Elvengirl: Wow, are you guys lucky. Two updates in one week.

Sain: The things you do to preserve your order.

Elvengirl: At least my methods are less drastic.

Sain: You've been watching to much Soul Hunter.

Cast:

H'yotoko: Wallace

Han'nya: Nergal

"So, Marcus's army contains about sixty men. And the Oniwabanshu?"

"At least four I should think."

"Next...where did Limstella-dono get the opium?"

Limstella remained silent, eyes cast towards the floor.

"Still not ready to talk," Karel sighed.

'If the Oniwanbanshu attack then these people don't stand a chance. I can't stay long. I must run away in the heat of the battle,' she thought.

Meanwhile, outside the room, Lyn was desperatly trying to eavesdrop on Karel and Limstella.

"Eavesdropping? And you call yourself the assistant master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu."

Lyn jumped and whipped around to find Hector smirking at her. She glarred at him.

"They've been in there since you all got back. What if..."

"Hold it, get your mind out of the gutter. Karel ain't that kinda guy. We know he wants to protect people with his sword. Women and children especially. This is all just part of his nature."

"What about you Hector?"

"I could care less. I just want revenge. I care about my friends, not that vixen."

"Did I miss something Hector?" asked Karel, coming out of the room.

"Nope, not a thing."

"Good. I've learned that Marcus's army contains about sixty men, plus four Oniwabanshu and the Okashira. Lyn-dono, there may an incident in the near future, but I am not at any liberty to give details now. I won't let what happened with the Mad Dog happen again. I swear to protect you. So for now, let's just pretend that nothing's going on."

"Alright," agreed Lyn, blushing, "But will you explain it all when it's over?"

"Of course I will."

"Hey, are we going to fight that Marcus guy?" said Guy, coming out from his hiding spot.

"Guy...um..."

"You're not going anywhere," said Lyn, sternly.

"But I'm part of this team to, aren't I?"

"Team?"

"Since when?"

"Well, if we are a team, try not to slow us down kid," said Hector with another smirk.

"I'll strangle you, Hector!"

"Not in a hundred years."

Limstella remained in the dojo, plauged with memories that she did not want to resurface.

"This is the place...Nergal, Wallace, get ready to attack...to attack."

"Shut up Denning. We're only here because the Okashira ordered us to come along."

"Stop it, both of you. Squabbling amoungst ourselves could bring ruin to an easy victory."

"Peh, there's only two worthy fighters. I, Wallace, shall take care of them alone." With that remark, the giant Wallace slammed through the wall, breaking it down.

"Oro?"

"What was that?"

"They're here," gasped Limstella. Everyone ran around to the front, only to see a rather large man crash through the wall. He wore nothing but pants and sandels, and was quite bald. Large ropes secured a barrel to his back much like a backpack.

"Hand over Limstella peacefully and I'll go easy on you, " he threatened in a deep voice.

"Oniwabanshu, correct?"

"Yeah, one of 'em. I am the Great Wallace!"

Everyone did their best to surpress a laugh. Wallace snorted indignently.

"Who's first?" He yelled out his challenge, glancing at Karel and Hector.

"Let me take him Karel, the guy's a fist fighter."

"Alright, just remember that's he's Oniwabanshu so don't trust him to play fair."

"I could care less about that. I'll make him spill about the opium!" yelled Hector, launching an attack. He ran up and hit Wallace in the gut.

"Heh, thanks for coming within rage," smirked Wallace, clicking his teeth together.

"What?" Hector gasped as a ball of flame came hurtling out of Wallace's mouth,straight at him.

"Hector!"

"Guess I should've listened to you Karel. This guy ain't playing fair," breathed Hector.

"Heh, you dodged my fire breath, but now your legs are burned." Wallace opened his mouth for another blast.

"Stop looking over there. Your opponent is here."

"Yeah, after I finish this bug over here, I'll come roast you."

"You won't burn one hair, that you won't. You're nothing but a freak show."

"Freak show! I'll show you!" Wallace lauched his attack at Karel, who began to spin his reverse-blade woa dao like a fan.

"How long do you think that will last?" bellowed Wallace. From behind the dojo, Limstella watched, sliently.

"I could leave now...and no one would notice," she thought, and turned to go, only to run into Lyn.

"Going somewhere? Karel's fighting this for you, so the least you could do it watch."

"He doesn't stand a chance. Wallace is far more dangerous than Denning."

"You don't know Karel. He's no ordinary swordsman."

They looked back at the fight. Karel was still spinning his katana, but Wallace's flame was weakening until it stopped.

"No. Nine litres of oil..." Wallace gasped.

"Now do we see who the true freak show is?" said Karel.

'He avoided the flames by rotating his sword. Lyn was right, he is no ordinary swordsman. Who is he?'

"This isn't over!" shouted Wallace, grabbing the barrel from his back.

"Karel, he's going to refuel!" yelled Lyn. Karel got ready for the attack.

"Karel, thanks for your help, but this guy's mine. I'm taking over."

"Alright Hector, he's all yours. Be careful."

"You got it."

"But Hector's leg is hurt!" stated Guy. Wallace threw aside his barrel.

"Refueling complete. Now it's time to roast you all!"

"Feh, Your trick doesn't scare me. I already know how it works."

"Tricks! I'll show you!" Wallace launched a huge flame attack.

"He'll never dodge this...dodge this," smirked Denning. With a yell, Hector dove into the flames and leapt up to Wallace's mouth. yanking out the bag of oil, none to gently.

"How did he.." Guy began.

"Dodging gets you burned, so the best way to recieve fewer wounds is to go straight to the source," Karel explained.

"Talk about a dirty trick," said Hector, dropping the oil bag as Wallace regained his breath.

"You don't stand a chance, fool. Give up now." Wallace launched a sudden attack.

"You are the fool. With those arms burned, you can't punch! It is I who wi-" Hector's leg came up, catching Wallace in the chin, knocking him out.

"You forgot about kicking, not that you'd think of that," Hector turned back to Karel. "Easy," he smiled.

"If you don't mind the burns I suppose."

"See, they are both stronger than they look."

"Who are they?"

"To you, I don't know, but to me, they are my friends, and I am proud to call them that." Lyn ran off to join Karel and Hector.

"Friends?" repeated Limstella, quietly, watching them.

"D! Stupid Wallace couldn't do it! And if I fail again, there's not another chance, another chance.." Denning muttered, then glanced over. Limstella stood ungaurded.

"This is all your fault, Limstella! If you hadn't run...I don't care what Marcus needs you for...I'll kill you now...kill you now!" Denning aimed and launced a poison spiral dart at Limstella. Karel noticed a spilt-second later.

"Limstella-dono!" Limstella could not move. The dart sped toward her...and lodged itself in Guy's arm.

"Guy!" yelled everyone, running to the aid of the young swordsman.

"Why do you never quit? Even if a wound is small, it can still be fatal!"

"Hey, shut up Lyn. Karel and Hector protected Limstella, so why can't I? I'm part of this team, or Karel-gumi to, you know! If I can't attack, I'll defend. Have...faith in...me...will ya?" Guy fainted.

"Guy!"

"Poison," said Hector.

"That's what you get for messing with the Oniwabanshu! My deadly poison Rasenpyo will make sure that brat won't last the hour...the hour!" announced Denning, revealing his position, "Now it's your turn! Huh...where-" Denning never got a chance to finish his sentance, for Karel came up behind him with a Ryusuisen. After the dust cleared, only a log remained. Karel turned, his eyes meeting the masked face of Nergal.

"Karel, hurry, it's Guy. He won't snap out of it!"

"I have no thought of fighting you at this time. I only wish to collect my fallen comrades and report to the Okashira."

"I have no problems with that, but an antidote is needed for the poison. The short one stays."

"I have no duty to you."

"Then you shall leave in spite of that," Karel rushed Nergal in a sudden attack. Nergal blocked the reverse blade wo dao and then punched Karel, sending him quite far back.

"Despite your cool demeanor you are quite passionate. Keep Takani Limstella here and we may fight again." With that, Nergal, carrying both Wallace and Denning, left.

"That move...he's a martial artist," stated Hector. Karel hurried over to Guy.

"How is he?"

"We can't say. I'll suck the poison from the wound," volunteered Lyn.

"Don't!" Limstella interveaned.

"Do you want Guy to die! Stay out of this," yelled Lyn.

"You're being stupid. Sucking poison infects the body. This is no time for amatures. Stay back!" Limstella took Guy in her arms.

"Unconscious with fever...pain...diluted pupils...this is jimson-weed poison. Young lady, call a doctor, I'll write a list of medicaines for him. Karel-san, go boil water and bring what medicaines you have. You, bird-head, go to the ice shop and get all you can buy. Poison treatment is a battle against time. Hurry up!"

Elvengirl: Quite the cliffhanger I've left, huh?

Sain: But they all know what happens.

Elvengirl: Sain, watch it.

Reviews:

Nightmare3: Thanks for the suggestion. I think Legualt might work. I'm really working on the character expressions. I think I did a pretty good job in the Raijuta arc.

Wandering cat: Thanks. I really hope you like the rest of the arc. And for your guesses...keep in mind that the Kyoto arc is still under construction, as I'm trying to make everything work. For starters:

Eliwood as Soujiro: I have other plans for Eliwood, so not likely.

Sonia as Yumi: My original idea, but it's not set in stone.

Renault as Anji: Might work.

Ephidel as Houji: Good idea, but not right.

And as for Kenneth and Denning. Kenneth is monk that you fight in chapter 25 (The version where you get Karel) and he is Tani-san in the Jin-e arc. Denning is the morph you fight in chapter 29 (the sniper) and is Besshimi.

Kensou-freak: Thank you. I'm glad you think that I'm doing a good job and I'm trying to pull away from it being just a name-substitution fic.

PsychoSwordlady: I expected alot of people to be surprised with my choice for Megumi, but it totally works for a sub-plot that I've had in mind for awhile now, involving a surprise pairing. I'm glad that you like Jaffar as Aoshi. And it was you who made me a Kyo fan, so I thank you for that.

Elvengirl: Alright. Now we'll go back to the way things were. I'll be working on my other fanfics as well, so things might get a little tight. Oh yeah, regarding the comment at the begining. That was a reference to the anime, Soul Hunter. It's one of my faves, and I would realyl suggest it.

Next Time: Attack on Kanryu Mansion