Disclaimer: Kenshin will never be mine…sniff. It's all Watsuki's stuff. But I will use "poetic justice" to warp them in every possible way...muahahah.

Chapter Two: Surprise

"You called?" A tall lean man with the eyes of a wolf smirked.

"Apparently," Replied a shorter man, stouter, but with the aura of one who is not to be taken lightly. "Sit down, Hajime."

"Saito will do," Saito said, his voice quiet but precise and deep. "And as for the seat, I decline. I have no intention of sitting down; I'd rather be…alert."

They stayed as they were for a minute, both wearing expressions of friendliness on their faces; but if a more observant man were to look into their eyes he would learn of years of rivalry and hatred. Saito's hand lingered over the katana at his belt, his dark bangs slightly obstructing the eyes which were often the last sight of men. His opposer sat, no fear on his face; it was apparent he had nothing to be afraid of in this man. After all, one could not become Captain of the Shinsengumi with terror lingering in the mind or the sword.

The man smiled. "Nothing less than the 'Wolf of Mibu,' eh?" He snorted and looked over the papers on his desk. "Very well. I called you here for a assignment of sorts…involving the Battousai." If he had bothered looking up, he would have seen the golden eyes glint and thin lips lift slightly in anticipation, as he had known they would.

"When and where should the Battousai meet his demise?" The words were clipped, but the emotion not shown was there.

"You will not be fighting, nor killing, him."

Anger flashed in Saito's eyes. The Captian felt his rage and smiled again.

"Your assignment is rather…to capture him. He knows more of the Inshin Shishi than most of the higher officials – if we could bleed the information out of him, they have no chance. Like stealing the legs from a toddler, they will fall, and fall hard."

The thin lips sneered.

"Fool."

"Hm?" Now the Captain was the one fighting rage. Rage was no good, it dulled the eyes to detail and the brain to thought. Let the 'wolf' speak, let him voice his opinion. Hajime Saito was a clever man, and his thoughts on the matter were valuable.

"The Battousai cannot be captured. Killing is easier than capturing; if we have not yet been able to kill him, there is no doubt that we cannot capture him. And, if by some," Saito's voice became bitingly sarcastic, "miracle, we manage to capture him, he would not speak once he awoke to his surroundings, but slaughter our men from the inside of our fortress and escape. Fool."

"I WILL NOT HAVE HIM KILLED, SAITO!" The Captain roared, slamming his fist on the low table.

"Why not? He will be of no use to us, just hinderance. Besides, the bastard has killed some of our best men. Why should we not return the favor?"

"This is what you shall do, Saito, whether you like it or not. You shall challenge the Battousai. You will wound him, and greatly, but you will not kill him. You will capture him and bring him here to the most secure room. We will starve him, and he will talk." The Captain ordered.

Saito snorted. "Fine. Do what you wish, you will learn soon enough how useless your precious strategy is." He spun on his heel and left the room.

The man remained sitting, head bowed. He had a small smile on his face.

"Yes, he will talk."

The Battousai, hidden in the maze of houses, flinched. He had sensed a strong ki, one not unfamiliar to him. Without looking behind him, he muttered, "Saito."

"Not much of a welcome ceremony, wouldn't you say?" The tall, wolfish man replied. "Really, Battousai, I thought you had more style." He shifted into the stance for the Gatotsu.

"Shut up." Battousai snarled.

Saito's eyes gleamed as he attacked. His katana would miss, he knew. At first.

Battousai easily leaped above the glinting blade. Saito usually wasn't this… simple. Easy to dodge and avoid. Usually wasn't this slow, but for some reason he was right now, and that would just make Battousai's job easier. He would –

The blade sank into his side.

What is this? Battousai's mind asked frantically. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?

"SAITO!" He screamed as he plummeted to the ground, blood spurting from the large gaping wound in his chest.

His opponent was laughing maniacally. "So, you finally met the my new attack…the Void Gatotsu. It is not limited to slashing at my level; it can attack anything, anywhere." He sighed. "I would have killed you right now, but…that stupid idiot of a Captian tells me not to. And we must follow orders, right, Battousai?"

The red-haired man lay panting on the ground in a pool of red.

Saito walked over to the crumpled form, smirking. So easy to defeat. He was a bit disappointed, actually. He was hoping for more of a fight so that he could work off some stress. But it was all right. He'd have time for that later, during the…questioning. He bent and threw his adversary over his shoulder, when he noticed something, and gasped.

Battousai's amber eyes narrowed as he rammed the butt of his katana squarely between the tall man's eyes. With a groan, Hajime Saito collapsed. The Battousai stood, and pressing his navy blue gi to his soaking wound, stumbled away.

Losing blood…

With a gasp, he fell to the ground in front of a building, dreaming of deep brown eyes, White Plum, and blood.