Dreamlands (9 page)

There were two bento boxes and a bottle of saké in one corner. I saw men moving among the crowd below, selling snacks and drink.

The private boxes, like ours, apparently had food delivered. The crowd of commoners below was noisy, and they ignored us, but I noticed there were a lot of people in the private boxes discreetly studying us.

“Samojirou-sama?” I whispered.

“I have not come here with a companion in decades, since Tamazusa has no interest in kabuki,” he murmured. “They are intrigued and wonder who you are. There have been rumors, but then there are always rumors. However, it is known that I have a new companion and am now ready to show you off to the rest of society.”

“Rumors?” I asked.

Who knew I was with him and Tamazusa? Why did it matter?

How important were they? I had never really thought about it, but the 55

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large estate and many people there hinted to me that they were important people. My stomach did a slow flip when I realized that Tamazusa and Samojirou were probably very powerful lords. I felt like an idiot that I hadn’t figured it out before, because I should have. I wasn’t stupid, and I should have known that only rich and important people would live like that.

“Say nothing of where you are from,” Samojirou ordered. “It might be unpleasant for you if you do. Visitors from the real world who are still living are rare.”

“You want me to lie?” I asked.

He smiled down at me. “I want you just to say nothing. Smile at them and hide behind your fan. It is none of their business who you are.”

“As you wish, Samojirou-sama,” I murmured obediently. Silence was the best for me really, since I didn’t want to embarrass Samojirou by saying something stupid.

The first act went quickly. I had no problem following the stories with some help from Samojirou, who made quiet comments to me about the performances and the actors. There was an intermission, and that was when the trouble started.

Two samurai who had been staring at us for the entire first act made their way over to us. I sensed Samojirou watching them, and he was annoyed that they were bothering us. I had served him saké and snacks during the performance, proud that I was both graceful and neat while doing so, as I had been taught by Yoshinoko. I was too nervous to eat, but Samojirou gave me sips from his saké bowl, acting like we were a lot closer than we were, like we were really lovers. I was glad the makeup hid my blushes.

The two samurai looked to be about the same age as Samojirou, but I’d learned over the weeks that here, that meant nothing. They could be actually that age or a millennium older. They were both dressed elegantly in dark blue patterned kimono and
hakama
with several
mon
decorating them. Both were handsome men who had an air FELICITAS IVEY

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of competence around them. I also knew from the looks in their eyes that they could use the swords they wore.

“You must introduce us to your companion,” the taller one said.

“It has been so long since you were here with someone, for a moment we thought that it was your lady,” the second one chimed in.

“But then we all know your taste isn’t for women.” I dropped my eyes and stared at the floor. I sensed that many in the audience were watching us, and I wondered exactly what was going on. There was a tension in the air that made my stomach turn. I could see why Samojirou wanted me to remain silent. I doubted that I could even speak right now.

“Sakura-dono was a gift from my lady,” Samojirou said.

They grimaced. I wondered why. It wasn’t like either of them had been unkind to me.

“And where are you from, Sakura-dono?” the taller samurai asked.

I glanced at Samojirou in panic. I wasn’t supposed to talk, but to not answer a direct question was rude.

“I don’t think that Samojirou-sama cut out your tongue,” the shorter one commented slyly.

I blushed because I knew what he was hinting.

“Did not your mother teach you any manners?” Samojirou asked.

He didn’t sound threatening, but there was a hint of anger in his voice.

“Sakura-dono,” the taller one said solemnly, “I am Inusuka Shino, and this is my brother, Inukawa Sousuke.” I bowed for both of them. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew that for all their friendliness, they didn’t like Samojirou. It could be for any number of reasons, but I sensed an old hatred between them.

But if they were brothers, why did they have different last names?

Well, not very different, they started with the same kanji,
Inu,
the same 57

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kanji my family name started with. Why did their names sound familiar to me? It was teasing me, a memory just out of my reach.

“They come from a large family,” Samojirou said. “Eight brothers, but not all of them are here.” Inukawa glared, as did his brother. I guessed that comment made them mad. I didn’t know if I wanted to know why. But it took their attention away from me, which was probably why Samojirou had said it.

“I had nothing to do with that!” Samojirou snarled at them for the glares.

I looked at them in confusion, wondering what I was missing.

Inusuka took pity on me and smiled. It was strained and false, but he was trying. “An old argument. One of our brothers isn’t to be found in the Dreamlands.”

“As I told your mother, Fuse-hime, I do not know what had happened. And it is not like I have not searched this place with her for him over the centuries,” Samojirou reminded them.

Inukawa looked at me. “I don’t think that you are going to be able to remain silent around our mother. She will get you to talk.” It should have sounded threatening, but it wasn’t. While Inusuka seemed to be a much more focused man, Inukawa was more easy-going. But not any less dangerous.

Inusuka frowned thoughtfully. “Give our respects to your lady,” he said abruptly. “I think that it would be better if we return to our seats now.”

They made their way back to their seats, leaving me confused.

Samojirou seemed to be happy and angry at the same time. “That was interesting,” he said softly.

“Samojirou-sama?” I asked.

He smiled. “And how do you like your first experience with kabuki?”

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“I’m enjoying it very much,” I said shyly. “I… thank you.”

“I am glad that you enjoy it. I have not had a companion who shared my interests for a while.” He laughed softly. “I had feared that I was becoming dull.”

“You….”

“Yes, Sakura-chan?”

I felt hot, and I knew I was blushing again. “You have given me a lot. I would never consider you dull.”

He looked at me thoughtfully as I poured him more saké. He said nothing, and I felt my stomach starting to slowly roll over. It was the familiar mixture of fear and curiosity I felt around him. I was certain that tonight,
that
was going to happen. My fear must have shown in my eyes because Samojirou looked concerned.

“You may enjoy it,” he said softly. “I told you that I had no taste for pain in my bed.”

“I understand, Samojirou-sama,” I murmured.

We couldn’t say much because the performance started again.

Even as I watched the actors perform below me, I was very conscious of Samojirou and those two strange samurai watching us.

I WAS half asleep when we arrived home, the saké I consumed making everything seem out of focus. I drank more than I should have because of being nervous about this moment. Samojirou wasn’t surprised to see Yukiko waiting in his rooms to help me undress. She managed to help me out of most of my kimonos, makeup, and the hair ornaments. I just stood there, and she did all the work. She scurried away when Samojirou strode in the room, dressed only in his
fundoshi
. I just stared at him, my mind too tired to think. I started shivering when he smiled.

“Keno, I know that you are tired.”

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“You own me,” I muttered.

“You are still frightened?” he asked.

“I don’t… don’t laugh… I don’t know what to do,” I cried. “It―”

“I know that you were sheltered and those fools abused you,” he said. “Just relax.”

His reassurances made me shiver harder, and I was visibly shaking. Samojirou frowned and tugged me over to the futon. He carefully undid the cord that held my last kimono together and slipped the garment off. We were wearing only underwear now. Samojirou leaned over and kissed me; he felt very warm. I let him control me. He was used to this. I seldom kissed him back or fought what he was doing. Samojirou didn’t end our kiss until I stopped shaking. It was hard not to be frightened. He was aroused, and I didn’t think he was going to be satisfied with a few touches tonight. The saké I had drunk had suddenly gone straight to my head, and I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. But if I closed them, the room started spinning.

“Sakura… Keno, was that distasteful?” he asked.

“It’s going to hurt,” I blurted out. “I don’t want
that
with you. It hurts, and everyone tells me that you won’t hurt me, but it’s not like I can say no.”

“You can say no,” he said gently.

I started crying. I didn’t believe him. Samojirou hugged me, and I curled up on his lap crying, eventually winding down into hiccups. I cried myself to sleep, feeling stupid and childish the entire time.

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SAMOJIROU

I SHOULD have known Keno was still frightened of me, or at least of sexual relations. Since he had been reduced to tears at the end of the evening, I hoped he was just overwhelmed by the saké and the excitement of leaving the estate. I had known Inukawa and Inusuka would be there. It was time that my Keno was introduced into our society. I couldn’t keep him sheltered from his family forever.

The Dreamlands were vast, covering many lands and civilizations. My lady’s lands held several small villages filled with peasants to till the land. Scattered around Nippon were cities, mostly small, but a few larger ones, like Edo or Osaka, served as neutral ground for those who played the Game. I had escorted Tamazusa to them many times over the centuries, for plots she had woven. I had also enjoyed the theaters and other places of entertainment there. I was looking forward to showing Keno off in them. While I might not be able to leave the Dreamlands, I was able to travel freely throughout Nippon and beyond, stepping lightly from one shadow to another. It was a talent few others had.

Soon, Keno and I would be attending an
ikebana
event on the far side of the Nipponese Dreamlands. I was certain Fuse would be there. I doubted I would be able to hide who he was from her, but I hoped.

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What I needed to do was bind the boy to me so he wouldn’t want to leave me. He didn’t seem to want to leave, apparently content with his life with me. By treating him gently, I hoped that would be his inclination. I was not going to lose him as I had his ancestor. “Lose” was a good word. I wasn’t lying when I told the other
Hakkenshi
that I was unable to find their brother in this place.

I had been deeply, madly, and wildly in love with the first Inuzaka Keno. We had conducted a passionate affair, hidden from his brothers during the years the fighting had raged across the Kanto plain during the Warring States era. His family had entertained no idea about what he had been doing with me or what he had been doing for his grandfather, serving as his pet assassin. In the end, Inuzaka had ritually banished me, trapping me in this place. He had believed it was better than killing me.

I had discovered that we were never to meet again after finding the rest of the
Hakkenshi
here. They were angry, and over the centuries, their anger had not cooled much. I thought it was because they missed their brother Keno―and that I was perhaps the reason he was not here.

If Fuse discovered I had her son Keno’s avatar in my care, she would be angry, as would her sons. I didn’t think they would attack me or my lady, but they could prove to be bothersome. For that reason, I had to bind this Keno to me. I had hoped sex would be the key, but Keno showed no more interest in that now than he had in the beginning. He trusted me, though, and was willing to admit to me that he was frightened and uninterested in the pleasure I was offering him.