Asami's Shadow (Ryoma's POV)

Chapter 6

I couldn't shake the nervousness I'd been feeling since we returned from the lake.  I avoided seeing Kaida as she seemed to be able to sense my unease, until she was sleeping.  I watched her labored breathing from the doorway until someone touched my sleeve.

I quietly closed the door to face Chiyo.  "She is better, but in no condition to travel."

I shook my head.  "I don't think that matters... not to her."

She sadly looked at the door.  She'd grown attached to her, pretty much anyone who had come in contact with her did.  The emperor and Youta only visited when she was sleeping, afraid that if she saw them... she would run.  Especially with the hunt for her princess going strong.  "She won't leave without saying goodbye, maybe not as we want, but something at least."

I sighed.  "I can only hope so.  Please try to keep watch on her regardless."

She nodded as I strode out of the door.  My mind and heart were in turmoil, for the last two years I had been grasping at smoke.  Now, she was here and I couldn't help, but feel that she would slip through my fingers again.  I turned to the only thing that would ease my mind at the very least.  I needed a plan.

I drew my blade and closed my eyes.  My enemy... Keiko herself.  She was fighting me at every turn, every move I made she easily countered only to strike back with her own.  There was only us, me fighting for her, while she put her life on the line for another.

If she left, I would follow.  She had no horse, no way of transport until she made it through the forest.  The problem was her movements were fluid, steps silent.  Searching an entire forest for one girl was hard enough, but this girl... she could fly through trees and glide in shadows.

Even still, the goal was to get to her princess.  So, in the event that she escaped me, that would be the next goal.  Keiko fought with more ferocity, this was who she was protecting.  They would have to return home and I would need an army to get to her.  There surely she wasn't alone.  My problem here was who else would stand in my way.

I thought for a moment and a girl with short black hair appeared.  Yes... the other handmaiden.  Though not as skilled... possibly, she was no handmaiden.  She too was strong, she gave away as much when she grabbed me.  Though, she seemed unaffected by anything around her, she was at the princess's side when Keiko wasn't.

I felt another and spun to meet the face of the carriage driver.  Again, it was only a hunch, but he was transporting my tiger's most prized possession.  Another disguise, he was watching us as we spoke, wariness in his eyes.  From what I saw he was small though, lean maybe?

There are others, if Keiko could appear and leave nothing, but a memory then surely she had others that surrounded her to do the same or even... trained her to do just that.  Someone with knowledge of poisons, blades, and all of the skills she now possessed.  The man who she knelt before joined the fray.

I hadn't seen him since that day, but he called her Katana and she responded.  They were close and he seemed to have some sway over her to bring her to heel, but was he even still alive? He too wasn't big, or muscular, but from what I saw in them all was a certain grace in their movements.

None of them could depend on their size, but... if you could match size and strength with speed and brains, then the battle was in your favor.  You were underestimated and... none of them were in a position of power.  Just the princess, none of them looked like a threat or even came off as anything more than their role unless someone got too close.

Still, there were others.  People can't move great distances without some type of transport.  They couldn't get in and out of heavily guarded places without some type of access.  You can't just be in one nation one day and another across the country in a matter of moments.  No, there had to be more.

While the others watched she fought, silhouettes of possibilities behind them all standing in front of the princess who looked just like her.  Now, how would she know where to go, someone had to provide shelter and aide along the way for the princess.  Again, people she trusted more than anyone in the kingdom of Shu.  A network of people, but how do they communicate?

No one had come seeking her, not a single messenger.  No deliveries were made in her time here, until today she was confined to her room.  Yet, she was not worried of where her most precious person was or her safety.  How did she know she made it to where she was supposed to be?  She was the only handmaiden seen with her in Wei.

The secrets and mysteries surrounding Keiko were many and she was expertly manipulating the movements of them all.  Emperor Wu said what he feared was worse than prostitution, but what could be?  Finally, she twirled away from me a mischevious smile on her lips.  The one girl became many.  Before me stood my Keiko, the five year old girl who was taken from me.  On either of her sides... a princess, a handmaiden, the girl in the teahouse, the sword dancer in the forest, and finally Kaida.

One person who could be many... it made no sense.  Yet, it made all of the sense in the world.  Each of the ones I met were not what their job or appearances would say they were.  I was sure each of them were lethal in their own way.  I had to figure out what they were and their purpose.  Then they all vanished, leaving me looking towards the lights of the estate.  Little Tiger, what has this woman made you become?

I slowly made my way back and automatically went to check on her.  My heart stopped, she was gone.  I rushed in to find a paper one the desk and quickly read it.

Thank you, for everything.  I will be sure to repay your kindness.    -K

I crushed it in my hands and ran out towards the forest, she couldn't have gone far.  You won't disappear, you can't...