Haku leapt up and back, her feet touching down on the slick tiles atop the machiya’s roof. He followed, jumping after her and running across the tiles, closing the distance between them fast.

Too fast.

His footing and balance are perfect, and his speed…

The White Feather jumped back again, landing atop another roof.

“Why do you evade me? Fight!”

“You have your style, and I have mine,” she countered. “Why should I duel you on your terms where you have the upper hand. Is that not foolish?”

“I wish to cross blades with you, White Feather, not compete in a contest of maneuvers and strategy, but a pure duel to determine the outcome of the better swordsman.”

How distasteful.

“What?”

“I can assure you,” she said, “that you are the better sword master.” She could tell this declaration upset him.

“Then come here so I can cut you down—or will you glide on the wind in constant retreat?”

“Your arrogance annoys me, swordsman.”

“I am no mere swordsman,” he spat. “Stop calling me that. You can call me by my legendary title, or you can call me by name.”

“What is your name?”

“What?” The surprise in his voice was not feigned. “You mock me, Haku?”

Cocking her head back, she too was surprised now. “So… you know me, but I do not know you. The Sword of a Thousand Suns is hardly a name.”

“One you know.”

“One I’ve heard, but not the name behind it.”

The Sword of a Thousand Suns kneeled, then lunged up toward her, his body closing the gap between them so quickly Haku couldn’t evade this time.

She raised her blade and took the full force of his attack head on.