to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)
great speed; extreme speed; swiftness
bringing certain death; deadly; knockout (blow)
nape of the neck; back of the neck; scruff of the neck
to drop; to lose; to clean off (dirt, makeup, paint, etc.); to remove (e.g. stains or facial hair); to lose (a match); to reject (an applicant); to lower (e.g. shoulders or voice)
sliver of hope; gleam of hope; ray of hope
arrest; apprehension; capture
to get torn; to tear; to rip; to be broken off (of negotiations, etc.); to break down; to collapse
when; at what time; how soon; normal times; ordinary days
all that one has; all that there is; the whole
blast (wind); blast (explosion)
wave (on water); wave (electromagnetic, sound, etc.); wave (in hair); wave (audience); Mexican wave
counter for waves (of a repeated occurrence)
to rush on; to attack; to swoop down on
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
violence; vehemence; fury; fervour; fervor; severity
aristocrat; nobleman; dignitary; person of high rank
male coming-of-age-ceremony; shaving one's eyebrows, blackening one's teeth, and wearing one's hair in the marumage style (of a newly married woman; Edo period)
narrow; thin (sized); slender
presence (impressive quality)
to drift; to float; to waft (e.g. a scent); to hang in the air; to be in the air (e.g. a feeling or mood); to wander; to walk around aimlessly
suguha; straight temper line (on a sword)
long sword (esp. the tachi, worn on the hip edge down by samurai); large sword; straight single-edged Japanese sword (from the mid-Heian period or earlier)
to begin; to start; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)
joining (a club, organization, etc.); becoming a member; entry; admission; subscription; affiliation
sacred treasure; the three sacred treasures (sword, jewel, mirror); implement used in religious ceremonies
next; hypo- (i.e. containing an element with low valence); order; sequence
to climb; to clamber (over, up); to scramble (up); to scale; to claw one's way up
putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
lead; leading; lead (of a newspaper, etc.); lede; lead (wire); lead (e.g. dog); leash
friend; companion; comrade; accompaniment; companion (e.g. book); complement
one's heart; one's mind; one's intentions
worry; fear; anxiety; concern
contradiction; inconsistency