Ikari's Tale

That Ikari Kageyama had robbed the wrong vassal wasn't particularly problematic. The bakuto gang he belonged to was sufficiently powerful to be able to smooth things over with the right favours, the vassal in question merely a tozama, or outsider. What was troubling was the streak of rotten luck that had dogged him as much as the darkness had enveloped the sky showed no signs of abating. Ikari’s larcenous profession was only as viable as his ability to succeed in his heists. Perhaps some time purging his soul in a temple pilgrimage would realign his fortune. One more mistake and no one would vouch for his safety anymore.

That landlord must have been crooked or twisted in some way for Ikari to be given the green-light to pinch from him.
If you are good to your peasants or cooperate with the organization your are off limits to get pitched.

The boss', Oyabun, just held the blackmail over him to make getting caught go away.

Best to lay low until they leave town, wouldn't want an unfriendly face if he or his entourage wanted to try their luck in the den later.

I can't remember last time I got a win, have I lost my edge? Oyabun will kick me out if I can't make bread for the organization.

The temple is a good place to hide, everyone is looking inward in awe, not out in suspicion.
Plus a great place to find an easy mark. People in mourning or racked with guilt always have their guard down.
Sometimes there are also pretty girls to see and maybe chat-up.

(Ikari packs his things and travels to The Temple)

Ikari was at least wise enough not wait until Mishima oyabun summoned him to his presence to account for his last debacle. The former capital city, Heian, was the largest city in all of Kage no Shima, with sufficient shadows in the more seedy and lawless quarters for a person to lie low for a while. But Ikari was inescapably a member of the criminal world, and there was no way to hide in the underworld without a rat snitching one out, or a knife between one's shoulder blades in revenge. Also, ever since Nisshoku, things of nameless horror were said to plague the darkness streets of Heian.

Best to head out of the city for a while. There were two imperial roads out of Heian, the Sendo Way took one through the mountains, and the Tokaido Way followed the coastline. The latter was much more well travelled, and thusly more popular with the various syndicates that plied their thieving trade and their gaming houses to cater to the variety of travellers. Ikari thought it best to head northeast instead; there were still plenty of opportunities to ply his craft along Nakasendo. And when he reached Daikaku-ji three days on, that would be a chance to perform the cleansing rituals that would wash away his current ill-fortune.

No one saw him leave the city; the gates were bustling with throngs of people coming and going, even in these dark times. The crowds thinned as he journeyed on, and as the sight of the city disappeared from view as he advanced, so did the number of travellers beginning to wend their way up the slight rise of the hilly crests, with the mountain range still some distance away. Most of them posed little interest to him, peasantry making their way about their business, or craftsmen plying their trade. There was the odd merchant here and there, but robbing them along the main thoroughfare was too obvious and risky, for they were usually accompanied by an entourage. He was surprised to find a trio of women on a journey, escorted only by one man armed with a sword.

The tiny village ahead would be the logical stop for most travellers. Too tiny to be even called a village, it was a rest stop that lined either side of the foot of the mountain road, just before the slopes began to rise more steeply. If Ikari wanted to encounter his fellow journeyers, there would be a chance to do so here. If not, he could press on.

Ikari had finally reached Idawata, the tiny station-like village. They could still tell the difference between day and dusk from the fact that daylight was a dark red, whereas purple turning to black signaled the end of daytime. He wondered about the reach of the syndicates even in a small place like this. If there was such a person, Ikari wouldn't have any difficulty recognising them.