The Lost Samurai

Chapter 13 - Tears.

"Haha, you act like your father, Prince Kenshin, adopting a homeless kid, answering your question, yes your father is here and your brother Emperor Kai Tanaka is also in the city, he just returned from his diplomatic meeting." The guard captain let the little girl hug him and even gave her a light head pat, hearing his father was home Kenshin's mood was really good, exchanging glances with Hori they headed towards the castle after saying bye to the guard captain.

Little Kyoko gestured to Kenshin and he instantly knew she wanted to go in his arms, she was in love with the city and couldn't stop looking around, she wanted to be in his arms so she could see more from a higher position, the crowded streets with more persons than Kyoko ever saw in her short life, stores that looked like they were made from pure gold, and some truly were, all kinds of clothes and faces, giant buildings, she couldn't hide her curiosity.

"You like it don't you my dear? I have some money and influence so I will show you everything good around the city with time, now we're going to see my father, your grandpa." Kenshin was holding Kyoko carefully so she wouldn't fall while looking around.

"Hey, do you think Ico is around here today? It was a long time since i last saw him, he's always out fighting or training, gosh, you two are opposites Kenshin, Ico has literally nothing in his life apart from training and you are always carefree and a slacker, you were like him as a kid but became a slacker in the last years, he even surpassed you. You should train more, not a crazy routine like him but at least enough to regain your position as the strongest genius." Hori couldn't stop herself from giving Kenshin a lecture once she recalled their situation, losing to someone you were always far ahead of, and so badly on top of it, Kenshin was an i***t.

“No need to call me an i***t or a slacker, you will hurt my feelings, i know i’m too carefree and even Nico isn’t ok with surpassing me like this, he wants to surpass me even if i’m training hard.” Talking about his childhood friend and rival Kenshin had a light smile on his face.

Nico was the third member of their group, the oldest one, he was two years older than Kenshin and Hori and was adopted by a famous military family and raised as a hard-worker, with his amazing talent and unprecedented hard work he climbed his way to the title of genius, many believed Nico would be the next guardian of their kingdom while many others believed Kenshin would get this position.

“Now that I have this little girl to protect, I know I need to start working hard again, don’t worry cause I will protect everyone no matter what.” He was resolute about training now, knowing his own potential he also knew his responsibility.

While talking they reached the palace, even Kenshin that lived here almost during all his life couldn’t hide his impressed face, drawings of Blue Phoenixes and the faces off all the former emperors covered the purple castle walls, the color and texture of those walls could tell anyone looking that they weren’t built of normal stones, in fact Kenshin knew almost nothing could break the defense these walls provided for the castle raising tall into the clouds.

All the castle guards let them enter without any questions and they headed for the throne room.

Looking at the throne Kenshin saw his older brother talking with his younger sister, Emperor Kai and Princess Mai were discussing trivial matters of their daily life but hearing footsteps they looked in the direction of Kenshin, Hori and Kyoko, the young Mai dashed towards Kenshin to hug him while the emperor smiled offering them seats.

“Big bro, big bro! How was your mission? Who is this cute kid? I missed you soo much! I have many things to tell you!” Mai was excited to see her brother again after a long time, she was a cute little 10 years old girl with light blue eyes and blonde hair almost white and she loved her two older brothers and her father above anyone else, sadly they didn’t have their mother anymore because she had passed away during a fight to repel the Dark Mages Guild.

“I missed you too Mia, you’re my beloved sister you know? The mission…was a failure. ” Looking in Kai’s direction Kenshin’s eyes signaled that they could talk more about that later without mai.

“About this cute kid, she’s your nephew, she lost her parents so i adopted her, say hi to her i bet you two will be on good terms.” Mai’s eyes instantly shined at the sight of a nephew. She grabbed her and went around showing everything to Kyoko while stopping to hug and kiss her.

This moment Kenshin’s father entered the room and gave Kenshin and Hori weird looks that soon changed to happy looks.

“A daughter you say? Could it be that during the mission you and Hori engaged, and she even got pregnant? Oh my, I'm a grandfather now!” The former emperor clearly didn’t hear the part where Kenshin said Kyoko was adopted, and he clearly wasn’t working with logic cause they would need more time for that.

“It hasn’t been three months, dad! What, what kind of pregnancy can produce a 1 year old child in less than nine months?” Kenshin was baffled by his father, there was no way this old man was serious about this.

“I will be sure to bring a grandchild for you next time sir! I will have Kenshin marry me and we will give little Kyoko lots of siblings, my body will be a temple for many heirs!” Hori excitedly cried as a brave warrior spitting battle cries and the father was infected by her craziness, or maybe he already had it in him, and started cheering her too.

“You can do it Hori, you’re a lovely and beautiful girl and i’m certain Kenshin wouldn’t really love any other woman besides you, soon we will have lots of grandkids running around the palace!” With an expression that shouldn’t be used unless someone is prepared to start a war the former emperor started a ridiculous scene.

Kenshin’s mind was full of memories, all so good and precious, his little girl was so strong and fearless now, after so many years, but he had the audacity of losing to this curse and even try killing Kyoko, just with this thought the flames of anger raged across his mind with it a strong will.

Suddenly after stopping the giant skeleton started crying, he was crying black tears in a frightening but sad scene

He knelt on the ground and gently patted Kyoko's head, she started crying, crying even more than him, she felt love and felt it was her father and not the monster, she was just too happy to describe with mere words.