Day 15, Hour of the Ox

For the second time in three days, the samurai are awoken in the night. A piercing scream is heard clearly, coming from across the castle. They are pulled out of their slumbers while the Asako guards rush by their rooms armed and armored.

Despite their best efforts, the samurai are not allowed to leave their rooms. Guards are positioned at all of the doorways, and everyone is politely asked to return to sleep. To refuse would be insinuating that the Phoenix are unable to handle the situation on their own, so all of the guests return peacefully to their chambers.

The next morning, a strange hush has fallen over the household of Shiro Gisu. Anyone the samurai ask about the clamor the previous evening replies with the same answer: "I am sorry, sama, but I do not know what you are talking about."

It is clear that the entire household has been ordered to simply ignore the evening's events, and they will not contradict the orders of their daimyo.

All morning long, the samurai wander among the silence, busting to ask the questions they know they should not ask. Fortunately, sround noon, they get a reprieve. A note is sent informing them that Shinjo Gidayu wishes to have lunch with them.

When they arrive, the old samurai serves them well. When the food is done, he solemnly hands them a rolled up piece of paper. It reads:

I have the girl. She will be my bride. I will be the husband of a Hantei. I will be a samurai again.

It is signed with Niban's chop.

"It is not the place of the Phoenix to speak of such things," Gidayu begins, "so I have taken it upon myself to aid them in this time of crisis. As you can see, our beloved Emperor's niece has been taken from this home against her will. It is the duty of all samurai to protect the Hantei family. I call upon your honor now. You know where the ronin village lies. The Phoenix argue amongst themselves, bickering about who has the right to save her, while they ignore the fact that we all have a duty.

"Go now, and bring her back. I know that I do not need to speak of reward for such a duty, but I also know that I will be in a position to reward all of you."

As the samurai arrive in the Village of the Nightingale, a strange sight is awaiting them. In the middle of the square stand two groups. At the front of one stands Niban, and at the front of the other Tobuko. Yoroshiku is nowhere to be seen.

As the samurai advance on the village, they can hear the screams of the two ronin. They are in the midst of a heated argument, and neither are hiding their emotions behind any kind of veneer.

"There's no reason for it!" Niban can be heard yelling. "No reason at all!"

"What reason do they need?" Tobuko replies. "They're samurai and we're ronin! We're nothing to them! That's all the reason they need!"

"I don't believe it! I won't believe it!"

"I don't care what you say. As soon as steel hits your flesh, you'll believe."

As the pair notice the samurai entering the village, the differences are quickly set aside, and Niban quickly orders his men to take position. Ten archers run into the forest aroudn the village and five more climb to the top of the buildings surrounding the square.

"Niban-san," Jin yuells, hands far from his sword, "you know us. We mean you no harm. but we need to talk."

"He's lying!" Tobuko yells. "Look at them! They're probably just distractions while the real army moves into the woods. Wait! Did you see that?"

Niban jerks his head to the edge of the village. His eyes are wide and wild. This is not the peaceful, rational man that the samurai met earlier. It is obvious that Tobuko's argument with him is causing him to become a very paranoid person very quickly.

"Niban," Roshii says, "we are not here to harm anyone. You are all safe. we merely wish to talk with you."

"Niban-san," Jin says, stepping closer, "we have a note we need to ask you about." As he slowly reaches into his kimono to pull the rice paper out, the archers around the square all tense. When he pulls out the piece of paper, they do not seem to relax much. "This was found in Shiro Gisu. We need to know what is happening." looking at the archers, he adds, "And no one need get hurt."

Niban takes the paper from Jin and reads it, with Tobuko looking over his shoulder. Niban's jaw drops in surprise. Tobuko also turns ashen. She looks at Niban and says, "I can't believe it. I knew you were desparate, but...

"You there!" she shouts at a group of ronin. "The Princess has been stolen. Search the village." Ten ronin run into the buildings at her command.

Turning to Jin, she says, "He spoke of kidnapping the girl, but I never expected him to go through with it."

"What!" shouts Niban. "I never said any such thing!"

The two fall back into a heated argument that lasts only seconds before the ronin return to the square, escorting Otomo Yoroshiku.

Niban's expression slips quickly from surprise to complete lunacy. Before anyone can react, his sword is drawn. He cuts down two of his own men and snatches the Princess, holding the bloody katana to her throat.

Tobuko quickly orders the ronin to stand down, as the samurai reach for their weapons. Realizing that Tobuko intends to let them deal with the crazed ronin, Jin steps forward again. "Niban-san, I said already that no one need get hurt. Put the sword down and let her go."

"I believed!" Niban shouts. "I tried! I walked in Akodo's footsteps, and look what it got me! look at me! I'm nothing! Nothing! And all because of this... this..." He pushes the sword closer to Yoroshiku's throat.

"Niban-san, Jin says, motioning for the other samurai to keep their weapons sheathed, "if you did not take the Princess, then you have nothing to fear, except for your treatment of her right now. Let her go. The longer you hold her, the worse you make things for yourself."

Niban laughs. "You truly don't understand, do you? I died a long time ago, samurai. And now my attempts to begin a new life have been destroyed. And it is all because of this girl. Let me tell you a story..."

Sixteen years ago, the man known as Niban was Shinjo Toda, karo to Shinjo Gidayu. Gidayu was having a discreet affair with a woman named Matsu Jiko. When matsu Jiko became Otomo Jiko, having married the brother of Hantei XXXVIII, the affair continued. When Jiko gave birth to a baby girl, she called for Gidayu. The daimyo did not come, but sent his karo instead.

Toda arrived and discovered Jiko on her deathbed, sick with fever. He knelt at her bedside, and she called him by Gidayu's name. Toda nodded somberly, hoping his deception would bring her a little peace in her final hours.

"The girl," Jiko whispered, "she is yours, my love. She is your daughter."

Toda was shocked. By cuckolding the Imperial line, Gidayu had comitted a serious crime. He had, in fact, stolen an heir from the Emperor. Toda watched as the woman passed away, then returned to Unicorn lands with the knowledge that he would have to tell his daimyo what happened.

When Gidayu asked what happened, Toda told him the story, then said, "I swear on my life that I will keep the secret."

Gidayu shook his head. "No. The only way this will remain secret is if all who know of it are dead. Fall on your sword."

Toda was confused. "Is my word not good enough?" he asked.

"No, Gidayu responded, his voice growing in anger, "now fall on your sword.

Toda refused a second time, and Gidayu called his yojimbo into the room. "Kill the traitor," he ordered them. The floor of Gidayu's reception hall was quickly covered in blood, and his karo was the last man standing.

"There is no need," he said, "for I am already dead. And your secret has died with me." With that, Niban left, never to be seen in Unicorn lands again.

When he is done, Niban smiles. "Now you know the truth. But bushido has no room for the truth, does it?" He snickers, throws down the sword, and pushes the stunned girl forward. "Go on, then. Serve your lord. Do your duty. Kill me. I'm only a ronin, after all."

The sword lying in front of him and the Princess only feet away, Asako Shitasu quickly draws his yumi. Otomo Jin puts his hand on Shitasu's arm to stop him, but realizing the Princess is till in danger from the mad ronin, Shitasu brushes Jin's hand away and looses an arrow, striking Niban in the shoulder.

Niban screams, and just as Shitasu expected, stumbles towards the girl. Isawa Roshii calls the fire kami to smite Niban, but he samurai merely ignores the flames as they singe his skin. Toritaka Pajaro rushes Niban, attempting to intercept him before he reaches Yoroshiku, but Otaku Ku Shi reaches him first. The Battle Maiden looses an arrow from her bow as well, and manages to strike Niban in the left temple. The ronin falls to the ground, where he lies motionless. Yoroshiku stands and shakily runs to Jin, turning to look at Niban's body from behind him.

As Niban's blood spills, the samurai suddenly realize how quiet things have become without the screams of Yoroshiku or the rantings of Niban. The village is deserted. The ronin are gone, and the peasants have all fled. Niban's ghost may very well spend the rest of eternity here, haunting the empty huts and rotting fields.

Convinced her ordeal is truly over and regaining some of her compsure, Yoroshiku stands before the samurai who rescued her. "I forbid any of you from uttering a single word that man spoke to you regarding my lineage. He was obviously a liar and a scoundrel, and his word is no better than that of common churl."

The samurai, knowing that they do not have the authority to bruing such a charge against Shinjo Gidayu, and knowing that legally, the word of a ronin bears no weight, agree to the Princess' demand.

Upon their return to Shiro Gisu, The samurai are truly lauded as heroes. Asako Kagetsu is very generous with his praise of the group, as is Otomo Yoroshiku. And among their other praises, Yoroshiku also announces that she has chosen her husband - Otomo Jin. The wedding will take place the following spring in Otosan Uchi, so that her Uncle, Hantei XXXVIII, can be in attendance. And all of the samurai involved in her rescue will be attending the ceremonies.

Before that time, however, the samurai have another honored mission to perform. As soon as the land thaws, the ashes and personal effects of Matsu Ohigachu need to be returned to Kenson Gakka, his ancestral home, to be interred. Ohigachu's only personal servant was also killed during the past week, so he cannot perform the duty. Instead, Ohigachu's journal revealed that he had come to respect the actions of Akodo Aramoro, and so Aramoro has been given the honor of overseeing Ohigachu's final journey. His recent companions and the Princess and her entourage will accompany him to Kenson Gakka, and then the group will travel to Otosan Uchi for the wedding of Otomo Jin and Otomo Yoroshiku.