Shinobi (A Katana Novel) (22 page)

36

Japan, 1493

C
hiyo pulled back on the reigns and halted her horse beside Zeami. Together, they sat mounted before Yoshido’s village. Her bandits stood behind them, their dark clothing making them almost invisible beneath the night sky. It had taken months of planning and waiting for the perfect opportunity for attack. And tonight was finally the night.

Chiyo’s pulse thrummed with excitement. For two years she’d waited for this moment. And now, at long last, it was finally here. She wouldn’t allow any mistakes. “You understand our deal?”

“Of course,” Zeami answered. “Kill the girl and bring you Yoshido. In turn, I get to take over the village.” He lifted his hand and smiled as blue sparks danced from his fingers. “How does this work again?”

Chiyo frowned. Zeami had been all too eager in his
demand that she loan him some of her power. She hoped it wouldn’t impact the job he had to do. “I am a healer,” she answered. “That means I have complete control of the body. Those blue sparks?” She nodded at his hand. “Your brain is full of them. I merely enable the body to manipulate them.”

His grinned widened as he watched the sparks fly.

“Please keep in mind”—she laced her words with warning—“that your power is only temporary. It will fade.”

His smile dissolved and he dropped his hand.

“I am only allowing you to have it long enough to kill the girl and anyone else who would stop you from bringing me Yoshido. Understood?”

He waved her concern away. “There will be no problems.”

“There better not be.” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I continue to learn more about my abilities by the day. Today I discovered something interesting about my talents.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

Chiyo turned to one of the bandits behind her and lifted a finger. “You there. You are a dog.”

The man dropped on all fours. He sniffed the ground before lifting his head and bellowing at the moon.

Chiyo faced Zeami and was pleased to find his mouth slightly ajar. It would serve her well for him to remember the importance of his mission—and what she would do to him if he failed. “Unless you want to spend your days scratching at fleas—or
worse—
Yoshido is to be brought to me alive. Is that understood?”

He snapped his mouth closed and swallowed. “Perfectly.”

“Good.” She pointed to the village below. “Now go and bring him to me.”

Zeami nodded and waved the men behind him forward. “Time to move!”

Chiyo’s stomach fluttered with excitement as she watched her small army descend down the hill. After nearly two years, Yoshido would finally be hers. Her newfound ability had been like a gift from the Gods, urging her forward in her plan. Once she had Yoshido, she could make him forget about Senshi and they could finally be married, like they’d intended all those years ago.

She tightened her grip on the reins. Soon. She’d have everything she ever wanted.

She’d finally be happy.

Senshi jolted upright from her sleeping mat, her startled gasp rousing the man next to her.

Yoshido, accustomed to her premonitions, awoke in an instant and grasped beside him for his sword. “How long do we have?”

“The enemy is almost here.”

37

M
y cell phone buzzed on my desk.

I crammed the last T-shirt into my bag, zipped it up, and grabbed my phone. I had a text from Kim.

We’re outside waiting.

I grinned, slipped the phone in my back pocket, and double checked my duffle bag one last time to make sure I had my passport and ticket—both provided by the Network in an attempt to make up for trying to kill me.

“Rileigh?”

I spun around to find Debbie standing in the doorway with a sad smile on her lips. “If you don’t hurry, you’re going to miss your flight.”

“I know.” I nearly choked on the words. Only two days had passed since I’d lost my former body and assumed I’d lost my mom as well. But thankfully Quentin was able to alter her mind so when she looked at me, she only saw the old me. We weren’t sure it would hold forever. But for now, it was enough.

“Are you certain you don’t need me to drive you to the airport?” She absently twisted a ring on her middle finger. “I don’t mind.”

“That’s okay.” I slipped the duffle bag over my shoulder. “My friends are already waiting outside.”

“Right. I forgot.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I know this was my idea. I wanted you to travel. It’s just hitting me all at once. My baby is an adult now—leaving the house to explore the world.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re going to call me, right?”

I swallowed to keep the tremor out of my voice. “Every day. I promise.”

She nodded and motioned me forward for a hug. I let the bag fall from my shoulder and threw my arms around my mom’s waist. I shuddered when I thought how close I’d come to losing her—my only remaining family.

Reluctantly, I pulled back. “I’m going to be late, Mom.”

“I know.” She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Have fun and be safe.”

I picked my bag off the floor. “I will.”

“You have your passport?”

I nodded.

“Money? Your cell phone?”

I laughed. “Yes, Mom! If you don’t let me go, I’m going to miss my flight.”

“C’mon, Debbie.” Dr. Wendell appeared behind her and gently pushed her out of the way. “She has to go.”

“Okay, okay!” She threw her hands in the air and stepped aside. “Can’t a mother be concerned about her only daughter?” She dipped her chin and gave me a pointed look. “You make sure you call me if you need
anything.
Got that?”

“I will, I promise. But I really have to go.” I stepped around her into the hallway.

“I love you, baby.”

I stopped, a lump thick in my throat. For those words, everything I’d gone through to get my body back, including almost dying, had been worth it. Without turning around, I answered, “I love you, too, Mom.”

I marched down the hall before I succumbed to the tears burning in my eyes. I’d nearly reached the front door when a hand grabbed my arm. “Rileigh?”

I turned around and came face-to-face with Dr. Wendell.

He blinked before shaking his head. “It’s so crazy seeing you in a different body. Even crazier that your mom can’t see it.”

“Thank God for that.” I adjusted the strap on my shoulder.

“Right.” He nodded. “Listen, I know you guys say you’re done with the Network—but we could sure use you. What exactly are you going to do while you’re gone?”

I shrugged. “Not sure.”

“Where are you going?”

“Everywhere.”

“When will you be back?”

“Dunno.”

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “And
this
is exactly how I know you’re really Rileigh. It doesn’t matter what you look like—you still have the ability to drive me crazy.”

I grinned. “It’s a gift.”

He laughed. “Well, I just want you and the others to know there will always be a spot for you in the Network.”

“Thanks, but don’t hold your breath.”

He frowned. “But you’re samurai. What else are you going to do with your lives?”

“I’m not really sure … ” I shrugged. “I think it will be fun to figure out.” Before he could argue, I threw my arms around him and squeezed. “Take care of my mom.”

He made a startled noise, but when I made no move to let go, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and squeezed back.

He said nothing when I pulled away, only stared at me with his mouth slack.

“Take care.” I turned away from him, threw the door to the condo open, and rushed into the stairwell. I practically leapt down the stairs until I reached the ground floor. When I emerged in the lobby, I immediately spotted Kim outside standing in front of a taxi van.

I ran through the doors, laughing as Kim picked me up and spun me around.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered against my ear.

I leaned back so I could stare into his dark eyes. “It’s been what? Not even twenty-four hours?”

“Too long.” He pressed me against his chest, burying his face into my neck.

“Guys!”

I turned and spotted Quentin leaning over the driver in the front seat. “Save the huggy-kissy for later. We’re late.”

The side door of the minivan slid open and Drew, Michelle, and Braden waved to me from the backseat.

Kim gave me a devious look. “It’s not too late for us to make a run for it. We could disappear, just the two of us.”

I swatted him. “You know as well as I do we’re all stuck together for life.”

He gave a dramatic sigh. “That I do.” He carried me to the van, depositing me on the sidewalk so I could climb inside. I settled into the middle seat and Kim climbed in beside me.

Braden leaned forward, resting his arms on the back of our seats. “So what are we going to do first when we get there?”

Kim smiled and stretched an arm around my shoulder. “Whatever we want. That’s the point.”

“I’m so excited!” Michelle drummed her fingers against her knees. “I can’t believe we’re finally going back to Japan. I wonder how different it will be—if there will be anything left to remind us of home.”

Drew said nothing. He only bobbed his head along to whatever he was listening to on his iPod.

“It doesn’t matter.” Kim shook his head. “Japan’s not home for us anymore—and neither is St. Louis.”

I looked at him. “So where exactly is home then?”

The van lurched into traffic, jostling our bodies together.

He smiled. “Anywhere we’re all together.”

Smiling, I settled my head in the curve of his neck and watched the passing buildings as we made our way to the airport. He was right.

We were finally home.

Photo by Kyle Weber

About the Author

When Cole Gibsen isn’t writing she can be found shaking her booty in a zumba class, picking off her nail polish, or drinking straight from the jug (when no one is looking). Cole currently resides in the Greater St. Louis area with her husband, daughter, and one very cranky border collie.