A/N: Hello yes, I have returned and obviously I posted this first before updating my other two pending series. BUT calm yourselves, for I am writing the new chapters as we speak. I recently got dragged into the Touken Ranbu hell and here I am starting my own series with an OC. Please be kind to me for I am still not completely sure how these characters are supposed to act. (But then again this is still the introduction so not much of the boys yet) Either way, I can only hope that all of you will like this series and support it! Expect Polyamory in this series and if you're not into it, you totally don't need to read this. Enjoy!

Shadows Within Kisses

Chapter 1

"Nice To Meet You"

She woke up to her sky blue days, long ivory locks pooling over her shoulders as she gazed outside her windowsill. It was still the early glimpse of spring in Japan that day, the familiar scent of fresh earth filling the streets of Kanazawa. The Nagamachi was a district filled with assorted houses of all kinds, many of them being homes to merchants and notable samurais within the village. Among the many households stood the Fujiwara compound, a home that has lived in solitude from its neighbours. It was not because they wanted to, but everyone knew far too well that this was for the better.

It all began when these unknown creatures invaded this humble village not too long ago. They were creatures that held swords filled with malice and used these blades to bring forth destruction towards the town. They moved with anger and swung their swords mercilessly upon the innocent as they raided the streets. It was a horrible scene to remember, the cries heard and the blood spilled; it was a day where everyone believed darkness had taken over Kanazawa. But there were those who stood brave, warriors proudly wielding their swords as they fended off the invaders with honour. Samurai of all ages and skill stood before these demons; being able to eliminate some but could not vanquish them all. It was until a few anonymous warriors entered the battlefield, wearing clothing and armor that were foreign to the people. Many had believed they were servants sent by God to save the village, their power surpassing that of any warrior the village had ever seen. Although they appeared to be nothing but ordinary men, their abilities prove them to be beings of another kind. They broke through the evil blades held by the malicious creatures, destroying them in the process and ridding the streets of its unwanted visitors. Many had questioned where these heroes came from and who had sent them here in their time of need. The answer to their question has remained vague however, as they only responded with: "We were sent by our Master."

Much time has passed since that fated day, and the people had later on discovered who was truly leading this elite group of individuals. Within the village was a family that had special members entitled "Saniwa", a lineage that was dominated by female successors for generations. They were recognized as the Fujiwara Clan, the nobles of wisteria. They had been keeping themselves hidden from the people, preferring to assist in secrecy and avoiding the watchful eye of the lords that looked over the land. It was believed that their maidens were living vessels of a divine power, giving them the ability to produce blades powerful enough to defeat the demon swords. Their true nature remains a mystery, but the village owes them a heavy debt for their service. A debt, they couldn't possibly afford to pay.

Sayuri stepped out of her quarters wearing an attire of red and white, resembling that of a priestess. Her hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail with a single ribbon holding the tender locks together as she walked down the murmuring hall. Voices came and went as she walked further on, pausing from time to time to greet members that passed by her. She stopped in front of a familiar door, one that was decorated with the Fujiwara symbol made of gold. A servant bowed before her, quickly kneeling down to pull the door open. A gush of spring wind greeted the young maiden upon her entry, the faint scent of wisteria filling her lungs as she smiled contently into the room. This room was passed down to her, originally belonging to the previous Saniwa, her mother. Mother, please guide me again today.

Fujiwara Maiko was a renowned Saniwa back in her days. Both a mother and wife, she was heavily recognized for her exquisite skill in refining and repairing damaged swords. There were no other Saniwa who could match her workmanship; truly she had a special touch of her own. But that wasn't all; she was one of the rare Saniwas to have mastered the art of sword wielding. Saniwas were never deprived of such privilege, though only a few chose to fight while the rest remained as caretakers hidden behind the Fujiwara walls. One would think a woman like her would live a long life, but sadly that wish ended in tragedy.

Approaching the altar stationed near the entrance, Sayuri gazed upon the portrait of her now deceased predecessor. Incense sticks were lit and placed in a bowl next to the portrait, while a bouquet of newly bloomed calla lilies lay on the opposite side. A woman with the same ivory hair was smiling in the portrait; tender eyes emitting warmth even while being behind the clear glass. She looked no older than thirty, a youthful charm present in her eyes as her face remained elegant with age. It was the image of the late Saniwa, Fujiwara Maiko.

Sayuri folded her hands together, closing her eyes as she offered her silent prayers. Physically, her mother was no longer present in this house. But in each day, she could feel her spirit lurking in the halls, staying in this very room from where she stood. It was difficult to explain, but it felt warm to be in these quarters, it was as if her mother had remained and not once left their home. The silence was disturbed by a soft knock from the door, pulling Sayuri away from her reverie as she began to open her eyes slowly.

"Yes?" she called out, offering a light bow as she smiled at her mother's portrait. Footsteps began to approach her from behind, making the girl turn around to see who had visited her. An elderly woman stood there, hair neatly tied up into a bun as she wore a simple maroon kimono. Fine lines appeared on her delicate face as she smiled at Sayuri, lowering her head for a quick bow to greet their mistress.

"Sayuri-sama, it is now time for you to meet your swords. The turning over ceremony will be conducted today."

So soon? A hint of surprise was present in her face as she heard this. She was not expecting the turning over ceremony to happen for at least another two days. It was not too long ago that she celebrated her coming of age, and now playtime for this young Saniwa had come to an end. Although the preparation became a surprise, Sayuri was very much overjoyed by the news. "I look forward in meeting them, Yuki-san. Please bring them here."

The woman came back as quickly as she had left, though this time she was carrying a black chest with her and she did not return alone. Sayuri was seated at the center of the room where a small table was stationed in front of her. She sat there with anticipation, her heartbeat quickening with excitement. The arrival of the swords marked the beginning of her duties as a Saniwa. They were going to rely on her in several aspects and she couldn't afford to make any mistakes at this point. Every Saniwa knew that the decisions they make with their swords will either bring them home or become their final goodbye. For years she was trained, brought up to follow the footsteps of her ancestors and to one day become a Saniwa as great as her mother used to be. But one question continues to linger within her mind, has she done enough?

"Sayuri-sama, this is Nakamura Ranmaru. He is the current blacksmith of the family, taking the place of his grandfather, Nakamura Kotaro; the blacksmith that served Lady Maiko during her term as Saniwa."

A boy dressed in blue greeted her with a formal bow, offering a quiet "Nice to meet you" as he got up to straighten himself. She eyed the bundle of cloth in his arms, immediately knowing the contents hidden in the fine material. There was another servant beside him; he too, was holding another set of swords in his arms. The small tears and fading colors on the cloth proved the signs of aging; they appeared to have been left alone for quite some time. A pang of guilt made its way into Sayuri's nerves at the site, thinking about the amount of years the swords endured being locked away in their vault. They were left alone and unused, not maintained nor refined and lastly were left inside to collect dust from the walls. Swords possessed a soul; that was what her mentors constantly reminded her about. It is only when the souls of both the sword and its master become one that they can unlock potentials hidden in one another. But years had come and gone, and Sayuri couldn't help but feel she had wasted too much time waiting for this day to arrive. There was a slight presence of fear that dwelt in her heart, the fear of not being able to unify herself with her swords. Any Saniwa would become afraid of such a scenario, for they would be labeled a failure if they cannot even gain the acceptance of their own blades.

They approached the Saniwa quietly, the old adviser positioning herself next to Sayuri as the blacksmith and his assistant began placing the swords on the floor. She observed how they were taking off the covers with caution, pulling and tugging the material with such gentleness as if they were holding a child in their hands. One by one the swords were presented and placed before Sayuri on individual wooden racks, arranged in groups of 5 and aligned in two rows positioned horizontally. The largest swords were placed in front, both sharing one rack arranged vertically. It was almost breathtaking to look at them; they didn't appear to have aged even as the years went by. It was hard to believe that these exquisitely forged swords were hidden away, for they appeared to be far too beautiful to end up in decaying cloth.

"Now, we will begin." The elder said meekly, placing the chest she held on the table and opening it. "These are not needed in the ceremony, however inside these scrolls are notes written by your predecessors with information about the swords you are about to take into possession."

There were stacks of different colored scrolls inside the container, with golden cords wrapped around to hold them in place. She could see the several hues of orange, browns and cream colored paper that were stuffed together in the chest. Just by looking at them alone, it was already enough proof that these documents were decade's worth of knowledge.

"To begin the ceremony, you must awaken the swords from their years of slumber." They both rose from their seats, quietly approaching the first two swords in front. "Just as you have been taught, simply touch handle of the swords. They will recognize your presence and will show themselves to you."

Sayuri took a deep breath, gently reaching out to touch the handle of the first blade. Upon touching the Tsuka, the sword glowed from contact and appearing from a soft gush of cherry blossoms was a man with piercing amber eyes. She couldn't hold back a gasp when their eyes met, withdrawing her hand from the blade as she stood before his kneeling form.

"My, it has been a while since I have been called into this world. I am Taroutachi. A sword made for combat and not meant to be used by humans." He said in a low voice, the deepness of his tone tickling her senses.

The young maiden quickly glanced at her elderly companion, who smiled and shook her head knowingly. "Allow them to introduce themselves first, you may tell them who you are when all of them are present."

The awakening ceremony continued on, with Sayuri repeating the process until she reached the last and final sword in the room. As she completed the procedure, she made her way back in front, gazing upon the different faces she had yet to familiarize herself with. She felt completely overwhelmed by their presence, not a single dream could prepare her for the experience of meeting these souls in the flesh. Their eyes were settled on her, looking at Sayuri rather curiously as they waited for her to speak.

"My name is Fujiwara Sayuri, the new Saniwa of this household. I am aware that all of you once served my mother, the previous Saniwa, Fujiwara Maiko. As of today, I have taken her place and her duties as a Saniwa. From today forth, I will be your master and caretaker. I hope you will all treat me kindly." She said, bowing before her audience who returned the gesture.

"Sayuri-sama, it is now time to finish the ceremony by dictating the promise."

Ah yes, the promise. A promise between Saniwa and their swords played an important role in maintaining the oneness of their soul. It was an act of honor but was also an act of complete surrender. Once it was made, they were to be bound to one another and forever hold their promise until their last breath. If that promise were to be broken, death would be patiently awaiting them. She had heard this all before, not just from her mentors, but very vaguely, she remembered the voice of her mother, telling her of the importance of this sacred promise.

"Sayuri, one day okasan may need to go somewhere far away."

"Where will you go? What about the village? Who will protect us?"

"When the time comes, I will leave you with a few gifts that will protect you and everyone in this village."

"A gift? What kind of gift mama?"

"You will know when the time is right. And when that day comes, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything, mama!"

"You must swear your trust, loyalty, life and soul to the gifts I will leave to you. No matter what, you must never break that promise, Sayuri. A Saniwa can be betrayed, but she must never become the betrayer. Just as they are willing to entrust everything to you, you must become someone capable of doing the same for them."

She closed her eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath as she straightened herself. The males had shifted to a kneeling position, a hand placed over their chest as they lowered their head in respect.

"I, Fujiwara Sayuri, the Saniwa of the Fujiwara household, swear my trust, loyalty and soul to the twelve swords present in this room. With all my being, I promise to take care of all of you and to never forsake you for as long as I remain your Saniwa. Should I fail to keep this promise, may I be condemned to a painful death; for there is no graver sin than betrayal."

A hand was placed on her shoulder, breaking Sayuri from her reverie. "The ceremony is done now. From this day forth, all of you are now under the care of Sayuri-sama and will serve her all throughout her days."

The gentlemen rose from the floor, taking hold of their blades and fastening them to their waist. Sayuri now found herself alone with these strangers, dismissing both her adviser and blacksmith from the room. She had prepared herself for the cold shoulder, knowing that not all swords were going to be welcoming. But to her surprise, there was one that boldly took her into his arms, hugging her tightly as he nuzzled against her neck. The blood immediately rushed to her cheeks, tainting the pale skin with a light shade of pink.

"So you're the new Saniwa! I'm looking forward to serving you!" the white-haired male chimed, keeping his arms wrapped around Sayuri's waist.

The maiden had placed her hands on his chest, making the effort to push him away, finding their proximity a little too close for comfort. "Yes, now if you could please-" Let me go.

"Now, now, Kogi. Be polite, we wouldn't want to scare our Saniwa away, don't we?"

Kogitsunemaru let out a soft grunt, unwinding his arms as he pulled away from Sayuri; who sighed in relief. "Do you have to be a killjoy Ojisan?"

"Only when it comes to you." Mikazuki retorted. "After all, all of us are relying on this woman now. She might not trust us because of your inappropriate behavior, isn't that so?"

He turned toward Sayuri, smiling gently as he ignored the growls coming from the fox spirit behind him.

"Please do treat us kindly, Saniwa-sama."

A/N: What is writing. I don't even know. But I hope you guys liked the first chapter, somehow. LOL. I truly appreciate reviews, so if you have any comments, suggestions or violent reactions (pls no) leave a review or PM me!