Fuel to the Fire

Chapter 10





Stern voices radiated from the opposite side of the wooden doors. The discussion had become extremely heated over the last few minutes. The regional governors were at odds about the plans they had agreed to only days before. As the more radical of the two, the Tosa governor was taking a stand against the opposition, stating the true purpose behind the assault on the Emperor. His voice was coming and going as if he were pacing the floor, stating his case and offering assurances that they would not be caught in their treasonous acts. The Choshu governor spoke up only when the rabble got louder than necessary, but did not offer any extra guidance to back up Tosa’s words.



I waited outside with Emiko and Ayame at my back. We were expected to wait until the debate was settled, and the men requested our presence as a “cool down” to the day’s proceedings. My role was different this time from our previous engagement. Emiko and Ayame were dressed in their simple bathing robes, each personally chosen by the Tosa governor to bathe the men. I was selected to be the entertainment. I was dressed more elaborately; my kimono wrapped tight to my body, the fabric hanging away from my shoulders to show more flesh than was decent for everyday life. I clung tight to my shamisen that I had learned to play in recent months. It seems that instruments of music are great places to hide implements of death, or so Miki had shown me back in the winter. Plus I had lost count of how many darts were actually stored in my new hairstyle. I was as prepared as I could be knowing that one of the women behind me had sold us out.



I made sure that Ayame was aware of the situation surrounding this evening’s meeting. I hoped I was wrong about Emiko, but I didn’t want either of us getting killed due to my lack of information gathering. There was a better chance of survival if both of us were aware of the betrayal. We didn’t need any further surprises or plan changes this evening,



I heard Emiko sigh behind me. “They’re only going over the same material again,” she whispered. “The governors will go ahead with this plan whether the others agree to it or not.”



Ayame and I both looked to her. “Emiko, what are you saying?” Ayame asked, grabbing Emiko’s shoulder.



Emiko only shook her head as she glanced my way. “They plan to assassinate any governor that opposes this plan. Said they couldn’t afford to have anyone leak information to the Emperor.”



The three of us stood still, letting this new development sink in. It didn’t take long to realize that the removal of the Choshu governor was not our only priority tonight. This was becoming much bigger than originally anticipated.



“Ladies, we may need to alter this evening’s agenda,” I said, tightening my grip on the shamisen. I looked up to the lantern glowing next to the doorway. I tried to think of a way to warn Tatsu. He needed to know that two men would be departing this world. Even though the Emperor would be the last to know of the outcome to tonight’s proceedings, I didn’t want to risk Tatsu’s life in the process.



I turned back to the women behind me. I had to be very mindful of my words. Emiko had provided information a little too easily for someone who just betrayed her entire way of life. “Emiko, I need you to distract the Tosa governor while Ayame sees to the Choshu man. Those two need to be separated if our plan is going to work.”



Both women nodded in understanding. “Also,” I continued, “whoever shares a bath with Tatsumaki needs to inform him about the change of plans.”



I had no idea which of the two men posed a greater threat, and separating them was the only way to find out. They might be a stronger force when together, and I couldn’t risk that. I just hoped that no one perished before we got inside.



The door before us slid open, returning my attention to the present situation. Tatsumaki stood before me, fully clothed. I took a quick glance over his shoulder to see the men removing their robes, preparing for their baths. Tatsu gave me a hard glare when he saw my clothing and the shamisen in my hands.



“The gentlemen need a break,” he stated, sharing his glare with Emiko and Ayame. “We are ready for some entertainment.”



He stepped aside, letting us enter. The four of us did not look at each other once the door was shut. I simply set up in a corner where I could face both tubs without obstructions. Emiko and Ayame stood by while the men settled in the hot water. Tatsu settled himself in the same tub with Choshu this time, maybe to help me after all. Everything was set. I just needed the right prey to cross my path.



~*~*~



The mood in the room changed immediately once the women were inside. Any discussions of revolution were postponed when Yume strummed her tune of sadness and loss. Tatsu watched as the women went to work on their customers, putting on a show as they removed their robes and saturated their cleansing cloths with soapy water. Emiko and Ayame found their first customers eager for some feminine attention, dousing them with sudsy foam. Though the men were now jovial, there was still an underlying tension simmering under the surface, just biding its time.



Ayame hastily finished with the first man who was now ready to dive deeper into his sake bottle. At first she eyed Tatsu, but the Choshu man grabbed her arm.



“I’m sorry, I’m feeling an overwhelming need to be cleansed. You don’t mind, do you?” he asked Tatsu.



Ayame turned back to Tatsu as he nodded his approval. “That’s fine, I’m just enjoying the view,” he said, turning his attention back to Yume.



“Ah, yes, you have already sampled Miss Yume, I remember. Could you be hoping for a second interlude?” the Choshu man said, laughing and smacking Tatsu on the shoulder.



Tatsu only smiled at the man, then closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of his surroundings. He could tell there was something different about her shamisen. The notes were deeper, as though the instrument itself was heavier than it should be. It was obviously weighed with provisions, and he hoped no one else had a tuned ear that could discern the difference.



To his right, Tatsu could hear the man from Choshu whispering lines to Ayame, something about not being properly introduced. She giggled with the phony laugh of any trained prostitute, more for politeness to her client, and went to work with her cleaning cloth. Soon after, he heard Ayame moan, and the water in the tub became turbulent. It seemed she was getting fully acquainted with the governor.



Yume changed songs again, opting for a faster melody. Tatsu opened his eyes as the waves in the tub died down. Turning to look at Yume again, he saw something that passed as silent shock cross her face. Had he not looked at that very moment, he would never have seen it because it disappeared as quickly as it had emerged.



“Would you like the same service as the Choshu governor?” cooed a voice in his right ear. Turning, he found Ayame perched next to him, blocking his view of her previous patron. “It’s your turn, you know?”



Suddenly, the aura of the room was disturbed by the sound of glass breaking and a man screaming. Waves erupted around Tatsu as the drunken governor scrambled to get out of the water. Tatsu watched the man as he tumbled over the edge, his body soaked with red water.



Ayame wrapped a hand around Tatsu’s right leg. “Now, what do you think frightened him so?” she whispered in his ear.



Looking to Ayame again, he found her hair clinging tight to her naked form, her face drenched in red water, like a predator who just had its face buried inside a fresh kill. From the corner of his eye, he could see Yume rise just before Ayame grabbed his hair and forced a kunai against his throat. Ayame moved so she did not block Tatsu’s view of the Choshu man, and awareness settled quickly in his mind.



The man was still alive; his mouth open in a silent scream while his body convulsed. The water surrounding him was darkened red as his body emptied its main resource from a wound that Tatsu couldn’t see. In the opposite tub, the men were just as surprised as he was. Emiko was fighting to get free from the Tosa man’s grip. The others bowed their forgiveness before running from the room, wanting no part in this ambush and possible betrayal. It seemed the Emperor would be hearing about tonight’s meeting much sooner since the Imperial Guard would pick up the men as soon as they left the bathhouse.



“What have you done?” Yume yelled, dropping her shamisen.



Ayame tightened her grip, stretching Tatsu’s head back far enough to press his throat against the knife. He could feel her breathing. She was becoming frantic, like she had prepared for the Choshu man’s death, but didn’t think far enough ahead to plan for her current position. He could hear Emiko still struggling against her captor.



“What’s the meaning of this?” the Tosa man said. “What do you think you’ll accomplish here?”



They were in a three-way standoff. Yume stood in her corner, prepared to draw her weapon, but unwilling to reveal who and what she was. Emiko was held tight against the Tosa governor, but it appeared as though he was holding her back as opposed to holding her captive. He seemed to worry more for Emiko rather than compelled to run for his own life. That’s when Tatsu truly grasped the situation.



“You’re the one who sold us out,” he said, his voice strained in his throat. “You betrayed your own people.”







Yay! I can finally post again! I hope you guys enjoy it, it's almost finished!