He bowed, replying to the girl.

"Yoroshiku okudasai. My name is Kenichi Mizumoto, although if we are taking aliases, I suppose the name Kusa will serve that purpose." He knew that, if Hitomi had overheard, she would likely understand the meaning behind the alias. He would have liked to continue the conversation with Ashling, but the request from Snow interrupted them before they would have been able...

One weapon.

It took no time at all for Kenichi to make his choice. Reaching into his pack, he drew out a length of rope, about 18 feet long, and a heavy brass ring that looked like it could have once been part of a door knocker. After securing the ring to the end of the rope by closing the loop of a reinforced slip knot around it, he coiled the remaining rope a few times, and tucked the makeshift kusari-fundo into his belt. Knowing that the English girl would likely bring her strongest weapon, the blade, he decided it best to bring something with a balance between versatility and power. He removed the half-dozen concealed bo-shuriken from their various hiding places, stowing them in the pack, and finally turned to Snow.

"Before we depart," he began, "Do you have someplace where I might be able to store my belongings?"