KATANAGATARI 3

■　■

Three days had passed.

Togame the Schemer and Shichika Yasuri, Seventh Master of the Kyotoryu, were back at the same harbor where they landed when they arrived in Shikoku. After the showdown with Nanami at the Inner Sanctum of Seiryoin Gokenji Temple, they’d gone back up the road they’d come in on.

The albeit brief appearance of Nanami Yasuri─a monster of a swordswoman, or swordswoman of a monster─at that holy site for swordsmen could only amplify the reputation of the temple. The fight between Nanami and Shichika would doubtlessly go down in history1 alongside the famous duel, between a man bearing a greatsword and another bearing two, on Ganryu Island, that other holy site. But putting aside a matter for scholars of a later era, the near prospects of Gokenji Temple, its monks obliterated by their so-called guest of honor, were dire. Luckily for Togame, the cleanup did not fall under her purview.

It looked like a job for the Magistrate of Shrines and Temples.

She couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for that particular directorate─but Togame made a point of staying out of everything that was not specifically her job.

And what was her job?

But of course─the Sword Hunt.

Now─waiting by the harbor for the boat to take them to Owari, Togame held a dagger.

Akuto the Eel.

One of the Twelve Possessed, the masterworks of Kiki Shikizaki.

Each of which was worth an inordinate sum, enough to buy a country, but since no passerby would ever dream this thing2 would command such a price, Togame had no issue with examining its features like that─out in the open.

Besides, Akuto the Eel didn’t look like a katana.

Charged with lightning─same as ever.

What on earth was it made of?

Thus far, whenever they had landed a katana on the Sword Hunt, Togame had it posted3 to Owari, but they were heading to Owari too─had no choice but to do so. Since Akuto the Eel was such a manageable4 sword (small enough for even Togame to hold), nothing like Zokuto the Armor or Soto the Twin, she’d decided to appoint herself its courier.

“I couldn’t understand why she was throwing herself into a silly battle, and forcing you into it to boot─but that was it. Which isn’t the same as wanting to die. Her body was too weak for her to want such a thing─to Nanami, dying was a fact of life.”

Togame twirled her hair, which she apparently was fond of cut this short.

“And I’m sure she thought nothing of being killed, either─but hoped for it nonetheless.”

Pain and suffering were old friends for Nanami.

And likewise─death was an old friend, too.

For Nanami Yasuri─

Death and killing, and being killed, for that matter.

It was nothing special.

And yet, for the first time─

She had hoped to be killed.

“Facing off against the Bug Unit back on Haphazard Island─must have been the trigger.5 I suppose the Maniwa were no match for someone as strong as her…but in the end, she couldn’t hold up against her own strength.”

“It’s not just her,” said Shichika.

He was sitting right across from Togame─but his vacant gaze was set upon the sky.

As if something─was on his mind.

Out of character.

“No body could ever hold up to that kind of strength. Even I can see that. Dad used to say her sickliness was a sign of the wrath of the gods, but it was simpler than that. It’s like when you blow too much air into a balloon─that’s why she was frail.”

“Too much genius for a single human being to bear. Whereby─she set her sights upon the strength of others, always weaker by comparison. Like when you splash cold water in a boiling pot to cool it down─that’s why she always watched and learned.”

“I never realized that till now─”

In that case, thought Togame.

Mutsue’s refusal to share even a single aspect of the Kyotoryu with Nanami takes on an entirely new dimension.

Nanami Yasuri was too strong to be taken under anybody’s wing.

What if her genius had not followed apace with her alien strength?

If she had never learned to watch and learn─what would have become of Nanami?

As soon as he realized that she had such an ability.

Mutsue tried to kill her─in cold blood.

And soon after─got murdered by his son.

A man suspected of murdering his own wife.

─Not to mention.

My own dad.

“Nanami’s throwdown with the Bug Unit was her first taste of battle. And she won─with flying colors, hands down.6 And yet─all of that exertion must have taken a huge toll on her body… She must have realized she was not long for this world. I’m sure she felt her battle with the Bug Unit─taking countless years off of her life.”

“Sis was the best,” Shichika said, “but she was too strong for her own good─too strong to fight.”

“…”

“Her genius made up for her frail body─but you could also blame her frailty on her genius. I think so, anyway.”

“That’s why she left the island─right? She knew the air over on the mainland was too rich for her, she came anyway. Warning you about the weakness of your Last Fatal Orchid was a convenient excuse. All she wanted─was for you to kill her off.”

She wanted somebody to kill her.

And not just anybody.

It had to be her brother─Shichika.

“That’s why she went to all the trouble of hunting down one of the swords─to give you a good reason to face off. Hmph. That explains everything─”

“Wanted somebody─to kill her.”

“I can’t pretend to understand what that must feel like, but I have a hunch that you can do a better job.”

She didn’t want to die from illness.

Or by dint of her own genius.

She wanted to die a normal death, like a human being.

She hadn’t chosen her life, but had chosen how to die.

“Makes me wonder.”

Shichika spoke gazing off into the sky.

“Did Nanami also want Dad to kill her?”

“Remember what she told you, Shichika. She wouldn’t have minded. But acceptance and hope are two very different things. Still─just as you still love your father,” Togame said, “I’m sure Nanami loved him too, in her own twisted way.”

When it came to fathers, Togame had her own mix of feelings.

In that respect, she understood exactly where Nanami came from.

They both─carried the burdens of their fathers.

That was the deal.

“I dunno, Togame.”

Shichika turned his gaze from the sky─to her.

“Sis may have wanted me to kill her,” he muttered, as if to himself, “but that doesn’t mean─that I wanted to do it.”

In fact, Shichika looked like he was about to cry.

This caught Togame by surprise.

She recalled Nanami’s words.

─Since you want to treat him as a human─

─Just take good care of him─

Maybe things would have been different half a year ago.

He wouldn’t have thought twice about killing his own sister─as a sword, he wouldn’t have thought anything at all.

No hesitation─

Like when he cut down Meisai Tsuruga─or any of his adversaries thus far.

Or his own father, Mutsue Yasuri.

He would have cut Nanami down.

Unencumbered by emotion─a sword doing what it was made to do.

He would have murdered his own sister.

But that was then.

After six months traveling alongside Togame─

Shichika had stopped behaving like a sword.

And started acting─like a human being.

Hence him being on the verge of tears.

“…”

The sadness that she saw in Shichika was her own fault.

He had not failed her, as a sword.

But he had failed to keep it together 7─through no fault but her own.

─Did I…

Did I make a mistake?

Had Nanami been correct─that it was wrong to treat swords as people?

To be sure, the Hero of the Rebellion, Mutsue Yasuri─had not served the House of Tetsubi like any human being.

He had been treated─like the sword he was.

And hence became Hero of the Rebellion.

“Either way, her time was up. If you hadn’t been the one to kill her, her illness would have killed her. Think of it that way, Shichika.”

“If I hadn’t taken Akuto the Eel from her…would sis still be alive?”

“You’re mistaken.”

Togame raised the dagger in her hand for him to see─as if to warn8 him.

“Nanami was killed by Akuto the Eel. It’s just like you said before. Swords can’t handle other swords. This thing isn’t called the Eel for show─it sucked the life right out of her.”

“I guess Mt. Shirei, where she found the sword─was known as a hangout for monsters.”

“Not monsters, so much as ghosts. I’m not saying I believe in all that hocus-pocus…but this sword was the only thing keeping that moribund mountain alive. It was bound to die. You can’t force nature.”

“So you’re saying that Mt. Shirei’s ruined too… I dunno about this Sword Hunt… It seems like everywhere we go winds up turning into wasteland.”

“There is no path for us to follow, nor do any remain in our wake? Well, I suppose it’s not quite that gruesome.”

Gekoku Castle fell.

Triad Shrine in Izumo no longer was a fortress.

Suo saw the strongest in Japan replaced.

The Armored Pirates of Satsuma lost their namesake.

And the holy land of Seiryoin Gokenji Temple─would be short-staffed9 for the foreseeable future.

“Is it wearing on you, Shichika?” Togame gently prodded. “Are you sick of pushing people─to give up their swords?”

“…”

“I’m ready to make anything or anybody step aside in the name of carrying out my mission. It means more to me than life itself, but it’s only mine in the end. Have you had enough this time around? Then fine─just say so.”

“No,” answered Shichika.

Without hesitation.

The same way that he always answered Togame─straight up.

“I’ve already decided I’d fight for you. That works best for the both of us. You’re the most important thing to me─that hasn’t changed one bit. I want to be of use to you.”

“…”

“That’s─that’s my purpose.”

Purpose.10

By having his heart broken by his sister─

Shichika had gained, in exchange, a sense of purpose.

Perhaps he had actually failed Togame as a sword.

But Togame, for her part, found this Shichika all the more reliable.

Who knows whether she had been right or wrong.

They’d find out soon enough─but in any case, regrets seemed unnecessary.

“Oh, that reminds me, Shichika. Now that my hair is shorter, are you sure that you can tell the difference between me and other people?”

She hassled him to bury her embarrassment.

“What the heck are you talking about─”

Shichika laughed.

Not a lively laugh, but a laugh all the same.

“I liked your hair when it was long─but it looks really good short, too. Man, sis was really good at cutting hair.”

“I was about to say the same thing. I won’t need a trim for quite some time.”

“Can I touch it?”

“Do as you please. I know how much my hair excites you.”

With her permission, Shichika touched her hair.

Stroking the tresses─trimmed to her shoulders.

Her hair symbolized her anger─it was her grudge made manifest, the emblem of her vengeance.

“Ahhh.”

Shichika─let out a deep sigh.

Running his hands through her hair.

Perhaps sighing didn’t suit him like his sister.

But he exhaled─as if he were lamenting.

“This makes me a lone wolf just like you, Togame. I never thought that it’d be so lonely─to be on your own.”

“On your own?”

Togame frowned at his choice of words.

Sheesh.

This guy really has no clue.

“Quit spewing nonsense, Shichika. What are you talking about? I’m not a lone wolf.”

“Huh?”

“Because I have you.”

Do I really have to spell everything11 out for you?

“And that means you have me.”

■　■

Five swords were waiting to be found.

Little by little, Togame and Shichika─were nearing the conclusion of their journey.

Akuto the Eel: Check

End of Book Seven

To Be Continued

1 語り継がれる KATARI TSUGARERU told from one generation to the next

2 代物 SHIROMONO article; stuff

3 別便 BETSUBIN “mail separately”

4 手ごろ TEGORO handy

5 契機 KEIKI opportunity, impetus

6 楽勝 圧勝 RAKUSHŌ ASSHŌ easy victory sweeping victory

7 心を折られた KOKORO WO ORARETA his heart got broken, snapped in half preceding sentence also uses verb 折る ORU to fold (as in 折り紙 ORIGAMI); “to snap” if object is hard

8 諭す SATOSU admonish

9 人手不足 HITODE BUSOKU “not enough hands”

10 覚悟 KAKUGO resolve has also been rendered as “agenda” “cause” “mission”

11 いちいち ICHI ICHI “one by one” point by point

12 久方振り HISAKATA BURI for the first time in ages

13 新事実 SHINJIJITSU “new fact”