Part 4 here already. I can't think of much to say so. here it is. Summary of Last Chapter: Soujirou has written a letter to Aoshi telling him to go Tokyo ASAP. Soon they will all be gathered together and the Juppon Gatana's 'Vengeance for the Fallen' will be put into action. Oh and I can guarantee a major plot twist in this chapter ;-)

Without further ado, here is Part 4.
Ranakul Calasto

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Chapter 4 - Ten Men, One Goal

Kenshin awoke to the sound of birds singing outside. He got out of his bed and walked to the window. Only today the birds were singing a different tune. 'Something bad is going to happen . I can feel it.' He got dressed and went into the Dojo. 'The last time I'll will ever train here. yes, today is my last day of training with this.'

He took his Sakabatou from the wall. He stared at the blade for a long time and then started his training.

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Meanwhile, at Soujirou's Mountain Fortress things are going to plan. Soujirou is writing down his plans for the events ahead. The last time he had fought Battousai he released all his anger and negative ki into his attack. This caused him to forget things very easily. Over the years this loss of memory had got worse and worse. He remembers waking up one morning and not knowing who or where he was. So he is writing his whole plan down on paper.
He finished the page and looked at it with a smile of satisfaction. He read over it again to make sure:

The Second Juppon Gatana - 1) Makoto Yatama - The Flaming Blade (weapon - Katana) 2) Kushira Gohachi - The Dragonheart (weapon - long Katana) 3) Miyatama Kai - The Mist (weapon - steel whip) 4) Kozaru Yata - The Black Storm (double Katana) 5) Kozaru Maya - The White Storm (double Katana) 6) Souku Takagami - The Enigma (psychic powers) 7) Yutoku - The Fire Giant (Huge Hammer) 8) Wong Fei Lee - The Wushu Genius (Rope Dart) 9) Myself - The Prodigy (Katana) And 10). The member that assures our victory over Battousai. Seijuuro Hiko XI - The Flying Dragon (Katana)

Soujirou looks up. There is a knock at the door. "Enter." The face of Kushira Gohachi appears. Soujirou face lights up. "Is it done?" The tall, longhaired man replies in his calm voice. "Yes sir, Mr. Shinamori has received the note and is headed for Tokyo." "Good! Now, Mr. Kushira, could you please tell the others that we leave tonight? We bring weapons and enough food for the journey, that is all." Gohachi bows politely. "Yes sir." He walks out the door and down into the underground room where the other 9 members of the Juppon Gatana are gathered. He smiles. "Men, we leave tonight."

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Author's note: Seijuuro Hiko XI. I would just like to tell you that this is NOT Kenshin's master Hiko but his predecessor. But for all those Hiko fans I can assure you that he will make an appearance in further chapters. ;-)

Ranakul Calasto