"Getting used to Westerners is still troublesome to me so far," a young man said peeking below his cap's leather visor as he slammed the prison bars.
The intruder roared an incessant amount of curses as he had done so and left with the keys swinging around his index finger. A guard nodded to him as he passed and ordered that none would interact with the prisoner unless it was himself.
Given confirmation of his request they nodded, saluted, and made their ways into the bleakness of night. Upon exit the cool breath of night air brisked the tendrils of his locks and he securely threw his pony tail over his other shoulder and joined his hands in the safety of his large sleeves.
Returning to the castle grounds after a long walk amongst cobblestones and suspicious characters, he waved a hand to signal a samurai who watched from the Master's window. A visible shadow of the summoned samurai drifted in the darkness and a moment later the gates creaked loudly open. Beneath the ground trembled and the young man bowed and hurried through the gate and into the guarded entrance of the rudely awakened temple.
He wondered if the young Master was alright.
Kiku appeared to be relatively at ease when the young man removed his cap and entered his now heavily guarded room, seeing the youthful Master examine his features before a mirror and raised a careful hand gracing over the gauze where the intruder had made a reddening smile.
"Ah, Yao-san," Kiku exclaimed, turning his upper torso towards his Chinaman, a soft smile caressing his face. "Is the intruder alright?"
Yao stilled at the unexpected inquiry, looking over the samurais whose masked features showed nothing. Meeting the young Master's patient gaze, Yao cleared his throat and bowed respectfully to which Kiku repeated as well.
"The prisoner is fine... Why the question of another's well-being if they tried to kill you, Kiku-sama?"
The mirth in his usual dark eyes brightened. Disgruntled by his Master's nonchalance, he walked in tentatively in response to Kiku's beckoning to gesture to sit by the low table. A servant that knelt quietly in the corner stood, bowed, and went to bring tea while Kiku stood and sat himself across Yao, still amused at his friend's obvious unease. Once the tea was brought and poured-rather shakily, an apparent sign of alarm still present after the attack-the two men thanked and Yao hesitantly brought the warm brim to his lips.
All the while Kiku had not yet touched his tea and wore a meditative expression. To the Chinaman he supposed his Master was carefully arranging his thoughts. In the meanwhile he glanced out of the corner of his eyes, the opened window, admiring the luminous night sky with the hanging moon.
Below he could see the sakura blossoms flow in a delicate swirl with the brisk wind, scattering across the heavily guarded streets. The attack had not been too long ago, however, cumbersome protection already flowed out in immense abundance.
A light clink of glass recaptured Yao's attention, finally catching Kiku's calm eyes. He appeared to be ready to give his explanation.
"I am not the first to survive an assassination in this clan of mine, but this was not a rivaling one." Kiku explained softly, taking a leisurely sip.
Poor young Master looked tired.
"How do you know?" Yao asked skeptically, nearly slamming his cup. The sound of armor rustling was heard behind him but a raised hand from Kiku halted the tensed samurai. Sheepish, the Chinaman apologized and repeated the question, straining his voice to a relaxed tone.
His Master shrugged. "They would have sent a professional," he replied languidly, thanking his nervous servant when he refilled his tea. Yao shook his head no and the servant hurried back to his station.
"The intruder managed to get a swipe at you, Master," Yao argued, motioning his chin towards Kiku's disturbing gauze.
The young Master shook his head. "The intruder might have yet I still live. It was out of irrational emotion, not typical of a skilled hit man."
The Chinaman remained unconvinced but receded in his eloquence. "I suppose," he muttered, staring down at his emptied cup.
"So, is the intruder alright?" Kiku insisted after a minute of silence, maintaining his expression of composure.
He shuddered involuntarily at the repeated inquiry though Yao did not skip a beat in answering. Jerking his head up, the Chinaman nodded.
"Yes, Master,"
"Good, then I will see her tomorrow," Kiku announced, ignoring the sudden stares of disbelief targeted at him from everyone in the room. Yao gawked up at him as Kiku stood and began to turn.
A samurai moved towards the young Master, a hand outstretched, and offered his caution.
Kiku simply shook his head, not allowing anyone to persuade him into doing otherwise.
"You fret for naught, friends," their Master implored, dismissing their worries with a confidant wave. They all sunk their shoulders in defeat except for Yao who sprang onto his feet and felt near grabbing his Master's hands sternly in his. He managed to refrain though his eyes spoke the truth.
"It will be fine, Yao-san,"
Making a clanging sound which reverberated throughout the entire cell block's halls, many disturbed prisoners roared in annoyance and cursed the misbehaved prisoner at the farther end. Huddled in a corner stuffed with hay, you peered through the barred windows and watched the night sky. You banged the barred doors with a stick you found and deliberately ran it over to create the ear-splitting sound. Since you were incapable of whistling you founded a substitute, despite how obnoxious it was for the other prisoners but you could have cared less.
Not surprisingly an irritated guard trundled down the cell block's halls furiously and you were quick to toss the stick over to the next cell. An "ow" escaped from a prisoner's lips and a booming guard chided him to quit it or he would lose his head if he continued banging the bars. The prisoner professed his innocence of the tactic but that earned him a day without food.
As the guard stepped away from the cell he faced, he glanced a leering eye towards you and instinctively you withdrew further into the wall till you lightly bumped your head. You only heard him grunt lowly and headed off with an air of animosity left behind to circulate.
The prisoner you framed sniffled lowly.
A little guilty you decided you would sacrifice your morsel tomorrow. In the meantime you straightened your stiff back, sliding down the wall till you found yourself a comfortable position atop the hay and closed your eyes. It was cold, dank, and smelled horribly. You wrinkled your nose as you shifted uneasily, laying your on top of your folded arms.
The following morning you did apologize to the older prisoner, not verbally of course. When the guard haphazardly dropped your dirtied tray and carried on to the next you scooted over to it and slid it between an opening where the other cell remained. A happy grunt was received and a stuffy word of thanks barely reached you. Contented you huddled back on your corner, looking up at the window where the blinding sun shoned. You wondered when your execution would arrive. The thought of death was comforting since you wouldn't need to deal with the sense of failure and the punishment that would have come from it.
Very Japanese, you mused. To your knowledge a samurai would kill himself rather than suffer the shame to be captured by the enemy.
You felt no remorse to be honest but chagrined for not completing your task.
Once the skies began to be painted by a lovely shade of indigo, Yao's pleas of making Kiku reconsider filled the air.
There was no need to see a mongrel, he had said, it would appear weak and make Kiku seem too faint hearted.
"Nothing to worry about, Yao-san,"
Entering the prison, a place most unbecoming of the young Master's status, Yao spoke with the guard he met before and they were ushered with two large samurais in tow.
Suddenly the cell block went dead silent. Curious you sat up straight, inclining your head forward to hear the soft clank of armor friction against each other. This only meant one thing: your inevitable execution. What you hadn't expected was the target's presence. Once the heavy steps stopped, their imploring eyes watched carefully like a hawk while the young Master crouched and steadied himself by grabbing a bar. Meeting your eye level you stared menacingly from your corner, hoping to intimidate the young man you had tried to kill. Beside him, standing shakily from either impatience or fear or perhaps both was the Asian man who locked you in personally. Catching his eyes were difficult since he meant to avoid your gaze, you slowly crept forward to show yourself to the young Master.
His eyes were dark and speculative, much like his intent reflected in them. He seemed to be trying to understand something that probably wasn't there. When he finally came too you hadn't realized you had held your noticed the gauze wrapped around his neck and a flash of last night shone in your eyes, recalling how you nearly slitted his throat deep enough for him to die.
Remembering, in evidence of his lively state, brought anger to flow through your veins in a heated flame.
Maybe that was why samurais committed suicides... So as to not remember their failures. It was somewhat whimsical in a sense now that you thought about it.
"Hai, I have decided," Kiku said with a nod as he stood.
"Public or private execution sir?" You shot out sarcastically; ignoring the sudden clang of one of the samurai beat a bar so as to quiet you.
Kiku ordered him to relent and stared back down at you quietly, those expressionless eyes being difficult to perceive as though you stared through the very darkness itself, leaving you to wonder what he was thinking.
"No," he replied, "but rather you are to come with me, permanently."
What.
A sudden uproar from both the guard and Yao filled the cell block. The samurais said nothing but their boxy body language said different. You nearly fell back yet the surprise rooted you in place.
"Ai-yah! Kiku-sama, what are you thinking!?" The Chinaman cried in defiance, tossing a glare in your direction. "Of all the foolish things you've done, this is the most foolish! Don't bring trash into your home!"
At that you hissed threateningly at Yao from between the bars until the guard hushed you.
Yao only sneered at you contemptuously, raising a fist in the air to intimidate you until he brought his attention back to his young Master.
For first time in his entire life, Yao saw Kiku's face darken. Almost once he receded in his attempt at eloquence and stepped down. In a low bow he apologized greatly. There was no need of explanation at this point.
The samurais thought better of questioning their young Master although their obvious disdain towards Kiku's decision was evident as you could feel their masked gaze smolder into you where you sat.
Before you knew it you were brought carefully to your feet (by the man you tried kill, ordered), and both your arms held by the reluctant samurais. Walking out into the sunlight you watched Kiku ahead of you and wondered.
Feeling the sun beat down against your bare shoulders, you couldn't deny the sensation of warmth and you craned your necked slightly towards the rays like a flower taking it in for sustenance. It was only a night and most of the day that you were stuck in the cell but it was utterly horrifying, seeing how you were the only female present. The Chinaman who locked you in intended for you to suffer the burning stares of hungry men. Regardless your disgust shifted away when you heard the man you tried to kill speak to his comrade who appeared to be further disgruntled than before. You assumed he was speaking of you.
Was he insane or had a different purpose in mind?
You're insane if you think I won't try to kill you again.You thought bitterly, ignoring the samurais who tightened their grips when you attempted to relieve yourself. You gave up inevitably, no need to fight it.
Despite Yao's occasional glares the young Master finally looked over his shoulder and glanced at you, a smile sent your way.