The Book Keeper's Daughter

Chapter 3

   She walked over to the kamado, and retrieved the dagger she knew her father was hiding. It was just like the story her father told her every night since she was born; she was going to take revenge on those who have wronged her. However, she only knew of one retired samurai in town that would possibly consider training her. She ran back to her room, and retrieved a small bag, and loaded it with apples, the last few precious grains of rice she could find, along with the small dagger she would have received today as a birthday gift from her father. She was now prepared to leave the only place she's called home. She kissed her father's cheek, before heading to the northside of the pond.By the time she had reached her desired destination, the sun was a quarter of the way down. She guessed it had to be between five and seven o'clock. The retired samurai's home was much bigger than Daitan's. Behind the hut was a little patch of dirt, most likely for farming. Daitan figured that would be her saving grace if the samurai refused to help her; she would become an indentured servant. She finally gathered the courage to knock on the samurai's door. It took longer than she had expected, but within minutes, a taller, older man was standing just inches away from her.

"E-Excuse me sir..." Daitan began. The man just stared at her with a completely impartial expression on his face. "Ahem," she cleared her throat. She was beginning to regret not practicing what she was going to say on her journey here. "I'm Daitan and...I need your help. A group of evil people-" her eyes began to well with tears. "They hurt my dad... a...and I want to get revenge. But I need your help." She paused and noticed the samurai's face. Emotionless. "Please..." she whispered, bowing her head. The samurai nodded, and without a word, motioned for her to come inside.

"I cannot help you with the pain you feel in your heart." the man finally announced. "But if it is training you ask for, it is training you will receive." he assured. Over the next nine years, Fudo, the samurai that let her in so long ago trained Daitan in combat, reading, writing, and stealth. He taught her to be patient, even in times of frustration and anger, he taught her to always be aware of her surroundings, even if she felt that she was all alone, and finally, he taught her about Buddah and that life itself was pain, yet by letting go, the pain would ease. By the time that she was sixteen years old, he had taught her everything he knew. But what Daitan didn't know was that Fudo had lost someone as well; his daughter Akina. She had tried to escape the kingdom dressed as a samurai, and when her crime had been discovered, she was executed as a warning to all the other women plotting to escape. But he felt that this time would be different. Daitan had a spark to her, an inner fire, that when lit, could burn down anything and anyone in her way. The day before the eve of her birthday, she had a complete plan of attack. She would cross the Tokkaido bridge, find the Ronin and his friends, and she would execute every one of them, like they did her father. Her plan began at dawn. She would do this as a birthday gift to herself, and vengeance for her father.