Now, Jiro, a fourteen-year-old boy . . .

One night, the King of the southern Kingdom of Drakkar paid a visit to the noble Masamune family.

Jiro walked with his father and brother to where they had received word that King Drakkar of the southern kingdom wanted to meet with Kazuyuki.

After a few short minutes, they arrived at the well in the center of town. The moon illuminated the night sky.

There stood a tall man, with a woman at his side. He wore black and had pale skin, light gray eyes, white hair, and stood at 6�1�; he looked dead. She wore a soldier�s uniform and her skin was slightly darker than his, she had blue eyes, blond hair, and stood at 5�8�.

�Are you Kazuyuki Masamune?� the woman asked.

Kazuyuki sternly retorted, �That I am, is this Vlad Drakkar, the one who has summoned me?�

The man smirked as he said, �I am King Vlad Drakkar, you shall address me as such.�

�I have no king to answer to, you are a foreigner here, remember that,� Kazuyuki replied.

Nina reached for her sword, a thin bladed weapon, a rapier. However, Vlad put his hand up and said, �Its okay, Nina, don�t worry about it . . . now.�

Nina straightened up and answered, �Yes, mi�lord.�

�Enough of this, why have you summoned me?� Kazuyuki demanded.

Vlad smirked as he said, �You are going to give me your daughter, I have heard that she is the most beautiful girl in this nation. I�m in need of a beautiful young mistress.�

Kazuyuki smiled as he said, �You have no right to ask for my daughter. My answer is no.� Kazuyuki then turned around, and his two sons did the same, beginning to walk away.

�It was not a request!� Vlad shouted. �I am merely stating what will be!� as he began laughing hysterically.

Kazuyuki turned around and drew his katana, �You have said more than enough, shut your mouth, or I�ll kill you!�

�Try it,� Nina mocked.

Kazuyuki charged towards Vlad, his katana raised. Nina jumped in front of Vlad, drawing her rapier at the same time.

She parried the first slash, but was unable to stop the kick to the side of her head afterward.

Nina was knocked to the ground, nearly five feet to Vlad�s right side.

Kazuyuki pointed the tip of the Masamune at Vlad�s face, touching his nose as blood trickled down the center of Vlad�s lips.

�You will leave now, dead or alive, it�s up to you,� Kazuyuki said in a soft voice.

�Hmph, you�ll pay for this disrespect!� Vlad shouted as he turned around, mounted his horse and left. Nina soon did the same.

�Father, should we be worried?� Suzuchiro asked. �No, don�t worry about them, they shouldn�t be back for a little while,� Kazuyuki answered.

The three went back to their home, and slept.

Months passed by, with nothing happening.