As the battle between Shigure and Midori continues, what's going to happen? The shocking conclusion to the fight!

Midori watched as Shigure fought her grandfather. She was aeons better than him, as she dodged each attack faster than Midori ever could and used the rest of her weapons with the expertise expected of her. Midori wanted to shout to her grandfather, shout for him to fight harder or run away…but she couldn't stand here anymore. No more…she wanted to scream…she didn't want granddaddy to die. But she couldn't stop the pain of watching her grandfather get thrown off the cliff end into the steep valley. But…she could stop the fight before it was too late.

"Stop!" she sobbed. "No more, he gives up, he gives up!"

Shigure leaped towards the cliff end and outstretched her hand to displace his sword in the rock. Midori tried to push her aside.

"Stop it!" but she was too late.

Her grandfather had already had his fingers wrenched off the handle of the sword and he plummeted.

Plummeted…

Plummeted…down into a deep chasm.

Midori knew there was nothing but sharp rocks and stones down there.

Midori closed her eyes and screamed.

…

Shigure struck with renewed vigour, so much so that Midori was overwhelmed. She tried to crawl away, but the second she turned her head, Shigure tried to stab her legs.

Midori pushed her legs over her head when she lay on her back and landed on her feet in a crouch. Shigure spent no time pushing her sword down on hers.

When…did she get so FAST? Midori seethed in discontent.

Now she was feeling very unconfident. Midori got on her feet and leaped up with all her strength. I need to get away and think of a better plan till then…she's overwhelming me with her seikuken…

Before she had reached up far, Shigure jerked out a metal chain from the sleeve of her dougi. It twirled itself around Midori's ankle and it pulled her down. With a deafening crash, she fell down, down through the roof, down into a room she was unfamiliar with. She free fell on her back, staring at the open ceiling as she fell just as her grandfather probably had. With a splash, she landed in the hot spring pool.

Though the water had broken her fall, the pool was fairly shallow. Midori's head was half submerged in water, her legs propped up in her vision by the rockery directly ahead of her.

Midori coughed out water. She glared up at the open hole in the ceiling.

"Midori watch out!" she heard Honoka scream from what seemed like heaven.

Shigure jumped into the hole and landed on her feet in the water. Midori quickly tried to organise herself in those few precious seconds Shigure sprinted towards her.

"KYA!" Midori cried, defensively pushing herself onto her feet with her hand by a rock. She spiralled, blocking an otherwise deadly attack, leaning backward involuntarily, as she was out of her centre of gravity she toppled back. She splashed back into the water.

Shigure covered her face against the spray.

Midori, seeing an opportunity, flipped onto her stomach into deeper waters and deep sea dove away.

Shigure's spears flew into the water, literally fishing her out. One landed just in front of Midori, who screamed in chibi form underwater.

Midori resurfaced, her grey hair flipping back over her head as she gasped for air. She pulled her hair back. It had long since fallen out of her ponytail.

She gritted her teeth as Shigure came at her again. Before she even tried, she knew running was futile. Wading in waist-deep water was pointless because she was much too slow now.

So…this is what it comes down to, Midori tensed for the imminent attack.

Midori closed her eyes. Shigure slashed at her.

There was an ultimate silence as Midori waited for the searing pain of being cut in half to kick in. She paused, unsure. She opened one eye.

Her eye caught onto her sword, that was cracking through the middle. She widened her eyes in disbelief.

"H-h-h-huh?" she stared at the sword, that disintegrated before her eyes. It audibly creaked before exploding into a million pieces. Midori covered her eyes.

The rain stopped as Shigure sheathed her black sword.

"That…is what I meant to tell you…for a very long time," she sighed.

Midori opened her eyes timidly. She stared up at the pieces that were suspended in the air and starting to fall down. In the sun, they glittered and shone the colours of the rainbow. It was as though tiny diamond snowflakes had littered the sky.

"Bu-but…Kousaka-sensei's sword was unbreakable…" Midori whispered, extending a hand to catch one piece of raining metal.

"Your grandfather…" Shigure stated.

Midori glimpsed at her in shock. She read Shigure's face. "That sword I saw on the ledge…"

"Was one of mine," Shigure told her. "I told him…to hold on to it…but he said he'd rather die with the Kousaka sword than…live without it."

Shigure leaped towards the cliff end and outstretched her hand. She dug her sword into the rock of the cliff. Grandfather Kinasaki dangled from the lip of the cliff.

"Hold…onto something stronger!" Shigure commanded, gesturing towards the sword.

He smiled an old man's smile. His eyes crinkled at the edges. He laughed a dry, grating laugh.

"You just want to save the sword…I know all of you too well," he grinned, blood trickling down the side of his mouth. "Selfish, untamed…but I'll die with this sword by my side."

He let go of the cliff edge and fell down into its depths. Shigure watched, her face measured.

The little girl that accompanied him that day ran over to where Shigure was, trying to shove her aside. But she was too late.

"So he fell to death with the real sword," Midori realized. "I've spent all this time, protecting something my grandfather…my grandfather loved more than me," tears filled her eyes.

Shigure looked on her. "I'm…sorry."

Midori covered her face and sank to her knees.

The masters, Ren and Honoka all peered down the hole at the scene. Tears were in Honoka's eyes and Ren closed his eyes and looked away.

"Don't be," Midori mumbled, wiping her eyes. She sniffed, getting up with the aid of her sword. She straightened, her hair billowing in the fresh breeze after the storm.

A watery smile spread across her face.

"Even though it's true…a great weight has been lifted off my chest," Midori blinked, the white of her eyes turning as red as her pupils. The bright light shone on her face as she continued. "To know that at least my grandfather died doing what he thought was best for me and for him too makes me really happy. Because of what I thought I saw…I became a very good martial artist as well, so I should thank him for that! It's been a very long time… but I think, I'm really going to be alright," she closed her eyes and laughed lightly, rubbing her nose. She placed her hands behind her back and bowed. "Thank you for a good match, Shigure-san!"

Honoka widened her eyes, then they dilated as she closed her teary eyes and laughed lightly as well.

Midori looked up as a slick slice caught her attention. The end of Shigure's blade touched her forehead. Midori sweat dropped.

Shigure stared down at her.

"Your swordsmanship…is sloppy," she criticized. "But for someone who…taught themselves all they know…you have talent," Shigure stated, and—in one of those bizarre moments of life Ryouzanpaku experienced—the swordswoman smiled warmly. "Therefore…for a minimal fee…I will allow you to be my personal… disciple."

"HUH…WHAT?" Honoka waved her arms around angrily, before losing her balance and teetering over into the hole in the roof.

"Why minimal?" Ren wondered, grabbing Honoka by the belt of her skirt and letting her dangle. He did not notice the money-hungry spark in Miu's eye as she gave Shigure the thumbs-up sign.

Midori's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? Of course," Midori shrilly agreed. She turned over to Honoka, who was still swinging in mid-air, suspended from her belt. "You hear that, oneesan? We'll be together more now! How great is that?"

Midori was too excited to see Honoka face palm with a resigned sigh.

"That's all fair and fine," Sakaki smiled genially. "But there's one problem…

WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO FIX THIS GIANT HOLE IN THE WALL?"

Ren loosened his grip on Honoka in fright and she tumbled down into the pool with a weak, "NYA!"

"I can…fix it."

"Don't even start Shigure, we've seen how you 'fix' things!"

"Super glue…is very…effective."

"NO!" the row of masters said vehemently.

Honoka rubbed the back of her head tiredly. With a sigh, she looked up at all her masters and Ren waving his sorry from above. Then she saw Midori, illuminated in the light, just happy to be alive.

"Aw, to hell with it," she muttered. "All's well that ends well."

All's well that ends well indeed…but what of Lisette and her unknown victim? Till next time!