"By the Order of His Holiness!", began the cardinal, dressed in firey red robes.
"This man, held captive in this scroll, shall be erased from the memory of all of mankind. May God chastise his soul!"
The cardinal raised one heavily jeweled hand, and let fall a rolled scroll. There, sketched onto its face, was a astonishingly correct portray of kenshin.
"Burn him!", screamed the crowd.
"Find this man, for his charges against the Holy Church, let him not grace the earth another day. Burn him at the stake.", cried the cardinal as he tossed the scroll into the hands of a rather tall peasant wielding a large axe.
"For the sake of Christianity!"
And the crowd replied in one great booming voice,
"God wills it! God wills it!"
Sanosuke watched in horror, kenshin remained impassive. Watching hordes of peasants swear to God for the death of him wasn't an easy task. But nevertheless, Kenshin was used to it.
"Their animals."
"No.", kenshin responed, "Animals don't kill for no reason, these peasants don't even know why the church wants me."
"I don't understand, why are you such a criminal."
"It's a long story friend, but first, we best get out before His Eminence spots us.", Kenshin suggested whilst pointing to the cardinal whom was staring at the two with suspicous half closed eyes.
Sanosuke nodded and in a momment, they made a nimble jump off the roof of the house and into a pile of hay. Stiffling a sneeze Sanosuke grunted and pointed towards the plaza.
The cardinal had gathered towards him five steel clad knights, he was pointing suggestively towards Kenshin and Sano.
"Let's go!"
The two sprinted off, which they would regreat and recognize later as a dead giveaway. In a momment the five gaurds were after them.....
"My only wish is to serve the Will of God.", repeated the boy. He knelt before someone he never would have dreamed of meating. Flanked by two cardinals in scarlet cassocks, sat the Holy Roman Pontiff. The Pope, Holy Father of the Church itself. The veryt thought was axhilirating.
"You do know that i cannot let you into the priesthood, being.....what you are, Soujirou."
"Then let me at least bring up the Lord through the skill i have. Me, and of course my league."
Slowly protrtuding from the shadows was the rest of Seta's company.
"The Owniwanbanshu.", Soujirou announced with a smile.
"Pagans.", whispered the cardinal to the left. He extended one powerful arm and snapped his fingers absentmindedly to his left. In a second the room was filled by the Swiss Guards of the Vatican. The pride, and strength of Rome, and the most powerful warriors in the world.
Soujirou raised an eyebrow.
"What is this? We are ehere to help you your holiness. Under my master Shishio's orders."
The cardinal who had called the guards stepped forawrd, the Pope and the other cardinal remained impassive.
The first cardinal however, began to circle the room, passing by Soujirou but stopping at each of the ownibanshu.
"You must understand Master Soujirou-"
"Soujirou-san, if you'd please."
"Whatever, Soujirou-sam, please understand that we only offer our services to you in exchange of your service, it is christian trade. But if we associate with these.....pagans, his Holiness" the cardinal turned to the pope, "would be damned."
"Well met Umberto.", croaked the skiny cardinal to the left of the Pope. He paced himself towards the Owniwanbanshu, Soujirou bid them to stay calm with a suggestive hand gesture.
"These, infidels could poison the mind and heart of the Holy Father, who knows what strange beliefs and, lucifiral rituals they bring from their home, what was it.
"Japan.", replied Umberto.
"Nippon", corrected Soujirou.
"Here we call it Japan Master Seta.....Seta-san.", interrupte dthe Pope.
Soujirou bowed for pardon then turned to the cardinals, back facing the pontiff. He gav the two cardinals such a scowl they jumped back, then he plastered on his smile, and turned to the Pontiff.
"The Owniwanbanshu works, as a team. To have one, you must have them all. Pagan, Heathen, or Sodom."
"A Sodom.", replied both Umberto and his felow Cardinal.
Soujirou smiled.
A girl from the Owniwanbanshu stepped forth. She looked woman, but was taller than anyone in the room. The Two Cardinals slowly stepped back until they were back beside the Pontiff. As if the old scrawny priest could protect them. Though Soujirou. He quickly corrected himself when guards encircled the throne, umberto, and the Pope. The third cardinal was obviously left to do the dirty work.
He stepped up to Kamatari (the gril) and asked.,
"Who are you?"
"He is Kamantari.", replied Soujirou.
A hurricane of comotion clashed in the room as a guard grabbed the cardinal and flung him back. Positioning himself between kamantari and the cardinal.
"Stay away from him.", cried the guard, who was very young.
"Come near the Holy Father, or his Eminences and i'll have your throat, cried anothe guard also positioning himself between Kamatari and the cardinal.
"Peace.", whispered the Pope. Instantly the guards subisded into the background.
"Infidel, or not. I have a mission, when Christ calls we all must answer. This man must be dead, as soon as possible."
The Pope threw down a scroll. Soujirou slowly unopened it.
"Himura Kenshin.", he read aloud.
"A samurai?". asked Soujirou.
The pope shook his head. He gazed up to Umberto next to him. Emberto quickly whispered,
"A runaway monk."
Soujirou raised his eyebrows. This could be interesting......