I own none of these characters. I also fear I don't own comics and have not read thoroughly those starring some of these characters. So, I am mostly drawing from what I've learned online. Please correct me gently if I get something wrong. I could very well bow to your expertise. I am, however, also drawing from the cartoon versions of these characters from episodes I "have" and am drawing on the "lack" of presence of some characters in them to make this story.

"Honestly Usagi," Tomoe Ame smiled at him from her place guarding Noriyuki's door, or the door of the protective box he now slept in. "Should I allow you to tell Lord Noriyuki of your 'adventures' around the campfire from anymore?"

Usagi grinned back at her. "Only you can answer that Tomoe Ame."

She grinned at him in return. "If you accompany us to the city and stay a while, we can spar there. I eagerly await an opportunity to best you and your unconventional style of swordsmanship again. Although …" Her lashes lowered as the corners of her mouth rose, "I warn you, unlike the 'Battle Nexus' if I accidentally harm you in our bout I will not be considered either a cheater or an assassin for it."

"There is no Daimyo of the Battle Nexus there to prevent such, in lord Noriyuki's palace. I shall do my best to remember that and forgive you Tomoe Ame." Tomoe's mouth fell open. She stared into his smirking face. Her eyes sparkled though and the dimples in her cheeks were still visible, so he wasn't worried.

A loud coughing sound came from behind him, and Usagi's smile fell away. So, did Tomoe Ame's. A deeper, gruffer voice spoke from behind him. "So, are we going to talk about who watches where when tonight?"

Usagi rolled his eyes. Gen, sometimes I don't know whether to thank or hit you.

Tomoe Ame spoke. "I should watch Lord Noriyuki first, but then" her eyes went sadly to Usagi, "In order to be fresh in the morning for my lord, I should probably trade off with someone else."

"Usagi's 'great' at watching over things during the night. And I can take the last watch and be up early for breakfast."

Usagi rolled his eyes again before meeting his fellow Samurai's gaze. "Is that acceptable to you, Tomoe Ame?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, Usagi, it is."

"I am glad." Usagi bowed to her and then began to walk away. Gen fell into step beside him. When they were some ways off, Usagi growled, "Gen …"

"How long are 'we' staying in lord Noriyuki's palace?

"Long enough I can have a few sparring sessions with Tomoe Ame, and 'you' may have them as well. She is one of the best sword-masters in the provinces."

"Yes."

"It will do us good to practice with her."

"For our sword-skills? Absolutely."

Usagi paused, crossed his arms, and fell silent. Then his shoulders fell. "A few days … probably no more than that. As soon as Lord Noriyuki will let us go most likely."

Gen sighed. "Not long enough for me to get used to the accommodations then."

Usagi paused and sat in the grass uncertain he'd be able to fall asleep long before it was his own turn to keep watch. His voice lowered further still. "Gen ..?"

The rhino looked sharply at him. "Yes?"

Usagi stared sadly in front of him "I would 'never' wish harm on lord Noriyuki, nor take away Tomoe Ame's honor in being his personal guard …"

Gen grinned, "But things would be easier if she were Yojimbo or even a bounty-hunter like me, eh?"

Usagi stared off into the distance. "From a certain perspective, yes."

"Yours?"

"Not entirely. Tomoe Ame is, who she is, because she is her father's daughter and Lord Noriyuki's Samurai, but that also means Lord Noriyuki will always come first to her, his protection, his life, his orders. That could never be changed even if I became his Samurai too: exchanged the Geisha Clan's crest for my Lord Mifune's. Those things would still never change for her and I. She would just expect the same from me as she gives to 'him' …"

Gen gave a brief, dry, scoffing laugh. "Honor …"

Usagi glanced up at him momentarily before looking back out over the horizon. "It is one of the things I admire most about her, Gen …"

"And she, you, unfortunately."

Usagi sighed. "If we had both been born into or even walked into different circumstances …"

"Usagi, I know you don't think much of my own philosophy for life, but one thing I've found works well for me is 'don't' yearn after something you can't buy or earn some other way, or even receive … 'That,' is always a truly useless enterprise."

Usagi sighed deeper. "Sometimes, my friend, you are surprisingly wise." The Ronin turned a smile up at the rhino. Something over the bounty hunter's left ear caught his eye.

A star, or two or three, shone beside his friend's head, and then they did not. Usagi frowned. The stars reappeared. The rabbit stood up, drawing both his blades. Gen rose and did the same. "Usagi, what is it?"

The Ronin began to turn in a circle while watching the sky. The same phenomena repeated itself as if a kite were being flown in a slow circle. Perhaps that was all it was.

"Gen …"

"Yes?"

"Raise your nose toward the south. What do you smell?"

The rhino turned and did as he was asked. His always squinted eyes creased further in anger. "Komori."

Usagi sprinted through the grass back toward Lord Noriyuki's box. His shout filled the air. "Watch the skies! All Samurai watch the skies!"

Usagi kept his eyes on the disappearing stars to the south. Suddenly, over a nearby stand of trees, they all appeared again. He glanced over the tree-tops only to see other stars suddenly appear where there had been darkness before.

He slid to a stop beside Tomoe Ame, who had drawn both her swords and was looking straight up with wide eyes. "What is it?"

Gen, who slid to a stop beside Usagi answered with grit teeth as still more Samurai surrounded them. "Komori."

There was a silent pause. Then, every Samurai who had the option, switched from swords to yuni bows. Usagi silently cursed himself for not having one. He felt the touch of another shoulder pressing into his. He looked to the side to meet Tomoe Ame's gaze. "Take mine, Usagi. I want to be lord Noriyuki's last line of defense. By the time they get to me, my swords will be of more use than my bow. Until then, others shall surround me I do not wish to hit."

Usagi gazed back at her with wide eyes. "You are sure?"

She nodded with a tight smile. He bowed his head slightly to her. "Thank you, Tomoe Ame."

He had just found a way to hold the bow quite close to his body while stepping up to the front line facing the forest putting Tomoe Ame "And" lord Noriyuki behind him. He wished it could always be that easy, that clear-cut. Then he and Tomoe could be married easily. However, he was also wondering if he'd be alive in the next few moments. Gen spoke from his side and just a little behind grasping his sword rather than a yuni bow since no one had given him one. "I can smell them in the trees. They're getting closer."

Usagi nodded. "I can hear them climbing toward us through the boughs as well."

"Listen for when that sounds stops." One of the cat Samurai in the group shushed them. The way their ears shifted forward, and the way the dogs' noses in the group twitched verified without words, they all either heard or smelled what Gen or Usagi did.

The sound of claws grasping tree bark fell silent. The Samurai held their breaths. Then, small spheres flew out from the trees and landed between the trees and the Samurai. Usagi's ears stood straight up. Oh no …

He sprinted forward. A shout followed him. "Usagi!"

He slid down beside one ball and picked it up. Grey smoke lifted from it as he threw it back among the trees. Even as he began to turn and search the ground for more spheres like smoke rose from several places around him already forming a veil in which he'd been caught.

He turned in place. His sight was stolen from him on his right, on his left, in front, and behind him. Even the hiss of the chemical reaction releasing the smoke interfered with his hearing. Then, another sound overcame it. Many pairs of claws scratching against bark, a chorus of flaps from wings, and the slight, high whistle of metal cutting through air. He screamed to those he'd left behind. "Look out!"

He fell to the ground, covering his head, hoping some arrows would fly over him. However, what did fly over him were great, naked wings and soft bodies in black shrieking. As he looked up, he saw light from the sky glint off a razor-edged wing. He drew his blade and struck out at it. The ring of steel sounded over him.

Dark, silver-edged wings crashed into the ground behind him. Usagi rose to his feet and turned to face it. He glared at the foe on the ground. It rose and turned toward him. He pounced. He did not know or care if it was male, female, young, or old. The komori ninja must not reach lord Noriyuki, Tomoe Ame, Gen, or any of the Samurai standing with them.

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes