Fabricant451 — Roleplayer Guild

"Hyaa! Wataaa! Yaaa!"

A young girl dressed in simple cloth swung around a wooden stick, her feet just shy of trampling all over a freshly planted field, which would endanger the harvest to come in a months time. The young girl had hair of a unique shade, it was almost silver in its color but was actually a light black upon close inspection. A band of sweat dropped down her forehead as she continued to swing the stick, making noise, off in her own world. Nearby to the farm field, three armed men, each carrying swords at their waist, continued their discussion, paying no attention to the young girl and her loud noise making. One day. One day they would take notice. Daily the girl would come out to the fields and swing around her stick, making the same noises, each day returning to her home disappointed, but not disheartened.

"Ho there, girl, what're you doing?"

The girl stopped, wiping sweat from her forehead. One of the armed men had approached her at long last. He had a handsome face and spoke with a certain authority, not sounding harsh or rough, but gentle and firm. There was a smile on his face, and the young girl looked up to him with awe, before meeting his smile with one of her own.

"I'm fighting an army of intruders for the glory of my lord. I've sworn not to let a single man through, and I'm dueling any who so much as come forth!" The girl proudly exclaimed, punctuating her sentence with swings of her stick.

"Oh? Is that so? Well, with footing like that, and such a weak grip, your lord would be in danger, as any skilled foe would take advantage of these weaknesses," the samurai spoke, his tone playful, friendly, as if he genuinely wished to assist.

"No..be...because I'm doing it on purpose! See, I make them think I have obvious weaknesses to fool them, and then WHAP POW WATAAA! I cut them down!" The girl demonstrated her point by swinging the stick wildly. Playing along, the samurai clutched at his heart and fell onto the grass, exaggerating a dying enemy.

"Ack...to be tricked...how shameful...before I die...please...tell me your name, mighty warrior..."

The young girl, picking up on the little game, stood over the defeated samurai, stick held proudly over her head. "I'm Noriaki Okamoto, the greatest samurai in all of Japan!" And then she brought her stick down to deliver the finishing blow.

~~~

"Noriaki, you can't be here."

Years had past since their first meeting, and Noriaki had blossomed into a young woman. The samurai, Mifune Shimada, she had befriended as a young girl had grown as well, He had become one of the lord's most respected and trusted samurai, revered for his knowledge of swordplay, tactics, and his loyalty. That night, as she had done so many nights before, Noriaki had snuck into Mifune's chambers, ostensibly to continue the lessons Mifune had been giving her since their first meeting. Mifune, being rather wise, knew the true meaning for Noriaki's actions.

"But why, Mifune? I am here for lessons, as promised. I am here to learn to be a samurai. I owe much to you, the lessons, the friendship, everything. You are my dearest friend, without you, I would not even be here." 'Here' being the lord's manor, which Mifune brought Noriaki to. Noriaki thought it was to become a samurai, but in truth it was to serve as mistress to the rather lecherous lord who had grown bored of laying with his wife and was in need of younger, more attractive women to fill his needs. She was brought on as a chambermaid as a cover, but there were few who were not aware of her true purpose.

"I know why you are here, Noriaki." Mifune had his back turned, he didn't want to face Noriaki, because he was terrible at hiding his feelings, they would be as clear as day on his face.

"Then all the better. I do not love Hayashida-sama. It is you, Mifune, it always has been. Why do you not see this?"

"I cannot, Noriaki. It would not be...proper." Mifune struggled to find the appropriate word. Noriaki didn't pick up on the hesitation, on the selective word.

"Mifune...do I disturb you so? You cannot even look at me."

"Return to your poems and your stories, Noriaki. I will teach you more shortly, but you must trust me. Your feelings for me are...they are not true. You do not love me."

Noriaki left Mifune's chambers with tears. As she closed the door, Mifune closed his eyes shut, to prevent his own tears from falling as well.

~~~

"Hayashida-sama is dead..."

The news traveled quickly that night, tales of a poisoned meal and the silent assassination of their lord made for quite the commotion. Caught up in this was Noriaki, now a woman in her own right, who was just as confuses as the others. So she did what came naturally. She sought out Mifune. Mifune was waiting on the stairs leading the Hayashida's chambers, waiting for Noriaki. Mifune's eyes were full of sadness, of sorrow, as Noriaki approached. Noriaki paused, for sitting on the steps was not the Mifune she knew.

In fact, it was made clear now that Mifune Shimada was not a man at all, but a woman.. "Noriaki..." was all Mifune could say as she stood and approached the young Noriaki, embracing her with a hug. Noriaki was confused, but not upset...this...the reveal of Mifune's gender...it seemed right. But now Noriaki knew. She understood why Mifune was so against their love. She had much to lose had Noriaki found out, had Noriaki continued to press the issue.

"Mifune...you...a woman..."

"Yes. I have been lying to you, to everyone for years, but I had to. Women do not typically find service as samurai, Noriaki, I could not risk it. I..I am sorry to have deceived you."

The two women stood in silence, neither sure what to say to the other. "Mifune...I-" Noriaki spoke, but was silenced by Mifune's finger pressed to her lips.

"Noriaki, those feelings you had before? Remember them. They were not wrong. They were not misplaced." Mifune spoke softly, brushing a hand through Noriaki's hair. And then Mifune stepped closer and wrapped Noriaki into an embrace, kissing her for what seemed like an eternity to Noriaki. The two of them were locked at the lips, Noriaki blushing, feeling the same love, the same feelings she had when both were younger and when Noriaki believed Mifune to be a man. Amidst the panic, the commotion of the assassination, Mifune took Noriaki to her chambers and they shared themselves, finally giving into the feelings they both had for each other. Noriaki thought it was the start of something wonderful.

"Noriaki...I am sorry that I will be unable to read more of your poetry. You have a gift, you know. My final advice, my final lesson to you, is to never doubt your passions, your emotions. You will be a fine poet one day, and if you remember my teachings, you could be a great samurai." Mifune's words made Noriaki smile; it was the kiss that came after those words that got Noriaki blushing. Mifune left her chambers, giving a final smile towards the sheet-wrapped Noriaki.

It was the last time Noriaki had seen Mifune alive. She was loyal to her lord even unto death.

~~~

Noriaki Okamoto shook her head, offering the woman next to her at the village eatery a smile. Noriaki poured herself another serving of sake before drinking it down. The woman next to her was cute, and in any other circumstance, Noriaki would waste no time in giving into her passions. But unfortunately for the village woman, she had asked Noriaki a rather personal and mood-ruining question.

"No...no I don't remember my first kiss. There have been so many, they all just...bleed together. But I am certain I would remember yours, my dear, for your lips look as delectable as the finest sake...but do excuse me."

Noriaki gave the disappointed woman a smile as she stood and left the establishment. She sighed, the village somehow seeming less inviting and comforting. She took a seat underneath a tree, and got lost into the memories of her own past.

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