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 the episodes of which I "have" seen all the way through and am drawing on the "lack" of presence of some of these characters too while making a reason for this.

Usagi's swords met metal with a ring of steel. The razor-edge of one wing had caught both his blades and held them away. He leapt backwards as its twin flashed out toward his stomach. The smoke began to dissipate around them as the two warriors circled.

Then, with a flap of its wings, his opponent rose into the air, above the point he had the ability to strike it with his swords and glided over his head. Usagi dropped his swords, grabbed Tomoe's yuni bow, pulled out an arrow, and notched it. He raised its point and his gaze to the sky.

He saw several bolts already flying up at the dark forms circling above. Before the arrows reached them, the great wings folded in, and the shapes they then made spun in the sky. The bolt would fly past. Then the wings would spread out again. In time, the archers might organize their shots in such a way as to counter this strategy. The ninjas might also find a gap in the arrow cover to take advantage of, first.

Usagi's eyes scanned the sky again. One shape circled above all the others never plummeting toward the ground. A cry echoed from it.

Usagi's face hardened. Officer. Had to be. It was the farthest target, but …

The Ronin drew the string of the yuni bow as far back as he could and loosed the arrow from it. His scream filled the air. "Miyamoto Usagi!"

A moment after he finished his cry, Usagi realized his aim had been a little off. It angered him. Tomoe Ame herself had lent him this bow! And what had he done with it? He had lost skill by not having one to practice with for so long despite all his practice with one while he served Lord Mifune. And … he admitted to himself, he had always been better with swords.

The shape in the sky moved at his scream, but tucked its wings in slower than the others, and also spun slower in the air as well, yet Usagi watched his arrow fly past it still. His ears were lowering in humiliation, when the form uncurled itself again, cried out, and glided back over the forest before dropping into it.

All the other forms gliding down or pulling up over the Samurai guarding their Daimyo, also turned and like disappeared back into cover. The Samurai of lord Noriyuki blinked after them. All the stars above them shone unhindered.

Gen's voice came from behind an open-mouthed Usagi. "What just happened?"

Tomoe Ame's voice came from behind her people. "Usagi! Get back in formation!"

The Ronin glanced quickly over the ground. He found his swords, picked them up, and sheathed them. Then he grabbed Tomoe's Yuni bow and carried is at his side as he ran back toward the guards. He slid to a stop beside his usual companion. As Usagi turned to stand beside him, the bounty hunter growled, "The possibility their own smoke disoriented them during the attack aside, I'm going to kill you for doing that."

Usagi glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Then he focused his gaze upon the forest again. Silence, except for a soft breeze through the grass, trees, and their own clothing hung over them all for such a long-time muscles untensed in order to save their strength.

Then, a kunai flew over their heads and landed in the stylized roof of Lord Noriyuki's protective box. Usagi only turned his head to note its landing place had 'not' been in anyone's body or armor, before looking back to the forest, but nothing else emerged from it.

Usagi's ears caught the sound of someone scurrying up to the roof of Noriyuki's box and removing the kunai. He also heard a voice whispering behind him, "There is a message attached to it, Tomoe Ame Sama."

Some moments after that Tomoe Ame's own voice came from behind him and the other warriors surrounding her. "Miyamoto Usagi san, I am in need of your presence 'now.'"

The Ronin's eyes widened at her tone of voice and words, but he turned and made his way back through the other Samurai who moved out of the way for him. Tomoe was glaring at him when he met her gaze. What frightened him more, was there seemed to be a veil drawn behind her eyes hiding any sparkle that might have once been in them. He froze just before her. "I have come, Tomoe Ame Sama."

She held out a tiny scroll of paper to him. A lantern hung above them shedding enough light for him to see it clearly. The commanding officer's voice was chill. "Care to explain this, to me, Miyamoto Usagi San?"

He took the slip of paper and unrolled it beneath the lantern's glow. Words in black, precise script leapt out at him. "Send the Ronin, Miyamoto Usagi into the forest before the moon rises over it. We would make a deal with him."

Usagi stared at the scroll long before holding it back out to Tomoe Ame. "I do not know why they wish to bargain with me alone in the forest, Tomoe Ame Sama."

"I can tell you why," Gen shouted from the other side of the lines of Samurai between them. "You have a price on your head, Usagi! They want to take you alone among the trees! Getting a bounty for themselves while leaving 'us' with two less swords and one less sword-master to wield them would be a boon for them!"

Tomoe had glanced in the direction of Gen's voice. When she looked back at Usagi, the veil behind her eyes fell away to reveal concern. Usagi swallowed. If he went out into the forest, it could be as his friend said, but there 'might' be another reason they asked to meet with him alone. Even if it was not so, he might also lessen the numbers of their adversaries somewhat for the others in any 'private' attack upon himself. If he stayed and there was massacre here tonight … Or if a choice arose between defending Tomoe or Noriyuki … In the forest, there might not be such choice, just taking as many Komori out with him as possible for them both.

Tomoe's own face had all its emotion washed from it in one moment as he and the Samurai around her watched. "I do not wish to lose two swords and one of the best wielders of them from our defenses. It would be quite a blow to our lord's protection."

The Ronin tilted his head as he watched her. "True … Tomoe Ame."

Another Kunai flew over their heads and stuck in the roof. Tomoe Ame glared up at it. A servant, neither Samurai, nor Yojimbo, climbed up and took it out before landing on the ground and looking to the commander. "This one also has a message attached to it, Tomoe Ame Sama."

She unwrapped and read the tiny scroll before holding it out toward Usagi. He took it and read the message silently. "If we wished to kill the Ronin the Kunai would have landed in his forehead first. The next will land in the bounty-hunter's head unless the Ronin meets with us in the forest alone and out of earshot of the rest of Noriyuki's guard."

Usagi's eyes widened. He glanced over his shoulder toward Gen. He had seen his friend fend off projectiles aimed at him with his own two swords before.

The Ronin looked back to the message and then met Tomoe's gaze. He looked next up toward the roof of Noriyuki's box. He leapt onto it. Tomoe's angry voice followed him. "Usagi!"

He stood and looked toward the forest. One … two … three … Nothing. His mouth twisted in thought. He turned his back to the forest and began to walk along the top of the roof of the box. Tomoe's angry voice came up to him again. "Usagi!" He came to the far edge of the box and waited, back still to the forest. Nothing.

Usagi turned and ran. He didn't pick up much momentum, but it was enough. He leapt off the opposite edge of the roof, flew over the heads of most of the Samurai including Tomoe, and landed on his friend's shoulders, driving Gen to his knees. The rhino let out a "huff." Then the Ronin leapt off his friend's form and dashed into the trees.

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes