Page 23 of Night of the Dragon

We found a path leading down the rise into the valley, and followed the narrow trail until the road widened and the gates of the city loomed before us. Unlike the Imperial capital of Kin Heigen Toshi, where lines formed outside the city gates to be allowed through, there was very little foot traffic on the road to and from the Tsuki capital; few travelers passed us, and the ones that did gave the barest of nods as they went by.

A pair of warriors in the black-and-silver colors of the Moon Clan guarded the gates of the city, their spears glinting in the evening light as they watched us approach. I had been hoping to blend in with other travelers going to the capital, but there were no crowds; Tatsumi and I were the only ones on the road.

“Halt.”

I stifled a wince as one samurai left his post, stepping in front of me to block the gates. He didn’t point his weapon at me, but his eyes were hard as they gave me a cursory glance before sweeping toward Tatsumi.

“More outsiders,” he said flatly, making my heart leap to my throat. “State your business here. Are you with the group that came through earlier?”

“A-another group?” I repeated as Tatsumi straightened beside me. My heart pounded, and I leaned forward hopefully. “Was there a Taiyo noble, a shrine maiden and a yojimbo?”

The samurai relaxed, though he looked more annoyed than relieved. He turned back to answer, but suddenly froze, a look of disbelief crossing his face as he stared at me. I held my breath, wondering if he had somehow seen my true self and knew I was kitsune.

“H-hai,” he finally whispered. “The group you described is already here, my lady. They are with the daimyo now.” Stepping back, he gave a quick bow, his eyes on the ground. “We will take you to the palace, please follow us.”

Relieved, but a bit confused, I followed the samurai through the gates into the streets of Shinsei Yaju.

Immediately, I could feel the presence of the kami.

It was like stepping into the heart of the sacred forest, only instead of trees, buildings, houses and shrines surrounded us. The city was full of kami. I saw kodama everywhere, in the branches of ancient trees growing along the road, skipping over the roofs of houses, even perched on the shoulders and heads of some humans, who were either used to the tiny kami’s presence or oblivious. A bird with brilliant red plumage and long tail feathers wreathed in flame sat preening on the roof of a shrine, while below, a ghostly dog followed a boy through the streets, wagging its tail when the child turned to talk to it.

A giggle caught my attention. Glancing over, I saw a girl sitting on the steps of a simple house, a paper pinwheel in one small hand. She waved at me, and I caught the flash of yellow in her large eyes, saw the familiar black-tipped ears standing atop her head, and my breath caught. But when I stopped to call out to her, she turned and scurried up the steps to her house, bushy tail flowing behind her, and vanished through the doors of the house.

“So, yokai live here, too,” Tatsumi murmured as we continued down the street. “Or, at least, they’re not reviled and shunned. There was a bakeneko sitting on a fence earlier, and I’m sure I saw a kappa under one of the bridges. It’s amazing they can live here without bloodshed.”

“They have everything they need here,” I realized, feeling an odd sense of longing tug at me. “The humans in this place accept them. They’re not strange or monstrous or something to be feared—they’re part of the natural world, just like the kami.”

“I can see why the Moon Clan prefers to stay isolated,” Tatsumi went on, watching as a glowing white moth drifted down, transparent wings beating erratically, to hover around him. “And why outsiders aren’t allowed into their cities. Not all clans would take such a peaceful approach to the arrangement here.”

I didn’t answer. The kitsune girl had appeared again, leaping down the back steps of her home, only this time she was met by two children of similar age. They laughed together, bouncing around each other, and then all three of them scampered off, disappearing around a corner.

I took a shaky breath and turned away, a stinging sensation in my eyes. “I’m glad,” I whispered. “I’m glad they have somewhere they can be themselves. Where they can be safe.”

Tatsumi didn’t say anything to that, and we continued in silence through the city.

The Moon Clan Palace loomed above us as we crossed an arched bridge and made our way toward its gates. Fierce komainu statues, ten times larger than Chu, flanked the opening, their stone gazes proud and defiant. I wondered if, like Chu, they could also come alive to defend the palace if called upon. Past the gates was a serene, peaceful garden, raked white sand and bamboo glittering under the rising yellow moon. A few nobles were outside, clustered in small groups, their voices muted in the shadows.

As we passed a trio of noblewomen standing by a small pond, one of them glanced up, and her eyes went wide as she saw me. Quickly, she spun back, averting her gaze, but the frenzied whispers and furtive glances over their shoulders made my tail bristle. Tatsumi frowned. He, too, had seen the odd behavior, but there was nothing we could do but follow the guards up the steps and through the main entrance of the palace.

The hall beyond the enormous double doors glowed softly with lantern light, casting an orange light over the polished wood-and-tile floor. More nobles were scattered throughout the chamber, along with several samurai and guards. I saw more stares thrown my way as we crossed the room, caught the looks of confusion and disbelief in the eyes of the humans around me, and wondered, in this city full of kami, spirits and yokai, if theyallcould see through my disguise to the kitsune beneath.

And if they could see the fox striding so boldly through the palace, could they also see the demon beside her?

Near the back of the chamber, where the golden statues of a phoenix and a dragon loomed over the assembly, a voice rose into the air. Stern, female and instantly familiar. A small group of people clustered beneath the statues; I could see a ripple of long white hair, a small figure in red hakama, a lean form with a bow strapped over his back.

I gasped and rushed forward. “Minna!” I called, waving my arm. “Daisuke, Reika, Okame-san, you made it!”

They whirled, their faces registering disbelief and shock. “Yumeko,” Reika cried, and hurried forward to throw her arms around me in a brief embrace. I returned it, but almost immediately, the shrine maiden pulled back to look me in the eye, her expression stern once more. “Are you all right?” she demanded, slender fingers digging into my arms. “What happened after the ship went down? Where...?” Her gaze flicked to Tatsumi, standing silently at my back, and a slender brow arched. “Kage-san?”

I didn’t see Tatsumi, but he must’ve nodded, for she relaxed and turned back as Daisuke and Okame stepped forward, as well. “Yumeko-chan.” Okame grinned, shaking his head. “So, you made it. I tried to tell these two not to worry, that you have the luck of Tamafuku himself. Even after we got separated, I knew you and Kage-san would turn up in the most unexpected place possible.”

“Is that so?” Reika said flatly. “And who was drinking himself into a stupor that first night because he was sure they were both eaten by the umibozu?”

“That was becauseInearly drowned.” Okame raised a hand toward the ceiling. “And I’m not too proud to say that watching a fifty-foot shadow man rise out of the ocean and smash a ship to kindling is slightly traumatic. Frankly, I don’t understand how youdon’tdrink every night.”

Daisuke smiled. “It is good to see you, Yumeko-san,” he said, not bothering to hide the relief in his voice. “You and Kage-san both. I feared the sea had claimed you when the monster destroyed the ship. But you made it back to us, after all, thank the kami.”

“What happened to the three of you?” I asked, gazing at each of them. “After the ship was destroyed, how did you end up here?”

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