I'm sorry it took so long to update this story. I'm afraid my American History class has been keeping my mind pretty much occupied on a different period of history in the world. Well anyway here you are. I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to review and let me know what you think.


Chapter 3: To Live by the Sword


Tokio strolled through the grounds the following morning. She didn't really have a destination in mind or an objective. She had long since completed her morning exercises with her sword and now her mind was wandering elsewhere.

This Saito seemed like the reliable sort. A little on the sober side, but that was probably an asset considering the line of work they were doing. She couldn't help but wonder just how skilled he was with his katana. A part of her wanted to find out but another part of her knew that he would prove to be quite skilled. It was her martial sense that said that and it was rare for it to be wrong.

Well it didn't matter tonight it would become apparent just how skilled he was. She looked down at the letter that was in her hands and wondered how things were going to turn out.

In the short time she had served here she had already been singled out as a skilled fighter and a leader but she wondered if her tactical abilities were anywhere near where they should be for an operation like this. One way or the other this had to be a success.

After all the code of the Roushi-gumi prohibited the running from a fight. To run meant death. She could only hope to bring everyone through this raid alive. Well, except for the traitors they were being sent to kill of course. She had better do a good job to. There were only three of them going and she was in charge.


"There is really only one way in or out of the room. As long as we attack from there and keep them from running away it will be easy to illuminate them with our swords. I'll go in first." Tokio was hoping there wouldn't be any objections to her plan. It was simple but it should work. If things were simple there would be more room for maneuverability. At least that's what the real Fusanaga Soushi used to say. "Saito you guard the door while the two us fight. If any of the enemy get passed us. Kill them. We cannot afford a failure."

Nobody saidanything at all.


The three of them watched quietly from the shadows. The light blue fabric of their uniforms made them visible but they did their best to stay out of site. At least until all of the enemy had gone upstairs.

Tokio put her hand upon the hilt of her cousin's blade, and drew strength from his dreams. Taking a deep breath she broke into action. The only reason she knew that the others were with her was the sounds of their footsteps lightly pounding on the roads and then on the floorboards of the small inn.

In moments they were up the stairs heading for the room where the traitors to the Shogunate were having their discussion. Guards were on the premises but swiftly and silently each was silenced with a single stroke of their blades until they had reached their destination.

The words of the rebels rang through the hallway filled with both passion and fire.

"The Emperor must be put back in power!"

Tokio didn't even think. She acted. Every ounce of her martial arts training was flowing through her veins as she forcefully opened the door and ran inside her blade at the ready.

"What are you?"

The man who had been speaking staggard to his feet, his hand was reaching for his blade as Tokio's sword found it's target.

"Run, we've been betrayed!" Another screamed.

She hated killing like this. One by one her blade slashed through soft flesh occasionally the sound of metal striking upon metal could be heard but it was only for a moment.

When an enemy lunged at her feigning with his katana and striking her shoulder with his tanto she could feel the pain penetrating her very being. She saw her enemy's blade about to strike and end her life when another intervened.

Saito.

His eyes were as hauntingly cold as a wolves. One by one the enemies that she couldn't kill fell at his blade.

Amazing.

She had to improve she just had to.

She could feel herself slip into unconsciousness from the pain.


Tokio awoke the next morning. Her body was sore and stiff from the battle the night before.

Why wasn't she dead?

She looked over into the corner of the room where her rescuer sat looking out the window. Had he taken care of her?

She looked down at her shoulder and saw the bandages wrapped firmly around her wounds.

Oh no.

He knew.

There was no way he couldn't know if he had been the one to patch her up. That meant...

"Um..."

She met his eyes across the room. She searched through her pain befuddled brain trying to find an explanation, a way to say thanks, anything at all, but Saito was quicker.

"A woman has no right to be on the battlefield. Especially if you only mean to hold us back as you did last night."