It All Begins…


My name is Aiko. I come from the Yokamaru family, a long line of shamans who are proud of their family's age.

I am also blind, and have been since birth. My parents were very stressed out about this until my brother Ryu was born, and could see.

I was always able to hear more than they thought I could, though, and I found ways to work around my inability. I'm an amazing cook, Ryu's said that more than once; and I can sew straight and embroider pictures. My parents praise me for every mundane task I accomplish.

There is one thing I haven't told them, though: I want to be a shaman like they were, fighting-capable and integrating with the spirits my parents have bound to our service. I know I can hear them, and know that I'm talking to a ghost by the vague echo that comes with their voices. I work out with Ryu every day in our gym, and I'm stronger than he is. I know full well that that will change once he hits puberty, but for now, I am content with my lot.


Then, one day – I don't normally keep track of days, since I can't see calendars – Mother and Father called me in to speak with me. I wasn't sure at first what the big deal was. Maybe they were going to give me one of the ghosts that belonged to them? They've let me hold the memorial tablets, told me what the carvings on each of them meant, and that one of them was to be mine when I came of age.

"Aiko, we both believe you are old enough to understand when we tell you this," Mother said once I sat down.

Of course, since I'm fourteen; go on.

"You will be leaving tomorrow, to live with the Tao family."

I stared straight ahead, too shocked to speak for a minute. Then I asked, "Why?"

Father answered that one. "We've arranged a marriage for you with their son, and you need to live with them until you're both of the right age to marry. We will give you one of the family spirits to take with you."

I've got a fiancée? I'm – they don't think I can be a fighting shaman! They think all I'm suited for is being a wife! No wonder they praised me so much over the cooking and sewing I've been able to do!

"Okay. I'll go pack now." And with that, I stood up and left the room. Protesting won't do me any good. I might as well act willing. I think I'll still pack; pack to run away, that is.

I stopped outside the door, though. What were they going to say?

It didn't take long before they started talking.

Father: "She accepted that better than I thought she would."

Mother: "Yes. The Tao family would welcome a quiet, obedient girl for their daughter-in-law." She didn't sound too certain, though. Her next words confirmed it: "Though she'd be welcomed far more warmly if she'd show some of her usual fire."

That does it! I've had it with this patronizing attitude!

I ran to my room, narrowly avoiding several collisions, and threw some things into a blanket. Then I tied it all together and summoned a nature spirit. "I need you to write a note for me to leave for my parents. I will tell you what to say."

I heard a high-pitched, echoing chatter, and some rustlings of paper. Well, I hadn't specified speech in my summoning.

"Ready?"

A squeak answered me.

"Good. Here's what you should write: 'I'm sorry to leave you like this, but…" I'm not actually against an arranged marriage, since I can't see my fiancée, but… "I want to be worthy of the Tao family, who are predominately fighters.' Is there anything coming I should know about?" I asked, dropping my speech-voice so that it knew I didn't want it to write this down.

I heard a slow echoing rustle.

"Yes or no will suffice."

The answer was a squeak, it's determined 'yes.'

"Okay, then I won't finish the note yet. I'll call you again when I find out how to end that."

I heard a chatter of assent, and then a rush of wind. Then I got changed for bed and went to sleep.


I woke up sometime during the night. I couldn't quite say what woke me up, save that it was something I felt. It was like…like something was calling me, awakening some kind of hunger for the unknown. No strange feeling to me, but now I felt like acting on it. I even felt like it had a name: Shaman Fight!

I got dressed and summoned the nature spirit again. "Here's how I want the note ended: 'My opportunity to prove myself worthy of the Tao family has come, in the Shaman Fight. Therefore, I shall take the spirit you have promised me and go find my fortune. Your daughter, Aiko.' Put that on their nightstand."

I heard a swish as it left. Then I slipped out with my pack, found the cupboard that had the two memorial tablets in it and carefully ran my fingers across each one, "reading" the names. In the end, I chose Maia. I knew she could fight, or Mother wouldn't have her as her guardian.

Then, quietly, I slipped out of the house. "Goodbye, my family. You cared for me as best you could. But I'm afraid I just can't live with being thought of as a handicapped person. I have to prove my worth – to the Taos, to you, and to myself."