Spring had come to the land, the cold bite of winter had long released its hold over the land. However, in the land of the Mitsumine, the mornings were still quite cold. With such a chilly breeze, like the breath of a Snow Woman on the back of the neck, a figure walked through the gardens of the so called Wolf's Den, Genrouuchi, minding not for a moment such unpleasantness or the little light of before dawn.
The man's name was Mitsumine Takeshi, a man of 34 years of age, and today he walked the familiar path to the ancient graves of his family clan... and towards two graves in particular, only twelve winters old. He made his prayers, burned incense and with it, a letter addressed to people who have long since passed from this world. He bid the God of Flames, the God of Breezes and any God that may be listening, to carry the words he burned, the ashes of his feelings towards the afterlife and the people he had lost so long ago.
Today was an important day, the beginning of a whole new era and a new way of living for Takeshi and his entire Clan. The man stood up from his prayers, looking back upon the home where he had lived for the last twelve years... and where the most important thing in the world for him now rested. Ryuunosuke was as ready as he could be and yet Takeshi's hand still grasped the hilt of blade, his weapon he brought everywhere, at the thought of letting him face what lie out there in the world. Politics, Bureaucrats, War, Warriors, Spies, Assassins... and dark things which roamed beyond the understanding of man. Such things were a given due to their position in this life... but the reason Takeshi worried so much was one he kept close to his heart. To the world, Mitsumine Daichi and his wife had died due to a traveling accident... however, Takeshi knew the truth. The two of them were assassinated... and by an enemy whose face he did not know. That was the most chilling part of it all... for as long as they were unknown, as their motives remained shrouded in mystery, every shadow could be hiding a murderer's blade.
Gritting his teeth in the darkness, Takeshi almost wished the moment of truth would come. Twelve years ago he had been a man of action, a straightforward being whose first instinct was to challenge whatever trouble he may face head-on. However, the years had given him patience... and while his paranoia nagged at him constantly, he had learned than living with such was much better than for the menace to strike... and to find himself unable, once more, to prevent the loss of those he loved. He would prepare... his blade always sharp and his mind keen, however, nothing would be best than for such worrying to have been unnecessary.
Still, today was not the time for such gloomy thoughts. The passes into the Mitsumine lands had been cleared for a few weeks now. Still, today was the moment when the Mitsumine called off their winter retreat and would be willing to host and meet emissaries from lands beyond their own. It was also the day where Takeshi stepped down as Head of the family and gave that honor to Ryuunosuke, as it was always meant to be.
Today he was a man, and as such, Takeshi smiled as he remembered the instructions he gave his staff. Chiyo, the head maid of the home and Takeshi's closest assistant would break the tradition of twelve years having woken up Ryuunosuke at the break of dawn. He was a man now, and as such, not to be set a schedule by his uncle. He would either rise early on his own, command a servant himself to wake him up from now on... or simply oversleep during the morning.
On the other hand, Nawabuta, the gatekeeper of Genrouuchi would be greeting the visitors to the old home and handing them over to Chiyo's maids to tend to their needs before Ryuunosuke was ready to meet up with them.
Takeshi on the other hand... he would be within easy reach should he be needed. On one of the inner courtyards, as he did every morning, he would be practicing his blade work.
Now, what shall be the fate of Ryuunosuke, Heir of the Mitsumine Clan, as he rest in the third room of the Wolf's Den Mansion?