Chapter Text
Japan was interesting. That was Baldwin's first impression when after weeks at sea, on horse, they arrive in Edo. A bustling, clean city. Ordered. He liked it.
He was a guest of Sebástian Altamira and his wife, Lady Hana, the daughter of the shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada.
A marriage that had failed to temper attitudes towards Europeans. Baldwin had his doubts.
There was a welcoming party at their home for the the French arrivals. Baldwin assessed everyone around him, despite this being a country in peace. Peace was fickle.
Someone was watching him. He looked to his left. Down. A small dark haired girl, in a yellow robe matching her mother's.
He waved at the child. Small, she must have been around four based on her height, the ways she walked. She shyly waved back before running back to her caretaker.
"So, you intend to gain influence here with blood," Baldwin realised seeing Sebastian, eyeing the child and her caretakers, "How is the war with the Dutch going?"
"There are rumours that the French help them," Sebastian spat.
"We are? That's interesting. But well, you should have negotiated with the English when we said to. But Philip gets his feelings hurt so you all do something foolish,"
"There are rumours about you, Sigrec,"
"Are there?"
"Some of the wise women here, are not so keen on you," Sebastian pointed out. There is a warning, perhaps even a threat in his voice. Baldwin had never taken to threats, especially from lesser men.
"They shouldn't be."
Baldwin appreciated the way of the samurai. The serenity and mediation in training. He supposed this is what a man like him needed.
He pretended not to smell her, and pretended he didn't see her, standing behind a column.
"You are very good at hiding," Baldwin complimented. She looked at him. So she spoke English. Interesting.
Miyako. That was her name. It meant Beautiful night child because she was the couple's miracle child who had come in the night. A son would have been preferred.
She was a rambunctious child. Clever too.
"My friends call me Lucius," Baldwin said, sheathing the sword, "You can call me Lucius,"
"Lucius," She repeated the name. She held out her hand, and he shook it amused. He thought her curiosity would cease and she would run away. But instead, she climbed up on the bench, standing so they were face to face.
"Are you samurai?"
"No."
"But you fight?" She tilted her head. The only men who fought were the samurai.
"I am a soldier, but I do not work for your grandfather," Lucius explained patiently, "I work for my father and the Kingdome of France."
"France is next to Spain, which is next to Portugal," Miyako recalled.
"Yes, it is. Your father is from Portugal,"
"Papa doesn't like mama, because grandfather is angry with the king. Grandfather doesn't like Catholics." Miyako said. Children were honest creatures.
Baldwin's eyes softened. So she was a lonely child. He could relate. The castle wasn't exactly filled with other children to play with.
"Would you like me to tell you a secret?" She looks eager, "I don't like Catholics either," She giggled as if it was the funniest thing ever.
Miyako finds out what Baldwin is when she’s twelve years old. She’s sneaking around when she doesn’t have her lessons. She likes watching him train. Her father didn’t like her preference to be around the Frenchman. He calls him a monster.
But he wasn’t scary to her at all.
Baldwin was fighting with another vampire. The two were using bo staffs, moving faster than she had ever seen any samurai move. They both stop when they sense the child. Baldwin indicates that she’s watching.
“I can see you,” Baldwin says fondly. She huffs and pops her head out with a smile. He turns to his friend, who she recognises as a man from her grandfather’s guard.
“The shōgun will not be happy.” The other man says and turns to snarl at her. Baldwin stops him, biting him on his wrist.
“The shōgun would prefer it if you stopped sleeping with his sister.” He said afterwards when he pulls away.
Miyako is still standing, watching the entire interaction. Her eyes were wide, not with fear but curiosity. Baldwin turns to her, blood all over his mouth.
“Are you not scared?” He asked leaning down to her height. But she takes out her hanky and wipes his mouth.
“Can I be as fast as you?” She asks excitedly.
“No, you’re too little.” He said, ruffling her hair affectionately. And she was still alive.
“And you mustn’t tell anyone what you just saw,” Baldwin said, as he held out his hand to her.
“Okay. Did he taste nice?” Miyako asks as he walked her back to the main house and he laughs heartily and genuinely.
"I am what they call where I'm from Strix or a revenant," Baldwin explained. Miyako is listening intently.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm immortal. I live very long. I'm very fast." He said, "I drink blood." She looked amused but realised he was serious.
"Is that why you have not been expelled? Like some of the other Europeans?" Miyako realised. Baldwin nodded. The existence of creatures was an open secret amongst the Japanese upper class, superstition to those less educated. Many of the shogun's guards were vampires, daemons and witches who lived openly, working to keep the peace.
"You pay more attention to me than my father does," Miyako said, "He is so focused on trying to preserve trading links. Stop the Dutch from invading. My grandfather is angry.
"Your grandfather is scared." Baldwin corrected and she looked at him confused and slightly offended, "Only a coward expels his enemies so quickly. He's not used to war in the same way your ancestors are."
"You think there will be a war?" Miyako asked.
Baldwin nodded, "I've lived so long. Peace, as wonderful as it is, doesn't last long. And when everyone is building an empire, you are going to have issues."
"Does that mean you will have to leave?" Miyako asked, sadly. She liked having him here. He taught her so much about the world, more than she thought possible.
"Yes," Baldwin replied, slight saddened himself. He was used to this - stay, do his work, get information, fight a few battles and return home.
That was the plan. But the plan changed in six years.