5 When snow falls thick

'...For that, I congratulate the young people. Cheers!'

Almost every villager that lived in Norsewell came to the wedding. It was an important event. One of the sons of the head chief, and the daughter of the only blacksmith were getting together, but not only that, the village consisted mostly of an elderly, so weddings were quite a rarity. Chairs and tables were brought to the house with the biggest backyard, and the children helped decorating the place from morning to evening. Housewives helped with the dinner, and the men were singing, and joking, and definitely drinking. Older men played their cards, and their wives were chatting near by, in case their husbands start betting their savings. Norsewell was busy all day. When the preparations were done, everyone sat by the long table.

Guest left at midnight.

'You're leaving tomorrow, Ryu?' Ei asked.

Ichiro nodded, and smiled. They were exhausted.

'I'll be back in no time.'

'A year is a very long time, you know? Especially for a young girl like me, he-he.'

'Sorry for leaving you like this. I'll be back, and if you want, we can go see some new places together,' Ichiro put her hands in his own.

'Just come back, okay?'

'I will.'

The sun was already shining bright when Ichiro and Tomura arrived at the dojo. The swords sat on their waists, and the hakama they wore was darker than black. The crest of the Makoto dojo stood proud on the backs of their haori.

'Son, wait a minute. Take this,' he handed his son-in-law a cape with a big bird on it. 'This is your family crest now. You are a Nightingale.'

'The Old King's "Nightingales"?'

'Didn't think there is someone who knows about us. Ha-ha,' he continued, 'The noblest knights of Riverfall, then the assassins of Red Palace, now, there are only three of us.'

Ichiro put the cape on. It was just a bit longer than his haori.

'Thanks!'

'You'll get there just before the snow falls thick,' Tenko looked at his students, 'Now, go.'

Ichiro hugged his new family.

'Four. There are four of us... Hikari.' He smiled and ran off to Tomura, who went ahead. Nightingales returned to their village right after.

'Let us go too. Shall we, Mitsuki?'