Enid waited for Keinji to get mounted. He had been provided with his weapons. Enid was using a different horse this time. One the shogun had gifted to her. She was a black mare and big for a female horse. Her name amused Enid if only because she’d manga by the same name, Akira. It had been several days and several conversations with Hazel about her staying behind to cause less diplomatic complications. Enid had some equally frustrating conversations with Akira who had a mind of her own. Enid fell in love with the mare over the days she’d spent brushing her and just getting to know her. She hoped the feeling was mutual.

“Come on Akira, time to get Keinji home.”

She patted the mare on the side of her neck. Akira neighed in response.

“She is a fine horse. The shogun treats his people well.”

Enid nodded and urged Akira forward. Keinji kept pace with her. Enid wasn’t rushing she was letting Akira find the pace she liked. She’d found that was the best way to deal with her, so it was usually just a canter.

“You seem young to have a daughter so old.”

Enid smiled.

“To most that would seem a rude question.”

Keinji bowed his head.

“You are correct, Enid-san.”

“It is fine. I am older than I look. She is my youngest daughter. I have many other children. They are grown.”

“She seems strong. Are you concerned about difficulty finding her a husband?”

Enid laughed.

“Only if I try to tell her who it should be.”

“You have a strange way of raising a child.”

“One of my sons has told me the very same thing. I told him I’d listen to everything he had to say on the subject, then ignore it.”

Keinji smiled.

“You must trust the Ashikaga very much to leave your child in their care for so long.”

“She is a teenager. I believe the distance will do us good. She has been in my shadow for too long.”

“You are not concerned about her safety?”

“Not really, she is more dangerous than I am.”

“Truly?”

“She’s half kami I guess you’d say. She can shape shift, and when she’s going into battle, she’s almost nine feet tall and has claws as big as my head. I’d say she’s probably the most dangerous thing on the island currently.”

Keinji’s eyes went wide. The pair rode in silence for another few hours before he spoke again.

“We felt the ground shake before we met you in battle. Did you feel it as well?”

“I did. It was me. I was sealing a cave.”

“The Oni cave?”

“You now of it?”

“Yes, it is a place of evil spirits. Many have entered and never returned.”

“Not anymore. Well, I couldn’t seal the evil in, but I made it impossible for them to appear there.”

“You have such power?”

“Yes, it cost me a great deal, but I killed the Oni, their leader, made the gateway impassible then collapsed the cavern.”

“Then we attacked you afterwards…you did us a great favor and we repaid it with violence. That must have angered you greatly.”

“I was more concerned about losing sleep. I was annoyed, I wasn’t angry. If I had been angry you would have all died.”

He bowed his head.

“I am well aware of the restraint and mercy you showed us. I will be forever in your debt.”

“I’m just glad you didn’t have to kill yourselves for the failure.”

“We are not Samurai.”

“You are Shinobi. I recognized your weapons, and clothing.”

“Are our secrets so easily found?”

“No, I have, come across your kind before. I never did study the style though. I learned similar tactics, though with less flair. Kill without being seen. Unfortunately for you, I see all so I was aware of your approach.”

He bowed his head again. Enid looked to him directly.

“I am not used to men speaking so freely.”

She was thinking Japanese men, but it wouldn’t have any context for her riding partner.

“We are not like your samurai. We were farmers and still are for the most part. I am surprised a female samurai exists and is in service to the shogun.”

“The shogun is merciful and open minded. Also, none of his warriors can best Oni so easily as I.”

“Compared to humans are difficult are Oni to kill?”

“With the right tools they are easy to deal with. With belief in a higher power and weapons blessed by priests of that higher power you can do much damage to them, but you will not kill them. It is the injuries you receive from fighting them that are the worst of it. They fester. But the more powerful ones, the Kami that have fallen from grace, they are faster than you can perceive can alter reality to suit their needs. If you can surprise one and overwhelm them suddenly you can be victorious, otherwise you will die before you blink. One blocked out the sun and I had to sacrifice many lives for the energy to restore the sky.”

“There is a story about the Sun Kami going into a cave and having to be lured out.”

Enid laughed.

“I am aware of that story.”

“Did it speak of you?”

“Who is to say? My battle with the Oni’s power was thousands of years ago. It is conceivable the story has made its way here, though I was underground it was no cave, and I was not lured out I destroyed the roof.”

“You have such power, why work for a shogun?”

“I am stuck here, I need food, shelter and protection for my daughter and I, who better to provide it then a shogun?”

“Where is home?”

“In a place far from here. I am lost and the powers that be do not seem to want me to get home. Apparently, I have tasks left unfinished. I allowed myself to hope and that hope was crushed. Now I have nothing left but to survive and ensure my daughter is cared for.”

“You have your honor.”

“I am not as honorable as you think.”

“You seem very honorable.”

“I am not above using ambushes, overwhelming force and other tricks to win my battles.”

“I see no problem with that.”

Enid glanced at him.

“Of course you don’t you’re a Ninja it is a way of life for you.”

He nodded the pair fell into silence. When Keinji spoke again it was near dark.

“We are almost home.”

“Will they attack me?”

“Not with me by your side.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“No, I am the leader of the clan, though my father may have something to say about it.”

Enid nodded.

“Wait you could have just agreed to these terms before we returned here?”

Keinji nodded and gave a soft chuckle.

“Yes, but it wouldn’t do to let the shogun knew he had the leader of my clan in his hands would it?”

Enid smiled and nodded.

“I suppose I would do the same in your shoes.”

He smiled.

“I also wanted to spend some time alone with you. To take your measure as a woman and a warrior.”

“And?”

“You seem wise. You seem content with silence. You are no fanatic to the shogun’s cause. You are also honorable and merciful. We are here.”

Enid looked ahead and could see the makings of a wooden wall up ahead and several buildings and outlying farms. It wasn’t as glorious as the shogun’s summer retreat, but it was bigger than Enid had assumed it would be. The pair rode down the empty path, the farmers were in doors and only a lone guard at the gate was there to greet them. He looked somewhat shocked to see the pair.

“Sensei!”

The guard bowed deeply.

“Go, tell my wife I have returned and to prepare a bed for an honored female guest.”

The guard bowed again.

“Yes.”

He ran off and Keinji looked around the compound which was quiet now. Enid glanced over to him again.

“Are you going to be in trouble from the Emperor?”

“The emperor’s reach does not extend this far that is why he hired us. Though now I suppose we will be assisting the shogun in retaking Kyoto. Which will put us in his reach, but we will have the shogun’s protection. The real answer is, I do not know, but this is the best move for my family and clan.”

Enid saw a woman and several teenagers rushing out of the biggest home. The woman had a combination of anger and relief on her face.

“Where have you been Keinji?”

“Enid-san, my wife Sara.”

Sara looked embarrassed suddenly as she realized there was an outsider present. Though there may have been some jealousy there as Enid was also a beautiful young woman. If odd looking. Sara bowed.

“Enid-san. Forgive my outburst.”

Enid bowed her head to Sara.

“I saw no outburst, Sara-san only a wife worried about her husband, as I have been on many occasions.”

Sara turned back to Keinji.

“And my son? Where is he?”

“He is a guest of the shogun. Enid-san is his representative. I have some things to discuss with my father, then I will explain everything. Wife.”

Sara turned to Enid.

“Please stable your horse then meet me at the house, I will see to it you have a place to rest.”

Enid bowed her head again and hopped off Akira and started leading her to the stables. She pulled the saddle and bit and bridle off of her and patted her side.

“Get some water and food Akira. You were amazing today.”

Akira neighed and started eating. Enid picked her pack up off the saddle and pulled the strap over her head she stretched. She was unused to riding a horse for so long as a mortal. Her legs were exhausted. She took her shoes off at the door but her armor’s boots were still on, mostly because she had to remove her pants to remove them. She bowed to Sara.

“I apologize Sara-san my armor is, one piece. So, I am unable to remove it without…”

Sara bowed to Enid.

“This way.”

Sara led Enid to a room and bowed to her. Enid bowed back and started pulling her kimono and armor off. She flopped onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. She woke in the morning to the sound of training in the center of the compound. She pulled on her kimono and ensured her hair wasn’t doing anything wild before walking out of the room she’d been provided. She was stiff after all day on horseback and sleeping like the dead, when not dead. She didn’t miss that part of mortality and sleeping by a long shot.

Enid wandered out of the home slipping on her shoes and found herself among the bustle of a very active compound. The sound of training was a group of men and a few rare women doing their drills. She watched as Keinji led the training. He would sweep one of the younger trainees every so often to test their stance. Enid recalled her days of teaching children Karate and smiled. Some of the trainees were no older then eight or nine. Enid heard footsteps beside her. It was an older man. And by old, for mortal standards in this day and age, this man was truly ancient. He had a long grey beard and grey hair. He spoke, his voice sounded strong for such an old man.

“You are the representative from the Shogun. I expect someone more impressive after what my son told me you did to our people.”

Enid bowed to him before speaking.

“When the mind, body and spirit are in harmony someone can do much. Also, at the time they had no hope of harming me.”

He nodded.

“I understand you gave our people many chances to cease their attacks. You warned them they could not harm you. It was foolish of them to try, and now it has cost my son his favored daughter.”

“I would not look at is as costing him his favored daughter. I would look at it as a chance for your family to join the shogunate and strengthen your position. His son is of yet unmarried.”

The old man folded his hands behind his back and looked to the ninjas in training.

“I was unaware of this.”

Enid bowed to him again.

“You are not like us, are you?”

“No, I’m from the far west. I ended up here by accident. I am doing this for the Shogun because my daughter is here with me, and I need to ensure she has food and shelter.”

“You are not one of his samurai?”

“I am unsure where I stand. I suspect he is testing me. I have little choice until the Kami allow me to return to the fold I am at the whims of the world, like any other being.”

He nodded.

“We have many unpartnered men here, I’m sure we could arrange you and your daughter to be cared for here.”

“I am not like you as you’ve stated, my children would look like me, I would think it would be improper to have any here as I cannot take them with me. The ways are too dangerous. My daughter is special and can survive, a normal child would not. Once I can leave I must do so as soon after as I am able. It could be a day, or it could be a lifetime, to fall in love…have a child then abandon them. It would be cruel.”

“The world is cruel. Death could take any of us at any moment. It is neither fair, nor comforting but is the way of things. To rob yourself of companionship by fearing something like this is no way to live.”

“Yes, but I would have to live with it forever. I am not like you. I am immortal. I am destined to outlive everyone I love, and to know I left a child… I just cannot do it again.”

He nodded.

“Besides if that is something you’re looking for to ally with the Shogun, he has several daughters.”

“You have proven your strength. You would make strong children.”

Enid mentally bit her tongue. Her first instinct was to snap at him. Tell him women were more then baby machines, but that wasn’t their culture. She bowed to him trying to keep her face neutral. Enid looked to the trainees. He glanced at her.

“What do you think of our people?”

“They have potential. This reminds me of my days as a Sensei.”

“You taught students in the ways of war?”

“Several hundred in the martial arts, more in the ways of actual war.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Where I am from there is, martial arts are for defense, or competition. The ways are war are far more brutal and less… precise.”

“Have you fought in wars?”

“Many. I do not like war. It costs lives. My father used to say: War is sacrifice. The victor is determined by who is willing to sacrifice more.”

“You sound like you disagree.”

“My father and I had an antagonistic relationship. And yes, I do. If it has come to war then you have already lost, all that is left is to survive and determine who loses more.”

“Were you a leader?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes I was just a soldier.”

“Have you studied war then?”

“Yes. I have read a lot. Also, I’ve been formally educated in tactics.”

“Your father was lenient man then.”

“He taught me how to use a sword when he was sober. But no, my education in war is from a woman from a society that was entirely militarized. They used slaves for any manual labor. Then my experiences, then my sensei, then an actual military. I am far older than I look.”

“Where was your husband in all this?”

“Died in battle, and another time I died in battle.”

“But you are here, and you breath.”

“I got better.”

“I see.”

He slipped into silence and looked at the training ground again.

“We will train you. But you must train us in return.”

Enid blinked a few times.

“I am sorry, I do not understand.”

“You are skilled, you will live beyond us, I wish for our ways to be remembered.”

Enid bowed to him.

“I am honored at the offer, but I must return to my daughter.”

“My son will be sending another guard with you; He will be one of our best. My grandson. He will train you in our style. In turn you will train him in some of your styles and he will return here and spread that knowledge.”

Enid bowed.

“As you wish, sensei.”

*****

Enid was astride Akira again. Beside her rode four people. The aforementioned grandson, Ara. Akiba, the daughter of Keinji, and her two ladies in waiting, or so Enid had assumed at first. Though she had a feeling with the way they moved they were well trained assassins, so more then likely bodyguards. Yukimoro and Nashio. Enid led the party. The other women kept to themselves. Ara himself had been aloof, though Enid had caught him casting shy glances in her directions. He was in his late teens, or early twenties and was as handsome as his father. Enid was concerned the training would be awkward, but time would tell. She kept to herself as well. She glanced to the sky and thought, please make me immortal again so I can get home.

Enid. Why are you in such a rush? You seem to fit in here well enough.

Enid grimaced having forgotten her husband was strapped on her back.

She thought back: I miss my car, I miss my computer, I miss my house, I miss my girlfriend, I miss my daughters, I miss Maria. I don’t belong here.

Yet you seem to navigate their culture and society like you’ve lived her your entire life.

‘That is because their current culture is the basis for the one that has developed in the future. Albeit with a healthy dose of reality after having two nukes dropped on them. Suits have replaced kimonos and brief cases have replaced katanas, but they still have a heavily structured society of honor and respect.’

Enid let her mind drift back to Rolf. Their last evening together when she sang for him, felt his arm around her for the last time. Ara spoke suddenly. It surprised Enid so much that she shifted suddenly and Akira’s almost stopped dead in her tracks. Enid urged her forward. Enid glanced at Ara having missed what he said in her attempt to avoid a rebellion for her spirit mare.

“I am sorry Ara-san, I did not hear what you said.”

“It is I who should apologize for disturbing you. I was asking what you so lost in thought.”

“I was just thinking of home. And of those I’ve lost.”

“Your ancestors are still watching you.”

“Of course. But I still miss having my husband with me.”

“I do not understand, we are only a few hours from your husband are we not?”

Enid laughed despite wishes to the contrary. Ara looked even more confused.

“My last husband has been dead for over a thousand years.”

“Oh.”

Enid glanced at Ara again.

“I am sorry, I thought your father had explained how old I was.”

“He did not. I apologize for my misunderstanding.”

Ara fell into silence again. Enid went back to her thoughts.