Page 55 of The Last Tiger

Eunji

“This might be it,” I mutter. “The end for us…”

Seung shakes his head. He lets out a kind of sad laughter. Despite the cold of the cell, I feel a warmth spread within me.

“There is no end for us, Eunji.”

Is he talking about making it out alive from here? Or…?

“Seung…”

What can I say to him?

“I missed you.” As the truth spills out from between my lips, I wipe my eyes.

Suddenly I hate the tears. I hate feeling so fragile, after everything I’ve done, after how strong I’ve become.

I hate the voice crying out inside me like a child, screaming, Where were you?

How could you let me walk away? And how can I be sure that I’ll never lose you again?

“I’m here,” Seung says. As if he’s heard my inner thoughts. “I’m not going anywhere, Eunji. I promise.”

I scan his features, trying to understand what he’s saying. Here we are again, sitting side by side, and I’m looking at him and feeling this way, and I think he might feel the same, but I just don’t know. Has anything changed since the palace rooftop?

“You told me once,” I say, “that there were certain things we could never achieve, never be, never do , because we lacked power. I spent the last year so… mad at you. For not believing in yourself. For not believing in me . And, honestly, I have to—to thank you.”

A chuckle escapes me.

“I went to crazy lengths,” I say. “I became the person I am today because I wanted so badly to prove you wrong—I wanted you to realize just how wrong you were.”

Embarrassed, I cover my face with my hands.

I feel warm fingers close around my own as Seung gently peels them away to reveal his chestnut-brown eyes shining across from mine.

“I did,” he says. “I do.”

He squeezes my hand.

“And you should know, Eunji,” he goes on, “I’d never worked so hard for anything until you came into my life. I’d never allowed myself to dream. But for the first time, I wanted—I strived —to be better. I wanted to be good enough—for you.”

“Seung.” I shake my head. “You were good enough for me the day we met in the kimchi fridge.”

I laugh, again, at the memory of the two of us standing there in the dark as I demanded that we strike a deal. So long ago.

We’re sitting so close. If I wanted to, I could just reach up and touch his face now.

Suddenly a blinding light shines as the door on the other side of the iron bars swings open.

Seung and I spring apart to the harsh sound of boots against concrete. In the corner of her cell, Jin stirs in her sleep as the soldiers shuffle in.

“Just her,” barks an officer.

Seung leaps to his feet as a soldier reaches forward, pointing straight at me.

“Miss Yamamoto, let’s chat.”

Isao slides a glass of water across the small, metal table and toward my hands as he takes his seat. The electric light of the stale, white room is blinding after spending so many hours in the dark.

“The empire is thrilled to welcome you home. Well done.” Isao gives me a slight smile and nods as he leans forward, his elbows resting on the table, almost fatherly.

I remain with my back firmly against the chair, my shoulders rigid, waiting for the twist.

My blood turns to ice as the door swings open.

Someone steps inside—

“Eunji,” Mother whispers.

No.

I shoot to my feet. One of the soldiers stationed at the door immediately places a hand on Mother’s shoulder, and she flinches. I sink back down into the chair.

I stare from her to Isao in confusion. His smile looks cold now. “Kenzo Kobayashi explained to us the harrowing story of your courage—how you two tracked down the last tiger. That is, until the Resistance girl invaded your mind and forced you to fight against my men. Isn’t that right, Kenzo?”

The soldier across from me—the one who escorted me here—lifts his crimson helmet off, freeing his shaggy, jet-black hair. Kenzo bows to the governor-general in agreement.

My chest constricts.

“Miss Yamamoto,” the governor-general says, “it’s time to celebrate.”

That’s not my name, I think silently. Sullenly.

“Celebrate?” I keep my tone light. Has Isao really believed Kenzo’s lie? Or does he know the truth—that I acted of my own volition on that boat?

“Yes. It’s your wedding day. I think that’s an occasion for celebration, wouldn’t you agree?”

I open my mouth to protest, then shut it as Mother stiffens at the doorway. Her face is blank. I wonder where she stands. Is she here as Isao’s captive, or was this her suggestion?

“The empire has a vested interest, Miss Yamamoto, in seeing you and Mr.Kobayashi happily married. You should feel very, very lucky about that. There are few people on this earth who have crossed me and been permitted to live.”

Kenzo remains by the opposite wall, dressed in crimson armor, cradling the signature Dragon Army helmet in his hands. Preoccupied, he focuses on polishing the shiny surface with his thumb.

“This is a great day for you,” the governor-general goes on. “You’ll be married; you and your husband will be proclaimed the heroes who captured the last tiger. You’ll live happily ever after, and quietly . I trust that there will be no complications this time. I can trust you with that, can’t I?”

My mind races. Isao waves Kenzo over impatiently. Kenzo drifts toward me, his clean black shoes ringing out against the concrete.

“Eunji,” Kenzo says, his voice flat. “I’ve known for a long time that our lives were destined to be intertwined.

But I had no idea just how great of a match we’d make.

” He reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me up to stand and face him.

His fingertips are cold. “And we have made a great match.” For a second, a gleam of actual emotion passes over his features. “Don’t you think?”

As he stares down at me, Kenzo’s eyes flash at me with something that I can only describe as a warning. Just go with it, he seems to say.

“I always believed that if I married, it would be to serve the empire, not for love,” Kenzo finishes. “I never imagined that it could be for both.”

I look up, searching Kenzo’s face. Love?

Are we playing Isao?

Or are you playing me ?

Isao chuckles and pats Kenzo on his left shoulder—the recently injured one— hard . Kenzo pales, looking nervous.

“What’s your answer, Miss Yamamoto? I’d like to know. Now, please.”

And then I understand. It doesn’t even matter whether Isao believes Kenzo’s story. He probably doesn’t. But the truth isn’t even important.

What is important is that Isao wins. What is important is that no one can ever be seen to turn against his will in public.

What’s important is that Kenzo and I demonstrate our loyalty today.

This is the story that Isao has decided to go with.

He wants to prove to the colonies that the empire does not make mistakes.

Isao plans to use our so-called love to distract from the empire’s brutality on the same night that he slays the final tiger, to twist it into a fairy-tale ending.

And he wants me to confirm that I’m on his side.

If I say no, what will become of me?

Of Kenzo? Of our families?

If I say yes, what will become of Seung, Jin, and the tiger?

I open my mouth.

“I…”

Everyone in the room watches me, tense with anticipation. I glance at Mother. She shivers. Now I can see from the fear in her eyes that she’s not here of her own accord. She’s under threat.

“I…”

Kenzo pales. Isao simply stares at me, unfeeling and unmoving.

I lower my head. “Yes, sir. I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“Good. You two can wait downstairs and freshen up. I want you to be calm and cheerful when you return. Everyone should see— feel —exactly how happy you are.” Isao gives Kenzo a meaningful look. “You can help with that, can’t you, Kobayashi?”

He knows.

He knows Kenzo has Tiger ki.

My gut twists. Something feels wrong.

If Isao knows the truth about Kenzo…and the truth about me…then why are we being permitted to live today?

What is he planning that I don’t know?

“Escort them down,” the governor-general says.

Down the stairs, Kenzo takes me by the elbow and turns us abruptly back toward the prison.

“Hey,” says the soldier next to him gruffly. “We’re supposed to head to the other wing.”

Kenzo faces the other soldier and places a hand on his arm. “You look tired, man. Are you feeling okay? Maybe you should go home.”

Immediately the man’s shoulders soften, and he nods absentmindedly, then turns and stumbles the other way. Kenzo pushes me through the hall and back into the dark cell corridor, slamming the door shut behind him.

“Eunji—” Seung, standing up against the bars, searches my face. Jin, awake now, waits in the shadows of her cell, her mouth pressed into a tight line. Her face is ashen and gray beneath the blindfold.

“I’m okay,” I say quickly, reaching forward, but Kenzo’s hand on my arm stops me. I shove it off, turning around to face him.

“That was quite the performance back there.” I scoff at him.

“Quickly,” Kenzo says, his voice suddenly free of swagger, “we don’t have much time.”

“Time for what?”

“I’m upholding my vow,” Kenzo says, “to protect you.”

“ This is what you call ‘protecting’?” I guffaw in disbelief, gesturing to the cell behind me. “You don’t seriously think I’ll marry you now, do you? After you left me—us—for dead?”

Kenzo leans closer, reaching up and placing a hand on one of the iron bars above me.

“You don’t understand, Eunji—”

I push him back, knocking him off balance. “Don’t patronize me—”

“ Ow —what was I to do? Join you in a fruitless fight against literally hundreds of Dragon soldiers? I held back then so that I could save you now . It was all part of my plan—”

“Are you sure?” I inquire. “Was that to save me? Or was it to save you ?”

“Eunji, listen. I am trying to help you. Do you want to be free or not?”

I laugh in his face. “Your so-called plan—going along with whatever Isao tells you to do—that’s real brave, Kenzo. That isn’t freedom. That wouldn’t be freedom for either of us.”