Reality's Blade

Chapter 35: Final Adventure

I grinned the whole way home. How would I explain to Airi and Naoki that one minute I was moping around because of Kazehiro then the next I was dating him? Without the knowledge of our Legerdemain adventures it'd seem rather out of the blue surely. I wondered whether he'd be accused of just dating someone to just stop the rumours. I didn't care, I knew the truth.

I'd dreamt of dating him for so long it didn't feel real that he had asked me out. I was even more surprised at how natural it was to be myself. It was easy to hide behind the front of Kaishin, but in the real world we were both laid bare, yet it hadn't been awkward like I thought it might be when we finally acknowledged our other world identities.

Everything was going so well, almost too well. Just our final mission now remained, Hikage was going to part from the Dark Samurai. I was curious as to what his character would look like and I wondered how Hikage would take becoming a level 50 swordsman again after possessing that immense power. How would I cope? Hikage's adjustments to the system would have to be undone for when we left his domain. I couldn't even remember what the movement and sensations had been like before, but I knew it wouldn't feel as real and like my body as it did now. Even with my vampire enhancements I knew Legerdemain wouldn't be the same once the settings returned to default. Was it even fair that I had got them with the help of Hikage's tweaking of the world? The others had fought hard in the game and faced The Count fair and square. I didn't deserve any fame for becoming the newest vampire, hopefully I could just lie low and stay unknown.

I entered my warm home, my fingers tingling with the sudden temperature change as blood finally rushed back to them.

"Welcome home." My mum's head poked through from the living room. "You're looking awfully happy for someone that received an after school punishment." She frowned.

I had already received a lecturing from her over the matter, my Dad had sat quietly after he too had been told off for being impressed when he found out who I had fought and quietly added a 'don't fight' to please her.

"Ah, well... I'll tell you later." I rushed past her.

"Kazehiro or Naoki?" She called after me.

"Kazehiro." I replied, failing to stop my cheeks from being pulled into a smile.

Although I wasn't sure, I thought I may have heard her say under her breath 'poor Naoki' as she returned to the living room.

My feet came into existence on the thick springy grass, the world bright and still as if peace had settled over Legerdemain. The sky was an unusual shade, more of a peach colour, lowering the contrast of the moons pale face against the sky as if it too were content for today.

A tingle up my spine was all the warning I got before Hikage's sword threatened my being, I guarded my back just in time to stop the blade, causing a hollow metallic ring to pulse through the quiet.

"I really did train you well. You stopped me without using your enhancements. Thought I'd test you one more time, you know..." Hikage praised sounding nostalgic and sheathing his blade, but his voice withered as the realisation that he'd no longer be using his borrowed body seemed to finally take hold.

"I've already set a boat up. You ready to sail?" He asked, I could tell he was trying to sound braver than he was feeling.

"Yep. Are we headed to Erdialdera?" I asked, remembering our last fateful journey there as we sauntered down to the edge of the lake to where a wooden row boat was waiting.

"We are." Hikage informed me.

We clambered into the small boat, Hikage held it still while I stepped in from the shore, the boat rocking unsteadily beneath my weight, then he joined me in it's belly and pushed off using an oar, which he then placed down by our feet.