The Red Hand

Chapter 33 – Face to Face with the Hero.

After a simultaneously embarrassing and serious conversation about Akagi and Yumi's relationship, the group sat down and had Akagi help them with their world history review. Even with all of her intelligence, for some reason, Kana struggled with History while Akagi excelled in it. It was the only place, academically speaking, that Akagi had an edge over her sister.

"Ugh...." Mika put her head on the table. "Too many dates, too many names....." Mika was already a lazy student so trying to get her to memorize historical facts was difficult. Currently, they were reviewing European history during the nineteenth century. The different wars, important leaders, and treaties were bouncing off their heads like rubber.

"I don't get how you find this interesting Onee-chan," Kana complained. "It's just boring wars and stuffy old people talking about war..." Kana really didn't like history.

"Boring!" Akagi exclaimed. "The post-Napoleon Era was anything but boring, Kana. The entire era was a balancing act between the major powers, each trying to one-up their rivals while holding back just enough so that they wouldn't plunge the continent into another massive war." Akagi continued, though the girls were not really interested in her rant. "How can you tell me that the political genius of Lord Salisbury, Otto von Bismark, or Klemens von Metternich isn't fascinating to read? And you can't tell me that the tragic decline of  Lord Castlereagh isn't gripping!”

The girls had no idea who she was referencing and were looking at her like she had three heads.

"Onee-chan, I will never understand how you can have such fun reading about history." she rubbed her temples.

"Yeah, my family is historically important, and I couldn't care less," Naomi added with a wry smile.

Akagi shook her head. "Kids these days...."

"You're not much older than us!" the three girls retorted.

After taking a small break, Akagi continued to help the girls study, and while they weren't enthusiastic about the subject, Akagi tried to make it as interesting as possible. The review session continued until noon, Hishya was suppose to arrive around one, and Akagi figured the girls should break for lunch. Kana helped Yumi in the kitchen, and together they prepared a light lunch for everyone. While they were eating, Akagi got a message from Hishya which told her she would be at the estate in a few minutes.

"I'm going to wait outside," Akagi said while wiping her mouth. "Hishya should be here soon, and I imagine we have much to talk about." the girls were planning on continuing their study session after lunch.

As she got up, Akagi looked at Kana. "Could you come with me for a second; I forgot to show you something yesterday because we were so busy; it won't take more than a minute." She motioned for Kana to follow her; the look in her eye told Kana that this was much more important than she was saying.

Kana followed her sister out into the courtyard, she didn't know what she wanted to talk about, but she doubted it was pleasant.

"Onee-chan, what's up?" She asked. "You worded it so that Mika and Naomi wouldn't get suspicious, so what did you need to tell me that they shouldn't hear?" Yumi was busy elsewhere, so she was unable to provide the private telepathic connection Akagi usually used.

Akagi looked at her sister. "I take it you haven't told Mika the truth yet?" she asked Kana.

"Ah..." Kana looked away. "No, I haven't. It's been hard to find the perfect time and place to do that." she fidgeted slightly. Telling her friend that her brother was doing such horrible acts in FWO and that Akagi had killed him was a tall order.

"Yeah, I figured..." Akagi sighed. "Well, we're going to rip that band-aid off today." Kana's flinched when she heard that. "Hishya already agreed to sit down with me and have that conversation with Mika. I figure that if she confirms the story, that might make things easier." Mika loved her brother very much, and his death left a major impact on the usually cheery girl.

"Are you going to tell her that... you... you know." Kana stuttered.

"That's still up to you," Akagi said. "You have until Hishya and I are finished talking to decide. Either way, you will be sitting in on this conversation no matter what; she's your friend after all." Akagi had come to like the energetic girl and had begun to view her as a friend, but she couldn't just let Kana sidestep this topic. Doing so could result in irreparable damage to the girls' friendship, and Akagi wanted to avoid that.

"Ok," Kana answered quietly before turning around and heading back inside.

"Sometimes she shows maturity well beyond her years; other times she can act her age." Akagi shook her head. "Like it or not, this conversation has to happen; it's for the best."

Akagi wasn't sure how Hishya was going to arrive at the estate and so decided to wait in front of the main entrance which overlooked the parking lot below. It was quiet in the mountains, and any approaching car would be heard long before it was seen. However, Hishya did not approach by car, or by land at all, instead around ten minutes later Akagi spotted a small figure gliding over the treetops with its small wings.

Akagi laughed. "I guess that makes sense; way more efficient to just fly."

It only took another minute before Hishya's flying form was in front of Akagi. She hovered in the air above her for a few seconds before slowly landing and retracting her wings.

"Well, isn't that a convenient ability?" Akagi chuckled. "I don't recall you being able to fly like that in FWO." Flight was quite a unique and rare skill in-game.

"I couldn't." Hishya retracted the rest of her dragon addons. "It's one of the many things that changed from when we were in the game." she sighed. "But, in this case, I think I like it. Being able to fly is really fun."

"I'm just glad to see you up and moving around." Akagi turned towards the main entrance. "Shall we?" she asked as she started walking.

Hishya took a few moments to psych herself up before following close behind her.

"Wow, you weren't kidding this place really isn't just a house; it's like its own village in here!" Hishya marveled at the sight of the estate's interior. Being from Tokyo, she had only seen the more traditional buildings in photographs online. "I have to say, this place really suits you." she chuckled. "A Yokai assassin living in a mountain compound that's right out of the Edo period. What more could you ask for?" Hishya seemed to be enjoying herself.

{Well, she doesn't seem to be afraid of me. If anything, she appears more... relaxed for some reason? Is it because she isn't trying to keep up the whole hero facade? I have no idea what's going through this girl's head.} Akagi groaned internally as she tried to understand just what was going on with Hishya. She thought she had this girl down to a science, but her attitude now was throwing her off completely.

Akagi figured she would get her answers soon enough, and so decided to push these thoughts to the side. The two strolled through the garden as Akagi explained the history of the estate. They talked about the different flowers, chatted about what Hishya was doing now that she could move, and, at one point, Hishya even tried to catch one of the fish in the pond.

However, this wasn't just some friendly conversation; it was a game. One with the highest of stakes. The two girls were feeling each other out and trying to determine just how to approach one another. A slip-up or a mistake could result in disaster, and the air around the two women felt heavy, almost as if a fight could break out at any moment. This type of linguistic warfare was something the two learned from Imperial Nobles. Whether it was disguising one's disdain for another noble as praise or using seemingly mundane conversations to pass along critical information; Imperial Nobles were masters of linguistic deception.

It was telling that these two "friends" used such deceitful tactics on each other, but it made sense. Neither could be absolutely sure of the other's intentions, and both assumed the worst about each other. Akagi was skeptical about Hishya's sudden change in character and was concerned that she might actually be an enemy. Meanwhile, Hishya tried to discern if she could trust Akagi.

After some time, the two women seemed satisfied with the information they reached gathered and they took a seat on a blanket in the garden. Akagi took out and lit a Kiseru for Hishya, which she gratefully accepted. The two women sat together and smoked in complete silence before Akagi said.

"So," Akagi looked at Hishya. "If what you are looking for is essentially a non-aggression pact. I think that would work for me." She let out a puff of smoke. "I have no interest in fighting you, and you want to live your life in peace, so it benefits us both." Their little dance had allowed Akagi to figure out Hishya's true intentions.

Hishya held the pipe in her mouth. "Ever since I found out that my M.D. was cured, all I've cared about is taking advantage of the second life that I was granted." she gave a small smile. "Being the hero, making everyone love me, adore me, need me. All of that just..... stopped mattering." she let out a puff of her own.

"It's funny, all those years, the only thing I cared about was getting attention from others. Probably because I knew I wouldn't be around long; so I wanted people to remember me." she took a hit.

"Makes sense," Akagi looked at her. "Being trapped in a hospital room and told you'll be dead before thirty has to have some effects on one's mind." Akagi had dealt with her own mental health issues, so she could relate.

Hishya let out a puff of smoke. "Do you remember, the first time we met?"

"Of course I do. I kicked your ass in that Mecha Warrior tournament. You were so angry." Akagi chuckled.

"Yeah, and from then on, I've always tried to one-up you where ever I could." Hishya smiled. "You always pushed me to be better, even in FWO."

"Somebody had to light a fire under you," Akagi commented. "Can't have my rival resting on her laurels; that would be boring."

"Rival..." Hishya thought about that word. "Do you still consider me one?" She asked.

Akagi took a moment to answer. "I'll answer your question; with a question of my own." Akagi's eyes started to glow, and her form began to melt into a black shadow. "Are you afraid of me?" The black form turned toward Hishya. "Is the only thing you feel when you look at me...... fear?" her voice distorted slightly.

Hishya looked at the horrifying black shadow sitting next to her. "I am afraid of you. I've been afraid of you for all these years, Akagi." Her face showed she wasn't lying. "But..... when I look at you, I also see someone I want to beat. Maybe it's just me trying to conquer that fear, but...... I want to beat you..... even if..... no... because I'm afraid of you." She was resolute in her declaration. "Because I'm afraid of you; I want to get strong enough to beat you, strong enough that I don't have to be afraid anymore." she let out a nervous laugh.

"That's good to hear." Akagi took on her usual shape. "If you could only fear me, you could never be my rival."

Silence returned, and for almost ten minutes, neither of them spoke. The wind blew through the trees, and the sound of wind chimes could be heard from the garden.

"That night, in Hassan," Hishya spoke up. "Why didn't you kill me? Why did you let me live?" She had come prepared to end Akagi's life, so she always thought it strange that she was spared.

"Why indeed." Akagi laughed with the pipe in her mouth. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe because it was just an absurd ending to our battle, maybe it's because, deep down, I didn't really want to kill you; I honestly can't say." Akagi had always chalked it up to a whim, but now she wasn't so sure. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad I didn't. I would have lost a good friend and an even better rival. Plus, this new world I've found myself in would be much more boring without you."

"That it would." The meeting between Hero and Assassin turned into a meeting between friends. Friends, who rediscovered a rivalry they both thought lost forever.

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