Chapter Twenty-Five: The Myo-ou's Wrath
"Absolute Victory, you say?"
Even as Tsuno stood in the room with Shishio, Yumi, Soujiro and Houji, and even though his heart had frozen long ago, the tone Shishio had just used sent a chill down his spine. The edge of ice in the former shadow hitokiri's voice was keener than any blade.
"Indeed. Absolute." Houji confirmed, then continued, "In this battle we send ten, including Shishio-sama, against four. In numbers and strength, clearly, we have the upper hand."
"If it is that obvious, then why are you so unhappy about it?" Yumi asked, peevishly.
"Mainly because our enemies are the elite of the elite. If we clash with them, head-on, we'll lose our lesser warriors, from Cho on down…..But, if we also just bring in our elite corps, the four strongest of the Juppongatana, it leaves Anji with the six remaining warriors to take down the Aoi-ya and whoever remains there." Houji explained.
"It's a great idea!" Soujiro said, with his usual grin, and as Tsuno reluctantly agreed. Yet Shishio remained silent, and bade Houji to continue with a simple nod.
"Question: Why did our grand plan for burning Kyoto fail? Answer: Because the Kyoto Oniwabanshu schemed in the background. Ever since Himura Battousai and Ichimura the Peacemaker arrived in Kyoto, they have been supporting them from behind the scenes with their spy network. Things would have gone much smoother if they had never existed! Behind our failures, there is the fact that we had foolishly let them live! Battousai and the Peacemaker are not fools. No doubt they anticipate an assault on the Aoi-ya in their absence, but they are still swordsmen. If they are challenged to a duel, then they will never expect the Juppongatana themselves to go to the Aoi-ya. Just as you, who thinks so much like our foes could only conceive this as a ten to four duel." Houji said, not realizing that the more he said, the colder the room seemed to be getting.
"This little twit is going to get his hypothetical ass handed to him, in a few short moments….." Tsuno thought, as he listened even further to what else Houji had to say.
"We must not forget that our ultimate goal is to conquer this nation. That is Shishio-sama's 'Ultimate Victory'. And that requires ridding ourselves of Himura Battousai and the rest of them, simultaneously!" Houji said, finishing his unexpected lecture with that.
"Here it comes……" Tsuno inwardly growled, as a slight smirk graced his masked features, when the atmosphere in the room changed yet again.
"Houji. When did you earn the right to lecture me?" Shishio snarled, as he slowly stood and adjusted his coat, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he did so, "I don't care if your strategy is brilliant…..I had told the Battousai that this was a duel. The code of the swordsman will not allow me to bend that. The duels will not change! Now quit wasting my time and gather the Juppongatana!" And yet, even Tsuno felt some surprise over what happened next. Not only did Houji not back down, but he also began to boldly speak again.
"Since I first gave my allegiance to you, Shishio-sama, I have kept a secret promise to myself. History shows that the nation will belong to those who are willing to fight, and more importantly, win…..So I promised to do whatever it took to ensure Shishio-sama's ultimate victory…..to play whatever role I must…..Yes, even if it branded me as a coward and an upstart! Even if Shishio-sama himself came to see me as an abomination!! Without Rengoku, the Juppongatana are our strongest remaining card. I cannot serve a losing plan that will not play that card properly!" Houji argued, strongly. For a few moments, the two men stood frozen in front of one another; hackles raised and glaring balefully at each other.
"I haven't seen resistance like this since my time in the Shinsengumi. I wonder what will happen next?" Tsuno wondered, absently, as he watched both men from his position on the other side of the room.
"This is the first time I've met resistance, not only from my enemies, but also from my own dog…..Soujiro, Tsuno." Shishio growled, as he then glanced at the two from the corner of his eye.
"Yes?" Soujiro asked, in response.
"Go and gather the Juppongatana. Tell them we are going to meet in my chambers within the hour." Shishio said, and then glared at Houji again before sitting back down to wait for the rest of the warriors to appear. Without any further words, Tsuno and Soujiro nodded and quickly left the room on their shared errand.
"Tsuno-san, you were hoping that you would get sent to the Aoi-ya, weren't you?" Soujiro asked, as they walked down the hallway towards the place where most of the Juppongatana were waiting.
"You could say that, Tenken….." Tsuno replied, "Especially if the 'Peacemaker' that we're about to face is in fact my little brother, Tetsu."
"I guess we'll find out what the plan is going to be, in a little while, ne?" Soujiro added, rhetorically.
"I suppose so….." Tsuno agreed, as they continued walking; the silence settling over them not helping to ease the tension in the slightest.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv(divider)
It took them about two or three hours to finally reach the entrance to Shishio's lair, and all Tetsunosuke could feel was apprehension.
"Tatsu-nii…..I hope you're still human enough to save……" Tetsunosuke mused, then glanced at Sanosuke when he finally spoke up.
"Six gateways…..This must be it." Sanosuke muttered, as he gazed at the foreboding mountain behind the gateways themselves.
"Seems that way." Tetsunosuke agreed, softly, as he gripped his swords tightly in an effort to stave off the urge he had to just run away and avoid the battles that they were about to participate in. He jumped slightly when Kenshin gripped his shoulder and nodded firmly.
"There's always a chance, Tetsu. Don't give up before you've even begun." Kenshin murmured, as they strode forward.
"Right." Tetsunosuke agreed, even though the doubt still lingered in his red-brown eyes, and both he and Kenshin could sense a hint of it in Saito's ki, as well.
"For once, I also hope the Battousai is right." Saito mused, quickly becoming aware that there seemed to be someone waiting for them up ahead.
"Someone is there." Kenshin said, as they got closer to the one who stood waiting patiently at the door for them.
"Welcome. I have been waiting. From here on, the mountain becomes a maze. I will be your guide through it. I am Komogata Yumi." The woman said, with a slight smile.
"You're the lady that was with Shishio that night, weren't you?" Tetsunosuke asked.
"Indeed. You've got a good memory, Ichimura-san." Yumi replied; surprised and yet pleased that the former Shinsengumi remembered her, "Please, come in." Without further words, the four men then stepped across the threshold and into Shishio's fortress itself. Even though the seriousness of the situation was foremost in the men's minds, it didn't stop Tetsunosuke from allowing himself a moment to show how impressed he was by the immensity of the place.
"This isn't a maze….it's a labyrinth!" Tetsunosuke muttered, his eyes widening in almost childlike wonder at the storybook sight he was now seeing; stalactites hung menacingly overhead, while stalagmites promised a painful landing, if one wrong move was made, "Tou-san had told stories of places like this! Wonder if there's a buried treasure somewhere in here?"
"True enough. One wrong turn may trigger a storm of traps." Kenshin agreed, smiling inwardly at the boyish delight he could sense coming from Tetsu, before the weight of their mission returned, and his eyes sobered again.
"Even for an assassin's fortress, this is awfully elaborate." Saito added, as he glanced down into the mess of stalagmites under the bridge they now walked on, and spotted the stark white remains of the few who had been foolish enough to enter the stronghold before them.
"Indeed it is…..oh, and I forgot to mention one thing. A message from Shishio-sama." Yumi said, when they had reached the first door after the bridge, and she glanced back at them, "From here on, the duels are to be one-on-one. We'll put one man in each room, and you'll choose an opponent each time."
"I like it. Man to man, my kinda fight!" Sanosuke said, with a grin; finally breaking his unusual silence when he said that.
"I've no objections, though I hate wasting my time. Is there any way you can gather all of my opponents at once?" Saito asked, smirking even through Tetsunosuke could sense that he was secretly concerned about what could happen in Kyoto, while they were fighting here. This got a shake of the head from Yumi, in response.
"Gomen, but no. It will be one at a time." Yumi replied, then looked at Tetsunosuke, "What say you?"
"Fine by me, Komogata-san." Tetsunosuke agreed, quietly.
"And you, Himura-san?" Yumi asked, as she then looked at the elder rurouni.
"Fine. But sessha won't just sit and watch, if someone tries to finish off their opponent. So a duel, yes. Killings, no." Kenshin said, firmly. This got a soft laugh and a smile from Yumi, as an answer to that.
"Really? Such a soft man…..Then here's your first foe, if you please." Yumi stated, as she pushed open the door. The sight that came to their eyes when they entered sent a chill through them, yet they still moved forward, despite it. In front of them, sat a menacing statue.
"Fudou Myo-ou……an Acala Buddha….." Kenshin muttered, and as Tetsunosuke gave it an unnerved look, as well.
"Impressive. Is there a priest among the Juppongatana?" Saito asked, sounding almost curious, despite himself.
"Yeah. One who has strayed from the path…..a fallen priest." Sanosuke murmured, as he then stepped away from them, and started walking towards the man who was just emerging in front of them, "I'll be the first up, since there are things I want to ask him."
"Don't get yourself killed, ahou." Saito grumbled.
"Up yours." Sanosuke growled back.
"Same response as Harada-san…..I think we'd better hope they aren't related!" Tetsunosuke thought, then listened as the former fight merchant greeted the mass of muscles that was the fallen priest.
"Komogata-dono, who is this?" Kenshin asked, warily.
"Myo-ou, or 'Bright King' Anji. He's a very strong fighter." Yumi replied, airily.
"Anji, the third-strongest of the Juppongatana, and the one who had saved the Itachi Musume….." Tetsunosuke mused, then exchanged glances with Kenshin; knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that their thoughts were following the same lines.
"Whatever he is, be careful Sano. There's something about him that doesn't seem right." Kenshin silently added, uneasily.
"It's been a month. I didn't think it'd be like this, when we met again." Sanosuke said, as he stood in front of Anji and gazed grimly at him.
"Nor did I. the words you spoke before, in Shimosuwa, of your hatred for the Meiji Government were all false. You disappoint me." Anji growled, as he glared at Sanosuke balefully.
"Well, you disappoint me, you fraud of a priest!!" Sanosuke roared back, furiously, "How can a priest aid Shishio in this bloodshed?! What happened to your 'Mission of Salvation'?!"
"Nothing has happened. The first step in the mission is destruction." Anji replied, coldly.
"What?!" Sanosuke shouted, aghast and angered by what he was hearing.
"Fool. Do you believe that saving the world means rescuing people who are suffering?" Anji asked, "Not that I blame you. When I was blinded by Buddhism, I had thought the same…..But not now. Now I see the truth. This world contains too many beasts and scavengers, those who are not worth saving. And those beasts with human faces rob the pure-souled of their rightful futures."
"I see where this is going…..and I don't like it….." Tetsunosuke thought, as a sickening feeling settled in his gut, over the words he was hearing.
"From the chaos of the Bakumatsu, comes the Meiji. But, during the change, souls have become rotten. There are far too many beings now who are unworthy of life. To save those who need to be saved, the unworthy must be cleared away. For this duty, I have joined the Juppongatana. I have become the incarnation of Fudou Myo-ou!"
"Was Tatsu thinking like this, when he joined this group of murderers? Has he become as warped as this man is?" Tetsunosuke wondered, as he braced himself on Kenshin's shoulder for a moment, before they began moving out of the way of the battle that was about to begin.
"I will wash this world clean in blood and fire! I will punish the corrupt and leave a world of pure souls! This is my true mission!! Do you understand now, Sagara Sanosuke?" Anji again asked.
"Not one word! Guess I didn't study enough Buddhism……But I do know one thing. I can't say I like your damn mission very much!" Sanosuke snarled, as he then rushed forward and fired off his attack into Anji's abdomen; narrowly missing him and hitting the column and wall beside them, instead.
"We saw it that time with the Rengoku……" Kenshin muttered, when he'd seen the power of the strike again, and felt the same disbelief as before.
"This is the third time. It can't be by chance." Saito agreed; remembering what he had seen that night, and the time when Sanosuke had blown apart the bars to his cell in the police station just days before.
"On the way from Shimosuwa to Kyoto, I trained on one hundred stones. I've mastered the art of the 'Two Layers'. Please surrender, Anji. I'd rather not kill you with what I'd learned from you." Sanosuke said, yet was stunned by what was said and done next.
"Kill me? You boast, lad." Anji growled, then proceeded disintegrate that part of the wall and shatter the floorboards under him, "All I taught you were the basics. This is mastery."
"Sano, I know you don't need to really be told this, but you are definitely screwed." Tetsunosuke inwardly muttered, as true fear for his friend began to take root, yet remained where he was, since he was bound by the only rules stated in this deadly game Shishio now played.
Author's Note!
I LIVE!! Lol. Writer's Block has had this fic in a death grip for quite a while now! Hopefully from now on, I'll be able to update on a regular basis, since the most difficult parts leading up to this have been covered! Wish me luck!
Gemini14