Elvengirl: Hey gang...sorry I've been lousy with updates. I've been really busy and the only time I have to write is at night now, so not much gets done. Especially with my other fics.

Sain: On a lighter note, the first chapter of G-project is up. Now entitled: Gundam FE: The Fang Strikes. The title'll make more sense as the fic goes on.

Elvengirl: Other than that, not much has been happening. I've just been really really busy. So yeah, here's the chapter, which features one of my favorite fight scenes. If you get a chance, watch the anime of this episode. This fight is intense.

Cast:

Toshimichi Okubo: Pent

Kawagi: Erk

"The last time we fought was the battle grounds of Tobafushima, so in other words, about ten years." Ephidel stood up, slowly, never taking his eyes off Karel.

"Karel, do you know Fujita-san?" Lyn asked, nervously. There was an ominous air between the two. One that Lyn did not like.

"Fugita Goro, the new name. Saitou Ephidel, leader of the the third Shinsengumi unit." Karel almost yelled out the name.

"Shinsengumi," Lyn gasped.

"Then he's the one after Karel," Guy finished the thought.

"Ten years. It's amazing how so long a time can be summed up into two small words," Ephidel said, retrospectively, almost mourning like.

"Indeed, and it's certainly enough to make a man rot," Karel replied, a threatening edge in his voice. Ephidel gave him a confused looke, not knowing what Karel was talking about. "The Mad Dog was crazy to begin with, but not you. There were twists to you that couldn't be fathomed, but you came straight at your opponent honourably in battle. Hurting the enemy by hurting his friend, using another warrior as bait, hostages. You never resorted to tricks like these. The Saitou Ephidel of the past, he was a man."

Ephidel blinked an began to laugh, as if Karel's rant had been some outragiously funny joke. Lyn gasped. Karel didn't move. Guy finally snapped.

"What are you laughing at!" he yelled, outraged that someone was making fun of his mentor.

"After that, how could I not laugh, Boy?" Ephidel snickered, "I had figured his sword had gone dull, but I never expected his head. Bartre as bait? A worm worm would have been better than that fool! The Shinsengumi went up against the Sword Demon many times, knew his strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. To know you have struggled against Bartre...This Rurouni refusal to kill has clearly made you weak." Ephidel's amusment dissappeared and he glared at Karel with angry eyes.

"Karel's not weak," Guy muttered. It became a mantra. "Karel's not weak. Karel's not weak."

"Say what you want Ephidel, it will have no effect," Karel said evenly, " A rurouni's strength is all that is needed here, not a hitokiri's."

"Is that so?" Ephidel smirked again, a mocking tone in his voice. He began to unbutton his coat, "The you are a failure even as a rurouni,"

Guy started, Lyn stopped him. Karel stared at Ephidel in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"While you struggled against Bartre in my "trap", I was here the whole time. Since I'm a policeman, they trusted me right off the bat. If I had wanted to kill them, I could've done it at anytime." Ephidel drew out his katana, dropping the sheath on the floor, "and this wouldn't be the first time. The Incident with the Mad Dog, where you let the girl get captured," He glanced at Lyn, "The other with Marcus, where you endangered the life of Takani Limstella. Not to mention that you let scum like Isurugi Brendan cause a wound that will last a lifetime."

"So you were..."Karel began.

"Yes. I've been watching you this whole time. Your unused strength is the same as none. Your hypocrisy only fills me with disgust. Ten years is enough to make a rot, as you said." Ephidel spat out the words insultingly.

"Shut up! You idiot! No one died because Karel was there!" Guy exploded.

"What's the gaurantee it'll stay that way, boy?" Ephidel asked, never taking his eyes off Karel. Karel glared back.

"You drown in self-ritousness, and phony philosphies. How can the once great Sword Demon protect people without killing others? Aku, Soko, Zan. Slay Evil Immediatly. That was the common code of justice to both hitokiri and Shinsengumi. I can't bear to see you like this."

"This one's mind will not be changed," Karel sighed.

"Then I will deny you everything that you are," Ephidel replied, a threatening tone in his voice. He eased into the same position as with Hector, with one leg bent out front, the other straight behind. Karel never moved.

"So you'll let the girl be caught in the Gatotsu?" Another threat. This time, Karel wavered, knowing now that the fight was inevitable. He took a step forward. Lyn held him back.

"Lyn-dono..."Karel took her hand and smiled at her. It was warm. "It will be fine...but this one cannot avoid this fight." He tuned to face Ephidel.

"Even so..."Lyn whispered, "Why does it feel like Karel won't be with us after this?"
"Come..." Ephidel taunted, an eagerness in his eyes.

"Aren't you the challenger?" Karel spat.

"Fine then. I'll begin!" Ephidel lunged at Karel with the same destructive power as when he attacked Hector, if not more. Karel leapt up as Ephidel broke through the wall. Karel drew his sword.

"Hiten-Mitsurugi-ryu! Ryutsuisen!" Guy shouted triumphantly, "Karel's not weak. He's the strongest of them all."

"Think you can dodge like that?" Ephidel muttered, thrusting upwards with the power of the Gatotsu. The sword entered into Karel's side, opening a large wound. Karel winced in pain. The blood sprayed into Ephidel's face but he cared not. He grinned and kicked Karel across the dojo.

"Karel!" Lyn cried, never expecting Karel to be wounded so easily.

"Turning to avoid the point quicker than I expected, But still, I can turn instantly to a slash when you dodge. There is no blind spot in the Kirazuki techinique developed by Hijikata Toshizio. And as for the Gatotsu...it is deadlier still."

"He's using that form again!" Lyn shouted as Ephidel again charged at Karel. Karel swung his sword, connecting with Ephidel's in a desperate weapon break.

"Useless effort," Ephidel slammed Karel against the wall, "The skills that allowed me to survive the Bakamatsu are not even known today."

"Is his strength really that beyond us..." Guy whispered, sweat dripping off his face.

"Karel!" Lyn ran over to him to see if there was anything she could do. She froze. Karel's eyes had turned crimson and were narrowed into a death glare. He stared at Ephidel angrily.

"Move little girl," Ephidel's dark voice came from behind her. Lyn turned, placing herself between Karel and Ephidel, "Get out of the way, unless you wish to die with him."

Lyn didn't move. She felt a weight on her shoulder. She looked. Karel was standing, glaring at Ephidel with those crimson eyes.

"Let's go," he said, his voice quavering with anger and rage. A desire to fight, a desire to kill, was evident in those eyes. Lyn moved out of the way, now afraid of Karel, who was not himself. Gone was the Rurouni. In his place the Hitokiri.

"Even with a wound in his chest, his second strike was faster than his first. Since coming here, he fought Zanza, The Mad Dog, Shinomori Jaffar, and Isurugi Brendan all in a short time, and everytime he brings out more mastery of Hiten-Mitsurugi Ryu. As I anticipated, everytime he swings his sword, he unknowingly returns himself to the Sword Demon."

Karel charged at Ephidel, breaking him from his thoughts. Karel's speed had increased. Ephidel stabbed. Karel dissappeared, attempting to attack from below. Ephidel caught on, once again kicking Karel against the wall. Karel sat up, breathing hard, not caring about the wound in his side.

"His speed is beyond my expectations..."Ephidel mumbled.

"He's breathing to hard," Lyn gasped. Karel stood up, walking towards Ephidel.

"He's reentering the soul of the Sword Demon, or has he simply snapped?" Ephidel asked himself, "I guess there's no need to hold back now."

Again the gatotsu stance was taken, only this time, Ephidel's sword was above his head.

"The true Gatotsu will reveal all."

"Y'mean he's been holding back?" Guy yelled as Ephidel lunged. Karel evaded. Ephidel bent into the slash, thinking Karel had snapped. Karel pivoted, his sword, filled with centrifugal force, slammed into the back of Ephidel's neck, throwing him head first into the wall. Lyn gasped. Guy was impressed.

"Your Gatotsu is strong, but any idiot can come up with a counter after being shown it four times in a matter of minutes. Get up, Ephidel. A ten-year duel can't end like this."

Ephidel stood up, stepping through the hole in the wall. His forehead had a large cut on it and blood poured down his face.

"My orders are to evaluate your strength, but I could care less now. I will kill you now."

"Shut up. You know I'm the one who will kill you."

Lyn fell to her knees. Guy ran over.

"Lyn, what's wrong?"

"It's just like that time with the Mad Dog," she mumbled.

"What time? What are you talking about?"

"Someone stop them...please...stop them...or Karel will disappear..."

Karel and Ephidel charged at each other, slashing as they passed. There was a pause. The tip of Ephidel's sword flew off.

"Next time it'll be your head," Karel stated, his voice raspy.

"With a reverse-blade wo dao?" Ephidel smirked.

"Karel looks like he's snapped or somethin'" Guy remarked.

"That's because it's not Karel, it's the Sword Demon!" Lyn yelled, shaking Guy back and forth.

"I don't get it..."

"Someone has to stop them..."

"That ain't gonna happen..." said Hector, who stood in the alternate entrance, supported by Limstella, "We can't stop them. Karel and that other guy aren't here. They're not in Tokyo in the Meijii, they're in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu. There's no way our voices can reach them now. The only person who can stop this fight, is someone who's lived through the Bakumatsu."

"Erk-kun, how long has it been since Ephidel entered Kamiya Dojo?"

"About four and a half hours."

"We may be to late. Get us there in ten minutes."

"Yes sir."

Ephidel turned and once again took the form of Gatotsu, despite the fact that his sword was broken. He lunged.

"The Shinsengumi never did know when to give up," Karel muttered.

"First rule: Act in a matter befitting a Samura!" Ephidel threw his broken sword at Karel, who brushed it away with his fist, leaving a large scratch along the knuckles.

"Pride over life, works for me!" Karel turned to attack, only to have his sword knocked out of his hand by Ephidel's belt buckle. Ephidel then landed a series of punches on Karel.

"This is the end!" Before Karel could retaliate, Ephidel took off his jacket, encircling it around Karel's neck, choking him.

"He's gonna strangle 'im to death," Guy yelled in a panic.

"Nothing to gentle," Hector replied, "He's trying to break Karel's neck."

Karel weakly raised his arm. Ephidel tightened his grip. Karel slammed his hand down onto his sheath, which flew into Ephidel's chin, causing his to release his hold on Karel. They both got up, glaring at each other, breathing hard.

"Is this what the Bakumatsu was like?"

"Neither has any more reserves. The next strike is the last," stated Hector.

"Life or death, unless they kill each other," Limstella almost sobbed. The words rang in Lyn's ears. Karel...couldn't die.

"Karel..." she sighed, eyes filling with tears.

"Shall we finish thus?" Ephidel asked, eyes filled with malice. He cracked his knuckles.

"Why not?" Karel replied, brandishing his metal sheath. Lyn blinked and began to run towards Karel, who seemed to be running from her. Karel and Ephidel charged each other, ready to land the final blow.

"Karel..."

Ephidel and Karel were about to meet, weapons raised.

"STOP!" yelled a young man at the doorway. Ephidel and Karel stopped and looked at him. He was of average height, with shoulder-length purple hair. His expression was stern and he wore clothes denoting an officer of high rank. "Snap out of it, Ephidel!"

"This is what I have lived for. I will not let my orders or the Super-intendent general to interfere."

"I know of your pride as Shinsengumi, but I need you and Himura very much alive," came a voice from outside.

"So you're the one behind Saitou Ephidel, former warrior from Satsuma prefecture, Okubo Pent."

"The current chief of internal affairs..." Limstella gasped.

"One of the greatest revolutionary warriors," Hector added.

"Who is he?" asked Guy, frustrated.

"A kid who wouldn't read the news wouldn't know," Hector shrugged, standing up. Guy glared at him.

"The last of three warriors who achieved the highest honours in the revolution," Limstella answered Guy's question. "The chief of internal affairs controls the national policy, so in other words, this is the most powerful man in Japan."

"O-kay..." Guy still didn't get it.

"I apologize for resorting to such crude methods, but the extent of your abilities had to be known." Pent bowed in apology, "Will you talk with me?"

"I'd like nothing better," Karel replied, an edge still in his voice. Ephidel blinked as if he'd heard something, then picked up his coat, heading for the door. Limstella watched him. Why was he so familier to her?

"The best fight I've had in years, and now it's a conversation? Guess we'll have to postpone this till another time. You got lucky, Sword Demon. Y'get to live another day."

"You're the lucky one, Ephidel," Karel replied.

"Ephidel!" Erk yelled.

"Mission report. Himura Karel is useless, but the Sword Demon might have something to offer." Ephidel walked right out the door, not bothering to glance back.

"Best spy in the police force but I never know what he's thinking," Erk muttered.

"Now then, I have a carriage waiting," Pent began.

"No. I'm no longer in this alone. This situation has already involved," Karel paused, as if fighting an internal struggle. Suddenly his hand clenched into a fist and he drove it into his already injured head. When he looked up again, his eyes were their normal brown. "This situation has already involved this one's friends."

"This one...? Karel, you're back," Lyn cried, hugging the injured swordsman tightly.

"Oro?" Karel gasped weakly, almost losing conciousness.

"Limstella, hurry!"

"Lyn, what are you doing!"

Erk looked nervously at Pent. It was clear that he thought that these people crazy. Pent sighed.

"We do as he says, Erk. We have very little time."

About half an hour later, Karel had been bandaged and was now sitting across from Pent. Karel sighed. Pent had aged since Karel had last seen him. His ice blue hair was limp and faded. His blue eyess had also lost their brightness. He was slightly stooped as if he bore a heavy weight on his back.

"I'll be blunt. In Kyoto, Kishuna plots again."

Karel's eyes hardend.

"Who the hell's Kishuna?" asked Hector.

"Watch your mouth!" Erk spat.

"Shishio Kishuna. He was a hitokiri who worked for both sides during the revolution, but fought mostly for the Ishin Shishi. A hitokiri of the shadows, he can be called "The Sword Demon's sucessor"" Karel answered Hector's question to the gasps of his friends.

"The Sword Demon's successor? Never heard of him," Hector muttered.

"He worked in the shadows and none have had direct contact with him. But, Pent-dono, how is he still alive? Did he not die ten years ago."

Pent looked away from Karel's glance uneasily.

"Erased then," Karel sighed.

"A man who's life is shrouded in darkness can remain there, for the betterment of all. It's wasn't difficult in that chaotic age, and we had no choice at the time," Pent replied slowly, "His sword skills were as good as yours, Himura, but he was very ambitious. He took the role of hitokiri to make those in power feel his presence. We can't even reveal some of Kishuna's assassinations, for the government would crumble if we did. He would use that vunrability if we entered this new age with him alive."

"So he was "killed" ten years ago?"

"Yes. That was the intent. He was shot multiple times and then we soaked his body in oil in ordre to burn him, but he survived. Now he gathers those still hungry for battle to his side. He makes Kyoto his base, plotting another war to sunder the country. The many troops we've sent have been anihilated. Himura Karel, you are our last hope. For this country, for its people, go to Kyoto again."

"So you want Karel to assassinate Shishio Kishuna?" asked Lyn. Pent nodded.

"We don't expect you to do this for free," Erk added, "You will be handsomly rewarded, and your allies cared for, such as removing charges on Takani Limstella's opium dealings." Erk glanced at Limstella who galred back.

"I'd rather take the hangman's noose than become a bargining chip for the government," she spat. Erk held back his comment.

"This is all because of the Meijii Government's dirty deeds," Hector complianed, "Why make Karel wash your hands? I won't let you drag him into this." Hector cracked his knuckles.

"You ignorant punk! The future of the Meijii government rides on him!" Erk was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his temper.

"Maybe it should fall. Not like you've done anything for the people anyway," Hector sniffed.

"There'd be no peace without the government!" Erk finally exploded.

"Maybe the people don't need you, fathead!" Hector added the insult for good measure.

"All this talk about Meijii and Government. I guess as a kid, I don't get it, but I do get one thing. If things had been different you'd be asking Kishuna to take Karel. All you care about are assassinations to maintain your power. I'd never get mixed up with you," Guy looked away, disgusted.

"Pent-sama, I understand that you need the Sword Demon's help, but we will never allow Karel to become him again. We will never allow Karel to go to Kyoto."

"You're all idiots! Don't you realise the gravity of the situation. The fate of Japan-"

"That's enough Erk," Pent sighed.

"But Pent-sama..."

"And answer to a problem this serious is impossible to give right away. I will give you a week. On the western calendar's May fourteenth. At that time, I will return to hear your answer. Please think it over carefully." Pent got up to leave.

"Pent-dono, you've lost weight over these past ten years," said Karel quietly.

"Yes, and sleep. It's harder to create a new era than destroy an old one. I anticipate a favorable reply, Himura Karel." Pent left and silence reigned.

"So, Ephidel is working for Okubo Pent?" Pablo asked, after an excited Bartre sputtered the news.

"Yeah. I saw it all."

"Heh, y'know, if I bribe Ephidel and get him to spy on Pent, I could possibly become the most powerful man in Japan," Pablo grinned.

"No way. No way in H. That's way to risky. I'm bolting to Shanghai. It's safer there." Bartre turned to run out of the room. He never saw the sword that would end his life. Blood splattered on Ephidel's already stained uniform. Bartre's lifeless, and headless body, slumped to the floor.

"There's a safer place than Shanghai, and it's called H"

Pablo flew to the other end of the room, sinking against the wall. He gazed fearfully at Ephidel.

"Pablo, you misunderstand one thing. You revolutiontionaries think that you alone created the Meijii. But we Shinsengumi have a duty to, as the ones that lost. I live to remove blood-sucking ticks like you, acting along the code of Aku Soko Zun. Should even Pent fall to this level, the he to shall meet Aku Soko Zun." Ephidel raised his sword. Pablo, his hands.

"Wait...I-I'll give you a-anything. Money...Power..."

"You can tame a dog with food, a man with money, but to tame a Wolf of Mibu, that none may do."

Pablo's screams were cut short. Ephidel wiped the blood off his sword, glancing at the moonlight.

"A wolf is a wolf, as Shinsengumi is Shinsengumi, as hitokiri is hitokiri...right, Sword Demon?"

Elvengirl: I really really hope that Ephidel works as Saitou. Please let me know, because when Saitou came up, Ephidel really seemed to fit. I hope I'm doing him, and this fight justice.

Sain: Please review. And we'll try our best to update faster next time.