The two contestants stopped face-to-face. The man's expression and bearing were completely different from that of Kino's previous opponents. He seemed... peaceful, at ease, detached. His lips curved in what was almost a smile – like a martyr on his way to execution. His only weapon was the katana at his side, the sheath shoved directly into his belt.
"Excuse me," said Hermes to the guard. "That nice-looking young man with the sword is the final opponent?"
"Yep. He hasn't been hurt yet, either. So I'd say they're well-matched. Your buddy's clever, but this guy's clever and strong. Your little guy might be in trouble this time."
"Girl," said Hermes absently. "Kino is a girl."
"No kidding? Huh? Imagine that. You don't sound very worried about her."
"Why worry? Worrying won't make Kino any stronger. And she's damned clever, as you said yourself."
"You’ve got a cold heart."
"No. I just know Kino can win. More important, I get the feeling there's more at stake here than the fight."
Hermes paused to consider his own words. "Actually, now that you mention it, there is one thing that worries me."
"'Yeah? What's that?"
"Kino's got a plan. I always find that... a little scary."
"My name is Shizu," said the man with the katana. His tone was polite, his manners, impeccable.
"I'm Kino."
"Kino." He bowed slightly. "I have a request."
"And what might that be?"
Shizu said the same words Kino had used four times before. "Please surrender now. I will accept."
She was surprised. "Shizu, do you really want to be a citizen of this... cesspool?"
His eyes widened on the last word. He had clearly not expected it. He stared at Kino for a moment, his eyes searching her face. "Yes. Yes... I do."
"It's rotted to the core."
"You know that, you say that, and yet you're still playing this ridiculous game – and playing to win, it appears – even though you don't want to live here?"
"Yes."
Shizu glanced back over his shoulder. After a moment, he returned his gaze to Kino and said, "There's something I have to do... after I become a citizen. I hope you will surrender. I wish you no harm.”
His tone was solemn, almost humble, and Kino's curiosity was piqued, but she stood her ground. "I don't know what that something is, but I must refuse. I, too, have something I must do after I have won."
"Why? Why do you fight when you stand to gain nothing you want?" Shizu's calm was ruffled, if only slightly.
"The answer is simple. Right now, I want to fight. And to win." Kino's fingertips danced lightly across the top of the Cannon's grip.
Shizu shook his head. He glanced behind him again, then soundlessly gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands and pulled it from its sheath in one fluid motion.
The trumpets announced the beginning of the contest.
Kino reached behind her, drew the Woodsman, released the safety, and aimed at Shizu, but did not fire.
Shizu didn't flinch. He held his sword at middle guard, the blade only slightly angled. The gentleness he'd seemed to possess mere moments before had vanished, and Kino could now see and feel the tension that ran through him.
Shizu took one step toward her. Then another.
She fired the Woodsman once. The bullet passed well to the side of Shizu's head.
Shizu did not so much as blink – he took another step.
Kino aimed closer to his head and fired again. Again, Shizu didn't react, and as soon as the bullet whistled past his ear, he took another step.
Kino breathed out gently, aimed for Shizu's right shoulder, and fired. Shizu's katana met the bullet with a sharp, musical ping. Kino could not suppress her admiration and amazement.
"You're very good," she told him. "Or very lucky."
She fired off several more rounds, aiming for Shizu's arms and legs. With blinding but effortless speed, his blade moved, knocking each bullet off course.
"Very good, apparently," she conceded.
Shizu smiled and took another step closer.
"Now, you see that? That's what I'm talking about," the guard said enthusiastically, clearly impressed with Shizu.
Hermes had to allow that he was also impressed. "Knocking a bullet aside with a sword is pretty amazing. How does he know where Kino's going to shoot?"
"Tilt of the barrel; movement of the eyes. He did this in two of the previous fights as well, took down a couple of professional gunfighters. This is one opponent who can't be intimidated."
Kino often said how beautiful the world was. Hermes questioned its beauty, but never its unpredictability. Here was an opponent who might prove to be her match in more than the obvious ways. Hermes had seen Shizu's mouth form the word surrender a number of times, and found himself hoping Kino would consider it.
"But he hasn't killed anyone,” the guar d added after a moment of thought. "Kind of like your buddy... er, your... Kino."
"Really?"
"Not a one. He'll hurt them, sure, but doesn't kill. I never heard of both contestants making it to the final round without killing anyone. I mean, what are the odds?"
Refreshingly, the guard seemed more impressed than disappointed.
Kino had now fired eight times without hitting Shizu once. There were two bullets left in her magazine, but she let it drop and loaded a fresh one.
Shizu was only a few steps away.
"Will you surrender?" he asked calmly, almost gently, sword still at mid-guard.
"No, thank you," rep lied Kino, gun aimed at Shizu's blade. She flicked the barrel to one side; the blade followed. She flicked it back and fired. The bullet was deflected.
"Impressive!"
Shizu moved like lightning, closing the gap between them in an instant. Shifting the katana to his right hand, he sliced diagonally upward, the blade moving too fast for even Kino's sharp eyes to follow. The top of the blade struck the Woodsman's barrel, and flung it from her hand.
Now with the sword in both hands, Shizu reversed the blade and swept it down ward, aiming for Kino's left shoulder. But Kino was quick. Crossing her leather-clad arms, she stepped into Shizu's attack and caught the blade where it met the hilt, scissoring it between her wrists. There was a sharp clan g of metal on metal and sparks flew.
Before Shizu could do more than gasp aloud, Kino shoved his blade aside, spun around to his right flank, and slammed the heel of one palm into his temple. He half-fell, half-tumbled from the blow, slashing with his blade as he went down. He was aiming for Kino's side, but she took the blow on her wrist. He rolled to his feet a yard away, his weapon once again at mid- guard, his eyes questioning.
Kino straightened, watching him warily. She let the tension flow from her body, and shook her arms as if they'd gone to sleep. Metal gleamed from beneath the cuts on her jacket.
"You're good," Shizu told her. "Unexpected. You know many ways to surprise and intimidate. I'm impressed." Shizu flipped his sword so that the point of the blade was aimed at Kino. "But I would really prefer it if you surrendered."
Kino lowered her arms, knowing she looked relaxed, defenseless. "I refuse."
"When I become a citizen, I'll make a law that allows you to live here, too."
"No thank you. I told you – I've no interest in becoming a citizen here."
"Oh, right. How could I forget? But if we keep on like this, you'll die."
Kino smiled. "You don't have to kill me. I've gotten this far without killing anyone."
Shizu frowned, curiosity giving way to bafflement. "What... what do you mean?"
“Ah, of course. You've seen none of my battles; just as I've seen none of yours. I've entertained the crowd by winning without killing. They seemed to like it – you heard the applause when I entered the arena. But apparently you want to wrap things up by showing them a really good killing Am I right?”
Shizu didn't answer, but his eyes softened – with what, Kino was not exactly sure. Perhaps it was compassion. Then he moved, crossing the distance between them in a second, his blade at shoulder height.
Kino drew the Cannon.
Both fighters froze as if caught in ice. Shizu's arms quivered above his head, the blade's hovering tip aimed at Kino's throat. Kino, her right arm outstretched, aimed the Cannon's muzzle at the spot between Shizu 's brows. The gun's hammer was raised; all Kino had to do was pull the trigger and Shizu would die.
Their eyes met.
"You're quick," he whispered.
"It's easier to tell where a sword blade is coming from than where a gun is going to fire. You just have to be quicker than your opponent. You're a little too obsessed with winning, Shizu. It may be naive of me, but I think this contest should be for fun, not for killing."