"Kyoto is beautiful as always." I murmured to myself. I am happy to be home after spend months chased the bandits. The meals was cold, the ground is too harsh to sleep but most of all I missed Sai. Yes! Return home means returning to Sai side.
I feel triumph and proud to be a samurai when I saw the street are flock with people, standing sideway and cheers us on. I noticed my horse snorted out loud as if he too understands what happening around him. It quite amusing but my eyes keeps straying off, searching the crowd for Sai as he has promise. I was disappointed but reassure myself that may be the Emperor order him to stayed with the other Courtiers.
My steps quickly entering the Royal Chamber, where the Emperor meets his Court everyday. My Commander stand ahead of me and we both kneels down and bows respectful as the custom dictated. Greeting exchanges between them allowed my eyes to wander off looking for Sai. My heart squeezed tightly when I found no sign of him anywhere. I knew then that he had gone. I was right after all; instead of my life it was his that Fate takes away. I felt the whole room spinning and collapsed on the floor.
"Tsuyujima-sama, you've awaked." The girl- servant exclaimed, I look at her wearily as memory flood back. My face pale as I tried to get up,
"Sai, I must see him!"
"You can't get up. The doctor orders you to have a few days rest at least, Tsuyujima-sama." The girl tried to prevent me move off the mattress, my eyebrows rose indicated that she have over step her boundary.
She blushed, turned away and continues to speak,
"You must rest, your father wishes to speak to you as soon you awake. I'll go and get him now." My hand reaches out to stop her that is the last thing I wanted.
"No, I don't want to see him now." I give a sigh. "What's your name?" my question shocks her but I wanted her helps.
" My name is Hona Kiko, Tsuyujima-sama."
"Kiko, how long have you been working here?" I asked, tried to charm her.
"I have been work in the palace for a year now." She mumbles before answering aloud. I give her a bright smile and said, "I've not see you before." I tried to remember if I met her before but the headache is so bad that to continue thinking is futile.
"I was working in the kitchen until last month and promote to house work, Tsuyujima-sama."
I only nodded, tired suddenly. I want to close my eyes and drip off to sleep again but a nagging thought hovel over me and Sai face appear in my mind.
"Sai!" I whispered,
"?"
"Kiko, can you go to get Sai for me please. I want to see him before I close my eyes."
"I want to be sure that he is still alive." My thought finished of the sentence that left unsaid.
My eyes are contract and narrowing when I saw her eyes, gleaming with tears.
"He is gone."
"Gone…what do you mean by gone?" I felt like slap her face, the violent that boils inside stuns me that I stopped in time. I have never condoned punishment especially to servant, who has no strengths or powers to retaliate.
"He has been banished from the capital." The voice said, without turning I knew it was my father.
My strength gone suddenly as I fell back, "How? Why?" I did not see the girl slipped out of the room like a rabbit being hunted.
"I'll tell you when you get better. Hmm. Congratulation on your returning as a hero!" His voices sound proud. I close my eyes and will myself to belief that he did not die just left the capital.
TBC.