I was born in the year 3277, on Bodger’s World in the Shinigami system.  I was the youngest of seven sisters. My mother died when she gave birth to me. Bodger’s World is an agricultural planet, and my father was a farmer. When I was four years old my father's entire crop failed. He owed much money, but had no means to repay it. To settle his debts he sold his farm, but it was not enough. So he sold my eldest sister into slavery, but it was still not enough, and so he sold my second eldest sister into slavery. Still it was not enough to pay the debt. So he sold all my sisters, but still it was not enough.

My father could not bring himself to sell me into slavery, because I was so young and small. Instead he became a slave himself. But he could not take me with him, and so he sent me to live with the nuns at the temple in the mountains. There I became a śrāmaṇerī, and trained in the ways of Zen. During my training I discovered the teachings of Seijuro-sama. I drew much inspiration from them.

I studied at the temple for three years. During that time my sensei would often tell me that I was intelligent for one so young. He said I had demonstrated great promise, but that I needed to improve my self-discipline before I could become a full bhikṣuṇī.

Then he asked me a question; ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘what is your heart’s desire?’

I did not hesitate in my reply; ‘To become strong,’ I said.

Sensei looked at me and smiled, ‘You are but a small girl,' he said, 'seven years old, and not yet a woman. How will you become strong?’

Again I did not hesitate; ‘I will be gentle. Through gentleness, strength will prevail.’

Sensei nodded. ‘And what then?’ he asked me. ‘What will you do with your strength? How will you use it, little girl?’

‘I will use it for peace,’ I replied. ‘Gentle strength becomes peace. For through strength, learn gentleness. Through gentleness, strength will prevail.'

My sensei was a kind man. Very polite, very honourable. I remember how he smiled as I gave him my reply.

'You recite the creed of the Hattori,' he said to me. 'That is impressive. You answer with a wisdom beyond your years, and yet the logic behind your answer is flawed. This is something which will be rectified. Now go, little girl, and prepare yourself for a journey. Tonight will be the last you sleep within the walls of this temple, for tomorrow you depart.'

I was confused.

'Sensei,' I said, 'I do not understand. Why am I being sent away? Have I done wrong?'

Sensei shook his head. 'You have done nothing wrong,' he said, 'but your path lies elsewhere now. Your training will continue at the temple of the Hattori.'

And then my sensei left. I did not see him again. The next day I travelled to Mikawa Village. I had expected to find a small town, but when I arrived there and saw it for the first time, it filled me with awe. Never had I encountered such a place! To my seven year old eyes it was a city of wonder, nestling in the foothills of a vast mountain. But I had little time to admire its beauty, for I was taken straight to the Hattori temple. There I met my new sensei, Tomohiro Asegawa.

Tomohiro sensei was a strict teacher. At first I was a little afraid of him, but as I grew older we became good friends. He instructed me in the ways of the Hattori, and I learned many things. Tomohiro sensei's wisdom was great, and his mastery in the noble art of Tensatsuken was considerable. The knowledge and skill he imparted to me have become my lifelong companions. I only wish that I had been more worthy of him. I wish that I had not failed him.

As I changed from a girl into a woman, I found myself thinking of Tomohiro sensei as more than just my sensei. I began to have feelings for him, feelings of... affection. I kept this to myself, for to profess such emotions to my sensei would have brought disgrace on us both. But, just as he had filled my mind with his teachings, he now filled my heart with desire for him. His was the face I beheld in my mind every morning when I woke up. His was the face of which I dreamed every night in my sleep.

My training under Tomohiro sensei continued. We explored the teachings of Seijuro sama in great depth. and practiced Tensatsuken until our bones were weary. One day, when I was nineteen years old, sensei honoured me by complimenting my prowess at Tensatsuken. 'You are fast and strong,' he said, 'and your strength is gentle'.

This pleased me, for the Hattori creed has its foundation in gentle strength. But then sensei told me more.

'Your strength is too gentle,' he said. 'Your ability is great, and you are capable of even greater. Yet you hold back when you attack me. Why is this?'

I felt afraid to answer him, but I could not remain silent. 'I hold back because I do not wish to hurt you, sensei.'

Sensei shook his head. 'Then you cannot succeed. Do you not remember that Hattori choose the path of the warrior so that we may protect those who cannot protect themselves? How, then, can you hope to protect when you are afraid to cause hurt to another?'

My cheeks burned at his words. 'I am not afraid,' I replied. 'But you are my sensei. You are Tomohiro Asegawa. I will not hurt you!'

Sensei stared at me. 'Will not? Why will you not?' he asked.

The truth was that I could not bring myself to hurt the man I loved. I could not deceive my sensei, and so I confessed my feelings for him. Then he replied to me, 'Yes, I know. I have known for some time now that you hold affection for me. How did I know this? Because I have been your sensei for twelve years, and our bond is close. But there can be no love between us.'

I became afraid. 'Then what am I to do, sensei?' I begged him. 'Tell me, onegai!'

'When your love for me was held only in your heart,' sensei replied, 'I could ignore it. I hoped that, given time, you would outgrow it and focus your mind on study. And now that your love has fallen from your lips and into my ears, I can ignore it no longer. It is my honour to have been your sensei, for you have been a most capable student. But your learning must find its completion elsewhere.'

I began to weep. 'Where?' I asked him. 'Where shall I complete the last few months of my training? What is my path?'

Sensei took my hand. 'I am unable to tell you your path,' he said. 'That is for you alone to determine. But I can tell you this; the path to your true self does not lie within the walls of a temple. Now go, and prepare yourself for a journey. You leave Shinigami tomorrow.'

'Where am I going?' I asked.

'Ah,' said my sensei. 'You will know that when you get there. But first you must embark on your musha shugyō, your journey of enlightenment.’

At first, when I left Shinigami, I was frightened. I could not see how I would be able to live my life without Tomohiro sensei. I now feel ashamed to admit that I felt anger towards him for abandoning me, but, as the months passed, my anger subsided. I came to realise that sensei had been correct in his advice to me. My life was my own, and I would indeed have to determine my own path. And so I became at peace with myself, and began my musha shugyō in earnest. It has led me here, to Inara and in turn to The Olive Grove. It is here that I have made my life.

I have found my path, and I am content.