Everyone stood gazing at the scene in front of them. He was standing by himself staring at the bloodied sword in his hand. Everything around him seemed to have frozen.
"Obaasan! No!" came a scream from behind him. He turned around quickly to see Keikoku running toward the fallen form of her father, his master. Hiko's eyes widened as he realised what he had done. The word "shishou" escaped his lips softly and he took a step toward the dying man.
"Look what you did!" Keikoku screamed at him, tears streaming down her face.
"I…"
"…My… deshi…" Takaburu whispered, reaching for Hiko.
"Shishou," Hiko said, dropping his sword and falling to his knees at feet of his master.
"Deshi… I always knew… that you'd… be my successor…" The older man winced in pain before continuing, "Don't worry… I had to… kill my master… as well…" Takaburu coughed again, this time blood came up with it. Hyouden sat down next to his crying sister.
"Obaasan…" the boy whispered. "…Obaasan… I understand now…" He lowered his head and sighed. Takaburu just smiled and closed his eyes for the last time.
"No… Shishou!" Hiko exclaimed. Keikoku shook her father's limp form.
"Obaasan! Obaasan!!!!" Hyouden pulled Keikoku away from her father and into an embrace.
"Shh… Don't Keiko-mei. He's dead," her brother told her. Hiko only stared blankly at his dead master, not comprehending. Keikoku pulled away from her brother and stood up. She looked down at Hiko; her eyes were on fire.
"I hate you," she hissed at him. Hiko blinked and raised his eyes to hers.
"Nani?" Hiko said.
"I hate you," she replied, a bit louder. Hyouden stood up and grabbed his sister's arm.
"Keikoku-" Hyouden warned.
"Leave," Keikoku growled quietly. Hiko stood up slowly.
"…Alright," he answered, bowing deeply to her. She stiffened and turned her head away. Hiko glanced at Hyouden and then picked up his bloodied sword. He leaned over and cleaned it off in the grass before sheathing it again. Hyouden came up next to him and held out something. He gazed at the object in Hyouden's hand; it was the mantle.
"…This is yours now… Hiko-dono," Hyouden said, the word sounded strange in Hiko's ears. He had always dreamed of inheriting the title, but now… Hiko took the mantle from Hyouden and nodded. He turned around and looked fleetingly at Keikoku.
"Keiko-" he began.
"Don't. You'll only make it worse. My father is dead by your hand. You are now Seijuro Hiko, the 13th Master of Hiten Misurugi Ryu, just as he wanted. He knew that this would happen; that's why he wouldn't teach my brother the succession technique. Now he's free to carry on the family name, and you must leave. Now go," she interrupted; her face was resolute. The Nagoyaka family would not welcome Hiko ever again. He stiffened his back and nodded curtly.
"If that is how it must be, then that is how it will be," he replied, swinging the heavy mantle over his broad shoulders. "I am sorry, Keikoku-san. Sayonara." Hiko turned around and walked away from Keikoku and Hyouden, not looking back. She watched silently as he disappeared into the dark streets of Osaka and wondered if she'd ever see him again.
***
Hiko sat quietly in front of the fire, drinking sake. The night was clear, and the stars were shining brightly, but Hiko noticed none of this. His mind was still going over the letter that he had received the day before from Kenshin. If Kenshin had also sent a letter to Keikoku, then that meant that he would have to see her again if he went to Tokyo; which was not something that he would enjoy. He hadn't seen her for almost twenty-five years, he was sure that she wouldn't care to see him either. She never forgave him for killing her father, even though he hadn't had a choice in the matter. It was either kill or be killed, and he hadn't realised that the technique would hurt his master, he thought it would only block the Kuzu Ryu Sen. Hiko sighed and took another sip of his sake.
"…I guess I'll go…" he decided aloud, looking up at the sky. Hiko stood up and walked into the shack, setting his sake down on the table. He picked up his sword and placed it on his belt. Finally, he opened a drawer at the bottom of the shelves he had built and pulled out a small pouch. Hiko held it in his hand, staring at it for a second, before attaching it to his belt. He rose to his feet and walked out of the shack, breathing in the night air deeply. I should probably stop at the Aoiya first, and find out where in Tokyo that stupid dojo is…he considered as he began his journey down the mountainside.
***
Misao yawned and stretched her arms as she shuffled down the stairs to breakfast. As she rounded the corner of the staircase and stepped into the breakfast room, she found herself staring at Jiya and Hiko-sama. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, making sure that she wasn't hallucinating.
"Hiko-sama?" she ventured. He turned his head slowly and smirked.
"Ohayo, Misao," came the reply. Misao took a few steps forward.
"What are you doing here? You actually left the mountain? Of your own free will?" she asked, her mouth gaping open. Hiko rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Yes, I do that sometimes."
"Why?"
"…I'm going to Tokyo."
"Are you serious?!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"No, I'm not."
Misao snorted. "When are you leaving?"
"As soon as you shut up, and Okina gives me directions," he replied pointedly. Misao pursed her lips and stormed out of the room.
"He is so ARROGANT!" she cried, stomping her feet.
"Which is exactly why he's so popular with the Oniwa-banshu."
Misao spun around and saw Aoshi standing in the doorway. "Aoshi-sama!" She ran toward him, but stopped a few inches away. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. I was just on my way to the temple."
"Oh… I'll bring your tea later."
Aoshi smiled a little. "I know."
"…Well… You'd better go then…"
"Hai. I'll see you later, Misao," Aoshi replied, and then he disappeared down the hallway. Misao sighed loudly and walked back toward the breakfast room. Hiko and Jiya were still there, talking.
"Well, I don't know the exact location, but I'm sure Misao could help you…" Okina said cheerfully. Hiko glanced at the girl as she walked back in the room.
"What?" Misao inquired after hearing her name.
"You know how to get to the Kamiya Dojo, don't you?"
"…Sorta…"
"Well, there you go! Hiko-dono needs someone to show him where the Kamiya Dojo is," Okina said, smiling. Misao's eyes widened and she stared at Hiko, horrified; Hiko stared back, annoyed.
"No way! I'm not going on a three day trip with him!"
"I don't need someone to show me, I just need directions," Hiko cut in.
"Who will take Aoshi-sama his tea?"
"I'm perfectly capable of finding my own way…"
"Be quiet, both of you. Misao, take Hiko to Tokyo, and deliver this letter to Kenshin while you're there," Okina interrupted, handing Misao a piece of paper.
"Shimatta," Hiko and Misao muttered under their breath.