"N–no way…it can't be!" Rina's face went pale. Papa.
"I am afraid it is so."
"W–what about aniki (older brother)?"
"It would appear that Kagemaru and a few ninjas were captured."
Rina was a tall young woman in her late teens and had a long jet black pony tail. She was Kagemaru's half-sister and also their father's favourite, so the news of his death was even more devastating for her to hear. Her dark brown eyes became glassy as tears started forming around them.
"Who the fuck did this!" A sinister aura burst around her and a gale blew in the shrine. "I'll kill them."
"Hmm, I see that Inazuma boy has improved a great deal."
"So, it's that purple-haired brat, huh?" she asked as her facial features twitched in a manic way. "I'll fucking kill him!"
I had already lost Hashimoto–my knight, and now two more pieces. Kagami's face showed zero emotion. I have to accelerate my plans.
Rina was about to jet off in a flash when she was stopped by her sensei with a single hand.
"Now calm down princess, you cannot just rush in heedlessly. It is said that; vengeance is a dish best served cold." He grinned slightly. If the boy managed to defeat Kagero and Kagemaru it means that he can at least use Fudoshin. My, this has Nakamura written all over it. How intriguing!
The shadow princess breathed deeply and her dark aura evanesced. She was now a bit calmer but was still both angry and saddened by the tragic news.
"Isn't it also your desire to become the Shadow Queen? You have already mastered Fudoshin, so be patient and work on your Senshin for the rest of the winter and spring. When summer arrives, you shall have both your wishes granted."
☯
A few weeks after being hospitalized, Asuka had fully recovered and she was appointed as the new leader of the Lightning region. Every villager–both young and old was in attendance to witness the inauguration of their first female Sage. The only other female ruler of the region, prior to the adoption of the Sage title by Kazuro, was his mother Kazue–who had been its first female daimyo.
Two more months passed and the cold winter season finally came to an end. The cherry blossoms' pink flowers started to bloom and wild animals slowly came out of hibernation. Spring was in the air and it was time for change.
When the new month and season arrived, it was time for the ninja graduation ceremony to begin. Graduating at the top of each field that is Intelligence, Battalion and Medical were Takumi, Mikoto and Kohaku respectively. Mikoto was the overall best in all three fields. Kenji and Ayame were also amongst those graduating that spring. Haru however was joining his friend Kazuo for another year as he had failed the previous one. With regards to both strength and skill, Kazuo was probably the most powerful ninja in the entire village. Nevertheless, he still lacked the experience, knowledge and leadership qualities to take on the role of Sage.
After the graduation day and the festivities were over, Sage Asuka summoned Mikoto and Takumi to personally congratulate them herself. Seeing the two graduates reminded her of her own graduation with Hideo and Shin where she too like Mikoto had been the overall best in all three fields. Since Takumi and Mikoto had graduated from the ninja school which had also been like an orphanage for them they could now leave or stay if they so please. They could also take on more challenging missions within and outside of the village. Asuka also handed them their files about their families and upbringing prior to the school.
"I'm a Chiba…" Mikoto murmured, tears forming in her eyes.
She read further about how her biological mother had abandoned her in front of a foster home's doorstep. She was subject to bullying from other kids until Kazutaka took her in when she was seven.
"Thank you so much, Asuka-sama."
Takumi read about the Sato massacre and the disappearance of his parents in the Artisan country when he was only two. He had been sent to an orphanage but when his parents were never found in the fire, Kazutaka who was friends with them, came and took him to Kaminari village. Had it not been for the late Sage, he would have grown up ostracized for the colour of his skin.
So that's why Lord Kazutaka gave me those archives to read about… Grand Artisan Tetsuya was my father. Takumi took off his shades and wiped his eyes. "Thank you very much for this, Lord Asuka." He was even more determined to travel up north to the Artisan country and learn more about his people. Furthermore, this new revelation motivated him to achieve his goal of becoming a Grandmaster there.
The following week, Takumi packed a few things in his satchel and prepared to venture on his journey. He had said his goodbyes to everyone else and his two friends walked with him to the village's main gate. "Goodbye Kazuo, Mikoto. Until we meet again." He waved at them trying not to get sentimental.
"Bye bro…" Kazuo waved back.
"Hey, Taku-kun." Mikoto pouted with sad puppy dog eyes. "You're really going to leave without giving us a hug."
"I'll allow this only one time," said an embarrassed Takumi. He could not say no to that look. "Sure."
They embraced in a group hug.
"Bye Taku-kun…" Mikoto waved. "See you!"
"Farewell guys." Takumi chuckled. "Don't fall for each other whilst I'm away."
"Kazu-kun and I? Never!"
Mikoto blushed and the two boys laughed before she joined in.
Another month passed and springtime came to end. It was now time for summer. When the sun graced the blue sky with its warm radiance, it brought with it much needed rain for two months. In Kaminari village, Asuka requested to train with Kazuo and Mikoto. She imparted her own knowledge and skills from what she had learnt from training under Kazutaka as well as the experience that came with her age and title. The duo also taught her what they had learnt from Hanzo. It was a mutual exchange where everyone involved benefited a great deal.
☯
Back in Kurai village the time had come for Rina to prove her worth to become Queen. She had been involved with supervising Daisuke's training ever since he switched sides and joined the Shadows. All she could think of now was achieving both her goals. She was already a shadow master and ten times stronger than her brother. Her Senshin training had also been progressing smoothly. When summer arrived, her sensei summoned her as he had promised before.
"Kagami-sama, you called for me?"
"The time has finally come princess, are you ready to become Queen?"
Chapter 32: Reunion
Rina was ecstatic that the time for her to get retribution for her father's death had finally come. She listened carefully to each word that came from her sensei's lips. When she heard the full detail of where she would be going and what her mission her jaw dropped to the ground. She turned pale with shock.
"Do I really have to do that Kagami-sama? Why can't I just kill him? And why do I have to go to that place?" she queried. With that witch!
"One at a time princess…" came the calm response. "Firstly, the Grass region is one of our allies and that is due in part to your mother's strong influence there. Secondly, I am well aware that you're both estranged however this will also be an opportunity to not only reunite but also ensure that she's doing her part in spreading the Shadow religion. And lastly about your true mission, you are to take the Inazuma seed if you so wish to be the Shadow Queen."
I wouldn't be different from her if I did that. She tasted bile and cringed in disgust.
"Is anything of the matter, princess?"
"But why should I do that last part Kagami-sama? He killed my papa!"
"I shall tell you the reason some day, princess. If there is nothing else, I shall be taking my leave."
"Before you leave Kagami-sama, how will I know that he will be there?"
"Don't you worry about that, I have already made all the necessary preparations. Just wait for him there, he shall surely come to you."
After their discussion, Kagami then left the temple and to train Daisuke whilst Rina prepared for her journey ahead. Along the way she was greeted and worshiped by every villager. Since her brother had showed no interest ruling, most of the villagers saw her succeeding her father to become its next leader. The time had now finally come for her to prove herself worthy for that title. When she exited the Shadow village perimeter and made her way to the island coast she picked up the pace. As she raced for the seashore the timber and thatched houses also disappeared from view.
Rina had to traverse through a mountainous terrain before reaching the coast several hours later where she boarded a small boat that ferried her to the mainland. The trip on water was half a day and upon reaching the Grass region coast at midnight she set up camp to rest before continuing her trek the following day. Just before daybreak the next morning she was back on track and she reached her destination around midday.
Of the eight regions in the land, the Grass was by far the poorest without any feudal or military system. It was made up of mostly communal towns and districts that depended on farming and had elders to preside over local disputes. The region had once been a feuding zone between the Earth and Fire who had once laid claim over it.
When Rina arrived at the Shiga district, most of the locals commented on how much she resembled the Grass witch. "Hello there." She greeted a small group of peasants. "Do you guys know where Rani stays?"
They all scurried away.
"You're searching for the sorcerer right? I must say you look so much like her," one brave merchant said with a smile. "Lady Sharma helped me with my business, she stays in that secluded cabin over there just after those huts." He pointed.
"Arigatō," she said before offering him some money. "Can I have an apple?"
Rina took a bite out of her juicy red apple and was on her way to the witch's cabin. When she arrived at the place there it seemed desolate. She proceeded to the door and barged inside the cabin. The first thing that came into her sight left her traumatized. There was an ominous feel inside and all sorts of portions in glass tubes neatly displayed on wooden shelves. Directly in front of Rina was a man dressed in only his birthday kimono. He looked like he was in his twenties and was bound on his wrists and ankles onto a wooden board.
Next to the youthful looking man with a well-built body was a tall woman wearing a black sari and had a long bubble ponytail to match. She blurted out before turning to see who had disturbed her sacred ritual, "Don't you know how to knock like everybody else? Oh it's you, Rina."
"Is that how you greet your daughter you haven't seen in like seven years, mother?" Rina's eyes darted off slightly to the man in the room. Why is his thing twitching like that? She furrowed her brows. "What are you even doing to him?"
Rani was a beautiful woman with a youthful appearance that her daughter inherited. She looked as though was in her thirties but the aura about her suggested that she was far much older. Her eyes were lined with black kajal as well as her lips and nails painted with the same colour. On her forehead in between her eagle eye gaze was a black bindi. She stared at her daughter's reaction before glaring at what had caught her attention.
"Oh, Chikao here is one of my followers." Rani tightly gripped on his shaft and the man let out a light moan. "He's helping me make some special soma (Sanskrit: ritual drink) and unlike your sensei, I don't have to sacrifice people in order to look like this." She grinned slightly as she faced her subject. "Am I coercing you to do this, Chikao?"
"Not at all Sharma-sama!" came the high pitched response.
Rani turned to Rina, "So tell me what you are here for? What does he want now?"
Samsāra (Sanskrit: cycle of reincarnation) manipulation! So that's how she keeps looking young. Rina thought. "I was sent to confirm that you're still doing your job here. And I notice that you've got your hands full and you still don't give a fuck about me."
Rani walked slowly towards Rina with outstretched arms, "Of course I'm still doing his bidding and if it's that big of a deal, I'll tell you why I left." She gave her a tight hug. "When I left the Shadow region, I was forced to leave you behind. But believe me I didn't want you to be raised by those men."
"I–I didn't know any of that." Rina almost shed a tear. "Papa said you abandoned us."
"If I seem distant now it's because I had to abandon my feelings and although I may be unable show it… I do care about you, Rina."
"You can let go now…" Rina sniffled and chuckled. "I saw where your hand's been."
Rani let go and they both laughed.
"So tell me dear daughter, are there any boys I should know of?"
Rina's cheeks slightly turned red, "That's not stuff a mother should be talking about with her daughter!"
"When I was in my twenties I had a crush on my sensei but he rejected me. As for your case I can understand because the men around you are either power hungry, scared of you or your father or some just fancy the company of other men instead."
"I'm not really looking for anyone and my only goal is to be the Shadow Queen."
Rina paused shortly.
"I sense that there's a catch… what does he want you to do?"
Rina lost her words so Rani unbound Chikao and sent him off so they could be alone. When the man had left, she let out all of her grief about her father's death and how she wanted to get revenge. She explained what she needed to do to become Queen and the look on her mother's face showed no surprise.
"I knew there was a catch," said Rani. "And I'm sure a great part of you doesn't want to go along with it, right? For your father to become the Shadow King several years after Lord Kagehiko died, he had to kill Kagemaru's mother."
Rina was shocked to hear this news. That's why aniki hated papa so much.
"So what are you going to do?"