Yo. I'm back with a new instalment of the same genre but an idea that I thought might be able to work quite well. Instead of being transported to Sword Art Online, the events that happen are actually happening in real life. So, this is set in the olden times as to not over-run with modern technology.

This is a Samurai/bounty hunter fic as of now.

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Yuuki Shouzou withheld the urge to quiver as he stared into the cold, hard eyes of the man – no boy, in front of him. Not one hint of emotion could be seen from within those eyes, the dead orbs that were called eyes; no love, no anger, no feeling. It was devoid, utterly and completely. Now, Yuuki Shouzou was a man that was known for his ability to negotiate and read those around him from slight twitches, movements and facial expressions, so it was a very disconcerting fact that the man couldn't get a hold of what his guest was thinking. Licking his lips to make sure there were no blunders throughout the conversation, the Emperor of Japan man started.

"Welcome, my guest, to my palace. I hope that you find your stay here most welcoming." Yuuki Shouzou said kindly, his small smile matching the clear honest aura he was protruding from himself.

The boy in front of him tilted his head to the left slightly as he regarded the man with an inquisitive stare. Much to the emperor's shock, it was him that averted his eyes from the guest's orbs first. It was, after all, hard to stare into the pair of eyes that held no emotion to latch onto. It was like staring at a dead child. The throne room around them was getting colder and colder by the minute, either because of the autumn season or the boy's gaze that could freeze hell, the Emperor was unsure. The smaller boy gave a slight nod to emperor allowing the man to release a shaky breath he was holding.

Some of you might question as to what an Emperor would be scared of. His country in trouble, that was a big reason, but the biggest was any threat to his family. This proceeding needed to go well or else the man's worries would just escalate.

"It wasn't that long ago that I held my coronation to my rule," the continued silence from the boy was the only heading the Emperor needed to continue forward, "yet, while most of my country seems to be adjusting well to my continued rule from my father, there seems to be some resistance from the extremists. They threaten my country and family from within my own borders because of grievances they have held because of my father's decisions. These groups can't harm me politically, but I wish to show the people that I'm not like my father, but some groups just can't seem to be swayed. It's because of these radical ideas that they have in turn started to target my family."

A blank face was all that awaited him from the boy, no words of condolence that he could build off. The only improvement was the slight flick of the eyes to show the Emperor that the boy was processing the information at blinding speeds, probably already having found out what the Emperor had summoned him for.

"Exactly four days ago, a group of Ronin had managed to sneak into my palace through an exploited weakness towards the back of the grounds. Several of my trusted men were killed in a sword fight that seemed to erupt after a small confrontation outside my throne room." The man paused slightly, remembering the damage when he returned to the Palace with his family, "I was most thankful that my wife had decided the day before that we would take a carriage into town and greet some of the newer shops that have emerged since my Coronation." Again the man paused to wet his lips as the boy still hadn't moved an inch, "The extremists of this country have a small following and movement, but they are powerful families with stronger connections. Evidentially, I cannot sentence them to prison or death without a scandal getting out about me being a tyrannical dictator, much like my father was."

"I assume that this is where I intervene in the story?" the tone the boy used was enough to send a shudder down the older man's back.

"Yes, it is." The man said unwaveringly, steeling his face into a firm mask as to ward off the coldness that was radiating of the boy and freezing the gold arm rests of his throne chair. "Had I not feared for my family, I wouldn't have involved you in this matter. However, the attack on my Palace has shown me that even cooping them in the castle can't ward off radicals. The reason I've summoned you today is for my daughter's sake. My son is an avid swordsman himself having learnt under the best fighters this capital has to offer. My youngest daughter is currently under the protection from a group of my most trusted and skilled men. My eldest daughter however, has found that her ex-bodyguard wasn't too her likings, too clingy and overprotective. She dismissed him without my consent but she has a temper like her mother, that one." The man said with a slight laugh remembering when his daughter got so flustered she hit her brother through his sliding bedroom door.

"Tell her that she needs the protection."

The boy's suggestion allowed a small smile to grace his features.

"It isn't that simple, my boy. When my Daughter, Asuna, doesn't want something or to do anything there is no convincing her. She gets her temper from her mother, after all. I'd rather not get caught up in the cross-fire of her temper."

Silence. The boy's facial expressions didn't change but the slight shrugging of his shoulders told the elder man what the boy thought of his excuse.

Coughing uncomfortable, the Emperor pushed on, "I heard rumours of the wandering swordsman that has never let a client down. They call you the 'Reaper' after all, the harvester of death and the confronter of evil. You have felled great tycoons of power that have abused their power throughout the whole of Japan, if the rumours are to be believed. How did you receive that moniker, if you don't mind asking?" the man wondered, not really expecting an answer because of the boy's coldness and lack of authority, as expected if you raised yourself. Again, to be believed if the rumours are correct.

"Through hard work and effort."

Just like the Emperor had thought, the boy left the sentence at that. It wasn't surprising, why give a man you hardly know your secrets?

"Interesting," the Emperor closed his eyes for a few seconds as he collected his thoughts for the next sentence, "I hope that we can come to a… contract, if you will, for you to provide your services to protect my daughter, at least until I have quashed all of the radicals that dare threaten my family. Money shouldn't be an issue, after all."

"A marvellous plan, you highness, however, what about your people? Surely your guards would be annoyed that you have hired a boy you know nothing about with the sole purpose of protecting your daughter. I could have been hired beforehand by the same radicals you with to quash."

The man had to give the boy credit, he was unnaturally clever and sharp. It was slightly scary but positively let Yuuki Shouzou know that his decision was well placed.

"I can handle the rebukes from my guards and subjects if it means my family is safe. That I can assure you."

"You're a noble man, Yuuki Shouzou, better than most." The first gesture of respect the Emperor had heard that wasn't forced from the boy throughout the whole conversation. A slight bubble of pride rose in the man as he basked in the subtle respect that was now being directed towards him instead of the dank aura that was clinging to the boy.

"But," the boy continued, "I have a certain requirement that needs to be met before I can accept such contract."

This caused Yuuki Shouzou to sweat a little. It was a hidden fear that the boy would ask for something that the man couldn't give him forcing the contract to become void. He couldn't risk it, his family needed him.

"This requirement would be?" Yuuki Shouzou asked nervously.

"I need you to promise me something. A specific request that only you can grant for me." The boy finished, a small, evil smirk appearing on his face as he stared down at the man, a terrifying glint in his eyes that had the Emperor holding back a subtle shiver.

"What would you require of me in the form of a promise?" he was suddenly aware of how dry his lips actually were.

The younger boys eyes lit up like a small child at New Year's seeing a man-made dragon run around the street. A haunted look passed over the onyx orbs for a second before the room dropped several degrees in temperature.

"I need you to promise that I can use any force necessary to banish those that would hurt your daughter from this mortal plane."

That was all the man needed to hear before his thoughts reverted back to the boy's moniker, 'Reaper'. It conformed the man's suspicions; the boy was a demon given human form.

"Then it's a promise." Yuuki Shouzou replied shakily as the boy appeared in front of his desk, quill in hand as he signed 'Reaper' on the small line at the bottom of the paper that was their contract. "Let us meet my family then." The man calmed his nerves as he stood from his throne and took purpose-eating stride towards where his family would be, the dining room.

"I hope you live up to your name, 'Reaper'… for my daughter's sake."

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Prologue over.

PM what you think and make sure to leave a nice review for me to respond to.