Rurouni Seta

Chapter One: The Blind Crane

Seta was certain that this lanscape was beautiful.

High rolling hills undulated in the background, terraced in places. The roads wound like streams between them. Here and there, the firelight inside cottages dotted the landscape in a reflection of the clear, star-strewn sky. The full moon sparkled off the freshly fallen snow and elongated the shadows cast by the naked trees. A sleepy town spread out in the river valley.

It should have been beautiful.

His gnawing hunger made it hard to see it that way. After days of walking with no food, Seta could barely stand. He pushed through the snow with the understanding that if he dared rest, he would never be able to continue again. He felt death hunting him like a dog, crouched behind boulders and peeking around behind the trunks of trees. The sensation of starving had faded to a dull ache, as though his stomach had grown weary of begging him.

All the homesteads he had visited had turned him away. Most claiming that they simply had nothing, others suspiciously hid behind their doors. The last time he had asked for room and board, they ran him out. This small village was the last chance he was going to give this ten-years journey. If nothing came of it now, he was going to give it up.

"Kenshin," he whispered, "If I die here, I'm coming back to take you with me."

At the end of a road stood large building facing the frozen river. It was garishly painted in oranges and reds. Two stone carvings of cranes arched their wings over the entrance, forming a gate, as though it were a shrine. It was not like any shrine Seta had ever seen, but at the moment he did not want to criticize. The fragrance of warm sake and steamed rice reached his nostrils. He licked his lips and knocked on the front door.

The door swung open and multiple voices shouted, "Welcoooome!"

"Uh..." Before Seta could even realize what was going on, he was yanked indoors by two women in colourful makeup.

Festive paper confetti burst in his face. On all sides, women lounged in loosely fitting kimonos. "Oh! A youngster!" they cooed. "He's so cute!"

The one who had opened the door wrapped one arm about his shoulders. "He's not that young."

"Hey, I hope you have money kid..." A burly man stood beside him.

Horrified, Seta smiled, his typical reaction to dangerous circumstances. "I uhhh... I have some..." He held out a pouch. "It's not much... so I'll just be going now..."

"Not so fast." The man took the pouch and shook it. "He's right. It's not much. But, it might be enough for her."

"I um... I'm not sure I..."

"Here little boy, do you like ramen?" A woman leaned forward -- far forward -- showing him a bowl of ramen and a whole lot more.

Seta's mouth watered and his stomach clenched. Food! And so much of it! "Thank you, Miss!"

"He's blushing! Adorable!"

The women all laughed. "Such a cute smile!"

"Are you from far away?" A woman came with a brush and started to undo his ponytail. "A far off land?"

"Oh! Maybe he's a ronin! What a beautiful sword." Another sat close behind him and place a hand lightly on his knee. "Will you show me your technique a little later?"

"I was actually just looking to spend the night..." Seta said around a mouthful of noodles.

"You're in the right place!" More laughter echoed around him.

After finishing the bowl, he felt exhausted and a little woozy.

"Aw... he's tired."

"That's alright. She's ready!"

"Can't keep her waiting!"

They lifted him by his arms and relieved him of his cloak. "Quickly! Come with us!"

The women escorted him through the a darkened corridor.

"Who's waiting?" Seta desperately looked for a way out of the situation. On the route were several rooms. This place appeared to have been a former buddhist shrine. There should be multiple ways out. Where were they? Closed off? Why?

"Your crane of course!"

"This is the Shrine of Cranes after all."

"M-my crane?" They stopped in front of a decorated door.

"B-but I just wanted..."

They opened the door and shoved him inside. "Enjoy yourself!"

"Wait!" The door shut and was locked. "Hey! Hold on!" He was not alone in the room. His hand moved to his katana.

"They won't be coming back for a while," said a voice from behind.

Seta did not turn around. "I realize that. There's been a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Oh? You prefer men?"

He smiled. "No. But I really have no intention of being your client."

"Then what are you grinning about? Are you mocking me because I'm blind?"

Surprised, Seta faced her. A young woman knelt by the mattress. Her hair spilled down over her kimono and onto the floor. "I mean no disrespect, you are a lovely lady. But I'm really just looking for a place to sleep..."

"You have one." She swept her hand over the futon. "Sleep away."

She seemed harmless enough, despite her sarcastic manner. "But you... you're here."

"I can't leave this room. I will sleep with you of course. After all, that is what you paid for." She dropped her kimono down over your shoulders.

"Is there no other way?"

"No" She explained. "They listen. If nothing happens, I will be punished."

"What should we do?"

"Trust me. Hurry up!" she whispered.

The blankets were thin and he started shivering again as soon as he was under them. The woman pushed back against him and dragged one arm over her shoulders. "He-hey!"

"Quiet." She started kissing his hand loudly. "Don't blush so much! You're young so this'll be over quick."

"What's that supposed to mean..." Seta's kept his stare at the wall. "You've done this before?"

"What's your name?" she asked softly.

"It's Soujiro Seta. I'm a wanderer."

"You know how to use that sword?"

"How did-?"

"Is that a yes or no?"

Seta turned his palm upward towards her face. "Apparently, Usui was not the only one with amazing hearing. Is it a talent of the blind, I wonder."

She grabbed his ear and twisted it hard. "Ah! Ah! Ah! What was that-"

She placed her hand over his mouth and a dagger to his throat. "This is not an ordinary brothel. This is not an ordinary shrine. You are not an ordinary traveler. Who are you working for? Are you a spy?"

"I told you the truth. I'm a wanderer." Seta moved the dagger away. "Really, you were able to learn my form that quickly? If you had made a mistake, that blade would have been in my neck right now."

She scowled at him. "Alright, I'll let Fujita-san work things out with you, but if you're going to live, you're going to have to protect me."

Seta's eyes widened a second before a loud bang rocked the building. Beside him, Akiko sat up. ""Hurry! Get dressed!"

Loud footsteps echoed down on the lower floor. Seta moved quickly to his clothes.

"Noooo! Please!" Someone screamed. More shrieks began to come from every room in the building.

"Seta!"

He grabbed her arm and hurried to the door. His hand gripped the hilt of his katana. "Where's a way out?"

"The front door is the only way out."

"Help! Someone!" A woman came running toward them, a man at her heels. In an instant, Seta's blade cut through his shoulder rendering the man's arm useless. He howled and fell back against the wall.

Hazy smoke began obscure everything in the former shrine. As they got closer to the entrance, the heat from the flames grew intense.

At the end of the hall, a man stood waiting. In his hand was a long sword, one unlike any Seta had ever seen. There was no way to sheath it or even hide it. Seta stopped and prepared to fight. The man's eyes flicked to Akiko and to Seta again, then turned and ran out of the building.

The whole shrine was in flames. Part of the ceiling collapsed just as they made it out the door. Outside, Akiko tripped and fell over the stairs. She picked herself up off the ground and found Seta's hand. "There are more of them!"

There were five. Howling a battle cry, Seta charged. The five were caught completely off guard and went scattering like flock of frightened birds. He appeared in front of those that ran left, and behind those running to the right. Any who had the nerve to try to run back the way they came, never saw Seta strike them.

More enemies came from behind the brothel and from the village itself. The moment they spotted Seta, they went hurrying to attack him.

"This is endless." He returned to a bewildered Akiko and took her hand once more.

They reached the river and began to cross it, still running as fast as they could. All around the ice creaked and popped. They were halfway across when a loud roar erupted from the other side. Snow exploded in front of their pursuers who fell dead all at once.

Seta dove to the ice, ducking bullets that winged past his head.

The frozen river fragmented underneath them and they plunged into the water. His scream forced bubbles all around his face. Akiko was still clinging to him, dragging him down. The current was swift under the ice and it swept them far from the opening that the bullets had formed. Seta slammed his katana upward and held on as tight as he could. Soon, their combined weight caused the ice to split and he took a ragged breath. He threw one hand over the edge and brought his sword to the surface. Akiko came up a moment later and clung desperately to him.

"Stop! You'll pull us back in!"

To her credit, she moved her grip from his body to the ice. Seta pulled himself up and helped Akiko out of the water. Her skin was pale and her lips were blue. Her frantic shivering threw water off her rapidly freezing hair.

A sharp click sounded very close and the cold muzzle of a gun was pushed to the back of Seta's head. "Any last words?"

Seta turned slowly to face him. His executioner was a tall man with a thin beard and narrow gray eyes.

"What are you doing? Put that gun down!" Akiko ordered.

The man sneered. "Who are you? One of Abe's whores?"

"My name is Akiko. I am one of the Cranes. As a Crane, I cannot be executed without a trial. Besides, I'm what this all about, so let him go."

He lowered the gun. "That is true. You practically delivered her to us."

More men, heavily armed with pistols, chuckled from where they surrounded them.

Akiko nodded. "Besides, you saw how fast he can move didn't you? He could be useful!"

Seta looked at her searching her face for answers, but he could not read her sightless eyes. The thugs quickly moved forward to bind him. "Where are you taking me?"

"You're in no position to ask questions!"

The gun smashed into the back of his head. He fell to the ground with his face in the snow. Blood trickled down his temples. As they began to drag him away, he took comfort in the fact that he would be getting that long sleep after all.