Hellking Uzumaki writes again!
Here is the second part of my RuroKen Naruto crossover. I haven't received my normal 14 reviews but I just felt I had to post this anyway, it was to good to keep to myself.
Review Replies!
Wrath of The Heavens: I could but I doubt I could put my heart into it.
TegzTsinelas: Really? The best fighting? I thought it was kinda crappy myself.
SusanooUltimateDefense: Of course it's interesting otherwise I wouldn't have written it! Also you have a very long name.
Enough of that! Please enjoy the products of my lime juice and coconut induced Hallucinations!
Disclaimer: Still own bupkiss.
Chapter 2: A piece of the past?
Kamiya Kaoru was a rather strange young lady, she had been since the day she was born. She was not the quiet, docile young woman that society seemed to expect her to be. Rather she was almost the exact opposite. A headstrong and sometimes brash young lady who always spoke her mind about whatever was being discussed and wasn't afraid to go against the common idea. All of this was of course overshadowed by the fact that she was a skilled swordswoman, something rather uncommon even in the 11th year of the Meiji. Yet as she walked through the bustling marketplace two days after Hiruma Gohei and Hiruma Kihei were arrested in connection with the 'Hitokiri Battousai' murders, she was utterly silent. She didn't even react when people shoved her around as the bustled about. The reason for this breach in her actions is quite simple. All of the young womans focus was fixated on the two people walking before her.
She glanced at the shorter of the two and thought about what she knew. 'Himura Kenshin, a rurrouni currently staying at my dojo who will likely remain for the foreseeable future as he did sort of help me save it. Today he is just a wandering swordsman with nowhere to go, but many years ago he was one of the greatest revolutionary warriors who ended the reign of the shogun and began the age of Meiji. He was the greatest of them all, the legendary Hitokiri, the incomparable Himura Battousai.'
'Or at least that's who he claims he was.' Kaoru finished as Kenshin ran headlong into a rather large person going the other way. A bright laugh echoed throughout the marketplace drawing Kaoru's gaze to the second person.
'Aaand then there's this guy, Uzumaki Naruto. Kenshin's best and apparently only friend for some time, At least I assume their friends since they traveled together for such a long time. Normally he seems just like a happier and far more immature version of Kenshin. But then there are times when something annoys him or when he is deep in thought when he seems like a totally different person. Then again Kenshin is like that at times to. But if Kenshin was the Battousai, who was Naruto?'
Unbeknowst to her her internal monologue had caused her to stop in the middle of the street. Of course this rather strange action was quickly noticed by her companions who quickly walked back to make sure she was alright. Naruto noticed her rather puzzled frown and inquired about it.
"So what's on your mind Kaoru-chan? Don't say it's nothing 'cause I can almost see the steam pouring out of your ears." Naruto teased.
"It's nothing." Kaoru quickly blurted out.
"Liar, liar, pant's on fire." Naruto sung out cheerfully.
Kaoru smacked him upside the head without a second thought. While the blonde was crouched on the ground nursing his aching head Kaoru switched topics.
She pointed to the Sakabatou hanging at kenshin's side. "Why are you still wearing your sword in public? You know you could get all of us arrested for having that thing, even if it is a Sakabatou!"
"Hey you shouldn't worry about it so much, it'll ruin your skin. Besides, it all worked out last time we ran into the police, didn't it?" Naruto commented cheerfully.
"Kihei bribed the officers! That does not count as working out all right!" Kaoru countered angrily.
"It may not have been a perfect end but it was a good one, yes?" Kenshin commented to try and calm Kaoru down. Her little tantrum was starting to draw attention.
"Fine, Just don't let yourself get caught this time or there will be trouble!" Kaoru growled.
"This one shall try not to be noticed." Kenshin replied with a small bow.
"Weren't we supposed to be out shopping or something? I forget." Naruto commented after a moment or two of silence.
"For once you remembered something." Kaoru said sarcastically. "Since you remembered, Naruto you go and get the salt, Miso and the Soy Sauce. Kenshin get some fresh fish and a block of Tofu."
"Hey, how come I have to get all the heavy stuff? Shouldn't I be rewarded for remembering? Make Kenshin get the heavy stuff!" Naruto whined.
"Perhaps she assumed you are stronger than this one. After all you are the one who constantly points out the height difference." Kenshin said with a wide smile.
"Me and my big mouth. Ya know, sometimes, I really hate myself." Naruto mumbled as he made his way towards a shop.
Kenshin just smiled and chuckled lightly under his breath as he began to make his way to the tofu vendor.
Kaoru had to stifle a giggle at the two swordsmen's antics. For such great warriors they could act like such children at times. As she watched Kenshin disappear into the market crowds she heard the rattle of an approaching carriage. Suddenly the rattle stopped right behind her. She turned around to see an older looking man with a large mustache and a warm smile looking at her from within a large and rather ornate carriage.
"Please excuse our rudeness young lady, but I'm afraid we must ask you for directions." His voice was rich yet somehow lacked the haughty tone the upper class usually adopted. " Is this the correct way to reach the police station?"
Kaoru responded hesitantly. "Um...yes. Just take a right at the end of the road. You can't miss it."
"Thank you for your assistance young lady. Have a good day." The man said as the carriage lurched back into motion.
"I wonder who he was? He looked familiar somehow, and he was so polite..." Kaoru thought out loud. "Ah, what am I talking about I have shopping to do!"
Just a few minutes later she stood outside a vegetable stall inspecting their goods. Slowly the background conversations around her began to increase in volume until she could barely concentrate. Spinning around she snagged the sleeve of a passerby.
"What's all the ruckus about? Has something happened?" she inquired.
"The police have been chasing some fool violating the sword banning act all morning and they finally got him cornered."
Almost immediately Kaoru dropped her purchase and began to make her way through the press of people. As she did a single thought kept repeating itself over and over. 'It can't be him again! Can it?'
Sadly, it was.
On the far side of the market area Kenshin was standing against a wall with a ring of police officers pointing their staff's at his chest. They were panting heavily while he seemed entirely composed. If anything he looked a bit embarrassed.
One officer called out to the redhead between breaths. "You gave us-(huff)- a good chase runt! But now-(huff)- we've got you-(huff)- surrounded and cornered! Surrender!"
"Hmmm, such persistent keepers of the peace!" Kenshin commented with a thoughtful expression and a small chuckle. He made a shrugging motion with his shoulders. "Oh well! It would appear that this one has no choice but to surrender!"
Suddenly a commotion started near the back of the crowd of onlookers.
"Move!" called an almost obnoxiously loud voice, "Let the sword corps through or our swords will move you!"
The crowd seemed to split in half as police in darker uniforms shoved their way through. Whereas most officers carried hardwood staffs on patrol this group all had western sabers hanging at their sides. The officer who led them had his drawn and ready for use.
One of the officers who had cornered Kenshin turned and regarded this group with a certain amount of fear in both his gaze and voice. "L-Lieutenant Ujiki..."
"Good work cornering this fugitive 3rd lietenant. You and your men are now dismissed. We will be taking over from here." Ujiki commanded with the tone of one not to be ignored.
"But sir!" The younger officer protested. "The fugitive is completely surrounded already and he has yet to draw his blade! There's really no reason for the sword co-"
Ujiki cut the younger officer off by slamming the pommel of his sword into the unfortunate officers face. "A mere 3rd Lietenant like yourself dares to tell me, a veteran warrior of Satsuma, what to do!? When I tell you to move, you move. Those who do not obey must be punished."
Having finished his little tirade Ujiki turned his attention towards Kenshin. "What is this? All this effort to catch such a gentle looking man?" He snapped his sword up so that it was pointed directly into Kenshin's face. "I can tell you are a true swordsman from the way you hold yourself. Draw your sword and fight."
Kenshin just looked into the officers eyes for a moment before sighing and pushing the blade away. "Unlike some, this one does not carry a sword just because he can." As he spoke he noticed a blonde head appear amongst the crowd. At the same time he saw Kaoru running towards him with panic on her face.
Unfortunately Ujiki noticed Kaoru as well. "She must be with him."
Suddenly two of Ujiki's followers drew their swords and clashed them directly above Kaoru's head. When they did the ribbon holding up her hair was almost instantly totally shredded.
Ujiki leered at her while still facing Kenshin. "I would imagine it would be quite embarrassing for the lady if one of my men's swords slipped and cut her Kimono. Wouldn't it?" The lietenant said almost casually.
Hearing this obvious threat towards a woman's modesty the crowd became enraged. They began to boo and insult Ujiki and his men, calling them all sorts of vicious and sometimes rather inventive names.
Ujiki glanced at the crowd for a moment before addressing his men. "Men, I do believe these people are attempting to obstruct the execution of Justice. This of course is an affront that cannot be tolerated. draw your swords and discipline them all!"
The sword corps charged the crowd which quickly began to disperse as the civilians ran in fear. Then the charge was halted as a single blonde appeared before them with a pair of bokuto. At the same time they heard the distinctive rasp of a sword being drawn.
Ujiki turned to see Kenshin with his sword out and his eyes narrowed. "You will not harm a single one of these civilians."
Naruto finished his friends statement as cold fire seemed to dance in his eyes. "If you seek blood and death with the blade, come to me and experience it firsthand."
Ujiki licked his blade. "Men, deal with the foreign twerp, I will deal with the gentleman. Now that their swords are drawn whatever we do is clearly in self defense."
(Meanwhile, at the Police Station)
"So it was all just a hoax to get their hands on some property?" The mustachioed man from the carriage asked sadly.
"I'm afraid that you are correct in this Yamagata-san." The police chief replied.
Yamagata shook his head and let out a rueful sigh. "Had I thought about this harder I would have realized the truth of the matter. The real Battousai would never have done such things."
"But was he not famous for the many he killed?" The chief asked pointedly.
Yamagata nodded. "Indeed he was. However he only ever killed in defense of his allies. He would never have killed anyone without reason, that is not who he is." He reached out and grabbed his coat. "Is there anything else I should know?"
The chief hesitated for a moment before replying. "Well... when we interrogated the suspects they told us that 'The real one' took out them and all of their men. Though I doubt they were telling the truth."
Just then the chief's secretary burst into the room. "Chief! Chief! There's an incident in the marketplace! The sword corps is at it again!"
"Sword corps?" Yamagata hinted.
"A group we formed to try and deal with this Battousai problem. Sadly their leader is a veteran of Satsuma, he's just to much for me to handle." Chief explained.
"Of course, a veteran must have his way." Yamagata sighed as he placed his coat on his shoulders.
"So what trouble have Ujiki and his men caused this time?" The chief asked wearily.
The aide looked a little sheepish. "Well... That's just it sir, they are being beaten."
"What? Those men are the best swordsmen in the entire department! Who are they fighting?" The Chief shouted as he rose to his feet.
"As far as we can tell, they are only fighting two men." The aide replied somewhat nervously.
"How is that even possible? Who are these men?" The chief asked incredulously.
"We don't know. All we know is that they are both young and rather skinny. One has blonde hair and three scars on his right cheek while the other has red hair and a cross shaped scar on his left." The aide replied as he read off the report in front of him.
The chief turned to Yamagata meaning to ask to be excused only to find that his superior with a look of absolute shock.
"Yamagata- san, I beg your forgiveness but I must go and take care of this!" The chief announced.
Yamagata shook his head. "I will accompany you. I these men are who I think they are I must be there to speak with them. I know them both and I know their skills."
Internally he added 'I can only hope he won't kill me on sight.'
Less than two minutes later Yamagata's carriage came to a screeching halt in the market place. Lying all over the ground in varying states of conscious were the members of the sword corps. As they climbed out of the vehicle they watched Naruto vanished for perhaps half a second before reappearing behind the last officer. An instant later said officer crumpled to his knees completely knocked out.
The blonde then pointed his shortened bokuto's towards Ujiki. "So much for the mighty sword corps! You're the only one left."
Kenshin relaxed for a moment as he spoke. "Swear that you will never again harm an innocent and that you will only wield your sword as ordered and you may arrest us for violating the law."
Naruto looked at Kenshin with panicked eyes. "What? Me to? But I don't even have a sword!"
"Ah, but you did harm a police officer!" Kenshin countered.
Naruto shrugged. "Fair enough I suppose."
Ujiki meanwhile, had been stewing in his own anger which presently exploded. "Silence!" He screamed as he gripped his sword with both hands and raised it above his head before charging towards Kenshin. "I am a warrior of Satsuma! I will never surrender or bow down to the likes of you!"
Kaoru gasped in Genuine concern as she realized exactly what stance Ujiki had taken before charging. "Kenshin, be careful! He's a master of the Jigen-ryu!"
Yamagata sighed sadly as he looked at the chief. "That man is a fool, a dead fool. The Jigen-ryu is a style of unmatched power when in the hands of a master. But when put against either one of those two, he might as wellhave given up already."
Just as the false Battousai had done just a few days earlier Ujiki struck with all his might only to find that his opponent had vanished.
"Above you." Naruto whispered to himself.
As Kenshin returned to earth he spun on one foot and and drove his sword into the corrupt officers back. Almost instantly the man blacked out from the pain. As the officer hit the ground the two swordsmen were all but mobbed by the crowd. As the people surrounded them they heard one voice rise above the rest.
"Himura, Uzumaki. At long last I have found you."
A few more moments passed before the police chief and his men were able to free Naruto and Kenshin from the mob. Once free they looked ant the one who addressed them with warm expressions.
"It would seem that you have grown a mustache Yamagata-san." Kenshin said with a small smile.
Naruto looked at the man for a moment. "Hey, you're right, he did grow a mustache! For a minute there I thought he just had a caterpillar on hi lip!"
Kaoru's mind was racing as she tried to understand what she was hearing and seeing. 'Yamagata!? As in the Yamagata!? The commander of the patriot Kiheitai and now general of the army, Yamagata Aritomo!'
"It has taken me ten long years of searching, but I've finally found you two." He extended a hand towards the two warriors. "I have a carriage waiting. Many of your old comrades await your return."
A nameless fear suddenly gripped Kaoru's heart.
Kenshin looked at Yamagata with shadowed and somewhat sad eyes. "This one has no interest in becoming a Hitokiri once more. This one will remain rurouni, now and forever."
Yamagata suddenly became more passionate. "If you fear what some may think of you for what you did during the war, I will-"
"Silence them with your power?" Naruto supplied with a frown. "If we start thinking like that we will become no better than the shogunate we fought to overthrow. Should that happen, all that we fought for, all of those who died, will have done so in vain."
"Himura, it's a new age! This is the Meiji, not the Bakumatsu! Swords are not the answer in this new era! What can you do with a sword?" Yamagata countered.
"With a sword This one can do as he has always done. This sword will protect all people that it can reach for as long as it can be held." Kenshin replied with another smile.
"My code is the same. My swords have always been, and will remain to be shields for those who are innocent." Naruto added.
Yamagata watched Kaoru and the two swordsmen slowly walk away down the street with a sad yet somehow hopeful expression. "Those two will never change." he snorted.
He then turned to the chief. "Chief..."
"Don't worry about it, I can see who was in the wrong here. I will leave them be. Besides I have always believed that a known blade was safer than a hidden one." He made one last glance at the shrinking figures before turning to his superior. "I do have a question though.'
"Oh, what is it?"
"It is clear to me from what I know of history that the red haired one you called Himura was the Battousai." The chief faltered for a moment. "Who was the blonde?"
Yamagata seemed to involuntarily shiver for a moment before meeting the chief's eyes. "Himura Kenshin was once the legendary Hitokiri Battousai who struck fear into the hearts of our enemies. Uzumaki Naruto though, he, he was the blood soaked phantom of the night. He was the demon who made the Bakumatsu so terrifying for all who lived through it."
Who was Naruto during the Bakumatsu?
Why was he so feared?
Why am I completely bat shit psycho!?
All these quetsions and more may be answered in the next installment of...
The Unbloodied Blades!