The samurai were left to their own devices for the day and the night; all of them were afforded comfortable if spartan quarters at the Emerald Champion's estate, and though Isawa Kiriko did not personally see them off, they found her<i>yojimbo</i>awaiting them at the gates. Wordless as ever, he pressed a ricepaper note from his mistress, bidding the samurai the Fortunes' blessings, into Sayomi's hands before giving all of the companions an abbreviated bow and disappearing into the throngs of heimin entering or leaving the Imperial capital.<br/><br/>The southern road leading out of the city and into Lion provinces was well-worn by the feet of countless travelers, and though amid the vast, golden plains the springtime sun was hot on the companions' necks a pleasant breeze carrying the scent of cherry blossoms followed them from the east, and made the days more bearable. The first few nights they took their rest in well-appointed inns and teahouses, the proprietors of which were delighted to host samurai -- and<i>particularly</i>samurai such as Sabu, who might share tales, however threadbare, of the wider world. But by late on the fifth day the skies darkened, and fat raindrops began to hasten them towards a tiny village hugging the edge of the only significant forest in all the Lions' lands.<br/><br/>Though boisterous laughter thundered inside the village inn, the elderly heimin who answered the door was ashen-faced. An emotion midway between terror and hope flickered through her dark eyes when she spotted the Scorpion and Spider<i>mons</i>decorating Michi's and Tomomi's kimonos, and with a careful bow she explained, in low tones, "Forgive me, my lords, my ladies. We have... other visitors, tonight." More laughter, and cursing, bled out into the evening over her shoulders. "The inn is crowded, and we have little food left."<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>