Another messenger really?
He drew his katana as he walked down the stairs, one hand with his sword, the other on his side. He maintained a graceful stride, and leaped to the man pressing the tip of his steel at the mans throat.
"Palace is under lockdown." Meeko pushed his katana slightly further. "Leave."
"For you, the Emperor needs to see this." He handed him a, now slightly crumpled, paper.
Meeko escorted the man back through the guards and sent him walking away. He opened the folded paper. An entire patrol killed by one swords man. He ran to the throne room, and gave a deep bow to the Emperor and showed him the report. Meeko left as quickly as he came in. He never wore armor, convinced it could only slow him down. The other guards said he had a woman's grace, and from that his nickname, Taki: meaning waterfall. Also... A female's name. He made his way to a popular teahouse. Even if every guard would say they were on patrol he would find at least a handful "Carefully monitoring the street, from an incognito area." inside the teahouse, constantly joking. Meeko walked in to the sound of the cheerful guards "TAAAAKI!!!!" They all laughed together, Meeko never had the heart to turn them into their officer. He walked across the assorted glasses and tables, and stood across a high ranking officer. He looked exhausted, worn out from a shift, but he was the only high ranking here. "Meeko Takizawa, Emperor's Guard, I need your help." he placed down the paper about the dead guards and sat across from him. He would be too exhausted to help now, perhaps there was another captain nearby? "If you have the strength bring your best men to the North Gate." Meeko held made his out the door and looked down to the hilt of his Katana, Yano's red ropes hung alongside of him. He was so convinced that they would act as charms.
On Patrol... He would have to write the letters, and send the pay. Although Meeko knew there was no amount of gold to act as penance for a lost son.