Elvengirl: Alright...I'm back to weekly updates. Hopefully.

Sain: One can only hope...with the way she procrastinates.

Elvengirl: Hey! Right...not much going on this week in my life...except for the fact that Naraku's back on Inuyasha. This has made Elvengirl very happy as Naraku is her favorite character and it has been ages since she last saw him. I apologize for the third person...but I was almost in tears when he appeared.

Sain: (rolls his eyes)

Elvengirl: Anyways...yeah. I got nothing else to say except...on with the fic!

Cast:

Akumatsu Arundo: Bartre

Saitou Hajime: Ephidel

Shibumi: Pablo

"Okita-kun, please step back."

Karel stood in a moonlit street, surrounded by corpses and covered in blood. Two figures stood across from him, also covered in blood. Both wore clothing of the sme design, blue, with a white diamond pattern around the sleeves of the shirt. Both were Shinsengumi.

"I'm fine, Saitou-kun. I'm still captain of the first Shinsengumi unit," smiled one of the figures, a young mna, almost a boy.

"But are you not sick in the lungs?" the other smirked. He was older than his companion and his eyes glinted gold, "My eyes may be an unnatural colour, but I am not blind. I, Saitou Ephidel, captain of the third Shinsengumi unit, will kill the Sword Demon."

Karel glared at Ephidel, raising his sword. Ephidel did the same. And then...

"Karel!"

"Oro?" Karel's eyes snapped open and he looked around confused.

"C'mon," said Guy impatiently, "Get up."

"Our training visit's over Karel," Lyn explained. Karel blinked.

"Karel?..."

Lyn and Guy looked at each other oddly. Karel then recieved two blows to the head from each of their shinai.

"Is there another Karel around! C'mon, let's go home," Guy sighed. Lyn dragged Karel out of the dojo.

"What were you dreaming about?" Lyn asked, when they were well away from the dojo. They were in a grove of sakura trees, the wind whistling through the branches. The sakura blossoms flying through the air, giving the illusion that it was snowing.

"I...I was dreaming about the Shinsengumi," Karel admitted.

"The Shinsengumi? So you were dreaming about your past?" Lyn looked at Karel quizzicaly.

"I haven't visited those days in a long time," Karel said with a soft, sad, smile.

"The Shinsengumi were the army that fought against the revolutionaries, right?" Guy inquired. Karel nodded.

"They were our nemisis and this one crossed swords with them many times."

Originally, the Shinsengumi were a group of Swordsmen of the Edotama region, employed by the Guardian of Kyoto. The Revolutionaries had fallen to fighting their individual feuds. Kyoto became a city of bloody wind and glistening blades. That is where the Shinsengumi took up their swords to uphold the law. They were called the "Wolves of Mibu". They shook Kyoto with awe, with their well trained swords, their striped light-blue jackets, their lack of fear of death and their large red banner bearing the character Makoto - truth. They fell in their fight against modern weapons and the tides of time. But they were and always will be the largest and the strongest group of swordsmen in Japanese history.

"But didn't they launch group attacks on single fighters? That's abit cowardly, right?" asked Lyn.

"Their mission wasn't to duel, but to keep the peace in Kyoto, and not all were strong or honorable, it's true. But the officers, especially the team leaders of the first, second, and third units...they were astonishing."

"If it's a "unit", why are there team leaders?" Guy inquired.

"Well...um..." Karel wasn't to sure of the answer, so he went back to what he was talking about before. "This one fought against those ones several times, but the fights were never finished. Rumours say that all the officers are dean now...it's a huge loss."

"Why are you so sympathetic?" Guy was confused, "weren't they your enemy?"

"Sort of...we were on different sides, but it was nothing personal. Whatever our politics, we all fought with our lives and philosophies, riding on our swords. Compared to the ex-revolutionaries holding posts in the government, time seems to have brought them closer together."

"Wow..." Lyn murmured.

"What is it, Lyn-dono?"

"I'm just not used to hearing you talk about your past so much," Lyn replied, before pressing on,followed by Guy. Karel watched them for awhile. His head was swimming in a sea of thoughts. 'Those dreams ought to have passed. Why now...do they resurface?'

"Geez, where'd they go?" Hector complained as he walked around the empty dojo. "I was hoping to catch a free meal. They better not be having beef-pot or I'm gonna - "

"Hello there!" came a friendly voice. Hector looked up. A young man stood in the doorway. He wore a balck shirt and dark brown pants. He also wore a black hat. It soon struck Hector that this was a medicane man, for he had a large box on his back, the kind that was used to carry medicane. Albeit, he was a well-built medicane man. "I've come selling medicane from Tama. Fujita Goro is the name."

"Woah, hey," Hector stopped him, "This ain't my place. They're all out somewhere."

"Oh...to bad then," The stranger shrugged.

"Hey you."

"Yes?"

"Your eyes are a weird colour." Hector glanced into the stranger's eyes, which were an eeriee gold, similar to Limstella's, but far more menacing.

"I can't really help what I was born with, can I?" the stranger laughed.

"I suppose not,' said Hector, "But, how does a medicane man get calluses like these?" Hector grabbed the stranger's wrist, turning it over to reveal callouses all over the palm. "Who are you really?"

"A clever observation. Sagara Hector," said the stranger, his eyes narrowing into slits. Hector jumped back at the mention of his name. "So, the Sword Demon is not at home. I guess I will have to leave him a gift." The stranger drew a sword from his back. Hector bristled. This man was here to fight. He also knew Karel's past, which made him even more dangerous.

"Let's fight then!" Hector yelled, cracking his knuckles, "I'll find out your true identity with this fist!" With a yell, Hector flew at the stranger, his fist connecting with the stranger's cheek. It was a direct hit and caused the stranger to fly back.

"Good, your punch lives up to its reputation, but, only now, in the present. During the Bakumatsu, a punch like that would be nothing!"

Hector gasped. The punch had no effect. The stranger was still standing, but his stance was changed. The left leg was bent at the knee and the right lunged out in front. His left hand held his sword up, blade parallel to the ground. The right hand, palm on the blade, held it steady. With blinding speed, he lunged at Hector, stabbing the sword into Hector's shoulder. Hector had no time to react before the force of the blow carried him into the dojo via the wall. Hector fell to the ground. The stranger kept going, stopping at the other end of the dojo. He looked at his sword. It was broken, the other half lodged in Hector's shoulder. He tossed it away with a shrug.

"Cane swords are easy to carry and hide, but they have the durability of toys," he muttered, "The katana still has no match."

"Hey Moron! This fight ain't over!" Hector stood up, blood pouring from the wound in his shoulder.

"Your resilience is impressive, but you should have stayed down. The wound's not fatal, but it is serious."

"I might be wounded, but your sword is broken. This fight is just starting!" Hector attempted another punch, but the stranger blocked it easily. With his palm, he drove the piece of metal deeper into Hector's shoulder, then drove Hector into the floor.

"Time to sleep," he muttered.

"Karel, why are you walking so slowly?" Lyn yelled, turning around to face Karel, who was about ten feet behind her and Guy.

"Is he sick or something?" Guy muttered, "Sun'll set us on fire if we don't hurry up."

"Perhaps I can be of assistance then?" came a voice. Lyn jumped and turned around.

"Limstella! Why are you here?" she asked.

"It's a public street, can't I walk down it?" Limstella smiled. Lyn blinked. "That's a joke. I was actuallu coming to visit you all on my day off."

"Still a vixen I see," Lyn muttered, but Limstella wasn't paying attention.

"How about I make you dinner, Guy?" shed asked.

"Don't be so stingy, Lyn," said Guy, smiling at Limstella.

"Traitor!" Lyn yelled, hitting Guy. Once again the fight was on.

"You don't mind? Do you Karel?' asked Limstella, looking at the rurouni quizzicaly.

"No.." Karel replied softly, after a hesistation.

"You really are down. Do you feel alright?" Limstella looked worried. Karel shook his head.

"It's nothing, really," he smiled, mentally reminding himself to stop worrying. It was upsetting everyone else, and there was no use dwelling on the past.

The group walked into Kamiya dojo and stopped dead.Something was amiss. There was a large hole in the wall of the dojo. A familier smell wafted into Karel's nose. The scent of blood. They ran into the dojo, only to see Hector's prone form lying there, blood pouring out from a wound in his shoulder.

"Hector!"

In another part of the city, three figures sat in the upper room of a crowded inn. Two with meals in front of them, the other sulking in the corner.

"Care for a drink, Fujita-kun?" laughed one, an older man, clearly a politician,dressed in a western-style suit. "Or rather, that should be Ephidel-kun."

"What you will, but no sake, thank you," Ephidel replied with a wave of his hand.

"Not a drinking man? I'm surprised," remarked the politician, pouring himself a drink.

"It's nothing like that, Pablo-sama. When I drink, I tend to want to kill people. Since Meijii however, I've been cutting back." Ephidel's eyes glittered with malice. Pablo gave a nervouce laugh.

"You're the man I want. now then, to the chase. The Sword Demon..."

"Is residing at Kamiya Dojo. I stopped by there this afternoon. Unfortunetly, he was not at home."

Pablo exploded with laughter.

"You truly are Shinsengumi, aren't you?" He laughed, " I was surprised that you wanted to join us, but I guess you are the best man for the job."

"And I was surprised to find out that you, Pablo-san, secretary of the Senate, were behind the Linus "mad dog" Reed incident."

"The government has its...internal problems."

"I don't doubt it, but as a loser in the revolution, it's nothing I need to worry about. It's enough for me to do as I please. Killing is my greatest talent, and a perfect second job, especially when my first assignment is to kill my nemisis. But, when the target is a mere rurouni, why waste so many resources..."

"Watch it," muttered the figure in the corner.

"I apologize. I'll be more discreet in the future." Ephidel bowed low, his forehead touching the floor.

"Good. Just so long as you understand. Now let's have some fun," smiled Shibumi, clapping his hands together.

"Thank you, but it will look suspicious if I don't get back to my real job." Ephidel stood up and pulled on a blue policeman's jacket, "If you'll excuse me." With that, Ephidel left. Pablo watched him go.

"Former leader of the third Shinsengumi unit, Saitou Ephidel. He's gone by "Fujita Goro" since the revolution. He joined the police sword corps during the Seinen wars and now serves as a lietenant." Pablo marveled at this man.

"I don't like him," came the voice from the shadows, "I don't buy the bow-and-scrape."

"Don't be a cynic, Bartre, he's a comrade in our cause, and if all goes well I can say goodbye to this servile job and its trivialities." He watched Ephidel dissappear into the night. "Wolves of Mibu, they were called. Now he's just a housebroken dog with no fangs."

Thanks to Limstella, Hector's life has been saved. However, it has been three days and Hector has yet to regain conciousness.

"Limstella-san, the bath's ready for you," said Lyn, coming into the dimly lit room where Limstella kneeled beside the unconcious Hector.

"Thank you," Limstella replied, with a glance back at Hector.

"How is he?" asked Lyn, kneeling down beside Limstella.

"Still sleeping, but he'll be fine. He's as tough as a cockroach," Limstella smiled, "Hey, wake up! Or I'll start shopping for a coffin!" Limstella began to slap Hector around the face and cheast.

"I can't believe she's a doctor," Lyn thought.

"Is Karel at the dojo again?" asked Limstella, standing up to go take her bath. Lyn nodded.

"He just sits there, hour after hour with a scowl on his face."

"For every single possibility, it can only be his doing," Karel muttered, once again checking the medicane box left behind. On the front was a circle with an umbrella on top, "That insignia was often used by the Shinsengumi as a disguise. The blade found in Hector's wound was parallel to the ground, a symbol of the "Flat-thrust that they were so profiecent at." Karel looked at the hole in the wall, " and that power comes from the "Gatotsu" , his signature move. Captain of the third Shinsengumi unit, Saitou Ephidel. Has he come to settle our score." Karel leapt up, swinging his sword at an imaginary foe, the blade burying deep into the wall. "Ephidel's sword shows no deterioration, just like when he was called a Wolf of Mibu. With this blade - with this "no kill" vow, can he even be defeated?" Karel looked at the wall and gasped. A large scratch stood in it, thanks to Karel's sword.

"What was I...Lyn's gonna be furious," Karel around, looking for something to hide it with.

Elvengirl: Yeah...when I first wrote this chapter...it was pretty long so I divided it into two parts. Catch the next part next week.

Reviews:

Nightmare3: Yay...Kenshin plushie! Wish I had one to. Hope the Sano/Saitou fight worked to your expectations.

Wandering Cat: Yeah...it is pretty funny when one thinks of it. I just hope I do a good job of the Kyoto arc for you...if you want to read it, it spans volumes seven to eightteen. And at least you get Yu Yu Hakusho...I just have to make due with the manga because I have a stupid anime provider. They play Gundam Seed at 12:30 AM on Tuesdays. I'm stuck taping it.

Elvengirl: Update hopefully next week. My world's realigning itself nicely.

Next time: The Wolf's fangs continued.