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"This ridiculous girl?" Ren laughed maniacally "She couldn’t even betray herself Cried herself to sleep hts Look at her She’s filthy When we took her prisoner, we had no idea who she was"

Kenshin ht of her brother that ht that those she cared for--her friends, the boy of her heart--the thought that they athered and spilled over, trailing down her , "please take me away from here My lord Raiden, these men kidnapped me They are liars and thieves They have treated me abominably"

The son of the emperor remained unmoved He continued to address Ren and not Mariko "Even if she is my bride, what makes you think ould trade Hattori Mariko for the lives of all theon the hilt of his katana

In that moment Mariko had her first taste of hatred for her betrothed And she kneould not be her last

"Because it is not just one life to be traded Leave the rest of o with you as well," Ōkae to cry out To screa smile And the deal was done

Ren pressed Mariko into the fold Kenshin swept closer, and Mariko ran the rest of the way As she passed Asano Tsuneoki--the real son of Asano Naganori--her eyes lowed yellow and feral as he nodded once

And the look was a pro watch Always

Kenshin took her in his arht The tears continued to spill down Mariko’s face unchecked

Over her brother’s shoulder she saw Raiden shove Ōka in the mud Watched as imperial soldiers bound his wrists in chains Mariko closed her eyes tight, willing away the ie

"I’ll take you home," Kenshin said softly

"No," Mariko said "There’s nothing left for aze bore into the face of her betrothed, daring hiain "If in my life in the imperial court"

"Are you certain?"

The tears burned in her eyes as she watched s Ōka in my life"

AN ENDING

This was to be an unusual tea cereht

But then her emperor had always been an unusual man

Her Imperial Majesty Yamoto Gen pavilion, each step itself a journey A reht within her But she did not show it Years spent living in Heian Castle had taught her better than to wear her every emotion for all the world to see

The eht

It had been years since he’d asked her to partake in anything together Years since he’d asked her to share in anything under the stars And thepavilion was one of his favorite places to be on a warm summer’s eve In fact, this particular pavilion had been built for her For his whore, Kanako

Genmei paused in her steps She reached into her sleeve and drew out a tiny glass vial Slipped a drop beneath her tongue and took a deep breath, letting the tincture spread down her throat Cool her burning nerves

She lifted her head high And continued down her path The eht It had not been apavilion The emperor was already there, his hands behind his back, his head turned to the stars He looked her way after she removed her lacquered zori and bowed at the top of the steps

"I’n asked me to come"

"You could have refused"

"I have never refused you anything"

"All the saht"

Gen ain He directed her toward the tatami mat positioned before the iron tea brazier "Will you join ain Genmei bowed "Only if I may be allowed to serve it"