Dark Stormy Night

Chapter 3

AN: VOICE CAST:

Richard Cansino as Hitokiri Battousai

Vic Mignogna as Tatsu

Luci Christian as Tetsu

Monica Rial as Saya

Kirk Thorton as Hajimi Saito

Corey Gagne as Katsura

Tetsu ran back to Katsura's room breathing hard. Katsura saw this and was concerned with his well being. "Are you alright?" he asked putting his hand on Tetsu's shoulder. Tetsu shrugged it off. "No I'm not alright! You're assassin almost assassinated me!" he yelled. Katsura clasped his hand over Tetsu's mouth. "Ssshhh. You want o wake up the whole house hold?" he asked.

Tetsu rolled his eyes. Katsura released Tetsu. "I'm afraid it's my fault that you almost got hurt," said Katsura. "Why is it your fault?" asked the concerned kid. Katsura sat down and took off his two swords.

"I told you to go into Kenshin's room without telling you not to touch him or go near him. Consider yourself lucky, There have been others that tried to wake him up and they got killed because of it," said Katsura. Tetsu gulped. "You tell me this now!" he yelled. Katsura yawned. "Just thank God," said Katsura before he lied down to go to sleep. Tetsu followed suite. "Damn Choshu Clan," said Tetsu before he rolled out his futon and found sleep.

Back at the Shinsengumi Headquarters, Saito was furious! He kept ranting on and on about the codes of the Shinsengumi. Tatsu sat there listening at the beginning, but then zoned out. "Uh…how does this help to get Tetsu back?" he asked. Saito stopped. "Oh yeah the kid…uh.." Tatsu fell over anime style. "How could you rant like that and forget about my little brother!" he screamed. Saito narrowed his golden eyes. Tatsu backed up a step, a little scared.

"Fine. To get your brother back, we're going to have to have a trade," he said. "But all the members of the Choshu Clan are very worthy swordsman. Plus they don't have any weaknesses," said Tatsu. Saito smiled. "They protect the people of Kyoto. That is their weakness," said Saito with a devilish smile on hid face. He turned to Okita. He nodded his head. Okita understood and left. Tatsu looked at the two. "What are you doing?" he asked. "One hostage for another," said Saito. Tatsu gasped. Now he understood. they were going to go out and get a captive then trade him/her for Tetsu. Tatsu bowed his head low. "How do I keep getting myself into these situations?" he whispered to himself.

Battousai had woken up early and headed outside to practice. When he got to the yard, he practiced all his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu attacks. They were all performed without flaw. The sun rose to the beginning of a beautiful day. Kenshin looked at the sun and smiled sweetly.

He sheathed his sword then went into town. Once there the market place was filled with people. Looks like everyone decided to get up early, he thought. No one paid any attention to the samurai walking down the street, except a small girl by the name of Saya. She watched his every move. Saito had threatened her life if she didn't follow Battousai back to headquarters. She went into the street and pretended like she was a normal customer.

Battousai, even being a master swordsman, didn't notice the little girl following him. He turned a corner and went back to Choshu Headquarters. Saya followed him very silently. When she turned the corner, she saw Battousai walk into an inn. Tetsu, her mind said since she could not. She then ran as fast as she could back to the Shinsengumi.

She was panting when she reached the gates. She ran inside and saw Tatsu. Tatsu saw her and ran towards her. She tripped and fell into his arms. "Whoa are you okay?" he asked her. She shook her head to say no. "You found Tetsu?" he asked her. She nodded her head up and down. "Let's go!" said Tatsu. Saya stood still. "Why aren't you coming?" he asked her turning around to look at the young girl.

Saya pointed over to the dojo where Okita and Saito were practicing. "You have to tell them don't you?" Tatsu asked her.

Saya was crying now. She started to the 2 assassins in the dojo. Okita and Saito saw the young girl approaching. "Well did you find it?" asked Saito. The poor frightened girl nodded her head.

"Good," said Saito and her grabbed her tiny wrist and started to drag her into the center of the dojo. Saya grunted trying to get the Wolf to loosen it's grip. "Whoa. Saito that's no way to treat a lady," said Okita putting his hand on Saito's.

Saya was surprised at Okita's reaction. So was Saito. I guess he has a much gentler side to him, she thought.

Saito released his grip. Saya looked at her swollen wrist. It turned red with Saito's hand mark. "Are you ok?" asked Okita. She nodded her head and wiped the tears form her eyes.

Tatsu went over to her and took a look at her wrist. "It's just swollen. Leave it alone for a while and it'll heal," said Tatsu.

Okita left to join Saito to get into their Shinsengumi outfits. Tatsu and Saya waited in the dojo for the 2 to come out. "Don't worry Saya. I'll protect you," said Tatsu as he wrapped his arms around the small girl. Saya felt protected in such a strong embrace. (AN: I would too if Vic had his arms around me!)

Okita and Saito stepped out in full uniforms. Both Tatsu and Saya shivered with fear. Who wouldn't fear the colors of the Wolves OF Mibu? "Let's go," said Saito. "Okita take the girl and I'll take the boy," said Saito. "Okay," was all Okita's reaction was.

Okita took Saya gently and asked her nicely to lead the way. She did as she was told. Those swords on their wastes looked mighty scary to a girl like her. "Don't you hurt her!" yelled Tatsu. "Don't worry he won't. Just worry about your own life and your idiot brothers," snarled Saito.

Saya and Okita led the way and Tatsu and Saito took the back. They walked down the dirt road as if nothing was wrong. People were staring at them as they walked down the street. Even one man in particular knew what this was about. He took the back roads to the Choshu hideout. He barged open on a large meeting.

"Katsura! I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Shinsengumi are headed this way!" he yelled. "What!" yelled Katsura. "It's true! I think they're coming for the brat," said the man. All the men were on edge. There was about to be a huge battle. "One more thing, it's Okita and Saito. They have a little girl with them and a teenage boy," he said. Battousai then jumped up form where he was sitting. "Did you say teenage boy?" he asked. "Yea-Yeah, why?" asked the man.

Battousai was pissed. He ran upstairs and grabbed Tetsu who was still sleeping. "Wake up brat!" said Battousai. Tetsu opened his eyes. He screamed. "What the fuck do you want?" he yelled.

"Come with me. your friends are here," said Battousai. "The Shinsengumi?" asked Tetsu. "Yeah. They have a little girl with them and I take it your brother too," said Battousai. He dragged the poor red head down the stairs to where all of the Choshu clan were ready to draw their swords.

Tetsu looked around. "All this attention just because of the Shinsengumi?" he whispered. Thankfully no one heard him over the yells from the men. Battousai didn't let go of Tetsu's arm for even one minute. One man peeked outside and saw that their enemy had arrived. "They're here,' he said.

Battousai then pushed the men out of the way. Katsura also went out. "Are you sure you want to do this Kenshin? They have hostages," said Katsura. Battousai smiled and looked down at Tetsu. Tetsu was scared for his life. "So do we," he said. He put Tetsu in a headlock and drew out his wakizashi. He put it to Tetsu's neck. Not again, thought Tetsu. He put his hands on Kenshin's arms.

The trade was about to begin.

AN: I think I did a kick ass job on this fic. You be the judge.