Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Survival of the Spirit ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"We shadow box and double cross yet need the chase...his eyes are like angels his heart is cold..." Sade Smooth Operator

Holding his mind together by sheer will power Kenshin moves in the shadows stalking his prey. Yet even the best need help and something wound too tightly will crack and break. Kenshin finds his steps taking him back to where he had been happy knowing that if he dares show his face he will bring pain and death to those he loves.

Sorry to have taken so long to update. There'll be more soon.

Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Angst / Drama / Hentai / Occult | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 05.31.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 852 | Status: Completed

Survival of the Spirit Chapter 14 No one paid any attention to the man with the red buzz cut who sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. Aside from his red hair there was nothing to distinguish him from any other young man who came to this place. His jeans were so dirty they could stand up by themselves, his sneakers were well worn. When he opened his jacket a threadbare tee came into view. The beer he was drinking was the least expensive of what was offered here but in this place there were no premium beers or sake to be found. There were women too, women who wore very little make-up and wore what passed in modern day Japanfor sensible clothing and hair. There were no blue haired, or red haired, or blond women here. No garish make-up or fantasy clothes. The women here wore their hair long and straight, the more daring ones braiding their hair into a long queue. Their clothing tended towards the baggy and they wore very plain, and cheap, sneakers made in Japan. There was not an Adidas or Nikeor Puma in sight. The men were dressed as he was Kenshin noted as he forced the swill down his throat. These were the foot soldiers, the true believers, who would pass out leaflets and give speeches on corners while the real leaders cooled their heels behind the walls of their private estates. The new world they envisioned involved a return to a truly Imperial Japan with the Shogun in control politically while the Emperor sat in glory on his throne. The Samurai families would once again be in control of the country side and economy. The private armies would be the true power in the country and these people thought that would be great. Like SaigoTakamori, who was worshipped as a deity among the true believers, they would mount their rebellion and this time they would succeed. No one thought about there already being a large private army in the country, the Yakuza, and that families like the Takani, deep into drugs and prostitution, would have free rein to do as they wished. The true Samurai families were for the most part living in faded glory, working for a living. Many had quietly formed links with the Yakuza but these trying so hard to be sinister young men and women wouldn’t know that. “Interesting scar ya got on your face my man.” Kenshin looked up at the man who was sitting down next to him. He knew exactly who he was and was surprised that he was actually here tonight. Kenshin had only come to do recon. “You sure you’re legal?” the man sneered before demanding to be served the “top of the line” beer here which meant it hadn’t come out of someone’s personal still. “My height has nothing to do with my age,” Kenshin snapped allowing sensitivity to show where none existed. “What’s your name?” “What the fuck you need to know for?” Kenshin asked putting the beer down softly on the bar. “Because I get to say if you stay here in peace or if my friends and I get to play with you,” the man hissed in Kenshin’s face. “No one said this was a gay bar,” Kenshin said taking money out of his pocket and preparing to leave. “We ain’t no faggots,” the man roared now truly incensed. His buddies were taking more of an interest now but Kenshin smiled and picked up his beer. “My name is Masahiro,” he said before taking another sip of what he swore had to be piss. As he turned the thug saw a book in Masahiro’s pocket and grabbed it. “Hey!” Masahiro cried out as the book was taken from his pocket. The man looked through the well worn copy of Mishima’s “Runaway Horses” and then at the man he knew as Masahiro. Surprise registered in his eyes as his face softened a bit and what was actually a smile replaced the snarl on his lips. Either the man was very good at what he did or he was truly clueless about the true nature of the so called revolution he had declared himself ready to die for. “Come and join us over here. We were discussing the “Seaof Fertility”. “Not if you’re…” The man’s entire demeanor had changed. Gone was the snarling thug and in his place was the student he probably was, his eyes bright at the thought that maybe he had found another soul looking for the truth. “You’re a seeker. Come join us. Your search is over.” Soujirou listened as the student babbled on about a new recruit. He hated dealing with them, their sincerity and belief in the “cause” annoying to him. They didn’t understand what this was about and by the time they figured it out it would probably be just before they died, either as cannon fodder in the war or victims of the intelligence agencies. The only “cause” was power and the men bankrolling this had no interest in any ideal that didn’t get bring more of it to them. They already had the money so that was secondary to these powerful men. “I think you should meet him sir,” the student was now saying and Soujirou turned his attention back to the young man even as his eyes roamed over the girl who sat silently in the corner of the room, shyly lifting her eyes to him when she knew her boyfriend wasn’t paying her any attention. “Why would I want to meet him?” “I think he’s someone you could use.” “How would you know who I can use?” Soujirou said not bothering to hide his annoyance. “He’s small, I thought he was a kid at first. He can infiltrate anyplace we need to check out. No one would pay any attention to him.” They did need someone new since the cops were on to most of their operatives. “Fine.I’ll come by the bar later.” “I’ll make sure he’s there,” the student beamed. “I’d like to talk privately with your friend,” Soujirou said looking over the students head to the girl who now sat with her eyes cast demurely down to the floor. The student, now aware that Soujirou was looking at his girlfriend forgot his place and began to protest Soujirou’s interest in her. “She’s…” “She’s part of our organization isn’t she?” “Yes but…” “Everyone serves in his or her own way. I’ll see you later tonight.” The student visibly gulped, he’d heard stories and the last thing he wanted was for his Keikoto be hurt in any way. But he also knew how Soujirou operated and knew that if he refused to send her his life would be over and she would still have to go to Soujirou. For her part Keikowas excited. She had hoped that one day Soujirou would notice her, would notice that she was the type of woman the movement wanted. She was quiet, respectful, and totally dedicated to making Japanthe true world power it had once been, not the bitch of the Western powers. She noted that her boyfriend kept looking at her and now, as he walked towards her, he appeared upset. “What is it?” she asked him. “Soujirou wants you to meet him outside.” Containing her excitement Keikostood up. She had to make him think she didn’t want to go when all she wanted to do was run outside to Soujirou. “But…” “Go Keiko. And remember I love you.” Keiko barely heard his words as she walked towards the door, the darkness of the night barely penetrated by the feeble street lights of this area. Soujirou opened the passenger door of his car for her and she slipped into the passenger seat barely making a ripple in the air. Once seated next to him she fixed her eyes on her knees. Soujirou looked her over and smiled to himself. This one was going to be good. In the shadows purple eyes narrowed to slits watching the tableau in front of him. He made note of the license plate of the car as it drove past before he stepped into an old restaurant nearby and sat down for an evening meal. Soujirou opened the door to his room and stepped back letting the girl go in ahead of him. He kept his personal space plain but the girl was obviously used to something very different than what she saw now and she turned to him. “Soujirou-sama…” A woman just about the girl’s age came in and stood just behind Soujirou, her head bowed. “Clean her up,” Soujirou barked leaving the two women alone. Once he was gone the girl self consciously touched her hair. The other girl stepped quickly to her. “Come. He’ll be back in an hour and he’ll want you ready.” “I…” “Come quickly! Please!” An hour later Soujirou found the girl kneeling near the only furniture in the room, his bed. Her long hair was now scented with flowers and hung in a black curtain around her face. Her skin bore a slight coating of rice powder, just enough to take the shine off and make her already pale skin paler, and her luminous eyes were touched up with kohl. The simple yukata she wore emphasized her slimness. She was not his usual type, he liked a woman built like Masae, but she would do to prove his point. If she was good she could stay and but that was yet to be proven. With no preamble he pulled her up by her hair and crushed his mouth to hers, his tongue demanding and receiving entry. She whimpered as he bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood while his hands tore the robe from her body. “Soujirou-sama…” He back handed her sending her sprawling across the bed for daring to speak to him while he was preparing to take her. As he mounted her he gripped her by her throat and stared into her wide, fear filled eyes. “You do not talk to me when I fuck you bitch. You do not talk in my presence.” While he spoke he twisted her breast causing her to cry out in pain. That earned her another hard slap, one that cut her lip. “You dare to bleed too?” Slap! Slap! Slap! One hand followed the other in rapid succession and the girl fearing for her life held back her screams as this man, the man she had long worshipped from afar, began to torture her body. He bit, punched and slapped her before finally, brutally entering her, his thrusts hard and unforgiving with no concern whatsoever for her pleasure. After what seemed like hours he came and for a split second she saw something in his eyes, pity maybe, but it was gone so fast she decided she had imagined it. Thinking it was over she mentally relaxed, a mistake because he began to punch her. “You dare not to cum after all I did to give you pleasure bitch???!!!” Later that night the same girl who had attended to her was summoned into Soujirou’s presence. “She stays. I want her ready in two weeks,” he said pulling on his leather jacket. He had washed and dressed leaving the girl in a senseless heap on his bed. “Of course my Lord,” the girl said bowing deeply. Soujirou left the room without a backward glance. The serving girl clenched her fists in anger but composed herself. Hadn’t she come into his service the same way? And even now, although she hated him, she longed to share his bed. She would only stay if she got pregnant for him like Masae had. If she didn’t, he would turn her over to Shishio’s men to be their sex toy, to be used and abused as they saw fit. Shishio sometimes participated in their games and she knew that if he showed up it would be best to die quickly. Taking another deep breath she went into the room and stood over the unconscious girl in the bed. He had beaten her in her body, not so much in her face which meant he liked her. He never bothered to know their names and after a while they all responded to his calling them as if they were his dogs. “Wake up. The master will need you again in two weeks,” she said wiping the girls face with cold water. The girl on the bed moaned and tried to open her eyes. “Come. It’ll be worse for both of us if you’re not ready.” Soujirou hated this place. It smelled, the people in it had value only as they could be of service to their betters, and yet he had to play the part Shishio had given him. He’d met with Shishio just before he left to tell him about the possibility of getting a new operative. Yumi had been sitting in the room in an elaborate yukata and seeing Soujirou she ran her hand down the front partially exposing her breast. Soujirou made note but kept his attention on his boss. “I’m wary of any new recruits right now Soujirou. Let me know what you think of him.” “Of course.” Soujirou bowed and left. Shishio looked back at Yumi. “You know one day he’s going to respond to your actions. And I’ll have to kill him. I can’t afford to lose a man like him.” “You spend all your time with Masae…” “The girl is carrying Soujirou’s child. He has no further interest in her so…” “He still sleeps with her.” “He has to go through my cum to fuck her. He knows who runs this place.” “He brought a new girl here today. Very pretty,” Yumi said lifting her hands and surveying her freshly done nails. “She’ll bring a good price.” “Let him break her in first. Then I’ll talk to Takani.” Yumi pouted and he smiled removing his yukata to expose his hard body and erect penis. A moan escaped Yumi’s throat and she removed her robes as well. “You so know how to get to me woman,” Shishio signed as he slipped into her silken wetness. “And you me My Lord,” she sighed closing her eyes. Soujirou was annoyed. He’d been in this pit an hour and the kid hadn’t shown up. The young man who’d asked him to come apologized profusely and was still yammering on about something or another. But Soujirou was thinking about a job he was doing for Shishio. It had its risks but it was fun for him, and eye opening. After tonight he’d be busy with that so maybe it was okay that this hadn’t worked out. He couldn’t train a new recruit and work for the Takani’s. The students who hung out here had no idea that he was drinking top of the line, real beer, not the watered down shit they were given. Finishing his drink he stood up in the middle of the students rant. “No big deal. Bastard doesn’t show, he doesn’t show. I’ll see you later. Keep in touch.” The kid bowed and Soujirou walked a few blocks to where he’d parked his car, sliding in behind the wheel of the Lexus and turning on his music. Singing along to his favorite song he pulled of into the night, the bar and its denizens already gone from his mind. Unseen by Soujirou a red haired shadow smiled to himself. A better car he noted and a new plate. Pulling on his helmet he climbed onto his motorcycle. It was not this years but it was one of the models aficionados craved. He had made sure it was not in the best condition so that Soujirou wouldn’t pay that much attention to him. This part wasn’t hard; he needed to know where Soujirou went tonight, to see if at any point Shishio would make an appearance. He didn’t expect it but you had to establish patterns of behavior. His handlers didn’t know that much about Soujirou or his role in Shishio’s organization. He would be working non stop now in a race against his own schedule. He couldn’t be seen in the office and he knew Shishio was smart enough to have someone on his handler. So far he hadn’t taken any of their medicines but he knew, he could feel the darkness seeping around the door he was trying to keep closed. He would have to do something and there was only one person he thought could help him. That would be taken care of later tonight he thought to himself taking off in pursuit of a man, a boy, younger than him actually who seemed to be on the path to becoming the beast Shishio was. Takani Sen watched the new addition to her staff as he went about his work. He was a gardener and despite his apparent youth he was good at what he did. Her other gardener, an older man, had suddenly quit and this young man had come to take his place. He was quiet, efficient, and obeyed orders. He was also quite handsome, something that seemed to irk Razan much to her amusement. Despite their affair Razan still acted as her husbands chauffeur when needed and this was one of those times. Of course he would use the time spent with her spouse to gather as much Intel as he could to keep them one step ahead of the game so that made the separations bearable. But she’d woken up today with an itch and Razan wasn’t here. Deciding that she’d better behave herself she went inside to her study closing the door. Sojuro had called last night demanding an answer about Megumi. The thought of her older daughter caused Sen to curse out loud in anger and frustration. Sen sat down in the chair behind her desk crossing her legs as she swiveled it around to face the garden. She didn’t see its delights, or the young man watching her. Instead she was thinking back to the day Megumi had shown up totally unexpectedly and ruining all the work Sen and her husband had done to maintain the façade of their marriage for their children. Whenever the children came to visit both Takani’s made sure they were in residence at their official home. Like Sen her husband had another home where he entertained his women and gave parties for special clients. Since their children usually called ahead they’d always had time to scurry back to their official roles. But Megumi hadn’t called. And finding the house she knew as home empty she’d browbeaten the servants until she found out where her mother lived. Ignoring the pleas of the servants to call ahead Megumi had headed straight for her mothers house, walking in on Sen and Razan having breakfast with Shiori. Megumi had looked from Shiori to Razan and wondered how she’d never noticed the resemblance before. “Megumi, I can explain…” Sen had babbled rising to her feet. “No need to mother. I see what’s going on. When were you and Dad going to tell us or were we always going to think Shiori was our full sister, not half sister?” Razan wanted no part of this fight and he picked up his daughter before leaving mother and daughter alone. Sen sighed wishing she could have the moment back, wishing that she had not let her embarrassment fuel her anger. “Why did you come here Megumi? Why didn’t you call ahead?” “As I recall, Mother, you came to my apartment and begged me to come see you. Sano is away, and I thought this would be a good time to come visit with my parents.” “You always call. You should’ve called.” “So you and Dad could pretend to live under the same roof? So you could hide the fact that Shiori is Razan’s daughter?” “What I do with my life now is not your concern. Your father and I stay together for business reasons…” “You can’t separate the money?” Sen didn’t let her daughters right on guess faze her and she had continued. “Look, I came to pamper myself, to see if you and I could possibly repair our relationship but I see that relationship was built on lies, bigger lies than the ones I was aware of.” “Your father is no better than I…” “He didn’t come to my house and beg for reconciliation did he? I have to go.” “Megumi…” “I’m out of here Sen…” “I am your mother!!!” “You are a whore!!!” Sen had slapped Megumi and Megumi had shoved her backwards before picking up her bag and leaving the house. That had been three weeks ago. She had called Megumi. She had gone to the apartment only to have the door slammed in her face. And now that bum Megumi lived with was back and things seemed to be tighter than ever between them. Sojuro’s call had been the icing on the cake. He had made a proposal of marriage to a girl from an old Samurai family and she’d accepted his offer. He had thanked Sen for considering him as a mate for her daughter but he had to move on. SagaraSanosukewas nothing she thought to herself. Why her daughter preferred to be with lower class people was beyond her comprehension. Sen sighed and looked out of the window. The young man seemed to have moved closer and she took a few minutes to study him again. Nice physique, handsome, and young she said once again to herself. One of her friends had taken up with a younger man and she’d never looked better. With Razan away for another few days what harm would there be in a little dalliance? Sen uncrossed her legs and walked out to the garden. Soujirou stood up as the lady of the house approached. She needed something looked after inside she told him before turning and heading back through the door. If she hadn’t she would’ve seen the triumphant look in Soujirou’s eyes as he fell in behind her barely remembering to affect the meek posture of a lowly gardener. Genzai had followed the same patterns for most of his adult life. He would get up well before dawn and check the pots he’d left simmering overnight to make sure that they were as they should be and had not boiled down to a gooey mess. This morning was a good one, they were all fine and there would be no starting over. For the last few weeks he’d kept some special potions, ones he set aside just in case and that was where he went now. Opening the jars he made sure they hadn’t spoiled before gently placing them back on their shelf and sighing to himself. He had hoped that somehow Kenshin would find his way back here so that they could talk about what he’d been through since he’d left Kaoru and Yahiko. The female psychiatrist Ayame had begun to stop by regularly and she was learning some of the things he did. He’d always thought his apprentice would be a male but Ayame was proving able. She was also keeping her visits to him secret but just because she wasn’t there all the time didn’t mean she wasn’t working on learning his craft. When she came she was always ready to take the next step. These thoughts went through his mind as he yawned and went into his small kitchen. Tae had brought him food last night, a dinner and something for breakfast and he sat down at his table to eat. “Hello old man.” Genzai’s eyes bulged as the man stepped out of the shadows and into his line of sight. “Kenshin!” Kenshin gave his friend a smile. “I guess I look different,” he said softly sitting down across from Genzai, who got up and turned on the electric light so that he could really see Kenshin. There was very little flesh on the bone Genzai thought to himself. Kenshin’s hair was short but apparently growing in from the buzz cut they’d given him at the institution and if he was eating it was only enough to keep his heart beating. But Genzai was happy. Kenshin’s eyes were bright and there was no sign in his speech or actions to indicate that he was on any medication. “You need to eat,” Genzai said shoving some of the fish he had in front of Kenshin. “I’m fine.” “Then why are you here?” “I need some of your teas or whatever that shit is you were giving me.” Genzai put his chopsticks down and fixed his eyes on Kenshin. “You’re working again,” he stated simply. “Yes.” “You could ask about Kaoru, about Yahiko…” “They’re fine. I see them every day.” “That’s not fair Kenshin…” “I can’t go back…” “You can do whatever you want Kenshin.” “They’re better off without me. Once I’m dead…” Genzai grabbed Kenshin by his shirt collar and pulled him closer to him. Later Kenshin would laugh to himself about that move and how no one had ever done that to him since he’d been a child. “That girl almost died when you left. She’s holding on because every day she expects you to walk through her door. How dare you come here and not let her know?” Kenshin jerked out of Genzai’s grip and stood up walking over to the small window that looked down on the alley. “The thing I’m doing, if they even thought I was with Kaoru they’d go after her.” “Then tell her that Kenshin. Tell her this is for her own good and not some sick ass game you’re playing! She needs to know.” “I almost killed her Genzai. I could’ve done it and not even known it. Then where would Yahiko be? When this is over…” “You’re full of shit Kenshin. You’re afraid.” Kenshin whirled on Genzai. “Yes I’m afraid. What do I say to her? She knows what I did, she knows how much blood is on my hands, again. How can I touch her? She’s good, she’s not part of this life…” “And when your job is over you plan to overdose on the meds they gave you and take yourself away leaving her with memories.” “Better memories than the truth! I’m sick Genzai and you know it. I can’t be fixed, I’ll never be the man she needs or the father Yahiko needs.” “Punk.” “What?” “You’re a punk.” Genzai went back to his workroom to get the things he’d been saving. He put them in a plastic bag and gave them to Kenshin. “When you need them take a small dose in a tea cup. A Japanese tea cup, not one of those mugs people use now. I’ll make some more.” Genzai turned and left leaving Kenshin standing with his back to the window. There was movement outside now and Kenshin turned watching as Kaoru made her way out of the dojo. She was still sleepy and she yawned as she made her way toward the Akabeko and breakfast. It would be so easy to just go to her, to take her in his arms and inhale her scent. As soon as that thought entered his mind he pushed it away. She’d probably run screaming for the police thinking he’d come to kill her. He knew he should leave; he knew that the longer he stayed the more of a chance there was of someone seeing him. But he waited until Kaoru made her way back home and was safely inside before stepping away from the window. Just as he was about to leave he saw a slight movement at a window where there shouldn’t be any. A grim smile on his face he left the way he had come in. These old places had all kinds of ways to get in and out and he had learned just about all of them. The only other person who knew the secret ways watched as Kenshin exited the alley way and drive off in a beat up Nissan. Saitou had thought that Kenshin would have broken by now and apparently he was right. Kenshin going to the old man for help made sense and would at least hold the psychosis at bay a little longer. Kenshin also had made a very good choice in not going to Kaoru no matter how he felt. He too looked up at the window across from the dojo and frowned.