The Return Of Kanryu Takeda

Part VIII

by

Chibijem

Disclaimer: See Part I

When the gunfire ended, Aoshi rolled off Misao and shook his head, memories flooding in. The last time he had heard that particular noise he had lost four very dear friends. He lay his head on the floor and closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and focus on the here and now. Misao pushed up on an elbow and peered into the gloom to look into Aoshi's anguished face. When she reached to push his bangs away, he reached up and took her hand and pressed the softest of kisses to her palm, "Daijobu desu ka, koiishi?"

"Hai, genki des, anata. What about you?" Misao asked, watching as he sat up and moved to sit against the wall.

Aoshi nodded and pulled her to sit next to him, "I want you to stay here." He ordered softly.

She nodded and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Be careful, kudasai." With a nod, he turned slipped around the corner; Misao sighed. She then realized her palm was wet and held it up in the dimness of the corridor: it was covered in blood.

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Kenshin and the others came to the last of the marks when they heard gunfire. "Hey Kenshin, is that what I think it is?" Sanosuke questioned as they quickly and quietly entered the building.

"Hai, it is. Kanryu has found another Gatlin gun." Kenshin answered as they made their way to the second floor. They followed the footsteps scattered in the dust and found Misao at the top of the landing on the third floor. She stood as they neared. "Aoshi?" Kenshin asked.

"He followed...he's also hurt." Misao said simply, gesturing around the corner.

"Don't you worry Weasel, he's not hurt badly if he went on." Sanosuke reassured her.

"Something else...The gunfire...He..." Misao tried to explain. She couldn't get the look of Aoshi's eyes out of her mind.

"Miss Misao, it was the same as the last time he confronted Kanryu." Kenshin said softly, laying a hand on her arm. When she lowered her head and shook it, Kenshin went on, "Has he never talked to you about this? We were all there when Hanya and the others were killed."

"Well, Kanryu Takeda certainly knows how to play mind games." Saitou said, drawing his sword.

As the men made to follow Aoshi, Misao started to follow. "Makimachi..." Saitou started.

"Don't you even start, Okami," Misao glared at Saitou. "I am Oniwabanshu, I'm going." She looked to Shiro, who nodded firmly and smiled at her. She looked and Kenshin and Sanosuke who also nodded in acceptance. Saitou shrugged and nodded and they crept down the hall.

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Aoshi sucked in a breath trying to ease the ache in his bleeding arm. He leaned back against a wall and rested his head. He was listening for the slightest sound, a quick breath, a foot fall, anything to gauge where his quarry was. He could feel Misao's ki approaching along with the Battousai's and the others. He couldn't fault her for coming, it was her right after all. She has every right to claim some part of Kanryu Takeda, she is Oniwabanshu and no longer the small child from my memories, he thought. He turned his head as the others came up to him.

"Aoshi," Kenshin softly greeted, the unasked question in his name.

"He's up here." Aoshi started as Misao reached for the lapels of his coat and pulled it down to expose his blood covered arm. 'I'm fine."

"Don't argue." Misao replied, ripping her uniform tie to make a bandage. She took his arm and began wrapping the cloth tightly and finished by patting it softly. "I think that will do." She told him.

Aoshi put a long finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, "Arigato, koi." He said softly. He lifted his head as he heard an extremely quiet step. He tilted his head and the others nodded and slipped into two groups, one on each side of the corridor.

Misao fell in behind Aoshi with Shiro behind her; the others were on the other side of the wide hall as they all crept towards the door where Aoshi had heard the footfall. Aoshi, using old hand signals from the war, told Battousai of his plans. The red-haired man nodded and whispered to Sanosuke, Saitou merely unsheathed his sword.

"Misao, I want you to follow any instructions I give you. No questions." Aoshi softly ordered, pulling his kodachis from their sheath and handing it to her. She nodded knowing if she failed to do so, someone could get hurt or worse. Aoshi waited as the others came to the other side of the doorway and using his foot, pushed the door open.

Kanryu Takeda stood in the middle of the room, next to him was another Gatlin Gun. He watched as the group slipped inside, curious eyes peering at them from the smoke coming from the slim cigar clamped between his thin lips. "Ah, you've brought everyone with you. Saves me some time for which I thank you, Aoshi." Kanryu's eyes scanned the group before him and set upon Misao, "Well, well. Who do we have here?"

Misao stood tall and faced the man responsible for the deaths of part of her family and for nearly driving Aoshi mad with grief. "Makimachi Misao." She told him firmly.

"The one who took over being Okashira for a brief time. I always wondered about you," Takeda said beginning a slow pace. "But that's neither here nor there."

"Takeda Kanryu, by order of the government you are under arrest. You can come quietly or under force." Saitou's voice gave the order.

"Yes, the ever efficient Saitou Hajime. Oh! Gomen, Fujita Goro." Kanryu's eyes focused on the tall uniformed man. "You know that will never happen."

Saitou gave a slight nod which was emphasized by a wolfish smile. "I was only given the order to relay it to you, Takeda."

"Cut the polite crap!" Sanosuke interjected, his patience at an end. "We all know exactly what you're capable of, Kanryu."

Kanryu blew out another stream of fragrant smoke, "I see you haven't changed a bit, Sagara. Still as impatient as ever."

Kenshin held out a hand to restrain his tall friend, knowing full well Sanosuke would like nothing better than to end this on his own with his own bare hands. "Kanryu, end this. Now. Before anyone else gets hurt. It will only be worse for you."

"Worse? Nothing can be worse!" Kanryu's previous calmness, cracking. "I know what awaits if I surrender. Execution. That was the deal I made." His laughter taking on a maniacal note, making Misao shiver. "So, I've decided to die on my own terms." He said looking directly at Aoshi, "And to take as many of you with me." As he made a move to the Gatlin gun's shooting mechanism, Aoshi shoved Misao and Shiro out of the way as Kenshin and the others dove for cover as bullets flew.

Aoshi landed hard on Misao and gasped when he felt a bullet graze his shoulder. "Kuso." Was the quiet acceptance. They had managed to find safety behind some wooden crates and Aoshi looked across the room to see the others in a similar position. They all heard Kanryu's laughter above the gunfire.

When the bullets stopped, Aoshi peered around the crate to see his enemy making his way across the room to some stairs leading up. He looked over to see the Battousai taking notice also. They all warily stood, unsure what, if any, traps Kanryu had set. Misao reached up to gingerly feel Aoshi's shoulder. "It's nothing," he reassured her.

They started to follow Kanryu, "Wait! Smell that?" Shiro asked.

They all sniffed the air. "All I can smell is the gunpowder." Sanosuke answered.

"Just under that, "Shiro replied. "It's slightly different." He kept sniffing and following his keen nose came upon a crate out of the way in a corner. He pried the top off and gasped. "OUT! NOW!" He yelled.

"What have you found?" Saitou asked, casually walking up. He peered in and his eyes went wide. He scanned the room and saw there were similar crates in all four corners of the room. He nodded and Kenshin and Aoshi went to see about the others. All were packed with explosives. Aoshi turned to the stairs.

"Aoshi, wait." Kenshin called out. He approached the tall Okashira and laid a gentle hand on the man's uninjured arm. 'We need to evacuate the area and make sure no more innocent people are hurt."

"I can't let this opportunity go, Battousai. If Takeda Kanryu escapes this time, there's no way to know how he'll retaliate. It could be much worse." Aoshi argued. "You and the others can help clear the area, I'm going after him." Aoshi said. Misao had by then walked up to them, the question plain in her eyes. "I have to do this, Misao." Aoshi told her.

Misao closed her eyes when Aoshi's hand cupped her cheek. "I know. Just come back to me. Promise me that." Her voice strong as she opened her eyes and Aoshi saw all the love for him in the sapphire depths.

"Hai," he answered huskily. "You'd better go help the others." With a kiss to his palm, she followed Shiro and Sanosuke out of the room. Aoshi turned to Kenshin, "If something should happen..."

"Nothing will. Believe that." Kenshin smiled up at the man who had become a friend. "You are going to grow to be an old man, Aoshi."

Aoshi watched as the Battousai left to help the others, a perplexed look on his face.

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Aoshi crept his way up the stairs, listening for any indication of where Kanryu had hid himself. He came up on the roof and saw his quarry sitting casually, smoking. "Well, I knew you'd follow me alone. Sent the others to clear the area, didn't you."

Aoshi approached cautiously. "If you knew, why have everyone here? You set other explosives?" The realization dawned and Aoshi prayed the Battousai was as intuitive as ever. "This time, you will not get away." Aoshi stated, hands grasping his kodachis tightly.

"I have no plans to get away. I plan to take you with me." Kanryu replied, flicking the burning tobacco away. In almost an instant, there was a flame burning. "You see I've everything planned. I thought we would get a head start into the fires of Hell." He pulled a gun out of his pocket and aimed for Aoshi. "But knowing you and how you always seem to come out alive, I thought I would take out some insurance." He pulled the trigger.

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Misao, herding some merchants away, heard the gunshot and looked up to see one of Aoshi's blades glinting in the fading sun. She also saw the smoke blowing on the slight breeze. "Himura!"

Kenshin looked up and trying not to seem affected, looked back at the young shinobi. "He'll be fine."

"You bet he will, Weasel." Sanosuke added, carrying an elderly lady away.

Misao looked up again, "I swear if you don't come back to me, I'll kill you myself." She muttered as she began herding some children along with the merchants away.

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Aoshi brought up a Kodachi and the blade deflected the oncoming bullet. "Damn you Kanryu. I am not to blame for your failures." Aoshi said in a deadly calm voice.

"You think not, Okashira? Everything started to go badly when you and your group failed with Takani!" He pulled the trigger again and had the satisfaction of seeing Aoshi duck barely in time. "If you had just done what I asked!"

"Your organization was already faltering before that. You and your greed for money and power caused your downfall." Aoshi called out, feeling another bullet graze his side. He looked up and saw the flames had spread and were now engulfing most of roof. He knew it was a matter of time before the fire reached the explosives and he was almost positive Kanryu had planted more than what they had found. He counted the number of times Kanryu had fired and knew he had one more shot. Aoshi gathered himself and gripping his swords, charged Kanryu. He felt the bullet go by in a hot rush and watched as his Kodachi embedded itself in Kanryu Takeda's chest. "You die on my terms." Came the firm statement.

Kanryu fell to his knees, smiling, blood beginning to drip from his mouth. "Not quite." He whispered.

Aoshi let out a gasp as the roof collapsed under his feet and he felt himself falling into blackness.

END Part VIII