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 in pieces. 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. All of this should also communicate I don't own any of these characters, save maybe the villagers shown here and don't expect to make any money from this. Please enjoy anyway.

Usagi stared down at the Mogura Ninja staring back up at the point of his sword. The Ronin stared back at him. "Return to your people and tell them how your fellow ninja were killed here, and the one most greatly harmed among us was the prize you sought alive and well."

Usagi stepped back. The Mogura turned and was digging through the wall to disappear just as the shouts of Usagi's fellow Samurai, and one Bounty Hunter, filled the air.

"Usagi how could you 'do' that? He was responsible for Lord Noriyuki getting hurt!"

Usagi answered Tomoe Ame's question while he cleaned and sheathed "Willow Branch," and "Young Willow." "Their plan failed Tomoe. I want the rest of their clan to know that. If none returned to the rest of their clan, members of their clan might simply set another trap in ignorance. If we face the Neko first, we might not be so strong 'then' as we are now. This gives them a chance to reconsider."

Gen responded with, "Or they can set up a trap 'not' in ignorance or 'overprepare' next time."

Usagi sighed. "You may be right, Gennesuke. Either way, we must help Lord Noriyuki now."

Tomoe looked away from Usagi with eyes simmering with anger and to Gennesuke. "What think you, Bounty Hunter? Should we attempt to save the box itself or leave it here?"

Usagi's eyebrows rose, but if she had wanted different counsel from his own earlier, she did not get it. "Leave it here! It's already bumped his head, Usagi just let that Mogura go to try again, and I know as the tallest and biggest here who's going to help everyone else up out of this mess!"

Gen was right. First Tomoe handed her little lord to another Samurai in Noriyuki's guard. Then Gen helped her up. After that, Usagi, then another Samurai long on Noriyuki's guard (an older dog who seemed gentle and caring) and finally lord Noriyuki himself was raised into the hands of two of his most devoted Samurai while Usagi kept watch over them all. He did not miss this meant if the Mogura he let go or any others attacked now, he'd be the first to meet that attack. In his own mind, though, he did not regret his actions, yet.

The heat of battle was pouring out of him. The bodies of the dead that had surrounded him down there, and now, up here, had begun to load his spirits down particularly after just 'talking' to one of them. The talks with neither the Komori Clan leader nor the Mogura Ninja had changed his overall opinion of ninja, in 'his' world at least. But they had made them more … personable to him. Dark, devoted to lord Noriyuki's destruction, they were but not without a code of conduct they held themselves to, such as it was.

Getting out of the original pit turned out to be the hardest thing to do and once again, Gen's shoulders turned out to be of great help. Finally, all their feet were off dirt and on blades and leaves, but still Lord Noriyuki did not wake up, though he breathed. A healer they had in their group tended to him, but mostly with strong scents and wet clothes.

Usagi recalled how unsatisfied Leonardo's younger brother in purple had been when only these ministrations had been given to 'his' leader, his family, and Usagi found himself understanding him then. The Ronin glanced in the direction they had been headed before the ambush. "We should see if there is at least a place to purchase more healing supplies in the village ahead."

The healer-Samurai spoke next to his patient and lord. "I would not mind a second opinion on my patient either."

Usagi looked in the direction of the village. Then he looked back to Tomoe Ame sitting next to her lord, staring down at his mostly still form and closed eyes trying to keep her face stoic. He sighed. "We should go to the village, Gen. See if there is a healer is there and bring him back, so Lord Noriyuki does not have to be moved any further until he is better."

Gen looked in the same direction and sighed. "Why not? It will give me a chance to relax my shoulders."

. . .

The village came into sight. Usagi swiveled his ears to focus in on the sounds of the place. He stopped walking. "Gen?"

"Hmmm?"

"Does … anything seem to be missing to you?"

Gen stopped sniffed, swiveled his ears forward to listen. "Not a lot of chatter."

"Footsteps, some creaking of wheels, talking …"

"But everything's rather … hushed … Perhaps they are missing an important personage who has died recently today?"

Usagi sighed thinking about Lord Noriyuki. "Perhaps …"

. . .

They entered the village. It seemed normal enough, pigs, goats, dogs, a few Nekos stood about. The latter would have made them more nervous had they not seemed so ordinary: an older woman with wrinkles and a stand selling rice balls, a man mending his roof, a child spinning a top all in rags and with that thin, lanky look of peasant farmers and artisans. A pig sat next to his own stand of vegetables. A goat stood next to some metal words. A dog sold pottery. Usagi approached the hound's booth. "Is there a healer in town?"

The dog nodded and finally a loud voice filled the strange silence. Indeed, the words of his reply ran together. "Oh yes! Yes, yes, yes …" He nodded so fast the movement almost became a blur to Usagi's eyes. The rabbit watched a moment and then glanced up at Gen. The dog continued pointing to a certain house. "Right over there! Right over there! He's a good one too from a city. Got tired. Wanted to retire. Wanted less patients! Came here! Still very good though! Old, but good still …"

"Thank you! Thank you very much for the information. We appreciate it." Usagi looked up at his companion. "Gen do you want to buy anything to thank our new friend?"

"Not. On. Your. Life."

Usagi opened his mouth to chide his friend. Of course, they were in no need of pottery, and on a journey currently, but the information was needed, and … The dog potter began speaking behind him even faster and louder than before. "No, no, no! NO purchase necessary! Just be going on, fine sirs! Go see the good doctor! Go on now!"

Usagi glanced over his shoulder and felt a shove from behind from the dog's paws. He relaxed his body and let himself be propelled a few steps on his way before glancing back and then moving on. "Gen?"

The rhino strode at his side. "Let's go find that healer."

They got to the house and knocked. A goat, old and withered, but still with keen … very keen … and wide-awake eyes, opened the door to stare out at them. Usagi bowed to him, "Hello healer, I am Usagi and this is my friend Gen. We are in need of a good healer to look at a friend of ours we left some ways behind us on a sudden journey. Would you be so willing?"

Gen decided to contribute something. "You'll be paid well."

"Oh, well …" The goat seemed to be trembling. "I … I see … well … I … I don't walk so well as in my younger days …"

Usagi and Gen gave each other a glance and then both looked back to the goat. Gen repeated himself. "Paid. Well."

"Yes, yes, yes," the goat tapped his hard-ended fingertips together a moment staring straight ahead seemingly Gen's lower chest and Usagi's chin areas. "Umm … alright … let me get my … things. What do you think might be needed?"

Gen spoke again, "Just get a little bit of everything would probably be good."

Usagi spoke up, "Concentrate on things to treat cuts, bruises, strains, and … unconsciousness."

"Oh, alright then."

The goat turned and banged the door closed behind him. The two travelers stared at the wood's grain a moment and heard rustling, scrambling, things falling, cursing, more scrambling. Then there was a pause. The door flew open, so they had to jump back. Then the goat came out with a sagging bag. "I believe I am ready now. Let us go, go, go, go …" The goat seemed to stare past them. His face went tight as a drumskin. "Erk!"

Usagi and Gen spun around. They froze. There, filling the street behind them, were rows and rows of Nekos in dark clothing including masks. One who stood a little before the others growled, "Hello, Miyamoto Usagi and Murakami Gennesuke."

Usagi stared. Then he sniffed. Over the overpowering smells of herbs and oils from the doctor's office and his and Gen's own scents from their travels, and those of the village, he really didn't …

"Oh, please Ronin …" The Neko Ninja leader, he assumed, grumbled. "Do you really think for a mission such as this we have not 'bathed'?"

Gen spoke up from beside him, "I can't tell."

Usagi looked up to give Gennesuke a glare for that remark and then looked back to their adversaries muttering. "No need to make things worse, Gennesuke."

"Why not?"

The cat cut in again. "As I was saying … We are on a rather important mission, and I think you both might be able to help us with it."

Usagi stared straight ahead and said nothing. Gent huffed. The doctor/goat leaned back and rested his shoulder-blades on his front door. The Necko ninja continued. "Now … I have heard, you, Usagi, have escorted the Lord Noriyuki whose lands these are, before. And you and Gennesuke have both visited him since. I also believe he is headed this way."

Gen exploded. "That's an awful lot of 'belief' ninja, where's your proof?" Usagi "almost" shot him a glance. He kept his scowling eyes on the Neko Ninja instead.

The big cat replied, "Oh, I hope to get it. For one thing, a fire in the night should burn brightly here and with wounded in whatever group you left, I'm almost certain there will be one tonight."

Usagi hoped the look of concern, he didn't think he managed to quite conceal, could be interpreted as that for any fellow travelers. The cat continued. "Or, I could just see if we can track your footprints back to it. But that might ruin the element of surprise. I had rather hoped Lord Noriyuki himself would have his entourage bring him right in to the midst of these buildings we filled in expectation of greeting him."

Now Gennesuke spat at their adversaries. Usagi glanced up to give him a look and then turned it back upon the ninja. "Since any element of surprise for any fellow travelers of 'ours,' at least, should be gone when we do not return and … they might in turn warn Lord Noriyuki. Don't you think it in your best interest to not endanger your clan here with a less than surprise attack from great swords-masters like we often travel with?"

"Don't make me laugh, Ronin. If Neko Ninja gave up that easily we would not be the most feared Ninja Clan in all the land."

Usagi gave the cat slow grin "Oh, I don't know … the Komori Clan is pretty feared too."

Not only the speaker, but the whole of the small army behind him, glared at the rabbit Ronin. Gen paused to look down at his companion. "And you had problems with 'my' words for them?"

What do you think will happen now?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes