Chapter 8 - Dinner

Sorry for making ya'll wait so long for this update! The picture above is Izumi's usual attire in the Elite Division.

This chapter is dedicated to FTEmperial! Happy reading!

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Izumi pov:

"Just because there are rumors like that going around, it doesn't mean that we'll be caught. We're much better at being stealthy than them! Just think about it – we've been doing this business for more than six month but nothing has happened. It's obvious that the Blood Emperor's army is just a bunch of good for nothing fools!"

"Well, that's quite a way to insult us." Koharu muttered from next to me, annoyed.

"They have no idea who they're really dealing with." Asahi, another member of our team for this mission said with an amused chuckle. He was one of the younger soldiers in the Elite Division – twenty seven years old – but looked much younger than his actual age. He was short and lean with short messy silver hair and grey eyes that always seemed to have a mischievous and amused glint in them.

"They don't know that the rest of their organization has been caught a long time ago and that these three were being spared because what they didn't wasn't much of a threat at all and merely for collecting the remaining illegal loot." I said with a shrug. I had been informed a bit about this mission beforehand by Haji san even though this was pretty much a 'clean-up' mission where remaining insignificant crumbs had to be taken care of.

"True. But that doesn't give them the right to think so lowly of us." Asahi said, narrowing his eyes and smirking behind his dragon emblem mask – one that every member of the Elite Division wore on missions to stay unrecognizable. "Let's give them a piece of us, shall we? I'm taking the big guy. You two can handle the other two wimps."

Even before Koharu and I could say anything, Asahi had bolted forward, following the three men as they walked into what looked like a warehouse. Koharu and I looked at each other before sighing at Asahi's infamous impatience before heading into the warehouse ourselves. We weren't particular about which guy we fought as long as we got some good action so we split up and followed one of the men each as they too split up to get different jobs done.

I followed a guy who looked to be in his late thirties with messy dark hair, an axe strapped at his waist. He was carrying a crate of illegally imported goods, one that we had to confiscate as a part of the mission besides apprehending these wrongdoers. He walked into another room after opening the huge metal lock with a funny looking key and I followed suit quietly and absolutely inconspicuous. Once he placed the crate down along with four others, he wiped the sweat off his brow.

"That's all of them. Now all we have to do is get it to the port and...."

He stopped talking to himself upon hearing one of his buddies scream. It was a blood curling scream and I was sure that it was from the guy that Asahi had followed to take care of. It was followed by another yell and the guy begging for the torture to stop.

"What the?! What's going on out there?! I'm going to kill anyone who tries to mess with us!" The guy in front of me barked.

I smirked though and pulled out one of the small daggers in my weapon's pouch strapped to my upper right thigh. Before the man could take a step forward, I threw it at him, barely missing his nose and getting lodged in the wall next to him. Startled, he stumbled back and fell onto his rear.

"I don't think so. You're not going anywhere." I said as I walked out of the shadows so he could see me now.

"What?! Who the heck are you?!" He roared as he got up and eyed my half covered face uneasily.

"Oh, no one special." I said with a shrug. "Just one of the fools of the Blood Emperor's army."

"The Blood Emperor's army?! How did you get in here?! Wait, what are you doing here in the first place?!"

"We're just here to clear out the mess you guys have been creating in the Capital. Don't bother trying to act tough because we know all about you guys. The rest of your organization has been taken care of already." I said and walked towards him coolly.

"Impossible! There's no way that could be true! This wasn't supposed to....!!"

"Blah blah blah." I said putting a hand on my hip and having the other mimic a blabbering mouth. "You know, I don't really care whether you think this is supposed to happen or not because it has happened. Stop getting all worked up about it, alright? Now since that matter is taken care of, why don't you come with me without resisting? His Highness the Blood Emperor has given us orders to capture at least one of you alive so he can get a detailed report on everything your organization was doing and prevent another organization like yours from being set up."

"You wench! You won't get away with this!" He barked and ran towards me with his hand fisted and ready to punch me.

I let out a deep sigh and clicked my tongue. "It's so frustrating when these people don't listen to what you're saying. Or perhaps I was just asking for too much cooperation."

I dodged his punch easily, bending sideways and ducking. He had some skills in fighting but it wasn't enough to get away from my onslaught. I fought back and landed a few powerful hits on him but he did manage to dodge and block a few. Using the surroundings to my advantage, I climbed the crates lying around. Being at a higher elevation compared to the opponent gave me quite the advantage. When he got close enough to me, I jumped and turned three sixty degrees in the air to kick him across the face. He stumbled but didn't fall and was back to attacking me with full force.

Holding my arms up in front of my face in an X shape, I blocked one of his punches. He had brute strength and I sucked in a sharp breath and the slight pain I felt in the arm that took most of the impact of his punch. I was sure that a bruise would surface soon but I wasn't really bothered about it. Bruises and occasional cuts on my body were a part and parcel of my occupation – both here and in the modern world where I originally was from.

The guy's concentration seemed to drop for a split second when we heard another scream bellow through this so called hideout. I used the chance to jab two of my fingers into the soft spot at the base of his breastbone causing him to hack, wheeze and curl over. I then took a hold of his shoulders and kneed him in the face only to leave him with a blood dripping nose. I was sure that I hadn't hit him hard enough for his nose to break though – I preferred not causing too much damage to the enemy and just enough to subdue any effort to stay standing against me.

Under the effect of the two significant blows I had given to him, he buckled ad fell to his knees in front of me. I ran a hand through my tied up hair to get the few strands sprawled over my face out of the way before grabbing the guy's collar and dragging him out of the room to the main hall where Koharu was waiting with the guy she had gone after lying in a pool of blood at her feet. I grimaced at the sight, still not very used to seeing people in the midst of quite a bit of blood splatter. Everyone in the Elite Division killed as a part of their job but I had clearly refused to become an assassin like them. I informed Haji san as well as Ichirou san that I would go out on any mission required but I would not, under any circumstance whatsoever, mutilate or kill the enemy.

Thankfully, my decision was approved without much of a fuss and I was assigned to be the one member responsible for taking important witnesses and evidences into custody.

"Where's Asahi?" I questioned upon reaching Koharu and shoving the guy I was holding at her feet. He tried to crawl away from us but Koharu kicked his side causing him to curl up in pain and stay unmoving.

"On his way here, I presume. The last scream you heard was from his finishing blow." Koharu said flatly, though with a hint of distaste.

I nodded and looked ahead upon hearing footsteps. Asahi walked out of the room on the side, his clothes stained in blood and a satisfied smirk on his face. He looked at us victoriously and I managed a half hearted smile while Koharu just ignored him.

"Took you long enough." She muttered when he reached us.

"I had to finish things properly, right?" He responded with a shrug. "He put up a good fight – it was fun."

Asahi was a bit of a sadist who tortured his enemy before killing them off – he would often slowly maim the enemy while questioning them about why they were doing something against the Blood Emperor, lecture them on how wrong it was and that they would have been spared if they weren't being the bad guys. After venting out some anger and mocking them since they were losing, he would kill them. As a result, his clothes were usually stained with quite a bit of blood after any mission. And this time was no different.

"Right....let's go then." Koharu said and walked out of the building.

Asahi followed suit while lugging the guy at our feet like a rag doll behind him. I shook my head and headed out as well into the small alley through which we would have to get back to the palace without the civilians knowing.

We made it back to the palace in a few minutes, going in through a hidden entrance away from any sort of human traffic and we made it to our barracks. Asahi headed to another barracks close to Ichirou san's quarters – it was mainly for interrogating enemies that were caught and served as a temporary prison hold and judgement hall. There was a separate team of samurai who handled the torturing and bloody interrogation and the final decision for the punishment after getting the information required was taken by the Blood Emperor himself.

"Hey Izumi, I'm heading to the bathhouse for a soak. You want to join me?" Koharu asked as we walked through the hallways to our respective rooms.

"Yeah, that sounds good. It's been pretty busy with all the missions since the past two weeks and I haven't been able to wash up for more than five minutes a day." I said, looking forward to a long satisfying soak in the hot springs.

"I'll say. Shogun has been making us work our butts off lately. Then again, it's probably because the number of rebels are on the rise. Suppressing them and ensuring the prosperous rule of the Blood Emperor is our job after all."

We parted ways for a few moments to get our towel and toiletries before heading to the bathhouse. We wasted no time in getting out of our sweaty, dusty and partially blood stained clothing before getting into the comforting hot water of the hot springs. We waded into the deeper part of the water and took a seat against one of the big boulders.

"So what's going to happen to the guy we caught today?" I asked while running a hand through my wet hair.

"Hmm, first he'll probably be tortured to fess up about who and what he was working with and if the organization he was in has partners in crime. Once we have the information, Shogun will inform His Highness about what we've found out and then His Highness will decide the punishment. Seeing how big an organization it was, I'm guessing he'll be put to death." She said with a rather nonchalant shrug.

I nodded slowly and looked at the rippling water in front of me. The Blood Emperor sure seemed like a serious guy. He showed no mercy to his enemies, just as what I had heard from Kanzaki san as well as Haji and Koharu, and was quick in deciding punishments for enemies. Most of his punishments seemed to be death sentences rather than imprisonment. Was it really so easy for him to command his Shogun to kill someone? True, it was the enemy he had to deal with but didn't he feel even the least bit uneasy about killing someone when their crime wasn't even in the least fatal?

I closed my eyes and shook my head. What did it matter to me what he did with his enemies anyway? As long as I was spared from the dirty work, I was fine with rounding up the bad guys and quelling their illegal hobbies.

"You know, Izumi, I've always wondered what kind of man the Blood Emperor is. Haven't you?" Koharu asked, interrupting my train of thought.

"What kind of person he is?" I repeated. "Well, I guess I have....but it's not something of really great interest to me."

"How can it not be?!" Koharu hollered. "Aren't you curious to know what he looks like? What he wears? The sound of his voice....maybe?"

I raised a brow at her last question. "The sound of his voice? Now why would I be curious to know that??"

She blushed for a moment before clearing her throat and looking aside to cover up her momentary embarrassment. I found her behavior odd –what was she getting all flustered about anyway?

"What I meant was, wouldn't you just like to see the handsome emperor of Nihon? I've heard that he's just twenty four years old so he must be a very handsome man, right? I'd be ready to sneak into the palace, and hopefully not get caught, for a chance to get a glimpse of him!"

"Well, twenty four is a young and handsome age, I suppose. But how can you say that he's handsome? What if he's an ugly, wrinkly guy with a hereditary balding head?" I asked and scrubbed the dirt off my arms and shoulder with a bath sponge.

"He is not ugly or bald! I've heard from the women in his harem that he's a stunning sight to see!" Koharu retorted with a pout, not happy that I was insulting the Blood Emperor.

"I'm just saying." I said, holding my hands up in defense.

"You're no fun, you know that? Unfortunately, the women in his harem don't get to see him often anyway, which is a pity. . It's almost like he's not really interested in them – he barely visits his harem, you know? Besides, he's always busy with managing the affair of his empire and we've never got a chance to actually see him outside the palace. At least the other three princes and the princess show their faces every now and then....and if they are that good looking, I can almost imagine how handsome His Highness would be." She said with a slightly dazed sigh.

"You've actually noticed that he doesn't visit his harem often? Why on earth would you want to notice that??" I asked incredulously.

She stared at me for a moment, sort of lost in thought. Then she chuckled, shook her head and leaned back more against the boulder with a playful smile.

"It seems to me that you're still a child. If you were more mature, you'd understand the true charm a man can have in a woman's eyes. You may look like a young woman on the outside but you're definitely not a woman at heart yet. Looks like I'll have to teach you." She said clicking her tongue.

Right....whatever." I muttered and then dove underwater to wash my hair.

"Isn't there anyone who's ever caught your heart, Izumi? You're eighteen! Surely there must be at least one boy or man in your life." Koharu continued when I resurfaced.

"There isn't, Koharu." I said flatly, refusing to say anything more. I had no reasons to give her because love and dating hadn't been on my 'to-do' list. I had been working my butt off to earn and save money and live through the danger filled errands I ran every day. I had no time for something as silly as dating....not when most of the guys I had seen and heard of were only interested in the exterior.

"You're really no fun....such a saint even. No romance, no killing....I wonder how you learnt to fight so well when you're not even going to use those skills properly."

I rolled my eyes and didn't bother saying anything in return to her comment. She figured that I wasn't going to talk about this anymore and I wasn't in the least affected by the fact that I was happily single and unromantic so she didn't continue the topic further. She shook her head with a sigh and closed her eyes to unwind.

"Thank goodness we have the hot springs for ourselves today. It's usually so noisy because of the men and even more annoying when they try to get a peep at us." She muttered after a few seconds.

"I'm not too bothered by the noise but I have to say the peeping part is quite annoying." I said with a nod, having experienced it myself.

We settled into comfortable silence after that and just soaked in the water, relaxing the tension in our muscles that was a result of our recent hectic mission schedule. We now sat leaning against boulders opposite to each other and Koharu stayed with her eyes closed. I, on the other hand, looked up at the orange sky and the fluffy clouds here and there, lost in thought. I wouldn't say that I was interested about what happened in the palace but Koharu's question about the Blood Emperor's looks had sort of piqued my interest for a moment. In the time I had been here, I hadn't seen, let alone met, any person from the royal family so I couldn't even guess the Blood Emperor's appearance. I did wonder once if he was young monarch or a middle aged man with a beer belly, or in this case a sake belly, but that curiosity had long disappeared.

I mean, what does it matter to me what he looks like anyway?

I let out a deep sigh and lowered my gaze to the water. I ran a hand through my wet hair and decided to soak for just a few more minutes before heading to dinner. I was quite hungry since I hadn't eaten anything since lunch.

A few moments of silence passed until Koharu and I heard the sound of footsteps in the changing room and heading to where we were. We straightened up and narrowed our eyes while looking in that direction. We made sure that we were covered properly in our towels and we reached for a couple of pebbles in the water to use to hit any peeping toms who tried to anger us. However, much to our surprise, two women who looked like attendants walked out of the change rooms and came to stand just before the waters of the hot spring. They had their hands in front of them, covered in their sleeves, and they gave low bows with their eyes closed.

"Izumi dono." One of them spoke and looked at me passively. "We request you to come with us and allow us to dress you for this evening."

"Allow you guys to dress me? No thank you...I believe I know how to dress myself and I don't need help from others." I said curtly.

"You misunderstand us, Izumi dono. His Highness and Prince Shichiro wish to have you join them for dinner today. We are here to help you into an attire befitting for one in the presence of His Highness. So please, come this way, Izumi dono." The other explained.

"The Blood Emperor and the Prince want to have dinner with me? I thought he was too busy to meet pheasants like me." I said sarcastically, remembering what Ichirou san had said when I asked him if I would ever get to meet the Emperor.

"You mustn't speak that way about His Highness when he's being so generous and courteous....unless you wish to anger him. All that aside, we must make haste and get you ready. His Highness does not like to be kept waiting."

"Well! Aren't you lucky!" Koharu teased with a mischievous grin. "Looks like the Shogun was wrong about you never getting the chance to speak to His Highness. Then again, you are the one who saved the Prince – it's probably a given that he would want to meet you and thank you in person."

"Oh shush, Koharu. I have a feeling that this meeting has hidden motives. Ichirou san has been here longer and I'm pretty sure he knew what he was saying when I asked him if I could meet the Blood Emperor. Something about this just doesn't feel right." I muttered but waded towards the stone banks of the hot spring where the two attendants stood.

"Tell me what he looks like if you get the chance to see his face!" She said with another chuckle. I deadpanned at her before walking into the change room.

I got into my usual usual attire before following the attendants to the main palace. I was led through a series of hallways, which I did my best to make a mental map of, and into a large, luxurious room. There was a huge dressing table on one side with a big mirror attached to the wall. On either side of it were multiple chests and boxes of jewelry, silk clothes and shoes. There was also one multiple-compartment box that seemed to have a wide variety of Edo Period cosmetics.

"Please get into this komono, My Lady." One of the attendants said and I turned to see her holding up a pink silk kimono, the sleeves long and draping, and the obi in a mix of white and light blue.

"There is no way I'm going to wear that just to a dinner party." I said and glanced at the other accessories near the dressing table. "And it's even more of a no-no for those if you have any plans of making me wear them. Fancy clothes and jewelry and so not my thing."

"We apologize, My Lady, if you are not very comfortable with dressing this way. But His Highness expects those who meet him to present themselves well. It is all the more important because you are a young woman and you are His Highness's important guest!" They hollered, even squealing a bit in excitement. I raised a brow wondering why they were so excited about me meeting the Emperor and being his 'important' guest.

"Ah....this is such a hassle." I muttered under my breath before taking the kimono. "Alright, let's just get this over with. Make it quick though because I'm not ready to sit through a long makeup session."

Once I was changed into the kimono, the attendants had me sit down in front of the mirror of the dressing table. I refused most of the makeup they wanted to slather on my face and settled with just a dab of powder to make sure my face didn't look oily, light mascara and red lip coloring. They tied up half my hair in a fancy and the rest of it in a ponytail which rested over my left shoulder. I made sure that they put nothing more than a simple hair ornament in the side of my head, happy with having the least amount of jewelry possible, but they made me wear a pair of shimmering stone ear rings and a bracelet as well.

I was restless and mildly irritated by the time they were done. I took deep breaths to completely calm myself as they escorted me to where I would be having dinner with the Blood Emperor and Prince Shichiro. We made it to a set of huge gold plated double doors guarded by two soldiers who eyed me up and down both suspiciously and with a hint of awe. I rolled my eyes and walked in through the doors that were opened after I had received permission to go inside.

I was surprised that my jaw didn't drop to the floor at what I saw in the room. It was the throne room – a huge hall with extravagant decoration and guarded by many soldiers. There were silk drapes adorning each and every column on both sides of the central hall, the carpet that led up to the throne pedestal was a royal red with the dragon emblem embroidered in gold at the very center and the drapes that hung from columns around the throne pedestal itself that shielded out the clear view of the emperor sitting there were made of the finest silk I had ever seen in my entire life. Sitting on the right of the Blood Emperor on a rosewood chair of intricate carvings was Prince Shichiro, also dressed in robes made of what I would call the finest silk. Placed in front of him on a single table was a variety of food in perfectly made ceramic ware and silver chopsticks with gold plated ends. A similar serving of foods was placed on a rosewood table on the carpet barely ten feet in front of the throne pedestal with a fluffy pillow in front of it to sit on. I guessed that was my spot.

I also noticed that Ichirou san and Soutarou san were standing on either side of the emperor – it's obvious that the advisor and the Shogun would be present today, by the Blood Emperor's side. They weren't here merely because it was a necessity or an obvious requisite; they were here to observe me, to judge me.

Taking a deep breath and holding my chin high, I stepped forward until I was just next to the table of food arranged for me. I gave a bow with my eyes closed, bending almost ninety degrees. I was aware of how to respect those of royalty from all the dramas and movies I watched back in the modern world. Although, acting in movies and real life scenarios were two different aspects. I just hoped that what I was doing now was good enough to stay on the good side of the Blood Emperor.

"His Highness welcomes you and thanks you for joining him for dinner, Izumi san." Soutara san spoke and I opened my eyes to look at the red carpet below. "You may stand."

I took another deep breath and straightened up to look at the silhouette of the Blood Emperor behind the netted curtains. I narrowed my eyes when I noticed that the Blood Emperor's was speaking – his jaw was moving and I could vaguely make out a slight movement of his mouth. I couldn't hear anything that he said but it seemed that Soutarou san, Ichirou san and Prince Shichiro could.

"His Highness says that you may take a seat so dinner can be commenced." Soutarou san spoke again and motioned to the food table with his hand.

I took a seat on my knees on the pillow in front of the food table while adjusting the kimono uncomfortably. I honestly wondered how people managed wearing these things all day long. I'd prefer jeans and t-shirts over this any day and any time!

"His Highness, first and foremost, wishes to thank you for saving Prince Shichiro's life. He is at a loss of what to do to express his immense gratitude. He wishes to know if there is anything you wish for to be granted and if your stay here in the palace in the barracks of the Elite Division is satisfactory."

"Yeah....everything is comfortable for me at the moment." I said with a shrug.

"Onii sama, w-would it be alright for me to thank Izumi san as well? Personally perhaps?" Prince Shichiro spoke up timidly while fiddling with his fingers.

The Blood Emperor spoke and Prince Shichiro's eyes brightened. He nodded, thanked him and got up from his seat. He walked to me and I stood up as well, not wanting to be rude or informal in the presence of a man whose face I was yet to see and whose presence hung thickly and intensely in this room. I didn't want to take the risk of fighting an opponent I had no information about. Well, not that I had any plans of fighting the Blood Emperor in the first place but why take the risk of getting on his bad side on our very first meeting, right?

Prince Shichiro looked up at me with a smile and a light blush dusting his cheeks. My lips twitched as I wanted to break out into an amused smile but I maintained a poker face. When he bowed, I bowed as well.

"Thank you for saving me, treating me and bringing me back to the palace safely, Izumi san. If it wasn't for your kindness and generosity, I would not be alive today."

"You're very welcome, Prince Shichiro. In all honesty, I was just trying to help someone in trouble." I answered with a shrug.

"You are very modest, Izumi san." Prince Shichiro said still blushing.

I gave him a halfhearted smile because I wasn't sure of what to say in response. He bowed once more before walking back to his seat next to his brother. I too sat down and we all commenced our rather silent and awkward dinner. Halfway through, I glanced up and deadpanned at how aloof everybody seemed at the moment – well, everyone except Prince Shichiro. While he was eating with a small smile, perhaps enjoying his meal, the Blood Emperor ate silently behind the curtains that hid him from view and Soutarou san, Ichirou san and all the soldiers standing guard here looked so serious.

This was not what I would call a nice dinner.

I sighed inaudibly, shook my head and just continued to eat. I assumed that the Blood Emperor was done fulfilling the reason as to why he had asked me to join him for dinner – thanking me for saving his brother – and we wouldn't have another conversation today.

"Izumi san." I heard Soutarou san speak and I looked up at him. "His Highness wishes to know your answer to his question."

I blinked dumbly for a moment and then frowned. "What question?"

Satourou san sighed in mild exasperation with his eyes closed and then looked at me disapprovingly. "As a way to convey his gratitude, he said that he will grant any one request that you may have. Of course, I assume you are aware that it should be a reasonable request."

"A request, huh?" I mused more to myself wondering what I could ask of the Blood Emperor. I mean, what could he grant me? A magic portal back to Tokyo City?

I looked to the side with a small amused smile, doing my best to hide the amusement I felt from my thoughts. I cleared my throat and then looked up at the silhouette of the emperor as I decided to voice out what had been bugging me all through dinner.

"I don't really have any request at the moment but I will keep it in mind, Your Highness. Although, there is one thing that I've been bothered by since the beginning of dinner." I said and tilted my head to the side with a playful and mildly annoyed smile.

"What is it?"

"Why is it that the advisor is talking to me instead of the Blood Emperor himself? And why is he hiding behind that curtain? I don't know about any of you but I'm the kind of person who wants to look at the face of the person I'm talking to." I said curtly.

"You insolent wench! How dare you speak that way!" Soutarou san barked, his face contorting in anger. "You are in the presence of the Blood Emperor! The Emperor of all of Nihon! Learn your place and show respect!"

I just scoffed and rolled my eyes. Ichirou san too was watching me skeptically, his eyes narrow and a deep frown on his lips. His fists were clenched tightly by his sides but he didn't speak out like Soutarou san. Prince Shichiro looked surprised and anxious – he was glancing at the emperor nervously and even noticeably trembling.

"So what if he's the emperor?" I snapped back. "Shouldn't his subjects know what he looks like so they know who they should respect? And just so you know, I didn't insult the emperor in any way. I merely questioned the reason for such secrecy."

"Didn't insult him?! You clearly questioned as to why he is hiding behind the curtains! As far as I know, that is an insult! And for being so presumptuous, you must be punished!"

"Alright, I might have phrased my question in the wrong way but I'm telling now, aren't I? I meant no disrespect....I've just been finding this arrangement a little annoying. Not seeing or hearing the voice of the person I'm actually talking to is making me feel like I'm talking to the walls instead." I said with a shrug and took another bite out of my dinner.

I momentarily regretted speaking out of turn. I had decided to play it safe but my sassy and gallant personality had surfaced, leading me on to expressing my annoyance openly and perhaps to some extent mocking the way things were being done around here.

"You audacious...!!" He started to scold again but paused and looked sideways at the Blood Emperor. I noticed the Blood Emperor say something to which Soutarou san apologized and then turned to face me while appearing despondent.

"I apologize for being rude to you, Izumi san." He said though he didn't sound like he meant it. "Seeing His Highness's face or speaking to him directly is restricted to those of the Royal Family, the highest ranking officials that govern this country and the women in his harem. It is common knowledge that you should be aware of."

"Well forgive me for not having common royal knowledge, Soutarou san, Your Highness." I said with a sarcastic smile. "I'll make sure I remember your words of enlightenment and maintain my composure in the presence of the Blood Emperor from now on."

Soutarou san clenched his jaw but nodded. Prince Shichiro and the Blood Emperor went back to eating but I sighed and poked at my food, my appetite having disappeared because of my irritation. Thankfully, I didn't have to stay here for much longer. The Blood Emperor was done with his meal in a few minutes and excused himself to retire to his chambers for the night. Prince Shichiro followed suit, not wanting to be late and displease his brother and I took the chance to excuse myself as well. Neither Soutarou san nor Ichirou san said anything to me as I left and I was glad for that.

The walk back to my room was agonizing. The dress was most uncomfortable and I kept tripping over it as I walked. To make things worse, the geta slippers that I was wearing were difficult to walk with and hurt my feet. The tight hairstyle and heavy ornaments in my hair were giving me a headache too.

Sighing deeply in annoyance and realizing that I was going to take forever to get to my room walking like this, I paused in the hallway for a moment. I first took off the head jewelry and freed my hair from its restraints, relishing the feeling of running my hands through my open hair. I then took off the slippers and held them in one hand while holding the kimono up almost till my knees with the other. Walking like this was much easier and I picked up the pace of walking back to the Elite Division barracks, taking long sporty strides instead of small girly ones.

I was almost out of the main palace grounds when I heard giggling and whispering. I slowed my pace of walking and looked at four women dressed in grand kimonos and lots of shimmering jewelry walking though the hallways. They held fans to cover the lower half of their faces but I could still make out that they were wearing at least an inch thick of makeup. I raised a brow at them not because of their royal appearance but because they seemed to be whispering and giggling while looking at me.

"Look at her! How indecent!" One said and scoffed with another giggle.

"Definitely! Surely she isn't another for the harem." Another mumbled.

"She couldn't be. His Highness wouldn't choose someone as improper as her! Besides, she doesn't even look beautiful like us."

I rolled my eyes and continued my way to the barracks. That lot was probably from the Blood Emperor's harem. They were pretty, I suppose, but I was almost sure that it was only because of how much they dolled themselves up. If they wore ordinary clothes, similar to the fighting attire that I wore on a daily basis, with no makeup or jewelry, I'm sure they'd look quite normal too, just like me. Not that I thought I wasn't good looking or anything – I was proud of my looks whether someone thought I was ordinary or beautiful.

By the time I got to my room, I was exhausted. I stripped free of the excessive layers of clothing and got into a light night dress. It was as if the weight of a boulder had been taken off of me and I sighed in bliss as I lay down to get some sleep. I stared at the ceiling for a while though, thinking about the Blood Emperor. Just as Koharu was curious about his looks, I too had become curious. But since Soutarou san had said that only the Royal Family, the highest ranking officials and the women of his harem were allowed to see his oh-so-beautiful face, I figured I wouldn't get a chance to quench my curiosity.

"When did I start being so curious about other people? Especially their appearances...." I mumbled and closed my eyes while bringing an arm over them.

As a part of the PDST, we usually ignored such details. We didn't pry into the clients' or the targets' identities, let alone their looks, and I had never been interested in figuring out anything about strangers anyway. So why the sudden curiosity? It looks like Koharu's curiosity had been rubbing off on me too much.

"Ah whatever! I'm too tired to think today. I should just sleep." I muttered and turned to my side while bringing the blanket till my chin. I curled up slightly to keep warm and soon fell into restless slumber.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well! Wasn't that an interesting meeting? So Izumi finally got to meet the Blood Emperor but probably not that way ya'll thought she would meet him. So much secrecy, right? XD

Izumi is so cool, isn't she? And funny! Can you believe she thought the Blood Emperor was a short balding guy? XD I'm having so much fun working with her personality! Sassiness to its maximum!

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! And hope it was worth the wait :P Let me know what you guys think of the story plot and flow and the character development!

And yes, I love putting pictures for character descriptions! XD Woohoo!

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