As Daisuke approached his home, he saw Makoto seated outside. He was meditating. Daisuke began to wonder what Makoto wanted. Perhaps, word got to him regarding the incident in the village.
"You've never been one to back down from a fight, Daisuke." Makoto said as Daisuke walked past, his eyes still closed. "Isn't that right?"
"If someone pointed a gun at you, Makoto, I wouldn't expect you to dance and sing." Daisuke sarcastically responded.
Makoto opened his eyes, letting out a small chuckle.
"Come in." Daisuke said.
"You know why I'm here, don't you?"
"Of course I do. You've already made it clear."
"You promised me you would not use that wolf on members of the village."
"If I were by myself, I wouldn't. But, I couldn't risk the boy's life. Especially, when there's a pistol involved."
"Come on, Daisuke. We both know you could have handled them with just your sword. You've overcome a lot worse in your life."
"Like I said... the boy's life wasn't worth the risk. No matter how skilled I am, a common fool with a pistol becomes a dangerous fool."
"I'm not going to strip you of that sword. Despite going against my orders."
"You can take it. It's not mine anyway."
"You earned that sword, Daisuke. In fact, I'd say you earned it even more than others."
"You know... I haven't been back to that cave ever since you took me."
"I know. Why not, though?"
"Because it's like you said, I earned this sword. It wouldn't feel right to abandon it now."
"Daisuke... you are an incredible fighter. Even without that sword, you are a one man army. Can you imagine... if you obtained a Tokihanatsu of your own... how powerful would you be?"
"I don't seek power, Makoto. That is what makes the heart turn black. I am content with this sword and it's Tokihanatsu."
Daisuke remove the sword from his waist, placing it on the table in front of them.
"I remember the night I got the sword like it just happened yesterday." Daisuke said, lost in thought.
"You saved me that night. Which is why I am so in debt to you, Daisuke."
"If it wasn't for your Tokihanatsu, I wouldn't have been able to save you."
"I was locked inside a cage. Luckily, my Tokihanatsu is a Serpent. So, it was able to get out and find you."
"Yeah... when it found me and directed me to you, there was nothing on my mind except death. I was ready to kill anyone I had to. I remember it was so dark... but they were using lamps to keep things alight. So, I went round and took them all out. It reminded me of the days I trained with Hokai, learning to fight in pitch black."
"And you ended up killing their leader too. That is why you earned that sword. You may not have been able to obtain your own Tokihanatsu in the cave, but you were able to tame that one right there." Said Makoto, pointing at Daisuke's sword on the table.
Makoto continued, "Would you like to go back to the cave, if I accompanied you?"
Daisuke stood still, pondering over Makoto's question.
[The Tokihanatsu is a summon which lives within a warriors sword. It can only be obtained within the Ryūdendō cave. This journey is only taken by those who believe they are ready. According to legends across the land, a warrior must have killed 1,000 people with their sword before going. Some say 5,000. However, the warrior must have the spirit and inner strength to tame a Tokihanatsu beast. Even with 1,000 kills, some warriors are still not mentally strong enough to tame one. Hence, only the most elite of warriors have one; that is, elite in their physical ability, mental strength and spiritual awareness.]
"I don't know." Daisuke muttered. "A true warrior shouldn't need a summon... or special abilities... or anything of that nature."
"Aren't you curious as to what you'd get?"
"I am... but I don't know if I want it."
"Well, how about we just go. Have a walk around. Embrace the power within the cave."
Daisuke thought for a moment, then responded, "Alright. Let's go."
Daisuke went to pick up his sword from the table, but with his arm stretched out, he hesitated. He then pulled back his arm and left, leaving the sword on the table.
"You're going to leave it here?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, there's no point bringing it."
"Alright, I have a new katana for you to use."
"Should we take horses?"
"It is dark... we can make sure they don't make too much noise."
They got on separate horses, and rode off to the cave. At the pace they were going, it wouldn't take more than an hour. For the entire journey, Daisuke thought about having to abandon his current Tokihanatsu. He had become so attached to it, he didn't want to give it up. From what he knew, a warrior could only be connected with one Tokihanatsu beast. Which would mean, if he decided to tame a beast of his own and succeeded, his Tokihanatsu Wolf would perish.
Once the cave was within visible distance, Makoto halted.
"Let's leave the horses here." Makoto stated.
"What for?"
"For some reason, horses don't like going near the cave. It's fine, we can walk from here."
Makoto released his Tokihanatsu Serpent, commanding it to guard the horses. As Makoto and Daisuke got closer to the cave, the eminent glow that emerges from the water inside reflected around the entrance.
"The fact that you need the horses guarded makes me think I should have brought my katana." Daisuke told Makoto.
"No point. It is taboo to fight within 2miles of this cave. I just need to make sure the horses don't get stolen. According to tales, those that have killed within 2miles of the cave have never been able to tame a Tokihanatsu beast."
"What about killing someone once you already have one?"
"Well... let's put it like this... those that have done that have never been seen again."
Having arrived at the opening of the cave, they saw the shadow of a person inside.