Author's Note's: I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first chapter of this story. So here it goes: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Fuji-TV and SPE Visual Works.

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Chapter 2: In the Company of Wolves

"We need you to head to Edo, Okita. Take the Koshu Kaido road and Yamazaki will meet you just before you reach the guards in Edo. He will give you the name of the person you will be looking for and proceed with the mission. " Kondou Isami, commander of the Shinsengumi, spoke to the captain of the 1st squad of the Shinsengumi. He turned slightly to watch the young man's reaction to his newest directive.

He loathed sending out his men to carry out these assignments. If the daimyos wanted to control their areas, they should have their own local police come in and control its citizens. But there was a rumor of a growing rebel faction from Tokyo and several dojos were suspected of aiding the Ishin side. He had no choice but to send his strongest fighter to squash the rebels in hiding.

"I trust that you will carry this assignment out to the best of your ability," Kondou smiled as the man nodded firmly.

"As always, Kondou-taicho." Okita replied softly, his smile framing his face. Outside of the smile, his mind called back a memory from a few months ago. He had also been called in for a special assignment to bring one of their own back to Kyoto. A member of the Shinsengumi, Yamanami Seisuke, had decided that he wanted to leave the group and ran away. Okita had been sent to capture him and realized belatedly that he was going after one of his childhood friends. Choosing his duty to the Shinsengumi over their friendship, Okita successfully returned to Kyoto. After their return, Yamanami was tortured and ordered to commit seppuku by Shinsengumi vice- captain, Hijikata Toshizo. To serve as a future warning to other would-be transgressors, he ordered the rest of the Shinsengumi members to watch his torture and execution.

"Make sure that you use the quickest route to Edo, Okita." Hijikata Toshizo came out of the shadowed corner, startling the young captain back to attention. He reminded the young captain. "We need you back here as soon as possible."

Nodding his understanding, Okita left the room and headed outside to find his men. As his footsteps faded away, Kondou turned towards Hijikata as if in thought. "Do you think it's wise to send him instead of Saitou?"

"Okita needs to get out of Kyoto for a bit," Hijikata watched from the window as Okita called to his men. The members of the Shinsengumi 1st squad gathered around their captain to listen to the latest assignment. Kondou stood beside his friend and observed their surroundings, a frown slowly creeping on his brow.

"I sometimes forget that he is only seventeen." Kondou sighed. "Even if his strength and skill with the sword surpasses most men, he is still only human." Kondou remarked.

"He cannot be weighed down with doubts." The other man concluded as he turned his back on the window scene. Okita appeared to have dismissed his squad as they all prepared to move immediately. Even if Okita did have doubts, there would be no way for him to turn back now, Kondou added silently.

A pack of wolves traveled silently through Koshu Kaido. It was the fastest road to Edo albeit a difficult one because of the rugged terrain. Their passage was marked only by the sounds of the wind and all else seem to ignore their progress. Just before the dawn began to break over Edo, the wolves arrived at its outskirts. One by one, they came to stop a few feet away from the edge of the woodland. Pausing slightly, they waited for their leader to make his way towards the front.

The light morning fog seemed to have settled upon the city, adding to its mystery, as it enveloped the landscape in a feathery embrace. The sunrise seemed to be inevitable and a longing sigh escaped Okita's lips unwillingly. So beautiful, he thought, as he studied their surroundings. He could faintly hear the sounds of city guards interacting with each other. He closed his eyes to see if he could sense the person they were waiting for.

Finding his surroundings clear of hostile thoughts, Okita still felt a sense of uneasiness settling on him as he watched the lightening dark that surrounded them. He straightened up and sensed someone's approach. Was it an ambush? No, he thought, there was only one set of footsteps. Silently, he unsheathed his sword and a low growl escaped his throat; the footsteps grew louder as it came closer to their place of refuge. Balancing on his heels, he watched as the figure broke through the fog and recognition finally set in.

Okita smiled as his old friend, Yamazaki Suzumu, approached him quickly. He motioned for two of his men to watch the road and prompted Yamazaki to follow him deeper into the woods. Sheathing his sword, they walked away from the main group and further into the forests. Once back in the shadows, Yamazaki began to speak.

"It is good to see you again, Okita-san. It has been too long." Yamazaki nodded at the young man. "I knew they would send for you."

"The last time I believe was in Kyoto, Yamazaki-san." Okita replied, ignoring Yamazaki's last comment. He did not want to contemplate too long about it meant. "It has been too long."

"There is still much that needs to be done, Okita-san." Yamazaki sighed as he rested his back against a tree. "I'm afraid that our list of allies in Edo is diminishing. The rebel ideals are beginning to take hold even in some of our most loyal followers." Okita's face registered a frown as he listened to the report, the ready smile from his face slowly turning into a grimace. "They are using their dojos as recruitment bases for the Ishin. One man in particular should be investigated." Yamazaki whispered his name and the other nodded in understanding.

"Do you have news for me?" Yamazaki inquired after a short pause.

"Aa," Okita smiled. "You are to return to Kyoto. Kondou-taicho is in need of your skills once again."

Without another word, Yamazaki turned around and disappeared from his view. Okita moved to join his squad. "We shall proceed into Edo in the morning. Split up into four pairs of three and study the layout of the city. Familiarize yourselves with any schools you come across. We shall return to this location when the moon is high and proceed with our objective."

A series of nods met his gaze as they began to assemble into small groups. Okita turned his face upwards and felt the cool air dissipate with the warmth of the rising sun. He looked forward towards the city and marveled at the amazing colors that came with the rise of the sun. So beautiful, he murmured to himself. He closed his eyes as he let himself bask in the sunlight while letting the shuffling of his men wash over him. Its comfort seemed to seep through his chilled body and he felt refreshed.

He remembered spending many evenings patrolling around Kyoto and seeing many sunrises as well. Okita's smile slowly turned into a frown as a memory of someone else intruded in his mind. He used to enjoy sunrises too. Suddenly, he thought back to what Yamazaki had said and what he did not say about this assignment. Samurai against samurai, his thoughts echoed. However, the samurai they were looking for seemed to have sided with the Ishin. But isn't fighting for an ideal, even if it was for the opposite side, being true to the samurai code as well?