Disclaimer: I do not own Saiunkuko. I really enjoyed this series and was disappointed that there were not many Kijin Kō fanfics. So I decided to write one.

The rating of this story will eventually be increased to M.

Chapter 1. Safety in Darkness

He loved the darkness. Within its confines no one could see his shame. He could remove his mask and reveal his sadness, regret and loneliness. For just a few hours, the Minister of Revenue could allow himself to be like others, he could allow himself to feel.

Kō Kijin walked leisurely through his immense garden. It was well past midnight but he had just finished making his comments on His Majesty's proposal on increasing land taxes. The end of yet another long night. He will have to be back at the Imperial Office in just a few hours but he wanted to enjoy this freedom a little more before catching what little sleep he could.

He had reached the northern edge of his garden where his koi pond lay. Breathing in deeply he looked at the silvery light of the moon reflected in the water. He had just begun feeling a little relaxed when suddenly the softness of the night was disrupted by the sound of a group of men running along the perimeter of his estate. Being a Qigong master, Kijin's sense of hearing was sharper than most and he could clearly hear what was being said. "Where are they?" One angrily demanded. "When you find them," the man hissed, "lock the girl away and bring that the bitch to me!"

"Yes sir!" a group replied in unison.

He knew that it was possible that they were chasing after thieves, but being an honourable man, Kijin didn't like the way the man had spoken about the women. He had an uneasy feeling and wondered for a moment if he should alert the guards in his household and ask them to inspect the outside environs. Not wanting to get his servants involved he decided to investigate himself. Outside his estate's walls were reasonably well lit and knowing that he could use not only his body but also his face as a weapon, he decided to step outside the confines of his garden, his mask still hidden within his inner pocket. His beauty was so dazzling that it was said that his face was almost deadly. His appearance would make most so dumbstruck that they either fainted, lost their mind for years or both. He could even compel someone to tell the truth. Men like those who would treat women so poorly would certainly have no defense against his beauty.

Using the exit closest to him, Kijin stepped out into the street and went in the direction the men had come from. Of course, Kijin knew this area better than anyone. In fact, he knew the entire Kō ward and so could easily identify likely hiding places. He was born and raised here after all.

Noiselessly he moved through the night to the avenue of trees which lead directly to the Kō family cemetery. Most people were superstitious and consequently would never enter a place of death after dark, unless absolutely desperate. To him it was the perfect location to conceal oneself. The gate wasn't especially high and although there were several spikes oriented vertically on the top edge, there were a number of horizontal bars on which one could place one's feet and climb over the gate and down the other side. He was sure a couple of women could get passed that gate easy enough.

When he reached the gate, he saw a small bit of cloth fluttering in the breeze on one of the spikes. Kijin smiled to himself. These women, whoever they were, were obviously clever enough to outwit those searching buffoons. For a second he considered that at least one of the women must be familiar with this ward to be able to find the cemetery. Or was it purely luck? Pushing his thoughts aside, Minister Kō continued his search.

These gates were not the most frequently used and he had no desire for creaking noises of an opening gate to alert the search party of his presence. So instead of using his family's master key, which could open any of the main gates throughout Kō ward, he effortlessly climbed to the top. Positioning his feet between the spikes he pushed his body off to land in a crouching position with a soft thud, on the other side of the gate.

His eyes had adjusted to the darkness so although there were very few lamps still burning at this hour, he could still see enough to move around comfortably. There were a number of graves and grave stones but the only places within the cemetery which could conceal two people would be one of the crypts. Starting from the one nearest to where he now stood, the Kijin started to sequentially and carefully search one crypt after the other.

The fourth crypt was overshadowed by a sturdy apple tree. It had grown in the shade and so was taller than normal. The hair on the back of Kijin's neck bristled as he was overcome with the uncanny feeling that he was being watched. His attention shifted from being just vigilant to one of high alert. As he turned to enter the crypt he could feel something approaching him from behind. Elegantly twisting his body to the left, he saw a knife fly past him so closely that it ripped through the sleeve of his robe.

Another 4 knives were thrown at him, all of which he expertly evaded. His movements were so fluid and well executed that he looked like he was dancing. Then there was a pause in the perpetrator's assault. Maybe he realized that throwing knives were useless. Looking up at the tree, Minister Kō taunted his unseen attacker, "Come down here and fight me properly."

He saw a lithe body dressed in close fitting clothing flip down from the tree. As soon as the culprit had his feet planted firmly on the ground a sword was pulled from his hip and he lunged straight for the Minister. Once again Kijin easily evaded the attacks. In fact, the sword was not being expertly wielded at all, this man seemed like he was just wildly brandishing a club. His attacker seemed sluggish and getting more so as time wore on. No doubt exhaustion was settling in.

Kijin grabbed the assailant's arm holding on the sword at the wrist quite tightly and squeezed with great force, but the man refused to let go of the weapon. So he twisted the arm until he heard his opponent grunt in pain, "Let the sword go." Commanded Kijin.

"No!" came a scream at a pitch that was too high to be that of a man, "I will die before I let you take us back there!" A leg lunged out aiming for the Minister's groin, but he jumped away, releasing the armed hand.

Now Kijin understood why the wrist he had clutched was so slim. This assailant was no man. "I mean you no harm." He stood with his arms akimbo to show the woman that he had no weapons.

"Liar!" she spat. "Then what are you doing out here at this hour?" She slashed her sword at him again. Her balance seemed to be affected and she swayed a bit before she could steady herself. She shook her head in an attempt to clear the fog that was settling there. Her eyesight was getting blurry as well. But she could not surrender… Not yet!

Getting further away from her he replied angrily, "This is the Kō ward and I am Minister Kō. You are trespassing on my land!"

"Minister of Revenue Kō -sama…?" the sword stilled midair. She wasn't going to let her guard completely down.

"Yes," He was about to say something more when he realized that his hand that had touched her wrist was wet and sticky. Seeing the dark liquid in the moonlight he asked, "Are you injured?"

Only then did she clutch her upper arm. Blood had soaked through her sleeve but enough had trickled down her arm to her wrist and hand. She couldn't give up her sword though. It was the only defense against those men.

"Never mind me," she said quickly, "please Kō -sama, help my Lady."

"Your Lady?" he wanted to know. "Are you the women who those men are searching for?"

"Yes, and by now Kō ward will be overrun by them." She dropped to her knees and placed the sword before her. "Please my Lord…" her lips trembled, "please take her to safety."

"Who are you? You cannot expect me to trust someone who was attacking me a minute ago."

"She is just a girl of fifteen. I beg of you. If those men find us they will force her into marriage. I don't have much strength left. I won't be able to fight them off." She swallowed hard before continuing. Talking was becoming difficult now. "Please!" she begged. "I must ensure that she is safe before I take my own life."

"Take your own life?" Kijin spoke evenly not letting his shock seep into his words.

"Yes, my Lord." She paused wearily before continuing, "Killing myself…" She swallowed again, "is better than being beaten and gang raped." Her voice had become a mere whisper now. She was losing the ability to focus.

The Imperial Officer could listen to no more. "I will help you but we must stop you from bleeding out first."

"Never mind me!" she repeated with all the strength she could muster. "Please save My Lady. She is in the crypt you were trying to enter."

Kijin ignored her protests. "We don't have much time." He told her as he bent down and tore fabric off his sleeve. The robe was already ruined from her knife. "Come, let me stop the bleeding."

"Do you promise to help My Lady?" she asked.

"Yes, yes!" he replied, exasperated.

When she tried to get up she saw the world spin and felt herself falling. She expected to crash into the ground but instead she found herself wrapped in strong arms. She could feel heat entering her body as she was pressed against something hard just before becoming unconscious.

Kijin's movements were like lightning. Cradling the woman against his chest he called out to the girl. "You can come out of hiding now, Milady." The body of the woman in his arms was frighteningly cold. Laying her down carefully, he ripped her sleeve away and using the cloth from his robe tightly wrapped her upper arm to stop the bleeding.

Out of the corner of his eye Kijin saw a slip of a girl slowly approach him. She was short and looked rather fragile. She covered her mouth in shock and then ran over to her companion. "Midori!" She started to cry. "Please… don't leave me!"

Hoisting the woman up bridal style, Kijin placed the sleeping woman in the crypt and the girl followed him. The woman's body needed warmth. Removing his bright yellow outer robe, the Minster gently placed it over the woman's limp form. He then said to the girl, "Watch over her and keep out of sight. I will get a doctor." And with that he was gone.