Chapter Nine: Clash of Wills

"I told you, he's Satomi-sama to you!" Enju said indignantly.

Yuuto ignored her. "What brings you out here, miles away from Tokyo, Satomi-kun?"

"I'm here to arrest you, Yuuto," Rentaro replied. His eyes were set in a fierce glower. "By force, if necessary."

"Well, I hope that won't be the case," Yuuto said. "I'm sure we can discuss this like civilized human beings."

"Arrest…?" the little girl with Yuuto said fearfully, looking up at him.

"Takuma Yuuto!" Rentaro shouted. "You are charged with assault, destruction of property, and attempted second-degree murder. It is therefore my duty to take you into custody. Do you have any objections?"

Yuuto clenched his fists and looked away. "No…no objections."

Rentaro nodded, putting his gun in its holster. "Then if you'll just come with me—"

"I have no intention of coming quietly, Satomi-kun," Yuuto said suddenly. "At least, not just yet."

Rentaro was taken aback. "I'm sorry?"

"I have a mission, Satomi-kun. I'm going home, one way or another."

Rentaro was baffled. Home? What was this kid talking about? "I don't think you understand, Yuuto. You are a criminal. You need to be put on trial for your crimes. You're not above the law."

"Oh, I fully intend to answer for what I did. Just not yet."

"Yuuto!" Rentaro shouted, frustrated. "That's not how justice works!"

"Believe me, it hurts that I'm obstructing justice. But I don't have a choice." Yuuto stepped up to Rentaro so they were eye-to-eye. Rentaro could see a deep, consuming darkness in the young man's eyes, but also something else, something burning…was that defiance? Determination? Rage? "I have to see my friends again…I have to know for sure."

The burning was hope. No, it was less than that; it was desperation. "As convincing as your argument sounds, I can't just let you walk away."

"Then it seems we're at an impasse." The fire in Yuuto's eyes burned stronger. "Why don't we settle this the old-fashioned way, Satomi-kun?"

"Old-fashioned? What are you talking about?"

"A duel," Yuuto said, stepping back. "I would say to the death, but I'd really rather not have to kill you, Satomi-kun."

Rentaro's expression darkened. "You don't know who you're dealing with, Yuuto."

"What, the hero of the Tokyo Area? I've heard about you, Satomi-kun. I have no doubt that you're every bit as strong as the stories say. But I'm not going to let you keep me from my home." A bitter grin spread across Yuuto's face, barely visible in the darkness. "Besides, I can guarantee that you don't know who you're dealing with."

Rentaro clenched his teeth. This kid's blatant arrogance was really starting to get on his nerves. "Fine. We fight to surrender."

"If you win, you get to drag me back to Tokyo. If I win, you let me go to Inaba."

"And you still come back to Tokyo!"

Yuuto shrugged nonchalantly. "That sounds fair. Shall we begin?" Yuuto held his sword at the ready.

Rentaro grabbed the spike on his Varanium arm. "Yes, let's."

The two of them charged at each other.

BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK

Takuma swung Gaia low, aiming to sweep Rentaro's legs out from under him. Most people assumed that a greatsword was little more than a sharpened club, to be swung with reckless abandon in your foe's general direction. While that was still sometimes effective, in the six months since Takuma had received Gaia, he had learned that a greatsword was a weapon to be wielded with finesse; he was banking on that misunderstanding for this fight.

To Takuma's dismay, Satomi seemed to be able to predict his actions, and he easily dodged the sweep, delivering a punch to Takuma's side. He staggered backwards, and was barely able to block Satomi's roundhouse kick. The clanging sound when Satomi's leg struck Gaia's blade told Takuma that the leg was also metal. Great.

Takuma pushed off from the ground, swinging Gaia in an overhead slash. Satomi blocked the attack with his arm, but staggered back. Takuma could see the surprise on Satomi's face at the sheer force behind the slash, and Takuma allowed a small smile. I'm stronger than I look, Satomi-kun.

Takuma felt a sudden, crushing pain in his stomach, and he flew backwards into a tree. Between the knee to his stomach and the collision with the tree, Takuma was feeling dizzy. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Are you done yet?" he heard Satomi proclaim.

Takuma's mind went blank—and then an image of his friends at Junes filled his head. Gritting his teeth, he slowly stood to his feet. "Not…even…close."

Satomi was fast, and seemed to be able to know what Takuma would do as soon as he himself knew. He could see no way to get the drop on this teenaged warrior—except one. The expression of shock on Satomi's face after that overhead arc showed that he hadn't expected how strong Takuma was. It was a long shot, but he couldn't give up now. Takuma Hefted his sword up and, with a yell, charged at Satomi.

Everything seemed to go into slow motion. Takuma saw Satomi running up to meet him, drawing his right hand back to deliver a devastating punch. Takuma released his left hand and braced it on the end of Gaia's blade. He pushed the face of the blade into Satomi's fist, barely deflecting the blow. Gaia's edge bit into Takuma's hand from the force of the impact. Satomi's fist sailed harmlessly past him as Takuma grabbed Gaia's crossguard with his now-bleeding left hand. Mustering up all of his strength, Takuma shoved forward, ramming Gaia's hilt into Satomi's abdomen.

Time returned to normal. Neither of them moved for a few seconds, Satomi spluttering breathlessly. Then, Satomi fell backwards. Takuma stood above Satomi, panting. He extended his hand towards his fallen foe. "Do…you…yield?"

Satomi stared at the outstretched hand and nodded, grasping the hand. Takuma pulled Satomi to his feet, then staggered. "I think…I think we should rest for now."

Satomi—Rentaro—nodded. "That's probably…a good idea."

Takuma stepped away from Rentaro, lurching to where he'd dropped his Evoker. He kneeled down next to it and cringed. The barrel had snapped cleanly in two, and the metal was severely warped. He reached towards the two pieces of his Evoker, blood dripping from his hand. He cautiously pushed the two pieces of metal together. They held up, but it looked as if he could fire it one more time before the recoil caused the warped metal to shatter. He cautiously put it in its holster.

Something tackled him from the side and he fell to the ground. "You were so cool out there, Yuuto-san!" came Yui's eager voice.

Takuma chuckled weakly and ruffled Yui's hair, gently pushing her away. "Not now, Yui-chan. I'm still sore." He propped himself up on his elbows. "Say, Satomi, what do you say we just both set up camp here, since we're both exhausted?"

Enju glared at Takuma. "I told you, he's—!"

"That sounds perfect," Rentaro replied. It might have been Takuma's imagination, but he thought he could see the faintest trace of a smile.

"Great. Good night, then." And with that, Takuma relaxed his elbow, allowing his upper body to fall. He was asleep before he hit the ground.