Leonardo ran one more time across the Nightingale floor, just for fun. They had spent the whole morning and most of the afternoon adding more security measures to Lord Tomehame’s home. Once they were done, they were given payment and supplies before they continued on their journey.
“You are incorrigible,” Usagi chuckled as they made their way out of town. “You are lucky that your ninja skills proved to be valuable. I think Lord Tomehame wanted to take you on as a retainer.”
“He seemed nice enough,” Leo smiled. “But I don’t know if Mako would have appreciated me taking his place.”
Once again Usagi let out a soft laugh, “No he would not. He is a loyal servant to his master and it would have been a blow to his pride to be replaced.”
“I’m just glad that he let me teach him all that I could,” Leo replied. “He will be able to better serve his master now. I don’t think that there is a ninja alive who could breach that fortress.”
“No ninja but you of course,” Usagi quipped.
Not one to brag, Leo simply smiled.
“You were amazing,” Jotaro chimed it, hopping up and down. “When you were able to walk across the floor without making a sound it was the greatest thing I have ever seen.” He looked up at Leo as they followed the path north. “I want to learn as much as I can from you. I will be the only samurai with some skills as a ninja. I will be the greatest warrior of all time.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Jotaro,” Usagi warned. “A samurai expresses modesty in all things and does not boast.”
Jotaro turned his head to look up at Usagi, “Gennosuke-san boasted about his abilities all the time.”
“Do not aspire to be like Gen,” Usagi said with a frown. “Your parents would never forgive me. I did not plan on you to meeting him but sadly he is hard to avoid.”
“How long have you been traveling with Jotaro?” Leonardo asked.
Usagi thought for a moment before answering, “It has been several months, nearly a year. When I took him from our small village we traveled down to the Geishu Provence to see Lord Noriyuki. There Jotaro pledged himself to serve as soon as he is trained as a samurai. We are traveling north now to make our way back to our home. Hopefully by the time we return, his parents will be well enough to care for him once again.”
“I want to stay with you longer, Uncle Usagi,” Jotaro pouted.
Usagi smiled down at the young rabbit. “Are you not eager to return to your parents?” Usagi paused as Jotaro nodded his head. “Treasure this time with them,” Usagi continued. “Before you know it you will be grown and on your own, longing for the simpler times of your youth.”
Jotaro walked in somber silence as he pondered Usagi words. After a while, Jotaro reached up and grabbed hold of Usagi’s hand. “Maybe then you could stay in the village for a while so we can be together for a while longer.”
Usagi closed his eyes for a moment before answering. “I am not ready to settle down. I will, however continue to come and visit.”
Jotaro squeezed Usagi’s hand tighter.
The pain they were both feeling was almost palatable so Leo changed the subject. “The soak in the river as we fled for our lives was fun and all but I remember you promising me a soak in a hot springs.”
Usagi’s mood lifted and he was once again smiling. “Yes, I did. We are on our way now. We are a little off course but we should be there before night fall.”
“Good,” Leo sighed with a smile. “And with the extra coin we picked up I’m sure it will be a luxurious experience.”
They continued to walk the path, making good time. When Jotaro got too tired to walk, Usagi and Leo took turns carrying him. They shared stories about their adventures and discussed different fighting techniques along the way.
They were waylaid by a group of bandits but the two master swords men were able to defeat them. Though Leo fought to simply beat them in hopes that they would run away, Usagi had no issue in killing their attackers. As three of the bandits made their escape, Usagi turned to Leonardo. “Do not hold back against your enemies here, Leonardo-san. Your mercy for them will only result in trouble for others down the road.” He looked around at the dead. “I wonder if there was a bounty on them or a reward for dispatching them, of some kind.”
“This one acted as if he was their leader,” Leo gestured to the body of one of the bandits as he put his swords away. “If there is a bounty, it would most likely be for him.”
“Agreed.” Usagi nodded his head as he inspected the body, “It did appear to be that way.” He pushed the man’s arm out of the way, “What is this?” Jotaro made his way around the bodies to Leo as Usagi pulled the object that had caught his interest from the leader’s pocket. “A note?”
Leo knelt down to look Jotaro over while Usagi read the blood stained note. Jotaro looked distraught over the recent bloodshed so Leo picked him up and shielded him from the scene. It was a traumatic life that the poor bunny was leading. Death was too common place.
“They must have stolen this from a messenger,” Usagi stated, folding the note. He placed it in his pocket and looked at Leo. “Fortunately the one who was to receive this letter isn’t out of our way. We can deliver the letter and take a small break before we continue on our journey.”
“I don’t know,” Leo chuckled as he followed after Usagi. “With the luck we’ve been having lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if this small task ends up taking more of our time.”
“Nonsense,” Usagi shook his head. “We can’t have that much bad luck.”
“Based off of what I have experienced in life, trust me, we can,” Leo stated flatly.
Continuing down the path, the two warriors passed the time talking about whatever came to mind. Leo tracked the movement of the sun through the sky but he had no idea how much time had passed. If Donatello was with them, he would know.
By the time the sun neared the horizon, the wild lands soon gave way to the cultivated crops of the nearby town. The scents of burning wood, cooking food, and waste filled the air. It was a vast contrast to the fresh air of the untouched lands. Usagi led the way into the town and requested an audience with the lord.
As they waited, Usagi showed Leo how to tie the hilt of his swords to show that they were not a threat. It didn’t take long before they were led into the lord’s estate.
The lord was an old dog, surrounded by his loyal samurai. He held himself according to his station though Leo could see that the weight of his years tried to slump his shoulders. It looked like it took a great effort for him to keep his back straight.
Usagi kneeled down and held out the note. “I believe that this is for you.” As a servant came forward to take the note, Usagi explained. “Please forgive the blood. We found that on the body of a bandit leader who had attacked us. I believe that it is safe to assume that the original messenger has also been killed.”
Leo and Jotaro kneeled down behind Usagi and remained quiet. Chancing a glance down at Jotaro, Leo saw that the young rabbit kept his eyes on the ground and his hands folded in his lap. Usagi was right, for one so young, he was well behaved.
The old lord nodded his head. “Thank you, Samurai. Those bandits have been causing problems for quite some time.”
“Their bodies can be found not far from here,” Usagi said, keeping his head down. “There were a total of nine, six are dead.”
“This is good news,” the lord smiled. “My enemy has been attempting to stop my alliance with Lord Toumae. Since you have killed six of his men, including the leader of his bandits, you have done me a great favor.”
“It was merely by chance, my lord,” Usagi replied.
“None the less, you have my gratitude. You did not have to bring the letter to me but you did,” the lord said then turned to one of his retainers. “Get the samurai some payment for his troubles.”
“That is not necessary, my lord,” Usagi said in a steady tone. “We were already traveling this way. It was no trouble at all and the right thing to do.”
The lord held up his hand, “I insist. It is the least I can do.”
Leonardo had been told that it was a polite society, at least for the more noble people but he was still amazed at the back and forth between the two. When the money was brought out, Usagi did not reach for it right away. Instead he bowed deeply and said, “This is a most gracious offering.”
The lord signaled the servant and the small bag of coins was place on the floor. As the servant backed away Usagi reached for the bag. “Thank you, my lord.” Leo knew that if Usagi had refused the offer it would have been an insult to the lord. It would have implied that Usagi was above such offerings or that he believed that the lord was not wealthy enough to afford it.
After tucking the bag into the folds of his robes, Usagi bowed once again. “If there is nothing more, my lord, my associate and I will take our leave.”
There it was. Leo waited with bated breath for the lord’s response. Usagi had to open it up so that the lord could ask more of them. It was, of course, the polite thing to do.
“I will have one of my men escort you out,” the lord replied.
One of the samurai stepped forward and Usagi stood. “Thank you again,” Usagi said with a bow before following the samurai out. Leo and Jotaro also stood and bowed to the lord then followed after Usagi. Leonardo’s head was swimming. He didn’t think he would be able to handle a situation with a lord like that properly. He was sure that he would say or do the wrong thing and offend someone.
When they reached the outside, Leo heaved a sigh of relief. A small smile spread across Usagi’s lips. “See. There were no issues.”
“I’ll be happier once we are back on the road,” Leo responded, not quite convinced that they were in the clear.
With a wide smile, Usagi retrieved the coins from his pocket and held the small bag out for Leo to see. “You are bringing me good fortune, my friend. I have not had this much coin in a long time.”
“Don’t tempt the fates,” Leo warned in jest.
Usagi’s smile faded and he tucked the money away. “You are right. If I keep celebrating our good luck then before you know it Gen will come out of nowhere and manage to swindle us out of our money.”
Leo did not know Gen as well as Usagi but he knew him well enough to get the not so subtle joke and allowed himself a small chuckle.
