Fuu stops for a rest. She ponders if Jin will return to them. Mugen pipes that unless he does something "naughty," he wont be coming back. He tries to get her to move quicker.

Just then a nearby villager rushes into town. He yells that the hanging bridge has collapsed. Mugen, Fuu, and the villagers rush to the scene and skim the water for any survivors. On the shore, Fuu spots Sara's shamisen and charm.

A villager yells that they have found a survivor, and they pull Sara from the river. Mugen confirms that she's alive, and Fuu quickly asks about other bodies. The man says that it's impossible that anyone else could have survived. Mugen jumps up and heads down the river. He finds a roaring waterfall of large height. He pans the river and sees no indication of life.

Mugen and Fuu have brought Sara back to their hut. Mugen has found Jin's glasses, and says that if he is alive he cant see anything. Fuu turns to say that those glasses are just for show. Mugen tries them on.

A villager enters the hut and tells them that Sara's wounds will heal with a little rest and leaves. Mugen bursts up and bolts to the river as if realizing something or concern for Jin. Meanwhile, Sara regains her strength.

Sara apologizes to Fuu for asking him to go along. Fuu admits the same thing. But still, Sara asks Fuu if she will still head to Nagasaki? Fuu says that she will no matter what. And Sara says "I see."

Panning the river, Mugen has found Sara's shamisen and staff. He heads back to the hut. Fuu tell him to watch Sara while she looks for Jin. Mugen lays her staff and shamisen down. He says "they're the tools of your trade, right?" After a silence, Sara picks up her things. She says she'll be waiting at the river and leaves. Angered, Mugen knocks away the boiling pot from its stand.

Mugen has joined Sara at the river's edge. She says that she has nothing against him, but this is her path. Her child's life is on the line. Mugen draws his sword, and ask her to show whether she killed Jin or not. She gives him a taste of her skill, and Mugen knows that he cant hold back.

Sara appears to have the upperhand, and Mugen on the defensive. Mugen says that he's never fought anyone like her before. Fuu hears the clash of metal and races to the source. Mugen is deeply gouged in the chest and falls in the river. Sara says that she can feel Mugen's energy, because it's the same sadness and anger that she feels.

Mugen charges her, but he collapses under exhaustion. Fuu rushes to his aid, but he tells her to stay away. Just before Sara can finish the job, Fuu throws herself over Mugen. Sara is perplexed and stops in her tracks. She turns around and leaves, but Mugen screams at her to finish.

Somewhere, Jin awakes in a small hut with cooking fish. A strange voice and even stanger figure is amazed to find Jin awake. The man intoduces himself as Jin's saviour and hasn't seen people awhile. He offers Jin a bite to eat, but says he cant have any. He places it out of reach and leaves the home.

Jin uses every ounce of energy to crawl to the food. Amazed, he finds that it's empty. The mas has been watching him from a crack and laughs again. He's says it's been a trick, but he'll now catch fish for them to eat.

Mugen and Fuu have made their way back to the hut and are treating Mugen's wounds. Mugen screams from the ointment and says he'll get better alone.

Jin hobbles to the river to find the hermet standing in the water. The hermet says, "Do you know where fish have eyes? In the water, Fish understand their surrounding by the flow of the water. If you go against the flow, they'll notice you and flee. If you entrust yourself to the flow..." He grabs for a fish...and comes up with nothing. Well, shit happens he says. Jin is baffled.

Mugen and Fuu discuss Sara's intent. Mugen says she has no weakness or grudge. He may die next time.

Jin thanks the hermit, but he must go now. The hermit is disappointed and wanted to play more, but he gives him a sack of fish. Jin says he will accept his teaching. The hermit looks confused. Jin gives his interpretation of "catching fish." The hermit insists that he didn't teach him anything, but Jin asks for his name. He replies, "Miyamoto Musashi." The hermit quickly jokes that he was "kidding," again. His real name is Johnny, and says come again.

Sara heads down the road to find the masked man again. He reminds her that her life is not hers, and she shouldn't have gotten attached to the group. Her child's life depends on her cooperation. A light finally strikes Sara's attention. He tells her to finish the job by tomorrow.

Jin arrives back at Mugen and Fuu's hut. Fuu swears he's a ghost, but accepts that a ghost would not bring them back fish. Mugen confronts Jin that he knew she was trying to kill thm. That's why he went off alone. Jin asks what happened to her. Mugen shows off his wounds to answer, and kicks his glass to him.

Jin concludes that they've been thoroughly investigated. She was ordered to get close to them. Mugen tells them about her child. Fuu says that she must be being used. Mugen lists their recent crimes, and who wouldn't be after them. But, Jin says that that wouldn't answer why someone would send such a skilled assasin. Mugen concludes that they will come to them and takes a nap.

After eveyone has gone to sleep, Mugen heads for the door. However, Jin is still awake. He passes along his recent fish teachings to Mugen. But, Mugen is baffled.

It's now pouring rain. He heads back to the shore to find Sara waiting. Mugen says that he will take responsibility for Sara's path.

In a dream, Fuu realizes why Sara is after them. Fuu must give up her search or have her bodyguards be killed. She awakes to find Mugen gone.

Mugen dodges her attacks, but still cant land an attack. He takes refuge behind a rock and remembers Jin's lesson. He kicks his shoes aside and walks silently in the other direction. Sara walks blindly (no pun intended) past where he is standing. He takes a swipe, but she dodges. Both of them whip around for an attack. Sara has a clear strike, but pulls back in the last second. Mugen, however, has no time to react and slices her down.

He asks why she stopped. Sara explains that it occured to her that her child has been dead all along. The masked man has been playing off her emotions. She tells him that their persuer is the Kougi, the imperial government. With her las breath, she tell him to live.

The tide rises and sweeps over her body. Mugen picks up her staff, and heaves it into the air.

Notes:
For the first time in the series, we learn that Jin doesn't need glasses to see. It was never mentioned in episode 8 when thay pawned them off. He just didn't want to part with them.

Miyamoto Musashi was a swordsman and tactician of the sixteenth century. He authored "The Book of Five Rings," which became the definitive treatise on swordfighting strategy and the Bushido way of life. -Anime Forever

In this episode, the masked man, again, appears with children and pinwheels around him.

An idea to why Sara walks past Mugen in the rain is that she wants to die. She doesn't want to send this idea to Mugen, because she should have walked in the direction of where his shoes are lying. Mugen thinks he has the upper hand, but this has all been planned out by Sara.