DISCLAIMER: FIRST! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin nor Saitou Hajime (although I wish)... RK is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

OTHER: Okay... To those reading this story.. I took off most of the authors notes so please just read the notes from prior chapters... Also since fanfiction has this thing against answering reviewers in the story... If you would like to see my answers to your review, please check my profile and there I will post my answers/thoughts. I hope you enjoy the story. Critiques please, please let me know... What you hate.. What you like.. What I need to work on...

or italics are thoughts

others/sounds/etc

CHAPTER 38: Conscious and Unconscious Choices

The room was dark with only a sliver of light coming from the open window and the thin ray of light coming from the end of the corridor passing through the door which held the loud clangs of steel. Many times it echoed and squealed, as the two men pushed each other from one side to the other.

A kick followed by a punch sent the amber eyed man flying across the room, landing beside the wide-eyed young man. Just as soon as he landed, he makes a quick jump and ran forwards to make a thrust, his katana glimmering as he did so.

His emerald eyes were quick to see the vehement blade and parry it to the side. Another squeal. He lands a quick blow to his opponents shoulder and he could see him grimace in pain.

"That will teach you!" he cried. "To take that which has always belonged to me!"

He pulled the amber eyed man by the collar and pinned him against the wall. It was not too long though; the younger man kicked him in the stomach and bounced back, his katana making a diagonal slice. Had he landed fully, Akio's left arm would've been severed.

Saitou grinned, just a few more he would make that cut on Akio's shoulder even bigger. He will make the blood ooze out of him slowly and painfully. "I will kill you." He muttered under his breath. "I will kill you..."

"Eh? No samurai like yourself will get the best of me." Akio replied back as he ran towards his opponent, his sword slashing wildly. "You who has not seen the world! Who knows nothing! You should just perish like the rest who refuses change."

Saitou met Akio's sword from the top as it slipped towards the bottom at their swordguard. Both of them pushing each other in a battle of strength. Saitou was no match and he found himself bending backwards to avoid Akio's live blade. Without a choice he let himself fall on the floor and then quickly rolled himself on top of Akio. If he cannot win by sheer strength then he will win by technique. Making sure his sharp knee pounded on Akio's stomach, he proceeded to push his own blade towards his adversary's neck. Now the roles were reversed.

"You coward... Hiding yourself in the Mimawarigumi when you were a complete advocate of westerners all along!" Saitou hissed. "For not being loyal to Japan alone you should be killed, but I have promised that your death will be slow and painful." Saitou pushed harder slightly grazing Akio's neck, then he let go and stabbed Akio fully on his wounded shoulder. After digging his katana, he took it out sliced Akio's cheek. Content he stood up and gave Akio a kick at his side.

"Stand up you fool! Is this all you have to show? A pseudo-westerners superiority or should I say inferiority with a Japanese katana?" He spitted to the ground "I have not even showed you my specialty move... Yarou... Say hello to Enma for me."

Akio stood up while gripping his wounded shoulder, he dropped his sword to the ground. "Heh you do know that killing an high officer of the Mimawarigumi is considered treason, don't you? Even if your group was commissioned by the Shogunate... You will be court martialed."

"Eh? I don't care about that." Saitou laughed slowly and positioned himself for the gatotsu, a move he formulated while he was still in Tama. "This is my parting gift to you." He readied to strike.

Akio started laughing louder and louder. "You boy!" he said looking towards the door where Okita and another lady stood. "Watch as he commits treason."

Okita shook his head and looked at Saitou. "Saitou-san lets take him in for questioning!"

Saitou just shook his head. His eyes already blazing and his mind set at what he needed to do.

"Saitou-san!" Okita shouted. "He is right. Also he might have information which we could use! Saitou-san!!"

Saitou never wavered and proceeded to perform his gatotsu, when suddenly a scream enveloped the whole room.

"NO!!!!! Please don't!!!!"

He stopped mid-way. He knew the voice all too well. What now?

He looked towards Akio's side and saw Midori clinging to her husband. She was half-naked and could barely stand up but she still managed to shake her head vigorously.

"MOVE!" He shouted. "MOVE!! Do you not remember what he has done?"

She did not budge. "Suma... Hajime... You shouldn't... Please just arrest him."

Saitou in frustration threw his katana across the room landing at her feet.

Women! No! SHE is just plain CRAZY!

"Okita! Kuso! Take him and lock him up!" Saitou stormed towards the door. He was upset, enraged, disappointed and many other feelings which he could not describe at the moment. Baka! Baka! Midori you are baka!!!!

It happened in an instant. Akio saw the opening and reached just below his waist, under his hakama. He pushed Midori to the side and with a clear shot on Saitou's back he took aim. Never underestimate me...

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The younger man named Yuuta. Midori's beloved brother who had saved her and who had loved his sensei saw it first. The black shining metal with a long barrel pointed directly at his sensei's back. He had heard of those before, that which will soon replace warfare as they know it. Where did it come from? Why did he feel such a fear that he could not move, when he knew instinctively that his most precious person was in peril?

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Okita stood there wide-eyed as he pointed to Saitou to look behind him. "A gun! Get down Saitou-san!"

He started running but he knew he would not make it in time. The lady he came with started screaming but he could only hear them as muffled cries.

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Maybe it was only reflex... She had always wanted Hajime to have his purpose and she truly believed he had found it. Akio will not be Saitou's downfall, that was why she had stopped him from making a mistake. But seeing Akio with a gun pointed right at Hajime's back, it would've been the end of his purpose, his dream, his life and.. hers.. As Akio pushed her towards the floor, the katana came into view.

She forgot her pain.

She forgot the ramifications.

She forgot that he was her husband.

She stabbed him. Not once, not twice but maybe dozen of times. Making sure he was dead. Her hands once against sullied with blood. A dizzy feeling. A weakness overpowered her as she lost consciousness and slumped upon her husband's mutilated body, her hands still on Saitou's katana.

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He turned... He ran back towards her but it was too late. It happened in an instant. He held her checking to see if anything was wrong. He breathe a sigh of relief, she was only unconscious. He turned and looked up to see Okita standing beside him.

"Hurry we must get rid of the body..."

Souzi shook his head and guided Saitou's eyes to all the witnesses behind them, by the door with the courtesan he came with before.

"Chikuso..." Saitou cursed.

NOTES: Short and sweet (hopefully at least!) I only have either 1 (or maybe 2) to go and one epilogue... What will happen to Midori? Did you guys/gals see it coming? Of course you did... Sorry moi is not too creative... and I'm not good with fight scenes... sorry..