Ryujiro is walking through the prison with a set of keys intending to let Oniwakameru out, who is serving out a murder sentence. Ryujiro explains that his hand is wanting revenge. He tells Oniwaka that they are similar in some way, and he should leave the prison to kill the men who persecuted him.

Now the group of Jin, Mugen, and Fuu are carrying on there path to find the "Samurai that Smells of Sunflowers." Fuu gets the group to pool all of their money together, but they haven't much. Mugen and Jin bombard Fuu with questions about the "Samurai that Smells of Sunflowers," but she avoids the topic.

They go off for food and find a small hut serving yaki manjyu, a stuffed steamed bun on a stick. As Fuu raises the food away from Mugen, a Hawk snatches the stick.

Next to them, a group of men are telling tales about an ogre that attacked some people. The men turn to an old man next to them and ask if he is a samurai. They incourage him to kill the ogre, but he denies the claim for he is cowardly.

Mugen casually takes food from the mens' plate and says he can take care of the ogre and easily impresses them with his skill. In return, they buy the group more yaki manjyu. Fuu accuses Mugen of acting like Momotaro, a Japanese folklore of a boy who slew an island of ogres. She reminds him of their promise, but graciously accepts the food and drinks.

The old samurai mentions to Jin that he is only a samurai by title and is of little use, but Jin keeps a careful eye on him. The hut owner warns them of the mountain pass, and incourages them to stay in a near by hut with hot springs.

Mugen and Jin pull Fuu behind, who has passed out from the drinks, to the hut. Jin brings up his suspicion of the old samurai, but he disregards his intuition. On a side path, a beautiful woman stops them in their tracks.

In a cut scene, Ryujiro thanks the hut owner for "doing as he was told." However, the ogre (Onikawa) strangles the hut owner before he can leave.

Mugen helps the woman, whose shoes were broken. She thanks him and mentions that his service was not for free. Mugen drops off Jin at the hut, and goes back to the womans house for "payment."

Meanwhile, Ryujiro awakens Fuu at her hut, and kidnaps her.

As Jin is batheing in the hot spring the old samurai appears. He asks, "do you know why a firefly glows? To attract females."However occasionally, males answer the call as well." Jin excuses himself, but the old samurai says he has information of the "Sunflower Samurai"

As Ryujiro heads back on the path, two Kanto police stop him. He is charged for arson and murder of magistrate officials. However, the ogre steps out of the shadows, with his face wrapped up. Ryujiro tells Oniwaka that they are with the group who persecuted him, and he kills them.

Fuu is taken back with Ryujiro and Oniwaka. Oniwaka confesses to Fuu that everyone is afraid of him for his deformed face and is labeled a monster. Oniwaka is standing in the moonlight faceing the outside. Fuu approaches him and tells him that she sees the sadness in his eyes. He confesses that he killed many people and is alone in the world.

Back at the womans hut, the woman kisses Mugen. He quickly detects poison on her lips and kicks her away. She tells him, it is the "One Night Mushroom," and he had it with his sake, too. She confesses that a one armed man put her up to this, and he has the antidote.

Mugen races away to find Jin, but the old samurai led him into the forest. The old samurai reveals that he is actually an assasin, and has no personal grudge toward Jin. As they fight, the assasin tells Jin that the rumors are true about Jin's fighting caliber. Later, he questions Jins strength. The assasin says he has never had so much fun on a job, but it must come to an end.

Heading back, Mugen encounters Oniwaka and Ryujiro in a fenced area near the stream. Mugen, weak from the poison, is over powered by Oniwaka, but continues to fight. He is able to cut Oniwaka's mask. Oniwaka suffers the shame of his face, but still defeats Mugen. Ryujiro wants him to suffer pain, he has felt.

As Mugen is unconcious, Ryu-Jukiro now turns his attention to Fuu. Just as Ryujiro is about to kill Fuu, Oniwaka grabs him and breaks his neck. Dazed Mugen seizes his opportunity and attacks Oniwaka. As Oniwaka is about to strike Mugen, Fuu pleads for him to stop. Oniwaka drops his staff, and Mugen drives his sword into him.

Abruptly, the assasin stops the fight with Jin. He turns to the stream, where Ryujiro has died. He tells Jin that his employer has died, and he no longer has a job. Before he walks away, he tells Jin that they will meet again.

Oniwaka tells Fuu, with his dying breath, that he is no longer alone. The fireflies surround him as he passes away.

Notes:
Notes: Fuu's stomach growls after yelling at Mugen and Jin for bombarding her with questions.

After the Hawk steals their food, Jin says a Japanese proverb, "hawks steal fried food rather than raw foods because they understand the difference in the taste.

Oniwaka carries a double bladed staff.

As Fuu and Oniwaka talk, a firefly lands in her hands and flies away.

The two officials wear scarves of the American flag: one with star and the other with stripes.

As Mugen is walking down the fenced path, he carries a fence post, but not sure why or what it reads

Mugen doesn't remember Ryujiro or purposely says that he forgot to piss him off.

A firefly passes before Fuu's eyes just as Oniwaka is struck down and lands on his hand before he passes away.