Mitsuko woke up surprisingly early as the sun was just started to shine outside the palace without being woken up by other people like her body adapted as if it was part of a normal routine to get up at this hour. Suddenly the door creaks opens revealing a maid bringing a bowl of rice with her as she sets it on the table. She smiles at Mitsuko seeing her still in bed.
'Good morning Mitsuko still late in getting up I see? Hehe you never change do you?' she giggled slightly as Mitsuko sat up rubbing her eyes as she didn't know what was happening. She decided to go with the flow.
'No not really I like the night you know?' This was true recently as Mitsuko often found herself stargazing every now and again and admired its beauty. It was quite odd considering she never felt this way before her little trip.
'I suppose so, I do think that the night is quite beautiful. Still you should consider enjoying the sun while its out. Oh also his highness requests your presence whenever you're ready.' She says as she bows her head. Mitsuko wonders why that is? Was it just a checkup or something?
'Did he say what he needed me for?'
'No he only said to meet with him when you are available.' She replies as she stands up.
'Oh and…I enjoyed our time last night I hope we can do it again some time.' She expressed her wishes as she was wearing a light red blush on her cheeks. She closed the door leaving sitting there in wonder.
'What the fuck is going on!?' She thought to herself as she starts to get up and eat her rice before donning her imperial uniform and picking up her scythe. She remembers walking to the room several times even though she knows for a fact she never did. When she walks she notices that there is way more people walking around than she saw yesterday. She notices that the symbols of the clothes were not the symbol of the emperor. She wondered why this is. As she's walking to the emperor's room she gets greeted by other people referring to her as 'my lady' most of the time which Mitsuko couldn't understand. They didn't even know her name yesterday and yet today everyone is greeting her. Not that she's complaining of course it's better than bullies taking her lunch money and being called names in the hallway.
She reached the emperors room guarded by two generic guards who let her in. She walks in the room to find the emperor on his knees in front of a shrine of sorts with the imperial crown on top. The room itself was what you would expect. Decorated with various luxuries and gold plated jewellery scattered around the room in the form of bracelets, necklaces and the like. She closed the door behind her as if to announce her presence as the emperor jumps in shock…almost as if he was afraid. He relaxes as he turned around and saw Mitsuko.
'Ahh Mitsuko you frightened me for a moment.' He breathes a sigh of relief.
'Sorry about that your highness.' She apologised as she kneels down one knee, her body has gotten used to doing this for those of high rank than her. She notices that his voice has gotten moderately deeper than the first time she met him.
'Don't worry about it. I guess you're wondering why I requested your presence aren't you?' She nods as she looks up. Her left eye turn to a crimson colour without her knowledge as she notices his face has been damaged slightly, his hair was a little messy like it had been pulled recently, his robes were slightly dirty and slightly covered with dust but only the top half and even then it was a straight horizontal line from one side to the other like he bent over a dusty surface like a table or something. Mitsuko's left eye returned to her normal bright emerald.
'Are you all right what happened!?' She questions as he chuckles to himself slightly.
'Is it that obvious? I see I still have some work to do.' He smiled a fake smile as he started to explain why he called her here.
'Well in any case… I discovered that my power is rather limited even though I'm the emperor. Because of my limited power I realised that many people even those who act most loyal want to use me and my influence for their own nefarious deeds like so many before me.'
'What makes you think that your highness you have many loyal subjects.' She attempted to console him however he shakes his head.
'For how long though is the question. I may be the emperor however I am powerless to stop the chaos or fight off those that attempt to use me…just like Dong Zhuo has.' Mitsuko feels her left hand clench into a fist tightly.
'So that's what the symbols on their uniforms were.' She whispered to herself however the emperor still heard her.
'Yes, he recently visited my personal quarters and…well you can see the results. He's bringing in an age of tyranny even as we speak, the other noble families are not too pleased with this and civil war is going to erupt soon…all because I'm so powerless.'
'Its not your fault your highness you mustn't blame yourself.' Mitsuko again attempted to console him which confused her slightly. She didn't think she would talk so…professionally. Its as if she had practiced being speaking this professionally so much it was natural to her. The emperor chuckles slightly at Mitsuko's response.
'You are too kind Mitsuko, however I didn't request your presence to just talk about boring politics. No I have a mission for you to accomplish.' Mitsuko stands up with her scythe in hand.
'You name it your highness and it'll be completed.'
'I need you to assassinate Dong Zhuo.' He states while Mitsuko seems quite shocked. She didn't think that emperor would order an assassination.
'I prefer if it hadn't come to this however he has forced my hand for the last time. Even if I am powerless I know you're not.'
'Are you sure that's wise? What if his followers find out you were involved?'
'Do not worry I still have a few people I trust and the other nobles will not take kindly to them even if they want to do the same thing.' Mitsuko was quite surprised to hear that the emperor actually acknowledges his faults rather than thinking he was always in control. In a weird way she admired that.
'Then leave it to me I'll see to it that he lies dead in the morning.' She turns to leave but then stops as he tells her one last thing.
'Whether you succeed or not I would prefer it if you did not return.'
'But why? Didn't you want me make you feel safe?' She responds still facing the direction of the door.
'Heh that was six years ago Mitsuko and you did a good job of it too foiling those who attempted to take my life. I may still be a coward as I was however I don't think your talents would be useful guarding someone like me. I'll only be used again if not by Dong Zhuo then by some other noble or warlord.' Mitsuko stood there gobsmacked by what she had just heard. Six years ago!? It can't have been six years already can it? Memories were starting flood for her. Her stopping several assassination attempts, her gaining the respect of her fellow imperial guardsman, her taking a few maids out on midnight strolls…all those things just flew by her like it was nothing. That might explain the sudden change to the palace overnight. She wanted answers but she knew that if she mentioned anything they might get suspicious or wouldn't understand what she's saying. So she decided to not think of it and deal with the present since she knew she wouldn't understand it anyway.
'It will be done your highness.' She states and walks out the room and wonders around the palace. More memories come to her as she exits the room. Of all the time Dong Zhuo had been around her. The times that she tried to touch him, she could almost smell the foul stench that surrounded him. All the times that he publicly was cruel to his servants and peasants in her presence. Treating his maids like play things…surely a man like him shouldn't have a right to live anymore. Mitsuko smiled sadistically as the thought of killing him entertained her. Unbeknownst to her that her eyes started going different colours almost as if they were glitching like a computer program for about 3 seconds before going back to her original eye colours. She went to attend her duties for today however she was a little anxious all throughout the day, she couldn't wait until tonight to serve retribution to her target.
That night she was readying herself to move out. As soon as the moon and stars filled the black sky she donned her uniform and grasped her scythe and attempted to pussyfoot across to the main hall where the throne was. Dong Zhuo liked to sit on there all night and day for the last few months to exercise his power. She knew some of the guards patrol routes so she knew this was the best time to escape her room and head to the main hall. She looked everywhere at almost every other step she took to make sure no one was in her vicinity. She'd rather not deal with any guardsman. Her heartbeat increases it seems by one each step she took towards her goal. After making her way stealthily through various rooms and halls she reaches a final door. She hears loud laughing and what sounds like steel landing on the ground. She wonders what is going on so she slowly opens the door to the main hallway and sees Dong Zhuo on his throne laughing loudly. The pillars obstruct her view of what was in front of him so she pussyfooted across behind one of them and carefully pokes her head out. She saw two guards with spears holding someone down dressed in blue luxurious robes and a red cape embroiled with various patterns of different colours. He wore a thin moustache and a thin goatee covering only his chin. A sword was in front of him out of arms reach.
'Ha ha Cao Cao did you really think you of all people can take MY life? Ha you insect!' Mitsuko quickly but quietly moves form pillar to pillar as Dong Zhuo insults Cao Cao's ineptitude while making sure that the guards attention are still on Cao Cao.
'You are nothing but a lowlife, an insect just begging to be stepped on just like everyone else. You think you can stop me achieving my paradise? Think again!' Dong Zhuo laughs as Mitsuko reaches the pillar that's far right to him. He continues to spew out his monologue as Mitsuko edges ever so closer to behind the throne for a quick slice of his throat. Her heart now beating so hard she was afraid it would burst out of her chest. However she was cut short by a guard with a spear appearing behind her and using it to choke her. She barely manages to use all her strength to throw him over her shoulder and uses her scythe to attempt to silence him by piercing his head. However she misses her target by a long shot and pierces his gut which allows him to scream in pain. The guards turn their attention to Mitsuko as Dong Zhuo began to run away in the opposite direction.
'Seize her aswell don't let them get away!' He shouts as he flees like a coward. Cao Cao uses this opportunity to leap forward and grabs his sword and starts to flee. Mitsuko curses under her breath and grits her teeth as she also flees in the direction she arrived in. She was afraid that more reinforcements would arrive and surround her. She didn't think things would turn out like this as she sprints through the doors as fast as she can. She was in a panic and couldn't remember where to escape to so she turned right and hoped it was the way out. She kept sprinting until she realised she was in a hallway with several doors on both of her sides. She curses herself as she thinks this will lead to a dead end but she kept on running as fast as she can and hopes she was mistaken. As she was sprinting a door open to her right and to her surprise she was dragged in and landed on the floor. The door was shut and she didn't dare move as she heard guards coming nearer and arguing loudly. She held her breath and let's out a sigh of relief once the footstep begins to scatter and go further and further from the door. She got up and dusted herself before turning.
'That was quite close are you ok?'
'Yeah thanks to you.' She replied as she turned around and was pleasantly surprised as she saw a familiar face smiling at her.
'I'm glad to hear that. Now come along.' Diao chan peeks her head out from her door.
'Erm where are we going?' She questioned.
'To get you out of course I can't let you get caught.' Mitsuko is quite surprised to hear this, part of her thought that she would turn her in to prove her apparent loyalty to Dong Zhuo.
'Ok I think it's ok come on.' She motions Mitsuko to follow her. She complies as she stays very close behind her as she moves. They carefully moved to where Diao Chan wanted them to go until she said stay behind the corner they were at. She wondered if she had to take care of a guard.
'Ah lord Lu Bu what are you doing up shouldn't you be resting.' Mitsuko opened her eyes in shock.
'That fat pig wanted me to take care of some insects since his weaklings couldn't even handle them.' He responds in a very rough annoyed voice.
'Oh lord Lu Bu I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't think that he would bother someone of importance like yourself.' She lowers her head like she was ashamed.
'You have nothing to be sorry about Daio Chan.' His voice was softer than before and he lifts her head up very slowly as if she was lifting something very fragile.
'I know… but the way he treats you like a servant for menial tasks is wrong my lord. You're a warrior not a slave.' She states with pride which made him smile slightly.
'Its true I'm not. How come you're up at this hour anyway Diao Chan?' He questions which Diao Chan lowers her head down again and lowers her tone of voice to be more sorrowful.
'Lord Dong Zhuo wanted another feast so I was woken up to fetch some for him and that's how I ran into you.' Lu Bu was enraged by this.
'The nerve of him! Doesn't that fat swine ever stop eating! And to get you of all people to do such menial tasks aswell…' His voice was loud as he tightened his fist around his sky piercer weapon and took a step towards Mitsuko as Diao Chan grasped his hand.
'Lord Lu Bu please don't go to him. I'm afraid that his followers might capture me and then…and then I don't know what will happen.' She started to cry tears which upset him as he wiped the tears from her face.
'Fine I will not…for your sake.'
'Thank you Lord Lu Bu…I promise though we can get rid of him soon for everyone's sake but now is not the time.' Lu Bu nods as he understands.
'Ok well I better take care of the insects, take care of yourself and tell me if he does anything you don't like.' He said as he started to walk away. Mitsuko breathes a quiet sigh of relief as Diao Chan appeared besides her smiling.
'With that taken care of lets go we're almost there.' She whispered as she started to walk again. Mitsuko was quite taken back by how good of an actor she was. She thought Diao Chan was being genuine with her but apparently she wasn't which surprised her. About three minutes later they arrived in a room with a toilet. She moves it which reveals a huge tube going down.
'Here this will lead you out of the palace and away from the sentries.' Mitsuko got closer and was met with a strong smell.
'Oh what is that smell? That leads to the waste deposits doesn't it?'
'Unfortunately this is the only other way out of the palace I'm afraid.' She regrets to inform Mitsuko who curses under her breath as she climbs in being careful to fit herself and he scythe in there.
'Hey why don't you come with me, it has to be better than staying here.' She offers however Diao Chan nods her head.
'I'm sorry I can't I still have a mission to do.'
'Is it to kill Dong Zhuo?' Diao Chan seems shocked that she would know.
'How did you know that?' Mitsuko hesitated for a moment forgetting she had to keep her knowledge about everything secret.
'A lucky guess, I mean I had to do the same.' She replies which Diao Chan seems almost relieved to hear it.
'If that's the case please return here somehow I may need your help. My father says the nobles are building a coalition against him. If they succeed and we're not here come to Chang An he'll hold up there like the coward he is.' She states as Mitusko nods in understanding.
'All right take care of yourself now then.' She said as she held her breath and closes her eyes as she slides down the tube. She tried hard not to scream and give away her position. About a solid minute later her eyes although closed felt light on them aswell as she's not sliding anymore. She opens her eyes and sees that she's actually falling into a river of sorts. She closes her eyes and closed her breath again as she landed temporarily submerging herself in the river of waste that dissipates as it goes further downstream. She gasped for air as she swims to the top and climbs onto the riverbed. She rolls over on her back and pants heavily as the moon shines on her…until the moonlight is obstructed by a humanoid shadow of sorts and hovers over her.
'Good day my lady.'