Even though she knew they were both right out side, it was a relief to see both Ishawari and Prince Hotaru safe and sound walking in the door. Even as she served out three bowls of fish and slightly charred rice, Jin could feel her heartbeat returning to it’s normal speed. There was some part of her that never relaxed. Even if she had put away her weapons, lost her royal gear to some merchants who could keep a secret, and even grown out her hair into a fine fluff of spiraling curls. Even with all this peace around her, every night she would train her body with exercises, trying to prepare for the day when trouble found them again. 

Jin was mid-bite when Prince Hotaru asked his curious question. She chewed as long as possible, trying to look thoughtful about it. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to discuss it, but who could resist that adorable face?

“Very well.” She shot Ishawari a Look over Hotaru’s head, one that said ‘you owe me big’. 

Setting down her bowl and chopsticks, Jin began. “My childhood home was… by the coast, by the waters that lead out of Majima. It’s called Susuka City. It was much larger than this, however. It was always so full of people, coming and going, giant boats, all sorts of foods and strange animals from overseas...” She grinned a bit at the memories. 

“My parents met there. My mother was a local, and my father came from across the sea from a country called Orisha. If I remember right, he was just a traveler, looking to find adventure. Well, he met my mother, and that may have been just the adventure he was looking for. They fell in love and had me!” Her eyes went soft. “My mother was the most beautiful woman in the whole city. Smart, too. She worked as a healer for all the townspeople. Our home was always smelling of boiled plants and pungent concoctions.” 

That was why Jin had chosen the work she had in Hanowa. She was working with the town’s healer, an old woman, Kana, who mostly sent Jin out to forage most of the day. She didn’t mind – it was good,  busy work, and the plants reminded her of her mother. At the end of the day she walked Kana home, just the two of them against the sunset. She always had a story to tell, or some earful of gossip. Jin used the woman as a resource, feeling that if suspicious strangers showed up in Hanowa, she’d be among the first to know. 

“She taught me some of her work, as well. I admit I have forgotten bits and pieces, but I know what plants are good to eat, which are poisonous, and which make good medicine. If we’re ever in need.” Jin twisted at her curls with a pinky, half smiling, lost in reminiscence. 

“My father became a part of the city’s militia. He had a beautiful sword and was so strong, he could lift me with one arm. I wanted to learn the sword from him, but my mother didn’t think that was a good idea. I was always a little wild child, I think. Not very girlish. At any time, my parents would find me outside digging for mushrooms, or fishing, or down at the docks annoying my neighbors with curious questions. There was school at some point, and I didn’t quite enjoy that. I think sitting down too much did not agree with little me.”

Her eyes clouded over, as unbidden memories came wafting to the surface. Susuka, being by the sea, was always prone to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. One night, a particularly harsh lightning storm hung over the area. Some of the buildings were struck, causing a fire to break out and spread rapidly despite the rain. Her father, as a member of the militia, went to help get people out of the burning buildings. Unfortunately, he never made it back home from that terrible night. One the buildings had collapsed, trapping him and several others. Her mother’s grief was absolute, and she never recovered from the loss. She too, was gone after a year, to sickness. 

None of this she said out loud, as it wasn’t a story for children, but she was quiet for several seconds. Even now she had a deep dislike of thunderstorms, something that Ishawari had probably figured out but was too polite to say so. 

“Ahem.” Jin cleared her throat of a sudden lump. “When I was older, I went into the royal military. There were fewer women, then, and no one who looked like me. I was kind of on the outskirts – but to those people I said f-” She blinked at the 8 year old, smiled weakly and continued. “Forget them! I trained and I trained, and when I was older I became part of your mother’s Bladed Ladies.”  Eons ago, one Empress had made the decree that she was only to have female guards, There were some places that men could not accompany women. Plus, assassins from other lands would not think that women could be just as deadly and well trained as men.

“When you were born, my assignment was switched to guarding you. I met Ishawari then, and that’s about it, I think.” She grinned and picked up her bowl again. “Now you know.”