4Prologue
Kaori stood still on the pedestal, impatiently waiting for her servants to cease with fitting her kimono. She fidgeted slightly, glaring at a particular servant, of whom was tightening the obi around her waist. "AI!" she yelped as she slapped away the servant's hand, "I can hardly breathe!"
The servant's eyes widened with fear and she lurched forward, loosening the obi the best she could. "Gomen, please forgive me Kaori-dono. I had no idea th-"
"Just get on with it!" she interrupted. Kaori shook her head in disgust and displeasure. The servant's were always more of a burden than a help. After what seemed like hours of standing, the servants had finished fitting the kimono and began to pack their supplies. Kaori finally waved them away with her hands in shooing motion. Sighing with relief, she shoved the last of the servants out the door and closed it with satisfaction.
Kaori groaned as she grabbed a chair and practically hurled herself upon it. She hated kimonos, and normally, she would never wear one. But today was special; and to please her father, Kaori agreed to wear a kimono for the festival.
She had not even sat for a mere three minutes when a knock at the door jolted the poor princess to her feet. As Kaori walked, she muttered curses under her breath. The stupid kimono restricted her long strides to small dainty steps, causing her to stumble several times. When she had finally reached the door she flung it open and flatly greeted her disturber with a "What do you want?"
Her eyes widened with embarrassment after she realized who she had spoken to. "Yasuo! I-um.. I'm-" Kaori continued to stutter with her words as her voice faltered off.
Yasuo grinned good-naturedly and bowed his head low. "Well now, how are you milady?"
"Fine, thank you." Finally finding words to speak, Kaori mentally scolded herself for being so stupid. "Umm.. Gomen. I should not have been so rude."
Yasuo chuckled wryly as he gently placed his hand upon her shoulder and escorted her out the door. After she had taken the final step out, he closed the door behind them and continued to escort the girl down the hall. "It's quite alright Kaori-dono. I get that a lot after all."
Kaori giggled in agreement. It was very true; Yasuo was a contender for every woman's heart. Even she was not an exception. But most of the time, his love songs and poetic words were turned down. But in fact, Kaori found Yasuo's amorous poems rather cute. After straightening up a bit, she glanced at Yasuo quizzically. "So.. Where are you taking me?" she asked as they approached the staircase.
Yasuo stepped off to the side in order to allow Kaori to go down stairs ahead of him. "By all means, ladies first."
Kaori smiled curtly and took a step, almost falling. If it hadn't have been for Yasuo, Kaori probably would have rolled down the hall set of stairs. "Heh.. Gomen. This stupid kimono keeps making me stumble. I hate it!"
Yasuo laughed as he continued to hold onto her shoulder. He didn't want her to fall again. "That's alright dear, but I'm glad I don't have to wear one," he teased, "And in regards to your last question, I'm taking you to see your father. He requested for your presence."
Kaori nodded her head. They continued to descend down the stairs, her steps clumsy; his cautious. Upon reaching the door, Yasuo gently nudged Kaori to the side and grasped the jade door handle. After he pulled the great door open, he motioned for the princess to go ahead. She took a dainty step into the main hall. The main hall was huge and full of oriental rugs. Paintings of conquests and victories hung upon the walls, while suits of samurai armor stood on either side of every door way.
Kaori smiled gratefully and she grasped Yasuo's hand and shook it. "Thank you for you assistance, I'm sure I can get to my father's throne without being a klutz."
Yasuo nodded and recoiled his hand from her grasp. "Well you better get going princess. I'll be seeing you later, neh?"
Kaori rolled her eyes and giggled, "We'll see, we'll see."
With that, Kaori continued on her way to her father's throne room. She passed such-and-such a corridor, went through so-and-so's room, and finally she reached the throne room. There her father sat, upon a massive marble throne. His brown eyes were that of a hawk, his nose sharp, and his lips in a firm crease. Kaori fell to her knees and bowed down low. "Ohiyo gosaimasu Otokooya."
The Emperor's lips curled into a smile at the sight of his unusually humble daughter. "Rise my child. Now tell me, what has brought on this change of heart?" With a slight motion of his hand, he signaled for his daughter to rise to her feet.
Kaori obeyed her father's orders and rose to her feet. Her eyes met his, and she knew that he was in a good mood by the way his eyes sparkled. She blinked and looked away from his gaze; it was impolite to look at any man directly in the eye, however she was lucky for her father was very patient and kind with her. "Well father, I thought it would be pleasing to you if I tried to be more lady-like for today's festival. And so I managed to find this kimono. Did it not belong to.." Kaori paused; she was getting to a touchy subject. "Did it not belong to mother?" She gulped and looked down. Noticing that she was revealing how nervous she was, she regained her composure and wiped away the sweat that was collecting on the back of her neck.
Her father scratched his head and glanced at the ceiling for a second. He took a moment to wipe his hands across his clothes; his hands gliding over the smooth silky material. "Why yes, it did. Come to think of it, you look-"
Kaori shook her head; she knew what was coming. "Just like your mother, yeah I know."
Chuckling softly, the Emperor reached out and stroked his daughter's raven black hair. She truly did look just like her mother; the exact same damned image. It almost hurt, seeing how his blossoming daughter was so much like her mother, always fighting for what she thought to be right no matter what the cost. And yet, she was so different from her mother that it seemed almost impossible. He rested his palm around her chin, his fingers gently caressing her smooth skin. "You make it sound like a bad thing. Be proud that you hold such beauty and grace. Kaori, you have what most girls dream of! Never be ashamed of that."
The princess smiled; revealing pearly white teeth. Almost every aspect about her seemed perfect. And that is what she hated, not her beauty. Nonetheless, she would listen to her father's meaningless preaching. She loved him, but sometimes he really didn't know what she was going through. The two stood there while an awkward silence seemed to consume the room.
Kaori continued to wait, hoping that someone would break the awful silence. Her wishes were answered when a courier rushed into the room, his braid of hair flailing behind him. He came to an abrupt halt and almost tumulted into the Emperor if it hadn't have been for Kaori, who pulled him back by the braid.
The courier bowed low and kissed the ground before the Emperor, which was the custom of anyone outside the royal family. The Emperor bid him rise and stared at him grim faced; a common expression of late. "You have a message to relay, correct?" He didn't seem to be in the mood to be interrupted, but as Emperor, he was to carry out all duties.
"Sir, the commoners are requesting that you give your speech so the festivities may begin. They are all very excited you know. They beg of you, please do so on behalf of Japan!" The courier alleged. His breaths were short and fast, it appeared that he had either run a great deal, or was just trying to get away from the angsty townsfolk.
The Emperor heaved a sigh as he wearily willed himself to rise to his feet. His movements were slow, but elegant. He cleared his throat several times and thumped his chest with his fist. "Please, tell the people," the Emperor paused, turned his head, and coughed into a cupped hand before continuing his sentence, "to wait only a minute longer. I am making my way to them. Tell them they have no need for distress and impatience, for I am coming." He shooed the courier away, trying to get him to get a move on. "Now now, make haste!"
The courier slowly nodded his head and made a mental note of the Emperor's message before scurrying off to the gated courtyard so he could relay the message to those waiting outside for the appearance of their leader.
Kaori glanced at her father, who, was at a snail's pace making his way across the vast room. Servants dashed hither and thither, one grabbing a bejeweled robe and placing it over the Emperors head. It slipped onto his shoulder perfectly; it's emerald's sparkling with a manificence that even the gods would adore. Another servant grabbed an ornately decorated hat and placed it on his head. Her father was now at the door and the two samurai guards standing watch escorted him down the hall. Kaori continued to watch them until they were out of sight. Poor father.. I hope he'll be okay.. she thought to herself.
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The sky outside remained cloudless, revealing it's excellent shade of light blue. Despite the beautiful sky however, a chill wind swept through the city like a sore thumb. Yet the city-goers congregated in front of the palace's gate. Anything but patient, they stood outside of the gate, several wearing long robes and coats, while a few less intelligent onlookers arrived without. Several guards stood in front of the crowd and shoved back those too eager for their own welfare.
Kaori glanced out the window from her room. She had gone in to retrieve a comb so she could put her hair up in the customary bun; like her mother. Glancing about her vanity, she was unable to locate the comb. It was a special comb, one that had been a family heirloom. Then again, pretty much everything in the palace was a family heirloom. Kaori came up empty- handed and growled in frustration. She was starting to get desperate, and so she cleared the vanity off with her arm; pushing her lady-like ways off to the side. She sighed with relief once she spotted the comb which lay neatly on the vanity untouched. She grabbed it and began to comb her hair, gathering it up into a bun. Round and round she spun it until it made a perfect little round ball near the top of her head. She held it there while she rummaged in a drawer for two chopsticks, specially made for such uses. Finally, her hands grasped two carved wooden dragons, yet another heirloom. With haste, Kaori stabbed them through the bun. Before leaving, she checked her reflection in the mirror and finally decided to leave her now cluttered room.
Walking as fast as she could in her kimono, Kaori stormed down the staircase and into the main hall. There her father waited along with her older brother Haruko, who was, unlike his father and sister, wearing an American suit. He and their father were in a heated argument and both were very much displeased. Kaori gazed at them in utter puzzlement. The Emperor glanced back at his daughter and hid his frown with a large smile. "Why there you are my sweet cherry blossom! We have been patiently waiting for you."
Kaori glared ruefully at the pair, her father was lying, they were not the least bit patient if you consider bickering with your son patient. "You have no need to lie to me father. Please you two, I want this festival to go well. I'm sure you both want that as well, don't you?" Her question was more of an order, despite the fact that she had less power than both her father and her brother, she was always revered. Haruko smirked; a sense of pettiness seemed to seep out of his words.
"Why yes of course, dear sister." he sneered. He had never been too fond of his sister. She had always been favored over him and seemed to be more qualified for the throne than he. This irked him to the point that he held a great amount of animosity towards his siter no matter how closely related they were.
The Emperor's daughter displayed her annoyance with an exasperated groan. Her brother was so disagreeable. "Well whatever. Let's just get this over with please? I hate this kimono. I don't care if it was an heirloom, I hate it!"
"I hate it!" mocked Haruko. No one ever seemed to care about when he hated things, it was always Kaori who was pitied and babied; not him.
The Emperor glared at the siblings and strode ahead of them. They were expected outside in the courtyard, where he would give his speech so the commencement of the annual festival could begin. Summer had now ended, and it was beginning to cool perceptibly.
The siblings followed the example of their father, always staying behind him on either of his sides. Six samurai guards encircled them as a measure of protection. Kaori never thought them to add up to much however. All they did was boss around the commoners and sit on their lazy butts drinking alcohol. She could never imagine why her father employed such unreliable swine. They proceeded out the large thirty foot bronze doors, which were opened by twenty guards; their grunts echoing through the hall.
The air outside pummeled Kaori in a shower of cold and refreshing bliss. The sky was perfect, and the chill felt great after being inside the overly hot palace. And besides, it was always a joy to be outside and experiencing the seasons and what came with them. Haruko, on the otherhand, was sulking. Unlike his sister, he liked being indoors. He practically lived in the palace library; reading his books. Books about conquest and combat, faraway lands and fantasies, even nature. But Kaori could never do things like that, she was too busy experiencing them.
The crowd roared in excitement, their long wait had finally come to an end. Once the Emperor finished with his speech, the festivities could begin and all would be merry. The Emperor stood upon a platform, his two heirs standing close behind him while the guards stood still encircled around them.
The Emperor held his hands up to silence the bubbling and vivacious crowd. As supposed to, they quieted down within a matter of seconds. Their eyes watched every move their leader made, as his hands fell to his sides. "My good people. Today is a very good day indeed. For today will mark the first day of Fall."
The crowd cheered and threw their hands up in the air, they were ready to get on with the festivities. The Emperor raised a hand again, and just as always, the crowd hushed themselves. "I know very well that you all are anxious to start the festival, so I shall make this speech as brief as possible. I want you to know that I am proud of your work and-"
In mid-sentence a soaring arrow pierced the Emperor through the chest while another oncoming arrow sliced through his neck. The decapitated head fell to the floor of the platform and the sound sliced through the silence. Pandimonium ensued and the crowd rushed away from the platform while samurai rushed to the fallen body of the now dead monarch.
Kaori's eyes widened in terror. She rushed to one of the samurai and drew his sword from the sheath that lay around his belt. Pulling another samurai off to the side, she relieved him of his sword as well. She was about to jump off the platform when she realized she was wearing a kimono. She grit her teeth, she would have to ruin her mother's kimono; for a good cause of course. Placing the tip of the swords held in her hands towards her thighs, she made a long slit on either side.
Her legs now free of their immobilized state, Kaori leapt off the platform and out into the crowd. The crowd dispersed as she rushed through for fear of their lives. Scanning the area for anyone who could have seen the assassin, Kaori spotted a lone samurai standing near one of the city's many walls. "You there! Where did the arrows come from?" Her voice was choked, but she managed to get her demand acrossed.
The samurai pointed towards a nearby alley. Kaori nodded her head and raced off in hopes of being able to confront her father's murderer face to face. She continued on so fast that she failed to realize the group of samurai following her to the same alley.
Her father's death must be avenged. That was Kaori's only thought as she ran into the desolate alley. Perusing the premesis, her gaze reached the top of the fifteen foot walls that lay on either side of her. The samurai who were trailing her from the beginning also peered at the alley, but found no way to get up to the top from here. "We'll have to go around if we wish to get up there Kaori-dono."
Kaori shook her head, she didn't have the time for that. "Fuck that! I'm gonna get up there from right here."
The samurai looked at her bewildered, in their eyes, such a thing couldn't be done. But they didn't think like Kaori, so of course they thought it couldn't be done. Kaori, still holding her swords, took several steps back. Propping one sword against the wall, she removed her sandals from her feet and threw them off to the side. Where she was going, she wouldn't need them. Taking a running start, Kaori rushed toward the end of the alley, while onlookers behind the samurai wondered if she was crazy or just stupid.
Kaori knew what she was doing, she had learned this from Sensei Jiro, the palace's one and only martial arts teacher. Her feet left the ground as she leapt several feet into the air. They landed upon the right-hand alley wall before richocheting to the left and back again. Back and forth she leapt before reaching the top. Kaori was sure-footed, always was, and her landing displayed such skill. There she stood, poised.
It was apparent that Kaori had landed upon the rooftop of some sort of store or even several stores, for dozens of small buildings lay scattered upon the roof; most likely staircases. Perhaps the assassin went down one of them? No, not possible. It would be much to obvious if an assassin just came running down into the store from the stairs. Kaori had no time for contemplation, she had to act. Now. She ran past several of the small buildings, and a movement caught her eye towards the corner.
A figure, clothed completely in black stood peering down from the rooftop at what lay below, a bow and arrow slung around his left shoulder. Kaori had found him, actually found the assassin. And she was going to stop him and bring him to justice. Her eyes narrowed to slits, taking formation of her "death glare."
Her fists clenched around the single sword she had left, she had forgotten to retrieve the other that she had propped against the wall in the alley below. That didn't matter however. "Hey you there! Where do you think you are going?"
The figure in black froze, slowly turning to face his oppressor. He wouldn't talk, he had no time to waste if he were to escape. Kaori had no intention of him escaping though, and she wasn't about to allow him to either. The assassin sighed, and raised his hands above his head as if to appear as though he gave up.
Kaori grinned, this was much too easy. "That's right you dirty son-of- a-bitch! Keep 'em up there!" The daughter of the now deceased Emperor slowly stalked over to her father's murderer, holding the sword steadily in her right hand.
The assassin continued to stand there seeming to have given up all hope. Well at least that was what it looked like to Kaori. But she seemed to have forgotten that all assassins always have a trick up their sleeves for every desperate situation. Before Kaori ever had any time to react, the assassin pulled off his mask and hurled it towards her. Naturally, she flinched and stepped back. This gave him the perfect oppurtunity to escape, and he took full advantage of it.
By the time Kaori had realized what had happened, it was too late. He was gone. She stood on that rooftop alone. She kneeled down and picked up the wooden mask of the assassin, an oni mask. The only trace of the assassin she had; a crimson oni mask. Her knees buckled forward from under her and she sat in that position listlessly staring off into space. She hoped with all her heart, hoped with all her heart that this was just a dream that had gone wrong. Very wrong.