act44side

He has lost track of time.

He remembers falling to Mifune's blade. He remembers Mifune grabbing his hand and leaving a bloody handprint on a new contract.

Then, the footsteps grow distant, and his vision grows grey and blurry.

He wants to be free of all this—

Uncle Tessai?!

The old man stands back up feebly as he hears the familiar voice, perhaps out of guilt, perhaps out of lingering sentiment, perhaps because he does not want Hoshiguma to see the true extent of his weakness.

...Hoshiguma?

Who did this? Kinbee?!

Hoshiguma... I couldn't protect Kajimachi... or Hannya...

Where's Momoka? Kichisei?

Kinbee was right about one thing... sitting in my chair... I started thinking of everything as shogi pieces...

Moving them... trading them... sacrificing them...

But I forgot... I'm no more than a shogi piece myself, in the eyes of others...

Run... you're no match for Kinbee... leave this forsaken place... go back... go back to Lungmen...

No, I won't!

Sit down, Uncle Tessai. I'll find a doctor—

*cough* *cough* Don't... bother...

Can't you see... I'm beyond help...?

Uncle Tessai—

I'm here, Uncle Tessai. I'm not going anywhere.

Sit down. We'll sit together for a little bit... just like old times.

Hoshiguma helps the dying old man sit down.

She casts her gaze toward the tall walls in the distance. There are lights flashing outside, and the sound of tracks rolling over the ground.

She does not care what it means. Kajimachi is dead, and she cares not what will become of it later.

All she knows is that she must stay with the dying man.

The old man's breathing grows weaker and weaker, but he begins to feel the rumbling of tracks too.

He looks up in terror, but his eyes can no longer see. The ground trembles beneath him.

Is that... a sound... I can't hear...?

What is it, Hoshiguma... what is it...?

It's—

Hoshiguma stops in mid-sentence, choking back tears.

After a while, she growls from the back of her throat—

It's the signal... to begin the fireworks show.

The fireworks... have begun?

Yes. They're getting ready. You hear the commotion, don't you?

Yes... Kajimachi hasn't been so lively... in a long time...

A smile appears on the old man's face.

An engineering vehicle rams through the manor's walls, causing the beams to shake violently.

Not too far away, the pachinko parlor's machines are crushed to pieces, sending tiny balls flying everywhere.

Do you hear... the fireworks...?

Yes...

The sound of fireworks going off, taiko drums rumbling, the noise of the crowd.

He feels the trembling of the ground again, its joyful dance.

He hears the faint sound of car horns, from vehicles caught in the traffic jam outside.

He senses his own heartbeat growing slower by the second.

No...

No... I can't...

In his final moments, his heart races once more, and hot blood flows swift through his veins, as the dying man gazes at the sunset, thinking that it is the rising sun—

The wrinkled hands fall weakly.

Found the body that the witness reported... and the suspect, matching the description of Hoshiguma!

Was this part of Kinbee's plan too?

Shut up and come with us.

Calling the police, letting you see me with Uncle Tessai as he draws his last breath, so that I'll once again be suspected of murder...

Was this part of Kinbee's plan too?

Did his people call you?

...I see.

Hoshiguma takes a leap and sees a familiar foe before the policeman says anything.

Yakuza. Ninja.

You're in league with each other?

The policeman looks down at his own feet—as Hoshiguma swings her unsheathed sword, trying to cut a path through the faint but inevitable dusk.

Really? She wrote just one line?

What would I get from lying to you? I have it right here, if you want to read it yourself.

(Clears throat)

<i>Nei zek laan taan mao,</i> I heard you pissed <i>nei ah je</i> off so bad that he just up and <i>zau maai?!</i>

That's it. Not even a sign off.

Pfft.

You found that funny?

One, I didn't know she was capable of pulling off a cursive script when speed writing.

Two, did you not set the record straight after she personally slapped this letter onto your head, <i>Commissioner Swire?</i>

Stinky rat! Do you think I would have come looking for you if she weren't avoiding me like the plague?

You didn't have to. The less we see each other, the better.

Y-you!

I hereby declare: this last finball in your bowl is now mine.

Go ahead. Consider it consolation for my inaccurate assumption.

You really love to understate things, don't you?

How would you want me to phrase it, then? You clashed head-on with your grandfather in New Siesta—can't say I falsely accused you of that, can you?

Hmph.

Though... you think I should go have a chat with Hoshiguma?

You should, but it's not appropriate for you to do so.

I know, she's been avoiding me, and only calls me by my official title when she has to, but I'm sure we haven't become estranged or anything like that.

After all, she needs to keep a low profile and avoid rousing any suspicion after all that's happened. Plus, she misunderstood me and is kind of awkward about it now, and one of her elders has passed too...

She's not that sensitive.

Really? I feel she can be quite sentimental sometimes... well, not really, uh... how do I describe that...

Wait for Ch'en Hui-chieh to come back, and maybe she can help you brainstorm your answer.

Though what I mean is her current behavior might not be from overthinking. She's merely trying to mess with you.

<i>CAU! LO! SYU!</i> STINKING RAT!

We're thick as thieves, Hoshiguma and I. But she's not one bit as cunning and petty as you!

I appreciate the compliment.

Thank you for the omiyage, Inspector Hoshiguma.

No thanks necessary.

While you were in Higashi, I happened to visit the Jiangqi jianbing shop quite a few times, and began to enjoy the taste of scallion.

I heard you encountered many unpleasant events in Mitsukue. I'm touched you still bothered to bring something back for me after all that.

It's what I ought to do anyways.

Besides, I did stir up quite a ruckus in Mitsukue. I'd be sorry if the mess had affected you, Mr. Wei, or even Lungmen.

Not at all. What I have heard people talk about is your wisdom and courage. You not only cleared your own name, but also avenged Tessai-san, who was as a father to you.

That Kinbee was never a good man. It was only natural for him to be arrested and put on trial. Fortunate for him that you have a good heart and didn't take his head.

...I still have a question for you.

No need for formalities, just ask. You weren't this shy last time, when I was riding a little fast and you sideswiped me to force me to slow down.

Actually, ever since I came back from Mitsukue, I've been thinking...

Lungmen and Mitsukue... what is the difference between the two?