Sain: Well...so much for weekly updates...
Elvengirl: I couldn't help it...I'm very busy. I have to work, I have school...
Sain: You have Advent Children...
Elvengirl: Baka...you had to bring that up.
Sain: Finally, I win a round.
Elvengirl: Enjoy your moment. It won't last. So yeah, what's up in Elvengirl's life:
- Most important, I got Final Fantasy Seven: Advent Children. Very happy about it. I have been watching it non-stop. I'll stop now before I start going on about it. I also have a Cloud and a Sephiroth poster (one of each. I talk to them...no, they don't talk back)
-Finished chapter two of G-project, which I'm very proud of. Chapter one should be up here soon.
-Got Kenshin volume twenty of the manga. I can't wait for twenty-one.
Not to much else anime wise. Other than my anime club started watching Samura Champloo. Such an awesome show. I've gained an obsession with Jin. Yeah, so I guess not much else to mention...everything's fine right now. On with the fic.
Disclaimer: Fire Emblem's not mine, neither is Kenshin.
Ephidel sat in a small resturant, a medium-sized bowl full of plain soba in front of him.
"Time to dine," he smiled, pulling apart a pair of chopsticks happily.
"One lousy bowl of plain soba," remarked Bartre, dropping down trom the roof, "Economical."
"I happen to love plain soba. Bartre-san, what business do you have with me?" Ephidel asked as he waited for his meal to cool.
"Nothing...except for the fact that I don't like you," Bartre sighed. Ephidel nodded, eating some soba. "This job should have been mine, but Pablo gave it to you because you're Shinsengumi. Don't dragged it out or someone'll stab you in the back." Ephidel gave a slight laugh. "What is it?"
"I understand your frustration," Ephidel smiled, after drinking some of the broth, "So why don't we make this a combined effort?"
"How so?"
"I left a few clues behind the other day. There's no doubt that the Sword Demon's figured it out, so when a letter of challenge arrives from me, he'll no doubt take the bait, in order to determine my intentions."
"So you'll lure him out..." Bartre began.
"And you'll finish him," Ephidel concluded.
"But why would you let your nemisis escape so easily? Don't you want to be the one who ends his life?"
"I said that to Pablo, but it doesn't really matter anymore. All I want is to live my life as I please. I won't risk the big money, but take the gaurunteed little money. That's the kind of man Fugita Goro is."
"I'll take your offer, but remember, I'm the top assassin in this joint." With that Bartre left. Ephidel watched him and smirked.
"Alas, it's not my ambition to be top frog in the well," he muttered before going back to his meal.
"Karel! Karel, where are you!" Guy yelled, wandering around Kamiya Dojo. He finally found Karel standing at the front door, staring grim faced at a letter. Guy ran up to him.
"Karel, Lyn wants you to go get some tofu," he said. Karel looked up and smiled at Guy.
"Sorry, but this one has an errand to run that may take some time. Be sure to lock up tonight." Karel left. Guy watched him, then looked down at the small pan held.
"I guess that means I have to get it," he sighed.
A little while later, Karel strode uneasily into an open field. He glanced around. The field contained a few large rocks and some scraggly bear trees.
"This one came as requested, Ephidel. So why don't you show yourself?"
A sudden sound caused Karel to turn around quickly, barely blocking a chain that flew toward him.
"Not bad. I guess you really are the "Sword Demon" ain't ya'"
"Who are you then?" asked Karel, studying the one who had spoken. He was muscular, yet at the same time he had speed. His hair was brown and cut short, with an spiked, iron band holding it out of his eyes. His face was set in a confident, easy , grin, yet his eyes showed something less than normal intelligence. Despite that, this man would kill and enjoy it.
"Akamatsu Bartre," he growled, "I've come to take your life."
"Most people kill for a reason and I've no wish to die a pointless death, that I don't. So let's hear your reason."
"You need a reason?" Bartre asked, twirling his chains dangerously, "Then I'll tell you at your grave!" Bartre thrust out his chain, slamming it into a rock. Karel evaded easily.
"So...to the left!" Bartre yelled victoriously, then stopped. Karel was not there.
"This one's been here for awhile. You must've seen the after-image," came Karel's voice from behind Bartre. In a rage, Bartre flipped, thrusting out another chain. Karel drew his sword, then moved it and the sheath into a pincer like position. He quckly resheathed his sword, snapping the chain. Bartre had no time to react as Karel slammed the butt of his sheath into Bartre's gut. Bartre fell to the ground hard. He got up, weekly.
"You've no chance of winning, so give up," said Karel, menacingly, "Now what connection do you have to Ephidel?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it. Ephidel made me, he threatened me, he did. Have mercy," Bartre begged, bowing low. His voice full of fear and emotion.
"Nothing you say can be trusted. Get a new life and learn from this. Karel turned to leave, trying to figure out what Ephidel was thinking, sending someone like Bartre.
"Sure...right after I kill you!" Bartre yelled, leaping up to reveal hidden chains. One wrapped around Karel's right hand, binding it to his sword. The other went around Karel's neck, and Karel's left arm was raised to prevent being strangled.
"Not bad, but now your arm's useless," Bartre laughed, tossing Karel up, then slamming him back down on the ground. "but you can't move either, so your speed's useless where my power dominates!"
"Karel's on an errand?" asked Lyn for the third time.
"Yes," replied Guy, annoyed, "And here's your stupid tofu." He shoved the pot into her hands.
"But what errand could he be running, unless it was for us?"
"I bet it's a woman," Guy announced. Lyn froze, the tofu slipping out of her hands. Guy caught it quickly, then glared up at her.
"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Lyn had recovered, and now proceeded to give Guy his usual beating...or training.
"Umm...excuse me," came a voice. Lyn looked up, A young man stood in the doorway. Lyn blushed, embaressed. Why did people always show up unannouced when she and Guy were fighting? Lyn recovered her composure.
"Yes?" she said, looking at the guest. He was tall, and well built. He wore a policeman's blue uniform and that looked somewhat worn. His hair was long and jet black, with a small lock coming down in front of one eye. His eyes, Lyn noticed, were gold.
"I've heard that the Sword Demon resides at this dojo," he said. Lyn and Guy gasped. The stranger smiled, "I'm sorry to have scared you. I'm Lieutenant Fujita Goro, and I was recently assigned to this city. Chief Heath told me about Himura-san."
"So you're with the police," Lyn sighed in relief. Fujita looked down at his uniform, wondering if it was enough indication of his station. "Karel's not home right now."
"I see. Well, we've recently recieved information that someone is after Himura-san's life. If it's not to much trouble, may I stay here abit?"
"Yes of course," Lyn gasped. Someone was after Karel? She led Fujita inside, then ran to tell Limstella.
"So someone's after Karel?" asked Limstella, her attention divided between Hector and Lyn.
"Yeah. They must've been the ones who killed Hector!" Lyn was almost in hysterics.
"Hector's not dead...yet. But we should be careful. They must be dangerous."
"And Karel's out at the moment..."
"He'll be fine. Karel's not like this cockroach." Lyn sighed. Limstella was now pounding Hector with her fist rather than her hand. "Don't go looking for him yet. After all,a swordsman has been assassigned to us, so it's safer here."
"True..."
Fujita inspected his katana one more time before sheathing it.
"I thought policemen only used sabers, but they use katana as well?" asked Guy, who was keeping an eye on Fujita.
"A saber is weak and unreliable. I bear special permissions and this katana has no match." Fujita smiled. Guy shivered. A different air lay behind Fujita's smile. One that he didn't like.
"Wow, six times. This guy was tough," Bartre breathed, walking over to the fallen Karel. It had taken six times to finally remove him from this world. "You ain't at your grave yet, but I'll spill. Ephidel and I were hired by the Mad Dog's assassin corp, and I dunno why you. I guess the politicians want you out of the way to protect their secrets." Bartre shrugged.
"So Saitou Ephidel became an assassin like the Mad Dog..." Karel muttered, opening his eyes and starting to get up. Bartre jumped back. Karel had used defensive falls. "It's true that Ephidel would turn his sword against the other Shinsengumi to keep them in line. And even in Meijii he plays at being an assassin."
"Then I'll just slam you into a rock and kill ya' for sure!" Bartre lifted Karel up and aimed for a large rock. Karel braced himself against the rock. Bartre gasped. Karel had turned the situation to his advantage. Bartre had his arms raised oddly, so that they couldn't move from where Karel stood against the rock. Karel pulled his sword out with his teeth. Bartre whimpered. There was no escape.
"Karel," Lyn smiled, as she saw Karel walking slowly up the street.
"Sorry I'm so late, Lyn-dono," Karel replied.
"You should be. I was worried about you...and chain mark?" Lyn glanced at Karel's wrists, " I don't want to know."
"Oro?" Karel was confused. What was Lyn talking about?
"Anyways, you should get inside. Someone's after your life," Lyn looked at him, a worried light in her eyes. Karel blushed. He rarely saw Lyn like this.
"Where did you hear that?" he asked, after regaining his composure.
"From the police. Heath sent us one of his men. A swordsman, Fujita Goro." Lyn opened the door to the dojo. Karel gasped. Sitting, not five meters away, was a man not seen for ten years yet still haunted his memories. Saitou Ephidel turned around, his gold eyes gleaming with malice and an eagerness to fight.
"So you had trouble with Bartre," he smirked, almost evily, "You are clearly not what you were."
Reviews:
Nightmare3: Glad you liked it and I hope this fight scene was done well enough for you.
Authorofthedark: Thank you very much.
Elvengirl: Next chapter isn't as long, so I should have it up by next week, I hope. I'm without Advent Children this weekend, so that should increase productivity. Until next time.
Next Time: The Wolf Strikes.