The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

object. Risai reflexively reached out before realizing that her right hand was not there to catch it. With a grim, little smile she knelt down and picked it up. She couldn't tell for certain in the darkness, but the wooden card appeared to be a passport.
    "Though there's no telling if you'll ever actually need it, but I had it made for you just in case. The seal affixed will grant you access to funds from a trade credit union. There's no telling whether it will work in Tai, but here's something to cover your traveling expenses."
    This time Risai caught the purse he tossed her. "En Taiho--"
    "And luggage sufficient to your needs. It's loaded up on Tiger. He'll accompany you."
    Risai's eyes widened with surprise.
    "It'd be asking too much of that tenba to shoulder everything by itself. When you've gotten to where you need to go, I'd appreciate it if you'd send him back. Tama gets lonely without him, you see."
    Risai accepted the wooden card with thanks. "Yes. I most definitely will."
    "Okay, then," Rokuta said with a nod. He put his hands on his hips and gave them both a good looking over. "We really don't want to see you go. Keep that in mind."
    "We shall never forget what you've done for us."
    "We'll be waiting for any word of good news."
    With that, Rokuta turned around and approached the edge of the shadowed woods. Almost as if in passing, he clapped the human silhouette standing there on the shoulder. Koshou emerged from the leafy shadows.
    Mixed emotions played across his countenance as he pointed in the direction of the Forbidden Gate. "The kijuu is waiting there."
    "Koshou, you've been a great help to us."
    "Oh, it was nothing," he said, though without great conviction.
    His shoulders drooped as they wended their way through the copse of trees. His heart really didn't seem in it. All the way from the Taishi's manor in the Naiden to the Forbidden Gate nobody said anything. They walked along, looking at their feet.
    They had almost arrived at the Forbidden Gate when Koshou glanced back at them and said, "If it was possible, I wouldn't mind coming along with you. I don't really know what I could do to contribute, but I am officer of the Imperial Court."
    He said all this with a very conflicted look on his face. Risai responded, "I think the Royal Kei needs you by her side."
    "Yeah, true, there is that."
    "I would like you to communicate to her our deepest thanks and gratitude. I wouldn't want any of this to upset her."
    Koshou nodded. They walked up to the gate. The officials waiting inside opened the doors so they could pass through to the broad ledge on the other side. The wan light of the Moon shone down and the Sea of Clouds reached out before them.

    The door of the gate from the Naiden to the Forbidden Gate opened.
    Toshin observed as two human shadows and that of a kijuu appeared. Standing next to him, Gaishi took hold of the reins of the suguu and approached them. Toshin followed after him.
    The two were traveling awfully light. Gaishi handed the reins to the woman general. "I was asked to make sure you take charge of him."
    "I am very grateful to you."
    "Take care, now," Gaishi said and bowed.
    The woman answered with a polite bow of her own. Toshin stepped forward and handed her the items he was bearing. She looked at him, surprised.
    "This is the sword that you once gave over to my care. It may have been presumptuous of me, but I had it sharpened."
    "Thank you," the woman said, taking possession of the sword with her left hand. Her right arm, that Toshin remembered as so badly injured, was no longer there. "Thank you so very much."
    "It was nothing."
    "I don't remember your face, but I recall the voice. Weren't you the one who interceded for me with the Daiboku when I collapsed in the Roshin?"
    "Well, um, yeah, that was me," Toshin said with a nod.
    Risai smiled and bowed deeply. "As a result, I was able to meet with the Royal Kei and receive the assistance I required. All the good that followed is thanks to you. I am so deeply appreciative."
    Toshin shook his head. He would have to find out from Gaishi where she and her companion were going and what they would do after this.
    "Please, stay well. I will pray for your safe return."

    The stone table seemed to float there in the fading moonlight. They watched as the two kijuu flew away from the ledge.
    Youko observed the scene from an adjoining tower. "Don't you think we should have said goodbye?" she asked her companion.
    "I don't know what I would have