Journey Through Fire Read Online Free

Brown eyes with green flecks in them. Smiling kindly, he reached out a hand to smooth away the frown that creased my brow. His touch was feather light.
    â€œYou’re safe,” he said, pulling the covers tighteraround my shoulders. “Now sleep.”
    â€œWhat about Hana? Where is she?” I asked. The monk shook his head.
    â€œNow is not the time to talk.” As he walked away I felt my vision blur again. Sleep descended and I surrendered to it.
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    I slowly opened my eyes. Weak light flooded the room. I moved my limbs beneath the covers, testing to see how much my body still hurt. I could feel scabs on my back catching against the cover, and my head was filled with a dull, insistent throb. Ignoring the pain, I turned my head to look around the room.
    In the corner stood a pile of bed linen; bottles of fluids were half hidden behind a byobu screen. Beyond the paper screen was another mattress with a small boy sitting cross-legged. I frowned as I tried to focus on him. Then I recognized the familiar face, watching me keenly.
    â€œMoriyasu!” I said. He leaped to his feet and ran over to me, throwing himself into my arms. His embrace made me wince in pain, but the relief I felt that my brother had made it out alive was instant medicine. I quickly wiped my eyes free of tears as he pulled back to look at me.
    â€œYou’re awake,” he said. His gaze wandered over my face and I noticed a frown start to form, but beforeI could ask him what was wrong, he shook himself. “Aren’t you hungry?”
    My stomach did feel hollow.
    â€œHow long has it been?” I asked.
    â€œToo long,” Moriyasu said. “I’ve been lonely without you.” I tried to smile, but the skin of my face stretched tight. I lifted a hand to my temples, but Moriyasu quickly grabbed my fingers and entwined them with his own.
    â€œHurrah!” he said. “Someone to tease again. I have a lot of teasing to catch up on.”
    I pushed him away gently. My brother was trying to distract me. But why?
    â€œHelp me get up,” I said, sitting up in bed. Moriyasu looked uncertain.
    â€œYou’ve been very ill, Kimi,” he said. “The monks have been looking after you.” A pair of kind eyes surfaced in my memory.
    â€œI remember,” I said. Then I realized that Mother and Hana were missing. “The others?” I asked him, not daring to say my worst fears out loud.
    My brother brought his hands together in a small prayer of thanks. “They’re both safe. At least…” I reached out, despite the pain that shot down my back, and pulled Moriyasu toward me.
    â€œPlease tell me,” I said.
    Moriyasu looked up into my face. “Hana is beinglooked after by the monks, too.” He paused and his gaze fell to the tiled floor.
    â€œI must go to her,” I said. “Take me.” Moriyasu glanced at an indigo silk robe that hung on the door, brought it to me, and helped me up. I felt weak, but I was determined. I straightened up, and could feel the cuts and scrapes shifting painfully on my back. I looked down at myself and could not see any burns; I had been lucky.
    Moriyasu led the way as I took small, faltering steps across the room. My head throbbed, rushing rivers of pain that fell all the way down the back of my neck; I felt as though, at any moment, I would crumble to the floor like an empty shroud.
    But I had to be strong. I had to see my sister.
    We passed the ointments and potions of the sick room and the large bowl of water caught my eye. The bottom of the black slate bowl was carved with a phoenix stretching his huge wings. The bird of fire. But I knew that, in legends, this bird also represented the start of something new. Then, in the reflection of the water, as glossy and smooth as a dawn lake—the image of a face. The skin around the eyes was young and unlined, yet the eyes looked as though they had seen too much. Above them was a smooth