishful thinking. No matter how peaceful a country was, men would never be satisfied, and trouble followed.

"What did he say?" Inka asked the minute he returned.

"We head for the riverbank. Kusunagi has an informant stationed there."

She jerked her thumb at the others fast asleep on the floor, their chests rising and falling. "What happened to them?"

He flashed his pocket weapon. "Poisoned needles are one of Beihai province's specialty. It's a trick I mastered as a boy."

Mischief sparkled like gems in her eyes. "Confiding your secret to me, aren't you afraid?"

"It takes years to master this skill precision. You won't be able to handle it like I do."

His highhandedness rankled and her mouth pinched in displeasure. "One day, I'll uncover your weakness and use it against you."

"Good luck to that," he replied in amusement. From Kyou's perspective, Inka's behavior was like a wet kitten. "Even my enemies have a hard time discovering my weakness."

If it were possible for annoyance to manifest into flames, Inka's head would be on fire. "You're impossible to talk to." She made a move to leave. "Let's just get going, shall we?"

He stopped her, amusement lingering. The little witch was so easy to tease. "Wait outside. I'm going to ask for directions."