"Like a fossil tree

From which we gather no flower

Sad has been my life

Fated no fruit to produce."

-Minamoto Yorimasa, poem written before his seppuku, 1180

1123, 13th day of the Rooster

Otosan Uchi

Huseo yawned as he plodded his way through the gardens of the Imperial Palace. It had been a lovely party, and a beautiful performance by the Jade Tear, the Emperor's personal acting troupe. Unfortunately, he had missed most of the third act, as that was when he realised he could have as much Sake as he wanted and no one would care. There was still a pleasant buzzing sensation in the back of his head.

He was a lucky man, it could not be overstated. In his fine green kimono proudly displaying the Tortoise Clan mon, his slick, oiled hair, and his elaborate makeup he looked like a veteran courtier. Not a man who had arrived in court a mere two weeks before. There were plenty in his clan who had a head for numbers, he was by no means the best. The Fortune of Fate had apparently decided he was worthy of some attention, and so he had ended up as a manager in the Imperial Treasury.

He was not complaining. Better a lucky man than a smart one. Huseo had everything a man could need; status, wealth, and enough influence not to get beheaded. The only thing missing was his wife. She had stayed behind at their estate near North Hub Village, and although that was not too far away, his duties kept him too busy to visit, and she was busy dealing with their three children, the youngest of which was barely a year old, and-

A scream echoed across the palace, disrupting Huseo's chain of thought. It was not a happy, excited scream that one might expect to come from a party. It struck Huseo as being more a terrified one. Odd.

It was probably all in his head.

Huseo stumbled through the garden, trying to find his way in the dark. His quarters were in a rather distant part of the Forbidden City, and no torches were lit. Most people were still at the party. Being a bit tipsy did not help matters.

"Halt!" someone cried out. Out of the darkness an arrow-thin woman emerged. She was wearing armor with the Scorpion Clan mon, and had a daisho on her hip. "Where are you going?" she demanded angrily.

"I was going back to my room. To sleep," Huseo told her, wondering why she would wear full armor in the Imperial Palace, "Is there some sort of trouble?"

"Go to your quarters and stay there. Do not leave until you are given permission," the Scorpion woman ordered. She brushed past him and continued toward the party.

As she walked into the darkness, Huseo furrowed his brow. Katana were generally not permitted to be carried openly in the Forbidden City, except for the Emperor's guards. Wakizashi were fine, he had one on his hip right now, but he could not remember the last time he had seen someone with a katana, unless a duel was imminent.

Huseo went after her, stepping more lightly and sticking to the shadows. As a boy he had snuck into the pantry and stuffed himself with sweet rolls. He was still somewhat pudgy. As he grew older he started creeping around the docks, following sailors to sake houses and listening in, hearing the latest gossip.

That had been years ago, and a scorpion warrior was hardly the same as a few drunken sailors, but Huseo moved as silently through the darkness as he ever had, and she did not seem to notice him. The garden seemed like it was built for hiding a sneaking, and she seemed distracted.

Several more screams came from the party. They were fearful. Something was clearly wrong. The Scorpion drew her blade and took up position at the far end of the garden. Huseo took up position behind a cluster of trees, where he had a view of the whole courtyard.

Huseo's mind raced. It seemed like she was standing guard. But it the party was under attack, she would be rushing towards it, not standing in a garden. What if they enemy was outside the Imperial Palace, and she was standing guard to make sure no other enemies got in? That did not follow. She was facing in, towards the palace. So she must be guarding against someone coming out. It had to be someone or something specific though, or else she would have stopped him when they bumped into each other.

A baby wailed. The sound of running feet approached. Heavy breathing. The scorpion tensed. Whoever she was waiting for had arrived.

A large man with a small bundle in one arm and a katana in the other came rushing into the garden. He wore the armor of a Seppun Guardsmen, and his kimono was soaked in sweat, despite the night being cold.

"Traitor!" he shouted upon seeing the Scorpion woman, charging without hesitation. She blocked his first mad swing and struck back, cutting him in the armpit. They went back and forth several more times, the Seppun coming off worst. Moonlight bounced off their blades, sometimes silver, sometimes red.

Huseo could tell it was not a fair battle. The Seppun was exhausted, and the baby in his arms (for that is what it must have been) kept squirming. Huseo gripped his wakizashi. He was no swordsmen, had no armor on, and his blade was half the size of theirs.

The scorpion feinted, aiming a blow to the Seppun's head before twisting around, slashing his leg. Blood flew, and the Seppun fell to one knee, blocking a series of other blows, entirely on the defensive.

She was going to kill him.

Huseo slowly slid his wakizashi from its sheath. It was a traditional weapon, to be used for honorable suicide. And Huseo could not be sure if he was using it for its intended purpose or not. No longer bothering to move silently, he rushed from the bushes and crossed the distance in five great strides. She barely had time to glance in his direction before his first strike.

Unfortunately, she moved faster than Huseo thought possible, bringing her sword up to just barely knock his sword to the side in time. Then she went on the attack. With a single flurry she sent the wakizashi flying out of his hands, and left a bleeding cut across his chest as she did so.

But the attack was not in vain. She had to concentrate on him for a few moments, and in that time the Seppun stabbed his sword into her side. She screaming in pain then fell to the ground, bleeding heavily.

The Seppun was still on one knee, bleeding from many wounds. He thrust the bundle towards Huseo. "Take the child. The Scorpion have launched a coup. They had weapons hidden at the party. Killed anyone who resisted. They killed the Emperor. Killed the Emperor's eldest son, and his daughter. This boy is the only member of the Imperial family left. He's the Emperor now."

Huseo took the child in his arms. He had a chubby face, fat fingers, and thick black hair. And he was crying, tears pouring down his cheeks. "Hush, hush child," Huseo said in the soothing tone he always used with his own children. The boy continued to cry.

"You escape with the Emperor," the Seppun ordered him, standing, "I'll hold them off."

"You will do no such thing, Huseo told the guardsmen, "If they have another guard posted further ahead, the Emperor is dead, not to mention me. With you we will at least stand a chance."

"I'll slow you down."

"I would rather be slowed down than dead," Huseo informed him, snatching up his wakizashi, "Besides, you will do the empire very little good as a dead man. In life there are always possibilities. Now come on, no time to argue."

Huseo supported the Seppun as they limbed through the garden, and reflected on how quickly fate can reverse one's fortunes.