Thread: A Ronin's Path (LadyYuna & Silverknight's 1x1)

Aiko The Meiji era was beginning to rise just like the sun was on a warm March day. The seventh to be exact, at least from the last time a certain young maiden had checked up on that. Time was difficult to keep track of, more so when one moved from place to place in such a nomadic-like fashion. But it was something Aiko couldn't exactly help. She needed to go from place to place, for one. Two, there was nothing left for her back in Kyoto, Japan, where she was born and raised. Not counting bad memories and flashbacks anyways. Perhaps the better wording was nothing significant. That plus her obtaining her goal and finally becoming a free woman all but encouraged Aiko to take up the lifestyle of a ronin. Just the name alone typically caused her to get an array of stares, many of which tried to suggest she should be ashamed of being a ronin. And to some degrees, she agreed. But not nearly enough to turn back around and go back to what she used to be which, in a word, was a slave. Even to this day, Aiko couldn't remember very well how she wound up away from her biological family and into the rich one that had raised her. They insisted they had bought her. But something about the story felt ... wrong. Even if she didn't recall her parents, Aiko's instincts tried to insist she would never have been brought into this world by people who would dare allow such a thing to happen to their child. Maybe she just hoped for it. Regardless, Aiko never easily believed such a thing. From the ages of five to fifteen, she was raised as a servant to the Kirigawa family. During her stay, however, she managed to sneak peeks among the men and watched them use their swords and blades. It wasn't as very well disciplined as them, but within time, she self-taught herself how to use a sword on her own. The wars began a few months after she turned fifteen. And the arrival had been much like her own swords a double-edged blade. It wound up being the perfect distraction she needed to escape. And yet .. it introduced her to so much violence, most of which was done unnecessarily. The sights saddened her. But what was definitely worse were the lives she had been forced to take. It was all done in self-defense at least a miracle which Aiko was definitely glad for. It meant she didn't have to sink as low as all those who murdered for nothing but bloodshed and other selfish desires. Now, however, the currently twenty-one year old Aiko found herself at a bit of a loss. While she was glad for the recent end of the wars, she felt uncertain of what to do with her life. Many strangers - those that talked to her in a civil fashion - suggested settling down and having a family. As nice as the idea did sound, she feared taking it up. While Aiko did believe in her abilities to be a lover and mom, she didn't want her past to be traced and thus force anyone to be in any unnecessary danger due to her background. It wouldn't be right nor fair. So Aiko often used another term besides 'ronin' to best describe herself a mercenary. If people within any of the cities of Japan needed any form of assistance, she would be there long enough to help then leave. Not enough citizens welcomed ronins and even fewer seemed keen on her coming in with blades attached at her sides. While she had two wakazashis, Aiko tended to only use one in battles. The second was more for a precaution of sorts, in case her primary weapon ever broke or needed repairs. Hazel eyes gazed around as she saw another city in the distance, causing a soft sigh of relief to pass her lips. Good. You needed a place to halt at ... She murmured softly, wrapping her arms around her stomach. Aside from the clothes on her back, she had a bit of money that she'd earned from her services back in the wars and, of course, her swords. Otherwise, Aiko didn't have much in terms of material possessions. Then again, she didn't tend to need much for herself ever before. Usually, Aiko's swords were more than enough to help her live and survive. Then again, that was all a swordswoman needed or so she'd assumed.