The Coming From the Shadows Series
Previous Instalments:
- CFTS: The Whispers of the East
Coming From the Shadows
The Whispers of the East
2
Background:
It was 1868 and Japan had become fractured; the Boshin War raged between crumbling Shogunate and the rising Imperial Forces.
Amidst the chaos was Heijiró Yama – He was born into a Secretive group known only as ‘The Hunters’ a group dedicated to fighting in a shadowy war against a Mysterious and Ancient Organisation known as ‘The Imperium’ a uniting body formed since the days of Ancient Greece by various opposing Cultist movements seeking to locate and free an Ancient Celestial Being from his Prison.
Since the mid to late 16th Century; a group of Foreigners ‘The Hunters’ found themselves stranded on the isolated Japanese islands, but, integrating into their society crafted a unique now sect of them; adopting Japanese Language and Customs the ‘Hunters’ swore loyalty to the land and its people, rather than the Shogun or the Emperor – these loyalties continued, and following the Shogunate’s decision to target the village that had begun the home of the ‘Hunters’ in Japan for failing to pledge loyalty, they fund themselves decimated, hunted down and executed.
Amongst those that did survive was; Heijiró Yama – his solitary mission kept him from feeling any sense of conflict when it came to defending himself or those in need, regardless of the opponent, choosing to save and sacrifice rather than submit.
Introduction:
Since the outbreak of violence; Heijiró found himself within the company of an English Foreigner; Grace Morgan, she was a woman he had met previously during times she visited his village alongside her husband, often for trading wares; but, now with the war, he had come to her rescue, saving her during an attack on the town she had been homed with her husband; the Imperial Forces, after an attempt made by her own husband to exchange her for his own safety – the two had grown close since that event.
Two-Months since saving Grace from certain peril, he intended to escort her to Edo; that had been the original agreement, but, those two months sharing the same saddle and shelter; a physical closeness and share hardship had drawn them together, burgeoning feelings.
It was because of her growing affection for him; Grace, with a boldness that both intrigued and disquieted him, had confessed her feelings, including an extending an invitation to join her in her homeland.
Heijiró, raised within a world of duty and restraint had found himself wrestling with emotions he had never really considered before.
As they established their evening encampment beside a gentle stream; Heijiró once again took up the role of a silent sentinel, keeping watch as Grace began to cleanse away the dust and grime of their travels; that night though, it was different.
Heijiró’s gaze, usually razor focused and observant had lingered onto Grace; he found himself drawn to the curve of her shoulder, a glint of light against the long dark hair she had tied upwards.
A forbidden fascination held him captive as he watched her quietly.
Chapter 1:
The camp fire crackled and popped, its flames cast dancing shadows – Grace, she found herself staring into the flames, she was lost in thought.
Heijiró, abandoning his usual stoic reserve, carefully set his Katana down beside his Kodachi, he edged closer towards Grace, moving with a silent graceful movement; Grace was startled slightly when she felt his arm gently encircle her shoulders, her gaze shifted, meeting his, there was a mixture of longing and confusion within her eyes.
She could also see a new vulnerability within Heijiró, like a mirroring of her own swirling emotions.
Taking a deep breath “Grace-san” he began, his voice was low, gravelly “Apart from me; where would you wish to go?”
Confusion clouded her features “I…, don’t understand”
Heijiró paused a moment, thinking carefully “You extended an invitation; for me come to your homeland, but, if I extended that same invitation, to stay here, in Nihon…, would you?, or would the pull of your own homeland still draw you, even if did not agree to accompany?”
Grace thought for a moment, trying to discern if the invitation she had offered was too much; her hand rose to his face, her touch light, tentative “Your as confused as I am it would appear” processing her thoughts carefully she took a deep breath as she locked her eyes with his “If we pursued something…, a relationship…, marriage.., something; and you wanted to remain here, I would stay; I would remain with you, if you accepted my own invitation; I would happily take you to Britain…, I would go anywhere with you, whether that be Britain, here in Japan…, anywhere”
There was a pause; the words hung in the air – Heijiró stared into her eyes, she maintained her gaze with his, then, continuing with a soft tone “It has become my want; before all this, we had met only a few times during my deceased husbands trade with you village; and since then and these recent months; my feelings for you have only solidified”
Grace’s hand remained light against his face, her fingers gently stroking his cheek; gently, Heijiró mirrored her gesture; he placed his hand over hers, his thumb traced the delicate lines of her skin; from her answer, it helped him evaluate if her boldness had merely been some infatuation, it seemed though; she was being genuine, there was not hesitation in her words, no sign she was acting out of misplaced infatuation or latching on due to her experiences “I will go with you…, to England”
He leaned towards her; she remained in place, there was no attempt to move back as he came closer; she simply locked his eyes with her own, he kissed her; it was gentle, warm – Grace felt the softness of his lips against hers, her eyes closed momentarily as she accepted him; it became a promise, a commitment, it spoke of sincerity that resonated within the stillness of that night
The following morning, the sun painted the landscape with a golden hue, blending with its greenery; once again, Heijiró and Grace resumed their journey; Grace leaned against him; her arms wrapped firmly around his waist, she find solace in his strength and presence.
The gentle rhythm was a counterpoint to the turmoil of their past experiences.
Chapter 2:
Arriving to a small town, they decided to replenish on their dwindling supplies, but, the quiet hostility towards foreigners was evident; Grace could feel the weight of their suspicious gaze, the barely contained hostility directed at her due to her foreign status – it was this that Heijiró had decided was not worth the attempt to try keeping Grace within his homeland; if he left her alone, would she be safe.., no, it was too much risk, he wasn’t going to take it, that bond which had developed, it became an important anchor for him.
Grace remained instinctively close to Heijiró, seeking the protection of his imposing figure; his multi-layered robes, and raised hood hid most of his physical stature, but, it was still evident by the way he carried himself, and with both the Kodachi strapped onto his back, and the Katana at his waist, they wasn’t going to be threatened by townsfolk anytime soon.
The merchants they haggled with though still eyed Grace with open suspicion regardless of Heijiró being right there; but, with his hand resting on the hilt of his Katana, they kept their prejudice at bay, only one merchant was bold enough to make a crude remark about ‘Foreign Devils’ – Heijiró moved in front of Grace, his eyes blazed with a cold fury that silenced him.
Back along the road; Grace thanked him; her tone laced with gratitude, Heijiró simply smiled, a rare and precious sight, accompanied with a nod.
There travels though would eventually be interrupted, a group of Imperial soldiers blocked their path; their leader, a stern-faced man with a glint of fanatism in his eyes demanded Grace be surrendered “Hand the foreign woman over!; she is a threat to the emperor, surrender her for questioning”
Heijiró narrowed his eyes, carefully dismounting, gesturing for Grace to stay put before turning to the soldiers “She is under my protection; I will not surrender her” his voice was calm, laced with a steely resolve
The lead soldier sneered; moving closer to Heijiró failing to notice as his hand slipped beneath his robel Heijiró’s fingers wrapped around a fragile, but ornate fragile egg nestled inside of his robe, there, it was hidden with two more, alongside his throwing knives; as he pulled the shell free, he purposely broke it as he flung his arm across in a wide arc, the wind, as it gently blew away from Heijiró carried a cloud of fine, yellowish powder forwards; it was a mixture of powdered stinging nettles and chili powder.
The wind carried it into the faces of the three soldiers.
The lead soldier; blinded and coughing, staggered back, and that was the moment Heijiró struck; he drew and swung the Katana; the sword connected against its target, dropping his first opponent in an instant, shifting his position, he twisted as he drew a throwing knife free and flung it towards the next soldier with a flick of his wrist, striking the second and causing him to drop with a yelp.
Heijiró then surged forwards at the third, his Katana singing as he slashed at the third soldier; the third though, barely managed to draw his own weapon and parry the bow, despite the burning irritation in his left eye from the scattered powder, the soldier engaged Heijiró in a furious duel.
Chapter 3:
Heijiró and the Imperial Soldier began to circle one another warily; each searching for an opening; steel clashed against steel, sparks flew with each strike that connected.
Heijiró raised the Katana; blocking a strike, then made a sharp counter, purposely displaying a lapse in his defence to draw in his opponent; the Imperial soldier took the bait, making a move to strike and leaving himself open for Heijiró to twist and swing his Katana to knock his oponents sword sharply to the side before changing direction within that split moment; purposely striking what could have been a killing blow, but instead, used the hilt.
The hilt hit hard against the man’s nose before Heijiró followed with a powerful side kick; pivoting his supporting leg as his kicking foot landed against the soldiers stomach, sending him sprawling, rotating the Katana he shifted his gaze a moment, the second soldier; who had gotten to his feet had made a move, before Heijiró was even aware of the movement, the sound of the horse suddenly moving drew his attention.
The galloping allowed Heijiró tot urn just in time to see an incoming strike; but, Grace came to his rescue; using the Tantō gifted by Heijiró for her protection, landed against the second soldier from behind .
Heijiró stared at Grace, his eyes wide with shock and a dawning understanding crept up on Grace as she realised what she had done; the soldier was alive though, but the action had shocked her, instead of finishing off the fallen soldiers; Heijiró got up onto the horse behind Grace, he seized the reigns and spurred the horse forwards, they fled the scene as quickly as possible.
Later into that evening, they sat by the campfire; he could see the horror in her eyes, her body trembled – the weight of her action had settled on her, it was heavy and suffocating.
Sitting beside her, he offered her comfort; he could see how much the trauma had etched into her face, gently, he took her hand into his “You will never have to do that again; I promise you, I shall take more indirect routes, avoid potential interaction with soldiers; I will keep you safe”
Grace looked towards him, she nodded her head slowly, tears welled in her eyes.
Heijiró squeezed her hand reassuringly “I will get you away from Nihon; I will take you to England I will keep you safe” he voice was ow but firm, a vow whispered into the night; he would protect her, no matter what, he would honour his commitment he had made, not just escort her to safety, he would share his life with her
Written By: Westley H.
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