As consciousness returned to Obake, he found everything blurry and spinning. His bicep throbbed, showing no sign of letting up. As his vision sharpened, he glanced over and saw yellow teeth, a black beard, and bits of food tucked within it. A putrid stench assaulted his nose. He rolled off the unconscious samurai as fast as his aching body would allow.
   Disgusting! What’s with this guy? It’s not that hard to brush your damn teeth.
   He wanted nothing more than to stay right where he was and take a long nap. The thought of pushing his body any further filled him with dread. Regardless, he climbed back to his feet with the stiffness of an eighty-year-old. Blood spilled over his forearm like a broken pipe. Agalo’s arrow pierced straight through the bicep muscle but failed to exit. With a deep breath, he gripped the arrow’s tail and… panicked.
   This is going to suck. I don’t know if I can do this. He took a second, steadier breath. All right, I’ve got this. One… two… three!
   The arrow came free, accompanied by an awful sloshing sound. A troubling amount of blood traveled the length of his arm. Using his sash as a tourniquet, he quickly brought the bleeding under control.
   While gazing upon the bearded samurai, dark thoughts entered his mind. I could stomp him out right now. Make sure he never shoots another arrow again. Or maybe I’ll throw him off instead. No. I’m not a murderer. He wondered if moments like this were what turned some warriors into cold-blooded savages. I better go before this bastard wakes up.
   The horse he rode to the chasm on was nowhere to be found.
   Did it fall?
   Agalo’s horse, however, stood by with ever-so-quiet patience, staring at Obake with its black, orb-like eyes. 
   He approached and began petting the horse. It behaved like it didn’t know what to make of the gesture. “Sorry about your friends. Believe it or not, I love animals.”
   Although embarrassed, he hoped the horse would reassure him somehow. Tell him he wasn’t a monster. When his imagination failed to stir reality, he mounted the horse and searched the saddle pouches. All he found was a thermos full of water and half a sandwich. He drank most of the water and ate most of the sandwich, the rest went straight to the horse. Again, it behaved like it didn’t know how to receive the kind gesture.
   Off in the distance, the giant wall still loomed. A pocket watch emerged from his keikogi, its lid decorated with unique patterns. 
   He flipped it open to view the ticking hands of time. 4:01 A.M. Looks like I’m not getting much sleep tonight.
   An engraving on the bottom side of the lid read: Vai. His heart ached for the name. 
   I miss you, Mom.
   Together, Obake and his new companion pressed on, arriving beneath the massive sixty-foot wall ten minutes later. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Sandy-brown stones rose to a mid-wall partition, giving way to a smooth upper rise that stretched toward a pagoda-style roof draped in ruby shingles and copper accents—an architectural masterpiece Obake was prepared to reach.
   He dismounted then hesitated a moment before speaking. “Thanks for your help. I wouldn’t have made it without you and your friends. Take care of yourself.”
   One smack to the animal’s rear launched it into the distance. From his satchel came two black climbing claws, their palms bristling with sharp spikes. Gazing up, he braced for the task at hand. His ascent began as he drove the claws into the wall and slid his fingertips between the stones. He also used any imperfections, unusual lumps, cracks and holes, anything that enabled him to get a finger or foothold.
   Despite the sting in his right arm and the physical exertion, the climb was quite tranquil. A serene wind brushed his ears, and glistening stars drew closer. If it were possible, he would’ve stolen a star to keep as a memento.
   Upon reaching the partition, he steadied his left hand and wedged his feet between two stones. With extreme caution, he leaned back and reached into his satchel. In an instant, his fingers found what he sought—a wound-up black rope fixed to a silver talon. He unraveled it, the slack spiraling toward the ground, and soon the talon was spinning overhead like a propeller. 
   With a quick release, it soared up and over the roof, latching onto the opposite side. Before trusting the grappling hook, he gave it a few tugs. Satisfied, he began the second leg of his ascent—this time at a dangerous speed. A spasm seized his wounded arm, sending him falling. He gripped the rope in desperation, the friction burning his hands. His feet dug against the stones, the wall scraping up the soles of his sandals.
   Before reaching the ropes end, some twenty feet above ground, he slowed to a halt. That was too close.
With patience anchoring his thoughts, he resumed his climb until the ruby roof finally greeted him.
   On top of the flat, eight-foot-wide roof, he gazed to one side then the other. Never fails to amaze me. They definitely didn’t botch the name with this one. The Colossal Divide. Looks like it goes on forever. Obake found it surreal to survey the realm from on high, but it also brought him a bout of sadness. The lengths people will go to separate themselves from each other. Meilana circumvented his mind. He tried to push her out; he didn’t want emotions to consume him, but it was futile. 
   I’m never going to see her again, am I? There’s no way I can be with her now. Why did I have to go over there tonight? His stomach performed a series of somersaults. How could I be so stupid? The expensive things, the fancy outfits, the Gazzo Clan symbol. I mean… I knew she was from Gazzo City, but… the daughter of the Grandmagistra. 
   One negative thought after the other struck his mind. I should’ve figured it out. I assumed everybody from Gazzo City was rich. Why didn’t I ask more questions? Stop! Come on Obake, you have to be strong. What’s done is done.
   The internal agony throbbed far worse than the pain in his wounded arm. After a brief spell of self-pity, he fastened the grappling hook to the other side of the roof and descended. Once halfway, he retrieved the grappling hook and stuffed it back into his satchel. Slowly, he continued downward with his claws until he was close enough to drop the rest of the way. When his feet hit the dirt, a tremendous weight lifted from his shoulders. He was home.