Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki. I filched the "it's nothing personal, but you need to die" line from Volume 19, pg. 131.
Summary: Drabble. Sometimes it's best not to know of what acts one might be capable.
A/N: So this idea has been done a million times. Let's make it a million-and-one, shall we? Again, another rkchallenge bit. Theme was fear. Felt kind of bad using this idea, since it's been done so often, but that didn't stop me from doing it anyway...
First Night
By: gure
What if I freeze and can't do it? Sweat trickled down his back as he perched in a tree, waiting. I made my choice, and picked a side. Am I willing to die for it? His hand tightened on a branch overhead as he subtly shifted his weight on the sturdy bough beneath him. The people are suffering, and I can do something to help. This will help. It has to. He looked up the road for what seemed like the hundredth time. The message in the black envelope had indicated this road, two hours after sunset. He was ready; where was the target? Oh, gods, what if I can do it? What does that make me? Breathing deeply to calm his nerves, Kenshin settled onto his branch, watched the road, and waited.
Above the rustling of the leaves in the wind, there were footsteps. Through the leaves, he could see the bobbing of a paper lantern. As the lantern bobbed closer, the shadows resolved into three figures. The older man in the middle, he was the target. He was flanked, in front and behind, by two guards. Kenshin tensed, focusing on the moment to strike. Quiet conversation floated up to him; these men weren't worried at all. They had no idea what awaited them. He was both terrified and exhilarated by this knowledge.
A heartbeat later, the assassin dropped from the tree and stood facing the startled trio. Addressing his target, he stated clearly, "I have no personal quarrel with you, but for the new era, you must die."
For a moment, there was silence. Taking in the slight youth standing before him, the guard in front stifled a snort and demanded, "Who are you?"
"Kyoto Ishin Shishi."
Eyes widened in disbelief. Then it was like a dream. One moment three men were standing, then a gust of wind, the splatter of blood. Finally, silence.
Kenshin came out of his stance and turned. The first guard and the target had been separated from their heads, the second guard, nearly cleaved in two. Quickly averting his gaze, he performed chiburi and sheathed his sword as other Ishin Shishi, two men he vaguely recognized, stepped out of the trees to inspect his work and leave a slip of paper that said, "Tenchuu."
Looking Kenshin up and down, one of the men said, "Good job, kid. Didn't even give them a chance to scream. Go on back and get yourself cleaned up."
Kenshin nodded numbly, and slipped away into the night.
Once he was certain he was far enough from the others, Kenshin ducked off the road and promptly lost the entirety of his dinner. Spitting, he leaned against a nearby tree and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his gi. What have I done!? The night was warm, but he couldn't stop himself from shaking. His breath came in short, gasping pants. It's gone, and I can never get it back! How long will this go on? How long will I do this? What have I become? Wrapping his arms around his body, and taking one last, gasping breath, Kenshin slowly let it out and relaxed, shoving away the panic. What's done is done, and there's no turning back now. Straightening away from the tree and smoothing the emotion from his face, Kenshin quickly made his way back to the inn. Katsura was waiting.
11/7/06