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Characters

The following characters are mentioned in the story:

• Miyamoto Usagi

Story Synopsis

An inebriated man departs a nameless inn to relieve himself but is accosted and killed by two masked samurai. The two killers look over his body and discover they "can't use him." The drunkard's friend witnesses the murderers standing over the body, and the murderers then flee.

A short time later, Inspector Ishida, some of his officers, and Usagi inspect the scene of the crime. They quickly rule out some possible motives, including a robbery or a vendetta, and Usagi determines the sword stroke used to kill the man to have been made by someone very skilled. Ishida mentions a few others have disappeared from the same area, and both Usagi and Ishida consider the possibility the current murder and the disappearances are related. Finally, the inspector remarks that he is shorthanded due to investigations of other unrelated crimes--Chamberlain Toyofuku's murder and the attack on the Lotus House--which unbeknownst to Ishida, Usagi was involved in. However, Ishida maintains the drunken man's killer will be caught.

Later, at the police station, one of Ishida's subordinates recounts a description of a "long-eared ronin" being involved in the other two crimes his men are investigating. Usagi overhears this report while playing with Kotaro and is obviously disturbed by it, though Ishida merely makes a joke about the description matching Usagi. The sword tester Yoshii is then reintroduced as he meets with Ishida to inquire after the bodies of two recently executed criminals. It turns out one of the bodies was already claimed by a rival sword testing clan, and the other is unsuitable to be used for sword testing because the criminal was a murderer. Ishida then rebuffs Yoshii's request to have Ishida use his influence to help Yoshii procure corpses ahead of the rival clan. Usagi again witnesses this exchange. Ishida explains to Usagi that Yoshii is the head of the Tetsumon Clan, once renowned for its sword testers. However, since Yoshii is not as skilled as the former head, the clan has been in decline. Ishida further explains some of the protocol of sword testing on corpses, including not being able to use corpses with specific deformities, from those guilty of specific crimes, or from the lowest social class.

That night, the scene is once again a nameless inn, and a customer, sake jug in hand, leaves for the night after some ribbing from his pals about watching out for the killers. The fellow is spooked by a tokage and, while trying to get revenge on the lizard, he is instead killed in an alley. Usagi and Ishida happen to be on patrol in the area when the frightened tokage runs across their path. They investigate in the direction the tokage ran from and discover a pair of suspicious fellows moving what appears to be a body wrapped up in a mat into a palanquin. Soon after, two masked samurai join the fellows. One of them takes off his mask, and Yoshii is revealed. Ishida now understands that Yoshii is behind the killings to procure the corpses for his sword testing. They decide to confront Yoshii the next day with more of Ishida's officers to assist in the arrest.

The story concludes at the Tetsumon Clan compound. With the rest of the clan in attendance, Yoshii prepares to test blades on the recently procured corpses, confident he will again bring prestige to the clan. Right before Yoshii begins the testing, Usagi, Ishida, and Ishida's men confront him. A full-scale battle ensues, with Usagi eventually matching swords with Yoshii. At first, Yoshii scoffs at Usagi, scorning the ronin who presumes to duel with him. However, in the end, Yoshii comes to marvel at Usagi's skill and admits to himself his sensei was right, he only deserved "to cut straw.

Finally, at Ishida's residence, Usagi takes his leave of Ishida and his family, and Ishida makes a point to mention he will be sending his men to search in the direction opposite of Usagi's path to search for the "long-eared assassin" involved in Toyofuku's murder and the Lotus House attack.