RuroKen Week 2015
Day 4: Subterfuge/Stealth
Author: Kenkaya
Genre: Action/Drama
Type: Oneshot
Rating: General, PG
Pairings: None
Summary: Aoshi couldn't think of a more fitting cause for his last acts as Okashira.
Disclaimer: The characters and story of Rurouni Kenshin are copyright to Nobuhirou Watsuki, Sony, and other corporate someones who aren't me.
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Night mist clung to his lungs as a wet chill, fogging in front of his face with each moist exhale. Around him, the graveyard was silent- save a few stubborn cicadas holding out through early autumn and the occasional owl. Clouds obscured the moon, shrouding the lone man in black further amidst darkness.
Three.
Three days had passed since Aoshi set his trap. Three nights since he began his vigil at the false grave of Kamiya Kaoru. The earth beneath her marker was empty now: only an exterior lie upheld to ensnare the man responsible for that cruel mockery of a corpse. Aoshi sat alone in shadow, waiting, turning objectives over in his head until his opponent came.
Two.
Another man in black seemingly materialized at the scene. His entire body was covered, indistinct in the surrounding darkness; the smooth white glaze of a ceramic skull mask provided the only definition on his monochrome form. Gein, Aoshi identified him matter-of-factly. Because, as a seasoned onimitsu, Aoshi understood the value of having information before walking into a fight.
The trap sprung beautifully. Gein escaped the net easily, but Aoshi had expected as much. Someone skilled enough to create and control such complex human dolls would not be captured so simply. The younger man stepped forward, calmly, with a clear purpose in mind.
"Where is Kamiya Kaoru?"
Gein evaded the question like a pro (apparently forgetting he faced one himself), spinning a speech about men in black and shadows. The older warrior held out his hand at the end, punctuated with a predictable invitation.
One.
"This is my last mission as Okashira of the Oniwabanshu."
Aoshi felt the declaration seep into his bones, settling comfortably as righteous resolve. He had done very few things during his tenure to be proud of. The Oniwabanshu had been a respectable organization when he started, but then the Bakumatsu ended and their group became divided- between those who assimilated well into peace and the ones swept up by a mercenary lifestyle. Aoshi lived that second life out of loyalty to his men who couldn't adapt, and, later, pursued a madness-driven penance for them. He had already travelled down the road Gein offered. That path held no allure for him now.
"I have someone waiting for me."
Diamond-coated wires spun around him and the onimitsu danced. His movements were flawless. And, though they came from the same fluid style he always used, somehow, his muscles synced with instinct in a seamless way he'd never quite reached before. Gein twitched gloved fingers and grave stones rose, surrounding him. Aoshi leapt, kodachi drawn as he charged. He broke through the puppetmaster's offensive with a well-executed feint-tactic: kicking up his discarded sheath. The wood struck Gein's mask loudly, it's fixed toothy grin cracking until bone white ceramic crumbled away- revealing sun-spotted, sagging jowls underneath.
"Are you willing to talk now? Where is Kamiya Kaoru?"
The old man fumed. Aoshi strode forward confidently, finally recognizing the root of his increased aptitude. For the first time in years, he was truly at peace with his actions, with genuine faith behind the utilisation of his skills. He was fighting for a peaceful end: for a world where Misao could dress in silly disguises alongside the samurai brat and call it subterfuge. For a future, devoid of the terror brought forth by Enishi's Jinchuu, where Kamiya Kaoru walks free and unscathed, one without Misao's (and everyone else's) tears.
A future open to him because Kenshin once had faith in him.
Aoshi moved forward, body poised to slide into his finishing stance. There was no place in this era for shadows like Gein (like he used to be), not without unacceptable collateral. He planned to bury his final shadows, alongside the other shadow's defeat.
"This shadowed villainy, with my shadowy strength, I will consign to darkness."
He couldn't think of a more fitting cause for his last acts as Okashira.
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A/N: Aoshi was kind of an obvious choice for this prompt, but I also really wanted to include Gein since I feel a lot of Enishi's henchmen get short-changed compared to him. Upon rereading the Aoshi/Gein fight and the build-up to it, I realized just how much this particular segment highlighted Aoshi coming back into his element. He was the youngest Okashira for a reason!
I know the fight is a bit out of order (Aoshi's final line of dialogue was actually spoken before Gein's mask broke in the manga) and I skipped a bunch of details/banter-dialogue to avoid flat out retelling the manga. My excuse is artistic license in order to insure the prose and ideas flowed the way I wanted them to.