Throughout many months, Ryoma gradually worked towards becoming a monk.  He took on the vow to chastity, to hold no money on his person, stability and obedience.  He did various things such as bee keeping, looking after animals, harvesting food, fishing, and copied manuscripts.

He lost his rude temper and anger along the way.  Ryoma was at peace, he was enlightened.  He was at home, truly.  No more would he toss things aside in anger, or grow impatient.  Ryoma was kind and patient.

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However, as time wore on, his community grew thinner and thinner.  His fellow brothers would ascend to heaven one by one, showing the same symptoms as Ame did when he first visited.  Everyone had stopped fishing in the river, believing it to be polluted.  That did not help.

Ryuunosuke would continue to recruit new monks to join, but eventually, they would die as well.

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Despite this, they pushed on and still found ways to get through it.  No one suspected that someone would be betraying them.

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For now, though, Ryoma was glad he was not apart of the many that had passed away.  He was thankful for the life he was given and able to live on.