Note1: The fight scene in this chapter was particularly hard for me to write. I hope I didn't screw it up too bad!
For all those worrying that I was going to get Aya and Meiko together - ha! think again!
Chapter 11: Tenchuu*
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*I found this word in the Rurouni Kenshin manga in Book 18. The storyline is Enishi's Jinchuu. Tenchuu - the favorite word of the Isshin Shishi (the assassin group Kenshin belonged to during the Bakumatsu when he was the Battousai). It means the judgment of heaven or "justice is on our side, we will bring down heaven's judgment with our own hands."
I see tenchuu as being Weiss's doctrine. They bring down evil when the normal avenues of justice cannot suffice. Tenchuu is also the Hitokiri Battousai's doctrine, so this makes it easier for Aya to let the Battousai take over.
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"Ok, this is where we split up," Omi turned to face Ken and Youji in the back seat. "After you finish here, go destroy the third building. Aya and I will meet with Schuldich and scope out Makoto's hiding place."
Ken clenched his fist. "I still don't like trusting that guy. He was Schwartz!"
"And he tried to kill Aya," Youji pointed out.
"More like Aya tried to kill him," Omi said dryly, glancing at their recalcitrant teammate.
The three of them stared at Aya, as if expecting an answer. He remained silent, doggedly avoiding his teammates' eyes.
"Well, it's not like we have a choice," Omi said, opening his door. "We may have reservations, but Kritiker seems to trust him."
"Yeah, yeah," Ken grumbled as he got out of the car and stretched. "I guess we'll just have to wing it."
Omi tapped his earpiece. "Everyone have their comms on?"
They all touched their ears and nodded.
"Let's go," Aya said.
~*~*~*~
"What happened to you?" Schuldich asked, leaning casually against the alley wall.
Aya brought his hand up to his cheek. The damn thing was bleeding again. "Nothing," he said shortly. "Are you ready?" He tried to wipe the blood off his face, but only succeeded in smearing it around.
"Of course I'm ready," the German shot back. "I've been standing around waiting for your sorry asses for hours."
"Where's Makoto?" Omi broke in before Aya could retort.
"All I can give you is this map of the building." Schuldich handed them a hastily folded piece of paper. "I've marked your route on it. I have to get back before Makoto misses me."
"What about Siberian and Balinese?" Omi bit his lip. "They'll need a map too."
"Don't worry," Schuldich tapped his head and grinned. "I'll meet them when they finally show up."
Aya was suddenly impatient for this mission to be over. "Let's go, Bombay," he said, unfolding the map.
"See you on the other side." Schuldich winked over his shoulder and jumped to the roof.
~*~*~*~
He and Omi wouldn't have found their way without Schuldich's map. They raced through endless maze-like corridors, each one filled with doors and guards. Omi dispatched most of them effortlessly, while Aya took care of the rest. He wasn't feeling winded, but the short duels made his barely-healed shoulder wound open up again. He ignored the pricking sensation as they continued.
"Bombay, Abyssinian," Ken's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Balinese and I are entering the building. How far ahead?"
Omi checked his watch. "Around fifteen minutes, but we had to take care of some guards along the way. Shouldn't take you that long."
"Roger," Youji's voice this time. "We're right behind you. Don't wait up."
Aya could almost see Youji's cocky grin.
/Shut up down there./ Schuldich's nasal voice invaded his mind. /Noisy kittens attract nosy dogs./
/Our radio frequency is undetectable./ Omi's thought flashed along the telepathic link.
/That's what you think, Bombay. I'll set up a network. It will work better./
/Can you do that without compromising your position?/ Aya cut in.
/Easy as pie, sweetheart./ Abruptly, Schuldich retreated, and a second later, Aya could feel the minds of Weiss at the edge of his own.
/Does everyone read me?/ Omi cautiously thought.
/Loud and clear./ Ken.
/Roger that, cap'n./ Youji.
/Copy/ Aya sent.
/Get going, Weiss./ Schuldich's thought crawled nastily across their minds. /I can't keep him blissfully ignorant forever./
/We're coming/ Omi sent.
All pretense and jokes aside, they ran grimly toward the culmination of their mission.
~*~*~*~
Aya opened the door a crack and quickly took stock of his surroundings. He and Omi were standing inside the staircase on the edge of the roof. At the opposite end stood Makoto, talking easily to Schuldich. He hadn't noticed the door opening. Grouped around him were a few bodyguards and what looked like a girl. Aya squinted at her. With a start, he realized who she was.
/Schuldich, that girl/ he sent.
To his credit, Schuldich didn't even look around to see where they were. /Don't know. Balinese and Siberian are almost caught up. Don't move until I get there./ He said something to Makoto and walked purposefully across the roof. As he opened the door, Ken and Youji jogged up the rest of the stairs.
/Siberian, Bombay, come with me. Balinese, stay and back up Abyssinian./ He smiled wryly. /Not that you'll do any good./
Aya bristled at Schuldich for taking control of his team. "Where are you going?" he ground out.
/Idiot! Use the link, dammit! Do you want to get us caught?/
Grabbing Schuldich's shirt, Aya pushed him against the wall. His eyes bored into Schuldich's. /I am the one in charge here./ They all could feel his rage leaking into their network.
Schuldich held up his hands in mock surrender. His eyes flashed with amusement, and his grin never faltered. /Relax. I just want them to help me set charges./
Aya abruptly let go of Schuldich and turned away. /Let's go, Balinese./
/Hai./
~*~*~*~
Aya grit his teeth as Makoto Keisuke's katana met his with jarring force. Makoto was very good. He was going to be hard-pressed to beat him.
"I won't allow you to get in my way!" Makoto growled. "My dreams will be fulfilled!"
"I will stop you," Aya said coldly, readying himself to attack again.
Makoto chuckled. "You can try." He rushed forward, the force of his attack knocking Aya off balance.
He leapt away just in time, but Makoto anticipated his move, and modified his attack. Aya's eyes widened in shock as Makoto's katana pierced the same shoulder that Schuldich had wounded. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Makoto withdrew his blade, and Aya fell to his knees on the ground, clutching his shoulder.
"Aya!" Youji took a worried step forward.
Aya made a dismissive gesture with his hand, and levered himself up with his katana. His blood dripped to the concrete. Without a word, he ran toward Makoto. Something moved deep inside him, a sibilant whisper in his ear. Their swords clashed five times in quick succession, each one building in speed. Makoto dodged them all, except the last.
Makoto knelt on the ground, blood flowing freely from a wound on his leg. He struggled to stand.
"Shi-ne," Aya said as he brought his sword up.
"Wait!" A body threw itself in front of Makoto.
"Meiko?" Aya was taken aback by her sudden plea.
Anguished tears streamed down her face. "I didn't know," she sobbed. "He's my brother, Aya. My brother. He's the only family I have left. Please don't kill him!"
Aya hesitated, then slowly started to lower his katana. "Get out of my way. I don't want to hurt you."
Makoto sneered. "You're too kind. The fight will continue." As if in slow motion, Makoto's blade sprouted from Meiko's chest and continued into Aya's stomach. Her mouth opened in a silent cry as her hands scrabbled at the katana protruding from her body. Just as slowly, Makoto withdrew his sword.
Aya's sword clattered to the ground as he fell. "You want to win so much," he gasped, "that you would kill your own sister?"
"Onii-san," Meiko whispered, her blood covering them both. "What did you do?"
"Don't worry, little one," Makoto stroked her hair. "I'm here."
She breathed a little sigh, and her eyes drifted closed. Makoto pressed a kiss to her forehead, then struggled to stand, using his katana as a makeshift cane.
Youji stood, frozen in his tracks. It was as if a great weight were pressing him into the ground, and pressing in at all sides. He couldn't even lift his little finger. He searched Aya's prone form for a sign of life, but all he saw was a dark, ominous, spreading stain. "You bastard!" he managed, as Makoto stood up.
"That was almost pathetically easy," he said as he flicked the blood off his katana. "Take care of him," he told his guards, waving his hand carelessly in Youji's direction.
Youji gulped. This was not good, not good at all. /Schuldich!/
Chapter 11: Tenchuu*
-------------------------------------
*I found this word in the Rurouni Kenshin manga in Book 18. The storyline is Enishi's Jinchuu. Tenchuu - the favorite word of the Isshin Shishi (the assassin group Kenshin belonged to during the Bakumatsu when he was the Battousai). It means the judgment of heaven or "justice is on our side, we will bring down heaven's judgment with our own hands."
I see tenchuu as being Weiss's doctrine. They bring down evil when the normal avenues of justice cannot suffice. Tenchuu is also the Hitokiri Battousai's doctrine, so this makes it easier for Aya to let the Battousai take over.
-------------------------------------
"Ok, this is where we split up," Omi turned to face Ken and Youji in the back seat. "After you finish here, go destroy the third building. Aya and I will meet with Schuldich and scope out Makoto's hiding place."
Ken clenched his fist. "I still don't like trusting that guy. He was Schwartz!"
"And he tried to kill Aya," Youji pointed out.
"More like Aya tried to kill him," Omi said dryly, glancing at their recalcitrant teammate.
The three of them stared at Aya, as if expecting an answer. He remained silent, doggedly avoiding his teammates' eyes.
"Well, it's not like we have a choice," Omi said, opening his door. "We may have reservations, but Kritiker seems to trust him."
"Yeah, yeah," Ken grumbled as he got out of the car and stretched. "I guess we'll just have to wing it."
Omi tapped his earpiece. "Everyone have their comms on?"
They all touched their ears and nodded.
"Let's go," Aya said.
"What happened to you?" Schuldich asked, leaning casually against the alley wall.
Aya brought his hand up to his cheek. The damn thing was bleeding again. "Nothing," he said shortly. "Are you ready?" He tried to wipe the blood off his face, but only succeeded in smearing it around.
"Of course I'm ready," the German shot back. "I've been standing around waiting for your sorry asses for hours."
"Where's Makoto?" Omi broke in before Aya could retort.
"All I can give you is this map of the building." Schuldich handed them a hastily folded piece of paper. "I've marked your route on it. I have to get back before Makoto misses me."
"What about Siberian and Balinese?" Omi bit his lip. "They'll need a map too."
"Don't worry," Schuldich tapped his head and grinned. "I'll meet them when they finally show up."
Aya was suddenly impatient for this mission to be over. "Let's go, Bombay," he said, unfolding the map.
"See you on the other side." Schuldich winked over his shoulder and jumped to the roof.
He and Omi wouldn't have found their way without Schuldich's map. They raced through endless maze-like corridors, each one filled with doors and guards. Omi dispatched most of them effortlessly, while Aya took care of the rest. He wasn't feeling winded, but the short duels made his barely-healed shoulder wound open up again. He ignored the pricking sensation as they continued.
"Bombay, Abyssinian," Ken's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Balinese and I are entering the building. How far ahead?"
Omi checked his watch. "Around fifteen minutes, but we had to take care of some guards along the way. Shouldn't take you that long."
"Roger," Youji's voice this time. "We're right behind you. Don't wait up."
Aya could almost see Youji's cocky grin.
/Shut up down there./ Schuldich's nasal voice invaded his mind. /Noisy kittens attract nosy dogs./
/Our radio frequency is undetectable./ Omi's thought flashed along the telepathic link.
/That's what you think, Bombay. I'll set up a network. It will work better./
/Can you do that without compromising your position?/ Aya cut in.
/Easy as pie, sweetheart./ Abruptly, Schuldich retreated, and a second later, Aya could feel the minds of Weiss at the edge of his own.
/Does everyone read me?/ Omi cautiously thought.
/Loud and clear./ Ken.
/Roger that, cap'n./ Youji.
/Copy/ Aya sent.
/Get going, Weiss./ Schuldich's thought crawled nastily across their minds. /I can't keep him blissfully ignorant forever./
/We're coming/ Omi sent.
All pretense and jokes aside, they ran grimly toward the culmination of their mission.
Aya opened the door a crack and quickly took stock of his surroundings. He and Omi were standing inside the staircase on the edge of the roof. At the opposite end stood Makoto, talking easily to Schuldich. He hadn't noticed the door opening. Grouped around him were a few bodyguards and what looked like a girl. Aya squinted at her. With a start, he realized who she was.
/Schuldich, that girl/ he sent.
To his credit, Schuldich didn't even look around to see where they were. /Don't know. Balinese and Siberian are almost caught up. Don't move until I get there./ He said something to Makoto and walked purposefully across the roof. As he opened the door, Ken and Youji jogged up the rest of the stairs.
/Siberian, Bombay, come with me. Balinese, stay and back up Abyssinian./ He smiled wryly. /Not that you'll do any good./
Aya bristled at Schuldich for taking control of his team. "Where are you going?" he ground out.
/Idiot! Use the link, dammit! Do you want to get us caught?/
Grabbing Schuldich's shirt, Aya pushed him against the wall. His eyes bored into Schuldich's. /I am the one in charge here./ They all could feel his rage leaking into their network.
Schuldich held up his hands in mock surrender. His eyes flashed with amusement, and his grin never faltered. /Relax. I just want them to help me set charges./
Aya abruptly let go of Schuldich and turned away. /Let's go, Balinese./
/Hai./
Aya grit his teeth as Makoto Keisuke's katana met his with jarring force. Makoto was very good. He was going to be hard-pressed to beat him.
"I won't allow you to get in my way!" Makoto growled. "My dreams will be fulfilled!"
"I will stop you," Aya said coldly, readying himself to attack again.
Makoto chuckled. "You can try." He rushed forward, the force of his attack knocking Aya off balance.
He leapt away just in time, but Makoto anticipated his move, and modified his attack. Aya's eyes widened in shock as Makoto's katana pierced the same shoulder that Schuldich had wounded. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Makoto withdrew his blade, and Aya fell to his knees on the ground, clutching his shoulder.
"Aya!" Youji took a worried step forward.
Aya made a dismissive gesture with his hand, and levered himself up with his katana. His blood dripped to the concrete. Without a word, he ran toward Makoto. Something moved deep inside him, a sibilant whisper in his ear. Their swords clashed five times in quick succession, each one building in speed. Makoto dodged them all, except the last.
Makoto knelt on the ground, blood flowing freely from a wound on his leg. He struggled to stand.
"Shi-ne," Aya said as he brought his sword up.
"Wait!" A body threw itself in front of Makoto.
"Meiko?" Aya was taken aback by her sudden plea.
Anguished tears streamed down her face. "I didn't know," she sobbed. "He's my brother, Aya. My brother. He's the only family I have left. Please don't kill him!"
Aya hesitated, then slowly started to lower his katana. "Get out of my way. I don't want to hurt you."
Makoto sneered. "You're too kind. The fight will continue." As if in slow motion, Makoto's blade sprouted from Meiko's chest and continued into Aya's stomach. Her mouth opened in a silent cry as her hands scrabbled at the katana protruding from her body. Just as slowly, Makoto withdrew his sword.
Aya's sword clattered to the ground as he fell. "You want to win so much," he gasped, "that you would kill your own sister?"
"Onii-san," Meiko whispered, her blood covering them both. "What did you do?"
"Don't worry, little one," Makoto stroked her hair. "I'm here."
She breathed a little sigh, and her eyes drifted closed. Makoto pressed a kiss to her forehead, then struggled to stand, using his katana as a makeshift cane.
Youji stood, frozen in his tracks. It was as if a great weight were pressing him into the ground, and pressing in at all sides. He couldn't even lift his little finger. He searched Aya's prone form for a sign of life, but all he saw was a dark, ominous, spreading stain. "You bastard!" he managed, as Makoto stood up.
"That was almost pathetically easy," he said as he flicked the blood off his katana. "Take care of him," he told his guards, waving his hand carelessly in Youji's direction.
Youji gulped. This was not good, not good at all. /Schuldich!/