x
The assassin hears the man chuckle and before she knows it he has her on the floor unable to move. He sits himself on top of her and gazes into her eyes as he says, “Taking on a Vampire at night is suicide. Who sent you to kill me?”
The lady stops struggling to break her writs free of his iron grip and replies, “Captain Kikuchi Shouji. He lied to me, he said you were just a man, you are clearly not with fangs like them.”
The Masked Warrior runs his tongue over his top teeth and agrees, “They are kind of a clue. I am going to let you up.” He gets off her and releases the woman’s writs. “So, what else has he said about me?”
The lady rubs her throbbing wrists and answers, “That all your magic is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. He also believes you should not be king when you love the same sex.”
Yūrei starts to laugh and shakes his head. “He has known me for years, he should know by now I am into both sexes and all of my, ‘magic’, he calls it, is real. I do not think you can summon an army of twenty minions with just smoke and mirrors. Well, you might as well tell me how much he paid you to kill me.”
The woman walks on her knees over to small bag and removes from it two money pouches. “Take a look for yourself.”
The Great Warrior pulls open the top of one to find it has been filled with gold and jewels. “My goodness, there is enough here to buy your own kingdom. I am serious why not just take this and run.”
The lady turns her back on him and drops the top section of her Yukata to reveal a tattoo of a frog sitting upon a cloud smoking an opium pipe. She flinches when the Vampire’s cold hand strokes it and he whispers, “Ahen no yume (Opium dream), I thought we had taken them down?”
“My mistress, Akizora restarted the assassin gild on the grounds we only take on jobs that involve in killing you and any god. Captain Kikuchi hired me because my mistress told him I am good and fast at getting the job done. To seal the deal I had to become his…” she shivers and wraps her arms around her body. “He stank of a strong smelling oil and he was sweaty. It took me a lot of washes to get rid of the stench. He did this really creepy thing of licking the back of my neck as he was taking me.”
the legend draws his hands towards his chest and his shoulders rise. “Eeew! Why lick you?”
The woman turns back around and answers, “I have no idea. It was horrible. I’ve never experienced that before.”
The Masked Warrior chuckles and remarks, “Could be why his wife left him.”
They both laugh and the lady agrees, “I wouldn’t put up with that. I should also point out his sex is boring, he just took me from behind the whole time, licked my neck and that was it, once he came he went to sleep.”
The king emits a disgusted groan and he too shivers at the thought of a man licking him during sex. He clears his throat and enquires, “When did he come to the Ahen no yume?”
The woman has a think and she does not pull her Yukata back straight, she leaves it exposing the top of her breasts. “A week ago he came and mistress picked me along with another nine girls,” she answers, glancing down at her chest. “We were shown topless into a room where this fat, late middle aged man was seated smoking a pipe, dressed in light blue. I noticed, as he walked around me, the crests upon his half coat were different. One looked like a set of arched bird wings and the other was an orchid. He picked me to kill you and another girl was picked to kill the leader of the Yamato.”
“Seriously, if that girl tries to kill Tenjō she will be dead before she even draws her dagger. I am not making this up, he is way more powerful than me, and he has this amazing gift of being able to see things before they happen. If he decides to let her live he will sentence her to the Mine regardless that she is a woman.”
The lady's is surprised to hear this and says, “Ah, he is ruthless.”
The Great Warrior laughs and shakes his head. “No, he is a man who has no emotions whatsoever. You have to understand Yamato Tenjō is a man of rules and authority. Go against him and you will pay the price, for he is a Soul Drinker. His kind can throw you into another domain, they can also read every thought in your head and he is not afraid of destroying a persons mind in order to gain the truth.”
The lady gasps and tells him, “That’s right Captain Kikuchi called him, 'heartless' because he does not understand peoples feelings. That is why he wants him dead as he thinks a person who understands and likes women should be in charge.”
“Hmm, interesting. If he really thought that back when he was just a man without a rank it makes me wonder why did he stay? More impotently what did he do to become captain?”
“He must have been good at his job. Showed kindness to the people and perhaps did everything the leader asked of him.”
“I will have to ask Tenjō for him to give him that position he must have done something that made him stand out. Anyway, is there anything else you can tell me?”
The lady pulls faces as she thinks and replies, “That is all I know.”
The Masked Warrior places one of the pouches of money in her hand. “Then take them and go to Seki, once there, look for Akai Tsuru (Red Crane).”
The woman is a little confused. “Akai Tsuru, what is that?”
“A safe place for people like you. You will be given a new identity that will give you a new life. Unless you want to be assassin all your life.”
“I would like that and with this I can buy my own home and run my own business.”
“Yes, you could even hire people. Or live the life of luxury with this and be a lady of laser.”
The lady sets it down and wonders, “I would like to know where he stole it from. I just cannot see his leader paying his men this way.”
“You are right, Tenjō gives them a proper paid packet.”
“Well, I do not need two bags of it. You keep that one as evidence and once we have made love I will leave,” says the lady and places her hand to the masked man’s groin.
Yūrei places his hand on top and expresses, “You do not have to seal the deal that way with me.”
The lady kisses him and explains, “I want a real man between my legs, one who can show me a good time. I want to be taken in other ways and I bet you know some really good ones? Two days of just the same sex as he brought me here to this village has left me craving for something good.”
The Masked Warrior is about to return the kiss, but he stops and sits back. “Wait, back up. He personally brought you here?”
“Yes, a long with those stinky men who attacked this village. He made it really clear to them that I was his woman and he took me every time we stop, he would come inside the carriage or take me into the nearby forest to have sex.”
“How many of those stinky men were with him?”
“Over a hundred, and it was his idea that they should smell disgusting for it would deter Dragons.”
Yūrei bursts in to laughter and claps his hands. “More like it had the opposite effect it got their attention and before those stinky men knew it they were trapped inside a ring of ice.”
They both laugh and the lady points out, “He is not a very good captain, he should know all of this, especially when their leader is a god.”
“The problem is, I think he does not believe Dragons exist until one is standing right in front of him. Hmm… that is something to consider.” He lies the lady down and tells her, “That what you are doing is nice.”
“I am pleased to hear it. I want him,” she whispers and places him inside.
They go on to have sex for most of the night and the Great Warrior does as she asked, he takes her in many ways and she of course likes the one where he holds the lady up by the waist. The assassin watches him move and she plays with her breasts to give him something nice to watch. Once they climax they lie together and fall asleep.
In the early hours Yūrei becomes aware of someone stroking his right ear, at first he thinks it is the girl wanting more sex, however, when he sniffs the air the sent of a Soul Drinker fills his nostrils. He rolls over to come face to face with the leader of the Yamoto and goes to give him a kiss but Tenjō leans away. “Ooh, you’ve been with a lady… I can smell her perfume on you,” he grumbles, pinching the end of his nose.
“Sorry, she wanted it, so I could not say no. Is it really that awful?”
“Jasmine mixed with your lovely sent. No, I have say it does not go well together. You really are terrible, if the woman lies back and opens her legs you have to take her.”
“No, she touches my man first and wrapped a leg around mine. Like this,” informs the Masked Warrior going on to show him.
Tenjō grips the Eternal’s hand remarks, “Not whilst you are stinking like a girl.”
They both laugh and kiss. Then the Light One gives his dear friend another sniff. “I have smelt that within my ranks.”
The Great Warrior pats him on the arm and remarks, “Well, that is normal when you have women living with your men.”
“None of them wear jasmine oil. Why has that got you on edge?”
The Masked Warrior points his hand to the dagger that lies on the floor on the far side of the room. “She was sent to kill me.”
“What?!” The Soul Drinker starts to cough and wheeze.
The legend rubs his close friend’s back and apologises, “Sorry, I did not mean for that to happen.”
Tenjō breathes in a bundle of herbs and answer with a wheeze to his voice, “I’m fine. Who…”
“You keep breathing that in and I will tell you everything,” replies Yūrei and goes on to inform him what the lady had told him about Captain Kikuchi and shows him the pouch she had left behind.
The Soul Drinker smiles and teases, “So, you became her prostitute for the night.”
The left corner of the Great Warrior's mouth rises and he suggests, “In that case you should take your cut, my pimp.”
They both laugh and Tenjō pats his dear friend’s bare chest. “Where on earth did he find this? I mean this is classed as Emperor money… You back stabber.”
Yūrei plays a long, he rubs his hands together and performs a sinister laugh. “Yes, it was me all along.”
The Soul Drinker gives him a kiss. “I am glad though you are all right. Are you up for an experiment?”
The legend’s eyes slightly widen with intrigue and he questions, “Ooh, why, what you wanting to try?”
“Flushing the girl, that is posing as one of my men, out into the open. I was thinking of asking you to send in one of your creatures into the soldier quarters to scare her… or is that wrong?”
Yūrei tilts his head from side to side. “It would prove quite effective, however, the creature could also scare your men. How’s about doing a drill, an excise that only your men would know.”
Tenjō slightly raises his left hand. “Now there's a thought. All right, I will leave you to get washed and dressed and meet you at my court.”
“Yes, see you there smelling more myself,” answers the Great Warrior with a slight chuckle to his voice.
They kiss again before Tenjō stands up and opens a portal to the Nara Main Court and steps through.
Yūrei sets the bag of gold and jewels to one side, then he throws on a Yukata and heads to the bathroom where one of the boys helps him to wash before he take a soak in the bath.
The Great Warrior is all alone so he takes the opportunity to remove his mask setting it down on the side of the bath. Then he sinks down under the water and comes up a moment later, uses a cloth to dry his face and puts on his mask as he rests against the side. He hopes the woman took his advice and fled whilst she had the chance to Akai Tsuru. Then his attention turns to what his good friend had told him about a lady smelling of jasmine within his ranks and grows concerned. He gets out of the bath throws on a clean loincloth and Yukara and returns to his room to get dressed, when the thrust for blood begins to come over him. The Masked Warrior portals to his town to have some fresh pig’s blood and the butcher informs him, “The Commander has been asking for you.”
“Has he now?” Yūrei answers with intrigue.
“Yes, he told me to tell you to meet him at the White Rabbit. I was saying to the wife if we do not watch it we will lose most of our young men to him.”
Yūrei winks his left eye and whispers, “We have nothing to worry about for the man he wants can be a little hard to get.” He winks his left eye and smiles.
Harumi frowns for a moment until he realises who the king is suggesting the Commander has a crush on the leader of the Yamato. “Ah, yes, well, he is a busy man.”
“True. In any case I had best go and see him. Like always thanks for the blood.”
“You’re welcome, Yūrei,” replies the butcher, performing a shallow bow.
Masked Warrior pats him on the shoulder before he trots over to the inn to be greeted at the door by his favourite girl. “Kiko, my dear, I trust you had a good night?”
“Yes, we had a great time. Commoner Ōtomo was very strict with me, I am not to delay you having fun with me.”
The legend pulls her close and asks, “What is it?”
“I do not know, he would not say what was troubling him. The other girls that have been taking him breakfast and tea told the boss he seems anxious.”
“Anxious? That does not sound good. I will go to him,” says the Masked Warrior, giving her a quick kiss before he carries on down to where the Commander is staying and knocks on the door.
The moment the door slides open it is clear from just from the man’s face he is worried. The Great Warrior gently takes his arm and moves him into the room and closes the door. “What is it? Did something happen last night?”
“I was worried about you. I am sorry I was not able to return to you and infirm you a monk was violently stabbed last night.”
The Masked Warrior gives him a hug. “Did you see it happen?”
“No, he was with the prince… there was so much blood, poor Tenjō he could not remain.”
The Great Warrior smiles and reassures him, “He has been to see me this morning and he is fine.”
Asuka breathes a sigh of relief. “I am pleased to hear that. He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“No, because he has a more pressing matter to contend with. Captain Kikuchi has haired assassin from Ahen no yume to kill us. Mine tried last night—”
“Oh my goodness,” interrupts Commander Ōtomo full of worry. “I mean I can see you are fine… even so that must have been a shock?”
Yūrei gets him to take a seat and replies, “I must admit it was when one minute she was combing my hair and the next she was holding a blade to my throat.”
Asuka eyebrows rise and states, “I bet you soon had her pinned to the floor?”
“I sure did and she soon realised Shouji had lied to her and he used her for two days. I would not be surprised if she is not carrying his child.”
Commander Ōtomo folds his arms. “Wait, Ahen no yume is in Osaka, so in total he was missing for four days and no one said anything.”
“Think about it, everyone has set tasks to do in winter when Tenjō is in the warm south, enjoying the spring like weather. I am willing to bet he looked in his logbook and lied about completing one of those task that would have taken him the exact same time to complete. Also he is the captain so no one would question it.”
“Ah, you are so right. So, he must have used his own money to hire these girls?”
“He gave her two bag of this.” The Great Warrior unhooks he pouch from his belt and pours our some of its contents into his hand.
Asuka is surprised and confused. “Gold and jewels? Where did he get this from?”
“I and the lady would like to know that. Come with me to the Main Court, as the other assassin is there, disguised as a boy. Tenjō is going to flush her out.”
“Ooh this I have to see. Just one question, what makes you think the woman, that tried to kill you, is carrying his child?”
“Her words, ‘he took me every time we stop, he would come inside the carriage or take me into the nearby forest to have sex’. The thing is it may have been boring to her to be taken from behind all the time, however, I have heard it is the most effective way to get a woman with child and she did say he did come every time.”
“Ah, I see what you mean. So, he meant what he said by making her his.”
The Masked Warrior nods and shivers. “She also told me as he was doing her he would lick her neck.”
Asuka is obviously fully discussed by the idea, his body twits and he emits a sharp, “Yuck! Yuck! Why?”
Even Yūrei shivers and answers, “I have no idea, but I can tell you that girl was creeped out about it. It could be why his wife left him.”
Commander Ōtomo nods in agreement and opens the door of his room. “Come, let’s get to Tenjō.”
They both make their way down to the entrance to put on their boots then Yūrei opens a portal to the Main Court to hear a beating of a drum is echoing around the courtyard. This makes them run out to the main field to see the leader of the Yamato is getting his army to do some exercise. Satō is beating a large drum and calling series of commands as he beats a different rhythm. after a while he goes quiet and the men have to remember what each rhythm he is beating means.
The Great Warrior follows his close friend’s gaze to see he is watching a soldier in the third row, two from the end who is clearly a woman trying to be a man. He sniffs the air, but with all the cooking fires makes it hard to make out her sent.
All of sudden Major General changes the beat to one he did not call. However, all the soldiers understand drop to the floor and begin to do pushups. They all notice it takes the one, the Soul Drinker has been watching, a moment to react and Tenjō makes his way over to the person. He gives the signal to rise and the soldier quickly stands up.
The leader looks at her from top to bottom and says, “You appear to be new, lad, what is your name, son?”
The lady becomes nervous and quickly answers, “Kira Yōmei, my lord. I only started a week ago.”
Tenjō likes the ways she is putting on a deep voice. “Miyoko, is this boy’s name on the list of new comers?”
Mrs Satō is looking through a book, she flicks the page and shakes her head. She goes on to let her husband check and he too gives their leader the same answer.
The Soul Drinker grabs the soldier’s shoulder and pulls her to one side. “You better start telling the truth, boy. Or should I say girl. Why don’t you start by telling me your real name?”
The soldier steps back and fear starts to keep into her otherwise clam expression. “I thought I could pass as boy… How, how could you tell.”
Tenjō walks around her and informs her, “I could tell not just from your size, or shape, I could also tell from your mind. It was that which gave you away.”
The lady is puzzled and thinks he is just making it up. Can he really read her thoughts? “What? I do not understand. What do you mean my mind gave me away?”
The Soul Drinker places his hands behind his back and responds, “Simple, girl, you are here on a mission to assassinate me and you hope to get me alone one night so you can… slip poison into my tea. You begin to worry I would detect it. So, you plan to conceal it in my food. Then it occurs to you, my meals are specially prepared by own cook. This has got you thinking of other ways to kill me and you have decided on a plain old fashion rout, to just kill me whilst I sleep. How does that sound?”
The woman tries to take another step back only to discover she is unable to move. The man who was bagging the drum sets it to one side and orders the other soldiers to return to their duties.
Tenjō turns to Mrs Satō and asks, “Miyoko, could you please show me her back?”
“Yes, Heavenly Warrior,” answers Mrs Satō, performing a shallow bow. She then gets hold of the intruders Kimono and begins to pull it down along with her undergarment off her shoulders. “Yes, she has the mark of the Ahen no yume. How is that possible, when you and our king shut it down?”
The Soul Drinker licks his right index finger and is about to wipe it over the cloud when his Commander steps in offering him a damp cloth. “Better than your finger, my lord.”
Tenjō’s lips form into a soft smile as he takes the cloth. “Thank you. How is the monk?”
“He is well. He told me he was cornered by one of those stinky men and he just stabbed him. He did not even remember getting to the fellow monk who raised the alarm.”
The Soul Drinker frowns when he remembers the stench of mortal blood. “That is not surprising giving his blood loss. Ooh, it was too much for me to bear.”
“I completely understand, your lordship.”
The woman flitches when the cold, wet cloth crosses her back and she hears the leader say, “It is real. It was Captain Kikuchi who hired you to kill me, wasn’t it girl?”
The lady is shocked and she quickly responds, “How did you know that? When I did not say anything.”
Tenjō walks around to face her, he emits a soft laugh and answers, “Your mind, girl, for you had to stand in front of him topless and he chuckled as he walked around you and another girl he liked. He gave you enough jewels and gold to buy a town. Why did you not just take it and run?”
The woman realises the man, with the light blue eyes, is floating on the spot and a ring of dust is circling his boots. She also comes to the conclusion he is somehow preventing her from escaping. “Because I had to fulfil my contract. I see now though you are not a man… you are something else.”
Tenjō folds his arms and replies, “I am a Soul Drinker, and you should be thankful, I am less harsh to women. However, if you were a man I would have thrown you to the ground and ripped off your Kimono. Miyoko, take her to a holding cell.”
Mrs Satō performs a shallow bow and takes hold of the imposter's arm. “Emm, Tenjō, I cannot do that unless you release her.”
The Soul Drinker’s eyes close for a second and he apologises, “Sorry, my dear, there you go.”
When Miyoko begins to drag the woman away she quickly turns and starts to fight with her, unswear she had picked the wrong lady to challenge and before she knows it the assassin is flat on her back staring up at the sky.
Toshirō and Asuka dash over to help Miyoko take the assassin to prison.
Yūrei gives the Light One a hug. “You did well to deal with her.”
Tenjō snuggles into him and responses, “It was not easy, I can tell you. See what I meant by her smelling of jasmine, just not as strong as the one you were with. I still cannot believe you made love with an assassin.”
“She wanted a real man and she did make the move as I have already shown you.”
Tenjō gives him a kiss and tells, “You need to be more careful. Anyway, here comes Asuka, let’s get to the Dancing Dragon so you can meet up with the royal guard.”
The Great Warrior opens a portal to Hatsugano, Izumi and they all step through to meet up with Detective Saitō and Peacekeeper Nakagawa Katsuhito who offers his leader a fresh hot red bean bun.
“Katsuhito, my honey, you spoil me,” announces the Soul Drinker as he takes it.
“Well, I had to with not seeing you for a while.”
“Bless you. So, has Daigo arrived?”
Akito performs a slight bow. “Yes, your lordship, he is in the office waiting for the king and Kuru to arrive.”
The Peacekeeper offers Yūeri a bun and expresses, “She is yet to arrive. Her men are on edge.”
The Great Warrior pats him on the arm and remarks, “It is a woman’s prerogative to be late.”
“Ah, that’s the thing, your grace, she is never late.”
Zhìhuì comes running over, he points to the main road. “Go, Son! They are being attacked.”
The Masked Warrior slaps the bun in the Detective's hand and vanishes to repair half way down the main road in to the town. He looks around and a man quickly tells him, “Your highness, some men attacked a lady and a man. They went off down that side road.”
The king gives a sharp nod, then he runs down the narrow street that has high hedgers on both sides and he soon hers the sound of swords clashing. General Ōtomo is fighting a group of eight men and there is no sign of Kuru. Yūrei rushes over drawing his Katana and in one movement he disarms all the enemy who are holding their aching wrists and their expressions are a mix of shock and bafflement.
The Great Warrior looks around the filed and asks, “Where is the lady?”
The General catches his breath and points behind him. “I told her to run,” he pants and wafts his hand in front of his face. “What a stink!”
“Apart from that are you all right?”
“Yes, your grace. Go, I can manage them.”
The Masked Warrior gives him a reassuring pat on the arm before he runs off into the filed. “Kuru! It is all right, dearly, you can come out.”
Then he hears her call, “King!” And she appears from around the side of a building holding her side. “King!”
Yūrei dashes over to see blood is seeping through the gaps of her fingers. He picks her up and tells her, “I am going to get you to a Healer.”
the lady is clearly in a lot of pain and in one breath she manages to tell him, “There is one in town, ooh, ow!”
“Easy, slow deep breaths. Hold on.” He goes on to run back to the others and Detective Saito leads him to the Healer’s place. From the outside it just appears as a normal house, it is not until they are inside they find it to be a doctors surgery with raised beds and draws lining one wall. A Healer dressed in a light Hanfu comes out from the back and gets them to place the lady on a bed.
“It is all right, I will help you,” he says in a soft voice, stoking her head. “Let me see, dear.”
Kuru removes her hands and watches him place a cloth over the wound and applies pressure. Even though she is really a man he respects her the same way he would any woman and gets the men to leave before he gently removes her clothes, cleans the wound with hot water, that smells of winter honeysuckle. The whole time she did not feel any pain and is amazed to see once he removes his hand the wound has healed.
The Healer's eyes open and a flash of glittery red goes across them. He smiles at her and softly tells her, “You need to rest, and I will do you a nice soup.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Oh, no need to thank me, dear, when I am just doing my job. Now you rest and I will let them know you are fine.” He hands her a fresh Yukata before he leaves.
Everyone outside are pleased to hear Kuru is doing all right and Healer does not allow them to see her with her not being decent.
“I will go and inform Daigo what has happened,” offers the Great Warrior. He trots over to the Dancing Dragon and the man on the door allows him to enter.
Inside the place is filled with the smell of tobacco smoke and men are seated around a low table throwing tokens in and calling either odd or even. The dealer at the head of the table is a tattooed man waring just a loincloth with a pipe sticking out the corner of his mouth. He is shaking a dish that has a plat over it and once everyone has place their bets he slams it down and lifts off the bowl to reveal six dice and calls, “ODD!” Some of the men groan in disappointment where others cheer and collect their winnings.
A young lady shows the king into a back room where a handsome man, who is dressed just as Kuru had described him, is seated at a desk, going through books and sipping tea. “Kuru, my dearly at last you are here. Please try the new wine.”
“I think I will pass, for wine and I do not mix.”
ns 18.68.41.137da2
