Seibei Iguchi Twilight Samurai

	Seibei reasons that either could be killed by using swords, but broken limbs were the worst that could happen with sticks. Toyotaro insists that he will use his sword. He tells Seibei that he should apologise. Seibei says that the apology is Toyotaro's to make, for hitting Tomoe.
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The duel begins and Seibei manages to knock Toyotaro to the ground. He asks if he is ready to apologise, but the hard headed man refuses and once again attacks Seibei.
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	This time Seibei takes no prisoners! He leaps over Toyotaro's head and brings the stick down hard. Whack!
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Toyataro lies unconscious on the riverbank. Knocked senseless by Seibei. So as the pen is mightier than the sword, in this instance, the stick was mightier than the sword - or at least in Seibei's hands!!
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	As they leave, Seibei orders Iinuma to tell no one of what has happened, especially Tomoe. Iinuma says that Toyotaro would say something. Seibei thinks it unlikely as "Whipped dogs don't talk.".
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Later, as Seibei is working in the stores, he is greeted by a stranger, who turns out to be Zenemon Yogo, Master of the Watch. He asks if Seibei is the Twilight Seibei who left Toyotaro Koda with a big lump on his head!
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	He asks where Seibei trained. Seibei tells him that he was a student of Toda Sensei who taught him the short sword. Zenemon Yoga offers Seibei a match, but Seibei says that he would be no match for him, and declines.
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When he gets home, Seibei finds that Miss Tomoe had been to visit, and had left a letter for him. She apologises for the trouble, but is delighted that he beat her ex-husband. She says with his daughters, she had done the laundry and cleaned his house. She said that she would like to see him again. She calls regularly after that.
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	Seibei and Iinuma go fishing, though Seibei seems luckier at catching the fish. Iinuma tells his friend that Tomoe has had lots of marriage proposals. He had asked her if she would like to marry Seibei, and she had said that she would not mind.
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Seibei is stunned and feels that they are making fun of him. Iinuma tells him not to be a dolt!
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	Seibei feels it is all too sudden, and he would need a few days to give his answer. Iinuma tells him he can have three days, after which he must decide. Seibei recalls how his first wife and her family never accepted her drop in income when she married him, so he is afraid that Tomoe would in time feel the same. Iinuma tells him that Tomoe is not like that.
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As they prepare to move upstream to fish, they see a dead child in the water, another victim of starvation. Seibei seems to feel that this is what he fears for his own children also, because of their poverty, but he does not say so. He refuses to discuss marriage matters further. After that day Tomoe stops visiting his house.
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	The Commisioner tells the retainers that Lord Hori had died a month previously. The colleagues wonder why they had not been told about it earlier. They are sent home early. After Seibei leaves, the men talk about his beating Toyotaro and wonder if he knows about their nickname for him. They decide it may be wise to stop calling him Sir Twilight.
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Seibei takes the extra time to cut down some trees for the wood. He wonders what will happen in their political world now, and how that will effect his family if at all. He fears that a war could come.
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	Iinuma has gone to Edo, so Seibei calls at his house to see if there is any news. His wife says that Iinuma is far more worried about what he has to eat than anything else. Seibei feels this is good news, as things can't be that bad then! He has hoped to see Tomoe, but she is not around. After he leaves she comes out of the house to look for him, but her sister in law warns her away.
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When men call for the insect cages that Seibei makes during the evenings as piecework, he asks them to ask the boss if he can have more money for them. They think it unlikely as people aren't buying them in the uncertain times.
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	Later that night Commissioner Kusaka visits. He tells Seibei that he has been asked to go to Lord Hori's quarters. Seibei bows politely when he arrives.
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Seibei is asked to kill Zenman Yogo, the Master of the Watch who refuses to commit suicide. He has been chosen because of his skills with the short sword. Zeneman Yogo has locked himself in his house and refuses to come out.
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	Seibei says that after years of hardship he has lost the will to wield a sword, and so it would be impossible to beat a man like Zeneman Yogo. Perhaps he could do it in a month, but it would be better to extend the honour to someone else.
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The clansmen are furious at his refusal, and threaten to cut him out of the clan. Seibei has no option but to accept their order. He asks for a few days, but they say that the deed must be done before twilight the next day.
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	Seibei thanks the Commissioner for all that he has done for him. The Commissioner promises to take care of those that Seibei leaves behind, should he fail in his commission and be killed. Seibei is relieved to hear that.
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When Seibei gets home he looks in on the sleeping children. He knows that it could be the last night he has.
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	He takes his short sword apart, and examines then sharpens the blade and cleans the sword. Seibei then goes outside and practices his moves in readiness for the next day. Ito wakes and watches her father, saying that she has never seen a look like that on his face before.
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Kayano and Ito go off to school. Seibei watches them go, and wonders if it will be the last time he ever sees them.
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	Seibei asks Naota to go to Miss Tomoe's house and ask her to come over, that he will explain later.
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Seibei waits for Tomoe to arrive. His mind focused on the task ahead; a task he doesn't want to carry out.
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	When Tomoe arrives, he asks her to help him with preparing himself. She tidies up his hair, and helps him to dress suitably. She asks him why he must go. He explains that he can't refuse a Clan order, even if he is only a petty Samurai.
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Seibei mentions the discussion he had with Iinume about her, and says that he's been thinking a lot about her. He asks if she would be prepared to marry him if he survives the fight.
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	Seibei is disappointed to hear that Tomoe has already accepted a marriage proposal from a retainer in Aizu a few days earlier.
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He feels like a fool for having asked her, and for asking her to attend to him. He asks her to forget what he said. She assures him that she is happy that he asked her.
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	It is time for him to go, and Seibei thanks Tomoe for everything that she's done for him. She tells him that she prays that he comes back safely, but she won't be able to wait for him there.
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Accompanied by his clansmen, Seibei sets off for Zeneman Yogo's house, dressed in his best clothes.
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	The guards are waiting for him, and they show him the body of Genba Hattori, the Master of the Foot lying dead in the pathway. Zeneman Yogo has killed him.
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Tentatively, Seibei makes his way into the house, ready for any attack.
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	Seibei tells Zeneman Yogo that he is there to kill him on the Clan's orders. The man wants to talk, and tells Seibei to sit down and not be in such a hurry.
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Zeneman Yogo tells Seibei that he would like to escape and go to Edo or Kyoto, where he could get lost amongst the masterless Samurai. He tells Seibei of his life, of the hardship he has endured; of losing his wife and daughter to consumption. Seibei can relate to this fully.
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	Seibei confides that he has also found it difficult, and that he had to sell his father's antique sword to pay for his wife's lavish funeral. The sword he carries is only bamboo.
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Zeneman is insulted to think that Seibei means to kill him with a bamboo sword. Seibei tells him that he intended to use the short sword, but his opponent is furious and attacks Seibei, wounding his arm and leg.
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	Seibei tries to reason with the man, but to no avail. He is told to draw his sword, which he does. The time for fighting has come.
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Seibei holds the short sword in readiness, and has to flee from the long blade of Zeneman's sword on several occasions.
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	The fight continues, both men fighting with all their might for their lives.
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Zeneman wields the long sword at Seibei, but it becomes stuck in the rafter. Seibei takes his chance and cuts Zeneman with his short sword, which is much more useful for fighting indoors in a small space.
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	Both men sit on the floor exhausted. Seibei is wounded, and Zeneman is dying. He asks Seibei to let him go. Seibei says that had been his intention. Zeneman tells him that everywhere is dark. He gets up but falls down dead.
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Seibei has survived, and completed his orders. He looks exhausted but relieved to be alive.
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	Limping, he makes his way outside the house and tells the guards that it's all theirs now. They seem impressed that he has completed his task.
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As he walks out of the gate he manages a small smile as he realises that he has been able to do what he had feared he could not. He can now go back to his home and family.
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	The wounded Seibei arrives home and gives his sword to Natoa, who bows to his master.
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He calls to Ito, but the child is wary of going to him since his arm and leg is covered in blood. Eventually she goes to him and he hugs her, burying his face in her shoulder in relief of seeing her again.
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	He is also surprised, and delighted to see Miss Tomoe is still there, waiting for him. He takes hold of her hands as she tells him that she feared that he was dead.
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She breaks down in tears and clings to him as relief sweeps over her. Eventually they marry and Seibei is happy while they are together.
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