REVISED: 05 February 2019
14. The Assassins At The Wedding Ball
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Misao ran out of the door and down the road as fast as she could. She knew Yahiko was behind her, a part of her heard him calling. But it never matters anymore; soon, she will reach the gates of the palace. She was already tired but she will never stop running, she needs to save his life.
The palace loomed ahead, lit from the courtyard all the way to the towers. A long row of horse carriages stood, waiting for their masters to call. She saw Shishio's horse carriage – it was unattended while the other carriages have grooms and coachmen. No one dared to stop her as she passed by. She ran to the gate, expecting to see some faces she knew but a strange man glared at her instead.
"Please, I must get in! I need to speak to the guard Sanosuke!" She was gasping, not wanting to alert the assassins of her knowledge of them.
"No one is allowed!" he said and suddenly everything inside of her screamed that this was all wrong. Everything about this guard was really strange, something tells Misao that she had met this guard before…
She mumbled a quick 'never mind' and ran away. Taking a deep breath, she headed to the garden where the first ball was held.
Again, the strange guard stood in her path. His face was masked by the shadows. She froze as the man stepped closer and the moonlight revealed his face. It was Soujiro, the man who had kissed her. A smile spread across his features as she turned to run away. For all three steps, she eluded him but he proved that he was quicker than her. His hand was tight around her arm and she began to struggle…
"Now, now, little girl, I just want to look at you…" Misao tried to look down, to look to the side, anywhere but not to his treacherous face... "You're that little wisp of a girl named Misao, aren't you? Or I daresay, Sukunami Akari? How did you escape?" his hand caught her chin and made her look at him. Soujiro gave her a warm smile…
"Let me go!" she twisted her arm to get free but he would not budge.
"Not until you answer me!"
"Please let me go!" Misao pleaded.
"Most likely, no…" Soujiro laughed.
She wanted to cry, tried to think fast but her arm was hurting from his grip. If Soujiro did not knew her, Misao would probably have the chance to sneak out the samurai guards…
"Are the guards so ill-mannered and so ill-trained that they would abandon their post to harass a young maid?"
They both turned to the voice.
Empress Okon stood under the column of the gate as she watched the two with a brave look. Her intense brown eyes regarded the offending man with contempt while offering Misao a passing glance. Soujiro's grip stiffened as Misao almost cried in pain.
"She was behaving suspiciously, your Highness." Soujiro said.
"Majesty…" Okon corrected and opened her lovely fan. "Or was it is you who acts suspiciously, Soujiro? You've been away for a while…" Her face became bored as she observed them up and down.
"Yes, your Majesty, I act so suspiciously from the very beginning and all of you in the castle failed to notice it. Tell your family that death awaits them…" Soujiro answered and without any warning, she shoved Misao hardly to the Empress as he disappeared quickly.
The Empress caught Misao and quickly set her down. For a moment, both of them looked around and tried to find any trace of Soujiro but he was completely gone. Okon huffed as she dusted off her kimono and looked at Misao with a flare of concern, "I do believe that you wish to speak to my son?" she asked.
Misao tried to answer but this time, nothing came out.
"Are you Misao?" the Empress Okon asked.
Again, she nodded.
"And you have met my son before in the forest?"
Misao nodded slightly and her face flushed, very embarrassed. She wonders if Empress would ask about the lady named Sukunami Akari who broke Aoshi's heart.
"How did you know?" Misao asked, her voice was shaking.
"He speaks highly of you, not many make such an impression on him."
"Thank you.", was all Misao managed to say.
"Aoshi-kun told me that you are an aware and alert girl but really dear, you can trust me. Now tell me all about it." Empress Okon flourished her fan again and Misao stared at it as the shock ran through the nerves of her body.
"That man was one of the Juppongatana! They were a group of assassins!" Misao blurted.
The smile fell from the Empress's face. "Well, after Soujiro's disappearance in the last ball, we are prepared if he will do such an action. Get up Misao-chan and explain everything as we walk…"
"What about the guards, Okon-sama? Should we warn them?" Misao suggested.
"What if we warn a villain instead of the guard? We would be in a bit of trouble, wouldn't we? It's hard to tell who's the villain or not anymore." Okon explained.
"But…" Misao began to speak but the Empress stopped her.
"Hush my dear and trust me." Okon paused and smiled kindly at her. "I am very glad that I finally met you…"
What does it mean anyway? Misao chose not to think of it and instead focus on the dangers that might happen and what must be done to avoid them.
"Nothing at present." The Empress grinned and fluttered her fan again. "If we frighten the villain, he will escape us; he must have felt that he succeeded so he would show his face. You know dear, Soujiro was very clever at quickly disappearing again and again…"
They entered a small shoji door and began to walk down the many hallways and up several flights of staircases. Misao followed close while the sound of music rang in the air and began to get louder. Together, she and the Empress Okon walked out onto the upper balcony of the ballroom.
"You must promise me to stay here and remain silent; I need to tell the Emperor all of this. If I am right, we can catch them all." Okon requested and quickly descended the stairs to leave.
Misao did not want to stay silent this but the Empress had been the most insistent. In the shadows of the balcony, she watched the many noble people dance in the sway of the music. White dominated the floor; every unwed woman wears a satin white kimono.
"The wedding ball… He was supposed to have chosen by now…" Misao looked among the crowd for him. And there - she spotted him; Aoshi's arms were around Princess Emi. His face was unreadable and blank while the woman dancing with him glowed with triumph.
"A Prince for a Princess…" Misao commented sadly.
The music stopped and all people walked to their seats. Emperor Hiko and his wife, Empress Okon sat on their thrones with Prince Kenshin and Lady Kaoru as well. Suddenly, Misao noticed Aoshi is whispering something to Hiko's ear but the Emperor shook his head negatively. He seemed to be trying to contradict whatever Aoshi was saying.
"Thank you for attending the wedding ball tonight. Perhaps, we must now start the wedding ceremony!" The Emperor announced and everyone gave a round of applause for the engaged royal couple, Aoshi and Emi.
While the Emperor gave another set of speech, the room had become very quiet. Misao noticed that behind the thrones, two guards stood. She did not know the either one of them. She held her breath as Aoshi held the hand of Princess Emi and the wedding ceremony finally begins…
Misao looked for Empress Okon but all eyes were on the Emperor. Emperor Hiko coughed and smiled at the couple as Aoshi has carefully put the elegant ring on Emi's delicate fingers. No one noticed that the guards had moved closer to them, standing mere inches from every member of the Imperial family.
Panic hit Misao; time seemed to be so slow, the clock ticked on to midnight hour. Dang! Dang! A loud chime rang out, cutting out whatever the wedding monk has been saying. From a door, on the far side of the thrones, she saw Shishio and Yumi standing in the shadows, a grin on their faces as they watched the suspicious guards moved closer to the Emperor…
Both guards looked at Shishio and as she expected to see, Shishio gave a small signal with his hand, the guards nodded and moved…
After all was said and done, she could never remember what she was thinking, it all happened so fast. One moment she was silent and remaining hidden but now, she was dashing around the balcony as she took the stairs two steps at a time.
At some point, Misao yelled his name and Aoshi turned his attention to her. "STOP!" she exclaimed with a high-pitched voice…
The wedding was interrupted; recognition showed in Aoshi's face followed by confusion. As she crossed the platform, Misao felt a hand grabbed her and she turned a swing at whomever it was - she hit the suspicious guard in the face. He let her go and she fell back in Prince Kenshin's arms.
"What the…" Kenshin said as he helped Misao stood.
Someone screamed, it was Princess Emi. Misao suddenly saw one of the fake guards sheathe his sword and attacked the Emperor Hiko; the Emperor deflected the blow but the momentum knocked him over the edge of the thrones as he turned to check Aoshi… He was unarmed!
Misao ran to his side, but she was too slow… A dagger flashed in her very eyes and she screamed as she watched it disappear up into its hilt in Aoshi's side.
Empress Okon yelled at the guards, people began to scream and many moved to the prince's aid. She already knelt next to Aoshi as she tried to help him.
The confusion around her was like a vague fog. She heard Kenshin calls something and Kaoru mutters something. Somewhere, she heard the Empress yelling over the crowd.
Aoshi seemed to be in shock and for a moment, he quickly grabbed the dagger out from his skin then he closed his eyes. Blood stained his white clothes as he quickly killed the suspicious guard. Every person was now in panic.
"Aoshi-sama! Listen to me…" Misao begged but he either ignored it or did not hear. With a grunt and glare, he tossed the dagger away and grabbed his kodachi, which was hidden under the thrones.
"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" It was the Emperor. His voice shook the entire room. "No one will be allowed to leave the palace until we solved this!"
"And no one will be allowed to leave this room until you and your family were dead, Hiko-sama." Someone interrupted. It was that voice! The man receded from the shadows… He still wore the palace guard's uniform as he gently removed his mask, revealing his smiling face…
Once again, it was Soujiro.
"You traitor!" Kenshin shouted, giving Soujiro a powerful hit but he was quick enough to block his attack.
This time, it was Aoshi who gave another blow of attack but Soujiro was very quick like a wind. Both princes glared at his incredible speed. And suddenly, Misao was trapped in Soujiro's arms, the edge of his sword placed on her throat as he happily said, "Long time no see, Aoshi-sama!"
Aoshi took a quick glance at Misao... His eyes were cold but you can see the concern and worry he had for the servant girl. He prepared his self for another attack but the pain from the dagger made him weak… And so, Misao just stared at Aoshi's blue eyes, feeling hopeless… If she would die tonight, the last thing she will like to do was to look at his ice blue eyes…
"Aoshi-sama, there were other fake guards in this castle… hmmmmmpppp!" Misao's words were cut off as Soujiro's hand went to her lips to stop her…
"We both know Aoshi-sama the pleasure of kissing the girl you like…" Soujiro said, the smile never fades from his face as Aoshi's brows twitched in anger. "Akari's lips taste like..." he paused, thinking of the right word to describe it "strawberries…" he faintly added.
Aoshi's patience snapped at the statement. It made him blow another attack but as expected, Soujiro quickly dodged it.
Kenshin protested. "I thought you are Akari's fiancé?!"
"And you believed it?" Soujiro answered and his grip on Misao tightened.
Misao wanted to yell the truth… The truth that she was Akari but Soujiro's hand clenched her lips…
"Where is she? What have you done to her?" Aoshi asked, very curious and angry at the same time.
The question made Soujiro looked blankly at Misao. It was hard to tell what was playing in his head even if he was giving her a sly smile…
"I've killed her…" Soujiro answered and gave Aoshi a grin, making Misao protested…
Suddenly, Kenshin, Aoshi and Hiko blew another attack to the offending boy and it made Misao released from his grasp. Soujiro was really good at quickly dodging every attack but luckily, Kenshin caught him off guard as he thrust his reversed sword on his body. The traitor moaned in pain…
Soujiro passed out.
Everyone started talking at once, Misao heard Sanosuke over the bustle calling the orders to find the remaining Juppongatana assassins.
"Misao!" she heard Okon went to her.
But she never turned to see the Empress as she ran to Aoshi's side…
"Let the doctors help him, dear!" Okon said and the physicians took Aoshi away. "I told you to stay hidden!"
"I couldn't, Okon-sama! I saw the guards and I did not know them and I thought they might be the assassins as they behave suspiciously so I ran and…"
"Calm down, child. I am not mad at you; I am pleased that you saved my son!"
"But he was… the dagger was…" she could not even say the words and she sought him, but he was behind the crowd of people.
"He is more resilient that you might think, don't fear for him." Okon said.
"Misao, what happened?" It was Sanosuke, he had blood on his face and a gash across his forehead. "I was hit in the head along with several other guards and when the Empress woke me up, we heard yelling from the ballroom!"
"Shishio was plotting the murder of the Imperial family, Yahiko and I found it but he locked us in the cellar!"
"Where's Yahiko?" This time, it was Megumi. Blood was visible in her hands, perhaps, she cured Aoshi's wound. A worry shown in her face.
"He alerted the guards who were not on the duty in the barracks." Misao answered.
"Find and arrest Shishio, we will get to the bottom of this!" Sanosuke ordered the other guards and walked away as Megumi calmed the nervous people in the room.
Empress Okon gently pushed Misao down to sit on one of the thrones that probably belonged to her. People began moving about their different duties and Misao found herself forgotten. She watched Okon ran to her family for comfort and helped each other.
The adrenaline was draining from her system and with it, that's all the strength she had. Like a wall holding back the pain it crumbled under a pressure, she began to cry.
She felt his hand on her shoulder and a quiet murmur, "Thank you, Misao…" and then he was gone. It was all too much… He had loved her as Sukunami Akari but he never knew that it was her… And now, she was nobody again…
She let one last time tears to fall from her eyes as she watched Aoshi walked away; disappearing through the crowd… After all, a servant girl and a handsome prince are never meant for each other.
End of Chapter