"Whoa..."
"Holy..."
The front of the new Government Police station was clearly visible now. It was all too easy to pick out with two guards watching over the entrance, and flags flying triumphantly over the large western double doors.
The guards recognized him immediately, and although he'd never bothered to learn their names, he also registered the faces of the two with their scars and creases. A single nod was his only acknowledgement of them as he and Haiyashii strode thru the doorway. The two men gave him on last glance and straightened back to their original positions.
Himura and his 'bodyguard' made their way down the hall in silence, not exactly comfortable with the way things had gone. The reactions from the guards at the city gates were still fresh in the boy's mind, the raw fear in the eighteen-year-old's eyes scorching his memory.
It was so ridiculous; why, why would he want to kill them? The very idea was
preposterous. The war was over, and even if it had still been the Bakumatsu
that man would have been with the Ishin. What reason would he have to be
afraid?
Because, a nasty little thought sneered at him, wagging it's finger in his face,
you kill everyone around you. No matter how hard you try it will never work
out. Why didn't you finish yourself off when you had the chance? You were a
fool for not keeping your promise!
A sudden flash of Tomoe's pale countenance hovering over a bleeding,
battered Saitoh banished the evil thought into oblivion. Yes, that's why:
Tomoe. Haiyashii had said it before.
If he killed himself, then the death of the one he loved most would become meaningless, and he couldn't do that to her. That was something he would surely be damned for.
Not to mention the idea of what weakness it would take to end his suffering now, while he was still to blame, while guilt poked and prodded at his insides, and take the easy way out. What cowardice would that be, to choose the thing that Tomoe had been forced into?
By him...
A sigh of air escaped his throat. It all seemed so logical; there were plenty of reasons not to die... So why did it all still feel so wrong? Haiyashii finally let himself look at the manslayer when he heard him sigh into the silence. His eyes had that look again.
"Himura? What is it?"
The hitokiri shook his head. "Thinking," he murmured.
The captain watched his brow flatten once again into the usual stark, pale makeup of security and decided not to press the matter further. It was an expression that he used often; one that had come to mean that the boy was hiding from him again.
Even though the two men had spent so much time wandering the country together, conversation was not all that common, unless there was something to talk about. The two rurouni had a sort of understanding, a mutual comfort that took place during walking or eating, sleeping or preparing for bed; a knowing ease that required no words. But then, every so often, Himura would slip back into the recesses of his consciousness, and there would be those eyes again. And, normally following, the mask.
Haiyashii could almost see a pocket in his gi that the boy must have reserved for the expression.
Finally they reached the end of the winding hallway and came to rest at a sliding shoji screen door, painted with the kanji for freedom. Himura raised an eyebrow.
Haiyashii gave a lopsided grin, spreading one hand before them. "Well? After you. 'The Master' is waiting, wouldn't want him to wet himself in anticipation like the last guy," he mocked good naturedly. Himura gave a slight smile, pulling his lips into a delicate curve, and nodded his appreciation for the attempted lightening of the mood. With a deep breath, he and the captain stepped inside.
The door gave way to reveal what appeared to be an office of sorts, were it not for the enormous piles of paper that concealed half the room from view, including the occupant behind the table. Himura and Haiyashii exchanged glances as a huge stack of white suddenly went flying and a high pitched and very girlish scream of frustration was heard.
Himura cleared his throat and a very surly looking man with a mustache and uniform popped his head up over the lip of the desk. "What is it? I can't find the enrollment lists; give me a minute--"
"Uh, we're not really here for enrollment," the boy said, looking at the soldier like he had lost his mind. "We're here to ask a favor, Yamagata."
The man blinked like a mole just emerged from a three week dig.
"Himura-kun? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me."
Yamagata got up and brushed off his knees, watching the hitokiri like he was expecting him to dissolve into the floor, or blow up, or maybe do a magic trick. "It's really--? We all thought you were..." He took a few cautious steps forward, still slightly disbelieving. "How did you get here? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. My wounds healed up some time ago," Himura supplied, casting an uncertain glance in Haiyashii's direction. "The two of us have been on the road for a long while now. You remember Captain Haiyashii Kenji of the Aizu Squad, ne?"
"How could I forget?" he smiled, "You two were quite the pair on the battlefield. And as I understand it he's saved your life-- was it three times now?"
"Four. And I have yet to return the favor. You'd think I was crippled or something," Himura said, amusement twinkling in his eyes at Yamagata's reaction. He sobered quickly. "Anyway, Yamagata..."
"Ah yes, that favor. Himura-kun, you do realize that you're being ridiculous if you think we won't give you a job. You showed up at a very opportune time too, the staff has been short for police swordsman nowadays; we only just got things together here. You see this mess?" Yamagata waved a hand at the enormous room of papers. "These are all sign-up sheets. Potential allies, people who would like to help with the domestic affairs unit, people who want to join our armed forces... The list goes on. Most of these sheets are empty, so as you can see, we're a bit short handed... I'm so glad to see you back: I thought for sure I'd never see you again," he mused. "All these empty spaces; I'm sure we can find something suitable for someone with your experience, ne?"
"Wait a minute--," Haiyashii interrupted.
"--Yes, thank you, Yamagata," Himura interrupted back, stopping him with a look. "Tell me, would it be alright if I looked at the jobs and selected one for myself?"
"Of course, Himura-kun. Take your time; the new recruits aren't in 'till next month, so you can pick anything you'd like. After all you did for us it's the least we could do to repay you," the soldier said happily. "Finally, we've got some real help. This'll be wonderful!"
Himura and the captain exchanged knowing, bemused looks.
This man didn't know what he was agreeing to just yet.
~~~
The two men out front had exactly two seconds to straighten themselves and get their ears away from the crack between the doors before they burst open and Captain Haiyashii stepped out, holding the entrance open for the Battousai.
With a final glance at the two men he stepped out into the scorching sun, spots dancing before his eyes like before. Haiyashii fell into step next to him. And as before, people scattered from their path like cockroaches.
"Look mommy, he's got a real sword! Can I have one mommy, please?"
"What in the world do they think they're doing, do they want to get
arrested--"
"I wonder where they're from--"
"Trouble, I tell ya, just trouble--"
"Ooh, he's cute."
"Look at that hair, and those arms! Bet he's strong, too--"
"Good body, I could lose a few hours with him." Himura turned bright red when he realized these comments were directed toward him, with no effort to conceal their voices. Giggles followed his sudden blush and he looked around to find a group of four girls waving and smiling at him shyly.
His blush deepened when he realized where they were from.
"Um, let's go."
"Populaaaar," Haiyashii said nonchalantly, a smirk spreading across his face as he looked down a the red-faced boy. "Leaving so quickly, tsk tsk. One would think you meant to disappoint the ladies."
Himura gave him a glare that would have sliced through a steel pole, but his
blushing was almost purple now.
Dang it all, why does this always happen when we--
Suddenly a ki sprang up from the crowd.
"DIE, BATTOUSAI!"
WHACK! THUMP.
There were a few screams then a sudden silence as the shocked crowd (and Haiyashii) tried to comprend what happened. A man lay with a large rip in his yellow gi, an enormous bruise forming on his back.
The captain spotted a dagger discarded at his feet and knew instantly what had transpired. Here was one; where was the other? He looked around confusedly.
"Himura? Himura, where--"
Heads in the crowd were turned behind them toward the shop-filled street. A figure stood in attack stance, half-crouched next the the vending stalls. Haiyashii checked the distance and saw that he'd leaped about thirty feet away in one shot. The captain headed over to the manslayer at a trot, leaving the crowd behind.
Himura's sword wasn't drawn, but the saya had been pulled from his obi and the left side of his gi had managed to slide off, revealing a pale shoulder. The captain leaned down with his hands on his knees. "Any idea what that was about?"
Abruptly the boy gave a slight moan and fell to his stomach facedown, both hands clutching his middle.
Haiyashii gave a startled cry and reached for him. "Himura?! Boy, you okay?"
He got no response other than a slight chuckle.
"He didn't get you, did he?" the captain said uncertainly, turning him onto his back. The hitokiri looked up at him with a white-faced smile.
"Heh...heh hhh... Stupid."
"You talking about him or yourself?" Haiyashii asked him with a raised eyebrow. "Here, let me take a look at you." The captain pulled open the front of Himura's gi, probing gently with two fingers. Slowly he worked his way down from the well-formed upper abdominal muscles to the lower stomach, right to left...
"Nn--" The boy quickly grabbed his hand and stopped him from moving
further. (Take THAT, yaoi readers)
Haiyashii froze.
Then his gaze grew dark.
"You told me this had healed."
Himura managed another grin, but winced when Haiyashii put his hand gently on the edges of the wound. "You can't keep doing this to me, Himura. You have to tell me when you're not well; I can't help you otherwise," he said sternly.
"It's nothing. I've lived through worse," he replied softly. "It's not like I don't have time to heal. This isn't fatal--"
"I know, I know; she told you. But if you aren't careful, you're gonna go early if she wants you to or not." He stared down at the hitokiri with a glare that said he wasn't just talking about an infection. Or, more specifically: 'I've got a something in the sleeve of my gi right now that says you're mortal, Mr. Invincible.'
Himura bit down on his lip as they rose together, the captain pulling Himura to his feet. After regaining his balance, the boy gave in. "Alright, Haiyashii. It's a promise. I'll tell you if something's wrong." The look of reassurance on his face told him he wasn't just talking about physical problems. "Anyway, right now I have some business to attend to at the local jinja. I'll be back just after sunset. I'll meet you for dinner." The hitokiri grinned lightly, then turned away toward the street.
The captain stared at him shockedly, then smiled a real, full smile at the
manslayer's back as he walked away toward the city shrine.
~~~
Jeez,
Maybe he does trust me after all.
I'm so sorry people, I've been so busy you wouldn't believe. It's abooouuut (checks) twelve forty-five now, so... I've had the first half of theis written for ages, but I wanted it to be longer for all you long suffering, loyal fans out there. And I got a little Kenshin babying started in only the second chapter! (As opposed to the original Rended where it starts right away...)
Oh well. If you liked it, have a suggestion or comment, or just want to see something, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze review.
Jaa mina.
And hey, maybe I'll draw that picture of Kenshinin attack stance with the shoulder of his gi off... (Drool) I'll bet I can get it on the net if Calger-sama will teach me how... ^_^X
Ahhhhhh... Fan services.
And hey, check out my other stories if this is your first. I need to know If they suck or not. And Rended is the original story before this, so please check that out before reading more of the sequel (this).
