The Hinomoto Rebellion (56 page)
The driver came around and opened the door, letting the Aka Ryuu out of the car. “Shogun Kunota and his wife are waiting for you inside,” he said as they piled out.
The six martial artists wandered up the stone steps, looking around and taking in the grandness of the place. As they got to the front door it swung open and an older man motioned for them to come inside.
The Aka Ryuu filed into the mansion, looking around the vaulted foyer. Warm wood stretched out along the floor except for in the living room to the right of the door. Framed paintings graced the light colored walls, depicting peaceful scenes of ancient Hinomoto. The foyer went back into a wide staircase that went off into two directions after some ways up. A large chandelier sent soft golden light down across everything in the foyer while two vertical windows on either side of the door let natural light trickle in through soft gauzy curtains.
“In here,” called a voice from the carpeted living room. The Aka Ryuu turned toward it, and all six of them hesitated for a moment. Kanjou and Andrea finally exchanged a glance and both walked into the adjoining room, followed by 26, Fushi, Roni, and D.
Shogun Kunota and his wife looked at the assembled fighters and both smiled as though greeting old and loved friends. They each looked at the
ronin
, Shinsetsu reaching over to squeeze her husband’s arm as though he was her life raft. He put a hand on the small of her back, giving her silent support and steadying her.
After a brief moment of silence, Shogun Kunota came around the couch, his wife trailing a few steps behind him. “I’m so delighted you all are here,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper. He held out his hand and worked his way down the line, shaking each of their hands and smiling at them. At the end of the line he shook D’s hand and held on to it for a long time. D looked uncomfortable, glancing around nervously. When the Shogun finally let go, Andrea cleared her throat.
Shinsetsu stepped forward. “My husband and I wanted to extend our most heartfelt and personal thanks to the
ronin
– and
Kemono
,” she looked at 26, “who led the attack on Daimyo Yasakuto and his corruption..And who saved my husband’s life, of course.” She kept glancing at D with wide eyes.
“Without the six of you and your incredible courage, my family and I would all be dead. And countless
ronin
would have been slaughtered to sate Yasakuto’s blood lust. This country would still be a hollow shell of what it was meant to be. For that, we all owe you a great debt that cannot be repaid in full. You risked your lives for ours and for Hinomoto. That is not ‘nothing’, in any way, shape, or form.” He walked back over to Andrea and gripped her hands.
“You warned me of the coming danger, and made me face my fears, Andrea. You reminded me what courage is and that there are things still out there that are worth dying for,” the Shogun released Andrea and grabbed Kanjou’s hands now, his fingers small in the brunette’s large ones.
“And you, Kanjou, saved me when I thought I was about to die. You never let your injuries stop you from your mission of protecting me. And despite your pride, you let me help you in return when you needed me. You brought me the truth of Shinrai’s death and his life.”
Kunota moved aside again, grabbing one of Fushi’s hands and one of Roni’s. “Both of you fought against Aki, even though it was difficult because she had been your friend at one time. You risked your lives against a greater foe to help others save those who were needed to battle evil– perhaps the most noble acts of all those here.” Roni and Fushi both were blushing and stammering as the Shogun released their hands and grabbed 26’s next, smiling warmly at the
Kemono
member of the group even as she averted her eyes and looked embarrassed.
“I have now heard much about the strength of the
Kemono
, 26. I have heard about how you lead them, along with Deuce, against the guns of the policemen and the TK Squads. I’ve heard how you didn’t allow yourself to falter, and how you made quick decisions even while under fire. You also helped me understand the true depravity of this government, rather than hating me for being an unknowing participant in it.” If the
Kemono
could have blushed through her fur, she probably would have.
Kunota dropped her furred and clawed hands and reached for D’s.. There was a moment’s pause and everyone watched the two in anticipation. “Densetsu...” the Shogun finally breathed
The older man’s smile widened. “I knew you the moment I saw you. Twenty-two years ago, our first child was born into this world. Before his first birthday he was stolen away from us, and despite searching for him for years, no trace of him was ever found. No ransom demands ever came from his kidnappers. We had lost all hope of ever finding our beloved baby boy with the purple and silver eyes, and the dark hair. We named him Densetsu...”
Everyone looked at the silver-haired girl in confusion. “The night that I first met the Shogun I thought several times that I had met him before. Something familiar about the way you moved, the way you spoke and your face, Shogun. That’s what it was. I was seeing D’s face! D’s movements and expressions!”
What little color D had gained since rejoining with Ryoku drained from his skin. He looked from Andrea to the Shogun, who was still gripping his hand and smiling at him. “You. You’re...” he looked over at Shinsetsu Kunota, who had put her hands up to cover her mouth as tears streamed from her eyes.
“I know this is a shock, Densetsu, but... after so long, we had given up all hope of ever finding you. I hope though that we can make up for the lost years now that you have returned to us.”
D looked up at the Shogun, then his knees gave out and he fell back onto a chair that was behind him. Shinsetsu ran over and crouched down next to D while the others stood frozen to their spots. The delicate woman put a hand on either of D’s pale cheeks and made him look up at her. There was a pause, a moment where something seemed to change between the two people that had only just met. Then D reached up and put a hand on hers. “Mother...?” he croaked out.
Shinsetsu let out a sob and threw her arms around D’s neck while the Aka Ryuu and the Shogun stood and watched. Kanjou slipped a hand around Fushi’s waist, then reached out and grabbed one of Roni’s hands. 26 was wiping tears from her own yellow-green eyes as she watched the scene. Andrea, however, looked uncomfortable. She quietly slipped back out into the foyer, taking a few tentative steps toward the wide, sweeping staircase. She looked up, curious about the rest of the house but knowing it would be impolite for her to go snooping around. She stretched out a hand and laid it gently on the warm wood of the banister, feeling its smoothness under her fingers.
Kunota smiled. “Come with me, Andrea. I want to show you something.” He motioned with his hand and walked up the stairs. Andrea hesitated for a moment, then sighed and followed him.
The second floor was just as tastefully furnished as the first, with the same warm shade of wood paneling on the floors of the hallway. A U-shaped landing stretched around the second floor, leaving an open space in the middle that looked down into the foyer and let the landing bathe in the light from the chandelier. From up here, Andrea saw that above the flat roof covering the porch was a half-circle window with ornate scroll work holding the glass in place and offering a spectacular view of the grounds.
The Shogun led Andrea across the hallway and to a large door that he swung open, stepping into the room beyond and motioning for Andrea to follow. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust after the brightness on the outside landing, but once they did the Tiger let out a short gasp.
The ceiling of the room wasn’t as high as the ceilings on the first floor, but large windows spaced along the walls let in light from around the drawn, heavy curtains. Between the windows and all around the perimeter of the room, as well as spaced evenly in the center, were shelves filled with thousands of books. Andrea looked around, her blue eyes wide at the sight. The Shogun flicked a light switch and the library immediately filled with illumination, throwing soft golden tones over the shelves. In the center of the library was a large desk. In front of the desk were several couches and small tables with reading lamps on them.
Andrea stepped forward, her new shoes squeaking softly on the wooden floor before it transitioned to a small area rug with fringe around the edges. She studied the names printed on some of the books’ spines, mouthing the words to herself and running a finger down a few before she turned to the Shogun with a confused look on her face.
He smiled at her and took a few steps forward, pulling a book out from the shelf above the one she’d been admiring and handing it to her. It was a copy of one of the books he had lent her from his office. She took it and stared at the cover for a moment before he spoke. “Have you thought about what you’ll do now?”
Andrea looked up at him for a brief second, then focused her eyes back on the book. “A little... To be honest though, I don’t know where I’ll go. I don’t really have anyplace to be. I thought about joining a tournament circuit, I’m sure those will be starting up soon. But I just don’t seem to have any passion left for that anymore. Not now, anyway.” She paused, running her hand along the smooth cover of th enovel. “I don’t have any family to go to. Kanjou, Roni and Fushicho have each other. 26 has the other
Kemono
. And apparently D has an entire family that’s been searching for him. I... I don’t have anyone.”
A small chuckle escaped Kunota’s lips. “I get the feeling that the people downstairs would disagree with that statement,” he said before pausing for a moment. “I’m glad that you like the house, however. It’s yours.”
The Shogun motioned to the room. “All of this. The library, the house, the grounds, everything in them. Yours. For you and the Aka Ryuu, so long as you will do me one small favor.”
Now the Tiger understood how D had felt down in the living room. Her mind reeled as she tried to wrap her brain around what he was saying. She took a deep breath and calmed her shaking hands, loosening her grip on the book. “What favor?”
“Whenever a major revolution happens, some small bit of chaos tends to follow. With as much as you all did, there is still work to be done. I need public bodyguards I can trust. And I also need a special task force of sorts, to handle things I can’t send police I do not trust to. Hinomoto still needs the Aka Ryuu to protect it from those that would threaten her. If you and the Aka Ryuu will do this for me, you’ll never want for anything again. Regular paychecks, plus room and board for the rest of your lives if you want them. And I’m sure that the others would agree so long as you do, Andrea.” the Shogun beamed at her like a child who had just presented a gift to their parent and was waiting for approval.
Andrea looked around the library, caressing the book that she still clutched. She thought over the offer as she took in all the books spread out among the shelves. After a few moments she looked back at the Shogun, scrutinizing him with her blue eyes before holding out her hand. “You realize I intend to live a long time now that this is all over, right?” she remarked as Kunota took her hand.
“Good, because I have a lot of reading to do,” she actually smiled at him, a true and genuine smile, “And if those other fools down there want to stay and help me go through these books, they’re welcome to.”
From the doorway behind the
ronin
and the Shogun came a giggle. The two turned to see that at some point the Aka Ryuu and Kunota’s wife had come up and were now standing around the doorway. Kanjou crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door frame. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
26 walked over to the book shelves. “Man...” she breathed, “You’re definitely going to need my help to read all these, Andrea. Guess I’ll have to stay too.” The
Kemono
smiled over at the silverhaired girl.
Roni ran over and threw her arms around the Shogun’s waist in a tight hug. “Me too! Me too! I’m gonna stay!” Andrea nearly reached down and removed the small girl from Kunota, but he just shook his head at Andrea and put a hand on Roni’s head.
D withdrew his hand from Shinsetsu’s– his mother had been gripping on to him like she was afraid he was going to be lost again– and walked over to Andrea. There was a strange and awkward moment where he just stared into her blue eyes, then he nodded. “Far be it from me to separate the Aka Ryuu family,” he said softly before looking at Kunota, “If there is room for one more, I will stay as well.”
A nod went around the room, and then all eyes went to Andrea, who took a moment before she spoke. “Yes... Aka Ryuu... and friends... ‘till the end.” she said.
Family
