Shogun

'Thinking'

'Talking'

Chapter 1 - Maiden of Green

"Get that rope! Hurry"

"Watch out!"

"Someone go to Milady's room and see if she is safe!"

"Yes sir"

"Oh lord have mercy..."

"Captain?"

"I...I don't think we're going to see the morning..."

"Sir?"

"Nothing, get to work man! Move! MOVE!"

The sea was merciless, toying with the small vessel, her good men being tossed overboard due to the oceans strength.

A woman's voice called out "Captain! Captain Ganzoku-sama!" A petit woman dressed in a pastel green silk kimono ran to him and stumbled into his arms. "Where is my father's ship?" Her mahogany orbs looked deep into his dark amber eyes. She was soaking; the spray of the torturous sea was making even the simplest tasks fatal.

He continued to stare at her, "what are you doing out of your quarters?"

She looked at him sternly, "I go where I please Ganzoku-sama. Where is father's ship?"

He looked away from her out to the dark waters; it was true there had been no sign of lord Shimazu's ship. His clothes clung to his muscular body like a second skin, as the wind whipped his long black hair back, the wind howled. He felt the young woman in his arms shiver. Finally he spoke, "I...don't know... Get back to your quarters you'll be safe there! Kouinnshin! Take her!"

"Ganzoku-sama!" she was forced into the arms of Kouinnshin, he stumbled from the unexpected impact.

"Let go of me! I demand that you-"

"Brace yourselves!"

She looked up. The sky was no longer there, it had been replaced by a monstrous wave "Oh god have mercy on us..."

The wave hit the boat causing men to hit the sides, slip and fall. Kouinnshin hit the side causing the air in his lungs to escape, he cried out in pain. As for the young woman...she stumbled and plunged into the icy, dark depths of the ocean below.

She broke the surface of the water determined to live. The waves beat her under again and again, till she sank and the current carried her limp body elsewhere.

The storm passed and the ship had lost nearly all its crew. A stern voice shouted "Kouinnshin-kun! Wake up!" Ganzoku's hands grabbed the young man's slim frame and shook him violently. "Kouinnshin!" The force of the shaking caused him to stir and splutter. He coughed and coughed, water escaped his lungs as he gasped for air greedily.

"Captain...?" Kouinnshin stuttered, "What? Where? Where is Milady?" Ganzoku looked out at the vast expanse of water. It looked so calm compared to the storm of the night. How could this be the same ocean?

"The lady of the sea has her now..." Ganzoku's gaze saddened with the thought, he glanced at Kouinnshin, the young man was carrying a heavy burden. When a soldier fails their duties they are required to commit seppuku, "the cutting of one's stomach". This would be required of Kouinnshin when he returned to the capital.

"Then I have failed..." Kouinnshin gazed upon his senior in both rank and age. This guilt he felt, why did he get thrown against the side? So weak was he now? The gods were surely laughing at him. "I will go and prepare the men, and then prepare myself for my destiny..." His sentence trailed off at the end as he walked away.

Ganzoku watch the younger male as he left. 'Poor lad' Ganzoku reflected on when he first met the boy, young and bright, he was a gift from Uesugi, a "peace offering". I don't know if i'll be able to convince our lord to spare you after losing something so precious to him... He sighed before stumbling to his feet. 'We haven't long till the capital will be within sight'

-Haruhi-

'After I hit the water the air escaped from my lungs. All went black as my head struck something hard causing me to enter a deep slumber. I floated for what seemed like days, my back touched solid earth once again... My mind? Hurts...I don't know...