Snow fell lightly, slowly covering her courtyard garden in white. She wandered idly through it, stopping occassionally to admire the view of the great snow covered Fuji rising above the castle of the Ryoshu Takeda. She thought of old winters at home near Kyoto, how long it had been since that terrible night when she left and how soon she might finally return...

"Yuri." She looked behind her. It was Genji Heizo, a close friend and associate. He was of moderate size but well built, and bore a large scar from a sword slash on his right cheek. He bowed.

"Heizo," she replied, returning the favor. She continued to walk and motioned for him to follow. "The armies have been gathered at Fuchu and Ryoshu Takeda will not stay idle for long."

"What do you plan to do?"

"This time is different. I have no intentions of remaining here. Ryoshu Takeda has sought an alliance with Lord Tokugawa of Mikawa and if he is successful he will use the earliest opportunity to move."

"Against the Sanada?"

Yuri shrugged. "I do not know. He has not yet shared this information with me. But at any rate I will accompany and assist him."

"Of course you can count on our support."

Yuri smiled. "Thank you, Heizo. If my feelings are true, it seems our dreams may yet be realized."

Heizo placed a hand on her shoulder, smiled, and without a word departed.