Master died today.

It wasn't anything dangerous. It was just age, but we weren't expecting it. It's strange how fond of him I've grown over the past eight years, but I miss him already.

It's also hard to believe that it's been so long since that night when I first saw you. I can still remember every detail of those times when I saw you by the moonlight. I remember them in every waking moment, and even more as I sleep. And it still haunts me at night when there is a moon. The only thing that keeps me safe from it is my memories of you.

It is almost as if I could touch you when I close my eyes. I can see you so clearly, and you even more beautiful each time. Perhaps my memory is distorted and I am making you more beautiful in my mind than you really are, but I think that is not the case.

As I remember, your beauty is that of a new star, a reflection of what happens in your courtyard on moonlight nights. Just the thought of you though has ruined me for any other women.

I am older now, no longer the boy who saw you in your courtyard those two nights. As I wandered with Master, I found that many of the women seem to be rather interested in me, particularly Master's daughter, who is the same age as I am. She has asked me several times to consider marrying her.

I explained to her about you, and she laughed at me. She does not seem to believe that I could be so insane as to set all my hopes on the lady who sent me away. Still, I have made a vow, and I will keep it. I wonder though, does that make me insane?

There is nothing to keep me here anymore. This place, Master's hometown, holds nothing special for me now that Master is dead. His daughter is a friend, but that is all. And, now that I am older and more experienced, I think that maybe it is time to return. I have a vow to keep.

Master has left me much. He has treated me as his son, even though he has a child of his own. He left me his sword, and half of his money, which is a considerable amount. It is too much for a young swordsman, or the son of a farmer, both of which I am. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but I will keep it, because he wanted me to have it.

His daughter asked me once more, just a small time ago, to marry her and stay here. But I cannot do it. She is a friend to me, but only that. I do not love her, and I do not think that I could bring myself to ever forget you. To be honest, it makes me feel terribly alone.

I want to see you again. I still love you, even after eight years of exile. Sometimes I think that it's not just that I want to see you, but that I need to. Something is making me think about you constantly. Maybe it's the power inside of you. Maybe it's it. I don't know.

What I do know is that I've had enough of being alone. And as far as I can tell, I have no place to go, except back to you.