Where the Reeds Grow Thick

Chapter 9

Shige woke up to the sound of Takuma's breathing, deep and even. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and took a moment to scan the room. Hina was still asleep, her grip on the scythe loosened in her slumber.

Shige stood up, stretching her stiff muscles. She walked outside to get some fresh air, the cool morning breeze brushing against her skin. The village was quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant crowing of roosters and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Shige made her way to the edge of the hemp field, taking in the view of the surrounding countryside.

As she stood there, a rustling sound behind her made her turn around. Takuma stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the rolling hills in the distance. Shige took a deep breath, the smell of freshly cut hemp filling her nostrils.

"It's a beautiful morning," she said, breaking the silence.

Takuma nodded. "We should get going before the villagers stir."

"We don't have to leave just yet," she said. "There's no rush."

"We need to keep moving. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that my lord's family is in danger."

"The villagers wouldn't kill innocent children..."

"Enemy samurai are leveling Kyōto, letting little more than bandits run free as footsoldiers," he hissed. "This is a war of succession for the daimyo, not some backwater spat. I barely have time to stop and look for this brother of yours, so do not mistake my priorities."

Shige felt her cheeks redden at Takuma's outburst, but she took a deep breath to calm herself down. "I understand," she said. "But please don't speak to me like that. I've already asked."

Shige wondered if he was grappling with whether to betray his lord or not. She knew to change the subject. "Let's go speak with Hina. We can get her to put off the villager's plans."

Takuma hesitated, but nodded in agreement. Together, they made their way back to Hina's hut. She was still sleeping, breathing shallowly. Shige gently shook her awake, and Hina sat up with a start, her scythe clattering to the ground.

"Wh-what is it?" she asked groggily.

"I'm sorry to wake you," Shige said. "But... well, the villagers want to burn down Shiba's summer home, correct? So, Takuma and I were thinking that since it's abandoned, the bandits might be staying there."

Hina looked at her with skepticism as she stretched her back. "And that would kill a bushel of bandits, one and done. No skin off anyone's nose. The bandits aren't there anyway; I know for a fact."

"If you're wrong, you might be killing my brother," Shige pleaded.

"No offense, girl, but if your brother is a bandit..."

Takuma stepped forward. "Let us investigate the house. Her brother is a farmer like you, and he has gone missing."

Hina rubbed her eyes, considering Takuma's words. "I understand. I do, but you see how small our village is. We've lost ten people to them as well, and we can't keep losing more."

Shige looked around Hina's hut, noting the absence of a man's jacket or shaving tools. A child's wooden toys lay by Hina's bedroll, shiny as if never used.

Hina's eyes misted over,blinking hard. "They took so many people from me. Don't goalone; let me show you where the bandits are."

Takuma and Shige shared a look of relief, grateful for Hina's cooperation. They followed her through the village, past the fields and into the nearby forest. The trees grew dense and tall, casting a green canopy over their heads. Hina led them down a hidden path, the underbrush crunching under their feet.

As they walked, Hina told them about the bandits that had been terrorizing the village. "They've been a nuisance since the tax riots ten years ago," she said. "But they've gotten bold in recent months. They raid nearby farms and rob travelers on the road, which may be what happened to your brother."

Shige felt her heart sink at the thought of her brother being at the mercy of these ruthless bandits. She clenched her fists, determined to do whatever it took to find him.

Finally, they arrived at a small clearing, where a group of bandits had set up camp. Several makeshift tents circled the camp, the bandits slurping stew around campfire.

Takuma nodded, his hand gripped tightly around the hilt of his sword. "We'll take care of them," he said firmly.

"Not to be rude, but a blind man and a soft-bodied teen don't inspire an image of victory," Hina muttered.

Shige didn't see Eiichi in the crowd, though it was possible he was tied up in one of the tents. She put a hand on his arm, her voice low. "Wait, Takuma, let's not rush in blindly. We need a plan."

Takuma nodded. "Of course. We'll return in the night."