Corpse March

Chapter 57 Gift

“We need Tsuki dead.” Florence has his legs propped up on the coffee table. “Tonight.”

Kikimi sighs. She figured that the last bombing wouldn’t be the end of their killing, but to think that they’d have to do it so soon… “Is there no other way?” 

“Why do we want this Tsuki chick dead anyway? She seems like she’s going to keel over in a stiff breeze.” Kazuko, still in her maidservant disguise, states in the bluntest way possible.

“We can’t risk it.” Florence kicks off his boots. It’s been a tremendously long night and an even more exhausting day. “A tiger is most dangerous when it’s cornered. She might spill the instant it becomes clear to her we’re not acting in Tsumugi’s best interest.” 

“Yes… Without a doubt, that girl is… dangerous.” Kikimi nods her head. “We’re going to be okay, right?” 

“Of course.” Florence has to muster up every single ounce of courage he has to say that. “Even Tsuki is only a road bump.” 

“Do we really have no other choice?”

“If you have any suggestions, I suggest you spit them out now.”

Kikimi looks away, not knowing what to say. It seems that even for her, there’s no easy solution to the problem. 

“If there’s nothing else, then we’re just going to have to go with my idea.” 

“Let’s hear it first.” 

“It’s simple.” He points at Kikimi. “You kill Tsuki.” 

“M-me?! You want me to do it?!” 

“Consider this a test of loyalty.”

“I…” Kikimi opens her mouth to speak but thinks better of it. Of course he doesn’t trust her, not after the fiasco with Tsuki. Plus, not even she trusts herself. Just how far is she willing to go? She looks down at her hands and imagines them dirtied, just like the hands of the girl on that train. 

“Are you up to it?” Florence’s voice snaps her out of her stupor. 

“I don’t have a choice.” Kikimi clenches her hands. If dirtying her hands is what it takes to fulfill Lady Kentomi’s dream then so be it. For her sake, she’ll commit any crime. “I’ll do it.” 

“Good.” Florence walks over to a nearby closet and removes its false bottom. Inside, he pulls out a large leather glove. Or, well, something close enough to a leather glove, being made mostly of leather straps. Large round studs jut out of the area around the wrist and on the back of the hand appears to be a golden skull emblem. “I’ll give you this.”

“What is it?”  

“It’s an artifact. Someone long ago bound their sorcery to this item and it still contains it today. Use it and kill Tsuki.”

Kikimi puts the glove on. It fits… well, like a glove. It’s almost as though it was made just for her. 

“I won’t let you down, Kagami.” She tries snapping with the glove on, it makes a resounding ‘CLICK’. I’ll definitely not let you down.” 

“I suggest practicing to get a handle on the thing.” Florence suggests. 

“Hm alright.” 

“You can practice in your room. Just make sure to be careful. I don’t want anyone overhearing you.” 

“Alright.” Kikimi, still inspecting the glove-thing, walks out of the room. 

“I should be going as well.” Kazuko peeps out of the room into the hallway, checking to see if anyone’s gone looking for her. “Before anyone starts getting suspicious.” 

“Just one last thing, Kazuko.”

“Yes?”

“I trust you know what to do if Kikimi falters?” 

“I had a feeling you would say that.” Kazuko sighs. “I was really hoping you wouldn’t say that.” 

“Now that the alliance between Lady Tomoe and Lady Tsumugi has been severed, it’s a good time to re-introduce Gleam into the picture. The more chaos we cause, the better our tracks are covered.” 

“Your tracks.”

“Excuse me?”

“These are your tracks, not mine. I’m only playing along with your conspiracy out of gratitude for saving my life. You know, I actually really hate people like you. I hate people that throw away innocent lives like it’s nothing. I also really hate people that betray their comrades. So in that sense, I actually really really really hate the both of you.” Kazuko says all that with a nonchalant tone, like she was telling a particularly mediocre joke. 

“...”

“Don’t worry. As much as I hate the both of you, I hate people who don’t keep their promises even more so you can definitely trust me to keep my word.” 

“Well, if you’re sure.” 

Florence cradles his chin in his hands. That settles it. He nods to himself. Without a shadow of a doubt, he has to get rid of Kazuko. 

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Jessica’s room has always been a bit of a far cry from the other rooms in the Curia. For one, it’s huge, taking up the better part of a wing and spanning two floors. Luxurious gemstone chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Underneath them is a long dinner table that maids constantly keep stocked with fresh fruit, cured meats, exotic cheeses, candles, and whatever else tickles Jessica’s fancy. If this was a throne room, which it almost is, there’s a large jacuzzi where the throne would be.

And sitting inside the jacuzzi is Jessica herself, relaxing while everyone else has been tearing their hair out over the traitor all day. 

Tomoe fiddles with a cigar, turning it over in her hands. A little gift from Jessica that she doesn’t really know what to do with. “You could at least pretend to be concerned.”

“I am concerned. But I’m also tired from how hard I had to exert myself at the duel earlier.” 

“Fair enough.” 

Tomoe lifts the cigar in her hands to a nearby candle and lets the flame singe the tobacco leaves until the tip turns red. Lifting it to her mouth, she takes a small puff and immediately breaks into a hacking cough. She tries to take the cigar out of her mouth but the moisture on her lips makes it stick to her mouth. She tries to pull it off but accidentally undoes the adhesive keeping the tobacco leaf together and the cigar unravels completely. 

“You’re not supposed to breathe those in. Just suck on it like you would a straw, swirl the smoke in your mouth and then blow it out.” 

“You could have told me sooner.” Tomoe looks down at the pile of leaves, ash, and fire on the ground. “Sorry about the mess.” 

“It’s fine.” Jessica gets up from the Jacuzzi, her bare body exposed to the open air. Tomoe looks away out of politeness. She hears her rummage through an ice bucket before flinging a bottle of wine at her. “This should be a little more palatable.” 

Tomoe catches it with one hand and looks at the label. “Pinot Noir. 2020.” 

“Light, flavorful, seductive. One of the most desired styles of wine on Earth.” 

“Interesting.” Tomoe uncorks the wine bottle and pours herself a glass. As she lifts the wine to her mouth, the scent of alcohol overwhelms her and she has to put it back down. Holding her breath, she manages to finally gather enough courage to take a sip. She grimaces as the flavors overwhelm her sense of taste. Resisting the urge to spit it out, she gulps it all down as fast and as forcefully as possible.

“Hm. I suppose it’s not for everyone.” 

“I think I’ll just help myself to the chocolate.”

“Please do.” Jessica sinks back into her jacuzzi and closes her eyes. “Anywho, is there a particular reason you’ve come here?” 

“I think we’ve got something fundamentally wrong regarding the traitor in our midst.” 

“Oh?” Jessica opens one eye and fixes it onto Tomoe. 

“I think there might be multiple traitors.” 

“How so?”

“Doesn’t it seem just a little too convenient? Kikimi showing up right as Gleam was about to ascend to the throne, I mean?” 

“Well, when you put it like that…” Jessica blows a few bubbles into the water. “But then that implies that the person who put her there is also involved. Are you perhaps accusing Florence?”

“It’s only a hunch, but I’m thinking that they could be working together.” 

“I can see Florence trying to ascend to the throne, but I’m not sure how Kikimi fits into all this.”  

“Me neither but even then, you can’t deny the circumstantial evidence.”

“I suppose not.” Jessica pours herself a glass of wine, swirls it, inhales its aromas, and downs it all in one go. Tomoe winces just imagining how much that burned her throat. “What should we do about it?”

“For now? Let’s just see how things play out. Wait for an opportunity.”

“And what if they decide to go after you, me, or my precious niece?” Jessica’s eyes and tone grow callous. “What will you do then?” 

“I doubt any of us are  anywhere close to the chopping block. They’ll be seeking to pit us against each other, weaken us, and only then will they strike. I’m guessing that they won’t be doing anything too crazy like killing another councilor any time soon… at least, not without a very good reason.” 

“I hope you’re right.”