Dare to Desire

                                                                  Prologue    

Every morning seems to be the same as I think about the letter from my father. Usually my father would demand that I participate in some new fighting regiment. Today the letter stated that war was upon us, the nation will need someone of his skill and expertise. Saragami, my father, was always a strict person with amazing fighting abilities. Once my father was a right hand man to the Shogunate military forces, now he fights for modernizing Japan. Not sure if I agree with everything my father has done, but I always desired to protect Keira Anne. Long black hair that would brush across her face, even when it was delicately pulled it back with pins. In my presence Keira was required to wear her white powdered make-up and red lip stick, that always brought her green eyes out. Appearing to blush and shy away, Keira Anne would captivate me, like being in a trance. The sweet smell of jasmine, just like her letters, would cover Keira's surroundings. I looked at the letter once more and thought about the future that I could have if I just returned to Mount Takanosu, home.

Alec,

      I am completing your mother's journal with this letter. I want you to know about the day that your mother, Sophia, died. Even though you did not see me at the time I was on the hill near the farm house fighting off the Shogunate. The  Shogunate were weeding out anyone that was involved in the uprising, religious martyrs and foreigners. Protecting the farm and our hut in the village was top priority. I did not expect the army to go to the village first, slaughtering the women and children. The young girl, Keira Anne,  was being guarded by your mother and I after her parents died. It was hard to hide your mother with her bright red Irish hair, was one of my most difficult tasks I  could be given. The time period was hard for anyone regardless of where we ran, there was always someone tracking our every move.

      As the battle progressed I found myself fighting three men that were attacking your mother. I could hear the warrior asking her, "Where are your children?" Slamming her to the ground he took his torch and began to burn the hut, I ran as fast as I could. Knowing that you and Keira Anne were beneath the floor boards of the hut, hiding.... waiting. As I slide down the last embankment, the warrior raised his blade and drove it through your mother. I couldn't make it in time to stop the blow. I raised my sword and drove it through his heart, our and then around to strike the other warrior in the face. The blood ran down my blade as I turned to face the third man. Before he could raise his blade I had already delivered the death blow through his throat. Dropping my sword, I ran to the hut and torn the furniture aside, ripping the trap door off its hinges. The fire singed the hair on my arms and I knew that this pain was only a fraction as my heart would shatter to lose my son. I grabbed both you and Keira Anne, headed toward the mountains were we could hide in the hunters cave.

      After hiding for several hours, awaiting for the fires to stop burning and begin to smolder, I retrieved your mother's body for a proper funeral. Our journey began and we moved until we arrived at an old  cottage in the woods. Hiding in the cottage was an old man who fought many of battles in his time. Once we were no longer safe there we ventured into a crowded village, making it easier to hide. Time has separated the bond between us and after caring for Keira Anne over the years, I await your return for your betrothed. The Meiji era is progressing and it is time to bring your gifts to the table. I know you are angry for I feel I have abandoned you, but this is a war I could not sit aside on. Sending you to the Hitsuma Dojo was to teach you how to fight for what you believed in and not the beliefs of others. You, my dear Alec, are born to be great and destined to lead a new era of men. Protect Keira Anne, and live a full-filled life, do not falter from your destiny. Remember you have a place in the Mount Takanosu village, there were have great wealth, find Keira there and join forces with the Meiji government.