It all started in Nakamura...

It was a qiuet day in the middle of spring. Flowers where prancing their petals to the clear sky and the warm sun. Birds flew from tree to tree happilly chirping their love songs to their partners. The grass waving with the soft gushes of wind, creating a rustling sound which would sooth even the most stressed souls. The cherry Blossem tree's where an absolute sight to behold as if they had done their best to shine in Springtime. Various people, both young and old put their work down to relax on such a sunny day.

It was indeed peacefull in the small village of Nakamura. However all of this was about to change, just as the lifes of various persons. The persons whom's true destiny and Faith just began...

It was a perfect day indeed and Yuzuki was sitting on one of the lower branches of a large sakura tree, hidden between the pink flowers. The only hint of her presence was her katana, laying next to the tree in the grass.
She sighed content, after lunch she had practiced a little swordfighting, as she was being taught by her father. And now she was enjoying the peace and quietness among the sakura blossoms. "So pretty," Yuzuki whispered as one of the pink flowers fell on her lap.

But she should've known. She should've known better than to rest upon a tree's branch, even if it was the lowest one.
Yuzuki noticed too late she was slipping of the branch and couldn't reach to another branch to steady herself.
Panicing, she closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she was on the grass, beside her katana. "Ouch..."

Natsuko opened her eyes, waking up into a warm spring day with her window open to the cherry blossom gardens. It was pink outside, the color of the season. She got up, still wearing her light brown silky night yukata and walked to the window in order to catch one of the falling petals from the cherry tree which was nearby her second floor room's window. "Natsuko, at last you're awake!" A strict voice said from her door and she turned around quickly to see her father standing there. "Now get dressed quickly. Breakfast's ready. We must go to the Fujiwaras today. Their son is looking for a wife. This could be your chance." Natsuko nodded, but didn't comment anything. It's not like she could say something against her father - because she couldn't. If he wanted her to get married, she would get married, end of the story. But if people would ask her, she was far from ready to get married.

In any case, she dressed up into a white kimono with silver birds and cherry blossoms on it. All with the help of a servant, since putting on a kimono was not an easy task. Overall, it took about 15 minutes. Her midnight black hair was attached into a bun with white flowers decorating it. Some hair was left free from the sides, framing her pale face. Natsuko thanked the servant and walked downstairs, where her father and the rest of the Amemiya family was having breakfast. She greeted them with a small bow of her head, sat down and started eating from a decorated bowl of rice. There was her cousins, her grandparents, her uncles and aunts.. Everyone. But she talked to no one, only kept her eyes locked on the empty seat which had once belonged to her brother. There were days when she wanted to hear his voice so badly that she'd cry.

She felt like the only one who was sad because of his death.

After breakfast, her father wanted to immediately pay visit to the Fujiwaras. It was another wealthy family with samurais, probably handsome ones, but Natsuko honestly didn't really care about such things. But she had no choice, so she followed her father out in the sunny day of Nakamura's streets. A couple of people bowed to them, but her father didn't answer. Natsuko bowed two times for him aswell, knowing why her father was being so stubborn. He didn't want any lower class people get in contact with them. It must have been because of Natsuko's mother, who had ran away from their marriage because of a lower class man. And now her father despised everyone who was lower than he was. It was understandable, but it had been three years already. He could get over it.

"Wait here, Natsuko. I'm going inside to buy a katana as a gift to them." Her father said as they stopped in front of a sword shop. She nodded and stepped aside so she wouldn't be standing in the middle of the street and started observing the people who walked past her. Some of them - yet again - bowed, but some of them quickly ran past her.

((Waiting for ages for Drake finishing his character takes a little too long. So I'll think Ill just start. Whenever I refer to his (still) non-existing character he will be reffered to as "sensei"))

The sound of footsteps came from the small and old road leading outside the village. The sound of a traveller arriving on his destination. He stood still, inspecting the tree's, the houses and the people with his eyes. "Home" he mumbled clenching an object wrapped in a white cloth tightly, as if the traveller was having a falshback of what happenend here, a terrible one.

However soon the heavy grip on the cloth-wrapped object become much looser and the traveller took his first steps back into his hometown.

He was a young man, around the age of 19 and altough much of his body was hidden behind an old worn-down cloak, you could still see trough the small openings traces of armor. He was without a doubt a warrior Riuke Takumi.

The young man made a light smirk on his face as he walked down the pad. He couldn't beleave after three whole years, that he was finally back again in Nakamura. It hand't changed at all, he still remembered some of the faces of the villagers, altough he doubted they would still remember him... He was certainly glad that his sensei allowed him to visit his old village again.

"Riuke Takumi is home again" he whispered standing still in the middle of the road, looking over at a hill in the distance He could see the ruïns of his house still standing on the top of that hill.

"Girls shouldn't play with swords." One of the village's boys came over to Yuzuki and grabbed her katana. "Really, haven't your parents told you?"
Yuzuki's eyes widened as her precious sword was taken by the boy. "Give it back." She said and shot the thief a glare which could've killed him.
"No." It seemed the boy was stubborn too. "It's for your own good, you could hurt yourself."
"What part of 'give it back' didn't you understand?" Yuzuki stood up and grabbed her katana. The guy's grip didn't falter though.
"You even fell out of that tree." The boy grinned. "You are too clumsy to handle a sword."
"Give. It. Back." When the boy still didn't obeyed, Yuzuki used her free hand to punch the guy in his stomach. "Good." She said when in shock the boy let go of the katana. "Now, don't even dare to touch it again, or you'll end up hurt." Yuzuki turned around and smiled.

Seriously, what was wrong with these guys? 'Obviously, they like refined girls like Amemiya-san more,' Yuzuki thought. 'Still, that doesn't give them any rights to say such things to me.'
"Talking about Amemiya-san..." Yuzuki muttered as she made her way home through the main street of Nakamura. Before one of the shops, Amemiya Natsuko-san was waiting in her pretty kimono. Yuzuki could never handle such life-style; her parents weren't that rich, and besides, she wouldn't feel free. Would Natsuko-san feel free? Yuzuki wondered.
She realized she had been staring at the rich girl and continued her way home.

As Moshibo walked slowly over the road down the hills he was thinking. 'It has been three whole years since I rescued him. I learned him much. But was it enough. It took me much longer. And thinking of how he is...' Moshibo sighed. 'I better go see if everything is going alright. I want to get out again anyway.' Moshibo turned around and walked up the hill again. Back to his home. The home that meant more to him than anything.

As Moshibo walked inside the house he said hello to Shana. Shana in turn greeted him and gave him a soft smile. She was way older then him. Grey hair and an old tired look. He on the other hand, he had only a little grey and still looked much like a youngster. O yeas he had seen much of this country and the world. But that you can't see that off him.

Inside his room he packed some things. Clothing, food and his book works. Quickly he stepped outside and said goodbye to Shana. Up on the way for a new journey. "Well world. Here we go again. And please dear gods. Take care of Takumi-kun for me. Make sure he does no stupid things that endangers himself and or others."
With a big smile Moshio moved foward, down the hills and mountains. Up on the way to Riuke Takumi.

Natsuko's dark brown eyes met those of a farmer's daughter or something beyond that rank. She was full of life, excitement and seemed like a person who was true to herself. That's what it was, when you had the freedom to run around in the village and hang out with whoever you wanted. Natsuko had never even imagined herself living such life. Perhaps she was already living too much with rules and regulations controlling her life, that she could run around just like any other girl in town. And then on the other hand, there were girls who desperately wanted to fill her shoes in that glamorous life she was living in. But like always, humans never knew what they wanted. How could barely-adult-girls know, in that case?

She looked back at the girl for a short moment, not changing her emotionless face, then let her eyes snap into something else, not really paying much more attention to the girl. The truth was, most of the girls in town didn't want to be her friend. Not when she had been young, not in her teen years and not now. They wanted to be her, or then hater her and envied her, planned for her death before falling asleep during the warm spring evenings. Natsuko had learned not to push anyone into a relationship with her, and that's why she wasn't the type of person to start a friendly conversation. And perhaps it was because of those lonely childhood days that she had lost the same brightness she had seen the girl's eyes earlier.

But she could accept herself the way she was now. "Natsuko." She heard her father say as he walked out of the katana shop. "Let's go. You should have taken your fan, it's going to be a hot day." Her continued his way along the main street of Nakamura. "Sumimasen, father.." Natsuko spoke quietly and went on following him. "You do know how important it is to make a fine wife out of you, right? Please pay more attention to small details. Men will not approve a clumsy immature girl." Her father lectured as he walked next to Natsuko. "I understand, father." Natsuko answered. "I will pay more attention to these things. Please forgive me." Her father nodded, but didn't say anything. He was a strict man. Natsuko had only once stood up before him, and she had never had the guts to do such thing again.

"So many things have changed" Takumi mumbled to himself as he continued to follow down the main road. He stopped near a local sword shop, inspecting the katana's stalled outside. Their blades sparkled in the warm sunlight. Altough intrested in he did not dare to go in and buy one. Not only because his funds where a little...low as in; completly broke, but also because he wouldn't dare to betray his best friend. But still...watching was free of charge and his friend didn't mind that. His eyes drifted from sword to sword and then was finally ready to continue his way back to his old house when out the shop came a man of wealthy influence. Easy to see by the way he dressed and acted. Takumi disliked those with wealth. They always acted high and stuck up, escpecially the women, but in battle they were the first to run away. People like that didn't deserve respect and so he didn't...unless they had their gaurds with them that is. He may be brash and quick to act, but he definitly wasn't dumb. His skills weren't good enough to fight a dozen men.

Then he noticed the girl lagging behind the wealthy man. Probably his daughter as she definitly had an air of wealth around her too. Their did seem to be something wrong with her but Takumi figured her father wouldn't buy another big expensive kimono for "her highness" so he let that feeling go. With a grunt he turnend around and continued his way, increasing his pace as the eagerness to visit his mom and dad came over him, he took one look over his shoulder to see where that man and his daughter went unable to see the persons walking before him...

After a long journey, Moshibo returned to the village he found Takumi in. The sun was high in the sky, the wind blew softly and people were lively. "A nice day if I may say so. Can't say I feel something is wrong. Although I have the feeling something is comming up again." Moshibo sighed.

Slowly walking trough the streets. Looking at everything he saw. 'Not much has changed. Even the sent of thievery and wealth still hangs all around the streets.' Moshibo stopped and saw a shop with clothings. While walking to it he was wondered by th collors that were hanging there. Those collors were so rare. You just don't see them everywhere everyday.
"Can I help you, sir?" A younger man came stepping toward Moshibo. "Not at this moment. I was just looking around and was stunned by the collors of these clothings." Moshibo laughed and really looked interested in the clothing. It reminded him of the girl he once loved. He never had the chance to do anything. Before he could act, she was send to Tokyo to marry an older, wealthier man. "Maybe Takumi.." Moshibo whispered. "What did you say, sir?" Moshibo said it was nothing and asked the price of the collored clothing.

After Moshibo walked away from the shop he saw Takumi. And again in Takumi's carelessness something was about to happen.

While trying not to walk into someone, Yuzuki examined her katana. It was black, decorated with small maple leaves. Technically seen it was not a real katana, but shorter like a ninja's sword. She got it from her father last year, said he made it especially for her. Though he didn't made swords anymore, Mother had told her that Father once was well-known for his katana. And luckily that stupid guy hadn't made any scratches on it.
"Yay~" Yuzuki whispered to herself and smiled. Today was a nice day after all, not even dumb brats could spoil the happiness hanging lightly in the air. She twirled around once and softly started humming a melody.

Yuzuki gasped as suddenly someone bumped against her, making her lose her balance and almost drop her katana. She landed with one knee on the ground, but quickly stood up and brushed some dust of her light blue yukata.
"Oi, you." Yuzuki said as she turned around to the person who was at fault. "Watch your step, will you?! What if I had dropped my sword, and it got damaged, eh? Obvious it didn't, but what if? What would you do about that, huh?" The girl tried to catch her breath and blushed; she had done it again. Getting overly protective about her precious weapon. "Now apologize..." Yuzuki added in a softer tone, grimacing slightly.

They were right at the Fujiwara house, when a young man in a light blue yukata walked past them. Natsuko wasn't able to ignore his sour expression, which would have probably encouraged anyone to say something incredibly impolite back to this man. However, she was used to receiving those looks and simply bowed back to him. As a reward, her father slapped her on her arm. "Natsuko! Argh.. How humiliating. My daughter bowing down in front of what, a farmer boy?!" He gave a sharp look towards the young man who soon disappeared into the rest of the crowd, still glancing over his shoulder as if he wanted Natsuko to know to the very last moment that he hated her. She rubbed her arm and bowed down to her father. "Really.. that is pathetic." He went silent however, when the door to the Fujiwara house was opened and an older man and a lady stepped outside, bowing down. Both of them we were even more expensive clothing than Natsuko, but she wasn't really paying attention to that.

"Ahh~! Fujiwara-san!" Her father's attitude completely changed and he bowed down, gesturing Natsuko to bow as well. "Welcome to our house Amemiya-san." The woman said kindly and smiled, letting her attention to fall on the young girl now. She observed her carefully from head to toe, nodding. "Your daughter is as beautiful as the little birds have told me. But I will never judge a book by its cover." She gave a rather challenging smile to Natsuko, who bent her head and smiled back. They were led inside the immense house with three floors, maids running up and down in the stairs. Natsuko and her father sat down at a low table, opposite to mr and mrs. Fujiwara. And their son in his glorious samurai armor, who apparently was going to be Natsuko's husband if the meeting would go well. She examined him for a moment. It was hard to accept the fact that she would get married with someone she had no feelings for, especially when she felt like she was still a million years too early to put on a bride's kimono and confess her love.

"This is our son, Enobu." mr Fujiwara introduced his son who bent his head and flashed a quick smile to Natsuko. Unfortunately for him, she was looking in the opposite way. "My daughter, Natsuko." Natsuko's father said. The girl turned to look at Enobu and bent her head but wasn't able to give him a smile. He seemed to notice that a bit too well. The meeting was long, and the atmosphere certainly wasn't very comfortable. She remained quiet for most of the time, Enobu spoke a couple of words about his job as a samurai and how it could possibly affect Natsuko. Oh, but she already knew. Once a samurai fell, that man's wife could either show off her loyalty to him by killing herself off as well or betraying her whole family and getting married with a lower class man. Most of the wives remained alone for the rest of their lives, living with their families. After three cups of green tea, they were finally leaving.

"Good work Natsuko. I think you have a chance." Her father said as they walked back home. Natsuko was quiet for a moment. "Father, why do I have to get married with Enobu-san? I don't even love him." She shouldn't have said that, because her father suddenly started a huge scene about it in the middle of the street. "You don't love him?! As if that has anything to do with marriage! Silly girl, I must have spoiled you to think that you could run around and play with boys!" He yelled furiously. Natsuko frowned but bent her head, biting her lip. "That's probably the reason why mother didn't get married with you." She said to her father and looked at him. He stared at her, in horror and slapped her. Natsuko glared at him, finally releasing a bit of her anger. "You're not qualified to be my daughter!" Her father yelled. "Then I'll gladly leave!" Natsuko screamed back. "Father never understood my feelings anyway..!" She turned around, quickly walking away. Her father didn't go after her.

((sorry if it's long but I needed to do all that to actually start the story for her. xD))

Takumi suddenly heard a nice humming melody and just when he was about to see who the person was humming it stopped all so suddenly, because he bumped into her. He looked down on the ground to see a girl standing up again, looking back at him.

"Oi, you! Watch your step, will you?! What if I had dropped my sword, and it got damaged, eh? Obvious it didn't, but what if? What would you do about that, huh?" The girl released a barrage of words to Takumi's head and he backed down a couple of paces. "G...gomen, I..." Takumi sputterd out with a small blush but then, realising he and she weren't the only one walking the streets quickly made a more "manly" pose. He was a warrior, a samurai to be! He couldn't let a small girl beat him."

"Tsk, this your fault too. You should be the one apologizing to ME. If you weren't dancing amd prancing on the road this wouldn't have happenend" He replied with an arrogant tone as if he ownend the road. "Besides" he continued while grabbing the sheet of the sword in his hands, tight enough so that she couldn't shake his grip loose but not as tight that he unsheated Yuzuki's percious blade.
"A sword isn't some priceless jewel. It is a weapon, a way to fight. It cannot break or be damaged that easily and if it could, then I say whoever made that thing is better off cleaning stables" Takumi laughed, totally forgetting any way of defending himself if the girl would take some physical actions against an insult like that.

"Well, sorry for being here!" Yuzuki yelled back. "But it's your fault, because I don't have eyes on the back of my head, I can't see what's behind me." Geez, what a stupid guy, were all men stupid like this?
"O-oi..." The girl glared at the boy in front of her as the ignorant soul grabbed her sword. "Let... go."
"A sword isn't some priceless jewel. It is a weapon, a way to fight. It cannot break or be damaged that easily and if it could, then I say whoever made that thing is better off cleaning stables." Upon hearing this, tears of rage started to sting in her eyes.
"Do you honestly think I don't know what this is?!" Yuzuki spatted. "Swords are made to kill, and this particular one is probably better than yours. The one who made it was my father, don't you dare to insult him!!!"

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Furthermore, you might not have noticed, but I'm a girl. I'll never be ordered to fight, and if I use this katana for anything other than practice, it'll be to save my own life, or that of someone precious. And for exactly that reason, I practice fighting. If you're going to talk about girls not being supposed to carry around swords, I'm not going to listen to it."
Yuzuki released on hand from the grip on her katana and raised it, ready to slap this baka across his face. She held his gaze for a moment, but eventually lowered her hand again. "You would have deserved that, but I'm not going to hit you." The girl sighed.
All the boy had to do was understand that this was her father's gift to her, and that she didn't want to see it damaged, unless there was a very good reason for it. On the other side, it had been her fault taking out this sword in stead of a normal one.
"Do you think it is manly to insult a girl like that? Now kindly release my sword and apologize." Yuzuki said in a more calmer tone. After the initial flare of rage, her anger was almost gone. What stayed was annoyance though.