Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in Rurouni Kenshin... unfortunately T.T
Author: Weasels
A Life Without Regrets
It was finally over. The war that had raged between the Shogunate and the Ishin Shishi had finally come to an end. In the minds of the battle worn soldiers this was the day to celebrate. The bars were packed full of soldiers on both sides celebrating the end of the war. They were all tired of the killing of the bloodshed of the deaths. But one did no celebrate or show any indication of joy as in re sheathed his sword and walked away into the night.
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"Katsura-san," came a calm greeting, his voice as stoic as the rest of his posture.
"Hirmura-san..." Katsura Korgoro, one of the most famous leaders of the revolution, one of the fathers of modern Japan was currently at a loss of words as he stared at the amber eyed stranger in front of him.
"Hey Katsura-san, who's this boy? Is he bothering you? Should we teach him lesson. Teenagers these days they know no respect." His companion's voice cut through the air causing a startled official to jump
"No, I fine he's..." this seemed to snap Katsura out of his daze "Himura! Is it really you? Where have you been for the past four years? I thought you died! How could you-"No doubt Katsura would have continued to rant had the red head not silenced him with a hand.
"I believe we need to find a more private place to continue our conversation, perhaps inside? I don't believe in the middle of the street is the best idea Katsura-san."
The government official blushed furiously as he stammered out his reply "of course, this way. We can go to my office,"
They walked into the building in a rather uncomfortable silence (for Katsura anyway), dismissing his guards he swiftly locked the door behind him and collapsed in his chair, a severe headache was coming up.
Seeing that Hirmura was no one to start a conversation he decided to take the offense "So Himura-san, why are you here after about four years of absence and why didn't you tell me you were alive?! I would have left you go!" he stopped suddenly becoming aware of what he was doing. It wouldn't do to have the information leak out that the great father Katsura Korgoro was mothering the most famous assassin would it?
Himura waited until his superior calmed down before opening his mouth. "Katsura-san... to answer your earlier question," he paused slightly trying to fight down the butterflies in his stomach it was amazing how hard it was for him to ask a favor, "I need a favor." He managed to blurt out.
"A favor you say..." he murmured skeptically "what kind of favor?"
Himura picked his words carefully, not wanting to startle his former boss "because of my work I believe I deserve this. I wouldn't really say it is that big of a favor as if I had not disappeared four years ago I would have been granted this anyway"
"So what exactly is this favor you need?" he was getting more suspicious buy the moment, after all it was not everyday that the most famous assassin of all times came up to ask you for a favor.
"To put it bluntly I need a job,"
Katsura raised his eyebrows. He had definitely not been expecting this, "so what kind of job are you looking for?" he asked slowly still trying to figure out his motive. "And why now? Why do you need a job now?"
"That is non of your business Katura-san," he voice suddenly became cold.
The atmosphere in the room became very uncomfortable as Kastura squirmed in his chair. It was times like this that Katsura was reminded who this petite youth really was.
Hirmura paused a little before continuing, trying to rein in his anger, "that is none of your business an I suggest you to not go snooping around either. As for the other question ... any job will do,"
Katsura gulped nervously before nodding "very well, I believe you could-"
But Katsura was unable to finish as a rather skinny man in a police costume barged in "Kastura-san!"
"Ever heard of knocking sergeant? We are in a meeting here," Katursa looked blushed; embarrassed as the little con troll he had over his subordinates. Ever worse the infamous Battousai was here to watch.
"I'm sorry" he managed to stutter out under his boss' heated glaze "but there is an emergency! According to Izuka's report the Hizuken yazuka are planning an assassination attempt although we are not sure when, but we do know that Izuka's dead"
Katsura reaction was immediate. His face had gone sickly green "Inform every guard of this know, and I want Fugita Goro to be drafted here immediately. We need to be on constant alert. Also pick some of the most skilled riflemen and swordsmen-"
"If I may Katsura-san can I help with this situation. I do hope I am qualified for this, after all I did come for a job." There was a quiet interruption that came from the corner of the room. The sergeant jumped startled that there had been someone else in the room. There was just no way any human could remain that quiet.
"But Himura san I'm sure there is a much more suitable job for you"
"Are you 'saying my skills do not qualify?"
"Of course not! I just thought you would want a more pleasant job."
"Thank you for your concern but I believe this job would be fine Katsura-san unless of course you believe you can find someone more suited for the position," His voice was pleasant, well as pleasant as it could be but you could hear the hinted threat in his voice.
"No of course not. You can have the job I'm sorry for doubting your decision Himura –san" Katsura answered nervously. The questioning look from the sergeant was not helping to calm him either.
The sergeant was actually called Hitachi; he was usually a pretty bright person but at the moment he was confused, very confused. The man in front of him was one of the three most powerful men in the nation for heavens sake! Why in all the worlds would anyone argue with him?! Not to mention the fact that he had actually won the argument. It almost seemed that Katsura was afraid of this youth (he couldn't have been older than 17). The whole situation was just mind-boggling.
"Um Katsura-san..." Hitachi asked uneasily after a moment of awkward silence.
"Oh," his superior jumped slightly; he had been so preoccupied that he had totally forgotten about the other person in his office, "Why are you still here?"
"Um the assassination attempt?" he asked awkwardly "What are we going to do?"
"Oh right the assassination attempt," Katsura blushed, how could he be so senseless? "Um... as for the defense I put Himura here in charge, just listen to his commands," as he said this, he pointed to the red head stranger that had been arguing with him minute before.
"Hi," Hitachi greeted brightly as he stuck his hand forward. His reaction was met by a silent nod as a rather rough hand gripped his own. There were calluses; he definitely a swordsman.
"Um... so what's your relationship with Katsura-san,"Hitachi asked as he led the newly made commander to the army base.
"We've met before... "He answered after a few minutes, his voice betraying nothing.
"Oh," he remained quiet for a few minutes before trying to break the uneasy silence that had settled over them "So what exactly is Katsura-san to you?"
Hitachi had almost given up hope for an answer when Himura finally spoke up "He was the one that handed orders to me,"
Hitachi seemed satisfied with the answer and if he was not, he didn't show it as they reached their destination. "This is the barracks; I already called all the defenses we have. Now it's your job to command them, if they'll listen that is, considering most of them are older than you," he couldn't hold back a snicker as he studied his commander to be's feminine form.
"I'm twenty four years old," the red head replied coldly as he pushed open the door and steeped inside leaving a completely shocked sergeant to stare at his technically older and more powerful companion.
"He definitely does not look his age," he muttered before following after the redhead.
Hitachi was greeted with the usual scene of drunken men, gambling groups and of course the hazy smoke that filled his senses. What else do you expect from a couple of guards with way too much tome on their hands?
"Hey Hitachi, how's it going? Who's the cute girl?" a rather brutish foot solider by the looks of it called out. His face was flushed so it was easily assumed that he had had a little t o much sake.
"Girl?" the sergeant looked around for a minute confused at his friend's question before he started cracking up. "A...girl? Himura's ...not a..."he corrected trying to hold back his laughter but failing miserably.
After a few minutes he was finally able to stop laughing he continued with his explanation, "Himura here is the newly appointed commander that is supposed to help us protect Katsura-san from the assassin." By this time everyone in the room had turned to watch the lean redhead that was to be their superior.
"Ha!" the man from before sneered, "him our commander? That little boy won't last a day as a soldier. I can beat him to pulp!"
"Oh really," came a quiet voice from behind the brutish soldier, "would you like to test that theory. Although the voice was not much louder than a whisper almost everyone in the room heard it. The sound was cold enough to send goose bumps down anyone's spine.
"What? How?" the soldier that was so confident a minute ago was now shaking in fear, but he quickly recovered and snarled "A cheap trick! To attack people behind their backs! You're just a coward!"
"A coward?" the redhead questioned, there was no hit of anger in his voice, "Very well, I'll won't 'attack you behind your back' as you would say," the last part of the sentence was said in front of the foot soldiers face.
"Ha Ha. I'll beat you to pulp!" he bragged but it sounded way too nervous even to himself. But he pushed all precautions in the back of his mind as he charged toward his opponent.
There was a flash of steel as both drew their swords and a moment later the soldier lay died a deep slash embedded in his stomach "Would anyone else like to challenge my skill? Himura continued, without any hint of remorse or sympathy for the man he had just killed.
There was no dead silence as everyone gaped at their dead companion in horror. How could anyone kill so freely? This was the question that went through everyone's minds. The tension was so thick that you could cut it.
After a few minutes of waiting the former assassin continued, "Now that that is cleared up we need to get down to business to protect Katsura-san from this assassination attempt,"
End of Chapter one
Hi! I really hope you like this story and please review! I will try really hard to finish this story but I doubt I'll be able to update frequently, maybe once every three weeks. If you have any suggestions please contact me. Thank you for reading.