Note - Some readers have claimed that Soujirou should be included on the
list of people who have seen the true final attack. However, he hasn't.
Only the people in Shishio's fighting arena saw the two steps.
Also Note - I am aware it is an anachronism for Saitoh to meet the other characters as of this point. This is intended to be alternate to the actual events, so don't worry about it too much.
Also Note - Revisions were made to the first Chapter in order to make the plot work more smoothly, and due to a change in the direction of the fic.
Part 2 - Threads of Fate
Gellender@yahoo.com
As Kenshin hurried back, he tried to piece together what was going on. He recalled that Kaoru had recently departed to Osaka, and had left the Kenshingumi behind, including Kenshin. He was sure he would beat her back to the dojo. Who wanted to get rid of the little Rurouni so much? Well, Sano must know the answer.
.
Megumi giggled. Sanosuke walked into the Kamiya dojo carrying the last of Megumi's medical supplies. "So Sano, you convinced Kenshin to stay away, at least until Kaoru comes back, right?"
Sano snarled at her. "It's not my way to lie to my friends like that. Don't think that I'll let this go! And I can't promise he won't come back any day now."
"Oh, but you didn't lie. Last time I checked, upholding the truth wasn't lying. And besides, it is in the name of medical practice. Are you blaming me because the clinic's walls couldn't sustain the physical abuse you gave them? Perhaps you should go fix them instead of helping me right now." Megumi continued setting up in the dojo. "I have to help my patients somewhere, and Kaoru isn't around to seek permission from. And I don't want to involve dear Ken in all this."
Sano spit the fishbone from his mouth. "But you want to involve ME in it, right?"
"You are the one who destroyed my clinic. It should be repaired before Kaoru gets back. Make sure to keep Sir Ken away, or who knows what he'll do."
Sano sighed, somewhat confused. He didn't care much for Megumi's stupid tricks. But he had kicked in a few walls at the clinic. Sanosuke figured Megumi wasn't asking much, when you compare it to his tab with Miss Tae as the Akabeko. As Sano walked out of the dojo, he started thinking of some other way to distract Kenshin, when he saw a familiar figure coming towards him.
.
Hiko, somewhat unhappy with his progress, decided he would start over. It was bothering him. It was truly a habit for him to ridicule Kenshin, regardless of the reason. But his apprentice had come to him with an important issue. The final attack had been meant to kill the opponent, and not be displayed for others to see. Kenshin had managed to achieve the former, even if by luck, but could not avoid the latter. "I really don't want to get involved" he thought. However, he was low on supplies anyway. He prepared for another short trip to Kyoto. And if necessary, to Tokyo.
.
Kenshin entered Tokyo and began to wander back to the Kamiya dojo. The trip had taken a lot out of him. His thoughts, however, were leading him nowhere.
.
Sano took another step forward. He clenched his fists (or at least his left one. This anger was aimed at none other than Chou the Sword Hunter. "Why are you back again? Weren't you just in Kyoto?"
"Hold on, I jest got here by carriage and you go right ahead and ruin my arrival? However, I am here to speak with the Battousai."
"Kenshin is not here right now. He won't be back soon."
After hearing Sano's response, Chou turned and began to leave. "I guess I'll just try back later. Tell the Battousai that I am gathering information for Hajime Saito." He wasn't supposed to blow the cover, but didn't really care.
.
Just a few minutes later, Kenshin made his way down the familiar roads just before the Kamiya dojo. He was quickly intercepted by Sano. Sano was still baffled by the short encounter with Chou, and didn't immediately think of the assignment Megumi gave him. "Kenshin, Chou was just here! And he said that he is working for Saitoh!" The rurouni quietly gasped, as his eyes narrowed.
Also Note - I am aware it is an anachronism for Saitoh to meet the other characters as of this point. This is intended to be alternate to the actual events, so don't worry about it too much.
Also Note - Revisions were made to the first Chapter in order to make the plot work more smoothly, and due to a change in the direction of the fic.
Part 2 - Threads of Fate
Gellender@yahoo.com
As Kenshin hurried back, he tried to piece together what was going on. He recalled that Kaoru had recently departed to Osaka, and had left the Kenshingumi behind, including Kenshin. He was sure he would beat her back to the dojo. Who wanted to get rid of the little Rurouni so much? Well, Sano must know the answer.
.
Megumi giggled. Sanosuke walked into the Kamiya dojo carrying the last of Megumi's medical supplies. "So Sano, you convinced Kenshin to stay away, at least until Kaoru comes back, right?"
Sano snarled at her. "It's not my way to lie to my friends like that. Don't think that I'll let this go! And I can't promise he won't come back any day now."
"Oh, but you didn't lie. Last time I checked, upholding the truth wasn't lying. And besides, it is in the name of medical practice. Are you blaming me because the clinic's walls couldn't sustain the physical abuse you gave them? Perhaps you should go fix them instead of helping me right now." Megumi continued setting up in the dojo. "I have to help my patients somewhere, and Kaoru isn't around to seek permission from. And I don't want to involve dear Ken in all this."
Sano spit the fishbone from his mouth. "But you want to involve ME in it, right?"
"You are the one who destroyed my clinic. It should be repaired before Kaoru gets back. Make sure to keep Sir Ken away, or who knows what he'll do."
Sano sighed, somewhat confused. He didn't care much for Megumi's stupid tricks. But he had kicked in a few walls at the clinic. Sanosuke figured Megumi wasn't asking much, when you compare it to his tab with Miss Tae as the Akabeko. As Sano walked out of the dojo, he started thinking of some other way to distract Kenshin, when he saw a familiar figure coming towards him.
.
Hiko, somewhat unhappy with his progress, decided he would start over. It was bothering him. It was truly a habit for him to ridicule Kenshin, regardless of the reason. But his apprentice had come to him with an important issue. The final attack had been meant to kill the opponent, and not be displayed for others to see. Kenshin had managed to achieve the former, even if by luck, but could not avoid the latter. "I really don't want to get involved" he thought. However, he was low on supplies anyway. He prepared for another short trip to Kyoto. And if necessary, to Tokyo.
.
Kenshin entered Tokyo and began to wander back to the Kamiya dojo. The trip had taken a lot out of him. His thoughts, however, were leading him nowhere.
.
Sano took another step forward. He clenched his fists (or at least his left one. This anger was aimed at none other than Chou the Sword Hunter. "Why are you back again? Weren't you just in Kyoto?"
"Hold on, I jest got here by carriage and you go right ahead and ruin my arrival? However, I am here to speak with the Battousai."
"Kenshin is not here right now. He won't be back soon."
After hearing Sano's response, Chou turned and began to leave. "I guess I'll just try back later. Tell the Battousai that I am gathering information for Hajime Saito." He wasn't supposed to blow the cover, but didn't really care.
.
Just a few minutes later, Kenshin made his way down the familiar roads just before the Kamiya dojo. He was quickly intercepted by Sano. Sano was still baffled by the short encounter with Chou, and didn't immediately think of the assignment Megumi gave him. "Kenshin, Chou was just here! And he said that he is working for Saitoh!" The rurouni quietly gasped, as his eyes narrowed.