Shadows of The Ghost

The Paths Diverge

They walked in silence towards Akai's base of operations. The house itself was mostly empty; most of Akai's allies had gone to help the villagers get everything in order. They walked straight into the meeting room to find Zaimu waiting for them with one unconscious man tied up on the other side of the room.

"Good job," Genso nodded at Zaimu.

"How did you know he was there?"

"Kurai had to have some way of sending me messages. I just hoped I was right about where he was."

"So you sent me on a trip to find a man trained in stealth and infiltration tactics on a guess?"

"Yes."

"Hold on," Akai interrupted. "I know him." She approached the man, grabbing a fistful of his hair and using it to hold up his face. Genso hoped the man stayed unconscious a bit longer. "It's him, Taksil-something."

"Taksil-something?" Zaimu knew of his cousin's forgetfulness and was slightly surprised she remembered someone's name for once.

"Yeah, he was part of my regiment during the war. Over eager and super... peppy, you might say."

"What happened?"

"He slipped off a tree and hit a branch the wrong way. Some say he lost hi- "

"They're still there!" His eyes flew open, scaring Akai who fell to the ground.
Genso and Zaimu barely managed to hold in their laughter.

"If you are going to bring up such sour topics," Taksil spoke."I'd rather you kill me."

"Not before we get some answers," Genso walked forward, unsheathing his katana and holding it to the man's throat. "First, how did you know you found me?"

"I didn't have to, Kurai told me. That school you started was a pretty big target you placed on yourself."

"Second question, where is Kurai?"

"I'm being paid, why should I tell you?"

Genso said nothing but lowered his sword a little. Taksil didn't need to be told twice.

"Your next destination was supposed to be him. But considering that you haven't killed Zaimu here, and the fact that I have no other choice, I'll tell you. Head northwest, upwind from here.

There should be a house at the edge of the cliff. He's waiting for you there."

"Thank you." Genso sheathed his sword and walked to the door. He turned at the frame and said to Akai and Zaimu, "He's all yours."

Genso walked back to Akai's and began preparing. By sunset, he was gone, leaving the town behind him. Of course, he wasn't alone. But he waited until night when he had found a safe space in a clearing in the forest before addressing Akai.

"How long are you going to stay in that tree?"

"You don't know which tree I am in though."

Genso picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it into the leaves of the tree to his left and watched as Akai fell ungraciously to the ground for the second time that day.

"You just like insulting me, don't you?"

Genso said nothing.

"Can I assume from your silence that you have accepted the fact that you will not be deterred by the company on this journey of yours and are glad that I will be joining you on your endeavour?"

"I am still not used to you using such complex words in ordinary speech as a means of passing yourself off as someone with more intellect."

Looking at Akai's expression, Genso was worried had broken her.