The Rise of the Ronin

Dragonfly

The hot air from the flames warms her face as she watches motionless as the figure rises in the midst of the battle that could have lasted the blink of an eye. Breathless, with eyes mesmerized by the man who emerges victorious, but with a deeply shadowed face. His eyes sparkle like a diamond amidst the darkness.

Kasumi can only utter his name in a faint whisper that does not reach her ears. Completely incredulous, unable to recognize what her own eyes see as true. But it can't be, it's inconceivable, no one can be so monstrously powerful.

The soldier she pointed Satoru's sword at watches in terror as he falls near a pile of corpses and recognizes in one of the disfigured faces a comrade. His hands tremble and his legs barely respond when he tries to start his escape and Satoru's dark pupil chases him like a fly, but before crossing the walls that separate the red district from the city of Osaka, he falls collapsed on the ground.

Kasumi has not even had time to turn her face, but it was enough for Satoru to take an ownerless sword and throw it right in the middle of his skull.

She hears the body fall and closes her eyes tightly, unable to continue watching such horror. And when there is nothing but silence interrupted by the sparks of the fire that begins to make the district disappear, she feels his blue eyes on her. She opens her eyes and he watches her for an instant, when the table in Hamari's office turns over with a bang and the voices of the girls force her to turn around.

Women and men pile out of the pleasure houses, at least those who survived. Everything seems to indicate that most of the conflict centered on stopping Gojo Satoru.

Behind Kasumi the courtesans begin to gather to see with their own eyes the first signs of the war that is approaching over the whole country. Hamari makes her way through the women and stands next to Kasumi, her face exhibiting a stern expression. Kasumi is struck by her temper and the way she looks at the corpses and at Satoru. She notices that they both share a complicit look and nod at the same time.

"Gather your things, bring whatever horses and carriages we have. Take only what you can carry. We're getting out of here."

Just like Satoru's friends, the rest of the Shinmaki women start working almost immediately, without saying too many words, they all seem to share the same thought. In less than thirty minutes they have managed to extinguish most of the fire and the sun begins to rise on the other side of the horizon. Satoru has not addressed a word to her so far, and she has spent her time helping the courtesans load their carriages, avoiding at all costs to see the bodies scattered along the street again.

Outside the walls of Shinmaki Kasumi finds Oguri, waiting for them and upon seeing her the animal stretches its head demanding a petting. Kasumi hasn't said much during the last few hours, but she dares to imagine that this is not the only massacre this animal has witnessed. He is too calm to be inexperienced. Far from running away from danger, he moves almost inviting her to climb on his back. Satoru's hand reaches over Kasumi's head to stroke Oguri's fur and she looks up to find his smiling face. He looks calm and judging by his smile one might assume it's a normal day.

Kasumi slides her gaze down his neck, small black drops clinging to his white skin. The blood has already dried, on his skin, his hair and clothes, but he doesn't pay too much attention to it.

"We have to leave, you ready?" he asks her and she nods.

"Hey, Kai," Kasumi directs her gaze to the caller. Hamari on the other side, standing next to a carriage pulled by two horses watches her and invites her to approach one last time. As if asking permission, she looks at Satoru and, after seeing him nod, walks towards her. Her mouth is tight, the time has come when she must keep her word and confess the truth to Satoru. Reluctantly she walks up to Hamari and with her head down she waits for what she will demand of her. "You were very brave," she says in a soft tone and she looks up. "You took good care of us... and that's why I'll give you the chance to tell Satoru the truth on your own terms, when your heart is ready. But don't take too long..."