Eat. It was simple, and the only thing Genma needed to do. He ate, and the food was tasty. Exquisite actually. The tomatoes in a perfect, crisp cornmeal crust, just slightly acidic. The polenta creamy and rich with romano cheese. The peaches the very quintessence of summer and ripeness and everything good in the world.
He ate and he felt calmer. Steadier.
He ate and drank, and he knew where he needed to go.
The black man was telling the truth. Luushi-san. He was telling the truth about those rules and those facts and that sign. And he could follow tat sign and it would take him where he needed to go.
Home. Home was where the heart was, and that's where Raidou was. Genma didn't have a watch, but the sun was still high in the sky. Surely no more than a half hour had passed, if even that. He could follow that road to Konoha, because he could tell from looking at the sign it wasn't a long walk, check it out, head back her, follow the sign to Raidou and tell him! And bring him back here! They could go home together.
Genma finished his tea, and Lushi-san picked up his golden instrument and started to play.
"Thanks for lunch, Lushi-san. Tell that chick Aiko if you see her I'd be interested only..." Only he wasn't. "I have a boyfriend."
Genma bowed, hopped off the gallows, and started for the crossroads with the sounds of incredible fiddle playing in his ears.