Pain Freak
Ronin Setora
Part 2
// Pre note: I'm not sure why the fic was formatted like it had been.
Here we are, try number 2.
~Setora //
* Recap *
... Himura wished to argue quite differently with the kage that seemed to speak
for him so willingly. It was none of his concern anyway, he had to fulfill
the new mission.
------------------------------
Dark was coming and time ran thin as footsteps echoed off the walls. There were far
too many to be dealt with- the only option was escape. Unfortunate for he that
fled, however, since they had caught sight of his firey red hair and fearsome amber
eyes.
In his haste to get away, his focus was not entirely on his pursuers, but far back
in his mind he noticed their footsteps grew fewer as if- and sudddenly there were
none. A moment before he registered the bodies of the Shinsengumi behind him, a
strong ki wave came from above. Himura instinctively began to raise his blade in
defense while his trained body slid fluidly into deeper shadow. This new opponent
could find him but the added darkness might be a distraction.
The blackest night that was of the new moon was this one and in the minimal light
from few stars, the newcome swordsman was hard to see. As Himura focused, he
noticed he could no longer feel a strong fighter's spirit. Stranger still, he felt
no ki at all...
"Curious," he thought to himself, "hardly a moment ago..."
The newcomer's spirit sparked for a moment and soaked into Himura. His silver eyes
glowed brightly as he felt the Battousai's hidden strength. He smiled deeply at
Kenshin and bowed.
A dark cloud passed overhead and all light was blocked; Himura prepared to defend
himself against sneak attack. As stars twinkled back into view, the silver eyes
were gone. Himura Kenshin the Battousai stood in wonder for a full minute then
turned and weaved his path through alleyways back to the inn.
*
Strong energies were nearing. One moved swiftly, erracticly; others were bunched
together and flowed more slowly and confusedly after the first. Someone was being
hunted by the Wolves, no doubt, however, that energy in the lead was curious. It
felt far too waek to be worth pursuit among the Shinsengumi- perhaps there was more
to it?
The boy rose from his table and tucked his katana into his belt.
"Finally," he whispered, voice hung-over in bloodlust, "the night shall be fun."
He leapt into the alleyway and broke into a run after the ki that had just passed.
His silver glazed over deep red as he caught the last of the pack.
Never slowing in the dash, his draw went entirely through the swordsman's neck; as
he continued forward, another found himself impaled upon a blade; more yet were
left gushing their life fluid from the arteries of the throat. Finally, the legs of
the last were cut from beneath him and in a full turn into a mighty leap, his head
was taken before a scream reached his lips.
A twist in the air and Kyuumei landed before Himura, a single lock of hair out of
place. He brused it aside during a deep breath and masked his spirit to that of the
corpses behind him.
"What a waste of my time," he thought disgustedly of the fallen Nibu Wolves as he
probed Himura's spirit with his hown. It was hard, Chi observed, digging through
the vast barriers of the Battousai's energy.
"What lay," he wondered, "beneath this body so terrifying to be locked away as
this?"
A dark shadow clawed into his mind for a moment as his bright silver eyes met those
of his opponent. Interesting that amber fire flared the more Kyuumei dug into
Himura's spirit. Finally, he stopped; enough power rested in the boy that he might
prove useful another day.
Chi smiled broadly and drifted into deep shadows under cloud cover. This newfound
swordsman should prove to be quite a fighter if too confidently tread upon.
*
"Is it possible," Himrua pondered from within his room at the inn, "I have finally
found my superior in Kyoto?"
His mind continuously wandered to the silver-eyed warrior he had encountered hardly
two hours before. It was suspicious that any man could slay no fewer than seven
Nibu wolves in complete silence without dropping even a hint of his spirit in the
process.
Himura's Shadow had considered it as well but spoke of other concerns,
"He reached me. Through you and into me. Anyone with that kind of skill must be
removed quickly and decisively."
Kenshin could not help but agree with the kage this time- though death was expected
eventually, to die without knowing anything of his executor's true skill was
outrageous.
Nomatter how much the swordsman worried him, though, to confront him again would
mean a loss if he did not sleep soon- it had been a long time since fatigue
consumed him but the many restless nights and bloody days were catching up. Himura
rested his katana upon his shoulder and his back against the wall. As strands of
firey hair drifted before his face, he found a deep and dreamless sleep.
*
"So what exactly do you know of this mysterious swordsman?"
Katsura seemed troubled over the subject even as he spoke the question.
"What could he possibly know of this?" Kenshin wondered before responding.
"Nothing as of now. Only that he is better..." Kenshin hesitated to confess a
weakness of self, "...than most typical swordsman."
He thought for a moment, "...and that he moves with amazing stealth."
Katsura absorbed the information and sampled it among the lesser rumors in his
mind. "Anything else noteworthy of this fighter?"
Kenshin's mind flashed to the newcomer's piercing, thirsty gaze.
"His eyes. He has sharp, silver eyes and..." Himura tasted the words in his mouth,
"...a spirit like no other."
Katsura simply nodded as Himura dismissed himself. Trouble with a warrior fitting a
very vague description as that was quite sure to be forthcoming.
*
Kyuumei slipped a few coins into the girl's hand and sent her on her way. It was
disgraceful- the state of Nihon that girls hardly ready to consider life were found
commonly among the whorehouses. He would have preferred to avoid the area of Kyoto
entirely had it not been for what he had heard.
Firey red hair and amber eyes swirling with hatred as well as speed akin to that of
the Gods was the description of the Ishin's Shadow. Hitokiri Battousai was fearless
and feared- a swordsman whose life was valued far more than any other being among
the Ishinshishi. He was their trump card when assassinations grew rough or when
problems within the clans arose.
Without the Battousai, the Ishin forces were nothing; without the Ishin forces, the
new Era would never come about; in the absence of the new Era would be the return
in the value of the sword. Kyuumei took in all those ideas; with deep enough
thought he could understand the Shogunates resentment of changes in Japan- it would
mean losing all that had been held since the beginning of time.
But was the concept of isolation so important it meant Nihon was to be left behind
while the West industrialized itself, expanded, and one day came back to conquer
his people again.
"No," Kyuumei thought to himself as he walked up a street he had seen burned many
times, "such foolish ideals are to be reserved for a more foolish group I would
have once associated myself with."
He shook as he remembered his days of cooperation with those he so liberally slayed
now.
"Yes, sir, he is quite talented," remarked a Shinsengumi officer to his commander
as they observed a young swordsman possessing demonic silver eyes decimate a
training pole with a bokuto.
"How long can we bind such a force to our will though?"
The commander had his doubts- this great warrior was known well to ignore orders
and slaughter continuously to thereafter take greatest pleasure in his own
injuries. His reckless behavior had never hindered a mission but for how much
longer could they keep his skill contained.
The Shogunate had begun to frown upon the Shinsengumi troop in which the boy was
enlisted- his frequent unjustified murders made them look bad, however all those he
removed were of the enemy.
"I believe," the commander continued, "we will have to deal with that one. Any more
problems caused and we may have issues with... other powers."
The Shinsengumi officer nodded and dismissed himself.
"Old fool. This boy rivals even Hajime and Soushi and he thinks to destroy that
advantage? However, I can see where problems might arise. Something must be done.
Perhaps I could just... dismiss him from Kyoto? Yes, as his leader I could..."
Hardly days later, the officer was found with a dagger through his mouth with a
message attached. When discovered, the message read nothing but had a signature of
Kyuumei Chi in fresh blood.
Kyuumei released his daydream of the past and continued on- with no side to turn
to, now he could not be condemned for his actions. However, debts remained to be
paid to those that wished him dead- he had been betrayed by his own comrades and
now it was time to make up for that.
As he plotted, ironically, a small troop of Nibu Wolves moved toward him from all
sides with caution. They had been warned that year ago about a silver-eyed
swordsman- his death was of the utmost importance to the Shinsengumi and his head
was valued. Apparently, to the Shogunate, if you were not with them, you were no
more than dead.
Chi felt the Wolves nearby- they never were capable of masking their spirits. He
considered removing them quickly and continuing on his way but too many times had
he given up Shinsengumi lives to relinquish this oppurtunity.
Finally, when they had completely surrounded their adversary, the first of them, at
Kyuumei's rear, charged. Chi's movement was minimal and allowed for a deep cut just
short of fatal down his shoulder to his waist. After that instant, the first
attacker was without arms and the remaining soldiers tore forward.
Kyuumei's eyes flared deep red as his wounds mounted and their numbers grew less.
As the last of the troop fell, Chi drew his tanto from his gi. A single mark for
the first soldier, all he considered worthy among the group.
His pleased moans echoed off the walls as he proceeded through the alleyways in
search of a place to bed for the night- revenge was sweetest when greatest gain
came from the enemy. His glee was interrupted when a surge of blood rushed from his
back leaving him to vomit deep red in the solitude and darkness of night.
Just before passing out, Kyuumei whispered to himself,
"I... should seek my pleasure elsewhere... than with these... amateurs. B...
Battou-sai... I'm... com-"
~More to come... so much more...
Setora
Ronin Setora
Part 2
// Pre note: I'm not sure why the fic was formatted like it had been.
Here we are, try number 2.
~Setora //
* Recap *
... Himura wished to argue quite differently with the kage that seemed to speak
for him so willingly. It was none of his concern anyway, he had to fulfill
the new mission.
------------------------------
Dark was coming and time ran thin as footsteps echoed off the walls. There were far
too many to be dealt with- the only option was escape. Unfortunate for he that
fled, however, since they had caught sight of his firey red hair and fearsome amber
eyes.
In his haste to get away, his focus was not entirely on his pursuers, but far back
in his mind he noticed their footsteps grew fewer as if- and sudddenly there were
none. A moment before he registered the bodies of the Shinsengumi behind him, a
strong ki wave came from above. Himura instinctively began to raise his blade in
defense while his trained body slid fluidly into deeper shadow. This new opponent
could find him but the added darkness might be a distraction.
The blackest night that was of the new moon was this one and in the minimal light
from few stars, the newcome swordsman was hard to see. As Himura focused, he
noticed he could no longer feel a strong fighter's spirit. Stranger still, he felt
no ki at all...
"Curious," he thought to himself, "hardly a moment ago..."
The newcomer's spirit sparked for a moment and soaked into Himura. His silver eyes
glowed brightly as he felt the Battousai's hidden strength. He smiled deeply at
Kenshin and bowed.
A dark cloud passed overhead and all light was blocked; Himura prepared to defend
himself against sneak attack. As stars twinkled back into view, the silver eyes
were gone. Himura Kenshin the Battousai stood in wonder for a full minute then
turned and weaved his path through alleyways back to the inn.
*
Strong energies were nearing. One moved swiftly, erracticly; others were bunched
together and flowed more slowly and confusedly after the first. Someone was being
hunted by the Wolves, no doubt, however, that energy in the lead was curious. It
felt far too waek to be worth pursuit among the Shinsengumi- perhaps there was more
to it?
The boy rose from his table and tucked his katana into his belt.
"Finally," he whispered, voice hung-over in bloodlust, "the night shall be fun."
He leapt into the alleyway and broke into a run after the ki that had just passed.
His silver glazed over deep red as he caught the last of the pack.
Never slowing in the dash, his draw went entirely through the swordsman's neck; as
he continued forward, another found himself impaled upon a blade; more yet were
left gushing their life fluid from the arteries of the throat. Finally, the legs of
the last were cut from beneath him and in a full turn into a mighty leap, his head
was taken before a scream reached his lips.
A twist in the air and Kyuumei landed before Himura, a single lock of hair out of
place. He brused it aside during a deep breath and masked his spirit to that of the
corpses behind him.
"What a waste of my time," he thought disgustedly of the fallen Nibu Wolves as he
probed Himura's spirit with his hown. It was hard, Chi observed, digging through
the vast barriers of the Battousai's energy.
"What lay," he wondered, "beneath this body so terrifying to be locked away as
this?"
A dark shadow clawed into his mind for a moment as his bright silver eyes met those
of his opponent. Interesting that amber fire flared the more Kyuumei dug into
Himura's spirit. Finally, he stopped; enough power rested in the boy that he might
prove useful another day.
Chi smiled broadly and drifted into deep shadows under cloud cover. This newfound
swordsman should prove to be quite a fighter if too confidently tread upon.
*
"Is it possible," Himrua pondered from within his room at the inn, "I have finally
found my superior in Kyoto?"
His mind continuously wandered to the silver-eyed warrior he had encountered hardly
two hours before. It was suspicious that any man could slay no fewer than seven
Nibu wolves in complete silence without dropping even a hint of his spirit in the
process.
Himura's Shadow had considered it as well but spoke of other concerns,
"He reached me. Through you and into me. Anyone with that kind of skill must be
removed quickly and decisively."
Kenshin could not help but agree with the kage this time- though death was expected
eventually, to die without knowing anything of his executor's true skill was
outrageous.
Nomatter how much the swordsman worried him, though, to confront him again would
mean a loss if he did not sleep soon- it had been a long time since fatigue
consumed him but the many restless nights and bloody days were catching up. Himura
rested his katana upon his shoulder and his back against the wall. As strands of
firey hair drifted before his face, he found a deep and dreamless sleep.
*
"So what exactly do you know of this mysterious swordsman?"
Katsura seemed troubled over the subject even as he spoke the question.
"What could he possibly know of this?" Kenshin wondered before responding.
"Nothing as of now. Only that he is better..." Kenshin hesitated to confess a
weakness of self, "...than most typical swordsman."
He thought for a moment, "...and that he moves with amazing stealth."
Katsura absorbed the information and sampled it among the lesser rumors in his
mind. "Anything else noteworthy of this fighter?"
Kenshin's mind flashed to the newcomer's piercing, thirsty gaze.
"His eyes. He has sharp, silver eyes and..." Himura tasted the words in his mouth,
"...a spirit like no other."
Katsura simply nodded as Himura dismissed himself. Trouble with a warrior fitting a
very vague description as that was quite sure to be forthcoming.
*
Kyuumei slipped a few coins into the girl's hand and sent her on her way. It was
disgraceful- the state of Nihon that girls hardly ready to consider life were found
commonly among the whorehouses. He would have preferred to avoid the area of Kyoto
entirely had it not been for what he had heard.
Firey red hair and amber eyes swirling with hatred as well as speed akin to that of
the Gods was the description of the Ishin's Shadow. Hitokiri Battousai was fearless
and feared- a swordsman whose life was valued far more than any other being among
the Ishinshishi. He was their trump card when assassinations grew rough or when
problems within the clans arose.
Without the Battousai, the Ishin forces were nothing; without the Ishin forces, the
new Era would never come about; in the absence of the new Era would be the return
in the value of the sword. Kyuumei took in all those ideas; with deep enough
thought he could understand the Shogunates resentment of changes in Japan- it would
mean losing all that had been held since the beginning of time.
But was the concept of isolation so important it meant Nihon was to be left behind
while the West industrialized itself, expanded, and one day came back to conquer
his people again.
"No," Kyuumei thought to himself as he walked up a street he had seen burned many
times, "such foolish ideals are to be reserved for a more foolish group I would
have once associated myself with."
He shook as he remembered his days of cooperation with those he so liberally slayed
now.
"Yes, sir, he is quite talented," remarked a Shinsengumi officer to his commander
as they observed a young swordsman possessing demonic silver eyes decimate a
training pole with a bokuto.
"How long can we bind such a force to our will though?"
The commander had his doubts- this great warrior was known well to ignore orders
and slaughter continuously to thereafter take greatest pleasure in his own
injuries. His reckless behavior had never hindered a mission but for how much
longer could they keep his skill contained.
The Shogunate had begun to frown upon the Shinsengumi troop in which the boy was
enlisted- his frequent unjustified murders made them look bad, however all those he
removed were of the enemy.
"I believe," the commander continued, "we will have to deal with that one. Any more
problems caused and we may have issues with... other powers."
The Shinsengumi officer nodded and dismissed himself.
"Old fool. This boy rivals even Hajime and Soushi and he thinks to destroy that
advantage? However, I can see where problems might arise. Something must be done.
Perhaps I could just... dismiss him from Kyoto? Yes, as his leader I could..."
Hardly days later, the officer was found with a dagger through his mouth with a
message attached. When discovered, the message read nothing but had a signature of
Kyuumei Chi in fresh blood.
Kyuumei released his daydream of the past and continued on- with no side to turn
to, now he could not be condemned for his actions. However, debts remained to be
paid to those that wished him dead- he had been betrayed by his own comrades and
now it was time to make up for that.
As he plotted, ironically, a small troop of Nibu Wolves moved toward him from all
sides with caution. They had been warned that year ago about a silver-eyed
swordsman- his death was of the utmost importance to the Shinsengumi and his head
was valued. Apparently, to the Shogunate, if you were not with them, you were no
more than dead.
Chi felt the Wolves nearby- they never were capable of masking their spirits. He
considered removing them quickly and continuing on his way but too many times had
he given up Shinsengumi lives to relinquish this oppurtunity.
Finally, when they had completely surrounded their adversary, the first of them, at
Kyuumei's rear, charged. Chi's movement was minimal and allowed for a deep cut just
short of fatal down his shoulder to his waist. After that instant, the first
attacker was without arms and the remaining soldiers tore forward.
Kyuumei's eyes flared deep red as his wounds mounted and their numbers grew less.
As the last of the troop fell, Chi drew his tanto from his gi. A single mark for
the first soldier, all he considered worthy among the group.
His pleased moans echoed off the walls as he proceeded through the alleyways in
search of a place to bed for the night- revenge was sweetest when greatest gain
came from the enemy. His glee was interrupted when a surge of blood rushed from his
back leaving him to vomit deep red in the solitude and darkness of night.
Just before passing out, Kyuumei whispered to himself,
"I... should seek my pleasure elsewhere... than with these... amateurs. B...
Battou-sai... I'm... com-"
~More to come... so much more...
Setora
