Disclaimer : I do not own, in any way, Rurouni Kenshin. Watsuki-sama does. I'm only borrowing his characters for a while.
Here is chapter 2. I'm afraid that this story is moving a bit slowly, but I really don't want to rush things up.
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Chapter 2 – A new beginning
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Next morning, I arrived at the house Asaki had mentioned: I had to meet the man in charge of recruiting. I knocked at the door and waited for a response. A small middle-age man arrived looked at me suspiciously.
"What can I do for you?"
"I'm Takeru Nakane, sir. I've been told to come here in order to meet you"
"Nakane… Asaki Nakane's younger brother?"
"That's correct."
Dressed in man's clothes, no one could ever figure out that I was in fact a woman. They never called me a tomboy for nothing. At most, they would think that I'm a bit delicate, fragile.
Years of training, hanging around in dojo's with my brother's friends finally paid of: the Ishinshishi clan would have never allowed a woman to fight with them.
"Glad to finally see you, boy! Asaki had announced your arrival. Your brother said that you are skilled with the sword, but I didn't think that you were this young…"
In answer to this comment, I only slightly smiled. The absence of beard and the voice was, as always, only accounted on young age. If the man knew that I was in fact 21 years old…
"I'll lead you to the headquarters. Most of us stay there undercover. It is in fact supposed to be an inn."
The man was waiting for my approval. I slightly nodded.
"There you will meet Katsura. He is the head chef. He is rarely here in Kyoto and he habitually delegates the selection of new comers, but as you are Asaki's brother, he wanted to meet you personally."
Another pause. I nodded once again.
"If he accepts you in our troop, you'll first have to do small assignments. If you deal successfully with these, they'll give you more and more responsibilities, like your brother who is now in charge of a whole unit."
As we walked, it went on like this: him giving me some tips, me nodding from time to time. We finally reached the headquarters. From outside, it looked like any Kyoto's inn.
"I'm sorry sir, but do the Shinsengumi know about this place?"
"Hum… We are not sure. We change headquarter from time to time, just in case."
I remained silent for a while, thinking about all this new information. I hadn't noticed that we were now standing in front of a shouji.
"Boy?"
I quickly returned my attention to the man.
"Wait here, I'll go see if Katsura can see you now."
I wasn't nervous about this meeting, but I've felt better before. I was hearing some voices behind the shouji, in the room were the man had gone. I couldn't hear all the conversation but I could still catch some words here and there … Nakane… young… fragile…
Nothing to reassure me.
Then, the shouji was pushed aside and the man in charge of recruiting stepped out of the room.
"You can go in, it's your turn, boy." He said, giving me a warm smile.
I took a few steps forward and glanced at the room in front of me. In the middle of it stood a man: Katsura. I heard the shouji being closed behind me. We were now alone, and this would determine my destiny.
Katsura didn't move for a while. He was carefully studying me. Judging me, trying to determine if I was strong enough, both physically and mentally, for the job awaiting me.
Katsura himself didn't seem that strong. Clearly, he wasn't used to fight. He was taking decisions, ordering people around but throughout the conflict his own hands had remained clean. [1]
Finally, Katsura spoke up.
"Why did you choose the Chosu clan?"
"Sir, I believe that a better future is awaiting Japan. I want to fight for that belief along with the Ishishishi. I chose the Chosu clan because, unlike the Satsuma clan, you allow every man to join without considering if they are or not samurai." [2]
"Your brother said that you are quite skilled. Did you learned the sword at the same school he did?"
"Yes, sir."
Katsura remained silent for a while, thinking. Then, he said.
"You remind me a lot of your brother when he first came here two years ago. I first thought that his fighting style wasn't strong enough. Despite of this, I let him join the Chosu clan. He had a strong will to win and that is what permitted him to survive his few first fights. However he quickly realized that willpower would not always be enough and so he started improving his style."
Katsura then paused in order to let me understand the full meaning of his words. I would have to improve my style too if I wanted to survive the Bakumatsu and take an active part in the battle.
"Finally, he turned out to be one of our most skilled men and today, I can let him handle some of the most important missions. Hiring him had been a risky gamble, but a good one. As you are from the same blood, I'm ready to repeat this gamble once again and give you your chance."
"Thank you sir."
"You should not thank me: this is going to be difficult. Your life is going to revolve around a short, but complex, paradox: to kill or to be killed. Most of the time, you won't understand why you have to do the assignments under your responsibility. You will see a lot of your comrades die along the way. If you are anything like your brother, you should be able to deal with the pressure, but it will still remain difficult."
As he paused, I thought that, as hard as it may seems and as hard as it may be, I would be able to deal with this. I could give up my peaceful nights of sleep in order to build a better Japan.
"I think that you already know that, at first, you will have to achieve only simple tasks. If you perform well with these, you'll soon have a more important role in our organization. If the talent is not there, you'll just go on with these little jobs. If you fail repeatedly, we won't need your services anymore. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Well then, Takeru Nakane, I just have to welcome you into the Chosu clan. You'll be staying in your brother's room as we don't have much free space. You'll receive your first assignment soon enough."
He accompanied these last words with a small head bow enjoining me to leave the room. I bowed deeply, in respect, before doing so.
***
Finally in my room, I slowly recalled the day's events. After my meeting with Katsura, I had been introduced to most of the headquarters' inhabitants. Of course they had all welcome me in the most appropriate manner, but they were also a bit distant. Clearly, I was still not one of them.
I knew that I would have to prove myself in order to change this. My first assignment would be a good start. I was looking forward to it.
I was still analyzing the last events when Asaki came the room.
"Seeing you here, Tokio, I imagine that you were accepted in the Chosu clan."
"Yes, for now… I still have to prove myself…"
"You'll do great, I'm sure of it." Quickly replied Asaki, smiling.
"Probably… "
I was thinking about Katsura's remarks on our fighting style. I had learned that Asaki's debuts in the Ishinshishi had not been as smooth and as easy as he had told me. Why? Why had he tried to mask the truth? Hadn't he realized that I would have to improve my style too if I wanted to survive? It would have been wiser to have warned me about this before.
I watched Asaki as he unfolded his futon. He looked very tired and exhausted. The day must have been a tough one. As much as I wanted to question him about the weaknesses of our fighting style, I tried not to. Tomorrow…
"I think it's time we get some sleep." I said, instead.
"Hum" simply replied Asaki, already practically asleep.
***
The next morning, I woke up early, but not early enough. Asaki was already gone. I would have to wait before I could ask him advices about how to improve my fighting style.
I dressed up quickly, bounding my breast with new bandages, putting on my swordsman outfit, tying my hair in a high ponytail as many used to do these days.
On my way downstairs, I met Shinsaku Takasugi. He had been presented to me yesterday, along with the others. I remembered that rumors were saying that he would soon die from tuberculosis. But I also remembered that he was an influent man in the Chosu organization. [3]
I bowed politely. He then said.
"Nakane-san, I would like to see you briefly after your breakfast. Please come and meet me in my room, I think it's time for your first assignment."
"Yes, sir." I said, bowing even more deeply.
I headed toward the kitchen very quickly and grabbed the first comestible thing I could see. I regretted the fact that I did not had the time to improve my fighting style. It could have been useful, but I would have to do without it.
Before I knew it, I was in front of what I remembered being Takasugi's room. I knocked carefully. As I heard his reply, I went in.
"You sit down."
"Yes, sir."
"You shouldn't be so formal: no one is. Simply call me Takasugi." He said, smiling.
I simply smiled back waiting for him to began, to explain what I would have to do.
"As you probably know, generally the first task isn't a great challenge. However, Katsura trust you and think that you may turn out to be one of our best men. So, we decided to give you something a little more important in order to test your skills as soon as possible. Your assignment is very important to us and you'll have to handle the case seriously and give your best."
I nodded in order to let him know that I understood this perfectly and that I would always give my best.
"We think that one of Kyoto's officials, Izumo Murasaki, supports the Shinsengumi. And more than verbally as his bodyguards sometimes fight along with the Shinsengumi. Therefore, Murasaki is on our wanted list. Normally, hitokiris handle such matters but, as Murasaki has a lot of personal bodyguards, one man alone could not achieve this task."
As he paused, I nodded again. Satisfied by the fact that I seemed to understand, he then continue.
"Before we can actually conduct a proper attack, we have to gather more precise information about Murasaki's bodyguards."
I was beginning to realize what he wanted from me. It really wasn't a task normally assigned to a newcomer: it was a real test. Not based on fighting skills but on more important abilities.
"We want you to gather this information for us. We'll give you three days as we intend to neutralize him in four days. We can't wait much longer. You realize that the more precise your information will be, the more efficient our attack will be. If you can't find anything, we'll just have to blindly attack."
"I perfectly understand. I'll do my best."
"Of course, we don't want to alert Murasaki as we're going to conduct a surprise attack. So, try to avoid fights and be as discrete as possible. Also, you'll have to be careful: you don't want to be identified as an Ishinshishi. Now, no one knows that you're with us. This is a clear advantage for you and you will want to keep it as long as possible."
He paused for a while before giving me some tips for my assignment.
"As Murasaki lives in the northern district you may want to investigate there. Try to bound with some locals over there, they generally talk a lot…"
"It will be handled as you say…" I said, preparing to leave.
Takasugi smiled at me and said
"I'm starting to think that Katsura is right and that you have potential. I'm looking forward to your report."
***
I was now ready to leave the headquarters in order to investigate.
I could easily go unnoticed dressed as a woman. No one would suspect me this way and there was no risk that the mission would not be compromised. Also, like this, it would be easier to get information.
Before I could actually go there, I had to wait until there was no one around: I could not afford being seen dressed as a woman. My room was on the second floor, but it was easy to come and go using the window. During the day, I would have to be careful, but at night, it would be very easy.
I would bring a small dagger hidden in my obi, for protection. I would probably not have to use it, but I felt safer like this.
Once in the northern district, I would try to bind with some locals as Takasugi had said. If I was lucky, they might know some things about Murasaki or they might introduce me to others who knew more. If I wasn't lucky, I would still have two more days to come up with a better plan.
Now feeling in control of the situation, I quickly jumped of the window and landed softly in the back garden. I waited a little bit to make sure no one had seen me and then, I quickly went into the street and headed toward the northern district.
***
Two days later I had finally gather all the information we needed to conduct a successful surprise attack. Everything had gone well in the northern district and no one would ever suspect me.
The first day, I had succeeded in going in and out the headquarters without being noticed. Unfortunately, when I came back tonight, someone saw me. But, there was a good chance the man was just a passerby, as I had never seen him before. Red hair. If I had seen him before, I would have remembered…
I changed clothes and identity, once again, and soon headed toward Takasugi's room to give him my final report. I pause and before I could even manifest my presence, the shouji was opened and Takasugi was standing right in front of me as surprise as I was.
"Nakane-san! I wasn't expecting you before 24 hours."
"Well, here I am and with the results of my investigation."
"Very well… sit down and explain…" said Takasugi, clearly taken aback.
"Murasaki have ten bodyguards. Most of them are ninjas, but not very skilled ones. However, three of the bodyguards are sword fighters and quite skilled one. They come from samurai families and they are the ones sometime used by the Shinsengumi. Murasaki pays them very generously and that is why, in a time where skilled samurais could fight along with important organization and gain some power or notoriety, they remain with Murasaki."
"I see… do you have anything more?"
"Yes. Generally, the ninjas do two patrolling tours around the mansion at night. One around ten o'clock and one around two o'clock. The swordsmen don't go out and stay in their room, on the second floor. Their services are only required when something important happens. The rest of the time, the ninjas stay in a room on the first floor where lights are on all night long. That is as much as I know."
"Nakane-san… That is very good work… Katsura was damn right about you: you have brain."
I smiled shyly under the compliment while Takasugi went on.
"Now, take some rest with the other boys downstairs… We will see each other again in two days when we're going to attack Murasaki's mansion. I want you there."
"Thank you." I said before leaving. I went downstairs to follow Takasugi's advice. I could enjoy small talks and some sake…
The others were now a little friendlier with me now that I had apparently succeeded my first mission. I was beginning to be a little more drunk that I should be and I started to really appreciate life in the headquarters.
As I poured myself another cup of sake, my attention was caught by a glimpse of red hair. It was him…. It was the man who had witnessed me dressed as a woman. He was sitting in a dark corner of the room, alone, not joining the festivities.
I froze as I looked at his eyes. Cold. Almost inhuman.
There were signs of recognizance in his eyes. No doubt he had made the link between the woman entering the headquarters by a window and the "man" now in front of him. I had too remarkable features such an attentive gaze would not fail to recognize. Tall, blue-gray eyes, long dark hair and a delicate face hiding a strong determination.
I continued watching him, waiting for him to say something. But, he only got up and slowly left the room.
I had understood clearly the last glance he had cast me: for now, he would not give me away but would keep a close look on my actions.
I would have to ask Asaki about that strange man…
***
When I returned in our room, Asaki was there. I hadn't seen him in two days as his current mission seemed to be quite demanding. I could feel, at his slow movements, that he was exhausted. Even more than the last time I had seen him.
"So, Tokio, I heard that your first mission was successful. The head chefs are very pleased. They think that they'll soon give you more responsibilities. But for now, you should just get a good night of sleep: you must also be tired."
"You looked quite tired yourself"
"Yeah…" said Asaki smiling faintly "I'm presently investigating about some killings. Recently, some of our best men were slaughter by someone yet unidentified. We are trying to set traps in order to discover who he is and maybe stop him. So we just wait for the right moment, ambushed in the most dark and narrow streets of all."
"That case looks interesting."
"Yes, interesting, but also tiring."
"So, did you found out anything so far?"
"No… But, if you are interested in the case, maybe I could ask that you be one of the few men accompanying me on this mission. You won't have to do much, but it will give you the opportunity to see how we handle this."
"I would love to."
"Then, I'll ask Takasugi's permission tomorrow… Good night."
"Good night!"
I then remembered the fighting skills issue. Normally, I would have waited until the morning before asking Asaki more details about it, but with the amount of sake I had drank previously, I felt the urge to ask him now.
"Asaki?"
"Hummm?"
"Katsura told me that your fighting skills were inappropriate when you joined the Ishinshishi… Why haven't you warn me about my fighting skills earlier?"
"Only not to alarm you, Tokio. You would have found out soon enough…"
"But, wouldn't it have been wiser to warn me, instead of trying to protect me from the truth? I could have used my spare time training in order to improve myself."
"Maybe… well, it's never too late. We'll do some training in the morning and we'll see what we can do… Good night…"
I was only half satisfied with Asaki's answer and still, I knew nothing about the strange red hair man…
"Asaki?"
"Hummm?"
"Who is the man with red hair and a crossed scar on his left cheek?"
"Only… the… battousai" slowly answered Asaki in his half-sleeping state.
***
I had been training for the last two hours. Mostly trying to add some defensive moves in my fighting style.
"Concentrate, your defense is still wide open on your left side!" said the man helping me.
When Asaki had said that "we" would improve my style in the morning he had meant me and a friend who had previously help him with is own fighting skills. Asaki had left right after he had introduced us. I was starting to get used to this by now. Since I had come to live in the headquarters, we had exchange 15 sentences at most. He had more important things to do than take care of his little sister.
"Got you!" said the man breaking my lame defense.
Yes, I really had to do something about this. It was worse than I had previously thought. In the dojo where I trained in Aizu, I was no match for most of the other students but here, in Kyoto, it was a different story…
"Your fighting style is really good in offense, but, when it's time to defend yourself, it leaves wide openings. It was the same thing with Asaki when he first came here. That opening on your left was one of them and unfortunately still is. It's the only thing we could never improve, although it should have been easy. But, then again, maybe we failed to improve this only because Asaki is too stubborn to listen to my advice. I should be a little more successful with you."
"Instead of talking behind my back, I would very much like it if you would leave Takeru and me alone for a while." Said Asaki, appearing in the training room.
I could sense that Asaki was hurt by the comments on his defense skills. More hurt than necessary. The subject seemed to be very touchy. Probably why he hadn't warn me about all of this. Things suddenly began to make more sense.
Once alone, Asaki began to speak.
"Tokio, I've talked to Takasugi and it's okay. You can join us on our mission tonight. Until then, you are free to do whatever you want. You had enough training for today…"
***
We had been in a small street for the past three hours, waiting. Some of Asaki's men were standing in the middle of the street to catch the killer's attention while the rest of us were hidden in the shadows waiting with Asaki for something to happen.
But nothing was happing. This waiting game was beginning to get on my nerves. I enjoyed action and this was nothing like it. I would probably come back to the headquarters suffering from sleep deprivation and profound boredom.
We waited a bit more. Just, as I was beginning to nearly fall asleep, I heard footsteps. Maybe that, after all, something was indeed going to happen.
A human form slowly emerged from the darkness. An armed man surrounded by an aura of pure madness. From where we were, we could now clearly see him.He wasn't a Shinsengumi as he had no uniform. We could not identify who he really was.
Asaki then said.
"I think it's him. We finally have visual contact with our killer."
In the street, not to far from the killer, the other men in of our group did not seem to be aware of his presence. Seeing that his men were in danger, Asaki got on his feet and started heading toward the killer.
"Stay here unless I command you to join the fight. I'm the one in charge, I'm the one who should handle this."
Distracted by the newcomer, the killer stopped in his attempt to reach the small group of swordsmen. He had felt that Asaki was a more serious opponent and somewhat of a challenge. He smiled evilly while they looked at each other for a while.
Suddenly, they both started attacking. Rapidly realizing the lacks in Asaki's defense, the killer took advantage of the opening on Asaki's left side. He quickly slashed him while Asaki missed his target. Asaki fell on his knees from the pain.
The rumors were true: this killer was very skilled, but I still trusted my brother: he would get up, fight and win. I knew he could do it. Yes, Asaki was wounded, but he could not be defeated that easily.
I watched the killer. He was standing behind Asaki who, still under the shock of the pain, did not seemed to be aware of the menace. The killer started to drew his sword in order to launch another attack. Panicked, I started to run toward them. I had to stop this. I couldn't let this happen.
Before I could even reach them, the killer slashed Asaki in the back almost cutting his body in two parts.
From the amount of blood and the way Asaki's body lied in the street, I knew that this was the end.
Asaki was dead.
To be continued
General comments
Yes, I know, Saitou was not part of this chapter. As they are fighting on opposite sides, I thought that it would be very unlikely that they met every now and then. But, don't worry, he'll play a role in the next chapter and soon the story will more revolve around him
Notes
[1] Kogoro Katsura was the Chosu clan's head chef and was considered as one of the three most important men of the Ishinshishi's organization. He was a swordsman but never played an active in the battles and never killed any man. For that reason, many called him a coward.
[2] During the Bakumatsu most clans would only accept fighters coming from samurai families. The two Ishinshishi's clan had different opinions on the subject. Satsuma clan was only allowing samurais to join in but Chosu would accept anyone who was skilled enough. That is probably why Kenshin joined Chosu as he comes from a peasant family and his not a samurai.
[3] Shinsaku Takasugi was one of Katsura's right hand men. He died of tuberculosis in 1867 without seeing the end of the Bakumatsu.
To the reviewers
Special thanks to JadeGoddess, Sharai Darekin, Inferno, L. Sith, Mara, Kamorgana and Leila Winters, who took the time to review this story. (^-^)
À la prochaine!
Mary-Ann