Still breathing from the exertion of the performance, Sakura sat down on one of the plush benches for a quick rest as various members of the troupe scurried about in preparation for the next dance. Some were disrobing or applying makeup, while others rested, breathing heavily like herself.

Yumiko, a tall woman and also one of the three dancers in the performance, was sitting and resting next to Sakura. “We did great.”

Sakura smiled with a nod.

“Yes,” Umo said, acknowledging Yumiko. “Well done, everyone, but we’re not finished yet—long from it, so get ready for the Mountain Lilly and the Bear. You all know what to do, so get ready. You’re back out on stage as soon as our glorious Emperor returns from the lounge!” He clapped twice and moved off to some task as a small band of kotsuzumi drummers went out onto stage accompanied by two flutes and a shamisen performer.

Kaiya was removing the makeup from her face in front of a large, well-lit looking glass. She still had a large spot of white paint under her bottom lip when she turned and acknowledged Sakura.

“Well done, little flower,” she said, tapping her across the knee with her fan.

“Thank you.”

“And your first time as lead,” Yumiko said. “Perfect!”

Sakura smiled. “Yes, thank you.”

“What’s the matter?” Kaiya asked. “You’re not upset that I kidnapped you from your house to get you here on time, are you?”

“What? No,” Sakura said. “Of course not.”

“Then what is it?” Yumiko asked, putting an arm around Sakura’s shoulder. “If you’re worried about the Emperor, he won’t want you. You’re not a daimyō’s daughter.”

Kaiya made a sound of frustration and gestured emphatically with her hand. “Well done, Yumiko! Just make her feel worse.”

“No,” Sakura said, “it’s not that. I’m not concerned about… that.”

And just like Kaiya, her frustration with Yumiko became frustration for Sakura. “Well then what is it?! Come, you can tell us.” She lowered her voice. “We’re all sisters here. Come, come!”

She felt very discomposed. What do I say?

“It’s really nothing. It’s just a personal matter,” she said, thinking of the past day’s events.

They looked at her, something dawning on Kaiya’s face. She looked about conspiratorially and then excitement leapt to her face. “Tell me there’s a man! You have a secret admirer?”

“What?”

Yumiko gasped, and with an accusing glance she said, “Gods, you do! Tell us!”

“I… it’s…”

“Yes…?”

An image of the mercenary came into her mind. “Okay,” she said, and before she could finish the two women were practically jumping.

“I can’t believe it!” Kaiya shrieked.

“Shhh!” Yumiko noised, putting a finger to her lips.

Kaiya was indignant. “What?”

“Maybe Sakura doesn’t want everyone to know?”

“Oh, right.”

Sakura sighed. What am I getting myself into?

She didn’t know why she said it, but under their combined badgering, she had had no other choice but to make up a story.

There was something about him, though.

“You’re blushing, Sakura,” Kaiya said.

“I am not.”

Yumiko smiled, that infuriating smile that said she disagreed but that she was humoring Sakura’s objection.

“Okay, okay,” Kaiya said. “Stop.” She put up a hand. “Wait. We don’t want the rushed version.”

“No,” Yumiko said, shaking her head. “We should wait.”

“Yes, we should wait. So,” she said, taking an interminably long time to get to it. She was usually rushed and impatient as a person, Kaiya was. “So, we wait until after the performance and…”

“And tomorrow—“

“No, Yumi! Tonight.”

“Tonight,” she corrected, her head nodding in sync with Kaiya’s.

“Tonight we talk about it when we’re all done here.” She said, an air of casual non-caring. And then she added with a mischievous look, “Everything!”

Kami-sama, Sakura thought. I’ve really done it. There was nothing to tell.

“Okay.”

“Good!” Kaiya said, standing up quickly. “Let’s get back to it. We have two more performances!”

Yumiko got up, but Sakura lingered. The other woman grabbed her by the hand and hauled her to her feet. “Come on, Sakura.”

She couldn’t help it. She joined the other two women in their silly giggling. If truth be told, she did feel a thrilling kind of excitement at the prospect of meeting the mage again, but that wouldn’t happen because—

“Is that someone screaming?” Ikio, who was standing near the door asked. He paused for a second, looking out toward the stage. “Something’s wrong! There’s a lot of people screaming out there!”

“What is it? What’s happening?” Umo asked, just entering the room. “Stop distracting everyone and get back to—“

“No!” Ikio said. “Umo, look!” He ushered the other man forward.

The tall man cocked his head, walked over to the drummer with an apprehensive look and went out the door.

“It is loud,” Kaiya said. “Almost sounds like people panicking, but it’s nothing. It’s the foreign jesters making a ruckus!”

“I don’t think that’s what that is,” Yumiko said. “This is scaring me.”

“It’s nothing!”

Umo dashed back in. “People are out there running about all over. Something is happening. It looks like fighting!”

Kaiya shot up out of her chair. “What?!” she screeched. “This is the palace. It’s no place for a common brawl!”

“It’s not a brawl,” Umo barked. “It’s something else. There’s too much commotion, too many people screaming.”

The screaming and uproar was quickly growing, a sea of voices, most in fear and panic, but others in sheer ferocity and anger.

“It sounds like a battle.” Iko ran out the door, along with Yumiko and Kaiya.

Sakura quickly followed, a strong bile of fear blossoming inside her. She didn’t know what to make of it.

The sight that met her eyes was… hard to describe. People were running everywhere in every direction. A woman and three men, all finely dressed rushed past them, one of the men falling to his hands and knees. He ran like a dog before catching himself back on his two feet, fleeing past them in a rush of sheer terror.

“Gods!” Kaiya cried. She turned back. “What is happening!”

“Get out!” Somebody yelled. “Get out! The Emperor is dead! They killed the Emperor!”

Sakura’s heart leapt into her throat. An attack? On the palace? She back stepped with the others. “The Emperor, dead?”

Oh gods! My family!

“I have to find my family… I have to find my family!”

“No you don’t,” Umo yelled.

“But they’re here! In the palace!”

“We have to go.” Kaiya ordered. “We have to get out of here!”

“Keep calm,” Umo barked. “Come back! Get back!”

Sakura looked about wildly, thinking she would find her mother and father and two siblings running for safety. Of course she wouldn’t. Not here.

“They wouldn’t have been seated in this area, Sakura!” Umo said. “Come on!” He grabbed her by the wrist and hauled her backstage with everyone else. Some members of the troupe were already running for the corridors.

The troupe master was right. What was Sakura thinking?

“Who would attack the palace?” Ikio asked, his jaw completely slack. “I can’t believe this! Whoever they are, we will repay them tenfold!”

“Now is not the time for that,” Yumiko said. She was breathing hard and fast.

“Are you all right?” Kaiya asked. “Yumiko? Someone help me!”

Sakura glanced toward the two women, her own heart hammering inside her chest. They were both on the floor, Yumiko in the other woman’s arms, her eyes closed. “She fainted,” Kaiya said, voice breaking just a little.

“It’s time to go,” Umo said. “We need to stay together. It’s safer than running about like chickens with our heads cut off.”

He ran into another room, came out a few moments later with a katana in his hand.

“Do you know how to use that?” Ikio asked.

“Of course I do!” Umo snarled. “I wasn’t always a troupe leader, you know.”

“No, we don’t know,” Kaiya said.

“Enough of that, girl,” Umo ordered. “We go out the back. Stay together.”

She couldn’t leave, could she? Her family was somewhere in the palace. Mother. Father—Tomiichi and Yoko! “I can’t leave, Umo!”

“Damn you, girl, yes you can!” He grabbed her by the upper arm, not urgently. “Do you think you can save them? If there’s an attack in the palace, what are you going to do? Defend against a katana blade with your fans! Think, fool girl!”

He was right. I’m a fool. “I’m sorry.” Her breathing was coming in stitches.

“Never mind that. Yumiko is awake now. Help Kaiya.”

She nodded, and Umo took the lead, heading for the corridors that would take them out the back entrance of the palace. Sakura took Yumiko’s hands and helped pull her to her feet. She was wobbling, but okay.

“It’s going to be all right, Sakura,” Kaiya said. “I’m sure your family is just fine.”

They filed along behind Umo, his Katana naked, held high. It was evident he knew how to use the sword and that it was not the practiced posture of a stage performer.

An acidic bile was building in Sakura’s stomach. The muscles in her throat were constricting. She wanted to bend over to retch.