This chapter didn't turn out as long as I'd hoped. But I'm still satisfied with the contents.

Bloodlines
Chapter 2

Date: December 13, 1847
Place: Tokyo's Lower District
Event: The Plague Hits Home

Her family had spent over a century rebuilding the worst parts of the city. They had spent tax money to save the poor. To keep them from death by starvation. It's only taken four years. Four short years to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. Not once had Azumi seen any signs of renovations or charity passed on to the lower district.

Katsuro Kaiou pulled all of the funding for those who were "lower" than him. Anybody who wasn't rich, or didn't work actively in the market or schools was forgotten. They were forced into the lower district to rot. No schools were allowed to admit children from the lowest class. Anybody found talking to or even coming in contact with those from that district were subject to immediate termination. The homeless had to resort to theft and various other crimes just to survive.

Azumi let out a heavy sigh as she laid herself down on the thin blanket that had become her bed. Beside her lay the barely alive body of her eldest daughter, Umeko. Curled up against the wall, her youngest daughter, Eri. Eri was born just over seven months after the Tenou family fell.

Her head snapped back to look over her shoulder when Umeko woke up. She was groaning and coughing violently. The plague was taking its toll on her frail body. She contracted it just over a month ago when a close friend of hers got it from her family.

The illness spread like wild fire throughout the lower district. With no access to any doctors for the poor, nobody had any protection.

"I can't breathe." Umeko spoke between coughs. She attempted to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from spreading the germs to her baby sister. It didn't help. Soon her hand was dripping the blood that was escaping her lungs

"I'll get you help," The older woman stood up and made haste to where the nearest medical supply shop was set up.

She turned the corner, exiting onto a street that brought her into the center of the marketplace. "Where do you think you're going?"

Azumi froze when a gloved hand grabbed her shoulder. "I need medicine…please…my daughter's sick." She looked up at the stern face of one of Katsuro's many city guards.

The man burst into laughter. "The city would be much better if you peasants just died."

"But you don't understand," Azumi tried to plea with the man in front of her, yet to no avail.

The smirk on his face grew as he began to reach for his sword. "Do you want to die right here? In front of all these people?" She shook her head. "Get back to your hole in the wall then. Hope your daughter dies soon you worthless pile of shit."

Four years ago she never would have seen guards treat any citizen like that. The men that her father had working for him were wonderful. They treated everybody with the utmost respect. Ken didn't allow any harsh treatment, regardless of social class.

"Umeko, wake up!" Azumi came around the corner to see Eri shaking Umeko's lifeless body. "Mommy, she won't wake up."

"No…" Azumi cradled her eldest child close to her. It was, in fact, true. Umeko was unresponsive to everything. The mother leaned closer with her ear to listen for any signs of breathing. There were none. "Umeko, wake up. Please honey, wake up," nothing. "Mommy's here for you. You're going to be okay," she rocked slowly with the dead body in her arms.

It was on that day when young Umeko Tenou's life was cut tragically short. Had they not fallen to the Kaiou's, Umeko would never had become ill. Or, if she had, they'd have access to the best medicine.

Place: Kaiou Palace

"Sir, the Tenous are still alive."

Katsuro quickly stood and made his way to his leading commander, "What did you just say?"

The commander swallowed the lump in his throat before speaking again, "A dead body was found near a shop in the marketplace. It was a child," he paused. "She had blonde hair."

Katsuro angrily slammed his fist on the table beside him, the glasses atop shaking violently. "A child means a mother. Find her! I want her brought to me immediately."

"Yes sir."

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