Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Unfullfilled ❯ Pitiful Boy ( Chapter 2 )

(Source and reference from Maigo-chan.org, really neat manga translations!)

 

Chapter 2: Pitiful boy.

 

 

Soujirou entered the meeting room, seeing all of the ten swords before Shishio's throne, “You're late, Soujirou.” Shishio impatiently watched him.

 

“Oh, I'm so sorry Shishio-san, but I guess I was a bit caught up in a conversation.”

 

He turned his head towards the group of assassins, without leaving his eyes off Soujirou, “Be sure to complete my order after this.”

 

“Yes, Shishio-san.”

 

“Soujirou! It's good to see you.” Honjou cheered.

 

“And to you too.” He replied pleasantly.

 

Houji said to Makoto, “Shishio-sama, I've received word from the scouting patrol. Himura, Saitou, and Sagara have left the Aoiya. I have a strategy proposal.”

 

“A challenge doesn't need any strategy. When it's your turn, you fight till it's settled--Houji, what are you thinking…?”

 

“Lord Shishio's unconditional victory.”

 

“What do you mean, unconditional?” Henya asked.

 

“Unconditional victory: In this battle against Himura, Saitou, and Sagara, we have ten men, counting Lord Shishio, against three. So, we have a clear advantage in both numbers and skill.” Houji replied with confidence; no hint of denial in his voice.

 

Yumi inched closer to her lover, gently caressing his shoulder, “So what's the problem then?”

 

The ambitious man clenched his eager fists, “When the enemy is the best of the best....If we fight them now, even among the Ten Swords, any one of lesser strength than Chou will be destroyed. Thus, we should choose only our best fighters. These three will come up against Soujirou, Usui, and Anji. The remaining six will eliminate those left at the Aoiya!” His own statement excited his thoughts. “In the last battle, the Oniwabanshuu of the Aoiya engineered the failure of the Kyoto fire. Not only that, but ever since Himura Battousai arrived in Kyoto, their information network served as his base support! If not for them, we should have succeeded easily. To put it another way, not eliminating them sooner was the cause of our failure. Himura Battousai is clever…he may anticipate our using this opportunity to attack the Aoiya. But he is, after all, a swordsman. He would never dream of an opponent attacking behind his back after issuing a challenge. He thinks like you, Lord Shishio, and like you, a challenge, ten against three were all that was on his mind. Do not forget, our final goal is to take the nation. For this, the best course is to destroy Himura Battousai and his compatriots here and now!”

 

Shishio scoffed at his well designed plan, “Houji, since when did you start giving me advice? Surprise attacks or foul play wouldn't bother me. But I challenged Battousai. Changing that would be doubting my confidence as a swordsman. The our plan won't change!” he shouted at the man.

 

“Stupid man…” Usui mumbled outwardly, “Of course it won't change, we will still be used as sacrifices for your success.”

 

“Still grudging against me, I see. The truth is, you were supposed to be with me on the Rengoku during the last battle when we sailed for Tokyo. But the decoy plan was flashier, and Houji changed the orders without my consent. Isn't that right, Houji?”

 

Houji steps back, his face dripping with sweat and fear, “Yes…it was all my doing. I ask your forgiveness.” Quickly, he got on his knees, redeeming himself to Shishio.

 

Usui walks to Houji's side, and kneeling down before him, “So that's how it is. Then Houji must be punished. Tell the truth, Houji,” he placed a gloved hand over his, compressing it softly, “You can't lie before my mind's eye. If you tell the truth, we can settle this without pain.” A grinned appeared as a result of his cunning words.

 

Houji gulped, truly afraid, more than he was of Shishio's punishment, “I-I don't understand you.”

 

“You're sure? Nothing of you own eminence?” Ususi squeezed one of his fingers and held him down. Carefully grabbing the tip of his thumbnail, in one quick motion, the horny sheath of his skin was torn off of his finger. Houji screamed in pain, wanting to get away from the hot wavering motion of his body.

 

Honjou cringed, “Ouch. That's not a charming sight, right Soujirou?” Paying no attention, Soujirou kept his eyes on Houji. “Soujirou? Are you alright?”

 

“Uh? Oh- yes, I am. I'm thinking, that's all.”

 

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“It's got to be here somewhere…Damn.” She cursed, failing the brief quest before somebody returned to check. She dropped to the floor, tired from the searching the room, “I remember…I know it's here, unless it's a different room but they look exactly alike. Stupid secret passage.” She grumbled.

 

“I'm back.” Soujirou announced, walking towards her. `I really think it's me. It's so quiet in this room, there can't be anyway I won't hear the click of the door closing and opening. Soujirou's really swift, I guess.'

 

“Back to kill me?”

 

“Not yet.” He smiled, “I promised you I would get an explanation first, didn't I?”

 

“Oh…right.”

 

“Yingu-san, answer me honestly.”

 

“Alright, I'll try.” Ying took off the pink roxy jacket wrapped around her waist, and turned around, drawing on the wall with her finger. “So, what was that about?”

 

“Nothing much. A discussion, about battousai.”

 

“Oh, he's going to come?”

 

“Yes, how do you know?”

 

“I guessed.”

 

Soujirou lightly chuckled, “You're starting that again? I'd like it if you'd tell me; what you meant earlier.”

 

“Nothing…I told you. What I say doesn't matter at this point. You've believed too much of that Shishio guy. So, whatever I say doesn't matter, if you really know that, then why did you ask for my opinion?” she asked casually without effort.

 

He sensed unusual confidence, too much of it for a person in her position, “Yingu-san, I know you aren't bidding for more time in the living, so why won't you tell me the answer?”

 

`Oh geez…How long is this going to last?' “What answer? There's no answer, I haven't even asked a question.”

 

Soujirou smiled wider, growing slightly confused and bitter, “What did you mean by protecting me?”

 

“If you were in some sort of situation in life or death, I'd try to protect you. That's all I'm saying.” If her ears were as sharp, she would've thought to hear him say, but you didn't… “I'll leave, if that's what you want. In fact, I'd be glad to.”

 

“You must stay.”

 

“To be killed?”

 

“Don't speak to me like so, please. Not yet, Yingu-san. Please be patient with me. I don't wish to have an unfriendly relationship with you before death.” For once, she heard a minor annoyance in his voice. “ I know I've done things…”

 

`Uh oh…It's getting to him. I better back off before I fire the cannon. Save it for Kenshin, god knows he needs Soujirou off guard.' “I didn't mean to say it like that, sorry.”

 

“No, it doesn't matter.”

 

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Next chapter is the battle with Kenshin. If you want to re-imagine the fight between Soujirou and Himura, then read.