<standard disclaimer>
    Ninja Scroll isn't owned by me.  It's owned by a large Japanese 
corporation.  Don't hurt me.
</standard disclaimer>

C&C is welcomed and is still requested this time around.  The more 
C&C I get, the better, ne.  So please send some.  Please?

Tomoe Ame has appeared in Usagi Yojimbo, but she is actually a real 
historical figure in feudal Japan.  Whether she fits in the context 
of the story is questionable, as is my portrayal of her, but I 
thought she fit in the fic and that she fit the storyline quite well.

An appendix of the Japanese terms is below.  There aren't that many, 
but the use of them makes the fic sound more...real.

----
kissaki - The tip of the katana, usually defined as up to six inches 
from the tip towards the hilt of the sword.

daimyo - feudal lord in Japan.

unagi - freshwater eel sushi.  A small filet of eel on a bed of sushi 
rice, bundled with a little seaweed.  (REALLY good stuff!)

kappamaki - cucumber sushi.  Roll of seaweed, sushi rice, and strips 
of cucumber inside. (REALLY good stuff!)

inzarizushi - tofu sushi.  Preserved(?) tofu pockets stuffed with 
sushi rice. (REALLY good stuff!)

daishou - set of short and long sword.  Wakazashi and katana set 
given to all samurai as a symbol of rank.

'sou ka' - Literally 'is that so?'  Fairly polite and is used in 
agreement in more of a 'I see' fashion.

'hai' - Literally 'yes.'
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    It was her again.  Well, it had to be that woman again.  Jubei 
hadn't seen any other samurai fight like her.  As far as he could 
tell, nobody could be that poetic in battle.  Most of the samurai 
he'd met were simply straightforward and blunt.  Fight when you had 
to, and barrel thorugh in a brute force method.  This woman was 
good.  She didn't use brute force.  Somehow, she found every opening, 
exploited it, danced through the holes in the forms, worked the 
kissaki into the gaps and exposed flaws of each opponents moves.  
Surely, this was poetry in motion.
    And as soon as the fight had started, the three bandits had 
fallen.  Jubei had been lucky enough to stumble upon them as he 
crested the hill.  There they were at the bottom of the small 
hill, trying to steal money from a samurai resting under a small, 
wild plum tree.  The three of them stood no chance.  Only the 
samurai's horse fled the scene.
    "You should have tied it down better," Jubei called out as he 
walked down the hill.
    The samurai stopped scanning the countryside and turned 
around slowly.  Jubei raised his hands up in good will, smiling 
broadly.
    "Oi, no need to be so paranoid.  I'm just passing through," he 
said with a grin as he stopped next to the samurai.
    "I see," the samurai said with a silken voice.
    "I don't believe we've met," Jubei said casually.  "I am Jubei.  
Kibagami Jubei."
    The samurai took off the imposing helmet and gloves that made up 
part of the lacquered armor.  Delicate hands removed the wooden pin 
that held up long, shimmering black hair.  It framed a delicate face, 
and warm, expressive, chocolate-brown eyes.  Full red lips curled up 
in a warm smile.
    "I am Tomoe Ame," she said softly.  "It is a pleasure to meet 
you."
    Jubei blinked as she bowed low.
    "Nanda?" she asked with a small grin.
    Jubei's mind reeled.  She was even more beautiful than people had 
described her, though it was a reputation for being one of the best 
that Jubei knew her for.  The wandering ronin was amazed at how 
stunning she actually was.
    "It is...an honor to meet you, Ame-san," Jubei said politely, 
bowing low.
    Tomoe Ame smiled warmly and reciprocated the bow.
    "As it is an honor to meet you, Kibagami-san," she replied.
    "Excuse me?"
    Tomoe Ame laughed.  It was warm and sweet, and Jubei felt his 
heart flutter.  He hadn't felt anything like it in a long time - a 
very long time.  It was a bitter memory to him, and yet here it was 
again, and nothing was sweeter.
    "You are a modest man, Jubei.  I like that very much.  I see too 
many young samurai that know nothing about the true way of our 
class," Tomoe Ame said with a smile.  "But surely you know of your 
own reputation?"
    Jubei chuckled.
    "I honestly don't know what you're talking about," he replied.
    "Well, it seems many people believe you to be one of the last few 
honorable ronin in Japan," she said sincerely.
    "Honorable ronin?" he asked with a wry grin.  "Is there such a 
thing?"
    "I suppose so.  Is being a ronin so bad?" she asked, arching an 
eyebrow curiously.
    "Well, it's been so long since I'ver served under any lord.  I 
have...both fond, and unfavorable memories of being a vassal."
    Tomoe Ame nodded.
    "Sou ka.  It might behoove you to know that people understand why 
you acted as you did.  The shogun's investigators knew what 
happened.  You avenged yourself honorably when you killed your former 
lord twice over.  Any daimyo would be very honored to have as skilled 
a swordsman as you in their court."
    Jubei chuckled.  He waved a hand around them at the countryside.
    "This is the court I belong in.  It's the life I've led for some 
time now, and it's comfortable.  They say a ronin serves no lord, but 
what higher lord is there than bushido?"
    Tomoe Ame smiled and closed her eyes, nodding sagely.
    "Hai, Kibagami-san.  There is none higher."
    Jubei took a deep breath and smiled, looking about the 
countryside as he had for some time now, with open eyes and a light 
heart.
    "Let's look for your horse, ne," he said with a grin.
    Tomoe Ame nodded and set off with him down the path.

    Tomoe Ame smiled and nodded as Jubei offered to pour more sake.  
She waved a hand and flagged the innkeeper.
    "More unagi, and kappamaki," she said politely.
    The innkeeper nodded once and bustled to the kitchen.
    "You don't need to pay for my room and food, Ame-san," Jubei said 
with a smile.
    "Iie.  You were too kind to help find my horse and not be paid.  
I would have spent hours looking for my steed if I didn't have 
another set of eyes helping me," she replied.
    "A good thing we found the horse before it started raining," 
Jubei said offhandedly as he contemplated a piece of inarizushi.  
"I've had some bad experiences in the rain."
    Tomoe Ame raised an eyebrow.
    "It's of no consequence," Jubei said with a chuckle.  He quickly 
popped the sushi in his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring the flavor.
    "The zen of sushi, Kibagami-san?"
    Jubei looked at Tomoe Ame and blinked.
    "You look so contemplative with that in your mouth," she said 
with a smile.
    Jubei shrugged and kept chewing.  He swallowed after a moment and 
ran his tongue along the inside of his lip.
    "You know," he said quietly.  "It's odd.  I used to eat sushi all 
the time.  All kinds of sushi.  It didn't matter."
    "And now?"
    Jubei stared at the last piece of kappamaki in his tray.
    "I really only eat unagi, or kappamaki now.  Sometimes 
inarizushi, instead of unagi.  Actually, I eat a lot of inarizushi 
instead of unagi."
    "It's cheaper?" Tomoe Ame suggested with a smile.
    "I guess," he said quietly.  He popped in the last piece of sushi 
and chewed silently as the innkeeper hustled in and placed new trays 
of sushi on the table.  "Perhaps it's more to my tastes now.  I doubt 
I could tolerate the more expensive sushi."
    "Sou ka," Tomoe Ame replied quietly.
    "I like simple things."
    "It's certainly harder to poison," Tomoe Ame added with a chuckle.
    Jubei frowned slightly and quickly popped another piece of 
kappamaki in his mouth.
    "Do you miss serving under a lord?" Tomoe Ame asked after a 
moment of uncomfortable silence.
    "No," Jubei answered instantly.  He shoved another piece of sushi 
in his mouth.
    "Really?  You're quick to answer."
    Jubei shrugged, sipped some of his sake, and swallowed his sushi.
    "It's because I know what the answer is."
    "But is it the right answer?"
    Jubei looked evenly at Tomoe Ame.
    "I apologize, Kibagami-san," she quickly apologized with a small 
bow.  "That was uncalled for."
    "Iie, iie, Ame-san.  It's quite alright," he said, waving a hand 
in the air.  "I appreciate your concern."
    "Have we met before?" she asked, hurriedly changing the subject.
    Jubei frowned in thought slightly.
    "I believe so," he said after a moment.
    "I thought so.  I could have sworn I knew you from somewhere."
    "Well, we never exchanged words, Ame-san.  I merely saw you while 
you were present during a competition between iaijutsu schools."
    "I remember that day.  His lordship was observing the competition 
for new recruits for the army."
    "I see."
    "Did you see the demonstration given by his lordship?"
    "No, but I did see you giving a demonstration," Jubei replied.
    "It wasn't tha-"
    "It was amazing," Jubei interrupted her as he sipped his sake.  
"The form was beautiful."
    Tomoe Ame blushed lightly.
    "I have heard that your iai is just as amazing to watch, Kibagami-
san."
    Jubei waved a hand.
    "Iie, iie.  I'm just lucky to have been caught fighting people 
who were that bad," he said with a chuckle.  "I don't like the 
fighting.  I just like the traveling and the freedom."
    Tomoe Ame looked into her sake with a faraway look in her eyes.  
    "I remember when I was a young girl and I could spend my days 
outdoors.  I used to love running around in the grass and laying 
amongst the flowers.  It was beautiful," she said wistfully.
    "And now?"
    "Now I have my duties to my lord," she said quietly.  She sipped 
her sake delicately.  "I rarely get to travel on my own, or really be 
by myself and enjoy myself."
    "So you're on business now?" Jubei asked.
    "Yes," she said with a sigh.  "I have an important letter to 
deliver to a neighboring daimyo."
    "No guards?"
    "I have no need for any, not for something this simple."
    Jubei nodded.
    "And you weren't informed of what the note is?"
    "I do not question my lord's motives."
    Jubei nodded again.
    "I see.  Well, the best of luck to you.  I'm sure you will do 
fine."
    Tomoe Ame nodded and silently finished her meal.  Jubei watched 
her eat for a moment before quietly finishing his tray of sushi as 
well.  The two lingered a moment longer at the table, finishing the 
small bottle of sake before getting up to retire for the night.    
Tomoe Ame carefully straghtened out her clothes and bowed slightly 
before leaving.  Jubei nodded and stood slowly, stretching and 
yawning quietly.  He followed her a moment later, and was surprised 
to see her standing patiently in front of her door.
    "I have one last question, Kibagami-san," she said quietly as 
Jubei neared his door, across the hall from her room.  "There was a 
rumor, and nothing more, that you had a companion with you while you 
were investigating a situation indirectly for the Tokugawa 
shogunate.  People say the companion was a Koga ninja-woman.  Is that 
true?  I am quite curious."
    Jubei's eyes darkened for a moment.
    "I never investigated anything for the Tokugawa shogunate, Ame-
san.  You must be mistaken."
    Tomoe Ame bowed slightly.
    "I apologize, if I have offended you, Kibagami-san," she said 
solemnly with a low bow.
    Jubei chuckled, and waved off the apology.
    "Iie, Ame-san.  It's quite alright, really.  It was an honest 
mistake, ne."
    Tomoe Ame nodded and bowed politely before retiring into her 
room.  Jubei did the same, sighing heavily once the door was closed.  
He carefully placed his katana on the bed and lay down next to it and 
settled into the cold bed for the night.

    A crash promptly woke him from a slumber that only seemed to have 
lasted seconds.  He grabbed his katana and threw the door open to see 
a man clad in black running out Tomoe Ame's door.  Jubei quickly 
stuck a foot out, making the man stumble slightly.  A quick blow to 
the back of the man's head put him down.  Jubei hopped over the body 
into Tomoe Ame's room to see her wiping blood off of her blade.
    "What happened?" he asked.
    "Assassins.  It seems the note was quite a bit more important 
that I originally thought," she replied.
    "All dead?" he asked.
    "Save for the one you just put to the ground in the hall."
    Jubei turned around and dragged the body in.
    "You're hurt," he observed.
    Tomoe Ame looked at him in surprise and looke at her shoulder 
where Jubei was pointing.  Sure enough, a small cut was bleeding into 
her light kimono.
    "It's nothing," she said offhandedly, sheathing her katana.  She 
placed on her bed next to the short sword there.
    "Nonsense.  A wound is a wound," Jubei admonished and poured a 
bowl of water from a jug on the floor.  Tomoe Ame quietly pulled up a 
chair and rolled up the sleeve on the injured arm.  As she sat down, 
Jubei found a candle in the room and lit it, casting a warm glow in 
the middle of the small room.  He cast about for a clean cloth until 
Tomoe Ame handed him a small bag of clean rags.  Jubei nodded and 
silently cleaned the small cut on her arm.
    "I told you it was nothing," Tomoe Ame said with a smile.
    Jubei washed the blood away and marveled at how flawless her skin 
was.  In the glow of the candle, her skin looked slightly flushed and 
flawless.  No signs of any scars were to be seen, and her skin was 
warm and soft to the touch.  He ran a finger lightly over the small 
cut.  It had sealed itself shut already.
    "Still, it's would be a pity to put a scar on skin like yours, 
ne," he said with a wink.
    Unseen in the candle-light, Tomoe Ame blushed lightly.
    "Well, that should take care of it," Jubei noted as he gently 
rolled the sleeve back down and stood up.
    "Do you think any more will come?" she asked.
    "Well, we could wake up the fellow there and ask," Jubei said 
with a chuckle.
    Tomoe Ame nodded and helped Jubei drag the man into a chair.  
ubei slapped him around until the man woke up.
    "Oi, oi," Jubei muttered at the man.  "Wake up, friend.  We have 
a lot of questions for you."
    The man in black shook his head and groaned.
    "Oi, pay attention," Jubei said evenly.  "I'm just going to ask 
some pretty easy answers here, ne."
    The man's head lolled about for a moment.
    "Oi.  Listen up.  Who sent you?" Jubei asked.
    The man's eyes seemed to dim, and his head lolled about a bit 
more.
    "He's dead, Kibagami-san," Tomoe Ame said bluntly.
    Jubei sniffed at the man's lips.  There was the scent of stale 
cucumbers.
    "Poison," he said quietly.
    Tomoe Ame nodded silently.
    "We won't get anything more done here," she said quietly.  
Without a word, she stepped up to her bed, took the daishou there and 
walked calmly to Jubei's room.
    "Oi, what do you think you're doing?" he asked quietly, and in 
surprise.
    "My room is a mess, there's blood everywhere, and somebody knows 
that I'm supposed to be in that room.  Don't you think that it's 
quite obvious what I'm doing here, Kibagami-san?"
    Jubei sighed.
    "I'll take the first shift then," he said calmly and sat down in 
a chair.
    "Iie, I'm quite awake.  I will take the first shift," she said 
firmly.
    Jubei shrugged and simply lay down on the bed and closed his 
eyes.  It felt good having her watch over him as he slept and he 
quickly slipped into blissful sleep.

    The morning came quickly to Jubei.  As he realized he'd slept the 
entire night through, he realized the bed seemed less cold than 
before, and certainly a little more crowded.  He looked to the side 
and saw Tomoe Ame, lying quietly next to him, an arm draped across 
his chest.  Jubei immediately panicked.  It certainly wasn't the 
right thing to be doing, and certainly not honorable, even if Tomoe 
Ame was fully clothed and had her swords close by.  
    He slipped out from under her arm quietly and shook his head to 
clear it.  He quickly pushed the incident from his mind.  It didn't 
help.  There was still a lingering feeling that it was good, and that 
it felt wonderful.
    She woke up as he picked up his sword.
    "Ohaiyou gozaimasu, Kibagami-san," she said with a small smile, 
as she rubbed her eyes.
    "Ohaiyou gozaimasu, Ame-san," he replied.
    "What's wrong, Kibagami-san?  You look a little tense."
    "It's nothing.  I didn't sleep very well last night."
    Tomoe Ame blushed lightly.
    "Gomenasai, Kibagami-san.  It was cold last night and I didn't 
think you would have minded.  I apologize profusely if I have caused 
you to lose face over this matter," she said , casting her eyes 
downwards.
    Jubei blinked.
    "Iie, iie, Ame-san.  It just surprised me is all," he said with a 
nervous chuckle.
    Tomoe Ame laughed gently.  Something fluttered in Jubei's heart 
again.  He dismissed it and stretched.
    "Breakfast, Ame-san?" he asked.
    She nodded and smiled.

    Breakfast was simple.  A bowl of hot rice porridge and pickled 
vegetables.  It was simple, and still satisfying.  The hot food 
helped to chase away the chill of the damp, misty air.
    "Any idea who they could have been sent by?" Jubei inquired as he 
hungrily munched on a pickled cucumber.
    Tomoe Ame paused for a moment and shook her head.  She delicately 
nibbled on a bit of pickled daikon as Jubei thought the answer over.
    "Not even the lord you must deliver the message to?" he asked.
    Tomoe Ame quietly finished nibbling away at pickled vegetable.
    "Iie.  I doubt it.  My lord and Lord Higashi are on very good 
terms.  Lord Higashi has been in need of my lord's services for some 
tme, and we have always been happy to help Lord Higashi whenever the 
need arises," she replied.
    "What services?"
    Tomoe Ame swallowed a small mouthful of rice.
    "Protection from the roaming bands of robbers that have been 
becoming more and more frequent in his lands," she replied.
    "Sou ka.  Any reason why the bandits are coming?"
    "His lands are very fertile.  Lord Higashi has never had to worry 
about famine striking his lands and hurting his people.  His crops 
have always produced more than enough and enough to trade for silks 
and other necessities," she replied.
    Jubei nodded.
    "So you think it might be the bandits?" he asked.
    Tomoe Ame thought for a moment, and idly chewed delicately at 
some pickled radish.  She swallowed and shook her head.
    "No.  They were too skilled.  Not skilled enough, but still too 
skilled for simple bandits.  I think they were hired assassins," she 
replied calmly.
    Jubei peered into his bowl in thought.  He picked up a few 
pickled slices of radish and idly chewed on them, the crunching noise 
audible over the silence of the meal.  He slurped a mouthful of hot 
rice porridge and chewed a moment more before swallowing.
    "Are you sure this Lord Higashi doesn't resent the protection?  
What are you taking in return?"
    "My lord simply asks for a small portion of the crops in return.  
We send emissaries to his lands to claim our share and that's the end 
of it."
    "You don't think Lord Higashi would try to make a deal behind 
your back?"
    Tomoe Ame blinked at and Jubei nearly dropped her bowl.  She 
quickly placed a hand over her mouth and laughed softly.
    "Kibagami-san, Lord Higashi is only twelve years old," she said.  
"His father died suddenly, leaving him in charge of the lands they 
governed," she quickly added, seeing Jubei's surprise.
    "I should try to keep up with the changing times," he said with a 
sigh.  "Things change far too quickly now."
    "You need not worry about that, Kibagami-san.  I try to keep up 
and it's simply too much.  I hardly ever worry about who hates who, 
or who is marrying who for whatever problem.  I simply do what is 
required of me and I move on.  If anything, I wish I were in your 
position, one where I wouldn't need to bother," she replied.
    "True," Jubei noted.
    Tomoe Ame nodded.  The pair silently finished their meal and 
departed.

    As the morning mists cleared, the day changed from dreary to Eden-
like.  The gentle breezes made the long grasses sway to and fro, and 
the leaves rustled gently.  The hint of a multitude of blossoms in 
the fields played with the breeze as it meandered through the fields 
and trees.  The birds sat in the boughs of the trees and sang varying 
melodies as Jubei and Tomoe Ame traveled along the dirt path to the 
neighboring lord's lands.  The sun shined warmly though the few 
clouds, and the blue sky lay open above them like a calm sea.  A pair 
of hares scampered into the long grasses by the side of the road and 
rustled through the vegetation and up the slopes of a hill.
    "Why no armor?" Jubei asked after a long silence.
    Tomoe Ame looked down from her seat on the horse.
    "It's such a beautiful day.  I wouldn't want to be hiding from 
it."
    "And if more bandits come by?"
    "I have a ronin to protect me, ne."
    Jubei bluhed lightly.
    "Oi, who said I was going to be working for you?"
    Tomoe Ame laughed melodically.
    "Well, Kibagami-san," she replied.  "You've had more than enough 
of an opportunity to leave, and yet you still hold the reins to my 
horse and lead the way.  What else am I to think?"
    Jubei paused and grinned sheepishly.
    "Ano-"
    "Iie, Kibagami-san.  No need to ask.  I will certainly pay you 
for your time and services," Tomoe Ame said with a smile.
    Jubei chuckled.
    "I go where my heart tells me there's an adventure to be had," he 
replied as they continued on their way.
    "Sou ka.  And this path?"
    "This path is certain to lead me to something exciting," Jubei 
replied with a smile as he looked further down the path.
    "Well, with what happened last night, one would expect so," Tomoe 
Ame added with a quiet chuckle.  She ducked under the branches of a 
wild cherry tree and ran a hand through her hair to comb out a few 
stray leaves.
    They didn't have long to wait for something exciting.  There was 
a hiss as an arrow flew through the air at the pair.  It had hardly 
reached Jubei before it was split in two by his sword.
    "Ambush," Jubei hissed as Tomoe Ame slid off her horse, her two 
swords drawn and ready.
    Ten bandits hopped out of the long grass by the roadside.  Jubei 
quickly engaged them, his sword whistling through the air and deftly 
seeking out the critical flaws in their technique.  Three fell as the 
others scattered and regrouped arond him.  A hiss in the air caught 
his attention, distracting him slightly.  He rolled and ducked as 
three swords slashed out at him.  The parts of three arrows fell to 
the ground around him as Tomoe Ame hopped over him and danced through 
the other bandits.
    "Where is your focus?" she asked in an amused voice as she 
gracefully fought through the group around her.  She flowed through 
the group of bandits as easily as a stream flowed around the rocks in 
its way.  In no time at all, another half of the bandits fell.
    More hissing caught Jubei's attention and his sword flew through 
the air, intercepting two more arrows.
    "Damn those archers," Jubei cursed under his breath.
    "You need to find those bowmen," Tomoe Ame called over her 
shoulder as she parried and deflected two more attacks.  "I can take 
care of myself here."
    Jubei hurried up the slopes of the small hill nearby.  The bowmen 
had to be there, judging from the arrows.  Sure enough, three bowmen 
were busily reloading their bows.  The minute they saw Jubei, they 
drew their swords.
    Jubei wordlessly squared off with the three of them.  It didn't 
take very long.  The three were worse with their swords than they 
were at hiding themselves.  The blood flowed easily and freely as 
Jubei made three quick swings of his katana.  Jubei wiped the blood 
off his blade and frowned.  The three bowmen were horrible swordsmen, 
let alone any good with their bows - yet the bows were high quality 
material.  They were hand crafted with a great deal of care, and 
certainly nothing any ordinary bandit could afford.  Only those with 
skill could ever hope to own a bow so well crafted.  Jubei cursed his 
stupidity.
    "Thinking with the wrong part of the body again, Jubei-kun," he 
muttered to himself.  "So where are the real bowmen?"
    A soft creak was his answer.  He turned and rolled backwards just 
in time.  An arrow flew through the air, grazing his left arm.  Jubei 
wouldn't give the archer a second chance.  Jubei grimly rolled to his 
feet and flicked the blood off his blade with a snap of his wrist.  
He didn't sheath the sword.  There had to be more of them.  There 
were three arrows with every volley.  Only one bowman was dead.  
Jubei closed his eyes and listened carefully.  Silence met his ears, 
and blood pounded in his eardrums.
    He opened his eyes and slowly turned around soundlessly.  There 
was only the rustling of the grass in the wind as far as he could 
see.  There were no trees on the hilltop, and no boulders to hide 
behind, only the tall, thigh-length grass.  He stared hard at the 
field of green around him.  The breeze rustled through the grass 
again, except for two patches a few feet away from him.  His sword 
flew out like lightning.  Two black blurs shot out of the ground as 
his sword flew through the air and through the grass.  There was a 
splash of hot red liquid, and the first of the two blurs crumpled to 
the ground, the second hopped back to steps towards the path, bow 
drawn and arrow notched.
    "There's nowhere to go," Jubei said evenly.
    "I have everywhere to go," the figure said darkly.
    "The minute you turn and run, you've lost," Jubei said grimly.  
"You're out of time.  You should have run when you had the chance."
    "On the contrary, ronin.  I have all the time in the world to 
wait for you to die."
    Jubei's arm tingled slightly.  Blood pounded in his ears again.  
It was a steady, and ever growing, rythm.  His vision slowly started 
to blur.
    "Damn.  Poison," he muttered to himself.  He shook his head to 
try to clear it.
    As his legs started to buckle, he heard the creak of the bow and 
the hiss of the arrow.  He made a last ditch effort to slash out at 
the arrow.  Jubei missed completely.  The figure fell to the ground 
as the parts of the arrow hit the ground.  A white and red blur raced 
to Jubei's side.
    "What happened?" Tomoe Ame asked.  "You took longer than I 
thought."
    Jubei blinked at her blearily.
    "I'm losing focus," he mumbled.
    He didn't hear her reply.

    He was back in that damned village again.  The sky was still 
dark, and the smell of the sea filled his nose.  He could smell the 
stench of the dead horses in the streets.  It was all there.  
Everything was the same.  He was back there again.  And she was 
there, standing in the middle of the road again.
    Jubei wanted to scream.  He wanted to shout her name, tell her to 
run away, order her to keep away from the men riding up on the 
horses.  No sound came from his throat as he felt stomach dropped 
into his bowels.  He wanted to stop time, grab Kagero and run, but 
the scene kept playing out.  There they were, those bastards 
masquerading as samurai.  Gemma, hiding behind someone else's face, 
goading Kagero onwards.
    And then it happened again.  The fateful step, the turn of her 
back.  He couldn't stop it.  It continued, despite his tears, his 
anguish, and his undying want for revenge on someone who was already 
dead.  There was no way to block out the images from his sight - the 
sword moving with painfully slow movements, the look on her face as 
it pierced her body, the gratified look on Gemma face.  And as soon 
as it had happened, he found his voice again.

    "Kagero!" he screamed as he felt his body scream in pain and 
tense up suddenly.
    Delicate hands gripped his shoulders firmly.  He reached a hand 
out and gripped one tightly.  Jubei could feel the sweat pouring off 
his brow.  Arms wrapped around him and drew him into a gentle 
embrace.  He could hear himself sobbing.  Soft caresses wiped the 
tears away.  A melodic, whispered voice hushed him.
    Jubei's eye's shot open.  He flung himself away from the embrace 
and tried rolling to his feet.  Blood seemed to shoot to his head, 
pounded his ears, and made him stumble.  She was immediately by his 
side, hands steadying him and guiding him back to the bed, sitting 
him down and calming him.
    "You've had a high fever since yesterday," she admonsihed 
quietly.  "You need to rest.  The fever's broken, but you still need 
your strength to recuperate."
    "You shouldn't be here," Jubei muttered.  "I've disgraced myself."
    "By crying?  Kibagami-san, I've seen lesser men fail to shed 
tears when it is time to do so.  You are more human than any of us, 
ne."
    Jubei didn't answer, choosing to stare at the floor, at the 
blankets he sat on.
    "Ne, Kibagami-san," Tomoe Ame whispered after an uncomfortable 
silence.  "You can tell me what happened.  Everyone knows that you 
and two others investigated the Shogun of the Dark's plans to steal 
gold and purchase weapons.  Everyone knows that one of them was a 
Koga ninja, a woman, and that she never appeared again.  Was that the 
nightmare?"
    "Hai," Jubei whispered painfully.
    "You loved her, didn't you?"
    "Hai."
    "It's okay to let go, Kibagami-san.  I myself am a widow.  I can 
understand your loss.  Sometimes, it is what drives us to seek 
perfection."
    "I could have stopped him."
    "Lord Gemma?"
    "Hai.  I could have saved her."
    "Could you have?"
    "I-I think so.  I know so.  I should have seen it coming."
    "Gemma murdered her, didn't he?"
    Jubei nodded mutely and closed his eyes.
    "I could see it in your eyes," she whispered, gently tracing a 
tear with the tip of her finger.  "You avenged her death, Jubei."
    "But I can't let it go."
    "You must, or it will haunt you for the rest of your life."
    "I can't."
    "Why?" Tomoe Ame asked softly.
    "Because I'm afraid, Ame-san.  I'm afraid that it will happen 
again."
    "What will happen?  Gemma is dead," she replied quizzically.
    "No, Ame-san.  I'm afraid to love another, only to lose her the 
same way I lost Kagero."
    Tomoe Ame lifted Jubei's chin with a finger and stared deeply 
into his eyes.
    "You will never lose me the way you lost Kagero, Jubei.  My 
swords will protect me, as will yours, ne."
    "Every time I see you I can see her looing back at me, Ame-san.  
I can't forget what happened that night.  I don't want it to happen 
again."
    "It won't.  I know you can protect me, Jubei," she said evenly.  
"And if you can't protect me, I suppose we know who is the better 
samurai, ne," Tomoe Ame finished with a smile.
    Jubei smiled and traced a line on her cheek with the tip of his 
finger.

    That night, the bed wasn't cold.

    The two of them stood in front of that large gate to the large 
complex of houses and halls where the lord lived.  An expansive wall 
provided a formidable barrier to any who desired to break into the 
complex.  A large row or smaller servant housing stretched down one 
side of the walled off area.  A large formidable temple-like mansion 
loomed in the middle, around smaller houses and a large dojo.  The 
large red gates were slightly open, and Jubei could see servants and 
merchants streaming around the local streets selling wares, and 
moving things here and there.
    "For someone who hasn't even hit puberty, this isn't bad, ne," 
Jubei noted with a smirk.
    Tomoe Ame giggled.
    "Jubei!  You shouldn't say such things," she admonished with a 
smile.  "You must not act so roguish around the Lord Higashi.  It 
would be disrespectful."
    "Oi, I thought you liked me roguish," Jubei mumbled.
    "Not now," Tomoe Ame chuckled as the doors opened.
    A plump courtesan greeted them at the door.
    "Ame-san, it is a pleasure to see you again," the man said, 
bowing low.
    "As it is for me, Kobayashi-san," Tomoe Ame replied.  "This is my 
bodyguard, Kibagami Jubei," she said with a wave of her hand.
    "It is a honor to meet you, Kibagami-san," Kobayashi replied, 
bowing curtly.
    "It is an honor to be able to visit Lord Higashi's court," Jubei 
replied.
    Kobayashi led them to a small waiting room at the front of the 
larger halls.
    "I will notify Higashi-dono of your arrival," he remarked 
casually with a bow.  He pivoted on a heel and walked down a long 
hall, and turned out of sight.
    "I've been thinking about the two attacks we've had thus far," 
Jubei whispered.
    "As have I," Tomoe Ame mumbled.
    "Someone hired those ninja to attack us, and it could be someone 
from your court.  Who else would have known about your departure?"
    "True, but before I left, three others from Higashi-dono's court 
came to notify us that the crops had been partially harvested, and 
that our share was ready for transport.  My lord then dispatched me 
immediately after their departure with this message."
    "So it could be anybody from here or there."
    "Possbily," she replied.  "Though Kobayashi-san was one of the 
three present and he spoke with my lord privately."
    "Who is Koyabashi-san?"
    "One of Lord Higashi's most trusted retainers.  I have known him 
as long as he has come to service for Higashi-dono.  He is an 
honorable and most trustworthy man."
    "And the other two?" Jubei asked.  "What about them?"
    "I will tell you later.  Kobayashi-san has returned," she 
whispered as she looked over Jubei's shoulder casually.  
    "My lord is quite pleased to hear of your arrival, Ame-san.  
Unfortunately, he is quite busy and will not be able to address you 
until later this evening.  If you will follow me, I can show you to 
your room."
    Tomoe Ame bowed politely.  Jubei followed suit a moment later as 
Kobayashi bowed to him.  The two were taken to a room on the third 
floor.  Along the way, they passed a tall, lanky courtesan who smiled 
and bowed politely.
    "I hope these accomodations are to your liking, Ame-san," 
Kobayashi said with a smile.
    "They are more than sufficient, Kobayashi-san.  Thank you very 
much for your hospitality.  Please thank Higashi-dono for us as 
well," Tomoe Ame replied smoothly.
    Kobayashi smiled and bowed out quietly.
    "So who else were you going to tell me about?" Jubei asked 
quietly, after closing their door.
    "Well, you just saw Ikeda-san.  He was another one of the three 
to visit us."
    "And Ikeda-san is another loyal retainer?"
    "Actually, he is under less favorable terms than Kobayashi-san.  
Ikeda-san is charged with training Higashi-dono in the arts of the 
samurai.  Naturally, young Higashi-dono objects to the tedium of 
training in the ways of the two swords."
    "And the third man to visit your court?"
    "I did not know him.  He was introduced as Kohiba Kenichi, a 
samurai that had just come under Lord Higashi's service."
    "And all three could be the one trying to kill us, let alone any 
courtesan you know."
    "True.  Unfortunately, that is all too true."
    "I certainly wish I could read that message you have to deliver 
to Higashi-dono.  Are you certain nothing was said to you?"
    "Only that it was important that Higashi-dono got this message."
    "Then we'll have to keep our eyes open.  That's all we can do."
    "But Kobayashi-san spoke with my lord directly," Tomoe Ame added.
    "And he could be implicated in the affair as easily as the rest." 
Jubei replied with a sigh.
    Tomoe Ame set down her swords on a nearby table.  She quietly 
walked to Jubei and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace.
    "Ne, Jubei-chan," she cooed.  "Aren't you being a little 
paranoid?"
    "Only as paranoid as I know you are right now," he replied with a 
smirk.
    Tomoe Ame sighed.
    "I know.  I guess we will have to see what happens then, ne."
    Jubei nodded and turned to kiss her gently.

    The hall was very well designed, and decorated accordingly.  The 
platform that Lord Higashi sat upon was pure ebony.  An opaque 
sliding screen set apart the rest of the hardwood hall from the young 
lord's inner chamber.  Jubei sat down in front of the open screen, 
his legs tucked under him, and his sword at the ready.  He shifted 
uncomfortably in the bulky, but formal clothes Tomoe Ame had him 
switch into.  Tomoe Ame sat slightly ahead of him and in the same 
position in equally formal clothes, a fan in one hand and the note in 
the other.  Ikeda and Kobayashi sat on both sides of the young lord, 
smiling broadly.  Two door guards stood stoically and unmoving on the 
inside of the screen partition.
    Higashi-dono bowed deeply to the pair.
    "It is good to see you again, Ame-san."
    Tomoe Ame put her fan on the ground in front of her.
    "It is good to see you again as well, Higashi-dono," she replied, 
bowing deeply.
    The screen instantly snapped shut, to Lord Higashi's surprise.  
Jubei smiled inwardly as the screen ends jammed on the ends of the 
fan.  Tomoe Ame quickly dropped the note and drew her swords and 
parried as two swords came from overhead.
    "What is the meaning of this?" the young lord exclaimed as the 
door guards engaged in battle against Tomoe Ame.
    "Get back, my lord!" Ikeda shouted as he pushed the young boy 
back and made ready to draw his swords.  Higashi quickly stepped 
behind Ikeda as the swordsman tried to assess the situation.
    Jubei hopped to his feet and drew his sword in one powerful  
stroke, splitting the screen and the guard behind it.  Tomoe Ame 
ducked and parried, thrusting her sword deep into the guard's chest 
before the man could react.
    "What is going on here?!?" the young lord shouted.
    "Nothing my lord.  It has already been taken care of," Kobayashi 
said evenly.
    Several guards flooded into the room, swords drawn.  At the 
signal of the young lord, they quickly removed the two bodies from 
the room.  The others quickly escorted everyone else from the hall.
    "Higashi-dono, I came with a message for you from my lord," Tomoe 
Ame stated plainly as they walked from the hall.
    Lord Higashi looked confused.  Tomoe Ame humbly offered the note 
to the young lord.  Kobayashi eyes it suspiciously.
    "What is the meaning of this note?" he asked.
    "It is blank," the young lord stated in confusion.  Everyone 
stopped moving as he stood still.
    "Blank?" Ikeda asked quizzically.
    "Yes.  It's blank," Higashi said plainly, showing the paper to 
Ikeda.
    Tomoe Ame looked puzzled.
    "Why would you be sent out to deliver a blank message, Ame-san," 
Kobayashi asked.
    Tomoe Ame shrugged.
    "I am as perplexed as you, Kobayashi-san," she replied.
    "Well, this has been quite an adventure," Ikeda remarked dryly.  
"I will see to it that we get to the bottom of this attempted 
assassination."
    Kobayashi nodded.
    "Until then, I believe it would best for you to retire to your 
room, Ame-san," the courtesan said.
    Tomoe Ame and Jubei bowed politely and made their way back to 
their room.

    "So what do you think?" Jubei asked as the door closed.
    "I think that I have no idea what's going on," Tomoe Ame admitted.
    "I have no idea either, but I get the feeling one of those three 
are behind all of this.  It has to be one of them."
    "Why?"
    "Well, for one thing, those three preceded your trip here.  
Kobayashi spoke to your lord before you left.  When you get here, the 
letter is blank, and when you try to deliver it, there's an attempt 
on your life," Jubei reasoned.
    "Well, any one of those things could happen if someone else from 
our court were tring to kill me," she replied.
    "But would they have been so well coordinated?  Would the person 
have known to hire actual ninjas and mix them with a group of rag-tag 
bandits?"
    "I suppose not, but that still doesn't exclude anyone from any 
other court."
    "I suppose not.  I just have this feeling it's one of those 
people.  The blank note could have been a message to someone, or an 
excuse to send you out and into danger," Jubei said evenly.  "And 
then there were those guards.  They were just waiting for you to bow 
so they could cut your head off.  Only someone here could have bribed 
them to do that, or even get to the guards period."
    Tomoe Ame hushed him and drew him down to sit next to her on the 
bed.  
    "Are you always this tense?" she asked with a soft laugh.  She 
deftly started massaging his neck and shoulers.
    Jubei grinned.
    "I suppose not, but I'm concerned, Ame-chan.  I don't want to 
make any mistakes here that will cost me," he replied.
    "Well, I certainly won't.  Never send a man to do a woman's job, 
ne."
    Jubei chuckled and in a suddenly movement, pinned her to the bed.
    "Jubei!" she exclaimed softly.  "What are you doing?  Anyone 
could just step in!"
    "Oi, not if you're quiet, ne."
    Tomoe Ame laughed softly.
    "And if Higashi-dono invites us to dine with them?"
    Jubei silenced her with a kiss.
    
    Dinner later on that evening began without incident.  No mention 
was made of the attempt on Tomoe Ame's life, nor was the blank 
message discussed.
    "Will you be staying, Ame-san?" the young lord asked.
    "Only as long as it is needed to resupply myself for the trip 
back.  My lord appreciates a prompt return from business," she 
replied.
    "And your bodyguard?" he asked.
    "I will pay him after his job is finished," she said with the 
hint of a smile.
    "Nonsense.  I shall pay him for you, Ame-san," the young lord 
said with a grin.
    "Iie, your lordship.  It is not necessary," she protested.
    "Don't be silly, Ame-san.  You shouldn't have had to hire a 
bodyguard in the first place.  I am sure your skill with your swords 
is unrivaled in within three provinces."
    Jubei paused in mid-chew and glanced at Tomoe Ame.  She gave him 
a small and nervous smile and resumed eating.
    "I am hardly worthy of being her bodyguard, Higashi-dono," Jubei 
said quietly.
    "I have not met you before.  How is it that you came upon Ame-
san's employ?" the young man asked.
    "She saved my life," he replied evenly.  Jubei calmly took a sip 
of his sake while everyone stared at him in silence.
    "Is that true, Ame-san?" Kobayashi asked incredulously.
    "Not really, Kobayashi-san," she replied with an embarassed smile.
    "I was attacked by ninjas and was poisoned," Jubei said quietly.  
"If it hadn't been for her, I would have died."
    "That great, Ame-san!" the young lord cheered.  "Whenever I see 
you again, you've done something fantastic!"
    "Kibagami-san has many of his own accomplishments," Tomoe Ame 
protested.
    "Kibagami?" Ikeda asked.  "Kibagami Jubei?"
    Jubei looked up from his tray of food.
    "Hai," he replied slowly.
    "I am told you were able to study under my sensei," Ikeda replied.
    "Excuse me?"
    "Zamura-sensei."
    Jubei nodded with a smile.
    "I would hardly call merely a moment in one's life studying, 
Ikeda-san," Jubei replied.
    "Sou ka.  Very much like a student of Zamura-sensei to say such a 
thing.  How long were you able to train with him?" Ikeda asked with a 
chuckle.

    "Not very long at all.  I came only to ask him to help me improve 
my technique," Jubei replied.
    "I have heard many things about you, Kibagami-san.  It is an 
honor to make your acquaintance," Ikeda said with a smile.  He bowed 
curtly.
    "As it is an honor to make your acquaintance, Ikeda-san.  A 
student of Zamura-sensei no less," Jubei replied with a curt bow of 
his own.  He saw Tomoe Ame smile out of the corner of his eye.
    "We will have to spend some time later on to talk over some 
sake.  I have no spoken to Zamura-sensei in a very long time," Ikeda 
confessed.  "It would be wonderful to hear about him and his family 
again."
    Jubei nodded.
    Dinner passed as uneventfully as it began.  There were no more 
clues, and no more hints than before dinner began.  Jubei found it 
frustrating.  Something was amiss and he hadn't found out yet.  It 
was worse than traveling with Dakuan those years ago.

    Tomoe Ame snoozed peacefully in bed.  It had been a long day 
getting to Higashi-dono's residence, attempting to deliver the 
message, and staying alive, particularly with an assassination 
attempt in front of Higashi-dono himself.  Despite the fatigue, she 
still woke when she heard the faintest scratching noise from the 
sliding door of their room.  She lay still in the bed, clutching the 
form the next her, hoping he would wake up.
    There was a quiet tap-tap noise, as if the tip of a sword were 
being tapped on the ground.  Tomoe Ame resisted the urge to leap into 
battle, and slowly reached for her swords next to the bed.  Before 
she could reach them, there was a stirring noise, the swish of a 
blade and the dull thud of something hitting the ground.  The sound 
of a scuffle ensued.  Then silence and a disappointed sigh.
    "Light a lamp," Jubei's voice called out firmly.
    Tomoe Ame quickly donned a robe in the darkness and lit a small 
kerosene lamp.  Ikeda stared back at her impassionately in the 
darkness.  The kissaki of Jubei's sword poked isolently at the top of 
his throat, under his chin.
    "Nice try," Jubei said evenly.  "I recognized the technique.  
Zamura-sensei, showed it to me.  An interesting ploy.  Tap the 
ground, get the victim's attention, then cutthem in two when they 
arrive, ne."
    Ikeda raised an eyebrow.
    "I had no idea you knew of those techniques.  So what did I cut?"
    "A chair.  A clean cut, and awfully close to where I was holding 
it too.  I nearly panicked.  I thought you might cut my hand off," 
Jubei said with a chuckle as he held up the shortened leg of a small 
chair.
    "So why aren't you going to kill me?" Ikeda asked evenly.
    "Because I want to know why you were sent to kill us."
    "Because you were sent to assassinate Lord Higashi," Ikeda 
replied, his voice wavering slightly.
    "And who told you that lie," Tomoe Ame asked sternly.
    "Gomenasai, Ame-san.  I should have known better, but Higashi-
dono ordered your death himself."
    "Then Higashi-dono is mistaken," Tomoe Ame said coldly.
    "So what was the reason we were assassins?" Jubei asked.
    "Higashi-dono had no idea who you were, Kibagami-san.  That and 
it was odd to hear that Ame-san had a bodyguard, particularly a ronin 
who had disappeared for such a long time.  It was only through a 
passing samurai from Zamura-sensei's dojo that I actually learned 
that you were still alive."
    "That's it?" Jubei asked.  "Higashi had no idea who I was and I 
instantly got labeled an assassin?"
    "There was the issue of the blank message.  Why would anyone send 
a blank message?" Ikeda asked curiously.
    "Why would I have offered it to Higashi-dono if I were an 
assassin?" Tomoe Ame asked.
    "To get closer to him, of course," Ikeda replied.
    "I can assure you I'm not an assassin.  Kobayashi spoke to my 
lord before you three left, and then I was sent with this message for 
Higashi-dono."
    Ikeda stared at her for a moment.  
    "Kobayashi?  Kobayashi is still with Lord Higashi.  Damnation!  
He must have had your lord send you with a blank note to give him an 
excuse to kill you.  It was his bodyguard that helped convince 
Higashi-dono that you two were assassins.  The two of them are stil 
with his lordship.  We must go dispatch the samurai immediately," 
Ikeda said urgently.
    Jubei stared him in the eyes for a moment.
    "Let's go," he said evenly.

    Ikeda strode out of the hall.
    "He's not there.  They must be somewhere in the building still," 
Ikeda said grimly.  "You two search upstairs.  Higashi-dono's room is 
directly above this hall on the third floor.  I will signal the 
guards to begin searching for his lordship in the other buildings and 
to stop and arrest Kobayashi and Kohiba, those bastards."
    Tomoe Ame nodded.
    "I'll head upstairs," Jubei noted as he made his way to the 
stairway.
    "I'll come with you," Tomoe Ame replied.
    "You should take the second floor.  I'll take the third."
    "Fine.  If I don't see anything or hear anything, I'll meet you 
upstairs," she said giving Jubei a quick kiss.
    Jubei sprinted up the steps as quickly as he could.  He glanced 
over his shoulder as Tomoe Ame hopped over a rail and into the second 
floor.  He heard the cries of a few assassins as they tried to attack 
her.  The ronin smiled grimly - they wouldn't stand much of a 
chance.  He prayed that he wouldn't have to fight through a dozen 
assassins before getting to Higashi-dono.  As Jubei hopped onto the 
third floor, he saw a wall of assassins.  Every one of them had a 
sword drawn or a spear as far as he could tell.
    "Oi, don't you think it'd be easier if you just let me walk 
through?" he asked.
    Silence.
    "I guess not," he mumbled as he charged into the crowd.
    The hallway was wide, but it was still seemingly packed to 
capacity.  Jubei had to struggle to make the right dodges, narrowly 
avoiding the tips of the blades swinging around him.  His sword never 
returned to his saya as it flawlessly flowed around defenses, cutting 
tender flesh and viscera.  Blood flowed freely in the hallway, making 
the each step more difficult.  The group continued to push forwards 
like a mob as Jubei hacked away at the foremost assassins.  Each 
stroke would make at least one man fall, sometimes two, or even three.
    The group finally broke up, running in retreat after seeing 
enough of their comrades fall.  Jubei quickly pursued, racing through 
rooms, peeking through doors, trying to find the young lord.  Every 
so often another assassin would try to attack him.  That many more of 
them fell, slicking the hardwood floor with the hot red liquid.  
Jubei searched most of the hall until he reached the final chamber in 
the circular hall.  Jubei threw the sliding door open with the tip of 
his sword.
    "I expected you," Kohiba said evenly.  "Don't move, or Kobayashi 
dies."
    Jubei looked dispassionately at Kohiba as the samurai sat on a 
large trunk at the base of an enormous bed.  The swordsman's katana 
was pointed underneath the chubby courtesan's chin.  Without a second 
thought, Jubei walked into the room.  Kohiba pushed the point up 
further, making Kobayashi squeal.
    "You're killing him, Jubei," Kohiba warned.  "By all means step 
forwards if you want him to die."
    Jubei shrugged.
    "I could care less if the fat man died," he replied, taking 
another step.
    Kohiba grimaced.
    "I can see this chubby one isn't going to do me any good," he 
growled, kicking Kobayashi to the side.
    "Where's the young boy?" Jubei asked.
    "In Hell," Kohiba answered.  "Which is where I'm going to send 
you."
    The fight didn't last long.  Kohiba was as impatient as he was 
arrogant.  Jubei's sword had little trouble blocking the flurry of 
strokes and strikes Kohiba launched at him.  When the time came, the 
kissaki of Jubei's sword found it's mark.
    "It's a pity you had to ruin two perfectly good blades," Jubei 
sighed, as he pulled the tip of his sword out of Kohiba's heart.  
    Kohiba struggled to raise his sword.  Jubei finished off the 
arrogant man with a swift stroke of his sword.  The head of the dead 
man landed and rolled onthe floor indignantly.
    "What a mess," Jubei muttered as he wiped his blade.  "Even his 
blood boils in death."
    The point of a sword poked him in the back.
    "Now it's your turn, ronin," Kobayashi muttered.
    "My turn?" Jubei replied casually.  "What's that supposed to 
mean?" 
    "You had to have killed Ikeda to get here.  I sent him to kill 
you, but you're still alive.  Now you had to kill my best swordsman."
    "Best swordsman?" Jubei asked in surprise.
    "Shut up ronin.  Thanks to you, I have to find another way to get 
the gold from that brat Higashi.  His father was a more reasonable 
man," Kobayashi hissed.
    "Until you killed him," Jubei said with a sigh.  "Is gold really 
such a disease?"
    "Good bye, ronin," Kobayashi said with a chuckle.
    "Farewell traitor," Tomoe Ame replied.
    Kobayashi had no time to say a prayer for himself, let alone 
react.  He fell to the ground wordlessly, for he had no head.
    "Aren't you supposed to be so good that you never spill a drop of 
blood?" Jubei asked as he felt the back of his gi.
    Tomoe Ame grinned grimly at him.
    "I didn't feel like giving Kobayashi that much of an honorable 
exit," she replied.  "Higashi-dono?"
    Before Jubei could answer there was a loud shaking and knocking 
noise from the large trunk.  Jubei quickly threw the latch open and 
opened it.
    "Ame-san!" the young lord cried jubilantly.
    "I'm glad your lordship isn't hurt," Tomoe Ame replied with a bow.
    "I am fine, Ame-san.  Thank you for your help.  I am in your 
debt.  Now I know why father died so suddenly, and now I know who I 
can trust," the young man replied.  "You will be well rewarded, 
Kibagami-san," he added.  "I promise you that."
    Jubei chuckled.
    "Iie, Higashi-dono.  It was an honor to assist you," he replied 
as he stretched and walked out the door.  "I'm going to try to wash 
up and go to bed," he said over his shoulder.  "If you will excuse 
me, Higashi-dono," he added at the doorway with a low bow.
    Higashi bowed curtly and stepped out of the trunk as Jubei left.
    "Ne, Ame-obasan," he whispered.  "Kibagami-san is a funny man."
    Tomoe Ame smiled.
    "Do you think he would join my court as my bodyguard, or is he 
yours?" the young man asked politely.
    "I certainly don't own him, Higashi-dono.  I don't think any 
person could own Jubei," she replied with a chuckle.

    The next morning was uneventful.  The bodies had been cleared, 
and all signs of the fighting were removed.  The breakfast for Tomoe 
Ame and Jubei was grand by any means, and they ate well.  Higashi and 
Ikeda walked with them to the door, to say their farewells.
    "I hope that you will be able to return in the near future, 
Kibagami-san.  I would be honored if we could compare skill with the 
sword," Ikeda said with a low bow.
    "Certainly," Jubei replied with another bow.
    "I am sad that you will not stay with us here," Higashi said.  "I 
have a need for a swordsman such as yourself.  Ikeda-san has more 
than enough work for two men, and I would have enjoyed having two men 
of such high calibre in my court."
    "I apologize, Higashi-dono, but as I said before, I have business 
that must be addressed.  I am honored by your invitation, and I will 
remember it when I pass through here in the future.  Perhaps, once my 
business has been attended to, I will return here - if there is a 
position that is still available for me."
    "I will be sure to hold a vacant position for you in my court," 
Higashi replied with a smile.
    "Farewell, Higashi-dono, Ikeda-san," Tomoe Ame said with a polite 
bow.
    Higashi and Ikeda both bowed respectfully.
    "I too must bid you both farewell, gentlemen," Jubei said with a 
low bow.
    Higashi and Ikeda grinned and both reciprcated the bow and waved 
as they turned to return indoors.

    The path was clear and the day was warm and calm as Jubei 
traveled with Tomoe Ame.  The birds were out in large numbers, 
singing their love songs and bullying each other for the best perches 
and the most time in the sun.  Butterflies flitted from flower to 
flower, busily carrying their baskets of pollen.  It was a beautful 
day.
    "You still hold the reins to my horse, Jubei," Tomoe Ame noted 
with a smile.
    "So I am," Jubei replied with a grin.
    "What does that mean?" she asked.
    "It means, Ame-chan, that I am leading your horse."
    She leaned over to playfully swat at Jubei's head.  Their 
laughter echoed along the path.
    "Will you stay with me, Jubei?" she asked thoughtfully.
    "I haven't been with a lord or served under a daimyo in a long 
time, Ame-chan," Jubei replied quietly.  "I don't know if I could 
ever go back."
    "I don't think I could leave," Tomoe Ame replied sadly.  "I have 
served under my lord faithfully, and I know what his reply will be if 
I were to request to depart from the court.  I am honor-bound to 
serve my lord."
    "I know," Jubei replied sadly.
    They continued on their way silently until the reached a fork in 
the road.
    "I must continue on the left, Jubei.  Where does your business 
take you?" Tomoe Ame asked quietly.
    "To the right," he replied sadly.  "It is the direction my heart 
tells me to go."
    "It doesn't tell you to follow me?"
    Jubei looked up at her sadly.  He loved her as much as he loved 
Kagero.  With her, he found a woman that was his equal in all 
things.  They were kindred spirits that would remain the same no 
matter how the world would change around them.  This was, perhaps, 
his last chance to ever meet anyone like her ever again.  There could 
only be one Tomoe Ame in the world.
    "My heart tells me to take the right path, Ame-chan," he said 
quietly.  "The rest of me, my body and my soul, tell me to go with 
you."
    "Then you must go where your heart tells you, ne."
    "I'm sorry, Ame-chan.  I wish you could travel with me."
    "Do you love me, Kibagami Jubei?" Tomoe Ame asked.
    "Yes," he replied instantly.
    "You reply hastily," she admonished with a forced grin.
    "Because I know what the answer is," Jubei countered.
    "Then I will wait for you, Kibagami Jubei," she replied.  "But 
you'll have to hurry, ne.  I can't wait for you forever."
    Jubei watched with a smile as she snatched the reins from his 
hands and galloped down the left path.  He watched her until she 
disappeared over the horizon, beyond the grassy hills before 
continuing on his way; but he paused for the briefest moment.  Was 
his way leading him down the right path?
    

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
And an alternative ending for those who want something a little more 
WAFFy...  ^_^ v



    Jubei hurried into the inn as the rain fell mercilessly around 
him.  The innkeeper greeted him warmly.
    "A room for now," Jubei said as he shook out his hat and wrung 
out his clothes.
    The innkeeper nodded and directed Jubei to a vacant room.  It was 
spartan and neat.  Jubei thanked the innkeeper and stepped into his 
room.  The lamps were lit and the room was warm.  He quickly stripped 
out of his wet clothes and wrung them out in a corner.  It didn't 
take very long for the cotton fabric to dry over the lamps, and by 
that time, Jubei was quite hungry.
    The inn was packed.  No doubt the rain had driven the multitude 
of travelers off of the beaten path and into the small village.  It 
was a popular road and Jubei could see from the numerous people, from 
all walks of life, that the few inns in the area would fare well this 
evening.  Jubei cast about for a spare table before one of the 
servants of the inn directed him to a small table in a small room 
behind closed doors.  He thanked her and hurriedly ordered his simple 
meal.  He sighed and closed his eyes.  The chill was starting to 
creep into him and he hoped the girl wouldn't take long getting him 
his food.
    He didn't have to very wait.  Not long after the sliding doors 
had closed, the doors opened again.  Jubei kept his eyes shut, and 
waved a hand.
    "Thank you, miss.  If I could trouble you for some extra tea, I 
would greatly appreciate it," he mumbled.
    A small glass was held under his nose as someone sat down next to 
him.  The smell of strong sake assaulted his sense.
    "This isn't my order," Jubei mumbled.
    "On the contrary, I believe it is.  A meal for two?" a familiar 
voice asked roguishly.
    Jubei opened a cautious eye and noticed his order of kappamaki 
and inarizushi was replaced by two steaming bowls of udon and a large 
tray of sushi.  The glass was carefully placed on the table before 
him as he slowly turned to see who had brought him his food.
    A flurry of silk distracted him until soft lips met his.  
Graceful arms wrapped around his neck, drawing him closer.  He could 
feel a solitary tear splash hotly on his face.  He kissed her 
fiercely for what seemed like a lifetime before he pulled back, 
blinking in surprise.
    It seemed like a dream, but there she was again, the long black 
hair flowing freely around her angelic face, and warm chocolate-brown 
eyes.  Her small red lip curled up in an impish smile at him.
    "You're here," he said bluntly.
    "Hai," she replied.  "I am."
    "Business?" he asked with a growing smile.
    "Hai."
    "Well, it's good to see you again, Ame-chan," Jubei noted with a 
bow.
    "It is good to see you again, Jubei," Tomow Ame replied.
    They stared at each other in a warm silence for a moment.
    "You never came back for me," Tomoe Ame said quietly.
    "I couldn't," Jubei replied.  "You know I couldn't."
    "I know.  I guess I always knew you couldn't live a settled 
lifestyle," Tomoe Ame said quietly.  She quickly turned to smile at 
him.  "So I came to find you."
    "And here I am, ne," Jubei said with a chuckle.
    "Yes you are."
    "And so you work as a serving girl in an inn now?" he asked with 
a laugh.
    Tomoe Ame playfully batted his shoulder.
    "Iie, Jubei.  Why must you make light whenever I try to be 
serious?"
    "Because I have to.  Someone has to make you smile sometime, Ame-
chan," Jubei replied with a smirk.  "You certainly have a habit of 
being serious all the time."
    "I never really had the opportunity, Jubei," she replied.
    Jubei opened his mouth to reply, but Tomoe Ame quickly shoved a 
piece of sushi in his mouth.
    "Hush now.  Eat up before the food gets cold.  I'd hate to think 
that I spent all that ryo on this good food, only to have it get cold 
while you try to act funny," she admonished with a smile.
    The two quickly ate dinner together, the company of the other 
enhancing the flavor of the food.  Between the two of them, the hot 
food disappeared quickly, along with two bottles of sake.
    "So just why are you out here?" he asked as he set his bowl down.
    "I was on my way to take care of business when the storm forced 
me here," she replied, tracing a lazy circle on his cheek with the 
tip of a finger.  "Unfortunately, there are no rooms left here or at 
the other inns in town."
    Jubei grinned back at her.
    "It's fortunate I was able to get a room, ne," he replied with a 
grin.

    Nobody ever recorded Jubei and Tomoe Ame ever getting married, 
though the ronin was often seen with the woman samurai.  History has 
recorded, however, that Tomoe Ame was seen with Jubei the next 
morning sharing breakfast, among other things.

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