Saburo looked at him and laughed. ‘And fighting a bloodthirsty group of bandits wasn’t dangerous?’

‘But you’ll be fugitives,’ argued Jack.

‘Some roads aren’t meant to be travelled alone,’ said Yori, picking up his shakujō.

Thinking of all the challenges ahead, the treacherous journey seemed impossible. And for that reason Jack would welcome having his friends by his side. Together, they might stand a chance. Shouldering his pack, Jack walked out of the door.

The entire village was waiting to wish them farewell. Familiar faces bowed and offered their thanks for all they had done.

Yuudai stepped up. ‘I trust you understand my reasons for staying. We can’t leave this village completely defenceless.’

‘Of course we understand,’ replied Jack, exchanging a knowing glance with Miyuki as Neko stood proudly at Yuudai’s side. ‘But we’ll miss you, my friend. I’ve come to rely upon your strength and good humour.’

Yuudai smiled broadly. ‘It was an honour to fight alongside you. I hope our paths cross again one day.’

They bowed to one another. Then, as Saburo, Yori and Miyuki were saying their goodbyes, Toge burst through the crowd and threw himself at Jack’s feet.

‘I made a terrible mistake in judgement,’ he confessed. ‘I truly believed that turning you in for the reward was our only chance … How wrong I was … I beg your forgiveness.’

Toge’s forehead touched the ground in abject apology, expecting at any moment to feel the edge of Jack’s sword. Jack realized Toge had brought great shame upon himself and lost all respect among the farmers. But Toge had also redeemed himself at the crucial moment and Jack recognized that the village needed a strong leader at this time, one who could rebuild their community.

‘There’s no such thing as a mistake,’ said Jack, remembering what Sensei Yamada had once said when he himself had needed a second chance. ‘As long as you learn from it, then it’s a lesson.’

Toge humbly bowed his understanding. Forgiven and absolved in the eyes of the villagers, he returned to the veranda to stand beside Yoshi.

His mission to save the village accomplished, Jack put on his new straw hat and waved a final goodbye.

With the rising sun at their backs, Jack and his friends hiked south-west across the glistening snow-clad plain, leaving four sets of footprints where before there had been only one.

Notes on the Sources

NOTES ON THE SOURCES

The following quotes are referenced within Young Samurai: The Ring of Fire and their sources are acknowledged here: