Asami's Shadow (Ryoma's POV)

Chapter 54

I was near panic as we went to their room and she distanced herself from us.  I couldn't bring myself to break the heavy silence as she plotted, moving pieces that no one could see in her head.  Sunako mindlessly stroked her bird, staring into the empty fireplace as Asami looked up, near tears.  "You're planning on leaving aren't you?"

She wouldn't face us as she sighed. "Yes, you will need to stay here."

I clenched my fists. No, not without...  "I'll go with you."

She leaned back into the wall. This is suicide...  "You can't, I need you here with Asami.  Sunako will be the one to come with me."

I went over to her, whatever she had planned... I needed to be there, I needed her to live. "What you are planning to do... there is another way."

She glared at me. "War? All of those lives wasted? I'll pass."

I came close to strangling her. "They will kill you."

She softened, she knew her life mattered to me and yet... "One life... one life compared to thousands? There is no logic that can compare to that."

I grabbed her shoulders, trying to talk sense to the most stubborn girl I knew and loved. "Your life matters! You can't throw it away because of Homura!"

She shrugged me off, neither of us willing to see the other's side of things. "I told you, our worlds are different, you think I'm the only one who makes these sacrifices?"

I blinked rapidly as her gaze fell on Sunako. Not this again, in what world would you throw your life away.  "What?"

She met my gaze. "You can help run a country and know nothing about how it works huh?"

I gaped.  She can't be serious right now... politics?  "What's that supposed to mean?"

She moved to the couches and signaled for me to sit next to her. "How do you think wars are stopped before they start? I'm only one person Ryoma."

I settled a bit. Like the conflict with Wei...  "Never thought about it."

Her head shook in dismay, as though she was well versed in the ins and outs. "Everyone has a role to play in the kingdoms. Otherwise how would it work?"

I thought for a moment. Where is she going with this... "It wouldn't, I guess."

She took a slow breath. "There are people in every kingdom like me. We do our work in silence never to be praised or congratulated. We work in the shadows to prevent wars and form alliances."

My eyes widened. She prevented the war...  "The compound in Wei."

She nodded as I finally began to understand her role. "That was no random strike. Keiji is no random smuggler. Kingdoms rise and fall by the things you don't see. With Wei, that compound was a nuisance to the crown, we brokered an agreement. Them dead for their allegiance."

Then... "Horuma..."

Her head shook as pain crossed her features. "She may have introduced me to this way of things, but I chose to excel in it."

I couldn't hide that it hurt, I knew, but for her to just admit this was her choice. "You can't even get to her, she's too heavily guarded."

"Killing her won't be the problem. It's getting out and stopping the pandemonium that follows, that's the problem."

I looked at Sunako, mildly shocked she was well aware of what this meant.  You are supposed to keep her alive... that's what all of you said and yet...  "How do you know?"

Her face was stone as she met my gaze, eyes just as dead as her tone. "You think we haven't been preparing for this since the murder of our late emperor? That was Horuma."

Asami's head whipped up. "No! It was bandits and thieves!"

Sunako shook her head. "All ordered by Homura, she has been plotting this for sometime."

She did nothing to lighten the blow as Asami's tears began to form. "How do you know, why didn't you tell me?"

Sayomi went to her side and took her hands. "Because you weren't ready. You've shown promise these last few days and you have the support of Shu. Regardless of what happens you'll do fine."

I couldn't process. Regardless of what happens?  She can't just...  "You don't plan on coming back do you?"

Her head lowered. "Even if I survive, I'm committing treason. I'll have to disappear for a while until her crimes come to light."

The princess turned to me, determined. "I will work quickly, I promise."

Sayomi laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, I'll get a good break for a while at least."

It did nothing for me, knowing her intent.  She is planning to kill her... even if she dies too... "Where will you go?"

She met my gaze. "Safehouses are no longer safe if you know where to find them."