Part Two:
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of a drum Will you stand and fight with me when tomorrow comes?
Myojin Yahiko wandered down the street toward Taichi's house in an absolutely dreadful mood.
Kaoru was such a pain sometimes. A pain and a hypocrite. No one really cared anymore about who was married, but they had to lie about it. Yahiko had to go along even though he knew that was wrong. He didn't want to judge, but he knew it was far greater evil to hide the truth. He knew that.
Yahiko grabbed a small stone and tossed it into the pond in the middle of the courtyard. The koi shuddered awake from their sleep.
"Oi Taichi. Are you up?"
Taichi slid open the door and smiled. "Hey careful with the fish."
Iori, Daisuke and Takeru[1] were milling behind him in the room, now they rushed to greet him.
"Oi, When did you get out of that boring old Biifu Paati?" Daisuke asked.
"Yeah I thought Miss Kamiya would make you stay." Takeru needled him.
"She's not my mom. I told her 'I'm my own man. You can't tell me what to do anymore.'" Yahiko said.
"Wow. I'd never tell my mom that." Iori shook his head "She'd tell my dad to kill me."
"She's just going to have to deal with it." Yahiko headed out of the gate, "Come on. Let's go get some okonomayaki. I'm still hungry."
"They got some down the street." Taichi pointed.
Daisuke whined. "I thought we were getting drunk."
Iori said "I can't go into a bar. My parents will kill me."
"They don't have to find out stupid." "We'll just come home early."
"Let's just get some food first," Yahiko said.
It was a good thing that the nomiya on the corner served all kinds of foods and Yahiko must have ordered three pieces of okonomayaki and was considering a bowl of cold noodles. They all sat eating at the snack bar and talking. Yahiko mostly ate and listened letting his friends chatter distract him from his problems
Takeru brought out a book with a blue cover and the French writing on the front. "I picked up this new book at the sellers. It is about the French Revolution."
"Cool," The boys said.
"Yeah. It's all in French too," The boy indicated the words on the page. "It's crazy. See the peasants ran out of bread. So there was nothing to eat. So they went to war and stormed the castle."
"Like in the Bakufu, when the clans-" Daisuke asked.
"No. Not at all. Then the peasants just went crazy. They took all the samurai, and the nobles and they started cutting off their heads." Takeru shook his head "It's such a good book. It took me forever to read it."
"How'd they do that? Why didn't the samurai just kill them? Peasants can't fight back," Daisuke snorted.
"Well I heard they were using a head cutting machine. It probably didn't take as long," Taichi said. "Machines are faster then people.
Yahiko almost coughed as he slurped down noodles, idiots.
"Those peasants are going to hell. How could they turn on their betters like that?" Iori said, A real man would give his life for his lord," Iori declared.
"Well those Gaijin are crazy," Iori shook his head, and they all had to agree.
"Hell some of them probably deserved it." Taichi said "These rich decadent bastards exploiting the poor. It's a great injustice. The rich are always oppressing the poor."
"This book is really astonishing. How the Aristocrats brutalized the people and forced them to pay taxes beyond their means." Takeru flipped a few pages. "You can look at it next Yahiko. Your French is best. Iori would take forever. There is a picture here of the head cutting machine."
"Lemme see," Daisuke grabbed it.
"Don't get egg on it stupid," Takeru grumbled. "It's brand new. I'll kick your ass."
Yahiko rolled his eyes, "No you won't."
"I was just looking." Daisuke defended "Tell him Yahiko."
"Shut you up you two," Yahiko said.
Taichi elbowed Yahiko. "See, it's like Marx's book, exploitation of the poor workers, the illiterate, and the broken. Even a hundred years ago, it was like that. It will never change."
Taichi was always talking about his favorite book, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels,[2] a book they had picked up at the book sellers one day. Taichi bought a copy in English, and his dad, a well educated man, had tried to translate it. But it never was popular. Yahiko never saw the translation his father made actually. He did see it in foreign languages. And he had his own copy in French still in his pocket.
"But it's not like that in Japan," Daisuke said. "We have good lives. We've got food to eat and lots of money. Those French guys didn't even have their bread, and they love their bread. They eat it all the time. The Gai-jin are just crazy. Nothing like that would happen here."
Yahiko sat up spoke between bites, "People are different now."
"What do you think Yahiko?" Iori asked in his high voice.
The young swordsman paused taking a drink. He knew they were hanging on his words. Secretly the boys looked up to him, and were always asking him advice. He had lived through a lot more trouble then they had and had Kenshin, and Hiko and brilliant men to teach him from example. Yahiko wiped his mouth.
"Once the French, maybe hundreds of years ago, were like us, in many ways. Then they built factories and such and made their country modern, replacing everything with machines. This is what is happening here. When they start bringing all their factories over here, it's going to turn out like that. They'll be too many people. Everyone will live in the city. They'll be starvation and the rich will still abuse the poor. That is what Marx was saying. He says that our race is irrelevant."
"Not in Japan, the rebels were stopped before we were born," Daisuke insisted.
"There is always trouble we don't know about. Secret politics that go on." Yahiko knew the plot led by Shishio Makoto and the Ten Swords had turned over the government and almost accomplished revolution. But no one around him knew that, it had been a state secret.
"Everything happens again, in great cycles. That's what Marx-san said. It's a struggle between capitalists who possess everything and proletariat who have nothing."
"Yahiko is right. There must be a revolution one day. The whole country is run by capitalist pigs. Everyone is weak and stupid. One day there are going to be food riots here, and labour strikes. Then they'll see." Taichi articulated.
Yahiko looked at them, "My family was samurai, now I don't have much of anything. While rich lazy good for nothings take money and power. When there is no honor in the world, surely we'll end up just like the French," Yahiko said.
"Maybe we should get rid of all those bastards. We wouldn't use no head cutting machine." Taichi said. "We would get rid of those bastards, like real men would."
"What do you know about it?" Yahiko rolled his eyes.
"Well Marx-san says that the Proletariat will rise up against the Capitalists, and the world will be free and united. I'm going to be on the side of right."
"You don't think they'll be a war soon." Daisuke said "This is probably several years in the future."
"It is coming here." Taichi said "You can't kill an idea forever. People who believe in the ideals of communism are meeting all over the world, coming together. Soon countries in the west like America will have communists in charge. Then it may come here."
Yahiko paused, "Well then I guess we better be ready for it when it does."
The boys looked down at their drinks and took a long look at them and nearly stopped talking for a full minute.
*******
After they left the nomiya and ate and drank until their purses were empty, the boys wandered out into the street babbling.
Yahiko held up Taichi who was shouting for workers rights, or for revolution, but who could know? He wasn't speaking in words. Yahiko was the least drunk of them all. Iori couldn't stop laughing. His troubles at the Biifu Paati were entirely forgotten and replaced with a nagging feeling. Maybe he would be more joyous if he had gotten as drunk as them.
The cop approached them from the other side of the street.
"Hey you. What are you guys doing out so late? It is after midnight. You shouldn't be out so late making so much noise."
This situation required diplomacy and tact. They had been making a lot of noise but with a little guile and smooth talking they could convince the officer to go about his business.
"Huh?"
"The bartender just called me. Talking this nonsense. Taking about cutting peoples heads off. You should be home. Your mothers will be very cross," The policeman wagged his finger.
"Hmm. We were just talking, you pig." Taichi slurred. The cop didn't acknowledge his statement.
"Yeah. We'll be quiet sir." Iori put his fingers to his lips and shushed himself "We were on our way home, sir. It's just that we got lost on our way home from visiting our-"
"Your sick grandmother. I've heard that one before. You've been at that nomiya haven you?" The policeman smelled his breath. The scent of sake quite apparent. "Honestly. It's getting younger and younger."
"We were just talking about books." Taichi snorted. "Pig."
"Pig. Did you just call me a pig again? You call me pig again and I will bring you into the police station and beat that smart mouth of yours."
Takeru took out his book "This book is about the French Rebalution. And there was this head cutting machine. You tell'im. You tell him about the head cutting machine."
"Head cutting machine?" The policeman asked puzzled. People did say odd things when they drank. "Now I know you are drunk."
Takeru pointed somewhere at his book, "Ma ma. Head cutting machine Gi-yo-tii-nu." Takeru made a cutting motion and fell over.
"Can't when even have a peaceable.peaceful. discussion about books? You make me sick," Taichi said lolling in Yahiko's arms.
The cop snatched the book out of his hand. "Let me see what you are talking about. There is no such thing as a head cutting machine. You shouldn't lie to a police officer. You boys are in enough trouble as it is."
"My book," Takeru frowned. Absolutely astonished as the cop moved so fast. Of course everyone seemed fast to him after a few bottles of sake.
The police man leafed through the book angrily, squinting his eyes at the book, "What is this?"
"This is a French book. We were just talking about it." Yahiko said. His voice wasn't slurred by alcohol and was standing up straight. "We just got carried away." Once again he was acting the spokesman for the group.
"I can't read any of this goobledy-gook." The cop grumbled.
"Really?" Yahiko said.
"You young punks are getting on my last nerve. If you weren't drunk I would throw you in jail for your disrespect. You look like a bunch of no good agitators to me. Anarchists."
"We aren't anarchists!" Iori yelped like a scared dog. "We were just talking about the book. Don't call my mom."
"I can't read that book. That could be your secret code for all I know. Secret plans and manifesto. What's a manifesto?"
"Yes it is the Manifesto."
"I'm taking this book away from you.
Yahiko became angry, "That is a seizure of his personal property. You have no right to do that."
"I don't trust it."
"My book. It was expensive." Takeru still hadn't had time to react.
"Yeah don't you know who you are dealing with?" Yahiko said "Give him back his book."
"Or what?" Officer Kyo stood up to them.
Yahiko stood with his hands upon his hips.
***
Saito was about to leave the police station when it happened. On of the lower patrolman came into the police station, with a crowd of drunken boys. These boys were struggling against their captor being as annoying as loud as possible. Saito was tempted to plug his ears. Officer Kyo's hat was askew, from the struggle.
Saito approached. His eyes were clear and his posture was regal as he approached the mess. ****
Yahiko was being shoved by the cop into the police station.
"Hey. Lemme go pig."
"You dumb drunks shut up." The cop shouted. "You all are under arrest for disorderly conduct. And if you little punks don't behave yourself. I'll tell my Captain."
"Tell him, you dumb bastard."
"Workers of the world Unite." Taichi shouted in the police station before he vomited on the floor right in front of the police captain and toppled to his knees.
Saito looked down at his shoes. The boys were silent. Taichi looked up with an expression of terror and confusion, at the wolf of Mibu.
Saito only wiped his shoe off on the carpet and looked at the officer, only mildly affected by the disgusting display. "What is going on here? What is this nonsense?"
The boy stared at him surprised. They all silenced at his appearance.
"Saito Hajime," Yahiko whispered.
"Whos's he?"
"Mibu's-"
"Shut up." Saito told them. When they silenced, he cleared his throat. Taichi whimpered, "Gomen Nasai."
Yahiko straightened his spectacles, in an attempt to act nonchalant. But there was no nonchalance when you were quite sure your best friend was going to jail for vomiting on the Wolf of Mibu's shoes.
"I came in when the bartender of the Eastern Nomiya said that these young men were drinking and causing trouble," Officer Kyo stated.
Saito snorted, "Well take them into the jail cell until they dry out and call their parents. It's just a few boys. No need to be so disorderly. We are the authority and order here in Tokyo. I will not have this station turning into a rowdy place."
"Yes sir."
Saito walked away "If I hear anymore noise from here. I will deal with this matter personally."
***
The boys stepped back behind their ring leader, after Saito scolded them, rather lightly too considering the trouble they were in. As they were processed Saito watched them from afar. A scruffy wild haired young man, in a dark gi. His skin was warm and honey coloured. The young man pushed his glasses up and merely rolled his eyes.
The boys were hand cuffed to a bench and their parents would be contacted one by one.
"I would normally leave it at that. But they were disrespectful and rude."
Saito nodded, "Almost like a bunch of rowdy drunken teenagers."
"They were carrying inflammatory literature and talking about acts of astonishing violence," The officer reported. "I think it is a matter for you to look over. Of security."
The glasses boy looked sternly "You can not just take this property. We haven't done anything. It's not illegal to have books." He grumbled trying to stand up.
"What are drunks carrying around books for in the first place?" Saito said. "These boys look too drunk to provide any sort of coordinated defiance."
"I'm not drunk." The glasses boy snorted contemptuously.
"But you have been drinking," Saito said. "It's ill company."
Saito took a look at the boy, nothing extraordinary. Something dark in his eyes, he was extremely dignified and poised, as a swordsman. His clothes were dark, and he was carrying a shinai. How fortunate that when he took a hit at the officer, he hadn't done something foolish and hit him with a bokken.
"You are a swordsman."
"I don't use my sword on morons who pick fights," The young swordsman said. "It's not illegal to carry a bokken yet."
Saito scowled "Mind your tongue. Officer Kyo is an officer of the law and you have disrespected the law this night."
"I didn't mean any disrespect but he."
"But nothing. He was only doing what he saw fit to keep the peace."
And then a recognition. In his bright eyes behind the spectacles.
"You go to the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, Where Kamiya Kaoru teaches."
"How can you tell what school?"
"Because his shinai is not firmly lodged in your ass. The Kamiya Kasshin School emphasizes restraint in battle. I think you should read Kamiya's text of defense. They are very interesting in relation to self- defense. "
"Yes. I teach the intermediate classes there on Mondays and Wednesdays."
"Well you do. What's your name?" He asked in his rough, rumbling voice, slick and almost furry.
"Yahiko Myojin." He bowed. "Captain Saito Hajime, we meet again."
"Yahiko," Saito gave him a look. "Yahiko is a boy."
"He doesn't look like an old grand father to me, Captain."
"Hmm. Well good work, Kyo. You broke up the Dangerous Communist party." Saito sighed. "I'm sure you'll get a promotion. Once I wash off my shoes. Now boys."
Saito looked at them with all the full force of his gaze. He began to paces closer to them.
"Your parents will be very angry you were out drinking. They will be notified.
"It's not just a matter of that. He was carrying this book on his person."
"What is this book anyway? All this nonsense over a book."
Officer Kyo handed him the books he had found. He leafed through it.
The first was a poorly written book on the French Revolution, complete with a picture of the infamous guillotine, and lurid paintings of the acts of violence. Something a teenager could appreciate.
Then inexplicably the skinny boy shouted "See I told you. Head cutting machines. I wouldn't lie to policeman."
The other was a well thumbed through pamphlet, also in French. It wasn't until he leafed to the back page.
"Oh the Communist Manifesto. Huh. I thought it was serious from the way you were talking about it."
"Officer, it is not a crime to carry around a book. Let alone one as fantastical as this is. I do not arrest children for carrying books of faery tales."
"I will escort Mr. Myojin home and inform his master of his behavior. As I am an acquaintance of both him and his family, I'm sure they would prefer me to inform them of his behavior."
The officer looked surprised "You have acquaintances, sir."
"Yes. Call his parents and get him out of here. This is getting tedious," Saito barked.
"Sir Yahiko doesn't got parents." Officer Kyo said
"Yes, his parents are dead." The boys said.
"You better just send me to jail then." Yahiko grumbled "I'll get out of it. I didn't do anything."
"That is for Officer Kyo to decide, young man."
"You're in for a surprise. They don't care about me. Miss Kaoru could care less what I do."
"Then she'll not mind when we wake her up in the middle of the night to tell her you, her first student, has been arrested." Saito said in a dry voice.
"Are you sure you want to interfere?" The sergeant said "Officer Kyo exaggerates. It looks like a bunch of teenage punks. He's probably a street kid."
"I will drop of Yahiko at his Dojo. I was on my way home anyway." ***
Outside the moon was watching them, as they walked down the quiet streets. The impressive figure of Saito. He gazed down on them, cold eyes bright and gold, who's light chilled like dawn's light.
"You are leering at me."
"Leering?" Saito stopped walking.
"You leer at everyone. Just not like that."
"How do I look at you then."
"Just stop it." Yahiko lolled his head, "You think you're a tough guy." The boy shook his head "I don't play that anymore. I don't need to act tough for you or anyone."
"When you were a boy, you acted as if you were a tough guy as you say," Saito said. "I posses every once of power you think I do. Perhaps because I can hide my emotions, more than you think I do. So I don't think you can give me any advice."
Yahiko pouted.
Saito paused, "But when I was kid. Hell, you think you have chip on your shoulder," Saito said. "So I know what you are about as well. Why even pretend?"
"Pretend?" Yahiko asked.
"That we don't know each other as intimately as we do. I could look into your character right away and know." Saito's voice was soft now "I don't need to spend much time with you to know.."
"Know what?"
"You're going to have to be more specific than that." Saito smirked broadly, the smirk of a fed predator, as opposed to a hunting one. Just what he needed yet another guy who liked riling him up.
"Why did you single me out?" Yahiko asked bluntly "Why not Taichi, he's the one who. well ruined your shoes."
Saito raised one eyebrow still maintaining his smirk. "You are the leader. I take you in, well the others can't be much. They are just kids. Even by just looking at you I can tell you are something more. You shouldn't be wasting your time with those weaklings."
"They are my friends," Yahiko clenched his fist "Are you mocking them."
"Friends who cower behind you. "
"Weaklings. They are normal. We all can't be perfect."
"I'm not perfect, but I'm not weak. They'll only get you in trouble."
"How?"
"You're carrying on like a third rate bandit leader, berating them. You seem to have little respect for them. "
"I do respect them."
"Then let them fight their own battles. You've seen too much. You've grown up too fast."
Yahiko became uncomfortable with his stance. "Why are they making such a big deal about my friend's book? They didn't even know what it's about and they became angry. They thought it was some secret plan."
Saito pocketed his hands. "Well most copies are in foreign languages. It is an inflammatory book of late." Saito might as well be honest. "The superiors are afraid of these new teachings. They are not new, but they are dangerous."
"Dangerous. I thought you said it was fantasy." Yahiko felt a smirk coming on himself, but Saito's amused state waned.
"It is a fantasy to think men will live like this," Saito almost barked. He seemed upset to say it "Whatever these Communists believes will be corrupted and twisted. Like all religion. Whatever men believe in, I fear that this little red book shall bring more damage to this country than any sort of threat from any battoujutsu in the world."
"You sound more suspicious of me then, Officer Kyo." Yahiko said.
"Because the words can be used to prey on the desperate, the confused and the angry and the grieving. The poor who have nothing but their dreams. The middle class whose world is changing too fast, the rich and powerful who want to seize on an wretched opportunity. But-"
"There is something else?" Yahiko asked. They stopped walking all together.
"I just think it is as dangerous to hide it." Saito said "It adds to the allure and undermines the integrity of the government."
"Yes but it's dangerous to the rich and powerful," Yahiko said.
"Law should be strong enough to withstand mere ideas, mere words. It should grow and change. Justice changes it shape every hundred years, so that the world becomes a better place," Saito nodded "Always better. This is a new way I guess."
Saito looked away from the moon "People should be exposed to the ideas of the west. They must understand. There must be those who bridge the gap. Good men, better and younger than I."
"What if people would believe in them?" Yahiko said. He sighed "What if they think it's going to happen?"
"Then it must be. You cannot change a man's heart. You can only change what happens in their lives," Saito shrugged.
"I'll bet you think I'm just a foolish boy. For even reading such a thing." Yahiko said, "A perfect world without hate or prejudice and no restrictions. And no fighting where everyone lives peacefully."
"You are strange boy," But you will grow to a man of will and certain charisma. That is why I like strange boys first. I like those that that carry a spark before it becomes a flame.
"To articulate ones thoughts is to sharpen a sword. It is a weapon. You must be prepared for a time when you will use that weapon. "
"I know that in the future something is going to change, something will break. I only hope it will be the pain and the oppression of decent men. "
"You want to change everything. Not just twenty or forty people who sit in the Diet, or in the Government. You wish everything to change."
"You probably don't realize what's coming," Yahiko said.
"I'll be behind you."
"Saito."
"I mean I'll be walking behind you in the street. The streets are not safe this time of night." He patted Yahiko on his shoulder. "I am urging you to go home. I do not wish to face Miss Kaoru's wrath at this time."
"She will eat you alive."
"She doesn't care. She said that to me."
"She cares so little about her only student. I cannot believe you would say this of her."
"Can we speak of something else?"
"Actually it is too late. You must rush home. Perhaps no one will realize you are gone."
"I don't want to go back."
"You are too strange to ruin. You must be kept in Good condition."
"I don't want to go there."
"You will. It is where you live. It is where you belong."
"Kaoru doesn't care about me. and she'll be mad."
"And she'll punish you. But then she will not be angry."
"I will be behind you. Making sure you head home."
Saito eyed him again, urging him to follow. His gold glint of his eyes drifting like a cold wind through his clothes, as if they were transparent. Yahiko got a look at his face. His pale face with high sharp cheekbones, like an image carved into alabaster. The rough fingers on his shoulder eased their grip.
Yahiko felt his body shift somehow, he should have pulled his shoulder away. And yet it seemed that he moved towards him. As if drawn by the contact. It made him feel strange. Having the Wolf of Mibu approach him like this, talk to him as a man. a friend would to another friend. Something was odd.
The scent in the air. Like charred wood and something else. Could it be sweet potatoes?
Fire, he smelled something
Mr. Komyoji's sweet potato patch was on fire who lived down the street from the dojo. His house was the old fashioned sort, completely made of paper and tatami. A perfect target for a big fire. Already flames were licking the walls and eating the house away.
"K'so." Yahiko shouted "The old man can't even hear his dog barking. He'll never get out in time, if that house catches fire."
The two ran into his yard, side by side. They tried to open his door. They both had to force their way past the latch on his door. Saito stopped him, and he rushed ahead. "You stay out here. I will alert the old man."
"But-" Yahiko
Saito shoved him back in the chest, "Stay out here. Call for the fire brigade." "He doesn't know you." Yahiko shouted after him
"Old man. Old man! Wake up." Saito shouted as he entered the door of the house.
The smoke rose around them. Yahiko could hear the old man coughing from within. "Get outside."
Another man ran off to get the fire brigade and a small crowd was assembled outside. The dog was trying to break back into the house and save his master. Yahiko threw off his (outer kimono) and stomped on the fire before it could spread to the outer walls. The smoke was quite bad but the flame had not jumped to the house. Perhaps the rest of it could be saved.
So Yahiko approached the blaze. He beat the flames with his jacket. He'd see Sano and Kenshin put out a fire that way. He wiped his face as the fire dried his eyes and he coughed himself.
And as he looked up, Yahiko saw a figure with a hood over his face and a mask over his mouth, stamping on the flames. As if he was trying to put out the fire as well.
"Hey." Yahiko cried out "What are you doing?"
At his feet was a huge bundle of indigo material.
"What are you doing here?" Yahiko asked again.
He remembered all of his training in the dojo. It would do no good to rush into his face. Kaoru always stressed the importance of addressing an enemy harshly before engaging him. Many ambushes could be averted by a mere shout
The figure took a step back in surprise. He had forgotten about his task at hand of putting out the fire. Had he started it? Yahiko put his hand upon his shinai.
"What are you doing? What's that you got there?" Yahiko pointed to the bundle with his shinai, pulling it out of its strap all the way. "Did you start this fire?"
The intruder stepped back again this time into a defensive crouch, holding up his knife in an offensive posture.
Yahiko went very quiet. The figure was smaller than him and armed. He stood so still he could hear the twigs of the fire snap.
It would do no good to rush into his face. He must take a defensive position or else he would be at a lethal disadvantage. "Don't do anything foolish."
And the intruder struck.
He had no idea how much a disadvantage it could be
The shinai deflected his blade. Only twice as the blade slashed like lightning through the air.
Yahiko only landed one blow on the arm. The boy stepped back, bruised on his knife arm, the knife stuck into the earth.
Yahiko leapt back simultaneously. His shinai was useless against the speed and the fighter didn't even look effected by his strongest blow. Of course he could be faking it.
The fighter seemed to know something of swordcraft. On his second pass the fighter managed to dodge his weapon completely despite the proximity.
Unlike most schools the Kamiya Kasshin was a close fighting school, where the master could disarm an opponent quickly. The key learned from the western concepts of fencing, to get the weapon away from the attacker, whether it be blade, knife or gun. There wasn't much art in it after all.
The attacker jumped out of the way.
Yahiko swore to himself. He'd need something more powerful, he changed his grip. And his approach would have to be traditional.
He made his first real attack.
He tried the Hiten Mitsurugi (Crane) attempting to lay the intruder with one blow for the police. A move that could knock a man off his feet, even from a skinny swordsman like himself. Kenshin could knock a man across the room.
But he completely avoided it as if it he had seen it coming from a mile away. He took a step to the left, unbalancing Yahiko. The young kendoist flailed his arms as he tripped and with another blow, Yahiko lost his grip on his weapon. How could the attack get worse?
Despite the intruder's size, he wrenched the shinai away from Yahiko. He waved it. The intruder chuckled and tapped the shinai on his shoulder, in a childish display and stood on one foot. Unlike any fighting stance he had seen.
"Heh." A faint sigh of amusement escaped his lips.
Yahiko could not even see his own shinai strike him. It was like an earthquake. The shock of the blow slammed him in the stomach across the courtyard and through Mr. Komiyoji's wall.
He pulled himself up. The blow was incredible. This swordsman was without peer. Even Kenshin's blows had never affected a person like this.
The intruder stood over him, stepped on his chest to hold him in place flat on his back. Yahiko grunted as the heel dug into his stomach.
"Halt." Yahiko heard Saito yell. The intruder was surprised again. He let Yahiko up.
Saito had his sword drawn, with an impressive scowl on his face. The Wolf of Mibu was an impressively terrifying man. It seemed the air around them bent as his swordsman aura drained the environment of it's essence. He breathed deeply focusing all his rage into a a cold look of death on his face.
Would even Saito be able to stop him?
Real sword versus shinai. Yahkiko had a feeling that this was the end of his bokken, whatever the result.
Yahiko got ready to tackle him. As Saito approached from the other direction. "I said halt."
The intruder moved as such incredible speed even the great Saito could not block his blows. The Captain took a blow to each shoulder but still stood his ground. He staggered backwards, still somehow standing with despite the punishing blows across his body. Yahiko only had enough sword skill to spot them all. And yet Saito escaped regrouped and still stood. No panic crossing his face.
Saito made his first offensive pass. The intruder skidded out of the way. Saito betrayed his look
The intruder used the shinai to attack. He raised his bokken high and came down with such a force upon the weapon splintered into thousands of pieces. Saito stood up and pointed his blade at the intruder, silently.
"Sugoi," Yahiko squealed on the inside like a small boy. The swordsman was still startled, and still unused to natural combat.
"You get him this way. I'll get him over here."
Cornered by two fighters and no blade, the intruder darted his head left and right looking for an escape.
With a back flip he gripped the branch of a tree. The intruder began to climb the tree. Yahiko growled and grabbed onto the lower branches.
"Get back here. Stop"
Saito was still catching his breath from the last attack. "Yahiko! Stop it. You don't know what he is capable of."
Yahiko had caught up to the intruder.
"You don't have a sword. We should settle this Man to Man."
The figure seemed so hestitant now, despite his extraordinary speed and skills with the blade. But he was smaller than Yahiko, and he had not seen Yahiko's grappling skills.
Of course he didn't know Yahiko's lungs hurt from the smoke and his shoulder was most definitely still swelling from his impact from the house, and was probably strained.
He approached "Are you man enough? You'll attack an old man when he sleeps."
"Shukuchi" He muttered softly.
In a poof of wet smoke. He vanished.
Before Yahiko could be surprised, the young swordsmen clutched his shoulder and slumped to his knees.
"Yahiko. Are you alright?" Saito said still a little breathless, racing to his side.
"Hai Saito-san." Yahiko turned around, hissing.
Saito smirked at him, "I thought you weren't hurt. You certainly fooled me."
"I'm sorry I let him get away."
"Why? So he could break your other arm? I thought you were going to strangle him with your bare hands."
"Are you bleeding?"
"I think I got a cut from my own shinai, the speed of the blow broke my skin." He thought "Ah My shinai. It's destroyed. Kaoru will be upset."
"She's always upset, ___ face."
The head of the Fire Brigade "We put the fire out. Captian Saito."
"Good job." Saito nodded
"He was burning something." Yahiko muttered, as Saito helped him up.
"Who was that swordsmen?" Saito asked.
"His technique was like nothing I've even scene and his speed. He could defeat the moves of Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi Supersonic." Yahiko shook his head.
"You've certainly been expanding your repertoire." Saito quirked a single eyebrow.
"Kenshin isn't a teacher, but he taught me some tricks, even without his knowledge." Yahiko coughed dust, thinking to himself "Shukuchi. It sounded foreign. Korean or Chinese. I've never heard such a school."
Saito walked him over to the doctor, who had been roused out of bed during the commotion. He checked Yahiko for major injuries. "His shoulder would be sore tomorrow but nothing was sprained. The old man had smoke in his throat. The doctor insisted on Saito getting checked as well.
Mr. Komiyoji was wrapped in a heavy blanket. He patted Yahiko on the back "It's alright young fellow. Fires can spook the best of us. I'll have my grandson fix the wall tomorrow. You probably got lost in the smoke and tripped up. It's only a wall thanks to you my whole house coulda burned down." Old Mr. Komiyoji walked over to him.
"Next time maybe you'll believe me when someone says your dog is barking too loud." Yahiko said smiling.
Saito nestled between them. "Mr. Komiyoji, was saw an intruder dressed in black, and apparently he set the fire. Mr Myojin saw the intruder up close. Mr. Myojin, We have some questions to ask you down at the station."
"Intruder. Who was it?"
"Well there were a pile of old potato tops in the back of my house. I was going to burn it out myself. It's been a windy night. I was going to wait until it was safer."
"They exploded and the flames went out of control. The intruder was trying to put it out himself when you stopped him."
"Yeah he was stomping on it. Like he didn't want to burn your house." Yahiko said, "Why would anyone want to light such a fire? The old man could have been killed in his sleep?"
"We know why they set this fire. They were burning something." Saito said
He didn't have to unwrap the dark blue bundle to see it was leaking, a dark gummy stain into the ground, the stain of blood.
For the first time that whole night, Yahiko was truly afraid.
----------------------- Authors Note: I just want to thank Silver Nightingale and Hiei'sFireyGurl52890 for their kind reviews. I hope to have better notes next chapter. The Communist Party became active in the nation in Japan after the First World War, yet I wanted to write a fic capturing the energy and flavor of communism at the time. Later we'll meet Kenshin and Aoshi in the Silk Factories of Japan.
[1] AH Digimon Season 2. it just rocks doesn't it [2] "Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx in 1847
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of a drum Will you stand and fight with me when tomorrow comes?
Myojin Yahiko wandered down the street toward Taichi's house in an absolutely dreadful mood.
Kaoru was such a pain sometimes. A pain and a hypocrite. No one really cared anymore about who was married, but they had to lie about it. Yahiko had to go along even though he knew that was wrong. He didn't want to judge, but he knew it was far greater evil to hide the truth. He knew that.
Yahiko grabbed a small stone and tossed it into the pond in the middle of the courtyard. The koi shuddered awake from their sleep.
"Oi Taichi. Are you up?"
Taichi slid open the door and smiled. "Hey careful with the fish."
Iori, Daisuke and Takeru[1] were milling behind him in the room, now they rushed to greet him.
"Oi, When did you get out of that boring old Biifu Paati?" Daisuke asked.
"Yeah I thought Miss Kamiya would make you stay." Takeru needled him.
"She's not my mom. I told her 'I'm my own man. You can't tell me what to do anymore.'" Yahiko said.
"Wow. I'd never tell my mom that." Iori shook his head "She'd tell my dad to kill me."
"She's just going to have to deal with it." Yahiko headed out of the gate, "Come on. Let's go get some okonomayaki. I'm still hungry."
"They got some down the street." Taichi pointed.
Daisuke whined. "I thought we were getting drunk."
Iori said "I can't go into a bar. My parents will kill me."
"They don't have to find out stupid." "We'll just come home early."
"Let's just get some food first," Yahiko said.
It was a good thing that the nomiya on the corner served all kinds of foods and Yahiko must have ordered three pieces of okonomayaki and was considering a bowl of cold noodles. They all sat eating at the snack bar and talking. Yahiko mostly ate and listened letting his friends chatter distract him from his problems
Takeru brought out a book with a blue cover and the French writing on the front. "I picked up this new book at the sellers. It is about the French Revolution."
"Cool," The boys said.
"Yeah. It's all in French too," The boy indicated the words on the page. "It's crazy. See the peasants ran out of bread. So there was nothing to eat. So they went to war and stormed the castle."
"Like in the Bakufu, when the clans-" Daisuke asked.
"No. Not at all. Then the peasants just went crazy. They took all the samurai, and the nobles and they started cutting off their heads." Takeru shook his head "It's such a good book. It took me forever to read it."
"How'd they do that? Why didn't the samurai just kill them? Peasants can't fight back," Daisuke snorted.
"Well I heard they were using a head cutting machine. It probably didn't take as long," Taichi said. "Machines are faster then people.
Yahiko almost coughed as he slurped down noodles, idiots.
"Those peasants are going to hell. How could they turn on their betters like that?" Iori said, A real man would give his life for his lord," Iori declared.
"Well those Gaijin are crazy," Iori shook his head, and they all had to agree.
"Hell some of them probably deserved it." Taichi said "These rich decadent bastards exploiting the poor. It's a great injustice. The rich are always oppressing the poor."
"This book is really astonishing. How the Aristocrats brutalized the people and forced them to pay taxes beyond their means." Takeru flipped a few pages. "You can look at it next Yahiko. Your French is best. Iori would take forever. There is a picture here of the head cutting machine."
"Lemme see," Daisuke grabbed it.
"Don't get egg on it stupid," Takeru grumbled. "It's brand new. I'll kick your ass."
Yahiko rolled his eyes, "No you won't."
"I was just looking." Daisuke defended "Tell him Yahiko."
"Shut you up you two," Yahiko said.
Taichi elbowed Yahiko. "See, it's like Marx's book, exploitation of the poor workers, the illiterate, and the broken. Even a hundred years ago, it was like that. It will never change."
Taichi was always talking about his favorite book, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels,[2] a book they had picked up at the book sellers one day. Taichi bought a copy in English, and his dad, a well educated man, had tried to translate it. But it never was popular. Yahiko never saw the translation his father made actually. He did see it in foreign languages. And he had his own copy in French still in his pocket.
"But it's not like that in Japan," Daisuke said. "We have good lives. We've got food to eat and lots of money. Those French guys didn't even have their bread, and they love their bread. They eat it all the time. The Gai-jin are just crazy. Nothing like that would happen here."
Yahiko sat up spoke between bites, "People are different now."
"What do you think Yahiko?" Iori asked in his high voice.
The young swordsman paused taking a drink. He knew they were hanging on his words. Secretly the boys looked up to him, and were always asking him advice. He had lived through a lot more trouble then they had and had Kenshin, and Hiko and brilliant men to teach him from example. Yahiko wiped his mouth.
"Once the French, maybe hundreds of years ago, were like us, in many ways. Then they built factories and such and made their country modern, replacing everything with machines. This is what is happening here. When they start bringing all their factories over here, it's going to turn out like that. They'll be too many people. Everyone will live in the city. They'll be starvation and the rich will still abuse the poor. That is what Marx was saying. He says that our race is irrelevant."
"Not in Japan, the rebels were stopped before we were born," Daisuke insisted.
"There is always trouble we don't know about. Secret politics that go on." Yahiko knew the plot led by Shishio Makoto and the Ten Swords had turned over the government and almost accomplished revolution. But no one around him knew that, it had been a state secret.
"Everything happens again, in great cycles. That's what Marx-san said. It's a struggle between capitalists who possess everything and proletariat who have nothing."
"Yahiko is right. There must be a revolution one day. The whole country is run by capitalist pigs. Everyone is weak and stupid. One day there are going to be food riots here, and labour strikes. Then they'll see." Taichi articulated.
Yahiko looked at them, "My family was samurai, now I don't have much of anything. While rich lazy good for nothings take money and power. When there is no honor in the world, surely we'll end up just like the French," Yahiko said.
"Maybe we should get rid of all those bastards. We wouldn't use no head cutting machine." Taichi said. "We would get rid of those bastards, like real men would."
"What do you know about it?" Yahiko rolled his eyes.
"Well Marx-san says that the Proletariat will rise up against the Capitalists, and the world will be free and united. I'm going to be on the side of right."
"You don't think they'll be a war soon." Daisuke said "This is probably several years in the future."
"It is coming here." Taichi said "You can't kill an idea forever. People who believe in the ideals of communism are meeting all over the world, coming together. Soon countries in the west like America will have communists in charge. Then it may come here."
Yahiko paused, "Well then I guess we better be ready for it when it does."
The boys looked down at their drinks and took a long look at them and nearly stopped talking for a full minute.
*******
After they left the nomiya and ate and drank until their purses were empty, the boys wandered out into the street babbling.
Yahiko held up Taichi who was shouting for workers rights, or for revolution, but who could know? He wasn't speaking in words. Yahiko was the least drunk of them all. Iori couldn't stop laughing. His troubles at the Biifu Paati were entirely forgotten and replaced with a nagging feeling. Maybe he would be more joyous if he had gotten as drunk as them.
The cop approached them from the other side of the street.
"Hey you. What are you guys doing out so late? It is after midnight. You shouldn't be out so late making so much noise."
This situation required diplomacy and tact. They had been making a lot of noise but with a little guile and smooth talking they could convince the officer to go about his business.
"Huh?"
"The bartender just called me. Talking this nonsense. Taking about cutting peoples heads off. You should be home. Your mothers will be very cross," The policeman wagged his finger.
"Hmm. We were just talking, you pig." Taichi slurred. The cop didn't acknowledge his statement.
"Yeah. We'll be quiet sir." Iori put his fingers to his lips and shushed himself "We were on our way home, sir. It's just that we got lost on our way home from visiting our-"
"Your sick grandmother. I've heard that one before. You've been at that nomiya haven you?" The policeman smelled his breath. The scent of sake quite apparent. "Honestly. It's getting younger and younger."
"We were just talking about books." Taichi snorted. "Pig."
"Pig. Did you just call me a pig again? You call me pig again and I will bring you into the police station and beat that smart mouth of yours."
Takeru took out his book "This book is about the French Rebalution. And there was this head cutting machine. You tell'im. You tell him about the head cutting machine."
"Head cutting machine?" The policeman asked puzzled. People did say odd things when they drank. "Now I know you are drunk."
Takeru pointed somewhere at his book, "Ma ma. Head cutting machine Gi-yo-tii-nu." Takeru made a cutting motion and fell over.
"Can't when even have a peaceable.peaceful. discussion about books? You make me sick," Taichi said lolling in Yahiko's arms.
The cop snatched the book out of his hand. "Let me see what you are talking about. There is no such thing as a head cutting machine. You shouldn't lie to a police officer. You boys are in enough trouble as it is."
"My book," Takeru frowned. Absolutely astonished as the cop moved so fast. Of course everyone seemed fast to him after a few bottles of sake.
The police man leafed through the book angrily, squinting his eyes at the book, "What is this?"
"This is a French book. We were just talking about it." Yahiko said. His voice wasn't slurred by alcohol and was standing up straight. "We just got carried away." Once again he was acting the spokesman for the group.
"I can't read any of this goobledy-gook." The cop grumbled.
"Really?" Yahiko said.
"You young punks are getting on my last nerve. If you weren't drunk I would throw you in jail for your disrespect. You look like a bunch of no good agitators to me. Anarchists."
"We aren't anarchists!" Iori yelped like a scared dog. "We were just talking about the book. Don't call my mom."
"I can't read that book. That could be your secret code for all I know. Secret plans and manifesto. What's a manifesto?"
"Yes it is the Manifesto."
"I'm taking this book away from you.
Yahiko became angry, "That is a seizure of his personal property. You have no right to do that."
"I don't trust it."
"My book. It was expensive." Takeru still hadn't had time to react.
"Yeah don't you know who you are dealing with?" Yahiko said "Give him back his book."
"Or what?" Officer Kyo stood up to them.
Yahiko stood with his hands upon his hips.
***
Saito was about to leave the police station when it happened. On of the lower patrolman came into the police station, with a crowd of drunken boys. These boys were struggling against their captor being as annoying as loud as possible. Saito was tempted to plug his ears. Officer Kyo's hat was askew, from the struggle.
Saito approached. His eyes were clear and his posture was regal as he approached the mess. ****
Yahiko was being shoved by the cop into the police station.
"Hey. Lemme go pig."
"You dumb drunks shut up." The cop shouted. "You all are under arrest for disorderly conduct. And if you little punks don't behave yourself. I'll tell my Captain."
"Tell him, you dumb bastard."
"Workers of the world Unite." Taichi shouted in the police station before he vomited on the floor right in front of the police captain and toppled to his knees.
Saito looked down at his shoes. The boys were silent. Taichi looked up with an expression of terror and confusion, at the wolf of Mibu.
Saito only wiped his shoe off on the carpet and looked at the officer, only mildly affected by the disgusting display. "What is going on here? What is this nonsense?"
The boy stared at him surprised. They all silenced at his appearance.
"Saito Hajime," Yahiko whispered.
"Whos's he?"
"Mibu's-"
"Shut up." Saito told them. When they silenced, he cleared his throat. Taichi whimpered, "Gomen Nasai."
Yahiko straightened his spectacles, in an attempt to act nonchalant. But there was no nonchalance when you were quite sure your best friend was going to jail for vomiting on the Wolf of Mibu's shoes.
"I came in when the bartender of the Eastern Nomiya said that these young men were drinking and causing trouble," Officer Kyo stated.
Saito snorted, "Well take them into the jail cell until they dry out and call their parents. It's just a few boys. No need to be so disorderly. We are the authority and order here in Tokyo. I will not have this station turning into a rowdy place."
"Yes sir."
Saito walked away "If I hear anymore noise from here. I will deal with this matter personally."
***
The boys stepped back behind their ring leader, after Saito scolded them, rather lightly too considering the trouble they were in. As they were processed Saito watched them from afar. A scruffy wild haired young man, in a dark gi. His skin was warm and honey coloured. The young man pushed his glasses up and merely rolled his eyes.
The boys were hand cuffed to a bench and their parents would be contacted one by one.
"I would normally leave it at that. But they were disrespectful and rude."
Saito nodded, "Almost like a bunch of rowdy drunken teenagers."
"They were carrying inflammatory literature and talking about acts of astonishing violence," The officer reported. "I think it is a matter for you to look over. Of security."
The glasses boy looked sternly "You can not just take this property. We haven't done anything. It's not illegal to have books." He grumbled trying to stand up.
"What are drunks carrying around books for in the first place?" Saito said. "These boys look too drunk to provide any sort of coordinated defiance."
"I'm not drunk." The glasses boy snorted contemptuously.
"But you have been drinking," Saito said. "It's ill company."
Saito took a look at the boy, nothing extraordinary. Something dark in his eyes, he was extremely dignified and poised, as a swordsman. His clothes were dark, and he was carrying a shinai. How fortunate that when he took a hit at the officer, he hadn't done something foolish and hit him with a bokken.
"You are a swordsman."
"I don't use my sword on morons who pick fights," The young swordsman said. "It's not illegal to carry a bokken yet."
Saito scowled "Mind your tongue. Officer Kyo is an officer of the law and you have disrespected the law this night."
"I didn't mean any disrespect but he."
"But nothing. He was only doing what he saw fit to keep the peace."
And then a recognition. In his bright eyes behind the spectacles.
"You go to the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, Where Kamiya Kaoru teaches."
"How can you tell what school?"
"Because his shinai is not firmly lodged in your ass. The Kamiya Kasshin School emphasizes restraint in battle. I think you should read Kamiya's text of defense. They are very interesting in relation to self- defense. "
"Yes. I teach the intermediate classes there on Mondays and Wednesdays."
"Well you do. What's your name?" He asked in his rough, rumbling voice, slick and almost furry.
"Yahiko Myojin." He bowed. "Captain Saito Hajime, we meet again."
"Yahiko," Saito gave him a look. "Yahiko is a boy."
"He doesn't look like an old grand father to me, Captain."
"Hmm. Well good work, Kyo. You broke up the Dangerous Communist party." Saito sighed. "I'm sure you'll get a promotion. Once I wash off my shoes. Now boys."
Saito looked at them with all the full force of his gaze. He began to paces closer to them.
"Your parents will be very angry you were out drinking. They will be notified.
"It's not just a matter of that. He was carrying this book on his person."
"What is this book anyway? All this nonsense over a book."
Officer Kyo handed him the books he had found. He leafed through it.
The first was a poorly written book on the French Revolution, complete with a picture of the infamous guillotine, and lurid paintings of the acts of violence. Something a teenager could appreciate.
Then inexplicably the skinny boy shouted "See I told you. Head cutting machines. I wouldn't lie to policeman."
The other was a well thumbed through pamphlet, also in French. It wasn't until he leafed to the back page.
"Oh the Communist Manifesto. Huh. I thought it was serious from the way you were talking about it."
"Officer, it is not a crime to carry around a book. Let alone one as fantastical as this is. I do not arrest children for carrying books of faery tales."
"I will escort Mr. Myojin home and inform his master of his behavior. As I am an acquaintance of both him and his family, I'm sure they would prefer me to inform them of his behavior."
The officer looked surprised "You have acquaintances, sir."
"Yes. Call his parents and get him out of here. This is getting tedious," Saito barked.
"Sir Yahiko doesn't got parents." Officer Kyo said
"Yes, his parents are dead." The boys said.
"You better just send me to jail then." Yahiko grumbled "I'll get out of it. I didn't do anything."
"That is for Officer Kyo to decide, young man."
"You're in for a surprise. They don't care about me. Miss Kaoru could care less what I do."
"Then she'll not mind when we wake her up in the middle of the night to tell her you, her first student, has been arrested." Saito said in a dry voice.
"Are you sure you want to interfere?" The sergeant said "Officer Kyo exaggerates. It looks like a bunch of teenage punks. He's probably a street kid."
"I will drop of Yahiko at his Dojo. I was on my way home anyway." ***
Outside the moon was watching them, as they walked down the quiet streets. The impressive figure of Saito. He gazed down on them, cold eyes bright and gold, who's light chilled like dawn's light.
"You are leering at me."
"Leering?" Saito stopped walking.
"You leer at everyone. Just not like that."
"How do I look at you then."
"Just stop it." Yahiko lolled his head, "You think you're a tough guy." The boy shook his head "I don't play that anymore. I don't need to act tough for you or anyone."
"When you were a boy, you acted as if you were a tough guy as you say," Saito said. "I posses every once of power you think I do. Perhaps because I can hide my emotions, more than you think I do. So I don't think you can give me any advice."
Yahiko pouted.
Saito paused, "But when I was kid. Hell, you think you have chip on your shoulder," Saito said. "So I know what you are about as well. Why even pretend?"
"Pretend?" Yahiko asked.
"That we don't know each other as intimately as we do. I could look into your character right away and know." Saito's voice was soft now "I don't need to spend much time with you to know.."
"Know what?"
"You're going to have to be more specific than that." Saito smirked broadly, the smirk of a fed predator, as opposed to a hunting one. Just what he needed yet another guy who liked riling him up.
"Why did you single me out?" Yahiko asked bluntly "Why not Taichi, he's the one who. well ruined your shoes."
Saito raised one eyebrow still maintaining his smirk. "You are the leader. I take you in, well the others can't be much. They are just kids. Even by just looking at you I can tell you are something more. You shouldn't be wasting your time with those weaklings."
"They are my friends," Yahiko clenched his fist "Are you mocking them."
"Friends who cower behind you. "
"Weaklings. They are normal. We all can't be perfect."
"I'm not perfect, but I'm not weak. They'll only get you in trouble."
"How?"
"You're carrying on like a third rate bandit leader, berating them. You seem to have little respect for them. "
"I do respect them."
"Then let them fight their own battles. You've seen too much. You've grown up too fast."
Yahiko became uncomfortable with his stance. "Why are they making such a big deal about my friend's book? They didn't even know what it's about and they became angry. They thought it was some secret plan."
Saito pocketed his hands. "Well most copies are in foreign languages. It is an inflammatory book of late." Saito might as well be honest. "The superiors are afraid of these new teachings. They are not new, but they are dangerous."
"Dangerous. I thought you said it was fantasy." Yahiko felt a smirk coming on himself, but Saito's amused state waned.
"It is a fantasy to think men will live like this," Saito almost barked. He seemed upset to say it "Whatever these Communists believes will be corrupted and twisted. Like all religion. Whatever men believe in, I fear that this little red book shall bring more damage to this country than any sort of threat from any battoujutsu in the world."
"You sound more suspicious of me then, Officer Kyo." Yahiko said.
"Because the words can be used to prey on the desperate, the confused and the angry and the grieving. The poor who have nothing but their dreams. The middle class whose world is changing too fast, the rich and powerful who want to seize on an wretched opportunity. But-"
"There is something else?" Yahiko asked. They stopped walking all together.
"I just think it is as dangerous to hide it." Saito said "It adds to the allure and undermines the integrity of the government."
"Yes but it's dangerous to the rich and powerful," Yahiko said.
"Law should be strong enough to withstand mere ideas, mere words. It should grow and change. Justice changes it shape every hundred years, so that the world becomes a better place," Saito nodded "Always better. This is a new way I guess."
Saito looked away from the moon "People should be exposed to the ideas of the west. They must understand. There must be those who bridge the gap. Good men, better and younger than I."
"What if people would believe in them?" Yahiko said. He sighed "What if they think it's going to happen?"
"Then it must be. You cannot change a man's heart. You can only change what happens in their lives," Saito shrugged.
"I'll bet you think I'm just a foolish boy. For even reading such a thing." Yahiko said, "A perfect world without hate or prejudice and no restrictions. And no fighting where everyone lives peacefully."
"You are strange boy," But you will grow to a man of will and certain charisma. That is why I like strange boys first. I like those that that carry a spark before it becomes a flame.
"To articulate ones thoughts is to sharpen a sword. It is a weapon. You must be prepared for a time when you will use that weapon. "
"I know that in the future something is going to change, something will break. I only hope it will be the pain and the oppression of decent men. "
"You want to change everything. Not just twenty or forty people who sit in the Diet, or in the Government. You wish everything to change."
"You probably don't realize what's coming," Yahiko said.
"I'll be behind you."
"Saito."
"I mean I'll be walking behind you in the street. The streets are not safe this time of night." He patted Yahiko on his shoulder. "I am urging you to go home. I do not wish to face Miss Kaoru's wrath at this time."
"She will eat you alive."
"She doesn't care. She said that to me."
"She cares so little about her only student. I cannot believe you would say this of her."
"Can we speak of something else?"
"Actually it is too late. You must rush home. Perhaps no one will realize you are gone."
"I don't want to go back."
"You are too strange to ruin. You must be kept in Good condition."
"I don't want to go there."
"You will. It is where you live. It is where you belong."
"Kaoru doesn't care about me. and she'll be mad."
"And she'll punish you. But then she will not be angry."
"I will be behind you. Making sure you head home."
Saito eyed him again, urging him to follow. His gold glint of his eyes drifting like a cold wind through his clothes, as if they were transparent. Yahiko got a look at his face. His pale face with high sharp cheekbones, like an image carved into alabaster. The rough fingers on his shoulder eased their grip.
Yahiko felt his body shift somehow, he should have pulled his shoulder away. And yet it seemed that he moved towards him. As if drawn by the contact. It made him feel strange. Having the Wolf of Mibu approach him like this, talk to him as a man. a friend would to another friend. Something was odd.
The scent in the air. Like charred wood and something else. Could it be sweet potatoes?
Fire, he smelled something
Mr. Komyoji's sweet potato patch was on fire who lived down the street from the dojo. His house was the old fashioned sort, completely made of paper and tatami. A perfect target for a big fire. Already flames were licking the walls and eating the house away.
"K'so." Yahiko shouted "The old man can't even hear his dog barking. He'll never get out in time, if that house catches fire."
The two ran into his yard, side by side. They tried to open his door. They both had to force their way past the latch on his door. Saito stopped him, and he rushed ahead. "You stay out here. I will alert the old man."
"But-" Yahiko
Saito shoved him back in the chest, "Stay out here. Call for the fire brigade." "He doesn't know you." Yahiko shouted after him
"Old man. Old man! Wake up." Saito shouted as he entered the door of the house.
The smoke rose around them. Yahiko could hear the old man coughing from within. "Get outside."
Another man ran off to get the fire brigade and a small crowd was assembled outside. The dog was trying to break back into the house and save his master. Yahiko threw off his (outer kimono) and stomped on the fire before it could spread to the outer walls. The smoke was quite bad but the flame had not jumped to the house. Perhaps the rest of it could be saved.
So Yahiko approached the blaze. He beat the flames with his jacket. He'd see Sano and Kenshin put out a fire that way. He wiped his face as the fire dried his eyes and he coughed himself.
And as he looked up, Yahiko saw a figure with a hood over his face and a mask over his mouth, stamping on the flames. As if he was trying to put out the fire as well.
"Hey." Yahiko cried out "What are you doing?"
At his feet was a huge bundle of indigo material.
"What are you doing here?" Yahiko asked again.
He remembered all of his training in the dojo. It would do no good to rush into his face. Kaoru always stressed the importance of addressing an enemy harshly before engaging him. Many ambushes could be averted by a mere shout
The figure took a step back in surprise. He had forgotten about his task at hand of putting out the fire. Had he started it? Yahiko put his hand upon his shinai.
"What are you doing? What's that you got there?" Yahiko pointed to the bundle with his shinai, pulling it out of its strap all the way. "Did you start this fire?"
The intruder stepped back again this time into a defensive crouch, holding up his knife in an offensive posture.
Yahiko went very quiet. The figure was smaller than him and armed. He stood so still he could hear the twigs of the fire snap.
It would do no good to rush into his face. He must take a defensive position or else he would be at a lethal disadvantage. "Don't do anything foolish."
And the intruder struck.
He had no idea how much a disadvantage it could be
The shinai deflected his blade. Only twice as the blade slashed like lightning through the air.
Yahiko only landed one blow on the arm. The boy stepped back, bruised on his knife arm, the knife stuck into the earth.
Yahiko leapt back simultaneously. His shinai was useless against the speed and the fighter didn't even look effected by his strongest blow. Of course he could be faking it.
The fighter seemed to know something of swordcraft. On his second pass the fighter managed to dodge his weapon completely despite the proximity.
Unlike most schools the Kamiya Kasshin was a close fighting school, where the master could disarm an opponent quickly. The key learned from the western concepts of fencing, to get the weapon away from the attacker, whether it be blade, knife or gun. There wasn't much art in it after all.
The attacker jumped out of the way.
Yahiko swore to himself. He'd need something more powerful, he changed his grip. And his approach would have to be traditional.
He made his first real attack.
He tried the Hiten Mitsurugi (Crane) attempting to lay the intruder with one blow for the police. A move that could knock a man off his feet, even from a skinny swordsman like himself. Kenshin could knock a man across the room.
But he completely avoided it as if it he had seen it coming from a mile away. He took a step to the left, unbalancing Yahiko. The young kendoist flailed his arms as he tripped and with another blow, Yahiko lost his grip on his weapon. How could the attack get worse?
Despite the intruder's size, he wrenched the shinai away from Yahiko. He waved it. The intruder chuckled and tapped the shinai on his shoulder, in a childish display and stood on one foot. Unlike any fighting stance he had seen.
"Heh." A faint sigh of amusement escaped his lips.
Yahiko could not even see his own shinai strike him. It was like an earthquake. The shock of the blow slammed him in the stomach across the courtyard and through Mr. Komiyoji's wall.
He pulled himself up. The blow was incredible. This swordsman was without peer. Even Kenshin's blows had never affected a person like this.
The intruder stood over him, stepped on his chest to hold him in place flat on his back. Yahiko grunted as the heel dug into his stomach.
"Halt." Yahiko heard Saito yell. The intruder was surprised again. He let Yahiko up.
Saito had his sword drawn, with an impressive scowl on his face. The Wolf of Mibu was an impressively terrifying man. It seemed the air around them bent as his swordsman aura drained the environment of it's essence. He breathed deeply focusing all his rage into a a cold look of death on his face.
Would even Saito be able to stop him?
Real sword versus shinai. Yahkiko had a feeling that this was the end of his bokken, whatever the result.
Yahiko got ready to tackle him. As Saito approached from the other direction. "I said halt."
The intruder moved as such incredible speed even the great Saito could not block his blows. The Captain took a blow to each shoulder but still stood his ground. He staggered backwards, still somehow standing with despite the punishing blows across his body. Yahiko only had enough sword skill to spot them all. And yet Saito escaped regrouped and still stood. No panic crossing his face.
Saito made his first offensive pass. The intruder skidded out of the way. Saito betrayed his look
The intruder used the shinai to attack. He raised his bokken high and came down with such a force upon the weapon splintered into thousands of pieces. Saito stood up and pointed his blade at the intruder, silently.
"Sugoi," Yahiko squealed on the inside like a small boy. The swordsman was still startled, and still unused to natural combat.
"You get him this way. I'll get him over here."
Cornered by two fighters and no blade, the intruder darted his head left and right looking for an escape.
With a back flip he gripped the branch of a tree. The intruder began to climb the tree. Yahiko growled and grabbed onto the lower branches.
"Get back here. Stop"
Saito was still catching his breath from the last attack. "Yahiko! Stop it. You don't know what he is capable of."
Yahiko had caught up to the intruder.
"You don't have a sword. We should settle this Man to Man."
The figure seemed so hestitant now, despite his extraordinary speed and skills with the blade. But he was smaller than Yahiko, and he had not seen Yahiko's grappling skills.
Of course he didn't know Yahiko's lungs hurt from the smoke and his shoulder was most definitely still swelling from his impact from the house, and was probably strained.
He approached "Are you man enough? You'll attack an old man when he sleeps."
"Shukuchi" He muttered softly.
In a poof of wet smoke. He vanished.
Before Yahiko could be surprised, the young swordsmen clutched his shoulder and slumped to his knees.
"Yahiko. Are you alright?" Saito said still a little breathless, racing to his side.
"Hai Saito-san." Yahiko turned around, hissing.
Saito smirked at him, "I thought you weren't hurt. You certainly fooled me."
"I'm sorry I let him get away."
"Why? So he could break your other arm? I thought you were going to strangle him with your bare hands."
"Are you bleeding?"
"I think I got a cut from my own shinai, the speed of the blow broke my skin." He thought "Ah My shinai. It's destroyed. Kaoru will be upset."
"She's always upset, ___ face."
The head of the Fire Brigade "We put the fire out. Captian Saito."
"Good job." Saito nodded
"He was burning something." Yahiko muttered, as Saito helped him up.
"Who was that swordsmen?" Saito asked.
"His technique was like nothing I've even scene and his speed. He could defeat the moves of Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi Supersonic." Yahiko shook his head.
"You've certainly been expanding your repertoire." Saito quirked a single eyebrow.
"Kenshin isn't a teacher, but he taught me some tricks, even without his knowledge." Yahiko coughed dust, thinking to himself "Shukuchi. It sounded foreign. Korean or Chinese. I've never heard such a school."
Saito walked him over to the doctor, who had been roused out of bed during the commotion. He checked Yahiko for major injuries. "His shoulder would be sore tomorrow but nothing was sprained. The old man had smoke in his throat. The doctor insisted on Saito getting checked as well.
Mr. Komiyoji was wrapped in a heavy blanket. He patted Yahiko on the back "It's alright young fellow. Fires can spook the best of us. I'll have my grandson fix the wall tomorrow. You probably got lost in the smoke and tripped up. It's only a wall thanks to you my whole house coulda burned down." Old Mr. Komiyoji walked over to him.
"Next time maybe you'll believe me when someone says your dog is barking too loud." Yahiko said smiling.
Saito nestled between them. "Mr. Komiyoji, was saw an intruder dressed in black, and apparently he set the fire. Mr Myojin saw the intruder up close. Mr. Myojin, We have some questions to ask you down at the station."
"Intruder. Who was it?"
"Well there were a pile of old potato tops in the back of my house. I was going to burn it out myself. It's been a windy night. I was going to wait until it was safer."
"They exploded and the flames went out of control. The intruder was trying to put it out himself when you stopped him."
"Yeah he was stomping on it. Like he didn't want to burn your house." Yahiko said, "Why would anyone want to light such a fire? The old man could have been killed in his sleep?"
"We know why they set this fire. They were burning something." Saito said
He didn't have to unwrap the dark blue bundle to see it was leaking, a dark gummy stain into the ground, the stain of blood.
For the first time that whole night, Yahiko was truly afraid.
----------------------- Authors Note: I just want to thank Silver Nightingale and Hiei'sFireyGurl52890 for their kind reviews. I hope to have better notes next chapter. The Communist Party became active in the nation in Japan after the First World War, yet I wanted to write a fic capturing the energy and flavor of communism at the time. Later we'll meet Kenshin and Aoshi in the Silk Factories of Japan.
[1] AH Digimon Season 2. it just rocks doesn't it [2] "Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx in 1847