Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,93
was hard to say. “I would ask you to take that back.”
The ronin’s glare morphed into a smirk. “Why should I?”
“Because honor demands that I challenge you to a duel for such an insult, or that I cut you down right here. And I have no desire to do either. So please…” Daisuke still didn’t turn, but his eyes fluttered shut. “Retract your statement. Apologize, so that we can forget this and move on.”
“Oh? Am I not duel-worthy, then?” Okame stepped forward, his sneer defiant. “I’m not the Kage demonslayer, I wouldn’t be much of a challenge. Or is it because I’m ronin? Don’t want to waste your skills on the unworthy, is that it?”
“I don’t want to kill you, Okame-san!” Daisuke finally spun, glaring at the ronin, though his expression was conflicted. “How many times must I say it before you believe me—I care not that you are ronin, that you are no longer samurai. You are a brave warrior. I have watched you stand with us against monsters, demons, assassins and vengeful ghosts. You have become a brother in arms, and I consider you a worthy friend. I do not wish to challenge you, because I far prefer you alive, but…” He sighed, briefly closing his eyes, as if pained. “I will not deny you a duel. I will give you an honorable death, if that is what you desire.”
“You once challenged Kage-san to a duel,” Okame said, making Daisuke frown in confusion. Reika, too, furrowed her brow, uncertain where the ronin was going with this. “Remember that? It was to be your greatest duel ever, the one that would test your skills to the limit.”
“Yes,” Daisuke said slowly. “I remember. But, even before my own desires, my duty to the empire comes first. I truly regret that I might never cross blades with Kage Tatsumi.”
“So, answer me this, noble, and answer truthfully.” Okame took a step forward, staring the noble down. “Do you think I would have any chance against Kage Tatsumi if I challenged him on that bridge?”
Startled, Daisuke frowned at the ronin, pure puzzlement crossing his features. “If…you were to duel Kage-san?” he repeated.
“Yeah.” Okame crossed his arms. “If I stood in Kage Tatsumi’s way and demanded he fight me on the bridge, what do you think would happen?”
“Okame-san…” Daisuke paused, as if gathering his thoughts. “You are…a passionate warrior,” he began. “And your skill with a bow is such that I have never seen before.”
“Oh, stop with the mincing around, peacock.” Okame snorted, shaking his head. “We both know the answer. He would destroy me. If I challenged Kage Tatsumi on that bridge, I wouldn’t even have time to blink before my head would be in the river.”
Daisuke frowned, but he didn’t deny it. Striding forward, Okame came within a few feet of the Taiyo noble and leaned in, his gaze intense. His voice was low as he growled, “So what makes you think I’ll be able to protect Yumeko-chan when we face Hakaimono?”
Daisuke stepped back, eyes widening. Okame didn’t move, continuing to glare at the noble with hard black eyes. “You’ve seen the demonslayer fight,” he went on, his voice grim. “I wouldn’t stand a chance. Without Tatsumi, you’re our sword, Taiyo-san. You are the only one who can maybe go toe-to-toe with the Kage demonslayer and not be sliced to pieces in the first pass. I can stand a hundred yards away and annoy him with arrows for a little while, but once he closes the distance…I’m dead. And then Yumeko-chan, Reika and the priest will be left to face Hakaimono…alone.”
“Do not dismiss us so casually, ronin,” Reika broke in, sounding annoyed. “We are not entirely defenseless. Chu and Ko will fight to the death, and Master Jiro and I have the power of the kami at our fingertips. Even against a demon like Hakaimono, we would give him a fight to remember.”
“I know,” Okame said without glancing at her. His gaze was still riveted to Daisuke, who hadn’t looked away, either. “I know we would all fight very hard, and that we’re all ready to give our lives to stop the demonslayer. But from what I’ve heard of Hakaimono, it’s going to take each and every one of us working together to have any hope of bringing him down. Taiyo-san, if you leave now…” Okame paused, thinking, then shook his head. “I can’t see us winning. I’m not the type of warrior who can stand against an oni of that power.