Vinnie and Mandy stayed a while to watch Seiko's parents dye the fabrics.
"I'll take you to Daimyo Masamune's home now," said Seiko.
When they reached the daimyo's house, Seiko said good-bye at the front gate.
"Thanks for everything,"
said Vinnie, pointing to his sandals.
"Come and visit again," said Seiko.
Then she bowed and left.
"Do you think Haruki will be looking for us?" asked Vinnie.
"I hope he doesn't get in trouble," said Mandy.
As they walked up to the house, the children heard metal clanging.
The noise was coming from the other side of the house.
"Let's have a look," said Vinnie.
Sighing loudly, Mandy followed.
The children came to a courtyard filled with samurai, old and young.
Some were teaching; others were training.
A few samurai practiced with swords.
Another group was learning to use a bow and arrow.
"There you are!" a familiar voice called out.
It was Haruki.
"I was looking everywhere for you."
"We're sorry," the children apologized.
Mandy explained what happened.
Haruki bowed his head and said,
"Thank you for coming back.
Daimyo Masamune would have been very angry with me."
The samurai suddenly stopped their training at the sound of horses.
Daimyo Masamune had returned home.
"Haruki, did you take good care of our guests?"
he asked, approaching them.
Haruki bowed his head.
"We were watching the samurai training," said Vinnie enthusiastically.
Daimyo Masamune motioned for Vinnie and Mandy to follow him.
"A samurai's training is not only about weapons," he said.
He took them to a smaller courtyard full of red maple trees.
"It's beautiful!" cried Mandy.
Then Daimyo Masamune led them into a room next to the courtyard.
"Isn't this in the photo?" asked Vinnie.
He took out the photo and looked at it.
Daimyo Masamune stood in front of a vase on a small table.
In the vase were three stems that formed a triangle.
Two were flowers.
He gently picked up a flower lying on the table.
"A true warrior must have perfect control,"
he said, putting the flower in the vase.
"We must have peace in our heart."
Then Daimyo Masamune picked up a pine stem.
"Mandy, the photo is glowing blue!" Vinnie whispered.
Daimyo Masamune's flower arrangement was very lovely.
He pointed to one flower and said,
"This stands for the sacred mountain."
Pointing to another, he said,
"And this is the river."
Then he pointed to a white flower in the middle.
"And this is the mist that unites the river and the mountain.
Nature is one."
Daimyo Masamune closed his eyes.
The flower arrangement in the photo glowed red.
"We're going home,"
whispered Vinnie, grabbing his sister's hand.
The children fell down the tunnel and were back in the attic.