Naginata Princess

Gina Nackiomi begins her day within the Buddhist Zeng Fo monastery with her daily chores. First up is sweeping the grand hallways and tending to the garden. Gina looks out on this spring morning, the dew covering the garden plants, the sweet smells of the season in full bloom. Gina thinks to herself as she pulls the weeds and sweeps about her meeting with Grand Abbot Aoki. Gina is nervous, knowing Aoki is very strict. Gina has been practicing and training for months with her Naginata and the schools fighting styles and knows Aoki will test her. Aoki has overseen most of Gina's training as a warrior monk and has had reluctance in accepting a female student within his monastery. Gina looks again into the morning sky before preparing for her meeting with this elder.

Gina walks into a large chamber in the south wing of the monastery where the warriors, defenders train. She sees the room is empty with only the Grand Abbot and a young monk named Ruiko standing nearby. She walks over to them and kneels. Grand Abbot Aoki and Ruiko kneel in front of her. Aoki states, "Nackiomi, you have been with us for three years. Of the eighteen tasks to achieve excellence with our style of fighting, our Gong Fu, you have achieved thus far fourteen of the eighteen." Gina's eyes look down as she feels ashamed she has not achieved all eighteen tasks. Aoki bellows, "Look at me when I speak girl!" Gina looks up, her deep brown eyes wide, a frightened look over her face. Aoki continues, "You came to us those years ago, a well trained student of Kendo, an art your father Calvin is a master. You stated you wanted to be a warrior among us, a Naginata expert. I have to say I have never taken a female student in my forty-seven years of teaching, but the Lord insisted that you had the drive. He said you had anger issues and weaknesses that needed to be corrected. Do you believe you have corrected those issues?" Gina says haltingly, "Yes master, through my Buddhist teachings I have focused my rage issues into good, into my Gong Fu, and even my Naginata arts. Through my teachings I have learned to rely only on my own inner strengths, my own skills and beliefs to survive." Aoki stands and says, "Why is it the fact they you have not been able to complete the last four tasks?" Gina says while looking into the distance, "Master, I still strive to achieve those goals. I train most vigorously each day to strengthen my body, sharpen my mind, to achieve those task you have given." Aoki says, "I see rage in your eyes when you practice, when you train. You have grown much stronger then when you have arrived. You can match your male counterparts at nearly all physical test, but this new strength has only fed you rage, this beast within you that keeps you from perfecting your skills."

Aoki barks to Ruiko to stand and prepare to fight. Gina looks up to Aoki, he says, "Ruiko is the only member of my students, numbering over one-hundred ninety that has mastered all tasks of my fighting style. If you wish to test yourself against Ruiko you may now." Gina thinks to herself, "This guy is the best of the monastery,  fighting him may kill me. Aoki doesn't give mercy to his students. If I retreat I will loose face, dishonor myself, my father, my Lord, and my years of teachings." Aoki pick up a Naginata and holds it in front of her. Her brown eyes fixed on the weapon. A sea of brewing anger boil from seemingly nowhere as she knows a fight is about to take place, a fight she has to win, a fight of her life. Gina tries to center this rage as she grasps the Naginata and stands, her eyes still fixed to the opposite side of Aoki and Ruiko. Aoki notes she has transformed into a warrior mindset within mere seconds. Gina's twisting the Nagianta staff around in her hand, perfecting the grip, the muscles of her arms twisting and bulging with power on her feminine bones. Gina turns and faces Ruiko who is ready with his Broadsword.

Ruiko and Gina's eye meet and they both attack each other within seconds. Aoki stands back as his two chief students battle. Gina's movement are amazingly quick with such a long pole-arm. Ruiko is able to counter any blows, actions she throws at him and she doing vice versa. Gina leaping over his many sword swings and blocks his kicks and jabs. Her attack cries becoming much more harder, from the pit of her stomach. For the next seven minutes they fight with blinding speed, even the seasoned Aoki has trouble observing each move performed. As Gina fights longer, the more the rage builds. Her eyes become wild as the warrior she has been trained to be and the rage within her mesh together. Ruiko observes this and as quickly as he can tries to use this to his advantage. Ruiko notes the longer the battle continues the more powerful Gina's strikes become. On a long flowing Naginata swing with a strong pullback needed, Ruiko is able to yank her earring and tears her ear. Gina's reflexes stop her flow as Ruiko follows up with a series of strikes. Gina tries to block the shots and gives Ruiko a savage series of punches, but the flowing blood from her ear, the pain of which keep her from continuing these strikes and Ruiko knocks her to the ground and gives her several kicks to her back and head. Aoki claps his hands and Ruiko stops, panting from the intense exchange. He looks himself over and sees he's bleeding from his nose. Gina writhes on the ground, holding her injured ear to her head, tears coming from her eyes in pain and brutal anger. Aoki hears the full roars of Gina's despair over this loss. She tries to look up, holding her ear with one hand to the side of her head, panting heavily, the savage animal within her still apparent from looking into her eyes. Aoki says, "You need to control this beast within you girl. The beast is unruly and you need to learn to control it. You have come so close in doing so. This is why you haven't mastered all eighteen tasks." Gina says haltingly, "Yes...master!" Aoki turns to exit. Ruiko does so too, but nods to Gina, an act of deep respect. They both exit. Gina cries, she can taste the blood  and tears in her mouth. She slowly stands, her fist clinched. Her muscles throbbing with power as the fight is still within her. She pulls her hair from her face and picks up her Naginata and slowly walks back to her room, thinking along the way at what Aoki has said.

Gina goes to visit her father Calvin the following Saturday. Gina tells her septuagenarian father of her test with Ruiko. Calvin is very proud of his only child. Calvin laments about how Gina's mother had never seen their only child grow into such a beauty, strong young woman. Calvin had wanted Gina to remain at his side with his Kendo dojo. Gina had learned the art from him at an early age and despite the fifty-one year age difference, the two remain very close, deeply committed to one another. Calvin senses Gina's sadness and frustration with her defeat. She tells him that her ear is fine with no major damage inflicted. Calvin says to his beloved daughter, "Gina, this anger within you can be seen by many as a fault. But, I think it is a mixed blessing. You feed from it, it's a passionate anger that I have always observed. When you studied Kenjutsu, you would never back down even in pain, the harder the task the hard you fought. I believed this life as a monk, a warrior monk would bring more focus into your life. I do fear that someone will not have mercy on you. Being a girl, some men will give you mercy merely because of your sex, while others will have no problem killing you. Any woman fighter would not give mercy to you." Gina replies, "Daddy, I believe I can defend myself against anyone." Calvin replies, "My girl, I know you can. I had wished while you were still a young girl that you would be a fine wife for some great noble man, to be someone's princess. You will always be my princess." Gina looks at her father with emotion written on her face and says, "Daddy, maybe someday I will find someone, but I have to be a princess of the blade, my Naginata. To be one with myself I have to learn how to fight with the best of my nation. It's a feeling that comes from deep within me. I have been humiliated many times in my life. Being a warrior brings such a release for me. There is nothing like fighting with every fiber of your being, every single skill you have, every ounce of strength you can muster and to defeat those who wish ill upon you or you loved ones or your nation." Calvin says, "I know my girl. No matter what setbacks that come to you, you always bounce back. Aoli gave mercy to you knowing you had a special gift. One of these days he will test you like you have never been tested, when you least expect it. He will test to see if this inner rage within you is more powerful than the teachings of discipline and focus in which he has instilled into you my girl." Gina holds her father and says, "I know daddy. The worst is yet to come."

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