MIRIKITEKI SAT ALONE IN A HICKORY TREE, not too far away from the main camp in Murasakino. She stayed motionless in complete silence for a moment, phased by her failure earlier that day. Typically, she would only take one attempt to accomplish any task. This time, however, she had underestimated her adversary and been beaten out as a consequence.

“That brat is royally screwing with my plans,” she exclaimed suddenly. “No matter what approach I try, she sees right through it. Am I just being duped? Was I being set up this whole time? Is that girl in on this? No, that’s stupid. Why would the Emperor put me here if it was just to deceive me? Then that means that she’s just that smart. She must’ve seen through my disguise almost immediately. Dammit, I can’t get to Yukan without her sniffing around like a mutt. Of course, I could just kill her, but if I do that then things get messy. Killing either one of the obstacles would result in catastrophe. I’d surely get hunted down by the others. You know what? I’ll just wait until they head back to their quarters and snag Yukan. Honestly, why didn’t I think of that first? It would’ve saved me so much of this nonsense.”

Mirikiteki then pulled out a knife and gazed upon the blade as it glistened in the moonlight. She then stabbed the knife into the branch she was sitting on, managing to plunge the knife in deep enough to stay despite the toughness of the bark.

❒︎❒︎❒︎❒︎❒︎❒︎❒︎

Yukan sat at the bar while Ite was throwing darts at the dartboard. It was rather late at night, and the tavern was otherwise completely unoccupied. Ite had not spoken a word since the fight between her and Brunnhilde and very rarely made eye contact with Yukan.

“Ite,” Yukan began, finally breaking the silence after taking a sip of cream soda, “are you alright?”

“To be honest,” Ite replied, “no.” She threw a dart, which fell on the inner 17.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he continued, “but I’m going to try my best to understand what’s eating you. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t think you’re safe here alone,” she said to him. Ite threw another dart, landing on the outer portion of the bullseye.

“Why would I be in danger?” Yukan reassured her. “Zero’s quarters are right by the barracks. His snoring would keep Kunshu from even stepping foot in this camp.” Yukan cracked a smile, but Ite continued to silently throw darts, this last one landing on a single 11. His smile went back to an expression of worry.

“It’s not about Kunshu, is it?”

“Not at all.”

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“Then that leaves Brunnhilde.”

“Yeah…”

“Ite,” Yukan returned to a reassuring position. “I would never go for someone like her.”

“Are you kidding me?” Ite continued. “I’m more worried about her killing you than whether or not she tickles your fancy. You saw how she was able to put up a good fight against me.”

This dart fell on the triple 3, adding to Ite’s frustration.

“Hardly,” Yukan replied. “It looked more like you had an obvious upper hand. I can protect myself from a field nurse.”

“She’s not a field nurse, Yukan,” Ite growled. “Don’t underestimate her. When she tried to attack me, she said she had a bounty to claim. She’s a bounty hunter. An assassin!”

“And I’m sure that I could still fend her off.”

“I think we should at least have a guard posted outside of your room.”

“That’s just overkill. I have a sword lying against my drawer at all times. I’ll be fine.”

“No, we need-”

“Okay, what is this really about? You’re acting paranoid. I’m getting worried.”

“I told you already, she’s a threat.”

“Has the war got you stressed out?”

“No, it’s not- Well, it is stressing me out, but that’s not what I mean.”

“Ite, what could ever-”

“I’ve already told you, dammit!” Ite finally yelled out. The dart she threw as she shouted missed the board completely, hitting the wall underneath. “Why is it so hard for you to realize that she’s much stronger than you’re giving her credit for? Don’t let her lighthearted demeanor trick you like she tricked me. If she were to decide to strike again, she could get you in your sleep. Did you ever think of that? Or did you think she’s going to wake you up and challenge you to a proper duel before trying to kill you. She doesn’t need you to be awake. Bounty hunters don’t give a damn about whether your death is honorable or not. You’re no better in their eyes than a wild animal is to a hunter. No, even lower. At least hunters have rules that they follow with what they kill. If Kunshu placed the bounty on you, he obviously wants you dead.”

“I know you might think that this sword is going to protect you, but at the end of the day, you’re still human. All of us here are human. All of us are at risk if we were to be attacked in the night. We sleep, wondering if we will be able to fall asleep tomorrow, or if we’ll be laid to an eternal rest. I thought you would understand that, being in this war yourself, but you’re starting to let the power that sword gives you go to your head. But if I can make sure that you don’t get hurt, I’m going to do what I can, because I love you, Yukan. Is all of this that hard to comprehend?”

Yukan sat in stunned silence as Ite sat down at the bar with him for a moment. The two did not move for a good while, until Yukan held Ite in a hug, trying to ease her nerves.

“Alright,” Yukan finally said. “I yield. I’ll ask Zero if he can post a guard outside of my door.”

“Thanks, Yu,” Ite sighed in relief.

“I think we should head back then,” Yukan continued. “You know, you’ll always be my number one, Ite.”

“I know,” Ite replied as they left the tavern for their barracks, “and I’m happy about that.”