Prior

Kokushibo is speaking.

-

It has been a long time since I have picked up a sword.  Even longer, it can be said, since I first opened my eyes.

I was born with a twin, his name was Yoriichi.

From the day we first cried, we were separated, our education, our clothing, and even our food was very different.

On account that twins were a sign of ill fortune as they brought about disputes over the heirship of a family, my father decided to send him to a temple, to become a priest when he reached the age of ten.

At first I saw no threat in him, in fact, I saw him as pitiful, seen as a cursed child by almost everyone.

Every time I saw him, he would be clinging to mother's side.

Behind father's back I made and gifted him a flute.

Telling him to blow in it whenever he needed help.

I had no way to foresee that it was a worthless trinket.

That was our life, I trained to become father's heir while Yoriichi stayed nearby.

Life was peaceful for me, until that day, when he picked up a sword.

He was naturally blessed swordsmanship.

After witnessing his skill and power, for the first time I felt unnerved, threatened, inferior.

I continued to feel that crushing sensation of inferiority until.

Until I met her.