Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin &
Samurai X Original Japanese Version ©N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual
Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole
purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
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Saito leapt back putting some much needed distance between himself
and the smaller man. “Why didn’t you
kill me, Battousai?”
“Don’t think I don’t want to.
I want to see your blood, Saito Hajime…almost more than anything. But…there’s something I want even
more…something only you can give me.”
Saito was almost afraid to ask, but he had to know. “What’s that, Battousai?”
The amber eyes closed, a shudder passing over the small, almost
delicate frame. “The truth.” Saito stared at him in open-mouthed
amazement. “Why…why are we fighting the
revolution?”
“You can’t be serious.
That’s what only I can tell you?
Don’t be absurd, Battousai. Why
don’t you ask that of your great and wonderful leaders in the Ishinshishi? They could tell you better than I ever
could.”
“I have. Their answers are
always the same. We fight for justice
and equality for all. To end the
tyranny of the Bakufu and free the people from oppression. But that doesn’t sound right to me
anymore. If that were true, why did
they need me? If they were truly
fighting for those ideals, why did they need a hitokiri?”
Saito closed his eyes briefly and shook his head slowly, pity
filling him for the young man before him.
“We all fight in the revolution for our own reasons. I wish to eradicate evil from Japan.”
“Like me.” Saito blinked in
surprise. “Yes, Saito, I am aware that
under your beliefs of Aku Soku Zan I, myself, can be defined as evil…but do go on, I didn’t mean to
interrupt.”
“Other’s fight for personal gain or fame. There are some, like the renegade Shinsengumi Jinei Udou, who
fights for the shear enjoyment of killing.”
Saito tilted his head to the side, regarding the younger man
coldly. “Like yourself, Battousai.”
“I wasn’t always like this.
I didn’t always enjoy the killing.
I used to have ideals, too. They
were drowned in a rain of blood, along with my…”
Saito waited, but Battousai didn’t continue. Instead, he stared into the distance,
expression sad and regretful. “Go
on.” He finally prompted.
“It was nothing. I only
meant that when I first came to Kyoto it was with the desire to protect the
weak and end suffering. It’s ironic,
isn’t it?” He laughed bitterly. “I became the cause of the suffering and the
weak now need to be protected from me.
And still I can’t stop killing.
Funny, huh? A real laugh. The kami must be laughing themselves silly about now.”
“Battousai…” Saito shook his head slowly, expression sad and
pitying. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I don’t know. Maybe
because, until a few minutes ago, I still hoped you could stop me. You can’t though. The only one who could is dead…by my hand. Well, maybe there is another…but I doubt if
he’d come to Kyoto. He opposed my
coming in the first place.” Battousai
smiled sadly, his eyes distant and slightly unfocused. For a moment Saito could have sworn the
amber gaze had altered to one of soft violet.
“Shishou can be very
stubborn at times.”
“You can stop yourself, Battousai…leave, now, before you become
even more immersed in the blood. You
can still walk away. It’s obvious you
have at least a shred of decency left in you as well as a small piece of sanity
locked away somewhere. If you ended the
killing now, you may be able to live a fairly normal life.”
“Do you think so, Saito?
I’d like to believe that, I really would.” He looked down at the katana he still held tightly. “Do you think it’s possible to live with the
knowledge that I have committed so many murders? What if…what if, out of self-defense, I kill again? Will I become this…thing…again?”
“Then never pick up a katana again, Battousai. Cast the killing weapon aside and leave the
carnage behind. Perhaps in that way you
can atone for all that you have done and find forgiveness within yourself and
others.” Saito watched him carefully,
waiting for a moment of distraction that would enable him to finally attack
with success.
“Abandon…the cause?
Now? After it’s nearly
over? I don’t know about that,
Saito. Isn’t that called desertion?”
“No one need ever know, Battousai.
Japan is a large place. You
could go anywhere from Kyushu to Hokkaido and never been seen or recognized.” Saito gripped the hilt of his katana tightly, watching the
hopeful expression on the youthful face become thoughtful. Soon…soon Battousai’s reign of terror will
end. It was a burning thought in
Saito’s mind.
“I’m not sure it could work, Saito. For you, maybe. But I’m a
little more distinctive than you are.
I’m short, have red hair…not exactly common in Japan…and I have these
scars. I think a two year old could
identify me by that description, don’t you?”
“It could be said that you’re dead.” Kuso! Why is it that the nutcases reason the most?
“Yes, I suppose it could. It would be even more convincing with a body, wouldn’t it Saito Hajime?” Saito’s eyes widened in shock when he felt the blade of Battousai’s katana press against his neck. He hadn’t seen him move. “Don’t think I didn’t know what you were up to, Saito. I told you before. I’m insane, not stupid. You aren’t my friend, so your kind words could only be lies. Why did you lie to me, Saito? We were getting along so well. Now I have to kill you.”
“Who says I was lying?
Think about it, Battousai. What
I suggested is the only possible solution to your predicament. There’s no other way unless you die.”
“More lies!” Saito
staggered back, blood dripping from his mouth.
He looked up slowly, staring at the other man with narrowed eyes. The hilt of Battousai’s katana had struck
him in the mouth. “Stop lying to
me! I hate lies!” The fury was unmistakable in his
expression. Suddenly he sprang forward
again, flipping his blade at the last instant, and struck Saito across the
chest, knocking him back several paces with the force of his strike. He followed through immediately with two
blows…one to the midsection, the other to the back of Saito’s neck. “Don’t ever lie to me, Saito! I can tell!
I know when you’re lying!” He
struck out again, this time using his saya, striking Saito across the mouth again. “It’s in your ki!”
Saito gasped and spat blood. “So why am I still alive then?” Battousai was clearly unbalanced. Unfortunately, that didn’t do anything for Saito’s plan to unsettle him and then kill him. The way he had become, he was more alert than ever, it seemed.
“I don’t…” The words trailed off as Battousai’s glittering eyes
focused on Saito, moving immediately to the blood trickling from the corner of
his mouth. “Tell me, Saito, are you in
pain?” Saito scowled at the abrupt
change and shook his head. The
disappointment in the other’s expression was unmistakable. “That’s too bad. Maybe I can do something to change that. Or maybe I could kill you now. What do you think Saito Hajime? Which would you rather…pain or instant
death? I’ll let you decide. Either way I get to see and taste your
blood.”
“I think neither, Battousai.”
Saito raised his katana, ignoring the twinges of discomfort caused by
the young hitokiri’s attacks. “I don’t
surrender to my enemies.”
“That is fitting. I respect
that.” Battousai tilted his head to the
side suddenly. “Do you like flowers?”
“What?” Saito scowled and
moved into the stance for the Gatoutsu.
“I asked if you like flowers.
I would like to know which flower you prefer so I may place it on your
grave someday.”
Saito suddenly straightened lowering his katana. “Why this elaborate game?”
“Uh…Saito, you’ve just left yourself open to attack, if you hadn’t
noticed.” Saito deliberately slid his
katana into its saya and relaxed his stance.
“What are you doing?”
“I refuse to play your games any longer, Battousai. Kill me and be done with it, or state your intentions. Either way this ends now.”
“You’re no fun, Saito. No
fun at all. I want to play, and you
won’t cooperate. Draw your
katana.” Battousai pouted childishly,
expression growing more petulant as the seconds ticked by. “I said draw your katana!”
Saito folded his arms over his chest and shook his head. “No.”
He stated it flatly, watching the amber eyes widen in shock.
“Do it now!” Battousai’s
expression twisted with fury, amber eyes glittering with rage. “Now!
I want to have some fun and you’re going to amuse me, Saito! Draw your weapon before I lose patience.”
“No.” Saito gasped as
Battousai snarled his wrath and launched himself forward, the force of his
momentum knocking Saito to the ground.
Battousai knelt on
Saito’s shoulders, pinning him to the ground.
He leaned forward, bringing his face closer to Saito’s and smiled
sweetly. “Are you ready to play, Saito
Hajime?”
“Go to hell, Battousai.”
Saito shifted and struck him across the face with the saya of his wakizashi.
He stood slowly and stared down at Battousai as he lay sprawled,
covering his mouth with his hand, glaring up at him accusingly. Saito stepped forward, onto his outstretched
hand gripping the hilt of his katana.
He slowly drew his own katana.
“Now, you die.” The amber eyes
widened with surprise. Saito raised the
katana, preparing to bring it down in a swift killing blow, ending the
nightmare called Hitokiri Battousai.
The younger man
slowly lowered his hand, revealing his bloody mouth, and smiled up at
Saito. “What are you waiting for? You have me at a disadvantage. Why do you hesitate?”
“For the first time since I picked up a katana, I’m actually going
to enjoy delivering the killing stroke.
You are sick, deranged, and corrupt, Battousai. Your death will save countless lives. Are you prepared for eternity? Do you have any last words of insanity that
you wish to impart before you die?”
“Don’t enjoy it too much, Saito, or you’ll become just like
me.” Saito stared at him for a moment,
and then lowered the katana until the point pressed against the slender
neck. Battousai paled, but his gaze
didn’t waver. “Do it, Saito. You know you must. If you don’t kill me now, I’ll be there every time you turn
around, challenging you. So kill me
now, Saito Hajime of the Shinsengumi and become the hero the Bakufu have been
searching for.”
Saito allowed to the point to press a little closer, drawing a thin
trickle of blood. “This is what you
enjoy doing, isn’t it? Killing your
opponent slowly, watching them suffer. Tell
me, Battousai, what is the slowest way to kill a man?”
“You’re doing remarkably well without my help, Saito. But to be honest, I think letting them live
is the slowest way, though I doubt that’s what you wanted to hear.” Saito almost smiled and slowly moved the
blade across the exposed neck, drawing more blood. “Slitting my throat is probably the quickest way to kill me,
Saito.”
“Tell me…what did you intend to be my end? How did you plan to kill me,
Battousai?” Saito watched in
fascination as the amber eyes slid away from his and closed. Battousai’s lips pressed together in
stubborn refusal to say more.
“Interesting. Despite what you
said, you didn't intend to actually kill me tonight. Why is that?”
The hitokiri’s eyes snapped open.
“You think too much, Saito. If
you must know how I planned to do it, fine.
A single thrust through the heart.
Unimaginative, I know. I thought
that you deserved a little respect, considering you are the only opponent I’ve
ever had that could match my skill to any degree. Are you happy?”
“A single thrust through the heart. Fitting.” Saito moved the
katana into position and met Battousai’s gaze again. “Are you prepared, Battousai?”
“Kenshin…my name is Himura Kenshin.” Saito watched as the smaller man’s lips trembled in obvious fear,
but his eyes remained unwavering. “If
you have a chance, would you lay a flower on a grave for me? An iris…she liked the iris. It’s near Otsu…you can’t miss it…it’s the
only one around. Her name
was…Tomoe…my…wife…” The amber eyes closed, hiding their expression. “Now…I am prepared.”
Saito gripped the hilt of the katana tightly, his muscles bunching
in preparation of what he was about to do.
Killing a man in cold blood wasn’t something he normally did…but this
situation called for it…he could never hope to win in a duel against Battousai
as he was now and Hitokiri Battousai had to be stopped at all costs. “Farewell, Hitokiri Battousai…”
“Kenshin…” He whispered,
nearly inaudibly.
***
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Author’s Notes:
1.Such an evil ending…or is it?
Bwahahahahah!
2.There are two more parts that I have written, dealing with this
theme, though set a few weeks from the end of part 2. I decided not to post them at FFn, but I’ll include them here
since they are companion chapters in this fic.
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Definitions:
Bakufu (samurai administration)
Aku Soku Zan (Slay Evil Instantly)
kami (gods)
Shishou (master; teacher)
Kyushu (southern-most island of Japan)
Hokkaido (northern-most island of Japan)
Kuso (damn; sh*t; feces)
saya (sheath; scabbard)
ki (life force, spirit, aura)
wakizashi (short sword)