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 to the exile but at that time she was already pregnant of 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 anbus and Komomo for accompanying and helping Rio in his revenge journey but Rio would refuse it.

It was hinted that she and Gouki followed secretly after Rio but it's still uncorfirmed if they really did it or not in the LN.

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 mercenary. 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 dedicate 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 ignore her lord even it's her husband.

Kayoko is 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 of "pigs" with cold eyes for attacking Haruto's friend (and referring her as a old girl too).

Background
Not much is known about her Kayako's childhood, but at some point she was chosen to be an attendant lady for the princess Ayame (Haruto'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 continue to work as bodyguard/servant. One day Zen was also appointed as Ayame's servant, Kayako 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 send an ambassador in charge for the peace negotiations but also to kidnap Ayame. Zen stops the attempt and capture the kidnapper but the late chooses to commit suicide. The enemy take advantage of the event and accuses Karasuki for murder and want to change the term for peace : they demand Zen's head and Ayame to be married with their prince. Homura and Shizuka choose to let go their daughter with Zen having notice the two of them have feeling for each other. They simulate a false escape and Zen and Ayame are branded as traitors. Gouki and Kayako wanted to go with them but they refuse, it would be way too suspicious if Gouki and Kayako also disappear from the kingdom. Kayoko had no choice but let her mistress going 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 (Haruto's grandmother) : a sixteen young old boy has come to the village and he pretends 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 take his wife and a few retainers with them and travel to Yuba's village to meet the youth...

Abilities
Kayoko comes from a noble family in the Yagumo regions, like all its member she learns spirits arts. Not much is showed 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 weapon 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 Kayako has learn how to use spirit arts for enforcing her body. She is pro efficient 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).

Relationship
Ayame Karasuki: her master and protegee.

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: Kayako 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 Haruto. First by loyalty to his mother but after she finds out Haruto to be kind, strong and loyal. She has such strong resolve she even leaves the Saga family to her sons, and the Karasuki kingdom and travel half the map to follow Haruto bringing her daughter with her. The depth of her willingness and loyalty is displayed when she finally has the opportunity to fight for protecting Haruto's friend. She fearlessly throws herself to 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 Haruto's sake and tells to the retainers to not shame their lord's name.