Ever since being transformed into an international sea port, Hakodate was a huge hub of trade for the local people and the nation. Whenever Yasagi made the long trip to the city he looked forward to seeing the young men sporting the strange looking western suits and the women getting in line to get their picture taken with something called a "camera". A new life was injected into the city, and there was something new and fresh to see. The huge sails of the ships from England, the Netherlands, America, and other exotic sounding places filled the harbor and the surrounding horizon. Yasagi walked through the streets and eventually found the place he was looking for: an old antique shop owned by Benjiro Motoyama.

"He should be in this time of day…" thought Yasagi as he tied his horse to a nearby post and took a sack with him inside.

Benjiro was sitting behind the counter, reading through a newspaper with a deeply furrowed brow. The antique store was dusty and had the musty smell indicative of lots of ancient books and treasures. Looking up from his newspaper, Benjiro's face lit up as he saw his old friend.

"Welcome Yasagi, it's been such a long time!"

"Hello Benjiro, I thought I'd drop in since I was going to be in the city today. I've got some stuff I thought you might like to look at…" said Yasagi as he hefted the sack and presented a plethora of different antiques, including old art scrolls and books.

"Well, I can buy some of this. You know, the westerners love to drop into my store and buy this stuff. They think it's exotic. One man's junk is another man's treasure I always say."

"Well I have to say we Japanese are guilty of it too. Have you been by the city square today? Do you know how much the western clothes sell for?"

"You don't have to tell me Yasagi, I wish I could get in on that trade but the westerners have it locked up nice and tight. I've got some tea going so since you've come all this way why don't we play some Go?"

"I'd love to Benjiro."

Putting his newly acquired items away, Benjiro went over to the small stove in the corner and poured some boiling water into some cups while Yasagi sat in front of a large go board.

"Here you go, I know it's not much but…"

"Its fine Benjiro, you have an eye for antiques and you have a good taste for tea."

The old man chuckled and picked up a go ke full of white stones and placed it on the side of the board. Yasagi enjoyed playing Benjiro because he was as experienced in Go as he was experienced in antiques. Yasagi often pondered whether in a past life Benjiro had been one of the original go masters. It wasn't out of the question, but the old man didn't have the personality of a monk.

The game had started off in a very peaceful manner, with the moyos clearly defined and expansive. Benjiro was a very solid player and usually overtook his opponents by starting do or die fights within his opponent's framework. As the two men played Yasagi's mind tended to wander away from the game and think back to the previous day. The dream he had the night before still continued to haunt him in his waking hours. It was hard for him not to pull up the nightmarish visions in his mind. Even when he tried to push them back, they would force their way to the forefront of his consciousness, torturing him.

"And how is that wife of yours, Kimiko wasn't it?"

Yasagi snapped back into reality a second and simply smiled. "She is doing very well. We finally moved out into the countryside. I was able to get some land so that I could farm, and she spends a lot of her time making things."

"Oh really, so some of the stuff you brought me is hers?"

"Some of it, some of it she had been saving. She said her grandfather painted those scrolls in his spare time. I think they were samurai from what she told me."

"It's a shame she'd sell her possessions, what does she keep to remind her of her grandparents?"

"She says her grandfather is not a man she'd soon forget," replied Yasagi with a characteristic wide grin.

"Well that's good, it is important to keep your family close to your heart. I'm sure her grandfather would want her to make the best use of his legacy anyways. It's a shame though; the samurai have fallen on hard times since the revolution."

"Speaking of which how has Sakai-san been since I last came?" replied Yasagi, his face downcast.

"I can't really say for sure since he stopped coming to the shop. He probably sold the last of his possessions, but he stays holed up in bars all day…"

"I see. That's a shame then. Sakai's family were friends of mine if my recollection serves me correctly, so I feel I should at least see how he's doing."

"Of course, of course. I wouldn't get too involved though, Yasagi. He couldn't adapt to the Meiji era where you seem to be doing quite well. I've found in life it's best to surround yourself with like minded people."

Yasagi didn't reply but instead continued the game. Sakai Ishida was a tender subject as far as he was concerned since he was one of the few people he remembered having close connections with his family. Sakai was a little older than Yasagi and was also a member of a former samurai family. After the Meiji era had begun and the samurai stopped getting stipends from the government, Sakai's family fell on very hard times. He wouldn't talk about it with Yasagi too much in detail because of his pride, but they both knew that Sakai had to be in pretty dire straights to sell off his priceless family possessions. Thinking back to several months earlier…

Yasagi was seated near the window in a restaurant overlooking the twinkling ocean. Benjiro was able to contact Sakai for him and both men wanted to sit down and have a much needed chat. Sakai soon appeared, sitting himself down and starting off chat in a boisterous and cheerful manner. He was clad in a European trench coat with a big brown derby hat. He looked like he had just walked off the cover of a western magazine. Despite the vestments, Yasagi remembered the man from childhood, and recollected how shy and reserved he once was.

"So how is business going these days Sakai? Have you found yourself a job?"

"Oh I've got a few things lined up. In fact after I leave here I was going to talk to the manager of a trade shop. He needs someone to manage the docks and organize the laborers. It looked like a good enough job, and I know someone on the inside who can help me out."

"That's great, really."

"Why don't you and Kimiko move into the city Yasagi? Don't tell me you like the life of a farmer. There's ten times more going on here than there ever will be where you're living."

"Well I did think about it but Kimiko said that visiting cities are far more fun than actually living in them. Plus I find farming rewarding in a way, you know, working with my hands."

"Times have changed Yasagi, you know that. The game has changed and we're playing by brand new rules. I just want you to be on the same team as everyone else and realize that now the money has changed hands. It's not like when you and I were kids."

"I think that much is obvious. Well I'll think about it but I'm pretty sure my mind has been made up. I'm glad to see you're doing well despite the changes."

Sakai rubbed the top of his cup with his fingers, his happy visage melting into obscurity. He looked out the window towards the ocean, looking at the bustling city. Yasagi was always sensitive to people's changes in mood, and immediately took note when his friends mask was taken off for a moment.

"Well I'd love to chat some more but it's getting close to my appointment and I have to run. We'll do this again sometime Yasagi, it's good to meet people from old times," Sakai said, his face returning to its original state of capriciousness.

Yasagi nodded and watched as his friend left. After a few minutes, Yasagi decided to be a bit sneaky and see if couldn't follow Sakai to see where he was going. There really was no blatant reason, just a suspicious feeling that Yasagi got in the pit of his stomach. Exiting the restaurant, Yasagi stayed far behind his friend and concealed himself within the crowd. It wasn't too hard to remain unnoticed as he followed Sakai down to the harbor.

"I guess he did find a job here, maybe I'll get to see who is in charge. Maybe I can start work here as well…" thought Yasagi. Sakai did not walk towards the manager's office however, but disappeared into a dark alley nearby.

"Where is he going?" thought Yasagi as he crept between crates and boxes, trying to remain concealed but close enough to where he could see his friend clearly. Sakai was soon flanked by several large, menacing looking men wearing dark colored kimonos.

"Who are these people? They look like thugs…"

Sakai made several sweeping gestures with his arms and laughed nervously as the men surrounding him seemed to become more and more unamused. The two larger men held Sakai by his arms while the other man began punching him in the stomach repeatedly. Yasagi couldn't stand the sight of his friend being beaten, and immediately bolted from his hiding place and knocked over one of the thugs. Picking up a nearby metal pipe, Yasagi used his kendo training to quickly dispatch of the thugs, leaving only the leader who was frozen stiff from fear.

"Who…who the hell are you! You've got no business interferin' with us. This bastard owes us money and wouldn't pay up."

"Leave…now," replied Yasagi in a deadly tone of voice, raising the pipe.

The thugs screamed and ran away down an alley. Sakai was on the ground, his hat crushed in and his face bloody. Yasagi held out a hand to help his friend up, but he was slapped away.

"Why did you follow me!" angrily snapped Sakai as he got to his feet.

"I…just…"

"Don't do it again. Mind your own goddamned business for once…" said Sakai seething as he walked away as fast as he could. Yasagi just stood there, motionless for a moment, confused about what had just happened.

"Looks like you've got me Yasagi…" replied Benjiro as he studied the board and counted up points.

"I just lucked out in the corner, that's all. I felt I was behind the entire game," replied Yasagi, looking thoughtfully at the game.

"I think so, but as usual you get me in Yose. Want to play another?"

"No Benjiro I really have to get going. I should get back on the trail so I won't leave Kimiko at home alone for the night. She doesn't like it."

"You take good care of her. She's a good woman and she'll take good care of you."

Yasagi simply smiled as he exited. Finding his horse, Yasagi mounted himself and began to leave out the city. While passing through the entertainment district, Yasagi caught sight of what he thought was Sakai sprawled out on the counter of a pub. Getting off his horse and taking a better look, Yasagi confirmed it. His childhood friend was now barely awake, leaned over on a bar stool with a jar of sake in his hands. Yasagi simply looked away and got back on his horse. He just didn't want to see his friend like that.

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