To Reveal All
Chapter 7: Revealing Memories
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: GOMENGOMENGOMEN for this chappie being so late… the Internet broke down at our Hall of Residence (for the three-millionth time), and then I moved back home for the holidays, where I don't exactly have a lot of Internet access… the point is, it's here!
? reviews! TRA has now passed the 50 review mark! hands out big chocolate cookies with '50' iced on top I love all you reviewers/thinks/ Hang on, no… I like the reviewers, they encourage me… I love Kenshin more… /realises who's reading this, panics/ Errr… hang on! I love the reviewers too!
Language Notes: Tatami matting is the woven-reed matting on the floor of traditional Japanese buildings.
The hamon of a sword is the wavy line on the blade. It marks where the blade was tempered. Check a Japanese swords website: www. swordmark. com/ katanaparts. gif (remove spaces) is a good diagram of the parts of a katana.
Warnings: PG-13 for violence and sexual situations/scenes in other chapters. No language warnings.
The shoji door opened, and Kenshin walked into the practice hall. Or rather, stalked. He no longer moved with the easy grace of the rurouni, but instead with the tense poise of the hitokiri, ready to pounce at the blink of an eye.
He strode over to the corner of the room, and opened a cupboard. In its corner, he pulled up the tatami matting, revealing the wooden floor. Drawing the sakabato, he tapped its hilt in the very corner of the cupboard, producing a hollow thonking, and a creak. The floor hinged up, and Kenshin caught it, lifting it out.
Kenshin reached into the cavity that was revealed. He lifted out a cloth-wrapped bundle. Carefully unwrapping it, he slowly revealed the long, smooth shape of a sheathed sword.
He clicked it out of the sheath.
It was a katana.
Ah, my deadly beauty. It's been too long since you last saw the light of day.
You're not going to use that in the rescue, are you? The Rurouni's voice was fearful and horrified. Kaoru-dono wouldn't approve of you killing people just to rescue her!
You know I hate that blunt stick you call a sword! Battousai snapped, frustrated.
Rurouni, oddly, snapped back. You have all the same memories as I do, Battousai! You know why I use the sakabato! I chose not to kill. I chose to become a rurouni, to lead a wandering life to make up for our sins!
Battousai snorted in reply. Noble, but misguided. Blood is the only way to pay for blood.
I won't kill, Battousai!
Who is in charge of this body, Rurouni? I am! Do you think that by simply saying 'I won't kill', you will influence me at all?
Yes. You remember how my feelings towards Kaoru-dono influenced you? This will also.
Battousai growled, frustrated. Rurouni was right. His resolution of 'no killing' was strong enough to influence Battousai not to make a kill.
Besides, Battousai, do you remember how you went mad?
Yes…
I had manifested, and I urged you not to kill… It could happen again.
---
Battousai stood in the wreckage of what had once been a Shinto shrine. Panting lightly, a feral grin spread across his face as his amber eyes took in the destruction he had wreaked.
This had been a shrine housing a sacred mirror. The locals believed it to be the body of the kami of the lake that lay nearby. The table on which the mirror had stood had tipped over, and the sacred mirror lay tumbled in a corner, where it had been kicked.
Slumped against the table was the torso of a man. His legs lay several feet away, where they had fallen when Battousai sliced him in half. The red doorposts had been splattered with a more meaty red – most of the guts of the soldier who was still gasping out his truncated life on the shrine's steps. Bodies were small, unmoving piles, and were scattered randomly across the shrine's floor, in puddles of blood and bodily fluids. Sectioned limbs made grotesque grave markers for those foolish enough to oppose Battousai.
Half-hidden behind the table, Battousai's target shivered in fear as the infamous assassin stalked closer. The killer was nearly silent, except for the wet slap-slap of a hakama dampened by blood.
A coughing, gasping sound manifested itself, and a young priestess stumbled, half-crouching, into the assassin's path. She had no obvious wounds, but the way she clutched her slim chest indicated that she had some major bruising there, if not cracked ribs.
"Get out of the way, girl," snarled Battousai. She had no reason to protect this scum.
"No! You…" cough, cough, "…defiled the shrine!" cough, cough, splutter. "And I give…" cough, "…this man…" cough, "sanctuary!"
She raised her head. Her brown eyes defied him, and despite the obvious pain, she straightened, still clutching her ribs.
"Out of the way, or I kill you!"
NO! You cannot!
The strange, gentle voice that Battousai had been hearing over the last week intervened. Battousai snorted at its panic at the thought of the death of one girl.
I can kill whoever I want, especially if they get in my way!
She's just a girl! Surely you can get around her without hurting her!
Waste of time. I need to get rid of the target, now. She's in the way, I warned her. She stays, she gets hurt.
Battousai lifted his red-stained katana. The priestess tilted her head forwards, resigned to her fate, awaiting his blade.
Battousai swung.
NOOOOO!
The katana swished close past the girl's shoulder. She stared up into the assassin's now-violet eyes in shock. He had missed!
"Girl… run…" The assassin's eyes were purple and pleading.
How dare you take over my body!
The girl should not die!
How dare…! How DARE!
A life needed saving!
Life needs saving!
Battousai laughed, a strange tone to his voice. He stumbled backwards as though he was reluctant to, but was forced. He stood in a shaft of light from the shrine's door. His blood-covered blood-red hair was aflame, and it seemed that his eyes flickered between violet and amber.
No matter what you say, I won't let her die, Battousai! The calm voice held a hint of puzzlement, now. Battousai had never acted like this before…!
Won't let die!
Battousai… Are you alright?
Alright? Alright? Battousai!
Insane… He's gone mad!
Kill! Kill! Tasty! Pretty blood!
No! The calm voice fought with the mad assassin as he lifted his katana over his head. Slowly, back and forwards, centimetre by painful centimetre, the two personalities vied for dominance.
Gold warred with violet in the glaring eyes.
Mine! Mine! I control!
No! You'll kill! I cannot let a man as powerful as Kenshin become worse than a hitokiri – become a demon!
Demon! Demon! Demon hides now!
Suddenly the presence of Battousai shrunk away from the calm voice's presence. Battousai?
Hahahaha! Fooled you! Kill! Pretty girl, pretty blood!
The calm voice grabbed control of Kenshin's body just before Battousai. He gasped out to the priestess "Go. I won't… uuuungh!... I'll restrain Battousai…"
---
You stole my body, Rurouni! You took what was not yours!
It is my body also, Battousai. I was created in this body just as much as you were. We are both parts of the same person, the same man. Your guilt created me, just as my need for battle is still present as you.
Battousai was silent. Then he stood, and slipped the old sword into the waistband of his gi, next to the sakabato.
Look, Rurouni, this isn't for me. It's for the boy, Yahiko. He needs a sword, and he doesn't have one. Happy, Rurouni?
Rurouni seemed to ponder that for a minute. Is it good to give the boy a sword? He is not going into battle with us, is he?
Of course he is, Rurouni! He is trained, and we need as much help as we can get.
I just don't think that one so young should be killing. Not in this peaceful era.
He is seventeen, Rurouni. He is a man. We first spilled blood when we were thirteen, yes, but we were a child, and he is a man full-grown. He will do better than we ever did.
True. And he will know that what he does is wrong, unlike us… And know not to kill if he can. Very well.
You should be glad I'm not taking it, Rurouni… There was a hint of need in Battousai's voice. He still wanted the katana, Rurouni realised.
Yes, Rurouni replied, trying to turn him away from taking the blade for himself. I know that you are a warrior, Battousai, and as such have the urge to kill, but it's beneath someone such as you to wield a katana against fools you can best with a sakabato.
That put the nail in the coffin. Battousai chuckled, obviously tickled by that idea. It'll be a challenge, I think, to see if I can win even with the stick.
I think you can, Battousai!
Of course I can, Rurouni! Let's go!
Kenshin rose, and slipped the katana into the belt of his gi, alongside the sakabato.
---
Kaoru knelt on the pillow, dark brows knitted as she formulated a plan. The kodachi lay on the matting beside her, waiting for her hand to its hilt.
I can't just go straight out the front door, can I? It's too obvious, and besides, I don't even know where it is! She growled quietly in frustration. "Mou!"
Oh, well, first things first. Go somewhere else, and hide the kodachi. She stood gracefully, and glided off down the hall. Turning down the next corridor, she paused at the first shoji, listening to see if it had any occupants. No-one seemed to be in it, and opening the door a crack revealed a deserted room. Quickly, Kaoru slipped inside, and slid the shoji shut.
Looking around the room, she saw the room contained a writing desk. Slipping over to it, she pulled out a clean rag, used to wipe brushes, and rapidly wiped the geisha makeup off her face. A few quick yanks pulled out the combs and ribbons that secured her elaborate hairstyle, and she returned it to its customary high ponytail with the blue ribbon that she'd had it in before. I'll be less noticeable if I'm not a geisha…
Unsheathing the kodachi, carefully cut the seam of the kimono near the top of her thighs. If she walked smoothly, even if it was quickly, the seam would appear normal, but if she needed to, a quick tug at the hanging thread, and it would split, leaving her legs free for battle.
Rising, she loosened her obi, and slipped the kodachi sheath into her kimono. With its end still poking out, she sheathed the blade, and slid it down, concealing it between the swell of her breasts. She pulled the kimono's flaps tighter over the hilt, making sure it was entirely concealed, but within easy reach. Re-tightening the obi, she felt the cold sheath slap against her thigh, and it left an icy trail on her legs as she stepped out towards the door.
Once again, she checked for any signs of life before stepping into the corridor. She moved rapidly through the halls, searching for the exit. This place is huge! It must be a palace, or something!
A palace…! Suddenly, Kaoru realised where she must be. The huge old house near the centre of Tokyo, not far from the 'Red Sakura' teahouse. The Kokuryukai House. I was right, we were captured by the Kokuryukai! But that doesn't help me find where the way out is…
---
Sano strode down the hall to Kenshin's room. As he lifted his hand to knock, the shoji slid open, and he was faced by the still-amber-eyed Kenshin.
Okaaaay… he's still the Battousai… "Um, Kenshin. We know where Kaoru and Megumi and the rest of the geishas might be."
"Where?" Sano was again amazed at the commanding tone that Battousai had. Kenshin would never normally have such assurance. Though he still moved with the grace of a warrior, and could use his sword like one, he never used to have the confidence of one. He was almost always the humble rurouni, his battle-knowledge never coming to light.
Perhaps it's that this is a life-or-death situation… Sano grimaced. If Kenshin went Battousai every time he – or someone he loved – was threatened…
"They were kidnapped by the Kokuryukai Gang, as Kamiya said."
"Ah," was Kenshin's only reply.
Sano wanted a longer answer. "How are we going to get them out, Kenshin?"
Kenshin's face was expressionless as he answered, "The best idea is to confront the boss, Shishio, directly, and challenge him to a duel. The Kokuryukai, leaderless, are useless, and will be easy to dispose of."
"WHAT? Dammit, Kenshin, are you suicidal or something?"
Kenshin turned his golden gaze on his friend, and an unamused smile adorned his lips. "I am the Hitokiri Battousai. Have you not heard of the atrocities I have committed?"
"Yeah… but…"
"The sins I have committed, unknown, were ten times worse than those you have heard of." The redhead turned and stalked off down the hall, leaving his friend dumbfounded. Sano gulped, then reluctantly followed the warrior. He'd heard of Battousai killing fifty men in one battle… He did worse things?
As he followed the Kenshin to the dojo's main hall, Sano noticed two sword sheaths poking out behind the redhead's back. Odd… where did he get the second, and why?
His question was answered when Kenshin strode into the practice hall, and went over to Yahiko, who was kneeling on the floor with Tsubame, drawing a map.
"Yahiko Kamiya." The young man looked up at the Battousai, and rose. He was nearly the same height as the older man, but somehow, Kenshin's aura made him feel smaller, as if he were a little kid again.
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you have a katana?"
"No, I don't. When Father died, his sword was sold to pay debts. I wish we didn't have to, but…"
"Then this is for you." Kenshin hooked the sword sheath out, and clicked out the blade. Yahiko took the hilt carefully, and slid it out of the sheath, holding it up to the light.
The light from the open dojo door shimmered off the blade. The curve of the katana was perfect, and its wavy hamon appeared to move as he tilted it. Up and down its edge were numerous tiny scars, and nicks in the blade. This was obviously a battle-katana that had been well used. As Yahiko tilted it this way and that, he saw that in some lights, the blade appeared to be red rather than the usual blue-grey of steel.
"Kenshin… this is going to seem a strange question, but, why does the blade look red sometimes?"
"Ah, you can see it?" The Battousai smiled, a strange cold grin. "That is blood."
Yahiko nearly dropped the katana in shock. "Blood?"
"Yes. That is the blade I once wielded, when I was known as Hitokiri Battousai, not Rurouni Kenshin."
---
A tall man, dressed in a white, red-bordered cloak handed a young, red-headed man a katana.
"Kenshin, with this new sword, you become a samurai. Remember, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is a style that must be used the right way."
"Yes, Master Hiko."
---
A tall man, dressed in black, handed a young, red-headed man, with a cross-shaped scar in his cheek, a katana.
"Now, Kenshin, with this new sword, you become Hitokiri Battousai. Use your Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu to bring a new era to Japan."
"Yes, Commander."
---
An old artisan handed a red-headed man, with a cross-shaped scar in his cheek, a sakabato.
"So, what's this for? A new sword's a new life, I always say."
"Yes, sir. It is."
---
Kenshin slid the sheath out of his waistband, and handed it to Yahiko. "A new sword is a new life, Yahiko. Give this sword a new life."
"I'm not worthy of a sword this good, Kenshin!"
"You are better than that sword, Yahiko. You do not crave blood as it does."
"I'll use it in a way to make you – and Kaoru – proud, Kenshin!" Yahiko's youthful enthusiasm at being entrusted with such a beautiful gift overflowed.
"If you want to make Kaoru-dono proud, Yahiko, we have to rescue her first."
Author's Notes: Just a quick series of flashbacks there. And Kenshin giving his katana to Yahiko… better hope that he doesn't break it! I know I changed the way that Kenshin was given the sakabato, but this is an AU fic, remember/grin/ I do love the scene where he's given it in the anime, though. It's really touching.
Longer chapter! The plot is just getting more and more twisted, too. Wait until the next chapter – it gets worse!
Review! Please! Onegai!
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers.
Peachie-Chan – Never forget that Kaoru can kick butt when she needs to… and yes, I may put her in the fighting. It just depends which way my Muse decides to turn me…
half-breed-demon-fox - winces I can just hear that Megumi laugh… I bet you loved this chapter!
kenshinlover2002 – Yes, I wanted it to seem that Aoshi is evil. But no, you'll have to wait for the next chapter before the full explanation comes out. Unfortunately, you're not quite on the right track with that… you'll just have to wait and see. /evil grin/
Ranger Do'Urden - trumpets Congratulations, you are my 50th reviewer! Anyway, writing chapters ahead of time is good idea, as it helps you know where the story is going, and whether it'll work well. Don't worry, I have every intention of finishing this story. Muse-chan is being good – not confuzzling me, or munting the plot plan – so update should be soon.
Sosoru – Yes, I intended this to move fast. It helps keep the reader from being bored… and besides which, I don't think I could bear writing 20 chapters' worth of TRA… that would be exhausting. Almost on track with your guess of the plot – well done!
Pixel-the-evil-fairy – Yes, Misao does have 'pull' with Aoshi… and, yes, I view that as a good thing/grin/