If Nathan Algren had thought that he was really going to have a bath with Miryu and only Miryu, he could not be more wrong in several lifetimes. "This is a rotenburo," Miryu said to him, watching him get into the water with Nobutada and the silent samurai that Katsumoto had assigned to the American for some unforeseen reason. "It is a mineral spring, and does wonders for the body," The look of annoyance on his face was pure gold, and she hoped that the moment would not end.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Nobutada asked Algren and Miryu, a question that she readily translated. Reluctantly, Algren nodded. God, it was not what he had in mind. Was it a test to his patience, or was it a sign that he was not to touch her, in the name of her honor? She just laughed, with a broad piece of cloth wrapped around her body to cover her modesty. What was more, she was seated quite far away from him, right next to the silent samurai, her sapphire eyes glowing with a sense of mischief. There was no doubt that as an unmarried woman, the silent samurai was acting as her chaperone as well. "It's good for the shoulder, too"

With one quick look at his shoulder, Algren found that it was almost recovered. Chuckling, Miryu threw a wash cloth to him for him to clean his shoulder-wound. Not long after they came into the rotenburo, an old woman stepped in as well, much to Algren's shock. It was enough that he had to share a bath with two men, but a toothless grandmother as well? How hard was it for him to get a little privacy with Miryu?

"Good morning, granny," Miryu said graciously with a bow to the elderly woman, Putting a subtle show of the curves of her body. "How is your son, granny, I heard from Nobutada that he has found a young, pretty wife?"

The grandmother smiled, and said, "Miryu-chan, thank you for caring so much about my son," She had a toothless smile. Her son had been one of Miryu's comrades in the Choushu faction, and she had known him for a time. "I shall tell you when he has a fat, white son, shall I?" She nodded and chuckled, looking at Algren. It did not take long for her to notice Algren, and she asked Miryu, "Is that your husband, Miryu-chan? I didn't know that you prefer gaijin…"

Miryu blushed immediately and said, "Granny, I am not married yet," before sinking lower into the bath, leaving Algren to only guess what words they had exchanged. Looking at Nobutada, who tried hard to stifle an incontrollable bout of laughter… "Look here, Nobutada, if you there reveal this to anyone, including Algren, I would be extremely sorry to report to your esteemed father that he would have no possibility in becoming a grandfather!" she threatened before motioning to leave the rotenburo with a smile towards the others.

Of course, Nobutada kept his silence after her threat of castrating him, and said nothing. "What did she say?" Algren asked, although he knew that Nobutada hardly spoke any English. It was still better than asking his samurai shadow.

"She said that she would be going to train again," the youth replied.

No one had ever expected that it would rain that day, but Higen, Taka's son was still practicing with his friend. Miryu was nowhere to be found, and Algren suddenly found himself approaching the boys. "They may be young, but they are strong," Nobutada said, although Algren had not a clue about what he had just said. Higen looked deadly serious, and was able to deftly knock the wooden weapon out of his friend's hands with a little smug smirk on his face. There was no doubt that the child would be a great warrior in the future. The wooden sword landed at Algren's feet, and they stopped sparring. As a gesture of politeness, he picked the weapon up and gave it to the boy, who refused with a shake of his head.

Higen looked at the American, evidently ready to attack him. He did not wish to fight a child, but Nobutada continued to egg him on. Reluctantly, he agreed, and began to exchange blows with the boy. He could feel the anger within the child, his attacks fueled with rage. Perhaps it was what this child had felt towards him, for killing his father. They would have continued if Ujio had not intervened. Algren recognized him, he was man who barked at him the very first moment he had come to the village.

Miryu also emerged from her house, and she looked on, with an umbrella in hand. "Put down the sword," Ujio shouted, but Algren did not act as ordered to. For some reason, she saw that the American did not budge, wanting a chance to face him using the sword. It was not a wise move, but she knew that it was an experience that he needed. She knew that Taka was there as well, and she knew that there was a slight satisfaction in her eyes to see Algren being beaten up by Ujio. She wanted to stop it, but she knew that both men and Taka would not forgive her if she had intervened.

Algren himself knew that he was no match for Ujio. He was not familiar with the sword-arts of Japan, nor did he contain that calm rage that almost every samurai had in their hearts. What he had, was like a sort of empty rage, much like that of Higen's, and that he had no way to channel it. The crowd watching him and Ujio grew in number, and Miryu looked at him with more than just pity in her eyes. This man was determined, a warrior who had nothing to lose, so he fought with everything he had, although he knew that he was at a high disadvantage. The more she knew about him, the more intrigued of him she was.

"Come, Captain, let's get you cleaned," Miryu whispered, getting him on his feet after Ujio left. He spent that night in her house, but he had slept opposite of her, divided by a screen made of bamboo that hung from the ceiling. She had played a flute before she slept, and for the first time in countless nights, he slept soundly, undisturbed by his nightmares.