I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or related characters, but I'm still going to mess with them..... (all non-profit, of course)

*Lines with-in the stars (*) are thoughts.*

Shadows return - Chapter 4: Discussions

Kenshin spent the day resting. He had eaten a couple rice balls, but his strength was not returning as fast as he had hoped. The strange poison had paralyzed his body, but kept his mind active. He did, though, spend some time talking with Tengoku.

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"Who, exactly, are the 'Akumu Minzoku'?" Kenshin asked.

"You remember Taiyoryu?" When Kenshin nodded, Tengoku continues. "The Akumu Minzoku are his people."

Taiyoryu was a member of the Akuma Ryoshi, 'the demon hunters'. He was called 'The Akumu', the nightmare, by friend and foe alike. Kenshin had to think it was due to his demonic appearance. He had been as friendly as the rest of his group, more so, in some cases. His laughter, though rare, was light and genuine. He was distant, though, not really trusting many people.

His skills also likely added to his title of Akumu. He had the uncanny ability to disappear, melting perfectly into the shadows around him. He moved in a silence that would put any hitokiri Kenshin had known to shame. He kenjutsu was skilled enough that he defeated Shishio Makoto, who had been resurrected by Atarashiikami, while Kenshin fought Atarashiikami, along side Yoake, Taiyoryu's daughter. As is this wasn't enough, he could also call on mystic energies.

Taiyoryu, along with Tengoku, had been the only survivors of the group that had joined Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, Yahiko, and even Megumi, who had insisted on coming along because everyone else was 'too stubborn to take care of themselves.'

"Are they all like him?" Kenshin wondered aloud. *If so,* he thinks, *we might be in trouble.*

"To an extent." Tengoku hesitated. "Taiyoryu was... extreme. To say that all Akumu Minzoku are like Taiyoryu is like saying all Imperialists are like Himura Kenshin. There is a reason he was called 'The Akumu", even by his own people. He had a heart, though he rarely showed it. That is what set him apart from the rest of his people. They would kill their own mother, if it would bring them more power."

Kenshin nodded, some what relieved, though the idea of fighting enemies who lacked any honor was not enjoyable. He takes a drink of his tea and Tengoku asks a question of his own.

"Are you sure your attackers were Akumu Minzoku?"

Kenshin shook his head. "In the rain and the darkness, I could not see them well. Their clothing covered most of their body, save their eyes. That is simply what my 'rescuer' said."

This caught Tengoku's attention. "What did he say, exactly."

Kenshin paused, thinking back to the night before, after all of the screaming had ended. "You did well, my friend. Very few can fight that many Akumu Minzoku, that badly out numbered, and last that long."

"What else happened? Tell me everything."

Kenshin related the entire story, everything he heard and saw. Tengoku listened closely for any clue.

"The question is," Kenshin said, "Who would know and hate me, and know and hate the Akumu Minzoku at the same time. You said you were the only one left of the Akuma Ryoshi. What happened to Taiyoryu?"

Tengoku lowered the hood to his robe and scratched his head. "He was in a building when it exploded from mystical energies. The explosion destroyed everything for nearly a mile."

Kenshin nodded, not wanting to continue on that subject. "What next?"

"I have already been to the site of Atarashiikami's keep. It has been completely cleaned."

"Nani?" Kenshin was surprised. "What happened to it?"

Tengoku shrugged. "I assume the government cleaned it up."

Several moments of awkward silence passed before the next question came to Kenshin. "How do you plan to find this artifact of yours, since you don't know what it looks like?"

Tengoku reached under his cloak and produced a small plate of some strange metal, with an arrow attached to a pin in the center. With a soft flick of his finger, Tengoku sent the arrow spinning.

"When I get close enough to it, this should turn and point in it's direction."

"Should?" Kenshin asked.

"Aa. The artifact is of a magic not of your world. It should stand out to this finder."

Silence, once more, settles in the room. Kenshin was getting tired of dealing with 'magic'. First, it was the Atarashiikami, then the 'divine medicine', then it was the Fusui. Now, it is this 'artifact' of Atarashiikami.

"I have some contacts in the government. I can speak with them. Maybe we can find out what happened to the ruins."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Himura-san." Tengoku bowed. "I will leave you to rest. We can talk more later."

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The next morning, Kenshin and Tengoku walk to the police headquarters, hoping to speak to Yamagata Aritomo. After waiting for nearly an hour, they finally get to see him.

"Ohayou, Himura-san." Yamagata greets warmly.

"Ohayou." Kenshin returns.

"To what do I own the honor of this meeting?" Yamagata asks after offering Kenshin and Tengoku a seat.

"This is Tengoku Hitokara." Kenshin says, introducing the robed man beside him. "He was a member of Akumu Ryoshi."

This catches Yamagata's attention. He had, of course, read Meiyomi Agaru's report. Meiyomi Agaru was the coach driver who drove Kenshin's group six months ago in search of Atarashiikami. She drove for the government regularly, and was acting on behalf of the government when she drove Kenshin and his friends.

"Well, now." Yamagata says. "This is a surprise. Meiyomi's report said you had left the land."

"I had, Yamagata-san. I have come back for a very specific reason."

Kenshin had insisted that they could trust Yamagata Aritomo. Tengoku begins to tell Yamagata everything.