_____chapter one [[a beginning of the end]]

[a/n: This chapter will be extremely fast paced, I need this chapter to set the stage, so to say.]

[a/n2: This chapter was reloaded… if you read the previous version its sooo different. For example, I switched Aoshi's dialogue and total existence with an OC to avoid confusion, etc. etc… *sighs* Enishi's still in this chapter though, but his role is totally cameo. *shrugs* He's older than Tomoe though, so let me just get that out of the way.]


            "Really? No way!"

            "No, it's true! They say the symbol of evil appears in the dreams of those he defeated…"

            "He's that strong?"

            "Nothing compared to the Battousai."

            "Of course no one could defeat Battousai. He is the strongest."

            "He's almost like a god…"

            "No, not a god, he's like… the devil."

            The voices… I'm drowning in their voices… Stop, someone, make them-

            "Would you like some tea, sirs?" Wait, could it be…

            A small, red haired boy peeked through his arms, which he had buried himself in, and his eyes fell upon one of the new waitresses at the bar. The small red haired boy was me, sitting at a table with 11 of my "companions", or so they would say. I had no real choice in the matter of attending this gathering, but my superior, Katsura, urged me to. The past few minutes had been a blur, I had chosen to stay quiet as I always did while the other men drank to their heart's content.

I directed my attention to the new waitress once again. They had hired her a few days ago when they found her haunting the bar. "If she is homeless at least put her to good use," The manager had said, trying to hide the kindness in her voice.

            She had an elegant, soft-spoken grace, the white plum smell radiating all around her. Her dark hair was tucked in a ribbon, her pale kimono swaying as she walked, no, glided to the men.

            "Ah, yes, Tomoe." One of the younger said, as if familiar with her. Her eyes looked hollow and empty but she gave him a ghost of a smile before drifting off to pour the tea.

            I was entranced.

            "Himura-san, you're mind isn't on the topic at hand." A voice next to me spoke.

            I looked towards the speaker, and nodded.

            "Apologies, Saikai-san. What has happened?" I spoke as politely as possible, but failed to mask the cold tone in my voice. The others, who had been laughing and drinking with cheer froze and immediately sat up straight, rapt with attention. The speaker, a man known as Saikai, one of the more elusive members of the Ishin Shishi, was amused. The other men held much respect for this young boy… it was quite amazing.

"Ahem…" He cleared his throat. "These are quite confusing times, and this meeting was not called for the purpose of downing several gallons of alcohol." He spoke, a hint of irritation in his voice, but an amused smile tugging at his lips.

            "Katsura's men have been arguing against the Shogunate for quite a while, many of the Shogunate are suspicious of Katsura's activities. Katsura and Miyabe have been debating for a long time, and recently, Miyabe has broken ties with Katsura. Anything could happen now."

            "Saikai-san, shouldn't you be discussing this with the politicians?" I asked, a hint of annoyance in my voice. "We are only the hitokiri, we have no real urge to discuss the dirty antics of politicians."

            He looked towards me, and he gave me a phantom smirk. "Believe me, Himura-san, the discussion will not remain on politicians very long. You are all aware of a man they call Yukishiro Enishi, correct?"

            "Is he the one who has ties with Takeda Kanryuu?" The man next to me asked.

           "Yes," Saikai nodded. "Kanryuu is quite infamous in the Underground for dealing illegal drugs, but with the aid of Yukishiro, who has been able to obtain a lot of weapons. Many of them are banned also. Should Yukishiro successfully manage to sell them on the black market, we have no idea who will buy them."

            "We have many enemies." I found myself saying.

            Saikai looked my way and nodded. "Many of the men are out obtaining information right now. " He explained.

            A few tables over, a man was looking towards them with slanted eyes and strained to hear what they were saying. Once he realized it, his eyebrows shot up, and he non-consciously began to reach for his katana.
            "Is something wrong, love?" Tomoe asked gently, putting a cool slender hand on top of his.

            "No, no, everything's fine." Kiyosato gave her a bright smile that didn't reach his eyes. She seemed to relax, and recoiled to her original position. Kiyosato strained to hear what the men a few tables were saying while Tomoe poured him some green tea. She knew something was wrong, he wouldn't tell her. It wasn't her place to insist; she simply sighed softly and sipped her tea.

            "How is this going to go about?"

            "I suspect the Shinsengumi will have something to say about this?"

            "Of course, their high-and-mighty asses always have something to say…"

            "But this time, I'm expecting other forces as well."

            "Others?"

            "There are lots of political groups out there, but there are also independent rogues. If any of them get in the way… also, if any of them manage to lay hands on some of the things Yukishiro's got, everything we've been fighting for could be over…"

            Yukishiro?! Kiyosato's eyes widened, hearing the name. What could they want with Enishi? Worried, Kiyosato tried to muster a confident face and turned to Tomoe.

            "Koiishi, I'm going to… go for a walk. I'll be back soon." Tomoe nodded, giving him a small smile and he returned one. Tomoe noticed he had picked up his katana.

            "Himura." The man next to me muttered under his breath. I looked towards Iizuka.

            "What?" I half asked, half spoke, not really caring what it was.

            "We have a rat." Iizuka growled softly, and nudged his head towards the direction of Kiyosato, who was hurrying as fast as he could to the door without seeming suspicious. Iizuka saw through it right away. "We like to dispose of trash as fast as we can in the Ishin Shishi."

            I nodded, standing up and picking up my katana and wakizashi. "I'll take care of him." I spoke in a dangerously soft tone, my eyes glowing the feral amber the populace had grown to fear and admire.

            Saikai eyed me disappearing after Kiyosato warily, and looked towards Iizuka. "I take it he has some duties?" He raised an eyebrow. Iizuka sighed.

            "He's only been doing this for a year and he's already completely mastered this."

            "Mastering the art of killing isn't exactly a thing you boast about at parties." Saikai noted, quietly sipping his tea.

[[3rd person now]]

            "Tomoe-chan!" Tomoe turned to look at her manager. Tomoe's mature expressions didn't match her still young face, and everyone knew this. But they all knew of her kind heart also.

            The manager gave her a smile. "We'd all like to congratulate you on your engagement, Tomoe-chan. Kiyosato-san truly deserves a treasure like you."

            Unable to supress it, Tomoe returned a wide beam. "Arigato gozaimasu."

            "So polite…" The manager laughed quietly. "You truly love him, don't you?"

            Tomoe looked at her feet, blushing a little. "Yes… yes, I do."

            The manager chuckled once again before turning around and reaching out the window. She snapped a bright red flower off the branch, and handed it to Tomoe.

            "I'll let you off early tonight. Why don't you go give it to Kiyosato-san?"

            Tomoe held the flower in her hands earnestly. "Ah! Domo arigato gozaimasu!" She exclaimed, bowing lavishly before excusing herself.

            Akira-san must be near, he was only taking a walk… She told herself while trotting down the street with a smile on her face.

            The warm feeling in her chest began to fade away slowly. She had been walking for a long time, and it was late at night. Normally Kiyosato would escort her home on nights she worked, she didn't worry about any of the people around here. She noticed strange men in alleys eying her hungrily, heard screams and shouts, saw glints of a katana in the moonlight. She was now beginning to get worried.

            "Where am I?" She wondered quietly to herself.

            "Stop!" She heard a voice bellow. Curiosity getting the better of her, she jogged down the alley to see a young man standing there, holding a katana in his hand.

            "Let me through!" Another voice, a familiar one. A smile crossing her face, Tomoe turned to the one who spoke.

            "Akira-san!" She called joyfully, but to her surprise, her fiance's eyes widened in fear.

            "Tomoe! Leave, now!" He tried to call out, but was interrupted by the Battousai.

            "I don't allow any witnesses…" He whispered quietly, and took a stance.

            "TOMOE!" Akira called out, panic filling his voice.

            What's going on? I don't understand… Tomoe's mind didn't comprehend what was going on yet. Who was this man with red hair? Why was he charging at her?

            "NO!!!" Akira bellowed, running as fast as his legs could bring him to defend his beloved. Throwing himself in front of Tomoe at the last moment, Battousai's battoujutsu ripped him apart in front of Tomoe's eyes. In his anguish, he had managed to put a scratch on Battousai's cheek, which was now bleeding profusely.

            "Akira! Akira!" Tomoe cried, leaning over the body of her fiance, which was now shrouded with a dark veil of death, pools of his own blood around him.

            "To… mo… e…" He managed to cough out, and reached for the red flower Tomoe had dropped.

            Closer… every bit I'm closer… His hand just lightly brushed against the flower before Battousai threw his katana into his chest.

            "The dead should die quickly." He muttered, pulling it out.

            Tomoe glared up at the man who had just killed her beloved fiance with eyes that only deserved to look upon a monster. And a monster he was. He was the devil.

            Battousai looked down at the woman, and his eyes jerked wide open. She was…

            "You… waitress…" He mumbled incoherently, his mind in chaos. It was her! She was the waitress he saw at the bar!

"Who… was he to you?" He stammered out hoarsely, uncomfortably looking away from her glare.

            "He was…" The look of pure rage crossed her face, "… he was my fiance!" She cried out, looking up at the hazy sky.

            Battousai's eyes widened, looking at the young woman. Her fiance?

            Tomoe held her head at the sky, a single, solitary tear dripping down her cheek. "You… you made it rain blood... you made the night rain blood…" She murmered hoarsely before fainting on top of Kiyosato's body.

            Battousai stared down at the girl. I made the night rain blood? He wondered. Above him, there was a loud thunder clash. Pools of rain fell down upon the killer, the deceased man, and the young woman whose heart had just been destroyed. Battousai walked up to a growing puddle of rainwater, which grew dark mixed with Kiyosato's blood. The cut Kiyosato had managed to make in his fury was dripping with blood. A strike of lightening hit behind him just as a surprised expression crossed his face. His eyes grew wide, horrified.

            I look like… a monster…

            Battousai sheathed his sword, which was wiped clean of the blood with the rainwater, but his soul wasn't. His soul was constantly bleeding with the blood of those whose lives he took. He looked remorsefully at the young couple, Kiyosato who was dead and Tomoe who had fainted from grief. Unsure of what to do, he lifted Tomoe up onto his shoulder. Surprised at how light she was, he also begrudgingly picked up the corpse of Kiyosato, and carried the two to his relative "home".

            As morning slowly drifted over the small house. A thin stream of light landed on Tomoe's face, waking her. She stirred, alert. Where was she? What had happened last night-

            Upon remembering the events last night, she wanted to bury herself and scream. But, no, she shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't. But the memory was hard to forget, it was vivid and still fresh in her mind. Every detail of it was etched into her heart, Akira's scream, how he tried to reach for the flower she was going to give him, and how Battousai threw his katana into his heart…

            Battousai…

            Her face was normally pale face got even paler when she remembered the man that killed her fiance. She felt a deadly rage rise in her bosom, but she silenced the thought.

            I will… somehow… avenge Akira… She decided shakily. She stood up, and nearly fell down. Leaning against a wall, she took a deep breath and pressed her forehead against the cool walls. Her head was throbbing; perhaps Akira had tempted her to far too much alcohol last night…

            "No!" She shouted spontaneously, clenching her fists. Akira… he's dead… if I think about him anymore… no… it isn't his fault! It's… It's Battousai's! Her eyes narrowed with pure hatred.

            "Battousai… You stole my happiness…" She murmered before she was overcome with a throbbing pain and fell onto the ground with a thud again.

            He drew his katana from his sheath will stealth perfected over several years, and slowly raised it. He pushed it closer and closer to her slender, ivory neck, about to take her life away…

            "No!" He cried, shaking awake. Shaking his head, he stood up, staring at the dirt, mud, and blood crusted on his hands. What was I… dreaming about? He found he couldn't remember what the alarming dream was.

            He looked towards his katana and wakizashi. They were his gift, his curse, his destiny, his demise.

            Last night… His eyes widened upon recollection on what had happened. He had killed that man Iizuka said had overheard their conversation… but that woman… where was that woman?!

            Alarmed, Battousai sped down the halls of his small house, provided by Katsura, opening door after door, finding nothing but air. Finally, he reached the last door. He found himself pausing in front of it.

            What if she's not there? What if…

            "Why am I scared?" He whispered quietly. He slowly opened the last door, swallowing his breath. He let it out when he saw her, but took another breath of alarm when he saw what position she was in. The futon was on the opposite side of the room, she had either rolled over or fallen. It looked like she had hit her head against something, a thin trickle of blood was coming from her head. She was sprawled out across the floor on her side. The ribbon she used to tie her hair had fallen out, and it cascaded down the side of her face and brushed against the floor.

            The legendary manslayer Battousai found that he could not move in the presence of this mysterious woman; he couldn't move at all.

[a/n: An editted chapter we have here…I replaced Aoshi with Saikai, the very minor cameo-appearing OC of mine. Foo, like I care, I originally used Aoshi, so imagine Saikai as a sadistic Aoshi, 'kay? I'm trying to limit the characters here, so he may pop around again. As for the chapter… I like it. ^o^ S'ok, de gozaru yo. Leave me a review, onegai? No flames please! *sniff* If you have criticism, I'll take it but please don't scream and rant needlessly. Much thanks.]