Daughter of Destiny, Son of Legend by Anna
Prologue
Hello, guys. This is a new/not so new/modified version of an old story I had started a long time ago. I lost interest in it for awhile but I've recently fell back into it and I'm ready to begin again and share with you guys. I already have the first few chapters written out so there will be daily updates for the rest of the week.
Now that that's out of the way! Enjoy!
Since it's been brought to my attention by those not clever enough to figure it out: Xiao-Nao IS Kagome. Which will be clarified in a chapter that I've already prewritten entitled "Becoming Kagome." Sorry for any confusion for those who weren't able to get there on their own.
Prologue
The sun was warm on her skin, kissing each inch of skin uncovered by her tunic. A glistening sheen of sweat lined her brow as her fingers broke through the soil, her nose scrunching up in discomfort as dirt collected beneath her nails as she unearthed the first potato from her mother's garden. Her sister, Ching-Lan hummed at her side, her tall, lithe frame squatting over the row of leeks she tended to with a rusted watering can. Xiao-Nao glanced over her shoulder, stealing a peek at her mother, the older woman wiping the sweat from her brow just outside the fence, tossing seeds to their hungry chickens. Xiao-Nao brought a hand to her brow, shielding her eyes as she looked up into the summer sky. The sun was high, by sunset her father and little brother would be bringing in the boat with the day's haul for her mother to clean. Unearthing the last potato, she placed it into the now full basket at her side before heaving it into her arms to carry into the house.
“Best hurry to the market before dark, Xiao-Nao. ” Her mother instructed as she passed.
“Yes, mama.” She replied, slipping past the thick, hanging cloth that served as a door. She lowered the basket to the floor making two separate piles to sort them evenly. Even though she had never learned to count to high numbers like the boys in her village but her elder sister had showed her how to sort even piles by starting with one potato in each pile then alternating in adding one more potato to each pile until the basket was empty. She did this until all the potatoes were arranged this way and then picked one pile to be for the market, placing them back into the basket to carry into town; the rest were unloaded into the potato barrel. Looping an arm under the handle of the basket, holding it close to herself she scurried out the door, her mother stopping at the gate to glance over the basket.
“Don't let him take advantage of you. That basket is worth at least one yuan.” She instructed, shooing the girl away as she continued to feed the chickens.
“Yes, mama.” Xiao-Nao called over her shoulder, beginning her way down the dirt road. Her sister cast a longing glance after her as she pushed past the gate.
“Aiya, go then.” Her mother scoffed with a roll of her eyes, dismissing her with a flick of her wrist. The older girl squealed with excitement as she dropped her basket, earning a scolding strike to the back of her head as she passed her mother. She brought a hand to the back of her head, glaring back at her mother for a moment before sprinting after her sister.
“Wait for me, mei-mei!” She called.
The village was livelier than usual, the market buzzing with conversation and various smells as they weaved through the crowd. Shuffling past the fruit stands, Xiao-Nao craned her neck to see through the ocean of bodies, her steel colored eyes searching for the vegetable vendor. Spotting him, she straightened her dingy brown skirts with her free hand, a charming smile plastered on her dirty face as she approached, her sister followed closely behind.
“Xiansheng! We've brought potatoes for you!” She chirped, swinging the basket before him teasingly.
“So I see.” He replied with a grunt, reaching out a hand to make a grab as he eyed the basket greedily.
“Three yuan.” She replied, sharply pulling back before his hand could take hold of the handle, her sweet expression melting away as she gave him a hard look. His hand snapped back as if the girl were snake about to strike.
“Three yuan? You ask too much, Niū.” He hissed.
“You think so, Xiansheng?” Xiao-Nao asked, feigning innocence. “I'm sorry, it's just the vendor from the market in the town over offered my father three yuan for our crops when he passed through last week, but they weren't ready just then. It's such a far walk to sell potatoes, you know! I hoped you'd match the price, but if it's too much then we best start walking. Thank you anyway, Xiansheng!"
She turned on her heels, ignoring her sister's confused expression as Xiao-Nao began to lead her away, 'shhh'-ing her sibling's whispered protests as she mouthed to her to wait. She counted their steps in her mind, the corners of her lips twitching as she held back her knowing grin.
“Wait!” He called out. Xiao-Nao stopped, turning to look over her shoulder with a questioning glance.
“I will spare you the walk and pay what you ask.” He replied grumpily, waving them over. She clapped her hands together cheerfully, releasing her sister's arm as she returned to him, eagerly offering the basket as he pressed the coins into her waiting palm.
“Thank you, Xiansheng!” She called, tucking the coins into the coin purse kept on a string around her tunic before returning to her sister's side, locking arms with the older girl.
“Woooow!” Her sister gawked, her dark eyes wide as she stared down at Xiao-Nao in awe. “Mei-mei, how did you get him to do that?”
“All the vendors know the Wu family grows the best produce.” Xiao-Nao exclaimed proudly. “Baba was lucky he built our house on such rich soil. Our crops hardly ever spoil.”
“Even so, when I try to sell to them they always end up cheating me.” She pouted, eying Xiao-Nao with suspicion as she gave her shoulder a playful nudge. “What's your secret?”
“I can't reveal my secrets!” Xiao-Nao giggled, leading her sister over to a cart selling sweet buns and rice cakes.
“One please.” Xiao-Nao requested, pointing out a rice cake to the vendor. Placing her money in his hand, she accepted his exchange, carefully tucking the treat into her pocket before accepting her change. She smiled as she answered her sister's questioning look. “I always buy a treat for Shaozu when I am successful. He works hard on the boat with baba.”
“Aiya!” Her sister scoffed. “No wonder he likes you more.”
“He likes you too, Ching-Lan.” Xiao-Nao reasoned.
“You're his favorite.” Ching-Lan pouted lamely.
“Oi, Ching-Lan if you bribed him with treats he might like you too.” A teasing voice interrupted. Both girls turned, Xiao-Nao waving excitedly in greeting while her sister grew flushed beside her.
“Oh, Jian-Heng! What are you doing here?” Xiao-Nao greeted the older boy as he approached.
“Ni hao...” Ching-Lan whispered shyly.
“Ni hao. I'm escorting my sisters around while they shop.” He replied stiffly with a roll of his eyes, gesturing to two girls having an animated conversation with a vendor selling silk scarves near by. “Baba gave them money to buy new clothes for the Emperor's arrival.”
“The E-emperor?” Ching-Lan sputtered out.
“Aye...haven't you heard the rumors?” Jian-Heng asked slowly, his thick brow cocking slightly, gesturing widely to the bustling villagers in the market square. “It's all anyone has been talking about. That's why they're all here.”
Both girls shook their heads, their eyes wide with curiosity, silently bidding him to share what he knew.
“I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Your baba is a fisherman.” He teased with a smile, letting them know it wasn't meant to be taken offensively as he beckoned them to follow with a wave of his hand. “Come, I've been walking them around all morning. I'm hungry. I'll tell you over some egg-flour noodles; my treat.”
Jian-Heng lead them through the crowded streets, stopping once he'd located a small noodle shop just further inside the village. Choosing an empty table outside, he sank down onto one of the dusty pillows, beckoning them to join him. With a blush, Ching-Lan took up his side while Xiao-Nao sat across from them, anxiously awaiting Jian-Heng's story. Much to her disappointment, he kept them waiting until the sweaty, old woman appeared from inside the shop with their meals. Xiao-Nao waited for him to take his first bite before she leaned across the table, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer.
"Soooo?...” She coaxed him, her steel-blue eyes locked on his own.
“Our Xiao-Nao is so impatient.” Jian-Heng laughed, Ching-Lan giggled nervously beside him, embarrassed by her younger sister's rudeness. Jian-Heng smiled broadly as he sat his chopsticks down beside his bowl, mimicking Xiao-Nao as he leaned forward, whispering teasingly to the younger girl. “Very well, should I tell you?”
“Yes!” She chirped, leaning on her elbows, her bottom wiggling like an excited dog.
“Calm down.” He chuckled, reaching across to ruffle Xiao-Nao's hair affectionately before properly setting himself back on his cushion. “Baba received a telegraph from a friend in Shanghai a few days ago, the Emperor has contacted the Minister in hopes of settling the animosity between our nations.”
“How does he plan on doing that?” Xiao-Nao asked, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout as Jian-Heng paused to take another bite.
“With a marriage between nations.” He answered finally, amused by Xiao-Nao's impatience. “He's offering to marry his eldest son off to a Chinese girl in an offering of hope for a future of peace and business between our nations.”
“Ahhh.” Ching-Lang perked from beside him, her gaze drifting off towards the marketplace. “That is why your sisters are preparing.”
“Mhm. I think Lien-Hua is clinging to any hope that the Emperor may choose her.” He laughed, shaking his head as he took another bite. “She's out of luck though. Supposedly not just any girl will do. The revolutionaries don't think it's a big enough gesture just to give the Emperor's heir one of the pampered daughters of a wealthy man. They're pressing him to choose a “true daughter of China.”
“A true daughter of China?” Ching-Lan asked skeptically.
“A poor man's daughter.” He answered with a smirk. “Lien-Hua may not think we have much compared to the daughters in Shanghai, but we own most of the land in Xiapu. We're well off enough that she wouldn't make the cut despite her hopes.”
“There are poorer villages than Xiapu.” Xiao-Nao commented.
“Aye, the Emperor will be sending a matchmaker to take record of the eligible daughters in the poorest villages of China's countryside. Xiapu included.” He explained. Ching-Lan suddenly looked very hopeful as pondered the idea.
“There are poorer families than ours, Ching-Lan, even in Xiapu!” Xiao-Nao scolded her, Ching-Lan sticking her tongue out childishly in response.
“She's right though.” Jian-Heng chuckled beside her, nudging Ching-Lan's shoulder playfully with his own as he beamed across the table to Xiao-Nao. “Can't have you married off to those barbarians. What would we do without our Ching-Lan, huh?”
Ching-Lan turned a lovely shade of red as she looked down, quickly taking up her chopsticks as she took an overzealous bite of noodles to distract herself, Xiao-Nao and Jian-Heng sharing a laugh at her expense. They finished their meal together in good company, even joined later by Jian-Heng's sisters. The sun was low in the sky when Jian-Heng finally walked them to the edge of the marketplace before parting ways, Ching-Lan staring longingly after him as they headed down the dirt road that would lead them home.
“I'm going to marry him.” Ching-Lan announced suddenly.
“You think so, Jie jie?” Xiao-Nao asked, linking arms with her sister.
“I know so!” Ching-Lan informed smugly. “Ming-Hua whispered to me that she heard Jian-Heng talking to their father discussing his desire to ask baba for the hand of his daughter before the maid shooed her away from the door.”
“How do you know he was talking about you?” Xiao-Nao teased playfully.
“Who else could he have meant? You? Jian-Heng would never marry you!” Ching-Lan sneered. “Jian-Heng would never go for a girl like you. Your hair is so short that you resemble a boy and your skin is dark like a heathen. Really, Xiao-Nao, you shouldn't say such foolish things!”
Xiao-Nao slowed her pace, her breath catching in her throat, surprised by the sudden venom in her sister's tone. It was true that her skin was tanned from long hours under the sun, and her once long, curly locks cut down to shoulder length after having grown tired of how hot and uncomfortable the thick mass of curls was to manage in the summer. She was the shortest girl in the village, barely five feet in standing. Even Jian-Heng's little sister Ming-Hua stood taller than her at only twelve years of age. Tears prickled behind her lids as her free hand moved to wipe at her eyes...her strange, blue-grey eyes the color of metal. The oddity that they were; inherited from their father.
“Xiao-Nao...” Ching-Lan laughed nervously, drawing her from her musings, gently bumping her shoulder against Xiao-Nao's own. “I was only teasing.”
“Oh.” Xiao-Nao replied softly, not at all convinced of her sister's claim, no matter how much she wished she could believe it. Shaking her head of the thoughts, she plastered a smile on her face as she unhooked her arm from Ching-Lan's, running ahead down the dirt road as she called behind her. “We should hurry before it gets dark, baba will be home soon!”
In Case You Wondered:
Xiansheng - First born, Mister, Sir.
Mei mei - Little sister
Jie jie - Big sister
Baba - Father
Niu - Little one
Ni hao - Hello
Xiapu is a real place. It's a small fishing village in the Fujian province. For those who are curious this story takes place in China and Japan circa 1912.