Before them lay the house of Ichi Goya, it was a vast compound. A large wall surrounded four large buildings and a manor house. The first thing anyone say were the guards, there were everywhere, crawling around like ants. The gate was guarded by four massive men with axes, with a gaunt seedy looking man in the middle. Archers were on parapets above the gate, their bows at the ready. A line of men were waiting to get in. Some had a girl or two, some had four or five terrified peasants roped together. Others had cart loads of weapons that looks scavenged from one battle field or another, some were just holding sacks of money here to feed their vices.

Koji and Rei took their place in the back of the long line. Rei was twitching about, the mud was drying on her skin and the cheap kimono was made from course fabric, like the burlap they made rice bags from. Rei was fairly sure it was just two rice bags sewn together. The rope was no help either, Koji had to get the most course rope he would find.
The line barely moved, the gaunt man at the gates seemed to take pride in making everyone wait as long as possible. He knew nobody would give him lip because of the four apes he had backing him up. The day was progressing and they were getting itchy. They didn't want to spend three or four days waiting to see this little troll, especially not Rei who was accustom of bathing on a regular basis.
By the time the merchants began to hang their lamps outside their stores and the soldiers began to light the street lamps only two of the twelve had been admitted pass the walls. " Enough for today" the gaunt man called out, " come back tomorrow."
" Follow my lead" said Koji.
" Huh?" asked Rei.
Koji jerked hard on Rei's leash and dragged her up to the gate, " Now hold on just a damn minute" he said, " I've been waiting all day here after traveling two weeks with this prize. Look at her, you're telling me Ichi Goya doesn't want to see me today."
Koji pushed Rei forward, " Look at these" he said yanking her kimono open, " have you ever see such a thin woman have them so large, or so firm?"
Koji took a hold of them, " Soft and warm, she is worth a fortune to a man like Ichi" he said.
Koji was very happy, Rei was playing her part well, he half expected to be beaten within an inch of life by now but Rei knew what he was doing and played a long. " Hm, you're right she is buxom. Hmmm, very buxom" the gaunt man said.
His skeletal hands reached forward but Koji slapped them away making him yelp. The four huge guards stepped forward gripping their swords, " I didn't say a servant could touch. She is for Ichi Goya only" he said.
The gaunt man snarled, " Okay, you two follow me" he said, " you men close the gates."
The pair crossed under the watchful eyes of the archers above and through the thick gates. Once they cleared the gates the huge men began to push them closed. Two for each gate and it still took a few moments of grunting and strain before they closed. Then they picked up the massive wooden beam that all 4 had to carry. The ominous thump of the beam slipping into place made Koji and Rei both have second thoughts about this but they both knew it was too damn late to change their minds.
" Follow me" he said.
Koji and Rei walked through the main yard heading for a large building that overlooked the river beyond. The first thing they noticed was the lack of guards within the grounds, they were all posted on the edge looking out in anticipation for an attack. It was the first good sign they had seen since entering Sohma.
They walked up the steps were a man in a purple and blue kimono stood. He eyed them both up and folded his arms.

Tetsuya didn't like the looks of these two, he especially didn't like them being shown into Goya's private chambers. But Akira out ranked him in the household because he supplied Goya with the girls. Tetsuya knew it was best to follow closely.

They walked up the steps and into the front room. " Please follow me" said Akira, Ichi Goya's second in command.
Akira was very happy, Ichi would be very pleased with this one. She would make him rich and making him rich made Akira rich.
They walked through several rooms where delicate geishas were cleaning or cooking for their master. Not one of them wore anything except for deep red lash marks across their backs. Ichi Goya was a fickle master, the slightest mishap would be answered with the sharp sting of his lash. Up the stairs they went until they came to the fourth floor.
Akira led them to a sliding door decorated with two fighting dragons. " Through this door is Ichi Goya" he said.
The doors slid back and they got their first look at Ichi Goya.

He was a pale grossly fat toad being waited on by two naked girls. He was eating his meal off the flesh of a third girl. She was lashed to the table, a gag forced in her mouth. One of the girls laid a piece of hot tempura on her. They listened to her whimper as it burned her flesh. Ichi seemed to delight in her pain, his laugh was a high pitched squeal, his large flabby pecs bouncing as he laughed. He greedily gobbled the food off her and washed it down with a huge drink of sake from a ceramic jug. " What is it?" he asked looking up from his meal.
Akira dropped to his knees, " Lord Goya" he said, " I have a special delivery here for you."
Ichi looked started to look at Rei, he started at her petite ankles and slowly went up her curvy calves, to her firm thighs up her narrow waist, and stopped at her chest, he didn't need to go any further. He smiled, his long tongue slowly dragging across his pudgy lips, " What have we here?" he asked.
" I'm looking to sell her" said Koji.
" Hm, where is this pretty flower plucked from?" he asked, rubbing his massive belly that thankfully obscured his crotch from Rei, she didn't want to even image what state he was in.
" Namaguchi" he said.
" Snow woman" he said, " explains that lovely snow white skin, let's see it."
Koji whipped her rough kimono off exposing her naked body to everybody. " She was working in the field when I spotted her, I knew a beauty such as this shouldn't be working the fields."
" She should be working for pleasure" said Ichi.

Tetsuya suspicion was growing, a body like hers and her age she would be a trophy wife by now to some lord or powerful merchant even if she was a farmer's daughter. He gently dropped one hand to his sword while he indulged himself staring at her ass.

" Hm, is she a virgin?" he asked.
" No" said Koji, a weird sense of pride in his voice, " I would never dream of giving a rough product to a man of your standing. I have given her lessons and can vouch for her ability in many fields."
Ichi smiled, show his yellowed teeth, " Hm, come inside my good man, let us sit and discuss your reward" he said.
Koji walked over with Rei at his heels and sat down, " Hungry?" he asked.
Koji was disgusted, there was no way he was going able to eat tempura for awhile. " No, I have already eaten" he said.
" Hm, more for me" he said.
Koji wanted to strike now, just lash out and hacked this monster's head off but the bodyguard would be on him and that worm would run screaming. He would have to wait.

Rei watched as another piece of hot tempura was placed on the girl's skin, she swore she could hear the sizzling of the flesh. This entire scene would never leave her mind. She felt hate, she could taste it. To her horror she actually wanted to kill this filthy pimp, she wanted to listen to him scream. Rei began to question if she could be Koji's partner, could she give in to this dark voice inside her, what would become of her?

Ichi gobbled up the tempura and waved the girls off. They quickly untied their compatriot and carried her away. " Now let's get down to business, Tetsuya!"
The bodyguard stepped forward, " Go make your rounds make sure the house is secure and none of those awful drug fiends are sneaking in" he said.
Tetsuya bowed, he wanted to warn his boss but it wasn't his place. He turned and left, " Akira!" said Ichi, " bring my box to me."
Akira scurried across the floor and opened a hidden panel in the wall where he removed a large lacquered box. He went to Ichi's side and set the box down. " Now I think your pretty flower is worth 500 Ryu" he said.
" After I travel all this way and smuggled her through those purist in Keiyo" said Koji shaking his black hair, " I need at least 900 for her."
" No way, 500 is as high as I go" he said.
" Look at her" said Koji, " those breasts are a work of beauty, there are few women with her exceptional beauty. How many of them will ever walk in through your doors?"
Ichi stroked his patchy thin beard, " Maybe I can see my way to pay your 650" he said.
" 800, she can suck your very soul out" said Koji, " I have first hand experience."
Rei made a note to smack him once they get out of this. " Really" said Ichi, his leer getting bigger and bigger, " hmmmmm."
Rei's skin broke out in goose bumps, " 700" he said.
" 800 or I find another dealer in town. I bet they would love to pay my price" said Koji.
Ichi didn't have 800 Ryu on him, he had just been visited by the foreign merchants and his storehouse was full of the finest drugs they could manufacture. " 600 and I will throw in a little Green Fairy or White Dragon" he said, " and a free night with my girls, you ever watch women with each other while dancing with the Green Fairy, nothing sweeter."
Koji rubbed his chin and realized he hadn't shaved in a few days, " Okay, you have a deal" he said, " feel free to try her out before we make the deal final."
Ichi looked like he'd just seen the face of Rupan in the flesh. He got up leaving his kimono wide open. He took Rei's leash and seemed to take almost as much joy in tugging her towards his bedroom.
Rei looked out of the corner of her eye, Koji slightly nodded. It was up to her, she was going to kill this toad. Rei had started off life wanting nothing more than to save everyone who was injured, no matter what, but after watching this she knew there were some that living wasn't a luxury they deserve.
Ichi's hands grabbed big fistfuls of Rei as they neared his bedroom, oh yah he was going to die. " Akira!" Ichi shouted, " count out the man his money and then take him to the girls. He has free reign tonight, I will be busy!"
The door to Ichi's bedroom slid close and Akira unlocked the box. It was half full with golden Ryu, more Ryu than Koji had ever seen in his entire life, but it was all tainted, this was foul money. Akira took his attention to the counting, taking groups of ten Ryu at a time. Koji gently slipped his sword from its sheath.

Ichi was readying himself, fat little troll was not able to. Rei wanted to laugh at him but the two pistols that sat next to his bed kept her smirk to a minimum. Ichi was getting angry, Rei knew diving for the guns wouldn't be possible. Koji better get going and going fast.

Akira didn't see the blade glint in the light of the room until it was crossing his neck. Akira's blood splashed into the lacquered box soaking the money paid with blood in blood. Akira gurgled as Koji jammed his head into the box to keep him from screaming. Koji grabbed Rei's daggers from her satchel and hurled them as hard as he could for the wall.

Ichi was now furious that he wasn't ready for this beauty when the rice paper wall was torn as a pair of daggers flew through. Rei caught them and drew one out. She swiped at Ichi's neck.
Ichi felt the blade cut through his neck, he grabbed his neck, and staggered back. Rei watched as fat oozed from Ichi's flabby neck, she hadn't cut deep enough. She charged and buried the blade into his massive chest.
Ichi hit at Rei with his thick fingers as he stumbled for his guns, his other hand was gripping his throat as a mixture of yellow fat and dark red blood poured down his chest. He was too weak to even slow her next attack. Rei stabbed again, the massive body of Ichi was acting as armour made from fat. Ichi wanted to scream but she had sliced into his throat and he was unable to make even the smallest of sounds. They fell on the bed, his stubby legs kicking Rei off just long enough to roll for his pistols.
Ichi grabbed one of his pistols, gifts from the gun runners who were always happy with his girls and had present the guns on their last visit. He now hoped these strange contraptions actually worked. Ichi turned and pulled the trigger.
Rei drove the dagger in all the way, she felt the tip tear through his heart but the pistol went off. There was a puff of black smoke and a loud crack that split Rei's ears. Her head began to throb as a powerful ringing filled her head. She pulled her dagger out and stumbled back trying to see through the heavy smoke the pistol. She heard the door slid open and she readied for the next attack.

Koji looked at the dead body of Ichi, he had a look of absolute terror on his face. He had spent his adult life mistreating and killing women, now a woman had killed him forever robbing him of his power. Koji wrapped Rei in her kimono, she was in shock. It was the same for Koji when he killed his first opponent in one on one combat. In battle you are too scared and high on adrenaline to understand what you are doing but this in entirely different, she went into the room knowing what was going to happen. Koji put his hands on her shoulders. She looked at him, " It is done" she said.
Rei tied her kimono closed, she cleaned her dagger on his bed sheet. The only sadness she felt was that she wouldn't be able to free the girls currently being held in this house. But she was comforted knowing he would no longer cause anyone harm. May his victims devour his soul in the next world. Rei cut the leash off and threw it on the floor.

Tetsuya had heard the crack just after he'd tossed another drug fiend into the river. He'd caught two of them trying to sneak in by the dock and beaten both soundly. He doubted either would be able to swim in their current states and would drown. Ichi Goya would complain that it was two less customers but Tetsuya knew there would be more, there always was.
He looked up at the bedroom, guess Ichi dispatched the flesh merchant. It was cheaper than paying him. Tetsuya knew the drill, he'd have to lug the body downstairs, feed it to the dogs and get two of the girls to clean up the mess left behind. He went into the house and started up the stairs. By the second floor he knew something was wrong, that chicken shit Akira hadn't passed him. That little fuck usually was fleeing downstairs staining his kimono. Little weasel had no stomach for the real work. But his absence told Tetsuya there was something wrong.
Tetsuya's pace increased until he was almost running up the stairs. It was those two, he knew they were trouble.

Both Rei and Koji someone running up the stairs and hurried to the door to see how many it was. The door burst open and Tetsuya entered. He saw Akira' his face buried in Ichi's money box. He turned and saw them, the bitch was clothed, they had been tricked.
Rei instinctively threw her dagger straight at him.

The heavy silver pommel of the dagger impacted against Tetsuya's noise instead of the blade. There was a loud snap as Tetsuya stumbled backwards. His foot slipped off the step and he went tumbling down the steps sounding like an elephant falling. " You missed" said Koji, smiling for the first time all day.
Rei looked at him, " I have one more, you want to try it?" she asked.
" No, we better get going" he said.
" Not down the stairs" she said, " there was a window in the bedroom."
Rei raced over and grabbed her dagger off the ground. She slid it effortlessly into her sheath. The pair hurried into the bedroom and found the window. They slid it open and looked at the steep roof before them. " One more thing" said Koji, taking Rei's satchel off.
Rei slipped her satchel back on and adjusted it so the weight of the bag would make her fall. " After you then" she said.
Koji slipped her sandals off and tied them to his kimono. He gently stepped out onto the roof and found his footing. Rei followed, the roof now scaring her more than Ichi Goya, and all his guards did. Rei felt her feet hold to the roof tiles. Now came the hard part. She picked her foot up and stepped forward. She slid a little bit but nothing she could handle.
Step by step, inch by inch they slowly made their way down the roof of Ichi Goya's home. The roof sloped down towards the river and Ichi Goya's docks where four guards stood watching the river rush past. They both stopped short of the edge and looked down. There was only one option and it was a wet one. " Ready?" asked Koji as softly as he could.
Rei made sure her satchel was closed as tight as possible. When she bought the black leather satchel she was told it was waterproof, now it was time to find out if all that money she put into it was really worth it.

The guards heard the splash but dismissed it as just more unwanted guests being dumped into the river.
Koji and Rei swam fast against the rushing current. The water fought them every inch of the way but they managed to swim far enough upstream that they were free of the town. They pulled themselves up onto the bank where they flopped down, soaked and exhausted.
Neither moved for over an hour, they were just too exhausted. Finally Rei sat up and shook her short black hair. She pulled her satchel around and looked at it. Surprisingly it held up, only a little water got in past the flap. Rei rang the water out of her kimono before hauling herself to her feet. Koji picked himself up the pair began to walk back for Yonamura.
The way was slow going, they would retreat into the cover of the forest whenever they spotted any other travelers and have to wait in hiding for them to pass. The less people they encountered the less of a chance for trouble. But these hiding breaks also provided much needed rest, especially the break that last most of the morning and into the afternoon as an entire army unit marched down the road. Aside from being hungry the pair were very rested when they returned to the abandoned village they had rested at the day before. They planned to rest until after dark and then make their way past the border checkpoint and back to Yonamura for breakfast with they both planned to be a vast and definitely filling affair.
But there was someone in that village who had other plans.