The Secret of Nakama-Shi
By MeiEden
Summary: In the distant future, in a society of rigid class lines and a world governed by fear, the bond of fragile friendship between strikingly different individuals gives a child thief, a perfect government soldier, a servant girl, a prostitute, a beggar, the leader of a rebellion, and many more the glimmer of hope in an otherwise hopeless Society. Most significant RK characters will appear in this fic. Enjoy and please review!
08/30/2007 – OMG. I totally forgot I had written this fic, and because I remember how much I wanted to write it, I plan on updating it again. Although it's been a really long time since I last updated (because for some reason I forgot it..), I will do my best to try to update regularly from now on – once every one-two weeks. Please review!! It motivates me to keep going when I get lazy! I'm halfway through writing Chapter 2.. so look forward to that in the near future.
Chapter 1: Rain
Author's note: This is a Rurouni Kenshin AU fic. I will try to keep the characters somewhat in character personality-wise, but please note that a few ages will NOT coincide with those found in the anime/manga. I hope you like it, and if you feel so inclined, PLEASE review! Thanks.
December 1, 2070
I used to believe that if only we were together, we would be free. That's what "Nakama-shi" meant—an everlasting bond of loyalty, of trust, and the only form of rebellion we had against The Society. In the beginning, it had seemed hopeless—each of us trapped in the role we were born for, the role The Society designed for us. "Nakama-shi" began as a simple promise, merely a small grain of hope, and later evolved into an entity. It was the one fragile thread that tied me to Him... For that reason alone, I still hold to it—the friendship bond.. the "path to freedom". I don't believe in freedom anymore. I'm no longer optimistic, and hope is dwindling away. Because of me, the only people in my life who actually mattered were almost destroyed. Because of me..none of us have hope anymore.
- # C572134 Kamiya Kaoru
(Taken from "The Diary of Kamiya Kaoru: A Personal History of The Society")
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"Rain, rain go away..come again another day.."
A young girl sang the ancient children's song as she watched the rain splatter against the windowpane of the tiny restaurant at the end of Avenue B in the middle of District 5 on the outskirts of Tokyo III. She had heard the song once many years ago before The Society came and took away the restaurant telescreen. She hadn't heard any music since then. Sano- niichan said it was because The Society thought too much frivolous music would be detrimental to the productivity of the citizens of Tokyo. She didn't think she liked The Society very much, and when Sano-niichan didn't let her sing the one song she knew, she didn't like him very much either. This morning it was okay though, because Sano-niichan had gone to work for the Important people in Tokyo V—the people with Names. Nobody would tell her to stop until afternoon, when Sano-niichan returned.
Outside the window, people were rushing about with preparations for the annual Society Entourage to be held that day. The girl never liked the annual parade. Leader Shishio's army of invincible soldiers, the Juppongatana, frightened her, and when they came, she had a tendency to hide in a corner of the restaurant, wishing very much to be invisible. She hated their cold, mocking eyes as they ordered the restaurant staff around, barking out their number-names as the servants meekly obeyed. She was number "C572134", but because she had been under the required working age of 10 before this year, she'd never had to hear her own number on their lips.
This year would be different though, and she shuddered at the thought of their angry eyes and violent demeanor. Last year, one of the boys had been crippled, and a girl only a few years older than herself had been taken away, never to be seen again. She had been good friends with the girl, and they had given each other nicknames as terms of endearment when they played together as children. Instead of the usual "C572134", she had been "Raccoon", and the other girl had been "Fox". Sano-niichan and Fox were always fighting, but when she was taken away, he had angrily lashed out at the Juppongatana soldier who grabbed her. After the beating he received, Sano-niichan lay near-death in bed for three weeks, and his body still bore the scars of that night. He never spoke of Fox or that day again, and instead threw himself whole-heartedly into his work for The Society he hated so much. Nothing else had changed. Sano-niichan was still Sano- niichan— forever a contradiction.
"C572134!!! What are you doing here all dazed like that!! Today's an important day! The Juppongatana will be here soon, wanting to eat..there's not enough time for you to be playing around! You're officially a worker at the Akabeko now that you're 10.."
The girl looked up at the restaurant owner's daughter, whose face was drawn tightly in an expression of worry and fatigue. Although only a few years older than the young girl, the responsibilities of transferring restaurant ownership made her look many years older than 14, and the once sparkling eyes and childish smile were only a faint trace amidst the stress consuming her youth.
C572134 lowered her eyes and mumbled an apology, quickly rushing to the kitchen to help with the day's preparations.
-----A sword flashed quickly, slicing the virtual image in two perfectly equal pieces, and Aoshi nodded with approval as the last and hundredth VR enemy dissolved into a gory mess on the ground, de-pixelizing rapidly with each step the general took toward the new recruit.
"Well done, H013.. You have much promise. General Hiko Seijuro is indeed a master trainer as reputed, and his prodigy lives up to The Society's expectations."
The boy looked up at Aoshi with expressionless violet eyes flaked with gold. What an unusual color.. As always, the general noted with much interest the eyes of a Hitokiri—a race born of the few survivors of the radioactive explosion 16 years ago which had destroyed all of Tokyo I. Hundreds of thousands had died that day, and the few who lived would never be the same again. The radiation changed them—altered them into something not quite human, as evident by the bright red hair and violet-gold eyes of the youth that stood now, sword in hand, in front of the general of the Oniwabanshuu.
"You will no longer serve under me in the Oniwabanshuu. Your skills show that you will be better use elsewhere. From today, you will officially be the youngest member to ever join the ranks of Shishio-sama's Juppongatana.. You will be the tenth, and your name.."
The boy's expression changed slightly at the mention of a name. This was different. Only elite members of The Society were allowed the privilege of a name. As long as he could remember, he had been H013.
"..will be Hitokiri Battousai."
Not really a name then..Of course.. another label to mark my lack of humanity.. The boy shrugged coolly and sheathed his sword. "As you wish, Aoshi-sama.." At least it was better than a number.
"As you know, today is the Society Entourage festival in Tokyo III. Please report to the front lobby. The rest of the Juppongatana have converged already and are ready to depart. They've been waiting for you.."
The hitokiri nodded and bowed deeply, showing the proper respect to his former superior. Without another word, he turned on his heel and silently disappeared from the room. Aoshi watched the redhead leave thoughtfully, his cool blue eyes hardening with contemplation. That one..will be dangerous.. His killing aura is unchecked. It's never safe..to trust a hitokiri. Look what happened with Hitokiri Ji-neh.. He left countless Soldiers and Citizens dead... It was H013...no, Hitokiri Battousai, who finally disposed of that nuisance.. Perhaps he can be trusted, but even so, he's still a hitokiri.. What could Shishio-sama be thinking?
With a sigh, Aoshi left the VR training room. It didn't matter to him anymore, after all. Anything outside of his jurisdiction was none of his concern. If the Hitokiri Battousai grew up to murder all of Shishio-sama's court, it had nothing to do with him..not unless he threatened the Oniwabanshuu of course. Then, and only then would Aoshi be required to take action.
Hitokiri Battousai silently slid into the backseat of one of the Juppongatana hovercars. As soon as he had reached the lobby and been quickly introduced to the other members of Shishio's Guard he'd been ushered out the door behind Soujirou, a boy with an everlasting smile plastered on his face. Now Soujirou sat next to him in the car, the trademark smile still dancing across his face as he curiously eyed the new addition to the Guard. Battousai ignored him, never having been one for small talk and stared out the window, watching the scenery outside change as the hovercar flew through Tokyo V on it way to the inner city districts. Everywhere he looked, he saw signs of festival preparations—the banners and colorful designs praising Shishio and his Society, the Citizens bowing low to the ground as the hovercars rushed past, groveling in the mud, even in the rain to pay homage to The Society Entourage. He turned away in disgust.
At first he'd thought that being part of the Juppongatana would be his ultimate goal. Once achieved, he could finally find the peace Tomoe had spoken of. She said he needed to belong, and she offered him Nakama-shi—a sacred bond in an ancient language which invoked the concept of what she called "friendship". Not understanding, he had scoffed at her.
"What do you know of ancient languages? Who cares anyway? Shishio has no use for it, and neither does the rest of The Society? What do you know of anything? You're just a high-class whore. You think you're so special because you have a name? A whore..is a whore no matter what they call her."
He immediately regretted his words then upon seeing the look of pain flash across her face. That had been two years ago when he was 15. She was gone now, but he still remembered her. How could he forget her? Even after what he said, she was the only person he could talk to then, the only one who accepted him for who he was. If he was cruelty, then she was kindness. If he was a sword, then she was a sheath. No matter how angrily he struck at her, she absorbed his words and all of his menace; she absorbed it until there was nothing left, and he trusted her—only her. He felt solace in the company of the one he so vehemently called a whore. She offered him Nakama-shi, and he had killed her—the only friend he had. It wasn't until after she was dead that he allowed himself to accept the sacred bond. He thought that he could find it again if he became a part of something.
Now that he belonged to THE elite Guard of The Society though, he still felt empty. Seeing the Citizens grovel before him only sickened him. They only bowed because of Fear. Any act of disobedience would result in immediate death.
"The strong survive, and the weak die." Soujirou's boyish voice brought Battousai out of his reverie. The fellow Juppongatana member smiled brightly as Battousai turned to look at him. "It's the Juppongatana motto. We are the way we are because we are strong. The Citizens are the way they are because they are weak. They need our strength."
Battousai nodded slightly. "But perhaps.. they need much more than just strength.."
Soujirou smiled. "Perhaps, but they will never understand, and because they are weak, they will never seek to understand.. Oh look, we're at the Akabeko!"
The hovercar stopped in front of a small, plain-looking building at the end of the street they'd been traveling on. It seemed odd that a group as prestigious as the Juppongatana would choose such a simple restaurant over the more luxurious Sakura Hotel near the center of the District, and Battousai gave his carmate a puzzled look. Soujirou beamed in understanding.
"The food here is much better than any restaurant in the District, and we have always come here traditionally on our annual festival visits to District 5. The fancier restaurants were later additions to the district, and Shishio-sama felt it was unnecessary to change a good thing."
Battousai accepted the explanation and stepped out of the car as the driver opened the door for Soujirou and him. He eyed the simple restaurant warily. Something about the place unnerved him, as if an invisible something was watching him from within, and unconsciously, he put his hand to the hilt of his sword. Seeing this, Soujirou laughed out loud. "Is something wrong, Battousai-san? There's nothing dangerous here. It's just food, and nobody would dare to poison the Juppongatana. Come on..I'm hungry..Let's go!"
Not letting down his guard for an instant, Battousai followed after Soujirou as a small woman with brown hair pulled back into a neat bun warmly ushered the Juppongatana into the restaurant with many smiles and bows.
As they seated themselves around the table, a young girl in a light yellow kimono rushed up to them and lowered her eyes with proper etiquette to the high-ranking table of Guards. Battousai watched with interest as she shifted nervously, obviously uncomfortable in the presence of the Juppongatana. Perhaps it was the first time she'd ever served so many powerful people at once. It was almost amusing, seeing her look up nervously with her bright blue eyes, uncertain how to act in front of her guests. In the corner, the woman with brown hair looked at the girl sternly, making rapid gestures with her hands. The girl quickly lowered her eyes again and cleared her throat.
"Hello... I...I am your servant fo..for today. My number is C572134, and the menus are on the scr..s.creens in front of you. Please allow me to fulfill any requests you might have."
She let out a sigh of relief as she finished her speech, and looked up again, more confidently this time. Staring at her, Battousai felt an uncomfortable feeling rise up from within him, and for just an instance, Tomoe's face flashed through his mind.
"I offer you Nakama-shi, the sacred bond of an ancient language lost many years ago. I'm offering you... my friendship"
End of Chapter 1.
Well I hope you guys like it so far. I have lots of ideas in my head for this story, and feedback would be much appreciated – whether you like or dislike what I'm writing. Reviews are definitely a great way for me to improve my writing and make it a more enjoyable read for you guys as readers. ) Thanks! --MeiEden