Disclaimer – I own nothing.
This is quite old actually. I have a few chapters of this completed, they just need a bit of editing and polish. I originally started writing it as an opportunity to flesh out Jun's character and backstory.
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Chosen.
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She'd been frightened of him at first. The shock of seeing his death grin beaming down at her through the cherry blossoms had made her heart flutter and thud, and little Jun hides her face in her kimono, stifling her cries.
Of course, Mother comes running, rolling pin clasped in a floury hand and apron hoisted high over her hips. Father too, leaves his students in the forest dojo and leaps over pines to seek out his trembling mass of a daughter.
A soft flump draws her attention. Lifting her red rimmed gaze, she sees the monster lingering in the shadow of the tree, and to her surprise, he seems to be almost hesitant.
Jun is a frightened child, but also a bold one. Keeping very still, she lifts her pink skirts to her chin and sniffs loudly.
The strange beast straightens up, and to her folly she sees it isn't a monster, but a man. The sun shimmers on his metal breast plate. Around his feet, tall grass sways and bends, as if in awe of his presence. It knocks against his humble straw sandals and plain cloth bottoms. A mighty scabbard hangs from his belt. Her lip trembles and she chews it so hard it begins to bleed.
The mysterious creature interlocks his hands over his chest, and as he fixes his gaze upon the child, grants her a small bow.
When her parents arrive, heavily armed with bamboo sticks and rolling pins, do they find the man gone and Jun no longer afraid.
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As she grows older, she becomes strong. She is quick silver, as agile as a fox, as swift as a cheetah and as pretty as a butterfly. She dashes amongst the trees of her rural home, combing leaves out of the tangled black of her hair and chasing the horses her father owns. She is bright, wild and innocent. Her father channels her budding strength and will into her training, which evolves from once a week and on Saturday evenings to each and every night.
The bottoms of her feet are black from forest soil. Her skin is glowing from the sun. She holds all the levity and cheer of the young. Father watches Jun from the windows, cart wheeling with the other children, and knows she is special.
He touches the glass.
"She is the chosen one."
Behind Father, Mother releases a single, silent sob and buries her face in her apron.
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She has three brothers, each older and wiser and stronger than her, or so they claim each time she asks.
They hide in the trees when she comes looking for them. They pelt her with berries and nuts wound in leaves like small organic grenades. She fights them off until her eyes are polished with frustrated tears. Her eldest brother gaffs and rolls his eyes. The second eldest swings on one of the low branches, grimacing and glancing in the direction of the dojo. Her third eldest brother, Hiroshi, drops to the ground and unfurls his palm.
It's a small white lotus, blushed pink and Jun sniffles and toys with its petals.
Papa isn't far behind.
"It's time for your training."
It's always time for her training. The eldest hisses through his teeth, but his face becomes sombre and pale with one glance from Papa. Hiroshi's smile disappears and he lowers his head in his father's presence.
Her father's firm hands on her shoulders guides her away from Hiroshi, from the sun trapped glade and the lotus that shivers in his palm.
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When she is eighteen, Father dies. They cover him in lilies and roses and sweet smelling salts, and abandon him to the cold earth where he shall help the flowers grow.
Her eldest brother is holding her hand so tight she fears he's marking her. Mother is away with the other grieving relatives, whispering through a choked throat the shock of the illness, and how terrible it was, for him to collapse like that and how unexpected...whilst training the children, too!
Jun ghosts her brother's arm, her lips quirking into a tearful smile. He turns to her, and his eyes are more barren then the earth they've imprisoned Papa in.
"You should have seen this coming." His nails leave groves in her skin. "He said you were The Chosen One."
Her words run dry in her mouth. Silently, he releases her hand and walks away.