Disclaimer: I do not own PMK...blah blah the usual...
Bad mood warning. The author's PC's been on strike. Don't know if I've just upped the rating with this chapter, but let's get on with it.
Chapter 16: Hitokiri
Stupid cat! The black cat sat on the window sill cleaning itself. Suzu spluttered as his tormentor finally pulled his head out of the water and flung him face-down onto the wooden floor. He thought the man intended to drown him. Suzu's head was held underwater until he almost passed out.
"Boy, I always knew you liked it rough!" The man's voice was husky as he pinned Suzu down and viciously bit him on the neck. He'll rape me; then kill me, Suzu realized. He whimpered as he recalled the humiliation he had suffered while at the brothel. To add insult to injury, the black cat strolled past in front of him.
"Let's see, after I'm though with you, we'll cut off your legs and hands..." Suzu shuddered as he heard the words spoken. Whoever it is who finds what's left of him better have both a strong heart and stomach.
"Fuyukawa-san, you better go before you catch a cold." Suzu was surprised to hear that cold voice. Himura-san!
He tried to turn and catch a glimpse of Battousai standing at the door before Fuyukawa slammed his face roughly into the wooden floor. Battousai's clothes were streaked with copious amounts of blood, proof he had an encounter with the Miburou. Fuyukawa grinned lecherously and spoke. "Himura-san! I thought you've got enough of him...was he that good?"
Battousai did not even bat an eyelid. "Fuyukawa-san, it's amazing how cold a man can get when his insides are falling out." The young hitokiri reached for his sword.
"Fine, I'm leaving! Man, we thought you've had your fill of this boy," Fuyukawa got off the still shaking Suzu and kicked him in the ribs. "And that traitorous bitch..." That did it. Battousai's sword flashed once, slicing the man in half. Blood splattered over the bath house floor, and over Suzu.
"Kenshin? "Umeko popped in. She took in the blood-covered boys, the bloodied floor and the corpse. "I want both of you to clean up this mess and take a bath before coming in." What? No hysterics? No screams or fainting? Suzu looked on in amazement as Kenshin politely apologized for the mess and picked up the floor rag.
"Suzu-kun, can you get up?" Suzu took the hand Himura held out to him and got up on still-trembling legs.
Even if you become stronger, stay the same inside, Tetsu-kun. He had visited Okita-san in the hospital. He found his mentor folding paper cranes for the children. When he was leaving, Okita-san had said those words to him.
Poor Okita-san was getting worse. Tetsu overheard the nurses whispering that he may not make it to spring. Life for Okita now revolved about the children in his ward, endless medical check-ups and visits by his friends. Is that good or bad? No more will the talented swordsman pick up his sword.
Hijitaka ordered all would-be visitors not to mention things that upset Okita. Okita need not know a rogue faction of the Shinsengumi has broken away. And please don't tell him Saizou starved himself to death!
Stay the same inside. Saya had told him that. It was Okita who gave those words voice...
Tetsu was about to doze off when he was awoken by loud curses. Rushing to the door of the dormitory with the other taishi, he was surprised to discover the speaker was not Hijitaka but a soaking wet Saitou Hajime. The normally cool Third captain released a string of colorful expletives directed mostly at a certain Hitokiri Battousai. The remainder was for a certain thick-head Tenth captain who failed to observe the maximum weight capacity of a bridge.
"But you're so strong and yet..." Suzu blinked in amazement as Kenshin related his most recent escapade. Having disposed of the late Fuyukawa, they had cleaned the blood from the floorboards and were now soaking in the tub.
"There will always be stronger men. Captain Saitou Hajime of the Third Patrol. I was on my way here when he challenged me on that bridge..." Kenshin replayed the scene of confrontation in his mind.
It was dangerously close. Their duel was rudely interrupted when the Tenth Patrol came running onto the flimsy bridge with disastrous results. Battousai simply cut down a couple of men and leapt to safety over their corpses. Saitou and the surviving Miburou wound up taking an impromptu swim as the bridge collapsed from their sheer weight.
"He's a shinigami. Saitou Hajime's one of the best they've got...I'd advise anyone who's thinking of challenging him to forget it, unless they're better than me." When Kenshin came fresh from the outskirts, Katsura had pointed out certain members of the Shinsengumi to him. Saitou Hajime's reputation as a swordsman is matched only by Okita Souji.
"Er, Himura-san, why were you on your way here?" Suzu asked as they toweled themselves.
"I'm sick of hearing lewd jokes about a hitokiri and two stray cats on a mountain. I offered to open up some vacancies. Katsura-san's not taking any chances. We're a bit short after Ikeda-ya." Himura picked up his sword and tucked it into his belt. Suzu flushed a bright crimson. He had serviced a few of Himura's colleagues during his time at the brothel. Of course, none of them cared who he was...
"Katsura-san took care of the bastard who sold you off. He spilled that out over a sake-drinking session yesterday. I hope he finds good company by the river...without his head."
Kenshin looked at Suzu as they entered the main building. The boy has been through a lot. Aside from the brothel, he had survived one of Ryouma's escapes. Even Katsura-san found Ryouma a handful at times. Himura had earlier thought it was a council decision that sent Suzu to him, not one of Ryouma's many whims.
Like me, he has been through hell. Of course, my kind of hell involves endless rivers of blood. Battousai is a killer. Can he befriend Suzu? Kenshin never had a close friend his age before. Being a hitokiri's a lonely existence... It wouldn't be fair to drag Suzu in. Katsura's already regretting letting Kenshin become a hitokiri.
Despite still being a bit shaky from his earlier ordeal, Suzu smiled. At least Battousai's proving to be a friend. A friend. Tetsu. Suzu suddenly thought of his first friend in Kyoto. Too bad the next time they meet... He saw Saya sitting by the open window through the open door of her room. She was looking out at the night sky.
Author's notes:
Kenshin's back and he just ruffled Saitou. Kinda tricky managing Battousai & Kenshin. I kind of figured that the Rurounin was part of him even then. Remember poor Kenshin being bullied by Kaoru into doing housework?
BTW, shinigami means God of Death. I figure Kenshin will show Saitou some respect as a fellow swordsman.