The stranger to this land had awoken early that morning. The Frenchman had paid the owner of the home he was staying at quite handsomely before setting out back towards town. The home he had taken as his temporary dwelling during his stay in Japan belonged to an old woman whose husband had died in the seemingly eternal feuds between the Shogunate and those who opposed them. The old woman was happy for the company and enormously grateful at the Frenchman's generosity. Despite the Frenchman's poor use of the Japanese dialect the two of them had enjoyed talking to one another during his stay.

It was early morning and Father Besson sat in the living room of his host after just eating a delicious breakfast made by the woman. The breakfast was made even more enjoyable by the discussion between the two that came with it over the religious differences between both cultures. Both explained their own denominations with humility and respect to the other. Father Besson relished the opportunity to speak with someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind having grown tired of his 'flock' in France just devouring everything he said without so much as question aimed in his direction. For Father Besson those who are true to the faith question it's validity to insure that they truly do believe.

There was a sudden smashing sound from the kitchen where his host had retreated to in order to make them tea. Father Besson sat up suddenly before calling out to her. A figure appeared in the doorway but it was not his host. It was a large masked man and in his hand he wielded a gun. Father Besson recognised the weapon as being of European origin having encountered several such weapons before.

"What do you want?" asked Father Besson in French, his terror blinding him to where he was. The mysterious man raised his gun to the Frenchman and Father Besson silently prayed.

Daimon and Kurenai both looked at Ichimatsu as he stood there waiting for an answer. Despite her protests to Daimon, Kurenai found herself unable to answer her friend. It wasn't until this moment that she truly appreciated the Council's influence over her life.

"Is that meant for me?" asked Ichimatsu.

Kurenai was about to answer when Daimon intervened and said, "Ichimatsu! The Council believes that there is an attempt on your life! This letter maybe the weapon used by the assassin."

"Because it is dipped in poison" finished Ichimatsu much to the surprise of Daimon.

"How long were you listening?" asked Daimon.

"Long enough!" said Ichimatsu as he walked up to Daimon and held out his hand waiting for Daimon to hand him the letter. Daimon hesitated and Ichimatsu could see that it was out of genuine concern. Ichimatsu insisted and took the letter from his friend before walking away from them into the corner.

"Ichimatsu!" called out Kurenai worried for him as he opened the envelope. He tore the envelope carefully and allowed the letter to fall onto one of the tables in the tavern before he sat next to it and looked down. Both Daimon and Kurenai looked on in anticipation as Ichimatsu looked down at the writing on the page. "Well?" asked Kurenai. Ichimatsu looked up at them and said, "It's in a different language! I don't understand it!"

Kurenai walked over to him and looked down at the letter. She didn't understand the unusual writing either and turned to Daimon and said, "If the messenger was French then do doubt this is French also?"

"We shouldn't have opened!" was all that Daimon could say. "We had specific orders from the Council and..."

Daimon was suddenly cut off by a lot of commotion from outside. He and Kurenai went outside to see what it was. There were swarms of men running through the township carrying bucket's of water as they ran desperately towards the edge of town.

"What's going on?" called out Daimon to some of them until finally one of the men answered, "Old lady Kusanagi! Her house is on fire!"