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Kyuushutsu (Rescue, Deliverance): Chapter Three

by Terry L. McElrath ::: 03.Feb.2005

"NANI!" somebody yelled, as thirteen men scrambled to their feet, several drawing their swords.

"The Shinsengumi are attacking!" repeated the guard, who was bleeding from several serious cuts. "They'll be here any moment now! The sentries can't hold them for much longer, there's too many!"

By this time, however, it had become obvious, as the sounds of fighting could be heard from without. The six bodyguards moved forward to face the entrance into the room.

"Sir! Get out now! We'll keep them busy and give you time to escape!" Maseba Satoshi, Commander Gushiken's personal bodyguard, called over his shoulder.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Katsura thought about where Uchida was. It's midnight already, and he's been gone nearly an hour and a half. How soon will he return? he wondered, although it didn't really matter. Even if he did show up, it wouldn't make much of a difference in the impending fight. If Kenshin were here. . . his thoughts were interrupted by Gushiken.

Meeting Maseba's eyes – wordlessly wishing him luck – Commander Gushiken nodded, and then addressed Katsura. "You have to get out of here, Katsura-san. You can't be captured!" After looking at the other Commanders and drawing his sword, he led the way out of the room towards the back door. "The Shinsengumi will be expecting us to try to break out and are certainly waiting for us. Above all else, protect Katsura-san!"

Maseba watched as the small group left. "We've got to give them a chance to get away. Let's go!" With that, he ran out of the room and down the hall towards the fighting, the others right behind him. The ringing of swords clashing could be clearly heard, along with battle cries and screams of pain.

At the end of the hall, he stopped to assess the situation. Across the front room, three Ishin Shishi sentries were standing in the doorway, trying to hold back nearly thirty Shinsengumi fighters. It was an impossibility, but they would die trying. The only reason they had lasted this long was because only a few Shinsengumi could face them at a time. The rest were forced to wait in the walled courtyard.

Before the bodyguards could enter the fight, one sentry fell, screaming in agony from a thrust through his stomach. His suffering was cut short when someone gave him a merciful deathblow. The break in the defense allowed the opposing swordsmen to shove the two remaining sentries back into the house. The Shinsengumi began to swarm into the room, fanning out, trying to surround the two Imperialists.

"Retreat into the hallway!" Maseba yelled, stepping forward to attack a fighter who was coming in from the side. His diagonal slash was blocked, forcing him to move aside while parrying his opponent's counterattack. Maseba continued his parry as a downwards slice into his adversary's thigh. When the Shinsengumi warrior stumbled, he killed him with a sweeping two-handed slash through his chest.

Two more bodyguards joined Maseba, halting the Shinsengumi's forward rush. Step by step, the five Rebels retreated into the hallway. Once again the Shinsengumi were forced into a bottleneck fight. Only two combatants at a time could face each other, the rest being forced to stand behind. This was only a delaying tactic. Because there were so many more Shinsengumi, injured men could be replaced with fresh swordsmen; while the Ishin Shishi guards were forced to fight until they could no longer stand. In spite of this advantage, the Shinsengumi lost swordsmen. Gradually, the fighting moved down the hallway, the weight of numbers pushing the Imperialists backwards. The bodies of two of the Ishin Shishi and three Shinsengumi were left in the hallway.

"K'so!" Shunji Anzai, leader of the combined squads from the Shimogyo-ku Shinsengumi headquarters, swore in frustration. His unit was supposed to enter the house and drive the Imperialists out the back and into the trap set by the Higashiyama-ku Shinsengumi force. The plan was to attack the Ishin Shishi in a pincer movement between the two groups, thus overwhelming them with greater numbers. That way the leaders could be captured and questioned. These Rebels were slowing them down and costing him men at the same time.

Slowly, the guards were forced back into the main room. Once there, they were faced with almost three times as many opponents. The fight spread out, with the Shinsengumi trying to encircle the Revolutionaries. Falling back from the advancing swordsmen, each man fought without hope – taking desperate chances – knowing the inevitable result, but determined to hold off their foes for as long as possible. They knew that their leaders were undoubtedly facing a similar fight, but they would stop their enemies from joining that fight for as long as possible. Perhaps by doing so, the Commanders would be able to get Katsura away safely. Before they reached the back wall, seven bodies littered the floor, three of whom were Ishin Shishi.

Blocking the doorway leading to the back of the house, the remaining five Patriots made their stand, making it impossible for the Shinsengumi to gang up on them individually. However, the injuries they had sustained during the retreat down the hallway were taking their toll. One by one, the Imperialists fell, until there were only two left standing side by side before the exit to the backyard, surrounded by the corpses of both Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi alike.

With a feeling of detachment, Maseba watched the Shinsengumi approach. Despite the certainty of their defeat, the bodyguards had fought brilliantly, inflicting numerous losses upon their foes. He was pleased to note that there were only slightly more than half as many as had started the fight and almost all of them were wounded. Glancing at Chiba Genjo standing next to him, he muttered "Ready?" Grunting, Chiba raised his katana into position. Both men were bleeding heavily from serious wounds, but neither considered the possibility of retreating. It was their duty to delay their opponents for as long as possible, and they were prepared to die fulfilling that responsibility.

Shaking his head in disgust at their hesitation, Shunji Anzai urged his men to finish off the last two Ishin Shishi. "What are you waiting for! We don't have time to waste! Kill them!" He was well aware that the Rebels were merely trying to buy time for their leaders to escape. That wouldn't happen, of course. The squads stationed behind the house would prevent any such attempt. He had to give them credit, though. Traitors they might be, but no one could call the Imperialists cowards. Faced with nearly overwhelming odds, they had fought with determination and courage, accepting death unflinchingly to protect their Commanders.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Maseba prepared to fend off the massed assault. He had all the time in the world to counterattack, as a swordsman committed himself to a horizontal slashing strike. Another man's thrust was spoiled as he was jostled by a fellow Shinsengumi, leaving his left side open to a deep, slicing blow. Maseba didn't feel the hit he took on his leg, he was too busy covering Chiba, as he reeled from a deep thrust into his chest. Ducking under a wild swing, Maseba came up between two swordsmen, burying his wakizashi in one man's throat, while parrying another thrust with his katana.

Their defeat was only a matter of time, but they kept fighting, doing their best to inflict as much damage as possible. Coughing up blood, Chiba managed to cleanly cut a man's throat before he fell.

Without Chiba to guard his left side, and unable to move fast enough to avoid all of the attacks, Maseba took another blow to his chest while blocking a side slash. Weakened by loss of blood, he staggered, accidentally avoiding being run through the neck. One last vicious slash across his stomach and Maseba collapsed on top of Chiba.

The fight was over.

-

After leaving the Nakajimas at the safe house, Kenshin began the long trek back to the inn. Again he took a circuitous route, all of his senses on high alert, the encounter with the group of Shinsengumi having reinforced the need for caution. Even though it was midnight, the streets were unusually empty. There were none of the usual night denizens to be found. No drunken patrons returning from an evening at a sake bar. No losers making their way home, complaining all the while about their lousy luck at a gambling hall. Kyoto seemed to fold in upon itself, in an attempt to hide from the peril that roamed its streets.

The unnatural silence served only to put Kenshin's nerves even more on edge. Using the skills he had honed during his days as the Ishin Shishi's Shadow Hitokiri, he slipped unnoticed through the night, going much faster now that he wasn't escorting the Nakajimas. At this rate he would be back at the inn in half an hour. Using the shadows to his advantage, he walked through the sleeping city, looking forward to some well-deserved rest.

The flare of multiple fighters' auras alerted him that danger was approaching. Checking out his surroundings, Kenshin satisfied himself that there were at least three escape routes before melting into the darkness. Extending his senses proved that there was only the one group in the area. The sound of raucous voices announced the presence of yet another squad of Shinsengumi swordsmen. Apparently they were patrolling the area and were eagerly looking to pick a fight. They couldn't sneak up on an unconscious drunk, Kenshin thought with amusement. Can't the Shinsengumi keep their mouths shut? he wondered, remembering the last squad's noisy argument. However, he had no desire to accommodate them. It had been a long day and he was feeling weary enough to want to avoid an unnecessary battle. He waited as the squad marched down the street, still talking loudly, totally unaware that they were being watched.

Kenshin continued his interrupted journey back to the inn even more guardedly than before. Katsura was right, the Shinsengumi are becoming more active. I will obviously have to deal with them more often from now on. They had always been his most dangerous opponents and, with their numbers increasing, would be even more of a problem than before.

A few minutes later, Kenshin sensed yet another group of warriors swiftly coming near. Looking around quickly, he stepped back behind some crates. It was another Shinsengumi squad, but these men were different from the previous squads. They were quiet, purposeful; their auras resonating with deadly intent. THREE squads in one night? Kyoto seems to be overrun with Shinsengumi tonight. Kenshin carefully observed the fighters while they ran by. His own ki was completely masked, so he was not concerned about being detected. He was curious, though, about the mission these men were on, since they were in such a hurry. Briefly, he considered following them, but decided he was too tired. Instead, he hurried on towards the inn, glad that Katsura had moved to a safer location.

-

Leaving the bodyguards to deal with the attacking Shinsengumi, Commander Gushiken led the way down the short hall to the shoji that opened onto the porch which faced the backyard. Motioning with his hand, he indicated that two of the Commanders should step aside to check the sides of the house. "See if there is a way out." While waiting, he inspected the apparently empty garden.

They returned in moments, shaking their heads. "It's walled off," Commander Miwa whispered, while the other man nodded in agreement.

After looking around intently, Commander Kamata stepped forward next to Gushiken and murmured softly in his ear, "Where are the guards? There should be at least four guards stationed here."

"You know as well as I do, where those guards are," replied Gushiken, just as quietly.

"Hai." Unfortunately, Kamata could guess what had happened to them. They were most likely dead. He stared across the garden, eyeing the path that led to the alley that ran behind the property. "Sir, there is another gate. They might not expect us to try to go that way."

"All right, Kamata, lead the way," Gushiken agreed, nodding to the younger man.

While the Commanders were in discussion, Katsura found himself thoughtfully contemplating the moonlit garden. He felt it was ironic that earlier in the evening he had found tranquility while reflecting on a similar scene. Now the shadows were ominous, instead of mysterious, hiding danger behind a serene facade.

Even though he knew it was a trap, Gushiken still had no choice but to go forward. Sooner or later the Shinsengumi fighters behind them would come and they would stand no chance then. Swords drawn, the men gathered around Katsura and stepped off of the porch, following Commander Kamata. Nervously, they moved away from the house, trying to look in all directions at once. Once out in the open, they headed towards the side yard as quickly as possible.

Rustling in the bushes warned them of the impending attack. Shinsengumi fighters raced across the yard, trying to intercept the group running towards the fence. The quiet night was shattered by fierce battle cries and shouts.

Two men stood up in front of Gushiken, katanas held in classic Hiratsuki thrust poses. Exploding into action, Gushiken charged directly at the two swordsmen in front of him, sidestepping at the last second to avoid the first thrust. Lifting his katana to block the automatic side sweep, he kicked the man hard in the hip, knocking him into the other fighter. Attacking before the other could recover, he drove his katana through his chest. Gushiken jumped backwards to free his blade and avoid the second swordsman's sweeping slash. Holding his sword in a two-handed grip, he faced off against his adversary. After exchanging several ringing blows, Gushiken deliberately stumbled, leaving himself open on the left. Instantly the Shinsengumi fighter tried to take advantage of the mistake, stretching into an extended thrust. Smiling savagely, Gushiken dropped into a crouch, ducking under the other's blade. Performing his own version of the famous Shinsengumi thrust, he impaled his adversary through his abdomen. Shoulder muscles bunching, he twisted the blade, ripping it through the man's body. With an agonized scream, the fighter collapsed.

Three of the Commanders had already pivoted to face the oncoming fighters, while two others remained beside Katsura. Gushiken moved towards the gate, but was forced to turn aside when three more swordsmen came bursting through the shrubbery from the side.

Having caught up to Gushiken, Katsura picked up a katana dropped by one of the fallen Shinsengumi, hefting it thoughtfully. I'm sorry, Shinsaku, I never intended to break my promise to you. But I can't just stand here doing nothing and let these men die protecting me. With a look of determination, he took his place next to Commander Kamata.

Yelling so that he could be heard over the din of the fighting, Oshima Michio, leader of the squads from the Higashiyama-ku Shinsengumi headquarters, commanded his men to remember their orders. Since they were to capture the Ishin Shishi Commanders alive, if at all possible, they were forced to temper their assaults against the Imperialists. Splitting up, three Shinsengumi warriors attacked each of the Ishin Shishi rear guards, while four more ran around the fighters to attack from the side.

Having heard the Shinsengumi leader's command, the Ishin Shishi were heartened, realizing that it meant he wanted to take them alive. Since they were under no such restraint, they redoubled their efforts, inflicting heavy damage on their foes. Gushiken exploited the slight edge that gave him, forcing the two remaining men facing him back several steps. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Commander Kamata and Katsura each fighting against two opponents.

Frustrated and hampered by his orders, Oshima decided to change his tactics. "Overwhelm them one at a time!"

Immediately the Shinsengumi fighters shifted their positions. Leaving two men combating each of the Ishin Shishi, the extra men joined forces against one Commander. Under the intolerable assault that man soon fell. Excited by their success, the Shinsengumi moved on to another Commander. With even more men available to overpower the Ishin Shishi leader, he was overcome quickly.

Gushiken realized that their defeat was inevitable if they couldn't find a way to break out of the trap. They had to get through the gate and out of the garden. Risking a quick look to the side, he saw Kamata kill one of the men facing him. "Kamata! Switch!" he roared, while swinging his katana in a wide knee-high sweep, forcing his two opponents to jump back. Before they could recover, he had rushed to exchange places with the other Commander.

Having done this before, Commander Kamata immediately ran to attack the Shinsengumi swordsmen who had been fighting Gushiken, leaving his startled opponent gaping at his retreating back. Taking advantage of their confusion, Kamata killed one man with a deep slash across his stomach, disemboweling him. While he managed to avoid the other swordsman's thrust, he was unable to completely evade the automatic side slash, getting a serious gash in his side.

Meanwhile, Gushiken had raced towards Kamata's former opponent, who seemed to be stunned by the unexpected maneuver. He attempted to block the Commander's vicious sweeping strike to his side, but was only partially successful. With a powerful jerk, Gushiken freed his blade and finished the man off with a single thrust, piercing his heart.

A hoarse cry announced the impending defeat of another Commander. Unable to assist the beleaguered man, Gushiken turned his attention to the two men who were driving Katsura back. Feinting with a downwards stroke, Katsura converted the blow to a backhanded side slash, slicing through the side of his opponent's neck, cutting his carotid artery. With a choked cry, the mortally wounded man staggered away, his hands frantically clutching his bleeding throat. Gushiken saw the other Shinsengumi fighter launch an attack against Katsura while he was distracted and sprang to his defense. Before he could get there, though, the man drove his katana into Katsura's right shoulder. Roaring a battle cry, Gushiken drove his sword down through the man's shoulder and deep into his chest, killing him instantly. Freeing his sword, Gushiken immediately went to Katsura, who was pressing the heel of his left hand against the wound in his shoulder, in an attempt to stop the flow of blood. Yelling fiercely, a foolhardy Shinsengumi fighter charged towards them. Eyes narrowed, Gushiken stepped in front of Katsura to face the advancing swordsman. With cool contempt, he blocked several wild blows, waiting for the right moment. A powerful leg sweep knocked his opponent off his feet, leaving him on his back, convulsively trying to catch his breath. Before he could recover, Gushiken finished him off.

Fighting desperately, Kamata parried yet another wicked thrust and slash combination, dodging so violently to the side he lost his balance for a moment. With an triumphant bellow, the Shinsengumi fighter leaped forward to land the killing stroke. His victory yell turned into a horrified shout as he unexpectedly tripped over a small garden ornament, lurching forward awkwardly. With no hesitation, Kamata brought his katana down in a two-handed slash, burying it in the man's skull.

Looking around, Kamata realized that he was the closest man to the gate that offered their only means of escape. Before anyone could interfere, he ran to the door and kicked it as hard as he could, nearly knocking it off its hinges. Going back a few steps, he yelled to get Gushiken's attention.

Shinsengumi leader Oshima heard the unfamiliar name and stepped away from the fight he was participating in to look around. He immediately saw that the Rebels had managed to get the gate open and several were headed towards it. "Shimatta!" he cursed. "The gate's open! Stop them! Don't let them get away!"

Upon hearing his name, Gushiken began looking for Kamata. Seeing the opening in the fence, he shoved Katsura towards it. Several Shinsengumi fighters were running towards them, trying to cut them off. "Go! I'll take care of them!" Grinning wolfishly, Gushiken faced the oncoming Shinsengumi. Gesturing with his free hand, he called "Come!" to the approaching swordsmen. Throwing caution to the winds, he began the dance of death. Not one man he fought escaped uninjured and several died.

Although it felt shameful to leave the Commander to face the rest of the Shinsengumi alone, Katsura knew he had no choice but to make his escape. If he was captured, it might seriously affect the success of the Revolution and he could not allow that. He ran towards Kamata and together they dashed through the gate and into the alley.

When the fourth Commander fell, the remaining Shinsengumi joined the fight against the madman. Several times they tried to work their way around the skilled Ishin Shishi swordsman, but each time he seemed to know their intent before they did and managed to drive them back. He had been wounded several times, although he seemed unaffected by the injuries.

Skidding to a halt, Kamata found himself facing another squad of Shinsengumi. Before they had a chance to react, he threw himself at the nearest men, hoping to be able to engage them long enough to allow Katsura to get away. Unprepared for his fierce attack, one man fell to the ground, dead, while two others received serious wounds.

Unfortunately, there were too many of them for Kamata to hold back and four men tried to surround Katsura. Putting his back to the fence, Katsura proved that, although he had not used a sword in nearly two years, his skills were still formidable. Although seriously hindered by his shoulder injury, he was able to administer painful injuries to his attackers. Finally three of the Shinsengumi fighters were able to keep him occupied long enough for the fourth to use his sheath to knock him out. Bleeding from several new cuts, Katsura crumpled, unconscious. Now that their opponent was out of the fight, three of the fighters turned their attention to the remaining man. Outnumbered and bleeding heavily from his injuries, Kamata soon lay in the dirt as well.

The squad leader tersely ordered the two most seriously injured men to stay with the prisoners and tie them up. Gesturing for the rest to follow, he led the way into the yard. He was met with an amazing sight: one man, covered in blood and gore, successfully holding back ten Shinsengumi fighters. Running up behind the final Ishin Shishi fighter, the last thing the squad leader saw before he was beheaded was the maniacal grin on the berserker swordsman's face. The rest of the Shinsengumi used the gruesome diversion to launch a concerted attack against the man, finally bringing him down.

-

Breathing a barely audible sigh of relief, Kenshin closed the door and walked across the inn's common room toward the stairs, ignoring the guard standing near the window. Once in his room, he relaxed for the first time in three hours. Placing his swords onto their rack, he slowly undressed, changing into his black sleeping hakama and dark green gi. Sliding open the shoji that led to the balcony, he stepped outside and spent a couple of minutes gazing at the bright moon hanging overhead. The night was quiet, a whisper-soft breeze caressed his face and gently teased his hair. Taking a deep breath, he centered himself and extended his senses outwards through the inn and the surrounding area. The only auras he detected outside of the inn were those of the two sentries on duty. All was calm within, the auras reflecting the peaceful rhythms of sleep, with the exception of the guard downstairs and one man who was apparently suffering through a nightmare.

After one last look, Kenshin went back into his room. Retrieving his katana, he walked over to his favorite corner and sat down, leaning his sword against his left shoulder. He calmed his thoughts, releasing the tension that had built up throughout the day. He was asleep in a matter of moments.

A few minutes later that part of his consciousness that never slept became aware of a highly agitated ki approaching the inn. Kenshin's eyes snapped open when that individual entered the inn. Rising swiftly, he grabbed his wakizashi and left the room, slipping both swords through his obi. Running down the hall, he went in search of the source of the disturbance. When he got to the common room, Kenshin found a man he recognized as Hattori, one of Uchida's couriers, arguing with the guard.

"I must talk to Uchida-san!" Hattori demanded, breathing heavily.

"And I told you, he ain't here," the guard replied, indifferently.

"Then I must see Asahi-san! It's urgent!" the courier yelled, gesturing vehemently with both hands, obviously very upset.

"He ain't here, either. Uchida-san went with Katsura-san and I don't have any idea where Asahi-san is."

Kenshin stepped in when it appeared that Hattori might attack the guard out of sheer frustration. "What is the problem, Hattori-san?"

Spinning to face the new voice, Hattori slumped in relief upon seeing who had spoken. "Oh, it's you, Himura-san! Thank the kamis! I was on my way back from the safe house after delivering a packet for Katsura-san, and saw several squads of Shinsengumi heading towards an Ishin Shishi strategy meeting. I ran here as fast as I could to get help."

Turning to the guard, Kenshin gave his orders in a cold, no-nonsense manner. "Wake the men, tell them we leave in five minutes. Then hitch up the wagon, we may need it for the injured. Follow us as soon as you are ready." When the man hesitated, Kenshin leveled a smoldering amber glare at the ahou and loosened his katana with a flick of his thumb. It would take a much stronger man than the brash guard to defy the Battousai after such a warning. Blanching in terror, the incompetent fool ran down the hall, banging on doors and yelling as he went.

"Where is the meeting being held, Hattori-san?" Kenshin asked the bemused courier, who was watching the rattled guard run up the stairs, still shouting.

"It's at a house off of Shichijo-dori, the third one down from the main entrance of the Shusei-en Garden," Hattori replied, bringing his attention back to Himura-san.

"Arigatou." When the first men rushed into the common room, Kenshin pointed at two of them. "You two, gather bandages and medical supplies, there may be casualties. Make it fast, we're leaving." After they left, sprinting to the infirmary, Kenshin spoke once again to Hattori. "Go to the stable and tell the guard how to get to the meeting house, onegai."

By this time, most of the fighters had gathered and the rest could be heard running from their rooms. Kenshin led the way out of the inn. Beckoning the squad leaders over, he quickly told them what the courier had said and gave them directions. "I'm going on ahead, follow as quickly as possible."

"Himura-san? What do you want us. . ." Senior squad leader Jukodo Chuichi's voice trailed off as he realized that the Battousai had already vanished.

-

Absently cradling his bandaged arm, Oshima Michio stood looking down at the unconscious swordsman lying at his feet . Wounded in a dozen places and he had still fought like a man possessed by demons, singlehandedly killing at least six men, maybe more. It had taken the combined efforts of fifteen men literally throwing themselves onto his body to bring him down. That, and the forceful application of a sword hilt to the back of his head. Amazing, simply amazing. Oshima shook his head. Directing his attention to the men standing nearby, he barked, "Get over here and tie this man up. Securely, too, do you hear me? And bind his wounds, I don't want him bleeding to death!" The men in question hurried over and began to work on the insensible man.

Walking from one Ishin Shishi Commander to another, the Shinsengumi leader checked on his prisoners. Two of the seven were dead. A fact he would be held accountable for, since they were supposed to have been captured alive for questioning. Shimatta! It's not our fault! he fumed. They died accidentally. It's not as if we tried to kill them! He had lost nearly half of his men to the Imperialists, some of whom had been friends. If he weren't under orders, he might have been tempted to do something dishonorable.

He then went over to the temporary aid station that had been set up for his men. So far, he hadn't found a single man who wasn't sporting at least a couple of bandages. Damn those Ishin Shishi dogs! He stopped, crouching down to offer some reassurance to a young man who was bleeding very heavily, even through his bandages.

His pale face twisted in pain, he looked up anxiously. "I'm going to be all right, aren't I, sir?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Oshima gently patted his shoulder. "You're going to be fine, Ninsei. You'll ride back to headquarters in the wagon, so just rest." He'll be lucky to be alive when we get back to headquarters, Oshima thought, somberly.

On the other side of the aid station was a row of dead Shinsengumi fighters, laid out neatly. A wagon would be sent to bring them back to headquarters. He slowly walked down the line, saying farewell to his men. He dreaded the letters he would have to write to their families. It was his least favorite part of his job.

Hearing several men swearing threateningly at two of the prisoners, Oshima headed over to make sure the taunting didn't get out of hand. "Having fun, Sarumara?"

The fighter shrugged, still glowering at the captives. "They deserve whatever they get, sir. They killed two of my friends."

"I understand. Just don't forget the penalty for not following orders. We're to deliver these men alive for questioning. Just bandage those wounds that are bleeding heavily, the rest you can leave alone." For what you've done tonight, traitors, Oshima thought, bitterly, a little pain is the least you should expect. You won't be suffering for long anyway.

"Load the prisoners and the most seriously wounded men into the wagon, we're returning to headquarters!"

"Hey! What about my men!" Shunji Anzai yelled, as he was coming out of the house.

"Finally finished up in there, Shunji? Took you long enough," Oshima baited the other Shinsengumi leader.

"Yeah, they just didn't know when to quit," grumbled the angry squad leader. "But what about my men? I've got injured men, too."

"Send your wounded to the aid station and have your seriously injured men go to the wagon. We'll take them to our headquarters and have them treated."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Shunji shouted in outrage. "You're not taking the prisoners to your headquarters! They're coming with us to Shimogyo-ku headquarters! We're closer!" There was no way he was going to let Higashiyama-ku Shinsengumi headquarters get all the credit for capturing the Ishin Shishi Commanders.

"They're our prisoners and we're taking them with us," Oshima stated, flatly, his eyes flashing dangerously. "You can take your own prisoners to Shimogyo-ku.".

"There aren't any prisoners," Shunji muttered, looking away.

"Nani! But our orders were to take the Rebels alive!"

"Yeah, but they weren't the leaders," Shunji argued, defensively. "I think they were just guards."

Oshima shook his head, disbelievingly. "Good luck explaining that to your Captain." He started to turn away, but stopped and looked back. "Get your men to the wagon, we're leaving soon."

Cursing viciously under his breath, Shunji walked back to his men and curtly told them to report to the aid station. "Those of you with the worst injuries, go to the wagon afterwards. Taniguchi, Nagahama and Kazuyoshi! You three are staying here to guard the bodies. We'll send back a wagon as soon as we get to headquarters. The rest of you, line up. We're leaving as soon as everybody has been treated."

-

Running across the rooftops, Kenshin sped towards the meeting house, hoping he would get there in time to stop the attack. He slowed down as he approached the Shosei-en Garden, looking for advance guards. Finding none, he cautiously moved in closer. Focusing, he began seeking fighters' auras. Surprisingly, he only sensed three: one in front of the meeting house and two behind it. Using the concealment offered by the roof of a neighboring house, Kenshin observed the three men whose auras he had detected. They turned out to be Shinsengumi, apparently guarding a large number of bodies. Obviously the attack had been over for some time, if there were only these three present.

Dropping off the roof into the courtyard, Kenshin silently made his way through the walled garden in front of the house, approaching the oblivious sentry. Running so swiftly he seemed to disappear, he cut down the hapless guard before he could either lift his sword or call out a warning. Flicking the blood off of his blade before sheathing it, Kenshin took a few moments to look at the bodies scattered around the courtyard. Two, wearing Choushu uniforms, were lying close to the street, and four were grouped in front of the main entrance into the house. Three of those were Shinsengumi, while the last one appeared to be Ishin Shishi.

Turning his attention to the remaining two Shinsengumi guards in the backyard, he jumped lightly to the top of the wall, pausing briefly as he checked out the layout of the side yard. Landing soundlessly behind some shrubs, he slowly moved towards the guards, staying in the shadows. When he was within a few feet of the men, he walked out into the open. Both guards started violently at the sudden appearance of the swordsman. Recovering quickly, they charged towards the newcomer, swords raised. Kenshin crouched down, watching the rapidly advancing swordsmen impassively, right hand hovering over his katana's hilt. When they were within range, he stepped forward, performing a blindingly fast battou-jutsu. Both Shinsengumi collapsed, sprawling dead at his feet.

Kenshin checked once more for auras in the area, but didn't sense any. Since there was nothing left for him to do until the rest arrived, he took the time to walk around the backyard, the bright moonlight making it easy to examine the battlefield. He found the bodies of four guards in a back corner, making a mental note to himself to tell the others where they were. Given the number of corpses and how badly the garden had been trampled, it was clear there had been a fierce fight.

Using the tracking skills his Shishou had taught him, he read the evidence left on the ground. Kenshin had no difficulty recreating much of the battle. Footprints gathered behind various bushes showed where close to thirty Shinsengumi had hidden in ambush. From the placement of the groups of fighters, it appeared that they had expected their victims to try to escape through the gate at the back of the garden. However, the Ishin Shishi – presumably the Commanders – had made a break for a smaller side gate. The tracks of men running across the garden proved that the Shinsengumi had been surprised. The gate was open, leaning drunkenly on its twisted hinges. Scuffled dirt indicated there had been two fights in the alley. At least some of them made it this far. Going back into the backyard and working his way slowly across the garden, Kenshin found proof of a tremendous fight in front of the open gate. Apparently one man had tried to hold off the majority of the Shinsengumi. Most likely he was trying to buy time for the others to escape. Tracks leading from the alley showed where several men had come up behind the lone swordsman. Crushed vegetation formed an outline of a large body. From the amount of blood drying on the plants, the swordsman had received serious wounds. Closer to the house, there were signs of three individual fights, each man surrounded by many. The rear guards. They were probably defeated first, then the other man took over. He must have been a very skilled swordsman for it to have taken so many Shinsengumi to stop him.

For a short time Kenshin stood looking at the bodies of the fallen Shinsengumi. He noticed one decapitated body in particular, the man's head lying incongruously next to a small statue of Buddha. The grimacing face seemed familiar and Kenshin knelt to look more closely. He identified the man as one of the Shinsengumi squad members he had seen running down the street when he was returning to the inn. I should have followed them. I could have defended the Commanders! Angry with himself for not having acted on his earlier hunch, he stood up and strode to the house.

Seeing that the main room was in shambles, he stopped in the doorway. It looked like a charnel house, with bodies strewn across the hardwood floor, lying in pools of congealing blood. More blood was splashed across the walls. The delicate lacquered furniture was smashed into splinters. Stepping carefully around the bodies of two Ishin Shishi fighters that were nearly blocking the doorway, Kenshin was surprised to feel a very faint ki. Reaching down, he turned over the man who was lying partly on top of the other. His eyes widened when he recognized the man as Maseba Satoshi, Commander Gushiken's bodyguard. Kenshin quickly assessed Maseba's condition, shaking his head at the number and severity of his wounds, astounded that he was still alive. Kenshin started to shift him into a more comfortable position, when he saw Maseba's eyelids begin to flutter.

Gradually Maseba became aware that someone was moving him, causing flashes of fiery pain to radiate outwards from his wounds. Blinking to clear his vision, he tried to focus on the man leaning over him. Finally realizing who he was, Maseba painfully raised his arm and feebly grasped the redhead's gi. Gasping, he struggled to talk, but couldn't seem to get the words out.

"Don't try to talk, Maseba-san, save your strength. You'll be all right," Kenshin said, trying to be reassuring.

Shaking his head slightly in frustration, Maseba tried again. "B-b-bat. . . tou. . ."

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Kenshin leaned closer to place his ear near Maseba's mouth. "Nani? Try again, Maseba-san."

"B-Bat. . .tou. . .sai. . . K-k-kat. . ." Maseba whispered, weakly.

"Aa, it's me, Maseba-san."

Maseba began coughing, a thin trail of blood running down his chin. Stubbornly, he continued as soon as he caught his breath. "K-katsura. . ."

"What about Katsura!" Kenshin demanded, anxiously.

"Was. . . here. . ." Maseba barely managed to say before he passed out.

"Maseba! Maseba! Was Katsura here!" Kenshin yelled, shaking the unconscious man.

Kenshin felt a number of auras quickly approaching. Focusing his awareness, he recognized the auras of the Ishin Shishi squad leaders. Leaving Maseba, he ran across the room and down the hall. He arrived at the front room in time to hear one of the squad leaders remark, "Himura-san has been busy. That man died just a few minutes ago."

Ignoring the comment, Kenshin stepped into the doorway, looking for the senior squad leader. "Jukodo-san! Have someone bring the medical supplies, one man's still alive."

Only one man? "Shimatta!" Jukodo swore briefly, before yelling for one of his men. "Fukao! Get up here! The rest of you, set up perimeter guards!" Following Himura through the house, the two men grimly noted the scattered bodies, taking some satisfaction in seeing that there were more Shinsengumi than Ishin Shishi.

Kenshin led them to Maseba, and stood there for a moment looking down at the gravely injured man while Fukao began laying out bandages. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said to Jukodo, before turning and stalking down the hallway to the backyard.

Once outside, Kenshin began a painstaking search of the area surrounding the meeting house. Casting his awareness out as far as he could, he sought any sign of Katsura's ki. Was Katsura here? Where is Uchida? Why were they here? He was supposed to be at the safe house! His stomach twisted when he remembered seeing the Shinsengumi squad that had participated in the attack. If I had followed them, I would have been here to protect Katsura! he thought, despondently, his concern for the safety of his leader fueling his anxiety.. Having found no indication Katsura had escaped, Kenshin became increasingly upset over his failure to keep Katsura safe. He was about to comb the neighborhood once again for signs that some of the Ishin Shishi might have escaped, when he felt a familiar ki approaching. Uchida!

He immediately returned to the house. Ignoring the startled looks he received from the men he passed, he ran through the house and out into the courtyard. Taking a deep breath to control his anger, he stormed down the path, coming face to face with Uchida in the gateway.

"Was Katsura-san here?" he asked, speaking in a low, deadly voice that was completely devoid of emotion.