The young boy caught Rebecca's eye by chance. The woman had just taken ownership of a brand new katana and was on her way home when she saw the tanned lad whistling to himself, loitering by a convenience store. She strode over, her hand already twitching with desire, to separate the kid's head from his shoulders.

The boy looked up at the tall gaijin woman, his eyes widening as he saw the Misutachi Zaibatsu crest on her shoulder patch. A corpo samurai, one of the elite troops that formed the physical projection of corporate power in post collapse Japan. "Your name", the woman demanded.

He bowed his head and stammered out "H-Hidetaka Kenji, ma'am"

"Age?"

"12, and a half"

His head was still bowed in deference when the katana blade sliced through his tanned neck, beheading the boy in one stroke, to Rebecca's satisfaction.

The torso stood still for a second, still bowed. A twin jet of crimson squirted from the neck stump, mixed with pale yellow puke. The headless body flopped forward, limbs tangled. Blood pooled around Rebecca's designer shoes as she wiped the blade off on Kenji's tank top. The head had rolled a few feet to the side, the boy's face slack in death, lips parted and eyes hooded.

Rebecca turned and walked away, making a note to send a congratulatory gift to the swordsmith.