I do not own anything. Please do not sue me, because I make no money from this.

"You want an excuse to take Lord Noriyuki despite my offer to you!"

Usagi yelled this. He glared at the Komori leader. Kurokaze looked back with a straight face and calm stance. "Samurai, you know not the accolades my clan would receive if we take not only the Lord Noriyuki alive to the one who promises great rewards to the clan who does so, but also the heads of Tomoe Ame as well as yours. Even the Bounty Hunter has bounties on him."

Usagi's scar rose. The Komori Clan's kashira continued. "The only thing your own generous offer comes with, to compete with such rewards as these, is the lack of blood and lose of warriors upon our part, when our enemies have lost many while fighting all of you and gained nothing. Yet, those risks are what all ninja should know could be their fate, or their clan's fate. Be grateful we entertain your offer at all Samurai."

Usagi grit his teeth. He stared at them a moment more then spat out. "So, you will not even entertain following through on our original bargain if I do not first return and explain it to those I left behind in order to speak with you here 'alone?'"

"You refused the counter-offer, we requested this meeting to share with you out of earshot of the others, so yes. This is our new offer all of it. You should be grateful we give it to you, Yojimbo."

Usagi began to shake slightly. He closed his eyes. He still held out his sword. He sheathed it with his eyes still closed. "I accept it then, and shall attempt to return to you for our agreement's completion with all speed I may."

"We require the moon still be high up and hours of darkness for us to fly in remain many after the bargain is made complete. If you linger so long this becomes unsure, we will attack Lord Noriyuki's entourage assuming you mean the bargain to remain incomplete."

Usagi opened his eyes to glare back at them, but nodded his ascent. "Understood."

He turned and strode back to Lord Noriyuki's entourage seeing a staring Tomoe Ame and Gennesuke there to greet him. The unblinking Samurai spoke first. "What offer have you made them you think they wish to ignore to take my damiyo from me anyway, Usagi san?"

Usagi sighed. He turned his face down and away from hers with closed eyes. "I … I think they serve lord Hekiji as well as lord Hebi, that it will be both of them they go to with any 'prize' …"

Genn snorted before saying in gruff tones "As do we all. What else is going on, Yojimbo?"

Usagi opened his eyes but did not look up nor turn his face to theirs as he answered. "I offered them something else I thought Hekiji would pay, or at least honor them greatly for delivering to him to leave the rest of Noriyuki's caravan alone until he reaches his city safe."

Tomoe Ame glared at him. Genn straightened as his ears stood on end. The Neko's voice was tight as she pried. "And what would that 'something else' be, Yojimbo?"

Usagi finally lifted his head, yet his eyes remained downcast. "My head."

Tomoe's teeth grit and eyes widened as she jerked back. Genn, however, after straightening and going blank-faced, slouched and scowled again. "Usagi …"

He scowled back at them both. "It is all else they will take!"

"No!" Tomoe gripped her sword holding it in front of herself. "We will fight them off together."

Usagi glared and snapped back. "There are too many Tomoe! They may take Lord Noriyuki from us if we fight and ignore this opportunity! You endanger your lord's life needlessly!"

Noriyuki's own voice came from behind a wall of wide-eyed, but silent guards. "No! I won't let you Usagi! I'll order my Samurai to attack them instead!"

Usagi raised both his arms and voice. "You are all being fools!"

Tomoe spat back. "No! It is you playing the fool, Usagi! How can you think they will simply fly away with your head after taking it? They will fight us after still."

Usagi re-crossed his arms. "I made him swear quite an oath when we made the bargain earlier, and he backed out with the assurance we would weaken his enemies on our way back to the city first."

Genn began rubbing his chin. "So, they have already gained something from us then?"

Usagi shook his head at his friend. "Not enough."

Tomoe Ame continued. "They will not stop with your head. They will try to take everything they want after your swords will no longer serve us!"

Usagi reached out and put his hands on her shoulders "Tomoe, I can't face myself if I did not do what I could to keep you and your lord safe." Usagi looked over the wall of Samurai between him and Lord Noriyuki, "Nor let them fall upon these fine Samurai either, not if I can prevent it." He looked to Gennesuke "Or even let your life be spent uselessly, Gen."

The Bounty Hunter spoke again. "And what have they done, honorable one, to make you think they shall also be honorable?"

Usagi waved an empty hand as he made his answer. "How can I be sure they will not and let myself stay here, let you all bleed around me, if my sacrifice might have been enough instead?"

Tomoe Ame ceased biting her lip long enough to shake her head while spouting, "No, no!"

Usagi laid his hands on her shoulders. "Tomoe Ame, listen to me." She raised her head and opened her eyes to meet his gaze. He continued. "You know you would do this for your lord."

She opened her eyes wider and straightened. "But … he is 'my' lord."

He smiled back at her. "And … you are my friend …"

"And mine …"

Usagi looked past Tomoe Ame, who had turned to look back herself, and they both saw Lord Noriyuki. He had apparently made his way through his guards to look upon them with watering eyes. Usagi stepped past the Samurai, including Tomoe Ame, to stand right before the cub himself not letting him walk father toward the edge of his guard to meet him himself. He laid only one hand on one of the panda cub's shoulders. Then he smiled softly down into the panda cub's face. "Lord Noriyuki. You do me great honor."

"You have and plan to do 'me' much honor Usagi."

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes