The Zasshū

Kai moved through the outer courtyard with the feigned ease of someone who belonged there.

He approached what looked to be a couple of the princess’s attendants walking his way. He noticed the way they kept glancing in his direction, and then giggling and talking behind the silk sleeves of their kimonos.

He suppressed a smile at their poorly disguised interest. He was well versed in the art of stealth, and these two? They were anything but.

He knew he was supposed to be keeping a low profile…

Eh, fuck it, he thought—never one to pass up an opportunity to stroke his ego.

He watched them approach in his periphials, keeping his eyes fixed forward and his expression blank, like he hadn’t yet noticed them. Then, right at the moment the women were about to pass by him, he turned and locked eyes with them, bowing slightly and winking.

They went bright red, tittering excitedly between themselves as they ran off together.

Kai smiled to himself, reveling in the moment of distraction, a temporary reprieve from the reality of what he was here to do.

Hmm... one of them wasn’t too bad, he thought as he glanced back at their retreating forms. Maybe after, I could—

No. Focus.

This wasn’t the time or place, he reminded himself, his mood instantly darkening as he set his mind back to the reason he was here.

Sighing, Kai turned away from the main central pathway, heading to the Eastern garden where the temple was situated.

The palace grounds were absolutely huge. It would have been far too easy to get lost or turned around if you weren’t familiar with the layout. Kai wasn’t going to risk failing his mission because of something stupid like getting lost. Now, thanks to his careful planning and research, he walked with the confidence of someone who belonged here.

In reality, it was the first time he’d ever set foot within these walls, not that anyone could tell.

His stolen servant’s robes blended seamlessly with the handful of attendants who had prepared the ritual chamber earlier that day. The fabric was coarse and itchy against his skin, unfamiliar after years in rebel leathers.

When planning the logistics of this mission, the biggest obstacle he had faced was how he was going to gain access to his very well-protected target. So when he learned of this sacred empowerment ritual, he knew it was his one and only shot.

Princess Sora would be alone with the Acarya for at least three hours. No attendants, no guards, no interruptions. The ritual chamber was even soundproofed. Everything was arranged in such a way that it ensured absolute privacy for the sacred rites.

It couldn't have been more perfect for what he’d been ordered to do.

Kai paused at the edge of the inner garden, watching the last attendant depart through the eastern gate. The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the stone path leading to the ritual chamber. His pulse was steady. His hands didn’t shake.

He told himself that this was just another assignment. No different to all of the others he'd been given.

Infiltrate the palace, execute the mission, extract himself without getting killed.

He chose not to dwell too much on what “executing the mission” entailed this time.

The heavy cedar doors stood closed, ornate carvings of lotus blossoms and sacred flames decorating the dark wood. No guards. The Emperor’s own daughter, left vulnerable by tradition and protocol. Masanori’s arrogance made this almost too easy.

Kai approached the doors, listening. He couldn’t hear a thing, as expected. He knew if the room wasn’t soundproofed, he would be hearing the Acarya’s voice, deep and rhythmic, guiding the princess through the empowerment meditation.

Nothing. Good.

He tested the handle. Unlocked, as predicted. The sacred ritual had a surprising amount of specific requirements attached to it, including the very strict rule that nobody, no servant, guard or nobleman, was permitted to enter the chamber during the ritual. The penalty for disturbing the ceremony was execution. No exceptions. You would assume that this meant the doors would therefore be locked. Wrong. Despite this rule, the chamber itself was to remain unlocked at all times, symbolizing openness to divine wisdom.

He slipped inside.

The antechamber was dim, lit only by oil lamps that cast flickering shadows on silk tapestries. Incense smoke hung thick in the air—sandalwood and lotus, overpowering and sweet. Beyond a second set of doors, he could finally begin to hear the Acarya now, his muffled words rising and falling in practiced cadence.

Kai moved to the inner doors to peer through the gap and immediately froze.

Wow.

Princess Sora knelt on a silk cushion in the center of the chamber, her back straight, hands folded in her lap. She wore thin, ceremonial white robes with what appeared to be very little on underneath. The silk pooled around her like snow, her eyes blindfolded as per the ritual’s requirements.

Kai was awestruck.

He couldn't help but take a moment just to admire her serene, ethereal beauty, his gaze wandering over her dark, unbound hair that fell past her waist in a glossy cascade. Her features were flawless, her body sinful.

In stark contrast to her youthful perfection, stood the Acarya, elderly and frail, his attention focused entirely on the ritual text he held.

Neither of them heard the door opening.

Kai's heart pounded as he pulled the dark cloth mask up, ensuring the lower half of his face was covered and stepped inside, sealing the door shut behind him with barely a whisper of sound.

Although Kai had been born and raised in Japan, he was what the natives referred to as a zasshū—a halfbreed or mongrel. His mother had been a native of Japan, born and raised in Nagasaki, but his father was a dutch sailor and trader—blonde, blue eyed, and built like the infamous nordic warriors known as vikings. Japan had strict laws that limited interaction with foreigners as much as possible, making mixbreeds like him a fairly rare, and often unwelcome sight.

Kai was no exception.

Despite being treated like an outcast most of his life, he had to admit that his mixed heritage had it’s upsides too. While his dark brown hair and sharp facial features were largely influenced by his mothers side, his physique was not. At 6.3ft, he was at least a head taller than most of his fellow countrymen, with broad shoulders and a powerful frame that gained muscle easily.

Yes, he definitely appreciated the unfair advantage his inherent size and strength gave him over his opponents when fighting. He also inherited his father’s eye color, a blue so light, they appeared to glow like almond-shaped chips of ice against his olive skin and dark brows.

It was his distinctive eyes that had him worried right now. While the mask concealed the majority of his face, it did nothing to hide his eyes. Normally, eye color alone wouldn't be enough evidence to warrant an arrest, let alone a conviction, but in a country full of short, dark-eyed people, being tall and blue-eyed... well, it was practically a confession.

He wondered, not for the first time, if the Blood Moon had considered his rather conspicuous appearance, when assigning this mission to him, of all people.

But Kai wasn't normally one to question orders, and so he assumed it was more than likely assigned to him because no one else had the stomach to do what was required, nor skill required to pull off something this dangerous.

The chamber was larger than he’d expected. It was circular, with walls lined in polished wood and more silk tapestries depicting scenes of enlightenment. Candles burned in alcoves, their light dancing across the princess’s face.

Objectively, she wasn’t the type of woman he normally went for—not that it mattered tonight. His type tended to fall more on the plain side of pretty, as well as taller and sturdier then the princess's petite frame and ideally older than him. He liked a woman that looked like she knew what she was doing. Someone that didn't appear to be easily offended, too precious or high maintenance and above all else, could handle being thrown around a bit without breaking.

Princess Sora was the epitome of high maintenance perfection and she was anything but plain. The more he watched her, the more he realized she was probably the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes on. Her beauty was no secret ofcourse. He’d already been made well aware of this from the intelligence reports and general gossip over the years. Yet none of it had prepared him for the reality of seeing her here, unguarded and up close.

He needed to get on with it but he found himself reluctant to disturb her serenity, or his lovely view. His gaze drank her in like a man dying of thirst.

While his tastes might run more homely, it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy looking at her. Any man with eyes would be the same.

Sighing quietly, Kai forced himself to shut down his pointless train of thought. He wasn’t here to admire her. He had a job to do.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kai locked away every ounce of compassion and morality he still possessed, and stepped out of the shadows.

The Acarya noticed him first. The old man’s chanting faltered, his eyes widening as he registered the masked stranger in servant’s robes.

“You—you shouldn’t be—”

Kai headed straight for the old man first.

The Acarya stumbled backward, dropping his text. “Guards! Gua—”

He clamped his hand over the old man’s mouth, cutting off the cry and spun him around, one arm locking across his throat in a precise hold. Not enough pressure to kill. Just enough to silence.

Princess Sora was on her feet now, blindfold gone, her serenity shattered. Her dark, wide eyes fixed on Kai’s face, particularly the pale eyes that marked him as foreign, as wrong in this sacred space.

“Don’t move,” Kai said quietly. His voice sounded strange even to his own ears. Flat. Empty. “If you move, he dies.”

The Acarya struggled weakly in his grip, wheezing. Sora’s gaze darted to the old man, then back to Kai. Her hands were trembling, but she didn’t move. Didn’t cry out.

Smart girl.

“Who are you?” Her voice was steady despite the fear he could see in her face. “What do you want?”

“Right now, all you need to know is that the old man’s life is in your hands. Move, and he dies.” Then he dragged the Acarya backwards to one of the wooden pillars supporting the chamber’s domed ceiling, keeping his eyes on the princess the whole time. As he pulled a length of cord from his sleeve, the old man tried to twist away, but Kai was stronger, faster. He bound the Acarya’s wrists behind the pillar, then his ankles, working with efficient precision.

“Please,” the Acarya gasped. “Please, she is sacred—”

Kai stuffed a wad of cloth into the old man’s mouth, silencing him. He checked the bindings once, twice. Secure. The Acarya was a necessary part of his plan. They needed a witness to the crime, someone who would feel obligated to report the incident to the Emperor, should the princess decided to keep quiet.

When Kai turned back to the princess, he saw she had moved, despite his warning. What surprised him was that she hadn’t moved toward the door in an attempt to save just herself. No, she’d positioned herself near one of the alcoves instead, her hand reaching for a ceremonial blade displayed on a silk cushion. The tantō’s blade was no longer than her petite forearm, but still sharp enough to kill if she knew how to use it.

“Don’t.” he warned. “It won’t stop me.”

She grabbed it anyway.

The blade flashed in the candlelight as she raised it, her grip awkward but determined. “Stay back! Come any closer and I’ll make sure they flay you alive,” she hissed. “I don’t know what you want, but if you leave now, you may yet escape with your life, Gaijin.”

Gaijin. foreigner. He’d been called worse. His cock twitched at her display of spirit. Maybe not so boring after all, he realized, mildly impressed. This wasn’t the simpering flower he had expected.

He assessed her stance. She held the tantō like someone who’d been taught the theory but never practiced. Her weight was too far forward. Her elbow locked. One quick movement and and he knew he could disarm her easily. His hesitation was due to their vast size difference. Fighting a man was easy because it didn’t require holding back. He had no experience fighting women and he found himself reluctant to want to hurt her unnecessarily.

You’re not here to win her favor. Just get it done.

He moved.

Sora slashed at him, the blade cutting through the air where his chest had been a heartbeat before. He sidestepped, caught her delicate wrist and twisted firmly but carefully. He had never executed this move on a wrist as tiny as hers and didn’t want to break the bone, just send enough pain shooting up her arm to hopefully loosen her grip.

He heard her soft, feminine gasp of pain, then the tantō clattered to the floor. His cock twitched again as he realized he liked that sound, suddenly curious to know what other noises she might make.

She immediately tried to pull away, but he yanked her back with ease, spinning her around and pinning her arms behind her. Christ she’s tiny, he thought with concern as he held her against him, her body rigid with terror and fury.

“Let me go!” She thrashed, trying to kick backward at his shins. “Let me—”

“I can’t,” he cut in, the words coming out rougher than he intended. He tightened his grip, forcing her still. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

She let out a little growl of frustration, reminding him of an angry kitten. “Then what are you waiting for?” Her voice cracked. “If you’re here to kill me... just do it.”

Once again, she surprised him with her display of courage, causing his chest to constrict. She thought he was here to assassinate her. He wondered if that would’ve been kinder.

Despite her brave act, he could feel her pulse racing against his forearm, betraying her fear. “I’m not here to kill you,” he said quietly.

She went still in his arms for a moment, no doubt trying to figure out what else he could want, if not to kill her.

“Then what? Ransom? Money? What is it you—” her words died off, unfinished, her breath hitching. He felt the exact moment she understood. Her body began to shake. “No. No, please…”

“Shhh,” he whispered in her ear. Her sweet, floral scent invaded his nostrals, sending more blood rushing to his cock. “I don't want this any more then you do,” he confessed. “It doesn’t matter though, I have my orders. There’s no getting out of this for either of us.”

Kai scanned the interior, looking for the best place to execute the mission. He was more than a little concerned about their size difference and how much this was going to damage her. Something soft might help… His gaze snagged on the cushions she had previously been kneeling on. She resumed her struggles in earnest now as he dragged her toward the silk cushions in the center of the chamber. She fought him every step, her bare feet sliding on the polished floor, her breath coming in sharp gasps.

“No, no, no. Please don’t do this,” she whispered. “Please. I’ll give you anything. Money, information, I’ll—”

He cut her off abruptly, not liking the way her pathetic little pleas were starting to get under his skin. “It’s not about what you can give me.” Kai forced her down onto the cushions, kneeling behind her to keep her pinned. His hands shook now.. “It’s about what you represent. Who you are.”

“I—I don’t understand?”

Her naivity surprised him. “Your marriage to Hideyoshi.” He spoke quickly, needing to get the words out before he lost his nerve. “It can’t happen. Your father has made some powerful enemies over the years. People with both the motivation and the means to intercept his plans when they decide it’s necessary. The alliance between your father and Shogun Hideyoshi—qualifies as necessary. The Blood Moon won't allow it.”

She went still. “The… Blood Moon?”

“If you’re... compromised... Hideyoshi won’t accept you. The marriage will be called off.” Kai’s voice sounded hollow and resigned. “That’s all this is. Politics.”

“Politics?” She let out a broken sound. “You’re going to... what? Rape me for politics?” The word hit him hard. He’d been avoiding it, even in his own mind.

Violation. Assault. Compromise. Anything but that word.

“It’s not personal. You’re… collateral damage. I am sorry, Princess,” he said again, knowing the words were meaningless.

“Then don’t!” Sora twisted in his grip, trying to look at him. Tears streaked her face, but her eyes were fierce. “Please... you don’t have to do this. You can walk away. Please? Please!"

For a one terrible, suspended moment, Kai almost listened.

Then he thought of Takeda’s orders. The council’s expectations. The mission parameters he’d accepted without question. He thought of what would happen if he failed, if he returned empty-handed. Execution, probably. Or worse—exile, branded a traitor to the cause he’d bled for.

He thought of everything except the girl begging beneath him.

Her father destroyed your family. He deserves worse.

Even so, he knew she didn’t.

“No. I can’t. I’m sorry,” he whispered one last time. Then he reached for the ties of her ceremonial robes.

Sora screamed.

The sound tore through the chamber, raw and desperate. He instinctively wanted to smother it, even knowing the soundproofed walls swallowed it. Knowing that no one outside would hear and no one would come.

He tried to ignore her and continue but found that he couldn’t think past the sound of her terror. Gritting his teeth, Kai gave in and clamped his hand over her mouth, muffling the scream. She bit down hard, her teeth sinking into the flesh of his palm. Sharp pain flared but he didn’t pull away.

“Stop. Stop fighting me,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’ll only make this worse for yourself.”

She bit harder.

“Fuck!” He ripped his hand from her mouth with a roar, spinning her around to face him. He was angry now, his chest rising rapidly in time with his breathing. He was about to give her an violent shake but paused when he saw her eyes flash wide with terror, before she squeezed them shut and flinched away from him like she was expecting him to hit her.

Kai confusion evaporated when he realized he had his free hand raised in mid air, aimed towards her face. He dropped his hand instantly. Had he really been about to hit her? He didn’t even remember consciously thinking it, but there was no mistaking his stance just now.

Shame hit him. Becoming a rapist isn’t bad enough? Now he beats women too?

Kai had never failed a mission before. Never backed out. Never let the Blood Moon cause down, ever. He was considering it now.

You could still walk away, he reminded himself. He hadn’t done anything, yet.

He might have accepted the mission without question, but he didn’t want to do this, not to her or any woman. He hadn’t from the beginning. What surprised him, was the intensity of his unexpected desire for the princess. His body definitely wanted her, just not like this.

He didn’t normally allow himself the luxury of thinking about what he wanted. He simply followed orders. No matter what.

This time shouldn’t have been any different.

The problem was the nature of the mission, and that the intended target was a woman. Every mission prior to this one, the targets were always men. Some might think that committing murder would be harder, but Kai had cut down more men than he could count and this felt nothing like killing a man.

He was struggling to stay detached and keep his emotions out of it. Anger. Lust. Shame. They were all emotions and he had been swapping between all three since he laid eyes on her.

Weak, he thought to himself bitterly. Cut the shit and do what you came here for.

Shifting his weight, he used his body to pin her more completely. His other hand worked at the elaborate knots securing her robes, fingers clumsy with adrenaline. The silk was soft and expensive so it tore easily when he lost patience and yanked.

She bucked beneath him, trying to throw him off, but only ended up rubbing herself against him unintentionally. Her hand found his face, nails raking across his exposed forehead. He felt his skin split, followed by the hot, wet sensation of blood. Growling, he caught her wrist and slammed it to the floor, then the other, holding both above her head with one hand.

She was crying now, her screams dissolving into sobs. Her body shook violently. Kai made the mistake of looking at her face. Saw what he was doing to her.

Her eyes were wide, pupils blown with terror. Tears streamed from the corners, disappearing into her hairline. Her skin was flushed. She looked... terrified, tempting, and young. Too young.

He was suddenly angry again. The fact that she was Masanori’s daughter should have been enough. Her father destroyed his entire family for fucks sake! Yet here he was, once again too fucking weak to act. Too fucking soft to do what needed to be done. He hated himself more than ever in that moment. Hated what he was here to do and hated that he was struggling to do it, both in equal measure.

Don’t think. Just finish it.

Gritting his teeth, he reached for the neckline of her robe. She immediately started screaming again, hoarse and broken.

Kai was running out of patience and time, fast. Enough. With a growl, he abruptly released one of her wrists and wrapped his large hand around her throat tightly, cutting off her air and instantly shutting her up. He yanked her forward by the neck and got right up in her face, while her free hand instinctively tried to claw at the hand that was choking her.

“Count yourself lucky that they assigned me to do this, and not someone else,” he said with quiet menace, “because I can guarantee you that if I were anyone else, I would have already beaten you unconscious and fucked every hole you have until you were unrecognizable. This is your last warning. Stop fighting me. The more you fight me the more I’ll end up hurting you."

He maintained his grip on her throat as she spluttered and writhed, his free hand moved to the ties of his own clothing. The borrowed servant’s robes were simple, easy to remove. He worked quickly, mechanically, trying to divorce his mind from his body. Trying to pretend this was just rough sex with a willing partner.

As soon as he loosened his grip on her throat she gasped, sucking in air and coughing. He winced as his eyes caught on the red and purple finger prints now marring her slender neck. “Please,” She whispered, her voice scratchy and broken. “Please don’t. I’ll do anything. Anything. Just don’t do this.”

Kai closed his eyes. Opened them. Her robes were partially open now, exposing pale skin and surprising curves, the swell of her full breasts rising and falling with her panicked breaths.

Despite his harsh warning, she was still struggling, her survival instincts taking over despite how futile it was. But her strength was waning. Exhaustion and terror were taking their toll.

He moved to position himself between her legs but she immediately tried to close them. His hand shot between her thighs forcing them apart enough to wedge his hips between them and keep her spread wide for what came next.

Just get it done. Hold her still, work yourself up, finish the mission...