If Only Things Were Different
By Penjutsu
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! A lot of positive feedback, so I shall continue. Sorry for the delay, but I was unable to get anything done during winter break, so please forgive me. Disclaimer: Despite certain rumors being exchanged between the voices in my head, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Stupid voices.Chapter 1: Kyoto
The Shinsengumi patrols were getting more frequent, whom he largely avoided, which meant he was ever closer to Kyoto. Kenshin didn't even know why he was even going there, but he was forever the wanderer; the protector of the innocent. There were a few who tried to challenge him, and found the edge of his sword instead.
Why should I worry? My skills have no equal.
He cursed himself for sounding like Shishou, and all that arrogance that came with. He was sent to give a present and to retrieve more sake, only this time it had to be on the far end of Kyoto. What a pain.
He quickly looked up when he heard the howl of a wolf. The sky was red; it was 1864, six years after the Black Ships came and sparked a revolution. No doubt someone had died tonight. He just kept walking until he reached his destination.
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Katsura Kogoro, as well as the other revolutionary leaders, jumped up when he heard the howl. Then the screams came. The Shinsengumi were attacking the Ikedeya, there was no other possibility. Katsura and his entourage made an escape through a passage in the floorboards, but it would not hold them.
Of all the men, one stood up. "Perhaps it would be best for me to hold these dogs here," declared Katsura's new Hitokiri, Shishio Makoto.
Katsura smiled,"Very well, meet me at the usual place, we may need to move our operations." Shishio only nodded as Katsura closed the floorboards behind him.
They ran out through the back, quickly through the alleyways. The sounds of the Shinsengumi were not far behind. Everything was going wrong. As they made another turn around a corner to an alley connecting to the main street, there was yet another division waiting for them.
Damn, is there no way out? Katsura's brain was reeling; he had to think of an escape. It was a most precarious position.
"Charge through them, break through them!" He yelled. Hopefully it would catch them off guard and give them an escape; they were so close to the safe house.
As the swordsmen ran forward and rushed them, the Shinsengumi simply ducked down and outstretched their swords, using the swords much like pikes. The tactic worked flawlessly, impaling the few who had mistakenly charged, blood covering the dirt they had just stood upon. The others were just cut down mercilessly.
Katsura knew then that there was no escape.
How did they know? Is there a spy? But he did not even bother to answer those questions, for he was about to die. And when the Shinsengumi finished, the revolution might not even come about.
A single, young Shinsengumi member stepped forward.
"I am Okita Soji, 1st Division Captain of the Shinsengumi, and this is the end."
Just then another man leapt down from the roof of the top of a building.
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Kenshin had followed the clang of swords and screams to this alley, and there was only two lone men standing there, about to be slaughtered. Being who he was, he couldn't let that happen. He jumped off the top of a building down between the Shinsengumi and its prey.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you kill these men. Leave now."
Okita and his men broke out laughing.
"I think you had best learn your place peasant. Step aside." Okita finished, as he began to cough up some blood. The tuberculosis was starting to get to him.
"I won't kill a sick man." Now Okita was offended. Such words from a peasant, unthinkable!
"Not to worry, you won't be killing anyone." Okita leisurely thrust his sword with a gatotsu, but not a very strong one. From his opponent's ki he thought he might have an interesting fight, but he hadn't even drawn his sword. A pity to kill a man so defenseless, it would soon be all over.
Out of the blue his red-haired opponent sliced horizontally, straight from the sheath, knocking his sword away with such force that he staggered off-balance. Kenshin took a step forward, closing the distance and put his sword to Okita's throat.
"I won't kill a sick man, but I will kill a man after my life." Kenshin calmly stated. The rest of the Shinsengumi couldn't believe what they were seeing, two children fighting with more skill than them, one with a sword to their captain's neck.
Okita was furious, he let his overconfidence get the better of him, and now he was paying the price. But this man spared his life, so he would not make the same mistake twice. Okita quickly rotated his hand, the end of the blade now touching Kenshin's. It wouldn't stop a full swing, but it would block Kenshin from slicing his throat. With that he jumped back and regained the distance between them.
Kenshin could tell he was serious now, and that this teenager was choc full of skill with a sword. He had barely been able to stun him for that long, and his opponent wasn't even trying. They stared at each other for a second, until the second division that had pursued Katsura arrived.
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Saito Hajime ran around the corner and came to a dead stop, only to see Okita and a stranger staring each other down.
"Where are they?!" He exclaimed furiously. In the brief exchange that had occurred, Katsura and other survivors had fled. Saito looked over to the stranger.
"Who is this?!"
Kenshin turned his head, "No one." With catlike reflexes he jumped up onto a box, then window ledge, and then to the top of the building, and disappeared from sight.
Saito quickly ran across to other side of the building, waiting for this new adversary to come down, but the figure never jumped across. Saito made his way to the roof, but there was no one there.
"Alert the gate guards!" he yelled to a member. Saito walked over to Okita.
"Tell me all that happened."
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Kenshin was well out of Kyoto, sake in tow. He would make his way back to the mountain to his beloved Shishou, who probably missed him as much as staying sober during a festival. While determining how badly he would get beat up for no reason, a caravan was passing him on the road, heading to Edo.
"I want to thank you." Came a voice from behind. Kenshin spun around.
"My name is Katsura Kogoro, leader of the Choshu. You saved my life and others, and gave the revolution another chance. I would like you to use your sword to help the cause."
"I'm very sorry, but no. Perhaps if you could convince me that your revolution will benefit the people, and not just some excuse to overthrow the current government. Or tell me you won't use me as a pawn for your own ideals, hmm?"
"I see…" Katsura thought for a moment. "Nothing in life is certain. I will not lie to you and I can make no guarantees. But you see life here. The feudal system has allowed bandits and other groups to run wild, innocents to die, an oppressive caste system put in place…the list goes on. But should you ever change your mind, I will be in Edo." With that, he left.
Kenshin was drawn to the man, and for some reason, he knew that someday he would take up that offer.
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A/N: I'm going to do a little comment section and a history section. First, the comments:
Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it! I'm back from winter break finally, so its back to the ol' word processor. And this one is pretty long.
Don't know if I should add Tomoe or not, but some interesting stuff will be happening (seeing as I formulate my plans on the spot, muhahaha).
Oh, and before I forget, please review. It makes me feel good on the inside. Oh, and sorry for the lack of combat, I'll do better next time.
Now for the History:
In 1864, Commodore Perry forced the Tokugawa Shogunate to stop preventing trade by force. When the Tokugawa accepted the demands, many believed the Tokugawa was weak, which started the revolution. At first assasintaions were planned, but the Shinsengumi, hired by the Tokugawa, made deadly blow to the operation (as seen in this story).
There was no real official change of power until 1866, which I'll go into more detail next chapter.