Disclaimer: I do not own RK or PMK.
All is revealed? As if... Who is Izumi? What happened to him during/after the Bakumatsu? An update. Comments welcome!

Chapter 7: Moon over Kyoto

Under a full moon, a wolf watched its master testing his sword in the moonlight like he always did. The man was satisfied when the tree trunk splintered from his blow. But he was panting. Not good, that single blow still took too much out of him. The wolf pricked his ears. Rei is here.

"Just as you expected, he visited them." She sat down on the damp grass and patted the wolf's head. He nodded. "There is another man with him. The one they called Battousai. He is also tracking down the Miyagi mansion killer."

"I leave it to you, Rei. He is a dangerous man, but you'll sniff out his weakness, if there's any." The girl nodded. "I have. He is known as Himura Kenshin now. He has a wife in Tokyo, Kamiya dojo." Her fingers traced the line of his jaw as he sat down next to her. Bored, the wolf loped off in search of sport.

"I want you to go to Tokyo...Don't worry, Rei. I'll be careful." He kissed her hungrily. "Ran..." Rei gasped his name before their passion overwhelmed them both completely.

Twelve-years-old and small-built, he needed to climb on top of the pile of crates to see into the cell where his niichan was held. He almost fell but he managed to keep his balance somehow. They were there again, hurting him.

"Don't hurt my niichan!" He screamed in his young voice. I really shouldn't have done that! The boy realized that as soon as both prisoner and guards turned towards the sound. " The prisoner gasped out through his bloodied lips. The boy fled but it was too late...

He was hauled into the cell where they threw him onto the floor before the prisoner. Their eyes met. I'm sorry, Okita... Close up, Okita was more badly hurt. He could barely stand on his own. Only the guards flanking him kept him from falling to the floor. Still, he glared fiercely at his tormentor.

"So, Okita, will you talk?" A stubborn shake of the head answered the Butcher's question. "Drop him." The guards shoved Okita roughly onto the ground. Butcher Miyagi stepped hard on the prisoner's already mangled hand, grinding it into the ground...

"Niichan!!" The boy screeched as he tried to push his niichan's tormentor away. He was hoisted almost off his feet by a pair of burly guards and held fast. Miyagi smirked as he unsheathed his katana. He slowly sliced open the boy's yutaka. The blade left a thin red line where it scrapped his trembling skin. "The boy's innocent!" Okita pulled at Miyagi's clothes. "L...let him go..." He pleaded.

The boy did not catch what Okita mumbled out to Miyagi as he bent over Okita. The Butcher got up with a satisfied sneer on his face. A waiting guard smashed his club over Okita's head. "Take him away! And the boy, too..."

"Niichan!" They dragged Okita's limp body out.

He was crying out in his sleep again. Rei shook him awake. He rested awhile in her warm embrace like a frightened boy. Then he was himself again. They were still out under the night sky. Ran smiled benignly. "Let's go." He pulled Rei to her feet.

"Hajime, look, it's a boy," Tokio knelt in her graceful way as she cradled the bundle. Saitou held out a finger and the baby gripped it firmly. "What shall we name him?" Tokio beamed. He kissed her fondly. She smelt so good...

"Papa!" Midori came running in with her long hair flying. She was six now and so very mischievous. He picked her up and hoisted her into the air... She was very light. He was holding a straw dummy. Puzzled, he turned to his wife and found Okita glaring at him.

"Where's he? Have you found him yet?" A pair of claw-like hands reached out to choke him...

Saitou snapped into consciousness. He was in his rented shack. He's been dreaming again. It was Tokio who kept him sane after Okita's death. Sweet Tokio. She comforted him when the nightmares came. She helped him forget. The nightmares left him soon after the war ended. Now she's gone and the nightmare's back with a vengeance.

Battousai! He sensed the redhead's presence as he got up. He strolled over to the door. Sure enough, Kenshin was waiting outside. "I trust this isn't a courtesy call at this hour..." He tried to put a bit of an edge in his voice but it sounded empty. Empty, just as his life is now.

Kenshin nodded. "I've spoken with Takani-san. She couldn't save Seta's arm as the bones were totally splintered as if by a great force. I've also looked at the wounds on the dead guards. The murderer is using a special technique combining both ki and sword. The sword-style used should be very familiar to you..."

"I see," Saitou nodded. He understood. Both he and Okita had experimented various ways to improve their favored Gatotsu against Battousai's Hiten Mitsurugi. Saitou had managed a degree of success using his Gatotsu Zero Stance when he battled Usui at Mt Hitei. Actually, it was far from the devastating strike he had expected.

Okita was a genius at kendo. That person had Okita's natural talent. Sorry, Okita-san, if it really is him... Aku Soku Zan...

The night was still. In the Ichimura household, Tetsu tucked in his son and kissed his wife. He was pleased to see Midori sleeping with her head buried in Saya's lap. The girl still kept silent. At least they got her out of the closet. What she needed was her father and only family... Tetsu counted his blessings. He's a lucky man.

He was one of the few who managed to shake off his Shinsengumi past. Saitou had tried and failed. Tetsu would have died along with Hijitaka if his master had not sent him on an errand to Hino to deliver a letter. That letter turned out to be both Hijitaka's will and final instructions to his page. He had found Saya there where Hijitaka had sent her to live with his family. He never got a chance to repay the man's kindness.

To Kyoto. He rose and went over to where his twin swords are displayed. He unsheathed them. He had kept them in good condition. He tested them against the air. What he had learnt from both Okita and Saitou came back to him. Saya watched him, her round eyes pleading.

Must you go? She reached out for him as he passed her. Sorry, Saya, I must. There was never really the need for words between them. Take care, she nodded and let him go. Tetsu went to pack for his journey.

Author's notes:

I know it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm assuming that both Saitou & Okita used the same fighting style. Saves me the trouble of thinking what other Miburo fighting styles there are. Saitou & Okita are the top swordsmen in the Shinsengumi.

Tetsu's back & like in PMK, he still uses twin swords. The part about how Tetsu & Saya started a new life is based on a PMK fanfic"A New Life".Arigato to the author. Those familiar with PMK will recall that Saya's mute but she & Tetsu can almost read each other's thoughts.