Greetings.
I am a daughter of a samurai named Kasanagi Kishimoto. He is the right hand of the daimyo Yuuki Harutomo, my grandfather.
Kasanagi Kishimoto married his master's daughter, a royal lady of the clan.
And came two girls.
The first born being Moriko Harutomo-Kishimoto.
The youngest being Takara Harutomo-Kishimoto.
That is me.
We were raised and taught with the ways of the royalty.
My sister, Moriko, learned the art of fan dancing.
While, I on the other hand, learned the art of sword fighting and painting.
We were happy in our lives.
One day, we were given gifts from the daimyo himself.
I recieved a spear whose blade of triangular shape.
While, she recieved boxes of fine clothing.
But, my father said i should not touch it yet because i might injure myself.
Moriko was all ready for being wed.
As being the oldest, she will be married to the Matsudaira clan at a young age.
It is to put a union between two clans.
I was so happy about the gift that i visited that spear everyday. I was very excited to see the spear and thinking that i may be the greatest warrior in all Japan
Then, Grandpa went and said to me, "Do you know that spear has a name?"
"It does!? " i exclaimed in shock
He nodded his head and said, "It's called Otegine which means hand pestle. "
I just stared at the spear a lot more. I got even excited to grow older so i could finally try it out.
Until one day..
Grandpa called for me.
He said, "Takara...i would like you to meet Hajime Matsudaira"
"Matsudaira? Grandpa, he's a brother of Moriko's husband?"
His smile slowly left
"We'll talk about that some day when you grow up." He said.
He introduced me to the boy that's just my age.
Grandpa said i'll be engaged with him.
After a long while,
I never went and looked at my spear
It was just sitting there in a room.
I miss it a lot now.
I was too busy with my fiance, Hajime, that I never went to visit it anymore.
I miss training with Father as well.
Ever since Hajime came, I was trained to be a wife instead of being trained to be a warrior.
Hajime. He was a young boy with Brown hair and green eyes.
He has really messy Short hair for a prince.
sometimes i wished that i never met him. But sometimes, i felt glad that i met him.
He never made me feel awkward to marry him.
Really, to me, he's a very good friend.
We did a lot of things together.
Most of the time, we went to a Shinto Temple to visit his monk friend.
His monk friend was such a kind, and wise old man.
These are the times we were glad we met each other.
Because i know, like me, he doesn't want to get married as well.
He told once that he always wanted to study things he never knew.
Then, a long while pass, i heard a loud sound.
Then came men shouting things i can't understand.
Then, men were carrying devices of death. These devices had a loud rattling sound.
The whole place was in fire.
I was so scared.
I stood up and went to the door.
Then i felt someone grab hold of my foot.
"Takara-chan!! No!! Don't get out there! You'll get yourself killed!!" Moriko said in fear
I held her hand, "Moriko... it's alright. I will save us all... I must go to Otegine. I will fight them off"
"Takara-chan, you're still small! Even smaller than me! You can't wield a spear that big! You'll get killed eventually!" She said
I hugged her, "I will be back, Moriko. It's alright."
"I wanted to rescue you and our family as well, you know!! I don't want to lose my sister!" She cried.
I left her and exit the door, "I'll be right back..."
I went and looked for Father and Grandfather.
I was running my fastest.
And as i opened the door...
I see...
Their corpses...
Father stabbed in the throat.
Grandfather with the same posture.
"They...are... they are dead..." my voice shivered.
I ran outside out of fear.
I wasn't able to save them before hand.
But.
I can still save Moriko.
I went to look for the room where Otegine is.
It's been so long since i haven't went to visit that spear.
As i came to open the door.
A man with a gunpowder machine came.
His weapon had a sword attached to it.
He stabbed my foot with the sword of his weapon.
I don't know what that weapon is called. But, every of the men had them.
As he was about to strike again...
*slit!!
I opened my eyes, "Ha-Hajime?"
I see the sword thrusted straight through his body.
With his withered voice, he said, "Takara-chan...it's alright...you're safe now...Remember me and run...now!"
That was the last time i saw him, and he made me felt glad and grateful, and yet sad to have met him.
I ran as fast as i could.
Since there was no way i could go to escape the soldier.
I know i can't go to Moriko because he is following or maybe, chasing me. He might kill her.
So, i went to the temple.
I looked for the monk.
But.
He too.
The only remembrance i have from Hajime was my friendship to the monk.
He was cut open in the stomach. His intestines sprouted out of his body, blood squirting out of his organs just coming out.
It was too much for a 9 year old girl like me to bare to see.
With a fading raspy voice, "Takara...please...take the holy rope of the temple and tie it to your waist...may Amaterasu guide you..."
I cried for the monk was my friend.
After that, The soldier left.
I walked all alone through the forests.
After all that happened to me, i was no longer afraid of anything.
Not even ghouls of vengence and hate that wreaks of havoc in their way
I walked a long and lonely road with no one but me alone.
Slowly and slowly, my cyan eyes that are as clear as the waters of the sea, that are as blue as the sky of the morning, have turned Red. Red as the sunset of the horrible fate that has begotten upon me. Red as the blood of those whom i have loved and whom i have loved.
That fades to a golden yellow. As yello was the sun which shines as bright as my misery, despair and hatred for those who have brought this fate upon me..
Until one day, one yet gloomy day ...
I found a young boy.
It appears he's younger than me. But not less than 7.
He was crying by the roots of the weeping willow tree.
"Why were you crying?" With a flamboyant voice i said.
the boy replied sobbing, "Because i'm all alone. I have nothing left. "
Sudden grey memories entered my mind.
I stepped back and kicked him in the chest.
The boy kneeled down in agonizing pain.
He was a weak, skinny, frail little boy.
Then i attacked and punched him in his face multiple times as i layed him against the rough road, with his head laying on the roots of the weeping willow tree
He was crying of disturbing and confusing feelings
I slowly stopped and stood up.
He was crawling away from me, "why are you doing this to me?! What have i ever done wrong!? So many...so many... i miss grandpa..."
Then he wiped off his sweat from his face and his forehead, and he saw blood on his hands.
He cried and even louder cry as he saw his own blood.
I reciprocated and hugged him tight and warm in my arms.
"It's alright. You're gonna be ok..." i said with a whispery voice.
"But, you punched me many times in the face..." he said being afraid.
"You won't be afraid anymore. For you will be my brother starting today."
"But we don't share the same blood..." he replied.
I cut a portion of my skin and took blood there.
And placed it in the wound on his forehead.
"Now, we are siblings by blood. " i said with a firm voice.
We started our journey together.
Ever since then, i was never alone.
I now have a brother.
I won't be lonely again.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"My name is Sakenokami Yuji Nobunaga. You?" He replied.
"I am Takara Kishimoto-Matsudaira" i replied.
"I am eight years old. " he said.
"I am nine. " i replied.
"That's good to hear...y'know, my Grandfather is the great Oda Nobunaga. He killed a servant of ours when he prepared tea. He's that scary. But i love him." He said with a smile.
"I see... i am a granddaughter of Yuuki Harutomo. The master of the Hojo clan. He's quite strong as well.." i said looking at the ground.
We were together all the time.
Hemade my life even easier than it was before.
To have your other half. Such a wonderous little brother...
-to be continued