Chapter 9 - Infiltration

This chapter is dedicated to Irene6014! Happy reading! :)

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Izumi pov:

"Yo! Good morning I-zu-mi chan!" Haji san greeted cheerily as he joined me and Koharu as we walked to the training hall. Besides the loud greeting, he put an arm around my shoulders roughly and caused me to stumble forward a bit because of his weight and inertia.

"Good morning, Haji san." I greeted in return with a smile while gently shoving his arm off of me. But he only put his arm over my shoulders again so we could walk together.

"Oi oi, did you just ignore me, Haji? She's not the only one here, you know." Koharu said with a frown since Haji san hadn't bothered greeting her along with me.

"Who wants to greet such a gloomy face first thing in the morning? Izumi always looks bright and cheerful and it's the same today too! But you on the other hand....ugh, look at the dark air around you. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Haji san asked while making a face. He sounded teasing and I raised a brow at him before looking at Koharu who looked right about ready to explode.

Haji san chuckled and let go of me so he could dodge a fist that Koharu sent his way. He stuck out his tongue like a little kid before sprinting to the training hall before Koharu could try to punch him again. I shook my head with a laugh and looked at Koharu who was looking to the side with an expression of anger and annoyance.

"Are you okay? You've been rather irritable since this morning." I commented, hoping that she wouldn't threaten me with her fists too.

"Who wouldn't be irritable after a night with less sleep?!" She snapped, though not particularly at me. "Those idiots next to my room were having a drinking night and they wouldn't shut up till the wee hours in the morning! I barely got two hours of sleep...."

"A drinking night?" I questioned with a raised brow.

"Haji was the one who suggested it to celebrate the capture of a rebel who had been slipping through our fingers for the past two months. Of course, his teammates agreed and they bought a lot of sake on the way back from their visit to the market. And they just had to celebrate in the room next to mine." She grumbled unhappily.

I didn't comment on what she said. I knew how Koharu could get when she was angry and let's just say, I wanted to play it safe. Haji san was the one she was angry about and seeing how he had teased her just a few minutes ago, he had probably scheduled the drinking party in the room next to hers on purpose. Haji san seemed to enjoy annoying Koharu, mainly because she was quite short tempered when it came to him – she either had a crush on him and didn't know how to express it or she was genuinely belligerent with him like an elder sister towards her troublemaking little brother. Whatever the case, she probably knew about the hidden motive behind the drinking party as well and she was sure to get back at Haji san for it soon enough.

When we made it to the training hall, I noticed that Ichirou san was talking to Haji san, Asahi and another Captain whose name I couldn't quite recall while standing in one corner of the hall. The air around them was tense and they all looked so serious. I narrowed my eyes just a bit while staring at them and twitched when Ichirou san momentarily stopped talking to glance at me. He watched me passively, which was strange, but went back to talking while ignoring me.

I shrugged slightly assuming that they were probably talking about some new mission that only the higher ups could handle. I walked with Koharu to one of the mats on the floor and got ready to do the usual set of sit ups and push ups as warm up before training in hand to hand combat and kenjutsu.

Most of the day passed in a blur. No missions were given out to any of us and most of the Elite Division was cheerful. But the tense atmosphere around the four who had been discussing something in secret in the morning remained so – enough to make me feel like something wasn't quite right. I didn't get a chance to ask about it and I had a feeling that my question would be passed off without a proper answer even if I did ask about it.

After a long day of training, lazing around and more training, Koharu and I retired for the night. I guess I had slept only for an hour or two before I was woken up by some loud shuffling around the barracks. I didn't get up from my mattress but opened my eyes and listened intently to what was happening outside. It was dark out but I spotted a couple of hazy shadows passing by on my room's paper doors under the moonlight. I was sure that there were quite a few people shuffling around the barracks but they were quick and their footsteps and whispering faded out quickly as they got further and further away from the barracks.

When the shuffling sounded distant enough and less in number, I got up without making a sound. I picked up my weapons' pouch and katana – the ones given to me when I joined the Elite Division in place of my dagger – and headed to the door. I crouched there and slowly slid open the door just a teeny bit so I could peep and look outside.

I got a glimpse of some people dressed in dark clothes running through the courtyard and towards the palace. I narrowed my eyes at the way they moved – they were very agile giving me the feel that they were highly trained men. But who were they and what were they doing at this time of the night in the palace compound? Were they some of the rebels who rejected the Blood Emperor's rule? Were they infiltrating?

As a part of the Blood Emperor's army, it was my duty – whether I like it or not – to be on the lookout and apprehend anyone who could stir unnecessary trouble. Then again, I'm sure Ichirou san, Haji san and the other Captains too were aware of this and could handle it without me or any other lower ranked personnel butting in. But....why couldn't I see them??

I remembered that Ichirou san and some Captains had been discussing something seriously this morning. I had assumed that they were talking about a mission – was it today? If that's the case, they weren't in the palace compound and couldn't be depended on to stop this infiltration.

Cursing under my breath, I slid my room door open and stepped out quietly when I was sure there weren't any more of the suspicious men around to spot me. I then headed to Koharu's room and let myself in without knocking for permission. She was asleep, soundly in fact, and hadn't stirred in the least from the shuffling outside.

"Koharu!" I called in a hushed whisper and shook her shoulder. "Koharu, wake up!"

"Mmgh...what? Is it morning already?" She asked groggily.

"No but you have to get up! I think some rebels have infiltrated the palace!" I hissed.

That got her to wake up with a start. She didn't bother changing out of her night clothes and picked up her weapons while I explained what I had seen. Much to my surprise, no one had woken up from the sound of the footsteps and whispering except me. Haji san and a few other Captains of the Elite Division were missing and when Koharu and I had gone to their rooms, they were empty. Well, my assumption was that they had gone out on some mission they were talking about this morning but Koharu stated that they had probably gone off to take care of the rebels even before we had woken up and they were sure to have taken care of the matter already.

However, I felt uneasy. I couldn't come to believe that Ichirou san, Haji san or any other Captain had taken care of the matter. I insisted on going to the palace and having one look to make sure things were okay. Koharu was reluctant, saying that I was worrying unnecessarily and we should just go back to sleep. But I was persistent and she finally agreed to do a quick scout of the palace to make sure the situation was well under control.

Koharu and I put on our half-masks to hide our faces and hurried our way to the palace, in the direction I had seen the shadowed figures run. As I had expected, they hadn't been stopped by anyone and had easily made their way into the palace itself. There were two of them standing out on guard, having defeated the soldiers of the Imperial Army. Blood was splattered in big dark splotches on the paved ground around the soldiers who lay dead at the rebels' feet. I clenched my jaw not happy to see that they had succeeded in making their way in. Besides the two rebels here, we didn't know how many more there were inside the palace and where they were at the moment.

"Looks like you were right about the Captains being away on another mission." Koharu said while narrowing her eyes at the rebels. "We can't let the rebels harm anyone in the palace....especially those of the Royal Family. We'll have to handle this as an emergency."

"Yeah...Koharu, I think we should split up." I whispered while peering out from behind a tree in the garden right in front the palace that separated it from the barracks and training grounds.

"Good idea, Izumi. I'll go this way, and you go that way." She said while pointing to the two directions. I gave her a nod and she sprinted away from me to go around the palace.

Just as she had sprinted away, I realized that she had taken the easy way into the palace – the side which wasn't guarded by the rebels. I deadpanned at her retreating figure wondering why she had taken the easy way in and left a newbie to take on a more frontline foist. Then again, she was probably telling me to go around as well and get into the palace from an entrance that wasn't infringed upon by any rebels.

I shook my head, not really worried about it though, and not even willing to go ahead with her plan of taking the roundabout route. I had done so many frontline foists before that I had lost count of them. Another direct offense was in order at the moment. Besides, this was going to be easy thanks to the absence of surveillance cameras.

I chuckled softly to myself and bolted out of the garden at the two men standing guard. When I knocked one of them out cold, the other noticed me and tried to club me with the spear he had in his hands. I ducked and dodged before turning three sixty degrees in crouched position causing him to fall onto his rear. He recovered quickly, proving that he was a well trained fighter, and jabbed his spear at my face. I hissed as it cut through my skin, leaving a blood dripping slash from my cheek bone till my temple but not deep enough to cause any serious damage. I summersaulted backwards and skidded to a halt before standing up and looking at the man with narrow eyes.

"You're too late to save your precious Blood Emperor, Soldier san. I'm sure he's dead by now and our men are returning with success in their hands!" He said sounding amused.

I didn't say anything in return though and ran at him to continue our fight. He was a little challenging to beat – he was strong and his huge buff build added more power into every attack he threw at me. But I was smart and I used his dead weight to my advantage. When he came at me with another swing of his spear, I summersaulted and jumped, taking his shoulders for support and pushing him forward. He stumbled and couldn't recover as I landed on the ground behind him. Using the chance, I turned where I stood while holding up my arm and jabbed him in the ribs painfully with my elbow. His grip on his spear loosened and I seized it from his hands before whacking him at the base of his neck with it hard enough to make him fall unconscious.

When he was down, I broke his spear in half over my knee and threw it aside. I scoffed and walked past him, not in the least worried about what he had said.

"I may not really know much about stuff that happens in the palace but there's no way a bunch of guys I can beat can be successful in what you want to do. I doubt the Blood Emperor has that title for no reason." I muttered and picked up the pace as I entered the palace.

I kept completely alert, listening to the softest of sounds to find where the rebels were heading. I guess it was a given that they would head for the Blood Emperor's chambers but I had no idea where it was. So I had to depend on the sound of footsteps or incoherent whispers that echoed through the empty hallways of the palace to find my way there.

A few moments passed and I heard something like a muffled scream. Sensing danger ahead, I pressed myself against the wall, into the shadows, and pulled out a small mirror I had in my pocket. I held it up to look at what was happening around the corner and my eyes went wide at the sight of five rebels picking on three women. They were closing the mouths of the women – that's why their screams were muffled out. I didn't hesitate to spring into action immediately, first throwing three small daggers to get the men to let the women go and, of course, gain their attention.

"Who are you?! How dare you atta-argh!"

I didn't let the guy complete his sentence. I ran to him and hit his chin with the base of my palm causing him to fall back. I bent sideways as a fist made its way at my face and took a hold of the man's arm. I tripped him and threw him over my shoulder hard against the wooden flooring. I then got down on one knee over him and punched him in the face leaving him with a bleeding nose and no longer good enough to fight me.

I gasped as I was grabbed by the collar and shoulders by two of the others still standing and yanked backwards. My eyes went wide when I saw a knee being thrust towards my gut but I hunched over and avoided it, only to kick him harshly on the side of his knee. He yelped and cursed under his breath while holding his knee that was most probably dislocated. I smirked behind my mask and stepped forward while pulling the two guys who held me along with me. They resisted and yanked me back giving their comrade a chance to reward me with a kick across my face. I felt a harsh sting on my cheek and it made my eyes water slightly. The guy in front of me tried to punch me in the face but the kick across my face was the very last he would do to me.

I fisted both hands tightly and brought them in front of my face in an X formation, even yanking the two guys who were holding onto me and causing them to stumble. I pushed the guy's fist making him take a step back and tripped the guy on my right. Since he was still holding onto me, I was pulled sideways along with the guy on my left. Using the momentum, I pulled the guy on my left harder and shoved him aside. They fell to the floor with loud thuds, rolling several feet until their back met with the wall causing them to groan at the impact.

I heard a sharp sound behind me and unsheathed my katana just in time to block the third guy's katana blade. We exchanged several blows, going back and forth but not giving up in the least. The other two didn't fight fair and came at me to help their comrade. In the midst of trying to dodge and block the attacks that were thrown at me from three rebels at once, I was rewarded with a slightly deep slash through my left shoulder and one on my right thigh.

Having had enough of their assaults, I went full out, seeing no need to hold back since there wouldn't be any witnesses, and didn't hesitate to even give them some blood spurting wounds to get them to stop. Of course, I didn't kill them but maimed them more than enough to keep them on the ground beaten. I wiped off the slight blood that had trickled down my lips when one of them had kicked me and then turned to look at the three women huddled together and whimpering in a corner. I sighed, rolled my eyes and walked to them. When I crouched in from of them, they flinched and looked up at me with fearful eyes.

[A/N: Assume that she's wearing a mask in the above picture :P]

"Are you okay? You don't have to worry – I'm a member of the Elite Division."I said and pulled my mask down to reveal my face.

"Y-you!" One of them said, now eyes wide in surprise. "You're the girl we saw walking out of the throne room! Holding your dress up! And it was rather embarrassing, I have to say...."

"Well, sorry to have embarrassed you, Princesses." I said with another roll of my eyes. "Can we please focus now? Are you all unharmed?"

"O-oh, yes, we are all alright thanks to you." They answered while wrapping their arms around themselves and giving a visible tremble.

"Good. So do I have to escort you back to your rooms or can you go by yourselves? I'd prefer the latter though – there are still bound to be several of these men lurking around the palace and they have to be caught before things get messy." I said looking to the side and hoping that Koharu had had some luck finding and defeating some rebels as well.

"We can go by ourselves. Thank you....and um, please be careful." One of them who appeared to be the youngest mumbled in a timid voice.

When I looked at her, she blushed and averted her eyes. I let out a soft laugh both amused at her behavior and finding it adorable. I gave her and the other two consorts a nod before getting up, sheathing my bloody katana and heading deeper into the palace.

I was able to find my way to the Blood Emperor's chambers quickly thanks to the directions the consorts had given me. Much to my displeasure, I had to push my way through a few more rebels who stood guard in the hallways. Quite contrary to thugs I fought in the modern world, the people here had high endurance and were annoyingly persistent. They would not stay down and I was forced to use my katana just as I had done while saving the consorts. I was mildly surprised by how fierce I was being today but it was a fleeting thought overpowered by the need to protect the Blood Emperor and those of the palace.

When I reached the Blood Emperor's chambers, which was at the very heart of the palace, I hesitated for a moment outside the huge gold plated doors. It was just like the ones that opened to the Throne Room but only more extravagant in carvings and the use of precious gems here and there. I didn't bother knocking and merely let myself in while tightening my hold on the hilt of my katana. I didn't know what to expect to see and I was almost sure that I would have my butt whooped for stepping into the Blood Emperor's chambers without knocking and asking for permission – that is, if the rebels hadn't got here yet. However, I was quite surprised to see several rebels lying on the floor dead, in pools of blood with severe aberrations to their bodies. Some had their throats slit, some slashed across the chest and some with what appeared to be through and through injuries, and blood was still oozing out of the fresh wounds. Standing amongst them with clothes covered in big splotches of blood and with blood dripping from the tip of his katana was Haji san.

I clenched my fists tightly and felt an uncomfortable bubble in my chest from the gore sight in front of me. I averted my eyes momentarily and tried to ignore the metallic stench of blood that hung thickly in the air. I took a deep breath with my eyes closed before looking up again as passively as possible.

"Izumi." Haji san said in mild surprise, having seen me there.

"Haji san....I assume you've taken care of all the rebels?" I asked without looking at the bloody mess around us.

"Oh, yes I have. Shogun had taken all of us on a mission and we were quite surprised to see something quite off the minute we had returned. I was ordered to protect His Highness immediately – I'm glad that I got here on time."

"On time?" I asked narrowing my eyes. "Then....the Blood Emperor is safe?"

"Yes." Haji san responded with a light smile which I was surprised to see considering all the blood and bodies he was standing amongst – especially since he was the one who had killed them all. "His Highness is safe in the inner room of his chambers. I believe he is awake because of all the commotion but still resting."

"I see...then I assume that I can return to my room since everything has been taken care of?" I asked and Haji san nodded in approval. "Okay....there are several rebels in the north wing of the palace – the ones I took care of – though they are merely unconscious. Koharu must have taken care of things in the east wing since that's how we split up."

"Thank you for the information, Izumi. I will have some of the men take care of the rebels in the north wing." Haji san said, obviously meaning that they would be killed.

I gave him a chaste bow before turning around and walking out of the Blood Emperor's chambers swiftly. I walked down the hallways that I had passed, stepping over the unconscious rebels and mentally grimacing about the fact that they would be executed soon. When I was just outside the palace and in the garden on the side, I stopped for a brief moment. I tightened my grip on my katana for a second before letting it fall to the ground. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply so I could calm my frustrated nerves. Not that I had never seen anything so gore before but I was almost never as up-close and personal as I was today. I felt burdened and pressurized somehow, though I'm sure a little bit of rest would help me unwind and return to my calm collected self.

I shook my head and picked up my katana. I didn't sheath it and just walked back to my room in the barracks. When I was back in my room, I reached for a rag that I had in my closet and wiped the blood off the blade. I made sure that the cloth was wet so the blood would come off fully and not remain as red patches in places where the blood was already dry. When I was satisfied with how clean my blade was, I sheathed it and kept it aside.

I reached out for my hand mirror and looked into it to see the cut I had on my cheek. I ran my thumb over it, hissing slightly as it burned. I also caressed my cheek that was now bruised and aching slightly because of the kick I had received across the face. I mentally cursed at the guys who had rewarded me with these minor injuries but didn't worry about it more than that.

I did, however, disrobe to look over the wounds I had sustained on my left shoulder and right thigh. The blood had clotted well but my clothes were stuck to it so taking them off hurt like crazy. When I had got the clothing off the wounds, I was breathing heavily and sweating at the pain I was feeling. The wounds were deep, but not too serious, and I could feel intense strain in my neck, upper back and through most of my right leg. I was sure it was going to be a few days before I would be able to move around without feeling the pain of the wounds I had suffered.

"How annoying....I can't believe I let that wimp do this to me." I muttered under my breath while putting the mirror away.

I got up and headed to the bathroom that was attached to my room with some rags and wet them before dabbing off the blood sticking to my skin around the wounds. I also cleaned the wounds a bit and walked back to the main room, throwing the soiled rags in the dust bin as I took a seat on my mattress. I got out the first aid box that was in my cupboard and managed to wrap my wounds in bandages after applying an antiseptic salve. I was in no mood to find the infirmary t this time of the night but I knew I would have to get my injuries properly looked at and treated tomorrow morning.

When I finished wrapping up both of my wounds, I put the first aid box away and fell back on my mattress with a grunt in pain, arms and legs outstretched and pretty much sprawled out while I stared at the ceiling. Nothing particularly serious passed through my mind except for the fact that I had accomplished a mission much different from the ones I always took up. What happened to the rebels under the judgement of the Blood Emperor wasn't any of my concern – I had done my job without a single flaw, just like always. The Blood Emperor was safe, the rebels were apprehended and the enemy's invasion plan had been thoroughly foiled. A short chuckle escaped my lips out of smugness at my success.

"The only offside of this is that I lost out on some good sleep." I mumbled and closed my eyes.

I opened my eyes again though with a slight frown. Koharu had gone out with me to fight the rebels too but I hadn't seen her close to the Blood Emperor's chambers and I hadn't met her on my way back to the barracks. I wondered if she had returned, having met with Ichirou san or any of the other Captains who had been missing when the rebels broke into the palace compound. Hopefully, she wasn't injured either.

I sat up, straining my arms as I pushed up on them, and looked to the doors of my room. I pressed my lips into a thin line contemplating on whether to check up on her or not. I heaved a sigh and stood up, have chosen the former, and walked out of my room and down the barrack hallways to find Koharu.

Ichirou pov:

I stood silent and stiff, my fists clenched tightly at my sides, merely five feet away from His Highness. At this proximity, his presence was overpowering and almost unbearable. The pressure of the air in the room made me sweat even though the weather itself, being quite so the mid of the night, was pleasantly cool. Yet, having been by the Blood Emperor's side for many years now, I was neither fearful nor timid and merely guarded and respectful.

Despite it all, I didn't dare to look down from his back, from the fierce dragon embroidered in gold that was visible between the strands of his loose dark hair as I waited for him to speak, to give out an order.

"So, Ichirou." He finally spoke, shattering the deathly silence of the throne room.

"Yes, Your Highness?" I asked respectfully.

"What do you think of the girl? Did she pass your difficult examination?" He asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"She is much better than what I thought she was or would be. I underestimated her skills when I saw her for the first time and continued to believe that she was probably at the same level, if not weaker, as the others in the Elite Division. I will make sure I do not make that mistake again. I apologize for my tardiness." I said while bowing forty five degrees.

"Raise your head, Ichirou. You are not one to be foolhardy and you have not been so in this matter either. In fact, I must admit that I am quite surprised of her skills myself. It's not every day you come across a soldier with such prowess, let alone such a delicate looking young woman." He commented.

"Of course, Your Highness." I responded while straightening up.

"Tell me more...about her." He pressed and walked to the side not in the least bothered by the dozens of bodies that lay at his feet slaughtered by the very blade he held in his hand now.

I noticed that he was walking towards a man who was still alive, but barely hanging by a thread. The deep slash that he had on his chest and torso was still bleeding and he gasped for air like a fish out of water and yet, struggled with all his might to move and reach for a katana that lay close by. I noticed His Highness smirk in amuse when he reached the man and I clenched my jaw quite aware of what he was going to do. Lifting his blood stained katana, His Highness didn't hesitate for even a moment to bring it down over the man, right through his heart, killing him instantly.

I had not fought any of the rebels who had infiltrated the Throne Room. His Highness had insisted on waiting here for the rebels instead of in his private chambers so possible assault to the women of his harem could be avoided. In the end though, it seems it could not be completely avoided.

In all actuality, His Highness completely disregarded his harem. He only had consorts through political marriages, those that strengthened his position and gave him more authority and power. He showed no interest in any of the women or in the idea of bearing an heir for his throne. However, he did cater to all their needs and well being, protecting them since they were his responsibility and letting them live in lavish luxury. The Blood Emperor was not just a brutal ruler but also a rather cold hearted man.

"Well, Ichirou? I don't like to be kept waiting." He said and looked at me without turning his face. I tensed for a moment under his sharp stare but recovered soon enough, returning to my calm and collected self.

"My apologies, Your Highness." I said and continued. "She was the first person in the barracks to notice the infiltration today. Neither the lieutenants nor the Captains uninformed of today's infiltration plan stirred under the barely audible shuffling but she was roused almost immediately. The way she was highly alert of her surroundings and assessed the situation, the way she apprehended the rebels and the way she fought are in ways I have never seen before. They were direct, quite against the way we believe will bring us success in any mission, but thoroughly successful. She was agile, precise and required no assistance, even when dealing with more than five men of quite appreciable fighting calibre. Her skill in using the katana isn't as good as that of her skill in hand to hand combat but more than enough to handle almost any kind of opponent."

"Interesting...." He nodded and walked around the throne room more. "Was she able to figure out that this infiltration was actually a little set up? That I was the one who welcomed the rebels to their annihilation with open arms?"

"No, Your Highness. From what I heard, she didn't suspect anything but perhaps was a little curious as to why the Captains and Shogun weren't in the palace compound at the time of the infiltration."

His Highness chuckled and turned to look at me, his eyes shimmering wildly in the light of the fire torches and boring deeply into mine. "Observant and inquisitive, hmm? I think that's a charming trait in a woman."

I didn't respond to his comment which caused him to chuckle again and shake his head.

"Always so stoic, Ichirou. You should learn to loosen up, you know? After all, today is a day of great success for us....for me. Look at all these men." He said and pointed his katana all around us. "Look at how they lay defeated! They came here to kill me but didn't know that we were aware of their every move and they were digging their own graves today. At their level, it's amusing to see that they think they can defeat me."

I clenched my fists slightly as His Highness rejoiced at his victory but I saw a spark of frustration and displeasure in his eyes. He was a man feared by all, worshipped by all out of that tremendous fear, but not respected for any other reason. He had kept it that way for he trusted no one – he couldn't even, because of how much darkness he was surrounded by. There was no saying when who would attack when, and with the intent to kill, which is why even the smallest threat was eliminated in the blink of an eye, just like these rebels. When His Highness had fought them, they fell like ninepins, dead in less than a bat of an eyelid because they were no match to His Highness's skill or speed.

"Your Highness, there is something else that I wish to say. About Izumi." I said and he looked at me while narrowing his eyes just a bit.

"What is it?" He asked sharply.

"Her skill of being stealthy is something I feel we need to be cautious about."

"Oh? And why do you feel that way, Shogun?" He pressed, his voice going a tone lower to show that he was mildly displeased with what I had said.

"It was something that has actually been bothering me from the very first time we heard of her, Your Highness. Stealth seems to be her greatest strength. She broke into the palace completely unnoticed by the men of the Imperial Army as well as those of the Elite Division when she helped Prince Shichiro. She was also able to get in and out of the Records Room and retrieve a list of documents I asked her to bring quite easily. She did so in just half an hour – a record time that Captains training for at least five years achieve after several attempts. For all we know, she may be a spy sent in from a neighboring province to infiltrate the palace and stir trouble."

"If she is a spy, then it won't be long before she's soaked in her own blood." His Highness said nonchalantly. "But it would be such a waste...she's a beautiful young woman who's sparked my interest. It would be sad if we had to get rid of her so quickly."

"Then what should I do, Your Highness?" I asked calmly and lifted my chin up a little as His Highness brought his bloody katana to the base of my neck with a slightly playful smile.

"Have her assigned to be Shichiro's personal bodyguard and escort for now. She is to be with him at all times, in the palace and whenever he wishes to go to the Capital's marketplace. We'll be having a few more guests soon and I want Shichiro to be kept absolutely unharmed."

"Have her protect Prince Shichiro? I apologize for saying anything out of turn, Your Highness, but isn't that a risky proposition?" I asked with a slight frown.

"Perhaps. But Shichiro seems to like her and I feel he will be less hesitant and reclusive if he is being protected by someone he is comfortable with." He responded and moved his katana away from my neck. "However, while she's fulfilling her duties as Shichiro's bodyguard, I expect you to keep an eye on her and report anything you think is out of place to me. If I find her to be anything short of loyal or honest, I will have to order for her farce to be put to an end....permanently. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I will make sure to keep a sharp eye on her." I said and bowed with my eyes closed.

"Good. You may leave now. Ah, and make sure you get this place cleaned up before the sun rises. I would hate to see my Throne Room remain so soiled and smelly on a refreshing morning." He said and threw the katana he had in his hand at another barely breathing rebel, killing him instantly.

"I will have it cleaned, Your Highness. I wish you a pleasant night." I said as he passed me to head back to his chambers to turn in for the night.

When he was out of sight, I straightened up and looked at the bodies lying around me. I let out a mildly exasperated sigh and pressed my upper teeth on my bottom lip to send out a shrill whistle. Upon hearing it, several masked assassin samurai jumped into the Throne Room through the windows and came to kneel in front of me, wherever there was place on the floor.

"His Highness wants this place cleaned up, spick and span, before sunrise. I expect the bodies will be taken care of with no trace and no one besides those of the Elite Division is to be aware of this incident. You, make sure the consorts who were assaulted by the rebels have their memory of the incident erased." I instructed and they all dispersed immediately to quickly finish up the tasks handed to them.

"Fourteen." I called out and one of them stopped what he was doing to come to me.

"Yes, Shogun."

"I have a special mission for you. I believe you are the best suited for it, considering how you are the only one who has been most successful in stealth and spying in comparison to the others of The Shadow. I want you to keep watch on one of the Elite Division's new recruits – Izumi." I said.

"As you command, Shogun." He said with a chaste nod, accepting the job without even a moment's hesitance.

"I want everything she does, speaks and who she meets at any time of the day to be reported to me. I want you to be all the more alert because she will be Prince Shichiro's bodyguard from now on. Prince Shichiro must always be safe, failing which I assume you know the consequences."

Fourteen tensed for a moment and I was sure that it was because he thought of how he would end up losing his life at the hands of the Blood Emperor for even the smallest slip up.

"I am aware of the consequences, Shogun. I will be sure to be even more alert than usual." He said curtly.

"Good. You are dismissed."

Leaving the members of The Shadow to fulfil their task, I too headed out of the Throne Room and to my quarters besides the palace gardens. Just before I walked into my quarters though, I glanced in the direction of the barracks with a narrow gaze.

"Izumi..." I whispered, tightening my fists at the slight discomfort that settled in me at that.

I was skeptical of her but also curious. How and when had she learnt to be so skilled in infiltration and fighting? She was very good, much better than many from the Elite Division. Perhaps the only reason why she didn't quite stand out during everyday training was because she wasn't physically as strong as the others. She didn't use brute strength to fight – she used brains. She calculated the opponents' moves and the events that could possibly follow before she took any action. She was trained and she was brave- how it was possible though, considering the fact that she said she was a wanderer before she settled in Sei'an, was unknown to me.

Since The Shadow would be keeping an eye on her from now on, I'm sure we would be able to find out information about her that we had been missing. And if it was anything that I found to stand as a threat to the peace and rule of His Highness over Nihon, she would not be forgiven.

Clicking my tongue in annoyance after a few moments, I looked away from the barracks and walked into my quarters to rest for a few hours before the onset of the next day.

~~~~~~~~~

O.o

Well....did you guys expect the infiltration to actually be a test for Izumi? The Blood Emperor himself was the one who let the rebels infiltrate his palace so he could kill them. And he's done so to so many of them by himself o,o He's also ordered for Izumi to be Prince Shichiro's bodyguard and told his Shogun to keep an eagle's eye on her every move. I wonder how things will play out from now....

So now the Blood Emperor's personality has been sort of introduced though I haven't put up any picture of him yet XD oops! You'll get to see him soon....maybe. :P

How was the chapter? And don't you think Izumi was so cool?! You go girl! B) Show 'em what you're made of! Go kick those rebels' butts!

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