This Is Bad! (Continued)

Kawahara Chintetsu waved a hand, and Tetsu no Sosuke turned and left.

Once he was gone, a swordsmith spoke up. "Village Chief, are you sure this is all right? Sosuke did a fine job repairing that blade, but letting him forge a sword for one of the Nine Pillars just like that..."

Kawahara Chintetsu smiled. "A swordsman chooses a weapon, and a swordsmith chooses a swordsman. It's never been something either side can decide alone."

"Only when both feel they're right for each other can a truly fitting weapon be forged," Kawahara Chintetsu said. "That's the hardest part. Skill can be honed, but some things come down to fate."

Kyakkyo Inn was where Swordsmith Village housed its guests.

It wasn't far from the Village Chief's home. Tetsu no Sosuke yawned all the way there, so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open.

His mind wandered to what he should say when they met.

I spoke to her. Will she recognize my voice? Hard to say... I'd better change it. Maybe speak from the back of my throat.

He tried it and managed to make his voice deeper.

As for my build, she probably won't recognize that either, right? We were in the water, after all. And in that situation, neither of us was exactly paying attention to the other's figure.

That thought eased his nerves a little. Come to think of it, he'd never told her his name, and his mask had covered most of his face. If he disguised his voice a bit, there was no way she'd realize it was him.

At least I won't have to worry about her cutting me down!

With his mind made up, he reached the inn before he knew it.

There were staff on hand to receive visitors. After Tetsu no Sosuke explained why he'd come, one of them went inside to announce him.

A short while later, someone led him to the Flower Pillar's lodgings.

It was a secluded little courtyard. As he stepped inside, he saw the Flower Pillar standing beneath a tree thick with leaves, watching petals drift through the air and reaching out to catch them.

Flowers bloomed all around her, yet he couldn't say whether she or the blossoms were more beautiful.

Tetsu no Sosuke stood there, entranced.

Then she turned and smiled at him. "You're Tetsu no Sosuke?"

"Mm..." He got only one sound out before remembering he was supposed to change his voice. He coughed twice, then deliberately made his voice low and muffled. "I am."

He held out the repaired Nichirin Blade. "The Village Chief asked me to bring this for you to inspect."

Kochou Kanae took the blade, studying Tetsu no Sosuke as she did.

Her scrutiny made his skin crawl. He wanted to look away, but that seemed inappropriate, so he could only stand there and bear it.

Luckily, he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, Kochou Kanae would have seen him sweating.

"Have we... met before?"

Kochou Kanae's sudden question caught him off guard.

Tetsu no Sosuke's expression changed, and he hurriedly shook his head. "No, we haven't met."

"Oh, that voice sounds so familiar." Kochou Kanae's eyes lit up. "Why were you forcing your voice lower just now?"