Chapter 40 Part 1: Acceptance

Namida reveled in her triumph, a sinister grin playing on her lips as she danced gracefully beside the bound Kazuki and the unconscious Obanai. Her slender figure moved with lethal precision, her every spin sending her chain sickle whirling through the air like a deadly extension of her own body.

"Isn't it wonderful?" she whispered to Kazuki, her voice dripping with cruel delight. "You, the mighty wanted samurai, now at my mercy."

The moment, however, was broken by a mundane task. Namida halted her dance and turned to one of her kunoichi. "Dispatch a letter to Lord Kuroyama," she commanded, her voice taking on an authoritative tone. "Tell him that I, Namida, have captured both Kazuki and Obanai before that useless Kaze could even lay a hand on them."

Her eyes gleamed with smug assurance as she imagined the gravity of the message reaching Lord Kuroyama.

She couldn't help but wonder if this would be the moment he finally acknowledged her efforts, the moment he would look upon her with pride. Unable to contain her excitement, she blushed and let out a scream of anticipation, her face alight with a huge smile.

"Imagine his face when he hears the news!" she exclaimed. "He will finally say it, 'I'm proud of you, Namida'." she voiced, attempting to mimic Kuroyama's tone.

The atmosphere was heavy with tension, a palpable energy that seemed to vibrate through the very walls of the temple. It was clear that Namida's victory over the warriors had shifted the balance of power, and everyone present could feel it.

"See to it that the message is sent immediately," Namida ordered, her voice firm. "There's not a moment to waste."

As the kunoichi scurried off to fulfill her command, Namida resumed her sinister dance, her eyes locked on her captives. It was a sight that would haunt their memories, a cruel reminder of their defeat at the hands of the merciless Namida.

But then, the air around them changed. A horrifying sound began to envelope. With everyone clustered directly outside the temple entrance the eerie sound was indeed originating from Kazuki. Namida looked at him with confusion as she says to herself "Is...he laughing...at me?!"

Each chuckle seemed deranged, out of sync with the gravity of their situation, painting a surreal portrait of danger and madness.

"Excuse me?" Namida said, her previously radiant face now a mask of stern incredulity. "What's so amusing?"

Kazuki's laughter persisted, his eyes gleaming with an eerie light, as if he held a secret that only he knew. It was maddening, infuriating, and it sent Namida's thoughts into a whirlwind of confusion and anger.

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"Should we cut his tongue to shut him up?" one of the kunoichi asked, her voice filled with cold disdain. But Namida shook her head, her gaze never leaving Kazuki's face.

"No," she said, her words laced with venom. "I need to know first what's so funny."

The atmosphere outside the temple teetered on a knife's edge, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Yet, amidst it all, Kazuki continued to laugh, each chuckle a slap to Namida's pride. She clenched her chain sickle, her nails digging into her palms in frustration.

Obanai, meanwhile, slowly emerged from the clutches of unconsciousness. His senses were muddled, and his limbs felt heavy as if they were weighed down by invisible chains. As he groggily opened his eyes, the sting of coarse ropes digging into his flesh became apparent, causing him to wince in pain.

His vision was blurred at first, but it gradually focused on the disturbing scene before him—Kazuki laughing manically while Namida seethed with rage.

"Speak!" Namida demanded again, her voice echoing throughout the exterior of the temple.

"Let's just say," Kazuki repeated, his sinister grin unwavering, "that your belief in having captured me is... a grave mistake."

The words seemed to hang in the air, thick with tension and unspoken threats. Obanai's confusion only grew as he attempted to decipher the meaning behind Kazuki's cryptic statement.

Suddenly, a swift and brutal kick from Namida sent both Obanai and Kazuki hurtling towards the exterior temple garden. It was a testament to Namida's impressive power, fueled by an anger that burned like wildfire. Their painful flight came to an abrupt halt as they crashed into the soft earth, their bodies bruised and battered.

The exterior temple garden was almost jarring—a juxtaposition of chaos and calm. Sunlight dappled the lush foliage, casting patterns of light and shadow on the ground. The sweet scent of flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the bitter taste of defeat that lingered on Obanai's tongue.

As they lay there among the vibrant flora, Kazuki's laughter persisted, a haunting reminder of Namida's growing vexation. Obanai couldn't help but wonder what had led to this moment and how it would all unfold.

"Tell me, Kazuki," Namida hissed, her voice barely audible over the sound of rustling leaves. "What is your secret? What makes you so confident in the face of defeat?"

Kazuki's smile never wavered as he looked up at her, his eyes filled with an unshakable conviction.

"Defeat?" Kazuki said, his laughter subsiding for a moment. "What defeat are you talking about?" The huge, sinister grin returned to his face, unnerving Obanai and Namida alike.

"Cease this madness Kazuki! I hate to admit it, but Namida has won; she's simply too powerful!" Obanai snapped, his patience worn thin. "Accept your loss and be done with it!"

Namida eyed Kazuki warily, her mind racing as she attempted to make sense of the situation. It was then that she noticed the subtle shadows dancing in the corners of his eyes, a sign that he was under the influence of the shadow deity, Tsukiyomi.

"You've lost your mind," she said, grabbing his face tightly, her fingers digging into his cheeks. "You're no longer in control of yourself. You let the deity manipulate your mind. What utter foolishness."

But Kazuki just laughed even more hysterically, as if he found her words amusing rather than concerning. His laughter echoed throughout the garden, each chuckle like a slap to Namida's pride