Dawn (
Summary[]
The call comes from the Kamunabi, who report that Kunishige Rokuhira has been killed and the attackers have stolen the six Enchanted Blades. Given the wielders were now in danger, the caller implores Samura come to Kamunabi Headquarters with the bodyguards sent. Said bodyguards have been killed by Yura, who is present at Samura's house and greets the man himself. Samura's senses inform him that three more individuals are outside, as he says Yura's group comprise an organisation, and they were likely the ones that killed Kunishige. Yura affirms this and introduces their group as the Hishaku.
Samura remarks the group were likely aiming to kill the wielders next, and Yura says they have already eliminated one, but that was all they aimed to accomplish given their limited manpower. Yura states he is there to negotiate with Samura, although Samura interprets it as more of a threat given he would be killed should he disagree. Yura instead emphasises Samura had to agree given the catastrophe would come soon. Samura rejects the prophecy, shouting that Shinuchi's seal was enough to keep it stable until the Hishaku stole it, proclaiming that the Hishaku were the ones trying to bring about a second Malediction.
Yura calmly retorts that there was no way of guaranteeing the seal would remain stable. The flowers on the island had not faded, and as manifestations of spirit energy they were a clearly sign that the Master Swordsman's bloodlust had not waned. The Master Swordsman and Shinuchi had already set the precedent of performing unimaginable things once; they could do it again. However, the Kamunabi and wielders had not sought to eliminate the possibility but refused to face it and hid the truth; that was their sin. Samura took note of how Yura even knew of what would happen should the contracts break.
Yura introduces his goal: to kill the Master Swordsman and wield Shinuchi. As the Master Swordsman's True Realm resulted in Malediction arising, his own wielding of the blade was to end Malediction. Looking around, Yura offhandedly notes Iori was no longer staying with him. Samura mutters that her presence with him was only harming her. Yura voices his disappointment that they do not have another ally in their mission to eliminate the Master Swordsman before once again telling Samura that he has a chance to atone for the sake of the future, asking to end the threat together.
Within his mind, Samura comments he does not know Yura's true intentions, but he could not let the Hishaku's possession of the Enchanted Blades go unmonitored. He internally admits Yura has a point; even if he killed Yura, the problem of the Master Swordsman would remain. Samura resolutely decides the threat needs to be eliminated for the future; the Master Swordsman should simply have been executed, as there was no point in life when those around him would suffer for it.
Elsewhere, Iori notes how she had been monitored by the Kamunabi following Kunishige's death. Six months later, the Masumi arrived, Ro informing Iori that they had been sent by her father, and that they would be overwriting her memory so she could live with a new identity, no longer Seiichi Samura's daughter. Iori thinks that while she has endured constant attacks and continuous surveillance due to being Samura's daughter, she was still able to be with her father and see her mother's last smile thanks to him coming back. She tears up as she reads a note from her father apologising for only giving her nothing but pain.
In the present, Ro immediately realises Iori has fully destroyed the seal and is astonished. Chihiro turns to see Toto teleport in and teleport a wounded Hiruhiko to a nearby ledge. Despite his notable shoulder wound, Hiruhiko tells Toto that his katana took some of the damage from Chihiro's attack and so he could still fight and didn't need treatment; demanding she give him Kumeyuri. Toto has Kumeyuri, but is opposed to his decision.
Sumi begins approaching the duo and shouts to Chihiro to protect Iori. To the side, Iori thanks Ikura for coming to the hotel and Ikura vaguely acknowledges it, still shocked by Iori's sudden swordsmanship ability. More yakuza rush Iori and in an instant Chihiro is beside her, the two rapidly taking out the yakuza around them, astonishing Ikura. Chihiro asks Iori if her father taught her, and Iori affirms this but notes it is her first time with a real sword. She says that so long as she closes her eyes and doesn't see the blood she should be fine, Chihiro internally questioning the absurdity of such a comment.
Iori thinks back to her learning to use a sword when she was younger, a younger Iori having believed if she could get strong enough to oppose everything standing in her way, her father would stay with her. Looking up, Iori asks if her father is watching them right now, and Chihiro says he is, as after Iori's seal was broken he should be remembering her too. However, he was on a mission and couldn't come to her at the moment. Recalling Hiruhiko's earlier words, Iori knows he was after the other Enchanted Blade wielders. Looking down again, Iori morosely states her struggle for Samura to recognise her feelings was meaningless. Chihiro stares in contemplation, remembering how drawing Enten would send Samura right to their location.
On the ledge, Toto hands Kumeyuri to Hiruhiko, warning him that Samura will be alerted instantly and Hiruhiko was already wounded. Having been observing Chihiro and Iori, Hiruhiko knows Chihiro will be drawing Enten, and refuses to let their fight end. Toto questions why Chihiro would unsheathe Enten if he had been avoiding doing so after Samura cut him down, but watches as Chihiro informs Iori her struggle was not meaningless; as now she could reach her father. Chihiro takes the glove on his left hand off as Iori tells him that even for a moment, she wanted to see her father.
Samura arrives at the hotel
Simultaneously, Hiruhiko and Chihiro activate Kumeyuri and Enten. Before their blades come close to leaving their sheathes, Owl immediately disappears overhead and black feathers fill the sky, Iori looking skyward as Samura calls Tobimune. Samura arrives descending from the sky, two gigantic black wings holding him aloft.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- The Kamunabi send escorts to Samura to get him to Kamunabi Headquarters but Yura arrives and murders them.
- He reveals his organisation is named the Hishaku and tells Samura he is there to negotiate. Samura senses three other individuals nearby and interprets the 'negotiation' as more of a threat.
- Samura shouts that Shinuchi's seal was enough to delay the prophecy and the Hishaku's actions were speeding it up, but Yura counters with the information that Malediction's flowers were still present on the island; testament to the Master Swordsman's enduring bloodlust.
- Yura states the wielders' sin is not eliminating the possibility of a second Malediction and declares his goal is to kill the Master Swordsman, wield Shinuchi and dissipate Malediction.
- Samura decides to agree, not knowing Yura's true intentions but refusing to let the Hishaku's actions go unmonitored. In addition, he internally agrees the Master Swordsman should have been killed, believing there to be no point in living if he brought suffering to those around him.
- Iori having her memories sealed by the Masumi is shown.
- In the present, Toto teleports Hiruhiko to a nearby ledge and Hiruhiko demands she give him Kumeyuri.
- Chihiro and Iori fend off yakuza and Iori laments that Samura would never acknowledge her feelings.
- Chihiro states it was not meaningless and activates Enten. Simultaneously, Hiruhiko activates Kumeyuri.
- Owl immediately disappears and Samura arrives with Tobimune active, two gigantic black wings holding him aloft as black feathers fill the air.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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