Disclaimer: Same as usual.
Saito's POV
How on Earth could the Battousai be so clumsy outside of battle? My head and ribs ached horribly and I know his arm was hurting him. I glanced back at him and sighed. He was watching where he was going but he was obviously preoccupied. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and nearly missed the entrance to the second cave, or what was left of it. The entrance had caved in since the last time the tunnels had been used.
"What's wrong Wolf?" The Battousai asked peering around me to see why we had stopped.
"This is the second cave." I answered gesturing to the pile of rocks to my left. I found a larger rock and sat down on it carefully; feeling it shift beneath my weight and then settle into a firmer position. I wedged the torch between two of the rocks above me. "We should rest here and then continue on to the next cave."
The Battousai sat to my left and pulled out the flask of water; taking a sip before handing it to me. I shook it, it was getting low. I took a sip and handed it back; turning to look at the Battousai. I nearly jumped when I realized how close we were again. A smirk crossed his face for a moment before he became serious.
"We need to talk about what happened at the hot spring and just now Wolf." He said reaching up to rub his left shoulder. I reached over and brushed his fingers aside before massaging the tense muscles. His body relaxed for a moment before he tensed again. I released his shoulder and sat back. "This is what we need to talk about Wolf. We've been almost too comfortable with each other since we got snowed in and I want to know how we're going to act after we get out of here."
"I think we will go our separate ways when we finally get out of these caves and when we next meet in battle, we will fight as we always have. Because I can no more abandon my beliefs than you can yours Battousai." I answered leaning back and closing my eyes. My head was really starting to ache.
Kenshin's POV
I stared at the opposite wall of the tunnel and thought about what Saito had said. It made sense. Both of us would fight until the very end of this war or until we were dead because neither of us would give up what we believed in. I sighed and glanced at Saito.
"You're right." I said quietly; trying to find a way to phrase the next part of our problem without making me uncomfortable and Saito angry. After a few minutes of thinking about it, I just decided to be blunt. "We need to talk about the kiss and….and what just happened, Saito."
"I told you the kiss was unintentional Battousai." Saito said shifting slightly to get comfortable before turning to look at me. "As for what just happened, you fell on me Battousai. The position we ended up in was perfectly natural for the way we fell as you were the one on top of me and are smaller than I am."
My eyes narrowed at his height comment and I elbowed his arm lightly, getting a mock glare in return. I rotated my left shoulder until it cracked and let out a grateful groan. The muscles loosened slightly as I continued to rotate it slowly. I stood up and stretched. "We should get moving Saito."
I reached up and grabbed the torch; handing it to Saito after he stood slowly to make sure his balance was alright. Blood had soaked through the bandage around his head, but there was nothing we could do about it. I walked close to Saito to stay in the torchlight.
"If I remember correctly, the next cave is about an hour walk from the second cave. We should be out of here soon." Saito said glancing back at me with a small smile. "That is, if you don't manage to injure yourself or me again Battousai."
I glared at him but decided not to give him the satisfaction of an answer. We walked in silence for the better part of forty minutes; both of us checking watching the ground carefully so neither of us fell. The torchlight was wreaking havoc with both of our eyes. Saito paused at a split in the trail and looked around.
"Please tell me that we're not lost." I said leaning against the tunnel wall as Saito glance back and forth between the trails. When Saito didn't answer I almost snarled at him. "We're lost aren't we?"
"I don't remember this trail splitting between the second and third caves." Saito answered looking back the way we came. "It splits between the third and fourth cave. We must have missed the third cave. We'll simply go back and look for it."
"Why don't we simply go through the forth cave?" I asked following Saito as he headed back down the trail. He turned back and looked at me.
"Because the forth cave is guarded and the third cave is not." Saito explained keeping the torch close to the cave wall. About twenty yards back down the trail the torch illuminated a dark crevasse and Saito stuck the torch into it. "It gets narrow through here, but this is the entrance to the third cave Battousai."
I nodded and watched Saito slip into the crevasse sideways, ducking his head as he went. I followed closely so the I could see where I was going; though I didn't have to duck my head, which I grinned at.
Saito's POV
I glanced around the cave to make sure that nobody was using it and let out a quiet sigh of relief when I saw the cave entrance wasn't blocked with snow. I set the torch into a small crevasse in the wall and looked around to see if there was a supply box. Surprisingly, there was a small box sitting on a nature made shelf on the right side of the cave. I went over and opened it. Empty. The Battousai slipped into the cave and looked around; the relief on his face when he saw the entrance probably matched my own.
"Well Battousai, the supply box is empty, but it isn't far from the nearest village." I said watching as he set the supply bag on the floor and sorted through it. There wasn't much left, just the needle, thread and the mostly empty flask of water. "You take what's left Battousai. The Shinsengumi aren't far from here. They'll take care of me."
"If you're sure, then I will." The Battousai said repacking the bag. He looked up at me and stared. "We should check each other's injuries before we leave."
I nodded and reached over to check his arm and then shifted his obi to check the bandages around his waist. I tightened the bandage around my head and waved his hands away when he went to check my other injuries. When we were done we headed to the entrance of the cave. At the entrance I pointed to the right.
"The nearest village is a few miles in that direction. If you stay close to the tree line, you can't miss it." I said glancing around for any sentries hidden in the trees. I didn't see any and gave the Battousai a slight bow before heading in the opposite direction. "Until we meet again, Battousai."
"Until we meet again, Saito." The Battousai said disappearing into the trees.
One month later during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi*. (January 27, 1868 – January 31, 1868) Day 4 of 5
Osaka Castle
Saito's POV
The peace of the beautiful country side shattered by the sound of gunshots, sword clashes and screams, the smell of smoke hanging heavy in the air and the ground soaked with blood. I walked though the bloody field as quietly as I could; the wounded had already been taken back to Osaka Castle to be treated or die. When I reached the middle of the field I saw a flash of red hair racing along the tree line and I ran to catch up with him. There was nothing in that direction but wounded men. I entered the next clearing and saw him waiting for me.
We didn't say a word. He settled into his beginning stance and I drew my sword. I moved first, lunging at him to see how his injuries were fairing. He blocked my first thrust and the battle commence in earnest.
Kenshin's POV
I dodged away from a slash that would have taken off my head and aimed at the calf I knew had been injured if the caves. Saito blocked and pushed me backwards with a flurry of thrusts. Our battle had been raging on for several minutes when I noticed movement from the tree line. Saito noticed it as well and we both jumped backwards. Just in time too. Gunshots echoed though the clearing and grass and dirt was tossed into the air where we both had been standing.
"Morons!" Saito snarled giving me a glance before running for the cover of the trees. I headed in the opposite direction, ducking behind a tree as the gunshots followed me. I laughed quietly as Saito laid into them. "I'm with the Shinsengumi you morons! Can't you see the kimono?"
I waited until I couldn't hear them anymore and set out in the direction of my own troops. Hoping the battle ended soon and I would finally be freed from all this bloodshed.
TBC…
*The Battle of Toba-Fushimi was the last major battle in the Bakumatsu War. (Edo Period) The battle lasted from January 27, 1868 to January 31, 1868 and was a decisive Imperial (Kenshin's side) victory. It was set in the area between Osaka and Kyoto on both Toba and Fushimi roads.
*And as for the gunshots in my story, (historically) the Satsuma-Chōshū forces were armed with Howitzers, Miniè rifles, and a single Gatling gun.
Well folks, this story is nearing its end. Thank you all for sticking with me. I know I haven't been the best at updating. As always, reviews are welcome.