Winter: Deadly Titles from the Past
Snowflakes floated upon the thin margin of air as they slowly descended toward the field of snow. Trees, leaves covered in snow, stood like monoliths across the valley. A small trial of small footsteps had implanted themselves within the snow field. Sprinkling onto the surface of snow was the scarlet liquid of blood. A sword was drenched to the tip, a hyper-ficial blade with a tip that sliced through the molecules of the wind. An assassin, two sword sheaths slabbed across the waist, drenched with snow and sweat, raced across the wind.
Snow-frosted leaves began to slide through the upper crust of snowflakes, wrapping themselves around the dark-clothed figure, swarmed with hair that of jet black. A sigh was caught in the icy breath of the assassin.
"The Battousai has returned, that he has…"
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As daybreak began, the light of day crept slowly to a little village sheltered within the trees. In the middle of town was a small edifice, protected under the walls of bamboo serving as its guard and perimeter. Sunshine poured through the shoji of the Kamiya Kashin Dojo, shining upon Kamiya Kaoru's smiling face.
"Oh… Kenshin…" she clutched her pillow and started shaking it absentmindedly, "Hahaha… gotcha cornered now… snore…"
A swift noise signaled the shoji opening, suddenly waking her from her slumber, "Huh—who?" her right hand covered her eyes as they gently began to open.
"Aye missy, somethin's come up." Said a low, hollow voice.
"Sanosuke?" she muttered quietly, "…Let me rest…" she turned over.
"The police are at your door." He said passively, "Well, if you want them to wait…"
Hey eyes snapped open, "PoLiCe?!" she threw the blankets off of her, "What happened?!"
"Why don't you ask them?"
Once at the entrance, the policeman looked at her sternly, "There are reports of ten assassinations last night." He told Kaoru, "Of a man with a cross-shaped scar. Some claim him to be Battousai."
Kaoru blinked, "Hey, are you saying that you're accusing…"
"Our information states that Himura Kenshin, the Battousai, lies within this edifice. We need to continue our investigation."
"Are you really sure that was him?" Sano whipped, "Kenshin was staying here last night."
"Actually we're not." The officer said, "According to the reports, they say the assassin was one with black hair."
Kaoru sighed, "Well, that's about that." A sudden weight in her heart was just lifted, "What harm could it be? Come in…" she led them to where Kenshin was staying, "Hey, Kenshin, I'm sorry to intrude but…" the shoji opened to reveal an empty futon and a neatly made blanket.
"Kenshin?!" Kaoru demanded, "KENSHIN?!"
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Along the dirt road in the outskirts of town, Kenshin Himura walked down through the streets, "It's been a long while since I've dreamt of killing." He thought quietly, "It's even more odd that I haven't been able to think about anything except this funny premonition. It doesn't seem like it… wants to disappear."
He looked at the small fountain of a hadoyaka na onna with water streaming through the port of her mouth. Suddenly the sky above turned red as dawn and the sweet girl had gallons of blood pulsing out from her throat. His eyes bolted open.
Suddenly, everything started turning blue again, and the water and sky turned to its original color. Everything ceased to be red except his hair.
"The Revolution…" he muttered, his eyes narrowing, "Why has it come back to haunt me?"
------
"Have you heard?" The officer asked, "The style was identified as Hiten Mitsurugi sword technique. There's no one else that could have been able to pull that off but the legendary Battousai the Manslayer. His absence in the Kamiya Dojo is proof leading to the fact that last night he assassinated those ten men."
"Were these men any particular men by chance?" Sano asked.
"Former members of the Shinsengumi." The officer said. Kaoru let out a sharp cry. The Shinsengumi were the political group that were Kenshin, the Battousai's, mortal enemies during the Revolution; which marked the reformation ending the Tokugawa and Shogunate Government and beginning the new, democratic Meiji government.
"The assassination took place near Yamasaki last night." The officer continued, "Which is not too far from this area."
"I'm sure that Kenshin didn't do it." Kaoru protested, "He wouldn't do such a thing, not unless something very threatening came his way."
"Yeah, Kenshin would never do something like that, especially after keeping his vow to not kill for 10 years." Sano proclaimed strongly, "It wouldn't be at all like Kenshin. He wouldn't just kill some Shinsengumi because he felt like it!"
"Yeah, then what about the witnesses hearing the assassin yelling 'Hiten Mitsurugi' right before slaying his opponents? The coroners, even those from the revolution, got a chance to check the slain bodies of the assassin. There is no doubt that the skill of Battousai was at hand here."
"That's not strong enough proof, what about the black hair?"
"What about it? What happens if you never saw his real hair before? What happens if it was just part of his disguise to wear "red" hair?"
Kaoru slid her hand to her eyes to protect it from their view, "No! Kenshin didn't… he couldn't…"
"I couldn't do what, Miss Kaoru?" A small voice from the distance echoed.
"There YOU ARE!" The officer screamed, "Get him!" more officers, hidden in the bushes, leaped forward into view.
Kenshin stood in the distance, "Miss Kaoru… what is…?"
Sano socked the officer hard in the face and lifted him by the collar, suddenly stopping all the tension, "You rat! Why didn't you tell us you were hiding more behind the bushes! Scum!" All of the officers shifted their eyes to the bold man who just dared to hurt their leader.
"Wait Sano!" Kenshin called, "We don't want any violence, that we don't!"
"Oh please, Kenshin, you don't even want to get me started on what this government idiot has been telling us."
"Sano, Let him go." Kaoru said seriously, "How rude!"
"Look who you're talking to! He's the one who smuggled in all those cops!"
"He's had good reason to, and you didn't!" she argued
Sano grunted and let him down slowly. The officer stood up and wiped the dirt from his uniform, "I apologize." He said gruffly, "I was a little too brusque…"
Kenshin eyed the other officers around him, "It seems like there is something you would like of me." He said, dropping the intonation of his voice.
"Yes, we would like to know who assassinated the ten former members of the Shinsengumi last night on the 10th of December" the Officer said, "There is evidence that the assassin used a very rare technique, Hiten Mitsurugi."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed.
"Do you have any idea who may have attempted this?"
Kenshin hesitated. The wind blew around him. "Officer, I am sure that the assassin which you have heard about is not me. Although I alone have believed that I was the only one who could perform the Hiten Mitsurugi style it is unclear to me how it could have been obtained from another, that it is. My master never told me of another student that he taught in the past."
"Is it possible that this new Battousai may be a much younger student taught after you?"
"Hiten Mitsurugi is a very old and almost unheard of style now in this era of the Meiji government. It was only used by the Battousai ten years ago during the revolution. I would see no reason why someone, even my master, would bring it forth to the open after such a long time, that I cannot."
"If you cannot, then what do you have to say about yourself?" The officer demanded.
"All I can tell you is that if you wish for the assassin to continue killing staged targets and harm innocent people, you can pretend I am lying and try to arrest me as we speak."
There was a long pause.
"No." The officer shook his head, "I'm not that stupid. Himura." He looked forward at him, "I'll give you four days. That should be enough. Clear your name, or I'll have to arrest you" He made a signal with his hat, and his men became at ease, "That is all. Goodbye." They left silently
"Yeah! You run, you bunch of wussies!" Sano screamed after them
"Sano, calm down." Kaoru told him, "Kenshin…"
Kenshin continued to look forward. He didn't seem like he heard her voice. Suddenly, he spoke.
"I have always encountered enemies in the past, but never before have I imagined facing one who possesses the same technique as me." He said in a low voice, "I must find this assassin and stop him as soon as possible."
Kaoru went up to him and started yelling at him with a funny face, "You jerk! You can't just start wandering around without a bite of food! At least join us at the Akabeko Restaurant before you think of fighting again!" Kenshin went swirley-eyed and started groaning in guilt again.
------
"Aye Kenshin," Sano peered at him, "have any clue on what we're dealing with here?"
The Akabeko was as comforting as ever. Kenshin had agreed to take a bite before he began his journey to Yamasaki that evening.
He rubbed his chin while he looked at everyone gathered around the table. Miss Megumi, Yahiko Miyoji, Kamiya Kaoru…
"Kenshin…" she suddenly said, "Are you—are you sure it wasn't you?" everyone almost practically spat out all the rice from their mouth, except Kenshin, that is.
Kaoru looked down, "I'm just saying—"
"Are you crAzY?" Yahiko suddenly started shouting, as he always does, "Kenshin would never do something like that!"
"Well I—"
"Whatever you were drinking last night, tell me what it is." Sano jumped in, "That way when I drink it I'll be crazy enough to take on Majime Saitou again."
"Oh please." Miss Megumi said, "Even if you were drunk, you'd be shivering in your pants about that man. The former leader of the Shinsengumi, Kenshin's arch-rival."
"No I would NOT!" Sano protested, "Plus, that was only a side joke. Look" He blinked and looked at Kaoru, "If you think Kenshin was able to—HeY! What are you doing, Yahiko!"
"ow… that hurts quite a lot… that it does…" Kenshin said, in a kind voice, although Yahiko was tugging at his hair like crazy.
"SeE?! It pRoves iT!" Yahiko shouted, "Kenshin DiDn'T dO iT! It'S noT likE he WaS weaRiNg a WiG YA KnoW! His HaIr is ReD!"
"God dammit Yahiko-" Sano started to shout, "Stop being so goddamn loud!"
"Yahiko you should listen to Sano—" Kaoru said, "Don't take it seriously everyone, I didn't mean anything like—"
Kenshin smiled "I understan-"
"WhAt arE yOU saYiNg?! ThEn WhAt Do YoU thInK hApPenNed?!"
"Ok, that's it—" Sano said, covering his ears, "Yahiko, one more time and I'm going to seriously shut you up!"
"I'D liKE tO sEE yoU trY!" Yahiko screamed standing up.
"Woah-woah everyone…." Kenshin said, his eyes closed, smiling, "Nows not the time… that it's not."
"Looks like Yahiko was eating some sugar last night" Kaoru muttered under her breath.
"Honestly I don't think Yahiko needs anything to spruce him up." Megumi said, chuckling, "He seems to be naturally enticed. It's cute."
"Cute?!" Sano said, "I don't know where you bought your Dictionary, Missy, but mine says it's a-pain-in-the-rear-"
"oH yEaH!?" Yahiko said, about to rise, "I'll ShOw yOu A PaIn iN thE reAr—!"
Kenshin stood up, "I think I'm finished, that I am." He said, his quick action making everyone fall silent, "I'll be heading on my way now, thanks everyone."
"I'M coMiNG toO!" Yahiko said, standing up.
"Oh, no you're not." Sano said, rising himself, putting a distance of about a few feet above Yahiko. He looked down at him and grinned, "Not the way you are. Calm down, kiddo."
Yahiko grunted and sighed, "Fi—ne." he said calmly. Sano sighed in relief acknowledging Yahiko's change in energy.
Yahiko made a determined face. "I want to see you find this impersonator, Kenshin. He's probably just a cheap fake."
"Let's hope so—" Kaoru said softly, "Uh-" she rose her voice, "Kenshin?"
Kenshin turned towards her, "Yes?"
"You—it wasn't you, I know it wasn't." she said, "But—can you just… tell me it wasn't you? It'd make things a lot more easier."
Kenshin blinked, "I—can't." he said, his voice grew suddenly serious. Yahiko's eyes widened, and so did Sano's, "I had a dream last night." He said, "That I was Battousai."
Megumi came with a start, "Sir- Ken! You can't possibly think—"
"I don't know." Kenshin said, "I find it hard to believe there is another who possesses the same sword skill as myself." He paused, "It is even harder to acknowledge the fact that there was a cross shaped wound on their cheek."
"Someone sure is trying their best to be like you-" Sanosuke said, "How do you know he's just not some crazed fan of yours?"
"F-a-N?" Kaoru dropped her mouth open, "What kind of question is that?"
Sano shrugged.
"It's not that easy to kill 10 former Shinsengumi members in one night." Kenshin said, "I will try to look at all the possibilities. But I will not be able to make a consensus until I go to Yamasaki."
"Kenshin, let us come with you." Sano said, "Otherwise this brat-" he pointed at Kaoru, "will start—"
"Hey, I can hear you I'll let you know!" Kaoru said, "And it doesn't matter if he wants us to come or not, we're going."
"Yeah." Said Yahiko, "Let's go."
Miss Megumi sighed, "I wish I could go adventuring with all you kids." She said, acknowledging Kaoru and Yahiko, "But an emergency can come about anytime. I'll have to stay in the village and assist Doctor Gensai."
"Ok, seriously, how many times do you have to remind us?" Sano asked, trivially.
"When it comes to men like you, it's almost a necessity to remind you."
"Whatever—" Sano turned to Kenshin, "Ok, everything's set, let's fly."
Kenshin looked alarmed, "But what happens if I find that—"
"Look Kenshin." Sano said, "Unless some psychic was able to hypnotize you, it wasn't you who did anything; so let's get a move on already!"
Kenshin smiled, "Thanks… ok everyone, to Yamasaki."
------
As they crossed the dirt path to Yamasaki, some peddlers who were on their way towards the path where Kenshin had just come from looked at them peculiarly. They peeked through their yellow straw hats and lowered their hunched backs to just get a stare. Some of them continued on, not acknowledging the man with the cross-shaped scar and the company around him.
As dawn neared, a wonderful sunset began to take place, settling the sun down on a village covered by the red-orange hue. Kenshin stopped walking all of a sudden. Kaoru, who was walking beside him, stopped too, surprised.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"… I sense something here." Kenshin declared. Yahiko and Sano, who were ahead of them at that time, slowed down and turned around to look at them.
"Another man-slayer?" Sano asked.
"No… it feels swift, like a ninja." Kenshin said, "A presence lurking in the shadows." He squinted his eyes, "It's an assassin." Kaoru took a stance nearby him. A dark silence passed over everyone. Suddenly, Kenshin sighed and his shoulders relaxed.
"What happened?" Sano asked, still tense.
"It's gone." Kenshin said, "That feeling… of an assassin…" he paused, "It's very familiar, that it is." His knuckles barred as he clenched his sword, "It's not safe, I will tell you that." Everyone stood still for a moment, still stunned by Kenshin's reaction, but they continued on their way until they reached the village.
"Hello." A plain voice projected towards them. They turned their heads to see a limping woman with a walking stick, around prime age, wrapped in bandages, "What seems to bring you here? There are rooms for the night to the left of the village, and towards the right there are restaurants. In the back are mostly residential areas and if you're interested in any bars there are--"
"You shouldn't really be out this late." Kenshin said, "I know you've been hired to do this, but you shouldn't during times like these."
"Especially with those injuries." Sano said, "What happened to you?"
"None of your business." She said plainly, clutching her arm, "I need the money anyway, that's the only way I can live. Without it I'm going to die anyway."
"I understand." Kaoru suddenly said, interrupting Sano from saying further more, "I apologize for my friend." She smiled at the woman but the woman continued to stare blankly at them.
"Be careful." Kenshin warned her, "I felt something very dangerous lurking in the distance, closer than you think.""
"I don't really care if I die." She said, suddenly looking at Kenshin in the eyes, "My parents died when I was six, and I've been living at the brink of life and death for so long by myself that it doesn't matter."
Kenshin blinked, "I'm sorry to intrude… but during the attack last night were you somehow involved? Are your injuries…?"
"Yes, but you can't rely on me for much details." She said, bluntly, "As I was running away I tripped and fell down. Lousy…" she patted her clothes with her palms, and a small dust cloud formed.
Kenshin smiled, "You should be more careful, that you should." He said, "Even with those bandages on I can tell from beneath those covers you look very attractive. You shouldn't force yourself to do things that can be harmful for yourself. I'm pretty sure if you looked at the bright side of life you'd be able to lead a meaningful future…"
"That I should?" she asked, trivially, copying his calm intonation, "No, that I can not." Kenshin found her little joke both cold and amusing at the same time.
"I hope you reconsider." He said, "Anyhow, I'm meaning to look for some information. Last night there were ten who were killed."
"That's correct. By the Battousai."
"I need to speak with the witnesses."
"There's only three. Including myself." She said, "Yon-san is in the Mirameki hotel located three buildings from the last down the path to your left. He's with the doctor but he is not expected to live. He was fatally attacked. Ishimo-kun is only 15, around this time he is either at the Izure Midori Restaurant or at his house, in the residential area. He actually saved me because the Battousai went after him and he was able to lure him away. Anyways, we alone are the three witnesses."
"It would be good to split up." Kenshin said, "Sanosuke, I want you to interrogate Yon-san in the Mirameki. Miss Kaoru and Yahiko, stick together and search for Ishimo. I'll stay right here with miss...."
"Yuki."
Kaoru blinked, "But Kenshin… is that necessary?"
"I want to have a talk with her."
Yahiko grinned from behind, "Worried?"
Kaoru blushed, "Well—yes!" she turned towards Miss Yuki, "I'm sorry, Miss, but if you didn't notice, it's getting darker. I think we should all be together just in case the assassin strikes…" She was right. They could hardly see each other's faces by now.
"She's got a point, Kenshin." Sanosuke said, "That guy killed 10 shinsengumi…"
"You have a point, it has gotten darker, but you must be sure to acknowledge that Yon-san may be dying any moment now and the ambiguity of Ishimo's whereabouts are enough to leave everyone running around for at least an hour. Furthermore if the assassin strikes he will attack the most vulnerable victim first; the one who is weakest. It could either be the boy, the man who is about to die, or me."
Everyone blinked and glared at Kenshin. Never before had he insisted against them.
"Why do you think he'd want to attack you?" Sano asked.
"Hey, what are you saying? It wasn't me talking." Kenshin said innocently, in a high voice.
"Huh?" They glanced towards Miss Yuki.
"What do you want to do?" She asked Kenshin, "He can attack any of us, who do you think he'll pick?"
Everyone looked back at Kenshin. Although they could barely see the outline of his face now, it was evident that he was thinking. Suddenly, he answered.
"I prefer splitting up." he said, "That way we can accumulate information faster. Miss Kaoru, don't worry, bring Ishimo back here as soon as you find him. Sano, stay with Yon-san. I highly doubt that the assassin will try to kill someone who is bound to death. We'll all rush together to the apartment once Miss Kaoru returns for safety."
"Kenshin…" Kaoru protested, "I think splitting up is good, but seriously if the assassin comes to Ishimo first… me and Yahiko may not be able to hold him off. Can you come with us? Yuki can come too…"
"I'll only slow you down." She said.
"Kenshin could carry you—"
"That leaves him defenseless if the assassin attacks." She said calmly, "He'd be an easy target, carrying me around."
"But… then WE'LL be defenseless." Kaoru said back, holding back her anger, "Kenshin, really, you should come along…"
"Miss Kaoru… you're--" Kenshin said, but then held back, "I'm sorry…you're better off alongside Yahiko rather than Yuki is. The assassin is more concerned about his victims. Also 'Battousai' may not know my strength, and he might be drawn towards one man other than two people protecting a witness."
Kaoru was about to scream at him: But she doesn't CARE if she dies, but she knew even if she said that Kenshin would want to protect Yuki anyways.
Although Kaoru was the daughter of a Swordsman, and she continued her father's legacy of the Kamiya Kasshin Kendo Style, her training was not sufficient enough to take on an assassin. Furthermore, her one and only apprentice, Yahiko, was only 11, and had only learned the Kamiya Kasshin Style for a year. They were definitely not experienced enough to fight an assassin together.
The purpose of the Kamiya Kasshin style was also a style not of battle. It was only an art that was created so one could improve discipline and self-confidence; which explained why Kaoru and Yahiko only wielded wooden swords, not real ones.
"I'm off." Sano said, "Ciao."
"Fine… Kenshin, be careful."
"Don't worry about me." Kenshin said.
Soon everybody had left, and snow started to fall from the sky. Kenshin and Miss Yuki were silent for awhile. Then she smiled, "Where do you want to talk?"
"Let's go where everything occurred." Kenshin said, seriously.
"Then follow me."
They walked outside the village and approached a wide meadow where a few trees were. By this time, snow had already collected among the tree branches and the meadow was filled with snow. She limped a couple more feet ahead of him, and then stopped. They stood together as the snow continued to pour, their clothes fluttering in the cold wind.
"It never occurred to me that someone else could have learned the Hiten Mitsurugi style." Kenshin said, silently, "It wasn't meant to kill."
"But it was used to kill, regardless." Yuki said, the wind fluttering her clothes.
"Yes, I know." He drew his sword, "It was…"
Yuki stared at him, "So you knew all along, didn't you?"
"Yes I did." Kenshin said, smiling seriously, "Although you were bandaged and limping, I did not fail to notice that your hair was jet black and that you wore a patch across your right cheek."
Yuki laughed, "I know…" she pulled the patch off her cheek, to reveal a cross-shaped wound. She quickly unwrapped and tossed the other bandages off her body, to reveal a samurai kimono, exactly like Kenshin's except it was dark blue, and two swords bounded across both her right and left hip.
"It wasn't until Shishio's defeat that I found out about your whereabouts." She said, calmly "I honestly thought you had died long ago."
"I do not know why you wish to challenge me… but no matter what skill you possess, it will have to surpass that of the Hiten Mitsurugi's ultimate attack in order to defeat me."
"Very well." She smiled maliciously and lunged towards him, taking him by surprise. She had left many of Kenshin's questions unanswered, but he decided he would fight now and ask questions later. She continued to rush towards him, without fear.
Kenshin's eyes widened, She knows I won't use it…although Kenshin knew he wanted to end this battle quickly, he knew that even his master and Aoshi Shinamuri had barely survived the Hiten Mitsurugi ultimate attack.
As she neared him he jumped into the air, "HITEN MITSURUGI RyUu SuItSuEn!"
As his katana was a hairs width away from her shoulder she had already grasped both Katana hilts with both hands from the right and left side, "HITEN MITSURUGI AMAKAKERU RYUU NO HIRAMEKI!"
Kenshin's eyes snapped wide open NO!
Suddenly, everything turned black.
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Kenshin Ending Theme Song...