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The Choshu Chronicles: Chapter Four

by Omasu Oniwabanshi ::: Jan.2005

Dawn was a good time of day to be alone. Kenshin left the inn while it was still dark and trudged to a field beyond the practice field the Choshu soldiers would be using later for their drills. He began the Hiten Mitsurugi drills taught to him by his master, Hiko, when he was a child.

They were familiar. They settled his mind, and kept him sane. As the pre-dawn darkness gave way to the light, his movements continued, growing more complex, and faster. Sometimes it felt to Kenshin as if he could move past time itself.

When he was finished, he returned to the inn.

"I don't believe it! There has to be another way!" Nakamura shouted, and came through the front door of the inn just as Kenshin reached the steps. Enraged, he stomped down them, followed closely by Takahata, who had to skip to keep up.

As Nakamura reached the bottom of the steps he snarled, "Get out of my way!" at Kenshin, even though Kenshin had already stepped back to allow him to pass. Takahata, ignoring Kenshin, skipped past and caught up with Nakamura at the gate, following him through it.

"He just found out that Ryoma is buying rifles for Choshu using Satsuma's name as the buyer since the shogun has forbidden anyone to sell Choshu weapons." Shunme's voice came from the porch.

Kenshin turned toward the inn to look at him. "Satsuma? I thought they were our enemy."

Shunme walked down the stairs. "You mean because they threw Choshu representatives out of the emperor's palace, and beat us at the Forbidden Gates incident when we tried to get back in to see the emperor?" Shunme shrugged. "I guess Katsura will use anything or anyone, even Satsuma's name, to get what he wants. What do you think of that?"

Kenshin ignored the question. "Why is Nakamura so upset by that?"

Shunme's gaze sharpened. "You don't know?"

"No."

"Nakamura's older brother was killed during the fighting at the Forbidden Gates. He's never forgiven Satsuma for that."

Kenshin stared at the gate where Nakamura had disappeared. It seemed everyone was carrying around a hidden sorrow. Everyone but Shunme. Nothing saddened Shunme. He was always laughing and joking around.

Kenshin couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed.

"Who knows? Maybe Ryoma will bring you back a nice breech loading rifle!" Shunme offered.

"I prefer my sword." Kenshin told him. Tired of Shunme's banter, he moved around him and went to the back of the inn to find water.

May 21, 1865. Kenshin was back at the mansion in Shimonoseki, patrolling beside its well-polished porch. Ryoma and Katsura were inside. Nakamura was in the house, and Takahata was patrolling the back.

The maple tree in the yard was rustling, the breeze rippling its green leaves together. The noise it made wasn't enough to drown out footsteps coming down the road. A moment later, a man appeared at the front gate. Unlike Ryoma who'd just pushed it open, and marched right up to the steps, greeting Kenshin heartily as he went by, this visitor knocked on the gate, cracking it open a little, and waited.

The knock had been quiet, too quiet for the mansion's maidservant to hear. Kenshin walked forward and pulled the gate the rest of the way open.

"I'm Nakaoka Shintaro." Said the man standing in the street. "I've come with news for Katsura."

Kenshin looked past him. The street was empty. "I was told to expect two." He told the man.

Shintaro sighed. "That is part of my message."

"Follow me." Kenshin told him, and, shutting the gate behind Shintaro, he led the way up the steps and knocked on the door for him, then handed him off to the maidservant.

As the man walked past, he looked at Kenshin. "Thank you." he said.

Surprised, Kenshin nodded, and went back to patrolling.

Not too long afterward, Katsura appeared at the door, Nakamura, with a smug expression and angry eyes, at his side. Ryoma and the new man, Shintaro, came to the door as Katsura reached the porch.

Katsura was angry, angrier than Kenshin had ever seen him.

"Those weapons had better be delivered on time, or I will never trust Saigo of Satsuma ever again."

"It wasn't his fault, he got a message about urgent business in…" Shintaro began heatedly. Ryoma held up his hand, cutting him off, and addressed Katsura.

"I promise you, Katsura. Even though Saigo couldn't make it here to meet with you, he is sincere. The weapons will be here. You have my word."

Katsura clenched his jaw, wheeled around and rushed down the steps, Nakamura at his side, muttering. "I know Satsuma couldn't be trusted, I knew it!"

Kenshin whistled a signal to Takahata, bringing him running from the back of the mansion, and took off after Katsura and Nakamura, who were already at the front gate, leaving. As Kenshin passed through the gate himself, he saw Ryoma, shoulders slumped, gazing worriedly back at him. Then Kenshin was through the gate and Ryoma was lost to sight.