I'm taking a mini break from my fanfictions and I thought I'd give this piece of work a try. It's a short novel i am working on (which means the chapters won't be very long and the story itself won't be long either) It takes place over the span of 1-2 years (not sure yet) and there will be, at least, a month difference per chapter depending on how I feel. There will never be two entries in the same month unless they are different years. Two chapters may be a letter or various letters that were written by or to Elizabeth. I really hope you enjoy.

The idea for this type of story, came from my writer's craft class in Grade 12. We were asked to make four diary entries over the span of 1 year in any time period, or 4 letters going back and forth between two characters - two from one character, two from another. I got this idea after I wrote and submitted mine and I really liked this idea so i decided I would write it and see how you guys feel- also I am making it longer than just 4 entries.

please R&R I would really like to hear from you.

Blackamber

ps. I was not content with what I originally wrote, so I revised it while working on the second chapter

Summary: Elizabeth William is a young noblewoman who is sent away to Japan for her own safety during the mid 1815's. Working as a servant in a nobleman's household she is surprised to find her master to be so much more than what she expected. But what is to become of her as time passes by and she finds herself there for much longer than she had anticipated. What awaits her as the months drag into years? Friendship? Hatred? Perhaps, even love?

May 14th, 1815

I cannot believe my father actually did this! Ordering me to board this grubby little trading vessel and sending me to the other side of the world. Who does he think he is? Of course he says it is for my own protection, but I know what is really going on. He sold me.

Well, I guess it could be worse, at least I know the man who he sold my services to. I have met with him a quite a few times for he is old friends' with my father. His name is Lord Katchiki- or in his culture he is know as Katchiki-sama. I remember him being kind and he and my father taught me to speak his native tongue, so at least I will be able to talk to the people.

That does not mean, however, that I am happy about this arrangement. I am utterly and completely against it!

It is all that rotten French emperors' fault; that short little man thinking he can rule the world. If he had not been threatening England, my father would never dream about selling me to lord Katchiki.

I have been gone for more than a month and I miss everyone terribly. Especially mum. She was always so kind to me; she would never send me to Japan had it been her decision.

Father said he will write when I can come home, so I guess he only set up a small contract for my services. As much as I love my father, I shan't forgive him for this. No matter how much he begs or pleads; even if he showers me with gifts, I shan't forgive him.

When I told him I should like very much to go to Japan one day, I never expected this! I thought we should all go together, he, Mum, and I but I guess not.

I wonder if they will miss me, the friends I have left in London. Not to mention all the suitors I have left behind as well. Will they find new sweet hearts to chase? Or will they wait for the day that my father sends for me? Oh please, please let them wait. It would be such a welcome home if they do.

The Captain has told me we shall reach Yokohama by tomorrow evening if weather permits, which means I shall be in Kyoto, hopefully, the day after tomorrow. I wonder if lord Katchiki will send someone to fetch me, or will I have to find my own way to his manor. I hope he sends someone for I do not know the way and I would hate to be lost in a strange country.

Although I am angry at my father for making this arrangement behind my back, I cannot help but be excited about this new adventure I am about to embark on.

I wonder if his son, Takanari, is still with him, or has he been married off to some noblewoman's daughter. Oh, and Hiroaki! I wonder if he still serves as Takanari's personal servant. It is funny that he started serving Takanari when we were not but children, for in our household the children do not start serving us until they are considered responsible young men and women- usually between the ages of twelve and fifteen. I remember him being kind, polite and very shy. When I learned to understand Japanese I managed to talk to him, and he told me about his younger sister, who was my age, named Sei.

If I remember correctly, I am two years younger than Hiroaki, which makes me three years younger than Takanari. I wonder if I will have to call Takanari lord as well? Oh what was the suffix Hiroaki taught me… it started with K sound. Oh well, I shall ask for a reminder once I reach Kyoto.

Oh, how I miss my bed and they way my room did not sway on the ocean. I must have been seasick at least ten times each day since this horrid journey started. The Captain says it is normal, yet I have yet to see one of his men bent over the railing. Perhaps one gets used to the sway of the ocean… but how can one when the sway is different each day!? Some days the sway is violent- it is those days that I am the most sick- and others the sway is much calmer.

I will be most pleased once my two feet are on firm ground- and by firm I mean ground that does not sway with the tide.

Which brings me to another question, I wonder what my room will be like? Will it have a nice bed? I know I will be working for lord Katchiki- much to my displeasure, but I wonder if I will get to talk to Takanari and Hiroaki much while I am there. I know it would be much more enjoyable if I could, I remember they're visits being so splendid. Maybe I'll even get to meet Sei; how lovely it would be to be able to speak to a girl my own age!

I think I may be getting excited again, though it could be my want of getting off the ocean that is fueling this excitement.

There's not much to do but write on this boat. The sailors are all Neanderthals with bad body odor, the scenery is not much too look at- just blue all around- and the beds are as hard as rocks, it is a wonder anyone gets any sleep at all. I shan't get started on the food, for I am not entirely sure what it truly tastes like since I usually end up spitting it out over the side of the boat not moments after eating it, though I am not entirely upset about that.

I miss home. I miss my servants. I miss my books! I do wish I had thought to bring a few a long, but in all the fury of running back and forth and arguing with my father, I just completely forgot about them. I hope the horses will not miss my visits much, nor the old hunting dog miss my singing to him while I sowed. From the way my parents acted, I fear the horses and dog may be the only ones who will miss me. Do not get me wrong, I love my mum to bits and I know, had my father not convinced her she'd never had let me go. I am, after all, her girl, her only girl.

Oh dear, in all my fretting about myself I forgot my dear brother, George. Poor George, he does not even know of my leaving, him preparing for war and all. We were so close, him and I, he'll be truly heartbroken when he hears of it. Perhaps he will petition against father to get me back as soon as possible!

I'm sure if I write to him and explain how I did not want to leave and that I was forced to, he'd take my side and make father see reason. After all, he always takes my side.

I do hope he's okay though; fighting battles against the French must not be pleasant. I know he is a good soldier, but that does not stop a sister for worrying over her dear older brother. I shall make sure to hear of his well being as soon as I reach lord Katchiki's house. I am sure he'd like to hear of what has become of our Japanese friends as well, perhaps I will ask Takanari and Hiroaki to write letters as well… or at least to tell me what they wish to say to him.

Poor George never stayed for the Japanese lessons that father and lord Katchiki gave, so he cannot read nor write the language as I can. But no matter, I will gladly write what our two childhood friends wish to say, for I am a good sister and I wish to do my best as a friend and servant.

How weird that sounds, referring to myself as a servant. I suppose I will have to get used to it, for father explained that I will be a privileged guest in their household and I am expected to make myself useful. Which, in my father's dictionary, means I am expected to work as a servant to earn my place as a privileged guest.

A privileged guest? Not likely. I am nothing but a mere pawn of his who was sold to a Japanese nobleman for an undisclosed period of time. There is nothing, however, I can do about it now, it is far too late for me to throw a tantrum now, so I must grin and bear it. As I have said, at least I was not sold to a complete stranger and I will get to see my old friends.

I decided, before I left, to glance through some of my father's books on the country of Japan so that I am at least a little familiar with the culture. Having the ability to speak the language is one thing, but understanding the culture is a whole other story.

I know that the Japanese call the time period we are in now the Edo Period also called the Tokugawa Period since the Emperor is from the Tokugawa family. There are elite swordsmen in Japan as well, they are called Samurai, I, personally, wonder if they are good looking- for it would seem odd for a noblewoman, such as I, to go anywhere that does not have potential suitors. The fact that I am going to Japan as a servant is irrelevant.

Speaking of suitors, I have decided now that there are a few back home that I would not mind forgetting. The stable hand, for instance, was more of a curiosity than anything; I know if I returned to find him with another I would not be heartbroken. Then there was that sailor that I rarely saw… however whenever he did come back he did bring me an abundance of gorgeous gifts. Perhaps I will like to keep him as a suitor. The merchant boy, however, can move on. He was not very gentle, or smart; he wasn't even that good of a lover. Of course that does not mean I lay with him, only brothel girls dare lay with their lovers before marriage and I am no brothel girl. I am almost positive he was not good for anything but trading.

Oh, I just remembered that I read that the Emperor is the leader of Japan, much like our King is the ruler of England. I find it odd that they have an Emperor whilst we, in England, have a King, and that the Emperor does not live in Edo- the country's capital- either. He actually lives in Kyoto- where lord Katchiki lives. With luck, I may get to see the Emperor or even speak with him! Oh, how grand that would be to actually speak with Emperor Tokugawa. And if luck is truly on my side, he will help me get home! My father cannot possibly refuse the word of Japan's Emperor.

Ah, such wild dreams I have Diary, I haven't even seen the King of England and I speak of what I will do when I meet the Emperor. The appropriate term would be if, which is highly unlikely. Of course, it is possible if Kyoto is a smaller city than London, yet if the Emperor lives there I cannot imagine how that would be possible.

Oh, how I miss my friends! They all get to stay in London, eat cakes, go shopping, and faun over boys while I am aboard this smelly old vessel. Even if I had just one of them here with me would make this voyage ever so much more enjoyable. Choosing who is all too easy though, Diary, for Mary and I have been friends since infancy. I can see Jane, Amy, and Christine talking about my misfortune with great amusement, but not Mary- we have been friends for far too long for her to ever think ill of me. Oh, how I miss dear Mary. I shall have to remember to write to her once I reach Kyoto. Well, I guess I should write to all of them, for they will only spread nasty rumors of me if I do not.

My dear brother was right, women can be such horrid creatures, but alas it cannot be helped. If we cannot be perfectly horrid how else shall we pass all that time we have when we are bored on those days of confinement in our homes. I sometimes do wonder how Mary can be so kind to everyone. Though I guess if she were not kind to everyone she would not be the Mary that I love so dearly.

The Captain has come to call me to dinner. I would like to refuse, but I know that I must eat something, even if that something if horridly revolting and only adds to my seasickness. I do hope we have fair weather tomorrow, I would very much like to land in Yokohama by evening rather than being forced to spend an extra day or two on this wretched vessel.

Well, I shan't keep fretting over it, so for now, Diary, I leave you with those simple words.

Lady Elizabeth William

(Soon to be servant Elizabeth William- such a depressing title)