Life had gotten better for Kirina, now that she knew who her father was. She resumed her training with renewed enthusiasm, her mother's promise to her which kept her going.
The one day, something happened that changed Kirina's life.
One day, Kirina, her mother and her aunts Satsuki and Juni were at the beach, the three older women training the teen. Kirina was sparring with her mother as Satsuki and Juni watched.
Since she was young, Kirina was trained in the style of Shadowlaw Commando by her aunts and her mother. Kirina was also a junior martial arts champion in the local circuit. Right now, she was giving her all against her mother.
Kirina barely managed to avoid Juli's trademark Sniping Arrow and counterattacked with a flurry of punches and kicks. Kirina was good, but she completely paled in comparison with her mother and aunts. Kirina was dressed in a black tanktop and track pants while her mother was dressed in a dark blue version of what Kirina was wearing. Her hair was done in her trademark bun with bangs.
When Kirina threw a punch at her mother's head, Juli caught the wrist into a bonebreaker move, forcing her daughter to accept the throw that followed. However, Kirina used her other hand to prop herself from falling and instead flipped out of the throw and threw her mother instead. Juli landed on her back, but was able to sweep Kirina's feet from under her.
The younger woman fell on her butt and rolled back, avoiding the axe kick that was aimed at her head. Getting to her feet, Kirina decided to try out her new move on her mother. She broke into a run and performed a front cartwheel, catching her mother off guard. As Juli staggered back from the two hits, Kirina leapt into the air, her body tucked into a ball as she somersaulted towards her mother. Grabbing her by the shoulders, Kirina tossed her mother several feet across the beach.
Juli managed to flip out of the throw and landed on her feet. "That move...it's a variant of Juni's Hooligan Combo."
Kirina nodded. "I thought that the original move Aunt Juni taught me was kinda boring--"
"Hey!" Juni objected.
"--so I modified it," Kirina finished, beaming proudly.
Juli nodded. "Improvisation. That's impressive."
Even Juni had to admit that Kirina modifying the Hooligan was creative. 'At least MY kids won't modify the technique,' she thought.
Kirina faced her mother. "We're not done yet," she said, going back into her stance.
"That's the spirit," Juli said, going back into her stance. "You're a whole lot like your father. You persevere--" Juli's body shook as she began to cough violently. She staggered down to one knee as she began to cough up blood, one hand on her chest.
Kirina, Satsuki and Juni all rushed over to her. "Mom, are you okay?" Kirina asked, scared. "Mom!"
Blood running down the corner of her mouth, Juli pushed her daughter away. "Kirina, get back." She turned to Juni. "Get me to a hospital. Now." She then turned to Kirina, ordering her to stay with Satsuki until she returned form the hospital, despite Kirina's objections as Juli was helped off.
-Later...-
Inside the apartment, Kirina was in her room while Satsuki was in the living room, polishing her sword with a soft red cloth. As she coated the blade with a small coat of oil, the phone rang. The Japanese kendoist reached over to the coffee table and picked up the cordless phone. Flipping the switch on, she spoke into the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Satsuki? It's Juni."
"How's Juli doing?" Satsuki asked.
Satsuki's expression dropped as Juni told her what she didn't want to hear. Now she had to break the news to her niece.
In Kirina's room, Kirina was on her bed, hugging her knees. Satsuki entered the room with a grave look on her face. The Japanese woman sat down on the edge of the bed. Kirina noticed the look on her aunt's face. "Aunt Satsuki, what is it?" she asked.
"I just got off the phone with Juni," Satsuki replied. "It's about your mother."
"What about her? Is she going to be alright?"
Satsuki shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kirina, but your mother...she has leukemia."
After the news, Kirina slowly stood up and walked out of the room. She found herself on the roof of the apartment, looking out over the city. She may have been twelve, but she knew what leukemia was.
'The doctor most have it wrong,' she thought. 'Mom does not have cancer. She'll make it through this. She have to!'
Her line of thought was interrupted when she felt a gentle hand touch her shoulder. Upon turning around, Kirina was looking into the sad face of her mother.
"Mom..." Kirina said before embracing her, holding her tight.
Juli hugged her back, not saying a word.
"How long...?" Kirina asked. "How long have you--"
"A couple of weeks," Juli replied. "I didn't want to worry you, or your aunts."
"Can the doctors--"
Again Juli cut her off. "No. It's a rare form of leukemia, 'Rina. I'm..." She sighed. "I'm dying, Kirina."
Kirina looked at her mother. "What?"
Juli gently smoothed out Kirina's hair. "The doctors said that I have a month, two at the most."
Kirina wasn't listening. She was sobbing quietly, completely crushed with the news that her mother was going to die. Juli just stood there, holding her daughter, wondering what will happen to her when she passes on. Then an image of Ryu flashed in her mind. 'Of course,' Juli thought. 'I promised her that I was going to let her meet her father.' She looked down at her daughter. 'Kirina, I will send you to your father.'