The Opening Lotus

Chapter 3

"Okay, Harumi…are you ready?"

"Um…I think so…I don't really like-"

"Oh, come on…it's not like I'm going to hurt you."

"…Well, okay…"

Taki and Harumi faced off against one another on the training grounds of the Clan. They both were equipped with their wooden practice swords. Circling each other, Taki held a smirk on her lips. She always loved sparring with Harumi-chan, and this time was no different. Harumi was about the same strength as her, and was always challenging to compete against.

It was a sunny day, the cherry blossoms on the trees beginning to make their wind-swept decent to the earth, where they would nourish the tree that they came from; going down to the roots and providing it with valuable minerals that it needed to survive the harsh winter that was going to come. Taki waited for it….waited for the wind to be just right…then….

"Yaahh!!" She yelled, as she ran towards Harumi, spinning around at the last second, aiming for her friend's head.

Ducking Taki's blow, she turned wide, aiming a strike at her stomach, feeling the wood hit against the other's exposed gut.

"Ugh…you got me, Haru-chan…" Taki winced as she felt her bruised stomach. That was what she always kept open for some reason….her stomach. She needed to remember that when she was in another battle…for she hungered to be in one…she just knew that when the time came, she needed to be ready. She had a tendency to let war-lust to explode within her when she was in a real fight… It wasn't good…but it had kept her alive this long…

"You alright?"

"Yeah…I just need to remember to guard next time." She smiled, and sat upon the grass, breathing in the cherry-tree's fragrance, as her friend came and sat beside her.

"Yeah…I'm beating you more and more frequently now… " Harumi said, looking out over the mountains. "I'm beginning to think that maybe I've passed you up, Taki." She grinned, playfully nudging her in the shoulder.

Chuckling, she nudged back. "Oh shut up…I'll pass you again, just you wait…"

Smirking, Harumi stretched, then got back up. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Haru-chan…I'm fine. Why?"

"Wanna go again?"

Grinning, Taki stood up too, grabbing her sword. "Sure…bring it on!"

"If you don't slow down, you might end up killing yourself…"

Stopping, they both turned, and looked at the figure approaching them. It was the figure of a woman with a kind face, and a graceful stride. She was wearing a long kimono, and carried a few shurikens on her side. Her hair was put back into a ponytail, gracefully falling to about the mid of her back in slight curls.

Bowing, they both smiled, though they were sheened with sweat. They had been working out hard, but also knew that maybe they did need a rest. Ms. Mischief usually knew what she was talking about…even if she didn't speak very much to them all.

"Yes, Ma'am…we were just sparring…would you like to join?" Taki asked, almost dying because about then she realized that Lady Mischief was Daimyo…when she was just a Samurai…

Mischief tilted her head to the side curiously. "Are you sure you wish to spar with me…I have more experience in battles and things than you…you might lose, or get hurt."

"I think I can handle it, Ms. Mischief."

Unhooking her shurikens from her belt, she nodded. "If you're sure…"

"Ugh…why didn't you talk me out of this, Harumi?"

"You wanted to. I could see it in your eyes."

Taki sighed, as she nursed the cut so near her eye, down her right cheek. It was really deep, and bleeding. It was a wonder that her eye hadn't been taken out. Mischief had stopped once she saw what she had done…and had apologized. It was Taki's own fault, though…she shouldn't have accepted the fight so readily.

It's kind of funny that I get a scar from fighting my own people…. She thought ruefully, as she looked out of the window of the clinic.

"I don't care what you do. Just help her! We were attacked by ninjas!"

Looking out, she saw a tall man carrying a woman in his arms. The woman was strikingly beautiful…but it didn't seem like either of them were past 20 years of age. The man was slightly built, and carried a crude looking sword at his side, his short sandy-blond hair waving in the gentle wind outside. He looked exhausted.

Handing the woman to the caretakers at the Clinic, he sat down on the step next to Taki looking forlorn, his clothes a mess…covered in the woman's blood, no doubt.

He took a look at her and Harumi. "Hi." He said glumly.

"Hello…my name is Taki…what's yours?"

"Wind… just call me Wind…"

TBC