Tadayoshi sat up slowly and turned toward the voice, all his sleepiness gone. He was right; it was a child.

Smaller than others, though the clothes were the same. Simple and worn out by daily use, the color was already fading due sunlight. The sleeves and hem were shorter than it should, not covering entirely the arms and legs, tanned by the sun. Probably from working on the fields, Tadayoshi decided.

The kid had a short black hair tied in the back with two loose strands and a bang covering his forehead, but unlike his clothes suggested, the kid’s face was rather delicate, and the eyes…

Tadayoshi almost stood up when he noticed the child’s eyes. His stare had something... Then he finally realized. The kid’s expression was empty. The face of someone who knew sorrow and suffering. Something common in these times, the man thought. If it weren’t for Kaguya and Taichi, I’d be the same right now, Tadayoshi knew.

“No, no. I’m no thief,” he said, standing up slowly, trying not startling the child. “But don’t worry. I took care of them.” He flashed the same smile he had used with the bandits, though with a different meaning. It was the same as nothing.

The child stood there, staring the man he accused. “You’re a thief,” the child said again, the voice in the same emotionless tone. “Those peaches weren’t yours.”

The man looked the kernels near his foot. “I found them on this tree,” he pointed up, “so I assumed they belong to the nature.”

“Wrong. They belongs to my village.” The boy’s stare went to the same thing that caught the bandit’s attention; the katana. His eyes lingering on the handle for a while, a sort of glow awakening behind them. “A samurai must repay everything he received. You’ll do a job for my village.”

It’s not even a request, Tadayoshi thought, chuckling for a heartbeat. He stopped smiling almost right away. To demand something from a stranger, especially one with a sword. That’s a bold brat… or maybe he’s too desperate…

“First of all, I’m not a samurai,” Tadayoshi complained. He was accustomed by now, but it bothered him even so, and he denied every time. I’m not like my master. “I don’t owe you or your village anything, but maybe I can help you.” Beats sleeping out in the open again. And it’d be great if I could get some clothes.

Still with his empty expression, the boy nodded and turned around, walking back to the main path. Turning his back to a stranger… Tadayoshi followed at some distance, trying to sense any presence nearby.

“What’s this job anyway?” Walking this long with someone in silence was tedious. The first time someone doesn’t run or attack me in weeks turns out to be a quiet brat… “I’m Tadayoshi by the way,” he added, remembering he hadn’t introduced himself nor knew the kid’s name.

“Protect my village,” he said curtly.

Tadayoshi held his impulse to sigh. So it was something like that…

The swordsman expected more, but the boy kept his silence again. The man could tell the kid wanted to say more, and he would if Tadayoshi asked. Something made him wait without saying a word though. This kids needs to say on his own, he realized and waited.

“My village was attacked…” the boy spoke after a long while. Though his voice remained the same tone, Tadayoshi noticed the kid’s breathing slowed down. He’s suppressing his emotions… The boy took a deep breath and said, “We fought back and made them go away, but they’ll come back. Today or tomorrow.”

They said nothing more as they got back to the main path. The kid went on the same direction Tadayoshi was going before his pause. The path divided at some point, but the boy went straight ahead without hesitating. The swordsman glanced the other path, his eyes going to the footprints erased by nature. He could tell they were recent, and it made him uneasy.

Could be those bandits… Did they run to their hideout… or the nearby fortress? Without realizing, his hand was over his scar. Tadayoshi pulled his clothes closer the most he could without ripping.

Even though the village wasn’t far, it took them a long time to get there. The child’s steps didn’t compare to his, but the only thing Tadayoshi could do was match his. By the time they arrived, the sun had begun to set on the horizon and the villagers had already lit a few torches.

It was the same as others villages; small houses, a few bigger constructions, probably the harvest and tool shed and where they held their meetings. At the back, the fields stretched until the surrounding forest. If it not for the burned houses near the entrance, there would have nothing standing out of other villages. A few had some walls remains, but the fire had consumed most houses in that area. There was still some soot on the floor.

It was a big fire, Tadayoshi thought, avoiding the piles of burnt wood. Was that supposed to be a barrier or something? He realized something else. The women and children worked on the fields, planting the rice seedlings. He had seen the rice-planting ritual a few times, but what he saw now was the opposite. There was nothing resembling the festivities. There was no dancing or singing for the inadama, the spirit that dwells within the rice. The expression of the men around the field said it all; no one in the village was in the mood for a festival. They only stood there around the field. No, they’re protecting, the swordsman realized.

The boy ignored the burnt houses and went on, answering the few villagers’ greetings with curt a nod, never stopping. Nobody greeted Tadayoshi. Instead, they stopped their chores and whatever expression they had turned into a suspicious glare when they saw him. That’s… a warm welcome, the man though. At least it’s better than usual. Tadayoshi looked around again. It’s like they’ve given up…

They stopped in front of the second biggest construction in the village, almost at the center. Tadayoshi could hear shouts coming from inside, but even concentrating his hearing, it was hard to understand what they were saying. Without taking his sandals, the kid opened the door and stared the swordsman.

Tadayoshi shook his head and didn’t move at all. There’s no way I’ll jump in the middle of that… especially with a sword, he told himself. The kid turned his back and entered the house.

The room was crowded. A few people were standing up, but most men and women were sitting on opposite sides with their back turned to the door. The few faces Tadayoshi saw cried, but he what he sensed it was beyond sadness. Frustration and hate.

The only one who seemed calm was the old man sitting at wall opposite to the entrance. The chief, Tadayoshi assumed. With the eyes closed, it was impossible for the swordsman to know what went behind the serene expression.

“So what we’re gonna do?” a young man shouted to the old man and then he looked around, looking for support. No one answered. Everyone turned their head, avoiding meeting the man’s eyes.

“I found someone to help,” the boy announced. Though he spoke on a normal tone, no one heed him any attention.

“We want us to fight?” a voice echoed among the villagers.

“We’ll just die,” a woman said and many mumbled agreeing.

“So we’re just giving up?” The young man shouted again. Only now, as he turned in every direction desperate for any support, Tadayoshi noticed he had a bandage over one eye.

“I found someone who can help,” the boy said again when the silence took over the room. Little by little, the eyes of everyone turned to him. “A samurai.”

The silence only grew as reaction. The men and women stared the boy and then exchanged looks between them, never noticing the man sighing at the door. I’m not a samurai. The young man with the bandages bit his lips.

“Ei… we appreciate, but we can’t…”

“Who’d help us?”

“Trusting an outsider…”

The number of murmur grew so much it was hard to identify who was speaking. They’re right, boy. I don’t know what happened here, but is best to survive than to throw away your life in a meaningless fight…

“We’re giving up?” Ei said above the voices. Though he said the same thing as the young man with the bandages, the boy had no desperation in his voice, and the words hit the villagers like a katana.

Even under the eyes of everyone, he shows no emotion… that boy’s a lot like me back then, Tadayoshi thought, tightening the grip around his sword. What happened to him?

“Of course not!” Bandages was shouting again. “We sent someone to ask our lord… he should be back soon. Until the soldiers arrive, we should—”

“The lord’s never done anything!” a woman interrupted Bandages. “Our homes burn and we die because of his enemies!”

A few cried in silence while others pressed their lips and looked at the floor. But the boy never changed his expression, his eyes unwavering. It’s almost like a permanent mask, Tadayoshi thought, staring the Ei’s face. He observed as the mood got heavier and heavier, and the uneasiness filled the room, the time stretching. The swordsman realized no one in there would break it, not even Bandages.

The sun had set and the stars shone in the sky when a shout throughout the village broke the silence. Tadayoshi unconsciously tightened the grip on his sword and turned around, stepping aside. The villagers who weren’t on the meeting held torches around something.

Everyone in the house rushed outside, still not noticing the man with the katana at the door. The old man was the last one. Little by little the others gave passage to him, opening a path to the center of the commotion; a lone rider. The only difference between him and the villagers was the wood axe on his waist.

The rider was talking with nearest him, but the moment he saw the chief, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Dai-jii,” he said in a heavy voice, looking at the ground. “I couldn’t even talk with the lord. He was too busy,” he spat the word, pressing the bridles so hard his knuckles were white. “The only who talked to me was the advisor. He said they couldn’t send any soldiers right now because there is a risk of invasion, but he’d try sending someone to investigate when he could…”

As the rider pressed his lips, the villagers looked at the ground, covering their faces. A few turned to chief, their eyes full of terror and begging for any hope. Try sending someone it’s the same as nothing right now, Tadayoshi knew, and he suspected the reason. If there were a risk of invasion, most lords would abandon any town or village to defend themselves. Though this village was too far to receive any quick aid, even in safe times.

The power around here belongs to two fortress, Tadayoshi recalled. The important one is near the border… which makes the most probable target. The other fortress belonged to a small noble with no importance. Both lords answered to the Matsudaira clan. This village belong to which lord? Dealing with minor bandits shouldn’t need too many soldiers… Or this lord’s in a pinch, or there’s something else…

“What we’re gonna do?” an old man spoke to the chief, holding his sleeve. “We can’t abandon our homes…

“We need to fight!”

“We got no weapon…”

“We have weapons,” someone said. Silence took over as everyone turned to the speaker. It was Ei

Tadayoshi widened his eyes when he saw. It’s not only the lack of desperation that sets him apart from Bandages, he realized. Ei’s eyes weren’t empty; they burned with determination. He, like countless other, was someone who knew deep pain and sorrow, but hadn’t given up. Such determination… something rare these days, and in someone so young…

“We have the swords they left behind. And we have a samurai.” For the first time the villagers noticed Tadayoshi’s presence. “We’re not giving up our home.”

“Ei-chan… who’s this man?” a woman said, pulling the boy closer. “We don’t know who he is. Besides, relying on strangers…”

“He could be with them…”

“That’s right…”

Everyone turned towards him almost at the same time. I need to do something before it gets out of hand, he thought, clearing his throat. “The name which I attend is Tadayoshi. I’m travelling and ended up in this area.” A nervous smile appeared across his face. Hope this crowd’s different from the last one. “In the woods, this kid made a request and brought me here. As I need rest and food for my journey, I would appreciate if you allowed me to stay here.” With no reaction, Tadayoshi decided to make a bet. “May I see the weapons left behind?”

Now they reacted, whispering between themselves. The murmur made him nervous. Damn it! If you got something to say, then say it! Tadayoshi wanted to scream, but held his silence. This won’t help me. The swordsman took a deep breath and looked directly to the chief, their eyes meeting each other.

The villagers turned to their leader one by one. The old man ignored them, his stare never leaving Tadayoshi. The chief’s clear eyes reminded him his master. The swordsman almost flinched, but he managed to hold off his instinct to look away and stared back.

After long time, the old man nodded and someone in the crowd ran and came back holding three sheaths. Two long, like his own, but the third was smaller. Ei didn’t hesitate handing the weapons to Tadayoshi. The swordsman suspected the kid would have stayed by his side the entire time if not for a woman pulling him away.

Aware each movement he made frightened the villagers, Tadayoshi picked up one of the long sword and unsheathed slowly. It still scared them; the nearby ones backed away and some even pushed the others to get out of range. At least stay still with those torches, he thought, sighing. The swordsman turned his attention to the blade, analyzing each detail of the sword without engraves nor ornaments.

It’s a well-crafted sword, though the metal isn’t the best. Even under the torch light, Tadayoshi could tell. The curved of the tip is just right and the curvature in general is decent. It made him unease. Would normal bandits get ahold of this? Made by someone who knew what they were doing, but didn’t bother to do their best. There’s no comparison with the bandits’ this morning. He balanced the sword on his left hand. The weight distribution is too good… Someone could sell for a good price. That made him even more suspicious. Tadayoshi stared the handle. They cleaned it, but there’s still traces of blood… The swordsman sheathed the sword and picked up the other katana, reaching the same analysis. The same with the wakizashi.

The villagers watched the stranger looking the weapons in dead silence. When Tadayoshi stood up, they backed away a bit, and when he offered the weapons back, no one dared to move. Only Ei stepped forward, staring him without saying a word as he got the weapons back.