Hideki looked around for somewhere to look, but nothing interested him. He didn't know where to go, but this town was nothing special to the young deulist at the moment and he wanted to go somewhere else. Possibly somewhere a little more open. He decided to go east, picking the direction at random.

"I shall go east to see if the bandits are doing anything over there," he mentioned as he started walking eastward. "If anyone would like to accompany me I would be pleased to have them come with me."

"I'll go with you." Sanjuro said.

It didn't take long before Tsubasa found her legs hugged by children. She sighed and took the blunt end of her Yari and lightly bopped them on their heads. "I can't do my job if you're going to be weighing me down. Relax. Something will be done." This only made the children hug her legs tigher. "I'm no good at dealing with kids. It makes me wonder what kind of mother I'll turn out to be. I better go with those two heading east." She forced the children off of her and jogged to catch up to Sanjuro and Hideki.

Tsubasa, Hideki, and Sanjuro crossed the bridge heading east. Sanjuro stood several feet away from the others practacing his chain work. He leapt the chain as it threshed the grass. He whipped it around with great skill.

The plains extended into the horizon. Miles upon miles of grass lands. To the south the SPine of the world could be seen in the distance. In the south southwest a sprawling forest of pines extended to the foothills of the mountain.

"We should probably check the forest too."

Tsubasa nodded. "We should keep our eyes on the branches when we do. I don't think bandits practice the honorable way of combat, and are more likely to leap down on top of us from all sides."

Benitora looked around the village, asking for a place for Shizune to stay while they were here. Finally, an old couple volunteered to take her in. It warmed his heart to see the smile on their crinkled faces as she ran into their arms.

The old woman beamed as she told him that she was like the child they never had, and withtheir promise to take care of her still fresh in their ears, Benitora left to join Sanjuro and company.

"Those are rather tall pines. I doubt anyone could survive a leap from those branches, Samurai-san" Sanjuro said to Tsubasa. He seemed a little ill at ease.

Tsubasa observed the pines more carefully. "It...sure looks that way when I look at it, Sanjuro-san. I certainly wouldn't try leaping down from a height like that." Tsubasa set a flat hand on her brow to block out the sun.

(Live damn you LIVE!!! *lightning bolts)

Kambei sat in the headman's house drawing a military map of the town. He had made modifications to the design to make the town more defensible. Toku poured his friend some tea.

_________________

The forrest and the immediate surroundings of the village were serene. The rice fields north of the village were almost ready for harvest.

Sanjuro had a wistful look on his face. "We should report back soon."

(OOC: It was the damn forum fuckerino. Plus the not-really-knowing-whats-supposed-to-be-going-on of it all)

Matt peeked his head into Kambei's tent. "If you don't mind the intrusion Kambei-san, would you happen to have a guess as to this village's supply of equipment and ready-to-be-trained troops?"