Chapter 10: Lunatic
They first struck in full daylight. It was hilarious. They simply marched off to the first dojo on the list, walked up to the gate and told the guards they were there to challenge every kenshi inside. Magatsu would remember the expressions on the guards' faces for as long as he lived. One of them ran inside, the other stayed, and was offed by Araya. Then it began. As they entered the gates, the whole world started moving. Confused, pissed, scared faces. Some ran towards them, others ran from them. All died. Blood covered everything in sight, it seemed, as his blades cut through bone and flesh, sending fountains of red spraying in all directions. They screamed, some in fear, some in pain, others in pride, ridiculous battle-cries that made him chuckle. All turned quiet.
The sound of metal against metal faded eventually, as well as the screams. Left were lots of unmoving bodies, a scene covered in blood and guts and a trembling group of men kneeling before them with their noses in the dirt. Said they wanted to give up, and asked if they might help in any way. Be of service. Magatsu snorted. Raised on silk pillows. As soon as the going went tough, they'd abandon any fucking ideals they'd ever had. Dogs. He wanted to spit in their faces, but Anotsu said he would think about it. Well, that was his headache.
The first dojo was the most secluded one. Anotsu said he wanted the rumors to develop slowly, or something like that. Magatsu didn't care. He stood in the middle of what was once a dojo, his swords covered in blood and guts, and all he knew was, he'd never felt so alive in his life.
And so it went on, dojo after dojo, bloodbath after bloodbath. Magatsu loved every second, every single fight, every single drop of blood that was spilled. At one point, Higa had to step in and hold him back since he was wasting a little too much energy on hacking a corpse to pieces. He thought he had recognized the guy's face. Maybe he was wrong. Hard to see now, anyway. Magatsu grinned.
He was slightly disappointed when Anotsu announced that the last dojo was reserved for him and Kuroi. But he understood. It wasn't unfair. When they approached the gates of the Asano dojo, the moon had risen. It wasn't full, but it was there. It was time.