Peace Maker Kurogane Fan Fiction ❯ I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light ❯ Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light

Prologue


Still shaking, Tetsu clutched at the Shinsengumi uniform and sword that had just been thrust at him by Susumu. This is what he wanted, wasn’t it? This was why he had joined the Shinsengumi in the first place, so then why was he so scared? More importantly why was he so weak? Susumu was right about him all along, he was a weakling that didn’t even deserve to avenge his parents, not when he couldn’t cut down the bastard that had murdered them in the first place. In fact that very same murderer would have stabbed him through the heart had it not been for him. Tetsunosuke’s breath caught…Had it not been for Suzu he would be dead now.

Memories of his white haired companion flashed through his mind, but all he could really picture was his supposed master’s hands wrapping around that frail neck and throwing him to the side like he was just his waste to be discarded. He could still feel the fear that coursed through his veins upon seeing those eyes…The very eyes he had watched kill his parents…The very eyes that almost killed him.

Suzu had tried to save him, this much was true, but he was still trying to figure out why. Why would the boy so blatantly betray his master over someone he had just met? Did he really feel such loyalty to him? Did he really care just as much as Tetsu himself did for him? He hardly knew him, right? Then why did he feel this way? Why did he feel such a sense of companionship for the pale haired boy?

Trembling hands slowly unwrapped the package that had been thrust at him, watching as the light blue uniform tumbled out into his lap. Was this his destiny? Would he really go out to kill this very night? Would he really finally avenge his parents’ deaths? Would he finally have justice?

Tatsu had left ages ago after he had refused to speak. He just couldn’t face his older brother right now with the shame of letting their parent’s murderer get away from him so easily. His stomach whined for food, but he hadn’t the heart to feed it. He could smell the scent of smoke coming from outside, and knew that whatever was going to happen tonight must have already begun.

Undoing the tie on his night clothes, Tetsu let the cotton fabric slip off of his shoulders. His skin wasn’t bare long though, because he had soon replaced it with the heavy fabric of the Shinsengumi uniform he had been so longing to wear. Now though, it felt like by just putting it on he was signing his name on the list of future members of hell. For a finishing touch he tied the white headband around his hair. He was a full member now, which meant that there was no turning back from this point.

Placing both his katana and his short sword on his back, the red head made his way out of the training hall, and into the cold air of the night. Now he was never good at stealth, but he would have to start practicing some now. After all he couldn’t very well let Tatsunosuke see him sneaking off to go meet the rest of the Shinsengumi, he’d be dragged back for sure. This was something he could not allow to happen, he had to get back at those Choshu dogs after all…for his parents…for Ayu.

As soon as he left the safety confines of headquarters he could immediately sense the hysteria that was going on outside. Smoke filled the air, making just the act of breathing difficult, and if the smoke wasn’t bad enough he could hear the screams that were traveling through the smoky haze. It was mass panic, and Kyoto was burning…All he had to do now was find out where this panic was coming from.

Not knowing what else to do, Tetsu simply let his feet carry him. People were running by him in a panic, and a few times it looked as if one of them might stop, but upon seeing his uniform they simply scampered away as if they had just seen a demon. So yeah pretty much they were going to be no help.

His feet led him to an old run down district where all the homeless and decadent camped out in abandoned houses and buildings. The place used to be a respectable shopping arcade, but the opium dealers and low lives had chased all the respectable people from the vicinity. Now all that was left was the vagabonds and street urchin that stalked around at night. He didn’t know what had possessed him to come here, he could only blame it on his head still being messed up from his earlier traumatic experience.

If you asked him now he couldn’t tell you why he had entered the old shed. There were no signs that it was even being used, and yet Tetsu felt a pull to slide open the old door to the damp and musty building. Immediately upon entering he could tell that it was definitely not vacant. It might have had something to do with the faint light coming from the back of the room, or the small whimpering sounds coming from behind the many bails of hay, but the main thing that struck his senses was the smell.

The smell was a combination of things that struck different thoughts in his memory. The first was the rich salty smell that he had become accustomed to from all of the used rooms at Shimabara when one of their many customers had gone away satisfied, what that smell was doing here he had no idea, but it didn’t change the fact that it was. Now the second was sadly more familiar. That of course was the old coppery smell of dried blood.

He immediately became on guard. Whatever had happened in this place it had left a nasty reminder for whoever might stumble upon it. The red head once again looked down at his uniform, and for the first time since putting it on felt a hesitation. The Shinsengumi had a lot of enemies, and especially right now it was not a good idea for him to be wandering up to some stranger adorning their garments. Despite how much he might be reluctant to admit it, he wasn’t the best fighter, and if it came to it he didn’t know how many Choshu Ronin he could take. Now if he were merely just a smart ass 15 year old kid that happened to get lost, then they might not be so inclined to attack.

Tetsu shrugged off the outer layer of his Yukata, and quickly untied his white headband, laying them both in a nice pile at the entry way to the building. Now that he was rid of any identifying features he made his way towards the sound of whimpering, and practically gasped when he found out just where those noises were coming from.

“Suzu?” His friend was sitting huddled in the corner of the room, curled up in what looked to be a make-shift bed. His head was buried in his knees, effectively hiding the face that was no doubt crying. Though that face wasn’t hidden for long, because it shot up as soon as it heard Tetsunosuke’s timid voice.

The boy quickly scrambled to wipe at his tear streaked eyes, turning red with embarrassment as having been caught crying. “What the hell are you doing here?” There was anger in his voice, but also a note of surprise, and he couldn’t be sure but he thought might have been relief.

He ignored the harsh tone though, and instead sank to his knees beside his obviously upset friend. “What’s wrong Suzu?” The pale haired boy actually looked offended by his concern.

“Nothing’s wrong with me Tetsu. Why did you come here?” As Tetsu planted himself on the bed the boy was sitting on, he couldn’t help but notice how Suzu’s eyes kept traveling from it to him as if in the middle of being caught in some dirty secret. He ignored that though, just like he ignored Suzu’s question. In all honesty he had no idea why he was there, he just was. He simply just leaned back against the same wall Suzu was using for support, staring apprehensively at their surroundings. After a few moments of an uncomfortable silence Suzu’s voice filled the cold stagnant air. “Are…” His voice cracked a little, but then he seemed to get a hold of himself. “Are you alright?”

It was strange how such simple of a question could affect him so much. Tetsu glanced over at his companion and, for the first time in what felt like ages, actually smiled. “Not really…you?”

Suzu looked shocked to say the least. “How can you sound so happy when you say that?” To this Tetsu once more simply grinned, and gave a small shrug.

“I dunno, I guess I’m just happier when I’m with you…When I’m not wanting to hit you for being a pompous slanted eyed goblin cat that is.” He gave a small laugh, but Suzu didn’t look all that amused.

The pale haired boy was simply staring dumbfoundedly at him for the longest time, before a smirk actually came to his face. “You’re really weird…Has anyone ever told you that?”

Putting a hand up to his chin, Tetsu actually seriously considered the question. Flashes of Tatsu, Ayu, Susumu, Shinpachi, Sano, Heisuke, and even Mr. Okita filled his head. “You know you would actually be surprised by how often I get told that.”

To his amazement he actually heard a laugh escape Suzu’s throat at that. A hand came up to his red mane, roughly doing its best to mess it all up. “How am I not surprised by that?” Tetsu couldn’t help but stare at Suzu, because the weirdest thing had just happened. When the boy’s hand had just been in his hair the strangest feeling had traveled through him, it was almost like a jolt of electricity passing down his spine. He was only mildly aware at how bad he must have been staring when a hand was waved in front of his face. “Hey brat, you still with me?” His red tinted eyes snapped up to glare at the person he had been staring at.

He quickly batted the hand away from his face, doing his best to glare. “Don’t call me brat, you brat!” Okay, so it was lame, but he was kinda confused at the moment so you couldn’t really blame him.

A white eyebrow rose at that. “Oh yeah, that’s original. You’re not too good at this whole comeback thing are you brat?” Feeling his patience hit its pentacle, Tetsu did the only thing that really came to his head at the moment, he smacked Suzu upside the head…really hard.

“I told you not to call me brat!” Suzu rubbed the back of his head, using his other hand to put up in defense.

“Alright alright I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re a brat…” With a smirk he added. “not all the time anyways.” Now he didn’t know why, but he knew he couldn’t help it, he blushed when Suzu said that. Apparently Suzu noticed his discoloration, for he added. “Hey, what’s the matter?”

Tetsu’s gaze quickly shot to the floor. Everyone always told him that his face was like glass, and he definitely didn’t want Suzu to be reading him when he himself didn’t know what it was he was feeling. “It’s just…I…” He quickly shook his head. “It’s nothing.” Suzu didn’t pry, and as they both just sat there in the silence the question that had been weighing him down suddenly came whirling back. “Suzu…” He paused, not quite sure how to voice his question. “Back at that house…you could have just let him kill me.” He noticed how Suzu gripped the sleeping roll rather tightly at mention of the incident, but knew he had to go on. “But you didn’t, you saved me…why?”

Suzu’s eyes shut. “I saved you because you were really my first, and only friend…I didn’t want you to die. And because I…I…” As he trailed off his grip on the bed roll slackened. His eyes were now open, but they seemed to just be staring off into space.

Not really knowing what was going on, Tetsu slowly crawled so that he was sitting right in front of the other boy. His innocent puppy dog eyes were staring intently into Suzu’s gray ones. “Because you what?”

It seemed for a second that Suzu was going to answer him. His eyes traveled up and down Tetsu’s body, as if debating what he should say, but finally he simply turned his head to the side. “It’s nothing.” Really if you thought about it, it was just scary how similar they both were. Suzu bit at his bottom lip to stop the tremble that went through his body. “Master was really upset with me…he didn’t even want me to go with him to Ikedeya Inn.” He was still looking away from him, but Tetsu could see the look of pain that crossed his features. “He doesn’t trust me anymore, and he shouldn’t…I betrayed him.”

Tetsu gently grabbed at Suzu’s face, ignoring that same jolt of electricity that happened yet again, and turned it to look at him. “Suzu you didn’t betray him…He should never have asked you to do that in the first place.” He paused before adding. “Nobody should ever make you kill if you don’t want to.”

A shudder racked his body when the wrist that was holding Suzu’s face was grabbed. “You’re wrong.” Tetsu drew his eyebrows together, thoroughly confused about what he was wrong about, but it was quickly explained. “I do want to kill…” Suzu’s eyes were alight with malice, and a shocked Tetsu tried to rip his hand away but it was kept firmly in place. “I have no qualms about killing those Mibu Wolves that murdered my brother…” Once again the red head tried to pull away, getting increasingly worried every second, but his arm held steadfast. “I only didn’t want to kill you.” Tetsu gasped as he was lurched forward, so that both of their mouths connected in a surprising kiss.

It was like the entire universe had suddenly expanded and then once again contracted. The kiss was rather clumsy and forced, neither one of them being experienced enough other than to mash their lips together in an awkward way, but when Suzu pulled away Tetsunosuke couldn’t help but gasp.

A hand traveled up to his lips, feeling them as if to make sure what had just happened was actually real. His eyebrows were knitted in confusion as he lightly traced the spots where Suzu had just kissed him. He didn’t understand what had just happened. He didn’t understand why Suzu had just kissed him, but he couldn’t help the feeling that he liked it. “Suzu?”

The pale haired boy in question looked completely shocked by his actions, and his mouth kept opening and closing in bewilderment. His eyes were dilated to the point of slits, and his cheeks were a deep burning red. “I’m sorry…I don’t know why I just did that…I…I have to go.” Without another word Suzu sprang to his feet, dashing as quickly as he could out the door, leaving Tetsu alone to his very confused thoughts.

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After what felt like a lifetime, but was actually in reality probably only a couple of minutes, Tetsu had picked himself up and started his trek towards the rest of the Shinsengumi. Now one might think that this might be a hard thing to do, but Suzu had given him a rather fool proof hint about where they were. Ikedeya Inn is what he had said, and slowly but surely that was where he was heading.

So many questions were running through his mind, the biggest of course being why Suzu had kissed him. That though he realized he wasn’t going to know until he found the white haired boy himself, which might not be too easy of a task. He could still taste the boy on his lips, and his mind was driving him mad with thoughts of wanting to do it again. He knew he shouldn’t be concerned about such a thing now though, not when he had so many other problems to worry about.

Like for instance what he was going to do when he saw Toshimaro Yoshida. Would he be able to kill him? Could he kill him? The closer and closer he got to the flames of the inn, the more those questions weighed on his mind.

“Puppy!” Tetsu startled as he heard the familiar voice of one of his Shinsengumi compatriots. He spun around to a nearby alley, and saw the fiery red head name Shinpachi Nakagura rushing to his side. He was completely out of breath by the time he reached him, and he also noticed the stains of blood covering his person. “Tetsunosuke what are you doing here? I thought you were sick.”

It was then that he became aware of his surroundings, and just how much fighting was actually going on around him. His stomach became queasy as he saw all of the bodies littering the streets of Kyoto, both Choshu and Shinsengumi alike. Were these any of his friends that had been slain tonight?

Realizing that Shinpachi had asked him a question, he glanced up to the samurai, giving him a weary smile. “Yeah…well I’m suddenly feeling much better.” That was a lie if he had ever heard one. Not only was he not feeling better, but in fact he was feeling much worse after seeing the carnage taking place on the normally peaceful streets.

Shinpachi didn’t seem to realize this however, either that or he just didn’t care, for he just nodded. “Alright then…come with me and I’ll take you to the Vice Commander. If you stay out here in the open like this you’re going to get yourself killed.”

With a curt nod Tetsu quickly raced after Shinpachi, trying hard to keep up with his fast pace. No sooner had he caught up to the red head, then was he back with the majority of Shinsengumi, which all things considering wasn’t too great of a number.

A feeling of dread rushed over him when one of the Choshu Ronin rushed him, and he didn’t even comprehend drawing his sword. The truth of the matter is that he would have probably died there, had a sword not intervened.

The sound of metal hitting metal seemed to effectively knock him out of his stupor, and he glanced up to see just who his savior was. His eyes widened in surprise when the eyes of the demon vice commander met his. Hijikata had saved him? “What the hell do you think you’re doing here Ichimura?” As he was saying this he blocked yet another attack, drenching himself with the blood of a samurai. “I thought you were back at headquarters.”

“I…I was, but I wanted to help fight!” To this he received a scoff, and he tried to hide the sickening feeling in his stomach when he saw Shinpachi behead one of the Choshu from nearby.

“Fine, but if you’re going to fight then you might try doing it. This is a real battle, and I can’t babysit you. The last thing I need is your idiotic death on my conscience.” He was going to get offended by that, but then he realized that that was just Hijikata’s bastardly way of telling him to be careful.

Tetsu gave a quick nod before pulling out both his swords. “Understood.” Just as he had withdrew his weapons, a warrior charged at him, and it was all he could do just to defend himself.

The sheer force of the swing sent him sprawling to the ground, and he covered his face to shield himself the blow he was no doubt about to receive. But there was no blow, there was only the warm spray of blood that drenched him from above. Still a little stunned that he had once again been saved, he removed his arms to look at who had this time done the saving.

Souji was panting above him as he slowly slid his sword out of his attacker’s chest. “Mr. Okita?” The only thing that even gave him any inclination that this was the same kind hearted Souji that he knew was the small smile he received.

“Tetsu you have to be more careful. This is life or death out here. If you think you can’t handle it please go find a safe place to hide.” That sentence hurt worse than any sword wound ever could. Is that what they thought of him…That he was some brat that couldn’t take care of himself?

Quickly pushing himself up from the ground, he did his best to shake his head. “No, I want to fight!” He raised both of his swords. “I’ll be fine.” Would everyone always treat him like this? He had gotten stronger since he had joined them, maybe not much, but he had gotten stronger!

He would be fine, why wouldn’t they trust him? “Oh we’ll see about that!” That voice! His thoughts were put on hold as he quickly crossed his swords in front of him, barely able to block the thrust that was meant to be his death. The impact was so strong that it sent him flying. With a load exclamation he crashed into the nearby building, effectively shattering all the wood that was around him.

His head was fuzzy, as was his vision, but what he could see were the same eyes he had seen in the fire two years ago. “So Yoshida you finally decide to show yourself, and here I thought you were going to take the cowards way out.”

Souji was standing in front of him, once again protecting him when he couldn’t do so himself. “Souji Okita…How I have waited to soak my sword with your blood.” The cold voice sent shivers done his spine, and as they traveled through him they also seemed to bring out a pain he hadn’t noticed before. Looking down he saw that his Yukata was slowly filling with blood, apparently Yoshida had hit him with that strike.

Giving a smirk, Souji quickly got into a defensive stance, weighing out his opponent. “Those should be my words Choshu dog.” Tetsu struggled to get to his feet, still listening intently to everything Okita said. “You didn’t really think this plan of yours would work, did you?”

Yoshida resheathed his sword, obviously going for a quick draw attack. “You know what…yeah, I kinda did.” Just like that he withdrew his sword, going in for the attack. His movements were lightning fast, and it took everything Tetsu had just to follow it with his eyes. Souji quickly parried the move with one hand, and went for a slash of his own. The fighting had really started to begin.

Tetsu struggled to move against the walls, taking great care to follow the fight between the two samurai. With every step he took the wound on his chest bled more, and with every step he took he began to get more and more lightheaded. No, he wouldn’t pass out here though…he had to see this thing through to the end.

He made it all the way to the shed that was positioned behind where Yoshida was standing before collapsing. A hand clutched at the seeping wound in his chest, and it took everything he had just to keep his eyes open.

Okita made for the offensive, effectively drawing Yoshida back to a corner, that is before the man used his sheath to kick up dirt from the ground to distract Souji with. As he was removing the gritty dirt from his eyes Yoshida charged. Souji barely got his sword up in time, still slightly disoriented from the dirt that had been thrown in his eyes.

“You really don’t deserve to be the leader of the first unit.” Yoshida slashed upwards. “You’re too sloppy!” The slash barely connected, but with just the tip it managed to slice a hole in Okita’s shoulder.

Tetsu heard him cry out, but he still managed to block the next attack. “Oh I’m sloppy?” Okita swung, knocking the man back. “I’m not the one who let all the information about tonight leak out, am I now?”

Despite the slightly dilated eyes, you could never tell that Yoshida had just had the shock of being driven back to a defensive position. “Is that so? Well maybe you’re right then…maybe I have gotten sloppy.”

Tetsu had never seen anything like how Souji’s eyes seemed to turn to that of a demon as he made his next move. “Then why don’t you die!” Okita thrust forward, breaking through Yoshida’s attack and impaling him right through the stomach.

He watched in slow motion as Yoshida slowly examined the wound in his gut, and then in shock slowly fell to his knees, ignoring the blood that was slowly leaking from his mouth. Okita didn’t even seem fazed by this recent event, and sheathed his sword with an impassive look on his face. Without a second thought he turned his back on the defeated samurai, and that was when it happened.

The next few moments happened in such a blur that Tetsu can barely recall what actually happened. The first thing he saw though was Yoshida’s sword rise for the strike towards Okita, and he knew that he couldn’t let someone he considered as a friend be stabbed in the back. With a cry he jumped forward, stabbing Yoshida in the side before his blade could run through its target. He had effectively made the broken samurai miss its intended target of Souji’s heart, and instead the sword made a long gash down the side of Okita’s leg as it clambered to the ground. After realizing the threat of the attack, Okita spun back around, decapitating Yoshida in one quick slash.

Blood once again sprayed across his face, but at the moment he couldn’t care. He had just taken part in the killing of someone. He had just help kill his parent’s murderer. Tetsu let go of the sword that was still imbedded in Yoshida’s dead body, immediately falling backwards.

Souji limped towards him, leaning down to obviously check if he was alright. But he wasn’t alright, in fact he didn’t think he would be alright again for quite some time. He almost screamed when the samurai placed a hand on his shoulder, but he managed to keep himself together.

He was shaking from both fear and blood loss, and he almost didn’t hear the words that Okita was calmly muttering to him. “It’s alright now Tetsu. It’s all over…You can rest now.” Those were the words he had been so longing to hear. It was all over. He had got his vengeance, and he could finally rest. With those words as comfort, he promptly passed out cold onto Souji’s chest. What happened after that is a mystery even to him. But whatever it was he could take comfort in it, because it was all over…finally

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