Disclaimer --- I don't own samurai 7

Heihachi slept lightly that night, and when he heard the slightest movement from one of the other occupants his senses were immediately alert. The sky had the palest shade of blue, sunrise was approaching and it was bound to be a cloudy morning. Heihachi listened closely to Tomoe's movements, searching for any tell tale signs of treachery. But there was none to be found, only the thudding of the elder, as he hobbled to the fireplace.

"You up?" It was Shiroji voice.

"Might as well be," both samurai folded up their bedding and joined their hosts.

"I didn't expect the two of you to be up so early" Shiroji said jokingly.

"Age takes the need to sleep, but did both of you sleep well," Elder asked them.

They both nodded and where presented with their morning rice for their trouble. Shiroji happened to look over and at Tomoe's bowl and noticed that she was eating quail eggs and wild herbs. "Tomoe- chan is that all you are eating"

She did not look up immediately "I did not earn that rice"

"You ate rice at Haruko's", Heihachi said finishing his bowl.

"That was different" She filled his bowl again without thinking.

They continued to eat in silence after that. The light of day was being peeking through the window and Shiroji suggested that they head out. As they started out the door Heihachi noticed that Tomoe had hefted a pack onto her back, along to with her weapons. "Are you going some where Tomoe?"

"Oh, Tomoe only came out of filial piety, but will not be staying for the battle." The elder stated as a hobbled out the door, and into Katsuhiro; who had come to gather them for the meeting.

Once the village had assembled, Kanbei began his powerful speech. Tomoe even lingered to hear some it. It was everything she expected for the Samurai, powerful, riveting and moving. She almost felt complied to stay, but this was not her home anymore. Kanna, as always, had not use for her. But the orphanage did, it was her home, and she wanted to go back. She'd tell the others what she had seen, and that Ho-Ho was there.

Tomoe had not gotten very far when she heard her name being called. She halted, only to be surrounded four Samurai.

"Tomoe-chan, it's not a good idea for you to leave the village". Gorebei said,

Tomoe folded her arms, "Why?"

"Simple the Nobuserei" Shiroji offered trying to convince her

"I am not afraid of them" she said flatly.

"That may be so but if they catch… you'd be a security risk for us all" Gorebei continued.

Tomoe just stared at them unmoved. There was not need for her to be here and she did not understand why she had to stay. She could easily avoid the bandits by taking the deer trails.

"Tomoe's its starting to seem like you want them to catch you. You did try to hand your self over to them once. Giving them information about us would get you a free ticket." This time it was Heihachi that spoke. And it would have been better if he had cut her down, than to say what he had just said. On the inside Tomoe was infuriated, but her face was as fixed as ever. Her eyes did narrow when she spoke "I'm mad you think that".

Kanbei had grown tried of the pointless argument, the girl had to stay and that was that. But he had his own suspicious to the clarify, "Tomoe, you carry that bow, but can you use it"

It must samurai-gang-up-and-pick-on-Tomoe- day; she could not have been more vexed. Yet, without hesitation she lifted her arm and pointed a finger into the woods. The area was dense and dark, but a soft fluttering of white could be seen amongst the foliage. Before any of the samurai could focus of the creature, Tomoe had notched and released her arrow, pinning the wings of the unsuspecting moth to the trunk of a tree.

"Pity such skill is wasted on an orphanage when I can use it here. Stay and at the very least help Heihachi teach the others to make weapons." Kanbei and Gorebei turned and left without another word.

"But this isn't not my fight" she protected to the retreating figure.

"When you think about it isn't not ours either", Shiroji replied and walked off to start his duties.

Heihachi and Tomoe were left standing there, stupefied. "Kami must be mocking me," Heihachi sighed and started up the trail.

Tomoe wanted to shoot him and the other samurai, the Nobuserei, the rice, and the village. More immediately she wanted the shoot herself for getting to the mess.

The rest of the morning she avoided Heihachi. She could believe that he would think that she would betray the village's efforts. What did she have to gain from it, nothing. Besides her Father still lived here, she'd never wish any harm on him. She glanced at the samurai again, and wondered. Sure, I've been a little overly friendly, and he takes it as subterfuge. Haruko, what friends you keep? I'll just give him, his space.

A task made easier as the elderly women in the work group were circling the samurai like vultures over a carcass

"So tell us great samurai do you have girlfriend?" one asked

"My granddaughter Misao is of age, and very pretty, too," said another.

"Hey, hey, less talk more worked", Heihachi ordered the grannies, who laughed, before continuing to working.

Tomoe gathered up some bundles of arrows and bows, "I am taking this to Kyouzo-dono, is that alright great samurai."

I really did piss her off, didn't I "Ah yeah, sure go ahead."

The girl was out the building in flash. Note to self; if you live through this apologize to her. But it's like you said, it different at Haruko's. Wars can bring out the best and worst in people.

One of the grannies happened to notice that Heihachi's glazed lingered on the doorway where Tomoe had been standing.

"You don't want that one, great samurai"

Heihachi scowled. Will these old ladies give it a rest?

"She's right. If you let Tomoe near the paddy we'll lose half the crop"

"Suki! Be fair, it's not the girl's fault. You know her mother wasn't a farmer. I think she was the samurai class, and then she died when the girl was so young. And the poor elder, Kami bless him was left with a half raised child. What else could be expected?"

"Still, she's practically useless, and always alone, gallivanting in the woods. It's not normal. What man wants that for wife? Would you, Samurai?"

Instinctively his brain answered: she doesn't have grow it to make me happy, just be able to cook it. And a wife that doesn't cluck like you old hens is more than a blessing. However, he was quickly brought back to his senses when Komachi came running in the door.

Yes, I would gladly come to Momotaro's (Shiroji) aid.

And,yes, you can come to Kikuchiyo.

He'd do anything or go anywhere, at this point, as long as he did not to have listen to these old women. No wonder Tomoe wanted to leave Kanna, having to hear that all day would day a sane man mad. His brain was spinning in the wrong direction. He was thinking of her, too much. He needed to refocus, women complicated life. And his life was all about keeping it simple. That is until you have to figure out how to rebuild an old, corroded, moss covered, giant gun. Maybe the Kami have pity after all.