After we had walked for a short distance, I turned to Shinri and asked, "What's this all about?"
"Tonosama thinks the strangers' sudden appearance is a sign," Shinri softly answered.
"A sign?" I wondered. "What does that mean? What kind of sign?" My friend shrugged. I thought back to what Risu had said about striking at full force.
Neither Shinri nor I spoke again until we reached the palace where all the warriors gathered. I saw Tonosama right away, as he stood on the steps of the courtyard, his face quite grim. He followed me with his eyes as I entered. The meeting quickly got underway.
"As you all know, a great Evil has invaded our land." Tonosama's deep voice carried to everyone. "A few years ago it dealt us a horrendous blow; it almost destroyed us. But we have rebuilt out city, our Shiro. Now we are stronger, greater, more glorious than ever we were! And now is the time to strike!" Tonosama clenched his fists before him for emphasis.
"Why should we strike?" someone - a voice I did not recognize - spoke up. "Shibo has turned away from us."
"Has he?" responded Tonosama. "Has he really? Or has he merely glanced away for a moment to build up his strength?"
"If he attacks in greater numbers, we will surely persih," Chi put in sensibly.
So we were there to discuss striking back at that facinerous Shibo... It's funny the coincidences life hands you. I thought a moment, then said loud enough for all to hear, "If we strike, it must be soon and in the greatest numbers we can muster." I fairly blushed when Tonosama turned to meet my eyes. It was difficult, but I did not look away; I met his gaze straight on. I was a warrior.
"You speak well, Shinzo Ryuno, son of Taka," he said to me. The sese of honor his few words gave me is indescribable.
Chi nodded his agreement. "We will need more warriors than we have now," he said gruffly. "The women must aid us in this endeavor."
"Women?!?" I hadn't realized I had spoken it aloud until I noticed Tonosama looking at me with amusement in his dark eyes. I flushed deeply with embarrassment.
"Yes, the women," our leader smiled. "We will need to be at our fullest possible force. This may come as a shock to you," here the man chuckled, "but women are much stronger than they appear to be."
A few men murmured their agreement - I noticed mostly the married ones. I tried picturing Yuki and Shiroi fighting off the shitai (Yuki came easier to mind).
Tonosama turned to Chi. "Gather the women and explain the situation to them. Tell them we will be taking volunteers that will be given the briefest of combat training. We leave in two days at dawn." He turned and walked into the palace, everyone staring after him in mild surprise.
"Did you hear that?" Shinri asked, grabbing my elbow. "My wife could be going to war with me!"
"I heard! I heard!" I was just as surprised as he was.
"I doubt many will volunteer," commented one man. "They wouldn't want to damage their pretty little hands!" Others laughed. I merely stared at the now closed palace doors.
Women...?
I wondered what it would be like to fight alongside women on my short trek home. It would be nice to see; their small lithe little bodies, their... what was I saying? I quickly pushed the thoughts away - especially the ones of Yuki, which were particularly stubborn about leaving.
I told Risu and Kitsune all about what had been said at the warrior meeting, though I really don't know why. Kitsune seemed pleased that the women were being called to fight. I wondered what it would be like to see this exotic woman in combat.
Risu offered to go with, seemingly convinced that Shibo was the reason for their coming here. Kitsune of course agreed to go, too. I tried half-heartedly to talk them out of it - this was, after all, a dangerous mission - but I, too, thought that Shibo was responsible for their arrival so failed rather quickly. Risu and I talked late into the night about the upcoming battles. I attempted to explain to him about the shitai - how they were the bodies of the dead that rose to fight against you, and that if not properly disposed of (and quickly) anyone killed by the shitai would become one himself. He grunted at this information, his face displaying utter disgust. I couldn't bring myself to tell him how difficult it was to kill a friend who had turned shitai. I personally had done so only twice and the men I had destroyed were not of my closest friends. I hoped beyond explanation that I would never have to destroy one of my close friends that had turned. It was of course the best thing to do, but I wondered if I could actually bring myself to deal that fatal blow....