Chapter Three: Fang of the Wolf
"I think we lost them, Saito-san…………" Sojiro gasped, when he and the last Wolf of Mibu stopped to catch their breaths a couple of hours later.
"Either that, or they are regrouping somewhere. This is only a temporary reprieve, either way." Saito stated, growling in pain when his legs protested against any further movement. Sojiro nodded in understanding. They both knew that the moment to rest would be short-lived, but neither of them knew when it would be broken.
"In any case, I left what bandages and salves I had in that hut. We'll have to wait till we can get back to Kyoto to change the bandages on your legs, chest, and shoulder. Can you hold up till then?" Sojiro asked, honestly concerned about the elder warrior.
"I should be able to. It's as I told the Rooster; I've been through more life or death struggles than he has. Or you, for that matter." Saito muttered, as he sat down on a boulder, but not before carefully putting his katana back in its sheath.
"Saito-san, may I ask you something?" Sojiro questioned, as he sat across from the Wolf.
"Go ahead." Saito mumbled, as he searched his pockets for a dry cigarette.
"Do I remind you of Soshi Okita in any way?" Sojiro asked, flinching when Saito fumbled the box of cigarettes, yet managed to catch it before it could land in the wet grass in front of him.
"Why do you ask me that?" Saito in turn asked, trying to keep his voice and face as neutral as possible.
"Well………….last night…………in the midst of your fever…………you mistook me for him. You also mentioned him having a son…………." Sojiro replied, uncertainly. He looked on in surprise when Saito slapped a hand to his face.
"Saito-san?" Sojiro asked.
"Never mind. Anyway, it seems that I will have to tell you now." Saito said, disturbed by this decision, yet having no other choice in the matter.
"Tell me what?" Sojiro asked, tensely.
"Soshi Okita had a small family, before he joined the Shinsengumi. The Ishin Shishi killed his wife when they tried to evacuate from the town they'd lived in. His son survived, but he had to be given to some caretakers. It was for the boy's safety, if nothing else. The only one Okita told the secret to was me; he always wondered if he did the right thing, and was tortured by that decision even till his death. I have the suspicion that you are his son, Tenken. If so, then I am to safeguard your life from here on out." Saito said, gauging Sojiro's reaction by watching the younger man's face. At first, there was shock, then incredible sadness, then something akin to determination appeared.
"Saito-san, I have done terrible things over the past ten years, and I can't possibly atone for them all………..and I have dishonored Soshi Okita's memory without even realizing it. If you see fit to kill me, then go ahead. I won't stop you from carrying out Aku Soku Zan." Sojiro said, ashamed of what he'd done, and knowing that the only punishment for it was death. Saito gave him a stern look.
"Baka. You are your father's son, all right." Saito grumbled, as he got to his feet again, hiding a wince when sharp pain went through his legs as he did so. Sojiro remained where he was, gazing uncertainly at the Wolf as he put the box of cigarettes back in his pocket.
"Well? Are you coming or not?" Saito asked, with some irritation in his voice. This jolted the younger man into action.
"H-hai!" Sojiro replied, as he followed Saito out of the clearing, and back into the woods. And, they hoped, back towards civilization.
Sojiro's mind was filled with confusion as he and Saito moved as stealthily as they could along the forest paths.
"He let me live………….but why? Is it because I am Soshi Okita's son? Is that his reason?" Sojiro wondered, then shook his head to clear it. Any distractions right now could prove fatal, and he needed to be ever on the alert in case another attack came. Then another, burning question came to his mind; just where had the sword he was carrying now come from? He looked down and grasped the pommel of the sheathed katana at his waist, as though to reassure himself that it was indeed real.
"I remember now that Himura-san had broken my sword, and that I had given the wakizashi back to Shishio-san. Just where had I come across this sword?" Sojiro mused, as he gazed at the weapon thoughtfully. Then the image of the man in his dream returned, and this time he could see the swords at the man's waist.
"But that's impossible! How could someone long dead give me a sword when I most desperately need it?! It just doesn't make sense!" Sojiro's mind yelped, as the implications dawned on him. Somehow or another, Okita was providing him with the means to protect himself beyond the grave. Little did he realize that this was also crossing Saito's mind as well.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the woods, a member of the Juppongatana sat. Fury and bloodlust were in his eyes as he thought of the botched attack on the wounded Wolf and ex-Juppongatana.
"Kuroi-sama! I am sorry, but we have lost them!" another Juppongatana member gasped, as he wearily kneeled before the vengeful man.
"Then find them. I want that Wolf and the traitor dead. Now go. And do not fail me again." The vengeful man growled. With a quick bow, the second man dashed off, not wanting to feel his superior's wrath again. Alone again, the man known only as Kuroi glared in the direction of Mt. Hiei, thinking of what he would do to the Tenken should their paths cross again.
"Just wait and see, you little bastard. We'll see who was truly worthy of being Shishio-sama's right hand. Just wait and see." Kuroi thought, as the distant flames were reflected in his crimson eyes.
Author's Note!
Yes, yes, I know. This chapter was way too short. If anybody has some good ideas as to how this story could progress, please e-mail me and let me know! Some input would be very helpful! Thanks! ;;;;;;;;;