Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ When Angels Fall ❯ Following the Path Ordained by the Soul ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

When Angels Fall:

Following the Path Ordained by the Soul

By: Kiamirei

-You know the deal. I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Review this or email
me at Kiamirei @aol.com with your questions, comments, and critiques,
please!

It was night. Kenshin and Sanosuke were both walking the streets,
though neither Kaoru nor Yahiko knew. Megumi, of course, did not even
know that Kenshin had reverted back to the Battousai of the
revolution. She would be told as soon as possible, though. Sanosuke
was walking the streets near where he lived. Kenshin was walking
wherever he felt like walking. Both had heavy burdens upon their
shoulders.

Sanosuke was fully aware that Kenshin could easily find someone to
make him a sword by himself; he didn't need Sano's connections.

So why did he ask me? Sanosuke wondered. If he had done it himself, he
could even have overseen the making of it. He's obviously tracking
down Gohei and those two idiot assassins and doesn't want to let them
get too much of a lead. But even if they did get a large head start,
Kenshin could easily track him down...he...he must be planning on
going somewhere soon. Where? No. I can't concentrate on that now.
First I better get the sword.

The former mercenary walked for the better part of that night, taking
the steps towards the house of the man that owed him a favor. When he
got to the house, the pushed open the door, moving aside at just the
right moment to avoid the knife that came flying out of the darkness.

"Hey, no need for that," he said. "It's just me."

"Sanosuke? What are you doing here?"

Sano stepped inside the house.

"So, Mamoru, what's new?"

"Nothing here. And you?"

"I need a favor."

Mamoru groaned.

"No way! All your favors seem to get me in trouble with the police.
I'm doing you no favors."

"Hm...that's unfortunate. Well, I guess I'll be going then. But I need
to go home and change first. The police will be very interested when
they find out what you do for a living, and I'll want to look nice."

"No! Wait!"

"Yes?"

"I'll...I'll help you."

Sanosuke grinned. He was no fan of blackmail, but neither was he
afraid of using it. Mamoru did owe him a favor, and what he wanted
would not be hard for the other man to get.

"Thanks," he said.

"So what is it that you want?"

"Well, I need a sword."

"A sword? You? Why? You can barely fight with one! You're better with
your fists, Sanosuke."

"I don't need it for me."

"Why go to such lengths to get one for someone else? It's dangerous."

"It's a long story. There's a certain swordsman that I've come in
contact with. He's just come here, and he needs a sword. However, he
doesn't know the neighborhood well enough to get one on his own."

"I see. Well, you're in luck. I happen to have a few right here."

"Really?"

"Yes. Come and see them."

Sanosuke laughed.

"I'd rather not. You bring one over here."

"A wise decision, I guess. Fine. I'll be right back."

In a few minutes, Mamoru had come back with a sword. He tossed it to
Sanosuke, who looked it over. It was a normal sword, and the scabbard
seemed strong enough. When he drew the blade it felt balanced, though
he couldn't be sure of how well it was made, as he was not a
swordsman.

"If this sword is not of the very best quality," he warned, "both of
our heads will roll."

"I can't say that it's the best, but it won't break in a fight."

"Thanks, Mamoru. Consider your debt repaid, but know that I was being
serious. If this swordsman doesn't like this, we really will die."

"Like I said. It isn't the best, but it isn't the worst either.
There's nothing I can do about it either way, unless you want to go
somewhere else. Of course, you've always liked keeping people under
your thumb, so I guess that there wasn't anyone. See you around."

"Right."

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When morning came around, Kenshin still sat in his room at the Kamiya
Dojo in the exact same position he had been in when he came back,
frustrated and angry. He hadn't slept yet. Despite an entire night of
searching hadn't found the people that he was looking for, and no one
else seemed to know them. The Battosai was fully aware that it would
be much less difficult if he could just remember where that bastard
Gohei lived.

Damn this! He ranted silently. If I hadn't let that asshole arrange
for the two wanna-be assassins to come, and if I hadn't let myself get
hit with those darts I would never have gotten into this! If I were
being more alert, I would have realized that the darts probably had
poison in them, and I could have just thrown my plate at her face or
something. Now look at me. Why have I just come to my senses now of
all times? Why do I just wake up all of a sudden to finally, finally
realize the stupidity of my actions? Had Tomoe's death really made me
that stupid? Was I that insane? A Sakabatou? How can I possibly
protect others without killing the scum who deserve to die? How have I
lasted that long this way? I guess I was smart enough to learn more
from Hiko than I thought, but as far as morals go I don't think I
picked up on nearly as much as I should have. Shishou, I do think I
have failed you. I beg forgiveness, even if you never did understand
how much I needed to go help the people.

He heard someone stop in front of his door, set something down, and
walk away. Judging from the weight, pace, and length of the stride he
knew it to be Kaoru's. Slowly he opened the door to find a cup of
green tea. He looked at it strangely, not comprehending. Why would she
do that? Did she care for him? Didn't she know that he wasn't who he
seemed anymore?

So...she's a friend. One I used to care for deeply. But back then I
was a fool, he rationalized. Now I'm not some hypocritical rurouni
with some stupid "no kill" policy. Why the hell would she like me,
after I've acted so foolishly? Or perhaps she goes for the blockheads.
Either way, I'm not the gentle man she once knew, and she's going to
have to get used to it. Then, perhaps we'll see just how much she
really does care for me. I give her two days. She isn't Tomoe; she
doesn't understand the times that I come from. Kaoru's innocent, not
touched by the era I helped to make so bloody. Yet, that blood was
necessary, wasn't it?

He took the tea and closed the door, and set his mind to trying to
remember exactly where Gohei lived. For some reason, Kenshin found
that ever since getting sick, there were many things that he couldn't
remember. How to get around Tokyo was one such thing, which was one of
the reasons he was having trouble. Where Gohei was at was another.
Exactly what he had been doing for the past years as a rurouni was yet
another. Furiously, he continued to search his mind, amber eyes almost
glowing.

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At around noon, Sanosuke went over to the Kamiya dojo, to find Kenshin
waiting for him at the gate.

"I heard you coming," Kenshin said. "I see you have the sword."

"Yes. It was hard to get; I hope you appreciate it."

"That will depend on its quality. It took you long enough to get here,
though."

"If you don't get it yourself, Kenshin, how can you complain to me?
I've said I'm your friend, and you've admitted you agree, but you put
swords to my neck and treat me like a servant and an enemy."

Kenshin thought about this.

"I suppose you're right. I apologize, Sanosuke. Thank you for the
sword." Tomoe would be angry with me for holding one of these again.
Be patient with me, love. I cannot forsake my calling just yet, he
added silently.

"So, Kenshin. Did you find the ones you were after?"

"No. I can't remember how to get around Tokyo, and I can't remember
where I last heard Gohei was staying."

"Don't forget, I went after one of the assassins. He won't be getting
up for awhile."

"Thank you."

"It was nothing."

I have something else I want you to do."

"What is that?"

"I want you to take me to Gohei, and to take me to the other
assassins."

"I won't."

"N-nani?"

"I said, I refuse. I know you're not used to hearing people say no to
you. But I will not help you to kill people."

"Why? I should think that you, a former mercenary, would have no
qualms about it."

Sanosuke wondered if Kenshin had any idea just how much that hurt.

"Yeah, and you of all people should understand the reasons not to
become a killer."

"Sanouke. You don't seem to understand. I don't like killing, but I'll
do it in an instant if it's necessary. I'm not the same fool that I
have been for the past ten years. I've awakened. So, Sanosuke, while I
appreciate your attempting friendship with me I'll kill you if you
don't help me."

"Then perhaps I should just leave now."

"Maybe you should. Or you could help me, and then I'll leave you to
your peace with Kaoru and Yahiko."

"Why?"

"It's beneficial to us both. You help me defeat my enemies, and I'll
leave all of you in peace. You won't have my old enemies coming
anymore, and if they do I promise I won't be too cowardly to get rid
of them this time."

"Kenshin, you don't seem to understand. Right now, I'm the best friend
you've got. As much as I hate to tell you this, you scare the shit out
of Kaoru and Yahiko, and you'd scare the shit out of Megumi if she
were here. I'm your strongest ally. So don't you dare go around
telling me what to do! You spent ten damn years hating yourself, and
forcing yourself to keep from killing, and now you want to throw it
all away."

"No, Sanosuke, you're the one who doesn't seem to understand. I've got
only a few days at the most before I lose track of my attackers. I
could find them after awhile, but I really, really don't want to take
the time to do so. I have enemies in Kyoto, with which I have
unresolved quarrels. More and more enemies keep coming here, putting
people in danger that had nothing to do with what I did. I've visited
the grave of my wife three times in ten long years. I need to go
there. My skills as a swordsman grow worse every day, and I haven't
held a real sword for ten years. I must apologize to my master, and
ask to train once again under him, or accept death as my punishment. I
need to destroy the corruption in the Meiji government, or I need to
destroy it all together. Kaoru confuses me for some reason. I can't
seem to remember where I've been for the past ten years. I need to get
away from here, so I can close this gap and the confusion in my mind.
I'm running out of time, Sanosuke, so if you get in my way, I will
kill you."

Sanosuke thought for a long time. Then, coming upon a decision, he
looked Kenshin in the eyes.

"Alright, Kenshin. I won't get in your way. But I'm not helping you
either."

"....good enough."

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Kenshin sat in his room once again, gripping the sword. Kaoru,
Sanosuke, and Yahiko had gone to the Akabeko to meet Megumi and tell
her what had happened to Kenshin, though he did not know this, and of
course to have lunch. Oh, how he loved the feel of the weapon in his
hands! He put it in his belt, and went into the stance for the
Battojutsu (sorry about the spelling). However, he didn't draw the
sword, but stood there, truly adoring its leather grip. After a few
seconds went by, he drew the sword slightly, relaxed his stance, and
ran his fingers lightly along the blade, which for the first time in
over a decade faced not towards him, but away from him. He had just
barely grazed its edge, but blood still flowed and he was assured that
once again he could effectively protect the innocent people around
him. The swordsman stood that way, completely enjoying the blade,
until he pulled himself together and sat down. The blade still needed
to be tested.

He exited his room, silently walking outside of the dojo and into its
backyard, over to a large rock. Kenshin slid into an attack stance,
and chose a simple, less effective attack. He cut a line into the
rock, and the blade held. Next came three attacks he remembered using
often in the past decade, though he could not remember why they had
been used, or who had been on the receiving end. Ryu Sou Sen, Dou Ryu
Sen, and Ryu Tsui Sen were all executed perfectly, and still the blade
held up. The rock, however, had been shattered. Searching around the
area, he found another large rock, and stood in front of it. All of
his Battoujutsu attacks were used, and the blade still remained in
tact. When he was done, he had used his most powerful attack, and the
blade held up.

Kenshin was definitely satisfied, but he realized that some attacks
would have to be used with less power, or the sword would shatter, and
he would be forced to use his Sakabatou again. Out in the yard that
day for the few hours that the other four were not around, he
practiced his swordsmanship, relentlessly trying to re-perfect the
moves that he had been so great at. However, he knew that he was
severely lacking in skill compared to how superior his skills had been
when he was still acting as the Hitokiri Battousai. Practicing then
reminded him of his years under Hiko's tutelage, and made him
nostalgic and slightly depressed; therefore, when Kaoru, Yahiko,
Megumi, and Sanosuke returned he stopped his practice. In his room
awhile later, though, he cleared away all of his few belongings and
continued.

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That night Kenshin was again awake, contemplating his position in
life.

So...for the first time since I was fourteen, my muscles ache from
sword practice...how much I have declined! I want nothing more than to
remember the past ten years or so, but I can't. Therefore, I shouldn't
let it get to me, and instead focus on the present and the future.
What future do I have, even? The answer, I think, is none if I stay
here. Sure, maybe I'll catch up with Gohei and his minions, I'll kill
the pathetic fools, but then what? Kaoru and Yahiko obviously don't
like me because I'm no longer the fool that I've been being for so
long, and Sanosuke doesn't like the way that I do things. He was
younger than I was during the war; he doesn't understand how people of
those times think. Of course, he understands much more than Kaoru
does, or Yahiko, but there are still things that he does not
comprehend. So I can't stay here much longer, that's for sure. They
expect something else out of me, but this is who I am; I can't change
for them. Where else would I go in this city? I don't know where
anything is! I miss you, Tomoe. Maybe it doesn't matter so much that I
get revenge. I'd like to, but it's using up valuable time. Maybe I
should just leave. I'll ask someone how to leave the city, and then
I'll make my way to Tomoe's grave, and from there I'll go to Kyoto,
where my enemies are. Were. Are? Damn this! I still get so confused!
Maybe I should leave tonight.

The more he thought about this, the better of an idea it sounded,
until he made up his mind to leave that very night. Kenshin stood up.
He put the sword in his belt, and the Sakabatou in his belt on the
other side, and put on a cloak. He found a burlap sack and put into it
his belongings. Then he went into the kitchen and took some dried
food. After that, he left from the main door, the large oak doors
closing behind him and the pitch-black night sky overhead with the
moon shining its pale, somehow baleful light down upon his soft,
almost feminine features. To his right a river, shining obsidian in
the darkness, flowed quietly, and in the distance he heard the cry of
a wild animal, a low, snarling sound, sounding at the same time as
another animal let loose a high-pitched, screeching din, and the
killer could not help but notice that the two noises sounded exactly
like the feeling in his heart. Other than that, stillness closed in
around him like death. Alone, he walked down the silent streets,
through the silent city. After a while he saw someone, a dirty, gaunt
figure that looked as if dirtiness followed it around like a dog, and
had the way to Kyoto pointed out to him.

Kenshin Himura, Himura Battousai, pacifist, killer, ruthless murderer,
lover, destroyer of countless lives, had left the city with silence as
his companion.