Stepping near her front pair of doors, a young woman with long, slightly wavy dark red hair and blue eyes with a similar shade slipped her feet through a pair of sandals. Her attire contained a short yukata with pink flower prints on the bottom of it, with the clothing being supported by a blue sash. For socks, she wore thigh length white stockings.
"Michiru!"
The woman halted herself before she could take a step towards the doors. She turned her head until spotting her twin sister, the only other resident in the slightly run down house. The second sibling had the same hair and eye color as Michiru, only her hair was chin length. Her yukata was short and yellow as well, but the prints on the bottom of hers' were red hearts, and her sash was the same color. Her legs were bare.
"Where're you going at this time of night?" The other woman asked, furrowing her brows.
Michiru shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. I just wanna clear my head; work's been really stressful lately."
Now a frown formed on her twin's features. "Can't you wait to go on a walk in the morning?"
Whirling her head to her direction, Michiru made her response with wide eyes, "And do it in the heat? Uh, no."
"But you know what often happens when someone is out late at night..." Bringing fingernails to her mouth, she finished while chewing on them, "especially when they're alone."
One corner of Michiru's lips curved down. She assured, "Look, Mika, I get why you're worried about me, but I have my weapons, remember?"
"I know, but…" Mika attempted to come up with an idea to convince Michiru to not go out in the middle of the night, but nothing came to be. Heaving a sigh, she said, "Just be safe."
"I'm sure I will be," Michiru assured once again, shooting her sister a smirk. "Anyway, I'll be back in a little while." With that being said, she went out the doors.
Even when they shut, Mika stared at them, not moving an inch from where she stood. Rather, she gripped on her yukata sleeves while chewing on her lower lip.
I know I shouldn't underestimate Michiru like this, but I'm allowed to worry.
She let out another sigh. Placing a hand on her own forehead, she murmured under her breath, "I kind of wish she wouldn't take walks in the middle of the night..."
Meanwhile…
Despite the time, plenty of streets Michiru went through were relatively busy. Perhaps it was due to many people in the city preparing for the upcoming summer festival. Still, Michiru couldn't help frowning when nearly running into a handful of citizens by accident.
"I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, bowing at possibly the fifth person she virtually bumped into.
An empty alleyway caught her sight. With a grin, she dashed in, getting away from the countless people strolling through the street as well.
Upon resting her back against the wall of one of the houses, Michiru breathed, "Phew!"
I can finally concentrate.
She folded her arms over her chest, letting out another deep breath, but for a different reason.
Why hasn't the restaurant been getting many customers lately?
A few seconds after, Michiru's lips formed into a deep frown before smacking her palm onto her face.
What am I thinking? It's because my coworkers aren't trying hard enough to attract customers! I mean, I'm only a waitress, but they seriously need to listen to me when I'm trying to help them!
Though not able to pinpoint when exactly the place she worked at received less customers than usual, she at least noticed this issue a few weeks prior. Thinking back on all the arguments she made with her coworkers made her wince slightly.
"Is wanting some cooperation too much to ask?" She questioned aloud, staring down at her toes curling into her sandals.
Two boisterous sounds interjected her thought process. Michiru involuntarily gasped, turning to the direction she exited out of. She initially couldn't make out what the aforementioned sounds were, but after stepping next to the edge of the houses, it became vastly clearer.
The loud noises belonged to two men, wrapping their arms around one another's shoulders as they wobbled to wherever they planned on going. Both had smiles plastered on their faces.
Michiru nearly sighed in relief when discovering they were simply drunk, but one of them let out a cackling laugh.
"Did you see the look on that dumbass' face?!" He shouted after a hiccup. "Gave me a look as though I was about to murder all those people!"
Michiru's eyes snapped wide in an instant. Part of her was aware it was only a stupid comment from a drunk individual, but most of her perception went blank. Instead of being in reality, her mind repeated the sharp broken noise and latter comment.
No, no, please don't do this…!
A visual of her from her point of view as a child forced its way into her mind. Said visual involved her being in a closet with Mika, panting in near silence. Only one sound played in her head, one she couldn't stand hearing every time.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Michiru slapped her hands over her ears as if it would get rid of the ear splitting shriek echoing in her hazy mind.
In a split second, the woman sprinted out of the alleyway she stood in while still covering her ears. She couldn't hear the laughter coming from those two men anymore, but she ordered herself to get away from the all too similar sounds. Consequently, it caused her to lose focus on her surroundings, thereby slamming her shoulder into another person and almost tripping on her own feet.
Michiru had been too freaked out to look at the expression the other person held, much less apologize for nearly tackling them to the ground. All she did was tell herself to run.
Minutes went by and Michiru finally halted herself by bolting into another alleyway. Unlike the last one, however, the number of lights in this area significantly lowered. Plus, the noise entering her ears now was splashing water.
Looks like I'm near the dock.
A small smile crept up her face. But I'm glad I managed to get away. That was too close.
She prepared herself to leave this narrow path to get a better view of the dock, but more voices cut her thoughts off. They weren't obnoxious laughs this time—much to her relief—but in stark contrast, one coming from the dock was masculine and rough.
Huh? Why does he sound vexed?
Tiptoeing to the end of the alleyway, she poked her head out until the edge reached the bridge of her nose. The sight near the water wasn't far from where she was, but clouds blocking the moon made it nigh impossible for Michiru to make out what the scene was.
Great, I can't see a damn thing. The only thing I know is there's a group of people here.
Due to the silhouettes being close together, Michiru was unable to confirm a total count. The closest number she could think was, It doesn't look like there's more than six people altogether.
"Have you forgotten we're criminals? Well, since you refuse to let us take your crew, it looks like we have no choice but to deal with you!"
The tip of Michiru's ear twitched.
Sounds like a civilian is in trouble. Even though I can't see them for crap, it looks like most of these guys are ganging up on one person.
Quickly going back into the alleyway, Michiru dug her hand into her left sleeve. She pulled out half a dozen small black weapons, each of them with four curved keen points.
Pursing her lips, Michiru contemplated, Shuriken aren't designed to kill, but if most of these guys are criminals and they have no problem killing others, then I probably won't have a choice. Also, I highly doubt I'll make a successful throw while it's this dark, so I'll have to hold onto these.
Noticing her heart still beat a tad fast from running and freaking out, she remained in place.
She took a few deep breaths while closing her eyes, barely listening to the sounds of clashing metal.
By the time she reached her tenth deep breath, Michiru scarcely peeled her eyes open.
All right, I think I'm good to go.
Without wasting any more time, Michiru dug her feet into the ground before sprinting out of the alleyway, charging towards the group.
When she got close enough, she thought, I believe I can make out who's the "victim" here.
While smirking confidently, Michiru noticed one of the men yelling, "Who brought this bitch here?!"
She lifted her leg up, soon slamming it into the same man. Yelling again and coughing violently from the sudden impact in his abdomen, he shot a death glare at her.
Growling, he lifted his hands up, preparing himself to reach for her head. Before he had the chance to do it, however, a sword pierced through his ribs. He ceased in an instant, staring down at the sword.
When Michiru witnessed this, she questioned internally, Is that from the "victim"? If so, why do they have a sword when—minus the Shinsengumi—they're banned in Edo?
Two seconds passed, and she had second thoughts. I should focus more on the fight…
The woman used one of her shuriken to reach for the stabbed man's neck. The weapon sliced into said neck, only sounds being produced were gargles from blood bubbling up his throat.
"How many more you got?" Michiru asked the "victim" while lowering her upper body, avoiding a pair of arms. She used two of her sharp weapons to pierce into his forearms. It brought him to grunt, but not before Michiru rammed her head in his face, forcing him to fall back. Blood leaked out from the arms the second the weapons yanked away.
The individual she inquired made no response, much to Michiru's confusion.
Why won't they answer when I'm clearly trying to help them?
Once more, she dropped it for now; there was no time to worry about something like that when she and the other person were in the middle of a fight.
Now, Michiru could make out three other people. Seemed to her that it had been a somewhat small group going against one opponent.
She was convinced time went too quickly, because right as she forced a different shuriken in another man's eye, it was instant death. The final man from the supposed gang received a slash from the "victim's" blade. He stumbled back a few feet before his heels slipped downwards, his whole body soon splashing into the water.
Ultimately figuring out there were no more opponents to deal with, Michiru let out an audible sigh, then held a triumphant smile.
After inserting her weapons back into the sleeve they inhabited, she turned her head, starting to assure, "You're all right n—" She cut herself off when the clouds vanished from the moon, thus shining brilliantly.
She got a better view of this person, but upon recognizing who it was, the smile wiped off her face.
Eh?
Her eyes enlarged from the sight of a man wearing a teal coat, dark pants, headphones, sunglasses, and a shamisen on his back.
EH?!
Michiru's jaw dropped as one eyebrow of hers' twitched uncontrollably.
Sweat beads poured down her face as she yelled in her head, It's Kawakami Bansai! I so didn't think this through!
Without thinking, Michiru spun in a half circle before dashing away from him.
Why didn't I think of the possibility of all the people fighting each other being criminals?! WHY DIDN'T YOU THINK THIS THOROUGHLY, MICHIRU, WHY?!
She added in thought while clenching her teeth, I just unintentionally helped a wanted man!
As those words turned into a mantra in her mind, a figure scurried in front of her before jumping above her head.
"Wait, wha—?!" Michiru exclaimed, but the sight of strings cut her words off. Before she knew it, said strings wrapped around an arm and leg. They forced her to freeze, but because she ran, she accidentally pressed her left wrist into one of the strings. Michiru hissed through clenched teeth at the sensation of the steel digging into her flesh, bringing a small trail of blood to trickle down her forearm.
Attempting to ignore the sting for now, Michiru spared a glance back at wherever the strings originated.
Shit...
Michiru couldn't fully figure out what his expression was. From what she could tell, his face went blank.
The silence between the two broke.
"Why did you assist me, then start sprinting off as though you were never there?" Kawakami Bansai's tone was calm, but it somehow caused the atmosphere around them to thicken.
Crackly smiling and her brow continuing to twitch, Michiru assumed, Oh crap, he's mad.
"Uh…" She struggled to form words at first, but not long after managed to answer, "I thought you'd have trouble fighting those guys by yourself."
"Well, I wouldn't say I'd struggle with their fight. Who are you?"
After another hiss from the sting, Michiru suggested, "Say, you think you can loosen these strings before I introduce myself?"
He raised a brow. "Can you give me a reason why I should do that?"
"It's kind of hard to focus when I'm in pain from these damn things squeezing my skin." She narrowed her eyes at the steel surrounding her two body parts.
"Aren't you going to try running away again if I loosen them?"
Michiru sighed, keeping her composure as much as she could while staring at him right in the eyes...er, sunglasses. "No, I'm not going to run away again. If you really want to know who I am, then I'll cooperate. Though...I'd like for this to be quick."
"Hah?" Curiosity laced in Bansai's voice.
"My sister will worry about me, so I want to head home as soon as possible."
Well, that's half-true. I also don't wanna be caught by someone, wondering if I'm working with a goddamn criminal!
The strings unfastened Michiru's arm and leg until she was able to carefully slide them out.
That's much better.
"Now tell me. Who are you?" Bansai repeated his previous question.
Scratching the back of her head, she answered at last, the crooked smile returning to her features, "Oh, right. My name's Michiru."
"Hm...are you with a crew?" He rested his instrument on his back.
"Absolutely not," Michiru immediately answered, rapidly shaking her head. "I'm not into...that kind of thing."
"I see." The man started towards her.
Wait, why's he walking to me?
As she stiffened her body in caution, Bansai halted his feet by the time there was an ample amount of space between him and Michiru.
He held his chin, humming a second time.
"What?" She asked, knitting her brows at him.
"I was correct. Your song is nothing like the kind a wanted person would have."
Thrown off by his response, Michiru replied with wide eyes, "Huh? My 'song'? Is that referring to my emotions or something?"
"Essentially."
Michiru thought, another drop of sweat trickling down her cheek, He's weird. Then again, he's wearing headphones, so I guess this is normal for him.
The air around the two thickened a second time.
"S-Say," Michiru unintentionally stammered, primarily from the ambience, "since I just told you my name, you think you can let me go now?"
"Not yet. There's one more thing I want to say," Bansai said.
"And what's that?"
"I'd like you to fight me tomorrow."
"Huh? Fight…?" She dug a pinkie in her ear, hoping it wasn't what she listened to.
But her hope got killed when Bansai clarified, his expression unchanged, "I got to hear a little bit of your song while we fought those people, and I daresay it made me interested in listening to more of it."
Michiru went still for a moment, wondering, Is this real?
"And for a smaller reason, you barged in."
Of course it's also that reason! What have I gotten myself into?!
An image of Michiru crying waterfalls popped in her head, screaming at her, "STUPID, STUPID ME!"
Taking a deep breath, Michiru replied, "I get what you're saying, but it was dark! I thought you were someone innocent! Hell, how can you see with those sunglasses on?!" She pointed at the shades.
"My sunglasses are irrelevant," He simply stated.
She nearly made another mention of his sunglasses, but halted her mouth, because Bansai was right. It had nothing to do with this.
Michiru raised her hands up. "Okay, okay...I made the decision to join you while you were fighting, so I'll accept a duel with you. Though...where should we meet?"
"Due to my reputation, you'll have to find me on your own," He advised.
"R...Right."
"I'll show you where we'll fight by the time you find me, but as of now, I need to get back to the Kiheitai." The assassin turned around, but not before adding, "I also suggest you don't back out during our duel."
"I ain't gonna back out!" Michiru piped, narrowing her eyes at him. "I already said I'm accepting it!"
"I didn't hear you there." He tapped his headphones with the tip of his forefinger. "The rhythm suddenly blasted into an uplifting chorus."
"Take off your headphones when you're talking to people, then!" She yelled without a second thought, a vein throbbing in her cheek.
"I need to go now," Was all Bansai said while sauntering away from the woman.
Michiru mumbled, "Of course he ignored what I just told him…" She shook her head with the same speed as a few moments ago.
I should get home now.
With that, she darted off in the opposite direction.
To be continued...
The explicit version will be on AO3. There aren't going to be a lot of differences between them, but when there's a chapter that has explicit content on AO3, I'll let you know so you don't have to do back and forth to spot the differences.