Elvengirl: Alright, I'm back for this week's update. I've been in a really good mood recently, mainly because alot has happened. Just to let you all know, I have a job now, and with school right around the corner, future updates might not come to smoothly until I can sort out my time.

Sain: You're working?

Elvengirl: Yes. What else...um...Oh yeah. I've decided to begin production on G-project. Most of the story is confidential, but I will say that it has something to do with both Fire Emblem and Gundam.

Sain: Feel free to take confidential as one of two meanings: a) She has the whole plot figured out, the gundams created and just needs to start writing it, or b) She has gundams, a developed sub-plot, and the actual plot is just starting to reveal itself.

Elvengirl: (hits Sain on the head) Just a few notes, I will following Nightmare3's lead here, if he doesn't mind, and shamlessly self-promote my other FE story: Premontion. I would really appreciate it if someone reviewed and told me, in a non-flaming way, what I could improve on. Thanks.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Kenshin. Still don't own Fire Emblem.

Cast:

Shikijo: Hawkeye

Marcus stared in shock as the trio rested outside. He had not expected such an outburst from the Sword Demon.

"Your make-shift stall has added fuel to his fire," intoned Jaffar.

"Po-position the Oniwa-"

"Done."

"No more mistakes! I won't allow those unworthy of what I'm paying."

"What do you mean, you won't allow?" Jaffar stepped away from the wall, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I am the Okashira. I command the Oniwabanshu." He grabbed Marcus by the collar and pulled him closer. "Not you. I will take insults from no one. The Oniwabanshu will take care of things from here on in. Go count money or something." Jaffar let go and walked out of the room. Marcus leaned against his desk, catching his breath, once again in shock.

"Hey Hector, do you know Marcus or something?" asked Guy, as the three waited for the hour to be up.

"Yeah actaully. He was the lord of the land my family worked on before the revolution. He taught me and my friend tactics and stuff. I'm surprised to find him here, and like this..." Hector fell slient.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to bring up your past..." Guy looked away, embarrassed.

"It's alright kid...I just don't know how to break the news to Eliwood, if I ever see him again..."

"You're awake," stated Jaffar as Limstella sat up.

"This...this is the observatory, but..." Limstella looked around, confused.

"Those of Kamiya Dojo are here to rescue you."

"But..."

"I have no reason to lie. The Private army is already gone." Jaffar's voice was a low monotone. Limstella gasped.

"Those fools. I left on my own..."

Jaffar threw a killing edge dagger on the floor in front of Limstella.

"Here. Don't get your hopes up, for they will not reach. You will face torture instead of rescue. Living in torment or dieing with grace. Choose whichever you desire. What the Oniwabanshu desire is not money or opium, but battle. Thanks to you, we have the strongest opponent. I do feel the misery of your life, though it matters little." Jaffar left, leaving Limstella to her thoughts.

"No turning back now...Let's go!" announced Guy.

"Who made you the boss, kid?" asked Hector, driving his fist into Guy's head. Karel sighed and pushed open the door.

"Surprising...that the first to face us is one of your caliber..."

"This fight was inevitable. I am Nergal of the Oniwabanshu and I will defend this spot until death...by order of the Okashira."

"There is no point, let us pass," Karel demanded.

"The orders of the Okashira are absolute." Nergal slammed his fists together, causing a loud ringing sound to echo through the hallway.

"Karel, the guy's got metal gauntlets!" yelled Hector, "That's how he blocked your attack last time."

"That's true, but it was also his skill as a fighter...this fight cannot be avoided. This one cannot hold back."

"The same goes here. Let's go!" Nergal lunged forward, going for a hit. Karel went to evade, but instead the hit was dead on. Nergal went for the reverse strike. Again another attempt for evasion, again another hit.

"What are you doing! Use Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu!" yelled Guy, slamming into Karel.

"That was the idea...those attacks...dodged by a paper's width...but his arms stretched at the last minute."

"I expected better from you Sword Demon," Nergal said in a mocking tone. "If you cannot defeat my spell, then you're not worthy of fighting the Okashira!"

"A spell? Then this one should be able to break it." Karel stood up and took the form of shinken. His legs were planted shoulder-width apart, the reverse-blade wo dao held at arms length straight out in front. Both hands grasped the hilt. The form was defensive, the sword being parallel to the ground and pointing at Nergal's forehead. This would allow Karel to switch instantly to offensive should the need arise.

"What is that idiot doing?" muttered Hector.

"You shrink from me? I should have never given you any respect! I'll kill you now!" Nergal lunged toward Karel, the attack filled with anger, the punch aiming for Karel's forehead. Karel didn't flinch, but mearly watched Nergal's arm, until he evaded just before the attack hit.

"No more spell? How did he..." Guy began. Karel didn't answer, but wheeled around, connecting his katana with Nergal's mask. Nergal fell back, grasping his head.

"Figured it out?" asked Hector.

"It's no more than the stripes on his arms."

Hector took another look at Nergal. The sleeves of his shirt were red and black horizontal stripes, creating an optical illusion.

"So that's why you misjudged his reach..."

"Exactly, since stripes make anything look shorter and wider. His reach was at least an inch more than what I thought."

"So...it wasn't defensive...you measured my reach with your blade," gasped Nergal, still clutching his head.

"That's the one thing any swordsman knows, the length of their own blade," said Guy.

"Your outfit was the first hint. Stripes, and a mask hiding your eyes. In other words, a perfect battle costume."

"Almost..." Nergal's voice was almost a laugh. "Except that the mask is here to hid my true face." Nergal let go and the mask fell away, revealing a grotesque picture. The face was heavily scared. One eye was large and yellow, the pupil dilated. The nose was gone and the face was sunken in.

"A mo-monster..." gasped Guy.

"Monster? Serves me quite well."

"You...did that?"

"Indeed. I work in intelligence, not combat. I did this to wear any face atop my own. There are many poor villages where I come from, and in order to lessen the mouths to feed, we kill one's own child. "Returning the child" it's called, and once a child's been returned, they can't go back. You die or live, revaging like a wolf." Nergal released steel claws from his gauntlets. "Jaffar-sama found this wolf and gave him a place in the Oniwabanshu! If I can be of any use to the Okashira, what need have I for a face!" Nergal rushed Karel with a sudden attack.

"The past of Limstella-dono! Do you know of it?" yelled Karel.

"Of course! The Intelligence of the Oniwabanshu knows all!"

Nergal slashed down with his claws, Karel swung upwards, inserting the katana inbetween two of the claws. The two broke apart, and pushed off the walls, going for another attack. They crossed in midair, and landed on the floor. Karel noticed a small cut on his shoulder, the scent of blood flying into his nose. He closed his eyes, trying to prevent anything from happening.

"Not good..." Nergal whispered, pitching forward, "But your skills are nothing...compared...to...Jaffar..."

"Nergal, if you know terrible solitude, then you must know how Limstella-dono suffers."

"Karel?"

"Let's go...Limstella-dono needs us."

Hector and Guy glanced at each other, then followed Karel.

"How's your wound?" asked Hector as they sped down the hallway.

"Just a scratch...already stopped bleeding," Karel replied. 'Thankfully,' he thought. Both Karel and Hector were wrapped up in their own thoughts that they failed to notice the large steel ball coming toward them. At the last second they jumped.

"So you managed to beat Nergal. You guys gotta be strong!" The ball was pulled out of the floor and caught by a large, bulky man with scars all over his body. His cheast was bare and he wore blue pants tied with an intricaly designed belt.

"Keeper of the Gate: Hawkeye. This is my way to say hello." He threw the ball, hard, "Hello."

Hector pushed Karel out of the way, catching the ball.

"Karel, take Guy and go ahead. I'll take care of this musclehead."

"Right. Hang on Guy." Karel ran, grabbed the collar of Guy's shirt and flew up the stairs. Hawkeye watched them go.

"Best go to the best. I'm stuck with the third-rate fight merchant. You ain't much without Armads."

Hector threw the steel ball down.

"Don't underestimate me. I may not have Armads, But I have my fists. And I'm the one settling for third rate!"

"So we both take pride in our fists. Might as well settle this here and now, the old fashioned way."

Hector ran up the stairs with a yell, locking hands with Hawkeye. They pushed against each other for about three minutes until Hawkeye lifted Hector off the ground and slammed him into a wall. Hector grunted in pain. Hawkeye then landed a powerful headbutt, driving Hector to the floor.

"Sorry about that. My body kinda moves on its own in battle. I'm surprised I didn't crush your skull. You got strength...my hand's numb thanks to you."

Hector dragged himself into a kneeling position. glaring up at Hawkeye.

"I like you kid, so why not join us? Your strength is what counts, not your past. I used to work for the Ishin Shishi, until I was beaten by Jaffar-sama, who was only thirteen at the time. He gave me these muscles. He can do the same for you. Make you unstoppable."

"Shinomori Jaffar's quite a guy. You're all really strong...and had things been different, Jaffar might have been the legend instead of Karel. You're strong...but that's it."

"What do you mean?"

"For you...the fight is everything. But, one young teacher, Guy, Takani Limstella, they come together in admiration of Himura Karel. He's not the Sword Demon anymore. Even in the heat of battle, he remains rurouni."

"What are you saying!" Hawkeye jabbed. Hector blocked.

"Karel would never weild a blade for himself!" Hector blocked the next attack. Again they were locked. "His katana protects people! You lower yourselves to becoming pawns of someone like Marcus! You're nothing compared to Himura Karel!"

"Don't think you can judge us after one compliment! Defeat me first!" Hawkeye repeatedly headbutted Hector.

"Numbskull! This is just what I'm talking about!" Hector broke the lock and drove his fist into Hawkeye's forehead. Hawkeye sank to the ground.

"Hawkeye..maybe if you fight Karel, you'll gain back something you lost. How many more guys are there...cause I won't last...body...won't...take it." Hector collapsed.

Elvengirl: And that's that. I should be able to get one more update in before I have to re-configure my time schedule. As for where I am in writing this story: I have typed up chapter one of the Raijuta arc. In terms of writing in my notebook, I have about half a chapter before the Kyoto arc. I'm very pleased with this.

Reviews:

Nightmare3: Thanks. The next chapter contains Kenshin vs. Aoshi (or rather Karel vs. Jaffar) round one.

Wandering Cat: Being against most filler (see my Inuyasha story for a complete rant...however Inuyasha got plot so I'm happy) it is highly unlikly that any future filler will make it in here, unless I deem it nessecary. I'm glad I'm getting better at details. And you're not the only one who dislikes Fllay.

Next Time: Karel vs. Aoshi