The Ghost In The Tokaido Inn

When Seikei returns to Judge Ooka’s lodgings, the owner tells him the judge left; he hands Seikei a note in which the judge instructs him to “Follow the correct path” (106). Seikei wonders why Ooka abandoned him and ponders the note, frustrated. Then he recalls that a warrior’s duty is to respect his lord, so he resolves not to complain.

He starts out for Edo, but as night approaches, Seikei worries about robbers. When he tries to speak to a nearby couple, he realizes they think he’s a robber, and he remembers how dirty and unkempt he appears. Though his feet are raw, Seikei reminds himself that he now can see the country on foot, as he longed to do when he rode in the kago. When he stops to rest, a komuso stops too, playing a lively tune, and the komuso points down the road. Seikei resumes walking, eventually coming to a crowd watching some performers. He sees Kazuo and begs the boy for food. Kazuo invites Seikei to travel with the actors, though he’ll have to earn his keep.