Hi! Well... try not to hate me, but this story ended sorta abruptly on me,
and this is the last chapter. my stories have a way of doing that.
anyhoo... this is it. there won't be a sequel.
guess what? an interesting little tidbit i found out today... "sano," as in sanosuke, is a word in spanish that means "healthy." i just thought that was funny.
History Behind the History, chapter 13
"Battousai the Pacifist," Akitaka read. He stood behind a podium in front of an impatient, prelunch crowd- his fourth period history class. It was the last day of the semester.
"Himura is often seen as a near-indiscriminate killer of Shinsengumi, however, nothing could be further from the truth," skeptical stares came from all directions except that of Mr. Higo. He seemed quite pleased.
"Himura did kill, and kill Shinsengumi, during the revolution, but staunchly refused to do so afterward. We can never know the true extent of Battousai's internal conflict, but it is clear that he killed only when he felt it was in the public's best interest, and in later years, refused under all circumstances.
"You all know about as much as I do about his exploits during the war, but I want to share with you an enlightening event that happened about eleven years later. Battousai's wife- that's right, he was married, twice actually- his first wife had a brother named Yukishiro Enishi. Battousai had killed Yukishiro's sister, his own wife, during the revolution, but ironically enough, it was an accident. Yukishiro either didn't know or didn't care about that, though, and determined to wreak revenge on Himura.
Yukishiro assembled a group of fighters, swept into Tokyo, and promptly began attacking any place or person with the remotest connection to Himura. He killed or wounded completely innocent people, and then kidnapped the woman who was to be the second Mrs. Himura, launching an elaborate scheme to make it appear as if he'd murdered her. Yukishiro, most would agree, was as deserving of death as any Shinsengumi captain, but survived a fight with Battousai.
"Don't misunderstand me, Yukishiro didn't win. This is the Battousai we're talking about here. No one survives a fight with him unless he allows them to do so. Yukishiro, the man who kidnapped the woman Battousai loved, survived the ordeal only because Himura showed him mercy.
"This incident points out to me that he had changed his mind- decided killing was never necessary and avoided it for the rest of his days. It has become obvious to me that Battousai the Manslayer learned how not to exist as a manslayer,"
Akitaka finished delivering his semester paper, and it was plain on the faces of everyone in the room what grade he would be receiving.
* *
*
It was dark and small fires provided the only light. He had decided already that no one would die at his hands in this battle. The war was as good as won, and they didn't need him anymore. He still fought to hold the enemy back and protect his comrades, but none of them died before his sword.
He ran, dodged, parried, and struck, darting about to wherever there was trouble, staying only long enough to defend another, and then move on. One standing off to the side would only have caught brief, barely recognizable glimpses of him, and even then only his hair would give him away.
He didn't mind that- he wasn't there to be seen, only to keep the Shinsengumi out of Kyoto, and he was doing a fine job of that.
It was just then that Kenshin heard a voice he didn't recognize shout "Retreat!" The Shinsengumi were beaten and the imperialists had won. He sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, letting the pure euphoria of knowing the war was over wash over him.
He barely saw anything as he walked slowly off the battlefield, now surrounded by celebrating Ishin Shishi. He wasn't even going back with them tonight- he would make himself disappear. Battousai the Manslayer would be no more.
He walked out into the woods near the city and became invisible among the trees. When he was satisfied that he was sufficiently far away not to be seen or disturbed, he reverently removed the two swords he had carried for years.
He knelt in the dark woods and prepared for what he knew he must do. He had thought in the back of his mind at some times that it must end this way, but had never officially decided until the retreat tonight had given him the peace to accept that this was proper.
Samurai committed seppuku for different reasons, one of which was to atone for wrongdoing, and his wrongs were grievous. He had known for a time- not since the beginning, but for a time- that this was just punishment for his actions, but had not seen any other way to proceed, and so had knowingly done the wrong thing because it seemed like the only thing.
Had he made the right choice, protecting some the only way he knew how at the expense of others? He didn't know, but murder was murder and he wouldn't excuse himself from it. If he had done well, he would die unnecessarily, but that was better than allowing himself to live if he had not.
He lifted his wakizashi to cut into his abdomen, brought it closer, prepared to die, and closed his eyes. As he braced himself for the impending pain, he felt a hand wrap around his wrist to stay the blade.
"Please allow me to die," he requested solemnly without opening his eyes or lifting his bowed head. The owner of the hand said nothing.
The two sat there in a stalemate for quite some time, Kenshin refusing to give up his decision to die, the still unbeheld person in front of him refusing to give up on Kenshin's life. Finally, Kenshin relaxed his arm, signaling that he would relent, and the other person silently took the hand away, allowing Kenshin to sheathe the sword before he looked up to see only trees and twilight.
Perhaps it had been a soldier who'd followed him, perhaps a kami or an angel, but the entity's message had been clear. More death was not the solution. He was to learn to exist in another way, a good way.
**************************************************
there. history behind the history is finished. i'm working on another fic, and the working title is "heart," but it might not turn out to be the title. it's about kenshin's childhood before he met hiko and a little after. it will definitely stop before the war starts, or at least before kenshin enters it.
Tomoe2Kenshin: yes, i do like it. thank you, but this is the last chapter, so sorry.
PraiseDivineMercy: thank you, glad i'm descriptive. i always got criticized for not enough detail when i took creative writing. i anticipated i might get reviews saying Battousai wouldn't leave someone alive, but the truth is i didn't make that scene up. it happened in the manga.
Califpinay3001: thanks! hope you enjoyed the story while it lasted.
Yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds: gruesome? (i think you spelled it right by the way) i suppose it was my only fight scene in this story, but i didn't think it was that bad. it really happened in the manga- he hacked thy guy's arm off and refused to kill him.
guess what? an interesting little tidbit i found out today... "sano," as in sanosuke, is a word in spanish that means "healthy." i just thought that was funny.
History Behind the History, chapter 13
"Battousai the Pacifist," Akitaka read. He stood behind a podium in front of an impatient, prelunch crowd- his fourth period history class. It was the last day of the semester.
"Himura is often seen as a near-indiscriminate killer of Shinsengumi, however, nothing could be further from the truth," skeptical stares came from all directions except that of Mr. Higo. He seemed quite pleased.
"Himura did kill, and kill Shinsengumi, during the revolution, but staunchly refused to do so afterward. We can never know the true extent of Battousai's internal conflict, but it is clear that he killed only when he felt it was in the public's best interest, and in later years, refused under all circumstances.
"You all know about as much as I do about his exploits during the war, but I want to share with you an enlightening event that happened about eleven years later. Battousai's wife- that's right, he was married, twice actually- his first wife had a brother named Yukishiro Enishi. Battousai had killed Yukishiro's sister, his own wife, during the revolution, but ironically enough, it was an accident. Yukishiro either didn't know or didn't care about that, though, and determined to wreak revenge on Himura.
Yukishiro assembled a group of fighters, swept into Tokyo, and promptly began attacking any place or person with the remotest connection to Himura. He killed or wounded completely innocent people, and then kidnapped the woman who was to be the second Mrs. Himura, launching an elaborate scheme to make it appear as if he'd murdered her. Yukishiro, most would agree, was as deserving of death as any Shinsengumi captain, but survived a fight with Battousai.
"Don't misunderstand me, Yukishiro didn't win. This is the Battousai we're talking about here. No one survives a fight with him unless he allows them to do so. Yukishiro, the man who kidnapped the woman Battousai loved, survived the ordeal only because Himura showed him mercy.
"This incident points out to me that he had changed his mind- decided killing was never necessary and avoided it for the rest of his days. It has become obvious to me that Battousai the Manslayer learned how not to exist as a manslayer,"
Akitaka finished delivering his semester paper, and it was plain on the faces of everyone in the room what grade he would be receiving.
* *
*
It was dark and small fires provided the only light. He had decided already that no one would die at his hands in this battle. The war was as good as won, and they didn't need him anymore. He still fought to hold the enemy back and protect his comrades, but none of them died before his sword.
He ran, dodged, parried, and struck, darting about to wherever there was trouble, staying only long enough to defend another, and then move on. One standing off to the side would only have caught brief, barely recognizable glimpses of him, and even then only his hair would give him away.
He didn't mind that- he wasn't there to be seen, only to keep the Shinsengumi out of Kyoto, and he was doing a fine job of that.
It was just then that Kenshin heard a voice he didn't recognize shout "Retreat!" The Shinsengumi were beaten and the imperialists had won. He sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, letting the pure euphoria of knowing the war was over wash over him.
He barely saw anything as he walked slowly off the battlefield, now surrounded by celebrating Ishin Shishi. He wasn't even going back with them tonight- he would make himself disappear. Battousai the Manslayer would be no more.
He walked out into the woods near the city and became invisible among the trees. When he was satisfied that he was sufficiently far away not to be seen or disturbed, he reverently removed the two swords he had carried for years.
He knelt in the dark woods and prepared for what he knew he must do. He had thought in the back of his mind at some times that it must end this way, but had never officially decided until the retreat tonight had given him the peace to accept that this was proper.
Samurai committed seppuku for different reasons, one of which was to atone for wrongdoing, and his wrongs were grievous. He had known for a time- not since the beginning, but for a time- that this was just punishment for his actions, but had not seen any other way to proceed, and so had knowingly done the wrong thing because it seemed like the only thing.
Had he made the right choice, protecting some the only way he knew how at the expense of others? He didn't know, but murder was murder and he wouldn't excuse himself from it. If he had done well, he would die unnecessarily, but that was better than allowing himself to live if he had not.
He lifted his wakizashi to cut into his abdomen, brought it closer, prepared to die, and closed his eyes. As he braced himself for the impending pain, he felt a hand wrap around his wrist to stay the blade.
"Please allow me to die," he requested solemnly without opening his eyes or lifting his bowed head. The owner of the hand said nothing.
The two sat there in a stalemate for quite some time, Kenshin refusing to give up his decision to die, the still unbeheld person in front of him refusing to give up on Kenshin's life. Finally, Kenshin relaxed his arm, signaling that he would relent, and the other person silently took the hand away, allowing Kenshin to sheathe the sword before he looked up to see only trees and twilight.
Perhaps it had been a soldier who'd followed him, perhaps a kami or an angel, but the entity's message had been clear. More death was not the solution. He was to learn to exist in another way, a good way.
**************************************************
there. history behind the history is finished. i'm working on another fic, and the working title is "heart," but it might not turn out to be the title. it's about kenshin's childhood before he met hiko and a little after. it will definitely stop before the war starts, or at least before kenshin enters it.
Tomoe2Kenshin: yes, i do like it. thank you, but this is the last chapter, so sorry.
PraiseDivineMercy: thank you, glad i'm descriptive. i always got criticized for not enough detail when i took creative writing. i anticipated i might get reviews saying Battousai wouldn't leave someone alive, but the truth is i didn't make that scene up. it happened in the manga.
Califpinay3001: thanks! hope you enjoyed the story while it lasted.
Yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds: gruesome? (i think you spelled it right by the way) i suppose it was my only fight scene in this story, but i didn't think it was that bad. it really happened in the manga- he hacked thy guy's arm off and refused to kill him.