Editing City Series:Volume8b Chapter16 (section)

===Aoe’s Sight Mode: In DT Castle===

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Daikatana had fallen to his knees. The floor was stained with his blood and he was soaked with sweat.

Aoe wiped sweat from his own brow and asked Daikatana a question.

“Are you returning her sight?”

Daikatana shook his head and spoke so only Aoe could hear.

“I am sorry, but not yet. I do not want her to see me like this. My play is not over yet.”

Daikatana did not raise his head as he sighed. And he called a certain name.

“Master Yuo.”

Aoe heard Yuo stand up in response.

Before he could look back, he heard awkward barefoot footsteps approaching behind him.

Daikatana raised his head when he heard the same.

He lowered his metal staff to the floor and held the hand against his side instead.

He wiped the blood off with his hand and bowed his head. He placed his hands on the floor in preparation to prostrate himself.

“Master Yuo, please give me your judgment of my previous attack.”

As soon as he was finished speaking, Yuo arrived at the bloody floor with her head still lowered.

Aoe took her hand when he saw how unsteady she was next to him.

A window saying <Oh.> opened in response, but he did not look to her face and instead guided her in front of Daikatana.

'''<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

He saw the swordsman gradually fading away.

So he tapped Yuo on the top of the head to tell her to hurry up and speak.

But Daikatana spoke before Yuo could think of something to say.

“Aoe Shouzou, you relay her answer for me. Could Master Yuo see my previous sword technique?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Yuo turned toward Aoe, looking close to tears.

But then she nodded, still looking close to tears. A window appeared, conveying her will to him.

He read her window aloud. He did his best to read it plainly, without placing any of his own feelings in it.

“She saw it. She says it was even more beautiful than any you have shown her before.”

Aoe’s words put a small smile on Daikatana’s face.

Then he slowly stood up. He continued to fade away as he stood weakly but firmly.

“Then I achieved my strongest power here.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

He opened his eyes and looked toward Yuo. There was no tension on the face carrying those white eyes.

“I have fulfilled my promise. The promise I made to the girl who did not fear my killing techniques, called them beautiful, and said she wanted to see my invisible sword technique.”

He spread his now empty hands and brought them behind his head.

In one smooth motion, he untied the green string tying back his hair.

“You gave me this 2000 years ago as proof of my promise.”

He held a hand carrying a single string.

“Ever since you lost your memories, I have shared the burden of my anxieties with this memento.”

Aoe took Yuo’s hand and placed it on Daikatana’s hand.

But the string fell before her hand could touch his.

Daikatana’s hand was flashing, as was the rest of him, including his clothing.

Aoe caught the string in the air and placed it in Yuo’s hand.

He heard Daikatana’s voice.

“Farewell.”

Hearing that, Aoe looked up and faced forward.

'''<Aoe’s Over Zoom>

Daikatana was no longer there.

Aoe sighed.

It felt wrong to notice how hungry he was, so he brought a hand to the wound on his chest instead.

Blood was starting to seep from his left chest where Daikatana’s slash had reached him. He knew it would eventually start bleeding too much for his hand to hold back. He needed first aid before that happened.

The feeling of his hand on the wound felt somehow familiar.

<It reminds me of when I woke up in that mountain stream half a year ago.>

He sucked in a breath to stiffen his side and faced forward again.

All that remained of the battle was the dampness of Daikatana’s blood on the floor. But…

“Mh.”

Aoe’s eyes lowered to where Daikatana had sat earlier.

There were two things there.

The first was Yuo’s program.

The other was some writing.

Dark, thick writing spelled out a message on the floor. Daikatana had written it in his own blood.

''If it bothers you so much that you cannot read people’s minds, then start by thinking of Master Yuo.

Aoe mouthed the fading words to help record them to his memory.

“Is he saying that is how to learn what people are thinking?”

'''<Aoe’s Sight Mode has ended>