“We’ve lost the sun...”

Mizaki turned his eyes from the steep path ahead when he heard his daughter’s voice.

“It appears so, Ai” he replied as she gently pulled back on the reins to slow her horse to a pace equal to that of the wagon her father guided along the curved road leading upward toward an ancient shrine

“I don’t understand why you’ve decided to transport the mirrors to such an isolated place,” she said, “and one so difficult to reach.”

“For those two reasons alone this was an excellent choice,” he declared. “It‘s less likely they will fall into the hands of thieves, especially since the shrine is located so close to a ghost town abandoned after a deadly plague.”

Their conversation was interrupted abruptly when the scout Mizaki had sent before them rounded the curve ahead on his way back to report. He smiled when he saw the small caravan then quickly rode to meet them as Mizaki slowed the wagon to a crawl.

“The stairs leading to the shrine are a half mile ahead,” informed the scout as he approached. “We’ll have to leave the horses and wagons behind when we reach them. Apparently the rumors we heard were accurate.”

“Rumors, Kosuke?” questioned Ai.

“Hai,” he confirmed. “It was rumored there were a thousand steps leading to the shrine. Although I didn’t count them personally, there certainly appears to be that many. When viewed from the ground, the stairs seem to fade from sight. It’s going to be a long and difficult climb, especially carrying those large mirrors by hand.”

“We will do what we must,” Mizaki responded. “Lead the way. I want to be done with this before the sun sets.”

“It’s past mid-day,” said Ai as they began to move. “We will have to sleep at the shrine tonight.”

“Hai,” her father replied. “There should be plenty of room. All of the monks have left. Only the caretaker, Hsiao, and his aide Souta remain.”

They continued the arduous ascent in reflective silence until the road began to level out and disappear into the trees. The path was more narrow there but soon led to a small clearing, with more than adequate room for the two wagons and fourteen horses. Including Mizaki, his daughter Ai and Kosuke, there were fourteen in their party. There were three mirrors, each requiring four men to lift and carry. If his calculations were correct, they should be securely packed away in storage by sunset.

The small group patiently waited while Kosuke climbed the stairs to announce their arrival, and were pleased when he returned in less than twenty minutes with Hsiao and his aide.

The grey in the caretaker’s hair and lines on his face betrayed his years. Mizaki and Ai bowed in respect when he approached.

“You’ve come a long way,” he said as he greeted them. “I’m Hsiao, and this is Souta. He will help your people transport the mirrors. You and your party are welcomed to stay the night. We’ve rooms prepared.”“Ariegatou gozaimasu (Thank you),” Mizaki replied. 

While he and Hsiao talked, Ai felt as if she were being watched. Instinctively she turned her eyes toward the trees where, for just an instant she saw a shadowy shape suddenly duck from sight.

“What is it?” her father asked.

“I’m not sure,” she replied slowly. “I thought for a moment I saw a young girl watching us from the shadows,” she said as she pointed, “over there.”

Souta looked the direction indicated then glanced nervously at Hsiao, which didn’t go unnoticed by Mizaki.

“I thought you two were alone at the shrine,” he remarked.

“We are,” Souta replied, “the only residents.”

“And the town nearby is abandoned?” asked Ai.“Hai,” he replied.

“Then…” Ai began.

“You may have seen Ayaka,” said Hsiao.

“Ayaka,” Ai repeated. “Colorful flower. A nice name. Who is she?”

“A child from the village.”

“You said the village was abandoned…” Ai began

“Should we unload the mirrors?” Souta interrupted. “It will be dark soon.”

“Hai,” agreed Hsiao, putting an end to the current conversation.

“Yes, of course,” Mizaki said. He gave his daughter a wink then placed a finger to his lips indicating silence as she began to speak. “Ai and I can carry some of our supplies. After the mirrors have been moved a couple of our men can remain with the wagons and horses for the night.”

“There is a small well at the shrine. You can draw water from there for yourselves and the horses,” offered Hsiao.

As everyone busied themselves, and just as she and her father began to follow the caretaker up the stairs, Ai briefly scanned the trees around them for a sign of their silent observer, to no avail. She had an uncomfortable feeling, which she blamed partially on Souta’s interruption earlier, but there was more. Something she sensed but could not explain.

By evening the work was done. Mizaki and Ai watched as Souta moved the thick sliding wall back into place, sealing the mirrors in a hidden room. “Perfect,” said Mizaki. “It was because of that secret room I chose to have those enchanted mirrors brought here. I was not concerned about protecting them from the world…”

“But protecting the world from them.” Ai finished his sentence.

“Hai,” her father agreed. “Their magic is good in essence, but after the events that led to the death of the samurai Ahn Sung Ji, I know they can be employed and manipulated by negative forces for the purpose of evil. Much better that they are tucked away and secured in a holy place rather than at the castle of my former employer.”

“Sanada’s sister is an old and dear friend,” said Hsiao. “I’m pleased I am able to be of service to her.”

“So am I,” Ai stated happily. “Father has a gift when it comes to magic, but those mirrors always made me uncomfortable. Although they could reveal possible future events, I felt it is better we don’t know what will come. Mother always taught me to learn from the past, live in the present and pave the way for a better tomorrow by making wise decisions today.”

“Excellent advice,” mused Hsiao. “She must have been a patient and intelligent individual.”“She was,” said Mizaki

“She taught me well,” Ai added. “Before she left this world she asked me to always take care of father. I’m not certain if she passed on that responsibility to distract me from the grief of losing her, or if she sincerely believed father needed someone to watch over him.”

“A bit of both I presume,” Mizaki said with a smile.

While Hsiao and her father shared a laugh, Ai glanced for a moment at Souta, who quickly turned his face from her, as if in guilt or shame. As before she let it go, but inwardly wondered about his odd behavior since she had mentioned seeing the young girl in the trees at the clearing. 

Soon, awakened by an uncanny sense of being watched, Ai opened her eyes to see a young girl seated quietly on the floor near her pallet. Startled, she blinked then squinted as the girl slowly rose and turned to glide away.  Pausing for a moment at the curtain that served as a door, she looked back at Ai, then, without moving it aside, abruptly passed through it as if it wasn’t there. Ai rose quickly and followed her into the torch lit hall, where the girl stood waiting.

“Ayaka…?” Ai spoke. 

The child smiled, then turned and silently moved on, pausing after a few steps to glance back again at Mizaki’s daughter, as if she wanted her to follow. When Ai took a step her direction the girl continued on her way, leading her outside of the shrine through the darkness to a wooded area a short distance from the building, where she suddenly disappeared. Ai hurried to that spot and a few feet away saw Souta kneeling before a small stone memorial. He slowly turned to look as she approached, but did not seem surprised to discover her there. When she came closer she saw that he had placed fruit, bread and a small cup on a flat rock in front of the memorial.“Did she lead you here?” queried Souta.

“Hai,” Ai replied.

“She’s restless since you arrived. You are the first woman to visit this shrine since she died,” Souta explained. “Ayaka was my niece…my brother’s only child.”

“She was so young…” mused Ai. 

“A victim of the plague,” said Souta. “My brother died first, followed by her mother. By the time I arrived at their home Ayaka was gone and her grandmother soon after. Most everyone in the village and surrounding area had left by then. Those unaffected or those who survived abandoned the others.”

As she listened she thought about what he said initially, that Ayaka was restless since she arrived. She was reminded of Kasumi then, a young girl who became attached to her after losing her mother. It made sense, she thought, why Ayaka would only now show herself.

“Where is her mother buried?” Ai asked.

“At the cemetery outside the town, beside her husband.”

“Why did you lay Ayaka to rest here…alone?”

“This is a holy place,” he replied. “Peaceful and quiet. Safe from grave robbers. I am closer to her here and can visit her daily.”

“She should be near her mother,” Ai said firmly. “That is why she is restless. If you want her to remain here, close to you, then you should move her parent’s remains here as well. I’m surprised Hsiao hasn’t suggested it.”

“He doesn’t know I’ve buried my niece here…” Souta reluctantly revealed.

“Ah so…” Ai responded thoughtfully.

“I can only imagine what you’re thinking,” said Souta. “It’s long past time to tell him.”The following morning, Mizaki awoke with a foreboding, an uneasy feeling, as if something were amiss. The eerie impression was reinforced by a gloomy, overcast sky. He sensed something uncanny was afoot, and later assumed it was due to the clandestine actions of Hsiao’s assistant. He and his daughter Ai stood by as Souta revealed to Hsiao that he had moved Ayaka’s ashes to a small, makeshift memorial on the grounds of the shrine.

“That explains a lot,” said Hsiao. “I knew she haunted this place, but had no idea why. I believe the best thing to do now is to bring the urns of her parents here and place the three of them in an appropriate grave inside the shrine.”

Souta bowed low in gratitude, and begged for forgiveness.“If you want my forgiveness for misjudging me, you’ve got it. But I trust that from now on you will have the confidence to speak to me regarding anything. If you had asked about bringing your family’s remains here to begin with, I would have happily granted your request.” 

Awhile later, following breakfast, as Mizaki and his entourage were departing, Souta thanked Ai for her intervention and informed her that he would retrieve the urns of Ayaka’s parents before the day was done.

Afterward, as the small caravan began their descent Ai’s attention was drawn to place in the trees that lined the clearing at the base of the stairs. For just a moment Ayaka appeared there, and when their eyes met, she smiled and then slowly faded from sight. It was the young spirit’s way, Ai understood, of showing her gratitude.

Although the others were oblivious of Ayaka’s brief appearance, while they made their way single file down the mountain they were aware that unlike the previous day, the woods were quiet. There was no breeze to stir the trees, and no sounds of birds or insects. The closer they came to the bottom of the escarpment, the clouds began to lift, until finally at ground level the sky was clear, with the exception of that area directly above the mountain. That part of the sky was still overcast, with grey and black clouds swirling as if being stirred in a celestial mixing bowl. 

Ai paused for a moment to look back and was mildly shocked by the sight. Mizaki, noticing her confused expression, likewise turned. Although not surprised by what he saw, the foreboding he had sensed earlier returned with a vengeance.   

Sky, stirred to wakefulness by intuition, opened her eyes just enough to notice Bara seated on the pallet beside hers. “What are you doing?” she asked. “It’s still dark. Are you having trouble sleeping?”

“Hai…” Bara replied.

“What is it?” Sky asked while gently rubbing her eyes.

“I was awakened by a dream,” she replied as if deep in thought.

“A dream…” repeated Sky. “A nightmare?”

“I saw Asako,” she said as she turned to face Sky. “She warned me of approaching danger.”

“What kind of danger?” Sky asked as she rose to a seated position.

“Evil…” she said, “and darkness. Something that cannot touch her, so it intends to cause her to suffer by hurting those close to her.”

“Everyone close to her?”

“Not everyone,” Bara confirmed, “only those who helped defeat the shadows, especially Asuka.”

“But it was just a dream, wasn’t it?” Sky wondered.

“It was much more than that,” Bara said ominously, “it was a warning.” 

Later that same day and many miles away from the Shrine of Autumn Mists… “It’s rather interesting,” mused Asuka, “how detached one can be from everything going on when gripped by grief.”

The peaceful atmosphere of the Jade Teahouse was abruptly shattered by a heavy fist slamming down on the surface of a table as a belligerent inebriated patron bellowed… “More sake!”

Their conversation interrupted, Asuka and her sister Mariko turned their heads in the direction of the chaotic outbreak.

“I want more sake!” the large man demanded, pushing the table away as he haphazardly stood up and raised a hand to strike the frightened young waitress.

In a blink, Asuka crossed the room and coming from behind, roundhouse kicked the brutish lout behind his right knee. His leg instantly buckled and he dropped, his knee striking the hard surface of the wood floor. He cried out in pain, then angrily lashed out with a tirade of curses before Asuka struck him with an elbow on the side of the head. Still conscious, he was dumbstruck for just a moment.

Mariko hurried to the side of the waitress and her father Toshiro was rushing to the scene as the drunken man attempted to stand.

“Who hit me?” he yelled as he straightened up.

“Please customer,” Toshiro implored, “You’ve had enough sake. Too much. I told the girl not to give you any more.”

“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough, old man!”

Asuka stepped between him and her father then, distracting him momentarily. He studied the diminutive girl a few seconds, then noting her black hakima pants and short, pageboy hair, sneered as he accused… “It was you wasn’t it? A little shrimp like you, hitting me from behind!” 

She defiantly glared at him in silent response.

“What’s with that stare…?” he shouted, then became quiet as he noticed her eyes. They were dark, with a hint of blue, the result no doubt of her union with Asako. “Are you some kind of freak?” he taunted, as Toshiro, a big man himself, stepped forward. The drunk made a fist and swung at him, striking a glancing blow on the right side of his face as the innkeeper moved to avoid being hit. A left hand punch was double forearm blocked by Asuka, directly followed by an elbow thrust to the solar plexus, back fist to the temple and a side snap kick to his chest. The brute slid back a short distance before falling unconscious to the floor.

As he dropped limply to the wooden surface everyone in the room, including her father and sister stared in stunned disbelief as Asuka nonchalantly brushed off her hakima, went to the man’s table to retrieve his cup and walked toward the kitchen as though nothing had happened.

“Asuka chan…” Mariko intoned questionably. 

Elsewhere, not far from the Jade Teahouse, a traveling merchant, Saburo Fujiwara, nonchalantly guided his wagon of wares toward the isolated town of Tsukimi. On the horizon there was the vague hint of a rising moon, almost transparent, as if viewed through a thin veil. Enchanted by the rare sight, Saburo sighed, just before speaking to his horses… “I’ve heard it said that from beautiful skies like this, angels descend from heaven.” 

Deciding to pause briefly to better admire the sight and the natural arboreal beauty of his surroundings, he stopped the wagon, unaware of danger lurking nearby. A short distance away on a wooded rise, concealed in a tree amid the rocks and foliage, an outlaw notched an arrow to his bowstring and took aim. Before he could release the barb a rock out of the blue forcefully struck his hand, causing him to drop the weapon as he grunted painfully. The guttural sound of his voice startled a flock of birds and sent them fluttering noisily through the leafy limbs of adjacent trees. 

Saburo abruptly sat bolt upright. Attentively straining his ears, he patiently waited a few moments, listening for any sound or indication of a threat. Finally deciding all was well, he prompted the horses to move on. 

Meanwhile, on the wooded hill, a petite girl in black with a sling in one hand arrived at the base of the tree just as the renegade archer was descending. Caught off guard at the sight of her, he paused as his feet touched the ground, just before bending down to retrieve his bow. Reacting quickly she took advantage of his momentary indecisiveness, springing forward as he attempted to notch an arrow. She tackled him successfully but they both went down, locked in a vicious struggle. Minutes later they managed to stand while fiercely grappling. Suddenly releasing his hold on her, the outlaw swung his arms wildly before sending a powerful punch toward her face. His fist made contact with her forehead, causing her to stumble backward before losing balance. Already stunned before she fell, she went unconscious after striking her head on a large rock, after which she laid deathly still.The bowman stared at her a moment, taking note of the blood stained rock beneath her head. Certain she was dead or soon would be, he retrieved his bow and made a hasty retreat.  In so doing he noticed her horse tethered to a nearby tree. Considering the discovery a stroke of luck he took the animal and rode away in haste, before some passerby discovered his crime.

A few moments later and quite a distance from where he had been, a loud whistle sounded. Immediately the horse stopped and began to buck violently, until successfully flinging the thief from the saddle. He landed heavily on the ground, dazed from the impact but otherwise unharmed. As he shook his head and attempted to stand he saw a petite girl step onto the road about twenty feet from where he landed and the horse happily trotting toward her. In her hand she held a sling with a stone ready to strike.

“Impossible…” he exclaimed. “How can it be? I left you unconscious and lying on your back a kilometer from here.”

“One good turn deserves another…” she said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Wait…you’re dressed in white,” he declared. “You were wearing black…” then a thought fearfully occurred to him, “Did you die back there? Are you a ghost?

”Rather than give a verbal reply, she spun the sling and sent the stone flying, strategically striking his forehead and knocking him flat on his back. 

A few hours later, when he regained consciousness he found himself bound by ropes and two identical girls observing him intently.

“He’s awake,” said the girl in black. “You win.”

He frantically blinked his eyes, looking incredulously first at one and then the other.

“Yasa!” exclaimed the girl in white. “You’ll pay for our next meal, and remember, the winner can have whatever she wants.”

“Hai,” the other agreed, “but I thought for certain you had killed him.”

“Not so,” she replied. “I’ve really been working on the intensity level of my swing and release.”

“Who are you?” he interrupted with an expression of exasperation masking his face. “And why am I bound up?”

“I’m Aiko,” replied the girl in black.

“I’m Aika,” said the one in white. “You’re tied up because…”

“…you’ve been bad.” The girl in black finished her sister’s sentence, while removing a rolled parchment from her tunic.

“Even before,” Aiko continued, “you attempted to injure that traveling merchant, left me for dead and stole my horse.” 

His heart sank when he heard that.

Aika accepted the parchment from Aiko, unrolled it and gazed at it before showing it to her sister and then their captive… “Seems that you are a wanted man, Hayashi san.”

“That’s not me…” he protested.

“That’s what they all say,” mused Aika. “One would think they rehearsed that line in case of capture.”

“Maybe they learn that in outlaw school,” said Aiko sarcastically.

“I know you,” he whined. “You’re bounty hunters. Push and Pull; the Petulant Pair.”

“The Petulant Pair…” repeated Aiko. “I’ve heard that some call us the Precocious Pixies.”

“I rather prefer that,” added Aika. “Grandmother always calls us by that name.”

“That’s true,” Aiko agreed, “but personally I like Petulant Pair.”“Naturally, you would,” said Aika, “if for no other reason than to disagree with me.”

“But that’s acceptable,” determined Aiko, “because after all, there are two of us…”

“…and each entitled to an opinion,” declared Aika with a smile.

“You two are mad!” their captive yelled suddenly.

Both girls turned to look at him.

“I know your reputation…” he began once he was certain he had their attention.

“If you know that much,” Aiko interrupted, “then you know you can’t bargain with us.” 

“There is quite a remarkable price on your head,” Aika proclaimed. “I’ll need my half to pay for my sister’s dinner. She’s small but has a big appetite.” 

The early morning breeze against his face and the memories it brought to mind caused him to smile as he gazed at the vast expanse of sea. It was a clear, sunny day and as far as he could see toward the horizon the blue water, fading in the haze of distance, appeared to merge seamlessly with the equally blue sky.  As majestic a view as it was from where he stood on the shipyard dock of this small coastal town, he was certain it paled in significance to the view he might have from a sea-going vessel in mid ocean with no land in sight.

“Yoshida san…”

Hearing his name spoken, Tadashi Yoshida turned his eyes from the sea to the protection forces officer who had just walked up behind him.

“Hai,” he replied, “You must be Captain Hideo…” 

“I am,” he said as he lowered his eyes to gaze for a moment at the twin swords the young man had secured by his obi (belt). “I was told you are searching for the Left Hand of God.”

“Hai,” said Tadashi. “I am his apprentice. We were separated when the empire no longer required the service of the samurai. I’ve managed to follow his exploits as far as this place.”

“Ah so,” Captain Hideo spoke slowly while turning his gaze to the sea. “He is quite a hero. The first time he was here he rescued a young girl held hostage by a ruthless undesirable. Afterward he left on a ship bound for the continent. When he returned a few months later he paid me a short visit before leaving for Tsukimi. It was some time ago. That was when I last saw him.”

“Tsukimi…” Tadashi Yoshida repeated thoughtfully, “Moon-view… Ariegatou gozaimasu (Thank you). Could you perhaps tell me, Captain, how would one get to Tsukimi from here?”

That night, and miles away from Captain Hideo’s village, Yukari Yoshida strained her eyes to read as the flame of the large candle on her left began to flicker. ‘Almost gone…’ she thought to herself when she inspected the stone lamp. It was no wonder that she was tired, she reasoned, as she closed her eyes and gently rubbed the lids with her index fingers. When she opened them her attention was diverted to the shadows on the wall. They quivered and seemed to dance in the flickering light save for one, a large one that remained still. She stared at the dark black shape a few seconds and momentarily felt a chill at the back of her neck. It moved then, but unlike the other shadows it eased over to one side.

Yukari placed both hands on the table and slowly sat up straight, all the while gazing at the ebony mass. It seemed as if time had stopped until, startled by a sudden knock on the door, she gasped loudly and at that moment the shadow came alive and sped across the room, knocking a metal bowl off a small table in the process. As it landed with a clang and bounced over the wood floor the door swung violently open and a black clad girl, one hand on the hilt of her wakizashi sword, rushed into the room directly in the path of the retreating mass. In a blur of motion she drew her blade and sliced through the shapeless black blob, splitting it in two. Each half circumvented the girl, raced toward a large, ornately framed mirror and disappeared into the face of the glass. It happened so quickly that neither she nor Yukari was certain it happened at all.

“Yoshida sama!” she exclaimed. “Are you okay?”

“I’m unharmed, Usagi,” she responded, “but shaken.” “What was that noise?” Usagi scanned the room as she spoke.

“A bowl hit the floor,” Yukari replied as if in a daze. “Something knocked it off the table…”

“Something?” Usagi repeated. “That thing…”

“Hai…” she replied pensively. “Then it did happen.”

“It did…” said Usagi. 

Following a brief pause Yukari asked Usagi to help lay the mirror face down on the floor. She did so without question. When it was done they left the room, and Yukari locked it from the outside. “That should do for now,” she decided. “Tomorrow I’ll have workers paint over the glass. I would like you to carry a message to my cousin Kaji at the Shrine of Autumn Mists.”

“Hai,” Usagi replied. 

“I will explain as we walk the corridor,” said Yukari. “By the way, what prompted you to come to the library at this late hour?”

“Something,” Usagi replied. “A ‘feeling’…I can’t explain it, but was compelled to check on you…” she said slowly without completing the sentence.

Yukari stared at her a moment before asking… “What is it? What are you thinking?”

“Something odd,” she replied. “It just occurred to me. When I entered your room my hand automatically went for my short sword. The handle was vibrating…as if in anticipation.”

“Are you certain of that?” Yukari asked.

“Hai,” she replied. “It was as if it was somehow aware of something amiss and anxious for use. That’s never happened before.”

“It seems,” Yukari surmised, “that we are dealing with something extremely unusual.”

“Hai,” Usagi agreed. “Something not of this world…”