Saburo beamed at the suggestion of food. ‘I’d be delighted.’

The four of them made their way back to the dilapidated storehouse.

‘You’re living the life of a lord!’ mocked Saburo as he inspected the decaying wooden walls and dirt floor.

‘I have to keep a low profile,’ explained Jack, noticing the shame on Sora’s face at his friend’s offhand comment.

The farmer manically tried to clean the raised platform before inviting both of them to sit.

‘So, what are you doing in Okayama?’ asked Jack.

‘I’m on my musha shugyō.’

‘You!’ said Jack, surprised. His friend was a loyal and occasionally brave samurai, but he wasn’t a born fighter or a glory seeker.

Saburo gave a weary nod of the head. ‘My father’s idea. After my brother’s legendary sacrifice at the Battle of Osaka Castle, my arrow wound for saving your life during the school attack was no longer so impressive. You know how my father is – not satisfied with one heroic son, he wants to brag about my duelling exploits. He even presented me with this new daishō.’

Saburo passed Jack two impressive-looking swords. ‘As a good-luck gift.’

Jack admired the honed blade of the katana. ‘So, how many duels have you won with this?’

‘All of them,’ replied Saburo.

‘Really!’ said Jack, handing back the weapons with respect. ‘You’ve certainly become a mighty swordsman.’

Leaning in, Saburo lowered his voice. ‘That’s because I haven’t fought any yet,’ he admitted with a canny grin. ‘But I won’t be telling Father that.’

Jack laughed. Same old Saburo!

‘And what about you?’ asked Saburo. ‘The last I heard, you’d left Akiko in Toba some time back in spring. What have you been doing all this time?’

While Jack recounted the events of his last six months, the farmers huddled in the far corner, discussing the new arrival and leaving Neko to tend to the rice. Saburo was amazed and appalled in turn to learn of Jack’s exploits and hardships: his escape from Osaka Castle with the wounded Akiko; the pursuit of the Shogun’s samurai through the Iga mountains; the intervention of the ninja and how they helped him; the violent robbery with the loss of all his possessions and his memory; and the relentless hunt by Kazuki and his Scorpion Gang across Japan.

Although Jack trusted his friend completely, he was careful not to go into too much detail about his encounter with the ninja. He wasn’t sure how Saburo would react to the news that he’d become a fully trained shinobi.

‘That Kazuki’s a bully and a thug!’ exclaimed Saburo, upon hearing of the boy’s intention to go after Akiko. ‘I knew his father had been made daimyo of Kyoto Province, but the power’s gone to Kazuki’s head too.’

‘I’m just praying Hana’s reached Akiko first,’ said Jack.