* I wiped away my tears as I walked into my cottage. My sister, Kaiyo, had headed back to the city. I already missed her and was thankful to find the steaming tea waiting for me and for the servant that prepared it. Five days ago I found my mother brutally beaten outside of her home. This morning we laid her to rest. It has been the hardest and longest day of my life. As I sipped my tea the words that my mother whispered to me before she took her last breath ran through my mind. * Mama? Dare ga anata ni kore o shimasendeshita (Mum? Who did this to you?) * She looked into my eyes. * "Watashi wa anata no hontō no hahaoya no kodomode wa arimasen yo. Watashi ga i taka no yō ni shikashi, watashi wa anata o aishite imashita.Tatakai o oboete, dare o shin'yō shite imasen." (“I am not your real mother, child. But I loved you as though I was. Remember the fight, trust no one.”) * She never told me who did this to her, but I will find out. Confused and exhausted I retired to bed and repeated my mothers words. * "Watashi wa anata no hontō no hahaoya no kodomode wa arimasen yo. Watashi ga i taka no yō ni shikashi, watashi wa anata o aishite imashita.Tatakai o oboete, dare o shin'yō shite imasen."

* I wiped away my tears as I walked into my cottage. My sister, Kaiyo, had headed back to the city. I already missed her and was thankful to find the steaming tea waiting for me and for the servant that prepared it. Five days ago I found my mother brutally beaten outside of her home. This morning we laid her to rest. It has been the hardest and longest day of my life. As I sipped my tea the words that my mother whispered to me before she took her last breath ran through my mind. * Mama? Dare ga anata ni kore o shimasendeshita (Mum? Who did this to you?) * She looked into my eyes. * "Watashi wa anata no hontō no hahaoya no kodomode wa arimasen yo. Watashi ga i taka no yō ni shikashi, watashi wa anata o aishite imashita.Tatakai o oboete, dare o shin'yō shite imasen." (“I am not your real mother, child. But I loved you as though I was. Remember the fight, trust no one.”) * She never told me who did this to her, but I will find out. Confused and exhausted I retired to bed and repeated my mothers words. * "Watashi wa anata no hontō no hahaoya no kodomode wa arimasen yo. Watashi ga i taka no yō ni shikashi, watashi wa anata o aishite imashita.Tatakai o oboete, dare o shin'yō shite imasen."

* {I was maybe 3, my parents, brothers and I were outside when there was a fight between dad and another man. At first it was just the two of them and then someone grabbed my mommy, making her drop me. I cried as a bigger fight erupted. Claws came out and blood flew, everywhere I looked it was total chaos humans and wolves fighting. It didn’t take long and everywhere I looked was littered with dead body’s. A man grabbed me, he had the scariest face and a large blade in his hand. I tried to fight, but it was no use. He put the blade to my neck before another male ripped him away from me. This male picked me up, spoke to me gently and wiped the tears off my face. He focused on my arm and showed a couple of men, they nodded their understanding. And then he strode off with me.} Sitting up sweaty and breathless in my small platform bed, I looked down at the birthmark on my wrist. It was in the shape of the Japanese Lotus flower. The Lotus flower is revered in Japan for it’s ability to rise from the dirty, murky water to bloom into a beautiful pure flower.

There was a slight knock and I jumped out of bed. Straightening my Kimono and quickly putting my hair back up, there wasn't much I could do with my face. I slid the shoji to the side and bowed my head to the male. * Ohayō. (Good morning) * The male nodded * ".Ohayō, Senichi Masaki, anata no sonzai o yokyu shimashita." ("Good morning, Senichi Masaki, has requested your presence.") * I nodded. * Arigato, sugo iku yo. (Thank you, I'll be there right away.) The male turned and walked away. I quickly made my face up and changed into a fresh Kimono. The village I grew up in was quite small so there was no use in getting my car out, I could walk just as fast. Senichi was the Alpha of our pack, I grew up believing he was my uncle. He treated me different then he did the other females. Putting me through rigorous training. Hand to hand combat, sword fighting and shooting, I was a perfect marksman. Those skills were good to have, but I hated what he made me do with them. I've taken the lives of many people, not even knowing why. I lived with the guilt of it everyday. He paid me well, but that wasn't the reason I did it. I did it because he threatened me. If I didn't do what he wanted. He'd kill my sister. With the week that I had, I'd welcome a mission. Stopping just outside of Senichi's home, I slid off my shoes and took a couple of breaths before entering the Alpha's domain. *