KATANAGATARI 1
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─And back to where we began.
From Haphazard Island, across the water to the Capital…and the Hisho Dojo.
To that training hall─where Shichika Yasuri was no longer surrounded by the six men. They had risen to action, only to fall to the floor, where they lay prostrate on the planks. Out cold, eyes rolled back in their skulls. Not one could climb back to his feet.
Their wooden swords had not even grazed Shichika.
They had dropped to the floor, just like the six men.
“Nice work…”
Togame, leaning against the wall, clapped her hands in satisfaction and called out to Shichika from behind.
“Not that I caught all of that. Was it the move that beat Komori? I’ll admit that being able to take down six, or even seven men at once is nothing to sneeze at─but how would you cope if an eighth man were to appear?”
“You mean an eighth sword─but would that ever actually happen?”
“Any day,” Togame said. “The Possessed have eleven other owners.”
“Eleven,” repeated Shichika. “What a pain.”
“That’s not the half of it. The Maniwa Clan has eleven other bosses. And don’t forget the Strongest Swordsman─or should I say the Fallen Swordsman,1 Hakuhei Sabi. And after them all manner of strange and awful characters, too many to count… Anyway, I’m relieved to see you can control your strength. These men have only fainted─and you didn’t break a single sword, which matters a great deal.”
“Does it, though?”
“Yes. Things were only hunky-dory2 this time because the Leveler, as a rule, cannot be broken. But that won’t be the case again. And another thing, at the risk of belaboring the point: don’t think you outperformed Komori. He drowned in his own tactics, and as a result, you won. You were lucky things turned out that way.”
“Can’t argue3 with that. I may have acted big and strong when we were talking trash, but I’ll probably lose at some point.”
“My job is to make sure that you never do. While a tactician can drown in his own tactics, the Schemer ever swims in her schemes. Which is why, from this day forward, you play by my rules, in battle as in life.”
“You can trust me,” Shichika responded without pause.
A hearty reply.
“So I guess this means I’ve passed the tests and proved myself worthy to serve you. Alright, Togame. Tell me these rules you want me to start following.”
“There are…only four at the moment.”
“Four. Let’s hear them.”
“First, as stated earlier, never break a sword─but the rule goes beyond that. I forbid you to attack the swords in any way. You may only counter them. Need I repeat, the only unbreakable sword is the Leveler; the remaining eleven will be nowhere near as strong. Retrieve each sword in pristine condition. Not a scratch. In a word─protect the swords, whosoever may be holding them.”
“Got it.4 I protect the swords. What’s number two?”
“Protect me. Our mission is to round up all the Shikizaki blades, but it’s pointless if I die in the process. I cannot have you letting me be kidnapped again, or worse. I must never be hurt. Not a scratch.”
“Got it. I protect you. What’s rule three?”
“Protect yourself,” Togame said. “And I’m not saying this for your sake─until we take possession of all twelve Shikizaki swords, I forbid you to die. Capturing a sword is no excuse for suffering a mortal blow. Without you, the hunt is over. Which is why I forbid you to be injured─not a scratch.”
“Got it. I protect myself. What’s number four?”
“Protect yourself,” Togame repeated─and stood. Whisking the hem of her kimono across the floor, she spun around; with her back turned to Shichika, she started heading for the exit. He couldn’t see her expression. “This time, I am saying it for your sake.”
“…”
“Don’t die─the journey will be taxing, but you mustn’t die. Can you promise that? I won’t have you saying otherwise. Quick, say you got it.”
“Got it. Absolutely. I’ll protect everything.”
Then Shichika got moving too.
In seconds, he was right behind Togame.
“So what’s next? You said we’d want to get at least the first few swords before we visited Owari.”
“The Kyotoryu may be notorious, but you’re a nobody. If I’m showing up with you, one sword is not nearly good enough a souvenir.5 Especially not the Leveler, which we haven’t seized so much as recovered. Our next sword will be Zanto the Razor. It was forged to slice like no other. There is no substance in this world it cannot cut. Its owner is one Ginkaku Uneri of Inaba. I’ll tell you more about him on the way─and while we’re at it, let’s get you some new clothes. Come.”
“Sounds great. I love you, Togame.”
“Good. Love me all you like.”
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And thus they set off on their journey.
A wild sword chase, with no ending─or even any road in sight.
Yet this tale is heading steadily toward a conclusion: all thousand of the swords of legendary swordsmith Kiki Shikizaki, including his masterpieces the Twelve Possessed, were merely foils for the creation of the Kyotoryu…a single katana, Kyoto the Diamond6─though at present no one comprehended this, not even Togame the Schemer.
Zetto the Leveler: Check
End of Book One
To Be Continued
1 堕剣士 DAKENSHI plays on 堕天使 DATENSHI fallen angel
2 上首尾 JŌSHUBI “up from head to tail” satisfactory
3 否定 HITEI deny, negate
4 了解 RYŌKAI acknowledged
5 手土産 TEMIYAGE a gift presented to a host
6 虚刀・鑢 KYOTŌ YASURI “The Absent Katana: File”