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Entwined, Ch. 11

Part 11 of a multipart series. Mai has been reborn in the modern age after a full life in the Sengoku. The warlords as spirit animals find her again after 500 years of searching for her soul. Approx. 4700 words.

Chapter List

Mai couldn’t help but smile as she walked the last block to the theater. There was no guarantee she’d run into Mitsuhide but she had a good feeling. He’d be there, and she’d say something flirty and he’d . . . well, she wasn’t sure what he would do. Or what she wanted him to do. Flirt back, of course, but then what? And they’d been sending each other mixed messages from the first meeting.

A sudden case of nerves hit her as the door came into view. The last time she’d seen Mitsuhide, he flirted outrageously. But then he hadn’t tried to kiss her goodbye. Buuuut he did call their outing a date . . . so . . . that had to mean something? Something good even.

“He likes you. Come on, Mai. You know he does. And - and if not, well, we’ll just -” she swallowed. “Take some snaps of the stage and props. And go. No harm done.” Except, the flip-flop flutters in her belly told her there would absolutely be harm if he was there and brushed her off.

She took one more steadying breath and went inside. The hall and back offices were dark and empty. That should be no surprise, considering the day and the time, but it felt off somehow. Mai passed the nest of cubicles and desks with an uneasy feeling brewing in the pit of her stomach.

The hall ahead was lightless, save for the emergency exit sign which cast a dim red glow on the far side. This hall ran behind and slightly beneath the stage, a back-back-stage where costumes and props were carried up from storage. There were a few private office doors and dressing rooms, some of which were open. She paused at the first one to peer into the lightless gloom.

Darker-than-dark silhouettes of desk furniture greeted her nervous curiosity. Mai swallowed, heart racing. She knew the shapes were just a desk, a chair, and perhaps a bookshelf? Or a coat rack? Some tall, dark shadow that took up one corner. Her hand reached for the light switch. The fluorescent ceiling light flickered into life, revealing exactly what should be here. Just a shelf.

She breathed a sigh of relief and flipped the switch off again. I’ve got to stop being so jumpy, she thought. There was no one at the theater but her, which was disappointing, but no reason to be scared. Mai squared her shoulders. “Ok. So it’s just me and the ghosts of productions past. Let’s get our stage snaps and go.”

Just as she finished speaking, a sound came from one of the other darkened rooms. A soft whup, like a pile of cloth falling to the ground. Mai nearly jumped. “Hello?”

More sounds came from nearby, but she couldn’t tell from which doorway. A hissing scrape, the thud of a drawer closing. She backed up, scared to turn and run. One hand pawed at the wall reaching for a light switch she wasn’t close enough to hit. Her other hand rummaged in her small purse, trembling fingers failing to grip her phone.

A dark figure stumbled into the hall. Though she couldn’t see the face, she could tell it was looking at her. Then it rushed forward, movements jerky and awkward.

Mai screamed and turned to run. Terror burned through her veins, fear sped her up and slowed her down as she tripped over her own feet. A cold, hard grip caught her and pulled her up.

“You.” Warm breath that stank of alcohol flooded her face. “This is your fault.”

“M-me?” She tried to pull away from the man, but he was stronger than her. Bigger framed.

“You gotta fix it. I’m gonna make you.”

Mai recognized the voice then. “Mr. Keiki?” She struggled even harder as the realization set in. He was here, and drunk. And she was alone with him.

He laughed, a harsh barking sound that held no humor. “Don’t pretend you didn’t know. Stupid girl. Thought you’d get the better of me.” Keiki dragged her toward the office he’d come from. “No one . . . not some insignificant . . . worthless . . .” He was so angry and so wasted that his words turned into a garbled senseless noise.

Keiki and Mai froze at a sudden bang. The lights in the cubicle area flickered to life and three uniformed officers rushed into the theater. They spotted Mai and Keiki in the same moment. Everything seemed to slow as the officers reached for their weapons, shouting orders to stop.

Mai felt a flare of hope. Somehow, they’d shown up just in time to save her. She opened her mouth to call out to them, but her jaw snapped painfully shut as Keiki jerked her into the nearest doorway. Something in her arm tore loose as he pulled her against his chest. “L-let me g-”

“Shut up.” Keiki pressed something cold and sharp to her throat. “Shut up and let me think.”

“Mr. Keiki. Please. I - I don’t know what’s happened. But you have to let me go.” She hated the pleading tone of her voice, the quaver of fear. Mai swallowed. “I - I’ll tell them this is a misunderstanding. Whatever has happened -”

A cold sharpness dug into the soft flesh of her throat. “I said shut up.” Keiki glanced wildly about the room. They were in a sidewing to the main stage, surrounded by boxes and costume racks. Behind them, the stage was screened from view by a heavy black velvet curtain. The lights here had come on as they stumbled in, signaling that the police found the master switch at the front of the hall. “You’re gonna tell them I paid you. All of it,” he growled. “The money . . .”

The police were moving around at the end of the hall, whispering. The faint clatter of their gear and the hum of low voices reached Mai. A reassurance that help was just a little ways away. She just needed to get loose. “I - I will. I’ll tell them whatever you want.”

A familiar voice rang out, one that made Mai’s heart speed for another reason entirely. “Mr. Keiki! What are you doing? Taking a hostage? Do you really think that’s going to help your case?” The sound of footsteps came closer.

“I-I’ll kill her if you come in here!” Keiki pushed harder at her throat, the cold yielding to a sudden hot flash of pain.

“I’m on your side. I want to help you sort this out.” Mitsuhide came into view. His eyes were burnished gold, a dangerous heat burning in their depths. He held out his hands to show they were empty.

Keiki’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into Mai’s arm. “Tell him.”

Mai met Mitsuhide’s gaze, warmth and strength flowing into her. “He paid me? All of the money. I -” She glanced at Keiki. “I take the blame.”

“Of course you do.” Mitsuhide’s smile grew thinner, sharper. His eyes lit on her throat. “But it would be so much more believable if you weren’t bleeding.” He looked back up at Keiki. “Let her go. We both know she’s got nothing to do with this.”

“No.” There was fear in Keiki’s voice now. “She can fix this. If I let her go, I’ve got nothing.”

Mitsuhide tsked as if chiding a small and stupid child. “Holding her hostage won’t help. Just think about what happens next. I’m sure the penalty for kidnapping, assault, and murder is much worse than theft and embezzlement. Let her go.” Despite the silky persuasive tone of his voice, Mai could hear the steel beneath. A serpentine venom, the coiled tension of a snake about to strike.

Keiki laughed. “It doesn’t matter what the penalty is. If I can’t clear these - these baseless accusations . . . no one will ever hire me after this. All my work . . . my contacts . . . everything . . . gone!” His laughter turned into a sob, the desperation of the guilty.

Mai felt the pressure against her neck increase, the sharp tip of the letter opener parting her skin. Tearing it. He was going to kill her, she realized. Somehow, the reality of that hadn’t settled in - but it did now. She was going to die. The thought paralyzed her.

“Do you trust me?”

It took Mai a moment to realize Mitsuhide spoke to her and not to Mr. Keiki. Did she? He was still a mystery. Mitsuhide rarely answered her questions. He always seemed to be hiding something - something big. But . . . she did. She trusted him, even if she couldn’t explain why. Mai mouthed the word yes.

Mitsuhide’s gaze warmed for a heartbeat, his smile almost gentle.

“Why are you asking her that? What do you -” Keiki scrambled back, and for a moment they were both tangled in the thick, suffocating folds of the stage curtain. Then past it, standing on the darkened stage. The safety lights along the aisles painted the space with deep shadows, distorted shapes of rails and chairs.

Mitsuhide followed, still smiling. “Do you know what my favorite thing about theater is?”

“What? No.” Keiki made a choked sounding laugh. “What do I care?”

“I love playing a role. Villain. Hero.” His gaze brushed Mai’s, “A lover or husband.” He advanced and Keiki moved back. “I can be all of those things. At once, or singularly. Farm boy and court schemer. Emperor and peasant.”

As he spoke, he moved closer. Every step sent Keiki back two, dragging Mai with him. The sharp tip dug relentlessly into her throat, a fiery agony that pulsed with her lifeblood. A centimeter, perhaps two, separated her from a mortal wound. But Mitsuhide had a plan, she thought. He would get her out of this, somethow.

Keiki’s grip on her arm loosened the slightest bit. “So? Why are you telling me this? You should be negotiating! I want - I want the charges to go away. Make it happen, or I’ll kill her. I will.”

“Negotiating?” Mitsuhide seemed to mull the word over. “I played that part a time or two.” He shrugged. “So you want to make a deal. The girl in exchange for a pardon? No. You want something to smooth it all away, like this never happened. Disappear the records of all the money you’ve siphoned out of the theater, hm?”

“Yes! Do it. Or I’ll-”

“Kill her. You said that.” He settled back on his heels. “Ok. I know some people. I can make that happen for you.” Mitsuhide’s eyes held a darkness deeper than the gloom. “Let her go and I can make that call.”

Keiki shook his head. “Make the call and then I let her go.”

“Seems I can’t outmaneuver you,” Mitsuhide chuckled. He took his phone from his jacket pocket, moving slowly.

“Of course not. You’re just some jumped up actor.” Keiki snorted. He gestured at the phone with the letter opener. “Call the police off first.”

Mai saw Mitsuhide move the moment the sharp point moved away from her throat. He flowed forward, the motion fast and fluid, like water running downhill. He grabbed the letter opener with one hand, wrenching it away from Keiki, pushing him back with the other.

For a heartbeat, Mai fell backward with Mr. Keiki. A heartbeat, suspended in the air, nothing supporting her, only Keiki’s grasping fingers as he flailed for purchase. Then Mitsuhide grabbed her arm. He caught her as Keiki fell down into one of the stage’s trapdoors.

“Little one,” Mitsuhide breathed the words, his eyes revealing a mix of tangled emotions. He threw down the scarlet-smeared letter opener and wrapped his arm around her chest, pulling her up and onto the stage. “You weren’t supposed to be here.”

Mai tried to calm herself. She felt like a leaf, trembling in the wind. Her hand fluttered at her throat, almost touching the seeping wound there. “I - I came to see you. I was . . . going to take pictures . . .” Her eyes skittered over the dark stage where impressive backdrops of the imperial palace were arranged. This all felt strangely familiar.

He pulled her close, arms wrapping around her shoulders, his face pressed against her hair. Mitsuhide took a shuddering breath, tension easing as he clung tightly to her. “I thought I was going to lose you again,” he murmured.

“I’m ok. I’m still here.” Mai hugged him back with one arm. The other hung useless at her side, a testament to how not-ok she was.

Mitsuhide gave a choked laugh. “And now you are comforting me, when it is you that was hurt.” He kissed the top of her head. “What else? Will you offer kind words to Keiki?”

Mai glanced behind her at the trapdoor. The police were collecting Mr. Keiki from the floor. He glared up at them, sullen and angry, but silent. “No. I’m not that nice.”

“Good.” He stepped back, taking her in with a glance. His jaw clenched as his eyes landed on her arm. “How do you feel?”

“I - I don’t know? Numb. Everything is just . . .” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Thank you. I don’t know what might have happened if you weren’t here.”

“Don’t thank me, little mouse. This is my fault. I should have warned you to stay home tonight. I didn’t want you to be part of this. I wanted you safe.” Mitsuhide looked away and took a moment to master his emotions. When he looked back, he wore a familiar smile. “It seems no matter how much time passes, you end up in the middle of things.”

“Well, you can’t expect me to sit home and knit.” Mai frowned. Her arm was starting to hurt again now, and the cut in her neck stung. “Although, if I’d known I was going to get grabbed and stabbed, I would have given tonight a pass.”

He laughed wryly. “A choice I can agree with, but done is done.” His fingertips grazed her arm. “Let’s get your injuries seen to.”

Around them, the theater was coming alive with lights and the entrance of more police and other first responders. They checked Mitsuhide over as Mai was laid on a stretcher and carried out, despite her protests that she could walk just fine. She didn’t think she needed to be carried when it was her arm that hurt, and not her legs.

Mitsuhide ruffled her hair. “I’ll see you at the hospital. Don’t get into any more trouble.”

“Pfft.” She grinned, despite the pain. There was just something about him that made her feel better. “If I get into trouble, it will be because someone carried me there.”

He might have replied, but two officers closed in and pulled Mitsuhide aside for his statement. Mai gave him a wave with her good arm as she was carried away.

***

The hospital was cold. Mai shivered under the thin blanket of her hospital bed. She felt tired in every way, and her eyes kept slipping shut in long, slow blinks. Even the uncomfortable sling on her arm and the sting of the stitches in her neck weren’t enough to keep her alert. She wanted to stay awake though, at least until Mitsuhide came. She wanted to . . . but her eyelids were so heavy.

Her eyes snapped open as she felt someone settle at the foot of her bed. Only, it wasn’t Mitsuhide sitting there. A peacock rested there, holding her in its obsidian regard. The bird was beautiful, feathers gleaming with sapphire and emerald hues.

Mai tried to wake herself. She knew peacocks weren’t allowed in hospitals, ergo, there was no peacock on her bed. Which meant she was dreaming, and she might miss Mitsuhide when he stopped by. She pinched her earlobe hard enough that it sent a little shock of pain all the way to her cheek.

The peacock tilted its head and blinked, as if asking what she was doing.

“Look, you’re very pretty but I don’t want to be asleep right now. I need to wake up. So if you could just not look at me like that? I don’t know why I’m dreaming about a peacock anyway. I guess it’s better than a nightmare about Mr - well, about things I don’t want to think about.” She sighed.

The bird leapt onto the floor, disappearing beyond the end of the bed.

Mai tried to sit up, but her shoulder flared with pain at the movement. “Ugh. Why am I injured in my dream? I should just imagine myself healed up, right?” She looked at the vitals monitor next to her bed, and the IV drip. It was all so detailed and realistic. And outside, a nurse passed her doorway, rubber-soled shoes squeaking on the tile floor.

Everything looked very much the way it should in the waking world, she realized. Which meant - Mai sat up suddenly, despite the flare of hot agony in her arm. There was, in fact, a peacock sitting on the floor. In her hospital room. “Umm. Ok. So I’m not dreaming. You are really here. Staring at me.”

The peacock preened, and then leapt up to perch on the back of a chair.

“Right. Ok. I guess that’s fine. Peacock in my hospital room. Are you an emotional support animal?” Mai got no response from the bird, of course. She took a breath and looked up at the bright ceiling lights. “I guess it could be weirder.”

“Weirder? How so?”

The response made Mai jump, and sent another shooting pain through her body. She instinctively pulled the injured arm closer to her chest as she turned toward the voice. A man sat in the chair where the bird had been a moment ago. He was a stranger to her, and she should have been frightened - but there was something calming about his gentle smile.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.” The man tilted his head and blinked, the gesture reminiscent of the peacock.

He was gorgeous, she realized. His eyes were a pallid shade of honey, his skin like porcelain, and his long dark hair hung silkily over his shoulder. He looked like a man from a cologne commercial, she thought. Or one of those shampoo ads. Too pretty to be real. But he was sitting there, no filter, no photoshop. And waiting for her response.

“You . . . it’s, umm, it’s fine. I thought there was a - a - you know what? It doesn’t matter.” Mai took a moment to focus. “Who are you, anyway? A mo-” She stopped herself before she said model. More likely, “A lawyer?”

The man laughed softly, a sound as pretty as he was. “My thoughts have never been drawn to legal matters. No, I am a representative from the national theater program. You may call me Yoshimoto.”

Mai nodded. “Alright, Mr. Yoshimoto. Do I need to give you a statement or something?”

“Please, just Yoshimoto. And no. I am simply here to make sure you’re alright. We didn’t realize Keiki would take such a violent action.” His brow creased with concern. “Are you?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Her body had its hurts, and she felt a heavy anxiety as her mind touched on the memory of Keiki’s arms around her. The feel of cold metal against her throat. “I . . .”

Yoshimoto looked down, his whole posture evincing sorrow. “Of course. That was an inconsiderate question. Please forgive me.”

“No, Yoshimoto. It’s fine. I am ok. A - a little shaken up? And achy? But alright. Mitsuhide came just in time.”

When he looked up again, there was a slight smile lifting the edges of his perfect lips. Mai wondered what kind of lip gloss he wore. That satin sheen could not be all natural. “Thank you for being so kind. You have a tendency to put others first, but please, do not prioritize my comfort.” He reached out and took her hand.

Mai felt like she was drowning in his wide gaze as he drew closer to her.

“Allow me to apologize. When Mitsuhide came to me with his information, we should have taken more precautions in removing Keiki. I never would have moved forward, knowing you might be hurt.” Yoshimoto’s voice was melodic, almost hypnotic.

“Cuz, even I know better than to seduce a woman in a hospital.” A low laugh came from the door and both Yoshimoto and Mai turned toward it.

“Shingen?” Mai’s eyebrows shot up. This was the cheesy hot guy from the amusement park. The one with the rude friend. And the rude guy was right behind him.

“I am flattered you remembered me.” He smiled and his grin made the room feel brighter.

“Yes, you and, um -” Mai stared at the rude boy, searching her mind for his name. “Yoshiki? No. Yusei?”

“Yuki.” His lower lip stuck out in a pout. “I can’t believe you remembered this guy and not me.”

Yoshimoto laughed. “I am sure it’s only due to the stress of the evening, Yukimura. You always leave quite an impression.”

This did not appear to mollify him, but he only huffed as he followed Shingen in.

“I do remember you,” Mai insisted. “You called me a boar woman. So stop making that face.”

“I’ll make this face if I want to. And - and I’m not even making some kind of face! You are!” Yuki glared at her, but the expression softened as his gaze flitted to her bandaged neck. “I - look, I just came to make sure you were alright. Here.” He shoved a box of candy at her and then stormed out.

“Wait, what? Yuki?” She called after him, but he didn’t stop or turn.

“Don’t worry about him,” Shingen told her with a sigh. “He’s still learning how to talk to girls.”

“Umm. Ok?” Mai looked at the box of candies. “Can you tell him thanks for me?”

“I would do any task for you, angel.” Shingen’s grey eyes shone. “Is there anything else you want me to do? I could be your nurse. Give you a very special sponge-”

“That is quite enough. We did not come here to make the girl uncomfortable.” Another man graced the entry. And graced was the right word. He was tall, though not as tall as Shingen, and his hair was almost the same light shade as Mitsuhide’s, with eyes that shone a deep violet blue.

Mai blinked. Who was this guy? And why was her room filled with extremely attractive strangers. “Do you all work in theater?” The question popped out before she thought it through. But honestly, the only excuse for so many hot guys in one place had to be that they were actors.

“No, Kanetsugu doesn’t work for the theater program in any capacity. But his boss is one of our patrons. As is Shingen.” Yoshimoto smiled gently and squeezed the hand he still held.

“Correct.” Kanetsugu nodded. “I am here at Lord Uesugi’s request.” He held up a bunny. It was white, with long, floppy ears, and a delicate poof of a cotton-tail. It gazed at Mai with its odd eyes, one a brilliant green and the other, an icy blue.

“Why . . . why are you carrying a rabbit?” Mai stared at the bunny. It was adorable, and she felt an urge to pet its soft fur.

Kanetsugu arched an eyebrow.

“Emotional support animal.” A familiar voice said from behind the violet-eyed man. Sasuke stepped out to stand beside him. “We brought Ke-, ah, the bunny to keep you company and make you feel better.”

“Sasuke! Hello again.” Mai smiled at the familiar face. Though she’d only really met him once, she felt like she knew him well. “Did Mitsuhide send you?”

“Afraid not. But since Yoshimoto and Shingen were helping him out, I’ve been in the loop.” His lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

Kanetsugu sighed. “Yes. We’ve all been in the loop.” He walked to the other side of her bed and set the rabbit onto her blanket. “You must treat this bunny with proper respect and care. Do not let him jump as he likes, and be careful of what he eats. Rabbits have very sensitive stomachs. And when petting him, stroke in the direction the hair grows. But! Only if he initiates the contact. You cannot simply handle him like some petting zoo rabbit.”

“I think she gets it,” Shingen interrupted. He gazed balefully at the rabbit and murmured, “Some guys have all the luck.”

“Hm?” Mai glanced at him, though her attention was on the bunny as it made itself comfortable on her lap.

“Nothing, angel. I was just thinking a rabbit is easier to sneak into a hospital than a bear.”

Sasuke chuckled. “Not sure how you’d manage that.”

Yoshimoto only smiled.

Mai nodded agreement. “Mmm. Yeah a bear is pretty big. You know, it’s so weird though. I thought there was a peacock in my room. Just before Yoshimoto came? But I bet it would be pretty hard to sneak one of those in too.” She laughed. “Maybe they gave me a stronger painkiller than I thought.”

Shingen and Yoshimoto shared a look. “You’re right about that, angel. Though I imagine all things in nature cried out when you were hurt, and would want to comfort you.”

“Eh, hahaha, no. I mean, that’s really sweet of you to say. But I’m no one important.” Mai felt her cheeks heat. This guy was an outrageous flatterer, she thought.

“You are very important,” Yoshimoto told her, giving her hand another gentle squeeze. “The world would be a worse place without your artistry.”

Kanetsugu was still watching the bunny on Mai’s lap, ignoring the conversation completely.

Thankfully, it gave Mai an easy out of this embarrassing praise. “Kanetsugu, do you want to take the rabbit back? It’s ok if you do. Just seeing him made me feel a little better.”

“No. He wishes to be where he is.” Kanetsugu gave her a slight smile. “I am pleased if his presence brought you some comfort.”

“I hope my attention also gave you some comfort, angel.” Shingen’s smooth voice brought Mai’s gaze back to him. He was giving her a dazzling smile, and there was unexpected warmth in the depths of his eyes.

Mai felt her pulse speed, reacting to that look and his nearness. “I . . . ah . . .”

Sasuke cleared his throat. “I think we should let her rest now.”

Yoshimoto glanced at him and then nodded. “Yes, of course. How selfish of me. I only wanted to ensure you were recovering. Please rest and feel better.” He brought her hand to his lips, and placed an ephemeral kiss to the back of it. The touch was light but warm, and it sent a pleasant shiver up her arm.

“We’ll check on you later.” Shingen agreed. “In the meantime, don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

“That leaves a distressing number of options,” Kanetsugu commented. He smiled, and Mai couldn’t help but note he had little fangs. Sharp canines that looked a bit longer than the surrounding teeth. “I will return for Ke- the bunny. You will take good care of him until then.”

“Yes?” Mai nodded, her fingers brushing the soft fur on the rabbit’s head.

“Good.” Kanetsugu nodded. “Until then.”

Yoshimoto released her hand and stood to leave. The others followed him out, and Mai was left again in the quiet, cold hospital room. But she felt warmer now, inside and out. “Those guys are so strange,” she sighed. “But nice. Don’t you think so, Mr. Bunny?” She stroked his soft ears.

The rabbit gazed at her, its pink nose wiggling. The dichroic eyes held an unexpected weight of affection and a look Mai thought was a little sad. She cradled the rabbit to her chest in a gentle hug. “It’s just me and you now. Waiting for Mitsuhide.”

Mai let go of the bunny as it started wriggling. She could have sworn the look it gave her was an unhappy one as it hopped to the end of her bed and laid down. “Silly bunny.” She smiled. It was sitting right where the peacock had been. If there ever was a peacock in her room. Mai wasn’t sure anymore. And it didn’t matter. The rabbit wasn’t going to turn into a hot guy, afterall. She knew it was real and solid, and definitely just a bunny. Even if there was something hauntingly familiar about it.

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