I do not own Murakami Gennesuke, Tomoe Ame, Miyamoto Usagi, Lord Noriyuki, Chizu, or the ninja clans. Please enjoy anyway.

Genn rode warily at the side of a grim-faced Tomoe Ame. He thought traveling with Usagi shortly after he was parted from her was uncomfortable. That was nothing compared to riding with this Onna-bugeisha right after she was separated from her damiyo.

A near cyclone appeared over a group of trees on the horizon before them. The rhino sniffed the air and dared to speak up. "Ummm … Tomoe Ame Sama, we are approaching a storm." He sniffed again. "It smells like snow is falling there … a lot of snow."

The Neko's eyes narrowed further. Her teeth and fingers clenched harder. "We will ride till we freeze or our swords drink the blood of any who try to get between us and the Lord of the Geisha Clan, or the swordsmaster who 'asked' the Komori to kidnap himself and my lord!"

. . .

Usagi snapped upright. His heart thrummed like a plucked bowstring. His eyes were wide and voice breathless. "She is going to kill me ... slowly."

Lord Noriyuki sat up beside him missing the Samurai's warmth at his back. The cub stretched out his arms as far as they could go in the cramped den and yawned. Then he blinked over at his frightened hero. "Who is, Usagi san?"

The young Samurai glanced at the even younger Damiyo. He crossed his legs before himself, bowed his head, and shook the same while sounding contrite. "Nothing, Lord Noriyuki. It was just a nightmare …" Or possibly a good dream if you are you, and not me, young lord. His lips twitched upward a bit.

The cub grinned at him. "Don't worry, Usagi. I will explain everything to Tomoe Ame, when she rescues us." The rabbit turned a true small smile upon him.

A dark laugh came through the entrance of their den. They both turned their heads to face the sound. They saw only the feet of the guard addressing them. "You think your retainer will make it through the snowstorm to you, when we cannot, little Damiyo?"

The panda cub sat up as straight as he could beneath the low roof. "Tomoe Ame and Miyamoto Usagi can do anything!"

The dark laugh echoed again. "Then why is the latter a Ronin?"

Noriyuki melted a bit. Usagi turned to look at the cub. "Courage, Lord Noriyuki, I may not be able to do everything ..." He looked back toward their guard outside and glared letting his voice grow stronger as he did so. "But I promise to do everything I can."

. . .

Tomoe Ame led the way into the snow-covered woods at first. No fresh flakes fell from the sky, but branches hung low, drifts rose high, and the silence of so much snow in their surroundings made their every movement loud. With the forest growth so dense they were forced to leave their steeds behind.

The most trusted Samurai under Tomoe Ame dared suggest Gennesuke lead instead soon after they started their journey through the forest on foot. The old hound pointed out the bounty-hunter's size, nose, and knowledge of how to track through trees would make him most helpful taking point. Tomoe Ame reluctantly agreed. Then she nearly stepped on the rhino's heels, her teeth clenched, but not from the cold. Her eyes were narrowed, but not from the brightness of the snow. Gennesuke did not dare tell her both were making it nearly impossible for him to smell out even as large a group of Komori ninja such as they sought and as constant a traveling companion of his as Miyamoto Usagi. However, he did plow a nice trench through snow and undergrowth alike. His chill, wet, shivering frame was cheered at the thought of the large payment he'd been promised for doing this.

Suddenly, he stopped and sniffed. Tomoe Ame hissed up at his swiveling ear behind him. "Komori?"

He shook his head and drew his blades. He answered through a clenched jaw of his own. "Necko … ninja." The Samurai turned to stand back to back. They looked up and around. Sure enough, they were surrounded by necko wearing white. Most were standing in the trees, and many had notched arrows pointed at the Samurai and Bounty Hunter.

Tears of frustration wet Tomoe's eyes. She whispered to herself, "I am sorry, my lord. I wish I could have died protecting you instead of so far from your side."

One of the figures in the trees, who did not hold a bow, narrowed its eyes at her. A husky, yet feminine hiss slipped through its white mask. "They have not the prize. Samurai, where is your Daimyo, Lord of the Geisha Clan?"

Tomoe Ame shouted back. "We will never tell you, ninja scum!"

"Ah. Did the Mogura ninja take him from you?"

Tomoe Ame clenched her teeth, but a gleam of confidence shone in her narrowed eyes back at the other necko. One of the eyes staring at her widened in return. "Komori?"

Tomoe's eyes narrowed further. Her teeth clenched harder. The necko leader in the tree raised her chin. "Mmmmm … I know where those flying cowards hide during the day. Are you still interested in dying by your lord's side?"

Tomoe Ame shouted back. "Hah! And why would we trust one such as yourself, ninja scum?"

"Because, otherwise, you will die here." At this, the ninja aiming arrows at the group of Samurai drew the strings of their bows back even further.

Tomoe Ame grit her teeth again. Puffs of visible breath snorted out of her nostrils into the chill air. Gennesuke ears perked up beside her. "Ummmm, what exactly did you have in mind?"

Tomoe turned her head slightly to glance at him. "Murakami Gennesuke!"

"Always hear the offer out, Samurai."

The necko leader replied, "I am not interested in attacking a group of Komori ninja in their own stronghold after they've rested there for days, and are protecting a great prize within. But you seem very interested in doing just that, Samurai."

Tomoe lowered her katana slightly while staring up at the ninja. "You truly know where they are hiding Lord Noriyuki?"

"As much as a pain as you are to all of us hunting your lord, Tomoe Ame Sama, there is yet no reward for capturing and turning you over to anyone. Though taking your head could be both quite a feat and honor, capturing your 'lord' is what we set out to do. I have no wish to lose to another clan. You have just expressed sorrow at the possibility of not dying by your lord's side. If we take you to him, you and your Samurai can strike down our common foes to reach him, we can have the honor of then defeating you after you have tired yourselves walking through all this snow and doing so and getting your lord to the one who challenged all ninja clans to do so beating the rest, and 'you' may have the honor of dying at your lord's side just as you wish."

The rhino mumbled at said Samurai's side. "Not a very good offer ..."

Tomoe Ame, however, had fully lowered her sword. "But perhaps the best that we are likely to get. Now I know how Miyomoto Usagi felt speaking to the Komori." The Samurai took a small step forward sheathing her blade and looking up at the necko in white staring down at her. The Samurai neither bowed nor nodded to the other necko, but her voice and gaze did not waver as she met the kunoichi's gaze. "We accept."

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes