Chapter 16
Kenshin's mind was filled with thoughts of the Bakumatsu as he stood outside the governor's office. Waiting to ambush the opposition was something he had done many a time in Kyoto. Usually he had done it by himself though. Beside him, Saitou was leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets, calmly gazing at the house and contemplating who-knew-what. The units of soldiers behind them were talking quietly among themselves.
"It should be any time now," Saitou said abruptly, straightening his long form.
"Aah," Kenshin agreed. He felt the change in the air too.
"Battousai, don't let those soldiers get in my way," Saitou addressed the government men with contempt. "I wouldn't want to accidentally maim one with my gatotsu." His eyes gleamed as he lifted his katana from its sheath. "Here they come."
Kenshin saw the shadowy shapes, silent as owls, flitting through the woods. They were expecting a confrontation then. Something seemed odd about it though . . .
"Horses!" One of the soldiers breathed, pointing to the left and right of the trees. "They brought horses!" He elbowed the man next to him and soon the whole battalion was talking nervously.
"It's samurai," One of the soldiers said.
"So many of them! We can't fight all of them!"
'Idiots, we're samurai too!" Another said with contempt. "All they've got is their katana and we've got swords too if it comes to that, right here," He shook his carbine to emphasize the bayonet at the end.
"But on horses–!"
Saitou was looking at the small army just behind the tree-line with a small smile. There were several score of horses prancing nervously around them. "They've sent the best here," He said. "Good. By the way Battousai," He turned to Kenshin, "it doesn't matter to me what you do to them, just don't show them any mercy."
The horses suddenly surged forward, the samurai on their backs shouting wildly. "They'll send the horses in first and the cavalry afterwards," Kenshin said, ignoring Saito's aside. "Take down as many horses as you can!"
"You don't have to tell a member of the Shinsengumi how to fight," Saitou replied, already in the stance for the first level gatotsu. "IKUSO!" He and Kenshin sped forward at the same time. The thundering of the horses' hooves got louder. There was a shrill whinny as Saitou pierced through the breast of one horse with his gatotsu. The katana went all the way through the horse's neck and impaled the rider as well.
"Kuzu ryuu sen!" Saitou saw the flash from Kenshin's ultimate technique and watched with deference as the rurouni altered the move to compensate for the high number of Heaven's Judges forces. Nine horses fell to the ground, and only three of the riders managed to stagger to their feet.
"An effective move, Battousai," Saitou said as he sent his katana through one of the horsemen. "I'll leave you to take care of the horses." He took off towards the woods to draw out the rest of the Heaven's Judges, leaving the rest of the horsemen to Kenshin and the Meiji soldiers.
Some of the soldiers were shooting the riders off their mounts and then jumping on the master-less horses, trampling the Heaven's Judges underfoot. Moving slowly but consistently closer to the woods, Kenshin continued to speed through the herd of horses, using his double sword technique to take down as many as possible. He had incapacitated five other horses and was swinging his sakabatou up to the neck of the last horse in the line when a katana clanged against his sakabatou, protecting the horse. The rider jumped down, still blocking Kenshin's sword, and took his helmet off, hanging it from the horse's reins.
"Himura Battousai," He said, slapping his horse on the side. It trotted off. "I was looking for you. I wonder, do you still not know who I am?" The man's supercilious expression didn't change as his eyes met Kenshin's frigid stare.
"Takahashi Genji." Kenshin returned. "An Imperialist from Satsuma. You served under Takamori Saigou."
The man smiled. "You finally remember!" He said, genuinely pleased.
"It's difficult to forget the night at the Ikedaya," Kenshin said shortly. "Or a traitor like yourself. Katsura-san was right in hesitating to join forces with Satsuma."
"So instead he chose to sell us out, taking many men who would have been valuable in reinstating the Emperor!" Takahashi said bitterly.
"Katsura-san didn't sell you out, you chose to attack us," Kenshin said.
"The alliance was bad to begin with," Takahashi spat. "Miyabe knew Katsura would lead his clan to ruin. That's the reason we attacked."
"Miyabe was a coward," Kenshin replied. "He ran as soon as the fighting started and took the next ship out. And still Katsura-san kept the ties with Satsuma."
"Stupid of him," Takahashi said. "But now that we've discussed the past Battousai, let's move on to the future. You refused to join the Heaven's Judges,"
"There won't be any more Heaven's Judges after tonight," Kenshin interrupted. It had started to snow lightly and he brushed away the stray flakes that had landed on his eyelashes.
"Maybe not but there won't be any renegade hitokiri either," Takahashi replied. "You've been wandering around avoiding punishment now for ten years. You may have the government on your side, helping them out and all, but don't think that's going to stop others like us from giving you what you deserve. I've heard you're trying to make up for what you did in the Bakumatsu," Takahashi lowered his katana. "Allow me to help you in your undertaking."
"I could say the same to you," Kenshin said. "Conspirators against the government aren't the kind of people who should be offering to grant reparations for others."
"I'm not conspiring against the governor, I'm doing it for the Emperor's good," Takahashi said smoothly. "He just doesn't realize intelligent advice when he hears it." He sheathed his katana. "A draw, Battousai. That's fair enough I think. You'll have more time to think about your death than those people you killed ever did." Takahashi walked several steps away and turned. "Well?"
Kenshin dropped into a battoujutsu stance as he sheathed his sakabatou. "Come." Takahashi was fast, Kenshin had to give him that, but there was no way he was beating Kenshin's drawing technique. They passed each other, swords out, and Kenshin knew he had landed a well-placed hit. Takahashi had been a shade too slow. Kenshin doubled over as he landed though and Takahashi watched with a satisfied smile on his face, although the shoulder of his sword-arm looked like it had been dislocated.
"Your–saiya," Kenshin rasped, tasting blood in his mouth.
"Don't look at me as if I cheated. I simply used my saiya instead of my katana, it still had to be drawn." As Kenshin pulled himself up with his sakabatou, Takahashi thrust his katana out in front of him, keeping it leveled at Kenshin. "Let's start the real fight now."
Kenshin sprang up from the ground, sakabatou held across his chest. Unprepared for the sudden swiftness, Takahashi stumbled backwards as Kenshin shoved the reverse-blade sword at his throat. Kenshin continued shoving him backwards, then swiftly brought his sakabatou to Takahashi's head. More prepared now, Takahashi raised his katana to block it, reaching for his saiya as he did so. Kenshin saw the move and slid his sakabatou down, smashing Takahashi's hand.
"You're open," Takahashi grunted through the pain, bringing his katana down at Kenshin's shoulder.
"Not quite." Kenshin whipped his saiya from his hakama, and still keeping Takahashi from grabbing his own saiya, blocked the strike an inch from his head.
"Now what Battousai?" Takahashi gave a wolfish smile. It disappeared when Kenshin struck his arm with the sakabatou again and whirled to gain more force. Ignoring what must have been a shattered arm, Takahashi drew his saiya and barely managed to block Kenshin's powerful blow. He knew he was losing, and so did Kenshin.
Kenshin stepped back as Takahashi dropped his sheath, unable to make his fingers close around it any longer. "Give up," Kenshin said. "You can't beat me, and I don't need to fight anymore to show that you will lose." Takahashi gave him a malevolent, trap-springing grin.
"It seems that way, doesn't it?" He said. "How about if you're fighting ten of the best hitokiri though?" Kenshin looked around him, startled. Ten of the Heaven's Judges, five of them on horseback, had formed a circle around them as they'd been fighting. Hitokiri. That would explain why he hadn't sensed their ki. Kenshin's eyes were drawn to one of them in particular.
"Yamamoto," He said, eyes flashing amber briefly.
"Battousai," The man didn't hide the contempt in his voice. "You're not going to be so fortunate this time. Tonight is your judgment." Kenshin kept his sakabatou out. There were too many men to take time for a battoujutsu, he would leave himself wide open.
"What are you waiting for? Attack!" Takahashi barked, withdrawing from the loose circle. "It's been hell knowing you Battousai," He called. "Do us all a favor and die quickly."
"I'll be sure to disappoint you," Kenshin retorted, withdrawing into himself and concealing his ki. The men looked at each other uneasily.
"I can't read him, taishou," One said nervously.
"One of the things that made Hitokiri Battousai so formidable," Yamamoto nodded. "He makes himself empty and his kenki acts like a mirror, reflecting the kenki of any who try to read him." Yamamoto pulled his wakizashi from its sheath and threw it at Kenshin. Kenshin batted it aside with his hand. "But neither can he read us," Yamamoto said. "Too many minds." He spurred his horse forward with a shout and a flick of the reigns. "Patsu, Junichiro!" Two more horsemen galloped forward, another two followed on foot. It was a good strategy. The horsemen had a better range than the swordsmen. Working together they could block almost any escape. Almost was the key.
Kenshin shot skyward, eliciting shouts of surprise from below. Eyes flashing, he let his kenki blast outwards. "OOOOOOH!" Two of the men froze in terror. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Ama Kakeru Ryuu No Hirameki!" Kenshin cried. The snow swirled as the succession technique washed over the closest man, throwing him backwards.
"Get down!" Yamamoto shouted as the air that formed the deadly dragon's claws began to rush around them. Kenshin took advantage of the confusion and raced between the last two foot-soldiers, taking them out with one wide sweep of his sakabatou. He turned sharply as a horse reared up in front of him, pawing the air.
"Tenchuu!"
Kenshin felt the sword bite deeply into his leg as the shout filled his ears. He cried out and fell to one knee, spinning and swinging upwards with his sakabatou. There was a crack as the man's jaws knocked together. Kenshin staggered to his feet and faced the four horsemen left. Iterations of blood painted the snow around him and his right leg dangled limply just above the ground. If he could make it to the woods, a tantalizing thirty or so feet away, he was sure he could lose them.
"Not ready to give up yet Battousai?" Yamamoto asked mockingly. "Or would you rather we dish out some more judgment? You could use it, that's for sure." The horsemen had gradually reformed their circle, slightly tighter than the previous one. The horses' ears were pricked.
"Houuuuuu!" Kenshin spun his sakabatou and there was a sound so high and sharp when he slammed it into the saiya that even the war-trained horses chivied backwards in terror, one of them throwing its rider. The circle had been broken and Kenshin didn't wait to see anything else, merely sprinted for the dark woods that looked so inviting.
"Follow him, follow him you idiots!" Yamamoto shouted. "Whoa, whoa!" He patted his shivering horse and urged it towards the woods at a gallop. He looked at the ground and smirked. Battousai's footprints, not to mention the intermittent splashes of crimson steaming in the snow, gave him away. "How's it feel Battousai? Being hunted like all those poor souls you killed?" Yamamoto called into the relatively quiet woods. "Spread out," He told the other three horsemen, and they gave a sharp ha in return.
Yamamoto scowled as Kenshin's footprints ended abruptly, in the middle of a blank expanse of trees. He could see nowhere he could have gone. Yamamoto whistled for his men and they returned quickly, looking around with confused expressions. "See anything?" Yamamoto demanded.
"He just disappeared," Patsu said. His horse whirled suddenly, and he saw a set of footprints being made at lightning speed. "Yamamoto-taishou, look out!" Patsu warned, spurring his horse forward.
"Dou ryuu sen!" A cloud of snow surrounded the horses, blinding them and their riders. Yamamoto looked around angrily. Battousai had turned the battle to his advantage. "Ryuu shou sen!" Yamamoto felt the sakabatou crash into his good shoulder with numbing force. He fell off his horse, grimacing. The snow cloud had dissipated and Yamamoto, seeing Kenshin in front of him, reached for his katana. He stopped almost immediately though. He couldn't move his sword arm farther than three inches in front of him, try as he might. Then he noticed that Junichiro wasn't on his horse. In fact, he wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Kenshin was facing off against Patsu now and Yamamoto watched with a hate-filled expression. The cocky bastard, he thought he had won, now that Yamamoto couldn't wield his katana. Yamamoto realized with grudging remorse that the former Battousai probably could win. Patsu was skilled but against the Battousai's speed he was no match.
Damnit! Yamamoto plunged his fist into the snow, teeth grinding together in fury as he realized he was powerless to do anything. Patsu and Battousai had charged at each other, Battousai's sakabatou sheathed. Patsu was done for, Yamamoto thought with regret as he lowered his gaze, unable to bring himself to watch the rest of the fight.
"Aaaaahhh!" Yamamoto's head shot up at Battousai's agonized scream. Had Patsu somehow slipped past his defense? Got a lucky thrust in? Yamamoto smiled with pleasure when he saw Junichiro standing behind Battousai, still holding the saiya he had broken his arm with. Battousai's sakabatou had fallen from his spasming hand and lay in the patchwork snow. Not one to let the advantage slip away from him, Patsu raised his sword to deliver the killing blow.
"NO!" Junichiro's katana flashed in front of Kenshin's face at Yamamoto's shout. Patsu's katana was deflected, glancing across Kenshin's arm that Junichiro had just hit. Eyes squeezed shut and mouth open in a silent cry, Kenshin sank into the snow, clutching his arm. "No," Yamamoto repeated, getting to his feet. "This bastard's going to pay. He's not getting away with just this." He kicked Kenshin's arm as he grabbed the rurouni's saiya from his hakama, then bent swiftly to pick up the sakabatou. "We'll bring him back to Mura-ya."
"Junichiro shook his head. "Can't do that. I just heard that the soldiers have invaded Mura-ya." Yamamoto clenched his fists.
"Chikushou. Okay, we'll head for Nishiyama-ya then." Patsu and Junichiro swung up on their horses.
"Taishou? What about him? Are you taking him?" Patsu nodded at Kenshin. Yamamoto gave a vengeful smile as he tied Kenshin's sakabatou to his saddle.
"Oh, I'm taking him alright. He'll be going right behind my horse." He pulled a coiled rope from the horses' saddle and tied one end on the pommel, then made two more loops on the other hand and wrapped one around Kenshin's waist and the other around his neck, leaving an inch of slack. "Better do something if you don't wish to die getting there, Battousai," Yamamoto said with a laugh, swinging onto his horse with difficulty.
"You sure he'll make it?" Patsu asked uncertainly. Yamamoto gave the panting rurouni a once-over, noting the amber gleam in his eyes.
"Positive," He said. "This is Battousai we're talking about. He's a lot more resistant than you would think. Come on, let's get going. Looks like the rest of our men are getting overwhelmed out there." The three men urged their horses further into the woods, their trail covered by the ever-faster falling snow.
Sano's hand was a bloody mess. He had used his futae no kiwami only twice and come to the conclusion that another strike would permanently ruin his hand. No matter though, the first two had done enough damage. The mass of Heaven's Judges soldiers on the east side of the river had diminished noticeably, although the ones that were left were still fighting as savagely as before. Kawaji had lost copious amounts of men as well.
The remains of the bridge were still lying in the water, the current eddying around it and the bodies of the men who hadn't made it out in time. The third unit had saved as many people as they could but still some men had frozen from the cold water. Their hands, prematurely stiff from cold, had been frozen in a death grip around the broken pieces of wood.
On the west side, the fight was still raging. The Heaven's Judges had the advantage and the first unit was desperately trying to keep its last score of men together. Kawaji was pacing nervously on the opposite bank, shouting at them.
Sano split-kicked two of the Heaven's Judges as they came at him from either side, katana held in the air. "Don't think you have the advantage just because you've got swords," He told the two motionless bodies. "That just about takes care of this," He added to himself, looking around. They had to find a way to get to the other side though, or else the Heaven's Judges would be free to go.
Sano stared at the bridge dispassionately. Shame that it was gone so early in the game. He began walking through the throng of remaining soldiers, searching for Kawaji. Maybe the commander would have some ideas. A thought flashed into his head though as his gaze passed over the snow-covered trees. We can make another bridge! He had a moment of unsurpassed excitement before another thought crossed his mind. How the hell are we gonna do that? It came to him right as he bumped into Kawaji, who was staring apprehensively across the river and shouting commands to his remaining troops.
"Oi, Kawaji!" Sano grabbed his shoulders. "We can get over there!" Kawaji stared at him as if he was crazy. "Trust me," Sano said, dragging the commander from the riverside. "I'm going to knock down some of those trees over there and your men are going to use their bayonets to hold them together." He saw the look of disbelief on Kawaji's face. "I know, it's makeshift but it'll have to do. Get moving!" Sano sprinted towards the trees, hearing Kawaji mustering his men behind him.
Fifteen minutes later, everyone held their breaths as the improvised bridge was pushed over the river. It crashed onto the other side loudly, breaking chunks of dirt off the side. "Alright, let's go!" Sano called, jumping up onto the rough wood. No one followed him. "Teku, bunch of wimps. Your men are dying over there!" Still no one made a move and Sano sighed. "Alright, I'll go first." He began walking across gingerly, thinking to himself, please hold. There were a few tense seconds and then Sano stepped off at the other side, turning to flash a grin. "See, perfectly safe. Let's go!"
Kawaji repeated the command and the soldiers began tramping across. Sano was already heading for the middle of the fighting. It didn't take the Heaven's Judges long to realize that they had just been swamped with more adversaries. There were shouts of confusion.
"Oi, what's going on!"
"They got across! Look, they made another bridge!"
"Who the hell was supposed to be over there!" A volley of gunfire came from the riverside, and the ring of Heaven's Judges surrounding the first unit broke. A cheer went up from Kawaji's men and they continued to fight with renewed vigor. Hand aching, Sano did the same. There was no avoiding it now, unless the Heaven's Judges sent in reinforcements, they were going to lose and have their blockade broken. It was just a matter of time.
"San katsu tobi kunai!" Misao exploded onto the Ryuu, sending her kunai at the first Heaven's Judges that crossed her sights. They fell without a sound. It wouldn't have mattered if they'd made one because they wouldn't have been heard over all the noise anyway. The sound of the cannon firing at such close proximity had reduced everyone's hearing significantly.
Dropping onto the deck, Misao checked for potential threats. There was Okon, fighting two men at once. She was winning, that was good. There were some of the soldiers the chief of police had insisted on sending. Aoshi hadn't thought it was a good idea at first but Misao saw they were holding their own, and the guns were giving them an advantage.
It was almost too late when she felt the presence behind her. She turned just in time to send a kick to the man swinging a katana towards her head. "Kecho giri!" He was still on his feet, so Misao dropped onto her back and kicked the man over her head, sending him over the ship's side. She dusted her hands satisfactorily and looked for another fight.
An orange haze coming from the bow caught her eye first and she raced towards it, wondering where Aoshi and her fellow Oniwabanshuu were. She gasped as she saw what the orange glow was. Somehow, in the midst of battle, the Ryuu had caught fire.
Misao threw a glance at the cannons, judging the distance. If the fire got that far, and it would if it wasn't stopped, the ammunition in the cannon would be enough to send them all to the bottom of the sea. She had to do something about that.
She didn't get the chance though because just as she was running to search for some water something tangled itself around her feet and she fell to the ground, holding her hurt arm out of the way but hitting her jaw in exchange.
"Little girls shouldn't be allowed in fights like this," A mocking voice said. Misao felt a foot come down heavily on her back. She twisted her head around angrily and squirmed experimentally, testing how much leeway she had. The man behind her wore tattered brown pants and his green gi was stained with blood. "I'm not going to kill you, don't worry," The man said sweetly, leaning down so that his face was inches from hers. "But you might wish to die when I'm done with you, little girl."
"I'm not a little girl!" Misao shouted, sending a back-fist into the man's face. He staggered back, surprised, and she flipped to her feet, seething. "I'm Makimachi Misao of the Oniwabanshuu and you're about to face my wrath!" She congratulated herself silently at how good the threat sounded.
"Little bitch!" More blood was dripping onto the already ruined gi. "Just try it!" The man pulled a gun from his pocket and pointed it steadily. "Stop a bullet if you can!"
"Ha! No problem!" Kunai materialized between her fingers and Misao threw them at the hand holding the pistol, flipping sideways for added cautiousness. There was a screech from the man as her kunai lodged themselves deep into his hand and the gun dropped to the deck, firing as it hit. Misao's kenpo took care of the rest and she left the man tied against one of the masts. She needed to put that fire out, and fast.
Racing blindly across the deck, Misao ran into the barrels used to collect rainwater. She stuck her head inside one and came up spluttering. Yep, they were full. It was going to be a pain to get them over to the fire though, she thought as she moved her hurt arm. It had to be done though. She hadn't seen anyone except Okon yet, and if they didn't know about the fire they may not make it off.
Setting her jaw, Misao grabbed the first of the barrels. She almost dropped it, her arm protested so much. She gritted her teeth though and started walking, determined to make it. Himura was counting on her. They couldn't let the Ryuu leave for the Ryukyus. At this point it probably wouldn't make it far but that was beside the point.
Misao struggled with the barrels for fifteen minutes and in that time the fire had crept to within twenty feet of the first cannon. Gotta hurry, hurry! She could feel the heat from the flames and the deck had begun vibrating beneath her. The still lightly-falling snow was doing nothing to quench the inferno. Misao sat the last barrel down with a gasp and waited for the spots in front of her eyes to vanish before considering her strategy. The entire bow was ablaze now, there was no way she was making it up there. She'd just have to douse the closest blaze and reroute the flames heading towards the cannon.
Positioning her first round of ammunition carefully, Misao kicked the barrel over so that the water cascaded in a line across the fire. She watched with disappointment as the flames sputtered, then roared back to life. Okay, more water. Two barrels this time. She had to be careful, there were only six to begin with. Holding her breath, Misao kicked the next two barrels over. She let out a yell as the encroaching flames were snuffed out for several meters.
"Misao-chan!" Misao looked up. Omasu was running towards her, holding a hand to her cheek. Blood was leaking between her fingers. "Misao-chan, there's an engine in the hold and it's been turned on! The Ryuu is moving!"
"KUSO!" Misao almost forgot about the flames. "Where's Aoshi-sama?"
Omasu shook her head. "I don't know, I haven't seen him and I've looked on all the decks except this one. Okon's still fighting. What's going on here?" Omasu had just taken notice of the flames that had spread several feet since they had started talking. The water Misao had spilled across the floorboards had already evaporated from the intense heat of the flames.
"Doesn't matter now, I was trying to-" Misao stopped, and her mouth turned up in a grin. "Omasu, help me! Go get Okon and tell her to get up here and get off the ship as quick as possible! I'll go find Aoshi-sama!"
"What're you going to do?" Omasu called as Misao sprinted off.
"We're gonna let it blow up!" Misao called, pointing at the cannons. Understanding lit Omasu's face.
"Right! I'll meet you on the dock!" She ran below to get Okon.
Misao was running towards the flames, sure she knew where Aoshi was. If Omasu had checked everywhere but the top deck, and she could see everywhere up top except the bow–Misao heard a distant metallic clang as she got closer to the blazing bow. Yappari! She exclaimed to herself.
"Aoshi-sama!" Misao choked on the clouds of smoke that billowed into her mouth and down her throat. Her eyes had started watering and she could hardly see, but she knew it was Aoshi fighting. There was no other swordsman that tall whose weapon of choice was twin kodachi. Misao risked a glance back and saw the flames were so close to the cannon she couldn't see the deck. "Aoshi-sama!" She shouted as loud as she could. Either Aoshi couldn't hear her or he wasn't paying attention to anything but his fight. "You have to get off! The ship's going to explode!" A flurry of ripostes greeted Misao's exclamation. They weren't stopping. Furious, she forced herself to walk into the flames. She wasn't leaving the Oniwabanshuu okashira on the ship, no matter what.
"Aoshi-sama!" The last thing Misao saw, before the massive explosion generated by ten cannons cracked her head against something, was a katana slicing Aoshi neatly in half.
Wee, lots of fight scenes! Pretty fun to write though. Usually. Please forgive the generic termsI used for some guns and various parts of ships. If you know of a better word or more correct terminology, let me know and I'll fix it. Quick historical note about Kenshin's and Yamamoto's reference to the Ikeda-ya affair: Katsura's Choushuu clan met with Takamori Saigou's Satsuma clan at the Ikedaya to talk about an alliance with Satsuma. The Ishin Shishi were planning to set fire to Kyoto and kidnap the Emperor, and Saigou was hesitant to link up with them. Miyabe Teizo, one of Katsura's men, ratted on the whole group and the Shinsengumi were sent in to dispel the Ishin Shishi.
chikushou(kuso) - translated as damn or shit but not necessarily so harsh
gatotsu - Saitou's signature move(s)
ikuso - let's go
kenki - a swordsman's spirit/energy
kunai - little throwing knives
okashira - commander
saiya - scabbard
taishou - boss
teku - jeez
tenchuu - divine retribution
ya - a suffix meaning shop or inn.
yappari - the equivalent of "ah-ha!"
