Author's Games: Samurai

Task Three: Entries

Clan 2: Kyou Asai

 Kyou stared blankly across the countryside. Smoke rose in the distance, and a heavy fog had settled over the castle. He and Magoichi-san had argued for days but had finally decided to move back to the main base of operations, Odani-jō. While it wasn't the most defensible, perhaps, it was closer to the people, and the unrest that had been rising lately was rapidly becoming disturbing. The people were being destroyed by war and famine as well as by their own anger and fear. His land and the clan that made it home were falling apart.

He shook his head, biting his lip. Ima nande? That wasn't the end of the bad news. In fact, that was only the start. It was bad enough that Kyou had his own men and their families to protect, but word had come via one of his spies that the Saika clan was also under attack. He'd heard about that roughly a month ago, just after he, Naoki-kun, and Magoichi-san moved the troops back to Odani-jo. Unable to punish the Saika clan for their leader's misdemeanors and crimes, he had done what he could to fend off the initial attack by Oda-san and then offered them asylum. It was the best he could offer Magoichi-san and his people at this point with his own supplies and troops running so low.

Sighing, he pushed away from the wall of his room. This wasn't the only bad news he was going to receive, he was sure, and he didn't stand a chance if he faced bad news with moaning and griping. This was war. There wasn't time to dawdle or play the coward's part.

***

"So Magoichi-san was telling the truth?" Kyou asked, rubbing his temples.

The spy nodded, wrinkling her nose. "Hai... Gomennasai, Kyou-sama."

"Iē... It's not your fault, Tatsu-san," Kyou mumbled.

She bowed, pouting a little. "Hai, hai... Wakarimasu. Shikashi, mada kibun ga warui desu... Kare wa anata no otōto, hai?"

Kyou sighed and shook his head. "Half-brother. Did you find out about why he did it?"

"Hai. Isamu-sama did it for the money."

Kyou bit his lip and shut his eyes. "Chikushō... That two-timing dog..."

"Gomennasai, Kyou-sama."

"Stop apologizing," Kyou said, huffing. The subservience is so obviously an act that it's nauseating. Does she think I believe the act? If she was submissive, she never would've become a spy... Baka.

"Go­— I mean, hai!" She bowed deeply, but not in time to hide her smirk from Kyou.

She's doing it on purpose? he thought, irritation burning in the pit of his stomach. Why did I hire her again? Didn't Hiroshi-kun recommend her or something? Why did that baka recommend such an obnoxious woman... Fuyukaina on'na! "You're dismissed, Tatsu-san."

"Domou arigatou gozaimashita, Kyou-sama!" She deepened the bow just slightly and then straightened, exiting the room without another word.

Kyou watched her back disappear as he sunk deeper into his dazed state. My own commander, my half-brother — a man I thought I could trust — is selling me out to the enemy... All for what? A sum of money... Is that all kinship and brotherhood is worth in these times? Kare o kuso! His fingers clenched and unclenched at his side. His jaw muscles twitched as he stared at empty space between him and the shoji that lead out onto the portion of the engawa outside his room. I'm going to make him pay for this...

***

Magoichi-san slid onto the mat beside Kyou and helped himself to a few onigiri and a filet of salmon.