Seventeen years have passed since my great grandmother Kagayaki passed away. Although I have never met her, my grandmother says that I’m the splitting image of her. My great grandfather Jingu is still mourning her passing…. everyday is hard for him. He hasn’t been able to leave his bed. My grandmother Kiatsu has been taking care of him ever since her mother’s passing. The passing hurt her as well, she loved her mother so much.
My mother Kigo was pregnant with me when my great grandmother Kagayaki was very ill and dying….mother got the chance to tell her that she was having a baby girl. She was so happy and looking forward to meeting me when I was born…..this hurt my mother a lot, me being born months after great grandmother Kagayaki passed and not being able to hold me….caused my mother to slip into deep depression. My Aunt Kikai stayed with my mother and took care of me too.
My mother was getting better and our family was pleased to hear that. I wanted to follow in my great grandmother’s footsteps….so I can become strong just like her.
“ Mother, what was my great grandmother Kagayaki like? “ I asked
“ She was a very strong person that never gave up….you should visit your great grandfather, he fought alongside her! “
“ Then I'll go do that! See you later mother! “
I got on my horse and rode over to my great grandfather’s house. I haven’t seen him in years since I was a little girl. I wanted to know more about my great grandmother Kagayaki, I wanted to become a warrior just like her.
“ Great Grandfather Jingu, it’s me Moeru! I knocked gently and opened the door. He sat up slowly and smiled at me with excitement.
“ You look just like Kagayaki….oh goodness! “ he started tearing up and hugged me
“ Mother said I look just like her too! “ I handed him the food my mother made for him.
“ Your mother is very sweet to make this for me…when you go back home please send her my love! “ he slowly chewed his food
“ I’m…not going back home….”
The room got quiet, and my great grandfather Jingu looked at me with a confused expression. I looked at him with a determined expression.
“ Great Grandfather Jingu, please tell me everything about my great grandmother Kagayaki! “
“ Alright, I will just let me finish this amazing food! “ he chuckled at me
After great grandfather Jingu finished his meal, he told me everything about my great grandmother, the moment they met, the loss of their first daughter, loss of her younger sister, and the many battles as well. My great grandmother’s legacy is still strong, her Samurai guild is still going. I wanted to become a Captain just like her…. I asked my great grandfather Jingu where the Samurai Guild was located. He smiled at me and remembered the excitement in my great grandmother’s eyes when she was ready for battle. He got himself together and we got on our horses….and we rode to the Yonaka Kingdom.
****
“ Jingu? Oh my goodness….you look wonderful! “ Empress Siku ran up to him sharing an embracing hug….she gave him a very tight hug but not too tight. They both bursted into tears. She looked over at me…she couldn’t believe how much I looked like great grandmother Kagayaki.
“ Wow! You look just like Kagayaki when she was a teenager! I’m so pleased to meet you! “ Empress Siku gave me a hug
“ It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, your majesty! I heard you were a good friend of my great grandmother Kagayaki and fought in the war as well? “
“ Yes! Those were the good old days! She was the best warrior…” she grabbed me gently by the hand, she brought me into a special room where she kept my great grandmother’s sword. My eyes widened as I saw the sword my great grandmother Kagayaki fought with. Empress Siku removed the sword from the shelf and handed it to me.
“ She gave up fighting in wars years ago, but she told me to keep her sword in a special place just in case the next generation wanted it passed down to them….I think that you deserve to have it. You can keep Kagayaki’s legacy alive! “
I started tearing up, I looked down at the sword….the sword didn’t even look as old as me, it’s been taken care of and polished everyday. I couldn’t believe I was holding it in my hands…I wanted to start training immediately. Empress Siku got right into training with Tadasu and Taeru. They greeted my great grandfather Jingu with happy tears and then bowed at me. We all began our training for the past couple of weeks. Empress Siku was very impressed with how strong I was, my strength was very similar to my great grandmother…..as expected!
I was so excited about how strong I had gotten, some of the training was really tough! But I was ready to fight in battles with the other warriors.
“ Great Grandmother Kagayaki, I can’t wait to make you proud! Hope you’re watching from above. “ I looked up at the stars smiling. Then I went inside getting ready to fall asleep. I hoped to continue my great grandmother’s legacy.
Comments (0)
See all