The Sword of Kaigen

by M.L. Wang

Since he was old enough to picture the future, Mamoru had cultivated this image of the perfect man, the perfect warrior, Whispering Blade in hand. He was nearing fighting age, but that man still seemed so far away…

A student like you, who can absorb what he is told but also think beyond it, is capable of anything.”

You are a Matsuda, he tried to tell himself. You are solid ice, but his inner sea had turned to roiling brine.

‘You may have given Yukino-dono a great sword, but the weapon you have given me is greater than metal. You have given me knowledge of the blade itself.’

You were supposed to look a fighter in the eyes when you killed him;

There were some fights you could only win by being more ruthless than your opponent.

A deep, restless part of Misaki was relieved to be in a place where her viciousness was an expectation, not a surprise.

This is it, Misaki realized. This was the joy they had all promised, in a single, simple hope: Mamoru might grow up to be different from his father.

It was good to know that one of the men in her life cared that Mamoru was gone.