Elvengirl: Sorry this took so long. I've been busy these past few weeks with work and stuff. Plus it's been really hot, making it diffcult for me to do anything.
-One of the reasons this was so late was because I had to organize my friends for Animethon, our annual anime convention. I cosplayed as Kadaj from Advent Children. The convention was alot of fun. While I was there, I purchesed the last volume of Rurouni Kenshin, among other anime, manga, and paraphenalia (including an Itachi plushie...from Naruto). Ed (from FMA) cosplayers also travel in packs I learnt. Everywhere we went, we always saw a group of two or three Eds (or Teds...if you want a proper plural).
-A Tribute to Rurouni Kenshin: I started this series two years ago. I believe I still had my braces, and usually when I got them tightened I was in pain, so my Dad would buy me manga. One day, he came home with Shaman King volume 1, a manga I already, and he had bought for me, in fact. So, the next day, we went back to the comic store and I exchanged it for Rurouni Kenshin volume 1. I immediatly became hooked, and managed to drag my friends into the fandom with me. Two years later, I'm still dragging people into the fandom, and also own the entire anime series. It also spurred my intrest in Japanese history and my desire to go to KyotoRurouni Kenshin's stood as one of my favorite series since I started reading it. The ending just seemed right. I think it would have gotten redundant had it gone on. Nobuhiro Watsuki has become someone I admire, and in writing this fanfic, I understand the trials he's gone through in creating this world. All I can say now is, thank you Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama, for creating Rurouni Kenshin and good luck in your next work.
-On that note, Watsuki-sama's next manga, Buso Renkin, comes out in August. It looks good, so it might be worth it to go check it out.
-Also, since I'm starting to run out of characters, and I don't have the resource that is Path of Radience, characters that are minimal and I know aren't coming back won't recieve a Fire Emblem substitute. Either way, I don't own them.
Cast:
Mashima Eiji: Ross.
"The policeman...knows Himura...and carries a katana...what's going on?" Leila thought, looking at Ephidel confused, then remebering Karel. She turned, just in time to see Karel beat down the group of gaurds. He wasn't even out of breath. Leila was impressed.
"What are you wasting time here for? I'd have though you'd be in Kyoto by now."
"Ephidel, why are you here?"
"I'm doing my job. I recieved a report from one of my men that Kishuna was here. I decided, since I had the time, to check things out. So far, he's no where to be found."
"Wait...could that have been the boy's brother?"
"Boy?" Ephidel followed Karel's gaze to the boy, who stood with his head down, tears rolling down his cheeks. Ephidel nodded. "Mm, Mishima Ei'ichiro was originally from Shingetsu Village, which is why I sent him. He must've been found out. Fool, he should have waited for me."
"Is that any way to talk about the dead!" Leila snapped.
"And who is this..." Ephidel paused. If Lyn resembled a racoon, and Limstella was most definetly a vixen, then this girl was..."weasel girl?"
"What'd you call me!" Leila exploded, "I'll kill you!"
"Don't encourage him. It'll only make things worse," Karel sighed, trying to reign in the raging girl," Besides, we've got to take them down and bury them." He looked over at the boy, who stood sullenly under the mangled bodies of his parents.
"True..." Leila agreed, calming down instantly.
"Stop!"
Karel, Leila, and Ephidel turned to see a large crowd, clearly the villagers, blocking their way. They were headed by a grizzled, toothless old man, clearly the elder.
"You cannot take them down. If we do anything to the bodies, Senkaku will get angry and the village will suffer. So, leave those bodies alone."
"How can you say that?" Leila cried hysterically, "How can you people speak like that of your own! Can you really obey this Senkaku, after what he's putting you through?"
"It is either submit or die. We have very little choice. You outsiders should not bother with such a village like this, and Ross, you must leave this village immediatly."
"You..."
"Don't get angry," Ephidel sighed, placing his hand on Leila's head to restrain her, "Few are willing to risk pride and respect over their own skins. That age is over. Now, most have abandoned those values and are content to live, like livestock."
"What do you know, stranger?"
"Who cares. The police are weak anyway."
"We won't allow you to take the bodies. Now leave."
In defiance of the elder, Karel stepped towards the bodies. In a matter of seconds, they were cut down. The villagers were horrified. This man had doomed their village.
"This is what the future will look like, under the reign of Kishuna. People governed by fear, forgetting what it means to live." Ephidel sighed.
"So...this village was really abandoned by the government, then."
"This, and ten others. The police don't even bother pretending to recapture them."
"So why doesn't the army?" asked Leila.
"To call in the army to resolve another internal conflict, so shortly after the Seinan war, will only demonstrate weakness to foriegn countries."
"Oh, and that's a reason?"
"Even if the army was mobilized, the politicians would never approve."
"Why?"
"Because all of them, are afraid to follow the example of Pent. Anyone who supported a motion such as that would pay, and it's difficult to stop assinations within the government. Even government leaders are human in the end. They save themselves and wait for someone else to solve the problem."
"Who is this "someone else" then? Who's going to save this village? Who's going to end this boy's suffering?" Leila questioned, almost in tears.
"The police, the government, all in the end do as Kishuna pleases. Which is why now, both Hitokiri and Shinsengumi are needed."
Karel nodded. His duty was clear to him now. Gripping his katana, Karel turned to follow Ephidel. It was time to confront Kishuna.
"Wait, I'm coming to," Leila exclaimed.
"This is to dangerous for you, Leila-dono. Please, stay by Ross's side. He needs a shoulder to cry on now."
"I-I am so sorry, Kishuna-sama. I lost The Sword Demon at the cliffs of Hakone," a lone grunt was kneeling in front of a closed door, quivering like a dog in a snowstorm. "I have every available man searching for him. Please forgive me."
"What shall we do, Kishuna-san?" asked Ewan, who leaned comfertably beside the door.
"You can live," Kishuna's gravely voice carried through the door, "I've just taken my first medicinal bath in months and I'm in a fine mood. But I'd suggest you go fine The Sword Demon before I change my mind."
The grunt nodded, thanking Kishuna many time.
"I won't be so forgiving if you fail this time," Ewan threatened, a smile on his face the whole time. The grunt bolted out of the room, almost running headlong into a sentry who was heading in.
"Why's it so busy today?" Ewan sighed, "What is it?"
"My lord, a brown-haired swordsman with a cross-shaped scar on his cheek and a policeman with a katana are headed this way."
"Excellent." Kishuna's voice held an air of excitement, "Ewan, go and greet our visitors. And tell Senkaku to prepare for battle."
Leila stopped, breathing heavily. Digging such a large grave, not to mention dragging the bodies away from the village had been exhaustingm both emotionally and physically. Ross continued digging, raw anger evident in his eyes. His shovel hitting the earth in a rythem. "I'll kill him." "I'll kill him."
Half an hour later, their work was done. Leila stared respectfully at the grave, wishing that there were flowers to place on it. Ross picked up his brother's broken katana and began to head towards the village.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"Kishuna's mansion, where else?" Ross snapped, "Senkaku's there, and I must get revenge for my family."
"Then I'll come with you," Leila volunteered, "You're gonna need someone with expierience in this area, and I'll have you know, I'm a ninja."
"Whatever, just don't slow me down." Ross turned away. Leila glared at him, but at the same time understood his feelings. 'If anything happened to the Oniwabanshu, I'd probably react the same way.'
"Saitou Ephidel, and Karel the Sword Demon, correct?"
Ephidel and Karel stopped. They were in front of a large Japanese-style mansion, clearly used t ohouse the governor of the village. Now a haven for Kishuna and his men. Karel stared hard at their greeter, a boy with wild red hair, contrasting with the pale blue of his clothing. His voice was familier.
"Careful, Ephidel. This is the one who killed Pent." Karel's hand went instinctively to his sword. Ephidel sighed.
"Ah, but I am only a guide today. See, I am unarmed," The boy waved his arms to show no weapons, "Kishuna-san awaits you. Shall we?"
"We can only get so far being careful," Ephidel smirked recklessly, "After you, Sword Demon."
The boy led them to a far back room. It was large, with tatami flooring. It might have been a training hall at one time, but that past was long gone. There was a man and a woman seated across the room.
Himura Karel and Shishio Kishuna, meeting for the first time. Out of the shadows.
Kishuna was heavily bandaged, no doubt because of his wounds and his burns. Odd bits of black hair jutted out from the bandages around his head and scalp. He sat cross legged on a violet cusion, a crimson robe draped around him like a toga. In his right hand, he held a pipe. A pair of wild gold eyes gleamed at Karel and Ephidel.
The woman sat nearby. Her body wrapped in a violet kimono, she saw with a seductive notion. He jet black hair was left flowing loosely down her back. Her gold eyes watched Kishuna with a deep warm affection.
"Shishio Kishuna?" Karel growled.
"Shishio Kishuna-kun, at least. What bad manners you have, Sword Demon," Kishuna smirked. His voice was low, with a sharp edge.
"Not that yours are any better."
"Are you going to continue standing at ease like that? The Sword Demon could easily kill Kishuna from here," Ephidel noted, turned to the boy, who leaned comfertably against the wall.
"I'm not worried about that at all. The Sword Demon wouldn't resort to something like that, unlike you."
Ephidel nodded. The boy had seen clearly.
"Why target a remote village? Especially when the whole country is your target?" Karel had began speaking again.
"Onsen." Kishuna replied evenly.
"You destroyed an entire village for its hot springs?" Karel could feel his blood begin to boil.
"Of course. A body such as mine would scare away the other customers. Really, I was doing them a favor."
"Of all the trivial-"
"Knock it off. It's a taunt," Ephidel boxed Karel between the ears, "You're almost as hysterical as that weasel girl."
"Atchoo..." Leila sneezed. Someone was talking about her. Hopefully it was Jaffar-sama.
"You should listen to that wolf, Sword Demon. I needed an eastern stronghold, and this village fit the bill. And I do like the onsen here."
"So you sit here and plot revenge against the Meijii Government," Ephidel summerized, joining the conversation.
"Captain of the the Third Shinsengumi unit, Saitou Ephidel. I honestly thought that you might be able to see things my way, but I guess not. You see, I've no desire to get revenge on those who gave me those wounds. These burns have taught me much. Trust and be betrayed, relax your gaurd and be killed, kill before you are killed, and that women will come to a real man no matter what."
"Should you not be content then?"
"We three are men of the Bakumatsu. Why can you not understand my feelings on this matter," Kishuna answered calmly. "With the opening of ports, the Bakumatsu was the first era of chaos in thirty years. So many factions of "right" fought with endless killing. A man forged in such an age, is a man of unquenchable ambition. However, by the time my wounds had healed, there was something called the Meiji Government. A government that won't send army after me because they fear the eyes of the foriegners. A government of weaklings! So..." he snapped his pipe in half with one hand, "I wil start another revolution! I will plunge this nation into chaos again, and this time I will control! I will make this nation stronger! That is the "right" I bring!"
"But, what of those who live peacefully now. You do not bleed for your "right", but they will."
"Only the strong survive in the world, but someone like you wouldn't understand that."
"Shishio Kishuna, no one else is allowed to bleed for your personal "right"!" Karel drew out the reverse blade wo dao and pointed it at Kishuna.
"And you, Ephidel-san?" The boy asked.
"Though it's not in my nature to make speeches, my sword turns against you as well."
"Well then, I've nothing against fighting you, but I'd much rather we do it in Kyoto. For now, I'll have you fight him!"
Kishuna slammed his hand on the floor and what arose was a giant of man. His body rippled with muscles and his head pointed, like that of a cone. Two large blades sat upon his knuckles.
"The man who controls this village," Kishuna announced, "Senkaku."
Elvengirl: My goal is to have the next chapter up before I go on vacation. Updates should be more frequent in August. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. We're finally picking up speed in the Kyoto arc.
Next time: Tenken vs. Hiten. Battojutsus Collide.