Jekyll2019-09-06T00:45:17+00:00https://yosai.world/feed.xmlThe world of YosaiYosai is a world inspired by Japan: anime, 90's Nintendo, Zen, Shinto, and more. A new short story every week.Dru KnoxA Dangerous Game2019-09-05T00:00:00+00:002019-09-05T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/a-dangerous-game<p><strong>This is part 10 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>. Or read the last installment <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/frantic-combat/">here</a></strong></p>
<p>It didn’t make sense.</p>
<p>Fumi was loud and careless. Annoyingly overconfident. Always butting into his business. Everything that Moto had struggled tooth and nail for she had simply been given. She was a liability to his plans. She was Soundstealer’s daughter.</p>
<p>But she was alone as she fought for her life. And Moto was mad.</p>
<p>The flame-eaters had done as much as they could, but they could only increase the speed of her natural recovery. The damage to her head was beyond simply closing wounds. They wouldn’t know what impact it had until she woke up. If she woke up.</p>
<p>Moto and Keta had spent the night in the infirmary, speaking little and staying close. But when the morning came, they were called to continue the exam. Daggers had little sympathy for fallen comrades.</p>
<p>Soundstealer never came to visit. When Moto and Keta left, Fumi was alone.</p>
<p>Moto shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts as he climbed the stairs to the platform at the center of the Playground. 50 feet square, its surface cracked and uneven from previous matches, the combat ring stood atop a small mountain. On display for all the Daggers to watch.</p>
<p>At the top of the stairs, Moto clapped Keta’s wrist. He wanted to pull the shapeling closer, but not with so many eyes watching. Iruka gave them a sad look as they made their way to opposite sides of the ring.</p>
<p>Moto couldn’t explain why Fumi’s injury consumed him. She offered no benefit. She didn’t even seem like a good fit for him as a friend. But after three years alone, thinking he would always be that way, the prospect of losing her was unacceptable.</p>
<p>Moto finally understood Iruka’s warnings. There were good people living in Iga. People he liked, who would watch out for him. But the Daggers as an organization didn’t care one way or another. His own ambition didn’t care.</p>
<p>Throwing this new life away to pursue those cold, uncaring ideas suddenly seemed crazy. He wasn’t even throwing it away to achieve success, just to increase the odds on a long-shot. Moto shivered. The thoughts changed too much.</p>
<p>Iruka’s hand dropped and the battle began.</p>
<p>Keta came forward at a run without his resonance. Despite himself, Moto’s mind started churning. Was Keta still fatigued? Or was this a trick?</p>
<p>Moto jumped backward, off the edge of the ring, and swung in a wide arc, coming to rest a good distance from the shapeling.</p>
<p>Moto’s resonance gave him a degree of mobility outside the combat area, where Keta would struggle to follow. The shapeling frowned for a moment, then moved to the center of the ring.</p>
<p>Moto knew he should strike and force Keta to use his resonance on the defensive. If he could weaken his friend’s already lowered stamina, it would be nearly impossible for the shapeling to close the distance.</p>
<p>But why? What was the point of this tournament for him? He thought gaining prestige with the Daggers would give him more access, help him move against Soundstealer.</p>
<p>But if revenge would leave no room for Keta, or Fumi, or Iruka, did he want it? What if one of his attacks caught the shapeling off guard and landed harder than he intended?</p>
<p>“Why don’t you fight?” Keta kept his voice low. Moto thought Iruka could hear, but the other Daggers probably not. The observers shifted along the walls, confused by such a lackluster start.</p>
<p>“I can’t…” Moto’s face screwed up in frustration. He couldn’t what? The last few days felt like running blind through a maze. “I can’t stop thinking about Fumi.”</p>
<p>Keta’s face grew sad, his eyes shimmered. He looked as though he wanted to stop the fight and grab Moto in his arms. Desperate as it seemed, Moto wanted him to. “You have been confused these last few days. I have seen it. Like an older dancer, struggling with a routine they could do while they were young.”</p>
<p>“Everything used to feel so clear. I… you know what I want. But now all I can think about is you and Fumi. And Iruka.” Moto shot an embarrassed glance at their teacher. She seemed surprised before hiding it with an infuriating grin. “I don’t know how you all fit in.”</p>
<p>A smile spread across Keta’s face, joining Iruka’s. His tone brightened. “Only you could realize you cared for people and then decide that you were having a complete mental collapse.”</p>
<p>In the corner, Iruka laughed. Moto bristled.</p>
<p>“There is the man that I love.” Keta dropped into a crouch, thin wisps of steam trailing from his fingers. It seemed his resonance had recovered. At least to some degree. “These feelings. They are like stage fright. And there is only one way to deal with stage fright. You must move faster than the doubt can follow.”</p>
<p>Keta sprang forward, a wicked grin splitting his face. For an instant, Moto felt a surge of panic. The way Keta moved reminded him of Hibana’s lethal strikes. Moto threw a hand to the side and pulled, trying to arc away.</p>
<p>The pull was weak. Instead of flying wide around the shapeling, Moto only moved a few feet. He staggered, surprised. He had meant to go much further. What happened?</p>
<p>Keta landed on one foot and pivoted, turning to follow Moto’s retreat like a cat stalking a mouse. “You will have to be faster than that.”</p>
<p>Moto’s tactical brain took over. Keta was too close. There would be no time to react to the flame-eater’s rapid movements. He needed to get away.</p>
<p>Mid stride, Keta pulled his right arm back, twisting his hand in a familiar pattern. The shapeling was unwinding the weighted silks around his wrist to extend his range, trying to catch Moto before he could flee.</p>
<p>Moto pulled a small stone at his feet and shot it toward Keta’s wrist, interrupting the movement. At the same time he pulled as hard as he could behind.</p>
<p>Again, he only moved a few feet. Even the small stone he threw at Keta seemed to have less impact than he intended. Dimly, some part of his mind realized that his resonance was weakening. All his confusion was finally disturbing the focus he used to call on stone.</p>
<p>Keta closed, eating the last few feet of distance between them. Fighting someone with his speed required absolutely no hesitation, and Moto was full of that right now.</p>
<p>Keta grabbed Moto’s shoulders, holding him in place as he coiled into a ball. Moto recognized the move. Keta was going to drop kick him, trying to knock him out of the ring. Frantically, Moto slid a foot forward and pulled against Keta’s back, throwing the shapeling’s balance off so his kick went wide.</p>
<p>Keta caught himself on both hands and spun, his legs scything through the air in an imitation of Fumi’s style. Moto ducked the first blow, then pulled against the shapeling’s hands to make him fall.</p>
<p>Keta laughed, tumbling into a roll that brought him closer. “Pulled one way then the other. It is like fighting in a cart as it tumbles down a hill.”</p>
<p>Staying low, stance wide, Keta sent two quick jabs toward Moto’s stomach. He was adapting to Moto’s power quickly. But he had used the same move against Haiyu.</p>
<p>Moto drew his arms across his body, trying as best he could to steer Keta’s hands by pulling on them with his gravity. Keta’s resonance may be weak, but he was still hitting too hard to block. And he was moving with an easy speed that Moto could barely match.</p>
<p>Moto pulled the first blow wide. The second only glanced his shoulder. It hurt, but nothing like a direct hit.</p>
<p>Moto had a moment of shock as he realized he was actually holding his own. He certainly wasn’t winning, and it wasn’t Keta’s full strength, but he hadn’t been completely overwhelmed. The dancer’s moves were so familiar, he knew them almost as well as his own.</p>
<p>The stray observation was one too many. The shapeling blew past Moto’s distracted guard and grabbed hold of Moto’s belt. Keta spun around, muscles surging as he lifted Moto in the air and threw him to the ground.</p>
<p>Moto landed awkwardly on one shoulder, sending pins and needles down the arm, but managed to guide his momentum with his power so he came out standing.</p>
<p>Was the arm broken? He twitched his fingers experimentally. No, but probably dislocated.</p>
<p>Keta appeared, staying low so Moto couldn’t pull him off balance. “Do not think. Move.”</p>
<p>He struck forward with both fists and Moto barely managed to spin around them by using Keta as an anchor. The shapeling didn’t move an inch. He had adapted completely to Moto’s gravity.</p>
<p>Keta’s arm followed in a backhand aimed at Moto’s head. Moto jumped back, pulling to get some distance. He still didn’t travel far, but the shapeling let him have a moment to breathe.</p>
<p>“Always weighing, looking for advantages. Doubting. Too afraid of weakness to take a risk trusting those around you.</p>
<p>“Your feelings are what they will be. There is no logic to them. No predicting whether they will bring you happiness or ruin. You are confused because you’re trying to think of them as something that can be understood and optimized. But it is a blind leap. Accept or reject. Make your choice.”</p>
<p>Keta ran forward again, this time without his resonance. Perhaps his stamina had not recovered much after all.</p>
<p>Moto cursed, realizing he had spent the entire time listening to Keta instead of reclaiming the distance. In a second the shapeling would be on him again. No matter how well he knew Keta’s moves, he couldn’t match the dancer forever.</p>
<p>Funny. Just a moment earlier he could hardly see the point of fighting. But Keta had gotten under his skin, pulled him out of his head. It seemed everyone on the squad was good at that.</p>
<p>“As if you would ever let me reject.” A smile pulled at the corner of Moto’s mouth as his stone cloud rose.</p>
<p>One rock caught Keta on the shoulder, staggering him. Anyone else would have been pummeled by all five, but Keta was top of the class for a reason. He jumped, using the momentum of the first collision to spin as he found the gap between the projectiles.</p>
<p>Moto hadn’t expected to call so many stones at once. It was still short of the number Iruka could manage, but only barely. He could hardly breathe for the focus the cloud required.</p>
<p>Their attention consumed by the stones, the two of them fell into a rhythm like a dance. Keta’s body steamed again as he flipped and rolled, sometimes being forced to knock a stone off its course with the flat of his hand. He had turned his back to Moto, stepping closer. The stones whirred faster as Moto mirrored the dancer’s steps, keeping him at the edge of the cloud.</p>
<p>A stone flying low caught Keta’s ankle, pulling him off his feet. Just like that, the dance was done.</p>
<p>Two stones rushed towards Keta at high speed. One for his stomach and one for his head. In horror, Moto grabbed hold and wrenched their orbits wide, sending them flying toward the walls.</p>
<p>A pair of Daggers ducked as one of the stones exploded against the wall. The rest of the stone cloud disintegrated with Moto’s lost focus.</p>
<p>Keta caught himself on his hands and retreated in a series of flips. His breathing came heavy and there was a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, Moto must have clipped him once without realizing. He felt a pang of concern.</p>
<p>Keta smiled, a mix of exasperation and exhilaration. “Do not give me that look.”</p>
<p>The dancer straightened, wiping the blood from his mouth. “It is like teaching the children their first routine. Once I get the right foot in line, the left goes wandering out of place.</p>
<p>“But I will not wait another year for you to understand this lesson. You are too stubborn to be left to find it on your own.”</p>
<p>He dropped into a crouch, spreading his stance wide and balling his hands into fists. “Going from using others to protecting them like your collection of fine porcelain is a quarter turn at best. I want the full pirouette. If you cannot accept the risks of working together, <em>all the risks</em>, then you are still trying to pull the strings.”</p>
<p>A torrent of heat erupted from Keta. A stiff wind picked up, swirling around the ring and pressing hard against Moto. “If you are going to let me in, then <em>let me in</em>.”</p>
<p>Moto had seen that look on Keta’s face before. It was the same determined look he had when he wanted to save the workers in the burning warehouse. The same look when he was determined to save the other prisoners in the spider cave, even though it meant certain death.</p>
<p>It was the same look Moto’s father gave the last time he ever saw him alive.</p>
<p>Moto had little more than a heartbeat to pull his stone cloud back around him before Keta vanished and reappeared at the swirling barrier, catching one of the stones and hurling it into the distance.</p>
<p>The shapeling’s legs tensed and he was gone. Then he was upside down above Moto’s head, plucking two stones from the air and throwing them away as well.</p>
<p>Moto pulled in more to replace them. He was up to seven, desperately trying to keep the barrier dense enough to hold Keta out. But with frightening ease the shapeling danced inside the cloud, landing in a crouch as he smirked at Moto.</p>
<p>Moving this fast couldn’t be good for his body. Not with his resonance still exhausted by the battle with Hibana. But Keta was loving every minute of it. His eyes never left Moto’s face.</p>
<p>The fool was going to get himself hurt. Why couldn’t he realize that all his heroics left others picking up the pieces? If Keta died, did he have any care for the sadness Moto would feel? The loneliness that would be left?</p>
<p>But then, that was the point of this performance, wasn’t it? Keta was showing him that he was strong enough to survive. Strong enough that he wouldn’t bend as Moto pleased.</p>
<p>If Moto wanted Keta in his life, he had to let the shapeling choose his own risks and make his own decisions. Worse still, he would drag Moto along on the same foolish quests.</p>
<p>Keta’s grin widened as he spun behind Moto. With one hand, the shapeling knocked away a stone. With the other, he gripped Moto’s dislocated shoulder. A surge of heat filled Moto’s arm as it healed. Keta danced away, laughing.</p>
<p>Moto bristled at the shapeling’s challenge. <em>He</em> was strong enough to make good on every one of his lofty ideals. The only question was whether Moto was strong enough to keep up.</p>
<p>Moto sent the stones in his cloud careening toward the shapeling. Keta’s body twisted with seeming nonchalance as he dodged the stones. In reality, his motion was a blur. Moto cursed. The dancer was too fast to hit with anything he threw.</p>
<p>Fine. If Keta was determined to be as dumb as his father, then Moto had no other choice. But see if Keta could get himself killed with Moto there to watch his back.</p>
<p>Keta stumbled as Moto’s power pulled in all directions, shifting gravity toward him. But that was only a side effect.</p>
<p>Iruka mentioned that the strongest resonants could do more than manifest energy through their bond. They could enforce their will on their element, shaping it in the world around them.</p>
<p>Keta had made his point, and Moto accepted it. Grudgingly. But not a chance would he let the shapeling go dancing around, showing off like he could get his way whenever he wanted.</p>
<p>All traces of hesitation were gone as Moto reached out and grabbed the stone at Keta’s feet. He could dodge anything Moto threw, but how would he handle this?</p>
<p>The rock shifted. Keta’s eyes widened in surprise, but it would take more than that to catch him flat footed. A wave of steam rolled off his muscles and he was gone.</p>
<p>Truly gone. The shapeling moved so fast Moto’s eyes didn’t even catch a blur.</p>
<p>He reappeared in Moto’s face, legs brought up to his chest, but Moto knew how the shapeling fought. He had already grabbed the stone at his feet, reshaping it into a shield. Keta’s legs snapped out and the rock wall shattered.</p>
<p>Moto caught the stones, accelerating them in a tight loop and launching them at the shapeling before he could land. Somehow Keta spun as he fell, knocking away the rocks with two tight kicks.</p>
<p>But the stones were only a distraction. Moto grabbed the earth below and sent a pillar crashing upward. The shapeling grunted in surprise as he was knocked back to the sky.</p>
<p>Moto coiled the earth beneath his own feet and launched into the air as well, building momentum. He latched on to Keta and pulled.</p>
<p>The shapeling managed to unfurl his silks and land a solid blow against Moto’s shoulder before he was careening past, helpless as he flew off the edge of the ring.</p>
<p>The last thing Moto saw before Keta went crashing into the trees was the shapeling’s smile. Moto landed roughly, barely managing to pull behind and stay inside the ring himself.</p>
<p>He heard Iruka calling his name. He had won.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>It was Moto’s turn to lean against the railing at the edge of the Playground. Keta was gone, hauled off to the infirmary to treat his falling injuries as well as his extreme exhaustion. Moto wanted to go with him, but he needed to watch the match between Hako and Hibana first.</p>
<p>The two recruits— chunin now, Moto corrected himself— stood in the ring, waiting on Iruka to begin the match. Moto watched with a feral glee.</p>
<p>He hoped Hibana would win. With his newfound ability, he wasn’t afraid to meet her in the finals. And he had some payback to deliver on behalf of Fumi. Hibana had joined his list for revenge.</p>
<p>If she lost, Moto hoped she fought tooth and nail, and that Hako left her badly battered. His only fear was that one of them might concede like Haiyu had.</p>
<p>As if enacting his thoughts, Iruka dropped her hand and Hibana turned toward the stairs. She stalked like a caged panther, shoulders hunched with the difficulty of restraint.</p>
<p>“I concede.” She bit the words off like a deer’s throat.</p>
<p>Moto ground his teeth, his fists balling against the railing. What were they up to? Not knowing bothered him. Almost as much as the fact that he couldn’t pound Hibana flat.</p>
<p>Moto pushed off in a huff, muttering a string of curses under his breath. Another time. Hibana would regret what she did to Fumi. For now, He would have to settle for venting his frustrations against Hako.</p>
<p>Moto’s knees wobbled, still weak from his battle with Keta, and he cursed at that too.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>When Moto and Iruka entered the infirmary, Keta was sitting upright in bed. Apparently, the shapeling had insisted his bed be brought next to Fumi’s under threat of moving it there himself. He sat now with one hand protectively on the girl’s unconscious shoulder.</p>
<p>Keta tipped his head sideways inquisitively. “So soon?”</p>
<p>“Hibana conceded.” Moto immediately regretted his sharp tone. “Sorry. I just wanted to fight her.”</p>
<p>“For one so new to having friends, you are quite practiced at swearing vengeance for fallen comrades.”</p>
<p>Moto’s eyes widened. It was all he could do not to glance nervously in Iruka’s direction. But the teacher hadn’t noticed Keta’s reference to multiple vendettas.</p>
<p>“You’ll get another go someday, kid. The Daggers never miss a chance to pit us against each other.”</p>
<p>“Good.” Moto dropped himself onto Keta’s bed, carelessly enough to make the shapeling wince. That would have to do as punishment for now. Five minutes working together and the shapeling was already making him regret it.</p>
<p>Keta adjusted his feet into Moto’s lap and Moto felt a flash of discomfort.</p>
<p>Apparently he didn’t like feet. It was a realization about himself that he’d never had the opportunity to have. Moto couldn’t help but laugh as he pushed Keta’s feet away.</p>
<p>The shapeling looked at him quizzically, but seemed content just to see Moto happy. He adopted a hurt air as he pulled his feet beneath him on the bed. “Hardly a day as squad leader and already you can’t be bothered to give a foot rub.”</p>
<p>Moto blinked, momentarily confused until he got Keta’s reference. “That’s right, isn’t it? I got further than you and Fumi, so that makes me squad leader.” Moto grinned.</p>
<p>“Fumi might take issue when she wakes.” All three of them ignored the sliver of hesitation in Keta’s final words. “She will claim the bet was for whoever won the tournament.”</p>
<p>Iruka looked between them. “Sounds like you three have decided to stay together then?”</p>
<p>Moto nodded as he wrestled Keta’s legs out from under him, forcing past his discomfort to give the shapeling the foot rub he requested. Iruka smiled as Keta began to squirm. It turned out the shapeling was ticklish. Moto clamped down on Keta’s ankles, the shapeling’s discomfort paying for Moto’s own.</p>
<p>Abruptly, Iruka’s face became serious. It took Moto a moment to realize why she was clearing her throat. He could still hear Keta’s protests, but otherwise the room had gone silent. The ruffling of covers, faint breathing, the sounds of people walking by outside the window. All were gone.</p>
<p>Moto turned, knowing what he would find.</p>
<p>“Soundstealer.” Iruka nodded to the man, her face harder than granite.</p>
<p>“Stonesong.” Soundstealer inclined his head a fraction, then turned his attention to Moto.</p>
<p>Moto dropped Keta’s feet like they were hot coals, shooting to his feet as fast as he could. His heart leapt into his throat. The man had a presence that permeated his surroundings with threat. The air itself seemed to be pressing in.</p>
<p>It probably was, Moto realized. Just as he had commanded stone earlier, Soundstealer was probably holding the air around him. Unlike Moto, he didn’t have to be selective. Every scrap of air in the room was held in Soundstealer’s iron grip. Moto wondered if the man even let go in his sleep.</p>
<p>Somehow, understanding the power better only made it more intimidating.</p>
<p>“A word, Moto.” It was not a request, and Moto was three steps in following before he even stopped to consider.</p>
<p>Moto wiped his palms along his pants. What did the man want? He thought back to the beginning of the tournament. Had Soundstealer been staring at him after all? Did he know?</p>
<p>Moto turned back to Keta. His nerves must have shown on his face, because the shapeling pushed himself to the edge of the bed, getting ready to follow.</p>
<p>“I did not request your presence.” Soundstealer had reached the door.</p>
<p>“These kids are trying to spend time with their teammate. Your daughter, Soundstealer. Though I wouldn’t expect you to trouble yourself on that account.” Iruka looked as though she had bitten into something sour.</p>
<p>“She will still be here when he returns.” Soundstealer turned back to Moto. He did not look impatient. Nor did he look like there was any choice but for Moto to do as he was told.</p>
<p>“It’s OK Iruka. I’ll make it quick.” Surely Soundstealer couldn’t just kill him? Not so blatantly. If he could, if he had evidence of Moto’s intervention and it was enough to justify his death, then surely he was beyond saving whether he went with Soundstealer now or not. At least he could keep the others out of it.</p>
<p>Besides, after all his actions, all his eagerness to work with Soundstealer, it would be suspicious to refuse an audience now. Moto took a steadying breath. He wished it wasn’t so hard to keep a clear head around the man.</p>
<p>Keta squeezed his shoulder and gave an encouraging nod as Moto walked to the door.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Walking outside in Soundstealer’s bubble of silence was disorienting. At least indoors, it was easy to forget and think the room was simply quiet. But now Moto could see the sources of all the sounds that did not reach him.</p>
<p>“An impressive showing today. You are the first Terran with a bond strong enough to command stone in many years. I thought Iruka might have, but then… The flame-eater holds potential as well.”</p>
<p>“Thank you.” Moto’s skin crawled at the compliment. Soundstealer was the last person he wanted to hear it from. Except maybe Hibana.</p>
<p>“Why do you thank me? The power is your own. I do nothing but acknowledge it. You have come to the ability recently, I imagine. Else there would have been some sign of it in the ashes of Genji’s warehouse.”</p>
<p>In any other scenario, Moto would have been proud that the surprise tactic did not make him miss a step. But he did not think Soundstealer was even trying a tactic. The man spoke casually because he was completely unconcerned by whatever Moto chose to do.</p>
<p>Besides, Moto’s heart was beating so loud in his ears that Soundstealer had to hear it, whether Moto gave the truth away with his stride or not.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure—.”</p>
<p>Moto’s voice cut off in a strangled gasp as a massive weight wrapped itself around his chest and throat. The breath in his lungs wheezed out as he was compacted by the air around him. Moto reached for his throat reflexively, but his arms were held at his side.</p>
<p>“Do not waste my time. Two men clad in the robes of Daggers were seen running from the warehouse, meeting your description. If you did not want me to know, you should not have stayed to help those useless workers. Whatever stupidity gripped you then, do not infect my presence with it now.”</p>
<p>The pressure subsided. The exchange had been fast enough that no one noticed Moto’s brief paralysis. But the point had been made. Moto gasped for breath. He was certain no one around them could hear it.</p>
<p>“What do you want?” Moto rubbed his throat as casually as he could manage.</p>
<p>“Which one of the fools do you work for?”</p>
<p>“I don’t—.” Pins and needles, sharp as blades skittered across his throat and Moto came up short. He had stepped into something bigger than he realized here, and it didn’t seem there was much room for error. He needed time to think. “They’ll kill me.”</p>
<p>A sharp cut opened on his cheek.</p>
<p>“And I will not? I assure you neither Danzo nor that brute Breaker has enough sway to protect you here. Even if I had no interest in killing you, Amaya’s little pets seem bent on removing you.</p>
<p>“Your master has served you poorly, boy. If you have any sense you will realize that your only hope to live lies in pleasing me.”</p>
<p>The first name meant nothing to Moto, but he had heard Breaker before. For one frantic heartbeat he feared he wouldn’t be able to recall where. But then blessed memory clicked into place. The thugs at the warehouse had been interrogating their prisoner about Breaker. But what was this about Amaya? What did the Silence of the Four Seasons have to do with anything?</p>
<p>Moto let his face fall in what he hoped was a broken look. At the very least, the fear was not feigned. “Breaker.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer nodded curtly. “I thought as much. The whole thing reeked of his particular brand of clumsiness. Tell me, what did he hope you would achieve? Does he wish to expose me, having you attach yourself to my daughter as you have?”</p>
<p>This was the crucial moment. There was no way Moto could keep a charade like this up for any length of time. He needed to sell Soundstealer something that would foreclose further questions.</p>
<p>He had a guess, based on what he had heard during the interrogation in Jidoka and the way powerful people generally treated underlings. But it was only a guess.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t told much. Something about a town being destroyed. He wanted me to figure out which of your clients had ordered it, then take them out.”</p>
<p>It felt weird to skirt so closely to the truth. But it was also close to what the warehouse thugs had been interested in.</p>
<p>Soundstealer paused for a moment, staring at Moto’s face. Under that glare, it was a challenge not to swallow like a frightened rabbit.</p>
<p>“Fool.” Moto’s stomach tightened before Soundstealer continued. “Three years and he’s still upset about something so trivial? He knows I had no choice. My connection to Sadashi’s network is too valuable to throw away. Certainly not over his pet Hero. The Last Standing himself was there. If I hadn’t acted, Hisoka’s plan would have been laid bare for all to see.”</p>
<p>Moto felt like he had been slapped in the face. There was so much packed into that single outburst. It clearly was not meant for him to hear. It carried the tenor of a well worn debate, something rubbed raw and emotional for Soundstealer. That meant whoever this Breaker was, Soundstealer had a long history with him.</p>
<p>It sounded like they worked together. But Breaker opposed whoever this merchant was that Soundstealer worked for.</p>
<p>It had to be wrapped up in this plan of Hisoka’s. Iruka had mentioned Soundstealer abandoned her on some sudden request from Iga’s ruling Champion.</p>
<p>All of these thoughts were processed dimly at the back of Moto’s mind. At the forefront was the realization that this well worn frustration between Breaker and Soundstealer was Moto’s village. Three years was exactly the right amount of time. Whoever the Last Standing was, Moto added him to his list.</p>
<p>Soundstealer composed himself with visible effort, rubbing his eyes with two fingers. “You are lucky, boy. I believe there is a way for you to be of use to me, so I will make you an offer that lets you keep your skin.” With a sickening dread, Moto realized that might not be a figure of speech.</p>
<p>“You are strong. Your showing today showed as much. Strong enough to be effective. If I can move against Sadashi, more than simply spying, the rewards from Hisoka would be immense. Immense enough for me to share a fraction with any who would help me achieve such an end…”</p>
<p>“You’re asking me to betray Breaker?” Moto put just a touch of indignation in his voice. Let Soundstealer think he had broken through some barrier and he would believe the lie. How was it that manipulating a master assassin was so much easier than dealing with Keta when he was angry?</p>
<p>“I’m asking you not to be an idiot who throws his life away. Breaker has obviously told you precious little. He probably thinks he’s being coy and devious. But that lack of information has left you blundering around like a fool in the dark. I’ve tried to keep you away from my daughter to minimize suspicion, but look how that turned out. You’ve practically gotten her killed.”</p>
<p>Moto tried to hide his confusion. Soundstealer spoke like Fumi’s fight with Hibana was his fault. Then realization smacked him in the face.</p>
<p>Amaya’s pets. Hako and Hibana were both from north of the Fox Fangs, where the coldest of the Four Seasons made her domain. And Haiyu’s last name was Threerivers, for the waterways that divided Jidoka.</p>
<p>Were they spies? But for what? There was so much he didn’t know.</p>
<p>“The merchants that Breaker would have you move against, I would also like to see investigated. For more intelligent reasons, of course. Sadashi always has his spies around, so my hands have been tied. But with you supposedly acting on Breaker’s commands, I suddenly have a path before me.</p>
<p>“I can feed you the information you need, so that you can pick targets more intelligently. Breaker will think you are making outstanding progress, which should keep him from coming after you. And when you ultimately find what I am after, you will be rewarded far beyond whatever pittance Breaker offered.”</p>
<p>“And what are you after?”</p>
<p>Soundstealer raised an eyebrow. “So you accept?”</p>
<p>Moto slumped his shoulders, looking defeated. “It doesn’t seem like I have any other choice.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer nodded. “Prudent. I am looking for a child. Or rather, one of many children. Sadashi has sent me on many missions involving children. Escorting them. Retrieving them. Killing them.</p>
<p>“He’s doing something. But I could never investigate a mission he had given explicitly to me. I will give you the locations where several of these children were taken. I want you to find out what Sadashi is doing and retrieve one of the younglings if you can.”</p>
<p>“Won’t Breaker be suspicious if I change targets?”</p>
<p>“You won’t be. The first place I’d have you look is the very same woman who ordered his precious little Hero killed.”</p>
<p>Moto hoped he was keeping his eagerness hidden. Could he really be this lucky? How had certain death become exactly what he sought?</p>
<p>“We will discuss logistics further at another time. With your victory in the exam, no one will look askance at me courting you.”</p>
<p>“I haven’t won the tournament yet, though.”</p>
<p>“But you have. What with Hako and his squad disappearing in the night. Consider it an early payment from your new benefactor.”</p>
<p>That answered the question of whether Soundstealer really could just kill anyone he wanted. If that had ever really been in doubt. “Won’t that make others suspicious?”</p>
<p>“It is necessary. If you fought him, there is a good chance you would die, even with your newfound ability. Besides, you winning will create a useful cover for us to communicate. I can have it handled without being implicated. I’ll have to make Amaya believe you handled them, though.”</p>
<p>“Perhaps if you only drive them off. Amaya would never believe you would do something so obvious. If you make your involvement hidden but easy to weed out, maybe it will seem like revenge for what Hibana did to Fumi and nothing more. The easiest way to sell a lie is to let them think they’ve figured out the trick.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer was thoughtful for a moment before nodding. He seemed mildly impressed. “It is not an altogether foolish idea. I will think on it.”</p>
<p>There. Keta couldn’t say he hadn’t at least tried to take the higher path. He wasn’t altogether concerned if Hibana <em>did</em> an untimely end, though. Baby steps.</p>
<p>“What about Keta?” Moto felt a moment of hesitation. He didn’t want to draw the shapeling into this. But he knew what decision Keta would make if he had the choice.</p>
<p>Moto had promised to respect that. Even if that promise came in the form of a pillar of rock knocking the shapeling through a few trees. “He’s my partner.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer waved a hand. “You can keep your squad. I would have preferred you not involve my daughter, but I suppose it can’t be helped. If you’re found out I can claim that you got your information from her and safely excise all three of you. If she doesn’t wake up, I’ll find someone else with tenuous connections to me who can serve the same purpose.”</p>
<p>Moto knew color had risen to his cheeks. How could the man talk about his daughter so callously? Moto looked away to hide his anger.</p>
<p>As he turned his face away, Moto realized they were back at the infirmary. He had been so absorbed with keeping up with the conversation, he hadn’t looked at all where they were going.</p>
<p>“I will leave you for now. We will talk again once Hako and the others are gone and you are declared winner. If anyone asks, I am considering you for one of my teams, but want you to prove yourself further first.”</p>
<p>Just like that Soundstealer was gone. Moto stepped into the infirmary, taking a shaky breath. His hands quivered so badly he had to hold them behind his back as he entered the room with his squad.</p>
<p>Keta caught his eye and gave a questioning look. Moto gave a quick nod that said he would tell him later. And he would. He was decided now.</p>
<p>Iruka cast a nervous glance at the cut on his cheek, but Moto brushed it aside as he sat down.</p>
<p>“Well, in that case you missed some news. The doctor said Fumi looks like she’ll make it through. They’re still concerned she might have some permanent damage from the head wound, but she’s going to wake up.”</p>
<p>A flood of relief washed over Moto. It was such a stark contrast to the tension from Soundstealer’s presence, he gasped out loud.</p>
<p>Moto clamped a hand over his mouth and looked at his squad. Iruka was tilting back in her chair with boots up on the end of Fumi’s bed. She seemed pleased with the reaction elicited by her comment. Keta was covered in bandages but looking at him tenderly. Fumi was lying unconscious beside them, yet somehow looking stubborn and cocky while she did it.</p>
<p>Everything had changed. He was suddenly playing a much more precarious game. But all he could think about now was Fumi. And spending time with the team. Idly, Moto wondered where these bonds would take them now that he was allowing them to take root.</p>
<p>Moto shook his head ruefully. He shouldn’t let himself get too carried away. But still, he smiled.</p>Dru KnoxThis is part 10 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. Or read the last installment here It didn’t make sense. Fumi was loud and careless. Annoyingly overconfident. Always butting into his business. Everything that Moto had struggled tooth and nail for she had simply been given. She was a liability to his plans. She was Soundstealer’s daughter. But she was alone as she fought for her life. And Moto was mad. The flame-eaters had done as much as they could, but they could only increase the speed of her natural recovery. The damage to her head was beyond simply closing wounds. They wouldn’t know what impact it had until she woke up. If she woke up. Moto and Keta had spent the night in the infirmary, speaking little and staying close. But when the morning came, they were called to continue the exam. Daggers had little sympathy for fallen comrades. Soundstealer never came to visit. When Moto and Keta left, Fumi was alone. Moto shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts as he climbed the stairs to the platform at the center of the Playground. 50 feet square, its surface cracked and uneven from previous matches, the combat ring stood atop a small mountain. On display for all the Daggers to watch. At the top of the stairs, Moto clapped Keta’s wrist. He wanted to pull the shapeling closer, but not with so many eyes watching. Iruka gave them a sad look as they made their way to opposite sides of the ring. Moto couldn’t explain why Fumi’s injury consumed him. She offered no benefit. She didn’t even seem like a good fit for him as a friend. But after three years alone, thinking he would always be that way, the prospect of losing her was unacceptable. Moto finally understood Iruka’s warnings. There were good people living in Iga. People he liked, who would watch out for him. But the Daggers as an organization didn’t care one way or another. His own ambition didn’t care. Throwing this new life away to pursue those cold, uncaring ideas suddenly seemed crazy. He wasn’t even throwing it away to achieve success, just to increase the odds on a long-shot. Moto shivered. The thoughts changed too much. Iruka’s hand dropped and the battle began. Keta came forward at a run without his resonance. Despite himself, Moto’s mind started churning. Was Keta still fatigued? Or was this a trick? Moto jumped backward, off the edge of the ring, and swung in a wide arc, coming to rest a good distance from the shapeling. Moto’s resonance gave him a degree of mobility outside the combat area, where Keta would struggle to follow. The shapeling frowned for a moment, then moved to the center of the ring. Moto knew he should strike and force Keta to use his resonance on the defensive. If he could weaken his friend’s already lowered stamina, it would be nearly impossible for the shapeling to close the distance. But why? What was the point of this tournament for him? He thought gaining prestige with the Daggers would give him more access, help him move against Soundstealer. But if revenge would leave no room for Keta, or Fumi, or Iruka, did he want it? What if one of his attacks caught the shapeling off guard and landed harder than he intended? “Why don’t you fight?” Keta kept his voice low. Moto thought Iruka could hear, but the other Daggers probably not. The observers shifted along the walls, confused by such a lackluster start. “I can’t…” Moto’s face screwed up in frustration. He couldn’t what? The last few days felt like running blind through a maze. “I can’t stop thinking about Fumi.” Keta’s face grew sad, his eyes shimmered. He looked as though he wanted to stop the fight and grab Moto in his arms. Desperate as it seemed, Moto wanted him to. “You have been confused these last few days. I have seen it. Like an older dancer, struggling with a routine they could do while they were young.” “Everything used to feel so clear. I… you know what I want. But now all I can think about is you and Fumi. And Iruka.” Moto shot an embarrassed glance at their teacher. She seemed surprised before hiding it with an infuriating grin. “I don’t know how you all fit in.” A smile spread across Keta’s face, joining Iruka’s. His tone brightened. “Only you could realize you cared for people and then decide that you were having a complete mental collapse.” In the corner, Iruka laughed. Moto bristled. “There is the man that I love.” Keta dropped into a crouch, thin wisps of steam trailing from his fingers. It seemed his resonance had recovered. At least to some degree. “These feelings. They are like stage fright. And there is only one way to deal with stage fright. You must move faster than the doubt can follow.” Keta sprang forward, a wicked grin splitting his face. For an instant, Moto felt a surge of panic. The way Keta moved reminded him of Hibana’s lethal strikes. Moto threw a hand to the side and pulled, trying to arc away. The pull was weak. Instead of flying wide around the shapeling, Moto only moved a few feet. He staggered, surprised. He had meant to go much further. What happened? Keta landed on one foot and pivoted, turning to follow Moto’s retreat like a cat stalking a mouse. “You will have to be faster than that.” Moto’s tactical brain took over. Keta was too close. There would be no time to react to the flame-eater’s rapid movements. He needed to get away. Mid stride, Keta pulled his right arm back, twisting his hand in a familiar pattern. The shapeling was unwinding the weighted silks around his wrist to extend his range, trying to catch Moto before he could flee. Moto pulled a small stone at his feet and shot it toward Keta’s wrist, interrupting the movement. At the same time he pulled as hard as he could behind. Again, he only moved a few feet. Even the small stone he threw at Keta seemed to have less impact than he intended. Dimly, some part of his mind realized that his resonance was weakening. All his confusion was finally disturbing the focus he used to call on stone. Keta closed, eating the last few feet of distance between them. Fighting someone with his speed required absolutely no hesitation, and Moto was full of that right now. Keta grabbed Moto’s shoulders, holding him in place as he coiled into a ball. Moto recognized the move. Keta was going to drop kick him, trying to knock him out of the ring. Frantically, Moto slid a foot forward and pulled against Keta’s back, throwing the shapeling’s balance off so his kick went wide. Keta caught himself on both hands and spun, his legs scything through the air in an imitation of Fumi’s style. Moto ducked the first blow, then pulled against the shapeling’s hands to make him fall. Keta laughed, tumbling into a roll that brought him closer. “Pulled one way then the other. It is like fighting in a cart as it tumbles down a hill.” Staying low, stance wide, Keta sent two quick jabs toward Moto’s stomach. He was adapting to Moto’s power quickly. But he had used the same move against Haiyu. Moto drew his arms across his body, trying as best he could to steer Keta’s hands by pulling on them with his gravity. Keta’s resonance may be weak, but he was still hitting too hard to block. And he was moving with an easy speed that Moto could barely match. Moto pulled the first blow wide. The second only glanced his shoulder. It hurt, but nothing like a direct hit. Moto had a moment of shock as he realized he was actually holding his own. He certainly wasn’t winning, and it wasn’t Keta’s full strength, but he hadn’t been completely overwhelmed. The dancer’s moves were so familiar, he knew them almost as well as his own. The stray observation was one too many. The shapeling blew past Moto’s distracted guard and grabbed hold of Moto’s belt. Keta spun around, muscles surging as he lifted Moto in the air and threw him to the ground. Moto landed awkwardly on one shoulder, sending pins and needles down the arm, but managed to guide his momentum with his power so he came out standing. Was the arm broken? He twitched his fingers experimentally. No, but probably dislocated. Keta appeared, staying low so Moto couldn’t pull him off balance. “Do not think. Move.” He struck forward with both fists and Moto barely managed to spin around them by using Keta as an anchor. The shapeling didn’t move an inch. He had adapted completely to Moto’s gravity. Keta’s arm followed in a backhand aimed at Moto’s head. Moto jumped back, pulling to get some distance. He still didn’t travel far, but the shapeling let him have a moment to breathe. “Always weighing, looking for advantages. Doubting. Too afraid of weakness to take a risk trusting those around you. “Your feelings are what they will be. There is no logic to them. No predicting whether they will bring you happiness or ruin. You are confused because you’re trying to think of them as something that can be understood and optimized. But it is a blind leap. Accept or reject. Make your choice.” Keta ran forward again, this time without his resonance. Perhaps his stamina had not recovered much after all. Moto cursed, realizing he had spent the entire time listening to Keta instead of reclaiming the distance. In a second the shapeling would be on him again. No matter how well he knew Keta’s moves, he couldn’t match the dancer forever. Funny. Just a moment earlier he could hardly see the point of fighting. But Keta had gotten under his skin, pulled him out of his head. It seemed everyone on the squad was good at that. “As if you would ever let me reject.” A smile pulled at the corner of Moto’s mouth as his stone cloud rose. One rock caught Keta on the shoulder, staggering him. Anyone else would have been pummeled by all five, but Keta was top of the class for a reason. He jumped, using the momentum of the first collision to spin as he found the gap between the projectiles. Moto hadn’t expected to call so many stones at once. It was still short of the number Iruka could manage, but only barely. He could hardly breathe for the focus the cloud required. Their attention consumed by the stones, the two of them fell into a rhythm like a dance. Keta’s body steamed again as he flipped and rolled, sometimes being forced to knock a stone off its course with the flat of his hand. He had turned his back to Moto, stepping closer. The stones whirred faster as Moto mirrored the dancer’s steps, keeping him at the edge of the cloud. A stone flying low caught Keta’s ankle, pulling him off his feet. Just like that, the dance was done. Two stones rushed towards Keta at high speed. One for his stomach and one for his head. In horror, Moto grabbed hold and wrenched their orbits wide, sending them flying toward the walls. A pair of Daggers ducked as one of the stones exploded against the wall. The rest of the stone cloud disintegrated with Moto’s lost focus. Keta caught himself on his hands and retreated in a series of flips. His breathing came heavy and there was a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, Moto must have clipped him once without realizing. He felt a pang of concern. Keta smiled, a mix of exasperation and exhilaration. “Do not give me that look.” The dancer straightened, wiping the blood from his mouth. “It is like teaching the children their first routine. Once I get the right foot in line, the left goes wandering out of place. “But I will not wait another year for you to understand this lesson. You are too stubborn to be left to find it on your own.” He dropped into a crouch, spreading his stance wide and balling his hands into fists. “Going from using others to protecting them like your collection of fine porcelain is a quarter turn at best. I want the full pirouette. If you cannot accept the risks of working together, all the risks, then you are still trying to pull the strings.” A torrent of heat erupted from Keta. A stiff wind picked up, swirling around the ring and pressing hard against Moto. “If you are going to let me in, then let me in.” Moto had seen that look on Keta’s face before. It was the same determined look he had when he wanted to save the workers in the burning warehouse. The same look when he was determined to save the other prisoners in the spider cave, even though it meant certain death. It was the same look Moto’s father gave the last time he ever saw him alive. Moto had little more than a heartbeat to pull his stone cloud back around him before Keta vanished and reappeared at the swirling barrier, catching one of the stones and hurling it into the distance. The shapeling’s legs tensed and he was gone. Then he was upside down above Moto’s head, plucking two stones from the air and throwing them away as well. Moto pulled in more to replace them. He was up to seven, desperately trying to keep the barrier dense enough to hold Keta out. But with frightening ease the shapeling danced inside the cloud, landing in a crouch as he smirked at Moto. Moving this fast couldn’t be good for his body. Not with his resonance still exhausted by the battle with Hibana. But Keta was loving every minute of it. His eyes never left Moto’s face. The fool was going to get himself hurt. Why couldn’t he realize that all his heroics left others picking up the pieces? If Keta died, did he have any care for the sadness Moto would feel? The loneliness that would be left? But then, that was the point of this performance, wasn’t it? Keta was showing him that he was strong enough to survive. Strong enough that he wouldn’t bend as Moto pleased. If Moto wanted Keta in his life, he had to let the shapeling choose his own risks and make his own decisions. Worse still, he would drag Moto along on the same foolish quests. Keta’s grin widened as he spun behind Moto. With one hand, the shapeling knocked away a stone. With the other, he gripped Moto’s dislocated shoulder. A surge of heat filled Moto’s arm as it healed. Keta danced away, laughing. Moto bristled at the shapeling’s challenge. He was strong enough to make good on every one of his lofty ideals. The only question was whether Moto was strong enough to keep up. Moto sent the stones in his cloud careening toward the shapeling. Keta’s body twisted with seeming nonchalance as he dodged the stones. In reality, his motion was a blur. Moto cursed. The dancer was too fast to hit with anything he threw. Fine. If Keta was determined to be as dumb as his father, then Moto had no other choice. But see if Keta could get himself killed with Moto there to watch his back. Keta stumbled as Moto’s power pulled in all directions, shifting gravity toward him. But that was only a side effect. Iruka mentioned that the strongest resonants could do more than manifest energy through their bond. They could enforce their will on their element, shaping it in the world around them. Keta had made his point, and Moto accepted it. Grudgingly. But not a chance would he let the shapeling go dancing around, showing off like he could get his way whenever he wanted. All traces of hesitation were gone as Moto reached out and grabbed the stone at Keta’s feet. He could dodge anything Moto threw, but how would he handle this? The rock shifted. Keta’s eyes widened in surprise, but it would take more than that to catch him flat footed. A wave of steam rolled off his muscles and he was gone. Truly gone. The shapeling moved so fast Moto’s eyes didn’t even catch a blur. He reappeared in Moto’s face, legs brought up to his chest, but Moto knew how the shapeling fought. He had already grabbed the stone at his feet, reshaping it into a shield. Keta’s legs snapped out and the rock wall shattered. Moto caught the stones, accelerating them in a tight loop and launching them at the shapeling before he could land. Somehow Keta spun as he fell, knocking away the rocks with two tight kicks. But the stones were only a distraction. Moto grabbed the earth below and sent a pillar crashing upward. The shapeling grunted in surprise as he was knocked back to the sky. Moto coiled the earth beneath his own feet and launched into the air as well, building momentum. He latched on to Keta and pulled. The shapeling managed to unfurl his silks and land a solid blow against Moto’s shoulder before he was careening past, helpless as he flew off the edge of the ring. The last thing Moto saw before Keta went crashing into the trees was the shapeling’s smile. Moto landed roughly, barely managing to pull behind and stay inside the ring himself. He heard Iruka calling his name. He had won. It was Moto’s turn to lean against the railing at the edge of the Playground. Keta was gone, hauled off to the infirmary to treat his falling injuries as well as his extreme exhaustion. Moto wanted to go with him, but he needed to watch the match between Hako and Hibana first. The two recruits— chunin now, Moto corrected himself— stood in the ring, waiting on Iruka to begin the match. Moto watched with a feral glee. He hoped Hibana would win. With his newfound ability, he wasn’t afraid to meet her in the finals. And he had some payback to deliver on behalf of Fumi. Hibana had joined his list for revenge. If she lost, Moto hoped she fought tooth and nail, and that Hako left her badly battered. His only fear was that one of them might concede like Haiyu had. As if enacting his thoughts, Iruka dropped her hand and Hibana turned toward the stairs. She stalked like a caged panther, shoulders hunched with the difficulty of restraint. “I concede.” She bit the words off like a deer’s throat. Moto ground his teeth, his fists balling against the railing. What were they up to? Not knowing bothered him. Almost as much as the fact that he couldn’t pound Hibana flat. Moto pushed off in a huff, muttering a string of curses under his breath. Another time. Hibana would regret what she did to Fumi. For now, He would have to settle for venting his frustrations against Hako. Moto’s knees wobbled, still weak from his battle with Keta, and he cursed at that too. When Moto and Iruka entered the infirmary, Keta was sitting upright in bed. Apparently, the shapeling had insisted his bed be brought next to Fumi’s under threat of moving it there himself. He sat now with one hand protectively on the girl’s unconscious shoulder. Keta tipped his head sideways inquisitively. “So soon?” “Hibana conceded.” Moto immediately regretted his sharp tone. “Sorry. I just wanted to fight her.” “For one so new to having friends, you are quite practiced at swearing vengeance for fallen comrades.” Moto’s eyes widened. It was all he could do not to glance nervously in Iruka’s direction. But the teacher hadn’t noticed Keta’s reference to multiple vendettas. “You’ll get another go someday, kid. The Daggers never miss a chance to pit us against each other.” “Good.” Moto dropped himself onto Keta’s bed, carelessly enough to make the shapeling wince. That would have to do as punishment for now. Five minutes working together and the shapeling was already making him regret it. Keta adjusted his feet into Moto’s lap and Moto felt a flash of discomfort. Apparently he didn’t like feet. It was a realization about himself that he’d never had the opportunity to have. Moto couldn’t help but laugh as he pushed Keta’s feet away. The shapeling looked at him quizzically, but seemed content just to see Moto happy. He adopted a hurt air as he pulled his feet beneath him on the bed. “Hardly a day as squad leader and already you can’t be bothered to give a foot rub.” Moto blinked, momentarily confused until he got Keta’s reference. “That’s right, isn’t it? I got further than you and Fumi, so that makes me squad leader.” Moto grinned. “Fumi might take issue when she wakes.” All three of them ignored the sliver of hesitation in Keta’s final words. “She will claim the bet was for whoever won the tournament.” Iruka looked between them. “Sounds like you three have decided to stay together then?” Moto nodded as he wrestled Keta’s legs out from under him, forcing past his discomfort to give the shapeling the foot rub he requested. Iruka smiled as Keta began to squirm. It turned out the shapeling was ticklish. Moto clamped down on Keta’s ankles, the shapeling’s discomfort paying for Moto’s own. Abruptly, Iruka’s face became serious. It took Moto a moment to realize why she was clearing her throat. He could still hear Keta’s protests, but otherwise the room had gone silent. The ruffling of covers, faint breathing, the sounds of people walking by outside the window. All were gone. Moto turned, knowing what he would find. “Soundstealer.” Iruka nodded to the man, her face harder than granite. “Stonesong.” Soundstealer inclined his head a fraction, then turned his attention to Moto. Moto dropped Keta’s feet like they were hot coals, shooting to his feet as fast as he could. His heart leapt into his throat. The man had a presence that permeated his surroundings with threat. The air itself seemed to be pressing in. It probably was, Moto realized. Just as he had commanded stone earlier, Soundstealer was probably holding the air around him. Unlike Moto, he didn’t have to be selective. Every scrap of air in the room was held in Soundstealer’s iron grip. Moto wondered if the man even let go in his sleep. Somehow, understanding the power better only made it more intimidating. “A word, Moto.” It was not a request, and Moto was three steps in following before he even stopped to consider. Moto wiped his palms along his pants. What did the man want? He thought back to the beginning of the tournament. Had Soundstealer been staring at him after all? Did he know? Moto turned back to Keta. His nerves must have shown on his face, because the shapeling pushed himself to the edge of the bed, getting ready to follow. “I did not request your presence.” Soundstealer had reached the door. “These kids are trying to spend time with their teammate. Your daughter, Soundstealer. Though I wouldn’t expect you to trouble yourself on that account.” Iruka looked as though she had bitten into something sour. “She will still be here when he returns.” Soundstealer turned back to Moto. He did not look impatient. Nor did he look like there was any choice but for Moto to do as he was told. “It’s OK Iruka. I’ll make it quick.” Surely Soundstealer couldn’t just kill him? Not so blatantly. If he could, if he had evidence of Moto’s intervention and it was enough to justify his death, then surely he was beyond saving whether he went with Soundstealer now or not. At least he could keep the others out of it. Besides, after all his actions, all his eagerness to work with Soundstealer, it would be suspicious to refuse an audience now. Moto took a steadying breath. He wished it wasn’t so hard to keep a clear head around the man. Keta squeezed his shoulder and gave an encouraging nod as Moto walked to the door. Walking outside in Soundstealer’s bubble of silence was disorienting. At least indoors, it was easy to forget and think the room was simply quiet. But now Moto could see the sources of all the sounds that did not reach him. “An impressive showing today. You are the first Terran with a bond strong enough to command stone in many years. I thought Iruka might have, but then… The flame-eater holds potential as well.” “Thank you.” Moto’s skin crawled at the compliment. Soundstealer was the last person he wanted to hear it from. Except maybe Hibana. “Why do you thank me? The power is your own. I do nothing but acknowledge it. You have come to the ability recently, I imagine. Else there would have been some sign of it in the ashes of Genji’s warehouse.” In any other scenario, Moto would have been proud that the surprise tactic did not make him miss a step. But he did not think Soundstealer was even trying a tactic. The man spoke casually because he was completely unconcerned by whatever Moto chose to do. Besides, Moto’s heart was beating so loud in his ears that Soundstealer had to hear it, whether Moto gave the truth away with his stride or not. “I’m not sure—.” Moto’s voice cut off in a strangled gasp as a massive weight wrapped itself around his chest and throat. The breath in his lungs wheezed out as he was compacted by the air around him. Moto reached for his throat reflexively, but his arms were held at his side. “Do not waste my time. Two men clad in the robes of Daggers were seen running from the warehouse, meeting your description. If you did not want me to know, you should not have stayed to help those useless workers. Whatever stupidity gripped you then, do not infect my presence with it now.” The pressure subsided. The exchange had been fast enough that no one noticed Moto’s brief paralysis. But the point had been made. Moto gasped for breath. He was certain no one around them could hear it. “What do you want?” Moto rubbed his throat as casually as he could manage. “Which one of the fools do you work for?” “I don’t—.” Pins and needles, sharp as blades skittered across his throat and Moto came up short. He had stepped into something bigger than he realized here, and it didn’t seem there was much room for error. He needed time to think. “They’ll kill me.” A sharp cut opened on his cheek. “And I will not? I assure you neither Danzo nor that brute Breaker has enough sway to protect you here. Even if I had no interest in killing you, Amaya’s little pets seem bent on removing you. “Your master has served you poorly, boy. If you have any sense you will realize that your only hope to live lies in pleasing me.” The first name meant nothing to Moto, but he had heard Breaker before. For one frantic heartbeat he feared he wouldn’t be able to recall where. But then blessed memory clicked into place. The thugs at the warehouse had been interrogating their prisoner about Breaker. But what was this about Amaya? What did the Silence of the Four Seasons have to do with anything? Moto let his face fall in what he hoped was a broken look. At the very least, the fear was not feigned. “Breaker.” Soundstealer nodded curtly. “I thought as much. The whole thing reeked of his particular brand of clumsiness. Tell me, what did he hope you would achieve? Does he wish to expose me, having you attach yourself to my daughter as you have?” This was the crucial moment. There was no way Moto could keep a charade like this up for any length of time. He needed to sell Soundstealer something that would foreclose further questions. He had a guess, based on what he had heard during the interrogation in Jidoka and the way powerful people generally treated underlings. But it was only a guess. “I wasn’t told much. Something about a town being destroyed. He wanted me to figure out which of your clients had ordered it, then take them out.” It felt weird to skirt so closely to the truth. But it was also close to what the warehouse thugs had been interested in. Soundstealer paused for a moment, staring at Moto’s face. Under that glare, it was a challenge not to swallow like a frightened rabbit. “Fool.” Moto’s stomach tightened before Soundstealer continued. “Three years and he’s still upset about something so trivial? He knows I had no choice. My connection to Sadashi’s network is too valuable to throw away. Certainly not over his pet Hero. The Last Standing himself was there. If I hadn’t acted, Hisoka’s plan would have been laid bare for all to see.” Moto felt like he had been slapped in the face. There was so much packed into that single outburst. It clearly was not meant for him to hear. It carried the tenor of a well worn debate, something rubbed raw and emotional for Soundstealer. That meant whoever this Breaker was, Soundstealer had a long history with him. It sounded like they worked together. But Breaker opposed whoever this merchant was that Soundstealer worked for. It had to be wrapped up in this plan of Hisoka’s. Iruka had mentioned Soundstealer abandoned her on some sudden request from Iga’s ruling Champion. All of these thoughts were processed dimly at the back of Moto’s mind. At the forefront was the realization that this well worn frustration between Breaker and Soundstealer was Moto’s village. Three years was exactly the right amount of time. Whoever the Last Standing was, Moto added him to his list. Soundstealer composed himself with visible effort, rubbing his eyes with two fingers. “You are lucky, boy. I believe there is a way for you to be of use to me, so I will make you an offer that lets you keep your skin.” With a sickening dread, Moto realized that might not be a figure of speech. “You are strong. Your showing today showed as much. Strong enough to be effective. If I can move against Sadashi, more than simply spying, the rewards from Hisoka would be immense. Immense enough for me to share a fraction with any who would help me achieve such an end…” “You’re asking me to betray Breaker?” Moto put just a touch of indignation in his voice. Let Soundstealer think he had broken through some barrier and he would believe the lie. How was it that manipulating a master assassin was so much easier than dealing with Keta when he was angry? “I’m asking you not to be an idiot who throws his life away. Breaker has obviously told you precious little. He probably thinks he’s being coy and devious. But that lack of information has left you blundering around like a fool in the dark. I’ve tried to keep you away from my daughter to minimize suspicion, but look how that turned out. You’ve practically gotten her killed.” Moto tried to hide his confusion. Soundstealer spoke like Fumi’s fight with Hibana was his fault. Then realization smacked him in the face. Amaya’s pets. Hako and Hibana were both from north of the Fox Fangs, where the coldest of the Four Seasons made her domain. And Haiyu’s last name was Threerivers, for the waterways that divided Jidoka. Were they spies? But for what? There was so much he didn’t know. “The merchants that Breaker would have you move against, I would also like to see investigated. For more intelligent reasons, of course. Sadashi always has his spies around, so my hands have been tied. But with you supposedly acting on Breaker’s commands, I suddenly have a path before me. “I can feed you the information you need, so that you can pick targets more intelligently. Breaker will think you are making outstanding progress, which should keep him from coming after you. And when you ultimately find what I am after, you will be rewarded far beyond whatever pittance Breaker offered.” “And what are you after?” Soundstealer raised an eyebrow. “So you accept?” Moto slumped his shoulders, looking defeated. “It doesn’t seem like I have any other choice.” Soundstealer nodded. “Prudent. I am looking for a child. Or rather, one of many children. Sadashi has sent me on many missions involving children. Escorting them. Retrieving them. Killing them. “He’s doing something. But I could never investigate a mission he had given explicitly to me. I will give you the locations where several of these children were taken. I want you to find out what Sadashi is doing and retrieve one of the younglings if you can.” “Won’t Breaker be suspicious if I change targets?” “You won’t be. The first place I’d have you look is the very same woman who ordered his precious little Hero killed.” Moto hoped he was keeping his eagerness hidden. Could he really be this lucky? How had certain death become exactly what he sought? “We will discuss logistics further at another time. With your victory in the exam, no one will look askance at me courting you.” “I haven’t won the tournament yet, though.” “But you have. What with Hako and his squad disappearing in the night. Consider it an early payment from your new benefactor.” That answered the question of whether Soundstealer really could just kill anyone he wanted. If that had ever really been in doubt. “Won’t that make others suspicious?” “It is necessary. If you fought him, there is a good chance you would die, even with your newfound ability. Besides, you winning will create a useful cover for us to communicate. I can have it handled without being implicated. I’ll have to make Amaya believe you handled them, though.” “Perhaps if you only drive them off. Amaya would never believe you would do something so obvious. If you make your involvement hidden but easy to weed out, maybe it will seem like revenge for what Hibana did to Fumi and nothing more. The easiest way to sell a lie is to let them think they’ve figured out the trick.” Soundstealer was thoughtful for a moment before nodding. He seemed mildly impressed. “It is not an altogether foolish idea. I will think on it.” There. Keta couldn’t say he hadn’t at least tried to take the higher path. He wasn’t altogether concerned if Hibana did an untimely end, though. Baby steps. “What about Keta?” Moto felt a moment of hesitation. He didn’t want to draw the shapeling into this. But he knew what decision Keta would make if he had the choice. Moto had promised to respect that. Even if that promise came in the form of a pillar of rock knocking the shapeling through a few trees. “He’s my partner.” Soundstealer waved a hand. “You can keep your squad. I would have preferred you not involve my daughter, but I suppose it can’t be helped. If you’re found out I can claim that you got your information from her and safely excise all three of you. If she doesn’t wake up, I’ll find someone else with tenuous connections to me who can serve the same purpose.” Moto knew color had risen to his cheeks. How could the man talk about his daughter so callously? Moto looked away to hide his anger. As he turned his face away, Moto realized they were back at the infirmary. He had been so absorbed with keeping up with the conversation, he hadn’t looked at all where they were going. “I will leave you for now. We will talk again once Hako and the others are gone and you are declared winner. If anyone asks, I am considering you for one of my teams, but want you to prove yourself further first.” Just like that Soundstealer was gone. Moto stepped into the infirmary, taking a shaky breath. His hands quivered so badly he had to hold them behind his back as he entered the room with his squad. Keta caught his eye and gave a questioning look. Moto gave a quick nod that said he would tell him later. And he would. He was decided now. Iruka cast a nervous glance at the cut on his cheek, but Moto brushed it aside as he sat down. “Well, in that case you missed some news. The doctor said Fumi looks like she’ll make it through. They’re still concerned she might have some permanent damage from the head wound, but she’s going to wake up.” A flood of relief washed over Moto. It was such a stark contrast to the tension from Soundstealer’s presence, he gasped out loud. Moto clamped a hand over his mouth and looked at his squad. Iruka was tilting back in her chair with boots up on the end of Fumi’s bed. She seemed pleased with the reaction elicited by her comment. Keta was covered in bandages but looking at him tenderly. Fumi was lying unconscious beside them, yet somehow looking stubborn and cocky while she did it. Everything had changed. He was suddenly playing a much more precarious game. But all he could think about now was Fumi. And spending time with the team. Idly, Moto wondered where these bonds would take them now that he was allowing them to take root. Moto shook his head ruefully. He shouldn’t let himself get too carried away. But still, he smiled.Frantic Combat2019-08-23T00:00:00+00:002019-08-23T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/frantic-combat<p><strong>This is part 9 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>. Or read the last installment <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/outmatched/">here</a></strong></p>
<p>Moto’s squad lounged at the edge of the Playground’s rocky spire. The massive building, with it’s dark forest and the constant din of training Daggers, dominated the isolated mountain peak. Its dragon-scale roof thrust a hundred feet in the air, carving through the endless winds of Iga.</p>
<p>The only other buildings were a few small sheds where rail carts from the four houses let off. Metallic rails twisted out from them like spider webs, disappearing into the clouds surrounding the spire.</p>
<p>Even on good days, it was difficult to see more than a vague outline of the nearest spires. Today, it felt like the training grounds were trapped in their own world.</p>
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<p>A fresh wind tore across the spire, pulling everyone and everything toward the steep cliff edge with greedy fingers. Only the small village that supported Iga had any kind of approach from below. Every other complex stood on vertigo-inducing fingers of stone.</p>
<p>Fumi leaned over the edge of the cliff, laughing as an updraft held her. Just the sight of it made Moto inch back, his butt planted firmly on stone and his shoulders small against the wind.</p>
<p>There wasn’t any risk of falling. Not with his resonance. But 20 years of normal gravity was hard to forget.</p>
<p>Fumi staggered forward, the updraft shifting unexpectedly. Moto tensed to catch her, but she shot a blast of wind to steady herself. The grin never left her face.</p>
<p>“So, who do you all want to be paired against? I feel like Haiyu would be interesting, but I’m worried it won’t be very exciting. His power is just being heavy.”</p>
<p>Fumi puffed out her cheeks and held her arms wide, walking with exaggerated steps as though she weighed a great deal.</p>
<p>Keta chuckled, but Moto’s frown only deepened. Hako’s squad had qualified for the one-on-one combats even after Keta took their coin. They had caught another squad near the edge of the forest and overwhelmed them at the last minute.</p>
<p>Beside Moto and Hako’s squads, only one other genin had qualified. Yoku Whitefire, the flame-bringer with a powerful family in Ignis, lead the squad Hako ambushed. At the last minute she had broken off, leaving her teammates to fail the exam.</p>
<p>Out of 20 recruits, only seven were still Daggers. Moto wondered how much further their numbers would be reduced. He wondered if he would make the cut. Two days since the group portion of the exam, but his confidence was still shaken.</p>
<p>He’d never been the strongest. All these Dagger children had been trained since birth. Even Keta had a big head start before he came to Iga. Moto had always been the runt of the litter. He was always playing catch up.</p>
<p>But he was the smartest. He saw the world with the clearest eyes. Where others let emotions cloud their judgment, he was cold and rational. At least, that’s what he thought.</p>
<p>But in Jidoka he had acted without thinking. The guard made him angry, talking so casually about destroying a village. Now Soundstealer might be on to Moto’s plans.</p>
<p>Hako had goaded him, controlling his reactions as surely as a puppet on a string. He should have seen through their formation. At the very least, he should have waited before taking Haiyu’s coin. But he thought he could see through Hako’s plans with ease. If not for Keta, that foolishness might have gotten him killed.</p>
<p>Moto let his head slump against Keta’s shoulder. The shapeling raised a hand and twirled his fingers through Moto’s hair, enjoying the closeness.</p>
<p>Keta hadn’t said anything. He hadn’t berated Moto for his mistake. He hadn’t even tried to gloat about singlehandedly defeating Hako’s entire squad, though Fumi had done a lot of the boasting for him.</p>
<p>Moto had judged the shapeling so harshly. He told himself he loved Keta, but he had always looked down on the way the man did things. He thought Keta was a fool with no sense of what had to be done. Someone who was going to get himself and others killed.</p>
<p>But Keta was at the top of the rankings. He had won the obstacle course. He saved Moto’s life in the spider cave. And they were still Daggers because of him. Moto still had a chance at his revenge because of Keta.</p>
<p>And Keta was happy. Fumi and Iruka were too.</p>
<p>That was supposed to be a weakness and a distraction. Better to charge forward, throwing every ounce of fuel onto the fire of revenge. Victory to those who were willing to sacrifice the most.</p>
<p>But maybe he had too much faith in his ability to know where those sacrifices were needed. He thought Keta couldn’t stop Hibana and catch Hako. He was wrong, and they were better off because Keta refused to accept that limitation.</p>
<p>He thought he could outsmart everyone, no matter how much stronger they were, if only he was ruthless enough. But where had that gotten him? He had nothing more than a hunch that the warehouse in Jidoka was connected to the destruction of his village. And he couldn’t even outwit another genin recruit.</p>
<p>He couldn’t give up on his revenge. He had thrown too much of his life into that fire to walk away completely. But maybe Iruka and Keta had it right. Maybe he should focus on building a life - making friends, getting stronger - and let his revenge advance as it would.</p>
<p>”–Moto?”</p>
<p>It took a second to realize Fumi was talking to him. She had her hands on her hips, tapping a toe. She didn’t like being ignored. Keta looked at Moto with concern, doing his best to give an encouraging smile.</p>
<p>“Sorry, I zoned out. What was the question?”</p>
<p>“Who do you want to be paired against?”</p>
<p>“Oh…” Moto thought for a moment, but too many failures filled his mind to muster much enthusiasm. “I don’t know. Just not either of you, I guess.”</p>
<p>“What! How do you not have an opinion? This is where we get to show our stuff. A bad matchup, or even just a boring opponent could leave you looking like a dud to the senior Daggers.”</p>
<p>“Does it matter though? We can’t change the pairings.”</p>
<p>Fumi threw up her hands. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. You’re more listless than noon time on a summer day.” She stalked toward the Playground in a huff.</p>
<p>Keta gave Moto’s shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t mind her. I think she’s just nervous about proving herself to her father in the tournament.” Keta shook his head and laughed. “It reminds me of my first solo performance. I was so worried I would mess up in front of my parents, I nearly lost my lunch before I went on stage.”</p>
<p>The shapeling’s warmth managed to bring a smile to Moto’s face. He reached up and held Keta’s cheek, pulled him down and kissed him softly. “You know, I’d like to hear that story.”</p>
<p>Keta blinked at the vulnerability in the gesture. “Really? You have never asked before.”</p>
<p>“Maybe I should have.”</p>
<p>Keta poked Moto’s forehead. “Fumi is right. Something <em>is</em> wrong with you.”</p>
<p>Before Moto frowned, but before he could respond, Iruka appeared at the entrance to the Playground. “Alright kids, get the rocks out of your shoes and get over here. Pairings are ready.”</p>
<p>Moto sighed, reluctantly disentangling himself from Keta as the other remaining recruits made their way to the Playground as well. Yoku stared venom at Hako.</p>
<p>Inside, Moto was only dimly surprised to see that the senior daggers had used the last two days to raise a massive, 30 foot mountain at the center of the forest. It’s top was flat, with a plain square platform from edge to edge.</p>
<p>Iruka gave Moto a smile when she saw him holding hands with Keta. Then it was down to business.</p>
<p>“Good news. You lot are all chunin. Yay, congratulations!” She waggled her fingers in mock celebration as the recruits looked around with surprise.</p>
<p>“Think of the rest of this tournament as your audition. Or your debut. Whatever metaphor you want to use. But don’t slack off. How you do here sets the tone for your whole career as a Dagger.”</p>
<p>Iruka pointed to the raised platform at the center of the forest. “From here on out, it’s single elimination, one-on-one, fighting up there. Hako, let’s hear it. What’s your question?”</p>
<p>Hako’s face had just turned down in a thoughtful frown. The preemptive attention caught him off guard. “Oh. I was wondering how much time we have between rounds. Will there be a chance to recover, or is managing our strength part of the test?”</p>
<p>“You won’t have to fight more than once a day, and there will be a few days before the final match. I’ll explain the rest of the rules before the first fight, but for now let me just get these pairings up.”</p>
<p>The kids crowded around the paper she pinned to the wall. Fumi pumped a fist in excitement, then made way for others. When Moto reached the front, he was momentarily confused. He had already advanced to the next round.</p>
<p>With only seven people, it was unavoidable that someone wouldn’t have an opponent. But why him? Yoku had the highest average from the group phase, followed by Hako’s squad.</p>
<p>Then it dawned on him. If these fights were a chance to show off, then losing out on a round was a punishment. They had decided he had the worst performance in the first phase.</p>
<p>The realization stung, but it was quickly overshadowed by another. Assuming he won in this round, Keta was Moto’s first opponent.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Moto leaned against the railing of the Playground’s perimeter walkway. He and the other new chunin were clumped on the fourth story, with a clear view of the combat ring a hundred feet away. The ring itself looked to be fifty feet square.</p>
<p>Keta sat at one corner of the ring, legs in a wide V as he touched his toes. At the opposite corner was Yoku, standing with arms crossed and a scowl on her face. It seemed Hako had put a lasting dent in her mood. She still tossed her hair imperiously, but it was tinted with an edge of something to prove. Moto felt a moment of sympathy.</p>
<p>He shook his head, chagrinned. Now he was empathizing with someone he had never even talked to. Next he would be charging into burning buildings like Keta.</p>
<p>Iruka stood at the center of the ring, speaking loud enough that the spectators could hear as well, but not bothering to raise her voice or incite the crowd.</p>
<p>“The match continues until someone concedes, can’t stand, or touches ground outside the ring. You are no longer expected to hold back. It’s up to your opponent to keep themselves alive, though you must give a downed opponent the chance to concede. We aren’t <em>aiming</em> for a fight to the death. Unnecessary lethality will be seen as a lack of control.”</p>
<p>Iruka turned to each of the competitors, nodding to acknowledge that they were ready. Then she stepped to the edge of the ring and raised her hand. Moto felt a thrill of anxiety, but it quickly faded at the shapeling’s confident smile. Iruka dropped her hand and the match began.</p>
<p>Yoku shot both fists forward and two jets of flame shot forward, twining about one another to form a pillar several feet wide. Keta barely managed to dive to the side of the blast, rolling into a crouch.</p>
<p>Yoku pivoted, sweeping the flames after him as she sidestepped in the opposite direction. She was keeping her distance.</p>
<p>Keta jumped, limbs outstretched with lazy elegance as he backflipped over the pursuing column of fire. His back nearly brushed the flames.</p>
<p>Moto’s brow knitted in consternation. Keta could have easily cleared those flames. The dancer’s devotion to showmanship was unbelievable.</p>
<p>Keta made a three point landing, one hand thrown behind him while the other splayed across the ground. Fumi cooed appreciatively to Moto’s left.</p>
<p>The shapeling surged forward, but Yoku had already cut off her jet of flames and sent another across his path, forcing him to swing wide. She was fast.</p>
<p>But she wasn’t <em>that</em> fast. Keta should have been running circles around her, using his increased speed to tax her reflexes and incrementally gain ground until he could force things hand to hand. But it didn’t seem like Keta was using his resonance at all.</p>
<p>The dancer yelped and leapt backward, though he hadn’t been hit. Suddenly he was keeping his distance, running in wide arcs as he dodged the flames.</p>
<p>It took a moment for Moto to see the shimmering air low to the ground around Yoku and realize what it meant. Her blasts of fire were just buying time so she could superheat the ground all around her.</p>
<p>Keta needed to close if he wanted to win. Why had he given Yoku so much time? He should have leapt straight for her.</p>
<p>Keta grunted again, pulling back from another spot of burning ground. The heat was expanding, constricting his movement. The shapeling limped into the corner, favoring the foot that had stepped on the heated stone.</p>
<p>Limping? Why hadn’t Keta healed?</p>
<p>Moto inhaled sharply. The shapeling had pushed himself far past his limits to take down Hibana, Haiyu, and Hako in the group phase. Usually a night’s sleep was enough for someone’s resonant strength to return to full, but was it possible that Keta still hadn’t recovered?</p>
<p>Seeing the dancer’s weakness, Yoku brought her hands together and yellow flame erupted between her fingers. Her hands flexed and the flames focused to white hot intensity. A tight beam of fire lanced toward Keta.</p>
<p>The shapeling had nowhere to go. Keta crossed his arms in front of his face and the flames connected.</p>
<p>Then vanished.</p>
<p>Steam pooled off Keta in heavy waves, his muscles momentarily flaring. He fell to one knee and placed a hand on the ground to keep from falling over. His breathing was ragged.</p>
<p>Next to Moto, Fumi gasped. Moto wasn’t sure why.</p>
<p>“What? What happened?”</p>
<p>Fumi’s voice was low and tinged with awe. “To think the difference would be so huge…” A low murmur had risen around the stands.</p>
<p>Moto pushed Fumi’s shoulder. “Hey! What’s the big deal?”</p>
<p>“It’s possible to absorb your element from your surroundings in place of drawing on your own strength to fuel attacks. But usually you can only pull in a stray gust of wind, or a nearby torch flame. Anything actively manipulated by another resonant is too hard to control. If Keta can absorb Yoku’s flames, it means the strength of her bond is like nothing compared to his.”</p>
<p>Yoku took an involuntary step backward. She shot another flame, without the concentration of the previous blast. It barely reached the edge of the ring, but Keta still dove clumsily to avoid it. The superheated ground was starting to recede.</p>
<p>The shapeling rose unsteadily and ran forward. His body began to steam again, absorbing what remained of the rapidly fading heat in the ground. Each time his muscles flared, he missed a step and had to catch himself.</p>
<p>Before Keta reached halfway, Yoku dropped to her knees with sweat pouring down her face. For the first time, Moto realized she was gasping for breath. Yoku had exhausted herself.</p>
<p>Moto felt another pang of sympathy for her. On any other day, her strategy would have been her best shot of keeping Keta back. Starting hard and trying to pin him down for one big shot made sense. Everyone knew how skilled Keta was in combat.</p>
<p>If she had only known how tired he was. She should have kept things small, focusing on a battle of attrition rather than going all out from the beginning. Forcing everything into a battle of wills rather than one of stamina was exactly what Keta needed.</p>
<p>“I concede.” Yoku’s eyes and voice were hollow. More than just exhaustion. The difference in resonant strength between her and Keta had shaken her badly.</p>
<p>Keta turned to the crowd and bowed, throwing his arms behind him. Moto could see the shapeling’s hands quiver with the exertion of staying upright, even at this distance.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Hako and Haiyu were the next to compete. As they made their way down the ladder and toward the ring, Fumi began to stretch. She had the final match of the day, against Hibana. After that, she would face the winner of Hako’s match, while…</p>
<p>Moto’s stomach clenched when he thought of fighting Keta. He didn’t want to strain their relationship so soon after making up. And what if Keta still hadn’t recovered by tomorrow? Knowing the shapeling, he might push himself too hard if the fight was intense.</p>
<p>Maybe he should just throw the match.</p>
<p>The thought surprised Moto. As did his ambivalence toward it. If this was their audition to the senior Daggers, then doing well would increase his access to missions. Maybe if he won, he’d have another chance at working with Soundstealer.</p>
<p>Maybe. Or it might just draw unwanted attention, or absorb all his time desperately trying to keep up with the jonin.</p>
<p>Did he really know what was best, or was his resonance making him <em>think</em> he knew? Was he confident enough in the answer to throw so much away in pursuit of that path?</p>
<p>Hako and Haiyu had entered the ring and Iruka had finished reviewing the rules. She stepped back, slashing her hand through the air to start the match.</p>
<p>Haiyu ambled to the center of the ring, while Hako stood and watched. Odd. As far as Moto saw it, the matchups that pitted bringers like Hako against eaters like Haiyu were all about positioning.</p>
<p>Hako wanted a ranged fight, while Haiyu wanted to close and make use of his enhanced durability. So why wasn’t Hako contesting the approach?</p>
<p>Haiyu stopped and lowered his head. It was hard to tell from this distance, but it looked like he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and spread his stance.</p>
<p>There was a loud crack as the ground buckled beneath his feet. Haiyu threw his head back and flexed his arms at his sides. The cracks spiderwebbed further out. He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, then raised one foot in the air and brought it down.</p>
<p>The ring nearly split in half.</p>
<p>Hako dropped to a knee, ice springing up around his hands and feet to hold him in place as the ring buckled and warped. Moto heard impressed whispers spread through the watching Daggers.</p>
<p>“I concede.”</p>
<p>Moto’s eyes snapped back to Haiyu, standing in a crater of his own making. The boy brushed dust off his uniform as he walked toward the edge of the ring. Hako nodded, the ice around his body turning to water as he rose to follow his teammate.</p>
<p>Iruka looked between the boys, the confusion on her face mirroring that of those in the stands. After a moment’s hesitation, she raised her hand to signal Hako as the winner.</p>
<p>Fumi whistled. “Do you think Hako’s really that skilled? If Haiyu’s as strong as that and doesn’t even want to try and fight, that’s pretty scary.” Her smile looked more excited than scared.</p>
<p>“I don’t know. It didn’t seem like Haiyu was afraid.” Moto rubbed his chin. “Isn’t it weird that Hako’s squad is suddenly full of contenders? They weren’t on our radar at all before this. Haiyu certainly didn’t show this kind of strength during the obstacle course.”</p>
<p>“Maybe they’ve been training really hard to catch up.”</p>
<p>“Maybe, but then why not fight? That display of power was impressive enough to get the senior Daggers’ attention, but it was <em>just</em> enough. He could have shown more if they fought.</p>
<p>“The three of them always seem to do the bare minimum to move forward, without giving off anything extra. But I don’t think it’s to avoid attention. Everyone is going to talk about how weird it was for Haiyu to concede. So why don’t they want us to see them fight?”</p>
<p>Fumi pushed off the railing and started toward the ladder. “Maybe they’re just doing it to get people talking. Create an air of mystery.”</p>
<p>“Maybe…” Moto’s brow furrowed deeper.</p>
<p>Keta put his hand on top of Moto’s and smiled. There was a surprising amount of weight behind the hand. Keta was leaning heavily against the railing for support. “You forget to be grumpy when you have something to to puzzle over.”</p>
<p>Fumi grunted as she stepped onto the ladder. “Yeah, and he forgets to wish his teammates luck, too.”</p>
<p>“Oh, sorry. Good luck.”</p>
<p>Fumi waved a hand as she disappeared over the edge. “Don’t need it. I’ve got a plan. Just cross your fingers Hibana doesn’t concede like that. So boring!”</p>
<p>“Be careful, Fumi. She’s colder than–.”</p>
<p>Fumi had already disappeared.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Fumi and Hibana stood on opposite ends of the destroyed ring. It seemed that later fights received whatever terrain was left over.</p>
<p>Fumi was bouncing on the balls of her feet, antsy to start. Hibana stood like a panther watching a deer, somehow looking relaxed and tensed to move at the same time.</p>
<p>Moto hoped Fumi really did have a plan. Humility was not her strength, and she tended to think having a trick or two up her sleeve was the same thing as being prepared. Defeating Hibana would require more than a gimmick.</p>
<p>Iruka dropped her hand to start the match.</p>
<p>Hibana bounded forward, muscles visible beneath her uniform as she closed the distance in two massive strides. Fumi drove forward to meet her, accelerating with a blast of wind.</p>
<p>The minute Hibana’s foot lifted off the ground in her second leap, Fumi dove, shooting wind above and behind to send her like a rocket toward Hibana’s feet.</p>
<p>Hibana coiled, trying to strike Fumi as she passed below. But it was futile– the flame-eater’s mobility was limited once she left the ground. A sphere of wind ballooned between the women, pushing Hibana higher.</p>
<p>Fumi landed in a roll, coming up in a crouch and sending two blasts of wind punching into Hibana’s helpless airborne form. The range was perfect for Fumi, close enough to keep her blasts focused.</p>
<p>Hibana grunted at the two hammer blows, then went bouncing toward the edge of the ring. Her hands flexed, tearing up stone as she brought herself to a halt at the edge of the ring.</p>
<p>Moto was impressed. Surging forward to meet Hibana was counterintuitive, but it maximized the time Fumi had to punish Hibana’s leap.</p>
<p>Using the tactic early also ensured that Hibana would move cautiously throughout the match. It might have been tempting to hide the trick until Fumi could win with a single strike, but that would let Hibana close the distance several times before an opportunity arose. Safer to slow the woman down for the whole match.</p>
<p>Hibana came forward again, keeping her strides short and her body low. Her new gate was safer, but slower. Fumi had ample time to pummel the woman at mid range, where her blasts were strongest.</p>
<p>A blast hammered into Hibana’s shoulder, jerking her backward. The woman landed in a back handspring and kept racing forward, her body lower to present a smaller target. Fumi sent a slower, heavier blast toward Hibana’s left side.</p>
<p>She was playing this well. Getting in a fast, concentrated hit as Hibana approached, then switching to something more dangerous but easier to dodge to force Hibana right while Fumi went left. If she could keep it up, she could chip away at Hibana’s strength without taking on too much risk.</p>
<p>Hibana grunted as she took the heavy blast against her shoulder, diving through it toward Fumi as the wind-bringer ran toward the space she thought blocked off by the attack.</p>
<p>A jet of wind launched Fumi skyward as she avoided Hibana’s claw-like strike. But only barely. And now the distance was closed. Fumi was on the back foot.</p>
<p>Hibana’s left shoulder hung at a bad angle, clearly broken, but she pressed forward like a starving beast. Just like that, Fumi was absorbed with fleeing, her earlier strategy broken.</p>
<p>Even in such a desperate situation, Fumi kept her senses. Consumed with getting space between them, she still threw punches when she could, putting forward a tight offense to cover her retreat.</p>
<p>Hibana took a blast to her chest, then her leg, then another against her broken shoulder. She ignored the blows, healing any serious damage and forging ahead. The pain must be unimaginable. Not to mention the impact on her body. Relying so much on healing would shorten her lifespan.</p>
<p>Hibana caught the front of Fumi’s shirt, holding her in place as she sent a devastating blow into the wind-bringer’s stomach. Hibana punched with the broken shoulder so she could hold Fumi with her good arm. The woman had no care for pain.</p>
<p>Fumi doubled over, blood spurting from her mouth. She pushed wildly against the ground with a blast of wind, launching herself upward, but Hibana caught her ankle and slammed her to the ground with savage force. Moto could hear bones cracking even at this distance.</p>
<p>“Concede.” Hibana loomed over Fumi.</p>
<p>Fumi pushed backward, a dent in her hip that had to be a fracture. She winced against the pain and spoke through bloodstained teeth. “No.”</p>
<p>She pulled a mote of wind around her arms, gathering dust and swirling it into the saw blade Moto had seen her use in the spider cave. She slashed toward Hibana’s leg. The woman took the blow while she kicked with her other leg, sending Fumi bouncing along the stone.</p>
<p>Fumi’s slash opened a gash down to the muscle of Hibana’s thigh. The wound didn’t heal completely, but the bleeding slowed as Hibana stalked forward.</p>
<p>“Concede.”</p>
<p>Fumi pulled herself upright, holding her broken leg off the ground. Moto watched with dread as she spit blood and readied herself as best she could. The blur of wind around her arms intensified as she steeled her resolve.</p>
<p>She was going to get herself killed. There was no way she could match Hibana’s self-destructive style. Moto had never seen a flame-eater use healing as a weapon, but it was devastatingly effective. The fight had ended once the flame-eater closed.</p>
<p>Hibana shot forward, hands out like a panther’s claws. Fumi launched herself forward on a blast of wind, roaring in pain and defiance.</p>
<p>At the last moment she threw one hand to the side, sending a jet of wind that snapped her trajectory sideways. With Fumi’s injuries, that kind of sudden shift had to be agony. But she was willing to match Hibana pain for pain.</p>
<p>Hibana hadn’t expected the sudden shift, thinking Fumi’s wounds would immobilize her. She threw a backhand toward Fumi’s head, but it was too late.</p>
<p>The wind saw whirred around Fumi’s fist. She had won. But she had to strike a lethal blow. Fumi didn’t like to kill, but anything less and Hibana would keep coming.</p>
<p>At the last minute, Fumi dropped her strike, sinking into Hibana’s side instead of her heart. Hibana’s hand came on like a landslide, cracking into Fumi’s head. Fumi bounced along the ring like a ragdoll.</p>
<p>“No.” Keta’s hands flexed against the railing.</p>
<p>Moto was halfway to the ring, pulling himself between the trees before he realized what he was doing. He didn’t know what he planned to do, but he knew one of them had to be there.</p>
<p>By the time Moto reached the ring, Iruka was by Fumi’s side.</p>
<p>“Is she OK?” Moto dropped to his knees beside his friend. Fumi was laying at an awkward angle, her broken hip twisted too far. It looked like her skull was broken. She wasn’t moving.</p>
<p>A rattling breath, far too weak, escaped her throat. Moto’s hands were shaking. Iruka was calling to the flame-eaters for healing.</p>
<p>Dimly, Moto was aware of Hibana limping to the edge of the ring. Maybe she was too exhausted to help, but he knew she hadn’t tried.</p>
<p>Rage filled him, and it was all he could do not to throw himself at her. That wouldn’t help Fumi now. He turned his gaze away, forcing himself to calm.</p>
<p>He saw Soundstealer pull back from the railing where he stood. The man shook his head in disappointment, a frown on his face as he turned to walk away. There was nothing the man could do, but he should have been here anyways. New anger filled Moto.</p>
<p>Two men appeared at the edge of the ring, the flame of Ignis along the back and arms of their uniforms. Even in his exhausted state, Keta was only a few steps behind.</p>
<p>Moto turned back to Fumi and was shocked to see the large pool of blood that had spread around his feet.</p>
<p>There were limits to what could be healed. He looked at Iruka and saw concern in her eyes. All they could do was hold Fumi’s shoulder and hope she hadn’t crossed that line.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/a-dangerous-game/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 9 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. Or read the last installment here Moto’s squad lounged at the edge of the Playground’s rocky spire. The massive building, with it’s dark forest and the constant din of training Daggers, dominated the isolated mountain peak. Its dragon-scale roof thrust a hundred feet in the air, carving through the endless winds of Iga. The only other buildings were a few small sheds where rail carts from the four houses let off. Metallic rails twisted out from them like spider webs, disappearing into the clouds surrounding the spire. Even on good days, it was difficult to see more than a vague outline of the nearest spires. Today, it felt like the training grounds were trapped in their own world.Outmatched2019-08-17T00:00:00+00:002019-08-17T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/outmatched<p><strong>This is part 8 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>. Or read the last installment <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/choices/">here</a></strong></p>
<p>The genin milled about near the Playground’s entrance, casting nervous glances into the wild forest that dominated the building’s interior. After a week of constant training, Moto could see the woods below in his mind’s eye with near-perfect detail. He scanned the trees one more time to be safe.</p>
<p>The Playground’s size still awed Moto. The roof vanished in the torchlight, well over a hundred feet above. The edges of the dense forest stretched even further away than the roof, several hundred feet in each direction.</p>
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<p>A small lake took up the right corner closest to the entrance. Rocky pillars, like miniature mountains, thrust from the vegetation at irregular intervals. The ropeways that usually crisscrossed through the air above had been removed.</p>
<p>A din of crickets filled the relative quiet. A light fog had coalesced between the close, moss-laden trunks. The primeval forest sprang forward quickly to reclaim itself, reveling in the rare moment of calm when no Daggers stalked it’s shadows. The resurgence would be brief.</p>
<p>Older Daggers stood against the wooden railing, watching from the raised walkway around the perimeter of the building. Senior members held positions higher up, where the view was better.</p>
<p>There were no townsfolk cheering along the sidelines this time. Keta and Fumi looked to the sparse, stern-faced spectators with disappointment.</p>
<p>Moto’s heart lurched as his gaze found Soundstealer. The man stood out even amongst the house leaders. Tall and muscled, hair pulled into a severe topknot, he wore loose pants and a sleeveless vest. His arms were tightly wrapped, with small bells woven into the cloth that never made a sound. He leaned against the railing several stories up, looking in Moto’s direction.</p>
<p>Moto averted his eyes, palms suddenly sweating. Two weeks of travel from Jidoka, then back in Iga for a week, without mention of the warehouse fire. Moto thought it hadn’t been traced to him. But was Soundstealer watching him? Did he know?</p>
<p>Moto nearly jumped out of his skin as Fumi clapped his shoulder. She gave him a reassuring smile before she waved to her father. Soundstealer frowned and turned to one of the Zephys Daggers standing beside him.</p>
<p>Of course. Moto forced his breathing to slow. Just watching his daughter prepare for the exam.</p>
<p>Fumi dropped her hand, only frowning for an instant before her smile returned. “He’s just nervous to watch me compete. You wait, he’ll crack a smile when I win.”</p>
<p>Fumi threw her arm around Moto’s shoulder and turned him back toward Keta. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “They’re watching us. Like you said.”</p>
<p>Moto didn’t bother looking. He had already noticed. Hako and Hibana were leaning against the wall, with Hako’s gangly frame a sharp contrast to Hibana’s thick-corded muscle and catlike grace. Taller than most of the other recruits, with the salt-and-pepper hair of those from north of the Fox Fangs, they should have stood out. Yet somehow they faded into the background. Haiyu, the third member of the squad, knelt as he retied his boots with delicate fingers.</p>
<p>They were looking everywhere, just like the other recruits, but their focus always returned. Watching. It seemed they had chosen Moto’s squad as the biggest threat. And they weren’t the only ones.</p>
<p>No one looked with the same intensity as Hako’s squad, but it was hard to miss the glances from the other recruits. Moto had expected it for Keta, who had always been out in front. But it seemed the extra missions, not to mention special attention from Soundstealer and Iruka, had put a target on all three of their backs.</p>
<p>It surprised Moto that the other genin were aware of him, keeping track of what he was doing. He scanned the recruits clustered in their squads and struggled to remember most of their names.</p>
<p>He recognized Yoku Whitefire, a tall, proud-faced woman who tossed her hair like a warhorse. She was the eldest daughter of a prominent family in Ignis. And he knew the bronze glimmer in her squad, a squat man with coppery hair and eyes. He was a stone-eater named Seido. But Moto didn’t know their third member, a woman with straight black hair down to her shoulders.</p>
<p>The fourth squad Moto didn’t know at all. One was a human woman with a broad face and a flat nose. Another was a short shapeling woman with large eyes and a perpetually sour expression. Both looked suspicious, eyes constantly darting between the other recruits’ faces.</p>
<p>They were the two flood-eaters. It made sense he didn’t know them, since they had been trained separate from the others. But their third member, a stern-faced shapeling man, was just as unfamiliar.</p>
<p>Moto told himself that he didn’t know these people because he’d made the conscious choice not to get close so he could focus on what needed to be done. But after his talk with Iruka, he wasn’t so sure. Wouldn’t it have been useful to get to know the others, at least to know their names? How much of his myopia was his own, and how much his resonance?</p>
<p>As he frowned at the other recruits, Moto grunted in surprise. “Aren’t there supposed to be 13 of us? I only see 12.”</p>
<p>Fumi looked at him with a mixture of sadness and surprise. “Joyo didn’t survive his first mission. I thought you would have heard since he was Terran.”</p>
<p>Moto shifted uncomfortably. From his own house and he hadn’t noticed at all. “I… I’ve been spending too much time training this past week. I haven’t had a chance to talk with anyone.”</p>
<p>Iruka’s spiky black hair was followed by gleaming glasses and a smirk as she climbed the ladder from the forest floor below. All of the recruits went quiet and turned to face her. She held a sack of jingling coins that reminded Moto of the entrance exam.</p>
<p>Hand on her hip, Iruka cocked her head sideways and smiled, waiting until an nervous mumble of greeting rose up from the recruits. She crossed her arms and donned a mocking pout. “Hardly a warm welcome for your beloved sensei.”</p>
<p>She hefted the jingling bag and her wicked grin returned. “Well, I’m a busy lady and if you lot aren’t going to shower me with appreciation, then I’ve got better things to do. Let’s get down to business.”</p>
<p>Iruka opened the bag and started tossing leather armbands to the kids. Each band had a fist-sized medallion of smooth iron held firmly in place. “The rules are pretty simple. Each recruit gets an armband with a medallion. On the back side of the medallions is a unique number. Each squad’s numbers add up to zero. Make it out of the forest with a positive total and your squad advances to the one-on-one combats.”</p>
<p>She paused for a second to let the instructions sink in. Moto thought she gave him a nervous glance before she continued. “You can split from your squad if you want, but there’s no joining back up after that. You’re on your own. There’s a max of eight spots in the next round, so be quick about it. Your pairings will be determined by the average score for your squad. A higher number will make the next round better for you. Any questions?”</p>
<p>Iruka rolled her eyes theatrically as Hako’s hand went up. Moto remembered a similar interaction at the entrance exam, but somehow it didn’t seem quite as immature. Maybe it was the growth spurt, or a new hardness in his eyes from their first mission. Whatever it was, Iruka didn’t complain this time. Audibly at least.</p>
<p>“If all we need is a positive number, why can’t we just throw away our negative coins and be done?”</p>
<p>The fact that it was a reasonable question only seemed to make things worse, though Moto wasn’t sure if it was because Iruka couldn’t give Hako a hard time, or because it meant she had to spend more time giving instructions. “The only way to get rid of a coin is to have it taken from you. Any other way, and it still counts toward your score. And no forcing other recruits to show you their coin before you take it. Anything else?”</p>
<p>With no further questions, Iruka finished handing out the armbands in silence. When she got to Moto, she looked into his eyes, searching for something. She gave a small nod and carried on.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Moto’s squad walked toward their starting position in the far left corner of the Playground. As they moved, they pulled their medallions from the armbands and looked at the numbers. Fumi had a three and Keta had a negative five. Moto had a two.</p>
<p>Was that why Iruka had given him that look? Did she think he would split from the group because he had a positive number?</p>
<p>Moto rolled his shoulders in frustration. Just because he was pragmatic didn’t mean he <em>wanted</em> to abandon his friends. People thought a willingness to make sacrifices meant you must be a jerk all the time.</p>
<p>He still wanted to do good things when he could. To have friends and a happy life. When he could.</p>
<p>Moto put the medallion back into place. He would do his best to help the squad. But a small voice at the back of his mind started planning for if things went wrong.</p>
<p>Moto realized that Fumi and Keta were staring at him. “What?”</p>
<p>Fumi shrugged. “Just waiting for the plan.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded. “We follow your lead.” The shapeling’s smile was only slightly tinged with uncertainty. The two of them hadn’t talked about Soundstealer since leaving Jidoka. There were surely more arguments to be had, but neither of them wanted to break the peace.</p>
<p>“I didn’t say anything about leading! He’s the plan guy. That’s different. The wind hasn’t blown one way or the other on who’s the leader yet.”</p>
<p>Moto smiled. “How about a bet?”</p>
<p>Fumi arched an eyebrow.</p>
<p>“Whoever wins the tournament is squad leader.”</p>
<p>Fumi clapped and a burst of wind ruffled everyone’s clothes. “You’re on!”</p>
<p>Keta sniffed, inspecting his nails theatrically. “If you wish me to be the leader so strongly, you could simply ask. There’s no need to wait for the inevitable.”</p>
<p>Moto pushed him and they all laughed. None of them considered the odds that the winner might not be one of them.</p>
<p>As they neared the far corner, Moto pulled himself back to the task at hand. He stroked his chin as he thought out loud. “We have to be careful about the negative coins. Each squad’s numbers add up to zero, so we can’t take every armband. And choosing wrong is really bad. This challenge is about intelligence gathering more than anything else.</p>
<p>“If the other squads are smart, once the tournament starts they won’t discuss their medallions. If they do, we should assume it’s meant to deceive us. The real truth will be in how they fight.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded sagely. “It is always so.”</p>
<p>“Ideally, we’d watch two squads battle and make some deductions from how they engage.” Fumi and Keta both frowned. Moto had expected they wouldn’t like sitting on the sidelines. “But realistically we won’t have the luxury of observing from afar. We’ll have to watch our enemies for information as we fight. We need to pay attention to who’s reckless and who they protect. If we can, we should disengage and strike a few times in different configurations so we can spot patterns in how they move.”</p>
<p>“Won’t we be giving away the same information?”</p>
<p>Moto thought for a second. “We could try to bluff, coming up with a formation that looks like we’re protecting Keta even though he has a negative coin.”</p>
<p>Moto thought back to Iruka’s warnings from their very first sparring session. People were more predictable than they thought. “But we haven’t had much time to practice anything like that. We’d probably give up the lie subconsciously. We’d be putting the positive coins at risk and waste focus on maintaining the misdirection for a marginal advantage. We have the most real world experience. I think we should focus on offense.”</p>
<p>They had reached the starting point, a clearing at the base of a small mountain. Fumi pulled her wild hair back into a bun as she responded. “If we’re going to fight like normal, maybe you and I should swap coins, Moto. Iruka never said we couldn’t take each other’s. And you’ll be the furthest back.”</p>
<p>“Oh, yeah. That’s a good idea.” And an obvious one. But Moto had been focused on the arrangement of coins as they were originally given. Just an oversight, or his resonance again? Now that he was looking, it felt like there was room for doubt everywhere.</p>
<p>Fumi beamed as she handed him her coin and took his. Keta had a foot planted on the mountain beside them, leaning forward in a deep stretch.</p>
<p>A loud gong rang and the chunin exam began.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Moto moved through the woods in silence, darting from one rough-barked pine tree to the next, lingering in the heavy pools of mist and shadow beneath the branches. He staid low, keeping his head beneath the thick underbrush as he searched with his gravity sense.</p>
<p>It was hard to sift through all the objects around him. Tree trunks, underbrush, and lichen-covered boulders were so closely packed they blocked sight more than 20 feet out in every direction. But if he paused for a few breaths, he could separate movement from the stationary vegetation. So far nothing stirred.</p>
<p>Fumi was crouched out of sight ten feet to the left and Keta rested in the trees above. Close, but not so close they could all be hit at once. Moto tugged each of them lightly. The signal for all clear.</p>
<p>Moto rose, his muscles tensed to dart forward, when a sudden weight crept in at the edge of his awareness, 30 feet out. He reached back to Keta and Fumi, tugging sharply to bring them to a halt. He fell to his stomach in the underbrush, knowing they were doing the same.</p>
<p>Three weights, arrayed a few strides apart, were hiding in the shadows, keeping to moss-laden patches that deadened footsteps. Even knowing where they were, Moto couldn’t see or hear any trace of their passage. If not for his gravity sense, they would have been undetectable. Daggers were an entirely different kind of enemy.</p>
<p>As the party approached, Moto pulled on Keta and Fumi, signaling the enemy location. Three pulls, three enemies. Right shoulder, approaching from north west. A long pull, hold. He couldn’t believe he had ever been jealous of Fumi’s wind.</p>
<p>Moto finally caught sight of one of them. Her large, muscular frame stalked through the underbrush like a panther. Hibana.</p>
<p>Hako and Haiyu appeared from the underbrush soon after, regrouping around Hibana. Hako and Haiyu took the outside flanks, leaving Hibana with her back to a tree. Protecting her? Keta said she was a flame-eater like him, so her natural position was on the flank. He filed the observation away.</p>
<p>The enemy squad was going to pass right by Fumi. Moto figured she had probably seen them by now, but he signaled just to be safe.</p>
<p>Hako’s squad spread out again, keeping Hibana at center position. As they passed Fumi, Moto reached past and grabbed hold of a branch, careful to choose one with a clear line of sight so he didn’t pull on any intervening plants as well.</p>
<p>The branch made the barest whisper of movement. Just enough to hint at unseen assassins in the trees. A loud crack would have been obvious. Hako’s squad reacted instantly, pulling tight around Hibana. Definitely protection.</p>
<p>Hako spread his hands wide, shooting a cloud of ice needles toward the sound. Hibana crouched, getting ready to move. Haiyu stood with his back to both of them, watching the rear. Their movements were precise and disciplined, like they had been working together for years.</p>
<p>A swirling sphere of wind erupted from Fumi’s hiding spot, pushing dust and debris toward Haiyu. At the same time, Fumi leapt sideways, planting a foot against a tree and throwing herself at Haiyu from an unexpected angle. The boy coughed, raising slender arms to shield his face from the dust.</p>
<p>Fumi connected, bringing her heel down against the boy’s shoulder. Haiyu didn’t even flinch as he sent a blind fist in her direction. Fumi crossed her arms and a cushion of air blossomed to absorb most of the blow. The impact sent her sprawling backward, though she caught herself with a tight flip, landing in a crouch.</p>
<p>Keta dropped from the trees between Haiyu and Hibana, sending a flurry of jabs into the slight boy’s ribs before spinning, aiming a kick at Hibana’s head. The jabs should have left Haiyu gasping for breath, but his hardened body ate the strikes with only a grunt. Hibana caught Keta’s foot, muscles in her arms flaring much like the shapeling’s.</p>
<p>Hibana lifted Keta into the air as Hako sent a fist of water toward his chest. The water scattered as Moto shot a rock to disrupt the attack. Keta unfurled the weighted silks around his arm and sent them cracking into Hibana’s arm, forcing her to drop him.</p>
<p>Hibana’s wrist hung at a bad angle as Keta leapt back, but she took a deep breath and it popped back into place. The two squads faced off, Hako’s standing back-to-back as Moto and the others circled a few paces out.</p>
<p>Hibana was definitely holding back. The center was no place for a flame-eater, and she hadn’t made a move until she was directly attacked. When the ambush began, it looked like she was getting ready to evade, not leap into the fray. Either she had a positive coin or that’s what they wanted people to think.</p>
<p>They were smart enough to think of switching coins. So why would they choose an arrangement that hampered one of their members so dramatically?</p>
<p>Hako’s squad was careful. Even now they were watching and waiting, rather than striking out to get free. Maybe they wouldn’t mind taking a hit to their offense in order to leave their biggest positive coin in the hands of the fastest reflexes. But it seemed like too big a sacrifice.</p>
<p>Unless that was the point. Hibana’s position was so obviously suboptimal, it couldn’t help but draw attention. Moto thought back to the way Hako’s squad observed them during training, thinking no one would notice. They were smart, but they didn’t put much stock in the intelligence of others. Exactly the kind of mindset that would lay a trap and make the bait obvious.</p>
<p>Moto grabbed a stone the size of his head from ten feet back and accelerated it toward Haiyu. Taking his cue, Keta and Fumi raced forward, aiming for Hibana. They had noticed her strange position as well.</p>
<p>Hako stepped close to Hibana with his arms out to the side. He brought them together and two walls of ice traced the path of his hands, protecting them on either side. Haiyu stepped forward and punched the stone flying through the air, his hardened fist cracking the rock into a thousand pieces.</p>
<p>The slender stone-eater closed his eyes against the shrapnel. Just like with Fumi’s dust cloud, the boy didn’t protect his visibility, trusting in his heightened durability instead. Moto grabbed the trees behind Haiyu and pulled, hurtling himself toward the boy.</p>
<p>Moto brought his feet up, slamming into Haiyu’s chest at high speed. The boy staggered a step, but it felt like drop kicking a mountain. The impact sent a jarring shock into his ankles and knees.</p>
<p>Haiyu brought both hands down in a blind hammer fist, but Moto was ready. Keeping his feet planted on the boy, Moto pulled against the surrounding trees to dodge the strike. He reached past the stone-eater and grabbed Hibana with his gravity. Moto’s legs flexed against Haiyu’s immovable frame as Hibana was pulled backward and crashed into her ally.</p>
<p>Moto dropped to the ground, sliding past Haiyu toward Hibana. The boy’s vision had returned, and Moto made sure the stone-eater was watching before his hands snapped forward, reaching for Hibana’s armband. The boy staid in place.</p>
<p>That was the last confirmation Moto needed. Hibana was a flame-eater, she should have been able to react before Moto swung around to her. And twice now Haiyu had chosen not to defend Hibana.</p>
<p>Moto pulled against Haiyu from his palm and the boy’s weight caused Moto’s hand to change directions rapidly. Haiyu blinked in surprise as Moto grabbed the stone-eater’s armband and pulled it free.</p>
<p>Moto tugged against a tree behind, pulling clear. Keta had broken through Hako’s ice wall and was engaged with the lanky youth. Fumi had thrown herself over the wall with a blast of wind to reach Hibana.</p>
<p>Moto pulled the silver medallion free to check the number and his stomach tightened. Negative four.</p>
<p>Moto cursed as he realized his mistake. Iruka said each coin was unique. With a negative four, the only way two positive coins could balance it was with a one and a three. But Moto had the three coin.</p>
<p>Their actions suddenly clicked into place. Hako’s squad had to have two negative coins.</p>
<p>Hako wasn’t falling back to Hibana to defend her. She was watching his back. While Haiyu served as a decoy that made it seem like Hibana was at the center.</p>
<p>When he saw Moto with the coin, Hako smiled. It didn’t last long though as he struggled to keep Keta away. Clever as their plan was, Hako’s squad was outmatched in terms of combat reflexes. But Haiyu and Hibana were regrouping. They were getting ready to flee.</p>
<p>Moto cursed again, more violently this time. “They had two negative coins. Go for Hako!” Hako wasn’t going to beat him. Moto grabbed the trees ahead and shot like an arrow, flying past Hibana and Haiyu as he closed on his target.</p>
<p>Moto’s only warning was the sound of cracking stone. Then it felt like a fully loaded cart rammed into his chest. He lurched sideways, slamming into a tree and breaking through a branch the width of his wrist. There was a sharp pain as several of his ribs cracked.</p>
<p>Moto scrambled to recover. White hot agony in his side and his breath coming short, he barely managed to get his feet under him before Hibana was on him, gripping his shoulders and pulling him in for a head butt. Her eyes were cold and lethal.</p>
<p>Moto knew he couldn’t stop her. He flared his resonance and pulled against the ground as hard as he could. Hibana’s eyes widened marginally, surprised as Moto slipped free. But the pull was hard enough to slam him against the ground. The pain in his ribs took his breath away.</p>
<p>Hibana pivoted smoothly, pulling back for another strike, but a blast of wind pushed her against a tree and gave Moto enough time to break free.</p>
<p>Hako had nearly disappeared into the woods, with Haiyu standing at the edge of the clearing to guard his escape. Fumi stood with her hands thrust out as she held Hibana at bay with her wind.</p>
<p>For the third time, Moto cursed. Only Hako had planned to run. The minute Moto turned his back on Hibana, she had changed gears and the sudden shift to offense gave them the upper hand. That mistake was going to let Hako get away.</p>
<p>Moto couldn’t let that happen. He was in no shape to go sneaking through the woods, let alone to fight another squad. If they retreated and tried to find another target, they would be at a huge disadvantage. And that was assuming they could even find another group before the contest was over.</p>
<p>Moto couldn’t catch Hako in his condition. But if he could hold Hibana and Haiyu here, maybe Fumi and Keta could overtake the boy. Moto wiped blood from the side of his mouth and squared his stance. “You two go after Hako, I’ll take care of these two.”</p>
<p>Fumi looked concerned. “But you’re–.”</p>
<p>“Go! We don’t have time to debate, this is our best shot.”</p>
<p>She nodded reluctantly, dropping her wind blast as she and Keta turned to follow Hako.</p>
<p>As soon as the wind vanished, Hibana’s legs flared and she launched at Fumi. Moto was ready. He dove to the side of the flame-eater and pulled. He couldn’t halt her momentum, but he could throw her off course, sending her crashing into the woods.</p>
<p>The woman adapted quickly, refocusing on Moto. If he was going to get in her way, it seemed she had no qualms taking him out first.</p>
<p>Moto pulled back, holding his distance. She couldn’t change direction once she leapt. If he could keep dancing to the side, maybe he could avoid her.</p>
<p>At the edge of the clearing, Haiyu threw himself between Hako and the others. Moto had no doubt the other two could make it past, but they didn’t have time to slow and deal with the slender stone-eater.</p>
<p>If only Moto could pull the boy out of their way so they could keep moving. But with Haiyu’s resonance active, he was too heavy. Moto needed more leverage.</p>
<p>Hibana threw herself at Moto, her speed increasing with her frustration. This time Moto didn’t dodge. The minute Hibana hit, he latched on to Haiyu, pulling as hard as he could.</p>
<p>Darkness played around the edges of Moto’s vision. It felt like he was being flattened by a boulder. But he held firm. Hibana grunted, surprised that she connected and surprised that Moto seemed so hard to move. Haiyu’s eyes widened as he was dragged sideways.</p>
<p>Hibana and Moto sprawled across the forest floor. Some of their momentum had been absorbed by Haiyu, but they still had enough speed to land heavily. Expecting the impact, Moto recovered first, managing to get a bit of space before Hibana regained her feet.</p>
<p>Moto took a step back. The anger in Hibana’s eyes spoke of murder. All thoughts of covering Hako’s escape seemed forgotten.</p>
<p>Moto needed to get away. He glanced over the woman’s shoulder. If the others had made it past, then he could turn and run.</p>
<p>Seeing the collision, Keta stopped. Uncertainty colored his face as he looked between Hako and Hibana. Moto coughed into his hand and ignored the blood that splattered across his fingers. “Keta, go! We need Hako’s coin.”</p>
<p>Keta turned to face him, dropping into a crouch. “No.”</p>
<p>Hako slipped between a stand of trees, out of sight.</p>
<p>“This isn’t the time to be noble, that coin is too important. I’ll be fine.”</p>
<p>“I won’t leave you. I won’t leave anyone I love again!”</p>
<p>Keta’s muscles flared, his loose fitting pants suddenly tight around his legs. The heat from his body was so great the grass at his feat began to smoke.</p>
<p>Keta was nearly 20 feat away, while Hibana was only a few steps from Moto. Her face contorted in a snarl as she pounced. Too fast to dodge for her prey to dodge.</p>
<p>Heat blasted Moto’s face as Keta appeared in the air, driving his knee into Hibana’s side. The woman’s eyes widened. The shapeling had covered four times her distance in the same time.</p>
<p>Then she was slamming through a tree, breaking the trunk in half.</p>
<p>Moto didn’t even see Keta’s feet touch the ground before his body changed direction. It seemed like he was skipping the space between where he was and where he wanted to be.</p>
<p>Hibana dragged herself up just in time for Keta’s axe kick to throw her back to the ground. She hit so hard she bounced.</p>
<p>Keta was behind, catching her ragdoll form before it fell to the earth. He threw her so hard she broke through two trees. She did not rise.</p>
<p>Keta was a furnace. The heat from his body raised a fierce wind around him. It whipped through the trees, their branches blowing back with a low roar.</p>
<p>Keta turned to Fumi. “She will be on her feet soon. Get Moto out of the forest. I will get the coin from Hako.”</p>
<p>Haiyu squared himself, ready to intervene.</p>
<p>In the blink of an eye, Keta was coiled in the air in front of him. His legs shot out like lightning, connecting with the boy’s chest. Haiyu crashed backward into a tree, his feet leaving furrows from his heavy weight.</p>
<p>Then Keta was gone into the woods.</p>
<p>Moto staggered, but Fumi caught him on her shoulder and hefted him to his feet. She supported him as they ran, increasing their speed with her wind.</p>
<p>Moto faded in and out of lucidity. But he was aware enough to be frustrated, replaying every detail he had missed. He had played into Hako’s traps again and again. Had he cost all of them their chance at being Daggers?</p>
<p>The pair made it to the edge of the Playground and Fumi set Moto up against the wall. They waited together, watching the forest as they waited. Neither of them was accustomed to feeling helpless.</p>
<p>Had Keta found Hako? Did he retrieve the coin? With every minute that passed, Moto worried more. Hako had proven he was not to be underestimated.</p>
<p>After what felt like ages, Keta appeared at the edge of the woods. He raced forward, staggering twice before he made it to the raised walkway around the Playground. When he stopped in front of Moto and Fumi, his knees buckled and he thumped roughly to the ground. He opened his hand to show a coin with a seven on it.</p>
<p>Keta gave a lopsided grin, his usual grace gone in his tired state. “You see? Sometimes it is best to–.” He slumped sideways, giving way to exhaustion. The shapeling was unconscious before his shoulder hit the ground.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/frantic-combat/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 8 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. Or read the last installment here The genin milled about near the Playground’s entrance, casting nervous glances into the wild forest that dominated the building’s interior. After a week of constant training, Moto could see the woods below in his mind’s eye with near-perfect detail. He scanned the trees one more time to be safe. The Playground’s size still awed Moto. The roof vanished in the torchlight, well over a hundred feet above. The edges of the dense forest stretched even further away than the roof, several hundred feet in each direction.Choices2019-08-02T00:00:00+00:002019-08-02T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/choices<p><strong>This is part 7 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>“What are you doing here?”</p>
<p>The warehouse behind Keta let off another percussive chain of explosions. The blasts were getting closer together as more of the building caught fire. Glass windows lay in pieces on the street. Even a block away, the heat could be felt.</p>
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<p>“I wished to… apologize for my words earlier. I was harsh.”</p>
<p>Thoughts of the burning warehouse left Moto. His mind raced. What should he tell Keta? How could he explain this? “How did you…?”</p>
<p>The shapeling turned, overcoming his own surprise. He dropped to a crouch and Moto felt a surge in the heat around him. “We will discuss later! There may be those who need our help.”</p>
<p>“No! The building could collapse any second. Let the guards handle it.”</p>
<p>“The guards are not here. We are.” Keta shot forward, leaping into the burning warehouse without a moment’s hesitation. Moto groaned and followed.</p>
<p>The explosions had been contained to the back half, allowing most workers to flee without difficulty. There was a handful who had been trapped when the dividing wall collapsed, but with Keta’s strength they were quickly freed.</p>
<p>Moto swung from the ceiling in a quick circle to confirm that the large room was empty. He landed next to Keta with a furnace on both sides. “It’s empty, let’s get out of here!” He had to shout over the roaring flames.</p>
<p>Keta pointed to the collapsed divider. The room on the other side was completely engulfed. “We have not checked there.”</p>
<p>Moto looked at him with jaw dropped. There wasn’t a patch of ground larger than a few feet that wasn’t on fire or exploding. Keta couldn’t be serious. “Are you <em>crazy</em>? It’s an inferno that way. There is zero chance anyone is still alive and a hundred percent chance we’ll die.”</p>
<p>“How would you feel if it was you? Trapped and knowing that no one would come.”</p>
<p>Moto shook his head in disbelief. “I would feel <em>dead</em>. Just like anyone trapped in there!”</p>
<p>This was suicide. Even if it wasn’t, whatever time they had until the guards showed up was nearly gone. He couldn’t let them get linked to this. There would be too many questions. But Keta had the same determined look he had in the cave.</p>
<p>“Keta, there’s no one in there. I’m sure of it.”</p>
<p>“How can you be certain?”</p>
<p>“Because… I was in there when the fire started. The only people inside were dead before I ran.” It wasn’t entirely true. One of the workers and their prisoner had been alive. But it might as well be. They were trapped and there was no way they could still be alive.</p>
<p>Keta narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”</p>
<p>“Yes. Please, just trust me. We have to get out of here!”</p>
<p>The shapeling took one last look across the warehouse, then nodded. Moto led the way back to the entrance and peered outside, looking for guards. There were none. Moto thanked his luck for how little the city guard cared about the Icepackers Ward.</p>
<p>They ran across the street and into the winding alleys.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>The pair moved in silence until the roar of flames was a distance din. Moto was curious how Keta had come to the warehouse, but he was consumed with other thoughts at the moment.</p>
<p>Did he leave any clues? Would Soundstealer make the connection to their presence in Jidoka? Had anyone seen him? Moto thought of the woman he paid to guide him. She was a loose end. Should he try to slip away and take care of her?</p>
<p>They were turning onto the main road to Frost Gate when Keta grabbed Moto’s wrist and pulled him back into the alley. His big eyes were stern as he looked up at Moto.</p>
<p>“Why were you in that warehouse?”</p>
<p>Moto winced. He knew these questions were coming, and he knew he didn’t have any good answers. “I was walking by the lake trying to clear my head. I saw a bunch of thugs causing problems at the side of the warehouse and I tried to intervene. Things got out of hand.”</p>
<p>Keta stared without blinking, searching Moto’s face for a few seconds. The shapeling shook his head and turned away. “You are lying. When I came looking for you, I overheard a women complaining about someone who sounded like you. She told me you paid her for guidance to a warehouse on the Mud Docks. She said you were looking for someone.”</p>
<p>Moto’s stomach tightened. Not even a few hours and that woman was already running her mouth. There was no telling how far word might have spread. He could only hope that no one important walked by that woman. This day was a disaster.</p>
<p>“I see by your face that you have no intention of telling me. If you cannot be honest with me now, when I have caught you in the lie, then I suppose my words earlier were not too harsh after all.” Keta began to walk away.</p>
<p>Keta was on the verge of giving up. If he caught him in another lie, or thought Moto was holding something back, that would be the end of things between them. Maybe that was for the best. He knew this relationship was a distraction. Pulling him away from his goal.</p>
<p>But maybe if Keta knew what was going on, if he understood what happened to Moto’s village, he might understand why Moto did the things he had to. Moto caught the shapeling’s arm.</p>
<p>“I was trying to investigate. The merchant who owns that warehouse is one of Soundstealer’s clients. But his guards caught me and things obviously got out of hand.”</p>
<p>“Why were you investigating this merchant?”</p>
<p>Moto would need an airtight story to avoid suspicion. A few careless words from Keta could give everything away. The shapeling would have to know at least some of the truth to go along with the story.</p>
<p>Moto tried to convince himself that was the reason motivating him as the words spilled out.</p>
<p>“Before I joined the Daggers, I lived in a Hero’s village with my family. But a few years ago we were attacked. Someone hired the Daggers to wipe us out. My dad saved me, but I was the only person who survived.</p>
<p>“It was Soundstealer who attacked us. He killed everyone. Not just the Hero, or the fighters who served her. All the families who lived there too. I’m…” Moto looked away, his breath catching before he rushed forward headlong. “I joined the Daggers to kill him. To find out who hired him and to kill all of them. I was trying to find out if this merchant was the one who ordered my family killed.”</p>
<p>Keta was silent when Moto finished, his face solemn and unreadable. Moto could feel his heart beating in every inch of his body. He couldn’t make eye contact. Had he said too much? What would Keta think?</p>
<p>The shapeling pulled him close and hugged him. “Thank you for telling the truth. It is not easy to share such painful memories.”</p>
<p>Moto let out a sigh of relief, not worrying about how hungrily he returned the embrace. He hadn’t felt Keta’s arms around him for weeks. The shapeling stepped back, running his hands down Moto’s arms and entwining their fingers as he looked up at him. “But you must let this revenge go.”</p>
<p>Moto wasn’t surprised. But at least the shapeling was looking at him with warmth again. He squeezed Keta’s hands, more for himself than anything else. “If I let this go, then Soundstealer will keep hurting others. So long as people like him are alive, they squeeze the good things out of the world. I know my motivations aren’t selfless, but the world will be better off without people like him.”</p>
<p>“Even if you manage to stop Soundstealer, vengeance will only make things worse. What do you think Fumi will do if you betray her and attack her father? If you cannot find a higher path, then should she? You see? The dance repeats with you as Soundstealer in another’s performance.”</p>
<p>Moto kept his voice level, trying to maintain the newfound peace between them. “I know there are costs. But what about the cost of standing by and doing nothing? What happens to Fumi if we let Soundstealer continue to control her life?”</p>
<p>“I do not need to convince you of the methods now. It is enough for me to know that your actions are born from your heart. I am not asking you to let Soundstealer go free. What he did was wrong, and I will help you stop him.”</p>
<p>Moto blinked. “You will?”</p>
<p>Keta smiled warmly. “I will. But we do not need to harden ourselves. If we can expose him to the Daggers, you can have justice without sinking to his methods.”</p>
<p>Moto’s eyebrows came together in consternation. He still didn’t understand how Keta had so much optimism about the Daggers. “They’re assassins. The Daggers aren’t going to care what Soundstealer did.”</p>
<p>“Even the worst performance can be saved if the dancer’s passion shines through. If we stand for what we believe in, we can turn the hearts of the Daggers and they will bring justice to Soundstealer. Think of the good Iga could do, if it had more of a conscience. It is a far more ambitious goal than vengeance.”</p>
<p>Moto shook his head, trying to contain his frustration. “When my dad saved me on the night Soundstealer attacked, we both made it out of the village. But he made me wait amongst the trees as he turned back and tried to save others. He didn’t save anyone. All he did was get himself killed and leave me to fend for myself. Sometimes the noble thing just doesn’t work.”</p>
<p>Keta looked at him, eyes filled with sadness, then hugged him again. “I am glad you have shared this pain with me. I feel as though I understand so much more. I will show you that you don’t have to lose yourself to find justice.”</p>
<p>Moto thought for a moment. There might be the seed of a good idea buried beneath the hopeless idealism. Forget a conscience, but if he could turn the opinion of the Daggers against Soundstealer, that might be enough to take him down.</p>
<p>It was a long shot, but if it brought Keta along, he was willing to give it a try. Perhaps the shapeling would accept the need for harsher realities if he saw they had tried their best to avoid them.</p>
<p>“I’m willing to try, so long as we’re careful. But what about Fumi?”</p>
<p>Keta rubbed his chin. “I do not want to lie to her. But… perhaps it is OK for a short time. If we can find evidence of misdeeds between this merchant and Soundstealer, it might help our case when we tell her.”</p>
<p>Moto sighed again, letting out the last of the tension he had been holding. It wasn’t ideal. But considering everything that had happened, it was probably the best he could hope for. At least it gave him time to change Keta’s mind. To make him see the danger in blind idealism.</p>
<p>He lead the shapeling by the hand back into the street. Keta knowing his plans made Moto nervous. It was another variable beyond his control. But try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the tiny surge of hope. Maybe he could take Soundstealer down without having to be alone.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Two weeks later, they rounded the corner on a rocky mountain trail and Iga came into view. The village leapt into view suddenly, its buildings strung between isolated spires and connected by vertigo-inducing rail carts. Iga gave no sign of its existence along the entire switch-backed trail up the mountain. The builders felt it echoed the life of stealth adopted by the Daggers.</p>
<p>A vermillion torii gate stood before the village’s scraggly fields. A raised walkway snaked from the gate through flooded plots that shone like polished copper in the early morning sun. Several of the farmers unbent from their work in the rice paddies, pulling back conical straw hats to wave at Moto and the others as they entered the village. A small smile crept to Moto’s face as he returned the wave.</p>
<p>It was strange, feeling at home. Moto had spent two years in Koga as he prepared to take the Dagger exam, but he always left his bags packed, ready to move if he ever ran afoul of a particularly violent denizen of the Lurkwood. He had never had friends. Or even acquaintances, really. When he wasn’t training or working some job for money, he had been sleeping.</p>
<p>Moto shook his head as he entered the village. Many of the shops had their storefronts open to catch the stiff mountain breeze that found its way around the large stone talons shielding the lower village. Everything seemed so normal. Besides the extreme location, there was nothing to suggest that Iga served the most deadly band of assassins and rogues in all of Yosai. The carpenter caught Fumi’s attention and waved her over. Fumi smiled, bouncing up to the woman with a laugh as she shared her latest exploits.</p>
<p>In that moment, Moto could almost share Keta’s hope for the village. But none of the senior Daggers walked about the buildings. The problem with inspiring change was that the only people you could reach were those who had no power.</p>
<p>Fumi’s story somehow stretched to fill the entire time the rest of the group was unloading their packs, returning equipment to the nearby shop keepers and paying their share of the contract fee. As usual, she reappeared once the grunt work was done.</p>
<p>“Nice work team! Can’t wait for the next one.” Fumi held out a hand for her portion of the reward with a smile.</p>
<p>Iruka counted out Fumi’s share and dropped the gold into her outstretched hand. “You might have to wait a while, kid.”</p>
<p>Keta paused as he was lifting his empty pack back onto his shoulder. “Why is that?”</p>
<p>“What, suddenly I’ve gotta have a reason? I’m a jonin, you know.” Iruka leaned forward and flicked Keta’s forehead. “I’ve got books to read and other genin to torture. I mean to enjoy my hard-earned seniority, not grind myself to the bone playing chaperone to a bunch of overeager baby Daggers.”</p>
<p>Keta stepped back, rubbing his forehead with an air of dignity. Fumi’s face dropped into a pout behind him. Iruka chuckled. “Only teasing.” She jerked a thumb in the direction of the Gearhouse standing at the far edge of town. “When I was picking up this contract, I saw that the last batch of your recruits was out on their first mission.”</p>
<p>Fumi gasped, clutching her hands to her mouth. “So soon! Why didn’t you tell us? I haven’t started preparing at all!”</p>
<p>Moto and Keta shared a look of confusion. “What’s the big deal?”</p>
<p>Fumi threw her hands out to the side. “What’s the big deal? The chunin exam is starting soon! And I haven’t learned <em>any</em> exciting new moves. What am I going to show off?”</p>
<p>“Calm down kid, you’ve probably got a week or two until the last squad is back. Plenty of time to learn some new tricks.” She turned her attention to Moto and Keta, who were both lost. “Once all of the new recruits have completed their first mission, we test you to see who makes it to chunin level.”</p>
<p>Moto felt a pleasant thrill of surprise. Chunin were considered full Daggers. They no longer needed supervision anywhere accept the jonin training ground and they had access to a wider range of missions. “I didn’t think we’d be able to advance so quickly.”</p>
<p>Iruka gave a disapproving grunt. “The Daggers do not tolerate rookies for long. They don’t want you getting comfortable. But don’t get too excited. It’s up or out. Anyone who fails the exam joins the lower village or leaves, so you should take preparation seriously.” Iruka looked at Fumi with her final line.</p>
<p>Keta smiled. “Will it be like the obstacle course? I look forward to another performance.”</p>
<p>Iruka rolled her eyes. “Yeah, there will be a crowd. But it’s only Daggers watching this time. You’ll compete in your squads at first, then individually, so I recommend you practice both. I can’t say too much more though.”</p>
<p>Try as they might, they couldn’t get Iruka to share any more details. She seemed to enjoy their frustration. Eventually, they gave up and all started back toward their houses. Moto and Iruka walked toward Terran together.</p>
<p>Iruka was watching him out of the corner of her eye. “Seems like you and Keta made up.”</p>
<p>Moto shifted the strap on his pack uncomfortably. “Yeah… what about it?”</p>
<p>Iruka pulled against his pack with her gravity, causing him to stumble. “I’m just happy for you, idiot. Not everybody has ulterior motives.” They walked in silence for a minute before Iruka continued. “He’s good for you, I think.”</p>
<p>Moto blushed, looking away. Why was Iruka so interested in his love life?</p>
<p>“You’re gonna have a choice soon, kid.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean?”</p>
<p>“The chunin exam is when the senior Daggers really start to pay attention. Some might have taken an interest during the obstacle course, but now is when they can actually start recruiting.”</p>
<p>“So?”</p>
<p>“<em>So</em>, it means people might ask you to join their team. There will be two kinds of offers after the exam. Jonin who want their own squad will be looking for entire groups that they can lead. And existing squads will be trying to fill one or two empty slots.</p>
<p>“The existing squads will be more intense. They’ll have higher-level contracts and more senior members. In terms of ambition, getting onto one of them early is a big step. But it’s a tough life.”</p>
<p>“You don’t think I should do it if I get the chance.”</p>
<p>Iruka tossed her hands up. “I don’t care either way. Dumb as you are, you’re a big boy who has to make his own decisions.” She walked for a second in silence, then carried on. “I know this is going to bug you, which is partially why I’m saying it, but you remind me of myself when I was new. I chose to join a senior squad then. I don’t think I would again.”</p>
<p>Surprisingly, it <em>didn’t</em> bother him when she said he was like her. He seemed to be picking up attachments left and right. “But you liked that squad until Soundstealer left and Sugi…” Moto trailed off awkwardly.</p>
<p>“Got himself killed. Yeah, I did. But at the top, the only thing that matters is results. I’m not saying you won’t find things you like up there, but once you buy into that mindset it doesn’t leave room for anything else. Everything in your life is contingent on doing more, faster, better. There’s no room to breathe. If you try to step back and enjoy what you’ve built, you’ll just get left behind.”</p>
<p>“Only if I can’t keep up.”</p>
<p>Iruka barked a surprised laugh, then shook her head. “It’s like talking to a mirror. Except it’s a stupid mirror that shows you how clueless you were as a kid.” She messed his hair and Moto pulled back, waving his hands. “I know I can’t convince you. But just… think about what your life was like back in Koga, and think of what it’s like now with Fumi and Keta.”</p>
<p>“I can still spend time with them, even if I join another squad.”</p>
<p>“Sure. But what do you think you’ll do when everyone on your squad is jonin, spending every waking minute training or making political moves. Do you really think you’ll accept being worse than them? Knowing that you <em>could</em> catch up if you made the same sacrifices?”</p>
<p>“No… I’d probably join them in training.”</p>
<p>Iruka nodded. “That’s what happens to most. And it’ll be even harder for you because of your resonance.”</p>
<p>Moto nearly missed a step at Iruka’s words. He hadn’t thought about that part of his power for a long time.</p>
<p>Iruka chuckled humorlessly. “Judging by your reaction, I’ll wager that part slipped your mind. It’s tough, kid. I warned you it takes constant vigilance. I wondered, actually, if part of your fight with Keta wasn’t because you were being stubborn. Or should I say <em>unreasonably</em> stubborn, since you’re about as accommodating as a rockslide even on the best of days.”</p>
<p>Moto played back his recent discussions with Keta. He thought he’d been perfectly logical. Even now he felt like his position was the right one. But would he be able to tell if his resonance was clouding his thinking?</p>
<p>Moto shifted his pack uncomfortably, looking to redirect the conversation. “So what are you saying? I should just give up on having ambition?”</p>
<p>“Sort of. You’re lucky, kid. Keta and Fumi are strong. You’ll probably go far even if you choose friends over ambition. The difference is priorities. If you put achievement in the top spot, if you insist on never missing an opportunity, it won’t leave room for anything else. No matter how hard you try, the sacrifices will sneak in without you realizing it. You’ll wind up dead or lonely. Probably both.”</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Moto leaned against a boulder beside the lake in the Playground. Daggers darted above his head, running across the tethers stretched from wall to wall. The air was filled with shouts as team members called to one another in their training. Periodic cracks and thuds punctuated powerful new moves being honed. The smell of sweat and dust filled the air.</p>
<p>Keta and Fumi stood together on the opposite side of the lake with their heads close in discussion. Fumi’s hair was plastered to her head, dripping with lake water.</p>
<p>The two of them nodded and stepped apart. Keta dropped into a crouch and held out his hand. Fumi rolled her shoulders, then gripped his wrist.</p>
<p>Keta’s muscles flared. His heals dug into the hard packed earth as he spun, while Fumi lifted her feet and shot a blast of wind from her free hand, adding speed to the rotation. The two became a blur.</p>
<p>Moto reached back for a stone the size of his torso. His body pressed into the rock wall behind as he accelerated the stone forward, sending it racing across the lake directly toward his teammates.</p>
<p>With a final grunt of exertion, Keta launched Fumi towards the rock like an arrow. At the last moment she flipped, thrusting her feet forward and shooting a condensed blast of wind into the projectile. A shockwave ripped out from the force of the collision, distorting the surface of the water into a bowl beneath her.</p>
<p>The stone cracked but did not break. It deflected upward, glancing off Fumi’s wind blast and flying into the distance. Her momentum absorbed by the collision, Fumi fell to the water, skipping once before she sank below the surface. She reappeared a moment later, wiping water from her eyes.</p>
<p>“It still isn’t concentrated enough!”</p>
<p>Moto’s mind wandered as Fumi swam toward Keta for another go. His mouth turned down in a frown.</p>
<p>Since his conversation with Iruka two days earlier, he had worried over his arguments with Keta like a jaw full of teeth knocked loose in a bar fight. He was almost certain his resonance wasn’t clouding his judgment. Almost. At the very least, he couldn’t find any holes in his logic.</p>
<p>So why was he still so uncomfortable? Moto shifted against the rock, his face dark and cloudy.</p>
<p>He couldn’t explain the attachments. He loved Keta, though it still scared him to say it. He looked up to Iruka, juvenile as that felt to say. He was even starting to like Fumi. Fumi!</p>
<p>Connections were a liability. He learned that the moment his father threw his life away. Loneliness hadn’t been a problem in the three years since. But now he had friends. And a life. Or at least the chance for one.</p>
<p>Iruka was right. He had a choice. He wasn’t going to give up on his revenge against Soundstealer. But now he had two paths toward that goal. He could continue as he had, discarding anything that held him back. Or he could try to work with Keta, maintaining the shapeling’s ideals even if it lowered their chances of success.</p>
<p>He knew the way he felt and he knew the way he thought. But what was the source of the gap between the two? Did the emotions represent weakness? The final challenge to test his resolve? Or was he stubbornly refusing to accept that he had found something more to live for than revenge? Was his resonance blinding him to other paths?</p>
<p>A pulse in the gravity behind him pulled Moto out of his thoughts. Constant practice had made the gravity sense almost second nature. A little more time and he thought he’d be able to keep it up even while focusing on complicated tasks.</p>
<p>“That’s a powerful move. Do you mean it as a shield breaker?”</p>
<p>Moto gave a start as though he hadn’t felt the squad of young Daggers coming. No need to advertise his new senses right before a major competition. “More or less.”</p>
<p>The trio were all new recruits. Moto recognized the one on the left as a fellow member of Terran house. A slender boy in his late teens. With short black hair, delicate features, and a small mouth and nose, he didn’t look like a brawler. But the boy was a stone-eater.</p>
<p>On the right was a tall girl with blocky features and a thick scar running down her left cheek, continuing along her neck. The sides of her head were shaved, with long, salt-and-pepper hair on top that fell to one side. Her frame was well-muscled, yet somehow she moved the most quietly of the group. Like a big cat. Moto had seen her sharing a cart with Keta on their way to Ignis, so she was some sort of flame resonant.</p>
<p>In the middle was a tall, gangly looking boy with big hands and feet, still growing into his height. He had the same blocky features and salt-and-pepper hair, held in a long ponytail. He and the girl both had the look of northerners. The boy seemed to be the squad’s leader, despite being the youngest.</p>
<p>Moto struggled to remember any of their names. After a moment he recalled the stone-eater was Haiyu and the young boy was Hako. He couldn’t remember the girl’s name.</p>
<p>Hako pushed his circular glasses back up his nose with an over-large hand. “Interesting. It solves your speed problem while providing a more versatile first strike. Very creative.”</p>
<p>Keta’s strength and speed made him good at closing with enemies and breaking through defenses. But he had to move fast so he wasn’t exposed to counterattacks while he approached. Too fast for Moto or Fumi to match, which meant Keta spent a lot of time outnumbered. The shapeling didn’t mind the risk, but it was bad strategy.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, it was hard for Fumi to keep her wind attacks focused at a distance. This new move helped her close with enemies quickly. And her wind would give her more options to block projectiles and disrupt the enemy than Keta’s hand-to-hand style. It also made Keta’s speed an asset, helping him catch up and support.</p>
<p>Moto’s eyes narrowed. Had Hako been watching them train? Or had he put things together that quickly just based off their powers and seeing the move once?</p>
<p>The boy smiled, giving off an air of earnest curiosity. He didn’t seem like the kind of person to go sneaking around spying on others. Of course, the best thieves never gave a sign until they’d robbed you blind.</p>
<p>Moto shrugged. “I’m not sure what you mean. We just thought it was a good way to train Fumi’s wind blasts.” No need to confirm the boy’s guess. “Are you training for the exams now too?”</p>
<p>Hako nodded. “We got back from our first mission a week and a half ago. Luckily, it was nearby and brief, so we’ve had a good amount of time to prepare. Not like you three. I hear you’ve been busy.”</p>
<p>Fumi waved her hands and shouted from the other side of the lake. “What are you waiting for? Give us another throw!”</p>
<p>Moto gestured at the squad and Fumi brought Keta over. She nodded to each of the newcomers, water dripping from her nose as she greeted them by name without hesitation. Fumi was good at remembering people’s names.</p>
<p>Keta nodded to the tall girl, whose name was Hibana. Moto nearly jumped when she nodded back. Hibana had stepped into the shadow cast by the boulder and he had almost forgotten she was there she stood so still.</p>
<p>“Are you sure we need to practice this? It’s so frustrating! I don’t see why we can’t just leave it to Keta to strike first.”</p>
<p>Moto flinched internally as Fumi gave truth to his lie from earlier, but Hako’s face didn’t change. “It seems like a good idea to me. But things would probably be easier if you struck more than once instead of shooting one big blast.”</p>
<p>Hako held out his hand and a thin stream of water materialized, snaking through the air until it connected to Fumi. The water thickened as it siphoned liquid from Fumi into a swirling ball between the boy’s hands.</p>
<p>Hako spun, shooting the water in three jets that hardened to spears of ice. The first spear found a crack in one of Moto’s boulders and the other two spears followed up, striking new cracks that appeared from the first. With a <em>pop</em>, the boulder fell into pieces.</p>
<p>“Thanks for the tip.”</p>
<p>Hako nodded demurely, happy to have helped. “Of course. I was just telling Moto how we’ve had a bit more time to practice, so we’ve been able to learn some tricks like that. But you’ve probably learned more useful things out on your missions. Keta, haven’t you been on <em>three</em> already? That’s amazing.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded graciously, a satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth. Fumi frowned at Moto. If not for him during the obstacle course, that would have been her praise to bask in.</p>
<p>Hako continued, though his eyes darted between the two of them. It was hard to tell what he made of the interaction, but Moto was sure he had caught it. “You three are definitely going to be favorites in the exam. Did you really go on a mission for Soundstealer?”</p>
<p>Fumi beamed as she nodded.</p>
<p>“What was it like?” Hako’s face never lost that shine of simple curiosity. But the hairs on the back of Moto’s neck stood up. He seemed too eager.</p>
<p>Fumi’s voice took on its storytelling tone. “It was deadly! There were these giant spiders holding a boy captive in a creepy cave. Moto and Keta snuck in first to find the kid, but they were discovered. Iruka and I had to come charging in to break them out!”</p>
<p>“You mean jorogumo? What was the fight like?”</p>
<p>Moto realized why the group was making him uncomfortable. They should have all been looking at Fumi while she spoke, but each one in the trio was looking at a different member of Moto’s squad. They weren’t here for a friendly chat. They were gathering information.</p>
<p>Moto cut in over Fumi before she could continue. “I think we’ve taken a long enough break. We should get back to practicing.”</p>
<p>Fumi looked at him with frustration. “You’re the one who made us stop. I was in the middle of my story!”</p>
<p>Hako nodded, eyes on Moto. “Of course. We’ll let you all get back to practicing. I didn’t mean to distract.”</p>
<p>The trio said their goodbyes and left. Moto assumed they would be watching from afar.</p>
<p>“What was that about? I didn’t get to tell any of the good parts!”</p>
<p>“They weren’t here to talk. They were researching us.” As he watched them go, Moto wondered how much they had given away.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/outmatched/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 7 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. “What are you doing here?” The warehouse behind Keta let off another percussive chain of explosions. The blasts were getting closer together as more of the building caught fire. Glass windows lay in pieces on the street. Even a block away, the heat could be felt.Jidoka2019-07-19T00:00:00+00:002019-07-19T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/jidoka<p><strong>This is part 6 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Fumi sat cross-legged on the wall of a minor noble’s yard. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, though several strands had already escaped. A fist-sized leather pouch was suspended between her palms, buffeted by the wind she used to float it in front of her face.</p>
<p>“Are you sure we can’t open it?”</p>
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<p>The pouch jerked from her hands into Iruka’s outstretched palm. The senior Dagger sat on the edge of their cart, legs kicking idly. “Absolutely not. The whole reason people bring us in is for secrecy. If they wanted a bunch of meatheads asking lots of questions, they would have hired Heroes.”</p>
<p>“Please, don’t trouble yourself.” Moto pushed Iruka’s leg aside as he heaved a large bundle into the bed of the cart.</p>
<p>“You were just as eager for the bet as the rest of us! It’s not our fault you were the first one spotted by the guards.” Fumi turned a pout back to Iruka. “A quick look isn’t going to hurt anybody! All this fuss for a bag of jewels barely worth more than our contract fee. There must be something more.”</p>
<p>Keta was leaning against the wall below Fumi, his arms crossed. “Perhaps they are family heirlooms.”</p>
<p>Moto hefted the last bag in place and turned to face the group. “I’ve never known a merchant to be sentimental. Not when coin is involved.”</p>
<p>Keta’s mouth dipped into a frown as Moto spoke. The shapeling was doing that a lot lately. “There is a first time for everything. If we’re ready to go…” He pushed himself off the wall and started walking down the street.</p>
<p>Iruka glanced between Moto and Keta, then shrugged and scrambled to the front of the cart to set the horses moving. Moto fell in beside Fumi, who was grumbling about unsatisfying endings to stories.</p>
<p>They walked down a wide, cobbled stone boulevard. Neatly manicured beech trees lined the street, casting their shadows into the walled gardens on either side. Multi-story stone manors nestled far back from the road.</p>
<p>Nearly everyone on the street was a shapeling dressed in brightly colored robes. The few interspersed humans were walking in a bent-over shuffle, trying to match the shorter stature of the majority.</p>
<p>Moto and the others received more than one disapproving glare as they walked. Iga’s Champion was ultimately pledged to Tsukuyomi, even if the Daggers maintained a neutral stance. And Tsukuyomi’s followers belonged in Jidoka’s slums, not within the walls of the High City.</p>
<p>Moto hunched his shoulders. Even if they hadn’t worn the jet black of Daggers, three humans had no chance of blending in. They stood out like a cutpurse at a gala.</p>
<p>Fumi bounced at his side, her head held high as she looked around. The earlier argument with Iruka was already forgotten. She could never hold onto a frustration for more than a minute or two. Fumi gave a low whistle.</p>
<p>“And I thought some of the senior Daggers were rich. I’m glad you convinced us to take this mission. I’ll be telling stories about all this wealth for years!”</p>
<p>Moto grunted, his eyes down to avoid insulting any nobles.</p>
<p>Fumi shoved her face into Moto’s field of view as they walked. “Hey! Are you listening?”</p>
<p>Moto tried to shove her away but she danced back and reappeared at his other side. She threw an arm around his shoulder and Moto surprised himself when he didn’t pull away instinctively.</p>
<p>“Will you and Keta quit moping and make up already? Heroes are supposed to be… well, cooler. Not sulking like a pair of mountain cats who fell into a lake.”</p>
<p>Moto bristled. Fumi knew just how to get under his skin. “I’m not moping. And there’s nothing to make up about! I’m not mad at Keta.”</p>
<p>“Well, he’s mad at you. Have you two talked about what happened to those soldiers in the cave?”</p>
<p>Moto turned his head away. “There hasn’t been a good time to bring it up.”</p>
<p>“No? Not a single moment on the entire journey here? Two weeks from Iga to Jidoka, and you never had a moment to pull him aside?”</p>
<p>“He’ll come to me when he wants to talk.”</p>
<p>Fumi groaned. “I knew you were prickly, but I didn’t know your were a fool too. You’ll never feel the breeze if you wait for the summit to climb itself.”</p>
<p>She laughed as he pushed her away, then left him to walk with his own thoughts.</p>
<p>The buildings became more plain as they approached the merchant’s district, clustered around Frost Gate. All of Jidoka’s High City was wealthy, but the military officers and merchants did not splurge on ostentation like the nobles did.</p>
<p>Moto shifted his gaze to Keta. He expected the shapeling to be as enthralled by the city as Fumi. The two of them were of a kind when it came to their love of spectacle. But the dancer’s gaze remained forward.</p>
<p>Moto shook his head. He was used to keeping his distance. But space didn’t seem to be making things any better. He hated to admit it, but maybe Fumi was right. He pretended not to see her grin as he trotted forward to Keta.</p>
<p>The shapeling looked over his shoulder as Moto neared. “Yes?”</p>
<p>“I… I was thinking we should talk about what happened in the cave.” Moto rubbed his hands along his pants. “Are you still mad?”</p>
<p>Keta faced forward again as they continued walking. “I am not mad.”</p>
<p>“Oh. It seems like you’re mad.”</p>
<p>“Well, I am not. So you may rest easy.”</p>
<p>Moto hesitated as he discarded several followups. It was hard to think of something to say when he wasn’t trying to manipulate. “I thought… well, you know what happened with the other prisoners. I’m sorry we couldn’t save them.”</p>
<p>“Yes, you have made it clear that was not possible.” Keta’s tone was frosty.</p>
<p>There was a pause, long enough to be awkward. Moto soldiered on. “I don’t know what was possible or not. But things looked bad.” Moto laid a tentative hand on Keta’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to risk you getting hurt.” He paused again, uncomfortable with what he was saying. “Not for anything.”</p>
<p>Keta shrugged off Moto’s hand. “Except the mission, of course. Anything could be sacrificed for the mission. Even three men’s lives.”</p>
<p>Moto pulled his hand back as if stung. His face darkened. “When the spiders attacked, I threw myself on <em>you</em>, not the kid. And when you wanted to save the prisoners the first time, I helped even though I thought it was risky. So don’t say I would put the mission above you.” He didn’t mention how much that fact scared him.</p>
<p>“Fine. You care for me.” Keta waved a hand angrily. “But what of those people? Do not try to say that you cared for their fate.”</p>
<p>“What do you want from me?” Moto threw his hands up as he shouted.</p>
<p>“Hey! Keep it down rock heads.” Iruka gestured to the surrounding neighborhood and the handful of people looking up at Moto’s outburst.</p>
<p>Moto lowered his voice, stepping closer to Keta. “What do you want from me? There was too much going on and I prioritized. I cared about you, and the squad, and the kid. I didn’t care as much about the other prisoners. I’m sorry. Would you rather I let you get hurt? Or the kid to die?”</p>
<p>“I would <em>rather</em> you not care so little about condemning three men to death.”</p>
<p>“I’m not going to torture myself when there was no other option. Your resonance was tapped out and we were surrounded on all sides. How were you going to save those men?”</p>
<p>“We would have thought of something!”</p>
<p>“No, we wouldn’t. You can talk all you want about saving everyone. But those are just words. In the real world people die if you refuse to accept reality.”</p>
<p>“Oh, and you’re keeping everyone alive?”</p>
<p>“Fine, <em>more</em> people die. You know what I mean!” Moto ground his jaw, forcing his tone to soften. “Keta, I didn’t want to leave them. If I thought there was a reasonable chance of saving everyone, I would have tried. But I did what I thought would save the people I care about. Is that really so bad?”</p>
<p>“When we met, I thought that you were distant because you were afraid of loss. But now I fear that you are just… distant. Like a dancer who rehearses the forms but cares not for the performance. I do not want to be with someone who is so cold.”</p>
<p>Moto stood with his mouth open. Keta’s words hurt. Too much. “Fine, then I won’t burden you with my presence any longer.”</p>
<p>Moto stomped back to the cart and pulled his pack free. “I’m going to explore the city by myself for a while.”</p>
<p>Iruka looked at him over her glasses. “Are you sure? This mission was your idea. You don’t want to be there for contract completion?”</p>
<p>“No. I’ll meet you at Frost Gate in the afternoon to leave.” Moto cut down an alley without looking back.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>“Watch it.”</p>
<p>“<em>You</em> watch it.” Moto stared ice at the street performer laying sprawled along the ground. The man saw Moto’s jet black robes and scrambled back, nodding deferentially as he clawed his scattered coins from the mud and fled.</p>
<p>Moto knew it was his fault. Wrapped up in imaginary arguments with Keta, he hadn’t been watching where he walked. But he was in a foul mood and didn’t feel like controlling himself.</p>
<p>Keta was always saying he was too cold. Too reserved. But now he was berating Moto for caring about him too much? Suddenly loving him was the wrong answer too?</p>
<p>Moto nearly missed a step at that last thought. Those words were dangerous. He was just overreacting. Feeling sentimental after Keta’s harsh words. But his chest burned when he thought of their last exchange.</p>
<p>Moto muscled his thoughts aside with a growl as he rummaged in his pouch and pulled out the copy he made of their last contract. The one Sounstealer tried to hide. At the bottom of the paper was an icon of two hands exchanging a coin for a mask. It was the sigil of the merchant who requested the contract. The current mission was just an excuse to travel to Jidoka so he could investigate further.</p>
<p>The merchant’s office was likely in High City. But if there was anything to sniff out, he wasn’t going to find it there. Talking to the merchant directly would get back to Soundstealer anyways.</p>
<p>Moto wasn’t sure what he was looking for yet. But if there was more to this merchant, something wouldn’t add up in the day-to-day details. He planned to start by talking to the workers and poking around the warehouses. And that meant a trip to the Icepackers Ward.</p>
<p>Jidoka surrounded Sanshimai, a massive lake who’s shore was cut by three rivers. Each area served a different function for the city. Hundreds of years before, the districts had been distinct domains, but Sadashi conquered the other two cities and folded them into his own.</p>
<p>Covering the north and west shores, was High City with it’s stone wall, snooty wealth, and military facilities. It was the original seat of Sadashi’s power. To the east were the Pleasure Gardens. Once a wild forest city brimming with primeval splendor, now a perfumed luxury district with rock gardens, tea shops, and any other service a wealthy Jidokan desired.</p>
<p>On the south shore, the Icepackers Ward suffered the most under Sadashi’s rule. Shiori’s domain used to be consumed by the arts. It was now Jidoka’s slums. The town was littered with theaters converted to icehouses for High City’s favored lake fish. Still more served as cramped living quarters for the many gangs and beggars who didn’t work the lake.</p>
<p>It was hard to tell which stank more: the rotting fish-guts of the Mud Dock, the perpetually muddy and refuse-laden streets, or the unwashed residents who moved through it all.</p>
<p>Moto approached a woman playing the harp on a street corner. The hat at her feet was devoid of coins. Her tattered, faded robes and scrawny limbs suggested this was a regular occurrence. Moto pulled out a copper and tossed it into the hat, keeping a tight grip on the rest of his purse. He knew how these operations worked.</p>
<p>“Another if you can tell me which tavern the workers frequent.”</p>
<p>The woman laughed, but cut the sound off quickly at Moto’s glower. “Any tavern sir… there’s not much in Kumadori that isn’t given over to feeding the brutes behind those walls.”</p>
<p>Kumadori was the old name for the Icepackers Ward, before its conquest. Moto took another look at the woman’s harp. It was old, the painted wood was chipped and faded, but it had been a fine instrument once. He guessed her ancestors had been important before Sadashi took over.</p>
<p>Moto pulled out a pair of silvers, stepping closer to the woman and dropping his voice conspiratorially. “I feel I can trust someone who treats an instrument fine as that with such care. I’m looking for someone who’s gotten a little too cozy with the lords and ladies behind the wall. These are yours if you can show me the place I’m looking for.”</p>
<p>The woman nodded approvingly as he spoke, but mostly she eyed the silvers like she might just skip a step and eat them directly. She nodded and snatched them out of his hands. “What are you looking for?”</p>
<p>Moto held out the contract, folded so only the sigil showed. “Have you seen this sign before? I’m looking for a man who works in the warehouses for this merchant.”</p>
<p>The woman made a show of squinting at the paper for a good while. Moto thought she might ask for a few more coins to jog her memory, until he saw her gesturing with the fingers by her side. He didn’t bother turning. In some nearby alley, a greasy cutthroat was certainly drawing his daggers to follow wherever they went.</p>
<p>“Perhaps I should be dealing with your friend, then, if you feel the need to call them along?” Moto pulled on the silver coins in her hand, harder than he needed to. They snapped out of her grasp and flew back to his palm.</p>
<p>The woman’s eyes widened. “No sir. I– sorry sir.” She was not at all chastened at being caught, but Moto thought she wouldn’t try anything now that she knew he had a resonance. He held the two silvers back out to her.</p>
<p>“As long as we’re understood. Save the blades for your real enemies. Or at least a softer mark. Now, have you seen the sigil?”</p>
<p>“I don’t know the name, but I’ve seen a warehouse that bears the mark.”</p>
<p>The woman led him through the muddy streets, working toward Sanshimai. She grumbled when he refused to take the dark, narrow alleys she claimed as shortcuts. The smell of fish grew until it overwhelmed all else long before they reached a two story building that spanned an entire block on the lake’s shore. The merchant’s mark stood above the building’s wide front doors.</p>
<p>Moto drew out another silver and offered it to the woman.</p>
<p>“What’s this for?” She snatched the coin without waiting for an answer.</p>
<p>“To forget you ever saw me.”</p>
<p>The woman nodded, spinning on her heel and disappearing down an alley without another word. Moto turned his attention back to the warehouse and settled on a barrel to watch.</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>A muscular pair hauled baskets full of silver fish from the docks to a set of tables outside the front door, where a line of dour faced men and women with blood stained hands and aprons gutted the day’s catch. Small children ran along the line, grabbing finished cuts and ferrying them into the warehouse. A man, his back hunched with age until his long beard nearly touched his knees, sat outside a small smoking shed.</p>
<p>Hadn’t this merchant relocated to Jidoka recently? The son they rescued was supposedly following soon behind the father. So how did he already have such a large operation? Perhaps they purchased the business from someone else, but the sigil over the doors was not freshly painted.</p>
<p>And while the area around the workshop was bustling with activity, there weren’t nearly as many workers as he would have expected given the size of the building.</p>
<p>A pair of dangerous looking women approached the building and greeted the fish carvers, laughing as someone cracked a joke. The kids running up and down the line gave the women a wide birth, as though they had suffered a few kicks for getting too close in the past. The two women carried on to the side of the building, looking up and down the street before they slipped into the alley.</p>
<p>Curiosity piqued, Moto ducked out of sight and pulled himself to a nearby rooftop, then snuck to the alley the women had entered. He dropped to his belly and peered over the edge.</p>
<p>Empty. The women hadn’t had time to reach the end of the alley and turn out of sight, which left the plain door on the back half of the warehouse.</p>
<p>The women might be nothing more than warehouse guards. Or a pair of thugs hired to shake down the neighborhood for some extra cash. Moto didn’t care if they were up to no good in the general sense. He only cared if those schemes might bring the merchant into conflict with a village like his own.</p>
<p>A half hour passed and three more armed individuals, two women and one man, entered through the side door. Abnormal, but no more suspicious than any of the other crime in the slums. If Moto didn’t know this merchant was connected to Soundstealer, he wouldn’t have looked twice. He needed to see more.</p>
<p>Moto crawled back from the ledge and rose into a squat. The alley was no more than a pace or two wide. Getting to the warehouse roof was trivial. As was slipping through one of the narrow windows toward the top of the wall.</p>
<p>Inside, the building was a single story. Crates were stacked almost to the top of the double height ceilings, forming a maze of wide corridors. Wooden cranes were placed on sliding tracks for loading and unloading. The room was cold, probably from the ice used to pack the fish.</p>
<p>To Moto’s left, a solid wall divided the building in half. To his right, in the far back corner, a set of stairs led to an enclosed office, standing on stilts halfway to the ceiling.</p>
<p>Moto pulled himself into the shadows of the building’s rafters, moving in quick bursts and otherwise holding still to avoid drawing eyes.</p>
<p>None of the crates came near the windows at the top of the building. If not for his resonance, sneaking in through the roof would have been tricky. But still, it felt too easy. Maybe they didn’t have much to hide.</p>
<p>As his eyes adjusted, Moto saw the warehouse floors were clean and dry. Unexpected for a building whose sole purpose was holding ice and dead fish.</p>
<p>Now that he looked, he couldn’t see anything that suggested fish or ice. Perhaps this was the equipment room, and the fish were stored in the other half of the warehouse? He scanned the wall dividing the building. No doors connected this side to the other.</p>
<p>Along with the five people who entered recently, there was only one other person in the room. All six of them were clustered in one of the crate corridors. Four of them were loading open boxes while the other two were hooking a closed one on to a crane. Moto moved closer to get a look.</p>
<p>Weapons. The three crates being loaded were neatly packed with swords, arrows, and other armaments. The thugs had a practiced efficiency that suggested they had loaded crates like these many times over.</p>
<p>These people were obviously up to something. If even half the boxes in this room were filled the same way as those he had just seen, this warehouse could outfit a small militia. But for what?</p>
<p>Were they planning an uprising in the Icepackers Ward? Moto dismissed the idea. There was no way someone would have access to this many weapons without also having better security.</p>
<p>Only six people, with no one on guard. Unlocked windows, and a warehouse split in half without even a fake door between. This place couldn’t hold up to the barest amount of scrutiny. A couple hours had already found this much.</p>
<p>Whatever it was, they had to be connected to the government. That was the best explanation for why they cared so little about being discovered. But there was <em>some</em> attempt being made to hide. So it was unofficial. Moto saw two likely explanations.</p>
<p>Someone in Jidoka, someone with enough clout to cover if the Blades ever found the warehouse, was planning a move against the other lords. Or Sadashi had plans that he didn’t want seen by passersby and leaking out of the city.</p>
<p>Based on how the boxes were packed, Moto’s best guess was the former. Each crate had a wide variety of weapons. If it was some central government work, he would expect them to be more systematically loaded. All swords or all bows, not a mix.</p>
<p>Moto slipped through the rafters again, using his power to fly through the beams without making a sound. It was hard to imagine how he had ever managed to go unseen without it. He came to rest against the office on the side that faced away from the thugs. The wall was smooth, but he stuck with ease.</p>
<p>He peered through the small window on the side of the office. It looked plain enough. A simple table stood by the door, littered with paper and writing instruments. Beside the table was a few boxes filled with records.</p>
<p>But at the center of the room was a man with hands and feet bound to a chair and mouth gagged. His clothes were ragged and his face was badly bruised. The man’s chin rested against his chest, his eyes closed and his breathing steady.</p>
<p>Should he try to wake the prisoner up? They might have useful information. But they would probably make a scene if he didn’t help them escape, which Moto wasn’t planning to do. He didn’t want the merchant knowing that someone was investigating.</p>
<p>After the argument with Keta, Moto wasn’t feeling particularly charitable anyways.</p>
<p>Keeping an eye on the prisoner, Moto eased into the room. He pulled against the ceiling to keep his footsteps light as he tip-toed to the box of records. He slid his fingers along the dividers sticking out of the box, wondering what to look for. What might prove this merchant was the one who set the contract to destroy Moto’s village?</p>
<p>Business near the village would be a start. Moto scanned to a section of shipping records, then pulled out a few sheets and slid them into his robes.</p>
<p>What about motivation? Maybe the Hero who founded Moto’s village was raiding this merchant for supplies. Or the hideout could have been on some valuable resources. That might show as a dip in profits for a time before Moto’s village was destroyed.</p>
<p>Moto found the section on payments and started flipping back through the years. But the financial records were only for shipments made from this office. The records went back far longer than they should have for a new merchant, though.</p>
<p>The man at the center of the room groaned as he woke. Moto spun, racing towards the window without hesitation. He was only halfway through the room when the prisoner’s eyes came open.</p>
<p>In the moment it took the battered man to process what he was seeing, Moto had reached the window. The man moaned, unable to do more through the gag in his mouth. There was pleading in his voice and the whites showed around his eyes.</p>
<p>Moto held a finger to his lips, but the man kept making noise. He slid his chair towards the window in desperation. Moto cursed under his breath, then threw one leg over the windowsill. When he saw Moto was leaving, the man gave another frantic cry and tipped the chair sideways with a loud thud.</p>
<p>“Did you hear that?”</p>
<p>“Sounds like the fox friend is awake again. Who wants to take the next turn?” There was a groan from whoever was selected.</p>
<p>Moto slipped out of the window and clung beneath the ledge. He wanted to keep running, but the man had gotten a good look at his face. If he gave the guard a description, Moto might need to do something about both of them.</p>
<p>The door to the office opened and Moto heard heavy footsteps enter. “What did we say about making such a ruckus? Makin’ more work for us.” There was a grunt as the prisoner’s chair was righted. Then a soft thud paired with a whimper from the prisoner. “Next time I won’t go so easy. Are we clear? Now, since you’re awake, have you decided to be any more cooperative?”</p>
<p>The prisoner gasped as his gag was removed. Moto pulled a dagger off his belt and got ready to move.</p>
<p>“Where is your boss hiding?”</p>
<p>“I’ve already told you, we haven’t seen him in years! Breaker abandoned us as soon as he made it into the Sanyaku.”</p>
<p>“I’m getting tired of playing these games. Those beasts knew exactly where and when to strike. Somebody let Breaker know that shipment was coming. If you keep taking us for a bunch of fools, we’ll just have to get someone who’s going to be more cooperative…”</p>
<p>“Please, I swear by the Nine Tails that I’m telling you the truth.”</p>
<p>“That doesn’t mean squat.”</p>
<p>“Well, it does to me.” A hint of defiance entered the man’s voice. “Just because you’ve let High City buy your loyalty, doesn’t mean I have.”</p>
<p>There was a loud slap. “I told you! No more of that high and mighty crap. You watch your tongue.”</p>
<p>No wonder the prisoner’s face was such a mess, provoking the guard like that. Why be such an idiot?</p>
<p>Moto paused. The prisoner had seen Moto’s clothes. Did he recognize him as a Dagger? Was he hoping Moto would help if he knew the prisoner was loyal to Tsukuyomi? Moto shook his head. The man might as well ask for coin from a cutpurse.</p>
<p>If he was going to tell the guard about Moto, the prisoner probably would have by now. He might say something later, but that risk seemed less than leaving bodies that would certainly be found. Moto eased past the window toward the rafters.</p>
<p>The interrogator let out a theatrical sigh. “Fine, if you’re not going to be any more cooperative then we’ll just find another. This time we won’t bother being subtle. Nobody cares if a tiny village in the mountains disappears anyways.”</p>
<p>Moto stopped.</p>
<p>“Wait, please!” The prisoner sounded desperate. “We haven’t done anything against you. You have to believe me. We don’t want anything to do with Breaker. We just want to be left alone.”</p>
<p>“The way I see it, you’re all tainted whether you’re working with Breaker or not. You followed him at some point. And we’ll know the truth of your allegiance once we kill the rest of you. See if Breaker keeps striking half so accurate.”</p>
<p>“Please! There are kids up there. Families. My family. Don’t you think I would tell you anything if I could?”</p>
<p>“We’ll take a few alive for questioning. Maybe you’ll get lucky and–.”</p>
<p>Another dagger was in Moto’s hand before he realized he had thrown the first. The blade took the interrogator at the base of the neck, silencing any cries. The big man stumbled as his hand reached to the wound, his eyes widening with fear. A wet gurgle bubbled from his lips and he crashed into the writing table.</p>
<p>One of the women shouted from the warehouse below. “Everything OK up there, Bako?”</p>
<p>Bako was dragging himself up the wall, blood-covered fingers leaving streaks on the wood. He raised his fist towards the window. Moto buried another dagger in the man’s back, but it was too late. Bako brought his hand down and shattered the glass.</p>
<p>“Hey! What’s going on up there?”</p>
<p>Moto leapt back into the office with a curse. Idiot. Losing his temper like that. Was he some stupid kid? He ran to Bako’s wide-eyed corpse and pulled his knives free.</p>
<p>“Thank you! I knew you followed Tsukuyomi when I saw the–.”</p>
<p>“Shutup!” Moto’s voice was a hiss. “Are you trying to let the whole lot of them know who I am? It’s bad enough you got me dragged into this.” Moto walked over to the man and quickly slashed through his bindings. “Can you get yourself out of here?”</p>
<p>The prisoner stood unsteadily. Should he kill the man? Just because he’d lost his temper didn’t mean he needed to keep digging the hole deeper. He lifted one of his blades.</p>
<p>The door burst open and Moto wheeled, throwing both daggers. One buried itself in a woman’s forehead. The second woman ducked beneath the missile aimed at her face. Her eyes widened as she saw the scene. “Daggers! It’s the fox lovin’ Daggers!”</p>
<p>Moto braced his stance and pulled. The woman came stumbling forward, caught completely off balance. He sank another knife in her stomach right as the one she dodged buried itself at the base of her neck.</p>
<p>Moto’s face was a snarl as he turned to the prisoner. “I got you untied and I’ll deal with these goons. In exchange, you never saw me. You managed to cut your ropes and take them by surprise. Got it?”</p>
<p>“But, if they think I did all this they’ll come after my–.”</p>
<p>“Do I look like I’m in a mood to negotiate?” Moto shouted at the man, voice laced with venom. Things were already out of hand. This man did not realize his life rested on a knife’s edge. Moto’s knife.</p>
<p>The man took one look at Moto’s hands, dripping blood, and nodded.</p>
<p>“Good, now get yourself out of here.”</p>
<p>Moto launched through the doorway in time to see a man and a woman at the bottom of the stairs with swords drawn. The last man was running toward the exit. Moto pulled on the ceiling and flipped over the two below. He landed on top of the crates and ran after the fleeing man. No one could escape.</p>
<p>A gout of flame arced over his shoulder. Moto turned as the man on the stairs shot another blast, but the woman grabbed his wrist and pulled it wide.</p>
<p>“Idiot! Are you trying to light the crates on fire? We don’t know what’s packed in that column!”</p>
<p>Moto turned back to the exit, but the man had a big head start. Moto took two big, arcing leaps, pulling on the crates to increase his speed. At this rate he wasn’t going to catch up.</p>
<p>Moto pulled himself into the rafters, then turned and pulled on the crates behind. The wooden beams under his feet groaned from the strain, but they held long enough for the tower of crates to topple. They crashed forward into the next row. And the next. Until a chain reaction was crashing toward the door.</p>
<p>There was a concussive shock, followed by a wave of heat as one of the columns exploded on impact. A few more rows fell and then another column detonated. Moto stared on, mouth hanging open. They were storing more than just simple weapons.</p>
<p>The crates fell all the way to the door, splintering into a heap of rubble that blocked the exit. But the fires from the crates were spreading, and every third or fourth column held more explosives.</p>
<p>Cries of alarm from behind drew his attention. A set of crates had exploded near the office and the resonant who shot at Moto lay unmoving, an arm’s length of wood impaled through his chest. The remaining guard and the prisoner were both trapped behind a wall of flame.</p>
<p>There was no time to help. With the noise and fire, guards would be here any second. Moto turned and ran through the rafters, launching through a window and onto the roof of a nearby building. He went a block before dropping to the ground, feigning nonchalance as he angled away from the burning warehouse.</p>
<p>“Moto?”</p>
<p>A dagger leapt into Moto’s hand as he spun. Standing at the end of the alley, flames dancing in his large eyes, was Keta.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/choices/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 6 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. Fumi sat cross-legged on the wall of a minor noble’s yard. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, though several strands had already escaped. A fist-sized leather pouch was suspended between her palms, buffeted by the wind she used to float it in front of her face. “Are you sure we can’t open it?”Lightning’s Embrace2019-07-12T00:00:00+00:002019-07-12T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/lightnings-embrace<p><strong>This is part 8 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/secrets-revealed/">last chapter</a> or start from the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/opportunities/">beginning</a>.</strong></p>
<p><img src="/assets/img/Sky-Furnace.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>Denri’s mind clawed free from a deep sleep of exhaustion. She was lying on a thin mattress with rough linens. The ceiling’s polished steel plates had a dull, red sheen, reflecting torchlight from somewhere. She rolled onto her side.</p>
<p>Her head throbbed as she moved. It felt like a horse had methodically stomped across her, taking care to bruise every inch. Three long lines on her arm, back, and hip burned sharply. Her right leg didn’t move properly. Memories returned with the pain.</p>
<p>They had been discovered infiltrating Shinmon’s zeppelin. Fleeing into the streets. Cornered by the Arbiters. Fighting. They had almost escaped until a man appeared in a flash of lightning. Denri could still see his grin as the man emerged from the searing flash.</p>
<p>A guard cleared his throat impatiently. He knocked the back of his gauntlet against the bars again. “Get up. The Twins have summoned you.”</p>
<p>Denri sat up, suppressing a wince as the man watched. “Where is my friend?”</p>
<p>“She has been summoned too.” Denri released her breath. Aki was alive.</p>
<p>She smiled tightly. They were making progress. The situation looked bad, but she had been in tight spots before. At least this time it was of their own doing, to achieve their own goal, instead of running blindly. She was through letting Sadashi call the shots.</p>
<p>They had learned a lot from Shinmon’s discussion with Yotogi. And once they took a look through his notebook, they would know even more.</p>
<p>Denri’s head shot around. Save for the bed, her cell was empty. No sign of the research they had stolen, or the jacket where she had hidden Sadashi’s ring and the mysterious white stone. She reached to the back of her belt. Her pouch and weapons were gone too.</p>
<p>“You’re belongings have been confiscated.” The man placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. “I will not ask you to move again.”</p>
<p>“Alright, alright.” Denri eased to her feet and limped to the door. Her right leg was in a splint.</p>
<p>If they wanted to kill her, the Twins would have already done it. That meant there would be a chance to escape. And retrieve the research. As long as they were ready to act. Whatever came, she would face it running forward.</p>
<p>The guard’s boots rang against the steel floor. They were loud compared to Denri’s bare feet. Flickering torchlight reflected from burnished metal, covering the floor, ceiling, and walls in wavering red eyes.</p>
<p>Castle Six was spartan. A few recessed alcoves held ornate contraptions with no apparent purpose besides being complicated. But even these were rare. Anything softer, or more flammable, than an iron ingot was nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>“Hoping there’s no need for Castle Seven, eh?” The guard did not respond.</p>
<p>The hallways were monotonous. The wide ramps that connected the castle’s floors were identical. Denri was completely lost by the time the guard shoved her through a set of wide double doors into the largest room she had ever seen.</p>
<p>The chamber’s ceiling soared 30 feet overhead. It was so wide she could have rigged a sail in the time it took to walk the perimeter. Glass windows dominated the side walls from floor to ceiling, letting in light on long rows of cluttered worktables.</p>
<p>At the far end of the room were two high steel thrones occupied by two men. Denri couldn’t imagine how people with the same blocky faces could look more different.</p>
<p>One sat stiff-backed in flowing red and gold robes. His long, black hair was brushed to a shine and fell over his shoulder in a ponytail. A sword, covered in gears and levers, lay across his lap.</p>
<p>The other sat cross-legged, hunched over a book. He wore fitted worker’s clothes covered with belts and pouches. His short, tangled hair was held back by a pair of goggles with too many lenses. One of his arms was mechanical, with ticking gears and hissing steam waging a quiet war to dominate the room’s background noise. It was the man who had appeared from the lightning.</p>
<p>Fidgeting in front of them, Aki looked small in such a large room. Denri limped over and punched the young girl’s hip, wincing as her own arm tensed with pain. Aki looked down, showing a bruised cheek and a busted lip. Added to the scar where Hattori had destroyed her right eye in that first fight with the tengu, she struck a fearsome image.</p>
<p>The fancy twin cleared his throat. “Good. Now that you are both here, we may begin. I know of your name from the bounty report, Denri. And what is your name?”</p>
<p>“Aki.” Denri was proud to see that Aki met the man’s gaze as she spoke.</p>
<p>“Very well. Denri and Aki. Do you care to explain why–”</p>
<p>“Usually, it’s polite to offer your name in return.” Denri crossed her arms, refusing to whimper as her hand rested on the sword wound along her bicep. She wouldn’t let them control the conversation. Whether it was wise or not, she didn’t want anyone choosing her course for her anymore.</p>
<p>The man with the book in his lap loosed a cackle that pushed the boundaries of sanity. His eyes remained buried in the book as he spoke. “She’s got a point, Man.” His head cocked a fraction to the side. “What! I wasn’t even talking. You always take his side.” A pause. “Fine.” He glanced up at Denri. “Hideki. Happy?” He returned to his book.</p>
<p>The formal twin waited to see if the crazy one had anything else to say before proceeding. “I am Manabu. My brother’s name is Hideki, in case that wasn’t clear. Now, if you <em>don’t mind</em>, why are you in Sky Furnace?”</p>
<p>“We’re here to buy equipment.”</p>
<p>“Is that so? Explain to me, then, why my brother found you carrying a ring with the personal seal of Sadashi. Surely, he can provide the equipment needed for your journeys?”</p>
<p>Denri almost laughed. Was that why they were still alive? After all this, would Sadashi save them? “We just wanted to restock. We didn’t intend to cause any problems in your domain. If the Arbiters had not accosted us, we would have left quietly. We still can. Unless you plan to anger the Warlord…”</p>
<p>Manabu steepled his fingers and leaned forward. “I have no doubt that you are powerful. Your bounty, and the squad of Arbiters who can barely stand this morning, attest to that. But do not overestimate your position. The book my brother holds, the book he took from you, contains detailed notes on our castle, along with information about some of our most <em>closely guarded</em> research.</p>
<p>“You are spies. Sadashi’s protection or no, you will face the consequences. If you have any hope of leaving this room alive, you will tell us everything. Who in Sky Furnace gathered this information? What is Sadashi planning?”</p>
<p>Denri blinked. Apparently the book contained more information than she thought.</p>
<p>She threw her hands in the air. “Fine, I was lying. We don’t work for Sadashi. I only said that hoping you would let us go.”</p>
<p>“A convenient change of tact.”</p>
<p>Denri continued, ignoring the interruption. “But there <em>are</em> spies in Sky Furnace. We infiltrated their lab last night and stole the ring and that book, which is why we have them. We’re not spies. We never had any experience with Sky Furnace before this week.”</p>
<p>“Yet the Arbiters say you had an ally. Someone who would have helped you escape had Hideki not intervened. How is it that you have no experience with our city, yet you have a comrade willing to risk their life for you?”</p>
<p>“That was the person we stole from.” Denri pointed at the book in Hideki’s hands. “You’ve read that thing. The <em>worst</em> place for it to end up would be in your hands. Better for us to escape with it.”</p>
<p>Hideki slapped the side of his face, inhaling loudly. “These figures! Man, if these are real, it’s just the data we’ve been missing!” There was a blinding flash and an earsplitting <em>crack</em>. When Denri opened her eyes, Hideki was across the room haphazardly shoving things off a table with one hand as he held the book with the other.</p>
<p>Manabu ignored him, though Denri thought his eyes trailed to his brother with interest. “Why should I trust anything you say?”</p>
<p>“You don’t have to trust us.” Denri strained her memory for details that might convince him. “We were hunting two men. Shinmon and Yotogi. If you send Arbiters to Shinmon’s lab, you’ll see I blew out one of the windows. Why would I make that kind of scene if I was working with him?”</p>
<p>Manabu’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Yotogi. He thought for a long moment before responding. “Very well. We will send a patrol to Shinmon. If things are as you say, we will discuss further. But I would still know why you are pursuing this information.”</p>
<p>Before Denri could answer, there was a heavy <em>whoomph</em> from Hideki’s direction. He was standing with his hands, one gloved and one mechanical, on either side of a metal sphere. Trails of energy arced from the sphere to his fingers. He threw his head back and laughed in triumph.</p>
<p>Manabu stood, Denri and Aki completely forgotten. “You’ve got it working! How?” Manabu strode past them to join his brother.</p>
<p>“The book! It’s got data on <em>living trials</em>. They’ve exposed people to the Stone. No more guessing at the parameters.”</p>
<p>Manabu’s eyebrows flew up in surprise. “You can’t be serious! Amaterasu has never allowed such a thing… How could they…? Which one provided access?”</p>
<p>With their heads pressed together over the orb, the Twin’s similarities were suddenly apparent.</p>
<p>Denri got the feeling she probably shouldn’t be hearing what the Twins were saying. But the Champions were completely absorbed. Manabu laid a hand on the book like a captain holds the wheel of his ship.</p>
<p>That book had the locations of Aki’s brothers and sisters. Not to mention information about the girl’s powers. But the Twins were never going to give it up now that they had it. Even if Denri proved she and Aki weren’t spies, the best they could hope for was to be sent away empty handed.</p>
<p>Maybe escaping with their lives was the best she could hope for. They had more information now than they had before eavesdropping on Shinmon. But small steps weren’t going to outpace Sadashi. And Denri was tired of being on the back foot.</p>
<p>She could challenge them. They were Champions, after all. Bound by the rules of the Tournament.</p>
<p>But she was in no condition to fight. And Eizo said her bounty was close to the Sanyaku, the twelve strongest Heroes in the Tournament. As hard as the trial with Kiyoshi had been, this would be harder. Sadashi’s plan had worked, they had no options.</p>
<p>“Screw it. Screw Sadashi if he thinks he’s so smart.”</p>
<p>Aki looked to Denri. “Huh?”</p>
<p>“Kid, remember how you healed Hattori? Could you heal me like that?”</p>
<p>“I don’t know. I think so. Do you want me to try?” She reached a hand out uncertainly.</p>
<p>“Good enough.” Denri raised her voice so the Twins could hear. “Hey! We didn’t finish our conversation.”</p>
<p>The Twins peeled their eyes away from the orb reluctantly.</p>
<p>“I’m glad you found the book useful. You’re welcome to copy the information down. But we stole that book fair and, uh– fair and square. We want it back.”</p>
<p>“You are in no position to make demands, girl. We haven’t even confirmed your story about Shinmon. And if we do–.”</p>
<p>“Save it, buddy. I know exactly what position we’re in. We haven’t broken any of your laws and we’re Tournament competitors. If you want to mess with us, we get a challenge first. I’m not making demands, I’m talking stakes.”</p>
<p>“Don’t be foolish. This is not the time for Tournament challenges.”</p>
<p>“That’s my decision–.” Aki cleared her throat behind Denri. “That’s <em>our</em> decision, not yours. We challenge you. Winner keeps the book.” Manabu continued to hesitate and Denri pressed on. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a couple injured rookies?”</p>
<p>Manabu’s mouth hung open. He clearly was not used to being spoken to in this way. Hideki laughed so hard he nearly dropped the glowing orb. “Look at his face! Oh, farmer, please tell me you were watching and not… shoveling manure? Whatever it is you do. Come look now!”</p>
<p>Manabu’s jaw clicked shut, his teeth grinding. “Very well. If you’re so set on dying. We accept.”</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>They stood at Kazora’s summit. Lava roiled below, blasting them with heat and casting a red hue over everything. Black, jagged rock stretched in a ring to surround the molten pool. A sulfurous haze hung in the air, distorting the shapes of the zeppelins above.</p>
<p>Denri was surprised the rim of the volcano was so large. At it’s thinnest, the ring was three streets wide. In many places, it opened into wide plateaus with ragged pillars and hills of stone.</p>
<p>“At least no one can say we died somewhere boring.”</p>
<p>Aki laughed weakly.</p>
<p>Denri stepped from foot to foot. Even with her boots returned, the ground was nearly too hot to stand in place comfortably. The Twins stood across from her, unimpressed by the heat or haze. The pit of lava to their right might as well have been a mid-sized lake.</p>
<p>Manabu stepped forward and Denri dropped into a crouch. He gave her a dismissive look. “Cute. But we will not be fighting you ourselves.”</p>
<p>Denri threw her best condescending smirk back at him. “Afraid?” Hideki chuckled behind his brother.</p>
<p>“Hardly. You set the stakes and we choose the challenge. If you insist on continuing with this foolishness, then I will at least pick something entertaining. One of our patrols tells me that your friend has a fondness for dragons…”</p>
<p>Manabu held out his arm, palm facing the sky. A flame appeared and began to pulse. The lava below distorted, rising in a dome.</p>
<p>“Let’s see how she feels once she’s come face to face with–.”</p>
<p>Denri groaned. “Really? Fighting a dragon on the rim of a volcano. Don’t you think that’s a little much?”</p>
<p>Manabu stood with his mouth open. The flame stuttered above his hand. Hideki erupted into full blown laughter. He bent forward and grabbed his stomach. “This one! I like her. I hope she lives.”</p>
<p>Manabu clenched his hand into a fist. Jets of flame shot between his fingers as he stalked back to his twin. “She has challenged you too, <em>little</em> brother.”</p>
<p>Hideki frowned. “By four seconds!”</p>
<p>Manabu placed a hand on his twin’s shoulder. The cloth beneath his grip began to smoke, then ignited. Hideki yelped, jumping to the side and batting out the flames. Manabu’s mouth quirked up as he continued.</p>
<p>“Your challenge is to defeat Tetsujin. I doubt you will be joking for long.”</p>
<p>Denri’s small triumph vanished as she turned to stare at the swell of lava. Butterflies filled her stomach. She ran through the mental exercises Eizo had taught her, deconstructing the dragon in her mind. She took a deep breath. The sulfur made her cough.</p>
<p>Aki was staring into the lava entranced.</p>
<p>“Hey! On alert. Don’t forget the Twins control him.”</p>
<p>Aki grunted absently and Denri rapped the back of her head. “Ow! What was that for?”</p>
<p>“You’re <em>smiling</em>! That dragon is going to try to kill us, Aki. Whatever you think, this one is not a friend. Now quit gawking and heal me before things get crazy.”</p>
<p>“Oh! Right.” Aki grabbed Denri’s wrist and her face screwed up in concentration. There was a terrifying moment when nothing happened, then Denri’s mind went blank. A rush of memories and emotions filled the space. Some she recognized, others she didn’t. They rushed past too quickly to hang onto any one in particular.</p>
<p>A connection blossomed at the back of her mind. A seed that had been there for some time, suddenly bursting into life. She had always been able read Aki’s emotions. But now she could feel the girl. A conscious force resting at the back of Denri’s mind.</p>
<p>Thought and vision returned. Denri stood in the same place as before, though she stood straighter and no longer favored her broken leg. She felt strong and whole again.</p>
<p>Better than whole. She clenched her fist and sparks jittered across her knuckles, dancing up her arm.</p>
<p>There was a thrill of relief inside her head, emanating from Aki with absolute clarity. Denri turned to the girl and smiled. “You ready to do this?”</p>
<p>Aki’s eye, the one not covered by scar tissue, was closed in concentration. When she opened it, Denri saw the eye was a bright, glowing blue. Just like her own. Aki nodded and they turned towards the lava as it erupted.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>It was four stories from Kazora’s rim to the lava below, but Tetsujin’s face was level with them when his tail finally emerged. His head was wider than a cart, surrounded by a mane of gleaming iron that flowed like hair. Large whiskers tested the air before him.</p>
<p>“Are these the toys you’ve brought me, lords?” Tetsujin’s voice boomed through the air, shaking Denri’s bones.</p>
<p>Denri grinned as the dragon swam through the sky before them, her nerves turning to excitement. The air around her popped and cracked with electricity. She knew she should be scared, but suddenly all she wanted was to <em>move</em>.</p>
<p>Denri threw her head back and laughed. Her fingers itched as trails of lightning jumped between them. She said a thanks to the Stormbringer.</p>
<p>“Let’s see what you can do!” Denri called lightning and shot forward.</p>
<p>Tetsujin loosed a jet of silver flame, but to Denri it seemed to crawl through the air. She dove to the side, rolling and springing back to her feet. She moved faster. Lightning trailed from her legs as she leapt towards the dragon. Tetsujin lashed out with his iron talons. Denri was already gone.</p>
<p>She reappeared in a flash of light, shifting behind him. “Over here!” She brought her fists down in a double hammer strike against the back of his head.</p>
<p>Her body rang with the backlash of the blow. She might as well have punched solid metal. Tetsujin’s tail whipped forward and she raised her arm to catch the strike. Her bones and muscles creaked as the blow knocked her from the dragon’s neck.</p>
<p>She twisted in the air, landing on her feet against the inside wall of the rim. Vaguely, she thought a blow like that should have broken her arm. Just jumping from a window the day before had broken her leg.</p>
<p>“Is that all you’ve got?”</p>
<p>She surged forward, running along the wall as she drew the metal rods from her belt and launched them at the dragon. Tetsujin hardly noticed as they bounced from his hide. He shot another jet of flame that Denri outran.</p>
<p>She could feel the electric charge in the air around her. She could change it. No need to send a bolt of lightning to call the rods back. She reached out and grabbed them, set them dancing through the air about Tetsujin’s head.</p>
<p>She leapt at his face again, calling the rods to her hands at the last minute. His hide was strong, but how about his eyes?</p>
<p>“Denri!” Aki’s call was matched by a flare of disapproval in the back of Denri’s mind. It was strong enough to make her hesitate.</p>
<p>Denri’s body lurched as Tetsujin’s tail caught her midjump and sent her flying into the wall. The stone cracked, but her body held.</p>
<p>“Don’t hurt him! It’s not his fault he has to fight.”</p>
<p>Tetsujin’s laugh was like a thousand dry logs tossed on a fire. “You think I need protection, girl?” He lunged toward her.</p>
<p>Aki waited with square shoulders and arms wide as Tetsujin approached. She planted her feet as the beast’s mouth opened wide.</p>
<p>At the last moment, Denri’s connection with Aki flared and their thoughts were one. Fear and determination warred inside Aki as the girl stepped forward, almost as fast as Denri. She dipped her shoulder beneath Tetsujin’s onrushing jaw. Denri felt lightning course from her into Aki.</p>
<p>The girl’s legs tensed as she threw her body against the dragon’s chin. Tetsujin’s head snapped to the side as though he had collided with the mountain itself. He grunted in surprise as he crashed into a pillar of stone. It collapsed, momentarily holding him in place.</p>
<p>Aki stumbled, limbs suddenly heavy. But she caught herself and pounced toward the dragon, taking the form of a large cat. Her paws glowed as they dug into Tetsujin’s scales. There was a flash of bluish white.</p>
<p>The dragon laughed like hungry flame. “I am not so easily cowed. It took Amaterasu herself to bind me, girl!”</p>
<p>A jet of silver flame burst from the rubble. The fire passed through the space Aki’s body had occupied a moment earlier as the girl sprouted wings and took flight as a crow. Another blast of flame shot from the rock and Aki barely dodged it.</p>
<p>Focused on the flames, she didn’t see the dragon’s tail whipping from behind.</p>
<p>Denri slammed her hands into the rock, muscles flaring as she pulled free of the wall. Even with her new speed, she couldn’t cover the 40 foot distance to Aki in time.</p>
<p>Denri felt no concern. Only curiosity. She needed to move faster. Could she meet the challenge?</p>
<p>Her body coiled like a spring as she charged her body. Not enough. She called more. Time slowed and nearly stopped. More. A giddy laugh slipped from her throat, half crazed as the energy overwhelmed her. A peel of thunder split the air as lightning struck.</p>
<p>All flits could shift. But that was something small, like her body was contracting and then simply moving. It left Denri feeling drained. But this. This was an explosion. Her body stretched, arcing from the wall to Tetsujin in an instant. Her body coursed with energy as she reformed. She batted the dragon’s tail away from Aki with ease.</p>
<p>As she landed on the rim, Denri could still feel the energy pulling against every cell in her body. It wanted to keep flowing. Demanded it.</p>
<p>Tetsujin burst from the rock with a snarl. The silver mane around his head snapped straight and a cloud of iron darts went flying toward them. Denri didn’t even have to call the lightning. It leapt from her fingers as she raised her hand, spilling forward in a wave that scattered the needles in a thousand directions.</p>
<p>Aki’s crow form dove toward the dragon again, landing against his skin as a leopard. She growled and there was another flash. Again Tetsujin laughed, batting the girl away with a gleaming claw.</p>
<p>“These are wonderful toys you’ve brought, my lords.” The dragon gripped the rock before him and the mountain shook. The ground split as iron spikes of all shapes and sizes erupted at their feet.</p>
<p>Denri sidestepped them lazily. She watched with curiosity as Aki struggled to keep up, wondering what the girl would do next. Vaguely, she thought she should be helping. But it was hard to focus with the lightning tugging at her thoughts, pulling her attention back to Tetsujin.</p>
<p>The dragon’s black metal body snaked around the volcano’s rim. Huge and powerful. She’d never faced a test like this. Didn’t she want to see what she could do? What she could <em>really</em> do. Denri opened herself to the lightning.</p>
<p>It felt like dying. And living.</p>
<p>She raised her hand in front of her face. Her fingers unraveled into threads of energy. The threads continued down her forearm, up her bicep, across her shoulder. Denri watched with fascination, the world frozen around her. She felt the threads stretching up her neck. And then she was free.</p>
<p>So long cramped and contained. Everything so sluggish. Like touching the world through a stiff leather glove. But now she was present. Her body flowed and expanded, pure energy held together by her will alone. She was the lightning.</p>
<p>The metal spikes all over the ground let out a loud groan. It was easy, reaching out and bending each iron pillar to the ground.</p>
<p>With the threat gone, Aki looked around. Denri felt the barest flicker of confusion at the back of her mind. She pushed it away.</p>
<p>A gout of silver flame washed over Denri’s body. It was strong. It tried to burn her, turn her to fire. But she was lightning. And it was not strong enough. Denri arced forward, wrapping around the flame playfully. Gripping it in her elemental hands. Squeezing until the flame gasped for air and sputtered out. Tetsujin’s head pulled back in surprise.</p>
<p>Denri laughed. A dragon made of iron. Such a wonderful plaything. She let her body flow forward, wrapping around Tetsujin. She had bent the metal spikes with such ease. Would this steel serpent be any different?</p>
<p>“No!” A flash of guilt, easily brushed aside.</p>
<p>Denri flexed, and watched the dragon’s body quiver. Tetsujin groaned, his first sign of pain and fear. Denri smiled. Her puppet.</p>
<p>But why stop here? What else could she do? She turned, more a shifting of attention than an actual motion, and saw the Twins. Manabu’s smug superiority was gone. He frowned, but he did not look afraid. He did not understand her power. She would change that. Denri sent a bolt at his chest.</p>
<p>The bolt moved too fast for him to dodge. Manabu’s eyes widened in shock. But there was a flash of light and Hideki was standing in the way. The crazy twin grabbed the lightning bolt with both hands, the muscles on his biological arm flaring as jets of steam burst from his mechanical arm in hissing jets. He threw his hands up and the lightning arced skyward, narrowly missing Sky Furnace above.</p>
<p>Joy filled Denri. Such strength. This man would be a wonderful test of her power.</p>
<p>Again, she felt a flash of guilt in her mind. But this time, she felt a command alongside it. A command to stop. Rage overtook her. Who dared? She was lightning, and she would not be caged. She would not be held back. Denri turned and saw a young girl staring at her with a frown, sweat dripping down her face.</p>
<p>Denri threw forward a massive fist of crackling energy. But the girl’s form shifted, shrinking to a bird as it evaded the blow. Denri was surprised. The girl moved with nearly the speed of lightning.</p>
<p>The crow flew toward her. So bold! Denri threw her arms wide to meet the girl’s charge.</p>
<p>But the girl was not charging toward her. At the last moment, she became a large cat and plunged through the rippling energy of Denri’s body to the dragon held within. Denri let her body bite, but the girl ignored the shocks. There was a blinding flash of light.</p>
<p>Tetsujin roared. His smooth, snake-like scales snapped out, stretching into long, jagged iron crystals. Long metal horns, like a deer’s antlers, formed on his head. Black flame erupted all around his body.</p>
<p>These flames were different than before. Stronger. They burned and tore at Denri’s body, forcing her to release the dragon. She pulled back, then brought a fist down on the dragon’s midsection, crushing it into the rock. Tetsujin roared again, this time in pain. But he pulled himself free. The girl stood tall, holding one of his horns. Her eye shone white.</p>
<p>Great metal pillars erupted from the ground, drawing Denri’s body toward them. She pushed and they bent away. But more rose in their place. The dragon opened it’s mouth and loosed a torrent of jet black fire.</p>
<p>Denri threw herself to meet it. Exalting at the challenge. She was still the greater force. She could feel it. The black flames halted, began to twist into themselves beneath her grasp. She laughed.</p>
<p>But the metal rods still pulled at her from behind. And the dragon’s flame was slow to die. They held her in place.</p>
<p>A hammer blow struck her mind. The girl again, but stronger. Denri felt another presence behind it, reinforcing the girl’s strength. Ancient. Stubborn like iron.</p>
<p>The dragon and girl roared together as they redoubled their efforts. The fire held, pushing itself to a stalemate against Denri’s lightning. The force in Denri’s mind inched forward. Step by step it wrapped itself around her. Holding her. Caging her.</p>
<p>Denri screamed. She would not be held. Lightning was free. Anything else was death. She lashed out, sending bolts in all directions. One ripped along Tetsujin’s side, leaving a long trail of red. Another crashed into the side of Kazora, exploding the rock.</p>
<p>But the girl would not be stopped. With another frantic push, she embraced Denri’s mind, pinning her completely. Abruptly, the flow of lightning broke. Denri’s body snapped back to her normal form and she fell to her knees.</p>
<p>Aki shouted something from her perch on Tetsujin, but it meant nothing to Denri. Confusion gripped her mind, churning her thoughts like a whirlpool.</p>
<p>The Twins appeared on either side, hands raised in threat. But a jet of black flame pushed them back. More shouts from Aki. This time they were joined by Tetsujin’s roar.</p>
<p>Denri was lifted. Placed delicately beside Aki. And they were flying. To where? Had they won?</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>The next two days passed in a jumble. At least, Denri thought it was two days. It was hard to judge by the brief moments of clarity. It felt like her mind was slowly walking back from a great distance. Or like she was snatching up pieces of herself as they floated by like driftwood.</p>
<p>Eventually, she could hold a whole conversation. Aki came to see her, joking and smiling. Denri remembered being surprised during the visit, but she couldn’t recall what they talked about.</p>
<p>There was something important she needed to remember. A question that she couldn’t quite grasp. Whatever it was, it made her anxious. There was something about Aki’s casual visits and the lazy hours spent lying in bed that felt… out of place.</p>
<p>When the confusion finally left her, Denri sat in a wheeled chair in front of massive, 30 foot windows. Tables littered with tools and machines surrounded her. She could hear voices behind.</p>
<p>“What do you mean, I won’t? The experiment can’t run itself!”</p>
<p>“No more experiments. I don’t care if Tetsu doesn’t mind. I do!”</p>
<p>Denri recognized the voices. She turned her head toward them and immediately wished she hadn’t. Every inch of her body throbbed. Her vision swam and a bout of queasiness overtook her. Denri groaned.</p>
<p>“Denri!” A pattering of feet and then a woman who looked to be in her mid twenties was kneeling before the chair. Denri would have called her pretty, with her dark hair and curves, if she didn’t look so fierce. Her face was angled like a hawk, with well defined muscles on her arms. Most striking was the scar along the right side of her…</p>
<p>“Aki? You’re so old!”</p>
<p>The woman stuck out her tongue. Her remaining eye was a bright blue like Denri’s. “Hideki says using my power on Tetsujin was too much for my body. So I used my power on myself without thinking about it to keep up. Are you feeling better?”</p>
<p>Denri thought for a moment, then nodded. The motion sent sharp pains up and down her neck. “Things feel… clearer now.”</p>
<p>Aki grinned and leaned forward to give her a hug.</p>
<p>“I love you kid, but I think if you touch me right now I’m going to pass out. Let’s save the hugs for later.”</p>
<p>Aki pulled up short, looking disappointed. She could still pout like a 10 year old.</p>
<p>Denri sighed. “Alright, fine. One hug. But <em>very</em> gently, please.”</p>
<p>“I can be gentle!” Denri’s body tensed in anticipation of the collision. But Aki made a show of slowly wrapping her arms around Denri and giving her shoulders the barest of taps.</p>
<p>There was a crack and a flash of light. When the spots faded from Denri’s vision, Hideki was standing in front of her. “Can I examine you?” Without waiting for an answer he bent forward, bringing his face uncomfortably close and peering into her eyes. “How do you feel? Are you having strange thoughts? Any unexplained new powers? Don’t leave anything out!”</p>
<p>Hideki paused and hitched his head to the side. “It’s not rude! I’m just curious.” He reached a hand toward Denri’s wrist.</p>
<p>“If you touch me right now, I will zap you so hard you can’t feel anything in that hand for a week.”</p>
<p>The Twin pulled his hand back hastily. “Now he’s going to think he was right!”</p>
<p>Denri turned her head to Aki, slowly to avoid another stab of pain. “Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?”</p>
<p>The girl shrugged. “He says he has a farmer in his head. I don’t really understand.”</p>
<p>Denri looked down at Hideki’s tangled mess of hair as he peered closely at one of her arms. “Hey! Are you <em>sniffing</em> me?”</p>
<p>“I want to see if your body is still ionizing the air around you. No one has ever fully manifested a region from an elemental plane before. I don’t want to miss a single detail!”</p>
<p>The situation finally clicked in Denri’s mind and she pushed Hideki away. “Wait a minute. What happened to the challenge? Why are we back in the throne room? It doesn’t seem like we’re fighting anymore. Why can’t I remember anything that’s been happening?”</p>
<p>There was a flash of concern at the back of Denri’s mind as Aki frowned. “We won the challenge! What’s the last thing you remember?”</p>
<p>“Tetsujin knocked me into a wall and then… just… images I don’t really understand after that.” In her mind’s eye, Denri saw Aki riding Tetsujin. The dragon’s scales flared like daggers, gleaming horns erupting from his mane of iron. Black fire washing over Denri. Her body like a cloud of lightning.</p>
<p>Hideki nodded as he scratched the back of his head. “That sounds about right. That was when I felt the lightning take over.”</p>
<p>“What are you talking about?”</p>
<p>“There are five elemental planes that were the animating force for our world’s creation. In those realms, the elements exist in their truest sense, sentient like you and I. Our world used to be strongly connected to those realms, and it was a common occurrence for people to be overwhelmed by elemental beings. But sometime, a long, long time ago, the bonds were damaged. The energy we call is weaker now, with less of the element’s personality.” Hideki paused as though he had offered a full explanation.</p>
<p>“And that has to do with what happened because…”</p>
<p>“I just told you! Isn’t it obvious?” His head tilted to the side again. “Oh, fine! I don’t know why you all need everything spelled out. When Aki healed you, she fixed more than just your wounds. She completely restored your connection to the elemental planes. When you called lightning, you got the real deal. That entity took over your mind.”</p>
<p>Denri struggled to understand what Hideki was saying. She remembered feeling different during the fight with Tetsujin. Everything had seemed easier. Her attacks more powerful. Tentatively, she reached for the lightning again.</p>
<p>Hideki flailed his hands in front of her. “Don’t do that! Resonant bonds will always affect your mind, but with the strength of your connection right now, that affect is overwhelming. You may lose yourself like you did during the battle.”</p>
<p>Denri pulled back. “It’s dangerous to use my power?”</p>
<p>There was a small, dignified cough from behind before Manabu walked into view. “For now, yes. My brother can train you to use your resonance more skillfully. Perhaps that will be enough. He is no doubt interested in studying you to find out. But you will have to be on guard. Even without calling lightning, you will feel an increased influence from your bond. More reckless. Or more reckless than <em>usual</em>, I suppose.”</p>
<p>Denri turned to Aki. “Can you undo the… healing that you did?”</p>
<p>“She could, but without a subtle hand, she could very well destroy your resonance completely. Pushing your bond to its maximum required a great deal of power, but very little precision. Targeting a specific degree of connection is more subtle.”</p>
<p>The Twins’ words finally cut through. “You all know about Aki’s powers?”</p>
<p>“After your awakening, and Tetsujin’s transformation, yes. We figured out the broad strokes. Aki provided some additional details about her past that filled in the remainder.”</p>
<p>“You told them?”</p>
<p>Aki looked at the ground guiltily. “We were trying to figure out what happened to you! I thought they could help better if they knew everything.”</p>
<p>Denri looked back to the Twins, eyes narrowed. “You two don’t seem surprised…”</p>
<p>Hideki tried to push his way under Manabu’s arm. “Of course we’re not surprised! We’ve been studying the Stone for years. Now, since everyone is feeling better, how about we run some tests?”</p>
<p>Manabu pushed Hideki back with a good deal of patience. “Not yet brother, we have things we must discuss first.” He turned back to Denri. “Yes, we know about the origins of Aki’s power. She is connected to a secret that concerns the origins of the gods themselves. If they knew of her existence, they would almost certainly stop at nothing to destroy her.”</p>
<p>Hideki finally stopped squirming against his brother’s hand and sat on a work table. His feet tapped on the ground impatiently. “Amaterasu nearly killed us when we discovered it, and we were only asking questions! She’s never allowed us direct access. Not like you!”</p>
<p>“Which is why we have a proposal for you.” Manabu carried on fluidly. The more Denri watched the Twins, the more in sync she realized they were. “You won your challenge. If you want to leave, we can’t stop you. But if you stay and let us study Aki’s power, we’ll offer you our protection and share what we know.”</p>
<p>“It sounds like Amaterasu doesn’t want you studying this power, whatever it is. You would oppose her?”</p>
<p>Manabu cleared his throat pointedly. “We’re not <em>opposing</em> her. Just conducting research. Anything we learn will be to her benefit. She doesn’t have to know how we made the discovery.”</p>
<p>Was the offer sincere? Manabu could be lying. Hoping to glean more information before betraying them. But Aki and Denri had won the challenge. If the Twins were treacherous, there was only so much they could do. Certainly less than what Sadashi could.</p>
<p>They should probably wait until they had a chance to talk to Eizo.</p>
<p>Denri’s whole body tensed as she thought of the former Blade. What had he been doing the last few days? He was going to be so angry with them. She shuddered and pushed that concern aside for now.</p>
<p>They needed strong allies. And information. They were being offered everything they needed.</p>
<p>“Deal. But we have conditions.”</p>
<p>Manabu and Hideki both smiled, excitement plain on their faces. “Name them.”</p>
<p>“First, you have to tell us everything you know <em>now</em>. No holding out important info or telling us ‘when we’re ready’. If we find out later that you hid something from us, we’re gone. Got it?” The Twins nodded. “Second, we need more than protection.”</p>
<p>It was Manabu’s turn to narrow his eyes. “How much more?”</p>
<p>“You’ve seen inside that research book. Sadashi has Aki’s siblings and he’s doing experiments that are driving them insane. You have to help us rescue them. And I don’t want to stop there. Whatever Sadashi is planning. I want to find out what it is and stop it so no other kids get hurt.”</p>
<p>Manabu frowned. “We can offer you protection as Aki trains. But we have no interest in a larger conflict.”</p>
<p>Denri shrugged her shoulders, a painful maneuver. “Then no deal. We’ll find our own path, and all those other kids who <em>also</em> have Aki’s power will come with us. I’m sure there’s all sorts of interesting things to learn from them.”</p>
<p>Hideki inched forward in his seat, eyes shining greedily.</p>
<p>Aki took a step forward with hands on hips. “And Tetsujin is bound to <em>me</em>, now. I’m sure we won’t have much trouble if he’s with us. Too bad about all of Sky Furnace’s zeppelins sinking into the ocean without his powers.”</p>
<p>Even Denri turned towards Aki, mouth agape. Fierce indeed.</p>
<p>Manabu looked to Hideki, but the other twin already seemed to know which decision he wanted to make. The fancy twin resisted a moment longer, but it was clear how much they wanted this knowledge.</p>
<p>“Very well. We will do what we can to help you uncover Sadashi’s plan. And as you rescue the other children, we will provide them protection here. But in exchange, you will let us study everyone’s abilities. And Tetsujin stays here.”</p>
<p>Aki crossed her arms. “No more experimenting on Tetsu, though.”</p>
<p>Manabu waved a hand angrily. “So be it.”</p>
<p>Aki nodded to Denri.</p>
<p>“I would shake your hand, if I could move my muscles more than an inch. But you’ve got yourselves an alliance. Now tell us what you know about Aki’s power and then I would like to go pass out.”</p>
<p>“Do you want the simple story, or the more complicated one?”</p>
<p>Denri’s head was still throbbing. And they really should talk to Eizo as soon as they could. “Simple is fine to start.”</p>
<p>“There is a stone. Whether it has always existed or was constructed, we do not know. But it is the source of the gods’ power. Each of them holds a fragment. The stone is able to repair and reshape our world’s connections to the primordial planes that formed it. That power lets them reshape our world nearly any way they see fit. They used it to create the five races, to shape the monsters, and to travel wherever they will.</p>
<p>“During the True Combat when the Four Seasons rose to power, after they defeated the other Sanyaku, they refused to fight one another. Sakuya tried to force the issue, but the four women fought the god and managed to hold her off. Since then, Sakuya’s powers have always seemed… diminished.</p>
<p>“After hearing of Aki’s story, we believe that the Four Seasons managed to take some piece from Sakuya’s fragment of the Godstone and have been raising children in it’s presence. Aki was one of those children.”</p>
<p>“I guess that makes sense. But when we overheard Shinmon, he said Aki was the strongest of the kids. Why? And do you have any idea how Sadashi fits into this?”</p>
<p>“Regarding Aki’s power, we do not know. Perhaps she was raised closer than the others. Or was the oldest.”</p>
<p>Aki frowned. “There were lots of kids older than me.”</p>
<p>“Well, we won’t know until we can investigate further. As for Sadashi’s involvement, there were some letters that you stole along with the research. It seems from that correspondence that Sadashi has teamed up with the Four Seasons.”</p>
<p>“To do what?” Denri’s heart was beating fast. Sadashi had almost overwhelmed the gods on his own. And that was hundreds of years ago. The Warlord was only that much stronger now. And now he had the support of the Four Seasons, too.</p>
<p>“The Four Seasons have always been rebellious. Even before they were champions, they spoke about somehow ending the animosity that the gods built into monsters and the wilderness. It seems that Sadashi has offered his support to their cause, if they can use the children’s powers to reunite his armies.”</p>
<p>“Would that work?”</p>
<p>“Perhaps. It is possible, if they had a large enough network. I would have to study the children. Maybe if there was some sort of amplifier. Or we could build a device to–.”</p>
<p>“Hey! Stay focused. We’re saving the kids, not experimenting on them, remember?”</p>
<p>“Oh, yes. Of course.”</p>
<p>Hideki grinned from behind his brother. “But you said we can still study them! Non invasively, of course.”</p>
<p>Denri swallowed hard, as she digested the new information. She was surprised to find that, for the most part, she was excited.</p>
<p>“Well, I was tired of running around without a clue. I guess I got my wish.” She turned to Aki. “What do you think Eizo is going to say when we tell him we want to go save the world?”</p>
<p>Aki grimaced. “He’s going to be so mad!”</p>Dru KnoxThis is part 8 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the last chapter or start from the beginning. Denri’s mind clawed free from a deep sleep of exhaustion. She was lying on a thin mattress with rough linens. The ceiling’s polished steel plates had a dull, red sheen, reflecting torchlight from somewhere. She rolled onto her side. Her head throbbed as she moved. It felt like a horse had methodically stomped across her, taking care to bruise every inch. Three long lines on her arm, back, and hip burned sharply. Her right leg didn’t move properly. Memories returned with the pain. They had been discovered infiltrating Shinmon’s zeppelin. Fleeing into the streets. Cornered by the Arbiters. Fighting. They had almost escaped until a man appeared in a flash of lightning. Denri could still see his grin as the man emerged from the searing flash. A guard cleared his throat impatiently. He knocked the back of his gauntlet against the bars again. “Get up. The Twins have summoned you.” Denri sat up, suppressing a wince as the man watched. “Where is my friend?” “She has been summoned too.” Denri released her breath. Aki was alive. She smiled tightly. They were making progress. The situation looked bad, but she had been in tight spots before. At least this time it was of their own doing, to achieve their own goal, instead of running blindly. She was through letting Sadashi call the shots. They had learned a lot from Shinmon’s discussion with Yotogi. And once they took a look through his notebook, they would know even more. Denri’s head shot around. Save for the bed, her cell was empty. No sign of the research they had stolen, or the jacket where she had hidden Sadashi’s ring and the mysterious white stone. She reached to the back of her belt. Her pouch and weapons were gone too. “You’re belongings have been confiscated.” The man placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. “I will not ask you to move again.” “Alright, alright.” Denri eased to her feet and limped to the door. Her right leg was in a splint. If they wanted to kill her, the Twins would have already done it. That meant there would be a chance to escape. And retrieve the research. As long as they were ready to act. Whatever came, she would face it running forward. The guard’s boots rang against the steel floor. They were loud compared to Denri’s bare feet. Flickering torchlight reflected from burnished metal, covering the floor, ceiling, and walls in wavering red eyes. Castle Six was spartan. A few recessed alcoves held ornate contraptions with no apparent purpose besides being complicated. But even these were rare. Anything softer, or more flammable, than an iron ingot was nowhere to be found. “Hoping there’s no need for Castle Seven, eh?” The guard did not respond. The hallways were monotonous. The wide ramps that connected the castle’s floors were identical. Denri was completely lost by the time the guard shoved her through a set of wide double doors into the largest room she had ever seen. The chamber’s ceiling soared 30 feet overhead. It was so wide she could have rigged a sail in the time it took to walk the perimeter. Glass windows dominated the side walls from floor to ceiling, letting in light on long rows of cluttered worktables. At the far end of the room were two high steel thrones occupied by two men. Denri couldn’t imagine how people with the same blocky faces could look more different. One sat stiff-backed in flowing red and gold robes. His long, black hair was brushed to a shine and fell over his shoulder in a ponytail. A sword, covered in gears and levers, lay across his lap. The other sat cross-legged, hunched over a book. He wore fitted worker’s clothes covered with belts and pouches. His short, tangled hair was held back by a pair of goggles with too many lenses. One of his arms was mechanical, with ticking gears and hissing steam waging a quiet war to dominate the room’s background noise. It was the man who had appeared from the lightning. Fidgeting in front of them, Aki looked small in such a large room. Denri limped over and punched the young girl’s hip, wincing as her own arm tensed with pain. Aki looked down, showing a bruised cheek and a busted lip. Added to the scar where Hattori had destroyed her right eye in that first fight with the tengu, she struck a fearsome image. The fancy twin cleared his throat. “Good. Now that you are both here, we may begin. I know of your name from the bounty report, Denri. And what is your name?” “Aki.” Denri was proud to see that Aki met the man’s gaze as she spoke. “Very well. Denri and Aki. Do you care to explain why–” “Usually, it’s polite to offer your name in return.” Denri crossed her arms, refusing to whimper as her hand rested on the sword wound along her bicep. She wouldn’t let them control the conversation. Whether it was wise or not, she didn’t want anyone choosing her course for her anymore. The man with the book in his lap loosed a cackle that pushed the boundaries of sanity. His eyes remained buried in the book as he spoke. “She’s got a point, Man.” His head cocked a fraction to the side. “What! I wasn’t even talking. You always take his side.” A pause. “Fine.” He glanced up at Denri. “Hideki. Happy?” He returned to his book. The formal twin waited to see if the crazy one had anything else to say before proceeding. “I am Manabu. My brother’s name is Hideki, in case that wasn’t clear. Now, if you don’t mind, why are you in Sky Furnace?” “We’re here to buy equipment.” “Is that so? Explain to me, then, why my brother found you carrying a ring with the personal seal of Sadashi. Surely, he can provide the equipment needed for your journeys?” Denri almost laughed. Was that why they were still alive? After all this, would Sadashi save them? “We just wanted to restock. We didn’t intend to cause any problems in your domain. If the Arbiters had not accosted us, we would have left quietly. We still can. Unless you plan to anger the Warlord…” Manabu steepled his fingers and leaned forward. “I have no doubt that you are powerful. Your bounty, and the squad of Arbiters who can barely stand this morning, attest to that. But do not overestimate your position. The book my brother holds, the book he took from you, contains detailed notes on our castle, along with information about some of our most closely guarded research. “You are spies. Sadashi’s protection or no, you will face the consequences. If you have any hope of leaving this room alive, you will tell us everything. Who in Sky Furnace gathered this information? What is Sadashi planning?” Denri blinked. Apparently the book contained more information than she thought. She threw her hands in the air. “Fine, I was lying. We don’t work for Sadashi. I only said that hoping you would let us go.” “A convenient change of tact.” Denri continued, ignoring the interruption. “But there are spies in Sky Furnace. We infiltrated their lab last night and stole the ring and that book, which is why we have them. We’re not spies. We never had any experience with Sky Furnace before this week.” “Yet the Arbiters say you had an ally. Someone who would have helped you escape had Hideki not intervened. How is it that you have no experience with our city, yet you have a comrade willing to risk their life for you?” “That was the person we stole from.” Denri pointed at the book in Hideki’s hands. “You’ve read that thing. The worst place for it to end up would be in your hands. Better for us to escape with it.” Hideki slapped the side of his face, inhaling loudly. “These figures! Man, if these are real, it’s just the data we’ve been missing!” There was a blinding flash and an earsplitting crack. When Denri opened her eyes, Hideki was across the room haphazardly shoving things off a table with one hand as he held the book with the other. Manabu ignored him, though Denri thought his eyes trailed to his brother with interest. “Why should I trust anything you say?” “You don’t have to trust us.” Denri strained her memory for details that might convince him. “We were hunting two men. Shinmon and Yotogi. If you send Arbiters to Shinmon’s lab, you’ll see I blew out one of the windows. Why would I make that kind of scene if I was working with him?” Manabu’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Yotogi. He thought for a long moment before responding. “Very well. We will send a patrol to Shinmon. If things are as you say, we will discuss further. But I would still know why you are pursuing this information.” Before Denri could answer, there was a heavy whoomph from Hideki’s direction. He was standing with his hands, one gloved and one mechanical, on either side of a metal sphere. Trails of energy arced from the sphere to his fingers. He threw his head back and laughed in triumph. Manabu stood, Denri and Aki completely forgotten. “You’ve got it working! How?” Manabu strode past them to join his brother. “The book! It’s got data on living trials. They’ve exposed people to the Stone. No more guessing at the parameters.” Manabu’s eyebrows flew up in surprise. “You can’t be serious! Amaterasu has never allowed such a thing… How could they…? Which one provided access?” With their heads pressed together over the orb, the Twin’s similarities were suddenly apparent. Denri got the feeling she probably shouldn’t be hearing what the Twins were saying. But the Champions were completely absorbed. Manabu laid a hand on the book like a captain holds the wheel of his ship. That book had the locations of Aki’s brothers and sisters. Not to mention information about the girl’s powers. But the Twins were never going to give it up now that they had it. Even if Denri proved she and Aki weren’t spies, the best they could hope for was to be sent away empty handed. Maybe escaping with their lives was the best she could hope for. They had more information now than they had before eavesdropping on Shinmon. But small steps weren’t going to outpace Sadashi. And Denri was tired of being on the back foot. She could challenge them. They were Champions, after all. Bound by the rules of the Tournament. But she was in no condition to fight. And Eizo said her bounty was close to the Sanyaku, the twelve strongest Heroes in the Tournament. As hard as the trial with Kiyoshi had been, this would be harder. Sadashi’s plan had worked, they had no options. “Screw it. Screw Sadashi if he thinks he’s so smart.” Aki looked to Denri. “Huh?” “Kid, remember how you healed Hattori? Could you heal me like that?” “I don’t know. I think so. Do you want me to try?” She reached a hand out uncertainly. “Good enough.” Denri raised her voice so the Twins could hear. “Hey! We didn’t finish our conversation.” The Twins peeled their eyes away from the orb reluctantly. “I’m glad you found the book useful. You’re welcome to copy the information down. But we stole that book fair and, uh– fair and square. We want it back.” “You are in no position to make demands, girl. We haven’t even confirmed your story about Shinmon. And if we do–.” “Save it, buddy. I know exactly what position we’re in. We haven’t broken any of your laws and we’re Tournament competitors. If you want to mess with us, we get a challenge first. I’m not making demands, I’m talking stakes.” “Don’t be foolish. This is not the time for Tournament challenges.” “That’s my decision–.” Aki cleared her throat behind Denri. “That’s our decision, not yours. We challenge you. Winner keeps the book.” Manabu continued to hesitate and Denri pressed on. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a couple injured rookies?” Manabu’s mouth hung open. He clearly was not used to being spoken to in this way. Hideki laughed so hard he nearly dropped the glowing orb. “Look at his face! Oh, farmer, please tell me you were watching and not… shoveling manure? Whatever it is you do. Come look now!” Manabu’s jaw clicked shut, his teeth grinding. “Very well. If you’re so set on dying. We accept.” They stood at Kazora’s summit. Lava roiled below, blasting them with heat and casting a red hue over everything. Black, jagged rock stretched in a ring to surround the molten pool. A sulfurous haze hung in the air, distorting the shapes of the zeppelins above. Denri was surprised the rim of the volcano was so large. At it’s thinnest, the ring was three streets wide. In many places, it opened into wide plateaus with ragged pillars and hills of stone. “At least no one can say we died somewhere boring.” Aki laughed weakly. Denri stepped from foot to foot. Even with her boots returned, the ground was nearly too hot to stand in place comfortably. The Twins stood across from her, unimpressed by the heat or haze. The pit of lava to their right might as well have been a mid-sized lake. Manabu stepped forward and Denri dropped into a crouch. He gave her a dismissive look. “Cute. But we will not be fighting you ourselves.” Denri threw her best condescending smirk back at him. “Afraid?” Hideki chuckled behind his brother. “Hardly. You set the stakes and we choose the challenge. If you insist on continuing with this foolishness, then I will at least pick something entertaining. One of our patrols tells me that your friend has a fondness for dragons…” Manabu held out his arm, palm facing the sky. A flame appeared and began to pulse. The lava below distorted, rising in a dome. “Let’s see how she feels once she’s come face to face with–.” Denri groaned. “Really? Fighting a dragon on the rim of a volcano. Don’t you think that’s a little much?” Manabu stood with his mouth open. The flame stuttered above his hand. Hideki erupted into full blown laughter. He bent forward and grabbed his stomach. “This one! I like her. I hope she lives.” Manabu clenched his hand into a fist. Jets of flame shot between his fingers as he stalked back to his twin. “She has challenged you too, little brother.” Hideki frowned. “By four seconds!” Manabu placed a hand on his twin’s shoulder. The cloth beneath his grip began to smoke, then ignited. Hideki yelped, jumping to the side and batting out the flames. Manabu’s mouth quirked up as he continued. “Your challenge is to defeat Tetsujin. I doubt you will be joking for long.” Denri’s small triumph vanished as she turned to stare at the swell of lava. Butterflies filled her stomach. She ran through the mental exercises Eizo had taught her, deconstructing the dragon in her mind. She took a deep breath. The sulfur made her cough. Aki was staring into the lava entranced. “Hey! On alert. Don’t forget the Twins control him.” Aki grunted absently and Denri rapped the back of her head. “Ow! What was that for?” “You’re smiling! That dragon is going to try to kill us, Aki. Whatever you think, this one is not a friend. Now quit gawking and heal me before things get crazy.” “Oh! Right.” Aki grabbed Denri’s wrist and her face screwed up in concentration. There was a terrifying moment when nothing happened, then Denri’s mind went blank. A rush of memories and emotions filled the space. Some she recognized, others she didn’t. They rushed past too quickly to hang onto any one in particular. A connection blossomed at the back of her mind. A seed that had been there for some time, suddenly bursting into life. She had always been able read Aki’s emotions. But now she could feel the girl. A conscious force resting at the back of Denri’s mind. Thought and vision returned. Denri stood in the same place as before, though she stood straighter and no longer favored her broken leg. She felt strong and whole again. Better than whole. She clenched her fist and sparks jittered across her knuckles, dancing up her arm. There was a thrill of relief inside her head, emanating from Aki with absolute clarity. Denri turned to the girl and smiled. “You ready to do this?” Aki’s eye, the one not covered by scar tissue, was closed in concentration. When she opened it, Denri saw the eye was a bright, glowing blue. Just like her own. Aki nodded and they turned towards the lava as it erupted. It was four stories from Kazora’s rim to the lava below, but Tetsujin’s face was level with them when his tail finally emerged. His head was wider than a cart, surrounded by a mane of gleaming iron that flowed like hair. Large whiskers tested the air before him. “Are these the toys you’ve brought me, lords?” Tetsujin’s voice boomed through the air, shaking Denri’s bones. Denri grinned as the dragon swam through the sky before them, her nerves turning to excitement. The air around her popped and cracked with electricity. She knew she should be scared, but suddenly all she wanted was to move. Denri threw her head back and laughed. Her fingers itched as trails of lightning jumped between them. She said a thanks to the Stormbringer. “Let’s see what you can do!” Denri called lightning and shot forward. Tetsujin loosed a jet of silver flame, but to Denri it seemed to crawl through the air. She dove to the side, rolling and springing back to her feet. She moved faster. Lightning trailed from her legs as she leapt towards the dragon. Tetsujin lashed out with his iron talons. Denri was already gone. She reappeared in a flash of light, shifting behind him. “Over here!” She brought her fists down in a double hammer strike against the back of his head. Her body rang with the backlash of the blow. She might as well have punched solid metal. Tetsujin’s tail whipped forward and she raised her arm to catch the strike. Her bones and muscles creaked as the blow knocked her from the dragon’s neck. She twisted in the air, landing on her feet against the inside wall of the rim. Vaguely, she thought a blow like that should have broken her arm. Just jumping from a window the day before had broken her leg. “Is that all you’ve got?” She surged forward, running along the wall as she drew the metal rods from her belt and launched them at the dragon. Tetsujin hardly noticed as they bounced from his hide. He shot another jet of flame that Denri outran. She could feel the electric charge in the air around her. She could change it. No need to send a bolt of lightning to call the rods back. She reached out and grabbed them, set them dancing through the air about Tetsujin’s head. She leapt at his face again, calling the rods to her hands at the last minute. His hide was strong, but how about his eyes? “Denri!” Aki’s call was matched by a flare of disapproval in the back of Denri’s mind. It was strong enough to make her hesitate. Denri’s body lurched as Tetsujin’s tail caught her midjump and sent her flying into the wall. The stone cracked, but her body held. “Don’t hurt him! It’s not his fault he has to fight.” Tetsujin’s laugh was like a thousand dry logs tossed on a fire. “You think I need protection, girl?” He lunged toward her. Aki waited with square shoulders and arms wide as Tetsujin approached. She planted her feet as the beast’s mouth opened wide. At the last moment, Denri’s connection with Aki flared and their thoughts were one. Fear and determination warred inside Aki as the girl stepped forward, almost as fast as Denri. She dipped her shoulder beneath Tetsujin’s onrushing jaw. Denri felt lightning course from her into Aki. The girl’s legs tensed as she threw her body against the dragon’s chin. Tetsujin’s head snapped to the side as though he had collided with the mountain itself. He grunted in surprise as he crashed into a pillar of stone. It collapsed, momentarily holding him in place. Aki stumbled, limbs suddenly heavy. But she caught herself and pounced toward the dragon, taking the form of a large cat. Her paws glowed as they dug into Tetsujin’s scales. There was a flash of bluish white. The dragon laughed like hungry flame. “I am not so easily cowed. It took Amaterasu herself to bind me, girl!” A jet of silver flame burst from the rubble. The fire passed through the space Aki’s body had occupied a moment earlier as the girl sprouted wings and took flight as a crow. Another blast of flame shot from the rock and Aki barely dodged it. Focused on the flames, she didn’t see the dragon’s tail whipping from behind. Denri slammed her hands into the rock, muscles flaring as she pulled free of the wall. Even with her new speed, she couldn’t cover the 40 foot distance to Aki in time. Denri felt no concern. Only curiosity. She needed to move faster. Could she meet the challenge? Her body coiled like a spring as she charged her body. Not enough. She called more. Time slowed and nearly stopped. More. A giddy laugh slipped from her throat, half crazed as the energy overwhelmed her. A peel of thunder split the air as lightning struck. All flits could shift. But that was something small, like her body was contracting and then simply moving. It left Denri feeling drained. But this. This was an explosion. Her body stretched, arcing from the wall to Tetsujin in an instant. Her body coursed with energy as she reformed. She batted the dragon’s tail away from Aki with ease. As she landed on the rim, Denri could still feel the energy pulling against every cell in her body. It wanted to keep flowing. Demanded it. Tetsujin burst from the rock with a snarl. The silver mane around his head snapped straight and a cloud of iron darts went flying toward them. Denri didn’t even have to call the lightning. It leapt from her fingers as she raised her hand, spilling forward in a wave that scattered the needles in a thousand directions. Aki’s crow form dove toward the dragon again, landing against his skin as a leopard. She growled and there was another flash. Again Tetsujin laughed, batting the girl away with a gleaming claw. “These are wonderful toys you’ve brought, my lords.” The dragon gripped the rock before him and the mountain shook. The ground split as iron spikes of all shapes and sizes erupted at their feet. Denri sidestepped them lazily. She watched with curiosity as Aki struggled to keep up, wondering what the girl would do next. Vaguely, she thought she should be helping. But it was hard to focus with the lightning tugging at her thoughts, pulling her attention back to Tetsujin. The dragon’s black metal body snaked around the volcano’s rim. Huge and powerful. She’d never faced a test like this. Didn’t she want to see what she could do? What she could really do. Denri opened herself to the lightning. It felt like dying. And living. She raised her hand in front of her face. Her fingers unraveled into threads of energy. The threads continued down her forearm, up her bicep, across her shoulder. Denri watched with fascination, the world frozen around her. She felt the threads stretching up her neck. And then she was free. So long cramped and contained. Everything so sluggish. Like touching the world through a stiff leather glove. But now she was present. Her body flowed and expanded, pure energy held together by her will alone. She was the lightning. The metal spikes all over the ground let out a loud groan. It was easy, reaching out and bending each iron pillar to the ground. With the threat gone, Aki looked around. Denri felt the barest flicker of confusion at the back of her mind. She pushed it away. A gout of silver flame washed over Denri’s body. It was strong. It tried to burn her, turn her to fire. But she was lightning. And it was not strong enough. Denri arced forward, wrapping around the flame playfully. Gripping it in her elemental hands. Squeezing until the flame gasped for air and sputtered out. Tetsujin’s head pulled back in surprise. Denri laughed. A dragon made of iron. Such a wonderful plaything. She let her body flow forward, wrapping around Tetsujin. She had bent the metal spikes with such ease. Would this steel serpent be any different? “No!” A flash of guilt, easily brushed aside. Denri flexed, and watched the dragon’s body quiver. Tetsujin groaned, his first sign of pain and fear. Denri smiled. Her puppet. But why stop here? What else could she do? She turned, more a shifting of attention than an actual motion, and saw the Twins. Manabu’s smug superiority was gone. He frowned, but he did not look afraid. He did not understand her power. She would change that. Denri sent a bolt at his chest. The bolt moved too fast for him to dodge. Manabu’s eyes widened in shock. But there was a flash of light and Hideki was standing in the way. The crazy twin grabbed the lightning bolt with both hands, the muscles on his biological arm flaring as jets of steam burst from his mechanical arm in hissing jets. He threw his hands up and the lightning arced skyward, narrowly missing Sky Furnace above. Joy filled Denri. Such strength. This man would be a wonderful test of her power. Again, she felt a flash of guilt in her mind. But this time, she felt a command alongside it. A command to stop. Rage overtook her. Who dared? She was lightning, and she would not be caged. She would not be held back. Denri turned and saw a young girl staring at her with a frown, sweat dripping down her face. Denri threw forward a massive fist of crackling energy. But the girl’s form shifted, shrinking to a bird as it evaded the blow. Denri was surprised. The girl moved with nearly the speed of lightning. The crow flew toward her. So bold! Denri threw her arms wide to meet the girl’s charge. But the girl was not charging toward her. At the last moment, she became a large cat and plunged through the rippling energy of Denri’s body to the dragon held within. Denri let her body bite, but the girl ignored the shocks. There was a blinding flash of light. Tetsujin roared. His smooth, snake-like scales snapped out, stretching into long, jagged iron crystals. Long metal horns, like a deer’s antlers, formed on his head. Black flame erupted all around his body. These flames were different than before. Stronger. They burned and tore at Denri’s body, forcing her to release the dragon. She pulled back, then brought a fist down on the dragon’s midsection, crushing it into the rock. Tetsujin roared again, this time in pain. But he pulled himself free. The girl stood tall, holding one of his horns. Her eye shone white. Great metal pillars erupted from the ground, drawing Denri’s body toward them. She pushed and they bent away. But more rose in their place. The dragon opened it’s mouth and loosed a torrent of jet black fire. Denri threw herself to meet it. Exalting at the challenge. She was still the greater force. She could feel it. The black flames halted, began to twist into themselves beneath her grasp. She laughed. But the metal rods still pulled at her from behind. And the dragon’s flame was slow to die. They held her in place. A hammer blow struck her mind. The girl again, but stronger. Denri felt another presence behind it, reinforcing the girl’s strength. Ancient. Stubborn like iron. The dragon and girl roared together as they redoubled their efforts. The fire held, pushing itself to a stalemate against Denri’s lightning. The force in Denri’s mind inched forward. Step by step it wrapped itself around her. Holding her. Caging her. Denri screamed. She would not be held. Lightning was free. Anything else was death. She lashed out, sending bolts in all directions. One ripped along Tetsujin’s side, leaving a long trail of red. Another crashed into the side of Kazora, exploding the rock. But the girl would not be stopped. With another frantic push, she embraced Denri’s mind, pinning her completely. Abruptly, the flow of lightning broke. Denri’s body snapped back to her normal form and she fell to her knees. Aki shouted something from her perch on Tetsujin, but it meant nothing to Denri. Confusion gripped her mind, churning her thoughts like a whirlpool. The Twins appeared on either side, hands raised in threat. But a jet of black flame pushed them back. More shouts from Aki. This time they were joined by Tetsujin’s roar. Denri was lifted. Placed delicately beside Aki. And they were flying. To where? Had they won? The next two days passed in a jumble. At least, Denri thought it was two days. It was hard to judge by the brief moments of clarity. It felt like her mind was slowly walking back from a great distance. Or like she was snatching up pieces of herself as they floated by like driftwood. Eventually, she could hold a whole conversation. Aki came to see her, joking and smiling. Denri remembered being surprised during the visit, but she couldn’t recall what they talked about. There was something important she needed to remember. A question that she couldn’t quite grasp. Whatever it was, it made her anxious. There was something about Aki’s casual visits and the lazy hours spent lying in bed that felt… out of place. When the confusion finally left her, Denri sat in a wheeled chair in front of massive, 30 foot windows. Tables littered with tools and machines surrounded her. She could hear voices behind. “What do you mean, I won’t? The experiment can’t run itself!” “No more experiments. I don’t care if Tetsu doesn’t mind. I do!” Denri recognized the voices. She turned her head toward them and immediately wished she hadn’t. Every inch of her body throbbed. Her vision swam and a bout of queasiness overtook her. Denri groaned. “Denri!” A pattering of feet and then a woman who looked to be in her mid twenties was kneeling before the chair. Denri would have called her pretty, with her dark hair and curves, if she didn’t look so fierce. Her face was angled like a hawk, with well defined muscles on her arms. Most striking was the scar along the right side of her… “Aki? You’re so old!” The woman stuck out her tongue. Her remaining eye was a bright blue like Denri’s. “Hideki says using my power on Tetsujin was too much for my body. So I used my power on myself without thinking about it to keep up. Are you feeling better?” Denri thought for a moment, then nodded. The motion sent sharp pains up and down her neck. “Things feel… clearer now.” Aki grinned and leaned forward to give her a hug. “I love you kid, but I think if you touch me right now I’m going to pass out. Let’s save the hugs for later.” Aki pulled up short, looking disappointed. She could still pout like a 10 year old. Denri sighed. “Alright, fine. One hug. But very gently, please.” “I can be gentle!” Denri’s body tensed in anticipation of the collision. But Aki made a show of slowly wrapping her arms around Denri and giving her shoulders the barest of taps. There was a crack and a flash of light. When the spots faded from Denri’s vision, Hideki was standing in front of her. “Can I examine you?” Without waiting for an answer he bent forward, bringing his face uncomfortably close and peering into her eyes. “How do you feel? Are you having strange thoughts? Any unexplained new powers? Don’t leave anything out!” Hideki paused and hitched his head to the side. “It’s not rude! I’m just curious.” He reached a hand toward Denri’s wrist. “If you touch me right now, I will zap you so hard you can’t feel anything in that hand for a week.” The Twin pulled his hand back hastily. “Now he’s going to think he was right!” Denri turned her head to Aki, slowly to avoid another stab of pain. “Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?” The girl shrugged. “He says he has a farmer in his head. I don’t really understand.” Denri looked down at Hideki’s tangled mess of hair as he peered closely at one of her arms. “Hey! Are you sniffing me?” “I want to see if your body is still ionizing the air around you. No one has ever fully manifested a region from an elemental plane before. I don’t want to miss a single detail!” The situation finally clicked in Denri’s mind and she pushed Hideki away. “Wait a minute. What happened to the challenge? Why are we back in the throne room? It doesn’t seem like we’re fighting anymore. Why can’t I remember anything that’s been happening?” There was a flash of concern at the back of Denri’s mind as Aki frowned. “We won the challenge! What’s the last thing you remember?” “Tetsujin knocked me into a wall and then… just… images I don’t really understand after that.” In her mind’s eye, Denri saw Aki riding Tetsujin. The dragon’s scales flared like daggers, gleaming horns erupting from his mane of iron. Black fire washing over Denri. Her body like a cloud of lightning. Hideki nodded as he scratched the back of his head. “That sounds about right. That was when I felt the lightning take over.” “What are you talking about?” “There are five elemental planes that were the animating force for our world’s creation. In those realms, the elements exist in their truest sense, sentient like you and I. Our world used to be strongly connected to those realms, and it was a common occurrence for people to be overwhelmed by elemental beings. But sometime, a long, long time ago, the bonds were damaged. The energy we call is weaker now, with less of the element’s personality.” Hideki paused as though he had offered a full explanation. “And that has to do with what happened because…” “I just told you! Isn’t it obvious?” His head tilted to the side again. “Oh, fine! I don’t know why you all need everything spelled out. When Aki healed you, she fixed more than just your wounds. She completely restored your connection to the elemental planes. When you called lightning, you got the real deal. That entity took over your mind.” Denri struggled to understand what Hideki was saying. She remembered feeling different during the fight with Tetsujin. Everything had seemed easier. Her attacks more powerful. Tentatively, she reached for the lightning again. Hideki flailed his hands in front of her. “Don’t do that! Resonant bonds will always affect your mind, but with the strength of your connection right now, that affect is overwhelming. You may lose yourself like you did during the battle.” Denri pulled back. “It’s dangerous to use my power?” There was a small, dignified cough from behind before Manabu walked into view. “For now, yes. My brother can train you to use your resonance more skillfully. Perhaps that will be enough. He is no doubt interested in studying you to find out. But you will have to be on guard. Even without calling lightning, you will feel an increased influence from your bond. More reckless. Or more reckless than usual, I suppose.” Denri turned to Aki. “Can you undo the… healing that you did?” “She could, but without a subtle hand, she could very well destroy your resonance completely. Pushing your bond to its maximum required a great deal of power, but very little precision. Targeting a specific degree of connection is more subtle.” The Twins’ words finally cut through. “You all know about Aki’s powers?” “After your awakening, and Tetsujin’s transformation, yes. We figured out the broad strokes. Aki provided some additional details about her past that filled in the remainder.” “You told them?” Aki looked at the ground guiltily. “We were trying to figure out what happened to you! I thought they could help better if they knew everything.” Denri looked back to the Twins, eyes narrowed. “You two don’t seem surprised…” Hideki tried to push his way under Manabu’s arm. “Of course we’re not surprised! We’ve been studying the Stone for years. Now, since everyone is feeling better, how about we run some tests?” Manabu pushed Hideki back with a good deal of patience. “Not yet brother, we have things we must discuss first.” He turned back to Denri. “Yes, we know about the origins of Aki’s power. She is connected to a secret that concerns the origins of the gods themselves. If they knew of her existence, they would almost certainly stop at nothing to destroy her.” Hideki finally stopped squirming against his brother’s hand and sat on a work table. His feet tapped on the ground impatiently. “Amaterasu nearly killed us when we discovered it, and we were only asking questions! She’s never allowed us direct access. Not like you!” “Which is why we have a proposal for you.” Manabu carried on fluidly. The more Denri watched the Twins, the more in sync she realized they were. “You won your challenge. If you want to leave, we can’t stop you. But if you stay and let us study Aki’s power, we’ll offer you our protection and share what we know.” “It sounds like Amaterasu doesn’t want you studying this power, whatever it is. You would oppose her?” Manabu cleared his throat pointedly. “We’re not opposing her. Just conducting research. Anything we learn will be to her benefit. She doesn’t have to know how we made the discovery.” Was the offer sincere? Manabu could be lying. Hoping to glean more information before betraying them. But Aki and Denri had won the challenge. If the Twins were treacherous, there was only so much they could do. Certainly less than what Sadashi could. They should probably wait until they had a chance to talk to Eizo. Denri’s whole body tensed as she thought of the former Blade. What had he been doing the last few days? He was going to be so angry with them. She shuddered and pushed that concern aside for now. They needed strong allies. And information. They were being offered everything they needed. “Deal. But we have conditions.” Manabu and Hideki both smiled, excitement plain on their faces. “Name them.” “First, you have to tell us everything you know now. No holding out important info or telling us ‘when we’re ready’. If we find out later that you hid something from us, we’re gone. Got it?” The Twins nodded. “Second, we need more than protection.” It was Manabu’s turn to narrow his eyes. “How much more?” “You’ve seen inside that research book. Sadashi has Aki’s siblings and he’s doing experiments that are driving them insane. You have to help us rescue them. And I don’t want to stop there. Whatever Sadashi is planning. I want to find out what it is and stop it so no other kids get hurt.” Manabu frowned. “We can offer you protection as Aki trains. But we have no interest in a larger conflict.” Denri shrugged her shoulders, a painful maneuver. “Then no deal. We’ll find our own path, and all those other kids who also have Aki’s power will come with us. I’m sure there’s all sorts of interesting things to learn from them.” Hideki inched forward in his seat, eyes shining greedily. Aki took a step forward with hands on hips. “And Tetsujin is bound to me, now. I’m sure we won’t have much trouble if he’s with us. Too bad about all of Sky Furnace’s zeppelins sinking into the ocean without his powers.” Even Denri turned towards Aki, mouth agape. Fierce indeed. Manabu looked to Hideki, but the other twin already seemed to know which decision he wanted to make. The fancy twin resisted a moment longer, but it was clear how much they wanted this knowledge. “Very well. We will do what we can to help you uncover Sadashi’s plan. And as you rescue the other children, we will provide them protection here. But in exchange, you will let us study everyone’s abilities. And Tetsujin stays here.” Aki crossed her arms. “No more experimenting on Tetsu, though.” Manabu waved a hand angrily. “So be it.” Aki nodded to Denri. “I would shake your hand, if I could move my muscles more than an inch. But you’ve got yourselves an alliance. Now tell us what you know about Aki’s power and then I would like to go pass out.” “Do you want the simple story, or the more complicated one?” Denri’s head was still throbbing. And they really should talk to Eizo as soon as they could. “Simple is fine to start.” “There is a stone. Whether it has always existed or was constructed, we do not know. But it is the source of the gods’ power. Each of them holds a fragment. The stone is able to repair and reshape our world’s connections to the primordial planes that formed it. That power lets them reshape our world nearly any way they see fit. They used it to create the five races, to shape the monsters, and to travel wherever they will. “During the True Combat when the Four Seasons rose to power, after they defeated the other Sanyaku, they refused to fight one another. Sakuya tried to force the issue, but the four women fought the god and managed to hold her off. Since then, Sakuya’s powers have always seemed… diminished. “After hearing of Aki’s story, we believe that the Four Seasons managed to take some piece from Sakuya’s fragment of the Godstone and have been raising children in it’s presence. Aki was one of those children.” “I guess that makes sense. But when we overheard Shinmon, he said Aki was the strongest of the kids. Why? And do you have any idea how Sadashi fits into this?” “Regarding Aki’s power, we do not know. Perhaps she was raised closer than the others. Or was the oldest.” Aki frowned. “There were lots of kids older than me.” “Well, we won’t know until we can investigate further. As for Sadashi’s involvement, there were some letters that you stole along with the research. It seems from that correspondence that Sadashi has teamed up with the Four Seasons.” “To do what?” Denri’s heart was beating fast. Sadashi had almost overwhelmed the gods on his own. And that was hundreds of years ago. The Warlord was only that much stronger now. And now he had the support of the Four Seasons, too. “The Four Seasons have always been rebellious. Even before they were champions, they spoke about somehow ending the animosity that the gods built into monsters and the wilderness. It seems that Sadashi has offered his support to their cause, if they can use the children’s powers to reunite his armies.” “Would that work?” “Perhaps. It is possible, if they had a large enough network. I would have to study the children. Maybe if there was some sort of amplifier. Or we could build a device to–.” “Hey! Stay focused. We’re saving the kids, not experimenting on them, remember?” “Oh, yes. Of course.” Hideki grinned from behind his brother. “But you said we can still study them! Non invasively, of course.” Denri swallowed hard, as she digested the new information. She was surprised to find that, for the most part, she was excited. “Well, I was tired of running around without a clue. I guess I got my wish.” She turned to Aki. “What do you think Eizo is going to say when we tell him we want to go save the world?” Aki grimaced. “He’s going to be so mad!”Secrets Revealed2019-07-05T00:00:00+00:002019-07-05T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/secrets-revealed<p><strong>This is part 7 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/bounty/">last chapter</a> or start from the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/opportunities/">beginning</a>.</strong></p>
<p><img src="/assets/img/Sky-Furnace.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>They darted from shadows to alleys to abandoned crates and carts, barely outpacing the Arbiter search parties that stormed the city. Every clang of the alarm bell knotted Denri’s stomach tighter. It was ringing for her.</p>
<p>They knew who she was. Even before she blasted one of the city guards, they knew enough to be suspicious. But now there was no doubt. No way to hide.</p>
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<p>They had to get out of the city. But Denri wouldn’t leave Shiri and Onara. For years they had been her only family, living on the streets of Terminus.</p>
<p>But what if the innkeeper had recognized Denri from the bounty description? What if Arbiters were already swarming around the Dragon’s Den?</p>
<p>They reached the platform with the giant dragon statue, its stone talons clutching at its gold painted hoard. The steel walkways cutting through the grass were empty, but the guards would be inside. Below the platform and out of sight.</p>
<p>Denri and Aki hid in an alley as Eizo approached the statue. He knocked, ready to bolt. Anko appeared and the two exchanged words. She pulled back her sleeve and Eizo’s body stiffened, then she hurried him inside, eyes darting left and right.</p>
<p>A few moments later, Eizo emerged and returned to their hiding spot. “Come, it’s safer inside.”</p>
<p>Denri puffed out her cheeks, releasing the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Are you sure?”</p>
<p>“I am.” He led them back to the statue where Anko was waiting.</p>
<p>“I figured you all might be coming back. Those cats have been meowing in your room all day. I would have seen to them if I weren’t afraid they’d bolt soon as I opened the door.”</p>
<p>“Thank you.” Denri looked to Eizo uncertainly, but Anko slapped a hand against her back. “Eh, none of that! I didn’t tell the Arbiters to go blow smoke just so you could be suspicious of me. You’re safe here, lass.” She smiled as she pulled back her sleeve to show a tattoo. A circle with six hatch marks around the perimeter. The same tattoo as Eizo.</p>
<p>“You’re a–!” Anko clamped a hand over Aki’s mouth with lightning speed.</p>
<p>“Careful now, lass. That’s not something to go yammering on about. Yes, I was. Not a fighter like this one. I was a healer before I– well, Eizo and I have a fair bit in common. I sensed him straight away, even if his bond is dead, more or less.”</p>
<p>She shooed them down the stairs as she continued to talk. “If I wanted to turn you lot in, I would have done it as soon as I saw him. I tried to come and warn you all about the bounty this morning, but you’d already left.”</p>
<p>“Thank you.” Denri spoke more earnestly this time.</p>
<p>Anko waved her hand. “For a looker like this? I’d sell out my own husband. Not that I have one, thank the Mother’s Scales.” She winked at Eizo. “Now, let’s get you all to your room. The Arbiters have locked down the Tether, but you can hide here until things die down a bit. They can’t keep the city locked up for long.”</p>
<p>They walked through the hallways in silence for a moment before Aki cleared her throat. “Did you really tell the Arbiters to go blow smoke?”</p>
<p>Anko barked a laugh. “No, lass. Even I’m not that crazy. But I did tell them I’d never seen hide nor hair of you. And when I started leering at their captain he finished up his questions nice and quick. Not that I was looking seriously now, dear.”</p>
<p>Anko placed a hand on Eizo’s back and laughed, but she was alone in her amusement.</p>
<p>When they opened the door to their room, Shiri and Onara dashed to Denri, winding their way between her legs and crying anxiously. She couldn’t help but smile.</p>
<p>“Alright, alright, calm down you little monsters.” She bent and scooped Shiri into her arms as she nudged Onara towards Eizo. Denri gave the man a look and he lifted the black cat into his arms. She held Shiri to her face, rubbing his nose with hers. “There, see? I’m never gonna leave you two.”</p>
<p>She looked under the beds warily. “They don’t know a thing about what’s happened, why are they so freaked out?”</p>
<p>“I think they sensed my fear when I reached out to check on them.” Aki was leaning over Eizo’s shoulder, rubbing Onara between the eyes.</p>
<p>Denri nodded and turned to Eizo. “OK, we can go now.”</p>
<p>“Like I said, they’ve got the Tether shut down. No way out of Sky Furnace until that’s reopened.”</p>
<p>Denri turned back to the front of the room, only now realizing that Anko had slipped in with them. Denri glanced at Eizo.</p>
<p>“Don’t go lookin’ at him like he gets to decide. I’m already up to my elbows after lying to the Arbiters. And besides, it’s my inn. So let’s have it.” Anko waved her arms. “Off with the masks and tell me what’s going on.”</p>
<p>No one removed their masks. Even Aki narrowed her eyes. “Why are you helping us?”</p>
<p>“I read the bounty report. After what you did, there’s no way you’d risk coming to a city unless you had a purpose.”</p>
<p>Anko paused, then seemed to reach a decision. “I’ve got no love for Ninigi and his Blades. I want them out of my city. You took out five Blades and you’re traveling with a deserter, so I’m hoping whatever you’re up to, it’s against them.</p>
<p>“If it is, I’ll help how I can. But I’d like to know I’m not helping a bunch of criminals who are trying to hurt my town. So you can show some trust or I’ll turn you in.”</p>
<p>“I guess we don’t have much choice.” Denri shook her head as she and Aki removed their masks. ”Did you say there are Blades here in Sky Furnace?”</p>
<p>Eizo’s mask remained in place. “The Arbiters. For the most part, the Blades trained in Ninigi’s Citadel are given to his Champions. But he sends a few to the other gods to curry favor.”</p>
<p>“Act as spies, more like.” Anko’s lip curled distastefully.</p>
<p>“Why couldn’t the Arbiters sense you like Anko could, then?”</p>
<p>“They’re pledged to Amaterasu. The oath that Blades take only allows them to sense creatures bound to the same god. The only reason I can sense him is because I used to be tied to Ninigi as well.”</p>
<p>Anko looked pointedly at Eizo. “Don’t push your luck just because I think you’re handsome, lad. Off with the mask.” She reached towards the door to emphasize her point.</p>
<p>Eizo’s hand moved haltingly. Distrust warring with necessity as he pulled the mask free.</p>
<p>When he did, Anko gasped. Her mouth hung open for a moment before she regained enough composure to speak. “<em>Takeshi Foxbane.</em>”</p>
<p>He shifted uncomfortably. “I no longer hold the blade. I use my birth name once again.”</p>
<p>Denri’s gaze shifted between the two. “You know him?”</p>
<p>“Not personally. I doubt many would recognize you with your face so gaunt and scarred. Mother help me but I wouldn’t have either if I hadn’t seen you once before. The stories I heard of how you left… I was right, then. You <em>are</em> here to fight the Blades.”</p>
<p>“Hold on now. What happened when Eizo left <em>where</em>?”</p>
<p>Eizo held up a hand firmly. “This is not the time for sharing stories. We need to find a way out of Sky Furnace.”</p>
<p>Anko was looking at Eizo with a new sense of awe. “There are some amongst the Blades who disapprove of how their strength is used. Depressingly few, but some none the less. Takeshi– Eizo, you would not know, but your desertion had larger effects than anyone could have guessed. If word spread that the Last Standing was in Sky Furnace, opposing the Blades, some of the Arbiters may rally to your cause. They could help you.”</p>
<p>“No. I will not lead men and women again. Not in violence.”</p>
<p>“But–.”</p>
<p>“I said <em>no</em>.” There was a force to Eizo’s voice that stopped Anko dead, her jaw clicking shut as she nodded. “Besides, it would bring more attention than we want. We’re in Sky Furnace to gather information, not to start a conflict.”</p>
<p>“Did you find what you needed, then?”</p>
<p>Eizo shook his head. “We were only able to get a name before we were discovered.”</p>
<p>Denri flinched. Eizo said <em>we</em>, but it was her who the Arbiters recognized. “A man named Shinmon. He makes the–.” She realized that Eizo wasn’t sharing specifics. “–some technology we’re interested in. But we don’t have to give up yet, we can still find him!”</p>
<p>Eizo shook his head. “It’s too risky. The whole city is on high alert and they’re looking <em>specifically</em> for us. We’ll just have to find another lead.”</p>
<p>Anko tapped her lip thoughtfully. “Shinmon, you said? I’ve never heard the name, but I could ask around. Maybe find out if he’s undocking anytime soon. You could make a move in a different city.”</p>
<p>“We don’t have the time to wait.”</p>
<p>“Nonsense, lad.” Anko was halfway toward batting Eizo’s chest before she remembered herself, pulling her hand back like she had stuck it in a viper pit. “I mean, forgive me for disagreeing Ta– Eizo. You’ll have to stay here until the Tether is reopened. At least let me help until then.”</p>
<p>Eizo frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. Eventually he nodded. “I suppose we have to trust someone if we’re going to get out of here. And it would be good not to leave empty handed.”</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<p>Denri stared at the ceiling, sleep a distant possibility. Every noise sent her ears straining for the sounds of foot steps and creaking armor.</p>
<p>All she heard was the blood pounding in her ears.</p>
<p>Hiding again. Every time she thought she had found her stride again, something came crashing through, upending her confidence. One step forward, four steps back. There was still so much they didn’t understand.</p>
<p>She didn’t used to mind uncertainty. She trusted her instincts, taking things one step at a time. But how could she improvise when it was Eizo and Aki’s lives at stake? She wouldn’t risk them getting hurt. <em>This</em> family, she would protect.</p>
<p>She needed to get stronger. Strong enough to fight back against the people pursuing them. But that wouldn’t happen overnight. And they were being hunted <em>now</em>. Denri knuckled her forehead, forcing herself to focus on a plan. They could keep running, or they could find strong allies. But they wouldn’t know where was safe or who to trust until they knew what was going on.</p>
<p>Learning about Aki’s power was necessary no matter what path they took. It would help Aki train and let them maneuver around Sadashi. If Anko could gather information on Shinmon, maybe they could follow him to whatever city he visited next. But who knew how long he would stay in Sky Furnace? Or where he might be going.</p>
<p>Would they be able to keep running long enough to find out?</p>
<p>Denri chewed her lip in frustration. Shinmon was right in front of them. But they had to be careful. Avoid risks.</p>
<p>Except doing nothing was a risk too. <em>She</em> was a risk.</p>
<p>Denri dropped her hands to the bed. A sense of dread filled her. The Arbiters only had information on her. If she was gone, Eizo and Aki would have more time to train and research. What if Eizo decided that Denri was more trouble than she was worth?</p>
<p>She shook her head. He trusted her. Cared about her. Eizo wouldn’t abandon her just because things were getting hard.</p>
<p>But he still wouldn’t tell her anything about his past. Did he <em>really</em> trust her?</p>
<p>And should he? If Denri was the problem, then shouldn’t she leave to protect them? But she didn’t want to be alone.</p>
<p>She wanted to scream. Her hands tensed like claws at her side. Everything ran in circles. The more she thought, the more uncertain she became. Every direction had tradeoffs. Good and bad that were impossible to measure against each other. The deeper she probed, the more paralyzed she felt.</p>
<p>Denri sat up abruptly, her tension translating into motion. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t plan for every problem. If she tried, she was just going to fail. Her strength had always been action. The stakes were higher, but she had to keep playing the game she knew. The game she was good at.</p>
<p>Shinmon was here. Now. That was certain. That was the opportunity.</p>
<p>Denri eased the covers back and placed her feet on the cold metal floor. If she went alone, at least the others would be safe. If she got caught, they’d could escape. And if she found important information, Eizo wouldn’t be able to leave her behind.</p>
<p>She nodded to herself, certainty easing the tension in her shoulders, then snuck to their packs by the door. Denri slipped the folded map from the outer pocket. She had no problem reading it in the dark, her blue eyes shining.</p>
<p>The mark for Shinmon’s shop was on the far side of Sky Furnace, in the opposite direction of Anchor. But the far side was less dense. She could move quickly and make it back before the sun showed on the horizon. A smile hitched the corner of her mouth as she turned to the door.</p>
<p>Shiri’s shining green eyes stared back at her, sitting by the door. The white and orange cat blinked and Aki sat up.</p>
<p>“You’re leaving.”</p>
<p>“I thought you were asleep.”</p>
<p>Aki shook her head. “Where are you going?”</p>
<p>“I just want to get some air. Calm my nerves so I can get some sleep.”</p>
<p>Aki searched her face. “You’re going to find Shinmon.” She threw the covers back.</p>
<p>Denri sighed. “Yeah. But I’m going alone.”</p>
<p>Aki slid out of bed and shot Denri a stubborn look. “I’m coming. This is all my fault. Everyone is trying to get <em>me</em>. And the Arbiters found us because I lost my temper.”</p>
<p>Denri nearly laughed. It looked like she wasn’t the only one lying awake berating herself.</p>
<p>She felt a moment of concern and almost insisted that Aki stay. Then she took a deep breath and pushed it aside. No more worrying. The Stormbringer was telling her Aki was part of the opportunity.</p>
<p>Denri felt a moment of shock when she realized how long it had been since she thought of Susano. She looked to the ceiling and muttered an apology to the Lord of Storms.</p>
<p>“Eizo won’t let us go.”</p>
<p>Aki flashed a mischievous grin. “Who asked him?”</p>
<p>Denri realized she was smiling too.</p>
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<p>Everything flowed as Denri slipped through the night. She rolled over a wall, darting across an open park to a warehouse at the far side of the platform. She jumped without slowing, planted a foot on a crate, and threw herself towards the wall.</p>
<p>Time slowed as she called lightning, letting it fill her body. Her momentum held her against the wall for an instant. It felt like several seconds. She looked around lazily as her body coiled. Then she pushed off and up, clearing the rooftop of the neighboring building with ease.</p>
<p>She landed in a crouch beside Shiri. The cat stared into the night, watching for the Arbiters that were turning the city upside down. Denri felt a tug in her mind, guiding her left. Aki had found a path around the nearest patrol.</p>
<p>Sadashi wanted to isolate them by reporting Denri. But he didn’t say anything about Aki, hoping to hide his true target. That left the Arbiters blind, unsuspecting of a black cat picking its way through the town.</p>
<p>Denri had been so afraid earlier. But now she felt invincible. Sadashi could search and scheme and be as clever as he wanted. All he did was tie himself in knots, leaving opportunities for them to act.</p>
<p>With Shiri and Aki charting a course, Denri flew across Sky Furnace. She barely even had to stop. It wasn’t long before the three of them were standing in an alleyway, across a bridge from their target.</p>
<p>Shinmon’s zeppelin was small compared to the other platforms of Sky Furnace. It held a narrow tower standing across from a shed. A small, manicured garden filled the space that remained. The shed was dark, but the windows on the second story of the tower shone brightly.</p>
<p>Aki’s returned to her human form. “What next?”</p>
<p>Denri chewed on her lip as she thought. They couldn’t make a scene. Even the hint of a disturbance would bring an army of guards down on their head.</p>
<p>A tall shadow periodically swept past the window on the second floor. Probably Shinmon. Was that where the information they needed would be? Or should they avoid the second floor to minimize the chance of detection?</p>
<p>Aki was looking up at her with complete trust. If Denri got it wrong, who knew what would happen to the the young girl?</p>
<p>She shook herself. She had to stop thinking about the risks. Sailing through a storm, it didn’t matter how important your cargo was. You made it through by racing with the waves.</p>
<p>“The roof. We’ll check the third floor first, then figure out what to do next based on what we find.”</p>
<p>They padded through the darkness, moving across the bridge and pressing against the wall of the workshop. The stones of the tower had enough gaps that the wall seemed climbable.</p>
<p>Briefly, Denri wondered if there was any way to use a resonance to set some sort of magical alarm. She shrugged. No way to find out now. She’d ask Eizo tomorrow morning.</p>
<p>They left Shiri at the bridge to watch for patrolling Arbiters. Aki shrank back to a cat and perched on Denri’s shoulders. They moved to the back of the tower where there were fewer prying eyes. Denri wedged her fingers into the cracks between stones and climbed.</p>
<p>They reached the third floor windows without incident. Denri eased her head over the sill, keeping low in case anyone was watching. Poorly made glass distorted the darkened interior. It was a bedroom, simply appointed with a cold fireplace on the far wall.</p>
<p>How to get in? She could slide her dagger under the seam of the window, looking for a latch. That might be the safest way, conserving her strength in case there was a fight later. But it would be slow.</p>
<p>Denri got Aki’s attention. She pointed to the fireplace, then to the rooftop.</p>
<p><strong>You want me to go through the chimney? OK, wait a second and I’ll unlock the window.</strong></p>
<p>Denri nodded and Aki jumped off her shoulder, scrambling the last few feet onto the roof and padding out of sight. Denri turned her attention back to the window. She had no intention of waiting around for others to act.</p>
<p>“Never drop anchor in a storm.” She focused on a spot inside and shifted. Her body melted in a flash of light that crawled through the seams of the window, aiming between the bed and a tall wardrobe to block the light of her travel.</p>
<p>By the time Aki dropped into the fireplace, shaking soot from her fur, Denri had finished rifling through the bedroom. Aki’s yellow eyes blinked in surprise, but the girl adjusted quickly.</p>
<p><strong>Did you find anything?</strong></p>
<p>Denri shook her head, then slinked up to the door at the far side of the room on light feet. She tested each floorboard before giving it her weight, though it proved unnecessary. Rich people rarely had any squeaky floorboards or creaking hinges to worry about.</p>
<p>She inched open the door and peered through the crack into another dark room. A heavy writing desk stood along the left wall, topped with a stack of blank papers, a quill, and a stoppered bottle of ink. Moonlight streamed in through a tall window in front of the desk. The glass was of a similar quality to the window in the bedroom, warping the light and casting a strange skein of shadows across the desk and floor.</p>
<p>An elegant book shelf stood opposite the desk, filled from floor to ceiling. Aki returned to her human form and moved toward the books while Denri approached the desk.</p>
<p>A glance confirmed that there was nothing interesting on top. She opened the first drawer and found it full of spare supplies immaculately organized. The second drawer contained a heavy looking machine covered in lenses and gears. The third drawer was locked.</p>
<p>Denri tried to pull the second drawer out, but it stopped a few inches from being completely removed. If she called lightning, she could rip the drawer off easily enough. But that would be noisy. Maybe…</p>
<p>Denri laid the palm of her hand flat against the lock and sent an electric shock through the mechanism. She had never picked a lock before, but she knew it had something to do with aligning the internal mechanisms. She could hear a series of faint ticks as her electricity caused pieces of the lock to move inside. After a few seconds she let the charge fade and pulled on the handle. It didn’t budge.</p>
<p>She stepped back, rubbing her chin. There had to be a key somewhere. Shinmon probably kept it close to his person. She took a moment to listen to the muffled footsteps emanating from below. Maybe she could sneak up on him and steal the key.</p>
<p><strong>Look at this.</strong> Aki was holding one of the books open in her hand. Denri approached, standing on tiptoe to get a look. The book was hollow, holding an ornate metal ring sized for a man’s hand. The top of the ring was embossed with Sadashi’s crest, a sword planted on a hilltop.</p>
<p>“Well, at least we know we’re on the right track.” Denri scooped the ring out of the book and tucked it into her pocket. “This might be useful later.”</p>
<p>They finished searching the books together, but found nothing else. The titles of the books might have held useful information, but neither Aki nor Denri could read more than a few letters. Enough to puzzle out a sign on a street, but not enough to understand the complicated subjects before them.</p>
<p>That left the second floor, glowing with warm candlelight below. Denri took one last look at the locked drawer on the desk, wondering if she should just pry it open.</p>
<p>Aki stiffened. <strong>Shiri says someone’s coming.</strong> A pause as she closed her eyes. <strong>It’s the man from the Scale and Talon!</strong></p>
<p>Denri smiled, turning away from the desk. “Perfect. A guest might pull Shinmon away, or at least distract him enough for us to look around.”</p>
<p>A bell sounded throughout the house as they crept to the edge of the stairs. The second floor was a single room, filled with large, clean tables and tools neatly arranged along the walls. Shinmon sat hunched over something with his back to the stairs. Periodically he raised his head to look at a large parchment in front of him.</p>
<p>The man wore a long, well-fitted crimson trench coat. His hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail. Denri couldn’t see what he was working on, but his fine-fingered hands were adorned with a series of delicate tools.</p>
<p>The bell rang again and Shinmon startled. When he went downstairs, Denri would have an opportunity to search the workshop. But it wouldn’t be long. What to grab?</p>
<p>Shinmon stood and stretched his lanky frame. He pulled the instruments off his hands and turned to go down the stairs. He had a long, proud face.</p>
<p>Denri felt Aki’s alarm before the girl made a sound. A sudden rush of panic filled her mind and she called lightning on instinct. Time slowed as she turned towards the young girl beside her. Aki’s face was contorting with fear. Denri’s hand shot out, lightning quick, clamping over Aki’s mouth and muffling her cry of alarm.</p>
<p>Aki pulled back, but Denri held her firm until the initial shock wore off. Eventually she calmed enough that Denri let her go.</p>
<p><strong>He’s the one who kidnapped me.</strong> The words came with a flash of pain and fear that made Denri’s heart beat fast. Aki’s sudden desire to run was almost a physical aura around her.</p>
<p>Denri swallowed, trying to overcome the fear she felt from Aki. She pulled the girl close and whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry, kid. He doesn’t know we’re here.”</p>
<p>Aki made a sound, half whimper and half growl. Like a cornered animal wavering between fight and flight. “I don’t want to go with him again.”</p>
<p>Denri pressed her forehead against Aki’s. “You know I’d never let him take you. This is good. If it’s the man who came to your village, he definitely has answers.” She could feel Aki shaking in her arms.</p>
<p>A new emotion blossomed within Denri, replacing the fear. Anger. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay in place as Shinmon and his guest returned.</p>
<p>“Some fool girl smashed it on the ground. But the Arbiters are out looking for her and her friend now. Bunch of tasteless brutes.”</p>
<p>“I don’t have time to make you a replacement, Yotogi. I’ll only be docked a few days.”</p>
<p>The pair walked into the shop and returned to the table Shinmon had been using. Yotogi sat in a stool, the portly man crossing one leg over the other with a petulant look on his face. Shinmon was already dawning his instruments again, returning to his work.</p>
<p>“A few days? But you only just got here.”</p>
<p>“There was a… setback in acquiring the girl. She was lost. I want to get the other waypoints in place ahead of schedule, in order to assuage Lord Sadashi’s displeasure.”</p>
<p>Denri strained her ears for every word, trying to make sense of them. She thought they were talking about Aki. What was this about waypoints?</p>
<p>Yotogi <em>tsk</em>‘ed loudly. “Well while you try to cover for your own mistakes, I’m suffering. Do you have any idea how stressful it is, being here alone? It’s getting harder to find all the information the Lord wants. The Twins have been suspicious of me ever since they caught me wandering while I built the Dragon’s Roar. They still need my equipment, but even the scatterbrained one watches me from the corner of his eye.”</p>
<p>“Your comfort is unimportant. All that matters is success.”</p>
<p>Yotogi gave a wounded look. “Well, my comfort is certainly important to <em>me</em>. You would think the Lord would offer at least a modicum of consideration for my efforts. I was the one who discovered the Stone, after all. If this crazy scheme fails, I’d at least like to enjoy my final days with some company.”</p>
<p>Shinmon paused in his work and looked at Yotogi. “Just be patient a bit longer. The plan is going to work. We’re close.”</p>
<p>Yotogi’s face sobered. He leaned forward in the stool, the wood creaking beneath his weight. “What have you seen?”</p>
<p>“I was skeptical when you first told me. But the children’s powers are as strong as we hoped.”</p>
<p>Yotogi gasped. “All of them?”</p>
<p>Shinmon shook his head. “More than we expected, though. At least half are capable of forming the bridge.”</p>
<p>“So many! Why worry about one girl, then?”</p>
<p>Shinmon exhaled, sounding frustrated. “It seems some of the gods’ powers are more taxing to wield than others. They can form the bridge, but transferring even a single person burns away their mind. The power remains, but it can no longer be focused. They’ll still serve as waypoints, but the girl was the only one I found strong enough to sustain the network for the numbers we want.”</p>
<p>“What if we can’t find another like her, then?”</p>
<p>Shinmon waved a hand dismissively. “She will be found. The Lord hunts her as we speak.”</p>
<p>Denri tried to comprehend what the two men were saying. The waypoints were children like Aki, it seemed. But they weren’t talking about these kids controlling monsters. There was a different power. A power that drove the children who used it mad. And they wanted to make Aki use it too.</p>
<p>Denri’s anger returned. She stood, reaching for her resonance without thinking. But a hand at her shoulder stopped her. Aki shook her head fearfully.</p>
<p>Yotogi let out a long breath. “Well. I suppose I can suffer on a bit longer. Will you need any help in preparing the other waypoints?”</p>
<p>“I’ll have you send on some of my equipment to each of the cities. It would seem strange if I sent large shipments to so many places at once.”</p>
<p>“Very well, do you have the list of locations?”</p>
<p>“Yes, its in my notebook upstairs.” Shinmon waved a hand absently and Denri heard a solid <em>click</em> from the desk behind her. “In the third drawer of my desk. There’s paper on the table that you can use to copy the information down.”</p>
<p>“Do you mind if I flip through the rest of your observations as well?”</p>
<p>Shinmon grunted his ascent and returned to the work.</p>
<p>Denri was still standing, energy curling around her clenched fist. She wanted to beat the mens’ faces in. She wouldn’t let them get their hands on Aki.</p>
<p><strong>Denri, please. He’s stronger than you think.</strong> Aki looked to the desk. <strong>He said he has a list of the– the waypoints. They’re my family too Denri. We can’t help them if he catches us.</strong></p>
<p>Yotogi stood from the table and walked toward the stairs. Reluctantly, Denri stepped back. They walked to the desk and slid open the final drawer. Inside was a thick, leather notebook and a stack of loosely bound papers that looked like correspondence.</p>
<p>Beneath the papers and the notebook was a smooth, opalescent stone the size of Denri’s thumb. The stone was regularly shaped, with flat planes like a gem. When Denri lifted it, the color inside the stone began to swirl. She stared for a moment, transfixed. It felt like the stone was calling to her.</p>
<p>Aki shook her shoulder, returning Denri to the present. She tucked the stone into a hidden pocket along the seam of her jacket, then tucked the papers and notebook under another arm.</p>
<p>“Alright, no time to waste. Let’s get out of here.”</p>
<p>Aki returned to her cat form and leapt onto the desk. Denri reached towards the window to unlock it. As she grabbed the latch, it felt like reaching through pudding. Denri glanced down and realized that her hand was warped just like the glass of the window. Her perspective shifted.</p>
<p>The glass itself wasn’t distorted. There was a layer of congealed air, shifting and swirling a hair’s breadth in front of the window. Denri snapped her hand back, but it was too late. The swirling air exploded outward, shattering the window and knocking Denri and Aki backwards. They crashed into the bookshelf on the other side of the room.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Denri groaned as she stumbled to her feet. There was a cry of surprise from below, followed by the staccato beat of feet rushing up the stairs.</p>
<p>Shinmon cursed. “The alarm!”</p>
<p>“Well, there goes subtlety.” Denri scooped up Aki’s cat form and charged towards the window. Before she made it halfway across the room, a blast of wind threw her back into the bookshelf. The wind continued to blow, holding her in place.</p>
<p>Shinmon called from below. He sounded like he was rushing up the stairs now, too. “I’m holding them, but we must deal with this quickly. On a night like this, the Arbiters will be on us in seconds to ask about that noise.”</p>
<p>Denri growled through gritted teeth. “You aren’t holding anyone.” She pulled lightning into her body and charged forward. The wind intensified, but she continued putting one foot in front of the other, lips peeled back in a grimace.</p>
<p>Shinmon cried out on the stairs below, his voice heavy with exertion. “Whoever it is, they’re strong. Hurry!”</p>
<p>Yotogi reached the top of the stairs at the same time Denri reached the window. She arced a bolt of lightning at his head, sending a large portion of the ceiling crashing down on him and the stairs. Then she threw herself into the night sky.</p>
<p>With her body supercharged, the three story fall took ages. Denri rolled to absorb the momentum. But even with increased strength, she felt a bad pop in her leg as she landed. She yelped as she placed weight on the leg.</p>
<p>Aki jumped from Denri’s shoulder and her cat form grew. Denri gritted her teeth, leaning against Aki and limping forward.</p>
<p>They made it across the bridge before they heard Shinmon and Yotogi bursting through the front door. At the same time, Denri heard the metal clamor of Arbiters fast approaching. They cut left, ducking through an alley as they fled the sounds.</p>
<p>Denri’s leg was white hot agony. She did her best to ignore it, filling her muscles with energy, but she still moved slowly. The Arbiters were getting closer.</p>
<p>They stumbled into a park, looking wildly for the next path. Denri’s heart sank. Arbiters covered both exits. They turned, but the Arbiters had caught up behind as well. At least there was no sign of Shinmon or Yotogi.</p>
<p>Denri and Aki moved to the center of the grass, their backs to one another. Denri pulled the three metal rods from her belt. On a normal day, against a single patrol, she might have been able to hold them off. But with her leg hurt, and with every Arbiter in the city looking for them…</p>
<p>“I’ll try to make an opening. Get ready to run.”</p>
<p>Denri charged all three rods, then threw one in the air. She pulsed energy through the metal in her hands, sending the airborne rod screaming forward to punch through armor with a loud <em>thwack</em>.</p>
<p>At the same time, the two rods in her hands leapt away from each other. She let one go, sending it flying into the patrol to their right. There was a pained grunt and one of the Arbiter’s fell.</p>
<p>Denri shot an arc of lightning towards the group in front of them, but a soldier at the front caught the bolt with their blade. Denri pulled her rods back to her hands, then sent them whirring out again.</p>
<p>She fought with everything she had. The pain in her body melted away as she lost herself in the fight. Metal whirred through the air and lightning cracked through the night. The Arbiters looked at her with fear, but they kept coming nonetheless. Every time she brought one down, they rose back to their feet in an instant. More patrols flooded in, drawn by the fighting.</p>
<p>Eventually, they reached her. She caught their swords, sending bursts of energy into her weapons to repel them. She threw the back of her hand into one of the Arbiter’s faceplates, collapsing it in a bloody mess.</p>
<p>Aki fought as well, lashing out with a wild fury that held the Arbiters back nearly as well as Denri’s lightning. Together they held.</p>
<p>The square filled with enemies. Reinforcements were responding faster than Denri and Aki could push them back. The Arbiter’s swords started to find their mark, scoring wounds along Denri’s arms and side, cutting into Aki’s feline shoulders.</p>
<p>Denri stumbled under a sudden blast of wind. But it wasn’t directed at her. It tore outwards, knocking the Arbiters back. The Protectors tried to close again but another blast knocked them away, clearing a path toward one of the bridges.</p>
<p>Denri saw Shinmon hiding in an alley, his face a mask of fury and exertion. She had a moment of confusion until she realized. He needed Aki alive.</p>
<p>The Arbiters were closing the gap again. No time to hesitate. “Aki, get small!” Aki shrank without question and Denri grabbed her. She pulled every ounce of lightning she could into her legs. “It’s gonna be up to you after this, kid.”</p>
<p>Denri leapt forward so hard the ground beneath her feet buckled. She felt her leg break under the strain. Then they were flying through the gap that Shinmon had made. The Arbiter’s struggled against the wind, but they weren’t going to make it in time.</p>
<p>Denri felt an unbelieving thrill. They were going to make it.</p>
<p>A bolt of lightning struck the ground directly in their path. She had just enough time to realize that it wasn’t hers before the bolt materialized into a man.</p>
<p>His features were obscured by the crackling energy around him, but Denri could make out a manic grin that split his face. Then he was catching her out of the air, the muscles along his arm flaring as he spun, absorbing their momentum and crashing them into the ground.</p>
<p>“Gotcha!”</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/lightnings-embrace/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 7 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the last chapter or start from the beginning. They darted from shadows to alleys to abandoned crates and carts, barely outpacing the Arbiter search parties that stormed the city. Every clang of the alarm bell knotted Denri’s stomach tighter. It was ringing for her. They knew who she was. Even before she blasted one of the city guards, they knew enough to be suspicious. But now there was no doubt. No way to hide.Bounty2019-06-28T00:00:00+00:002019-06-28T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/bounty<p><strong>This is part 6 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/whispers/">last chapter</a> or start from the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/opportunities/">beginning</a>.</strong></p>
<p><img src="/assets/img/Sky-Furnace.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>Dawn came early in Sky Furnace. Floating above Kazora, the active volcano that powered the city’s zeppelins, the sun rose below the citizens’ feet. Denri woke as the room brightened, sunlight pushing through the closed curtains. She yawned and stretched, feeling rested. The swaying zeppelins felt like sleeping on a ship.</p>
<p>She threw open the curtains, flooding the room with red-tinted light from the rising sun and the roiling pool of lava below. Aki groaned and pulled the covers over her head, turning toward the wall. Shiri blinked at her feet.</p>
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<p>“Come on, sleepy.”</p>
<p>Aki mumbled something unintelligible.</p>
<p>“You’re waking later every day. Now that you’ve got the body of a teenager you’re trying to sleep like one too?”</p>
<p>The mound of covers gave no response.</p>
<p>Denri rubbed her hands together and grinned. She put a finger over her lips, shushing Shiri. She tiptoed toward Aki, her fingers sparkling with energy. She pounced.</p>
<p>“Aki! They found us! Arghhh–.” Denri faked a pained cry as she landed on the bed, wrestling the bundle of blankets. Aki’s body stiffened as she came awake, scrambling to free herself from the blankets. Limbs flailed. “Erggg. They got me!”</p>
<p>“Denri!” The blankets deflated and an identical copy of Shiri squirmed free at the foot of the bed, hissing as it turned around the room.</p>
<p>Denri fell into the blankets laughing. “Look at you, hair on end! Going to fight them off as a house cat, are you?”</p>
<p>Cat Aki sat on her haunches, confusion turning to wounded pride. She leapt to the bed and her form grew as she traveled through the air. By the time she landed at Denri’s feet, she had reached the size of a leopard. She placed a large-clawed hand on Denri’s chest, staring intently.</p>
<p><strong>No, I would fight them off like this.</strong> Aki sniffed. Then licked Denri’s face with a rough tongue.</p>
<p>“Bleh! Ow! Are you trying to sand my face off?”</p>
<p>Aki’s fur rippled as she shrank back to her human form. “That’s what you get for waking me up early.” She stuck out her tongue.</p>
<p>“That’s a new trick.” Denri squinted at the young girl, trying to decide if she looked older.</p>
<p>“You’re not the only one getting stronger!” Aki tossed her pillow at Denri and flashed a familiar grin. Denri had seen it in the mirror a thousand times. She knew Aki was going to tickle her before the young girl even twitched a finger. They rolled off the bed in a mess of limbs and blankets, both laughing uncontrollably.</p>
<p>A sharp knock at the door brought them to a halt. Eizo stepped in, already clean and dressed. His hands were clasped behind him and his back was alarmingly straight. “Good, you two are awake. Let’s go, shall we?”</p>
<p>“Just waiting on the lazy one.” Denri rubbed her fist on the top of Aki’s head, mussing her hair. At the edge of her vision, she saw the ghost of a smile on Eizo’s lips.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Denri scratched at the edge of her mask as they walked through the great dragon statue that held the entrance to the Dragon’s Den. The smell of sulfur filled her nose. On the platform in front of them, the Hub Spring shimmered beneath its dome of water.</p>
<p>Eizo consulted a crude map, drawn the Arbiter that gave them directions the day before. “Unfortunately, these shops are spread far across town. But there’s a few clustered together near the–,” he squinted at the cramped writing on the parchment, “–Anchor, I think? And a couple more along the way. Let’s head there first.”</p>
<p>Soon after they left, Denri understood the warnings about navigating the city. The rigid control of residents apparently did not extend to designs for the zeppelins. They crossed from platforms no larger than a cart, topped by precariously tall towers, to wide open boulevards with enough buildings to make a city block. They saw blacksmiths, carpenters, and crafts Denri couldn’t even imagine a name for. Even this early, most buildings hissed with steam.</p>
<p>They were climbing a ladder between two zeppelins docked at an angle when Aki stopped and looked at the platform below.</p>
<p>Denri put a hand on her butt and gave a shove. “Hey, quit gawking. This ladder might give at any second. <em>I</em> can shift back to the platform, but I don’t want to tell Shiri you fell into the volcano and burnt to a crisp, kid.”</p>
<p>“People are excited about something.”</p>
<p>Denri looked over her shoulder at the few residents moving across the platform. They were moving normally enough. “How can you tell? It looks like everybody’s ignoring each other. Same as yesterday.”</p>
<p>Aki shrugged. “I just can. They feel tense.”</p>
<p>“I guess that last shopkeeper was a bit antsy.”</p>
<p>They had stopped at a couple shops already, without success. The first sold devices for tracking monsters, but the designs were nothing like what Denri saw the Blades carrying.</p>
<p>The second was run by a woman still in the midst of opening her shop, a process which consisted of turning several cranks as the building opened like a mechanical flower. She sold intricate wilderness survival devices. But nothing to do with monsters or magic.</p>
<p>The woman’s voice had been matter-of-fact, but she was shifting foot to foot, an excited light in the eyes behind her mask.</p>
<p>Eizo’s head appeared over the edge of the platform above, bringing Denri back to the present. “Whatever it is, it’s not what we’re here for. Stay focused.” But he placed a hand on his sword and scanned the people around them.</p>
<p>The sun was high in the hazy sky by the time they reached Anchor. They had to double back once when they realized a zeppelins on their path had left the evening before, and they had to wait half an hour for a shop to open so they could climb to its roof and take a ladder to the building above as the city became increasingly three dimensional.</p>
<p>From the few locals who agreed to offer directions, they gathered that Anchor was the stable core of Sky Furnace. Most of the zeppelins in this area hadn’t undocked in decades, with many platforms growing semi-permanent attachments to one another. Any shop that wanted to avoid frequent shuffling of locations docked here. As a result, Anchor was a claustrophobic, chaotic jumble of zeppelins sprawling above and below.</p>
<p>Above Anchor, floating detached from the rest of the buildings was a cluster of zeppelins spanned by a single massive platform. It held a sprawling castle complex. A thick metal cable stretched from the castle to the summit of Kazora.</p>
<p>Denri and Aki both walked with their jaws hanging open, staring at the buildings above. The zeppelins were so thick in some places that they couldn’t even see the sky. Eizo guided them by the elbow toward the next shop on their list.</p>
<p>It was a squat building on Anchor’s ground level. The interior was cramped and littered with half finished projects. The only thing keeping the area from feeling like a cave was a large skylight filling the room with light and giving a view of Anchor above. They were alone when they entered.</p>
<p>A loud clatter sounded through a door at the back. It sounded like a thousand metal bits falling from a height. “Idiot! They’re everywhere!”</p>
<p>There was a heavily muffled reply.</p>
<p>“I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Take that wrench out of your mouth. How many times have I told you to <em>set things down</em>. Stop trying to carry a hundred things at once!”</p>
<p>A pause, followed by a deliberate, feminine voice. “This shop is half mine, no matter how much mother favored you. I will carry <em>my</em> tools how <em>I</em> see fit.”</p>
<p>“Well, <em>your</em> ball bearings are everywhere now, and I don’t have time to clean them up. You saw the news this morning, the Arbiters will be wanting as many of these as they can buy.”</p>
<p>Eizo rang a bell sitting near the entrance and the voice in the other room cut off. There was a scurrying of feet and the far door opened. A lanky man backed through the opening, securing a mask to his face.</p>
<p>“May I help you?” His deadpan welcome, the same as every other resident they had spoken to in Sky Furnace, could not have been further from the querulous tone a moment earlier. Denri thought the sharp distinction between public and private life in Sky Furnace would drive her crazy.</p>
<p>The man held a half finished device in his hands that looked vaguely like a compass.</p>
<p>“I hope so. We’ve walked quite a distance looking for someone who sells tracking equipment for resonant bonds.”</p>
<p>As the man approached their group, the needle on his device jumped. He frowned and hit the device with the butt of his hand, but the needle stayed in place. He muttered something to himself before he responded. “You may be in the right place, then. I make sensors for the five elemental resonances. I’m in the process of recalibrating most of my stock, though, so my selection is small. And you may have to wait for me to finish fixing some of the errors.” He gestured at the device in his hands.</p>
<p>“Ah, unfortunately we are looking for something slightly different. We won’t trouble you any further.” Eizo and Denri turned to leave, but Aki was standing further in the shop, staring through the skylight. She wasn’t paying attention to their conversation.</p>
<p>“What’s that building up there?”</p>
<p>The shopkeeper followed her gaze. “Is this your first time to Sky Furnace? That’s Castle Six, where the Twins live.”</p>
<p>“Six?”</p>
<p>The man shrugged. “Officially it’s called Embermount, but it’s burned down so many times everybody just refers to it by the number of rebuilds. Even the Twins call it Castle Six.”</p>
<p>“It’s burned down six times?”</p>
<p>“Well, five times. This is the sixth castle. But more or less. The Twins are always experimenting with dangerous things.” There was a hint of pride in his voice. “There hasn’t been an accident since they got the Dragon’s Roar working properly, though.” He pointed to the heavy metal cable dropping from Castle Six to the volcano below. “They rebuilt the whole thing out of metal after that one. Makes sense when you’ve got a dragon breathing fire directly into the building.”</p>
<p>Aki looked down at the man. “Why does Tetsujin breathe fire into the cable?”</p>
<p>“His fire provides most of the energy for the Twins’ experiments.”</p>
<p>“They use him like a forge?”</p>
<p>Denri knew what the hard eyes behind Aki’s mask meant all too well. “Very interesting! Well, like my friend said, we’ll leave you to your work now.” She hurried toward Aki, placing a hand on the girl’s waist and wheeling her toward the door before she could continue.</p>
<p>As Denri passed in front of the man, the device in his hand gave a shrill series of clicks and the needle on its face shot all the way to the right. Denri ducked as a gear shot out the back of the device.</p>
<p>“My apologies.” The man’s face reddened around the eyes of his mask as he rushed to pick up the flying part, but he kept his voice calm and dispassionate. “This machine requires further recalibration. I should return to my work now before I injure a customer.” He paused, looking from the device, its dial still maxed out, back to Denri. “I am sorry that I could not be more help. I hope you have not been searching for too long. How long did you say you had been in Sky Furnace?”</p>
<p>“Just a while.” Eizo placed a hand on the girls’ shoulders and shooed them through the door quickly. “Sorry again to be a bother.” As the door closed, Denri saw the man walking back to his workshop, muttering as he shook the device.</p>
<p>Once the shop was out of sight, Denri turned to Eizo. “That was weird. Why did he ask how long we had been here? Could he be working for Sadashi?”</p>
<p>Eizo shook his head. “I do not think so. I didn’t see any technology used by the Blades in that shop. More likely, he was confused when you maxed out the power sensor on that tracker in his hands. Hopefully he will think it was simply a malfunction. Still, we should be careful. Another incident like that could draw unwanted attention.”</p>
<p>There was a pause as Denri processed his words. “You’re saying I maxed out his power sensors?” A smile spread across her face.</p>
<p>“Yes, but that’s hardly–.”</p>
<p>“You hear that Aki? <em>Maxed out</em>.”</p>
<p>Aki made a show of ooh’s and ahh’s as Eizo shook his head and they started to climb to the next shop.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>They entered the Scale and Talon through a hatch in the floor. Sweat beaded Denri’s lower back as she stepped off the ladder that climbed through the heated innards of the zeppelin. She looked around as the other two pulled themselves up. A double door at the far side of the room opened onto a wide, cobbled street lined with shops and a good number of Arbiters on patrol.</p>
<p>While the other shops they visited had been workshops and scrapyards as much as stores, the Scale and Talon was immaculate. Golden dragon filigrees swirled around the ceiling. Mechanical devices stood atop ornate columns, resting on delicate silk pillows of various colors. A short, portly man wearing lavish white robes slashed with gold was moving between the handful of customers.</p>
<p>The three of them separated to explore.</p>
<p>Denri spent several minutes wandering between the columns. She saw swords, arrows, and a length chain with intricate links and angry barbs. She also saw talons, scales, and vials of blood. There were also more complex devices whose purpose she didn’t understand. Except for one.</p>
<p>Sitting atop a deep green cushion was a metal dial with a small length of chain hanging from it’s center. A wristband, the same emerald color as the cushion, gleamed in the light. It looked a twin to the device Denri had seen on the wrist of the Blade she fought.</p>
<p>Heart suddenly thumping, Denri walked to the pedestal, peering closely to confirm her suspicion. As casually as she could, she waved for Aki’s attention and motioned her over.</p>
<p>“What? Did you find something?”</p>
<p>Denri lifted the device from its cushion, watching the chain at its center.</p>
<p>Aki looked at the monster parts and vials of blood uneasily as she approached. She lowered her voice so only Denri could hear. “I don’t like this place. I want to leave.” The chain remained pointing resolutely downward. Now that the device was in her hands, Denri realized it hung with more than just the weight of gravity. The chain pulled actively toward the floor.</p>
<p>“Excuse me, please be careful with that.” The well-dressed man was approaching quickly from the other side of the room. His voice remained quiet, but the tension in his shoulders suggested it was a struggle. “That is very expensive and difficult to have repaired.”</p>
<p>“Thank you.” He snatched the device from Denri’s hand, only slightly faster than what was polite. “Now, may I help you?”</p>
<p>Denri was glad the mask hid her face as her nose wrinkled at the man’s heavy perfume. “What’s so special about that thing?”</p>
<p>The man held the device proudly in his hands. “You have a good eye, young lady, even if you don’t realize it. This is a wayfinder.”</p>
<p>“Like a compass? Or a tracker?”</p>
<p>“This is no ordinary tracker. It can point to your quarry up to 50 miles away. But it has more than an extended range.” He flipped the wayfinder on its side to display a small gear embedded there. His hands moved with the practiced grace of a showman. “Sometimes pointing to the horizon is not so useful. Turning this dial increases the sensitivity so that the wayfinder can detect even <em>traces</em> of your target. Allowing you to follow the exact trail it took.”</p>
<p>“Can it track anything you want?”</p>
<p>The man nodded. “Yes, if you have a sample and the coin to pay for the recasting. If you have enough gold, you can even have it adjusted to track a specific creature.”</p>
<p>There was no doubt, this was what the Blades were using to track Aki. “What’s this one pointing to?”</p>
<p>The man chuckled humorlessly, as though Denri had told a bad joke. After a pause he realized her question was serious. “Why, dragons of course.” He gestured around the room as though in explanation.</p>
<p>“How hard is it for you to recast it?”</p>
<p>“Forgive me, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. I did not make this device. I commissioned it’s production from a man named Shinmon. My shop specializes in hunting dragons and the creation of technologies from their byproducts.”</p>
<p>It was all Denri could do not to grind her teeth. Still more searching. “Where does Shin–?”</p>
<p>“Everything here is for killing dragons?” Aki’s voice was tight as she looked around the room.</p>
<p>“Well no, not everything. Some of my clients pay for their equipment by sharing some of the spoils, which I sell to those interested in researching and harnessing their properties. I even have a few samples from Tetsujin himself, though those are quite expensive.”</p>
<p>“What is that made out of?” Aki pointed to the band on the wayfinder with narrowed eyes. Her finger trembled.</p>
<p>Aki was going to make a scene. Denri looked around for Eizo. He was across the room, searching through the goods there. He hadn’t noticed Denri and Aki’s conversation with the shopkeeper yet.</p>
<p>“Ah, again the two of you show a fine eye for quality. This is some of the finest emerald dragon hide money can buy. Taken from the belly for extra pliability. I assume that you wish to purchase? It’s an expensive piece, but there is always the possibility of a discount if there’s more you wish to purchase alongside it.”</p>
<p>Even Denri was angered by the man’s callous indifference to the creatures killed for his products. She realized her hands had balled themselves into fists. Why was she this mad?</p>
<p>She turned to Aki, sensing the girl’s intent. Denri didn’t try to stop her as Aki’s hand whipped forward, grabbing the wayfinder. She held the device over her head, raising on her tiptoes. Then she smashed it against the ground.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>A shocked silence filled the room as the pieces of the wayfinder scattered to a halt across the floor. Every head turned toward them, including Eizo’s. A hand went to the hilt of his blade reflexively as he hurried toward them.</p>
<p>“WHAT HAVE YOU–.” The man quieted himself with visible effort, knuckling a fist against the forehead of his mask. “Why did you do this?” His voice was ragged and pinched and a flush showed around his eyes.</p>
<p>“It’s awful. People would have used it to kill. This whole <em>shop</em> is awful.”</p>
<p>“They are only dragons, girl.” The man paused and took a deep breath as his eyes darted to the open double doors. “If you do not like my wares, you did not have to enter my shop. Now, that device was incredibly expensive, you <em>will</em> pay for it.”</p>
<p>The situation was going to get worse when the shopkeeper realized they had no money. Denri’s eyes darted back to Eizo as he wove through the labyrinth of columns.</p>
<p>She was gauging the distance, wondering how long she had to stall before they could all run, when Eizo pulled up short. He frowned, then pretended to bury his attention in a dagger resting on a column beside him. Many of the other customers did the same.</p>
<p>A steady chorus of marching armor drew Denri’s attention toward the double doors at the front of the Scale and Talon. Three gold armored Arbiters ducked through the entryway, making directly for Aki and the shopkeeper.</p>
<p>A square-jawed woman with a broad nose and a scar under her left eye looked out from a dragon helm. “We heard a disturbance from the street. What’s going on here?”</p>
<p>The shopkeeper’s anger melted away as he nodded deferentially to the Arbiters. “I am confused as well, Protector. These two just destroyed a valuable piece of equipment, seemingly unprovoked.”</p>
<p>“People were going to use it to hurt dragons!”</p>
<p>The Arbiter turned toward Aki with a look of quiet surprise. It was unclear if the surprise was due to someone yelling in her presence, or because Aki spoke like hurting monsters was taboo.</p>
<p>“If you do not deny this man’s claim, then you will pay for the damages. And I will remind you that public disruptions are illegal. This is not the day to test the patience of the Arbiters.”</p>
<p>The shopkeeper cut in, voice tight. “Protector, I do not mean to question your judgment, but this girl has deliberately destroyed my property. Certainly the consequences should be larger than simply paying the cost of the item?”</p>
<p>“Certainly? Do not presume to pass the judgment of the Arbiters.” The shopkeeper shrank back under the woman’s glare. “We have more important matters to attend than a surly–.”</p>
<p>“<em>He</em> should be in trouble! Tetsujin helps the town. You all should be grateful to him, not selling things to kill his family!”</p>
<p>The shopkeeper’s eyes widened and several customers darted nervous glances toward Aki. Even the Arbiter looked completely taken aback, though she recovered quickly. “I would have let this slide, even if your actions would earn a sterner punishment on any other day. We have been ordered to secure the city, and I do not want to waste our time punishing a surly child. But to show insolence to an Arbiter is a step too far. Even for today.”</p>
<p>Denri took a protective step in front of Aki, holding her hands up in a placating gesture. “Please, we didn’t mean to insult. We’re new to Sky Furnace and still getting used to the rules. My friend admires Tetsujin and the Twins, that’s all.”</p>
<p>“Hold your tongue or you will share your friend’s punishment.” The woman turned to Denri as she spoke, then paused as she processed the pair for the first time. “You say you are new to Sky Furnace?”</p>
<p>Denri looked to the ground, trying to seem as contrite as possible. “Yes ma’am. We entered the town yesterday and it seems we still have much to learn.” She let her shoulders hunch, hoping the woman would see her as a child.</p>
<p>When the woman replied, her voice was probing. “Every Arbiter in Sky Furnace was put on alert this morning. An urgent message came from Terminus. An unranked Hero has earned a starting bounty of 60,000 gold pieces.” Denri’s palms began to sweat as she listened. Many of the customers were staring openly at their group, now. A few nodded, as though they had heard the news before.</p>
<p>The Arbiter pushed on, her voice dangerous. The two Arbiters behind her held their sword hilts, tensed to draw at a moment’s notice. “The Hero is a flit woman. It seems she defeated five Blades singlehandedly. Soon after, she challenged Kiyoshi of the Whispers, and won.” There was an audible gasp from one of the customers. “The woman was last seen leaving by boat from Kiyoshi’s domain six days ago. Just in time to arrive in Sky Furnace… yesterday, did you say?”</p>
<p>“I– that is quite the development.” Denri’s throat was dry, her heart beating in her ears. She forced herself not to swallow, to keep her hands steady. Aki took a step closer, startled out of her anger. “I can see why you would be suspicious of our arrival. But I promise it’s nothing more than a coincidence.”</p>
<p>“And not an hour before, we receive word from our fellow Arbiters. A shopkeep in Lower Anchor reports that a flit woman maxed out his resonant scale. Traveling with another young woman and an older man. Where is your other companion?”</p>
<p>A man at the back of the shop screamed as a loud crash shook the floor and glass shattered. The source of the scream sprawled over a toppled pillar. Ahead of him, a rack of vials had fallen to the floor and shattered, throwing dragon’s blood across the floor. There was a hiss as the blood steamed, then ignited.</p>
<p>Eizo was moving along the wall. He strode purposefully toward the exit.</p>
<p>Denri didn’t hesitate. She sprang forward, placed a palm against the Arbiter’s chest, and sent a stunning shock through the armor. The woman’s body froze, her head half turned toward the new disturbance. Her jaw clamped shut as her muscles spasmed.</p>
<p>Denri didn’t wait to see how the others reacted. She turned and wrapped her arms around Aki. Then she pulled lightning into her legs and ran.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Denri ducked into an alley with Aki, her chest heaving as alarm bells rang behind them. She nearly knocked Eizo unconscious as he came running around the corner.</p>
<p>“Don’t do that!” Denri shook her hand, dissipating the energy she had called into her arm.</p>
<p>“We don’t have much time. We need to make it to the Tether and get out of Sky Furnace.” Eizo continued past, forcing them to follow as he wove deeper into the mire of shops and buildings.</p>
<p>“But we haven’t learned anything about Aki’s powers yet. I got a lead talking to that shopkeeper before everything went crazy. Someone named Shinmon.”</p>
<p>“It’s too late for that now. We’ll have to find another way to find out what’s going on. It’s not worth the risk of staying here. Not with the city on alert like this.”</p>
<p>Denri opened her mouth to protest, but closed it rapidly as Eizo pressed them all against a wall. A group of Arbiters ran past on the street ahead.</p>
<p>Aki spoke in a whisper as they waited. “What about Shiri and Onara? They’re back at the inn with our things.”</p>
<p>“Can you call them?”</p>
<p>Aki shook her head. “Not unless we get closer. And the door is closed, I don’t think they could get out.”</p>
<p>“We can’t go back to the inn. Who knows what Anko has told the Arbiters.”</p>
<p>Denri grabbed Eizo’s forearm. “We are <em>not</em> leaving them Eizo. We’re going back.”</p>
<p>Eizo hesitated and Denri tightened her grip, her knuckles going white. He nodded and they started forward again. They kept to the shadows, darting across streets only when they had to.</p>
<p>“I don’t understand. Kiyoshi said she was going to wait as long she could to report Denri’s challenge. Was she lying to us?” Aki gasped. “Do you think Hattori is OK?”</p>
<p>Eizo replied in barely a whisper as they crouched behind a low wall, waiting for a group of residents to finish crossing the bridge to the next platform. “I do not think she has betrayed us. You have not sensed trouble through your bond with Hattori.”</p>
<p>Denri nodded. “There was that business with the Blades, too. Kiyoshi didn’t know about that.”</p>
<p>“My guess is that Sadashi reported you, at which point Kiyoshi was forced to report her challenge as well.”</p>
<p>“But why? It wasn’t even true!”</p>
<p>They were silent as they lept from their hiding place, running along the bridge in a low crouch. Eizo didn’t reply until they slid down a ladder and were weaving through a series of back alleys.</p>
<p>“He lied to get your starting bounty higher. He’s trying to isolate us.”</p>
<p>“I thought we wanted high bounties, though.”</p>
<p>“Not that high!” Eizo nearly hissed. “Shifting crown, Denri! 60,000 gold pieces! You’re bounty is closer to the Sanyaku than a warrior sleeps to their sword. We needed time to forge alliances before the leaders saw you as a threat, to learn about Aki so we knew who to position ourselves against. But no one can ignore you now. No one will want to come near us.</p>
<p>“You heard how much the Arbiters know about you. That report will be sent to every domain in Yosai. You’ll be recognized everywhere, now.”</p>
<p>Denri had never heard Eizo lose his composure like this. He sounded desperate, out of ideas.</p>
<p>They ran through the city in silence. Hunted once again.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/secrets-revealed/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 6 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the last chapter or start from the beginning. Dawn came early in Sky Furnace. Floating above Kazora, the active volcano that powered the city’s zeppelins, the sun rose below the citizens’ feet. Denri woke as the room brightened, sunlight pushing through the closed curtains. She yawned and stretched, feeling rested. The swaying zeppelins felt like sleeping on a ship. She threw open the curtains, flooding the room with red-tinted light from the rising sun and the roiling pool of lava below. Aki groaned and pulled the covers over her head, turning toward the wall. Shiri blinked at her feet.Dragon’s Den2019-06-21T00:00:00+00:002019-06-21T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/dragons-den<p><strong>This is part 5 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/whispers/">last chapter</a> or start from the <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/opportunities/">beginning</a>.</strong></p>
<p><img src="/assets/img/Sky-Furnace.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>The port beneath Sky Furnace was chaos. Crews ran around barking orders so loud Denri could barely hear her own thoughts. If the docks hadn’t been dominated by flits, she probably would have been trampled.</p>
<p>It was wonderful.</p>
<p>Captain Hama docked on the right side of Kazora’s crescent bay, leaving them to walk a ways to the central cable connecting to Sky Furnace. Denri was in front as they walked, swaggering with the unsteady, bow-legged gait of a long time sailor back on land. She grinned, berating the younger ship hands as they darted across decks and into holds. Just like her mom always used to.</p>
<p>It was a fun part to play.</p>
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<p>Aki and Eizo plodded along behind her. Eizo scanned the crowd with his hand on his sword. Aki stared at Denri with admiration.</p>
<p>They haggled a set of masks from a kid sitting near a battered hot-iron covered in a patchwork of repairs. Aki was disappointed the only option was a dragon with a blank expression. But at least there was some selection of colors.</p>
<p>Masks acquired, they pushed through the throngs to the massive tether at the back of port, the only way up to the city. A glass sphere the size of several carts lumbered up and down its length. They waited in line until they were shoved unceremoniously into the transport when it was their turn.</p>
<p>Denri squirmed through the passengers and pressed her face against the glass for one last look below. She smiled at the frenetic energy. The voyage had been short, but Denri made a resolution to herself. Somehow, before this was all over, she was going to get a boat.</p>
<p>A flurry of activity caught her eye while she was fantasizing about a life at sea. On the the far left side of the crescent bay, a ship was being unloaded with panicked intensity, the crew tugging at three crates, each taller than a man. The crew stumbled over one another in their haste.</p>
<p>They were dragging the cargo toward an open flat of rock at the edge of the docks. Judging by the number of people and the effort required, the wooden containers were unimaginably heavy. The captain stood at the bow of the ship, calling down orders and thrusting a finger towards the top of the volcano.</p>
<p>The glass sphere began to rumble as it climbed the tether. It was weak at first, but soon there was a steady vibration shaking the glass in its frame. The docks collectively paused and looked up. Several crews ran to help the sailors struggling with the crates.</p>
<p>“Uh… guys…?”</p>
<p>A plume of lava erupted from the top of Kazora. A serpentine form, 50 feet long at least, emerged from the spray. Black scales glistened in the soft red glow as the iron dragon uncoiled from the pools of lava and swam into the sky, heavy rivulets of molten stone dripping from its back and claws.</p>
<p>Denri felt her stomach grow cold as the creature snaked down to the docks. The whiskers on either side of its face snapped back and forth as it tasted the air. Denri pressed back against the people behind her. For some reason they were chattering excitedly, craning forward to see.</p>
<p>“I didn’t know there was a Gifting today. I’ve never seen Tetsujin emerge before!”</p>
<p>“Isn’t he splendid? They say he answers to no one but the Twins.”</p>
<p>The crew below had wrestled their crates onto the stone clearing, though they were still a ways from the center. As Tetsujin approached, the men and women dropped their leads and fled back to the ship.</p>
<p>Tetsujin coiled around the crates like a mother protecting her children. His head reared up and a gout of silver flame erupted from his mouth. The wood caught instantly, burning away before Denri could blink.</p>
<p>Inside was filled with iron ingots. They glowed dull red, then orange, then white, then melted. Liquid iron spilled over Tetsujin’s body, dripping from his maw. A laugh like crackling flame washed up from the dragon as he plunged his body into the molten ore.</p>
<p>When he emerged, Tetsujin was gleaming. The iron had fused with his scales, turning him a pure silver. Yet his body still moved with the smooth undulations of a snake. He made one final circle above the docks before he returned to the mouth of the volcano. Denri’s body shook as she watched the dragon’s talons, now shining metal blades, disappear beneath the lava’s surface.</p>
<p>She pressed back through the crowd until she found Eizo and Aki. “Th-that thing lives here?”</p>
<p>Aki still stared at the place where the dragon disappeared, her eyes alight. “He was beautiful!”</p>
<p>“Beautiful! That thing is a monster! It’s not safe here.”</p>
<p>A woman in a dragon mask - Denri understood the imagery now - looked down and spoke in a soothing tone. “Do not worry, child. Tetsujin has lived in Kazora for over 300 years without issue. He serves the Twins without question. The heat he generates is what keeps the city aloft.”</p>
<p>Eizo’s hand rested on Denri’s shoulder. “Remember, focus on what it <em>is</em>, not the fearful image your mind has made it to be.”</p>
<p>She nodded, stomach turning. Not a dragon. Just a lump of scaly flesh. A <em>big</em> lump of scaly, muscly flesh. She took a deep breath. He served the Twins, so he wasn’t all powerful. His teeth and talons were bone. The metal coating his body was no more deadly than Eizo’s sword.</p>
<p>Denri swallowed hard and looked towards Sky Furnace as they climbed toward it. Her breathing slowed, though her chest remained tight and her cheeks hot. Tetsujin was a creature like any other. If there was a bear in the woods, she would tread carefully. But there was no reason to fear if she left it alone. This was no different.</p>
<p>“Why does Tetsujin serve the Twins?” Aki’s face was obscured behind her mask, but her voice sounded tense.</p>
<p>The woman who spoke earlier turned to Aki. “Before the Twins were Champions, they challenged Tetsujin at the summit of the volcano and defeated him. They built their forges with the heat of his lair. When they won the Tournament, this became their domain. And as a gift for their allegiance, Amaterasu bound Tetsujin to serve them.”</p>
<p>“So it was Tetsujin’s home first and the Twins took it?”</p>
<p>“That’s right. The Twins are very strong.” The woman answered cheerfully, unaware of the accusation in Aki’s voice.</p>
<p>“That’s not–.”</p>
<p>Eizo placed a hand on Aki’s shoulder, the scars along his wrist going white as he gave her a firm squeeze. “My daughter is very curious. Thank you for the story.”</p>
<p>The woman bobbed her head and turned back to the front. Aki fumed quietly.</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<p>Denri stepped out of the lift and breathed deeply, trying to calm her nerves from earlier. She coughed. This high up, a steady breeze cut across Sky Furnace, but it could not completely rid the city of the sulfurous haze from the volcano.</p>
<p>It felt strange to call Sky Furnace a city. The ground rocked and swayed like a ship at anchor. And the buildings built atop the floating platforms looked more like contraptions than shops and homes. The building to Denri’s right was ticking loudly as it rotated on a giant gear mechanism. Three streets off, an entire block detached in a hiss of steam and began to float away.</p>
<p>They stepped down from the lift and walked around the ticking house to a bridge that crossed to a park. A large metal tree stood at the park’s center, with branches that moved in mechanical jerks approximating limbs swaying in the breeze. A fence surrounded the tree, keeping passersby from the large vents of steam that periodically shot from the joints.</p>
<p>Eizo caught the attention of a local crossing their path.</p>
<p>“Hello.” The woman’s response was deadpan, even compared to Eizo.</p>
<p>“We’re new to the town and looking for a fairly specialized piece of equipment. Could I trouble you for some directions?”</p>
<p>“No. I do not track the movements of the zeppelins. I am unlikely to know the current configuration well enough to guide you.”</p>
<p>“Perhaps just the names of some people to seek out, then?”</p>
<p>The woman shook her head a fraction of an inch. “I cannot say for certain who is still docked.”</p>
<p>Denri threw up her hands in frustration. “Sheesh, try to be a little less helpful, why don’t you?”</p>
<p>The woman’s eye’s widened briefly behind her mask before they returned to normal. “I speak the facts as they are known to me. Speculation is prohibited in Sky Furnace.”</p>
<p>“Is there some sort of problem here?” Metallic footsteps approached from behind. Denri turned to see a tall man in golden armor wearing a roaring dragon mask. There were several others like him patrolling the platforms.</p>
<p>“No, of course not.” The woman glowered at Denri but quickly let the expression drop. “I was telling these individuals that I did not have enough information to offer them directions.”</p>
<p>“I see.” He nodded to the woman. “Thank you, you may leave.”</p>
<p>The woman bowed as she backed away, then turned stiffly and stalked off.</p>
<p>“The Arbiters are briefed on the general layout of Sky Furnace each morning. I will be able to direct you. What are you looking for?”</p>
<p>Denri looked to Eizo. She got the sense he should do the talking while they were here.</p>
<p>“We were hoping to purchase some tracking equipment that we saw a group of heroes using. We do not know who produced the equipment, but we know it was made here.”</p>
<p>“There are several zeppelins currently docked that specialize in one form of tracking or another. They are scattered, though.”</p>
<p>“The heroes hailed from Sadashi’s domain, so they likely purchased the equipment there. Perhaps you could narrow the list to shops that do business with Jidoka?”</p>
<p>“That won’t be possible.” Denri sighed and rolled her eyes, earning a sharp look from the Arbiter before he continued. “Zeppelins are not allowed to display their affiliations, and you are likewise forbidden from asking. Neutrality is required within Sky Furnace.”</p>
<p>“Ah, I suppose that makes sense. A broader list is fine then. We don’t mind walking. And a recommendation for a good place to stay while we’re searching.”</p>
<p>The guard made them a list of names and gave the general locations of each. “The Dragon’s Den is one platform away from the Hub Spring. It will be easiest if you stay there, navigating to and from the center for each shop. Outsiders are not advised to navigate the rim platforms.”</p>
<p>Eizo nodded and thanked the man. They turned to make their way.</p>
<p>“Also. In the future please direct questions and complaints to the Arbiters. We do not encourage negotiations between citizens directly, and public disturbances are strictly prohibited.” He looked at Denri pointedly.</p>
<p><br /></p>
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<p><br />
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<p>They followed the Arbiter’s directions to the Dragon’s Den and found themselves on a grass-covered platform crisscrossed with smooth steel walkways. A large statue, standing two times Eizo’s height at the center of the platform, depicted a dragon coiled around a mound of treasure. Its claws gripped an ornate chest protectively. A few benches looked over the edges of the platform.</p>
<p>“Perhaps we made a wrong turn?”</p>
<p>“I don’t think so. He said it was next to the Hub Spring.” Denri gestured to the adjacent zeppelin, dominated by a circular fountain. The spring shot a wide plume of water up and over the edges of the platform, shrouding pedestrians behind wavering sheets of water. “If that’s not the Hub Spring then I officially give up on understanding this place.”</p>
<p>They milled about the platform, meandering down the steel pathways as they watched for another outsider who might know something they didn’t. Eventually they came to rest in one of the benches at the edge of the zeppelin, chatting as they waited.</p>
<p>Eizo sat stiff-backed, though Denri wasn’t sure if the tension was from spending time idly or from Onara. Immediately after sitting, the black cat dropped from her position atop Eizo’s pack, stretched luxuriously, and slinked into his lap. He grimaced.</p>
<p>“OK, I have to know what the deal is with you and cats. Onara loves you, but you act like the 9-tails himself is curled on your legs. What gives?”</p>
<p>“I have said before, I do not like cats.”</p>
<p>Denri rolled her eyes, stretching out and placing her feet on the back of the bench near Eizo’s shoulders. “Yeah, I’ve gathered as much. But why?” Denri flapped an arm at Aki. “Do you know anything?”</p>
<p>The young girl was lying on her back in front of the bench, near the edge of the platform. Her eyes were closed behind the mask and she didn’t respond. Denri pointed a finger at the girl’s toes and arced a small charge. Aki jumped.</p>
<p>“Hmm?” She opened her eyes and Shiri shook his head a few feet away before continuing his explorations. “Sorry, I was practicing. What was the question?”</p>
<p>“Do you know why Eizo hates cats so much?”</p>
<p>Aki shrugged. “I think it’s because they’re soft and cuddly and he’s sharp and pointy.”</p>
<p>Denri stroked the chin of her mask in deliberation. “That’s not a bad theory. He’s protecting his image. When Onara sits in his lap it’s like wrapping the hilt of a sword in big fluffy furs. Ridiculous.”</p>
<p>Aki snorted, then clamped a hand across the mouth or her mask when she saw Eizo bristle. She couldn’t stop the giggles completely, though.</p>
<p>“Appearances are of little concern to me.” His voice was laced with wounded dignity.</p>
<p>“Oh yeah, sure.” Denri shoved Eizo’s shoulder with a foot. “Why don’t you tell us the real reason then? Otherwise I’ll just start calling you Furblade.”</p>
<p>“That does not even–.” Eizo sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Very well. If you insist on prying, my first assignment with the Blades was at an outpost on the Cross near Ninigi’s Citadel. The mountains were filled with nekomata and I lost many friends to the demon cats.”</p>
<p>Denri had never really thought of Eizo having friends before. She couldn’t imagine him sitting around the fire, joking with the other recruits. In her mind, he had been hard his whole life. “Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”</p>
<p>Eizo shook his head. “It is fine. Perhaps it is best I overcome these mental barriers.” He looked down at Onara and gave her a more earnest pat. She looked up at him and yawned, then rolled onto her back. He scratched her stomach, very warily, a few times before continuing.</p>
<p>“They aren’t bad memories. Not really. Some are sad, but they come from a time when it felt like the violence, the deaths, did something good. I was more content in that outpost, even on the worst days, than I ever was in command.”</p>
<p>Command? Eizo’s tone did not invite further questions, but Denri was dying with curiosity. She was weighing the risks of probing deeper when Aki changed the subject.</p>
<p>“What’s the Cross?”</p>
<p>“The Imperial Crossroads. You have seen them at least once. It is the constructed pathway that you were being transported on when I tried to free you and Danzo captured us both.”</p>
<p>“Oh yeah, I remember! Why did you have to guard the Cross? It’s just a path through the woods.”</p>
<p>“The Cross is far more than just a path in the woods. Most domains are completely disconnected from one another. A merchant or a family may occasionally hire a group of heroes to escort them through the wilderness, but for the most part every domain is self sufficient. Even in larger domains with a few towns, trade between communities can be dangerous.</p>
<p>“Ninigi built the Imperial Crossroads to connect the domains pledged to him. And the Blades guard them so anyone can travel, not just powerful heroes. The Cross is one of a kind.”</p>
<p>“But everybody you know is in your home town. So are all the farms and shops. Why bother walking all the way to another place?”</p>
<p>“People are more spread out in Ninigi’s domain, thanks to the Cross. It is difficult to explain succinctly, but there are many benefits from being more connected.”</p>
<p>“Why don’t the other gods build their own roads, then?”</p>
<p>“Most don’t care about connecting their domains. Or they fear diluting their Champions’ ideals. And it was a costly endeavor. Even with the Blades, Ninigi could not build the Cross until Sadashi’s Penance gave him the excuse.”</p>
<p>Denri had been zoning out during the geography lesson, but she perked up at the name. “Isn’t Sadashi the one who’s chasing us? What’s this penance about?”</p>
<p>Eizo nodded. “The Warlord. Sadashi’s domain is on the border of a large lake on the western coast. So large, in fact, that two other domains were also founded on its shores. Several hundred years ago, Sadashi conquered them.”</p>
<p>“But that’s against the rules, isn’t it? No god or Champion can interfere with another’s domain.”</p>
<p>“Sadashi decided to test that rule. He overwhelmed his neighbors and then set his sights more broadly.”</p>
<p>“Why didn’t the gods just destroy his armies? There’s no way he could have stood against all five of them.”</p>
<p>“The gods are not as united as they once were. A thousand years of squabbling over the Tournament has left them territorial. Ninigi helped stop Sadashi’s expansion, but he was loathe to let one of his Champions die. Or to give up the newly acquired territory.</p>
<p>“No one wanted a war between the gods, so they allowed Sadashi to keep the two domains he conquered. But as punishment for his aggression, most of Sadashi’s army, the Blades that Ninigi had given him, were used to build and guard the Imperial Crossroads. The Warlord’s strength was crippled, spread thin across Yosai. And Ninigi swore that if Sadashi or any of his Champions ever broke the rules again, he would destroy them personally, using the Cross to bring all his Blades to fight.”</p>
<p>“It seems like Ninigi got the best of everyone, then. Why did the other gods let him keep the two domains when Ninigi wanted the Crossroads all along?”</p>
<p>“You underestimate Sadashi’s strength. The five gods were able to halt his advance, but if Ninigi had supported him, it would have been far closer than the other gods would have everyone believe.”</p>
<p>Aki sat up, looking frightened. “Is Sadashi really that powerful?”</p>
<p>“There has never been a Champion like him. It is said that during Sadashi’s Tournament, half of the Sanyaku pledged fealty to him and fought on his behalf in the True Combat. They were that certain he would kill them. Several of those Champion-level heroes now serve in his court.</p>
<p>“Perhaps Chiyoko could oppose him, or the Four Seasons together, but he is a force beyond comprehension. And he has broken the rules of the Tournament in the past.</p>
<p>“That is why I am so concerned with learning the nature of Aki’s powers. Why does Sadashi pursue her? He must be reluctant to break the rules again, with his armies weakened and Ninigi’s promise of enforcement.</p>
<p>“But what if his ambition has returned? Does Aki play some part in that? Is she worth such a risk to him? Without knowing, we could be caught completely unaware.”</p>
<p>Aki sniffed behind her mask, her eyes shining with tears. Denri shot a glare at Eizo then got to the ground and placed an arm around her quivering shoulders.</p>
<p>“Hey, there’s no need to worry. I fought off the Blades once and I’ll do it again if I have to. These things are only scary because we don’t know what’s really going on. Isn’t that what you say, Eizo? Someone in this city knows about your power. They have to if they can make that tracker we saw the Blades using.</p>
<p>“So we’ll find that person and I’ll zap them until they tell us what we want to know. And eventually we’ll be strong enough that nobody can mess with us.”</p>
<p>“Y-you promise?”</p>
<p>Denri charged her fingertips and poked Aki until she giggled. “I promise, kid.”</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Eventually, another traveller approached the platform. He looked around, confused in much the same way as Denri and the others. He dropped his pack to the ground and produced a rolled up parchment, scanning its contents before walking to the statue at the platform’s center. The traveller knocked on the chest in the dragon’s claws.</p>
<p>After a long pause, the front of the chest swung forward to reveal an elderly shapeling woman. Her hair was grey, done up in a messy bun held in place with a silver pick. Her short form was badly hunched, and her eyes were massive behind thick glasses resting on a prominent nose.</p>
<p>The traveler said something, but the woman turned her head and cupped her ear. “Eh-? Speak up!” She grabbed the front of his shirt, jumping to reach his collar, and pulled his face close to hers. “Don’t worry, lad. I won’t bite unless you ask me to.” She chuckled then waited for the man to speak.</p>
<p>The man floundered through the question a second time, straining to escape the woman’s grip.</p>
<p>“Why didn’t you say so? ‘Course we got rooms. Go downstairs and the boy’ll get you a key.” She shooed him inside while she squinted around the platform, hand on the handle of the door. She passed over Denri and the others twice before she noticed them.</p>
<p>“You lot! Go loiter somewhere else!”</p>
<p>The woman’s entire demeanor was so different from the rest of Sky Furnace, Denri couldn’t help but smile. She jumped to her feet and scurried toward the statue.</p>
<p>“We’re not loitering. We want a couple rooms too. We just didn’t know where the entrance was.” Denri made sure to raise her voice.</p>
<p>“Whad’ya mean? It’s right here.” The woman gestured at the entrance like Denri was an idiot.</p>
<p>Eizo made his way to the statue, carrying the pack that Denri left behind. “So it seems. Our mistake. Do you still have rooms available?”</p>
<p>“‘Course we got rooms. It’s an inn yeah? People asking bought rooms like a bunch of fools.” The woman trailed off, muttering to herself as she narrowed her eyes over Denri’s shoulder, struggling to focus on Eizo. When she did, her jaw dropped, then she flashed a devilish grin. “Pardon my manners, the name’s Anko.” She extended a hand past Denri.</p>
<p>Eizo took the hand awkwardly, balancing two packs. “Eizo. A pleasure–.”</p>
<p>Anko snatched his hand greedily, bringing it close to her chest. “With arms like these, yessir we’ve got rooms. You can take mine free of charge if you like.” She winked.</p>
<p>Denri would have paid any amount of money to see Eizo’s face under the mask at that exact moment. He blinked in surprise, eyes moving so fast their motion was nearly audible. “That- no, that won’t be necessary. Just two, uh, ordinary rooms, if you please.” He tried to free his hand.</p>
<p>“Well, suit yourself. I know where to find you if you change your mind.” The grin widened and she turned to let them pass. Aki gave a start as the old woman forced herself between the girl and Eizo. “Make sure to close the door, lass.”</p>
<p>Inside was a steep, spiral staircase angling down and out of sight. A few feet down, the packs in Eizo’s arms clattered as he stood abruptly straight.</p>
<p>“Don’t mind me lad, these stairs are steep for a delicate lady like myself. I need to hold on and steady myself. You wouldn’t let a lady fall, would you?”</p>
<p>Denri struggled to contain her laughter.</p>
<p>The stairs ended in a mid-sized room lit by softly glowing lanterns. The room was sparse, with no chairs or tables for guests to congregate. A heavy wooden counter with a young boy seated behind it filled most of the room. When he saw Anko coming down the stairs, the boy gave a nervous laugh and retreated behind the counter.</p>
<p>“There, thank you for the help dear. You’re a valiant man.” Her hand did not move from his waist. Denri met Eizo’s desperate eyes and hoped he couldn’t tell she was smiling. “Now, two rooms you said? Nezumi!” The boy started in his seat. “Two rooms, make ‘em good.”</p>
<p>The boy jumped up and ran through a door at the back. Denri heard the sound of jangling keys.</p>
<p>“How come you’re not wearing a mask? I thought everyone had to wear one.” Aki squeezed past the elderly woman, who made no effort to get out of the way.</p>
<p>“Bah, the masks are only required in public spaces, I can do what I want in my own inn. You’re free to take them off if you’d like. Come on dear, show me that handsome face.”</p>
<p>Eizo’s hand shot to the mask. “That’s OK. We’ll have to get used to them while we explore Sky Furnace anyways.”</p>
<p>Denri reached for her mask, enjoying Eizo’s squirming. “That’s silly! Let’s take them off!” A serious look from Eizo staid her hand, though. “Or… maybe once we’ve had a chance to set everything down. Your hands are pretty full.”</p>
<p>Denri looked around, searching for something to change the conversation. “I’m awfully hungry. It doesn’t look like there’s much space to grab a meal here. Is there a common room somewhere?”</p>
<p>Anko shook her head. “Sometimes a wealthy lord will hire us to take them and their researchers to a remote site. Or we just undock for a bit of travel. When that happens we set up topside as a dining area. But here in Sky Furnace, public gathering spaces aren’t allowed. We can bring private meals to your rooms, though.” Another wink for Eizo.</p>
<p>“Oh, just the rooms for now, thank you.”</p>
<p>After a few stern refusals, Eizo convinced Anko that he did not need any special accommodations. Denri was certain the upgrade would be conveniently placed beside the elderly woman’s own living space.</p>
<p>They made their way through a narrow hall and down a few flights of stairs to their rooms. Eizo all but slammed the door as Anko fussed about his blankets needing straightening.</p>
<p>Aki and Denri took a larger room beside Eizo’s, with two beds and a large glass window on the far wall.</p>
<p>“Well, that explains why we couldn’t find the inn!” Denri tossed her things on a bed and pressed her face to the glass. The entire inn was below the platform. Their room had a view straight into the mouth of the volcano.</p>
<p>Aki joined her at the glass. As they watched, a slow stream of ripples spread across the lava. Testujin’s head emerged briefly before he sank below the surface again.</p>
<p>Aki wore a frown as she watched the dragon. “It’s not fair.”</p>
<p>“Hm?”</p>
<p>“It’s not fair! Tetsujin was here first. Why do the Twins get to come and take it?”</p>
<p>“At least he still gets to live here. It sounds like the town has been pretty accommodating. I can’t imagine living so close to a monster like this all the time.”</p>
<p>“But he has to do what the Twins say all the time. They came and attacked him and now he’s their slave. What if he doesn’t want to help them?”</p>
<p>Denri turned from the window. “That’s just how the world works. You could just as easily ask why do the monsters attack us in the woods.”</p>
<p>Aki stomped away from the window and threw herself on her bed, arms crossed and eyes shining. “They don’t have a choice! The gods make them do it. We don’t have to be mean back.”</p>
<p>The usual response came to Denri’s lips. She pictured the faces of her parents as they fled through the woods, pursued gleefully by the monsters. At least, they had seemed gleeful. But now she saw Hattori’s confusion, too. Torn between the world he was born to and what he was becoming. She shook her head.</p>
<p>“They may not have a choice, but at some point that doesn’t matter. Don’t let Hattori confuse you. The other monsters <em>want</em> to hurt us. It doesn’t matter if the gods put that desire inside them. If we try to help them they’ll kill us just the same.”</p>
<p>“That’s not true! The other tengu didn’t want to fight either. I lived in a whole town filled with monsters and none of them wanted to hurt us!” As soon as she said the words, Aki’s eyes went wide and she clamped her hands over her mouth.</p>
<p>Denri paused, her mouth open. “Sorry, say that again. You lived… with monsters?”</p>
<p>Aki shook her head, eyes wide.</p>
<p>There was a sharp knock at the door, followed by Eizo’s voice. Denri called him in without thinking. He stepped in and shut the door quickly, pressing his back against the entrance.</p>
<p>“I thought I heard Anko coming down the hallway. That woman is– what’s the matter?”</p>
<p>Denri was still staring at Aki. “You lived with monsters?”</p>
<p>Aki looked at the bed sheepishly. “Eizo said I’m not supposed to tell anyone.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry! I was just angry. But it’s OK I told Denri, right?”</p>
<p>Eizo paused for a heartbeat. He looked at Denri, then nodded. “Yes, I suppose it is. But don’t speak too loudly. For the same reason we should keep our masks on outside the rooms. Who knows who’s watching and listening?”</p>
<p>“Can we stop talking like I’m not in the room?”</p>
<p>The words spilled out of Aki as though she had been itching to say them for a while now. “Where I grew up there were monsters all around. They didn’t attack us. They helped us. Me and the other kids would even play with some of them.”</p>
<p>Denri stared in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s kidding, right? There’s no place in all of Yosai like that. I may not have heard much about the world, but <em>everyone</em> would know about a place like that.”</p>
<p>“It was secret! Mama said no one else would understand. She didn’t let anyone in or out.”</p>
<p>“Your mom ran this… monster town?”</p>
<p>Eizo cleared his throat. “Not her real mom. None of the children in the town knew who their parents were.”</p>
<p>“Mama <em>was</em> our real mom! She took care of all of us.”</p>
<p>Eizo raised a soothing hand. “None of them knew who their <em>biological</em> parents were. Based on Aki’s descriptions and where I met her, I think the town she’s talking about was some sort of experiment outside of Matsuri. I think ‘Mama’ is Emiko.”</p>
<p>Denri and Aki shouted at the same time.</p>
<p>“One of the Four Seasons?!”</p>
<p>“It wasn’t an experiment! We were family!”</p>
<p>Eizo nodded in Denri’s direction, confirming her question.</p>
<p>“And you didn’t think this would be useful information to tell me sooner?”</p>
<p>He looked chastened. “At first we didn’t know if you could be trusted. And then… I’m sorry. We should have told you. Old habits die hard.”</p>
<p>Aki jumped in quickly. “And you were so mad about monsters. I didn’t want you to hate me. Please don’t be mad! I never would have been friends with the monsters that hurt your parents, I promise!”</p>
<p>Tears spilled down Aki’s cheeks, cutting momentarily through Denri’s confusion and frustration. She walked from the window and sat beside Aki, putting an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry kid, I’m not mad. Well, I’m not mad about the fact that you grew up with monsters.” Denri laughed to herself. “That sentence still sounds ridiculous.</p>
<p>“But I <em>am</em> mad you didn’t tell me sooner! First of all, that’s crazy. Second, what are we doing all the way here in Sky Furnace, messing around with all this Tournament stuff? Why don’t we just go back to this town of yours? If Emiko’s protecting it then we should be safe, right?”</p>
<p>Aki looked at the ground sadly. “I don’t think it’s safe there anymore. Not since the Question Man came.”</p>
<p>Eizo provided more concrete details. “One of Sadashi’s followers infiltrated the town.”</p>
<p>Aki’s hands gripped each other tightly in her lap, her voice was brittle with remembered pain. “He asked us all sorts of questions. And he made us try to do things. Like changing things into different shapes, or hurting the monsters. Some kids had to live in a special house after they talked to him. We never got to see them after that.”</p>
<p>“He kidnapped Aki and was taking her to Jidoka when I tried to free her. It’s unclear if Emiko knows that the kidnapping was thwarted. She may think Aki is with Sadashi.”</p>
<p>“Why don’t we go back and tell her, then?”</p>
<p>“I don’t know if that’s wise. We don’t know what was going on in this experiment. Aki felt safe, but I want to understand Emiko’s ultimate plan before we hand ourselves over.</p>
<p>“Right now, Aki is just another Tournament competitor. It helps that she looks older as well. But if details about where she came from got out, Emiko might connect the dots and come after us, too.”</p>
<p>“She wouldn’t come after us! Mama would try to help.”</p>
<p>“Even if that is true, we don’t know how deeply Sadashi has infiltrated her ranks. Her ‘help’ may be nothing more than another tool for the Warlord to control. We need more information.”</p>
<p>Denri’s head was reeling. “Well. I guess we were willing to take on one Champion. Adding another to the list won’t hurt.”</p>
<p>Eizo shifted in his seat. “We should not rule out the possibility that whatever Emiko’s role is, she works on behalf of all the Four Seasons. They serve different gods, but the group has always remained close.”</p>
<p>Denri laughed, only partly manic. “Sure, why not? Champions are hunting us. Monsters are friends. We’re in a city that floats above a volcano. I’ve pretty much lost all sense of normal and possible. Who’s to say the four of us can’t beat them?”</p>
<p>Eizo nodded. “If Sadashi wants Aki, it means she has power. Based on what she did with Hattori, I’m beginning to believe that whatever was happening in that monster town, it was the kids who were doing it. If we can learn how to harness that ability, we may not have to fight alone. With your strength as an Adept, supported by a force of monsters, we might be able to level the playing field.”</p>
<p>Denri imagined herself standing at the head of an army of monsters. She laughed. This time, it really was manic.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/bounty/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 5 of an ongoing story series. If you haven’t already, read the last chapter or start from the beginning. The port beneath Sky Furnace was chaos. Crews ran around barking orders so loud Denri could barely hear her own thoughts. If the docks hadn’t been dominated by flits, she probably would have been trampled. It was wonderful. Captain Hama docked on the right side of Kazora’s crescent bay, leaving them to walk a ways to the central cable connecting to Sky Furnace. Denri was in front as they walked, swaggering with the unsteady, bow-legged gait of a long time sailor back on land. She grinned, berating the younger ship hands as they darted across decks and into holds. Just like her mom always used to. It was a fun part to play.Limits2019-06-14T00:00:00+00:002019-06-14T00:00:00+00:00https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/limits<p><strong>This is part 5 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/daggers-of-iga/">here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>The boy’s scream cut off, jarring like a missed step. His pain echoed off the walls before fading into silence.</p>
<p>Moto and Keta locked eyes. “Do you think–?”</p>
<p>A den full of spiders screeched in response, a knife-edged chittering stabbing at their ears. The chaotic drum line of approaching spider legs followed.</p>
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<p>“The kid! We’ve got to get to him.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded, then turned to the people he had freed from the webs. “We must go now. Hide here until you hear fighting, then run.”</p>
<p>They ran from the room without waiting to see how the prisoners responded. They had already done more for the prisoners than they needed to.</p>
<p>Moto pulled the shuttered lantern fully open as they raced down the hallway. Their footsteps rang against the stone as they retraced their steps. There was a loud <em>snap</em> as Keta broke through one of the alarm webs stretched across the hall. No time left for caution.</p>
<p>What went wrong? They killed the spiders fast and quiet, just like Moto planned. Did a spider escape? But the scream began the instant he killed the light spider. The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence. Somehow the other spiders knew when it died.</p>
<p>This was revenge. They never should have sidetracked to help the prisoners.</p>
<p>He pushed the thought aside. There would be time for berating himself later. Focus.</p>
<p>Keta slid to a halt at the intersection they passed through earlier and looked towards the exit. The sound of skittering legs bounced down the hallway. A thousand dice tossed to decide their fate.</p>
<p>“I could collapse the tunnel.” Keta balled his hand into a fist.</p>
<p>Moto grabbed his wrist. “No. We don’t know what’s further in. We may need Iruka and Fumi’s help more than we need to hold off those spiders.”</p>
<p>They continued left, their strides lengthening out of control as the tunnel steepened sharply. Moto pulled on the tunnel behind him to keep from falling forward. Keta’s steps were a mixture of leaping and falling.</p>
<p>They took a sharp corner at full speed, Moto pulling on the inside wall and swinging around like a stone in a sling. Keta ran up the outside wall of the turn, diving off the stone into a forward roll.</p>
<p>On the other side of the bend, the way was completely blocked with webs. There was no time to stop. Moto threw his arms over his face and pulled on the walls in front, accelerating as he tried to punch through.</p>
<p>He felt the stuttering pull of webs clinging then breaking under his momentum. But the trap stretched further into the tunnel than he expected. There was a sharp tug against his shoulder as a web finally held, spinning him around.</p>
<p>He barely registered he was stuck before Keta crashed into him, arms wrapping around his waist. There was a final lurch as the webs gave way and then they were falling through the air.</p>
<p>They kept falling.</p>
<p>With a curse, Moto realized they had gone off another cliff. He pulled against the ceiling desperately, trying to stop their descent. But he had waited too long. He wasn’t strong enough to catch their full weight this far from the ceiling. All he could do was soften the blow.</p>
<p>Air wheezed out of Moto’s lungs as he took the brunt of the impact beneath Keta. His head snapped against stone and swirls of light danced across his vision. Keta bounced off, landing heavily a few feet away.</p>
<p>Moto groaned, panic taking his mind as he tried and failed to breathe. He rocked onto his side and vomited. A sharp pain in his side told him at least one rib was broken.</p>
<p>Focus. Moto gritted his teeth and pressed himself into a sitting position. He shook his head to clear it. That only set his vision spinning worse. He pressed his back against the rough stone wall steadying himself as he staggered to his feet.</p>
<p>They were standing at the bottom of another pit. The smooth floor and deep grooves running up the walls suggested running water long since dried.</p>
<p>A flickering light filled the room, sending shadows dancing across the walls. Their lantern had cracked open from the fall, igniting a patch of webbing near the edge of the cavern. The shifting lights heightened Moto’s instability.</p>
<p>A few feet ahead, Keta struggled against a clump of webbing stretched across the ground that held him fast. Moto took an unsteady step forward.</p>
<p>“S-Stay away!”</p>
<p>The whimpering voice drew Moto’s attention further into the cavern. A young boy scrambled backwards across the stone, one hand held to his head. His clothes were ripped and badly worn, hands black with dirt and dried blood. His short black hair was plastered to his head with grime.</p>
<p>Swarming around the boy was a herd of jorogumo. He hardly noticed as they skittered across his hands and legs, his gaze remaining fixed on Moto. He must have been bitten.</p>
<p>Moto turned his attention back to Keta. Before he could move to help, the webbing warped and the shapeling cried out as a large gash opened on his shoulder.</p>
<p>There was a hiss of steam as Keta ripped his other arm free and lashed at the air. His hand stuttered as it connected with substance. The air flickered and a giant light spider resolved out of thin air. It hissed and pulled back from Keta’s blow, preparing to strike again.</p>
<p>Moto took two drunken steps forward, swaying wildly. He fell back to the wall. There was no way he could walk in his current condition. He pulled a stone at his feet and launched it toward the spider. The world tilted beneath him and his aim went wide. The rock crashed into the ground at the boy’s feet, shattering.</p>
<p>The boy cried out in pain as shrapnel shot past, scoring deep wounds in his arms. He screamed again, his eyes wide as he reached out to the spiders swarming around him.</p>
<p>A blinding flash of light filled the room. Behind it, Moto could hear the spiders crying out as if being ripped apart.</p>
<p>When the light faded, the boy lay unmoving amidst a pile of broken bodies. But the spiders weren’t dead. They twitched across the ground as their skin stretched and ripped. Their forms grew grotesquely as they screeched in pain. A white glow emanated from the rents in their skin.</p>
<p>Slowly, five new light spiders pulled themselves from the ground. They hissed at Moto and Keta. Then they vanished.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Moto looked around in surprise. Without the spiders’ light, there was nothing but the red glow of the spreading flames to light the room.</p>
<p>Could the spiders teleport? Moto took another breath, willing himself to think through the fog in his head. The webbing around Keta had moved before the spider appeared. They were still there. Just invisible.</p>
<p>Keta groaned, bringing Moto’s attention back. The shapeling had pulled both arms free from the web and was holding the light spider’s fangs as they snapped at his neck. They were locked for a moment, both sides straining, before Keta’s arms flexed and he crushed the spiders’ head between his hands. The young boy twitched at the center of the room.</p>
<p><img src="/assets/img/keta-spider.png" alt="" /></p>
<p>Keta still struggled to free himself from the web. Moto reached forward and pulled, but the sudden shift in weight almost took him off his feet. He held the wall to steady himself as Keta finally tore free and ran to his side.</p>
<p>Moto looked around, trying to form a plan. Echoes off the walls hid the creatures’ location. The stone floor prevented any footprints. He strained his eyes against the darkness, looking for shadows. Whatever the creatures’ ability was, it blocked any visual trace of their presence.</p>
<p>Moto pulled against the loose stones behind him and sent a scattershot through the room. Most of the missiles clattered against the far wall, but a few stopped dead in the air, bouncing off the invisible spiders.</p>
<p>That confirmed they were still there, but with his back this close to the wall he couldn’t accelerate his shots. He needed more runway to make them lethal. But if they moved away from the wall they would be surrounded.</p>
<p>Light flared as a spider appeared, fangs bared. Moto pressed back against the wall and slashed with his dagger. How had it avoided his scattershot?</p>
<p>He stumbled sideways as his dagger met no resistance. The spider’s shape flickered, then reformed. An illusion? There was a hiss to his right as another spider appeared, lunging toward him as he regained his balance.</p>
<p>Keta unfurled the weighted silks around his wrists and brought both down on the attacking spiders’ face in an overhead swing. There was a meaty <em>crack</em>. The spider pulled back and disappeared. But a direct hit from Keta should have caved its head in.</p>
<p>Moto glanced sideways. The shapeling was breathing heavily, the wound on his shoulder still bleeding.</p>
<p>“Are you too tired to pull fire?”</p>
<p>Another spider appeared, leaping through the air towards Keta. Moto reached out to pull it off course, but there was nothing there. Another illusion. Except, was there something behind it? Moto pulled further and felt real weight, flying behind the illusion.</p>
<p>“It’s not there! Aim behind it!”</p>
<p>Keta altered the angle of his strike mid swing and brought his silk across the side of the creature, slamming it into the wall. His other silk came down on its head in a sickening crunch. The spider twitched mindlessly. Four left.</p>
<p>Keta pulled back against Moto, scanning the darkness. “I still have some fire left, but I do not want to be defenseless if one of us is bitten. I can handle these creatures naturally for now. How did you know where it was?”</p>
<p>“My power had no effect on the illusion, but I could feel the weight of the real one behind it. It doesn’t seem like they can make the images very far from their body.”</p>
<p>He could test the illusions when they attacked, but he had caught the presence of the first spider by accident. His pulls were narrow and he wouldn’t have much time to find the real thing. Unless…</p>
<p>Moto closed his eyes and softened his focus. He sent his power in a broad pulse. Pulling softly in all directions. He felt a faint tug from Keta, then something more solid from the wall at his back. There was a flutter in front of them.</p>
<p>“There!”</p>
<p>Keta swung, cutting a low arc with his silks that broke a couple legs on an approaching spider. It staggered, but managed to keep its feet.</p>
<p>It was something.</p>
<p>“I can tell where they are, but I can’t focus on anything else while I’m doing it…”</p>
<p>“That is enough. I will strike where you tell me.” Keta stepped forward, placing himself between Moto and the spiders.</p>
<p>He could only sense the spiders’ general direction, not their exact location. Anyone else would have been swinging wildly, hoping for a lucky shot. But Keta’s speed and control made it work.</p>
<p>Even without his power, the shapeling could shift his strikes mid-swing, turning glancing blows into solid hits. When he connected, he pounced immediately, landing several more hits against the vulnerable foe.</p>
<p>The spiders adjusted their strategy quickly. They started attacking all at once, snapping forward in a wave before retreating out of range.</p>
<p>Soon Keta’s body was covered in shallow gashes. One of Moto’s arms hung limply from a deep bite into the meat of his shoulder. At least the light spider transformation burned away the jorogumo’s venom.</p>
<p>A chaotic wave of clicks and scrapes caught Moto’s attention from above, near the entrance to the cavern. It was hard to hear over the sounds of fighting, but it was growing louder. Reinforcements. For who?</p>
<p>If it was more spiders, they would have to run. And if it was Fumi and Iruka, how would the light spiders react? They were focused on offense while they had the upper hand. But if things looked bad, they might attack the kid to buy time for an escape.</p>
<p>They needed to get to the boy.</p>
<p>But if they moved to the center of the room, Keta couldn’t cover every angle. Moto’s balance had mostly returned, and the extra space would let him throw lethally again. But that was useless if he couldn’t detect the spiders.</p>
<p>If only Iruka was here. They needed two stone-bringers so they could use their gravity on offense and defense at the same time.</p>
<p>At the same time…</p>
<p>Moto’s eyes snapped open. “I’ve got a plan!”</p>
<p>Keta laughed between ragged breaths. “It is about time! I was beginning to think that you were slipping.” He swung one of his yellow silks into the face of an onrushing spider.</p>
<p>“It’s going to take two bursts of energy from you. Do you have that?”</p>
<p>“Yes, but not much more. I won’t be able to heal us anymore.”</p>
<p>Moto looked at the blood covering Keta’s arms. The wound in his own shoulder was bad, not too mention his head from the fall earlier. But there wasn’t any other choice. If they made it out, they could bind their wounds until Keta recovered to heal them.</p>
<p>“We’ll have to risk it. On my mark we’re charging toward the boy. We have to reach him. Ignore everything else. Once we get him, I need you to pump me up with one blast. When I say so, use the second burst to jump as high as you possibly can.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded, no sign of doubt on his face. “I will be ready.”</p>
<p>“As <em>high</em> as you can. Go!”</p>
<p>Keta took off, angling low as he ran. His body rocked sideways as he shouldered past a spider. Moto kept as close as he could, ignoring the pain as fangs raked down his back. He pulled one of Seiko’s spheres from his pouch.</p>
<p>They reached the center and Moto turned, pressing his back against Keta. He waited until the shapeling had the boy in his arms. “Hit me!”</p>
<p>Fire spread along Moto’s back. It flared down his limbs and filled him with strength. It was almost too much to bear, like he was burning from the inside out.</p>
<p>They were focused on keeping the spiders away. But that forced him to choose between throwing stones or sensing the spiders. Offense or defense. So he did what Iruka taught him. He changed his goal.</p>
<p>He reached out, broad like he was sensing. No need to know where they were if he grabbed hold of everything. Then, with fire coursing through his veins, Moto pulled the world inside himself.</p>
<p>Even reinforced by Keta’s flame, he thought he might be ripped apart. The entire cave groaned and stuttered. A loud <em>crack</em> sounded beneath their feet. Keta groaned involuntarily as he was pressed flat against Moto.</p>
<p>Then four large, invisible masses were crashing through the air, out of control.</p>
<p>Moto released the pull before it really did rip him apart. He dropped Seiko’s sphere. “Jump!”</p>
<p>Another wave of heat as Keta wrapped his arm around Moto’s waist. The world lurched as they shot towards the ceiling. A heavy crunch sounded where they had been standing. Moto reached out and pulled the switch.</p>
<p>The spiders were visible for a fraction of a second before the explosion ripped through them.</p>
<p>A concussive wave of spider guts crashed into them from below. Moto felt the boy jerk violently beside him. He looked over in alarm, but the kid seemed unhurt as he hung, limp and unconscious, in Keta’s arm.</p>
<p>Moto pulled against the ceiling to slow their fall. Keta absorbed the rest, landing in a crouch. They stood in a small crater, covered in grime and their own blood. Laughing in disbelief, Keta pulled Moto close and kissed him. “Amazing!”</p>
<p>Moto allowed himself a moment’s pleasure, then pulled back. “We’re not out of it yet.” He turned toward the cavern entrance overhead. The approaching sounds were loud now.</p>
<p>His body felt like it had been trampled by a horse. Every muscle felt like lead. Keta was tapped out too. If it was more jorogumo, he could pull a few off the wall. Maybe the fall would disable them. But then they would have to run.</p>
<p>Moto’s heart sank as a mob of black, alien legs curled around the edge of the tunnel. But before he could act there was a heavy <em>whoomph</em> as air was forced into the cavern. The spiders at the entrance were thrown to the far wall, their bodies breaking against the stone.</p>
<p>Fumi followed, swan diving through the entrance. She did a flip in the air and landed in a crouch in front of Keta, air rushing out to cushion the fall. “Don’t worry. I’ll take it from here.” She paused for effect, then stood and looked around. She deflated when she saw the dead spiders littering the floor. “Oh, never mind.”</p>
<p>“Hey! You kids got the smaller kid?” Iruka stood at the ledge, shouting over her shoulder. The blade snap whirred around her as she shot it into the tunnel repeatedly. “Great. I’m sure the spiders thought your flip was very cool, but maybe lets focus on not dying?”</p>
<p>Keta gave Fumi a kind look. “It was a wonderful entrance.”</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Iruka pulled Moto and Keta into the hallway at the top of the cavern. Fumi crashed down beside them in a blast of wind.</p>
<p>The tunnel was littered with the shredded bodies of jorogumo. The blade snap whirred around Iruka’s shoulders like a restless hummingbird as she looked them up and down. She ignored the sound of spiders approaching further up the hallway.</p>
<p>“How are you two doing?”</p>
<p>“Both our resonances are exhausted. I might have a little bit left in me but Keta is tapped. Otherwise we’re fine.”</p>
<p>Iruka raised an eyebrow. “At the risk of repeating myself, you look like garbage, kid. We need to update your definition of fine. The two of you stay at the back for now and let me and Fumi clear the way.”</p>
<p>Keta stood straighter. “I am still–.”</p>
<p>Iruka turned toward the onrushing spiders. “As much as I would <em>love</em> to sit here arguing the finer points of just how messed up your body is right now, I think we have more pressing concerns. You’ve done plenty to prove yourself. Time to trust the squad.”</p>
<p>Keta nodded, accepting the feedback gracefully. He shifted the unconscious kid onto his back. “I will carry the child, then.”</p>
<p>“Right. Stay close. Not that I’m giving you much choice.” Iruka grinned as she launched forward. A heartbeat later, all three of them staggered forward as Iruka pulled them behind her.</p>
<p>Moto adapted to Iruka’s pull the fastest. He’d had practice gravity running. But the others adjusted to the extended gait just a few steps after. Just in time for the next wave of spiders to hit.</p>
<p>They ran along the floor and walls and ceiling, clambering over one another in the rush to attack. Moto couldn’t tell where one jorogumo began and the another ended. There were more spiders in that first cavern than he thought.</p>
<p>“Don’t stop! We can’t take them all so don’t let them bog us down.” Iruka’s blade snap shot forward, slicing up one wall and back the other. The whole time her pull against the three of them never faltered.</p>
<p>Fumi stepped up to Iruka’s side and punched the air with both fists. A gust ripped over the floor, knocking spiders into the side wall and clearing a path. Then the spiders were around them.</p>
<p>Moto drew a dagger, pulling lightly in all directions to sense anything that got too close. He kept an eye on Keta, but the shapeling wasn’t having much trouble with the handful of spiders that made it past Iruka and Fumi uninjured.</p>
<p>Surrounded, Iruka caught the blade snap and used her power in earnest. Moto was glad his balance had returned from earlier, otherwise watching her might have made him sick.</p>
<p>Her body twisted through the air like a leaf on the wind, changing direction inches from snapping jaws, crashing feat first into spiders on the ceiling. As she danced through the air, spiders flew in her wake, snapping into each other and skewering on rocky protrusions. She wore an easy smile while she worked.</p>
<p>Fumi wasn’t nearly as casual, but her skills had improved since the last time Moto saw her fight. Her arms blurred as she made a small torrent of wind around them, picking up dust and rocks and focusing their flow into a saw blade. Her arms sliced through jorogumo like paper.</p>
<p>And then they were through. The monsters behind them turned, falling behind as Iruka pulled forward. More chittering greeted them ahead. They weren’t out of the woods yet. Moto kept his gravity sense up to catch any light spiders that might be sneaking up on them.</p>
<p>They reached the intersection and Iruka continued for the exit. There was a clattering of stones as Keta planted his feet and held against her pull. Iruka turned with a question on her face.</p>
<p>“What’s the matter?”</p>
<p>Keta was straining his eyes down the other tunnel. “Did you see anyone fleeing the cave as you entered?”</p>
<p>“What? No. Come on, we don’t have time to stick around here.” The spiders behind them were catching up.</p>
<p>Keta kept his feet planted, calling down the tunnel. There was a pause, then a muted response. Keta turned to the rest of the group. “There are still people here.”</p>
<p>The spiders behind came crashing around the corner, throwing themselves at Keta and the child he carried. The shapeling dodged the first, but a second and a third slammed into him. He was thrown against the wall, holding back the fangs of a spider. The boy fell to the floor several feet away.</p>
<p>Moto dove for Keta without thinking, burying his dagger in the side of the spider’s head as he shouldered it away. Another one leapt through the air and Moto pulled from his foot, slamming it to the ground. Keta pushed off the wall and brought his foot down in a loud <em>crunch</em> on the spider’s head.</p>
<p>“The kid!” Moto spun, scanning the floor. Spiders swarmed over the boy’s body. They lifted his unconscious form, carrying him away. Moto took a step forward but more of the monsters stepped in to fill the gap.</p>
<p>His heart sank. After all this, was the kid going to slip away? Were they going to fail?</p>
<p>Fumi came sprinting past, planting a foot against the wall and leaping over the front line of monsters, yelling dramatically as she came down on the spiders carrying the boy. She sliced through one with her hand, planting it against the ground as she brought her foot around on the other spider like a scythe.</p>
<p>“Sorry Keta, we don’t have time to wait around for more people.” Iruka was pushing back against the wave of spiders attacking from the front, but there were so many even she was stepping back. “They’re on their own.”</p>
<p>Keta snapped one of his wrist silks like a whip, breaking a spider’s legs. “I will not leave them!”</p>
<p>Iruka took another step back and the spiders rushed around the edges of the tunnel. They were about to be overrun. But Keta stepped forward defiantly, determined to hold firm. The sound of people running down the hallway was getting louder.</p>
<p>Keta would never leave those people behind. Not when they sounded so close. But what would they do with more people in tow? Pressing their luck was going to get them all killed.</p>
<p>Moto didn’t have a choice. He pulled against the ceiling, bringing a rock crashing into the back of Keta’s head. The shapeling crumpled to the ground. Moto caught him and pushed towards Iruka. “Let’s go!”</p>
<p>She stared at him for moment, then nodded and dove into the spider filled tunnel. Moto hefted Keta over a shoulder and pulled out the shield snap with his free hand. He pulled it open and used it to ward off snapping fangs aimed for his throat.</p>
<p>Keta got heavier. Moto looked up and saw a spider crouched on the shapeling. He watched helplessly as the the spider bit into Keta’s side.</p>
<p>“I got you!” A blast of wind ripped the spider off Moto’s back as Fumi came into view. She had the young boy thrown over her shoulders and was stepping forward methodically, clearing the path with blasts from her feet.</p>
<p>As they neared the other side, Moto heard a commotion behind them. The prisoners were throwing themselves at the spiders in the rear, clawing desperately as they tried to catch up to Moto and his squad. The monsters turned and descended on them. It was short work, but the distraction bought Moto and the others some breathing room.</p>
<p>They burst through to the other side of the creatures. Iruka slowed enough to grab Keta off of Moto’s shoulders and then began to pull them forward again.</p>
<p>“Last hurdle! Everybody get ready to jump.”</p>
<p>They were back at the first chasm. Thin, black legs curled around the edges of the tunnel. Moto pulled against the walls, accelerating as he leapt over the climbing spiders, following Iruka. He wobbled in the air, his resonance nearly exhausted, but he managed to land heavily on the far side of the chasm with Iruka’s help.</p>
<p>Fumi came up short, the spiders from the cavern blocking her way and preventing her from getting a clean angle on the jump.</p>
<p>Moto braced himself against the wall. “Jump! I can help pull you!”</p>
<p>Fumi looked up at him, then squared the boy on her shoulders and set her face. “It’s OK, I can do it on my own!” She jumped, planting her foot against the side of the tunnel, then pushing off with a blast of wind toward the wall of the cavern midway across.</p>
<p>It was going to be close. And her resonance had to be tiring out by this point. Moto didn’t want to risk it. As Fumi connected with the far wall of the cavern, coiling to make her final jump, Moto pulled against her for extra lift.</p>
<p>He pulled early, causing Fumi’s footing to slip. She managed a blast of wind behind her, but the jump was awkward. Moto cursed, pulling as hard as he could. It wasn’t much.</p>
<p>Fumi hit the stone hard, landing half in the tunnel with her legs dangling into the cavern. She scrambled for a handhold with one hand, trying to hang onto the kid with the other before Iruka turned and pulled her up.</p>
<p>“I said I had it! You nearly made me fall.” Fumi glared at Moto.</p>
<p>“I didn’t mess you up that much! You weren’t going to make it without me.”</p>
<p>They both slid across the stone as Iruka pulled them backwards. “We <em>seriously</em> need to discuss what counts as appropriate mission chatter with all three of you. Get moving for the exit!”</p>
<p>Moto shot Fumi one last glare, then lifted Keta onto his shoulders. The shapeling was hot, his body twitching as the spider’s venom coursed through him.</p>
<p>There was a loud crack and Moto’s head whipped around. Iruka stood at the end of the tunnel with arms outstretched. The muscles on her neck stood out as she brought her arms toward her chest with great effort. There was another pop and the rock around her shifted. She jumped back as the tunnel began to collapse.</p>
<p>She turned, making straight for the exit. “Don’t just stand there! I have no idea if this whole tunnel is coming down after that!”</p>
<p>Moto turned with renewed energy, his legs pumping as he moved to the exit. Light blossomed ahead. He threw himself through the exit, staggering to the ground as a loud <em>thump</em> sounded from deeper within. He rolled over onto his back, letting out a long sigh of relief as he stared at the sky. They made it.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>They pushed into the woods as far as they could before they collapsed and made camp. It wasn’t very far.</p>
<p>Neither the boy nor Keta had woken, but the shapeling continued to twitch. They tied him to a tree in case he woke up, then set to binding everyone’s wounds.</p>
<p>Moto winced as he scrubbed his shoulder clean and rubbed a foul smelling ointment into the wound, he kept one eye on Keta. “Is he going to be OK?”</p>
<p>Aside from a bit of dirt, Iruka was unharmed. She tended to Keta’s bleeding arms. “He should be fine, so long as he doesn’t hurt himself while the venom runs its course.”</p>
<p>Fumi looked at the ropes around Keta. “Are those really going to hold him?”</p>
<p>“If his resonance has anything left, the metabolic boost will burn through the venom anyways. So the answer is either yes or who cares.”</p>
<p>Fumi lowered herself to the ground and started work on a fire. She sat normally, without her typical burst of wind. She had reached her limit too. Moto thought back over the fight. How many times had they all used their powers? He filed the information away in case those limits were useful later.</p>
<p>As he ran through the mission, Moto felt a growing sense of uncertainty. They had saved the kid, but only barely. This mission was crucial to his plans. So why had he had taken so many risks? Unnecessary risks. When the spiders were attacking Keta and the boy, he hadn’t hesitated to jump for Keta. He didn’t even think of the kid.</p>
<p>Most confusing, Moto didn’t feel like he had made a mistake.</p>
<p>Fumi looked up and met his eyes. “What’re you staring at?”</p>
<p>“Oh, nothing. Just spacing out. I’m pretty beat.”</p>
<p>“I’ll say. What happened down there? I didn’t see many spiders when I landed but both you and Keta were at your limits.”</p>
<p>Moto recounted the events, describing the light spiders and their strange abilities.</p>
<p>“I’ve never heard anything like that before. You said the jorogumo <em>transformed</em>?”</p>
<p>Moto nodded. “I’m not sure they did it themselves, though. It seemed like the change hurt. Their bodies weren’t in great shape afterwards.” Moto looked at the boy, lying by the fire as Fumi turned and tended to him. “It only happened when the boy touched them.”</p>
<p>“You think he had something to do with it?”</p>
<p>“I don’t know. It sounds crazy, but it seemed like he had some connection with them. Whenever we killed a spider, the boy looked like it hurt him too. It was hard to tell, though. He was probably just bitten or something. Should we tell his father?”</p>
<p>Iruka considered for a moment. “Probably best not to. People pay for Daggers when they don’t want questions. The dad may know what’s up with the kid or he might not, but I guarantee whichever way it goes he won’t be happy we noticed and started asking.”</p>
<p>Fumi looked up from her ministrations. “Are you sure they attacked him? Where did you see him get bitten?”</p>
<p>“I didn’t see it. Probably happened before we arrived. The kid had already lost it by the time we got there. Why?”</p>
<p>Fumi did one last pass over the boy. “Aside from a few bruises and these cuts on his arms, the kid is fine. Nothing that could be a bite.”</p>
<p>“That can’t be right. He seemed mad when we approached. And the spiders were all over him at the end, why wouldn’t they bite him?”</p>
<p>Fumi shrugged. “All I know is there’s no bite marks. Maybe it was just shock?”</p>
<p>There was a rustle as Keta stirred against the tree, his eyes flickering. They tensed and watched, waiting to see how the shapeling would react.</p>
<p>Keta’s eyes snapped open and he began to strain against the ropes, his feet scrambling for purchase along the ground. He groaned, his eyes white with fear. Moto took a step forward, his hand held out, but Iruka held him back.</p>
<p>“It’s OK, kid. Nothing you can do right now but let it pass. It shouldn’t take more than an hour. But right now getting close is only going to stress him worse.”</p>
<p>“I should have been paying more attention as we ran. I knocked him out, it was my responsibility.”</p>
<p>Iruka hesitated. “You did what you thought you had to, and made the best of the situation after that. Those kind of decisions are a part of life now. If you beat yourself up over every one, you’ll go crazy.”</p>
<p>Fumi stepped up beside them, looking down at Keta as he continued to pull against his ropes. “He’s not going to be happy when he hears how things went down.”</p>
<p>A pit formed in Moto’s stomach. “We don’t have to tell him. We could say the prisoners made it. A falling rock knocked him unconscious but we managed to pull everyone out and they went their separate ways.”</p>
<p>Iruka shook her head adamantly. “You can tell him what you want about how he got knocked out. That’s between you two. But he needs to know what happened to the others.”</p>
<p>“Why, though? It’s only going to hurt him.”</p>
<p>“If he thinks it all worked out in the end, he’ll take a crazy risk like that again. That’s fine if he’s making a calculated choice, but not if he’s blind about the chances. Rose colored glasses are the fastest route to winding up dead.”</p>
<p>Iruka turned to look at them. Her eyes rested primarily on Moto. “Overall, this went pretty well. Way harder than a first contract usually is, but you all adapted and made solid choices under pressure. But if this were an exam, I would fail you all.”</p>
<p>Moto blinked. “What for?”</p>
<p>“You can’t be debating priorities in the middle of a mission like that. I’m not saying either side was wrong. What was wrong was that we couldn’t act decisively. That left us down a man and fighting off the back foot. I want you to tell Keta what happened so you’re forced to talk and decide how you’ll handle a situation like that in the future.”</p>
<p>There was a crash in the woods behind them. They turned, hands reaching for weapons. The kid was up and away from the fire, fleeing through the underbrush.</p>
<p>Moto pulled the tangle snap from his belt, then realized he didn’t have the energy left to use it. He took a step forward, but came up short as the kid snapped backward, flying through the air toward Iruka. She brought him into her arms and held him in place as the boy struggled.</p>
<p>“Get away! They’re gonna hurt me! I need to run!” The kid struggled in vain against Iruka’s strong arms.</p>
<p>“It’s OK, you’re safe. The spiders are gone. They can’t hurt you anymore.”</p>
<p>The kid turned his head wildly, straining backwards. “They took the light. Made it dark. Took me away. Let go!”</p>
<p>Iruka continued to soothe him as she walked to the fire. “Hey, hey, everything is OK now.” She pointed his head towards the fire. “See? No more dark. Plenty of light.”</p>
<p>The boy calmed a bit as he looked at the fire, his fit subsiding to a background of twitches and muttering. His attention still skittered around the campsite.</p>
<p>“That’s right. We’re not going to hurt you. We’re here to save you.”</p>
<p>The boy relaxed into Iruka’s arms and she left his hands free so he could warm them by the fire. “You’re not gonna let them hurt me anymore?”</p>
<p><br /></p>
<hr />
<p><br />
<br /></p>
<p>Everyone but Iruka sat in a small room inside the Bloodhall. The boy, whose name was Kashi, sat nervously in the corner of the room, picking methodically at the new robes he wore. Soundstealer was with them, leaning against the wall. It was the first time they had seen him since he gave the mission.</p>
<p>“You have done well.” He addressed Fumi. “Was there anything out of the ordinary?” Soundstealer’s gaze crawled over the group.</p>
<p>Remembering Iruka’s suggestion to play dumb, Moto spoke up before the others could reply. “Not really, sir. He was lucky not to be bitten, that made the extraction easier.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer watched him for a moment, his eyes probing. He held the stare just long enough to make Moto uncomfortable, then nodded.</p>
<p>Fumi let out a sigh and patted her hands on her thighs, cutting through the tension. “So, one mission down. When do you think we can get another?”</p>
<p>Soundstealer turned back to his daughter. “Whenever you’ve formed another squad, you may take another mission.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean? We already have a squad.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer shook his head. “I have told you this, daughter. Familiarity breeds attachment. Attachments to the other houses will weaken your resonance. You must pick a new squad.”</p>
<p>Fumi bristled. “I don’t <em>want</em> a new squad. I can be strong and still have friends.”</p>
<p>“I will offer no contract if you insist on keeping this group.”</p>
<p>“But we’re the strongest new recruits! This is the best squad.”</p>
<p>Soundstealer scoffed. “What does it matter who is the strongest squad of children? Your ultimate strength is more important.”</p>
<p>“Fine! We don’t need your contracts anyways. We’ll find our own.” She leaned back in her seat, arms crossed.</p>
<p>Moto sat with his mouth slightly open. What just happened? This mission was supposed to bring him closer to Soundstealer. But just like that it had fallen away.</p>
<p>He looked to Keta, but the shapeling’s eyes were down, his hand on his chin thoughtfully. Keta had been quiet since he heard what happened to the prisoners.</p>
<p>A knock came at the far door, interrupting everyone’s thoughts. Moto stood, but Soundstealer held out a hand. “That is unnecessary. I will take the boy inside and finalize the contract.” The boy gave one last nervous look over his shoulder before Soundstealer led him inside and closed the door.</p>
<p>As soon as he was out of sight Fumi turned to them. “Ignore him, guys. He can’t be stubborn forever. We just need to prove him wrong. Eventually we’ll be so strong he’ll be begging for us to help on contracts.”</p>
<p>Moto grunted noncommittally. He thought getting close to Fumi was a good way to get close to Soundstealer as well. But it seemed like the two were at odds. He needed to reconsider his plans.</p>
<p>A few moments later Soundstealer walked from the room alone, folding the contract and placing it in his robe.</p>
<p>Moto nodded towards the paper. “Does one of us need to sign that?”</p>
<p>“Unnecessary. I signed it myself.”</p>
<p>Fumi bounced forward, earlier confrontation momentarily forgotten. “Can we at least see it? My first contract!”</p>
<p>Soundstealer finished stowing the contract and made for the door. “Control yourself, daughter. This is nothing to be excited about.”</p>
<p>Was he hiding the contract? They already knew the contents. Unless there was something new on the final contract that he didn’t want them to see. Moto pushed his bag beneath the chair as he stood, leaving the room without it.</p>
<p>As they neared the exit, Moto slowed. “Ah! I forgot my bag. One second, let me go grab it.” He turned and ran back up the stairs before anyone could suggest otherwise.</p>
<p>Moto returned to the room and scooped up his bag. He looked around, then brought his ear to the door that Soundstealer entered before. Silent. He eased open the door and slipped inside, moving fast. He didn’t have much time before Soundstealer would get suspicious.</p>
<p>On the desk was a thick stack of paper in case contracts needed amendments. Writing utensils sat beside the stack. Moto grabbed a stick of charcoal and rubbed it lightly across the top sheet. Faint white lines appeared where the page above had been written on. He read some of the lines.</p>
<p><strong>boy to be retrieved and returned to Jidoka unharmed. Soundstealer to</strong></p>
<p>He smiled, snatching the paper and tucking it into his bag. He made his way out of the room and back down the stairs. If Soundstealer wasn’t going to give them more missions, Moto would learn about his clients on his own.</p>
<p><strong>You can read the next story in this series <a href="https://yosai.world/compendium/tournament/jidoka/">here</a>.</strong></p>Dru KnoxThis is part 5 of an ongoing story series. You can read the first part here. The boy’s scream cut off, jarring like a missed step. His pain echoed off the walls before fading into silence. Moto and Keta locked eyes. “Do you think–?” A den full of spiders screeched in response, a knife-edged chittering stabbing at their ears. The chaotic drum line of approaching spider legs followed.