A/N; ok I dicided it was time to start writing again. This is about a girl from the Yamini Islands. the Yangtze is a river in China.
Disclamer: i do not own any thing you recognize
On the banks of the Yangtze
The river over flowed last night. The Zui's lost there house. Our village is getting desperate. We lost part of the village temple too. 4 priestesses died trying to save it. Yangtze, the river god, spared my family. Our house was high enough to not be damaged. Our mulberry trees are also safe, and thus our silk worms. Some of the boys are talking of going to work in the imperial city. My brother, Jun-lee Song, is their leader. I am Jun-Lee Sakami and this is my story.
My brother is leaving. The imperial scouts are here looking for strong young men who can work for the emperor. Although we get by in our village with a steady supply of silk, we are still not rich. Shing wants to travel, impress the emperor and bring eternal honor to our family.
"Saka come here now" my mother calls. I run.
"Mother" I say as I bow in due respect "what is it?"
My mother responds "the mighty Emperors scouts say that they want to see all of the village's virgin girls in the market square. Go get your sisters". My 2 older sisters, Jun-Lee Katya and Jun-Lee Kadoka are twins. They are 16 summers, 2 summers older then I am.
I run and call "Doka, Tya, come quickly. We are needed in market square." They respond "we are coming Saka". All three of us rush to catch up with father, the head man of our village. We walk together down the hill to the half destroyed village. It is a sad sight. Hanato Noh Yakama is our over lord. He has done nothing to help us. We are left to rely on my grandmother, Judko Kokako she is my Mothers Mother. She is also the mage. She is training Zui Chui, whose house was destroyed in the last flood, to take her place. He is coming along nicely.
An imperial scout speaks now to the adults "we have gathered your daughters here in the name of our glorious emperor, Emperor Chit-Sang the fourth. He wishes to extend his harem. He is sending scouts to all of the lord's estates to choose the loveliest girls we can find. Any girl below the age of 10 may now leave the line. Also girls above the age of 25 must now leave the line." Now only 30 or so girls remain. I am afraid. I am considered quite a beauty. My parents are proud of this but now it just makes me feel as if I have bean cursed.
"All girls who are left will come into the temple with me." We are following him. I look around. Doka and Tya are still here. He is lining us up. Please Yama I am afraid. He is measuring us. Up until now they are all to short, to tall, to fat, to thin, this one's cheeks are to hallow, this ones breasts are too small. They have arrived at me. The leader is telling me to stay after words. He gets to the end of the line.
"All of you who I did not tell to stay, please go home." It is now only me and 3 other girls.
"You girls were judged to be the best. We will now narrow it down more." He is taking the first girl aside to talk to her. He is shaking his head. He has told her something, and now she leaves. The same just happened to the other girl. Now it is just me and Zhu Lanai. She is a spiteful thing. She is 15, a year older then me. Lanai always bullied me and my friend Qui Novato. Nova says that she thinks that Yama sent Lanai to test us. Now I have one final test. Either I go or she goes. Whatever happens, I can be thankful for that.
