Kenhsin Himura was a legend. His skill in battle was a whispered tale among the other clans and boasted in his land. People respected him not only because they fear him but because of the strength and power that he emanated.
At a young age, Kenshin was personally trained as a powerful warrior by the King himself. The king deemed Kenshin worthy of receiving his knowledge in battle that made him a force to be reckoned with in battleground.
As the youngest Lord to be appointed to rule over a whole clan, Kenshin had to work extra hard to gain his clan's trust and support. The clan's highly esteemed elders were apprehensive of their new young leader. They doubted his ability to lead and protect such a big clan. However, a few months after taking his post as the new Lord, a group of bandits raided their land, his success in defending their land from raiders and saving the clan's healer, Oguni of his certain death from the hands of the outlaws earned Kenshin the trust, respect and loyalty he duly deserved.
Kenshin was greeted by the usual sight of his second-in-command waiting for him in the great hall.
"Another missive arrived for you again today," Sanosuke Sagara, Kenshin Himura's second in command, informed his Lord.
Kenshin didn't bother to read the letter sent to him. The letter had the same content as the previous ones stating an offering of an alliance with the Himeno clan by marrying Lady Shura. He was thinking of marrying to get an heir but not at this time. When he decided to finally marry, he would consider Lady Shura Himeno.
"Glaring at the letter won't make it disappear Kenshin."
Sano pulled a chair to sit on the left side of the table. "Your silence in their offer will only make them believe that you are considering their offer."
"What makes you think I'm not considering their offer?" Kenshin asked his friend and second in command.
"I know you Kenshin," Sano answered him. "If you really are considering this then you should've discussed it with them already. Or you could've drawn an agreement and reviewed it by now."
"What brings you here Sano?" Kenshin asked to change the subject of this proposal.
Sano looked at the hall leading to the kitchen and nodded his head towards it. Kenshin followed his friend's line of vision, understanding his friend's reason. "Ahh, I should've known."
"I came here to give you my report as well," Sano responded defensively." It just so happened that I report in the morning in time for breakfast."
As if on cue, the kitchen servants came in to the hall to bring the breakfast.
Unexpected yet welcomed visitors arrived at the Himura land while Kenshin and his soldiers were training. Upon hearing of this news, a scowl appeared on Kenshin's features.
"Damn it!" Kenshin furiously whispered as he walked to his castle to greet his visitor. "What does he want this time?"
Kenshin had just entered the castle and had not even properly greeted his guests when he heard one of his guests' criticisms.
"You never really learned how to welcome a guest," one of his visitors's said even before greeting the Lord of the castle. The other guest remained quiet as usual giving only a small nod.
"Your highness," Kenshin bowed as a greeting to his caller before answering the man's quip. "I assure you Your Highness that I was trained under the best in this country," he said referring to King Hiko as the person who taught Kenshin. "And if there is something lacking in my master's training, I'll tell him that my king is not satisfied with the lessons he passed on me."
"Well, you were never paying attention every time I tell you to always give the best drink to your guests." Showing him the goblet of wine served to the King and his companion.
"That's my best wine, Master," Kenshin told his King and master.
"Your taste in good wine still needs a lot of improvement," King Hiko annoyingly told his only student.
Kenshin sighed as he asked his King the purpose of his visit.
"To what do I owe this honor of your visit?"
"Lord Shinomori you are as usual quiet," observed the King as he ignored his vassal's inquiry. "Don't you have anything to say to our host?"
The man in question looked at Kenshin from his seat before glancing at his King waiting for his assent.
"You have probably heard of the atrocity made against the Kamiya Clan?" Lord Aoshi Shinomori asked the Himura Clan leader.
Kenshin nodded to his question and remained silent as he waited Aoshi to tell him the entire purpose of the visit and connection with the recent killings.
"King Hiko wanted it investigated secretly," Aoshi started explaining to Kenshin. He was about to continue his explanation when Sano entered to the hall.
Upon seeing his Lord's guest, Sano bowed in greeting to his King. "You highness."
"Carry on," replied King Hiko
Sano then proceeded in greeting the Shinomori's Clan leader, Lord Aoshi. "Lord Shinomori." Unlike the King, Aoshi only nodded to Sano as his reply.
"You're just in time Sano," Kenshin told him. "Aoshi is just about to tell me news on the atrocity made to the Kamiya Clan."
Sano stood beside the hearth and waited for Aoshi to continue. "Sorry for disturbing," he apologized to everyone.
As usual, Aoshi didn't bother to reply and continued on. "As I was saying a while ago, King Hiko wanted to have a secret investigation on the murder committed to the Kamiya Clan. Although Lord Taki Kurosawa, Overlord of Kanehara clan, already volunteered to start searching for the killers, our King wanted to have a separate investigation."
"What does Lord Kurosawa have to do with the Kamiya's?" Kenshin asked Aoshi.
"Lord Taki Kurosawa's land is beside the Kamiya land and both clans are said to have a peaceful relationship. He is also said to be a good friend of the family. So, as a good friend and an ally, Lord Taki claims the right to avenge the family and to seek and protect missing surviving members of the family," Aoshi replied.
"ARE?" Kenshin repeated just to clarify that he heard Aoshi correctly. "So he's certain that there are survivors of the family. How sure is he that the missing family members are still alive?"
"He is a family friend and he knew all of Lord Kosijirou's children. When he came to identify and bury the family, he found out that 2 of Kosijirou's children are missing."
"He was the first to see the massacre," Aoshi added as an afterthought.
"And why is that?"
"There was a celebration the night of the murder. Lord Kosijirou's youngest and only boy was celebrating his birthday. Lord Kurosawa was invited, him being a close friend of the family, but he couldn't make it that night since he was hunting for bandits that day. He came the following day only to be greeted by the grisly bodies of the guards on the gate."
"Your Highness, why would you want to have a separate investigation?" Kenshin asked his King and master. "Don't you trust Lord Kurosawa?
"I just wanted to make sure that the killings of this very peaceful family will have the justice that they deserved," King Hiko Seijiro replied.
"And what of the missing children when found? What will happen to them? Kamiya's only son is too young to lead a whole clan." Sano asked the group as he digested everything that Aoshi told them.
Everyone waited for their King to answer regarding the missing children but the King chose to keep the answer to himself instead.
"Kenshin, I entrust that you would find these children and bring them to me for protection," The King ordered his most trusted vassal.
"Aoshi I want you to send people to the Kamiya land and search for any information," King Hiko said to Aoshi.
Having aid what he needed to say, King Hiko stood from his sit and took his leave. But before stepping out of the castle he gave his last order to the men with him in the great hall. "I trust that none of the things we discussed here would be going out of this hall?"
"Yes," was the simple answer King Hiko heard. Satisfied with that, he nodded and left.
"I am leaving as well Himura," Aoshi said.
"So," started Sano when their guests had left the castle. "When are you leaving?"
"On the fortnight I will go to the Kamiya land. I will leave the safety of this fortress under your command," Kenshin ordered Sano.
"Aren't you going to bring anyone with you?"
"I won't. I need to be as inconspicuous as possible."