Saga Kayoko

Summary
Current mistress of the Saga family, mother of four, Hayate, two more unnamed sons and Komomo, she was born in a house with a history as long as Saga's and strongly related to production and training of anbus, the Karasuki kingdom's elite forces and specialized to work in the shadows, intelligence operations and secret missions, something similar to ninjas.

In her youth she worked with her husband Gouki as Ayame's bodyguard and later she would use her family's influence for silencing the voices that protested about Zen becoming Ayame's bodyguard like her and Gouki, then she would help Gouki and Ayame to teach Zen all the necessary education and etiquette that a royal guard needed.

After the ceasefire incident she and Gouki wanted to follow Zen and Ayame into exile but at that time she was already pregnant with her first son Hayate and the journey became impossible for them, something that they always regretted. She accompanied her husband in the search of Rio for verifying his identity as Ayame's son and for revealing him the truth about his parents in that case, after that she and her husband would become the ones in charge of delivering to Rio his grandparents' summons and would escort him from the village until the capital, she and Gouki would offer themselves, ten retainers and Komomo for accompanying and helping Rio in his revenge journey but Rio would refuse it.

Both Kayoko and Gouki followed Rio secretly several days after Rio departed back toward the Strahl region from the Karasuki Kingdom. It was only some time later that she, Gouki, Komomo, Shin, Sayo and the 5 retainers of the Saga family would rendezvous with Rio and his group at the village of the Spirit Folk. After initially following Rio, they became lost in the wilderness and trained while traveling westward only to run into the village of the Spirit Folk by chance, after mentioning Rios name, they were asked to wait in the village until Rio returned.

Once Rio accepted Kayoko and Gouki as his travel companions to accompany him on his future travels in Strahl, he planned to formally request from King Francois Galarc their inclusion into his Mansion and the Castle grounds. Until that time Kayoko and Gouki were to wait in the village. Unfortunately before Rio could make the request he was forced to focus elsewhere and follow after the renegade sixth hero outside the Galarc Kingdom.

Taking advantage of Rio's and Aishia's absence, Reiss using both his monster collection and the remaining forces of the mercenary squad, the heavenly lions, lead an all out assault on the Galarc Castle with the purpose to capture one of Rio's companions and killing off the forces of those gathered around him.

Thanks to Orphia teleporting back to the village just as the attack was launched. Kayoko and Gouki quickly gathered up their forces at the Spirit Folk village and teleported back with Orphia to the outskirts of the capital of Galarc. Riding on Orphia's contracted spirit, Kayoko, Gouki and three retainers flew right into the battle occurring at the castle and intervened just as Celia and Miharu were about to be captured. Kayoko rescued Celia while Gouki rescued Miharu. After realizing the identity of the attackers and their connection to the killer of Princess Ayame, they quickly decided they no longer had to go easy on them. Kayoko and Gouki after announcing their names pledged to defeat the mercenaries for attacking those important to Haruto their lord. Using their superior battle experience, gear obtained from the spirit folk and spirit arts, they made short work of the mercenaries to the dumbfounded expressions of Satsuki and the three princesses who were also present in the battle (Charlotte, Christina and Flora).

Right before Kayoko can take the injured of Rio's party into his mansion to rest, a loud monstrous scream is heard across the capital. Reiss realizing his forces lost, summoned a huge 10 meter humanoid skeleton warrior with wings that became visible throughout the capital and focused on Rio's friends at the mansion. Kayoko and Gouki paired up with Celia, Sara and Orphia launched an all out attack against the monster in the air, with the help of Oprhia's contracted spirit and the gear received from the spirit folk village. Everyone at the castle and capital watched the battle unfold which took place across the skies of Galarc. After a long back and forth of the group launching magic spells and spirit arts at the monster and the monster blocking or regenerating from the attacks, it was decided Celia would use her most powerful magic spell to stun the monster while Kayoko, Orphia and Sara held the monster down with water spirit arts and Gouki finishing it off with his wind sword technique. The plan was successful and while the group returned to the mansion from the sky, loud cheers erupted throughout the capital of Galarc.

Currently Kayoko along with her husband Gouki, their daughter Komomo and retainers are serving Rio under his alias as the Honorary Knight Haruto in the Strahl region.

Appearance
Kayoko is a very beautiful lady, typical in physics to people from the Yagumo regions: black hair, fair face. We can guess behind her clothes she has a slender body, despite she has given birth to at least three children. Then we can guess she trained her body in martial arts. Most of the time she is seen with a yukata (light kimono) with a long jacket on it. In volume 19, she switched her clothes for a hakama to fight the remaining mercenaries. She has brown eyes. In volume 19, we learned she is in her early forties.

Personality
Kayoko is a pure product from the Yagumo regions which is a copy of the feudal Japan. She is a dedicated person and caring mother and seems attached with high values: commitment, loyalty to her country, but most of all, fidelity to her lord. She has enough trust in his son Hayate to leave him in charge of the Saga family alone and follow Haruto in the Strahl regions. She is very serious and does not tolerate someone ignoring her lord, even if it's her husband.

Kayoko is a fearless and dignified woman who can't bear despicable men treating her as "old girl". She can show herself as a scornful lady, insulting the heavenly lions by calling them "pigs" with cold eyes for attacking Haruto's friend (and referring her as an old girl too).

Background
Not much is known about Kayoko's childhood, but at some point she was chosen to be an attendant lady for the princess Ayame (Rio's mother), at the same time than her future husband Gouki. It is implied due to her position she came from a noble family of Karasuki. Eventually she married Gouki and they continued to work as bodyguard/servant. One day Zen was also appointed as Ayame's servant, Kayoko and Gouki took care of him teaching manners in the royal court. After the war with the neighboring country, the enemy set a trap: they sent an ambassador in charge for the peace negotiations but also to kidnap Ayame. Zen stops the attempt and captures the kidnapper, but the later chooses to commit suicide. The enemy took advantage of the event and accuses Karasuki for murder and wants to change the term for peace. They demand Zen's head and Ayame to be married with their prince. Homura and Shizuka chose to let their daughter go with Zen, having noticed the two of them have feelings for each other. They simulate a false escape and Zen and Ayame are branded as traitors. Gouki and Kayoko wanted to go with them, but they refused; it would be way too suspicious if Gouki and Kayoko also disappeared from the kingdom. Kayoko had no choice but to let her mistress go far away, a decision she regrets all her life. Finally, Karasuki stands victorious in the war; Gouki became famous in the process.

Several years after, she is told by her husband he received a letter from Yuba (Rio's paternal grandmother); a sixteen-year-old boy has come to the village and he claims to be Zen and Ayame's son. Gouki wants to know more; he goes and explains the situation to the king and queen who allow him to further investigate the matter. Gouki brought his wife and a few retainers with him and traveled to Yuba's village to meet the youth.

Abilities
Kayoko comes from a noble family in the Yagumo regions; like all its members, she learns spirits arts. Not much is shown about her capacities, however Gouki's group travels on foot the wilderness which is famous for its dangers. They reached Seirei no Tami without any loss suggesting she has fighting skill more than her appearance may suggest. In volume 19, she holds a kodachi (short katana) which enforces her water spirit arts (crafted by Dominic himself). With her husband, she is able to crush the remaining mercenary heavenly lion which are wielding enchanted weapons by fighting them in a two-seven combat head-on overwhelming them. She later with Celia, Ouphia, Sara, and Gouki fight Dragul, also known as the "hero killer".

Spirit Arts: Coming from the Yagumo regions, Kayoko has learned how to use spirit arts for enforcing her body. She is proficient with water element, creating water rope to imprison someone or something. Her control is very high and she is able to immobilize the weakened Dragul (with Sara's help).

Relationships
Ayame Karasuki: Her master and protege.

Zen: Her friend and coworker.

Gouki Saga: Her husband. She is a dedicated wife, but she hates when her husband gets carried away and negligees their lord, promising to "discipline him".

Rio: Kayoko served his mother as bodyguard and attendant lady. She regrets she could not follow Ayame in her exile. She wishes to give her loyalty which she could not give to Ayame, to her son Rio. First by loyalty to his mother but after she finds out Rio to be kind, strong and loyal. She has such strong resolve that she even leaves the Saga family to her sons, and the Karasuki kingdom and travels half the map to follow Rio bringing her daughter with her. The depth of her willingness and loyalty is displayed when she finally has the opportunity to fight for protecting Rio's friends. She fearlessly throws herself into battle with her husband despite not knowing the capacities of the enemies, the only goal being to release Celia and Miharu who are being held as hostages by the heavenly lions. Like her husband, she is very happy to fight for Rio's sake and tells the retainers not to shame their lord's name.