Chapter 67: Silver Soul (Earth Arc)

The change happened in an instant. Kamui suddenly yanked the umbrella out from under Okakura Take’s foot. She slipped, nearly falling, and Kamui seized the chance to scoop her up. One hand holding the umbrella encircled her neck, while the other clamped tightly around her waist, rendering her arms useless except for the futile struggle in his embrace.

“Let me go! You bastard!”

Kamui smiled, resting his head on her shoulder as he addressed the onlookers. “Sorry about this. Unlike my useless master, I’m not so fragile in the face of the sun.”

“Take!” Gintoki tried to rush forward to save her, but Kamui blocked his way.

“Don’t move~ Don’t worry, I won’t hurt her. But if you do charge in, who knows what might happen to her?” As he spoke, Kamui’s fingers traced lightly along Okakura Take’s neck.

Gintoki halted, watching Kamui warily, both hands gripping his wooden sword, looking ready to strike at any moment.

A shiver ran through Okakura Take as Kamui’s touch raised goosebumps all over her. She regretted acting so rashly and provoking Kamui. Being held hostage by this man was infuriating.

Kamui, still clutching Okakura Take, slowly approached the Night King. He gazed at the weakened ruler, his expression unchanged.

“Humans are such pitiable creatures. The more they lack something, the more desperately they desire it,” Kamui said with a smile, leaning on Okakura Take’s shoulder. “What the Night King lacks is sunlight.”

“You are not tormented by thirst because of the sun. It’s because you don’t have the sun that you feel this thirst. Though you shun and reject it more than anyone, you envy and long for it even more. Everything is for the sake of the sun—the sun you can never obtain!”

While Kamui spoke, Okakura Take squirmed uncomfortably. His breath at her ear made her even more miserable.

“That’s why you steal away the light, dragging women into your darkness, imprisoning them here. And yet… for this sun that never disappears, you are filled with both hatred… and love.”

Okakura Take could barely stand it. Couldn’t he let her go before saying such things? Didn’t he feel awkward at all?

“Heh… Love?” Hosen’s skin slowly split open, yet his expression remained one of derision and scorn. “Where did you even learn that word, Kamui?”

Okakura Take was just as shocked; she never expected Kamui to even know the word “love.”

“You know best of all, there’s no such thing in me. If you walk the same path as I have—”

“Kamui, you and I are alike; we know only how to fight. Whatever we desire, we seize through battle. If we dislike someone, we fight and defeat them.”

“Whether it’s love or hate, we only know how to express it through combat.”

Okakura Take shot Kamui a sidelong glance. He still wore that infuriating smile. Could such a man really feel deep love or hate? The only thing he’s ever loved is rice, she thought. Maybe only rice could stir such passion in him.

“Kamui, one day you’ll understand. When you’re old, looking back on your path… there’s nothing there.”

“Even if what you truly want is right in front of you, you’ll have no hands left to embrace it—only claws to grasp at it.”

“The tighter you try to grip it, the deeper your claws dig in; the further you reach, the farther it slips away.”

“Kamui, just as you’re forcibly holding onto this woman now…” Hosen let out a cold laugh.

Okakura Take wanted to protest—could they stop dragging her into this? She was innocent! The old man made it sound like she and Kamui were locked in some twisted romance. Didn’t he see Kamui was just as startled by his words?

Hosen turned away from them, reaching toward the sun as if trying to catch something just out of reach.

“Why… even you have come to despise me?”

“Why… even you reject me? Why am I so thirsty, when I want it so desperately…?”

In the sunlight, Hosen’s hand withered, his gaze dimmed.

Everyone watched in silence as the old man hovered on the brink of death. Just then, someone approached. Okakura Take turned to see two Hyakka supporting Hinowa as she came to Hosen’s side.

Hinowa knelt beside him, gently resting his head on her lap to shield him from the blinding light. Her face was serene and gentle.

What a remarkable woman… Even after all the cruelty this man inflicted on her, Hinowa was willing to grant him light in his final moments. Okakura Take knew she could never do the same. At this moment, she just wanted to kill the bastard still looming behind her.

Slowly, Hosen awakened.

“Hi… Hinowa.” He was surprised to see her.

“I finally… let you see,” Hinowa said, lifting her gaze to the sun. “Didn’t I promise? I’d find a way to reconcile you with Father Sun.”

Hosen’s eyes widened in recognition of the promise.

“In truth, I always knew. No matter how cool you tried to appear, or how cruel your actions, you were never as great as the Night King’s legend.”

“You only wanted this—to bask in the sun and doze a little, just an ordinary old man.”

“That’s all you ever wanted, yet you built this ridiculous place and made yourself everyone’s enemy…” Hinowa’s tears fell onto Hosen’s now gentle face.

“You’re a fool—truly, hopelessly foolish.”

Hosen’s eyes closed at last. He died, beneath the sunlight he’d yearned for most. For a moment, silence fell as everyone gazed at the old man who had died in the light.

Clap, clap, clap. A crisp applause shattered the stillness.

“My, how impressive. What a splendid performance,” Kamui said with a smile.

“Idiot! Can’t you read the mood?” Okakura Take roared, but Kamui kept smiling and continued.

“So many little sparks gathered together… You actually defeated the Night King. My long journey here was worth it. It’s been ages since I’ve seen something this entertaining.”

“But even so, I don’t think Yoshiwara will change. The darkness shrouding this place isn’t just the Night King.”

“With both the Harusame and the shogunate’s secret police casting their shadows, the darkness only grows deeper. Soon, there’ll be a second and third Night King.”

“Do you really think you can banish this darkness? Truly free Yoshiwara?” Kamui smiled.

Okakura Take thought, what a classic villain he was.

“Of course we can. When people change, the city changes, too. Even if the sun hides behind the clouds from time to time…” Gintoki smiled faintly, looking Kamui in the eye. “But the sun in their hearts will never disappear.”

As Gintoki finished, Okakura Take felt Kamui tremble with excitement behind her. She glanced back to see his smile widen.

Looks like this guy has taken an interest in the curly-haired one…

“Heh… Is that so? You seem confident. Then how about facing the second Night King… right now?” Kamui pointed his thumb at himself.

“Kamui, seriously, just drop dead already!” Okakura Take squinted at him. He always made her want to explode with rage.

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one. Moments later, a hail of bullets swept toward them.

“Kamui—!”

Kamui darted aside with Okakura Take, and in that instant, she broke free and jumped clear.

“Your real opponent is me!” Kagura burst through a wall, looking utterly furious.

“Oh?” Kamui looked surprised to see Kagura, even the ahoge on his head quivered.

Kagura… Kamui… Okakura Take repeated their names, then compared their faces—so similar! Judging by their ages, they must be siblings. No wonder she’d felt a strange familiarity the first time she met Kagura.

“I’m going to fix that twisted personality of yours!” Kagura surged forward, but Shinpachi restrained her from behind.

Shinpachi grabbed Kagura’s shoulders, struggling to hold her back. “No, Kagura! You can’t, not in your condition!”

“I’m amazed you’re still alive, brat. Looks like you’ve toughened up,” Kamui said, still smiling. Okakura Take silently praised Kagura—having a brother like this was rough.

Kamui glanced at Gintoki. “Though my sister’s a lost cause, I’ll leave her training to you. Make her stronger if you can. And you—get even stronger yourself.”

With that, Kamui turned to leave.

“Hey, wait!” Gintoki called after him.

Kamui turned back. “I’m the type who saves the best for last. That means I rather like you.”

Hearing this, Okakura Take felt a toothache; he’d said the same to her once.

“Make sure you heal your wounds. You’ll face plenty more challenges, but whatever happens, don’t die.”

“Not until… you die by my hand.”

Okakura Take’s jaw clenched tighter. Kamui was truly infuriating.

“Until we meet again, samurai.” Kamui turned to Okakura Take. “You too, Earth girl. You’re a prey I’ve always had my eye on. Bye-bye.”

With that, Kamui leapt off the rooftop and vanished.

“Kamui—stop!” Kagura shouted after him, but he was already gone.

Okakura Take silently flipped a rude gesture in Kamui’s direction. Please, let him slip on a banana peel and break his neck!

At last, it was over. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Okakura Take slumped to the ground; both arms were useless now—what a hassle.

Someone sat beside her. She looked over to see Gintoki.

“It’s nice to just sit here and watch the sun,” Gintoki said lazily.

“Yeah, basking in this sunlight makes me want to sleep,” Okakura Take replied.

“Who would’ve thought such a powerful man would be killed by something as gentle as sunlight? I guess there’s always a counter to every force—like a fierce mother who can handle a lazy son,” Gintoki mused.

“What kind of comparison is that, Gin-san? And besides, a mom can’t always deal with her son’s laziness,” Okakura Take retorted.

Meanwhile, Tsukuyo and Hinowa were making arrangements for Hosen’s body. They decided to hide him on a seaside cliff, where strong sunlight and warm ocean breezes would keep him company.

Kagura broke free from Shinpachi and dashed off to find Kamui. Shinpachi, worried, ran after her, leaving Okakura Take and Gintoki with nothing to do for the moment.

“You…” Gintoki began.

“Hmm?” Okakura Take turned, puzzled.

“You knew that guy already?” Gintoki asked.

Okakura Take’s eyes flickered. She knew he meant Kamui. “Yeah, I fought him once, but I didn’t win. Back then he was just a kid, about Kagura’s age, but already terrifyingly strong. And he’ll only get scarier with time.” She hung her head.

“I see…” Gintoki murmured. Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned and saw Okakura Take, eyes closed, breathing softly, leaning against him.

She must be exhausted.

Gintoki said nothing more, letting her rest on his shoulder as he gazed up at the sun, a relaxed smile on his face. Sunbathing really did make him sleepy…

At last, the sun had risen over Yoshiwara. As long as the flame remained, the light would never fade.

Author’s note: Second update complete! Wishing all my dear readers a happy Dragon Boat Festival. Honestly, I prefer this holiday over Mid-Autumn—it’s all about the rice dumplings.

Now, for the main event: To celebrate the festival with everyone, I’ll send red envelopes to the first fifteen who leave a comment on this chapter. I’ve checked the comment history—lurkers, come out! I’m using sweet tactics to lure you out! Thanks to Soul’s Desk Mate for throwing a landmine—mwah! You totally got me, so I’ll let you play with my chrysanthemum (hey now…).

Soul’s Desk Mate threw a landmine at 2014-05-31 08:41:53.