Avalon was shrouded in darkness. Fubuki teleported him right outside Renya's black dome. Fubuki bowed, her hair gleaming in the moonlight.

"There is a matter that must be brought to your attention, Master. Please bear with us."

Fubuki's somber tone was enough for Ichi to take her seriously. He followed Fubuki as she showed him to Renya's small room in the back of the empty black dome. He saw Avar with his eyepatch off relaxing with Renya. It was only logical for him to become upset. However, Ichi wasn't logical.

He sat down next to the two of them as they ate. Ichi grabbed some food for himself, thinking calmly of how best to approach the situation at hand. There were matters to clear up, weren't there?

First,

"How'd you even get here?" Ichi grunted. He attended to his noodles rather than challenge Avar directly.

Avar's relaxed tone only left Ichi reeling in simmering anger.

"Isn't this my lodging for the night? I have to say, this is a wonderful place. The strangeness of humanity, aliens from this 'Earth', is beyond my comprehension. I have much to learn."

The laugh Avar let out at the end made Ichi consider attacking him. However, Fubuki was right behind him, he felt that it would be rude to betray her intent.

Ichi looked to Renya with a sharp gaze instead.

Renya shrugged.

"Someone has to be responsible about information gathering. This is another world, you know? Going in without intelligence means that spying is the most responsible thing to do. Especially if someone were to run off into an vast army thinking he could cut them down."

Ichi's face soured as he began to understand the situation from her perspective. It was a rash decision on his part, that dawned on Ichi in the coming moments as Renya continued.

"When Rikya came to me in tears I knew something was wrong. That wasn't like her at all. It's lucky that Fubuki was watching you with magic, or this situation might have easily spiraled out of your control."

A tight grin stretched across Ichi's face. He didn't think he had it in control in the first place. But still, Avar? Avar?! Here?! Ichi shook his head trying to dispel his doubts.

"And so, that's why I brokered a deal in your place with Danberu while you were out having fun. He planned to go on the offensive tomorrow with Avar's troops coming from behind, I offered support from our faction as well. Danberu didn't seem happy, but he accepted."

Renya went on to explain about Avar being a Bakeneko Lord, and how Renya and Fubuki agreed that keeping him as their pawn was the best strategy, and how Avar agreed because of his interest in Avalon. Ichi sat in silence, waiting and listening for the part where he would get to ask the question he really cared about.

"So, you saw me fight Avar, then?"

Renya smiled at Ichi's question. It was natural for her to predict where his line of thinking was heading, straight for a brick wall. She let Ichi continue.

"I really, really tried to hit him. It was like he had a barrier or something." Ichi looked suspiciously at Avar. "You have a barrier? That's not fair."

Avar shook his head.

"All of your strikes lacked will. They had force, focus, but, no will. If a strike from a sword doesn't hit, it's about as good as flailing around like an idiot."

Renya basked in the moment as Ichi rubbed his head with both hands. Ichi's muttering encouraged her, but she didn't see much of a future in delaying the inevitable. Renya looked to Fubuki looking sternly on. If only she wasn't here, Renya could have dragged this out for much longer.

"I figured it out from third party reports by Fubuki and Avar five hours ago."

Ichi groaned as he buried his head in his hands. He wondered if it was right to ask the answer from her or not. Either way, he was sure that she didn't want to tell him. He remembered his thinking on the battlefield with the bakeneko. At least today, he could make someone happy.

Ichi raised his hand like a stop sign, got up, and walked out. His parting words rang out to Fubuki, Avar, and Renya.

"Nevermind. Fubuki, see that tomorrow's battle goes well. I'm going home."

Renya's laughter filled the black dome as Fubuki looked at her master with disapproval. Avar looked back and forth between the two as Ichi slid out of the place.

"Shouldn't you, as his retainers, teach him how unskilled he is in magic?"

Renya already explained why Ichi's attacks that wouldn't hit to Avar. Ichi was new to magic. She surmised that Ichi simply lacked the will to cut Avar down. For whatever reason, Renya could only guess.

She had no idea that Ichi's magic 'Flawless sword' was based on his image of a samurai cutting down an enemy in one strike. Avar's attire was that of a samurai complete with a short sword and he had the bearing of one as well. Ichi saw Avar as a real samurai cat. However, Ichi didn't believe he was able to cut a real samurai, and so, his magic obeyed his thinking without his awareness.

Renya smiled at Avar.

"I follow my lord's orders to the letter. He seems tired. Wouldn't it be better to let him rest?"

Fubuki glared at Renya. Renya knew that Fubuki wouldn't let Ichi stay ignorant, but Fubuki was bound by her master's orders. Furthermore, Fubuki was puzzled as to why Ichi wouldn't push for an answer. His desire to grow was there, what happened?

She decided to put the matter aside for now. The next day would be a busy one, after all. This was not the time to contemplate a small matter.

However, it was only Fubuki who thought it was a small matter. What Fubuki observed next from Ichi made her blood run cold.

A small white moth clung to Ichi's clothing. It was Fubuki's bugging magic, perfect for a maid to keep watch. Fubuki saw Ichi alone, a strange smile on his face.

Ichi walked to the castle in the distance under the moonlight. A hearty laugh echoed into the woods, scattering small animals. Ichi held out his hand, feeling a white energy flow across his hand.

"I'll get him. Next time, I'll get him."