Chapter 3: The Hunters

I

KAMI TOWN, TOHOKU, JAPAN, AUGUST 1930

Rin swung her shinai, a bamboo practice sword, through the humid summer air and parried Sasaki’s attack. Glaring openings in the farm boy’s stance presented themselves: his posture was off balance and the exaggerated overhead slash he was so fond of exposed his chest and neck. With a quick jab of her shinai, she bashed him in the Adam’s apple. Sasaki staggered back and bent over in the grassy courtyard, dripping with sweat and gasping for breath. Rin’s identical twin sister, Keiko, rushed over from the archery targets to tend to him.

Keiko rubbed his broad shoulders. “Are you alright, Yuki?”

He kept coughing uncontrollably, unable to respond; so few opponents were after a sparring session with the dragon’s daughter.

Rin sighed. “Strong, but sloppy.”

From the candlelit, golden shrine of Bishamonten, the God of War, came thunderous claps.

“Excellent!” Rin’s father bellowed. “A dragon flows like water, making her opponent’s strength his own weakness!” He patted the top of Rin’s head. “Good one, Rin.”

Rin bowed to her father then to Sasaki. Seeing the boy gasping on the ground had dampened the air. “Next time Sasaki-kun, plant with your back foot and pivot with your hips when you strike.”

“Next time Kiryuu-san, don’t hit me so hard.”

Rin’s father laughed, and peered over his students with a maniacal grin. He didn’t show pity for long. “So who’s the next victim for my daughter? Come on now, she’s just a high school girl!”

Though the pupils consisted mostly of rock-for-brains farm boys, they had enough sense to steer clear. Despite the many tales of the Fire-Breathing Dragon, Kiryuu Kenshin’s exploits in battle, she was the one instilling more fear in their hearts.

“I thought so,” Father said proudly, “Keiko, perhaps you could provide your sister a challenge?”

“At shooting, maybe. But, papa, it’s getting late and I have a meeting with a friend. May I be excused?”

“A meeting she calls it,” Rin scoffed.

Keiko glared back at her. “Yeah, what’s the problem with that?”

“Sure, darling, go ahead,” Kenshin said. “Say goodbye to your mother before you leave.”

“Thank you, papa!” Keiko yelled, already running towards the dojo’s exit. “Better luck next time, Sasaki-kun!”

Rin shook her head at her father. Why was he always so soft on her? She was going to end up being some caged-up housewife at this rate. Maybe even pop out a few brats. Yuck!

Her father backed away from her. “Don’t look at me like that, Rin.”

“Papa, my kenjutsu will never get any better fighting these guys. They suck. No offense, Sasaki.”

That drew some laughs from the other boys.

“Whatever.”

Father put his rough hand on her shoulder. “Rin, you’re young. You will master the sword in time. Just look at how happy your sister is! You should go out and enjoy life too. Meet some young men.”

Rin crossed her arms. “Are you joking? I want to travel the country and test myself against the best like you did. I won’t be someone’s broodmare.”

“You want to face the best? Why didn’t you just say you wanted a shot at your old man?”

She allowed a half-smile to form. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Everyone in the dojo glanced over from their practice routines. She stared into her father’s eyes: the fiery eyes of a dragon. Was he serious or joking? Hundreds of men had shriveled under his gaze. She knew better. So many times, he’d make such a face, only to break down in laughter. This time, he stood in silence.

“You’re serious?”

He nodded. “I’ll see whether or not you’re ready. If you can land a good strike, I’ll acknowledge that you have the power to take the world on. You can pack your bags tonight, if you want. Sasaki-kun, your sword.”

Sasaki passed his shinai to Rin’s old man. “Yes, sensei.”

The kendo practice in the dojo had stopped. All of the pupils gathered to see the clash of the dragon and his daughter. Rin bowed and entered her fighting stance, strong but not rigid, holding her shinai tightly next to her right breast, tip facing skyward as he had taught her.

“Don’t underestimate me, father. Here I come!”

Rin flew at her father with a flurry of swipes aimed at his bald head, hairy forearms, and wide-set hips. Blocking expertly, almost effortlessly, he was harder to uproot from his spot than an old tree trunk. She locked swords with him, pushing against his demonic strength. It wasn’t enough to move him.

“Good, Rin, but you’re missing something.”

His guard released Rin as quickly as it had ensnared her. He allowed Rin to stumble past him and smacked her on the behind with his shinai. A shriek escaped her mouth. Though a layer of fabric stood between her ass and the bamboo, it stung like twenty of her mother’s spanks. The pupils went back to practicing, all smirking, trying to suppress their laughter. Even those fools could see who the winner would eventually be.

“Rin, it takes more than raw strength to survive. Weakness is power! A dragon knows when to be as hard as steel or soft as a woman’s-- ”

“Don’t be an old lech! We’re going again.”