Sakura

Sakura trotted eagerly through the Imperial City, cheerfully watching her designated Favorite Human Maiko trot through the crowds. Sakura hated cities. She couldn’t access her magic here in the same way that she could at her home in the Shadow Forest. Which meant that for the time being, she was just a particularly smart fox.

But a particularly smart fox was plenty enough to be able to track Maiko, even if Maiko was doing everything in her power to stay a hidden face in the crowd. It was a dumb game some humans played, pretending to not be where they clearly were. But Maiko had left so suddenly two nights ago that Sakura couldn’t help but find out what the game was about!

Maiko seemed to be going to the very large building at the city’s center. But the route she was taking was kind of nonsense: instead of just walking straight there, she took alleys and side streets, seeming to avoid the men dressed in armor whenever possible. This made the game difficult, and she lost track of Maiko several times, but fortunately her smell was very distinctive.

And so this game continued for the better part of the morning. She would take an unexpected turn, Sakura would move to catch up. It took a while for Sakura to realize they really weren’t making any new progress towards the building over the last several minutes.

Then the last time she lost sight of Maiko, she blinked in confusion. The scent seemed to indicate that she went… up? Why would she - this thought process was interrupted when she looked up and realized that Maiko was perched up above her… and falling down onto her very suddenly. Sakura let out a scream as she was suddenly tackled, more out of surprise than anything.

“Fox?” Maiko’s voice seemed confused. “Did you… did you follow me?”

Sakura let out a noise. She wanted to say that she was worried that Maiko left so suddenly. She wanted to say thank you for saving her back when. And so she expressed herself in the best way she could. “Ruff!”

Maiko blinked, then chuckled. “Silly thing,” she whispered. “You must have gotten panicked when you realized you weren’t going to get your morning beg time. It’s not like I feed you.”

Sakura bristled. Stupid fox mouth.

“Well, I can’t let you alone here in the city. Want to go to the castle with me?”

Sakura nodded.She wanted to make sure her friend was safe after all.

“Cute thing,” Maiko giggled. “It’s almost like you understand me.”

If a fox could deadpan, Sakura absolutely would have.

The remaining travel to the castle was much easier. Sakura snuggled atop her friend’s shoulders. The pair made their way to a side door - one meant for servants to come in and out. It was a bit odd to Sakura that she was able to move inside without even catching the attention of the servants. Or rather… it seemed like the servants just ignored her presence. It’s not like she was hiding.

The twisting tunnels eventually led them to a large garden area looking into a large dojo. Sakura’s eyes widened lightly as she saw all the people in brightly colored clothing. It was like what she liked to wear on alternating Thursdays! But they seemed to be paying attention to two people in particular.

The first was a woman who had just a subtle aura of water to her. She was taller than most of the women and even some of the men, and had a quiet self assuredness that drew Sakura in. By comparison, the woman across from her seemed a bit… boring? There was no magical aura, she was just like any other Samurai.

The two were facing each other, hands on their swords. The woman with the aura kept hers in her… saya was the word she was pretty sure that the humans made for it. The other held it high, which was silly cause she wouldn’t be able to protect her side from the slash that no doubt was coming. And when the two swung, it didn’t at all surprise Sakura that the aura’d woman was able to strike her side. Sakura admired her control; instead of cutting through the woman, she slashed just enough to force the other to stay down to keep the bleeding from getting worse. If Sakura had proper hands right now, she would clap!

Her eyes were fixated on that woman, who was now stepping forward to kneel before the man in the shiniest clothes. But Maiko simply kept moving, slipping quietly past the distracted humans to slip into the deeper chambers of the castle. Sakura sighed, as much as she could at the moment. She wanted to find out more about that woman’s aura.

Instead, they found themselves in some room tucked away in the corner. It seemed to be some kind of meeting room. There was a low table, plenty of cushions for seating, and a chest. Maiko moved towards the chest and set several hidden weapons. Then she plucked Sakura off of her shoulders and set her inside as well.

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“Little fox,” Maiko whispered, "I know you can’t understand me, but I am begging you to understand right now. Stay in this box, ok? You won’t be safe here otherwise.” The pleading face made Sakura sad - her friend seemed scared. But she curled up in the box. Fortunately for her, it was left open.

A few minutes later, a second person entered, and a cold chill ran down Sakura’s spine. This man was tall man with a hawkish face. From where she could spy him, she saw hints of a lovely, sky blue kimono. But what scared her so much was his aura. The man had one of the largest concentrations of air aura she had ever seen. It didn’t feel good, like an air sprite, either. This man was some sort of Oni or Onryo. She felt her skin crawl. But Maiko asked her to stay put, and she chose to trust her friend.

The man sat across from her, a sense of smug satisfaction on his face. “I am glad you chose to attend me, Maiko-san.”

Maiko eyed him cautiously. “Don’t get it twisted. I’ve no interest in your schemes, Masashi-san.” Maiko’s own aura flared briefly, the air that thinly surrounded her like a veritable breeze against this Masashi’s torrent. “If I didn’t think you might burn that village down if I said no, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Masashi chuckled. “Oh come now. Do I look like the sort who would cause such destruction just because of an insubordinate girl?”

Maiko’s arms folded and she squinted. “You don’t seriously want me to answer that question.”

He shrugged his shoulders, acting as if it was a foolish question. “I suppose I have had a history of making such choices in the past, but come now. I am a changed man. I did tell you that I do not intend to have you kill anyone, didn’t I?”

“And somehow I continue not believing you,” her voice was terse. Sakura had never heard her half so tense. “Do you expect me to believe that you are going to try to use the tools of an assassin to save a life instead of taking it?”

Masashi, for his part, simply chuckled. It was… unnerving how calm his aura remained, even through all of the accusations. “Tell me, Maiko-san. What did you think of the winner of the Emperor’s Trial?”

Maiko quirked an eyebrow. “That woman? She seemed interesting, I suppose. Clearly skilled enough to perform that duty. I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”

“Oh, but it is everything,” his voice was still so damn self assured. “She is the one I need you to keep alive, you see.”

The sound that came out of Maiko’s mouth was an incredulous sputter. “You want me to guard a bodyguard? Is this some sort of twisted joke?”

“Of course not, my Dear. I am sure you remember, I’ve never been one for casual jest.” He smiles. “That woman is Sato Himari. You have one month to befriend her.”

“Now I know that you jest. You’ve never trained your assassins to be anything more than blades to kill your enemies.” Sakura felt a wave of concern hit her as she watched the fluctuations of Maiko’s aura. The anger that Maiko displayed was terrifying. It put her off balance. She was scaring Sakura.

Masashi’s calm scared her more. “And yet, you have already become more than just a blade. You were a farmer, if I recall. You’ve walked the Courts. You have heard how people speak. And I am quite sure that you would quite like a friend. If anything, this is barely a job.”

“I have friends,” she gritted her teeth. “And I don’t need you to force me into a feigned social life for whatever damnable plans you have to expand your power.”

The fear, the loathing. It was too much. Maiko needed this man to leave. Sakura needed this man to leave. He was terrifying to look at and behold. But she did the one thing she could do. She leapt out of the box, mouth open to bite at him. “No, little fox!” Came Maiko’s voice. But it was far too late to back down.

The ease with which Masashi plucked her out of the air with one hand sent a wave of terror through Sakura’s entire body. The pressure on her neck was suffocating. She could barely suck in tiny breaths through her nose. He was choking her, but giving just enough space for her to barely breathe.

“Oh, so you did make a friend. Living by the woods has made you something of a bumpkin.” Masashi slammed Sakura onto the table, and she let out a strained squeak. Panic swelled her small body.

“Please, she’s just a fox. Don’t hurt her!” Maiko’s voice hinted quickly at desperation. Sakura wished she could tell Maiko to run away.

“I won’t hurt her,” he said, that eerie calm never leaving his voice. “But in exchange, you will dedicate yourself to this task. Do you understand?”

Sakura wanted to beg her not to work for this man. To say that her own life wasn’t worth whatever horrible things this man clearly wanted to do. She could make out a tear in Maiko’s eye. How could she be crying?

“I do. Please, let her go.” Sakura panicked at the thought. The last thing she wanted was to be used as leverage to entrap Maiko.

The pressure on her neck ceased. She sucked in several long breaths, letting out a wheeze as she darted away from Masashi and behind Maiko. She was trembling, and she hated that she couldn’t control the shaking. But the man continued as if she had never interrupted.

“Good. You have your orders, then. You must be trusted by Sato Himari in one month. When the time comes, you will have further orders.” He rises from his seat and turns, walking out the door without further fanfare.

The room was quiet for several heart beats. As Sakura calmed herself, she pawed up at Maiko. Maiko picked her up and held her close. “I’m sorry,” She whispered. “I’m sorry he hurt you. I’m sorry I was too cowardly just to let us go home.”

Sakura bumped Maiko’s chin with her head. She wished she could say that it was alright. She wished she could tell her friend that everything would be ok. But stuck here, far away from the nature that empowered her, she was helpless to do anything else but snuggle up close to her.

For now, she resolved to stay close to her friend. Not that she’d easily slip out of the city right now anyway. At the least, for now, she could rely on Maiko’s delightful chin scratches to keep her from feeling too bad.

As Maiko led her to the room they would be staying in, Sakura fell asleep quietly.