Chapter 1
The winter had finally ended, and the snow was gone, replaced with tiny florets of grass and young leaves. The night was warm and sweet with the early spring rain. The flowers, which had recently reopened their majestic faces, had turned down for the night while the world slept. Cicadas chirped and crickets sang a soft, humming harmony to replace the shrill calliope of the morning birds. The rains had cleared, as had the sky, and a waxing moon hung carelessly in place, tacked up by the cornucopia of stars. And under that moon lay a village, picture perfect with its little huts and softly trodden dirt roads snaking between the abodes. Along its perimeter lay woods, rich mosses, fields and soft grasses and at its center lay a large temple. It was the Kitamura temple, rising above the sleepy huts in slumbering splendor. It was large, like a Magistrate's palace, complete with living quarters for maidservants and royals alike. For this, unlike most temples, was the residence of its own relic.
Within this village, it's citizens slept. They were fully content with the fact that there was no safe place in this day and age than the village of the Kitamura temple. Yet in this sleepy village, one remained fully alert. She was a young girl, looking no older than the human age of twelve, with colossal golden eyes and a black plait trailing down her back. But this girl was far from human, and this was evident by the black tearlets down her cheeks and the crescent moon tattooed upon her forehead. It was obvious what she was; yet the villagers did not fear her. They fell at her feet in reverence as she passed, and not out of fear, but gratitude. For this was the late Kitamura, and she would grow to be their guardian. She sat awake that night, wrapped in her summer bedclothes of silk. The night was warm, and she did not need a blanket. She sat by her window looking out into the flawless night.
She was disturbed. Disturbed by the prophecy of late, the Kitamura's test, and this time, sed Kitamura would have to choose between passing this test and keeping their life. The girl shuddered suddenly at the thought. I don't understand. Why must the test be difficult this time? Her trainer's voice echoed in her mind, "You are not ready to receive the title of 'Shogun Kitamura', but if you continue to train you will be ready when the time comes." She still had time. The time was not now.
"Kitamura, Kitamura!" The pounding of a distressed fist on the temple door jarred her from her thoughts, and she stood up so quickly it dizzied her.
"Kitamura! Come quick! Oh, please help!"
The banging became more pronounced, yet the late Kitamura did not need to answer it. The shed her bedclothes, drew on a claret kimono, and seared through the halls to the armory.
The young girl was not the only one acting. Kitamura Sudori had also raced to the armory as soon as the call was raised; yet she had gotten there first. She was a middle-aged, yet strikingly beautiful woman with severe eyes and black hair; she too sported the crescent tattoo and tearlets, yet her tearlets were narrower and doubled. A frenzied man with small, watery eyes and a round, bald head burst in behind her.
"Shogun Kitamura" He knelt until his nose was flattened on the flagged floor beneath him, "It is as we feared."
"Tonight?" Sudori said, with a sharp hint of anxiety. I surge of panic ran through her, but she did not shudder. "I thought we had more time."
The man looked up at her, pale with fear in the dim candlelight.
Sudori smiled gently "No matter, Master Sukicho, You need not worry" The man bowed once more and left the room as Sudori reached for her heaviest armor. This is the night, she thought, this is my test. She heard a small squeaking noise from the door and turned. Her daughter stood, gasping for breath and eyeing Sudori's heavy armor. "It's serious then," The young one asked, eyeing her mothers' armor.
Though she was of the cognomen 'Kitamura' this was not the Kitamura that had been called for. The Kitamura they had been calling for was this girl's-
"Mother!" The girl called when Sudori did not reply, "Please don't tell me it's tonight! I thought we had more time."
Sudori's severe eyes unexpectedly broke with tears. She wiped them away immediately and continued to suit up.
"Miyoko, I'm sorry." Sudori replied and Miyoko, the younger Kitamura, also broke into angry tears as her mother reached for Tsukatani, the great spirit-sword. Tsukatani was not to be taken lightly. Sudori never used it unless absolutely necessary.
The armory was silent for a while the only sounds were of Miyoko's sniffling and Sudori's heavy armor rustling softly.
The test was for Sudori. Every Shogun Kitamura had a test, and if they did not pass it they were permanently condemned. If they passed it, they were canonized and praised throughout history. This was Sudori's time, the test Miyoko had worried about for months now. She was not ready to lose her mother. She knew she should not fear, Sudori was the strongest Shogun Kitamura every known to deity, stronger than Kitamura Tshigai himself. Yet anger and terror gripped her as she gazed into the armory. This was not a good night after all. The village outside was a torrent of screams. They too had heard of the oncoming fate of their precious good Kitamura. Sudori had never let them down, never once failed to protect them. She had, of her own accord, cut of her own left leg in order to free herself from a trap and destroy a demon that kidnapped a young child from the village. The village carpenter made her a new leg of wood, yet though the leg was good as new, the villagers would never forget her deed. She had cast away the man she loved to mother a child of a demon whom she hated because she knew that she must keep the Kitamura blood clean. She was the quintessence of a good Shogun Kitamura, and the villagers would not sleep again without her reign. They wept abaft the temple and fell to their knees, praying for Sudori's life. But they were not the only one's who would not see her go lightly.
Within the armory, the young Miyoko raced to the wall abreast her mother's and reached for her own heavy armor. "Oh no you don't, Kid. You're staying here." Sudori said sharply from across the room. Miyoko had been on many missions with her mother so far. She knew by her mother's actions which armor to don. She had not been told to remain at the temple for years now, and she did not intend to stay. "I wont let you die, Mommy!" Miyoko shot back. "I'm going to help you or die trying!" With that Miyoko donned her heaviest armor and reached for her sword. The armor was quite heavy, and Miyoko had never worn it before. She staggered over to her mother and fell in a heap at her feet. Sudori smiled "Miyoko, You have to stay here." She reached down and pulled, heavily clad daughter to her feet, and hugged her tightly. Miyoko looked furious with herself for toppling so easily. Why is this stupid crap so heavy? She thought crossly. "Miyoko," Sudori said softly, "It is my time. You have been blossoming into an able Shogun, and your ambling for your title." Sudori saw the unconvinced look on her daughter's face. She sighed and said, "What are you so worried about anyway? I'm coming back you know." Miyoko's determined features slackened. She had not thought of this. She had been so worried of the possibilities of her mother's death that she had not remembered her mother's status. She frowned slightly. "I don't believe you. You're trying to throw me off!" Miyoko growled Sudori scoffed "You doubt me? Tosh, child. Have I ever come back with so much as a flesh wound to worry about?" Sudori replied "No, but-" "So is there reason to fret?" "But the rumors-" "Are just that- rumors." "Mommie, I need to-" "No you don't. You need to stay here with Miraishi" Miyoko looked unconvinced. Sudori tousled her oldest daughter's hair and grinned. "I will be back, so I would suggest you do something about that plait." Sudori said ominously Miyoko blushed. Though Miyoko's mother had been quite the ornatrix, Miyoko herself had never been good at braiding hair. Her trainer, Master Sukicho, was the type who considered scruffiness a sin. Miyoko gazed up at her mother, but Sudori was preoccupied with the sky outside the village. I've wasted too much time. Sudori thought in a panic. "I have to go. Chin up, dearie. And I expect that plait to be neat when I get back." Sudori said. She was only about ten yards away from the temple before doubling back and calling for Miyoko "Miyoko?" "Feh?" "Promise me you wont follow me. For any reason" "Ah HA!" Miyoko yelped, "So you DO intend to be injured!" Sudori scoffed again "Honestly child, you amaze me." Sudori shook her head, "I don't want you following me in case YOU getting hurt!" Miyoko opened her mouth to argue, but Sudori cut her off, "Just swear it! Please 'Yoko!" Miyoko flinched as though the words would hurt. "Okay, okay, fine. I swear. I wont follow you." "Thanks dear. See you later." With that, Sudori took to the air and was soon out of sight.
The winter had finally ended, and the snow was gone, replaced with tiny florets of grass and young leaves. The night was warm and sweet with the early spring rain. The flowers, which had recently reopened their majestic faces, had turned down for the night while the world slept. Cicadas chirped and crickets sang a soft, humming harmony to replace the shrill calliope of the morning birds. The rains had cleared, as had the sky, and a waxing moon hung carelessly in place, tacked up by the cornucopia of stars. And under that moon lay a village, picture perfect with its little huts and softly trodden dirt roads snaking between the abodes. Along its perimeter lay woods, rich mosses, fields and soft grasses and at its center lay a large temple. It was the Kitamura temple, rising above the sleepy huts in slumbering splendor. It was large, like a Magistrate's palace, complete with living quarters for maidservants and royals alike. For this, unlike most temples, was the residence of its own relic.
Within this village, it's citizens slept. They were fully content with the fact that there was no safe place in this day and age than the village of the Kitamura temple. Yet in this sleepy village, one remained fully alert. She was a young girl, looking no older than the human age of twelve, with colossal golden eyes and a black plait trailing down her back. But this girl was far from human, and this was evident by the black tearlets down her cheeks and the crescent moon tattooed upon her forehead. It was obvious what she was; yet the villagers did not fear her. They fell at her feet in reverence as she passed, and not out of fear, but gratitude. For this was the late Kitamura, and she would grow to be their guardian. She sat awake that night, wrapped in her summer bedclothes of silk. The night was warm, and she did not need a blanket. She sat by her window looking out into the flawless night.
She was disturbed. Disturbed by the prophecy of late, the Kitamura's test, and this time, sed Kitamura would have to choose between passing this test and keeping their life. The girl shuddered suddenly at the thought. I don't understand. Why must the test be difficult this time? Her trainer's voice echoed in her mind, "You are not ready to receive the title of 'Shogun Kitamura', but if you continue to train you will be ready when the time comes." She still had time. The time was not now.
"Kitamura, Kitamura!" The pounding of a distressed fist on the temple door jarred her from her thoughts, and she stood up so quickly it dizzied her.
"Kitamura! Come quick! Oh, please help!"
The banging became more pronounced, yet the late Kitamura did not need to answer it. The shed her bedclothes, drew on a claret kimono, and seared through the halls to the armory.
The young girl was not the only one acting. Kitamura Sudori had also raced to the armory as soon as the call was raised; yet she had gotten there first. She was a middle-aged, yet strikingly beautiful woman with severe eyes and black hair; she too sported the crescent tattoo and tearlets, yet her tearlets were narrower and doubled. A frenzied man with small, watery eyes and a round, bald head burst in behind her.
"Shogun Kitamura" He knelt until his nose was flattened on the flagged floor beneath him, "It is as we feared."
"Tonight?" Sudori said, with a sharp hint of anxiety. I surge of panic ran through her, but she did not shudder. "I thought we had more time."
The man looked up at her, pale with fear in the dim candlelight.
Sudori smiled gently "No matter, Master Sukicho, You need not worry" The man bowed once more and left the room as Sudori reached for her heaviest armor. This is the night, she thought, this is my test. She heard a small squeaking noise from the door and turned. Her daughter stood, gasping for breath and eyeing Sudori's heavy armor. "It's serious then," The young one asked, eyeing her mothers' armor.
Though she was of the cognomen 'Kitamura' this was not the Kitamura that had been called for. The Kitamura they had been calling for was this girl's-
"Mother!" The girl called when Sudori did not reply, "Please don't tell me it's tonight! I thought we had more time."
Sudori's severe eyes unexpectedly broke with tears. She wiped them away immediately and continued to suit up.
"Miyoko, I'm sorry." Sudori replied and Miyoko, the younger Kitamura, also broke into angry tears as her mother reached for Tsukatani, the great spirit-sword. Tsukatani was not to be taken lightly. Sudori never used it unless absolutely necessary.
The armory was silent for a while the only sounds were of Miyoko's sniffling and Sudori's heavy armor rustling softly.
The test was for Sudori. Every Shogun Kitamura had a test, and if they did not pass it they were permanently condemned. If they passed it, they were canonized and praised throughout history. This was Sudori's time, the test Miyoko had worried about for months now. She was not ready to lose her mother. She knew she should not fear, Sudori was the strongest Shogun Kitamura every known to deity, stronger than Kitamura Tshigai himself. Yet anger and terror gripped her as she gazed into the armory. This was not a good night after all. The village outside was a torrent of screams. They too had heard of the oncoming fate of their precious good Kitamura. Sudori had never let them down, never once failed to protect them. She had, of her own accord, cut of her own left leg in order to free herself from a trap and destroy a demon that kidnapped a young child from the village. The village carpenter made her a new leg of wood, yet though the leg was good as new, the villagers would never forget her deed. She had cast away the man she loved to mother a child of a demon whom she hated because she knew that she must keep the Kitamura blood clean. She was the quintessence of a good Shogun Kitamura, and the villagers would not sleep again without her reign. They wept abaft the temple and fell to their knees, praying for Sudori's life. But they were not the only one's who would not see her go lightly.
Within the armory, the young Miyoko raced to the wall abreast her mother's and reached for her own heavy armor. "Oh no you don't, Kid. You're staying here." Sudori said sharply from across the room. Miyoko had been on many missions with her mother so far. She knew by her mother's actions which armor to don. She had not been told to remain at the temple for years now, and she did not intend to stay. "I wont let you die, Mommy!" Miyoko shot back. "I'm going to help you or die trying!" With that Miyoko donned her heaviest armor and reached for her sword. The armor was quite heavy, and Miyoko had never worn it before. She staggered over to her mother and fell in a heap at her feet. Sudori smiled "Miyoko, You have to stay here." She reached down and pulled, heavily clad daughter to her feet, and hugged her tightly. Miyoko looked furious with herself for toppling so easily. Why is this stupid crap so heavy? She thought crossly. "Miyoko," Sudori said softly, "It is my time. You have been blossoming into an able Shogun, and your ambling for your title." Sudori saw the unconvinced look on her daughter's face. She sighed and said, "What are you so worried about anyway? I'm coming back you know." Miyoko's determined features slackened. She had not thought of this. She had been so worried of the possibilities of her mother's death that she had not remembered her mother's status. She frowned slightly. "I don't believe you. You're trying to throw me off!" Miyoko growled Sudori scoffed "You doubt me? Tosh, child. Have I ever come back with so much as a flesh wound to worry about?" Sudori replied "No, but-" "So is there reason to fret?" "But the rumors-" "Are just that- rumors." "Mommie, I need to-" "No you don't. You need to stay here with Miraishi" Miyoko looked unconvinced. Sudori tousled her oldest daughter's hair and grinned. "I will be back, so I would suggest you do something about that plait." Sudori said ominously Miyoko blushed. Though Miyoko's mother had been quite the ornatrix, Miyoko herself had never been good at braiding hair. Her trainer, Master Sukicho, was the type who considered scruffiness a sin. Miyoko gazed up at her mother, but Sudori was preoccupied with the sky outside the village. I've wasted too much time. Sudori thought in a panic. "I have to go. Chin up, dearie. And I expect that plait to be neat when I get back." Sudori said. She was only about ten yards away from the temple before doubling back and calling for Miyoko "Miyoko?" "Feh?" "Promise me you wont follow me. For any reason" "Ah HA!" Miyoko yelped, "So you DO intend to be injured!" Sudori scoffed again "Honestly child, you amaze me." Sudori shook her head, "I don't want you following me in case YOU getting hurt!" Miyoko opened her mouth to argue, but Sudori cut her off, "Just swear it! Please 'Yoko!" Miyoko flinched as though the words would hurt. "Okay, okay, fine. I swear. I wont follow you." "Thanks dear. See you later." With that, Sudori took to the air and was soon out of sight.