Blackfeather Woods the assassin's road

the boy was disarmed with the command of this man. kikyo saw something give within him, and this was good enough to release him from his defensive stance there. he withdraws, no longer eager to contest his right to eat from the carcass. it was not about the meal—that much was obvious.

the newcomer calls himself the son of a lord. it is not a lord's name he recognizes. this one has the same questions as his vassal and kikyo grows impatient to the line of questioning. do they not listen? do they not follow bushido as he has been taught?

he looks to akashita masa.

i have no clan. my father's han was taken from me years ago. i need no herald, no accompaniment— he has pride still, and stands strong. my swordsmen are scattered as they hunt in my name—and when they find those that wronged my father, that killed my father, that took what was mine, they come to me again.

and so he was alone.