Chapter 10-

"Thought he could leave me behind," Kaoru fumed quietly as she walked. In the beginning of the evening shadows, the streets of Tokyo were becoming quiet, stalls closing for the night, men walking home from their work, tofu buckets perched over their shoulders to bring for the evening meal. "What a jerk."

Stalking beside her, Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Give it a rest, busu. You've been griping ever since we left the dojo."

She shot him an annoyed look. "I should have tied you up and left you there."

"I would have liked to see you try."

Sensing a challenge in his voice, she ignored him, holding her head high as she lengthened her brisk steps. He trotted beside her, keeping her quick pace easily.

"Hey, don't get upset about it," he said, taking her arm as he led her onto a road to their right. "Kenshin only wants to do what is best for you."

She shook her head abruptly, clenching her teeth. "But I hate being left behind."

"Well, we're following them, aren't we?" he said, then added with a smirk, "And a good thing you took me along with you. 'Cause I know the way to the mansion and you don't."

"Please, Yahiko. If you don't want to be in pain, then shut up now."

i-i-i

Kenshin stood at the edge of the mansion grounds, his violet eyes missing nothing in the gathering dusk. Sano crouched behind a tree a few feet away from him, his face turned towards the mansion.

The huge ornate house stood silent and still. They had been standing here the past thirty minutes, just watching and waiting. But not a sound came from the mansion or the trees surrounding it.

Sanosuke stirred and shifted his feet, meeting Kenshin's glance. Kenshin crept over to him, stepping lightly so that his feet wouldn't make a sound on the damp ground, still wet from the yesterday's rain.

"I haven't seen a thing in those windows," Sano said softly. "And the mansion almost looks deserted."

"They're still there," Kenshin whispered, not taking his eyes from the building.

Sano shifted his feet again, impatiently this time. "So what should we do? My legs are getting numb from squatting here for so long."

Kenshin leaned closer to Sano. "We are going to-"

At that moment, there were footsteps. Loud, crunching footsteps, coming from behind them, from the entrance of the mansion grounds. Kenshin and Sanosuke ducked behind the thick tree as they got louder.

"Oro?" Kenshin couldn't keep it from passing from his lips at the sight of the two figures that emerged into their view.

"Don't they know the meaning of stealth?" Sanosuke growled when he saw them. "And what the heck are they doing here?"

Kaoru looked towards the mansion, a wondering look on her face as she started walking down the worn path, her face upturned to look at the high windows. Yahiko grabbed her arm and yanked her into the shade of a tree off the path, only a few feet away from where Kenshin and Sano sat.

"Geez, Kaoru!" Yahiko hissed loudly. "You can't just step into the open like that!"

Jerking her arm out of his grasp, she shot him an irritated look. "And you keep your voice down," she whispered back.

Kenshin and Sano exchanged glances. The rurouni sighed and nodded.

"Hey, guys!" Sanosuke called softly, beckoning with his hand. "Guys, over here!"

Kaoru and Yahiko whirled around, Yahiko's hand going to his bokken. When Kaoru saw Kenshin, her cheeks flushed and she looked down at the ground as she crept towards them, her back hunched in an attempt to sneak quietly. Kenshin couldn't help but grimace at Kaoru's stumbling through the dead, wet brush. Yahiko stepped nimbly, his pickpocket days remembered as he made little noise under his feet.

"What were you thinking, you midget," Sano demanded, pounding a berating fist on Yahiko's head.

"It wasn't me!" Yahiko snapped. He pointed his finger at Kaoru. "It was her idea!"

Kaoru opened her mouth to speak, but a sound made them all freeze. A low, childish laugh.

Kenshin turned his head. Soujirou stood looking down at him, his wakizashi slung over his shoulder, gazing at the group with a smile on his face.

"Well. This is interesting," he said brightly.

Sano jumped up, his fists clenched. Yahiko steadied his bokken in front of him, glaring darkly. Kenshin stood slowly, keeping his eyes trained on the young man in front of him.

"Himura-san," said Soujirou, bowing slightly. "A pleasure to meet you again. And with your entourage." He bowed to Kaoru and Yahiko individually. "I don't believe we have met."

They both stared at him, confusion lighting their faces. Yahiko lowered his bokken uncertainly.

"It seems that I have met many of your friends these past few days, Himura-san," Soujriou went on, not seeming to notice the strained surprise in the group. Only Kenshin was unperturbed as he watched Soujirou closely. "In fact, one is out lying unconscious on the lawn at this moment."

Kenshin could feel everyone's anxious eyes on him, but he said nothing.

"You and your friends may walk about the lawn if you wish," Soujirou said airily, waving his hand to gesture at the mansion grounds. "There is no one waiting to attack, I promise you. I, in the meantime, have some business to attend to. You will have to excuse me." Again, he bowed, then turned and walked towards the mansion, swinging his arms casually by his sides.

They were all quiet for a moment, watching as Soujirou walked through the enormous mansion doors that shut with a muffled bang.

They were all quiet for a moment. Sanosuke glanced at Kenshin.

"Do we believe him?" he asked.

"We have no choice, that we don't," Kenshin said softly. He turned to look at the others. "Everyone keeps close. We'll circle the grounds, but stay on your guard. This one and Sano will go ahead."

Without another word, he turned and walked quickly across the grass, Sano striding beside him, steeling himself for whatever he might find.

i-i-i

Yahiko kept beside Kaoru, itching to run up beside Sano and Kenshin as they went quickly ahead. Kaoru was watching her feet as she walked, her mind obviously far from the present. Yahiko tapped her on the head with his bokken.

"Hey," he said. "Keep alert. I didn't trust that freakboy about us not being attacked."

She looked up at him and nodded. "I don't either. He gave me the creeps." She shuddered slightly and slid her bokken into her hands, looking around at the surrounding foliage. "An ambush could hide easily in these trees."

Yahiko could see her nervousness as she stared suspiciously at the branches above, her head turned away from him. He grinned to himself as he allowed her to walk ahead of him. Then slowly, he crept closer until he was directly behind her.

"Boo!" he whispered, jumping close to her ear.

She let out a strangled shriek, turning around to bash him on the head. He parried her block easily, trying to muffle the sound of his laughter.

"Yahiko!" she whispered furiously. "That was not funny!"

"I'm sorry!" he choked. "I couldn't help myself!" He doubled over, still laughing, his sides beginning to ache with trying to keep it so quiet.

"Yahiko…" Kaoru's voice was suddenly troubled.

He looked up at her, his merriment fading. He turned his head, looking in the direction she was looking. Sanosuke and Kenshin stood still, their heads bowed, their backs turned to them. On the ground was a long body in a white coat.

i-i-i

Aoshi lay on his stomach, sprawled across the grass, his hair matted with blood. Kenshin quietly kneeled down beside him and lightly touched the wound on the back of his head. It wasn't very deep, as if he had been hit with a blunt object, mean to knock him unconscious.

Sanosuke knelt down beside him. "This isn't looking good," he said, shaking his head.

Kenshin nodded. "We should take him to Megumi-dono's, that we should."

He heard Yahiko and Kaoru rush up behind him. "Is he dead?" Yahiko asked breathlessly.

"Only unconscious," he replied, carefully slipping his arm under Aoshi's neck. Sano took up Aoshi's arm, slowly hauling him up. "Yahiko, you run ahead and tell Megumi-dono that we need her help. We won't be able to take him to her clinic, so she'll have to meet us here, outside of the mansion grounds." Kenshin glanced at Kaoru. "Perhaps you should go as well, Kaoru-dono. Describe the wound to her and remember to bring a stretcher back with you."

"Right," Yahiko said, taking off running towards the gates. Kaoru paused for a moment, looking sheepishly at Kenshin.

"Kenshin?" she said, a blush blooming around her cheeks. "I'm sorry I came."

Despite his anxiety, he smiled at her, his eyes softening. "This one will always be glad when you chase after him."

Kaoru smiled back and ducked her head. Then she turned away, running quickly after Yahiko, calling for him to wait up.

"Please," Sano muttered. "You guys are so pathetic."

i-i-i

Images, sounds, thoughts, swirling in his head, like a whirlwind that won't let him go, flinging him across a dark oblivion. He was trapped in a fevered dream, a prison in his own mind. He thrust himself against the cage of his unconsciousness, desperate to escape. But the memories caught them in their grip once more, wrenching him back into the whirlwind…

He raced down the dark wooden corridor, leaping nimbly over the bodies that littered the bamboo floor. He heard the guttural cries and the clanging of swords coming from the main residences. The enemy had breached the main walls and had made its way into the depths of the castle within a few hours. Why hadn't Shoichi kept a closer watch? It had been his station tonight, along with his group of men. They were supposed to patrol all the inner gates and walls. How could have the enemy come from the western entrance? They must have come across the Sumida River and-

"Aoshi-sama!"

He skidded to halt in the corridor and turned to see Daijuro running towards him, pale and breathless. The young Oniwabban stopped in front of him and bowed quickly.

"Aoshi-sama, enemy reinforcements have breached the main gates and are making their way towards the inner residences."

"Who was stationed there?"

"Yasuo was, but-"

There was a shrill battle cry from down the corridor. Takara's voice stood out above the din, shouting orders to her men to retaliate. Aoshi turned and listened. She never raised her voice in battle. Only if the situation was desperate would she cry out.

"Aoshi-sama, what should we do?"

He looked at Daijuro. "Go find-"

There was a loud cheer. Aoshi took a step down the corridor, listening closely. The sound of the battle from the inner rooms was louder. Takara's voice shot out abruptly in a sharp cry of pain.

Aoshi darted down the hall, ignoring Daijuro's confused calls behind him. He had only one thought.

Takara.

When he got to the end of the hall, he stopped before turning the corner to enter the inner rooms, waiting and listening closely, preparing himself for an attack. He took a step closer, pressing himself against the shadowed wall, a dim yellow light streaming from the rooms, burning dully from a lantern. Bodies lay at his feet and he forced himself to gaze upon the frozen faces of the dead Oniwabbanshu that blocked the entrance. Their blank expressions seemed to beg him to avenge their deaths. A sudden dark anger, like a rushing cold wind overpowered him, making his blood sing. He gripped his kodachi even harder in his hand until it ached.

Takara cried out once more.

With a loud roar, he sprang into the room, sweeping his blade into the Kaiten Kenbu. His mind was callous to the men that fell dead at his hands. He felt nothing, heard nothing, saw nothing except for Takara, fighting one-on-one with a tall man in black, a lightning bolt insignia sewn across his back, an officer in the Ikazuchiryu. The men in Aoshi's way were merely obstacles, waiting to be cut down.

She was bleeding heavily from her left arm, which hung useless at her side. She was parrying each blow the man thrust on her, but her movements were sluggish, desperate. Aoshi could see the growing fear in her eyes as the man advanced, forcing her into the corner of the room. The Ikazuchiryu officer was grunting with exertion, each blow becoming more and more powerful as he saw his victory nearing.

Takara's katana fell to the floor as the man flicked the blade from her bloodied hand. She was pressed into the shadowed corner, cowering as he lifted his blade high above his head, ready to deliver the final deathblow.

Aoshi swung his kodachi in an arc, slashing it across the man's back. The officer shouted in surprise and pain as he whirled around to face Aoshi, leveling his katana at him. They circled each other, Aoshi burning with the fury that enveloped him, threatening to drive him to insanity. He blinked and in a swift motion, he cut the man's right hand off, the blade with it to the floor. The man crumpled to his knees, cradling his bleeding arm. With a low snarl, Aoshi struck him with the hilt of his kodachi so that the man lay sprawled across the bamboo boards.

Aoshi's breathing was ragged as he stood above the trembling, weeping man at his feet. He stared at him, poising the kodachi above the man's neck.

"Please," the man whimpered, tears streaming down his bloodied cheeks. "Please, don't! I didn't want to join the Ikazuchiryu! Kisho forced our village to join him, or he would have killed us all! I have a wife and children," the man babbled, pleading in his eyes. "Please, don't kill me, don't kill me…" He sobbed violently, letting his head sink down to the floor.

Unblinking, Aoshi lifted the kodachi once more, bracing his arms for the blow.

"No!"

He paused, looking at Takara. She was on her knees, still huddled into the corner. Her eyes were stricken as she stared up at him. "No, Aoshi! Don't kill him!"

He looked back down at the man. He lay still now, breathing heavily, his body tense, as if waiting for the blade to come on him.

"Please, Aoshi!"

Again, he lifted the kodachi.

"Aoshi!"

Takara flung herself over the man on the floor, holding up her left arm weakly, shielding him. "Aoshi! Please, have mercy! Spare him! Please! Listen to him! It wasn't his fault!"

She looked at him beseechingly, blood and sweat running down her flushed cheeks.

"What would you have me do?" Aoshi's voice was hoarse as if from disuse.

"Take him prisoner!" she insisted, her green eyes hazed with pain. "Please, I beg you! Have mercy!"

"Why should I?" he growled.

"Because I ask it!"

Aoshi stared at her. This man had tried to kill her and now she wanted his life to be spared, just because she heard this man's pleading chatter? Aoshi had heard it so many times before, a man's last cries for mercy were no more than incoherent sounds to his ears.

Slowly, Aoshi pressed the sharp edge of the blade against the man's neck.

"This man deserves to die," he said slowly. "But-"

There was a loud cry from behind him. He turned and saw Daijuro standing in the doorway, staring at him in horror. Other Oniwabbanshu stood behind him, their faces frozen in identical looks of shock.

"Aoshi-sama…" Daijuro whispered. "What have you done?"

Aoshi looked around the darkened room. Bodies lay scattered across the floor. Some bore the marks of the Ikazuchiryu, but most of them were of the Oniwabbanshu.

He had killed them all…

i-i-i

Aoshi could feel a cool breeze on his cheeks, could begin to feel the light burning in his eyes. He struggled to open them, feeling nauseated and dizzy. His head was burning, pounding with unspeakable pain. Where was he? He could feel hands on his body, holding him.

"Get off," he rasped, trying to wrench his arms free. The hands held on tighter. He struggled harder, clenching his teeth as a sudden panic hit him. His eyes shot open, but his vision was blurred as he tried to kick at his captors. Adrenaline rushed through his blood as he swung a clenched fist upward. There was a grunt and one of the hands loosened. He tried to yank himself free, but to no avail.

"Aoshi."

He froze for a moment, recognizing the tranquil voice. It cut through his fevered mind like a cold wind, bringing him back to reality. He blinked, the haze diminishing from his eyes.

"Aoshi, be still. Help is coming, that it is."

The panic surged into anger as everything hit him. The ballroom, Misao, Takara, Soujirou…

He yanked himself free from Kenshin's small hands, but was still held by another's. He turned and saw Sagara Sanosuke holding his other shoulder, glaring at him coldly.

"Hey, knock it off," Sanosuke growled. "We're just trying to help you-"

"Get away from me!" Aoshi snarled, flinging Sanosuke's arms away, reeling backwards. His legs trembled beneath him and his chest was tight, making it hard to breathe. He turned away from them, staggering forward, with no sense of direction. His head throbbed unbearably, making his stomach churn with the pain and dizziness. Feeling bile rise into the back of his throat, he swallowed it down, the acid stinging his tongue.

Breathing heavily, he sagged against a tree trunk, staring up at the looming white mansion walls. He could feel their challenge, mocking him in his pathetic plight, daring him to try again.

Is this about Misao anymore? a small voice whispered inside of him. Or has Takara captured you in her spell yet again?

He grimaced at the thought and stood up straighter. A shadow moved in one of the high windows. A hooded shadow.

"Takara…" He spoke in a low moan, slumping with dejection as a delirious despair settled upon him, bringing the whirlwind with it. It swirled furiously in his mind, trying to pry him loose from his sanity.

Feeling weary, he simply let himself slip away and the void of the black whirlwind swallowed him once again.