They were out of the palace now, but to get out proper, they would have to exit through a series of courtyards with high walls and gates. It wasn’t difficult to get out, as the gates were easily opened from within.

“I think I’m feeling better now,” Yumiko said, moving to extricate herself from the shoulders of Kaiya and Sakura.

“Are you certain?” Sakura asked, after Yumiko paused for a moment, her hand on her breast.

Yumiko nodded vigorously. “Yes, I’m fine. I can walk.”

“What’s happening?” Kaiya asked. She was looking ahead at the other end of the courtyard where someone was shouting. It was hard to tell who it was because of the press of bodies, but the gate guards were evidentially yelling.

“It sounds like Umo,” Sakura said. “Something is wrong.”

Together the three dancers entered the crowd, weaving their way to the front. Sakura found Umo, waving a free hand wildly, his katana held loosely in his left.

“…it’s full of enemy samurai and ninja!” he was shouting. “If we don’t get out soon, the fighting will likely spill out into these courtyards and everyone here will be in danger!”

“Enough!” one of the guards shouted. They were both holding their spears with warding postures. “Come any closer and I gut you like a fish!”

“Why aren’t you listening?” someone from the crowd shouted.

“They’re going to kill us!” someone else echoed.

“Let us through!”

“If anyone attempts to force their way through this gate,” the guard bellowed, “they will be met with our spears! If you survive, you can rot forever in the Yukai City Dungeon!”

“You’re not listening,” Umo barked. He pointed violently toward the main palace structure, a series of white-walled structures with tiled roofs, bright lanterns and glowing washi paper. “The enemy is inside. If we’re lucky, they’ll make their exit soon, but we’re in danger here. All of us.” He gestured to the whole group. It was much larger than just the troupe, as dozens of panicked stragglers joined them on their way out, swelling the size of their small group into a general discordant mob of terrified people wanting to flee.

“And how have these enemies of yours gotten into the palace to begin with? Hmm?” The belligerent guard’s eyes were popping. He seemed frustrated, like with that of a child’s petulant antics.

“We’re not going to get out,” Sakura said, more to herself than anyone else, but Yumiko jerked her head toward her, her eyes widening.

“Yes!” Umo bellowed. “They’re in there now, killing people. Why do you think we’re all out here?”

“Hai! They’re everywhere.”

“People are dead.”

“The Emperor. Kami-sama—the Emperor!”

The guards shifted somewhat, an air of uncertainty crossing their faces. But their belligerence remained. They looked about. The watch towers were manned. There were no disturbances.

“So I’m supposed to just take your word for it?” the guard asked. “If this is some kind of prank, you’re already going to rot!”

“Does this look like a prank?” “Kaiya said. “Look at everyone here. We’re all frightened enough, aren’t we?”

The guard eyed the crowd, and he seemed to think it made sense, at least as far as Sakura could read on his face. But then he shook his head stubbornly. I have orders, and this inner gate opens for no reason ever, unless I’m told to do so by my superiors.”

Umo rolled his eyes. “Fine then, you mule! Do as you please.”

“I will!”

“Yes, you will!”

Umo waved a dismissive hand, turned and stocked off back toward the palace.

“Where are you going?” Kaiya shrieked. “Umo, you can’t go back in.”

“I’m not going back in,” he said, “I’m going to find these sponge’s superior officer and make him open these gates!”

Someone came out of the door they had used to exit the palace. He was running. Fast. He glanced back, tripped and fell on his face.

Sakura’s hand went unbidden to her mouth in shock. That fall looked like it hurt. He was wearing a flowing silken kimono. Not good for running. He moved a bit, looked up to reveal his face covered in fresh blood from the nose injury he had just sustained.

He said something, but Sakura couldn’t hear what.

“What did he say?” Yumiko asked.

The man mumbled it again, but then Sakura’s eyes went back to the door, where four more people, two women and two men, came rushing out. “They’re coming!” a man screamed. “They’re killing everyone!”

Umo stopped in his tracks.

The two women he was with screamed, the one behind, still in the corridor, fell. She tried to get up, but a man cloaked half in shadow stepped on her back, causing her chest to slam into the boards. The woman’s eyes widened, and then her neck was pierced by a blade with a sickening metallic slice.

People from the crowd cried out. Sakura took two steps back. Oh gods, she thought. We’re all going to die here…

Hear heart was beating so hard she felt sick again, as the woman who was just stabbed squirmed jerkily while blood gushed from her throat and onto the polished floorboards.

Umo growled and Sakura watched as the old troupe leader’s fingers clasped the hilt of his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The assailant in the doorway stepped forward. He didn’t move quickly. His body and face were revealed. He wore black armor and his face was covered with an oni mask.

The warrior didn’t seem perturbed that a man in front of him was wielding a katana, and clearly ready to use it.

“Everyone, back,” Umo ordered. “Once I take this black bastard down, we make for the gate.”

“But the gate—“ Kaiya began, but Umo cut her off as he abruptly raised a hand for silence. “Be ready.”

The black-clad samurai stepped forward, hefting his katana. He seemed unconcerned. But after a moment, he raised his weapon, ready for a dual.

Where were his friends?

The distant clamor of fighting and screaming was suddenly audible to Sakura. Was the fighting beginning to spill out into the north courtyards now?

She swallowed.

Could the Emperor really be dead?

Unbidden bile turned her stomach. Her hands were shaking. Sakura balled her fingers into fists to keep control of herself. Yumiko came up beside her, grabbed her by the upper arm and held her close.

“I’m scared.”

“It’s going to be fine,” Sakura lied. There was no way an old man with the beginnings of a paunch was going to beat a hardened samurai in full armor in a sword fight. She turned to the guards at the gate. “Do something, you fools, or are you’re going to be next?”

The two guards looked at each other. It took them an interminable time to do anything, but as soon as they made to leave their posts and help Umo, the aging man screamed a battle cry and rushed the samurai.

The black samurai lunged. Members from the crowd screamed.

They moved so fast, Sakura saw nothing. Just a blur, the sound of sharp metal on metal and then both men were facing each other again, their feet spread wide.

Umo was now facing toward the gate. Again both warriors were standing stock still, their swords raised in lethal-looking dueling stances, ready to sheer off the other’s head in a flash of movement.

She could see it. Umo. His face twitched. She’d never seen it move that way except once when he had hit his little toe so hard the table and jerked. He had pretended not to feel it, but Sakura had seen the pain there. This was similar, but Sakura was sure that the pain he now felt was tenfold what it was to stub a silly toe.

I can heal him, she thought. She felt as though her heart was trying to break out of her chest so it could skitter across the courtyard tiles for safety. If he’s not too badly hurt…

She found herself wishing the mage was here. She hadn’t seen him fight, or use his magical abilities, but she had sensed his power. He was strong, though his magic was not varied. She suspected he had one, maybe two skills in the magical arts and that was all.

Yumiko sniffed, wiped her face. “Please don’t die, Umo.”

A sudden flame filled Sakura. She felt like throttling the gate guards. She turned and glared at them. They both seemed surprised at the look she gave them. Perhaps she had never been so severe in her life, but the two men immediately abandoned their posts and fanned out to assist the wounded warrior with grey hair.

The enemy Samurai didn’t react very much except for a calm, barely perceptible shifting of his head toward each of the gate guards as he was evidentially taking stock of his situation.

Is he wondering where his friends are now? Sakura wondered. She was not calmed, but she felt a very subtle sense of relief. They can win now, right?

Of course, without Umo, the two guards probably wouldn’t last more than a few seconds against this warrior. Just by looking at him, even a dancer could see that this warrior was in another class.

Just then warning bells tolled. The guards in the towers moved about, but they were too far to hear from the ground.

“Sakura!”

It was Kaiya’s voice, whispered hoarsely enough to be heard from a distance. Sakura started and glanced behind her. She couldn’t see through the press of people, but knew the other dancer was there at the gate, some others there helping her to remove the large stopper that kept the doors from opening.

Panicked people started shouting to get through. Sakura ran into the mob, but before she could reach the other woman, Yumiko still holding on to her arm, the gate doors were opened. A general press of excitement and fear filled the air as dozens of frantic bodies rushed forward. Sakura stopped, glanced back toward Umo and the gate guards. “Go, Yumi,” she ordered the other girl.

“But…”

“Go on.”

Yumiko ran.

None of the four men had moved an inch. “Go,” Umo called, just like Sakura had done with Yumiko just now. “I’ll be right there shortly. Don’t wait for me. I’m going to teach this young pup a lesson in swordsmanship.”

Sakura breathed out a long breath of air. She didn’t want to distract Umo when his life depended on it, but she couldn’t help but call back, “I’ll see you soon!”

She turned and ran, her eyes filling and obscuring her path as she trailed the fleeing mob.