It was a rare honor for a commoner to even have the chance and honor to gaze upon the Emperor of Japan, but for a gaijin, a foreigner to do so, it was almost impossible that the said individual could have such blessing in ten lifetimes. Yet, Nathan Algren was a man of such sheer luck (as he deemed it in his humble opinion) to have secured an honor as high as this. He, Gant and Graham were awoken by Miryu when twilight came, and as loathe as he was to rise, he knew that he had no choice. "You have been graced by a strange show of honor, Captain," she said sternly after playfully dousing him with ice-cold water from the nearby well after failing to use more conventional methods to rouse him from his sleep. "Emperor Meiji does not like to be kept waiting,"

If it were not the fact that she was a woman, or that he had taken a strange liking towards her, he would have killed her for daring to wake him so abruptly. It was nearing torture to wake him so early, especially after so many rounds of Sake with Hasegawa, Graham, Gant and her. Why was she not having a hangover like he was? "What time is it?" he asked her, watching her flit across his rooms, trying to find something suitable for him to wear.

"Early enough to save your skin if you are really late for an Imperial audience," she said, giving him his other set of dress uniforms. "I cannot hang around here for too long, Captain, I have to get ready as well, but do not worry, I already made sure that Zeb and Simon have already bathed and changed, so you will have the ofuro all to yourself…" Having said that, she left his room, and the last thing he heard from her was the shutting of her own door…

Not half an hour later, all four of them were assembled outside the quarters, with Colonel Bagley, and true to prediction by Graham, Miryu would appear in a kimono, due to the formal instances of their audience. However, the kimono she wore was everything more than ordinary. It was made out of the finest silk, a rich red gown with a white obi. She did not wear her hair long, but in the manner of all Japanese women, in a traditional up do, with hair-sticks studded with precious stones. The only thing that separated her from the rest of the women of nobility or high rank was definitely her katana, which she kept tucked into her obi. "You look absolutely stunning, my dear!" Graham praised when she emerged from the courtyard, which ignited a blush from her, something that Algren had never seen before. Heck, the change was so stark that even Bagley began to take notice of her, politely taking off his hat and greeting her, even if he rarely acknowledged her existence.

A half-smile forming on his lips, Algren whispered to her as they boarded the same rickshaw, "You look beautiful," And they were words that caused her to almost fall from the rickshaw as she was trying to get on, words that she did not know would have such a huge impact on her. Throughout the journey to the ancestral palace, Graham was gushing on and on regarding the palace etiquettes, and how much honor has been bestowed upon them, leaving Algren and Miryu to steal little glances at each other. It was strange for him to encounter a woman that made him act like a teenager all over again, but somehow, he welcomed the experience. Miryu was a very special woman, not just because she could use a sword, but because of her spirit. No woman in America, let alone the West, could have that much courage and energy as she did. They were complacent, and submissive, totally unlike her… She was a breath of fresh air, something that he began to appreciate more and more.

When they walked up the steps that led to the Emperor's throne room, Miryu excused herself from the men. "My audience with the Emperor is after yours, gentlemen," she said with a slight bow, but not before pulling Algren into a quiet corner to give him a quick kiss on his cheek, shocking him to no end. "For luck, Captain," she added, before disappearing into the corridors of the palace. There was no doubt that she would know them well, and he tried to kick himself mentally for allowing that one small kiss from affecting him further. How was it possible that she could do such things to him?

Soon, the time had come for them to enter the throne room, and it was a practically unnerving time indeed. The chamber was wide as it was spacious, but the only people in it were the two rows of advisors, Omura at their head, as well as Graham, Algren and Bagley (Gant was to wait outside the palace, the poor man). It was a sight that was awe-inspiring as it was frightening, as they did not know how to act before the Emperor, or how to speak with him, not even Graham, who only had inklings as to what they were supposed to do. Slowly, slowly, Graham told them to bow, and after taking a few steps forward, he told them to do so once again, their acts as if each bow contained precious glass ornaments that would break if they were too careless. And when they saw the face of Emperor Meiji, they were dumbfounded.

This man, this Emperor, whose lives half of Japan fought for naught ten years ago, was little more than in his twenties, only a few years older than Miryu was. Yet, despite all his youth, Algren could see that this man was more than he seemed to be. He had an air of wisdom about him, one of intelligence, and one of graveness. There was a slight glint of triumph in Omura's eyes, but one of curiosity and intrigue from the Emperor. He had not seen such a man before, and found that the sovereign of the Chrysanthemum Throne was more than just a boy on a throne…

And before all their eyes, Miryu appeared from behind the Emperor's throne, still in her kimono. She went before the Emperor, and only the Emperor, and prostrated herself before him, before rising again with great diginity, and stood by his side. At this moment, Algren swore that he would have thought that Miryu was the Empress, if she were not already his bodyguard, for it was nigh impossible to feign the authorative glimmer in her sapphire eyes, the completely straight movements that came from years of discipline, and that ethereal beauty… However, he had no time to ponder on such things, there were pressing matters at hand…

Omura bowed to all of them, and said, "The divine Emperor Meiji bids you welcome. He is grateful for the assistance that your country offers, and we hope to accomplish the same national harmony that you enjoy in your homeland."

Algren heaved a silent sigh. There was sure to be more to come, he was sure of it. And far from his own sight, the ruler of all Japan stole a glance towards Miryu, but was crestfallen when he found out that she did not return it, not like the old times they shared together. That day, her smile belonged to Algren's, and somehow, the god in human form felt relieved, relieved that she might have a chance of happiness with the American, if she could not find happiness with him…