Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
When they entered the building, Ryuichi looked around in absolute wonder. The foyer was grandiose in design, with ceilings that practically rose into the clouds. He and the others were escorted to a large room that filled with a variety of gold statues, and at the center was a low, gilded table.
He also noticed how the armor of Lord Inumagami’s samurai guards was completely spotless and perfect. His soldiers were a far cry from the thrown-together forces of Hayasaka back at his castle.
Lord Inumagami’s samurai carried themselves with distinction. Which was very interesting, given that their lord was a simple Shiba Inu.
Lord Inumagami trotted to a tatami mat in the middle of the floor. He sprawled across the mat. “Make yourself comfortable. I don’t bite . . . much.” He gave them a sly smile. “I hope you brought me some treats.”
Hayasaka bowed. “No, my lord. Sorry. Not this time. Instead, I brought something else exciting. This is the son of the great Ryukage.”
Ryuichi went cold at the blunt announcement. Was the jerk selling him out again?
Furious at the thought, Ryuichi gripped the hilt of his sword, then stopped himself. Like it or not, he was in the presence of another lord. To draw his sword inside his domain was punishable by death.
Not to mention it was just very bad manners.
Masaru, however, was never good at following the rules. He grabbed Hayasaka by his neck and began choking him.
“Lord Inumagami is loyal to the Ryukage,” Hayasaka managed to say while being strangled.
That was impressive.
Even more impressive? The cute dog lord who was trying to separate them.
Ryuichi stared wide-eyed at the hound.
“That’s right. Very right.” The dog scratched himself with his hind leg. “I’m the most loyal of all canines. That’s why the Ryukage gave me Kagemura to rule. Wherever I go, bad guys go too.”
“As in they follow you?” Yumi asked.
Lord Inumagami shook his head. “I mean they go into the ground, at my paws.”
Hayasaka nodded. “He’s legendary. Within weeks, he killed all the criminals in Kagemura. He was quite thorough.”
Inumagami stopped scratching. “Oh, I didn’t get all of them. There’s still a few left around.”
Hayasaka did what he did best—sucking up to his lord. “They must truly be extraordinary to avoid being sniffed out by you.”
The dog scoffed. “Definitely not. They were funny and amused me, so I let them live.” He winked at Ryuichi. “It gets a bit boring here. I need something entertaining, such as your yōkai. Could you please remove your hands from Hayasaka’s throat now?”
There was reluctance in Masaru’s eyes. He gave one last squeeze, then released him.
Warily, Ryuichi watched the dog. He was glad his shadow wasn’t here. Ryuichi-kage and Lord Inumagami would have gotten along far too well. There was no telling how much mischief they would make together.
They would probably take over the entire realm.
Lord Inumagami rolled onto his back. “What happened to your castle, Hayasaka? I thought you were ordered to guard the gate.”
“Burned to the ground by that blasted Orochi.”
That caused Inumagami to roll over and sit up. “What?”
“I was attacked. He wants to rule both realms and was willing to go through me to breach the gate.”
“Did he make it?”
Hayasaka shook his head. “Ryuichi closed it just in time. But the dragon isn’t happy about it. None of his heads were, and I’m sure they’re now after my one head.”
Inumagami gave him a peculiar stare. “Is that why you’re here? He’s chasing you?”
“No. I was actually hoping you could help me find the Ryukage. We closed the gate, but Orochi is ruthless and will find a way through. It’s only a matter of time before both our worlds fall. We need Ryukage to get rid of Orochi.”
“And why would you think I know where the Ryukage is?”
Hayasaka looked offended that he’d even ask. “Because you’re his dog.”
Inumagami narrowed his gaze.
“His favorite dog?” Hayasaka quickly amended.
That seemed to please him. “That’s right. And don’t you ever forget it. I’m his preferred servant, and his most loyal,” he repeated.
“Forgive my stupidity for not saying that sooner.” Hayasaka bowed to him. “So, where is he?”
“Eager to get home, are you?” Inumagami asked.
“Of course. I have peasants to tax and a hōjō to rebuild. The sooner we find our lord, the better.”
Inumagami didn’t appear impressed by that list. Instead, he let out a sharp bark. “I must consult with my adviser.”
A tall kitsune administrator came running over. Wearing a bright yellow kimono, she had long black hair, but the rest of her still appeared to be a fox.
Strange choice.
Ignoring Ryuichi and his companions, she bowed to the dog. “My lord? You summoned me?”
He nodded. “Yes, Naomi. Advise. Should we find the Ryukage and bother him?”
The adviser gave them a sinister scowl. “I would say no, Inumagami-san. This isn’t the right time to disturb our lord. I think it would anger him.”
“Pardon?” Hayasaka was aghast, and so was Ryuichi.
Their outrage did nothing to deter the fox.
“Our Ryukage would not have secluded himself from the matters of the world if he didn’t have good reason.
You were given an order by the Ryukage that he should not be disturbed.
A good servant respects the wishes of his master.
Especially a servant who wishes to keep his head. ”
This wasn’t good. Ryuichi tried to think of something to do. If they didn’t act fast, they’d wind up being sent out of here with no information whatsoever.
They needed his father.
Don’t do it. Keep your mouth shut.
No. He needed to do something, or else this was over before it began.
Here goes nothing. “Lord Inumagami, forgive me for speaking out of turn, sir. But I must remind you, as a loyal member of the Ryukage’s circle, it’s your job to use your own judgment on how to best serve the Ryukage.
His seclusion means he knows nothing about the state of his realm or his enemies, who are rising up to steal his domain.
Imagine his wrath should he learn about this from someone other than his most loyal servant.
Or worse, if I, his son, was harmed while he knew nothing of the threat against me. ”
The adviser bowed her head lower. “Does my master believe the Ryukage is so foolish, so shortsighted, that he would not place some safeguard for this very situation? You are a loyal servant, and so he trusted you with the position you are now in, with the knowledge you have been given. Information he didn’t give to anyone else.
He did this knowing you would do as you were told.
Reward the Ryukage’s trust in you by trusting him in kind. ”
That made a nice story, but Ryuichi didn’t buy it any more than Masaru did.
Masaru let out a long sigh. “While that sounds good in theory, Hayasaka’s castle lies in ruins.
Do you believe it was part of the Ryukage’s plan to lose the very castle he entrusted his vassal to defend?
Was it a part of his plan to let one of his greatest enemies, the World Eater, gain power in his absence and go to war with his people? ”
Naomi shook her head. “My lord, do not trust these traitors. Lord Hayasaka has failed to defend the land entrusted to him, and heaven has seen fit to remove those lands from him. He is a failure of a lord and now has hatched this harebrained scheme, which shall only end with his execution. Do not be dragged down with this failure.”
Katsu stepped between the adviser and Hayasaka, ready to cut down the adviser for her slanderous words against his lord.
Ryuichi wasn’t quite finished. “Inumagami-san, this is much bigger than Lord Hayasaka, me, you, or any of us. This is about the fate of all. If our request is denied and we are forced to wander, I am afraid we will be picked up by the forces of the World Eater, and that would seal your fate.”
Naomi laughed. “And why should my lord care about what happens to all of you?”
Masaru gestured at Ryuichi. “Evil though he is, the Ryukage is most loyal to his son.”
Inumagami considered what Masaru had said. Ryuichi was well aware that the next few words out of his mouth would determine all their fates.
No.
The fate of all worlds.
Suddenly, Yumi stepped forward, closing her eyes and raising her hand toward Inumagami. “Maybe I can help.”
Ryuichi was confused. What was she about to do?
Inumagami stared ahead, like he was in a trance.
“This creature owes his life to his master. In his home village, where there had been many inu yōkai, his parents had been helping to plan a rebellion. They’d known the price of betrayal, and still they’d foolishly put everything at risk. Everything. Even their pups.”
Ryuichi was aghast. She was reading Inumagami’s thoughts like a book.
Did she have any idea what a big offense this was?
“His parents were executed. Most creatures would have left the pup there, alone and abandoned, to die of starvation. A suitable punishment for the child of traitors.
“But instead, Ryukage scooped the young pup into his arms and protected him. From that moment on, Inumagami had sworn himself to his service.”
Ryuichi couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Neither could Masaru.
The Ryukage they knew was harsh, hateful, and angry. Yet somehow Inumagami had managed to soften his killer instincts. Hearing this story gave them a brief glimpse of the man the Ryukage had once been.
Before he transformed into the soulless demon that he was now.
“Then the Ryukage changed,” Yumi went on. Naomi and the samurai seemed to be locked in a similar trance, frozen in time, just like Inumagami. “His master had turned against everyone. Including his favorite servant. Cruelty was his fuel, and he never ran out of it.”
Ryuichi was so surprised by his feelings right now. His heart ached for Inumagami and his father.