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An odd silence came over the area. After all that terrible ferocity there was nothing left to fill the air but the breathing of those souls who had survived. One happened to be Usagi, who had met up with Tajima. The latter was desolate. He had witnessed the near destruction of his school; so many of his students had died defending their homeland against the Hikiji. Usagi felt his pain. He understood his loss. It was all too familiar, as was the root cause. Which suddenly presented himself in front of both men. Usagi couldn't help himself. Something shattered inside his heart. Something familiar, like a splinter, which had lingered there ever since he buried the head of his Lord a lifetime ago, had become dislodged and filled his veins with the need for revenge. He rushed toward Yasuhira. Tajima followed, unsure if he should stop the man from doing what was in his heart as well. Then he noticed Chizu, and recognised her to be a Hikiji. By the gods let it end. Honour is everything.
Yasuhira heard Usagi approach. The Ronin was so tired, his breathing was so laboured that it was impossible not to. Yasu understood all too well the reasons why; he braced himself. And then when Usagi was but a sword's length away, Yasuhira drew his own blade.
"Ryaaaaaaa!" Came the Ronin's familiar war cry.
Yasuhira parried it just at the last second. It was an inspired thrust, and came from an unusual direction. In fact the next two thrusts Usagi gave were equally perplexing. His style was so unorthodox that Yasuhira had to take a moment to think about a response. By all the gods, where did Usagi gain his training, from some old madman living in a hut in the forest? Chizu rushed to aid her Lord. Tomoe was nearby and looked over her shoulder at hearing another duel, after thinking it had finally all given way. She was terrified at what she saw.
"No Usagi, don't kill him."
She screamed and ran toward him, hoping to come between the two men. But as she did, she nearly ran into Tajima as he made his attack against Chizu. The woman wondered what had got into the fool, but then she realised that her past was not something anyone could rid themselves so easily. Tomoe was baffled by this new development. Had they not enough killing that day? Must they destroy what little remains of the Geishu?
"Tajima, stop this, please."
Tomoe tried to come between them but they were incensed. Chizu had her own reasons for wanted to die. She was a mere ninja. Her life would not be worth preserving by the lords on high and so would no doubt suffer for having served the Shadow Lord at one point her life. Best to end it right then and there. Tomoe was in tears and pressed her hands to her temples.
"By all the gods stop."
Yasuhira heard her heartfelt words and thought it was time enough. He pressed his own attack and broke through Usagi's defence. He then kicked the man right in the chest, which sent him flying. Once he landed, Yasuhira unceremoniously kicked the katana out of Usagi's hand, and it landed some distance away. He then pointed the end of his blade at the Ronin. Enraged, Usagi leaned forward so the tip dug into his throat. Blood began to flow down his neck. Damn this black hearted Hikiji, he was ready to die. Instead, Yasuhira pulled his blade away and walked toward the other two combatants. Usagi watched in a mixture of horror and astonishment as the figure of his revenge turn away without a care. Tajima and Chizu were so engrossed in death they did not see Yasuhira at all. In one quick movement he grabbed Tajima by his sword hand and pulled it up into the air, which halted his attack and then rammed the butt end of the hilt of his sword into Chizu's sternum, which made her crumple to the ground. He twisted Tajima's arm so as to cause him to release his grip on his sword and let out a great cry of pain. Once disarmed Yasuhira let go of Tajima, and he fell to the ground favouring his arm, and even thought it to be broken. Yasuhira sheathed his sword before helping Chizu to her feet. She was not happy.
