Missed

A Bad Omen

Saizo and I separated to gather our men and barricaded the walls while escorting the villagers out of the palace. The allied lords responded and are sending troops our way. By the time our enemies showed themselves, it was the brink of dawn. The sun rose behind them as our allied troops were approaching from each side of them.

"Sango." I whispered and they appeared before me.

"Yes, Lady Risa." They each responded.

"Go to your sections. Protect milord." I said with an icy tone. I could sense their bodies growing tense.

"M-milady--!?" Tenzo hesitated before I interrupted him.

I glared down at them through my mask. "My same order's still apply." I hissed.

They bowed. "Yes, Lady Risa." And vanished.

Saizo appeared by my side. "Milord wishes to see us."

I nodded and vanished along with him. We reappeared in front of the meeting room. Before we entered, Saizo grabbed my wrist and made me face him. Through his mask, I could see the sorrow in his eyes. He looked around and brought me in a tight embrace.

"Before this begins, meet me in my room." I nodded, not being able to take his sorrowful eyes away from my memory.

We entered with the lieutenants of the council's men standing beside them. We walked to the center of the room and bowed before milord.

"Lord Genzo, are these the two you wish to hold back?" One of the members said with an ugly tone.

"Yes. They are my most formidable warriors."

"Ha!" Lord Sang's lieutenant Hiro, scoffed. "A mere assassin that hides in the shadows and behind a mask? I laugh at that." Hiro began walking to the center with his weapon in his hand, where I held my head down.

"Lord Genzo, if we are to trust her with our safety, she must defeat my lieutenant fi--!" I slowly stood up and locked eyes with Hiro.

"You and I are well aware of our skill difference." I vanished and reappeared behind Hiro, knocking him down on his knees as I held my knife pressed against his throat, slightly drawing blood as I held his weapon with my bare hand. I felt a small pinch in the palm of my hand as the edge of his blade began to be soaked with my blood. "Don't be so cocky." I hissed.

"Risa." Saizo's voice drifted through the air as he brought me back. I released Hiro, who glared back at me while rubbing his throat.

"This isn't over." Hiro growled, holding his weapon in both hands. I stood up straight, preparing for his attack, until Lord Genzo intervened.

"Hiro." His voice boomed throughout the room, freezing Hiro in his place. "I suggest you refrain from striking. This is your lieutenant, Lord Sang?!" He yelled.

Lord Sang shrunk back at milord's glare. "Hiro! Stop at once!" He spat. Hiro's upper lip twitched as he forcibly sheathed his blade and walked back to his lord's side.

"Saizo, Risa." I returned to my spot beside Saizo as we waited for milord's orders. "You will not be taking part in the battle." My eyes widened at his response. Both of us looked up at him with surprise. "You will infiltrate their ranks and kill, whoever is behind this."

We bowed our heads and vanished.

"Don't forget." Saizo whispered before leaving me alone in my room. I sighed, as I took my clothes off. I looked at my now naked body. Saizo touched me everywhere...making me his. I recalled what happened that night and I was in a complete trans of ecstasy. I shook my head and suddenly something that I had for a very long time, dropped on the floor and shattered. I grabbed the knife that was hidden in my hair, and scanned the room with my senses on alert. I didn't sense anyone that would considered a threat. I sighed and picked up the pieces of the glass that held a cherry blossom petal. I picked the petal up, smiling down at it as it brought a memory from when my father gave this to me. Suddenly, the flower began to wilt in my hand. My smile faded as it turned to dust.