Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
[By: Tenken]
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters, I only semi own Komagata Neji . . . ^_^ my character not the name lah.because Komagata is RK name and Neji is a Naruto name.
Rating: PG for violence?
A/N: This is a boring chapter.. *sweatdrops* isn't something I should say b4 giving the story ne? ah.its mostly talking.but I guess its ok ^_^
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
Chapter Six
"Before the storm"
Himura Kenshin and Saitou Hajime stopped in their tracks, Kenshin's hand going towards the hilt of his sakabatou. Saitou smirked and looked over and down at his companion.
"Nervous, Battousai?" he asked, looking at the young man guarding the gate.
Kenshin thought to himself, then said out-loud "Saitou, be careful. . .This is the man who killed Governor Okubo." Saitou's glare sharpened on the normal looking man in front of them.
"I'm just your guide today, Shishio-sama told me not to bring a weapon." Neji replied, holding up his hands. "Shishio-sama is waiting inside for you two, follow me." Neji turned his back on the ex-hitokiri and ex-Shinsengumi and pushed the door open with a hand.
"After you." He held the door open as Kenshin kept a suspicious glare fixed on Neji. Saitou shook his head and his smirk widened.
"We can't start out being this cautious. Let's go."
Kenshin turned his head as they followed their guide across the inn's grounds. Guards clumsily attempted to hide behind trees, in bushes, and in the shadows as they passed by.
"How much further?" Saitou asked, becoming slightly impatient as Neji lead them into a large building. The boy ignored them and wound his way through different corridors.
"We're here." Neji said, sliding open a paper door and stepping inside. Kenshin and Saitou followed him inside, their gazes immediately flying towards the man who was sitting on a cushion in the middle of the room. A lady with an off-shoulders kimono was kneeling next to him, offering him sake as he inhaled smoke from a long pipe.
"You've arrived." Shishio smirked, removing the pipe from his mouth.
"You're. . .Shishio Makoto. . ." Kenshin said, shifting his stance. Shishio smirked again and leant his forehead against the back of his hand.
"Call me Shishio, my rude predecessor."
Neji folded his arms and leant against the paper door, his gaze sweeping the room. Neji thought, frowning. He quickly averted his eyes when he realized he was glaring at the ground, where he felt Senkaku lurking, and his gaze ended up on a shiny metal staff leaning on the sword stand next to Shisho's Nagasone Kotetsu. A smirk appeared on his face.
"Hey," murmured Saitou, leaning over slightly to the young man next to him. "You sure you want Battousai to just stand there? He could kill Shishio in a single leap." The smirk on Neji's face never left, but he unfolded his arms and took his weight off the wall.
"Himura isn't like you, Saitou," Neji replied. "He wouldn't do anything as dishonorable as a surprise attack. And even if he did. . ." I would stop him beforehand. Well if I had my shinobi zue. . . A matching smirk appeared on Saitou's face.
Kenshin stepped up closer to Shishio, his glare darkening. "Why did you target this place? You're after the whole country, not one or two little villages." Shishio inhaled more smoke then lowered the pipe.
"The hot springs." Kenshin's eyes widened. "The hot springs are good for my burnt skin, but I was afraid the other bathers would see me. So, I had to take then." Kenshin's hand went towards his sword hilt, his eyes narrowing as he did so.
"You . . . for this alone. . . you would terrorize an entire village . . ." Kenshin said, his voice deepening. A smirk appeared on Shishio's charcoal colored lips.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Shishio said, laughing a little under his breath. Yumi moved over slightly and leant against his purple kimono. "Learn how to take a joke, you're as serious as the rumors say you are."
Saitou stepped up behind Kenshin and bonked him on the head. "Keep your temper. You take a joke about as well as weasel girl does."
Shishio tapped out the ashes in his pipe into a small bowl Yumi held out for him. " This village will make a strong military base from which to dominate the Toukai region. Although. . . I do like the hot springs."
Kenshin stepped forwards again while murmuring "Shishio. . ." but Saitou stopped him with a casually extended hand.
"You keep quiet." Saitou said. A smirk appeared on his face as shadows cast a dark look upon him. "With this base. . . you intend to exact revenge from the Meiji government for those bandages?
Shishio leant forwards on his cushion, his stare switching onto Saitou. "Saitou Hajime, captain of the third Shinsengumi unit. I thought you could understand me better, since you're more like me than Battousai.looks like I was wrong." He gripped his bandaged arm in his other. "I have no intention of seeking revenge from those who gave me these bandages.
Rather, I should thank them. They taught me things which have sunk into my soul. [If you trust, you will be betrayed.] [If you are careless, you will die.] [Kill or be killed.]" Yumi leant forwards towards Shishio and put a slender finger against his chin, her other hand resting on his shoulder. "And, [A good man is never far from a woman.]"
The smile that was fixed on Yumi's face made Neji's smirk falter and he stepped towards his sister. He paused as Saitou shifted into a more relaxed stance.
"Could you keep it down then?" Saitou smirked. "I'm tired of running all over Japan because of you." Shishio exhaled slightly and continued talking, his gaze running over both Saitou and Kenshin.
"We all survived the Bakumatsu.Why can't you understand?" Shadows cast an eerily serious expression on Kenshin's glaring face. "Revere the Emperor, destroy the Bakufu, expel the barbarian, open the country. These ideas brought about the Bakumatsu, but in the end it was nothing more than a time of chaos that finally came three hundred years after the Sengoku. A time when supporters of the Emperor or the Shogun; Satsuma, Choushuu or Tosa; all raised their flags and fought and killed in the name of justice."
Shishio leant forwards, resting his hand on his knee, gripping the pipe in his right hand. His burn, charcoal skin contrasted with the whites of his eyes that were seen in his clear gaze. "Born in those times was a man who would try to rule all under heaven."
A soft smile appeared on Yumi's face as she looked up at the man she loved. An identical smile emerged on Neji's face, but was replaced by a smirk as he clapped his hands to applaud Shishio's speech.
Shishio twirled his pipe between his fingers. "I was almost assasinated, and when my wounds were finally healed, I tried coming out. The Meiji government had already succeeded in ending the violence. Now, they who tried to eliminate me won't send a single troop against me, for fear of looking weak before the Western powers. This weak government." He caught the twirling pipe and gripped it in his hand. "I cannot leave this country to such a weak government. If the violence was ended, I'll awaken it!" He snapped the pipe into pieces with his hand.
Shishio's gaze turned slightly mad as he sat up on his cushion. "I'll seize control! I'll make this country strong! Justice will be served when the country is mine." Kenshin's serious gaze turned slightly sad, as he stepped closer again to Shishio.
"For this justice.blood will flow. The blood of those who now live in peace."
Shishio lowered his chin, gaze still fixed on his predecessor. "In this world, after all, the flesh of the weak is the food of the strong. But. . . I could never persuade you of that."
Kenshin's glare sharpened once again and he took another step forwards, simultaneously drawing the sakabatou. "Shishio Makoto, you cannot shed the blood of others for the sake of your own justice."
Neji's gaze turned slightly serious as the snick of Kenshin's sword being drawn was clearly heard, and the bright shine of the blade glowed in the lamp's flames. He turned slightly to the tall policeman next to him. "How about you, Saitou?"
Saitou smirked down at Neji, shifting his relaxed pose. "I don't like pretty words like he does. But. . . it seems to be my fate, to be on the side that brings Shishio down." Neji's brow creased slightly as he changed his stance, planting his feet on the ground.
Shishio sat crosslegged still on the cushion, Yumi kneeling next to him. He sighed again. "It doesn't matter if we fight or not. I had hoped to do it poetically in Kyoto, the city of flowers. But. . ." Shishio looked up and met Kenshin's gaze. "If you really want to fight. . ." Shishio leant forwards slightly on the cushion and slapped the wooden floor with his bandaged hand.
Neji's gaze switched quickly to the floorboards, as two axeblades smashed their way through the center of the room. Kenshin and Saitou moved backwards slightly, avoiding the destruction the blades caused on the floor. Neji thought, relaxing again.
Senkaku smashed his way up out from under the floorboards and climbed up onto the level ground, towering above Kenshin and Saitou. A smirk creased his face as he glared at the two 'intruders.'
"Senkaku, the ruler of Shingetsu is your opponent!!"
Kenshin looks calmly at the large man in front of him. "You're Senkaku. . ." His gaze darkened as a piercing glare appeared on his face. "The man who killed Eiji's brother and parents . . ."
There was no reply from the large bullet head, other than a roar as he rushed forwards. Saitou and Kenshin dodged to opposite sides of the room, each looking slightly surprised.
"Go to hell!!" Senkaku shouted, swerving in midstep and catching Kenshin offguard with a hard strike to the stomach with his axe-blade, pinning him against the wall. Neji blinked surprised, as he stepped forwards towards Yumi and Shishio.
"That. . . was a lot easier than I thought it would be. . ." Neji said, looking at the man pinned against the wall.
"Himura Battousai wasn't terrible enough!" Senkaku laughed, triumph shining in his eyes. Neji blinked again.
I
"I made a promise to Eiji." A voice said, deadly serious. Senkaku's laugh was cut short as he gazed down on the man glaring up at him. A gasp was heard from the bullet head as he saw his ax was splintered in the middle where Kenshin blocked with his sakabatou.
"I will destroy you before Shishio!"
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
Chapter 6
"Before the Storm"
End
A/N: eh. . . I know this was a boring chapter. . . *yawns* (its only 10, y am I sleepy. . .) but if I suddenly jump an cut out senkaku. . . well, Shishio wouldn't be able to learn Kenshin's move an all. . . blah blah, also I kinda like seein bullet head man gettin his butt kicked :P gomen to any senkaku fans out there (if there are any . . .) eh. . . I wanna read this book I got on samurai. . . no time to lah, my head feels funny I think is from da paint fumes when painted da house today . . . @_@
[By: Tenken]
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters, I only semi own Komagata Neji . . . ^_^ my character not the name lah.because Komagata is RK name and Neji is a Naruto name.
Rating: PG for violence?
A/N: This is a boring chapter.. *sweatdrops* isn't something I should say b4 giving the story ne? ah.its mostly talking.but I guess its ok ^_^
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
Chapter Six
"Before the storm"
Himura Kenshin and Saitou Hajime stopped in their tracks, Kenshin's hand going towards the hilt of his sakabatou. Saitou smirked and looked over and down at his companion.
"Nervous, Battousai?" he asked, looking at the young man guarding the gate.
Kenshin thought to himself, then said out-loud "Saitou, be careful. . .This is the man who killed Governor Okubo." Saitou's glare sharpened on the normal looking man in front of them.
"I'm just your guide today, Shishio-sama told me not to bring a weapon." Neji replied, holding up his hands. "Shishio-sama is waiting inside for you two, follow me." Neji turned his back on the ex-hitokiri and ex-Shinsengumi and pushed the door open with a hand.
"After you." He held the door open as Kenshin kept a suspicious glare fixed on Neji. Saitou shook his head and his smirk widened.
"We can't start out being this cautious. Let's go."
Kenshin turned his head as they followed their guide across the inn's grounds. Guards clumsily attempted to hide behind trees, in bushes, and in the shadows as they passed by.
"How much further?" Saitou asked, becoming slightly impatient as Neji lead them into a large building. The boy ignored them and wound his way through different corridors.
"We're here." Neji said, sliding open a paper door and stepping inside. Kenshin and Saitou followed him inside, their gazes immediately flying towards the man who was sitting on a cushion in the middle of the room. A lady with an off-shoulders kimono was kneeling next to him, offering him sake as he inhaled smoke from a long pipe.
"You've arrived." Shishio smirked, removing the pipe from his mouth.
"You're. . .Shishio Makoto. . ." Kenshin said, shifting his stance. Shishio smirked again and leant his forehead against the back of his hand.
"Call me Shishio, my rude predecessor."
Neji folded his arms and leant against the paper door, his gaze sweeping the room. Neji thought, frowning. He quickly averted his eyes when he realized he was glaring at the ground, where he felt Senkaku lurking, and his gaze ended up on a shiny metal staff leaning on the sword stand next to Shisho's Nagasone Kotetsu. A smirk appeared on his face.
"Hey," murmured Saitou, leaning over slightly to the young man next to him. "You sure you want Battousai to just stand there? He could kill Shishio in a single leap." The smirk on Neji's face never left, but he unfolded his arms and took his weight off the wall.
"Himura isn't like you, Saitou," Neji replied. "He wouldn't do anything as dishonorable as a surprise attack. And even if he did. . ." I would stop him beforehand. Well if I had my shinobi zue. . . A matching smirk appeared on Saitou's face.
Kenshin stepped up closer to Shishio, his glare darkening. "Why did you target this place? You're after the whole country, not one or two little villages." Shishio inhaled more smoke then lowered the pipe.
"The hot springs." Kenshin's eyes widened. "The hot springs are good for my burnt skin, but I was afraid the other bathers would see me. So, I had to take then." Kenshin's hand went towards his sword hilt, his eyes narrowing as he did so.
"You . . . for this alone. . . you would terrorize an entire village . . ." Kenshin said, his voice deepening. A smirk appeared on Shishio's charcoal colored lips.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Shishio said, laughing a little under his breath. Yumi moved over slightly and leant against his purple kimono. "Learn how to take a joke, you're as serious as the rumors say you are."
Saitou stepped up behind Kenshin and bonked him on the head. "Keep your temper. You take a joke about as well as weasel girl does."
Shishio tapped out the ashes in his pipe into a small bowl Yumi held out for him. " This village will make a strong military base from which to dominate the Toukai region. Although. . . I do like the hot springs."
Kenshin stepped forwards again while murmuring "Shishio. . ." but Saitou stopped him with a casually extended hand.
"You keep quiet." Saitou said. A smirk appeared on his face as shadows cast a dark look upon him. "With this base. . . you intend to exact revenge from the Meiji government for those bandages?
Shishio leant forwards on his cushion, his stare switching onto Saitou. "Saitou Hajime, captain of the third Shinsengumi unit. I thought you could understand me better, since you're more like me than Battousai.looks like I was wrong." He gripped his bandaged arm in his other. "I have no intention of seeking revenge from those who gave me these bandages.
Rather, I should thank them. They taught me things which have sunk into my soul. [If you trust, you will be betrayed.] [If you are careless, you will die.] [Kill or be killed.]" Yumi leant forwards towards Shishio and put a slender finger against his chin, her other hand resting on his shoulder. "And, [A good man is never far from a woman.]"
The smile that was fixed on Yumi's face made Neji's smirk falter and he stepped towards his sister. He paused as Saitou shifted into a more relaxed stance.
"Could you keep it down then?" Saitou smirked. "I'm tired of running all over Japan because of you." Shishio exhaled slightly and continued talking, his gaze running over both Saitou and Kenshin.
"We all survived the Bakumatsu.Why can't you understand?" Shadows cast an eerily serious expression on Kenshin's glaring face. "Revere the Emperor, destroy the Bakufu, expel the barbarian, open the country. These ideas brought about the Bakumatsu, but in the end it was nothing more than a time of chaos that finally came three hundred years after the Sengoku. A time when supporters of the Emperor or the Shogun; Satsuma, Choushuu or Tosa; all raised their flags and fought and killed in the name of justice."
Shishio leant forwards, resting his hand on his knee, gripping the pipe in his right hand. His burn, charcoal skin contrasted with the whites of his eyes that were seen in his clear gaze. "Born in those times was a man who would try to rule all under heaven."
A soft smile appeared on Yumi's face as she looked up at the man she loved. An identical smile emerged on Neji's face, but was replaced by a smirk as he clapped his hands to applaud Shishio's speech.
Shishio twirled his pipe between his fingers. "I was almost assasinated, and when my wounds were finally healed, I tried coming out. The Meiji government had already succeeded in ending the violence. Now, they who tried to eliminate me won't send a single troop against me, for fear of looking weak before the Western powers. This weak government." He caught the twirling pipe and gripped it in his hand. "I cannot leave this country to such a weak government. If the violence was ended, I'll awaken it!" He snapped the pipe into pieces with his hand.
Shishio's gaze turned slightly mad as he sat up on his cushion. "I'll seize control! I'll make this country strong! Justice will be served when the country is mine." Kenshin's serious gaze turned slightly sad, as he stepped closer again to Shishio.
"For this justice.blood will flow. The blood of those who now live in peace."
Shishio lowered his chin, gaze still fixed on his predecessor. "In this world, after all, the flesh of the weak is the food of the strong. But. . . I could never persuade you of that."
Kenshin's glare sharpened once again and he took another step forwards, simultaneously drawing the sakabatou. "Shishio Makoto, you cannot shed the blood of others for the sake of your own justice."
Neji's gaze turned slightly serious as the snick of Kenshin's sword being drawn was clearly heard, and the bright shine of the blade glowed in the lamp's flames. He turned slightly to the tall policeman next to him. "How about you, Saitou?"
Saitou smirked down at Neji, shifting his relaxed pose. "I don't like pretty words like he does. But. . . it seems to be my fate, to be on the side that brings Shishio down." Neji's brow creased slightly as he changed his stance, planting his feet on the ground.
Shishio sat crosslegged still on the cushion, Yumi kneeling next to him. He sighed again. "It doesn't matter if we fight or not. I had hoped to do it poetically in Kyoto, the city of flowers. But. . ." Shishio looked up and met Kenshin's gaze. "If you really want to fight. . ." Shishio leant forwards slightly on the cushion and slapped the wooden floor with his bandaged hand.
Neji's gaze switched quickly to the floorboards, as two axeblades smashed their way through the center of the room. Kenshin and Saitou moved backwards slightly, avoiding the destruction the blades caused on the floor. Neji thought, relaxing again.
Senkaku smashed his way up out from under the floorboards and climbed up onto the level ground, towering above Kenshin and Saitou. A smirk creased his face as he glared at the two 'intruders.'
"Senkaku, the ruler of Shingetsu is your opponent!!"
Kenshin looks calmly at the large man in front of him. "You're Senkaku. . ." His gaze darkened as a piercing glare appeared on his face. "The man who killed Eiji's brother and parents . . ."
There was no reply from the large bullet head, other than a roar as he rushed forwards. Saitou and Kenshin dodged to opposite sides of the room, each looking slightly surprised.
"Go to hell!!" Senkaku shouted, swerving in midstep and catching Kenshin offguard with a hard strike to the stomach with his axe-blade, pinning him against the wall. Neji blinked surprised, as he stepped forwards towards Yumi and Shishio.
"That. . . was a lot easier than I thought it would be. . ." Neji said, looking at the man pinned against the wall.
"Himura Battousai wasn't terrible enough!" Senkaku laughed, triumph shining in his eyes. Neji blinked again.
I
"I made a promise to Eiji." A voice said, deadly serious. Senkaku's laugh was cut short as he gazed down on the man glaring up at him. A gasp was heard from the bullet head as he saw his ax was splintered in the middle where Kenshin blocked with his sakabatou.
"I will destroy you before Shishio!"
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
Chapter 6
"Before the Storm"
End
A/N: eh. . . I know this was a boring chapter. . . *yawns* (its only 10, y am I sleepy. . .) but if I suddenly jump an cut out senkaku. . . well, Shishio wouldn't be able to learn Kenshin's move an all. . . blah blah, also I kinda like seein bullet head man gettin his butt kicked :P gomen to any senkaku fans out there (if there are any . . .) eh. . . I wanna read this book I got on samurai. . . no time to lah, my head feels funny I think is from da paint fumes when painted da house today . . . @_@
