Chapter Fourteen
Dawn the next day found them on one of the police boats heading out to Enishi's island. Restlessly, Hiko wandered the main deck alone; not particularly liking this part of the journey in the slightest.
"Not really one for seafaring, are you?" Saito asked, when he'd noticed the edgy look on the older warrior's face.
"That isn't the problem. I'm still not used to seeing ironclad boats. I don't see how this thing could possibly float, when it's made of metal." Hiko muttered, as he gave the deck beneath him a wary glance. Saito snorted.
"Feh, I understand. This is still fairly new technology, and sometimes prone to mishaps." Saito grumbled, as his eyes narrowed; remembering one such case in the not-too-distant past.
"And yet, the old technology wasn't foolproof, either. Torn sails or dead calms could prevent a ship from moving for days at a time, and, no matter how well waterproofed a wooden hull could be made, over time, it would still rot...and that was if it was out at sea, long enough. Ships, then and now, still have problems with grounding and weather, and probably always will." Hiko murmured, as he distantly remembered long-neglected memories.
"You seem to know quite a bit about ships, for a hermit who lives in the mountains." Saito stated, as he casually lit a cigarette.
"I once lived in a fishing village, a long time ago..." Hiko replied; narrowing his eyes as the faded memories returned, "A very long time ago...That was before I was even an apprentice of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu...Before Shishou..."
"That would probably explain why you haven't gotten seasick yet...That loud-mouthed brat of Battousai's hasn't been able to hold anything down since we left port." Saito muttered, irritably.
"And why would that annoy you, Wolf of Mibu? Does it in some way remind you of your own youth?" Hiko asked; smirking when he heard an annoyed snort from the cop for that. He'd guessed right, then.
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Hours later, the rest of the group had emerged from below decks. Kenshin had to prevent himself from chuckling, when he sensed his master's disgruntled ki.
"What's wrong, Shishou?" Kenshin asked, silently. Even though Hiko didn't respond, Kenshin could tell that the older man was a bit on edge.
"I don't think he's quite used to this boat yet." Aoshi murmured, quietly guessing what was bothering the Thirteenth master.
"Doesn't seem like it." Kenshin agreed; smiling slightly when he noticed Megumi approach his master, and begin asking him about his injuries. He caught the annoyed glance Hiko cast at them, and could only shrug slightly in answer to it.
"Thanks for nothing, Baka Deshi." Hiko's voice irritably growled, in the back of his mind; earning a soft chuckle from Kenshin at his expense. Within moments, Hiko was standing with the group again (yet surprising them all when he stood alongside Kaoru, so that he was on one side, and Kenshin was on the other). For a few moments, there was thoughtful silence; then Misao spoke up.
"Something doesn't feel right." Misao muttered, as she glared out at the sea.
"What?" Megumi asked, startled from her own revery by that.
"Well, things have progressed without me." Misao said, her tone annoyed as she said that.
"And that is probably for the best." Hiko grumbled; blatantly ignoring Misao's glare when she directed it at him.
"Well, I don't like it." Misao pouted.
"You're a tough one to please." Megumi murmured, laughing softly when Hiko muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'Don't we know it?'
"Especially Himura and Hiko-san. What happened to you two? You both seem overly calm." Misao said, ignoring Hiko's comment as well as she could.
"Not overly calm. Sessha's body has not yet healed completely, so effort is being put into not expending unnecessary energy." Kenshin replied.
"The same goes for me. Even though my wounds had received more medical attention, and had more time to rest, I'm not fully healed yet." Hiko added, then thought, "But I can hope that half of my strength will be enough to protect Kamiya." They all came to attention when the lookout in the crow's nest blew his whistle and shouted down to Saito.
"Lieutenant Fujita! It's the island! We have sight of the island!" the lookout cried, as he pointed at the distant cove ahead of them.
"Is that it?.!" Yahiko asked, as he gaped at the natural fortress.
"It seems that way." Hiko said, as he glared at the island ahead of him.
"To be honest, sessha's body has reserves enough to fight Enishi. There is no extra energy to direct elsewhere...so there is a request to everyone before arrival." Kenshin said, his tone getting even his master's attention, "Lend sessha your strengths." He got a soft laugh from Sanosuke, before most of them gave him reassuring smiles.
"What're you saying, all of a sudden?" Sanosuke asked, with a smirk.
"We've been borrowing from you all this time." Yahiko added, as he crossed his arms, and gave the rurouni an impatient look.
"We're all here with the intention to help." Megumi said, with a calm smile.
"Need you even ask, Baka Deshi?" Hiko questioned; as a hint of pride appeared in his dark eyes.
"And we would've already gone back to Kyoto, if we hadn't intended to help, right, Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked, as she looked over her shoulder at the quiet onmitsu behind her.
"Right." Aoshi agreed.
"We're all here for you, Kenshin." Kaoru concluded, finally breaking her silence. Kenshin could only smile in relief, when he'd heard their promises to help. Even without directly saying so, Hiko had also reassured him with an unspoken promise to help...and to protect Kaoru.
"Please, be extra careful, Shishou. Enishi might still come after you." Kenshin silently warned. He got what could only be a mental 'Feh' as a response.
"And this confrontation will be different from the last in what way?" Hiko retorted, then added, "Don't worry. I won't make it easy for him to dispatch me or Kamiya."
"What are you all muttering about? We'll be landing soon. Hurry up and get...!" Saito said, before an explosion interrupted him. They all watched as one of the boats rocked violently from some sort of impact.
"What is it? That wasn't cannon fire!" some cops on either side of them yelped, when smoke began to pour out of the port side of the damaged boat.
"The second ship is damaged on the port side and taking on water! There's something underwater!" a few others shouted; the fear in their voices sending a thrill through those standing there.
"Go ahead and get in one of the lifeboats. We're going on ahead." Saito ordered, the strained edge in his voice easily heard by those closest to him.
"Right." Hiko agreed; knowing without a doubt that the waters were lined with explosives, yet willing to brave it to get to the island.
"Lieutenant Fujita!" some of the lower-ranking cops shouted, when they saw their superior and the white-mantled man begin to untie one of the smaller boats from its' place.
"We'll go on ahead! You rescue the men from the second ship and come in on the remaining boats!" Saito replied; jumping back slightly when a blur rushed in to help maneuver the boat into the water.
"What are you doing here?" Saito growled, as the rest jumped back a little bit from the newcomer. The teenager before him only grinned sheepishly in reply.
"Tokio-san...sent me to make sure you wouldn't get too badly hurt this time, Saito-san." the teen replied, then added, "So I...stowed away."
"Okita Sojiro...You are about as worrisome as your father..." Saito muttered, exasperatedly.
"Okita Sojiro...? Ororo?" Kenshin mumbled, confusedly; tilting his head to one side for added emphasis.
"Long story, Battousai...Very long story." Saito grumbled, as they hurried onto the boat, lowered it, and Sanosuke began to quickly guide the boat through the rough water.
"Sessha can see that, already..." Kenshin murmured, as he eyed the teen, and read his ki.
"We have nothing to fear from the boy, Baka Deshi. Keep your concern focused on that Yarou." Hiko's voice stated, as he returned his own attention to what was going on around them.
"If we hit a mine, we won't last! Should I slow down?.!" Sanosuke shouted, concernedly.
"If we don't hurry, the sun will set!" Misao replied, then got to the prow of the boat, "Leave it to me! Oniwaban Style Kunai! Kansatsu Tobikunai!"
"One mistake, and we'll have to make a swim for it." Yahiko murmured.
"We may cross the River Styx first." Megumi grimly said; her nervousness clearly seen.
"Don't jinx us, Kitsune-onna." Hiko muttered, then added, "I'm not about to pay the Ferryman." For several long moments, Misao stood there, trying to gauge where a mine could be, beneath the waves.
"It's 61.5 meters, 29.7 degrees to the right." Aoshi stated, surprising them all with his keen eyesight, "Don't try to watch it underwater. Just concentrate on the changes in the waves. Fire."
"Okay! Kansatsu Tobikunai!" Misao shouted, as she threw one of the small daggers. Moments later, there was a fierce explosion.
"Not bad." Hiko mused, actually impressed by the girl's success.
"All right! Did you see that, Himura? I'll be the first to lend you a hand!" Misao said, pleased with that. Kenshin gave her a smile.
"Hai. Please take care of it." Kenshin encouraged.
"If that's all settled, then I'm going full speed!" Sanosuke shouted, as he did just that.
"Sojiro, are you going to be lending your strength in this battle as well?" Kenshin quietly asked, as the boat picked up speed.
"Hai. I owe that much to Saito-san, at least." Sojiro replied, honestly, then added, "He is, after all, my father's most trusted friend."
"It's good to hear you say that." Kenshin said, pleased with Sojiro's response. The former right-hand of Makoto Shishio only smiled, then gazed ahead at the still-distant beach.
"I also owe you a great deal as well, Himura-san." Sojiro added.
"Oro? In what way?" Kenshin asked.
"Without my defeat at your hand, I would never have found my true family. As much as Saito-san wouldn't like me to admit it, you're the one who returned me to my home." Sojiro murmured; his words almost the exact opposite of the 'story' Enishi had told Kenshin and Hiko that night, during the Jinchuu.
"Then sessha was glad to have helped." Kenshin said, with a smile; knowing from seeing the slight smirk on Hiko's face that he'd heard the exchange as well, and was equally as pleased to hear that. Moments later, they felt the boat ground itself, and they all quickly got out. Their final confrontation with Enishi Yukishiro was about to begin.
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The island was eerily silent, as the ten people that had been in the boat moved a little ways up the beach.
"No hidden soldiers...but that doesn't mean there aren't any on the island." Aoshi murmured, as he gazed at the forest between them and the mansion; not liking the idea of going in there, at all.
"Should we charge in? Or should we go cautiously?" Sanosuke asked, also not favoring the idea of the close-quarters the trees would force them to fight in, if they did decide to go in.
"Neither. We'll wait here." Hiko stated, then nodded to Kenshin to go ahead and give his ultimatum.
"ENISHI!!! Are you listening?.! Sessha has come! Come out! Under this shining sun, right here, right now, it's time to settle the score!" Kenshin shouted, his voice echoing strongly off the cliffs.
"Kenshin..." Kaoru murmured, surprised to have heard the anger in Kenshin's previously calm voice, as he addressed the white-haired maniac.
"Let's wait thirty minutes, to see if Enishi complies...This is originally a personal battle between Enishi and sessha...If possible, sessha would like to avoid involving the others." Kenshin said, his tone quieter than before, yet still carrying the anger he'd felt that night, when Enishi had threatened Kaoru and Hiko.
"What if he doesn't come?" Saito asked.
"Then, as swiftly as possible, we'll go to him...and he'll atone for injuring Shishou, and almost kidnapping Kaoru-dono." Kenshin replied; his voice hinting at a promise of physical pain for the psychopath.
"That's if you can get to him first, Baka Deshi." Hiko growled, darkly.
"Feh, that sounds fine." Sanosuke agreed.
"Yeah, moving around unnecessarily will only use up Ken-san's energy." Megumi stated, thoughtfully.
"Can you still protect Kaoru-san, Hiko-san?" Misao asked, concernedly.
"You don't hear me saying that I can't, do you?" Hiko in turn asked, then added, "As long as my sword is in my hands, I'll protect the Tanuki."
"Hiko-san!" Kaoru shouted, irritated that he'd called her by that nickname again, yet filled with relief that he would still be watching her back.
"Sojiro-kun, I want you to also stay beside the Tanuki." Saito ordered, getting a slight salute from the teenaged swordsman, and his usual smile.
"Hai, Saito-san!" Sojiro said; understanding what the Wolf of Mibu wanted him to do, and willingly offering his protection to the kenjutsu teacher.
"Then...it's decided!" Yahiko said, as a grin appeared on his young face. Thanks to the stubborn dedication of the Thirteenth Hiten master to his promise, and the loyalty of the former 'Tenken' to Saito, Kaoru was now well protected from Enishi.
"Kenshin can fight without having to worry!" Yahiko thought, glad that his teacher was now technically out of harm's way. As the minutes slowly passed, Hiko started to become aware of some unfamiliar, and decidedly dangerous ki.
"Hmph...I knew it. They're not the type to have naive thoughts of not involving others." Saito growled, as five distinct shapes appeared from the forest before them. Four huge, identical men, stood protectively around a small Chinese man.
"What? Is that Yukishiro Enishi?" Misao asked, warily.
"No way. That's not him." Megumi replied, also taken aback by the appearance of the four men.
"From the appearance, that must be the second-in-command, Woo Heishin." Saito muttered, as the diminutive Chinese man sneered at them.
"Su-shin, my 'Four Stars', you must have had to hold yourselves back...But I release you from your bodyguard duties for a little while. Unleash your violent fury!" Heishin crowed, as the four men around him smiled devilishly at them; bloodlust appearing in their eyes as their boss told them that.
"Damn." Hiko mentally snarled, as he gripped Winter Moon tightly, and stood even closer to Kaoru; placing a hand on her shoulder and glaring fiercely at the four.
"Hiko-san..." Kaoru thought, in surprise, yet reached up and placed a hand over his tense fingers; feeling, once again, the father's urge to protect coming from the elder warrior.
"Four funny faces in a row. If you plan to interfere with Kenshin's battle, then we'll force you to step down!" Sanosuke shouted, ready for a fight. As they watched, the four men lined up in front of Heishin, and the Chinese man got behind them.
"It's four versus four. Hey, you can take one on." Sanosuke said, as he glanced at Saito. The cop ignored him, and started to light another cigarette (to replace the one he'd thrown away, at the Su-shin's approach).
"Me, me! Leave it to me! I'm on a roll today, so I'll lend another hand!" Misao cheerfully shouted, almost bouncing up and down in her eagerness to help them.
"You'll just drag us down. So, no." Sanosuke muttered; almost getting a kunai lodged in his own head for that comment.
"You goons should stand down, for your own good." Heishin jeered, from the safety of his living wall.
"Huh?" Sanosuke asked.
"You. The samurai sitting on the boat, and the swordsman standing beside the young lady...Respectively Himura Battousai, the boss' enemy, and Seijuro Hiko the Thirteenth, the teacher of Battousai? Will you both put aside your goons and come forward? I don't have much time to waste. If you both die quickly, you'll all be spared the pain of total annihilation." Heishin taunted.
"They are not...goons." Kenshin softly reprimanded, "These are all friends whom sessha trusts with his life."
"And two of these, above all else, sessha would give his life to defend." Kenshin silently added, as he glanced at the tall Thirteenth master, and the only instructor of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.
"F-friends, eh...?" Heishin stammered, not expecting to have heard that from the rurouni.
"Whoever you may be, if you are Enishi's man, head back and tell him to come out. Enishi and sessha will settle this score. That is the best course." Kenshin said; trying his best to talk Heishin and his bodyguards into leaving peacefully.
"It's useless." Saito grumbled, then added, "That man is Woo Heishin. He is second-in-command, but...unlike Enishi, his role is management. He isn't one to risk the front line. His presence here means he was either abandoned by Enishi, or sensed defeat and started running."
"Itai...that was a low blow, Saito-san." Sojiro murmured, smirking when he noticed an irritated look crossing Heishin's features.
"How rude. I am neither abandoned nor running away. The boss has irresponsibly thrown away his organization." Heishin said, then glared at Saito, "Please update your books to mark Woo Heishin as the organization's new number one."
"Then why are you coming after Kenshin? There's no point." Kaoru said, speaking up for the first time since Heishin's arrival on the beach.
"Ah, that. The ex-boss is so incredibly irresponsible, that I thought it would be wise to teach him that things do not always go the way he wants." Heishin explained.
"Basically, you just want to spite Yukishiro Enishi. You may be smart, but you have all the maturity of a child." Saito growled, before adding, distastefully, "The childish boss of a hand-me-down organization...This job is certainly turning out to be unsatisfying."
"This is why I think the mainlanders should stay out of Japan...Most, if not all, of them are more like petulant children." Hiko irritably muttered; with just as much distaste in his voice as Saito had shown.
"Everything you say is quite annoying. If you really want to die so much, then I won't stop you. Now, Battousai, Seijuro, put aside that scum and come forward." Heishin demanded.
"First goons, and now scum?" Kenshin asked, not even reacting to the taunt in the slightest.
"If not scum, how about the punk, the brat, and the gloomy one! Hurry up and come out! I said I don't have much time!" Heishin shrieked, angrily.
"Even more annoying than that yarou of a master Fuji had put up with..." Hiko thought, as he allowed an irritated sigh to escape, and shook his head in exasperation.
"A punk, huh? I won't deny that, but what are you going to do?" Sanosuke asked, with a sneer.
"Kenshin and Hiko-sensei have no intention of fighting you guys. Will you still come at us, or will you leave? Then we'll see who's the bigger brat!" Yahiko retorted; sounding more mature than Heishin, at this point.
"My innate personality doesn't bother me, but this I will warn you...If a leader cannot accurately determine an opponent's strength, then there is no future for the organization." Aoshi coldly said; ignoring Misao when she started howling death threats at Heishin for his comment about Aoshi's demeanor.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!! It seems you all want to die here! SU-SHIN!!!" Heishin yowled, as the four abruptly leaped high into the air.
"Okita, stick close." Hiko ordered, as he carefully watched the four's descent, and prepared to pull Kaoru to a safer distance.
"Right!" Sojiro agreed, as they both leaped back; carrying Kaoru with them, and unsheathing their swords when they had done so. They watched as the four huge fighters landed in an explosion of sand, and when the kicked-up sand settled, it revealed another twist. To their surprise, each of the four fighters had tattoos on their previously-covered bald heads.
"Suzaku...Seiryu...Byakko...Genbu...Su-shin, what we call the 'Four Gods' in Japan?" Aoshi was heard to ask.
"Yes. It is Su-shin, the four gods. This is the true form of the Four Stars! Suzaku of the south, Byakko of the west, Seiryu of the east, and Genbu of the north! They are the legendary godly beasts, said to protect the four sides of the royal castle! These four, who protect me from four sides, are quadruplets who have mastered weapons that mimic the godly beasts. They normally stay by my side as the Four Stars, but they become the Four Gods and unleash their true powers at my command!" Heishin said, then shouted, "Now, Su-shin...one kill each!" With eagerness, the four fighters brought out their weapons, and faced off with one fighter apiece.
"Chucha Soengimu, Suzaku Twin Sword!" one sneered, as he faced off with Aoshi.
"Chenron Daito, Seiryu Large Sword!" another growled, through his fierce smile, as he stood face-to-face with Saito.
"Pafe Chemkun, Byakko Fists!" the third almost laughed, as he faced off with Sanosuke.
"Yunmo Seikuan, Genbu Serpent Staff!" the final one leered, as he got before Yahiko.
"Hiko-san, are you sure Yahiko can handle that one?" Kaoru asked, as she felt some fear creep into her at the size of her student's opponent.
"Don't worry. Your deshi handled one twice that size, the day I woke up after four days of being unconscious. Have faith in the future you see before you, Kamiya." Hiko murmured; clearly remembering the growing ken-ki he'd sensed that day, and the future he himself had seen in those young, determined eyes just two months earlier.
"He handled...?" Kaoru started to ask, yet went silent when she realized who Hiko had referred to, with that comment, "Yahiko fought Kujiranami on his own?" Yet, no sooner had the words been said, did the fight begin in earnest. With a quickness none of them had been expecting, the Su-shin launched themselves at Aoshi, Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Saito. The former Okashira just barely blocked a blow to his head from Suzaku; Sanosuke barely had enough time to block a hard punch to his ribs from Byakko; Yahiko blocked the blow aimed by Genbu at his own head with the Hadome; and Seiryu's swipe missed Saito's neck by a hair (but managed to chop his cigarette in half).
"They instantly determined the fighting methods of our four, and selected the most suitable opponents." Kenshin stated, coolly.
"But it's obvious, just by looking at their weapons!" Misao said, yet did not expect what was said next.
"That may be true for Sagara's fists and Myojin's shinai, but not for Shinomori's sword. Normally, they may have put Seiryu against him, since he has the longest range, but they determined from the unusual center of gravity that his weapon is a disguised dual kodachi. Hence the reason they chose Seiryu as Saito's opponent, since he still carries a Japanese sword." Hiko said, not letting his guard down for even a moment, as he, Kaoru, and Sojiro rejoined Kenshin at the beached boat.
"So, instead of Heishin, those four can determine our strengths." Megumi murmured, subdued by what this meant for the four.
"If we treat them like common goons just because they all look alike, we might be the ones getting hurt..." Sojiro murmured, as concern appeared in his deep blue eyes; almost mirroring Misao's expression exactly, as they all gazed at the soon-to-be battleground.
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Saito leaped back, when Seiryu slashed at him again.
"Hmph...You seem all right, unlike your master." Saito grumbled, as he spat out what remained of his cigarette, then allowed his body to assume the Gatotsu stance, "But trying to fight against Gatotsu with range, doesn't make you any less of an idiot!" With a burst of speed, Saito charged, the powerful thrust propelling him right into Seiryu; his blow opening a gaping wound in the fighter's left arm.
"What's the matter? Do you plan to die without even taking a step?" Saito asked, when he'd noticed that his opponent had not made a single move to try and block the blow.
"I saw it all." Seiryu sneered, then added, "With just one glance, I saw that you are no ordinary man. Trying to defeat you without knowing your finishing move could have cost me my life. Sacrificing this arm to discover your moves...is a cheap price for victory."
"You think you can beat me with just one arm?" Saito asked, skeptically.
"I, Seiryu, pride myself on being the best of the Su-shin in determining my opponent's moves. There has never been an instance where I was unable to determine a move at first sight!" Seiryu boasted, proudly.
"I see. That's quite an accomplishment. However...even if you can see it...It makes no difference if you cannot dodge it. And if you cannot counter it, you will never win!" Saito snarled, then attacked again, this time with the second form of the Gatotsu.
"I know all that!" Seiryu laughed, "The weak point of that move, is what you extend as a target and counterweight. Your right arm! If I slide into the blind spot created by your right arm, your move is vanquished, no matter how hard you try!" With the sickening sound of metal slicing through flesh, Seiryu's weapon succeeded in wounding the cop; blood gushing freely from his right shoulder as he went. And yet, the stubborn Wolf of Mibu turned around and tried again.
"Useless!" Seiryu cackled, and opened yet another gash, this time just below the shoulder and in Saito's chest.
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Hiko could sense Sojiro's alarm, even though he didn't give voice to his concern, and Kaoru was beginning to look worried for the cop as well.
"It's just as that man says. Gatotsu, due to it's nature, has a blind spot in that area...Additionally, while in motion, a charge like Gatotsu has a narrowed field of vision, so once the opponent slides into the blind spot, reaction is delayed no matter how hard one tries. Sessha has also countered Gatotsu by exploiting that weakness." Kenshin explained, then added, "The thrusts he makes with that weapon keep him completely out of range. Even if Saito reads ahead and adds a sideswipe, his sword will not reach...Zero-shiki can't be used out of range, either."
"If it keeps going this way..." Megumi murmured, worriedly, yet her thought was interrupted by Kenshin.
"No." Kenshin merely said; trusting in his former opponent's strength and stubborness.
"Saito-san will find a way to win. He won't leave this fight a kicked dog, Megumi-san." Sojiro whispered, his words almost lost, as he tensely watched the fight in front of them.
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"Do you understand now that your move is useless? Give it up, and bring out your next move...Of course, if you bring it out, I will just conquer it right away!" Seiryu sneered, as he watched the blood begin to soak Saito's uniform.
"You seem to be having fun. Your freakish smile is back." Saito growled, his voice not even hinting at the pain he might have been feeling, at that point. With a downwards sweep, Seiryu literally wiped his sinister grin right off of his own face.
"Excuse me. Laughing in the midst of battle is beyond rude. Seiryu knows this quite well." Seiryu said, then let an evil chuckle emerge before his leering grin resurfaced, "But, when faced with victory, naturally, you see..." Saito uttered what could have been a growl under his breath, then got into the Gatotsu stance again.
"So you are the type who battles for enjoyment. Then let me give you a piece of advice...By looking at justice before victory, even a losing battle can be enjoyed." Saito snarled, then rushed forward again.
"That move again! I said I conquered that move alr...!.?" Seiryu began to say, before Saito's right hand grabbed his face. As he struggled to get free of the Wolf's deadly grasp, Seiryu's blood almost froze when he heard his next words.
"What's the matter? Is this all it takes to make you lose your grin? I don't have time to listen to the ramblings of an utter fool who only enjoys winning battles. It's over." Saito intoned, as he broke Seiryu's jaw with a good flex of his right hand, then broke Seiryu's weapon with the Gatotsu.
"His words of justice make him strong...The Aku Soku Zan he chooses to follow, even after losing the war and many comrades...If just defeating Gatotsu could beat Saito Hajime, then our score would have been settled in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu..." Kenshin said, as they watched Saito end his fight, then return to stand in front of them.
"Kitsune-onna, your services are needed." Hiko muttered, when he'd sensed the relief coming from Sojiro at the victory of the Wolf over Seiryu.
"Of course." Megumi replied; doing her best to ignore Hiko's use of that nickname, and motioning for Saito to sit down.
"Tend to it quickly, Kitsune. I don't have time for the full treatment. Just stop the bleeding." Saito mumbled, hiding a wince as he unbuttoned his tunic, lowered it, and allowed the doctor access to the bleeding gashes.
"Fine then." Megumi sighed; knowing that she was going to have her hands full later, since most of her patients were already quite stubborn...And Saito Hajime could be among the most willful.
Author's Note!
I hope this chapter was okay, since Writer's Block almost cornered it again! I was wanting to get Sojiro in there, as well, since 'Shadow of the Wolf' took place at the same time 'Unease on the Homefront' was going on, and I couldn't think of a better way than this! Not sure if he's going to be doing any fighting, so it'll be as much a surprise to me, as everyone else if he does! Wish me luck in the coming chapter, minna!
Gemini14