14

“Milo! Sorry about that. Actagawa ate a bunch of eels, and he’s feelin’ lots better now. I think he probably wants some of the pork as well. That okay?”

“Oh, hey, Bisco,” came the unnaturally calm voice from within the cabin. “Of course. I’ll dish some up for him, too.”

“…?”

Bisco had come back expecting to have to apologize to Milo for hurting his feelings, so he was surprised to find him oddly receptive. Although Milo’s behavior raised suspicion, the scent of supper wafting outside drew Bisco in and made him soon forget his misgivings.

“Ooh, boiled pork tonight?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to upset your stomach, so I tried to cut out the fatty bits as best as I could.”

“But you love the fatty bits! You didn’t have to do that for—”

Then, at last, Bisco looked up at Milo and stopped. He was deathly pale.

“…Hmm? What’s up with you?” he asked. He narrowed his eyes at Milo’s awkward smile, his trembling body, his face that now seemed whiter than ever. Then he took a sip of his broth and immediately spat it out onto the floor.

“Sleepshrooms,” he said, casting Milo a terrifying glare, and yet he couldn’t hide his concern. “What’s wrong? Why would you do something like this?”

“Bisco. Please…listen to me.”

“It’s Pawoo, isn’t it?”

It was only at times like this that Bisco was so perceptive to how Milo felt. It was like a curse.

“He did something to her, didn’t he? That’s why you look so pale. Is he tryin’ to bait us?”

Milo didn’t answer. He simply looked down at his bowl. But his silence told Bisco all he needed to know, and he stood up and pulled on his cloak.

“He must be nearby, which means he’s at Shimobuki Garrison. Well, I’m gonna go make him regret picking a fight with us. For every scratch he gave to your sister, I’ll drive an arrow into that tongue he likes to wag so much.”

“No! Bisco, please, don’t go!”

“What’s gotten into you, Milo? Your sister’s in danger! This is no time to be scared!”

“No, I’m telling you not to go!”

A single gust of wind ruffled their cloaks as they stood there outside the cabin. Bisco’s eyes were wide with surprise.

Milo looked down at his feet. “I’m a doctor, remember?! I know how much pain you’ve been in lately. I know about your injuries. I know about the venom that’s working its way through your body. I know your stomach is rusted up, and it’s stopping you from eating. And I know that your eyes have gotten so bad that you can’t even see what you’re shooting at anymore. I know everything.”

“…”

“You’re the one who needs looking after the most! More than Pawoo, more than Jabi. You shouldn’t even be able to stand. If you go in there… Bisco, you’re not going to come back!”

“So what?! It’s my life, and I can live it how I want! Why is it any of your business?!”

“Because you’re my friend!” The words tore their way out of Milo’s throat like a sudden blast of wind. Bisco was left shaking. “Of course it’s my business. How could it not be?” His voice trembled, and the tears streamed down his face and stained the ground by his feet. “You’re my best friend, Bisco. I don’t want you to die… How can you possibly not understand that?!”

A breeze blew once more. Bisco closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, and looked at Milo again with conviction.

“My reason’s the same as yours, Milo,” he said, his voice growing harsh. “I don’t want you to die, either.”

“Bisco!”

“People need you, Milo. Way more than they need me. Let’s keep it that way, ’kay?”

Bisco gave one last look back.

“If either of us has to die, it’s gonna be me. You stay here… I’ll be right back.”

“Bisco.”

A chill gently caressed the hairs at the back of Bisco’s neck. He turned around to see Milo standing there, his bow drawn. His blue eyes burned with a determination that matched Bisco’s own. No fear, no doubt. As if he were a soldier prepared to lay down his life in battle.

“You really wanna do this, Milo…?”

“I can’t let you go, Bisco. Even if it costs me everything.”

“You know better than anyone how strong I am,” Bisco said, the fire in his eyes growing gradually brighter until he became the Man-Eating Redcap once more. “And you know what it means to raise your bow against me.”

“I do.”

Milo remained resolute in the face of the incarnation of wrath before him. He glared back with hate of his own.

“But one thing you didn’t teach me was how to lose to a dead man,” he said.

Bisco’s eyes snapped open, and the battle began.

Fwsh! Shoo!

The two arrows collided in midair, the arrowheads shattering against each other. The pair wheeled around, loosing arrow after arrow, but they continued to crash into each other time and time again. Then they both leaped into melee range, their blades drawn, and clashed. Bisco swung his bow like a staff, but Milo stepped in close with his own bow and drove it into Bisco’s gut.

“Grh…!”

Now for the numbshroom…!

Milo pressed the attack with his poisoned blade, but Bisco ducked and weaved with incredible speed, before throwing his head forward, bashing Milo in the face.

“Gah… Ah!”

“You’re never gonna beat me!” Bisco said with ragged breath. “Just give up and— Gragh!”

Milo shut him up with a blow to the mouth. As Bisco reeled, Milo scowled at him, blood from his crushed nose splattered across his face.

“You’re the one who needs to give up, Bisco!” he said.

“Make me, asshole!”

Bisco’s haymaker landed on the side of Milo’s face, and he staggered back but then gathered himself and launched a fist into Bisco’s nose. They swung at each other, pummeling each other’s faces, falling over into the mud that soon became splattered with their blood.

Milo straddled Bisco and began beating him, but Bisco easily dislodged his light body with a kick. Both of them staggered to their feet in the mud, staring down each other’s blood-soaked faces. No matter how much Bisco hurt him, Milo kept coming back for more. If anything, he was even more determined now than ever, and Bisco started to feel a passion welling up inside himself as well.

“I… I won’t let you go!” shouted Milo.

“God dammit…”

Milo’s blue eyes glinted as he raised his poisoned blade and flew toward Bisco with a yell. Bisco was too exhausted to hold back, and his instincts overtook his rational mind. He spun his body around like a typhoon, with an incredible agility completely at odds with his injuries. His roundhouse kick struck Milo in the side, knocking him to the ground.

“Gah… Agh! Gah!”

Shit!

He had felt Milo’s ribs crack. The shock brought Bisco back to his senses, and he rushed over to help Milo up.

“Milo!”

“Rgh… I’m sorry, Bisco…”

“Don’t apologize… You were right. Come on; we can go together—”

“I’m sorry, Bisco. I’m so, so sorry…!”

There was a sharp pain in the back of Bisco’s neck. Before he could even register what had just happened, he slumped to his knees as an irresistible drowsiness overwhelmed him.

“Mi…lo…”

Before him, he saw the beautiful face of his partner beaten half to a pulp. He was crying, an empty syringe in his hand.

But Bisco could no longer hear what he was saying.

Don’t make that face, he wanted to say, but his mouth did not move, and soon the encroaching darkness obliterated what was left of Bisco’s conscious mind.