And then what?

The nagging doubt about the wide open, aimless future haunted Yumi as they made their way back to Oshu weeks later. Around she could see healing and prospects.

People who would take the promise of prosperity and the guarantee of peace. A path where those they found seemed happy, rebuilding, fed and safe.

A trip without secrecy, hurry or worry, where they had no need to scurry and hold their head low out of fear of persecution and recognition. No one was giving chase. There was no distrust, no need to camp secreted away.

Tadao had recovered although not completely. The old general had lost the use of his right arm but in typical fashion he still proclaimed himself able to serve. He had accompanied her with Goro and her warrior women, the last remnants of a cause and a name she had abandoned.

The question lingered, unvoiced, unanswered. She didn't feel like she had the right to do so, not when people still looked at her for leadership and she had nothing… Maybe it was not nothing. She had freedom now, someone she loved and could be with without fear of straying from her purpose. That freedom after driven years was proven hard to balance.

Kojuro seemed to understand her indecision. Knowing what he had done with the One-Eyed Dragon likely they had spent some time with the same doubts even if they stemmed from a prospect too great to achieve and a change in strategy. He offered quiet support but had not asked, giving her the time to sort through it herself.

It could feel lonely. Yet any question about it also could feel weighty, pressuring.

Oshu, the country, was peaceful. There was much to do but there always was a lot to be done and yet nothing seemed to match the skills she had had to cultivate. Other than taking care of Kasuya maybe. The child could make hardener warrior cry in fear of babysitting.

Yumi wandered around the household, the city, the mountains, riding, trying to see what she could do, enjoy. She had bought a koto. Her fingers were slow and hesitant on the strings, the sounds familiar, bringing echoes of her teachers, of her mother. She remembered songs, the strings to pluck but what once had been a skill she had proudly displayed was rusty. Torn between enjoyment and memories she had tried to play, stopping when she made a mistake, staring at the instrument, pained.

Saki was perhaps the easiest one to talk to those days. More so than Kojuro perhaps. Her purpose had been that of a weapon once. No distractions. Nothing but the mission. The shinobi had found her playing, smiling slightly and suggesting that she could give a song as a gift at the incoming wedding, mentioning that she was looking like she was enjoying playing even soaked in tears.

Those had come as a surprise. They weren't painful. Just… memories.

I know it feels like you are lost without a path to follow. But trust yourself. Saki had said it softly, sitting nearby, reaching out, plucking a string. She didn't know how to play. Not one of her missions had ever called her to learn the skill to dissimulate her purpose.

Tadao joined them, attracted by the sound, maybe even recognizing the old song. He had sat with them, arm tucked in a sling, in the sleeve, against his body, eyes closing, a smile spreading as the song steadied, as Yumi's fingers remembered.

Rediscovering things she liked helped indeed… The ones that had followed were doing the same. Exploring, growing, trying to find new roots and new purposes.

The summons came a month later as she returned from the vegetable garden Kojuro kept. He looked so very tender amidst the greenery that it could hard to see the man she had fought with and along. But the expression was not strange. She had caught him looking at her like that too.

Yumi found she liked that too. Planting. Seeing things grow. Playing in the dirt like she had never been allowed to as a child and felt envious of her brothers.

It was not the casual invitation Date Masamune sometimes extended for sake, or a talk or games.

Kojuro seemed to know what that was about but he was keeping quiet and Yumi would not press. She had learned to leave some secrets be.

The One-Eyed Dragon met them in the meeting room, sitting as formally as he could. It has hard to tell how serious he was. There seemed to be an air of amusement to him most of the times. As hard as telling if Saki was feeling anything at all. Sometimes the woman's expression was so close to being a serene painting that Yumi doubted she was alive.

Sitting and bowing as she had been taught as a child came out as stilted and ungracefully has her attempt to return to the koto. But not one of them minded.

The Right Eye of the Dragon has not arrived yet. That created a slight flutter of nervousness.

"Yumi, you and those you brought with you have skills that could serve the Land of the Rising Sun." The One-Eyed Dragon started, straightening, staring at her. "So we have a proposal. Kojuro."

Kojuro walked in, carrying a parcel wrapped in blue silk. It was not hard to guess what it was simply from the shape. He placed it down in front of her, taking a place by her side, unwrapping a newly forged nagamaki. There were no crests in the weapon. Nothing but a beautifully made blade, decorated in blue and gold. While those were Oshu's colours they were also non-indicative of any affiliation. Transfixed she reached out, touching the hilt, fingers following it lines, curling around it. It… fit her hand a bit better. It was actually made for her. No other meaning. Just her weapon. Hers…

"Bandits can always be a problem on the roads. Or on towns when disasters push people harder than they should be strained." Date continued. "The Saica faction polices the country for us but they are not enough and they have exchanged a great part of their former mercenary mobility for a better planed grid of operations. Each province has its own forces but…" Shrugging Date turned to Kojuro, gesturing him to continue.

"Masamune-Sama is asking you and those that followed you along with anyone you feel you should train to hunt down the criminals that others cannot take or find." Kojuro watched as she focused on the words, finding them matching her restlessness, the need to do something more. Smiling her took her hand, covering the fingers that were still holding his gift. "For as long as you wish to undertake this task."

"I… Date Masamune-sama… I can proudly do so." Yumi agreed, finding the new purpose in the country. Not an absolute obligation…

"Of course this does not happen until after you two are married in the next week and a couple of months to set up the whole operation." Masamune mentioned, leaving. Saki smiled slightly, standing to follow her husband, glancing back at the startled expression of the couple. Both were blushing now that the date was so explicitly decided. But they did scoot closer. As Masamune she felt no need to tell them they had already gone behind their back and prepared the sturdier horses, the weapons, the supplies, the equipment and all that a mobile strike unit would need.