Prologue
The wind was blowing hard that night, causing the tall grass to ripple and rustle. The air was warm however and the crickets chirped happily at the moon. Kosuke walked silently down a dirt path, hakama billowing in the wind. The kasa hat Kosuke wore had its ties done tightly. The hat was something Kosuke could not afford to lose.
Kosuke came to a stop. The wind gusted and black hair blew around the warrior's face. There were footsteps; the footsteps of someone approaching Kosuke from behind.
"You're the ronin they're talking about, aren't you? You've got some nerve, causing all that havoc at the puppet house. They say you killed five of the shogun's finest samurai."
The challenger drew his katana from its sheath. Kosuke turned to face this man and the sudden shock on his face was apparent.
"How dare you dishonor Japan like this? A woman masquerading as a bushi warrior! I'll show you your place."
But the man did no such thing. There was a flash of steel and the challenger fell.
"I am no ronin. I am heir to the Muranaka clan, Muranaka Kosuke. You will not make the mistake of dishonoring my father's name again."
Kosuke began to walk away. A hot summer rain began to fall. It splashed on the ground and was blown every which way by the wind. The man lay there in his pooling blood, the water trickling down his dead face.
