Shira gathered everything, and was mixing it together to create the ink now, she was adding the last ingredients. The mysterious powder of black color and finally, the sacred lotus juice. Apparently it would soothe her skin and make the ink visible, otherwise the color would fade into transparency. She had already prepared the needles. 

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It was painful. But, she finally got the mark done, and now she would be recognised as the Dragon Fighter. The journey had been mostly boring, the only notable moment being her finding tha ancient shrine that held the powder. She chose a Sacret Lotus as the motive. On her left shoulder. She was ambidextrious, but wrote mainly with left hand, so she chose that side to bear the mark.

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When she returned to the Sakura Village in the mountains with the mark, she was welcomed with celebrations. She returned the scroll in it's original place, of course, having finished reading it along with the most secret technique, which she mastered in a week.

She didn't know then, but the mark would grow with her, the powder alien and special. It wouldn't lose shape with her growing.

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17 years old, Shira was eating Dragon fruit when she heard a commotion nearby. She always had her steel fan with her, somehow capable to hide it inside her own body (which she would later find to be an ability of her kind,) as well as a dagger hidden in her clothing. Her short blue half kimono.

Quickly jumping from the tree branch she was sitting on and onto the roof of the nearest house, she followed the sound.

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"So the Emperor searches for the finest young ladies for his son!"

'Oh. That's what it's about.'

You cartainly are beautiful, lady. You would be a beautiful dancer to entertain the Emperor's son, Hinato." 

Akane blushed, bowing to the guard. She had indeed grown beautiful. Her brown hair darkened slightly, now worn in an adorned bun with two strands out, each on the side of her face. Her big eyes stayed big, but had a new shine to them, her pink lips were full and well shaped and her fair skin was smooth like silk.

Shira showed herself, not sensing any danger.

"Hey! You look good enough! You can come with us, too!" The guard exclaimed.

Shira bowed deeply. "It's an honour, however I must decline. I am a fighter, not a dancer."

"Now, come on. You can't be a fighter!" At that, Shira showed her mark. One of the guards tried to clean it off, but found it to be real. 

The guards bowed deeply, recognising her as the Dragon Fighter. "We apologise for the rudeness. However," the guards said in unison, "we must ask you to come to the palace, for the emperor has been looking for a capable fighter. Please, accompany us!"

"Very well. I am curious about the palace anyway," Shira answered. As the Dragon fighter, not even the Emperor had power over her. She could reject, but she really was curious about the palace. And perhaps, they would even let her have a warm bath - she was always washing in the river, but a true bath would be something else entirely.

Somewhere in the palace, a dancer couldn't shake the feeling of something big approaching.

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Author's note...!

I know my writing is kinda lame '°_°

BUT, please bear with me! The story will get epic, I promise! 

Thank you for reading!