Three and a half days after leaving Akashima Province,, Ayame and Kanbei had finally reached the trading town of Kawara at the foot of Mount Kei'an. They rode down the moderately busy main street of the town, picking up their pace the moment they set foot on the country road that would take them up the mountain.

Ayame's fast turtle fell into step next to Kanbei's mount. "We're almost there, Kanbei-dono." The dark-haired swordfighter pulled a shiny pink canister out of her canvas backpack. "But before we enter the dojo, you should use this!"

With a light flick of her wrist, Ayame cast the canister at Kanbei. Catching the flying cylinder in his quick fingers, Kanbei saw that the pink object was a spray can of deodorant.

Kanbei realized that the former enemy soldier's words were an order, not a suggestion.

How the former Colonel Shimada, commander of mighty mecha and brave men, hero of Kanna, managed to submit to such indignity, Kanbei did not know. But they say a man would do anything for love.

--

It was midday when Kazumi ran into the stone courtyard of Mount Kei'an Dojo, shouting, "Sensei! Senpai! There're two fast turtles approaching. I think the riders are Ayame-sama and someone else!"

Without delay, Tashiro Sensei and Yasue made their way outside to greet the visitors. Ayame was dashing up to the gate on a fast turtle. Following behind her on the narrow mountain path was another fast turtle ridden by a dark man of about Tashiro Sensei's age.

Ayame dismounted in one fluid motion, flying off the turtle to land lightly in front of Tashiro Haruko. "O-ni-sama!" The woman's yellow eyes glowed with joy at the sight of the tall sword master.

"Good to see you, imoto-chan!" The pale-skinned warrior smiled down at her kouhai as she placed a large hand on Ayame's shoulder. Then Haruko looked towards the tall samurai who had just dismounted near the courtyard entrance. The long-haired visitor was at that moment facing away from them. He gave the reins of his fast turtle to the waiting Kazumi while graciously thanking her for attending to the beast.

As Kazumi and Yasue led the two fast turtles away to the stable, Kanbei turned towards the Sensei and stepped forward. Ayame made the introduction without delay. "Senpai, this is Kanbei, Kyuuzou's leader for the Kanna Project."

A brief look of surprise crossed Haruko's face when she looked at Kanbei full in the face. But Kanbei did not look at all surprised to see Haruko. "It is my honor to meet the Master of Mount Kei'an Dojo," the dark man said calmly as he bowed.

From what he had learnt earlier through the enchanted pool in Nakatsu, Shimada had already guessed that the senpai mentioned by Ayame was none other than Tashiro Haruko/Haruhiko, the samurai responsible for destroying his entire regiment, not in open battle but by sabotage. But his keen desire to see Kyuuzou again pushed whatever feelings he might hold towards coming face to face with this bitter enemy out of his mind – until now.

Shimada Kanbei's gut reaction at the sight of former Major Tashiro was strong revulsion, despite his polite exterior. The ex-commando officer represented those who had robbed Colonel Shimada of everything – honor, homeland, family and comrades. The fact that those who wreaked destruction did not do so out of malice - but rather out of a soldier's duty - did not lessen the bitterness and sorrow of those whose lives were destroyed.

Kanbei noticed that the tall, straight-haired swordfighter now wore her twin scabbards suspended from her belt, unlike the last time he saw her six years ago. Then, the enemy samurai carried both swords strapped to her back, a more practical arrangement for a commando who had to scale walls and crawl through narrow tunnels. Observing the former Confederated Army officer in her new role as dojo master, Colonel Shimada noted a little sourly that life seemed to have treated his nemesis more kindly than it did him.

"Perhaps nothing has truly changed since that day six years ago except the number of wrinkles on our faces," the same thought came to the mind of both former commanders. The two broad-shouldered warriors were now regarding each other in a manner that, while not overtly hostile, was not exactly friendly.

Ayame looked curiously from one tall samurai to the other. "Have they met before?" she wondered.

Under a clear blue sky, Shimada Kanbei and Tashiro Haruko - two former commanders, two former enemies – were eyeing each other through a blood red haze. It was as if they were in Irakawa Castle all over again.

Three thousand slain samurai stood between the warrior whom Kyuuzou called 'Big Brother' and the man who would have loved Kyuuzou. Yet perhaps one man could unite their wills, if only briefly.

For a moment, Kanbei wondered if he could take another step forward toward the dojo door and Tashiro Sensei without wishing he had his sword with him. He could almost hear the restless ghosts of his fallen subordinates from the Second Regiment howling to him from the netherworld.

Tashiro Sensei observed the newcomer with her cold obsidian eyes. So it was that Kanbei after all. Talk about coincidences. Underneath an unperturbed exterior, she kept her senses tuned to the energy aura of this unexpected visitor, expecting a sudden surge in sakki – killing aura. But while the ki from Kanbei was not exactly benign, it did not have the quality of sakki either.

"I regret the circumstances of our last meeting." Tashiro Haruko finally said. Both samurai knew that it was just a polite lie. The former Confederated Army Special Forces commander had no regrets about annihilating Kanbei's regiment, all three thousand lives.

"I come here in peace," The Allied Forces veteran replied. "I bear you no hate. It was your duty to take full advantage of your enemy's weakness."

"You were not weak, but luck was on my side," the former Major Tashiro gave the expected response of formulaic humility.

"No, it was not luck," the ex-Colonel Shimada thought, but he held his tongue. After a short pause, his one-time nemesis spoke.

"I was exceedingly glad when the war ended, if only so that we need not do such bloody deeds to so many again."

Kanbei had not been glad when the war was over. He was lost without battles to fight and foes to slay. There were times when the Allied Forces veteran wished for the past, when he was the commander of a regiment and master of the skies. But he had since realized that this was a selfish wish. Without war, fewer people of every class would die. Now Tashiro Haruko's words only made him feel shame that he ever desired war so that he could glory in his skill.

But the dark samurai was not the only one who felt shame. Looking at the defeated Allied Air Force commander, Haruko was once again reminded of how she bought that stunning victory over Kanbei with the cold-blooded murder of a defenseless prisoner-of-war. Of how she did 'evil' so that 'good' might come.

But the past had to be set aside for there were more pressing things in the present.

"I am here for Kyuuzou," Kanbei said. "My foremost concern is for his well being."

"Then we have at least one thing in common. Let me bring you to him." The broad-shouldered former samurai turned and headed back into Mount Kei'an Dojo. Without tarrying a moment, Kanbei and Ayame followed her though the wooden courtyard gate.

--

Tashiro Sensei slid open the door to Kyuuzou's room and Kanbei peered in cautiously. Kyuuzou was lying on the sleeping mat, motionless. The old ronin felt a stab of sorrow in his heart when he saw that the slender young man was hugging the toy bear he gave him fourteen years ago.

"I'll leave you for a while," Haruko said to their guest, "My disciples will bring you some refreshments shortly."

"Thank you, I am sorry to impose," Kanbei said politely.

"No, it is our honor," came the formulaic reply. As Tashiro Sensei turned and left, Kanbei stepped into the bedroom and knelt down beside the sleeping samurai. He brought his hand to Kyuuzou's forehead, gently brushing stray strands of blond hair out of the way. The younger samurai's forehead was still slightly warm. Kyuuzou was still alive. The old ronin felt relief wash over him.

At that moment Kanbei heard someone behind him clear her throat. He turned his head. Ayame was still standing at the door of Kyuuzou's room, her arms akimbo. The dark woman with near-black hair was eyeing Kanbei warily.

"Can you please… leave me alone with Kyuuzou?" The middle-aged samurai asked.

Ayame's topaz eyes narrowed. Her scowl deepened. "Do I even have to say it out loud to the obtuse man?" Kyuuzou's Third Sister wondered. "The answer is NO!!! WHY would you want to be left alone with him if your intentions are honorable?"

But firm footsteps came down the hallway. Haruko had returned. Stepping up behind the younger woman, the tall handsome warrior put a strong arm around Ayame's slim shoulders. "Come, dear sister," the Sensei said in an even voice. "You must be weary after your long journey. Shall we go to the kitchen and have something to eat together?"

Reluctantly, Ayame allowed Big Sister to steer her away, but not before she said to Kanbei in a threatening tone. "If you even have a single thought about Kyuuzou that does not pertain to your lot, I will personally kill you!"

Kanbei suspected that Ayame would have killed him – and killed him slowly - if she knew what kind of fantasies he had about the young man before.

Tashiro Sensei gave Shimada a semi-apologetic look, then she slid the door shut. The dark man turned his eyes back towards Kyuuzou as the women's departing footsteps echoed down the hall. Finally alone with his beloved enemy, he took the young man's right hand in both his own. There were thick scars where Kanbei's sword had gashed Kyuuzou's palm and fingers. Kanbei wondered if that hand would have the same sensitivity when it came to wielding a sword again. He gently rubbed those cold, slender fingers in his large, calloused palms. "Kyuuzou, please wake up!" Kanbei whispered. "I'm here now! Come back to me!"

Then the old warrior bowed his head and prayed as he held that cold hand to his cheek.

--

Author's Comment:

- For the Kanbei vs Haruko back story, see companion fic Price of Mercy, Cost of Honor.

- The way Kanbei and Haruko communicated, e.g. Haruko does not regret destroying Kanbei's regiment but she says, "I regret the circumstances of our last meeting," and Kanbei is not sorry about imposing on Haruko's hospitality, yet he says, "I am sorry to impose," is not considered dishonest by some traditional East Asian/Southeast Asian communications standards. This is because both parties understand the true meaning behind what the other person is saying. These are codified responses, so for those who understand the code, they are not misleading.