The walk back to camp for Miyamoto was one of bitter reminiscence and silence.

  Killing an old friend does that to you.

  Miyamoto's wound continued to bleed; it wasn't fast, but there was a good amount pouring out.

  “Must have been deeper than I thought. It may leave a scar. Sasaki, I’ll never understand why Tadakatsu didn’t care more about your blade than mine. I don’t know.”

  Celeste's spells were repairing Miyamoto's clothes while he walked.

  A few drops of rain fell upon Miyamoto's face.

  Even the cold rain couldn’t seem to bring Miyamoto back to the land of the living. His mind was bombarding him with the past. He didn’t realize he was back at camp until,

  “Goddamn it, it’s like the two of you are actively trying to hurt yourselves,” Celeste yelled.

  “What are you talking about? I am fine.”

  “Shut up, Miyamoto. I can see the blood bleeding through your kimono.”

  He looked down to see his kimono repaired but blood soaking through.

  “Hm. How unfortunate for you to see me like this.”

  “Just get over here so I can close your damn wound.”

  “I’m coming.”

  The drizzles of rain hit a blade in the middle of a forest opening for the last time.

  My arms feel like damn jelly. I still don’t know how I lasted so long with Miyamoto in that battle so long ago.

  My coat felt like there was another thing in it. I could tell due to how I always have this damn thing on.

  Swinging a sword isn’t that hard; most feel like a form of meditation. Meditation and I have never been on the best of terms.

  Definitely not now.

  My bandana slipped over my good eye, blinding me.

  My surroundings turned black, and so did my mind.

  “Goddamn Amaterasu, don’t just pull me into this realm whenever you want.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Stop being angry. It’s not like you were doing anything important.”

  “Why are you always so goddamn bright if I can see some of your brightness through my bandana?”

  “I am the sun goddess.”

  Really, we didn’t change anything about her at all; she’s just straight up a Japanese goddess.

  “Stop talking to yourself. I’m here to talk to you. It’s rude to not pay attention.”

  “Well, it’s rude to rip people out of their dimension or plane of existence or whatever while they were doing something, Amaterasu.”

  “Stop getting your knickers in such a twist. I need a favor from you. And you know I did bring you back to life.”

  “Just tell me what you want.”

  “You'll be passing by a town soon. I need you to burn everything down.”

  “Why?”

  “Someone's twisting the narrative of my religion to control the masses of a village. And the people are eating it up.”

  “Isn’t that the whole reason for religion—to control people? Also, the damn reasons for cults are for fools to feel special.”

  “It may be where you're from, V. But it's rather important here: if someone starts to mess with my follower, then they start to mess with me, and I can’t go down there to stop them.”

  “Fine, I’ll help you, but I want a favor from you later for helping you.”

  “Sure. The town is about two hours from your current camp. Head there tomorrow and do what you do best.”

  “I always do. Also, what's with all the gods talking to me today?”

  “I don’t know why, by the way, you haven’t found it yet, but Konran let a box of Lucky Stars on you.”

  “Are they cursed or something?”

  “They give you lung cancer, but it seems like your body doesn’t care about poison being in it, so no, Konran didn’t do anything to them. He's just like you.”

  “It sounds like you know him.”

  “Yeah, we used to have tea together.”

  What?

  “Yeah, we were close with each other before the heavens kicked him out. Still comes around sometimes.”

  Amaterasu started to disappear once more.

  “Gotta go. We’ll burn down that village and continue making this world a better place. Bye.”

  Just as quick as I was thrown in the abyss was as quick I was shot out of it.

  “Damn Goddess, she could have just called me instead of pulling me there.”

  Well, no rest for the wicked, so they say.

  I started to walk back to camp. Miyamoto said don’t stop till I get back, but meeting a god and getting a mission from them changes things a bit.

  Also, I’m so goddamn tired.

  I guess I finally get to destroy a religious practice. Fifteen-year-old me would have loved this. The same person who read the Bible, Quran, and Torah in their original languages just to better fuck with people.

  Damn, I’m such an asshole.

  The air was calm.

  The soothing smell of rain filled my nose.

  I was surrounded by peace, but I felt nothing.

  What a dumb thing to worry about.

  Not being able to feel relaxed—while I see other people drowning in eternal misery.

  I’m whining about being unable to feel something as “important” as relaxation.

  I should have used my other pistol when the first one jammed.

  I made it back to camp and saw Celeste healing Miyamoto.

  “You made it back rather quick.”

  “The battle was much shorter than I thought.”

  “V, you knew about this and never said anything?”

  “Miyamoto didn’t want anyone to worry.”

  “You can at least warn me when I need to heal one of you two.”

  “Sorry, kid.”

  “Yes, I do apologize, Celeste.”

  “Oh right, the reason I came to camp. Miyamoto, we're going to massacre a cult tomorrow.”

  “Ok.”

  “Are you two serious? Whatever, just don’t come back, exciting me to heal you this time.”

  “It’s a cult; what are they going to do, tell us we’re going to be damned for all eternity when I have a shotgun between their ribs?”

  Celeste finished healing Miyamoto and walked over to where the kid and dog were.

  Sick of the mad Devil and lone Rōnin.

  “At least we know she’s staying with the kid and dog, keeping them all away from this clusterfuck.”

  “And no possibility of being kidnapped.”

  We look at each other.

  Him sitting.

  Me standing.

  Let’s jam.