The Guard

The Meeting

Though new in the palace Miyako seemed to adapt fairly well. Her attendants were nice, especially since she treated them kindly. She hardly thought of her old life, willing to forget the horrible parts. It was only after the third month an attempt had been made on her life that the emperor decided she needed a personal guard wherever she went. For awhile she had several with her until they were able to sort out who would stay with her.

She was out in one of the meadows in the palace when the captain of the guard found her with a few of her attendants, two of the other concubines and their attendants, and the guard - for the time being. She greeted him, asking for his business only to be told they had finally found a suitable guard to watch her, he was new but thoroughly trained. "I cannot wait to meet him. Tell him I will wait here to be presented to me."

Talon had a mission, to kill the emperor no matter what. He was going uncover as the newest concubine's guard. When he got the message to go meet her, the brunette stood up and bowed. "Thank you, I'll go now." The assassin placed his hidden weapons over his body and under his armor just in case something happen or he got a great chance to take out the emperor. When he started to make his way to her a strong wind started to blow and a shiver ran up his spine.

She didn't wait long, her attention turning back to her entourage until the man could be seen approaching them. The guards didn't leave until after he had arrived, bowing to the women. She regarded him carefully, bowing her head to him as she didn't want to rise. He was handsome and his eyes were peculiar, like her's. While his were of a normal color she still felt they were different, her own were of a pink hue, a stark contrast to her dark black hair. When he saw her, the brunette smirked as he looked down at the young child. "Hello my name is Talon and I am going to be your guard madam." Talon got on one knee and bowed his head. His eyes were a cold green that could freeze you if you looked into his eyes. He stood up and looked at her. "What may I call you?" "I am Miyako and I place myself in your capable hands."

Miyako's eyes narrowed as she glared at the new guard. She will give him a week to see how well he worked, if she could trust him. "I will be heading back to my chambers in an hour, the sun will be setting soon and I do hate the dark." On top of it she also had been called to the emperor's rooms later in the night so she had to ready herself to be received by him. "I understand Lady Miyako." Talon stood up as the wind came again and blew his hair and he looked into the sunset. He glared as the sun was starting to set. "I suggest you wear the sakura blossoms today." The guard look at his and lady and smiled. "I have a feeling the moon tonight will be pretty when it reflects on your hair highlighting your pink in your eyes more and the sakura blossoms would match it well tonight my lady, but it was only a suggestion."

The concubine was surprised by his suggestion and made a mental note to take it into consideration. The brunette sat down and pulled out a little wooden flute and started to play a song that would match the wind blowing. The song was soft and gentle like a sakura blossom falling from the tree making its way to the ground. With the music from his flute the hour passed serenely until she and her group disbanded. "I am ready to go to my chambers now." She said, her handmaidens picking up her belongings as she made her way back. "I suspect you have been told you are to wait outside my chambers unless I have called you in, correct?" She asked, making light conversation towards her new guard. She waved her handmaidens on forward to put her things away ahead of her so they could ready her clothes for the night.

Talon bowed before her. "I was told to wait outside until my lady summons me." The guard stood by the door frame listening around him, by the other concubines talking as they walked by him or nearby him. Miayko nodded, glad he at least knew his role. When they reached her chambers she thanked him before slipping inside to ready herself for the emperor. She eyed several of the outfits laid out and picked a warm blue set with soft pinks and, as her guard had suggested, sakura blossoms for her hair. When Talon saw the moon coming out, a smirk escaped his lips. "It looks like my gut was right about this being a good moon for sakura blossoms." A few hours later when Miyako came out, a smile greeted her. "Welcome my lady. I'll escort you to the emperor." Talon bowed in front of her, trying his best to show respect. When she stepped out she glanced up at the moon, smiling a little. "You were right." She said softly before following him towards the emperor's rooms. "Thank you for escorting me. I won't be returning until morning. There are guards here for His Majesty's protection so you are welcome to sleep now. Be here two hours after sunrise."

Talon bowed and nodded his head. "I understand." He turned around to leave, but he was going to look around when mostly everyone was asleep, so he could learn the lay out of the palace. He laid on his bed with his eyes open for a few hours, until he knew it was time. The assassin knew he had two hours, until he would have to go and pick up the concubine, Miyako. Talon started to strip down from his clothes and open his curtains. The moonlight shined brightly on him and he inhaled the air. Spots started to show up around his shoulders and around his member. A tail, and ears grew on his body as his eyes changed to more cat-like. The leopard jumped, into the trees and he silently started to crawl in the nearby trees and looked at the lay out. When he lost track of time, he growled and turned to leave. He turned into his full leopard form and looked over at the emperor's curtain as it slightly open. It was the first time, nor would it be her last time, being called by the emperor. He wanted an heir and he wanted it with Miyako. By morning she ached and recalled how much the emperor had used her last night. Before she rose from the bed she turned and laid a kiss over the sleeping emperor's lips. His eyes were piecing down looking at the concubine for a minute and disappeared. Talon quickly went back to his room and placed his clothes back on quickly. Once the were-cat was all ready and dressed, he rushed over to go get Miyako. From the bed she gathered her clothes in the nude when she felt like someone was watching her. She turned, facing the window with only her hair swaying down her back. Strange, she didn't see anyone. A robe, as the emperor always set one aside for her, laid on a chair for her to which she slipped on before the doors were opened for her. Talon smirked as he stood up acting like nothing happen, but he just got there when Miyako walked out fully dressed. A handmaiden glared at the guard and silently scowled him for running late. Just as she had asked she saw Talon waiting for her and a handmaiden to take her dirty clothes. "I will have my breakfast with my bath and then I wish to survey the gardens by myself." Of course she'd have Talon with her but she meant she didn't want her maids around while she enjoyed the morning air.

The concubine, her handmaiden, and guard walked towards her room and once they were there, Talon waited outside while she was taking a bath and had his eyes down the whole time. When he heard giggling, he saw a few handmaids bringing a meal, but they were another's concubine. When the tray was passed by, the scent rushed into his nose and he quickly chased after them. When he got to the bath, the guard open the curtains and pulled out his sword. Miyako was about to eat a piece of the meat, and the male said with a yelled out"Don't eat a single bite! This Lady must have sent it and the food has been poisoned." and it sounded like a roar. The handmaids turned pale and looked at each other. The handmaids shook their heads. "No i-t-its not my lady!" Talon grabbed the piece of meat and popped it in his mouth. The handmaid that was quiet screamed out, "NO!" The brunette swallowed it and smirked. "I was train to become immune to poisons, so it doesn't work on me." The rest of the guards came rushing in when they heard someone scream. "What is going on here?"