​​​​デスマスク(Oujou Kamen)

“Mina Taylor. You have caused dishonor in Go-ruden Tahata. You took a blood oath, and now you must pay...with your life,” stated Master Rihatsu heavily in voice. Mina never looked up at the other members of the dojo as she was escorted to the platform to be executed. Their eyes either tore through her with distain, or great sadness for her impending fate. “As stated, those that break the sacred oath, will be beheaded, their armor and uniform burned, and their blades destroyed,” he proclaimed, choking on some of his words. Mina’s eyes flickered with shame. She knew that Rihatsu didn’t want to do this, but the oaths are absolute. As she looked down at the stump, covered in grooves filled with blood from times before, she thought on the last conversation she had with Vincent.1

”Why can’t you just run? You're the best they have. They can’t catch you! We could change our names and..."2

”I’m not running.”3

Vincent sighed unevenly, “Why?”4

“I’ve really messed up, Vincent. The Bussou Hashi are never going to stop hunting me down. I’m tired of this, and I want it to end. I’m not the person you knew years ago. That person died when she joined the Hashi.”5

Vincent’s patience was wearing thin in his words, “Then who am I speaking to?”6

She gripped the edges of her steel mask, staring back at herself, thinking of the words to say.7

“I am the blackest shadow. I am the presence you feel behind you, but you see nothing when you turn to look. I am the last thing a contract sees before they die. I am the fear in the night that makes you break into cold sweats in your bed. I am the defining line between life and death. I...am Oujou Kamen, Death Mask.” 8