In this "Life in Death" one-shot issue, we catch up with Giichi and Hyakurin, the two former Mugai-ryü warriors who have been somewhat on the sidelines as Rin hunts for the missing Manji. Hyakurin is still recovering from the brutal events chronicled in the "Beasts" story arc, and Giichi-now a despondent drunk after losing his son-has some objections when she tries to solve a lingering problem on her own. Doc Burando reaches another milestone in his experiments. Although he's ridiculed by the doctors of Edo, Burando still believes that his bloody work is for the good of the country.

Features a full-color Manji pinup by artist Farel Dalrymple!!