Look like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee
Lady Sinkomiki looked up from her meditation as Lady Hirachi and five other women entered the room. They were all dressed alike, in black kimonos with red trim and obis. The obis were simply tied, with black embroidery. Their dress signified the ladies positions as Guards of the Emperor. Their hair was also the same, pulled back into a severe bun with two hair sticks through it. They might have looked harmless, but they were actually cleverly concealed weapons.
Into each of the lady's obi was thrust a fan. Each was red, with black embroidery and trim. These were also weapons, the deadly shukusen. The edge of each fan was tipped in perfectly tempered Yamani steel. Each of the ladies carried a glaive with them, they wielded with perfection.
Lady Hirachi stepped forward and bowed with her hands on her thighs. The five ladies behind her followed suit. Lady Sinkomiki allowed them to rise, before she gracefully rose from her position on the floor, to return the bow.
She looked quizzically at the ladies before her, and questioned, "Are you not supposed to be guarding the Emperor?" It was a gentle rebuke, and Lady Hirachi, at least, had the decency to look ashamed.
After a moment, Lady Hirachi began, "Lady Sinkomiki, the Emperor requested we leave his presence, as he felt that he did not need female protection." She looked down at the last words.
Lady Sinkomiki swept forward until she was in front of Lady Hirachi She reached out and lifted the younger woman's chin up, and looked into her eyes. "Are you ashamed of you position?" she questioned. Lady Hirachi shook her head respectfully. "Then why did you leave your post?"
Lady Hirachi looked down once more as another woman voiced the thoughts of all the ladies. "He could have had us executed for disobedience."
Lady Sinkomiki turned towards the woman. "I though that we were to give selfless service. Have we not sworn oaths to serve and protect the Emperor to our very deaths? Are you saying you would rather save yourself and leave the Emperor defenseless? It is our duty to protect him."
Finally, Lady Hirachi looked up and asked, "Would you be willing to petition him for our return to service?"
Lady Sinkomiki looked at her and questioned, "Why not Lady Sarinko?" She named the ladies instructor.
Lady Hirachi replied, "We believed that the Emperor would be more willing to listen to you, as you are a fourth rank princess."
Lady Sinkomiki sighed, and replied, "I will go and petition the Emperor, for all our sakes."
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