* * * * * *
The Evening Before
* * *
"Huyaaaaaaa!" The two muscular men rushed forward, their thick hands grasping shinai's held in perfect position before them, the bamboo sticks aimed precisely at their opponent's head. They gave a loud roar. "You won't get the best of all of us, you runt!"
The 'runt' ignored the insults thrown at him and stood his ground, a cold and detached expression glowing in his dark eyes. Though short in stature and slight for a samurai, he did not show the slightest of apprehension as the wooden rods flew toward him. At the very last moment, when a direct hit seemed unavoidable, the small man stepped aside, his long black ponytail trailing behind him. As his attackers rushed by, he moved behind them, lifted up his shinai, and in one swift motion cracked the wooden stick across the back of his much larger assailants.
"Uuumph!" the men grunted as they fell on their faces, to a heap on the ground at the small man's feet.
"Impressive..." a spectator murmured. The wide-eyed Okita Souji and fish-skeleton chewing Harada Sanosuke looked at each other in agreement.
The small man looked around at the several groaning men lying on the floor around him. "Is that all?" He said in a mocking tone. "Do you really expect that skills like that can get you into the Shinsengumi?" The small man gazed around.
"That's enough," a deep voice commanded, and a tall well-built man wearing a Shinsengumi uniform walked into view. However, when the man approached, his face showed no anger but seemed to have an expression of approval. "Hijikata Toshizo, Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi," he introduced himself. "Name yourself."
The slight man was surprised at Hijikata's straightforward manner, but quickly remembered his manners. "Katagi Toki," the slight man gave a stiff bow.
Hijikata silently studied Katagi for a minute. Though he was small, this potential Shinsengumi recruit had a calm manner that belied his surprising speed and power. Hijikata turned to Okita, who had walked up next to him. "First captain Okita Souji," he announced, "meet your new corporal."
"Na-NI?!" Okita exclaimed. "I said I don't need another corporal!" Okita's boyish voice sounded irritated.
Suddenly, another voice spoke up. "Hijikata-san is right. You WILL need two corporals."
Heads spun as the tall and confident Saitoh Hajime strode inside the dojo. "We need all the help we can get," he spoke steadily. Saitoh turned to Hijikata and Okita. "I need to talk to Kondou-san, along with you and the other captains."
Hijikata gave Saitoh a hard look, which Saitoh returned. "Very well," Hijikata replied. He turned to the several groaning men who were sitting up. "You five by the wall and you two by the door," he called. "You have passed the recruiting test along with Katagi. The rest of you go home. The unskilled have no place in Kyoto except among the dead."
The captains marched out. The training hall became silent as Katagi watched the rest of the men painfully leave the room. "Hm," Katagi grunted. They must have already grown fearful him.
Suddenly, he felt a presence. "Who's there?" Katagi demanded and spun around. He faced a small girl peeking from the back entrance. She looked as if she had just been crying.
"Umm..." her lower lip was quivering. "Ayumi... just a servant girl." She bowed in embarrassment.
Katagi frowned at the scared figure before him. "What is a girl like you working in a place like this?" he asked in disdain, dark eyes more icy than ever.
Ayumi began tearing up again. Why was everyone so cold? She wiped a tear from her cheek.
"She's just impressed with your fine skills," a taller, much more composed girl walked through the doorway and put her steady hands on Ayumi's shoulder.
Katagi's eyes widened in surprise. Why had he not felt her presence?
"Why don't you go to the courtyard and help Iyoko with the laundry?" the girl told Ayumi in a rational voice. Ayumi nodded sorrowfully and quickly left.
"My name is Reiji, in charge of the serving girls" the remaining girl bowed slightly. "Forgive Ayumi. She's new today."
Katagi lifted his eyebrows. "That girl should not be here," he said distastefully.
Reiji cocked her head slightly and gave Katagi a serious look. Suddenly, she began to walk slowly towards him. She stepped lightly before him and looked at him face to face. They were of equal stature, approximately Okita's height. Reiji stared into Katagi's frosty eyes.
Katagi's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!" he jumped back.
Reiji let out a soft ringing laugh, her eyes smiling. "I was just wondering why you felt so opposed to Ayumi being here. Most men only feel pity for such a poor thing."
"What are talking about?!" Katagi growled menacingly. "It is obvious that the girl cannot survive in Kyoto, much less in the Shinsengumi camp."
Reiji stopped laughing, but her eyes still glowed. "Gomen, gomen," she apologized. "I thought I recognized someone in you. Demo..." Reiji added quietly, her eyes still on Katagi's face. "Though I do not know you, I've discovered something only a girl can perceive-"
"Katagi-kun!" A voice rang out from outside. "Your uniform!"
"Excuse me," Katagi quickly said, eager to end the conversation.
But as she turned to leave, Katagi heard a whisper behind her.
"You... are a girl," it softly rang through the training hall.
Katagi jerked and turned once again, but Reiji had already left through the back door.
* * *
The sun had set. The Shinsengumi captains had made their plans.
Accompanied by the dull thuds of footsteps reverberating down the streets of Kyoto, a Shinsengumi squadron, blue jackets on their backs and torches in hand, marched purposefully toward their destination.
Or were they?
Quietly stealing through the dark and starless night, a small group of blue jackets soundlessly coursed through silent streets... in the opposite direction.
In a different district of Kyoto, a soft but quick pattering of sandals echoed down another alleyway. Suddenly, the sound stopped. A figure stood below a window.
"Hondo-san!" A voice yelled. "Get out here, now!"
The window was carefully opened, but not Hondo but a certain redhead with a cross scar had unlatched it.
"Himura-san!" the voice cried, sounding relieved.
"What's wrong?" the redhead asked quietly, peering the dark alley below, down at eyes that glowed in the darkness.
"Katsura-san is in danger! Some bakarou gave out his location!"
"Na-ni?!" the man stepped back.
"The Shinsengumi is advancing on his place this very moment!" the voice continued.
"Our people would have realized if they were marching toward Katsura-san's-"
"No..." a head shook in the darkness below. "A small elite force will surprise attack him, while the rest will turn back to surround the compound and ambush anyone who tries to flee.
At this, the man nodded and grasped the katana beside him. "I'm coming."
"I will tell the new hitokiri," the voice called out. "Himura-san, you must hurry!" The sound of quick footsteps receded into the distance.
Only a moment later, a red-haired, cross-scarred man too was rapidly pattering down into the starless night.
"I'm coming, Katsura-san."
* * *
Katagi Toki... didn't Saitoh have an arranged marriage with Takagi Tokio? Oro... lol
Let's see... is there anything to explain? Oh yeah, the Ishin's WERE real bakas in in giving Katsura's location away because I was a real baka and didn't use my head to think up something fancy^_;
Oh, and as I explained to Espi, I assumed that before Tomoe's death, Kenshin did not have any face-to-face encounter with Okita or Saitoh. He didn't in the Samurai X Trust and Betrayal OVA, and in the anime, the fight with Saitoh was probably a random battle some time after Ikeda-ya.
To my three reviewers from the last chapter: Arigatou gozaimau! You all are the ONLY reason I updated!!^_^
Koe176-san: Yup, I kept up my part of the deal in writing this! Your ramblings are amazing^o^
Hitokiri-san: When I got your e-mail yesterday, I was like, "Oh no! I haven't even started the next chapter!" and I wrote most of this while also writing a poem about Canterbury Tales for English. Lol, now you have to update^_~
Espeon-san: (I used that pokemon to beat the Elite Four!)... I have no life... ANYWAY... thanks for your feedback! When I got your e-mail today, I was like, "Aaaahhh! I need to finish the story!" Yeah, the reason that I began this was because I thought there was not enough Bakumatsu fics. Now, about any good Bakumatsu fics besides Darkest Shadows, Brightest Lights... do you know any, expert Koe-san?
The Evening Before
* * *
"Huyaaaaaaa!" The two muscular men rushed forward, their thick hands grasping shinai's held in perfect position before them, the bamboo sticks aimed precisely at their opponent's head. They gave a loud roar. "You won't get the best of all of us, you runt!"
The 'runt' ignored the insults thrown at him and stood his ground, a cold and detached expression glowing in his dark eyes. Though short in stature and slight for a samurai, he did not show the slightest of apprehension as the wooden rods flew toward him. At the very last moment, when a direct hit seemed unavoidable, the small man stepped aside, his long black ponytail trailing behind him. As his attackers rushed by, he moved behind them, lifted up his shinai, and in one swift motion cracked the wooden stick across the back of his much larger assailants.
"Uuumph!" the men grunted as they fell on their faces, to a heap on the ground at the small man's feet.
"Impressive..." a spectator murmured. The wide-eyed Okita Souji and fish-skeleton chewing Harada Sanosuke looked at each other in agreement.
The small man looked around at the several groaning men lying on the floor around him. "Is that all?" He said in a mocking tone. "Do you really expect that skills like that can get you into the Shinsengumi?" The small man gazed around.
"That's enough," a deep voice commanded, and a tall well-built man wearing a Shinsengumi uniform walked into view. However, when the man approached, his face showed no anger but seemed to have an expression of approval. "Hijikata Toshizo, Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi," he introduced himself. "Name yourself."
The slight man was surprised at Hijikata's straightforward manner, but quickly remembered his manners. "Katagi Toki," the slight man gave a stiff bow.
Hijikata silently studied Katagi for a minute. Though he was small, this potential Shinsengumi recruit had a calm manner that belied his surprising speed and power. Hijikata turned to Okita, who had walked up next to him. "First captain Okita Souji," he announced, "meet your new corporal."
"Na-NI?!" Okita exclaimed. "I said I don't need another corporal!" Okita's boyish voice sounded irritated.
Suddenly, another voice spoke up. "Hijikata-san is right. You WILL need two corporals."
Heads spun as the tall and confident Saitoh Hajime strode inside the dojo. "We need all the help we can get," he spoke steadily. Saitoh turned to Hijikata and Okita. "I need to talk to Kondou-san, along with you and the other captains."
Hijikata gave Saitoh a hard look, which Saitoh returned. "Very well," Hijikata replied. He turned to the several groaning men who were sitting up. "You five by the wall and you two by the door," he called. "You have passed the recruiting test along with Katagi. The rest of you go home. The unskilled have no place in Kyoto except among the dead."
The captains marched out. The training hall became silent as Katagi watched the rest of the men painfully leave the room. "Hm," Katagi grunted. They must have already grown fearful him.
Suddenly, he felt a presence. "Who's there?" Katagi demanded and spun around. He faced a small girl peeking from the back entrance. She looked as if she had just been crying.
"Umm..." her lower lip was quivering. "Ayumi... just a servant girl." She bowed in embarrassment.
Katagi frowned at the scared figure before him. "What is a girl like you working in a place like this?" he asked in disdain, dark eyes more icy than ever.
Ayumi began tearing up again. Why was everyone so cold? She wiped a tear from her cheek.
"She's just impressed with your fine skills," a taller, much more composed girl walked through the doorway and put her steady hands on Ayumi's shoulder.
Katagi's eyes widened in surprise. Why had he not felt her presence?
"Why don't you go to the courtyard and help Iyoko with the laundry?" the girl told Ayumi in a rational voice. Ayumi nodded sorrowfully and quickly left.
"My name is Reiji, in charge of the serving girls" the remaining girl bowed slightly. "Forgive Ayumi. She's new today."
Katagi lifted his eyebrows. "That girl should not be here," he said distastefully.
Reiji cocked her head slightly and gave Katagi a serious look. Suddenly, she began to walk slowly towards him. She stepped lightly before him and looked at him face to face. They were of equal stature, approximately Okita's height. Reiji stared into Katagi's frosty eyes.
Katagi's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!" he jumped back.
Reiji let out a soft ringing laugh, her eyes smiling. "I was just wondering why you felt so opposed to Ayumi being here. Most men only feel pity for such a poor thing."
"What are talking about?!" Katagi growled menacingly. "It is obvious that the girl cannot survive in Kyoto, much less in the Shinsengumi camp."
Reiji stopped laughing, but her eyes still glowed. "Gomen, gomen," she apologized. "I thought I recognized someone in you. Demo..." Reiji added quietly, her eyes still on Katagi's face. "Though I do not know you, I've discovered something only a girl can perceive-"
"Katagi-kun!" A voice rang out from outside. "Your uniform!"
"Excuse me," Katagi quickly said, eager to end the conversation.
But as she turned to leave, Katagi heard a whisper behind her.
"You... are a girl," it softly rang through the training hall.
Katagi jerked and turned once again, but Reiji had already left through the back door.
* * *
The sun had set. The Shinsengumi captains had made their plans.
Accompanied by the dull thuds of footsteps reverberating down the streets of Kyoto, a Shinsengumi squadron, blue jackets on their backs and torches in hand, marched purposefully toward their destination.
Or were they?
Quietly stealing through the dark and starless night, a small group of blue jackets soundlessly coursed through silent streets... in the opposite direction.
In a different district of Kyoto, a soft but quick pattering of sandals echoed down another alleyway. Suddenly, the sound stopped. A figure stood below a window.
"Hondo-san!" A voice yelled. "Get out here, now!"
The window was carefully opened, but not Hondo but a certain redhead with a cross scar had unlatched it.
"Himura-san!" the voice cried, sounding relieved.
"What's wrong?" the redhead asked quietly, peering the dark alley below, down at eyes that glowed in the darkness.
"Katsura-san is in danger! Some bakarou gave out his location!"
"Na-ni?!" the man stepped back.
"The Shinsengumi is advancing on his place this very moment!" the voice continued.
"Our people would have realized if they were marching toward Katsura-san's-"
"No..." a head shook in the darkness below. "A small elite force will surprise attack him, while the rest will turn back to surround the compound and ambush anyone who tries to flee.
At this, the man nodded and grasped the katana beside him. "I'm coming."
"I will tell the new hitokiri," the voice called out. "Himura-san, you must hurry!" The sound of quick footsteps receded into the distance.
Only a moment later, a red-haired, cross-scarred man too was rapidly pattering down into the starless night.
"I'm coming, Katsura-san."
* * *
Katagi Toki... didn't Saitoh have an arranged marriage with Takagi Tokio? Oro... lol
Let's see... is there anything to explain? Oh yeah, the Ishin's WERE real bakas in in giving Katsura's location away because I was a real baka and didn't use my head to think up something fancy^_;
Oh, and as I explained to Espi, I assumed that before Tomoe's death, Kenshin did not have any face-to-face encounter with Okita or Saitoh. He didn't in the Samurai X Trust and Betrayal OVA, and in the anime, the fight with Saitoh was probably a random battle some time after Ikeda-ya.
To my three reviewers from the last chapter: Arigatou gozaimau! You all are the ONLY reason I updated!!^_^
Koe176-san: Yup, I kept up my part of the deal in writing this! Your ramblings are amazing^o^
Hitokiri-san: When I got your e-mail yesterday, I was like, "Oh no! I haven't even started the next chapter!" and I wrote most of this while also writing a poem about Canterbury Tales for English. Lol, now you have to update^_~
Espeon-san: (I used that pokemon to beat the Elite Four!)... I have no life... ANYWAY... thanks for your feedback! When I got your e-mail today, I was like, "Aaaahhh! I need to finish the story!" Yeah, the reason that I began this was because I thought there was not enough Bakumatsu fics. Now, about any good Bakumatsu fics besides Darkest Shadows, Brightest Lights... do you know any, expert Koe-san?