May I, she asks him. He lifts a questioning eyebrow then nods his head in agreement. She then lifts her hand and touches his face which sets off a whirl of memories in his mind. They are not his memories so he focuses on her memories as her history unfolds to him. While he is viewing her memories she is also viewing his memories. (Everyone should know what happened to him I will do a short summary).
In an unknown location, here lies the wandering village of the Kakurete (隠れた) Clan.
The leader of this clan was Katsutoshi (利口な) Senshin. His wife was a priestess name
Michiko (which also means beautiful) Senshin. They had two kids, his 6 year old son
Kyuuseishu (救世主) Senshin and his 8 month daughter Suteki (which means beautiful
or lovely) Senshin. Katsutoshi and Michiko were preparing to leave to go with some of
their ninja in their village on a mission to make money for their village. Located in their
village was various ninja from various locations and past experiences. There was the
also rogue ninja in their village who wanted to escape conviction and live a peaceful life.
They decided that it was time to start showing their son how to use his powers so he was
also preparing to leave as well. As they passed her crib heading to the door Suteki stood
up in her crib and cried out Shuuuu (which sounds like shoe) while stretching her arms
out furiously. Everyone turns around and Kuuseishu runs to her picking her up happily.
You said my name…can you say it again Su-chan, he asks her. She smiles and says Shu-
chan very slowly. Oh my imouto, I shall call you Sumiko (澄子)-chan or
Susumu (進)-chan. His mother walks over to him smiling taking Suteki from him
much to her disapproval. I do like Sumiko-chan because she is and will be a clear pure
thinking child but I think she will prefer Su-chan because it matches Shu-chan don't you
think? Yes, he replies then he takes her from their mother's arms and gently rocks her to
sleep. Her memories jump to her at age six as shown on her birthday cake. She runs
through their large hut excitedly "tanjoubi omedetou"! Her brother appears out of
nowhere causing her to scream out in shock while he laughs at her scared expression. I
really scared you didn't I Su-chan, he teases her. That is not funny nii-chan, you scared
me, she replies frustrated. Then he runs to the door after sensing their parents arrival. She
had watched from the door of their parents home a year ago as they told her nii-chan,
" ki o tsukete kudasai Su-chan". He replied, "Boku ki o tsukeru Sutekihime always", a
new nickname he had given her. Then their parents were gone on a top secrete mission
for the daimyou of the Fire Country never saying when they would return. She comes to
after her flashback and runs after her brother who is standing in the door waving. As she
approaches the door she sees them standing there after hugging and greeting her brother.
"Okaasama…Otousama?" she questions and states at the same time. Her brother walks
up to her and she slightly hides behind him as they approach her kneeling down with their
arms outstretched. Her brother kneels down to her level nudging her forward saying, "Su-
chan…It's Kaachan and Touchan". She then smiles running into their outstretched arms.
Her memories jump to her at age 12 when her brother was in the process of taking over
the clan soon, yet her father had explained that he still had more things to learn and
needed more training. She had just finished training with her mother and she was about
to enter their family's hut when she overheard her father and brother arguing. Dad…I
don't understand…our kekki genki is rival of so many clans that we could easily hold our
own and settle anywhere we want. Son, we still have weaknesses like every other ninja
clan…our reasons for wanting to stay on the move some you are well aware of as the
future leader of this clan, yet the most important is to prevent death, destruction, and
calamity. Our people are too few and too precious to waste on a senseless war just to
settle in someone else's territory besides our clan has an important job to do given to us
by the emperor himself that requires that we are constantly on the move and only we
can do it. The places we stay our powers stay unknown while we perform tasks for our
higher ups and receive compensation to keep our village on the move and supplied. This
is the key to the success of our village. Father, our clan has tripled in size and we could
easily start off as a small village and grow in size. We would be a peaceful village
because we have ninja from all of these different countries and the main members us,
meaning me, you, mom, and sister could protect the whole village while we rise to fame.
We shouldn't have to hide or wander as an unknown clan. We have been given an
unstoppable gift and we should use it to our advantage. Their father sighs…You don't
understand son…maybe these things are to complicated for you to grasp. You're spoiled
rotten and have been protected from witnessing the horrors of an actual war. Do peace
and tranquility mean anything to you? Or do you favor bloodshed and war? Just then she
feels a strong tension in the room so heavy yet so sharp that it pierced her heart and she
rushes into the room calling, Nii-chan, Nii-chan! I did it I finally did it. As she
approaches them she sees her brother glaring at their father and their father sadly shaking
his head at their brother. What is it Suteki, he asks with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
She is stung by his use of her name instead of his endearing nicknames, yet she keeps on
excitedly proclaiming, I shot a spiritual arrow with my spiritual energy using this you see.
She holds up a necklace with a purple diamond pendant in the shape of a circle that as she
holds it up to the light, it turns different shades of purple revealing a five point star on top
of a crescent moon. I'm going to be a powerful Miko (priestess) like mom, she declares.
I'm sure you will…you have gotten stronger because the diamonds changed to a lighter
shade of purple when you held it up, he informs her slightly less annoyed. Well I guess
this is over so lets go so you can show me your progress. Her brother walks out of the hut.
Otousama, she says to annoy him and let him know that she is displeased with him, go
easy on him…I mean it…be nice…he has a hard time as it is. She frowns disapprovingly
at her father then runs out of the hut to catch up to her brother.
Kakurete means hidden.
Katsutoshi actually means clever
Senshin is a Japanese martial arts title or concept that means purified spirit. It is a spirit that protects and harmonizes the universe, reconciles discord in the world.
Kyuuseishu means savior
Suteki is an adj for beautiful
Michiko means beautiful for a girl's name
imouto menas little sister
Sumiko means clear/pure thinking child
Susumu means progressing
tanjoubi omedetou is an informal way to say happy birthday
nii-chan means older brother, a more informal way to address your sibling
ki o tsukete kudasai means please take care of your
Boku ki o tsukeru means I will take care of
Sutekihime is a nickname that I made up, it might not be real but I was saying beautiful princess hime is princess
Okaasama and Otousama are mother and father respectively. This way is very formal to show the greatest level of respect and this annoys her father ironically because he rather her use a more intimate informal name for him.
Kaachan and Touchan are mother and father respectively and this is what her father would prefer she call him because it is more intimate and informal. Endearing as well.
Miko means priestess
