Five months have passed. I have been taking up missions for the Shogun since that time. Today is the day of my birth and I turn 26 years old. It should be a regular day for me, but it is not. I was assigned to kill, or capture a very high target for the Shogun. This was the very first mission where I had to take a life.

Apparently, someone was plotting to assassinate her. I don't know why, all I could think about is getting this over with. I find the person hiding out in a forest, surrounded by nothing but trees and darkness. I hang silently from a tree branch, watching the assailant eat his rice cake dinner.

I toss a smoke grenade at the ground, hoping to draw his attention away. I then drop down from a tree branch to attempt a killing blow, but the individual defends himself rather well. After a brief struggle, I end his life by stabbing him in the neck area with a kunai.

"Darkness take you." I say to him as a form of last rites. After I put my sword away, I see that he had a picture in his robe, he had a family... A family! What the hell have I done? Was he really a threat? Never the less, I took the life of some ones husband, someone's father. I know this is only my first month, but I have this problem with killing people, especially people with families.

I begin to hyperventilate, feeling the nerve-wracking tension of my actions. I then punch a tree so hard, a hole blows through it. I then go back to the Shoguns palace and I report my success after I collect myself.

"The threat has been eliminated, my lordess." I say.

The Shogun then rises from her chair and she tells me, "Well done Ako, you may rise."
I comply and the Shogun hands me a present for my birthday.

"What is this?" I ask her.

"Open it." she says kindly. I open the gift and it is revealed to bea golden necklace, in the shape of a lotus.

"What's with the necklace?" I ask her.

"Out of all of the ninjas that have served under me, you have been the most honorable and respectful. Your father is a very good friend of mine, he has faithfully served me for a long time." she says with gratefulness.

I then look at her and ask, "You treated him like family, did you?"

The Shogun places her hands on my shoulder's and replies, "Yes, I have treated him like family and in a way, he is family."
The Shogun and my father have been friends, for many years. I find that to be very honorable.

"That makes you my family too Ako. I have never met anyone as respectful as you, which is why I consider you a friend." she says.

I blush and I reply, "Thank you, lordess."

"Lordess, I am a little uneasy about killing. I feel like I am causing more problems than it  solves." I say.

"I see... I can see that it troubles you, killing people for me. I've gotten to know your heart for the last five months. You want to help people rather than kill them. You will soon learn that the life of a ninja, is a severely harsh path to walk."

She then sends me on my way, but she then stops me by saying, "Oh Ako, I am inviting you and your family to dinner tonight. Think of it as a celebration of your birthday."

I then say, "Okay, I will be here."

The Shogun smiles and says, "Excellent, I shall see you tonight." I bow and I leave the palace. As I get back home minutes later, I begin to get ready for the Shogun's dinner. My mother then knocks on my door and I slide it open.

"I have something for you my daughter, it is something that I have always known that relates to you." she then gives me a golden bracelet that resembles the sun.

"It's amazing! Thank you mother, I love it!" I say.

"Ako, what is that on your neck?" My mother asks me.

"The Shogun gave this to me as a gift." I replied.

"It is beautiful, The Shogun must be really fond of you." I then look downward towards the ground; my head in a pure melancholy state.

"Ako, what is wrong?" she asks me.

"Earlier today, I killed a target for the Shogun... A traitor. What I didn't realize was that, he had a family. I took a life mom, a life that will never see his family again. I took his life that quickly, is that all I am? A hired blade? I wonder if there is something in me mother? Something dangerous?" I wonder.

My mother hugs me and says, "Ako, sometimes being a ninja is hard and it is a tough process to go through after training. You have just finished your training, just give it a little time."

I then tell her, "But mom, I don't want to be the person that kills people, or people with families. I want to be the person that saves them from the darkness. I want to help people."

My mother nods and she tells me, "Ako, you will be a beacon that rids the world of darkness and evil. But Ako, sometimes you have to kill a demon to save the lives of many. The ninja way is never black and white, but the remorse you feel, is what separates you from others. Your humanity makes you strong."

My mother leaves my room leaving me in deep tgought. I think about what my mother said to me and I then think about the past five months that have transpired. I might have done some good, but I still feel guilty about killing that man, causing eventual grief for his family. I think that I would feel less troubled if I had just captured him, but I guess we will never know

Later that night, me and my family arrive at the Shoguns Palace for the feast.

"Welcome Kusanagi Clan, it is an honor to have you all here tonight. I would like for you to meet my daughter, Zenji Kunasai." The Shoguns daughter appears before us and her dress matches her beauty.

"My daughter is a ninja in Hidden Lotus clan, I have invited your family here Han, to call a truce between the clans." A truce? It's hard to believe that my father accept a truce, to clan who apparently has no sense of honor.

"Okay, what are your terms?" My father asks.

"We shall discuss this later, for now we must eat." we ate with the Shogun at the main dinner table, she then calls everyone to her attention.

"Now, as you all know, I have called everyone here to see the unification of two clans, enjoying dinner together. I also want to send my kind regards to Ako Kusanagi, of the Rising Sun ninja clan. Today is the day of her birth." I smile and chuckle nervously.

"So eat and drink your fill, for in the future, a new era begins." All of the ninja clans, united together? I never thought that it would be possible, but if it can happen... Can two clans coexist together? After we have finished eating, we thank the Shogun for her hospitality and we all prepare to leave the palace.

Before we could leave however, the Shogun stops my father.

"Han, we have much to discuss, remember?"
My father bows and apologizes. He was in such a rush to continuing to celebrate the day of my birth.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot... the treaty." My father and the Shogun then go into the main throne room, while my mother takes me, Sia and Zizan back home.

"I wanted to talk to you about this in private, because I don't want Ako to know about the extra details yet." my father then looks puzzled.

"What details? You practically told everyone that you want to form a united Japan." but what my father did not know that the Shogun had a plan to go about the truce.

"The clans need a person, that could lead them and keep them together... I want your daughter to be that person, I want Ako to lead us as the next Shogun of Japan." my father then looks shocked by the revelation.

"My daughter... Leading us?" The Shogun then nods and my father says, "This will be to much for Ako to handle. I shall tell her when the time is right."

"Agreed, when she is ready, we can move forward into the future." says The Shogun.

As the Shogun and my father are talking, Zenji listens in the distance. She feels that she has been blindsided by her own mother, robbed of a chance to lead Japan. After my father left the Shogun's palace, Zenji then approaches her mother and she talks to her about the treaty.

"Is a treaty really necessary?" she asks. The Shogun then reassures her on the plan.

"A treaty will show how strong a nation Japan can be." The Shogun says.

Zenji looks at her mother and says, "Well mother, no one knows that better than you... With respect, I should have been next in line to lead this nation... A chance to pass the torch from mother to daughter." The Shogun then shakes her head.

"I know you are eager, to be a leader, but trust me when I tell you, you are not yet ready." she tells her.

Zenji then inhales and says to her mother,
"So you pick a person, who is weak minded, to lead our nation?" The shogun then slaps Zenji, causing her to bleed in the process.

"That is enough Zenji! If there is one thing I do not tolerate in my house, it is dishonor. You will honor this treaty and you WILL, honor my wishes!" Zenji wipes the blood off of her bottom lip and she sternly replies, "Yes, mother."

Zenji then storms out of the palace, as her mother looks on. Back in the Rising Sun Village, my father talks about the news to my mother.

"Is she serious?" she asks.

My father then replies, "Yes Myako, it is true..." my mother ponders the Shogun's decision.

"Why does she want Ako to become the new Shogun?" she asks.

My father then says, "I do not think the why matters anymore. She may have a good reason for choosing Ako."

My mother nods and she asks, "When do we tell her?"

Father then replies, "When the time is right, she cannot know, she needs to be ready for it first." I come barging in and I say; "And I don't have a choice in the matter?" My parents turn around and they look at me shocked.

"How long have you been standing there?" My mother asks me.

"The whole time. Is it true? The Shogun wants me to be her successor?" I wonder.

My father then says, "Yes, but Ako, this could be..." I then cut my father off in mid sentence.

"What, a perfect opportunity to be the Shogun's muse?!" My mother disapproves of my choice of words, shouting my name with a tone of shock.

"Myako... I would like to have a moment alone with Ako." My mother can feel the tension between me and my father and she leaves the room.

"Do you know, how much of an honor this is? You could be the one that bridges the gap between two clans, yet you act selfishly!" he says with dissapointment.

I tell my father with anger in my heart, "I never asked for this life, I never asked to kill for the Shogun and I sure as hell, did not ask to be chosen as the Shogun's replacement!"

My father raises his voice and says, "You mind your tongue Ako, I have never seen you like this, you say that you did not ask for this life, well neither did I! But I am in it and so are you! You are my youngest daughter, quite possibly the greatest in your family as a ninja, but you do not want to honor your family, instead, you want to leave us behind and live a normal life, there is no normal for us, only honor and service to the Shogun."

I then ask him, "Do you remember what you said to me?"

My father then replies, "What are you talking about?" I then make him remember by walking up to his face without fear. I also grab him by his robe, he does nothing to stop me.

"I am talking about the time when you told me, that I had a choice to make. You told me that I can choose my own destiny, that I can forge my own path... You lied to me, you break my heart father, you dishonor me!" I then storm out and I ignore my mother calling my name.

"Let her go Myako, she is right, I did dishonor her..." My father said, with remorse in his voice.

I then lay down, in my room and I cry myself to sleep. I was heartbroken by my father's words, but I may have wounded him with mine as well. Why does the Shogun want me to succeed her? Why can't she just unite the clans herself? What does she see in me? All I know is, that I cannot be the one who becomes Shogun, I don't know if I can accept that responsibility. I am not ready for that burden...

Hey there guys, what did you think of this chapter? Comment and let me know!

Thank you for reading and I will see you soon!

Peace and Love