Let it Burn!

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saitou-5042874-8I look out towards the street, there’s an eeriness that can only be attributed to the silence of a lifeless Yoshiwara. The various teahouses and brothels are closed and their windows shuttered. I can’t see a single soul except us under this moonless night. That’s good. That’s what we need. The lights illuminating nothing but deserted streets and as I look down the end of the ageya-machi, I see the police are still there at the frays just standing by their barricades.
I go back inside where Imai and his most disloyal subjects remain. They start piling out of the building barely a 100 remain and I wonder did they notice their number significantly dwindled this afternoon? Imai grins at me as the last one leaves the hall.

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One thought on “Let it Burn!”

  1. We get through the fighting, to the back of the teahouse where a horse drawn carriage was waiting. But we found it surrounded by the Yakuza while Imai and a few other of his samurai try fending them off.
    “Stand back.” I push Aioi towards some of the crates, “Don’t come out -until- I call you.”
    Unsheathing my nippontou, I charge at them. “Kyaa!!!” I shout and bring my katana down one man after another making my way to the horses.
    “Saitou!” Imai cheers as I clear through a path straight to him. Bodies fall to my blade and their blood splatter on my kimono and face. “Glad you got here.”
    “Sorry I’m late.” I take a deep breath. I don’t know how many surrounds us. I can’t see through the dark and smoke.
    “All you men! Get behind Saitou!” He motions at me like I’m his dog and for now I am.
    “Men! Protect the horses, surround the carriage.” I shout while fending off hands, arms, legs and cutting off heads and stepping on bodies.
    One of the yakuza manages to take the horse’s bridle and I stab him. More of them come and I let go of the bridle and throw it to the next person. “Make sure you don’t let go. I’ll be right back. I need to get Imai’s woman.”
    He nods and just like earlier, I make like a demon and cut a path, going through bodies and slicing them like it was paper. How many have fallen? I don’t know but I see a clearing and I shout.
    “Aioi! Run!”
    She takes off her sandals and runs as fast as she could. I finally caught her hand and make our way back through the smoke, using my blade as a shield from the wild swings that seem to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
    Finally, I catch the latch of the carriage and open it. Imai’s already inside.
    “Imai-sama! Take her in my place.” I tell him, “In exchange I’ll make sure to defend your escape route.”
    He looks at me for a moment, narrowing his eyes but he does help Aioi inside. “Saitou, I’ll send for you when this is over.”
    I nod, breathing a sigh of relief and go to the front where the man I had asked is gripping the bridle tightly. I motion him to let go and climb up. “Just drive!” I shout to him and they get to a gallop.
    “Hey they’re getting away.” Came shouts behind us.
    “Get in line, form a human barricade!” I shout at our few remaining men. “They’ll have to get through -us- first.”
    I throw one more look at the escaping carriage. There should be another horseman following it from the police but I can’t see it. Well there’s still -her- as insurance.
    “Feh, pay attention to the person you’re fighting!”
    I smirk and raise my sword, “Sorry but don’t be in a hurry to die.” I lunge at him.

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