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A lone
bandit stands guard in the cold mist near the hideout. Mistaking Usagi
for his change of shift he becomes little use to his comrades and the
men of the village, led by Kenichi quickly surround the hideout.
Meanwhile, inside Jotaro struggles in vain to free himself from the
ropes that bind him. A tokage that he has befriended returns looking
for food, which Jotaro slips between the ropes. Chewing through the
ropes, the tokage unwittingly frees Jotaro who finds a loose wall plank
and tries to make good his escape. Jei senses the encroaching forces,
readies the bandits and goes to get Jotaro. Finding him squeezing out
throught the loosened plank, Jei is unsuccessful in recapturing the boy.
Outside, the villagers see Jotaro fleeing the complex and Jei
follow. Usagi gives chase to Jei as the villagers commence their attack
with flaming arrows. Smoked out of their hideout, the bandits expect
little or no resistance and certainly not an organised attack led by a
samurai. Disorganised and confused, the bandits are quickly routed.
Jotaro is not so lucky. Taking a wrong turn, he becomes easy prey
for Jei, who holds him hostage as Usagi arrives on the scene. Usagi
faces Jei, unable to do anything. Jei unable to escape, is unwilling to
give up his hostage...
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