“Harumoto-san… is a good man… so they say.” Natsumi voiced her thought aloud, a new clarity was beginning to break through the dark cloud of hopelessness and unsureness within. Natsumi thought back to the tales she had heard of the daimyo and his great mentor. Harumoto, known also as “Dairyu Seigen” among the devout, was reputed as being a true follower of the ways of bushido and was known as an unparalleled swordsman. “If… if he is truly a man of honor and kindness… then he must be willing to let us into his home.” Even as her eyes met her brothers’ Natsumi knew she was comforting herself, not her brother who even now in this terrible plight seemed to be the more reasonable and calm of the two. Natsumi found that even now most of her inner self was still in turmoil. How could it not be? 

“Let us then go before Harumoto-san. But… I have never been to the Kitabatake estate…”

Natsumi hoped her brother knew the way. In the worst of cases perhaps they could find their own way. Asking about. Or perhaps a map? Even with the full night of rest and a full belly Natsumi found her will to be sapped.