"Tsubasa-san, I cannot open the door for you," Taka said to Miryu, the morning after the latter had arrived in the village with the American captive. There was a slight pain in the older woman's eyes, and Miryu needed not guess why. Algren had killed her husband, who she had loved dearly, and it was not easy for a woman forced to suffer being a widow so young to be ordered by her own brother to care for her husband's murderer. "My brother has strict orders…" Higen and Magojiro, her sons, seemed a little afraid at their mother's cold expression, but secretly wanted to a chance to play with her.

However, the tall woman was insistent. "I cannot abandon my duties in being his bodyguard, Taka-san, please, at least let me see him!" Miryu exclaimed. She could sense his Ki, weakened in comparison to its usual strength, naught but a dying ember, and she was worried. The previous night, she could hear his screams even from her own house, and she knew that he was having his nightmares once again. It was too painful an experience to watch him bear alone, but to be cut off from him, to hear his pained voice, and not see him, she could not bear to hear another syllable…

Taka, however, refused to relent. "The answer is no…" she murmured, before bowing to Miryu, and slamming the door shut. She could not believe that the girl who had fought next to her brother in the Ishin-Ishishi would even dare to try to protect the man who killed her husband. Miryu had been a woman of principle, a woman of honor! Surely, she would not have allowed the American to do the deed! Deeply angered, and saddened, she just could not bear to see the sapphire-eyed woman any longer. Taka knew, that she had everything that Miryu had not, a loving family, a privileged life, a peaceful life, but in her heart, she despised the young woman for one reason, and one reason only: Miryu had freedom. Miryu could fight alongside the men, and not be looked down upon. She could even turn down the Emperor, and she could choose her own destiny. She… she could not. All her life, she was taught to serve, to respect, to defend herself when the need arose, but she could never be free, not like Miryu…

"Taka-san… Taka-san!" Miryu shouted, hammering slightly at the door, but to no avail. Deciding to try again the next day, she bowed, and went on her way.

What Algren saw, was pure nothingness. After he had arrived in the village, he was taken away into a house, and had his wounds tended by a beautiful woman. Yes, the woman was indeed easy to withhold, but she was not like Miryu. Those ebony eyes, they did not have her fire, they could not hold the sheer spirit that she had, but he could see that they were filled with pain. Who was she, he did not know, but he knew that Miryu was near him… He could sense her, somehow.

There were moments where he knew everything going about him, the two boys in the house, playing around, having their meals, but there were also times were darkness took him, and he slept, plagued by his nightmares time and again. And in between those moments, he could hear Miryu's voice. She was speaking to the woman who had tended to him, in words that he could not understand. But every time he heard her voice, it would be pleading, sometimes even begging… He could not hear her laughter, nor the light chuckles that was always constantly with her, when he was with her. What changed her? Was it all his fault, for getting so recklessly hurt?

Hours became days, and days, became more in number. Enclosed in a dark room, bereft of human company and alcohol, tormented by his own mind, he was forced to endure the withdrawal of alcohol all by himself. Often, he would howl for Sake, but none gave him heed. So, he slept, and tried to do so, in the least. And after the seventh day of his arrival, he woke with the light of the sun in his face, and rose, for the first time. Exiting the house, he found his boots in the front porch, and put them on, where he found an aged man, seemingly waiting for him.

He took a walk around the village, but could not find Miryu anywhere… Somehow, he had realized how much he yearned to see her sapphire eyes, how much he wanted to hear her laugh once again. Was that too much to ask? Everywhere he went, the old samurai followed him, not speaking a word, despite every single attempt to strike a conversation. And after several days, when he was out on another walk, the old man led him to a temple, to a shrine, where a looming statue of the Buddha resided. It was there, where he saw Katsumoto once again.

"This temple was built by my ancestors a thousand years ago," the bald samurai said with great pride, meeting Algren's eyes. "My name is Katsumoto, what is yours?" There was a pregnant silence, a perfect pause. "Are my words not correct?" On the contrary, Algren understood him perfectly; it was just that the American did not wish to speak with the man perceived to be his enemy. "I will practice my English with you…"

At those words, Algren turned to Katsumoto and asked, "You will?" The other man's answer was short and simple: If Algren would honor him. Many words were then exchanged, from why he was kept alive, to why Katsumoto had been proud to cut off General Hasegawa's head. In hindsight, Katsumoto's words were right: The Japanese ways were strange to him, just as his were strange to them. It took him quite a lot of thought, of contemplation, until he finally said, "Nathan Algren, my name is Nathan Algren." Katsumoto bowed, and merely replied that he was honored to meet him, and to have their conversation in English. However, that was not enough for him… He had questions, questions that needed answers.

"Questions come later," Katsumoto rebuked, trying to brush the American off for the day, but it seemed that the man was relentless. It is no wonder why Miryu has taken a liking to him, he thought silently.

"Who was the warrior in red armor?"

"My brother in law," Katsumoto answered, "His name is Hirotaro."

"… and the woman who cares for me?"

"Taka, my sister, is Hirotaro's wife…" Ah, that answer caused a stir in the gaijin, no doubt. To learn that he had killed the husband of his benefactress, it would be a torturing strain of knowledge. Katsumoto could not help but to sigh at his sister's loss, but nonetheless, it was a good death, as he told Algren seconds after his realization.

And there was one final question, one that Katsumoto knew would have reached his mind sooner or later. "Where is Tsubasa Miryu?" Algren asked, the anger in his eyes diminished, filled with a small sliver of hope. "I… wish to see her again."

"She is your bodyguard, and I shall not part her from you," Katsumoto replied, "Look for her in the house behind Taka's, she would be waiting for you there…"