Kyuushutsu

by Terry-McElrath

Katsura Kogorou, leader of the Choshu Clan, is captured and under a death sentence! Can Kenshin find and rescue him before he is executed? Set during the Bakumatsu, after Tomoe's death.

10. Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: This fan fiction is based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime series. Rurouni Kenshin characters are the property of creator Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Shonen Jump, Sony Entertainment, and VIZ Comics. This is a nonprofit work for entertainment purposes only. Permission was not obtained from the above parties.

KYUUSHUTSU

(Rescue, Deliverance)

Written by: Terry L. McElrath

Chapter Ten

Having knocked on the shoji, Kenshin waited impatiently for Uchida to summon him into Katsura's office. The inn was very crowded, with more men coming in every few minutes. The raucous sounds of many voices drifted down the hallway and he tightened his shields, reducing the uncomfortable pressure of all the auras surrounding him and fully masking his ki at the same time. Normally, he only partially masked his ki, except when he was on assignment, but he didn't want the unusually large number of auras to distract him tonight. When Uchida finally called out "come in," he sounded preoccupied and harried. Quietly, Kenshin slid the door open and stepped inside.

"Himura-san!" Uchida exclaimed, excitement rising when he saw the calm expression in his eyes. "You got the information!"

"Yes. Ikeda-san is getting the documents now. How are the preparations going?"

"The three ninjas you asked for are not here yet. But the message I sent to the clan leader requesting his three best marksmen was answered with assurances that they would get here as quickly as possible. The observation posts have been set up around Shogunate headquarters. I've assigned two couriers to each group. We should get reports every half hour or so. More often, if something unexpected occurs. As I am sure you could tell, several of the troop Commanders and many of the squad leaders have already arrived."

Kenshin walked across the office and knelt gracefully on a cushion in front of the low table Katsura used as a desk, laying his daisho on the tatami mat next to him. "I will meet with them later. Right now we need to discuss the rescue plan."

Setting a brush and ink pot nearby, Uchida pulled a blank piece of paper from a stack and prepared to take notes. "All right, Himura-san. Please, tell me about your plan."

"The key is distraction," Kenshin said slowly. "Because it will be morning, you will need to distract the Shogunate forces while I get inside the compound and find Katsura-san. The ninjas will provide distractions from within the complex while Katsura and I leave the headquarters."

"You're going to enter Shogunate headquarters in daylight?!"

"There is no choice. The preparations will not be completed until well after dawn."

"But, how will you–" Uchida's question was interrupted by a soft knock at the shoji. "Enter!" he snapped, annoyed by the disruption.

The door slid open with a whisper and a young man walked in, hesitating when he saw Battousai watching him. At an irritated gesture from Uchida, he quickly closed the shoji and crossed the room.

"You have a report, Kajiwara?" Uchida asked.

"Yes, sir," the young man replied, nervously watching the Battousai out of the corner of his eye. He reached into his gi and pulled out some folded papers, laying them on the low table.

"Thank you," Uchida said absently, not looking up from his inspection of the documents as the courier hurriedly left the office. Sliding a drawing across the desk, he said, "All right, Himura-san, here's a diagram that shows where our observation posts are set up. As you can see, the entire perimeter of Shogunate headquarters is covered." Shuffling through the papers that the courier had brought, he selected several and laid them out. "According to the reports, there are pairs of guards posted every thirty feet, or so, outside the wall that surrounds the compound. In addition, you can see that there are watchtowers at each of the corners and guards stationed at intervals along the top of the wall."

After looking at the sketches, Uchida could not see how it would be humanly possible for Himura to get into the compound. However, the assassin was studying the drawings intently and showed no indication of being discouraged. He looked up after several minutes, his expression intense, and spoke quietly.

"Is a layout of the compound included among the papers?"

"Uh . . . I think so," Uchida muttered, flipping through the pages that were now scattered across his desk. "Yes! Here it is! Although the report says it is incomplete because they can't see into the compound very well."

Himura took the paper and laid it on the desk, turning it until it was oriented with the front gates facing himself. Then he arranged the drawings of the outer defenses around the compound layout, each in its appropriate place. Fascinated, Uchida watched as the hitokiri analyzed the sketches with absolute concentration. He wished he knew what Himura was looking for. Whatever it was, it didn't seem like he was finding it; although it was hard to tell, since his expression never changed. But there was a feeling of tension in the set of his shoulders that left Uchida worried.

Releasing a silent sigh, Kenshin re-examined the diagram of the compound layout. It wasn't any more informative than it had been the previous three times he had studied it. He tried to picture what he would be facing when he crossed the wall, but the drawing just wasn't complete enough to tell him what he needed to know. He had to have a better idea of what to expect, or he would run a serious risk of winding up in a trap, and that could not happen. "I just hope that Hamada-san can provide more information, and that Ikeda-san gets here soon," he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. A sudden knock – followed almost instantly by the shoji sliding open – startled both men, although Kenshin instantly recognized Ikeda's ki.

"Did I just hear my name?" Ikeda asked cheerfully. "I'm sorry it took me so long, Himura-san. But when I got to Hamada-san's house, I thought I was going to have to break down the door before anyone would wake up!" He set two folded documents on the desk in front of Himura. "Hamada-san apologized that he didn't have the actual plans at his home. He drew these quick sketches and promised that he would prepare a complete set of plans for us as soon as possible, just in case we ever need them." Snickering, Ikeda continued with a wicked gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, and he said he was sorry that he couldn't remember the exact measurements. After all, it has been a few years. These are only approximate, but they're accurate to within two or three inches."

Kenshin unfolded the two large sheets of paper and stared in amazement at the carefully drawn layouts. One was a highly-detailed floor plan of a two-story building, with every room on each floor labeled, along with dimensions written in the margins. A small detention center was identified in the basement, with four cells indicated. The other page appeared to be a complete diagram of the layout of the entire headquarters complex. Each building was named, with the building that held the detention center clearly marked. "These are quick sketches?" he asked incredulously.

"Yep." Ikeda chuckled. "Hamada-san wanted to add a lot more detail. I had a heck of a time convincing him that you didn't need to know about the ventilation systems. I told him what you told Nakajima-san. That you wanted information about the building where Katsura-san might be held and the layout of the headquarters itself." He shook his head. "I tell you, when that man gets to talking about building designs, he's kind of scary."

"Thank you, Ikeda-san, you did very well. This is exactly what we need." Kenshin quickly placed the drawings of the outer defenses in their proper positions around the diagram of Shogunate headquarters. While he would still have to see the actual placement of the guards before he entered the headquarters, with this much information he felt much more confident about the upcoming rescue. Kenshin was confused by a number of circles of varying sizes drawn on the paper, though. "Ikeda-san? Did Hamada-san explain what these circles mean?"

Ikeda leaned down to look at what Himura was pointing at. "Oh, them? Yeah. He said they're part of the landscaping. You know, trees and bushes. Nakajima-san said Hamada-san had an eye for details, and he wasn't kidding!"

Shaking his head, Kenshin bent over the diagram of the complex, memorizing the layout. Considering how tight the security was, he was surprised at the amount of cover present. He had expected to find the grounds surrounding the buildings to be bare, so that an enemy would have nowhere to hide. It was obvious that no one seriously believed that Shogunate headquarters would ever be infiltrated.

Both Uchida and Ikeda kept quiet as they watched Himura study the plans with total concentration, turning the documents to analyze them from different angles. He kept switching from one diagram to the other, comparing the drawings of the outer defenses to the actual layout plan provided by Hamada. Reaching over to pick up the brush Uchida had laid out, he dipped it into the ink and made a few marks on the diagram. Energy seemed to emanate from Himura, filling the room. It reminded Uchida of the way his sword-ki had crackled throughout the inn when he had returned wearing that rather odd outfit.

When a knock sounded, Kenshin automatically extended his inner senses and went on guard instantly when he could not detect any ki on the other side of the door. Granted, the ninjas that Uchida had summoned were expected to arrive at any time and they might have masked their auras, but he prepared himself and faced the door, just in case. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ikeda reach for his sword, and nodded slightly in approval.

Uchida was alarmed to see Himura stand and slide his daisho into place after glancing at the door. Why would he be concerned about someone knocking at the door? Apprehensively, he said, "Come in."

---

Anxious to reach the comfort of his spartan quarters, Saito paced tiredly down the long hallway that seemed to stretch out endlessly before him, disappearing into the dark shadows that gathered ahead. While his rank entitled him to more luxurious accommodations, he preferred the simplicity of an ordinary fighter's billet. His only concession to rank being that he had the room to himself; otherwise, it was nearly indistinguishable from any of his men's rooms.

He slowed when he noticed soft light streaming through the open door to Okita's room. Standing in the doorway, he saw his friend kneeling on a green cushion beside a lamp, reading. Saito wondered what was so important that Okita had decided to wait up to talk to him. Then he spotted the corner of a bloodstained cloth lying partially hidden behind the cushion and suspected that it was his illness that had kept him up so late. When Okita looked up from his book, though, his quick smile and bright eyes belied his paleness and increasingly fragile health. However, Saito said nothing about his concern for his friend's deteriorating condition. Being samurai, Okita did not want sympathy and would not appreciate his solicitude. The best that Saito could do was to try to stay near him when they patrolled together, so that he could act as Okita's backup, should the need arise. "You have news for me, Okita?"

"Yes, but first, come in and sit down! Would you like some tea, Saito?" Okita invited cheerfully, indicating a teapot and cups set on a lacquered tray beside him.

Saito entered the room and knelt across from the young man, although he declined the offer of tea. It was too late to turn this visit into a social call, but the information Okita had to tell him must be important. And the fact that his friend had invited him to sit told Saito that his most recent attack of consumption had left him too weak to stand.

"No? All right, then. Tell me how the hunt goes, Saito. Have you discovered who set up the Shinsengumi?"

"Yes. General Daishi came up with the idea. Matsushina was Daishi's aide and implemented the plan. Hokusai is an Army Colonel in charge of interrogating prisoners for Daishi. Katsura is being held at Shogunate headquarters and is to be executed at ten in the morning."

Okita had listened closely as Saito gave his abbreviated report. Now he tilted his head a little to the side and smiled his approval. "That's very good, Saito. You've done well in such a short time."

"Matsushina proved to be quite cooperative," Saito remarked dryly.

"Did he tell you why Katsura is being executed in the morning?"

"No. I assumed it was because they had gotten the information they wanted from him," Saito answered, frowning because apparently he had failed to get all the pertinent facts before eliminating Matsushina.

"The Satsuma-Choshu Alliance is breaking apart because of Katsura's capture, with both sides fighting each other. Katsura is being executed in order to drive the final wedge between the two factions of the Ishin Shishi."

Saito stared at Okita skeptically. "Impossible. I don't believe it," he growled, shaking his head.

"It is very possible, Saito. This information has been confirmed by several extremely reliable sources by both the Shogunate and the Shinsengumi. You know how volatile the relations have been between Choshu and Satsuma for generations. The only thing holding that Alliance together was Katsura and when he's dead, it will completely fall apart. The Choshu are refusing to follow Saigo and Okubo, and those two are fighting over who will lead the Satsuma forces."

"I can't believe that the Ishin Shishi would allow Katsura to be executed without at least trying to rescue him!"

"Oh, the Shogunate fully expects a rescue attempt to be made, Saito," Okita confirmed. "That's why I stayed up to see you. Kondo-san received orders this evening. Because of Katsura's importance to the Imperialists, the Shogunate is certain that a desperate all out assault will be made to rescue him at any time."

"Hn," Saito grunted. "The attack would be totally useless against a fortified stronghold like Shogunate headquarters."

"True, but that is how the Ishin Shishi usually fight. And between the division within their ranks and the death of the Battousai, the Imperialists are completely disorganized. Even you have to admit that it is highly unlikely that they will be able to come up with a new strategy in such a short time, Saito!"

Reluctantly, Saito had to agree. With so little time before the execution, the chances of the Imperialists being able to devise new tactics were vanishingly small. "You are probably right," he admitted grudgingly.

Okita smiled at the sour tone in his friend's voice. "Even though the Shogunate does not believe that the Ishin Shishi will be able to organize their attack very well, the Shinsengumi have been given orders to prevent them from coordinating their efforts by attacking them at every possible opportunity."

"So we are supposed to chase those Imperialist mongrels through Kyoto, rather than defend the headquarters?" Saito made no effort to hide his disgust at the idea.

This time Okita couldn't help but laugh at the look on Saito's face, although he cut it off rather quickly when he felt the familiar burning flare up in his chest. No! Not now! Not in front of Saito! he thought, carefully controlling his breathing to try to avoid irritating his lungs any further and setting off another coughing spell. "Exactly. Although, you could consider it a form of defense, since we will be preventing them from effectively attacking Shogunate headquarters."

"Hn. Morons."

Okita wasn't certain if Saito was referring to the Ishin Shishi or the Shogunate, but decided it would be more diplomatic to not ask.

"What time do we have to begin patrolling?" Saito asked.

"At six. You should try to get at least a couple hours of sleep, Saito. You've had a long day."

"All right," Saito agreed, getting up and heading across the room. Noting Okita's strained smile, he turned just before he closed the door and suggested, "Get some rest yourself, Okita."

"Of course. Good night, old friend. Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

Saito paused outside Okita's room for a minute and listened to the sounds of muffled coughing that filtered through the door. Okita . . . Shaking his head, he continued the rest of the way to his room.

---

Huddled in a miserable ball, Katsura lay curled on his right side, shivering on the wet, cold stone floor, trying to conserve as much body heat as possible. It didn't help much, though. The flagstones beneath him just absorbed what little warmth he could produce, leaving him more chilled by the minute. But he just couldn't bring himself to stand on his abused feet. He bit down lightly on his tongue to keep his teeth from chattering because it made the loose ones ache. Although why he bothered, he didn't know. After all, the minor pain of his teeth was almost lost among the rest of his collection of aches and pains. He hurt in places he hadn't even thought could hurt. But at least he could do something about the ache in his jaw and that gave him back a tiny measure of control, making him feel a little less helpless.

He had never been so exhausted in his life. How long had he been awake? Three days? No, that didn't seem right. He struggled to remember, fighting through the gray fog that seemed to enshroud his mind. It was dawn when Hokusai took me to Shogunate headquarters and I'm to be executed this morning, so it has only been two days. It seems like so much longer. Has the sun already risen? He didn't think so, and suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to see the sunrise, to watch the sky gradually lighten and hear the birds begin to sing their first welcoming notes of the day. So many times the dawn had found him already up and working – if, in fact, he had even actually gone to bed that night. It had been years since he had taken a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of that magical time when night so reluctantly gave way to day. And now that he knew that this would be his last dawn, he desperately wished he could see it. It was yet another unfulfilled desire that he would take to his grave, along with his crushed dream of seeing Japan enter a glorious new era of peace and prosperity.

Despite his resolve to stay awake, Katsura fell asleep. Not even the pounding in his head, or the throbbing of his infected shoulder, could keep him from sleeping. A horrible clattering racket jolted him awake. He moaned softly when agonizing pain exploded in his chest as his broken ribs shifted because of the incautious movement. Katsura lifted his head and searched wildly for the cause of the noise. The sound of laughter made him look at the two guards standing in front of his cell. Taku stood there, a dented water dipper held in his upraised hand, a nasty smirk spread across his coarse features.

"Awake now?" Taku asked sarcastically. "You wouldn't want to sleep through your final hours, would you?"

Panting because of the burst of pain from his ribs, Katsura rolled over onto his back again and tried to relax until the pain could ease. His heart was racing from the adrenaline rush that had accompanied the rude awakening, which only aggravated his headache. He concentrated on controlling his breathing in an effort to slow down his heart rate, and finally recovered from the shock he had just gone through after a few minutes. Hearing a cough, he looked through the barred door. Taku was sitting on a wooden western-style chair, watching him intently and Katsura had to repress a shudder at the look of malicious anticipation on the brutish guard's face. Considering what Taku had done the last two times he had caught him unaware, Katsura vowed he would not give the sadistic guard another chance to torment him.

In an effort to keep himself awake, he began to dwell on those things he would most miss. It was odd, after everything he had done in the past few years, all the planning, coordinating and sacrifices, it was the small things that came to mind: the taste of sakuramoti, the good-natured laughter of friends sharing stories over sake, the sweet smile of his beloved Ikumatsu that could warm his soul from clear across a crowded room. The thought of never seeing her again made his heart ache with regret. Yet again, as he had so many times since his capture, he called up memories of how they had met, the joy he felt every time she was with him, the precious peace she gave him when she played the shamisen. He started to drift off to the notes of one of his favorite songs. At the last minute, he jerked awake and realized that as exhausted as he was, he could not continue laying on the floor.

With a heavy sigh, he steeled himself, rolling over and pushing himself up off the floor. The combined agony of his feet, ribs, and shoulder made him clench his jaws so hard he thought his teeth might shatter, but he would not give Taku the pleasure of hearing his suffering. He limped – shaking and sweating – the few feet it took to cross the cell and reach the small wooden bench that was shoved against the far wall. Virtually collapsing onto the bench, he sat with his legs stretched out in front of him, trying to take the pressure off his feet.

Leaning back against the rough wall, Katsura tried to ignore his overwhelming thirst. He would have given almost anything for a drink of water. His tongue felt like a piece of leather and when he licked his lips, he found they were dry and cracked. Idly, Katsura wondered whether it had been Hokusai or Taku who had decided to deprive him of food and water, or if it was just general practice to make Imperialist prisoners suffer as much as possible. Dismissing the questions as irrelevant, Katsura attempted to distract himself with more pleasant thoughts. It was difficult, though, as his fatigue made it hard to focus on anything. Just as he had finally managed to retreat into a lovely memory of a weekend spent with Ikumatsu at a quiet little country inn, he was yanked back to the present by Taku's loud voice.

"Hey, traitor! I'm gonna enjoy watchin' your execution! And then I'm gonna look forward to seein' the rest of you Ishin Shishi scum get their heads lopped off!"

Refusing to respond to the thug's taunting, Katsura merely glared at him for interrupting his pleasant memory. A wave of dizziness swept over him and his vision began to go gray, making Katsura grab onto the edges of the bench in an effort to keep from falling to the floor. I must be even more exhausted than I thought, he guessed, as he fought to remain conscious. He would not fall asleep! It doesn't really matter how tired I am. In a few hours, I will be able to sleep for the rest of eternity.

---

The door slid aside after Uchida's invitation, revealing four men. They were looking at Uchida and Ikeda when they entered, and Kenshin almost smiled at the shock that showed in their eyes when they found him standing there. Apparently he had given them a rather nasty surprise. Having fully masked his own ki when he had strengthened his shields to reduce the uncomfortable pressure of all the auras that filled the inn, the ninjas had not been aware of his presence. Although the fact that he was alive had probably also caught them off guard. His eyes narrowed, when he saw several hands twitch, as though starting to reach for hidden weapons.

Recognizing Kaze standing in the front, Uchida relaxed. But then he noticed the tension building between Himura and the ninjas and quickly spoke up, trying to defuse the situation. "Himura-san, Kaze is a jonin of the Shiinto clan. Thank you for coming so quickly, Kaze! Forgive me, but I'm afraid I don't know the names of your companions."

Carefully controlling his expression, Kaze met the steady gaze of the red-haired hitokiri standing before him. He had been very surprised to find himself facing the reportedly deceased assassin, and more than a little shaken when he realized that Battousai's control of his ki was at least as good as his own. Noticing Himura's battle-ready stance, he recognized that the young man was well aware of his men's automatic defensive reactions. Impressed by this proof of Battousai's instincts, Kaze realized that his reputation was apparently quite well deserved. Inclining his head in respect, Kaze slowly moved his hands away from his body, indicating that he would not attempt to use his weapons. Taking their cue from his actions, the others relaxed and followed his example. Himura's impassive expression did not change in the slightest, but he took his hand away from the hilt of his sword, returning the gesture with a brief nod of his own.

Walking further into the room, Kaze was followed by two of his companions, while the youngest stayed by the door. Turning his attention to Uchida, he bowed politely before quietly saying, "Our clan leader sends his greetings, Uchida-san. He ordered me to tell you that because you did not explain the nature of the assignment you wish us to fulfill, other than to request infiltration experts and marksmen, he selected our team because of our additional abilities. Let me introduce my companions. Kuro, an explosives expert . . ." he waited until the taller of the two men bowed slightly before continuing, "and Nezumi, whose speciality is . . . intelligence gathering." The smallest of the four ninjas glanced at Kaze with amusement before bowing perfunctorily. "And of course, myself. I am a weapons specialist. You summoned us, Uchida-san? What are your orders?"

"You were summoned to assist us in rescuing Katsura-san from Shogunate headquarters. Himura-san will explain the details of the plan and tell you what needs to be done, Kaze."

Surprised yet again, Kaze looked at the hitokiri. Katsura is being held at Shogunate headquarters? And Battousai is outlining the rescue plan?! Does that mean he came up with it? But he is far too young to be– He broke off his confused thoughts and focused on the man in front of him. "What do you want us to do, Himura-san?"

Before Kenshin could answer the ninja's question, a soft knock was heard. At Uchida's nod, the young ninja standing near the door stepped aside and slid the shoji open, allowing a courier to enter the office. Uchida took the document he held out and read through it rapidly. After a quick "thanks," the waiting messenger left. Uchida looked up to see Himura watching him and shook his head to indicate that there was nothing of particular import in the message.

"I need distractions," Kenshin said, moving over to the desk and motioning for the ninjas to join him. He indicated the compound layout. "This is a diagram of Shogunate headquarters. Can the three of you get inside?"

Kaze examined the diagram closely. While he had never infiltrated Shogunate headquarters, he was aware of many of the security measures used and found the challenge intriguing. A quick look at his men assured him that they were confident in their ability to accomplish the task. "Yes, Himura-san."

"Katsura-san's execution is scheduled at ten." Placing his finger on the prominently marked building, Kenshin continued, "He is being held in this building. After you have entered the compound and completed your preparations, the Ishin Shishi will create diversions outside of Shogunate headquarters. I will then cross the wall and free Katsura-san. Once we are ready to leave the building, I will signal you. At that point, I want your team to simulate an artillery attack by detonating as many hidden caches of explosives as possible," he explained, sweeping his hand across the diagram. "However," Kenshin cautioned, drawing a finger in a straight line from the center of the building he had indicated, to the wall surrounding the compound, "there must not be any explosions within this corridor and the wall must be breached at this point," his finger stopped on an "X" inked on the wall. "Do you have any questions so far?"

"Is that all you want us to do, Himura-san?" Kaze asked, trying to keep the sarcasm in his voice to a minimum. The hitokiri's plan was nothing, if not ambitious. He intends to cross the wall into Shogunate headquarters in broad daylight?! He might be the Shadow Hitokiri, but there won't be many shadows at that time of day! Does he actually believe that he can pull off such a rescue? Kaze would have laughed, if Himura hadn't presented the plan with such utter confidence in his ability to do exactly that. Although, he recalled, he did successfully attack Shinsengumi main headquarters singlehandedly yesterday morning. Kaze regarded Battousai with even greater respect.

"No," Kenshin responded. "I have three more things I want your team to do." He laid the floor plan of the building where Katsura was being held over the compound layout and indicated a marked door on the back side of the ground floor that led into a room labeled 'gardener's storage.' "This door should be unguarded. Can you unlock it?"

Kaze looked at Nezumi. The small man was a master thief. He had never yet met a lock he couldn't open. A tiny smile curved his lips.

"No problem," was Nezumi's easy reply.

The jonin returned his gaze to the assassin. "The door will be unlocked, Himura-san," he assured the redhead. Although why he would want access to a room that had no inner doors and, therefore, no way of entering the rest of the building, was a mystery to him.

"Once I give the signal that Katsura and I are leaving the building, in addition to the explosives, I want smoke bombs to be detonated around the building to provide cover while we cross the open grounds."

"All right," Kaze agreed. "What will be your signal?"

"You will know when you see it," Kenshin answered, removing the building floor plan and pointing at a large circle near the spot he had marked on the outer wall. "I want one of your team to be stationed in this tree and he is to keep his ki unmasked."

Now Kaze frowned in consternation. Why would Himura want to put one of them in danger like that?

Kenshin noted the jonin's hesitation and understood his concern. "Your team member does not need to unmask his ki until I give the signal. At that point, the general confusion should prevent him from being noticed."

Before giving Himura his response, Kaze concentrated on the layout of the headquarters complex, letting the young man's plan run through his mind. All right, let's assume that Himura can successfully enter the compound and free Katsura. Our job is to provide a diversion while he gets Katsura out of headquarters, and create an escape route by breaching the wall. He had to admit that the 'artillery attack' was an excellent idea. It would undoubtedly create complete chaos within the compound, which should keep the Shogunate troops from being able to effectively stop the rescue. And it explained why Uchida had requested that the three ninjas be marksmen.

However, Himura was demanding that one man had to be in that tree with his ki unmasked, and that still puzzled him. Why? Then he noticed how close the tree was to the escape route and remembered the smokescreen that Himura had ordered for cover. With visibility greatly diminished, it would not be easy to find the hole in the wall. Since it was obvious that Himura could sense ki, that meant that he would be able to use that ninja's aura as a beacon to guide them through the smoke. Very clever! he thought. That mystery solved, Kaze now felt he understood Battousai's plan.

He looked up and nodded. "I will be in the tree, Himura-san," he confirmed, and unmasked his ki. The hitokiri's amber eyes became just slightly unfocused and seemed to look through him for a moment. When his eyes snapped back into focus, Kaze had no doubt that Himura would recognize his aura anywhere and under any circumstances. Considering how quickly Battousai had memorized his ki, the jonin was yet again impressed with the assassin's ki mastery. Suddenly, Himura's aura was unmasked and Kaze found himself 'seeing' a complex display of deep reds and golds. The constantly shifting pattern was so arresting that Kaze spent more time studying the aura than usual. When the ki was once again masked, he stood there blinking in bemusement for several seconds. He had never seen such a unique aura before and looked at the young man standing in front of him in astonishment. The level of determination and strength Himura's ki revealed was amazing! However, the look in the manslayer's eyes quickly brought him back to the mission at hand and he once again began concentrating on what needed to be done.

Kaze looked back down at the compound layout. He had chosen to station himself in the tree because it was the most dangerous position. Considering that he was the best marksman of the clan, it only made sense that he should cover Himura and Katsura's escape route.

He began studying where to place the other two members of his team to maximize their effectiveness. If Kuro were placed on this roof, he would be able to cover nearly a third of the compound. And by putting Nezumi here, it would appear that the Ishin Shishi were using more than one cannon. Yes, that would work. Now, how many bombs can we hide before dawn?

After examining the plans for a short while, Kaze turned to the other two ninjas and began laying out his strategy. He pointed out the buildings where he wanted them posted and began explaining where to hide the explosives. "Since Himura-san wants this building shrouded in a smokescreen, we will be placing smoke bombs with the explosives along these arcs." His finger slid over the layout. "Although we won't decide on the final placement of the bombs until after we infiltrate the compound, based upon which direction the wind is blowing. If the breeze is stiff enough, we may have to place more smoke bombs upwind. I want both of you to be certain to place as many explosives outside of the smokescreen as possible, since we won't be able to see to detonate extra bombs near the primary building once the smoke has spread. We want to keep the Shogunate troops disorganized for as long as we can."

Kenshin listened to the jonin discussing the headquarters layout with the other two ninjas for a minute before stepping over to stand next to Uchida, who met his eyes questioningly.

"Himura-san?"

"We need to discuss the distractions you will provide when I cross the wall." Picking up a small diagram of the outer defenses, Kenshin pointed to the watchtower to the right of the main gates. "There should be guards at the corner – here – and stationed along the wall – here." His finger moved along the diagram. "I will need two diversions, so that these two sets of sentries are looking away from each other." Hearing a choked sound, Kenshin looked up at Uchida, who was standing there with his eyes almost comically wide.

"Y-you intend to cross the wall next to the watchtower?!" Uchida questioned, his voice quavering. "But the lookouts will be able to see everything! And the guards on the ground are only thirty feet apart! How?! It's impos–" At the warning look he received from the hitokiri, Uchida bit off the word he had been about to say. "Um . . . that seems to be very . . . dangerous, Himura-san."

"That is my current plan, Uchida. However, I won't know for certain until I've had a chance to look the situation over after I arrive at Shogunate headquarters. As for the lookouts, you will have to arrange another diversion a little further away to attract their attention."

Uchida looked away, frantically trying to think of what kind of distractions he could come up with. Creating a disturbance that would attract the lookouts' attention wouldn't be too difficult. But what about the two sets of guards? Given that they were expecting an attack, they would obviously be very alert. How could he distract them? It wasn't as if he could just send someone to ask them for directions! A soft cough broke into his concentration. Kaze stood there, politely waiting to be noticed.

"Forgive me, Himura-san, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I believe that my people can provide the necessary distraction for the guards," the ninja suggested softly.

Giving the jonin a measuring look, Kenshin inclined his head, accepting the offer. "Because I am not certain at this time where I will cross the wall, it will be necessary for me to meet with your people beforehand."

"Of course," Kaze replied easily, taking a moment to think about the safest place to arrange for the meeting. "There is a small shrine three streets away from Shogunate headquarters. I will have them wait for you there. My apprentice, Minarai, will be with them," he said, indicating the young man standing beside the shoji.

"Thank you," Kenshin said softly. "Do you have any other questions?" When the jonin shook his head, Kenshin continued, "Is there anything we can do to assist you?"

"Do you have any explosives and smoke bombs available?" Kaze asked after a moment's thought. "It would save time if we didn't have to return to clan headquarters to get them."

Uchida immediately spoke up, "Yes, Kaze. In preparation for the rescue, I had supplies brought to the inn earlier today and I know that there were several kinds of explosives, but I'm not so sure about the smoke bombs. There was an inventory list . . ." he mumbled, turning to the desk and shuffling through the papers, knocking some of them onto the floor in his haste. With a triumphant expression, he held up a piece of paper. Reading the list, he looked up, pointing to an item on the page. "And it seems that we have smoke bombs, too! Come with me and I'll show you."

The group left Katsura's office and turned right, heading down the hall toward the back door. Kenshin suddenly became aware that Ikeda had not followed them. He looked back and saw him walking away from the office, returning to the common room. "Ikeda-san," Kenshin called softly, gesturing for him to join them after he had his attention.

"I didn't think you'd want me hanging around any longer," Ikeda said when he caught up to the redhead, answering his questioning look. "Is there something you want me to do, Himura-san?"

"There may be," Kenshin responded as they rejoined the group.

Uchida led the way to a storage building behind the inn. Lighting an enclosed lantern, he unlocked the door and held it open for the others to enter. He noticed the smallest ninja looking at the lock on the door with a distinct look of amusement on his face. What was his name? Ah, yes, Nezumi. Perhaps I should consider replacing the lock, Uchida thought uncomfortably. Once inside, he hung the lantern overhead and indicated the boxes stacked in the room. "Please, take whatever you wish," he invited, stepping aside to stand next to Himura and Ikeda.

The four ninjas moved around the room, opening crates. Kaze found a box filled with bundles of crossbow quarrels of varying sizes. Sorting through them, he selected a sheaf of small ones, slipping an arrow out of the bundle. A crossbow appeared in his hand as if by magic, and he laid the quarrel into the groove on the stock. That particular bolt was too long, but after searching through the crate, Kaze found several sheaves of shorter arrows. Testing the bolts, he found them suitable and handed some of the bundles to the other two ninjas. Of course they had brought their own weapons and quarrels, but it never hurt to have extras.

Meanwhile, Kuro had located several crates of explosives, one of which in particular interested him. His pleased exclamation caught the attention of his comrades, who came over to see what he had found. Holding up a fist-sized cylindrical package, he explained, "These appear to be some of the latest Chinese percussion bombs." He paused, glancing at Uchida for confirmation, smiling when he saw him nod in agreement after looking at the inventory list. "They explode on impact. They can be detonated by either hitting them with a crossbow bolt . . . or throwing them," he added, looking at Kaze significantly.

Now Kaze understood why Kuro had been so excited about the crate. These bombs would make their job much easier. He knew that Kuro had been planning on using some very dangerous explosives. A kind that could be exploded by the impact of a crossbow quarrel, but was too unsafe to be directly handled by anyone other than an expert. That meant that only Kuro could have dealt with them. These percussion bombs were much safer. In fact, he realized, being able to throw the bombs meant that they could have more explosions within the smokescreen, making the 'artillery attack' seem much more realistic. In addition, it would be possible to actually attack the Shogunate forces directly, instead of merely hoping that some of them would be injured by accident.

By this time, Nezumi had found two boxes labeled 'smoke bombs' and dragged them into the center of the room. After prying the lids off, he reached into the straw-filled cases and pulled out standard Army-issue smoke bombs. Calling to Kaze, he chuckled at the irony of the situation when he realized that these supplies must have been 'liberated' from the Shogunate Army in one of the Ishin Shishi raids. What better use for the weapons than to utilize them to rescue the Choshu leader?

Hearing Nezumi call for him, Kaze turned and saw the thief holding up two smoke bombs, grinning. With three steps he was beside Nezumi, watching him rummage head-first through one of the straw-filled crates. Having Uchida provide the explosives and smoke bombs was a tremendous stroke of luck. He had been planning on sending Minarai back to fetch supplies. Not having to do so would save them a considerable amount of time. As it was, if they were to complete their preparations before dawn, they were going to need every minute. The rustling of straw drew his attention in time to see Nezumi stand up. Kaze had to sternly control the smile that threatened to break out when he saw straw sticking up in the small ninja's hair. "How many are there, Nezumi?"

"There's twenty-four in this box, Kaze. Give me a minute and I'll check the other one."

Satisfied that they would be well equipped, Kaze turned to Himura. "These supplies will be more than sufficient, Himura-san. We will leave as soon as we have packed what we will need."

Nodding, Kenshin asked, "Will you be able to complete your preparations by dawn?"

"Yes. Do you know when you will make the attempt?"

"Not precisely. You may have to wait an hour or so," Kenshin answered. "Will that be a problem?"

"No, Himura-san. We Shiinto can be very patient."

"I see." Before Kenshin could say more, his attention was diverted when a young man arrived. He stood in the doorway for a moment, searching for someone. Spotting Uchida standing in the corner, he walked to him, pulling a paper out of his gi.

When Uchida handed the report he had just received to Himura, Kaze looked around and saw that Minarai had found some sacks piled in a corner. Picking them up, the youth took them to the other two ninjas and began helping them carefully place the explosives in the bags. Pleased by his apprentice's resourcefulness, he walked over to give the boy a message for the clan leader. Just as Kaze got there, Kuro spoke up.

"Let me handle these charges, Nezumi. They're extremely powerful, and they're pretty touchy."

Curious, Kaze asked, "Are you going to use those to breach the wall, Kuro?"

"Yeah. I shouldn't need to use more than two, but I'm bringing four, just in case," he answered casually, as he took straw from one of the crates and stuffed it into the bag, carefully packing it around the explosives.

Kaze didn't question Kuro's judgement and left him to finish with his preparations. "Minarai," he called, catching his apprentice's attention. The youth hurried over to his mentor as soon as he had placed the smoke bomb he was holding in a bag. Speaking quietly, Kaze gave his message to the young ninja. After making him repeat it word for word, Kaze sent him off. Bowing respectfully, the young man left.

Hearing a soft sound behind him, Kaze turned to find Nezumi and Kuro standing there, sacks tied to their backs. He automatically accepted the two bags Kuro handed to him. The explosives expert then turned to address Uchida.

"Uchida-san, you need to warn your people not to stand in front of the wall where Himura-san and Katsura-san will be coming out. The explosion will throw debris for quite a ways," he warned before stepping back beside Nezumi.

Slipping the makeshift straps over his shoulder, the jonin faced Uchida and Himura. Bowing, he reassured the worried-looking second in command, "Don't worry, Uchida-san. Your plan is a good one, and I am certain that Katsura-san will be rescued in just a few hours." Meeting the hitokiri's eyes, Kaze bowed again. "We will be waiting for your signal, Himura-san." With Kaze leading the way, the ninjas left silently.

Uchida watched as the three men disappeared into the night. Finally, he stepped back into the storage building and took down the lamp. Returning outside, he locked the door, although he wondered if there was any point. If the small ninja's reaction was any indication, the lock was pretty useless. Sighing, he turned away and joined Himura and Ikeda.

As the three men were walking back into the inn, Uchida asked hesitantly, "I know you are anxious to meet with the Commanders and squad leaders, Himura-san, but when was the last time you ate?" When the hitokiri looked thoughtful, Uchida continued, "It has been many hours since I last ate, and I suspect that you haven't eaten in quite a while either. The few minutes it will take won't make any real difference in the long run, and it would not be a good idea to try to rescue Katsura-san on an empty stomach."

"Are all of the Commanders and squad leaders here, Uchida?"

"I believe so, Himura-san. But it will only take a few–"

"Then I will meet with them now," Kenshin said, heading toward the dining hall, followed by Ikeda.

"But, Himura-san," Uchida protested, hurrying to catch up, "Yasukawa-sensei said you need to eat to regain your strength!" He stumbled to a stop when the hitokiri halted and looked at him with a very serious expression on his face.

"There are things that must be done now, Uchida. In a few hours, those minutes you are prepared to throw away may make the difference between success and failure. I will eat later," Kenshin stated, his decision delivered with a finality that ended the discussion abruptly. He turned back and continued down the hallway, stepping into Katsura's office to pick up the diagrams of Shogunate headquarters.

Entering the crowded dining hall, Ikeda waited at the door, while Uchida followed behind Himura as he passed between the men silently. Rather than standing at the front of the room, as Uchida had expected, the hitokiri positioned himself against the wall to the side. The older man stood there uncertainly, only turning to face the men gathered there when it became obvious that the assassin wasn't going to lead the briefing. Inwardly, he cringed away from taking the leading role, not yet comfortable with being in charge. However, Himura wasn't giving him any choice in the matter, so he took a deep breath and tried to look as confident as possible.

Slightly unnerved at being the center of attention, Uchida hesitated, clearing his throat anxiously. It was one thing to deliver Katsura's orders, and something else entirely having so many men staring expectantly at him, waiting for him to outline a plan that he hadn't even created! However, he suddenly realized, just because I didn't come up with the plan doesn't mean I don't understand what Himura's intentions are. After all, I listened to the explanation he gave Kaze. I can do this. He stood a bit taller and looked around the room. "As I'm sure you are all aware, Katsura-san's execution is scheduled at ten and is being held at Shogunate headquarters."

Squaring his shoulders, Uchida continued, "We are here to coordinate the rescue mission. Essentially, it is a three-part plan. The first part is being completed as we speak. The other two parts will occur basically simultaneously. The key is distraction," he said, unconsciously repeating what Himura had told him earlier. "The Shogunate is expecting a rescue attempt to be made, and we are going to make certain that they're not disappointed. It will be our job to convince them that we are attacking Shogunate headquarters in a reckless effort to free Katsura-san." The quiet of the room was broken as the men shifted uneasily and Uchida paused, waiting for them to settle down. "I know how strongly fortified that compound is, and I understand your concern. However, our attack will merely be a ruse, a distraction to keep the Shogunate forces from noticing the actual rescue that will be occurring at the same time." Now the Commanders looked very interested.

Senior Commander Adachi spoke up, "What kind of distraction do you expect us to provide, Uchida-san? We will lose a lot of men attacking that stronghold, even if we aren't truly trying to succeed."

Uchida was lost. It was a reasonable question, but tactics weren't his strong point, and he didn't know what to tell Commander Adachi. Desperately, he looked at Himura. The manslayer gave him a minute nod and Uchida almost sighed in relief. He turned back and answered calmly, "Since Himura-san is leading the rescue mission, I'm going to let him explain the details of our part in the plan."

The room went silent as the red-haired hitokiri walked forward, all eyes on the young man. Most of the men appeared to be curious, although a few looked uncertain. At least for now, though, all of them were ready to listen.

"The preparations for the rescue will not be complete before sunrise, so your part will not begin until then. We have two hours to plan your role in the mission." Kenshin stopped speaking as an uproar immediately broke out when several men tried to speak at once.

Leaping to his feet, Commander Adachi took the floor once again, loudly voicing his disbelief. "Two hours?! We only have two hours to come up with a plan?! You mean you don't already have one prepared? You can't be serious! Even if we are only feigning an attack, it would normally take a week or more to come up with a realistic plan against Shogunate headquarters!"

Agitated murmuring followed Adachi's outburst, and Kenshin waited patiently until it died down. He met Adachi's aggressive glare with a cold, unwavering stare. After a minute, the Commander looked away nervously and sat down. "There is no choice," Kenshin stated relentlessly, his voice becoming soft and dangerous, "unless you intend to forsake your duty and allow Katsura-san to be executed in a few hours without even attempting to rescue him."

The Commanders froze, stunned by the manslayer's challenge to their loyalty. Anger was replaced with shame as they realized how close they had come to breaking their oaths to the Ishin Shishi. Every man in the room knew what Battousai had done so far in his attempts to free Katsura and none doubted that he would do whatever was necessary during the upcoming rescue, regardless of their decision. How could they just give up without at least trying?

Sub-Commander Odaka Haruki spoke quietly into the tense silence, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "As I am the youngest Commander here, my words may not carry much weight. But as Commander Gushiken's second in command, I am here in his place. I spoke to him earlier this evening and informed him of the latest developments and the rumors that were spread. His message to you is that he supports any plan that Uchida-san decides upon. He also gave me the details of how Himura-san released the Commanders, and wants you to know that he places his complete faith in Himura-san's ability to rescue Katsura-san. We all knew the dangers involved when we swore to fight for the Ishin Shishi. You know that it is impossible to guarantee that there will be no casualties in any battle, but I am willing to put my trust in our leaders. I do not believe that they will throw our lives away and I will follow any plan that they devise. I know that were it not for his injuries, Commander Gushiken would be here telling you this himself. He deeply regrets that he cannot participate in Katsura-san's rescue. For Katsura-san's sake, and that of Commander Gushiken, I intend to do whatever it takes to make this plan a success."

In the silence that followed Sub-Commander Odaka's statement, several men nodded their heads in agreement. The atmosphere in the room changed from uncertain to resolute, and Adachi stood up again, looking embarrassed by his unseemly display of emotion. "I apologize for my rash words, Himura-san. I am ashamed that I lost control of myself and needed to be reminded of my duty. Please, tell us what you wish us to do."

Kenshin waited until Commander Adachi had sat back down, and then continued as though he had never been interrupted. "As Uchida said, the Shogunate is not only anticipating our attempt to rescue Katsura-san, but is also undoubtedly assuming that it will involve a direct assault. Your duty will be twofold. One, convince the Shogunate forces that we are indeed attacking. And two, keep their attention drawn to yourselves to prevent them from noticing what is going on within the compound." He saw a man enter the dining hall and work his way around the edge of the room to get to Uchida. After looking at the report the courier handed to him, Uchida sent him off with a whispered message in his ear. When it appeared that there was no news, Kenshin continued with the briefing.

"As experienced commanding officers, you know what kind of tactics would be utilized in an all out assault of this nature and I will leave it up to you to devise an attack strategy. However, it is important that you remember that because of the rumors that were spread, the Shogunate believes that the Ishin Shishi is divided and fighting among themselves. This misinformation can be used to minimize the losses we might otherwise suffer. If the Shogunate forces are convinced that we are incapable of offering a serious threat, they will be less determined in their defense." Kenshin pulled the diagrams of Shogunate headquarters out of his gi and laid them out on a low table. "Here are layouts of the outer defenses. We will go over them after you have had a chance to study them." He stepped back as Adachi led the Commanders over to the table.

Uchida walked up to stand beside Himura. Seeing the hitokiri handle Commander Adachi had been illuminating. Adachi had the reputation of being a belligerent man, although no one questioned his ability as a Commander. He was second in seniority only to Commander Gushiken, and Uchida had regretted that Gushiken wasn't here, since he seemed to have no difficulty keeping Adachi in line. Surprisingly, neither had Himura. Watching the much younger man curb the Commander's anger with nothing more than a look had been astonishing. But what Uchida found particularly interesting was the way that Himura had dealt with Adachi's request for orders. Rather than telling him specifically what to do, the assassin had simply told him what needed to be done and was letting him make his own decisions. While it had never occurred to Uchida to try something like that, it was a technique that he could appreciate, since it was obvious that the Commanders knew their own men's capabilities better than he did. Obviously Himura was an expert at judging the abilities of those around him, and allowing them the freedom to use their skills independently clearly showed his competence as a leader.

"Thank you, Himura-san, for stepping in when you did. I wasn't sure how to handle the situation," Uchida admitted, chagrined by his failure to deal with Commander Adachi.

"It was nothing, Uchida," Kenshin replied softly. "I assume that the courier's report was of no interest."

"Unfortunately, no. It only noted that there is a lot of activity within the compound, but no one has entered or left Shogunate headquarters since we set up our observation posts."

"It is certain that they expect an attack at any time. By not doing so, we are confirming their belief in the Ishin Shishi's ineffectiveness and reinforcing the rumors. Not to mention, tiring them out by preventing them from getting any rest tonight," Kenshin noted wryly.

Silently, Uchida agreed. To his way of thinking, anything that might aid their plan was good, and if it meant fewer casualties, so much the better. He listened to the Commanders' discussion as they compared various strategies.

After a while, Adachi stepped away from the group and looked around. When he saw Himura, he went over to speak to him. "Would you join us, Himura-san? We have the beginnings of a plan." The three men walked back to the group gathered around the table. "Classic military tactics would dictate that we place our men in these positions to maximize our effectiveness," he said, indicating several locations marked on the diagrams. "However, you said that we should attempt to appear as ineffective as possible, so we decided to change the formations to something more like this," he finished, placing a hastily drawn layout over the other papers.

Kenshin picked up the sheet of paper and examined it carefully, comparing it to the other drawings. "This is very good, Commander Adachi. It would appear to the Army that you are trying to maintain standard tactics, but don't have quite enough men to pull it off." He drew a circle around one group and placed the sketch next to one of the other diagrams, quietly commenting, "However, have you considered moving these troops to this position?"

Frowning in concentration, Adachi considered the new deployment. "I don't see any advantage to this, Himura-san," he said hesitantly. "Unless . . ." He quickly compared it to one of the other diagrams. "Doing that would make it seem like there were two slightly different battle plans," he continued thoughtfully, looking up in surprise. "And it would look like there was a disagreement between the Commanders! Yes, that would help! If we make sure that this group was made up of Satsuma forces, while the other was Choshu, it should certainly convince the Army that the two factions aren't cooperating." He grabbed the papers and turned back to the others.

Seeing another courier enter the dining hall, Uchida went over to see what he had to report. A quick look at the dispatch made him tell the courier to wait. Hurrying to the front of the room, Uchida held up the document, catching Himura's attention. Pulling the hitokiri aside, he whispered urgently, "Himura-san! You wanted to be informed about any vehicles going into or leaving the headquarters."

Kenshin took the paper that Uchida was holding out and rapidly read the report, noting that two wagons loaded with lumber and small boxes had entered the compound shortly after five. Given the activity within the headquarters, Katsura is probably already being held there and these are most likely deliveries that had been ordered earlier. But it is possible that he could have been hidden in one of the wagons, he speculated. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Uchida."

"Is it significant, Himura-san?" Uchida asked, mystified by the assassin's interest.

"Possibly," Kenshin murmured, watching the Commanders. Seeing that they were occupied, he handed the report back to Uchida and turned to face the squad leaders, who had been sitting quietly throughout the briefing. When he had their full attention, Kenshin began speaking. "You have an important responsibility to fulfill as well. The rumors that have been spread have convinced the Shogunate that the Choshu clan is blaming Satsuma for Katsura's capture and that the two groups are actually fighting among themselves. Your duty is to come up with ways to reinforce this idea. You know your men, and I am certain that you will have no difficulty meeting this challenge. Work with your Commanders, though, so that you do not interfere with the overall plan. Those of you with squads made up of both Satsuma and Choshu fighters should talk to your Commanders to determine whether your squad should appear to be from one group or the other."

Muttering filled the room as the squad leaders started discussing the possibilities. A voice from the back called out, "How far can we go, Himura-san? Some of my men would love to be told to start a fight. They'd make it look damn realistic, too." Laughter broke out as more suggestions were made, each one more absurd than the last.

Suppressing a smile, Kenshin let the joking continue for a few minutes before responding to the original question. There had been very few opportunities for the men to relieve the stress that had been building up since Katsura's capture. These moments of relaxation would boost their morale and help the squad leaders face the next few hours with renewed determination. Raising his voice slightly so that he could be heard clearly, he replied, "I will leave it up to you and your Commanders to decide what is appropriate. Just remember not to let your men make themselves targets. Keep in mind, one of the purposes of this deception is to minimize the number of casualties we will suffer." Looking thoughtful, the men began seriously considering their orders.

Noticing Adachi looking at him curiously, Kenshin went over to see what he wanted. "Did you have a question, Commander?"

"I heard what you told the squad leaders and was wondering just how serious you want this attack to be, Himura-san."

Kenshin thought for a moment before quietly answering. "Commander Adachi, because of all the requirements you are being asked to fulfill, this assault may be the most difficult one you have ever planned. With minimal preparation time, you have been given the task of creating a battle plan that must appear to be both desperate and determined; while at the same time, convincing the enemy that your forces are divided. All this, while attempting to keep your casualties to a minimum. I expect this attack to be very serious."

Looking aside, Adachi considered everything that Himura had told them. Straightening, he faced the young hitokiri with a purposeful glint in his eyes. "You don't ask for much, do you, Himura-san? All right, we'll do it. You take care of rescuing Katsura-san and leave the rest to us."

"Thank you, Commander. There is one more thing," Kenshin said. He had to struggle to keep his face expressionless at the almost panicked look that crossed the Commander's face. "I will need to have the lookouts in the two watch towers at the front of the headquarters distracted when I cross the wall. This disturbance will not need to last for more than five minutes." Fortunately, Adachi had recovered his composure quickly and was listening attentively. A thought came to mind and Kenshin added, "You might want to consider talking to the squad leaders. They had some interesting ideas for distractions." Adachi's calculating expression indicated that he might have heard some of those 'interesting' ideas. "As I do not know at this time exactly when I will cross the wall, I will let you know after I get there."

Nodding, Adachi asserted, "We will be ready, Himura-san." Bowing slightly, he turned to walk away, but stopped when Uchida spoke up.

"Commander Adachi, crates of armaments are stored in the shed behind the inn," Uchida said, reaching into his gi to pull out the inventory sheet. He handed it, along with the key, to the Commander, who took it with a bow. Reading the list, Adachi rejoined the other Commanders.

Thoughtfully, Kenshin observed the Commanders and squad leaders as they worked out their strategies. Given the circumstances, he was quite pleased with the way things were developing. Although he felt relieved that his plans were working out well so far, he couldn't help worrying that he had missed something. Was there more that he could do to insure Katsura's safety during the rescue? Yet again, he began examining every step of the upcoming mission, considering every possibility and looking for anything that might improve the chances of success.

He knew that he was far from being at his best, injuries and exhaustion had taken their toll. But he could cope with that, and had incorporated it into his plans. His Shishou had left nothing to chance and Kenshin had trained under every conceivable condition that his Master's uniquely fertile imagination could come up with. Armed. Unarmed. Injured. Hungry. Exhausted. Sick. Concussed. Day. Night. It made no difference, the training sessions continued. Kenshin had learned very quickly not to complain. The one time he had, Hiko had nearly killed him demonstrating that it could have been much worse. He could still hear his Master's scathing lecture afterwards on whether he honestly believed that his enemies would show any concern for his well-being. Weather? 'Baka deshi! Do you think you will only fight during good weather? Bah!' The contempt dripping from Hiko's words had left him squirming and he had vowed that he would work even harder. He still occasionally had nightmares about a few of those sessions, and sometimes he wondered how he had survived his training.

An unbidden question arose. Has Shishou found another, more worthy, apprentice? If he has, I'm certain that I figure prominently in his lessons as an example of what not to do. Kenshin mentally shook his head and dismissed the painful thought. He would never know and there was no point in even thinking about it. Leaving had been his idea and he knew that his Master would never forgive him for what he had done with the teachings of Hiten Mitsurugi.

Firmly, he turned his thoughts back to the task at hand, checking off the various aspects of the mission. The Ishin Shishi – with the help of the ninjas – would create the diversions he needed to cover his entrance into the compound. And if the plan was successful, they should be able to keep the Shogunate forces distracted enough that he could make his way through the complex to the building where Katsura was being held. Once Katsura had been freed, Kaze's team would provide cover while they made their escape. There was only one more detail to take care of. Turning to Uchida, Kenshin asked him to follow him as he walked over to the side of the room.

"Himura-san?" Uchida queried anxiously. "Is everything going according to plan?"

"Yes. There is just one more thing I need to know. What plans have you made for transporting Katsura-san?"

Uchida started to speak, but before he could say anything, another courier arrived, Ikeda trailing along behind. Preoccupied, Uchida accepted the paper held out to him, merely glancing at it before dismissing the man. "I have arranged for a carriage and guards," he confirmed. "You and Katsura-san will be taken to the safe house where the Commanders are recuperating."

"Good," Kenshin said approvingly. "Send a doctor, too, Uchida. Katsura-san may need immediate treatment. Make sure the carriage looks ordinary. The last thing we need is to attract attention. I will look at the safe house security arrangements in a few minutes. Right now, though, we need to complete the preparations for transporting him there."

"Very well, Himura-san."

"Who is the driver, Uchida?"

"Nosaka-san," Uchida answered.

Kenshin did not recognize the name and looked questioningly at Uchida. "I don't know him."

"He's a new man, but he is experienced."

Shaking his head, Kenshin stated, "No. I must know who will be driving the carriage, and I don't have time to meet him now."

"I will drive the carriage, Himura-san, if you like," Ikeda offered.

Remembering that Ikeda had driven the armament shipment to the training camp, Uchida quickly agreed. "That would be fine."

Kenshin nodded his acceptance, well aware of Ikeda's skill as a driver. "Do you have any idea where to hide the carriage, Ikeda-san?"

"Actually, I know exactly where I'll wait," Ikeda answered. "There's a perfect place just one street over. As soon as the explosions begin, I'll be right there."

"All right," Kenshin said, glad to have that important part of the rescue plan taken care of. Facing Uchida, he stated, "I want to go over the safe house defenses now, Uchida."

Together, the three men left the dining hall. They had not gotten far, though, when an excited voice called out Uchida's name. Turning, they saw Hattori, another one of Uchida's couriers, running toward them.

"Uchida-san!" he repeated breathlessly. "The Shinsengumi arrived at Shogunate headquarters just a few minutes ago! They are stationed outside the compound and are stopping anybody they see! Several people have already been arrested."

Both Uchida and Ikeda looked at Himura, waiting to see what his reaction would be. Gesturing for Hattori to follow, the redhead padded down the hall toward Katsura's office. Once there, he began questioning the courier.

"How many Shinsengumi are there, Hattori-san?" Kenshin asked.

"Over a hundred, Himura-san. I saw four of the Captains: Okita, Saito, Nagakura, and Harada."

"Are they patrolling, or are they posted around the perimeter?"

"About half of them are patrolling the immediate area. The rest are pretty much evenly posted around the headquarters," Hattori replied.

"Has the Shinsengumi spotted any of our observation posts?"

"I don't think so, sir. At least, I didn't see any indication that they had before I left to come here."

"You said that they are arresting people?"

"Yes, sir! They're even chasing down anybody who tries to run away!"

Kenshin thought about what Hattori had said for a few moments before speaking. "Ikeda-san, please go make certain that the Commanders and squad leaders do not leave. I will rejoin them in a few minutes."

"Yes, Himura-san," Ikeda agreed, leaving the office hurriedly.

"Hattori-san, is there anything else you have to report at this time?"

Shaking his head, he answered, "No, sir."

"I see. Would you please wait in the common room? I may have a message for you to take back with you," Kenshin said, dismissing the courier.

"Yes, sir." Bowing, Hattori left the office.

Taking a deep breath, Kenshin centered himself and began considering how this new development would affect the rescue mission. Stationing the Shinsengumi outside of the headquarters was a brilliant tactical move. Obviously, the Shogunate had completely accepted the rumors that the Imperialists were disorganized, and they were using the Shinsengumi to make certain that the Ishin Shishi would be unable to coordinate an attack.

Certainly, in one way, it would make it even easier to complete the mission. He had expected the Shinsengumi to be waiting inside the headquarters, which meant that a fight involving Saito and Okita had seemed inevitable. All of his plans had been made to maximize Katsura's safety while dealing with that dangerous confrontation.

However, having the Shinsengumi outside the complex would make the current strategy the Commanders had created to attack Shogunate headquarters impossible. And without that distraction, it would be much more difficult to cross the wall. Closing his eyes, he began to consider all the options. Divide and conquer. That was the classic strategy the Shogunate was using. But it was a double-edged sword that could just as easily be used against them.

Uchida was in a near state of panic. The unexpected news that the Shinsengumi were stationed outside of Shogunate headquarters was devastating. Everything had been going so well! The only thing helping him to stay in control was seeing how calmly Himura was dealing with the situation. The hitokiri was standing there, relaxed, his head bent. Uchida watched him anxiously, wondering what miracle he could come up with on such short notice. When Himura lifted his head, Uchida was shocked to see the hitokiri's eyes glowing with a predatory intensity that sent chills down his back. However, the look was replaced by his usual dispassionate gaze so quickly that Uchida found himself doubting what he thought he had seen. I'm just imagining things, he rationalized, knowing that the coldly logical assassin would never react so emotionally. "Himura-san?"

"Let's go, Uchida."

Utterly baffled, Uchida followed Himura back to the dining hall. Ikeda moved aside so that they could enter the room. Commander Adachi started talking as soon as they were spotted.

"Himura-san? What's going on?"

"There's been a change in plans," Kenshin announced as he walked toward the front of the hall. Once there, he turned to face the group. "The Shinsengumi are waiting for us outside of Shogunate headquarters." Pandemonium broke out instantly.

"WHAT?!" Adachi shouted.

With a stern look, Kenshin quelled Commander Adachi's incipient outburst. Silencing the group by sweeping an intense gaze around the room, he repeated, "The Shinsengumi are waiting for us outside of Shogunate headquarters." Without waiting for a response, he went on, "They are checking anyone who comes near the headquarters. The report indicates that not only are they questioning everyone, but they are capturing anyone who attempts to escape."

The room became deadly quiet as every man there focused their entire attention on the manslayer. Himura stood relaxed before them, his calm authority and confidence radiating outwards throughout the room. Noting the change that had come over the hitokiri, the men sat straighter, listening intently to what he had to say.

"Because of this new situation, our plan has been changed. It now involves three steps. Commander Adachi," Kenshin said, making the man lean forward, "you will divide the troops in half. One group will break up into squads. All of our troops are to remain hidden until I arrive at Shogunate headquarters. As soon as I am ready, I will notify you and step one of the plan will begin."

Kenshin addressed the squad leaders first. "At that time, each squad of the first group is to attract the attention of a group of Shinsengumi and lead them away from Shogunate headquarters. The more Shinsengumi you can draw away, the better, but make certain that the squads do not all appear at once. I do not want it to be obvious to the Shinsengumi that they are being deliberately lured away. Your squads are to engage them only briefly and then appear to panic. We want to keep our casualties at a minimum, so your squads are not to attempt to overcome the Shinsengumi swordsmen that follow them. Make your resistence look realistic, but keep in mind that we are supposed to be disorganized. Your duty is to keep the Shinsengumi occupied as far away from Shogunate headquarters as possible. Approximately half of the Shinsengumi are patrolling the immediate area around Shogunate headquarters. A number of your squads are to search for these patrols and lead them further away. The rest of you will devote your efforts to drawing away those Shinsengumi stationed at the headquarters. It is particularly important that special attempts be made to lead away as many of the Shinsengumi stationed on the north side of the compound as possible. When you hear explosions at Shogunate headquarters, your duty will have been accomplished and you are to break off and regroup with your Commanders." Kenshin paused, meeting each squad leader's eyes in turn before continuing.

"Once as many of the Shinsengumi as possible have been drawn away, step two will begin." Now Kenshin concentrated on the Commanders. "The lookouts in the two watch towers at the front of headquarters – as well as any Shinsengumi still posted in front of the main gates – will still need to be distracted for five minutes, while I enter Shogunate headquarters. The men involved in the disturbance are to appear to be civilians, not Ishin Shishi. Also, there may be two other distractions that have already been arranged to occur at the same time, but that is not certain at this point. I will make a final decision after I arrive at headquarters. As soon as these distractions are completed, step three will begin."

"The second group of Ishin Shishi will immediately attack. Commander Adachi, you may select either of the two battle plans that was decided upon. Just be prepared to modify it as necessary to allow for the remaining Shinsengumi fighters. Otherwise, the objectives of this mission remain the same: distract the Shogunate forces while I find and free Katsura-san. This is to appear to be a desperate attempt to rescue Katsura-san, and the Ishin Shishi are to seem to be divided."

Kenshin stopped to look around the room once again. "Are there any questions?" he asked. When no one spoke up, he glanced at the clock before ordering, "Commander Adachi, you have thirty minutes to make your plans before you have to join your men. Do not begin the mission until I have joined you at Shogunate headquarters. If you have any questions, I will be in Katsura's office." Ignoring the look of sheer incredulity on the Commander's face, Kenshin left the dining room and paced down the hall to the common room, with Uchida and Ikeda following behind.

Hattori set aside the bowl of udon noodles he had been eating and stood up when Himura entered the room. "Himura-san?"

"Hattori-san, please inform the men at the observation posts that the mission will be starting in approximately two hours. In the meantime, they are to be extremely careful to not be spotted. Once Commander Adachi arrives at Shogunate headquarters, you are to give your reports to him. Do you have any questions?"

"No, sir," Hattori replied.

"Thank you, Hattori-san. Be very careful during your return trip," Kenshin said before once again walking down the hall to Katsura's office.

Sliding the shoji open, Kenshin stepped aside and let Uchida enter the office first. He followed Katsura's second in command into the room, kneeling on one of the cushions in front of the low table, while Ikeda leaned comfortably against the wall. Kenshin waited patiently as Uchida searched for a diagram of the security measures that had been set in place at the safe house where Katsura would be taken.

Muttering imprecations beneath his breath, Uchida finally found the missing document on the floor. Picking it up with an irritated flourish, he laid it on the desk in front of Himura. "I selected this particular safe house because the owner is believed to be a very strong supporter of the Shogunate and it is the most easily defended of all of our locations. I pulled as many men away from the troop Commanders as I could, Himura-san," he said hesitantly, "and I positioned them in a two-layered formation." He watched nervously as the young manslayer picked up the paper and began studying it.

Kenshin took his time analyzing the security arrangement, even though he knew Uchida was becoming more nervous by the minute. Recalling the times that he had been at the safe house, Kenshin was able to clearly picture the neighborhood and placement of the fighters. Overall, he thought that Uchida had done a good job. The men had been effectively deployed unobtrusively throughout the area and the formation was a strong one.

The sound of voices in the background alerted Kenshin to the fact that the Commanders and squad leaders were leaving the inn. A quick look at the clock told him that Adachi had not wasted any time. It was an hour after sunrise and Kenshin was beginning to feel anxious about getting to Shogunate headquarters, but he could not leave yet. Not until everything was ready. Returning his attention to the defensive layout before him, he continued his assessment.

Unable to stop himself, Uchida flinched when Himura finally laid the diagram on the table. He truly had put a great deal of thought into planning the security at the safe house, but was worried about whether he had done a good enough job. Himura didn't seem to be upset, though, and that was encouraging.

Kenshin was reaching for the brush and pot of ink when a soft knock came at the shoji. He didn't recognize the ki, but it was unthreatening, so he continued what he had been doing. Dipping the brush into the ink, he carefully marked the diagram in a number of places. By the time he was done, Ikeda had let the man in. He glanced up, recognizing the nondescript man who walked into the room as one of Uchida's spies.

"Kawaza? What do you have to report?" Uchida asked, somewhat surprised to see him.

"I thought you might want to know that announcements are being made all over Kyoto about Katsura-san's execution, sir. Reaction to the news is mixed, but there are a lot of upset people. Katsura-san is well liked in Kyoto," the man finished quietly.

"I see," Uchida said thoughtfully. "Thank you for letting me know, Kawaza." The spy bowed and left. Uchida knelt there, staring down at the paper-littered surface of the desk. It was strange, really. He had known for several hours that Katsura was to be executed, but hearing about the announcements had made the fact seem even more real, more horrifying. This was all his fault. He had failed in his duty to protect Katsura because he had allowed himself to become distracted by the news of Sekigawa's impending death. Once again, the shame he felt at his failure drove him to consider committing seppuku. It truly was the only honorable way he could atone for what he had done. His black thoughts were interrupted when Himura leaned forward and pushed the diagram of the safe house across the desk.

Kenshin watched Uchida stare blankly down at the paperwork laying before him. His whole posture radiated so much emotional pain that Kenshin quickly read his ki, unsurprised to see the darkness of nearly overwhelming guilt swirling throughout his aura. He understood all too well what Uchida was feeling right now. After all, they had both failed Katsura, but neither of them could let that knowledge weaken their resolve at this point. He slid the drawing Uchida had given him across the table, attracting the older man's attention. When he looked up, the bleak self-accusation was clear in his eyes. "It won't solve anything, Uchida," Kenshin said softly.

Confused, Uchida could only croak, "What?"

"Your death. It won't help Katsura-san," Kenshin explained.

"But–" Uchida started to argue, stopping when he suddenly realized what Himura had just said. "How . . .?"

"You've made mistakes, Uchida; but killing yourself is not the answer, even if it seems like the only honorable choice you have right now. Doing so will not rescue Katsura-san. Your death will not make him feel better. In fact, it will only make his life more difficult, because he will have to deal with the repercussions. If you truly want to atone for what you've done, then you should focus on learning from your mistakes. Become stronger, so that you can serve Katsura-san better."

Stunned, Uchida stared at the young man. How could he have known what he was thinking? But his words rang with truth, and the depth of understanding that shone within his amber eyes was shocking. What has Himura gone through, that he has learned this lesson at such a young age? he wondered. But now that he had been forced to see the consequences that would result from what he had been considering doing, he realized that committing seppuku would be a coward's way of dealing with what he had done. It would be easy to kill himself. Once he was dead, he would not have to face Katsura and admit to his failings. No, living to atone for his mistakes would be much harder. What had Himura said when he had confronted him about whether Katsura had been at the tactical meeting? 'Now you must redeem yourself.' Redeem himself. Live to serve Katsura better. Yes, that was what he would do. Straightening, he met Himura's eyes. "Thank you, Himura-san," he said sincerely. "Now, about the defenses at the safe house . . ."

Nodding, Kenshin tapped the diagram. "You did a very good job, Uchida. The only suggestion I might make involves setting up additional lookouts, so that we will have ample warning, should anyone approach. I've indicated where I would advise you place the men."

"Thank you, Himura-san," Uchida repeated, examining the document. "I'll see to this immediately." Looking up, he was reassured by the firm determination and confidence in the hitokiri's eyes. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that Himura would rescue Katsura, or die trying. "We will be ready, Himura-san."

"Excellent. I'll be leaving in a few minutes." Kenshin stood up, slipping his daisho through his obi. Glancing at Ikeda, he nodded once – silently thanking him for his help and wishing him good luck – before turning and pacing out of the room. Adrenaline began running through his veins, but he forced himself to remain calm. There was one more thing he had to do before he could leave.

He walked down the hall and entered the infirmary. Thinking of Katsura being tortured had brought back unwelcome memories of when he had been tortured himself. He knew what Katsura might have gone through and he would leave nothing to chance. He would be prepared for anything when he found Katsura. With those thoughts in mind, he added a few rolls of bandages and a jar of ointment to the small pouch of first aid items he carried inside his gi.

Leaving the infirmary, he began to walk through the nearly deserted inn. Appetizing odors drifting into the hall made him pause and detour into the kitchen. He nodded to the cook as he grabbed a couple of onigiri. Wrapping them in a cloth, he slipped them into his gi.

Ready at last, Kenshin strode purposefully through the common room and out the door.

To Be Continued

---

Author's Notes: I would like to thank all the people who have taken the time to read this story. Domo arigatou gozaimasu, minasan!

By the way, just in case you're interested, Hamada-san is based on an architect I knew. Believe me, his eye for details was scary! He could do everything Hamada-san did and more. He could look at a painting hanging on the wall from across the room and tell you that it was crooked by a quarter of an inch, and be right! I know, because we measured. It was unreal.

Oh, I have one more bit of news. On February 28, 2006, I became a grandmother for the second time. My daughter had her first child, a healthy baby boy, and named him Carter. Mother and son are doing just fine.

On November 21, 2005, Fan Fiction Dot Net announced that reviewer responses will no longer be allowed. I will reply individually to signed reviews from now on. Anyone who wishes to leave an anonymous review will have to give me an email address, if you want me to respond to your review. I wish to thank all the people who take the time to review my chapters. You have no idea how much I appreciate your letting me know what you think about my stories!

List of Japanese Words:

baka - idiot, fool, moron, etc.; all-purpose and occasionally affectionate insult

baka deshi - idiot apprentice/student; what Hiko Seijuro XIII, Kenshin's Shishou, calls Himura Kenshin

Battousai - The nickname for Himura Kenshin when he was a hitokiri; it means 'master of the battoujutsu sword technique.' (Battoujutsu is the act of drawing the sword out of the sheath while pressing the blade's edge against the inside of the sheath, which can increase its speed two- or three-fold. In this way, the attacker may strike the opponent before there is time to react. In other schools, this same technique is known as 'iai' or 'nuki.')

Choshu - also known as Nagato Province, it is now part of Yamaguchi Prefecture; it was one of the most anti Shogun provinces, fought for the Ishin Shishi

daisho - term used to refer to the pair of swords carried by a samurai: one long (katana), and one short (wakizashi)

deshi - apprentice, student, pupil

domo arigatou gozaimasu - the most formal version of 'thank you very much'

gi - a kimono shirt; a fighter's or sword practitioner's shirt

Harada Sanosuke - Born in 1840 to a low-class samurai family, he was a spear user of the Hozouin style. He was friends with Kondo Isami when he was just running a small Shieikan dojo in Tama near Edo (now Tokyo). He joined the Roshitai with Kondo, along with Hijikata Toshizo, Okita Souji, and Nagakura Shinpachi in 1863. Then, shortly after, Kondo separated from the Roshitai and formed the Roshigumi, along with Serizawa Kamo, and Harada went with them. After September 18, 1863, the Roshigumi became known as the Shinsengumi, and Harada became the Captain of the Tenth Troop. He was in many of the crucial battles the group faced, like the Serizawa Kamo assassination, the Akimbo Hikojiro assassination, the Ikedaya Affair, and the elimination of the Ito Kashitaro group. In 1868, he left the Shinsengumi with Nagakura Shinpachi to form a new group, the Seiheitai, after disagreements with long-time comrade and leader of the Shinsengumi, Kondo. He left the Seiheitai and joined the Shogitai, which were another group which sided with the Tokugawa regime. He died at the young age of 28 in July 1868, from injuries from the Ueno war. However, there is an alternative theory that he did not die in 1868, but that he survived and traveled to China to become a leader for a horse-riding military group. There was an old man in the military during the First Sino-Japanese War who named himself to be Harada Sanosuke. This was reported in a newspaper in 1965, but it is unclear whether this is actually true.

Himura Kenshin - The main character of the manga and anime series, Rurouni Kenshin, created by Watsuki Nobuhiro. A swordsman of legendary skills and former assassin (hitokiri) of the Ishin Shishi. Kenshin means 'heart of the sword.'

Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu - Flying sword to heaven philosophy. Himura Kenshin's sword technique, used more often for defense than offense. An ancient style that pits one against many, it requires exceptional speed and agility to master.

hitokiri - manslayer, assassin

Ikumatsu - Katsura Kogorou's companion, she was a geisha; they were later married. The house in Kyoto where they lived after they were married has been preserved and is now a Ryokan (inn) for tourists.

Imperialists - another name for the pro-emperor Ishin Shishi forces

Ishin Shishi - the name given to the pro-emperor forces from Choshu and Satsuma during the Bakumatsu (another name for the civil war that pitted the anti emperor Shogunate forces against the pro-emperor Ishin Shishi forces); also known as Imperialists, Revolutionaries, Patriots, and Rebels

jonin - a 'high' ninja

katana - a Japanese daito or long sword, worn blade up through an obi; the blade of a Japanese long sword is longer than two shaku (60 cm or 23.6 inches) long; most katana are about 42 inches long from tip to pommel (the end of the hilt) and the blade averages 70 cm (27.5 inches) long

Katsura Kogorou - Born in 1833, he was a leader of the Choshu clan and one of the three leaders of the Ishin Shishi (the other two are Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori). He was born Kido Takayoshi and was also known as Kido Koin. He died of natural causes in 1877. He is Himura Kenshin's 'boss.'

kaze - wind – in this case, the jonin ninja's code name is 'Wind'

ki - A person's 'aura,' or his swordfighting spirit; the Asian concept of a life force or life spirit; it's used a lot in martial arts anime. 'Ken-ki' is used in Rurouni Kenshin in reference to swords

Kondo Isami - Born in 1834; he was a master of the Tennen Rishin Ryu sword style and taught Okita Souji at the Shieikan Dojo. He joined the Roshigumi in 1863, along with Okita Souji and Hijikata Toshizo. He became the Captain of the Shinsengumi on September 16, 1863. He was executed on April 25, 1868. He was not allowed to commit seppuku because he was born a farmer.

kuro - dark, black – in this case, the ninja's code name is 'Dark'

Kyuushutsu - rescue, extricate, reclaim, deliverance

minarai - learn by observation; apprentice – in this case, the name by which Kaze's apprentice goes by

minasan - everyone

Nagakura Shinpachi - Born May 11, 1839, from a samurai family; his father was a retainer for the Matsumae clan. He began sword training at the age of 8 at Okada Juusuke Toshisada's Shintou Munen Ryu dojo. In 1863 he joined the Roshitai with Kondo Isami, Okita Souji and Hijikata Toshizo. When they left the Roshitai to form the Mibu Roshigumi, he went with them. After September 18, 1863, the Roshigumi became known as the Shinsengumi, and Nagakura became the Captain of the Second Troop. After the Meiji era began, he was adopted into his wife's family and changed his name to Sugimara Yoshie. He wrote his memoirs of the Shinsengumi, which were lost for decades before being found and published in book form in 1998. Nagakura Shinpachi died of natural causes in 1915. He was seventy-six.

nezumi - mouse, rat – in this case, the ninja's code name is 'Mouse'

ninja - a mercenary agent who is trained in the martial arts and hired for covert operations such as assassination and sabotage

obi - the Japanese equivalent of a sash or belt, which is used for a kimono, yukata or hakama; obi are generally worn differently depending on the occasion, and they are usually more intricate for women

Okita Souji - Born Harumasa Soujiro in 1844 from a samurai family, he started training in the Shieikan Dojo at the age of nine with Kondo Isami, a master of the Tennen Rishin Ryu. He proved to be a genius swordsman, and was a teacher of kenjutsu at 18. His signature technique being his Sandanzuki, which translates as 'Three Piece Thrust,' a technique that stabs the sword at the neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder. (This technique was said to have hit all three points almost simultaneously, but this is most likely embellishment.) Okita is usually considered one of the most talented and strongest out of the Shinsengumi, along with Saito Hajime and Nagakura Shinpachi. After the Boshin War, he went into a tuberculosis hospital in Edo and died at the age of 25, on May 30, 1869.

Okubo Toshimichi - Born August 10, 1830; he was a samurai and one of the leading Satsuma Ishin Shishi leaders. After the fall of the Tokugawa regime, he became the Minister of the Interior, one of the highest-ranking members of the new Meiji government. He was assassinated on May 14, 1878.

onigiri - rice balls wrapped in seaweed

Saigo Takamori - Born in 1827-28; he was a samurai and leader of the Satsuma rebels. He, along with Katsura Kogorou and Okubo Toshimichi (also of Satsuma), were the prime leaders of the rebellion against the Shogunate government. He became the Meiji government's Army General. He died on September 24, 1877, when he chose to be beheaded after having unsuccessfully led a force of samurai against the Meiji government when their rice stipends were eliminated.

Saito Hajime - Born January 1, 1844; his life story and origins are very obscure and somewhat contradictory. Some say that he was a son of a ronin, while others say he left Edo after killing a person (some say accidentally) to join an army in Kyoto. He was the captain of the third troop of the Shinsengumi. He was one of the few who survived the numerous wars of the late shogunate period. He was considered not to be as strong as Okita Souji, but he was fierce and fearless in combat and his left-handed single thrust was the most dreaded and lethal technique of the Shinsengumi members. This one-hit technique matched well the philosophy of 'Aku Soku Zan' (literal translation: wicked immediate slay; 'Kill Evil Instantly' in a loose translation, 'Kill those who are evil immediately' in a figurative translation). He married Tokio Takagi, a daughter of a daimyo. After the war, he changed his name to Fujita Goro and worked as a police officer. He obtained special permission to carry a katana. He died on September 28, 1915, of a stomach ulcer, at the age of 71.

sake - a Japanese alcoholic beverage, rice wine

sakuramoti - a popular sweet treat made of pink-tinted crushed glutinous rice wrapped around red bean jam and rolled in a salted cherry tree leaf

samurai - Japan's ancient warrior class, officially abolished at the start of the Meiji era (1868)

-san - an honorific; carries the meaning of 'Mr.,' 'Ms.,' 'Miss,' etc., but used more extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent (note that even an enemy may be addressed as '-san')

Satsuma - a southern province, now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture; it was very anti Shogunate, but it had a long history of bitter rivalries with Choshu province

sensei - teacher; it's often used also as a suffix after someone's name to indicate that they are very knowledgeable in a certain area; doctors, teachers, and writers often get a '-sensei' after their name. In America 'sensei' has a more limited definition as a martial arts instructor.

seppuku - ritual suicide by disembowelment

shamisen - a three-stringed instrument similar to a banjo, played with a small, thin piece of ivory, tortoiseshell or wood

shiinto - silent (as the grave), (deathly) quiet

Shinsengumi - In 1862, in order to assure the security of Kyoto city, the Edo Shogunate formed a special police force by recruiting among masterless samurai and farmers skilled in sword technique. Serizawa Kamo, Kondo Isami, and Niimi Nishiki were the original three Captains when the Shinsengumi was formed from the Roshigumi in March 1863. Niimi Nishiki's rank was lowered to Sub-Captain, and he was subsequently forced to commit seppuku on September 8, 1863, by Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke. Serizawa Kamo was assassinated by Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo on September 16, 1863, because of his reckless actions. Kondo Isami then became the Captain and Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke became the Vice Captains. They provoked terror among pro-imperial samurai with the Ikedaya incident in 1864. The Shinsengumi disappeared with the defeat of the Tokugawa regime in 1868.

Shishou - a master teacher of swordsmanship; Himura Kenshin's Master, Hiko Seijuro, the Thirteenth Master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu

Shogunate - the military rulers of Japan, they ruled from 1192-1868

shoji - rice paper sliding door

tatami - a woven rice-straw floor mat

udon - Japanese noodles made from wheat, whole-wheat, or whole-wheat and unbleached white flour, they are eaten hot in broth or cold with a soy-based dipping sauce