For the next three days, they only went out together to get food. He left sometimes at night, to meet with Jiro, who seemed to remain loyal. Enishi told Jiro that he was going back to Shanghai to tell everyone that Jiro was the new boss. It was a lie, but enough to keep the man from trying to kill him.

Enishi knew Sumi didn't want to stay much longer, because they'd seen her hunters in Tokyo, while getting food the other day. Her nightmares were getting worse and the lack of sleep was showing with shadows under the eyes. He went to see the leather worker and was told the vests would be ready later that evening.

Returning to the room, he saw her watching the street. "We leave tonight."

"Should I get food that travels well?"

"We'll go together, before getting the horses. The vests I had made for us, will be ready then too."

"Vests?"

"They have metal plates layered with silk threads, between the leather. It can stop a lead bullet, just not ones from rapid-firing guns or multiple-barrel firearms. No sword can pierce through it either."

"An original design?"

He shrugged and then added, "take the bed and sleep a little. I'll keep watch from your chair, so it's safe."

Sumi obeyed, without protest. Not believing that a nap would happen, she laid down on the bed. It was softer than expected and her eyes closed. Maybe this time her mind had actually believed him, because the nightmare didn't come until hours later.

Sitting up in the bed, she asked, "is it time to go?"

"Yeah.... I noticed more police on the street today."

Nodding to show she had heard him, they left the room together. Once out on the street, they walked out in the open, the hooded cloaks hiding their identity. They had just finished purchasing food from market stalls, when a policeman recognized Enishi. The man was able to blow his whistle, then Sumi choked him unconscious. But before they could escape, the police began to shoot at them. Without even worrying that she might die, Sumi pushed Enishi out of the way and down an alley, as a bullet ripped into the muscle of her left thigh. It slowed her, and blood ran down the leg, but she still was able to get away. Clutter in the streets from the merchants, hindered the police, but helped Sumi. She knew not where Enishi had gone, but was able to get up on to the roof across from the stable that had their horses. The police scattered to cover more area.

Enishi made it unharmed and undetected into the leather worker's shop. Immediately he put on his vest. Paying for sanctuary, the leather man hid him from the police. He'd wait until it got darker, before trying to get to the horses. Enishi sent a request to Jiro, to have his men wear black hooded cloaks and distract the police. Taking a chance, he made his way from the shop to the horses.

"Sumi?" Enishi asked the darkness in the stable.

"I'm here," she came from the street.

"You got hit," he observed.

"I'm fine, let's get out of here first. The man who hunts me has more guys with him now too."

Enishi could see the wound. He offered a hand to get into the saddle and she ignored it. He ordered, "put on your vest, under the cloak."

They rode out of Tokyo at a trot and then put their heals to the horses' flanks. They galloped until Tokyo was just a speck behind them. Enishi reined in the gelding, so he could see her wound.

"Did it go out the other side?"

"No."

"Between here and Takasaki, there are some abandoned huts, where we can hide out, until late tonight."

He lead the way, keeping the horses at a canter. It didn't take them long to get to a rundown hut, where the forest was beginning to overtake it. Satisfied no one would see the horses or them, they made camp.

"I need to dig out the bullet with your knife. The knife has to be hot, to sterilize the wound."

Sumi watched him make a fire, then rolled up her pant leg. Putting a stick between her teeth, her nod told Enishi she was ready... or so she thought. The pain was incredibly intense, her teeth snapped the stick and she passed out. Thankfully the ball was not too deep in the muscle and he removed it easily. Looking outside the hut for a damp area, he found the moss that the Chinese taught him, could help heal a wound. He cleaned it, using their water bag and then packed the moss into the bullet hole. Using a strip of cloth torn from his shirt, he bandaged the thigh. He killed the fire, making sure there was no smoke that could reveal where they hid. Enishi didn't have to wait long for Sumi to regain consciousness.

"When we get to Takasaki, I'll have a healer check your wound."

"Thank you."

"You're lucky it didn't hit anything vital.... Why did you take the bullet for me?"

"You've given me food, clothes and shelter. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing now. Travelling with me might get you into more danger, then if you were by yourself."

"Maybe. I guess I'm getting use to being around you. You're cautious, a skilled fighter and smart." She also found him handsome, but this wasn't the time to admit that.

"How old are you?"

She shrugged, "maybe twenty-five. What about you?"

"Twenty-three, but I knew you were older than me."

"You're the first man I've let touch me and not tried to kill," Sumi admitted, but kept her eyes cast down.

"You were passed out, not really the same kind of situation."

She smiled at him, meeting his eyes. The look in his, seemed like he was amused, but Sumi wasn't sure. Her face felt hot and she directed her gaze around the hut.

Enishi asked. "Who taught you how to fight?"

"No one, I watched other street rats like myself fight. I stole their moves."

"And walking without making a sound?"

"Animals of the forest."

"You're resilient and observant," it was a fact, not just a compliment.

"What's your story?"

"Followed my sister who sought revenge for the death of her fiancé. Watched her die by the hands of the same man. Lived for vengeance. Stole away on a ship that went to Shanghai. Barely survived on the streets and worked my way up through the Chinese mafia. Built an empire of opium and weapons, to pay for the retribution I would bring to Japan."

"Did you satisfy your vengeance?"

"I inflicted pain and punishment on the man who killed my sister, only to find out she practically committed suicide to save his life. Got arrested for my crimes. Escaped and wandered around lost and without purpose. Then I met you."

"Do you have purpose now?"

He didn't answer, instead Enishi said, "it's time to get going. We should be able to run the horses all night and get to Takasaki."

"Are you a wanted man in China too?"

"I control the local government in Shanghai."

"If you had killed that man, what were you going to do afterwards?"

"I never planned beyond that."

She stood up and tested how her leg would handle the weight. Then limped after him, out of the hut and to the horses. Getting on the mare, Sumi asked, "could we go to Shanghai?"

"You don't care that I'm a criminal?"

"I admire your persistence and strategy. I know men who were in the government, men labelled on the right side of the law, that have been more cruel and indecent than those others call criminals. Who and how you do business doesn't concern me. How you treat women, children and animals, tells me more about whether or not you're a man I can trust and give my loyalty to."

"That's an interesting concept."

"From what you've told me, perhaps in the past you were not someone I would get near. But I didn't know you then and I'm just learning about you now."

"Fair enough." He nudged his horse into a trot and then canter, cutting off their conversation.