Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 3

Part 3

~~Two years later~~ (this would make saito 20)

"I don't think this is a good idea, Master. Tokugawa is unstable."

"Pssh, nonsense, Saito. Besides, what can he do to me?"

Just as Saito was about to reply, Tokugawa strolled in.

"Well, Master Hashiba, what is this grand scheme of yours?"

"Now, I know that your regime isn't as strong as you'd like to think, Tokugawa," Oni said, and held up a hand, forestalling Tokugawa's protest. "I figure you'll need some help sooner or later, so I'm offering the services of my trained fighters, to, ah, keep the peace?"

"I know your code, Hashiba."

"Yes yes. Well, what do you think?"

"Hmm, and what would your 'fighters' do?"

"Aku soku zan, of course. But only for you."

"I suppose your fighters are already assembled?"

"For the most part, yes. Awaiting your orders."

"Does this group have a name? Nevermind. I don't want to know. But I think I might have something for you. The Ishin-shishi are gaining more and more power. I still think it'll be awhile before they become a real threat to me, but I'd like to have a plan of action just in case. Very well, Hashiba. Get your group ready and I'll see to it that they get the authority they need to keep the peace." Tokugawa then got up and left.

"Hashiba? Where'd he get that one from?" Saito asked.

"Come now, Saito. You didn't honestly think that my real name was 'Oni', did you?"

"Well, I never know with you. Besides, Oni fits, doesn't it?"

"Haha, funny, Saito. Now then, who do you think I should make captain of my little group? Other than you. Any suggestions?"

"I'd say Okita, but he's a little young."

"Nonsense. He's what? 16, 17 now? The revolution won't start for at least another year, so he'll have time to grow up."

"What makes you think it'll take that long?"

"Because, my boy, the Ishin-shishi are about as organized as I am. They're only in the talking stage."

"How do you know?"

"Oh, I have my ways. I have spies too," Oni said with a smile.

~~8 Months later~~

"Okita-san! Saito-san wants to see you in his office right away!"

The boy swaggered nonchalantly out of the training ring at his summons. He met Saito in the older man's office.

"Yes, Saito?"

"Oni and I have decided that you will be the Shinsen-gumi's first captain."

The boy's mouth dropped.

Saito chuckled. "I'm going to be helping Master Oni in gathering his pack of wolves, as he likes to call it, so you get the job. Now since you knew this was a possibilty, you've already been briefed on your responsibilities, so there is no need for me to go into great detail right now."

"Th-thank you, Saito-san!" Okita said, bowing deeply. He ran merrily from the room.

Saito only smiled and went back to his paper work.

~~One year later~~ (saitos about 22)

Uiichiro sighed before he ran the man through. He flung the blood from his blade.

"Too easy. Hey, Okita!"

Okita's head poked out from around a building.

"Dirty work's done, Captain."

"It's not the dirty work that bothers me, Uiichiro. It's all the gore that has to be cleaned up," Okita said, picking his way through the growing pools of blood.

"And you're the first division captain? Humph. Scared of a little blood."

Okita grew serious. "Uiichiro, I'm First Captain for the same reason you're Second."

"What's that?"

"Couldn't go any higher."

Uiichiro hissed an oath. "I'll have you know that I'm bigger, stronger, and faster than you'll ever be, Okita-*chan*."

"Enough!" Saito said, startling them both with his sudden appearance. "Uiichiro, you just proved why Okita is in a higher position than you. Okita, being in that position, you ought to know better."

"Saito is right, kids," Oni said. "I will not tolerate bickering among my fighters. Now, this was only a training exercise, but if it had been real, you two could have alerted more guards with your arguing. What, Okita?"

"Didn't he just kill a man? What's not real about that?"

Oni waved a dismissive hand. "He was just some poor soul that didn't want to live anyways. But forget about that. Will this ever happen again?"

"No, Master," Okita and Uiichiro said in the same breath.

"Good. Now get out of here so the cleaners can do their job."

~~4 months later~~

"I'm telling you, Oni, the Choshu clan is breathing down my neck! Damn that Katsura! I want the Shinsen-gumi to dispose of him!"

"Easy, Tokugawa. I've got my men all over the city. Nothing will happen tonight. If you like, you can stay here where my men can protect you."

"No thanks. I'll take my chances with my own guards."

*****

"Did you hear about this? Choshu hired some assassin and he's supposedly really good."

"Worried, Okita?"

"Quiet, Uiichiro. They're calling him Hitokiri Battousai. Hey, Saito! Have you heard about this?"

Saito shook his head. "Okita-san, I suggest you let Master Oni handle the Battousai."

~~Later that week~~

"Is this guy some kind of super man? He's killed thirteen of my men in the past week! Saito, Okita, Uiichiro! Get your asses in here now!" Oni roared. The three captains appeared as if by magic.

"What's up, boss?" Uiichiro asked.

"Why hasn't the Battousai been neutralized?" Oni asked, glaring at each of them.

"Sir, he's too strong for our patrols," Saito said.

"Don't give me that bullshit! Take care of it yourselves!"

~~The next night~~

Okita and Saito led a raid on a well known Imperialist hideaway. They were hoping to lure the Battousai out where they would fight him.

"Saito-san? Are you sure he'll come here?" Okita asked, as the other Shinsen-gumi troops tore through the resistant Imperialists.

"If he's the warrior people are claiming him to be, he'll show."

Just then, a shout worked its way through the ranks of the Shinsen-gumi.

"Battousai!!"

Okita and Saito headed for the disturbance. The troops parted to let them through.

When they got to him, the Battousai was standing there calmly waiting for them.

"We finally meet, Battousai," Okita said.

"So it seems, Okita Soji, first division captain of the Shinsen-gumi. And if I'm not mistaken, Saito Hajime, third division captain is with you as well. A little unfair, don't you think?"

"The two of us against you?" Okita asked.

"No, me against both of you," the Battousai said, then charged at Okita.

Okita sidestepped and swung at the Battousai's back. However, the Battousai wasn't where he should have been. Okita hit empty air. The Battousai was now behind Okita. Okita spun around and lunged. The Battousai parried the blow and kicked out with his right leg, catching Okita in the stomach. Okita looked as if he never felt it. He swung his sword again, and the Battousai lost a bit off the end of his ponytail as he dropped under the sword. He came back up to see Okita a few yards away, trying to catch his breath.

"You'll pay for that inch of hair," the Battousai said, glaring at Okita.

Okita looked up, and a thin trail of blood worked its way out of the corner of his mouth. He ignored it, saying, "You think so, huh?" He gripped his sword in his left hand.

The Battousai recognized it for what it was, and his eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"Never seen gatotsu, I take it?" Okita asked, a nasty little glint in his eyes.

"There's a first time for everything," the Battousai said.

"I agree. Such as the first time the Battousai loses."

"Huh. I was going to say the first time the Shinsen-gumi loses one of its captains. Of course, it won't be the last."

Okita frowned angrily, and then charged at the man, using the first gatotsu stance.

The Battousai leapt over Okita, but just as he was about to knock the boy off his feet, Saito gave Okita a "nudge" out of the Battousai's way. Okita gave Saito a *look* for interfering.

The Battousai also was not pleased. His gold eyes were glittering in rage at such tricks. "Here I thought the Shinsen-gumi were more honorable than that," he said.

Saito shrugged. "We look out for our own. Okita-san, I think it's time to return home. We don't want to leave the Battousai's big red splatter for the good people to wake up to." With that, he turned and walked away, effectively ending the battle. Okita followed after a moment's hesitation.