Author's Notes: Thank you to FarStrider and TearsofCyanide, for multiple reviews! I'm glad someone wants to read this thing. Sorry about the wait -- sometimes my writing muses don't show up. The chapter after this is pretty much outlined, so I should have it up fairly soon.
In this chapter, more talks about drugs and other bad things. It was hard for me to really figure out how the events here would change in a non-Kenshin universe, and quite frankly, I could never figure out why Aoshi would stoop to working for a guy like Kanryuu in the first place. Hopefully I came up with a plausible outcome for this AU...
Disclaimer: The characters actually belong to N. Watsuki/Shueisha, etc. I am just borrowing them to amuse myself.
Italics indicate thoughts or emphasized words.
Alternate Tale of the Meiji Era, Chapter 6
by Fujimiya Maru
Megumi was lost in a hazy world where time held no meaning. She sensed that people were trying to talk to her, but they were so far away. Did it really matter? There was no pain either... Is this what opium does? She felt so sleepy, so incredibly sleepy...
Kanryuu was beside himself with rage. He had only meant to give the woman doctor a little taste of the new opium, to make her forget that what she was doing was wrong. However, he had caught her using more of it, and now she was as useless as a rag doll. She had become an addict.
"Damn it, woman, get up!" he sputtered, but Megumi continued to sprawl bonelessly on the floor, gazing at the ceiling. The drug had made her too drowsy to form a coherent sentence.
"Useless. How am I supposed to make more of the opium if the only person who knows the formula is a vegetable???" he paced the room furiously. "I need her to sober up. Shikijo!"
A large, muscular man stepped into the room. His skin was an unearthly green, covered with numerous gashes and scars. He watched the drugged woman with some pity in his eyes, but said nothing.
"Shikijo, please take Megumi-san up to the third floor observatory... So she can regain her wits." Kanryuu motioned towards the door with his wrist, as if he were asking the other man to take garbage out of the room.
"Yes, sir."
Shikijo picked the woman up delicately, not wanting to bruise her with his massive hands. Her fate was not a pretty one. He had heard horror stories of people who tried to cure an opium addiction. With a resigned sigh, her took her to the small room at the very top of the mansion.
"Good luck, Megumi-san..." he whispered as he left her to her destiny.
*************
It was a disguise that the Shinsengumi had always used. The box full of "pharmaceuticals" was pretty heavy, but Saitou bore its weight without complaint. The thugs guarding the front gate of Kanryuu's home were pitifully easy to get by; they utterly believed him to be a harmless traveling salesman. Another bodyguard led him directly to his target, up a grand staircase.
Saitou wanted to grin at his luck so far, but held back.
The bodyguard let him into Kanryuu's office, where the man was smoking a cigar at his desk looking rather distracted.
"Excuse me," Saitou started, "I am a pharmacist from Tama, selling medicine called Ishida Sanyaku. Fujita Goro, at your service..."
Kanryuu immediately paid attention. "A pharmacist, you say?"
Unfazed by the man's sudden change in demeanor, Saitou continued with his "pharmacist" spiel. He put down his box of wares and started to go through the parcels inside. "How about this Ishida Sanyaku for bruises and broken bones-"
"So, as a pharmacist, are you familiar with... chemicals, and such?" Kanryuu cut the other man off.
Wanting to figure out what the creep was getting at, Saitou played along. "Why yes, I am quite familiar. I wouldn't have faith in Ishida Sanyaku if I thought it didn't work..."
"Perhaps... you could help me out..." Kanryuu came around and sat on top of his desk in front of Saitou, looking as if he were choosing his next words very carefully. "You see, I have this powder, and well, I would very much like to make some of it myself, but I don't know how..."
"And you would like me to analyze this... powder?" Saitou was starting to see why Kanryuu was so distracted when he came it. It would make sense, that he would have someone else make his opium for him. I wonder what he did to his previous chemist...
Kanryuu looked overjoyed that his visitor seemed to understand. "Yes, yes! If you could take the time to do so, I'd be sure to compensate you for your services..." The way he toned his words implied that the compensation would be quite tremendous. Saitou put on his most accommodating smile for the man.
"I suppose so, Takeda-san..."
"Excellent, excellent! Why not rest a bit first, ah... Fujita-san, was it? I'll have one of my men show you to a lab we have on the premises..."
At this point, Kanryuu was practically dancing around his office like a little girl. Saitou repressed the urge to slay him right there, as tempting as it was. He needed to see this opium lab before he could finish his mission.
*************
Shinomori Aoshi had heard from the lesser bodyguards that Kanryuu had invited some random traveling pharmacist into the mansion. It was awfully convenient that just when the businessman needed someone to make opium, a qualified candidate happened to show up at the door. He knew that Kanryuu wasn't smart enough to see it as a trap, so he went down to the lab to see this pharmacist for himself. As soon as he entered the room, his suspicions were proved true.
He always kept on top of what was going on, his ninja training called for no less than that. The rumors of an undercover cop were all over the underworld of Tokyo. A cop that had killed people -- ones who deserved death, of course -- but had done it in a manner that was unusual for law enforcement of the Meiji Era.
Hiratsuki. The trademark sword move of the Shinsengumi.
To Aoshi's credit, the other man did not sense his presence until the last minute. Saitou feigned surprise, and smiled amicably at the ninja.
"Good evening. Are you another bodyguard of Takeda-san?"
Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "Captain of the third squad of the Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime." he stated blandly.
Saitou let his face relax to normal and chuckled. "I see the old Oniwaban group still gets its information..."
"What is your purpose here?" the okashira demanded.
"What is your purpose here?"
"What do you mean?"
The undercover cop turned back to the cupboards he had been looking through. "I was a bit surprised to see you and your group working for a man like Kanryuu. I know your group never got to fight during the revolution, since the Shogun gave up Tokyo without a battle, but I figured you would have disbanded by now. But no, I find you here, working for a man with quite questionable morals. Weren't you offered a high-ranking job in the army?"
Aoshi didn't answer him after a few moments, so he continued.
"Anyway, as for my purpose here, I plan to do what I always do; to rid Japan of corrupted rats." He paused to test the powder which Kanryuu had provided him with, and got a feral gleam in his eye. "Yes, definitely a rat here to exterminate."
"As the special bodyguards of Takeda Kanryuu, the Oniwaban group is obligated to interfere with your plans." Aoshi said quietly.
"That's a shame," admitted Saitou. "I certainly could use men with the skills of the Oniwaban group in my investigations... " He turned back to Aoshi, his face deadly serious. "What is it, Shinomori, the money? Has the Meiji Era corrupted you with greed like Kanryuu? I thought you were better than that."
"No," Aoshi muttered darkly, "The Oniwaban group never got a chance to prove its strength back then. I have been waiting for an opportunity exactly like this. Do what you want with Kanryuu, but my Oniwaban group will defeat you, the strongest survivor of the Shinsengumi. Then we will be known as the strongest."
He only smirked, utterly amused. "That's why you're doing this? Just to get the title of the strongest? You really have lost your mind..."
Further conversation was interrupted by Kanryuu bursting through the door. He was still grinning like a maniac at the prospect of getting the formula for the opium.
"So, Fujita-san? Have you had a chance to inspect the sample yet?" He glanced between the two men before him, suddenly noticing the nearly tangible tension filling the room. He also noticed that his "pharmacist" did not look so agreeable anymore. "W-What's going on?"
Aoshi replied without removing his gaze from the former Shinsengumi captain. "Kanryuu. This man is not a pharmacist. He is Saitou Hajime, a survivor of the Shinsengumi."
Kanryuu was still smiling, but it was out of nervousness. "S-sh-shinsengumi???"
"Ah. You have heard of the Shinsengumi before, haven't you?" Aoshi started to look rather bored with his employer.
"Er- Of course! Saitou-san, I'm a great fan of your swordsmanship! Why, if you were to work for me, I'd be invincible!" Kanryuu seemed to be working a plan through his tiny brain. "How about I pay you the salary of 50 regular bodyguards? Do we have a deal?"
Saitou unsheathed the hidden sword from his back.
"Eh- 100 times the salary! 200?" Kanryuu was steadily backing away towards the door.
"You can raise a dog with food, you can raise a man with money... but no one can raise a Wolf of Mibu." Saitou readied his weapon to strike the businessman.
"Sh-Shinomori! Do something! This is exactly why I pay you to keep the Oniwaban group around!" he pleaded with the younger man.
"We will fight him," Aoshi replied quietly, "but not for your sake."
"W-what?"
Aoshi ignored him. "Saitou, as I said, you can do what you want with him. However, you must first defeat my Oniwaban group."
Saitou rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword. "Very well. Can we find a better battleground? It's a bit cramped in here."
"Meet us in the second-floor ballroom in fifteen minutes."
"What about me???" shouted Kanryuu.
"I don't care about scum like you." said Aoshi, as he and Saitou left the laboratory.
Left alone, Kanryuu seethed with anger. "Damn you, Shinomori Aoshi!!!" Then, as quickly as his anger erupted, he was suddenly ecstatic. "That's right... I have... that!" His squeaky laughter echoed down the hallway.
*************
Saitou stood in the middle of the grand ballroom. It was completely unfurnished, and judging by the shine of the wood floor, had never been used.
He had altered his mission since he had learned the Oniwaban was involved. He was going to kill Kanryuu, that's for sure, but he didn't want to kill Aoshi and his men. They had skills that were far too useful. On top of that, they were real warriors, who shared the same values as he did, for the most part.
The short, spiky-haired ninja, Beshimi, was the first to enter the room.
"Saitou Hajime, I presume?" he sneered. Saitou remained motionless where he was standing. Beshimi tried to appear more imposing, but failed.
"I, Beshimi of the Oniwaban, will defeat you!"
"... Whatever." Saitou sighed.
Deciding that using his most deadly weapon would be best against such a dangerous opponent, Beshimi let loose his poison spiral darts towards the the taller man.
Three of the tiny conical darts shot towards Saitou, but he swiftly unsheathed his hidden sword and knocked them away.
Beshimi hardly had time to be surprised, as Saitou quickly moved forward and brought the hilt of the sword down on the ninja's skull. Beshimi slumped to the ground, unconscious.
That was ridiculously easy...
As soon as the little guy had fallen, the next opponent entered the room. This time it was the gigantic ninja, his round belly preceeding him through the door.
"Hyottoko," the large man grunted as an introduction. Saitou quickly sized him up. Due to his size this man would not be very fast, and had no visible weapons to speak of -
He had almost missed it. Hyottoko clicked is enormous buck teeth together and spewed a jet of flames from his mouth, narrowly missing his target.
He must be using something flammable to fuel his flame, hopefully I can avoid getting burned until he runs out of it... Saitou continued to dodge the fire, which only managed to singe his disguise a bit.
It seemed like an eternity of running around before the huge man coughed, sputtered, and the flame died out. Hyottoko wrestled with a barrel that had been strapped to his back.
Damn! He's got more fuel...
Not wanting to waste more time dodging fire, Saitou used his sword to slice the barrel open, preventing Hyottoko from drinking the contents. The flammable liquid made a huge puddle in the middle of the ballroom floor. Startled, the oversized Oniwaban member attempted to grab Saitou in a strangle hold, but missed.
Saitou quickly skirted around the other man, then jumped as high as he could. He landed a swift kick to the back of Hyottoko's head, but only managed to phase him. He tried to kick him in the head again, but Hyottoko swayed away from the attack at the last minute. Sheathing his sword again, Saitou opted to jump up again, but this time punching Hyottoko several times in the face in rapid succession.
This worked. The enormous man wobbled, then fell next to his smaller comrade.
Okay, that wasn't as easy. Bring on the next victim...
The next member of the Oniwaban was already watching, waiting for his turn. Shikijo smirked at the lanky policeman. He tossed his huge metal ball from hand to hand, the clinking chain echoing in the cavernous ballroom.
"You may have defeated my associates, bastard, but you will not get past me, Shikijo, gate-keep of Edo Castle." He wasted no time in swinging his massive weapon in Saitou's direction.
It narrowly missed him, pulverizing the once pristine wood floor. Shikijo pulled the chain and spun the ball around for another attack. The wrecking ball met the floor again, and Saitou dashed around it to land some good punches on the muscular man.
They had no effect. "Hahaha! That doesn't even tickle!"
Saitou jumped away from Shikijo, hiding his surprise that the ninja's body was practically as solid as armor. Every warrior has a weak point...
Seeing the metal sphere rushing towards him again, Saitou got an idea. Grabbing his sword once again, he narrowly avoided the ball, but brought his blade down on the connecting chain. It broke, and the ball rolled away. He promptly grabbed the loose end of the chain, and ran around Shikijo so it would encircle his neck.
Saitou pulled tightly, and the muscle man struggled to gasp in surprise. His neck was almost impossibly thick, but the chain managed to cut off his ability to breathe. Shikijo tried to pry the chain away from his throat, but Saitou held tight.
Finally, the lack of air got to the man and he slumped down. Because of the stiffness of his musculature, Shikijo was kneeling upright, but completely unconscious.
The ex-Shinsengumi released the chain and stood back. He had fought all three men without getting injured, but the opponents had gotten harder to beat each time. He imagined that fighting Aoshi, the leader of these men, would be quite an interesting battle.
He had little time to ponder. A spry ninja wearing an eerie demon mask was suddenly in front of him, with a punch aimed for his head. He moved to avoid it, but the blow landed on his jaw anyway.
What the...?
The masked man quickly attacked again, this time aiming for Saitou's stomach. He also tried to dodge the punch by jumping to the side, but the ninja's fist still managed to skim Saitou's ribs.
"If you cannot see through my technique, Saitou Hajime, you will not defeat me." the man's voice was muffled because of the mask.
Technique... He uses kenpo... I can sense his attacks, but seems to be able to hit me anyway... Saitou looked closer at his foe. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Technique? You mean those silly stripes on your arms?" He smirked. The other man stiffened.
"I guess I underestimated you, Saitou Hajime. However, the match is not yet over." Long metal blades abruptly popped out of the ninja's gloves.
He charged to slice at Saitou, but the taller man dodged farther than he had when he was misjudging the masked man's arm length. He quickly punched the ninja four times in the abdomen, and Saitou heard the satisfying crunch of ribs breaking. The man crumpled to his knees, one arm holding his chest in pain. Despite this, he moved to stand again.
"That's enough, Hannya. I will take over from here." Shinomori Aoshi stood in the doorway, his face as expressionless as a statue.
"Yes, Okashira..." Hannya managed to groan, staying down on the ground.
"Saitou Hajime. I will admit from the bottom of my heart that you are truly strong. I shall defeat you and decorate the Oniwaban group with the title of the strongest." Aoshi stalked into the room gracefully. Both he and Saitou moved off to a side of the room where the floor wasn't covered in holes or Hyottoko's fuel.
"Why are you so obsessed with being the strongest? Don't you have anything better to do with yourself?"
"If you really want to know, ask with your sword. I will answer with this," he pulled aside his trenchcoat to reveal a kodachi.
Saitou picked up his sword, which he had dropped after cutting Shikijo's chain. "If you insist. Let's get on with it..."
The two men circled each other, looking for the best moment to make the first strike. Aoshi charged forward without warning, his hand poised to pull out his weapon.
His attack was halted by the doors on the far end of the ballroom bursting open. The wood shattered from the force of Kanryuu's Gatling gun, which was now aimed at Aoshi's head.
More Author's Notes: Erg... I think that was the longest chapter yet... I'm not really happy with it, but I need to keep going. Eventually I'll go back and revise and refine the writing...
Next chapter: Kanryuu vs. Everyone! Who will survive the Gatling Gun?
