Kyoto.
At dusk, a few large swallows flew slowly across the sky, their wings tinged with the pale gold of the lingering sunlight.
The gates of the Kujū Dojo stood half closed. In the courtyard, several disciples in white dojo robes were sweeping. Their brooms scraped the ground with soft rustling sounds, mingling with the faint bustle of the streets in the distance.
"Hey, why isn't the old man back yet?"
A tall, skinny man planted his broom on the ground and leaned lazily against it. His name was Haruta, and he was the dojo's most senior disciple. He had studied swordsmanship under Kujū Jūrō for over a decade, but he was still as slovenly as ever.
"Haruta, please stop..."
The young woman sweeping beside him looked up. She was strikingly beautiful, with a spirited look about her eyes and brows, but a slight furrow creased her brow now, as though something weighed on her mind.
Hisashige Rinko, Kujū Jūrō's only daughter.
Haruta glanced at her and suddenly smiled.
"Come on, Rinko." He pointed his broom at her. "You're more anxious than any of us, aren't you?"
The other disciples nearby laughed along.
Someone pushed open the half-closed gate with a creak.
A man in white stood on the threshold with a staff over his shoulder, his face obscured by the evening light behind him.
"Well... uh..."
Kashimo opened his mouth, then suddenly faltered.
Just tell them I killed their master? That seems a little too... you know.
The disciples in the courtyard stopped what they were doing and turned toward the gate in unison. Haruta narrowed his eyes as he sized up the newcomer: white clothes, green hair, a Jade Staff slung over his shoulder. He was pretty handsome, but standing there without saying anything for so long was a little strange.
"If you're here to challenge him, come back tomorrow," Rinko said evenly. "Master hasn't returned to Kyoto yet."
With that, she lowered her head and continued sweeping the courtyard.
Kashimo scratched his head.
Forget it. Here goes.
"Your master-"
The scrape of brooms against the courtyard ground abruptly stopped.
"Was killed by me."
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
"Your dojo is now disbanded."
A brief silence followed.
"Hey-!"
Haruta threw his broom to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and strode over. His expression had soured completely, irritation written all over his face.
"Kid, what the fuck did you just say?"
He stopped in front of Kashimo. They were roughly the same height, so he leaned in with a vicious glare until their noses almost touched.
"Spouting bullshit because you can't challenge Master? Watch it, or we'll beat you to a pulp."
Kashimo looked at him, his expression unchanged.
"I'm telling the truth," he said. "Or did you not hear me? Should I say it again?"
"You fucking-!"
Haruta finally snapped and swung a fist at Kashimo's face.
Then his fist was caught.
Effortlessly, as though Kashimo were casually swatting away a mosquito.
Kashimo held his fist, tightened his fingers, and twisted it sideways.
Crack-
"Aagh-!"
Agony shot through Haruta's wrist. He dropped to one knee in pain, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.
The courtyard fell utterly silent.
"You said..."
Hisashige Rinko's voice trembled, but she still did her best to remain calm. "You killed my father. Is that right?"
Kashimo let go.
Clutching his wrist, Haruta collapsed into a sitting position, his head slick with cold sweat as he gritted his teeth and glared at Kashimo. Kashimo did not look at him. He merely gave Rinko a slight nod.
Silence.
Rinko lowered her eyes and took a deep breath.
"What... were his last words?"
"He said..." Kashimo paused. "If I was interested, I could take over this dojo. If not, I should come tell you that the dojo was disbanded."
"That's impossible-!"
Haruta sprang to his feet and staggered to the side, grabbing a wooden sword. His eyes were bloodshot, and it was hard to tell whether the moisture on his face was cold sweat or something else.
"Master would never be like that-never!"
He tightened his grip on the sword, looking like an enraged beast.
"How could he let a murderer like you-"
He charged at Kashimo, raising the wooden sword high.
"Take over the dojo-!"
The blade sliced through the air as he brought it down hard.
Did I miss?
No, it didn't reach him.
Haruta's pupils abruptly contracted. The instant his sword fell, the figure before him vanished into thin air. No, he had not vanished. He was too fast. So fast that Haruta had no time to react.
The next second, a searing pain struck his back.
How is that possible...
He's behind me?
Before Haruta could finish the thought, he pitched forward. At some point, Kashimo had slipped behind him, and the Jade Staff slammed squarely into his back.
With a dull thud, Haruta hit the ground flat, like a bug crushed underfoot.
Kashimo withdrew his staff and glanced at the figure twitching on the ground.
He had used thirty percent of his strength for that blow.
Haruta was not Kujū Jūrō. He was not a sorcerer. He had no Reverse Cursed Technique, no cursed energy protecting his body. If that blow did not kill him, it would cripple him.
Having dealt with Haruta, Kashimo turned around.
No one else in the courtyard moved. The remaining disciples stood a few paces away, gripping their brooms, tightening their hands and loosening them again, over and over, but none dared step forward. Their eyes darted between him and Haruta sprawled on the ground, like a flock of frightened quails.
Kashimo's gaze passed over them and settled on Hisashige Rinko.
She stood where she was, still holding her broom. The evening light fell across the side of her face, tracing a quiet silhouette.
"You," Kashimo said. "Are you his daughter?"
Looking at her face, he guessed she was only fourteen or fifteen. There was indeed something of Kujū Jūrō in her eyes and brows-not her features, but that same composure.
But after looking her over, he confirmed one thing.
This girl was not a sorcerer.
Yet it was strange. In a situation that should have filled her with grief, no cursed energy was leaking out.
Hisashige Rinko met his gaze without flinching or crying.
"Yes."
Kashimo looked at the girl before him.
Her eyes were red, but no tears fell. She stared straight at him.
"Ah... your father did ask me to look after you, but I think it should mostly depend on your choice."
"I don't really mind having an extra burden tagging along."
Kashimo paused, then added.
"But I have to warn you first. You could very well die."