Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

Kita put out his arm, stopping him from coming too close. He peered up one way, the other, then with a nod, dropped his arm and stepped out to the street.
    Jonathon followed, doing his best to keep his head lowered so as to hide his face, but sounds of revelry broke his willpower. He looked up as a samurai passed by, a large bottle slung over his shoulder with his finger looped through a straw rope around the neck. From the way the samurai wavered with each step, Jonathon felt it was a good guess to say the bottle held sake , rice wine, which he'd tasted for the first time the night before with Kazuhiro.
    Raucous laughter came from the teahouses, which sold more sake than tea at this hour. The scents of noodles and fried vegetables drifted out the doorways. As they passed one doorway, the curtain pushed aside, Jonathon's gaze was drawn in by the sound of delicate music. On a small stage, a beautiful woman, her face white with rice powder, her lips deep crimson, danced with two brightly colored fans, while another woman worked the strings of a samisen.
    They came upon yet another building, where women sat in a large window behind wooden bars. The kimono fell off the shoulder of one woman. The red paint on another's bottom lip was smeared down to her chin. One more had a purple bruise around her eye. They all looked tired and haggard. One called out to Kita in a lifeless voice, offering her services.
    Jonathon's heart went out to the women. Keeping his voice hushed, he said, "I thought geishas were supposed to be elegant and respected."
    "Those are not geishas. Just common whores. And I told you to keep your head down."
    Jonathon dropped his head…and ran into Kita's back. "If I'm to keep my head down, you can't stop without warning."
    Kita replied in a harsh whisper, "Lord Takezaki."
    Jonathon snapped his head up, peering over Kita's shoulder. Kazuhiro and five of his samurai stood outside an opulent teahouse. Their gazes were focused up the street, where a band of six loud and laughing samurai were coming out of a brothel.
    Kazuhiro and his men started toward them. Kita jumped into a quick walk as if to catch up. Jonathon moved with equal speed.
    As they two groups met, Kazuhiro moved into the path of one swaying samurai, allowing the other to bump into him. He spun, shoving the man back, shouting about the offense. The samurai yelled back. One in the group pushed another. Chaos began to break out in a matter of a few heartbeats. The sound of swords sliding free filled the night. Steel shone in the moonlight.
    Kita broke into a full run. Jonathon surged past him, his gaze locked on Kazuhiro.
    Kazuhiro snapped his sword up, blocking a strike from the offending samurai. The samurai swung his sword around to attack Kazuhiro's other side. Kazuhiro twisted and blocked again. One of Kazuhiro's men cried out, crumpling to the ground with his hand over his abdomen, blood already covering it. The samurai who'd brought him down spun toward Kazuhiro, lunging at his back.
    "Kazuhiro! Behind you!" Jonathon shouted.
    Kazuhiro whipped around at the sound of Jonathon's voice, the movement saving him from getting a sword in his back, but the attacker's blade sliced across the top of his left arm. He leaped back. Kazuhiro's thoughts raced too fast, too strong, for him to notice the pain. Jonathon-san. He couldn't be here. But the voice…
    Kazuhiro's reflexes reacted faster than his mind, his arms rising to save him from another strike. His mind fell back into the battle. All thoughts gone save for those of the fight. In an instant, he saw both his opponents closing in on him. His men were held back with their own enemies, fighting hard. He would have to defeat the two samurai on his own.
    Both rushed him. Kazuhiro swept to the side, avoiding the sword of one, knocking aside the sword of the other with his blade. The action of stopping one, gave the second the little time needed to make another attack. In a flash through his mind, Kazuhiro saw there was no way to win. They were fast, skilled, and though individually he could defeat them, together they were using each other as a distraction to create openings.
    The first samurai came at him. Kazuhiro leaped to meet him, knowing it would leave his back exposed. But if he was to die, he would take one of them with him.
    Kazuhiro caught his opponent's sword with his, steel sliding against steel. He directed the other samurai's blade to the side, aiming the point of his at the attacker's