Ciao!!!

Well, another week, another update… I couldn't finish SL in time, I'm so sorry. Most of this chapter was already written, thus I can at least post for RtK… it's just that I have to work a lot for school at the moment to maintain my grades- I will be forced to drop my extra classes and extra credit projects if I drop under 13 out of 15 possible points in any subject, and I'm not particularly good at Math… well, I'm on a 13.5 average there, but it's my weakest subject. Another condition for my graduation next Summer is that I keep up with all my extracurricular activities, and since it's nearing Christmas the time for concerts and presentations has come… I am lucky to have five free minutes a day at the moment, and horribly tired- but I'm not telling anyone, otherwise I'll have to stay at school for another year, and I'd do anything to get away from that… hell, even if it means no sleep for the next few months. I'm a bit angry with myself- I've allowed myself to become dictated by other people's expectations, but there's no turning back now. I hope you'll forgive me if my stories come along a little slower at the moment, I truly try my best! Now, I just wish you to have fun with this… it's a little disturbing at the end… at least for me, but nothing too bad, I hope! So enjoy reading!

"…." Denotes talking

….. denotes thinking

*~* means a change of scenery (either temporal or local, I think which one of those will be clear) has taken place

Disclaimer: I do in no way own any rights, moral or others, to Rurouni Kenshin, its characters or plot. Characters other than the characters from Rurouni Kenshin bearing any resemblance to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. I do not intend to make any profits out of this story, it's written for entertainment purposes only and any attempt by persons natural or legal to make money from it in any way is not in accordance with this author's express wishes.

Chapter 8

You don't know your name

Battousai was concentrating hard to stay awake. He had not slept until well after midnight, and had awakened two hours before dawn, making the night's rest exceptionally short in addition to the heavy-lidded weariness his nightmares induced. He was still more alert than the average soldier, and perhaps could give some of the Palace Guard a run for their money when it came to watchfulness, but for himself he knew he wasn't at his best that day- he even allowed himself to lean against the doorframe outside Kamiya's study.

Certain in the knowledge that aside from a fully trained stealth ninja nobody would manage to come within a thirty-foot radius of him he closed his eyes, the grating feeling of sand on his eyelids eliciting a slight twitch of discomfort around his mouth. With the loss of sight came an instant sharpening of his other senses, the enticing aroma of the roasted deer he had carried up from the kitchen tantalizing, the dusty, old smell the books behind his back were emitting counterbalanced by Kamiya's naturally sweet and spicy scent clinging to her rooms as though they were a part of her.

Sounds- the slicing of a knife, the slight rasping as it caught on a bone within the meat, slow, steady chewing- and the rustling of parchment. Ah, the King had decided she would work even while eating! Battousai chuckled low in amusement. If her father had ever caught her at that she would have been in for a severe scolding- King Koshijirou had always emphasized the importance of proper behavior, including the strict separation of work and anything else…

It was so unobtrusive and low-key he almost didn't notice it, the rustle of the parchment envelope nearly drowning the clicking sound that had him spring into action the very second he caught it. With all his speed and strength he desperately threw himself at Kamiya's form, using everything he had and more. His body blurred into a dark green line as he raced against the forces of gravity and time- and he didn't know if he would make it.

A click sounded as the cleverly constructed trap was sprung. The King's grabbing of the envelope tightened the string, which was attached to a small, hollow iron cube, pulling open the latch on the side of the cube that was tilted downwards at the exactly right angle to release the glowing ember into the two amphorae to the right and left of the King's desk he usually kept only as decoration. This time, however, whoever had constructed the trap had ensured that they were filled with a mixture of petroleum and tar- Greek Fire, the most destructive and explosive mixture known in Dunkelland¹. Kamiya stared in wide-eyed terror, his blue eyes colored red by the glow of the falling ember, transfixed by the closeness of pain and death. King or not, confronted with the definition of mortal life Kamiya found himself unable to move, unable to do anything but watch the end draw nearer, and unable to drown the last desperate thought. I wish I at least knew who Battousai is now that he's killed me.

Something- or someone- interrupted his stupor, vise-like pincers closing around his waist as the world lost the sharp, clear focus it had held during the endless moments of facing death, and the terror that finally registered in the King's mind loosened the scream held back in his throat. Forgetting dignity, Kamiya shrieked in terror as he was hurled over his desk, still being grasped by whatever had decided to pull him out of the immediate range of the advancing end. The dim awareness that another body was pressed closely against his, twisting him around until that other body faced the place where the King had seen death incarnated, preceded the ear-rupturing blast, the scorching heat filtering through the veil on his thoughts as the last sensation before Kamiya knew only blackness.

*~*

"… slowly. But you can't always get what you want, Hoji, so I want you to kill him off quickly- but leave Kamiya alive. The foolish boy might just be of service… our dear… sponsor is not yet in a position to openly make the grab for power. Once Battousai is out of the way, though…"

Many frantic ki signatures… running feet, shouts to bring more water… scorching heat… but the voice belonged to Gohei's assistant. As much as his head hurt, Battousai simply knew that, and he also knew that he would be dead if he hesitated another fraction of a second. Throwing caution, his cover and any restraints into the winds he jumped to his feet, a growl ripping from his raw, painfully throbbing throat. Amber broke lose from where he had restrained it for the most time these past days and weeks, its blaze hot enough to rival the rising currents of smoky air wafting out from Kamiya's office. The terrifying image of the demon on the lose, enhanced by the loss of his burned green cloak and the flying strands of flying, blood-red hair stopped the advisor's man in his tracks, leaving only Shishio himself as his opponent. With a casual air the tall, predatory man swept his gaze up and down the slightly toasted figure clad in a classic black Chinese martial arts uniform like the donzel he had impersonated should be.

"Ah, so this is what the famed Battousai looks like up close… I have to admit, even Hoji here is more to look at." Gohei's assistant possessed a cold, snaky voice when he didn't hide behind a political façade of humble politeness.

"You… you're that fool Gohei's assistant," Battousai snarled, ignoring the pain spreading through his body from his back where the blast he had rescued Kamiya from had burned his clothes and skin away, "and you just tried to kill your King!"

Shishio merely raised an eyebrow at the red-haired man's accusation, sneering evilly before launching himself at him, sword drawn, closing the distance between them with three steps while yelling at the top of his lungs. Battousai, out of reflex, parried the strike, relying on his training to save him from Shishio's murderous intent. Luckily he had been allowed to carry his weapon while on duty to guard the King's chambers- his katana flashed out of its sheath with practiced ease to intercept the second blow aimed at his head.

"He killed the King!" Shishio wailed, and only now Battousai realized he had been trying to get reinforcements to the site of their battle, to take him down- and to frame him. The mere thought of this almost froze him in place, and it was only thanks to his honed reflexes that his body overrode his mind and threw itself aside to save him from worse injury then the shallow slash across his sword arm.

"Battousai is here! He killed Kamiya!" Dodge, parry, strike, attack, parry, lunge… Shishio lost himself in the rhythm, the knowledge that he had to be the only living man to have lasted that long against the red demon egging him on constantly, fine-tuning his reactions, lending power to his attacks. Or perhaps it wasn't the power in his attacks that allowed him to last… he watched his opponent closely, saw how he winced after every jarring blow he caught with that blasted blade of his, saw how he avoided moving as much as possible, saw how he didn't use the lightning fast strikes and air attacks he was rumored to use, and made the connection to the charred remains of a cloak hanging from Battousai's shoulders- the young assassin was injured, and fairly severe if the limitations to his fighting style was any indication.

"Get him! It's Battousai! He's injured, and he tried to kill King Kamiya!" A snarl came over his lips as Shishio shouted his lies once again, momentarily pushing the stiffness and pain of the burns on his back- and his legs, as he had recently got to know when he almost stumbled after and attempted Ryu Tsui Sen- away. Battousai fought with all he had, but he knew that for once it would not be enough. The trap had been expertly set and sprung, and he, in his foolishness, had been caught.

His senses were tingling, the first sign that even more was wrong than he dared to believe. Risking to take his eyes away from his opponent for a second he became aware of the fact that he was surrounded, surrounded by a circle of grim-faced soldiers- and Palace Guard, he noticed with a sinking feeling in his stomach. His head hammered, the mere fact that he had been unconscious already suggesting he had a concussion on top of his other injuries.

His last hopes for an attempt at escape were vaporized when he laid eyes on the silent, tall figure of the man he had pretended to train under. Saito, accompanied by Shinomori Aoshi and the imposing figures of the last two missing Palace Guard, Shikijou and Hannya. Trying to formulate a plan of how to get out of the hopeless situation distracted Battousai for a split second- a split second his opponent had been waiting for.

Had this been a normal fight, being shoved against the wall and held immobile for a few seconds would not have had any consequences for Battousai, however, this was not a normal fight. Three seconds were enough for the Palace Guard with the crossbow to get his bearings on the red-haired fighter and fire without endangering Shishio. The dart was released, and it was flying straight and true. Eyes widening, Battousai desperately wrenched himself from the tight grip Gohei's advisor had on him, ignoring the horrible tearing in his back and diving to the side.

He would have made it, had Shishio not grabbed onto the tattered and charred remains of his cloak, unbalancing him and slowing him down. The crossbow dart hit its mark with a wet, crunching sound, and Battousai crumpled to the floor, as his right leg didn't respond to his demands. The shock was enough to make darkness engulf him for a few seconds, and when he opened his eyes again the amber had fled and shocked, pale cobalt blue had replaced it in the narrowed slits. Shishio had vanished from his sights, apparently thinking that the fight was over. Battousai lifted himself up on his forearms, having fallen flat on his face when consciousness had fled from him.

The circle of soldiers had closed in on him, taking away his space to maneuver, trapping him in a cage of sharpened steel. Battousai felt like a wild animal caught and incarcerated, and he snarled and hissed accordingly as he fought to clamber to his knees. His right leg was numb, whether with shock or because a nerve had been severed he didn't know, but it effectively rendered him helpless- comparatively. He still managed to ward off any attempts to catch him, dodging slashes right and left, his blade hissing like a snake as it cut through the air.

"No! Akai! Leave him alone, he didn't kill King Kamiya!" Sanosuke had just arrived at the scene, it seemed. Battousai tried again to struggle to his feet, giving up only when sharp agony lanced through his leg and back, too intense to be ignored. He sucked in his breath, becoming for the first time aware of the slickness of the floor- slickness caused by his own blood. Light-headed, he fought to focus on every single of the million katana blades dancing in front of his eyes.

"Sano, no," he murmured, his right hand losing the feeling in it, his katana's hilt consequently slipping from his grasp. The young, involuntary recruit couldn't hear him, though. Chocolate eyes fixating on Battousai the Sekihoutai took in the whole picture with a mixture of horror and admiration. His view was blocked by a tall figure moving through the circle of soldiers, a tall figure with reddish brown eyes and long, rather thin brown-black hair.

"No! Don't! Akai's innocent!" Sano's protests were ignored, his struggle to reach his friend, the donzel, interrupted by steel-cord muscles and yellow eyes. "Saito, let me go! He's innocent!!!"

The wolfish trainer of the recruit simply pressed his thin lips tighter together and restricted Sano's movements to the point that the young soldier-in-training couldn't even think of trying to get to the wounded man in front of them.

Battousai was kneeling on the floor, his right leg rendered useless by the dart, shot from a crossbow and lodged deeply in the thick muscle of his thigh six inches above the knee, the blood from his wounds flowing freely as he tried to hide the pain showing nonetheless in his pale cobalt eyes. His right hand was curled feebly around the hilt of his sword, the strength that had fueled his duel so far ebbing away with the tide of red liquid forming a puddle at his feet. Defiantly, he stared into the yellow-golden eyes of his enemy, the intelligence officer who had hunted him for years, daring him to kill him, almost welcoming death as he preferred it over the fate that was expecting him.

"Hello Battousai… so we meet again." Shishio was staring the helpless assassin down, his intimidation tactics clearly not working on the proud redhead. Furthermore, the fact that he had drawn back from the fight and had let his subordinates do the work for him enraged the assassin to the point that he wasn't even able to snarl at him anymore. A hateful glare was all Battousai could muster, but its strength rivaled that of a strong sword attack and served as a reminder to Shishio that he wasn't and wouldn't be broken. A swift kick into his wounded side sent him sprawling on the floor, biting back a moan of pain as his eyes clouded over with the shadows of unconsciousness. Impassively, the yellow eyes outside the circle watched on, undisturbed by the strain of holding back a rather strong young man.

Sano struggled against the two soldiers holding him back, fighting and cursing all the time as Shishio snarled while beating up his wounded friend. Not a sound escaped Battousai's- no, Akai's- lips, even though his form grew limp the longer the brutal torture continued. Gohei's advisor, even though he was unknown to Sano, emitted an aura of such malice that it sent shivers down the brown-haired man's spine. He just couldn't restrain himself any longer, there had to be something or someone who could do something!

"Don't! Saito, he's not the one you want. Shishio wants to take over Dunkelland for himself, he wants to kill Kamiya and take the throne. Battousai just wanted to help!" He didn't know where he took the conviction to shout this from, but as soon as he had said the words they became the truth. Akai wouldn't kill the King, he could have done so much easier and with less effort, he would just have murdered him when he was guarding his chambers, and using his sword, not some… fire trap, that had people scrambling to extinguish the flames even now!

"Quiet! Battousai has been caught in our trap… and now he will pay the price. Carry him off to the dungeons!" Shishio had obviously played enough with his downed enemy, the limp, semi-conscious figure lying on the floor not putting up much of a fight anymore. Battousai looked as though he had escaped the meat grinder from hell, and he didn't move. Were it not for the heavy gasps of his breath Sano would have presumed him dead.

"If Battousai wanted to kill Kamiya, then why is he still alive?" The ex-bandit shouted in desperation. Battered and bruised though he might be, the assassin's muscles stiffened at Sano's exclamation. Losing the fight against his own body he tried to raise the head lolling limply on shoulders that were firmly in the grip of four soldiers, as were his legs. Fire lacing every syllable he forced himself to speak, ignoring the screams his tortured body uttered.

"Don't… Sano!" he cried, but it was too late. Sano had broken free and was racing away from Saito, towards Shishio. Struggling to free himself, Battousai snarled at Shishio, his eyes glazing over in gold, his strength returning for one last stand. Eight soldiers had no chance of restraining him- he was too agile, too strong, too fast. They had to drop his arching and winding body, and he fell to the floor with a dull thud. Before he could get to his feet, however, two soldiers grabbed him from behind. The last thing he saw was Shishio's left fist hitting his abdomen, the whooshing of his breath leaving his lungs starved for oxygen the last thing he heard before the world went dark with the hilt of Shishio's sword hitting his temple.

*~*

Hard though as it was, Sano restrained his anger. When the soldiers, under the supervision of Palace Guard Hannya, had carried the small, broken body of Dunkelland's greatest enemy off to what could only be captivity and, ultimately, death, he had wanted to explode at the injustice of it all. He had known Battousai for only a day, but he had already felt he could trust that man with all he was and could be- it was almost as though a bond existed between the two of them, a bond that enabled them to fight together as a team, greater in unity than each part. He had controlled his temper, had kept his boiling anger in check when Saito had finally released him, and he had not gone off tearing after Battousai. Instead, he had accepted the punishment of double shifts for speaking out against his superiors and siding with a wanted criminal, and now stood guard in front of the King's bedroom, listening to the anxious babbling of several advisors who were waiting for the medicine woman- he didn't who that was or where she came from, but she apparently came from outside the castle since it took her so long to arrive- to come and the King to wake up.

Sano frowned. All that fuss over that wimp of a King who in all likelihood had only had the wind knocked out of him, and perhaps a mild concussion. His stomach churned at the thought of Battousai lying alone and uncared for on the chilly stone floor of the castle's dungeons, helpless and- as disconcerting as it was- perhaps already half dead.

"Would you please show me to Kamiya?" A woman's voice intruded on his thoughts, waking him from his musings. She sounded slightly miffed that he hadn't realized her presence sooner, and the blindfold she was wearing showed him why. She needed a guide, and probably was used to the King's guards jumping to her aid as soon as she showed up. She had to be the medicine woman.

"You're the medicine woman?" She nodded. "Alright. You are expected." He grabbed her elbow, which was, surprisingly, not as bony as he had anticipated it to be, instead, she seemed to be quite sleekly muscled, unlike any old woman he had ever met.

"Could you tell me about Kamiya's condition and how the King ended up in such an unfortunate incident?" Her voice wasn't that old, either. If it weren't for the strange garments and her veil he would almost place this medicine woman at about his own age, perhaps a few years his senior but certainly not the seventy-odd years of age she was rumored to be. She stopped walking, her arm in Sano's grip. Obviously, she wanted some information first before she was ready to face the King.

"Well, there was an attempt on Kamiya's life using some kind of trap that spat Greek Fire at the King, luckily there was someone who pulled him out of the way in time. Now, he was only shocked and winded, and he hit the ground pretty hard, so bruises and a mild concussion. The other guy shielded him against the fire, he's much worse off." He tried, really tried, to keep his anger from lacing through his voice; however, his success was partial at best.

"Another person involved? Shouldn't I have a look at that person then as well?" the medicine woman asked, professional concern and puzzlement foremost in her voice. Sano couldn't keep his look from darkening, and was once again glad that the woman was blindfolded.

"The other person turned out to be Battousai. He was accused of attempting to murder King Kamiya… if you ask me, he could've killed the King a thousand times over by the time that thing exploded, and he even tried to save him…"

"You mean to say that Battousai, the murderer of King Koshijirou, is an innocent?" This time, the medicine woman's voice sounded sharp and piercing, and had her eyes not been hidden Sano was sure they would have skewered him with the sharpness of their gaze. As it was, her remark stung, reminding him of what his friend Akai had done in the past, and forcing him to face the facts that led everyone but him to believe Battousai was, in fact, guilty as charged.

"He didn't try to kill Kamiya this time round, that's what I mean," Sano spat, forcing the medicine woman to move forward, "and sometimes it's better to kill someone outright than to starve them to death with laws!"

The medicine woman puzzled over his words, her dainty, certain steps faltering a bit before she stopped just inside the King's chambers, jarring Sano into a stop himself.

"I can't fathom the meaning behind your last statement, soldier, but I believe you're right in thinking that Battousai's involvement in today's attempt on Kamiya's life was an accident. He would not be stupid enough to rescue the subject he wants to murder from his own trap. Besides, he seems to prefer using his sword for… removing certain people. And now that I have hopefully given you some peace of mind, would you please bring me to King Kamiya?"

"Certainly," Sano muttered, mulling her words over.

"That will not be necessary, medicine woman. I am quite well, I only hit my head on the floor harder than I had anticipated. But I don't suffer from concussion, so you don't have to concern yourself with my welfare. Now, soldier, tell me where I can find the donzel Adauchi Akai. He has saved my life today, and I am to show gratitude." The King's voice sounded so displeased at the mere thought of showing his gratitude that Sano shuddered imagining he was the one at the receiving end of that… gratefulness.

"Adauchi Akai? I'm afraid you haven't been informed on the… situation yet, my King." A tall man with an angular face and really short, thinning and receding hair that had been at the site as well, as Sano clearly remembered, stepped up to Kamiya. "You see, my King, that donzel was actually, and I am deeply sorry that we have failed to see this earlier, I offer you my sincere regrets, but…"

"Get to the point, Hoji," the King sighed in exasperation. As brilliant a politician and strategist as Sadojima Hoji was, he also was infamous for his ling-winded speeches and even more extensive apologies.

"Akai is Battousai, King Kamiya," Sano spoke up, ignoring the glares sent at him and the two soldiers that had been guarding the entrance to the King's bedchamber starting towards him, "and he has not tried to murder you."

With that, he saluted sharply, released the medicine woman from his grip and turned sharply on his heel to resume his post. He wasn't foolish enough to think he would get away with his behavior, but he had to speak up for his friend Akai at least once.

The King couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The murderer had been a guard, a soldier at Dunkelland Castle, someone the King had trusted with personal information? The demon had wormed its way into the heart of the castle- And your heart as well! - and nobody had even suspected it? The King was reminded of the suspicions he had harbored, how easily he had dismissed them when all the signs had been there.

"Battousai?" Kamiya finally spat, "I should have known!" He slammed a fist against the doorframe, wincing slightly at the pain.

"I can't believe you were this blind! Haven't you realized that donzel was different?" Hoji cowered under Kamiya's searing stare. The assistant to Shishio had expected the King to be angry, but this… The hate rolling in waves off the King's body, so intense that it made his skin tingle all over, this was something that couldn't be expected.

"We… no, my King, we haven't, and I offer you my life for that mistake." The aging man bowed deeply, exposing his neck, trembling with fear and the feeling of power emanating from Kamiya.

"Fool! Your life is nothing, nothing at all! It won't help if I kill you, so get up and do something useful instead of your groveling! Leave me now- no, not you," the King motioned for Sano, who had been already out the door as the words were spoken, to remain behind, "but you, Hoji."

Somehow, Sano had the suspicion that groveling was an integral part of the politician, or perhaps of any politician in Dunkelland. Hoji, despite having been told to stop doing so, groveled his way out the door, straightening from his bow only when the two heavy doors slammed shut in front of his face. Sano directed his spiteful glare from the politician to his King, glowering silently. Kamiya was not only responsible for his family's misery now, he had also imprisoned Sano's friend whom he knew to be innocent, and Sano, even though he was the type that easily forgave a mistake was also the type who was fiercely protective of his family and friends. He could not stand the thought of having to be of service to the… worm of a King who didn't give a damn about evidence or justice.

"Now, I want you to bring me to where Battousai is, and I want you to do it immediately," King Kamiya snapped at the tall, brown-haired soldier he had kept from leaving. Instead of an answer or a gesture of respect the man in question just looked down on his liege.

"I don't even know where he is, Kamiya-sama," he spat, an unholy fire glowing deep in his chocolate eyes. The King gave a low chuckle. Evidently this man truly believed in Battousai's innocence… what a fool! Joining with bandits seemed to have been the least of his follies, now he joined forces with the number one enemy of the State. King Kamiya shook his head, puzzling over the nature of Man that would instill loyalty to Evil even when the representative of Good, in the form of an overlord, was present.

"Well, then accompany me to the dungeons- I do not wish to face that murderer without protection, soldier!" Kamiya was proud of himself. The way his voice had assumed a glacier-like quality… and his stature and demeanor had commanded respect- that was what his late father had always asked of him. You will be proud of me yet, Father.

"Yes, Kamiya-sama." Sano's face had lost all expression, his shoulders slumped down in defeat. He had reminded himself constantly of Battousai's wish that he should not act, that he should let fate run its course, but it didn't get easier the longer he did it, no, it only got harder. Every breath he took was a struggle against the urge to strangle the King, to force him to look at the facts and reevaluate his choices. Instead, he simply turned, ushering his liege down the hallways and ever-dampening stairs, deeper and deeper into the bedrock Dunkelland Castle was built upon.

Before he had started his duties as a soldier of Dunkelland, serving the Castle, Sano had been given an extensive tour of the facilities, from the highest tower to the deepest dungeon, so he couldn't say the creaking of chains, soft moaning and wailing or the salty tang in the air were a novelty to him. Still, the very air in the dungeons seemed to come alive with misery and abandonment, sending shivers down the spiky-haired fighter's spine.

Mould and leeches were covering the walls where the flickering torches lent a little light to the dank, dark hallways, heavy oakwood doors hung waterlogged from their rusty iron hinges, and from time to time a pale and emaciated hand reached through the little, bar-covered window in one of them, begging for food, or perhaps just asking for the touch of another living being. Some of these prisoners had been in there for more than a decade, Sano knew, without ever setting foot out of their ten-by-ten feet cubicles, eternal night in their eyes, silence broken only by the spooky sounds of the dungeon. Noone to talk to, noone to see since food was delivered through a hatch in the door, by guards who did everything feasible to leave the dungeons as fast as possible. Being a prisoner in the dungeons of Dunkelland Castle was, in a sense, worse than being dead. Nobody cared if you lived or died, and once in there chances were slim at best ever to get out again.

Rats scurried out of the way as Sano led King Kamiya deeper and deeper into the Castle's innards, the torches becoming fewer and farther between as they made their way towards the yawning darkness that was the high security part of the prison.

"Battousai is down there?" Kamiya asked, sounding not so high and mighty anymore. If Sano had been asked, the King sounded downright scared, but then that was impossible- sure Kamiya wouldn't allow himself to be affected by something as simple as a smelly, old dungeon.

"Again, Kamiya-sama, I don't know where Battousai is. But there is someone who knows, and he lives down here. He is your Master of the Chains, and he is responsible for the dungeons and their inhabitants."

"Master of the Chains?" The young King shivered. His father had told him stories about the monstrously disfigured man who lived only to torture, inflict pain on living beings, hidden from view in the deepest dungeons, carrying out his profession without ever being asked about it or being controlled. King Koshijirou had chuckled in amusement when the small child that was his son cowered in fear, begging him not to let the monster come out. Now he was about to meet his fear… King Kamiya couldn't suppress the whimper that stole itself from his lips, nor could he keep himself from shivering.

"Oh, the stories are greatly overrated, Kamiya-sama." Sano found it in him to reassure the King- though perhaps he needed as much reassurance. After all, the… Chain Master had given him quite a scare during his tour.

"Stories? Oh, I suppose the things they tell you about me… but they are true, young King, that they are, they are so very true… it was your father who sent me down here, who made me into what I am, so you should know the stories are true… but then, you always had a bit too much of an active fantasy…" A deep voice coming from the shadows stopped the King and the soldier dead in their tracks. Glowing, yellow eyes, viler in color than Saito's and more luminous than Battousai's amber were the first thing they saw before, in the flickering light of the torches, a monstrosity showed itself.

Bent over so low that his nose was almost parallel to the ground the Chain Master nonetheless almost reached the King in height. Straggly, gray hair only partly covered a deathly white, disfigured skull, the skin stretched so tightly over the bones that it seemed as though Death himself was walking the earth. The Chain Master's tunic, rusty red in color, hung in tatters over a sagging body that could hardly carry its own weight. The stains on the fabric, only a little darker than the basic color, assured the King of the man's pleasures, just as the red-rimmed, untrimmed nails on claw-like fingers did.

"I assume you are looking for the new one, aren't you, young King? He killed your father, didn't he, young King? Have come to take revenge, have you, young King?" Another insane chuckle from the voice that was drifting up from the graves, deep and ominous and foggy, made Sano wish he were anywhere else but there.

"Sh… Show me where he is. Show me Battousai," Kamiya forced out, his lips unwilling to form the words. The Chain Master looked him up and down with his lantern eyes, studying him like he would an insect before dissecting it. Then he gave a curt nod, the strands of greasy hair on the crown of his head wriggling like snakes, and limped away, not caring whether or not the King and his companion would follow.

Sano shivered uncontrollably now, the misty cold of the dungeon seeping into his bones, the sheer horror he felt whenever he looked at the crooked figure of the Chain Master only amplifying it. What had the man said- King Koshijirou had made him into what he was? He couldn't even begin to think what acts of cruelty were necessary to twist a human being into such a… creature. King Koshijirou had gotten off too light when Battousai had killed him- he should have suffered for his deeds if they were only half as horrible as the creation of the Chain Master.

They moved towards a more brightly lit area, a perfectly circular chamber that was very well lit, a chamber that had been empty when Sano had seen it but whose purpose had been clear even then, the long chains hanging from the ceiling and ending in manacles that were covered in a rusty red, flaky substance a dead giveaway. He had been horrified of the prospect of anyone being bound by them even then, imagining the helplessness being hung up like that brought, hearing the walls groaning and screaming with the echoes of past… happenings. Now, however, the chamber wasn't empty, and Sano's worst fears were not only proven true but surmounted.

"There he is… I haven't put him into a cell yet, young King, I haven't finished playing with him… ah, he is such a difficult subject… but I will make him scream yet… your father always loved to hear how I made them scream… and I got everyone, everyone to scream…" The Chain Master gazed up into the bright torchlight, then let his eyes travel over the form of his 'subject' with a look that was almost akin to… love?

Sano couldn't believe it. Battousai had been injured when he was dragged off to the dungeons, and Shishio had beaten him quite soundly, but the… body that hung from the chains in front of him couldn't be the same man. In the matter of hours he had progressed from bad to worse and beyond, and it was almost unimaginable that he could still be alive from the way he looked. A gasp tore itself from his throat as the Chain Master prodded the limp figure with the index finger of his right hand, making him swing back and forth on the chains his wrists were fastened to. His back was covered in cuts and bruises, marks of whiplashes, his torso was a sea of green and purple, and even though the light was treacherous Sano thought he could make out the marks of burns. Not an inch of skin was intact- Sano couldn't even imagine what 'Akai' had gone through. His right leg was still bleeding profusely, the crossbow dart firmly lodged in the taut muscle of his upper thigh.

"That…" Even the King was at a loss for words, still Kamiya's eyes showed nothing but contempt and satisfaction. Contempt for the murderer of his father, and satisfaction that he was caught. Roughly shoving the chuckling Chain Master aside the King of Dunkelland stepped up to his bound foe, pulling away the curtain of his red hair that hung across his face like a river of spilt blood, exposing pale skin covered in blood, grime and bruises and two hazy amber eyes blinking as though Battousai had just awoken from a long, fitful night's sleep. They were dark, amber-gold and shining with fever, squinting at the King as though he were incapable of focusing on the slight figure. He looked as though he died twice and was revived again every time- but he had not lost the defiant spark in his gaze, even as dim as it was.

"Battousai. You… are Battousai," Kamiya spat, releasing the fistful of hair he had grabbed, causing Battousai's head to limply roll back on his shoulder before he caught himself again and stared at the King.

"I know who… I am… don't… have to tell me. But you… you… you don't even… know your name." He coughed, trying to keep his body from jerking as he forced the words out, his voice sounding as bitter and raw as the pain he had to be feeling. Kamiya's eyes widened, whether in surprise that the captive assassin had actually managed to speak or because of his words Sano didn't know, but as soon as he had caught himself again the King furiously lashed out, his fist connecting solidly with the bound man's jaw, the crack echoing around the circular chamber and escaping from a hole in the ceiling. Battousai's words seemed to have cost him his last strength- Sano saw his head jerk back, but the liquid fire eyes were already closed, the tightness in his face lost as he had fallen into the blissful darkness of unconsciousness.

"What do you mean, I don't know my name? Answer me, murderer!" Kamiya snarled, but any answers the King might have gotten were unattainable at the moment.

"I will have you answer me, whatever the cost." The King's voice was eerily calm, his eyes frozen. "Get the medicine woman- he has to stay alive for a little while. You may play with him after he has answered me," Kamiya then assured the Chain Master, who had assumed a decidedly dejected look at the thought of losing his favorite plaything. !Why are you still here, soldier?"

Sano fled from the dungeon, accompanied by the Chain Master's insane chuckle and King Kamiya's swearing under his breath. He would get the medicine woman- and perhaps there was still hope for Akai, or Battousai, if he only did the right thing at the right time…

… to be continued …

Urgh! I actually had to have my beta rewrite the last part- I think I'm going to be sick now…in my version, everything was bit less… drastic. I feel really sick…

Yasai: Wimp. My authoress is not suited to evil…. That's where N. and I come in *smirks*. Now how can this turn into a romance story? Don't fret, it will… but there are still a few twists and turns on the way, and Chi will need your help until then- she really has a weak stomach!

Just because you can be the epitome of evil doesn't mean I am, too- remember, Ryan is the evil twin!

Yasai: Yeah, I remember- you had him think up the Chain Master, so due credit for that character goes to Chi's twin brother Ryan!

And credit for the trap partly goes to my best friend S.- she brought up Greek Fire in a discussion about Chemistry, and I only realized its trap potential… thanks, S.!

Yasai: Now, most credit, of course, goes to the reviewers- Chi wouldn't be writing as fast as she does without you- she doesn't have a lot of time at the moment, and only your inspiring words make her take her precious free time and spend it in front of a computer screen, so here's your thanks! Even though Chi hasn't got much online time at the moment (Chi's Dad crashed their connection again...) she reads every one of them- sorry she can't reply this time, but next time Chi'll do it again, she promises!

I honestly promise! Cya soon!!!

Chibi-chan and Yasai