I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Ohkami is a friend of mine, ohkamimajin. This is based on an RP that Ohkami, myself, and a few other people did a few years ago. In this fic, Saito is not married. Thank you to ohkamimajin and FairyMage for reviewing!!! Reviews are welcome, flames mean more s'mores!!!! A double line means flash back.
Sighing, I made my way to the bar. Ohkami was no where to be found. Oh well, the last time she disappeared, I found in an alley with a beer bottle. This will probably be no different.
With an exasperated look, I looked into the bar one more time before turning around and heading out of the bar. As I stood in the alley I suddenly heard Ohkami's voice.
"Izumi, you're alive, where are you?" She asked, turning her head in every direction.
"I'm right behind you." I blinked, then I spotted Neko. "Oh shit. Come on Ohkami."
I grabbed Ohkami's sleeve and started to run. Ohkami seemed to be dragging her feet, but I didn't notice it until we had gotten as far away from the bar as we could. Panting, I leaned up against one of the walls of the alley.
"Umm thanks for getting me out of there Izumi, but that woman with the white magic was going to help me." Ohkami told me.
"I didn't see anyone but that Neko person." I replied, breathing hard. "The last time you saw something, it was a trash can with big teeth and it was chasing you. Besides, you're drunk anyway."
Before she could reply, Ohkami blinked and a huge grin came over her face, then she responded.
"For your information I was eleven, and that thing was real. Plus the fact that demons recover from drunken spells a lot quicker than humans do so blarg." She stuck her tongue out at me, but quickly the look in her eyes became serious.
"What is-" I was cut off as I felt a sharp pain in my side.
I fell to my knees, clutching my side. Everything around me got blurry. Ohkami picked me up and we traveled from roof top to roof top. Then I saw Saito try to follow us. The next instant I blacked out.
There was a light next to me. It was really bright. Slowly, I opened my eyes but quickly closed them again. The light was lessened and I opened my eyes again. Next to me sat a man, not much older than myself, kneeling next to me. He had red hair and a cross shaped scar on his cheek. Before I could speak, a woman with black hair and coffee brown eyes entered.
"How is our patient doing Sir Ken?" The woman asked the one sitting next to me.
"It seems that she has woken up, that she has." He replied in a somewhat cheerful voice.
"How are you feeling?" The woman directed the question to me.
"Sore, and tired." I told her as I tried to sit up.
"You shouldn't sit up quite yet." The woman scolded. "I will prepare some herbal tea, Sir Ken, will you please stay with her."
"Of course Miss Megumi." He said. "Miss Megumi said that you shouldn't get up and I agree with her, that I do."
"Yeah, sword wounds can be a bitch, then you would probably know that, wouldn't you, Battousai." I growled as I continued to sit up.
"This one is no longer known by that name." He helped me sit up. "At the end of the war I became a rurouni and go by Kenshin."
"That doesn't seem like the same guy I fought back ten years ago."
"I do not remember fighting-"
"I was Shinsengumi, or at least Michi Takihashi was. You probably know me better as Kitsune Majin. We met a few times around the rebel compound. And why the hell do you have to keep up that shit? Kitsune Majin is gone, so stop pretending."
"It is habit."
"Ten years? I was found out at the end of the war."
"Your friend out there seems worried."
"Ohkami would be; she hates doctors. They refused to treat her parents."
Suddenly the one known as Megumi rushed in.
"Sir Ken, Saito is here." She was out of breath.
I stood up and followed Kenshin out of the room. Ohkami stood in what looked like a waiting room with Saito and some strange woman with a celestial glow. For some reason, Ohkami's voice seemed to pierce the air.
"What are you doing here Saito?" Her voice was like ice.
"Izumi can handle a lot; I knew she'd survive that slice, so I decided that I wanted to find out what that traitor has been doing for the past ten years." He growled at her.
"You want me, you've got me." I told Saito.
The entire group turned toward me. Saito then smiled when he saw Kenshin.
"How nice of you to join us Battousai." He smirked. "Unfortunately my busyness is with her."
"Then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I asked you what you wanted Captain." I growled under my breath.
"I've always wondered what a traitor like you could be doing for the past ten years."
"Wandering, did that for quite a while before coming back here and becoming a police officer, much like yourself. What about you?"
"None of your damn busyness Kitsune Majin."
"Oh will you knock it off Saito." I said exasperated. "So what if I was a traitor. You didn't know that I was the Kitsune Majin until…"
I stopped and looked at the door. There was something there. The strange woman poked the air near it. Not liking the situation, I reached for my sword, it wasn't there. Now I was starting to panic.
"umm Ohkami." I said. "Two questions, one who is she, and where the hell is my sword?"
"I dun no." Ohkami looked at me blankly. "And um, she's Kana."
"Okay." I replied as I got into battle position.
Suddenly, a wave of pain shot through my side. I fell to my knees. Everything started to get fuzzy. You will not black out again. Awe damn it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sighing, I made my way through the Shinsengumi headquarters. It was a chilly winter night, and I pulled my hands into the sleeves of my kimono. Tonight I was to see Ringo Hidaka. He's an informant for the Shinsengumi. According to him, I would meet him, or he'd reveal my secret.
As much as I don't believe that he's smart enough to figure out that I am the Kitsune Majin, I think that he might have. He said to meet him in one of the warehouses at the edge of Kyoto. Whatever he wanted, it was a huge secret. I was to tell no one, and I was to make sure that no one followed me.
Slowly, I opened the door of the abandoned warehouse. I saw him standing in the middle of it with a candle in his hand. His sword was still sheathed, so I was safe for the moment. Then I saw his face and my heart stopped. That bastard Hidaka knew.
"It is good to see you Michi, or should I say Kitsune Majin." He looked very proud of himself.
"What the hell do you want Hidaka?" I growled, moving so that he couldn't see me.
"I want to be the one who brings the infamous Kitsune Majin to justice."
"You defeat me?" I asked laughing. "I have defeated the Battousai, you have no chance."
"Oh really. I know all about you Kitsune Majin. How you are a spy for the rebels, how you are friends with the Battousai, and how you have no intention of allowing the Toguwa Government to stand. If I don't kill you, then I'll make it so some one else will find you."
With that, Hidaka lunged at me with what looked like a branding stick for cattle. I dodged and jumped onto a box. Hidaka tipped the box and I fell, nearly tearing my kimono top. Not wanting a torn kimono, I took it off and stood in front of Hidaka in an undershirt.
Smiling, he lunged at me again. This time, when I dodged, I landed on my ankle sideways. A gasp escaped my lips. He was right on top of me, and he drove the red end of the steel into my shoulder.
It felt as if my skin was being touched by lava. I let out a scream. Instinctively, I kicked out and got him off my back. Slowly, I stood up and looked at Hidaka. He was still on the ground, trying to regain his breath.
Without hesitation, I walked over to him. Drawing my sword, I raised it above my head. My sword came down with all my strength and Hidaka's head rolled away from his body. Suddenly, I smelt something. It was smoke.
Looking around, I saw where it was coming from. Hidaka had left a fire going near some of the crates. The crates had caught fire and had begun to fill the warehouse with smoke.
Hurriedly, I grabbed the top of my kimono, along with Hidaka's cloak and ran out of the building. I didn't stop until I was in the forest. There I found a stream that had yet to be frozen by the winter chill.
I dipped the cloak into the stream and put it on my shoulder. The burn hurt worse than hell. Slowly, the cloak started to freeze and I quickly tore part of it off. Then I put what wasn't frozen back in the water and tied it to my shoulder. Wincing from pain, I slowly put my kimono top on.
Sighing, I looked at the inferno that was once a warehouse one last time, before turning and walking back to the Shinsengumi headquarters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, I was woken by the commotion outside my room. Someone had found a letter written by Hidaka about the Kitsune Majin. It didn't mention a name, but it said that the traitor would be marked with a brand on the shoulder of a circle with a fox head inside.
Everyone was ordered to search the remains of the burned down warehouse. Hidaka's letter had said that he was meeting the traitor there last night.
Slowly, I walked through the remains of the warehouse. I carried a small clay wedge in my pocket, just in case I found the branding stick, so I could show it to my superiors.
As I looked around something steel caught my eye. I leaned down toward it and I grinned inwardly. It was the stick. Quickly, I pulled the clay out of my pocket and made an imprint of the impression. Then I picked it up and headed over to the leader of the 3rd squad of the Shinsengumi, Hajime Saito.
"Sir," I said as I handed it to him. "I think I've found it."
"It seems you have." He replied, looking at the end. "Now that we know what this looks like, have you seen anyone with a new burn recently?"
"No sir, but I do have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"My mother is sick. I was wondering if I could go home to see her."
"Of course, how long?"
"I don't know sir. The doctor thinks that she won't live to see spring."
"I see, go ahead. Send word when you are ready to return."
"Thank you sir." I bowed before turning and heading toward headquarters to pack my stuff.
About a half hour later, I was on my grey mare. We loped toward the southern part of the city. It took us a few minutes to reach the forest, and those few minutes were torture. The pain that radiated from my shoulder was indescribable. Then I noticed a tree down in front of us. So that my mount wouldn't refuse the jump, I squeezed with my calves. My mare took it all in stride.
Soon, the base came into sight. I could see several men outside, all of which glared at me. Then I saw a man with red hair and a cross shaped scar exit the main building. He moved to intercept me before the others could.
I slowed my mount to a halt and he grabbed the reins before looking up at me.
"What is your business?" Chimera asked me.
"My mother has fallen ill." I replied.
"Where is your mother?"
"Here, in the fox's lair."
"It is good to see you again Izumi." He smiled.
"It is good to see you too Kenshin." I got off my horse and he led her away.
"What are you doing here?" I heard behind me.
"There has been an unexpected development." I turned around and saw Yoshi Shindo, the creator of the Kitsune Majin concept.
"Come then."
He led me inside the main building. We made our way to one of the inner rooms. The only thing that lit the room was a candle in the middle of the floor. About ten men lined the outside of the room. One of them caught my eye, but I couldn't go over to him just yet.
"Apparently there has been an unexpected development in regards to the Kitsune Majin." Shindo told the group before moving aside so I could speak.
"A member of the Shinsengumi, Ringo Hidaka, was a spy on the rebels. Somehow he found out the identity of the Kitsune Majin. He lured him to a warehouse at the outskirts of Kyoto under the pretenses of revealing the secret of the Kitsune Majin." I said. "When he met Hidaka, Hidaka told him that he had found out the true identity of the Kitsune Majin. He had a branding stick, with which, he managed to mark the back of the Kitsune Majin's shoulder. Hidaka had written a letter to the Shinsengumi, saying that he was leaving a brand on the traitor. Fortunately, Hidaka did not reveal the name of the Kitsune Majin in the letter. I have a molding of the mark."
With that, I pulled the piece of clay out of my pocket and handed it to Shinto. He looked at it and then looked at me gravely.
"Was Hidaka destroyed?" He questioned.
"The only thing that is left of him is ashes in the Kyoto wind." I responded.
"Good then." He looked down at the molding and sighed. "Tell the Kitsune Majin to get the burn cleaned up."
"Yes sir."
I made my way out of the room and the man I saw earlier followed me.
"Are you alright Izumi?" Souzou Sagara asked me.
"Shoulder hurts like hell, but other than that, I'm fine."
"Well let's get that looked at."
We walked side by side toward one of the back buildings of the compound. My room was back here in case of an attack, so that there was little risk of me getting found out. I opened the door and threw off my sandals before collapsing onto my futon. Souzou smiled before grabbing some medical stuff from my closet.
"Let's see this burn." He said as he sat behind me.
Slowly, I let the top of my kimono slide down my arms, revealing the patch of cloth I had put over the burn to try and keep it so that my shirt didn't rub against it. I let out a gasp as he pulled it off. The skin had healed onto the piece of cloth and the burn hurt a lot.
"I'm surprised you could even put a shirt on, much the less swing a sword." Souzou mused as he began to clean the burn.
I clenched my eyes shut, trying to ignore the pain. Tears escaped from my eyes. An occasional gasp escaped my lips. The pain was almost unbearable. Finally, I felt him tie a new piece of cloth to my shoulder. Upon feeling that I let out a sigh of relief.
He stood up and put the medical supplies away before sitting down in front of me and pulling me to him. I buried my face in his chest and let the tears flow. The burn hurt worse than I could ever imagine it could hurt. Souzou held me tight and I relaxed. Slowly, I pulled back and wiped my eyes.
"Better?" He looked down at me and smiled.
"Yeah." I smiled and looked into his eyes.
Our faces moved closer to each other and our lips brushed for a moment before the door of my room flew open. Souzou and I looked up to see seven year old Sanosuke running into my room. He jumped on the futon and smiled at the two of us.
"I didn't know you were coming back now Izumi." He said with the wave of someone who had just had a nap.
"I didn't know that you were allowed on the compound." I replied, glaring at Souzou who gave me a sheepish grin.
"The Captain said that I could watch some of the swordsmen practice." Sano didn't notice how Souzou was getting a bigger look on his face every second.
"How about you head to bed Sano?" I suggested. "It is almost that time."
"Alright." He sighed and hugged me before leaving Souzou and I alone.
"So," I turned to my lover. "Why did you bring him here anyway? You know as well as I do that this place is dangerous."
"Where else was he going to go?" He smiled and got up, going over to my wardrobe.
"True. Just please make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
"Of course." He smiled as he pulled out a sleeping kimono for me.
I gave him an exasperated look. My shoulder hurt enough with the bandage on it. There was a small chance that the kimono wouldn't irritate it.
"It is winter Izumi." He chided gently. "You can't sleep without a kimono.
"Yes I can." I smiled and pulled him down on the futon with me. "As long as you're with me."
"I see where this is going." He smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist.
I buried my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sat at a bar on the outskirts of Kyoto waiting for Souzou. The war was over a year ago and he'd been recruited as the leader of the Sekihoutai army. He was supposed to meet me at this bar a half hour ago. It wasn't like Souzou to be late, and I was starting to get worried.
Standing up, I paid for my drinks and headed out. I untied my grey mare and hopped on her back. Urging her into a gallop, I steered her toward the forest. We galloped for a few minutes before we came upon a massacre. My heart skipped a beat. The corpses wore the Sekihoutai uniform.
As I came to a cliff, there was a headless corpse lying near the edge. I felt tears threaten to fall as I recognized the body. It was Souzou. In his hand was a letter. Slowly, I got off my mare and took the letter.
Suddenly, I heard a cry coming from the ravine below. As I stood on the edge, I saw Sano sitting on the bank, holding his head. I fought back the tears as I went down to get the frightened child, only thinking of Souzou being dead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sat in what remained of the Rebel Compound the next day. The compound had been abandoned at the end of the war and it was a very good hiding place. Sighing, I looked at Sano who lay fast asleep on my futon. He'd been up crying all night. It had taken all of my strength to stay sane enough to comfort Sano.
Sighing, I finally let my tears fall. Damn it, Souzou… Why did they kill you? Damn Meji Pigs, you gave up your life so that you could fight for them and they turned around and killed you because they couldn't hold up the promises they made. I wish I had gone with you. Then you might have lived.
This morning I saw your head on a slab in the middle of town. Those Meji bastards. They said that you had been spreading false stories and whoever does that is killed. We both gave up our lives because of promises that the Meji government made, why the hell can't they just leave those who gave up everything alone.
Sano can't stay here. I'm going to send him to Tokyo in the morning. There isn't much I can do. I'll probably go to Yokohama for a while until the aftermath is done here. After that, who knows what I'll do. Oh Inari, why?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I came too slowly and felt myself being carried somewhere in a hurry. It took me a few seconds to realize who it was.
"Put me down Saito." I said.
He must have been shocked to find out that I was awake because he came to sort of a sliding stop. Slowly, he put me down.
"What the hell happened? I remember being in the waiting room and then…" My voice drifted off.
Then I heard Ohkami running up behind me.
"Saito you put her down no- never mind. Yay! You're alive! Well, I knew that, but you're conscious..." Ohkami seemed to be a little out of it.
Just then, Kana landed beside them. She did some sort of weird magic and all of our wounds were healed. Then she seemed to be off in thought before giggling. I just shook my head before glancing over at Saito. He seemed to want to say something, but really couldn't.
"We should get out of here." He told her as he turned and walked toward the street.
"Don't you guys ever stay still for a few seconds?" Ohkami whined as I matched strides with Saito.
I snuck glances at Saito and I saw him doing the same. What could he want? Is there something that he wants to tell me but doesn't want the others to hear?
A few minutes later we got rooms at an inn not far down the street. I stepped out onto the balcony of my room. Ohkami jumped onto my balcony and smiled. Suddenly, I felt a strange presence behind me.
"Hey Izumi, I'm going to crash here." Ohkami told her. "They saw my ears and wouldn't let me in. I'll be good; you won't even know I'm here."
With that Ohkami transformed in to one of her lower level forms, a black German Shepard with a silver ankh on its back. I ignored her and turned around.
There, in front of me, stood Souzou. A silvery mist outlined him. I took an uncertain step toward him.
"Souzou?" My voice was barely a whisper.
"It is good to see you again Izumi. Now you must get out of here. You are in danger. Saito will kill you." Souzou said, looking at me intently.
"But he saved me." I protested.
"What has gotten into you my love? He's the enemy. You were a traitor. Saito will kill you.
"But…"
"Please, go. It would kill me if something happened to you." With that he stepped toward me and touched my cheek before kissing me.
"Umm… Izumi, who are you talking to?" Ohkami questioned, "I mean 'woof.'"
"What, but," I looked around confused. "But didn't you see him?"
"Who?"
"But…" I looked over to where I had seen the figure, and then I sighed. "I must be going crazy. This place brings back too many memories."
"Who didja see?" Ohkami wagged her tail. "Maybe someone is trying to tell you something. Spirits sometimes try to communicate with people through dreams. Of course you weren't sleeping but…"
"No one of consequence." I smiled before putting my jacket on. "I'm going out. I don't know when I'll be back."
With that, I got out of my room. I was in such a dazed state that I walked the streets of Kyoto without really knowing where I was going. My feet were taking me somewhere, and I didn't have any real control.
After about fifteen minutes, I found myself on the cliff where I had found Souzou's body. Sighing, I felt tears well up in my eyes. I looked down at the grave that I had made before leaving for Yokohama. This is the first time I've been here in ten years.
Oh Souzou. Was it really you that I saw in my hotel room? But if it was then… Why don't you want me to trust Saito? I can't explain it but I just feel as if I can trust him. You always told me to follow my instinct. Well that is what it tells me, that I can trust Saito. I'm sorry.
Turning to go, I bumped into someone. It was Saito.
"What are you doing here," I asked him.
"I…" He drifted off before moving closer to me.
I felt his warm breath on my face. Slowly, he moved closer and we kissed.
A/N: That is done for now. I wanted to stop there, one because I want to post this before I go to bed, and two so this isn't like 3,000 pages long. Please review. Who knows when the next one will be out so review and I might update soon.