A/N: Hey, I'm back. Let's get this show on the road…

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Raikiri Triken: The Three Souls Swordsman

by Shadow Crystal Mage

Chapter 2: 'Crazy Things You Find In Stores' or 'Return of Evil Shops!'

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone or anything but the plot. Please don't sue me.

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Harry wandered the shop in seemingly idle fashion, flitting from one thing to another as they caught his eye. And there were a lot of things to flit through, even if Harry really didn't have much of an interest in the things. Still, what male can't be interested in sharp, pointy, slashy implements of mass destruction and death? After all, the first things kids play with are scissors (perfect for cutting and mutilating), hammers (smash galore!), and pens and pencils (poke, poke, poke!).

Still, idle shopping really wasn't what Harry was here for. Truth be told, he was on the trail of Voldemort, and what little he'd been able to gather had led him to this shop. Supposedly, it was one of the few 'establishments' that had open trade with the so-called 'Hidden Countries', something Harry had heard about in an obscure text somewhere, and in Dumbledore's private notes, which he had willed to Harry to help him against Tom. Riddle apparently had a relative in the Hidden Countries, a powerful relative, but fortunately, Dumbledore's notes also mentioned he had a friend in said area, one he had said could help if needed. Harry was willing to take anything he could get, beg, steal, buy or borrow.

Speaking of buying…

Harry glanced at the shopkeeper again. He knew he wasn't the shop owner, since that was who Harry was waiting for, but he kept giving Harry stern looks. He supposed that people here weren't usually encouraged to just wait around in a shop. From the looks of it, if he didn't buy something, or look like he was going to buy something, he was likely to get thrown out, business with owner or no business with owner.

Deciding that he had enough money to buy a knick-knack or three, Harry wandered over towards the counter, where three old-looking swords were on display.

"That's a nice set you have there," Harry said flawlessly, and with a passable accent. No one would believe he'd learned Japanese in two weeks, using an insane combination of flash cards, audiotapes, tutoring lessons with Hermione, anime soundtracks, and subtitled anime. He couldn't believe it either.

The shopkeeper smiled a wide, obviously fake smile, launching into a sales pitch about how old they were, and how they were supposedly owned by legendary swordsmen. Harry smiled vapidly, nodding along and occasionally asking questions to keep him moving. When the guy had apparently run through the spiel of everything he knew or had made up about the swords- obviously made up; no one could possibly be able to do the things the man had said had been done with the swords- Harry, thinking that these knickknacks were probably no worse than all the other knickknacks in the shop, started haggling. By the time the elderly owner of the store finally came in, money was finally being exchanged, and the shopkeeper was wrapping the swords up in brown paper, and obviously insincere smile on his face, and handing them to Harry.

The minute his hands touched the package, Harry felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks…

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Harry jerked awake in an instant, hand grasping one of the three swords at his waist, heart racing and muscles primed. He held this pose for all of a second and a half, before relaxing, remembering it was all a dream of a memory.

The fire he'd made earlier that night were just smoldering embers now, casting little to no light, but that was alright. The full moon gave more than enough illumination; enough for him too see there was no one else anywhere close by. But then, looks could be deceiving, especially here, in the Hidden Countries.

Realizing the sword he was grasping was Shishio's sword- Mugenjin- Harry drew his hand away as if burned. Thankfully, there were no snide remarks from the former warlord, who was currently 'resting' in the spirit equivalent of sleep. Lazy bum.

The dream again, huh, Sojiro said.

Yeah, Harry said.

How was Harry to know those three swords carried in them the spirits of their owners? Really, it was like he had a big sign on his back saying, "Hey, universe, screw me over!"

The only thing worse would have been if he'd been possessed by a girl or something…

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"Um, excuse me, does anyone know the way to Fire Country? I'm looking for a place called Konohagakure," Harry asked in his best 'don't mind me, I'm just a little 'ole wanderer with a weird scar and three swords, nothing to be excited about' voice.

The group of people he asked collectively blinked, but as one pointed towards the other end of the bridge he was standing on.

Harry nodded, bowing respectfully. "Thank you."

Turning, he headed down the direction they'd pointed him in. About ten steps later, he stopped, turned around, and said. "Excuse me, but I couldn't help being curious: what exactly is going on here?"

The whole bunch of people sweatdropped.

An old man wearing a rather sweaty red shirt and glasses pointed at the shirtless man whose mouth was covered in bandages and carrying a huge sword on his back, one that Kenshin, Shishio and Sojiro were fairly sure Cho would have coveted. "He's trying to kill me!" the old man said.

Harry blinked. "Oh."

Inside, the three souls, Sojiro included, sweatdropped.

Man, this guy sure took his time on the uptake… Sojiro mused.

Shishio 'glared' at Kenshin. This is all your fault! Your wussy ways have turned a perfectly good, angsty teen with the potential to become a soulless killer into an idiot!

Shishio, I can hear you, Harry said.

Who are you calling wussy, you Imhotep reject! Kenshin retorted. A Kenshin/Shishio scream-fest promptly started.

Sojiro and Harry sweatdropped. Internally, of course.

Um, maybe you should get back to the matter at hand? Sojiro suggested.

Good idea, Harry said, casting one more nervous 'glance' at the two former hitokiri.

Harry raised his hand to scratch his head in apparent confusion. "Uh, why are they trying to kill you?" he asked in perfect Kenshin fashion. He was getting good at the 'sweet and innocent' bit.

"Because some bastard named Gatou told them to!" the blond wearing the bright orange jumpsuit yelled from where he was standing inside what looked like a dome made of free-standing panes of glass- or was that ice?

Harry blinked. "That's the name of the guy on the other side of the bridge with all those goons. You're working for him?"

"He is," the girl with pink hair said, pointing at the shirtless man.

Harry could feel pressure from both Kenshin and Shishio.

Well…? they chorused.

Hoo boy…

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- To be continued...

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A/N: Short, I know, but I'm just letting off steam…

About why I picked Kenshin, Sojiro and Shishio. I consider them the three most powerful swordsmen in the Kenshi-verse. In fact, if Shishio didn't have a medical condition, I'm very sure he'd win over Kenshin in a straight fight. Of course, since he's a villain, that's not allowed in final battles, but very likely. Kenshin is good, Shishio is evil (or at least as evil as Kyuubi is usually portrayed in Naruto fics where the fox isn't the primary villain, in this instance, anyway) and Sojiro is neutral. If I remember correctly, Sojiro was yet another of the souls inspired by Kenshin to become a good guy. But he was also inspired by Shishio. So he's technically neutral. I toyed with the idea of making Harry Sojiro's reincarnation, or something, but I really couldn't find it in myself to make it work, so Sojiro is just Harry's 'voice of reason', if you will. I like the creepy kid, and lament not finding too many stories about him. Granted, I'm not actively looking, but you'd think things like that would pop up.

As for why they're there (after all, last he was seen, Shishio was off to conquer hell), well, it's perfectly believable for their spirits to haunt their swords. As for Shishio, I felt like it, okay!

Please review, C&C welcome. As for pairings, I'm thinking foursome. –lecherous grin– I already have a fourth picked out, but try to convince me otherwise. If you're successful, I'll make it a five-some.

What? This wasn't really my idea, so the least I can do is put in all the fan service elements I want. Gracious bath scenes, anyone? SasuSakuIno (I really don't get why a lot of people dislike Sakura. She's cute!)? Voldemort dying in either a very painful or very silly manner? I read a fic once were Orochimaru laughed himself to death (Switched!, by Minnionette). That was fun to read!

Until next time, this is Shadow, signing off.