5 comments/ 15421 views/ 4 favorites Zodiac of the Shogun Ch. 01 By: musecues NB: This is a test-run to see if the story is well liked. I had this story idea after listening to Jay Chou's Qing Hua Qi [blue and white porcelain] as well as reading the manga 'Fruits Basket' by Natsuki Takaya. As I am not Japanese and this story setting is in a feudal era, I had to do quite a lot of research before writing the story down. As such, any mistakes and historical inaccuracies are mine and mine alone. But above all, this is a work of fiction, so enjoy, rate and give me comments on whether I should continue! =) - MC *** The year was 1616. Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa Shogunate; a feudal society often known as the Edo period. The country was divided into three hundred regional domains, governed by feudal lords, daimyo who had total power over their respective land. The samurai protected these lands and served their daimyo and shogun with the utmost loyalty dictated by the tenets of bushido, the way of the warrior. The bushido provided a code of ethics that defined the service and conduct of the samurai; that he may not kill indiscriminately and at all time, safeguard his honour as an elite member of society. But the Shogun and daimyo did not always require the respectful ways of the samurai and would sometimes employ mercenary ninjas to carry out their missions and kept them as bodyguards. The ninjas of the Iga and Koga clan were among the most respectful and professional ninja warriors. Upon unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Shogun had bequeathed twelve special talismans shaped into a pendant for his twelve most loyal samurai and ninja. *** Year- 1707 "Miyukoko, hide in the shoin! Shut the shōji and lock it. I will come for you my child," said Ryunnosuke. Glancing back, he saw her eyes wide open with fear. "I promise," he added. Gathering up her kimono, she made a quick run for the shoin where her father spent his time studying and resting. It was their private sanctuary; a place where her father had taught her the art of self defense, away from the prying eyes of their neighbours. It was unusual in a traditional society for a woman to be interested in martial arts but after his wife's death, Ryunnosuke had encouraged his only child to defend herself. It was only logical that a samurai pass down his skills and wisdom to his heir and Miyukoko was all that he had left and he would do everything to protect her. Like now. The sky was brick red, lit by the blaze from burning houses. Women were shouting and children were crying. "Bloody bandits!" he swore. Then he ran towards the first bandit he could see and did his best to protect his village. Unknown to Ryunnosuke, a pair of eyes was watching him from the darkness provided by the trees. Dressed in all black, it was almost impossible to spot the perpetrator. He had a mission: Kill the samurai and steal his pendant and his daito. The daito was part of a pair of swords or katana that represented the samurai's status. He knew this katana was special or else his master would not have wanted it. Being the rat that he was, he began planning his moves. The perpetrator hid among the shadows, avoiding the chaos of the plundering. As he got closer, he could see the samurai more clearly. Ryunnosuke, or Ryun as he was often referred to, was no longer the dragon as his name suggests. Ryun was ageing and the perpetrator knew that killing the old man would be an easy job. But Ryun had sensed him. "A ninja?" he heard him whisper into his ears. He had not anticipated the old man's agility but he was now being held tight with the samurai's sword at his neck. "Who sent you?" But the ninja kept quiet. The samurai had been quick, but he was younger and much faster. Using his sode-kusari a chain weapon hidden in his sleeve, he disarmed the samurai in a split second. He now held the daito but he knew Ryun still had the short sword with him. Samurais always carried a pair of swords and he was counting on it. He could taste victory on his lips and a battle with a famous samurai simply whetted his appetite. Ryun had been weakened considerably by the hours of fighting with the bandits, whom he was beginning to think were not bandits after all, considering their level of swordsmanship. Yet, he kept his head high and knew that if this was to be his last battle, he would give it his all. The ninja was less skilled than he was but youth was on his side. His short katana was wrapped around the ninja's sode-kusari. It was now a matter of strength; whoever pulled the other to the ground first would most likely win. The ninja's eyes gleamed as he focused on Ryun. "Say goodbye Dragon. Your time has come," said the ninja. Then he did the unexpected- He let go of his weapon and the force of Ryun's pull earlier sent him reeling backwards to the ground. Using the long katana that he had taken from Ryun earlier, the ninja plunged it through the old man's heart. Smiling to himself, he took both swords and sheathed it. Then he began to search for the pendant under Ryun's kimono. Confusion washed over him when he realized that the pendant was nowhere to be found on the samurai. Where could it be? It was then that he realized that the daito he held were not the swords that he was suppose to steal. Surely it would not have been that easy to disarm a legendary sword. That bastard! He probably died thinking he had the last laugh. He had to find the sword and the pendant fast. The houses were slowly burning and he did not want to return to his master empty handed. He had to go into Ryun's house and retrieve the items. The fire had not touched his house at all since it was located further away; hidden near the hotsprings. The ninja wasted no time but rushed to Ryun's house. Then he saw it. A flickering light from a candle coming from the shoin. He did not want to take any chances. What if there was a samurai waiting for him? Swords unsheathed, he tiptoed towards the room, hiding always in the shadows. He could still see the light through the shōji. The translucent paper-like door structure made it possible for whoever inside to see his silhouette. Not intending to waste more time, the ninja sliced through the door and braced himself. Then he caught sight of her. Her eyes were wide with shock but stared at him with an intensity that was not one of fear. Defiance perhaps. She knew why he had come. But the ninja kept on staring at her. She was only dressed in her hiyoku; the inner garment of her kimono. The almost translucent white material of her hiyoku did nothing much to hide her curves although most were hidden by shadows cast by the candlelight. Her beauty mesmerized him until he forgot for a moment the reason he was there. That second of hesitation almost cost him his life. Miyako had pulled out her tessen, a fan shaped weapon made of iron and was posing in a fighting stance, waiting for her opponent. Her tessen had blades at the edge and was currently pointing at his neck. "No… Ryunnnosuke-sama sent me. I am Ken, the guardian of the Rat pendant." "Liar!" she hised and kicked him between his legs. Having gained a few minutes of freedom, she started running only to bump into another stranger as she exited the shoin. "Fukui-san?" asked the man, who adorned a regular kimono, unlike the black garments of the ninja. Nevertheless, she was on her guard and drew her tessen. It was an awkward moment as she was literally caught between two men who were possibly armed and want to kill her. But her new guest had sensed their third companion and moved past her without a stir towards the ninja. Ken knew that this man was trouble. He moved like a samurai and smelled like one. It was time for him to leave. Backing into the shadows, he scampered off. He planned to keep watch on Ryun's daughter and carry out his orders, even if it means killing her. "He's gone. Who was that Fukui-san?" asked the stranger as he turned towards Miyuko. "The question is who are you?" she replied, her tessen already fanned out, her body in an attacking stance. "My name is Hiroto Inoue. I come here bearing this letter for Ryunnnosuke Fukui from the Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi himself," "How can I know for sure that you can be trusted?" Not waiting for his reply, she launched her first attack with her bladed fan. The unsuspecting Hiroto was caught off guard, but managed to evade her attack. "Fukui-san, I will not draw my sword on you for it is against the bushido to do so indiscriminately, so please put your tessen down." Miyuko lowered her hand but kept her eyes focused on the man called Hiroto. Hiroto on the other hand was trying his best not to glance down towards her half parted hiyoku. "My father is dead. That man killed him." "Then you must take his place." "Not until I give my father his proper burial." *** They buried him near the falls before the cool spring water met the hot springs. Miyuko did the funeral ritual by herself, staying with the deceased in the same room overnight and offered prayers in the morning as she lowered his body into the ground. She refused to let Hiroto help her and despite her difficulties, she managed. It helped her grieve and she knew that soon, she had to take her father's place in the Shogun's court. She remained silent even as she packed her things, including her father's real daito hidden under his kimonos. "I don't need you to come with me," Miyuko said defiantly to Hiroto. "Even if you're a samurai, I will not let you make this travel alone." "Inoue-sama, I am capable of riding my own horse and defending myself against an attack." "You would be so lucky if all they wanted was to kill you," he replied calmly. Upon her sharp look, he grinned. "Then, may I remind you, Inoue-sama, that I am currently dressed like a man. There is no reason for… for anything to happen!" True enough, she was wearing her father's kimono. She had worn her hiyoku tight enough to bind her breast and had twisted her hair and hid it carefully under a straw hat. "Fukui-san, you are most definitely woman," he replied as he set the horse to trot next to hers. Miyuko kept her retorts to herself. She wasn't sure if she could trust this man but he was right. She needed his protection. As much as she could defend herself, she had still not completed her training and Hiroto Inoue is a samurai. If anything, she could respect him because of that. "Who do you think was that man who killed my father? Was he part of the bandits who plundered our village?" "He is a ninja… but I could not discern from which clan he is from. Did he take anything from you Fukui-san?" "No. But he was holding on to father's daito and that's when I knew he had killed my father and had taken his swords. You know what that means right?" "Yes, I do. That he has disarmed and dishonoured a samurai. I would rather you believe that your father had committed seppuku…" "But, we both know he didn't." "Then honour him by believing that he did." Miyuko kept silent for a moment. "Did you know my father well, Inoue-san?" "Our fathers were friends who trained together when they were younger. I believe I've met your parents once when I was about eight years old. I don't think you were even born then." "Do I really look like her? Like my mother?" "Yes you do. But I'm afraid you follow much of your father- stubborn, cynical and determined," he replied, smiling. The rest of their journey was travelled with minimal conversation. Miyuko kept her horse on a steady gallop. She wanted to reach the next village by sunset. She had a feeling that they'd be safer away from the darkness of the forests. Zodiac of the Shogun Ch. 02 NB: Hi all. First of all, I want to thank those of you who have given me emails and comments. It really encouraged me =) As for the names, I will gradually shorten it but for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the Japanese name system, here's a short summary: -san is like Mr/Ms and but the family name comes before that e.g.: Fukui-san or Inoue-san. Sometimes I use –sama in addressing Ryunnosuke because it denotes a form of respect for a higher authority. Okay, on with the story now. The next chapter will be on hold till after Christmas, so Happy Holidays to all! Love -MC *** The sun had just set when the Hiroto and Miyuko arrived in the next town in the Kohoku-ku. They had been riding up north for almost half the day and both horse and rider were in need of rest and food. Miyuko followed behind Hiroto quietly as her eyes roam the scenery of this strange town. Miyuko had never wandered further than her own district of Kanagawa-ku. The proximity of her village to the sea meant that most of the villagers were fishermen. But in this district, most of the people depended on the river for their livelihood. It was her first time seeing a watermill; Hiroto had kindly explained to her what it was used for. "Fukui-san, I hope you're hungry. The unagi here is one of the best," said Hiroto. "You mean freshwater eel? That's nothing compared to the kind we catch," replied Miyuko. "Wait and be amazed." When the inn-keeper came to greet them, Miyuko had bowed politely and settled herself on the tatami mat, opposite Hiroto at the table. "You don't have to sit seiza style, Miyu. You're supposed to be a man," said Hiroto, concealing his laughter. "It is the proper way to sit! On your knees and not on your buttocks like a ruffian!" "As you wish Miyu… just remember that this is an all male-inn. If you want to be safe, you must blend in." "Then, why did you stop calling me by my family name?" "Ah, I like the sound of Miyu on my tongue. An irony." "Why do you say that, Inuoe-san?" she asked as she repositioned herself to sit on her buttocks instead of sitting with her knees on the ground. "You're not beautiful nor gentle as your name implies," sniggered Hiroto. She was about retort when their server came with their food and Miyuko was forced to smile instead. "Eat up Miyu. I can't have a weak companion as we make the next journey tomorrow morning. The hills and forests heading towards Kawasaki city are very treacherous indeed." Miyu nodded and started on her food. Hiroto was right. The freshwater eel tasted so different from those caught in the ocean. "Be less demure Miyu…" She merely slanted her eyes at him and put down her chopsticks and started eating with the spoon instead. Scooping up a generous portion of sticky rice, she stuffed it into her mouth and started chewing. When they've finished eating, Hiroto ordered two cups of green tea. As he drank, he observed his companion over the rim of his cup. Miyu's face had been dirtied with a bit of soil and her hair bunned up and hidden under her straw hat. Still, it did not hide the fact that she had a graceful neck or pouty lips. Hiroto lowered his gaze and continued drinking his tea. "Inoue-san… may I see that letter addressed to my father please?" "I'm afraid that business is only between the Shogun and your father." "But he's dead!" said Miyu, half shrieking. "Precisely," replied Hiroto calmly, as he continued sipping his tea. When she remained quiet, he raised his gaze to stare her in the eye. She was fuming. "When we reach the capital, you may ask the Shogun yourself if you are worthy of reading that letter." "What is that supposed to mean?" "My job is to deliver this letter only to Ryunnosuke-sama. And even though you're his daughter, you may not understand everything that is not your business to know. Am I right?" Sighing, she gave in to his explanation. Denying her the right to read her father's letter made her even more wary of him. Miyu got up to her feet, bowed and excused herself to head to her room. The inn-keeper took her to her room and gave her towels and showed her where the bath house was located. Miyu bowed to thank the old man and closed the shoji. Remembering that the inn was only for men, Miyu decided not to risk taking a bath yet but to wait till the wee hours of the morning to try and sneak in for a quick wash. In the meantime, she saw that the inn-keeper had prepared a washing basin for her. So she soaked the towel and squeezed the water out and began to wipe the grime off her face. The warm water felt good and she was eager to have a proper bath. After taking off her father's outer kimono, she began to loosen the tight bounds of her hiyoku. When finally the binds were removed, she could breathe easier. Miyu massaged her breast in an effort to ease the tenderness brought about by her tight undergarments. Slipping off her hiyoku, she wiped her body with the towel. She wished she had soap but for now, she had to be satisfied. Feeling adequately clean, she reached for her makeshift rucksack and pulled out a nemaki. The soft cotton material of her sleepwear felt so good on her skin. She didn't like the rough material of her father's kimono and wished that she had brought hers along instead of agreeing to Hiroto's suggestion to dress as a man. Sighing to herself, she rolled out the futon on the floor and fluffed up the pillow to prepare for sleep. She was tired- mind, body and soul. She felt as though she was simply going on a journey and would come home again to see her father, waiting for her at their front porch. In that moment, Miyu simply laid down, placed her palms on her face and cried herself to sleep. It was a while later when she woke up and realized that the inn was really quiet and the lights had all been put out. Taking one of the lanterns in her room, Miyu took a dry towel and tiptoed her way to the bath house. It was a public bath and she really hoped that there would be no one inside at such a late hour. When she slide open the shoji, she was relieved to find it shrouded in darkness, except for the light coming from the moon and stars. Slipping off her nemaki, Miyu walked towards the washing area. One has to wash the body well before entering into the bath. Relieved to find soap, Miyu started to scrub herself and give a rinse before walking towards the bath area. It was an outdoor kind and faced the mountains although she couldn't see much with only moonlight shining on her. But she was thankful for the privacy. Slowly coming to a squat, Miyu let the warm water soak her tired body. Soon she was relaxing against one of the rocks; the soothing heat lulling her to doze. It was so quiet that the sudden stir in the water alerted her that she was not alone. Fear gripped her when she realized that not only was she naked, she had no weapon at all with her. How could she be so stupid? Stiffening, she tried her best to press herself as close to the rock as possible and away from the moon shine. Someone was walking through the water. Then there was no more movement. Her fear was heightened as she realized that the person, who is most likely a man, had sensed her presence. Thinking fast, Miyu pulled the the hairstick that was securing her bun and prepared to attack should anything happen. The water rippled again. Then there was no more. Miyu was confused. It was as if the person had totally disappeared. Peeking cautiously behind the rock, she saw nobody on the other side of the bath. Perhaps it had been an animal or a bird. Relieved a little, she relaxed and turned back to rest on the rock, only to come face to face with a man. Her reflexes were quick for her hairstick was pointed directly as his neck even as his face inched closer to hers. But her fear had numbed her. "You really should stop wanting to kill me, Miyu…" "How do you know my…" she started to say. "Name? That's enough of adventures tonight Miyu… you should go back to your room." "Inoue-san?" she called out but he was no longer around. Cautiously getting up, she crept back towards the washing area where she had left her towel and nemaki. Wiping herself dry, she put on her night dress and tiptoed back to her room. She saw the lantern in the next room still lit up. Giving a slight tap on his room's shoji, she waited for him to open. "Come in." "Inoue-san… I apologize for what happened just now…" said Miyu, bowing. She remained in that position until he spoke. "It's my fault. I thought dressing up as a man would be the best for you. We'll get you proper clothes in the morning. I don't want you sneaking into baths in the middle of the night with no one keeping an eye on your daito." "Then what were you doing there?" "Taking a bath." "And I can't?" said Miyu, feeling her temper rise. It was then that she got up from her bowing position and faced Hiroto who was only clad in his hakama pants. He didn't even seem bothered that she was there in his room. He was busy folding his soiled clothes. She never saw a man's naked body before. Her father too was built like Hiroto but his skin had started to sag and she would sometimes tease him when he had asked her to help rub his back. Blushing, both from anger and embarrassment, Miyu turned to leave. "Do you want to sleep here tonight?" he asked as she was about to leave. Miyu stopped for a moment, and then shook her head. "Keep your daito close to you when you sleep. He's out there." Miyu's eyes widened but she did not want to give in to her fear and instead shut her room door, took her weapons with her and hid under the comforter. *** When she woke up, the sun was already up. Sliding the window slightly, she felt the morning's breeze and sunlight flooding her room. Her ears caught the sounds of sliced air and knew that Hiroto was training. It was the same sound she would wake up to back home. Her father was a disciplined samurai and never missed his morning training. He was always complaining that she was a lazy bum for waking past dawn. But she insisted she was not a morning person. It hurt to remember. Tightening her nemaki, she took her father's daito and knocked on Hiroto's room door. He did not answer despite her knocks, so she slide the door open and stepped inside. True enough he was training. Still clad in only his hakama pants, each movement seem to enhance his upper body's definition. It was hard for her not to stare. Curiosity egged her on but modesty nagged her to lower her gaze. Curiosity won. His skin was bronzed and tanned and in the light, she could see the scars. Battle wounds, her father would say. His body was lean and his muscles well defined and his stomach taut. He didn't seem to mind that she was there at all. Miyu wondered if he secretly liked having her watch him like that. Her question was answered but not in the way she expected. Her daydreaming had caught her off guard when his katana was placed so close to her neck. "Pick up your sword," he said, moving the blade away from her. Miyu picked up the longer katana of the pair of swords and unsheathed it. She was used to its weight and wielded it firmly in her hands. Her smooth movement seemed to surprise Hiroto for he was frowning. "Attack me," he said after a while. "I'm not dressed for training," replied Miyu. Her hesitation cost her. In a blink of an eye, he had advanced forward with a downward slash, aiming straight for her head. She barely made it in time to block his hit with her katana but he was strong and she could not hold off the pressure for long. She pulled her left hand that had been supporting the back of her katana and swung the sword around her to execute a neat slash that stopped mere inches from Hiroto's neck. Her swiftness impressed him but as he stepped backwards to examine her, he realized she still had much to learn. Her stance was all wrong and he had a feeling that her strength and alertness was simply coincidence because she was threatened. "Fixed your robe and get dressed. We'll eat and find proper clothes for you," he said dismissing her. Miyu was confused and irritated by this man all at the same time. Who the hell was he to keep telling her what to do? With her sword still unsheathed, she jumped to her feet and came at him with a side slash to his back. The tip of her blade managed to graze his shoulder but in a blink of an eye, he had disarmed her by blocking her elbows and wrist. She crumpled to the floor with the weight of his push and surrendered when her sword was now in his hands and pointing at her face. His expression was unreadable. Miyu looked up defiantly despite being defeated. Then she saw his wrist moving; her katana moving downwards to the parted folds of her nemaki. "Don't tempt me," he said. He turned around, picked up her scabbard and sheathed her sword. Miyu got to her feet, took her weapon and stormed out of the room. Back in her own room, she started washing herself up and put on her father's kimono. What did he mean by not tempting him? With what? Tempting him to kill her? Or… Surely not. Ignoring her lingering question, she quickly bunned her hair and stuffed it under her straw hat. Packing the remaining of her things, she left the room, said thank you to the inn keeper and waited for Hiroto outside the inn. A moment later, he came out with their horses. Taking one look at her, he nodded and got on his horse and started trotting off. Rolling her eyes, she did the same and followed behind him. *** With the sun high up in the sun, Hiroto decided that it would be too hot for them to travel much further. "We have to stop following the river and ride through the forests westwards. I think it would be a good idea to fill our water bags and eat a little. The horses need to drink too." Miyu nodded her head in agreement and slid off her horse. The robes that Hiroto had procured for her were simple and comfortable. She had chosen to wear hakama pants instead of the usual kimono for it would be easier for her to ride her horse. Taking shelter beneath the trees, she watched as Hiroto refilled their water bags and was washing himself. She didn't know if she liked the man or hated him. "Here, drink up. I don't want you to dehydrate and fall off your horse." Her hand accidentally touched his when she took the bag from his hands. The contact made her blush. But Hiroto didn't look the least aware. He was staring far into the woods. "Hiroto-san…" "Hmm?" Hiroto raised his eyebrows when he realized she was calling his name for the first time. "Back in Kohoku… when you…" "When I what?" "When you said don't tempt me, what did you mean?" Hiroto faced her and after a while, he started laughing. "What? What's so funny?" Still laughing, he touched her cheek lightly with his fingertips. Miyu flinched a little then kept very still. She had never been touched by a man before and the strange warmth of his fingers scared and intrigued her at the same time. "Hiroto-san…" "Hmm?" "You haven't answered my question." "There's nothing to answer Miyuko. You're still a child. There's much for you to learn." Child? She didn't think so. She already turned twenty-two recently and that definitely made her a woman. Just to prove him wrong, she turned and pressed her lips to his. She had no idea what a kiss was or how it should be done but she had seen some of the local teens do it when she accidentally caught them behind the waterfall. Hiroto looked slightly pleased yet surprised. His lips curved into a smile. Then he kissed her back. He captured her lower lips between his teeth and gave it a suck. It surprised her for her eyes suddenly flared open. But curiosity made her follow his rhythm. His lips were surprisingly soft against hers and the warmth of their kiss sent shivers down her spine. She felt a strange wetness pooling between her legs; a sensation she never felt before. As his kiss deepened, she felt his tongue entering her mouth, exploring, wrestling with her tongue, coaxing it to come out and play. Very cautiously, she let her tongue touch his and was rewarded with a soft sigh from Hiroto. Slowly, he pulled away and kissed her forehead. "That's enough for now, Miyu…" "Hiroto-san…" "I think you can call me Hiro now…" he said, smiling. He took her palm and held it in his hand for awhile, before getting to his feet. "Come, let's continue our journey." Zodiac of the Shogun Ch. 03 NB: I apologize for the long hiatus. I was really stuck with this story but I seem to have gotten my muse back so I hope this story is satisfactory enough. =) I am open to suggestions as to how Chapter 4 would turn out like. *** When the reached the next town, it was nearly dusk but it was still bustling with life. Eating houses and wineries were filled with people; the smell of their food wafted through the air and conversations seemed to take place all at the same time, making the atmosphere chaotic. Miyu tried to take in all the sights and sounds of her surroundings. Then she caught sight of a woman, dressed in a beautiful kimono, her hair tied in the most exotic bun and her face painted white. Her clogs too were different from the straw sandals she was wearing. Seeing the half frown on her face, Hiro smiled. The woman had greeted him with a sweet smile and he had nodded in acknowledgement. "Did you know her?" "Of course not. She's a Geisha... well, if we were on holiday, I'd bring you for drinks where we'll be served by them. She was just being polite and friendly." "Gei...sha?" said Miyu quizzically. "Never mind that now Miyu... we're here." She wasn't sure what 'here' meant but he seemed to have brought her to someone's house. The house was a bit off the main road of the town but seemed to stand out against the backdrop of lush trees. "Mother, Father, I am home!" said Hiro as he stepped into his courtyard. Miyu followed him silently, admiring his house from a distance. Indeed, his house was beautiful and befitting of his class. "Ah, Hiro-kun... we've been waiting for you for weeks! Eh...?" said a woman, whom Miyu assumed was his mother as she greeted them at the door. "Mother, this is Ryunnosuke's daughter. Unfortunately, he could not be present himself and sent his daughter in his place." "Ah, but..." his mother started to protest but was quickly silenced by Hiro's stern look. "Come this way Fukui-san." "Ah, you can call me Miyu, Madam... I must thank you for your hospitality. You are most gracious for receiving me," said Miyu, bowing respectfully before Hiro's mother. "It is no bother my dear," she said as she smiled and led Miyu to an empty bedroom at the back of the house. "Miyu my child, you must pardon me but I have not seen you since you were a baby... time flies so fast... But forgive me Miyu, for I must ask... how did your father die? Did he die honourably?" Miyu looked at the elderly woman with surprise. "Yes he did Madam. He died protecting our village. He died carrying out his duty..." the change in her tone earned her a sympathetic look from Hiro's mother. She kept quiet for a few minutes before continuing. "It hurts me to see you here Miyu. You must not go with Hiro when he asks you to go to the palace... I have a foreboding that something bad is going to happen... You need not go there in place of your father... " "But I have to. It is my duty to the Shogun..." "Ah... loyalty... it is what kills them... it is what kills every one of them... believe me Miyu when I say this..." sighed the elderly woman. With that, she left Miyu alone in the room. Sitting down alone in the middle of the room, Miyu started to cry; letting out all the hurt of remembering her father's death. Was Hiro's mother right to tell her to go home? Putting her fingers on the pendant around her neck, Miyu tried to concentrate and tried to sense what Hiro's mother meant. Miyu had been brought up and trained to be a priestess at their local Shinto shrine. One thing she had learnt and been able to master was to read off the energy left by people inhabiting her surroundings. "Mmmm...." she chanted and as she was about to get immersed in her trance, a knock on her sliding door jolted her. "Miyu-san?" "Yes?" "Would you like to have dinner?" Hiro had already opened her door and was standing in her room staring down at her. He seemed so much at home in his worned kimono and for a moment, Miyu did not want to move but simply stare at him. "Miyu?" "Ah... perhaps not... I have no appetite." Hiro stepped inside her room and closed the door behind him. "We will be meeting with two other samurai tomorrow and then we will move on to the next village. Do you still wish to follow me, Miyu?" he asked. Miyu looked at him and saw that he bore no expression. "I am not strong enough." "What the shogun needs is not just strong allies... he needs intelligence, craftiness and above all... he needs loyalty." "I'll think about it..." *** Later that night, she woke up with a jolt upon hearing her name being called. The candle that was burning earlier had died and she was shrouded in darkness. Unable to see, she focused her other senses to gauge her surroundings. She could hear breathing. Definitely. It was almost easy to miss if she wasn't straining her hearing. She slid her hand slowly to check if her daito and the pendant were still under her robes and was assured when she felt the hardness of the scabbard. As her eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, she felt the air stir; suggesting movement... stealthy and almost elusive to an untrained eye. Whoever was in her room was unaware that she had been alerted because she had not moved and her breath was controlled. Then she felt the intruder jump and land silently, her face facing his feet. She could hear the clear treble of a sword slicing the air and then... "THUD!" The blade of the sword hit something hard right above her head. Miyu dared herself a peak and saw that she was encased in a bright red ball of fire. Then she saw the perpetrator. He wore the clothes of a ninja but his eyes, now gleaming from the light of the fire were staring at her with a look she comprehended as fear. The ninja inched away from her, then jumped out of the window. Still encased in the fire ball, Miyu tried to get out but the protective barrier seemed to be locking her in. As if aware of her intention to escape, it constricted and became smaller, almost choking her. Miyu felt the pendant also heating up, burning the skin on her chest. The barrier began constricting her, until she felt all the air from her lungs escaping... When she woke up, it was already morning. Looking down under the covers, Miyu was relieved to find both swords and pendant were still with her. Perhaps she had been dreaming about the whole thing. If there had been a ball of fire, surely some parts of her room would be burnt. Pulling on her outer robe, she combed her hair and opened her room door to find Hiro. It was still early in the morning but she could already hear the sounds his sword was making as it sliced the morning air. She followed the sound to a cascade clearing a few meters behind the house. It didn't appear strange to Miyu at first that she could hear from such a distance because she was concentrating only on the sound. But when she noticed Hiro, she snapped out of her daze and looked around her. She had walked quite a distance! The house could not longer be seen from where they were. Hiro was focused on his sword training that he didn't noticed her at first. It was only when she started walking towards him that he turned his head to look at her. "How did you find me?" "I just followed the sound of your sword..." Miyu replied. "My sword???" he exclaimed, bewildered. "I move with sheer accuracy that the only sound you can hear is when the opponent's head is on the ground!" "Well then, maybe I just wanted to talk to you so I searched for you..." she replied instead. She didn't feel like telling him about what happened the previous night. At her answer, he relaxed a little, almost as if the answered relieved him to a certain extent. "So what do you want to tell me?" "I will continue this journey with you. When the shogun decides I am not worthy to be in his service, then I shall leave." "That's very noble of you..." She didn't tell him of her fear that she would tarnish her father's honour and reputation. She didn't tell him of her fear that she would let both her father and her shogun down. "I better start packing..." "Wait..." he said. "Help me scrub my back." At her quizzical look, he merely shrug and passed her a washcloth. "I always bathe in this spring water after training. It gives me a sort of strength. Maybe you could go for a dip after I'm done. This might be the last time you're here. So make the most of it." He didn't even show an ounce of embarrassment when he took off his hayama pants and walked naked into the water clearing. Miyu only opened her eyes when she heard the soft splash of his body enveloped by the water. "Come on in..." He watched her as she took off her outer robe and then her inner robe until she was only covered in her susoyoke a half-slip that left the top part of her body bare. With her back turned against him, she pulled the slip upwards so that it covered her up more decently, she thought. The instant her feet touched the water, she yelped- not in pain but from pure shock of how cold the water was. It was unlike the hot springs that invited rest and calm but the coldness of the water seemed to alert and rejuvenate her all at once. For a moment she almost forget why she had gotten into the water in the first place. "Feels good doesn't it? Well... don't forget you're suppose to help me scrub my back," said Hiro. Miyu looked at him and smiled. It's been a while since she had scrubbed anyone's back. Her father would always call her to scrub his back... she didn't want to think of him too much because it still hurt. Taking a washcloth, she diligently scrubbed Hiro's back. She noticed that there was a long scar near his right shoulderblade. Hiro regretted now that he had asked her to scrub his back for her soft breast kept grazing his back ever so slightly that it was making him lose his focus. He knew that the thin layer of cloth she was using was probably soaked and plastered to her skin by now. It took a lot of restraint not to turn around and grab her. Finally when he could no longer take it, he turned around and smiled at her. "I guess it's my turn now." "Okay," she said innocently, unaware of the effect she was causing him. Miyu turned around to let him scrub her back. She had placed her hair to the front and had lowered her susoyoke a little to let him scrub her properly. It took a lot of control to scrub her gently with the washcloth when he was hard as a rock beneath the water. But she simply sat there, talking passionately about something but his mind could no longer register. He could smell her skin now at this close proximity and he finally gave in to his desire and placed his lips at the base of her neck. She instantly froze. But Hiro continued to trail warm kisses at her neck and down her spine. Miyu shivered but they both knew that it wasn't from the cold of the water. Closing the gap between them, he lifted her up and rested her butt on his thigh. She could feel something hard poking her butt. Curiosity got the better of her and she used a hand to grab it and it earned her a sharp groan from Hiro. "Oh!" she exclaimed, startled and let his cock go. "No... it feels good Miyu... use your hands and touch it..." he said encouragingly. Miyu did as he was told and she heard him take in sharp breaths again. Then she felt his hands moving to the front, grabbing her breast and it was her turn to gasp. Her hands on his cock stilled as his hands were now doing magical things to her breasts. Her susoyoke had somehow been pulled off and she was naked in the water in front of Hiro and the thought of it made her even more wet. His fingers gently pinched her nipples and pulled them again and again, making her moan. "Don't stop touching me Miyu..." Miyu closed her hands over his cock and cautiously stroked it. She wasn't sure if she was doing it right but Hiro wasn't complaining so she figured she was. Daring herself, she gripped his cock harder and he gave a soft growl. Feeling daring now, she stroked him harder, at a higher pace until he had to physically pull her away. "Not yet now my beauty..." he warned. Instead, he turned her so she was facing him, her legs at either side of his thighs. She instantly crashed her lips onto his, remembering their kiss not too long ago. With his hands still massaging her breasts, she turned wild, rubbing her pussy on his hard cock, bouncing up and down, demanding some release. Still kissing her, Hiro placed his hands near her mound and gently entered a finger into her wet lips. A soft moan got caught at her throat. He pushed his finger in and out, teasing her... before he pushed in another finger. At that moment, she gave a scream and he felt a wet gush of her lovejuice coating his fingers. Feeling drained from her first orgasm, she laid her head on his chest; her body limp. But Hiro was not done yet. Lifting her in his arms, he lined her wet pussy with his cock and impaled her on it. Miyu's eyes widened in shock and she gave a loud scream. Hiro was about to thrust in deep when he saw the tears in her eyes. Understanding registered in his mind when he saw blood trickling down her thighs. He immediately stilled and held on to her, letting the pain ebb. When she lifted her head to look at him, he kissed her softly. "Do you want me to move?" "Yes..." she said, moving her hips, slowly at first then more boldly as the pain was slowly replaced with an intense pleasure. Hiro moved his hips up to meet her downward thrust and was rewarded with another wet spurt as she had another orgasm. He could also feel his turn coming soon. He pulled her off just in time to spray his seed all over he breasts. "We should probably go back to the house now..." Hiro said, a moment later. He dared himself a look at Miyu as she stepped out of the pool and in that moment, he knew that he was hers. When they returned home, they already had guests waiting for them. Two men and a lady greeted them and introduced themselves as the guardian of the Rabbit, Dog and Rooster pendants. They looked like ordinary townspeople but Miyu knew when she saw their daito that they were bushido warriors. Hiro wasted no more time and explained that they would be leaving before the sun was high in the sky. Miyu had packed her meager belongings and was leaving her room when Hiro's mother walked in. "Are you still going my child?" she asked. "Yes maam... I have to stand for my father's honour..." "Be very careful Miyuko... The world of the palace is very treacherous." "I'll remember that... Thank you Inoue-sama for your kind hospitality," Miyu said and bowed her head out of respect for Hiro's mother. *** They reached Edo about a few days later and they were told that the other guardians of the zodiac pendants have already arrived and were staying in the palace quarters. Miyu had been dazzled by the magnificence and beauty of the palace. She was told that the palace had three gardens and seven wings for the hosting of different activities. When they had settled into their individual rooms a few hours later, a messenger had been sent to her room bearing a letter of invitation from the Shogun. She was also given a change of clothes and some sake. Opening the letter, she was informed that the Shogun was going to hold a banquet for them the that night to express his pleasure of their arrival. He had gathered them twelve for a reason, she thought and they were all going to know about it soon. Miyu turned to the change of clothes that the messenger had brought. It had been wrapped up in a silk cloth so it came as a surprise when she saw a beautiful set of silk jūnihitoe commonly worn by the ladies of the court. She wasn't sure if she should be wearing such a delicate thing. Taking her daito, she left her room and headed down towards Hiro's room. "Hiro, what will you be wearing for the banquet tonight?" "The Shogun has already given us a change of clothes and he expects his loyal subjects to wear them." "Oh... okay... I... I was just curious why he'd want to gather all of us here... it just feels strange..." "It is an honour, Miyuko..." She left Hiro's room and was walking back to her room when she noticed a few women outside her door. She automatically went on her defense. "Oh Fukui-sama, please let us help you with your jūnihitoe!" they exclaimed. It relieved her to know they were ladies-in-waiting after all... Over an hour later, she was escorted down to the Hōmeiden banquet hall. She felt nervous yet excited at the same time. When the door of the banquet hall open, it took all of her discipline to stop herself from leaving her mouth gaping wide. It was magnificient. The walls were draped with golden cloth that and the ceilings had an array of sparkling chandeliers that seemed to reflect light in every direction. But what caught her eye most was the dining tables. There at the furthest end was a table for the Shogun while flanking him on both sides were tables filled with so much food on golden platters that she wondered if anyone could finish all of that. She was escorted to the third chair at the table on the left. Hiro was seated on the second last chair in her row. She did not recognize any of the other warriors in the hall, especially on the opposite table. When it was announced that the Shogun was coming, everyone was ordered to stand and bow to him. She heard his footsteps... they were soft and sure and when they finally stopped, he spoke. "Please, have a seat my loyal warriors. Let the feasting begin!" he announced, as he held his cup of wine as a toast. Miyu ate in silence, even when all around her noise and chatter filled the air. She noticed that there was an empty chair at the opposite table but she kept her observation to herself. Perhaps the last bearer of the pendant had died, leaving no heir. It made her think of her father again and it made her feel sick with worry that the Shogun would not find her worthy. A moment later, the Shogun raised his goblet and signaled for the room to quiet down. "All of you must be wondering why I asked all of you here tonight..." murmurs of agreement followed. "As I am pleased with your services to me over the years... I am also displeased at the knowledge that there has been rumours about a coup against me... by my own carefully selected warriors. And now I have no need for you." The room went into an uproar as everyone became confused and shocked at such a revelation. "But... I do however have one last test for all of you. The previous Shogun had chosen you to be his warriors and now it is my turn to choose... I only need one warrior... whose loyalty I will test from his or her victory over the others." The room fell silent. Miyu could feel bile rising from her throat. "One bushido to one ninja," he continued, a sly smile on his face. "Place your pendants in front of me now... one by one... and I will see if you are worthy for this test." The Shogun started with the guardian of the Ox pendant. Miyu was confused as to why he did not start with the Rat pendant, who was the first in the Zodiac circle, when she noticed the talisman in the Shogun's hand. The Shogun is the Rat... The Ox pendant started to shake on the table and a soft brown glow was emanating from it. The Shogun smiled and nodded his head. Next came the Tiger then the Rabbit and finally, it was her turn. The room was silent when she came to centre stage. "Who are you?" the Shogun asked. "My father is Ryunnosuke Fukui, bearer of the Dragon pendant, and I am Miyuko Fukui, his only daughter, my lord." She looked him straight in the eye; the defiance in her voice unmistakable. She knew those eyes. And she knew that he knew too. Zodiac of the Shogun Ch. 03 "You are not worthy to be a warrior..." he said slowly then he burst into a thundering laugh that echoed in the hall. "No... Fukui-san, you are definitely not a warrior... you will be my woman!" Miyu's eyes widened in shock. "My lord!" some of the others exclaimed. "Her pendant?" "Ah yes... see... nothing..." he said, bringing his own pendant close to hers. Her pendant did not glow like the others. When she saw that her pendant remained dormant, she could no longer control herself but run towards the hall doors. Immediately guards blocked her path and she could no longer escape. "Bring her to her room for tonight. I will deal with her later," ordered the Shogun. Hiro could only watch as the guards dragged Miyu out of the hall. He knew that he might not be spared should he voice his displeasure. When all the pendants were proven to still contain their animal spirits, the Shogun then paired them up and ordered them to assemble in the grand courtyard the next morning. Hiro felt defeated even before anything. He had planned to escape with Miyu that night... but when he reached her door, he saw at least a dozen guards outside, ensuring she was locked in. His heart sank further. Would he have the heart to fight his fellow warriors? Would he emerge as the one true loyal warrior? Then what?