Ah, I am so sorry I've taken forever to update! I've been bogged down with school crap and . . . okay, no excuse is good enough. Also, yeah, the fight scene in this chapter just about killed me, I think it's still to short in places, but you, the reader, can yell at me about that if you so desire. So, finally, chapter 4!
Chapter 4
As Kenshin had predicted, it rained the next day. In fact, it had started soon after Kaoru had gone to bed the night before. Waking up to the light pattering sound on the roof, Sano congratulated himself on asking Kaoru if he could stay the night. Better than being out under the bridge, or worse, paying for one of the tenant houses close by. Yawning vociferously, Sano got up from his futon, hoping against hope that Kaoru wasn't cooking breakfast, because he didn't have any money to buy something elsewhere.
Sano heard distant voices coming from the kitchen, and anticipating a meal, he hurriedly rolled his futon up and shoved it into a corner. He could hear scuffling noises two rooms down, and figured it was Yahiko tripping over himself in an effort to be first to breakfast.
Sano's hopes were dashed at the kitchen doorway. Kaoru was standing at the counter, happily mixing something that Sano had no wish to taste. "You're cooking today?" Sano asked needlessly, voice dripping with disappointment.
"Um-hm," Watching her meal with a critical eye, Kaoru appeared not to have noticed Sano's disconsolate look. "Kenshin needs a break every now and then, and he did fix the roof yesterday. Thank goodness too, otherwise you would have been soaked this morning."
"Gave me the bad room huh?" Sano asked, daring to walk over and gaze into the pot which Kaoru had just placed over the grill. Kaoru whacked him on the head with the long cooking chopsticks.
"Don't touch until it's ready!" She said in a playful voice.
"Don't worry, I don't wanna eat it, I just wanted to see how sick everyone else would be." Sano stepped back. "I'd say not as bad as usual."
"If you're just going to insult my cooking then you can just get out of the kitchen!" Kaoru said angrily. "What do you come here all the time for anyway if you don't like the food?" She smiled self-importantly. "Oh, I know, probably no one else would be as NICE as me and put up with your free-loading!"
Sano scowled. The truth always hurt. "Yeah yeah, it's not really all that bad." For a dog, he added to himself silently. He saw Kaoru's face change and he turned. Yahiko was standing behind him, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"You're cooking?" Yahiko asked sleepily. "I'm gonna go wake Kenshin up."
Kaoru pointed her chopsticks at him. "For your information Kenshin's already up. I told him we needed soy sauce, salt and miso, so he went to get it."
"In this?" Sano jerked his head towards the door where rain cascaded in front of it.
"He's got an umbrella," Kaoru said as if that would solve everything. "It's not like he can't handle some rain."
"No, I guess not." Sano rolled his eyes. Kaoru was an expert at twisting people's arms to do things for her. "So Jou-chan, exactly what is that you're cooking? Whatever it is, looks like you needa put some water on it." Sano gave a casual nod towards the pot.
Kaoru looked over and her hair stood on end with horror. "Agh! I forgot about it!" The food and wooden grill had burst into flames. "Sano, give me that water bucket!"
Sano complied, sighing. "I guess this means no breakfast?"
"Look buddy, this is our meal, whether it's raw, cooked or burnt!" Kaoru snapped, dumping the water onto her food. She watched sadly as the vegetables swam around. "Maybe Kenshin can salvage it," She said hopefully.
Yahiko, who had been watching the spectacle with the look of someone still half asleep, suddenly livened up. "Hey, I think Kenshin's back." He said as the splashing sound of someone walking through puddles came from outside.
"Quick Kenshin, bring us that food!" Sano called, and Kaoru smacked him again with the chopsticks as she walked to the door.
"Ken-" Kaoru stopped short. The tall, dark man standing behind the door when she opened it definitely wasn't the slight swordsman she had been expecting. It wasn't Katsura Kogoro either.
"Is Himura Kenshin here?" The man spoke with a mellow voice.
"No," Kaoru wondered briefly why everyone always had to come to Kenshin with their troubles. "Are you with the police?" Her eyes took in the sword at his side, then moved reprovingly to the wide-brimmed hat resting on his head. The rain falling from it was casting a fine spray on the floor.
The man smirked, noticing her gaze. "Huh, not quite." He didn't offer anything further.
"Well who are you?" Kaoru asked with a touch of annoyance. Sano and Yahiko had joined her by now, both looking suspiciously at the dark-skinned man in front of them.
"Yamamoto Genji. I'm an old friend."
"Kenshin sure seems to have a lot of 'old friends' popping by lately," Yahiko muttered.
"He's a popular guy," Yamamoto said, flashing an insincere smile at Yahiko, whose eyes widened in shock. He heard me? "So, can you tell me when Himura will be back?" Yamamoto continued.
"What's it to you?" Sano demanded, stepping forward. "Anything you can tell Kenshin, you can tell me. I'm his assistant."
Yahiko scowled at that. "Hey, what right–"
"Shut up Yahiko," Sano said, so sharply that Yahiko closed his mouth. "I'll only ask once Yamamoto, what do you wanna see Kenshin for?"
"You're rather rude," Yamamoto said wryly. "But I'm afraid it's only a question for Himura to hear."
"Sanosuke, it's none of your business," Kaoru said, elbowing him. "I'm sorry Yamamoto-san, don't mind him. Why don't you come out of the rain?" Kaoru stepped aside to let the man in but stopped when she saw Kenshin totter through the gate, soaking wet and loaded down with groceries. "Ah, Kenshin, okaeri!" She blinked. "Kenshin, you're soaked, where's the umbrella I gave you?"
"Someone picked it up by mistake when I sat it down." Kenshin explained as he walked to the house. Kaoru saw the sudden change of expression when he saw Yamamoto, violet eyes fading into blue.
"Battousai, ohisashiburi," Yamamoto said coolly as Kenshin walked over to him, eyes guarded.
"B-B-Battousai?" Kaoru stuttered. Usually people only called Kenshin that when they wanted to fight him.
"I don't go by that name anymore," Kenshin said, holding out his purchases for Sano to take.
"What're you givin' 'em to me for?" Sano muttered, hefting the stick Kenshin had put the buckets on over his shoulder. His breath came out in a puff. "Shit Jou-chan, this weighs a ton."
"Ok, Himura then," Yamamoto amended. "I'll get right to the point. I'm sure you've heard about the Bright Revolution?" He waited for Kenshin to nod affirmative. "We're looking for members. I know we weren't always on the best of terms in Kyoto but we could sure use you right now."
"Yamamoto-dono, are you asking me to join the Heaven's Judges?"
Yamamoto nodded. "You would be paid of course, more than you got from Katsura. He always was a stingy bastard."
"Thank you but I'm not interested." Kenshin turned to go inside.
"Hey, I don't think you understand," Yamamoto reached out and grabbed Kenshin's shoulder. "The Meiji government is corrupt, the Emperor may have more say than he did with Tokugawa but he hardly carries any authority."
"Yamamoto-dono," Kenshin said softly, not turning, "Please remove your hand."
Yamamoto snatched his hand away hastily, hearing the edge in Kenshin's voice. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking," He stared at Kenshin with frustration. "Look, Katsura joined, so have others who were hitokiri. You would be in charge of them."
Kenshin looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. "I don't think Katsura-san joined of his own free will," He said coldly. "For the last time, I'm not interested. All I wanted from the revolution was equality for everyone and although it was a horrible price to pay we have attained that."
Yamamoto looked disgusted. "Do you really think so?" He spat. "The revolution may have abolished the feudal system but we still have subjugated people! It's just that the government sends police now instead of shoguns to lord over us!"
"Thank you for coming by Yamamoto, it was good to see you but I'm not joining your cause." With that, Kenshin turned away from Yamamoto, ignoring the man's presence completely as he told Kaoru about his purchases. "Kaoru-dono, prices have risen and there wasn't enough money for the miso . . . Oro!" Kenshin gave a loud sneeze.
"It's okay, we have plenty of rice now so that'll last us," Kaoru took Kenshin's lead and decided to ignore Yamamoto as well. "Get inside and change Kenshin, before you catch a cold. I'll go heat a bath for you." The two disappeared into the house.
Yahiko followed them inside but Sano stood glaring at Yamamoto who was looking angrily where Kenshin had been. "You can leave now," Sano's tone left no room for choice. Yamamoto snarled angrily and took a step back.
"Don't think you can get off that easily Battousai!" Yamamoto shouted. "I know what you're doing for the police! You better watch yourself!" He spun on his heel and stormed out, leaving heavy footprints in the wet ground.
Later that day, after the rain had stopped, police chief Kawaji came running into the Kamiya dojo, out of breath. Kenshin, doing laundry in the back, felt the panicked ki and hurried to greet him. "Kawaji-dono, what's wrong?"
"Himura, you're here! I just-'pant'-received word-'gasp'-that there have been two more murders! It seems the Heaven's Judges are targeting past members of the Ishin who have refused to join them. Huh, hot out here today." Kawaji wiped his forehead before continuing. "At least, all three of the men killed were former Ishin." Kawaji reached into his pocket, pulling out two slips of paper. "Also, the notes were the same as before."
"I thought as much," Kenshin said, hardly glancing at the paper Kawaji proffered. Kenshin was sure Yamamoto would be paying another visit sometime soon, and it wouldn't be to reminisce over a cup of tea. "Do you know Katsura Kogoro?"
Kawaji nodded, still breathing heavily.
"I spoke with him yesterday. He joined the Heaven's Judges under threat and has agreed to aid the police."
"That's great!" Kawaji exclaimed, having finally caught his breath. "You're keeping in contact with him then? I'll leave it up to you."
"The men who were murdered," Kenshin said as Kawaji made to leave. "Who were they?"
Kawaji frowned. "I think an Amasan Gohei and Ookushi Goten."
"Do the police know if the targets are randomly selected or if there's some list?"
Kawaji gave a despairing shrug. "Nothing, we can only discover the next victims. My men are working on it though, they think they may have found the residence of one group. What about you Himura, you were a member of the Ishin? Don't you know how they pick their targets?"
Kenshin shook his head. "I only took the orders I was given, I was just an assassin." A dog for the Ishin, that's what Tomoe had called him. "I'll talk to Katsura tonight," Kenshin said. "He had considerable influence in the Ishin Shishi, he may be able to help us out."
Kawaji heaved a sigh of relief. "Doumo arigatou gozaimashita. Excuse me now, I have lots of work ahead of me," Kawaji bowed and scurried off.
For several seconds only the halfhearted buzz of out-of-season cicadas filled the dojo yard. Then the crunch of tabi across the dirt ground broke the rhythm as Kenshin retrieved his sword from beside the washtub and left to find Katsura, all thoughts of laundry banished.
"There he goes." Yamamoto Genji was resting in the boughs of a tree, where he had been waiting since being sent away from the Kamiya dojo. As he pointed to the red-haired man leaving the dojo there was a snort of derision from the branch above him.
"Keh, him? I thought he was supposed to be a legendary assassin. Hitokiri my ass, he doesn't look tough enough to kill a kid! He's hardly bigger than my own son! Six I think is too large a number for that shrimp."
Yamamoto gave the speaker a fierce look. "Appearances can be deceiving, Yoshi. I only hope that six men are enough. For all of your sakes, you'd better take him down. Otherwise we'll have trouble later on." Yamamoto jabbed a thumb at himself. "I have other business to attend to, so when you're done, meet me at the usual place. Now get moving before he's out of sight! And remember," He called a last warning as Yoshi and five accomplices stealthily jumped out of the tree, "don't get too close. He's good at reading ki and anticipating moves!"
Yoshi waved Yamamoto's warning off with his hand and motioned to his men to spread out. Nonchalantly, the six of them continued to follow Kenshin as he headed oblivious of the danger to Katsura's house.
Yamamoto watched until the quintet had disappeared from his sight before lightly hopping out of the tree himself. He looked around quickly. No one was in sight. Yamamoto had been seething all day at how lightly Himura had brushed his heartfelt request aside. Yamamoto remembered him from the revolution. Himura had only been a kid, but his attitude had been just as dislikable then; a cold, stuck-up brat who was regardless chosen for all the important assignments. Yamamoto had never spoken with him, as Himura had hardly spoken at all unless it was about business, but he had passed him on the odd occasion and once had been on a mission with him. Himura had spoken twelve words to Yamamoto that night. Get out of the way, I'll take him! He's above your level!
Yamamoto had felt like a coward, watching while the undersize boy cut down the enemy in mere seconds. Himura had humiliated him in front of three of the Ishin Shishi. The other men on the mission had never let Yamamoto live it down. Anytime he went to kill someone after that, or even just went to get food, they would rag him. It was either, Hey Yamamoto, better take Himura with you! Battousai'll take out all the bad guys for you! Or, Yamamoto I hear a legendary hitokiri beat you to the kill. Oh wait, it was just a kid wasn't it?
"Himura yarou . . . I'm going to make you pay." Yamamoto growled, cracking his fingers as he stalked inside the open gate of the Kamiya dojo. He had his orders from one of the leaders of the Heaven's Judges–destroy any former Ishin hitokiri who refused to join the cause. Yamamoto was only too happy to follow these orders now. He would take Himura's life apart, piece by piece, and then he would kill Himura himself.
Yamamoto looked forward to that day but for now, he had other business to attend to. He knew his five men wouldn't be able to defeat Himura, even if they were some of the best hitokiri the Heaven's Judges had. They would serve as a nice distraction though, giving Yamamoto enough time to put some pressure on the residents of the Kamiya dojo. Himura would know he meant business then.
Inside the gate, Yamamoto listened carefully. He could hear annoyed grumbling coming from the back. The boy it sounded like. Where were the other two? Yamamoto crept quietly closer to the house, senses alert. He wasn't as adept at reading ki as Himura but he could still pick up auras, albeit faintly. Yamamoto felt a tiny presence moving his way at the same time the girl shouted.
"Kenshin?"
Yamamoto grinned. Good, this would work fine. He pressed himself against the wall by the door, waiting. It didn't take long. The girl came into the room, a slight frown on her face.
"Mou, where is he? Leaving without saying where he was going–" Still talking to herself, she passed right by him and Yamamoto swiftly stepped behind her, wrapping one hand around her throat and the other around her waist, pinning her hands to her side.
"Kaoru-chan is it?" He asked too kindly as she tried to jerk free.
Kaoru couldn't speak, his hand was too tight around her throat. She knew who it was though, even without seeing his face, and the knowledge incensed her. How could she have been stupid enough to let him catch her unawares?
"I'll bet Himura would die to be here right now." Yamamoto laughed. "You can tell him when he gets back, he'd better take my offer seriously. I'd hate to have to dispose of his friends."
Seething, Kaoru slammed her heel upwards and she heard Yamamoto inhale sharply. Bulls-eye. His grip loosened for a split second, enough time for Kaoru to slip from his grasp and grab the nearest shinai-like object, an umbrella. "Kyaaahh!!" Raising it high, Kaoru brought the piece of bamboo craftsmanship down at Yamamoto's head. She could hardly believe it when her makeshift weapon slammed into the floor. Had she aimed that bad? Where was Yamamoto? Suddenly Kaoru found herself flying into the wall, a sharp pain in her side. The umbrella slipped from her grasp.
Yamamoto gave a derisive snort. "Stupid girl, you can't beat me with that. Maybe you've forgotten how I know Himura. I was a hitokiri too." Yamamoto hefted the saiya he had just hit Kaoru with. "Do you think after I'm finished with you Himura would agree to join?"
"Kenshin–will NEVER–fight with you!" Kaoru spat out, carefully pushing herself from the wall.
"Maybe not yet," Yamamoto agreed. "How much will it take? Should I just break a few bones? Or does it need to be more drastic?" He drew his sword and placed it against Kaoru's left cheek. "Maybe this would change his mind."
Kaoru ducked underneath the blade, looking to see where her umbrella had landed. "You'll just make him angrier and then you'll be sorry," Kaoru said. "Kenshin's better than you-"
"Shut up!" Yamamoto swung the flat of his blade across Kaoru's face, leaving a wide cut. "Just because his battoujutsu is so good everyone thinks he's a god! Well he isn't!" Yamamoto sheathed his sword and hauled Kaoru up by her hair. "And now, I'm going to prove it." He punched her in the face, then slammed his sheath into her stomach. "Nothing he can do about this!" Yamamoto said as Kaoru tried to stay on her feet. He let go of her hair and kicked her against the wall where she lay unmoving, hardly able to breathe. "This is all I get from a Master of Kasshin Ryu?" Yamamoto asked with a world-weary sigh. "What a bore."
"I'm not–through yet," Kaoru ground out, pulling herself to her feet.
Yamamoto laughed. "I know what Himura sees in you, you've got spirit. Still it's not enough. Tell you what though, I'll give you a fair fight. Go on, I'll wait, get your weapon."
Kaoru ducked into the next room to grab her shinai, mind racing. What should she do? She wasn't used to fighting people of this caliber like Kenshin was. Should she let him attack first and wait for an opening, or should she try and surprise him and attack first? Her mind was still whirling when she came back to face Yamamoto.
"Good, good." Yamamoto rested his hand on the handle of his katana. "Come."
Kaoru raised her shinai, eyes set. "KHEEEEEEHH!!" She decided to attack first, going for the head. He would surely raise his sword to block it and then–Kaoru smiled grimly when she saw Yamamoto raise his sheath to block her blow. Perfect. She checked the blow and swung towards his midsection, crouching down. With his sheath blocking her feint–Kaoru's eyes widened as she felt something sharp across her arm. He had hit her! But how? Skidding across the room, Kaoru saw that Yamamoto had kept the sheath at his head but drawn the katana and used it to block her shinai, running it along the wooden sword until it hit her arm. Kaoru clutched her arm, breathing heavily.
"A good attack but not good enough!" Yamamoto said as she rested against the wall. "Shall I end this?" He saw Kaoru's eyes suddenly brighten, and his head exploded with pain.
"Sneaking up on people's not very fair!" The rough voice came from behind him.
"Yahiko!"
"Kaoru! You okay?" Yahiko was standing with his shinai thrust in front of him, fierce look in his eyes.
"Un." Kaoru nodded, feeling her ribs protest.
"It's the little boy," Yamamoto commented, sheathing his sword as he rubbed his head. "You have some power but I think you'll find yourself outclassed."
"Fight me, you bastard!" Yahiko shouted. "Kaoru's not half bad herself if you had a fair fight!" Kaoru smiled. Despite his frequent snide comments, Yahiko showed what he was really made of when he fought.
"Maybe not but she still doesn't stand a chance against me and neither do you. HAH!" Yamamoto lunged forward, drawing his sword and Yahiko blinked with surprise. He was so fast!
"Be careful Yahiko, he uses a double sword technique!" Kaoru shouted.
But not as fast as Kenshin! Yahiko thought. He could do this! "Thanks!" Yahiko replied ducking out of the way of Yamamoto's sword and lifting his shinai. "TEH!" Yahiko almost fell forward as Yamamoto's sword easily sliced through his bamboo sword.
"Nice try brat! You're not half as good as you act!" Yamamoto slammed his saiya into Yahiko's back.
"Oof!" Yahiko swung his splintered sword as he fell and somehow managed to nick Yamamoto's leg.
"Shit!" Yamamoto kicked the shard out of Yahiko's hands and kicked him over to Kaoru. "Two rats in a trap." He snarled. "Which to do away with first?"
Yahiko stepped in front of Kaoru. "You'll have to get rid of me first!" He declared, holding his arms out.
"Easily done." Yamamoto swung his sword so fast that Yahiko felt the blow to his arm almost at the same tame he saw the sword coming. He heard a wet popping noise and suddenly it felt like his arm had turned into a firecracker.
"Iteeeee . . ." Yahiko curled up on the floor, overwhelmed with pain.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru glared at Yamamoto. "He's just a kid!"
"Be quiet," Yamamoto said coolly, swinging his saiya into Kaoru's side. She doubled over and fell to the floor, unconscious. "One down, one to go. Are you finished yet brat?" Yamamoto nudged Yahiko's arm, eliciting a muffled scream, followed by a not so muffled curse.
"Aaaaaghhh! Fuck off!"
"Cheh, guess not." Yamamoto sighed and continued in a sympathetic tone. "You should've taken the easy way out." Yahiko was opening his mouth to throw back a retort when Yamamoto's foot met his head. The retort died, Yahiko forgetting what he was going to say due to the sudden ringing in his ears. The sound intensified and it occurred to Yahiko just before he dove towards the black sea beneath him that Yamamoto was still kicking him.
Once Yahiko lay still, blood gushing from his forehead, Yamamoto stepped back to inspect his handiwork with satisfaction. He grinned. "Come and get it Himura,"
doumo arigatou gozaimashita - the most polite way to say thank you
itee - ouch
saiya - sheath
ohisashiburi - it's been a while
okaeri - welcome home
yarou - literally, just slangfor 'guy', although in context it's usually used as 'bastard'
Chapter 4
As Kenshin had predicted, it rained the next day. In fact, it had started soon after Kaoru had gone to bed the night before. Waking up to the light pattering sound on the roof, Sano congratulated himself on asking Kaoru if he could stay the night. Better than being out under the bridge, or worse, paying for one of the tenant houses close by. Yawning vociferously, Sano got up from his futon, hoping against hope that Kaoru wasn't cooking breakfast, because he didn't have any money to buy something elsewhere.
Sano heard distant voices coming from the kitchen, and anticipating a meal, he hurriedly rolled his futon up and shoved it into a corner. He could hear scuffling noises two rooms down, and figured it was Yahiko tripping over himself in an effort to be first to breakfast.
Sano's hopes were dashed at the kitchen doorway. Kaoru was standing at the counter, happily mixing something that Sano had no wish to taste. "You're cooking today?" Sano asked needlessly, voice dripping with disappointment.
"Um-hm," Watching her meal with a critical eye, Kaoru appeared not to have noticed Sano's disconsolate look. "Kenshin needs a break every now and then, and he did fix the roof yesterday. Thank goodness too, otherwise you would have been soaked this morning."
"Gave me the bad room huh?" Sano asked, daring to walk over and gaze into the pot which Kaoru had just placed over the grill. Kaoru whacked him on the head with the long cooking chopsticks.
"Don't touch until it's ready!" She said in a playful voice.
"Don't worry, I don't wanna eat it, I just wanted to see how sick everyone else would be." Sano stepped back. "I'd say not as bad as usual."
"If you're just going to insult my cooking then you can just get out of the kitchen!" Kaoru said angrily. "What do you come here all the time for anyway if you don't like the food?" She smiled self-importantly. "Oh, I know, probably no one else would be as NICE as me and put up with your free-loading!"
Sano scowled. The truth always hurt. "Yeah yeah, it's not really all that bad." For a dog, he added to himself silently. He saw Kaoru's face change and he turned. Yahiko was standing behind him, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"You're cooking?" Yahiko asked sleepily. "I'm gonna go wake Kenshin up."
Kaoru pointed her chopsticks at him. "For your information Kenshin's already up. I told him we needed soy sauce, salt and miso, so he went to get it."
"In this?" Sano jerked his head towards the door where rain cascaded in front of it.
"He's got an umbrella," Kaoru said as if that would solve everything. "It's not like he can't handle some rain."
"No, I guess not." Sano rolled his eyes. Kaoru was an expert at twisting people's arms to do things for her. "So Jou-chan, exactly what is that you're cooking? Whatever it is, looks like you needa put some water on it." Sano gave a casual nod towards the pot.
Kaoru looked over and her hair stood on end with horror. "Agh! I forgot about it!" The food and wooden grill had burst into flames. "Sano, give me that water bucket!"
Sano complied, sighing. "I guess this means no breakfast?"
"Look buddy, this is our meal, whether it's raw, cooked or burnt!" Kaoru snapped, dumping the water onto her food. She watched sadly as the vegetables swam around. "Maybe Kenshin can salvage it," She said hopefully.
Yahiko, who had been watching the spectacle with the look of someone still half asleep, suddenly livened up. "Hey, I think Kenshin's back." He said as the splashing sound of someone walking through puddles came from outside.
"Quick Kenshin, bring us that food!" Sano called, and Kaoru smacked him again with the chopsticks as she walked to the door.
"Ken-" Kaoru stopped short. The tall, dark man standing behind the door when she opened it definitely wasn't the slight swordsman she had been expecting. It wasn't Katsura Kogoro either.
"Is Himura Kenshin here?" The man spoke with a mellow voice.
"No," Kaoru wondered briefly why everyone always had to come to Kenshin with their troubles. "Are you with the police?" Her eyes took in the sword at his side, then moved reprovingly to the wide-brimmed hat resting on his head. The rain falling from it was casting a fine spray on the floor.
The man smirked, noticing her gaze. "Huh, not quite." He didn't offer anything further.
"Well who are you?" Kaoru asked with a touch of annoyance. Sano and Yahiko had joined her by now, both looking suspiciously at the dark-skinned man in front of them.
"Yamamoto Genji. I'm an old friend."
"Kenshin sure seems to have a lot of 'old friends' popping by lately," Yahiko muttered.
"He's a popular guy," Yamamoto said, flashing an insincere smile at Yahiko, whose eyes widened in shock. He heard me? "So, can you tell me when Himura will be back?" Yamamoto continued.
"What's it to you?" Sano demanded, stepping forward. "Anything you can tell Kenshin, you can tell me. I'm his assistant."
Yahiko scowled at that. "Hey, what right–"
"Shut up Yahiko," Sano said, so sharply that Yahiko closed his mouth. "I'll only ask once Yamamoto, what do you wanna see Kenshin for?"
"You're rather rude," Yamamoto said wryly. "But I'm afraid it's only a question for Himura to hear."
"Sanosuke, it's none of your business," Kaoru said, elbowing him. "I'm sorry Yamamoto-san, don't mind him. Why don't you come out of the rain?" Kaoru stepped aside to let the man in but stopped when she saw Kenshin totter through the gate, soaking wet and loaded down with groceries. "Ah, Kenshin, okaeri!" She blinked. "Kenshin, you're soaked, where's the umbrella I gave you?"
"Someone picked it up by mistake when I sat it down." Kenshin explained as he walked to the house. Kaoru saw the sudden change of expression when he saw Yamamoto, violet eyes fading into blue.
"Battousai, ohisashiburi," Yamamoto said coolly as Kenshin walked over to him, eyes guarded.
"B-B-Battousai?" Kaoru stuttered. Usually people only called Kenshin that when they wanted to fight him.
"I don't go by that name anymore," Kenshin said, holding out his purchases for Sano to take.
"What're you givin' 'em to me for?" Sano muttered, hefting the stick Kenshin had put the buckets on over his shoulder. His breath came out in a puff. "Shit Jou-chan, this weighs a ton."
"Ok, Himura then," Yamamoto amended. "I'll get right to the point. I'm sure you've heard about the Bright Revolution?" He waited for Kenshin to nod affirmative. "We're looking for members. I know we weren't always on the best of terms in Kyoto but we could sure use you right now."
"Yamamoto-dono, are you asking me to join the Heaven's Judges?"
Yamamoto nodded. "You would be paid of course, more than you got from Katsura. He always was a stingy bastard."
"Thank you but I'm not interested." Kenshin turned to go inside.
"Hey, I don't think you understand," Yamamoto reached out and grabbed Kenshin's shoulder. "The Meiji government is corrupt, the Emperor may have more say than he did with Tokugawa but he hardly carries any authority."
"Yamamoto-dono," Kenshin said softly, not turning, "Please remove your hand."
Yamamoto snatched his hand away hastily, hearing the edge in Kenshin's voice. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking," He stared at Kenshin with frustration. "Look, Katsura joined, so have others who were hitokiri. You would be in charge of them."
Kenshin looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. "I don't think Katsura-san joined of his own free will," He said coldly. "For the last time, I'm not interested. All I wanted from the revolution was equality for everyone and although it was a horrible price to pay we have attained that."
Yamamoto looked disgusted. "Do you really think so?" He spat. "The revolution may have abolished the feudal system but we still have subjugated people! It's just that the government sends police now instead of shoguns to lord over us!"
"Thank you for coming by Yamamoto, it was good to see you but I'm not joining your cause." With that, Kenshin turned away from Yamamoto, ignoring the man's presence completely as he told Kaoru about his purchases. "Kaoru-dono, prices have risen and there wasn't enough money for the miso . . . Oro!" Kenshin gave a loud sneeze.
"It's okay, we have plenty of rice now so that'll last us," Kaoru took Kenshin's lead and decided to ignore Yamamoto as well. "Get inside and change Kenshin, before you catch a cold. I'll go heat a bath for you." The two disappeared into the house.
Yahiko followed them inside but Sano stood glaring at Yamamoto who was looking angrily where Kenshin had been. "You can leave now," Sano's tone left no room for choice. Yamamoto snarled angrily and took a step back.
"Don't think you can get off that easily Battousai!" Yamamoto shouted. "I know what you're doing for the police! You better watch yourself!" He spun on his heel and stormed out, leaving heavy footprints in the wet ground.
Later that day, after the rain had stopped, police chief Kawaji came running into the Kamiya dojo, out of breath. Kenshin, doing laundry in the back, felt the panicked ki and hurried to greet him. "Kawaji-dono, what's wrong?"
"Himura, you're here! I just-'pant'-received word-'gasp'-that there have been two more murders! It seems the Heaven's Judges are targeting past members of the Ishin who have refused to join them. Huh, hot out here today." Kawaji wiped his forehead before continuing. "At least, all three of the men killed were former Ishin." Kawaji reached into his pocket, pulling out two slips of paper. "Also, the notes were the same as before."
"I thought as much," Kenshin said, hardly glancing at the paper Kawaji proffered. Kenshin was sure Yamamoto would be paying another visit sometime soon, and it wouldn't be to reminisce over a cup of tea. "Do you know Katsura Kogoro?"
Kawaji nodded, still breathing heavily.
"I spoke with him yesterday. He joined the Heaven's Judges under threat and has agreed to aid the police."
"That's great!" Kawaji exclaimed, having finally caught his breath. "You're keeping in contact with him then? I'll leave it up to you."
"The men who were murdered," Kenshin said as Kawaji made to leave. "Who were they?"
Kawaji frowned. "I think an Amasan Gohei and Ookushi Goten."
"Do the police know if the targets are randomly selected or if there's some list?"
Kawaji gave a despairing shrug. "Nothing, we can only discover the next victims. My men are working on it though, they think they may have found the residence of one group. What about you Himura, you were a member of the Ishin? Don't you know how they pick their targets?"
Kenshin shook his head. "I only took the orders I was given, I was just an assassin." A dog for the Ishin, that's what Tomoe had called him. "I'll talk to Katsura tonight," Kenshin said. "He had considerable influence in the Ishin Shishi, he may be able to help us out."
Kawaji heaved a sigh of relief. "Doumo arigatou gozaimashita. Excuse me now, I have lots of work ahead of me," Kawaji bowed and scurried off.
For several seconds only the halfhearted buzz of out-of-season cicadas filled the dojo yard. Then the crunch of tabi across the dirt ground broke the rhythm as Kenshin retrieved his sword from beside the washtub and left to find Katsura, all thoughts of laundry banished.
"There he goes." Yamamoto Genji was resting in the boughs of a tree, where he had been waiting since being sent away from the Kamiya dojo. As he pointed to the red-haired man leaving the dojo there was a snort of derision from the branch above him.
"Keh, him? I thought he was supposed to be a legendary assassin. Hitokiri my ass, he doesn't look tough enough to kill a kid! He's hardly bigger than my own son! Six I think is too large a number for that shrimp."
Yamamoto gave the speaker a fierce look. "Appearances can be deceiving, Yoshi. I only hope that six men are enough. For all of your sakes, you'd better take him down. Otherwise we'll have trouble later on." Yamamoto jabbed a thumb at himself. "I have other business to attend to, so when you're done, meet me at the usual place. Now get moving before he's out of sight! And remember," He called a last warning as Yoshi and five accomplices stealthily jumped out of the tree, "don't get too close. He's good at reading ki and anticipating moves!"
Yoshi waved Yamamoto's warning off with his hand and motioned to his men to spread out. Nonchalantly, the six of them continued to follow Kenshin as he headed oblivious of the danger to Katsura's house.
Yamamoto watched until the quintet had disappeared from his sight before lightly hopping out of the tree himself. He looked around quickly. No one was in sight. Yamamoto had been seething all day at how lightly Himura had brushed his heartfelt request aside. Yamamoto remembered him from the revolution. Himura had only been a kid, but his attitude had been just as dislikable then; a cold, stuck-up brat who was regardless chosen for all the important assignments. Yamamoto had never spoken with him, as Himura had hardly spoken at all unless it was about business, but he had passed him on the odd occasion and once had been on a mission with him. Himura had spoken twelve words to Yamamoto that night. Get out of the way, I'll take him! He's above your level!
Yamamoto had felt like a coward, watching while the undersize boy cut down the enemy in mere seconds. Himura had humiliated him in front of three of the Ishin Shishi. The other men on the mission had never let Yamamoto live it down. Anytime he went to kill someone after that, or even just went to get food, they would rag him. It was either, Hey Yamamoto, better take Himura with you! Battousai'll take out all the bad guys for you! Or, Yamamoto I hear a legendary hitokiri beat you to the kill. Oh wait, it was just a kid wasn't it?
"Himura yarou . . . I'm going to make you pay." Yamamoto growled, cracking his fingers as he stalked inside the open gate of the Kamiya dojo. He had his orders from one of the leaders of the Heaven's Judges–destroy any former Ishin hitokiri who refused to join the cause. Yamamoto was only too happy to follow these orders now. He would take Himura's life apart, piece by piece, and then he would kill Himura himself.
Yamamoto looked forward to that day but for now, he had other business to attend to. He knew his five men wouldn't be able to defeat Himura, even if they were some of the best hitokiri the Heaven's Judges had. They would serve as a nice distraction though, giving Yamamoto enough time to put some pressure on the residents of the Kamiya dojo. Himura would know he meant business then.
Inside the gate, Yamamoto listened carefully. He could hear annoyed grumbling coming from the back. The boy it sounded like. Where were the other two? Yamamoto crept quietly closer to the house, senses alert. He wasn't as adept at reading ki as Himura but he could still pick up auras, albeit faintly. Yamamoto felt a tiny presence moving his way at the same time the girl shouted.
"Kenshin?"
Yamamoto grinned. Good, this would work fine. He pressed himself against the wall by the door, waiting. It didn't take long. The girl came into the room, a slight frown on her face.
"Mou, where is he? Leaving without saying where he was going–" Still talking to herself, she passed right by him and Yamamoto swiftly stepped behind her, wrapping one hand around her throat and the other around her waist, pinning her hands to her side.
"Kaoru-chan is it?" He asked too kindly as she tried to jerk free.
Kaoru couldn't speak, his hand was too tight around her throat. She knew who it was though, even without seeing his face, and the knowledge incensed her. How could she have been stupid enough to let him catch her unawares?
"I'll bet Himura would die to be here right now." Yamamoto laughed. "You can tell him when he gets back, he'd better take my offer seriously. I'd hate to have to dispose of his friends."
Seething, Kaoru slammed her heel upwards and she heard Yamamoto inhale sharply. Bulls-eye. His grip loosened for a split second, enough time for Kaoru to slip from his grasp and grab the nearest shinai-like object, an umbrella. "Kyaaahh!!" Raising it high, Kaoru brought the piece of bamboo craftsmanship down at Yamamoto's head. She could hardly believe it when her makeshift weapon slammed into the floor. Had she aimed that bad? Where was Yamamoto? Suddenly Kaoru found herself flying into the wall, a sharp pain in her side. The umbrella slipped from her grasp.
Yamamoto gave a derisive snort. "Stupid girl, you can't beat me with that. Maybe you've forgotten how I know Himura. I was a hitokiri too." Yamamoto hefted the saiya he had just hit Kaoru with. "Do you think after I'm finished with you Himura would agree to join?"
"Kenshin–will NEVER–fight with you!" Kaoru spat out, carefully pushing herself from the wall.
"Maybe not yet," Yamamoto agreed. "How much will it take? Should I just break a few bones? Or does it need to be more drastic?" He drew his sword and placed it against Kaoru's left cheek. "Maybe this would change his mind."
Kaoru ducked underneath the blade, looking to see where her umbrella had landed. "You'll just make him angrier and then you'll be sorry," Kaoru said. "Kenshin's better than you-"
"Shut up!" Yamamoto swung the flat of his blade across Kaoru's face, leaving a wide cut. "Just because his battoujutsu is so good everyone thinks he's a god! Well he isn't!" Yamamoto sheathed his sword and hauled Kaoru up by her hair. "And now, I'm going to prove it." He punched her in the face, then slammed his sheath into her stomach. "Nothing he can do about this!" Yamamoto said as Kaoru tried to stay on her feet. He let go of her hair and kicked her against the wall where she lay unmoving, hardly able to breathe. "This is all I get from a Master of Kasshin Ryu?" Yamamoto asked with a world-weary sigh. "What a bore."
"I'm not–through yet," Kaoru ground out, pulling herself to her feet.
Yamamoto laughed. "I know what Himura sees in you, you've got spirit. Still it's not enough. Tell you what though, I'll give you a fair fight. Go on, I'll wait, get your weapon."
Kaoru ducked into the next room to grab her shinai, mind racing. What should she do? She wasn't used to fighting people of this caliber like Kenshin was. Should she let him attack first and wait for an opening, or should she try and surprise him and attack first? Her mind was still whirling when she came back to face Yamamoto.
"Good, good." Yamamoto rested his hand on the handle of his katana. "Come."
Kaoru raised her shinai, eyes set. "KHEEEEEEHH!!" She decided to attack first, going for the head. He would surely raise his sword to block it and then–Kaoru smiled grimly when she saw Yamamoto raise his sheath to block her blow. Perfect. She checked the blow and swung towards his midsection, crouching down. With his sheath blocking her feint–Kaoru's eyes widened as she felt something sharp across her arm. He had hit her! But how? Skidding across the room, Kaoru saw that Yamamoto had kept the sheath at his head but drawn the katana and used it to block her shinai, running it along the wooden sword until it hit her arm. Kaoru clutched her arm, breathing heavily.
"A good attack but not good enough!" Yamamoto said as she rested against the wall. "Shall I end this?" He saw Kaoru's eyes suddenly brighten, and his head exploded with pain.
"Sneaking up on people's not very fair!" The rough voice came from behind him.
"Yahiko!"
"Kaoru! You okay?" Yahiko was standing with his shinai thrust in front of him, fierce look in his eyes.
"Un." Kaoru nodded, feeling her ribs protest.
"It's the little boy," Yamamoto commented, sheathing his sword as he rubbed his head. "You have some power but I think you'll find yourself outclassed."
"Fight me, you bastard!" Yahiko shouted. "Kaoru's not half bad herself if you had a fair fight!" Kaoru smiled. Despite his frequent snide comments, Yahiko showed what he was really made of when he fought.
"Maybe not but she still doesn't stand a chance against me and neither do you. HAH!" Yamamoto lunged forward, drawing his sword and Yahiko blinked with surprise. He was so fast!
"Be careful Yahiko, he uses a double sword technique!" Kaoru shouted.
But not as fast as Kenshin! Yahiko thought. He could do this! "Thanks!" Yahiko replied ducking out of the way of Yamamoto's sword and lifting his shinai. "TEH!" Yahiko almost fell forward as Yamamoto's sword easily sliced through his bamboo sword.
"Nice try brat! You're not half as good as you act!" Yamamoto slammed his saiya into Yahiko's back.
"Oof!" Yahiko swung his splintered sword as he fell and somehow managed to nick Yamamoto's leg.
"Shit!" Yamamoto kicked the shard out of Yahiko's hands and kicked him over to Kaoru. "Two rats in a trap." He snarled. "Which to do away with first?"
Yahiko stepped in front of Kaoru. "You'll have to get rid of me first!" He declared, holding his arms out.
"Easily done." Yamamoto swung his sword so fast that Yahiko felt the blow to his arm almost at the same tame he saw the sword coming. He heard a wet popping noise and suddenly it felt like his arm had turned into a firecracker.
"Iteeeee . . ." Yahiko curled up on the floor, overwhelmed with pain.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru glared at Yamamoto. "He's just a kid!"
"Be quiet," Yamamoto said coolly, swinging his saiya into Kaoru's side. She doubled over and fell to the floor, unconscious. "One down, one to go. Are you finished yet brat?" Yamamoto nudged Yahiko's arm, eliciting a muffled scream, followed by a not so muffled curse.
"Aaaaaghhh! Fuck off!"
"Cheh, guess not." Yamamoto sighed and continued in a sympathetic tone. "You should've taken the easy way out." Yahiko was opening his mouth to throw back a retort when Yamamoto's foot met his head. The retort died, Yahiko forgetting what he was going to say due to the sudden ringing in his ears. The sound intensified and it occurred to Yahiko just before he dove towards the black sea beneath him that Yamamoto was still kicking him.
Once Yahiko lay still, blood gushing from his forehead, Yamamoto stepped back to inspect his handiwork with satisfaction. He grinned. "Come and get it Himura,"
Chapter 4
As Kenshin had predicted, it rained the next day. In fact, it had started soon after Kaoru had gone to bed the night before. Waking up to the light pattering sound on the roof, Sano congratulated himself on asking Kaoru if he could stay the night. Better than being out under the bridge, or worse, paying for one of the tenant houses close by. Yawning vociferously, Sano got up from his futon, hoping against hope that Kaoru wasn't cooking breakfast, because he didn't have any money to buy something elsewhere.
Sano heard distant voices coming from the kitchen, and anticipating a meal, he hurriedly rolled his futon up and shoved it into a corner. He could hear scuffling noises two rooms down, and figured it was Yahiko tripping over himself in an effort to be first to breakfast.
Sano's hopes were dashed at the kitchen doorway. Kaoru was standing at the counter, happily mixing something that Sano had no wish to taste. "You're cooking today?" Sano asked needlessly, voice dripping with disappointment.
"Um-hm," Watching her meal with a critical eye, Kaoru appeared not to have noticed Sano's disconsolate look. "Kenshin needs a break every now and then, and he did fix the roof yesterday. Thank goodness too, otherwise you would have been soaked this morning."
"Gave me the bad room huh?" Sano asked, daring to walk over and gaze into the pot which Kaoru had just placed over the grill. Kaoru whacked him on the head with the long cooking chopsticks.
"Don't touch until it's ready!" She said in a playful voice.
"Don't worry, I don't wanna eat it, I just wanted to see how sick everyone else would be." Sano stepped back. "I'd say not as bad as usual."
"If you're just going to insult my cooking then you can just get out of the kitchen!" Kaoru said angrily. "What do you come here all the time for anyway if you don't like the food?" She smiled self-importantly. "Oh, I know, probably no one else would be as NICE as me and put up with your free-loading!"
Sano scowled. The truth always hurt. "Yeah yeah, it's not really all that bad." For a dog, he added to himself silently. He saw Kaoru's face change and he turned. Yahiko was standing behind him, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"You're cooking?" Yahiko asked sleepily. "I'm gonna go wake Kenshin up."
Kaoru pointed her chopsticks at him. "For your information Kenshin's already up. I told him we needed soy sauce, salt and miso, so he went to get it."
"In this?" Sano jerked his head towards the door where rain cascaded in front of it.
"He's got an umbrella," Kaoru said as if that would solve everything. "It's not like he can't handle some rain."
"No, I guess not." Sano rolled his eyes. Kaoru was an expert at twisting people's arms to do things for her. "So Jou-chan, exactly what is that you're cooking? Whatever it is, looks like you needa put some water on it." Sano gave a casual nod towards the pot.
Kaoru looked over and her hair stood on end with horror. "Agh! I forgot about it!" The food and wooden grill had burst into flames. "Sano, give me that water bucket!"
Sano complied, sighing. "I guess this means no breakfast?"
"Look buddy, this is our meal, whether it's raw, cooked or burnt!" Kaoru snapped, dumping the water onto her food. She watched sadly as the vegetables swam around. "Maybe Kenshin can salvage it," She said hopefully.
Yahiko, who had been watching the spectacle with the look of someone still half asleep, suddenly livened up. "Hey, I think Kenshin's back." He said as the splashing sound of someone walking through puddles came from outside.
"Quick Kenshin, bring us that food!" Sano called, and Kaoru smacked him again with the chopsticks as she walked to the door.
"Ken-" Kaoru stopped short. The tall, dark man standing behind the door when she opened it definitely wasn't the slight swordsman she had been expecting. It wasn't Katsura Kogoro either.
"Is Himura Kenshin here?" The man spoke with a mellow voice.
"No," Kaoru wondered briefly why everyone always had to come to Kenshin with their troubles. "Are you with the police?" Her eyes took in the sword at his side, then moved reprovingly to the wide-brimmed hat resting on his head. The rain falling from it was casting a fine spray on the floor.
The man smirked, noticing her gaze. "Huh, not quite." He didn't offer anything further.
"Well who are you?" Kaoru asked with a touch of annoyance. Sano and Yahiko had joined her by now, both looking suspiciously at the dark-skinned man in front of them.
"Yamamoto Genji. I'm an old friend."
"Kenshin sure seems to have a lot of 'old friends' popping by lately," Yahiko muttered.
"He's a popular guy," Yamamoto said, flashing an insincere smile at Yahiko, whose eyes widened in shock. He heard me? "So, can you tell me when Himura will be back?" Yamamoto continued.
"What's it to you?" Sano demanded, stepping forward. "Anything you can tell Kenshin, you can tell me. I'm his assistant."
Yahiko scowled at that. "Hey, what right–"
"Shut up Yahiko," Sano said, so sharply that Yahiko closed his mouth. "I'll only ask once Yamamoto, what do you wanna see Kenshin for?"
"You're rather rude," Yamamoto said wryly. "But I'm afraid it's only a question for Himura to hear."
"Sanosuke, it's none of your business," Kaoru said, elbowing him. "I'm sorry Yamamoto-san, don't mind him. Why don't you come out of the rain?" Kaoru stepped aside to let the man in but stopped when she saw Kenshin totter through the gate, soaking wet and loaded down with groceries. "Ah, Kenshin, okaeri!" She blinked. "Kenshin, you're soaked, where's the umbrella I gave you?"
"Someone picked it up by mistake when I sat it down." Kenshin explained as he walked to the house. Kaoru saw the sudden change of expression when he saw Yamamoto, violet eyes fading into blue.
"Battousai, ohisashiburi," Yamamoto said coolly as Kenshin walked over to him, eyes guarded.
"B-B-Battousai?" Kaoru stuttered. Usually people only called Kenshin that when they wanted to fight him.
"I don't go by that name anymore," Kenshin said, holding out his purchases for Sano to take.
"What're you givin' 'em to me for?" Sano muttered, hefting the stick Kenshin had put the buckets on over his shoulder. His breath came out in a puff. "Shit Jou-chan, this weighs a ton."
"Ok, Himura then," Yamamoto amended. "I'll get right to the point. I'm sure you've heard about the Bright Revolution?" He waited for Kenshin to nod affirmative. "We're looking for members. I know we weren't always on the best of terms in Kyoto but we could sure use you right now."
"Yamamoto-dono, are you asking me to join the Heaven's Judges?"
Yamamoto nodded. "You would be paid of course, more than you got from Katsura. He always was a stingy bastard."
"Thank you but I'm not interested." Kenshin turned to go inside.
"Hey, I don't think you understand," Yamamoto reached out and grabbed Kenshin's shoulder. "The Meiji government is corrupt, the Emperor may have more say than he did with Tokugawa but he hardly carries any authority."
"Yamamoto-dono," Kenshin said softly, not turning, "Please remove your hand."
Yamamoto snatched his hand away hastily, hearing the edge in Kenshin's voice. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking," He stared at Kenshin with frustration. "Look, Katsura joined, so have others who were hitokiri. You would be in charge of them."
Kenshin looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. "I don't think Katsura-san joined of his own free will," He said coldly. "For the last time, I'm not interested. All I wanted from the revolution was equality for everyone and although it was a horrible price to pay we have attained that."
Yamamoto looked disgusted. "Do you really think so?" He spat. "The revolution may have abolished the feudal system but we still have subjugated people! It's just that the government sends police now instead of shoguns to lord over us!"
"Thank you for coming by Yamamoto, it was good to see you but I'm not joining your cause." With that, Kenshin turned away from Yamamoto, ignoring the man's presence completely as he told Kaoru about his purchases. "Kaoru-dono, prices have risen and there wasn't enough money for the miso . . . Oro!" Kenshin gave a loud sneeze.
"It's okay, we have plenty of rice now so that'll last us," Kaoru took Kenshin's lead and decided to ignore Yamamoto as well. "Get inside and change Kenshin, before you catch a cold. I'll go heat a bath for you." The two disappeared into the house.
Yahiko followed them inside but Sano stood glaring at Yamamoto who was looking angrily where Kenshin had been. "You can leave now," Sano's tone left no room for choice. Yamamoto snarled angrily and took a step back.
"Don't think you can get off that easily Battousai!" Yamamoto shouted. "I know what you're doing for the police! You better watch yourself!" He spun on his heel and stormed out, leaving heavy footprints in the wet ground.
Later that day, after the rain had stopped, police chief Kawaji came running into the Kamiya dojo, out of breath. Kenshin, doing laundry in the back, felt the panicked ki and hurried to greet him. "Kawaji-dono, what's wrong?"
"Himura, you're here! I just-'pant'-received word-'gasp'-that there have been two more murders! It seems the Heaven's Judges are targeting past members of the Ishin who have refused to join them. Huh, hot out here today." Kawaji wiped his forehead before continuing. "At least, all three of the men killed were former Ishin." Kawaji reached into his pocket, pulling out two slips of paper. "Also, the notes were the same as before."
"I thought as much," Kenshin said, hardly glancing at the paper Kawaji proffered. Kenshin was sure Yamamoto would be paying another visit sometime soon, and it wouldn't be to reminisce over a cup of tea. "Do you know Katsura Kogoro?"
Kawaji nodded, still breathing heavily.
"I spoke with him yesterday. He joined the Heaven's Judges under threat and has agreed to aid the police."
"That's great!" Kawaji exclaimed, having finally caught his breath. "You're keeping in contact with him then? I'll leave it up to you."
"The men who were murdered," Kenshin said as Kawaji made to leave. "Who were they?"
Kawaji frowned. "I think an Amasan Gohei and Ookushi Goten."
"Do the police know if the targets are randomly selected or if there's some list?"
Kawaji gave a despairing shrug. "Nothing, we can only discover the next victims. My men are working on it though, they think they may have found the residence of one group. What about you Himura, you were a member of the Ishin? Don't you know how they pick their targets?"
Kenshin shook his head. "I only took the orders I was given, I was just an assassin." A dog for the Ishin, that's what Tomoe had called him. "I'll talk to Katsura tonight," Kenshin said. "He had considerable influence in the Ishin Shishi, he may be able to help us out."
Kawaji heaved a sigh of relief. "Doumo arigatou gozaimashita. Excuse me now, I have lots of work ahead of me," Kawaji bowed and scurried off.
For several seconds only the halfhearted buzz of out-of-season cicadas filled the dojo yard. Then the crunch of tabi across the dirt ground broke the rhythm as Kenshin retrieved his sword from beside the washtub and left to find Katsura, all thoughts of laundry banished.
"There he goes." Yamamoto Genji was resting in the boughs of a tree, where he had been waiting since being sent away from the Kamiya dojo. As he pointed to the red-haired man leaving the dojo there was a snort of derision from the branch above him.
"Keh, him? I thought he was supposed to be a legendary assassin. Hitokiri my ass, he doesn't look tough enough to kill a kid! He's hardly bigger than my own son! Six I think is too large a number for that shrimp."
Yamamoto gave the speaker a fierce look. "Appearances can be deceiving, Yoshi. I only hope that six men are enough. For all of your sakes, you'd better take him down. Otherwise we'll have trouble later on." Yamamoto jabbed a thumb at himself. "I have other business to attend to, so when you're done, meet me at the usual place. Now get moving before he's out of sight! And remember," He called a last warning as Yoshi and five accomplices stealthily jumped out of the tree, "don't get too close. He's good at reading ki and anticipating moves!"
Yoshi waved Yamamoto's warning off with his hand and motioned to his men to spread out. Nonchalantly, the six of them continued to follow Kenshin as he headed oblivious of the danger to Katsura's house.
Yamamoto watched until the quintet had disappeared from his sight before lightly hopping out of the tree himself. He looked around quickly. No one was in sight. Yamamoto had been seething all day at how lightly Himura had brushed his heartfelt request aside. Yamamoto remembered him from the revolution. Himura had only been a kid, but his attitude had been just as dislikable then; a cold, stuck-up brat who was regardless chosen for all the important assignments. Yamamoto had never spoken with him, as Himura had hardly spoken at all unless it was about business, but he had passed him on the odd occasion and once had been on a mission with him. Himura had spoken twelve words to Yamamoto that night. Get out of the way, I'll take him! He's above your level!
Yamamoto had felt like a coward, watching while the undersize boy cut down the enemy in mere seconds. Himura had humiliated him in front of three of the Ishin Shishi. The other men on the mission had never let Yamamoto live it down. Anytime he went to kill someone after that, or even just went to get food, they would rag him. It was either, Hey Yamamoto, better take Himura with you! Battousai'll take out all the bad guys for you! Or, Yamamoto I hear a legendary hitokiri beat you to the kill. Oh wait, it was just a kid wasn't it?
"Himura yarou . . . I'm going to make you pay." Yamamoto growled, cracking his fingers as he stalked inside the open gate of the Kamiya dojo. He had his orders from one of the leaders of the Heaven's Judges–destroy any former Ishin hitokiri who refused to join the cause. Yamamoto was only too happy to follow these orders now. He would take Himura's life apart, piece by piece, and then he would kill Himura himself.
Yamamoto looked forward to that day but for now, he had other business to attend to. He knew his five men wouldn't be able to defeat Himura, even if they were some of the best hitokiri the Heaven's Judges had. They would serve as a nice distraction though, giving Yamamoto enough time to put some pressure on the residents of the Kamiya dojo. Himura would know he meant business then.
Inside the gate, Yamamoto listened carefully. He could hear annoyed grumbling coming from the back. The boy it sounded like. Where were the other two? Yamamoto crept quietly closer to the house, senses alert. He wasn't as adept at reading ki as Himura but he could still pick up auras, albeit faintly. Yamamoto felt a tiny presence moving his way at the same time the girl shouted.
"Kenshin?"
Yamamoto grinned. Good, this would work fine. He pressed himself against the wall by the door, waiting. It didn't take long. The girl came into the room, a slight frown on her face.
"Mou, where is he? Leaving without saying where he was going–" Still talking to herself, she passed right by him and Yamamoto swiftly stepped behind her, wrapping one hand around her throat and the other around her waist, pinning her hands to her side.
"Kaoru-chan is it?" He asked too kindly as she tried to jerk free.
Kaoru couldn't speak, his hand was too tight around her throat. She knew who it was though, even without seeing his face, and the knowledge incensed her. How could she have been stupid enough to let him catch her unawares?
"I'll bet Himura would die to be here right now." Yamamoto laughed. "You can tell him when he gets back, he'd better take my offer seriously. I'd hate to have to dispose of his friends."
Seething, Kaoru slammed her heel upwards and she heard Yamamoto inhale sharply. Bulls-eye. His grip loosened for a split second, enough time for Kaoru to slip from his grasp and grab the nearest shinai-like object, an umbrella. "Kyaaahh!!" Raising it high, Kaoru brought the piece of bamboo craftsmanship down at Yamamoto's head. She could hardly believe it when her makeshift weapon slammed into the floor. Had she aimed that bad? Where was Yamamoto? Suddenly Kaoru found herself flying into the wall, a sharp pain in her side. The umbrella slipped from her grasp.
Yamamoto gave a derisive snort. "Stupid girl, you can't beat me with that. Maybe you've forgotten how I know Himura. I was a hitokiri too." Yamamoto hefted the saiya he had just hit Kaoru with. "Do you think after I'm finished with you Himura would agree to join?"
"Kenshin–will NEVER–fight with you!" Kaoru spat out, carefully pushing herself from the wall.
"Maybe not yet," Yamamoto agreed. "How much will it take? Should I just break a few bones? Or does it need to be more drastic?" He drew his sword and placed it against Kaoru's left cheek. "Maybe this would change his mind."
Kaoru ducked underneath the blade, looking to see where her umbrella had landed. "You'll just make him angrier and then you'll be sorry," Kaoru said. "Kenshin's better than you-"
"Shut up!" Yamamoto swung the flat of his blade across Kaoru's face, leaving a wide cut. "Just because his battoujutsu is so good everyone thinks he's a god! Well he isn't!" Yamamoto sheathed his sword and hauled Kaoru up by her hair. "And now, I'm going to prove it." He punched her in the face, then slammed his sheath into her stomach. "Nothing he can do about this!" Yamamoto said as Kaoru tried to stay on her feet. He let go of her hair and kicked her against the wall where she lay unmoving, hardly able to breathe. "This is all I get from a Master of Kasshin Ryu?" Yamamoto asked with a world-weary sigh. "What a bore."
"I'm not–through yet," Kaoru ground out, pulling herself to her feet.
Yamamoto laughed. "I know what Himura sees in you, you've got spirit. Still it's not enough. Tell you what though, I'll give you a fair fight. Go on, I'll wait, get your weapon."
Kaoru ducked into the next room to grab her shinai, mind racing. What should she do? She wasn't used to fighting people of this caliber like Kenshin was. Should she let him attack first and wait for an opening, or should she try and surprise him and attack first? Her mind was still whirling when she came back to face Yamamoto.
"Good, good." Yamamoto rested his hand on the handle of his katana. "Come."
Kaoru raised her shinai, eyes set. "KHEEEEEEHH!!" She decided to attack first, going for the head. He would surely raise his sword to block it and then–Kaoru smiled grimly when she saw Yamamoto raise his sheath to block her blow. Perfect. She checked the blow and swung towards his midsection, crouching down. With his sheath blocking her feint–Kaoru's eyes widened as she felt something sharp across her arm. He had hit her! But how? Skidding across the room, Kaoru saw that Yamamoto had kept the sheath at his head but drawn the katana and used it to block her shinai, running it along the wooden sword until it hit her arm. Kaoru clutched her arm, breathing heavily.
"A good attack but not good enough!" Yamamoto said as she rested against the wall. "Shall I end this?" He saw Kaoru's eyes suddenly brighten, and his head exploded with pain.
"Sneaking up on people's not very fair!" The rough voice came from behind him.
"Yahiko!"
"Kaoru! You okay?" Yahiko was standing with his shinai thrust in front of him, fierce look in his eyes.
"Un." Kaoru nodded, feeling her ribs protest.
"It's the little boy," Yamamoto commented, sheathing his sword as he rubbed his head. "You have some power but I think you'll find yourself outclassed."
"Fight me, you bastard!" Yahiko shouted. "Kaoru's not half bad herself if you had a fair fight!" Kaoru smiled. Despite his frequent snide comments, Yahiko showed what he was really made of when he fought.
"Maybe not but she still doesn't stand a chance against me and neither do you. HAH!" Yamamoto lunged forward, drawing his sword and Yahiko blinked with surprise. He was so fast!
"Be careful Yahiko, he uses a double sword technique!" Kaoru shouted.
But not as fast as Kenshin! Yahiko thought. He could do this! "Thanks!" Yahiko replied ducking out of the way of Yamamoto's sword and lifting his shinai. "TEH!" Yahiko almost fell forward as Yamamoto's sword easily sliced through his bamboo sword.
"Nice try brat! You're not half as good as you act!" Yamamoto slammed his saiya into Yahiko's back.
"Oof!" Yahiko swung his splintered sword as he fell and somehow managed to nick Yamamoto's leg.
"Shit!" Yamamoto kicked the shard out of Yahiko's hands and kicked him over to Kaoru. "Two rats in a trap." He snarled. "Which to do away with first?"
Yahiko stepped in front of Kaoru. "You'll have to get rid of me first!" He declared, holding his arms out.
"Easily done." Yamamoto swung his sword so fast that Yahiko felt the blow to his arm almost at the same tame he saw the sword coming. He heard a wet popping noise and suddenly it felt like his arm had turned into a firecracker.
"Iteeeee . . ." Yahiko curled up on the floor, overwhelmed with pain.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru glared at Yamamoto. "He's just a kid!"
"Be quiet," Yamamoto said coolly, swinging his saiya into Kaoru's side. She doubled over and fell to the floor, unconscious. "One down, one to go. Are you finished yet brat?" Yamamoto nudged Yahiko's arm, eliciting a muffled scream, followed by a not so muffled curse.
"Aaaaaghhh! Fuck off!"
"Cheh, guess not." Yamamoto sighed and continued in a sympathetic tone. "You should've taken the easy way out." Yahiko was opening his mouth to throw back a retort when Yamamoto's foot met his head. The retort died, Yahiko forgetting what he was going to say due to the sudden ringing in his ears. The sound intensified and it occurred to Yahiko just before he dove towards the black sea beneath him that Yamamoto was still kicking him.
Once Yahiko lay still, blood gushing from his forehead, Yamamoto stepped back to inspect his handiwork with satisfaction. He grinned. "Come and get it Himura,"
doumo arigatou gozaimashita - the most polite way to say thank you
itee - ouch
ohisashiburi - it's been a while
okaeri - welcome home
saiya - sheath
un - 'yeah', kind of girly
yarou - literally, just slang for 'guy', but used in context usually means 'bastard'
Um, yeah, still not satisfied. Hopefully the next update will be light years sooner, because I'll have lots of free time on my hands over Christmas break. Whoo!
Hitokiri-san: Katsura's in hiding because (a) if he doesn't join the Heaven's Judges, they'll hunt him down, (b) if he does join, the government's after him for being a revolutionist. So since he decided to side with HJ, he thought it would be in his best interest to keep a low profile.
xZig-zagx: Glad you're enjoying it, sorry you had to wait so long for the next update!
