Setting is the fall of 1620 in northern Japan, when the lands were ruled by different lords.
Lands were ruled by benevolent and peaceful men, their lands prosperous and the people happy.
Others ruled by tyrants who abused their subjects and waged war for land and money. This story
tells of two such lords, both at war and both brothers.

	In the small town in the Aomori Providence, villagers and travelers were passing in their
normal routine. Two groups of armed soldiers patrol the borders of the big village, ensuring the
security of their home. Although it was late in the afternoon, the busiest place was a local bar in
the southern part of the village, home to the friendly drunks and vagabonds of Aomori. In one
lonely stool sat a tall, mysterious drifter already half-way through a bottle of sake. In a long, dark
blue robe he hid his face with a dark straw hat, next to him layed a worn and tattered black
scabbard. As a young cat waitress rushed to other tables to deliver drinks, she was tripped by
a bear's foot and mocked by his panther and shiba friends. Obviously drunk from the three sake
bottles in their hands, they decide to play with the poor waitress, loudly carousing and teasing her.
The owner of the bar, a elderly human, runs to retrieve his waitress, but was easily intimidated by
the large furs. The three furs got up and threatened the litte barkeeper, each carrying long rusted
katanas. After pinning him to the wall they raised their blades, but the sound of a cup resting on the
bar stopped them. The tall, blue clad figure stood and grabbed his black scabbard. In their drunk
stupor they then mocked the man. In two quick seconds all that was heard was the shink of blades
colliding.
----------------------------------------

	A large group of soldiers were escorting the three drunks out of the bar, each beaten and
their clothes cut into ribbons, a greater humiliation for them. When asked who was responsible for
their condition, the human barkeep and the cat waitress described the man in blue. The man in blue
had overpowered all three of the furs without effort, and left without any word and paid for his sake.
	"Take-san!" Yelled tiny voices to the man in blue, two human children and three fur cubs all
ran to catch him. One fur, a young leopard boy, spoke first as they caught up to him, "Take-san,
we heard what happened at Kyosi's Bar. Did you really take out three big beast in one swing?"
	The tall man in blue turned and raised his hat, "Perhaps." That one word made all the young
ones ooh in amazement, giving a low chuckle from the adult. Taking off his hat he revealed himself,
a tall black wolf with a large scarlet scar on his right cheek. His name was Takeokami Mitsuho, a
drifter who came to Aomori almost a year ago, and has become a sort of hero to the children of the
village for his sword skills. Although fierce and swift in combat he remained calm and kind when it
came to the children, especially the one in his care.
	"Take-san, how is Akena? Is she doing better?" Asked one human child.
	"A little." Akena is an human orphan Mitsuho found on his way into Aomori, frail and sick
she was dressed in wornout rags and about to die. Fur's empathy for humans was scarce, even in
times were both intermingled so often, but Mitsuho took pity for her and carried her to a proper
doctor and managed to pay for medicine, food and clothing for her. But her progress was slow and
Mitsuho was running out of money, and fate would alter their lives even more.

----------------------------------------