The Dragons Daughter

The Dragons Daughter: Learning

Atsuko walked the halls with Rie and Yan they had a lesson on being proper and had woken up late. They quickly sat down as the teacher turned around.

"Atsuko,Yan,Rie! You are late. The emperor does'nt like to wait." She yelled.

"Now, Go stand in the back."

"Yes. ma'am" they said in unison before standing and walking to the back. They stood there for hours before the sound of a bell signaled the emperor was coming. Everyone quickly sat up and than began to bow. Atsuko was'nt sure if she should stand like the teacher said or bow. She stood wondering.

The emperor came in dressed in white robes with gold trim he looked around the room.

"Madam, why is Atsuko standing?"

"What? Atsuko, you come here!" 

She hurried over to them and just looked down knowing she was in trouble.

"Atsuko, why where you standing?"

"Ma'am told me too, Yan, Rie and I were late. I was'nt sure if I should keep standing or bow for you. Sir."

He laughed and soon sat down.

"Everyone please sit up." He ordered.

They all looked up to him as he wrote on a scroll. 

"As your emperor, you should sit or stand when told by Madam..however If I tell you or show my hand to sit please do. As ruler..respect is needed."

Atsuko made her way back to the room after lunch, her classes kept her busy most of the day but she still wanted to see the palace. 

"Rie did you want to walk around with me?"

"No, you go ahead." she said while unpacking her things.

Atsuko happily skipped through the halls looking at all the beautiful things, the walls and floors decorated with red flower petals and gold statue's everything was just breath taking. Atusko saw the kitchen, bath house, and finally decided to stop at the gardens. The gate came open after a few minutes of pushing on it; she was tempted too use her powers but decided not too. 

"How, beautiful!"

She ran over to the pond and just looked in, fireflies and crickets seemed to enjoy the lush gardens. Every flower she could possibly dream of grew in the palace.

"Hello."

Atsuko spun around to meet a total stranger, her heart beating widely in her chest. 

The stranger smiled and pulled the mask off their face. Atsuko backed up immediately. 

"I won't hurt you, little one. I'm the emperor's personal assassin...I well thought you were one too." He laughed a bit. The young boy could be no more than twelve, and he killed people for a living she thought out-loud.

"I'm Jin-sun. You are?" 

"Atsuko."

He had a shocked look on his face before he walked up to Atusko and grabbed her face roughly with his gloved hands. Atsuko pushed his hands away and just glared at him.

"You look like a runt. No wonder he likes you so much." Jin sun smiled. This made Atsuko's blood boil she felt heat in the back of her throat as she opened her mouth to say something.

"Jin-sun..what are you doing?"  

Jin turned around and instantly keeled, Atsuko did the same seeing the emperor and his guards emerge from the shadows. 

"I-i was just...she was in here.." Jin stuttered and just kept quite. Atsuko looked up a little to see the emperor he just  dismissed Jin and walked right over to her.

"Atsuko..I should have guess. What are you doing in my gardens?" 

"I-i just wanted to see the palace. and I did not know about..."

He just laughed a little, as one of his guards helped her up. The emperor walked over to Jin and slapped him pretty hard. She flinched a little seeing Jin just sit there with his head held low. 

"W-why did you hit Jin?"

"Jin needs to protect me..not play with you. Don't let it happen again."

His voice made her skin crawl, the disappointment he spat out made even her feel bad. She followed the emperor back out into the court yard. Atusko thought about her training and how she had to stay a few paces back from the emperor. 

Not seeing a rock jetting out of the path she tripped, her first instinct was to grab a hold of something to keep herself from falling. When she felt something soft instead of the hard ground Atsuko opened her eyes to see she fell into the emperor. The guards had their weapons ready to kill her.

"i-i'm sorry!" she quickly got up and apologized several times.

"You are clumsy." He said trying to keep his anger down. Soon he sighed and just told her to go back to her room. She knew the emperor woul'dnt forgive her so easily..he could have had her killed or not eat for a few days. Atsuko knew she had to keep up with everyone in order to avenge her parents.