In the Evening
20 January 2006
by Loren Dean

The bedchamber shared by Shosuro Ridachi and his wife Etsuki was dark, as full night had finally fallen, and Ridachi was silent as he inhaled a deep lungful of the scent of his wife's hair. It was a well-kept chamber in a well-kept house – Etsuki knew her duty, and performed it well. She had been an admirable hostess for Ridachi's traveling companions, and had willingly prepared the second guest room for the crane Katai when he had arrived earlier. She had not questioned Ridachi at the time, as it would not have been proper, and she knew full well that he would explain soon enough. He closed his eyes and took another breath, reminding himself briefly that he told her what he could, and that she was content enough in her life that to be left occasionally ignorant of something potentially dangerous was no irritation to her.

Tonight, however, was different. Ridachi had been quiet when he returned from his day. Etsuki had known he and his companions would be seeking a confrontation with the dragon Kitsuki Shaiyan, and she doubtless assumed from his mood that the confrontation had been had, and had not gone well. News was spreading around Ryoko Owari that there had been some kind of monstrous eruption in the fisherman quarter, but few details were available. As time went on, perhaps. Ridachi would need to tell her something of the incident tonight. The timing rendered coincidence impossible.

The two of them had seen Katai settled into his room, and dispatched Korekeda to bed as well, and then retired. Ridachi had intended to give his wife some basic details tonight, and then give her the rest in the morning, after Katai had returned to his enclave and Korekeda had gone to his lessons. But there was something irresistible about her just then. He had needed the warmth of her to remind him that there could still be warmth, needed her tenderness to remind him that there could still be tenderness, needed to lose himself in her touch, if only for a moment, to remind himself that there were some things stronger than fear.

For her part, Etsuki had recognized Ridachi's need, and after a bout of passionate coupling, she now lay atop him full length, her ear to his chest, listening contentedly as his heartbeat returned to normal. Ridachi inhaled her scent again, silently thanking the fortunes for granting him the luck of a loving marriage.

After a time, she shifted slightly. "Husband?" she whispered. Both had long practice carrying on entire conversations in barely audible whisper. Having a child made parents naturally secretive. Ridachi kissed her ear to let her know he was listening, and she asked simply, "what happened today?"

"We found Shaiyan," Ridachi said. "I told you last night of the maho-tsukai?"

"You did," she replied. "You extracted a confession from the sorcerer, and the rest killed him."

"That is correct. Today, we returned to the area of his 'shop' to see if Shaiyan would appear to watch it as well."

"He had mentioned the area to the little fox girl, Nyoko," Etsuki agreed. "It makes sense he would be watching the place."

"Indeed," said Ridachi. "The Crab shugenja Aiko had her men within the shop, and Katai and I met Shaiyan at a fishmonger across the little square."

"Just the two of you?" Etsuki's tone went slightly concerned.

"Yes," Ridachi smiled slightly at his wife's worry. "The others were not far. Katai and I were not unsupported." She relaxed against him again, and began absently stroking his side as he continued. "Katai and I approached Shaiyan initially, and we quickly signaled the others and moved away from the area, so we could ascertain Shaiyan's state of mind without the potential for Crab interruption."

Ridachi was silent for a time after that, reflecting on the conversation with Shaiyan earlier. The young Dragon had been extremely calm, which grew more unnerving once he learned that Katai had been the one to kill Naganori the maho-tsukai. Ridachi would have expected Shaiyan to have been saddened, or even angry, that his chance at vengeance had been lost. Instead, there had been only preternatural calm. Ridachi had at the time not understood what such a response could have meant, and so had continued to attempt to convince Shaiyan to abandon his dabbling into the dark powers, until Shaiyan had said something chilling:

"It is too late," Shaiyan had said, in response to Ridachi's continued insistence that Shaiyan could still come out of the situation with honor. "It will be here momentarily."

"What will?" Ridachi had asked.

"Oni no Shaiyan."

A distant roar sounded then, and Nikana was up from his seat in a flash, his sword biting cleanly through Shaiyan's neck before any other response could be made. Ridachi had sat stunned for a moment at the speed of the execution, but then rushed outside with his companions, to see the most horrible thing he had ever beheld.

It was a creature of fire, unearthly blue flames blossoming from its stony hide and trailing behind it like an obscene cloak. Far larger than the largest man, it stampeded through the streets of the fisherman's quarter, bellowing with fury. Indeed, Ridachi realized then that the thing was the embodiment of Shaiyan's own anger, and he was momentarily saddened that Shaiyan had sacrificed so much of himself in his quest for vengeance.

Shinjo Yul was falling back from the monster already – he had not been in the noodle parlor with the rest, but had run to fetch little Nyoko as soon as possible. Apparently he had found the creature, or vice versa, and was firing arrows at it even as he retreated to the noodle parlor and the rest. Already two thick-shafted Moto arrows, aflame themselves thanks to the creature's form, protruded from the beast's hide. Part of Ridachi, the analytical part, was grateful that he was in the company of four skilled warriors, and even more gladdened that Takako-san was present to lend her magical skill to the imminent battle.

But another part of him, a much more natural part, could see only the surrounding buildings. The homes and businesses of Ryoko Owari's fisherman's quarter were small, cramped dwellings. They were not built for permanence, and were as a rule flimsy, slouching against each other in a random pattern that made for crooked, cramped, nearly un-navigable streets. The working heimin were generally not present at this time of day, so each dwelling likely held the remainder of a family--a woman, elderly parents, perhaps even children. A fire in this district would be disastrous, and there was a creature of living flame standing in the street.

Ridachi's only thought then was of his own family – his beloved Etsuki and his marvelous Korekeda. In every dwelling, he imagined his own wife grabbing his own son and cowering from the foul spawn now roaring at the samurai who had come to fight it. The only rational thought he had was to get the nearby people out of the area. He had gone shouting for people to grab their children and flee, the analytical part of his mind knowing full well that he would be of no aid to his companions in their fight with the oni, the husband and father in him ignoring that in favor of paternal instinct.

Now, in the dark and quiet of his bedchamber, Ridachi embraced Etsuki firmly.

"Shaiyan had truly pacted with dark powers," whispered Ridachi, "and an oni of his own making attacked the quarter while we were there. Shaiyan was slain, as was the creature."

"You are sad," Etsuki returned his embrace. Ridachi adored her touch. "Are you sad for Shaiyan-san?" she asked.

"I am," Ridachi nodded in the dark, and sighed. "He was trying with all his might to be brave, to face his father's killer. But his courage led him to places he should never have gone. His pursuit of bravery made him gullible."

"Gullible?"

"He was easily misled. He did not see the danger, or thought he could control it, because he doubtless thought he was pursuing the brave course in his desire for revenge. He decided he would be brave enough to do whatever had to be done to ensure his vengeance, and so was misled."

"I am not brave," Etsuki shook her head slightly. "I worry for you sometimes, Husband."

Ridachi smiled, though she could not see it. How he loved this woman. "I am not brave, either. It is why I will always return to you."

"You would flee danger?" Etsuki teased. "Abandon your friends?"

"No, no," he replied, nuzzling her neck. "I am too frightened of the boorish samurai who would come to carry you off if I were absent too long."

She purred softly as he kissed her throat and shoulder.

"You are the love of my soul," Ridachi breathed. He could feel his need for her building again.

"As you are mine," Etsuki whispered, before pushing herself upright and fitting her body to his once more.