For a year and a half after his defeat Akodo Mifure waited by the gate of Mirumoto Suneko's dojo each dawn, and if approached he humbly requested that he be allowed to study under Suneko-sama. Each time she would refuse.
Each day Mifure labored in the rock-garden within the dojo. At first the old gardener despaired at the inept samurai's assistance, but soon the gardener wept tears of joy at the sublime beauty of Mifure's work, and heralded him as the master.
Each evening Mifure would meditate, or tell stories to the village children, or perhaps play haunting melodies on the flute he carried. Yet still Mirumoto Suneko would not allow him to enter her dojo.
After a year and a half Mirumoto Suneko came to visit the garden which was now attracting visitors from as far away as Mamoru Kyotei Toshi. She gazed upon the garden from sunrise to sunset, never moving from the low sitting stone placed precisely so. As she rose she bowed deeply to Mifure. She spoke these words, overheard by the old gardener:
"I have seen a dozen gardens and learned nothing. Now I have seen one garden and my eyes were opened."
Akodo Mifure and Mirumoto Suneko disappeared that day, and were never seen again. The Lion bards say that they found a secluded plateau, and crossing swords died together, for their love would never be allowed. The Crane rakugoka say that the two climbed up the endless stair to Shiro Togashi, and grew together in wisdom in that mysterious temple nearly as high as the stars. The Dragon say nothing. However the peasants say that the two left the Great Wall Mountains and settled down in a remote corner of the empire as simple farmers, and raised a large family. Heh, what do peasants know? But now that I think of it, my gardener does have a passing resemblance to my Akodo cousins....