Hitako wiped the samurai's blood from her katana silently. Offering the fallen man a salute with her blade, she stepped over him, the question of who was to pass the bridge first settled. Her black hair blew in the wind of motion, her green eyes flashed as sunlight flittered between the leaves of the trees surrounding the small river. She caught a glance of herself in the quiet waters below, and thought better of hurrying, intrigued by the tranquility of the scene. Being a slight aesthetic, she stood quietly, watching the water below.

Hitako's lord, Mirumoto Toshiro, had sent her on this task of delivering an important letter to Daidoji Tsokaku only two days ago. She had felt ashamed of how long it was taking her. Every passing moment to her meant another moment that she had not fulfilled her lord's wish. This thought had come into her head as she sat, watching cherry blossom leaves floating down the river. She was also aware of the man she had killed's blood touching her clothing. She stood, cleaning her blade as she sheathed it. Turning with a faint smile, she stepped off of the bridge.

How had she come to kill this other samurai was an easy enough question to answer. They had come upon each other, the man on one side of this bridge, Hitoki's on the other. They quarreled over who was greater, who should cross first. Hitako's answer was not in words of brave self-glorification, but in the simple, beautiful words of a challenge. The other was obliged to accept, and too prideful to declare Hitoki, the obvious better, the victor.

Hitako had wondered who the man was as the challenge happened. She had seen the mon of the Crane on his kimono, as he had seen the mon of the Dragon on hers. The world slowed down for them as they concentrated on the duel, the sword, the gentle rhythm of each other's breath, waiting for the perfect time, when victory was unavoidable. The Crane was too hesitant to take advantage of the weakness in the Dragon's stance, and, perhaps in a symbol of a Dragon destroying a small bird with ease, Hitako drew, slashing upward as her technique taught her to, the Crane drawing as well. The world seemed to stand still as the blade connected with bone and sinew, slicing through it. The Crane fell.

The rest of Mirumoto Hitako's journey was uneventful for the samurai-ko. Road and trees, no matter how beautiful, are only so interesting when one has a task to accomplish.

The walls of Daidoji Castle seemed to shine in the sunlight as Hitako approached them. The Crane guards let her in, and she was received by Daidoji Uji, a minor lilieutenant

"Hitako-san," Uji said, after introductions were made, "Tsokako-sama left this castle to travel north to the Dragon's lands two days ago. It's a wonder you two never met."

Hitako's mind whirled as the words were spoken. Suddenly, her mind became clear. The crane on the bridge was the man she was supposed to have delivered the letter to, and she had killed him. 'Oh, Tokeru, my ancestor, whatever shall I do?' she thought, 'How shall I ever live with this dishonor?'

Her ancestor's voice was pointedly silent. Hitako knew it meant seppuku.