Author-chan's notes: Hiya, everyone, A-chan speaking! I've got my Samurai Deeper Kyo vocals playing, so hopefully I'll be inspired into writing a really cool fight scene for Kenji with the inspiration I should (hopefully) be getting from this CD.
Some quick notes to my reviewers: Again, thanks for your input and corrections. I have no idea what I would do without them. I give every idea consideration, and try to fix any mistakes in later chapters. You guys are the best!
Enough of my chatter: on with the fic!!!
Key:
"talking"
'thoughts that can only be heard by thinker, a.k.a. private thoughts'
/thoughts that can be heard by thinker and spirits, a.k.a. telepathy/
qpqpqpqp indicates scene/time change
Like Father Like Son
(Chapter Fourteen: Rescue)
Back at the Dojo
"Kenichi has been kidnapped by thieves?!"
Sano winced at the sound of Chizuru's voice screaming in his ears. She, Sasuke, and Yahiko had rushed home after their talk with Yamaguchi/Saito. They had quickly squeezed the whole story out of Sano, who had been neatly bandaged up by Megumi.
"Gomen," Sano murmured, feeling lower than he had ever felt in his entire life.
'If I had only fought a little bit harder…'
"We're not blaming you, Sano," Yahiko said, trying to bring hi friend out of his darkening mood.
'If I had been a little bit faster…'
"Stop acting so miserable, rooster-head!" Megumi growled, "It's not your fault. At least you were here to put up a fight. We weren't. If anything, we failed more than you did."
'But I was here! I could have done something!'
"Yahiko-san and Megumi-san are right, Sanosuke-san," Chizuru murmured, "We can't really blame you. You were unarmed, and there were five of them with guns. You did everything you could, and I appreciate it."
"Don't feed me that line!" Sano snarled, glaring up at the others, "I should have done something! Why the hell was I so weak? Am I really that pathetic that I can't even help one person?! Am I?!"
"Sanosuke!" Megumi cried, "Calm down!"
"Like hell I will!" Sano snarled, smashing his fist against the floor, "If Kenichi gets hurt, then it's my fault."
"It would be the fault of his kidnappers," Chizuru said quietly, "It would be the fault of us for not being here to help you, Sanosuke-san. It would be my fault for failing to replace the lock on the gate, even though I had noticed it was weak several months ago. It was not your fault."
"Yeah," Yahiko nodded, "Besides, Kenji is going after those idiots. And that group wouldn't want to mess with an angry Kenji." Sano was silent.
'Still…If anything happens. It's my fault. Am I really as helpless as Saito said I was?
'I need…I need to get stronger!'
qpqpqpqp
At the Tokyo police station
Officer Miyazaki Takashi sat at the front desk, bored out of his mind. He was the one who was supposed to welcome anyone who came into the station, as well as one of the officers sent to guard the front door. But today was so slow! It drove him insane!
Suddenly, the doors to the station burst open, and two panting youths jogged in.
"You there!" Officer Miyazaki Takashi snarled at the two intruding brats, "What do you think you're doing?"
"W-we've been sent," one of the intruders gasped out to the officer.
"By who?" Miyazaki asked, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't an idiot. He knew a criminal when he saw one. And if Miyazaki knew anything it was that this pair reeked of criminal activity.
"L-Lieutenant Sawagejou," the other youth panted.
Miyazaki's eyebrows shot up. Lieutenant Sawagejou Chou? That sword-crazy manic?
"Is that so?" Miyazaki asked skeptically, "How many guns was he wearing?"
"Guns?" the first intruder blinked, "I didn't see any guns on him. Just lots and lots of swords."
"Yeah," the second one nodded, "Though with that big red coat he was wearing, he might have been concealing one. But a doubt it. He was armed to the teeth with blades! What does he need for guns for?"
Miyazaki blinked at the pair for a moment, completely silent.
Then, he laughed.
"That sounds like Lieutenant Sawagejou Chou!" Miyazaki grinned, shaking his head, "Come on, you brats. I'll take you to the Lieutenant's office. Wait for him there, and don't touch anything, unless you want something cut off."
"Alright," the duo shrugged. Miyazaki smirked at the slight gleam that he caught in the two's eyes.
"I meant that that literally by the way," Miyazaki warned, "I've seen Officer Sawagejou during interrogations. It isn't pretty, picking up all the limbs…"
The two thieves gulped.
qpqpqpqp
Back in the Spirit World
Shinigami hummed to himself as he sat beneath a tree. It was nice being back in the Realm of Spirits, even though the human world was not without its advantages.
The tiny kami grinned to himself. Stage one of his plan was nearly complete. Most of the players had gathered, except for the ones in the old capital, but it was easy enough to get that group.
True, there was still some clean up to be dealt with, but Shinigami wasn't worried. Kenji and Chou could deal with it.
Things were beginning to unfold properly for once, even if he was breaking a ton of rules to make it happen. He would show everyone, even the Council of Kami, that Shinigami was not one to be trifled with or ignored.
For a moment, Shinigami's eyes bled more golden than green as he remembered the Council's decision. It wasn't fair! The whole Council was blind! Did they not see what they had done? They had all but condemned the human world!
And it was up to Shinigami, miniature kami, to save it. Even if it got him into a lot of trouble, it was worth it. And it would be fun too. Fixing the Council's decision, helping out Kenshin-san, messing up Enma-sama's plans…
Well, lighting a fire under Enma's ass was always fun, no matter what.
"Enjoying yourself, are we?" a smooth voice asked. Blinking his strange eyes, Shinigami looked up at the figure leaning over him.
"Tomoe-san!" Shinigami blinked in surprise at seeing the ghost of Himura Kenshin's first wife bent over him, "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question, Shinigami-sama," Tomoe replied seriously, "Unlike others, I understand what is going on. I can spot the clues than others miss. I see what you are plotting, even if no one else can."
"Ah," Shinigami murmured, smiling lightly, "But do you know all of my plans?"
He paused for a moment, and when she didn't answer, he continued, "Are you going to try to stop me, Yukishiro Tomoe-san?"
"Tell me, Shinigami-sama," Tomoe began, kneeling down so that she would be at his eye level, "How can I, a mere ghost, and a cursed one at that, stop you, a kami?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Tomoe-san," Shinigami laughed lightly, "You know well enough how to stop me. The question is; do you want to?"
"I don't like how you are using Kenshin and Kaoru-san," Tomoe said icily, her dark eyes narrowing.
"But they will be the ones with the most to gain if this plan of mine works," Shinigami pointed out cheerfully.
"And they are the ones with the most to loose if this plan goes wrong," Tomoe countered, sighing a bit, "And no, Shinigami-sama, I will not stop you. If you wish, you may have my aid as well as the help of my husband, Kiyosato Akira. I pray that your scheme works, Shinigami-sama. For all our sakes."
And with that, the blood-covered ghost disappeared.
"So do I, Tomoe-san," Shinigami murmured, "So do I."
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kenji
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu! Ryu Tsui Sen!"
The echoing roar of Kenji's attack muffled the sound of his bokken slamming downwards on soft flesh.
Barely.
In a single blow, the second robber who had gotten in Kenji's way (it was Shingo this time) fell beneath the wooden weapon, unconscious.
Kenji barely gave the fallen body a moment's glance, instead turning his attention to his weapon.
Cracked. It was cracked.
Kenji knew that going into battle with a broken weapon was suicide. The redhead swore under his breath. It was rare that he gave so much abuse to his bokken, normally favoring giving such treatment to the sakabatou, which could handle the stress.
Giving the wooden blade another quick once over, Kenji slowly lowered it, his fingers loose around the hilt. Then he quickly rushed down the hall.
It was time to find his father's weapon.
The sakabatou.
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kaoru
After Kenji's first fight with one of the thieves, Kaoru decided to separate from her son, conducting her search for Kenshin alone. Floating from room to room, Kaoru looked like an aimless spirit…which she was, more or less. Suddenly, her searching came to a halt as a second spirit came into view, blocking her path.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Kaoru screamed reflexively, startled by the other ghost's sudden appearance.
"Calm down, Himura-san!" the second ghost said quickly, wincing at her reaction, "It's me!"
"K-Kiyosato-san?" Kaoru gasped, recognizing the bloody ghost she had met earlier, "What are you doing here?" To her surprise, the other ghost blushed slightly.
"I was curious what your emergency on Earth was," Kiyosato admitted to her, "So I investigated, and found out that your reincarnated husband was kidnapped. Also, everyone in the Spirit World was curious why there was such a large release of spiritual energy in the land of the living. Some ghost's spiritual energy is spiking to the point of changing the sky outside. I am assuming that was you."
"H-Hai," Kaoru admitted with a blush, "I was angry."
"You're lucky that you're under the protection of the god of death at the moment, Himura-san," Kiyosato sighed, "Normally such rash behavior by a spirit would have grave consequences. It's a good thing you calmed down, even though it is only by a small amount. Who knows what the outcome would be if you had continued to let your rage grow?"
"Kiyosato-san, thank you for warning me," Kaoru said a bit impatiently, "But I am trying to find my husband."
"No need for that, Himura-san," Kiyosato laughed, "I know where he is. I'll lead you to him."
"Thank you so much!" Kaoru cried out happily as the two ghosts made their way through the building.
"You're welcome, Himura-san."
"Please, call me Kaoru," the blue-eyed woman said with a smile, "I keep thinking you're addressing my husband when you call me Himura-san."
"Kaoru-san then," Kiyosato nodded, "That certainly makes things simpler."
Kaoru paused for a moment.
What made what simpler?
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kenshin (Kenichi) and Chou
Kenshin felt like sighing. At the time being, he was being held by the former Juppongatana member.
Make that the sleeping, former Juppongatana member.
Apparently, Chou had decided to take a nap while waiting for Kenji to arrive. It irked Kenshin that Chou was completely undisturbed with the notion that Kenji was currently beating up some poor thugs.
/Why is it that everyone falls asleep when watching sessha? / Kenshin asked rhetorically, sweat dropping slightly at notion.
"Who knows, anata?" a familiar voice floated back to Kenshin answering him.
/K-Kaoru! / Kenshin yelped in surprise as his wife's form came into view. She smiled down at him.
"How are you, Shinta?" Kaoru asked, looking him over for any scratches.
/Sessha is fine, / the former rurouni answered, /Surprisingly enough, Chou came by. He sent the two that were guarding sessha to the police station, de gozaru. /
"What's he doing here?" Kaoru asked, looking the former Juppongatana over suspiciously, "Last I heard of him he was working with Saito at the police station."
/Apparently he's still working there, de gozaru, / Kenshin replied, /Even so, sessha has no idea why he came here, de gozaru. Sessha is more curious about how you were able to find me. /
"Simple," a new voice from behind Kaoru answered, "She had help from me."
Kenshin felt his amethyst eyes widen as a second form materialized next to Kaoru. It was a face he knew well from his old nightmares…
/Kiyosato Akira, / Kenshin's mind voice whispered, his eyes dark with guilt and sorrow.
Kaoru's tone was laced with surprise as she asked, "Shinta, you know Kiyosato-san?" Both men ignored her.
"Himura-san," the bloody spirit replied with a slight upward twist of his lips, "I'm glad you haven't forgotten about me."
/I may have been a demon, Kiyosato-san, / the former hitokiri said quietly, his violet eyes glinting a slight trace of gold, /but I was never so heartless as to forget. /
"Shinta?" Kaoru called again, becoming worried at her husband's tone. Kiyosato placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling lightly so not to worry the blue-eyed spirit.
"Never could anyone accuse you of being heartless and be telling the truth, Himura-san," Kiyosato murmured, addressing the ghost-turned-baby. Absentmindedly, he fingered the gaping hole in his throat, "You may have given me these wounds, but not a single one of them was given in spite, and I know that."
"Nani?" Kaoru yelped, looking back and forth from her husband and the bloody spirit who had guided her, "Kiyosato-san, are you telling me that Shinta was the one who killed you?"
/Aa, / Kenshin replied for Kiyosato, shifting a bit uncomfortably in Chou's arms, /Kiyosato-dono, sessha is so –/
"–sorry, I know," Kiyosato finished for the redhead, "You have already been forgiven, Himura-san. You had my forgiveness long before the Bakumastu ended. You might be surprised how many so called 'victims' of Hitokiri Battousai feel the same way."
/Still, sessha –/
"Never mind about it now, Himura-san," Kiyosato said, waving Kenshin's words away, "I do believe your lovely wife is most confused. I think it would be best if you introduced me properly to her, ne?"
/Aa, / Kenshin blushed softly, /Kaoru-dono, this is Kiyosato Akira, a former Bakufu bodyguard and Yukishiro Tomoe's fiancé. /
"Tomoe's fiancé?" Kaoru whispered, looking at Kiyosato, "Then you are…"
"Yes," Kiyosato nodded, "Actually, it's husband now. Tomoe-chan and I were married after we both died. And relax, Kaoru-san, I'm not here for vengeance."
"Then what are you here for?"
"I am here to help," Kiyosato replied with a soft smile.
qpqpqpqp
Back with Genji
Genji was stalking the hallways, carefully hiding in the shadows, his gun drawn. He wasn't an idiot. He recognized a battle cry when he heard one.
There was an intruder in the building and Genji was going to find him.
Peeking around a corner, the leader of the thieves got a glimpse of fire bright strands.
The intruder!
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kenji
Click. Kenji's head shot up at the soft sound, instantly recognizing the sound of a gun being cocked. He had heard it often enough when he worked with the police.
Suddenly, a figure holding a gun rounded the corner in front of him, aimed the Western weapon, and fired.
BANG!! With split second thinking and the lightning reflexes taught to him by Hiko, Kenji was able to dodge the first shot fired.
Scarcely.
Kenji hissed as the bullet grazed his bicep, leaving a long bloody scratch.
'This might be tougher than I thought…'
qpqpqpqp
Meanwhile with Kaoru, Kiyosato, Kenshin (Kenichi) and Chou
BANG!! The first sound of the gun's report resounded throughout the building, causing the conversing spirits (and reincarnated baby) to look up in alarm. Chou, who had been sleeping soundly, quickly jumped to attention at the sound of gunfire.
"What was that?!" Kaoru, Chou, and Kiyosato cried out at the same time.
/It appears that the fight has started, de gozaru, / Kenshin replied, his voice darkly serious.
"Kenji," Kaoru whispered, her eyes wide in fright.
"A gun," Chou murmured to himself, unaware that there were spirits listening to him, "How the hell is Battousai's brat supposed to fight a gun with that blunt sword of his?"
"Wait a second!" Kaoru cried out, not caring that Chou couldn't hear her, "Kenji doesn't have the sakabatou! He brought a bokken with him because –"
/–the sakabatou is right here, de gozaru, / Kenshin finished for her grimly, looking at the sword leaning against the wall where Sai and Shou had left it.
"AH!!!" Chou yelled, also spying the sakabatou on the wall, "That little red-haired idiot! He's just like his father! Going into battle without a proper weapon! He's going to get killed!"
Quickly striping himself of his jacket, and bundling it up into a nest, Chou plopped the baby in his arm into the impromptu bassinet. Then grabbing the sakabatou off the wall, Chou rushed out the room and into the hall.
"Kiyosato-san!" Kaoru cried out, also standing up and heading towards the fusuma, "Keep Shinta company for me. I'm going to find Kenji!"
/Be careful, Kaoru-dono! / Kenshin called after her, worry darkening his tone.
"Hai!" the blue-eyed spirit replied before phasing through the fusuma and into the hallway, leaving killer and victim alone for the time being.
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kenji and Genji
Kenji barely glanced at the laceration on his arm, instead focusing all his attention on Genji. Even though the wound was deep, it was on his left arm and not on his sword arm, or else there would be trouble. And his gi was soaking up the dripping blood, so Kenji was not worried about it creating a puddle that he could slip in.
Meanwhile, his opponent, Genji, swore. This guy was fast! How the heck was he supposed to shoot the intruder properly if the little red-haired rat kept moving?
Kenji rushed forward, swinging his bokken in a downward strike. It didn't matter anymore that he only had a training sword and not the sakabatou. There was an enemy to be dealt with and that was all that mattered.
CRACK!Genji crossed his arms above his head to shield himself from Kenji's attack. The bokken, already damaged from the earlier fights, shattered on impact, leaving Kenji with only the broken hilt in his hands.
"Shimatta!" Kenji swore, staring at the ruined bokken in his hand.
"Don't move," a voice hissed into his ear. Out of the corner of his eye, Kenji saw the leader of the thieves with his gun.
The gun which was pressed directly at Kenji's temple.
"Nowhere to run now," Genji jeered at Kenji, "What will you do now, trapped and weaponless?"
"This!" Kenji hissed. Ducking down faster than the eye could see, Kenji slammed the broken hilt of his bokken on Genji's kneecap, shattering the bone.
"GAHAAAAAA!!!" Genji screamed as his legs buckled beneath him. Seizing his chance, Kenji tackled the thief, pinning him down and applying pressure on the hand holding the gun. As soon as Genji's fingers loosened around his weapon, Kenji grabbed the gun and threw it off down the hall.
"G-get off!" Genji panted, trying to toss Kenji off. Kenji just leaned in closer, not budging an inch.
"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Hiza Hijiki," Kenji murmured, informing the thief exactly what attack crippled him, "You should have known better than to kidnap the son of a swordsman. We tend to be…overprotective. I doubt you'll be able to stand on that leg again, kidnapper."
And with that, Kenji raised his fist, and smashed it into Genji's temple, knocking him out cold.
qpqpqpqp
Back with Chou
Chou rounded a corner, instantly spying an unconscious body on the floor and Kenji sitting calmly to the side.
"Kenji-han?" Chou called out as he reached the red-haired warrior.
"Lieutenant!" Kenji greeted, surprised to see the strange police officer he often worked with there and not at the station, "What are you doing here?"
"Making an arrest," Chou replied, sparing a glance at Genji's prone form, "but it looks like ya beat me to it."
"Take him away," Kenji sighed in disgust, "I never want to see this bastard again."
"Sure thing," Chou grinned. Then he tossed the sakabatou at Kenji who caught it, blinking in surprise.
"By the way, Kenji-han," Chou said while picking up Genji's limp body, "Yer kid is down that hallway in the third door to the right." Kenji blinked for a minute before the words sunk in.
"Thank you, so much!" Kenji beamed, bowing deeply to the sword-collector. Then he slipped the sakabatou into the ties of his hakama and rushed down the hall.
Chou was left standing in the hallway with Genji's body slung over his shoulder.
"Why is it I'm always left with the boring work?" Chou grumbled as be began to trudge away with his burden, "And why the hell is this guy so heavy?!"
qpqpqpqp
Kaoru smiled as she watched Kenji rush down the hall. Her little boy…no, he was a man now…had done fought the thieves all by himself. And he did it without breaking any of the rules of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.
She was so proud of him.
Still smiling, Kaoru faded away leaving for the dojo to wait for her son and husband to come home.
It had been a tiring day for all of them.
qpqpqpqp
Back with Kenshin (Kenichi) and Kiyosato
Kiyosato smiled down at the man…no, child…who was his killer. The redhead had started yawning not too long ago and had fallen into a deep slumber. Kiyosato had to laugh at that. Ever since his death he had been observing the man called Hitokiri Battousai, and not once did he ever see the swordsman sleep this soundly or easily.
'So it's true then,' Kiyosato thought, 'At the moment Himura-san is so very vulnerable. This time it is he who needs protection. And it will be up to all of us whose lives Himura-san has touched to provide it.'
Suddenly the sound of footsteps caused Kiyosato to look up. As the footsteps grew closer, Kiyosato focused his energy.
It was time to show off the power of a victim of Battousai's bloody blade.
Glossary:
Gomen- "sorry"
-san- name suffix/honorific; means something along the lines of Mr. or Ms.
Shinigami- "god of death"; in this story, Shinigami is being used as a name, but it can also be used as a title
kami- "god" or "gods"
Enma- Japanese god of the afterlife (Anyone see Yu Yu Hakusho?)
-sama- name suffix/honorific; means something along the lines of Lord, Lady, or Master; very polite
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu- "Honorable Sword of the Flying Heavens" (rough translation); sword technique used by Kenshin and his master Hiko, famous for its speed, battoujutsu attacks, and ability to let the user take on several opponents at once
Ryu Tsui Sen- "Dragon Mallet Flash"; a Hiten Mitsurugi attack where the user jumps into the air to slash downwards at the opponent, aiming for the head or shoulder; one of the few Hiten Mitsurugi techniques known to Kenji and Yahiko (thank you JML in pointing out that Yahiko also knows Ryu Shou Sen)
bokken- wooden training sword
sakabatou- Kenshin's reverse-blade sword; the dull and sharp edges are switched making it hard to kill with it
Hai- "Yes"
Juppongatana- "The Ten Swords"; an elite group of fighters assembled by Shishio Makoto; Chou was once a member
Sessha- "This unworthy one"; an archaic way of referring to oneself, normally used by samurai; it is one of Kenshin's trademark speech patterns; very humble
de gozaru (yo/ka)- an old-fashioned polite tag that Kenshin adds to his sentences to make them more polite; there is no proper translation to it in English, but the dubs have translated it as "that I am"
anata- "you"; when used by a woman referring to her husband, it can become an endearment
nani- "what"
Aa- "yes" or "yeah"
Hitokiri- "assassin", "manslayer", or "killer"
Battousai- Kenshin's nickname when he was a hitokiri; refers to his skill with battoujutsu
-dono- an antique name suffix/honorific; it is similar to "-san"; another one of Kenshin's trademark speech patterns as the Rurouni
Bakufu- another name for the shogunate; specifically referring to the Tokugawa regime
fusuma- the sliding doors inside traditional Japanese homes; shoji specifically lead outside (thanks to JML for the information)
gi- the kimono-like top we normally see Kenshin wearing
Shimatta- all purpose curse word
Kamiya Kasshin Ryu- sword style that Kaoru, Yahiko, and Kenji use and teach; unique in the principle that it teaches students how to protect without killing
Hiza Hijiki- a Kamiya Kasshin technique where the user uses the hilt of the sword to shatter an opponent's kneecap; Kaoru is seen using this technique against Kamatari (A-chan actually looked this up for once)
-han- name suffix/honorific; similar to "-san" it is a trademark of the Kansai dialect
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Author-chan's notes: Finished with chapter 14!!! Go me! And it's a little bit longer than usual, even without the Author Notes and Glossary. Yes I understand that Shinigami and Tomoe's conversation was very, very vague, but that's how Shinigami tends to be. All will be veiled in due time…
Next installment: Kenji discovers some clues, Saito's letter is revealed, and Sano makes a decision…