The dungeon echoed with the relentless clash of metal, each impact ringing through the cold, damp air. Two figures moved at blistering speed, their strikes so fierce that the wind from their movements snuffed out the lanterns lining the walls. Brief sparks from their clashes illuminated the darkness for split seconds—Makie, wielding her chained spears with deadly precision, and Shishiba, countering with nothing but a gun.
Makie was drenched in sweat. Fear? Exhaustion? It was hard to tell.
Shishiba, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed, deflecting every attack she threw at him with almost casual ease.
"You know you can't afford to go easy on me, right?" He said using to gun barrel to scratch his head
"..." Makie bit her lower lip, but didn't answer.
Shishiba exhaled through his nose, his tone steady. "Tell me... why are you fighting for that man, of all people?"
Makie met his gaze, unflinching. "I am Makie. Excuse me—I should have introduced myself earlier."
"...Huff... Well, that's polite of you. Thanks," Shishiba sighed. "But there's no point in exchanging names now. If we're both professionals, then there's no use playing around any longer."
Makie shifted into her stance. "Then resign yourself to your fate." She gripped the end of her right spear, sending the left one hurtling toward Shishiba.
Shishiba shifted slightly to the left, effortlessly dodging the attack. He raised his gun slowly at Makie She flinched, quickly retrieving her other spear and spinning it in the air, ready to deflect any incoming bullets.
But he didn't shoot. Instead, he simply tilted his head at her, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
"Well, turns out I'm the only professional here," Shishiba said, shaking his head.
Hearing that, Makie lunged without hesitation, thrusting her spear at him in an attempt to catch him off guard.
But Shishiba was faster.
He caught the spear before it could strike, his grip unyielding. Makie tried to pull it back, but his strength easily overpowered her. With a sharp motion, he turned the weapon against her, driving the blunt end into her stomach.
"Argh!" she gasped as the impact lifted her off the ground.
Before she could react, he pinned her against the ceiling, holding her there effortlessly.
"Gaaah!" she screamed
"Don't move, or it's gonna hurt more," Shishiba said, his tone laced with disappointment. He sighed, scratching his head with his free hand. "Honestly, what were you thinking? Using a long weapon in a narrow space like this?"
His gaze lingered on her, unimpressed. "Either you weren't trying, or that was the best you could do."
Makie averted her eyes, refusing to answer.
"You damn fool. Idiots who can't fight should keep their weapons sheathed," Shishiba said, tossing her aside. "I appreciate what you did to my teammate, but if that's the best you've got, you'd be better off sticking to being a cheap yotaka." He rested his dual spears on his shoulders and walked away without a second glance.
"So this is what they've been reduced to? The manpower here is so low they have to rely on someone like her?" he muttered under his breath.
Still, something made him pause. He turned slightly, glancing at Makie, who remained kneeling on the ground. His eyes narrowed. Is she really a prostitute? She didn't carry the same stench of sweat and semen as the others.
' well whatever I don't care '
_________________
"If you wish to walk the path of the sword, then all the more so—become a woman of the pleasure quarter."
Makie heard these words from her mother as she handed her a hairpin. Foolish. Outdated. Why would she ? Is it necessary?
But that was the reality of Yoshiwara—a place frozen in time, where traditions from two hundred years ago still ruled unchanged and unchallenged
Makie slowly opened her eyes, still in the dimly lit dungeon. Footsteps echoed softly as a small figure emerged from one of the cells—a little girl, the same one Makie had encountered in the streets days ago.
"You okay, lady?" the girl asked, stepping closer.
Makie tensed. "Y-You saw me fighting?"
"Uh-huh. And before that too," the girl nodded.
Heat rushed to Makie's face. The last thing she wanted was for someone—especially a child—to see her like this. But it was too late for that.
The girl tilted her head. "So... you're supposed to be a swordswoman?"
Makie hesitated before answering.
"...Yes."
"You're not very good at it," the girl said bluntly.
Makie didn't take offense. Instead, she pulled a hairpin from her clothes and handed it over. "You want this?"
The little girl's eyes lit up with excitement. "Wow, really? Are... are you sure?"
Makie stood up, brushing off her clothes. "Mhm. I probably won't be needing it anymore."
She grabbed the little girl hand and walked toward the underground exit " I can't feel his presence anymore did die ? " makie whispered to her self
_______________
The wail of sirens filled the air as black cars surrounded the ruins of the palace. From the shadows of the destruction, Makie emerged, carrying the little girl on her back.
Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the devastation—Yoshiwara was in flames. Gunshots were heard everywhere ,The brothels burned like funeral pyres, thick black smoke filled the top of Yoshiwara like clouds Whoever set this place ablaze clearly didn't want anyone making it out alive.
Makie's breath hitched as her gaze locked onto a man in a suit wearing an oxygen mask.
"Eh…?"
For a brief moment, they stared at each other. Then, without hesitation, he raised his rifle.
Makie reacted instantly, pulling a kunai from her belt and hurling it at his chest. The blade struck true, and the man staggered back, collapsing to the ground.
But before he lost consciousness, he reached for his walkie-talkie. "I… found a prostitute—"
Makie was already in front of him. She grabbed the kunai and drove it deeper into his chest, silencing him for good.
She took the oxygen mask from his face and placed it on the little girl. "Hold on tight kay?" she said with a reassuring smile.
The girl nodded.
Then, in a blur, Makie leaped from one rooftop to another, her speed cutting through the smoke-filled air. The force of her movement sent gusts of wind rushing past, momentarily snuffing out some of the nearby flames.
Then—
Bang!
A punch slammed into Makie's stomach, sending her hurtling through the air.
"Gaah!" She gasped, the wind knocked from her as she hit the ground hard.
Before she could recover, another figure in a suit landed on top of her. He was muscular, two iron gloves strapped to his hands. "I thought I killed every vermin in this wretched place..." he growled. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'm going to enjoy this."
Before he could finish, Makie's fingers shot out, catching something in the air—a needle aimed at her head.
She twisted her head, her eyes narrowing as a bloodied man emerged from one of the brothels, several more needles clutched in his hands. His expression was deranged, his tongue flicking out like a snake's.
"For fuck's sake, Ruud! I was talking!" the bull-like man bellowed, shaking his fist at the other.
"PIG FUCK!" the crazed man shouted back, his voice wild.
" Why are you doin-
" Shut the fuck a whore I'm talking " the bull like man shouted at her too
With a wordless gurgle, the snake-like man threw more needles at her.
Makie did her best to shield the girl and avoid the incoming atttack but she still took hits to the shoulder and neck, the pain shooting through her as she desperately tried to protect the child.
"You're bleeding, sis," the little girl said, her voice trembling.
"I'll be fine... just hang tight, okay sweetie?" Makie reassured her, though the words felt hollow.
The burly man descended in front of them with a crash, creating a massive crater in the ground.
This time, Makie anticipated his move. She leapt toward a nearby window of a brothel.
Once inside, the scene made her stomach churn. Blood and guts were splattered across the floor, the grotesque sight making her want to vomit.
She quickly closed her eyes, the realization sinking in: If I don't get out of here, we'll end up like them.
With tears in her eyes, she sprinted for the other window, whispering apologies under her breath. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"All of you whores inside out! Ripped open ! " came a shout from behind
Makie instantly moved to shield the girl, but before she could fully protect her, a barrage of needles struck her back. "Aaaah!" Makie screamed in pain, her body jerking from the sudden assault.
The little girl, hearing Makie's scream, started tearing up, her voice shaking with fear. "S-sis!" she cried out, reaching for her in desperation.
"Nice try, whore," the burly man sneered, stepping in front of her. "But when it comes to killing women, that man never misses."
"He's called Ruud, the 'Woman Killer' for a reason," he continued, his voice taunting. "But don't worry. I'm not him. I'll make it quick." He raised his fist, preparing to end her.
Thwk!
Before he could strike, a needle pierced his head with a sharp, sickening sound.
"Die, you pig-fuck!" Ruud hissed, his voice filled with venom.
The burly man collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud, the needle lodged deeper in his skull as he fell.
Seizing the opportunity, Makie gathered every ounce of her strength and bolted, her feet pounding against the ground as she fled.
She hid behind one of the brothels, struggling to catch her breath. "I can't go on," she muttered, her voice shaky. "Little girl, I'll distract him while you're at it. You run toward the exit...?!"
The girl didn't respond.
"No!" Makie exclaimed, rushing over to check her pulse. She hesitated for a moment, then placed her fingers against the girl's neck, relieved to feel a faint heartbeat. She sighed, her heart still racing.
* I can't breathe well, my mom says I shouldn't run* the girl's words from yesterday echoed in Makie's mind, the memory hitting her with a wave of guilt.
"Where are you, little pig?" The voice echoed through the air, causing Makie to tense even more.
"Mama, you were right from the start. Once a woman lets herself fall, she can't have dreams like the others" she whispered under her breath, a bitter thought forming in her mind.
'It was hopeless from the beginning, wasn't it, Mama?'
She thought staring at the girl sleeping in her bloodied arms ' I'm sorry '
From the corner of her eye, a strong light hit her, emanating from one of the walls. It revealed a bright yellow glow.
'Is that... the sun?' Makie thought, her heart racing. Despite the pain, she pushed herself up and carried the girl toward the light.
"This is our chance," she thought, limping forward with determination.
....
Thwk!
A sharp impact struck the back of Makie's head. Her vision blurred, and before she could react, she collapsed to the ground.
She shifted her head slightly toward the girl in her arms. I'm sor— No, she could still move. She had to.
With what little strength she had left, she tried to crawl toward the exit, but her body refused to obey. She could barely inch forward.
"Khekhekehekhe."
Ruud's laughter slithered through the air as he watched her feeble struggle, his amusement like a snake savoring its prey's slow demise.
Tears welled in Makie's eyes as she turned to look at him. Mama… help me…
Ruud took a step forward, pulling a knife from his pocket, his intent clear—he was going to gut her just like the others
"Man... what a shitshow," a familiar voice drawled from behind him.
Before Ruud could turn around, a hand burst through his chest.
The figure lifted him effortlessly and tossed him aside like a ragdoll.
"You look like shit," he said, stepping forward. His jeans were torn, his face smeared with blood, and his right arm was stripped down to raw muscle, glistening under the dim light. A cigarette hung loosely from his lips, and despite the chaos around him, he looked completely unbothered.
Kasumi knelt beside her, his gaze flickering over the needles embedded in her spine.
"Some of them are deep. You'll be dead in a minute or less"
Makie let out a weak, bitter laugh. "P-please... h-help her," she whispered, her eyes shifting toward the unconscious girl beside her.
Kasumi was silent for a moment before pulling the girl onto his shoulder. As he reached for Makie, she placed a trembling hand on his wrist, stopping him.
"No… I want to die here. Someone like me has no right to be in the surface."
Kasumi met her gaze, then exhaled softly. "I see… So long, Makie," he said, turning toward the exit.
As he walked away, Makie's vision blurred.
' I really wanted to see the moon '… The thought lingered as her eyelids grew heavier.
Then, she let go.