Kijin sighed, not bothering to look out at the window. He knew it was late but the paperwork wasn't going to do itself if left alone on his desk. His working overtime was gradually increasing these days. Of course, it was only going to get worse since Kou Shuurei and another official To Eigetsu had traveled to Sa Province. When they arrived and built the Brown Province into something admirable, that's where his work will begin to escalate. New budgets, more taxes forming, money coming in and going, more disputes arising… it was the tip of the iceberg.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't think you'd be here again!" Michiko bowed from the doorway. She rotated around on her heel, "I'll clean the room after the others!"

He blinked inside his mask. When did she appear? Why hadn't he heard her? "Wait. Didn't I tell you last night it was alright? I haven't changed my mind since then."

"…Ah, yes sir. I'm sorry for disturbing you, I understand you are terribly busy," she bowed once more.

The Chamberlain stared at her silhouetted figure as she cleaned the floor like yesterday. Even though she kept to her schedule, she herself was different from the girl- young woman, he had to acknowledge- he had met the night before. Tonight she scrubbed the floor in a hurried, lowly manner as opposed to her reassured, calm, purposeful movement earlier.

Shaking his head slightly, he tried not to think much about the servants. If he didn't concentrate on his work he would never get to go home and this endless mountain of papers would only get taller.

Michiko scooped up her bundle and started for the door.

"Wait. You're finished? It took you less time today than-" he saw the sparkling glass, the waxed marble, the wood dusted and the massive piles of records and important documents stacked neatly. He paused and a stray thought wandered into his mind: 'She's like Shuurei.'

He was rather surprised at those words but before he had time to send them away, she spoke. Becoming the smiling, calm, young woman she was, she said, "Please. Please. Get some rest soon. Saiunkoku needs Chamberlain Kou and if he cannot work, much falls apart."

"…"

Suddenly she reverted back and averted her eyes. "I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn, forgive my shame."

"Wait!" he stood as she ran out of the room. After she was gone, he realized that was the way servants were supposed to behave. They weren't to lift their heads or speak before officials and royalty. The sudden memory of Shuurei kept him from agreeing with her. Yet, the statement Zhao Michiko made was something Shuurei would have said.

Something inside him was slightly interested by this Zhao Michiko.

---

"Work these days is harsher than usual," Yuuri, an official who worked in the Department of Treasury and Taxation, leaned back in his chair.

"A-a-a-ah!" the boy assistant tripped over another pile of buildup that managed to find a spot on the floor.

"Tang Hachi," Kijin commanded.

Rushing over to his superior's desk the boy strangled out, "Y-yes s-sir?"

"Even though it wastes paper, here is a list of things to do. This is easier than having to tell you twenty times and loose fifteen minutes," he handed the paper to Hachi without looking up.

He stuttered even more from fear and embarrassment. "Y-y-y-yes s-s-sir. I-I'm s-s-sor-" The Chamberlain looked up, his mask making him look like a wrathful demon. Hachi's pupils dilated and he had to restrain himself from running out the door.

In the hallway he collided with someone. Glancing up into her eyes, he cried, "Don't go in there!! The reason why he's such a slave driver is because he's a devil!!! The mask is there to hide his horns!"

"It's alright. Don't worry," the girl smiled at him. Strangely, it calmed him down. Seeing that, she continued, "Please don't think of him like that. Even if he wears a mask, he works hard for this country. Your country. Don't forget that."

He watched her enter the office in awe. "…She understands. I wonder… if one day… I can be like her?" His eyes closed and he smiled, "Okay, I'll try. I'll try."

Michiko felt Hachi's eyes on her back but she tuned it out for the more electrifying gaze of Kijin Kou. Still smiling she lifted a thick package of more work for them. "I have a delivery from the archives for you."

"Zhao Michiko," Chamberlain Kou murmured.

"Huh?" Yuuri cocked his head.

"It's nothing," he replied. Returning back to the parcel and the young woman, he motioned, "Bring it here."

She stepped lightly through the newly acquired mess and placed it on top of a smaller mountain. Her hand twitched as the corner of a sheet of paper cut her. A thin line of blood appeared and trailed down to her wrist. Kijin noticed and caught a hold of her injured arm. In intense surprise she pulled away and excused herself.

Yuuri raised an eyebrow at his friend. "What was that about?"

To stave off anymore unwanted questions, he said, "I didn't want blood on the new tax reduction document."

"You're becoming a bit heartless…"

---

"Third night in a row? You'll become ill if this continues," Michiko emerged from the darkened corridors.

He stopped writing and examined her. She was obviously back to her original self. "I could say the same thing about you. You clean all night long and then run errands during the day. That shortens your lifespan."

She smiled as she got down on her hands and knees, "As long as I can help my family, it doesn't matter."

"You would die for your family?"

"No. I would live for them. Dying stops whatever pain and suffering you go through. It's an end or an escape. If you're afraid of death then yes, it would be a hard thing to give up your life. Otherwise, you don't really care that much. It's much more difficult to continue to live and face the road ahead. Besides, once you're dead, who's going to protect and help the ones you love?"

Kijin watched her, amazed by the things that came from her lips. How could a servant girl- young at that- think of something like that? Again, the comparison of her and Shuurei formed in his head. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen." Same age as Shuurei.

With that, he allowed her into his mind.