Is this love? thought Hattori Hanzo as he seated himself on the thick branch of a cherry blossom tree.

No, it was more of a... dependency?

Yes, that was it. Like how a dog treated its master. Their master meant the world to them-their praise, their affection... everything. A dog's loyalty to their master is unmatched by any other.

Despite that they still wish to roam free, only in the end to come back to their master, tail wagging, ears perked, eyes shining.

I guess I'm a dog as well. I wish to be free of the chains binding me to him, but when he does let me go, I always come back, head down, ashamed.

I guess it is sort of a love then.