Kenshin stood up looking at the approaching figure. A man caped in white was the figure in the sunrise. Soon out hero realized who the figure was. Someone from long ago. Seijuro Hiko the Thirteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style, Kenshin's master. Why the Hell was the drunken hermit coming here?
Hiko walked towards Kenshin, his white cape blowing in the wind as he walked. The sun rising behind him, he looked godly. Hiko was walking with a mission. His face was series and it looked like he had been walking for a while. Soon he was on the porch looking at Kenshin.
Kenshin was amazed , "Master, what are you doing here?"
Hiko smiled a smug smile and took a swig for the jug that he now held. He then looked at Kenshin still smiling. He was silent for a while.
"Did you by chance find a…uh…a wounded fighter in the forest?" Hiko asked slowly. This being the first time he was talked to Kenshin in a while.
There was another okward silence, "Yes…do you know her?"
Hiko sighed " Yes she's my stupid apprentice…they have this problem with running away…" he then sat down looking at the cup of sake in his large hands.
Both of them just sat there for a moment reflecting on the past for the one second that Hiko was there. Hiko then got up and walked into the Dojo. Kenshin followed him, treeing not to get in his way. They walked till they were by the door that led to the wounded fighter.
" She's hurt…" Hiko mumbled.
Kenshin then spoke up "Master, she is wounded, the men are from a new gang in town. I found her outside the city wounded."
There was silence again, then Hiko opened the door and stepped inside. Only to see the bandaged and bruised girl laying in a deep slumber. He didn't say anything, he just looked at her with only a slight shine of worry in his eyes.
"Master you know her?"
Hiko was silent again, "Yes…she left a year ago…"
Kenshin stared at him ," Who is she? She wears a Seki ho uniform…"
"She is the daughter of Captain Sozo Sagara…of the Seki Ho army…Her name is Sakura Sagara, her underground name is Dagger. I found her when she was 8…the night after the army was destroyed. Why do I always get the stupid students?"
This was a shock to Kenshin. He had not only saved his masters new student, he had saved someone who might have known Sano. The girl let out a weak cough. She struggled in feverish dreams.