DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor will I ever own Rurouni Kenshin. I am making no profit from this and I will remove this if requested to do so for any legitimate reason.
WARNING: This story is rated R for violence, so if you do not like graphic depictions of people dying I suggest you find something else to read.
Author's Notes: Late, very late. Sorry but I've been suffering a slow down in my productivity, not to mention a couple of other fics taking priority. Anyway, once I get the next couple of chapters out of the way the story should start heading towards the end. Although that may still take another fifteen chapters, give or take a few chapters.
On a side note, thanks to all the regular reviewers who remind me that there are still people reading this thing. I do read your reviews but you're probably not going to like this chapter much. It's a little longer than usual because I got carried away with the fight scene at the end. Remember, reviews and constructive criticism always welcome.
The Last Battle of the Bakumatsu
Chapter 21
The harsh grinding sound of metal on metal filled the small yard. On occasion, a spray of sparks flew from the contact point of the file and the sword. Sano cursed under his breath as several of the sparks burned into his skin. It hadn't been a pleasant day but it had been mostly the small irritating incidents that had ruined it.
First, he was surprised to find that Outa had decided to impress him with his cooking skills. The food was surprisingly good but the mess in the kitchen rivalled one of Kaoru's efforts. Added to that, his little brother had left straight after eating to go to the dojo and practice, leaving Sano the job of cleaning up.
Misao had gone to the dojo for breakfast and she appeared in their training field bright and cheery. To him it was a sure sign that Megumi had cooked breakfast and Aoshi had been nowhere in sight. He then had to listen to her recount the breakfast conversation with added inserts on the food and how good it tasted. While he tried not to drool, he fastened his gauntlets and decided to make sure her workout was extra hard.
She had been itching to try out her father's old sword. Today was the day that they were going to practice with their weapons. He had the handicap of not being able to punch her as he had in their previous practices. His metal clad fists were sure to inflict much more damage no matter how well he controlled his strength. She was a little uncertain at first, using a sword against him when he had none but they quickly got over their misgivings as they started to fight.
She tried to match him with her sword and kenpo while he battled back with his fists and feet. He had always been an advocate of fighting rather than training. He had never really had someone teach him a specific style. He had learnt to copy other people's styles and then use their moves as his own. He had been doing the same when he fought her, responding to some her attacks with moves from her own style.
Her style wasn't perfect but he could see its effectiveness. The time she had told him about, when she had run away from Kyoto and fought thieves for money had helped her develop into a competent fight. However she still had improving she could do in a few areas. While her ability was at a good level, their styles contrasted to the point where they couldn't get into a decent fighting rhythm.
It was frustrating for him because he was interested in a hard workout before they went off to face the Chinese gang. Eventually his frustration and his disinterest got the better of him and she accidentally slashed a cut across his left upper arm. The wound wasn't bad but it was another irritating distraction in his day.
The dojo was closer, so they had gone there for some bandages and the possibility of lunch. As his luck would have it, Kaoru had cooked and Misao had annoyed him about his carelessness. He had left the dojo in a foul mood, both Outa and Misao deciding to steer clear of him for a while. He was fine with it since at times like these he either preferred to fight or to be alone to brood.
He had waited three days for the fight, mostly due to bad weather on the open seas delaying the boat that carried Sia Chiu and her men. The restlessness he felt had been growing and he needed a fight. Not just any fight but a hard and tough fight that would leave him satisfied. He didn't want it to be over in a few moments; he needed a fight that would go on for half the night. He doubted he was going to get what he wanted. Sia Chiu wasn't known for having tough, fighting men. They tended to rely on guns rather than fighting skill. She would have a couple of fighters but the last time they had met, the fight had been very disappointing.
The grinding of metal on metal continued as he sharpened his zanbatou. He hadn't planned on using it on the Chinese. However, he thought it might help to intimidate a few of them, sort the men from the boys so to speak. A manic grin spread on his lips as he remembered how he used to scare some of his opponents into wetting their pants just by flashing an evil smirk and waving his zanbatou.
He was planning on enjoying his comeback. It was going to be a rampage reminiscent of his infamous days as a gangster when he terrorised the slums with the symbol of evil on his back. His darker thoughts on his day helped fuel the old rage that had created his alter ego. It was disturbing how easily and how comfortable he felt as Zanza, even though it really wasn't who he was or wanted to be anymore.
"What the do you need that for?" the incredulous shriek of Megumi tore him out of his thoughts but not his foul mood.
Sano half turned from his position to see Megumi standing at the side of the house holding her black leather bag. She appeared to have just rounded the corner and was pointing at the zanbatou. "It's a sword, there's only one use for it." His angry growl put her on the back foot, as she appeared surprised by the harshness of his reply.
"What's the matter with you?" Her whispered question was more to herself than to him but he heard her nonetheless.
"Nothing is wrong with me," he grumbled, feeling guilty for his insensitive tone.
She seemed to hesitate before she moved to the back porch. She sat down and opened her bag, pulling out a roll of gauze and some antiseptic. He watched her with curiosity and apprehension. He guessed that she had found out about his training accident with Misao and was here to fix his arm. However, with the mood he was in he'd probably bite her head off, even if her comment was only a joke.
"What are you staring at? Get over her," her impatient tone didn't impress him. He bit his tongue, choosing not to respond. She watched him closely and she could tell that there was a difference in him from before. She hadn't seen him since Yahiko's fight at the dojo but Misao had kept her informed.
Misao had wanted to know about Sano when he was known as Zanza. Megumi also found herself listening since she had met him after he had given up that name. Of course Kenshin wasn't giving up the information without knowing why she wanted to know. When Misao had informed them of his little job, everyone was concerned. Megumi tried not to show too much herself but she did keep a close tab on the conversation.
Kenshin had basically described Sano as a ticking time bomb of rage. A cool calm exterior that hid the thunderous anger and hate inside that was ready to explode any second. Misao had wondered if that was any different to the Sano they had witnessed fight in the last couple of weeks. Kaoru had replied that Sano was more in control and relaxed while Zanza was intense and uncontrollable. Zanza fought until his opponents were mercilessly defeated, only then would he lose interest in a fight.
Misao had been unsure of what to make of the new information but the morning's events had worried her. She had gone to Megumi, partially about Sano's injured arm and partially in hope that the woman might be able to calm him down. Megumi wondered if it had been a good idea. She could see his anger in his eyes, despite his attempts to hide it.
"I'm not going to hurt you, if that's what you think." He spoke softly, trying to eliminate the hard edge in his voice after seeing the fear in her eyes.
"I didn't think you would," she replied confidently, completely aware that she didn't believe those words.
"Then why are you trembling?" He glanced down at her shaking hands as they tied a fresh bandage around his arm.
"You're not exactly yourself," she commented, trying not to look him in the eyes as she did so.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He irritably asked as she started to pack her things away.
She didn't answer; a ploy that could either set him off or calm him down. She watched, as he appeared to simmer on the edge for a while before relaxing a little and looking away. "Why are you doing this?" She quietly asked, matching his stare out into the empty sky.
"Doing what?" He wanted to avoid the topic of returning to his gangster life, even if it was for only one fight.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. After all your talk about starting a new life, here you are on the verge of fighting for some Yakuza." She didn't hold back the distaste in her words but he didn't move.
"You can't start a new life until you've paid off the debts of the old," he solemnly stated.
"He's an old Yakuza thug, how can you think of honouring an old debt to him?" She didn't hide her exasperation as he stood up and walked back to the zanbatou.
"Just because he doesn't have any honour, doesn't mean I don't." He was intent on keeping the conversation short and quickly started packing up the tools he'd be using to maintain his new sword.
"So you're just going to take on a whole gang of gun smugglers and gangsters just for an old debt. Times have changed Tokyo has changed. You can't just go tearing around without worrying about the consequences." She had stood up to move to a position where he would pay attention to her but his constant movement made it difficult.
"Well you're not me, so I wouldn't worry about it if I was you." His dismissive comment caught her off guard.
"Considering how reckless you're being, if I don't worry then nobody else will." Her frustration was starting to boil over as he continued to disregard her.
"I lived for ten years on the Tokyo streets and travelled the world without you taking care of me. I think I can survive one night." He brushed passed her as he grabbed a ratty old sheet to wrap the zanbatou in.
"What about Outa? How's he going to cope if you get yourself shot or thrown in prison? What about Misao, since she seems intent on following you in this stupid little escapade." She stood with hands on hips looking down on him as he wrapped the zanbatou in the sheet.
"Outa's lived nearly all of his life without me, he'll live if I'm not around. Misao's an adult, she can make her own decisions, so I suggest you take it up with her." He continued with his task, not bothering to acknowledge her as she continued to stand over him.
"So you're willing to throw it all away, just to pay off one favour?" Although she held some hope of dissuading him, she was starting to get a sinking sensation.
"I'm not throwing anything away and it's for more than just a favour," he grunted as he finished covering up the zanbatou. He effortlessly lifted the heavy sword onto his shoulders but she stepped into his path.
"Just where do you think you are going?" It had been a good idea to stop him but she quickly regretted her actions as he glared down at her.
"You're not my mother and you're not my wife, so I really don't need to tell you anything. I'm going out and I'm going to show those Chinese gangsters what Zanza is capable of. You may think it's foolish and stupid but that just says that you don't understand what I'm doing or me. I'm sure there are plenty of other people you need to worry about so stop wasting your concern on me." He looked down at her defiant face for a moment before striding passed her and out of his home.
She let out the breath she had been holding and at the same time her body language started to crumble. Her shoulders slumped forward and she bowed her head. A hand came up to her face to brush away the tears that were threatening to fall. "I can't understand you if you won't talk to me," she whispered to the breeze as it travelled through the empty yard.
Misao had been looking for Sano the whole evening. She hadn't known what was going on till Megumi returned to the dojo late in the day. She hadn't told them everything, only that Sano had taken his zanbatou and left in a very bad mood. As soon as she got an opportunity, Misao had slipped away in an attempt to catch up to him. She had visited his home, the Akabeko and the field where they trained. A sure sign of where he had been was the disarray of their training field that was now scarred by his presence.
She was now travelling over the rooftops towards where Sia Chiu and her men would dock and disembark. However if she had to guess, she would assume that they had already landed. They were probably making there way through town collecting money from storekeepers and small time yakuza thugs.
Suddenly, there was what sounded like an explosion near some warehouses off the main streets. Misao stopped in her tracks to look in its direction. "So much for keeping things quiet," she mumbled to herself. She quickly ran over the rooftops to see what was happening. When she arrived at the scene, she quickly noticed what Sano and his zanbatou were capable of.
He was standing in an alley facing off against a group of men. In one mighty swing he had taken out the corner of one warehouse and the wall of another on the other side of the alley. The horizontal stroke had terrified the Chinese thugs and they were now backing away.
"What the hell do you want?" One of them screamed but Sano just snickered as he raised the zanbatou above his head. The powerful downward stroke smashed into the ground in front of the men. The blast from the impact threw them all backwards until they collided with a wall. Only one of them remained conscious and he wore a red armband that marked him out as one of the men carrying a gun. He was sitting with his back against the wall, one arm clutched at his bruised ribs as the other drew his gun.
Sano walked up to him, stepping through the unconscious bodies as he watched the man draw the gun. Before he could point it, Sano kicked out, crushing the gun and the man's hand against the wall. "Pathetic," growled Sano as he kicked the man in the face, knocking him across the alley and rendering him unconscious. He then turned and started to walk in Misao's direction.
"No mercy," whispered Misao to herself but Sano's head jerked up to look at her.
"If you want to fight them, then show no mercy. Show them no fear and look at them as weak men who deserve to be punished. If you act like a timid, little girl then they'll pounce on you. Show them total disrespect and intimidate them into being afraid. That way you've already won half the battle," he continued to look at her for a moment before starting to walk again.
"Is this part of my training?" She uncertainly asked as he walked away from her.
"You've always lured men in by acting like a lost, innocent girl and then beat them up. Now act like a heartless gangster that only has to look at people and they cower with fear. See how it is to be feared, I think you'll enjoy it." He disappeared from her sight as he turned a corner and she hesitated before moving on.
She started to wonder about what he said and remembered the fear that he had just provoked. She didn't know if she could do that but she wanted to find out. She wanted to know what it felt like to have that kind of power over them. She paused in her rooftop travel as the sounds of a conversation in a foreign language drifted up to her. She took note of a group of gangsters walking along an alleyway towards the only bar which was still open.
They were the standard group she had been told to expect. Ten men, two with guns, that collected the money from around the dock area. Apparently they were reluctant to set up a base in Tokyo until they secured police support, which was why now was the best time to send them packing.
Misao ran ahead of them, staying out of sight on the rooftops. She reached the bar before them and was able to slip inside unnoticed. The bar was empty, probably due to the Chinese men approaching. She started to think about what Sano had said. She remembered what Kenshin had told her about him. She needed to dredge up all her dark and painful memories. Aoshi immediately sprung to mind and the pain from his numerous rejections became the fuel for her rage.
It took a moment for the bartender to realise that she was there. When he did, she was already walking to the back wall opposite the door. She shot a withering glare at him when he tried to protest. He shrank back away, despite being larger than her. She grinned menacingly at him as she passed by him and he shuddered. She enjoyed the fear she could see emanating from him.
She had wrapped her sword in a cloth and tied it to her back so that it wouldn't attract unwanted attention from the police. She removed the wrapping and tucked it into her belt on the left side. She turned to stand with her back against the wall. She was half hidden in shadow and went unnoticed by the men as they entered. She counted seven before the door closed behind them. Only one gunman entered and he went straight to the man at the bar.
The owner knew exactly what to do but he nervously glanced at her. "Looks like some entertainment," one man spoke in bad Japanese as all the men's attention turned to her.
She had her head bowed with her arms folded across her chest. As one man approached, her dark eyes narrowed as she focused on him. There appeared to be a shimmering blue shard of light reflecting in them as she stared at the men with contempt and loathing. A chill ran up her spine as she saw them all hesitate, their eyes a little wider with apprehension. The menacing grin on her lips grew as some of them looked at her with fear.
"Pathetic," she whispered just loud enough for them to hear, the word loaded with disgust.
The man that carried the gun responded to that, reacting as his pride dictated and reaching for the gun under his jacket. Her arm moved in a blur launching four knives in his direction. Two hit the wrist and elbow of his gun arm, the third embedding itself in his other shoulder. The forth flashed passed his eyes, clipping his cheek and ear before thudding into the wall behind him. He fainted as he realised just how close to death he had come.
"Too slow," she growled as she started to walk toward the anxious group of men.
The closest one came at her but she scoffed at his feeble attempt. Her left hand coming to rest on her kodachi diverted his attention before she kicked him in the stomach. With her opponent off balance and falling forward, it wasn't much effort to snatch his wrist. The man was flipped onto his back to the sound of his wrist breaking. She released the broken appendage as she kicked the man in the chest with her heel. The satisfying sound of cracking ribs silenced the man's howls of pain.
"Too weak," she snarled as she stepped over the unconscious body. Slowly she began to draw the kodachi, the remaining five men backing away as she fearlessly approached them. The slow sound of the kodachi on the scabbard intensified the tense atmosphere.
"What are you?" one of the men mumbled. His mangled version of Japanese was almost indecipherable for her.
"Evil," she wickedly responded. Her menacing grin turned into a malicious smirk. She felt a heady rush as all the men shivered with fear. Feeling the invigorating buzz of her power over them she accelerated forward.
The first man didn't even reacted as she passed him, dragging her sword across his midriff. She used the momentum gained from that slash to add extra power to her left legged kick that smashed into the temple of the second man. He fell backward until his back crunched into the bar. He bounced off the bar and then doubled over as her second kick hit him in the pit of his stomach.
She paused in a crouching position before she jumped to the side to avoid the chair that the third man tried to hit her with. As the chair splintered on the floor, she landed on the edge of the bar, immediately springing back into a flying kick. Her left heel impacted with the side of his head and the man spun as he fell back. Her right foot came around to hit him in the back of the head. He collected several tables and chairs as he rolled into the wall on the other side of the room. She gracefully landed on an undisturbed table.
She sized up both her remaining opponents with a fierce glare. Since neither of them were ready to attack, she took the initiative. Rolling from the table, she went after the forth man. She rolled twice on the floor before kicking out of the roll with both feet. They both connected with the man's face. His head snapped back as he flew up and face planted the ceiling. She flipped back to her feet, avoiding the falling body.
She noticed the last man getting ready to bolt out the door. Three knives were instantly in her fingers and she targeted the man's legs. He howled in pain as one crunched into his knee and another hit his thigh while the third missed everything. He fell to the ground, writhing in agony. She was on a tremendous high as she surveyed the damage but realised it wasn't over. She heard the three men outside yelling at each other. Darting towards the door in a crouched run, she was about to burst through it when it opened.
A man stood in the doorway; ready to fire at anyone standing there. A combination of panic and shaking hands caused him to fire over her head. His eyes bulged as she pushed the gun aside with the butt of her kodachi. Her left foot hit his stomach and her right foot landed flat on his face as she launched the man into the wall on the other side of the street. The double kick pushed her up into the air and she felt her feet contact with the overhang of the roof. In that moment, she appeared to be defying gravity by crouching upside down on the underside of the roof.
She looked down at the last two men on either side of the door. Pushing off the roof, she took out the one on her left with a downward slash from her sword before she landed like a cat. Bouncing back up she thrust the butt of her kodachi into the last man's throat and then lashed out with both feet. The man was sent tumbling down the street after her feet connected with the centre of his chest. She finished the move with an elegant somersault and landed in a crouched position. She remained that way for a short while, as her mind and body caught up with what had just transpired.
Sano was right when he said that she'd enjoy being feared. The power she felt when the men had gone from being arrogant gangsters to simpering fools was invigorating. She understood how someone could enjoy this position but her Oniwabanshu training told her not to become too excited by it. True it seemed to be a valuable idea but she couldn't get drunk on the feeling, otherwise she would become no better than them.
As she stood her head snapped up and she maintained the menacing look she had worn through most of the battle. Her lips tugged at the corners when she beheld one of the two men's faces but she didn't let her intensity diminish. "It's none of your concern, stay away." Her barked order did nothing other than make the faint signs of surprise fade from Aoshi's face. Before he could react, she darted away from them and into the shadows, intent on catching up with Sano.
"Interesting," murmured the second man. He was all but invisible in the shadows besides the white-gloved hand that lifted a smouldering cigarette to his lips.