Page 92 of Dragon 7

Some stumbled. Others screamed and dropped magazines. One of them threw down his rifle and held his hands up as he sprinted past where Akiro's first wave had gathered earlier in the night. Another tripped over a tree root, rolled, and got back up, screamed, and ran harder.

Across the field, Akiro's men roared with laughter. Hundreds of them. Drunk on the sight of our Scales’ overexaggerated retreat. They fired their guns into the air and screamed out insults. A few beat their chests. Some even grabbed their crotches.

I raised my eyebrows.

Through the Namahage, Toma's voice came out muffled and dry. "I think our men may have over-sold the performance. After this war, some should definitely consider theater."

Through the Tengu mask, Kaede watched the retreat without turning his head. "Those few on the side should not have dropped their magazines.”

Reo shrugged. “I’m sure they plan to go back to them.”

Daisuke exhaled once through his nose. For Daisuke, that was a standing ovation.

The twins tilted their heads at identical angles. Aki spoke first. "Convincing."

Yuki finished. "We would have done better."

Yoichi's gold kitsune turned toward me, and as always with violence he became poetic. "Even the ocean retreats before the wave."

I rolled my eyes. "That's not a haiku."

"But it is a poetic fact." Yoichi's gold kitsune turned back forward. “How about this: Death takes the leaves."

Kaede sighed. "Please don't."

“Spring still reaches through the graves.” Yoichi ignored him. “The flowers bloom on.”

Reo nodded. “That’s quite a lovely haiku, Yoichi. Thank you.”

Yoichi bowed.

I frowned. “Please don’t congratulate him. He’ll keep on yelling out haikus through the whole battle.”

Yoichi inclined his head. “Just for that, I’ll make sure to be close to you when I do, Hiro.”

“That haiku sounded too sad to me.” Satoshi pressed a magazine into his rifle with a clean precise click. “I don’t want flowers to grow after I die. Let the whole place where I fall be barren for centuries.”

“Depressing.” Aki nodded.

“But, true,” Yuki added.

At least I can still tell them apart by their voices. Too bad we won’t be speaking that much in battle.

“Well. . .” Yoichi's gold kitsune turned slowly toward the twins. "There is still time."

The twins' matching kitsune masks turned toward Yoichi in perfect unison.

Aki spoke first. "Time for what?"

Yoichi’s voice held edge. "To change your masks. As I already said. . .it’s disrespectful."

“To who?” Aki held out his hands. “The gods of masks?”

Yoichi growled. “To kitsune.”

“Is he still on this?” Yuki's head tilted.

"Why would we change them?" Aki finished. “And how is it disrespectful? You’re wearing one too.”