There were many things Yao did not and could not understand. The Shogun's terminal illness, Master Kiku's joviality to those below him, English, and the fraught-filled path his Master had taken in keeping his assassin. Whatever the reason to wall his mind from such wisdom was based entirely on his intuition of how to protect his young Master, the soon-to-be Shogun. Frozen in horror, he helplessly watched his young Master climb out the window, and crawl gingerly towards the hanging omen.

What in god's name was this wench thinking!?

She had finally silenced after Kiku promised he would retrieve her, which automatically brought suspicion to the guardian Chinaman. What if she planned this assumed suicide attempt? She may grab onto Kiku's hand and yank him over! After the fade of the Bystander effect, Yao snapped into action and trundled out of Master Kiku's room. He called for samurais, called for servants to provide capture from below, he risen the siren of alarm throughout the entire palace.

Everyone was awake and terrified, but Yao made sure that none of this would reach the Shogun on the highest tier of the palace. Luckily for them all, the unfortunate man was too embedded in sickness and exhaustion to be roused from his deep sleep.

You were pretty strong despite the hurricane of emotion racking your body and mind. You clung onto that ledge like a primate. Unlike a primate however, the shock of falling forward knocked all the reaction time you had spent years in honing, out the window. You tried like mad to heave yourself up. Even though adrenaline pumped through your veins like a forced open sluice of a dam, your body wouldn't respond, why? You had no clue.

"Hang on, I'm coming for you!" Kiku shouted, attempting not to look over the edge. He kept his gaze settled on you, though his eyes would occasionally glance over.

Steeling your eyes shut, you listened to the trees rustle, felt the faint tickle of the wind grace your hair and cheek, and from some distance, a light drop and the rattle of thickets being disturbed.

A small curse came from Kiku.

Perhaps this was the only time you appreciated his aid, or perhaps not. Before you could realize what was going on below, the foreign yet firm hand of your target grasped onto your wrist.

Pulling you over, you fell into him, your body acting entirely on its own as it embraced him desperately.

You were deathly afraid of heights, you recalled, correlating this excuse to the fact that you embraced and was held—held closely in fact—by the same man who brought disaster into your life a few years ago.

It was awkward being in his arms, not quite from the ironic situation, but rather from Kiku himself. His arms were strong, but the aura he exuded was of great uncertainty. It felt as though he had never wrapped his arms around anyone before.

You weren't too far on that assumption.

"You're safe now," the young Master whispered. He awkwardly ran his hand down your hair, unsure whether to place it on your mid-back or around your shoulders. While he wondered what was best to do, you closed your eyes.

After a few awkward moments, he breathed against your ear anxiously. "Now if you could release me… I'd really appreciate it, really. Like now."

The duration of the following week was filled with fraught. You were stored in a shack behind a field of rice paddies while Kiku had been in mandatory inquisition.

Yao sat timidly beside Kiku. His hands clenched against the cloth of his knees, casted his gaze towards the ground, and hoped to avoid reprimand.

His glossy black hair gleamed from the light pouring through the window, casting a shadow of his currently proud form. Squared shoulders, hands over lap, head high and defensive.

The man currently in control after his father's illness stood before the two, pacing every now and then, stopping only when he felt he needed to say something, but fell short.

He continued his pacing regardless.

Samurais stood on either side of the sliding doors, their hands readied on the hilt, ready to be drawn at any moment.

"Akamatsu-san,"

The man gave a grunt.

"I mean no disrespect, but are you to say anything to us or are you just wasting time here?" Kiku asked, ignoring the sudden intake of breath from his guardian.

He was the son of the Shogun. If needed, he would exercise his title. When in audience with the daimyo, he used his title the most.

They had been in good standing before his father grew ill. Until his daughter intruded the palace, making arrangements as if she owned the place.

It was known that she had occasionally intermingled with the foreigners some years ago and adopted the ways of the richer outsiders. The way she went about it ruined his good feeling of her, although the thought of marriage was not in mind. Far from it to be exact, the young Master never actually thought about it.

The last time such a suggestion was brought up into conversation was when he had last seen his father.

"A Kyoto woman or Kira?"

Kiku never made a comment.

"As you should know, Japan is doing just fine," the daimyo replied. "You would know if you weren't tied up with this interloper,"

Yao felt a side glance from his young Master and a smoldering glare from the daimyo.

"I've decided to have her executed as she should have been from the start,"

Kiku's body rose indignantly. "I cannot allow that,"

"It's not for you to decide—"

"I can take my father's spot at any time I please,"

Akamatsu stopped pacing, his hand slithered over to his hilt.

"…Why dare defy what's good for you?"

"I owe this young foreigner,"

Everyone, even the masked samurais, blinked.

You couldn't deny the disturbing silence. You hated being cooped up somewhere, especially when it reeked of spoiled food and your own feces. After the whole event of nearly dropping to your possible death, you knew the trust levels dropped drastically, not like you could bet on someone helping you out anyway.

What mattered now was the impending future.

Gaijin. That's what they had called you.

Outsider. You heard the word before.

*
"Wow, what an amazing place!"

A deep chuckle echoed.

"I'm glad you're fond of this place," the voice said proudly.

"Why of all people did you decide to take me?"

The voice hesitated. The towering figure turned to face you, eyes shadowed from the blinding sun. An arm reached out, rustling your tousled waves made frizzy from the humidity.

"Because…" you frowned in disapproval. You stamped your foot. "Because?"

The voice laughed again. "Because you're my most favorite person in whole wide world!"

Without hesitation, like any naïve child, you went to embrace the figure.

*

The natives of this land had called you and the other by that name. They said it as if it were something unclean. You wouldn't blame them. At the time you were familiar of the poison of potentially ground-breaking commerce.

She recalled some philosopher say, if you desire gold, liquidize.

Whatever form didn't matter. It still fitted the bill. The Americans were pouring in with selfish intentions. In years to come, they would bastardize the culture of this enigmatic land. It was inevitable.

Your companion, however, desired adventure, and said person scored tickets.

When you travelled, your companion had said, the world further opens before you.

You can read all you want, but it means nothing when you don't apply or experience them at all.

Japan was briefly written about. It wasn't enough to sedate this person's thirst though.

"This land still has a monarchy of sorts," the person had told you.

"You don't say, like Britain?"

"Yeah, kind of."

Gaijin.

You hadn't paid much mind to the word, until now.

The samurais who had rudely tossed you in this shack had said it.

You screwed up a bruised eye, daring them to say it one more time.

The other eye had become bruised as a result.

"Become a guard? Are you stalling, boy?" Akamatsu growled beneath a sparse moustache.

"We'll be vacationing in Edo, correct?" Kiku mentioned, "She might as well be there amongst the other women and see her worth,"

There was a cackle of mirth from the daimyo. He couldn't help, but lurch forward in his fit of amusement.

"You think she has a chance against those women? They'd kill her before she could stand!"

Yao furtively glanced upwards to his Master, surprised to find him nicely composed. He was proud and admired that aspect of young Master Kiku. He was capable of maintaining a steady mind, no matter the situation and acted accordingly. Since the incident, Yao had come to believe that this gift was tarnished. He guessed it hadn't after all.

He'll be great, the dying Shogun had said some time ago. He has a better head than any one of us combined.

Japan is in good hands, sir, Yao remembered saying.

Right now his faith was at an inkling which was good at this point. For him, the Shogun, and everyone else involved. It was better than no faith at all.

His name was Kei.

The greatest warrior to have ever lived in Japan's rich history… Until his mother called him back inside on the first sight of night.

Not on this particular one. He felt the moon's shine warm his shoulders as it extended his shadow. Admiring it, he raised his little arm in the air as though he were to embark in battle. Battle cries flew along the piercing winds, evading invisible enemies, and protecting his ruler from foreign threats.

He was to save his lovely country of Japan. No matter the costs.

He would have a meeting with fate.

The Shogun was to come.

Upon awakening you found yourself dragged from the shack. Kiku stood before you sheepishly as he said you were to be pampered, alongside with him, to ensure your safety.

"What happened to your eyes?" he said, poking his head out from the sliding door. He avoided seeing you being scrubbed by one of the servants. It so happened to be the same one who nearly touched Kiku; to this day he believed it an accident.

You twitched when she had scrubbed you too hard.

"Does it matter?"

He noticed your discomfort. The way you tried to speak as little as possible was obvious.

"Only a few us know English, miss, there is no need to worry,"

A snort gave out.

"Well," you said, relaxing your shoulders to give an indication to the maid to wash lower. The entire thing was odd, but you didn't question, it felt good in a way. Maybe that's why most rich people were fat. Doing nothing was amazing. You decided that this would be the last time. Being a sloth wasn't your forte, you still had an agenda to keep.

Escape was priority. This idiot could provide you the time you needed to flee and maybe then, maybe, you could finally kill him or at least leave his home in flames once you left.

I'll avenge you, you thought.

"Those bastards gave me a good one and two," you pointed to your eyes.

The look on his face was of mortification. He shook his head.

"I apologize, truly, that was very inhospitable. Normally we don't do such a thing to our guests,"

Now you laughed. You tossed your head back and ignored the maid who probably cursed at the unexpected movement.

"Me? A guest? I'm a prisoner!"

The Japanese prince said nothing.

"If you're going to kill me, I recommend that you do it now,"

"…I don't intend to kill you,"

A frown tugged at your lips.

"Then what am I doing here?"

"To atone,"

"Y'know, your English is pretty good," you remarked, "are you sure you know what that means?"

He nodded that he did.

"I learned from a teacher who came here, those men who wanted to commence trade decided to gift me with foreign language,"

"I hope you know that they only want to rape your land,"

Realizing the futility of this entire conversation, the young Master only sighed and left. Before he closed the sliding door, he informed you that everyone will be travelling to Edo, a city where it is filled with guards.

"You'll be hidden and kept safe, I assure you."

The palanquin rocked to and fro while the servants held tightly. The attempts to maintain balance kept still for short amounts of time.

Kiku sat quietly, his face pensive while Yao said something in Chinese as he peered through the silky drapes.

"Was it necessary to have her in the same place as you?" the Chinaman complained.

Despite not understanding half the things being spoken, you know when you were in the equation. Yao gave it away every time he threw a fleeting glare in your direction. You sighed and crossed your arms, leaning back into the comforters.

Kei was told to remain home once his mother bid him farewell. His ability to follow directions, just to cut it short, was limited. He would nod his compliance the second she left and waited a good ten minutes before he dashed out into the streets.

Today it was said that the Shogun would be travelling through here, his destination to the palace of Edo.

It was fate, he realized, that today would mark his beginning as a samurai.

The streets were quietly attended. A word not uttered. Brisk winds would flip their hair over their faces.

Heavy steps echoed throughout. Four sets of palanquins appeared in tow. The men drawing the heavy box filled with royalty and one prisoner kept their gazes focused ahead. They would occasionally grunt and shift the poles onto another shoulder when it was necessary.

Little Kei in his cotton clothes stuck his finger up his nose, watched, and waited impatiently to find the palanquin carrying the Shogun.

A ruffling of the drapes caught his attention.

Surprised, two round eyes met his and quickly disappeared, setting the drapes back in place.

The boy sucked in a quick breath. He looked around, jerking his head like a rooster, wondering if anyone took notice. Much to his displeasure, the denizens had their heads bowed in respect.

"You disrespectful little boy,"

Kei nearly screamed from shock when an old woman behind him took him by the ear.

"Bow your head! Give your respects!"

Her wrinkly hands like vines took possession of his head, jerking it down before he could say anything in protest. The marble ground became a blur when he blinked several times in an attempt to restrain his tears.

In the intense silence amongst everyone there, only one person knew there was something wrong.

He had seen the eyes of a foreigner.

The little boy would achieve his dream and find a way to protect his land from the enemies.

And this would begin by identifying this foreigner who was obviously committing espionage, pretending to be someone who was allowed to be in the company of the ruler who looked over the great country of Japan.