Prompt 70: Daydream
Title: To Achieve A Goal
Author: britedark
Universe: pre-canon
POV: Kaede (young)
Warnings: none
Word Count: 300
Summary: Her newest teacher has a question for young Kaede.
Author's Note: This is the next chapter in With One Eye. The last chapter was posted here.
To Achieve A Goal
Kaede had practiced diligently with her bow over the entire summer-at least, when she wasn’t busy trying to fill Kikyo’s sandals. Those few times she let her mind wander, her thoughts had invariably drifted into daydreams where she had demonstrated that she could match her sister in at least one way. She knew she’d never match Kikyo’s beauty, or spiritual strength, or cleverness. But, she could imagine herself matching Kikyo’s skill with a bow.
Her efforts had not led to any noticeable improvement.
But, no imagining had ever envisioned having her get lessons from a villager.
“Here we are,” Takumi said, his deep voice cheerful. Kaede peered up at him. He smiled at her, then turned serious.
“Question, Kaede-sama.” Startled by the title, she stared, then nodded. “What do you want to achieve, with the bow?”
“I want to be as good as my sister was,” she replied promptly.
“You realize that is going to be a hard goal.”
She bristled. “I can learn!”
Takumi crouched. Reaching out, he gently touched the scarred side of her face. “Kaede, your loss of an eye makes it harder for you to judge distance; harder to aim accurately. Like Hajime, you will have to work much harder, to achieve success. Are you willing to work that much harder?”
Like Hajime? For a moment, she could only stare at him, indignant. She was nothing like Hajime!
Then, the rest of what he said sank in. She knew that her loss had given her problems, especially when something moved on her blind side. But, was that why she had failed to improve over the summer? Was she going to be unable to match her sister in anything?
No! Kaede firmed her shoulders. “Yes. I’ll work really hard. What do I do?”
He smiled.
Author: britedark
Universe: pre-canon
POV: Kaede (young)
Warnings: none
Word Count: 300
Summary: Her newest teacher has a question for young Kaede.
Author's Note: This is the next chapter in With One Eye. The last chapter was posted here.
To Achieve A Goal
Kaede had practiced diligently with her bow over the entire summer-at least, when she wasn’t busy trying to fill Kikyo’s sandals. Those few times she let her mind wander, her thoughts had invariably drifted into daydreams where she had demonstrated that she could match her sister in at least one way. She knew she’d never match Kikyo’s beauty, or spiritual strength, or cleverness. But, she could imagine herself matching Kikyo’s skill with a bow.
Her efforts had not led to any noticeable improvement.
But, no imagining had ever envisioned having her get lessons from a villager.
“Here we are,” Takumi said, his deep voice cheerful. Kaede peered up at him. He smiled at her, then turned serious.
“Question, Kaede-sama.” Startled by the title, she stared, then nodded. “What do you want to achieve, with the bow?”
“I want to be as good as my sister was,” she replied promptly.
“You realize that is going to be a hard goal.”
She bristled. “I can learn!”
Takumi crouched. Reaching out, he gently touched the scarred side of her face. “Kaede, your loss of an eye makes it harder for you to judge distance; harder to aim accurately. Like Hajime, you will have to work much harder, to achieve success. Are you willing to work that much harder?”
Like Hajime? For a moment, she could only stare at him, indignant. She was nothing like Hajime!
Then, the rest of what he said sank in. She knew that her loss had given her problems, especially when something moved on her blind side. But, was that why she had failed to improve over the summer? Was she going to be unable to match her sister in anything?
No! Kaede firmed her shoulders. “Yes. I’ll work really hard. What do I do?”
He smiled.