The Favored Daughter
Crimson and gold rays filled the evening sky above the great Castle. Unpainted stone filled with mortar made up the protective walls. At a junction of stone behind the main keep was a young woman with skin the color of black tar. Her dark eyes stung with the sweat that slid down from her long, oily hair. Despite this, she continued to swing the branch of bamboo in downward strikes. She mimicked the blow her father delivered upon an arrogant servant earlier that day. Shuna had watched mesmerized as his head had simply fallen like an overripe peach from his neck.
“Your form needs a lot of work Shuna,” A gruff voice came from behind the young girl. She immediately flung herself at the ground while keeping her weapon firmly in grasp.
“M-my lord,” Shuna gasped as her chest continued to heave. Keeping her head lowered, Shuna could only make out a pair of blue feet in wooden sandals. With a chuckle, her lord sat upon the grass and patted the girl on the head.
“I've told you before. You can call me father,” Lord Raizen Kanazaki chided Shuna gently. Raising her head, Shuna looked up into the fang filled, wry smile of her blue ogre father. His twin horns curved skyward proudly as he gently lifted Shuna's head. The rough texture of his large hands made the girl giggle as he ordered, “Now, show me that stance once more.”
Leaping onto her feet excitedly, Shuna carefully took the stance she'd seen before. Looking to her feet, she had to adjust their spacing then, make sure her right hand was on top of the left before keeping her body facing her imaginary opponent. The old Oni chuckled, “You sure aren't a natural, Shuna. Your feet are too far apart, your grip is too tight and...” The lord halted seeing the dark eyes of Shuna start to water.
Placing a hand on his daughter's head Raizen sighed, “You know, I'd rather you never have to take up a sword.”
“No!” Shuna cried out, “I have to be strong to protect you and Tokiji since I'm not your real daughter! I mean, I don't even have a single horn.” At that, the old Warlord winced. Reaching out, her pulled the young girl against his chest. Despite the stink of sweat, Shuna returned the embrace.
After placing a kiss on his daughter's cheek, Raizen spoke softly, “Listen, I loved your mother with every bit of my soul and even if you cannot take my throne, I only want you to have a good life. You don't need to protect your brother and I.”
“Thank you, father. But, I want to be able to use a sword like you.” Shuna said once the pair had released each other. Her small hands took up the stance, correcting what she had been told. Raising her weapon above her head, Shuna made a downward cut.
With a grin of fangs Raizen said, “I'll make you a deal, Shuna. I'll let you practice and if you can beat me someday, I'll let you be Tokiji's bodyguard. After all, what good is a protector who isn't stronger than the one they protect?” Shuna's dark eyes widened so far as to reveal the edges of white. Tossing her arms around her father, Shuna began showering him in kind words and kisses.
Pushing her away lightly, Raizen sighed, “But, that doesn't mean you get out of your chores. You'll just have to work on it when they're done, understand?” Shuna tossed her head up and down so fervently her hair came loose from its bun. Brushing the hair aside, Shuna gave a final nod. Raizen said simply, “Now, you're still gripped your weapon too tight. In a real fight, that'll let your opponent control your weapon and create openings as well as tire yourself out. Only use your strength when you need to in a blow. I'll show you...” The lesson continued well into the night.
Sending his daughter off to bed, Raizen picked up her discarded bamboo blade. Looking at it he muttered, “There's no way that girl isn't ours, Serin. She's as beautiful as you and got all my stubbornness. And, just like me, she has no ambitions for the throne. At least she's safe from that so she'll be free to be her own woman. Probably start her own martial arts school.” At that, Lord Raizen Kanazaki let out a deep laugh while patting his stomach. Heading to the main keep, the Oni warlord could only smile to himself and whenever Shuna, his illegitimate daughter, came into sight he'd have her sit at his side.
“Your form needs a lot of work Shuna,” A gruff voice came from behind the young girl. She immediately flung herself at the ground while keeping her weapon firmly in grasp.
“M-my lord,” Shuna gasped as her chest continued to heave. Keeping her head lowered, Shuna could only make out a pair of blue feet in wooden sandals. With a chuckle, her lord sat upon the grass and patted the girl on the head.
“I've told you before. You can call me father,” Lord Raizen Kanazaki chided Shuna gently. Raising her head, Shuna looked up into the fang filled, wry smile of her blue ogre father. His twin horns curved skyward proudly as he gently lifted Shuna's head. The rough texture of his large hands made the girl giggle as he ordered, “Now, show me that stance once more.”
Leaping onto her feet excitedly, Shuna carefully took the stance she'd seen before. Looking to her feet, she had to adjust their spacing then, make sure her right hand was on top of the left before keeping her body facing her imaginary opponent. The old Oni chuckled, “You sure aren't a natural, Shuna. Your feet are too far apart, your grip is too tight and...” The lord halted seeing the dark eyes of Shuna start to water.
Placing a hand on his daughter's head Raizen sighed, “You know, I'd rather you never have to take up a sword.”
“No!” Shuna cried out, “I have to be strong to protect you and Tokiji since I'm not your real daughter! I mean, I don't even have a single horn.” At that, the old Warlord winced. Reaching out, her pulled the young girl against his chest. Despite the stink of sweat, Shuna returned the embrace.
After placing a kiss on his daughter's cheek, Raizen spoke softly, “Listen, I loved your mother with every bit of my soul and even if you cannot take my throne, I only want you to have a good life. You don't need to protect your brother and I.”
“Thank you, father. But, I want to be able to use a sword like you.” Shuna said once the pair had released each other. Her small hands took up the stance, correcting what she had been told. Raising her weapon above her head, Shuna made a downward cut.
With a grin of fangs Raizen said, “I'll make you a deal, Shuna. I'll let you practice and if you can beat me someday, I'll let you be Tokiji's bodyguard. After all, what good is a protector who isn't stronger than the one they protect?” Shuna's dark eyes widened so far as to reveal the edges of white. Tossing her arms around her father, Shuna began showering him in kind words and kisses.
Pushing her away lightly, Raizen sighed, “But, that doesn't mean you get out of your chores. You'll just have to work on it when they're done, understand?” Shuna tossed her head up and down so fervently her hair came loose from its bun. Brushing the hair aside, Shuna gave a final nod. Raizen said simply, “Now, you're still gripped your weapon too tight. In a real fight, that'll let your opponent control your weapon and create openings as well as tire yourself out. Only use your strength when you need to in a blow. I'll show you...” The lesson continued well into the night.
Sending his daughter off to bed, Raizen picked up her discarded bamboo blade. Looking at it he muttered, “There's no way that girl isn't ours, Serin. She's as beautiful as you and got all my stubbornness. And, just like me, she has no ambitions for the throne. At least she's safe from that so she'll be free to be her own woman. Probably start her own martial arts school.” At that, Lord Raizen Kanazaki let out a deep laugh while patting his stomach. Heading to the main keep, the Oni warlord could only smile to himself and whenever Shuna, his illegitimate daughter, came into sight he'd have her sit at his side.