He found me. Oh gods, he found me.

Panting, gi still damp from the laundry - kami, what had he done with the laundry? - Kenshin perched in the shadow of a roofline and tried to gather his whirling thoughts.

I broke the bond. I know I broke it.

Yet Kenobi had reached through a strand of the Force that did not, could not exist, touching the edge of his soul with wonder, and curiosity-

I shielded him out. I think.

Space, he's strong!

He forced his trembling hands still. Breathed; slow in, hold, slow out. Repeat.

Fear is not always of the Dark Side. Fear can be rational. Fear can be used. If you know why you fear, and what will happen if you do not act anyway.

Panic kills.

Gods, of all the days to start carrying kote again...

That awful responsibility still weighed against his chest, tucked between gi and yukata. He'd had just enough time to thank Densetsu politely and see the elderly Zabrak turn to go. One second later, and... well. The leatherworker knew samurai. He'd have noticed outright panic.

Not that it would have been hard, Kenshin thought ruefully, heart finally slowing. If I can't remember getting here... I likely didn't get here in an ordinary fashion. Even ordinary for samurai.

Survival training. Right, Shishou.

Though if he were honest, it was.

"We never surrender. We never submit. We stand between the innocent and those who would slay them, and we must not fail.

"But we are human, baka deshi. There will be times the threat is too deadly; the enemy, too skilled and lucky to defeat. Rare times - but a shrimp like you will probably meet them more than me.

"And so, you will learn to run.

"In the snow. In the sun. Through rivers. Down cliffs. Asleep. Wounded. Mind-controlled. Near dead. You will run.

"We are the dragons of Hiten Mitsurugi. And we will not be turned!"

None ever had. No student of Hiten Mitsurugi had ever Fallen.

Not even Battousai.

Kaoru-dono does not understand, Kenshin thought bleakly. I do not want her to understand. I was not corrupted. I was not Dark. I chose to be an assassin. To support Katsura-san. Some of what I did was wrong, and I will carry that guilt forever - but how could I stand aside? How could I let people suffer, when I knew I could help?

And if she could not understand - how could a Jedi?

He must not find me.

Well. And if he wished that not to happen... Obi-Wan was far, far from unobservant.

To leave the laundry, and the children, without good reason - he will notice. I have no reason to be here.

No reason, save for the familiar ki now passing below.

Megumi-dono? Out here? Now?

Shadow drawn about him, Kenshin peered over the roof edge. Megumi, and Katsu. In the streets - Megumi in the best disguise Sano and Gensai could concoct, yes, but in plain view.

And hours before the smugglers had planned to leave.

Something is wrong.

Cautiously, he reached out with ki, sensing mind and heart. All seemed normal, for two souls playing the deadliest of games. Worry, relief, anticipation-

Triumph.

The faintest flicker, in the smooth tick of Katsu's emotions. But there.

That is not his feeling!

Roof to roof. Quiet and quick as he could; quiet over quick, where he had to, anyone who had set this trap would be watching...

Laughing at a shared joke, the pair stepped into the shadows of a hairdresser's store.

And were gone.

No!

"Wait."

A Zabrak, Kenshin registered coldly, hand near his hilt as he turned toward that masked shift of shadows. An onmitsu.

A gloved hand lifted, palm flat and empty of the many, many weapons of his trade. "I come to speak. Tsukioka is unharmed. For now."

"And Megumi-dono?" Kenshin stated. Still reaching for their signature, though he knew it was futile. What an onmitsu wished hidden, even a master of Hiten Mitsurugi might not find.

A masked snort. "She belongs to Kanryuu."

"She belongs to no one!"

Smashed to the roof thirty feet away, the onmitsu regained his feet, breath rasping. "For one who lives with a pair of young Jedi, you are quite passionate."

That should have flattened him, Kenshin thought coldly, left hand spread and ready to strike with another slash of ki. He is good. He would not reply to the threat against Kaoru, or Yahiko. Onmitsu never gave away secrets for free - and this one had not yet said what he wanted.

"But then, we expected no less... from Hitokiri Battousai."

So. "That man died at Toba Fushimi."

"My okashira-" the Zabrak inclined his head, granting honor to the enemy, "-doubts that. Most sincerely." Striped sleeves shifted with his shrug; a ripple, shoulder to armored glove. "Ask Sagara what service Kanryuu grants the Empire. Then ask yourself if you would truly risk your life - your hard-won peace, rurouni - for the woman who makes it possible."

That twitch - the stripes are a disguise! He's loosed a pellet-

A ki-assisted leap backward, a reflexive twist of air about him...

Smoke dissipated, venomous purple turning harmless and faint in the wind, and then gone.

As was the Zabrak.

Kenshin's fingers curled into fists.

Information. Location. Extract the hostage, and kill the taker-

No!

He was not Battousai. Not anymore. He would not be.

I... need help.

And if the cost of that help was fleeing for his life with an angry Jedi on his heels... well, as he'd told Sano, many people had sought his death before.

So long as we save Megumi, and undo the onmitsu's hold on Katsu... Kenobi-san is Jedi, but he is practical. He will not try to kill me. Not until after we are done.

Decision made, Kenshin swallowed, and turned toward the dojo. The onmitsu had been patient, drawing their prey across half the city before taking them. All the better to delay him now. He dared not use his full speed to return, not if he wished any advantage when they did launch a rescue-

:Warning!:

Blinking, Kenshin almost stumbled on landing, stopping in another nest of roof-angles to catch his breath. Kenobi was reaching out. Rattling the shield he'd set about the bond. Why?

Gingerly, he thinned the shield.

:Don't come here. Are you listening? I know you know Gensai, I know you might be near - don't come here!:

---------------

No words. Only a soft warmth, like a kitten rubbing its head against a friendly cheek.

And then, absence.

Kaoru let out a subtle whew, sensing Kenobi's relief. Thank the kami, the man was quick. She'd barely had time to more than hiss who was here, and what he might do to some of Gensai-sensei's less upright colleagues, if he caught them-

Before Yamagata Aritomo, samurai, former Ishin Shishi, and current leader of Yamato's Imperial forces, stalked through her dojo gate.

I'm not going to faint. Jedi don't faint- don't think that! Samurai don't faint. And there's no one here but us maverick, antique samurai, who don't have any rebellious intentions, no way...

Why does he have to be so tall?

Dark hair cut short, in the Imperial style; a mustache of the type Sano had said was common on some of the worlds between the Rim and Imperial Center. A light rain-cape thrown over Imperial grays, touched with the subtlest stitching of gold to make it fit for simple Court appearances.

Yamagata made the uniform look good. Noble. Decent.

It scared her.

Trying not to shiver, Kaoru clamped a hand on Yahiko's shoulder before he could make any rude faces, and flicked her attention to the officers serving as bodyguards. Three men, spreading out to search the grounds, while a rare, rather stern-faced woman remained to stand guard. All officers, all carrying blasters. No stormtroopers. Not for this man. Not yet.

Obi-Wan's gaze followed hers to the woman, and Kaoru caught a flicker of surprise. Felt it carefully smoothed, as the Jedi turned his attention back to the snap of Yamagata closing her household register. "Everyone listed is here?"

"Last I heard, that was the law, yeah," Yahiko muttered.

She stomped on his toes. "Of course," Kaoru said guilelessly. "Is something wrong? I know Myoujin Yahiko's entry into this dojo was a little... unorthodox. But Inspector Uramura assured me all the records were in order-"

A dark-eyed frown. "The children aren't yours."

"Want Ken-nii-san," Suzume snuffled into Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Bad man go 'way."

"Kenobi-san's right here," Kaoru said, keeping her voice low and reassuring even as her heart felt ready to jump out of her skin. Ayame's eyes had widened, then narrowed with mischief, accepting that Kaoru-nee-san was playing a kind of game with the Scary Man. Had Yamagata noticed? Would she sense it, if he did? Calm. Be calm. "Everything's okay." Kaoru turned back to the Imperial. "They're Gensai-sensei's granddaughters. He's the dojo doctor. I'm sure there's a note-"

"Yes." Yamagata's face was unyielding. "As there is about two frequent guests under your roof; traders Sagara-" his lip curled a little at that name, "-and Tsukioka."

"Are they out gambling again?" Yahiko rolled his eyes. "I told you-" he gulped at Yamagata's look, and shrank back behind his teacher.

Oh, scare a kid. Real impressive. Kaoru felt her temper rising, and breathed through it. "Is there something our dojo can do for the Imperial Army, sir?"

Yamagata ignored her, locking eyes with Obi-Wan. "Kenobi?"

"Kenobi Obi-Wan," the Jedi bowed, antique and proper. "Kamiya-sensei is allowing me to guest here, yes."

"Gaijin don't usually register as rurouni," Yamagata observed.

"I was quite ill." Sea-green eyes were guileless. "I believe no one wished to make a mistake in the characters for my name."

That won a faint hint of smile, there and gone. "A sun-haired wanderer, dressed as a samurai." Yamagata shook his head, and sighed. "My apologies, Kamiya-san. Chasing the ghost of hope can make a man... less than polite."

Kaoru gave him a civil, accepting smile, mind racing. Why is that woman frowning?

Why do I feel like she's the danger?

"You had word of an old friend?" Obi-Wan asked innocently. "Strange, that he wouldn't try to contact you."

Agh! No! Just let him go, darn it!

"He might not have known who to contact," Yamagata observed. "He knew Yamagata Kyousuke, years ago; he may not have heard of Aritomo. Though I doubt it."

"An old comrade, then," Obi-Wan stated. "From a time names were less than fixed and known." He smiled at Yamagata's sharp look. "History's rather a hobby of mine."

"Some hobbies are more dangerous than others." Yamagata looked up as his officers returned, shaking their heads. Frowned. "Nothing?"

"The damage in the training hall matches the file," the youngest man reported. "We've found a few red hairs, but they're all matches to our scan of Kenobi-san."

Kenshin burns his hair. Always. "You think we're hiding someone?" Kaoru sputtered. "I demand to see a reason for this search! This is a registered dojo, licensed by law-"

"A license that could easily be revoked," Yamagata bit out. "Restrain yourself, young woman. Your father was loyal, but a bit too friendly with... unreliable elements. Don't give me reason to believe you share his nature."

"How odd," Obi-Wan said absently, before she could gather a blast of terrified fury. "This begins to sound less and less like a comrade, and rather more like a fugitive. Or even," he shrugged, "a traitor."

"He would never-!" Yamagata breathed heavily, glaring at the Jedi. "We parted in the wake of an argument. I only want to find him, and explain."

"Only?" Obi-Wan's gaze indicated the armed officers, one auburn brow lifted.

Yamagata's mustache curled. "Some explanations take time-"

Shock. Kaoru felt it ripple through the Force; a quickening of heart and breath as something in the tilt of Obi-Wan's head, the wry twist of humor in his voice, caught Yamagata's full attention. Something that made him look past gaijin to unknown samurai.

And in the wake of shock, there was calculation. And fear.

"We're done here," Yamagata said briskly, gathering his people in with his eyes. "For now."

"Not good," Obi-Wan muttered under his breath, after the gates were barred and the Imperials out of sensing range. "I'd hoped he wouldn't notice."

"Notice what?" Yahiko crossed his arms, and glared. "What'd you do?"

"Nothing," Obi-Wan sighed. "Nothing at all." He plopped a squirming two-year-old into the boy's hands. "Take the girls to the garden, if you would. Your teacher and I need to talk. Alone."

Urk. But- She held up a hand when Obi-Wan would have spoken, listening.

As that faint trembling in the Force told her someone else was listening.

:Out of my dojo. Now.:

Dark amusement. As if a little girl could be any threat...

:I am Kamiya Kaoru. Assistant Master of Kamiya Kasshin. If you continue to violate the sanctity of my training hall, I will bring my grievance and my memory of your ki-signature to every dojo master in Tokyo. Get. Out.:

A creeping, cold fury, like the first breath of frost after a winter's night-

:Don't try it, Koubai.: Obi-Wan's voice in the Force was level. Almost amused. :Kaoru's caught you fairly. And she doesn't make threats. The one you seek for Yamagata is not here - if, indeed, you're truly working for Yamagata at all. An option I doubt he's thought of, the man is remarkably straightforward for a politician... but if someone were to raise that thought, I think he would find it worthy of consideration. Yes, indeed I do...:

Absence.

"Well." A half-smile lingered on Obi-Wan's face as he dusted off his hands. "That was enlightening."

Kaoru gulped, glad Yahiko had slunk out of hearing range. "The kunoichi from Yoshiwara!"

"In yet another disguise. Intriguing. Yamagata must want Battousai very badly, indeed." Calculation flickered across his face, smoothing into resignation. "I fear I must apologize, Kamiya-sensei. I've brought a great deal of trouble to your doorstep, when you've more than enough of your own."

"Uh... huh?" Kaoru blinked as the Jedi bowed low; utter, formal apology. "Don't do that, it's all right-"

"No. It most certainly is not." His head dipped, resigned. "I've not told Sano or Kenshin this, I wanted to work it through on my own. But I am sheltering under your protection, and doubts or not, I should have told you." He sighed. "Saigo didn't give me into Kurogasa's hands because I was an off-worlder. I was meant to be bait."

"Bait?" Kaoru repeated blankly. Torture a ki-wielder to lure in his allies; it was a classic staple of bunraku and kabuki. "But... you're not part of this dojo yet, and you don't have any students..."

"But I do have relatives." Obi-wan caught her wrist, a warrior's clasp. "Promise me you won't do anything rash."

"Rash?" Kaoru sputtered. "They're your relatives, Obi-Wan, they can't be - well - I-"

"I have reason to believe," his voice dropped, almost a whisper, "my brother's son... became Hitokiri Battousai."

Calm. A Jedi is... calm.

Wordless, Kaoru pointed toward the house. Let Obi-Wan follow her inside, and make tea for them both.

Cup in hand, she stared into steaming green. "All right." Her voice was flat in her own ears. Stunned. Just let him not know all of why I'm shaking. "You'd have to have a really good reason to believe that."

Surprise brushed her through the Force. "I would have thought you'd be demanding to know where he is. Given his reputation as a Darksider."

Not daring to look up, Kaoru shook her head. "I went after Gohei because he was murdering people. Battousai... I'm trying to be a Jedi, not a suicidal idiot."

"He's that skilled?"

"My father said he was incredible." Kaoru felt tears prick; willed them away. Not now. Remember the good times. "'Tousan didn't like to talk about the Revolution. Not ever. But he said, without Battousai, Choushuu might have collapsed."

"Which would explain why Yamagata searches for him, even now," Obi-Wan mused. "No one allows a weapon of that quality out of their reach. Either you acquire it for your own arsenal... or you make very certain no one else can use it, ever." His voice turned grim. "I rather think Saigo is tending toward the latter option."

Oh no. No, no, no... "But why would they think you-?" Kaoru couldn't finish the thought.

"Apparently, my family was required to leave gene-scans with the local authorities," Obi-Wan stated. "I match to Owen, and Owen... matches to a blood sample Saigo kept hold of, whose clan origins may be unknown, but whose source is." He sipped his tea, obviously gathering himself. "Kurogasa confirmed it with a sample from me. And then proceeded to torture me, to lure my nephew in to die." A shadow of a smile. "I would I could tell Kenshin how very grateful I am he got there first. But given how frightened he seems to be of the very mention of the assassin-" Obi-Wan shrugged. "Best to leave some secrets untold, I think. I'm only glad I remembered he was wanted, else I might never have picked up on your cues to hide his presence from Yamagata. Though why someone with that level of power would have any reason to recognize a minor warrior in Katsura's command..."

I'm not going to laugh. I'm not. Though laughing was probably better than screaming. "Just what did Kenshin tell you?" Kaoru asked warily.

The Jedi frowned. "That when he left the Ishin Shishi, Katsura accepted his commander's reasons for leaving, but Saigo did not. I know that if what I understand of the times is accurate, Saigo and Yamagata were working together, but that still doesn't explain-" He stopped. Sat for a moment, face still. "Kenshin knows some rather subtle details about Saigo. Yet Saigo was of Satsuma - and Kenshin was of Choushuu. If what I've been told is accurate, the two clans did not interact well. Or at least, not at the level of the average soldier." He lifted an auburn brow. "Precisely who was Kenshin's commander?"

"Katsura," Kaoru said flatly. And if I could thump a dead man, I would!

Sea-green widened slightly; narrowed in serious thought. "So when Kenshin told me he hoped Yamagata wouldn't recognize him-"

"He was being very, very literal," Kaoru said wryly. "Did you think he looked that scruffy by accident? Most of the high-ranked Ishin Shishi - they're politicians now. High commanders. Satsuma rules the police force like their own private fief; Choushuu's got the Imperial Armed Forces. Yamagata's looking for someone with power."

"Instead, Kenshin became an outcast. To hide." Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm familiar with the tactic. But why is he hiding? Surely, a healer can't be considered that dangerous."

"He was... kind of a messenger between feuding forces," Kaoru said cautiously. Aggressive negotiations... not going to think about that. Just not. "He knows a lot of secrets."

"Hence the paranoia."

Not trusting her voice, Kaoru nodded.

"As if there weren't enough complications already." Obi-Wan swirled his tea in his cup, absently taking in the scent. "I certainly don't want to scare the young man out of a place of safety, simply for my own convenience. Yet with Yamagata looking at this dojo, it may no longer be safe."

"And he'd be looking at this dojo because-?" Kaoru asked, sitting on her impatience.

"He recognized me." A wry smile. "Or I should say, he recognized something about me that reminded him of Battousai. I felt it change the flow of the Force about him. One moment the future was unstirred, as you would expect of an officer looking at a simple off-worlder named Kenobi; the next, it shifted. Sharpened." He met her gaze squarely. "He knows he's found a key. Whether he'll dare to use it, I do not know."

"A vision?" Kaoru said, throat dry. Her gift was the Living Force, not Unifying. She could feel people; seeing the future, beyond the next moment in a fight, was out of her reach.

"No. Just a feeling. I've learned to pay attention to those." Obi-Wan sighed. "I am sorry. You've all been very kind, and all I can seem to do is draw more trouble down on your heads."

"We can manage that pretty well ourselves." Kaoru gave him a hard look. "Are you going to do something rash? Yahiko told me you think Gensai knows where your relative is."

"He does." Obi-Wan gave her a rueful smile. "Try not to be too hard on him, would you? Trying to balance the calling of one young patient and friend against the future necessities of other patients, such as myself, who might find themselves in dire need of rare healing skills - it's a very hard call for a physician to make."

"I won't hit him that hard," Kaoru muttered, glaring at her tea. Glanced back up at a prickle of curiosity. "What?"

"You don't seem surprised." Sea-green was studying her, intrigued.

Kaoru gaped for a moment, thinking fast. "W-well, I was - outside. The clinic. When you were-"

"Screaming?" Obi-Wan said wryly.

"It was pretty scary," Kaoru admitted. "I'd never felt anything... anyone... like that before." She gulped. "Dr. Gensai told me, when most people get that sick - they die. Even in the Imperial Medical Center." Keep going. Just keep going. "And... I told you 'Tousan didn't like to talk about the Revolution. That's true. It just isn't all the truth. He wouldn't talk to me. I know he talked to Dr. Gensai."

"And Yamagata said your father knew Battousai," Obi-Wan observed. Glanced at her again, mild reproof written all over his face. "Kamiya Kaoru. Were you protecting me?"

"You're a Jedi. He was an assassin. Cat, mouse, come on." She scraped together a smile. "So if I say yes, are you going to be mad?"

His face eased, almost smiling. "Kaoru-"

The comm warbled.

She scrambled for it, almost dropping her tea. "Kamiya dojo."

"Drag over those notes your guest picked up on our problem," Sano's voice said grimly. "Drag him over too, if he's up to it. Katsu's missing."

Kaoru didn't quite bang her head against the console. "Again?"

"Worse." If Sano's tone got any darker, it'd leave soot marks on the speaker. "This time, we know where he is."

---------------

"Kanryuu mansion." Sano scowled at the holographic projection, wondering exactly how much arm-twisting it had taken for Uramura to hand this info over.

"It is," Kenshin said precisely, "the most likely place for them to have been taken."

Then again, may not have been an arm that got twisted. Sano followed Kenshin's swift glance at the Sekihoutai's bulkhead, as if the rurouni could see through hull-plate and docking bay walls alike. "They're here?"

Kenshin nodded. "One will-"

"Stay right here and keep plotting," Sano growled, stalking down-ship toward the open docking ramp. "I want that idiot back in one piece, damn it." I hate this. I really, really hate this. Had to let you plot out how to snatch Kenobi; I was kind of out of options, and takes a samurai to catch a samurai. But to count on you to get Katsu back...

Cool your jets and think, flyboy. Would you let that idiot redhead plot a course through hyperspace? No? Then grit your teeth and let him do what he's good at.

And hope what Kaoru brought makes a difference.

Stomping down the ramp, the smuggler dug frustrated fingers into spiky hair, and glared at the trio where he'd hoped for just two. "No way you're bringing the brat, Jou-chan."

"Hey!"

Kaoru's lips thinned, but she didn't smack either of them over the head. "Yahiko goes where I go."

"This isn't an Imperial idiot like Ujiki, Jou-chan," Sano argued. "This is Takeda Kanryuu. People who cross this guy don't get shipped off to Kessel. They wind up in coffins. His own guys end up floating in the river if he doesn't like their work."

"Uh-huh." Yahiko rolled his eyes. "And how's that different from Tanishi?"

"Two words, kid. Money. Power. Tanishi was a guppy. Kanryuu's a damn sea dragon." Sano shot a glare at their silent third, unarmed except for one of Kaoru's heavy wood bokkens. "You've been around the galaxy, Kenobi. Talk to these idiots."

"Some battles must be fought." The off-worlder held up a datapad. "I believe this is the information you requested?"

Sano let out a frustrated breath. "Yeah, bring it in and let Kenshin at it. For a samurai fresh out of the backwoods, guy sure knows how to pull info out of thin air..." Um. Oops?

Kenobi didn't seem to notice, heading into the ship at an unhurried pace. Kaoru shot him a glance, though, miming sealed lips, followed by a definite mock swing at his head.

Right. Not mentioning just who we've got pulling tactics together. But this is the guy I pulled off an Imperial shuttle, Kaoru. He's got to notice something's screwy.

If he did, it was subsumed by a general frown at the whole situation, as Kenobi let his fingers drift from point to questionable point on the hologram of the mansion. "This is the official security grid?"

"Takeda-san claims to be an honest businessman." Kenshin finished tapping commands on the datapad, nodding as new information began appearing on the original hologram. "Such a claim brings some measure of protection from official scrutiny, yet it also means limits to how much his defenses can deviate from these records."

"Claims to be?" Kenobi raised a questioning brow.

"He's a drug dealer," Sano growled.

"Spice? Deathsticks?"

"Just the tip of the iceberg. He deals in specialties." Sano's hands curled into fists. "And the Empire's funding it."

"Funding what?" Kaoru asked.

"Mind-rapers."

Yahiko looked from Kenshin's stillness, to Sano's white knuckles, to his teacher's bitten lip. "Um..."

"It was a rumor, in certain circles," Obi-Wan said levelly. "Compounds that might make the will pliable, and... solidify... loyalty, while leaving ordinary reasoning intact. A certain fraction of Imperial-trained pilots have an unsettling habit of deciding they've chosen the wrong side." He met Sano's gaze. "Anyone who could produce such compounds, illegal as they would be, would find a great deal of unofficial support."

"It's called Spider's Web," Sano said flatly. "Does what the Imperials want. Makes the guys on it homicidal sadists, but it works. Katsu blew up a bunch of it, back while we couldn't find him."

"Which is when the onmitsu first laid their influence on him, one believes," Kenshin murmured, tracing certain small alterations in the holographic mansion. "A compulsion. To lay in wait... and bring Megumi-dono to them, when it was time."

"Katsu would never-!" The protest died on Sano's tongue, in face of those sad violet eyes.

"Anyone can be broken, Sanosuke," Kenshin said softly. "One can resist. One can keep a core of one's self intact. Untouched. But with enough time, enough pain - anyone can be broken." The redhead folded his hands together, staring into memory. "They did not have him long. The damage can be mended. If he has the courage to face what he has done." He paused. "If we were to accept their offer, he would be away from them sooner. But one does not believe that would improve the situation; that I do not."

"How in the worlds would that not-" Sano stopped. Looked at the stern set of Kenshin's shoulders, and Kaoru's white face. Oh no. Damn it, no! "They want a trade."

Kenshin's head dipped. "Katsuhiro's life for Megumi-dono's freedom. Yes."

"But why the hell-" Facts crashed together, and Sano had a sudden desire to hit something. "She's a doctor. A damn ki-trained doctor, working for Kanryuu..."

"Spider's Web is extracted from plants she has shaped. One believes so, yes."

I can get Katsu back. And all it'd cost me would be- "And you want to rescue the witch-!"

Violet never flinched. "Yes."

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"Because she's the only one who knows how the drug is created," Obi-Wan said levelly. "Takeda would never be so desperate to get her back, if he had any other way of producing his prize." His voice softened. "I know it's difficult, but we have to think beyond one life-"

Sano took one long stride to glare down at the off-worlder, and never mind that a samurai could probably stand him on his head without even blinking. "Not when it's Katsu's life, I don't!"

"That's enough, Sano." Kenshin's voice was hard. "It doesn't suit you."

Sano stared down that steel-blue glint of eyes, and heard Kaoru gulp. Forget it. I'm not budging. No matter what you do to me. "I fly. I move cargo. I get paid. If it's the Rebellion, fine. If it's just regular people, fine. If it screws the Empire, terrific. But I'm not risking my friend's life just for some damn Rebel's greater good!" He spit out his fishbone, and glared right back. "I'm not soft like you! I'm no rurouni!"

The swordsman never wavered. "Did you ever see Megumi-dono's eyes, Sano?"

What does that have to do with... oh no. You're not going to play that card.

"She acted hard as any port rat, but sometimes... she watched us with such loneliness." Kenshin's gaze dipped aside, to where Kaoru had gathered Yahiko close to her shoulder. "Like an abandoned child, looking for the family she had lost." Steel-blue met wavering brown. "No noble causes, Sanosuke. No greater good. One life, one soul, who has no other hope for rescue. Whatever reason a man needs to act... for this one, that is more than enough."

He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think.

Mind blank, he glanced at Kenobi. Who looked as though Kaoru had caught him with a bokken when he wasn't looking.

Makes me feel better about this already. Letting out a frustrated huff, Sano stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets. Glanced at Kaoru.

Her shoulders relaxed, and she stepped forward to look over the hologram herself. "Um... one problem." Kaoru looked over her pair of redheads. "These onmitsu are good. Which means they've studied us. Which means they probably know we're coming."

Yahiko's eyes widened. "It's a trap?"

"Give the kid a gold credit," Sano muttered. Glared at Kenobi. "And why are you grinning?"

"Well." Obi-Wan shrugged, smile still a faint shadow on his face. "I have a policy on traps..."

---------------

"Without numbers, it's speed. We break the gate and run."

Flung by Sano's too-helpful arm, Yahiko landed in the midst of the remaining blaster corps, ki snatching the head thug's weapon before he could blink. And I hated being a pickpocket. Huh. Never know what comes in handy...

Which was all the distraction everyone else needed.

A few cracks. A few yelps. One spate of panicked blubbering, cut off by a rising slice of Kaoru's training saber to a fragile jaw.

The mansion courtyard was suddenly, eerily quiet.

Whoa. Jaw dropping, Yahiko stared back at the path of destruction they'd carved through Kanryuu's front gates.

Literally.

Lightsaber shimmering blue, Kenshin had slashed one quick X through ostentatious black metal; then three blasts of ki and one very ticked-off smuggler had hit it at once, flattening the first guards before they could blink.

The next set of thugs had just - barely - had time to stare at them, and fumble after blades-

Before a red streak was in them, and bodies were flying left, right, and center.

:Remember, stay to my left,: Kaoru's voice in Yahiko's head had ordered, calm and excited at once. :I'll parry if they have blasters; you and Obi-Wan sweep up the guys who aren't smart enough to run from Sano.:

Yeah, right, I heard it the first time.

Which was just as well, because the third bunch had had blasters.

And I thought Kenshin was moving before...

Red had blurred, the motion drawing panicked blaster-sights across the courtyard even though Sano and Kaoru were far, far closer-

Yahiko couldn't remember exactly what had happened after that, he'd been snatched by an idiot smuggler somewhere in the middle - but when the world slowed down again, his team was standing.

The bad guys weren't.

Is this what Jedi can do?

Sure seemed that way, given how much attention Kenobi wasn't paying to the chaos. The off-worlder had dug into the guards' comm console with a vibroblade and a few of Kaoru's neat slicer toys, auburn brows drawn down in concentration as he jammed every last alarm that should have been going off. "Ten minutes, I think," he murmured. "Fifteen at the outside. The city security systems may be old-fashioned, but they are efficient."

Near Kenobi's feet, a guard groaned, eyes uncrossing. Blinked, and grabbed for his holster-

Thwack.

Not even looking, the Jedi absently switched his grip on his bokken, batting the freed blaster well out of reach. "There's no tracking system for individual personnel. There are floodlights for the garden in the back, observation cameras for greenhouses within the gardens - I'll need a moment to slice into their feed - bedrooms, a ballroom, an observatory on the third floor-"

Kenshin nodded. "They will be there."

"Why?" Kaoru asked, still breathing fast.

"Because you are right, Kaoru-dono. It is a trap." Violet eyes lifted to the night-lit mansion, narrowing to blue. "And the onmitsu know this one is here."

---------------

He is here.

A ghost of a smile touched Aoshi's lips, as the okashira watched Takeda Kanryuu stalk past a glassy-eyed Katsuhiro to Megumi's shivering form. That shadow of ki, in the courtyard below, that to trained senses glowed like stardust on a moonless night...

In the years of Meiji, most patriots have rotted beyond recognition. But that one's spirit is still fresh.

As were those who followed him. Burning suns to Battousai's starlight; easy to sense, to predict. Yet dangerous all the same.

But are they dangerous enough?

No way of knowing. Events fluxed around Battousai like ore in a smelting vat; the future would not settle to any one vision.

The stage is set. My men know their parts. Be in the moment.

And the moment was Kanryuu's gloved hand caressing Megumi's chin, calling her his darling...

And a flash of simple steel across elegant clothes, drawing a red spurt of pain.

"I knew if they took me, they'd bring me to you." Megumi's eyes narrowed with determination. "The law can't hold you. The oaths of those who heal are so much dust under your feet, to be trod on and swept away." Steel gleamed as her fingers flexed on the grip, gathering her resolve for another strike. "But I can stop you. Here. Now."

Dripping blood, Kanryuu shrank back. "You'll never get out of here alive!"

"I never meant to." Dark eyes were cold. "I told you I'd rather die than return."

Kanryuu's head jerked toward the oblivious smuggler. "If I die, he dies!"

Megumi's gaze never flickered. "One more death on my soul? Small change, against all those Spider's Web has driven to kill." Implacable as the tide, she advanced. "This is the only apology I can offer my victims. We're falling to hell together..."

Her hand landed against Kanryuu's shoulder, empty.

Aoshi toyed with her blade, savoring the feel of rage and despair. Yes. This will have set the bait nicely. "Let's stop here."

Megumi paled. Kanryuu stammered, then flushed-

"Wretch!"

Calm, Aoshi watched her crumple to the floor, shuddering as Kanryuu's kicks struck home. Good. The pain will draw them faster.

Though if the heart carrying that pain stopped, they would have a problem. Face still, Aoshi prepared to move-

"Call my men!" Kanryuu drew back with one last contemptuous nudge of polished boots to ribs, sending her limp form sprawling. "We'll torture the spell out of her!"

"They won't come."

"What?" Kanryuu sputtered. "Why?"

Feeling Hyotokko's fire unleashed as if the flames licked his own skin, Aoshi all but smiled. "Listen and you'll understand."

Our bait has caught us a patriot from twenty years gone...

That man is prey for the Oniwabanshuu!

---------------

Great balls of fire, indeed, Obi-Wan thought, hand just barely jerked up in time to deflect flames aside with a plea to the Force. As if I needed Corellian cantina songs in my head at a time like this...

He had to abandon his push against the flames, diving aside from a fist larger than his head. The man was huge enough to put Dex Jettster to shame.

And - from the poison darts now flinging here, there, and everywhere - not alone.

Oh, this is going to be interesting.

He sank into the flow of the Force, parrying and dodging, fitting the rhythm of his movements around his comrades. The small cat-eyed onmitsu they'd met before was skilled, yes, and strong in the Dark Side. Still, he should have been only a match for one Jedi. Not three.

Except one of us has only the start of Shii-Cho parries, and none of us have full-fledged lightsabers, Obi-Wan thought ruefully, heavy wood catching a dart before it could break through Yahiko's unpracticed guard. Kaoru's 'saber hummed through space on her student's opposite side, searing down three darts in one swing. It's like taking a stick to a nest of raptor-wasps. Smashing darts down helps for a moment, but he can just scoop them up again with the Force.

And their only true lightsaber was... well, busy.

"Burn!"

"Not one strand of this one's hair will you burn, you freak show."

The Dark Side flexed familiar strength, and Obi-Wan felt his heart clench. When Anakin burned Ke Daiv from the inside out... Kenshin, that's not just fire!

Flame and telekinetic fury whooshed against a whirling blue blade, dashed against Kenshin's Force presence like waves against a cliff.

I didn't know you could do that with a lightsaber.

He could only see fragments; Kenshin parting the flames like water, Sano moving in his wake to go fist-to-fist with the choking fire-breather three times his size. But they seemed to have the giant more or less in hand, which was more than he could say for their still-growing dart problem-

There!

Unlike raptor-wasps, the darts were controlled by one mind. And even the best mind, with so many objects to fling, fell into patterns.

He went high. Kaoru went low.

Cr-ack!

Kneecap and skull broken, the cat-eyed onmitsu crumpled.

"Hah. Heh." Kaoru dragged in a ragged breath, smile breaking out through the sweat. "Whew..."

Obi-Wan grinned back at her, helping a swearing Yahiko off dart-littered ground. "Good to be alive, isn't it? Now, I believe we should-"

For a second, he thought yet another tremor had hit; the planet seemed prone to them, to the point that shoppers in the street barely twitched when the ground shook beneath them.

Flesh and cotton was a mountainous mass on the ground. Kenshin was still, blade posed with tip low, letting fire and Dark energy drip free. Smoldering about the edges, Sano shook out a fist, swearing.

"Somehow, I don't think they need our help," Kaoru chuckled.

"To be sure."

The last flame dripped, flickered out; blue light vanished. "There are more inside."

More? And I thought the Order had enough problems when we only met one Sith at a time. He released a shiver of nerves to the Force, and followed fast.

As CorSec would say, crime pays very well, indeed.

Elegant opulence breathed from the mansion's polished wood and marble, rainbow-glazed ceramics, high, gilt-washed halls. He'd seen Senators' apartments with less ornamentation.

Though not many, Obi-Wan admitted. Which should have warned us all something was amiss with the Senate decades before Palpatine. If we'd only opened our eyes and looked-

:Live in the present, Padawan.:

A warning. And a welcome one. For a moment painted wood seemed to fade to gray durasteel, and grief...

It's not Maul.

Yet it was a Zabrak, with the Dark Side strong about him. Waiting, striped arms crossed, like a mountain shrouded in perpetual night.

"I am Han'nya," came the low growl, "master of intelligence of the Edo Castle Oniwabanshuu."

The who? Wait - Tokyo was called Edo, before the Empire took hold here-

"By order of the okashira, I will defend this spot to the death!"

This spot. The mansion floorplan - what Kenshin's source found-

Kenshin was point. As they'd planned. But Yahiko was out of place, just a foot ahead of where he should be.

Kaoru's hand whipped out.

Yes, get him back here, this is going to be tricky as it is-

Yahiko yelped; not dragged back, but flung further forward.

Just as the floor dropped away.

Breathing deep, Obi-Wan let himself fall, hearing the swears and shouts as his younger comrades tumbled after him down the revealed chute.

Good to know some things are still going according to plan...

---------------

Bunraku - puppet plays, often done with near man-size mannequins.

Kabuki - Japanese drama; a lot of plots were drawn from bunraku.

Slicer - SW term for hacker, unorthodox computer programmer.

Obi-Wan's policy on traps? "Spring the trap."