CHAPTER 6: The Gyne Group
Tokio shook Saito awake.
"Captain! Get up!" she hissed. "You have to get outta here! You have to leave before my parents see you here!" She jumped from her crouching position and ran out the door, but not leaving before hissing "HURRY!" at him.
"Ugh. okay." Saito said. He threw his bloody clothes on and tucked his sword safely into his belt. Then, he sneaked out the door, hoisting the dead body onto his back and swiftly running back towards the inn. Tokio rushed into the kitchen where she began to help her sisters cook breakfast.
"You'd better be out, Captain," she hissed under her breath. "Otherwise I'll kill you!"
"What was that, Tokio?" one of her sisters asked.
"Uh. er. nothing! I was just saying how good it smelled in here," Tokio forced a smile and continued to stir the soup.
Saito dumped the body into a hole and quickly covered it up with dirt. He walked off and sneaked into the inn and into his own room where he took off his bloody garments. He hid them in a cabinet and checked his body for injuries Tokio might have missed. He didn't find any, so he quickly changed into his Shinsengumi uniform and limped out into the main part of the inn. Okita and many other Shinsengumi members were listening to Hijikata, one of the leaders of the Shinsengumi. He limped silently to where Okita was sitting.
"Why, hello, Saito-san! What happened to you? You look exhausted," Okita whispered to Saito with his friendly smile.
"Yeah. Rough night," Saito whispered back, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "What's going on?"
"We're getting transferred back to Kyoto. We're needed there," Okita breathed as Hijikata sent a quick but noticeable glare at the two leaders. "I personally think it's better. We know the area better."
"Yes, we do. It is a good thing," Saito said. But. what about Miss Tokio? I'll never see her again. Saito puffed his cigarette. I don't think I can live without-
"Saito! Are you listening to me?" Hijikata asked harshly. Saito snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes, sir," Saito muttered dryly. Hijikata gave a satisfied nod and continued to talk. All of a sudden, there was a loud crack, and half of the inn wall was smashed in. Most of the Shinsengumi was showered in broken pieces of wood and flecks of paper.
"The Gyne Group, at your service!" a loud, cocky, feminine voice yelled from within the dust and debris. Saito recognized it as Kala's voice.
But I killed her last night! Saito thought frantically, crushing his cigarette under his shoe. I know I killed her. or did I? He remembered stabbing her through the chest, but which side had he stabbed her? The right side! How could I have been so stupid? Saito's thoughts raced. I didn't stab through her heart! Her heart is on her left side, my right side! That's why she isn't killed! Saito unsheathed his sword, on the defense. None of his senses were helping. The clouds of dust blocked his vision and all the yelling and clanging of metal on metal prevented his hearing form being useful. He couldn't sense any menacing ki in any one place; it was everywhere. Then, there was a scream that was louder than any other was. It came from right behind him.
"HELP ME CAPTAIN!!!!!!" the voice yelled. Saito gasped. It was Tokio's. He dashed blindly after it, trying to fight his way though the many people blocking his way. He burst out into fresh air. After a few more steps, Saito turned to see the inn, completely destroyed, with many fighting people standing where it used to be.
"CAPTAIN!!!" the scream captured Saito's attention and he ran after it, hardly feeling the pain in his injured legs.
"You'll never get her, Captain Saito. NEVER," a girl's voice that he didn't recognize echoed through the seemingly deserted street. Saito swore to himself.
I shouldn't have gone to Tokio's house last night. I led them right to her. It's all my fault! He thought as he ran.
"CAPTAIN SAITO! HAAAAALP!!!" Saito heard the scream again. He ran down an alleyway and saw a girl with Tokio slung over her shoulder, dash into an open doorway. He followed without hesitation. The door led to a staircase that descended to a foul smelling basement situated under the ground. Saito could hardly see until his eyes adjusted to the dim light. He followed the staircase, which spiraled down to a long corridor. The walls were caked with dirt and the dampness of the room filled his nose. He entered a room that was coated in some sort of black paint that smelled terrible. The door closed behind him, locking him in total darkness.
"Captain Saito," a voice said from deep within the room. The darkness of the room prevented Saito from seeing the speaker, but he could tell that it was a young girl. "The Shinsengumi and all of the manslayers who are men will die very soon," the voice said in a taunting tone. "The Wolves of Mibu die tonight, and the Hitokiri Battousai will be taken care of."
"He won't be taken down so easily, and you will all be killed by me," Saito said. He got into a Gatotsu position.
"My name is Vefi-Kala. I will take you down here. You won't live to kiss your girl one more time and with a little persuasion, she will join our cause," the voice said. There was a clinking noise, but Saito couldn't tell what it was.
"Well then, now that we both know each other, let's get to the fight so I can rescue Miss Tokio and stop your evil scheme," Saito said. He sensed that the girl was about three yards away and to his left. He charged with his Gatotsu to the estimated spot. He felt himself hit a wall and a sharp blade was thrust into his side. How could he fight this way? He felt someone pull the blade out of his side. Saito turned and swung his sword at the darkness. He didn't hit anything.
"I can see you, Captain Saito," Vefi-Kala's voice whispered, just loud enough so Saito could hear her. He stayed silent, but closed his eyes and tried to find the exact location of the girl. Suddenly, he felt her ki in the corner of the room. He shot forward and felt her brush past him. He swung and felt his sword hit her, but not hurt her badly.
"How was that?" Saito asked Vefi-Kala. He could tell she was in pain from her breathing. It was louder than before.
"I'm. very surprised. Captain," she said, straightening up. She concentrated hard and suddenly her ki multiplied. It was all over the room. "But with my special attack, you can't possibly expect to win, especially since you're finding me by sensing my ki." She made two deep gashes in each of his arms at the same time. Saito though fast. He knew that he was also weakening and if he didn't win soon, he would be shot down by this ahou. Then, he remembered his matches. He took out the box and one of his cigarettes. Lighting it, he created just enough light to see what was happening. Vefi-Kala was running very fast. It made it seem like she was in multiple places. She was holding two kodachis.
"Now I can win," Saito said to her, raising his katana. Vefi-Kala jumped for an aerial attack. Saito countered it with his third Gatotsu technique. Their weapons clashed and there was a small spurt of blood. Vefi-Kala fell to the ground with a soft thud. A bright light went on, blinding Saito for a moment. He saw that Vefi-Kala was only a small girl of maybe ten or eleven. He almost felt sorry that he had killed her. The light was a torch, held by an older girl of about 30 or so.
"Captain. You have defeated Vefi-Kala. I'm surprised. I thought that she could defeat you, especially with her advantage of exceptional hearing. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to do her work for her," the woman said. "Oh, and my name is Fyusha-Kala. I am your next opponent."
"I see you want to be killed as well," Saito said, turning to her. He flicked his sword and the blood spattered onto the ground, leaving the gleaming blade untainted. "Aku. Soku. Zan." He walked into the next room where she was standing.
"Yes. well. let's get started then. I believe that you want to get to Tokio as quick as possible, do you not? Yes. yes. you do want to see your girl again. She has been waiting for you, but I am afraid that I will make her wait just a little longer. Can't you just see her? Her beauty? The beauty of an angel- that is how I look at her. I can see why you fell in love. she really does love you. Can't you just hear her soft voice in your ear?" Fyusha-Kala chanted in a spell-like matter. Saito just stood there.
"What that for?" he asked. "There wasn't any point in that except to buy time for yourself. Let's go." He took a Gatotsu stance.
"You think? I'm not one who does pointless things, but if you won't turn back now then," she grabbed her sword's handle and the sheath. "I'm ready to kill you." Fyusha-Kala ran at Saito in her weird position, raising the sheath of the sword to above her hip. Saito also charged at her, thrusting his sword forward. She managed to duck under his attack and pulled her sword out of the sheath at beyond god-like speed. Saito moved his leg just before she sliced it off.
"That was pretty smart using the force of gravity to accelerate your unsheathing speed. It's like an extension of Battou-jutsu," Saito analyzed. "However, it's very risky. You could wind up chopping off your own leg."
"Yes, that's true, but I have another trick up my sleeve," Fyusha-Kala whispered. She re-sheathed her sword and took the same awkward position.
"Now I know what to expect. I won't be caught off guard this time," Saito said, getting into his normal stance. He watched her run at him, charged at her, got ready to thrust the sword forward, but then he saw something he hadn't expected. Tokio was standing where Fyusha-Kala had been, smiling warmly.
A/N: Okay. All finished with this chappie. Onto the next one. that is, if I get a review. If I don't, I'll wait to post the next chapter. (just kidding. I'll post the next one no matter what! ^_^)
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Silver-kitsune: I appreciate your review (even if it was really short), but I promise that I will never let him die. Uh. I think you knew that, though.
StunGun Millie: I read your poem. It was good, but you probably read my review already, so I won't repeat myself. Thanks for your support!
Tokio shook Saito awake.
"Captain! Get up!" she hissed. "You have to get outta here! You have to leave before my parents see you here!" She jumped from her crouching position and ran out the door, but not leaving before hissing "HURRY!" at him.
"Ugh. okay." Saito said. He threw his bloody clothes on and tucked his sword safely into his belt. Then, he sneaked out the door, hoisting the dead body onto his back and swiftly running back towards the inn. Tokio rushed into the kitchen where she began to help her sisters cook breakfast.
"You'd better be out, Captain," she hissed under her breath. "Otherwise I'll kill you!"
"What was that, Tokio?" one of her sisters asked.
"Uh. er. nothing! I was just saying how good it smelled in here," Tokio forced a smile and continued to stir the soup.
Saito dumped the body into a hole and quickly covered it up with dirt. He walked off and sneaked into the inn and into his own room where he took off his bloody garments. He hid them in a cabinet and checked his body for injuries Tokio might have missed. He didn't find any, so he quickly changed into his Shinsengumi uniform and limped out into the main part of the inn. Okita and many other Shinsengumi members were listening to Hijikata, one of the leaders of the Shinsengumi. He limped silently to where Okita was sitting.
"Why, hello, Saito-san! What happened to you? You look exhausted," Okita whispered to Saito with his friendly smile.
"Yeah. Rough night," Saito whispered back, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "What's going on?"
"We're getting transferred back to Kyoto. We're needed there," Okita breathed as Hijikata sent a quick but noticeable glare at the two leaders. "I personally think it's better. We know the area better."
"Yes, we do. It is a good thing," Saito said. But. what about Miss Tokio? I'll never see her again. Saito puffed his cigarette. I don't think I can live without-
"Saito! Are you listening to me?" Hijikata asked harshly. Saito snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes, sir," Saito muttered dryly. Hijikata gave a satisfied nod and continued to talk. All of a sudden, there was a loud crack, and half of the inn wall was smashed in. Most of the Shinsengumi was showered in broken pieces of wood and flecks of paper.
"The Gyne Group, at your service!" a loud, cocky, feminine voice yelled from within the dust and debris. Saito recognized it as Kala's voice.
But I killed her last night! Saito thought frantically, crushing his cigarette under his shoe. I know I killed her. or did I? He remembered stabbing her through the chest, but which side had he stabbed her? The right side! How could I have been so stupid? Saito's thoughts raced. I didn't stab through her heart! Her heart is on her left side, my right side! That's why she isn't killed! Saito unsheathed his sword, on the defense. None of his senses were helping. The clouds of dust blocked his vision and all the yelling and clanging of metal on metal prevented his hearing form being useful. He couldn't sense any menacing ki in any one place; it was everywhere. Then, there was a scream that was louder than any other was. It came from right behind him.
"HELP ME CAPTAIN!!!!!!" the voice yelled. Saito gasped. It was Tokio's. He dashed blindly after it, trying to fight his way though the many people blocking his way. He burst out into fresh air. After a few more steps, Saito turned to see the inn, completely destroyed, with many fighting people standing where it used to be.
"CAPTAIN!!!" the scream captured Saito's attention and he ran after it, hardly feeling the pain in his injured legs.
"You'll never get her, Captain Saito. NEVER," a girl's voice that he didn't recognize echoed through the seemingly deserted street. Saito swore to himself.
I shouldn't have gone to Tokio's house last night. I led them right to her. It's all my fault! He thought as he ran.
"CAPTAIN SAITO! HAAAAALP!!!" Saito heard the scream again. He ran down an alleyway and saw a girl with Tokio slung over her shoulder, dash into an open doorway. He followed without hesitation. The door led to a staircase that descended to a foul smelling basement situated under the ground. Saito could hardly see until his eyes adjusted to the dim light. He followed the staircase, which spiraled down to a long corridor. The walls were caked with dirt and the dampness of the room filled his nose. He entered a room that was coated in some sort of black paint that smelled terrible. The door closed behind him, locking him in total darkness.
"Captain Saito," a voice said from deep within the room. The darkness of the room prevented Saito from seeing the speaker, but he could tell that it was a young girl. "The Shinsengumi and all of the manslayers who are men will die very soon," the voice said in a taunting tone. "The Wolves of Mibu die tonight, and the Hitokiri Battousai will be taken care of."
"He won't be taken down so easily, and you will all be killed by me," Saito said. He got into a Gatotsu position.
"My name is Vefi-Kala. I will take you down here. You won't live to kiss your girl one more time and with a little persuasion, she will join our cause," the voice said. There was a clinking noise, but Saito couldn't tell what it was.
"Well then, now that we both know each other, let's get to the fight so I can rescue Miss Tokio and stop your evil scheme," Saito said. He sensed that the girl was about three yards away and to his left. He charged with his Gatotsu to the estimated spot. He felt himself hit a wall and a sharp blade was thrust into his side. How could he fight this way? He felt someone pull the blade out of his side. Saito turned and swung his sword at the darkness. He didn't hit anything.
"I can see you, Captain Saito," Vefi-Kala's voice whispered, just loud enough so Saito could hear her. He stayed silent, but closed his eyes and tried to find the exact location of the girl. Suddenly, he felt her ki in the corner of the room. He shot forward and felt her brush past him. He swung and felt his sword hit her, but not hurt her badly.
"How was that?" Saito asked Vefi-Kala. He could tell she was in pain from her breathing. It was louder than before.
"I'm. very surprised. Captain," she said, straightening up. She concentrated hard and suddenly her ki multiplied. It was all over the room. "But with my special attack, you can't possibly expect to win, especially since you're finding me by sensing my ki." She made two deep gashes in each of his arms at the same time. Saito though fast. He knew that he was also weakening and if he didn't win soon, he would be shot down by this ahou. Then, he remembered his matches. He took out the box and one of his cigarettes. Lighting it, he created just enough light to see what was happening. Vefi-Kala was running very fast. It made it seem like she was in multiple places. She was holding two kodachis.
"Now I can win," Saito said to her, raising his katana. Vefi-Kala jumped for an aerial attack. Saito countered it with his third Gatotsu technique. Their weapons clashed and there was a small spurt of blood. Vefi-Kala fell to the ground with a soft thud. A bright light went on, blinding Saito for a moment. He saw that Vefi-Kala was only a small girl of maybe ten or eleven. He almost felt sorry that he had killed her. The light was a torch, held by an older girl of about 30 or so.
"Captain. You have defeated Vefi-Kala. I'm surprised. I thought that she could defeat you, especially with her advantage of exceptional hearing. Oh, well. I guess I'll have to do her work for her," the woman said. "Oh, and my name is Fyusha-Kala. I am your next opponent."
"I see you want to be killed as well," Saito said, turning to her. He flicked his sword and the blood spattered onto the ground, leaving the gleaming blade untainted. "Aku. Soku. Zan." He walked into the next room where she was standing.
"Yes. well. let's get started then. I believe that you want to get to Tokio as quick as possible, do you not? Yes. yes. you do want to see your girl again. She has been waiting for you, but I am afraid that I will make her wait just a little longer. Can't you just see her? Her beauty? The beauty of an angel- that is how I look at her. I can see why you fell in love. she really does love you. Can't you just hear her soft voice in your ear?" Fyusha-Kala chanted in a spell-like matter. Saito just stood there.
"What that for?" he asked. "There wasn't any point in that except to buy time for yourself. Let's go." He took a Gatotsu stance.
"You think? I'm not one who does pointless things, but if you won't turn back now then," she grabbed her sword's handle and the sheath. "I'm ready to kill you." Fyusha-Kala ran at Saito in her weird position, raising the sheath of the sword to above her hip. Saito also charged at her, thrusting his sword forward. She managed to duck under his attack and pulled her sword out of the sheath at beyond god-like speed. Saito moved his leg just before she sliced it off.
"That was pretty smart using the force of gravity to accelerate your unsheathing speed. It's like an extension of Battou-jutsu," Saito analyzed. "However, it's very risky. You could wind up chopping off your own leg."
"Yes, that's true, but I have another trick up my sleeve," Fyusha-Kala whispered. She re-sheathed her sword and took the same awkward position.
"Now I know what to expect. I won't be caught off guard this time," Saito said, getting into his normal stance. He watched her run at him, charged at her, got ready to thrust the sword forward, but then he saw something he hadn't expected. Tokio was standing where Fyusha-Kala had been, smiling warmly.
A/N: Okay. All finished with this chappie. Onto the next one. that is, if I get a review. If I don't, I'll wait to post the next chapter. (just kidding. I'll post the next one no matter what! ^_^)
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Silver-kitsune: I appreciate your review (even if it was really short), but I promise that I will never let him die. Uh. I think you knew that, though.
StunGun Millie: I read your poem. It was good, but you probably read my review already, so I won't repeat myself. Thanks for your support!