Father

"Either you fight for your truth, or you give it up. I will not accept any other answer."

The mere thought makes her tremble.

However, this might be the closest thing to a chance she'll get to make Mugen accept her ideals. If she wins, it could save countless lives.

Hoshina breathes in deeply.

She mustn't hesitate, even against her dear father.

Another breath. The rest of the world blurs.

Fists raised. Feet rooted. Eyes locked.

She strikes at the strongest warrior alive.

Nothing lands, as expected. But he's forced to dodge everything. One hit from a metal limb could be devastating.

She keeps going—punches, kicks, grabs.

All masterfully avoided. A sharp counterpunch breaks her rhythm and forces her to back off.

He's already able to read me?

Mugen gives another signal to come.

No, I cannot afford to honor you.

Hoshina lifts her guard, and invites him to attack instead.

"Are you sure?" She nods.

He managed to read her after just a few exchanges. She'll never win a proper duel.

For a chance to surge, she must make bad decisions. Mistakes. Catch him by surprise.

A single step from Mugen makes her flinch. He approaches menacingly. Every step shatters her focus. A stomp propels her to attack.

"Mistake."

Pain fills her abdomen. Air leaves her lungs. And she starts falling. But this is it. She grabs his arm before he can pull out. A headache indicates she's been hit again. She doesn't let go. Tries to breathe back. Suffers another impact on her waits.

Then she plants one foot. As she drags Mugen by the arm, she kicks him with every ounce of strength she can muster. His pained voice indicates it was successful, perhaps she even cracked a rib.

She won't let go. Doesn't matter if he hits her thrice as many times, as long as she can endure...

Mugen pulls his arm. Drags Hoshina. Grabs her around the neck.

No way!

She bashes him with an elbow. He flinches, yet doesn't let go.

How?

She keeps striking back. He keeps enduring. This shouldn't be possible. His grab is stronger every second. Hers weaker as her vision blurs.

Everything goes dark.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

She wakes up in her room, aching in various body parts, all bandaged.

"Despite fighting for the wrong reasons, you did good."

Mugen is seated across her bed, treating his own bruises. Beside his usual clothing hangs a garment she's never seen before.

It all makes sense now.

"You wear protection underneath your robes."

"I believe I was in my right to keep it. Your limbs could count as a weapon."

No complaints there, she lost fair and square.

"What happens now?"

"You remain locked in your room until you swear on your Grandfather that you'll follow my cause."

"And if I don't?"

"My only alternative is to keep you prisoner for the rest of your life. Your ideas, name and power cannot be set free."

"Fair enough. Will you and Jogi visit me?"

"As long as you behave."

A short silence.

She doesn't intend to remain locked, and he knows it. Is he giving her another chance to fight back? Or perhaps…

"What happened to Mother?" The bandage roll drops, extending along the floor, all the way from his chest.

"She betrayed me, nothing else worth saying"

"Where is she?"

"Alive" He stands.

"Mugen?"

He leaves without another word.

So it's as I suspected.

We really are father and daughter.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Hoshina remains a few minutes alone, planning her next actions.

A bang shakes the door. It bursts open before she can answer.

"What the fuck, sis!?"

"Good night to you as well."

"Why did you fight dad? What happened?"

"Long story short: I don't want to be a warrior anymore, and I want to stop our clan from attacking more islands."

Jogi's jaw drops. She remains stunned until one of the guards asks, concerned. She slams the door behind her, nearly hitting him.

"Explanation. Long version. Now!"

A sigh escapes Hoshina. If she couldn't convince Mugen there's no way she can make Jogi understand her view by herself.

…

Of course!

Hoshina almost jumps out of her bed.

"What's gotten into you now?"

"I have one condition before I talk."

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Dropping down the window, she meets with Jogi at the courtyard.

Slipping into the armory is easier than Jogi putting on the pieces on Hoshina. It takes her a few tries but she figures it out eventually.

The guards at the dungeon don't question her sister's decision to visit their mother in the middle of the night, thanks to her being accompanied by an armored bodyguard.

Mother's cell is clean, almost gleaming. She has furniture, commodities… and bottles. Many bottles. Her drunken body is on the bed, or at least half of it. The rest, head and shoulders, lay on the floor.

"This is a waste of time." Jogi complains.

"Give her a chance, she's still our mother." She takes off her helmet.

"I'm only doing this for you, so you know." She kicks the bars. "Wake up, you useless bun!"

"Uh? Wat?" The rest of her body falls flat. "Ugg… tis're no hours for… pumpkin? That you? Who's the girl next to…" She stands promptly.

Eyes clearer than she's seen them in years. Brow furrowed, mouth curved down.

Then, it all breaks apart. She wails like when Grandpa passed.

"No way." She sobs. "Is it really you, Hoshi?" Mom walks up to the bars. "Come closer." No need to say it twice.

Hoshina hugs her from the other side of the bars, which breaks Mom into a stream of tears.

"I thought I'd never see you again, Hoshi. I'm sorry for always being such a mess. I'm sorry for avoiding you all these years."

Jogi scoffs. "If you're so sorry, why abandon your role as a mother? You think I'm gonna forgive you with a few tears, eh!?"

Mother's hug weakens. Hoshina doesn't unclench her grip.

"You're right, pumpkin, I—"

"I know why, and I forgive you." Hoshina's words crack Jogi.

"Are you mental!? There's no excuse for her shit!"

"I'd have also done the same under similar circumstances." Hoshina separates from her mother, but holds her hand as she turns towards Jogi. "She was running away because she couldn't stand to fight anymore."

"Running away from what?"

"Have you already forgotten? How did you feel when Grandpa passed?" The hold on Hoshina's hand tightens.

"He has nothing to do with this!"

"His loss is what broke Mother. She couldn't stand losing any more family members, that's why she distanced herself and tried to drown her feelings."

"So? That just means she's weak."

"Didn't you also feel weak when you thought I was dead?"

A flinch. "I mean… of course it made me sad. But as a warrior I couldn't afford to break down."

"Is it even worth being a warrior? Have you ever wanted to become one because you liked the idea? Or was it all a result of what Mugen taught us?"

"Don't…!" Her gaze lowers. "Say that…" Her voice sinks to a whisper. "Father couldn't have been mistaken. He's the greatest of all."

"He isn't perfect, I didn't want to admit it either. Still, he does love us all, including Mother." She approaches Jogi.

And continues. "He's doing his best for our sake, yet I can't agree with him. I think he's misguided, and I want to stop him."

Hoshina extends her hand towards Jogi. "But I can't do it alone."

Jogi looks away. She shifts repeatedly. Her hand lifts, then drops back down. She clicks her tongue. She looks at mother.

…

And then, she leaves.