In this chapter, Gombel and the others discuss the situation in Hayashi. They are worried about the safety of the city, and they fear that ryin is beginning to lose her connection to Hayashi and to the rest of the group. They also fear that the shoguna is now afraid of them, and that they will have to fear him more than ever. As the chapter ends, the two men look at each other and realize that they have lost each other. They feel as though they have been separated from each other for a long time, and it is impossible for them to see each other again. They decide to go back to the city as quickly as possible.