HakuBaikou.com

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin, and most of the characters related to and featuring in the following fictional stories are property of creator and master manga artist Watsuki Nobuhiro, and no copyright infringement was intended in any way in the creation of these projects. Used without permission.

Light of the Snow-Red Village
Part III - Flame of Growth: The Dream of Kenjutsu - Chapter 5

Shinzo didn't return to the gambling establishment that night. Kenshin wasn't sure whether to be encouraged by that or not, as he crouched in his original spot near the back. Kage's discipline had clearly ended long before his arrival, and there were no more arguments. The others entertained themselves by mocking him, and to his credit, he said nothing in response. Closer to dawn, Kuroi finally chose to leave for home, and Kenshin watched as he and his guards left — without thinking much on Shinzo's location — and remained where he was, hoping to learn more about the apparent friction between the official and his funding partners.

There was a brief silence, then Masaki spoke. "You can relax, now. You're too tense."

"Stop acting like a child. Of course I did; I wouldn't want it to look like we're all mindlessly obeying him. This will lower his suspicions."

'Another twist,' Kenshin thought curiously. 'They are plotting against him? For what purpose?'

Kage grit his teeth, then slumped to the floor, sounding almost sulky. "Why me, though? You know he doesn't like me."

"Which is precisely why it is you. The feeling is mutual; I don't even have to provoke you. You two can go at it on your own," Masaki answered cooly, taking a long drink from a sake bottle. "He's not going to kill you, Kage. He's not that sort of man. You simply need to calm down and control yourself. Openly moving against him won't work — he's too powerful. We must be subtle, and let him destroy himself. He's not accustomed to the way we work, and he's trying too hard to place his ideals on us. He's bound to make a mistake, and soon. Trust me."

"This whole idea with Asuhara was a mistake," Kage muttered. "The man is damn stubborn. He's not coming back, you know."

Masaki grinned, finishing the bottle with a long draught. "His own choice, I suppose. I really don't care. So long as he provides a proper distraction for Kuroi, he can keep his little shop as long as he likes. He won't reveal anything of us; he's wiser than that. We probably won't even have to kill him, which will help us later on. We can use him anytime we want. He'll cooperate." He paused a moment, thinking intently. "What about that bodyguard of his?"

"The samurai?" Kage scowled in disgust. "What about him? Don't tell me you want to ask him to join."

Masaki shrugged. "He sounds skilled, and not because he defeated you." Kage bristled. "If Heiji is willing to rely on another man for defense from us, then he clearly has some skills we have yet to see or understand. This might benefit us as well."

Kage scoffed. "Don't count too much on that. The man's worse than Asuhara — like I said, he didn't even try to kill us. There's no way he'd join."

Masaki fell into silence again. "Well," he finally murmured, "We'll just have to kill him, then."

Closing his eyes, Kenshin felt a burning fury build its way into his mind. 'This man,' he thought to himself, his heart pounding in his chest, 'Is very, very foolish.'

Apparently, he and Masaki were of the same mind, as the other man threw a sake cup at his comrade's head. "You're an idiot, Kage."

"I'm trying to knock some sense into you. Going after the girl will only make him angry. If you couldn't defeat him when he knew nothing about who he was defending, think about how strong he will be if you threaten his daughter?" Masaki shook his head, draining another cup. "Get a brain."

"I'm trying to make suggestions. This guy... he's going to be tough to deal with."

The men fell into silence, and it wasn't long afterwards that Kenshin disappeared on the road for Heiji's shop.

"Irasshaimase!" Hikari called cheerfully, as a few customers drifted into the store. She waved with a smile, then winced as a muscle in her arm tensed up. 'Mou... Heiji-sensei is too tough. I need to be more careful, or one day I'm really going to get hurt.' She smiled slyly. 'But then what would tousan do to him?'

The customers tried to ignore the particularly evil look that crossed her face, until she realized her thoughts and turned back to serving the store. "Heiji-sensei!"

Waiting patiently, she turned back to the door as it opened again, another customer making his way to the front once he caught sight of her. "Wel-" she halted, staring at him in astonishment. She wasn't a master of chi, certainly not like her father, but this was someone who easily brought a name to her mind. "Shi-Shinzo?!"

Hearing his name, he immediately ran forward and clapped his hand over her mouth. "Quiet!" he hissed, eyes wide and far too nervous with his surroundings. She tried to pull away, but he grasped her arm and squeezed — gently, which surprised her — until she paused again. "Listen to me," he murmured, casting a glance towards a few of the customers who had stopped to watch. "Is your father here? I... I need to talk to him. Please," he added, as her eyes narrowed. "Please. He'll know what it's about."

Hikari twisted, and he suddenly lost his grip. She glared at him, rubbing her arm. "You should pay attention before you start mindlessly attacking people," she muttered. "What do you want? My father is sleeping. And besides that, what are you doing here? Are you that fixated on beating me?"

Shinzo snorted. "Hardly." She bristled, and his eyes sobered before she could start an argument. "I'm sorry for what I did to you, both now and then. I wasn't... the most sensible person in the world. Despite that, I really have to talk to Himura-san. Can you wake him?"

Hikari watched him curiously, her anger fading into background noise. He seemed much different from the sullen teenager who had challenged her many months ago, and it was possible that this was the one her father had recognized the night before. 'I'm going to have to get some answers, sooner or later.' "I'll go get him," she agreed finally, turning towards the back. "Heiji-sensei, can you come watch the store?"

At that moment Heiji walked out, and instead of going straight to the counter, he moved towards the door and placed a sign on the outside, stating that the shop was closed for the day. He then began speaking to the customers already inside, asking that they finish with their choices and leave as soon as possible. Hikari blinked, puzzled, and headed into the back, Shinzo close behind her. As they entered the kitchen, they noticed Kenshin waiting for them at the table, placidly sipping tea, his eyes closed.

Kenshin placed the cup on the table, and sent a long, cool look in Shinzo's direction. "Shinzo. Would you like some tea?"

Her father glanced at her briefly, and his request was clear. Sit down, and I will explain. Both Shinzo and Hikari knelt, side by side, uncomfortably avoiding each other's gaze. Kenshin calmly poured tea for both of them, and sat back to wait.

After a few minutes passed, Heiji stepped in, wiping a hand across his brow. "Whew! Irritable creatures, these early shoppers are. They're hard to get rid of." He sat across from Hikari, taking a cup of tea for himself. "Now, are you going to tell my why I had to close shop for the day?"

Kenshin looked back at Shinzo. "Perhaps our young friend can explain some things."

Shinzo winced, seeming to shrink into his gi, his eyes glued to the table. "I... I thought about what you said last night. About... falling, with my father. I don't want that. But I don't want my father to get into trouble either. Isn't there anything I can do?"

Kenshin smiled softly. "You've already done the most important thing. Your father is certainly not an evil man... but he is clearly being misled, and is allowing himself to go deeper into things he should not involve himself in. This is dangerous, and he needs to learn that." He rolled the tea around in his glass, draining the cup after a moment. "They are plotting against him."

"That, I do not know." Kenshin shook his head. "Masaki seems to be the true leader of your father's men. I doubt that they ever had any intention of following him." He glanced at Heiji. "You might want to tell us more about that."

Kenshin interrupted, calmly quoting the men of the night before. "Your former comrade, Kage, explained it for you. 'This whole idea with Asuhara was a mistake... he's not coming back.' Care to elaborate, Heiji-dono?"

The man's face paled, and he stared at Kenshin in surprise and fear. "They... said that?" Kenshin nodded. "But... they said... they said nothing about this. They promised that no one would..."

"No one would know?" Kenshin supplied, when Heiji trailed off. "If that is your only complaint, they didn't know I was there. They haven't known since I began listening to them. Otherwise, that man would not have..." He halted, lips pursed in dissatisfaction. Hikari looked at him, inquiring, but he gave no response to her gaze.

Heiji sighed, looking reluctant but resigned. "Hai. I'll explain... I'll explain it all. I was, admittedly, part of the yakuza group, for about a year before the Bakumatsu broke out. I only joined because of my father's business... it wasn't making much money, because there was still a great deal of resentment for the Western goods. The yakuza seemed to be an easy way to get money in a short period of time... but I found that ties are much harder to break once you've been bound to such funding." He hung his head. "I joined the Revolution to escape it for a time, and managed to stay away for several years, sending most of my salary to my father in order to keep the business alive. After I left the army, I thought I had enough funds that we could survive without the yakuza, and allow time for the idea to appeal to the town. However... they came after me. They demanded that I join up again. When I refused, they... they threatened me, and my family. My mother and two sisters have left town; my father went with them until his death. They don't even know why the yakuza are after me. I'm too ashamed to tell them."

"That's understandable." Kenshin nodded, face taut and constrained with anger. "If all goes well, you won't have to. But we must do something about these men." He looked briefly at Shinzo. "All of them."

Shinzo winced, and shrugged. "I... I know that. You said I could help you. I guess... going to jail would be better than death for my father. What do you want me to do?"

Kenshin was silent for a moment, eyes closed. Slowly, he reached out for the pot and poured himself a third cup of tea. He took a sip, noiselessly, then replaced it to the table with a soft sigh. He opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of not Shinzo, not Heiji, but that of his daughter.

They were all so noisy, Kuroi observed in disgust, watching the men around him. Noisy, rude, unrefined... hardly the sort of animals that men of his stature should associate themselves with.

'But they certainly are easy fools. If they can make me as rich as they promise, I'm willing to tolerate them.'

He sent a sideways glance at the man who constantly irritated him, Kage. The insolent gangster was playing dice in the corner, his eyes dark and narrowed. 'Never at ease,' Kuroi thought triumphantly. 'I have clearly made an impression.' He looked away, catching the eye of Masaki. The man grinned and winked, then turned back to his sake jug. He was a heavy drinker, but he was sensible enough when sober.

'I might even consider keeping that man with me when I'm finished with this organization. He could be worth something.'

Another glance in the corner allowed him to see his son, sitting sullenly near Kage. The man leaned towards him, whispering something, and Shinzo managed a forced smile before turning away. Kuroi nodded in approval. Kage was hardly the sort of man his own son should be allied with — and friends? Not in his lifetime.

'Still, he doesn't look like this suits him. He looks too fearful, too uneasy. That fool... if he's not brave enough to be here, he shouldn't come! He'll dishonour me with his cowardice. Of course, that could be why he's still coming...'

His thoughts were disrupted as the man in front of Kage cursed, smashing a sake jar against the floor. A wet spray of alcohol washed across the area, nearly drenching Kage and Shinzo. Kage barked angrily, standing up to confront the offender, but Shinzo, rubbing one hand across his sopping bangs, slipped the wakizashi through his belt and left, heading outside. 'Probably to wash off,' Kuroi scowled. 'Not even standing up for himself... you're hopeless, boy.'

And his grim decision was set in stone, as Shinzo suddenly cried out in surprise and fear, and a loud crash came from the yard. Some of the men laughed, heading for the door to see what the fool had tripped over, as Kuroi buried his face in his palms, when a split-second later the boy's voice echoed in the air, "Spy! He's been listening, help!"

"Weapons!" Kuroi snapped, on his feet. The men scrambled for their swords, those few who had already been armed sliding open the shoji to see the intruder. Kuroi's heart thudded in his chest, wondering if the man had killed the boy, and thinking — almost shamefully — that it may have been for the best.

There was a man in the shadows of the yard, a squirming figure held in front of him. Shinzo yelped softly in pain, shifting to escape the intruder's grasp and failing miserably. He sent a pleading gaze to his father, helpless in his position. Inwardly, Kuroi groaned. "Lantern, you fools!" he instead hissed, glaring at the attacker. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

A light from inside was lit, revealing hair the colour of fading embers, and eyes like frozen snow.

"Hello again, Kuroi-san," were the words of Hitokiri Battousai, his sword glinting in the moonlight against Shinzo's neck.

"I really am getting sick of this position," Shinzo whispered, feeling the cold metal at his throat. Kenshin nudged him irritably in response, keeping his eyes on the boy's father. The yakuza were obviously disturbed and uneasy, and he recognized with no small amount of satisfaction some of them, the very men he had taken down on his first day in the village. He saw that they, too, recognized him. 'Good,' he thought to himself, silently counting the numbers that were trying to surround him without his notice. 'That will make them a little more hesitant to attack me later on.'

Kuroi took a step forward, displaying his empty hands. "Look, Himura, I don't know what you're doing, but Shinzo has done nothing to you or your daughter this time. Release him, and we'll let you go."

"I should ask what you're doing, actually." Kenshin replied, eyes narrowing. "Joining with yakuza, involving your son in illegal acts, and—" He looked down, briefly. "Giving him the wakizashi that, I remember, you swore would not be found in his hands again. I want an explanation, as well."

Kuroi's face reddened in anger. "I don't see how you can carry any authority here; don't presume you have the advantage simply because you have a hostage."

Kenshin shook his head, his eyes suddenly fierce. "Actually, he's not so much a hostage as a punishable offender. The poor fool tried to take my head off with that knife of his. He's lucky I was paying attention, or he would be unconscious right now." His grip tightened, and Shinzo winced. "Don't make me wonder if this display of idiocy isn't hereditary, Kuroi. Give me an answer, and I'll let him loose, provided he swears not to show how much of an idiot he is again."

"None of your business," Kuroi growled. "Now let him go, or I will be forced to take action myself."

Kenshin smiled suddenly; it was not a pleasant expression. "Are your men going to attack me from behind and kill me? Or perhaps the man fingering the dagger in his gi will simply take me out with a single throw. Will you keep me guessing?" The man hastily removed his hand, flushing as red as Kuroi himself. "Don't waste my time or yours. You're a government official, remember? A very busy man."

Furious now, Kuroi waved a hand. "Dammit, Battousai! I gave you a chance. Kill him, now!"

The smile faded from Kenshin's face as soon as the name was spoken; however, any smirks on the faces of the men around him also disappeared. "Battousai" was too well-known, too closely tied to nightmares of darkness and blood and death so painful it was terrifying to describe. The men were frozen, fear mingling with the puzzled wonder at how, exactly, the foreign-looking stripling before them could possibly be the man of legends.

It was times such as this that he both hated and felt a desperate need for that name. Kenshin tensed, giving Shinzo's wrist a quick squeeze before raising his voice to attack those around him.

Instantly, the boy reacted as if he had been stabbed. Twisting his body inward, his arm broke free and slammed into Kenshin's stomach as heavily as he possibly could. Kenshin's challenging cry was cut off, the breath forced out of his body, and he crumpled to his knees. Shinzo was beside him in a second, his fist curving around the swordsman's wrist even as a brutal kick landed in his already sensitive lower chest. His grip loosened, and the sword fell from his numbing fingers.

"What are you waiting for, you morons?" Shinzo called roughly, the sakabatou clenched in his hand. "Finish him! My father gave you an order!"

Kuroi motioned them to halt. "Wait. Pick him up and bring him over here. I want my own questions answered."

Kenshin didn't resist as two of the yakuza hefted him to his feet, one on each arm to keep him from moving. He felt a little dazed; he hadn't expected Shinzo's blows to be so hard.

He lifted his head, and met Kuroi's confident eyes. "Well," the man murmured, a wide grin on his face, "It seems our positions have been altered. Care to make a final effort to save your life?"

Kenshin felt a sharp nudge at his back, and saw, out of his peripheral vision, Kage's leering smirk, and a tanto in his hand. He grimaced, feeling a gradual lift of anger at the man's obnoxious gloating. He turned back to Kuroi, ignoring the mild discomfort. "Not particularly. I am glad, however, that your true nature has been revealed. I had thought you better than this, after all you experienced during the Bakumatsu. There was a thirst for power in all of the officials then, but there were a few who sought it only for the good of the country. I'm sorry that you were not one of them."

Kuroi shrugged. "I can't say I'm sorry, really. This life has a great deal to offer me, though I wish you had stayed out of my way. You're not an enemy, and I suppose I did owe you my life at one point. But I also have an image to retain here, and a family name to uphold. I can't have you ruining everything for me. You understand, don't you?"

"I want to know what you're doing here, and why you've been spying on us," the official demanded, his eyes flashing with impatience.

Kenshin gazed back at him with defiance. "If this place is forbidden to visitors, it should say so on the door. I didn't realize that entering a gambling hall in the middle of town was a crime."

Kage rapped his head sharply with the hilt of his sword, and he winced. "Don't be insolent!"

Kenshin sent him a sideways glance, eyes narrowed. "I also didn't realize that your underlings needed a man restrained in order to defeat him."

Masaki knocked him away, then placed a dagger against Kenshin's neck. "That's enough. You'll answer our boss's questions, then you'll die quietly. It's that easy."

Kenshin resisted the urge to jerk his head away, and kept his eyes on the man before him. "You already know why I'm here; I'm the swordsman hired by Asuhara Heiji to stop the threats against he and his store. I'm also the one who has come here to stop whatever illegal acts you're carrying out here. Is that explanation enough?"

Kuroi leaned back, studying him curiously. "My, you must be proud. Putting yourself at such risk, one man alone against an entire yakuza. Just like the Bakumatsu, isn't it? The great Hitokiri Battousai, the savior of Meiji Japan." His eyes darkened with cruel pleasure, and he continued, quietly as if only Kenshin was meant to hear, "A pity you were nearly killed by those three pitifully inexperienced samurai I hired. A pity you weren't killed."

"But someone was killed that day, am I right? A certain special woman, I do believe," Kuroi went on relentlessly. "You've replaced her with that child. Would she be as easy to kill? Will I get to find out?"

Later on, Kenshin was unable to even begin to describe what he had felt at that moment. His thoughts were so turmoiled that only a scant few made it through his mind and were able to turn into actions. Some ignored his emotions or feelings and forced his body to move automatically.

Shinzo's grasp on the sakabatou was weak at best, and it was gone almost immediately. The men who had held the former assassin were on the ground, either unconscious or too hurt to move. There was pure fury emanating from the hitokiri's body, and his ken-ki was terrifying.

There was no time to escape, no time to run. He rushed through the men surrounding him like a hawk chasing a rabbit; they scattered as if they were ants disrupted from their trail.

He crushed them all, his body burned by the sharp, agonizing thunder in his head. It throbbed, aching, bleeding down his frame and through his sword, morphing any thoughts he carried into actions before the calmer, softer part of his soul could even consider them. There was a man nearby that should be dead, would be very dead in a moment, but not before those who stood in his way were dealt with.

Slowly, his fury covering him like the shroud of a demon, he turned to his prey, his eyes glowing more golden than they had ever been in the moonlight.