Born of Love

CHAPTER I

Yuna looks like her father... her father? Yes, though she would never know it herself, for he was gone before she could remember him. Despite growing up without his presence, Yuna never developed any grudge or longing for him; In fact, she never thought of him at all. It was sadly normal for men to cheat on women and then discard them, and although she found it disgusting, Yuna didn't regret it because she knew she was neither the first nor the last abandoned bastard that would exist in human history. What really hurt her most was the fact that her mother had never behaved like one; that she would have forced her to take care of little Taka because she was too drunk to do it herself. Yes... It hurt her more that her mother broke Taka's arm on that fateful autumn day when she realized that they had to flee that house if they wanted to survive.

Besides, Yuna couldn't afford to waste time pitying herself; she had to focus all his energies on protecting Taka. She became a thief and was not ashamed; we all want to survive, and being a woman with no contacts, born in Yarikawa (of all places...), the other option she had left as a woman seemed even more dangerous than stealing.

After years of kidnapping, beatings, and humiliation at Mamushi Farm, Yuna understood that Tsushima wouldn't work for them. Too much trauma, too much pain... She would bet on what could be seen from the eastern horizon; she would raise enough money to start a new life on the Main Island.

Or at least that was the plan before the arrival of the Mongols.

Before she lost the only thing that gave meaning to her life.

Before Khotun Khan snatched his brother from her.

After months of fighting, Mongol forces were eradicated from Tsushima. Almost all the people collaborated, but Yuna knew perfectly well who had contributed the most to the cause... Although now she never says his name or pseudonym out loud anymore. You never know who might be listening...

But despite all the prohibitions and bad press, the people continue to spread the Legend of the Ghost, although she must admit that the story has changed a lot from the one that she invented in the Komatsu Forge when Jin saved the survivors of the village.

"His arrows reach as far as Koryo!", "He bathes his sword in rays of boiling sun!", "He pulls you by the feet at night..." and her favorite: "The Ghost is really a woman; one with a very bad mood." The new Jitō can try all he wants, but he can never stop a good gossip.

Yuna constantly changes places, and to her dismay some people have begun to add her to the legend as "The Shadow of the Ghost"; a title that she admits is not entirely far-fetched, but that has put her in the sights of the samurai.

She knows that Jin has a hidden hut near the Omi Monastery. She knows she's always welcome. But she also knows that things have gotten a little awkward lately. During the war, circumstances did not allow Yuna and Jin to think about anything other than expelling the invaders, and their chatter oscillated between devising plans and how to improve their stealth weapons. Peace had returned thanks to their efforts and Tsushima was beginning to heal, but the fewer Mongols left on the island, the more awkward silences and routine questions (do you want to eat?, are you sleepy?, does your wound hurt?) grew.

They had tried to emulate a kind of family life: Jin repaired the roof, and Yuna cleaned and furnished the cabin. At the end of a few days, when they finished their tasks, they both exchanged glances and fled in shame in opposite directions. Yuna didn't assimilate the image of Jin wearing such humble clothes instead of his thin, sturdy armor, and Jin simply didn't recognize Yuna wearing a women's kimono instead of her usual comfortable pants.

Since then, visits to the cabin have been reduced and when she decided to go there was no one home. It was as if the two of them had made a mental pact to cross paths as little as possible. And that hurt. Jin was all she had left, and she had no idea what place he held in her heart. And may the kami help her! The Ghost wasn't clear with his feelings either...

Perhaps it was due to the last conversation they had before Jin dueled with his uncle, Lord Shimura. Lately she regretted having replied to his "You're not alone. You have me." with her cold "A ghost... You belong to everyone." alluding to the fact that he would not have time for her. Yuna understood (after many nights of reflection) that Jin was referring to himself, the man behind the mask.

And since then, he has not insinuated himself again.

The seasons passed and oh, winter returned! That magnificent season when food is scarce, and walls and ceilings are longed for. Threatened by the arrival of a group of samurai at the inn where she was staying, Yuna departed without delay. She wandered quite a bit on the roads, her fingers were numb (or was her body numb and her fingers the only ones still resisting?).

Several samurai patrols forced her to pretend to change her destination until she realized that the weather and annoying interruptions had led her to Omi Village; the one that was once the home of the Sakai clan. Different banners brought from the Main Island were now flying, and although she didn't have much contact with the village before the war, Yuna remembered it as the prettiest and most welcoming she had ever seen (though she thought so because it was the one with the least presence of samurai and its lord, Lord Shimura's former nephew, was almost never there.

"Looks like Omi misses him," Yuna said in a frozen whisper in contact with the icy air.

And since her options were drastically reduced, Yuna set off for the Monastery. Or rather, to that cozy cabin full of awkward silences and routine questions.