Content warning: References to assault. It's minor but I wanna be on the safe side.

Asuka took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cold morning air. A soft breeze ruffled her long hair and shivers passed through her body. She looked up to the sky to see the early morning sun, its gentle light peeking out from amidst the clouds.

She usually hated having to wake up so early. Though she loved training her skills, sleep always felt more appealing whenever they tried to get her up bright and early to do so.

Today was different, however, as she stood before the Main Hall, awaiting the clan elders' summons. She hadn't caught a wink of sleep prior.

Instead of waiting near the doors, she chose to stand a bit further away to appreciate the plants and greenery around the building. The cherry blossom trees weren't in bloom, as it was the beginning of autumn, but the shrubs and flowers around them were still healthy and well.

She wondered how the plants outside the Estate would be in comparison. Would they be wild and unkempt, or would they be struggling to make it through the day with no one to care for them?

The sound of the massive, ancient doors creaking open interrupted Asuka's thoughts and she turned around.

Out walked the old priest Juon, who had not aged gracefully as the years went on. At the sight of her, his ever-present frown turned into a pronounced scowl. It was how he had greeted her ever since the bakezōri incident.

And, as was her standard greeting since then, she gave him a toothy smile and called out with a wave "Good morning, priest!"

"Here on time… what a rarity," priest Juon remarked, the venom in his tone thinly veiled.

"I'm eager to finish this up," Asuka said in reply, stretching her arms nonchalantly. Priest Juon let out a long sigh and muttered "It astounds me how you have remained so impudent after all these years."

Asuka ignored his words. If he wanted her respect, he shouldn't have been a miserable old bat to her.

His loss, really.

"Come now," he declared with a shake of his head, beckoning her forward with his wrinkled hand. "… the elders wish to speak to you."

Asuka walked past him to the Main Hall, ignoring the scoff he let out behind her back.

Memories from her childhood returned to her when she stepped into the dark room. Much like the last time she was here, the only light in the room was from the scattered candles lining it. The four clan elders sat at the end of the room. Even though they were half bathed in darkness, she was certain they looked the exact opposite of pleased.

But she wasn't intimidated at all. Maybe because she wasn't half their size anymore.

Still, she made a point to keep up the respect expected of her, greeting them with a "Good morning," and offering a deep bow. Their expressions remained severe, and none of them offered her a greeting in return.

Well, it was worth a shot…

"Kazama Asuka-kun, are you aware of why we summoned you here?" the feminine voice asked. Asuka straightened her posture.

"Probably 'cause I want to leave this place, right?"

"That you wish to leave behind your family and legacy, yes…" the old, wizened voice said. Following this, the clan elders all shook their heads once in unison. She found herself wondering, did they practice that when no one was looking? Or had they just become a collective hive mind in their old age?

What, did they still think she didn't know what she was getting into? Like they hadn't already drilled into her how leaving the Estate is foolish and suicidal since the day she had voiced her desire to do so?

"Respectfully, ojii-sama, I know what will happen if I leave," she reaffirmed once again.

"If you truly understood, you would not still insist on leaving the Estate!" yelled the one with the hoarse voice, sounding like he'd burst into a coughing fit at any second. Asuka resisted the urge to flinch.

So they were taking a leaf from priest Juon's book by yelling at her now? That was new...

Unfortunately, the other two who had spoken so far took that as a prompt to do the same.

"Do you take it as a leisurely stroll in the gentle wilderness?! It is a dangerous world outside of these walls, child! You may be gifted in wielding the Sacred Light, but yōkai are devious and cunning! They can outsmart or overwhelm you before you even have the chance to utter the name of Kami-sama Amaterasu!"

"If not the yōkai, then the rabid animals prowling along in the dark will show you no mercy!"

"And if you somehow manage to survive those threats, any human who will discover your true nature will stop at nothing to have that power for themselves! The outsiders have done much over the centuries to acquire what our children have naturally! In their ignorance, they have harmed and exploited us Kazama in every way imaginable!"

Their shouting would echo around the mostly empty room, which made it even more harsh on the ears. Asuka couldn't help but grimace.

"Respectfully, my elders-" she tried to rebut through gritted teeth. But they weren't done yet.

"Many of your clansmen have been slaughtered by those beyond our walls! Their bodies were even found to have been cannibalised by those foolish enough to think it would grant them the Sacred Light!"

"Some of them have captured us as slaves! To be kept in cages and only let out to service their captors! And they have been especially inhuman to our women and children!"

"They have no honour in them! They would defile you and pay no heed to your cries! That is all that awaits you outside of these walls, and yet you still wish to risk your life?!"

She bristled, her hands closing into tight fists.

"You have always been an impertinent child, and yet we still prayed to the Kami-sama that you would grow up and accept your role-"

The last of her patience crumbled to dust. "Say whatever you want to try to scare me, I'll take my chances in the outside world! I will NEVER want to stay here!"

"Do you think we are concerned about what you want?!" the hoarse voice retorted, slamming his hands on his folded knees. "You have a duty, an obligation, to your clan! To Kami-sama Amaterasu!"

"I only have an obligation to myself, old man!" she shrieked. The gasps of three of the clan elders reverberated around the room, but she didn't stop there. "You tried to convince me otherwise, but I know what my destiny is, and it's NOT to shrivel up and die within these walls like you all will!"

She punctuated this by pointing at them. "If I have to fight every single clansman to leave and see the world, then I will! Throw whatever you want at me, the winds will carry me to where I'm meant to be!"

"Of all the insolent-"

"Silence!" ordered the deep voice of the last elder. Everyone in the room fell silent at his words, including Asuka.

She hadn't failed to notice that he'd been silent through this whole argument. She lowered her arm, regarding him with suspicion.

"Is that your final answer, child?" he asked her, calmly. Her eyebrows disappeared behind her headband. That was all he wanted to ask her, especially after the disrespect she showed them?

Still, she firmly nodded. The silence that followed made her wish she could see in the dark.

"I see…" he said, the two words heavy with solemnity. He shook his head once, before he spoke in a louder voice. "Then, Kazama Asuka, consider yourself an exile. As we are ever merciful, you have until the next sunrise to get your affairs in order. Prepare yourself, say your farewells, do what must be done. For once Kami-sama Amaterasu graces the Earth with her radiance, come sunrise, you may never return to this place."

Asuka nodded again, posture straight and proud. "Understood, ojii-sama."

"Then, our business is concluded. Leave us now, child."

She didn't need to be told twice. She promptly turned on her heel, not even bothering with a respectful bow this time, and marched away.

She stepped into the morning light, warmer than the room she exited, and refused to relax until she was well out of eyeshot. As she walked away, she passed by Priest Juon. She expected him to be smug or happy, but at the sight of her, he lowered his head and muttered a prayer under his breath.

If she wasn't in a hurry to find a private spot to process all this, she might have been concerned about that. Alas, she had little time to get a lot in order. She let out a sigh, and her shoulders were finally allowed to relax.

First things first, she needed to see Akemi.

The Sawatari family were one of the few people who were allowed to live in the Kazama Estate despite not being part of Kazama Junho's bloodline. They were blacksmiths, forging all manner of weapons, armour and implements for the clan. One of their ancestors had taken an oath of secrecy lifetimes ago to work for the Kazama Clan, and they had stuck around ever since, bound by the same rules.

It was to their family home and forge that Asuka immediately headed. As she approached, she felt the heat of the flames before she saw them, carried by the wind.

The first thing she saw was Mr. Sawatari, the head blacksmith, standing over an anvil as he hammered away at a red-hot strip of metal. A moment later she noticed a woman, her long auburn hair done up in a loose bun, standing on the other side of the anvil with her back facing Asuka. Mr. Sawatari took a moment to wipe his sweaty brow with the back of his glove and that was when he noticed the young Kazama.

"Good morning, Asuka-kun!" Mr. Sawatari called out to her over the loud sizzling. Asuka bowed respectfully before she returned the greeting. "Good morning, Oyāji!"

"What a surprise to see you here so early!" he said. The woman standing before him turned around, allowing Asuka to recognise her.

Kazama Junsa, a miko who Asuka had known since the Channelling Ceremony. They had trained together often in group classes, though their powers were where their similarities ended. Junsa's expression quickly soured when she met Asuka's eyes.

"Oh, it is you…" she said through a frown. "What a surprise indeed, I imagined you would be snoring away in a hollow tree trunk at this hour."

Asuka gave her an unimpressed look. "Sorry to disappoint, Junsa."

"Oh please," she retorted, letting out a short, condescending laugh. "You make disappointing people a daily spectacle."

Asuka had her mouth open and a finger pointed, ready to fire back with an insult, but then remembered where she was when she caught Mr. Sawatari's eye. He shook his head, and she lowered her hand. Her personal grievances with Junsa aside, this wasn't the place for it.

"I will head off now, Sawatari-san," Junsa announced, offering Mr. Sawatari a radiant smile. "I cannot wait to see how my tantō turns out under your expertise. Thank you so much again for taking on my special requests. Have a nice day."

"Same to you, Junsa-kun," he replied politely as Junsa turned around to walk away. Asuka folded her arms and glared at Junsa as she approached.

Junsa only smiled, her slim eyes narrowing, and said under her breath "If what I heard is true, the elders will be doing me a great honour by casting you out."

Asuka kept her surprise to herself, instead quietly replying "Want me gone so you have no competition, do you?"

The look in Junsa's eyes became venomous but her smile remained firm. "You should not even be at the same level as me. I have worked tirelessly for my abilities. You were blessed with a large capacity and you do nothing with it. You do not deserve any of the gifts bestowed on you."

"This all just sounds like jealousy to me, Junsa."

Asuka smirked when Junsa's eyebrow twitched. "It is not jealousy, it is envy, though I figured a sloth such as yourself would hardly know the difference-"

"Nice, nice, great conversation," Asuka spoke over her, shoving her towards the road with her shoulder. Junsa yelped before hissing "Good riddance!" as she finally left. Asuka rolled her eyes and approached Mr. Sawatari.

"I appreciate you not starting a fight in my forge, Asuka-kun. The heat from the flames is enough," he said with a smile, the first genuine one she'd received that day. Asuka rubbed her head in mild embarrassment.

"Apologies, Oyāji," Asuka said with a bow. "I didn't mean to interrupt your work."

"I know you are a good kid, Asuka-kun," he said as he resumed hammering. "If you are looking for Akemi, she is in the store taking stock."

Asuka gave him a polite nod and a "Thank you!" before she made her way over to the back.

Sure enough, Sawatari Akemi was in the storage. She was, however, too engrossed in her work to notice Asuka walking in. She had a slightly singed piece of parchment in her hands and seemed to alternate between reading the script on it and looking over the bunch of metalworks that resided in the room.

Akemi was the eldest child of the Sawatari family, and had been raised to take over the family business since she could hold a hammer. She was a dutiful daughter, more so than Asuka ever was, and their families had always hoped that Akemi's good qualities would rub off on her unruly friend.

Well, Akemi and Asuka maintained a strong friendship ever since the Channelling Ceremony, but it was safe to say their families wouldn't get what they wanted out of it.

This was a familiar sight to Asuka. Her long black hair was tied up tightly so it wouldn't get in the way of her focused eyes as she, no doubt, made sure everything was up to par. Asuka clapped her hands together.

"A–ke–mi!" Asuka sang to get her attention. Akemi didn't flinch at all. Instead, her mouth curled into a knowing smile and she finally looked away from the parchment to meet Asuka's eyes.

"A–su–ka," she sang in kind. "Is Junsa gone?"

"Yeah, she is. Left after doing her usual antics," Asuka informed her. Akemi sighed in relief.

"Good. I cannot stand seeing her in my home, even if she is paying father. I am surprised to see you here this early, though."

"You're only the tenth person to have mentioned that," Asuka said with a huff. "It's officially my last day as a caged bird. I had to get an early start!"

Akemi raised an eyebrow. "Official? So the Clan Elders are letting you leave?"

Asuka shrugged. "It was less 'letting me leave' and more 'they want me gone by sunrise'."

Her smile disappeared.

"They exiled you?" she said, her tone conveying her disbelief. Her reaction made Asuka's stomach churn from apprehension.

"Yes, that's definitely the word they used…" Asuka said, trying her best to keep her tone nonchalant, though she rubbed her arm with her hand unconsciously. When Akemi's frown became more pronounced, the miko continued "They said that I had until tomorrow morning to 'get my affairs in order'."

She used her 'old man voice' when she repeated the clan elders' words. It would usually get a smile out of Akemi, if not a light chuckle.

It did neither this time. Asuka softened her gaze.

"Akemi…"

Her friend turned away from her, shoulders heaving as she let out a huge sigh. The sight made Asuka worry for her.

"It… isn't the best situation," she admitted, her hand now rubbing the back of her head instead. "I wish it didn't have to be all or nothing…"

"Maybe," Akemi said as she suddenly turned round, long hair flying in an arc. "Maybe we can go together and beg for their forgiveness."

Asuka grimaced at the suggestion. "I don't think that will help Akemi."

The blacksmith knew almost as well as Asuka did how stubborn the elders were when it came to clan rules. They had spent years trying to stifle Asuka's wants and desires, and it hadn't worked.

And Asuka would sooner eat a katana then apologise to them for being 'disobedient'.

"I think you know it won't…"

Akemi's sad eyes confirmed that Asuka's statement was true. "…But Asuka-chan-"

Asuka pulled Akemi in and hugged her. Akemi dropped the parchment in her hand to readily return the embrace, squeezing her friend tightly.

"I do not want you to leave," Akemi whispered into Asuka's shoulder.

"I know," Asuka replied, rubbing Akemi's back. "I always knew."

"And yet you kept pushing to leave, all the same. What am I to think of that? Are we not enough for you?"

Asuka shook her head. "That's not it. It's this place that isn't enough for me."

It did hurt that Akemi felt that way. Asuka loved her friend as much as she loved her parents. Making the decision to leave was going to hurt them and herself, no doubt. But at the same time, the call of the winds was irresistible. She felt it deep in her bones, it was her calling to leave the Kazama Estate.

She stepped back, hands on Akemi's shoulders, and looked her sad friend in the eyes. "You are priceless to me, but I can't stand the idea of living and dying within these walls without ever knowing what lies beyond them."

Akemi sniffed. "And you would rather risk dying outside of them? Away from us, the ones who love you?"

Asuka ignored the way her heart raced for a moment at the thought. "There's no way I'd die, Akemi-chan. Not when I've got the Sacred Light on my side. And equipment from the best blacksmith I know."

Akemi finally managed to crack a smile then, which raised Asuka's spirits. Her friend remarked "That is not a great compliment when my father is the only other blacksmith you know."

Asuka grinned. "And yet I still said you're the best, so what does that say?"

"That you are a bad liar."

The two of them laughed together for a moment, a brief distraction from the terrible news. Akemi followed this with a sigh, rubbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono.

"Well, if this is how it is, I suppose I must give you your gifts now."

Akemi stepped away from her friend, walking to a series of racks at the back of the room that held weapons of all shapes and sizes. She carefully removed one naginata from the stockpile.

"The first gift," she said, stepping forward and offering the weapon to Asuka. She took it with little hesitation, testing it with a few languid movements.

It felt incredibly natural to her, like it was just an extension of her arms rather than a separate entity. Growing more confident, she swung it with more force, slicing through the air with practiced discipline.

"Amazing…" she said when she finished. She lowered the blade and turned to Akemi to give her a wide smile. "And you think it's flattery when I call you the best! Sawatari-san never made me a weapon this perfect!"

Akemi shook her head, a small smile on her face. "It is only because I know you so well."

"You're too humble."

"And you are overconfident."

And that was how they balanced each other out. A truth that was left unsaid.

Akemi then grabbed Asuka by the wrist and pulled her to the armoury. "And here is the second gift."

She was guided to a stand that held pieces of wearable armour.

"I designed it so that it would complement your traditional miko garb," Akemi explained, gesturing to the different parts. "… and so that if you had to resort to Kazama Style martial arts, it would not hinder you. It definitely is not suitable for a battlefield, but it should be good enough for anything less than that."

Asuka tapped at the chest plate and nodded. "I'll trust your word, Akemi. You would know better than me."

That statement made Akemi pause. Asuka looked her way, and she sighed. "Would it not have been nice if you felt that way beyond weapons and armour?"

Akemi turned away from Asuka. "All those times I insisted it would be better to stay, it would have been nice if you trusted my word then."

This will hurt for a while, Asuka thought as she bit her lip. She wished for a brief moment that things could have been different.

Instead of voicing this, she hugged Akemi from behind.

"You will see me again," Asuka vowed. "Friendships such as ours don't end over time or distance."

Akemi began to shake in her embrace and a few quiet sobs escaped her. "You damned fool…"

"It's okay if you don't believe me," Asuka said. "I won't die outside of the Estate. I refuse to let anything get the better of me."

Akemi placed both of her hands over Asuka's arms, squeezing them in return. "I wish I could say I cannot believe you, but you have been stubborn enough to survive Priest Juon."

Asuka let out a hideous laugh at that. Akemi gently pried Asuka's arms off her and turned around to face her friend.

"Okay, I need to see if this armour actually fits you. I cannot have it be a loose fit when you leave."

Asuka finally approached the gate of her home after a long day of preparation.

Armour fitting and weapon testing took up a good chunk of her morning, as did the time she spent with Akemi and her family. Alas, she had to be quick on her feet afterwards to sort out other affairs. Proper supplies for the journey ahead were a must, and by the time she had everything, the sun was just a sliver on the horizon.

Walking into the garden, with a heavy satchel full of gear and supplies and a naginata on her back, she took notice of how quiet it was. It wasn't entirely unusual, it was frowned upon to create noise in the Estate after sunset. One of the many rules that often brought her into conflict with her elders in her childhood.

And yet… something about the silence felt off. Even as she got closer, she couldn't hear either of her parents speaking. Asuka's shoulders drooped.

"I'm home!" she called out as she reached the porch, slipping her sandals off before stepping onto it. Before she could open the door, however, it slid to the side and her father appeared in the doorway.

"Welcome home, Asuka," he greeted with a small, slightly wrinkled smile. She had a suspicion that, rather than just rushing to the door, he'd been waiting near it for a while now. Asuka just smiled back after she put down her satchel and weapon.

"I want to ask what the elders said," he said, after Asuka gave him a kiss on the cheek. Much like she had with everyone else earlier in the day, Asuka tried to deliver the news nonchalantly.

"They said I'm exiled from the Estate. That I must be ready to leave by sunrise."

The change in her father's expression was subtle. It wasn't a grand reaction, instead more of a slow realisation passing over his features. He closed his eyes, furrowing his brows, and sighed. "I see…"

There was a sadness in his voice when he said that, but there was also something else too.

"You're angry?" she asked tentatively.

"I am many things, Asuka," was his initial response, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. He looked at her with glistening eyes. "I am sad. I am angry, but most of all… I am disappointed."

She winced. Him being disappointed was the worst.

"Oyāji- otōsan," she corrected herself, before proceeding. "I tried to be respectful but they said terrible things to me."

He shook his head. "We have been warning you since you were a child of the consequences you could face for disobeying the rules of our clan. Surely, you are not surprised by their decree, after all you pushed against them?"

"I could never have fit into the mould they set up! They want a servant! Someone to obey their demands until either they perish, or I do!"

"That may be true, but at least you would be safe and well taken care of," her father said, bringing his hands together. "I wish sometimes you would just do as you were told."

She stepped away, her father's words taking her aback. She frowned as she said "I thought you'd be on my side otōsan, not on the side of those corpses!"

She thought he would start yelling then. As far back as her memory went, he only ever raised his voice when Asuka would start being outright rude. She expected he would do so now.

Instead, he scrunched up his face before hiding it behind one hand. "Asuka-"

"Do you think so little of us, Asuka?!"

Asuka looked over her father's shoulder as he flinched from the statement. It was her mother who said that, standing in the hallway with her hands balled into fists as anger rolled off her in waves.

"Do you think we do not know our own daughter?!" she yelled. "Do you think we took joy out of forbidding you so much?!"

Her father turned around and said to his wife in a soft voice "Kaede, we are all upset-"

"She needs to hear this, Junichiro!" Asuka's mother interjected, immediately silencing her husband. It was times like this, despite how little they occurred, that Asuka was reminded who she got her hot-headedness from.

"We have been on your side since the moment you came into this world, Asuka!" her mother continued, stepping towards her daughter. "Your father and I only ever wanted you to live a happy life! But you are just like your Auntie Jun, wanting more than the Estate could ever offer to you, and the elders care not for those who cannot abide by their rules! They would sooner cast you out than accommodate you! Jun-san proved that they do not even care for your power or potential!"

Her mother stopped just a few steps away from her father. Her eyes began to shine with unshed tears but she didn't relent in her shouting.

"We have not heard from your Auntie in years! Years, Asuka! She was just sent out into the unknown with no help or support! Only the Kami-sama know if she is well, if she is even alive! We did not want the same fate for you!"

Asuka's bravado from before trickled down her spine, onto the floor.

"We love you more than we could ever describe, foolish girl!" her mother exclaimed, tears trailing down her face. "We know you better than anyone! Your father and I knew you could never be happy within these walls, but we did not want you cast out like Jun-san was! For us to never know if you were alive and well, for us to never be able to see you again, that is what we wanted to avoid!"

Her father pulled her mother into a tight hug, and she subsequently began to cry. Asuka, after a moment's hesitation, bounded across the hallway to embrace them both. Her father wrapped an arm around each of his beloved women and the three of them stood there in a group hug.

Asuka kept whispering apologies and affirmations of love to them both, while her mother continued to sob quietly and her father just held onto them both for dear life. The house was bathed in darkness by the time the three of them broke apart.

"I'm sorry, mother," Asuka whispered, face downcast. "I never wanted to have to choose between my loved ones and my wants."

Her mother let out a sniffle and Asuka reached for her hand. "I love you both so much as well. Please, don't think otherwise. It's just… the winds…"

"They call to you," her father said, finishing Asuka's sentence. When Asuka looked up at him in surprise, he continued "We are your parents, we know you. And… Jun said something similar when she decided to leave."

"In her case, it was the cries of the downtrodden…" her mother said in a hoarse voice. "Or something to that effect. It has been so long, her words bleed together in my memory."

"You will see me again," Asuka proclaimed, trying her best to reassure them. "They can kick me out, but I'll survive! I'll thrive! And I will come back for you, show you that I won't be a memory like Auntie Jun! I promise!"

Her mother sniffed again, her face not giving away how she felt about her daughter's declaration. Regardless, she pulled Asuka into another hug.

"The fact of the matter, Kaede, is that Asuka's exile has been decreed," her father said in a dispassionate voice. "We cannot do anything to stop it."

Both women looked at him, and that was when he smiled. "But, if nothing else, we can help her prepare for what might await her."

Asuka followed her parents to their private dōjō, a small, separate building behind their house. It was a place where her father taught her Kazama-ryū martial arts and her mother taught her the naginata.

At the time, she was led to believe it was complementary with her Sacred Light training, and that every Kazama had to learn them if they were to become a kannushi or miko. But after the conversation she had with her parents, and as she stepped into the dōjō, she was starting to think it had all been in preparation for her leaving the Estate.

Her parents retrieved two wooden cases from the closet, one long and rectangular and the other much smaller and square in shape.

"You should take these with you, Asuka," her father said, sitting down on his knees and laying the long case on the floor before him. Asuka sat down in front of her father.

As he moved to open the case, he continued to speak. "This is a family heirloom, but do not think it fragile. It has been kept in pristine condition in the event it would be needed again."

He pulled the case open, revealing within it a longbow and a quiver full of arrows. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the handle had the Kazama Clan's crest etched into the wood, just below the grip.

"We refer to it as the sacred bow," her father informed her. "I was told by my father that it was used to defend the Estate in the early years of its creation, against humans and yōkai alike. It seems only right that you take it with you."

Asuka carefully picked it up to admire it further. She'd taken lessons in archery as well, as had some of the other miko, but it had been with average bows. The sacred bow was definitely one of the finest weapons she had ever been allowed to touch. She made a mental note to practice with it before sunrise before returning it to the case.

Her mother sat down on the floor beside her husband, offering the case in her hands to Asuka. "Take this as well."

She did just that, taking the box from her mother and setting it on her lap. She wondered briefly what sort of weapon this one housed. It was too small to be any she knew of.

She opened the box, and was surprised to see it had no weapons in it. Instead, it housed a circular bronze medallion. Upon it was the Kazama Clan crest, similar to the sacred bow.

"Our kamon," Asuka stated, picking it up.

"Yes," her mother confirmed. "We want you to take it with you, and hold onto it."

Asuka looked at her mother in confusion. She elaborated "I know you may not think highly of the clan right now, but you are still part of it. No matter what anyone says, you are a Kazama. Keep the kamon close to you, and try to remember all the good that comes with being a Kazama."

"A ray of light in the dark," her father added. "An oasis in the desert. Divinity in mortal shape."

Asuka frowned, her eyes returning to the kamon. She turned it this way and that in her hands, watching the moonlight dance and disappear along its surface.

"That doesn't sound like me."

How could it? When all she'd heard since childhood from those outside of her home was that she was the opposite.

"Perhaps you do not see it now," her father said. "But you do embody the Kazama in your own way."

A hand touched Asuka's chin, urging her to look up. She did just that, meeting eyes with her mother.

"A free spirit," she said. "Someone who thinks outside of the box. Favoured by nature, and by the winds."

"Kazama Junho did not become who she was by staying within her home. She looked beyond what she could see. Sought more than what was thought possible."

Asuka turned to her father. "Well, when you word it that way… I guess I can see it now."

Her parents smiled at her.

"The people of this clan have let you down, but to be a Kazama is what you make of it, Asuka. Not them. So take this kamon, and remember that you still embody the best of what we are, and what we can be."

"And, most importantly," her mother added, reaching for her husband and daughter's hands. "Remember that the clan includes those who love you. Your home is still here, no matter what."

Her parents pulled her into another hug, and she let them. Her mind was heavy with many thoughts, that she somehow had to come to terms with within a short amount of time.

She had little more to say to her parents after they presented her with the sacred bow and kamon, opting to spend the next few hours practicing the naginata and archery. As she did, her mind thought of all that had occurred that day.

She wondered briefly if she was making a mistake, if adventure was worth leaving behind all that she knew.

She looked to the horizon, staring at the endless wilderness beyond the walls. She had always wanted to know what waited outside the Estate, and she still felt its pull in her heart.

A gust of wind passed through her garden at that moment, strong enough that her long brunette hair began to flow in the air, rising and falling as if mirroring the breath of the Earth.

Favoured by the winds…

She definitely felt their favour, ever since the Channelling Ceremony. It felt like they wished to tug her with them, off to some new frontiers, every time. When she wasn't weighed down by guilt and hesitation, the prospect of leaving with the winds filled her with pure, unbridled excitement.

And yet, she also wished she had the prospect of returning home too. It was all so unfair…

Asuka would eventually trudge her way back to her room when her energy dwindled, but the idea of spending her last night alone upset her. Instead, she quietly made her way to her parents' room and snuck into their futon.

She thought they were already asleep yet, when she settled in between them like she once did in her childhood, they both moved to embrace her. It felt so nice and nostalgic, but the moment was underlined with a heavy sadness.

The three of them would remain that way for the rest of the night.

It was dark and cold when the entire populace of the Kazama Estate had arrived at the entrance, so early in the day that the birds had yet to sing. The sun was on the cusp of rising, but the endless sea of tall trees ensured that the light would be touching the tree tops before it would touch them. The lack of light made it so everyone fused together into some large, shapeless, multiple-eyed being surrounding her.

Asuka felt the scrutiny, but didn't buckle under the weight of it. She was dressed in her miko garb, complete with Akemi's armour. The naginata and her family's sacred bow on her back, her supplies were slung across her shoulder, and the Kazama kamon medallion was adorned proudly on her waist.

She had felt confident wearing it, prepared as she left her home, but now she also felt unease in the pit of her stomach.

Her parents stood on either side of her. Her father's hand was on her right shoulder, while her mother held Asuka's left hand in both of hers. Neither of them were showing any of the emotions they had yesterday. Instead, they stood straight, expressions resolute and stoic. Asuka did her best to follow their example.

Then, a flash of white light blinked into existence a few metres before them, and everyone had to shield their eyes momentarily. When the light dimmed, its source was revealed.

It was the clan elders, and the Light was shining from their hands, held in front of them like they were offering a prayer in unison. Asuka never thought the Sacred Light could be used for something so mundane.

"Gather 'round, oh you who find shelter in the Kazama Estate!" announced the clan elder with the old, wizened voice, his face looking gaunt in the Light emanating from his hands. "Bear witness to the exile of our flesh and blood!"

"We bear witness!" the populace cried out together. Asuka and her parents remained silent.

"For despite our tireless efforts, this young Kazama wished to forsake the privilege of being a Kazama! Forsake the privilege of being a miko in service to Kami-sama Amaterasu!"

Asuka resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"From the second Kami-sama Amaterasu's radiance touches the Estate," the elder with the hoarse voice said, raising his shining hand towards the gates to illuminate them. "This young Kazama is to never set foot onto our hearth and home ever again! From thenceforth, she is Kazama no more, but an exile! She may never be called upon by any of us!"

Asuka felt her father's grip on her shoulder tighten, but didn't move.

"However, despite the transgressions of our youth, our values are for naught if we were not ever merciful!"

Asuka's ears perked up for the first time since the old people started speaking. The female elder brought her glowing hands together as she proclaimed "Due to the boundless mercy of the clan elders, she is granted but one, single task. that may nullify her exile."

Asuka heard her mother suck in her breath. Clearly, this offer was unprecedented.

"Hear and bear witness to this task we offer to our child of Light!" exclaimed the elder with the hoarse voice, dragging everyone's attention back to them. "Kazama Asuka, your exile will be null and void if, and only if, you slay a yōkai with the gifts your bloodline has granted you! Alas, it may not be any yōkai, but the most fearsome and brutal of them all!"

She heard many people gasp at his words. Only one kind of yōkai came to mind with a description like that. And the deep voiced elder confirmed her suspicions shortly after.

"If you are to slay an Oni and bring back its horns to present to us, the clan elders, you may reclaim your birthright as a miko of the Kazama Estate!"

Many people began to whisper amongst themselves. Her father's grip on her shoulder was crushing, and her mother's breathing was shaky. Asuka looked forward, her narrowed eyes meeting those of the deep voiced clan elder.

"Do you accept these terms, young Kazama?" he asked her, his gaze unrelenting and impassive. Asuka felt her parents shift, knew that they wanted to protest or speak on her behalf, but a fire was being fanned within her since those old farts had begun speaking.

It was just about ready to blow.

"I accept!" she yelled, loud and confident.

"Asuka!" her mother cried, barely managing to keep her volume low. Asuka, however, stepped away from both her parents and marched closer to the elders.

"Let the whole clan witness that I accept these terms!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, raising both arms to gesture to those who had gathered behind her. "Let them witness that you all just gave me a perfect way to prove my greatness to you skeletons!"

More gasps rang out from her fellow clansmen. The elders visibly bristled, save for the one she had locked eyes with this whole time.

"Know this!" she yelled, pointing at the emotionless old man. "All these theatrics of yours, trying to make an example of me, only serve to stoke the fires of my legend! I will slay all sorts of yōkai, I'll beat any human who gets in my way, I'll explore every inch of land you have denied me, and when I bring back those horns, you'll be on your knees begging for my favour!"

His eyes twitched. She smirked, and lowered her arm. "And so long as there is wind under my wings, my legend will become so great, no one will forget it!"

"Insolence!"

"Impertinent, arrogant child!"

Her words caused an uproar, but before this chaos could continue for a moment longer, the deep voiced elder raised a hand and the Estate fell silent abruptly. The Light began to fade from his hand as he lowered it, and his narrowed eyes landed back on Asuka.

"You are permitted one last moment," he said to her, his voice deadly quiet. "After which, you are to get out of my sight."

He then raised his gaze to the clan at large. "To whomever wishes to bid this youth farewell, you have until the sun touches our Estate!"

The elders clapped their hands together, and their Light faded away. Asuka backed away from them, making sure her determined face was the last thing they saw before the darkness returned.

Her parents appeared at her side immediately, and though it was hard to see them clearly, the tone of their voices gave away their emotions quite clearly.

"Asuka, how could you?!" her mother whispered harshly as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Believe me, I am beginning to despise the elders too, but to show this much disrespect?!"

"It was a sight to behold," her father chimed in, sounding like he was trying to hold back a smile. There was an abrupt change in his tone, however, when he said "But Asuka…an Oni? How could you agree to such dangerous terms?"

"I would like to know as well!" came Akemi's voice, accompanied by quick footsteps. Asuka and her parents turned their heads to see Akemi approaching them, leaving behind her father and brothers in the crowd.

Asuka's eyes had adjusted to the dark by now, and could make out the worry weaved into her features. She had forsaken her usual tight, orderly hairstyles to instead let her hair down, billowing softly in the wind.

"You all have such little faith in me?" Asuka remarked, trying to reassure them. When their faces remained grave, Asuka said "I accepted the condition for you, the ones I love most. It's so that I can return here again someday, so that you don't have to lose me."

"I would rather you stay alive and away than to die trying to return," Akemi said in protest, her eyes beginning to gleam as tears welled up in them. Asuka reached for her hands, and Akemi held on for dear life.

"It hurts me to have to leave you behind, all of you," she said, turning her face to her parents too. "I want adventure and excitement, to follow the winds, but I also want to return to my home in the end. If they had told me to travel to the ends of the land or search the oceans, I would."

Her three loved ones smiled at her. Asuka chose that opportunity to add with a toothy grin "Besides, I got the Sacred Light and I kick butt, anything less than an Oni would hardly be a challenge."

Her father let out a short laugh, her mother let out a disapproving "Asuka…" and Akemi punched her chest plate.

"You idiot!" the blacksmith exclaimed in annoyance, shaking her head. "You astound me."

Tears began to flow freely all around, and Asuka pulled her friend into a hug. "You're going to be great at whatever you do Akemi, blacksmithing or tattoos or whatever you wanna do."

"You better return, Kazama Asuka," Akemi demanded half-heartedly, trying hard not to sob. Asuka rubbed her back in comfort. When they parted, her parents enveloped her one last time as well.

"Your life comes before everything else," her father said. "Do what you must to survive, but never forget your humanity either."

"The world is vast and scary, but there is kindness in it too, remember that," her mother added, kissing Asuka on each cheek. "And come back to us safely."

Asuka nodded, before realising that the sky was becoming brighter.

"Young Kazama, begone from our Estate!" bellowed the deep voiced elder. "Never to return unless you bring back the horns of an Oni!"

When she reached the threshold of the forest beyond the gates, Asuka turned around to take in her home one last time. Even from this far, she could see that her parents and Akemi had not moved from their spots.

She waved, sure to smile as big as her mouth allowed in the hopes they could see it clearer. They returned the gesture before the large wooden gates creaked shut.

Officially an exile.

Her heart stuttered a bit in its beating as the situation hit her. There was no going back now.

The winds arrived then, invisible but audible in the shaking of the leaves, gently pushing Asuka towards the wilderness.

Towards the unknown.

"You don't have to tell me twice."

She ventured off into the forest, confident this was not an end, but a new beginning.

The plot finally kicks off and is set in motion!

Some of you veteran Jisuka shippers might recognise a name in this chapter. An Annoying Cliche by EnigmaticMemory influenced my love for this ship a lot, and much like how Asuka's Dad's name is forever Junichiro to me, I included another homage to that fic in here.

The character of Akemi in this fic has the same name as Asuka's best friend in AAC. They're not entirely the same character (as people who have read AAC can probably tell) but I created her as a token of appreciation and as a shoutout to our original Jisuka Queen, EnigmaticMemory. Miss her every day, and I hope she's doing well.

(Also if you haven't read AAC yet, go read it. It's on and it's currently the most favourited Tekken fic on there! Deservedly so!)

Not much else to say for now except this series (yes it's more than one story) is gonna be quite different from RWO in a lot of ways. Don't worry, it won't be a rehash of a story I've already written. Hopefully you guys like what me and Smash have in store for you.

I won't spoil too much but I will say, unlike RWO, you won't have to wait too long for Jin and Asuka to interact in this one. Keep an eye out for him...

Also, I have a twitter account, OrangeStrands, where I mostly retweet Tekken stuff but also share a few more of my ideas and thoughts for Tekken, as well as sneak peaks of future chapters. It's also my preferred mode of communication, but I'm considering that maybe I should start replying to comments again. Perhaps we'll do a bit of both.

Anyway, here are some of the Japanese terms I used explained, though it is very simplified. If you wish to learn more, I'd recommend researching it as well ^_^

Terms used:

Ojii-sama - Formal way to say "grandfather". Can be used towards old men in general and not just those related to you.

Oyāji - Informal way to say "old man".

Tantō - A single/double edged dagger.

Katana - A two-handed sword with a curved, single-edged blade with a circular/squared guard and long grip.

Kimono - A general term for traditional Japanese clothing, though it usually refers to the specific outfit that wraps around with square sleeves.

Naginata - A polearm with a curved, single-edged blade. Primarily associated with female warriors but was originally a weapon used by men too.

Otōsan - Default way to address your father.

Kazama-ryū - Kazama Style, specifically for the martial arts.

Kannushi - A male Shinto priest.

Kamon - A crest, usually one that indicates which family/clan you belong to. Can be used in many ways as a decoration.

Futon - Traditional Japanese bedding, usually with just a mattress and a duvet.

Oni - About as close to a demon as you can get with yōkai. Their depictions vary across media, but they were considered terrifying and would punish sinners in the afterlife.

Until next time, everyone!

May Peace Be Upon You.