Sayuri held her breath as the nun handed back her pop quiz. She was unsure of her grade but as she gazed down at the red 100 she was surprised.

"Sayuri."

"Yes sister Mary?"

"You will see me after class."

"Yes sister Mary." Her heart fell as she thought of the lecture she was going to get. She not only was late to class that morning but she skipped afternoon prayer. She was not Catholic yet she was forced to go to a Catholic school. The class drug by and when the bell rang everyone ran to the door, everyone except Sayuri. She walked up to Sister Mary's desk slowly.

"Yes Sister Mary?"

"I drew up that quiz before lunch, how did you pass with a perfect score? You cheated."

"I did not. It was all simple really. I memorize everything I read. Photographic memory."

"Or a spell from a demon." The nun said slowly. "Perhaps the demon you have tattooed on yourself?" Sayuri gasped, she did not think the nun knew. Her tattoo was a gift for her sixteenth birthday by her brother. She ahd a birthmark in the shape of a dragon and she just had it enhanced with a sharper edge and flame from its mouth.

"I have no such thing." She nearly shouted.

"Really? Father!" The nun shouted. The Father entered along with two altar boys. The boys held her down while Father unbuttoned her shirt. Sayuri struggled against the boys but she could not move. There were a few girls in the hallway that passed the open door and when they saw what was going on they shot her looks of worry and sympathy before running away. The father traced the tattoo around her belly button before dropping lower. Sayuri screamed as his hands slipped into her skirt and suddenly he was yanked off of her. Sayuri looked up to see her brother Tanaka, He was furious. He grabbed Sayuri and they bolted for the door, she tried to fix her uniform but he stopped her.

"I want mom and dad to see what is going on at that school."

"They never listen." Sayuri whispered miserably.

"Then I will take you away. Now you still have your tickets for your missionary trip next week. I want you to go. Not as part of the school but a vacation for you."

"Yes oni-chan." She was excited for the trip but worried about it all at the same time. It seemed the trip would change a lot.

"You will like it."

"I hope so." Sayuri was begining to perk up.

Sayuri sat at the terminal, ready to board her plane. A nun from the school dropped her off but she had changed clothes, still wearing a cross she changed to a shorter skirt and a lower cut white blouse. She wore stiletto lke heels that accented her long legs, She wore bright red lipstick that clashed with her darker skin but somehow went well with her blonde hair. She had asian features but the body of a young aphrodite. She had all the men watching her and she smiled at all of them. That sweet innocent, I don't know what I am promising when I look at you like this smile. Except she knew. She was no virgin. She knew exactly what she was doing. The pa system called for her boarding and as she sat down in her seat a man sat next to her. He had black hair and eyes that were so dark she swore they were black as well.

"What brings you to my home country?"

"Missionary position." She said with a smile. He nearly choked as he did a doubletake.

"What?!"

"I am from a Ctholic school. I am being sent to help spread the word of God." She drawled.

"You do not believe?"

"Hardly."

"Then why?"

"Make the trip? It is my last vacation before, well before i grow old." Sayuri laughed but it was hollow and they both heard it. They landed hours later and before he could speak to her, she dismissed him. "Listen I have to go. I am expected at the inn." She hurried out the airport with her bags and half ran through the village to the inn.

"Hello, may I help you?" A woman asked. She had a nice smile and a mothering look about her.

"Yes, i have a room. Sayuri."

"Ah yes, come this way."

Sayuri sat on the edge of her bed, she had changed into shor shorts and a tank top. She slipped on her tennis shoes and she stared out the window. The night beckoned her yet something about it made her pause. She shook her head and stood. She was almost to the door when lightning struck. She paused, her hand on the cold metal, she gazed behind her toward the window to see a giant bird on the balcony railing. Sayuri almost turned to let it in but decided better and left her room. She hurried out of the inn and sucked in the night. She walked toward to woods. She climbed the path up towards the mountain peaks. The higher she went the faster the wind blew, the more intense the storm became. By the time she was high in the forest she was lost and seeking shelter.

A clearing loomed ahead and as she entered it Sayuri came upon a house. It had a wrap around porch and several men were standing together talking. Sayuri ran forward, she was drenched and her legs were covered in mud. Low branches and underbrush scratched her legs so little lines of blood criss crossed her legs and arms. She fell to her knees at the base of the steps. The men turned suddenly to observe her. One man fled down the stairs to kneel beside her. His black hair whipped in the wind, his silver eyes flashed with power.

"Who are you?"

"Who am I?" She asked, confused. She was lost in thought as she gazed into the depths of his eyes. "Sayuri. My name is Sayuri."

"What are you doing up here?"

"I felt. I felt a pull."

"What is your family name?" He asked as he duscreetly spit on his hands and rubbed his saliva over her cuts and scratches.

"Romanov." He froze.

"It can't be! Mikhail! Get inside. I will heal the girl and question her myself."

"Question? I am sorry, I do not know what I have done wrong."

"You have not done anything." Another man said as he approached her.

"Then why question me?" Sayuri asked, suddenly afraid.

"We just want some family history."

"I was born in the states. I do not know anything else. Beynd my parents we know nothing of the family. My father was asian. My mother was Russian. They were each adopted so neither knows anything. Please, let me go. I have to go back."

"Go back? Go back where?"

"The inn. I am supposed to be at the inn. Please let me go." Sayuri struggled in the silver eyed man's grasp. His grasp was firm though, and Sayuri could not break free.

"Who expects you there?"

"Umm…."

"No one. She is here to spread the word of a god she does not believe in." Sayuri turned her head to see her flight companion.

"What?"

"I go to a catholic school and after a physical…. altercation I left. I could not have the Father touch me anymore."

"He touched you?"

"Many times. He made sure all the virgin girls never stayed that way. I was one of the first he went after. My parents said it was an honor. It was a privilege. Something to be proud of. I just felt disgusting."

"You were wrongly used. Let us care for you."

"At what price?"

"No price to you."

"Then why would you take me in?"

"It is the right thing to do."

"Wow, real honor, did not think that still existed."

"So you are a true Romanov?" Mikhail asked, he was excited to meet an older family, especially one with a royal background.

"As far as I know."

"That is very cool." Another male said.

"Listen, I hate to change the subject but where am I going to live?"

"With me." Mikhail answered firmly. He wanted the female in his care to protect. It seemed right, like it was fate that she come to his house, so he will follow fate's design… just this once.

And so Sayuri moved in with Mikhail where she was given freedoms she had never known. She called her brother once a week to let him know how she was, he did not approve of such a hasty move but after a phone call with Mikhail, he warmed up quickly. She was also never forced to worship, pray to, or follow any God, for which she was most grateful.