At dawn of the next day, Hiko walked out of his abode with his jug of Sake in hand, heading to the place where he fought and killed the bandits that attacked the caravan. Miryu, his young protégé followed him, as he felt it dangerous to leave her alone, especially in these times of unrest. It is no consolation that I was taught the Hiten-Mitsurugi to serve this world, he said to himself, I'm barely able to save anyone, but I can be assured of the burials of the victims.
His memories raced to the day when Miryu's mother, Ryumiko fought with her husband, Tsubasa Akurou just moments after giving birth to Miryu. It took her less than five minutes to kill him, but her energy was spent, and died with the man. "Take care of Miryu for me, Hiko-sama", Ryumiko said, before breathing her last, and that was what he did for the last six years.
"Shishou, look!" Miryu exclaimed, pointing to the numerous crosses that stood erect from the ground. It was impossible that such a feat could be accomplished in just one night, but it was still there.
Hiko walked forwards, also shocked at the remarkable sight. He saw the boy, Shinta whom he saved the night before, and decided to as, "You dug graves for your parents as well as the bandits?"
"They are slave-traders" Shinta replied softly, "My parents died a year ago of cholera"
"I'm sorry to hear that" Miryu chipped in, "My parents died too, but I don't even remember them"
Shinta nodded in appreciation, and continued, "Once they cease living, they're nothing but corpses, despite being traders when they were alive…"
Miryu remained silent; she didn't even know what her mother did for a living. Was she a trader like Shinta's parents, or maybe something even more exciting, like a hitokiri?
Hiko's eyes drifted to the three stones before Shinta. "What are these for?" he asked.
"Kasumi-san, Akane-san and Sakura-san" he replied, "I knew them briefly. I wanted to protect them even if it cost my life, but instead, they protected me. They asked that I be spared since I was a child, that's why they deserve decent stones, but I couldn't find them, not even flowers…"
Yet again, scenes of how his beloved Ryumiko died began to play in Hiko's mind again. I know how this kid feels, he thought. I was unable to protect her, but I will honor my promise to her by raising Miryu to be a swordswoman with the strength and power alike hers, maybe even greater.
Wasting no time, he uncorked his jug of Sake and poured some onto the stones. The boy's description of the three women who protected him made Hiko recall Ryumiko's efforts to keep him alive, even to the extent of receiving her husband's torture and abuse without any level of resistance. He wanted to show them that he respected them, just like how he respected and loved Ryumiko.
"It's a shame that they couldn't enjoy the taste of good Sake" he said, "I offer them what I can"
"Thank you…" the boy said, wondering what his savior's name was.
"I'm Hiko Seijurou, a swordsman" Hiko replied, "Boy, even though you weren't able to protect the ones you loved, you were given these three. Your hands were entrusted to their deaths, not their lives. Thus, you are forced with their responsibility. Find the strength in order to hold your own and protect others"
"Protect?" the boy muttered to himself.
"Boy, what is your name?" Hiko asked, then, pointing to the child next to him, who waved cheerfully. "This is Miryu, my protégé"
"Shinta" he said absentmindedly.
"It's not quite appropriate for a warrior" Hiko said. "Let's name the child Kenshin if it's a boy, and Miryu, if it's a girl", he remembered Ryumiko saying, then referring to her then unborn child. Three months later, Miryu was born. The name "Kenshin" meant the heart of the sword, which is the whole essence of kenjutsu all around. "You shall be known as Kenshin from now on"
"Ken… shin" the boy repeated his new name to himself.
"Hi, Kenshin" Miryu said, unaware that the name was intended for her if she was born as a boy.
Hiko looked at the boy and Miryu, and smirked. "You'll both receive the greatest weapon!" he said, and walked off, signaling them to follow him.