Mama-san took one look at the tension in the air and felt her blood run cold.
Before she could open her mouth, the big man patted the rears of the two women in his lap.
"Ladies," he said lazily, "I've got something to talk over with this guy.
"Why don't you step out for a bit?"
The sisters, dazed and limp from wine and whatever aura Jin was leaking, lifted their heads.
"Miyamoto Musashi-sama," one cooed, "we… don't want to leave…"
"Be good."
Smack, smack.
He gave each of them a light slap on the cheek.
"Head out for a while. You can come back when we're done talking."
Kyoshiro's eyelid twitched.
Did Hiyori see… how far this got? Do I need to kill everyone here just in case?
The sisters, faces bright red, clung to each other and let mama-san lead them away.
Hiyori stayed, fingers moving over the strings.
The music continued, thin and trembling.
"Hic."
Jin let out a small drunken burp and eyed the man now firmly shielding Hiyori behind his back.
"Let's talk, Kyoshiro," he said. "Or should I call you… Denjiro?"
He poured himself more sake and drank.
Both Kyoshiro and Hiyori stiffened.
"Who are you?" Kyoshiro's hand was already on his sword.
One wrong move and he'd draw, even if it meant dying.
His job was to get Hiyori out alive.
"Relax," Jin said. "I'm not with Kaido or Orochi.
"I'm here on someone else's request. That's all."
He didn't move.
Didn't reach for his blade.
Didn't let his aura spike.
Even so, Kyoshiro didn't sit.
He stayed planted in front of Hiyori, a wall of muscle and steel.
Jin rapped his knuckles lightly on the sheath of Nidai Kitetsu.
"This sword's previous owner," he said. "A man named Kozuki Sukiyaki.
"He's the one who sent me."
Kyoshiro sucked in a breath.
"The shogun…" he whispered.
"Grandfather…?" Hiyori's voice trembled. "Grandfather is still alive? How is he? Where is he?"
Kyoshiro rushed closer, voice dropping.
"Hiyori, come over too," Jin said, nodding at the girl. "I came for you as much as for him."
"You know who she is?" Kyoshiro tensed again.
Hiyori set her shamisen down and tiptoed forward, staying behind his shoulder.
"B-Big brother… you really saw Grandfather?" she asked timidly. "Is he… is he alright?"
Jin looked down at her.
Eleven, twelve at most.
Still awkward in her child's body, but the outline of the future Komurasaki—Wano's most dazzling courtesan—was already there.
He took another drink.
"The old man's alive," he said. "But he can't show his face. Orochi's dogs are still sniffing after him.
"He gave me Nidai Kitetsu and asked me to take you out of Wano.
"To Zou.
"There's a cat and a dog there who'll protect you."
"Dogstorm and Cat Viper?" Hiyori tilted her head.
"And why," Kyoshiro cut in, "should we believe you?"
"That's your problem, not mine," Jin said bluntly.
"The old man's in Amigasa Village. I came to ask the girl what she wants.
"If she wants to leave, I'll take her to Zou.
"If she wants to stay, I walk away."
He shrugged.
Hiyori chewed her lip.
"…Can you take me to see Grandfather first?" she asked.
Jin nodded.
"Sure."
Kaido was out of Wano right now.
The only ones here who could really give him a decent fight were King or Queen—and they weren't exactly roaming the streets.
"Lady Hiyori, please be careful," Kyoshiro said anxiously.
"Don't worry, Denjiro," Hiyori said softly. "This big brother doesn't feel… bad."
"Who's taking her out of here?" Jin asked, looking at Kyoshiro. "You, or me?"
"You go first," Kyoshiro said coldly. "I'll bring her behind you."
"Suit yourself."
Jin got up, slid Nidai Kitetsu back into his sash, and stepped out.
"Heading out already, samurai-sama?" mama-san asked from the hall, smiling with audible relief.
"Yeah," Jin said. "Those two beauties are all yours now, old woman. I'll come back next time."
"You're welcome any time, Musashi-sama," she said quickly. "I'll arrange the very best for you."
And please keep being such a generous idiot…
Night settled over Kuri.
Jin walked through the dark streets, feeling the two familiar presences trailing him.
He sped up.
They followed.
Out of the district.
Into the countryside.
Toward Amigasa.
After some time, they reached the village.
Jin led them straight to the same little house as before.
The candle inside was still burning.
He pushed the door open.
Kozuki Sukiyaki sat at the low table, tengu mask on his face.
"Your granddaughter's here to see you," Jin said.
Sukiyaki smiled and lifted the mask away.
"Hiyori," he said gently. "Come in and let your grandfather see you properly."
"Grandfather!"
Hiyori slid off Kyoshiro's back, ran across the room, and threw herself into his arms.
He wasn't tall.
He wasn't imposing.
But he was her blood.
After the tragedy, she'd survived only because of Kawamatsu, clinging to life at rock bottom.
To find out she still had family—
All the years of fear and loneliness surged up at once.
She broke.
"Good girl," Sukiyaki said, holding her close. "Hiyori, don't cry.
"I know you've suffered a lot these years.
"But you must learn to be strong… little Hiyori."
She sobbed harder.
Jin watched for a moment, then turned and walked outside.
This was their moment.
He had no place in it.
Inside, Kyoshiro's knees hit the floor.
"You truly are Kozuki Sukiyaki-sama…" he whispered.
Sukiyaki nodded.
"You're Denjiro, aren't you?" he said. "Thank you for looking after Hiyori all this time."
"It is nothing," Kyoshiro said quickly. "I am a vassal of the Kozuki clan. This is my duty."
Sukiyaki smiled faintly.
"Alright, Hiyori," he said. "That man has explained things to you, hasn't he?"
"Mm… Musashi-sama already told me," Hiyori sniffled.
"Miyamoto Musashi," Sukiyaki repeated, chuckling inwardly. A fake name, clearly.
"Then invite him back in."
Jin stepped back inside to find the old man and the girl sitting together, the warmth of family thick in the room.
It twisted something small and bitter in his chest.
He really wasn't going back.
Not to his old world.
Not to his old life.
The feeling put a rough edge in his voice.
"Alright," he said. "Make your choice.
"I've got things to do. I can't sit here all night."
"Mm." Sukiyaki nodded.
"At first," he said slowly, "I wanted you to take Hiyori to Zou."
Jin's eyelid twitched.
Don't tell me… here comes the cliché…
"Now," Sukiyaki continued, "I want to entrust Hiyori… to you."
Jin stared.
"Grandfather, why?" Hiyori gasped. "Why would you do that?"
"Shogun-sama, you can't!" Kyoshiro blurted. "He's an outsider. We don't even know his true loyalty—"
"I refuse," Jin said immediately. "I have no interest in picking a fight with Kaido for free.
"And didn't Toki leave a prophecy or something?"
"Ah. So you've heard the prophecy too," Sukiyaki said, smiling faintly. "And even if it comes to pass—"
He glanced at Hiyori.
"Even if those chosen appear twenty years later, there is no guarantee they will win.
"I can see it. You are not a bad man."
"I'm not a good one either," Jin replied, picking at his ear.
"At the very least, you have a kind heart.
"And you are strong. I don't know exactly how strong, but in the world outside, you must be a formidable force.
"If we leave Hiyori in your hands, we can wait for the prophecy with calm hearts.
"If it's true—good. You will be there to help reclaim Wano and topple Kaido.
"If it's false… then at least Oden's bloodline survives.
"That is all this old man can think of now."
Kyoshiro bit down hard.
"Shogun-sama, you can't make such a decision," he said. "He's still an outsider! We don't know where his loyalties lie—"
Cold steel pressed against his throat.
At some point, Nidai Kitetsu had appeared in Jin's hand.
The blade rested along Kyoshiro's neck, humming with bloodlust.
Jin's eyes were flat and cold.
"Careful," he said quietly. "You're starting to annoy me."
"Ah—! Please don't, Musashi-sama!" Hiyori cried, reaching out before she could stop herself.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios