"I wonder if my okasaan is worried about me now..." the girl said, looking back down the fertile valley from the hill she had been climbing since dawn. A fairly large city was starting to bustle as a new day arrives. She stopped at the top of the hill as she tied up her long, lustrous black hair, the breeze making the baggy sleeves of her clothes flap distractingly around her face. Her red eyes flashed back the light of the sun as she continued to look over the horizon and absently picked off a leaf from her side, her fingers brushing against her long sword. Touching the hilt softly, her mind wandered to this morning when the first rays of the sun has yet to bring light to the world and the only way to see was by her father's paper lantern...

Two figures spoke in hushed voices beneath the shadows of the majestic Dragon Keep, speaking quickly while the young man, her brother, kept watch, the darkness of the night surrounding them. Not even the earliest risers were awake and the guards had been ordered off. Her father, Kenji, looked at her worriedly as he said his last pieces of advice to her.

“Kisa, listen to me. Never act impulsively, I know how you are and you may insult another clan in your defense and love for ours."

Kisa began to whine. "But otousan..."

Putting a finger to his lips, Kenji looked around furtively first before continuing. "I don't want you to be the one to start another war. You have to be careful; using your skills needlessly will only get you in trouble. Remember what I told you before, never let others know who you really are, especially if they come from the Serpent or the Lotus. They will only try to exploit your lineage."

She sighed in defeat and turned towards her brother, Reiko, who was waiting to bring her outside of the Dragon's territory when her father stopped her. Wincing, she turned around slowly, expecting to have another sermon until she saw him handing something to her. Eyes wide with happiness and surprise, she clasped it to her bosom. It was a long katana of the finest tempered steel, sheathed in a black scabbard with a thick gold band at its hilt, intricately designed depicting a scene where a bird in flames was flying freely through the sky. She gave her father one last squeeze before departing with her brother from her home.

As they stealthily walked across the alleys, Reiko asked her again, "Are you sure you need to go?" They ran through a clump of mango trees, the golden fruit waving enticingly at them.

"Of course, oni-chan. Why don't you come with me? It'll be so much fun! Think of the adventures we'll have! Fighting off the mean Serpents and ugly Lotuses, it'll be great!"

They jumped down a small hill and passed more homes, all quiet for the night. Reiko shook his head "I can't go, I have my obligations here and besides, okasaan will be hysterical if we both disappeared at the same time." He said, smilingly, before looking over the corner of a bamboo house to see if anyone was there. “Just remember what otousan said to you and you’ll be fine.”

Sneaking past the watchtowers and dashing into the outermost fringe of town, Kisa asked him. "Which one?"

Reiko stopped next to a large tree and wiped the sweat from his brows. "You are not supposed to show off your skills unless if you want to have another war on our hands. The last one was bad enough." A balmy breeze rustled the leaves on a nearby tree as Kisa pouted to her older brother. “You can still remember that? I never really listened in class…”

He looked around first before replying to her. “Of course though not all of it. I was there after all though I was still too young.” Smiling fondly at her, he gathered her up into his arms and hugged her. “You had better go. And remember what otousan said! Be careful!” She waved had began to run into the forest before them.

"I'll see you soon oni-chan! Say good bye to okasaan for me!" And she disappeared into the darkness…

That was more than just a few hours ago and now she was quite far from her home, going on a journey to help her understand more how the other clans work and to realize what is her true place in this strange world under the watch of an unknown power.