I don't own samurai 7

One year later, almost harvest time

Three women sat in a circle sipping tea. It was late in the evening and all the children were fast asleep. They sat there enjoying the quiet, a rare opportunity living with dozens of young children, only the two babies added to their gathering. Haruko was drinking her tea when she noticed a movement outside her door.

"Aya, stop lurking and come in", the little girl slide the door opened, and waltzed in, smiling.

She sat down next to Haruko, but she kept fidgeting.

"Haruko- san, I ran into Oji-san (uncle, I think I spelled it right) today, he asked if there is anything we needed" Rin said.

"See if he can't get us a boiler and some new windows, put in before the winter "

Aya rolled her eyes "Why are you ordering all that stuff, Ho-Ho, can just fix everything when he comes back."

"Aya-chan, you know he doesn't come every year, and we need those things" Rin stated a-matter- of-fact tone

"Humph… if he doesn't come this year, I'll know it's all Tomo's fault and I wont forgive her" Aya's cheeks puffed in full pout. Her yellow eyes fixed on Tomo angrily.

Rin and Haruko held in their laughter. Tomo stop in mid-sip "And just what did I do to the toy-samurai?"

"You gave him nightmares!" she accused the older girl.

"What? And how do you know that "Haruko asked, the mirth in her expression, caused her to choke out the words.

"It's true, Jin told me. The last night Ho-ho was here, Jin said he heard Ho-ho moaning in his sleep. And just before he woke he said Tomo's name. So it is her fault he hasn't come back. You gave him nightmares. " She pointed her tiny finger at the red eyed girl "it's your fault! Frowning all the time, why couldn't you be nice to him?"

"I didn't do any thing to that samurai. And if your so worked up about it, you should fuss at Rin too, She the one that's a giggle factory when he was here"

Rin swatted at Tomo "Hey, it's not like that, he's nice to look at, but I'd rather have Kyouzo- dono. Now if he showed up here …." She sucked in a deep breath, her eyes take on a glassy –dreamy look.

"I doubt Kogakyo's magistrate will ever grace our doors" Haruko interrupted Rin's daydream.

Tomo's nose wrinkled up, she didn't believe that Rin knew, or had every seen someone so important. Aya started laughing at this "Tomo- chan, you are so clueless don't you know anything, Rin's the niece of the local prefect."

"His favorite niece, and that's why we're getting a new boiler." Rin said cheerfully, as she cooed one the babies back to sleep. Aya's sudden out burst had awakened the youngest. "I mean … come on Tomo you didn't think the shop earned enough to keep this place running. My uncle sponsors us from time to time; he won't stand for any of his family living poorly, even if she is a runaway."

Some where in the poorest district of Kogakyo a certain wood cutting samurai was given an offer, not even he could refuse.

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He sat in the middle of rent alley, eating rice and listening to an older samurai, Kanbei, ask him to expect an impossible mission; to save a village from the Nobuserei, in exchange for as much rice as he could stomach. Heihachi has gotten to know the small group around him; the Samurai to right is Gorebei –dono, a likable guy. The one against the wall is younger, definitely a rookie, with stick up his butt to boot, from what Heihachi could tell. The golden haired samurai desperately tries to remember his name, Kat…Katsu… something. The Big guy is Kiku, or so the little girl, Komachi says, she's a really cute kid. The Farmer's name is Rikichi, but the only thing holding his attention aside from the bowl of rice in his hand, is the girl serving it. The water Priestess, Kirara, the sight of her is causing a long suppressed memory to come swirling to the surface.

In order to force that thought down, he eats more rice. The suppressed portion of his other self wants to imagine that it is another girl from Kanna serving him. Eating the rice makes it even worse, it reminds him of the first time he had Kanna's rice. He pictures the girl who gave it to him. He is only saved from these thoughts when he focuses on the rice, and starts rambling on but how the kanji for rice is a reflection of the seven virtues and Kami. Before he knows it he has agreed to this mission. Perhaps he does it to just because it a job that pays in a wage he can truly appreciation. Maybe he was tried of drifting aimlessly.

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Some days later…..

The boiler and windows came and the men quickly installed them under Haruko's supervision. But once they finished and were sent of their way, the older woman came into the shop and pulled Tomo from her pots. "Tomo I have news from Kanna."

Tomo looked down in the older woman, almost as if she did not care. "There is a rumor that the Kanna is hiring samurai to defend their rice. "

Doubtful, was the only Tomo said before returning to her pots. Haruko wanted to push the issue, maybe get the girl to write home. But doing so would be fruitless. In the past fifteen months with Tomo, Haruko had learned that Tomo, did not trouble herself with things that didn't immediately affect her. Besides it was her village after all, and she knew what if was capable of. But the following night it was apparent that the spreading rumor had creating some distress in Tomo.

The three women sat in Haruko's room having their evening tea when Tomo asked to go home for a few days. Rin was shocked "I thought you didn't care about what happened there."

"This fool's errand could cost my father his life. I would like to say my farewells".

That settled it. It felt as if they were sending her off to funeral and not a visit. Jin and Sai were very upset when they found out, they thought she would never come back and refused to say farewell. The entire orphanage waved her off, as she set off through town. She traveled the three day hike at a rapid pace, without trouble, just as she had done months earlier.

It was quite in Kanna when she arrived. Evening was fast approaching, and Kanna had the appearance of a ghost town. She had only been gone a little over a year, and she didn't look much different from the day she left. Tomo has even taken the time to find her old village skirt and jacket, so she could be easily recognized. However, no one came to greet her. Tomo felt uneasy, as if she were a stranger being shunned. Yet, this hide and seek behavior on the part of the village only confirmed the rumors, something was amiss in Kanna. Then in the distance she heard a mechanical rumble. Something inside her flinched, she fought the impulse to hide, to fear. She had nothing they wanted, and therefore should have nothing to fear from them.

Instead Tomoe followed the sounds to the edge of the village, were she found the missing villagers. Not wanting to draw attention to herself, she concealed behind a nearby building.

The leader of he bandits was questioning the villagers, "Where is the rice?!" Are you holding out on us?!"

The elder raised his head, "The rice is not ready yet. Perhaps in a few more days"

The Nobuserei paced angrily, "I have heard rumors that you have hired samurai. If I find out that this is true, Kanna will be burned to the ground!"

The entire congregation seemed to wither at once. Only the elder seemed to remain defiant, "How could poor farmers like us afford such a thing? "

The bandit grunted, "We will be back, and the rice had better be ready."

Tomo left the pitiful scene and made her way back to the place that had once been her home. Everything was just as she left. She removed her sandals and removed her quiver and bow, as she entered the structure. Home sweet home, guess I'll start oto-san's dinner.

Just as she finished plating his meal, she heard a commotion outside; Manzo had convinced the entire village that they should hide the women, children and extra provisions. When the elder walked in, he barely spared his daughter a glance.

"What are you doing here, girl? You should have stayed where you were." He said wearily.

Tomo did not respond at first. She was the dutiful daughter and helped her father onto his mat and sat his tray beside him. "What daughter would not come to see her father, if she heard he was on a fool's errand?"

"You think this is foolish." He snorted. "Tomo, there come a time in a man's life when he most stand up for what is important to him; even if that day comes when he is an old frail man."

"When will the Samurai come?"

"The water priestess and the others will be tomorrow or the day after. Will you stay?"

Tomo gave him a smile. "Just long enough to see".