Summary: Drabbles from the Love, Lies and 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

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Drabble 19: Sanctuary

There was a terse knock on the door. Soujirou glanced at the door for a moment, and then turned his attention back towards Okita who lay stone still on a futon stretched out before him. Carefully, so as not to disturb him, Soujirou placed a cold compress on Okita's forehead. Okita moaned in pain. Soujirou frowned.

The fever had not subsided. No matter how many compresses he applied, no matter how religiously he gave Okita his medicine, the fever raged on. Intermittently, he would call out Kaoru's name and rock violently, straining against the hold Soujirou had on him. Left to his devices, Okita would rush from the room, mount the nearest horse and ride back to Kansan, where he believed Kaoru was…..where she had died, burning away with the palace.

The knocking on the door became insistent. Soujirou turned sharply. He stood and strode to the door. He opened it an inch and peered out suspiciously. A man, robed in the livery of the Yagyu shinobi stood silently. His face was masked by the shadows.

Soujirou didn't miss the katana he wore on his waist and the shuriken tucked into his belt. "Yes?"

"Soujirou Seta." His voice was hoarse and raspy. Soujirou felt a chill run down his spine. It was the most unpleasant voice he had heard in his life. He tried to read the man's ki but couldn't detect anything. A thick cloud of nothingness enveloped his entire being. He was unreadable….just like him.

"Soujirou Seta." He repeated in his hollow, guttural voice.

"Yes." He replied warily.

It had been less than two hours since he had appeared at the gates of Nara, the capital city of Xinchen, a former ally of Konan. Xinchen had acquiesced to Hiko Seijurou's protectorate agreement two years ago. The kingdom was now required to consult the Lightning Emperor in matters of foreign and economic policy as well as pay tribute tax to Hiko Seijurou annually. The levy of the tax ate away at that section of the treasury that was reserved to secure arms and supplies for the army.

It was a simple arrangement. Xinchen had abandoned all claims to an army and sovereign governance in exchange for the protection offered by Hiko Seijuro. The same offer that had been made to Konan; and the refusal of which had resulted in the destruction of Konan and the death of its king.

"My king awaits you in his chamber. Come." The shinobi turned and began to walk away.

Soujirou glanced back at Okita, who was in no position to be moved. "Wait! My companion cannot move. He is very ill."

"Leave him. My king intends to speak with you."

"I cannot leave him alone. He might need something."

"You must come now. Your companion will be taken care of. My king will be displeased if we are late."

Soujirou frowned. He knew why this was happening. He was not in a position to refuse. The Xinchen king had given them shelter when the Kutou soldiers were hot on their heels. He could not refuse to honour the king's command at this moment. If the king had not given them shelter when he did, Okita would have surely died. He was deeply in his debt, and the king knew this. But he also could not leave Okita in this state. It would be fatal to his health. Torn between his concern for his friend and the obligation he owed to the king for giving them sanctuary inside his fortress, Soujirou decided quickly.

"Very well. You must send a man to watch my friend."

"It will be done."

Soujirou returned to Okita and knelt down so that his mouth was on level with Okita's ears.

"Okita, I will be back in a while. The king has called for me." Okita opened his eyes weakly and started at him. After a brief pause he nodded slowly and shut his eyes again.

Soujirou stood and walked out of the room where the shinobi waited for him impatiently. He followed a checkerboard path that finally led them to a wide hall where the Xinchen king sat expansively on a throne of burnished silver. His face was wide and swarthy, covered with pockmarks. His eyes were deep set and seemed to burn with a hunger and light that never rested. A concubine rested beside him, her long and shapely legs were wrapped over his, her arms draped around his fatuous neck and her lips hovering over his ear. Soujirou resisted the urge to twitch his nose in disgust.

The king of Xinchen represented everything that was despicable and revolting in Soujirou's eyes. To think that this man was the social equal of Shishio Makoto was a slur to his former master. And the thought that he was now in this man's debt almost made him wish that he and Okita had both died by the sword of the red-haired warrior they had encountered in Kansan.

That death would have been more honourable than anything that this man would ask of him. In his heart, Soujirou wept bitter tears of shame and regret.

"Your majesty, I bring you Soujirou Seta." The shinobi bent his head in solemn obeisance.

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Author's Note

This drabble will be continued in the main story.