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 Eleven

Concealed high among the thick leaves of an ancient oak tree, Kenshin observed the scene spread out before him. It was just as bad as Hattori had described. There were no fewer than five squads of Shinsengumi swordsmen posted around the courtyard in front of the main gates. A quick calculation made Kenshin frown. Half of the Shinsengumi force was reported to be on patrol. But if that is true and there are this many Shinsengumi here, then Hattori seriously underestimated the number present. His lips tightened grimly. If the distractions aren't successful . . . Kenshin shook his head. There was no point in anticipating trouble. He had prepared for as many problems as possible and taken every precaution he could. Now he would face whatever came up and deal with it. It was as simple as that. He would rescue Katsura! He refused to think about the alternative.

Kenshin started his reconnaissance on the north side of Shogunate headquarters – where he intended to cross into the compound – and slowly made his way back to where he had begun. Using every possible vantage point, he studied the complex, both the arrangement of the buildings and the landscaping – confirming the accuracy of Hamada's layout. Everything he saw matched almost exactly with the carefully drawn sketch of the compound that Hamada had provided. Given that reassurance, Kenshin felt he could safely assume that the areas he had not been able to see would also agree with the layout. Once again he was amazed by the man's incredible memory for details. After this is over, I will have to thank Hamada for his invaluable assistance, Kenshin thought, making a mental note. His rage stirred when he saw carpenters finishing the final details on a low platform that had been erected on the parade ground. Presumably it was the planned site of Katsura's execution. Even as he reflexively contained his anger and brought it back under control, he was automatically calculating the positioning of the platform in relation to the buildings and any possible concealment. It was essential that he be prepared for any eventuality in the upcoming rescue. He could not allow himself to be caught by surprise.

Of course comparing the details of Hamada's layout with the actual complex occupied only a portion of Kenshin's attention while he circled the headquarters. He was vitally concerned with the security arrangements as well. He was pleased to note that there were fewer squads of Shinsengumi posted along the other three walls that surrounded the compound. It appeared that the Ishin Shishi were expected to make a frontal attack. However, with the Shinsengumi fighters and pairs of Shogunate Army sentries posted at close intervals, it would be impossible to successfully launch a sneak attack.

Even though there appeared to be fewer Shinsengumi present than he had first suspected, Kenshin was still somewhat surprised to see such a large contingent of the swordsmen present. Especially considering the extensive losses they had suffered recently. Most of which were by my hand, he thought wryly. Mildly intrigued, Kenshin considered the situation for a few moments. First, the Shinsengumi had been unknowingly set up to be attacked by the Ishin Shishi. Then they were assigned to very dangerous front-line duty. Is the Shogunate treating the Shinsengumi as cannon fodder for some political reason? Or is it just a matter of simple expediency? Unable to answer the intriguing questions, Kenshin dismissed the idle speculation as unimportant. The Shogunate's reasons behind its actions were irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was dealing with the obstacles that had been erected to prevent Katsura from being rescued.

Kenshin was also carefully noting both the numbers and placement of the groups of soldiers and Mimiwarigumi deployed throughout the inner complex. The presence of the Kyoto police force was expected, of course, since they were Shogunate supporters. Obviously the Shogunate was making certain that Katsura's execution would not be stopped. The Mimiwarigumi swordsmen would be a hindrance while he and Katsura were leaving the headquarters; but their fighters were not of the same caliber as the Shinsengumi, and Kenshin was not particularly concerned about them.

Having completed his reconnaissance, Kenshin selected a hidden perch near the northeast corner of the headquarters compound that would allow him to remain unseen as he observed the courtyard in front of the main gates. Sudden activity caught his attention, and he watched as squads of Shogunate Army soldiers passed through the main gates and marched along the wall. As the weary guards were relieved by the newcomers, Kenshin's eyes widened and a faint smile curved his lips. After a long, sleepless night waiting for an attack that hadn't happened, the replacements appeared to be no more rested than the men they were replacing, if the half-closed eyes and quickly smothered yawns were any indication. He could not assume that the soldiers inside the headquarters were also tired; but if they were, the odds of his making it across the compound undetected would be slightly raised in his favor. And at this point, Kenshin needed every advantage he could get.

Unfortunately, the Shinsengumi swordsmen seemed to be wide awake and alert. Even with nearly half of them on patrol, there were still far too many present for Kenshin's comfort. It would be very difficult to cross the wall if the first step of his plan wasn't successful. His eyes hardened. It didn't matter. He would cross the wall, one way or another. Slowly, he studied the Shinsengumi assembled in the courtyard, spotting Saito and Okita standing in front of the main gates. The smaller man was apparently quite involved in their conversation, judging by the quick movements of his hands. In sharp contrast to his active comrade, Saito appeared to be bored as he leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette.

The glint of sunlight on polished metal made Kenshin glance across the courtyard in time to see Captain Harada saunter around the corner, his favorite weapon – a long spear – balanced easily on his shoulder. Walking alongside the spear-wielding giant, and half hidden by his bulk, was the Captain of the Second Troop, Nagakura Shinpachi. A full dozen fighters followed the two men as they walked up to the other two Shinsengumi Captains. Surprised to see that Harada and Nagakura had left their posts at the back of headquarters, Kenshin observed them closely as they talked with Saito and Okita. He was too far away to be able to hear what was said; but Harada suddenly clapped Nagakura solidly on the back, nearly knocking him into Okita. Harada leaned on his spear, laughing loudly as the beleaguered man complained vociferously at the apparently unwarranted treatment. Still bickering, the two men turned away, Harada raising his hand in a casual farewell. Kenshin watched as they led their squads away, hoping that Saito and Okita would also leave before it was time for him to cross the wall.

A few clusters of curious citizens had gathered around the edges of the courtyard, watching the activities from a cautious distance and murmuring quietly among themselves. They moved back uneasily as the swordsmen, in their distinctive uniforms, marched past. The remaining Shinsengumi kept an eye on the small groups of merchants and women, but left them alone, since they were obviously not fighters.

The ringing of shod hooves against paving stones announced the arrival of carriages. As they turned the corner, the drivers expertly slowed the teams of horses down, finally stopping before the ornate main gates. An Army officer stepped forward, officiously demanding that the occupants of the first carriage present their papers, which he then examined in a leisurely fashion before allowing them to enter Shogunate headquarters. With each carriage that passed through the main gates, Kenshin's impassive mask grew even more expressionless, his amber eyes glittering icily. Watching these Bakufu bureaucratic toadies gather to act as witnesses to Katsura's execution was enough to make his hand tighten reflexively on the hilt of his katana. He calmed himself with an effort, recalling his own words to Uchida, but hearing them being uttered in the baritone of his Shishou: 'Do not allow your emotions to cloud your judgement!' Taking a deep breath, he held it for a full minute before slowly exhaling, gradually relaxing and releasing the tension that had knotted not only his muscles, but his thoughts as well.

When a group of loudly arguing men caused a team of horses to shy, Kenshin took advantage of the distraction to drop out of the tree and disappear down an alley. It was time to talk to Commander Adachi. While studying the outer perimeter of Shogunate headquarters, he had sensed groups of men – most likely the Ishin Shishi – hiding in the surrounding buildings. Given that knowledge, it didn't take him long to find Adachi's temporary command post.

Kenshin entered the room silently and walked up behind Adachi. Speaking with his customary softness, he quietly announced his presence, "Commander."

Adachi spun, his eyes widening as he gasped, "H-himura-san?" He swiftly glanced around, noticing that his bodyguard was just as startled as he was. Well, at least it wasn't just me, he thought, disgruntled at having been caught off guard. Thank the gods that Himura is on our side! "Is everything all right, Himura-san?"

Somewhat amused by the Commander's reaction, Kenshin kept his face expressionless and voice neutral. "Yes. Report."

Disconcerted by the hitokiri's terse response, Adachi considered his next words carefully. "It has been relatively quiet until just a few minutes ago, when carriages began arriving. Prior to that, the only traffic into or out of headquarters was two wagons loaded with lumber that arrived shortly before dawn. Our observers have not seen Katsura in any of the carriages, so I believe it is safe to assume that he is already inside."

Kenshin simply nodded in agreement. He had already known that Katsura was not in the carriages that had just arrived, but could not confirm his presence within the compound. However, it was a reasonable assumption. The Shogunate stood to gain too much from Katsura's execution to make it likely that this was a ruse, especially since the Shogun would not look kindly upon any act that might suggest they were afraid of the Imperialists.

Reassured, Adachi continued. "Our men are gathered nearby, Himura-san, and are ready to begin the attack at any time."

Again Kenshin nodded, adding, "Make certain that the squads covering the area where Katsura and I will leave headquarters stay hidden until after the wall has been breached. I do not want anyone noticing their presence beforehand. However, I want them positioned so that they can take out any Shinsengumi or sentries that are present as soon as the debris has settled, including the guards on top of the wall."

"Yes, Himura-san. It will be done. Do you want step one of the plan to begin now?"

"Yes," Kenshin responded, turning to leave. "I am going to finalize the other diversions now. Do not begin step two until after I have returned."

"Himura-san?"

The unexpectedly diffident tone of Adachi's voice made Kenshin pause, and he waited – curbing his impatience – for the older man to continue. When Adachi didn't say anything for several moments, his hesitation to speak aroused Kenshin's curiosity and he prompted him with an emotionless, "Yes?"

After shooting a glance at the expressionless young man in a vain attempt to judge his probable reaction, Adachi cleared his throat and began. "I've been thinking. It seems to me that it is highly likely that Katsura-san has been tortured for information. I've . . . seen the results of torture in the past," he said reluctantly, the gruesome memories making him uncomfortable. Not entirely certain that he really wanted to know the answer, he cautiously asked, "What are you going to do if Katsura-san is too badly injured to be rescued, Himura-san?"

'What are you going to do if . . .' Kenshin's blood ran cold. It was a question that he had asked himself a hundred times since Katsura had been captured. Uchida's voice echoed in the back of his mind: 'Their orders are that you are to rescue Katsura-san once he has been found. However, if you are unable to successfully rescue him, perhaps because of his physical condition, you are to kill him . . .' As Adachi had said, it was a very real possibility. One that Kenshin had to face, as much as he hated to. Could I kill Katsura? Never! But what if he asks me to . . .? A shudder tried to make its way past his iron control, only to be ruthlessly suppressed. NO! I will find a way to rescue him! Kenshin had spent a lot of time considering what he might find, once he reached Katsura, and had tried to cover as many contingencies as possible. But it was the unknown that worried him. What if– He ended that thought before it could finish.

When he had presented his idea to tempt the Shogunate into publicly executing Katsura, he had not corrected Uchida's assumption that the plan's sole purpose was to discover the Choshu leader's whereabouts. Uchida had also assumed that Katsura would be tortured, accepting it as inevitable. However, Kenshin had hoped that by convincing the Shogunate that Katsura's death would effectively destroy the Ishin Shishi, they would also believe that torturing him for secrets was pointless. It was a long shot, but it was the best plan he had been able to devise to spare Katsura as much pain and suffering as possible. Now all he could do was hope that the plan had been successful. Kenshin buried his doubts and concentrated on the next task. There were many things to do if Katsura's rescue was to succeed, and he could not allow himself to be distracted by anything, including his own fear. His eyes narrowed as his determination strengthened. Failure is not an option, he reminded himself sternly. I will not fail!

After staring at Adachi for a long moment, Kenshin turned and left. 'What are you going to do if . . .?' He hadn't answered the Commander's question because he didn't know the answer.

Adachi watched Himura walk away. The assassin's chilling gaze had been answer enough. There was no doubt in his mind that the cold-blooded hitokiri would do whatever had to be done, and Adachi pitied the poor fools who got in his way.


Slowly exhaling a thin stream of smoke, Saito studied Okita through the gray haze as the smaller man listened to a squad leader's report. To a casual observer, Okita appeared to be fine. He seemed to be handling their singularly unrewarding assignment with his usual cheerful optimism. However, Saito didn't miss his pallor, or the fine lines of exhaustion on his face which gave him a faintly haggard appearance that his bright-eyed expression and animated gestures could not completely conceal. The corners of Saito's lips turned down slightly in disapproval as he watched his friend waste precious energy giving a performance worthy of a kabuki actor.

Finished taking the man's report, Okita gave the squad leader his new orders and sent him off before turning back to continue his interrupted conversation. "I agree with you, Saito. Why the Ishin Shishi have not yet attacked is indeed puzzling."

"I'd say it's because they are too undisciplined to mount a proper assault," Saito answered disgustedly.

"No, I don't think that's the reason," Okita disagreed thoughtfully, his voice soft. "Our earlier arrests may have delayed their attack, but I doubt that they will give up so easily." Looking up at his scowling companion, he earnestly cautioned his friend, "We need to be careful, Saito. The closer it gets to Katsura's execution, the more desperate the Imperialists will become. Now is when our assignment becomes most dangerous. By making sure that nothing stops the execution, we can guarantee their defeat. With the Ishin Shishi divided and fighting amongst themselves, the Shogunate is assured victory." Okita paused, thinking about what he would do if he were in the Rebels' position.

Saito watched his normally carefree companion stare unseeingly at the pavement, his forehead creased by an unaccustomed frown. It was apparent that Okita was considering the situation carefully, and Saito lit another cigarette while he waited patiently for him to continue. I know what he's thinking, and for once I wish he'd listen to reason. But I suppose that is just too much to hope for, he thought sourly, dreading the upcoming confrontation.

There was no doubt in his mind that Okita was planning on taking a very active role in their mission. So far, Saito had managed to limit his friend's involvement to devising strategy. When they had arrived this morning, it had been Okita's decision to send out squads to patrol the streets surrounding Shogunate headquarters, searching for Ishin Shishi troops. The order had been met with wholehearted approval from the Shinsengumi troops, who had not been happy about standing around waiting for something to happen. There had even been some competition and betting on which squad would find the first group of Rebels. As the morning wore on, the patrols had rotated, with returning squads being replaced by ones stationed around the headquarters. Saito had said nothing about Okita's debilitating attack of consumption last night, and the only way he could keep him from taking a turn patrolling had been to stay at headquarters as well. The inactivity had galled, but it was the best way to protect Okita without being obvious. Unfortunately, that ruse would no longer work. Now that the expected assault was impending, Okita would insist upon being more actively involved and, given his weakened condition, that was something that Saito just could not allow.

Lifting his head, Okita continued soberly, "I am certain that the Imperialist forces are gathering. It is even more important now that we search for the Rebels and prevent them from coordinating an attack." He gazed at his companion, his eyes lighting up and a wide smile replacing his serious expression. "I'm looking forward to winning that bet."

Saito took the time to drop his half-smoked cigarette and crush it beneath his foot before calmly stating, "You should stay here, Okita." As expected, the comment was not well received, the smaller man's eyes flashing angrily.

Stiffening, Okita replied tightly, "What makes you say that, Saito?"

"The answer should be obvious. You didn't get much – if any – sleep last night," Saito answered, coming as close as he dared to referring to Okita's illness.

Okita knew what Saito was actually hinting at, but refused to accept the well-intentioned suggestion. Last night's attack had been the worst yet, but he would not let his illness interfere with his responsibilities! "You didn't get much sleep either, my friend, but I don't see that preventing you from performing your duties."

"True. But I have more stamina than you do," Saito returned, almost gently, regretting the necessity of having to point it out. He knew how much Okita disliked any reference to his sickness, but he had no choice. Given his current weakness, the smaller man was in no condition to fight, unless there was no other option.

Generations of samurai pride flared in Okita's eyes and fueled his icy response as he snapped, "Must I remind you, Saito, that I am Captain of the First Troop? Nothing will stop me from fulfilling my duties!"

Saito met his friend's cold eyes unflinchingly. "Fine. But let me remind you that our orders stated that at least one Captain must stay at Shogunate headquarters to lead the men stationed here," he replied crisply, his tone just as formal as Okita's had been. "Harada and Nagakura are already out on patrol, and I am certainly not staying here!" he finished decisively as he strode away before Okita could react, abruptly gesturing to his squad to follow. He could almost feel Okita's furious glare burning a hole through the back of his haori.


Kenshin crouched in the shadow cast by one of the small shrine's ornate multi-level eaves, closely studying the auras of the five people within the building. He recognized the ki of Kaze's apprentice, Minarai; but the other four auras belonged to unknown women. He had just finished exploring the area surrounding the shrine and had not found any traps, so there was no reason to further delay the meeting. His sandals did not make so much as a whisper of sound as he made his way across the roof's clay tiles. After quickly scanning the area, he dropped off the roof, landing lightly behind a camellia bush.

A small window provided entry into the building, and Kenshin found himself in a tiny chamber. Painted scrolls decorated the wooden walls, while the rest of the room's modest furnishings consisted only of a low table, cushions, and a futon neatly folded in the corner. Giving the area no more than a passing glance, he went through the only doorway and ghosted down a short passageway that ended behind the altar that took up most of the shrine's main room.

Utterly still, his presence went unnoticed and Kenshin took the opportunity to observe the people standing on the other side of the altar. Minarai stood beside the outer door, invisible to anyone glancing in from outside, apparently waiting for someone. The four young women were lined up in front of the altar, heads lowered in respect, their colorfully patterned kimonos brightening the plain simplicity of the shrine's interior.

Unaware she was being watched, the smallest woman moved restlessly, her kimono rustling faintly. "How long do we have to wait, Ame?" she asked quietly.

Without taking his eyes away from the street, Minarai stated flatly before anyone else could answer,"We stay until Himura-san arrives, Kiri. You heard the clan leader's orders."

"I hope he comes soon," one of the other women murmured. "We are too close to Shogunate headquarters. If we stay here too long, it will become suspicious."

The clan leader's orders? Then they are kunoichi, Kenshin surmised. He was a little surprised, but it made sense. Kaze had said that his people could provide the necessary distractions for the guards, and who better to do that than a pretty girl? Kenshin was aware that Katsura sometimes used kunoichi as spies. Highly trained, they were excellent at gathering information and fully capable of taking care of themselves. After all, who would believe that an innocent smile could hide an accomplished assassin?

With that realization, Kenshin studied the kunoichi more carefully. All four of the young women were attractive, but not beautiful. They were dressed in regular clothing – nicely made, but nothing out of the ordinary. None of them would stand out among the people walking through the streets of Kyoto. Kenshin nodded to himself in approval. He understood perfectly well that sometimes hiding in plain sight was the best defense.

Once more Kenshin projected his inner senses outwards, opening himself to receive impressions. The only people he sensed nearby were a few women hurrying along on errands, their auras filled with the hectic patterns of everyday life. Reassured, Kenshin stepped forward.

The reaction was instantaneous. The nearest woman's eyes went wide in well-simulated fear, her hands flying up to her mouth. Kenshin tensed, assuming she had a miniature blowgun, or some other weapon ready. The one Minarai had called Kiri suddenly had a fan in her hand that snapped open with a flick of her wrist. Kenshin did not miss the gleam of sharpened steel that formed the frame of the fan. He knew she wasn't an immediate threat, though, so he kept his eye on the first woman. The next woman's hand slipped into the sleeve of her kimono, perhaps reaching for a kunai or shuriken. When Kiri had flourished her fan, the last woman had deftly withdrawn an ornament from her hair and hidden it in her hand, incorrectly assuming that the intruder had been distracted by the sudden movement.

Minarai was the first to move, turning to face the red-haired manslayer and bow deeply. He had only become aware of the man's presence when he heard the click of Kiri's fan unfolding. "Himura-san."

Ame dropped her hands away from her mouth, palming the slender blowgun with its poison-tipped needle. "Please forgive our reactions, Himura-san," she apologized, also bowing formally. "I'm afraid that you startled us rather badly." Observing the redhead through her lashes as she bowed, she was disconcerted to discover that, although the assassin's eyes were flicking over each of the women, his focus was centered on her. As she was the most experienced of her team, the attention was flattering; but it also proved that he had seen through her act easily, which was discouraging. She also noted that unlike the others in the room, he was completely relaxed. It appeared that he had already assessed them as opponents and decided they were no threat. Ame bristled at the egotistical assumption. Years of training kept her serene mask in place, though, and none of her anger was reflected in her posture. However, her irritation faded when she realized that he was not displaying the usual hubris most men seemed to feel when dealing with kunoichi. While his posture and attitude radiated his utter confidence in his skills, there was no indication of condescension in his bearing. No, he was not arrogant and Ame was impressed, in spite of herself. Surprised by the reaction, she continued studying the hitokiri. She had been told that Himura Battousai would be meeting them here, but she had never dreamed that he would turn out to be so young. Straightening, she met his eyes fully. What she saw there changed her mind. So old! His body might be young, but his eyes . . . how could they be so old? What has he been through? she wondered. Shaking her head slightly, she regained her composure. "Let me introduce myself and my companions. I am Ame." She then indicated the tiny woman standing next to her, who immediately bowed, her steel fan disappearing. "This is Kiri." Ame then moved to stand between the other two kunoichi. Placing her hand on the shoulder of the woman standing to her right, she said, "This is Iriai." Gesturing with her left hand, she added, "And this is Tenmei." Both women bowed deeply as they were introduced.

Kenshin bowed politely in return, but regarded the women soberly. While he did not doubt their skills, the situation had changed significantly and that made him question whether they would have the opportunity to act.

As Ame waited patiently for Himura to speak, she glanced at the others. Iriai seemed to be handling the introduction well, her usual gentle expression hadn't changed. Tenmei and Kiri, on the other hand, were both very tense and appeared as though they expected the infamous hitokiri to sprout fangs and go berserk at any moment. Ame nearly rolled her eyes. She would have to speak to them later about maintaining their self-control. After all, Himura hadn't done anything – other than to seemingly appear out of thin air – to warrant their reaction. Firmly suppressing the shiver that threatened to run down her back, she refused to acknowledge how intimidating the expressionless young man's cool composure was. Instead, she straightened her back and addressed the assassin coolly, "What do you wish us to do, Himura-san?"

"During his briefing with Uchida-san, Kaze became aware that I need distractions for two pairs of Shogunate Army guards in order to cross the wall into Shogunate headquarters. He said that he believed that his people could provide those distractions," Kenshin answered quietly. "However, the situation has changed. Shinsengumi squads have been deployed around the headquarters' outer perimeter, along with the Army guards. I believe that I understand how you intend to distract the guards, but the Shinsengumi have been arresting anyone they consider suspicious. Given these circumstances, I am not certain that you will be able to provide the interference I need."

Ame considered Himura's explanation briefly. Kaze's message to the clan leader had explained what the assassin needed and suggested that they could act as distractions. It had seemed like a fairly straightforward assignment, but the addition of the Shinsengumi into the plan had certainly complicated matters. However, the clan leader had made it clear that the successful completion of Katsura's rescue was very much in the Shiinto clan's best interest. He would not accept failure lightly. While there might not be anything they could do, Ame would not just simply give up. "What will you do if we are unable to distract the guards?"

"I will cross the wall."

The cold finality of Himura's quiet declaration raised goose bumps on Ame's arms. That flat statement, combined with the intense determination in his amber eyes, was enough to convince her that the hitokiri would succeed no matter what the opposition. Ame could not imagine how Himura would be able to cross the wall without their help, but it was obvious that he believed that he could do so. But at what cost? Would he willingly attempt the impossible? One look at the indomitable spirit shining in the young man's eyes convinced Ame that he would. After all, what choice did he have? Condemn Katsura to certain death? No, she could see that he would rather die attempting the rescue than fail his leader. His courage was amazing, but what truly impressed Ame was the fact that he was not heedlessly throwing his life away. While it seemed that there was no way a rescue attempt could succeed, a daring plan had been created, according to Kaze. One that offered a slim chance of success. And if there was any way that her team could help guarantee that success, she would make certain it happened! "We will go to Shogunate headquarters, Himura-san. While we may indeed be unable to assist you, we will act if the opportunity arises. Would you please explain exactly what you want us to do?"

Kenshin met the kunoichi's eyes and recognized the firm resolve he saw there. Nodding, he reached into his gi and took out a diagram of the headquarters' outer defenses. Unfolding it, he pointed out the two pairs of Army guards he wanted distracted. "There will be a diversion in the front courtyard, which will last no more than five minutes. I do not know what that diversion will be, but it will be created by Ishin Shishi fighters dressed as civilians. The original plan was for you to take advantage of that commotion and somehow distract the guards. Once we learned the Shinsengumi had been stationed outside the headquarters, a plan was implemented to try to reduce their numbers. If – between that plan and the diversion – you feel that you can safely act, then do so. However, I do not want you to take unnecessary risks. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Himura-san," Ame agreed.

"You will not need to hold the guards' attention for more than five minutes. Once that time has passed, I want you to withdraw, even if you haven't seen me."

"Yes, Himura-san," Ame again agreed. The instructions were strange, but no stranger than the rest of the plan. She had no idea how the hitokiri intended to cross the wall in broad daylight, with not only soldiers, but Shinsengumi present. It wasn't her job to understand, though. It was up to her team to assist Himura, and she would make sure they did!

"Thank you," Kenshin said softly, bowing respectfully to the kunoichi before pacing silently out of the shrine.


How dare you do this to me, Saito! Okita fumed furiously, glaring at his friend's retreating back as he led his squad across the courtyard. You may be my friend, but that does not give you the right to decide what I will or won't do! Damn you, Saito! Okita blinked, his internal tirade momentarily forgotten, when he saw Saito abruptly sneeze violently three times. Unable to stop himself, a reluctant smile slowly formed as he heard his friend swearing, something about refusing to get sick. Well, what do you know. I guess those old legends are true.

Remembering why he had been cursing his friend in the first place, he resumed glaring and the smile was replaced with a frown. He stood there, fists clenched at his sides, for another minute before he forced himself to relax. I know you are trying to protect me because you think I'm not at my best, Okita thought, displeased by the knowledge that Saito was right. His earlier attack of consumption had left him exhausted and drained. And while he was grateful that Saito never openly discussed his illness, Okita was still infuriated about being manipulated. I appreciate your concern, Saito. But I know my limits! I will not allow anything to stop me from performing my duties!

Since he had no choice, Okita accepted his unwelcome assignment with as much grace as he could manage. "You haven't heard the last of this, Saito. I promise you that!" he growled, the unusually threatening tone making the nearest men stare at him in surprise.

Deciding that he might as well use his time constructively, Okita considered the situation. What he had told Saito earlier was still true. The closer it got to Katsura's execution, the more desperate the Ishin Shishi would become. It was obvious that they would try to attack Shogunate headquarters to free the Choshu leader. While the plan he had devised that morning might prevent them from coordinating their attack, any groups that managed to get past the patrols would undoubtedly attempt a direct assault.

Okita had not foreseen that he would be leading the outer perimeter defense. With that in mind, he began reviewing his strategy. There certainly weren't enough Shinsengumi present to overcome a determined attack by a large force, but he felt that that was not the most likely scenario. No, he expected they would be facing a disorganized force made up of dissenting Imperialist factions. Without strong leadership, they would be unable to fight as a cohesive unit and the Shinsengumi would take advantage of their weakness to deliver a crushing defeat that would herald the end of the Rebellion. The main gate into Shogunate headquarters was the most vulnerable part of their defense, and an obvious target for the Ishin Shishi. However, he would be wary of a feint that might distract them from the real attack. Although, even if the Rebels were able to muster enough men to be able to break through the Shinsengumi, they would then have to fight the Army troops stationed within the complex. Given the losses the Ishin Shishi would have incurred by that time, there was no way they would be able to overcome the Army soldiers. And in the unlikely event that the Imperialists actually made it that far, Okita was certain that Katsura would be summarily executed before there was any chance of rescuing him. There was no way the Ishin Shishi could succeed. In an hour, Katsura Kogorou would be dead and the Bakumatsu would effectively be over.

Satisfied with his analysis, Okita pivoted on his heel and walked toward the nearest squad to begin checking the positioning and readiness of the Shinsengumi squads posted around the perimeter. Considering the likelihood of the Ishin Shishi at least attempting to storm Shogunate headquarters, I think that your plan to 'protect' me is going to backfire, Saito. There is a strong probability that I will see just as much fighting as you. Okita's eyes gleamed in anticipation.


Kenshin fought to hold his impatience rigidly in check as he slowly worked his way through the crush of bodies. There were more people out now and it was becoming difficult to move through the streets unnoticed. The sound of raised voices ahead drew his attention. A burly workman stepped aside, leaving a narrow gap that revealed a squad of Shinsengumi questioning a group of men. Alarmed, Kenshin looked around quickly. He could not afford to become involved in a confrontation now! Unfortunately, the altercation was drawing attention and a crowd was gathering. But once again the skills he had learned while training on his Shishou's mountain came in handy, as he slipped through the crowd almost as easily as through dense undergrowth. A break in the flow of wagons and carriages gave him the chance to cross the busy street and enter a narrow alley.

He stepped into the deep shadow cast by a stack of crates and waited tensely, watching the street for any indication that he had been spotted. While it was difficult to pick up individual impressions with this many people around, Kenshin could not sense any sign of interest. After several long moments, he decided it was safe to continue on to Shogunate headquarters. If someone was indeed following him, it would be impossible for them to hide their presence during the next few minutes and he would then eliminate them as a threat – permanently.

Automatically avoiding the sunlit sections of the passageway, Kenshin moved with the stealth his training had drilled into him until it became unconscious reflex, his sandals not even creating a rustle as he walked through the debris that littered the seedy alley. He stopped halfway and looked both directions before jumping to the roof of the adjacent building. Kenshin had chosen this route back to headquarters very carefully. The roofs of the buildings that faced the street in that neighborhood provided a well-hidden path that would take him most of the way to headquarters. No longer impeded by the necessity of working his way unobtrusively through the streets, he made excellent time. Of course he kept all of his senses – external and internal – extended, searching for any indication he was being followed.

Crouched once again on one of the upper limbs of the ancient oak tree he had used before as an observation post, Kenshin carefully moved a branch aside. He noted that there were fewer squads of Shinsengumi posted at the courtyard in front of the main gate and along the northern wall, although their numbers had not been reduced as much as he had hoped they would be. But after closely observing the positioning of the Army guards and Shinsengumi swordsmen, Kenshin felt more confident about the upcoming crossing.

He looked across the courtyard when he heard a carriage approaching and watched as people moved aside when it turned the corner. Kenshin was surprised at how the numbers of citizens assembled before Shogunate headquarters had grown in the brief time he had been gone. More were coming, too. He could see small groups of men and women walking toward the courtyard. Among those, Kenshin saw the four kunoichi. Heads together and hands lifted to hide impolite laughter, they appeared to be no more than friends enjoying an outing on a late spring morning. He could not spot Minarai, but that did not mean he was not here somewhere. Satisfied with the current situation, Kenshin left to find Commander Adachi.

There were too many people blocking the entrance into the building that Adachi was using as his command center for Kenshin to risk entering the building that way. Instead, he crossed the roof of the neighboring house and dropped onto the balcony unseen. He padded noiselessly down to the room where Adachi was meeting with several other men. The shoji was partially open, giving Kenshin ready entrance. After speaking softly, he suppressed a sigh when several bodyguards and Commanders whirled, drawing their swords.

Adachi was becoming accustomed to the hitokiri's mysterious appearances and he was proud of the fact that he hadn't jumped when he heard Himura say, "Commander Adachi." However, that did not mean that his racing heart showed any sign of slowing down soon. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he turned to greet the redhead calmly. "Himura-san. Is everything ready to begin step two?"

"Yes. The distraction should not last longer than five minutes and step three should begin as soon as the diversion is finished," Kenshin reminded the Commander. "And when step three begins, any squads that are still attempting to lure the Shinsengumi away from headquarters should either rejoin your men, or spread out and search for Shinsengumi patrols."

"Of course," Adachi replied, having already made those preparations. He didn't resent the fact that Battousai had felt the need to remind him, though. Indeed, Adachi approved. It was a leader's duty to remember all of the many details that make up a mission, and it was obvious that Battousai took his responsibility very seriously. Just because he had given the reminder, did not necessarily mean that Himura believed that Adachi had forgotten.

"Once I have left, wait ten minutes and begin step two. Do you have any questions?" Kenshin asked.

"No, Himura-san." The older man watched as the hitokiri turned to leave. Just as he was about to step through the shoji, Adachi called out, "Himura-san!"

Kenshin stopped and looked back questioningly, but all the Commander said was, "Good luck." Kenshin met the Commander's eyes briefly and gave him a sharp nod before slipping through the doorway. After a quick mental scan of the area, he dropped down into an enclosed garden and used a small gate at the back to enter the alley.

Ame looked around unobtrusively, assuring herself that the four kunoichi weren't attracting any attention. She would have been surprised if they had. Each of them had practiced being inconspicuous since they were children. However, the clan leader had impressed upon her how important this mission was, and she did not intend to overlook any details. They were standing near the north corner of the massive courtyard that spread out before the ornate gates that led into Shogunate headquarters. From that vantage point, she could see not only the guards they had targeted, but also the courtyard. The milling crowd offered its own form of camouflage, with the women largely pushed to the back, away from the danger the Shinsengumi represented.

After making certain no one was within hearing distance, she coughed to get the others' attention. "We don't know what's going to happen," she said quietly, "but we must be ready. Iriai, you and Tenmei will take the guards on the left. It is possible that the Shinsengumi won't shift their positions even after the diversion begins, so I want you to begin making eye contact as soon as you get into place. Try to get the guards to notice you without being too obvious about it. That may be the only distraction we can provide, and all we can do is hope that it will be enough."

Kiri shifted restively. "Ame, how will we know if he succeeds in crossing the wall?"

"We won't," Ame answered succinctly. "You heard him. If we can, we distract them for five minutes. No more." Her dark eyes sought and held each of the others' eyes in turn to emphasize her next words, "But no less. You know the plan. Follow it." Ame waited until the other three had all nodded. "Good. Iriai, Tenmei – when you are finished, go back to the shrine. We will meet you there." After again nodding briefly, the two kunoichi moved away. Ame watched approvingly as they slowly worked their way through the crowd, until they wound up standing near several women, seeming to be part of the group. They worked very well together, which was why she had paired them. Kiri, on the other hand, had a tendency to be a little excitable. She got bored easily and, given half a chance, she would overwhelm either of the two quieter women. "All right, Kiri, let's go." As Ame walked alongside her diminutive companion, she began counting down from five. Right on cue, Kiri tilted her head and looked up at the taller woman.

"So, do you want to bet on which guard you get to distract?" she asked cheekily.

"No."

"Oh, come on! Maybe you'll win this time! I'll let you pick first . . ." Kiri wheedled.

"No."

"You're no fun," Kiri grumbled.

I may not be any fun, but at least I won't get humiliated again. I swear, I could pick both guards and she'd still win! Ame thought with irritation, remembering Kiri's phenomenal luck at any form of gambling. Not that Ame would ever bet with Kiri whenever cards or dice were involved. The tiny woman could stack a deck of cards – not to mention, deal from the bottom of the deck at any time she wanted – and you'd never catch her at it. When Kiri was dealing, you got exactly the cards she wanted you to have. Ame knew, because she watched her practicing all the time. And since Kiri was a master pickpocket, switching out dice was nothing. Given her skills, it wasn't surprising that she had paired up with Nezumi, the master thief. Either one was a handful; but put the two together, and there was no telling what mischief they would get into. After one too many pranks on the other ninjas, which they always stoutly claimed were for 'practice,' she and Nezumi were now only allowed to practice on each other. They deserve each other, Ame thought sourly, having been on the receiving end of their jokes in the past.

Once they were in position, the women fell easily into their roles. The two guards were obviously bored, and it didn't take too much time before they noticed the attractive pair of young women. Soon, Ame and Kiri were smiling 'shyly' at the guards. Every so often, they would whisper together, while one or the other would sneak a peek at the men before looking away quickly and giggling behind their hands. It quickly became apparent that the taller guard was quite taken with petite Kiri. Figures, Ame groused. I get stuck with the short one again. It never fails. Sighing at the injustice of it all, she dutifully began flirting with the smaller guard.

Ame noticed it took only a few minutes for one of the Shinsengumi swordsmen to notice that the Army guards' attention was focused on two pretty girls, rather than the crowd. Smirking, he roughly nudged his comrade in the ribs. When the offended man glared back, he jerked his head in the guards' direction. Confused, the fighter stared at them uncomprehendingly, until he finally figured out what was going on. He shook his head and laughed, turning to catch the attention of the man standing next to him. Before long, the entire squad was well aware of what the guards were doing. The squad leader glowered at both the soldiers and the young women, making Ame go on guard, but eventually he turned away. Several young fighters were gamely trying to ignore what was happening, uncomfortably aware of their squad leader's disapproval. The older swordsmen, however, were clearly enjoying the entertainment.

Meanwhile, the Army guards remained blissfully unaware that their dereliction of duty had been noticed. Ame nearly shook her head in disgust. Talk about unprofessional! If they were my men, they'd never see the bottom of a stack of dirty dishes. However, none of her thoughts showed on her face. To all appearances, she was thoroughly attracted to the guard she was flirting with.

A few minutes later, the sounds of angry arguing carried across the courtyard. The argument wasn't enough to justify noticing, so Ame continued with her efforts to distract the soldier. However, she listened intently, since it was possible that this was the diversion that Himura had said the Ishin Shishi were going to provide. The yelling escalated, with several new voices joining in. She couldn't hear everything, but it quickly became obvious that the fight was between supporters who felt that Katsura should not be executed and those who thought the Shogunate was right to put the Ishin Shishi leader to death. As tempers flared, the shouting became louder and louder.

"He's a traitor! And traitors deserve to die!"

"You ahou! Katsura-san has always supported the people! He's a good man and shouldn't be executed!"

"You can't call me that! Only scum who support the Rebels would say that!"

"He's right! Kill the traitor!"

"You fools don't know what you're talking about!"

Suddenly the speeches were replaced by roars of pain and anger, as fists began replacing words. A small knot of merchants were fighting in front of the gathered crowd. Ame looked around surreptitiously, trying to evaluate the effect on the guards and Shinsengumi. All of them were watching the spectacle with varying degrees of interest. Ame was certain this was the distraction Himura had said would happen. He had said it would only last five minutes and it was up to the kunoichi to act during that short time. But the Shinsengumi weren't showing any indication of leaving their posts, and it would be impossible to get closer to the guards while the swordsmen were still there. Ame nearly ground her teeth in frustration and redoubled her efforts to keep the shorter guard's attention on herself.

When one of the brawlers was knocked back into the crowd, several women screamed and scrambled to get out of the way. More shouts were heard as the man was shoved back into the fight. The merchant who had just been pushed away turned and took a swing at the shopkeeper standing next to him, knocking him down. His friends took exception to that, a couple of them helping the winded man up, while the others joined in the fight. As more and more men joined in, the women moved further back, trying to stay well away from the fracas.

Ame divided her attention between the guard she was trying to distract and the swelling brawl. It had been almost five minutes since the disturbance had started, and the Shinsengumi still weren't show any signs of moving! Although the melee didn't look like it was going to slow down any time soon. In fact, it was getting worse. If the situation hadn't been so grim, Ame might have enjoyed watching the fat, out of shape shopkeepers throwing punches as though they were bullies half their age. In fact, seeing a small man belligerently trying to beat a huge, flour-covered man, reminded her so much of a tiny Japanese Spaniel viciously attacking an Akita, that she almost laughed.

Kiri suddenly whimpered and clutched Ame's arm tightly. Startled, Ame looked down into Kiri's frightened face. Her slight nod toward the guards explained what she was doing. Good girl! Ame thought, putting her arm around the small woman's shoulders comfortingly. A quick, 'frightened' glance at the taller guard showed that he was torn between his concern for the tiny girl he had been befriending and his duty. On impulse, Ame began slowly edging away, as though they were afraid to stay. The two guards immediately became upset by the idea that the two girls might leave. Pleased, Ame stopped, making certain that her indecision was visible to the soldiers. Kiri's obvious distress was clearly affecting her target, and Ame appreciated her resourcefulness. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two men slowly move away from the courtyard, recognizing them as two of the men who had started the fight in the first place. So, the Ishin Shishi fighters are leaving, are they? That meant their distraction was over. Fortunately, the brawl was still going strong.

Finally, a small man wearing a Shinsengumi Captain's uniform stepped forward. Ame recognized him as Okita Souji, Captain of the First Troop. He signaled his men and they swept forward, eager to break up the near-riot. However, even the presence of the menacing Shinsengumi was not enough to stop the fight, although the women ran screaming.

After looking around fearfully, Kiri threw a pleading look at the taller guard, who hesitated only a moment before gesturing for them to join him. Gratefully, Kiri ran toward him, Ame following closely behind. Nearly sobbing in fright, the tiny woman huddled as close as she could get to her 'protector.' Her act was virtually perfect, and it might have even fooled Ame if she hadn't seen her do it before. Ame didn't have the leisure to study her companion's acting skills, though. She was too busy convincing the second guard that she was just as frightened as her companion. Thank the gods we only have to keep up this farce for five minutes. If the Shinsengumi give us that much time, of course. Ame sighed, already thinking about how they were going to get away from their unwanted admirers.

Intense amber eyes gazed out from the shadows of a narrow alley, sweeping across the courtyard and down the northern wall of Shogunate headquarters. Adrenaline was pumping through his bloodstream, now that the main Ishin Shishi distraction had begun. Not only was he intently watching the guards and Shinsengumi swordsmen stationed where he intended to cross into the compound, but he was also studying the movement of the guards roving along the top of the wall. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the positioning of the soldiers on the other side of the wall, placing them on his mental map of the complex. There were at least two groups between where he would land and the clump of bushes that was his destination. Looking out past the crowd, he was able to locate the four kunoichi. While they had not been able to approach the guards yet, at least they had split into pairs and were ready to act, should the opportunity arise.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed as the minutes swiftly passed. The carefully staged fight put on by the Ishin Shishi was almost over and the Shinsengumi were showing no indication that they intended to move. He watched as Okita – the only Captain present, as far as he could see – merely stood there, observing the fighters. Kenshin's chest tightened painfully from anxiety. Movement and shouting drew his attention as knots of brawling merchants began spreading out across the courtyard. The sight of portly, middle-aged men skirmishing with apparently every intention of creating utter mayhem, was enough to make Kenshin's eyes widen in amazement. Incredulously, he watched as the fight expanded, until it seemed that nearly half of the crowd was involved. In an incredibly short time, the original fracas had become an all-out riot that finally forced Okita to order the Shinsengumi away from their posts to stop the fight. The individual fighters were so involved in their own battles that not even their normal fear of the Shinsengumi stopped them, and the swordsmen had to step in and begin physically separating the men. To Kenshin's surprise, the Shinsengumi did not draw their swords. Apparently they had been given orders to keep the bloodshed to a minimum.

Grateful for the overwhelming success of the distraction, Kenshin returned his attention to scrutinizing where he would cross the wall. The kunoichi had quickly joined the guards, but there was no telling how long they would be able to stay there. Kenshin knew he would have to move within the next couple of minutes. His jaw tightened when the main distraction turned out to be all too successful. Not only were the lookouts posted in the watch towers distracted, but the guards stationed along the top of the north wall had shifted down near the tower and were watching the fights with great interest. That meant he could not cross where he had intended – between the two sets of guards that were currently focused on the kunoichi. Instead, he would have to cross on the other side, risking catching the attention of the guards posted further down. To make matters worse, his inner senses indicated that the squads that were stationed on the other side of the wall had shifted, blocking him from the shrubbery he had been aiming for. Resolutely, he reconsidered his options. The next bed of bushes and flowers was farther away than he liked, but it didn't appear that there was any choice. Soldiers were running toward the main gates and Kenshin had to wait for the right time to make his crossing.

With all of his senses extended to their fullest, he kept track of the men that stood between him and his target while he calculated his take off point – taking into account not only the height of the wall, but also the width of the wall, plus the catwalk that extended on the other side. The change in his destination meant that he would have to run at the wall at an angle in order to approach the bushes in a straight line.

Finally, everything seemed to come into place and he decided that it was time. Waiting only long enough to take a deep breath, Kenshin was gone, disappearing as he ran toward the wall at a speed that meant he would be virtually invisible as he crossed the wall. He might be spotted, if someone was focusing very closely on the exact spot he took off from, but it wasn't likely. The tension within him built as he kept himself focused on not only where he would be taking off, but also on the positions of the men on the other side of the wall. Time seemed to slow down as he neared his goal. He could feel his muscles driving him forward, contracting and extending as they slid smoothly under his skin, while each beat of his heart seemed to echo within his chest as loudly as a temple drum and every breath whistled through his lungs. That last footfall landed hard as he launched himself up and over . . .

Ame took a deep breath as she moved away from the guards, pausing to look 'longingly' at her target. Just then the clusters of women gathered at the back of the crowd panicked, surging away from the Shinsengumi. That gave her the excuse to tug on Kiri's hand and begin running away with some of the other women. Thank Kami-sama that's over, she thought in relief. It had been nerve-wracking to work with the Shinsengumi watching everything so suspiciously. I hope that Himura was able to make it across the wall and that he is able to rescue Katsura. As the two kunoichi reached the edge of the crowd, Ame slowed down, panting as though she were out of breath. Kiri stopped, solicitously helping the taller woman while she withdrew her fan and began gently fanning her.

On the other side of the courtyard, Minarai had been watching for the two kunoichi, waiting for Kiri's signal that they had completed their assignment. As soon as he saw her fanning Ame, he picked up the wooden cage sitting at his feet and began walking down the street that ran before the courtyard. Gawking at the sight of Shinsengumi swordsmen moving through the free-for-all that was now sprawling across the front of Shogunate headquarters, he 'tripped' and fell on the cage he was holding, 'accidently' releasing the five white homing pigeons that were held within. Immediately, Minarai jumped to his feet, comically yelling at the birds to come back. When it became obvious that they weren't planning on returning, he stood there sadly watching them circle above headquarters a few times. Once they had determined which direction their home coop was, they flew off in a straight line. Dejectedly, Minarai picked up the cage and continued on his way, certain that Kaze had seen the birds and, therefore, knew that this part of their assignment was finished.


Katsura leaned against the rough stone wall trying not to clench his jaw, since it made his teeth hurt. It was hard not to, though, since Taku simply would not shut up. Evidently his guard had taken it upon himself to make certain that Katsura wouldn't get any rest at all. He was still recovering from his latest bout of dizziness, and this time the graying-out had progressed until his vision had shrunk to a tiny dot, and the pounding of his heart was all he could hear. Even the pain that accompanied every breath he took had dissolved into the growing darkness. Taku had been talking long before Katsura had nearly passed out and when the shadows had receded, the ahou was still talking! Fury at the guard's petty torture exploded within him, but he was too exhausted to be able to maintain the rage for long. Though that didn't stop him from glaring angrily at the hulking guard sitting outside his cell. Making an effort to control his emotions, Katsura focused on what Taku was ranting about now.

". . . and by the time the Shogunate gets done with the rag-tag remnants of your pitiful army, your 'glorious revolution' will be just as dead as you're gonna be in an hour. And then the Shogun's gonna show you filthy Choshu just what happens to ungrateful scum who rebel . . ."

Isn't his throat getting raw yet? Katsura wondered acidly, swallowing painfully. Just listening to him is making my throat hurt! He blinked and swallowed again, with the same results. No, a dispassionate voice in the back of his mind said. Your throat is sore because you are sick. Katsura shook his head and almost moaned at the way the movement made his aching head pound even harder. Great, now I'm talking to myself, he thought dispiritedly. Unfortunately, the unemotional voice wasn't through, and continued the lecture. The alternating chills and sweating you have been experiencing indicate you are running a high fever, and the dizzy spells are not only getting worse, but are occurring more frequently. You've been sitting in a cold cell for hours wearing nothing but a damp hakama, so what do you expect? Katsura growled at the sarcastic tone that critical voice had taken. It was very similar to one that his old sensei had used when he thought his pupil was being denser than usual. Katsura hadn't liked it then, and he certainly didn't like it now. Especially when it was his own mind doing the lecturing!

And speaking . . . er . . . thinking of wearing nothing but my hakama, I hope that someone remembers to bring me some clean clothes. Or at least a gi or haori to wear! He glanced down at his blood-streaked chest, distractedly noting the angry inflamation surrounding his infected shoulder and the numerous smaller wounds that crisscrossed his torso. It's going to be difficult enough as it is to make a dignified impression, without having to suffer the humiliation of being only half-dressed as well!

Suddenly the incongruity of what he had just thought struck him and Katsura smiled humorlessly, the sardonic expression seeming very much out of place on his normally pleasantly smiling face. The slight curving of his dry, chapped lips made them crack and bleed; but he ignored the stinging pain, nearly overwhelmed by a surge of self-disgust. Here I am, minutes away from being executed, and all I can think about is being embarrassed about my appearance?! Apparently the fact that the Revolution has failed, or that the Shogun is certain to punish those clans that supported the Ishin Shishi, is irrelevant. No. Katsura Kogorou isn't concerned about that at all, he thought contemptuously. He's far more worried about being properly dressed! The more he thought about just how self-centered he was, the bitterer his smile became. Until finally he couldn't take it any longer and laughed harshly. Or at least tried to laugh. What came out was more of a barked, choking sound that felt like it was being ripped from his raw throat. Totally devoid of any humor, the derisive laugh echoed in the small cell, drawing his guard's attention and actually managing to shut him up.

Katsura slumped, his outburst draining the last of his strength. Gods, I'm so tired . . . He stared unseeingly at the floor, too exhausted to even try to stop the bleak depression that settled over him like a heavy blanket. The disgust he felt deepened, threatening to overwhelm him. Am I so weak that I can lose focus so easily? I didn't break under torture. I won't let exhaustion break me either! I must be strong! I will not appear weak in front of my enemies! Sighing, Katsura tried to settle himself a bit more comfortably in the peaceful silence. If his momentary lapse in self-control had served no other purpose, at least it was quiet for now.


Kenshin landed on the other side of the wall nearly noiselessly, the slight thump covered by the encouraging shouts from the guards making bets on the fight progressing in the courtyard. His momentum unchecked, he continued running faster than ever, already seeking the shrubbery that would be his first shelter as he made his way across the compound. He had to deviate slightly from his original direction, but his destination was just ahead. In moments he had arrived, his body twisting fluidly through the foliage.

Dropping into a crouch, Kenshin froze, only his eyes moving as he watched the soldiers running toward the main gates. Reflexively, he controlled his panting and ignored the trickle of sweat that tickled its way down the side of his face. While Kenshin listened intently for any indication that he had been seen and his eyes roved over the surrounding grounds, his inner awareness stretched across the area, seeking any feelings of alarm. His senses heightened by adrenaline, everything seemed to be sharper and more clear-cut. When he neither sensed nor heard anything threatening, he gradually allowed his tense muscles to relax slightly.

The soldiers' reactions to the pitched brawl going on in front of Shogunate headquarters caught his attention. Adachi's distraction certainly proved to be more of a diversion than he expected, he mused thoughtfully, wondering how long it would take the Shinsengumi to break up the fights. This must certainly be confusing Okita, since it's a given that he's expecting an attack. His lips curved in a barely noticeable smile as another thought came to mind. And knowing Adachi, he's probably screaming right now because he won't start his attack for fear of injuring civilians and this is interfering with his schedule. Although Kenshin appreciated the Commander's concern, Adachi needed to learn to take advantage of unexpected twists of fate.

Without dropping his guard in the slightest, he carefully moved a branch aside and looked at the two-story building that was his goal. Roughly one hundred yards away, it bordered the parade ground; but from his location, all he could see of it was part of the back. Unfortunately, that limited view could not give him the information he needed. He could sense and hear the men gathered in the area, but that didn't tell him what they were doing, or where they were looking. He could not risk trying to enter the building blindly. That meant he had to get closer. Kenshin searched for the group of bushes that would be his next cover. They weren't there. His eyes narrowed as he examined the area intently, overlapping his mental image of the layout sketch Hamada had provided. According to that, at this angle, the path would turn . . . here. Yes. The monument would be just beyond . . . Yes. Then according to those two positions, the copse of bushes should be . . . there. No. Instead of the collection of shrubs that was marked on the layout, there was a neatly planted rock garden. Apparently there had been changes to the landscaping in the years since Hamada had been here.

A particularly loud outburst from the soldiers gathered at the main gates made Kenshin tense, but it became apparent that the melee outside the gates was still holding their attention. Undaunted, he turned back, resolutely seeking a solution to his problem. The unexpectedly effective distraction would not last much longer, the Shinsengumi would see to that. He had to take advantage of this opportunity. A venerable pine, twisted with age, stood to one side and well beyond his originally planned cover. With absolute concentration, he studied not only the route he would have to follow to reach the tree, but also the arrangement of the tree's limbs. Deciding that the thickly-needled branches would offer sufficient concealment, he once again checked the placement of the men in the immediate area. Two squads of Mimiwarigumi were slowly patrolling along the wall and several guards were still posted around the buildings. With care, they would not be a problem. Kenshin rose silently, careful to remain bent over enough to stay hidden. His eyes traced the path to the tree one last time. A deep breath, and he was gone.

The course he had to follow curved away from the smooth walkway he had been on, crossing open ground. And though he risked stumbling on the rougher terrain, he did not reduce his speed. It took only moments for him to cover the distance, but it felt much longer before he could leap upwards into the sheltering branches of the ancient tree. His hands reached out, pulling him onto a sturdy limb. Freezing in place, he stood there for a full minute, waiting for a sign that he had aroused suspicion. A squad of Mimiwarigumi passed within a dozen yards of his position and continued without changing their leisurely pace. Kenshin took a deep breath, held it for a few heartbeats and released it, forcing himself to relax.

Carefully looking around, Kenshin found that he had to crouch in order to see his next target. After reorienting himself, relief coursed through him when the clump of shrubs was where he had been expecting it to be. Since he had been unable to see the landscaped plot from his previous location, he was pleased to note that it was closer to the tree than the layout had indicated. It would be a short run from where he was. The only difficulty would lay in not being seen when he dropped down from the tree. Studying the placement of the guards, he identified seven who might be able to see him. Too many. His inner sight showed him that there were no men behind him, although a group of fighters with strong sword-ki was slowly approaching from the left – presumably the last Mimiwarigumi squad. It would take them well over a minute to come into sight, which meant he could drop down on the other side of the tree and use its thick trunk to hide from view. Turning around and easing himself into position, he jumped and landed lightly, pressing his back against the tree. Another quick survey of the area, and he disappeared.

With the grace of a deer, Kenshin dove through the greenery, making no more than a whisper of sound. But before he could relax, a nearby ki spiked alarmingly, freezing him in place, his right hand gripping his katana's hilt. Not daring to move more than his eyes, he heard the scuffle of boots against the paving blocks as one of the guards to the right headed directly toward his hiding spot. As the man drew near, Kenshin could see him from the corner of his eye. It was obvious that something had alerted him and he continued striding toward the bushes, his face set in a suspicious scowl. Faced with the possibility that the rescue mission was about to fail, Kenshin began to calculate the odds of being able to reach some other cover – without setting off further alarms – before the soldier arrived. Given the way the guard was staring at the shrubbery, the odds weren't good. Calm settled over Kenshin and he waited for the man to arrive, silently loosening his katana in its sheath.

The flutter of wings preceded the arrival of an unexpected visitor. A branch scarcely three feet in front of Kenshin bent beneath the slight weight of a small brown bird. Flipping its wings to its back, the tiny creature turned its head this way and that, inspecting the surroundings with beady black eyes. Apparently satisfied, it threw its head back, releasing a stream of liquid notes that ended in a trilling cascade, its throat swelling with the effort of creating the piercingly beautiful song. When it had finished, the little bird perched there for several seconds – its tail flicking almost constantly as it fought to keep its precarious balance on the limber branch – before throwing its head back and once again serenading the morning. Surprised by the impromptu concert, the guard had stopped to listen. His stern features relaxed as he enjoyed the lovely birdsong. In an attempt to get a better look at the tiny songster, the soldier took a cautious step forward. It was too much for the nervous little bird, and it took off in an burst of wing-beats, leaving only a couple of feathers floating down to show that it had ever been there. The guard watched the bird fly away, a look of disappointment crossing his face before he turned around and returned to his post. Kenshin watched him walk away, but did not relax until he was out of sight. Looking down, he picked up one of the little feathers and held it up, twirling it slowly before taking his pouch of first aid items out of his gi and placing it safely inside.

Kenshin took the opportunity to relax from the tremendous tension of the last few minutes while he studied the plain, western-style door that was his goal. A row of tiny windows set above the door provided illumination to the small room on the other side of the wall. However, after a minute, he turned his attention to the soldiers posted in the immediate vicinity. The next step was the hardest part of his plan to gain entry into the building. He was still faced with the same problem he had when he left the safety of the pine tree: too many guards. It was one thing to be able to cross the intervening space nearly invisibly, but he would have to stop and open the door on the back of the building that the ninja – What was his name? Oh, yes: Nezumi. – was supposed to have unlocked. Assuming he had unlocked the door, Kenshin would be very visible when he entered the gardener's storage room. That meant that the timing had to be perfect. At least he could clearly see the door that was his final destination, as well as the guards that were his main concern. But after observing them closely for nearly three minutes, he was no closer to his goal.

He was beginning to become seriously worried when the clashing of swords suddenly rang out above the sounds of battle cries. Adachi! Kenshin thought with relief. The long-awaited attack had begun and the soldiers stirred restlessly, unhappy at being so far away from the action. Suddenly, as though a silent order had been given, the guards ran toward the end of building, where they could see what was going on better. Without hesitation, Kenshin vanished.


Scowling, Saito stalked through the streets, his uncharacteristically quiet squad following nervously behind. After seeing the black expression on his face, frightened people quickly stepped aside, giving wide berth to the uniformed swordsmen. Saito noted this automatically, his eyes constantly roving as he looked for anything out of the ordinary. So far, nothing untoward had happened, allowing him to continue reflecting on Okita's reaction to being left at Shogunate headquarters. To say that the Captain of the First Troop was upset was a serious understatement, and Saito had been contemplating Okita's probable response ever since they had begun patrolling. I suspect that Okita will suggest a sparring match, he thought, trying not to wince at the thought of the bruises he was likely to gain. Although, if he thinks he'll get away without his own share of bruises . . . Saito began to smile, the smirk taking on a feral edge at the thought of facing an incensed Okita. The match should be interesting indeed.

An old man sitting on a bench caught Saito's attention. At first glance, there was nothing unusual about the man. Holding a long-stemmed pipe in his hand and wearing a dark blue kimono with casual grace, he seemed harmless, just another grandfather watching the bustling activity surrounding him. However, unlike the rest of the 'sheep' cowering away from the Shinsengumi swordsmen, this man's clear gaze met Saito's fearlessly as he studied the patrol leader with calm self-assurance – one predator recognizing another: respectful, but unintimidated.

Saito didn't need to see the iron-gray hair pulled tightly back into a high ponytail, or the well-worn daisho he wore with the unconscious ease of long use, to know that he was a samurai. Despite his age, his sword-ki was still very strong. He must have been a formidable warrior in his day, Saito mused. I would have enjoyed facing him in the dojo. Curious, Saito walked over to stand before the elderly samurai, motioning for his squad to go on. He did not have to wait long before the old man spoke.

"Saito-san, Captain of the Third Troop of the Shinsengumi. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Yes. And you are?" Saito responded evenly, ignoring the man's question for now.

"Watanabe Keisuke."

The name was given proudly, with no hesitation. Saito noted a faint Aizu accent in the man's speech. The Watanabe family was well-known in Aizu and were strong supporters of the Shogun. That explained a great deal. "Have you seen any suspicious activity today? Groups of armed men gathering or passing through?" Watanabe took his time, tapping the stem of his pipe against his teeth thoughtfully. Looking up, his dark eyes were shrewdly calculating.

"So, you are here to prevent the Ishin Shishi from staging a rescue attempt at Shogunate headquarters," Watanabe conjectured, taking another pull on his pipe. "It's a good move, but I doubt that you will find many Rebels hiding here. This neighborhood strongly backs the Shogunate. People would notice strangers."

"Perhaps," Saito allowed, "but I notice you haven't answered my question." He was not surprised that Watanabe had correctly surmised his mission. The proclamations of Katsura's execution had been announced throughout Kyoto early this morning, and the controversial decision was the talk of the town. With his samurai training, Watanabe would have little difficulty concluding what the Shinsengumi's mission would be. The old man's expression became a little severe, reflecting his displeasure at being reprimanded by a man less than one-third his age.

"Groups of armed men? No. Nor have I seen any suspicious gatherings. And the Ishin Shishi would be fools to be that obvious," Watanabe snapped. "One or two men at a time might pass through unnoticed, perhaps, and weapons can be hidden easily enough." He paused, relighting his pipe and taking a thoughtful puff of fragrant smoke. "Of course desperation can cause people to make beginner's mistakes."

Before the Shinsengumi Captain could ask any more questions, a battle cry echoed down the street. Watanabe watched as Saito ran towards the sounds of fighting. The old man shook his head. His days of fighting were long past. He tried to take another pull on his pipe, only to discover it had gone out again. Gently tapping the bowl against the bench to empty it, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out his pipe case. Carefully placing his pipe inside the beautifully embroidered case, he slipped it back into his sleeve. Standing up, he slowly walked away, hands clasped behind his back. The plan is going well. Uchida will be pleased with my report, Watanabe thought with satisfaction.

Running hard, Saito swore savagely to himself for letting his squad get so far ahead of him. The sounds of battle grew near and soon he saw them engaged in a fight against a squad of men wearing Satsuma uniforms. The two sides seemed to be fairly evenly matched. Drawing his sword, he joined his men and let himself be drawn into the kill-or-be-killed mindset of battle, a state in which decisions were clear-cut and his body reacted automatically, sometimes before he even realized the threat had existed. It was during times like this that Saito felt most alive and he exulted in the knowledge that he was quite literally performing 'Aku Soku Zan.'

Saito was, therefore, shocked when the man he was fighting suddenly yelled "Saito!" and ran as though all the demons of Hell had appeared. Several other Ishin Shishi swordsmen faltered at the announcement, and in moments they, too, ran off. Two men continued to fight for a little longer before they realized they were now seriously outnumbered and followed their comrades. Stunned by the surprising display of cowardice, it took Saito a few moments to react and lead his men after the retreating Rebels. Now that it was obvious the Imperialist forces had splintered into totally ineffective factions, he had no intention of letting them escape. His lips curled into a contemptuous smirk. The only way to stop the Rebellion is to crush all opposition. None of these cowards will live to regroup and form a threat in the future!


Kenshin swiftly pulled the wooden door shut and stood still, his ear pressed against the smooth, varnished panel. Ignoring the hammering of his heart, he listened intently for a full minute, but heard no outcry that would indicate he had been spotted.

Turning away, he relaxed, breathing deeply until his heartbeat slowed down. He walked to the center of the small room, closing his eyes as he extended his inner senses, seeking Katsura's ki. According to Hamada's floor plan, the detention center was at the other end of the basement beneath him. Katsura should be there. If he isn't . . . Kenshin refused to consider what it would take to search for him throughout the headquarters complex. Determined not to be caught off guard as he had at Shinsengumi main headquarters, he kept a small part of his attention on the auras just outside of the room while he sought for that one specific ki. The pressure of hundreds of auras surrounding him forced him to narrow his focus, and even then it was extremely difficult to pick out a particular individual. There weren't too many auras below him, but even so, he almost missed it. When he finally brushed against that familiar aura, the realization that he had at last found Katsura left him almost limp with relief. Katsura's ki was weak, but it was undoubtedly him. For a few moments, Kenshin allowed himself to relax as the tremendous strain from the uncertainty of the past two days eased slightly. However, he quickly set aside his relief, focusing instead on the next step of the plan. The most difficult part of the rescue lay ahead; he could not permit himself the luxury of wasting time on self-indulgence.

Resolutely, Kenshin lifted his head and looked around. Once his eyes had adjusted to the dim light admitted by the small windows placed high on the wall, he examined every inch of the small gardener's storage room. His sharp eyes missed nothing as they took in the sturdy shelves laden with boxes, the bins and barrels shoved up against the wooden walls, and the tools hanging neatly from pegs driven into the rough, unfinished planks. As the floor plan had indicated, there were no interior doors offering access to the rest of the building. He nodded to himself. That was why he had chosen this particular room. Since the main part of the building was inaccessible, it had been left unguarded, making it an obvious entry point.

Now that Katsura's presence had been confirmed, there was no time to waste. According to the floor plan, directly below the storage room was an interrogation room, which opened onto a corridor that branched off from the main hallway. A quick mental scan verified that it was unoccupied. After eyeing the floor keenly to locate the joists, Kenshin drew his katana. Two powerful slashes later, he dropped down into the room below – landing lightly almost before the hewn boards came to rest on the tatami mats that covered the floor. Even though the thickly-woven mats had muffled much of the noise made by the falling boards, it became obvious that someone had noticed when Kenshin felt a surge of curiosity from nearby.

Rapidly striding to the western-style door, he listened to the approaching footsteps, hoping that the man would continue on down the corridor. When the footsteps slowed and stopped in front of the door, he grasped the doorknob firmly with his right hand and jerked it open. In an instant, Kenshin evaluated the scene before him. The soldier stood there, surprise rooting him in place, caught with his arm outstretched in the act of reaching for the doorknob. Eyes widening in disbelief, the vaguely bored expression on his face disappeared, replaced by sheer terror as he recognized the red-haired hitokiri standing in front of him. As the man's mouth opened to give the alert, Kenshin's left hand grasped his sword's saya tightly, pulling the sheathed katana from his obi so swiftly the guard didn't have time to react. The pommel of his sword's hilt hit the soldier's throat with brutal force, crushing it before he could make a sound. Gagging noiselessly, the man slumped, his hands wrapped around his ruined throat. Quickly sliding his katana back into place, Kenshin grabbed the soldier before he could fall – grunting softly at the larger man's weight – and dragged him into the room. After dropping the guard unceremoniously, he went back and listened closely as he sent his inner senses outward, searching for nearby auras. There were no sounds of alarm, so he quietly closed the door and turned around. With measured steps, Kenshin walked back to stand over the silently struggling guard. The man's bulging eyes were filled with panicked desperation, while his mouth opened and closed mutely as he futilely tried to draw a breath. His impassive expression unchanging, Kenshin drew his katana and plunged it downward, ending the man's suffering. Wiping his blade clean, he slid it back into its sheath and returned to the door, the dead soldier behind him forgotten as he slipped out of the room.

With the floor plan clear in his mind, Kenshin paced down the short hallway that intersected just ahead with the main corridor that ran the full-length of the basement, ending at the cellblock. He was on high alert, all senses stretched to their fullest as he automatically scanned for auras. There weren't too many men on this level, but they would have to be dealt with.

Kenshin eased forward as he neared the main hallway, freezing when he heard the quiet voices of two men walking up the stairway that led to the upper floor. Once he was certain they were gone, Kenshin dismissed them, continuing to proceed silently forward. He could feel the auras of ten men spread out ahead, the mental impressions ranging from relaxed to tormented. Three men were grouped just around the corner. Four more – including one whose ki resonated with fear – were located about halfway down the hall. The three remaining auras were grouped at the far end of the basement. One of those three was Katsura's, so Kenshin assumed they were in the cellblock.

Cautiously looking around the corner, he saw only three soldiers standing in the corridor; the other four men were presumably in one of the rooms further down the hall. The small group was perhaps twenty feet away, talking. The largest man – a sergeant, according to his uniform – was facing away, jabbing his finger into the chest of a slender, brown-haired guard standing before him. Just to the right of the sergeant's irritated target stood a sallow-complexioned youth, his face contorted by suppressed laughter. Since it was vital that his presence be kept a secret, Kenshin could neither allow an alarm to be given, nor leave any sign in the hallway – particularly blood – that he had been there. With this in mind, he considered his attacks very carefully as he took in the positions of the three men. His decisions made, Kenshin darted soundlessly forward, his attention focused on the sergeant. He ran straight down the corridor, being careful to stay directly behind his first victim.

The slender fingers of his right hand closed around his sword's enameled saya, grasping it firmly just below the hilt. As he came within range, Kenshin drew the sheathed katana from his obi and struck with carefully gauged strength, assuring that the skin would not be broken. The back of the sergeant's skull caved in from the force of the blow, and the large man stiffened for a moment before collapsing without making a sound. The sergeant's two comrades jerked aside as he landed face-first between them, too shocked to even try to stop his fall. The young guard appeared stunned, swallowing convulsively as he stared down at the sergeant's body. But the older soldier's experience showed as he recovered quickly. His eyes narrowed with rage as he began to reach for his sword. Swiftly transferring his still-sheathed katana to his left hand, Kenshin dropped into a semi-crouch, concentrating on a unique variation of the Sou Ryu Sen. As soon as the tip of his sword left its sheath, he began rotating his arm so that the back of the blade hit the side of the swordsman's neck like a dull axe, breaking it instantly. At the same time, Kenshin brought his sheath up, slamming it into the youth's temple. Both guards fell limply, the only sounds to be heard were soft thuds as their bodies hit the floor. Finishing the follow-through for the double battoujutsu, Kenshin straightened up, sheathing his katana and sliding it back into place.

Aware that someone might step out into the corridor or come down the nearby stairway at any time, Kenshin scanned the area – both visually and mentally – before stepping over to the nearest door. Opening it, he quickly dragged the three corpses into the room. Although he briefly examined the injuries to make sure that none were bleeding, he still carefully checked the floor of the hallway to make certain that there were no signs of the fight that might give away the fact that he was there. Finding none, he continued down the corridor toward the group of four auras that included the fear-filled one he had sensed earlier.


Hands clasped behind his back, General Daishi once more paced the length of the low platform, venting his irritation with the situation by scowling indiscriminately at whomever caught his eye. The guards posted around the execution dais were standing stiffly at attention, staring straight ahead. None of the soldiers knew why the General was so angry, but they were anxious to avoid being singled out for any reason. It was a well-known fact that his punishments were always extremely unpleasant.

After realizing that he was upsetting some of the Bakufu officials who were present to witness the execution, Daishi stopped pacing. Striding over to Colonel Hokusai, the General was amused to see that he was standing just as rigidly at attention as the others. So, he took me seriously last night, Daishi thought, making certain that none of his amusement showed. Or at least he wants me to believe that he did. With the Colonel, you could never accept his words or actions at face value. He was a master of manipulation and the General kept that in mind at all times. In fact, Daishi thoroughly enjoyed verbally sparring with the excitable officer because it was so satisfying to beat him at his own game. But sometimes – like during their last meeting – Hokusai forgot himself and had to be put back in his place. However, even though Daishi had threatened to have Hokusai executed alongside the Choshu leader, it was an idle threat – this time. Hokusai was much too valuable to waste and Daishi was positive that he knew that, but the Colonel wasn't quite certain enough to call his bluff. Hokusai was smart and would not let pride stop him from backing down when the circumstances required it. No, indeed. He was much too canny for that. After getting his ego bruised last night, he would undoubtedly bide his time, waiting until a more favorable opportunity arose. Daishi did not doubt that the Colonel would create such an opportunity. It would be amusing to see what his clever subordinate came up with, and Daishi eagerly awaited the chance to foil his plans. It was just one more reason to keep Hokusai on hand. Matsushina would be kept busy over the next few weeks checking up on the Colonel.

However, that reminded Daishi as to why he had been pacing back and forth. A few minutes ago a courier had informed him of a new edict the Shogun had made. It wasn't unexpected, but Daishi wanted to talk to Matsushina about gathering information for the report that would have to be submitted in a few days. Unfortunately, his aide wasn't present and Daishi had no idea where he might be. He turned to Hokusai, asking offhandedly, "Do you know where Matsushina is?"

"No, sir."

Daishi's eyebrows lifted slightly. Hokusai's stiff answer had been given with perfect military correctness. Still angry, are we? he thought, hiding a smile. "Have you seen him today?"

"No, sir."

As tempting as it was to play Hokusai's game, Daishi decided that it would be better to confuse him. The General was well aware of how upset the Colonel was over not being allowed to complete his interrogation of Katsura. He had taken it as a personal insult and was certainly planning revenge. Daishi suspected that the last thing Hokusai expected was a chance to take out his frustration on his former victim. Granting him this small favor should throw him off balance. "Hokusai."

"Yes, sir."

Carefully keeping an eye on his subordinate, Daishi casually ordered, "I want you to take a squad down to the cellblock and bring Katsura here." The Colonel's reaction was everything that Daishi had hoped for. Although he recovered extremely quickly, the General hadn't missed the surprise in Hokusai's eyes. It had changed almost instantly to one of savage intensity, which was quickly masked.

"Yes, sir."

Daishi watched, bemused, as Hokusai saluted crisply before leaving the platform and imperiously ordering a squad to follow him. Hokusai's response had been given in a much more respectful tone, and he had not been able to completely hide his excitement. Daishi was certain that the Colonel would spend quite a lot of time pondering the reasons behind his good fortune. That should keep him out of trouble for a while. Delighted with the success of his little plan, the General smiled broadly, unknowingly confusing quite a few soldiers and bureaucrats.


Kenshin padded silently down the hallway toward the tormented ki that had drawn his attention, keeping all his senses on high alert. The anguish and terror in the man's aura had been building up over the last few minutes until it was obvious that the prisoner was about to break. In horrifying contrast, the three other auras surrounding that despairing ki were filled with such malevolent pleasure that it was nauseating. Grimly, Kenshin stopped outside the room, his lips tightening in disgust.

Kenshin could have simply slipped past them, but it was poor tactics to leave an enemy behind you. A lesson that his Shishou had made painfully clear on several occasions. As anxious as he was to reach Katsura, he could not afford to make any mistakes now. He would have to take care of these men first. Focusing his inner awareness, he analyzed the positions of the men in the room. Three were grouped together a few feet away, while one was just to the right of the door. That aura puzzled Kenshin for a moment, since it was located very close to the floor. But he quickly realized that the man was simply sitting next to the door. Drawing his wakizashi, he transferred it to his left hand, grasping the doorknob with his right as he prepared to enter the room.

Raucous laughter covered any noise the door might have made as Kenshin eased it open. A man wearing a rumpled private's uniform was sitting on the floor, watching the others with rapt attention. His left arm rested casually on his raised knee, a forgotten cigarette dangling from his fingers. Pushing the door open another couple of inches, Kenshin turned slightly to the right, reversing his grip on the wakizashi's hilt, and slid his left arm through the gap. Something – perhaps an errant breeze, or glint of light reflecting off of the polished steel – made the soldier glance to his left. His eyes were just beginning to widen as Kenshin raised his arm and drove the wakizashi straight down. The tip of the blade pierced the top of the soldier's head, uncommon strength driving the sword down until it was nearly buried to the tsuba. Jerking his wakizashi free, Kenshin tensed as the body slowly slid sideways away from the door until it finally came to rest on the floor. The rasp of the man's shirt scraping against the wall had sounded abnormally loud to his sensitive hearing.

Kenshin slipped through the door and closed it silently, intently watching the other two soldiers the entire time. However, he needn't have worried, since they were both so engrossed in badgering the prisoner that they hadn't noticed anything.

The terrified captive was tied to a heavy wooden chair, his arms strapped immovably to its flat armrests. Before him stood his tormentors. One, a heavyset, broad-shouldered man with messy black hair, was slowly tracing a design into the back of the prisoner's left hand with a dagger. The other was laughing and betting on whether or not their victim would beg this time. The captive only moaned brokenly in response to the crude comments. His tortured gaze was fixed on the blade being drawn across his hand, watching his blood slowly well up and trail across his skin before dripping onto the floor.

Sickened, Kenshin stalked soundlessly forward, shifting his wakizashi to his right hand. With no hesitation, he ran the laughing soldier through. Yanking his sword free, the blade blurred as he slashed viciously to the right, slicing through the burly man's thick neck as though it were made of paper. Both men were dead before the dagger hit the floor.

Jiro blinked when the knife suddenly disappeared. Where . . .? he thought sluggishly. The burning agony in his hand held his attention for another few moments, until morbid curiosity finally took over. Where . . .? What now? No more . . . oh, gods . . . please! No more! I can't take any more! Defeated, he looked up apprehensively, "please" dying on his lips when he saw a youth standing in front of him, instead of his inquisitors.

Jiro blinked again, but nothing changed. The boy still stood there, a wakizashi held negligently in his hand. Glancing down, Jiro saw the bodies of the men who had been questioning him. They're . . . dead?! I'm saved! Raising his eyes, his lips began to curve into a grateful smile. The smile froze, half-formed, when he got a good look at the young man's expressionless face and cold amber eyes. He cringed as far away from those terrible eyes as his bonds allowed. He's an assassin! Is he here to kill me, too? I didn't do anything! he silently babbled, his heart racing in panic.

When the hitokiri raised his sword, Jiro's breath caught in his throat, his gut clenching painfully. Inevitably, his gaze followed the bloody blade. Close your eyes, you fool! Don't watch! he screamed soundlessly to himself, unable to look away from his impending death. But when the swordsman merely performed a chiburi before sheathing his wakizashi, leaving a contrasting trail of droplets of blood spattered across the pristine wall, Jiro's heart lurched into something closer to a normal rhythm.

Finally focusing on the swordsman instead of his sword, Jiro recognized the Choshu uniform he was wearing. He's an Ishin Shishi assassin? And he's a redhead?! His eyes widened in horrified recognition. He's . . . he's . . . I am dead! No one sees Hitokiri Battousai and lives to tell the tale! Please, no! Just . . . just go away! he wailed silently, closing his eyes tightly.

Kenshin stared down at the prisoner strapped into the chair. His black hair was matted and his filthy clothes were slashed, revealing dark bruises that showed up starkly against his too-pale skin. As further proof of the suffering the man had endured, his hazel eyes were sunken into his gaunt face, the dark rings beneath them underscoring his exhaustion. Idly, Kenshin noted how expressive his eyes were, even though they were dulled with pain. All of his emotions were displayed openly. Fear had slowly changed into confusion, which was followed by disbelieving joy, only to be replaced by an expression that was all too familiar. Kenshin kept his face blank, refusing to reveal how that look of sheer terror affected him. It doesn't matter anyway, he thought, sealing away the pain. I don't have time to waste. I've spent too much time here already. I must get to Katsura as quickly as possible! The only problem was the prisoner. Kenshin couldn't just leave him and take the risk that he might call out and attract attention. But he didn't want to kill the man either.

Jiro cracked one eye open and peered at the manslayer through his lashes when nothing had happened after an eternity had passed. He was still standing there, his expression unchanged. What is he waiting for? Jiro wondered, gratitude that he was still alive warring with abject terror at the knowledge of who stood before him. He killed the others. Why hasn't he killed me? Maybe he doesn't intend to? Just as he began to relax, the hitokiri's hand stretched out toward him and he panicked, struggling frantically against the bindings that held him fast. Strong fingers closed on the side of his neck. Jiro felt momentary pressure, and then he fell into utter blackness.

Ignoring the captive's terrified struggles, Kenshin reached out and applied careful force to a specific pressure point on the side of the man's neck, temporarily knocking him out. Kenshin untied him and left him slumped bonelessly in the chair. He would wake up in a few minutes, unharmed. If he's lucky, he might be able to escape during the upcoming confusion. If he isn't lucky . . . Kenshin mentally shrugged as he left the room. There was only so much he could do for the man.

As Kenshin ghosted down the hallway that led to the detention center, he focused on the auras of the three men ahead. Katsura's ki flickered with pain and exhaustion. The other two were obviously guards, their dark auras indicating a moderate amount of sword skill, but nothing above average. After all, how much fighting ability did it take to watch a drained prisoner? The ugly sound of laughter echoed down the corridor.

Edging up to the doorway, Kenshin cautiously looked into the small chamber. With its stone walls and floor, it was a cold, forbidding room and the bright gaslight did nothing to alleviate the almost tangible miasma of despair. The two guards were standing in front of the last cell throwing insults and taunts at the man locked within.

"He don't look so high and mighty now, does he, Taku?"

"Nope, he sure don't. Hey, ahou! Are you gonna squeal for the executioner?"

Listening to the guards, Kenshin felt his rage build. Before he could take action, though, he became aware of a number of strong auras coming toward him. Faced with foes on both sides, Kenshin chose to eliminate the two weak guards first. Moving with assassin's silence, he darted into the room and was behind the two men before they even knew he was there. Without warning, their heads were separated from their necks in one powerful slashing battoujutsu, the bleeding bodies falling to either side of the cell's door.

With the group of fighters quickly approaching, Kenshin had very little time to prepare for their arrival. He took a moment to look into Katsura's cell. Kenshin could barely see him, as the only light within the cell was what little passed through the cell door's bars. Katsura sat – no, sagged was a more appropriate description – on a bench at the back of the cell, staring at the floor. Pale and drawn, he didn't seem to be aware of anything around him. Since there was nothing he could do for Katsura at the moment, Kenshin swiftly inspected the small room. It was bare, except for a battered desk and two plain wooden chairs situated in one corner, with no doors or alcoves that might offer concealment. Kenshin knew that if the rescue was to succeed, he would have to prevent any warning from being made. However, if they saw him first, it was likely that one of them would leave to fetch reinforcements. That meant that all of the men coming had to be killed. With time running out, he did the only thing he could do. He walked toward the doorway.

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! I also wish to offer my most abject apology for taking so long to post this chapter. I've been dealing with an increasing number of health issues over the past year, including surgery last November. A few months ago I was finally diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (otherwise known as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension), a rare disease that affects the heart and lungs. I have been in and out of the hospital since the diagnosis was made, but I'm pleased to say that I'm finally beginning to respond to treatment. Thank you so much to all of the people who have sent me their well-wishes. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate them! I am currently working on chapter twelve and promise I will post it in a much more timely fashion. Please be patient with me.

By the way, my research has indicated that the basis for the infamous 'Ninja Death Touch,' or the famous 'Vulcan Nerve Pinch,' is the Reticular Activating System (RAS), a cluster of cells located at the base of the brain that is responsible for keeping us conscious. Disruption of the RAS by either direct trauma, or the application of force on specific pressure points, can apparently cause temporary unconsciousness. This principle is used in several martial arts schools and is known as 'Pressure Point Fighting.' In Chinese, it is known as 'dim mak;' in Japanese, it is known as 'kyusho jitsu.' Now then, after stating all that, I must admit that I am not absolutely certain where the specific pressure points are, but I did read several references that indicated there is at least one on the neck.

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. Thank you to the following reviewers who left anonymous reviews for chapter ten: starshine, sakurachan101, Kana, and Kristi. I really enjoyed your generous reviews! 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:

ahou - moron, idiot (in its most insulting sense)

Aizu - one of the staunchest pro-shogunate provinces

Aku Soku Zan - 'slay evil immediately' (literal translation: wicked immediate slay; 'Kill Evil Instantly' in a loose translation; 'Kill those who are evil immediately' in a figurative translation), a motto of the Shinsengumi

ame - rain – in this case, the kunoichi's code name is 'Rain'

Bakufu - the military government of the Shogunate, which was overthrown by the Revolution

Bakumatsu - the late Tokugawa Shogunate Era, just before the Meiji Restoration; also another name for the civil war, which went from 1862-1868, that pitted the anti emperor Shogunate forces against the pro-emperor Ishin Shishi forces (also known as the Revolution)

battoujutsu -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.'

Battousai - The nickname for Himura Kenshin when he was a hitokiri, it means 'master of the battoujutsu sword technique.'

chiburi - the act of flicking the blood off of a sword

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)

dojo - a martial arts training hall

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

futon - the thin, soft mattresses many Japanese sleep on; they are folded and stored in cabinets when not in use

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

hakama - A divided or undivided skirt, rather like a very wide pair of pants, traditionally worn only by men but now worn also by women, and also worn in certain sports such as aikido or kendo. A hakama typically has pleats, and a koshiita – a stiff or padded part in the lower back of the wearer.

haori - Hip- or thigh-length kimono coat which adds formality. Haori were originally reserved for men, until fashions changed at the end of the Meiji period. They are now worn by both men and women, though women's kimono jackets tend to be longer.

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 Uchiyama Hikojiro assassination, the Ikedaya Affair, and the elimination of 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

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

iriai - sunset – in this case, the kunoichi's code name is 'Sunset'

Ishin Shishi - the name given to the pro-emperor forces from Choshu and Satsuma during the Bakumatsu; also known as Imperialists, Revolutionaries, Patriots, and Rebels

kabuki - A type of Japanese drama, evolved from the older Noh theater, in which elaborately costumed performers – nowadays men only – use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies. Founded in 1603 by Okuni, a young woman (shrine maiden, or miko) in the service of the Izumo Taisha Shinto shrine, kabuki remains relatively popular in modern Japan. It is the most popular of the traditional styles of Japanese drama, and its star actors often appear in television or film roles.

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 sword fighting 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

kimono - originally a word that referred to all types of clothing, but the word eventually came to refer specifically to the full-length robe-like garment still worn by women, men and children today

kiri - fog, mist – in this case, the kunoichi's code name is 'Mist'

kunai - small dagger

kunoichi - female ninja, most often trained in the arts of deception, manipulation and seduction; often worked with poisons and easily concealable weapons

Kyuushutsu - rescue, extricate, reclaim, deliverance

Mimiwarigumi - a Kyoto police force with equal standing with the Shinsengumi, but not as popular; they were Shogunate supporters

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.

Rebellion - another name for the civil war, also known as the Bakumatsu, which went from 1862-1868, that pitted the anti emperor Shogunate forces against the pro-emperor Ishin Shishi forces

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

Revolution - another name for the civil war, also known as the Bakumatsu, which went from 1862-1868, that pitted the anti emperor Shogunate forces against the pro-emperor Ishin Shishi forces

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 not considered 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 techniques 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 Takagi Tokio, 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.

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

saya - sword sheath

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.

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

Shogun - Feudal military rulers of Japan, who ruled from1192-1867. Several Shoguns served during the late Tokugawa Shogunate (1853-1867). Tokugawa Iesado, the 13th Shogun, died in 1858 and was succeeded by Tokugawa Iemochi as the 14th Shogun. Iemochi died in 1866 and Tokugawa Yoshinobu became the 15th Shogun. He resigned as Shogun in 1867, returning all power to the Emperor. Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Shogun of Japan, died on November 22, 1918. At the time that Kyuushutsu is set in (1865), Tokugawa Iemochi was Shogun.

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

shoji - rice paper sliding door

shuriken - metal throwing blades that come in a variety of types: swastika, flat, triangle, cross, star, crossed star, and straight; the points can be poisoned; although they were usually thrown, they could be used as a hand weapon as well

Sou Ryu Sen - (Double Dragon Strike): a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu technique; a form of battoujutsu using both the sword and the sheath. After removing the sword from the belt, the user strikes first with the sword, then with the sheath.

tatami - a woven rice-straw floor mat

tenmei - sunrise, dawn – in this case, the kunoichi's code name is 'Dawn'

tsuba - the hand guard on a Japanese sword

wakizashi - short sword (between 12 and 24 inches long, with 20 inches being average) worn by samurai (along with the katana)