Not Yet Returned

When she came to her senses, she stared at Tetsu no Sosuke, and he stared back at her in confusion.

Who was she?

The same question seemed to occur to both of them. Then the girl noticed the mask on Tetsu no Sosuke's face and suddenly understood. "Are you a swordsmith?"

Tetsu no Sosuke nodded at once. "Yes. I'm Tetsu no Sosuke. I've come to deliver a sword to the Flower Pillar."

"Please come in."

The girl stepped back and opened the door wide for Tetsu no Sosuke.

As Tetsu no Sosuke walked inside, he asked, "Is the Flower Pillar here?"

"The Flower Pillar is away on a mission. She should be back before dinner tonight."

The girl led the way as she spoke. "I'll take you to see Shinobu first. If the Nichirin Blade is for the Flower Pillar, you can leave it with Shinobu."

Chapter 18: Not Yet Returned

The girl led Tetsu no Sosuke to a large room, where he sat waiting with the Sword Case in his arms.

After serving him tea, the girl went back to her work.

Tetsu no Sosuke glanced around, set the Sword Case on the tatami, then rose and crossed to the other side of the room. He slid open a door to reveal a courtyard.

A breeze blew in, carrying a sweet fragrance.

The sky was high and clear. Scattered white clouds and a gentle breeze made a lovely scene.

"This really is the sort of place she'd live."

At some point, his lips had curved into a pleased smile, as though he had remembered something that made him happy.

But a moment later, worry clouded his face.

Once again, the image from the manga surfaced in his mind: Kanae lying in Shinobu Kocho's arms, speaking her final words.

He shook his head. "Don't think about anything so unlucky. She should be back by this evening. Will she be happy when she sees the weapon I made for her?"

He turned and sat down again. He could not still the feelings stirring in his heart: anticipation of seeing her, and fear of the answer she had never spoken.

Compared with seeing her again, though, the answer hardly mattered. That alone would be enough.

"It hasn't even been that many days. Why does it feel like I haven't seen her in ages?"

He was just thinking how ridiculous that was when someone suddenly slid open the door.

Another girl came in. She resembled Kanae in the shape of her face, and her clothes were much the same.

But she looked younger.

"Tetsu no Sosuke?"

Her tone was not particularly friendly. Though she tried to hold it back, Tetsu no Sosuke heard a trace of hostility in her voice.

Why would someone I don't know be hostile to me?

He was taken aback, yet a flicker of delight rose within him.