With his sake finished and belly gently aflame, Tasuke stepped happily toward the front door of the lodge, equipt with his swords once more. He slid the front door open and stepped into the night, taking a few steps before he turned around and bid farewell to Aki with a deep bow. “Good night, Aki. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She wore a wide smile while she bowed and lifted herself. “Good night, Tasuke. Take care until then.”

The good burn of sake through his frame had been stoked with the love of friendship while he turned right and took to the path with his arms raised at level with his torso, hands hidden in either sleeve. The hour of two had been dipped into, and the lights of the residential homes had just begun to wax into darkness. Street lanterns painted the proper path toward other sections of the town, and Tasuke sought the inn at the west end of the district, but it was only after a few minutes of travel that he heard a whisper from the left alley. He stopped in place and peered toward the source, just as an older woman stepped into the light and revealed herself…it was Shisuka.

With hands at either side she came adorned in a light red kimono splashed dark in the eve, the silk laced with white lilies that coiled themselves about the fabric. Glimmering black hair spilled intricately above her bright brown eyes and down across her cheeks and jaw like playful fingers. She wore it in her familiar style, pulled into a long ponytail that hung past her back as if falling water. A fine twenty-four years old, two years his senior, that glowing complexion reflected confidence and haste. There was a seriousness to her eyes, and it became evident she did not seek him out for fun.

She hadn’t stepped into view from the street, a safe distance out of a walker’s straight sight, so he went the four feet to join her near one the building’s other exits. “Good evening, Shisuka. I trust you have news?”

She nodded strongly and spoke in a velvety voice, deep and alluring. “Good evening, Tasuke. Yes, we have agreed to carry out the infiltration of Edo castle. We will assassinate Tokugawa Ieyoshi in two days. I will seek you out within the tavern at midnight on that day. You’d best make ready and ask if Chiaki wants to join us.”

Tasuke nodded. It would appear Shisuka had decided to follow through with the plan. Not that he was surprised, for during their epic clash of will and weapon he had learned that the woman was wise and extremely steeled in her resolve. She was not one to joke about the topic, as he’d learned, nor one to procrastinate. She was also someone that made absolutely sure a plan could succeed, and knew the most proper way to get the job done. He could trust the date of the attack to be accurate. “Very well. I’ll wait for you to come around. Take care, Shisuka.”

She bowed deeply with humility and said, “Farewell. Thank you for believing in my cause.”

He answered just in time to see her shimmering eyes. “You’re welcome.”

She moved back into the darkness and Tasuke turned with a smile, taking the left en route to the desired inn. Already his feelings of drunkenness had dissipated in the news, and that inner darkness thirsted for the many deaths to come on that fateful night. It would be nice not to have to kill anyone, but he knew that it was impossible. Two forces that fight for an ideal with equal heart whom possessed no patience to hear the other can only settle things with war. But the wish for freedom was one worth fighting for.

__________________
Armies lay in waste, their corpses strewn along, an all-too-faint breath of death, a shallow little song.

With my sword I kiss the wicked, and bring them to their knees, with this sword their evil is answered and heaven is well pleased.

Those who spread the tainted seed, who know that they have sinned, will feel the icy steel I swing like a whisper in the wind.