Masenai Autoro's Story

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?

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...."

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."

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.

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.”

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