Bakumastu's Best Romance Novel.
Fhb
R- contains suggestive material and contains some 'stuff'
Chapter 19 —Awaking the real Hitokiri Battousai (Part 1)
Be warned the beginning is a bit boring, but it gets good. Please don't leave the fic coz the beginning is a bit boring. Okay! Love u guys!
'Everyday a boy becomes a man in the Ishinshishi. Everyday a lesson is taught by the blade which is both friend and foe…lover and hater. Each day I ask myself…what am I doing? Am I really leading my men to victory…or am I leading them to their deaths?' He pauses to look at the lines of boys. All standing straight and tall, they wait for his command.
'And yet. When I do look at their faces and see that fear is not present but that courage and valour is in its place, it makes me train them stronger…harder, better, to rise—to win. The Ishin means men of the peace blade. We fight with logic that a blade can be held and used to protect…instead of its sole purpose to kill. To protect is our duty, to make sure that the flag of Japan rises high and adorns this nation in peace is our victory. We will fight to the end and bring home that peace. An Ishin has but two choices. To fight for the things they love and to die fighting for them. Quitting is never an example of an Ishin, it is only a mockery of what should have been. We are all fighters…fighters of the same thing we want. My men…they know this. They know that behind each dark cloud a light is found and that light will come with indeed some struggle…some battle.'
"Good morning gentlemen…" Katsura spoke extrovertly to the huge hundred group army of men. His eyes roved from line to line taking in the new faces of each soldier. His face was somewhat tired with thin lines of stress and visible sags under his eyes. All this war was taking its toll on Katsura and he knew that quite well.
"Good morning Kogoro-sama" males of all ages spoke, voices in a strong masculine force. A small smirk danced its way across his lean face, one in which was as sharp as the katana's underside.
"Today is a new day gentlemen. A day where we continue fighting for our hopes and aspirations. Each day teaches a lesson that should be learnt. War is not a joke nor a gimmick. It is as serious as life can get, no longer will you have someone to protect you. The only thing you do have to save you is that blade in front of you. It spares life and gives death. It is your friend and your enemy. In battle let it become everything to you. Use it to defend…use it -to kill. Use the blade that takes life of the innocents to take the life of the Shinsen. Each and everyone of you fights for a reason --made by God you were for a purpose. Your purpose is to fight for your honour, for your friends and family and of course for your nation. This nation as we know it is damp in blood, drained of morality and twisted by betrayers like the Shinsen. Be on your guard and you will see the men behind the masks. Do not allow yourself to become cocky to think you are great, do not use your blade as a weapon against the innocents. Use your integrity as a samurai and as a soldier of the Ishin to defend for what is important to us. A nation is built in blood and war writes its lines in death. You can not run from this battle called the Bakumastu. Everyone in a sense is at the edge of their seat knowing in some small way they will be part of a battle they don't want to a part of. War doesn't ask questions and owes no debt. It is nothing short of what it stands for, death--and sorrow. If you believe that even in the darkest places a light can be found then believe me- it can. Find something that you love in this world…and even if you are to die, you'll see even if it's for two minutes you cheated death for the things you loved. Fight for your people, fight for hope…fight for our nation." Katsura halted seeing that some of the boys were a bit shaken by his words. Some clenched and unclenched their fists while others bowed their heads. Then there those who looked straight back at him, wearing all the pain and misery…sometimes never knowing why they fought but they just did. In this cause Katsura saw Kenshin.
The boy who became Battousai in just a few weeks.
Katsura looked at them again, this time asking the question his daughter once did, 'how can I sleep knowing I put them to this…? To their death. Indeed is this where I lie to my men saying otherwise when hope is but a thin thread? This is where I stand…with all the battle and distraught…am I really their leader?' Katsura looked down in thought. He searched within himself for help, even his conscience had grown bitter and tired of the ever-receding war about them. An internal battle never won but never ended, seem to flow with more life each day…each minute. To Katsura it would never end, but before he dies and leaves this world at least he could take a chance. 'I must fight. For my men…for Kaoru…for Jasmine.'
"Izuika…" Katsura looked up curtly. His face. It wore a different expression of hope and resolution. This was the face of acceptance and no-more-mister-nice-guy. This was the leader of the Ishinshishi.
"Hai Katsura-sama" the man with a thin mustache and beady drunk looking eyes said.
"Start the morning proceedings. Five hundred swings, build up to a thousand." Katsura always tendered his men, but war was coming on fast and he couldn't baby anyone. At least the men who are suppose to bring victory to Japan.
"What? That's madness Katsura. You know our men haven't done such an amount! It's preposterous" Izuika dare to answer back at Katsura.
Katsura raised a hand at him, "time is against us Izuika. As you can clearly see I have made these men inefficient at being the perfect soldiers. I can not afford them any slack-treatment which can very much cost them their lives on the battlefield. If you don't want to train them, I'm sure I can get someone else to do the proceedings…say Meabi or Himura-san perhaps. Your call Iziuka…" with that Katsura turned his back on Iziuka and his men.
Iziuka still shock from Katsura's sudden change in personality blinked-back. 'Alright Katsura-boy…if you want it…you got it'
"SOLDIERS…" Izuika shouted loudly his voice echoing over the dead silence that fell over the hundred men.
"Hai" they responded…
"START WITH FIVE HUNDRED DIAGONAL SLASHES. COME ONNN LADIES…GET TO IT…" Izuika shouted.
Spacing out in no time, the men began their activity. Though considered rigorous and very tiring the men obliged. Sweat from the early rays of the morning light seem to sparkle over their face. Iziuka, though a man in his late twenties, was considered both a pain in the ass and a ladies man resolved himself in training these men.
Izuika, the man who loved to chit-chat with the ladies, was quite the humor and comical teacher who seemingly enjoys himself on Fridays' in the brothel. Though the Ishinshishi was a strict complex that allowed no outside women or men within its complex, Iziuka manage to slip past Katsura's nose and bring in some very haughty women. Iziuka, master pervert and teacher of vice, thought most of the boys about what they 'did' know of the female anatomy. He even made low and foul statements of women. Yet behind this lax and lay-back side was a hard working man. Iziuka was the ticket to Kenshin. Izuika did his time looking for a predominant person for the Ishinshin, it so happened that Kenshin was the perfect person they'd been looking for. In time it became quite clear what happened to Iziuka.
He began unwinding and deranging himself with money and inferior materialism for the 'real life' as he called it.
Izuika though, considerably young, snarled when he saw the crowd. They were moving too slow, "COME ON GENTLEMEN OR SHOULD I SAY LADIES. MOVE THOSE SWORDS…WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY TO MODEL NOW DO WE?" Though cruel he actually thought what Katsura was doing was an improvement. Th-yeah with the rate these soldiers were going most of them would have died in war. Iziuka gazed over the lines his eyes falling on a particular soldier.
'Battousai'
A snaky smirk danced on his face as he looked on at the engrossed elite soldier. Outspoken even if alone, the boy was certainly not hard to miss. With flaming red hair and drowning pools of saturated gold, Izuika rendered this boy never wore the mask of a child as it seem stolen from him- deriving him as this. Murderer…manslayer.
Perhaps if Katsura was to fear anything it should be losing his best soldier. Though Iziuka always grew captivated at the young professional he couldn't help but envy how respected he had become and how eminent his name had swept. He indeed was a master at his art and at the art of hiding the turmoil that made him who he was.
'At least you will die fighting noble my young friend…even if…I am to kill you in the end.'
Kaoru sat amongst the girls bored as usual.
"Remind me why I'm here again Ninsuko" Kaoru sighed for probably the hundredth time looking on at the group of men with her legs folded and her both hands planted on her bored face. She tiredly pulled at the few loose tendrils from her hair. She looked so bored, so frustrated---so pissed all thanks to the ever troublesome Ninsuko.
"Oh come on Kaoru-chan I told you a hundred times" Ninsuko said tiredly. Like Kaoru, she was annoyed and pissed by the questions.
Kaoru somewhat cried out, "I knowww. But its boring. Ackk!" Kaoru dropped her head against her knees. Burying her face in her light-pink kimono and again she sighed. Ninsuko heard her tired sigh. Even Ninsuko had to sigh herself. Shrugging her shoulders in a defeated manner she looked down at the raven-head girl.
"I—haet—ing-play" Kaoru spoke, her voice muffled from the fact she buried her face in her clothes.
"What?" Ninsuko asked…
"I said" she raised her head, "I said I hate this laming place" she sighed looking at Ninsuko's tired expression as well.
"Ninsuko I mean what am I exactly sitting down for?" she asked again.
Ninsuko rolled her eyes shaking in anger. I mean sometimes her best friend could be so irritating. Yes Ninsuko knew she was irritating but come on…does everyone have to be like her? "Howww. Manyyy. Timesss. Doo I have to tell you that"
"They're here" Sakura interjected.
Both Kaoru and Ninsuko snapped their head to the front gate where they saw hundreds of young men standing patiently for the gate to open.
Katsura heard the sound of rattling gates, where there in the distance he saw many young boys all dressed in black and white waiting for someone to take heed on them. Iziuka also realized the group of boys, he arched delicate brows and turned to Katsura in curiosity. Katsura looked at the boys and then back at Iziuka. Nodding his head, Iziuka took note on the command.
"Himura-san…lead the group" Katsura addressed whilst Iziuka left. Iziuka walked pass line after line until alas he came to the huge wooden thatched gate. It was designed in such a way the Ishin could see through but it was also made very strong. Iziuka looked at the boys who were now standing straightly and patiently for the gate to open.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" asked Iziuka in an interested manner…feigning as if he didn't know why they were here in the first place.
"Actually you can" came the smooth reply from the voice in the crowd. Iziuka looked over the boys.
"Show yourself child…" Iziuka ordered looking for this leader who dared to respond.
"I am…" the boy spoke again, his face becoming discernible from the group of boys. His face wore a silver smirk while locks of brown and black fell into his smooth face. With racing grey-blue eyes and a face which was a bit too handsome for any boy, Iziuka found himself looking on at the cocky youth.
"And who the hell might you be?" asked Iziuka nonchalantly…
"My name is Seto. And you old-man, you're wasting our time as to why we're here in the first place" the boy hissed, his expression changed from cool to pissed.
"Now now…no need to show me your little manners as it seems your delinquent head can't come across with any better salutation. Anyways, welcome youths of the Chosu clan to the Ishinshishi headquarters. Training is in progress so please…no haughty statements, no distractions and no sucking up…" Iziuka addressed the group looking at Seto in the face. Seto scowled.
"Good. With this addressed, welcome once again" Iziuka pushed back the huge gate, where the site of practicing swordsmen was unfolded. Faces were filled with shock as others gawked at the timing and obedience that the men had exhibited. Perfection wore its mask here and it was not short of unbelievable for the Chosu boys.
Katsura looked at the young men who stood watching the Ishinshishi boys practicing. Indeed it would be a little shock to everyone to see the joining of two groups would come together. Katsura looked at his men, both Ishin and Chosu, though different they were more alike and they would find out soon to come.
Katsura sighed lightly, he knew things wouldn't go as smoothly as he liked but at least he was giving things a chance. It was just a matter of time before both groups bounded. For sure, the Chosu hated the Ishin, but Katsura was about to change that and bring new meaning to unity and trust. If all went according to plan they would be ready for the first battle of the Bakumastu. Likely as it was, much work was needed and both groups needed to recognize that they were not two separate groups, but that they were one and fighting for the same dream. They needed to accept each other and then revolve from there.
"Himura-san…yame…" Katsura addressed the boy. Kenshin heard his leader's command.
"Stop!" Kenshin shouted loudly over the crowd.
The group came to a halt, looking up tiredly from their positions. Sweat fell like sprinkles of rain from their brows, while others erratically took air. Katsura saw that for beginners they were very poor at their training. Indeed much work was needed.
The girls, sitting and watching on with now fascinated interested was called by Matsura to come inside.
"Whaaa?" Ninsuko nearly felt like screaming out or cussing for that matter.
"Come on…" Matsura gathered the girls escorting them to the kitchen.
They walked down the long hall where Ninsuko groaned and cried out to her dismay.
"Matsura-san…can we not see what is to happen?" asked Kaoru very interested-like.
"I don't want to take you girls away from the site, I just want you girls to deliver the new comers some water. I hope that isn't too much to ask…" Matsura spoke seeing Ninsuko's head shoot up in agility.
"Wellll, if you put it that way, no, its not too much to ask" as she jumped first in line.
Matsura nodded her head, 'girls…'
Their bobbling heads entered the kitchen where the old woman handed each of them a cup. She poured water with each and one by one the returned to the scene. There they stopped when they heard Katsura speaking.
"Ishinshishi members meet the Chosu clan members and likewise in return to all. It can be recognized now what I'm doing. Today is the birth where both Ishin and Chosu come together as one. We must understand that the hatred for one another must stop. We are the same group, we are fighting for the same dream, why must we hate each other for a reason which isn't as solid as ground. We must look past our hatreds, these—trivialities and set our eye on the true enemy…on the true target. The Shinsen. If you my Ishin warriors hate the Chosu and fight them and kill them, then what does that say, you're killing your own kind? Is the enemy really the Chosu-clan or is it the Shinsen? My Chosu warriors, is the Ishin really that bad that you could never see yourselves interlocking with such a group? Is it that you chose to give a reason when there is none to be apart of the Ishin, than to be with them? All your reasons are but excuses of why these two groups can never join, but take those excuses which are reasons away and you find a unity and bond. You find that the more we join, the stronger we become. Let us not use the hatred that we have built for years in this present era. Let us work as men and delivers of peace. May the bright sun shine high and lift your souls to peace…and in so doing you truly are pronounced as men of Japan…men of peace. You have one chance at this battle gentlemen…it is a battle that will take lives, push and tremble your soul in fear, but the reward can be great if you make it your duty to fight with your all. This is what we need to decide, do we want this…or do we want nothing but death. The practice of peace starts somewhere, at least my warriors, let it begin here…today." He paused… "welcome Chosu warriors to the Ishinshishi…your new home…" Katsura trailed off into a whisper.
My men…of both the Chosu and Ishin…please…come together as one and together we will bring home the peace…
Sometimes the peace Katsura envisioned was so hard, was so far. It was only an illusion in his mind that he could never hold, but there was a faith deep within him that made him fight to the end. Katsura looked at his men, both young and old, faces of peace seem to be everywhere. 'My men of peace…'
Katsura brought a small smile to his face. For the moment it seemed to be a contented feeling for a troubled leader. Turning to the back of him he saw Matsura with the young girls. Within their hands were cups of water. He broadened his smile, women sure do know how to think ahead.
"You gentlemen must be thirsty from your long journey. Please…have some drink…" with that he gently directed the young girls to the boys. Ninsuko of course was first in line. She happily trotted to the young men. Stopping in front one of the youths, she bowed her head and placed out her cup. Strong hands enveloped hers. A sensation of eerie emotions danced over her hand. Taking the cup from her small hand, Ninsuko bowed in respect. Then lightly and just barely she looked up at the young man. His hair was black and his eyes were a fathomless pool of ebony. His skin was perfect and his expression…flawless. Ninsuko smirked in return after the way he looked at her. Blinking his left eye at her, Ninsuko nearly felt like melting and pooling to the floor, instead she composed herself by waving at him.
'Oh the Ishin rocks when it comes to knowing new men…oh how I love being a flirt'
Ninsuko wore the most confident grin she had in a long time. Leaving the line she saw Kaoru approaching her.
"What are you smiling about?" she asked…
"Oh, nothing…why?" she asked with the same goofy expression.
"Nevermind Ninsuko…" Kaoru giggled.
Ninsuko shook her head returning to the kitchen.
Kaoru came in front the first young man for the day. She didn't even look up at him.
"You can look at me you know onna" he spoke sharply. His voice a bit brute and crude.
Kaoru tensed a bit before taking a breath.
"I-It's quite alright my lord" she stuttered, bowing her head lower.
Pushing forward the cup in front of him, he looked down at her and then the cup. Taking the cup, his fingers brushed hers. An electrical sensation of Goosebumps raced across her skin. Then to her complete unknowing a light whimper escaped her lips. Kaoru found herself blushing and closing her eyes for her stupidity. Indeed why had she whimpered!
"You can look at me you know" he still wore the cold voice which sent silver shivers down her back.
"Iie" it was almost a choking of words in her throat.
"Look at me…" he whispered softly. Kaoru swallowed the lump feeling a bit queasy and scared. She was frighten and her adrenalin rush was incredible.
Callused fingers found their way under her chin where the sight of accepting blues met cobalt grey… a smug smirk danced over his features when he saw the innocent face.
'I can't believe she has such eyes…' he thought becoming intrigued by innocent folds of heavenly cerulean blue.
"Tell me…" his fingers brushed her chin lightly, so soundless and effortless that it was if he never touched her in the first place. "Do you like what you see?" he whispered, his eyes contorting from grey to a liquid pool of hypothesizing blue flames. Kaoru found herself a gap with her small mouth in a circle and her blue eyes looking up at his significant eyes. Stare for stare, their eyes seem to worship the next until he let his fingers fall from her chin…
"Close that pretty mouth…" he spoke…grinning at the fact she was agape.
Kaoru blinked-back from her mesmerizing trance, 'what happened?' she looked around her eyes returning to the young man in front of her.
"What happe…" his fingers touched her lips to stop her questions…
"What happened, happened" he explained winking at her and leaving her in the suspense of her heart.
Kaoru was left there standing on searching desperately through the folders of her mind in effort to recall what he did to her. Shivers shot up on her skin when she watched him walk, there was both excitement and fear he made her feel. To Kaoru, things always moved fast, but when he looked at her, time was frozen…but it didn't halt him from making her heart…ache, in a strange manner.
Blinking back she thought in fear, 'what is happening to me?'
'I don't understand this…why are all these things happening to me?' she asked herself, 'it doesn't make sense…'
Kaoru returned to the kitchen sitting down near the table. Folding her feet neatly on the tatami she placed her hands on the table fumbling with her fingers.
'Maybe I'm losing it!' thought Kaoru, 'why am I feeling these new feelings I can't hide. I'm simply falling behind in what should be, Kenshin. What is wrong with me? Am I seriously losing it?'
Kaoru sat there for over fifteen minutes. Kaoru sighed a bit, remembering she couldn't allow herself to fall apart so easily. 'I mean why do I have to fall apart?' she asked, 'yeh, why do I, why is it that every time I find a minute to breathe something new comes my way. Something that I shouldn't want, but greedily and blind take. Sometimes, I even sample it. Asking and pushing myself to instigate trouble, --or perhaps create conversation. Oh kami, what is wrong with me?'; she said firmly, 'I have to be strong. Very strong. I can't allow myself to fall in and out of childish crushes for the real man I love. I love Kenshin and that's final…' yet to the back of her mind, something budged. Something dared her. 'Then why Kaoru, are you so cheap?'
It was in that moment Kaoru heard her inner voice speak. She was cheap, she was actually cheap and low. Realizing that she couldn't back out of this one, she swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to sort her mind. Shaking her head, she grimaced, 'I can't believe this is happening to me…I'm so—so susceptible. Oh goodness gracious'
Kaoru stood to her feet feeling the noon breeze hit her. And then in the midst of her quiet frustration, she felt eyes on her, turning slowly around she saw him. Kenshin. Walking past her, his eyes watching her with something very distinct—very different. She never saw such eyes before. Gold and destroyed from gentleness, his expression on her was as firm as ice. He left like a shadow, his eyes flickering with energy like flames.
'What's getting into me?' she sighed, 'Oh kami-sama…please help me'
Author Notes: Hello again to all! I'm back again for another round. Came to finish the fanfictions before starting advance studies. I want to say I am just so happy to be back and writing. I think I am a bit rusty so be gentle with me. Sure, I'm open for constructive criticism and any form of mild satire. I wanna say things in the story are gonna go into a new direction a little bit. I am straying from my original plot a bit, it may cost me to fix this later on, but I want to give Battousai and Kaoru more ground foundation for their relationship. So I'm just playing with ideas and arranging a nice compromise.
Be sure to see updates for all my fanfictions because they will be coming to an end soon.
It's time I brought out new work. So before I bring out new writings, let me finish with all the oldee fics and welcome the new and improve fics.
TAKE CARE MY FINE PEOPLE!
MUCH UPDATES, MUCH FICS, MUCH FUN AND I SPONSER ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Thank you to all of you who have kept me in mind. My heart beats and races with lots of life and energy. It makes me work harder and better. I will try for you guys! Love you guys!
Dedicated to my sweet LegolasEstelstar…from Fhb…
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