Ciao!!!
Well, I want to apologize for this chapter being so late, especially after I got so many wonderful reviews from all of you (in spite of my extortionist measures, which I usually despise…). The cause for this was, however, beyond my circle of control… well, to cut a long story short: my classmates caught me writing in the evening, they thought it was funny 'Baby Chi' was trying to keep herself occupied, took my laptop and didn't quit harassing me since then. My laptop was hidden in the room of the boy I most despise (he lives to make fun of me and my 'scrawniness' as he calls it) and, of course, I wasn't informed of this. It took me some time to find out, and then some more time to… persuade these stupid, immature boys to give it back. I am used to being picked on (if you're fifteen and look thirteen and have nineteen year-olds as classmates it's a law of nature), this stunt, however, went beyond the usual pranks and pretty much delayed my finishing this chapter. I only got back from Berlin on Friday, and have been either asleep or checking this since. I hope you'll forgive me, not only for being late but also for just blabbering about how miserable I am at the moment (it actually makes me feel better to write all of this down) and enjoy reading nonetheless!
"…." Denotes talking
….. denotes thinking
*~* means a change of scenery (either temporal or local, I think which one of those will be clear) has taken place
Disclaimer: I do in no way own any rights, moral or others, to Rurouni Kenshin, its characters or plot. Characters other than the characters from Rurouni Kenshin bearing any resemblance to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. I do not intend to make any profits out of this story, it's written for entertainment purposes only and any attempt by persons natural or legal to make money from it in any way is not in accordance with this author's express wishes.
Chapter 18
Pandemonium
Aoshi was clinging to Misao's still form, still waiting for the hailstorm of bullets spraying from the muzzle of the motion-sensor-equipped gun to subside in the slightest so he might at least get her to safety. However, the Pharaoh's equipment was, as usual, the newest technology, enhanced by the technical genius of his mistress, Komagata Yumi. The ex-prostitute had a brilliant mind when it came to electronics and machines, surprising though as it might seem she could put any male engineer to shame with her innovations.
However, being targeted by a gun developed by a female engineer didn't make the situation even one bit better. Aoshi hated to admit it, but at this very moment his admiration for Miss Yumi's skills turned into rather strong hatred for those same skills and he found himself cursing Shishio rather vehemently for choosing his partner-in-crime exceedingly well. Misao softly moaned as he clutched her to his body, acting as a human shield for the injured girl, the piece of his shirt he had fastened over her mouth and nose as a ward against the acrid smoke making his eyes water and his lungs burn not enough to keep her alive for long. She was incredibly brave and strong, and as much as he would have liked to remain in the calm place that was his center, shielded from the increasingly disturbing emotions coursing through his body the need to protect the last remaining member of his original spy group pulled him from it, the world suddenly losing its sharp focus as it spun in the more hazy perception of a slightly-above-average human being. He knew what that meant- smoke intoxication. His body was able to withstand the symptoms longer than normal people's, but that didn't make him immune to the side effects of breathing in too much carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The dizzy spells were only the beginning…
"Seek shelter underneath the furniture!" Katsu, the more levelheaded of the twins, was already diving for cover when he shouted his piece of advice, having noticed in advance the telltale split in an innocent-looking wooden panel. And, sure enough, a second gun spouted bullets from its muzzle as soon as the words had left the agent's mouth. Aoshi merely shot the thing a dark look as Tsunan cursed a blue streak when a stray shot ricocheted inches past his left ear. Fortunately, crawling around on the floor, while it did bring them closer to the flames licking at everything flammable within their reach, was the way to evade the noxious fumes filling the air courtesy of that same fire.
"You couldn't have waited a second longer, could you, Katsu?" Tsunan almost screamed. His brother, however, was too busy diving and rolling all over the floor to reach a low table that hadn't yet burst into flames and was promising shelter to take notice of Tsunan's plight.
"Damn!" he swore, just as a thin red line appeared along his left thigh, a bullet he hadn't quite avoided impacting with the table's surface and sending splinters of wood and black lacquer everywhere, sharp projectiles almost on par with the metal ones. Talking, however, was provoking the inhalation of more smoke than his lungs liked, thus sending him into a coughing fit that had him sputtering at the end. "Shit," he hoarsely murmured.
"We have to get out of here or disable the thing," Aoshi cried, his voice barely making itself noticeable among the myriad of stuttering and screeching noises from the guns and bullets. The refined, silken tone was replaced by a rawness caused from the heat, the smoke and exertion of a body too injured to be up to the fight for his life. Aoshi repressed a cough, swallowing another lungful of superheated, smoky air in the process.
"Second option. First is out of the question, those damn things double-cover the exit," Katsu shouted back, clutching at his injured leg, a hacking cough wracking his lanky frame. The flames were coming closer and closer to where he hid, and his eyes glazed over with the first signs of panic.
"Has Misao still got her kunai?" Tsunan asked, dodging another errant shot and trying to breathe shallowly enough to avoid taking in too much poisonous air.
"You plan on using them to disable the guns? I'm sorry but they won't be strong enough!" Katsu cried, even before Aoshi could answer his brother's question.
"Not the guns, idiot. Think!" Tsunan managed to sound indignant but not offending, a twin thing Aoshi surmised, moving back from his position since it was getting too hot there with the fire rapidly spreading.
"I get your train of thought, Tsunan. This might work. I'll throw you three of Misao's kunai, we'll shoot on the count of three."
Aoshi shot three of Misao's human-driven projectile weapons towards the agent's hiding place, Tsunan pulling them out of their wooden lodging place as soon as they had impacted, shooting his brother and Aoshi an appraising look before narrowing his eyes to peer through the chaotic maelstrom of metal, dust, smoke and splinters of furniture.
"One… two… and three!" His fingers released the kunai, the muscles of his throwing arm straining as he lent the throw all the might he could, three little sharp knives cutting the air before impacting against the only vulnerable place their mechanic assaulters offered: the swiveling base they were mounted upon. Small explosions obscured their view, as all three of the intruders into Shishio's mansion tried to ascertain the success of their little ploy. That the guns didn't stop their bullet-spewing didn't really make matters easier, and it wasn't until a full minute later that Aoshi could discern any results of their master plan, the fire lending unexpected assistance as a column of heated air sucked away the smoke. Through the wavering air he could see the six little knives lodged deeply in the gun's platforms or, if they had cut through the steering cables, in the smoke-blackened wall behind it.
"The guns are frozen," he declared the second he found out, his brows scrunching together in an effort to calculate the exact angle of both guns and the blind spot the trajectory of the bullets now had.
"Keep close to the left wall, and use the sofa Katsu is currently lounging under for cover and you should be fine!" Tsunan beat Aoshi to determining the best escape route, and even though it earned him a scathing look from his brother and a slight twitch of recognition from Aoshi he didn't wait for their reactions, instead throwing himself across the room in a daring roll that brought him into the bullet-free zone.
"You now, Tsu, whoever made these little buggers will be furious that we broke them," Katsu remarked offhandedly while sprinting towards the wooden door reduced to splinters leading to the hallway they hoped to meet Kenshin's part of their group in.
"Yumi? She'll be livid!" Even Tsunan found the time for some light banter, the immediate danger of being shot having been averted and all.
"What? Who is Yumi?" Katsu asked, slightly distracted by the noise that still threatened to deafen every one of them.
"Haven't you read our briefs on the Pharaoh? Yumi's his girlfriend, a graduate of the Regime's most acclaimed university and perhaps the most brilliant engineer alive at the moment. She hit on some hard times, and became a high-class prostitute before meeting up with Shishio and… well, you can imagine the rest."
"I'd rather not." Tsunan managed to sound dry even though he had to shout to reach the ears of his brother through the bedlam around them.
"I recommend stopping chatting and start concentrating on getting through that door. There's about six inches of bullet-free space on its left. We will go through one after another. I'll get Misao out first, then you two go and I'll follow," Aoshi instructed calmly, ending the brothers' argument with cold efficiency.
"Yes, Sir." Crouching next to the doorframe, right behind Aoshi and his light burden, the twins shook hands before nodding. "Let's go."
Quick as lightning, Aoshi had thrown Misao through a curtain of flames out into the hallway, her body impacting with the floor in a roll that wouldn't leave anything worse than a bruise or two, the twins out behind her just as fast, and then the silent, stoic spy leader followed them with cat-like grace that belied his injuries- almost. A grunt forced itself from his throat as he had to use his arms to catch his fall, the slashes on his shoulders giving him more problems than he liked to admit. Even though he was reluctant to accept it, Battousai had got him good during their duel. He just silently hoped the insufferable agent encountered similar problems on his end of the hallway; after all, he still harbored a grudge against the red-haired agent. A tongue of flames shooting at him from the room they had just vacated and the sounds of small explosions going off behind him, however, distracted him efficiently from these thoughts, and he was rather quick in distancing himself from the menacing black cloud of acrid smoke rolling out from the doorway he had so luckily escaped out of.
"Well, now we wait," Tsunan forced out through a coughing attack that had him clutch at his midriff. Katsu nodded, shaking his head weakly to dispel any lingering traces of the dizziness that had assaulted him as soon as the level of adrenaline in his body had dropped back down again. His arm burned with a fury, and the blackened patch of skin that still had a few shreds of his otherwise destroyed sleeve sticking to it told him only too clearly why.
"Just one question, Katsu: Why would someone set fire to his own home?" he asked, not really expecting an answer to his question.
"If it burns the cockroaches infesting it, the measure is adequate."
Aoshi didn't even want to think about who the speaker might be.
*~*
Katsura was confident they would make it in time to help agents Himura and Takani out of their present predicament, which was probably why he could be so amused at the sight of his friend Seijurou grumbling and seething about the 'apparent incompetence of rookie agents who haven't even had appropriate basic training and are trying to infiltrate our most dangerous enemy's base'. The entire operation so far had to have been a nightmare for the misanthropic ex-ex-agent, waiting two hours until their transport arrived, five minutes late to top it off, flying in slowly and too close to the ground for comfort to avoid detection by enemy radar, and finally having to track through hostile territory with a group of what Seijurou thought were imbeciles who should rather cling to their mothers' sleeves than be out engaging a deranged leader of enemy forces, even though to Katsura they were some of the most promising new agents his organization had to offer- the agent-turned-artist-turned-agent probably was as close to blowing up from all the pressure as humanly possible. He was concerned for the safety of his student, Himura being the only one who could even remotely hope to meet Seijurou's approval some day, he was angry with Katsura for forcing him to work with a group of people when he knew his ex-partner knew he was best alone, and he was very likely just impatiently awaiting his chance to once and for all put the Pharaoh where he belonged- six feet under or a mental institution, Katsura wasn't sure which one Hiko would prefer. Probably the first alternative, though, should agent Himura have sustained any injuries. Hiko was very protective of his student- and heaven help those incurring the wrath of that man!
"Agent Hiko, how far to the mansion?" Luckily they had been contacted by the communications officer of one of their safe houses telling them about two agents having started a rescue operation hours before they could mount theirs, using bugged Agency vehicles that led Katsura's forces to the architectural menace visible through the thin cover of trees attempting to shroud it from view. The Agency leader had to suppress a shudder at the sight of the ungainly building. It should be forbidden to use precious resources for erecting atrocities like that. He would be sure to instigate the passing of a statute to do just this back home, he mentally reminded himself.
"Katsura, ten soldiers, fifty feet to the West. I suggest your rookies deal with this- they shouldn't be a problem even for them." Hiko's voice turning icy and his face hardening in concentration spoke volumes about what had to be going through his mind. Katsura nodded, and waved the little troupe of agents off to do their work, Hiko's instincts being even more trustworthy than the new experimental technology the Agency was toying with and that was supposed to pick up and make visible sources of heat- like human bodies. Unfortunately, the Agency scientists had yet to come up with a reliable system, and until then the best thing they had was the uncanny sixth sense of his partner.
"Seijurou, where in the building are they?" he asked, anxious to reach his people as soon as possible. He might seem aloof and out of touch with the base of operations most of the time, due to his enormous workload as both the head of the Agency's administration and leader of the operations forces, but he knew and cared for every one of his employees.
"I can't tell," the black-haired, taller man replied with a frown, his brows knitted together in concentration. His senses were being dulled by something- and then there were the irritating, high-strung rookie agents mulling about too close for Hiko's comfort, a disturbance he could not shield himself against.
"It's not the time for your personal vendetta against Himura," Katsura snapped, his nerves as much on edge as Hiko's.
The resulting deathglare that was directed at Katsura just about added another decoration to Shishio's walls- Egyptian style, of course. Hiko's hair sparkled with an unholy green light, and his eyes appeared to have turned into dark red laser-beam emitters.¹
"Katsura, I suggest you don't say that again. Something's blocking me. And my baka deshi apparently isn't strong enough to get through the block."
Well, he managed to berate him and insult Himura at the same time. Seijurou was unique, if he dared say so, Katsura considered with a smirk around the corners of his eyes. He was the only one who could make a situation as tense as theirs bearable while looking as though he was in complete and utter control of it. Katsura only now fully appreciated his old partner being at his side.
"Your rookies have finally finished, Katsura," that partner reminded him flatly, already striding towards the mansion's side entrance, head held high, his trenchcoat billowing proudly behind his imposing figure. Katsura could only shake his head. Why had they ever let that man slip through their fingers instead of making him the leader? But then, his people skills were rather underdeveloped- the image of Seijurou trying to deal with the Agency's day-to-day business simply didn't fit into Katsura's picture of the man.
"Then what are we waiting for?" the Agency leader asked noone in particular, following his supposed subordinate into the building, past the knocked-out – or dead- forms of Shishio's guards.
*~*
"No!" Kaoru screamed, the shock of seeing Megumi vanish behind a wall of what looked like liquid fire finally settling in. Kenshin whirled around, his weapon already drawn and ready, creating a shield of pure wind pressure that forced back the stream of fire blasted at them just enough so they weren't roasted to a crisp within the first two seconds. Still, the temperature rose to almost unbearable levels, and with a shocked yelp Yahiko extinguished the small, red tongues licking at his pants.
"What is this?" Megumi screamed, panicked. Behind them, another fiery grating materialized as previously innocent-looking decorative ornaments on the walls turned into muzzles spouting highly flammable…
"Ether!" she screeched a second later, realization hitting hard as the first onslaught of nausea and gagging reflex had her swaying on her feet.
"What do you mean, ether? Is it that stuff that makes me feel so tired?" Yahiko asked, stifling a yawn, clearly hard-pressed to stay conscious. Kaoru simply looked furious as she tried to shield herself as good as she could with the sleeves of her shirt, pressing the rough material against her mouth to ward off the smoke and gaseous liquid.
Kenshin had difficulties maintaining his concentration, the fogginess in his brain expanding into a great, black cloud lurking behind his stinging eyes as his wrists and fingers ached from the effort that pushing back the flames required. He coughed, the oxygen level in the room having dropped too far.
"We have to get out of here!" Yahiko was about to collapse, his smaller body succumbing easier to the anesthetic than those of the adults. Sano nodded, eyelids drooping and eyes clouding over as the pain in his body was replaced by the eerie sensation of floating along on a wonderfully heated, fluffy pink cloud.
"Follow," Kenshin gritted through clenched teeth, redoubling his efforts and, very slowly, drawing the grating in front of them into a column of flames and smoke, clearing a path to where the door had been and where now only a black, smoking hole in the wall remained.
"Tell me why anyone would light his own house on fire, Foxy?" Sano slurred, the ether affecting him the most out of all the adults since he had been in the worst condition from the start on.
"I don't know- perhaps the Pharaoh was freezing?" Yahiko answered, stumbling alongside Megumi and Kaoru, who were doing their best to keep the two males in line and from falling too far behind.
To Kenshin, eternity was caught in the few moments they spent breaking through the wall of flames- reality insisted it had been only a few seconds. Sputtering, coughing, faces and clothes black with soot, hair singed and brains woozy they emerged from the trap, having truly survived hell.
"We- we made it!" Megumi exclaimed incredulously, slumping down against the nearest wall only to find the others standing around her and Sano, who had collapsed together with her, in a protective semi-circle.
"Oh no," she groaned, taking in the fifteen guns trained onto them by an equal umber of Shishio's guards.
"Miss Kaoru, you should stand back, that you should," Kenshin said, his dark golden eyes never leaving those guns.
"I won't," Kaoru replied, gripping the handle of her own weapon tighter. She was glad now she had insisted on taking a bokken from the Agency safe house's gym, the feeling of the smooth wood beneath her fingertips familiar and reassuring even in her half-dazed state.
Kenshin could hardly focus, and the thought of Kaoru beside him and in danger was driving him crazy. Sano could not help him- he had taken too much abuse in the last few hours. Megumi was clearly preoccupied with fussing over both him and Yahiko- who was talking about Tsubame flying around him wearing silver butterfly wings and singing- and would not be able to fight. That left only him- and Kaoru. He didn't like it, but he was slowed down by the anesthetic fumes as well, and needed every advantage he could glean in this fight, and as he studied his cards it was obvious that Kaoru was the only advantage he had.
"Hands up, now. I don't want to shoot you, Battousai, but the Pharaoh only wants you alive- not uninjured." The leader of the group of Shishio's soldiers stepped forward, the muzzle of his gun trained on Kenshin's right shoulder, ready to take out Battousai's sword arm.
"Why should I heed your order?" Kenshin asked, stalling, trying to will Kaoru to move, to take out the rightmost soldiers so he could start his path of destruction from the left. She stared into space with those glittering, sapphire eyes of hers, and he was about to despair when she suddenly whipped her head around, meeting his intense, amber stare with hers. Understanding dawned behind her gaze, melting her stupor and forcing her brain to awaken from the ether-induced trance. An imperceptible nod and a furrowing of black eyebrows signaled her readiness, her body remaining motionless but still starting to tense up, a wound-up coil ready to unfold in the merest fraction of a second.
"You, Battousai, are in no position to ask or demand anything. Now, put your weapon on the floor and your hands up in the air and I will take you to meet the Pharaoh. Understood?" Kenshin smirked, the unholy light in his amber eyes shining with an intensity that threatened to burn through the man trying to face him down. He nodded sharply.
"Understood," he said, suddenly whirling into motion, the few shots that actually were fired ricocheting harmlessly off the hallway's walls. The silver arcs his blade wrought into the air were the only signs of his passing, the thudding of unconscious bodies falling to the floor and the sharp smacks of his sakabatou hitting flesh the only sounds his fight produced. Kaoru's battle cries echoed in the ears of the fighters and spectators alike, her wooden weapon dealing as much damage as Kenshin's steel one. Even though she was slower and her movements actually visible she was no less intimidating, the way her hair blew across her face enhancing the deadly fire in her deep blue eyes. She was a battle-angel, Kenshin thought, stealing a glance at her while sending two more soldiers to meet the ground, beautiful and terrifying. Within seconds, the soldiers were reduced to writhing, groaning lumps of flesh and bones on the floor, any will to fight beaten out of them with the strength of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu respectively.
"Understood I have, but I'm not going to comply, that I am not." Kaoru only glowered at the fallen men, a smirk on her face that could rival Hiko's- if she had known him, that is.
"You scared Tsubame away," Yahiko groaned, coming to his senses on the floor. Sano clambered to his feet, only a slight sway in his stance evidencing the influence of the ether.
"Probably a good thing he did, Yahiko. We still have a Pharaoh to scare back to his grave," the ex-Sekihoutai grinned broadly, his swaggering self-assurance returning with each breath he took that wasn't tainted with smoke and foul fumes.
"Pharaoh? Shishio! Where is he?" Yahiko looked around wildly, apparently still a little disoriented. The adults' laughter brought him back to reality at once, Sano's guffaws shaking the wall he was leaning against. "Oh no!"
"Yes, Yahiko. You were dreaming." Kaoru gently lifted the young boy to his feet, pretending not to see the blush creeping up his cheeks and turning his head into a life-like replica of an oversized tomato.
"I… was dreaming?" The boy's face looked like the impersonation of bewilderment. Megumi reassuringly grasped his shoulder, steering him away from the unconscious bodies of the soldiers that had tried to capture them.
"You were, but you aren't now, so if you're feeling better we should get going again- we don't want to keep Misao waiting, do we?" Yahiko nodded, still too dazed to make any remark about 'the weasel'.
"Wait," Sano suddenly spoke out, reaching over with his good arm to hinder Megumi from moving. "I want to know why Kenshin was so sure there was no trap here. I mean, normally he knows these things ahead of time, doesn't he?" The agent in question nodded, closing his eyes in a gesture of remorse.
"Normally I sense opponents, Sano, that I do, but something in here isn't right- it blocks my sixth sense and makes me… distraught, that it does. I'm sorry to have led you into a trap, that I am."
"No harm was done, Kenshin, and besides, we had to get through these people anyway. We don't want the Pharaoh to continue torturing poor innocents." Kaoru soothingly lay a hand on Kenshin's shoulder, the slight flinch of his muscles at the sudden contact made up for by a sweet smile that even reached the darkest vestiges of his brilliantly glowing amber eyes.
"We have almost reached Shishio, that we have," Kenshin informed his group, grasping Kaoru's hand with his own and guiding it back to the handle of her bokken, the dark, malicious spark lurking in the corners of his eyes returning to life.
"What makes you so sure?" Kaoru asked, refusing to let her grip on her bokken slacken even in the slightest. Kenshin simply jerked his head towards the far end of the hallway.
"Because Saito and that mountain of muscle are cornering Misao, Aoshi, Katsu and Tsunan over there."
*~*
Katsura's men behaved like the trained agents they were, still Hiko couldn't shake the feeling they were too… weak, too rookie to be there. Scouting around the sudden bend in the hallway they had chosen after entering the building they signaled everything was clear to go, but the master agent trailing slightly behind them walked with the utmost distrust and care for his part. He didn't like the dull, leaden weight settling in his stomach whenever he tried to sense whether an opponent was near, the block on his senses having increased tenfold with reaching the building's approximate center.
"I don't like this," he muttered to himself, making sure to be out of earshot of everyone and Katsura in particular, clenching the hilt of his trusted weapon, the nihontou tightly in his massive fist, "we should have met someone by now. It's like Shishio is planning to lure any intruders into a trap…"
"There is no trap here, Seijurou. My men haven't found a single clue that would evidence such a suspicion, and my guess is that Shishio's guards are too preoccupied with fighting off agents Himura and Takani to deal with us."
Hiko silently glared at his friend and partner for having managed to come near enough to hear him musing without him noticing, but Katsura's words actually made sense. The Agency leader was a strategist if nothing else- and a very good one, if not as brilliant as the genius Hiko Seijurou.
"I think the Pharaoh resides in the upper levels- we should find a way up there soon enough, and then we will surely find Himura as well. Someone seems to have passed by here already- my men have found two unconscious guards, gagged and bound, somewhere down this hallway. I will send them to scout for stairs right now."
"I would rather take this lift here," Hiko smirked, pointing to the same metal doors Kenshin and his group had used before them. Katsura shook his head, but called his forces back. "Let's hope it's not locked somewhere."
*~*
"Who are you?" Aoshi asked, having to actually look up to stare into the shadowed eyes of his opponent. He knew he was tall- after all, he easily towered over most men he met, with the exception of three of his Oniwabanshu- but they were dead. This man, however, was not only tall but also a living muscle, his body so built that Shikijou would have looked like a scrawny schoolboy in comparison.
"My name is Yukyuzan Anji, member of Shishio's elite defense troupe Juppon Gatana, Shinomori Aoshi. We have met before, even though I didn't tell you my name then." Aoshi pondered for a second, trying to scour his memories for Anji but coming up empty-handed.
"I can't remember meeting you, Anji, but since you know my name I will take your word for the truth. I hope you are not leading me along, as I am in no way as harmless as you seem to think." A raised eyebrow was referring to the fact that Anji didn't carry any weapons besides his fists and feet, and hadn't bothered with protective clothing at all. A rasping sound bounced off his bare chest as Aoshi drew his twin weapons, shooting a worried glance at the small, lifeless figure of Misao slumped against the wall behind him.
"I will not harm your little girl, if that is what you are worried about. Shishio wants her alive, and I don't care for her death either. I am here only to kill you."
"The shouldn't you get your weapon ready?" Aoshi asked impassively, increasingly annoyed that Anji blocked his passage to the meeting point with Himura, his knuckles white around the twin swords in his hands. Sure, he was injured and weaker than he should be, his lungs burning with the remains of the acrid smoke he had inhaled, eyes red and irritated, but he had no doubt whatsoever that he would be able to dispatch of this giant rather quickly. However, he refused to attack an unarmed man who had not attacked him yet, thus he forced himself to find his center, the calming breathing exercise from his Zen meditations easing the feeling of tightness around his chest.
"I don't need a weapon, Shinomori Aoshi. My fists are all I require to kill you and carry out my mission." His opponent possessed equal calmness, equal stillness in the midst of chaos, equal focus as he breathed deeply, settling himself into something akin to a meditative trance before striking out with his fists, faster and harder than Aoshi had expected him to.
Anji hit home, the staggering blows exploding against Aoshi's chest with the force of a sledgehammer, throwing the tall swordfighter off balance and into the wall next to the door he had come through, back into the smoke and heat from the fire raging beyond that door. A thin trickle of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth, and he groaned in pain when fingering the back of his head. Luckily his fingers came away clean, the force of the impact not enough to split the skin.
"You are better than I thought," he admitted impassively, collecting himself and his swords before sliding into the stance that was all too familiar to him, hoping that his body would be able to cope with the stress his special technique put it under. His right foot led, and he entered the flowing dance that seemed to carry him like the river carried its water, seemingly calm and peaceful, but with dangerous eddies and currents lurking beneath the serene, sparkling surface.
Anji didn't lose his calm, breathing softly and deeply, eyes closed in concentration as he tried to make out Aoshi's movements. For the first time he cursed Shishio for having installed the giant electro magnet underneath the mansion, the power of its field disrupting his sixth sense and making it impossible to find Aoshi. Only a flicker of movement to his left warned him to raise his block before the twin kodachi Aoshi used with such skill cut deeply into the bandages protecting his forearms.
His feet lashed out the same instant, forcing Aoshi to fall back and shield himself against the hard blow. He sidestepped the following left-handed punch that exploded the wall Aoshi had unconsciously backed up against, and retaliated with a sharp thrust from his right kodachi, careful not to stay in Anji's reach long enough for the muscle-clad man to hit him. The cramped surroundings aided the fist fighter and impaired Aoshi as it barred him from using his greater speed and agility, his greatest advantage over an opponent whose own muscle mass was great enough to become a burden. As lightning-fast as the jabs from his fists were, and as destructive as their result was Anji had a hard time hitting an opponent that simply moved out of the way, flowed through his fingers like quicksilver.
Aoshi was hit more than he had expected, and each blow did far more damage than it should, even considering the difference in the two men's weight and Anji's more extensive knowledge of his style of fighting. Aoshi was trained in kempo as well as his Nittou Kodachi Ryuu, and he knew how to judge an opponent who fought without a weapon. Anji somehow didn't figure- he was too strong, and his blows were too… efficient. Warding off another attack by the mountain-like man who had smeared charcoal in a triangle shape around his eyes, creating the disturbing image of a mental avenging spirit Aoshi fell back, counting the steps until he would hit the wall. There weren't enough of them left for him to feel safe, but each and any of his attacks were limited in their efficiency by the enclosed space, and he was simply too weak to attempt another of his Kaiten Kenbu-attacks.
Misao's motionless body lay by now directly beside him, Anji having already forced him back far enough that he felt the searing heat of the fire roaring in the room to his right. Aoshi knew he didn't have room for any mistakes. Collecting his thoughts and strength in the center of his body before letting both radiate outwards into his limbs he crossed the blades in his hands, a scissor-like instrument of death preceding each of his ever-accelerating steps as he raced towards the tower of muscle trying to block him off from the rest of the hallway. A flying leap carried him the rest of the distance, and he felt nothing but carefully calculated satisfaction as his blades bit deeply into the obstructing mountain of flesh.
Anji coughed, the sound too wet and hacking to have been caused by smoke inhalation. Aoshi allowed a shallow smile to curve his lips upward- and suddenly stumbled, doubled over himself, coughing softly and trying to ward off the agony spreading from his ribcage through every sinew, muscle and nerve in his body. One of his kodachi slipped from the weakened grip of his hand as he clutched at his ribs, trying desperately to draw in the oxygen he sorely missed. And Anji was getting up again already…
He only managed to force himself onto his knees in the time it took his opponent to climb to his feet again. Hopelessly trapped, Aoshi sent Anji a calm, collected stare smoldering with hatred and antipathy underneath.
"I am well aware of what you have done, Shinomori. It was because you chose to betray Shishio that I got the order to kill you. You were to distract and, if possible, kill Battousai, and instead I find you his ally? You are a weak traitor, I don't regret killing you." Anji's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils shrinking together in shock almost beyond recognition before widening again, his shuddering breath hitching on a wave of pain he hadn't seen coming. With wonder and astonishment mirrored on his face he watched the long blade of a katana slide from his body, following the trail of blood it left in its wake with detached interest as he gasped for air.
"If he is a weak traitor, then I am no better. Yet I am the cause for your death, so who is weak now?" A swishing sound indicated the cleaning of a blade, the rasp of it sliding back into its sheath following immediately behind.
"Who are you?" Tsunan and Katsu moved as fast as they could, placing themselves between Aoshi and the stranger, a dark glint in their eyes as they drew their pistols, training them directly onto the man who had killed Anji.
"Who… Saito?" Lifting his head to look the new arrival into the eyes Aoshi stifled a cough, slowly got up, steadying himself against the wall before carefully making his way to where Misao lay, still out cold. At least the flow of blood from the wound on her temple had stopped, the glistening, dark trail leading into her tousled, raven hair the only indication of her injury. Aoshi bent down painfully, scooping the small, lithe body into his trembling arms and cradling her against his chest protectively.
"Shinomori. What took you so long, and where is Battousai?" Saito stood at ease, watching the two agents trying to intimidate him with their weapons with smirking amusement. "Tell your little… helpers they had better take these down."
"Look, I don't know who you are but-" Tsunan started, only to be interrupted by Katsu, the calmer of the twins forcing his brother to lower the semi-automatic to the ground. Saito smirked arrogantly.
"That is much better. I think Battousai wouldn't like me to hurt you." Aoshi glared at him, river overblue diamonds in stead of his eyes.²
"Saito, it is enough." He collected his kodachi, a task made more difficult by the fact he was still carrying Misao in his arms and wasn't willing to set her down even for a moment. "Battousai is here," he deadpanned as he uprighted himself again.
"Battousai? Kenshin is here already? Well, it is two minutes past our meeting time- seems like Agent Himura encountered similar problems to ours." Tsunan was already on his way, brushing past Aoshi and Saito, greeting the five slightly singed figures with a wave of the hand.
"No problems here anymore, Himura," he announced, lending Megumi a hand with a slightly staggering Sano.
"Saito. What made you turn so suddenly? And why have you killed that man?" Kenshin was clearly not at ease. If he couldn't even sense the Wolf when he was this close…
"It's about time you turn up, Battousai. I have been waiting for you and your cronies. Saito Hajime, the Wolf. I think you know me. It is time for me to stop lurking in the shadows, as I was ordered by Katsura to find you. I am to assist you in whatever crazy plan you have gotten yourself into. I am also to inform you that Katsura asks you to complete your mission soon."
"Give me proof," Kenshin demanded, right hand hovering over the hilt of his sakabatou as he slid into a ready stance for battle.
"Katsura listens to one Seijurou Hiko, who was also the one who trained you, Battousai. And if that isn't proof enough then I have his personal seal here." He pulled a wrinkled piece of parchment from the sheath of his trusted katana, smoothing the edges out, and showing Kenshin Katsura's name and family crest in deep red ink. Amber eyes narrowed to slits, taking in the offered information, finally realizing the truth that had been under his nose for so long.
"Saito, you… you are the Wolf. Katsura's deep undercover agent, the officer of the Regime army who has joined our forces. You are the one I was to meet at the Pharaoh's headquarters- here? And I think I was the one you were to meet, am I right?" Kenshin sounded every bit as skeptical as he felt, his eyes narrowing suspiciously, shining angrily. Saito, on their side? A predatory smile appeared on Saito's face, quickly replaced by a derogatory sneer as he rolled his parchment up and stored it in his katana's sheath again.
"I don't like this anymore than you do, Battousai. Don't believe I entered into this whole mess by my own choice. Had Katsura not ordered me explicitly to assist you I would have gladly let you run to your demise, believe me on this," the Wolf snorted, flipping a new packet of cigarettes from his breast pocket into his hands, pulling one out and lighting it. Blowing out the smoke he continued.
"The Pharaoh intended for you to have died by this time already. He didn't expect you to have helpers, which is the sole cause for your being still alive. If I hadn't disabled his booby traps in both those doors you and your… company would be dead by now. Keep that in mind, and follow me." He turned on his heels sharply, the sneer of displeasure evident even from behind.
"Now, wait just a minute, Saito. You expect us to follow you just like that after you beat me up? You want Kenshin to follow you? He won't be that stupid! You will be leading us into a trap!" Sano bristled, freeing himself from Megumi's gentle embrace and stepping up to block the Wolf's way.
"Sano, let him be. He tells the truth, that he does. I had my suspicions about the identity of our spy, the Wolf, that I had, and they were just confirmed by Saito. I will trust him on this, that I will, and so should you. If everybody is ready to carry on with our mission we should go right now, that we should. I don't know when the Pharaoh will send more guards."
"Listen to Battousai. He at least possesses something that resembles a brain, idiot. Now, wake up your little girl and follow me. I will take you past the traps Yumi set up directly to the Pharaoh. Shishio expects you, Battousai. I guess you are up to it… or maybe not, considering you had to pull these… people through." Saito mustered the rather ragged appearance of the agents, Oniwabanshu, Kaoru and Yahiko.
"I will be up to anything Shishio throws at me, Saito. And these people are my friends who have helped me a lot. I would rather you not talk about them like that any more." His fists clenching at his sides Kenshin faced Saito, certain in his beliefs and rather annoyed at Saito's continuous insults. Wolf or not, he should better watch his tongue where Kenshin was concerned. Even though he struggled against it, he felt his darker side, the feelings he so carefully restrained since Paris, well up and gain even more strength than they already had. He knew his eyes were beyond amber now, and frankly he didn't care. He knew he hadn't lost himself as well, he knew he would be able to control the power coursing through his veins, infusing his weakened body with strength he shouldn't rightfully possess.
"Are we ready to go, Battousai? I think Shinomori has problems with that girl of his…" Saito calmly smoked, elegantly flicking the ashes that had managed to mar the perfect surface of his white gloves off.
"Misao!" Aoshi called her softly, the long lashes on the girl's pale, smooth cheeks fluttering lightly, a moan escaping slightly parted rosebud lips. "Misao!"
"Aoshi?" She opened her eyes, the deep aqua colored pools darkening as she raised her hand to carefully touch her temple. "My head hurts," she moaned, eyelids falling shut once again as the pain became unbearable for her.
"Misao, wake up. We need you to wake up. You… I need you to wake up. I want you to be able to escape if anything happens, and you have to be awake for that. Please, Misao- I don't want Shishio to touch you." Aoshi's voice had turned into a deep, loving whisper, inaudible to all but the lithe girl whose head was resting in the crook of his arm.
"I… just five more minutes, Aoshi-sama," she mumbled, coming to. When she looked into his face this time she saw the softness hidden beneath the stoic exterior, and carefully reached up with her left hand to touch a bruise Anji had left on his cheek. "What happened?"
"A bullet grazed your temple and knocked you out, Misao. We met up with Battousai and an undercover agent of the Agency. Can you stand?"
"How long was I out? And where is Himura?"
"Not long, Miss Misao, and I am only a few paces away, that I am." His raging temper had been calmed by the display of tenderness and trust between Misao and Aoshi, his restless instincts driven back with a sweet memory and defeated when Kaoru walked up to him, touching his arm, taking the anxiety away with the feeling of her cool skin on his left forearm.
"This just had to happen to me," Misao grumbled, sitting up with Aoshi's assistance and finally standing with the rest of the group, self-consciously dusting her ruined clothes off.
"The weasel has joined us. Wonderful." Saito had finished his cigarette and simply leaned against the wall, watching the interaction between the Oniwabanshu leader and the young ninja girl with a spark of genuine concern in his unreadable yellow eyes. Misao scowled at him, feeling too dizzy and disoriented for any further action.
"Megumi, is the weasel hurt?" Sano asked, leaning in to the physician who still played the willing walking aid for the tall fighter. He was, to be honest, able to walk by himself now, had been for quite some time, but it was for the both of them too comfortable to be so close to each other to give it up when they didn't really have to. One of Sano's arms had inconspicuously sneaked around Megumi's waist, the other resting in a makeshift sling against his chest, and her head had dropped onto his shoulder, a place that was just made for it to rest there.
"I am quite alright, slight concussion maybe, but I had worse in training. Once I'm up and over this headache I will shoot you with my kunai if you ever call me weasel again," Misao threatened, eliciting a chuckle from Sano and a disapproving frown from Megumi.
"Concussion? Do you see double?" she asked, working to untangle herself from Sano, but not really successful in removing his arm from his waist.
"I told you I was alright- wait. What's this guy doing here?" She had only now noticed Saito, despite him having addressed her earlier. Kenshin sighed softly, letting go of Kaoru's hand with a regretful look.
"He is a deep undercover agent for the Agency. Aoshi told you he was here, if you can remember?" Soft amber eyes studied her carefully, seeking for any signs of weakness apart from the frown her headache caused her to wear.
"Wait- Saito is on our side? Could somebody please wake me up from this nightmare now?" Misao shrieked disbelievingly. Aoshi sighed, while Saito only sneered at the enraged weasel girl.
"I assure you, you are not dreaming weasel, though I can arrange that if you want. If you want to stay awake then quit your shrieking and move. I already told Himura I enjoy this little… arrangement as much as you do- not at all."
"Saito… is our ally." Misao was dumbfounded. Suddenly, realization dawned in her, eyes blazing a furious turquoise.
"If you want to work with us then don't ever call me weasel again!"
"Stop it, Misao," Aoshi admonished her, the diamond hardness returning to his gaze as he faced her, causing her to blush and mumble an apology.
"Hi Misao! Nice to see you're awake and ready to take on Shishio!" Tsunan winked at the blushing girl, his twin joining him, before both turned towards Saito, who was by now looking positively bored.
"Where is the Pharaoh? I can't wait to kick his sorry ass from here to… wherever he came from," Sano drawled, slamming his fists together only to wince when Megumi pinched him in his bruised and sensitive side. "Ouch! Foxy, what was that for?"
"You should figure that out yourself," Megumi replied haughtily, expectantly looking at Kenshin. "Ken-san, you tell that… Wolf we would like to find Shishio today?"
"I will, Miss Megumi. Saito, since we are all as good as we will get, can you show us the way to Shishio?" Saito snorted, ignoring the flare of anger in Kenshin's ki that he could feel even over the dampening effect of the magnetic field that encompassed the whole mansion. Wordlessly, the predatory Regime officer led the way, leaving the long, main hallway at a door two down from the one Kenshin and his part of their group had come from.
"Shishio has seen us on his security cameras by now, I suppose, so there's no need for stealth. If he wants to take us out, he will simply send all of his guards and elite fighters at us at once. He has collected them all here- yes, Battousai, all of those you noticed at the Camp, and more. Soujirou you have already met, as well as Anji. Two, I have taken care of. The remaining six will be with him, as he tends to shield himself rather well. The Pharaoh doesn't underestimate the Agency as you have him, all those years back- and I suggest you don't take him too lightly this time, Battousai."
A flash of hurt crossed Kenshin's features when Saito mentioned him underestimating Shishio. He didn't need the words to remind him of the mistakes of the past, he carried his reminder everywhere he went. Tomoe… and Shishio. It was time to make the past rest, to finally put the last pieces of the puzzle he so desperately tried to solve together. Maybe then he could allow himself to find some peace… with someone he cared about.
A sideward glance at Kaoru revealed her introspective eyes; her long lashes overshadowing them and taking away any chance of him detecting her emotions. Her hand had slipped into his left again, clutching his fingers tightly, the at once rough and smooth skin tingling where it touched his.
"Kenshin doesn't underestimate Shishio," she suddenly spoke up, her clear voice deepened with the scratchiness from inhaling too much smoke, "but maybe you do."
Saito scowled, lengthening his strides and choosing not to answer the irritating tomboyish female Battousai had apparently chosen as his companion- or more. Their holding hands had not escaped the Regime officer, reminding him of his own love, safe in a place nobody but himself and the Agency leader knew about. Katsura had been the one to suggest he bring her out of Shishio's sphere of influence, and even though he had still been unsure about his course of action then he had gladly complied with the suggestion, the knowledge that Tokio would never have to feel the repercussions of his actions enough to completely sway him towards the Agency's side of the war. Speaking of Katsura…
"Your leader will be waiting for us not too far from here. I provided them with the location in my last report, so you won't have to worry about getting away once the Pharaoh has fallen, Battousai." He couldn't resist- another cigarette found its way into the corner of his mouth, the acrid smoke soothing the anxiety even the Wolf was not proof against.
"Saito, you shouldn't smoke!" Of course- that damn doctor Battousai insisted on taking with them just had to comment on his habit. A dark frown stole itself onto his face, but he ignored Megumi otherwise. Saito allowed himself this one weakness- against his better knowledge. He knew the tar clogging his lungs would impair his ability to fight in a decade or so, but since he lived so Spartan otherwise and didn't expect to live long and peacefully after all, he didn't really care. His vice, his trademark and the only thing apart from Tokio that managed to calm his nerves had kept him sane many a times before- why give up something so beneficial simply because it was hazardous for his health? Hell, his whole job, his very existence was hazardous for his health!
"Foxy, don't even try to talk sense into this… thick-headed bastard. He won't listen to you." Sano couldn't resist the temptation, the opportunity to repay Saito for all these underhanded 'idiot' comments just too opportune to leave unspent.
"Sano!" Kenshin reprimanded him the second after, but the slightly lopsided, triumphant grin on Sano's face couldn't be affected by such a simple, mild scolding. Kaoru hid a giggle, her fingers laced through Kenshin's now- they would find it difficult to separate quickly.
"He is right, Kenshin," she whispered teasingly, her blue eyes sparkling. The fear and nervousness she felt were too great to endure, so she sought to replace them with trust and mischievousness as long as she could. To Kaoru, it was clear they were very likely walking to meet their Maker, still the young woman wouldn't be anywhere else. She belonged with this group of friends, this group of fighters. She had experienced tyranny and injustice firsthand and couldn't help but aid the fight against them. If this Shishio truly was the only commander of the Regime forces, then injustice and tyranny might just fall with him- a chance she was willing to take even at the cost of her own life.
"Do you think after this everything's over?" Misao asked, helped along by Aoshi and clearly enjoying the attention she received from her tall, stoic companion. Aoshi didn't answer at first, lost too deeply in his thoughts. Finally, he just tightened his hold on her.
"It might," he said, a light, longing tone slipping into his rough, deep voice. Misao smiled, returning his gesture by tightening her hold on his arm as well.
"Then I just hope so," she said.
*~*
Katsura was far from happy. Not only had they encountered at least fifty Regime soldiers when exiting the lift on the top floor, but they had also found no trace of Himura whatsoever. Not even the unconscious body of a guard marked by his trademark sword. Seijurou was slowly losing his patience. Already, he had taken to fighting himself, leaving Katsura to be the only one behind the lines, the only one to be protected. He had barely been able to see the dangerous glint in his friends' eyes when he had already left his side. By now, five guards had fallen to his sword. Seijurou seemed bulletproof as he danced through the lines of soldiers firing a relentless stream of metal slugs at the intruders, the Agency forces searching cover and taking them out one by one from their hiding places behind the open lift doors or around the bends of a hallway. Hiko signaled from where he was that his side of the argument had been resolved- whenever Seijurou Hiko took matters into his own hands it was a matter of seconds until there was no more matter to be taken into any hands.
"Get over there, Seijurou," he called, having given up the notion of holding his 'secret weapon' back any longer. Seijurou nodded briefly in acknowledgment before blurring once again, his silhouette vanishing from sight faster than the eye could follow, resulting in an afterimage of the trenchcoat-clad swordfighter remaining hanging in the air for a few moments. The 'rookies', as his friend still called them, had just run out of a job- Hiko himself took care of all the guards that were actually still brave enough to fire at the Agency forces. Not even the silver flashing of his sword was a warning- once the Regime fighters saw it it was already too late, Hiko being long since gone, leaving grievously injured or dead attackers behind.
"What… what is he?" Katsura overheard his agents whisper more than once. He couldn't help but allow a wry smile to touch his lips. Even he, as Hiko Seijurou's friend and partner, asked himself that very question in times like these. When Seijurou was angry you had better not cross him… especially if he had reason to view you as an enemy.
"He can't be human!" Another whisper that was common amongst the dumbfounded agents. They were not bad- in fact, they were the best Katsura could assemble on such short notice. Still, against Seijurou in full battle-mode… Katsura reckoned that not even Himura could hold out long once the man he called Shishou revealed his true might.
"He is human, I know that for a fact," the Agency leader informed his agents that were switching their staring from Hiko to him and back again. "He is just… different from most humans."
"Is he… Battousai?" This was one of the true rookies, a young man who had only joined the Agency's forces four months ago. He didn't know about Battousai firsthand, Himura was after all insisting to go under his true name now instead of the pseudonym that struck horror into the hearts of people.
"He isn't. He is… someone else," one of the older agents informed the young one calmly. Katsura assumed he knew about Himura and his desire to leave that nickname behind, and decided to assist the agent.
"He isn't Battousai, but he uses the same style of fighting," he said as Seijurou disposed of the last Regime soldier that had refused to surrender, unlike ten of his comrades who were quaking in fear before Katsura's partner.
"Same…style of fighting? This is how Battousai fights?" Apparently the rookie just couldn't keep his curiosity to himself. Hiko quirked an eyebrow, as the fight had died down he had clearly overheard the young man's question.
"Don't ever compare the way my baka deshi fights to me… I am the one who taught him. He hasn't mastered the art completely yet- that is the difference."
"Seijurou!" Katsura scowled. He just had to go and reveal his secret. Now he would be pestered with… or maybe not. One raised eyebrow and patented Hiko-Seijurou-glare shut up his nosy agent. Seijurou was not known for his people skills- and the way he had made the young man's questions die on his tongue just proved that all over again.
"Well, Katsura, the obstacle has been removed. If you find it in you to actually rehinge your jaw we might find something before tomorrow."
"Alright, people, you heard Agent Hiko. Move it- Agent Himura requires our assistance." Katsura sent his agents on the way, Seijurou staying behind with a dark look on his face once more.
"I would like to find out what inhibits my senses… I can think of only one thing, something I experienced when traveling through a forest that was rich with ore… magnetic fields. Power enough to raise and keep such a field is there… these lines should certainly suffice… maybe…" Katsura caught onto his partner's train of thought too late- a mighty strike of the nihontou had already severed the thick power cables, the sparks and bolts of electricity bouncing harmlessly off the walls as Hiko was too fast to be hit by them. The lights in the mansion flickered and went out, the agents crying out in surprise- and Hiko sighed contently.
"Much better. Now, there are no soldiers around this corner. Send your little force ahead, Katsura!"
*~*
"What… oh!" Kenshin even let go of Kaoru's hand as the power in the mansion suddenly died out, the artificial lights flickering out one by one, the only remaining source of light the weak, pale rays sneaking through the tall windows in the outside wall of the square room they had reached by now. To Kenshin, however, it felt as though a weight had been taken off his shoulders, the shock enough to startle his eyes back to amber-flecked cobalt blue. His senses returned to him, and he could actually make out what Saito had mentioned just a few moments earlier.
"So Shishio is in an atrium behind these doors… I see. But he is not alone, that he isn't. There are five other strong people with him- and they seem to be awaiting us already."
"So you've noticed it as well, Battousai? I wonder what made the power die…" Aoshi wondered, a faraway look on his strong face. "Anyway, we should rather appreciate this fortunate turn of events."
"Shishio is waiting for us? Why should we keep him waiting any longer?" Sano asked impatiently, wiggling an eyebrow at Megumi who just sighed in irritation.
"Not everybody enjoys running to his death," she said, but the conviction was missing from her voice. Saito silently grinded his heel on the remains of his cigarette, the red glow dying out instantly. "Now that Battousai's, Shinomori's and my senses have returned our chances are better. I think, however, that somebody cut the power on purpose- we should be expecting the magnetic field to go up again any second during our fight."
Misao nodded, readying her weapons. There were not too many of her kunai left, so she scowlingly took her semi-automatic pistol from its holster and checked it. "Alright. I'm as ready as I will be. How about you, kid?"
"I'm not a kid. And I've been ready since forever!" Yahiko proudly proclaimed, clutching onto a revolver. Kaoru just took one look at the kid, then checked her hip, and then grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
"This is mine!" she cried. Yahiko smirked.
"You've got your pistol and your bokken. And I'm not going to be left behind, so I've got to have a weapon. This is the only one that I can fire, so I took it."
"Let Yahiko take that revolver, Miss Kaoru. He is right, and we can't exclude him from the action after he has already come so far, that we can't. I trust you to watch our backs, Yahiko, that I do." Kenshin smiled at the young boy, ruffling his spiky hairs and earning a glare in return.
"Now, Shishio, the time has come. You will now meet your destiny, that you will." Kaoru looked up at Kenshin's determined face, noticing the way his jaw clenched and the tight grip he kept on the hilt of his sakabatou.
And I know that we will meet our destiny in there as well, she thought, determination overriding her fear as Saito reached out to open the door.
… to be continued …
Well, that was it- SL's latest chapter has come to a much-needed end- after all, it was 'only' twice the length of a normal chapter… I have to thank you, my dear reviewers, and my twin Ry for making it possible for me to upload this- I was a mess after the study trip (which ended on Friday, 14th) and without Ry's support I guess I'd just have given up. It's not helping a writer when she's told she's stupid enough to think she can write when she's just a little kid. I have finally slept a little (I was so nervous in Berlin I couldn't sleep for more than two hours at a time without waking up), and Ry has lent me his strength and his grammar proficiency. My twin really is a life saver, and I can't even put the bond we share in words. Perhaps if you have a twin brother or sister yourself you know what I mean.
Yasai: Mushy… but it's understandable. Chi's last two weeks were hell.
But they're over and I'm back, and here's some
Information
¹LASER= Abbreviation for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation: a device that amplifies a single frequency of light within the spectrum to create a directional, intense beam. As it can be any frequency within the light spectrum, colors range from ultraviolet to infrared (both invisible). Best known are pocket laser pointers in reds or greens, though.
²river overblue is a coloring of diamonds. They have a blue hue, and if they are flawless they are really expensive. I only saw one of these once (at Tiffany's), and I sure wouldn't say no if someone offered one to me… they're beautiful (which is why I chose them to describe Aoshi's eyes ^.^;)!
*grins* There's no such thing as TMI… and that's once again a saying my twin loves to use.
Yasai: Nosy brat!
Oi! I'm not a brat, insolent muse!
Yasai: Alright, then show how nice you are in the
Reviewer's corner
CurlsofSerenity: Umm, as to where I've been living until now... let me see, we moved... 6 times? 8 times? I have been living in the US twice, that I remember. OK, in alphabetic order: Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan (I was two years old at that time so I don't remember anything), USA, and next summer it will be New Zealand (provided Dad doesn't get called elsewhere). Languages… well, I'm fluent in English and German (the two languages I had the most exposure to), semi-fluent in French (I never got around to completely perfectin it), OK in Italian and Spanish (though I don't really like writing these), can understand Portuguese, have been starting to learn Japanese but have to refrain from it at the moment due to lack of time. One of my teachers is Hungarian and she said something in the language- it sounded so cool I wanted to learn it… or perhaps Icelandic? Might move there next, and from what I've heard it's one hell of a diffcult language... just kdding^_^ I think I'll settle on Japanese for now!
Eeevee: Thanks first and foremost… yup, in my outline we're coming closer to the grand finale… but there's still some distance for me to cover. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well (my longest yet- WAH!)
Leina: I'll send you an e-mail then… may I ask when you have been in Germany/Berlin? I have been staying here for two and a half years now, but we're getting ready to move again. I didn't really like Berlin… courtesy of my classmates *scowls*
Firiel11: Homework is one of the horrors of life- seriously. I have and always will hate it! Thanks for reviewing!
Tan Kimiko: I enjoy reading mythology from all parts of the world… at the moment I'm into the Nordic myths- all about Freya, Thor, Odin, Midgaard, Loki… very bloody and dark, the whole lot of them! Asian mythology… I have not yet read any books on it, but it's definitely right up there on my list!
Natsuko: Geez, there's a place like this in Vegas, too? I have to watch out! Completed Berlin trip, am totally exhausted (my leg HURTS. Apparently, freshly mended bones are NOT meant to be walked on for twelve hours a day two weeks long…)
Ixchen: *smiles back* Thanks!
Asuka-chan: I have to adhere rigidly to my storyline… otherwise I'll forget the plot. Thank you!!!
Sword Master Jeff: I don't really know what 'oro' means- apparently, it is derived from the Japanese exclamation 'ara', which indicates either surprise, embarrassment, distractedness… as far as I know, a Japanese comedian Watsuki-sensei knew (or admired, can't remember which) used the 'oro'-expression instead of 'ara', so maybe it comes from there?
Lebleuphenix: I'm horribly sorry for taking so long! Hope you can forgive me! *huggles phenix*
Ari and Kat: Thank you!
Dawn: *runs to check birth certificate* *says Chi was born 23rd of June, 1988* *grins* Thanks for your compliments!!! I am sooo flattered- and you helped me a lot. I was being told I was too childish and small to do anything all the time over these past two weeks, and your review helped me to crawl back out of my shell!
Darkening and Brenna: As always thank you guys, and we'll meet on Tuesday, right?
Allin656: Thanks a lot and sorry for the wait!
Ariliana: mind conditioning brought on by school? WAH! *hides* I won't let myself be conditioned *offers anti-conditioning-helmet*
Ari and Kat: sure thing! I'm on my way to reading… but it might take some time- I have about a million projects to complete. But I will read- promise!
Jensa: Thank you! And as soon as I have a minute of spare time I'll go read your fourth chapter… need to do school stuff first, however- it's only under the condition that I keep my straight A average that I may graduate next spring…
All of you: You are the greatest! Thank you!!!OK, now this is the end, really, truly, honestly. RtK will be out tomorrow, I have to go over my spelling and grammar in that one again... All I can say is thank you once again, I hope you liked reading this chapter and will leave me another review so my muse won't start attacking my chocolate stash.
Yasai: *munches on chocolate* Chi doesn't function properly without chocolate…
*shy grin* Do you think we can reach 120 this time? I would sooo love that… but next update is Monday or Tuesday next week, so don't worry about going so long without an update again!
Yasai: Hmm… a mixture of pleading and promises… really creative, Chi!
Aw, leave me alone, muse… so Cya then, my dear readers!
Yasai: Bye… and feed me!
*mutters under her breath* She just had to add that… hmph. *cheery* Cya!!!
Chibi-chan and Yasai