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ts pervaded the chamber。 The atmosphere seemed to absorb her prayers as if it were listening。
Kyoki's castle lay nestled in a glen shaggy with white birch and larch； acres of bright； blooming giant azaleas and stands of peach trees； one thousand meters above sea level in Asama kogen。 These were the highlands…cool in summer； frosted in winter… just over 130 kilometers from Tokyo； northeast of the sprawling； jammed supertropolis； almost squarely in the center of Honshu； Japan's main island。
The kogen were dominated by 2；500…meter Asama…yama； an active volcano whose upper slopes were kept sere and utterly barren by frequent eruptions。
On the opposite side of the highlands from where Kyoki's castle stood； sweeping northeast off Asama…yama's skirt； was Onio…shidashi； a black； blasted lavascape aptly named after the monstrous outpouring of the earth's depths in 1783； 〃The Devil's Discharge。〃
Parkland and villas of the rich were strewn all about here but none within seeing distance of the castle； named Yami Doko… Kite in the Darkness…by Kyoki soon after he came to live here。
Akiko had as little an idea when that was as she had about anything else in the sensefs background。 With her eyes alone she could tell that he was at least part Mongol： the slant to his eyes； the width and flatness of his cheekbones； as well as the hue of his skin。 She could envision his ancestors； wrapped in wolf skins and beaten metal corselets； descending on horseback from the Chinese steppes； snowy wind at their backs； to raid the villages of the plains。
They worked within a rigidly formulaic framework that wa without even the most minute deviation。 This was in direct counterpart to her two years at the ryu in Kumamoto。 Every moment of Akiko's time in Asama was mapped out and had to be assiduously accounted for。 A blank spot was cause for punishment。 Excuses of any kind were not tolerated。 Neither was illness； which was treated by Kyoki with various natural poultices and herbal binations。 He was a giftedyogen…chemist…and Akiko； who was rarely sick in any case； inevitably found herself recovered within ten hours。 Meanwhile her studies…even the most taxing physical exercises…were performed uninterrupted。
For weeks at a time they lived in the wilderness； leaving the castle far behind。 Often this occurred during inclement weather… in the dead of winter or during late summer and early autumn when successions of typhoons lashed the island's southern coast； sending dark； whipping squalls into the interior like a dragon's raking claws。
This was purposeful。 He taught her how to use the elements and even； in many cases； to tame them。 With them they took only rokugu； the ninja's 〃six tools for traveling。〃 Five were all contained within the sixth； uchitake； a three…meter length of hollowed…out bamboo。 Inside was stored medicine； a stone pencil； towel； hat； and musubinawa； an eight…meter coil of rope made out of women's hair； lighter than regular rope and stronger。
They lived in trees and in the bush； by low…lying alpine streams； on rock outcroppings along Shiraito Falls； a staggeringly beautiful network of narrow water chutes climbing up a sheer； foliage…encrusted cliff face。
Tsuchigumo was a technique that Kyoki claimed had been passed down to him through his father from Jinnai Ukifune； an assassin in the service of Nobunaga Oda； powerful feudal daimyo； unique among all ninja because he was a dwarf。
Tsuchigumo was； as Kyoki put it； 〃bat in the rafters。〃 He taught her to cling to the tops of rooms where crossbeams and such could be employed with the aid of nekode； cat's claws of forged steel。 Hour after hour they hung in the darkness of the night； using arcane breath…control techniques to slow their metabolisms and therefore remain motionless until just before dawn。
At that time they would drop lithely and silently down onto the stone flooring； free of muscle knots and cramps； ready…if this were a real situation…to deliver a lethal blow to an unsuspecting enemy。
One evening； perhaps a year and a half after she had first entered the castle； Kyoki summoned her to a room which she had never seen before。 It was large and had an arching ceiling so high its upper reaches were lost in gloom。 It was divided by an odd…looking doorway that had the aspect of a Chinese moon gate； almost circular in nature。
There were tatami； the first she had seen at Yami Doko。 Kyoki knelt on one of these just beyond the arc of the moon gate。 Before him was a lacquer tea service； a small plate piled with rice cakes。
Akiko bowed low and； doffing her boots； knelt opposite him。 The moon gate rose above them and between them； the demar…kation between sensei and pupil。
All was quiet in the room； all was serene。 Akiko； questing as he had taught her to do； felt only the harmony of his wa。 She watched him prepare the green tea； she had not known that he had these skills。 She was mesmerized by the movements。 She felt languid and calm。 Almost at peace。
Kyoki put aside the whisk and； turning the porcelain cup one half a revolution； presented her with the steaming tea。 He bowed low to her and she followed suit； extending her torso forward。 Her forehead touched the tatami on the other side of the moon gate。
Whisper； as of silk against flesh or。。。
Galvanized； her adrenals pumping furiously； she tucked her head under and launched herself forward； rolling； ball…like； forward across the tatami。
Behind her the metal blade hurtled downward from the apex of the moon gate arc； slicing through the reed mat at the precise spot where the exposed back of her neck had been a split second before； burying itself in the floor beneath。
Akiko bounded to her knees and stared wide…eyed at her sensei； who was calmly sipping at his tea。
〃How？〃 she said wonderingly。 〃I felt not even the tiniest ripple in your wa。 There was nothing。。。 nothing at all。〃 …
〃This is why you are here；〃 Kyoki said simply。 〃Jaho masks my wa。〃
〃Jaho；〃 Akiko echoed。 〃Magic？〃
The sensei shrugged。 〃Call it what you will。 It goes by many names。 Which one you use is unimportant。〃
〃It exists。〃
〃Were you aware of my intentions？〃
〃I might have died。 Would you really have allowed that？〃
〃Once the blade is released I can no longer control it；〃 he said。 〃As always； you were the master of your own fate。 And I am pleased to see you here beside me。 You are not the first woman who has ever e here seeking that which was meant for man。 Women； traditionally； seek to control power and in that way possess it。 It is an oblique strategy； a female stratagem。 In this way in our society a mother controls her son； a wife controls her husband。 It is rare indeed for the woman to seek a more direct means； to possess absolute dominion over men through her own strength。
〃As I have indicated； several have tried。 AH have failed。 Perhaps； now； you will be the first miko。〃 He rose； held out his hand palm up。 〃e。 It is time we begin your true education。〃
He was a face in the rain。 She saw him and did not see him。 He was there beside her and he was not。 Quick as a kami； he flickered； a blazing light； and then was gone。
Though she had spent years with him； though he had held the key to her world； and had pa