*Author's notes*: Yes, my idea of a break is ANOTHER Love Hina fanfic.
What can I say, I'm obsessed! I noticed a distinct lack of Motoko
fanfictions, and decided I needed to correct that. Parts of this
fiction refer to, expand on, or clarify scenes in Episode 25 of the
anime and Volume 9 of the manga. Please read and review!
==============================
The following work of fiction contains characters that are the
property of TV Tokyo, and are used without permission. Any character
that you do not recognize (most notably the demon and Shidousho-
sensei) is probably mine, however, and if you would like to use said
characters in your own work, PLEASE get my permission first!
Any Praise/Criticism/Death Threats may be sent to: archimage4@aol.com.
Some Japanese words are used in this text where appropriate. Those
unfamiliar with the language may find the following translations
useful:
tanto - a long knife or short sword.
katana - a sword; the blade is a little shorter than four feet.
hiken - hidden technique.
sensei - teacher. Also used as an honorific.
hakama - Cross between pants and a long skirt. Motoko usually wears
these.
==============================
The Proving Ground
by TheArchimage
Thunder rumbled in the dark clouds overhead, and the occasional flash
of lightning lit up the sky. It was very dark, especially for a
summer afternoon. It would doubtlessly rain soon, hence why she was
wearing a straw hat. It was a little too big for her, but it suited
her well otherwise. Her sandals made soft crunching sounds as she
walked onward with a steady rhythm.
She glanced up at the clearing on the hill ahead of her, at once both
relieved and tense. This was where the demon was hiding out; she
could feel its presence. This demon had terrorized a small fishing
town for several days, culminating in the murder of three innocents
three days ago, while she had been en route. And she had tracked it
down to here. A tiny smile formed across her lips as she fingered her
sword. She was in very real danger, but she was anxious to show off
the skills she had practiced so hard to obtain.
"Demon!" she called out, her tone reflecting her courage and power
even if her child's voice could not. "I am Aoyama Motoko, and I have
come to exorcise you! Come out!" With this, she set her traveling
bag down, and drew her tanto. The katana at her side would be better
suited for demon slaying, but it was almost as long as she was tall,
and much too large for her to wield. She would have to make do with
what she had. Her eyes darted left and right, her nerves on edge. At
any moment, the demon could appear and tear her body in two, and she
had to be ready for it.
She cautiously stepped into the clearing, her eyes absorbing every
detail. The elements had not been kind to this place: even the few
weeds that grew here were struggling to survive, thin, sickly, and
windblown. There were many rocks of varying size around the clearing,
and she guessed by the damage marks on them that this was once used as
a training ground. The ideal hiding place; according to reports of
the villagers, this demon could hide in inanimate objects, safe from
the blows of any mortal weapon. Any one of these rocks could be
harboring the beast... Motoko took a breath to steady herself, as she
began to concentrate.
Where would he come from? Where was the demon hiding? She allowed
her mind to clear of all emotion, all thought, and the answer to her
questions came rushing in.
"There you are!" she shouted out as her movement blurred. She reached
into her belt, and pulled out a paper talisman. She tossed the
talisman at a boulder across the clearing that was roughly her size.
Her aim was true; the talisman stuck to the boulder, and a black gas
began to escape from it. She allowed herself a triumphant grin as her
hands tightened their grip on her tanto. The demon had showed itself.
The black gas collected above the rock, then rushed toward another
rock, eager to hide again. It struck, and wafted around the sides of
the rock, failing to penetrate it. Motoko smiled. The talisman had
been specially prepared by the temple monks; once struck, the demon
would be unable to hide, allowing her to attack it. She had already
won the first round. "Well, demon?" she taunted. "I have found you.
Now will you fight?"
She heard an evil laughter, as the black gas began to take a definite
form. "So they send a child to fight me, hmm?" the demon retorted.
Motoko grimaced at being called a child; even if she was but 12 years
old, Shidousho-sensei had assured her that she was more than a match
for this demon. "It makes no difference whether they send an infant
or an entire legion of their finest warriors; I will crush them all,
just as I will crush you."
The gas began to take solid form, beginning with the head. It was
short, round, and ugly, with spines growing out around the side of
it's blunt face. The body then followed suit, forming a hard shell
that was flat in the front, and bulged considerably in the back.
Spikes jutted out around the entire circumference of the circular
shell, their pearly-white color contrasting with the dark gray of the
rest of its body.
Next came the arms. The right arm was as thick as a tree trunk, and
ended in a terrible blade instead of a hand. The blade looked like it
had been a hand of iron, except now the fingers were attached
together, and ended in a point that could easily rend skin and bones.
The left arm was similarly thick, except it ended in a hand with
short, curved fingers that had sharp nails on the end of them.
The beasts "legs" seemed ill-suited to walking on land; they were
short, flat flippers, seeming to be much better suited for swimming.
It did not need to walk, anyway, as it floated a good three feet off
of the ground. As Motoko studied it, she realized that it very much
resembled a turtle. A grotesque, twisted turtle, true, but a turtle
nonetheless.
Motoko was not very impressed with the creature, even if it was
several times her size. She expected something more frightening. "So
that is your true form, demon?" she called out to it. "Then today I
shall vanquish you, and send you back to hell!"
She raised her tanto above her head, prepared to strike. She took a
deep breath, focusing her ki upon her blade. The demon wasn't about
to let her get the first attack, however. It pulled its arms, legs,
and head inside its shell, and began spinning. It launched itself at
the girl, ripping through the air like a buzz saw.
Motoko launched a counter-attack. "Hiken... Zankuusen!" She brought
the blade down, and the blast of her ki caused the very air to shudder
with its passing. It struck the spinning shell, knocking it off
course and into a large boulder. The resounding crash covered the
site of the impact with thick smoke, and the rock shattered into
pieces. Motoko quickly leaped up, out of the way of the fragments of
rock that flew by her, certain that she had dealt the demon a grievous
blow.
Her eyes widened in shock when she smoke parted to let a spinning,
reptilian dervish loose, heading straight toward her. She spun in the
air, narrowly avoiding the charge that would have torn her in two.
But she didn't avoid the bladed hand, which hit her with a fearsome
backhand between her shoulders with enough force to send her flying
back down to earth. She barely managed to land on her feet, and
tasted blood in her mouth. When had it brought that arm out of its
shell? This was supposed to be a minor demon, certainly not capable
of acting with such speed...
She didn't have much time to ponder this, as the shell was spinning
toward her once again. She charged her ki once more, and released
another Zankuusen. This one, too, rebounded harmlessly off of the
shell, and once more Motoko barely dived out of the way. The bladed
hand stuck out of the shell, ready to attack, but Motoko was ready for
it this time. As the hand lunged toward her, she gathered her ki, and
released a third Zankuusen. The hand plowed through her blast like it
didn't exist, and hit her directly in the chest, knocking her several
yards backwards as shreds of her gi filled the air. As she rolled to
a slow stop, she thought to herself, How can this be defeating me so
easily...?
Her body felt like it was weighted down with lead, and she coughed up
blood. She took stock of her injury; there was a sizable gash across
her abdomen, and she could still feel her strength draining away with
the blood. She stared up at the demon, now fully out of its shell and
hovering toward her. "Your technique is not bad, for someone your
age," it consoled her, relishing in its impending victory. "But it
will not be enough to defeat me. You see, I dine on human emotion
like you foul creatures dine upon the flesh of animals and the
children of plants. And for me, the taste of sadness, horror, and
despair is like a delicacy.
"This place, in many years past, was the site of a small village," it
continued to gloat. "It was attacked by raiders, and was burnt to the
ground. Not a single man, woman, or child survived. Their blood
stained the ground so badly that even now, over a hundred years later,
little will grow or live here." The demon described this in wondrous
awe, like someone else would describe a sunset. "And their feelings
of despair and sadness cloud this place still. I have partaken of
them, and they have made me strong. Too strong for a girl like you."
The demon's left hand wrapped around her, picking her up off the
ground while pinning her sword arm to the side. She tried to break
free, but there wasn't enough strength left in her. She was at the
demon's mercy.
"Still..." the demon cackled maliciously. "It would be such a waste
to kill you now. I can get a good meal out of you yet. Now, just
relax, little one... let's see what horrors you have buried away in
that mind of yours..."
She could feel the presence of the demon trying to enter her mind.
She struggled to keep it out, but her wounds were breaking her
concentration. No, she mentally commanded. I can't lose like this.
I won't, I won't, I won't...
But it was useless. Her mental defenses couldn't hold up, and
memories came flooding back to her unbidden...
-----------
Shidousho Hitoni-sensei was a highly decorated Shinmeiryuu warrior in
the years past, and she had been chosen among all her peers to train
the next generation of Shinmeiryuu warriors. Her age was starting to
catch up to her; her once lush and gorgeous black hair was now lined
with strands of gray, and her face was beginning to wrinkle after many
long years of practicing the Art. Any of her students that acted up,
however, would admit that the years had left her skill unaffected, and
she was more than capable of doling out punishment if it was required.
She had been the undisputed master of the entire Shinmeiryuu clan for
as long as Motoko could remember, and this is what made a private
meeting with her such an unnerving event.
Motoko knelt in front of her in the main hall, struggling to keep her
face from making a single movement that could be attached to awe,
nervousness, or fear. Shidousho-sensei had her eyes closed and was
breathing calmly, the same thing she had been doing since Motoko
entered. That was a good five minutes ago, but Motoko did not dare
ask why she had been called. This was a test of her patience, she was
sure, and she did not want to think about the consequences of failure.
Shidousho-sensei opened her eyes slightly, and stared at Motoko. She
felt her heart leap up into her throat, but she did not let her face
or manner betray that fact. Apparently satisfied, Shidousho began to
speak, in her usual calm, clear voice that would have fit a woman half
her age, "Do you know why you have been called here, Motoko?" Motoko
slowly shook her head. "A fisherman came to our dojo today. He came
from a village about three days travel to the east, speaking of a
demon which came into their village a week ago. At first, the demon
caused only minor problems, and its mischief was blamed on old
equipment, rotting floors, and bad luck. However, the demon suddenly
became more aggressive, attacking those who went out alone at night.
Nothing serious, not yet, but the attacks convinced the villagers to
seek outside help in dealing with the menace. The man was sent to
acquire our aid in exorcising the beast." Motoko followed the story
careful, but she was not yet understanding the meaning of it.
"Unfortunately, all of our Sisters are far too busy on other projects
to deal with a minor demon, and students are not sent on any missions
until after they pass through their Ordeal, and are accepted into the
Sisterhood. However, I could not ignore the man's plight, for the
Shinmeiryuu were created for just this purpose." She paused briefly,
making sure Motoko had understood the story. "I called you here
because I have a question I would like to ask you."
Shidousho's eyes did not change at all, but her face formed a tiny,
almost imperceptible smile. "Motoko, how would you like to be the
youngest student in three generations to attempt the Ordeal?"
Motoko couldn't hide her shock, nor could she be expected to.
Shidousho-sensei's question was both a great honor and a horrible
thing to ask of her. Motoko took a deep breath, calming her nerves.
Shidousho-sensei's expression suggested that she would give her as
much time as she needed to compose herself. "Shidousho-sensei, please
tell me if I am understanding you correctly," she asked slowly. "The
slaying of this demon... this is to be my Ordeal?"
Shidousho-sensei affirmed her suspicion, "The Ordeal may take any form
I deem appropriate. I believe that this would be appropriate for
you."
Motoko looked down to the floor, swelling with anxiety. The Ordeal
was typically given when a woman turned 15. To take it at the young
age of 12...
She questioned, "Are you sure I am ready, Shidousho-sensei?"
"Your humility is noted," Shidousho began, the smile disappearing as
she did so. "But I would not have called you here if I did not think
you were ready. Be assured, you are prepared."
Motoko had to think for several minutes. She would be risking her
very life, but the prize was sweet indeed: should she succeed, she
would join the Sisterhood of Shinmeiryuu warriors, and fill the gap
left by her sister. It wasn't a difficult decision to make, for her
entire life had been spent preparing herself for this. "Then, I shall
accept this honor, and promise that I shall not fail you."
Shidousho-sensei nodded. "Very well. Gather up anything you feel you
will need, for you will set out tonight, while the other students
sleep. You must make the journey alone, but know that I have
confidence in you. And..." She trailed off, before finishing her
thought, "I know that you have something of your sister's that would
be of great help to you. I will grant you permission to carry it this
once. Now, you must be going. I will await news of your success."
Motoko kept her composure throughout the not-very-subtle hint, and
bowed to her when she was finished. Motoko stood up, and walked out
of the main hall. She still wore her serious expression as she made
her way back to the student barracks. Although her face was calm, her
mind was a swirling haze of emotions. Anxiety about taking the
ordeal. Surprise that Shidousho-sensei knew of her sister's gift.
Pride that she had been selected to take the Ordeal. And, yes, fear
that she would not return from this journey. She kept these emotions
to herself, however; they were a sign of weakness, and she would not
allow herself to be perceived as weak.
She snuck into the barracks, for it was already an hour past lights-
out, and everyone would likely be asleep. She packed some traveling
money, a few trail rations, a few spare changes of clothes, and put
her tanto at her side. She searched deep inside the box for a cloth-
wrapped object, and found it. Swallowing hard, she removed the
covering, to reveal a katana, still in its sheath. This was the
Shisui, the sword that had once belonged to her sister. It was given
to her years ago to look after, when she was just seven years old, but
students were forbidden to wear katana, and so she had kept it here.
But Shidousho-sensei had just given her permission to wear it. She
put that at her side as well, and found herself leaning slightly to
the left, as she was not used to the weight it added. She would
adjust to it on the way to the village, she told herself.
Motoko took her straw hat off the rack, and left the barracks. She
took a long look back at it. The next time she saw it, she would be a
Sister. Or she would be dead. She wanted to travel at least one mile
before setting down for the night, and she was already feeling tired.
She murmured a prayer for her sister to watch over her as she tipped
the hat low over her eyes, and started out.
-----------
The inner hall of the Shinmeiryuu dojo was a familiar sight, but it
still evoked feelings of awe whenever she saw it. It wasn't because
it was regal; indeed, the dojo had never been rich, and the columns,
walls, and floors were beginning to show their age. It was because
all of the greatest warriors of their dojo had walked, trained, and
lived in that hall for generations, and she felt honored just to walk
in their footsteps. She allowed herself the thought that in the
future, someone would think the same thing about walking in her shoes.
She tried to keep the smile off of her face, but she could not. She
was too happy, too proud, to hide her feelings now. Shidousho Hitoni-
sensei had called them all in for an announcement concerning her
sister. She knew what the announcement was without anyone telling
her: her sister would be announced as the next inheritor of the
Shinmeiryuu dojo. Her own sister would be the next Sensei! Motoko, 9
years old, felt herself blush; she expected nothing less of her
sister, one of the greatest Shinmeiryuu warriors to ever live.
She could see her sister kneeling in front of Shidousho-sensei, head
bowed low to the ground. She had a tiny smile on her face, the same
one she always seemed to use. That would be just like her sister to
take this great honor in stride, as if it were just another reward for
a job well done. Shidousho-sensei cleared her throat, signaling that
she was about to speak. Not a sound could be heard in the entire
hall.
She addressed the assembled crowd, "Today, I have called you to inform
you of news that is both happy and sad. The sad news is that our
beloved Sister Aoyama will no longer wield the sword to fight against
evil." The warriors all referred to each other as "sisters", but the
sister Motoko admired so much was her blood sister as well, and Motoko
was justly proud. "She has been instrumental to several of our major
campaigns, and it pains me to see a warrior as fine as herself leave
the battlefield when so much work remains to be done.
"However, in this time we cannot help but be happy for her. For today
she begins a new journey. Our Sister..." she paused suddenly, and a
great smile came over her face. Motoko found that she was leaning
forward, wanting to be the first to hear the words: Will be inheriting
the Shinmeiryuu dojo. Her eyes widened in anticipation as Shidousho-
sensei opened her mouth and spoke:
"Our Sister Aoyama is to be married."
Gasps were heard throughout the hall, followed by the sound of excited
gossip. Shidousho-sensei allowed it to continue for a moment, before
raising up her hand. The idle conversation quickly died away, and she
continued with her speech. Motoko wasn't hearing it, however. She
sat in her place, her jaw agape, mind reeling with the revelation she
had just been struck with. Her sister was leaving the sword behind...
to get married?
What about receiving the dojo? Who would be the successor if she
left? Why would her sister give up the path of the sword? The sister
she knew would never do something like that. What had happened to her
since she saw her last? A thousand questions assaulted her mind, and
no answers were forthcoming. What could she do...?
Her sister. She had to talk her sister, and ask her about all of
this.
She went through the rest of the day's practice drills half-heartedly;
she was in too much of a daze to concentrate properly. She hoped her
instructors would write it off as anxiety due to the recent
announcement, which they did. Her fellow students gossiped between
drills about the announcement, and she couldn't find it in her heart
to blame them: not much happened in the mountains of Kyoto, and
anything that did was a topic of discussion for weeks.
Ordinarily, her sister would be staying in the barracks while she was
here, but that was when she was a warrior. She had given up the
sword, and would be staying in the guest rooms now. Her sister would
be the only person in the guest rooms, since there hadn't been
visitors to the dojo for some time. She made her way up the stone
steps to the guest house as the sun began its final descent.
She stopped at the door, trying to calm herself. She had not seen her
sister face to face in some time, and there were so many things that
she needed to ask her about. There were probably many things that her
sister wanted to tell her, too. She gathered up her courage, and
opened the door.
Nothing could have prepared her for what was on the other side of that
door. Her sister was there, but she was not alone. A man was with
her. And they were...
Were... kiss-
Motoko regained her speech at the same time her sister noticed her
presence. She quickly apologized for interrupting, and fled, feeling
tears pull at her eyes. No!, she scolded herself. Don't you dare
cry. I will not show any weakness, not now, and not ever. But her
tears didn't want to listen. She held them as long as she could, and
went to the hills outside the dojo.
As she wept, she promised herself: Never again. Never again would she
allow anyone to get as close to her as her sister did. Never again
would she let her emotions be used against her. And never again would
she cry.
-----------
"Now THIS is what I was looking for," the demon cackled gleefully.
Reliving that moment re-opened the emotional wounds, and Motoko was
spending nearly all of her effort to keep herself from crying. But
not one tear fell from her eyes. "It must have been terrible for you,
losing your sister, mentor, and friend all at once. You may try to
hide it, but I know better. You were hurt, as well you should be.
You really should be more honest with yourself...
"Here, I'll help you become honest." The demon's presence entered her
mind once more, and the terrible scene began once more. Motoko
struggled, trying to somehow break free of the demon's grip. She was
still holding onto her tanto, but it did not do her much good pinned
to her side. Her mind raced, trying to deny the demon the
satisfaction of seeing her cry as well as getting out of this
predicament.
Then, she had it. She had been warned to never use this technique
with a tanto, but she was out of options. She stopped trying to hold
back her tears, and began to concentrate her ki on her blade.
"That's right, little one, let it all out," the demon gloated. "Your
sorrow is most delicious. The sorrow of warriors is quite the
delicacy." Motoko wasn't listening. The tanto was beginning to
shudder from the amount of life energy in the blade. She just needed
a little more time...
"Now, girl, don't you feel so much better?"
Motoko's mouth opened, and a single gasp escaped: "Hi.... hi..."
"Hmmm?" the demon smiled its wicked grin. "I didn't quite catch that,
dearie. You'll have to speak up."
"HIKEN, FUUJIN RANBU!"
The Zankuusen sent her ki in a straight line, and was a very basic
combat move. In contrast, Fuujin Ranbu sent her ki flying in all
directions, and with much more force than the Zankuusen. The demon's
hand exploded in a mighty gush of dark blood and gale-force winds.
The tanto, unable to handle the amount of ki surging through it,
shattered into a hundred pieces, many of them sticking into her right
side. She was beyond caring about them right now, however, and didn't
even feel the pain. The demon's scream filled the air as she landed
on her feet, and she casually tossed the broken tanto to the side. It
could help her no more.
"Little bitch!" the demon snarled, raising its clawed hand. It
stabbed at Motoko, and she leapt over it, drawing the Shisui in mid-
flight, as the hand plowed into the ground in a thunderous crash of
flying debris. She had to hold the katana with two hands, and even
then it was unwieldy, but she hardly noticed. Her leap carried her
into the air, behind the demon's left shoulder. She brought the
massive weapon to bear, and stabbed downward at an angle, deep into
the shoulder of the beast and into the shell. Her feet quickly
planted themselves on the side of the arm, and she struggled to
maintain her footing as she began to focus her ki.
"HIKEN, ZANKUUSEN!"
When attacked from the outside, the demon's shell had deflected all of
her attacks. But with the tip of her blade now inside, the unleashed
ki could not escape its confines. The deadly energy rebounded,
tearing the demon's innards to shreds, finally being released as a
pillar of wind out of the hole meant to hide its head. The powerful
force threw Motoko through the air, knocking the wind out of her. She
landed with her back flat on the ground, and felt the ground shake as
the demon's body landed with a hollow thud.
The rush of adrenaline now gone, Motoko began to realize how badly she
was hurt. Her stomach burned, her side ached, and her arms felt like
lead weights. Her vision blurred from the pain, and darkness beckoned
at the corner of her eyes. But she wasn't done yet. She summoned all
of her strength to stand, and her body cried out in agony. She pulled
another paper talisman from her belt, and walked up to the carcass of
the demon, wincing at every step. She gently placed the talisman on
the shell, and the shell instantly began to crumble. "Begone from
this plane, demon," she intoned. "May you never return."
She put her back up against a tall rock, and slowly slid down it. She
laid the Shisui across her lap, and pulled a white cloth out from
inside her gi. Her sister would never forgive her if she left her
sword in this condition. She calmly cleaned the blade free of the
demon's blood, until it was back to it's original shining silver. As
she replaced the sword in its sheath, she felt raindrops beginning to
fall on her head. She looked up into the rain, and lamented, "Almost
killed by a minor demon... sister would laugh at me. I still have...
so much... to learn..."
And with that, the last of her strength disappeared. She closed her
eyes, and the darkness welcomed her.
-----------
The phone rang. She answered the phone neutrally, "Hello?"
"It is good to speak with you again, Sister Aoyama."
She smiled. It was Shidousho Hitoni-san, her old sensei. "I am a
married woman now, Shidousho-san," she playfully corrected her. "I am
no longer a Sister, or have you forgotten?"
"No, I have not. Old habits die hard, I guess."
"This is more than a mere courtesy call, I take it?"
"It is. You should be very proud of your sister. She is the youngest
woman in three generations to take on the Ordeal, and the youngest in
seven to have passed and joined the Sisterhood."
A pause. "You put her through an Ordeal?"
"I thought she was ready, and she accepted the terms," Shidousho-san
said in a business-like tone. "She returned just this afternoon. We
were hoping you could come to the ceremony this Thursday. She would
probably like you to be here, as well."
"I see. So, she is not a child anymore."
"Indeed. In fact, I am seriously considering her as my successor.
Privately, however, there is another reason for this call..."
"Oh?"
"I made the Ordeal sound easier than I knew it would be. I was hoping
to teach her to never let down her guard, to always assume the worst.
It worked, but I fear I may have gone too far; she has lost confidence
in her skills, and feels that she passed her Ordeal by sheer luck."
"I felt the same way about my own Ordeal, afterwards."
"I remember. But this is different. This is more than mere humility;
she seems lost. She will not speak to anyone, and practices almost
every waking hour. She is an emotional wreck. Her skill would be as
good, if not better, than yours was at her age, but her spirit is
weak. Her swordsmanship reflects this. It will not do. I was hoping
to have your help in this matter; you are her blood sister, after all,
and she is more likely to let you help her than I."
"I know how important the sword is to her. She is even more serious
about it than I was." She paused briefly, an idea coming to her.
"You were right to call me. I have an idea, but..."
-----------
Motoko sighed heavily while sitting in the shade of the tree,
nervously clutching the Shisui. Her eyes focused on a point in space,
and she stared straight ahead into space. Time lost meaning, and she
sat there for several hours, until she heard a voice just behind her:
"It's been a long time, Motoko."
The voice snapped her out of her reverie. She turned toward the
source of the voice and smiled. "Yes, it has, sister." Her sister
was wearing the white gi with red hakama that made up the standard
Shinmeiryuu warrior's uniform. And, yes, her smile was there, the
same as it always had.
"Hitoni-san has told me a great many things, Motoko. She tells me
that you are a Sister now. You passed your Ordeal at a younger age
than even I did. You should be very proud of yourself."
Her spirits sank once more; her sister did not know the whole story,
and if she did, her approval would most certainly turn to disdain. "I
am not as impressive as that, sister. Please don't make such a big
deal out of it." She sighed heavily once more. She didn't want to
lie to her sister...
"Everyone else seems to find it very impressive. Hitoni-san is
looking to have you inherit the dojo."
"I know."
"And, Motoko? What do you think about it?"
Motoko froze up. Her sister would almost certainly take the news
badly, but she couldn't lie to her about something this serious. She
licked her lips, and said gravely, "It was not by skill that I passed
the Ordeal. It was only because I had your sword that I was not
killed."
Her sister sighed. The smile had not disappeared, and Motoko didn't
know whether that was a good or bad sign. "That is the way of many
Ordeals," her sister intoned. "Victory is hard-won, if it all, and
the presence or absence of a single element may change the outcome.
Your skill most certainly played a large part in your victory, Motoko,
of that I have little doubt. You should not be so hard on yourself."
Motoko shook her head. "That is not all. The battle has left me...
weakened." Motoko shuddered, fearing to go on, but fearing what her
sister would do if she left the thought unfinished more. "Though it
is dead, the demon haunts me still. Its visage appears in my dreams,
though never in the exact same form. I can still hear its laughter,
ringing in my ears. I'm..."
She paused, and her head sunk low. She took several deep breaths,
wondering if she would be able to continue. Her sister would most
certainly not like her next words. "I'm... I'm afraid..." The smile
disappeared. Her sister stared at her for a long while. Motoko
swallowed hard, and finished her thought: "I can't inherit the dojo.
Not like this."
Her sister's eyes closed, and she leaned back. She looked up towards
the sky, as if pondering something. She stayed this way for several
moments. Motoko stewed silently, wondering what a reaction like this
meant. Would her sister punish her for being so weak? Berate her for
being afraid? Arrange for her to be kicked out of the school? Any of
those seemed as likely as the others, and she was waiting for the
hammer to fall.
Her sister finally spoke, "If this is true, Motoko, then I must agree
with you: you cannot inherit the dojo. However-" Motoko had been
prepared for any reaction, except the one she got: her sister smiled
again. "This is not the same as never being able to receive the dojo.
I am certain that, with self-training, you will be able to overcome
your difficulties and recover from the strain the Ordeal has placed
upon you."
"Where would I go, sister? I am a Sister now, and I can be called
into duty at any time. I cannot train seriously under such
circumstances."
"They would not be able to call you if you fled the dojo. I've talked
it over with Shidousho-san, and she will allow you to return. And
return you will, for training the next generation of warriors is the
greatest thing you can hope to accomplish. But, it is your decision."
Motoko thought long and hard about this turn of events. The dojo had
been the only home she had known since she was old enough to walk;
being forced to leave it under these circumstances, she could not help
but feel sad. But she knew that this was for the best. She needed to
train, to refine her technique... so that she could match her sister's
skill. "You speak the truth, sister," she answered. "I will train
abroad, as you suggest. But how will I know when it is time for me to
return?"
Her sister thought for a moment. "Your eighteenth birthday... that is
the time I will come for you. That gives you five years to improve
yourself. Is that enough time?"
"O-of course."
"I must ask for an exception, however. I want you to be the only
teacher my daughter knows. To that end, if I bear a daughter, I will
come for you at the first opportunity. Agreed?"
Motoko couldn't do much more than nod her approval. "Good. It does
pain me to know that I will not be able to see you for some time. But
I will be able to manage, knowing that you will be trying hard." She
put her hand on top of Motoko's head, and Motoko looked up at her
warm, shining face. "Become a strong swordswoman, Motoko."
Motoko smiled back. "I will, sister," she vowed. They stared at each
other for a long time, and then they both started to laugh. Motoko
didn't know quite why, and didn't care. It felt nice to share this
last moment with her sister like this. In the very near future, there
would be many things for her to worry about. But right now, none of
it mattered, because she had a sister who loved her.
-----------
They spent the rest of the day resting in the shade of the tree, until
the sun went down. Motoko and her sister parted ways, Motoko heading
for the barracks, and her sister for the guest house.
Several hours later, under the cover of night, Motoko again left the
Shinmeiryuu dojo grounds. She did not look back once.
What can I say, I'm obsessed! I noticed a distinct lack of Motoko
fanfictions, and decided I needed to correct that. Parts of this
fiction refer to, expand on, or clarify scenes in Episode 25 of the
anime and Volume 9 of the manga. Please read and review!
==============================
The following work of fiction contains characters that are the
property of TV Tokyo, and are used without permission. Any character
that you do not recognize (most notably the demon and Shidousho-
sensei) is probably mine, however, and if you would like to use said
characters in your own work, PLEASE get my permission first!
Any Praise/Criticism/Death Threats may be sent to: archimage4@aol.com.
Some Japanese words are used in this text where appropriate. Those
unfamiliar with the language may find the following translations
useful:
tanto - a long knife or short sword.
katana - a sword; the blade is a little shorter than four feet.
hiken - hidden technique.
sensei - teacher. Also used as an honorific.
hakama - Cross between pants and a long skirt. Motoko usually wears
these.
==============================
The Proving Ground
by TheArchimage
Thunder rumbled in the dark clouds overhead, and the occasional flash
of lightning lit up the sky. It was very dark, especially for a
summer afternoon. It would doubtlessly rain soon, hence why she was
wearing a straw hat. It was a little too big for her, but it suited
her well otherwise. Her sandals made soft crunching sounds as she
walked onward with a steady rhythm.
She glanced up at the clearing on the hill ahead of her, at once both
relieved and tense. This was where the demon was hiding out; she
could feel its presence. This demon had terrorized a small fishing
town for several days, culminating in the murder of three innocents
three days ago, while she had been en route. And she had tracked it
down to here. A tiny smile formed across her lips as she fingered her
sword. She was in very real danger, but she was anxious to show off
the skills she had practiced so hard to obtain.
"Demon!" she called out, her tone reflecting her courage and power
even if her child's voice could not. "I am Aoyama Motoko, and I have
come to exorcise you! Come out!" With this, she set her traveling
bag down, and drew her tanto. The katana at her side would be better
suited for demon slaying, but it was almost as long as she was tall,
and much too large for her to wield. She would have to make do with
what she had. Her eyes darted left and right, her nerves on edge. At
any moment, the demon could appear and tear her body in two, and she
had to be ready for it.
She cautiously stepped into the clearing, her eyes absorbing every
detail. The elements had not been kind to this place: even the few
weeds that grew here were struggling to survive, thin, sickly, and
windblown. There were many rocks of varying size around the clearing,
and she guessed by the damage marks on them that this was once used as
a training ground. The ideal hiding place; according to reports of
the villagers, this demon could hide in inanimate objects, safe from
the blows of any mortal weapon. Any one of these rocks could be
harboring the beast... Motoko took a breath to steady herself, as she
began to concentrate.
Where would he come from? Where was the demon hiding? She allowed
her mind to clear of all emotion, all thought, and the answer to her
questions came rushing in.
"There you are!" she shouted out as her movement blurred. She reached
into her belt, and pulled out a paper talisman. She tossed the
talisman at a boulder across the clearing that was roughly her size.
Her aim was true; the talisman stuck to the boulder, and a black gas
began to escape from it. She allowed herself a triumphant grin as her
hands tightened their grip on her tanto. The demon had showed itself.
The black gas collected above the rock, then rushed toward another
rock, eager to hide again. It struck, and wafted around the sides of
the rock, failing to penetrate it. Motoko smiled. The talisman had
been specially prepared by the temple monks; once struck, the demon
would be unable to hide, allowing her to attack it. She had already
won the first round. "Well, demon?" she taunted. "I have found you.
Now will you fight?"
She heard an evil laughter, as the black gas began to take a definite
form. "So they send a child to fight me, hmm?" the demon retorted.
Motoko grimaced at being called a child; even if she was but 12 years
old, Shidousho-sensei had assured her that she was more than a match
for this demon. "It makes no difference whether they send an infant
or an entire legion of their finest warriors; I will crush them all,
just as I will crush you."
The gas began to take solid form, beginning with the head. It was
short, round, and ugly, with spines growing out around the side of
it's blunt face. The body then followed suit, forming a hard shell
that was flat in the front, and bulged considerably in the back.
Spikes jutted out around the entire circumference of the circular
shell, their pearly-white color contrasting with the dark gray of the
rest of its body.
Next came the arms. The right arm was as thick as a tree trunk, and
ended in a terrible blade instead of a hand. The blade looked like it
had been a hand of iron, except now the fingers were attached
together, and ended in a point that could easily rend skin and bones.
The left arm was similarly thick, except it ended in a hand with
short, curved fingers that had sharp nails on the end of them.
The beasts "legs" seemed ill-suited to walking on land; they were
short, flat flippers, seeming to be much better suited for swimming.
It did not need to walk, anyway, as it floated a good three feet off
of the ground. As Motoko studied it, she realized that it very much
resembled a turtle. A grotesque, twisted turtle, true, but a turtle
nonetheless.
Motoko was not very impressed with the creature, even if it was
several times her size. She expected something more frightening. "So
that is your true form, demon?" she called out to it. "Then today I
shall vanquish you, and send you back to hell!"
She raised her tanto above her head, prepared to strike. She took a
deep breath, focusing her ki upon her blade. The demon wasn't about
to let her get the first attack, however. It pulled its arms, legs,
and head inside its shell, and began spinning. It launched itself at
the girl, ripping through the air like a buzz saw.
Motoko launched a counter-attack. "Hiken... Zankuusen!" She brought
the blade down, and the blast of her ki caused the very air to shudder
with its passing. It struck the spinning shell, knocking it off
course and into a large boulder. The resounding crash covered the
site of the impact with thick smoke, and the rock shattered into
pieces. Motoko quickly leaped up, out of the way of the fragments of
rock that flew by her, certain that she had dealt the demon a grievous
blow.
Her eyes widened in shock when she smoke parted to let a spinning,
reptilian dervish loose, heading straight toward her. She spun in the
air, narrowly avoiding the charge that would have torn her in two.
But she didn't avoid the bladed hand, which hit her with a fearsome
backhand between her shoulders with enough force to send her flying
back down to earth. She barely managed to land on her feet, and
tasted blood in her mouth. When had it brought that arm out of its
shell? This was supposed to be a minor demon, certainly not capable
of acting with such speed...
She didn't have much time to ponder this, as the shell was spinning
toward her once again. She charged her ki once more, and released
another Zankuusen. This one, too, rebounded harmlessly off of the
shell, and once more Motoko barely dived out of the way. The bladed
hand stuck out of the shell, ready to attack, but Motoko was ready for
it this time. As the hand lunged toward her, she gathered her ki, and
released a third Zankuusen. The hand plowed through her blast like it
didn't exist, and hit her directly in the chest, knocking her several
yards backwards as shreds of her gi filled the air. As she rolled to
a slow stop, she thought to herself, How can this be defeating me so
easily...?
Her body felt like it was weighted down with lead, and she coughed up
blood. She took stock of her injury; there was a sizable gash across
her abdomen, and she could still feel her strength draining away with
the blood. She stared up at the demon, now fully out of its shell and
hovering toward her. "Your technique is not bad, for someone your
age," it consoled her, relishing in its impending victory. "But it
will not be enough to defeat me. You see, I dine on human emotion
like you foul creatures dine upon the flesh of animals and the
children of plants. And for me, the taste of sadness, horror, and
despair is like a delicacy.
"This place, in many years past, was the site of a small village," it
continued to gloat. "It was attacked by raiders, and was burnt to the
ground. Not a single man, woman, or child survived. Their blood
stained the ground so badly that even now, over a hundred years later,
little will grow or live here." The demon described this in wondrous
awe, like someone else would describe a sunset. "And their feelings
of despair and sadness cloud this place still. I have partaken of
them, and they have made me strong. Too strong for a girl like you."
The demon's left hand wrapped around her, picking her up off the
ground while pinning her sword arm to the side. She tried to break
free, but there wasn't enough strength left in her. She was at the
demon's mercy.
"Still..." the demon cackled maliciously. "It would be such a waste
to kill you now. I can get a good meal out of you yet. Now, just
relax, little one... let's see what horrors you have buried away in
that mind of yours..."
She could feel the presence of the demon trying to enter her mind.
She struggled to keep it out, but her wounds were breaking her
concentration. No, she mentally commanded. I can't lose like this.
I won't, I won't, I won't...
But it was useless. Her mental defenses couldn't hold up, and
memories came flooding back to her unbidden...
-----------
Shidousho Hitoni-sensei was a highly decorated Shinmeiryuu warrior in
the years past, and she had been chosen among all her peers to train
the next generation of Shinmeiryuu warriors. Her age was starting to
catch up to her; her once lush and gorgeous black hair was now lined
with strands of gray, and her face was beginning to wrinkle after many
long years of practicing the Art. Any of her students that acted up,
however, would admit that the years had left her skill unaffected, and
she was more than capable of doling out punishment if it was required.
She had been the undisputed master of the entire Shinmeiryuu clan for
as long as Motoko could remember, and this is what made a private
meeting with her such an unnerving event.
Motoko knelt in front of her in the main hall, struggling to keep her
face from making a single movement that could be attached to awe,
nervousness, or fear. Shidousho-sensei had her eyes closed and was
breathing calmly, the same thing she had been doing since Motoko
entered. That was a good five minutes ago, but Motoko did not dare
ask why she had been called. This was a test of her patience, she was
sure, and she did not want to think about the consequences of failure.
Shidousho-sensei opened her eyes slightly, and stared at Motoko. She
felt her heart leap up into her throat, but she did not let her face
or manner betray that fact. Apparently satisfied, Shidousho began to
speak, in her usual calm, clear voice that would have fit a woman half
her age, "Do you know why you have been called here, Motoko?" Motoko
slowly shook her head. "A fisherman came to our dojo today. He came
from a village about three days travel to the east, speaking of a
demon which came into their village a week ago. At first, the demon
caused only minor problems, and its mischief was blamed on old
equipment, rotting floors, and bad luck. However, the demon suddenly
became more aggressive, attacking those who went out alone at night.
Nothing serious, not yet, but the attacks convinced the villagers to
seek outside help in dealing with the menace. The man was sent to
acquire our aid in exorcising the beast." Motoko followed the story
careful, but she was not yet understanding the meaning of it.
"Unfortunately, all of our Sisters are far too busy on other projects
to deal with a minor demon, and students are not sent on any missions
until after they pass through their Ordeal, and are accepted into the
Sisterhood. However, I could not ignore the man's plight, for the
Shinmeiryuu were created for just this purpose." She paused briefly,
making sure Motoko had understood the story. "I called you here
because I have a question I would like to ask you."
Shidousho's eyes did not change at all, but her face formed a tiny,
almost imperceptible smile. "Motoko, how would you like to be the
youngest student in three generations to attempt the Ordeal?"
Motoko couldn't hide her shock, nor could she be expected to.
Shidousho-sensei's question was both a great honor and a horrible
thing to ask of her. Motoko took a deep breath, calming her nerves.
Shidousho-sensei's expression suggested that she would give her as
much time as she needed to compose herself. "Shidousho-sensei, please
tell me if I am understanding you correctly," she asked slowly. "The
slaying of this demon... this is to be my Ordeal?"
Shidousho-sensei affirmed her suspicion, "The Ordeal may take any form
I deem appropriate. I believe that this would be appropriate for
you."
Motoko looked down to the floor, swelling with anxiety. The Ordeal
was typically given when a woman turned 15. To take it at the young
age of 12...
She questioned, "Are you sure I am ready, Shidousho-sensei?"
"Your humility is noted," Shidousho began, the smile disappearing as
she did so. "But I would not have called you here if I did not think
you were ready. Be assured, you are prepared."
Motoko had to think for several minutes. She would be risking her
very life, but the prize was sweet indeed: should she succeed, she
would join the Sisterhood of Shinmeiryuu warriors, and fill the gap
left by her sister. It wasn't a difficult decision to make, for her
entire life had been spent preparing herself for this. "Then, I shall
accept this honor, and promise that I shall not fail you."
Shidousho-sensei nodded. "Very well. Gather up anything you feel you
will need, for you will set out tonight, while the other students
sleep. You must make the journey alone, but know that I have
confidence in you. And..." She trailed off, before finishing her
thought, "I know that you have something of your sister's that would
be of great help to you. I will grant you permission to carry it this
once. Now, you must be going. I will await news of your success."
Motoko kept her composure throughout the not-very-subtle hint, and
bowed to her when she was finished. Motoko stood up, and walked out
of the main hall. She still wore her serious expression as she made
her way back to the student barracks. Although her face was calm, her
mind was a swirling haze of emotions. Anxiety about taking the
ordeal. Surprise that Shidousho-sensei knew of her sister's gift.
Pride that she had been selected to take the Ordeal. And, yes, fear
that she would not return from this journey. She kept these emotions
to herself, however; they were a sign of weakness, and she would not
allow herself to be perceived as weak.
She snuck into the barracks, for it was already an hour past lights-
out, and everyone would likely be asleep. She packed some traveling
money, a few trail rations, a few spare changes of clothes, and put
her tanto at her side. She searched deep inside the box for a cloth-
wrapped object, and found it. Swallowing hard, she removed the
covering, to reveal a katana, still in its sheath. This was the
Shisui, the sword that had once belonged to her sister. It was given
to her years ago to look after, when she was just seven years old, but
students were forbidden to wear katana, and so she had kept it here.
But Shidousho-sensei had just given her permission to wear it. She
put that at her side as well, and found herself leaning slightly to
the left, as she was not used to the weight it added. She would
adjust to it on the way to the village, she told herself.
Motoko took her straw hat off the rack, and left the barracks. She
took a long look back at it. The next time she saw it, she would be a
Sister. Or she would be dead. She wanted to travel at least one mile
before setting down for the night, and she was already feeling tired.
She murmured a prayer for her sister to watch over her as she tipped
the hat low over her eyes, and started out.
-----------
The inner hall of the Shinmeiryuu dojo was a familiar sight, but it
still evoked feelings of awe whenever she saw it. It wasn't because
it was regal; indeed, the dojo had never been rich, and the columns,
walls, and floors were beginning to show their age. It was because
all of the greatest warriors of their dojo had walked, trained, and
lived in that hall for generations, and she felt honored just to walk
in their footsteps. She allowed herself the thought that in the
future, someone would think the same thing about walking in her shoes.
She tried to keep the smile off of her face, but she could not. She
was too happy, too proud, to hide her feelings now. Shidousho Hitoni-
sensei had called them all in for an announcement concerning her
sister. She knew what the announcement was without anyone telling
her: her sister would be announced as the next inheritor of the
Shinmeiryuu dojo. Her own sister would be the next Sensei! Motoko, 9
years old, felt herself blush; she expected nothing less of her
sister, one of the greatest Shinmeiryuu warriors to ever live.
She could see her sister kneeling in front of Shidousho-sensei, head
bowed low to the ground. She had a tiny smile on her face, the same
one she always seemed to use. That would be just like her sister to
take this great honor in stride, as if it were just another reward for
a job well done. Shidousho-sensei cleared her throat, signaling that
she was about to speak. Not a sound could be heard in the entire
hall.
She addressed the assembled crowd, "Today, I have called you to inform
you of news that is both happy and sad. The sad news is that our
beloved Sister Aoyama will no longer wield the sword to fight against
evil." The warriors all referred to each other as "sisters", but the
sister Motoko admired so much was her blood sister as well, and Motoko
was justly proud. "She has been instrumental to several of our major
campaigns, and it pains me to see a warrior as fine as herself leave
the battlefield when so much work remains to be done.
"However, in this time we cannot help but be happy for her. For today
she begins a new journey. Our Sister..." she paused suddenly, and a
great smile came over her face. Motoko found that she was leaning
forward, wanting to be the first to hear the words: Will be inheriting
the Shinmeiryuu dojo. Her eyes widened in anticipation as Shidousho-
sensei opened her mouth and spoke:
"Our Sister Aoyama is to be married."
Gasps were heard throughout the hall, followed by the sound of excited
gossip. Shidousho-sensei allowed it to continue for a moment, before
raising up her hand. The idle conversation quickly died away, and she
continued with her speech. Motoko wasn't hearing it, however. She
sat in her place, her jaw agape, mind reeling with the revelation she
had just been struck with. Her sister was leaving the sword behind...
to get married?
What about receiving the dojo? Who would be the successor if she
left? Why would her sister give up the path of the sword? The sister
she knew would never do something like that. What had happened to her
since she saw her last? A thousand questions assaulted her mind, and
no answers were forthcoming. What could she do...?
Her sister. She had to talk her sister, and ask her about all of
this.
She went through the rest of the day's practice drills half-heartedly;
she was in too much of a daze to concentrate properly. She hoped her
instructors would write it off as anxiety due to the recent
announcement, which they did. Her fellow students gossiped between
drills about the announcement, and she couldn't find it in her heart
to blame them: not much happened in the mountains of Kyoto, and
anything that did was a topic of discussion for weeks.
Ordinarily, her sister would be staying in the barracks while she was
here, but that was when she was a warrior. She had given up the
sword, and would be staying in the guest rooms now. Her sister would
be the only person in the guest rooms, since there hadn't been
visitors to the dojo for some time. She made her way up the stone
steps to the guest house as the sun began its final descent.
She stopped at the door, trying to calm herself. She had not seen her
sister face to face in some time, and there were so many things that
she needed to ask her about. There were probably many things that her
sister wanted to tell her, too. She gathered up her courage, and
opened the door.
Nothing could have prepared her for what was on the other side of that
door. Her sister was there, but she was not alone. A man was with
her. And they were...
Were... kiss-
Motoko regained her speech at the same time her sister noticed her
presence. She quickly apologized for interrupting, and fled, feeling
tears pull at her eyes. No!, she scolded herself. Don't you dare
cry. I will not show any weakness, not now, and not ever. But her
tears didn't want to listen. She held them as long as she could, and
went to the hills outside the dojo.
As she wept, she promised herself: Never again. Never again would she
allow anyone to get as close to her as her sister did. Never again
would she let her emotions be used against her. And never again would
she cry.
-----------
"Now THIS is what I was looking for," the demon cackled gleefully.
Reliving that moment re-opened the emotional wounds, and Motoko was
spending nearly all of her effort to keep herself from crying. But
not one tear fell from her eyes. "It must have been terrible for you,
losing your sister, mentor, and friend all at once. You may try to
hide it, but I know better. You were hurt, as well you should be.
You really should be more honest with yourself...
"Here, I'll help you become honest." The demon's presence entered her
mind once more, and the terrible scene began once more. Motoko
struggled, trying to somehow break free of the demon's grip. She was
still holding onto her tanto, but it did not do her much good pinned
to her side. Her mind raced, trying to deny the demon the
satisfaction of seeing her cry as well as getting out of this
predicament.
Then, she had it. She had been warned to never use this technique
with a tanto, but she was out of options. She stopped trying to hold
back her tears, and began to concentrate her ki on her blade.
"That's right, little one, let it all out," the demon gloated. "Your
sorrow is most delicious. The sorrow of warriors is quite the
delicacy." Motoko wasn't listening. The tanto was beginning to
shudder from the amount of life energy in the blade. She just needed
a little more time...
"Now, girl, don't you feel so much better?"
Motoko's mouth opened, and a single gasp escaped: "Hi.... hi..."
"Hmmm?" the demon smiled its wicked grin. "I didn't quite catch that,
dearie. You'll have to speak up."
"HIKEN, FUUJIN RANBU!"
The Zankuusen sent her ki in a straight line, and was a very basic
combat move. In contrast, Fuujin Ranbu sent her ki flying in all
directions, and with much more force than the Zankuusen. The demon's
hand exploded in a mighty gush of dark blood and gale-force winds.
The tanto, unable to handle the amount of ki surging through it,
shattered into a hundred pieces, many of them sticking into her right
side. She was beyond caring about them right now, however, and didn't
even feel the pain. The demon's scream filled the air as she landed
on her feet, and she casually tossed the broken tanto to the side. It
could help her no more.
"Little bitch!" the demon snarled, raising its clawed hand. It
stabbed at Motoko, and she leapt over it, drawing the Shisui in mid-
flight, as the hand plowed into the ground in a thunderous crash of
flying debris. She had to hold the katana with two hands, and even
then it was unwieldy, but she hardly noticed. Her leap carried her
into the air, behind the demon's left shoulder. She brought the
massive weapon to bear, and stabbed downward at an angle, deep into
the shoulder of the beast and into the shell. Her feet quickly
planted themselves on the side of the arm, and she struggled to
maintain her footing as she began to focus her ki.
"HIKEN, ZANKUUSEN!"
When attacked from the outside, the demon's shell had deflected all of
her attacks. But with the tip of her blade now inside, the unleashed
ki could not escape its confines. The deadly energy rebounded,
tearing the demon's innards to shreds, finally being released as a
pillar of wind out of the hole meant to hide its head. The powerful
force threw Motoko through the air, knocking the wind out of her. She
landed with her back flat on the ground, and felt the ground shake as
the demon's body landed with a hollow thud.
The rush of adrenaline now gone, Motoko began to realize how badly she
was hurt. Her stomach burned, her side ached, and her arms felt like
lead weights. Her vision blurred from the pain, and darkness beckoned
at the corner of her eyes. But she wasn't done yet. She summoned all
of her strength to stand, and her body cried out in agony. She pulled
another paper talisman from her belt, and walked up to the carcass of
the demon, wincing at every step. She gently placed the talisman on
the shell, and the shell instantly began to crumble. "Begone from
this plane, demon," she intoned. "May you never return."
She put her back up against a tall rock, and slowly slid down it. She
laid the Shisui across her lap, and pulled a white cloth out from
inside her gi. Her sister would never forgive her if she left her
sword in this condition. She calmly cleaned the blade free of the
demon's blood, until it was back to it's original shining silver. As
she replaced the sword in its sheath, she felt raindrops beginning to
fall on her head. She looked up into the rain, and lamented, "Almost
killed by a minor demon... sister would laugh at me. I still have...
so much... to learn..."
And with that, the last of her strength disappeared. She closed her
eyes, and the darkness welcomed her.
-----------
The phone rang. She answered the phone neutrally, "Hello?"
"It is good to speak with you again, Sister Aoyama."
She smiled. It was Shidousho Hitoni-san, her old sensei. "I am a
married woman now, Shidousho-san," she playfully corrected her. "I am
no longer a Sister, or have you forgotten?"
"No, I have not. Old habits die hard, I guess."
"This is more than a mere courtesy call, I take it?"
"It is. You should be very proud of your sister. She is the youngest
woman in three generations to take on the Ordeal, and the youngest in
seven to have passed and joined the Sisterhood."
A pause. "You put her through an Ordeal?"
"I thought she was ready, and she accepted the terms," Shidousho-san
said in a business-like tone. "She returned just this afternoon. We
were hoping you could come to the ceremony this Thursday. She would
probably like you to be here, as well."
"I see. So, she is not a child anymore."
"Indeed. In fact, I am seriously considering her as my successor.
Privately, however, there is another reason for this call..."
"Oh?"
"I made the Ordeal sound easier than I knew it would be. I was hoping
to teach her to never let down her guard, to always assume the worst.
It worked, but I fear I may have gone too far; she has lost confidence
in her skills, and feels that she passed her Ordeal by sheer luck."
"I felt the same way about my own Ordeal, afterwards."
"I remember. But this is different. This is more than mere humility;
she seems lost. She will not speak to anyone, and practices almost
every waking hour. She is an emotional wreck. Her skill would be as
good, if not better, than yours was at her age, but her spirit is
weak. Her swordsmanship reflects this. It will not do. I was hoping
to have your help in this matter; you are her blood sister, after all,
and she is more likely to let you help her than I."
"I know how important the sword is to her. She is even more serious
about it than I was." She paused briefly, an idea coming to her.
"You were right to call me. I have an idea, but..."
-----------
Motoko sighed heavily while sitting in the shade of the tree,
nervously clutching the Shisui. Her eyes focused on a point in space,
and she stared straight ahead into space. Time lost meaning, and she
sat there for several hours, until she heard a voice just behind her:
"It's been a long time, Motoko."
The voice snapped her out of her reverie. She turned toward the
source of the voice and smiled. "Yes, it has, sister." Her sister
was wearing the white gi with red hakama that made up the standard
Shinmeiryuu warrior's uniform. And, yes, her smile was there, the
same as it always had.
"Hitoni-san has told me a great many things, Motoko. She tells me
that you are a Sister now. You passed your Ordeal at a younger age
than even I did. You should be very proud of yourself."
Her spirits sank once more; her sister did not know the whole story,
and if she did, her approval would most certainly turn to disdain. "I
am not as impressive as that, sister. Please don't make such a big
deal out of it." She sighed heavily once more. She didn't want to
lie to her sister...
"Everyone else seems to find it very impressive. Hitoni-san is
looking to have you inherit the dojo."
"I know."
"And, Motoko? What do you think about it?"
Motoko froze up. Her sister would almost certainly take the news
badly, but she couldn't lie to her about something this serious. She
licked her lips, and said gravely, "It was not by skill that I passed
the Ordeal. It was only because I had your sword that I was not
killed."
Her sister sighed. The smile had not disappeared, and Motoko didn't
know whether that was a good or bad sign. "That is the way of many
Ordeals," her sister intoned. "Victory is hard-won, if it all, and
the presence or absence of a single element may change the outcome.
Your skill most certainly played a large part in your victory, Motoko,
of that I have little doubt. You should not be so hard on yourself."
Motoko shook her head. "That is not all. The battle has left me...
weakened." Motoko shuddered, fearing to go on, but fearing what her
sister would do if she left the thought unfinished more. "Though it
is dead, the demon haunts me still. Its visage appears in my dreams,
though never in the exact same form. I can still hear its laughter,
ringing in my ears. I'm..."
She paused, and her head sunk low. She took several deep breaths,
wondering if she would be able to continue. Her sister would most
certainly not like her next words. "I'm... I'm afraid..." The smile
disappeared. Her sister stared at her for a long while. Motoko
swallowed hard, and finished her thought: "I can't inherit the dojo.
Not like this."
Her sister's eyes closed, and she leaned back. She looked up towards
the sky, as if pondering something. She stayed this way for several
moments. Motoko stewed silently, wondering what a reaction like this
meant. Would her sister punish her for being so weak? Berate her for
being afraid? Arrange for her to be kicked out of the school? Any of
those seemed as likely as the others, and she was waiting for the
hammer to fall.
Her sister finally spoke, "If this is true, Motoko, then I must agree
with you: you cannot inherit the dojo. However-" Motoko had been
prepared for any reaction, except the one she got: her sister smiled
again. "This is not the same as never being able to receive the dojo.
I am certain that, with self-training, you will be able to overcome
your difficulties and recover from the strain the Ordeal has placed
upon you."
"Where would I go, sister? I am a Sister now, and I can be called
into duty at any time. I cannot train seriously under such
circumstances."
"They would not be able to call you if you fled the dojo. I've talked
it over with Shidousho-san, and she will allow you to return. And
return you will, for training the next generation of warriors is the
greatest thing you can hope to accomplish. But, it is your decision."
Motoko thought long and hard about this turn of events. The dojo had
been the only home she had known since she was old enough to walk;
being forced to leave it under these circumstances, she could not help
but feel sad. But she knew that this was for the best. She needed to
train, to refine her technique... so that she could match her sister's
skill. "You speak the truth, sister," she answered. "I will train
abroad, as you suggest. But how will I know when it is time for me to
return?"
Her sister thought for a moment. "Your eighteenth birthday... that is
the time I will come for you. That gives you five years to improve
yourself. Is that enough time?"
"O-of course."
"I must ask for an exception, however. I want you to be the only
teacher my daughter knows. To that end, if I bear a daughter, I will
come for you at the first opportunity. Agreed?"
Motoko couldn't do much more than nod her approval. "Good. It does
pain me to know that I will not be able to see you for some time. But
I will be able to manage, knowing that you will be trying hard." She
put her hand on top of Motoko's head, and Motoko looked up at her
warm, shining face. "Become a strong swordswoman, Motoko."
Motoko smiled back. "I will, sister," she vowed. They stared at each
other for a long time, and then they both started to laugh. Motoko
didn't know quite why, and didn't care. It felt nice to share this
last moment with her sister like this. In the very near future, there
would be many things for her to worry about. But right now, none of
it mattered, because she had a sister who loved her.
-----------
They spent the rest of the day resting in the shade of the tree, until
the sun went down. Motoko and her sister parted ways, Motoko heading
for the barracks, and her sister for the guest house.
Several hours later, under the cover of night, Motoko again left the
Shinmeiryuu dojo grounds. She did not look back once.