Rattling the Cage

by Kellen

Summary: He does anything she asks, and when she asks for death, he cannot help but obey her.

Disclaimer: It's almost original fic, I can't deny that, but the ideas and characters from Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X inspired all of this this.

Author's Note/Warning: This installment is a tad dark. And creepy. Set in the far future, in case you couldn't tell. grin I never explicitly state who is related to whom, in regards to Kenshin and Kaoru. My thoughts were that it was so far removed into the future that my characters may not know or recognize their ancestry. Although, someone did teach them the Hiten Mitsurugi… There's a note after the story that tells you my particular theory. You, dear reader, are, of course, welcome to your own interpretations. That said, on with the story.

Jay ran through the ship, steps sure despite the shuddering through the bulkheads. They were boarding; the thrice-damned pirates were boarding and he had to find his sister. The captain didn't need him at the helm; the captain was dead and the ship was dead, drifting in the vacuum.

Jay raced past a portal, skidded to stop and turned to look out the window. He could see them docking. Plumes of air hissed soundlessly from the port and from where the pirate ship had used it's grapple, compromising the hull of the Sakura. She'll fall, Jay thought as he once again sped down the hallway, listening for the telltale creak of the airlock opening. Just like the blossoms she's named for.

He rounded a corner, and stopped suddenly, wide-eyed. He could hear the airlock opening. He could hear booted footsteps echoing. They were coming.

He clamped his mouth shut, resisting the urge to call his sister's name and instead ran toward Zephram's quarters. Jen would know to go there if there was trouble. Zephram protected them, taught them, and cared for them. Jay reached the door, pounded in Zephram's personal code and slipped in as soon as the door was open wide enough.

And was immediately hit on the head for his trouble.

He fell sideways, hands coming up to his temples and falling on his shoulder.

"Oh, Jay!" Jen's voice was quiet, but troubled and near panicked. He rolled onto his back, blinking at the darkness that threatened his vision.

"Close the door." Zephram's voice was the last he heard as his eyes fluttered closed.

Zephram was a weathered man, with white hair that contrasted sharply to his dark skin. His dark narrow eyes were filled with amusement, but set in a stern mien. His arms were leanly muscled, he was tall, and his legs powerful. He moved too quickly for Jay's eyes to follow.

To Jay, Zephram was a god descended from the heavens that deigned to take care of a pair of orphaned siblings.

It's what made Jay love him like a father.

And that love made Zephram teach Jay and Jen the ancient art of the sword.

Jay's eyes fluttered and, as if through water, he heard Jen's voice. "He's coming around."
Jennifer Matsa. Sister to Jason Matsa. Three years younger, and she knew she was her brother's world. She never hesitated to use her power over him. But, then, he never fought that power. She was beautiful; long auburn hair and cornflower blue eyes coupled with a lean strong body never ceased to amaze the people around her. And it caused trouble for her brother.

She was good with the sword, yes, but her sharp intellect was better put to use by remembering and researching the history of the names and techniques used.

"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu," she'd always giggle as she corrected him when he forgot the name of the sword style Zephram was teaching them. Then she'd play with his bright red strands of hair that he could never tame and continue laughing as he pushed her hands away and grumbled.

"Wake him!" Zephram commanded gruffly. "They're at the door, and I will not let a student of mine die lying down."

Jen sobbed and shook Jay by the shoulders.

They left Earth because Zephram believed there were more opportunities for two orphans trained in the ways of the sword off-world. He'd secured passage on this transport ship by telling the captain that Jay could pilot. Jay had had less then two weeks to learn rudimentary piloting skills. That's how Zephram taught them: Do or die.

They'd boarded the ship, ignoring the news reports about the increased piracy in the Outer Rim.

Jay's eyes opened and he was greeted by his sister's face lined with tears. "Jay, Jay, come on," she said. "Listen to me. You have to get up. They're coming in. You have to move, Jay. Please, get up."

Jay sat up slowly, blinking and rubbing the back of his head. There was a deafening screech and the door was forced open. Jay blinked owlishly as the men filling the doorway, disruptors drawn. "We found rats."

Jay acted without thinking. His arms wrapped around Jen's shoulders and he dove, forcing them both away from the pirates. He cried out, anger, pain and terror warring for their places within him.

"Move!" It was the last word Zephram ever said. Jay watched in horror, arms encircled his sister to spare her the sight, as Zephram turned toward the siblings he considered children and was struck down as he ran. Two steps. That was all he managed.

Jay wanted to scream above the sounds of the creaking and crackling metal, just to let the universe know he'd watched his sensei killed. Jen trembled in his arms; though he had turned her eyes away, she knew as well as he did what a dying scream was. Her blue eyes turned to gaze upon the pirates and Jay shuddered at the hatred that shone in them. "Kill them," she whispered. "I hate them."

Those who heard her words laughed and they reached down, grabbing her hair and pulling her upward. Jen clawed, screamed, bit and kicked and was silenced by a fist across her cheek.

Jay cried out, leaping forward as Jen fell. One of the men, much bigger than the slight frame of Jen and Jay, caught him with a kick to his stomach. Jay flew backward, landing in a heap amongst Zephram's prized swords. They cut him, and he screamed as he bled. The man who kicked him laughed at his screams and turned away from him, pulling his disruptor from his belt. Jen regarded him with horrified eyes as the weapon was brought to bear. The man pulled the trigger. Jen jerked backward, her body hitting the wall with a resounding thud before the whine of the gun dissipated.

She never screamed, but Jay heard her nonetheless.

He crawled to his hands and knees.

"He's still got fight," someone said.

Jay didn't pay attention. Jen was calling him.

The men turned toward him. He pulled himself upward, hand around the hilt of Zephram's favorite sword. His sensei had kept it immaculately clean and sharp. Jay settled into the stance Zephram had taught him so long ago: feet apart, shoulder dropped and slightly facing his enemy, hand hovering over the hilt of the sword. He just had to be faster. Faster than the disruptors. Faster than the men bearing their destruction. That's all he needed.

Battoujutsu. Jen's voice echoed in his head. She'd always been better at remembering the names and methods of the techniques. He'd always just done them.

The men advanced. Jay crouched lower, ready to spring. "Jen," he whispered. He could see her standing in the hallway, her lifeless blue eyes staring into his. Come, she said, opening her arms.

"I will, sister."

Jen's cracked and bloodied lips spread in a grim smile as her arms opened wide to receive her brother.

Jay moved. So quickly that none could see he cut down the first two pirates. Swinging his blade free of the bodies, he leapt forward even as the blood of the first two coated the walls. Jay whirled, bringing the swordto bear, feet slipping in the blood on the floor. It wasn't until his sword met no resistance when he swung that he stopped, back to the carnage, eyes closed against the fading screams.

Jen stood in front of him, still smiling and coated in blood. A hand closed around Jay's ankle and the rattle that death brought sounded in his ears. Without turning, he stabbed downward, catching the barely alive man in the throat. He pulled the blade free, ignoring the fresh blood, and kicked the hand off his ankle.

Jay looked up. Jen stood there and her hands moved to cup his face. Dear brother. Her voice was like the whisper of dead leaves falling. Find the rest. Kill them. I hate them. He smiled. "I will, sister." He ran his hand through her matted, bloody long hair as her image faded. Left with his hand upraised as drops of blood fell from the palm, and bloody handprints adorning his cheeks, he fell.

Just as Jen had, he fell.

And he was proclaimed a hero.

The End

…but of course, "In the Wind" is ongoing… There will be more stories relating to the theme in the future.

And I promised my theory on Jay, Jen and Zephram. I see them all as related to the Himura/Kamiya family. I imagined Zephram as from a branch of the family that continued the legacy, hoping to bring about a better way of life for those around him. Jen and Jay I imagined coming from another branch, so far removed that they probably didn't realize they hailed from a family that taught the way of the sword. By fate, the three met. (I mentioned Zephram caring for them after they were orphaned.)

I hope this one meets your expectations, my friends.

cheers,Kellen

...by the way, I abhor QuickEdit...