With a nonchalant shrug, he headed to the door of the library. That was when Akari felt something inside her mind go snap.
“I know, you know!”
Her voice was petulant, like a whiny child’s, but she didn’t care.
Both Tomohito and Kansuke turned back to look at her.
She stared defiantly at the samurai with narrowed, angry eyes. From the periphery of her vision, she could see Tomohito blinking and looking confused.
Still staring at Kansuke, Akari let the words pour forth in a flood.
“I know all about it—how that daimyo lord of yours was weak and spineless, and how he let his scheming retainer whisper venom in his ear about you. That’s why he sent you off on certain-death missions! And I know why you killed him too! It was because he was a tyrant—an oppressor of his own people! And because he had captured your little sister and kept her as a slave! And I know you covered it all up and took the blame for everything to spare your lord’s name, and you let that falsehood be passed down as historical fact!”
Akari stopped, breathing heavily. Kansuke’s eyes were wide and round with shock—the first genuine expression he’d shown since she’d met him, she thought.
Looking equally astonished, Tomohito nodded, muttering under his breath.
“Yes…the volumes Mistress Akari has been borrowing of late…all history books…”
“I may dislike stories, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading reference texts.”
She felt immediately defensive, even though she knew no one was accusing her of anything.
It was true, though. She didn’t hate all books. In fact, you might even call her an avid reader of nonfiction and educational texts. Back at the all-girls school, she used to hole up in the library and feast her eyes on illustrated reference books about history, botany, and the sciences. Any subject, in fact, where flights of fancy were rendered wholly unnecessary by facts and logic.
Over the past week, she’d spent a lot of time sequestered in her room, poring over a history book on Kansuke Mishima that she’d originally read back at school, just to refresh her memory.
That was why she’d been slightly starstruck when Kansuke had manifested in his samurai garb like that. She’d thought she knew all about the historical figure, but it was like coming face-to-face with someone famous. She’d never admit to anyone how hard her heart had thumped in her chest at that moment.
“So what? Did you forget the part about me strolling around town killing random people for fun?”
“Oh, you’re a bad man for sure. I’m not disputing that. Your sword is stained with the blood of innocents. Even in that less civilized, long-past era, you were a monster.”
Kansuke’s jaw hung open a little. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting her snappy comeback.
And yet…Akari didn’t feel like passing judgment on Kansuke’s crimes. Honestly, she had no idea why he hadn’t turned his back on his lord even sooner, or why he was still covering for his reputation to this day. Had he slain those innocents to make the story seem more plausible? Akari didn’t know. And either way, it wasn’t her place to judge.
Even so…
Akari did know a few things. She knew that samurai of that era were willing to do anything for their lords. Their loyalty was absolute. And she knew Kansuke’s respect and reverence for his lord’s late father must have been incredibly strong. Kansuke had been trying to protect the legacy of the son, for the sake of the father.
“You know what I think? I think you were really noble! That you did your duty by your first lord in the end, with that very sword of yours! And I think you were a compassionate man who cared deeply for his family, who leaped into action to save his stolen sister. I can’t judge you. I just can’t. You see…”
Akari’s hands were clasped at her chest, her eyes shining with emotion.
“You see…I think you are a wonderful, wonderful samurai, Kansuke Mishima!”
Even as the words left her lips, Akari regretted them. Blushing a deep red, she covered her mouth with her hands in horror. She’d never meant to say anything like that. But in the heat of the moment, she couldn’t stop herself.
Her cheeks burned with shame as she hung her head.
For a moment, Kansuke stared at her open-mouthed. Then he snorted.
Bending in two and grabbing his own knees, Kansuke started to bellow with laughter. Akari pursed her lips, unimpressed
Fine, let him laugh. It’s fine, thought Akari. The tears rolling down his cheeks were taking it a bit far, though.
“Mistress Akari! I had no idea you felt that way… I feel somewhat jeal— I mean…surprised.”
“Ugh, could you please NOT talk right now.”
Tomohito’s shocked reaction made Akari feel even more embarrassed. Finally, though, Kansuke managed to get his laughter under control.
“So what would you have said wonderful samurai do for you, miss?”
He didn’t call me “girly” for once, Akari realized with surprise. Kansuke, meanwhile, observed her with a glint in his piercing eyes.
“It doesn’t matter how you go about narrating my Kotogatari. My sword has a mind of its own. There’s no way around it.”
“Are you saying you accept me as your…your lord?”
“You saw what just happened. Does it look like I accepted him as my lord? That’s what I try to do to people who act like they’ve got me all figured out.”
In other words: Give it up, lady. But Kansuke’s expression seemed lightened somehow, as if an evil spirit had been chased from his body.
Thinking about it logically, he was right of course. However…
“You should easily be able to slay a Nue, if you could tap into that old power of yours, right?”
“Obviously.”
Akari smiled wryly.
It wouldn’t be Kansuke without a show of bravado like that.
“Right. Well, to that end… Tomohito, I have something to discuss. Wait, what’s wrong with you now?!”
“N-Nothing, Mistress… Just a little jealous… What can I help you with?”