Bloodstained Rose

Chapter 5

Tetsu remembered stepping into Aiga that day. Once his mother passed, he chose to finally slip through the valley and make the trek north. Aiga was the closest city, and he had been to the fishing town many times in the past. Today, he was not assisting with an emissary like many times in the past, but instead as his own agent. It was still months earlier. The Battle of Nojiri was yet to become a footnote in history, and he had not met Rei.

His presence alone in the town was not heralded with what he expected in Nojiri. There, he was one of Lord Nojuro’s offspring and near the top of the food chain. Now he was just another face in the crowd. The streets of Aiga were yet to be greeted by the forces of the G.E.I.—still pure from the foreign conflict that would be descending upon them. He continued through the town, the many houses, and past the tavern until he came to an eastern style castle.

It was nowhere as large or majestic as the Nojuro Temple, but still one that had years of history behind it. The castle belonged to the Tokugawa Dynasty—an old family that once ruled the land, but its members had since disappeared. Unlike Nojuro, the Tokugawa Dynasty had ruined its reputation among its townsfolk, and they had eventually met their end in a revolution. Tetsu once thought of the same thing happening to his family, but nevertheless embarked on this quest.

He knew he would never be able to handle being handed the reins of power in his family and wanted to build up his own reputation. To start, he chose to go and speak to the current residents of the Tokugawa Castle. Instead of the Tokugawa family, there was one man who had taken control of Aiga. His name was Susumu. He was a mysterious figure and a powerful man—both in terms of the control he had over his men and his abilities to tap into the Deep.

Tetsu walked towards the castle, feeling the same anxiety he would every time he set foot in his own house. After leaving Nojiri, he tried to get work and knew that going to see Susumu was something to build his reputation. Outside of the front of the temple, he was greeted by a large man—one better known as Yuuma. He sat outside of the front of the castle with his eyes closed while he stayed deep in thought. Tetsu faced him, wondering how to address such a hulking figure.

Yuuma was considered a fierce warrior, and much of his history like Susumu’s remained a mystery. Tetsu remained strong as he approached the front of the castle. Before being able to walk through the front gate, Yuuma let out a loud grunt, causing Tetsu to freeze in place. He took a deep breath while trying to remember his formalities.

“Good afternoon, my name is Tetsu.” He said aloud, but to no response.

“We have no need for a Tetsu,” Yuuma said back, his voice rumbling. His eyes remained shut, and he did not move an inch from his spot. “All gifts you bring us can be left by the gate.”

“I do not come bearing gifts, I have come to prove myself.”

“Get lost.”

Tetsu knew what rejection was like, he had been run through the dirt before, and he knew he had to prove his worth. Instead of retreating, he started to nibble away towards his thumb as usual.

“I am Nojuro Tetsu,” he repeated, this time causing Yuuma’s eyes to open. “If you have not heard my name, you know my father and my wealth.”

“I don’t seek wealth.” Yuuma grumbled back before hearing some ambience in the back.

“Oh, but I do,” A very aged, male voice called out from inside of the castle. Yuuma turned back towards the front door, shrieking at the sound of the voice. Tetsu’s face slowly began to crack with a grin as he heard the voice from inside. The man inside spoke again, “A Nojuro setting foot in Aiga on his own discretion?”

“I do not come as a Nojuro,” Tetsu declared, keeping confident in his voice as he continued to stand tall. “My name is Tetsu, and I’ve heard many stories of you, Susumu.”

The area had gone silent, only to continue with the sound of scratching on the wooden beams inside the castle and the crashing waves from the ocean nearby. Tetsu’s grin started to sink, only to be replaced with a determined stare as Yuuma looked back to him.

“Let him in,” the elderly voice spoke again. “I am intrigued.”

Yuuma slowly rose to his feet, acknowledging the command. He stepped to the side and raised his hand towards the door, guiding Tetsu to enter. Tetsu started to walk forward, maintaining grace in his stride as he continued up the steps and into the front door. The inside of the castle was much different from the one he grew up in. Symbols had been etched into the floor and across the walls of the dimly lit dwelling. While he cautiously entered, he noticed a few men scattered across the inside of the building. There were two identical men, named Kyo and Matsu.

On the opposite side was a very haggard looking man, one known as Orochi. Near the center of the floor, Susumu sat with one of his other acquaintances named Hiro. Susumu held a knife in his hand as he continued to carve away at the floor. The castle was not his, or something that he had commanded in his revolution. It was no more than spoils that he kept for himself while he commanded the town. Seeing the disdain and disrespect he held towards it was unnerving to Tetsu, but somehow intriguing.

“Tetsu,” Susumu finally spoke with his aged voice. He looked towards Hiro, not uttering a word. With that, Hiro and the other men inside the temple stood and began to vacate the inside. “Join me.”

“As you wish,” Tetsu replied, confidently beginning to walk over to him.

“Are you a Nojuro or are you your own man?”

Tetsu again felt unnerved. It felt as if Susumu were staring into the back of his mind, peering into the thoughts that dwelled within. He did not want to be remembered as an heir to the Nojuro family but just as himself. Hearing somebody address him as an adult and as a child had given his growing ego a stroke, only warming his attitude towards Susumu.

“I am my own man.” Tetsu declared after taking a seat across from him.

“Of course you are,” Susumu replied. He continued to drag the knife across the planks of wood on the floor, not even looking forward. At last, he ran his thumb across his forehead, pushing the black and grey bangs of hair away from his eyes. “Surely you did not trek this far to Aiga to bring me your wealth.”

“I did not.”

“As much as I like wealth, I can tell you there’s one thing I like more, and that’s power.”

“Your reputation does precede you,” Tetsu spoke again, nodding in approval at the response. “My services and specialties are something that I’ve been told you seek.”

Susumu stabbed the knife towards the floor, causing Tetsu to flinch as it let out a thud. The blade pierced into the old wooden planks, leaving the knife wobbling through the air. Once again, the room went silent as Susumu finally turned to look at Tetsu. He brushed his thumb across his nose and slowly began to tilt his head.

“Show me.” Susumu requested, keeping his voice low.

Tetsu started to relax his mind before peering deeper inside himself. He started to imagine the many times he was scolded by his siblings, disappointing his father, and then he thought of his mother. The sight of her being put into the ground would forever be etched in his memories. Slowly, but surely, he started to feel the chilling sensation from the Deep beginning to envelop him. His body began to sink into the floor, slowly turning into a shadowy mass.

Susumu’s eyes perked up for just a moment, intrigued to see the sudden transformation. Within seconds, Tetsu’s body faded from sight, leaving a wavy shadow on the floor in his place. Not wanting to end the performance so soon, he started to gain control of his new form and began to creep across the floors of the castle. With every move, Susumu’s eyes followed curiously.

“My, that is something,” Susumu crowed. His face finally began to warm up, revealing his twisted smile. “I knew your family was wealthy, but your talents are wealthy in their own right.”

“You think so?” Tetsu replied, his voice shrilling while maintaining the transformation.

“You can do that on command, eh?”

Tetsu’s shadowy mass began to creep back over to Susumu before he started to revert to normal. He rose from the ground, keeping the same determined stare as he faced Susumu.

“I can do this whenever I want.” Tetsu declared.

Susumu once again fell silent before reaching for the dagger still stuck in the floor. He gripped the handle and slowly pulled it free from the wooden planks beneath them. The blade let out sharp ring while he began to run his fingernails across.

“What do you want from me?” Susumu asked.

“Respect,” Tetsu started to speak, taking a moment to plan his words. He knew that his display would impress Susumu but heard many stories of the people who tried to face off with him. The men under Susumu’s command were chilling and only caused his imagination to wander trying to perceive his will. “I wanted to make a name for myself, as Tetsu, and not a Nojuro.”

“Because you’re not your old man, you’re your own man.”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard on the Hideo-Jin Dynasty before?”

The name had never crossed Tetsu’s mind. There were no rumors of such a Dynasty, or even so much as a mention before this moment. Tetsu shook his head, silently letting him know his answer while wanting to know more.

Susumu continued, “I used to be a member. They have always been secretive, and I came to Aiga with one of them years ago. There’s a man to south, one named Hideo-Jin-Ni. He has something I want.”

“Where is this place?” Tetsu inquired.

“Far south, past Nojiri, the mountains, and through the never-ending valley,” he continued carving away at the floor while addressing him, “I left with Hideo-Jin-Ni after being outcast, but I still remember the place well. I want you to go there and get something.”

Tetsu felt a chill—he was not sure what Susumu was asking. The way he spoke of Hideo was filled with conviction, as if he was seeking retribution. However, Susumu continued carving away before calming Tetsu with his next request.

“I think you’re strong,” he reminded Tetsu. “However, I don’t think you or my men could defeat the people in the Dynasty. There is one thing I want from it, and that’s a scroll.”

“A scroll?”

“There’s something written on it that’s very valuable. It’s called the Rising,” the words felt haunting. Tetsu was once again entranced by Susumu, only nodding in approval as he continued. “You will need to sneak in there. I want you to go with my men to the valley. Get the scroll, bring it to me, and then you’ll get everything you want. The people will remember me, but when they speak of me, they’ll remember you. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded, handsomely.”

“I’ll do it.”

Tetsu’s hands started to tremble thinking of the possibilities. He smiled, determined to finally prove himself.

“If you know my reputation, you’ll know better than to fail me,” Susumu spoke again. He leaned forward to Tetsu, smiling before asking once more, “Are you going to do it?”

Tetsu agreed proudly. Following this meeting with Susumu, he travelled south through the valley with his men. What happened once he arrived at the village was something that still haunted him. He did manage to recover the scroll, but his determination was countered by Rei and Shugo. The two successfully thwarted his attempt and left him with nothing.

He was afraid to face Yuuma, Hiro, and the other bandits. The terror of failure overshadowed the thought of going back home to his family—nothing compared to Susumu. It had been well over six months since he left Aiga, and now he found himself back in Nojiri again. With Paxton’s offer on the table, he was up against the wall again.

Saving his town raised his spirits, but he was terrified at the prospect of having to walk back into Aiga. The G.E.I. and their weapons were merely an afterthought compared to what would be waiting for him if Susumu found him in the old fishing town empty-handed. Now, Tetsu found himself leaving the library of Nojiri, just learning that he was to go back in.

He was far too anxious for the job. This is too dangerous. He started to walk further away from the town, unaware that Rei was following him. She finally called out to him, drawing his focus towards her. His heart fluttered, causing some excitement as she approached. Even with the mission briefing, she seemed more relaxed than usual. Her tangerine-colored hair draped over her bronzed skin, causing his eyes to wander again.

“You really are a sight for sore eyes,” Tetsu muttered. Rei continued forward and then took a seat next to him. He then asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I was here for the mission,” She replied, almost causing Tetsu to roll his eyes. “I just noticed you seemed troubled during the briefing. Are you ok?”

He softly nodded and took a seat down on a small wooden bench nearby. Right as he got seated, he started to feel nervous as Rei sat next to him, taking his mind off the mission, and Susumu. He once again placed his thumb in between his lips before shuddering.

“They want me to do this, but I’m worried about something waiting in Aiga.”

“After all we’ve been through, I can’t imagine you being afraid of anything.” Rei said, slowly starting to laugh uncharacteristically.

She was normally cold and reserved, but he welcomed the sudden change. Tetsu pulled his thumb away from his mouth and tried to sit up straight.

“A few months ago when I came to your village,” Tetsu said as he tried hard to plan his words. “There was something I was trying to take from your people, but you stopped me.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“You and that other guy.”

“Shugo,” she slowly whispered. He knew she was still troubled by his loss, but he never did inquire what happened. At this point, he could only assume that Shugo was one of the many massacred by the G.E.I. when they came to her village. “If you’re wanting to apologize for that, I just want to let you know it’s not on my mind. A lot has happened since then.”

Tetsu nodded back to her, trying to keep himself composed. He did not want to appear weak in front of her and tried to hide his fear of possibly seeing Susumu. Instead of outright speaking his mind, he chose a different route.

“What’s the Rising?” he asked.

Rei looked back to him, her face had gone cold. She sat silently for a moment, only causing Tetsu more distress.

“I never did ask how you knew it was there,” she replied. “Not many people inside of my own village knew about it, and most of us didn’t even know there was an outside world.”

“There’s somebody in Aiga who knows about it, and he’s mad that I didn’t get it.”

“Who?”

“Susumu,” Tetsu spoke again before looking back into her eyes. Speaking his name gave him a chill, but he remained stoic. “Do you know him?”

“I’ve never heard of him, I’m surprised anybody knows about that.”

“He wanted it, but I’m not going to lie, I’m afraid I might run into him,” he was cut short as Rei snickered. He bit his lip and tried to keep his composure. “Why would he want the Rising?”

“If he knows what it is, he will want it.”

“You already said you tried learning it, is there any way that he could still get that knowledge?”

“No,” she said softly before looking back up towards the clouds above. They had a gradient of white and grey as the moon shined between them. “If anybody can do it, it’s just me. I don’t know if I can, but if I can’t, then it’s gone. I buried the scrolls before I left the village. I couldn’t risk anybody else getting that knowledge.”

Tetsu could not help but feel cold. It was already past the point of reckoning with Susumu, and they would be departing for Aiga in the next hour. He tried to stomach his fears and keep composed as his eyes continued to wander over to Rei.

“I guess I have no choice but to do this,” he said. “I can only hope he’s not there or he’s forgotten about me.”

“You’re shaken up about this Susumu?”

“He is very powerful.”

“Well,” Rei chirped, finally matching Tetsu’s gaze with a bright smile. “I don’t think he’s more powerful than me.”

Tetsu felt his heart flutter as he looked into Rei’s glowing green eyes. He tried not to blush and instead turned away from her, remarking, “If you think you’re stronger than me, you might have some trouble.”

“I think we’ve settled that debate.”

“Two to nothing,” he sneered. “We don’t have to have this argument now.”

He could feel his heart beginning to rush again as he felt her arm brush against him. Without hesitation, he jumped to his feet and started to readjust his yoroi.

“Be careful out there.” He said, trying to hide his embarrassment from her.

“You’re the one going in.”

He laughed to himself before working up the courage to face her again. With time drawing short, he began to think of their training from this morning which had been cut short.

“This morning, you did that technique,” he finally faced her, standing confidently as she looked back towards him. “When you jumped out of the tree, how you float to the round. I need to learn that.”

“Oh, now you’ve decided I’m more powerful?”

“It’s ‘knowledgeable,’” he remarked, pausing once again to rethink his words, “and that’s a different debate. Can you teach me?”

Rei stared off towards the wood for a moment, mind occupied with other obligations. She nodded back to him, finally responding, “We don’t have long, so take some very good notes.”