Oh, god! I'm so, so sorry! I completely forgot that I hadn't put up the epilogue!
My life was over. At least, that's what I had initially thought. Now, as I stood here, off the beaten path of some old, well traveled road, staring up into the clear spring sky, listening to the occasional twittering of a bird, life seemed so perfectly clear, and beautiful.
I had been expelled from Mom's teachings. My plaque was removed, and I had to stand there, head bowed in shame as it was broken by those hands that had soothed me after countless nightmares. Hands that could be tender, and painful at the same time. My shame was only made worse as I remembered feeling the lump in my throat, and the tears that had stung in my eyes. The worst possible part was the knowing; the sheer, razor blade knowledge that I had shamed the Kamiya dojo.
That night I had lain in my room, luckily the tears had not been shed at all. Ashamed as I was, I would not cry out of self pity. Kenji, Dad, Mom…I had disgraced them all. I could feel the misty red heat of anger seeping from the walls of the dojo into my room. Yes, it seemed even the dojo now scorned my presence. I realized then that I had to do something, the feeling that I no longer belonged here was stifling me. There was nowhere for me to but away. Destination didn't matter, I just needed to get away.
"What?! Leaving?! For Osaka?"
Of course, my family was against this, Dad for the most part. He had looked at me with level eyes, all seriousness.
"Are you sure this is what you want? The world outside this dojo is vast, and more often cruel. Will you be able to handle it?"
I had sat there for some time, looking at each of them, gauging their reactions, looking into the faces that I loved. Mom was nervously waiting for my answer, Dad simply sat there with a face as readable as stone, and Kenji was watching me with very un-big brother like eyes.
"Yes. It is what's best."
Dad stood then, offering his hand to me. Unsure, but not wanting to do any more damage, I took it, he pulled me up, and pulled me into a tight hug.
"History repeats itself, but in this case, I hope the wheel of eternity will be turning a different way."
He took my face in his hands, and looked me square in the eyes. I could see the emotional storm that lurked beneath the clear violet waters.
"Promise me, that in the face of everything you will be strong. You will not forget where you came from, and you will not forget to whom you matter."
His face had come very close to mine.
"Promise me."
His eyes peered deep into my own, burning, my soul, and setting my mind afire.
"I promise, Father."
A few tears had been shed, and Mom took her hands in mine.
"Maybe someday, a lonely road, shrouded by mist will lead you to us, like it did with your father all those years ago."
After that, Mom and Dad had left Kenji an me alone for a private moment at the gate. His eyes met mine. On his face he wore a simple smile, but his eyes revealed a complex spider web of emotions. Gently, he punched my shoulder, it felt more like a tap.
"You know…you never did give me that practice match. We made a deal you know."
Smiling, my hands had laid themselves on my brother's shoulders.
"Tell you what. Here's your practice match, Think of it as more of a challenge: When you master Kamiya Kashin, come and find me. Then we will have our battle. Okay? But only after you master Kamiya Kashin, not before, do you understand me?"
"Yes. Although I hope you know, I'm going to come after you sooner than you think."
A blue sky arched over us as we had stood there together, wrapped intently in the moment, each of us, afraid to break the silence. I wanted to savor the sight of my brother. Sixteen, bright, youthful, strong, and above all radiant. That same boy who would some day be a strong man, wielding a blade with the same innocent values.
We had exchanged a final farewell, and I turned to leave. When I got halfway down the stone steps, leading away from my home, and to wherever I decided to roam, Kenji's voice had clanged sweetly against my eardrums.
"Hey, Sis!"
When I turned, he held my sheathed sword up high, like some flagless pole. But instead of baring surrender, it bared hope upon the nonexistent flag. It had sailed effortlessly through the air as he tossed it to me.
"You forgot something."
The reassuring weight of the weapon in my hand, as my fingers closed tightly over the hilt had brought a flood of images that were easily repressed. My brother had given me one last smile, before turning away to fade away into that gentle spring.
A breeze kicked up, ruffling my hair. The sun flashed brilliant patterns of gold onto my skin, the earth stood constant beneath my feet. My past lay at my back, the future stood before me, and the present, where I stood now, would decide for both.
Smiling, and putting my hand on the hilt of my sword, I walked forth, ready to meet anything.
Yes, yes shorter ending. Was that not epic? Well, anyways, review please.