Before me, the woman rests gracefully in her posture. Should she remain still, she'd be akin to a living painting. A subtle tilt of her head suggests her anticipation for my words.

Her dark, jewel-like pupils remain veiled by long, delicate eyelashes. Inwardly, I admit a desire to continue gazing upon them, but I quickly suppress such notions as they drift through my thoughts.

Her lower lashes, too, possess extraordinary length, as if meticulously arranged, adorning a garden one lash at a time.

I must wrench myself from this reverie. I refuse to become ensnared by her rhythm any longer.

With a sigh, I begin, "So..."

"What I am trying to say is..."

"I want you to forget what you saw last night and leave."

My gaze remains fixed upon her, yet her countenance betrays no hint of change.

She responds nonchalantly, "Am I getting in your way? Okami-san seems to like me."

I sigh once more, the conversation leading to a standstill. I press on,

"Your family will be worried."

"And besides..."

Reaching into my Hakama, I retrieve the tanto that Okami-san found hidden within her kimono while changing. I extend it toward her.

"Something like this won't protect you on the streets of Kyoto."

She lowers her gaze, her eyes fixed on the tanto, but leaves it resting on the tatami.

"If I had a family to return to, I wouldn't be drinking alone in Kyoto in the middle of the night."

Her expression remains stoic, her eyelashes cast downwards.

A family to return to? What could she mean?

Her demeanor, her speech, her refined grace – it's clear she hails from a well-bred background. After she departed during the mealtime, that became the topic of discussion among the Ishin Shishi patriots.

Could it be her family met with tragedy?

Or perhaps there's a different reason that keeps her from returning?

I interrupt my own train of thought.

No.

No matter the circumstances, it is of no consequence to me, and I consider it beyond my concern.

I utter in a resolute tone, tinged with a hint of vexation.

"Whatever situation you might be in, that is not my concern. Besides, we are not in any condition to take care of you."

Suddenly, her gaze lifts, locking onto mine with those striking, deep, dark pupils – ensnaring me once more.

She responds in her customary gentle tone, but with a subtle edge of determination.

"So?"

"If I choose not to leave, would you dispose of me as you did with the man last night?"

Her gaze remains steadfastly fixed upon me, while mine falters.

Could I end her life?

Would I be capable of such an act?

If she posed a threat to Ishin Shishi –

As my thoughts drift and waver, my conviction returns.

The blade I wield, the blade that carries countless stains, I wield it to forge an era of peace. An era where every soul can exist on equal footing.

An era when destitution no longer claims families through hunger and maladies, driven by the loss of their sustenance to the relentless burden of taxation.

A world where no child, no person, need suffer the cruel fate of being bartered and enslaved as a mere commodity.

A place where women like Kasumi-san, Akane-san, and Sakura-san will not meet a tragic end.

With unwavering resolve, I address her.

"I do not care about what you think. Think what you must. However, I fight to create a new era where everyone can live in peace, equally."

"I do not resort to indiscriminate killing. My adversaries are solely those who wield their swords in service of the Bakufu."

"I shall never take the life of an unarmed civilian, whether they be foe or friend."

Throughout my discourse, her gaze has never wavered.

Why am I divulging my motivations to her? I cannot understand.

After listening, she speaks in a nonchalant voice,

"So, it all comes down to a sword." I think I see her chuckle for a moment before she looks at me straight again.

"If I held a sword right now, would you kill me?"

I recognize her question. If she held a sword against me, against Ishin Shishi, would I kill her?

Could I kill her?

If it was for the sake of a new era, I believe I could take anyone's life. I think I could tarnish my katana without hesitation.

I could become the most ruthless demon.

Demon.

But my mind goes blank at the unexpected question.

I speak in a confused voice,

"I don't..."

In her face, I see an apathetic expression, a loss of interest.

She grabs the tantō that was lying on the tatami and tucks it into her Obi.

She takes the empty trays that were in the room and stands up, walks over to the Shoji door, and slides it open ever so gracefully.

She stops for a moment and turns around slightly. I can only see the side of her face, but I know that from the corner of her eyes, she is glancing at me.

She speaks, "When you find the answer, let me know."

Her voice remains as stoic as ever.

I find myself baffled and confused once more.

Her meticulously chosen words tangle my thoughts. For more than a mere moment, I fear I might be spiraling into madness.

Then a strange idea crosses my mind: Could it be that I'm regaining my sanity instead?

The realization strikes me.

Is it possible she has no intention of leaving after all?

Gradually, the conversation veers in an unforeseen direction, and I'm helpless in convincing her to leave.

That's the narrative I've crafted.

Yet deep down, I'm fully aware that it couldn't be further from the truth. If I truly desired her departure, it would take but an instant. One of the Ishin Shishis could effortlessly arrange a secure refuge for her, and funds could be made available with ease.

However, strangely, earlier that day, Katagai-san adopted an unusually serious tone and said,
"Jokes aside. How long do you plan to keep her here?"
"Information is getting leaked outside. It's unsafe to keep an outsider here."
I responded,
"She witnessed my encounter with the shadow assassin from the Bakufu. It's imperative to keep her close to ensure no information regarding the Battousai leaks out."
I convey this in a dispassionate manner, devoid of emotion, before leaving the room.

At least, that's the story I tell myself.

But deep down, the truth is I wish for her to leave, but not today, perhaps the coming morning.

The truth is, I'm now persuading myself that, given her knowledge of the Battousai's existence, she must be kept under close surveillance. In essence, I am holding her captive.