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Akako found she was sleeping more soundly than she had ever in her life. Even a few hours left her rested and alert. She also found herself not far from her father's side. Though she would have enjoyed riding off with Chizu and the other ninja on patrol, her status within the clan had changed. Openly, Akako became Yasuhira's personal servant, but in private they conversed more and more like father and daughter. They filled many hours with idle talk. Yasuhira was almost desperate to know the inner workings of Akako's heart. They had been separated for so very long and he wasn't certain how much time was left for them before fate intervened once again. Perhaps the gods would separate them or worse the cold hand of death would claim one or other or even both. Akako didn't mind. Mostly because that if she said something about her life that meant Yasuhira would speak about himself. And she so enjoyed listening to his stories and regaling her with some wonderful anecdote of his travels and life experience. Of course beyond the reminiscences their time together made them forget the terrible situation they were in. The war was always within earshot; it took only the cry of a horse or the shouts of an irate officer to rouse them from their gentle conversation and bring them back down to earth.
Yasuhira's forces were moving at a steady pace southward. The young Hikiji lord wanted to maintain a cautious approach, as he didn't want to startle Lord Noriyuki with his presence and think him going to attack rather than parley. He had thought about sending Akako on ahead to act as an emissary. But it was still too early for that, at least by his reckoning. Yasuhira simply didn't want to rush anything. That was the surest way to stumble and if he did that not only would his father pounce, but also so would his esteemed cousins and brethren. Vipers, he was surrounded by vipers, and all were ready to strike him dead and declare themselves lord over all they surveyed. They were foolish vipers on top of everything else. As he struggled with that thought a voice came from outside. Yasuhira bid the person to enter. The door was opened by a page and kneeling in the threshold was one of Kenichi's scouts, still in armour.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Tono, a group of riders have been spotted moving toward our camp, they wear Geishu livery."
Yasuhira jumped to his feet, "Bring my armour," He shouted, which set his servants into motion, "How large a group?"
"Twenty men, Tono."
He narrowed his eyes, "A scouting party?"
"No, Tono, the travel openly on the roads. Banners flying."
As his armour was being tied, he shook his head, "An emissary then?"
"We are not certain, Tono."
"How far away are they?"
"40 ri, making a steady pace."
"I suspect Kenichi is keeping an eye on these Geishu?"
