As with when he first noticed the man’s presence, Tenkuu hadn’t moved his hand to his sword. He kept a relaxed look upon his face, though his eyes were somewhat curious as to the actions of their companion, Tanjiro. Being a ranking member inside of the few samurai that worked directly for the Shogun, Tenkuu was well aware of the fact that Kumamoto Michio was, in fact, Daimyo of Cizok. This fact did little to change the situation at hand, as he had taken a position under the command of Satou Akio, which meant a good leader wouldn’t give him special treatment after learning the truth of a family’s line.

Tenkuu awaited the introduction Makoto with the same silent calm he handled the situation as a whole. “One more would greatly help our efforts, Lord Makoto, and with one such as yourself, I’m sure we will have nothing to fear in the up-coming mission.” The Violet Samurai then slip into a soft bow towards the man, as he returned to his normal stance the soft smile that rested upon his face was replaced with a look of determination.

The Wind Element Samurai turned his attention back towards Satou Akio. “What say you then, Satou Akio? Is there any alterations in the situation, or are we now ready to traverse to our objective?”

Akio didn't care who the man was, the fact that he had the skills to remain undetected amongst the group was impressive. Still, it worried him that he had been caught off guard, what if the man had been an assassin? Would they still be alive?

He pushed the thought aside, now was not the time for them, he had to focus on the task at hand and luckily for him Takashi Makoto was apparently skilled enough to take the place of Gekido, convenient.

"Kashou-san." Akio raised his hand in the direction of the seemingly blood thirst warrior. "Please, we must move on, we have spent too much time here already."

He walked a few steps to get a full view of Makoto then talking to Tanjiro he gestured for everyone to head towards the exit.

"If you are his charge, then you are to be responsible for his actions." Akio didn't feel the need for further introductions, time was being wasted and since Makoto had been here the entire time he already knew everyone anyways.

"Everyone head down to the wagon loads. The seating order remains the same minus Gekido-san. I assume Makoto-san will site with you?" He said in reference to Tanjiro. "Which means Tenkuu will be alone in third wagon."

With everything established, and hopefully no more interruptions, Akio would lead the men down to the wagons, a brisk walk that would take only a few minutes.

Akio's words did not go unheeded. Kensaki slid Darkstar fully into its sheath and relaxed his posture, but his gaze never left Tanjiro and the masked Makoto. The small voice in his head piped up, crying out for the mans death, but Kensaki paid it little attention. He had given his word, and he would not break it unless absolutely neccessary.

He could almost have laughed at the situation; it seemed that this man was some sort of guardian to Tanjiro. It was no wonder that he held Makoto's skill in such high regard. From what he had observed from his short time with the masked man, Kensaki had doubts. He seemed to be in very good physical condition, but judging by Makoto's voice, he was a man well past his prime. Kensaki had no doubt of the man's skill and vast experience, but age dulled the reflexes, slowed movements, and leeched stamina. Even in as good of shape as he was, Kensaki doubted Makoto would last long in a real fight.

"I am a man of my word, Satou Akio. I have pledged my blade to your service for the time being, and so it will remain sheathed." Kensaki's continued stare stated as clearly as if he had spoken what could have happened had he made no such pledge. After a short moment, he broke his stare and moved to follow Akio out the door toward the wagons.

The tension in the room was almost thick enough to cut, as Tanjiro’s eyes met Kensaki’s gaze with an equal determination, but within the same second that the other man’s gaze broke, so would Tanjiro‘s stare waver. Now was not a time to fight and the samurai had no intention of making matters any harder for Satou Akio, the commander of this mission.

With the situation under control and a brief glance back towards the masked man, Tanjiro would let go of his arm, as if he had been restraining the individual the entire time. It was, however; somewhat unthinkable that Takashi Makoto had actually managed to remain undetected for so long, his charge, Tanjiro, hadn’t even noticed or sensed the masked individual following him, if he had done so.

The samurai sighed and breathed in, his grasp seemed to only tighten upon the sheath of his sword.

“We’ll be accompanying them,” he gestured to those now making their leave. “But I suppose you already knew that.”

A bit of scorn was present in his words, his eyes, and features had softened considerably--compared to when he first realized who had followed him, but that didn't change how he felt about the situation.

"<Guess it can't be helped.>"

He muttered to himself in a foreign dialect, dismissing his personal feelings before continuing after Kensaki and Akio.

Makoto met each of their eyes slowly, looking from one man to the next, and the next after him. He was not afraid. Not to stare them down, and not to fight. The samurai simply stood, his charge's hand on his arm.

The tension was thick enough to cut. He was here to help, for now. Until either his charge or his Lord said otherwise. Makoto turned, waiting for Tanjiro to start walking before he followed after. Of course he had listened to their conversation. Of course he had waited to say anything.

Only a fool would have made himself known to them beforehand. They might have been planning to overthrow his Lord, or to join the fools who already were. Makoto shook his head and followed after.

Kensaki's threat didn't go unnoticed. Makoto watched his back as he walked behind the men. He kept a faint limp in his walk -- purposely. Even these men should underestimate him. Even they should think him s doddering fool, despite his show.

It never hurt to be thought a fool. Men talked around fools. Makoto would let them make their mistakes. His limp was slow, rolling. It gave him time to think on the walk. Time to prepare.

Preparations would need to be made. Cizok would not fall.

“I shall be fine, Satou Akio, have no worries about my being alone in the back.” He bowed slightly, then awaited for the rest to start moving for the doors to the temple. The Violet Samurai did, however, eye Kensaki speciously as he chose his words for Akio. A half smirk crossed his face, ‘this is going to get interesting I’m sure,’ he thought to himself.

Tenkuu turned is attention to Tanjiro and Makoto for a brief moment, nodding to them in a welcoming way and directing them to take the lead. The Element Wind Samurai would place himself in the rear even before he got to the wagons. As he moved behind the two of them, he raised a slight brow when he caught slight wind of Tanjiro’s upset tone. Then he just dismissed it, few who are to be watched by others ever fully appreciate those that watch over them, this war was an example of just that.

The Violet Samurai did, however, note Makoto’s walk and the limp that came with it. Again he raised a brow, his mind playing back the scene when he first appeared in the temple. ‘What is he playing at?’ He thought to himself, then simply shrugged it off. He knew the man had his reasons, and they might be slightly similar to the reasons why Tenkuu chose to move with the rest of the Samurai and Ronin’s before him.

He followed the odd group out of the temple, and along the brisk walk that would finally lead them to the wagons. All the while setting himself into the mindset for the mission at hand, and keeping an eye out for any other unexpected company… he didn’t like getting caught off guard, and wasn’t about to let it happen again.

<Sorry for the long wait.>

The wagons, stationed side by side, were each packed to the brim with food and supplies of all kinds. The wagons themselves were large, each lead by a team of two horses, and besides the bench seat near the front of each wagon there wasn't a place to sit.

"We'll move at a swiftly as allowed. Our scouts tell me that the path is clear, but that information is a few hours old." Akio spoke over his shoulder as he climbed into the wagon, grabbing the reigns.

"Also, I don't expect we will be attacked on our way there. But that doesn't mean we should keep our guard down. There are those that would wish to use the current situation to their advantage, that are neither sided with us or the rebels." Akio wasn't sure how informed the individuals traveling with him were on the subject he figured that everyone except maybe Kensaki knew well the events going on.

If there was nothing to further their delay Akio would put things in motion, bringing his wagon out front, keeping his eyes peeled and other senses ready.

As Kensaki followed Akio toward the wagons, he did not spare a glance for the others behind him. He pushed aside thoughts of the near confrontation only moments ago, choosing to focus instead on the mission at hand. Besides, a small voice whispered in his head, there's always after... As the voice bubbled up into cruel childish laughter, Kensaki pushed it away until it could barely be heard above his own conscious thoughts.

After Akio finished his short briefing, Kensaki nodded once before climbing up beside Akio on the wagon seat, assuming a relaxed posture with his scabborded sword across his knees. While he did not know all of the details of the current goings on, Kensaki had picked up much by listening as he travelled through nearby villages and, of course, the city itself.

Briefly, Kensaki once again wondered if he had chosen the right side in this so called revolution. Not that he identified with either cause, really; he merely worried that the strength of those with him might indicate that, contrary to rumor, the odds were tipped in the favor of the Shogun, leaving little chance that he himself would find many worthy opponents. Suppressing a sigh, Kensaki began to scan the area around, reaching out with his senses to seek any sort of danger. It did not really matter at this point. Now that he had committed to the mission, it seemed that he would have to trust to Fate to provide that which he sought.

A brief pause in walking allowed Tanjiro to look around the area one final time, he was now facing the wagons, having arrived just after Akio and Kensaki took their seats upon their own. He wasn’t particularly worried about a surprise attack so early, but having already been ambushed once tonight, just as everyone else involved, he was not in any mood to have it occur again.

The short respite was short, indeed; as he climbed aboard his designated wagon, he recalled Akio would take point, and would wait until the leader of this operation started advancing forwards, before taking his own reigns in hand. Of course, this would change if he was ordered--it didn’t really matter to him, those assembled were strong enough to handle the no-faced thugs of the revolution. However, there were rumors and official reports detailing a few specific individuals that were, to put it bluntly: dangerous.

Regaining his focus, Tanjiro cleared his thoughts, waiting for his would-be passenger to come aboard and for Akio’s wagon to advance.