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Once upon a time a boy was born to a famous samurai lord named Kisuke. The infant's mother died soon after childbirth and Kisuke did not have the patience nor time to raise this child. The night of the mother's death, Kisuke brought his unnamed infant son to market and left him under a tree to die. Within hours of the abandonment however, a samurai lord named Hiroshi spotted the infant and took him home.

As the boy matured, Hiroshi named him Kiyoshi after his quiet personality. Kiyoshi developed into a skilled young samurai, but often worked as a servant for his surrogate father; going to the market, cooking, and acting as protection on their travels together. Kiyoshi knew only fragments of his past- he didn't even know that Hiroshi wasn't his biological father.

During one of his market trips, Kiyoshi met a boy named Zihark who also wielded a sword. From then on, every week Kiyoshi and Zihark honed their samurai skills together. Their friend ship became very strong and Zihark was eventually put into Hiroshi's possession as a servant after his original master's death. Because Hiroshi and Zihark were so close, they were inseparable everywhere they went.

One morning, Hiroshi had placed a silked kimono on both Kiyoshi's and Zihark's beds for them to travel in. They put them on and traveled to the Floating World, an entertainment epicenter. Here, they watched plays called Kabuki, and went to a restaurant where they were treated to Sake, a rice wine, and the traditional onigiri, or rice ball. While Kiyoshi and Zihark ate, Hiroshi excused himself to speak with another samurai named Kisuke. Kiyoshi and Zihark bowed deeply before their master as he left, and then continued eating. After thirty minutes of waiting in the restaurant, Zihark thought they should look for their master. Kiyoshi agreed and they went to look for Hiroshi. Neither of them knew much about Lord Kisuke, but they both knew how cold-hearted he was; it was well known in town that he had a son, but he had left the baby outside to die.

They cautiously searched for the two skilled samurai, but almost immediately came across Hiroshi's dead body behind the restaurant. Kiyoshi stared disbelievingly into his father's expressionless eyes. Zihark, not knowing what to do, attempted to comfort his companion. A voice from behind startled both of them, "Are you surprised to see him like this? Your Lord Hiroshi wandered weaponless into my arms, and after insulting my values like he did, he got what he deserved". After realizing who was speaking to them, the young samurai dropped into a bow.

Kiyoshi's face went pale at his words, "Lord Kisuke, my father was everything to me. Lord Hiroshi taught me everything he could, and still I lack so much. May I please have a moment alone with him?" as he proposed his question, both he and Zihark bowed even deeper.

"Hah! You think he was your father? This was just what he and I were discussing. Your father brought to my attention many years ago that the infant I left to die is very much alive, and he is standing right here in front of me. He was not your father, and never will be." Kiyoshi and Zihark pulled up out of their bow, but Lord Kisuke had already disappeared.

Kiyoshi grieved over the loss of his mentor and gave him a funeral service. Hiroshi's body was buried behind the house and given a headstone. Kiyoshi and Zihark returned to his grave to pay respects for several weeks after his death. Kiyoshi often asked Hiroshi's remains unaswerable questions such as "Why didn't you tell me?" or "Why didn't you let me die?". After three weeks of grievance however, the pair became motivated to avenge their master's wrongful death.

Zihark suggested they spy on Lord Kisuke in disguise as peasants at the Floating World. Kiyoshi agreed and they set off to prepare for the next day. Kiyoshi went to the market for their disguises and bought two hemp kimono while Zihark rented a room at the local inn. On Kiyoshi's trip to the inn however, he stopped at Hiroshi's house and picked up his master's katana.

That night the two slept in preparation for their day of vengeance. Early the next morning Kiyoshi and Zihark dressed in their disguises and Kiyoshi equipped the katana. When they got to the Floating World, they decided they should wait outside the Kabuki theater. They stood there from sunrise to sunset and they saw no sign of Kisuke. Just as Kiyoshi suggested they head back home they again heard the cool voice, "Do you enjoy standing outside for hours in front of Kabuki theaters? Or are you waiting for something?", Lord Kisuke stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself.

"Lord Kisuke. You are a monster. How could you kill a man for sheltering and feeding your only son?", Kiyoshi demanded.

"What? You think I consider you as my son? I would be happier knowing you never existed."

"And I feel the same way with giving you the title of 'father'. At your ready.", Kiyoshi unsheathed the katana and went into a battle stance. Zihark quickly got out of the dangerous area and watched from the safety of the shadows.

As Kiyoshi raced at Kisuke, he himself unsheathed his sword and defended. They matched each other parry for parry, hit for hit. Kiyoshi carefully watched as Kisuke grew further and further fatigued. At Kisuke's final burst of energy, Kiyoshi dodged and slashed the katana blade through his neck and beheaded Lord Kisuke.

Kiyoshi and Zihark gave Lord Kisuke a proper burial and left their little rural part of town. Kiyoshi spent the remaining years of his young life with Zihark. The two were always able to count on each other. Zihark never left the only person he ever trusted.