The four men agreed that they did not wish to spend another night there, regardless of the banishment of Inwai. They uncovered the merchant's treasure without much trouble and went down the mountain. In the village below they did not speak of their adventure to anyone, simply asking for a private room at the inn.
After they ate and refreshed themselves, Saburo brought up the service Yabu and Jiro had offered.
"Gentlemen, I am grateful to have joined you in ridding the world of Inwai, but you must understand that I have no interest in your war. I do not know where my path lies, but I see no indication that it is in that direction. I am tired of politics and no longer wish to involve myself in such struggles. I was honored to fight beside you, but please do not be offended if I make my on way on the morrow."
Yabu nodded. "I understand, although I would that your decision were different."
Jiro, looking pale and weary from the wounds he had suffered the night before, simply sighed slightly and bowed his head to Saburo. "And I was honored to fight beside you, Saburo. You showed great courage in the face of such horror."
During the night, Saburo dreamed of Inwai. It was the headless Inwai that they had just defeated, and Saburo was able to slay it after a fight. But then came another ghost and other monsters, one after another. No sooner did Saburo slay one than he was confronted with the next. This went on and on at a frantic pace until at last he came face to face with a short man, bald, with deathly cold eyes. He knew, without knowing how he knew, that this was the black priest, Kura. The man he had heard of from Yabu and Jiro.
Saburo woke. It was early morning. He saw that Yabu had already gotten up, though Jiro was still sleeping.
Saburo left the room quietly. Yabu was sitting on the porch, writing, and Saburo decided not to disturb him. Saburo found a quiet corner of the common room to think and contemplate the meaning of his dream.
Yabu watched the sun rise. Behind him he heard sounds of movement and conversation as Jiro greeted Saburo. The two men came out on the porch; Jiro was carrying some tea that he had gotten from the inkeeper.
Yabu nodded to the other two samurai's greetings. With slow fingers he folded the piece of mulberry paper he held, repeating the words he had written there.
Night lingers like a lover
Unable to leave,
Unable to say what is in the heart.
Deathless beauty
Contemplating the plum trees blossoming
Lit by dawn's first rosy glow.
First rays of sunlight
Turn dark eyes and pale skin to mist
Release is a surprise
Upon first awakening,
For the briefest of moments,
One believes in the dream.
As he spoke, the first rays of sunlight touched his graying hair. He finished folding the mulberry paper and slipped it inside his sleeve, blinded by the sunlight.
After a moment, Yabu took the cup of tea Jiro offered him.
Saburo nodded, saying, "It appears that she left her beauty in your words, Yabu-san."
Yabu bowed. It was another moment before he spoke. "I wonder what she felt, when she spoke out. She seemed in no pain. Just surprise. And then she was gone, as if she had never existed. Did we awake from a dream of her, or did she awake from a dream of living?"
"I think..." Jiro paused, as if uncertain what to say, "I think that she was real, for a time. We did not dream of her, the blade she struck me with was proof of that, but I think that she was only dreaming of being alive." He stopped, as if embarrassed by his speech and looked away from the other two samurai.
Yabu nodded. "This whole adventure has been as a dream. This morning it occured to me that of all the people we talked with, conversed with, fought, and killed over the last two nights, only we four were among the living. We have been living soldiers in a war between ghosts, and I find that very strange and unnerving."
"Men have no place among the dead." Jiro mused, "The living and the dead should remain apart, each to find their own karma."
"Yes," said Saburo. "Which leads me to another matter." His eyes strayed to the morning light filtering through the trees. His memories of Inwai seemed no more than a dream at this moment. But who could tell, he wondered, what was the dream, and what was the waking moment?
"I told you last night that I did not know where my path led." Saburo exhaled slowly before turning to Yabu. Their eyes met and he held the gaze, sizing up the man even as he revealed himself. Yabu looked back impassively.
"There is no room for the dead on this earth. And those that call them back are unnatural. I will meet this Black Priest and kill him, if that is my karma. In any case, it seems that we will be walking the same path for some time yet."
Jiro gave Saburo a quick smile and bowed his head, "We are honored that you have chosen such a path Saburo-san. Ogame-sama's cause is a just and noble one, and great honor and deeds are sure to come from supporting it."
Yabu was quiet, then bowed. "No man can know the karma of another," he said. "But we will welcome your aid for as long as our paths run together."