THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

IRIS - Myoku Reiko Backstory

An iris.

They say that it stands out more in the dark and stormy night than in sunshine. I prefer to look at it in the bright morning sun.

My mother loves irises. She filled our backyard with an iris plantation. They look so beautiful during the day. I so love to look at all of them while they grow beautifully every single day she waters them.

My mother.

I remember my mother every time I see an iris. It reminds me of her warm smile, her hazel colored eyes twinkling as she say, "An iris is more beautiful when you look at it in the night. It stands out in the dark. In a stormy night, it glows more beautifully as the rain pours on it."

"For me, it is beautiful under the sunlight, mother." I always answer. "And for me, you are the iris of my life. Your beauty and smile glows in the bright sunlight."

My father.

That day, my father called me while I was watching my mother water her irises. "Myoku, we should be going. We don't want to be traveling in the dark of night." My father said. I kissed my mother goodbye. She hugged me tight and whispered, "I will always be your iris, my sweet." As she let me go, my father kissed her in the cheeks and hugged her saying, "I love you". My father, the leader of the Saeki Clan Tenken Class, and I, board the carriage. I gave my mother a wave. She smiled back. But there seems to be something behind that smile. Something... so sad.

As we traveled along a narrow path in the woods going to the Dragon Temple, the house of the Tenken Class where the clan officials will meet, my father talked to me.
"Myoku, today the officials of our clan will choose my successor. In essence you are the rightful one. However, should anything happen to me..."
"I can protect the clan, father!" I interrupted him.
"My dear girl," he said adoringly. "You are strong, that I know. But you are so young, physically weak. With everything that I taught you, you honed your skills and developed your strength. However, because of your small physique, you are just a prey to-..."

Our carriage came to a sudden halt. My father protectively held me in his arms as we got out of the carriage. Our guard, who was riding the horse carrying our carriage, lay lifeless on the ground. In front of our carriage were five swordsmen led by Kaito, the firstborn son of the Nebu clan. Behind us are three fully armed Sanada ninjas, the most powerful ninja clan in our country. Clearly this is... "An ambush, father." My eyes turned from blue green to light brown sclera, dark brown iris with scarlet pupil as I scan the area.

"Jube, what a surprise. This might not be a pleasant visit though, I suppose, seeing you holding a spear." My mother said to an unexpected visitor silently approaching her from behind. "No, it is not, I'm afraid." said Jube, the son of my deceased uncle, Akira Saeki, my father's younger brother. "I see." said my mother facing Jube, with her Ryuugan. The "Dragon's Eye". It has the ability to synchronize with the spirits of all things, thus giving the bearer the type of prescience that allowed him to see anywhere past, present and possible futures, as well as seeing and hearing the dead. "You were the one who hired the Sanada Ninjas and Nebu Clan to ambush my loved ones on their way to the Dragon Temple." she said. "Ah, of course, the Ryuugan. With that, you can see the ambush. And I presume, you can also foresee..." Jube raised his spear "MY ATTACK!!!"

"MOTHER!!!!" I screamed. "What is it, Myoku?" My father asked as he wielded his sword, slashing the back of one of the Nebu clan ninjas. "Mother... she's fighting Jube. Jube... he did this..." There was nothing I can do as I don't have any weapon. All I have are my eyes that can see what's happening where I am and where my mother is. I just sat under a tree, shaking in fear, unable to move.

Fear.

Fear enveloped me. I remembered what father told me. "...you are so young, physically weak." What can I do against these strong opponents? The speed that I got from my father, is beyond god-like but I can't just fight with speed, can I? Maybe if I combine my speed and Ryuugan, I can trick the opponent and...

"MYOKU!!!"

My mind jolted back to the battle at hand. With the Ryuugan, I can see a grappling hook attached to a chain as thick as my arm, and the hook was a few inches from my face. With beyond god-like speed, my father came to my rescue, pushed me down to dock and...

"I am sorry to have done this to you. But I cannot leave any of you alive. You are a threat to the clan with your superior eyes. A threat to conquer our country, and could take our very lives." Jube was looking at my mother while she was gasping for breath. His spear was pierced on my mother's chest, blood spilled all over her body. "And by virtue of that, you became a murderer yourself," mother said. "Shouldn't you be feared yourself, Jube? You allowed yourself be consumed with greed of power and had given in to darkness. Why, Jube? Have you forgotten the love instilled in your heart? Have you forgotten how happiness lies in giving yourself into kindness to others? Jube..." mother coughed blood. "No, you are no longer the Jube Saeki I've known. No longer."

Rage. Rage enveloped my being that day.

"MOTHER!!!"
Jube turned his gaze toward me. Instantly, I lost myself to the dragon within. The next thing I knew, my mother's arms were wrapped around me. And Jube's body lay lifeless on the ground, my father's sword stained with blood in my hand.

"Myoku, my sweet. How are you? I'm so glad you're home." mother said smiling with her hazel colored eyes looking at me sweetly. "Mother..." I hugged her and cried. She fell to the ground. I tried to catch her but my body was so frail we both fell. "Mother, please hold on, I'll get the doctor for you." I tried to run but she pulled my kimono to stop me and held my hand. "Myoku, my sweet, please do not tire yourself even more. You've been through a lot today. I have seen everything." my mother said holding my hand. "Everything, mother? What have I done? TELL ME EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE!" I asked, my voice shaking. "The ninjas. The Nebu soldiers. They're all dead! Father. He saved me. He was killed. I-It should have been me!" I cried. "And those ninjas... and soldiers... I killed them... I think I killed them! You've seen it, don't you?" I said trembling.

"Myoku," She said faintly. "Do not concern yourself with what has already happened. Think of what lies ahead of you." She touched my face with her blood-stained hand. "I will not be there to protect you anymore... even to take care of you...."
"DO NOT SAY THAT!" I interrupted. "YOU WILL LIVE!! I'll just have to..."
She put a finger over my lips to silence me. "My sweet, will you leave me with the few remaining minutes of my life?" Those words pierced my heart. "Myoku, be strong. I will no longer be by your side but always remember, I will always be your iris." she said lovingly.

There were no words for me to say.

"Myoku, be strong... I... love... you." With those words, she gave up her life.

Iris.

She will always be... my iris.

The Tenken. The "Heaven's Sword" left by my father.

Their smiles. My mother's and my father's smiles. They will always be with me.

I have to be strong. The strong shall live and the weak shall die.

Mind. Shielded by the dragon within.

I. Will. Be. Strong.