Asami's Shadow (Ryoma's POV)

Chapter 56

I don't know how long I stared at where she vanished into the night. "She'll come back... she always does..."

I glanced over to see the princess, watching the space as well. "How do you know?"

She sighed sadly. "She lived to protect me from Homura... if she was dead, her purpose was fulfilled so her death mattered little to her. Now..." She looked up at me. "Now she will live to see you again."

I searched her face. "You sound so sure."

She smiled softly. "If what they say is true... you've seen her scars." It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway and she tilted her head for me to follow. I hesitated when we got to her door and she smiled softly. "I am not Homura, but I do have interest in who she was before. Just like you want to know who she really is, not the lies you were told."

I bit my lip. "Do you mind... Youta, he'll want to know to."

Her smile widened. "Show me to him and a more suitable place to speak. I can't have that much scandal surrounding me right now."

I nodded and she followed as I knocked on his door. He frowned when he saw me, but froze when he saw her. "Is... there a problem?"

I shook my head. "We wanted to know... this is as close to the source as we're gonna get right now."

He slowly nodded and we went to the emperor's study. She looked around until her eyes landed on a picture and she went over to pick it up. She smiled softly. "So, she was a prankster back then too..."

I knew it well, it was taken after one of the days she decided to throw the entire palace into chaos. It took a full day for me to find her and one hour before she would disable the traps. "Yes, she was a genius... constantly inventing things or making 'gifts' as she would call them."

She chuckled as she looked at me. "That much didn't change." She sighed, smiling as she thought of it. "We call those days, 'Sayomi's Day Off'.  Days when she decides no one should work, but search for her instead. After she has had her fun... she let's the kitchen staff free first so we can have a feast. Everyone in the palace, loves it and comes together, no matter your title or position, if you were pranked you are equals."

I couldn't help, but smile at the thought. "She set confetti bombs for us when we came and set a trap for me in the carriage after I pestered her. How did she do it? She wa-"

She giggled. "That girl... she can sneak away for an instant and return without you noticing. She did leave for a few moments as you and yours were speaking with our parents."

Youta shook his head. "She told you, but... she really tied you up and hung you from trees?"

She pouted. "Yes, if she could manage it, she did and called it training. To give her credit, I was never truly kidnapped, but if I was she made sure I was well prepared. Nothing was off limits in her mind and she constantly reminded me that she was the nicest kidnapper I would ever have."

I chuckled. "That was a lie. She's mean."

She shrugged. "She never allowed me the chance to find out. Somehow, she was always a step ahead of Homura, even when she was seized and taken away."

I gestured to a chair, truly interested as I was finally learning more about Sayomi. "So, you don't know how."

She shook her head as she sat and we followed. "I know little of what she does and Kairo says that's how it will always be. The life she entered... the life she chose ensures my hands aren't dirtier unnecessarily."

I frowned. "But why?"

She looked at her hands. "Because... in truth that is how she sees herself. Sunako won't even give me the details of what they do, but... I've seen some things."

I bit my lip. "Homura had... pictures of her wi-"

She nodded. "The temptress? Yes, I've seen that in action once and... to say she has an array of talents is an understatement. She can be who she needs to be in whatever moment that is... a princess, a handmaiden, a villager, a vixen... there is no limit to what she can be. Each one has her own personality, each one has served one purpose."

Youta leaned forward. "What does that mean?"

She bit her lip. "Let's take the vixen for example. In those moments she needs to seduce to achieve her goal, it never ends well for any of her targets."

"They end up dead..."

She nodded. "She calls them masks and she has many, but all of us have the one who we all know is the true her. The swordancer and flute player... she is the girl that came from here, she just... lost her when she lost her memories."

I sighed. "Why keep the swords and flute, if..."

She smiled softly. "She said... her mind didn't remember, but her body, heart, and soul did. She knew that wherever those items came from... they were a part of her. She was devastated when she woke up to find her flute in pieces."

"They were gifts from me..."

She met my gaze. "I figured... something in her remembered you as well. No one has been able to keep her out for so long."

I blinked. "Wha-"

"She goes by many names... Sayomi being the first, but The Girl, Katana, Saiya, Swordancer... she would only surface for a moment in time before the other masks are needed. When I came here though... it was just her, that's why I hated you so much. The person who could make her stay was the one who could take her from me."

I thought for a moment. "She fought me at every tu-"

"You expect any different from her? My sister is one who literally spent her life as other people except for a few short hours that grew further apart the older she got. Imagine being devoid of most emotions and living only to play the role you serve in the moment. Being her and truly feeling... it must have been mind boggling to her."

I narrowed my eyes, thinking. "Who else?" Her head tilted. "Who else is like her?"

She shook her head. "I don't even know them all, but there are a few I am sure of. Trust me when I say that there are many and none of them are what they seem. She has built a network that spans across the nations."

My brow furrowed. "Ho-"

"You've met her... you tell me. She brought Sunako to me, to be my handmaiden in her absence, to protect me when she couldn't. I know her, along with the others, have little interest in what happens to me."

"Then how can Homura hate her?"

She sighed. "She... Sayomi is truly her only threat to the throne in her eyes and she has made it so. Even if you tried to get information on me or the throne... she will be the one everyone says should ascend. She made her prowess clear, while shielding m-"

"So, then she should b-"

She shook her head. "First, she doesn't want it. Second, the rumors are just that, lies we have fabricated throughout Shu to keep Homira unaware. You will see soon that I am more than capable of ruling my kingdom. She just... she got the entire kingdom in on her scheme and they play their roles flawlessly."

My eyes widened as Youta released a breath. "The whole kingdom?"

She smiled mischievously. "Yes, everyone that is loyal to us is well aware of who we are and why she created such an elaborate ploy."

I was dumbstruck. "So, your kingdom is impenetrable."

She giggled. "Is it?"

Youta frowned. "How do we know you are telling the truth?"

She looked out of the window as the sun began to peak over the horizon. "You find out tomorrow, when I return to Shu."

We both sat up. "What?"

She looked at each of us. "Homura did not make it to see the sun rise. If Sayomi made sure of nothing else, she made sure of that. The sooner I can begin to bring her home, the better."

I furrowed my brow. "If she survived..."

She smiled sadly. "I know my sister... she may come back on the brink of death, but if she has a purpose, she will not die so easily."