Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

them?"
    As he finished, Kazuhiro stepped through the outer door, Nakano and Kita following him. Through the door from the inn came Tanaka and Kawada. All surrounded Barrett. Kazuhiro stood at Jonathon's side.
    Barrett snapped his gaze back to Jonathon. "You traitorous son of a bitch!"
    "That's your point of view," Jonathon said. "Mine is that I'm standing for what I believe in."
    "What you believe in? You're betraying one of your own!"
    "First, other than race and country, there are no connections between you and me. And second, what I believe is to not propagate and profit from war. You don't even have a side you care more for, one who you believe is in the right. All you care is that your pockets keep getting fatter with every gun you sell and every bullet that's shot."
    "Listen to you, suddenly so righteous. Did you discover your new morality when your legs were wrapped around him?"
    Jonathon clenched the sword. "Kazuhiro-sama, you better take over before I open his throat."
    Kazuhiro laid his hand on Jonathon's arm, bringing the sword down. He spoke in English to Barrett. "You have two paths before you, Barrett. Leave and never return, and you'll live. Or stay and you'll die."
    Barrett's lips curled in disgust. "Do you think I believe that you're going to let me walk out of here?"
    "Yes."
    Barrett stared at Kazuhiro. His gaze darted to the other samurai, then back to Kazuhiro. "Why would you?"
    "Because I'm not you. I give even my enemies a fair chance. That's why I came here to give you a warning to leave. If you don't, it's certain you'll die. If not by my hand or those of my men, then by those of another daimyo. Word is traveling very quickly that you've been selling weapons to mutual enemies while trying to keep your dealings secret to each."
    Barrett attempted to take a step toward Kazuhiro, but the hiss of swords being pulled free stopped him. "What difference does it make? If they're not getting guns from me, they're getting them from someone else."
    "True, but no one likes to know that while you've been so graciously helping them gain an advantage in arms, you've been doing the same to their enemy. Suddenly that advantage means nothing and now the probability of their own death has increased. They feel betrayed. If you continue your business, with each daimyo you meet, you'll never know if he's meeting with you to buy arms, or to correct the insult you've committed."
    Barrett glared at Kazuhiro in silent contempt.
    Jonathon could see Barrett trembled slightly, but whether it was from fear or rage, he wasn't sure. If he had to hazard a guess, he would say rage. He was sure Barrett couldn't see through his righteous indignation to the truth in Kazuhiro's words.
    Kazuhiro stepped closer to Barrett, his expression hardening, his eyes becoming colder. His voice lowered to a threatening timbre. "Make your decision now, or I'll make it for you."
    Barrett visibly swallowed. "I'll leave."
    Kazuhiro gave a derisive snort. "As I expected. To men like you, there's nothing more important than money, except your own life, and if you're to enjoy your precious wealth, you have to live."
    Barrett looked back to him. "If you think my leaving changes anything, you're wrong. Another guns merchant will take my place."
    "I'm well aware of that. You're not the first arms dealer to come to Japan, you won't be the last. You are, however, the most vile, and seeing you go is victory enough. My men and I will escort you to your ship."
    "I don't need your damn protection!"
    "It's not to protect you. It's to see that you hold to you word and to watch you sail away. But first…"
    Kazuhiro struck with such speed, Jonathon almost didn't catch the movement until Kazuhiro's fist slammed into Barrett's face.
    Barrett toppled to the floor, hands over his nose, blood seeping between his fingers.
    Kazuhiro stood over him. "That was for Jonathon-san. If you touch him again, speak to him, or look at him, it'll only be your soulless carcass returning to America."
    Jonathon couldn't help but feel a burst of pride at Kazuhiro defending him. He tried to not look too satisfied, but saw even the stoic Nakano had a small smirk.
    Kazuhiro nodded toward Barrett. Tanaka and Kawada grabbed Barrett and hauled him to his feet. Kazuhiro started toward the door leading out to the inn.
    Barrett balked and tried to pull free of Tanaka's and Kawada's hold. "You can't drag me through the streets like this! I'll be…"
    "Disgraced?" Kazuhiro finished. "That's the