Chapter 45

Yurika didn’t hesitate hearing The Hound’s words, instantly unsheathing her blade and lunging up the slope, raising the kodachi above her head to slash at the tall man.

Kitsuya sidestepped her, slowly clenching his fists. “I usually make it a habit to not hit girls, especially pretty young maidens, but since you bared your fangs at me first…”

He reared back, aiming to deliver a punch to Yurika’s exposed side but she turned to her left, twirling away. Her left arm tucked behind her back as she pointed the blade right at him, standing higher up the slope than Kitsuya.

“My, my, you’ve got some fire in you, girlie…” Kitsuya licked his lips, before smirking.

Yurika's face grimaced in disgust. “Creepy…” Her blade flashed in the sunlight before she took a quick step forward, raising her blade slightly as if she were aiming for a shallow slice of the wiry man.

Kaede was frozen in shock, seeing one of the Divine Trio so ready to attack her friend. The young girl sat above, her unblinking gaze focused on the oiran.

“Kaede!” The Hound’s voice echoed around her and she snapped out of it. She was still terrified, but it was no longer paralyzing her as she hurried up the slope.

“Kitsuya-san! Why are you doing this!?”

The tall man turned, a wicked grin plastered on his face as he pushed his hair from his eyes. “You don’t understand the amount of boredom I’ve faced over these long years, Kaede-chan.” The pitch in his voice was higher than Kaede was used to and she stopped once again. He started to walk slowly towards the oiran. “There’s only so many ways a man can entertain himself when cursed with longevity.”

Kaede took a step back, bringing her arm up to defend herself as she stared at the man she no longer recognized approaching her menacingly. “Neither that unpolished swordsman Ryuta nor the foolish Jiro could entertain me for very long. Truly a shame…”

Kaede’s eyes widened as she gasped. “What are you saying!? What have you done, Kitsuya!?” For the first time, Yurika heard anger in the oiran’s voice and she gritted her teeth before she rushed forward.

“I’m saying, dear Kaede-chan…” Kitsuya was getting even closer, towering over the scared maiden, bringing his hand up and clenching it tightly. “...that I killed them both because they were weak!”

Kaede’s eyes started to well up, but she couldn’t move, fear paralyzing her once more as the former Imperial guard inched ever closer. Her rage stole her voice, trying to make sense of what she heard.

“HOUND!! GET HER OUT OF HERE!” Yurika bellowed as she had closed the gap between herself and Kitsuya. She pivoted on her left foot and kicked up as much rock and dirt as she could before slashing at the ground with her sword, kicking up even more.

The Hound, with no hesitation, returned to his shrouded form and wrapped his arm around Kaede’s waist. She flailed about, her silent rage preventing her from voicing her dissent.

“I’m doing this to protect you, Kaede!” The Hound yelled before thrusting his shroud up, latching onto the cliff above, just to the left of the young rabbit.

Kitsuya laughed sadistically, as the dust and shrapnel from Yurika’s gambit engulfed him. “The beast is here too!? This is just perfect! I can finally have some fun before this all ends!”

The Hound had picked up the rabbit as well, tossing her over his shoulder, her body unmoving. Kaede was still struggling in his arms, glaring down at the red-haired man with intensity. The Hound tightened his grip on the oiran, as he looked down at Yurika, the island girl getting back into her hitoden form.

“Yurika! Don’t do anything reckless!”

Yurika let out a tiny, nervous laugh to herself before gritting her teeth and muttering. “I think it’s too late for that, dog-boy…”

Kitsuya, now focused on chasing after the hated Hound, turned and tried to rush up the slope, but Yurika wasn’t allowing that. Stepping forward, she thrust her blade towards the wild man, but he grabbed the blade. His palm dripped with blood as he loomed over the island girl, her face contorted in an angry grimace.

“You really don’t want to fight with me, girlie.” Kitsuya clenched the blade tightly, leaning down closer to Yurika’s height. “We’re not fighting in the same spectrum, let alone level.”

Yurika smirked, her hand shaking in both exertion and fear as she stared down the wiry man’s blue eyes.

“You’re probably right, creep.” Yurika yanked her blade free of his grasp and shuffled back, her eyes never leaving his. She pointed her blade directly at his chest, clenching the hilt tightly.

“But I’m not letting you go near Kaede-chan!”

Kitsuya licked his lips, a wicked, sadistic grin crossing his face.

“Maybe I’ll enjoy my time with such a fiery young maiden…”