"I will not stop," Shiina said, "unless you kill me."
Nathan's hand tightened around Kyomei's black hilt.
For one brief moment, everything around them seemed to grow still.
The cries of soldiers, the clash of steel, and the thunder of horses became distant. Nathan looked at Shiina through the mask covering his face, at the familiar red eyes visible beneath her helmet.
He did not want this.
He had known it might come to this from the moment he saw her standing atop Minami Kyoto's walls. He had known Shiina would never simply step aside and let him destroy Norihiro's rule.
But knowing it was possible did not make it easier.
Shiina had been honest with him from the beginning. She had never promised to betray Norihiro for him. She had never pretended her loyalty was uncertain.
And Nathan had never lied to her either.
Norihiro would die.
No matter what stood in the way.
A dark aura began to spread from Nathan's body.
