The battle was a sprint. Hisako flew through enemies, putting her full attention on one before blitzing the next.
Nanae was doing the same, and soon enough, she'd reached the boss walker at the edge of town. Eiji and Hisako did their best to clear the way for her and keep their duel a duel. She had to work quicker, and it left a maze of statues to break, lest she back into one by accident.
She kept an eye on the duel, though.
Closer up, Hisako could see that their kimono wrenched their head to the left and made the right arm swivel wildly.
Their initial clash drew out the walker's weapon—not a hammer but a katana like all the others. They didn't use it the same, though; they used the flat and back just as much as they did the blade, aided by the unpredictable erraticness of their bound form.
The walker batted aside an open-handed grab at the wrist, then slammed the butt of the hilt into Nanae's jaw before she could redirect the attack.
Nanae landed a clawed palm attack, and her elbow-jab follow-up scraped down the back of the blade, spinning away before the walker could counterattack.
The final walker and Nanae clashed evenly. The walker moved exactly like her father did, and Nanae's unwavering defense and counterplays were a merit to her familiarity with his style. However, Hisako could see a hesitation to attack—a missed opening, then another; a dodge instead of a parry, a block without a counterattack.
They were finally forced into error when Nanae pushed them to misstep into a divot in the ground by the destroyed town wall.
Nanae took it for the perfect opening it was, spinning the sai from being defensively pressed against her arms to being brandished offensively like knives. Everything Hisako was in awe of showed—Nanae's attacks were a relentless dance, each strike piercing the walker in critical junctions.
The walker, inevitably, collapsed. Nanae was over them in a moment, but she froze, her sai threatening the walker's throat and her legs caging them down to the ground.
Hisako approached carefully, cognizant of Eiji beating back the last of the minor walkers. Nanae stared at the walker.
"How did you do it?" Nanae whispered as soon as she neared, eyes sliding to Hisako's with something Hisako feared was nervousness.
"What?" Hisako asked.
"Your tiger…"
Hisako reached out and squeezed her unraised hand. "I—The world isn't perfect, Nanae. We're all just trying to live with ourselves. The tiger was defending themself, and I was just trying to beat the game. See through his eyes, Nanae. Let yourself try to understand him—his intentions, at least."
Nanae's voice was even quieter—Hisako had to step even closer. "I… My grandmother told me I'm like him."
"That doesn't have to be a bad thing."
"He did the wrong thing."
"Why, though?"
"He was lost," Nanae hissed. Her face fell. "But…"
Hisako nodded.
"But he wanted the right thing, deep down. He was just lost. He lost himself trying to do the right thing. I'm… I don't want to be that anymore."
"He was lonely," Hisako said. "You're not lonely. You have us to help you find your way."
Nanae nodded minutely, then took a deep breath and lowered the sai from her walker's throat.
The walker cautiously rose to stand next to her. The tight fabric around their throat and shoulder made them stand a little shorter than he would, but Hisako could squint her eyes and imagine the man standing next to his daughter.
Nanae reached out slowly and pulled at the red cloth on their face, revealing a sliver of skin. What she saw made her gasp and jerk her arm back. Hisako stood frozen.
Even in the ocean's gloomy blue wash, she knew the skin tone was tanner, and she didn't see the stern cut of the man's jaw and scowl, but Nanae's own rounder jaw and strong face.
"That's not funny," Nanae muttered.
Hisako didn't know what to say.
"Cosmic joke," Nanae hissed.
Hisako stepped forward, compelled by something unfathomable in her. She took the strange walker by the hand and slowly pulled them by the arms into a hug. They went easily, like pulling a balloon by the string, but they settled their crooked chin on her shoulder on their own.
"What are you doing?"
Hisako squeezed into the hug, then let it go. The walker lingered before pulling back.
"They hugged me back," Hisako told her.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Hisako replied. "But they're not so bad."
Nanae stepped forward slowly, and the walker leaned down a little. She took the last steps, and they were chest-to-chest, hugging but not. Nanae hid her face at their torso, and their head rested above her shoulder.
After a tense moment, the walker's hands lifted slowly. Nanae visibly forced herself not to flinch when the red-wrapped hands touched her wrists, then closed around them gently.
The walker leaned forward, closing the last of the gap and fully holding Nanae. Hisako held her breath.
The fabric tightened, pulling like rope off a spool, and jumped from the walker's arms to Nanae's. She held strong still, but Hisako drew Toraichi, nerves alight.
The fabric fell away from the walker, but nothing was underneath—no flesh, no stone, no walker. Quickly, there was only fabric writhing to wreath Nanae's arms.
When it stopped, Nanae's knuckles and forearms were wrapped in sturdy red fabric. Silver metal reminiscent of the walker's katana braced her arms and fists.
"Your gauntlets…" Hisako said.
Nanae flexed her wrists. The mobility was far higher, but it wasn't as ironclad in defense; it'd swapped full plate for metal bracers. The keyhole design was gone, replaced by an interlocking band of circles around her wrist. She snapped a finger and a splash of water jumped from the thick air into one circle, which began to glow a soft blue.
"It feels light," Nanae breathed.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, looking up. She exhaled, and the world cried.
The sky became rain, which fell in a thunderous, sudden downpour. Hisako had to close her eyes, but she could feel the water soak her to the bone and threaten to drown her eyelashes.
When it was done, she shook herself like a dog and wiped wetly at her eyes. Reopening them, she found the world completely transformed.
The sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly. The river nearby burbled rhythmically, and the town was restored. Smoke and steam alike curled lazily into the air, and she could smell sweets and street food.
"Wow," Hisako breathed.
Without walkers to liven up the area, it was a little haunting and uncanny, but the town was festive in a slow, calming way. Hisako followed as Nanae walked into the little tea house Hisako had explored earlier.
The tables were repaired, and there was indeed an irori in the floor, heating a meal and surrounded by plush, well-loved embroidered pillows. Nanae collapsed on two, splaying out with a heavy sigh.
Eiji folded his legs to sit down next to her. "You want healing?"
She shook her head and rolled over to bathe in the warmth of the fire. Hisako sat down across from her, watching her face beneath the pot. Eiji shifted to look inside, stirring some kind of cloudy broth—it smelt like miso soup to Hisako.
Nanae took focused, deep breaths, face cooling from the sweat and strained flush from the fight. Finally, she let out a deep exhale and closed her eyes, relaxing into the pillows.
"How does it feel?" Hisako asked. "To be back."
She smirked with a soft chuckle. "Eh. Feels like something worth celebrating with an ice cream."
Eiji snorted. "This is a slippery slope, guys. I know we're getting paid, but an ice cream addiction is an economic leech. It catches up to you."
"Mm. Then maybe one last ice cream for the road," Nanae said.
"Yeah? You feel back and better than ever?" Hisako asked.
Nanae snorted at the phrasing but nodded. Her face tightened. "Yasu… He was just the person I needed to meet, I think. A cautionary tale of how a leader failing a family can look—how much it can hurt someone."
Hisako nodded sagely.
"I don't want to waste any time," Nanae concluded. "I might not be ready to change things, but I want to start listening as soon as possible."
"That's very admirable," Eiji said. He stood. "Let's not keep Kohaku waiting, shall we?"
"I'm interested to hear Yasu's title," Nanae agreed. "I'm sure I can recall some stories about his predecessors over lunch."
"I'm feeling lunch," Eiji said, staring into the bubbling pot of soup. He lowered his voice. "Does anyone else feel like rice and miso?"
Nanae raised a brow critically. "In the same bowl?"
Eiji glanced at Hisako for help. She just shrugged. She had been too lazy to try and mix the two, for fear of having to remake dinner should it end up being soggy rice and rice-y miso.
"Ah, I deserve a little treat," he sighed.
"Cat-food treat," Nanae teased. She stood up, uncurling from the floor and rising in one smooth lunge.
"If it tastes good…" Eiji said.
Hisako wrinkled her nose. "I bet you like durian and natto too."
"Natto is alright. Never tried durian, though," Eiji replied.
Nanae lifted a hand, and her Door appeared, hovering just above the floor of the tea house. It looked the same despite everything, but now it felt more appropriate for the world. The panels pulled aside, and Nanae led the way out.
The sun was a little past its highest point in the sky, leaving the slightest cast of shadow from the sunlight far above. Kohaku, seated against the doorway, lifted their head quickly from their phone.
"Guys! Congrats! Welcome back," they cheered. They squinted. "You did it, right?"
"Of course," Nanae replied. "Now it's time for you to fulfil your end of the deal."
Kohaku crossed their arms proudly. "Yasu's title is 'Playful Dog'. The tanuki counterpart to his family's 'Cunning Fox'—the kitsune, his aunt."
"Playful Dog," Eiji echoed. "Nanae, does the name ring any bells?"
Nanae scratched at the blooming bruise on her jaw. "Very old stories. The Fox I've heard a lot more about."
"We doing stories over lunch?" Kohaku jumped up, already itching and pacing to get to the cafeteria.
Hisako nodded and hurried to a trot to catch up to them. "Nanae's gonna tell us about Yasu's family."
They stayed a few paces ahead of the others, Eiji talking more about his 'catfood' miso rice and Nanae refusing to acknowledge it.
"What I was doing earlier," Kohaku began quietly, "was looking for a new job."
"Yeah?"
"You're… so much stronger now. You're doing amazing things and meeting amazing people. I want to do that too—to use my strengths to help people."
Hisako nodded.
"I'm going to work to become a park ranger," Kohaku said finally.
Hisako beamed for them. "That sounds perfect for you. You explore and work outside, and you help people who also love being outside."
"And get paid," Kohaku joked. "More vacations and ice cream."
Hisako laughed. "Aw, be careful about the ice cream; Eiji says it can become an expensive habit."
"He's responsible like that. I'm young. I can be crazy sometimes," Kohaku chuckled.
Hisako smiled warmly. "I know you'll be a great ranger."
Kohaku nodded proudly as they headed into the cafeteria.
Nanae didn't have many stories about Yasu's predecessors. They were certainly in line with Yasu's powers—tall tales about transformations and illusions, practical jokes and strategic fakes—but each seemed more ridiculous than the last.
The stories about Yasu's aunt were far more intense. Impossible crimes and locked-door mysteries, sinister corruption campaigns and blackmail. If the Playful Dog was the humorous hammer of the Kimura, the Cunning Fox was the vicious scalpel.
"The Sasaki don't deal with the Kimura. Several families avoid it," Nanae said finally. "The Sano have only recently resumed acting like they exist."
"Lots of clan drama," Kohaku hummed.
"I can see why everyone is so eager to give them less power," Eiji sighed. "What are you going to do about it all?"
"I'd like to work with Yasu, but…" She sighed. "Well, once I get the Sasakis in line, maybe we can start dealing with the others. My priority, though, is righting the ship, so I won't be able to join you guys after patrols much. I'll keep you in the loop on any clan gossip I hear, though."
"I understand." Hisako nodded. "I'm really looking forward to seeing the new state of the divisions. I wonder if much has changed."
"I want to learn more about the Medical Division captaincy candidates. After Kumagai-san spoke so highly of the last one, I want to see who people believe can fill the seat," Eiji added.
"This really is the most interesting time in a while, huh?" Nanae sighed. She chuckled. "Sounds stressful. We'd better enjoy our last night here."
Kohaku lifted their fruit punch glass. "Cheers!"
They raised their glasses together.
"Cheers!"