Page 63 of Shadow of the Fox

“Oi, was that really necessary?” I called after him, then turned to Tatsumi, who raised a brow.“Gomen,”I apologized. “I suppose I should pay attention to what’s going on around me.”

“That is probably prudent.”

“Oh, lighten up, Kage-san,” Okame broke in, striding up beside us. “She’s never been to the capital—of course she’s going to be distracted. So, Yumeko-chan...” He grinned at me. “We have officially arrived in the capital. Is there any place you want to see? Anywhere you’d like to go? I can point out the more interesting spots, if you want to play tourist for a bit. Or, we could always wait until the sun goes down. Kin Heigen Toshireallygets interesting after dark.”

“Does it? How so?”

“We’re not here to sightsee.” Tatsumi’s voice was flat. “We can’t wander the city without a plan—we have a mission to complete. Besides,” he said, turning to the ronin, “you said you had business in the capital. Shouldn’t you be leaving?”

Okame shrugged. “I have nothing important to do,” he said casually, waving it off. “I can be boring and responsible and start looking for a job anytime. It’s not like there aren’t always merchants that need guards or gambling halls that need bouncers. And it’s been so interesting traveling with the two of you, I think I’ll hang around a little longer. Why, Kage-san?” His grin turned wolfish, even as Tatsumi’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you?”

“Yumeko-san.” Fortunately, Daisuke stepped in before Tatsumi could make good on theI’m going to kill youlook on his face. “This mission of yours—where must we go to complete it? I’ve lived in this city my whole life. I know where almost everything is. If you can trust me with your mission, I can probably show you the way.”

“I...yes. I need to find the Hayate shrine,” I told him, remembering Master Isao’s final instructions. “It is urgent that I speak to the high priest there. He has information that will point me in the direction I must go.”

“The Hayate shrine,” Daisuke repeated slowly, and nodded. “Yes. I know where it’s located, but it’s clear across the city, in the Wind district. It will take us the rest of the evening to walk there. Kin Heigen Toshi is quite large, after all.”

“That’s all right,” I said. “I need to find it—it’s important Tatsumi and I get there as soon as possible. Would you show us the way, Daisuke-san?”

He smiled. “Of course.”

Kin Heigen Toshi continued to be amazing as we followed Taiyo-san through the sometimes straight, sometimes winding roads. Buildings rose around us; teahouses and temples, bathhouses and shrines, inns that were elegant in their simplicity and lavish estates of the wealthy and affluent. Shops and merchant stalls lined the streets, selling everything from straw sandals and parasols to exotic spices and trinkets from across the Scorched Sea. Daisuke commented on the places and buildings we passed, pointing out special features, explaining a bit of the history if it was a temple, shrine, or other place of importance. He was indeed quite knowledgeable about his city, and I found myself listening to the noble in rapt fascination. Once, Okame remarked that we could probably take a shortcut through a place called the red light district, and thenhecould tell me all about the area. But before I could ask what he meant, Daisuke turned and gave him such a withering look, that offer was quickly rescinded.

Tatsumi, as usual, stayed farther back, as soundless as a trailing shadow, making no attempt at conversation. As we turned down a narrow street with a canal on one side and a wall on the other, I dropped back to walk alongside him.

He eyed me, not entirely suspicious, but expectant. “Isn’t this incredible, Tatsumi?” I murmured, watching a kingfisher dart up from the canal in a streak of bright blue. “I never knew there were places like this in the world.”

“Hn.”

“Master Isao didn’t talk much about the lands outside the temple,” I went on. “I think he and the others were afraid the outside world would lure me away. If I’d known there were places like this, just beyond the temple walls, he might’ve been right.”

Tatsumi didn’t answer, and I frowned at him. “You’re being very quiet, Tatsumi-san.”

“I’m always quiet.”

“Yes, but you’ve been even broodier than normal lately,” I persisted. “Is something wrong? Did you step on something sharp?”

“We should be concentrating on the mission,” he replied, a bit shortly. “Not playing tourist with nobles, or visiting gambling halls and red light districts with ronin. This isn’t a pleasure trip.”

“I know that.” Glancing at the noble, walking a little ahead and talking with Okame, I lowered my voice. “But Daisuke-san is taking us to the Hayate shrine—it would be rude to go off without him.”

He looked away. “We don’t need them. They’ll only get in the way and slow us down. Once we figure out where the temple is, we should leave them behind.”

“He’s helping us, Tatsumi. Okame helped us, too, in the gaki village. We can’t just leave them. Besides, what about your duel with Daisuke-san?”

He eyed me. “Are you saying you want to see one of us die?” he asked in a strangely brittle voice. “Or do you not want me around at all? Perhaps you would prefer the ronin and noble to escort you to the temple.”

“Of course not.” I frowned at his strange, sudden hostility. “That’s not what I’m saying, Tatsumi-san.”

“No?” His voice dropped, becoming nearly inaudible. “Maybe it should be.”

“Oi, you two,” Okame called from up ahead. “Whatever you’re whispering about back there, can it wait? Our guide says the shrine is across the road.”

I hurried past a pair of boys with fishing rods to join Daisuke and the ronin at the edge of the street. Directly across the road, a red torii gate stood before a stone staircase that went straight up the forested hill.

“This is the entrance to the Hayate shrine,” Daisuke said, gazing up the steep staircase, looking undaunted by the thought of climbing it. “Though it is rather late to be calling on the priest,” he added, glancing at the sky through the branches. The sun had set a few minutes ago, and the first of the stars were coming out. “Is he expecting you, Yumeko-san?”

“Not that I know of,” I replied, feeling Tatsumi stop beside me. “But I need to talk to him soon. Tonight, if I can.”

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