You Can Never Become a Swordsman - Yumiko's Past - Part 02

Yumiko was sitting on the edge of the hill, stuffed into a squat having her chin leaned on her crossed arms. She was looking out into the distance toward the castle with the dojo a couple of feet below her.

"They don't make sense. They say 'you can't become a swordsman'. They're all just a bunch of bullies. Even I can be a swordsman. It makes perfect sense that I can. It's not like I'm weaker than them just because I'm a girl."

Hako walked up the stairs on the hill behind her, "There you are," and stepped near her, "I expected you to be here. You really do like this place." Yumiko didn't look at him, but all she did was stay still.

"Oh, it's you, Hako. Have you come here just to bully me like the rest of those jerks? Go ahead, it's not like I've never been bullied by grown-ups." She slightly tilted her head to the side and heard Hako chuckle.

He dropped down and sat beside her. "Yumiko. Being a swordsman is not about what other people think of you. Swordsman does deeds for their own benefit or those who they care about. You can't let others judge you just because you're still learning to become."

Yumiko lifted her head slightly and looked Hako in the eyes. He looked in the distance with a smile. "Other boys who train with you think that becoming a swordsman will make them cool, and they see girls like you as someone who can never become a swordsman. However, a swordsman's spirit will always retaliate against somebody who perceives coolness above protection.

"I've known you for a couple of years and I've already come to the realization that you, unlike the rest of the boys have what it takes to become a sword wielder, but what you don't realize is that you're a girl. Boys of your age think that a swordsman can only be a boy because of its title, but in reality, there's a completely different meaning behind it.

"But at the same time, they do have a reasonable argument. They would say that to any girl who would want to become a swordsman. The name swordsman is considered as a man who fights with a sword... as for somebody like you, the better title would be a swordswoman. You have every organ that is required for a girl to be considered a woman, boys do not.

"But as I've said earlier; the title means nothing if a person doesn't understand what the true meaning behind a swordsman is. Sure, there are good types of sword wielders, but there are bad ones too. The importance behind a sword wielder is their passion, goal, a dream that you or others seek. Using that title just to turn out like a cool person to somebody is a waste of someone's skill, especially when there's anybody who can be cool, even a young girl such as yourself.

"So, come on, tell me. What is your real purpose behind wanting to become a sword user?" Hako looked at Yumiko and waited patiently for her to respond. She gently lifted her chin and looked back into the distance.

"I wanted to become a good swordsman so that I could prove to Bow that even a girl can become one, but now that you told me all of that, I think that I have a completely different reason. I guess I just want to be like my father. He's a good person and does whatever it takes to keep me, my brother, and my mother safe. I suppose that is what I want too as well.

"I can't think what would happen if my father would end up getting hurt in a battle and then leave us alone. I always asked myself, what to do then? Who would protect my mother, my brother if he suffered horrible injuries? I said to myself that there's only one option left; to become a great swordsman just like him, especially when there are all those villainous pirates out in the sea, waiting to raid our villages."

Hako giggled and looked away. "Hey! What's so funny?" Hako reached for his chin and nodded. "You really do differ from any other children I've trained. You're one in the million." Yumiko blinked twice, confused about what he meant.

"You're already thinking about the future at this youthful age of yours, which truly does impress me. I never had hoped that I'd ever teach a good child like you how to fight with a sword. But, Yumiko, what are your plans after you become a swordswoman? You understand that swordsmen travel around the world and help people in need, while some tend to ruin it, don't you know?"

Yumiko looked down at the bottom of the hill and watched one of the knights from the castle trying to prevent an argument between children. "I wanted to travel around the world to see what the world's about, and I've been aware that doing that without the protection of my own would be dangerous. I know that the sea is stormed by pirates, emperors, and monsters, and it might be scary, but no matter what lies in the ocean, that doesn't stop me from venturing far, far away, and meeting new people.

"Just like my father, I want to be the best of the best, and I even thought about wanting to become the best swordsman in the ocean, but now, I don't think that's possible." She placed her chin back onto her knees and continued to observe the civilization until Hako chuckled again.

"Why not? Why do you think you can't become the best? Are my words changing your mind? If so, that's not what I wanted. No matter if you're a woman or a man, you can always become the best around. There are so many swordsmen and swordswomen in the ocean that there's no knowing who the best around is. But, even if you are a woman, you can still overtake those swordsmen. You just can't let other people get inside your mind and cause a common change of belief or disbelief.

"All swordsmen, swordswomen that now travel the world were once children such as you, and many surpassed previous generations of sword people. You may be considered a swordswoman, but nothing is restraining you from defeating the best swordsman around. If you succeed, then, no matter the gender, you will still be seen as the best swordsman on the entire planet."

Yumiko and Hako exchanged views as her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "You really think so?" she asked. Hako nodded, chuckling once more. "Of course. If you keep training, you will surely become a great swordswoman and you will once surpass me as well, and maybe in the future, if you're still alive, you might even become the best swordsman on the entire planet. You don't know how excited it would be for me to see that one of the children I once trained, became the very best."

Yumiko's eyes widened in surprise and then her mouth too. "Thank you so much, Mr. Hako!" she claimed. Hako reached for her head and pat it with a shining smile. "Of course, dear. Come on now. Let's get you suited up so that you can finally show those boys who you really are."

"Mhm! Got it!" both of them stood up and walked back toward the dojo with happiness and exchanged smiles with each other. They laughed and joked around while, behind the wall, Bow heard everything and became surprised.

Several months passed.

It was another day of training inside the dojo and Yumiko faced Tippy once again, this time with much more confidence. Both of them held their wooden swords and Tippy seemed to have been bothered by her again.

"Look who it is again, the 'want-to-be a swordsman' that keeps on believing in the most stupid ideas. Haven't you given up on becoming a swordsman by now? You're wasting everyone's time and you'll turn out like another mistake."

Yumiko remained serious. "Given up on becoming a swordsman? Yeah, I did." Tippy looked at her, confused while looking at the boys. "But I didn't give up on becoming a swordswoman. You see yourself as a superior fighter in comparison to girls that fight, but that is just to hide your jealousy because a girl's about to beat your butt."

Yumiko's voice riled him up and he looked at her with angry eyes. "Oh, I see. Now that you've trained for several months you became more confident and reckless. I'll have twice the more fun to win beat you and embarrass you even more than the last time."

Yumiko made a suspicious smile and waited for Hako to start the battle. Tippy and Yumiko herself started to slowly walk in circles while locking their views on each other until Tippy dashed forward.

"Wrong move," Yumiko called and watched Tippy swinging the sword from the sides. "Horrible mistake." She ducked under the sword and slipped around Tippy behind while sticking her sword's wooden blade into his ankles, forcing him to lose his footing.

He plunged forward and smashed his frontal body into the ground as Yumiko rotated around and swung the sword behind the tip of Tippy's neck which made his eyes shake.

"Yumiko is victorious." Called Hako and finished the match while Yumiko pulled the sword backward and then blinked. "You are so naive. Just leave, baby." She repeated the same words that Tippy told her the first time but then walked away as the boys looked at her in amazement.

~ "But as I've said earlier; the title means nothing if a person doesn't understand what the true meaning behind a swordsman is. Sure, there are good types of sword wielders, but there are bad ones too. The importance behind a sword wielder is their passion, goal, a dream that you or others seek. Using that title just to turn out like a cool person to somebody is a waste of someone's skill, especially when there's anybody who can be cool, even a young girl such as yourself." ~

To be continued...