"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not mad," Mel smiled. "They're not built to be your partners for life, Jana...they were your training weapons. And if you won a fight without them, I think you're ready to step up." she said, heading up the stairs. "I was hoping you would be, honestly...I know the perfect pair for you." Jana blinked faintly, feeling her heart leap into her chest. Did...was she...was she not a student anymore?
"I found them during one of my trips to Japan," Mel said, moving toward a polished wooden counter. They were gorgeous, the sheaths had golden designs of dragons at the bottom, and the wrapped cord was white. The snarling faces of beasts poked in the middle of the grip. The tsuba were expertly enlaid with designs of chrysanthemum and phoenixes. Carefully, Mel took both off and held them. "Great set...the man I got them from said he thought I'd know what to do with them, and I think I do." he said, walking over.
"Jana, you've been like a daughter to me," Mel smiled fondly. "I've seen you grown up to be a brave girl, fighting to fight, and now fighting to right a wrong...I think I'm going to stick around, see how things go with you. But you've done everything I asked and more, you've strove to perfect yourself and improve...so I award you these," she said, as Jana took both in numb awe. They were...they were beautiful. She had never seen a pair of Daisho so lovingly cared for.
"I'm not your Master anymore, Jana...but I'm okay if you want to call me Mom," She teased. "Not that I think I'm really Mom material. So how about Mel?"
"I..." Jana said, blinking out the tears in her eyes. She...she didn't know what to say, it had been so hard to think about stuff like that lately. Justin was gone, Mei was...was with someone else. She probably didn't need her as much anymore, and...and now all this? She couldn't handle it, she really couldn't.