Thanks to J Luc Pitard for the suggestion on what to do about Fuji
Saito turned down the corridor to the right. He needed to find a new katana and his contact…and maybe some bandages. He checked his watch, frowning as the minute hand moved another notch then determined that whoever Shishio sent to the Aoi-Ya was either on their way back or not coming back at all.
Shinomori Aoshi slowly got to his feet and left the shambles of Hoji's room.
Saito Hajime met up with Aoshi where the two halls intersected "Looks like you ran across Battosai."
"Lieutenant Fujita, weren't we supposed to meet in the morning?"
"By my watch it's been morning for a few hours. Do you have anything new?"
"Iwanbo was a token representative from the group that sold the ironclad to Shishio. He sent his own Morse code messages about a separate target from the terminal in Hoji's room; however I found no translated messages before Battosai showed up. The only other terminal is in Shishio's private chambers."
"No evidence that Hoji was in on it? Was Iwanbo acting alone?"
"There is nothing to suggest that Iwanbo is working with any of Shishio's men. I did find a container is his room that you may want to have examined by a poison expert; there is a woman in Tokyo I'd recommend over anyone here in Kyoto."
"Where is Cho's room?"
"Down that way on the right."
"I'll grab a katana then show me what you found."
Okina watched Iwanbo turn his head in a complete circle. He was the only opponent left standing, mainly because of his impervious skin, yet instead of pressing an attack now that they were all injured the large man climbed up the Aoi-Ya and headed north running across the rooftops. The crowd of men forming a wall around the Aoi-Ya began to disburse taking Kamtari with them.
Omime wrapped Kaoru's bleeding arm while Masugami bound Misao's ribs. This could easily have ended so much worse and yet Okina sighed in relief instead of shouting in victory. The Oniwabanshu gathered their weapons and began re-checking each other for even minor injuries then light from the moon was blocked out by a giant as tall as the Inn. "Shirojo, Kurojo, come and meet the army of Hagun." Okina began climbing up the inn to greet Fuji of Hagun, a man he thought he'd never see in person.
Fuji carried an enormous sword in his left hand and a short bald old man in his right who called down to them "Do you accept your defeat graciously?"
Misao looked to her left "Kaoru-san?"
"Why should we give up? We're still breathing aren't we?" She'd prefer having a shinai in hand though.
"It isn't over until Kenshin comes back!" Yahiko stood on his good leg balancing with a hand on the wall.
"Allow me to remind you, one step at a time, why you young folks have no hope…" began the man Fuji carried.
Omime wiped a palm across the flat side of her Ku shaped shuriken "Masugami, can you hit the old man from here?"
"Maybe" She tilted her head to better judge the distance "Isn't it rude to hit an unarmed elder though?"
"Shouldn't it depend on how annoying he is?" Misao stretched her arms up to see how badly her cracked ribs affected throwing range.
"…two, lets apply a similar analysis to the strength of your forces…"
"He's so long winded there's probably time for me to go get our shinai." Kaoru turned to Yahiko as if asking whether she should bother running to her room.
"His big head will be an easy target even for my left hand." Yahiko nodded for Kaoru to go, but Masugami held out a hand to stop her.
"Okay fine. No attacking the irritating geezer." Misao crossed her arms "We'll wait to see what Gramps and the guys do now that they're on the edge of the roof."
"…three, consider our strength, the Army of Hagun…"
"It is an honor to meet you Fuji-san. I heard that you are the last of the true samurai, but didn't think I would ever see you." Okina bowed to the giant "Put the old man down if you accept a challenge from the Kyoto Oniwabanshu." He hoped Fuji's sense of honor prevented him from attacking women and children.
The short bald old man pointed his knurled cane at the three on the roof "Fuji, show them a demonstration of your power."
Fuji leaned to the left letting his massive sword to cut through the other side of the Aoi-Ya from roof to foundation.
"What's your plan, Okina?" Shirojo asked as the roof shifted from the impact.
"Keep the girls and Yahiko alive." Okina's turned his steel tonfa nervously knowing their weapons were useless.
"Good plan." Kurojo held two bracelet shuriken ready.
"You accept our challenge then!" Okina called out as Shirojo and Kurojo aimed at the chinks in Fuji's armor.
One of the metal rings ricocheted toward Fuji's master who then demanded to be put on the ground. Kurojo let another two shuriken fly while Fuji bent over and although they hit skin Fuji wasn't hurt at all. Shirojo aimed for the armor plates covering the giant's face thinking that the metallic clang of impact was more annoying for Fuji than hitting him anywhere else. Kurojo followed his example and by and time Fuji stood up again both men were out of ring shuriken.
Fuji raised his sword slowly giving the young men time to dodge his swing aimed at the roof. Okina followed Kurojo and Shirojo as they jumped to the porch roof; however he landed badly and fell to the ground when the building shook from the second blow. Fuji didn't cut through to the foundation this time which saved Okina from being buried by debris.
"There is no glory or honor in this." Fuji returned his blade to the scabbard on his back.
Okina's head was bleeding, yet he stopped Omime from fetching the medicine box "Tell Fuji of Hagun that Battosai's training master is on the mountain to the west, if he wants a worthy opponent."
Fuji nodded to acknowledge Okina's message then picked up his master and headed west.
"Behind this door is the last member of the Ten Swords that you will face. Sojiro is…"
"Saito said he was the one who killed Lord Okubo." Sano shoved both hands in his pockets uncomfortable with how long these fights were taking. Shishio's men apparently weren't back from attacking the Aio-Ya and he hoped that was a good sign.
"He's the one that broke my original sakabato." Kenshin walked through the double doors Yumi opened. The old sword smith dedicated the sakabato to a temple obviously not wanting it bloodied so he had to focus on hitting the blade and not the boy.
"He looks young."
"Sojiro is seventeen. He's been Shishio's apprentice for almost ten years." Yumi only spoke up because she refused to be ignored anymore.
"It's been a long time Mr. Himura. I'm glad to find you well." He bowed his head.
"Thank you."
Sano and Yumi stood by the door watching Sojiro and Kenshin charge at each other. Yumi was beginning to worry that Mokoto would end up fighting this man.
Kenshin nicked Sojiro's blade on his first pass, the opposite of their previous duel, yet the boy's smile didn't falter.
Sojiro backed away from Kenshin wondering how a man who refused to kill could be so strong. Shishio taught him that the weak were merely food for the strong and Battosai went against that principle. The title Battosai meant master of lethal sword drawing so he shouldn't be protecting the weak. He was an anomaly that must be eliminated.
The boy ran straight at him so fast he was little more than a blur that Kenshin deflected only because of his experience dodging bullets.
Sojiro's lack of emotion made it almost impossible for Kenshin to read his chi. He saw himself in this boy; the empty shell who wielded a sword faster than the eye could see, murdering man after man because he was a tool for those who wanted a different government. This boy was faster than Kenshin and after a failed attempt at using Nine Headed Dragon he knew Sojiro was even faster than Hiten Mitsurugi.
The fourth running attack finally got around Kenshin's defense and took his back, yet the boy went by too quickly to use more than the tip of his sword to cut him from shoulder to shoulder. Sojiro wasn't tired yet, but his shoes and the tatami mat floor were both ruined from the strain of his speed. The boy stepped back toward the far wall by Yumi to change into a spare pair of sandals.
If Kenshin was going to survive this match he'd have to following Sano's example to break through Sojiro's emotional defenses instead of concentrating on his sword. Sano looked Anji in the eye and tried to reason with him which also worked with Aoshi to some extent because Kenshin understood wanting to give trusted men glory. There was no common ground with Sojiro that he could think of to convince the boy to abandon the path he'd been following for the past decade.
"Hurry up, Boy."
"No Miss Yumi, I don't want to waste my best move on him. Shishio Mokoto taught me that the weak are food for the strong. The weak die and the strong live. Mr. Himura's supposed to protect the weak, but when I needed help he didn't protect me. Fighting him is driving me crazy!" Battosai went against everything he knew, but the man was also right. If more men were willing to protect the weak then maybe someone would've stopped his abusive Uncle from trying so hard to murder him.
Once he was ready Sojiro ran at Kenshin again to finish him using the same technique that killed Okubo Toshimichi, but Kenshin easily blocked him now that emotions controlled the boy. He struck the boy's shoulder forcing him to his knees then held his sword steady a hands breadth away from Sojiro's neck trying to start a conversation. "When did you need protection?"
"You didn't protect me from my uncle! I needed you and you weren't there! I didn't want to kill my Uncle; I just wanted the pain to stop!" Sojiro backed away again and dropped into a battojutsu stance with his hand down a little.
He didn't know how to talk to the boy, but when Sojiro sheathed his sword obviously letting battojutsu settle the matter, Kenshin knew exactly how to respond. It was easy enough for Kenshin's sakabato to catch in the cracked blade with enough force to send the broken end flying and become imbedded in the floor.
"Sojiro! No!" Yumi ran to the prone figure in the middle of the room. She cradled his head in her lap trying to blink back tears. For once, the boy wasn't smiling. "Are you alight?"
"It seems that Mr. Himura is right and Shishio's law is wrong."
"Right and wrong can't be settled in a duel. I'm here to protect Japan from tyranny. Why are you here?" Kenshin and Sano left Yumi behind as she treated Sojiro's right shoulder.
Sojiro leaned against the wall holding his bandaged arm against his abdomen. "I'm leaving Miss Yumi."
"Everyone they've fought against has turned away from Makoto, but for you maybe it is better to leave." Battosai was truly a dangerous enemy, but if Sojiro could drop his mask someday and become more than an empty shell then it was worth a lost duel. She watched Sojiro walk out the door with only his clothes and an old training sword. Yumi no longer expected anyone to return; with only Hoji and herself by Mokoto's side it will be a long road back to where they were last night.
Shishio Mokoto relaxed on his over-stuffed cushion waiting for Hoji to finish translating a Morse code message. He was surprised to see Yumi entering his chamber already; Sojiro must've defeated Battosai. He smiled at the first bit of good news and welcomed her as she curled herself at his left side. His smile faltered when he noticed her expression. "What is it, Yumi? How did the duels end?"
"Anji fought against Battosai's tag-a-long friend as you planned, but their duel turned into a conversation. We left Saito Hajime to face Usui alone and I haven't seen either one of them since. Battosai defeated Aoshi then broke Sojiro's blade. The boy chose to begin a journey wandering around the countryside."
The Bright King's departure didn't really concern him; he was too compassionate, too weak. It was safe to assume Blind Sword was dead; he wasn't good enough to face the Wolf of Mibu. Sojiro's departure however, left him at a loss. The boy had been his apprentice for a decade after he'd rescued him from a brutal death and taught him everything he knew. After crossing swords with Battosai twice the boy was following in his footsteps. That betrayal was worse than losing the Rengoku.
"Shishio-sama, Henya was beaten by a boy, Kamatari lost to a woman. Iwanbo injured five members of the Oniwabanshu, but abandoned the fight and ran-off. Fuji left after they all attacked at once and Cho still hasn't managed to escape from the jail." Hoji knew it would take at least ten years to recover from these past two nights.
"I will defeat Battosai myself. Hoji come assist with my preparations. Yumi, go find Battosai and lead him to the walled courtyard by five o'clock."
"Hold on, you're bleeding again." Sano motioned for the red-head to remove his gi.
"How bad is it?" Kenshin moved his tail to the side.
"Wicked." There was no effective way to close the cut across his shoulder blades. Every time Kenshin raised his arms it re-opened and if he swung his sakabato the added weight combined with the motion may make the skin tear further. "You need to shorten your fight with Shishio."
"He has no honor." Kenshin winced as Sano re-wrapped the cloth strips. "Guns may be involved. Yumi hasn't shown up yet so she's probably telling him what she's seen of Hiten." Kenshin watched Sano remove the outer layer of binding from his left wrist and abdomen. "Are we out of bandages and ointment?"
"Yeah, that was the last of it. Maybe you shouldn't put that back on."
His gi was shredded and bloody; it didn't even make a good rag at this point. Kenshin reluctantly handed it to Sano although he was decidedly uncomfortable exposing his bandaged torso. "He may also have some type of western metal armor since he also has their weapons. There will be no way to make him turn from his vengeance; he expected to be given a position of great power for his years of service, not to be murdered as part of a cover-up." The extra layers of bandaging felt heavy on his open wounds.
"Are you concerned about breaking your vow?"
"I told Captain Katsura that I will never kill again, however the original condition was a true era of peace." Kenshin unsheathed Shakku's last blade and swiveled the hilt locking it in the traditional position for a sword.
Sano was not comforted by his answer.
Yumi put her hand on the solid oak door hesitating to open it. Battosai and his friend were right behind her ready to face Mokoto. He was exhausted and severely injured, how was he still standing? Didn't he realize he was only facing Mokoto because all his men were gone? His severe burns prevented Mokoto from exerting himself for more than fifteen minutes, yet Battosai was obviously accustomed to long battles. "I will tell him that after beating Shojiro you decided to go help your friends if you promise to let him be."
Kenshin shook his head in response "Apparently my help isn't needed at the Aoi-Ya." He wasn't shirking his duty. As a dojo master and daughter of a warrior she understood that.
Yumi walked toward the other side and Mokoto met her half way. "Koto-sama, please take care."
Shishio kissed her tenderly "It's only fifteen minutes love, stay by Hoji."
Kenshin studied the figure completely wrapped in bandages. A cloak was draped over his left side, he wore a katana and metal gauntlets. There was a cloth strip wrapped around his head that seemed separate from the bandaging, similar to Sano's headband, but much thicker. The cloak was an obvious place to conceal whatever Shishio wanted to hide, but the pieces of western armor were more out of place.
Shishio's attempt at intimidation and posturing were ignored as Kenshin contemplated his vulnerability under layers of cloth strips. The main focus was removing the bandages and exposing Shishio's weakness while trying not to get the sakabato bloody. Kenshin didn't have to wait long for the first move, when their blades met he noticed that Shishio's glistened and suddenly it was flaming. He ducked to the left as the edge made contact with his right shoulder.
Kenshin inspected the damage done to his bandage with his left hand. The blade didn't make contact with his flesh, but he could tell by the way the cloth was cut that the edge of Shishio's sword was serrated. The metal blade had glistened like it was highly polished, or wet. There was something on the blade that made it burn. The torches on the wall made it clear that Shishio's blade was oiled. The friction from their blades sparked the oil making it flame. The serrated edge on his blade was actually more dangerous because bits of rotting flesh from previous use will infect his wounds.
A metal gauntlet blocked Kenshin's strike and his blade was forced parallel, sandwiched between him and Shishio as the taller man quickly moved into Kenshin's zone to bite his uncovered left shoulder. Teeth tore at his flesh as Kenshin forced his sakabato against Shishio's chest with his left hand. Searing pain clouded his mind and his hands made a rocking motion with the sharp edge cutting through the layers of bandages before Shishio released him.
Kenshin dropped to his knees. It was difficult to resist the urge to cover the gaping hole with his hand, but the last thing he wanted was a wet sticky hand when he needed a good grip on his hilt. He took a ragged breath. He blocked out Shishio's voice and took another deep breath watching him sheath his sword apparently to re-coat it with oil. Kenshin rose to his feet again still taking deep breathes to make his mind forget pain. Blood trickled down his left arm, but he kept the bandaged hand firmly around the hilt allowing it to drip off the back of his hand. There was something about the gauntlet that Shishio used to hold his head while he bit him. Kenshin tried to clear his head as Shishio drew his katana and scraped the tip across the end of his metal sheath igniting the blade again.
"…your name will live on in the history that I make!" Shishio gripped his flaming katana in his left hand and lunged at Kenshin's right shoulder again.
Kenshin blocked the blade with the back of his right hand and hot oil began to drip down his arm. "You will have no history." His own left-handed thrust removed the remaining bandages leaving Shishio's gut unprotected. The man was too slow to block his sakabato with his gauntlet this time, but he managed to grab Kenshin's neck. The secret to the metal gloves finally dawned on Kenshin. He twisted toward the flaming katana to get out of Shishio's grasp, however his enemy quickly brought both hands together igniting his gunpowder covered gauntlets with the flaming sword.
Sano watched Kenshin land in a crumpled heap. The gunpowder burned his back and scorched his hair. It wasn't until a sword went flying past Shishio's head that he realized Saito and Aoshi had shown up at some point. Saito's Flying Gatotsu missed when his target turned suddenly, but the Wolf didn't miss a beat and instantly attacked with another thrust. His second attack exposed the cloth covered piece of metal Shishio wore around his head, but Saito was struck across his thighs re-opening the wounds Usui gave him. A third Gatotsu sunk into Shishio's right shoulder before he, in turn struck Saito's right side leaving the Wolf of Mibu on the ground.
In contrast to Saito's quick attack, Aoshi walked up to Shishio and unsheathed both kodachi waiting for him to make the first move. The responsibility to defeat Shishio fell to Battosai; Aoshi was just making sure Shishio got no rest until he was back on his feet.
Shishio was angry over their broken alliance; Aoshi's skill would've been useful, yet the weak fool didn't have the courage to follow the path that lead to glory. Aoshi began his Dance of the Wheeling Sword, but was too slow. Shishio easily blocked the sword in Aoshi's right hand only to have his own right arm cut deeply by Aoshi's other blade. He smirked at the man who gave up being a warlord, reduced to merely defending himself. What was the point? Shishio's smirk faded as his next two blows were dodged and blocked.
Kenshin climbed to his feet and Aoshi stepped back. His new comrades were concerned about his vow not to kill, although he didn't think it applied to Shishio. His sakabato wasn't stained with blood yet so they'd be satisfied with that. Not letting Shishio have a moment to rest and cool off along with removing his bandages might be sufficient to kill him, yet keep the sakabato clean.
Shishio switched hands leaving the remaining gauntlet on his left hand in a bad position; Kenshin hit the serrated blade with his hilt igniting the gunpowder burning his exposed chest badly. Kenshin was caught by the very edge of the blast leaving him ready to attack again before Shishio defended himself.
He struck Shishio's right shoulder with his Dragon Hammer cutting through the cloth bandages, a Dragon Flight hit under Shishio's chin snapping his head back as the blade carved into his jaw, a Dragon's Nest left shallow cuts across his abdomen and Soryusen slashed his left shoulder leaving his torso completely exposed.
The bandaging on both arms was unraveling. Shishio quickly lit his blade again and struck across Battosai's abdomen. If he'd struck across his left shoulder or the same spot across his right shoulder there wouldn't have been any extra bandaging to protect him, but Shishio chose the wrong spot and didn't cut deep enough. Kenshin instantly responded with Hiko's Nine Headed Dragon.
Kenshin tried to use the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki too injured and exhausted to follow through, yet Shishio began fell to his knees anyway. Yumi ran to block Mokoto with her body knowing he was safe as long as she was between them.
Remembering that Shishio was his opposite he took a step back to see what the man did about her. Shishio's blade went right through Yumi's left lung and heart; it would have been fatal to Kenshin if he'd been slower to step out of range.
Kenshin was shocked watching Shishio murder his love. He heard Yumi whisper something to Shishio as she caressed his face. Shishio whispered "Wait for me" in response while she died in his arms. It was too familiar to Tomoe whispering "Its better this way" as she bled to death while he held her.
Shishio pulled his blade from Yumi's limp body quickly sheathing it then ignited his sword for the last time catching fire to the remaining bandages on his arm so they'd spread to his cloak. Kenshin could only watch from unsteady feet as Shishio fell over Yumi becoming a funeral pyre for them both. Out of the corner of his eye Kenshin noticed Sano stoop to pick up the broken pocket watch then they both stared as the flickering orange flames grew hotter.
Kenshin silently wondered how murder-suicide was the best option. Dying to protect the one you love, murdering your love rather than be separated. Swords were designed to kill, however they ought to be used to protect – to give life. Swords that give life? Where did that come from? Oh right, Kamiya-Kasshin.