Chapter 47

Yurika was panting heavily, her right arm quivering in exhaustion. Her eyes were still narrowed at the lithe man before her, who was bouncing up and down, his fists raised as if he would strike at any moment.

“For an amateur, you’ve definitely made this interesting, girlie.”

“It’s funny… You think I’m just some amateur.” Yurika’s whole body was aching as she tried to muster up enough willpower to bluff. “I’m the strongest wielder of hitoden from Tsuiraku!” It wasn’t technically a lie.

Kitsuya’s face split into a wide, mad grin as he laughed. “You also have much more to learn about deception!”

“I don’t think I want to get better at that!” Yurika cried out as she took a step forward, thrusting her blade. The wiry man dodged it, much more easily than before. Yurika slashed to the right but he was already out of her reach.

“Do you want to know how I know you’re an amateur, girl?” Kitsuya smirked before kicking off the ground, closing the gap and bringing a roundhouse kick to her left. Yurika brought her arm up to block it and was knocked down, rolling across the ground, not far from the edge of the cliff.

“First, you still haven’t gauged the difference in our reach. That is, you are overestimating your ability to close the gap between us.” Kitsuya slowly walked over to Yurika, who was struggling to get up from the ground. The wild man squatted down, a cruel smile on his face as he grabbed a fistful of Yurika’s hair. She cried out as he forced her to look into his eyes.

Yurika glared defiantly. “Second, I’ve already fought a master of hitoden before and your steps aren’t nearly as polished as theirs were.” He clenched his fingers into her hair, causing her to cry out in pain. “What I mean is, your basic movements are just a facsimile of those you learned them from.”

Yurika gritted her teeth in frustration, unable to argue. For all her knowledge of the skill, her father had only ever instilled the basics into her.

Yet, to hear it from this kind of man stung her more than his rough treatment of her.

“Finally, you’re not the strongest user of it even on this island! I know that boy is here and I know he learned it from Ryuta!”

Yurika started laughing and Kitsuya’s eyes widened, thinking the island girl’s mind had snapped.

“It would seem, for all of your experience at deception, you lack experience in listening.”

“What’s that?” Kitsuya yanked on her hair more, lifting her off the ground.

Yurika winced and grunted in pain, before spitting in the fox’s eye. He released his grip, wiping his eye, causing her to cry out again as she slammed to the ground.

The island girl unsteadily pushed herself up onto her feet, glaring at Kitsuya the whole time. “I said I was the strongest from Tsuiraku!” She grinned, proud of her own cleverness but it was just a façade to cover her very real fear of the mad man before her.

“You really want your death to be brutal, don’t you, girlie!?” Kitsuya snarled, stepping towards her.

“Also, that! I have a name, you lecherous fox! It’s Yurika!”

“I don’t learn the names of those I’m slaughtering, there’s no point!”

“Then explain how you know Ryuta’s name!”

Kitsuya stopped, wide-eyed, as Yurika staggered a couple of steps forward. “You spoke so proudly about killing Gakuto’s father despite calling him unpolished! Yet you know his name! You know what I think!?”
“I don’t care what you think, girl!” Kitsuya snarled, rearing back to punch the island girl.

“He almost bested you! The fact you know that we use the same style must mean it either impressed or terrified you!” Yurika grinned, pointing her blade at Kitsuya, but she felt dizzy on her feet. “And I think it terrifies you! You’re afraid of someone else mastering it and ending you!”

“It’s long past time I shut you up, girlie!”

“I already told you… My name is Yurika!” She cried out, rearing her right hand back before stepping forward and thrusting her blade directly at Kitsuya. “I’m the maiden of hitoden!”

Kitsuya’s rage took over as he swung forward, preparing to hit Yurika with the same punch he used to knock Jiro through the palace doors.

Realizing her thrust was too shallow, Yurika closed her eyes and tensed up, waiting for the impact.

But it never came.

Yurika cautiously opened her eyes to see someone standing between her and Kitsuya, an intricate dagger drawn, its blunt side having caught the wild man’s fist.

Gakuto’s muscles were tensed up as he blocked Kitsuya’s blow before shoving him back.

“Gakkun!”

Gakuto swung his blade out to the side, his gaze never leaving Kitsuya.

“Sorry I’m late, Yurika! Where is Kaede!?”

Kitsuya craned his neck back and forth, a sadistic smirk on his face.

“Well, look who bares their fangs now…”