Chapter 12

Yama-chou . . . it was on the outskirts of Tokyo, hardly fifteen miles away but as the name suggested, in the mountains. A strategic place for the Heaven's Judges to place their headquarters. Kenshin doubted if Yama-chou was truly their headquarters though. They wouldn't have been stupid enough to tell him the street name of something so important. Unless they were convinced that he wasn't going to be leaving. He'd have to be cautious.

Even taking extra precaution, Kenshin made it to Yama-chou in just under an hour. The sun was still halfway above the horizon, burning brightly. Kenshin slowed to a walk as he came to the back-water street that butted up against Japan's Hamamatsu mountains. The letter hadn't specified which house Katsura was being held in but Kenshin had gathered it wouldn't be difficult to find. Now, looking at the derelict huts that lined the silent old street, he thought otherwise. The Ishin of the revolution hadn't been beneath choosing broken-down houses as bases. They were more inconspicuous.

Hand on his katana, Kenshin continued down the street at a slow pace, looking to his left and right at regular intervals. Despite its rundown looks, people were eking out a living on Yama-chou. Kenshin passed several tired-looking figures that were only wisps of humans, hunched over from carrying bundles of wood and other odds-and-ends on their backs. All of them made their way inside as quickly as possible when Kenshin passed, lowering their heads and making a point not to look at his sword. A toddler slapping a pile of mud in the street was simply left to his fate.

Even with the end of the Shogunate there are still castes, Kenshin observed as a man scurried across the road several feet in front of him. It just made him regret his stint with the Ishin Shishi more than he already did. The restoration of the Emperor was supposed to put an end to the feudal caste system of Japan. Although the barriers of inter-class marriages and improving one's social status had been broken, it was still almost impossible for a peasant to move past the life he was born into. Kenshin pushed the thoughts from his mind and continued walking. Right now he had to worry about finding Katsura, he could struggle over the failed revolution later.

Yama-chou never seemed to end. It kept twisting up and around the base of the mountain and the housing got more and more sparse as the ground became rockier and the air thinner. Eventually, Kenshin was just walking along a rock-encrusted road, flanked by fields of kudzu and the occasional roadside shrine. He was beginning to wonder if the letter hadn't just been a ruse to drag him out here when he saw the house in front of him. It looked strange, a nicely built temple appearing in the middle of nowhere.

Certain he'd arrived at his destination, Kenshin followed the path to the steps that led the wide doorway. He waited at the bottom of the steps, hand on his katana. A cold North wind blew across the rocky ground, plastering Kenshin's ponytail against his face. After several minutes of waiting, the figure of a lone man filled the doorway of the temple. He was dressed in the flowing orange robes of a Buddhist, although his head wasn't shaved.

"I almost thought you weren't coming," He said, making his way from the steps with a majestic slowness. He looked Kenshin in the eye. "Hitokiri Battousai." If he had expected the name would get a rise from Kenshin, the man didn't show it as Kenshin just met his stare. "I can only assume this means you've agreed to our request?"

"I've said nothing to suggest it," Kenshin replied. "I'm here to take Katsura-san back, but I won't be taking his place."

The man shrugged. "I only assumed. After all, although you are the famed hitokiri Battousai, you are still only one against many." He took a small step back and made a slight gesture with his hand. "But if you really don't intend to stay," Two black-clad ninja materialized from the shadows by the door, silent as owls, "you'll have to prove you're still worthy of the title hitokiri before I tell you of Katsura's whereabouts." There was a sardonic grin. "And with that sakabatou you now carry, I think you'll find it impossible, especially against these two."

At that cue, the ninja took several steps forward, reaching threateningly for their weapons. Kenshin made no move to defend or attack.

"What assurance do I have that Katsura-san is even here?" He demanded.

The Buddhist clapped his hands and laughed with pleasure. "Nothing less from the Battousai. Your mind is as sharp as your katana once was. But don't worry, no foul play this time. If you can defeat these two Katsura will be waiting for you, and you will have proved that you are still formidable enough to aid the Bright Revolution."

"I have no need to prove myself capable of meaningless slaughter." Kenshin bit out. "However, I won't hesitate to defend Katsura-san and his family."

The Buddhist made a resigned hand motion. "Well, I look forward to seeing you in action again Battousai." He gave a final wave as he retreated into the temple, disappearing into the myriad shades. "I almost want you to succeed." He was almost out of sight now. "Make it through the temple and you'll find Katsura."

The man's words rang through Kenshin's head. Again? Kenshin thought, a puzzled look flashing across his face as a feeling of déjà vu washed over him. Something . . . But then the feeling left, and he eyed the two ninja with practiced caution.

"So we finally get to meet the Battousai." One of the ninja spoke, excitement in his voice. He sounded young. "I'll try not to take my time defeating you." His hand moved to the sword strapped on his back.

Kenshin still made no move but replied evenly, "Don't underestimate your opponent." Kenshin almost thought he saw both of them grin evilly, despite their covered faces.

"It's you who shouldn't underestimate your opponent, Battousai."

Watching their moves carefully, Kenshin saw it before the four barbed chains sprang up from the ground. The extra half second gave him enough time to jump into the air and clear three of the crossed chains, and he almost thought he had cleared the fourth when one of the ninja gave a vicious tug as Kenshin came down, catching several of the barbs on his leg. Kenshin grimaced as the barbs made a jagged cut across his ankle.

The ninjas must have been expecting him to fall because they were already moving towards him, but they hadn't counted on Kenshin's speed which was what gave people the impression that he had god-like reflexes. Kenshin twisted even as the chain touched his leg and landed firmly on his feet.

"Cheh, you avoided it. I guess it'll be more fun this way anyway." The ninja carefully stepped over to keep Kenshin between himself and the chains. The younger ninja who had first addressed Kenshin stayed on the other side of the chains, to Kenshin's left.

Kenshin kept himself low, wondering what they were going to do next. He could perform a do ryuu sen but that would leave his back exposed. It would have the added effect of taking out the chains but they could seriously injure the young ninja on the other side and Kenshin didn't want to do that. He could still have a life if he pulled himself away from the Heaven's Judges.

"Kuroninja secret attack, distracting blade!" Kenshin didn't have any more time to think, both of them moved at once. The ninja to his left drew his sword as he sprang across the barbed chains, swinging at Kenshin's waist. Kenshin didn't dare move to the side, lest the other ninja had anticipated that move and planned on using it as an advantage. Kenshin brought his sakabatou up to meet the blade and was set to deliver an incapacitating blow to the hand when the ninja surprised him. He had skillfully worked his foot onto a harmless stretch of chain and now he whipped his leg up to Kenshin's head.

"Huuh!" Taken aback, Kenshin ran his katana down the length of the ninja's sword, too fast for the boy to follow, and let it smash into his neck. At the same time he shoved his saiya into the air horizontally, catching the falling ninja's foot. The unfortunate ninja crumpled, falling away from the chain. Kenshin whirled then, knowing the second man had had plenty of time to plan his next move.

Even as Kenshin turned, a sword was plunged into his gut, clanging against the sakabatou that he had pulled across his stomach protectively. Kenshin felt the sharp edge of his sakabatou dig into his skin. Already off-balance, he landed heavily on his right side across the chain, the barbs scratching across his face.

It was over though, and they both knew it, although the ninja was still standing stubbornly, taking irregular, rasping breaths. Kenshin had used the force of his spin to propel his saiya into the ninja's neck. Untangling himself from the barbs, Kenshin didn't look back as the ninja finally fell, cracking his head against a rock. Kenshin kept walking into the temple, determined to find Katsura.

000

Aoshi was not having the time of his life. Touring Tokyo, in plain view, with Misao no less, who attracted even more attention–it wasn't a situation to be desired. He was here on business and felt that was where he should be expending his energy.

"Ooooh! An Englishmen! Two of them!" Not keeping a tally of how many foreigners they saw. So much for the reconnaissance mission. "Aoshi-sama! Mou, you aren't even paying attention!" He looked down and saw Misao's angry face staring up at him.

He almost smiled. She had looked exactly the same ten years ago, when he'd told her to stay with Okina. Well, almost the same, he amended. Now she was–almost grown? Aoshi didn't quite know how to think of her. She still had the same energetic spirit, the same will to please him and the Oniwabanshuu. It had surprised him really, that she still found working with the Oniwabanshuu so appealing. He wasn't going to argue about it, it was just–confusing.

Aoshi's face suddenly turned serious as wisps of a nearby conversation floated past him. He listened intently. "–went to Yama-chou. Takahashi taishou has the rest under wraps, by tonight even those dick soldiers won't be able to mess with us." Someone was talking about Battousai.

"Misao."

Misao jumped at his tone. "Hai, okashira!"

"Stay here and keep your ears open." There was a pause. "No. Go back to the Kamiya dojo and tell Kamiya to be ready for Himura's return. Find Takani Megumi and bring her there." Aoshi began to stride off. Misao stared at his back.

"Aoshi-sama . . . Is something wrong? Is Himura in danger?" She stood straighter. "Should I go help him?" Aoshi stopped.

"No. Just do as I say." Almost as an afterthought, he added, "There's nothing to worry about." Misao didn't wait for him to disappear from her sight but turned and began to run back to the Kamiya dojo, wondering what had got into Aoshi.

000

Kenshin rubbed a hand across his face as several drops of blood sluggishly dripped off his eyebrow. Scratches, they wouldn't hinder him. The cut on his ankle was burning but it was nothing he couldn't brush aside for the time being. He could walk on it and that was all that was important.Kenshin had wandered deep into the temple and seen plenty of signs of human life but no people. He was starting to get annoyed. Had that damn Buddhist said he would be waiting or not once those ninja were gone?

Kenshin shook his head. No need to get worked up, he'd figure it out. It would just take a little longer than he'd hoped. He brushed a hand across his face again and that was when he sensed he wasn't alone anymore. There was a strong chi resonating from somewhere ahead. Kenshin hadn't sensed anything like that from the two ninja he had just dispatched. His senses suddenly on full alert again, he continued his course, keeping his gaze forward.

Kenshin stopped dead ten feet later. He could feel it, the chi was coming from the exact spot he was standing, but no one was there. A trick of some kind? Kenshin frowned and turned a slow circle, looking as if he was trying to pierce through the walls with his eyes. Nothing. It dawned on him a second too late. The ceiling! Acting on instinct Kenshin managed to get his left hand up to his neck just before something spiraled down and cinched itself around his neck tightly, cutting into his hand and hauling him a good ten feet into the air. Kenshin cursed himself for being such an idiot as he reached for his sword.

"It won't work Battousai," The voice came from above him. Kenshin forced himself to look up. Rafters spanned the ceiling, and straddling one of them was a stocky man with a shaved head, dressed in Buddhist robes. He was tying the length of wire around Kenshin's neck onto the rafter. "I double coated it with katana-forging steel."

Kenshin knew he was right. Without using a battoujutsu he couldn't break through that kind of reinforcement. Still, there were other methods. Kenshin began swinging his feet back and forth, ignoring the stabs of pain the movement caused his hand.

"Won't break with torsion either," The man said conversationally. "But I guess that's not what you're trying to do, is it?" He made a grab for the wire. "Death wouldn't be so bad if you'd just hold still and–waaaaagh!" Kenshin had stuck his sakabatou into the rafter and once he'd swung high enough, grabbed it with his free hand and flipped himself onto the rafter behind the monk.

"Kuso!" Rather than drop the line of wire he was holding, the monk slid from behind Kenshin and kicked him in the chest. Kenshin took a step back and absorbed most of the blow, taking the brief respite to throw the wire from around his neck. His left hand was almost numb. Time to start fighting back.

"Ryuu shou sen!" It was in close quarters but up on the rafters, Kenshin thought the thrust to the shoulder would be efficient. He blinked as the monk flipped backwards, landing with cat-like agility a meter away, having completely avoided the ryuu shou sen. "You study kenpo?" Kenshin asked. The man's moves had looked too fluid to be kenpo though.

"Wushu," The monk corrected. "Everyone expects kenpo. Wushu throws them off. Even you." He reached up to the ceiling and pulled down a long pole with a large, serrated feather-tipped arrow on one end and a ball of metal on the other. Kenshin followed the move with his peripheral vision.

"Naginata?" He asked, knowing it wasn't but not having a clue as to what else it could be.

"Kwan dao," The monk corrected him. "It's an art-form in China. I learned from the best, Wu Ling Pei." He held the weapon in front of him, making small circles. "Let's see how you'll fare against this, Battousai. I think you'll find you need to make some accommodations in order to get inside my range."

"I won't disappoint you," Kenshin said with a straight face. He wanted to get the first attack in, to judge just how much distance he would have to make up for. The kwan dao looked about twice the length of his sakabatou, but the arrow was only at the end. Sliding past that would be the challenge.

"What are you waiting for?" The monk asked tauntingly. "I'll let you have the first shot. Come on." Kenshin nodded his thanks and started in, sword out. He wasn't going to try a battoujutsu yet, first he wanted to see what the kwan dao was capable of. A simple move wasn't going to be enough, he could easily end up on the wrong side of the kwan dao. A move that utilized shinken, a defensive stance used to size up an opponent, would be most appropriate. That was what Kenshin chose to do, holding his katana in front of him, almost level with his face, as he dashed forward.

Kenshin calculated the remaining distance when he was less than an inch from the kwan dao's tip, using the segmented sections of the bamboo pole as a measuring stick. He had two feet to make up for. He had hardly finished deducing that when a quick movement of the kwan dao knocked his sakabatou aside, then headed for his neck. Kenshin twisted sideways at the last possible moment, holding his katana up to his chest. The kwan dao whistled past him.

"Figured out the distance?" The monk noticed. "Thought you would. That's okay though because you'll never be able to get past it." He thrust the kwan dao towards Kenshin's head, and when the rurouni blocked with his katana, the monk swung the back end of the kwan dao into Kenshin's side. Kenshin's breath left him in a rush of air and he skidded backwards, gasping.

As it turned out, the monk was quite capable of wielding his weapon to the utmost efficiency. Kenshin couldn't get his sakabatou within two feet of the man before it was turned aside with a pivot of the kwan dao. For the most part, Kenshin had caught on to the way the monk used both ends of the kwan dao at once. It was ingenious really, it worked almost as well as having another person fighting with you. While Kenshin was distracted with one end of the kwan dao, the monk sent the other towards him where it was least expected. Kenshin was using his double blade techniques to parry the moves but that left him pretty much unable to do anything except defend.

After receiving a third blow to his side–it was really starting to hurt now–Kenshin decided he needed to start thinking a little more seriously. So far, all his attempts at sliding past the last two feet had been successfully parried and he had almost been severed in return. Even while fighting though Kenshin had been carefully analyzing the movements of the kwan dao, and he was almost positive he had found a weak spot. If one end of the kwan dao was pointing upwards, there was no way for the monk to bring the other end up unless he himself jumped into the air. With Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's emphasis on aerial fighting, Kenshin knew he could turn the fight to his advantage. First he had to get himself in the air.

Ryuu tsui sen, then . . . What would the monk do then? He'd surely try to skewer him and Kenshin knew he could avoid that but if the monk was able to recover quickly enough, even if he couldn't bring the other end of the kwan dao up he could still twist it several times and deflect Kenshin's blow. However . . .

The monk crouched slightly when Kenshin stuck his katana back into the saiya. "Battoujutsu eh? I guess since nothing else has worked you may as well give it a shot. Your speed has already been proven useless against my kwan dao though, with so much extra length I'm quick enough to stop you."

Kenshin was running through his next move in his head. "I know. I'm counting on your speed too."

That threw the monk for a loop. "Counting on my speed?" He muttered uncertainly before his previous self-assurance returned. "Whatever, you're just trying to bluff. Go ahead and try it. I'm getting tired of this though, so I think I'll finish our fight after this."

Without a warning, Kenshin shot into the air just far enough that he was out of reach of the kwan dao and then began dropping into his favorite attack. "Ryuu tsui sen!" He had sped up slightly, throwing the monk off as much as he could. It was working so far, the monk jabbed his kwan dao just where Kenshin had guessed he would. Kenshin did what he had done the past ten-odd times, twisted away from it, but instead of stopping there as he usually did he grabbed hold of the kwan dao and used it as a pivot to flip himself behind the monk. He could feel the aura of surprise radiating from the man. He didn't even have time to turn before the ryuu tsui sen tore into his shoulder.

There were two simultaneous thuds but Kenshin was on his feet. As he re-sheathed his sakabatou, he glanced back at the kwan dao-wielding monk, who was half-consciously trying to close his hand around his weapon. Finally, his eyes closed.

Kenshin continued his walk through the temple, hardly noticing as his various wounds called for a mutiny. It was the longest Buddhist temple he'd ever been in before, he had to almost be at the end by now. He pressed forward though and was rewarded a few minutes later by the appearance of another large meditation room, where several people were sitting, waiting for him no doubt. The man Kenshin knew he would be fighting shortly had made no attempts to conceal himself, standing with crossed arms at the left of Kenshin's vision.

Kenshin stepped into the room, eyes flicking over to where Katsura sat with the monk who had first met Kenshin. Katsura caught his eye.

"I didn't want for you to come out here Himura," He said. "I would just as soon have died."

"You should have more regard for your life," Kenshin replied. He caught the edge in Katsura's tone. The monk had no intention of releasing Katsura whether Kenshin won or not. He played along though. "You have people waiting for you to return and so do I." The monk waved his hands to silence them.

"Enough, we're not here to talk about whether or not Himura should have come, he's already here. Himura, you know what you have to do. Before you begin, let me assure you that there will be no more attacks on the dojo you reside at. That was Yamamoto's doing. I spoke with him about it. As you've been told several times already, we respect you and merely wish to have you aid us as you did the Ishin Shishi."

Katsura started to say something as the monk took a breath but Kenshin cut him off with a raised hand. The monk continued. "The next stage of our plans though is to ask the remaining former Ishin to join us. If they refuse, we have no choice but to end their lives. You are no exception. If you win this fight and still refuse to allegiance with the Heaven's Judges, we will take it as an open invitation to kill you."

"I understand," Kenshin said. "But your ideals aren't even close to what the Ishin had in mind when they were fighting. You're only fighting for yourselves because the Meiji has made life more difficult for you with its new regulations. You're not even worried about people's rights and freedom, that the caste system still unofficially exists. You've done nothing to help the villagers who live down the mountain. Even ten years ago I wouldn't have fought for your cause."

"Himura's right," Katsura said as Kenshin finished. The monk motioned with his hand again.

"Spare me the righteous talk. It doesn't matter what you say the Ishin Shishi's true intentions were, the way they achieved them is the same way we're achieving ours, and that is through fighting. Speaking of which Himura, your last opponent will be Meko." Kenshin looked to the third person in the room, a black-haired man of average height carrying two swords at his side. "This will be a sword to sword battle," The monk continued. "I won't interfere. Start when you're ready."

Mmmmm, the ever-troublesome fight-scenes rear their spiked head. Let me know if I could be clearer about some parts. I live to please my readers!

kuroninja - black ninja

kuso - damn

naginata - a fairly long wooden pole with a curved blade

okashira - boss

taishou - captain

yama-chou - literally, mountain district