It was a simple shrine, although she never really seen such a place of worship as she's only been exposed to christian-founded temples and churches. There was a simplistic nature that gave this place a abstract beauty, something she was now noticing was missing from many of the pagodas she have visited. But she wasn't here for beauty, or worship for that matter. She was here for one thing.

"You're suppose to show respect at the Torii." Her voice drifted through the air, the woman was just leaving the shrine. "You bow deeply twice, than you can enter. Or else the otoboroshi will punish you."

"You are one to speak of respect and punishment." She said while looking over the woman. The woman was dressed in a black kimoto with silver trim, there was a sword tucked to one side. The woman has long red hair tied into a pony tail and deep, yet very cold, blue eyes.

"Well, well." The woman said while tilting her head to one side, her eyes were sparkling in a off way. "I can't believe it's you."

"So, you do remember me." She said, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I knew you were trouble, from the first day we met."

The woman laughed, "A simple misunderstanding that day."

She grew angered, her fists tighten so much her nails dug into her palms while her knuckles turn white. "And what was that night? Was that misunderstanding?"

"That depends on what you mean, old friend?" The woman laughed, while walking away but she followed and stopped before the red head. The red head smiled, "Tell me something. Tell me something important, how is she? How is she, Diaspro?"

"Leave her out of this." Diaspro snapped. "And if you value your life never bring anyone else into this."

"You mean like them? Your special friend and your daughter." The woman said. "Be glad I'm here on earth, and not in your realm." Diaspro was about act on her rage but held herself back, for her family and her kingdom.

The red head chuckled. But Diaspro narrowed her eyes, "you have changed. For the worse in my opinion."

"Everyone changes," the woman said. "For the better or the worse is up to the person." The wind kicked up between them, whipping around the red head's long hair all over. "Why did you come out here?"

Diaspro shifted her weight while making eye contact with the being. "I'm here doing my duty, that's all."

The red head held up her hands. "I'm not doing anything that will threaten your 'rule'."

"It's not my rule I worry about." Diaspro said. "It's my family." The red head laughed before walking away, the wind blew all around the blond princess. "Just please stay away from my daughter," Diaspro whispered. "And your's."

()()()()()()

Translations

Akai fuyu niwa red winter garden.

Torii the entry way to a shinto shrine where one must show respect to.

Otoboroshi a creature that awaits near/on top of the torii that will eat the disrespectful ones.

And now for the bad news; this was suspose to become a series but I have lost interest and decided to leave things the way they are.

But thanks for the reviews.