“I’m sorry. I can’t sense him. We need to go, it won’t be safe here for long.”
Takako shook her head. “But no one has come for four days. Maybe it’s safe here. Maybe Shigeru won and is working hard to get here.”
“No.” Ryuu’s voice was firm. “If he is safe, he can find us. If he is in danger, we are too. If he is dead, Orochi is coming after us next, and we aren’t far enough away.”
Takako looked ready to argue the point, but Ryuu shot her a glare which quieted her. They started collecting the few belongings they had and prepared food for travel. They were ready to leave in a short time. Ryuu had resigned himself. Shigeru was dead and from that point on he would have to find his own path.
Three paces out of the farmhouse, Ryuu sensed him, and a grin broke out on his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so much relief, so much happiness. Ryuu dropped his sack and ran, terrifying Takako. He ran and ran until he found him and caught him mid-stride, hundreds of paces from the house. Shigeru was bloody and ragged, but it looked like at least most of the blood was from others. Ryuu lent Shigeru his support and walked him back to the house.
Shigeru smiled weakly as all three of them met. “I’m glad to find you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make it on time.” With that, the energy seemed to drain out of him and Ryuu had to have Takako help him carry Shigeru to the farmhouse. The two of them worked silently at mending him. Takako found some of the cuts were deep, and they worked on preparing him for rest and healing. It was clear whatever he had been through had almost taken his life.
After he was cleaned and bandages were applied they stood up and washed. Takako was looking at Ryuu with concern etched on her face.
“He’ll be fine. The deep cuts will need some time to heal, but he’ll live.”
Ryuu nodded and finally broke down. He embraced Takako, surprising her. “I can’t lose him. He’s like a father to me.”
Takako gently returned his embrace. “I know.”
After two days of rest, Shigeru was up and moving again, even though he moved like an old man. Once Ryuu was sure Shigeru was healthy, he rediscovered his anger. He was upset there was still so much he didn't know, starting with how Shigeru had gotten away from his pursuers.
Shigeru let out another one of his full grins at the question. He was in a better mood than ever. Near-death experiences seemed to agree with him. "I wanted to live more than he wanted to kill me. We played cat-and-mouse for a while in the woods and I managed to take out all his retainers. I caught him with a throwing knife. Then I ran, and he did not pursue me."
Ryuu was confused. "Why not? If he's a strong as you say he is, why didn't he follow you?"
"Because he doesn’t want to die and wasn’t sure if I’d poisoned the blade. We haven’t fought for many cycles. I don’t know which of us is stronger. He's a patient man and will bide his time until victory is certain. Or at least until the field is equal."
Ryuu's anger burned brightly. "And he senses better than you do. What's to say he hasn't followed you here?"
"He will. If there is one thing I know about Orochi, he will never give up. If he hasn’t given up in this long, he’ll never stop until all of us are dead. I don’t think he was able to follow me closely enough to track us down right away. I may be wrong, but I suspect we have at least a few days before he manages to track us down. If he goes for further reinforcements, we will have even longer."
Ryuu couldn't ever remember being this angry before. "You took a huge risk coming back here!"
It was enough to make Shigeru upset as well. "Yes, I did, but I needed to see you again. I hoped this day would never come, that I could train you, make you strong, and avoid the sins I committed. I thought we had hidden well and that no one would ever find us. I was wrong. Fine. But I have to finish your training, which will happen tonight. Don't let your feelings for the girl get in the way of your rationality!"
That was enough to silence Ryuu. Shigeru was right. He hadn’t realized it. He was much less willing to take risks because of Takako's presence, but wasn't willing to give Shigeru the same benefit for wanting to see him again. It was unfair of him.
Ryuu bowed. When he came back up he was calm again. "You are right. I'm sorry, Shigeru."
"It's okay. We’re all stressed and I'm afraid it won't be over soon. However, it is how we compose ourselves in these times that determine who we are. The smart thing for me to do would have been to leave you forever, but I didn't. Our feelings will have that effect."
The rest of the day passed quickly. Shigeru tested his body while Takako and Ryuu prepared for the journey, finding as much food as they could and preparing it. As the sun set, Ryuu breathed a sigh of relief. It was good to have Shigeru back again.
The night started out like any other. They enjoyed an excellent meal of game and berries they had found in the vicinity, and Takako had outdone herself in their preparation. The three of them managed to have a conversation that was almost normal, almost like a family who had gathered for a reunion. They kept the fire burning well after they were done with the meal and sat around sharing stories of their lives.
During a pause between stories, Shigeru moved everything forward. "This is good. This is what I have always wanted, and I am glad I’ve achieved it, now so close to the end."
Ryuu startled. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but not that.
"Ryuu, as you know, twice I have asked you what path you wanted to take. The path I follow, and the one followed by several others, is not an easy one. You were given the choice when we first met, and you were given the choice when you took your first life. The third choice is offered at the end of your training period. Although there is much more for you to learn, even regarding the sense, there is nothing else I can teach you. My own training ended prematurely, and I have passed along all that I was trained and all I have figured out on my own since then."
"Typically, the third choice is as follows. You may follow the path that you have been set on, or you may choose to die, here and now. Once one reaches this level of skill it is unsafe to allow one free rein."
Takako started to cry.
"But, Ryuu, you are my son if I ever had one. I am proud of you. I could never offer you such a choice. Instead, I repeat the offer you’ve rejected twice. You can continue upon the path you've been set on. I tell you now the truth, that it will cost you the lives of those you love, as it may very well cost you your life. There is no reward, no honor that is guaranteed. Only that you will have a life of hardship, toil, and violence."
"Your other choice is to leave the Three Kingdoms. I know of a place, a place where you could hide with Takako. You could live the life of a normal man, working for a living, enjoying the companionship of another. Raise a family. The choice is yours."
Ryuu looked closely at Shigeru. It was clear now that Shigeru was a torn, broken man. He loved Ryuu and was grateful for the child he had raised. But he also saw the error of his ways, that the child he raised would inherit the sins of his father, whatever those may be. Shigeru wanted him to take the way out. He wanted Ryuu to escape, to leave the Three Kingdoms and live with Takako.
He looked over to Takako. It was the best offer he had heard. She was beautiful and kind. He didn't know whether she would ever love him, but getting to know her was one of the greatest times of his life. The possibility of being able to continue being with her was incredibly tempting.
But he also never would have met Takako if he hadn't followed the path Shigeru put him on. His life hadn't always been easy, and he still had trouble reconciling that he was a murderer. What was the way to show Shigeru the respect he deserved - to continue on the path set before him, or to abandon it now when he had completed training?
Ryuu’s mind raced back and forth. There seemed to be nothing worthwhile about the life of a nightblade. It wasn’t the life of glory he imagined as a child. Shigeru had made that clear.
He studied Takako, lost in her own thoughts. She hadn’t consented to anything, and it was just as likely she would leave when given the chance as stay with Ryuu. She hadn’t forgiven him for what happened to her family. Maybe she never would. He wanted to ask her what to do, but knew it was wrong to put the decision on her. She had been pulled into this life. This was his decision to make, and it was his life. Her decision would come later.
The silence stretched on eternally, the only sound between them the crackling of the fire burning down.
He wanted so badly to take the easy path, but something inside of him fought against it. Ryuu looked at Shigeru. He was a good man. He had taken lives, but he had also saved lives. Was there anything greater? He couldn’t rationalize it, but he knew that even if he ran away with Takako and she accepted him he would never know peace. There wasn’t peace for anyone who had the power he possessed.
He didn’t want to.
“I’ll continue on the path.”
His decision was met with a sad nod by Shigeru and tears from Takako. Shigeru understood his decision, but he couldn’t imagine how Takako felt. He had chosen the path of war over the path of peace. He didn’t know how to make it clear his decision wasn’t to reject her.
Shigeru too, was crying as he continued speaking. "So be it. The choice has been made although I wish it would have been otherwise. You should consider your training complete. I have something that I’ve been holding onto now for quite some time.”
Shigeru dug in his pack and pulled out a small package. He handed it to Ryuu, who unwrapped it carefully. They were a new set of robes, dark as night. Ryuu knew immediately they were the robes of a nightblade.
“These used to be mine, but now they are yours. They are given to students who complete their training. It’s my honor to present them to you.”
Ryuu held the robes in silence. He loved them but couldn’t find the words to say so. Shigeru seemed to understand. He nodded and gestured to the fire.
“Now, build the fire back up, for I have a story to tell. You need to know my story and the time is now. It will explain to you all that you don't know."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The fire crackled around the three of them and Shigeru took his time and held each of them in his eyes. He hesitated. Was telling this story a bad decision? Wasn’t it already too late? Shigeru didn’t know anymore. He used to have hope. After this moon he knew firsthand how strong Orochi was. He could sense it. Orochi was much stronger than he was. He had lied when he told Ryuu he wasn’t sure. Together, perhaps, they could win but he wouldn’t risk it. He had built a life for Ryuu and now the journey was Ryuu’s.
It saddened him. He had found, after over forty cycles of searching, the peace he had dreamed of as a youth. Not as his masters had intended, but true peace nonetheless. He loved Ryuu and Takako, even though he had just met her. Her spirit was strong. He wasn’t sure Ryuu had a chance with her, not after what happened, but he loved her just the same. He could sense fate twisting around Ryuu, and while he had no idea where fate would lead them, his last gift would be the last of the knowledge he could offer.
Ryuu was better than him. His sense was superior and Shigeru knew he wasn’t even close to discovering all he was capable of. His swordsmanship was also superior, and if he didn’t hesitate when training against Shigeru he would have realized it himself long ago. He could show better judgment, but it was tough to say. The boy was young. He still seemed too young to be on his own, and Shigeru would try to stay alive for him, but if he could give his life for the boy’s he would do so without hesitation.
“It is a good night for a story. The night is cold outside, but we are gathered here around a fire, just like our ancestors were. That is something I should remind you of, Ryuu. In all the stories I’ve told you, our ancestors wandered. It is a fate I foretell for you as well. Once one reaches a certain power, trouble seems to follow them, and the only way to protect the innocent is to keep traveling. It’s a legend among nightblades, but seems to hold true throughout history. I tried to break the cycle, to live the life of a normal man, attached to the land, to a space, but fate has caught up to me as well.”
Shigeru saw Ryuu was about to interrupt and held up his hand. “Please, indulge me. I’m feeling sentimental tonight, and I would like to tell this story in one piece if I could.”
Ryuu bowed. Shigeru paused, unsure of where to begin. He had hoped for so long he would never have to tell the story he had forgotten how he should tell it.
“The first thing you should know is the history they teach in the Three Kingdoms is incomplete. All histories are, of course, but there are secrets you must know, secrets which people in the Three Kingdoms have never guessed at. You must keep them, for to let them go, to let them slip over too much drink or in a moment of carelessness would bring disaster upon all our heads.”
“After the Great War, it was not a good time to be a nightblade. The dayblades had thrived, most of them going into the monasteries and receiving pardons from the governments. They standardized a curriculum to teach to all those born with the sense, but in devising this curriculum ensured their eventual destruction. The sense is an organic entity. It is an incredible human achievement, the pinnacle of observation and awareness, but it is also natural. The sense is part of a larger whole, a larger fabric even our best philosophers could only guess at. Even you, Ryuu, are only beginning to grasp all you could achieve. It manifests itself differently in people, and people learn it in different ways. A standard curriculum is the lowest bar, but over hundreds of cycles, it is all the monasteries know, and it is why you could defeat their strongest warriors without even breaking a sweat.”