Disclaimer: The characters of Rurouni Kenshin are not mine. I am using them without the permission of their owner. By writing and posting this story I am in no way gaining profit.
Line brakes are changes in view, time and/or scene.
:: Words :: in colons dictate setting.
Words in Italics are thoughts and emphasis.
Words in Bold are sixth sense perceptions. (i.e. ki sense.)
Words in Bold and Italic are the inner speech of Hitokiri. (i.e. Battousai talking to Kenshin)
Author's Note: Please pay attention to the dates. They're there for a reason. Story rated for some moderate to hard language. Thank you. —TS
:: March 31st ::
:: 1.18 pm ::
:: JE 394 ::
Sanosuke felt himself hit the bookcase opposite Kenshin's door. A crunching sound echoed in his ears, and he wondered hazily if it was the oak shelves or his ribs. It was fifty-fifty which was stronger. Sanosuke grunted a little when the fake salesman pulled the sword from his shoulder. Footsteps went towards the door, and emotion swelled in him. No! He would not go down that easy. Sanosuke wrenched himself to his feet painfully, panting.
"Hey narrow eyes, our fight ain't over."
:: May 31st ::
:: 4.50 pm ::
:: JE 394 ::
Sanosuke Sagara hummed happily, a smile on his face. He'd just beaten up a whole group of thugs with one hand. His eyes closed too of course, otherwise it wouldn't have been fair. It'd been a nice challenging fight like that, and he'd had fun. Sanosuke paused and sniffed. Had he just . . .- yes! Food! Grinning happily he looked around for the source. He paused, and then slowly Sanosuke scanned the street again. There were no restaurants in sight. Frowning around the tooth pick in his mouth, Sanosuke started to consider dropping the whole denial thing and looking at the facts, strait out. Sanosuke wasn't stupid; he knew something sure as hell was up with him.
Sanosuke stiffened, adrenalin suddenly pumping through his body. Something big- something important was near, and that really wigged him out because, besides that vision trick the Captain taught him, Sanosuke's ki sensing ability was limited to immediate danger and fuck, he's trying to kill me when someone let off killer intent.
A whiff of smoke, and there he was. Hajime Saitou. But then he was gone, lost in the crowd, and Sanosuke was so mad he was growling.
Wait- growling? He was, too. A deep rumbling in his chest, and he was grinding his teeth so hard the wooden tooth pick in his mouth had splintered. Sanosuke stopped immediately. Yes, something was definitely wrong with him.
:: June 1st ::
:: 9.01pm ::
:: JE 394 ::
Kenshin Himura smiled at the Hitokiri before him, not willing to let his worry show. He was a boy, a child, and he had just walked up to him and asked to fight Battousai. Not Kenshin, but Battousai. Such a thing was almost unheard of.
The question was polite, said with a smile like it was an everyday request. And the boy was far stranger than that. His hair was blue, something that happened with most Hitokiri when they took control of their hosts (not blue specifically, but some strange hair color), yet his eyes were not golden, which always happened when the Hitokiri is in control.
"I am Soujiro Seta, or Soujiro Tenken, if you prefer," The boy announced with a smile. It was an odd name and introduction to go with an odd Touched. Hitokiri were called by the host's last name followed by the name of the virus strain. He was Kenshin Himura, and his virus was Battousai, and when one referred to them both, he was 'Himura Battousai'. So why did the boy use his first name? Why 'Soujiro Tenken' and not 'Seta Tenken'? What was the significance?
"My master wishes me to fight you, Himura-san, but you can't match me. That's why I ask to fight Battousai, you see." This boy . . . he is not a normal Hitokiri. I noticed. Kenshin mused. He has no emotions or intent in his ki at all. It's more than that. But the virus would not elaborate.
"I'm sorry, Soujiro Tenken, but you will not be fighting Battousai." Sanosuke snorted next to him, and Kenshin was startled at how close his partner had gotten without him noticing. Soujiro's eyes slid to Sano at the sound, and his smile grew.
"Ah, Sagara-san! I would ask you kindly not to interfere." Interfere? Why would Sano interfere? And why would it matter to a Touched? Sano is human. Battousai laughed, and Kenshin found his presence almost disturbing. Battousai stayed silent during his day to day life, and he rarely faced opponents worthy of Battousai's influence. Kenshin was unused to conversing with the Hitokiri. Do you really still believe that Host? Then you are not as smart as I've given you credit for. Even the boy notices. Notices what?
Kenshin got no answer.
:: March 31st ::
:: 1.21 pm ::
:: JE 394 ::
The other man paused in licking his sword clean and Sanosuke caught something flash in those golden eyes.
"You should have stayed down." He told him. Sanosuke grinned at him even though his entire right side was aflame in pain.
"Then you obviously don't know me at all, former Shinsengumi third division Captain, Hajime Saitou." Sano smirked. "If you'd wanted to remain anonymous you shouldn't have used a signature move on an Agent of Aku Sentou." Saitou pulled his lips back and bared his Wolf fangs in acknowledgement. Then he lifted his sword again and struck, like lightning. Pain exploded this time, because Saitou got him in the same shoulder, in the same wound even. Sanosuke only had time to admire the precision before passing out.
:: June 3rd ::
:: 1.18 am ::
:: JE 394 ::
Sanosuke couldn't sleep. He'd gotten really drunk and he still couldn't sleep. He'd gotten even more drunk and that didn't work either. Damnit. Why couldn't he sleep? Standing up, Sanosuke growled in frustration and started pacing his room. He wanted to hit something, bite something, to tear someone apart with his teeth.
Sanosuke went very still.
Since when had he ever wanted to eat anybody? He'd never wanted toeat another person, the thought hadn't even occurred to him before now. Sanosuke started pacing again before reaching over and grabbing a toothpick and shoving it in his mouth. Gnawing on it absently his mind raced, trying to figure it out. He had all the signs, all the quirks – what if he'd somehow been Touched? You'd think he'd remember the transfer; he was trained to look for that stuff after all.
Gah! He wasn't smart enough to figure this out. He needed outside advice. Kenshin was out, he worked at Aku Sentou, and Sano remembered vividly what they did to the last Sekihotai who was Touched. So that meant no one in the organization. That ruled out Megumi too, damn, because she'd know. Not Missy or Yahiko either, they didn't know enough to help him.
That left one person.
Thank you reviewers, hope you like this update. Please keep reviewing and L, if you go back to last chapter, I fixed it. Thanx.
—TS
