Chapter 29- Seven Bullets Part 1

Shinsuke stood still, holding his sword diagonally to his side. Amanto and ronin alike completely surrounded him. Their leader Boshirou faced Shinsuke Takasugi directly. His eyes were fixed on his opponent.

A small distraction came in the form of a sudden shower. The rain was beating hard on them. Their blades glistened. Shinsuke could almost hear it—the anticipation screaming from every katana. The exception was Takasugi's own katana. Takasugi's heart had sealed away that bloodlust. But he knew all too well- like his hatred, it was just waiting to reawaken.

I knew that I may need to kill again. And yet I wished to escape this fate. Is this my punishment for my crimes, to become a monster once again?

Takasugi's despair ran through to his blade.


Matako could tell someone was following her. She dashed around a corner and then another. It was hard to discern exactly where he was. If she could just get a glimpse…

Pain ran through her back. A swing from the Amanto's sword sent her to the ground. Matako immediately recovered and began to dash again. The pain was affecting her. She knew now was the time to stand and fight. She spun around and targeted him.

The Amanto opened up his jaws and revealed its mouth full of needle-like teeth. His blue tongue rolled out and slid up and down his katana, lapping up Matako's blood.

Matako spread apart her legs to gather her footing. She aimed her silver pistols for his arms and legs.

She said, "Please stop! I'm begging you."

"Let me think about it… NO!"

Without warning he dashed forward, Matako fired a shot. He dodged to the side and came at her. Matako barely ducked from his blow. She slid on the wet cement and crashed into a dumpster. She quickly aimed her guns for him.

"Pathetic. Pathetic!" he said in a raspy voice, "Is that all you have? It seems if you can't fire in time, you're all out of tricks!"

Matako knew he had a point. The speed of her stronger opponents had always been an issue. She was at a disadvantage. If she didn't disable him quickly, his next blow would likely kill her.

Kijima ran sideways now. She fired a round at his feet. The Amanto jumped up. She used the instant to fire at his knee. The eel quickly slashed his blade at the bullet, deflecting it. She fired rapidly at different sections of his body, each non-vital. Almost instantly, he read the course of each bullet and blocked them. He landed unharmed and charged again.

"You used the air there. Not bad! But now it's my turn!" he said. He stabbed forward at her. Matako leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding it again. She switched back and forth between watching him and her own footing. The water piling up on the road was worrying her.

The Amanto suddenly dashed right in front of her, catching her as she landed. She saw his sword inches from her face. It was over.

Pain seared from her leg. The Amanto waved his blade at her enthusiastically.

"Too easy! Too eas-!" he said.

Boom!

Matako's pistol fired at his leg. The Amanto pulled away his leg, but the bullet caught the side of his foot.

"Damn it! I guess I'll get rid of your pistols next." As soon as he had said it, he disappeared from her sight. Matako spun around. The Amanto reappeared right where she had predicted. Her pistols moved into position…

Clang! Sparks flew has he swatted aside her gun with his blade. He grabbed her other hand and began to squeeze it. The power of his grip caused her to relinquish her last gun. The Amanto kicked Matako in the gut and sent her slamming into a wall. Matako's mouth opened as she coughed up the air from her lungs. She immediately fell to the ground.


"Who are you?" asked Takasugi.

"Us? We're humble mercenaries. You angered a dangerous group. I mean messing with the Bakufu was bound to create a monster. Do you know just how many politicians and officers you've killed? So… they sent me and several other assassins. We brought our best hired arms of course. It's faster this way."

"I'm disappointed." said Takasugi, "I thought fighting you would be interesting. But it seems your power is in numbers alone."

Shinsuke narrowed his gaze and released a chilling aura. The ronin around him became uneasy.

"Tell me—" he asked, "Do I frighten you?"

Boshirou growled and charged forward.

"Don't underestimate me!" He leapt into the air and swung down. Takasugi effortlessly parried his sword, ignoring the gust of air sent from the single attack. Boshirou landed and attacked again. Their katanas locked for a moment.

"Shouldn't you be the one afraid? It was unwise to send that girl away all by herself. Keizo will make short work of her."

Shinsukei asked, "You think so?" He kicked back Boshirou.

"You're wrong about her." said Shinsuke, "I sent her way because she fights best with more room to move about. That woman is a high ranking member of the Kiheitai. Without a doubt, she's strong."


Matako pulled herself up. The sting of her wounds was affecting her entire body. She disregarded it and slowly began to look up. She saw the Amanto standing several meters away from her. He was pacing back and forth with an animalistic grin on his face. Matako's eyes danced back and forth. She spotted her pistols scattered between her and her enemy.

"I expected you to be weak, but this is just embarrassing." he said. "Then again, you're not giving it your all are you? How's this? If you aim to kill me, then I'll at least make it quick? It works out well, doesn't it?"

The Amanto began to cackle. Matako didn't seem to notice. Her eyes were squarely on her revolvers. She jumped to her feet and dashed for them. Matako ran to the pistol lying far off to the side.

The Amanto gasped slightly. He hadn't expected her to go for the far off one. But he smirked. She had already proven no match for his speed.

Matako knew her next move would decide if she lived or died. Even muscle in her leg was propelling her forward. She reached out for her gun. Matako grabbed it and twisted around. Her opponent was plunging his sword at her.

BANG!

Spurts of blood dripped down Matako's vest. Her opponent stretched his neck out and began to talk in her ear, "I knew you had it in you." His neck became limp and he fell over. His katana fell out from under her shoulder.


"Tch. Kill him!" said Boshirou. The swordsmen came at Shinsuke. He blocked blow after blow. In between, he would counter with a kick or a slash to the knees. However, they continuously attacked, with only small intervals in between. Some came simultaneously and Takasugi struggled to fight them all back at once.

Shinsuke said, "I see my observation was true. So you have no intention of finishing our duel? Why do you send these weaklings in your place?"

"Ha! You think I'm afraid? You're good, but you're not as dangerous as I thought. It looks like you're afraid to actually kill them. That's why I'm sending them at you. This way is much crueler!"

Shinsuke glared at him. He ducked as a blade decapitated several strands of his hair. Another samurai aimed down at him. Takasugi swung his blade around. It cut into their legs. The mercenaries collapsed. But more were already ready on the attack. Shinsuke continued to fight them off. To his resentment, these seemed even better trained. He jumped backwards to avoid their numerous blows.

Suddenly Boshirou leapt forward with lightning speed. Takasugi blocked him with his blade.

"Tell me Shinsuke, shouldn't you be hurrying up? Or do your really not give a shit what happens to that woman? By now, Keizo has made short work of her. Hell, even if by some chance she beat him, it's still over. We figured you might know the phone call was a trap. Then you'd use a back road to avoid attention. You're too smart for your own good. We were waiting for this."

Takasugi's eyes lit up in surprise.

Boshirou continued, "She's dead. I studied up on her abilities. A gun-user, that's rare. So I sent her what she's most untrained against."

Boshirou spun around and sent an assault of skillful swings. Shinsuke was force to devote his entire attention to thwarting them. The other fighters noticed and came at him from all sides.

Shinsuke silently uttered, "Shit."


Author's Note: The final chapter will be released next week. Please look forward to it!