Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Rurouni Keshin characters. But I do own Sajin and Raiden as well as Korosu. This chapter is action packed for those of you reading this. And that website is For those of you that want to see the picture of Raiden look back to chapter five to find out how to do so. Well enjoy the story.
Chapter 6: Murderous Intentions
"Tokio we are finally in Kyoto." Saitou announced.
Tokio looked left and right down the street.
'So she feels it too?' Saitou thought to himself in wonder.
Tokio wordlessly stepped closer to Saitou for protection. Saitou didn't know whether to feel pleased or surprised; no woman, man or child alive had ever dared to even do that to him.
Tokio tugged on his haori and motioned on down the street, Saitou nodded. Once they were farther down the street Tokio whispered to Saitou, "I think somebody is following us."
"I know, they've been following us for quite some time now. And with that Saitou rested his left hand on the sword hilt. The guesture signified to the person following them that it was futile to hide any longer for he already knew they were being followed. But to anyone else on the streets it just looked like he was another cocky swordsman trying to make his mark in the world.
Sajin cringed when he saw Saitou's movements, how could he have know that he was being followed? Yet again he was an assassin and therefore, in the same league as Battousai, and even Raiden.
Battousai something once about being able to sense somebody's battle spirit or as the assassins put it-ki.
'Could he have sensed my ki?' Sajin thought to himself.
If he did then killing Saitou just got a whole lot harder. Sajin tightened his hand into a fist and, out of frustration, hit the trunk of the tree he was in. Sajin wasn't dealing with someone that was even human. As far as Sajin was concerned Saitou had lost his humanity when he decided to kill his father and little sister.
'I'll just have to stay back and wait until he is alone.'
After they had travelled a short distance down the street Saitou couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
He stopped Tokio and asked her, "How did you do that?"
To divert from Saitou's question she asked one of her own.
"Do what?" She asked.
"You know very well what I mean." Saitou stated pointing back the way they had come.
"I don't know."Tokio shrugged, "I just had this nagging feeling that's all."
Saitou left it at that. He eyed her not fully believing her, she wasn't telling his something.
Tokio turned around and started walking down the street. Saitou stood there for a minute trying to formulate a plan as to how he could extract the information he wanted from her. He hated secrets.
Tokio stopped, turned around and hollered. "Hey Saitou are you coming? Kondou sent you with me to be a bodyguard not a lamppost."
"Coming." Saitou grumbled under his breath and started walking after her.
After an hour of following Tokio around Saitou was getting bored. He yawned and politely covered it with his hand lest Tokio get offended.
A sudden thought popped into his head, 'Why do I care if she gets offended.'
So maybe as proof to himself that he wasn't going soft Saitou didn't know but he put a hand on Tokio's shoulder stopping her from proceeding down the road.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Do you even know where you are going?" Saitou asked boredom clearly written into both his eyes and face.
"It's around here somewhere." Tokio said looking for something familiar, some sign that they went down the right street. When she didn't find what she wanted she let out a defeated sign and trudged down the street head hanging low. Tokio looked up just in time for she had nearly missed it.
Tokio's mood changed in a flash, she could hardly contain her excitement.
"Yes, we are going the right way."
Saitou quirked an eyebrow, he wasn't surprised, so like a child she was; sometimes she would swing in and out of her adult attitude. Saitou thought it quite interesting.
"How do you know?" Saitou asked in mild curiosity.
"This house," Tokio frantically pointed to, "is the house of Meiyo Zephon. He lives on the same street I do."
"Ah I see." Saitou said understanding her logic.
"Hageshii is a good man." Saitou said under his breath. He was quite surprised when Tokio replied.
"Yes I agree, but it is quite sad because Zephon has to tend to the house all by himself now. He was only 13 when his mother died of an illness about a year ago." Tokio said in a rush while quickly making her way down the street.
"All by himself, everything, and he's only 14?" Saitou asked, that thought was appalling.
"Oh, no his father pays the bills and everything else, Zephon just takes care of the house." Tokio said already doubling her speed.
'What's her hurry?' Saitou thought to himself casually walking down the cobblestoned street.
"Saitou hurry up." Tokio said excitedly, already a good distance ahead.
Saitou rolled his eyes. Since she knew the rest of the way back why didn't she just go on by herself. He was just about to tell her this when he felt her tugging on his haori sleeve motioning for him to hurry.
To Saitou she was totally acting juvenile, shouldn't she be acting like an adult not some hyped up child who couldn't wait to see what her father had brought home from the market. Saitou rolled his eyes again at Tokio's childish impulses and antics but allowed her to pull him to her house.
There was a red brick wall surrounding the house with a gold plated sign that read "Takagi," on the right side. Tokio pulled Saitou beyond the wall and up to the house. It was a traditional japanese house, though it was quite large. Tokio dropped Saitou's haori sleeve and ran up to the shoji, she threw it open with gusto and started parading through the house, calling out her mother and father's names. Saitou was actually dumbstruck, she had thrown the shoji wide open like it was nothing. This girl must be quite strong.
Somewhere from behind Saitou a voice called back, "Tokio, you're finally home and I see you brought a man back with you."
Saitou stiffened a little before snorting. He kept his back to the voice thinking it was just some pesky neighbor who couldn't keep his nose out of anything.
Saitou had to hurry and side-step out the of the way as Tokio suddenly zipped past him almost running him over. Saitou looked back in genuine wonder to see what had made Tokio mad-dash to the wall gate in the first place.
He was quite surprised to note that the person he had classified as a neighbor was actually Tokio's father in warm embrace with his daughter.
If Saitou was a sentimental person he might have actually shed a tear or two at the happy reunion, but since he wasn't he just stood there with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Dearest," Tokio's mother said from her place beside her husband, her voice as sweet as honey, "where have you been?"
"I got lost at night and the Shinsengumi took care of me." Tokio jumbled her words in her excitement. Tokio's father smiled. Though she was almost sixteen she still had the innocence and naivety of a child.
Tokio's father then noticed the bandage around Tokio's neck; both Saitou and Tokio had forgotten that it was there.
"What happened?" He demanded pointing to the bandage.
Tokio's bubbly self was lost deep inside of her as she became a serious, responsible adult once more. Tokio firmly pressed her lips together remembering that horrible night two nights ago. Her body involuntarily shuddered at what Kanryuu had actually tried to do. Tokio took a deep breath and relayed the tale in its entirety. Once she was done her mother was on the verge of tears, and her father furrowed his eyebrows in anger.
Tokio then pointed to Saitou. "This is the man who saved me father."
"I'm truly indebted to you, she is our only daughter and quite precious to us. She is almost of age to get married as well."
Tokio's father bowed in respect, Saitou returned the bow but he didn't know why her father had thrown in that last part he had no plans to get married soon.
As quickly as the anger in Tokio's father appeared it disappeared as if nothing had happened. He attempted to put an arm around Saitou's shoulders but failed miserably because he was shorter.
"How about you join us for a later dinner, we were busy looking for Tokio that we didn't have any."
Saitou quirked an eyebrow, what kind of family had dinner instead of breakfast in the morning?
Saitou sighed making it look as if he were pained to leave.
"I'm afraid I can't, I have to get back to camp."
"I understand." Tokio's father said making his way towards the house.
Tokio turned and looked at her father, he nodded in Saitou's direction. Confused she looked back as Saitou made his way out onto the street. She understood then, father wanted her to invite him to dinner.
Her mind raced, Okita had once told her that Saitou's favorite food was soba.
"Wait Saitou, we're having soba!" Tokio yelled.
Saitou stopped dead in his tracks and Tokio's parents each suppressed a smile that wasplaying at their lips.
"Hm, soba you say, well I guess I could stay a little while." Saitou said while pivoting on his feet and making his way back to the house. They all went in and kneeled at the table together.
Tokio's father struck up a conversation with Saitou. "So Saitou-san how old are you?"
Saitou quirked an eyebrow in curiosity.
"I'm 24." Saitou replied as Tokio's mother handed him a bowl of soba and pair of chopsticks. Saitou broke the chopsticks and began eating; his stomach almost leaped in delight, he hadn't had soba for such a long time.
'This soba is good.' Saitou thought to himself; he quickly finished, sat back and watched the others as they ate slower than he did.
"That was good." Saitou said while looking longingly at the soba still in the main bowl.
Tokio offered his some more. "Are you still hungry?" She asked as Saitou eyed the bowl of soba she held out to him. His mouth watered. His mind told him no, while his stomach said "Yes, you are still hungry; have some more." In the end his stomach won out. Saitou reached for the bowl and took if from her. Tokio stared at him as he ate and finished his second bowl. Saitou glanced up from his second bowl and noticed Tokio staring at him. He shifted his weight uneasily. Tokio's father nudged her and shook his head. Tokio shrugged, grinning with embarrassment.
Saitou shrugged and handed Tokio back the bowl. She filled it up again and gave it back to him.
When he was finally full, eight bowls later, he leaned back and sighed with contentment.
"Ah, now that was good. Who made it?"
"Tokio did." Tokio's mother said.
Saitou looked in her direction and flashed her a smile. Tokio couldn't help but shudder a little. Saitou looked much better when he smirked or just gave a half smile; the real smile somehow distorted his face.
'I see my smile hasn't lost its touch yet.' Saitou thought to himself.
Saitou decided it was time to go. He stood up, and bowed at the Takagi family; who each in turn bowed back.
"I must take my leave now." Saitou said.
Once Saitou had left, Takagi smiled. "I think we found you a man Tokio."
Tokio just blushed.
Saitou carefully picked his way though the streets, his feet lightly scraping the cobblestones. Soon another pair of feet joined in behind. At first Saitou thought it was just a villager but then he felt a familiar hostile ki. He closed his eyes and continued to walk; judging how far away the person was by thesound of the footfalls.
Saitou slowed to a sauntered walk. It was a tactic he often used to make his opponents think his guard was down.
Saitou's unknown enemy took advantage of this and came headlong after him.
'This is too easy, he is weaker than I thought.'
Saitou sneered. 'The stupid fool fell for it.' He gaged at how fast his enemy was coming and expertly drew his blade to deflect the sword's path of attack.
With their blades locked in a power struggle Saitou looked into the face of his attacker, he was met with the hatefilled eyes of Sajin. Saitou was mildly surprised to see Sajin's face.
'Didn't Sajin say that Raiden was going to go for me and that he was supposed to kill off my "friends?"
'I should have guessed that it was Sajin, Raiden was more stealthy.' Saitou thought stealing a glance to his left shoulder. His shoulder sometimes itched where the scab was forming.
Sajin caught Saitou's eye movement. He was slightly intimidated as Saitou's eyes caught sunlight and reflected it in his amber eyes making them glow gold and burn as if they had a light all their own, making him look like a feral wolf.
"How could you have know when to block, your guard was down." Sajin spat contemptuously; squashing his fear before Saitou sensed it and decided to prey on it.
"Heh, even the worst samurai would be able to hear you coming." Saitou said flatly his face full of scorn, "and my guard was never down, you just perceived it so."
Sajin jumped back and shrugged. Their blades grated against each other as they slid and separated.
"So I'm not good at being stealthy, but," Sajin said throwing his katana to the side, "I can fight."
Saitou laughed disdainfully, "What are you going to do fight with your fists?"
"Don't underestimate me." Sajin growled crouching into a fighting positition Saitou had never seen before. Sajin was crouched to where on knee almost touched the ground.
Sajin reached behind his back and produced a long tubelike sheath containing two swordhilts, one on each side. Sajin wordlessly threw the sheath into the air and effortlesly drew two kodachis. He pointed the blade tips behind him and let the sheath clatter noisily to the cobblestones.
Saitou in turn sheathed his katana and brought out his wakazachi before rhythmically falling into his Gatostu stance.
"You think that just because you are useing you wakazachi you can beat me?" Sajin asked detestfully.
"I do." Saitou replied calmly tying to provoke Sajin.
'Even with a wakazachi I'm going to have problems because he clearly has the advantage with having two kodachis but,' Saitou smirked mentally, 'I will find a way to turn the tides.'
Sajin bristled at his confident words. "Enough playing around lets get started."
'I'll just have to stay on guard and defend myself until I find an opening.' Saitou thought to himself.
"Bring it on." Saitou said aloud.
At Saitou's words Sajin flipped his blades into attacking position and lept out of his crouch running in circles around Saitou trying to find a blindspot or loophole as well as confuse Saitou.
Saitou didn't move from his Gatotsu stance, instead his closed his eyes and honed in on Sajin's ki. Using Sajin's ki to pinpoint where hi was going to attack from.
Sajin saw an opening on Saitou's right side. Saitou, well aware of both Gatotsu's weakness and Sajin's attack position, turned to face him. Swords clanged and wobbled as Sajin tried to get at Saitou with both kodachis. Sajin saw it futile and so he backed away and went back into a crouch.
'If I'm going to attack him I must use my kodachis simultaneously when he goes to block again.'
Saitou could tell by Sajin's smug expression he was up to something.
Sajin jumped out of his crouch and circled around once more as Saitou eased back into his Gatotsu. Sajin once again went for his right side, and Saitou blocked the kodachi's path, but only saw one kodachi, the other found it's way to Saitou's right side, but strange enough only the blade tip went in.
Sajin looked genuinely shocked as he pulled his kodachi from Saitou.
'He truly is a warrior, somehow he had enough time to deflect my second kodachi with his katana.'
Saitou had been guarding the first kodachi with his wakazachi in his left hand and was able to draw his katana half way out of its sheath with his right hand to divert the second kodachi; therefore reducing the damage.
Saitou gasped in pain and frustration. He resheathed his katana and inspected his wound. When he pulled his hand back rich, dark blood stained his fingers and Shinsengumi uniform. Saitou frowned and shook little blood droplets off his hand, then wiped the remaining blood on his hakama.
"That is only a taste of the pain that is coming your way." Sajin smirked clearly recovered from his shock.
Saitou shrugged indifferently and sunk back into his Gatotsu.
'Sajin maybe good with kodachis but I think I found a weakness; if I can make him over confident then that could be my trump card.'
Saitou sprang into action his feet padding against the cobblestone street. He lined up on Sajin's left side. Saitou struck and was met with one of Sajin' kodachis Saitou lept out of the way before the second kodachi even had a chance to find its mark.
Sajin had another idea. 'I see that Saitou isn't going to use his Gatotsu, well since that is the case I'll leap into the air; even if he were to use his Gatotsu it can't stop an attack from above.'
Sajin lept into the air, Saitou smirked, this is just what he was hoping for; falling into Gatotsu third stance with his wakazachi pointed up ready to impale Sajin.
Sajin couldn't stop his descent, 'How can this be? The Gatostu only has one stance.' Sajin thought as Saitou's blade entered Sajin's right side.
Sajin looked into Saitou's eyes for a moment. They were cold and emotionless always what he expected to see. They were radiating a ferocity only a savage wild animal had; the instinct to stay alive even if that meant killing to do so.
Sajin landed on the cobblestones and Saitou wrenched his wakazachi out of Sajin causing more damage. Sajin winced in pain at the sudden action. He fell to his knees in the street and noticed that Saitou was favoring his right side and panting heavily.
'So I did more damage then I thought.' Sajin thought as he examined his own wound. It was deep but not far as bad as what a katana would have done. Sajin struggled back up to his feet, his weight supported by one of his kodachis. Once he regained his balance Sajin put the kodachi hilts together. Sajin then took the kodachis in his right hand and began spinning them in place.
'What is going on here?' Saitou thought in confusion when he heard a faint click.
"Don't you just love my kodachis now? You will soon find out why my brother and I gave ourselves the name Sei'ei Futagoha (Elite Twinblade)." Sajin replied a taughting inflection in his voice.
"As you can see here, this is a totally new weapon now, my brother and I have weapons specially made so that they can form a double-bladed sword." Sajin said taunting him even further.
Saitou shrugged indifferently and yawned.
"How quaint, you have me shaking in my zoris (japanese sandels)."
Sajin scowled and attacked Saitou once more, Saitou brought his wakazachi in front to block, but the momentum of the spinning kodachis shattered Saitou's wakazachi and with Saitou left defenseless Sajin continued his attack with zest. The spinning kodachis dug deep into Saitou's chest and left a long ropy gash starting from the right shoulder and ending at his left side. The shattered wakazachi had acted as shrapnel when hit by the spinning blades. Several pieces flew past Saitou's face leaving thin red lines while the other pieces dug into his skin and chest wound.
Sajin stepped away from Saitou. The spinning blades had knocked Saitou off balance and with a heavy thud Saitou fell face first to the cobblestoned street below, biting his lip so as not to scream at the onslaught of sharp, unbearable pain that coursed though his body. It was like every ounce of his strengh had been sucked out of him, he tried to stand up but since he had lost too much blood already from his first wound he couldn't summon enough strength to stand.
His vision began to blur as his body started passing in and out of consciousness.
"You really are pitiful Saitou, I thought you would have posed a greater challenge then that." Sajin spat as he kicked Saitou over onto his back.
Saitou winced; Sajin reveled in his pain.
"This is the way it should be." Sajin crowed.
Sajin then picked Saitou up by his gi so that they were face to face.
"Get up you slime lets finish this right here and now." Sajin spat and shoved him back down to the ground. Sajin stood up and kicked Saitou in the ribs. At such a force Saitou winced, rolled onto his side and coughed up blood so he wouldn't choked on his own blood. He then rolled onto his stomach and proceeded to get up, but every time he would almost get up Sajin would kick him in the ribs and Saitou would continue to cough up blood.
On the next kick that came Saitou's way it broke some ribs. Saitou growled in pain and fell to the street once more.
'This boy must really be afraid of me because he doesn't want me to get up.' Saitou thought as he once more tried to get up.
"If you value honor Sajin then let Saitou get up." A voice inside Sajin's head said. Sajin immediately went passive and stopped kicking Saitou, he let Saitou get back up. Sajin just stood there in a dumb stupor.
Raijin's voice spoke again. "I never taught a son of mine to strike a man while he is down did I?"
"No father you didn't." Sajin answered shamefully, a small tear trickling down his face.
:"So then if you are going to fight for me don't ever strike a man while he is down." Raijin said his voice getting quieter before disappearing back into Sajin's subconscious.
Sajin looked back at Saitou, he had taken out his katana and was using it to support his weight. Sajin waited patiently for Saitou to get back to his feet. When Saitou was on his feet and maintaining his balance he wiped his mouth with an already bloody and hand and left a smear on his face.
"You must think yourself really special, striking a man while he's down." Saitou growled as he spat blood out of his mouth.
"I must admit I let my hatred and rage get the best of me." Sajin replied.
"Ah, then why did you stop?" Saitou asked in mock curiosity.
"Hn, you would never understand why, I fight for someone I love." Sajin preached acting all high and mighty like Saitou was the scum of the earth not fit to even live on it.
"I understand completely, for I too fight for something I love; my country." Saitou muttered only loud enough for Sajin to hear.
Sajin was totally surprised, never once had he thought that Saitou would care about anything.
"Enough of this chit-chat lets get his over with." Saitou called.
And with that Saitou charged, Sajin didn't even have any time to start spinning his kodachis let alone bring them up to defend himself. He felt the katana bite into his chest and end at his right side.
'He's mirroring my wounds that I gave him.' Sajin thought.
Saitou didn't stop there, he used his momentum to pivot on his feet shifting his weight from his left to his right, kicking Sajin in the chest where he had just earlier sliced him.
'Where could he have gotten all of his power all of a sudden?' Sajin thought to himself as he sailed through the air and landed hard on his back. Sajin tried to get up but fell back down unconscious from exhaustion and loss of blood.
Saitou staggered, his body was killing him. His body just wanted to lie down and rest in the street but his instincts told him that to collapse in the middle of the street could prove dangerous because of any Ishins that could be out in the streets of Kyoto.
Saitou made for the way he had come from; the trees. He had to navigate his way through the labyrinth of streets until he finally saw the line of trees. He found renewed energy and scrambled for them.
Once he made it to the trees he tried to find his way back but he found it difficult. Unkeknownst to him, since he was delirious with fever and his vision was starting to blur, he was walking uphill.
Saitou had been carefully walking when he stumbled over some loose rocks. To his dismay he lost his footing and slid about two feet down the hill. Saitou had to bite his lip from groaning in pain and agony. Saitou was much slower to regain his footing, his muscles protested him every step of the way and his injuries were burning from the dirt, dust, and scouring, sharp rocks. Saitou gritted his teeth and looked up. To his relief there was a small house at the top of the hill.
'Maybe there is a person there that can help me.' Saitou thought to himself; though he hated to admit it, he needed help or else he would die.
Saitou tiredly trudged all the way up the hill. When he got to the top he noticed there was pottery everwhere around the house.
'What type of person lives here?' Saitou thought in wonder. He took one more step and almost fell on his face as he stepped on some stray pottery.
The pottery shattered like glass and a man voice from inside the house shouted, "You better not be trying to steal my pottery!"
Saitou didn't say anything because he was trying to conserve his energy. He was almost there when his legs started to buckle at the knees. He's body began to sway and his vision became blurry. He stopped and tried to regain control of his body, but his body had other ideas. It just wanted to rest.
'Why now of all times?' Was Saitou's last thought as he slipped into the darkness. He blacked out and was unfortunate to crash on some pottery. The delicate pottery gave way and shattered into a thousand pieces, dust clouded around Saitou's body. Once the dust cleared, Saitou was face down with pieces of pottery littering his limp, torn up body.