Chapter 1: Introductions

Yuuki Asuna was not a happy girl. Not one bit. The chestnut haired girl angrily stormed her way to the dining room where her meal was situated. Her mother had already left her room after their argument that had left them both mentally exhausted, despite the fact that they would deny how much their argument had effected one another. Her mother had the audacity to tell yell at her about dismissing her body guard and suggesting that she would have to stay in her room. Yes, the attack on the Palace was a shocking occurrence but that didn't mean they had to wall themselves in!

Stay in her room when her older brother would be undoubtable fighting on the front lines to protect their family. Her sister left in a circle of guards, not with her family. How was Asuna supposed to agree to those terms? Asuna needed to prove that she could be relied on as much as her brother or any guard. It was for that reason that she had convinced the head guard, Tsuboi Ryoutarou, to give her fencing lessons and to keep her lessons a secret. If her mother or father found out then she most definitely would be kept by one of their sides at all times.

The fact that she couldn't socialise with people her own age because of her nobility status meant that she was deprived of companionship. She had seen many attractive boys in the town, many girls who she wanted to befriend but couldn't. She needed to be treated like an adult, a person that wasn't bound to 'princess law,' and a person that wanted to make it for herself in the real world.

The girl trampled her way into the dining room, the anger she felt was rolling off her in streams. She knew that people would use her for leverage against her father, against her country, but that wouldn't matter if she could be trusted. Trusted to make her own decisions and who she wanted to befriend, not handpicked nobles from different parts of the world or Japan that her father could trust.

It was as she got seated that the oaken wood door with dragon cravings engraved in the edges opened. The only person missing from the table was her father so that was who she suspected would be on the other side.

She was only half-right.

Noticing the tense atmosphere, Yuuki Shouzou looked to his daughter as she jabbed at her food, vicious lunges only enhanced by the golden cutlery she was using. Without a pause, the man seated himself and coughed to get the attention onto him.

"Asuna, my dear," the man smiled slightly when he saw his wife roll her eyes, "Why so angry?"

"I and mother had an argument about my…protection and decisions in life. She believes that I need to be kept in my prison." The man had to withhold a wince at the mention of a prison, he knew she meant her bedroom and the idea had originally been his.

"I suppose that I and your mother went a little over the top, dear," the man replied, watching in delight as his daughters' eyes widened slightly and his wife's narrowed. He sighed slightly and sent a look towards his wife that they would talk later, "You are of 16 years of age, and it wouldn't be too troubling to allow you some…leeway." Shouzou uttered resolutely.

Throughout the whole proceedings the man's son had watched with a slight glint in his eyes, a clever boy Kouichirou was. The youngest of the trio was a little girl called Yui with hair as dark as her mothers. The little girl seemed to occupying herself with the meat that was situated on her plate.

"However," the man cut into his daughter's secret victory dance, "I do have one condition you have to follow. No buts."

The smile that was on the girls face dropped but she still thanked her father with a hug for having considered her point of view. It was always nice to be recognised by her father, he was a very good man and ruler.

"What is the condition?"

Shouzou coughed slightly, unsure as to how his daughter would take the news.

"I want you to keep someone with you at all times, he's a…family friend." Her father tried to lie but Asuna saw straight through the façade. It was a body guard.

"Is this person a body guard, father?" she asked sweetly.

The man gulped before responding, "Of course not dear, of course not." Without letting her respond, the older man waved his hand for an extra chair to be brought to the table and that the maid next to the door would let in his guest.

As the door opened a boy with the coal coloured eyes entered the room for all to see.

XxXxXxXxXx

Blink.

Pause.

Blink.

Why? Why must that condition affect me and the worst possible times? I see I am stood in front of Shouzou's wife, Yuuki Kyouko, a bob of rich, brown hair that reached her shoulders and eyes narrowed into slight slits as she regarded me. Good luck. She wouldn't understand anything from my cheerful smile or the way I held myself. It was all forced, after all.

I see her hand is offered out to me. I bow, gently grabbing her hand and kissing the knuckles. The proper introduction to those of high class.

"I apologise," the words fall out of my mouth as a sheepish smile bestows my face. How I hate acting, "but I seem to lose my focus at the most inopportune times when confronted with beautiful women."

The woman nodded her head slightly, a small smile gracing her hard features. She appreciated flattery. That was something that could be built on.

"It is fine, young man." She replied to me.

I make my way around the large, oblong table to shake the older boy's hand, Yuuki Kouichirou. A fine swordsman if what I've heard is to believed. Though I may test that for myself. I see a smaller girl with dark hair sat looking at me with a spark of interest. She is too young to know anything about this fiasco as her interest seems to be wanted a new friend.

Then I notice my client. The chestnut hair that falls lusciously behind her, a small glare in her eyes as she stares at me in accusation. She has figured out why I am here. Good.

I take the seat opposite my client, the seat that the Emperor had offered me when we was walking to the dining hall. A meal is set in front of me as I notice the golden cutlery.

"This is Kirito, Asuna. The person I want to stay by your side. He is a family friend and is around your age. The company would do you some good?" her father seemed to question at the end and by the girls eyes narrowing even more I take it that she didn't buy the excuse.

I introduce myself. "Hello, my name is Kirito." I said politely with a small, humbling smile on my face.

"Kirito is a strange name." the girl responds hoping for a rise from me.

Her mother gave her a smouldering look that was ignored in favour of staring at me.

"I'm afraid that you will have to discuss that with my parents then." I reply in kind as the girl nods her head slowly.

"You too seem to be getting along swimmingly," the older man said as I started to eat my food at a steady pace despite not being in the mood for food, "Why doesn't Asuna show you to where you will be staying, the guest room slightly down from her own." The man stared at his daughter with an expression that held significance and the girl released a sigh at her predicament.

"Come, Kirito, I will give you a tour." Asuna told me as she vacated the table without waiting for me.

Oh well, I knew the structure of this palace like the back of my hand anyway.

"I do not wish to intrude during diner, your highness…" I start.

"Please Kirito," her eyes turned predatory before her father could reply to me, "I insist."

XxXxXxXxXx

Cold black eyes that belonged to a small black haired boy. Staring at her. Accusation in those dark orbs. A tiny finger points at her. Demanding an answer.

"How?" he started, "How could you?" the child had some dirt on his face and a cut below his eyes.

"Kazuto! It-it's not like that, I promise!" the older woman screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Why would you do it?" the boy repeated the basis of his question, a cold gaze staring at her.

"We never loved Suguha more than you! We've changed I promise!" she tried to say again, falling to her knees in the process as the two confronted outside a large house.

The boy didn't reply as he turned on the ball of his feet. Slight cuts in his dark Kimono that looked like knife cuts. Wordlessly, the boy walked away from her as his figure was enveloped by a dark shroud that coalesced from the shadows.

Kirigaya Midori sat upright from her bed, small tears leaking from her eyes as she replayed the events that just happened in her nightmare. It was a reoccurring dream that wouldn't leave the woman alone.

Kirito would have been 15 this year, old enough to final start making his own decisions but not too old that she wouldn't be able to mother over him. He would have been such an eager boy like he was when he was a child. Innocent eyes would ask her for treats or snacks when he worked especially hard at his training. His long black hair that she would brush for him because he couldn't reach. She always loved to stroke his face as he drifted off into a deep slumber.

Rubbing her arm on her sleeve to rid the tears from her face, Midori got from her bed as stared out the window towards the forest that surrounded the Kirigaya Mansion. She would wait for her husband to awaken, he would listen to her cries of redemption.

At 4 AM in the morning, Midori stared at the forest. The same forest that her son disappeared into when he was only 7 years old.

XxXxXxXxXx

I see that we have entered Asuna's room. We passed my temporary room thirty seconds ago but I held my tongue. The contract works better of the client is that one that does the demanding.

It is no surprise that I see her reach for a rapier after the shuts the door. She pins me to the wall with the rapier looming very closely to my exposed neck, the edge trying to worm its way into my skin and draw blood.

Blink.

Pause.

Blink.

"I know you aren't a family friend, I know you're a body guard." Asuna's accusations are very correct, her tirade forcing me to focus on the words slipping from her rosy lips. "My father is suspicious of everyone after the attack, being betrayed by the people you swore to lead and protect can be a daunting affair. I'm guessing you wouldn't know."

She uses the word betrayed but she doesn't know the meaning of the word. How it feels to be truly betrayed by those that you love.

"My father doesn't have friends, he's a reclusive man that only has acquaintances at best. Other nobles that he can trust to be around his family."

She makes accusations based on what she knows. Clever girl. However, not the best at taming that mouth of hers. Her grip on the rapier is loose and unreformed, maybe a few pointers would help. I banished the thought from my head.

"So, do you admit to being my bodyguard?"

I look at her room in interest. Multiple entrance and exit points that would be easily accessible with the right equipment.

"Look at me when I am talking to you!" the girl growled. Always keep your enemy heavy with emotion and make sure they're off-guard.

"Your sister is young, no? Probably about 6 years old?" I knew the answer but made it sound like a guess.

"We aren't here to discuss my sister, Mr Kirito!" I am amused by how easily flustered she is.

"What are we here to discuss then?"

"Your worth." She said challengingly, I would be offended had I cared about her opinion, "I find you untrustworthy but my mother and father seem taken with you." She finished.

"Gustav Rapier. The shell guard of the rapier is unusual but effective. The rapier features classical lines, with a high-carbon steel flex-tempered blade, a stainless steel hilt." I say staring at her Rapier. A 17th century blade, very rare.

"Pardon?" she blinks at the assessment of her weapon, obviously not expecting that I knew the make.

"Your blade. It is a Gustav Rapier."

"How could you possible know that? It's a limited, rare 17th century blade!" it was as she was talking that I managed to disarm her and swap the blade for a broom that was just to the right of me. The weight would be the same, but instead of steel at my neck, there would only be wood.

It takes her a few seconds to notice that she is no longer holding her blade that she keeps desperately hidden from her father. How interesting.

I slice the wooden broom in half when she notices the blade's absence. I offer the Rapier back to her to show my trustworthiness, point aimed towards me.

"Does that prove my worth, Miss Yuuki?"

She has an understanding glint in her eyes as the blade comes to rest at her side, "It seems I have slighted you, Mr Kritio. Maybe I can repay you?" she motions sweetly as her finger trails a line down my jaw line.

She is trying to force me to shiver, to show that I am weak to her seduction. She pouts out her lips to give them a full effect, something she has practiced in the mirror far too much.

"Why don't we start again?" she brings her mouth dangerously close to my ear, a weak point that no one can know about.

I push her away slightly as I nod my head, fake enthrallment that she buys so willingly will get her killed one day. I suppose that's what I'm here to prevent.

"My name is Kirito, my lady." She nods her head encouragingly, urging me to reveal more, "And I believe we went past my room." I shrug off her shock as she gaps at me. I open the door enough to slop through while turning my head to stare back at her.

"You coming, my lady?"

XxXxXxXxXx

Kirigaya Minetaka listened to his wife rave on about their young boy, Kazuto. He would have been 15 this year, she would say before crying. She would mention how much she missed the boy, much like himself, how she would miss putting him in bed when he would fall asleep after training.

The only glaring difference between Minetaka and Midori was that he wasn't nearly as affected by Kazuto's disappearance as she was. The boy wasn't a prodigy like his twin sister, so naturally, he favoured Suguha more so than Kazuto. It was a mistake, granted, that parents shouldn't do, but it happened and there was nothing he could do about it now.

The man watched as the woman shook her head sadly as stared longingly outside the window. It was her that noticed the young boy's disappearance and that weighed heavily on his wife's chest. His sister wasn't effected at the time but later on - in the years that passed by- she started to notice how much his disappearance affected her. It disgusted many of their close friends that they had willingly deprived one of their own children, but the excuse was that they were too caught up in Suguha's brilliance.

Thinking back, the man would could notice how distant the boy had become. He often skipped dinner, maybe it was because they forgot to put a plate out for him or because he would come down, grab his food and leave the table. The man was unsure and that cut him deeply.

Alas, it was 3 years that Midori and Minetaka treated their son, Kazuto, like a mere object that loitered around the mansion. Three Years of deprived love and two extra years of not being noticed by his parents had forced the boy's hand. He left. Left the house. Left the family. The ultimate dishonour that a child could bring on one house.

The Kirigaya's had been devastated. They all had been. Their friends had been quick to forgive, but never forget. It took a year, but slowly all their friends and family came back to support them. Nothing brought back the gap that was left from Kazuto's disappearance, but it helped nonetheless. Midori's sister had slapped her when she found out Kazuto had left. Screamed profanities at the both of them for the boy's treatment before fleeing the scene quickly. Most likely in search of the boy.

There was always those that refused to forgive though. The friends they had in the form of the Asada Clan. They only had one daughter, Shino, who they loved fiercely. The girl was very shy, insecure and didn't like to socialise a lot. It was Kazuto that managed to get her to open up to her family so the news that he left was like a slap in the face. According to the Shino's parents, the girl wept for days and neglected to eat food before turning ill.

Sighing, the man turned back to his wife as she started crying again. She was reliving a memory from when Kazuto and Suguha were a lot younger, before they noticed Suguha's brilliance and neglected to notice Kazuto's own brilliance that would outshine that of his sister.

It was when they started to train in the art of sword from did the parents notice that Suguha was a natural with a Kendo Bamboo stick. She managed to battle her father for 5 minutes before her 4 year old body would give up. It saddened the man to realise that he didn't even give Kazuto the chance to test his skills as he told Suguha that she would be his apprentice.

Midori had shouted her protests at the idea of forgetting Kazuto but the boy had assured his mother that it was fine and he wouldn't be very good anyway. Minetaka could tell that his wife wanted to protest but the boy was unnaturally smart for his age and managed to quill his mother's anger with one significant look.

Sighing once again, Minetaka gave a silent prayer to the boy that he was alright and asking for redemption for how he treated his son.

They had to find him.

XxXxXxXxXx

"Do you think she knows I contracted you?" Shouzou said solemnly, the glumness present in his voice.

"That would depend, do you want me to lie or tell you the truth?" the boy replied, his eyes studying the impressive art work in the man's study.

"The truth, I need to hear It." the man sighed.

"You sucked." The boy replied, his eyes coming to stare at the man as said man looked down at his feet. The truth hurt, as they say.

A ghost of a smile appeared moments after, his wife seemed taken with the boy so there was always hope.

"That smile you put on around my family, I didn't think you knew what emotion was?" the man tried to joke even as his chuckle died out when the boy responded with his head tilting to the side.

Coughing to regain some composure, the man continued, "It was all an act then?"

"Yes." The boy paused as if debating what his next words would be, "It is better for the client and people involved if they think I care. By thinking well of me, the client never knows-"

"Never knows the monster that lays beneath?" the man hinted at to which the boy nodded his head at. It was always disturbing when a boy no older than Sixteen years of age would admit to being more of a monster than a human.

"I'm sorry," the man said only to be stopped by the raised hand of his guest.

"There is no need. You are correct in your assumption." At this the boy gained a cruel smirk, "many of my clients tell me that…" the boy trailed off, suspense littering the air.

"Tell you what?" the older man brought the bait, his own curiosity getting the better of him in this predicament.

"They tell me that I am quite the…Demon."

XxXxXxXxXx

So, there is the next instalment. As always, leave a review!

Not Beta'd.