With his golden eyes and his horns, he looked almost godly and I could sense his desire to kill, fiercely radiating. I already had trouble against Amagiri and I could sense that Kazama was even more powerful. And with my wound and fever... The only thing I could rely on was my mind and volition.
« Normally, I would have been kind enough to let you go since you look injured. » said Kazama, his smile gone « but you stole my wife and that is an affront that can only lead to a death sentence. »
I ignored his provocation and stayed focus and silent. My only chance was to surprise him with a rapid iai technique and I wouldn't let him get inside my mind to spread chaos in it.
Unfaltering. Unwavering. Focused. Calm. Let his words flow on me like water on a rock.
Today will not be the day I die.
Kazama made the first move and I unsheathed my sword, charging forward with my katana high above my head, aiming for Kazama's right shoulder.
« Too slow... » i heard him whisper in my ear.
My target wasn't there anymore and I didn't have the time to turn around before Kazama landed his sword on my back, cutting from shoulder to hips. Luckily, it wasn't deep but I hissed in pain, swinging my katana back at him but again, I cut through air as his blade landed on my right shoulder, cutting deep this time.
« Ugh... » I grunted, overpowered.
« You're weak. » said Kazama as a death sentence. « And you're boring. Just surrender already, it'll be less painful. »
« I do not surrender. » i said with force, panting in pain and exhaustion « Not to you. Not to anyone. »
« As you wish, maggot. » he chuckled, attacking some more.
His blade landed mercilessly on my shoulders, arms, legs... And I was unable to fight back. Whatever i could try, his sword was moving too fast for my eye to catch and he didn't even blink while he was evading all my blows. I could see that he was avoiding all my vital parts. He was enjoying himself, like a cat playing with his prey, making it endure torture before killing it. He was smiling as my blood was dripping and splashing on the ground.
« Hajime ! » yelled Chizuru.
She ran to me as Kazama landed another blow on my left forearm, sectioning the muscle. My left arm couldn't lift my sword anymore, nothing but a dead weight.
« Chizuru, step back ! » i shouted, taking my sword in my right hand.
I still had an arm. I still could fight. I still could protect her.
She obeyed, crying, and I roared, leaping forward with my sword in my right hand. In a single movement, Kazama blocked it, cut the muscle of my right arm and landed his katana on my side, were my bullet wound was.
I screamed and backed of. Both my arms were unusable now but I still was clenching furiously to my katana. My face was nothing more than an expression of extreme pain and hatred and every inch of my clothes was soaked in blood. My blood. I was still standing, holding my side, panting in pain and exhaustion. It was over.
I will die standing, my katana in hand. You can't take my honor away from me.
Unexpectedly, Chizuru came shielding me with her body, positioning herself between Kazama and I.
« Please, stop ! I'll accompany you ! » she yelled, her eyes pleading.
« That's cute » replied Kazama with a mischievous grin « but you are already coming with me, even if I kill him. »
« Chizuru... get behind me... » i managed to say in a broken voice.
« I'll do anything you want ! I'll marry you ! Please ! » she cried, falling to her knees and bowing to Kazama « Please don't kill him... I'll do anything... »
« Move. » replied Kazama.
« Chizuru... Don't... » i whispered, writhing in agony.
« I'll do anything... Please... » she cried again.
Kazama kicked her away and she screamed but when he was going to land his katana on me for the last time, she opened her mouth again.
« Kazama ! » she shouted.
We both turned to her to see that she was firmly holding her kodachi against her throat, her eyes showing nothing else but resolve.
« You kill him and I die with him. » she said in her commanding princess voice. « You can't be fast enough to stop me. »
Kazama chuckled with arrogance and sheathed back his sword as if I wasn't even there. There was nothing I could do to threaten him anyway, my arms two dead weight hanging from my shoulders.
« I like women with spirit. » he said with a grin « Alright, I'll show you I can be merciful. Consider this my wedding gift. »
Chizuru sheathed back her kodachi and clenched her fists, looking at the ground.
« Don't... Chizuru... » i called but Kazama silenced me with a kick in the stomach, making me fall to the ground. I tightened my bloodstained hand around the hilt of my sword but I couldn't lift it anymore. I was doomed.
« Hajime ! » yelled Chizuru and she came to help me lie back against a tree, crying.
« Don't... Chizuru... » I repeated « I will not... let him take you... I can pro... tect... you... »
She didn't answer and kissed me with force and desperation but Kazama pulled her hair, forcing her to part from me.
« That isn't really a behavior acceptable for my soon to be wife. » he scolded « you're going to make me regret my wedding gift. »
He threw her on the ground and she cried in pain. It was unbearable. I was there, watching him hurt her, and I couldn't do anything to save her. I failed as a samurai, as a husband, as a man.
« Yukimura. » he ordered « there's a palanquin waiting for you on the road. Go. »
« No... You'll kill him... » she whispered, sobbing.
« I won't. » he said, unwavering « Have I ever lied to you ? »
She hesitated, her gorgeous chestnut eyes filled with tears. How I loved her eyes... And now they were crying because of me again, because I wasn't strong enough...
« Yukimura, if you don't go, I will loose patience and kill him. » he said with authority « and believe me when I say you won't have time to open that delicate little neck of yours. »
She stood up and looked at me one last time, hesitating before turning to Kazama.
« You can force me to accompany you but you'll never have my love ! » she shouted with hatred.
« I have no use for your love. » he said with a grin « I just need your womb. »
He was replying to Chizuru but his eyes were aiming only at me. I was the true target for his words and they hitted me like bullets. If only I could stand... If only I could wield my sword...
« Hajime... » she said, looking at me with all the love she had for me, the love that I never deserved « I love you. I will always love you. »
« Chizuru... » i started but Kazama's foot landed on my wound, making me gasp.
« Yukimura, I am out of patience. You go now or I kill him. »
Chizuru stared at me and turned away, leaving me with Kazama who crouched before me, putting his face in front of my eyes. He unsheathed his katana once more and served me a mischievous grin.
« I promised her I would not kill you and I am a man of my word. » he said, smiling « but I can't prevent you from dying from your wounds. »
He planted his katana in my stomach, deep, and I groaned in pain.
« No vital is touched but you will die slowly. » he said, pulling back his sword and sheathing it « you'll have all the time to repent. » he added, lifting my chin to plunge his golden eyes in mine « now you are forgiven for daring spoiling what was rightfully mine. »
He stood up and I groaned and gritted my teeth. I couldn't even speak anymore. My whole body was nothing but pain and agony. With a smile and a wave of the hand, he turned around and disappeared, joining Chizuru.
I wanted to stand up, to run after them, to save her... I couldn't, kept prisonner by my dying flesh. My shallow breathing was the only sign that I was still alive as the puddle of blood underneath me was getting bigger and bigger on the forest floor.
I felt death opening her arms to welcome me and I clenched to my sword. I couldn't say that I didn't have any regret but I was ready to enter the afterlife as a warrior.