The Illusion Realm of Ushitora

Present: Late Spring, 1472

Eight people, including Feiyan, tumbled out from under the torii gate in varying states of disarray. The last to roll out were the twins.

“Argh…” said Usa with a groan. “I feel like those damned trees sucked ten years off my life.” He gingerly touched the ring around his neck where the branch had torn his skin. “I don’t think I will ever make kadomatsu for the new year again…”

Uta, who was less pessimistic, snorted at his brother as Hajoon passed him some wound salve: “Perhaps you will chop the branches with more energy this year…?”

Feiyan’s lip quirked up slightly at the quip.

“Find clean water to clean the injuries, and make sure there’s no wood slivers in there before you apply the salve,” Hajoon instructed in a business-like tone.

“What’s wrong with you?” Eunhae asked sourly, poking Li Molan in the shoulder as he stared at Feiyan with an expression of deep distrust. 

For a moment…his Highness looked…he stopped that thought and shook Eunhae off. It had only been for a moment, but the figure of a woman had shimmered within that burst of fire back in the forest.

Next to him Song Juqing was still sobbing hysterically, trying to absorb the death of Su Qian Qian.

Nursing a broken arm, Zhu Yunfeng shot daggers with his eyes.

“So it’s true,” he growled. “His Highness, the Crown Prince, had a demonic twin. My uncle was right! I heard it back there…that one called you ‘Feiyan’ while you were fighting those trees!” he breathed, eyes glowing with malice. “What kind of monster are you? Do you know what will happen if the nobles find out that they have been deceived by a substitute after years of sacrificing their own flesh and blood? The Xiao line is finished!”

“Is now a time to be worrying about that?” asked Feiyan dryly. “A thank you would be nice…I seriously considered letting the forest rip you to pieces…old grudges, you know.”

Zhu Yunfeng looked stupefied for a moment, and Feiyan suddenly recalled that he’d had that memory wiped with a spell. 

Oh well… she thought to herself, shrugging.

Hajoon only looked disgusted at Zhu Yunfeng’s expression.

Feiyan didn’t bother denying anything as they would find out eventually.

“If you’re not the Prince, then who are you?” Li Molan asked cautiously. He stood, brushing his clothes.

“I’m His Highness’ Shadow,” she said. Her tone was firm and her gaze steady, daring him to say more.

Li Molan’s expression flickered and he opened his mouth, but he was interrupted by five more people tumbling out from under the torii.

“Owww,” said the one who was obviously the youngest. He sat up with a groan and rubbed his head. 

The other four were already on their feet, drawing weapons.

“Wait!” Hajoon’s voice sliced through the air.

Feiyan pushed to the front.

“You were part of Furisawa’s contingent. What happened?” she demanded, recognizing their uniforms. “Didn’t you go through with him and Lady Kana?”

“We were separated…and entered into the realm of the Kappa…and then ended up here…” answered a bearded man, eyeing them with suspicion.

“How many were with you…and what of Furusawa?”

The bearded man’s expression stiffened while the others looked down at their feet, Bitterness rippled across their faces at the mention of their leader. From that, it was not hard for Feiyan to surmise what had happened.

“The witch somehow managed to take him out, while five of our comrades were killed by the kappa. Furusawa has abandoned us as sacrifices to the mountain,” muttered one of them.

“Quiet!” grunted the bearded man, clapping his hand over the man’s mouth.

They all stopped to listen as something had moved in the underbrush.

Holding their breath, they stood stock still as the rustling became louder. Then they saw a flicker of something large and brown at the edge of the clearing. A moment later it was gone, but no one dared let out the breath they were holding. Everyone clearly counted ten breaths and then very quietly sighed in relief.

The bearded man glared at Feiyan.

" W-What the hell was that?” Zhu Yunfeng asked in a trembling voice.

“That was an unbelievably large boar…” said Usa in a whisper. “I remember my father occasionally went boar hunting in the autumn when they were rooting for mushrooms, but I’ve never seen something that large…”

“That thing looked like it was the size of a bear!” said Eunhae with a grimace.

“That’s not the only problem…boars tend to group together and that may not even be the largest one,” said Feiyan, grimly.

“What were the words on the torii…did anyone see it?” asked Hajoon.

“Yama Kujira,” said the bearded man grimly. “It means ‘whale of the mountains’.”

Great…giant boars…thought Feiyan. Although she’d always been a fan of roast pork, this wasn’t what she had in mind.

“Hmph! We should kill them!” hissed Zhu Yunfeng, pointing at the Shobans. “With five less, we can make our escape when we get out of here!” 

“No,” said Feiyan firmly. “The smell of blood would attract the attention of the boars”…and she wanted to avoid it as much as possible.

“If you wanna fight, bring it on!” gritted one of the Shobans.

“Enough! There are five of you and eight of us,” said Feiyan, crossing her arms. “Whether or not you cooperate is up to you, but we’ll all die if we fight now,” she said coldly. “It’s better to avoid attracting the boars, so I suggest you work with us to find the torii.”

Full of hostility, but without much choice, the bearded man nodded and slowly lowered his sword.

“Fine. We’ll work with you…for now.”

“Good,” she said. Turning to Hajoon: “Set the perimeter and arrange the guard shifts. I’ll take the night watch, so I’ll sleep first.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on things,” he assured her.

***

Kingdom of Moutan

Present: 1^st Year of Yingyong, Late Spring, 1472

Xia propped his face up on his chin, lying on his stomach in the bed. His gaze was centred on his lover. He thought that the Crown Prince looked tired. Handsome…but haggard.

Xiao Feiyu was spending night and day with his father and the ministers, preparing for their rebellion against the Shoban Inspectorate. Those Shobans who had refused bribes were slowly being removed from their positions with the help of Lord Mu’s Shadows.  Meanwhile Xia had taken charge of storing provisions and weapons in secret, gathering their arsenal.

It reminded Xia of the frenzy that had ensued when Shobu had invaded during the third era of Fusang, in the eleventh year of the King’s rule. He had lost his adopted father and Master, Captain Moon, the following year at the battle of Beichun River. Right now, the tension in the air felt the same as back then, and it filled him with dread, but also a sense of anticipation.

He tossed the sheets aside and slipped naked from the bed.

“Come and rest, your Highness,” he sighed, slowly unhooking the Prince’s fingers from the memorial he was reading. He’d watched Xiao Feiyu rub his eyes three times before he decided to intervene. “You’ve always had a weak body…if you keep pushing yourself, you’ll fall ill again.”

Pushing back his loose dark hair, the Prince smiled and obliged, putting the memorial down. The Prince was wearing a woman’s robe and had painted his eyes with a long dark line, making them look even blacker than normal. Xiao Feiyu snaked his arm around Xia’s slender hips, and leaned his cheek against the smooth, flat stomach of his lover.

“Fifteen,” he murmured, nuzzling Xia’s smooth skin.

“What’s that?” Xia asked, lips twitching as he stroked the Prince’s hair.

“This Prince found another mole…right here,” said Feiyu, circling the point of his finger on a spot just to the right of Xia’s belly button. “Oh…? Did it arouse you?”

“Don’t tease me!” 

Xia sucked in a breath as his cock jerked, jumping in response to the light brushes of the Prince’s fingers down his belly. The fingers were then followed lips as the Prince traced a path across Xia’s skin. He was embarrassed by his own reaction, but it was true that all the things that Xiao Feiyu did to him turned him on.

“You’re Highness…too close…” Xia whispered as Xiao Feiyu’s hands moved to grip his buttocks, squeezing and kneading as his tongue flicked out.

“Xia…hmph…today…Mmmn, this Prince wants to take the active role…”

Lightning sung up his spine: Xia thought he was going to die from mortification.

“How can you use honorifics in a situation like this? And don’t talk with your mouth full!” Xia almost shrieked, covering his golden eyes. “You’re the only one who makes me—AGH!”

Xiao Feiyu grinned wickedly, relishing in the lovely flush rising on his lover’s cheeks.

“Makes you what…?” he prodded, tilting his head to the side innocently.

Xia made a face.

You’ve turned me into a fool…when did you get the upper hand?

Xiao Feiyu gently guided him down onto the floor beside the writing desk. Xia felt his knees go weak at the intensity in the dark eyes above him.

“...You make me feel embarrassed,” Xia gritted, turning his face to the side. “What made you decide that you want to take the active role today?”

Feiyu shrugged. He turned and reached for something in the drawer behind him.

“Do you remember me saying that I wanted to give you a gift? Well, it arrived today,” he said, before returning to his task of worshipping between Xia’s legs. 

“You’re a wolf dressed up in sheep’s clothing,” Xia muttered, breath hitching.

“Ho, ho, ho…”

“What ho ho ho…?!” Xia demanded in outrage. “I thought I told you not to talk with…”

“Xia…I got you a special toy…” Feiyu grinned, showing him a finely carved wooden dildo and a bottle of special oil.

“W-Whoa….Y-You black bellied pervert!!” Xia gasped, scrambling backwards. “When did you…!?”

“Where are you running to…?” asked Feiyu, voice sounding like velvet and iron. “Xia…my Xia…shall I make you scream all night long…?”

The words sucked his breath away, but then a smile slowly spread across Xia’s face.

Oh…well…I guess that makes two of us…

“Let’s go to bed…” he whispered.