Volume 14 Chapter 4 Summary 02.08.12
By ari

Scarlet Chapter 7 - Wish

The Red King's army has just surprised Sarasa/Tatara's army from behind.
Turns out, they were able to sneak up from behind by using the dried-up
waterways underneath the palace as a hidden route (since Sarasa's gang blew
up all the water sources leading to the palace).

Sarasa is surprised by the sudden attack, but she remains composed. She
tells her army to surround the enemy, since they still outnumber the Red
Army.

Shuri knows he's in a tough spot. He figures that if the battle is not
decided by this attack, it'll be very apparent that he's outnumbered, and
his army will have to retreat to the palace. Yuna is still holding back the
Emperor's army in Shikoku, so he can't count on her support. And he knows
the Emperor's army is watching this fight, ready to pounce on both sides 
when the time is right.

Meanwhile, Asagi tells his henchman Ranmaru to kill Nakijin, since he's a
valuable asset to Shuri's army. Ranmaru succeeds in injuring Nakijin.

Back at the empty palace, Hijiri is dealing with a seriously wounded Nachi.
He bumps into Asagi's henchman Muratake (who was Nachi's buddy back in
Hokkaidou). Muratake treats Nachi's wounds and shows them the way out.

On the battlefield, Sarasa/Tatara's army is gaining ground, but suddenly,
the people of Suou starts throwing stones at them. Turns out when she blew
out the water supply to the palace, she also destroyed the water supply to
the whole city. All of Suou is without water and the people are shouting:
"What was all this talk about 'a country without killing?' You're doing the
killing. You've killed us, and this land! Why did you come here? If only you
didn't come here!"

Sarasa is devastated. Small kids are throwing rocks at her. She sees Hijiri
carrying a dying Nachi back to the ship. She instinctively kills a Red Army
soldier who is charging at her, and sees the blood on her hands. She breaks
down. In her mind, she tells her brother that she has fallen into hell. This
isn't what she wished for at all.

Sarasa and Shuri each stare at the ruined city of Suou and wonder what it is
they really wished for.

At this point, a sand storm breaks out, and both sides retreat.

Back on Sarasa's ship, Dr. Bashou and Nagi are treating the wounded. Hijiri
drops off Nachi and heads off to Kumano (possibly to bring back
reinforcements?). Dr. Bashou asks Nagi if Tatara is really fighting the Red
King outside. Nagi says yes. Since Bashou knows Sarasa is Tatara, he asks:
"In other words, Sarasa is fighting the Red King." Nagi says yes. Then
Bashou wonders, "That's strange. Those two used to swim together (back on
Okinawa). Why are they fighting each other? I don't get it." Nagi looks
alarmed, but before he can say anything, Asagi brings them more wounded to
keep them busy.

Chacha drags a distraught Sarasa back onto the ship. Sarasa thought she saw
Shuri in the sand storm, but figures it was just an illusion. While
on the ship, they bump into Senju, who's caring for Izumi (who is currently
giving birth). Senju (in icy bitch mode) tells them to go away, since their
filthiness would harm Izumi and the baby. Senju also says to Sarasa: "As
long as you're around, even newborns won't be able to live. You may be a
woman, but you don't understand the pain and suffering of women. That's why
you want to fight, that's why you're able to kill." Chacha tells Senju to
try and understand Sarasa's position, but Senju says she has no desire to.

Sarasa's world is falling apart around her. In her mind, she struggles with
her identity: "Even though I'm a woman, I am Tatara..." In a very fragile
and unstable state of mind, she sneaks out of the ship, and wanders
aimlessly into the sand storm.

Meanwhile, Shuri is visiting Shidou's grave. He tells Shidou: "You used to
be the only one. But now, the number of people I don't want to see dead has
increased. Is that because I've become weak? Is that it, Shidou? Forgive me.
Our dream of a cherry blossoming Suou has become only a dream."

While heading back to his camp, Shuri thinks about wanting to see Sarasa. He
passes a hotspring, and figures it's probably all dried up. Then amidst all
the swirling dust and sand, they meet again.

"Why are you here? Why am I meeting you here now?" they each begin to
wonder, but... "...Such things don't matter any more."

-- End of Chapter --