Beckoning them inside, Neko headed for a large mound of hay by the back wall. Walking round it, they were shocked to discover Kunio amid a pile of weaponry and armour. Caught in the act, his face flushed with shame. On his head a horned helmet sat askew, far too big for him. He wore a bloodied breastplate and held a battleworn katana aloft, as if pretending to be some legendary warrior.

‘Put that sword down!’ ordered Hayato, staring aghast at the ominous collection of weaponry.

‘Neko’s got one,’ moaned Kunio petulantly. ‘Why can’t I?’

Hayato turned on Miyuki. ‘This is just what I feared would happen!’

He bent down and picked up one of the spears. As he did so, he dislodged some hay to reveal a trapdoor in the wooden planking. Through the opening, they could see a hoard of spears, swords and armour.

Hayato grabbed Kunio and shook the boy violently.

‘Where did all this come from?’ he demanded, but Kunio was too petrified to reply.

Toge appeared out of the darkness and answered for him. ‘From dead samurai.’

25 Divisions

25

DIVISIONS

‘These farmers are all thieves and murderers!’ exclaimed Hayato, pushing Kunio away and glaring at Toge with contempt.

Saburo, Yori and Yuudai exchanged looks of equal disgust at the revelation.

‘There must be some other explanation,’ said Jack, struggling to come to terms with the farmers’ dark secret.

‘No, there isn’t!’ snapped Hayato, picking up a helmet and brandishing it in their faces. ‘This is plunder from vanquished samurai. After a battle, such farmers as him swoop on to the field like vultures, hunting the wounded and defeated, and stealing all they can!’

Turning on his heel, Hayato strode towards the door.

‘Where are you going?’ asked Jack.

‘I’m leaving,’ he announced.

‘But what about Akuma?’

Hayato laughed coldly. ‘Are we to risk our lives, only for the farmers to kill and rob us? Not me.’

‘Toge, this can’t be true,’ Jack begged, as Yuudai went to follow his friend.

‘Hayato’s right,’ replied Toge matter-of-factly. ‘We’ve ransacked battlefields. Stolen from dead samurai. Ignored the pleas of dying warriors.’

Jack was astounded at the lack of remorse shown by the farmer.

‘But we’ve done no more than his kind do to us!’

Hayato halted in his tracks and stared in outrage at Toge. ‘Samurai lay down their lives to protect this land from invaders, tyrants and bandits, so that you’re safe to grow your rice. And this is how you reward our services?’

‘Services?’ spat Toge, snatching up a spear and shaking it furiously. ‘Wherever samurai fight, they burn and destroy our crops, kill our women, hurt our children and destroy our homes! As farmers, we must fight for survival every day!’ Toge lashed out, kicking a pile of armour with his foot. ‘You accuse us of being thieves and murderers! But who made us so?’