Momoko

"Mmh."

I woke up with a bad headache.

I found myself in an unfamiliar place. It is quiet but not the way I´m used to. . . it's comfortable.

. . .

Wait, shouldn't I be dead!?!

"Hello??"An unfamiliar voice suddenly popped up in my head that really surprised and made me fall off the bed.

"What happened?!? Who are you, and what are you doing in my head?"I shouted out.

"Well, as you may have noticed, miss. You are in a different place and at different time."

Wait ,what did he say??!

"And yes, you died. I'm a God who had pitied you because of your last life and that is why I put your soul in this 4-years-old child, so you may start a new life and be loved the way you are."

I can't believe what I have been told. I can be the way I want. In my last life, I have been practically being treated as a slave in my family. My family preferred boys over girls. So I was like an outsider, and I had to be careful not to do something that may disturb my parents or my brother or I would be beaten and would not get food.

Luckily, there was a kind uncle, my neighbor, he showed me things that I would not have been able to learn. He taught me how to read, write, draw, dance, and wield a sword.

I was so happy when he taught me how to wield the sword. It was hard but wonderful. It gave me the feeling to be free when I swung the sword.

But the things he taught me actually saved my life.

* * *(Past memory)

When the emperor had sent a decree that every first son of every household should be sent to war. My parents were obviously worried about my spoiled brother. I somehow had a bad feeling about it, and it was right.

In the morning, my parents had invited me to breakfast that had never happened. Obviously, I always prepared the breakfast and would get the remains. It somehow had given me hope of being seen as a family member. Until my father started to talk.

"Today, we need to announce something important. The emperor has sent a decree that every first son of every household should be sent to war. Of course, we can not send  Bowen ( means abundant, rich, literate) to war. Therefore, Momoko should replace his place."

"But father, that is impossible. If the emperor finds out, our whole family will be sentenced an.."

"SHUT UP!"screamed my mother at my face,"Who gave you the right to speak your father like that."

"Uwwaaahh!! I don't wanna go!! I'm going to die. "

"My sweetheart, you don't need to worry. Your elder sister is of course going, how could we send you to war? After all, you are the heir who is going to inherit the family heritage. Am I not right?" That question was directed naturally to me.

"Yes, mother." I answered.

"Ok. As we already decided. You will go to war." As a matter of fact, he concluded on it without any objections.

As they continued on eating, my head was hanging so that the unkempt hair were covering my emotions in my eyes reflecting. I felt abandoned, heartbroken, angry, and resentment.

As the day came to go to war, I clothed myself as man. I felt somehow lifeless. I accepted that I would die, that my family didn't care about me, that I would not see the kind uncle anymore. At the memory's with the kind uncle, I felt wetness on my face. As I raised my hand to check where it came from, I found out that I'm crying. I closed my eyes to suppress my tears and the sadness that is welling up in my chest. As I breathed in and out, I opened my eyes, which showed no life.

As I was going to the location where the appointed soldiers were waiting, somebody called my name from behind. "Momoko, wait!!" When I heard the familiar voice, I became to a hesitation but still walked forward to the path that led me to an unknown future.

"Momoko, please wait.". I couldn't ignore any more to the desperate man, who gave me light in my life, which led me to turn around and face him.

"Ha ha" while trying to catch his breath, I tried not to cry.

"Uncle, what's wrong?" I asked him. I hoped my was not shaking too much.

"... need to go"

"What did you say?", I asked him

"You don't need to go. I can take you as my daughter. It's too much for a girl to go to war. You are not made to be like that."

I was touched, but I knew that if I tried to flee with my uncle, he could not live a peaceful life, only because of me.

With this thought, I laughed at myself in myself. Isn't it normal? Everything that I own is not worth except my uncle, who isn't even related to me. Because of that, I decided to go to war. So I can at least try to protect who is dear to me.

As I raised my head and tried to smile at him, I said: "You don´t need to worry about me . I´m doing it willingly."

"But.."

"I need to go. It´s time." I turned and tried not to hear his voice, as I don´t want to say something like ´See you soon´. Because I know that I will never see him again.

I arrived at the meeting point and witnessed men being seeing ff by their family. I kind of envy this closeness. After their goodbyes, we made our way to the frontier, burial ground, hell. I don't know what kind of feelings I should direct towards it. At least i can fight with the precious sword that my teacher gave me.

...

*knocking at the door*

"Miss, Master has called for you."said somebody out of nowhere. It really surprised me.

I got off the bed...well I tried but I noticed that I'm to small.

It seemed like the person didn't had patience and entered the room. She looke at me and put me on the ground.

"Miss, the master has asked for you. I shall bring him to you.", said the woman, who is dressed in a black-and-white outfit, with a white apron tied around her waist. Her hair is neatly arranged, with a small, delicate headpiece adding a touch of charm.

She reached her hand to me and said with a kind smile, "Should we go now?"

I took her hand which gave warmth that I never felt before and answered by nodding my head.

As I steeped out of the room I heard a faint voice,"May you start a new life."