The Daimyo's Daughter

In Name Alone

The journey had been shorter than anticipated. With Tetsu worried about scuffing his sandals on branches, Kakashi imagined the journey would be impossibly slow. However, the palace had come into view not long after they'd departed from the trees and began working their way along a dirty, well-traveled road. It was fitting, then, that the palace would come into view, as Tetsu had just begun outlining the cruder details left unwritten on the mission's scroll.

"They call her 'The Tramp,'" he said. "Word is, a few months ago she was sleeping with one of the Daimyo's advisors. They were gonna execute him, but she intervened before they could kill him."

Kakashi hummed, uninterested in the gossip. "And they want us because..?"

"They think if they have ninja on her, she won't go whoring herself out to people."

"Should be a fun mission," Maki chuckled.  He was young, almost too young to be on such a mission, yet the Hokage had sent him anyway.

Kakashi wanted nothing more than to pull out his book and ignore the crude statements of the men beside him. However, he knew his beloved novel would have to wait until after he met the princess.

Of course, Kakashi wasn't one for formalities and pleasantries, but for this mission, it was necessary for him to get an understanding of the princess. Surely the mission was more than just the crude "keep her from whoring around," but observing her reactions when the three ninja arrived would certainly help his understanding of what they were up against.

Sandals travel-worn and dust covered, they arrived at the entrance to the palace. It was formal. Too formal for Kakashi's taste, though the occasional delicate painting on the wall was quite beautiful and tasteful.

What wasn't tasteful was the idiot beside him, who brushed his vest of dirt and attempted to fix his hair. Tetsu was even trying to check his smile for cleanliness in the reflection of a golden vase!

Inwardly, Kakashi cringed. No matter how much the princess managed to sleep with other people, Kakashi seriously doubted Tetsu had a chance. And even if he did, it would be a breach of the mission so unacceptable that he and Maki couldn't allow it. But as annoying as it was, he wouldn't stop the idiot next to him from dreaming. Kakashi missed being able to do that; he tried not to dream at all, since everything he'd dreamt about before had come at the cost of people he loved.

Best not to dwell on the pasts we can't change. Better not to dwell on the futures we can't have.

Deliberately, he focused on the details important to the mission. There were maids everywhere, and these boys with colorful bands around their wrists. They could be threats or, even worse, allies in helping you sneak around the palace. Sometimes, Kakashi wished he could read minds.

After walking through the sweeping halls of the palace, a maid took them to the meeting room. And that's when he first caught sight of you. Well, partially. Your head was bowed, face cast in shadow. Though, Kakashi couldn't delineate any emotions coming from you. No anger; no embarrassment; no shame. It was like he was observing a blank wall.

You looked elaborate. Wrapped in the finest silk dress, jewelry pinned around your wrists and draped across your neck. There was even a gold band winding across the top of your head, following the same pattern as the swoops and swirls on your dress. You looked like the pinnacle of excellence, the opposite of their too-dirty, bloodstained hands. You looked like a princess.

But there were clues to your status hidden around the room. Namely, the way everyone was given a cushion to sit on—even the shinobi!—except for you. You sat on the floor beside the Daimyo, head bowed, hands placed perfectly in your lap like a picture of obedience.