+Harvest Moon, Secundus Pars+

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin was created by Watsuki Nobuhiro; all rights reserved to Sony, Shueisha JUMP, and Anime Works. All the other characters in this fiction are mine and can only be used with my permission. This piece of fiction was solely created for entertainment purposes only. I am not making any money from this.

Erudite
by: Crimson Prophet

+++++
Are not my days almost over?
Turn away from me so that I
can have a moment's joy before
I go to the place of no return,
to the land of gloom and deep shadow,
to the land of the deepest night,
of deep shadow and disorder,
where even the light is like darkness.
-from the Holy Bible, book of Job,
chapter 10, verses 20 to 22.
+++++

"Yo, Oro-chan!" A man yelled down from the hallway, phone held in one hand. He looked harassed as he tried to be heard over the din. "The Chief wants ya! He's on line four! And you better hurry, he sounds annoyed!"

Himura Kenshin looked up from the report he was reading, nodded at the man, and picked up the phone. Did he really have to call me that de gozaru ka? "Hai. Himura de gozaru."

"Meet me at Harry's in 10 minutes."

"Oro?! Demo Shishou, that's on the other side of town de gozaru yo!"

"So? Get over it. Harry's in ten minutes, or I'll train you the way I did 23 years ago."

"ORO!"

"Harry's in ten minutes. I'll be waiting."

The red-haired man winced as he put down the phone and stood up, pushing his chair back. Sighing, he looked down at the pile of reports waiting to be read for a while, then grabbed his black leather jacket from the back of his chair and turned to go. "Sano. Sessha'll be out for a while. Please pick up my calls for a while de gozaru."

"Sure man, no prob." A tall, spiky haired man looked up from his Gameboy and arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Where ya goin? Official call?"

"Sessha has no idea." Kenshin pulled on his jacket as he spoke. "Shikashi, it might turn out to be one. Shishou wants me to meet him at Harry's de gozaru."

"Chief?" Sagara Sanosuke snorted. "He probably just wants you to buy tofu or something."

Kenshin smiled at his partner, non-committal. "As sessha has said, sessha has no idea." He checked his watch. "I better get going de gozaru. Ja."

"Yo man!"

Kenshin turned back to his partner, then blinked when Sanosuke lobbed two things towards him. He caught it in surprise. "Oro?"

Sanosuke shook his head. "Man, you're so out of it sometimes. You almost forgot your phone and badge, man."

"Oro...Arigatou, Sano."

Kenshin's police badge gleamed in the harsh light of the police station as he tucked it into his jacket. With one last wave to Sanosuke, who was too busy to wave back, he turned to go, an unnaturally grim expression on his gentle features.

It's been ten years since Shishou wanted to meet me in Harry's. Why now ? What's going on de gozaru ka?

+++++

"Took you long enough," a tall man commented caustically as Kenshin slid into the seat next to him. He nodded towards the bartender, who immediately walked towards them. "You still remember Master?"

Kenshin inclined his head politely to the man. "It's been a long time de gozaru, Master. Sessha will take the usual."

"Green tea it is then." The solemn man slid a steaming cup towards the red haired man and smiled. "Hai dozo."

"Arigatou de gozaru."

Kenshin waited until the man moved away to serve other customers before turning to his master, a questioning look in his violet eyes. Steam from the tea rose up, but the younger man didn't notice. "Why did you ask sessha to meet you here, Shishou? You know sessha doesn't go here that much anymore de gozaru, and neither does you."

Hiko Seijurou didn't answer; he merely tossed back his glass of scotch and then stared down at it contemplatively.

"Shishou?"

"There's been an offer for you."

Kenshin stiffened. No, it can't be..."From whom?"

Hiko snorted; turned to face his one-time student and sarcastically arched an eyebrow. "Let's not play games around here, baka deshi. You and I both know where and who it came from. Names might change but faces do not; how many times have I told you that? Of course its from them."

So I was right...They couldn't leave me alone after all. Kenshin looked away from his teacher's assessing eyes; stared down at his cup instead. His violet eyes hardened. "I've stopped on that business ten years ago. Tell them I refuse. I don't want to do anything with them."

"It's a little late to say that sentiment, don't you think?" Hiko crossed his arms. "You're already involved in this pile of shit up to your puny 'lil neck whether you like it or not, baka deshi. As much as you'd like to fantasize that you've severed your ties from them ten years ago, I don't think like that. And I won't let you deceive yourself any longer."

"Shishou..."

Hiko frowned. "And to think I raised you up better than that. I don't think you're that much of an idiot to think that they'll let you go that easily, considering you know too much. But then again, since you refused..." The muscle-bodied man shrugged. "...can't do anything 'bout that. But wouldn't you want to know who's involved? And what they're offering you, before you give your answer?"

Kenshin nodded; he was a little curious himself as to what kind of offer they'd make that even his master would be interested. "Sessha will, but I don't think I'll change my mind."

"That's what I said earlier, and look what happened to me," Hiko grumbled before continuing. "Think back ten years ago, baka deshi--"

"Sessha always thinks back, Shishou." Kenshin interrupted quietly, unable to help himself. "Too much de gozaru."

Hiko scowled. "And therein lies your problem. But! That's not the issue here now, so let me continue. Think back ten years ago, baka deshi. Ever wonder why when the twins were murdered, the top brass weren't too worried? In fact, they even gave the impression that they could care less. Remember that?"

"Hai de gozaru." Kenshin took a bracing drink from his tea. Somehow, the idea to hear his master out didn't seem like a bright idea after all. "After treating them like priceless jewels for so long, something like that happening doesn't make sense de gozaru."

"That's because they found another replacement. Someone powerful enough to do the job of what used to take two people." The older man drummed his fingers on the gleaming top pf the bar. "Someone young enough, and with enough mysteries hidden that made the researchers and the top brass happy. Someone they discovered just for themselves. Someone who came with another. Your replacement."

Kenshin's head reeled. Someone powerful enough to do the job of what used to take two people...who can be so powerful to be able to do that? He swallowed. "That would mean...the group continued on de gozaru ka? The research was continued?"

"Funnily enough, no." Hiko answered quietly. "The research on genome soldiers was dropped the day the twins died. It was dropped completely the day you resigned; it seems it had been the request of the replacement before they'd agree to join. And since they were a failure in that research..." Hiko shrugged and poured himself another glass of scotch. "...it didn't hurt them none. But yes, the group continued. Under a different name."

Kenshin blinked, confused. "If they still have a team, what do they need me for then?"

"One of their group members just died in a reconnaissance mission, and they can't spare another. The leader is too busy weeding out traitors from the program, and the second-in-command has enough problems of his own. And, more importantly, Proverbs asked for you."

"Proverbs?" Kenshin stared at his teacher, surprised. "Shishou, why do you know so much as to even know the replacement's name?"

Hiko snorted. "This is me you're talking about. I have my sources. And by the way, baka deshi, Proverbs isn't the name of the replacement; far from it. The very reason why Proverbs asked for you is not clear; the only thing I got is that somehow, someone found out about the group, and most importantly, about the replacement. The replacement is in danger--iya, not just the replacement. All of us is in danger."

"Shishou...what--?"

Hiko clenched his fists. "Some fool actually continued the genome project that they started, and had success where they couldn't. And if they get the replacement...or even the DNA... we're all dead. The replacement's that powerful. As of this moment, the only thing the enemy's sure about is about her power; not the magnitude of it, and certainly not what it can do. But they have enough knowledge and power as to make the group nervous."

No...is it the same...? Kenshin leaned forward, eyes urgent. "Shishou, is it the same group from before de gozaru ka? Is it? Is it?"

"I don't have enough clearance to answer that; and even if I did know, why should I tell you?" Hiko answered, then continued over his pupil's automatic request. "No, baka deshi, I can't tell you even if I know. If you don't accept the offer, you're not cleared to know any details about it. In fact, you're not supposed to know this much if you'll just refuse."

Kenshin looked down; his teacher has a point. Why am I even considering this? I should be refusing...I shouldn't even think of becoming what I used to be years before. I've put my past behind me. I've moved on from that.

»Have you really moved on, Himura? Have you?«

Sessha has de gozaru. Kenshin swallowed; somehow it didn't surprise him that he was having doubts about himself even until the harsh light of the day. For some unknown reason, this always happens when he talks to his master, which is really not that often. Sessha has moved on.

»So why do you have nightmares when you sleep? And why do you see their bodies every time you get assigned to murder? Why do you see her in every woman that you meet? Why do you still think about what had happened before if you've really moved on?«

Kenshin inhaled sharply. Damn you... His eyes suddenly widened as he realized one thing. Why is he damning himself?

"Baka deshi, don't you go a-day dreaming from me again," Hiko's gruff voice cut in. "You're too old to do that, and have enough common sense not to do that in broad daylight. Besides, I didn't raise you to be that way, ahou. So what now? Are you still going to give me the same answer and continue running away from the past that made you or stand up and face it like the man you are?"

Are still going to give me the same answer and continue running away from the past that made you or stand up and face it like the man you are?

Hiko's voice echoed throughout his mind and Kenshin bowed his head; unable to answer. Because his master was right. He had been running; been running from his past for the past ten years, hiding behind his police badge, hiding behind the fake innocence of his smile. He'd tried so hard to forget the past without resolving it that he had blinded himself; convinced himself that the reality he faces each day was the truth.

But trust his master to see right through it and cut to the chase.

Maybe Shishou's right. Maybe its time to stand up like a man and face my past.

Slowly, the red-haired man straightened; slowly, Kenshin turned to face Hiko, violet eyes determined. Hiko merely stared back to him. "I'll do it." Kenshin said simply, quietly. Resolve shone from his countenance, his unwavering will like a beacon for every one to see. "I'll accept the offer."

Hiko stared at him for a while longer, then nodded, satisfied with what he saw. "As long as you know what you're doing." Reaching to his pocket, the older man drew out a package, and laid it into the gleaming surface of the bar. "Here. You can't go anywhere and you can't help anyone if you don't have this. You know my number; call me if there's any problem."

And with that said, Hiko drained his glass, stood up to leave.

"Oro?" Kenshin reached out and opened the package, making a slick black phone, two swipe cards, and important-looking papers skitter out of it. But what caught his gaze was an identification card. An identification card with his name and his photo in it, as well as his stats. The name 'Genesis' was written underneath his picture. "Shishou, you...?"

Hiko Seijurou stopped from walking away, and smirked. "It's just that I know you too well, baka deshi." Without turning around, he lobbed another package to Kenshin, who caught it, surprised. "Give that to that chicken-head friend of yours; we have a need of his services."

"Sano?" Kenshin's eyes widened. "Demo Shishou, he wasn't involved with--"

"He was," Hiko cut him off abruptly. "Although not directly. And now we're making it direct. Besides, you trust him. Both of you report to me tomorrow, in 700 H. And baka deshi, don't be late."

And with that, the tall man opened the door and left the restaurant/bar, leaving Kenshin alone.

"So I'll be back to where I first began," Kenshin murmured, looking down at the package in his hands. "Will it end the same or have I learned from the past well enough to see it through differently?"

Will it begin again?

+++++

"So did he accept?"
"Yes."
"Good job, Solomon."
"Not really. With him having been my student for so long, I know him inside out. He didn't stand a chance. Besides, I can't stand his attitude any much longer. From my point of view, what he really needs is a firm kick in the ass."

The other man chuckled, lit up a cigar. Then: "Are you fine with this, Solomon?"

A snort. "You ask me now, when I'm already part of this? I wouldn't do this to him if I didn't know for sure he'd survive. Dense and stubborn he can be, but he's a fighter inside out. He'll survive."

And survive he will.

+++++

"Geez, what the hell is this?" Sanosuke looked down at his own identification card in shock. The name 'Acts' was written underneath his picture. Like Kenshin, he received papers identifying his position in what seemed to be an important part of the military, his position, two swipe cards, and the last, a slick black phone. All of this was given right after Kenshin has returned back to their station and dragged a protesting Sanosuke back to their apartment. Confused, he looked up to his pacing partner and demanded, "What the hell just happened? Mind telling me what's my part in this and why my brilliant little self is suddenly a Senior Intelligence Officer?! And in the military for chrissakes?!"

Kenshin sighed, raking a hand through already tousled hair. "I'm sorry, Sano. Sessha didn't want to drag you into this."

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry." Sanosuke muttered, tossing the paraphernalia to the coffee table then leaning back on the couch to stare at the ceiling. "I should have seen this coming, considering my past after all as one of the underground spies who, for some previously unknown reason, got off scot free. Shit."

Kenshin stopped pacing and looked at him curiously. He never knew that like him, Sanosuke had a past. His partner, for all that he is loud-mouthed and brash, is uncommonly close-mouthed when it comes to his past. He winced. Maybe in that part, he understood Sanosuke too well. "Underground spy, Sano? You?"

"Yep." Sanosuke rolled his head to look at him. "Ever heard of the Seikhoutai, buddy? I was part of its intelligence network. I was one of their hackers."

His violet-eyes widened. Seikhoutai was the name of one of the military's 'shadow' sections, the one used to be the military's eyes and ears underground. It was indirectly connected to Kenshin's own group in the military when he was still part of it. The Seikhoutai was used to find out whether influential underground gangs had some kind of information about them, and, if necessary, use them to wipe out that source. In the end, Seikhoutai was cut off; left for the kill. They found out there was a traitor in that group; someone had been feeding information about the research to some faction. They never did find out who, because the downfall of Seikhoutai has heralded the downfall of the twins.

So what his Shishou said was true. Sanosuke was part of his past after all.

"How 'bout ya, Kenshin?" Sanosuke asked curiously. "How were you dragged into this?"

I was part of the group that formed your group, Kenshin thought inanely. Aloud, he asked, "Are you sure you want to know, Sano?"

"What do you mean?" Sanosuke's eyes narrowed. "Tell me."

Kenshin took a deep breath. "Ten years ago Sanosuke, I was part of a military group project." At the word 'military', Sanosuke's brown eyes chilled and hardened. Nevertheless, the red haired man forged on. "That military group project was called...Project Prophet. And during that time, I was called under the call sign ManSlayer. That is how I am dragged into this."

Silence.

"You're pulling my leg, right?" Sanosuke exclaimed in disbelief. "You can't be....you really can't be..."

Kenshin met Sanosuke's eyes unflinchingly.

"No...That can't be!" Sanosuke exploded off the couch, drove straight towards Kenshin, dragged him up by the scuff of his shirt and slammed him on the wall. "Why? Why?! I consider you my best friend, for chrissakes! And you're one of them! Hell, I even investigated your group! You're part of them...part of those who slaughtered the ones I considered family...and you're my best friend! Gods...Am I consorting with the enemy?!"

"No, Sano," Kenshin said quietly, putting a hand over the bunched fist that held his shirt. "Even before, sessha wasn't your enemy. The military never was. But...sessha admits...we're partly to blame for what happened to you ten years ago. Things were different then. Things are different now. Sessha isn't your enemy, Sano. Other than knowing sessha was the ManSlayer ten years ago, has sessha changed in any way now de gozaru ka?"

Slowly, Sanosuke let go of Kenshin's shirt, stepping back, his eyes confused. "No..." he answered quietly. "No. But it changes how I look at ya. It changes everything. Hell!" Suddenly, Sanosuke turned, raking his hand through his hair. "This complicates things!"

"Yes," Kenshin agreed. "Yes, it does."

For a few minutes, silence reigned through the room, punctuated with Sanosuke's footsteps as he paced. After a while, even that receded as Sanosuke turned to face him, brown eyes clear. "And it's even more complicated yours, right?" the tall man asked, picking up where they left off. "If it affected my life...it would certainly affect yours. Yet you're helping them. Why? Answer that!"

"Because contrary to all belief that sessha has no fear, I do have them," Kenshin replied, a twisted smile appearing briefly on his face. "And because of it, sessha has been running for ten years. But now, sessha thinks its time I face them, and finish the things sessha left unresolved ten years ago. That's why I'm helping them, Sano."

Sanosuke stared at him, then turned and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Awryt. I'll come with ya tomorrow. But only to hear things. If I don't like what I hear, I'll vamoose outta there."

"Of course, Sano." Kenshin silently heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment I thought there that he wouldn't come..."We'll be meeting Shishou tomorrow in 700H at Harry's. Sessha will bring you there tomorrow de gozaru."

"Harry's, huh?" was Sanosuke's only comment before turning to go. "I'm going out for some fresh air. I'll be back."

Kenshin nodded. "Aa. Sessha'll take care of dinner."

Maybe this is mundane, doing what we're doing...but this is the only normal things we can do now de gozaru. Starting tomorrow...life will change. Sessha's sure of it.

+++++

Lt. Col. Saitou Hajime stared at Lt. Shinomori Aoshi impassively, taking the lit cigarette from his mobile lips and puffing out smoke leisurely. "So you want those moronic doctors removed, is that it?"

"Aa. They don't know what they're doing." Aoshi paused. "I had to take care of things those idiotic doctors didn't want to be disturbed about."

Saitou's mouth quirked. "Yes, I found them hacking into the military's main frame."

"What?!" Aoshi said harshly in shock, dark blue eyes wide. "Hacking into the main frame?!"

Saitou nodded and shrugged. "I was getting impatient on gathering information about those idiots, so I lured them out. That was the last two leaks in our group. Don't worry, Takani and Genzai-sensei'll be going back to work this afternoon."

"You...you made my sister into a bait?!" Aoshi nearly shouted, maintaining enough composure to hold himself still on his chair. He leaned forward, a a dangerous glint in his cold blue eyes. "Damn you, Saitou! What if your plan went wrong?! Then she would have been in danger!"

"But the plan didn't fail, did it not?" Saitou pointed out with implacable logic, unperturbed by his colleague's glare. He reached out, grinded his cig on the metal ashtray in front of him then leaned back, crossing his arms. "And Revelation wasn't in any danger. Are you questioning my capabilities, Proverbs?"

Aoshi leaned back, inhaled heavily, and let it out in a sigh. "No. No, Lamentations. But you should have told me of your plan."

Saitou snorted at that. "What, and have you hovering around Revelations the whole day? No, you might give that game away, and then I'll have to start all over again. Moving on, the replacement and the additional'll be here tomorrow, around 730H. Solomon will be meeting them, then hoist them to us. We may have to greet them."

"Did he agree?" Aoshi asked seriously, all traces of earlier anger gone. "The ManSlayer agreed?"

"Yeah, as well as the hacker we'll be getting. Psalms can't handle all that load alone, and the fact that she's also trying to communicate with Revelations doesn't help. While we don't really need a large group, we need enough competent people that'll help us, and not hinder us." The tall, amber-eyed man gave Aoshi a cool look. "Are you sure its him that made contact with Revelations?"

"Aa. There can be no mistake. I recognized him immediately when she showed him to me just yesterday."

"And her predictions?"

Aoshi closed his eyes, trying to forget the vision his sister showed him, of a madman conquering and destroying the world with genome soldiers made with her DNA. Not only was it startling, it was downright hellish. People dying everywhere, persons with the same abilities as hers being hunted down for their abilities...It was like viewing Satan's Land on Earth. "The same. Still incomplete. What she can see where disjointed, yet enough was sufficient to see that someone is continuing the genome project that was halted ten years ago."

"And she can't see the culprit?"

"She says on normal circumstances she can, but.." Aoshi opened his eyes, stared directly to his superior. "She says someone's blocking the entrance. That's all she would say."

Saitou's brows furrowed. "Blocking the entrance? Would that mean someone's blocking her from seeing?"

"Most probably." Aoshi raised his eyebrows. "What now?"

"There's nothing we could do but wait." Saitou stood, signaling the end of their briefing. "Raise the security, Proverbs. Things are about to get interesting."

+++++

"Ororo...Where is sessha?" Kenshin mumbled dazedly to himself as he stared up to the impressive building looming up in front of him. The red-haired man looked down at the business card in his hand. "Nox Building...de gozaru ka? Surely Shishou didn't mean this building...?"

Shrugging, Kenshin started up towards the steps and slipped inside the cool exterior of the building, stopping momentarily before continuing, heading straight towards the front desk. As usual, Sanosuke had been late, and his Shishou has decided to wait for him and let him go first instead. Of course, his teacher had given him lousy directions -although he suspected that was deliberate, given the kind of personality Hiko Seijurou has. As a result, it had taken Kenshin exactly half an hour to get here, and he had the sneaking suspicion that he was late.

As soon as he slid the business card towards the receptionist, the woman's eyes widened and immediately stood up, gesturing discreetly for him to follow. Confused, but knowing enough to know that it was to be expected, he followed, until they into the banks of elevators, and watched when the last opened. Kenshin stared at the woman in confusion. "Oro?"

The woman went inside and he followed, watching as the door slid shut. But the elevator didn't move. Instead, the woman pressed a series of numbers on the number pad, and immediately afterwards, a small section of the wall next to the pad opened, revealing a hand scanner, card swipe, and retina eye scanner. Kenshin blinked in astonishment. "Oro!"

"Sir, as soon as you're cleared, the back will open, " the woman explained carefully. "When it does, go inside. It will directly take you to where you're going to." After a while, she spoke again. "Sumimasen, this is my floor. I hope you won't get lost. Mata ashita."

And with that, the doors slid open and she left, leaving him alone in the elevator. Kenshin stared at the complex machinery in front of him and sighed resignedly, reaching to his pocket for his card. He lifted his hand and pressed it against the hand scanner and stepped forward for the retina scan. The first two lights on the panel flashed green. Staring at his card for a moment, Kenshin took a bracing breath, lifted his hand and swiped it. The last light flashed green, and as expected, the back of the elevator slid open, revealing another elevator.

Kenshin stepped inside, not even looking back until the doors behind him slid shut.

He felt more than saw the elevator zooming downwards, and was only mildly surprised when it stopped and before the doors could open, had to go through the same process he went to before. When the elevator finally opened, he was in a different world, miles different from the bustling business scene Kenshin had seen on the ground level. People all around him was either dressed in military clothes or --Kenshin blinked and took a second glance- in a nurse's outfit, making him wonder if he'd taken the right path.

"Himura-san?"

Surprised, Kenshin stopped walking and turned around to see a male nurse behind him, holding what seems to be a clipboard. The nurse looked young; almost looked as if he didn't belong here, too innocent to be connected with the military. But regardless of looks, the nurse was here, which meant only one thing - he was tougher than he looked. "Aa?"

The nurse nodded, looking slightly pleased with himself at having found the man. "They've been waiting for you. Please go to Sector Five-dash-three; there's only one room there, so won't get lost. The elevator for that sector is straight down the hall. Please go on."

Nodding, Kenshin resumed his walking, reaching the elevator the nurse had indicated and slipped inside. Like before, he had to go through the hand and retina scan, along with the swipe card as well. It was only a short while when Kenshin reached what he presumed was Sector five-dash-three, and when he looked around, Kenshin saw that the nurse was right; there was only one room in there. Standing in front of the metal doors, he saw that it had a swipe lock and a punch pad. "Oro, what now?"

It was then that Kenshin remembered his other card.

Taking it out, the red-haired man perused it closely, sighing in relief when he saw it has a series of number printed on it. Committing it to memory, Kenshin swiped the card on the lock and punched in the series of numbers, then almost leaped back in surprise when an eye probe as well as an hand scanner came down. As soon as the he was finished, the door slid open, and Kenshin stepped inside.

Into another world.

"Orororo?!" Kenshin mumbled to himself as he walked forward, taking in the soft lights, the painting of the sea, the carpet, and the four poster bed. Not knowing what he was doing, Kenshin moved towards the bed, not even noticing that the door behind him had opened and a man had went in. Suddenly, when Kenshin was near the bed, his feet tripped over an upset of the carpet, pitching him forward straight towards the bed.

"Ororororooo!"

Kenshin landed on top of the person lying on the bed, and when he stared up towards the person's face, he was shocked to see eyes the color of dark sapphire peruse him sleepily for a moment, then flutter shut.

And before Kenshin could utter a sound, he was yanked off the bed and turned harshly around, feet dangling off the floor.

"What the hell did you do to my sister?!"

+++++

Author's Notes:

Gomen, I think it was too long. Also, thanks to the people who reviewed. It is greatly appreciated.

Solomon - A wise king in the Holy Bible. Hiko Seijurou's codename.
Genesis - A book in the Holy Bible. Himura Kenshin's codename.
Acts - A book in the Holy Bible. Sagara Sanosuke's codename.
Lamentations - A book in the Holy Bible. Saitou Hajime's codename.
Psalms - A book in the Hoy Bible.

In one's dreams, one can see the future. tsuzuku.