My world began in the middle of the Asuka period, Japan. The time in history when patriarchs and the Emperor of Japan headed powerful clans ruled uncontested. The time when dragons still existed on our plane, and there were special people who conversed and bargained with the creatures. My specific time was in the year 616. I had already been born, and I was now nine summers long. My clan, the Kobayashi’s, was a renowned, respected family, and it was also for hire only by the Emperor – or rather Empress Suiko. We were fiercely devoted to her, and had been long before my birth. So long in fact, that our family lived in the Palace grounds. Far enough away to be at peace, yet close enough to answer any summons we may receive.

Even though I am no longer bound to her, it’s still not my place to exploit specific details. Even after nearly a hundred years of mixed up time and blurred realities, I find myself loyal to her on some level. Those who were openly suspicious over the death of Emperor Sushin were quickly silenced and life went on as if there had never been a ripple in the pond. Emperor Sushin was her second husband after Emperor Bidatsu died of illness. Suiko was not happy that the Soga clan had prevailed in the battle to choose the next Emperor. She did not merely want to be flushed aside after years of ruling, so she found us. My family was her tool, as far as the family legends go.

No one could blame Suiko for using our family. A woman’s life is hard enough, if you add being the first woman in Japan to ascend the throne as an empress regnant, things get more complicated. Especially back in those days, women were looked at to be obedient and quiet. A woman ruling was unheard of at the time. Always before there had been an emperor, and it was Suiko who changed history by becoming the first empress regent to rule by herself. So, I hear you asking me, what did my family do that an empress would find so useful? I suppose after all this rambling I should get to that.

We were her poisons, her accidental tragedies, her disappearances… her living deadly magic tricks. A few politicians, a few commoners who knew too much, and the head of clans or families that grew too powerful. We were the end to her enemies that dwelled too close to home. Please, I implore you, do not mistake Suiko for a cruel ruler. She had her politicians encourage Buddhism, built temples to the faith and did much to protect the people. But when one is the ruler of an entire empire, one must sometimes use drastic and unsavory measures. The need of the many over the need of the few after all. However, it was not Suiko’s end that silenced the fear of mysterious deaths of enemies of the empress. It was the end of my family in itself. A tragic and abrupt halt to the notorious and infamous Kobayashi clan. 

But enough about the mighty empress; I suppose I should begin telling my own tale. I admit that telling it after so long will be hard, but if I do not, who will know? I was hesitant to come forth. Once you read my tale, you may think that perhaps I was dreaming all this. No one ever learns as much as I have from a dream- they are ambiguous and cryptic. This is something I will keep engraved within my mind forever… My tale begins on the moon of my ninth birthday. I will not bore you with the details of my whole life, but I will begin at a suitable place: my beginning, and my family's demise.

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Memoirs Of The In-Between: Table Of Contents

Prologue - Memoirs Of The In-Between

The Published Version Of Memoirs Of The In-Between 

Prologue

My world began in the middle of the Asuka period, Japan. The time in history when patriarchs and the Emperor of Japan headed powerful clans ruled uncontested. The time when dragons still existed on our plane, and there were special people who conversed and bargained with the creatures. My specific time was in the year 616. I had already been born, and I was now nine summers long. My clan, the Kobayashi’s, was a renowned, respected family, and it was also for hire only by the Emperor – or rather Empress Suiko. We were fiercely devoted to her, and had been long before my birth. So long in fact, that our family lived in the Palace grounds. Far enough away to be at peace, yet close enough to answer any summons we may receive.



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Prologue - Memoirs Of The In-Between

The Published Version Of Memoirs Of The In-Between

About the Creator

Hope Martin

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