Arising

All those in favor?

We were back to the house. Well I was, Kai was a bit behind.

A few moments after he comes.

"Oh look at that I can still beat you in a race."-I say laughing.

"Race? I didn't knew that was a race!"-he says smirking and I playfully smack him in the arm with my helmet.

"I gotta go now."-I say to him.

"Of course, you need to rest."-he says as he moves his bike further away.

"Kai?"-I say and he turns his head to look at me.-"I know that I can count on you for everything that is about to come."

He leaves his bike and comes back to me: "Always, you know that the other members will want to take the lead of the organization. No matter what I will protect and support you."

"Thank you. Goodnight."-I say as I walk inside.

As soon as I get inside of the house I head towards my room. I was tired and a bit bruised so I didn't want anybody else to see me.

"Finally you are home."-I hear my mother's voice coming from the stairs.

"You shouldn't be up so late, you're tired, it's best that you rest."-I say as I climb the stairs.

"You still go in those underground places fighting people?"-she asks leaving me shocked.

She knew? How did she knew I never told that to anyone! Only Kai knew about it.

"Kai..."

"No, Kai didn't say anything. But you really thought as parents we wouldn't know what our child was doing? Yes, both me and your father knew. But you can't do this anymore."-she says looking at me, her hands were shaking, and her eyes were glistening from tears.

"Mother I just.."

"No."-she says, interrupting me, tears going down her face.-"I lost your brother, your father is gone now, I don't want to loose you too."

It was breaking me seeing her like this.

"You won't."-I say embracing her.-"I am going to continue our legacy and take care of everything."

She raises her head to look at me as I wipe her tears.

"In another time I would've said this is insanity, but now I want you to make this happen. Please my cherry blossom keep what is  rightfully yours. You are 25 years now and strong. I know you and your father always had your differences but you have his drive, always have. You may not like that, but this is your legacy."-she says, still shaking in my arms.

"It is, and I will protect it, I promise."-I say as I walk her to her room.

I knew that I couldn't just let go of my legacy, it wouldn't be fair to my family. I was going to keep what was rightfully mine and if anyone dared to challenge me they will get what's coming their way.

***
I wake up. My mother's words kept coming back in my mind. I wasn't going to fail her.

Quickly I get dressed in an all black outfit from my favorite designer and apply just a little bit of make up. There was a meeting with the members today and I was going.

I get to one of the cars and see Kai on a tree next to the car. He sees me and comes over.

"I'm going to the meeting."-I say to him as the driver starts the engine.

"I'm glad you are doing this. As I told you already, you have my full support."-he says as he grabs my hand softly and looks at me in the eyes.

His figure stood tall before me and for a moment I realized that I had missed that magnetic look of his eyes.

"Come with me. I would appreciate your presence there."-I say to him in a low voice still holding his hands.

"Of course."-he says and opens the door for me.-"let's go."

...

"You all know why we are gathered here. After Asahi's death someone has to take his place as the head of the organization. Our operations have to continue and for that the presence of the successor is needed. So we are here to choose the next head of the ninkyō dantai."

"There is no need for choosing a successor when there is already one."-I say as I enter the room.

"Miss Nao."-Haru, one of the members says as they all turn to see me.

It was a dark room, not because we wanted to make it sinister, but because darkness made things better. It kept the members focused on the important things, on the table, on what was being said. Also when you are in the dark, but you know your surroundings it is better to escape or protect yourself from any outside attacks.

"I understand that the need for the operations to continue is primary, but you should have at least announced our family when you arrange a meeting while my father's body is still warm. This is an insult!"-I say as I leave my belongings at the table.

"Miss Nao, you have to understand that as you said the need for the organization to continue is primary. And with your father gone and your brother dead a long time ago, there are no successors to the seat."-says Shao looking at me.

Well, there goes his support.

"Mister Shao is there a written rule that a woman shouldn't be a successor of her family's legacy?"-I ask him raising my brow. Enough with the games.

"Of course not, but it has never happened."-he says to me.

"So all of this is based of a custom? You just assume that women cannot lead even though they can inherit? That sounds a bit strange to me mr. Shao, not to say medieval and pointless."

They kept looking at me and I was starting more and more to feel the upper hand.

"Look gentlemen. I don't want to bring down any great traditions that have kept this organization going for six hundred years, but this one in particular isn't exactly a tradition. Is a way of operating by simply thinking that women do not wish to lead without asking them. Now I do want to be the head of the organization and as a successor of my father it is my right to do so."

"It is hard for a woman to lead an organization like this. This is not just any organization."-another member says from the dark.

I grab a knife from my bag and cut my hand with it, I grabbed it into a fist and squeezed it.
Blood started dripping from my hand.

"This is samurai blood. We always say that we are descendants of the samurais. This is warriors blood, my father's blood. Saying that this blood cannot lead is a great insult to all of us. Do you really believe that this blood cannot take charge?"

Silence.

My lips curve into a smile.

"I'm assuming you understand. I will be in charge from now on and I will be expecting all of you to meet with me for anything you have to say. Until then...."
I say and get out of the room.

A/N the badass side is starting to show! How do you like the story so far? Let me know in the comments.
Lots of love BG 💕