After weeks of training under Nathan Algren's hands, the Imperial Army was shaping up rather nicely. In fact, those in high positions of the military were so pleased with the progress that they had managed to get the clearance of a great military exercise, where all the foreign diplomats were invited. Miryu, however, was one that was not pleased with the event. More people around the parade grounds meant that there were more threats to Algren's safety. To her, it was another hard day on the job, but she knew that it was one that was rather necessary, where the diplomats could finally see what the army was capable of, and that they were not some weaklings that would run at any sight of a threat.
Dressed in full dress-uniform, Miryu looked more ravishing than ever. Hers was white, unlike that of the other soldiers, as well as Gant and Algren's. Her long hair was tied up into a bun, tucked under a hat that revealed a strange scar on her neck, one that Algren had never seen before. "It is the word, ryu," she said to him when she caught him staring at it. "It was carved by Battousai's late wife before she died, to remind me of my duties as a student of the Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryuu." It was what she had wanted to believe when Tomoe had made such a mark on her, as she had added another thin line on Kenshin's face. Truth be told, she would rather be seen with such a scar in a military setting than be seen with such a scar in the garden party that was witnessing the military performance. She herself felt more comfortable with her katana near her, rather than having resort to hidden knives and tantou when she was forced to attend those flimsy balls and parties the Emperor was required to attend, and she ordered to look… presentable.
She walked behind Algren and his superior, a man named Bagley, a Colonel in the American army. And she knew that all the pretty ladies were talking about her. She did not need her superior swordswoman's training to know about that. They had talked about how much she was around men of all ages, and how used to her they were. "Relax, Miryu," Algren said when a diplomat was seen to be approaching him, placing a hand on hers, the one which was now resting tensely on the tsuba of her katana. She knew that diplomat more than Algren did, and she was more than positive that he had some team of thugs behind him hiding in plain sight. She wanted to knock his hand off hers, but for some reason, she was strangely attracted to his warmth. Although their actions were discreet, being warriors of great caliber, she could still hear the pretty ladies gossiping. They had eyes of hawks and ears of foxes, she thought, and pondered why was she still unmoving.
The French diplomat who was approaching Algren exclaimed, "Marvelous, Captain!" He saw Miryu behind him, and gave her a curt nod. He had known this woman for her reputation as a former assassin, and the woman once closest to the Emperor, having seen her with the company of many war veterans and the Emperor himself. "Such discipline, such splendor! We are so thrilled that you are here, and the entire diplomatic community is talking of nothing else." Algren just gave him a polite nod and made to turn away, seeing Miryu's insistence. He had long since released his hold over her hand, and she took a step back and bowed. Her sapphire eyes were still fixed on him, and not far from the distance, she saw a familiar figure. Even Saito was there, ensuring her of the danger that would there… "You must dine with us at the embassy…"
Just then, as if by a stroke of luck, Graham came to their rescue. "Monsieur Tarquin," he said, "Forgive me, the Captain is required urgently back at the headquarters…" He then turned to steer Algren away. "Captain, hasn't Miryu warned you of this man? He would most likely poison your soup if you accepted that invitation."
Miryu nodded, and quipped. "The Dutch who was supposed to have your job was found to be poisoned with mercury. Tarquin had it laced into his miso soup…" There was a slight giggle in her voice, and she knew that he would not have believed her, and so she added, "Luckily, he had a flair for showing his wealth. The silver chopsticks he served his guests with immediately turned black when he accidentally slipped them into his soup-bowl…"
Graham looked around and heaved a sigh. "Oh, aren't the vultures hungry today?" Miryu did the same, and started to have her hand to the tsuba of her katana again. As they passed by more and more diplomats, he and Miryu began to unravel their deepest, darkest secrets, like the German one that beats his wife, the other French one that was a pederast, and the Russian diplomat that was a total drunk. "You are a popular boy, my friend," he said, "Everyone wants to get a good look at the competition…"
"This trade deal must be a pretty penny," Algren stated.
"More than just a pretty penny, the shiniest one in the lot of many," Miryu explained, not noticing that his hand had somehow found her, much like how Kenshin and Tomoe were during the Ikedaya Incident.
The Englishman agreed with Miryu. "Yes, Japan is the first leg. Next stop is Korea, the Philippines, and then the biggest prize of all… China." He had heard that the Dowager Empress wanted the best soldiers to train her failing army, and what Miryu had gathered from her grandfather, Reiyama Reiji was that she wanted to the soldiers to guard the opium trade routes… Of course, everything had to do with opium these days, and she knew that China would be the main prize, because of the money would be financing more than just trade, but also the Imperialist systems. She had been trained in languages and politics after being Emperor Meiji's bodyguard, just for the purpose of gathering information silently.
Just as Algren was about to speak again, they could see Prime Minister Omura and his entourage, which was not a good thing. She looked at him, and found that the military genius that she had protected with Kenshin during the later years of the Bakamatsu had gone. In his place, was a government official that knew only the riches that he could amass should any country be willing to trade arms with Japan, and she was worried. This man was too engrossed in the ways of the West that he would most probably break Japan into two to revolutionize the country, and she no longer trusted him. His attempts at small talk were nothing that she took lightly, and she wanted to get Algren out of Omura's sight as fast as possible. However, he was quicker than she was. "You are a valued part of His Imperial Highness' plans," he said, "And you will be honored to know that he has commanded your presence at the Imperial Palace."
Miryu wanted to tell him that it could be a trap, but she knew Emperor Meiji too well, just as she knew Omura. She noticed the distaste in his voice, and decided to let him be. "Algren, all will be well," she said to him, and nodded towards Omura. After all, he was a companion and a brother of arms to her once.
"Also, Miryu-chan, the Emperor wishes to see you once again," Omura continued. "He hopes to know that you are well, and demands a report from Algren on your performance thus far…"
His words left a bitter taste in her mouth. How could she have forgotten about the one man that cared for her, ever since the Bakamatsu ended? With a small nod, she said, "And I shall make my humbled appearance before the ruler of the Chrysanthemum Throne, Omura-senpai, as commanded of me…"