Chapter Two

Gohei Hiruma the Trader was not happy to see me. He gave me his usual sullen glare, before addressing me in his most unpleasant tone. Battousai, what are you up to and why are you getting me involved? I know it can't be the girl, pretty as she is.

I shrugged. What do you mean?

It's obvious what I mean. You haven't been slept with a woman in ten years. You got yourself eunuched in a sword-dance and never advertised the fact. He glowered at me. I wish you'd keep me out of your schemes. That woman's dangerous. Do you know what she did?

Gohei's guess was entirely inaccurate. My lack of interest in women had nothing to do with my anatomy and everything to do with my unworthiness.

She nearly killed my best eunuch. He wouldn't stop wailing until I promised to beat her.

I felt a surge of worry for the girl. If my deception has gotten her hurt- Did you? I asked, my voice going dangerous. I narrowed my eyes in way that has been known to alarm my enemies.

I didn't beat her, Gohei promised, backing away from me. I wouldn't have dared. She's a Northern woman. You know what that means.

Gohei clearly thought she was a witch. I couldn't see why. She had not behaved like one. What have you done with her, then? Is she still here?

He nodded again. And the sooner you remove her, Battousai, the better.

You have not hurt her? I asked again.

Only enough to knock her unconscious before she cast a spell on me. Gohei grinned. I feel sorry for the man you unleash her on. Just be careful she doesn't death-spell you.

I ignored his comment on death spells. To begin with, I do not truly believe in magic. The death spells Gohei spoke of are only a form of hypnosis. How did she frighten the eunuch?

Nearly gutted him with her sword.

I raised my eyebrows in shock.

Yes, Battousai, the woman had a sword. Long, sharp, and magic as anything. And she knows how to use it. His voice was urgent enough that I realized that he actually believed that her sword was bewitched.

I'll take a look at it, I offered.

Gohei pointed to a wooden chest on the opposite side of the room and tossed me a key. I caught it neatly and unlocked the chest. Within, I found a long silk-wrapped object. I lifted it with the respect any sword deserves and slowly removed the silk wrappings. Beneath them I found the weapon. There is no such thing as magic, Gohei, I said, giving him my reassuring smile. You know that it is all illusion, trickery, stripes on a man's sleeves to conceal his arms' length. Nothing more.

You haven't looked at the sword yet, Kenshin.

That sealed it. Gohei was terrified of the sword. He never called me by name, never. Only when he was extremely serious. I smiled again and looked down at the weapon. It was a Northern style weapon, straight blade and double-edged, sheathed in simple leather and attached to a simple harness, much like my own. There was a silverish hilt, decorated by complex runes and knotwork. The pattern drew the eyes and forced them into a confused path. I looked away briefly. It was exactly what I had warned Gohei of. Illusion. To prove it to him, I set my hand upon the hilt to draw it.

I regretted it almost immediately, as a cold piercing pain ran up my arm. It was not too much; I gritted my teeth and finished drawing it. The cold increased. The blade too bore twisting runes. It felt almost as though the weapon were looking within me and weighing me. Kenshin, are you there?

Unable to help myself, I dropped it to the ground. A chill still ran through me. Northern blade, Northern ice. Looking down at it, I saw the blade more clearly. It had an almost pinkish color. That alone was odd, and I didn't really like it. I slid the sheathe back around it, before turning to Gohei. Where is she? Which hyort is she in?

The red one, he answered immediately. He wanted her and the sword out of his hands. He was being honest. Battousai, there is a man looking for her. A Northerner. I did not tell him of her, but . . . .

Thank you, I said simply with a smile. It never hurts to smile at someone, and it may do some good. Then I went to look for the girl.

The girl was tied carefully, and though the position looked uncomfortable, she looked like she was in good enough shape to manage it. She was awake now and looking at me with those cold Northern eyes. She no longer wore the white burnous, only the simple leather tunic she had worn beneath it. I forced myself to ignore the lovely body that it covered.

Kenshin, you don't deserve to look at her.

This is all your fault, isn't it?

It is all my fault, miss, I agreed, kneeling beside her. Otherwise, Gohei would have sold you already. I cut the cords tying her. Are you alright, miss?

She glared at me, not dignifying my question with an answer. You have my sword!

I held it out to her. She took it, wincing at the pain in her cramped limbs. It hurt me to see her in pain. May I? I asked, offering to massage the blood back into her arms.

No, thank you, she said, her eyes still on the sword. Did you unsheathe it?

I am sorry, miss.

Well, I suppose there is no harm done. She ran a finger along the hilt, and for the first time I saw her smile. It was a distant smile, only for the sword. She slipped the harness back on and rose to her feet shakily. I knew Southroners were short, but even for a Southroner . . . I'm almost as tall as you are.

I shrugged. I am not your average Southroner. I held out a hand. I apologize for my deception. It was only so Gohei would not sell you.

She accepted the hand doubtfully.

If you would tell me your business with Gohei, I will try to help you. I doubted that she would accept, but by now I knew it didn't matter. I wasn't letting this girl out of my sight or she'd get herself into horrible danger. She was simply too impetuous.

You cannot help. She looked at me with her wide, honest eyes. Beautiful eyes.

Why not? I asked brightly, ignoring the cynical voice which warned me that she deserved better.

The girl stretched her hands carefully. You just can't. Then she focused all of her attention on me. I can't believe you did this! Here she punched me with considerable force. Don't do that again, Kenshin! she yelled.



When my head had stopped swimming, I followed her as she headed towards Gohei's hyort. He gave her one terrified look, before diving under a rug.

If this were the North, I'd be expected to kill you, she informed him. And I would, without any regrets. But since this isn't the North, you're getting one more chance, because I'm sure Kenshin here wouldn't like to watch me kill one of his friends. She spoke angrily, What have you done with my brother, Gohei? Who did you sell him to?

Your brother? he asked helplessly, peeking out from beneath the rug. I froze up, uncertain what to do. I protect women, I protect the helpless . . . Gohei looked terrified and helpless . . . but she was a woman.

Five years ago my brother was stolen from across the Northern border. He was eight years old. You sold my brother, slaver, and I want him back! She pulled the rug away from him, so that he was forced to look up at her from where he sat on the dirt floor.

Gohei shook his head. I don't deal in boys. Only women.

She was not calmed. I know what you do with boys in the South, slaver. An eight-year-old boy, slaver, with all my fire in him.

Gohei gave me a pleading look.

I attempted to calm her.

She paid me no heed. She merely stared down at Gohei, her hand on her sword-hilt.

Five years ago? Gohei was trying now. It's a long time. But perhaps . . . there was a boy. It might have been five years ago, perhaps longer. There was a boy on the block in Julah. He might not have been your brother.

The girl seemed satisfied, because her hand moved away from the sword-hilt. Where is Julah?

I answered her question, distracting her from the cringing slave trader. It is south of here, miss. The country is very dangerous.

She didn't seem to care. Give me a name.

he said miserably. My brother.

She punched him, much as she had punched me, only harder. You might want to consider a less messy business, trader. Then she stormed out. I watched her.

Gohei shook his head. Fine time for you to start being interested in women again, Kenshin. That's all I have to say.

I don't know what you mean, Gohei. I bid him a polite farewell and followed the girl.