Chapter 11: Ranpu
2 months later
Sakaki stood out on the veranda and let the air push through his night attire. He was not well with the idea, that he had taken on a mistress. He had gone behind Karasuma's trust and slept with another woman. He leaned forward and put his hand on his forehead.
" Is it possible that I can deny that the child is mine?" Sakaki thought, " No, I can't…but it is my word against hers. I am the emperor."
He looked at the guards as they made their rounds and then saw something in the distance.
" Guards, check the south gate!" Sakaki shouted
" Aye my lord," they called
Sakaki could feel something brewing, and he was correct. There was a shout of pain and Sakaki looked.
" We're under an attack!" A guard shouted
A guard rang the bells, to wake up others and Sakaki ran into his room.
" Miho, wake up," he said
Karasuma opened her eyes and looked at Sakaki.
" What's going on?" she asked
" Come on we're under an attack," Sakaki said
Sakaki grabbed her robe and slipped it on her shoulders. He grabbed his blades and took her hand leading her down the hall. The courtesans rushed out their rooms and Sakaki ordered them to take Karasuma.
" No! come with me," she cried
" No, I have you to defend, the guards will take you to a safe place," Sakaki said
He touched her face and kissed her on the lips.
" I promise I will return," Sakaki said
Sakaki removed the crest of the emperor around her neck.
" Go," he said
" Highness, they've broken through!" a guard shouted
Karasuma looked at him as she was pushed away.
" Haruto!" she shouted
He bowed and ran to the outside and looked out, he drew both blades.
" The Emperor!" they shouted
Sakaki narrowed his eyes and two of the best palace guards stood beside him.
" Those who have betrayed the emperor will now suffer!" a guard shouted
Arrows came flying at them and Sakaki slashed at them and as he approached he slashed at the men.
" Highness behind you!" the second shouted
Sakaki came back and slashed at his attacker. He looked for the leader like he was taught, that or a second in command. Guards gathered other weapons and came out on horse back and slashed at the peasants. Sakaki got on one and the rebels began to run, but some fell behind to attack.
" Highness," the guard said
" Head to the north gate," Sakaki said, " Don't stop riding."
" Aye," the guard said
Sakaki looked at the rebels and saw from in the distances Captain Izo.
" Hail to the Emperor," called several rebels, " Fleeing like the coward he is."
The guard grabbed Sakaki's arm and Sakaki looked at him.
" Don't listen they only call to fight," the guard said
Suddenly an arrow came out of nowhere and Sakaki couldn't pull his blade in time. It hit him directly in his chest on the right side.
" Highness," the guard said
Sakaki pulled it from his chest and breathed deep.
" Highness, are you alright?" the guard questioned
" I'm fine," Sakaki said
Without warning they were ambushed and Sakaki fell one way and the guard fell another. The men that had attacked them came at Sakaki, with daggers. Sakaki got up, but his ankle gave out on him.
" My blades," he thought
" Now, the pleasure of spilling your blood is in my favor," one man said
Sakaki looked at them and narrowed his eyes.
"The emperor was called Ranpu because it meant light."
Sakaki reached for something to a least try to protect himself.
" Ranpu," he thought, " Light."
"Divine light as so to speak, but that was just the surface, the emperor's line of family all had the ability of light,"
Sakaki jabbed at the his attackers' ankles and kicked them from underneath them. He was grabbed by his arms and pushed against the north gate. One grabbed Sakaki's blade and walked towards him.
" Your father killed my father in the last rebellion and now I am revenging his death on the precious little emperor. Ironic isn't it your highness…son fighting son," the man said, " I will kill you with your own blade!"
He came at Sakaki with full force and Sakaki looked at him.
" No!" he shouted
Suddenly there was a blast of light and his attackers were blinded by the light. Sakaki was free from their hold and lifted his sword.
" Ranpu!" the men shouted in horror, " He's the real Ranpu!"
Sakaki breathed deep as they ran in horror. Sakaki breathed deep and looked at his guard.
" Ranpu, you are the Ranpu of this kingdom," the guard said, " It was only time you awoke from your dormant stage."
" You mustn't speak, you have to get up and we must continue," Sakaki said
" No, I can't move," he said
Sakaki knelt down to help, when another attacker, who missed the memo on who Sakaki was, came. It was quick and simple as the man fell to the ground revealing another man. Sakaki looked at the pale complexion of the man and the medium length black hair.
" It's can't be," Sakaki said
Sakaki stood up and the man came to his knees bowing.
" Amon?" Sakaki questioned
" Nah, Majesty, I am Kyoushu," the man said, " My name is just as what it means, Assassin."
" I keep forgetting I'm in the 16 century…some how I believe this must be Amon's ancestor," Sakaki whispered
The guard pushed himself up and walked over and the guard bowed.
" You always come in the last minuet," the guard said
" I am never late only on time with risk," Kyoushu said
Some more guards came running and came at Kyoushu.
" Stop!" Sakaki ordered, " This man has nothing to do with the attack."
" The rebels have surrendered," one guard said
" How many are dead?" he asked
" 20 of our men and 30 of their men," the a second said
" Then let's move quickly," Sakaki said
Sakaki looked at the other soldiers and then Kyoushu. Sakaki got on the horse and helped the other guards lift the wounded guard up.
" Let us tend to the wounded, let no man go untreated," Sakaki said, " Kyoushu I trust you'll follow these soldiers…I would like a word."
" Yes, your Majesty," Kyoushu said
Sakaki looked at the courtesans and they bowed and Karasuma looked at Sakaki.
" Your ok," she whispered
She ran to him and hugged him and kissed him. Sakaki winced in pain and Karasuma looked at him.
" What happened?" she asked
" It's nothing just an arrow wound," he said, " A flesh wound."
Karasuma looked the courtesans.
" Well, don't stand there he's injured," Karasuma said
She undid his top garment and looked at the wound, she looked at the wound and saw it was a serious wound. Nari came and knelt down and Karasuma looked at her as she looked at the wound.
" Sire did the arrow stay in your flesh to long?" she asked
" It's an amateur's arrow, I don't know," he said
Nari looked at the wound and closed her eyes and ran her hand over the wound.
" Lady Miho, there is a piece of leather in my pouch, please get it out for me," she said
Karasuma pulled it out and handed it to Nari. Nari looked at Sakaki and he raised an eye brow.
" One must know the weapons to know what damage it could do," Nari said, " Majesty bite on this…what I'm about to do will hurt…this is not for the fate at heart."
Sakaki closed his eyes and Nari unrolled another pouch and pulled out some tools. Karasuma looked at her as she pulled one out, she suddenly didn't feel well. Nari did a quick surgery and Sakaki bit hard on the leather as she pulled out an arrow head. She looked at it and sighed with relief.
" Amateurs," she sighed
Sakaki breathed deep as Nari dabbed his wound. She placed her hand on his wound and healed it. She cleaned her hands and bowed then walked off and Karasuma looked at him.
" Thank goodness," she said
Sakaki looked at her and then turned away.
" I thought I was going to die and then I heard your voice. Remember when I first found out I was a prince…how you told me what they called the emperor. I remembered that and I could feel this moment where I was at peace and then it burned and light just came from hands," Sakaki said
" Light," Karasuma said, " A craft."
" Yes, Ranpu," Sakaki replied, " Come we are needed in the throne room."
Sakaki and Karasuma dressed and went to the throne room. The doors opened and 3 guards were thrown to the ground. Sakaki looked at them, and they bowed before him.
" Treason is what you have committed against your emperor and own kingdom," Sakaki said, " What do you have to say?"
" I would gladly do it again," one said
" Your despicable," another remarked
Third just spitted at Sakaki and Sakaki narrowed his eyes.
" You will be put to death, along with your followers," Sakaki said, " You will be tied to a stake in the middle of town, so all will know what you have done against your emperor."
Karasuma looked at Sakaki and Miyako as well. Sakaki was not a happy person at the moment.
" Get them out of my sight," Sakaki growled
The guards were taken away and the doors opened and Kyoushu walked in. Dressed in what looked like farmer's clothing, with two blades tied to his back crossing each other. His hair was now pulled back and his face slightly rough, he knelt down on one knee and lowered his head.
" Is that…Amon?" she whispered to Sakaki
Sakaki shook his head and looked at Kyoushu and asked him to rise.
" For your bravery, you are welcomed to stay here for as long as you wish," Sakaki said, " You not only saved my life, but one of my highly respected guards. For that I am grateful."
" Thank you, Majesty, I came at the right time," Kyoushu said, " I can not stay for I have other things to attend to."
" Then consider yourself a friend to the Emperor," he said
" Thank you, Majesty," he said
He bowed and Kyoushu departed and Sakaki looked at Karasuma and took her hand. Miyako followed behind the royal couple. Rinako looked at Miyako and slightly gave a suspicious look.
Sakaki looked at Karasuma and she smiled.
" Emperor, what weighs on your mind?" she asked
" My peoples' well being, there is something they do not like, perhaps it is something I can fix," Sakaki said
Karasuma touched his face and then kissed Sakaki on his lips.
" You can not make everyone happy, they have to make themselves happy," she said