I was able to continue this story with the collaboration of Kenshinotaku Himura-chan. I don't know what else to say, but like most of my fanfiction chapters it was a lot of fun.
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Yuuchiro was wandering for a village to fulfill his promise of capturing the Battoshi. He heard this wasn't the village he would find him, but it was better to search there than to turn back.
Maybe someone will know where this guy lives. He looked up at the clear sky then back at the crowd of people walking around him. He drifted towards a small shop and laid against the wall when some mercenaries caught his attention. "Did you hear about that bounty for the Battousai." one of them whispered to his pals.
He wouldn't associate with these mercenaries but they might be the ones who could help lead him to the Battousai. He would be nice to them by not making them tire him out; he would fight to see who the better swordsman was himself.
He strolls up to them and pokes one of them on the shoulder. The man turns around, "Huh, what the heck do you want punk?" Yuuichiro props his sword up with his thumb and stares at the group of men. "Let's see how well you can fight."
"Huh?!" the man glares at him and motions to his friends to pull out their weapons. They each ready their swords and motion towards Yuuichiro. "So we got a wise guy here. How about we show him who's boss." One of the taller men suggests.
Yuuchiro expected how the one he antagionized would make his first move and he was right. He tried slashing down on Yuuichiro, but the swordsman stabbed his blade between the blade and the pommel of the man's weapon. He just fiddled with the weapon locked in place now.
"Why you-!" the man growled. Yuuichiro sighed and threw the guy to the side, readying himself for the next guy. "That all you got?" he mocks. Two of the guys nod at each other and attack Yuuichiro at the same time. He sees this coming and dodges both attacks, kicking the guy to his left into his friend. "You idiots, don't let some little punk out do you like that! Get up!" the last man growls.
Yuuichiro was generous enough to let the two men get back on their feet to fight him. Yuuichiro tried scaring them away with his best scowl to no avail. They slashed at him only to be outdone by him slashing their blades back and then kicking them both with fast speed.
The last man screams in fear, falling to the ground while trying to back away. "Y-You win! You win! What the heck do you want from us? Money?" Yuuichiro shakes his head and walks towards the man. "I heard you guys talking about someone I'm looking for."
The last man blinked in confusion. He was so nervous he forgot who they were talking about. Then he remembered it was the Battoshi the manslayer they were talking about.
"We found his house and we're fighting very hard to make a plan of attack."
"That so? I'm listening." Yuuichiro says, slightly relieved he didn't have to rummage through the whole town for information. "W-Well, he, uh, lives in a dojo in Tokyo. H-He calls himself a wanderer now and carries a sakabatou." Yuuichiro's eyes widen, "A sakabatou, huh? Hm. So what's this plan of yours?"
"Well, we were going to cut down a tree to break his roof. After he fixes it using what money he has we were going to steal the food in his pantry. Our plan was to make him pawn his sword so he couldn't have anything to protect himself from us."
Yuuichiro shakes his head, "Well it's a plan, but not the greatest plan." he sighs. The man glares, "Well I don't see you spitting any ideas out! You didn't even know where the guy was!" Yuuichiro glares back and points his sword at the man which frightens him. "Say something like that again and you won't be able to speak another word. You got it?" The man shakes his head vigorously. "Now," he puts his sword away, "time to get my bounty."
He followed the bounty hunters direction to the location of Battosai the Manslayer. He could see his bounty drinking hot water from a very small cup. He looked peaceful but the Battosai could attack at any moment.
"That's him." the man pointed out. He looks harmless enough, but it's gotta be a trick. Should we go for a frontal attack or an ambush? Just as he was thinking up a good attack strategy the man leans towards him and whispers, "We heard that even after all these years the Battousai always keeps his guard up, especially around his woman." Yuuichiro's eyes widen, "His woman?" Who knew the Battousai actually had a woman.
The man points to a small girl training with a little boy a few feet away from the Battousai. That's her?! No way. "The little gals name is Kaoru ...Maybe if we can get our hands on her he'll come quietly."
"I do not use woman as hostages." Yuuichiro said sternly to the fool who suggested that idiotic idea. " If we want to take him down it will have to be with you two lying to the girl you need her help to keep her away while I lure him into the woods to fight him head on. Do not hurt the girl."
The men look at each other in disgust, "Tch, fine." They each get up and go to the gate, knocking on the hard surface. "Hello!" One of them calls. Kenshin glances up and stands when Kaoru passes him to answer. "Coming." she answers. The men fake a worried smile and clasp their hands together when they open the gate. Yuuichiro watches carefully, ensuring the two men don't do anything to blow their cover, especially his. "Can we help you?" Kenshin asks.
"If your are a brave ronin or just big hearted warrior yes. There is a wild animal in the woods that attacked a friend of mine. With your sword can you help me make it run far away?"
"A wild animal?" Kaoru questioned, looking to Kenshin. "Hm, do you know where it is now?" Kenshin asks. The men point towards the woods, "It was chasing our friend deep in the woods." Kenshin glances at Kaoru and touches his sword, "Show me the way. Kaoru-dono, please stay here and watch the dojo please." Kaoru frowns and grabs his arm, "But what if you get hurt?"
The men smile at her, "Please do not worry, we will help him as much as we can." Kaoru reluctantly releases Kenshin's arm and looks down. "Be careful!"