Chapter 97

And just then… “Milo! Get down!” Pchew! What looked like a golden arrow tore through the air, landing in the solid rock floor after nearly skewering the two boys. “Boo-hoo. Boo-hoo-hoo.” A voice emerged from the shade. “What emotion. Quel amour! I’d give up all nine of my lives for someone to speak those words to me!” “It’s you!!” “Now you shall pay for making me weep so. Do you have any idea how long it took to get my mascara just right?” The arrow shed golden motes, illuminating the vicinity like fireflies. Then this light suddenly swelled, banishing the darkness from every corner of the vast space, and revealing a sumptuous chamber. The sight struck Bisco and Milo speechless. Even amid the gaudy furnishings of the Gilded Elephants, they had seen nothing like it. The whole room was plated in dazzling gold that lit up the room like sunlight. “What the hell?!” “What a tasteless room…,” Milo groaned, looking at the red carpet that approached a golden throne, flanked by a dozen large golden cat statues. These statues seemed to watch the pair, almost as if alive, and the two boys felt oppressed by their beady gazes. “Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho! Magnifique, is it not? A little too much for you petits enfants, perhaps.” Atop the throne, rearranging her long and elegant legs, sat a tall, suggestively dressed cat who could only be the wicked sorceress, Geppei Amakusa herself. With a flick of her wrist, the arrow unearthed itself and flew back over to her, hovering above her paw. “It seems that imbecile Yokan has chosen the wrong path,” said Amakusa with glee. “It’s a wonder the country doesn’t collapse overnight with him on the throne.” “You must be Geppei Amakusa!” shouted Milo. “Used the Ultrafaith Arrow to clamber outta hell, did you? Well, it’s mine! Give it back!” “Who said I went to hell?” replied Amakusa. “I have come down from heaven itself! Oh, deary me, my blood pressure is rising. Oh, mademoiselle!” “Yes, Madame?” ““Hwaa?!”” The boys were astonished when they saw who answered Amakusa’s call. And little wonder, for it was none other than Tirol Ochagama, dressed head to toe in layers of robes like something out of Princess Kaguya. “Here you are, Madame. These are scorpion nectar cakes. Open wide!” ““Tirol?!”” Her pink, jellyfish-like braids left little doubt. However, her gleaming cat eyes lacked their usual chaotic glint, replaced by an unwavering warmth toward her apparent mistress. “Mmm. Simply divine,” said Amakusa. “Desserts like these are wasted on you humans.” “What the hell’s gotten into her?!” asked Bisco. “She’s actin’ even weirder than usual!” “Tirol! It’s us! Come back!” “Here’s another, Madame.” “Enough. The taste is beginning to cloy. Pour me that tea, will you?” “As you wish, Madame.” “Tch. These humans. Can’t count on them to do one thing—Aaaaaaghhh!!” As soon as she took a sip, Geppei dropped the teacup, her tongue burning red. She turned to the fearful Tirol and delivered a devastating paw to the side of her cheek. “Gyagh!” ““!!”” “You imbecile! How many times have I told you we cats cannot stand hot drinks?!” Amakusa strode over to the prostrating Tirol and stamped on her hand with her heel. “Owww…!” “You’re supposed to make it lukewarm, you ignorant creature!” “Step away from her…” A flame sparked behind Bisco’s eyes. “Oh? Jealous, are we?” Meanwhile, Amakusa’s long eyelashes curled with glee. “By all means, step on her, too, if you desire. The creator of the Ultrafaith Arrow can do as he pleases.” “Get off her! Who do you think you are?!” “You’re the one who doesn’t know what he is!” screeched Amakusa. “I know precisely what I am! I am a cat! An apex predator! And so are you! So why do you extend your paw to these miscreants?! Why do you bend your knee to their ways and uphold their laws?!” The air was electric with Amakusa’s rage. Then, after a moment, she cleared her throat, adopting her previous persona once more. “…I admire rebellious men,” she said, pointing a single claw at Bisco. “Become a cat. Your claws are too sharp for humanity. Become a cat and live free and forever by my side.” “Stuff it up your ass, fleabag.” “What?!” Amakusa’s gaze met Bisco’s and rebounded right off his thin, glowing slits. His lengthened fangs lent his usual grin a more threatening air. “Order, freedom. The way I see it, they’re no different,” he snarled. “You’re bound, just like everyone else—bound to what you believe. I don’t need any of that shit to be free; just prayers!” “You insignificant child!” “And besides…” Bisco’s proud grin became a mocking smile. “If I spend any more time around you and your stinkin’ perfume, I think my nose is gonna fall off.” “Those eyes…they’re the same as his!!” In an unprecedented display of anger, Amakusa kicked Tirol off the raised platform around her throne and glared at the three humans, her white fur bristling. “I was looking out for you! I try to extend a paw in mercy, and this is the thanks I get! Well, if your feeble brains are too stupid to comprehend the danger you’re in…” “Watch out, Milo! Somethin’s comin’!” “…then I’ll splatter those brains all over the walls!” The Ultrafaith Arrow glowed in reaction to her magic and flew toward the two boys. But just then, the jingle of Kintsuba’s bells filled the air! “Catwisp Art!” “Lord Yokan!” cried Milo. “Yellowtail Radish!” Clanggg!! Yokan drew his sword and slashed in one clean motion, stopping the arrow in its tracks. “There you are at last, black one,” spat Amakusa. “You always did have the worst timing.” “Geppei!” shouted the feline lord. “No longer shall I allow your malevolent fangs to snap at innocent humans!” The fated pair did not so much as exchange greetings. “You dare take that tone! Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for our reunion?!” “Accept your judgment!” Yokan leaped into the air, ready to strike, while Amakusa snapped her claws, and the golden arrow reappeared in her paw. “Catwisp Art…!” “Cat-o-mancy: Hateful Seven!” The catwisp particles gathered in Yokan’s blade, but Amakusa’s technique was too fast. The Ultrafaith Arrow traced a circle in midair, and along its path appeared seven snarling cat heads. This technique…it’s…! “Devour him!” At Amakusa’s command, the seven heads flew at Yokan, one after the other. “We hate you.” “We hate you, Yokan.” “Bastard child.” “Die.” These are…my brothers! Yokan twisted to protect his vitals as the heads latched on to his shoulders and legs, throwing him against one of the statues. “Yokan!” shouted Bisco. “What happened?” asked Milo. “He should have been able to dodge that, easy!” “Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho!” Amakusa chuckled with her paw to her mouth, while the seven heads retracted and adopted a steady orbit behind her. “Such is the life of a highborn prince! Seven elder siblings, all simmering with resentment for the child who stole their throne. Ahh, court politics are so ugly.” “Then that oughtta make you twice as ugly, for usin’ ’em against him!” “…Whaaat?!” Bisco’s flippant remark wounded Amakusa’s pride. “Ugly? Me? You can’t have said that… Surely I misheard.” “Listen here, bitch. You’re just—!” “You’re just a rotten pig who rolls around in the muck! Let’s hear you squeal, Geppei!!” “Milo?! Er… That’s a bit far, don’t you think…?” “Shut up!!” screamed Amakusa, the ivory fur of her face bright red with anger. The seven heads all turned toward Milo. “All right, their attention’s on me! Bisco!” “Right!” Understanding Milo’s plan, Bisco leaped into the air, avoiding the heads’ gazes. Speeding toward Amakusa, he drew his longsword. “Take this! Pipe Snake Blade!” Amakusa, however, remained unruffled. “Simply mewling its name does not a secret technique make,” she said. Clanggg! “What?!” Bisco’s sword struck a golden koban that had instantaneously appeared above Amakusa’s head like a shield. Bisco was sure the floating-head technique demanded her full concentration, so how…? “Allow me…to serve you…Madame…” “Tirol! What’re you doin’?!” “Nyan/nyad/myaruler/smeow!” Tirol’s lips produced a strange mantra, like nothing Bisco had ever heard, and the shield expelled spears of gold at Bisco. Only by the grace of his feline form could Bisco hope to dodge the attack and leap back over to where his partner was. “She’s controllin’ the gold!” he said. “Where did Tirol learn to do that?!” “There is no mystery in it,” replied Amakusa. “Humans have a higher affinity for gold than does any other creature.” “Is that how it works?!” cried Milo, shocked. “You cannot lay a paw on me. Stand down and admit defeat, you uneducated strays! Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!” Bisco and Yokan retreated alongside Milo, who was fending off the heads with his shortsword. “What’s with Snowball? She’s really gettin’ on my nerves!” said Bisco. “Indeed. With the Ultrafaith Arrow at her disposal, her magic has grown more powerful than ever,” said Yokan. “Any forthcoming ideas, Nekoyanagi?” “Of course!” said Milo, glaring at Amakusa with indignation. “She just called us uneducated! You two I can understand, but me?!” “Rude.” “Off with your head.” “Bisco and I have a secret technique called the Mantra Bow,” explained Milo. “But we need an opportunity to use it.” He flicked his wrist, and the emerald cube appeared above his palm. “If you can keep the heads, Tirol, and Amakusa all occupied…” “How long do you need?” asked Yokan. “Seven seconds.” “You shall have ten. Do not disappoint!” Before Milo could say another word, Yokan drew his sword and leaped at Amakusa. “Curse you, Yokan.” “Bastard child.” The seven heads flew toward him, muttering their grudges. But now that Yokan was prepared for them, they proved little impediment. “It seems that even death cannot save your souls, my brothers!” Slam! Slam! Slam! ““Gaaah!!”” Yokan’s sword moved faster than the eye could follow, beating the heads between the eyes, dizzying them. “Waaagh… Father…” “Forgive us…” Babbling, they all fell to the ground, inert. Yokan looked not at them but at his next foe, his sword glinting in his grip. “I cannot let you live like this, Geppei. Come! It is time for us to fight once more!” “Silence your caterwauling, stray.” Yokan flew at her, bringing his sword down on her head! “Madame! Allow me!” Clang! Tirol’s “miantra” shield deflected Kintsuba’s blow. Amakusa grinned and began casting a new spell, when… “Catwisp Art: Sashimi!” Yokan’s sword became a blur, delivering a hundred cuts in the blink of an eye! The golden shield was diced up into small cubes that rained down on Amakusa’s head. “I-impossible!” “Don’t think you’re the only one who’s learned something these past ten years!” “Don’t let it go to your head, foolish prince!” In a spray of golden sparks, Amakusa blocked Yokan’s slice on the Ultrafaith Arrow, which hovered alongside her paw. The whole room shook to the desperate flurry of blows that ensued, with neither side conceding one millimeter. However… “It’s not enough! Once, Kintsuba was more than a match for her, but now…!” “Let me tell you something about this arrow, Yokan!” Her fur slick with sweat, Amakusa jeered at her faltering opponent. “It’s the ultimate treasure! Able to grant any wish!” My sword…it cannot last…! “It is leagues more powerful than your pathetic little toy!” Snappp!! “Oh no!!” At last, the Ultrafaith Arrow won out against Kintsuba. Amakusa watched the broken sword blade with glee as it twirled through the air. “Looks like I win this one, Yokan!” She wore a look of utmost triumph. Yokan, tossed back by the force of the decisive blow, struck one of the statues standing by the wall, smashing its nose and collapsing to the floor. Amakusa was left panting but still standing. Without bothering to do up her untied robe, she strode over to the fallen Yokan. “I’ll give you…one last chance…,” she said. Amakusa’s voice trembled with elation or pride…or perhaps relief. “One last chance to admit your mistake. Admit you were a fool to choose your country over me.” A silence passed as those two cats, black and white, gazed into each other’s eyes. “If you do that, if you give it all up,” she went on, “…then I will take you back.” “…” “We shall create a true paradise for cat-kind, a land brimming with life. What say you?” “But only by bringing ruin to Byoma first. Is that not the case?” “Do these rats mean so much to you?” “…Geppei. It seems I still cannot reach you alone.” “…” “But…” “?” “I am not alone!” With that, Yokan deftly sprang aside. What’s this?! So much pressure…! Amakusa trembled, sensing some strange, reason-defying power coming from the direction Yokan had evacuated!