In the case of a samurai named Akane, she had been taken in and trained quite thoroughly in her role. Samurai had been cut loose during the Disarmament Era, many had become yojimbo for hire throughout Japan and even into Europe and the Ottoman Empire. As mamluk, these had led armies and served as elite warriors to earn the wages that kept their clans from poverty. So the samurai had survived and incorporated new skills as they went.
"Bun Bu Ryo Dyo" - "The Pen and Sword in accord." Samurai were expected to be literate and skilled outside of battle as well as in it. Tantojutsu, naginata-ryuu, kenjutsu, kyujutsu, kempo - these were all skills that Akane was taught as a warrior. There were few among the village that could speak charitably about her skills as a poet, and her calligraphy was also less than inspiring, but she had other strengths as a samurai of slave status.
On her right forearm was the Mark Of The Tiger. Her left bore the Mark Of The Dragon. Neither would go to a free samurai, they were strictly for use by those who were to live the life of a retainer or servitor. The Mark Of The Tiger allowed the bearer greater speed, the Mark Of The Dragon gave a resistance to injury from cutting or penetrating wounds. Either would work if the focus of the servant was being met, that of the protection of their Master.
Ranma was a better fighter in many respects, but Akane was hardly a slouch and her iajitsu was excellent. Her specialty though, was related to something prior to her ownership by Ranma - specifically:
(Posted Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:07)
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