As Masenai walked the Path toward the Imperial Palace, marveling at the sight of it along the way. He slowly started to remember also why he was here. He was sent by his adoptive family, the ninja Clan Murasame, and other members of the Ninja council to safeguard the children of the emperor as the heir goes to the throne of Empress.

"Empress?" He thought in his head, "The eldest of the Royals is a woman then? How very odd, there hasn't been a female emperor since the time of Empress Mononoke Three thousand years ago, During the time of the Oni."

That also worried Masenai.. as he also remembered who else he had to keep a sharp eye for as he had a minor reminder of his adoptive elder brother, Akira Murasame, who viewed him as trash and scum.

---

The Dark Dragon, Akira Murasame, looked at the Imperial city from his Mansion sized cave, and then at his black katana by his side as he smiles an chilling smile. "Hm, I wonder now, if I should pay the royals a visit. Or have my useless idiot scout out their would be bodyguards. Kaosu! Get your spying butt in here! now!!!"

He hated to be kept waiting for his own henchmen.

Haru ran excitedly along the path leading to the palace of the royal family... or their children, at least. It was a very big day for her indeed. She was so happy, she'd do a cartwheel every so often, giving a little yip of excitement. Most of the time, she ran. Haru loved running. Her daggers were secure in their single sheath placed horizontally on the small of her back, and her sword was sheathed at her side. Yes, it was a very big day. Her brother, in fact, had been allowed, as her trainer, to make the final decision about wether or not she would go. Fortunately, he'd agreed. 

As she made her way down the path, a figure came into sight. It was a guy, not much older than herself by the looks of him, with somewhat spiky brown hair. Another ninja? Most likely, as he was on his way to the palace as well. 

Smiling, happy at the thought of a travel companion, Haru skipped on over, settling down a little. "Hey," she greeted the young man. "Lovely day, huh?" 

~~~

Madoka leaned on the rail of her balcony, looking into the distance. She was smiling, as usual, a light feeling in her chest. What a nice day. She tilted her head to one side, her long braid falling across her shoulder. Although they were arriving for rather serious reasons, Madoka was excited all the same. She always was when meeting new people. She stared off up into the sky, wondering. What would they be like?

Standing on top of a tree he heard someone yell his name "Well looks like its time to climb down" He watched a crow fly by as he started to climb down the tree. Any other ninja would jump off the tree but not Kaosu he didn't like the feeling of jumping out of the tree. When he got out of the tree he walked towards Akira Murasame and smiled "Yes sir?" bowing down

---

Mizu watched a bird fly around while he was standing in the garden then whistled a crow landed on his shoulder. "I wonder what my sisters are doing right now" Mizu walked towards the front of the Palace and sat down starting to feed his bird "Tori what did you see, if only you could tell me." He watched different people walk by "People and their problems if only it didn't have to be this way if only we could be safe" A girl walked up behind Mizu and poked his shoulder "Hey Zu-Zu what are you doing out here by yourself?" He looked at the girl "Ryoko I was just watching the people pass by"
"Were you waiting to see our new bodyguards?"
He stood up and looked at her "No I was not the real question is were you waiting to see the new body guards?"
"No I was enjoying the sites around the palace. Come on lets go inside you can watch the people and their daily lives some other time"
Mizu laughed "Ok sister lets go inside. But just because you are 5 minutes older than me doesn't mean you can tell me what to do all the time got it"
"Got it"

Saiko grinned and made sure her sword was in place behind her back. The weight of it reassured her and she continued walking with confident steps. Her pale face was tinged with a rosy pink and her posture was relaxed and comfortable. Today was the day. She was starting her new job today as a guard for the children of the royal family.

It ade her curious. What would the children be like? Were they kind and wise, or stupid and spoiled? Saiko hoped it wasn't the latter. She's had enough of spoiled children. That thought made her laugh. Saiko was a spoiled child herself! However, her brothers made sure to put her in her place. Being high and mighty just annoyed those around you. She learned that pretty quickly. Acting stuck up, only made her brothers mad and they'd ignore her. She hated that. Saiko looked up to her brothers and adored them.

"Woah. The place is huge!" The white haired girl's eyes widened in awe as the building showed up into view. Becoming excited, Saiko started running over. "I get to work here?"

She slowed to a walk as she neared the gates and walked in, hoping she wouldn't attract to much attention. She was pretty well known. Around her home, at least. The White Dragon they called her. It was mostly an affectionate term though. Saiko much preffered the title Draco. It was mysterious and powerful sounding. Hopefully the name would stick with the reputation she was planning on building.

Masenai looked at the kunoichi or female ninja as he thought the meaning through and his eyebrow was slightly raised at her question. "Yes, not a cloud in the sky." he said in a odd tone shifting one of his swords carefully. He was casually walking to the castle gates and the guards looked at him strangely and with an odd curiosity.

"State your name and business please sir. If you're a part of the Imperial Shinobi Guard Division kindly state your name and ninja clan." a guard said very sternly. Masenai gave a most dangerous looking glare at the guard that seemed to look into his soul.

"Masenai Autoro, adopted son of Lord Sauru Murasame of the Murasame clan." He stated with a calm yet seemingly nervous, quiet tone. "Now my turn for a question, where is the throne room? I'd like to get acquainted with my Clients as soon as possible."

"Just walk straight into the front doorway and up the first three flights of stairs." was the answer given before Masenai started to walk towards the throne room.

---

When Kaosu arrived Akira turned around and grabbed him by the shirt. "Kaosu, your fifty seconds late, when I call you, you arrive immediately, have you forgotten that little rule my little spy?" he said in a very angered tone. "Now I want you to take a spyglass, look at the new ninja body guards and tell me what they look like so that way I can figure out who they might be, and if you say something about them that makes me mad, I will be in a sour mood indeed, oh yes...."

Mizu walked into the throne room with Ryoko. "Mizu are you happy to know that we are going to be safer? Now you can sleep well at night"
Mizu looked at Ryoko "I do not have a problem with sleeping but I will feel safer when this storm has passed by. The sooner that this threat is gone the sooner everything will be better"
"Zu-Zu you worry to much you need to be like our big sister and stop worrying about everything" Ryoko laughed and sat down in a chair "Now we just wait for our new body guards"
"Indeed time to wait they should be here soon" Mizu sat down and started to feed his bird again"

---

Kaosu pulled a spyglass out of his pocket and looked down towards the palace "Ok there are 3 people walking towards the palace two females and one male. The first female with white hair from her clothing she comes from a rich family the second female has dark hair and has been doing cartwheels on the way to the palace and the male has spiky brown hair and has a sword with a white handle" Kaosu put the spyglass away "Do you want me to get something to cause a bit of trouble for them or just wait?"

Saiko tapped a guard on the shoulder, her eyes wide and brimming with excitement.
"Hello, it's my first day here, could you tell me where I should go?"

The guard looked at her skeptically and she felt herself feeling offended. She straightened her already rigid posture and narrowed her eyes a bit.

"Little girl like you? What are you here for?" His voice was gruff and annoyed but slightly amused at the same time and Saiko adjusted the sword on her back. The guard's eyes widened a bit as he took in the large weapon.

"I've been accepted into the Imperial Shinobi Guard Division." Saiko's sweet voice was cold and icy. Her smile fake and blank.

"O-Oh. My apologies. State your name and business please, Miss. Please state your name and ninja clan." the guard said quickly. Saiko adjusted her weapon again before widening her smile that oozed fake sweetness. Her eyes piercing into his own. The man shrank back a bit.

"My name is Saiko Usorawa. I am the youngest and only daughter of the great Lord Usorawa." The white haired girl said in that cold voice. "If you could be so kind and tell me where to meet my clients,it would be most appreciated."

"They are in the throne room. To get there, just go into the main entrance and up the first three flights of stairs." He said, looking at his feet and she glanced at him disdainfully.

"Thanks for the info." Saiko turned and walked away. The entrance was right there and she stepped in, marveling at the structure of the building. The stairway was quite grand and she took her sweet time going up the stairs. Her eyes taking in everything.

However, she did know her priorities and soon found the throne room.

Her hand closed into a loose fist and Saiko knocked on the door.

Haru
“Name and clan, please… miss?”

“Oh.. what? Sorry. I was spacing.” Haru smiled and bowed respectfully to the older guard. “Haru Kuromori. Kuromori clan. Might know my brother, Kito? No? Oh well. Thank you very much.” She stepped past the guard and into the grand palace. A guard told her that the royals should be in the throne room. She whistled on her way there, restraining herself from cartwheeling. She was in a palace. Eventually, she found her way to the throne room. Another girl, a fellow ninja, was there. She had white hair. How interesting. She’d just knocked on the door. Haru, excitedly impatient, stepped forward and knocked louder, then just opened the door.

“Good morning, your highnesses!”

Madoka
Madoka had gone down to the throne room minutes before, and had been dozing off while looking at some intricate designs on the walls. She perked up with a small gasp and straightened herself out, fixing her hair and resting her hands on her lap as one of the ninja entered, looking rather casual.

“Ah… good morning. You must be from the ISGD. How are you today? Please, do come in. Have a seat,” she gestured to some plush pillows before the few thrones in the room.

Masenai walked into the throne room and observed quietly the area, immediately looking for openings where anyone threat may come creeping out. He sighed with a small hint of boredom but then he heard someone inviting him to sit, he turned to look and immediately saw one of the royals he was meant to protect. He never thought that the Crown Princess was beautiful. Well, he never actually saw too many women in his life. he briefly thought for a few moments about his mother, and mentally snapped out of it as he walked to a seat and sat down before the throne.

"Good morning to you your Majesty," Masenai stated, "May Seiryu prosper under your care, I am Masenai Autoro of the Murasame clan. I shall be either your, or one of your siblings' personal bodyguard, as per orders of the ISGD and the Ninja Council."

---

Akira slowly shifted his weight as he sat down and listened to Kaosu's report, until he heard something that made him grind his teeth on edge. "A white handled sword...?! Kaosu you imbecile! If that ninja is who I think he is I'll make you taste your own...'medicine.'" But Akira knew in his heart who it really was. The man Kaosu described was Masenai Autoro, his own Adopted brother from his former clan. "If that fool of an adopted family membeer is there, he's also there to attempt to bring me to the so called 'justice' he holds dear."

Akira stroked his nose in thought. "No Kaosu, we will wait... but prepare an Oni, just in case I change my mind, however I don't want it to make a big mess in the capitol, put it somewhere remote if I give the word to do so."

Mizu watched the different people walk into the throne room and continued to feed Tori. Ryoko smiled at the three ninjas then turned to Mizu "What are your thoughts about them Zu-Zu?"
Mizu looked at Ryoko "Sister I have no thoughts yet I don't know what any of them are like" Mizu turned to them "I welcome you our new guards I am the youngest Mizu I look forward to working with you" He then started to feed Tori again
"I am Ryoko the second to oldest or second to youngest whichever way you want to look at it" Ryoko smiled.

---

"Understood sir I will go and get an Oni prepared" Kaosu put the spyglass back into his pocket and got out of Akira's sight. Walking to a camp sight where the rest of the Dark Dragon clan was staying. He prepared the Oni then put it in a remote spot then walked back to where Akira is "I prepared the Oni and put it in a remote spot and some of the members of the clan want to attack something while they wait. What do I tell them or what are you going to tell them?"

Haru
Following Masenai’s lead, Haru strode forward and took a seat on the pillow, cross-legged instead of the traditional style. She hated kneeling. She wasn’t sure why. She just didn’t like it. It bothered her. So, to compensate, she addressed the royals in her most formal manor. “Avery good morning indeed, your majesty. My name is Haru Kuromori, from the Kuromori clan, and I look forward to serving you and your siblings with all of my power.” She finished speaking with a little bow of the head, something she rarely did although it was respectful. Despite the fact that she was a member of a respected ninja clan, Haru always had a problem with properly respecting authority.

Madoka
She smiled as the first introduced himself. He seemed friendly enough. So did the other one, Haru. She could tell that they were very skilled, indeed, and worthy of the ISGD membership. The third one, too, although she had not yet spoken, seemed capable of doing her job correctly; else Madoka’s perception is lying to her. It rarely did.

“It’s lovely to meet you, all of you. My name is Madoka, the eldest Suriyuchi child. I am glad that the ISGD has supplied us with such able ninja in such uncertain times.”

Akira glowered at Kaosu and grabbed at him by the scruff of his neck. "I said when I gave the word you incompetent ox to release the Oni! I should make you taste your own medicine for that idiocy!" Akira raged. "We don't want to make the first move now that i know that an equally good player, our friend with the white handled sword, is also planning out strategies to protect the empire!"

Akira rubbed one of his eyebrows in silent thought as he released Kaosu if he still had a grip on him. "Just keep the oni hidden in the village's woods, when I give the word, then you can tell it to have fun, are we clear? Tell the men, and my left hand woman, to not do anything yet. I still need to plan."

"And Masenai will probably take the bait." Akira thought darkly in his head.

---
Masenai gave a respecting bow to the royal family as the Crown princess gave her greetings and compliments. "You will be pleased in us I assure you. Both the Council and the IGSD thought out and hopefully picked the best for your safety. We shall not let you down." He stated, "We live but to serve the Imperial house at this troubling time."

Masenai's mind however hovered on orders his adoptive father gave him before he left, to not only guard the siblings from any danger, but to make sure that the threat of the Dark Dragons would not affect them, or the empire as a whole.

"I won't let you down...father." he mentally said to himself.

Saiko glanced subtly at the other ninjas beside her and slightly smiled, pleased. They all seemed to be strong. It would be fun too train with them and improve her skills. Then they introduced themself. Masenai Autoro, huh? He was from the Murasame clan hmm? She vaguely remembered theh head of that clan. He had come to visit her own father often. She had no idea he had adopted a son though. When he talked about his family, Mr. Murasame talked about each of his children equally.

And the black haired girl form the Kuramori clan was interesting as well. She showed signs of being kind of ...rebellious? Or maybe it was just arrogance? Though kneeling was uncomfortable, one should show the respect that is due even if it is inconvenient. Saiko paid no more thought to the girl. She didn't have time for someone like that. Well, she should speak up now then too, right?

The white haired girl stepped foward and bowed in a ninety degree angle from her hip as her father had taught her. She straigtened up again and smiled.

"My name is Saiko Usorawa from the Usorawa clan. I aim to protect with all that I have. May you all thrive," Saiko grinned and put her hands behind her back as she had been taught.

Mizu stood up and looked at his sister "Madoka if I might" he looked at the three ninjas "I have been thinking and you don't have to sister if you don't like the idea but I suggest this on who should be whose bodyguard. I've watched your personalities from what little I have learned I believe that Haru Kuromori should be the body guard of Ryoko, Saiko Usorawa should be the body gurad of Madoka, and Masenai Autoro should be my bodyguard" He looked back at Madoka "You don't have to agree with this idea sister if you don't want to I am just putting it forward"


---

"Sir I did not release the Oni I prepared it and hide it in the village woods, as long as no one finds the Oni should be ok also I left a few clan members to guard the Oni to make sure no one does find it" Kaosu holding his neck went back to the camp and found Akira's right hand woman "Message from Akira he wants you to wait and do nothing yet."
"Thank you Kaosu I will tell the men" The lady walked off
"Well I wonder what I have to do now or if I get a rest" He pulled a dagger out and twirled it around is fingers "Well maybe I can rest for a..." The dagger cut his finger and he looked down "Well that sucks" Kaosu tried walking towards his tent but didn't get far he fell over and was knocked out

"Well, the choice of bodyguards, Prince Mizu, is entirely up to the three of you in fact, but it has to be a unanimous decision, from all of you." Masenai stated, "With your highness' permission, I shall withdraw and settle in my quarters."

With that Masenai stood up and walked out of the throne room. "Let me know when the choices are officially made." He called out behind him as he was walking. He walked down one flight of stairs to find the IGSD floor and wandered into the first door on the left side, opening it to find a room that seemed fit for a ninja such as himself. He sighed softly as he settled down upon one of the mats near his bed, and meditated softly, listening to the sounds of the birds as he did so.

---

Akira was brooding about what Kaosu said about Masenai's presence in the palace, and that caused him to be close to the edge of his own anger, causing him to assume things. "Masenai Autoro of the Murasame clan. That accursed adopted vermin, so the game is afoot once more. I'll play it, though when I hope it ends, it ends with the Blade of Shadows, the Sorrow of Night, driven into his heart." Akira stated to himself in an angered manner. "Oh Masenai, it had to be you to represent my old clan, had it been anyone else in the family, I would've had little to no pleasure in killing them. But you, my hated adopted brother mine, I will have no guilt in killing."

Haru
Oh yeah. Her head perked up. They still had to take care of the who’s who’s bodyguard business. She’d almost forgotten. She smiled lazily. It was one of those moments when her brother would tap her on the back of the head affectionately and call her a little fool or some such thing. She always knew that in one way, he was joking, but in another, he was serious. Haru did have some serious problems.

It took almost all her strenght to not blurt out that she didn’t give a damn about who she was assigned to. She watched Masenai leave and she looked back to the Imperials. She didn’t trust herself to speak. She was sure she’d say something stupid. So, Haru remained silent and tried not to slouch as she sat there.

Madoka
She tilted her head to one side and listened genuinely to Mizu’s proposal. After a moment’s silence after Masenai left the room, Madoka sat back and crossed her legs, shrugging. She didn’t know them well enough to have a preference.

“I have no preference, Mizu. But I’m glad you have an idea of who you think would be compatible.”

Ryoko looked at both of her siblings "I don't care who protects me as long as someone protects me. Another thing Madoka,l Mizu thinks things through time after time and is rarely wrong about something so I will agree with Mizu on who has to protect us."
"Madoka do you agree with what I said?"

---
Kaosu woke up in his dreams "Not this again" Looking around "What is going to happen this time i wonder?" He started to look around and found a giant club "Well thats strange it almost looks like it belongs to a big Oni but they don't use clubs" After he said that a Giant appeared and picked up the club and swung it at Kaosu "Mother" Kaosu jumped out of the way the club barely missing him "I have to last 24 hours of this?! At least last time I had something easier to fight this time I have to fight a freaking giant! I really need to be more careful with knives or I will face something that will kill me" The Giant swung his club again Kaosu jumped out of the way looking at the giant. "Ok this sucks"
The lady Kaosu walked past his body and stopped and looked at him "He cut himself with one of his knives again didn't he" She hung her head low "Baka" Then turned to one of the passing by men "You take Kaosu to his tent we don't want him just lying out in the open"

Madoka
Madoka blinked as Ryoko spoke and then sighed inwardly. All she really wanted to do was get the bodyguard assigning over with so that she could go for a walk, perhaps. So, she smiled softly at her other two siblings and nodded her approval, hiding her gnawing restlessness with the practice of many years. It was a necessary tactic, after all. “Yes, I do. Again, very insightful, Mizu. Very insightful.” Then, turning back to the remaining two ninja in the room, she said, “Then it’s settled. Haru Kuromori will protect Ryoko, Masenai will guard Mizu, and Saiko will be my bodyguard. That is, unless they have any disagreements about this. Other than that, we’re settled.”

Haru
It took about all her inner strength to keep from drooping her head while the royal siblings conversed with one another. Haru should’ve been used to sitting still by now (Heaven knows her brother tried so hard to make her get used to it), but it was just her nature to want to run and jumping around like a little child. Predispositioned to being up and about made it hard for her to sit still and pay attention, even when not for very long. One could imagine home meals with the girl…

The oldest one, Madoka, said her piece to her to both Haru and that other ninja girl (who’d been silent most of the time). Time for respect, Ru. Chin up. Back straight. All that good stuff. “You highness,” she said with all the respect she could muster. “I have no reservations about the assignments.” In all honesty, she just didn’t care. But it’s not like she was going to say such a thing aloud.

"My Lord the idiot Kaosu got himself injured by his own medicine again." The woman from where the oni was kept reported, approaching Akira with a small caution. She was always cautious about approaching Akira when his mind was elsewhere.

"My dear, dear second in command. I don't care for Kaosu's imbecility at the moment, those three children of our deceased emperor has new bodyguards... I want you to go there, and figure out why the ISGD sent one in particular, an old friend of yours and mine, as I recall."

The woman gasped, "You don't mean... shall I?"

"No killing, no nothing. I want him intact, try to talk to him, in what you're currently wearing." Akira instructed. "I want the emperor's brats to think they are unprotected even at ho-"

"Akira I refuse to go over there in my outfit! I don't want to stir up a commotion! You blunder mentally when he's involved! Can't you just forgive him for what he did? We both know it was an- ack!!" She felt Akira's hand close on her neck. She clearly accidentally hit the nerve that made her master fly into a rage.

"Never talk to me about that again! My adopted brother is the enemy! He always will be! So abandon your former affections for him my dear.... if you're willing to do it."

"Y-yes my lord."

---

Masenai was deep in his meditation, wondering what to do for the remainder of his daytime routine. He remembered that he was ordered to protect whom the royalty decided to dump him with. However, his clan personally told him to also make sure that whoever guarded the Crown Princess does the job right. Whoever is the Dark Dragon will target her more often. There was also the nagging suspicion that the clan believes that either Akira, his traitorous surrogate brother, or the Masaki Clan's own traitor and one of his boyhood friends, Miya.

Miya, that name still rang in his mind. She was one of the Kunoichi of her clan when they first met. She, Akira, and himself became a tight triangle of friends. Trying to shake the thought that she might be the Dark Dragon was a hard thing because of it. Akira he can understand to be the Dark Dragon but not Miya...unless she leads it so that way she can hide the fact she's protecting Akira from Masenai's fury of what Akira did.

He broke off from his meditation... and sighed. "Life is hard, so hard. As for love for my former friends, ai wa zetsumei." (love is lethal.)

Ryoko looked at her two siblings then at the two ninja then got up "I'm going to take a rest so I will be in my room if anyone needs me" Ryoko walked off towards her room
Mizu stood up and held out his arm, Tori landed on him then he walked away thinking about different things. "What have I learned and what did I see?" Replaying his memories he watched every detail about the three ninjas trying to learn about them and their personalities. When he stopped he was standing in front of Masenai's room "Masenai I want you to come with me for a walk around the palace"

---

Kaosu slowly got up and looked around. "I really need to stop cutting myself with my knife if I don't it could cost me my life" He got up and walked to the well getting a drink of water then walk back to around to find Miya. "Mi-Mi how are you?"
Miya looked at Kaosu "What do you want?"
"I want something to do besides just lay around and wait"
"Go climb a tree and keep a watch out"
"You really do care about me don't you"
"Say that again and I will make sure you never wake up understood Kaosu?" Miya walked away
Kaosu climbed the nearest tree and started to look around at the surrounding area