Summary: Drabbles from the Love, Lies n Empire universe. All characters. Situations and events referred to in the main story. Read n Review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the creative work of Watsuki Nobuhiro.
Rating: T
Annals of Empire
-
-
Drabble 13: Descent
Kamatari had been given a month to plan for the evacuation of Kansan's residents and all the other Konan inhabitants who had come to the capital for the festival. His brief had been simple. Make the escape route secret and safe. True to his form, Kamatari did not disappoint. The plan he had drawn up was effective and surprisingly easy to carry out. He knew that the success of the plan would depend upon two things. Firstly, how well they held off the enemy at the perimeter and secondly, that the auricular nature of the river remained unchanged.
He had delivered in both respects. The primary focus of the defence had concentrated around the perimeter walls and the citadel. Shishio had agreed to remain at the last post of defence instead of venturing out into the battle that raged in the city streets, but only after a great deal of cajoling and persuasion by both Kamatari and Saitou. Saitou managed to hold off the legions of Kutou's army stationed at the western gates. Soujirou and Okita had marshaled and led the Konan soldiers between the perimeter walls and the palace. That left him free to intercept the formidable spy ring lead by Aoshi Shinomori. Even though it made little difference to the outcome of the battle, he had managed to stem Aoshi's intrusion into the palace. By the time the commanders of the Kutou army realized that they had invaded an empty city, it was too late.
The birds had flown away to safety.
As he fell from the rafters, Kamatari closed his eyes. His job was done. He had fulfilled his promise to Shishio. Kaoru was pushed far beyond the reach of the invading army and the citizens had all disappeared. There was nobody left to imprison.
The taste of victory would prove bitter for the Kutou emperor. Up until now, his army had conquered lands and crushed any opposition in the bud. Able men and women were taken as slaves and children were inducted into the hierarchy. They slowly forgot the lands of their birth and came to see Kutou as their home and its emperor as their master but Konan would not be so easily captured. Its people would not be slaves but would fight for the life they had known. They would fight till the last breath left their bodies.
The battle was over but the war was far from finished. Cold crept over his bones and he felt a numbness dulling his spirit. Kamatari smiled. Somewhere, beyond the river, his niece must be pulling herself out of the water and demanding to know what was going on.
The war will continue, my minx. And this time, you will not be left behind.
Author's Notes
It's been a really long time! Four…or has it been five months? Anyway, the important thing is that I shall soon be updating Love, Lies and Empire. But I thought I'd write this little tidbit from Kamatari's point of view. Kind of like last thoughts as he's falling through the roof.
Enjoy.