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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The young man tossed three stones into the air and held his hands
out, missing each of them. “Oro?”
He couldn’t hold in the startled sound of dismay as he blinked, amber
eyes gentle and a little sad, touched with a hint of violet, as his lips curved
into a sweetly innocent smile.
“I…missed?” Laughter followed
his soft inquiry as the children surrounding him jumped up and down. “I don’t think I’m very good at
juggling.” His statement was met with a
chorus of high-pitched agreements. He
shook his head and tossed the stones again with similar results.
Saito froze and stared in horrified shock at the scene before
him. Surrounded by laughing children, Battousai tossed stones into
the air and dropped them. The sick
bastard was targeting children now?
Saito clenched his teeth in anger.
Did his depravity have any restrictions? The captain of the third squad of the Shinsengumi quickly ducked
behind a stand of trees to watch unobserved for an opportunity to attack with
success.
Battousai looked up, golden eyes narrowed suspiciously as he sensed
danger nearby. “Battousai-san…“ He shook his head
imperceptibly and turned with a smile to the woman approaching him. “The messenger just arrived.” She held an envelope out to him. “He left this for you.”
Saito relaxed as the woman approached the hitokiri and spoke to him, distracting his wary
inspection of the road in Saito’s direction.
That had been too close. He’d
been certain his presence had been detected.
Though grateful for the diversion, Saito shook his head at the foolish
woman. Did she not understand the
danger she was in?
“Thank you, Terumi-dono.” He bowed respectfully
and tucked the envelope inside his kimono.
When he straightened he smiled.
“Do you know how to juggle, Terumi-dono?”
The woman blinked in surprise and blushed. She found the younger man’s unusual coloring
fascinating…and attractive. She’d never
seen hair the color of blood before.
But it was his eyes that were the most remarkable…they were a beautiful
and startling shade of amber, so warm and intense it took her breath away. Battousai was such a pleasant and polite
visitor…unlike most of the Ishinshishi men who stopped at her home during their missions. But his tendency to childish pastimes was
disconcerting. “Um…Well, yes I do. Why?”
He knelt beside the youngest child. “Did you hear that, Akane-chan? Terumi-dono knows how to
juggle.” He smiled up at the woman,
expression sweet and hopeful. “Would
you teach me how to juggle, Terumi-dono?”
Saito scowled. He was too
far away to hear what was being said.
However, the shocked expression the woman wore hinted at more of
Battousai’s sick perversion. How dare
he use those innocent children to fuel his debased fantasies? Saito felt his anger towards the hitokiri grow. He should have killed him when he had the
chance, Saito thought grimly.
“Well…I suppose so.” Terumi
smiled a little hesitantly. “It’s
actually very easy.” She held her hand
out as the young hitokiri showed her the stones. She inspected them and smiled.
“One…two…three…” She tossed the
stones in sequence and deftly caught them to toss them again.
Battousai watched intently, memorizing what she did. “It does look easy when you do it,
Terumi-dono.” He turned abruptly away
from the juggling woman, expression hardening as he caught the unmistakable
surge of a strong toushi nearby.
He hadn’t been wrong. There was
someone here.
Saito grasped the hilt of his katana tightly. The hitokiri
sensed his presence. He had to draw him
away from the children. He couldn’t
allow Battousai to harm the innocents surrounding him.
“Battousai-san? Is
something wrong?” Terumi bit her lip
anxiously. He looked so…dangerous
now. Gone was the playful innocence of
a moment ago. She was reminded with a
jolt that this polite young man who played with her children was actually a
hitokiri…a dangerous and unpredictable killer.
He turned slowly, expression softening a little. “Thank you, Terumi-dono. May I try now?” Wordlessly, she held out the stones, eyes wide and
frightened. “Hmm…Like this?” Slowly, awkwardly at first, he juggled the
stones. “Terumi-dono, you should take
the children inside now.” He smiled, a
sad twist of his lips, as he continued tossing the stones and catching them. Always he had to be on guard. There was never a moment that he could relax
and take enjoyment from the simple pleasure of playing with the children. He was tired of having to fight. He just wanted to be left alone, though he
knew that was impossible. He had his
duties to carry out for the Ishinshishi, no matter how distasteful they were
becoming. “It may not be safe to be
outside right now.” He finished softly.
“Wh-what is happening?”
Terumi watched as the young hitokiri juggled with increasing skill.
“I’m not certain, but I think it would be for the best if you
stayed inside for a while.” He deftly
caught the three stones and held them out to her with a polite bow. “Thank you for teaching me,
Terumi-dono.” He turned and strode
away, steps silent as he grasped the hilt of his katana.
Saito breathed a sigh of relief as the woman gathered the children
and herded them into the house. She
watched as the hitokiri walked away with a frightened expression. Saito had to lure him further away from
those children.
It was Saito. He recognized
his kenki now. What was Saito Hajime doing here? Battousai shook his head sharply. It didn’t matter why. He was here and that meant he had another
chance to play with him. But not here. It was too close to the children. He frowned suspiciously. Saito was moving. At least it was away from Terumi and her children. He’d follow…and maybe have some fun.
When he thought it was a safe distance from the woman and children,
Saito stopped moving. He looked around
himself, getting a feel for the terrain.
He knew the hitokiri had followed him and wasn’t too far behind.
Battousai stepped into the clearing and smiled. “Saito.
What an interesting coincidence.”
“Battousai. I should have
killed you when I had the chance.”
Saito calmly drew his katana. “I
won’t make the same mistake twice.”
The younger man shook his head slowly, his expression almost
sad. “Unless your skills have improved
since last we fought, we both know what the outcome of this duel will be.”
“You must be stopped, Battousai.
This has gone on far too long already.”
He shifted his stance as the smaller man closed the distance slowly.
He laughed and shook his head.
“This is very familiar, Saito. I
think you said that last time.” He
stopped and tilted his head to the side.
“I’m not in as good a mood this time since I haven’t killed yet, but I’ll
try to play along.” He couldn’t help
adding the reminder of their last meeting and the revealing conversation they’d
had at that time.
Saito snarled in fury.
“You’re a sick bastard, Battousai.
I will not allow you to use those innocent children in your pursuit of
corrupt pleasure.” He sprang forward in
the Gatoutsu.
“What?!” The young hitokiri
was shocked into momentary immobility.
At the last instant he recovered himself enough to dodge Saito’s attack,
though he was too slow to escape unscathed.
He landed with a hiss of pain and clutched his shoulder. “What the hell are you babbling about,
Saito?”
Saito spun and attacked again.
“The children, Battousai. You
will not harm them for your sick and deranged amusement!”
Battousai moved quickly out of the older man’s longer reach. “Have you lost your ability to reason,
Saito? Think about what you just
said.” He scowled in irritation when
Saito spun to attack again. “Are you
even listening to me?” His tone
reflected his growing exasperation.
“B-Battousai-san!” The
terrified cry pierced the clearing and in horror Saito realized a child stood
in a direct path of his attack…and he had no way of stopping his forward
momentum.
With a snarled oath the hitokiri moved with his legendary speed and
placed himself between the child and Saito’s katana protectively. “Stop this insanity, Saito!” He drew his katana with blinding speed,
deflecting the attack. He shook with
barely leashed fury. “Have you no
sense? Of all the stupid, idiotic…Kami-sama!
You say I’m insane?!” He
turned and quickly knelt by the sobbing child.
“Akane-chan…” He spoke gently,
trying to calm the hysterical girl.
“Hush now, Koneko-chan. You’re safe now, not
hurt, right?” With a loud wail she
threw herself into his arms.
Slowly, Saito lowered his katana and stared in disbelief at the hitokiri as he attempted to calm the child. This behaviour made no sense to him. Battousai was a cruel and ruthless killer. It seemed impossible to believe that such a man could display such gentle concern.
“You shouldn’t be here, Koneko-chan. It isn’t safe. Where is
Terumi-dono?” The young man choked as
the small arms tightened around his neck.
“A-Akane-chan…You’re holding too tight…” He tried unsuccessfully to loosen her grip. With a sigh he gave up and soothingly patted
her back. “Now, now…o more tears. I like smiles, remember? You have such a beautiful smile,
Koneko-chan. May I please see it?”
Saito’s eyebrows rose to meet his hairline. What was this? If he didn’t know better, he’d swear the hitokiri actually liked
children, little fungi that they could be.
He titled his head to the side and studied the smaller man closely. Now that he was able to observe Battousai in
an unguarded moment, it was obvious that he was much younger than Saito had
first believed. Just how old was the
hitokiri anyway?
“B-Battousai-san…“ The
little girl sniffled loudly and placed her hands on either side of his face to
stare solemnly into his eyes. “I-I was
worried about you. You always stay and
make me usagi-onigiri but you didn’t this time.
You left and didn’t say good-bye.”
“I’m sorry, Koneko-chan. I
promise not to worry you again.”
“And mama was worried, too.
She said because you’re a hidari-kiki that you were in some kind of trouble.” Saito blinked.
Hidari-kiki? “And because I’m a
hidari-kiki I wanted to help.” Did the child
mean hitokiri? Saito wondered silently.
“Uh…hidari-kiki, Akane-chan?”
Battousai frowned uncertainly.
“Uh huh. Hidari-kiki
Battousai.” She caught sight of his
injured shoulder. “Oh no! You got owied ‘cause I didn’t get here
faster!” Saito mouth the word ‘owied’
when me met the hitokiri’s amber gaze with a raised eyebrow.
Battousai sent him a withering glare and promptly ignored him. “It’s just a little owie, Koneko-chan. Like when I fell off the roof last time I
was visiting.”
“I don’t know…you were just pretending then. I know ‘cause I saw you laughing when you
thought no one was looking. But this
owie looks real.” She touched her fingers
to the injury gently. “It feels real,
too. Maybe you need a kiss better. Would that make it better?”
“A…kiss better?” Battousai
looked puzzled. “What’s that? Is it a medicine?”
The little girl giggled.
“Silly! You always ask such
silly questions, Battousai-san. Like
when you asked what tako-age was and you didn’t know how to play oni gokko.”
His puzzled expression deepened.
“Is it…a game?” He asked it
hesitantly, his tone uncertain. He
looked to Saito questioningly, forgetting in his confusion momentarily to whom
he was turning. Saito only stared at
him blankly. Was it possible that the
hitokiri truly didn’t know?
The girl sighed, clearly exasperated with the young man. “A kiss better is what mama gives us when we
have big owies.” She leaned close and
pressed her lips to his cheek. “Like
that.”
Saito shook his head slowly at the dazed expression Battousai
wore. What kind of man was he? How could a cold-blooded killer be so…well,
naïve?
The young hitokiri touched his fingers to his cheek slowly. “Thank you, Koneko-chan.” He whispered softly, voice husky with deep
emotion. “I-it feels…better.”
The girl frowned and leaned closer. “Are you sure?” She
raised her hand and touched her fingers to his cheek gently. “If it feels better, Battousai-san…why are
you crying?” She asked in a mock
whisper.
Saito started and peered closer at the younger man’s averted face
and shook his head slowly at Battousai’s sad smile. “Didn’t you know?”
Hitokiri Battousai whispered back.
“It’s a grown-up’s way of saying it feels all better. Now, Koneko-chan, now that you’ve made my
owie all better you should hurry home.
Terumi-dono will worry if you don’t.”
She nodded and stood, quickly running towards her home. When the girl was out of sight, Battousai
stood slowly and faced Saito, expression grim.
“That was,,,stupid.” His tone
was cold and harsh, a striking contrast to what it had been mere moments
earlier.
**To Be Continued…**
***
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Definitions:
Oro (word created by Watsuki-sama
meaning roughly ‘huh?’)
Battousai (nickname roughly meaning
‘sword-drawer’)
Battousai-san (Mr. Battousai)
hitokiri (manslayer; lit. people cutter)
Terumi-dono (Miss Terumi [formal and excessively
polite archaic form of address closer in meaning to Mistress Terumi], highly
respectful way of speaking to someone of a higher station)
Ishinshishi (imperialists; patriots)
Akane-chan (little Akane [used after a person’s
given name to express intimacy and affection:
Akane-chan (also used as a diminutive for children and pets): Neko-chan
(little cat)])
toushi (fighting spirit)
katana (Japanese sword)
kenki (swordsman’s spirit)
Kami-sama (God)
Koneko-chan (little kitten)
usagi-onigiri (rabbit rice balls)
hidari-kiki (left-handed person)
tako-age
(kite flying)
oni gokko
(tag)
saya (sheath)