The Tea Cup

First Published: September 1988 by Fantagraphics Books

• Miyamoto Usagi
• Murakami Gennosuke

Usagi finds himself back in Geishu territory with a little impromptu thieved from Sergio Aragones. Hearing the sound of swordplay, he rushes to the scene of the battle where he settles down to watch his old 'friend' Gennosuke battle some brigands. Dispatching the last of his foes, Gen is unimpressed by Usagi's applause, but decides he could do with his companionship.

Gen tells Usagi of his current mission, escorting a priceless tea cup to a master of tea ceremony. The brigands he killed were mercenaries hired by another tea master who covets the cup. Convinced he had slain the last of them, Gen and Usagi take a ferry to save on time, only to find that it is another ambush. Again they deal with their enemies but end up 'walking' back to shore. Finding an inn to dry off, Usagi buys a meal for two starving children who join them much to Gen's disgust and disapproval. As they travel, Gen is wracked by guilt over endangering the children, and decides to leave... until the though of money brings him back. He needs Usagi to help him complete his mission. Ambushed again, Gen gives the cup to Usagi while protecting the children. Usagi easily kills the mercenaries and in his haste to join up with Gen, trips and breaks the cup.

With thoughts of seppuku in mind, Usagi rejoins Gen to find that the cup he had broken was in fact a dummy, and not only had Gen completed his mission, but had delivered the children safely to their destination. Somewhat annoyed, Usagi threatens to turn Gen into an obscure form of compost, although calms down over some hot food and sake. Usagi leaves the inn and leaves Gen with the bill. Or so he thinks.

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.