Long ago, in an ancient land of

the far east...

The sun rises over the province of Ninjin-shū. Everything is calm

and peaceful. In the distance, atop a tall hill, near two giant Hare statues, sits a somewhat elderly rabbit playing a shamisen. He

gazes at the field of bamboo ahead, and chuckles. For within the field, lies an unstoppable force of a hare.

"My name, is Jiro."

Something races through the fields.

Upon closer inspection, this is, in fact, a young hare.

Clad in just a pair of pants, his calloused paws wrapped in bandages, this hare chops down a good thirty to forty branches with simply his roundhouse kicks and punches.

"I was born the second child of my 39 brothers. Though I was the second eldest, I learned self-defense so as to protect myself."

The hare grabs some bamboo sprouts, and with a swift paw he digs a hole, places them in, and covers the dirt around them. Next, he grabs a bucket, and gives it a kick into the air like a football.

"We fought over everything."

Water pours over the plants, soaking them completely. The hare, now sweating, grabs the bamboo he chopped down, and binds it into one load.

"JIIIIIIRO!" Calls the elderly hare. "Are you finished chopping?"

"We fought over who was the strongest, our toys, our dinner, our beds, even over which one of us fought best!"

Jiro heaved the load onto his back.

"YES GRANDFATHER NOUSAGI!" He responded.

Jiro started to run up the hill to his family's home. Sanban, his brother, was still in the fields.

"...But not tonight. Tonight, is the Obon Festival, and I, will finally get what I want in life.."

Gazing out at the festivities, Jiro was not interested in the parades nor dancing, not even the mochi or (no-fish) sushi. Sitting atop their

golden thrones, were the Emperor

Rakkīusagi no-ashi and his lovely wife (through an arranged marriage, as per custom) Empress Kim Li-Jei, who came to visit from the Grand Capital of the Hareanese Kingdom.

Surrounding them, were various handmaidens in beautiful matching outfits. One such handmaiden did not wear the pink and white kimono, instead, she wore a lovely yukata, and looked significantly more beautiful than the others. Her straight raven hair flowed from her face, peach blush lightly dusting her cheeks.

"What I want most, is her..."