Chapter 11: Victory
It was dawn when Anotsu finally reached the Itto-ryu dojo. He went straight to his room, and just as he had sat down and started cleaning his axe, he heard the sound of someone storming down the hallway. Before he knew what to expect, the door slammed open so fast he could hear something break, and in stormed Magatsu.
"WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK WAS ALL THAT ABOUT!"
Anotsu blinked. "All what?" He managed to hide the fact that his heart was pounding like a drum.
"YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HER BACK THERE?"
Anotsu deliberately waited before replying:
"And what if I do?"
The air seemed thick and cold. Magatsu was breathing heavily, staring at him like he had grown horns.
"You damn son of a bitch," the man whispered. "Is this what you had in mind all along?"
"Is what what I had in mind? Destroying the Asano dojo, with all that that entails? If so, then yes." Anotsu kept his face expressionless.
"That's not what I'm talking about! They're not destroying a dojo back there, they're using a married woman as a whore! In front of her daughter! Pardon ME, O Great Master, but I thought we were kenshi here, not a bunch of PIMPS!"
Anotsu let that final word fade out before he spoke:
"In case it has escaped your attention, Magatsu, I did not pick these men because of their nobility, or reputation for helping old ladies cross the street! I have stated again and again that our mission is to spread fear. To develop a reputation. The best way to do this is to cross the boundaries of what is allowed. These men cross those boundaries, and if keeping them means I will have to make sacrifice of what is considered tasteful, then so be it."
Magatsu stared at him coldly.
"So you threw your dogs a bone, eh?"
"I merely left you all to decide between yourselves what to do with the woman. If you had a different suggestion than they, it was up to you to stop it."
"I tried, dammit! You think they'd listen to me? Araya even said the fighting had made him horny! This is the kind of thing you'd do just to develop a reputation, you sorry little piece of shit?"
The temperature in the room suddenly grew hot. Very hot. When Anotsu spoke, his voice was ice.
"I made it very clear from the beginning that I would pull no punches when it came to this. If you, after eight years, still haven't gotten that message, then I can understand you are disappointed. I am SO sorry for you, believe me, I am."
Magatsu's response was to laugh.
"You're sorry for me? YOU, who'd stoop this low just to impress a long dead madman whose guts you hated! Well, hey, it's returned!" His eyes suddenly had an all-too-familiar twinkle to them. Anotsu had been hoping he'd never get to see that again. "Let's see if you get over your issues before you get to rule the world. Otherwise, who knows what you'd end up doing with it?"
And so another silence. Silence was liberating. When speaking again, Anotsu kept his voice low.
"First of all. I don't think you're the right person to talk about issues... Magatsu Taito. Second. This is how it will be. These are the people you will have to work with, and the conditions. If you do not like it, you can leave anytime you choose."
The words hung in the air as they looked at each other. After what seemed like an eternity, Magatsu slowly shook his head and sighed.
"It's just so fucked up," he whispered. "I can't believe you're not seeing it." With those words he turned his back on Anotsu and left.
When the sounds of his footsteps disappeared down the hallway, Anotsu realized he was trembling. Had he been doing that while talking to Magatsu? Strangely enough, that thought didn't seem important right now, as he stood there, biting his knuckles until he almost broke the skin. If this how it has to be, then this is how it will be. Focus on what's importantt. We won tonight. You're on your way. It's all worth it.
Blood started trickling down his hand. It's all that matters.
The end.