CHAPTER 7
Ivan and Kira come to themselves and go to their masters to report what happened.
While the masters are discussing what to do, James kicks the door open and enters, throwing Yamigami's head in front of their masters.
"You hid everything from us all this time," James says.
Ivan and Kira, surprised, ask, "Hey James, what are you talking about?"
"Yamigami was working for the senseis. I realized that a year ago. Since that day I could never quite believe it for sure. For ten months I tried to convince myself it wasn't true, but after what happened two months ago I truly understood. Yes, the night you said you fired Kate two months ago I followed her while Sensei Kagemaru accompanied her, and I saw that Kate hadn't left, that you didn't send her away; you killed her because she learned information you didn't want, and you buried her there. I planned that night's events for exactly two months and finally I knew you would give this mission to me. That night, because Yamigami knew our fight would end with one of us dead, he told the things I suspected, and in that way everything I thought about you was confirmed."
During the Fight with Yamigami:
"Look at you, about our senseis! I knew you wouldn't kill me; it wouldn't follow your rules. Actually it's not because of that; as you probably noticed, I work for them. Why do you think that is? I've done this to many people so far, and I could do it to many more. Why didn't the masters stop me? Because it served their interests."
"Yes, I know. That's why first I'll cut off your head and throw it in front of them, then their heads will follow."
At the Clan Fortress:
"And then I beat him in the fight, cut off his head and threw it in front of you, and now it's your turn."
"Hahaha, look James, you're right; you solved us, you saw the bigger picture. But here's the thing: do you think you can stop us alone?"
"Ha, who said I'm alone? Haven't all the people you've hurt over the years had loved ones? Families? Yes, after I understood everything a year ago, using the training I received from you, every night I secretly went and trained those who wanted revenge. Even when you noticed me going out, you trusted me so much that the idea I'd notice something and interfere never crossed your minds. And yes, there are dozens of sword-wielding people outside, and they may not be as trained as you, but if they unite with me you have no chance against us. So here's my offer: Either you release me and my friends Ivan, Kira and I leave here alive and I convince those outside that we killed you; with the heads I brought with me, they haven't seen your faces anyway. Or we truly fight."
"Kagemaru, the five of us can't stop those outside. We'll lose this fight."
"Damn it, fine James, you win today. But one day I will punish you for destroying our whole order."
"I don't think you should be so sure about that, Kagemaru."
James, Ivan and Kira quickly run outside. As James runs, he says, "Look, I'll explain everything to you later, please trust me."
"James, if we didn't trust you we would have stayed there, right?"
"You're right."
When they get outside James shouts to the people standing in front of him, "Now!"
The young man presses the button in his hand and the clan fortress explodes in an instant; the tower collapses onto the masters inside.
James smiles as he watches the burning fortress.
"Yes, this was my plan from the start. Although I'm surprised they were convinced not to fight so easily, the chance of winning that fight was very slim. Because none of the young people there had really been trained, but they all came because they wanted revenge. After all, how much training could I give in two months? But in the end it was over."
Kira steps toward James. As James smiles at Kira, she suddenly slaps him. James looks at Kira with a sad and confused expression, not understanding what happened.
"Why didn't you tell us all this? Why didn't you tell us about Kate, huh?"
"Look, I'm sorry, you're right; but if I had told you it wouldn't have worked. I couldn't put you in danger."
"You may be right, but you're our friend, more than that our family never hide anything again," Kira says, then slowly moves closer to James, signaling him with her eyes and kisses him. James returns the kiss.
Present Day
James enters his hideout. First he takes off his costume. The blood splattered on his costume still remained on it; it had dried. It was the blood of the people he had last killed at the shelter. He pauses for a moment and asks himself, "Should I continue like this?" but then he tries to convince himself that his reason for doing this is not only revenge. He wants to believe this isn't just revenge he is taking from the world; but now is not the time for self-questioning.
He quickly throws his costume on the table. He walks toward his computer with sure but curious steps. He pulls out his chair and sits. He sees that passwords and file encryptions have been cracked. He quickly starts scanning the files to search for the most frequently occurring names and places. In the scanned files there is one name that appears most often, and James knows that this name shouldn't still be alive. When he sees that name he just stares at the screen in shock.