Saizo (SLBP PART 1)

Chapter Twelve

"Ugh why do I even have to be here..." Lina sighed as she watched Yahiko practicing falconry with Kojuro...

Lord Kenshin was also present as he overheard Kojuro's invitation to Yahiko and... Invited himself since he's a fan of birds...

"Why the glum face Lina?" Lord Kenshin said gently as he stood beside her and held out an open palm.

Lina was about to answer him when a red sparrow from a nearby tree flew and landed onto Lord Kenshin's palm.

"Erm... Oh..." Lina's eyes brightened as she bent down to take a closer look at the sparrow. "What a cute little bird! And you must be so talented for a bird to feel comfortable and trust you Lord Kenshin!"

Lord Kenshin just gave another gentle smile as he gestured for Lina to sit down with him.

"So. Are you going to tell me why you have a gloomy face?"

Lina pouted as she sighed.

"Just that... I don't understand why Yahiko asked me along when obviously he's the one who enjoys training falconry with Kojuro. I mean ever since Kojuro helped out at my grandma's restaurant with Lord Masamune, they've gotten close. But... why am I even here again when I'm no good at falconry?!"

Lord Kenshin gave a deep chuckle as he looked at Lina.

"What makes you say that you're not good at falconry?"

"Well... For instance I'm afraid of huge birds."

"And?"

"I tried falconry before. Nope, not my cup of tea."

"Hmm..." Lord Kenshin hummed as he closed his eyes and reopened them. "Maybe Yahiko brought you along because Kojuro asked him to?"

"Huh? What?" Lina deadpanned. "Why would I even have that thought in my head?"

"Because everyone seems to like you." Lord Kenshin gave a shrug of his shoulders.

"Everyone doesn't mean literally everyone." Lina rolled her eyes and she then widened them. "Wait how on earth do you know who likes me?"

"Well... I have my ways..."

"Lord Kenshin. You're scaring me." Lina teased as she pretended to tremble in fear.

"Aha... No, I don't stalk you if that's what you want to know..."

"Alright jokes aside. Then how?"

"I know a lot about you Lina. About you and Yahiko." Lord Kenshin said with a twinkle in his eye as he gestured for the sparrow to fly away from his palm.

"Huh?"

"Would you believe me if I said your mother is from the Jimmu bloodline and your father is from the now extinct Uchiha clan?"

"What?!" Lina exclaimed but Lord Kenshin quickly placed a finger to his lips.

"Sssh. I didn't plan for me to break the news to you this way but... Since the conversation got diverted here, why not right?"

Lina blinked a few times at Lord Kenshin before crossing her arms.

"I don't believe you. You're lying."

"I'm not. If you don't believe me, clarify with your grandma. She will vouch for my words."

Lina bit her lower lip as she thought about it.

That's true as her grandma doesn't play around with this kind of stuff...

"Okay other than my grandma, what other proof did you have?"

"Hmm... I can't prove about your royalty abilities... But how about this?"

Lord Kenshin reached for a dagger in the inside of his hakama and passed it to Lina.

"Come on. Aim for the peach on the highest branch." Lord Kenshin urged as he pointed at a tree.

"WHAT?!" Lina exclaimed. "That is so high! Besides I told you I'm not good at falconry so definitely I'm not good at any other extreme activities!"

"Well maybe Yahiko's talent is for falconry but this is the basic of what a member of the Uchiha clan can do. Come on, try it.

Lina took a deep breath and she stared at the peach in question carefully, before throwing the dagger smoothly.

The dagger cut the peach cleanly from its tiny stalk and landed on the lush grass silently.

Lord Kenshin turned to Lina with a huge grin.

"See what'd I tell you?"

"Hah! That was just beginner's luck!" Lina protested as Kojuro and Yahiko came up to them.

"Hey nee chan come on join us! You too Lord Kenshin! You two have just been lazing around here chit chatting!" Yahiko complaint as he tried to pull his elder sister up.

"Ahh okay-okay I'll join you alright!" Lina grumbled as she dusted her yukata. "I don't even know why I'm here when I'm not even good at it!"

"Isn't it obvious nee chan? Obviously Kojuro likes you." Yahiko rolls his eyes as Kojuro's face turned a bit red.

"Yahiko!"

Lina's eyes widened at Kojuro's green ones before she snapped her head to Lord Kenshin.

"See? What did I tell you? I wasn't telling lies right?" Lord Kenshin winked as he got up and went to get the fallen peach.