A/N....the First Mission....poor Kenshin, I torture him so...
Kenshin: Oro?
WoF: *hands him chapter*
Kenshin: *faints*
Onward and angstward!
Chapter 5: The First Mission
Battousai stalked through the quiet city, eyes taking in every movement, shadow and flash of ki. His mind was on hyper alert, watching for anything, anything at all that might have caught on to him.
~~~~~~
An assassins blade whipped of the night's darkness, cutting a hiss in the silence of a hellish land.
counter! His mind screamed as his blade blocked the blow.
ATTACK! His mind insisted and he complied, shooting through the air to seek the kill.
Chains caught him off guard, wrapping around his slender frame.
Regain mobility! Eliminate! Kenshin's mind assessed ruthlessly.
The chains slacked as the assassin rushed forward, eager to gain the glory of killing the almighty dragon god, the Battousai of nightmares and dreams.
Now. Battousai's mind slipped into the cold grasp of battle. The fire headed warrior turned the assassins own blade against him, felling him in two. mission complete
A gasp wrenched his consciousness back from bloodlust.
what?!
'It's her....' The blade slipped from lifeless fingers.
eliminate witness
'No!' The vision a of white plum goddess broke him from his revere.
"You make the bloody rain fall."
~~~~~~
Kenshin shook his head to clear the vision. This was no time to delve into the past. Later, when the war was over, he would atone for his sins and rid the world of Battousai, forever.
******
Kazutaka Yasashiku stood in the midst of his fine garden. Years in the weaponry business had reaped their rewards. The man was wealthy, almost exceedingly so. However, the man had preserved his heart, thanks to one small life.
He had always enjoyed the garden, but as of late the garden seemed to emblazon a false sense of serenity. Ever since agreeing to aid the rebel Shinsengumi, Yasashiku had been unable to rest at ease. Dreams of blood plagued his sleep and nightmares of guilt riled his days. His stern features showed the signs of wear, and his light gray eyes had lost their luster beneath dull black hair. The lines deepened on his face, making him appear older, laughter turned to tears on guilt's blade.
'What is causing this unease?' Yasashiku contemplated, 'I have done naught wrong, only sold weapons to customers.' Even as he thought this, a voice in the back of his head whispered that it was done out of greed, that he had been allured of the sheer money and honor he would attain when the movement went through. His beloved child would be a woman of prestige and grace, of want for naught. But his mind would not rest, questioning, always questioning. Would he sacrifice the nation for a few yen?
"Father?" A gentle voice called out, "Father, are you out there?"
Yasashiku's features softened as his eyes alighted on his only daughter. Her mother, bless her soul, had died in childbirth, but had left him this precious gift to raise and love. When he had first lain eyes on her fragile features, his heart had soared with joy and hope. He named her Aiko, for she was his beloved one, his only daughter. As such, he had brought his daughter up with the greatest care and spared no expense to bring her all her hearts desires. Sheltered from pain, his daughter grew pure and untainted. She had always been his light and he her support. Now, in the recent chaos, Yasashiku found himself desiring her presence even more, to calm his tormented heart.
"I'm here Aiko." He called out gently.
"Father! There you are!" Aiko cried happily, her fine silk kimono casting blue light on her pale features. The night had descended and all that lit the garden was the lanterns golden light. The shadows served to make her features even more exotic and lovely than usual. Her pale skin awash with joy and radiance. The fine blue and purple flowered kimono hugged her slender frame. She would be a heartbreaker, his little star. She was indeed a star, a light in an otherwise blank sea of cold and despair. The one thing that had held him back from falling into death to join his wife. To mix her blood of giving with his life's devotion. But those eyes had captivated him, and now their pure brilliance delighted his eyes and his heart.
"What is it my child?" He asked kindly, drawing her into an embrace.
She relaxed into his arms, inhaling the scent that was uniquely her father: gunpowder, smoke, air, water and earth. He had been her strength and support all her young life. For fifteen years he had catered to her every need and want, all fulfilled with deep love. Aiko could not imagine life without him by her side.
"Father, a message came for you."
"Oh?" He asked surprised, "and what did it say my child?"
"It said that Yuki-san wishes for your presence at the Sunset shrine after first sundown to discuss matters of recent business." She recited, proud to help her father.
Yasashiku's eyes darkened. If the boss of the man you sell the weapons to wants to see you immediately, it is either a very good, or a very bad sign. He believed the latter.
Aiko noticed her father's despair at the messages news.
"Father?" She asked softly, "are you well? Did I upset you?"
Her sweet question brought him out of his musings, "No my dearest," He replied gently, staring down into her silver blue eyes set against the most beautiful of hair; a strange yet enticing mix of light brown and black, a deep brown that was almost red, framing light eyes, a fuse of himself and his wife, Etsu. "Nothing you do could ever bring me sadness."
Aiko's face softened in relief. She couldn't stand the thought of bringing him pain. She would die to prevent his suffering, kill to ease his heart."Will you be going Father?" She asked sadly, anticipating the loss of their dinner and music session together.
"Yes, I must cut our time together short today." He said apologetically, "I'll be back before too late, but don't wait up." He tapped her nose affectionately, knowing that was the one request she would never grant.
"I'll sleep when I know you are safe Father." Aiko replied evenly, gazing adoringly at her Father.
Smiling indulgently, Yasashiku embraced his daughter and turned to leave, calling over his shoulder, "See you soon, Aiko."
"Goodbye Father, I love you." Aiko replied, as per their ritual. They never left each other without saying those words, in case it was the last time they were to see each other. "I know dearest Aiko, I love you with all my soul."
And with that parting passage, Yasashiku swept out of their home and into the nights cold embrace.
********
Kenshin swept silently through the blackened night. The moon, bathed in a red glow, hid behind the clouds, afraid to show its face to the bloodstained hearts below. And yet, Kenshin was not saddened by the moons rejection, rather he welcomed it with open arms, willing it to pass judgement on his soul. He reached the white marble staircase of the sunset shrine with two hours left to spare before the appointed meeting time. He ducked into the enclave of a nearby shop, now closed for the night, and observed the situation.
The shrine sat atop a steep hill and was reached by climbing the white marble stairs and walking through a red arch. The steps were marble so that, as the name implied, the sunset could be captured in all its might. At dusk, the stairs shone with yellow light that darkened to red and then to ethereal blue as the night progressed. There was a legend surrounding the shrine that the souls of the damned rose up through the bloody light and lingered about the steps at night. Whether one believed it or not, there was no denying the chill one got when climbing the midnight stairs.
'A perfect place for me.' Kenshin thought solemnly, staring at the blue light reflected on the stairs, 'I've damned my own soul and gone to join my comrades.'
oh, get over it! Battousai shouted in his mind stop angsting and get on with it! Do you want us both to get killed?!
'I..'
Incompetent. Battousai huffed.
'I do not wish to kill him....'
Fool. You follow orders to prevent chaos, isn't that right?
'Yes!....But, what if he isn't evil?'
Would he be selling weapons to the Shinsengumi if he were an idealistic pansy like you?
'Well, no, but'
But nothing!
'Bat-' Get over it! Your ideals are nothing compared to the worth of the world. Live with it, kill with. Get over it.
'Battousai.....'
Move it! I'm taking control now! Now is the time for battle, you can come pick flowers later just like the idealistic fool you are.
Kenshin's eyes flashed amber as the blue light of the damned clashed with the red of the assassin's moon. Battousai was back in control, Kenshin locked away to only watch as his ideal was shattered.
********
Yasashiku walked silently up the blue stairs to the Sunset Shrine. He knew the legends, and now he believed them. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and that his soul was on trial and his worth up for grabs.
Yasashiku shivered as he crossed through the arch to the main yard of the shrine. It was deserted now, Yuki had cleared the monks out for the night, threatening death should his business be interrupted and Yuki Raidon was a man well used to getting his way.
Yasashiku halted at the sight of the man before him, frozen in his cold glare. Raidon's eyes were cold and red, eyes of a possessed soul. Hair of the blackest night flew around his face, framing its sharp edges and emblazoning his demonic features. He was tall in stature and lean in build, radiating power like a man who had no fear. And Yuki Raidon was one of those fearless men.
"Yuki-sama." Yasahiku said shakily, bowing deeply to break the gaze of those demon eyes.
"Yasashiku." Raidon said sharply, demeaning him with the reference.
Yasashiku slowly rose up to his full height. While taller than Yuki, Yasashiku couldn't help but feel slighted by the sheer power the man held at his disposal, the fear he implanted, and the respect.
"Yuki-sama, why have you called me here?" Yasashiku said respectfully.
Raidon raised an eyebrow. "To comment on the weather."
Yasashiku nearly fell flat on his face. "Surely you jest, my Lord."
"Aa." Raidon said, sly smile in place. "Why give a serious answer to a stupid question?"
"My Lord?" Yasashiku asked sheepishly, 'I screwed up already?' He thought helplessly, 'I'm dead!' "Half wit. You are our weapons dealer, are you not?"
"Why, yes my Lord. It is my honor and-" Yasashiku stammered
"Yea, yea, I know. Calm down. I want to discuss our arrangement, that's all." Raidon said, raising an elegant eyebrow at the other man's obvious discomfiture.
"You honor me my Lord." Yasashiku said humbly. Floored that the leader of the movement would meet with him in person. It was an honor few had known, yet all who had were left with lasting impressions of sadistic humor.
"Yasashiku, you have been supplying the Shinsengumi with weapons in the forms of blades, knives and shuriken these past months." Raidon began, obviously going somewhere with this.
'Somewhere good,' Yasashiku said, mentally cringing from the "Bad news" possibility. 'I hope anyway.....'
"You have been payed handsomely for your discretion. But now I offer you a King's ransom for a new order of supply."
"What would that be, my Lord?" Yasashiku questioned, already dreaming of the trip to Aizu he could take Aiko on with more money.
"I want bombs, guns and cannons to supply our forces." Raidon said with the air of one requesting tea at a tea house.
"Sir?!" Yasashiku gasped, fearing the implication.
"You stock rifles, no?" Raidon said, raising an eyebrow once more, "Bombs can be made and cannons ordered. Is there a problem?"
"But sir!" Raidon's eyebrow twitched. "To obtain a cannon would require much work and negotiation and-"
"Enough!" Raidon said sharply. "I know the risk and I will pay you one million yen for one hundred rifles, one thousand bombs, half pineapple, half delayed explosion and ten cannons."
"Sir?" Yasashiku asked, dazzled by the many zero's in that number, "so much?"
"Why yes. This is war after all, no expense is to be spared for our utter victory." Raidon said with soft command, "You agree?"
Yasashiku weighed the possibilities in his head. On one hand, taking the money would allow Aiko to tour Japan as she had wanted. However, cannons were hard to come by and ten impossible! Still, to see the joy on his daughters face......Yasashiku sighed, "I'll do it."
"Excellent." Raidon said with a predatory grin. "I leave you to pray." With a flash of an explosion, Yuki Raidon exited the stage.
Yasashiku stared after him as the clock struck the nine o'clock hour. 'What have I just done?'
******
Battousai watched the exchange between clear leader and terrified follower with morbid fascination. He had seen Yasashiku ascend the stairs and had followed him up under the cover of trees. He had situated himself in a large and ancient oak tree, just outside the shrine's grounds. From there, he could see the entire exchange, as well as the hidden warrior who watched the leader, Yuki. Battousai mentally laughed at the incompetence of the leaders warrior. He had not even noticed him when the full weight of his stare was focused on the larger bodyguard. The incompetence of the man never ceased to amaze the slender swordsman.
No wonder they need me... Battousai thought with a secret smile.
Refocusing on the men below, Battousai pieced together the man from the target information provided to him. Both tall and dark haired... Battousai thought contemplatively. Suddenly, the moonlight caught Raidon's eyes as he flashed his face in anger. red....not him then. So, it's the fool. Easy. Battousai leaned back in the tree to watch the exchange, noting with pleasure the terror in his targets eyes.
'Battousai!' Kenshin's voice cut through his subconscious, 'why not target the leader? Then the war would end!'
Fool. Battousai said condescendingly, Have you already forgotten the first rule of a samurai?
'Of course not!' Kenshin replied indignantly, 'Always follow orders!' Kenshin mentally blinked and looked down, abashed.
See. Besides, if Yamagata assassinated the leader first, the movement would fall to chaos, leaving it pray to a crueller leader and opening the door to desperate genocide. No, Battousai shook his head softly, the best way to destroy an organization like this is to remove the roots first; then it can't grow back.
'Ah...' Kenshin breathed, amazed at the insight into the psyche he deemed forever bloodthirsty and cruel.
What? Did you think I did this without thought? Battousai questioned, hurt, you wound me!
Kenshin blinked. 'I was wrong.'
Hmph! Take that mister I'm-so-high-and-mighty!-look-at-me-I-don't-kill! 'Hey!'
Battousai abruptly broke off the internal dialogue as Yuki disappeared in a flashing explosion. Battousai blinked, how in all the hells did he do that? He's more dangerous than I gave him credit for....
The assassin guarding Yuki left with the explosion, leaving Battousai free to work his bloody magic.
See Kenshin, this man is willing to supply the Shinsengumi with deadly weapons for money. Don't try to defend him.
Without waiting for his reply, Battousai moved silently from his tree to the large white birch by the archway. A swallow burst out of the tree, startling both Kenshin and Yasashiku.
'A swallow...' Yasashiku thought uneasily, 'A harbinger of death...' With renewed haste, Yasashiku rushed toward the archway, pulling the folds of his gi closer around his muscular frame. He hadn't brought a sword, thinking it would insult the leader. 'What a fool I am!' He berated himself. "I must get home to Aiko, she must be worried sick by now." He muttered to himself, unaware that harbingers true warning was not merely symbolic.
Battousai watched him approach the tree he crouched in. Thumb clicking his sword out of its lock, he tensed, waiting for the moment. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. So, this'll end everything....
Yasashiku passed under the arbor of the tree.
NOW! Battousai thought. With the grace of a cat, the vengeful assassin leapt down silently, just in front of Yasashiku.
"For your crimes, I'm here to deliver Heaven's Justice upon your head." Battousai said, voice deadly in its icy softness.
Yasashiku's eyes widened to impossible size. 'No!' He thought desperately. Battousai's sword flashed from its sheath, swinging in a deadly arc. Yasashiku was sliced from shoulder to waist before he had time to scream. The feel of flesh giving out beneath his blade gave Battousai a rush he hadn't felt in a long time. Yasashiku fell to the ground, face down, life rapidly leaving his essence on the staircase.
"Ai....ko..." Yasashiku gasped. Battousai glanced down, eyebrows raised at his will to live. With clenched features, he drove the sword home through his neck, silencing that will forever.
'NOOO!!!!' Kenshin's voice screamed out in his head. Kenshin fell to his knees within the chamber of his mind, tears of blood running down pale features from lifeless violet eyes.
Battousai cringed at the sound of his alters anguish. I'm sorry....Kenshin. Battousai whisked the blood of his blade and placed the sword back in its sheath. The first kill in ten years. A promise thrown into chaos. A man never to be the same again.
Battousai glanced up at the men scurrying to come clean up the mess. Fools, only scrambling for their reward.
Amber eyes devoid of emotion glanced out at the city bathed once more in the light of the Killer's Moon. Clouds began to cover the city as a wolf's cry echoed into the distance. The era of new blood had dawned as the clear night became covered in blackened rage.
On the night of the Killer's Moon, for the first time in ten years, Kenshin's scar began to bleed.
TBC.....in Chapter 6: Shattered Mind
Kenshin: Oro?
WoF: *hands him chapter*
Kenshin: *faints*
Onward and angstward!
Chapter 5: The First Mission
Battousai stalked through the quiet city, eyes taking in every movement, shadow and flash of ki. His mind was on hyper alert, watching for anything, anything at all that might have caught on to him.
~~~~~~
An assassins blade whipped of the night's darkness, cutting a hiss in the silence of a hellish land.
counter! His mind screamed as his blade blocked the blow.
ATTACK! His mind insisted and he complied, shooting through the air to seek the kill.
Chains caught him off guard, wrapping around his slender frame.
Regain mobility! Eliminate! Kenshin's mind assessed ruthlessly.
The chains slacked as the assassin rushed forward, eager to gain the glory of killing the almighty dragon god, the Battousai of nightmares and dreams.
Now. Battousai's mind slipped into the cold grasp of battle. The fire headed warrior turned the assassins own blade against him, felling him in two. mission complete
A gasp wrenched his consciousness back from bloodlust.
what?!
'It's her....' The blade slipped from lifeless fingers.
eliminate witness
'No!' The vision a of white plum goddess broke him from his revere.
"You make the bloody rain fall."
~~~~~~
Kenshin shook his head to clear the vision. This was no time to delve into the past. Later, when the war was over, he would atone for his sins and rid the world of Battousai, forever.
******
Kazutaka Yasashiku stood in the midst of his fine garden. Years in the weaponry business had reaped their rewards. The man was wealthy, almost exceedingly so. However, the man had preserved his heart, thanks to one small life.
He had always enjoyed the garden, but as of late the garden seemed to emblazon a false sense of serenity. Ever since agreeing to aid the rebel Shinsengumi, Yasashiku had been unable to rest at ease. Dreams of blood plagued his sleep and nightmares of guilt riled his days. His stern features showed the signs of wear, and his light gray eyes had lost their luster beneath dull black hair. The lines deepened on his face, making him appear older, laughter turned to tears on guilt's blade.
'What is causing this unease?' Yasashiku contemplated, 'I have done naught wrong, only sold weapons to customers.' Even as he thought this, a voice in the back of his head whispered that it was done out of greed, that he had been allured of the sheer money and honor he would attain when the movement went through. His beloved child would be a woman of prestige and grace, of want for naught. But his mind would not rest, questioning, always questioning. Would he sacrifice the nation for a few yen?
"Father?" A gentle voice called out, "Father, are you out there?"
Yasashiku's features softened as his eyes alighted on his only daughter. Her mother, bless her soul, had died in childbirth, but had left him this precious gift to raise and love. When he had first lain eyes on her fragile features, his heart had soared with joy and hope. He named her Aiko, for she was his beloved one, his only daughter. As such, he had brought his daughter up with the greatest care and spared no expense to bring her all her hearts desires. Sheltered from pain, his daughter grew pure and untainted. She had always been his light and he her support. Now, in the recent chaos, Yasashiku found himself desiring her presence even more, to calm his tormented heart.
"I'm here Aiko." He called out gently.
"Father! There you are!" Aiko cried happily, her fine silk kimono casting blue light on her pale features. The night had descended and all that lit the garden was the lanterns golden light. The shadows served to make her features even more exotic and lovely than usual. Her pale skin awash with joy and radiance. The fine blue and purple flowered kimono hugged her slender frame. She would be a heartbreaker, his little star. She was indeed a star, a light in an otherwise blank sea of cold and despair. The one thing that had held him back from falling into death to join his wife. To mix her blood of giving with his life's devotion. But those eyes had captivated him, and now their pure brilliance delighted his eyes and his heart.
"What is it my child?" He asked kindly, drawing her into an embrace.
She relaxed into his arms, inhaling the scent that was uniquely her father: gunpowder, smoke, air, water and earth. He had been her strength and support all her young life. For fifteen years he had catered to her every need and want, all fulfilled with deep love. Aiko could not imagine life without him by her side.
"Father, a message came for you."
"Oh?" He asked surprised, "and what did it say my child?"
"It said that Yuki-san wishes for your presence at the Sunset shrine after first sundown to discuss matters of recent business." She recited, proud to help her father.
Yasashiku's eyes darkened. If the boss of the man you sell the weapons to wants to see you immediately, it is either a very good, or a very bad sign. He believed the latter.
Aiko noticed her father's despair at the messages news.
"Father?" She asked softly, "are you well? Did I upset you?"
Her sweet question brought him out of his musings, "No my dearest," He replied gently, staring down into her silver blue eyes set against the most beautiful of hair; a strange yet enticing mix of light brown and black, a deep brown that was almost red, framing light eyes, a fuse of himself and his wife, Etsu. "Nothing you do could ever bring me sadness."
Aiko's face softened in relief. She couldn't stand the thought of bringing him pain. She would die to prevent his suffering, kill to ease his heart."Will you be going Father?" She asked sadly, anticipating the loss of their dinner and music session together.
"Yes, I must cut our time together short today." He said apologetically, "I'll be back before too late, but don't wait up." He tapped her nose affectionately, knowing that was the one request she would never grant.
"I'll sleep when I know you are safe Father." Aiko replied evenly, gazing adoringly at her Father.
Smiling indulgently, Yasashiku embraced his daughter and turned to leave, calling over his shoulder, "See you soon, Aiko."
"Goodbye Father, I love you." Aiko replied, as per their ritual. They never left each other without saying those words, in case it was the last time they were to see each other. "I know dearest Aiko, I love you with all my soul."
And with that parting passage, Yasashiku swept out of their home and into the nights cold embrace.
********
Kenshin swept silently through the blackened night. The moon, bathed in a red glow, hid behind the clouds, afraid to show its face to the bloodstained hearts below. And yet, Kenshin was not saddened by the moons rejection, rather he welcomed it with open arms, willing it to pass judgement on his soul. He reached the white marble staircase of the sunset shrine with two hours left to spare before the appointed meeting time. He ducked into the enclave of a nearby shop, now closed for the night, and observed the situation.
The shrine sat atop a steep hill and was reached by climbing the white marble stairs and walking through a red arch. The steps were marble so that, as the name implied, the sunset could be captured in all its might. At dusk, the stairs shone with yellow light that darkened to red and then to ethereal blue as the night progressed. There was a legend surrounding the shrine that the souls of the damned rose up through the bloody light and lingered about the steps at night. Whether one believed it or not, there was no denying the chill one got when climbing the midnight stairs.
'A perfect place for me.' Kenshin thought solemnly, staring at the blue light reflected on the stairs, 'I've damned my own soul and gone to join my comrades.'
oh, get over it! Battousai shouted in his mind stop angsting and get on with it! Do you want us both to get killed?!
'I..'
Incompetent. Battousai huffed.
'I do not wish to kill him....'
Fool. You follow orders to prevent chaos, isn't that right?
'Yes!....But, what if he isn't evil?'
Would he be selling weapons to the Shinsengumi if he were an idealistic pansy like you?
'Well, no, but'
But nothing!
'Bat-' Get over it! Your ideals are nothing compared to the worth of the world. Live with it, kill with. Get over it.
'Battousai.....'
Move it! I'm taking control now! Now is the time for battle, you can come pick flowers later just like the idealistic fool you are.
Kenshin's eyes flashed amber as the blue light of the damned clashed with the red of the assassin's moon. Battousai was back in control, Kenshin locked away to only watch as his ideal was shattered.
********
Yasashiku walked silently up the blue stairs to the Sunset Shrine. He knew the legends, and now he believed them. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and that his soul was on trial and his worth up for grabs.
Yasashiku shivered as he crossed through the arch to the main yard of the shrine. It was deserted now, Yuki had cleared the monks out for the night, threatening death should his business be interrupted and Yuki Raidon was a man well used to getting his way.
Yasashiku halted at the sight of the man before him, frozen in his cold glare. Raidon's eyes were cold and red, eyes of a possessed soul. Hair of the blackest night flew around his face, framing its sharp edges and emblazoning his demonic features. He was tall in stature and lean in build, radiating power like a man who had no fear. And Yuki Raidon was one of those fearless men.
"Yuki-sama." Yasahiku said shakily, bowing deeply to break the gaze of those demon eyes.
"Yasashiku." Raidon said sharply, demeaning him with the reference.
Yasashiku slowly rose up to his full height. While taller than Yuki, Yasashiku couldn't help but feel slighted by the sheer power the man held at his disposal, the fear he implanted, and the respect.
"Yuki-sama, why have you called me here?" Yasashiku said respectfully.
Raidon raised an eyebrow. "To comment on the weather."
Yasashiku nearly fell flat on his face. "Surely you jest, my Lord."
"Aa." Raidon said, sly smile in place. "Why give a serious answer to a stupid question?"
"My Lord?" Yasashiku asked sheepishly, 'I screwed up already?' He thought helplessly, 'I'm dead!' "Half wit. You are our weapons dealer, are you not?"
"Why, yes my Lord. It is my honor and-" Yasashiku stammered
"Yea, yea, I know. Calm down. I want to discuss our arrangement, that's all." Raidon said, raising an elegant eyebrow at the other man's obvious discomfiture.
"You honor me my Lord." Yasashiku said humbly. Floored that the leader of the movement would meet with him in person. It was an honor few had known, yet all who had were left with lasting impressions of sadistic humor.
"Yasashiku, you have been supplying the Shinsengumi with weapons in the forms of blades, knives and shuriken these past months." Raidon began, obviously going somewhere with this.
'Somewhere good,' Yasashiku said, mentally cringing from the "Bad news" possibility. 'I hope anyway.....'
"You have been payed handsomely for your discretion. But now I offer you a King's ransom for a new order of supply."
"What would that be, my Lord?" Yasashiku questioned, already dreaming of the trip to Aizu he could take Aiko on with more money.
"I want bombs, guns and cannons to supply our forces." Raidon said with the air of one requesting tea at a tea house.
"Sir?!" Yasashiku gasped, fearing the implication.
"You stock rifles, no?" Raidon said, raising an eyebrow once more, "Bombs can be made and cannons ordered. Is there a problem?"
"But sir!" Raidon's eyebrow twitched. "To obtain a cannon would require much work and negotiation and-"
"Enough!" Raidon said sharply. "I know the risk and I will pay you one million yen for one hundred rifles, one thousand bombs, half pineapple, half delayed explosion and ten cannons."
"Sir?" Yasashiku asked, dazzled by the many zero's in that number, "so much?"
"Why yes. This is war after all, no expense is to be spared for our utter victory." Raidon said with soft command, "You agree?"
Yasashiku weighed the possibilities in his head. On one hand, taking the money would allow Aiko to tour Japan as she had wanted. However, cannons were hard to come by and ten impossible! Still, to see the joy on his daughters face......Yasashiku sighed, "I'll do it."
"Excellent." Raidon said with a predatory grin. "I leave you to pray." With a flash of an explosion, Yuki Raidon exited the stage.
Yasashiku stared after him as the clock struck the nine o'clock hour. 'What have I just done?'
******
Battousai watched the exchange between clear leader and terrified follower with morbid fascination. He had seen Yasashiku ascend the stairs and had followed him up under the cover of trees. He had situated himself in a large and ancient oak tree, just outside the shrine's grounds. From there, he could see the entire exchange, as well as the hidden warrior who watched the leader, Yuki. Battousai mentally laughed at the incompetence of the leaders warrior. He had not even noticed him when the full weight of his stare was focused on the larger bodyguard. The incompetence of the man never ceased to amaze the slender swordsman.
No wonder they need me... Battousai thought with a secret smile.
Refocusing on the men below, Battousai pieced together the man from the target information provided to him. Both tall and dark haired... Battousai thought contemplatively. Suddenly, the moonlight caught Raidon's eyes as he flashed his face in anger. red....not him then. So, it's the fool. Easy. Battousai leaned back in the tree to watch the exchange, noting with pleasure the terror in his targets eyes.
'Battousai!' Kenshin's voice cut through his subconscious, 'why not target the leader? Then the war would end!'
Fool. Battousai said condescendingly, Have you already forgotten the first rule of a samurai?
'Of course not!' Kenshin replied indignantly, 'Always follow orders!' Kenshin mentally blinked and looked down, abashed.
See. Besides, if Yamagata assassinated the leader first, the movement would fall to chaos, leaving it pray to a crueller leader and opening the door to desperate genocide. No, Battousai shook his head softly, the best way to destroy an organization like this is to remove the roots first; then it can't grow back.
'Ah...' Kenshin breathed, amazed at the insight into the psyche he deemed forever bloodthirsty and cruel.
What? Did you think I did this without thought? Battousai questioned, hurt, you wound me!
Kenshin blinked. 'I was wrong.'
Hmph! Take that mister I'm-so-high-and-mighty!-look-at-me-I-don't-kill! 'Hey!'
Battousai abruptly broke off the internal dialogue as Yuki disappeared in a flashing explosion. Battousai blinked, how in all the hells did he do that? He's more dangerous than I gave him credit for....
The assassin guarding Yuki left with the explosion, leaving Battousai free to work his bloody magic.
See Kenshin, this man is willing to supply the Shinsengumi with deadly weapons for money. Don't try to defend him.
Without waiting for his reply, Battousai moved silently from his tree to the large white birch by the archway. A swallow burst out of the tree, startling both Kenshin and Yasashiku.
'A swallow...' Yasashiku thought uneasily, 'A harbinger of death...' With renewed haste, Yasashiku rushed toward the archway, pulling the folds of his gi closer around his muscular frame. He hadn't brought a sword, thinking it would insult the leader. 'What a fool I am!' He berated himself. "I must get home to Aiko, she must be worried sick by now." He muttered to himself, unaware that harbingers true warning was not merely symbolic.
Battousai watched him approach the tree he crouched in. Thumb clicking his sword out of its lock, he tensed, waiting for the moment. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. So, this'll end everything....
Yasashiku passed under the arbor of the tree.
NOW! Battousai thought. With the grace of a cat, the vengeful assassin leapt down silently, just in front of Yasashiku.
"For your crimes, I'm here to deliver Heaven's Justice upon your head." Battousai said, voice deadly in its icy softness.
Yasashiku's eyes widened to impossible size. 'No!' He thought desperately. Battousai's sword flashed from its sheath, swinging in a deadly arc. Yasashiku was sliced from shoulder to waist before he had time to scream. The feel of flesh giving out beneath his blade gave Battousai a rush he hadn't felt in a long time. Yasashiku fell to the ground, face down, life rapidly leaving his essence on the staircase.
"Ai....ko..." Yasashiku gasped. Battousai glanced down, eyebrows raised at his will to live. With clenched features, he drove the sword home through his neck, silencing that will forever.
'NOOO!!!!' Kenshin's voice screamed out in his head. Kenshin fell to his knees within the chamber of his mind, tears of blood running down pale features from lifeless violet eyes.
Battousai cringed at the sound of his alters anguish. I'm sorry....Kenshin. Battousai whisked the blood of his blade and placed the sword back in its sheath. The first kill in ten years. A promise thrown into chaos. A man never to be the same again.
Battousai glanced up at the men scurrying to come clean up the mess. Fools, only scrambling for their reward.
Amber eyes devoid of emotion glanced out at the city bathed once more in the light of the Killer's Moon. Clouds began to cover the city as a wolf's cry echoed into the distance. The era of new blood had dawned as the clear night became covered in blackened rage.
On the night of the Killer's Moon, for the first time in ten years, Kenshin's scar began to bleed.
TBC.....in Chapter 6: Shattered Mind