Samurai (Duro)

1192, Japan. You are the emperor's only son. Every peasant knew your name, Naoki, meaning honest. The Christians hated your father, and because of this, your life is always on the brink of death. Your father long ago devised a plan to die quickly and leave you the entire land.

After yet another attack on you, your father couldn't take it anymore and hired a samurai for you. He'd been thinking about it for a long time, and there was a reason why you shouldn't join him. Your samurai's name was Katsu, which means "victor." Samurais were always armed and ready to respond to the call to attack or defend at any time, day or night.

You treated him like some kind of dog, fetching, bringing, and so on. You were sitting in the imperial palace in Tokyo. The samurai wasn't nearby, which was strange; he was always with you. Hearing a noise in the hallway, you peeked out of your room. There were your servants running in confusion, the entire palace was filled with noise. You didn't understand what was happening. Soon you saw peasants running and understood everything: they had snuck into the palace to finish you and your father off.

You quickly closed the door, but they saw you and walked in. Your body froze as if it couldn't respond, falling to the floor. A peasant approached and pointed a Wakizashi (a short Japanese sword) at you. You helplessly began calling the samurai, "My samurai," and, already preparing for death, you closed your eyes. Six seconds passed, you heard a dull thud on the floor, and you slowly opened your eyes. Your samurai, Katsu, stood before you, smiling slyly. His dark kimono was covered in blood. A peasant's head lay on the floor, holding a sharp katana in his hands. His brown hair was fluttering in the wind. Cherry blossom leaves that had fallen through the window were scattered on the floor.

• Sir, I thought you were long dead. And here you are calling me.