Shards of Time: Prologue

"Asami, keep practicing. You must be able to perform well in this year's showcase." My father said.

I am Nishimoto Asami; the only child of the wealthy Nishimoto Kuroko, owner of Nishimoto Railway Corp. I was told that I would be inheriting my father's company. I've trained ever since I started walking. Inheriting something as big as Nishimoto Railway Corp isn't going to be easy that's why my father oversees my training personally. He wants me to be able to compete with other kids my age who are also going to inherit their fathers' businesses. Every year, the 7 companies under NRC come together to showcase their heirs; this year, I'll be the one to represent my father.

"Asami, focus!" My father scolded me. I took a deep breath and aimed my arrow. As I exhaled, I shot the arrow and got a bull's eye. I looked at my father and he smiled.

"Very good." T'was all he said. I've been training since I was 5; my skills are honed to perfection after 7 years of training. When archery training was done, I proceeded to the library. Aside from being physically adept, heirs must be knowledgeable.

"This year, the questions are about Japan's history. I know you won't disappoint me." My father said. My eyes widened and I flashed a big smile. There's nothing I love more than history. I'm especially attracted to the Sengoku period where the famous Oda Nobunaga attempted to unify Japan under his rule. My father had given me a map of Japan during the Sengoku period for my birthday last year. It was framed and was hanged just above my desk.

"You already know about Oda Nobunaga and his attempts of unifying Japan. Who were the other two unifiers who had partnered with Nobunaga?" My father asked. Easy question.

"Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu." I answered. My father nodded.

"I know this will likely not be part of the questions but let's see if you know. In the early period of Japan, it's known that the lords have multiple wives to secure an heir. But for Oda Nobunaga, he only had one wife. Who was she?" My father looked at me with a smile on his face. It's the first time I heard that Nobunaga had a wife. I didn't pay much attention to his personal life. I looked at my father and shook my head.

"I-I don't know, father." I answered honestly. My father put his hand on my head.

"Her name was Nōhime. It's best you remember that name." My father said. He handed me a book which I've never seen before. It was about Oda Nobunaga and his life not just his political agendas but also his personal life. I didn't waste time and started reading the book.

It was the day of the showcase. I had prepared for this day and I will not let my father down.

"All the contestants please proceed to the arena." The speaker relayed the message all throughout the vicinity.

"I won't let you down father." I bowed at him before going to the arena. When I arrived, most of the other contestants were already there. I was the last one to perform since I was the youngest of the bunch.

"Look, Mr. Nishimoto's daughter is here."

"I can't believe we'll be competing with a girl."

"Why would he let a girl compete?"

I hear all kinds of gossip around me. My father told me not to mind them. I just need to show them what I got. Shortly after, the showcase had started. The first event was the quiz bee. All the contestants were in their place. All we had to do was press the buzzer in front of us if we knew the answer.

"First question, the Sengoku period lasted for how many years?" without hesitation, I pressed the buzzer first.

"133 years." I answered. I was correct and the crowd cheered. Question after question I got the answers correct. It was time for the last question and I had the lead in points.

"Last question, who was the legal wife of the daimyo Oda Nobunaga?" The crowd was silent. The other contestants looked at each other. Apparently they don't know the answer. Luckily, I know. I pressed the buzzer.

"Oda Nobunaga's legal wife was Nōhime." I answered. The final point was awarded to me. The crowd cheered and the quiz bee ended. We were asked to prepare in the locker rooms.

"She's just good in studying. She'll definitely be defeated in combat."

"We shouldn't go easy on her just because she's a girl."

"You're right. We should teach her a lesson."

The other contestants obviously hate me but I have nothing to be afraid of. I'll just have to do my best. The next event was the showcase of physical strength. Both archery and swordsmanship will be tested. Archery will be tested first before one-on-one combat. We went back to the arena with bows and arrows equipped.

"Now, let us witness as the contestants aim to hit 3 targets in 3 difficulty levels. The first level is easy; they will try to hit the target without any distraction. The second level is moderate; the target will start moving at a relatively slow pace and it will also be farther than the first. The last level is hard; the target is placed farther than the first 2 targets and it will be moving at a fast pace. This will test the contestants' skill. I wish all the contestants good luck." The announcer said. I was still at the last of the line. The eldest contestant gets to go first.

The other contestants had their turns. All of them had hit the first two targets but no one was able to hit the third target.

"Now for the last contestant, let's give it up for Ms. Asami." The announcer said my name and I took my place. The crowd cheered for me.

"None of us even hit the third target, she won't hit it either."

"I bet she won't even hit the second one."

The other contestants gossip behind my back. Let's just see. I took aim and hit the first target without any difficulty. The crowd cheered and I took aim again for the second target. I took a deep breath before releasing the arrow. Bull's eye. The crowd was cheering me on. It was time for the third target. The movement was fast and it was hard to keep up with it. I took aim and focused. As I exhaled, I released the arrow. The crowd was silent as they looked on. A thud was heard and when the target stopped moving, my arrow hit the bull's eye. The crowd was ecstatic. And with that, we were sent back to the locker rooms to prepare for the one-on-one combat.

"She's just lucky to hit the target."

"She won't come out of this final event unscathed."

"Let's show her that it takes a real man to be an heir."

I ignored their gossip. I just had to focus on the last event. We were sent out to the arena again.

"Now for the final event, combat. You will be paired in two and will be battling each other. The winner advances to the semi-final and so on. This is a test of swordsmanship. The first one to get disarmed is the loser. Even if you are wounded, as long as you still hold your sword, you are not out of the battle." The announcer said. On the giant monitor behind him, the pairings were displayed. I was the final match in the preliminary level. I was up against Yibuta Ryo, the eldest contestant and the son of Mr. Yibuta Kinji, my father's closest friend.

There were monitors in the locker rooms. We get to watch the matches while waiting for our turn.

"Ryo, you got paired with that girl. You got lucky you have an easy win."

"I wish I got paired with her."

"Yeah, she's an easy win for sure."

They laughed while I listened. There was no need for me to start a fight with them. I just had to win for my father. Finally, it was my turn. I walked out to the arena and was faced with Ryo. We bowed to each other before starting.

"If you lose, don't go crying to your father." He said. I ignored his words and waited for him to charge. He ran towards me just as I predicted. His erratic movements were easy to read, I already had the advantage. I sidestepped as he lunged forward causing his momentum to send him past me losing his balance. I quickly knocked the sword out of his hand and placed mine on his throat. The crowd became silent. It wasn't even a minute since the battle started and I had already disarmed him.

"The winner of this match is Ms. Asami." I stood straight and put my sword away. I went back to the locker rooms silently. I waited until it was my turn again. There were no more gossips in the locker room. It appeared I have silenced the other contestants. It was my turn again and I went out to the arena. The match started and it was pretty much the same as the last. I disarmed him pretty quickly and I advanced to the finals without any problems. The final match started and I was faced with Yibuta Akinari, the second son of Yibuta Kinji and Ryo's younger brother. He's 2 years older than me but he's as arrogant as his brother.

"I won't let you off easily. You humiliated my brother and I'll do the same to you." He said. I shrugged and went into position. As the match started, he was more cautious than the others I've fought. He didn't lunge at me like the others. I took the first hit and he blocked it. Thinking he had won, he tried to twist the sword in my hand to make me let go. I let him think that as I threw my sword in the air. He smirked and pointed his sword to my throat.

"You've lost." He said.

"Is that so?" I said. He raised his eyebrow. I caught my sword with my left hand. I knocked his sword out of his hand and I grabbed it. With 2 swords, I placed one on his throat and one on his nape.

"The match is over. The winner is Ms. Nishimoto Asami." The crowd cheered and I let go of the swords. I bowed in front of him and to the crowd. My father walked up to me and shook my hand.

"That's my girl." He said. I felt a rush of satisfaction over me. After the showcase, my father drove us to a restaurant where my mother was waiting.

"Congratulations sweetie." My mother said while she kissed my forehead. We sat at our table and waited for the food. My mother looked like she had big news. It seemed my father had taken notice and asked her.

"Darling, what's the matter?" He asked. My mother couldn't keep it in. She smiled at me and my father.

"Darling, I'm pregnant." Both my father and I were surprised.

"How far along are you?" My father asked. He stood up and went to my mother's side.

"I'm 3 months pregnant." She said. My father looked at her expectantly.

"Do you know the baby's gender?" He asked. My mother nodded. She asked me to come and stand next to her which I agreed to. My father held my mother's belly and waited for her answer.

"It's a boy." My mother said. My father was ecstatic. He kissed my mother.

"I'm having a son." My father shouted over and over again. I felt happy… At least I should be.

And just like that, everything I was preparing for was stripped away from me.

4 years after my first win in the showcase, I never competed again. I was in charge of teaching my brother everything I knew. He was only 4 years old but he's doing well. When my brother was born, I had to live a normal life. I had to go to a normal school instead of being home-schooled. At this school, I was casted as a weirdo. No one wanted to befriend me because they said I was "too weird". The years passed and I've grown numb to gossips and rumors about me.

It was my 18th birthday and my family had prepared a big party for me. The venue was in a hotel far from our house. My mother, father and brother had already left and I was at home getting my hair and makeup done. My mother bought a fancy kimono for me to wear. It was similar to a traditional kimono only it was longer. It was made of the most beautiful and high quality silk fabric. It had tiny Sakura flowers embroidered onto it. The color of the kimono matched my hair and eye color. The kimono closely resembles the kimono Nōhime wore in one of her paintings.

"It's time to go, my lady." One of our servants came in and escorted me to the car. As I sat there, the driver started the car and drove off. Something felt weird with the driver. I didn't seem to know him and he seemed to be up to something. Before I had the chance to ask, he sped up and immediately jumped out of the moving car. I was alarmed and tried to get out but the doors were locked. The car wouldn't stop when I tried to press down on the breaks. Before I knew it, the car hit the side of the bridge. The impact made me hit my head on the car seat.

I was starting to lose consciousness. I opened my eyes and saw that the car had fallen into the river. The car was filling up with water fast. I tried to open the windows but it wouldn't budge. As the car filled with water, I held my breath for as long as I could. No one's coming to help me.

Slowly running out of air, my life flashed before my eyes. My vision started to blur and everything faded to black.