19

As soon as the samurai were out of sight, Nathan and I looked at each other.

"Stay close to me." he said, and I nodded.

"Don't need to tell me twice." I replied.

"Oh my god, Nathan! Nathan!"

We turned to see British translator Simon Graham approaching us with his hand waving wide at us. He was a very nice stout man.

"Simon." Nathan said hugging him, and Simon took my hands in his own kissing them.

"You both are safe and sound from the hostile samurai. Come you will want to see the new weapons and soldiers that have come into Tokyo." he said and began to lead us through the town. He led us atop of a field and my eyes widened as I looked down to see numerous soldiers firing large canon like weapons. They had such power to them and I was very much used to seeing this in America.

"Very aggressive wouldn't you say?" Simon asked and he then suddenly cleared his throat. "Well I shan't crowd you both. I will be back at the hotel taking pictures. If there is anything you need, I will not be too far." We nodded and the short man separated from us. I stepped closer over the hill.

"Nathan. Those guns can slaughter hundreds." I said with worry.

"We will do what we have to." he said. I looked at him even more afraid.

"Nathan?" I heard the cool voice of Nathan's former commanding officer. We both turned to see the snake approaching us. I did not forget my place and let my head fall as I backed away behind Nathan and remained quiet. "My god it's true you are alive." Nathan gave a nod.

"Still standing." he said, and Bagley nodded.

"I thought the savages had killed you for sure." he said now looking over his shoulder at me. "And I see your slave is still intact. I hope they didn't have their way with her too much and ruin her." I now glanced up at the man and tensed some. His face I would never forget. Even during the Indian wars, when Nathan fought under him, he always watched me. Always wanting to get too close. I knew he wanted me, he just never had the opportunity thank god.

"She's fine." Nathan said coldly, bringing the attention back to himself. The colonel nodded and looked back to the army.

"Look at them. All properly trained and ready to slaughter those vermin samurai. All they need is a leader." he said looking at Nathan again. "You've survived them it's only fair you get to be the one to lead us to victory against them." Nathan stared at the army and looked up at the man blankly.

"I've just gotten back from being held hostage as you say. I think that deserves a drink. Don't you think? Grace." he said now turning and leaving, and I immediately followed. I wasn't sure if we were actually going to go to a bar as Nathan hadn't been drinking as much since we were with Katsumoto. But we didn't get to find out as a soldier confronted us on our way back into town. Immediately we were tensed. He said something fast, and I couldn't understand him. Nathan leaned in to me.

"He says the emperor wants to see us both in the palace." he said and I was stunned, but I assumed he meant that he wanted to see Nathan. So, we followed the soldier to the large palace. As I remember it was big and grand and was guarded heavily. We were led inside and the walls were still beautiful as ever with portraits of numerous Japanese people. I noticed the men were walking quickly, so I raised my dress some so I could keep up and not fall over. As we came to two large doors, the soldier raised his hand right up to me saying something else now. Nathan looked at me.

"Stay here." he said, and I looked at him worriedly and he touched my face lightly. "It'll be okay." And I nodded holding his hand gently and he separated from me.

Normal POV

Katsumoto had been given safe passage into Tokyo in order to speak with Emperor Meiji on possible peace. But he knew with Omura speaking his poison into the emperor's ear, peace would never be.

Emperor Meiji was sitting calmly on his throne looking down on his teacher and two of the samurai's men. One he was familiar with. Ujio. He was quite taken with the silent warrior due to his skill and knowledge of battle. Emperor Meiji had watched from his room's balcony as the samurai entered the town once more. But what silently intrigued him was the fact that the American and African slave were alive and unharmed. He was quite happy to see the woman alive and well. He was her first African and he wanted to learn from her more. He had plans to buy her from the American and have her stay in his palace so he could learn about the Africans. But what really caught his eye is the interaction between Ujio and the African as they returned. He has never seen such warmth toward each other. Meiji looked at the samurai before him as he was lost in thought for. Omura spoke up as he did most of the talking for the emperor.

"You stand before his excellency after being granted permission and yet you have not the decency to remove your swords from this holy court." he snapped. Katsumoto stared at the round man before looking at the emperor.

"The all mighty, has come to speak of peace. My restraint on using my sword shows I have no intent on using violence, but only furthers my goal of showing I want peace in Japan." Katsumoto said and Omura huffed.

"If you really want to show peaceful intentions, you and your "samurai" will remove your swords!" he demanded.

'Over my dead body'. Ujio thought to himself as he scowled to Omura. He didn't like how this man spoke to his lord and was happily ready to cut him down. Omura's scarred bodyguard caught the glare the samurai was giving his boss immediately and grew mildly tensed. The two watched each other closely. Meiji cleared his throat as if reminding Omura that other company was supposed to be here. He wanted to hear from the two captives that Katsumoto had taken. He needed direction for he didn't want to kill his teacher, but he had to do what was right for his people. Omura glanced back at the young emperor and nodded.

"Bring in the American!" he called out and the doors slid open and Nathan walked in looking around with mild awkwardness as he walked toward the middle of the room and stood a few feet from Katsumoto and bowed to the emperor. Meiji's brows pushed together in confusion.

"I demanded for both hostages to stand before me." he said suddenly with mild broken English, but his words were clear and now both Ujio and Nathan were tensed at the command. Omura cleared his throat some and nodded.

"Bring in the African!"

Ujio's eyes widened and he quickly glanced back toward the doors as they slid open and within seconds, Grace was gently walking in with such poise. She was confused and nervous as to why she was being brought in. But she walked in as if she were some royal member of the court. She did not stumble and she did not break eye contact with the emperor as she stood beside Nathan. Now Emperor Meiji lifted his gloved hand and demanded the girl step closer. Grace glanced at Ujio, but slowly walked toward the throne, passing an even more annoyed Omura. Grace stopped at the bottom of the steps that was beneath the throne and she curtsied as was a custom to American culture. The emperor cracked a small amused smile at the woman's gesture.

"African dog you will show the proper respect for the emperor and bow!" Omura yelled angrily stepping close to her. Ujio glared heavily and took a very visible step closer almost passing Katsumoto, but his lord stopped him quickly, his hand pressed to the samurai's chest, hoping his action could go unnoticed. But, the emperor and everyone in the room noticed the samurai's strange hostile actions. The soldiers reacted with raising their guns up at the samurai. Nathan looked around swiftly, the room's air now tense and hostile. Emperor Meiji suddenly stood up and now everyone looked at him wondering what he would do. He looked down at Omura and frowned.

"Mr. Omura… you will not insult my guest in front of me ever again. You have dishonored me." he said, and now Omura's eyes widened, and he began to bow numerous times. Grace was stunned that the emperor had even bothered to defend her. It brought her mild happiness to be defended by a king.

"Forgive me your holiness. I did not mean to offend! I would never do this intentionally!" he said. Nathan didn't like this. He whispered for Grace to come to him, and Grace really wanted to, but the emperor raised his hand again.

"You will bow to our guest and then you will all leave me to speak with her. And then I will speak with my teacher with his sword."He commanded Omura softly and Grace just stood there in utter shock.

Grace's POV

I couldn't believe the emperor wanted to even look at me after our last talk. At first he was offensive asking me questions about slavery and if we were beasts like he had heard. I couldn't believe he wanted to call me into this large room after telling him the exact opposite of what he wanted to hear about my people. I was amazed at how he defended me against the apparent insult Omura had spat at me. Omura looked at me with hidden disgust before bowing slowly at me and I just stared at him not knowing what to do. So I did nothing.

As the room began to clear I looked at Nathan and then Ujio as he was being escorted out. This time he looked back at me and I wished he didn't have to leave as I was now alone with the emperor. He was stepping down from the stairs and as he did, I backed away giving him space to descend. Once he was on the final step, I bowed with respect toward him. He just stared at me with the same surprised stare he had given me the first time he had wanted to speak with me, as if I was some exotic creature that he had never thought he would see in his life time. He then began to walk around me and toward a side hall that led outside.

"Come." Was his only response.