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?"

"As far as I've been told, precisely none. We'll need to fortify the main vilage, Fashion crude spears, and train the Heimen in a month. While still allowing them to harvest their rice. We need to select only those men strong enough to fight. If they are to old, to sick, or to young, they won't help much. The women of the village can tend to the harvest. Will you relay that message to the village headman. I'm told he is unable to leave the mill, according to Manzo he is very old, be polite we are his guests."

Matt nodded. "I guess I'll see you later Kambei-san."

He went to the mill, an easy landmark in the village of houses, and approached the door. He paused before knocking, old people were not his foray, and gently rapped on the frame. He heard a rattling cough and a muffled shout and took that as a question. The cough got closer and a strained voice came from the other side. "Who's there?"

"Its...uhh..." Saying his name would just bewilder the geezer, and he wasn't sure if these folks were all up-to-date on the roninness of them all. "A warrior in Kambei-san's group. He has asked me to talk with you about your village's defense. May I come in?"

A young woman holding a baby in her arms opened the door. In the mill an ancient peasant lay in a bed, he coughed a racking cough. A young man sat next to him tending the village headman.

"How may I help you O-samurai-sama." The ancient headman said. He then went into a coughing fit.

Hideki looked around, not feeling anything wrong with the situation. Tsubasa was still trying to look for something wrong, and Sanjuro was being shady as usual. Looking around a little more, he was convinced nothing wrong could happen here.

"I think we should go back to the town, there's nothing happening here. Birds are chirping here, so there couldn't be anyone trying to hide anywhere or the birds would be scared off." He waited for the other two to see what they would do in reaction.

Tenshi looks around the village, still trying to spot any spirits in the vacinity (sp?). (There's gotta be at least one ghost around for goodness sake)
After his scan, he walks up to the group of children in the village, smiling happily.
"So, which of you are gonna become warriors?"

Tsubasa decided to stay outside but still near the village for the most part, finding the tranquil countryside comforting if not rather for the sake of her legs. Even when the village was fortified, there would be vulnerable areas, and those should be found quickly. The fields sounded like the first area to be invaded, Tsubasa figured she would start there.

Sanjuro and Hideki left Tsubasa alone int the forest and headed back to the village. Kambie was waiting thir report.

"Good, We have plenty of supplies to make barricades."

Sanjuro retired to his quarters and made up his bed. He meditated for the next two hours.

Zenko had decided to wander around the village, to see what the ronin had to work with.