Chapter 14- The Benizakura Finale
"Katsura!" yelled an infuriated Matako.
A thug said, "Bastard! You'll never get off this ship alive!"
"I can't die," said Katsura Kotaro, "before I see the dawn of Edo." He severed, with his katana, the bonds holding down Kagura. "It would be unpleasant for Edo to be awakened by thugs like you."
He turned his blade towards Takasugi and his Kiheitai. "So I'll kill you before the morning sun rises."
Kagura hugged on tightly to his waist and said, "The person who is going to be killed—IS YOU!"
She suddenly pulled herself backwards and slammed his head into the deck.
Their comrade with the glasses said, "We were worried sick about you! And you were hiding inside of Elizabeth all this time?"
Shinpachi dragged Kagura's cross towards Katsura who was still in a daze. He then swung it at him sending him flying into a Kiheitai.
Katsura said, "I thought the enemy was just after me. Since they thought I was dead, I figured it would easier to discover their plan. I didn't want to get others involved in my personal problems. Hence I disguised myself as-"
Right then two ronin tried to stab him from behind. Katsura fell to the ground before they could land their strikes. His two friends had yanked him off his feet. They then began to swing him around, temporarily dissuading their foes.
The Kiheitai said, "We can't get closer. There's no opening."
Matako's short supply of patience had run out. Her foes were disregarding the Kiheitai's numbers and her men were equally ignorant of this advantage. The situation seemed to becoming more comical by the second…
Kijima raised her voice now. She said, "What are you fools doing?!"
She turned her head as Takechi asked, "What is that?" A far off object was moving towards them. It was moving dangerously fast.
"Hey that… looks like it's coming this way." she said.
Before anyone could react, the unidentified mass had rammed into the ship. Seconds before its impact, Matako realized it was a small ship. Something white had been on the ship. It looked suspiciously similar to the duck outfit Katsura had worn earlier.
"What?" wondered Matako. Dozens of samurai were appearing out of the flames of the wreckage. They drew weapons as they boarded.
"Takasugi!" said one, "You ain't getting away with this!"
Matako led the men in a counter attack. She charged, pistols drawn, and said, "Tch! Cut them down!"
Matako fired off her pistols creating a path through the raiders. A fast but vicious battle erupted all around her. The edges of katanas crossed for a moment and bled out sparks. Katsura's allies began to group around Katsura. Matako followed their example—she retreated to Takasugi and shifted into a battle stance.
Only a dozen or so had survived on each side. The ship was still airworthy, though the damage it had sustained had crippled it.
Shinsuke whispered, "Takechi. Kijima. Follow me." He quietly entered into the ship's cabin. Takechi scurried to his side while Matako covered Shinsuke's back.
When they were out of earshot, Takasugi said, "The Harusame contacted me less than an hour ago. Their fleet will be here shortly to wipe out these troublesome pests.
Shinsuke eyed the control panel to the side. One of the ship's systems was flashing red.
Takechi said, "It looks like the ship won't be able to land now. We're stranded here with our enemies."
"We've no reason to continue a losing battle." said Shinsuke, "We will disembark and leave the rest to the Harusame. They will be interested in Kotaro."
Matako paused in her tracks. She said, "I'll buy you some time."
She continued, "I request to stay behind. Forgive my boldness Shinsuke-sama. But, you're still wounded and losing blood. It would be dangerous to fight a prolonged battle even with medical attention. So... I'll hold them off until the Harusame arrive."
"Do as you like." said Shinsuke, "I trust you realize your fate if you should take them lightly. Kotaro Katsura is a swordsman of my league."
Matako nodded in understanding.
"Even if Shinsuke-dono escapes on the pirate ship, what do you plan to do? Rough it out here alone?" asked Takechi.
She said, "I'll think of something."
Takechi sighed. "What a time to be martyr."
"Shut it." she said, "I'm not going to be killed. I have unfinished business so I won't lose."
Henpeita asked, "And what business might that be?"
Matako shut her eyes. She recalled the Yato's taunts and how she had toyed with Matako again and again. She was reminded of her death threat to Shinsuke. She remembered how Katsura had injured him. She saw again the painful memory of Shinsuke collapsing to the ground. She desired to settle things once and for all.
"I won't forgive them. I'll never forgive them." she told herself.
"Its personal." was her vocal reply.
Takechi walked forward and stood next to her.
"I feel the same way. I'm sick of them just marching around as they please not considering the headaches I endured to help formulate this strategy."
"Takechi-senpai…" she said.
"What about the other Kiheitai?" Matako asked.
Shinsuke said, "By now, they are all dead."
He continued on his way.
Takasugi paused and said, "I wish to even my losses from this battle. Even so, I'd hate to lose two of my best Kiheitai in the process. So then… you mustn't fail."
"I won't fail you." said Matako.
Katsura, Kagura, and Shinpachi were nearing their position now.
"Nizou took one but there should still be another speeder in the bay." said Takechi, "Let's catch up with Shinsuke-dono quickly." She nodded a reply.
Kijima aimed her pistols at Katsura's left foot. She knew that his reaction speed would be exceptional. A combatant of his tier would avoid her attacks if she was too slow. Disabling him seemed the safest bet.
He curled up both his feet as her bullet pierced the ground beneath him.
"I'm just getting started." Matako thought. She twirled her pistols skillfully until holding them both erect.
Matako said, "I won't let you get to Shinsuke-sama." Takechi stood beside her, ready to assist her.
'To be honest with you, I'm not the fighting type.' She remembered his admittance of this. She wondered, "Damn it. What use are you here Takechi?"
She heard Takechi say, "I'm afraid even a feminist must sometimes become a demon. When my meticulous plans get ruined, I get really angry, damn it.'
"Tsk" grumbled Katsura as he handled the grip of his katana. Matako knew that without a doubt she was facing the deadliest battle of her life. If she didn't live up to her name as the Red Bullet, the Joui veteran would cut her through. And against a Yato and her friend, the advantage was in their court. She wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. It was a death match after all.
"Hurry up and go idiot!" said Kagura and Shinpachi.
The other two dashed headfirst at the Kiheitai. Harmoniously, they both struck their opponents. The blade of Shinpachi collided with Takechi's own. Kagura's kick was accordingly blocked as Kijima crossed her pistols. Matako could feel her legs trembling with fatigue under the raw power this girl possessed. Both her opponents leapt backwards. Matako searched the room briefly before returning her sight to the Yato clansmen. Katsura was no where to be seen.
I screwed up. Is there any chance the Harusame arrived early? No, what am I worrying about? There's no way you'll lose to him.
Takechi said, "I don't understand… only the two of you are out of place here. You're neither Joui nor Katsura's followers. And you're obviously not with us."
Matako pointed her gun towards Kagura. "Then what?!" she asked, "Who the hell are you? What are you after? Who do you work for?"
The resolved expressions they both were wearing suddenly changed completely. They now bore psychotic grins from cheek to cheek.
"What the—" Matako wondered. She fired a bullet off at her enemy's head. Kagura artfully bent her neck to the side leaving strands of hair were her eyes had been. She charged at Matako and gathered a fist. Matako fired another round but her adversary leapt into the air. She spun around to deliver another kick. Instinctively, Kijima drew her gun and caught Kagura's foot with its side. She covertly pushed up the other gun from under her preoccupied arm, its barrel concealed by her sleeve.
BAM! As the shot went off, Kagura leapt into the air and kicked her feet off the bottom of a pipe. She threw her fist downward towards Matako's face. Matako jumped back and skidded onto the floor. She fired off each barrel one more time. Kagura was far from deterred. She dodged every blast sent by Kijima. No matter how fast or accurate Matako was, Kagura was able to dodge it. Matako could read her opponent. She could see and predict where she would land. But as soon as Kagura's feet hit the ground, she had already nimbly returned to the air. The truth was Matako's own arms could barely keep up with the Yato's speed. Her mind itself, while calculating and experienced, was succumbing to the frustration her opponent was causing her.
Shinpachi and Takechi slashed viciously with their swords. Shinpachi shouted and came at Takechi with his full strength. Takechi countered by placing his palm on the flat-side of his blade. They were interlocked for the longest time, but at last Shinpachi began to struggle.
Takechi said, "You're shaking."
Shinpachi said, "This is drunken sword style! As the user becomes more and more drunk, he becomes stronger!" He began to billow back and forth to demonstrate.
Takechi sneered. "You can stop bluffing." As he finished his taunting, his own hands began to tremble from muscle stress.
"You're the one who should stop bluffing!" said Shinpachi.
Takechi said, "I'm more of the thinker type, so I usually leave these matters to that wild boar woman."
"Who are you calling a wild boar?" asked Matako as she fired off another two rounds.
"Just watch me shoot a slug through your flabby abs!"
She ran to the side, continuously firing at her speedy target. Matako said, "In a real fight, you should let yourself go Senpai. It's kill or be killed."
Kijima fired at her opponent's footing. A single opening was all she needed. Bullet after bullet ricocheted off the steel tiles. Each one was barely avoided by Kagura's light footing. And yet Kagura was being gradually pressured. She flipped back up against the wall and then ran around a metal crate. She suddenly made dash for Matako. Kagura leapt into the air to dodge the last projectile.
Kagura had leapt too high in the air leaving her with limited movement. Matako ran to the perfect position to get a clean shot.
"Gotcha!" said Matako. "You can't move in mid-air. Die!" A bloodthirsty smile was stapled onto her guise as she adjusted her right gun to match her gaze. Time was passing more slowly now. She could clearly see her target and knew how to kill her. Her revolvers sent off fumes of smoke as they recoiled. The first shot went off into Kagura's right elbow. The second shot went towards her right shoulder. And the third shot sent a bullet directly for her brain. Matako could see the body dance as it was struck by the force of each round. Kagura's head rolled backwards from her headshot. Her passive body started to descend.
"I killed her." A welcome sensation now graced her. It electrified her, filling her with delight at her achievement.
Just then Kagura's head fell down and she reached forward with her hands. In between her fingertips and teeth was each bullet.
"No way" thought Matako. Kagura landed several feet in front of her and speedily tripped Kijima. She flipped and landed directly over her. With her left hand, she pinned down Matako's arm.
Kagura threw a right hook as she said, "You're one hundred years to early to even think about killing me little girl!"
Matako was far too surprised to react appropriately. It wasn't like her to drop her guard even after a confirmed kill. She knew she had been too sure of herself and that her desire to avenge Shinsuke and her own pride had blinded her. Even if she chose to fight now, it was of no use. Her pistols were just a few inches out of her grasp. One of her arms was trapped under the girls' raw strength while the other lay sprawled on the ground. Matako could only try in vain to block the punch with the other arm. She shut her eyes and turned her cheek, her teeth clenched and her mind ready to accept the beat down that would ensue.
I was careless. Forgive me Shinsuke-sama.
She felt no pain. Instead she heard an explosion erupt from the ceiling above. She opened her eyes and saw white smoke pour in. She strained her neck to see what had fallen in front of her. Something… something was standing up now. Matako recognized it as Okada, or more accurately, what was left of him. The Benizakura's tendrils were protruding in place of his limbs. Each tentacle was intertwined with another and containing masses of flesh that were once his arms or legs. These were bulging with veins and pulsating like hearts. The Benizakura appeared as organic as it did artificial. Something else was wrapped in the vines. An unconscious white haired man was being strangled by it. Matako didn't recognize his face.
She hurriedly grabbed a hold of her pistols. Takechi ran ahead of her to investigate the monstrosity. She asked him, "Wha… What the hell is that?!"
A primal fear of this monster now plagued Matako. She fought to control it. When she looked at Okada, it wasn't a human she saw but a demon. It was a darkness she had never known, a darkness that thought only of killing. Matako wasn't truly afraid to die, but she valued her life to a point. This fear was simply human instinct. It had never hindered her in her line of work. She wouldn't let it now.
"Nizou-san?" asked Takechi cautiously. Okada spun around frenziedly. His eyes were an ominous red and his mouth was foaming. He immediately swung one of the arms of the Benizakura outward. Henpeita was too slow to dodge. He was hit by the force of a train and knocked backwards into the wall. His body contorted from the impact. He coughed up blood and then fell to the ground.
Takechi said, "I told you, I'm not good at this sort of thing." Takechi's irises expanded briefly and his head sunk into a stupor.
Matako's mouth dropped as she saw his unconscious form. She said, "Senpai!" She had felt it again— fear for another life. Matako spun around to face the Benizakura.
"Nizou you bastard! Have you lost your mind?"
Okada seemed to stand more upright as she spoke. "Geeghhh!" he growled at her.
Matako raised her head as she realized his condition. "His conscience... He's being controlled by the Benizakura."
"Tsk" She said as she aimed her pistols at his chest. "Then the worst has come to pass."
"Stop it, Nizou!" She rapidly fired her pistols. She saw several puncture his torso, but he didn't fall over. His response was to launch one of his mutated appendages at her. Matako's surprise lasted only for a moment. The blast of her pistols was still going off when she was hit. Matako's back smashed into a tank sending blood spurting from her mouth. An excruciating pain took hold of her as she was crushed from ahead and behind. The world around her became dark…
Author's Note: Much of the next chapter operated under the idea that Shinsuke had abandoned his Kiheitai to escape on the Harusame ship. Forgetting Gintoki and Katsura baled (who could forget that exit, I know), I never considered that Shinsuke would remain. It makes perfect sense of course and Matako is shown taking off with the others in the Benizakura film version. I apologize, but the next chapter is based off of the idea she was left behind.