Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ When Angels Fall ❯ Closing In On Mibu's Wolf ( Chapter 6 )

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

When Angels Fall: Closing In On Mibu's Wolf

By: Kiamirei

~You know the deal. Rurouni Kenshin is not mine, etc., etc. Please
review this or email me with your comments!

He had to admit the government building was well guarded. From what he
knew of the Meiji government there was not much to be expected, but
this was reminiscent of the days of the war. Yes, Kenshin surmised,
Saito was definitely here. No one but he would have so much security,
even as a guest to the city; Mibu's wolf had never truly left the days
of the revolution, much like Kenshin himself.

Of course, he thought, unlike me, Saito was never controlled or
subdued. He truly was, and is, a wolf. It's good to know not everyone
has fallen under this traitorous government's grip, even if I can't
truly be counted among that number. However, that doesn't mean that I
don't want to complete our unfinished duel. On the contrary, it takes
precedence before going back to Shishou to beg forgiveness. Gomen
nasai, Shishou.

As good as the security was, it could not hold a candle to Kenshin's
skills at getting past security. He went around the guards, and
climbed over the outer wall. Guards rushed towards him immediately,
but within seconds they were all knocked out cold. The Hitokiri had no
qualms about killing them, of course, because dead men couldn't warn
others of his presence, but his current objective was only to kill
Mibu's Wolf, and did not concern mere sentries. Using his trademark
speed, he ran into the building, knocking out anyone and everyone who
got in his way.

Not ten years ago, all these men would have been dead, he thought
grimly. Things have changed so much. Now, instead of killing those
trying to stop me, I have to use up valuable time, so I don't kill
those that don't have anything to do with this. Also, killing so many
would cause uproar, and I can't allow that.

As security was heightened, there were scores of people to fight, and
Kenshin knew that in all likelihood Saito already knew that he was
there. He cursed the man for making him fight the pathetic guards, but
knew the thinking behind it. By refraining from simply going to
Kenshin, Saito was forcing him to use up some of his endurance
fighting the security to find him. It was a good tactical move, to be
sure, but nevertheless annoying.

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Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Kaoru ran through the streets, ignoring the fact
that they needed to stop and rest, to catch their breath. They had
found out where the building that Saito was in was, and were dismayed
that it was almost clear across the city. And so they ran and ran and
ran, not noticing the sudden chill in the air, or the way that the
moon looked a dark yellow tonight, matching the color of a certain
Hitokiri's eyes. They failed notice that the river they were running
next to flowed obsidian, and that the wind blew all around them. They
failed to notice that all of these things could, collectively, be
taken as a very, very bad omen.

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Hiko found that the earth around him was warning him. "Hurry," it
said. "Hurry, before it's too late. Hurry..." He listened. As he did,
he could hear his own words coming back to mock him, those phrases he
had voiced so many years ago to the pupil he had failed.

"You buried the bodies of the bandits and your family."

"They weren't my family. They were slavers. Those three women were
sisters. I barely knew them, but I wanted to protect them. They died
for me. After it was over, they weren't bandits or slavers or sisters
or anyone. There were just bodies."

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Kenshin was on the third story of the building, and still hadn't found
his target. This made him irritable. When he was irritable, he tended
to hold back on his strength less, and people got hurt more. Still,
though, there were no bodies. He burst into another room, to find two
men cowering within. He hit them on the sides of their heads and moved
on.

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Saito paced his room, wondering if his old nemesis would ever find
him. He had been informed days ago of Kenshin's return to Kyoto by his
spies, and then informed of his entrance into the building just a
little while ago by the security. The man hoped that no guns would be
used; he was looking forward to this fight. They would finish up their
fight, and he would do so with great relish. After Kenshin, of course,
would come the government. As he had always said, "Aku Soku Zan". The
Meiji government was corrupt and needed to be destroyed, but as long
as Kenshin was alive that could never happen, even if Kenshin had
reverted back to his Battousai persona. Mibu's Wolf had a plan in
mind, and it did not include his enemy.

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They ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. And
ran. And ran. And ran some more.

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"What's your name?"

"Shinta."

"That's too soft for a swordsman. From now on, your name will be
Kenshin."

"Ken...shin."

"I have found a new pupil. Consider yourself lucky. I'm going to teach
you, my boy. Teach you my forte."

The words mocked him, mocked his failure as a teacher, and mocked the
baka deishi, too. He ran.

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The guards never seemed to end. The ones he had defeated back on the
ground level were now waking up, and starting to come after him again.
Guards with broken bones littered the ground everywhere, and still no
sign of Saito.

"Damn him! Why doesn't he just come down?"

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Where was that Kenshin? Would he ever come? Saito was getting very
tired of waiting.

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They ran.

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"I can't just stand here while people suffer before my eyes!"

"You will stay!"

"Shishou! Why don't you understand? Doesn't it bother you that
innocent people are in pain?"

"Fine! Go then! Go and leave, but don't come crawling back here unless
you're prepared to apologize for you stupidity, and take the
punishment you deserve!

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More guards.

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Where was he?

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They ran.

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"Shishou....."

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A door.

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The waiting seemed endless.

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More running.

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"Baka deishi..."

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The door is opened.

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They ran faster.

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The words mocked him.

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The door is opened, to finally, finally, to reveal Hajime Saito.

"Why, Battousai. I thought you'd never come."