chopsticks. While she is self-serving, she is willing to sacrifice herself for close friends if need be. Usagi disapproves of her thieving ways (especially since she occasionally ends up picking his pocket as well), but he knows she is not malicious, and often ends up helping her in getting out of a tight spot in her schemes. After meeting Gennosuke, she and the bounty hunter have apparently developed a romantic relationship with each other. Aside from Usagi and Gen, Kitsune only has three other important friends: Sachiko, her surrogate sister and mentor who was killed by a samurai she robbed by invoking his right of kiri-sute gomen; Noodles, a child-minded strongman who was executed by a corrupt police officer as a scapegoat; and Kiyoko, a young girl and Kitsune's apprentice in the ways of thievery. Yamamoto Yukichi - Usagi's cousin by his father's sister. He first met Usagi as a student of the Itsuki sword school, which Usagi intended to visit, but rudely dismissed him, unaware of their family bonds. It was years later, after his master's death and his own rise as his school's head instructor, that he would meet Usagi again and learn of their common connection. After fulfilling a final obligation to his sensei, he joins Usagi in his wanderings. Other characters Gunichi – A samurai in service of Lord Mifune who was a skilled swordsman with masterful control of the blade. He first meet Usagi when he was a little boy returning a wakizashi to a dead soldier on the battlefield and did not think much of him. That opinion changed when he confronted the rabbit after his training was completed and challenged him to a duel as a test. When that duel was interrupted by rival swordsmen lying in ambush, they fought them off together and Gunichi was impressed enough with Usagi's skill to call a draw to their fight and recommend him for his Lord's service. The two enjoyed a close comradeship that ended at the Battle of Adachi Plain when Gunichi deserted his lord in battle over Usagi's objections. Much later, Gunichi and Usagi faced each other for the last time, and Usagi slew him for his betrayal. Lord Horikawa – An advisor to Lord Noriyuki. While he publicly appears as a merely arrogant, sycophantic individual condescending to anyone beneath him, he is secretly a conniving, scheming individual who desires to be Noriyuki's