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 Madness of the Hitokiri

Fanfic By:  Chiruken

 

Part 4

 

 

Saito met the furious amber gaze unperturbed.  “You surprise me, Battousai.”

 

“Shut up.  Draw your katana, Saito, and let’s finish this.”

 

Saito shook his head slowly.  “I think not.  I don’t fight children, Battousai, and that is what you are, isn’t it?  A sick and corrupt child, but a child all the same.”

 

“You’re delusional.  I’m no child.”  The hitokiri narrowed his eyes.  “Now, what were you saying earlier?  You know, before you almost killed Akane-chan.  It was something about my using the children for my sick pleasure, wasn’t it?  Explain.”

 

Saito shrugged.  “How was I supposed to know what your intentions were?  You’re a killer, Battousai.  You, yourself, have admitted to getting some perverse pleasure out of killing.  What was I to think?”

 

“You’re sick, Saito.  I only kill men, if you hadn’t noticed.”  A sudden smile curved his lips.  “You’ve improved.”  He indicated his shoulder.  “You managed to wound me.  I’m impressed.  Tell me, did you enjoy it?”

 

“What kind of sick bastard are you?”

 

Battousai laughed in delight.  “The insane kind, Saito.  Is it my turn yet?  It was starting to get interesting before we were interrupted.”  Before his words registered, the hitokiri struck, his saya knocking Saito back several paces.

 

Saito staggered and grimaced as his arm went numb.  “Which is the real Battousai?”  He asked softly.  “The child or the killer?”

 

“I already told you, I’m no child.  And we both know I like to kill.  So…what do you say?  Child or killer?”  His mocking tone matched the cold amusement glittering in his amber gaze.  “I think the answer is fairly obvious.”

 

“True, you are ruthless and cruel…“  His lips curved into a condescending smirk.  “But you have the mentality of a child.”

 

The hitokiri blinked in surprise.  “That’s a little harsh, Saito, even for you.  I’m a little disappointed.”  He smiled sweetly, golden eyes glittering dangerously.  “What’s the matter, Saito?  I thought you wanted to kill me, not discuss my state of mind.”

 

“We both know that you’re insane, Battousai.  I was merely commenting on your maturity.”  It was amusing to verbally spar with the younger man for a change rather than using blades.

 

“My…maturity?”  He echoed in a deceptively amused and mild tone, then laughed harshly.  “I can assure you that I’m all grown up, Saito.”  The amber eyes filled with wicked amusement.  “Children don’t feel lust, do they?  Nor do they feel the need to relieve that lust…right Saito?”

 

Saito scowled in mock irritation, carefully concealing his own amusement.  “What are you saying?  Just because you feel base urges you’re mature?  That’s hardly accurate, ahou.  The body matures, but does the mind?”

 

“Uh…“  The younger man looked at him blankly, momentarily stunned speechless.

 

“My point exactly.  So…which are you?  Child or adult?”

 

The hitokiri frowned thoughtfully.  “That’s an unfair question, Saito.  By your reasoning any man from the age of thirteen to the age of ninety-three could be physically mature but mentally immature…yourself included.  I think everyone has moments of…“  His voice trailed off as he scowled suspiciously at Saito.  “Are you trying to distract me?”

 

Saito smirked.  “It worked, didn’t it?  It just proves I’m right.”

 

“Are you trying to irritate me?  If so, you’re doing a remarkable job of it.”

 

“So…you only kill men.  That is what you said, isn’t it?”  He waited until the younger man nodded.  “Then since you derive sexual pleasure from killing, would it be accurate to say you’re okama?”

 

The hitokiri flushed in angry embarrassment.  “What kind of question is that?”

 

Saito shrugged, unconcerned by the resentment reflected in the younger man’s amber gaze.  “Simple curiosity, Battousai.”

 

“Well, you can keep your curiosity to yourself.  I can’t believe you’d ask such an insulting question.  Shame on you, Saito Hajime.”

 

“And yet you did offer yourself to me before, did you not?”  Saito watched in amused fascination as the smaller man’s blush deepened.

 

Battousai scowled, eyes narrowed in growing anger.  “And I also warned you that you were unlikely to survive the experience.  You have a remarkable memory when you wish it.”

 

Saito smirked.  “So you admit it then.”

 

“Admit what?”  The hitokiri was clearly becoming irritated by the turn in the conversation.

 

“That you’re okama, of course.  A little sadomasochistic, but okama nonetheless.”

 

A cruel, mocking smile twisted the younger man’s lips.  “Want to find out?”  The glitter of malice in his amber eyes indicated his playfulness was at an end.

 

“Perhaps some other time.”  Saito watched the smaller man warily as he shifted to the side.  “What are you doing?”

 

“Play time is about to begin, Saito.  Are you ready to have some fun?”  Battousai dropped his injured shoulder and grasped the hilt of his katana.  “Your shoulder should have feeling returning by now.”

 

Saito scowled.  “Is that what you were waiting for?  Why?”

 

“I enjoy a little challenge, Saito.”  He laughed brightly.  “It just wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t wait.”

 

Saito shook his head slowly and drew in a quick, fortifying breath.  He was about to wager his life on an assumption…if he were wrong, he would pay for his folly with his life.  “I already told you, Battousai.  I don’t fight children, no matter how deranged they may be.”

 

A sound of pure frustration emerged from between the hitokiri’s clenched teeth.  “Not that again.  Saito, we’ve been through this.  I am not a child.  If you don’t draw your katana I will be forced to kill you without a challenge.”  The younger man’s anger was obvious in his clipped enunciation of each syllable.  “Where’s the fun in that?”

 

“Go ahead.”  Saito shrugged in seeming unconcern.  He was fairly certain the hitokiri didn’t want to actually kill him.  If he did want to, Saito was also certain that he’d already be dead.

 

“What’s the matter with you?  Do you really crave death so much?”  Battousai frowned, clearly puzzled by the other man’s odd behaviour.

 

“Not particularly, no.  But we both know you aren’t going to kill me, don’t we?”  Saito held his breath as the amber gaze narrowed.  This was the ultimate gamble.  He prayed silently that he wasn’t about to lose the most important bet he’d ever made.  “This duel is finished.  You won’t kill me and I won’t draw my katana.”

 

“You know, Saito, someday you’re going to talk yourself right into a grave.”  He sighed and relaxed his stance.  “We’re even now.  Next time we meet, we finish this.”  He turned on his heel and strode away.

 

“What do you mean by even, Battousai?”

 

“You spared my life.  I haven’t forgotten that Saito.  Now, I have allowed you to live as repayment.  That is all.”  A moment later the hitokiri seemed to disappear, leaving Saito standing in the clearing, alone.

 

***

 

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Definitions:

 

ahou  (moron)

 

okama  (homosexual)

 

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Author’s Notes:

 

1.Currently this all I have for this fic, though I will be working on it in the future.