Author's Note: You're in for some shocks and laughs this chapter in contrast to the last one. Hope you enjoy and if you're having any trouble keeping up with the Peace Maker Kurogane characters that keep cropping up then let me know and I'll add some more explanation stuff in the text. I've tried to do that but if I need to do more then I will.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin © Watsuki Nobuhiro. I make no profit from this fictional story and it is merely for the amusement of myself and those who happen to take the time to read it.
Chapter Four
Punishments
The sky was just turning grey with the oncoming dawn as Kenshin silently slipped through the lingering shadows towards the Kohagi Inn. The streets were deserted for the moment but it was only a matter of time before Kyoto roused itself to begin the day's daily tasks.
Still feeling exposed however, Kenshin did not stop until he'd slipped into the back yard of the inn and was safely hidden from any eyes that might see him.
Breathing a small sigh, he moved over to the well and immediately upended the bucket of water beside it over his head. The shock of the icy water drew a small gasp from him and with a shiver, he set the bucket aside as he absently watched the bloody water trickle from his hair.
He remained that way for some time, recalling the details of the fight and his hasty departure after he had stabbed Saito. Sadly he wondered if the captain had survived. It was doubtful but Kenshin wouldn't put it past Saito to live through it. Still, it would be better if Saito were dead even if Kenshin did grieve the demise of such a man well deserving of his respect at his own hands.
As for the mission though, it had been a complete waste of time in spite of everything. He cringed mentally at the thought and hoped Katsura-san didn't come to hear of it. He wasn't exactly sure how he would react to something so reckless by his elite assassin who had never put a toe out of line before. Shaking his head at his impulsiveness, Kenshin turned away from the well and nearly ran into someone as he stepped into the kitchen.
Hastily pulling himself up short, Kenshin stared back into the wide brown eyes of Kitamura Suzu. He obviously hadn't been expecting to see anyone and Kenshin summarised that he must have caught the teenager off guard.
Taking in Kenshin's blood stained appearance at a glance; Suzu quietly bowed his head and muttered an apology. Stepping aside, Kenshin allowed Suzu to pass but he glanced uncertainly after him as he did so.
Usually his appearance mustered some small amount of fear from the men when they saw him in this condition though many were very good at hiding it. Kenshin could detect nothing from Suzu however and that alone unnerved him. Had the white haired youth seen so much pain and bloodshed in his life that he had become just as numb to it as himself?
The thought sobered him and he hoped that that wasn't the case. He didn't know Suzu well but he knew him enough to know that his sensei's death seemed to have deeply affected him. Kenshin hadn't exactly got along well with Yoshida Toshimaro, a former member of the Choshu clan and prominent swordsman who had been killed during the Ikedaya affair seven months ago but he had respected him even if the man did have a cruel streak a mile wide.
Suzu had been his page and later his "right arm" but Kenshin hadn't really known him and hadn't wanted to. Suzu represented everything that said "friend" to Kenshin but as far as he was concerned, the Battōsai didn't have friends. It was too dangerous.
Putting Suzu out of his mind for the time being, Kenshin continued to the washroom and took off his haori. Thankfully only the outer garment had suffered from his duel; his kimono and hakama remaining untouched except for the sword slash to the front of his kimono from Saito. Like the blood, the haori had also absorbed most of his earlier drenching so he didn't bother to change into the spare uniform the maids always left out for him.
Crumpling the haori up and setting it to one side, Kenshin filled a basin with warm water and then proceeded to clean the blood from his face, hair and hands. The whole process he performed automatically, firmly not allowing himself to dwell on the dark despair lurking in the back of his mind.
It was a tedious process as always though; much of the blood had already dried and he usually spent extra time cleaning his hair because the colour made it impossible to tell if he'd gotten it all out.
Eventually he was satisfied however so Kenshin picked up the haori and slipped back to his room just as the rest of the inn began to stir for the day.
Once safely in the confines of his room, Kenshin sank tiredly to the floor, discarding the haori to clean later as he did so. Untucking his katana and the empty wakizashi sheath, Kenshin gave the empty sheath a mournful look and wondered how much it was going to cost him to replace it. Even the pay for a hitokiri barely covered his daily needs although that was probably due to the number of articles of clothing he constantly had to replace these days. Only so many washes could remove the blood before the clothing finally wore out from the amount of scrubbing it took.
Still, there would be time to clean the haori later. For now, all Kenshin wanted to do was sleep and so, the teenager leant his katana against his shoulder, closed his eyes and yielded to oblivion.
He was just drifting into the first stages of sleep when a loud yell ripped through his consciousness. Reacting purely on instinct, Kenshin leapt to his feet and had his katana halfway out of its sheath before he realised that there was no threat, not a single hostile ki in the area. The only ki he could sense with any form of hostility was a dangerously irritated and very familiar ki but it was not roaring with battle lust
Although it's definitely one very unhappy ki thought Kenshin.
Strangely however, another ki was also in the vicinity, one he could only really describe as "gleeful" and it was heading directly for his room unless he was mistaken.
Frowning, Kenshin straightened from the crouched stance he'd taken and pushed his blade back into its sheath, letting his hand fall back to his side in the process. This ki, like the first, also had a familiar ring but Kenshin could not place it.
As Kenshin watched his doorway, he heard the sound of booted feet clomping up the hallway and felt the ki come to a halt right outside his room. Suspiciously he eyed his door and mentally told the person on the other side of the door to go away. He was tired and that always put the Battōsai in a bad mood or at least, it made him revert somewhat to an ordinary grumpy teenager anyway.
'Ho Red! You in?' called a suddenly dreadfully recognizable voice.
Not him!
Kenshin scowled darkly as his door slid open to reveal his "unwanted guest."
Standing in the doorway was a man of medium height with a tanned complexion and a western hat hanging down his back. Kenshin also recognised a western item know as "spectacles" perched amongst the dark mess on his head that could only be hair. He had secured it back with a leather strip but that didn't stop a few wayward locks from leaping free.
Grinning brilliantly, Sakamoto Ryoma stepped into his room, completely ignored the dangerous amber eyes trained on him, cataloguing his every move and without hesitating, gave the Bakumatsu's most feared assassin a good natured slap on the back.
'Long time no see Red-san!' laughed Ryoma. 'Aren't you happy your old friend Ryo dropped by to cheer you up?'
Folding his arms and deliberately looking away defiantly, Kenshin uttered his most condescending snort ever, his entire being the essence of absolute disdain.
'If you're here to invite me to join your Navy again then I decline as I told you the first time and all the other times you asked,' he answered.
Sneaking a look through his peripheral vision, Kenshin was pleased to see that Ryoma looked absolutely astounded. Serves him right the hitokiri thought with dark amusement.
Then, apparently shrugging it off, Ryoma laughed and replied, 'actually I just came from visiting the Demon Commander.'
'Hijikata?!' asked Kenshin startled.
'Hai,' replied Ryoma brightly as if visiting the second in command of the Shinsengumi were an every day event.
'You pissed him off good last night. I thought Souji had stolen his haiku collection again,' answered Ryoma.
'Haiku?' replied Kenshin, confused.
'Hai,' answered Ryoma brushing off Kenshin's curious gaze.
'Anyway, Katsura-san would like to see you,' continued Ryoma.
'About what?' asked Kenshin.
Nani? It's too soon for him to have found out about last night and I would have thought the Shinsengumi would want to keep it quiet. Wait a second!
'You told him,' accursed Kenshin angrily as he realised that somehow, Ryoma knew exactly what had happened. That man knows more secrets then the entire Oniwaban Intelligence Network! The thought was rather irritating.
The answering laugh was all Kenshin needed to make him hunch his shoulders and stalk past the Ishin Shishi supporter furiously.
'I wish Hijikata had caught you,' he growled over his shoulder.
'Nani?' questioned Ryoma hurrying after him. His frowned, confused at Kenshin's answer and then comprehension swiftly dawned.
'Mou, that's not funny Red-san,' pouted Ryoma as he followed him. 'Demon-san lives up to his reputation you know.'
Gritting his teeth, Kenshin did his best to ignore the man. Darkly, he wished that the Shinsengumi had caught him but he sighed mentally after a moment and squashed the thought. Ryoma was very important to the Choshu in helping to form an alliance between itself and Satsuma. Without him, the negotiations would have fallen through long ago although that didn't stop Kenshin wishing that the man would stop teasing everyone; friend and foe alike.
Ryoma took a perverse pleasure in strolling onto Shinsengumi grounds, drawing the attention of every swordsman in the vicinity and then escaping from them. Twice he hadn't escaped and had been captured and both times Kenshin had had to come to his aid but that hadn't stopped the man from flaunting his freedom in the faces of the Shinsengumi. One day they would kill him instead of capturing him and right now, Kenshin couldn't wait for that day to arrive.
Shimatta! This is a war, not some game. When is that baka going to grow a brain? thought Kenshin darkly.
Coming to a halt outside Katsura's door and incidentally, the origination of the furious ki he had sensed earlier; Kenshin ignored Ryoma, braced himself and knocked on his superior's door.
'Enter,' barked Katsura.
Kenshin winced at the tone but steeled himself and slid the door open.
Katsura was sitting over near the window as he entered and Kenshin respectfully knelt and bowed his head in polite greeting. He sensed Ryoma sidle in after him and shut the door but the man did not kneel beside him. Instead he leant back against the door and folded his arms comfortably, an amused smile gracing his face as he settled down to watch the proceedings. Kenshin clenched his jaw at the action but continued to ignore the obnoxious ronin.
'You wanted to see me Katsura-sama?' he asked as he sat up and looked at Katsura.
His superior's face had set itself into an uncharacteristically angry frown as he returned Kenshin's gaze.
'Himura-san,' he began and then paused, clearly frustrated. Kenshin didn't blame him; he probably would have reacted the same way.
'I've heard reports that the Hitokiri Battōsai infiltrated Shinsengumi head quarters last night and possibly killed Saito Hajime, Captain of the Third Squadron,' he said finally.
Kenshin bowed his head, acknowledging the reports. There was no point denying the obvious truth.
'Hai Katsura-sama, I did go to the Shinsengumi head quarters last night and I did possibly kill Captain Saito,' answered Kenshin softly.
Katsura sighed and lent back, troubled by Kenshin's answer.
'Himura-san, I know it's not unusual for you to act on your own but this far surpasses anything I would have dreamed you doing,' said Katsura gravely, all the anger seeming to melt out of his voice.
Eyeing his commander thoughtfully, Kenshin suddenly realised how drawn and tired Katsura looked. Things had been hectic of late and Kenshin's late night escapade had probably taken years off Katsura's life. Lines Kenshin didn't remember seeing had appeared on the other's mans face and his form looked slightly slumped; weighed down almost. A wave of guilt washed over him and Kenshin regretted his hasty actions far more in that moment then he had previously.
'I'm sorry if I worried you,' apologised Kenshin, bowing as he did so.
Silence greeted Kenshin as each of the men in the room gathered their thoughts once more. Eventually, Katsura spoke again, a note of irritation now entering his voice.
'Why?'
'Pardon?' inquired Kenshin, raising his head and not sure he understood what was being asked.
'Why did you go there Himura-san? What possessed you to such a reckless and idiotic thing?' asked Katsura.
Kenshin hesitated and looked away, suddenly ashamed of himself.
'I was angry Katsura-sama,' he replied softly.
'Angry?' repeated Katsura furiously.
Abruptly his ki became just as hostile as it had been minutes ago. Kenshin once again braced himself and waited for what was to come.
'Emotions are not an excuse to do something like that,' snapped Katsura. 'Particularly not when it comes to you,' he continued.
'You are the Battōsai Himura-san, a very wanted man right now. Why an earth would you risk your life to try and kill Saito Hajime just because you're angry with him? I'll admit I myself don't particularly like the man but going after him on his home turf, alone?! You're an incredibly skilled warrior Himura-san but you aren't that skilled. You're just lucky you managed to escape before anything happened.'
Kenshin felt his anger stir at Katsura's comments but he pushed it back down. He had a very good reason to kill Saito Hajime and it wasn't out of anger alone. However, getting worked up now wouldn't solve anything. Before he could answer however, Ryoma interrupted him, his manner serious for once as he addressed Katsura.
'You know, I heard a very interesting story about that,' he said cryptically.
Glancing suspiciously at the other, Kenshin opened his mouth to warn Ryoma to stay out of it but Katsura shook his head when Kenshin looked back at him, apparently wanting to hear what the other had to say.
Seeing that Kenshin wasn't going to interrupt him, Ryoma ignored the red haired swordsman and walked across the room to gaze out the window.
'Big-san has some interesting words in his vocabulary,' he began.
Kenshin frowned a little, not sure of the identity of "Big" but remained passive otherwise.
'He was on patrol last night, got the late hour shift or something,' he continued.
'Anyway, I was passing through as you do at four in the morning when I hear this cursing and grumbling like a bull with a bad stomach ache or something.'
'You know,' he laughed and suddenly turned to face them. 'Harada-san is a very amusing man when he's not trying to impale you.'
Kenshin narrowed his eyes, recalling that the tenth captain had been there the previous evening when he'd fought Saito. He hadn't seen him but he'd sensed the familiar ki in the hallway outside. It seemed that he'd had a patrol after that. Most likely he was finished by now and back at the barracks but at least that explained why Ryoma had referred to him as "Big."
Harada Sanosuke was a giant of a man, rumoured to have a horrendous scar on his stomach from a botched seppuku attempt and a devilish sense of humour to match.
'Anyway, so here he is wandering up the street and mumbling all sorts of things about killing and what not in between mentioning your name,' said Ryoma meaningfully looking at Kenshin.
'Curiosity got the better of me so I packed myself off to the Shinsengumi head quarters to find out what was going on.'
For the next several minutes Ryoma told them about what he'd learned right from Kenshin's run in with the Shinsengumi Captain the previous evening and then his return last night. Katsura was astounded to hear about the impostor and Ryoma confirmed that he'd seen the teenager and he did indeed bear an amazing resemblance to Kenshin. He also informed them Saito had lived and was currently been housed in the same sick room as the injured impostor. According to what Ryoma had managed to trick out of Hijikata, Saito had discovered the youth with a bullet shot wound in the chest vicinity while returning from patrol. He had been intending to hold the strikingly similar youth hostage against the Battōsai but during the course of their dual he had learned that the Battōsai had no living relatives despite the amazing features the two teenagers shared. Currently there weren't any plans for the youth other than to let him heal and return to his home.
Kenshin felt relieved to hear this. Now that the threat of the youth was past, he found himself grateful that the youth wouldn't be dragged into the conflict. A war was no place even for teenagers.
For a long time now Kenshin had been aware that he had never belonged either. It was yet another thing Hiko was right about. Yet, Kenshin could not take it back. He'd sworn to do this and every bit of honour Hiko had drilled into him over those few short years they had spent together refused to allow him to back out on his word. It was the last thing Kenshin would do right by his Shishou and that; he was determined to do to the bitter end.
Eventually Ryoma fell silent and Katsura sunk into pensive thought. Kenshin said nothing and simply waited for Katsura to deal out the necessary punishment.
'Himura-san, I recognize your motives but this doesn't change anything,' spoke Katsura finally, meeting Kenshin's eyes with his own.
'I understand,' replied Kenshin neutrally as he sunk into a third bow to await Katsura's decision.
He heard Katsura draw in a breath to speak but he stopped as footsteps interrupted him. Peeking through his bangs, Kenshin saw that Ryoma had left his position by the window and was now kneeling beside Katsura, whispering softly into the samurai's ear.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes warily as he noticed the expression on Ryoma's face. The man looked far to pleased with himself and though Katsura's eyes widened with surprise at first, they eventually settled into agreement. He wasn't sure what the two were plotting but he got the sneaking suspicion that his punishment had just gone from shameful to embarrassing instead.
Abruptly Ryoma stood up again and Katsura turned back to address Kenshin.
'Himura-san, I have decided that you will be stripped of your swords for two weeks and confined to the inn. You will report to Okami-san first thing every morning and do whatever tasks she gives you. In addition, during the afternoons you are to work with Akesato-san. She will detail missions for you and you are to carry them out without complaint. In the evenings you will return and help serve the evening meal and do the laundry and then you are to report to me before you retire for the evening. Is that understood?'
Well that sounds alright with me mused Kenshin. It's not like I can't handle household chores and Akesato's not so bad for a shinobe even if it does mean I'm going to have to spend my afternoons in Shimabara.
'Hai,' answered Kenshin promptly.
'Good,' answered Katsura. 'You are to rest up today and make sure that wound of yours is looked after. You will begin your punishment tomorrow.'
Sensing dismissal, Kenshin set down his katana and the wakizashi sheath as agreed. Katsura glanced curiously at the empty sheath for a moment before returning his gaze to Kenshin. Standing up, Kenshin bowed formally once more, then turned and silently departed as always.
'You know,' mused Ryoma as the door shut behind Kenshin, 'that hitokiri of yours is going to get a rude shock come tomorrow.'
Katsura laughed a little and looked at Ryoma, his eyes twinkling with hidden amusement.
'Himura-san can handle anything,' he said. 'But I fear you're right; even he will be stunned at what you suggested. Don't come running to me when he's threatening to take your head off tomorrow.'
Ryoma sniggered loudly in response.
'You may be right there,' he said at last as his amusement died away. 'I think I might high tale it outta here for awhile, maybe visit some rellies in the country or something.'
With a smirk, Ryoma lowered his glasses onto his face and pulled his hat onto his head.
'Guess I'll see you in two weeks,' he said lightly.
'Ay, two weeks,' agreed Katsura with a wide grin.
Without another word, Sakamoto Ryoma departed the Ishin Shishi hideout, his work done for the day and hopefully not about to kill him the next time he crossed paths with the amber eyed hitokiri.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Two days…
Kenji sighed and idly fiddled with his blanket. He was still in the sick room he'd woken up in but as of this morning, he was now officially alone. Saito was gone; back in his repaired room after the disastrous attack by the Hitokiri Battōsai.
The Shinsengumi headquarters had come alive with gossip concerning the issue. Kenji found it hard to believe that his appearance had brought the legendary assassin out of hiding to investigate. From what he'd heard and the way people tended to avoid his gaze, Kenji had deduced that the likeness between them could only be uncanny.
It made him wonder.
Was it possible that he was somehow related? He knew he was fairly competent with a blade and pretty quick on his feet compared to most peoples' standards but somehow he didn't think that came anywhere close to the skill of the assassin. By all reports, he was a man of incredible stature with burning amber eyes that could freeze a man's heart with terror in an instant. A Bloody Demon they called him.
Still, he found his father's face floating before his mind's eye and he was suddenly struck with a ridiculous but unnerving thought. Maybe the reason his father hated violence so much was because the Battōsai was actually his brother! Or something anyway. Doing a few rough calculations in his head, Kenji realised that Kenshin would have been a teenager during the Bakumatsu. Too young to fight but old enough to remember.
If he was in the thick of things though thought Kenji, it must have been terrible. No wonder he doesn't really talk about his past and he loathes fighting more than anyone I know. However, I really do doubt that the Battōsai was of any relation to us. Violence just doesn't run in the family…although…
Kenji sucked his lip, frowning as the whole series of events which had landed him in this mess returned to him.
The door slid open abruptly, admitting a small, red haired teenager bearing a plate of food.
Smoothing his face into a bland expression, Kenji twisted his body from his sitting position to face the other and forcefully pushed any thoughts of his current predicament to one side.
Ichimura Tetsu looked just as pleased to see Kenji as he did. Hijikata's page had taken a personal dislike to him from the very beginning. It seemed that he wasn't at all happy with Saito-san's injury which had primarily occurred due to his appearance. Kenji didn't blame him for the suspicion but in the end, he found Tetsu's distrust irritating and highly immature. The other Shinsengumi members he'd met either didn't seem to care or came across as being reserved, nothing more.
Even Saito had remained fairly neutral on the topic although Kenji didn't mind that he'd left. If Saito wasn't ignoring Kenji or verbally abusing anyone who came into the room and refused to allow him up then the wolf was calmly cleaning his katana with an expression dark enough to send chills racing up Kenji's spine. It was a look that promised one thing: death.
Kenji found himself thinking the Battōsai would be lucky if Saito only tortured him for a few days.
'Here,' said Tetsu, passing Kenji the dish.
Kenji glanced at the meal and tried to refrain from complaining. It was a bowl of soba again and Kenji wasn't pleased to see it. He had never liked the bland noodles but it was obviously popular here in the barracks. Every meal he'd consumed thus far had all been a bowl of soba or something mixed into the soba. Still, he wasn't about to start an argument, especially considering how easily Tetsu rose to the challenge.
Leaning back against the door, Tetsu watched Kenji eat his meal with a bored expression upon his face. It was the same routine they repeated every time Tetsu brought Kenji his meal and Kenji found himself wishing he had his bohken more and more often these days so that he might beat Tetsu out of the room and allow him to enjoy his meal in peace.
Today however, instead of handing the bowl back silently, Kenji decided that enough was enough. He needed to find out what was going on and what would happen to him.
'Ichimura-san,' he began.
'What?' queried Tetsu flatly as he took the bowl from Kenji.
'Do you know what's going to happen to me? I don't believe the Shinsengumi plan to keep me here forever but, well…'
Kenji paused. He'd given this a lot of thought over the past two days and he'd decided that since he neither knew anyone nor could think of anyone to go to, it might be an idea for him to stay with the Shinsengumi and work as a kitchen hand or something. Kenji had no intention of joining the war himself although the thought was appealing but the potential to wreck havoc with the future was simply far too great. Besides, the Shinsengumi barracks would afford him a great amount of protection and were the perfect base from which to gather information.
'I was wondering if it might be possible for me to stay on here and work in the barracks. I don't have a home to return to and I thought I might try to repay Captain Saito for saving my life,' explained Kenji.
Tetsu eyed him sceptically.
'Saito-san's not exactly the easiest person to get along with you know,' said Tetsu.
'I know,' scowled Kenji defensively. 'But just the same, I still want to repay him.'
Tetsu shrugged and sighed.
'It's your funeral. I'll tell Hijikata-san but don't say I didn't warn you.'
'No need,' interrupted a voice suddenly from right behind Tetsu.
Leaping away from the door as if he'd been burned, Kenji had a hard time maintaining a straight face at the look on Tetsu's face as the shoji slid aside to reveal an irritated looking Captain Saito.
The third captain was dressed in a plain blue kimono and a white hakama, his black hair loose around his shoulders but his daisho as present as ever.
'Ichimura, go report to Hijikata-san,' ordered Saito.
'Hai,' answered Tetsu promptly, his expression strained, still apparently unnerved by Saito's abrupt appearance. Gathering Kenji's empty bowl, the bushy red head streaked past Saito, disappearing from sight and leaving the two alone.
Watching Saito expectantly, Kenji remained mentally wary as he waited for the tall man to say something. He didn't like the way Saito's golden eyes seemed to be appraising him.
'Well Himura, nothing to say?' asked Saito, breaking the silence.
'No…yes,' answered Kenji sullenly.
He's doing it again! Kuso, I can't believe how easily that man gets under my skin.
'Well?' prompted Saito.
'You heard it all,' replied Kenji irritably looking away. If Saito thought he was going to repeat himself then he had another thing coming.
'I did,' affirmed Saito coldly. 'However, throwing your lot in with the Shinsengumi should be something that you think about very hard first.'
'What do you think I've been doing for the past two days?' snapped Kenji whirling back to face the lean Captain.
Saito's eyes narrowed dangerously but Kenji ignored the warning.
'I don't want to become a Shinsengumi member if that's what you think. I'm not so much a baka that I can't see that this is a dangerous place to be and I have no right to be here but I have nowhere else to go. I don't know anyone; I don't have anywhere to go back to so as you can see, I have nothing better to do and I might as well make myself useful and do something for you. After all, didn't you save my life? Don't you want me to repay you or something?' finished Kenji.
'Ahou,' growled Saito.
'I really don't care what you do but if you want to help so badly then I suppose you can be my page. Alright Himura?'
'Hai,' retorted Kenji with a glare. 'That's fine by me.'
'Good,' said Saito.
Turning away, he added a parting shot, telling Kenji to be ready to work tomorrow and then slid the door home.
Kenji scowled at the closed shoji for a moment and muttered, 'arrogant bastard,' under his breath.
That definitely didn't go how I planned but at least I've got a roof for certain over my head now. If only what I should do next were just as certain.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Saito paused as the muttered insult reached his hearing through the door and he mentally applauded the kid for his grit.
'Didn't think you'd do it,' murmured a voice from the shadows.
Glancing sideways, Saito watched as the small form of Captain Shinpachi detached itself from the shadows. He'd sensed the other there long ago and knew he had overheard the entire conversation.
'Oh is that so?' queried Saito finally.
Shinpachi grinned, ever one of the "Comedian Trio."
'Mou Saito-san, you're growing soft,' he observed.
Saito regarded the second captain flatly but decided not to reply. If Shinpachi felt annoyed by his silence, he gave no sign.
Sighing, he looked away from Saito, gazing out the window as his expression turned distant.
'I guess Hijikata-san gave you your marching orders?' he asked softly.
Saito snorted in reply.
'Baka,' he answered. 'You know Hijikata-san can't order me to commit seppuku. Besides, why would I be that cruel to the kid, even if the little ahou bares an eerie resemblance to that bloody monster the Choshu employ? No point taking on a page if you're going to kill yourself in the next day or two.'
Shinpachi smiled tiredly.
'I should have known that'd be your answer Saito-san. Only you'd defy Toshi like that,' he answered quietly, his gaze still far away.
Saito uttered another non-committal snort and folded his arms, leaning against the wall as he did so.
Silence settled between the two Shinsengumi for several long minutes as each lost themselves in their own thoughts. Finally Shinpachi broke it with a sigh.
'Take care of Himura,' said Shinpachi.
The requested caught Saito off guard and he paused a moment before answering.
'Hai,' he replied eventually.
'That kid's something special. It'd be a shame to let such a bright flame get blown out.'
'Hmm,' agreed Saito.
Adding on a reflective note and surprising the other captain, Saito said, 'Himura's different. That kid would make an excellent swordsman, probably one of the best. If anything, I imagine that's what the Battōsai was like before all this. For two people that aren't related they sure share a lot of similarities besides just their appearance.'
Looking a little wide eyed, Shinpachi shook his head ruefully.
'I don't think I'll ever understand your logic Saito-san but for what it's worth, I think you two will do one another the world of good,' said Shinpachi, giving Saito a sly grin.
Saito returned the look with a cold glare.
'That ahou has got a big mouth,' said Saito sharply. 'It will get him in trouble and I will be the one who kicks his backside from here to Edo and back.'
'Oh well,' grinned Shinpachi. 'I still trust you two will enjoy one another's company for the next month.'
'Baka,' scowled Saito. 'I don't know how you managed to find out that I've been stripped of my rank for the next month and ordered to look after that loud mouthed kid but I promise you that I will make your life a living hell if you and those other two bakas so much think about mocking me for it.'
'Oh I wouldn't dream of it,' laughed Shinpachi, flashing him a grin and promptly departing.
You had better not thought Saito darkly. Knowing that red head and Harada and Heisuke as well as he did however, Saito darkly suspected that that would be the very first thing on their list.
Author's Note: Well I admit it was a little slow this chapter… ok, it was really slow but I needed to get down a little ground work. Rest assured, the pace will pick up from here on in as we get back into it. I pretty much have this whole story worked out now so I guess I best get cracking.
Hope you enjoyed and please let me know what you think!
Till next time!
Randa