The Smoke Dragon

  Chapter 7

  "Yamabushi." Akio threw himself down at Kaidan’s feet. "I've failed you. The scroll is lost."

  Yumi prostrated herself beside him, simmering despite her down-eyed obedience.

  Kaidan allowed them to wallow for a few moments as he shuffled his weight onto his staff. Tsubasa returned from circling the battleground to land on his shoulder. Kaidan bent down and touched both young people on the shoulder, sharing a smile with them.

  "Such are the ways of the world," Kaidan walked in measured paces for the sanctuary of Kyuusai. Yumi and Akio followed.

  "But Yamabushi, we must set out to retrieve the scroll." Akio rolled up his sleeves for emphasis.

  "And you, Yumi, do you believe this is the correct path to take?"

  "My failure urges me to action, but there is something else. Something you are not telling us."

  "Very good. I’m glad your father hasn’t had too much of an influence." Kaidan plucked a shattered spear-tip from his staff. "Do either of you know of the scroll’s purpose?"

  "No, Yamabushi," they answered together.

  "If I said it did nothing, that would be unfair. However, for all practical purposes, it really does nothing—there is no secret to the scroll. Once you counter the incantations on the case, you find inside an excellent set of Haiku. I imagine our new friend Ryuji will be discovering this for himself some time tomorrow."

  Akio frowned, creasing his eyebrows together in concentration.

  Yumi merely nodded.

  "But Yamabushi, we’ve been safeguarding a scroll that does nothing?" Akio asked after further thought.

  "Yes, Akio. While it contains no special power or hidden knowledge, it does have a purpose. To draw out the corrupt and the power hungry. Rumours of such scrolls are circulated by the Yamabushi all the time. When petty tyrants emerge to seek the scrolls, the Yamabushi identify the evils of our world. Our self-opinionated friend, the dragon sorcerer, has just earned himself a long list of enemies."

  Akio’s face lightened, the burdened removed.

  "What of us, the people of Kyuusai? Our lives have been risked for nothing?" Yumi ran her thumb across her shattered blade, before sheathing it. Her face was darker than the dispersing smoke.

  "It is a necessary evil, young one."

  She turned on her heel and, without another word, stepped over the bodies of the fallen and stalked away.

  "One day you may understand." Kaidan whispered.

  Akio moved to follow her but was stopped by Kaidan's staff."She needs time, Akio. We all do."

  The struggle played across the Shugenja's face, but he nodded in the end. "What are you going to do now, Yamabushi?"

  Kaidan pulled the rim of his hat low, casting his face in shadows once more. "I will say goodbye to Yumi's mother. Properly. Then I must meditate further atop the blossom tree. There are many paths to take but I suspect they will all lead back here." He pointed to the buildings of Kyuusai, admiring their rustic grace. Dwellings dead, dying, and still vibrant, like the phases of his heart.

  Mount Akiyama loomed above him and the village. The gentle East Wind was laced with the faint scent of snow blossoms, magic, and adventure. The West Wind whispered of intrigue and discord. Finally the North Wind swirled through, oblivious to the raging South, and carried the distant drums of wars fought for passion and for love.

  The End (for now)