foxhounds | night six

[ There's a slight moment of relief. His shoulders become lax for now- he glances towards Yamatonokami on the jungle floor. A gesture to make sure Kasen looks at it. ]

That woman with the haori, [ Pearl. ] the one that was given to her by Yasusada. Give her that sword too. Of course, that's only if you manage to kill me.

... Also to tell her sorry for everything. [ Damn... He feels kind of awful, honestly. ]

Accept those terms, and I'll accept your duel.

[ And now, he finally gets into position. Grasping the hilt of Horikawa firmly, and feet planted firmly into the ground. His heart is already starting to beat a bit faster- not really expecting someone to actually find him at night to kill... Since well! That was Hijikata's job actually! Eyes glancing to each side, he's already preparing which way to move if Kasen does take the first strike. ]

[ Kasen's expression shows surprise briefly, but it also turns into a small, fonder smile. He nods to accept, but he does have to comment with a sort of gentle laugh in his voice. ]

She really has done quite a bit to earn the respect of those who follow the sword, hasn't she? [ He's impressed, in a way, but he follows smoothly. ] I accept. By the same measure, if you kill me, I only ask that you make sure that the vessels make it into Urashima's hands.

[ There's no apology, no softer words said. Kasen looks like he might want to say something, but ultimately, he doesn't. He lifts his sword higher into a position to attack, and the gentle smile disappears, and the elegance slips out of his tone as well. His voice and way of speaking gets rougher, truly far more fitting to a warrior rather than how he appears during the day. ]

So, come. To the very last, I'll make you pay for taking Horikawa's life.

[ He doesn't accept verbally, only nods. Although, hearing Horikawa's name from Kasen's own lips, makes Hijikata furrow his eyebrows. He feels a sense of guilt rush through him, but no... No, he can't let that get to him now since he does have a duty right now.

And Kasen is standing in the way. ]

Before you speak so confidently- you should prepare yourself. [ He takes off on his feet, attempting a first strike. It's definitely a head-on attack, without hesitation in his stance.

He'll lift his weapon up higher, preparing his strike- most common to the Tennen Rishin-ryu, he actually aims for Kasen's own sword knocking his own blade against it. He prepares to step back then go on for an opening depending on Kasen's next move. ]

[ Steel crashes against steel, and Kasen bears down with a serious, wild-eyed expression immediately. For all his grace and seemingly unassuming nature most of the time, he's not only a sword, but a sword drenched in blood down to his very name. He's not a sword of decoration or ceremony, but one that belonged to a daimyo of a truly ferocious temper.

Though it would be hard to guess at times, Kasen inherited that viciousness.

His grip holds strong, but as Hijikata waits for Kasen's move, there's no hesitation in giving it. His sword is turned in his hands, and with a grace of an old samurai that would have been more like myth by the time Hijikata lived, he swings his blade forward in a wide arc. He wants to push Hijikata back, because once he has the room to maneuver, Kasen moves. He takes quick steps back, to circle, though he fully expects that they'll both be trying to keep each other attacking head-on rather than to the side. Still, if there's even a moment's opening again as Kasen runs to flank him, that sword will swing out towards Hijikata's neck. ]

[ Usually, with his style there would be an immediate block... But the wide arc wasn't as expected. Almost out of fear, and instinct instead Hijikata steps back. Though, he feels his sandals step and slip all over roots of the tree he's been sitting by earlier. Shit... He really needs to not get backed into a corner at this rate.

He almost tries to match Kasen's steps. Eyes glancing at his feet, and also hands several times. Observing... Watching... What's going to be his next move, he wonders. He's quite aware that Kasen's fighting style isn't going to be one he's use to, he might actually be at a disadvantage for once.

Instantly, at Kasen's next dash- Hijikata turns on his heel, knocking his steel against Kasen's once more. To parry, he pushes his sword against Kasen's with a great force to knock him back. Shortening the distance between their bodies, he ducks in to actually knock his elbow against Kasen's chest.

With a lunge his next move will be a horizontal motion with his sword, against Kasen's side. ]

[ Where Hijikata realizes that he might have a disadvantage, Kasen realizes that he may have an advantage.

It's not the same, since of course it couldn't be, but there's familarity in Hijikata's swordplay. Kasen spars with both Horikawa and Kanesan frequently, since they're both simply swords he enjoys testing his skill against. As such, he sees gestures that are familiar to them, since they'd of course picked up their old master's ways. Kasen laughs when he realizes it, though it's a harsh sound. It's also cut off by that elbow coming to his chest to wind him, but he feels like he knows what's coming next.

He turns his sword sharply down instead, and his blade catches that horizontal swipe as if he had been expecting it. Just like Horikawa's tactics. He can see it clearly, just as Horikawa would be able to see his own unique signatures in his movements. ]

So this—

[ He starts, but it's half barked out as Kasen turns the blade to sweep again, but with a fluid and elegant motion, he runs forward to push Hijikata back. He's meaning to catch their blades, because Kasen is putting all his strength into just making Hijikata move, because inevitably, he'll stumble. With their faces close, he continues to speak, though his smile is more wild an excited. ]

—Is the Shinsengumi? I can see where the renown comes from!

[ He shoves once Hijikata steps to close to a bit of ground that Kasen thinks will throw him off balance. He's strong, despite his looks, and he's aiming to use that to his advantage. ]

[ A 'tch' leaves his lips, out of frustration, when his blows keep getting blocked. Hijikata can see it in Kasen's expression- his expression... It's definitely making an uneasy feeling boil up within him. It's like he knows he can win this.

This distance between shortened, seeing that face just a few inches from his own he can feel all his fears begin to surface. It sends a tremble through his entire body, but he still continues to wield Horikawa with a firm grip. It's not even the fear of death, or pain, he's fully accepted that might happen. A warrior is always prepared for death, but... Even though he wouldn't mind dying on a battlefield, fighting for a cause it's different now: He was afraid of not being able to fulfill the promises he's made.

Kasen's plans are definitely well thought out. With his style there's always a lot of distance, then rushing in for several strikes, and then backing away. It's the same pattern, but effective... Except maybe not in this case. He's always fought in open fields, able to see the horizon, and everyone around him- it's different, being surrounded by trees and the darkness of the jungle.

When shoved, his eyes widen and naturally he steps back, of course, trying to get that distance to strike once more. However, his feet slide back, another root catches him by surprise this and his balance is completely thrown off. He... He really only has one chance at this does he-

Hijikata takes the chance to lunge forward, despite knowing he won't be able to land on his feet after this. He extends the hand that holds Horikawa, attempting to maybe at least thrust the sword into Kasen's torso somewhere. Even so, if he misses he'll fall onto the ground on all fours (mostly?). If he lands it, on his knees. Even so he won't be able to react fast to Kasen's next move, but if he could just get that one strike in. He can at least injure the sword. ]

[ The setting works to his advantage, though Kasen is really no more familiar with it than Hijikata. It's only luck working against him, but Kasen would argue that's always the case. It's the way of a battle that only luck would decide who lives and who dies.

Though of course, skill certainly helps. As Hijikata's balance is thrown off, Kasen immediately twists to the side, since he anticipates a desperate stab coming towards him, and so luck is on Kasen's side. Horikawa tears into his billowing cape to shred it, and even from there into Kasen's shoulder, which he winces at. It's not a deep cut, but it's something.

Yet it's not enough.

The momentum of Kasen twisting to the side leads him with a graceful fluidity into his next strike, because as he pivots on his heel, so too does his grip on his sword. The wound bleeds and hurts, but he's focused, and so as Hijikata falls forward, Kasen turns. The blade comes down smoothly, and it makes a deep slice into Hijikata's back. It's not a fatal injury, but it's crippling. ]

[ When the sword slices into Hijikata's back he takes in a sharp breath, about to emit a scream he chokes on it instead. Beginning to immediately scramble to get a grip on Horikawa, and trying to stand up again, even though his movements were rather ungraceful and almost desperate. The only thing that rushes through him is the adrenaline and the thought: 'I have to live, I have to live, I have to-. He can't hesitate or Kasen would have him right in the palm of his own hand. He has to keep moving if he wants to to avoid anymore injuries.

At least he manages to get on his feet again, although every breath is beginning to strain. He glances at Kasen quick, then his surroundings. They both managed to injure each other... It's not enough... Ah, damn.

Hijikata will take another head on approach. First aiming to strike again on the side he injured earlier, he suddenly shifts his weight of his stance (albeit a tad messily), and feints. He'll attempt two strikes this time, a vertical aimed at his shoulder then a horizontal to his side. ]

[ Kasen's blade turns in his hand deftly as soon as his blade leaves Hijikata's back. He turns it so that he can stab instead of slice, because he's not one to play with his enemies, because he's not the sort of sword that delights in sadism. If he lands his hits, they'll not to be trifled with, because Kasen's strikes were more often mortal wounds than not.

As such, Hijikata barely misses a stab that would have gone through his neck as he stands, though that moment they both need to recover prevents either of them from taking another attack. Kasen reorients his blade, and it's as Hijikata shifts his weight, Kasen shifts his as well. ]

Perish—!!

[ As soon as Hijikata comes forward, Kasen bears down. The first strike, Kasen manages to narrowly avoid though it too cuts into his cape, but his blade drops to be level with Hijikata's stomach. With the second, Kasen pushes forward in a quick thrust of his sword, because he bears down to draw Hijikata closer. Horikawa cuts into his side, but Kasen shoves his blade through Hijikata's stomach, the pulls quickly to the side. ]

[ In that instant, that final blow it felt as if everything began to slow down. His breath hitches, and feels most of his strength waning. The grip he held onto Horikawa ever so tightly weakened, dropped the sword onto the ground.

So this is how it ends; is all what Hijikata can think. If only he could just go a bit further, it wouldn't be like this. He only has a few minutes anyway before he bleeds out, it's not as if he could do much. ]

Ah.

So this is what... Death feels like... [ In between strained breaths, is the last words he can say: the last words that rushed through his mind.

His body burned, his head felt tense. He felt about all the things he wasn't able to accomplish, everything he said, everything he's done. It wasn't enough. Though... He suddenly felt strangely comfortable. Finally being able to die, on a battlefield no less. Soon it'll all be over, at least.

One more inhale, then exhale. It's close. He can say one more thing, one more thing he regrets: ] I’m sorry... I promised that I’d definitely return.

[ With tears rolling down his own cheeks, thinking of those shattered promises; he finally slumps over. Breaths becoming shallower with every intake. ]

[ Horikawa cuts into his side and Kasen winces, but at the very least, his own blow makes sure that it's not too deep. On one hand, he thinks he'll have to hope they don't do those strip searches again tomorrow, but on the other... He doesn't care. He's innocent, and he'll admit to the deaths he's delivering, because lynching him would be a waste.

But as Hijikata weakens, Kasen doesn't pull his sword away or move at all. It's respect, mostly, because he can tell that there's no more fight here. He'll die quickly enough, since his own skill will make that a certainty. Normally, he would step forward to allow Hijikata to slump against him, but that is unfortunately something he can't allow. The blood drips onto the ground instead of Kasen, since he's careful to keep that distance to avoid the blood staining his own clothes too deeply to hide.

Though as Hijikata speaks, Kasen's eyes do turn down. The fire in his chest that comes from a fight for someone's life lessens, because the retribution he sought has been delivered. He's not sure if Horikawa is truly avenged, but it's something, and so as Hijikata speaks his dying words, Kasen gives his own that are the sort he thinks any swordsman would want to hear. ]

You fought well. Thank you for giving me the honor.

[ As Hijikata slumps forward, Kasen takes his step back to avoid it. He pulls the sword out, and with a sharp arc and toss of his arm, he withdraws it sharply enough for blood to splatter in an arc against the ground. He takes a step back to look at Hijikata when he falls, but he keeps his sword drawn.

After all, if he's still breathing, then Kasen will deliver him a merciful end. That too is the least he can do, he feels. ]

night six - kill log.

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you wanted to seppuku the whole game so i'm here for u

UGH THANKS FOR MY DEATH WISH IM SO HAPPY FINALLY

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