Grasscutter II Chapter 4

First Published: November 2000 by Dark Horse Comics

As Chizu leaves the hut, Ikeda asks how the other three came to be involved with her. Gen's assesment of the situation paints Chizu in a less than flattering light, despite Usagi's protestations. Ikeda agrees suggesting that they kill her.

Usagi is vehemently against this. Explaining her motivations regarding grasscutter does not help matters and with Sanshobo weighing in against Chizu, it seems her fate is sealed. Usagi reluctantly agrees that she must be stopped. Ikeda volunteers for the job, promising not to kill her for Usagi's benefit. Usagi, Gen and Sanshobo get some sleep while Ikeda keeps watch.

As night falls, Chizu puts some distance between her and the hut before setting off a rocket flare to signal her companions. Back at the hut, Ikeda notices the pellet that Chizu dropped into the fire pit and has enough time to realise what it is before he is overcome by the sleeping gas that it is giving off. It is not long before all occupants of the house are overcome by the fumes.

Hours later, Chizu despairs that there are any of her brethren left alive to see her signal. As she decides to head back, something alerts her to another presence, or maybe it was just her imagination - merely visions in the shadows. The fumes have dissipated by the time Chizu returns to the hut. Unaware of anything, the occupants of the house slumber on. Chizu takes grasscutter, apologising to the sleeping Usagi for her betrayal. To Gen she is not so merciful, drawing her sword and advancing on him...

Morning sunlight awakens Usagi. As he becomes fully alert, he realises the gravity of the situation. He wakes Sanshobo and they check the others. Gen is alive, although having his sleeves pinned to the walls with his own swords does nothing to improve his temperament. Usagi Gen and Sanshobo set out after her.

Days later and Chizu is almost at her limit, having spent several days without sleep running toward the coast. She decides to rest in the treetops, finding a suitable branch upon which to slip into a healing trance. No sooner has she settled herself, she hurls herself aside as three shuriken embed themselves into the spot she was occupying but a moment ago. The same unseen presence that has been dogging her for the past several weeks.

She spies him - another neko ninja. At a standoff, she demands his identity. She reveals himself as Saru and accuses her of betraying her and killing her beloved. Again they attack each other as Chizu tries to protest her innocence. She released her and her love from the Neko ninja clan to find happiness together, but an ambush set by neko ninja killed her love, leaving her to barely escape with her life.

Saru draws first blood, but Chizu is her equal and using smoke and illusion, she takes her by surprise. She expects death as Chizu holds her blade to Sarus throat and is surprised when she releases her once more, telling her to go and make a good life for herself. Finally believing her, and ashamed of her actions, she once again pledges her allegiance to Chizu. Chizu begins to refuse her, but the decending komori ninja make the discussion moot. They draw their blades and receive their attack.

Last change: 19. May 2003

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Usagi Yojimbo, including all prominent characters featured in the stories and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Stan Sakai and Usagi Studios. Usagi Yojimbo is a registered trademark of Stan Sakai. Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric content, is coincidental.