Chapter 123: Girls' Fight

(The soldiers look nervously at the unconscious body of Henya.)

Soldiers: No way ... one kid beat Henya...

Yahiko: All right! Two to go! (His voice gets weaker--we see a huge bleeding gash across his back.) Let's give 'em ... all we...

(He collapses.)

Kaoru: Yahiko!!

Kamatari: Like I said. You're all gonna die in the end.

(Kaoru turns from Yahiko to face down Kamatari.)

Misao: Kaoru!

Kaoru: It's okay. Yahiko isn't going to die so easily. Just watch yourself. We're up next!

Kamatari: Hmm. You seem a little different from that temperamental little girl here.

Misao: LITTLE--

Kaoru (stifling Misao): I'm not so different. It's just that when I take off my ribbons and put on my fighting gear, I'm neither a man nor a woman. I prepare myself for battle as an ordinary swordsman. Maybe you're the same.

Kamatari: Maybe so. But not in strength. There's a huge difference between Kamatari the Great Scythe of the Ten Swords and an ordinary swordsman.

Kaoru (under her breath): Misao, look at his weapon.

Misao: The scythe? What about it?

Kaoru: I'm guessing it weighs around eight kan. That would definitely put it in the class of heavy weapons. So it's got a lot of power, but it'll be used in huge swings that leave a lot of holes in his guard. If we aim there ... I'll be the bait and draw him out. You take your chance to strike at a vital spot!