The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

you-beasts quartered there.
    "None," came the faint whisper when he returned.
    Youko nodded to herself. She had started for the next inn along the way when a voice called out behind her. "You looking for somebody?"
    When she turned around, a man was coming out from the inn after her. At a glance, he struck her as anything but an upstanding member of society.
    "That's right. Do you know a man named Koshou?"
    "Koshou, eh?" The man motioned her toward an alleyway next to the inn. Without a word, Youko followed him.
    "So what's this Koshou to you, anyway?"
    "The rike in Kokei was attacked. I'm looking for some connection between him and the criminals who did it. If you know anything, tell me."
    The man leaned against the wall. "You got any evidence for what you're talking about?"
    "No evidence. That's why I'm looking for him."
    "Huh," the man said. His eyes fell to Youko's waist. "Some sword you got there. You know how to use that thing?"
    "It's for my own protection."
    "Really." The man straightened himself. "Can't say I know a thing about anybody named Koshou. But if this Koshou was some kind of criminal, you don't expect that he'd still be hanging around here, do you? He would have flown to coop long ago."
    Youko looked up at the man's face. He knows something, she thought to herself. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
    "I usually am. You can't go chasing around after people without any evidence. It could be this Koshou's no criminal at all."
    The man scratched at the back of his neck. Her eyes fell on his rough hands and her attention focusing to a point.
    "While you're traipsing around asking questions like this, you're bound to run into some real villains. Could get dangerous, don't you think?"
    A ring. A ring that didn't match up with the man's overall appearance.
    "Don't go looking for trouble. Leave that to the authorities."
    Koshou, Youko remembered. Koshou wore a ring just like that one. And so did the kid who'd stopped him from roughing her up. And the girl, Suzu, who'd served her tea.
    "Shouldn't go around wasting folks' time like this," he said with a flippant wave of the hand.
    He turned on his heels. Youko strode toward him. He glanced back at her suspiciously. She caught him by the shoulder and spun him around.
    "You---"
    Grabbing him by the collar, she slammed him into the wall, pressing her shoulder against his back. The man bellowed. She laid the tip of the blade against his neck. "Would you like to find out whether or not I can use this sword?"
    " ---bitch. "
    "Where did you get that ring?"
    The man squirmed and pushed her away. She firmed her hold on the sword. The tip sank a few millimeters into his flesh. "Quit moving unless you want get hurt a lot worse."
    The man's head nodded forward and he caught his breath, sending a shiver down the length of the sword. A slash of red appeared from a section of the streaked, stained wall above his head. The forefoot of a beast grew out of the wall, extending its claws atop the man's head. His cheek pressed against the brick, the man grasped something of what was happening and cast her a beseeching, sideways glance.
    "You know who Koshou is?"
    "I don't."
    "You're lying. Look, my arm's getting tired. You'd better have something to say before my hand starts to shake too much."
    "I don't know!"
    "All I want is to sit down and talk. The way you're holding out makes me think that both of you are criminals."
    "You've taken leave of your senses!"
    "Now you're just pissing me off. Talk."
    A moment passed.
    "Koshou isn't that kind of man."
    "And if we can sit down and talk about it, then hopefully I'll agree with you."
    "You're wrong. Believe me."
    "Take me to his place. Then I'll have reason to."
    "Okay, okay," the man groaned.
    At the same time, the forefoot of the beast vanished. Youko drew back the tip of the sword. Sensing no resistance from him, she released her hold.
    The man placed his hands on the wall and shook his head. With the hand bearing the ring, he wiped the back of his neck, looked at his palm, and grimaced. "You would go this far? You're crazy, woman."
    "And you'd better keep your promise. Try anything funny, and next time this sword will cut you for good."

Chapter 63
    T he man led Youko to a block in the southwest quadrant of the city, to a row of inns that had really gone to the dogs. The green paint had mostly peeled off the faded, soot-stained walls. This turquoise color was rare, specially reserved for buildings used as brothels.
    "You've got to be