Summary: When Yahiko summons Battousai, a powerful djinn, all he wants is revenge on Master Mage Shishio, by stealing the legendary Sword of Pai Mei but Yahiko's vendetta plunges everyone including Battousai and his best friend Kaoru into an adventure they had never thought possible. KK.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Never have, never will.

The Mage and the Swordsman

Chapter 2: Shishio and Yahiko

That fool Winding is simply unbearable Pookha! I plan to start a new game, since I can't Rant Against Mortals any longer I plan to Rant Against Winding, what say you Pookha? I am positive Lazaraleen will join me for sure. But back to our story Pookha!

Impressive, simply impressive. Who would have thought, Pookha… that the little magician had it in him to call forth one of the most troublesome djinns in the Other World? Oh but I hope the magician has enough magic in him to counter the mischief Battousai is capable of unleashing in this world. Pookha, are you not surprised? Yes, of course you should be, but I wonder Pookha, what will become of all this? The Sword of Pai Mei is not a tool to be trifled with. The soul and heart of Pai Mei himself is sealed within the sword, anyone who handles it must be prepared for the worst. Aye Pookha, something tells me things are going to get very interesting in Silver City. I haven't had this much fun since the French Revolution when those magicians hired the djinns to tear through Versailles…but look, Pookha, Battousai seems incredulous. I hope he doesn't break into another fit of laughter; the little mage is almost spent with the effort of staying in his pentacle.

Battousai waited. He had heard what the boy had just said and he couldn't quite believe his ears. But the boy said nothing more. He already looked spent with the effort it taken to summon an entity such as him. In fact, Battousai noted with glee, he had to perhaps stand here another ten minutes and this foolish boy would be lying in a heap on the floor, fortunately not even inside the seal of the pentacle that repelled his power. So he stared, watching the boy, wondering what possessed a mere child to dabble in powers much beyond him. He waited for him to collapse.

But it wouldn't happen. Yahiko swayed on his feet but remained standing. The djinn was watching him with careful eyes, not missing a beat. He hadn't moved a single muscle. Yahiko groaned inwardly. He had read that some djinns liked to play mind games; they would push a magician's buttons till the mage lost his temper and made a mistake like stepping out of the pentacle or placing a curse on the djinn for which he had not the energy. Magic was a matter of the mind more than anything else. A magician must know and stay within the limits of his magic.

No mage could summon a djinn or spirit whom he could not control. No mage who overstepped his own magical ability had ever survived; the price for calling upon more magic than what you were made of was terrible, to be lost into the abyss separating life and death. A deathly numbness from which nothing could summon you back…nothing. Yahiko shuddered. Knowing the true name of a spirit always helped, however, the older and more powerful djinns found ways to play with words and twist language in a manner that they would be freed of the constraints on their power placed by the pentacles, and spheres of mages.

If this was the djinn's game, then he was lost. He did not have the stamina to stand any longer. He could feel the trembling in his knees. He could not sustain his mental shields if the djinn decided to venture into his mind. No! He could not, he would not fail now. Failing now would mean an end to the promises he had made to himself four years ago. Failing was not an option. Yahiko pulled together every last ounce of strength left in him, drew himself to full height (sadly, it was still not anywhere near enough to match the djinn) and spoke in the most imperious tone he had heard his master use.

"Djinn! What are you waiting for? Have you not understood your task? I have charged you to bring me Pai Mei's sword and then to await further instruction from me. Now go! Or do you want me to write it down for you". This last bit was said with a sneer. Battousai snapped out of his reverie and glared at the boy. Yahiko gulped. The djinn's eyes were terrifying; they had changed from the deep violet they had been a minute ago to shining, golden eyes that reflected the djinn's rage at being forced into obedience.

In spite of himself, Yahiko looked down to check the spheres. The djinn followed his every move, and spoke haughtily,"Humph! It would be an insult to my name to finish you off, boy. Though you deserve certain death for being so bold, I will not sully my hands with the blood of an apprentice. Perhaps when you have become a mage, we will meet again. And then, I shall not be so gentle."

Having said this, the djinn departed, but not before giving Yahiko a glimpse of what he was about. Battousai leisurely closed his eyes once and when he opened them, the fierce winds that had accompanied his arrival came back, this time tearing at Yahiko's hair, his clothes and face. The wind made clawing movements across his skin, Yahiko yelped as needles of icy air tried to pierce his skin, the candles were tossed away by the force of the wind, Battousai swirled round and round till he was nothing more than purple smoke, he circled Yahiko once, then sped away out of the skylight, snapping the latch shut after him. The deafening roar of the wind died away, all was still. Yahiko swallowed and gingerly stepped out of the circle. He was panting; summoning Battousai had drained him of energy entirely. He took one more step and collapsed onto the floor.

His head was pounding, every muscle in his body hurt. The djinn had been stronger than he had expected, even with the barrier on his sphere and a protective shield surrounding his own, he had managed to nudge his way into his mind. Yet fortunately, the djinn hadn't penetrated any deeper than the outer recesses of his consciousness. Perhaps he should be thankful that Battousai hadn't thought he was worth the effort of plunging inside his mind, and learning everything there. Battousai had merely poked his mind, so he had focused all his energy into keeping his shields up so he wouldn't be able to come any closer. Yahiko swallowed and let out a ragged breath, his heart was in his mouth. He knew how close he had been to losing everything. Battousai was notorious for being ruthless; he obviously was still very puzzled and surprised with the whole situation, which was why he hadn't been even a fraction as nasty as he could have been. His pattern through the ages of his existence had been to play with the minds of mages, he would taunt and tease and force the mage either to spend more magic than their bodies could take or step out of their circles, only to be cleaved by Battousai's sword. Had he been of age, he doubted Battousai would have been as careless with him.

Yahiko stared at the floor underneath his face. The wooden boards were worn, he had made the attic his sanctuary, his turf, and here he was safe, but no longer. He didn't know how or why but he doubted anything would remain as it had before. Somewhere in the knobbly corners of his mind, a tiny voice told him, summoning Battousai had been a mistake, a very big mistake. Yahiko groaned in agony. He could not remember a time, save one, when he had felt so miserable. As memories of that incident flooded his head, Yahiko bit his lip and tried to blink back angry tears that had forced their way out.

It had been a normal day, a day like any other. But it had changed the course of his life.

His master had called him early that day. As he made his way down the stairs and through the hall, Yahiko wondered what the matter was. Master Hoji didn't send for him at all in the mornings. The only times he met and studied with his master was when dusk had fallen. His master was a nocturnal creature; the blue-black bags under his eyes were testimony to that fact. A cautious, calculating and cold man, he relished in putting Yahiko down whenever he found even half the chance. Hoji was not a pleasant man to be around and certainly not a pleasant master. Yahiko was miserable with him. He was accustomed to rebukes and belittling comments and Hoji had never believed in sparing the rod. Yahiko had not always been so serious. He had been a happy, boisterous pupil but his master's stern temperament and propensity to find something wrong in everything he did, gradually weathered away all traces of the happy, carefree child he had been. He was now a model pupil, sharp, attentive, solemn, and silent. Hoji had no patience for real talent, perhaps because he was a hocus-pocus magician himself. He couldn't stand seeing a spark of genuine talent in any other especially not Yahiko. Thus, Yahiko had long since reined in his urge to ask questions. He knew he would never find the answers to them from Hoji in fact all he would receive would be a rap on the knuckles or a box around his ears.

As he made his way to his master's study, Yahiko paused a moment to check whether his appearance was satisfactory or not. Nails…clean and cut check, clothes…neat and ironed check, boots polished and gleaming check…hair…well there was little he could do about it, no matter how hard he tried, it would stick out every way. Taking a deep breath, he silently opened the door about an inch, then a little more, poking his head in, he asked, "May I enter, Master?"

The study was a large room on the first floor of the house. There was a lab opposite to the study where the magician practiced his craft, summoned spirits, made potions and the like. The study itself was impressive to the layman; but compared to the chambers of other magicians it was ordinary. Shelves groaning under the weight of books rose all the way to the ceiling. On the ceiling was a mechanized lunar chart, the painted moon moving in time to its real counterpart in the heavens. At one end of the room there was a huge glass window, taking up almost the entire wall. Sunlight streamed through this window during the day illuminating all the dust-covered books and papers randomly tossed about. In the centre of the room, an old, worn oak desk kept his master's most recent and important documents. There was a leather chair behind the desk, upon which his master was sitting now. There was also an armchair in front of the fireplace; it was worn and very comfortable. The fabric soft from years of use, an old rug was thrown over the seat.

His master slowly nodded his head, his eyes not leaving the paper which he was perusing at the moment. Yahiko silently entered, walked to the desk and stood in front of his master, waiting for him to speak. Hoji continued to read, completely ignoring the boy standing in front of him. Yahiko took a deep breath and fidgeted a little. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, in that minute Hoji looked up. He frowned. Yahiko blanched.

"Can't you stand still for one moment? I am almost through here. It is just my misfortune to be saddled with an unruly apprentice like you!" Hoji was irritated. Couldn't the brat give him a moment of peace?

"Well now that you're here, I might as well tell you why I've called you." Hoji stood up and walked out towards Yahiko. He stood facing the boy, and stared down at him, the pale light of the morning was obstructed by storm clouds outside. "Today is a very important day for you, boy, and for me. Today some of my colleagues and friends shall be visiting and they will expect me to present you, my apprentice. Pay attention to what I'm saying now boy, it is vitally important that you do not make any mistakes, because every mistake you make shows and reflects on me. Understood?"

"Yes sir. I will not let you down Master; I'll do my best "

"Your best is not enough. A nuisance, that's what you are, but today everything shall be perfect, or I may need to get very, very unpleasant…do you understand boy?"

His master never called him by his birth name. Nobody was supposed to call him by that anyway. Children who possessed magical abilities had to give up their past - including identities, names, habits…everything. They were not allowed the use of any name apart from that of their master till they came of age and were given a new name that was recognized and registered by the officers of the King. For a mage, there is hardly a more important ceremony than his Naming. A name means a rebirth as the mage is reborn, with his abilities and power to join others of his kind in governing the vast land of which Silver City was sovereign. So he was 'boy' to his master and 'sir' to the servants. It was forbidden to even think about your old name, your birth name was to be guarded jealously and kept in great secrecy. The obvious reason being that your name granted power and control over your essence. Hostile magicians and spirits would give anything to learn a mage's true name. Which is why, it was ordered that the birth name of a mage never be revealed to anyone.

However, exceptions always existed. Mages often told their true name to friends whom they trusted with their lives. It was the measure of love and loyalty amongst friends and lovers to tell each other their true names; however such a decision should not be made lightly. Yet Yahiko had. The first time he had met Kaoru, his best friend, he had told her his true name. Kaoru was the first person who had seen him as a person, not an apprentice. She had been concerned about him, wondering why he never laughed or smiled. She took it upon herself to act like a normal child again. Yahiko never felt awkward in her presence, he could tell her everything and not feel scared that she wouldn't understand. Because Kaoru understood, always understood. She had been overwhelmed and stunned when he told her his true name. In turn, she told him hers, Kaoru. They both went by their masters' names, he by Hoji, and she by Seijuro.

He had been shocked to learn that her master was none other than the King of Silver City, Hiko Seijuro. Archmage Hiko Seijuro was an imposing, charismatic and impressive man. He wasn't king for nothing. Yahiko had no doubt he could probably twirl mages like his master around his little finger without so much as sighing. He had seen him only once but it had been enough. That Kaoru was the apprentice of a man such as him was a source of great pride for him. Whenever he was lucky enough to see Kaoru, he would pester her to tell him about the Archmage. Sometimes Kaoru would tease him that the only reason he spoke to her was because of her master. She could not understand the emptiness, the disappointment and numbing lack he felt, knowing that he could never learn any true power from his master. Hoji was a magician who relied on tricks, potions and abracadabra. The true knowledge of the runes, the spheres and the movements of the heavens were beyond him.

As he stood in front of the mirror, silently combing his maddening hair, he thought about the mages he would see today…perhaps there would be somebody very important. Perhaps he would get to talk to the guests and ask them questions. Oh how he wished Kaoru were here! But she couldn't be. The Archmage was hosting a grand dinner party for foreign mages tomorrow and so he would be spending time overseeing preparations and instructing Kaoru regarding protocol. Kaoru had told him when they had met last three days ago. Apprentices were usually sent to buy supplies for summoning and other magic, since the task could not be entrusted to commoners. That's where he and Kaoru would meet and talk.

Yahiko sighed and looked at the clock with the broken face on the dresser. It was almost time for his master's guests to arrive. He smoothed his clothes, readjusted his ties, checked his shoes, hands and nails. He was very, very nervous. As the clock hands turned to five, the doorbell rang. The door opened and he heard a bustling noise, a commotion of many voices speaking at once and suddenly a hush, someone very important must've arrived. The sounds of voices continued once again as his master ushered everyone into the formal parlor.

Presently, a servant came to fetch him downstairs. Yahiko's hands and knees were shaking, his palms felt sweaty and cold. He paused before the door but the servant pushed him in. He stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance. He looked around. The room was filled with mages, and not one looked familiar, in fact they all looked downright unpleasant. He was still staring at them when he remembered his master's words. He bowed and greeted each one politely. When he was finished Hoji came forward, putting an arm around him uncomfortably, said, "This is the boy."

Yahiko felt like a piece of meat on display as every eyeball in the room swiveled towards him and began inspecting his frame.

"Humph! Doesn't look like much. Not very sharp is he?"

"No…not very."

"Looks healthy. Bet he costs a fortune, eh Hoji?"

"Bed, board and what with the prices…"

"Greedy is he? Aye some boys are."

"I'm not greedy sir!" Yahiko could take it no longer. Those pompous brutes sat there and criticized him for no reason. He was a lean boy, where did they get off calling him greedy? And the man who said he didn't look sharp? But what was stinging him the most was the fact that his master was not even pretending to defend him. A master is supposed to be a shield for his apprentice but Hoji had thrown him to the mercies of these men. Yahiko could not defend himself without seeming rude.

"My! What a tongue he has! I'm amazed you do not take the rod to him!"

"You won't get very far with attitude boy, you should respect your betters."

Yahiko hung his head, feeling dejected. He had wanted to make a good impression but these beasts weren't worth that effort. He felt a swelling in his breast and looked away. And then he heard his voice. A voice that would haunt him for the next four years. A rich, powerful, imperious voice, calm and confident in its position, the voice of Master Mage Shishio Makoto.

"Your apprentice intrigues me Hoji. He does protest all too much but let me see if all that protestation is really worth anything or not. Come here boy!" Shishio Makoto commanded with an easy air. He was one of the three Master Mages of Silver City, his power matched only by two others, Kogoro Katsura and Shogo Amakusa. Save for the Archmage Hiko Seijuro himself, there was not a mage in Silver City who could stand up to him and win. A man like him made no friends, only sycophants and enemies. Master Hoji was too weak too even consider risking enmity with Shishio, but he was counted as his biggest flatterer. Behind his back, the other mages called him Shishio's tail, following him wherever he went.

"Tell me, what is the cardinal rule to be observed when summoning a spirit?"

Yahiko looked at Shishio's smirk and a sudden rage filled his heart. He would not be humiliated. He'd show them, he was neither lazy nor greedy or dull either.

"That the spheres be locked and binded and the pentacles display the runes of commandment."

Shishio said nothing but the mages sitting around him looked at each other in a flurry. An apprentice his age should never have been able to answer that question. Summoning and its rules were permitted only after an apprentice turned twelve, four years away from majority and Yahiko was only ten.

"What does a mage require to complete the incantation of suppression?"

"To complete the incantation, the mage requires the spirit to be present and contained within the swirling pentacle so that its essence does not escape. Further the mage must wear an element that is harmful to the spirit so it fears the mage and…" And thus, the examination continued, Shishio kept asking Yahiko tricky questions yet Yahiko thwarted him every time by answering correctly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yahiko observed Hoji looking very pleased with himself. He frowned, thinking, why are you so happy? You taught me nothing; I learnt all this by reading. Those towers of books that line your study, I've read them all. Kaoru taught me the rest, you…. you did nothing.

"And what are the words of commandment?"

"Shishio! For the love of peace man! There's no way he can know that!" A mage standing at the back of the room spoke up. "Be quiet! He will answer…won't you, boy?" Shishio was glaring at him, frustrated that this mere boy was cramping his style by answering ever damn question he asked, and correctly!

Yahiko took a deep breath; Kaoru had told him this just the last time they had met. If only he could remember the correct sequence of the incantation. Shishio smirked. Yahiko strained his mind but he couldn't remember. Damn it! What was it! Shishio began to laugh. "Nothing more than a parrot! I could teach my imps to do better!"

Slowly, everyone began to laugh; Hoji quickly came forward and roughly pulled at Yahiko, angrily telling him to leave. But Yahiko resisted his attempts to expel him from the room, and stayed glued to his place. He was staring hard at Shishio, causing the magician to turn around. He seemed amused at Yahiko's impotent rage and made a final gesture dismissing him.

As they all turned away from him and began to talk amongst themselves, Yahiko softly spoke the words of the incantation. His voice floated out, gently puncturing the bubble with which the mages surrounded themselves, making them stop, turn and listen to him.

"Il Nome, Ricerca, Bloccaggio, Convoca, Si lega."

The deathly silence in the room was music to Yahiko's ears. They all looked stunned. They were amazed at what had just happened. Yahiko had proved himself! Yes! It had finally happened. He had never felt such pure joy as he felt when he saw their gaping faces watching him in amazement. And then, it was over.

Shishio yawned. "Standards must have dropped since I last checked. Surely it's no great feat to memorize one incantation from a thousand. Go on boy; go back to your books, looking at your face drains me of mirth."

Yahiko's face burned with insult and rage. He tossed all caution to the wind and spoke, "You're just jealous, you can't stand another mage being as good as you!"

The minute the words let his mouth he realized his mistake, Shishio was notorious for his foul temper. He frowned and his eyes narrowed. Yahiko felt trapped by his angry stare, he turned and ran to the door but it was too late. Shishio had already spoken the words of binding, and Yahiko stood rooted to his spot. Shishio then raised his hand and clicked his fingers, at his call, two spirits came forth and flew at Yahiko, tossing him up in their scaly arms twirling him round and round in the air, he felt sick to the stomach, as the whirring of their wings grew even more frenzied. He could see the room with the mages, some shocked, some indignant, some outraged, yet not one of them came to his aid. He knew not how long Shishio kept him in the air, all he felt at that moment was a terrible loneliness, his master had not stood up for him, Kaoru was not there to protect him, he was all alone and in the line of Shishio's anger.

That was four years ago, yet in that moment, everything had changed, he had changed, he had vowed to avenge this wrong. He would summon the greatest djinn he could find and punish Shishio Makoto for this insult. That time had arrived. Battousai was bound to his service and Battousai would now orchestrate his revenge. He just didn't know it yet.

Author's Notes: Did you like it? Please read and review. I've noticed I have like 10 hits but only 4 reviews, c'mon people; give this struggling writer a little something to go on!

Rishin – Thanks for reviewing. Dungeons and Dragons, eh? Well it's somewhat similar but not exactly, yes wording and language may be somewhat like that but the world is very different, for example, unfortunately no dragons. Not in this fic at any rate.

Jeez – Hugs! Thanks again for reviewing the fic, you're the best!

Read and Review people!