Beruka was a murderer. One who was good at the jobs she was hired to perform. Rarely did she fail, and more often than not a witness was never left by her hand. In fact, most of those living in the same homes as her victims never knew she came until the morning after the fact. Yes, Beruka was indeed skilled. Perhaps that was the only reason Camilla kept her as a retainer. Beruka did not think often of the reason why, just that she did her job well.
Saizo was also an assassin. The fifth in his line of the line of Saizo's. The leader of his clan. The elder brother to Kaze, and a trusted ally to the kingdom's future king, and current Prince Ryoma. Working for Hoshido while Beruka aimed to help Nohr succeed. Well, not Nohr as much as her princess. At times Saizo is not even sure if Beruka cares about that. Still, they were two sides of the same coin.
Two points on one extremely deadly blade. The binding of these two came as a surprise to many. Some had assumed Beruka could not feel anything at all, but Saizo knew different from the day he and she first began discussing their past missions. The one he brought up had upset her, but the reason for it was foolish and they both knew that. A promise to stop washing blood with more blood was made the day they promised themselves to each other.
Yet they never seemed to crave blood more than from that point on. The two still took on separate jobs, going on secret missions for Corrin's united army. If their allies needed a very tough mission done then the two were always assigned together. Ryoma and Camilla trusting both of their agents to keep level heads and focus on the mission together.
When their son, the sixth Saizo was born. Fifth Saizo was happy and expressed this in a different way than many had expected. Congratulations turn into worry looks from allies and friends alike as the man immediately declares his son the next head of the clan, minutes after birth. He sought out a deep realm where his son could be trained extensively. Beruka was also odd in the way she showed her newborn child affection. She carried her child with her everywhere. Not an odd thing to do for a new mother, but even when sent out on missions or stuck in battle Beruka would have the young Saizo on her back. Using sweets given to her by Laslow and Corrin as means of keeping him quiet during such times. Saizo did not know about her method, just that his son was silent. A perfect quality for a future head of the clan. Every mission makes the man strive for a better deep realm. The perfect one for his son.
Yes, the pair was odd, and many wonder how their son would grow up. What would he be like? Would he follow his parents down their trails? It was amusing to see that when he had grown up he was quite the opposite.
The assassins' child was no longer a Saizo. Instead, he took on the name Asugi. He became the best at single undercover, and spying operations. He rarely raised his arm blades, and when he did it was never to an innocent. Never to someone who did not have it coming. More often than not Asugi was never even seen or heard. When he was if there was another option he always took it instead of death.
A fact that many of the higher-ups had noticed about the young thief. Another fact was that he often took from the scenes of his crime or targets if he felt they did not need such sweet treats. Yet no complaints were made against him, except by his father himself. The fifth Saizo admitted his son had skill, and that he could take care of himself in a tight spot. However, Saizo often argued that Asugi had a tendency to be too carefree, too focus on sweets, or just too disobedient during meetings.
Yet Beruka would often counter her husband. A child raised too quickly will still act childish even when grown after all. Her point was well heard, and Corrina greed to continue using Asugi's skills while limiting his missions. All of the children of the camp had been more beneficial than anyone ever could have imagined. The parents were all on edge about allowing their children to fight, but some parents appear to take pleasure in their children earning war fame.
Beruka and Saizo were not those parents. Yes, Saizo was proud of his son's victories, and Beruka would never belittle his help. Yet they had promised to stop washing the blood away with blood, and it felt as if their child was precarious walking along the line of simple spy, thief, and a would-be assassin. Saizo had wanted his son to become the next chief and somehow had also expected his son to keep his hands clean. As deluded as those thoughts may have been Beruka and he never wanted their child to hold blood the same way they had.
"What bothers you?" Beruka asks one night as Saizo waited up for his son.
"He's late." Saizo shakes his head. "He shouldn't have to do this."
"You told him to join." Beruka reminds Saizo with a lack of any emotion. She didn't have to express for Saizo to understand her feelings were as mixed as his. He never expected that. Why would he when he always knew what he had to do before?
"I have never felt so nervous before. I find it growing worse instead of lighter." Saizo explains to his wife.
"That's normal."
"Is it?"
"Yes, because I feel it too. Not just for our son, but for my lady and allies as well."
"They are strong enough to protect themselves if it came to it."
Beruka sighs before resting her head against Saizo's back. "Yes they can but it doesn't mean I don't worry. I know that Asugi can protect himself as well, but I still wait up for him every night he is out. I have my family here, and I missed many of my son's younger years in a matter that felt like merely months to myself." Beruka takes a deep breath her face still laying on her husband's back. "And I feel guilty because he did face accelerated growth and that was unfair to him, but mostly because instead of interrupting I allowed you to train him in a way that would leave him with only one path. The same one we have both been on for too long. We are still washing blood with blood and have bled onto our son. It is unfair."
Saizo is quiet for a moment as he considers her thoughts. Yes, he had his son trained to become the next leader of their line. The next Saizo, a name that had much to live up to. Asugi was his son now, and he would not be the next leader. He was a thief, not an assassin, not a leader. There was no need for himself to wash his hands in blood unnecessarily. He has a choice and from many of his reports. He chooses not to. At least that fact can bring a little peace.
When Saizo next spoke it was not about Beruka's worries instead it was a jest. "I don't think I've ever heard you say so much at once." He smiles under his mask before turning around. Beruka looks up with a sort of smile on her face.
Saizo lowers his masks and gives her a kiss on the head. "Yes he did not really have a choice in most things, but he has chosen a different path. He is a thief, not an assassin, and he has proven time and time again he is not us. I may worry, but it is not for the blood on his hands. I worry that if it comes to taking a life one day it may become too much for him. Even for how rarely he does so."
"You don't have to worry father," Asugi announces as he opens the door. When Saizo turns to see his son Asugi frowns. "And it looks like you are about to make mother cry."
"Nonsense." Beruka interrupts hugging her son. "Now how did the mission go?" She asks ending the previous conversation altogether.
