A Warrior Made Of Dragon's Blood

Chapter 1

"Sora wake up!" Slowly I open my eyes.

"What is it Haha? I was sleeping." I yell back

"You need to get up and help us with weeding the amerika fields." Groaning I get up. I walk to the door and yawn. My Haha is waiting outside. Together we walk down the street and past the other village houses.

Breaking into a run I sprint down the road and slide down the hill that leads to the amerika fields. Below me the entire community is weeding. The air is suffocating, hot and humid. I slide down another hill and to join my Chichi, who is already working.

"Where have you been all morning?" he asks looking disappointed and angry at the same time.

"She was sleeping until just a few moments ago." Haha replies sliding down to join us.

"We need to work on your discipline Sora. If you continue slacking off we won't have enough money to pay the samurai when they come to collect taxes."

I grumble and start working. The entire morning goes by in silence and dull work. When it's time for a break I sit with my parents and watch some other village kids play Go.

"I'll be right back." I say to my parents and take off running up the hill as fast as I can. I smile to myself. They should know by now that when I say, 'I'll come right back,' it means that I'll come home at the end of the day. Behind me I can hear one of my parents get up and say,

"I'll go and make sure that she doesn't disappear into the woods."

Quickening my pace I run straight into the Sakura no hana forest. I know every inch of this place and everything about it. They won't be able to find me in this forest. I'll be in for a lecture when I get home and maybe some extra chores and work, but it will be worth it.

I stop running and lean against an old tree. I always love this time of the year. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and their petals float through the air. Relaxing and taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. It seems like only seconds when I awaken. The sky is dyed flaming red and the trees cast long shadows on the ground. I jump up and start running towards home. By the time I reach the village, it's night and everyone is inside his or her home. I run into the house. My parents are waiting for me inside with looks of anger and even disgust on their faces.

"Where have you been all day?" Chichi demands breaking the silence. "Never do that again," Haha says.

Both of their tones are icy and all of the words are riddled with anger.

"I'm sorry." I mutter.

Haha hands me a small bowl full of gohan. "Go up to bed."

Chichi looks at me sternly, "We'll be waking up early in the morning and you're coming with us to work."

When I reach my room I collapse on my tatami. In the morning, Haha wakes me up so early that it's still dark outside. I walk outside with my parents and we all starting walking to the fields. Only a few other people are there and work is slow. As the sun rises higher in the sky, more people come and start working. The sun is setting when Chichi decides that it's time to go home. Around us almost everyone has gone back to the village. I guess this makes up for the lack of work I did yesterday. Wearily I trudge up the hill and into the house with my parents following me.