A/N: Here's chapter 3. This is more of a lull in the story where Toshiki reflects upon the things that have happened. Don't worry, there's more to come.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

Chapter 3 - Like a Moth to the Flame

Morning light fell through the open window and danced upon Toshiki's face. She found herself safely tucked into her futon, dressed in clean white robes, a cup of warm tea beside her. Her mind was a blur as to the happenings of the previous night. Had it all been a dream? Her heart demanded she not deny it. Flashes of violence and carnage raced through her thoughts, a man with a glinting silver sword, a river of blood, the swordsman.it had all been real. The stranger was without a doubt, not only a skilled swordsman, but a hitokiri, a man who slayed other men for money or pleasure. How could I have been so blind? She wept. How could I have been so foolish?

She cursed under her breath at the mistake she had made in her assumptions about that man. Although it was her fault for sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night after a manslayer, and for putting herself in such danger, no matter how much she tried to deny it, she could not bring herself to forget his awing presence: the glow of his eyes and the soul fact that he protected her from the blade of the shadowy attacker. He could have easily done away with her for being a witness, however, because he had not done so, she felt relieved. She wiped the tears of terror from her eyes and embraced her original assumptions. Every swordsman, whether good or bad, contains a heart within. I will stop at nothing until I reach his.

It was now mid-morning. Toshiki rose and dressed in her uniform to meet with her master, Kaurousuke. A dark-green kimono and brown hakama were the trademark garments of the Matsukaze Kenbu swordsmanship style and had been for the past three generations. Master Kaurousuke had been among the Mastu clan for twenty years and chose Toshiki to be his successor, for he never married and had no children of his own. Toshiki had always respected him for his kindness and faith in her abilities.

Toshiki smiled as she looked upon herself in the mirror. The uniform reminded her of the mysterious swordsman wandering about the mansion. She imitated his amazing sword-drawing skills, pretending to hold a long katana to her side then drawing it quickly out into the air. She wondered how it was accomplished, what style he knew and where he learned it. Most of all she wished to know his name. So many questions flooded her mind that she would have to see him again and ask him, yet, considering his coldness; she feared he would not enjoy her company again. It was said that swordsman of his occupation were more inclined to do harm at night than during the day. Toshiki decided to see him later on, so as not to evoke his wrath. She would practice her own swordsmanship before confronting the ronin again.

Toshiki left her room and walked down the steps, heading for the Dojo on the other side of the mansion. Caution had to be a key if she were to avoid the looming shadow of the red-haired swordsman. He could be lurking in the shade somewhere, like a tiger in the brush, aiming to attack unsuspecting prey. Carefully, she glanced around each corner, hoping not to see his tall straight back adorned in sleek wisps of red hair. At last she reached the Dojo, safely out of harms way, with no sign of the swordsman anywhere. After straightening a few frayed strands of her black locks, she breathed softly and entered.

Master Kaurousuke was sitting upon the raised platform at the back of the Dojo, quietly polishing his gleaming sword. Rarely had Toshiki seen the great blade her master owned and rarely did she ever see him use it. Master Kaurousuke only used cloth-covered short swords within the Dojo She straightened her back, removed her sandals, and stepped inside. Toshiki approached the platform and bowed to her master.

"You are early, little hana. I was not expecting you to come until this afternoon." Kaurousuke stated, calmly returning the gleaming sword to its sheath.

"I apologize, Master. I did not mean to intrude. Would you please grant your apprentice an early lesson?" Toshiki requested courteously.

"Of course," Kaurousuke smiled, rising to his feet and walking over to the sword rack hanging upon the far wall. "Hurry now and retrieve the nagata."

Toshiki bowed once more and rushed to the opposite wall. Placed regally upon its own rack was the long handled nagata blade, an extended spear-like weapon used mainly by female warriors. It was large and heavy as she held it in her grasp but the training she received from her master had conditioned her body to harness its might. Poised at one end of the Dojo she waited for her master's signal to start. Kaurousuke, holding a short sword, turned to face her. They bowed simultaneously and took their positions. Toshiki stood tall holding the staff outward with the cloth- wrapped blade pointed straight at her target. She kept her eyes on the wakizashi her master held at ready. In a flash he leapt across the smooth wooden floor and aimed his sword at her side. Toshiki blocked it with a simple turn of the handle and swung the nagata downward. Kaurousuke saw the blade coming for his head, dodged it, swirled around and caught her around the neck from behind.

"You left yourself open," he scolded. "We will start again."

Toshiki sighed as he released her and went back to his original position. If she was going to confront the strange swordsman she had to learn to put up more of a defense. It started again just as quickly as before only this time Toshiki held the staff out horizontally.

"A wise choice. You have widened your defense and blocked your opponent from making any moves to the left or right. However, you are unguarded in the front. Lower your hands a little more so that you will not be attacked through your chest or abdomen. Use the staff as a shield."

Toshiki did as she was told and immediately he came toward her, drawing the wakizashi from its sheath and striking the staff. Toshiki felt the blow resonate through her arms, piercing through her shoulders and back. She held her ground and swung the staff over in a great arch, forcing him into the ground in one swift movement.

Kaurousuke had blocked the full force of it with his wakizashi but was inches away from the foot-long nagata. He smiled at her and said, "Much better. Now you have a slight advantage. If I move, the weight of the blade will strike me down, and even if I escaped you are too far away for me to strike quickly, however." Kaurousuke knocked the staff aside with his foot and escaped the grasp of the blade. Toshiki nearly lost her balance finding that she accidentally was holding the staff very far from the center. There was too much length to maneuver it efficiently. Again her master had her by the throat, only this time from the front. "You are improving, child, but you still have much to learn."

Half an hour passed and by this time Toshiki was out of breath and exhausted but she insisted to go on, wishing to practice even more and build up her strength. If I cannot even faze my master, how will I be able to stand up to that swordsman if he decides to turn on me? I have to keep going. Otherwise, I will never be able to face him again.

Toshiki yelled out a power-building shout as she swung her staff widely to the left to catch Kaurousuke in the back and send him flying. He saw it coming and retaliated, leaping over the swinging rod and landing a strike on her shoulder. The wakizashi was wrapped but the power of his strike sent pain shooting down her side. She collapsed and the great nagata fell.

Kaurousuke knelt beside her and said, "Are you sure you wish to keep going? Your father will not be pleased if he found out you pushed yourself too hard."

"I do not care what he thinks. I am not afraid!" Toshiki grasped the nagata and stood tall, determined to keep fighting.

"I did not say you were, Miss Toshiki. Your endurance and strength has improved since your last lesson. Its almost as if there is a fighting spirit behind you, something pushing you to go on. Has something come into the light that still remains hidden?"

"Now you are giving me riddles. I'm sorry, but I cannot answer that. My mind is still plagued with the one Yamagata-sensei gave me."

"In that case I will not ask. That is all I will teach you today. Go and bathe in the hot springs. You look terrible."

"Master, you need not be so rude."

"Perhaps I have begun to view you more as a man than a woman, the way you fight your battles and stand up to challenges not befitting a lady."

"It is how I was taught," Toshiki smiled.

"So, you're saying you've favored my sword skills over Yamagata's poetry? You really are more like a man than I expected."

"If you feel that way, then I will ask you this," Toshiki spoke softly at her master's side. "Tell me, Master, who is the strange swordsman that has come to the mansion?"

Kaurousuke frowned and growled, "You mean the one whose fight you witnessed last night?"

Toshiki's heart quickened. How does he know this? No one else was awake when it happened!

After a moment of silence the teacher continued, "I know nothing of this man, and neither should you. Leave the matter alone. He is merely a hired guard for the estate. Do not interfere with his affairs. It is too dangerous and if your father discovered your awareness of him, I'm sure he would not be pleased."

Flustered, Toshiki bowed to Kaurousuke and left the Dojo, placing the great staff back into its sill. Sighing, she walked into the garden and stood before the Koi pond, staring at the golden fishes. Master is wrong. If he will not tell me, then I will have to find my own answers. Though that ronin is dangerous I can't help but feel drawn to him somehow, like a moth to a flame, seeking to touch the fire of destiny that may hold the key to my future, or my demise. Either way, I must see him again; at least to really know what is happening beyond these stonewalls that hold me prisoner.

With renewed determination, Toshiki turned from the diamond reflections and golden watery creatures and retired into the house.