KATANAGATARI 1

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Unless Kiki Shikizaki marked the swords on purpose─explained Togame.

Not with a difference in the swords themselves, of course.

That would negate their status as the epitome of mass-produced, and the epitome of expendability.

But what about the scabbards?

While infamous as a swordsmith, Kiki Shikizaki did it all─he sharpened his blades, cast his own handguards, wrapped his own handles, carved his own carvings, and milled his own scabbards─if this legendary man, who fashioned every part of his katanas on his own, were so inclined to leave his mark, he would have done so on the scabbard. The handguards and the handles determine the exact feel of the sword─if you changed something about them, it would be a different sword, since it would feel different to hold. But if you changed something about the scabbard, the container for the blade─a slight or even noticeable difference would be fine…

The Schemer banked on this.

It was a baseless, crackpot theory. If she was right, it should be possible to find the first piece of the Legion─or rather, if she was wrong, finding the first piece would be impossible. Her reasoning was neither inductive nor deductive: it worked perforce, but perhaps this characterized her schemes. By piling theory upon theory, she dared to weave sense out of chaos. As had been the case with Komori Maniwa and Hakuhei Sabi, she made her fair share of mistakes─but when she pulled it off, the spoils were none too shabby. She had arrived at a conclusion in a week, despite giving herself a month, because she had committed to her conjecture. She stopped looking at the blades entirely, and focused only on the scabbards.

All thousand pieces of Sento the Legion.

Even the scabbards, at first glance, were identical─from mouth to tail,1 all looked the same. Having no pattern and no carvings of any kind, they were painted a plain2 orange.

But even identical swords would not have been handled the same way. The conditions of their ownership─or custody, would necessarily be different, from one sword to the next. Whereby the history─the scars marring the surface of each scabbard would take a different form and pattern.

They were different.

There was a difference.

Togame produced her trusty magnifying glass and pored over the scabbards, checking the marks on each and every one, taking notes. Of course, some dings were obviously new, the result of negligible wear and tear, and these she disregarded. She had to be extremely careful about what she deemed irrelevant, but what mattered most was that she caught the oldest marks─the deep cuts that appeared to be from the last century. Only scabbard markings of this age could have been made deliberately by Kiki Shikizaki, thus warranting her attention─

If she could discern some kind of geometric cipher3 established through the number and position of these markings, she could discover not only the first piece of the Legion, but the order in which all the pieces were created─yet this was beginning to go over Shichika’s head. With his limited vocabulary, the very word “cipher” was nothing but a cipher.

Anyway─Togame presented Meisai with the katana.

Since no interpretation of scabbard markings was by any means guaranteed, Togame spoke more cautiously than usual─so far as she could tell, she had found the original.

Perhaps the idiosyncratic explanation baffled not just Shichika, but Meisai─but she accepted the sword cordially.

“The scabbards were a blind spot. Thanks. I’m thrilled.”

Considering how Togame had delivered─even going above and beyond their agreement to crack a code that revealed the entire order of production─the owner could not be more grateful, no doubt.

Still.

“Still, the more I think about it, the less I get it,” Shichika said. “Why did Meisai ask you to find the first one, anyway? If the thousand swords have an original they were based on, I guess it’s only human to want to know which one that might be, but what good will it do? She’s not going to worship it as a god, is she?”

He was speaking his mind.

Looking over the sword before Togame proffered it to Meisai, he had felt no spark─none of the lifeforce of Zanto the Razor. He failed to see what set it apart from the other swords the Kuromiko carried─sure, it was supposed to be one among an indistinguishable thousand, first piece or not, but still.

Honestly, even the swinging swords4 of Kuizame Maniwa made a stronger impression as katana.

If that particular piece served, wouldn’t picking a random one and cooking up an appropriate explanation have worked just as well?

“True,” Togame admitted. In a way, Shichika’s doubts amounted to a complete negation of the work she had endured for the past week, but she did not take it personally.

“At first I thought Meisai was giving us a problem we could never solve, to keep the battle from happening…”

However─after actually speaking to her, he had realized this wasn’t the case. If Meisai’s story about the true nature of Triad Shrine was true, she had her heart set on the Leveler and the Razor. It was not the mania of a collector, or the venom of the Shikizaki blades doing the talking.

She was driven to obtain the Mutant Blades─out of necessity.

“If that was her plan, she could have stuck to it,” observed Togame. “Just as I could have given her a made-up explanation, she could have shot down anything I said. My argument was full of holes. If she had felt so inclined, she could have stomped all over me. Everything was riding on my powers of persuasion since I didn’t have a scrap of evidence.”

“Yeah. In that case, maybe it’s better not to think too much about it.”

“She must have her own reasons. But listen, Shichika─my work here is done. The rest is up to you. While I was investigating the Legion, I tried to learn about the Sentoryu─but sadly I was unable to scrounge up any clues. Searching for the original Legion ate up all my time. In which case, you will be walking blind into this battle, against a foe whose methods are a mystery.”

“Ah, about that… I think I’ll be fine,” assured Shichika. “I’ve got the Sentoryu figured out from watching Meisai slash up that Maniwac.”

“Huh, is that so?”

“Yeah. If it’s how I think it is, I can see why Meisai was curious about our school. As Master of the Kyotoryu, I’m curious about the Sentoryu myself. But just thinking about it like a normal person, without playing favorites─matched up against the Sentoryu, the Kyotoryu wins out…”

Be that as it may.

Shichika Yasuri of the Kyotoryu versus Meisai Tsuruga of the Sentoryu.

The long-awaited battle was set for the next day at high noon.

■　■

Shichika and Meisai faced off before the honden of Triad Shrine─the stone patio in between them. As usual, Shichika had doffed his arm guards and straw sandals, baring his sword for battle. Meisai was caparisoned in her black miko outfit─but unlike every other time he saw her, she had a sword. One of the Legion─perhaps even the “first piece” that Togame had presented to her. All the same, to Shichika, her sword was nothing special.

The Kuromiko had cleared the premises. Not one of them was visible by the time Shichika had awoken. They would only be a hindrance to the duel─whereby, at present, there were only three people on the shrine grounds: Shichika and Meisai, along with Togame, serving as witness to the duel.

“I meant it when I said the fifty who stay up here are the sickest of the thousand─I don’t intend this to take too long. Let’s get started, and be done with it.”

“You sound pretty relaxed for somebody whose life is on the line─that’s supposed to be my thing, you know?”

Meisai was her usual easygoing self, and Shichika exuded nonchalance─indeed, neither of them acted like their lives were on the line.

But in the battle that was about to unfold, they certainly were.

Their lives, as well as their swords.

“For our arena, let’s set the boundary at the thicket surrounding the shrine─Mt. Taizan is a treacherous place. If you lose your way, you may never be seen again. But otherwise, this is no dojo match. Feel free to enter the honden or the haiden, jump onto the roof or up onto the torii. Use the terrain however you please.”

“Yeah, well, since I’m the challenger, and this is your turf, you get to decide─but are you cool with having Togame as our only witness? Wouldn’t it be fairer if you picked one of your Kuromiko to watch, too?”

“I cannot expect them to be neutral judges─but fear not, I aim to emerge victorious in a manner that allows no room for a bad call,” Meisai declared with the utmost confidence. “Whoever wins, no grudges─dead or alive. That said, I’m open to the possibility of a surrender. If you lose all hope, just say the word.”

“Understood…”

Nodding, Shichika glanced at the sword slung from her hip─the first piece. Catching him looking, Meisai drew the blade.

Curved, about two and a half feet long, marked by a lengthwise groove.5

With a beveled6 spine, and delicately patterned7 face.

A dull glint reflecting the sun─

Mass-produced or not, it was a fine specimen of a katana, hammered by none other than Kiki Shikizaki.

“Well then, Kyotoryu─show me what you got.”

“Gladly─as long as you show off this Sentoryu you’re so proud of.”

“Proud?” In answering Shichika, Meisai narrowed her eyes somewhat. “The Sentoryu is not a source of pride for me. This stuff─is swordplay, and nothing more.”

“…”

How come she wasn’t proud?

It confused the heck out of Shichika, but he quickly brushed it off with a snort─hmph.

The Sentoryu.

Her clash with Kuizame Maniwa had happened like a bolt of lightning; it was over in a second, but Shichika had witnessed every frame. Which is why, the night before, he had told Togame that he had the Sentoryu figured out.

As long as you show off─but not for his sake.

Meisai had dashed full-speed ahead to meet Kuizame where he landed─and shot her hands into the rotations of the Dust Devil to catch the swords’ handles. Redirecting their gyration onto Kuizame, she used his own two blades to slash a cross into his chest.

Double Cross8─is what Meisai called it later.

It happened in an instant─but an instant was enough.

The Sentoryu had a fancy name, but its fundamental premise was dattojutsu9─the hardly unheard-of practice of using an opponent’s sword against him. And just as Ginkaku Uneri had his signature version of iainuki─the Sentoryu appeared limited to dattojutsu.

Dattojutsu─a kind of mutodori.

That would explain why Meisai Tsuruga was usually unarmed─considering the purpose the pieces of the Legion served at Triad Shrine, Meisai had no reason to keep one for herself. Even unarmed, she was perpetually ready for battle.

In which case, the essential meaning of the Sentoryu was simple─any katana, on any person, could readily be used to do her bidding. Although empty-handed, Meisai carried a thousand swords. As in the Kyotoryu, there was no reason to be armed─but in the Sentoryu, your opponent hauled around the sword for you.

Kyotoryu and Sentoryu.

So much in common─and yet.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Shichika assumed a stance.

Form One─the Suzuran.

“Right─if we keep gabbing,10 we’ll never begin.”

Meisai assumed a stance too─an unremarkable middle guard.11

Yes, despite not needing her own sword, she was armed─but rather than negate Shichika’s reasoning, this backed it up. Up against the Kyotoryu─a Swordless Swordsman─she had no choice.

While they worked in a comparable manner, there was also a decisive difference between the Kyotoryu and the Sentoryu─although both involved a swordsman who went without a sword, the Kyotoryu persisted in it, whereas the Sentoryu obtained one in the end, from the enemy or elsewhere─in which case.

However comparable their workings, the Sentoryu did not work against the Kyotoryu.

No sword can be stolen from a foe without a sword.

Meisai had been forced to abandon the core tenet of her school and equip one.

In that regard, the Kyotoryu was more versatile.

The school may have been designed to combat swordsmen, but there was no enemy it could not face, be they ninja or miko─armed or otherwise.

Which is why, as Shichika said to Togame the night before─thinking about it like a normal person, without playing favorites─matched up against the Sentoryu, the Kyotoryu wins out.

Thinking about it, like a normal person.

Since joining forces with Togame, Shichika had started thinking fairly regularly, even if it was a pain─and perhaps he was to be commended for thinking at least that far about it, like a normal person─

But that was where he stopped thinking.

Something a normal person might think would be obvious to Meisai Tsuruga, a practitioner of the Sentoryu who knew about the Kyotoryu, in which case─why had she agreed to the duel?

Shichika had stopped before getting that far.

To anyone raised in a society, it was self-evident that if you’re thinking over here, they’re thinking over there, but Shichika had yet to understand this─or that one thought ought to lead to another.

Of course, this was not the case for our specialist in thought, Togame the Schemer, with whom Shichika might have conferred the night prior; but his suggestive comment had satisfied her, and besides, exhausted after so many days investigating pieces of the Legion, she had not been listening well. Big picture strategies were her game, and hands-on tactics his─but thinking of things on such segregated terms was perhaps not ideal. Their negligence might be attributed in part to Shichika’s “thinking” having been on target one month back, at Gekoku Castle─in a stroke of beginner’s luck.

Ignorant of this, Togame called for the lethal match to start.

“May the best12 sword win─go!”

The Suzuran, with which the reader is already acquainted, is a passive stance─Shichika was basically waiting for Meisai to make the first move. Which in this case─

“Whuppah!”

─involved hurling the Legion at him.

It spun parallel to the ground.

Throwing one’s sword was not a move that a swordsman would ever resort to, but Meisai was no swordsman─and next she threw the scabbard too, spinning it off her free hand in the same way, horizontally.

“Hah.”

A volley of projectiles─scabbard flying after sword.

But after his experience, back on Haphazard Island, against the Star Cannon of Komori Maniwa, one of the Twelve Bosses of the Maniwa Clan─this was nothing. Shichika’s palms were already extended, and he swatted both sword and scabbard to the heavens─he was certain that Meisai would be the next projectile in the series, but in fact she did the opposite.

The exact opposite.

She turned her back on Shichika─and sprinted off the other way.

“Wha…no.”

Running? So soon? After whipping her sword?

Shichika’s brain was abuzz with question marks─but the battle had begun. If the enemy ran, you had to chase them. He bounded over the flat stones in pursuit.

Leaving Togame, the judge, all alone.

“Ah…”

He could hear Togame’s voice behind him, but there was nothing he could do─with her deplorable athletic skills, she had no hope of catching up to the two fighters.13 Their battlefield extended to the edges of the grounds─an impossible range of terrain for Togame to monitor. All that remained for her to do was to carefully collect─without a scratch─the piece of the Legion that Shichika had thoughtlessly sent skyward.

But Shichika had his own difficulties catching up to Meisai, who stayed just ahead of him. In terms of physicality, he was overwhelmingly superior─but in a repeat of the day before, when they faced Kuizame Maniwa, run as he might the gap between them only grew─

Like the Kyotoryu, the Sentoryu was swordplay without a sword.

Indeed, Meisai’s first move had been to throw away her sword─while dattojutsu and mutodori were not so uncommon, the benefit of specializing in them was the same as the Kyotoryu’s─one need not be encumbered by a heavy, awkward sword. If your enemy carries your weapon for you, you can remain agile. The human body is basically complete on its own─even a small stone held in the palm will make a difference in your speed. It goes without saying that carrying a katana greatly impacted your maneuverability.14

He understood why Meisai was fast.

Yet─the same condition applied to him too.

If he had no katana either, how come he couldn’t catch her?

The fact of the matter was that Meisai’s legs were not as strong as Shichika assumed─he was stronger. The difference was in how each of them ran. Shichika simply dashed as fast as his legs would take him, but Meisai knew how to outpace her opponent, and how to stay ahead─you could say it was a more developed version of Kyotoryu Form Seven, the Kakitsubata, which Shichika used on Ginkaku Uneri back at Gekoku Castle.

Hollowed Ground15─a run peculiar to the Sentoryu.

Mind games,16 as you might expect, were not Shichika’s forte.

He was no stranger to tricky footwork, since he used it himself for the Kakitsubata, but he never imagined an enemy would use it back─the possibility hadn’t so much as entered his mind. It had been the same with Komori Maniwa’s transformational ninpo, the Body Melt.

But the Hollowed Ground could not be sustained. If they played this game of tag for long enough, Shichika would eventually catch Meisai, even with his normal run─and Meisai was thoroughly aware of this eventuality.

Aware─and prepared.

This was what distinguished her from Shichika, who automatically chased Meisai when she ran away.

When she made it to the offertory box in front of the haiden (Shichika was certain she would veer left or right), she turned to confront him.

A katana in her right hand.

And the katana─was the Legion!

“Hu…huh?!”

Shichika was running too fast to stop─as he was putting on the brakes, Meisai flashed her blade─

“One Liner─”17

Not as quick as Ginkaku Uneri and his Zerosen─but judging the cut far too fast to handle, Shichika gave up on slowing down and simply let his feet slide─so that his upper body leaned hard. Undeserving of the word “dodge,” this was no more than a spill. Nevertheless, it did the job, and Shichika managed to avoid the flash of steel.

From this position, Shichika prepared for Meisai’s next attack.18

He had to wonder: if she was unarmed, where had she found the katana? The answer became evident when Meisai, not about to chase Shichika over a cliff, returned the blade into a scabbard stashed behind the offertory box.

Before she ran away again.

This time, toward the thicket.

“Wha─”

Finding a Legion stashed behind the offertory box should have been enough for Shichika to get a read on the sort of battle Meisai had in store for him─but alas, his mind was at a standstill.

In fact, the unexpected confrontation with a blade made him lose most of his cool─while nowhere near as rapid as the Zerosen, the One Liner gave him flashbacks. The fear of swordplay, sown by the Zerosen, was festering in Shichika. It had yet to even surface as a weakness.

Which is why he thought nothing of chasing after Meisai.

The chaser and the chased─but in this game of tag, the latter, Meisai, clearly had the upper hand.

Running after her, diving into the thicket─Shichika finally realized the nature of the trap that she had lain for him. He had stepped right into it.

And now─he had no way of stepping out.

The shadows of a thicket. There was no reason to hide them─not in here.

Legions were bound─to the trunk of every tree.

Nay, not only the trees.

Buried in tufts of grass. Springing from the earth.

A bloom of steel.

The Legion bloomed─from every foot of forest.

A Legion had been hidden behind the offertory box─but it was not the only Legion hidden. Not the only one. And this thicket was not the only stash─doubtless the Possessed was scattered across the grounds. In the honden and the haiden, on top of the roof and on top of the torii─

The Legion awaited everywhere.

A thousand.

Blooming.19

Looming.20

Blooming everywhere.

Looming everywhere.

Now he grasped the reason Meisai confined their battle to the shrine premises. It was to prevent Shichika from exiting the zone covered by the Legion.

And at the same moment, he saw why she had wanted Togame to look for the first piece!

It was to buy herself time.

While Togame was absorbed in her investigation, Meisai must have been developing her plan for setting the Legion up around the grounds─which explained why she had seemed so busy. Where and how each sword was placed, and where and how to place them most effectively, required forethought. No crew could stash the swords on the fly in the space of a night. Nor anyone memorize the coordinates of each and every piece─

It made no difference to Meisai which Legion was “the original.” Well, that may be an exaggeration, but if the task diverted Togame’s attention from the grounds for long enough, it made all the difference.

Regardless of whether Togame had been correct, the fact that she had identified one sword as “the original” in the span of a week was perhaps more than Meisai had bargained for─but if she had time to shoot the breeze with Shichika the day before, she must have finished just in time.

And as far as barring Shichika from helping Togame was concerned─even supposing the story of the Kuromiko was no fib─it was just a way of keeping them apart.

Last night, while Shichika and Togame were slumbering in their teahouse─Meisai Tsuruga and the fifty Kuromiko on the mountaintop were stashing swords around the grounds.

Kyotoryu and Sentoryu.

So what if Shichika was unarmed.

If a thousand swords were sown across the grounds─it offered him no advantage.

Shichika had erred in thinking that he understood the Sentoryu the moment he saw Meisai clash with Kuizame─but it was too late in the game to recover from his failure to recognize anything beyond a variety of dattojutsu in the school. And the fact that he, a retainer, would hesitate to trouble Togame, exhausted from her weeklong search for the original, was perhaps exactly what Meisai had intended─

The Sentoryu was not designed for fighting one on one. Its moves depended on the presence of hundreds upon thousands of swordsmen clashing on a battlefield. Not content to seize an opponent’s sword, the Sentoryu aimed to harness the blades of an entire battleground─the Legion of them!

Shichika had lost track of Meisai.