Issekigan hefted his pack once more, and made his way toward the gate.

"But I must speak with a magistrate of the Emerald Champion!"

"This is the Imperial City. Magistrates on official duty or those invited to the city may enter. You do not bear the mon of a magistrate, Wasp, and you carry no invitation. Do not waste my time further."

Issekigan turned away, knowing there would be no way in here. The guard would not listen to him. He would have to find another way. Wearily, he walked back to one of the outlying farms where the heimin would give him shelter for the night.

Upon reaching the nearest farm, Issekigan knocked on the door. A peasant promptly opened the door, and bowed his head, not daring to look upon a samurai until addressed.

"I seek shelter for the night. Can you help me?" Issekigan asked.

Only then did the peasant look up, but still he would not meet the samurai's gaze.

"I would be honoured to have you stay in my humble home. Truly, I am twice honoured this night." replied the peasant.

"Twice?" inquired the Wasp.

"Hai, samurai-sama. Another samurai rests within even as we speak."

"Then I will not disturb you further." Issekigan replied, turning to leave.

"Iie, samurai-sama. If the Fortunes brought you to my door, then it is not without reason. Please, come in and rest for the night. Even now, my wife prepares tonight's meal and I will fetch you some sake directly."

Issekigan nodded, and stepped inside the peasant's home. It was not a large affair, but a kitchen separate from the main room. The farmer closed the door and hurried into the kitchen. Presumably he and his wife would be waiting on the samurai from there tonight. Sitting by the fire was another samurai, dressed in a plain grey kimono, legs crossed, eyes closed apparently in deep meditation. Issekigan seated himself nearby.

Time passed, and Issekigan was startled by the sudden appearance of the farmer. He had brought some sake and two cups. He bowed to the samurai and left as quickly as he had arrived. Still the other samurai had not moved. Issekigan was unsure how much time had passed, and so decided to have some sake and settle down to sleep for the night. Just as he reached for the sake, he heard a voice whisper to him.

"I find these peasant homes most relaxing."

Looking up at his previously silent companion, Issekigan was surprised to find him looking right at him.

"They are so simple and peaceful. I find it makes it easier to meditate." the other samurai continued.

"I suppose it is quite peaceful here." replied the Wasp, sipping his sake.

"Hai, my friend. You have the right idea." his companion said, reaching for his own cup. "My name is Rikimaru, and I presume you are having the same difficulty I am?"

"And that would be?" Issekigan asked warily.

"Why, getting inside the Imperial city of course."

"Hai. Unfortunately, my temper and impatience led me to resign my post as a magistrate too early I fear. Were I still in service to the Emerald Champion I would be in the city by now."

"I too seek a way inside the city. The guards blessing is not the only way in. I have another that I might be willing to share with you."

"How risky is this way you speak of? And what would you ask for in return? While I must enter the city, I will not endanger others to do so."

"Hai. The noble Wasp. Forced to resort to illicit methods to get his job done, and yet trying to convince himself it will all be all right and that he has broken no law."

"Careful, friend. Your words have the sound of a Scorpion about them."

"Rest easy, Wasp. I am no Scorpion."

"So answer my questions, and enough of these distractions!"

"Hai. The way is not risky, though it has it's price. Someone of your background and skills should have no troubles with it at all. And all I ask in return is that you join me in meditation this evening, before we depart tonight."

"Tonight? Why must we leave tonight."

"We must enter the city under the cover of darkness. The light of Amaterasu would serve only to show our activities to those guarding the city."

"Hai, you are right. Well then, let us meditate."

Rikimaru leaned forward, set an incense burner on the table and lit it. Shortly, a sweet, heavy smoke started to fill the air. Rikimaru leaned back and resumed his meditative pose, indicating for Issekigan to do likewise. Issekigan settled back comfortably and closed his eyes.

"I have no time for these games. I must enter the city." thought Issekigan, "And yet, I have no choice. I must find this way Rikimaru speaks of. How long have I been meditating?"

Issekigan opened his eyes and looked toward his companion.

"He has no face!"

He closed his eyes, and tried to control his fear.

"Surely you imagined it. Perhaps too much sake. Calm down. Concentrate on the task. You have to get into the city before you can continue your search for Ts.. Ts.. your daimyo."

"Why is it I cannot recall his name? He trained me himself since I was young. He and.. his yojimbo were always there for me. Why is it I do not remember?"

"I am Issekigan. I travel the Empire of.. of.. the Empire seeking my daimyo. I seek entry to the city of Otosan Uchi."

"Calm down."

"How much longer must I sit here?"

"He had no face!"

"Concentrate. You do not believe such superstitious nonsense. You are..."

"I am.."

"My name! He has taken my name! Who am I?"

"I am.. I seek.. My name is.."

"Issekigan?" whispered a quiet voice.

Issekigan opened his eyes. Rikimaru stood before him, a worried look on his face.

"Issekigan, it is time to go."

The Wasp struggled to his his feet and looked around.

"I... I shall get my pack."

He retrieved his pack and returned, looking a little dazed.

"So, Rikimaru-san, where do we go now?"

"To the gate in the South wall."

"But I have already tried by the gates. They shall not let us pass."

"Incorrect, Issekigan-san, they shall not see us pass."

The two shadowy figures approached the wall. A large wagon was just pulling up at the gate, and stopped as the guards questioned the driver on his business in the city. Rikimaru waved Issekigan forward to the side of the gate, and then followed him.

"Wait here until they open it up to let the wagon through. Then sneak through the gate with the wagon." Rikimaru whispered.

"This is your great plan? We'll be seen!" Issekigan replied angrily.

"Keep your voice down, Wasp. Trust in the shadows to hide you from sight. We shall not be seen."

Issekigan looked doubtful, but did as his companion asked. He watched as the guard in charge of the gate questioned the driver of the wagon, while the others maintained their watch. When one of them looked directly at him, he nearly panicked but Rikimaru's words came back to him once more - "Trust in the shadows to hide you.."

He concentrated on remaining as still as possible, and not making a sound. The world itself seemed to dim around him and the fraction of a second that the guard looked his way seemed to drag out out forever. Finally the guard turned to look to the wagon as it moved toward the gate. The world brightened once more, and Issekigan almost fell over, confused. Rikimaru reached out a steadying hand to him.

"Come, my friend, we must move now."

The two of them moved swiftly and silently alongside the wagon as it entered the Imperial city and then off to one side into the shadows once they were inside.

"Here we must part ways, Issekigan. Remember what you have learned. We will meet again." Rikimaru whispered.

Issekigan turned to reply but his companion was already gone, leaving no trace of his passage.

It was only an hour later as Issekigan found a tea house to relax in that he remembered he had never told Rikimaru his name.

But Issekigan had other things on his mind. He awaited an audience with the Emerald Champion. The sound of footfall approaching startled him from his reverie. Seppun Toshiken entered the room, followed by a magistrate or two and a clerk. Issekigan fell to his knees in a deep bow, and waited to be addressed by the Emerald Champion.

"Konnichi-wa, Issekigan-san. What is it that you have to report to me?"

Issekigan straightened from his bow to the Emerald Champion, and stood straight and tall.

"I came to inform the Emerald Champion of the suspicious deaths of Monkey Clan samurai. I believe it to have been the work of Scorpion spies."

"Bah, the Scorpion are in exile. We have no need to worry about them." replied Toshiken. "I am more concerned with your recent resignation from your post as Magistrate. We are sorely lacking in good magistrates and I can ill afford to lose one of the Wasp."

"I regret that I felt it necessary to turn from the post of magistrate in order to follow a more.. personal calling."

"And that would be?"

"I seek my lord Tsuruchi, or news of his fate."

A disapproving look crossed Toshiken's face.

"Such loyalty... One would say almost a Scorpion quality..."

Toshiken's comment did not go unnoticed. Issekigan fought to retain his composure before replying.

"If this conversation is at an end, Toshiken-sama, I have things to see to before I depart on my journey."

"Hai. You are dismissed, Issekigan."

Issekigan turned to leave the small hall in which he had been welcomed. Waiting for him at the door was a Wasp samurai-ko who he had not seen in a long time.

"Issekigan! Where have you been? I asked a court shugenja to send a message to the Fox asking after you, but all the reply said was that you had departed on a personal journey. Come, let us share a drink and I shall tell you all the news."

"Hai, Tarashiko. We have a lot to catch up on."

"It is good to be out of that dreadful palace." remarked Issekigan.

"You do not like the Imperial Palace?" inquired Tarashiko.

"No. That place.. it seems.. wrong somehow. I did not feel at ease at all. And as for Toshiken.. there is something about that man. He seems too.."

"Young?" "Perhaps. I was going to say aggressive. Too aggressive to be Emerald Champion. Anyway, what news do you have for me?"

"The Alliance marches to war, my friend."

"What? With who?" Issekigan replied, shocked.

"The Phoenix. The diplomatic efforts have failed, and even now, Mukami leads the Wasp north. Yoritomo has been camped in the Phoenix lands a while now, and Wakiza leads the Centipede for their part in this conflict. As for Ryosei and the Fox, well... their position is uncertain."

"Hai. Ryosei-sama all but said as much when I spoke with her before I departed."

Issekigan looked at his sake cup thoughtfully for a while before speaking again. "What of the Wasp? What part do we play in this?" he finally asked.

Tarashiko looked around cautiously before replying. "We are to assault Kyuden Asako!" she replied enthusiastically.

"Bah. Foolishness. The Phoenix have never done anything to harm the Wasp. Why should we move against them?"

"Yoritomo commands it."

"Since when has he given us orders? We are not Mantis!"

"The Alliance must stand together on all things, Issekigan. Divided, we are weaker and will fall."

"I still disagree. We should not do this."

"That is not important. Now that you have arrived, we can hurry north to catch the rest of the Clan. We will fight alongside Mukami and our brothers and make the spirit of Lord Tsuruchi proud of us."

"He is not dead!" yelled Issekigan.

The conversation in the tea-house ceased for a second, then resumed as the customers pretended not to have noticed the shame of the Wasp's emotional outburst. For a fleeting moment, Issekigan thought he saw a familiar face toward the back, but it was gone before he could be sure. Remaining quiet for a moment, Issekigan calmed himself before continuing.

"He is not dead." he repeated quietly.

"If you say so. I have grieved for him, Issekigan. I have accepted his passing. I suggest you do so too. Now, gather your things. We must leave tonight if we are to make up the ground between us and the Clan."

"Bah. Let Yoritomo have his stupid war. I will not fight."

"What? You must. It is our duty."

"Open your eyes, Tarashiko. Yoritomo seeks his own interests, not those of the Wasp. I will not follow him. I seek my lord, my daimyo.. my friend."

With that, Issekigan stood and left the tea-house. Tarashiko hurried after out after him, but when she reached the door was amazed to find no sign of him. He was gone.

And as he walked away from the city, a dark figure watched him from atop the North Wall.

Its quiet voice floated on the wind.

"Yes, Issekigan. We shall meet again."