A/N: I altered the ending of this particular chapter somewhat, so for those who read it in advance, I hope you enjoy this new version.

The Samurai's Plight

The year is 1469, Japan.

Two years have passed since the start of the Ōnin War, the conflict that would spark a new age of civil strife. Although the Emperor was alive and the Shogunate as a whole remained intact, for all practical purposes, neither of them possessed any real political influence or control over the realm.

What began as a conflict over who would become successor to the Shogunate culminated in the capital nearly burned to the ground, the current Shogun completely ignoring the havoc occurring on his doorstep, and the lords of the various clans throughout the country declaring their intent to either replace the Shogun or make him into a puppet of their whims.

Although originally confined to the capital, like a festering blight, the war spread throughout other parts of the country and came to involve all the major factions becoming caught up in the fighting. The various clans with a stake in the conflict all had varied fortunes, some families of significant importance fell by the wayside as upstart newcomers established themselves as famous in their own right, and even peasants, people you would expect to live in quiet servitude to their masters, have risen in rebellion and formed legions of fanatical militia dubbed the Ikkō-ikki, who were unwilling to surrender their independence from their former masters; there was no sign that they were going to lose their momentum any time soon.

Of course, a time of war such as this is practically a warrior's paradise. There is no shortage of jobs for men skilled in the arts of battle and in this regard a samurai, whose life has been spent in preparation for battle, will always find himself needed.

Enter Hana Asakura, son of the illustrious Asakura samurai family of Izumo province (no relation to the Asakura clan of Echizen province, for you historical accuracy nitpickers). Originally groomed to be the successor to his clan's legacy, Hana decided he would rather carve out his own reputation than be saddled by his family's name.

Two years prior, he had participated in the Ōnin War hoping to make for a name for himself. Of course, preparing for war is one matter, but actually going to live combat is a whole 'nother can of worms. The whole capital was nothing but a massive bloodbath as homes, shops and taverns were torched, and after a month spent fighting Hana decided it was going absolutely nowhere. Cutting his losses, Hana looted what little he could find and took off.

After some more wandering, Hana eventually settled with a new lord to serve, but that did not last for very long, though all things considered, it was probably the best thing that happened to him.

He had found a new home, and more importantly, he had somewhere to return to in case circumstances went sour, but for now he was glad to have a roof over his head, not to mention a pretty lady to share it with.

But this was no time to rest on his laurels; he needed to find a job soon so he doesn't burden his host. A week has passed since his previous lord died, and he's been contemplating about hiring himself out to the new lord, and word in town is that he's a pretty fair-minded person.

So today he was going to go visit the Lord and see if he would set him straight, with a little persuasion.

As he exited the cottage, he saw Lou tending to her garden of mulberry trees, "Hey, doing some garden work?"

"Oh, good morning, yes, I have tended to these mulberry trees since my mother planted them many years ago. I still weave silk from the moths that I raise here."

Hana deliberated that information a bit, having a silk weaver around would be a great boon to his new lord's economy, "Well, I'm off to go see if the new Lord will be willing to accept my offer."

"Good luck, I hope he accepts."

Hana proceeded through the town, making a point of his presence to the townsfolk who passed by him. They mostly gossiped about the new guy, but soon he would earn their adulation once he got employment from their lord.

As he approached the gate of the castle, which, just a week ago, belonged to another master, a pair of guards halted him, "I come in peace, and I wish to have an audience with your lord."

"What business have you with our Lord, wanderer?"

"I am a samurai seeking employment with your army, I am sure your lord would not mind having another able-bodied man for his campaigns?"

One of the guards decided to report to one of his superiors while the other remained behind to keep an eye on him. A short while later, another man, who by the cut of his hair looked to be an important official approached.

"Greetings, good sir, I hear you wish to find employment with our lord?"

"Yes sir, and if I may be so bold as to ask what you wish for me to do to win your lord's trust?"

"Just the usual procedures, we will need you to conduct a series of tests regarding your aptitude for our clan's martial precepts and proclivities. Please, follow me."

While Hana was having a fun time getting some new work, Lou was busy tending to her cluster of silkworm cocoons, exactly the way her mother had done so in the past. With a fresh basket of cocoons, she brought them over to the kiln where she would submerge them in a basin of piping-hot water.

After an hour or two of boiling, Lou would carefully remove the cocoons and unravel the silk strands for reeling into spindles, and the fabric would be ready for any purpose she may have.

Flashback…

"Lou-chan, are you paying attention?"

"Yes, mother."

Lou's mom brushed the cocoons, pulling away the excess thread that would be set aside for noil, "Now the key to properly spin silk is to find the one thread where the cocoon was first spun, so you may want to brush about thoroughly until you do."

"Okay," Lou attempted to do what her mother was doing, "Mother, how exactly will I know which thread is the one I need to undo the cocoon?"

"It will be the one with the long, winding thread, all the rest are just clumps of gossamer we can put aside."

After about ten or so minutes of searching, Lou eventually found the thread she was looking for and showed it to her mother, "I think I found it."

Proud at her achievement, her mother instructed her to place the thread together with all the others she had found, which began spinning on the wheel along with the other fibers.

"So all this is to make clothes?"

"Not just any clothes, but a kind worthy for royalty."

After putting the textiles into spindles, Lou and her mother put them away in the storage room.

"So what plans do you and Father have later today?"

"We're going to town, do you mind doing the chores for today?"

"Sure, I can handle it."

"Thank you my dear."

For the rest of that day, Lou was busy making sure the house was spick and span. She mopped and waxed the floors, cleaned the leaves off the roof and cleared the soot off the fire pit.

She had no idea what her parents were planning, but she guessed it was some event going on in the nearby town, so she took the liberty of preparing dinner for them.

A little while later, while Lou was busy preparing some meat, she heard the door to the shack open, "Lou, we're home."

"Welcome back, mother, father. I made dinner for us."

The night proceeded uneventfully, and Lou decided not to pry into her parents' affairs, but it was best she didn't know until tomorrow.

After sitting down to breakfast the next day, her mother finished first before she decided to pop a question to Lou, "Lou, would you like to know what me and your father were doing out in town earlier?"

"Please, do tell, mother."

"Well, your father and I decided that you shouldn't go about wearing rags anymore."

Lou looked down at herself, all this time, Lou's only clothing during her time alone on the mountain was her bare flesh, and once the woodcutter and his wife adopted her, a simple brown rag that covered only the bare essentials.

"But mother, I feel fine, I never feel that cold and hot as you do."

"Be that as it may," said her father, "We feel obliged, as your parents, to at least make you feel like our special little one."

He went out back and returned with a black lacquer box tied with red cord. After clearing the table, they placed it in front of Lou, her mother smiled heartily, "Go ahead, dear, open it."

Lou untangled the rope and lifted the lid off the box, what she found inside was a beautiful white kimono with a yellow sash; she lifted it from its container and felt it.

"This is the silk we wove together?"

Her mother nodded, "Yes, I decided to go to the tailoring shop and make a lovely garment for you. Do you like it?"

Lou stared long and hard at the work her mother had done for her, she didn't know why, but she felt a well of emotions in her that felt rather strange, it touched her heart in a way she didn't understand, it felt so… uplifting.

"You… did this for me?"

"Do you like it?"

"I… well, thank you, mother. I have no idea what to feel, or say."

Her mother knelt beside her and gave her a good, tight hug, "My dear, your gratitude is all that we could ever want."

Lou's father likewise moved close and joined in, "That's right, just the fact that you are part of our family is our greatest joy."

End Flashback…

For Lou, who had lived her whole life standing silent vigil over her forest home and lived contentedly by herself, belonging to and being loved by a family was truly an experience she would never forget. The day when they gave her that kimono, the one which she wears to this very day, sent a mix of emotions through her – joyous delight and a slight dread.

Even though they are now gone, she still holds the memory of their time together close to her heart. But she yearned for something else, something that she feared would never come to pass, and it was…

"I'm back!"

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Hana's familiar voice followed by the shuffling of her house's doors.

She proceeded out to greet him, "Welcome home. How was your day?"

"It went great, more than great, really. I'll explain later at dinner."

After taking the new lord's tests, including riding laps on horseback in record time and wiping the floor in a sealed room with ten of their best samurai, Hana was allowed to see the lord of the castle – truth be told he expected him to look a bit more… statuesque.

When he seated in the audience chamber, two other people came in with him – one was a stunning, pink-haired beauty wearing a delicate kimono with a pink and white sakura motif that hugged her curves, pronouncing them and giving the shape of a maiden in the buff despite the clothing, from her presence Hana deduced that she was undoubtedly the master's wife.

The other was a short man no taller than Hana's knees, wearing regal black wafuku that bore his clan's crest, he carried a fan to keep himself cool as he addressed Hana and his wife played her shamisen to keep them entertained.

"Greetings, young samurai, I am Oyamada Manta, the magistrate for this town and province. I see that you wish to find work under my clan's employ. You proved yourself with regards to your battlefield skills, and I would be glad to have such a fine warrior as yourself join my ranks. I have called you before me, however, because I wish to speak to you in person to see if you possess any other skills of import."

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"I'll cut to the chase, my good man; we are a fairly small, insignificant polity in the grand scope of this age of war. Sharp swords and brave men may win battles, but it takes strategy, statecraft, and even a little subterfuge to win wars."

"Are you asking me if I have any other skills that would be of use to you?"

He nodded, "It would definitely give me incentive to seriously consider keeping you."

Hana considered for a moment, and he did have something of that nature that he could tell to his new Lord; some time before he joined the fighting in the capital, he had travelled with a band of ninjas and learned some "interesting" trade secrets from them, and it served him well when he worked as a double-agent for both sides of the war. Perhaps he could use those skills again?

"Well, I have worked in less-than-honorable activities in the past, my lord, though I am willing to put my sword and expertise in your service."

Oyamada liked the sound of that, "Splendid, simply splendid. If you don't mind, Asakura-san, would you like to be put to work as soon as I have something available."

"Of course, my lord, but what shall I do in the meantime?"

"You can go home and relax yourself, Asakura-san, I'll let you in on the details when I feel the time is right."

"But sir, you don't know where I live."

"Oh I have my ways, Asakura-san." He gestured to the lady who had been sitting aside, "My wife, Tamao, may look like a pretty little flower, but she's also the head of my spy network. As long as she is by my side, there is nothing that goes on in these parts without my knowing it, and just so you know, young samurai..."

Hana blinked for just a split second, and Tamao's music stopped as he felt something cold and sharp inches from his throat, in an instant, the pink-haired woman was upon him with a dagger, "…I may be a fair lord, but I am not afraid to make an example out of you if you ever choose to step out of line, or heaven forbid, sell me out to my enemies."

Hana smiled sheepishly at the sudden change in mood, "I wouldn't dream of it, my lord."

Lou seemed surprised at Hana's lord's sudden ruthlessness, especially considering that so many people in town seemed to think he was a kindly and considerate person, but she and Hana agreed that, in dark times like these, an effective lord is one who can juggle a positive image in the light and underhanded dealings in the dark.

"I can tell he's a bloodthirsty man for a short fellow, but I don't blame him for what he is now."

Lou nodded, "Undoubtedly, he needs to be able to protect himself and his subjects, and he's entitled to accomplish it by fair means or foul. So what do you think he has in store for you?"

"Who knows? I'm not obligated to know until he's officially sent me on an assignment."

Outside, hiding in the shadows of the branches of the nearby trees, was a quiet shadow sitting just above their house. Tamao always scopes out new recruits in their place of residence, where men are more willing to speak their mind knowing no one of importance is listening, and men who speak their mind are an excellent source of intelligence, not to mention an effective way to assess them.

"So does this mean you will be gone for a fair bit once you're on assignment?"

"I'm afraid so, being a samurai is a pretty transient lifestyle, with or without a master to serve."

"Well, I understand you have to go, it is your duty. Just promise me you won't do anything reckless, okay?"

"Lou, I am a warrior, I don't go into battle if I didn't have the skills to survive it."

"All the same, I'd like it if you come out with your limbs intact."

"Sure."

Lou moved closer to him and held his hands, "Promise?"

"I promise."

"Good," she moved in close and gave him a hug, "You're the first person I've befriended in a long time and I don't want to lose you now."

"Don't worry; knowing that you're watching out for me is enough for me to give it my all."

Tamao had to admit, they seemed very close, and it struck a chord in her that brought back memories of the first time she met Lord Oyamada. She was alone too, and then he came and brought light back to her life, and from then on, she has sworn her complete loyalty to him. Hana was still young, but she could tell they had great chemistry. It would be a shame if he died a couple of weeks from now, just when he found someone he clicks with well.

Tamao decided to share her feelings about Hana to Oyamada, he would always listen to what she has to say, she had never failed him in matters of personal affairs.

Tamao thought she had gone completely unnoticed, but it turns out the two friends in the shack had been aware of her presence for some time now.

"Hana, I think she's gone."

"I think so too."

"You know, even though he is just making sure you're not going to stab him in the back, I still think Oyamada shouldn't pry so deeply into other people's affairs… it makes me feel so exposed."

"Don't worry about it, Lou, he won't be able to do anything to me, I know how these ninjas work."

"Still, the kind of power he has at his disposal is truly frightening."

"I should probably get some sleep now, who knows what Lord Oyamada has in store for me?"

"Oh, before you do, would you like some sake?"

A beautiful lady and free sake? Hana inwardly smiled at this turn of events, "Go right ahead, I don't mind."

Lou cleared their dinner trays before going to get another tray with a clay flask and a serving cup. She took the bottle and shook it gently for a few seconds before unplugging the cork and pouring him a shot. He graciously took it from her when she offered and slowly sipped it out from the glass, letting the alcohol settle in his system.

"Ooh, that is some nice sake."

"Well, sometimes I sneak out into the town to snatch a bottle or two once a month."

"You are so sneaky, Lou."

"Do you think any less of me?"

"No, I kind of like it."

She poured him another shot, and again, he took it and sipped it slowly, "Such amazing taste, I didn't think you liked to drink this sort of thing."

"My parents held quite a few parties, and we had many casks of sake to enjoy. It gets kind of lonely up here but there's nothing a good drink can't solve."

Lou was shaping up to be Hana's kind of woman, but he decided to hold back judgment until he knew more, "It's nice that we decided to have a drink together, Lou, everything feels so serene."

"It's my pleasure."

She was glad that he liked sake as much as she did, but inwardly she was hoping that they had even more in common than just beverage preferences.

Lou poured another shot, but this time it was for her, and Hana commented about it, "It appears we happen to like some of the same things."

"It appears we do."

Hana grabbed the sake flask and raised it up high, "Here's… um… could you think of something to toast to, Lou?"

She stifled a giggle, "Let's… toast to getting to know each other more in the future."

He thought about it for a moment, trying to put some effort to it, but then he just shrugged, "Yeah sure… to getting to know each other more, then."

They clinked their earthenware as Lou took a sip and Hana chugged some down, and by some effort he managed to put the flask down without letting it spill on the table.

"Man, that was good."

Lou smiled; his wasted face looked goofy and amusing, but she had to admit he also looked cute in a humorous way.