Taka scooped up the boy in his arms. "I suppose that is up to Haru if he wants to come with us. It won't be an easy journey and quite possibly dangerous," Taka answered as he carried the boy down to the stream.

He set Tomoe at the edge of the stream before pulling out a water skin. He knelt next to the boy and filled it, another preparation for the journey ahead. He pushed away a niggling feeling of unease about the journey. What did he know about protecting anyone, much less a child?

He knew killing not protecting. It was his job to evade those trying to protect his targets, and he was good at his job. He looked up to the starry sky above, releasing a silent plea to any possible deity maybe listening that he could keep the boy safe.