Mid‑morning, and in Kasai‑dojo, Hideyoshi, Chika, Xander, and Akiko are in Hideyoshi's inner sanctum, planning the defence of the dojo.
"There must be a way we can cover all possible entrances," Chika opines, noticing there are a few left unguarded.
"I have enough under my command to cover all possible entrances, but then my forces would be spread too thin," Hideyoshi explains. "This deployment covers all the important entrances adequately, and where there are unguarded entrances, we can funnel any incursions into kill‑zones."
"How long do you think we can hold out?" Akiko asks.
"In theory, we can hold out indefinitely," Hideyoshi answers. "However, our supplies are not infinite. My most optimistic estimates are we can hold out fourteen days if none of the defended entrances is breached. Given certain members of the opposition, I'd be surprised if we last past six."
"An army of that size, they won't arrive until tomorrow," Chika concludes. "The approach to Yamakasai is far more treacherous than the approach to Mizutani unless you use the main road, and that's too narrow."
"It's also been mined and laced with tank traps," Hideyoshi reveals. "Thankfully Senator Kita had the foresight to brief me on the deployment, otherwise we wouldn't have got back to Kasai so quickly."
"You are so much better prepared than we ever were," Chika sighs.
"You did the best you could have, given how little time you had," Hideyoshi complements.
"Be honest Hideyoshi," Chika requests. "Is there any way in which we can win this?"
"I will admit, the probabilities favour our opponents," Hideyoshi answers. "However, we cannot discount Hanna and Rob. If they can rescue their friends, that may prove pivotal in swaying the balance just enough for us to prevail."
"Before last night, I shared your confidence," Chika admits. "But today…"
"I have faith that Hanna can learn to fight without her tail," Hideyoshi states confidently.
"I sincerely hope you're right," Chika sighs.
In one of the dedicated one‑on‑one training rooms, Hanna stumbles and falls to the floor yet again. "Dammit!" she curses, rolling onto her back. "Face it Rob: without my tail, I'm useless."
"If me and Danny can fight without a tail, you certainly can," Rob assures.
"We've been training for two hours, and I've fallen over eleven times," Hanna reminds. "That's eleven too many."
"Yes, it is," Rob agrees. "But how else are you going to regain your balance without trying?"
"Get me a tail," Hanna replies.
"I'm being serious."
"So am I."
With a sigh, Rob sits beside his wife. "I know I'll never understand what it's like to have a tail like you did," he admits. "And I'll certainly miss the creative ways in which you used it, and how you would wrap it around me when we embrace. But the fact is, your tail isn't what makes you Hanna Skarlett, one of the finest hand‑to‑hand fighters the Red Scarves has ever seen."
"One of the finest?" Hanna asks, allowing a trace of annoyance infect her tone.
"Do you really think you're a better fighter than Coral Tea was?"
"Don't be stupid: no‑one's as good as‑ OK, I'll let you have that one. She never lost her tail though."
"True."
"Without my tail, I'm permanently off‑balance. It's a wonder I can even walk, let alone fight."
"You're not the only one to lose their tail," Rob reminds. "Remember mine got burnt off in the Kyuden?"
Hanna cannot help but smile at the memory. "That was quite amusing, the way it just fell off when you touched it."
"Do you remember how much it affected me?"
"It didn't even slow you down. Then again, it is only three inches long. Maria once referred to it as a 'silver poop that got stuck'. She was teasing, of course. Still, hardly comparable to the fluffy magnificence of… what I used to have."
"OK, maybe I'm a bad example," Rob admits. "But you're not going to like the only other example I can think of."
"You're going to mention Miss Goody Blue Boots, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"And how she recovered from having her hair whips amputated and went on to save the whole planet."
"Pretty much."
"The moral of the story being?"
"Lilac's hair whips are to her what your tail is to you," Rob explains. "They're a defining feature, part of her draconic identity. Without them, she's substantially weakened, and she looks like… well, like a goat. But she dealt with it and moved on."
"You mean she got rebuilt by Shang Tu's infirmary," Hanna corrects. "And she never fought without them."
"OK, even Lilac was a bad example," Rob admits.
"You're trying though, and that's what counts."
"That sounded slightly mocking."
"It was."
For a few moments, the couple remain silent, Hanna laying on her back staring at the ceiling, Rob sat beside her, his eyes roving over Hanna's figure.
"I'm not in the mood," Hanna announces.
"I never said anything," Rob protests.
"Then stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm sexy."
"But you are."
"I have no tail."
"And yet you're still as sexy as the day I fell for you."
Hanna sits up. "I am?"
Rob takes Hanna's left hand in his own, holding them up so Hanna can see both wedding rings. "You're my wife."
Hanna pauses a moment. "Is the door locked?"
"Yep."
"Good."
Hanna throws herself on top of Rob and kisses him passionately.
Half an hour later, Hanna and Rob are cuddling naked on the training room floor, their clothes strewn around them, Hanna resting her head on Rob's chest.
"I feel much better now," Hanna purrs contentedly.
"I'm in a pretty good mood myself," Rob replies.
"Ready to go again?"
"My turn on top."
Hanna rolls off Rob and onto her back. "I'm waiting," she purrs seductively.
Another half hour later, Hanna and Rob are once again cuddling naked, only this time Rob is resting his head on Hanna's chest.
"I can live without a tail," Hanna decides.
"You still want one though," Rob guesses.
"Obviously."
"We'll figure something out."
The couple lay in contended silence for a few moments.
"We should probably get back to training," Hanna decides.
"Good idea," Rob agrees, standing then helping his wife to her feet. A few minutes later, they're dressed and ready to spar again.