My entry for Madhatter's contest: my OC, Oshiro Ren.

This picture is from Ren's past, and the following story is about one of her first sensei's (or shinshi in Hogen/shuri) and the influence this sensei had in Ren's future life.

Ren's brief bio: Ren was an orphan of war turned pickpocket to survive. She became quite an accomplished thief, but the last pocket she picked at the age of ten was the man who eventually adopted her. She later traveled with her father on his journeys. Her adopted father was eventually disgraced, and once again Ren turned to her skills as a thief to save face. Her attempt failed to save face for her father, but gained her a whole new job: she began her journey as an specialist in the recovery of stolen artifacts - some ordinary, some powerful, some magical. Whatever the need, Ren fills it.

She lives a solitary life of a priestess, adhering to no village in particular. Her temple, Neko-chan dojoji, sits on one of the Matsushima Islands. She has an over-fondness for cats, and keeps several (OK, many) at her temple. She also has two cat-demons who serve her, named Ashi-to-hige San and Mr. Bonkers. They are loyal beyond all reason, and guard the temple well when she is off on a mission. She has done a great deal of missions, from recovering Hachiman's sword to helping a village rid itself of a troublesome ghost. In between missions, she dedicates herself to constantly improving her skills as a martial artist and a priestess, seeking out powerful masters and begging to become their students. During her down time, she likes to tend her garden at the Neko-chan. She's a quick study, and can pick up on languages rather fast.

The following is a short story that goes with my picture: Ren is seeking out the tutelage of a sorceress that lives in the Ryukyu Islands. I've posted the beginning here,however, it is somewhat lengthy, so the entire story is also posted on my world, Koden. Its called Yamadera, like the piece, so it can be easily (I hope) found. I should note that I used a smattering of Shuri in the story.

I hope you enjoy this.

The shadows of the late afternoon stretched across the grey sky, growing noticeably darker in the area that Ren suspected was her destination.  She had heard in the village at the base of the mountain that the locals won't go near this place.  They told her it was evil, that it was haunted, that it was full of angry ghosts waiting to steal your soul.   They warned her that she would not return.   

At this point, Ren was ready to believe it.  

She paused for a moment, shaded her eyes with her hand, and stared intensely at a fixed point about a quarter of a ri ahead of her.  Already the air in the mountain forest was becoming ominous, reacting on her every nerve, reaching down and pulling up her every fear, overcoming her with the feeling of wanting to turn around and run as fast as she
could.   Ren narrowed her eyes and said a single word aloud: "good."
  Oshiro Ren stood only five feet tall.  Her long ebony hair was pulled up on both sides of her head into twin square buns, wrapped tight and held in place by purple silk ribbons.  The rest of her hair had been plaited and fell down her back.  The hairstyle was a bit childish, making her look younger than she was - which, if truth be told, was the reason she choose such a style.   Her purple tunic was coarse cotton with a curved striped pattern accenting the neckline and a boarder around the hem.  Her trousers, made of rough black silk, were belted at the waist.  They had originally been designed to fit a man, so Ren had modified them by tying them off at the ankles, which created a billowing effect on her legs. On  her feet were simple straw sandals.  The overall effect was not something outstanding, but something about her usually caused people to look twice.  
  Ren had been on the largest of the Ryu-kyu Islands for two months; this journey up the dense mountain jungle had begun just after sunrise.   She carried with her only a few meager necessities and, her prize, The Staff of Ages.  Quelling her rising fear, Ren steadied her nerves and began to trek forward.  
Finally the dense trees broke into a clearing and before her stood a humble temple silhouetted in the setting sun.  Ren drew in a deep breath and slowly released it.  "I made it," she breathed.  Then her spine stiffened as she felt eyes boring into her back.  Slowly, almost unrealistically, she turned around.  The sight she saw was one that she would carry in her memories forever.

to read more please see my world, Koden, or go to this link:
http://www.theotaku.com/worlds/kodenlegend/view/75724/koden_-_yamadera/