Trying to take his mind of the paste, Tadayoshi turned to Daisuke-dono. The chief watched the scene with the same unreadable expression as earlier, but Tadayoshi realized there was something else. When Ei finished, he went to the kitchen and didn’t return, conforming the swordsman suspicious.

“There’s no reason to hold back. Not after everything,” Tadayoshi said, opening his arms and showing his wounds covered by the paste.

The chief opened his mouth and then closed it, pressing his lips hard. “Sadasada-sama has returned to the castle. He doesn’t believe there will be any more attacks, but he left three soldiers to protect us…” Daisuke-dono reported the situation, but Tadayoshi noted he avoided looking him directly in the eyes.

“He said that if I was still here, he wouldn’t let me go, right? He made it quite clear when he said he’d be back here tomorrow morning like that.

The old man opened his mouth, but then closed it right away again, his eyes fixed on the floor.

“There’s no reason to worry yourself, Daisuke-dono. I’ll be gone before he’s back. I’m kinda used to leave places in a hurry,” Tadayoshi said and a hollow laugh escaped from his lips. Used to be a pariah again isn’t something to be proud, he thought. “Actually, it’s better this way, since I’ve got some time to prepare. Last time, I had to flee naked and with a mob after my head. At least I managed grab this kimono on the way out.”

He laughed again to break the uncomfortable mood. The chief did appear to relax a little, but he still avoided looking Tadayoshi in the eyes.

The rumors… the truth about me must’ve reached even a small village like this, he thought, his eyes glancing at his sword. With my master’s fame, and a reward like that on me, I’ll be surprised if the whole damn country doesn’t know already.

Daisuke-dono opened his mouth again, but when Tadayoshi turned back to him, he closed it. After taking a deep breath, the chief finally looked the swordsman in the eye. “Tadayoshi…sama… why… why did you help us?”

Tadayoshi ran a hand on his face. He didn’t have to think of a reason; he already knew. But to say it aloud… damn old man, you really are like my master. “It was because of you, Daisuke-dono. And that boy.” Part of him wanted to help, even though the other part would rather turn around and be safe. But since the chief was doing everything he could to avoid the fight, Tadayoshi would hear his will. It was the right choice. They had no chance of winning. “It’s stupid to fight when you’d lose everything. But you weren’t thinking of saving yourself. You were willing to sacrifice your life so others could live. I think… I think the worlds still needs people like you.”

The chief kept his mouth shut, staring the swordsman, the silence almost unbearable to Tadayoshi. He was the one avoiding meeting Daisuke-dono’ eyes now. Before any of them could break the silence, Sumire-dono came from the kitchen, sparing the two men.

Ei helped setting up the food—fish with millet again—on the table. The four of them sat down and just like yesterday, the only sound was the chewing, the clothes rustling, and the hashi touching the bowls.

No wonder no one’s in the mood to celebrate, Tadayoshi thought, bringing the hashi to his mouth. He glanced at Ei, Sumire-dono and Daisuke-dono; though they focused on the meal, their eyes were unfocused and empty. They might be alive and safe now, but the cost was too much.

After Sumire-dono and Ei cleared the table, sleep hit Tadayoshi with full force. He yawned and turned to the corner where his straw bed was until the morning. Before the swordsman could ask the chief, he, his wife and Ei left the house.

The trio walked alone at first, but soon others joined them. Tadayoshi immediately knew he shouldn’t be here, but he still followed them, always keeping a distance and walking under the shadows. The entire village gathered around a small area near the edge the fields.

The ground’s too soft there… It wasn’t random; Tadayoshi counted fifteen different patches of earth different from the rest. Graves… Since they don’t have to abandon their homes, they’re paying respect for the dead, he realized. Keeping to the shadows, the swordsman strained his eyes. There was a small pile of rocks on each grave, and on the center, a wooden board with nothing but a bird carved.

Ei was in front of a grave on the corner. Tadayoshi knew right away. His mother. The boy wasn’t alone. Two women, a young man and three children were by his side. They cried and try to comfort Ei, but even from this distance, the swordsman could see his mind wasn’t there.

On the other side, the chief and his wife were crying in front of their son’s grave. After a long time, Daisuke-dono tried to say something through the tears.

Tadayoshi didn’t hear what he said, nor saw beyond that. I’m a stranger, an outsider… hated, he said to himself, his hand on the scar. I don’t belong, my presence is an insult. No one realized he was there. And no one will. Even if nobody looked backwards, he backed away in silence.

He gathered the straw and placed in on the same corner. Making a big pile for a pillow, he rested his head. When he was about to close his eyes, the advisor’s words echoed in his mind. We will be back tomorrow morning… he’ll let me leave, but it doesn’t mean they won’t chase me. In the worst case, he’ll be here before dawn and I’ll have to fight.

Forcing himself up, he sat on the straw and searched his possessions. With the linen sack in his hand, he picked his swords, the old and the new. Looking between the katana, he chose his old one.

I fought, but since I was in the defensive for the most part, I doubt it’ll take much, he thought, unsheathing. He held the sword in his front with the left hand, the sharp edge turned away from him. Before he could stop it, he chuckled. I guess all that nagging was worth it, master. Maintaining the katana was one of the non-fighting lessons his master insisted.

With the free hand, he opened the bag and took a small sheet of nuguigami, a paper made from rice. Holding between his thumb and index finger, he slid it from the guard to tip, cleaning the blade of the fight’s remains and old oil from the scabbard. Repeating the process twice, the katana was clean. He held it upwards, turning around a couple times. It’s not enough.

From the sack, he took an even smaller one. Inside there was a white powder and an uchiko, a small silk ball tight around a wooden shaft. With the uchiko, he tapped both sides of the sword, covering the blade with a thin layer of powder. Using another sheet of nuguigami, he removed the layer. When he was done, he raised the sword again, looking under the moonlight passing through the window. Like new, he thought, a smile on his lips.

Sheathing his sword, Tadayoshi picked his new one. The moment he unsheathed, he couldn’t stop himself from staring the blade again. Thought it didn’t shine like before, it was still breathtaking to him. Even if you whipped the blood, it doesn’t mean it’s clean, his voice master woke him from the trance. I know, I know. If it’s not properly treated, a blade will die… and I won’t make any money, he said to himself, a meager smile on his lips. It’ll be a shame to sell this…

Shaking his head, Tadayoshi looked for the mekugi, the peg that held the tsuka, the handle. Once he found, he grabbed a thin piece of wood inside the sack and hit it a few times. Without the peg, the handle easily came out. Applying a little more strength, he took the fuchi, the collar, the tsuba, the hand guard, and the seppa, the washer.

The katana now was at its most naked form. But even like this, it’s a tool for killing. Checking the base, he saw the dirty and snorted. For someone who cared a lot for the katana, you sure didn’t clean it properly in a while, Konkawa.

Repeating the process he did before, Tadayoshi cleaned Asahi entirely and piece by piece, he reassembled the katana. When he finished, the swordsman in him couldn’t contain his smile; it’s more beautiful than ever!

I should clean the others too. But when he looked at the linen sack, he gave up the idea. I’m almost without paper and powder. Since I don’t know when I’ll get near a town and a blacksmith, better save it.

Tadayoshi placed everything back where it were. The sleep had left him now, but when he heard movements through the windows, he laid down and kept still. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he would rather like to give the chief and his wife more privacy.