"Akio, you must safeguard the scroll. Don’t let the dragon get it. Don’t let Shinichi’s men know of it, either. It must remain secret."
"Too late." Yumi rolled from behind the ruins of the shrine. She was clad in a dark emerald-green gi—wrapped pants and folded jacket bound with a wide fabric belt, ideal for combat. A short sword hung from her belt.
"What are you doing?" Kaidan asked.
"Defending my village."
Kaidan’s eyes darted from Yumi, to the approaching riders, to the cloud of smoke on the horizon, and back again. "Very well. Can you fight?"
The sword flashed from her scabbard, an arc of silver in the afternoon sun.
"Never draw a blade unless you intend to draw blood. You should know this is a samurai tradition." Kaidan moved to the tip of her outstretched wakizashi and pierced a finger on its keen point. A single drop of blood seeped down the edge of the blade, dissolving as it went. "There. The sword will not be restless when you next draw it."
The fire in her eye wavered for a moment before she sheathed the short sword.
"What is so important about that scroll Akio carries?" Yumi asked.
"It's best neither of you know."
"Yamabushi, I do not wish Yumi to face a dragon and armed men. Not with so few to stand with us," Akio said, not looking at the girl at all.
Kaidan turned to Akio and searched his face. "Then say it to her."
Yumi glared at the acolyte as he mustered the courage to meet her gaze.
"Yumi, I..."
She faced Akio, hand on sword hilt, her mouth and fist taut.
"Yumi," Akio repeated. "I don’t want you to die out here with me."
Her expression softened as Akio’s became less guarded and self-aware. It was probably the first honest moment they’d shared since childhood.
"I agree, Akio," Kaidan eyed them both. "Yumi will not die out here. She will help protect the scroll. Both of you seek shelter in the Fujita house. The makeshift shrine will offer some protection."
"But, Yamabushi—"
Kaidan whirled at him, his eyes alight with inner fire.
"Yes, Yamabushi," Akio acceded, offering a bow.
Kaidan looked to Tsubasa, who was unobtrusively nestled on the top of a snapped charcoal pillar. "Yes?"
Tsubasa tilted his head back and released a sharp screech.
Kaidan nodded, before turning to Akio and Yumi. "Hurry. The riders approach. Ensure all the people are indoors. When they are safe, barricade yourselves in the new shrine."
Nine Shinichi samurai trotted into view. They advanced toward the centre of the village. Their path destined them to cross that of Akio and Yumi.
Kaidan raised his seashell horn to his lips and blew two rapid, piercing blasts. With an effortless leap, he ascended to the tallest of the old shrine's ruined pillars, landing next to Tsubasa. The sparrowhawk fluttered his wings a little, but otherwise betrayed no emotion.
Raising the horn again, he sounded it twice more. The samurai turned as one to see him waving his staff in the air. They wheeled their horses around and galloped straight for him, leaving the village unmolested.
As the red-plated samurai drew his troops closer, Kaidan glanced over his shoulder to gauge the advance of the smoke column. The true enemy.
It was close. Within a league, and almost within sight.
The field at this western edge of Kyuusai was flat and surrounded by short, spindly bushes and a few stunted oaks. It was a perfect battleground to duel with a dragon.
The West Wind murmured of promises and deception.
Tsubasa remained on his perch, eyeing the samurai as they circled the razed Shugendo shrine. Instead of finding the Yamabushi, the samurai discovered ghost-white blossoms gently rolling with the wind.