The sweat dripping off my chin and the heat under the blazing sun was nothing new to me now as the adrenaline adds up with every move I make. With one swift attack I made my opponent’s sword flying off his hand as he raised both of his arms as a sign of defeat while my sword ended up pointing at his direction.
He fell back and had fallen to avoid his sword.
“You lost again Takada though I won’t say I’m surprised” Mika stated with a grin plastered on her face while Takada’s expression was a mix of both irritation and embarrassment.
I lend him a hand to stand up. I put on a smile to tease him more. “You lost for the fourth time” I added on Mika’s remark.
He heaved a sigh, “I know”
Mika and Takada are my closest allies here at the Ojiwari yakuza clan. I am well known for my swordsmanship and my agility when it comes to fighting but at the same time my identity here is rather confidential and I made sure to keep it that way.
Mika and I laughed while putting our swords away while Takada lazily sat down on the stairs near the training grounds and had just thrown his sword to where it was kept. Mika and I sat down beside him as we enjoyed the silence. The summer breeze was quite refreshing while the clear sky is mesmerizing as puffy clouds lingered with the different shades of blue.
“Akira-sama”
the added word ‘sama’ is somewhat referred to those of nobles or someone who holds importance
I turned my head and found Sana who was watching in the side. With her usual traditional Japanese attire paired of with thick glasses and a book in hand. Sana stared at me with the same stoic eyes but even though she holds a small stature she is someone who shouldn’t be underestimated. She acts as my assistant as I am recognized to be a young master of the clan.
“It’s exactly 2:30 and you have a meeting with your father at 3 right after your language class” I can sense her sarcasm on the last part but I can’t blame her for there is really no language class that I’ve been attending but this.
“The bath is ready for you and your clothes are also prepared in the same room. Let me know when you need anything else, Akira-sama” she bowed as a sign of respect before heading in, disappearing from our eyes.
I got up and at the same time the other two did. They followed me on the way in while the others who we passed by bowed to show respect and only to rise when we are out of their sights. As I entered the room Mika followed me in while Takada stayed outside the door to guard. I started to strip off my clothes as the doors and windows are closed shut. I went in the tub with only my underwear covering my skin.
“Is he planning on arranging your marriage again?” Mika asked as she closes the curtains around the tub and prepared my clothes on the other side of the room.
She was referring to my father who apparently keeps on looking for a partner suited for me since he fears that I am not living normally for my age. I don’t know if it’s my fault for not getting romantically attached to someone because I am too focused to so many more important things. I had tried to argue my point with my father yet he still insisted on picking a groom for me.
I am Akira Vayne, 21 years old and the soul heir to the throne of Vayne, a well known Mafia group and is well known for its great influence to others as well for both wealth and for their power. And the only child of their leader is me. It wasn’t easy being the heir of a powerful group but it became more complicated when I discovered that I am an heir of two thrones.
It all started 15 years ago when we were attacked by a group of yakuza in the Vayne estate. Wars between Yakuzas and Mafias are well known in our world as it started by greed for power until things got personal. Our estate was infiltrated by one of my father’s unknown enemies. The attack was so sudden, it caught us off guard so it was hard for us to quickly fight back.
I was only but a 6 years old girl and even though I know the position I have in my life I was still scared. I ran my way to mother’s bedroom after hearing one of the enemies closing in near my room. I know that one of the safest place in the estate is either my room or my parent’s but there wasn’t any sign of guards outside her door.
The gunshots and sword fighting was coming closer and closer as every scream echoes all over the hall. I went inside out of fear but had froze when I found 5 men surrounding my mother while there are 3 dead on the ground.
My father may be leading his men at this moment, leaving my mother alone in their room thinking that she’s safe. He might also thought that I’d be safe as well inside my room. Though things didn’t go with his plans.
My mother was holding a sword—no a katana to be exact and with every dodge and attack she did, I can’t help but be stunned. The way she fights was unbelievably elegant but at the same time deadly. As if she was made to hold that sword. But for as far as I know, holding a katana and mastering one is forbidden in our house since you may be suspected to be associated with a yakuza clan.
My mother is Japanese that is why it was hard for both of my parents to trust each other even if it’s through love but in the end it was a hurdle that they had passed through. Many had opposed their relationships for they suspect my mother to be associated with a yakuza clan.
So they investigated her but had only found that she lives as a normal Japanese woman. They had finally accepted their relationship and had me. My father had restricted my mother to suppress her culture and embrace his, it was hard for my mother but she accepted it out of love.
But for the first time I’m seeing my mother hold a sword and she can even properly use it as if she had practiced using that katana for a very long time to handle it as a pro. She beheaded one man while slitting the necks of the others, their suffering bodies fell limp to the floor. She didn’t make any of the men try a move on her, her moves were so fast and I can’t help but be astonished.
She had killed the three making the other two move back a bit to evade her attacks but as they move back my mother faked an attack. Both of the men avoided that fake attack making her reveal her surprise attack. She forcefully spun herself with her sword stretched out of her hand slicing one of the guy’s neck.
More blood had splattered and when some of it painted me, my mother’s view widened and realized that I was in the room. She was shocked and was caught off guard making his opponent mark his sword on her stomach. I screamed and when the man noticed me too he walked closer but not having to step any closer my mother stabbed him in the back as both of them fell. I ran to my mother’s arms and had trembled at the sight of her blood tainting the floors, mixing hers with the others.
“Mama! Mama!” I cried out, my tears blurring my vision. My lips quiver with every call as more tears came flowing out of my now already puffy eyes.
She caressed my face with a smile forming her lips as if to tell me that everything is okay. I kept on calling her and telling her to stay awake. I screamed for help on the top of my lungs over and over. She caressed my hair and pulled me closer making me stop amidst my call for help.
“Akira, my sweetheart. Can you listen to mama’s story” she smiled more assuring me that she’s fine. I nodded and stayed quiet waiting for her to continue speaking. Even if her voice was hoarse and how white her lips is she managed to smile and kept on caressing my cheeks. Even at a young age I know that she wasn’t fine and all I can do is hear her out. If only I was stronger so that I could have protected her.
“There was a young and beautiful lady. She was known to be the last and only heir to a well-known and dignified clan. She was perfect for the role, she was strong, she was responsible and more importantly she was kind. But she was blinded by love, a love that can ruin everything she had worked for but still she chose it. She turned her back on her family and on the succession that she was supposed to have. She turned her back on all that she was living for, for a love that was prohibited. She faked her identity just to be with someone she loves but as things were to settle she brought pain to the people she loved” she stopped as if to gasp for air.
“Mama?” I panicked and was about to call again for help but she held my hand. It made me look at her. Shocked and pained I was to see my mother’s tears flowing to her cheeks. I stayed by her side and had let her finish her story. My heart can’t take the pain but all I can do is watch her, hear her out and wait for what’s to come.
“That lady was meant to hold a responsibility for their clan. She was to hold peace among all yakuzas but had failed all for love” her hold was firm but I can feel her tremble. “I want you to continue her legacy, Akira. I want you to reclaim the throne as the heir of the Ojiwari clan. I want you to be the next head, the next leader and take the responsibility that I had ran away from”