Chapter 11

Okita-san put a hand on his shoulder, "Tetsu-kun?"

"Tou-san said that we will see each other again, but I know we won't. I can see it in his eyes. I may be a kid, but I know." Tetsu replied with tears in his eyes, "Why… does this had to happen? Why my family? Why me?"

Okita-san put his arms around him, "I'm sorry Tetsu-kun. I promise you that one day, the one who did this will pay for his crimes."

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Ryuunoauke wipe away his tears as he drove away. With every store passing, his heart sank lower and lower.

Flashback

"Mister President? What are you doing here?" Ryuunosuke asked surprise. Suzu grin and turn to the man behind him, "Well Hikagami, should we tell him why were here?"

Ryuunosuke look behind him. His eyes widen in fright. Hikagami was cover in blood and was holding what seems to be a long bloody sword. Ryuunosuke quickly got up, "What's the meaning of this?"

Suzu turn back to him, "If you want to know, then come to my house. I might be able to identify the one who killed your wife and mother."

"What? What do you mean?" he shouted in anger.

"All in due time," Suzu said. He and Hikagami disappeared into the black alley behind them.

Flashback Ended

He wipe away the last remaining tears and turn left. The car pull to a stop in front of a grave site. He got out of the car and went to the back of the car. He got a hoe and walk through the old metal gate. He continue down the stone floor passing grave stones. He turn to a stop and turn toward a grave stone on top of a hill.

Ryuunosuke walk up the hill until he was standing in front of the grave stone. The grave stone was dark gray with letters written down in the middle of the stone. The Truth Lies Within, was what written on the stone. Ryuunosuke gave a little prayer before he start digging the grave. He stop when the hoe hit something. He set the hoe aside and dug his hand into the floor. He pull a long wooden box like the one use to put unused swords. He set it down on the ground and hurriedly open it.

Inside was three long swords and an old blue paper cover book. He could see a few papers sticking out of the book, but he reach for the swords. He took the longest one and set it beside him. He turn back to the other two, "One day Tetsu… your master will come back for you. He is the only one who can wield you two." He put the lid back on and put the wooden box back in the grave. He rebury it and grab the hoe and long sword with him. He walk back to the car and look back to the hill, "It seem I won't be able to keep my promise after all, Tetsu."

He got into the car and continue on his way.

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"So it was like that after all," Hijikata-san said quietly as he listen to Kondou-san explain to him and Okita-san why Tetsu and Susumu are staying with them. Kondou-san wanted to keep this secret, so Tetsu and Susumu was sent to their room.

"Kondou-san, I understand why Tetsu-kun shouldn't know about this just yet, but what about Yamazaki-san? Shouldn't he also have the right to know?"

Kondou-san gave a reassured smile, "Don't worry. Yamazaki-san already knew about this from the beginning. That's also a reasons why Ryuunosuke leave Tetsu-kun in his care."

"Reasons?" Okita-san raise an eyebrow.

"Yamazaki is a trusted ninja that had work for me for quite some time now. He comes from a line of ninja family, the Yamazaki clan. I wouldn't expect you to know much about them, for they work mostly in secrets." Hijikata-san answered him.

Okita-san thought a bit, "Oh, I see. So if you were to explain this to him when you're explaining it to us, Tetsu-kun would get suspicious that we're keeping secrets from him, especially about him."

"Precisely," Kondou-san said with a small smile, "But I'm worried about Ryuunosuke. Judging by his rush getaway, I said he went to retrieve his sword."

"Retrieve his sward Sword?" Okita-san asked.

"Yes. After he got married, Ryuunosuke buried his sword, Silver Fang, and hadn't touch it once since then. I suspect that he would go and get it and head to where his destine takes him."

Okita-san look down at his feet, "So his promised to Tetsu-kun was an empty promise after all."

"No," Hijikata-san interrupted, "If Ryuunosuke return alive, then that promise isn't an empty promise at all. And I'm sure Ryuunosuke won't make a promise he couldn't keep." Okita-san smile as he look at Hijikata-san and to his words as well.

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"How… did this happen?" Saya manage to spoke out loud. The ashes and burned woods under her feet crunch as she step over them, "Just yesterday… how… who could have done something like this?"

Saya fell to her knees in tears, "Just when… I could finally see him again. Why… Suzu?"

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Tetsu stare out the window and watch the birds chirped, circling each other. He look at the hairpin he still held tightly onto. This is the only thing I had left… of everything… he look at Susumu, who was looking at him, "Susumu?"

"Yes?" he answered.

"Is it alright for me to stay with you?" he asked in a whispering tone.

Susumu smile, "Of course. In truth, I should be the one asking you that. Besides, I promise to take care of you. And I will keep that promise."

Tetsu return a smile as a tears slide down his face, "Sorry," he wipe it away and made a big grin. Susumu sigh with an even wider smile.

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Ryuunosuke stop the car in front of a white mansion. He got out and a maid greeted him, "Master Suzu awaits you." He follow the maid inside and down a long hallway. As they pass other maids, he notice their expression. It was all the same, sadness. He took a quiet breath and look away from them.

The maid stop in front of a double door, "Master Suzu awaits you inside." Ryuunsuke nodded. As he pass, the maid whisper, "Be careful," in his ear. She walk away without another glance and kept going until she disappeared.

The double door open and a voice ushers him in, "Come in."

He nervously, but also angrily walked in. he clench Silver Fang tighter as the door slam shut behind him. The room light up and Suzu smile to him from the arm chair, "Welcome to my home, Ryuunosuke. And I see you bought along a splendid sword as well. What do you expect ot do with that?"

Ryuunosuke grip the handle and pull it out of the cask. The blade was color in a black-like night. Near the grip was a drawing of a silver tiger. "Draw your sword, Suzu of Choushuu!" he said angrily.