From: Jade One Hi there again. Here is the next bit, please see the previous section for disclaimers. Yasunari blinked, that is he tried to blink, there was force holding his lids open and from his blurry vision all he could make out was the vague impression of a face, except for they eyes. They were perfectly clear and black. He started to struggle, weakly, there was still a pain in the back of his head but something was telling him to run. The pressure on his lids abated and he quickly closed his eyes, trying to hid as his body gave up struggling and slumped. "Yosha, he's awake," a voice said from close by as the feeling of being gripped disappeared, but the pain did not. "We should wait a little while before questioning him though. Hmm..." Yasunari knew the was being examined. "His name is Yasunari. I can tell that much at least." Another voice broke in, "Can you make him tell the truth?" "We could," the new voice was speculative. "But if he knows anything it would probably be destroyed. Force creates a lot of damage and I'm sure Niijima has put in precautions." Yasunari though angrily at the tone. His mind worked sluggishly. He breathed deeply, focusing his defenses as Niijima-sama had taught him, as he tried to remember what had happened. There had been no problem with the Dayside Dragons. They had been sure of themselves, cocky and when he'd pointed out their target they had rushed in to attack and that should have been it. The brat should have been the first to fall but the Okashira had saved her and after that everything went wrong. The two Niijima-sama had indicated that if possible should be taken alive fought together, each covering the other, and they seemed to know exactly where to strike. The girl had thrown small daggers and had all the while been covered by the Okashira, although he did seem to take care that she didn't see it. And after the initial charge, Yasunari couldn't even see the other man. He realized now that that was a mistake. He'd ventured too close to when everyone else was leaving the area, but he had been so focused on those he could see he hadn't noticed the fallen forms of the Dayside Dragons who'd never even ventured near the four central fighters. He didn't see the tall man with the white manto flicking his way through the flanking Yakuza. He's never have believe he could not have seen that white cloak in time to block. At least, not until he materialized in front of him. He'd just appeared, his eyes hard but there was a sardonic smirk on his mouth. His manto had taken an instant to follow his movement, the same instant Yasunari had realized his mistake and had turned to run. After that all he remembered was black. He'd never even drawn his sword, and he could feel now that its weight was not at his side. He could also feel that his wrists and ankles had been bound. The knotting felt it had been done by an expert. There was little chance he could break out of it. ::I know you won't,:: a voice whispered around him, sounding amused at some joke. Yasunari did not understand but at the same time it was strangely comforting. "Lying comatose is not going to help you," a voice snapped at him. "You've slept most of the day and we know you're awake." Yasunari opened his eyes, focusing on the group he had attacked. "Asleep or awake I'm not going to answer your questions." "We'll see about that," the oldest spoke in a voice which sounded exactly like Niijima-sama's most scathing and mocking tone, when there was nothing gentle about him. The man smiled at him, mocking. "We know my ex student has given you some protections and so you are loyal to him. Nothing we could do to your body could make you talk. I know, I taught him the technique myself and he was always very good at it. But consider this Yasunari, before you think yourself safe..." Yasunari watched the man, he could not look away as his eyes slowly changed for a faded brown to a deep coal black. "What Niijima," the word was spat out with hatred, "can do, I *can* undo and it will *not* be a pleasant process for you. And by the time I'm finished you will have betrayed him utterly." He dragged his gaze from the man. "I will *not* betray him. You're bluffing. He told me. You cannot undo what he has done," Yasunari's eyes narrowed as his expression became sly. "Or rather you could and in doing so, I would tell you everything but you can't make me tell you, you can't undo it, without ripping me apart and you won't do that." He glanced at the group from the corner of his eye. The four men wore neutral expressions but the woman-child’s blue eyes were wide with surprise, and her lips were apart as she considered the implications of the conversation she was hearing. Shinichi and Masujiro looked at Yasunari carefully. His attitude was not what they had expected but that was secondary. Now that he was awake, the shielding had altered slightly and they could see some of the internal protections. Niijima had done a thorough job with this one. It was probably the work of years and Yasunari wasn't lying. He *couldn't* betray him. The words would freeze in his throat and if they tried dismantling Niijima's work a different sort of defenses would be set off, killing the man faster than they could repair the damage. They couldn't even shield against it. ::Shishou, I don't mean to reopen wounds but do you remember the scroll which began this?:: ::The wounds will not close until this is over. I *should* have known but yes, I remember it.:: ::Power calls to power, blood calls to blood. Poetic yes but further on in that section it was a bit vague but supposedly you can undo what Niijima has done. I don't know if it's true but it is worth an attempt. We have nothing to lose.:: ::I agree. We must forget our ties it we are to triumph. Or rather we should use them to bring him down.:: "Usually Yasunari, we would agree with you. But your master is the result of inappropriate training," the younger man, Masujiro spoke. "Our schools history contains a warning which Shishou did not know about until it was too late but that same history says some other interesting things. While *I* cannot undo Niijima's touch, another can." "What are they babbling about?" Aoshi asked. None of this made much sense to him. Hiko looked over, surprisingly understanding. "It appears Kouken is even more mystic that I thought but for the moment let them continue. Unless you have a different idea. They seem to think this will work and there are still a few more days before we reach Tokyo in which we can question him." Aoshi nodded, backing down and content to wait, for now. The older man stepped forward. "Power calls to power. The reason I should not have taught him is the same reason I can undo what he has done without destroying you. You *are* going to speak Yasunari. You are going to tell us everything." Before he could struggle or scream Shinichi reached out, covering Yasunari's shielded presence with his own, forcing him to remain still and quiet. He glanced at their chosen companions. "Thank you for your confidence, Hiko-san. Although this may take a while since it has only ever been tried once before in the history of our school so I'm not exactly sure what to do but I'll work it out. Niijima does not know of this technique. It is one of the one's we discovered after he had left us." Shinichi turned back to Yasunari, expanding his presence and began looking for the matching patterns of thought in the shield which the ancient text had described. Yasunari could feel the older man's presence. The shields he had always known were there but had never felt had flared into existence with both his and Masujiro's touch. He couldn't examine them the way they were looking at him but he knew as the feel of the older man surrounded him that they were going to try something and it was something his Master did not know about. "Niijima-sama has prepared for every eventuality. He is superior in Kouken Sokuuchi to both of you. Whatever you try is destined to fail." ::I have prepared better than you know.:: The same voice whispered again. His taunts brought no response from the man in front of him except for a hardening of his eyes. Yasunari looked passed him, to the younger master. This was the one Niijima-sama hated. This was the one whose being had destroyed the uniformity of the Kouken school. Yasunari could almost feel his masters anger even though Niijima-sama had never directly spoken to him about his sensei. He only knew there should have only been one student, one sensei. The only reason for a second student was the death of the first. "So you are the one who has robbed Niijima-sama of his rightful place. It's your fault. You should not exist..." Yasunari stopped gasping. Shinichi's presence which had been a constant pressure on the shields had suddenly come into a sharp focus, closing in. He dimly heard the words, "The matching places are there, now to break them open," Shinichi's voice was distant but Yasunari could see that his eyes were opaque. He had nothing to fear but he was covered in sweat. "I will not betray him. I will never tell you," he gritted his teeth, forcing the words out. He could feel the barrier slowly eroding, fine hair line cracks ran through out it. He tried to reinforce it but he couldn't. That wasn't his strength. "Iya!" he tried to scream as he felt larger cracks appear but it came out as a whimper. he thought frantically as he felt Shinichi's presence impose itself upon him, like Niijima-sama when he gave him his orders. He began the panicked chant but suddenly another presence came to him. It was huge and it was familiar. Emerald eyes flashed, their spectacular yellow flecks brilliantly highlighted against the darkness. ::You will not betray me.:: The comment was directed at him before one which was scathing and angry but at the same time it held an oddly satisfied note. ::My servants never betray me. By the way... You know that secret scroll you found... I have read *all* the histories of Kouken, Segawa-sensei.:: Niijima-sama's presence continued to the already fading presence of Shinichi. Then something crashed down. Yasunari could feel a dull ripping and then nothing. Shinichi yelped. Masujiro was moving before he knew what was happening. He leapt forward, his eyes going dark before he gripped his masters head. He initiated contact, pulling the presence of his master back, reaching out with his own mind to cut the contacts, using his masters presence’s to find the matching points of Shinichi had used to break through the barrier. It was like an intricate lace work but it was one which was quickly unraveling as one half of it was ripped apart from within. He pulled everything which to his senses felt like his master, keeping all the strands whole, pushing them back into his master. Impossibly he could feel Niijima, in the center of what was once the man Yasunari. He was ripping him apart. There would be nothing left for them to salvage. He could clearly see the parts of Yasunari as they were destroyed but all he could see of Niijima was his brilliant eyes. Then every last piece of Yasunari vanished and Niijima’s eyes faded into the dark emptiness which was left. Masujiro decided as he pulled back, Shinichi finally releasing Yasunari's head, his brown eyes wide with shock. ::Shishou!?:: ::I am whole. Arigatou Masujiro-kun but that is not something I want experience again.:: Masujiro looked over at Hiko, Aoshi and Misao. Misao looked confused by his sudden movements. Aoshi was a study in neutrality. How did the man stay like that all the time. He would be a formidable enemy even with the slightest knowledge of Kouken techniques. Hiko looked on, his smirk as sardonic as usual and one eyebrow raised in question. "It didn't go as planned?" "No, Hiko-san. It didn't," Shinichi replied in a quiet voice. "It did not go well at all." He shifted slightly to let them see Yasunari now. He was still, his eyes stared vacantly at nothing. His mouth was slack and spittle was pooling at the corners. "Gomen nasai, Hiko-san. This will require an explanation but we need to deal with this as well," Shinichi continued when Hiko's gaze returned to him. Osaka Disposing of the body proved to be relatively easy, at least from Shinichi's point of view. He was sure Aoshi's contacts in Osaka would have some problems with it but he did not inquire as to what would happen. Hiko-san had solved the immediate problem at the train station by carrying him draped across one shoulder. The story they had told to one official was that he was drunk. Apart from a few curious looks no one had bothered them. But that wasn't what was bothering him. Although it had been his decision to ask the other Masters, he never thought he'd have to show this much. Kouken knew about the other schools. They did not know each other or Kouken. But that was changing as he watched. If the other schools had merely found out about each other, that would have been concerning but he could have handled it. It was that fact that Hiko at least was becoming aware of the secrets of Kouken. Although Hiko couldn't copy the techniques his knowledge of them was still dangerous. We couldn't stand against him if he can work out a defense. Kouken would fall to the superiority of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, instead of standing equal. Hiko couldn't duplicate them but Aoshi was another matter. He was coming very close to it. All he needed was a little training or an extended demonstration. And now he was going to have to explain what had happened. "Onegaishimas..." The cry was a heart felt plea. The voice was lost in the desperation it held. "Onegai. Don't let it happen again. Don't let their be another. Even if it costs you your life, even if it costs the continuation of the Kouken school... There cannot be another." He remembered the words of the scroll which had detailed the prohibition he had broken. When he had read them he had heard the voice of the author. He'd known it wasn't there but the power and passion with which the words had been written had almost seemed to travel through the generations to him. Shinichi straightened his shoulders, he had to deal with this now. His personal feelings were not angry but more anguished that Kouken was so revealed but his duty and the feelings of the author of the scroll were clear. It didn't matter, Niijima had to be stopped. ::Shishou!:: Masujiro finally broke into his thoughts. "... explanation," Aoshi finished in his quiet voice, watching them from those expressionless blue eyes. The last word was all the explanation he needed. He nodded. "This is going to sound strange but please remember what we explained to you last night." Shinichi took a deep breath, phrasing his words in his mind. He looked at Misao. "Do you remember child, I told you Yasunari belonged to Niijima?" Misao nodded uncertainly. "Allow me to explain a little bit more of what that means. It means that Niijima had 'modified' Yasunari. Think of it as a sort of special training. Apart from ensuring absolute loyalty and dedication, it means that he could protect himself against the Kouken techniques and against normal methods of questioning." He paused, allowing that to be taken in before continuing. "Now usually what one Kouken master does, another cannot undo except for actual combat maneuvers because they are by nature temporary. This is more permanent. For example, if Masujiro had done this, I could have tried forever and not have undone it or gotten Yasunari to talk unless Masujiro allowed it. But Niijima and I are a special case, one that if I'd know about it would never have arisen. I can undo what Niijima has done and that's what I did this morning and that is where the problem lies." Brown and blue eyes looked at him with equal measures of disbelief. He sighed as Masujiro took up the thread. "Since we found out about this special case from a Kouken history scroll we thought was lost, we did not believe Niijima knew about it." "We were wrong. I successfully pulled down the protections Niijima had placed on Yasunari but he set a trap, one keyed to exactly that action. You saw the results for yourselves. Only Masujiro's actions allowed me to escape it but Yasunari was caught from the beginning." He shuddered remembering the impression he had felt of Niijima. "You don't really expect us to believe that, do you?" Aoshi questioned, his whole manner accusing as he shifted slightly. Shinichi suppressed a smile as he noted that while the movement allowed him more ease to attack or defend it also put him in a better position to cover Misao. Shinichi wondered if he was aware of that. His question though, was not unreasonable. He reached out. Believe what you will Shinomori Aoshi-san. But you are very close to doing this yourself.:: He noted with slight satisfaction the widening of the man's eyes but he did not back down. *"Even if it costs the continuation of the Kouken school."* ::This has never been done before Shinomori-san but I am willing to show you some of the basics, not everything but enough for you to understand how we do at least some of what we do.:: Aoshi nodded, backing down slightly. "I understand. But is this going to happen to everyone we run across?" "No, I don't think so. The trap this morning was very powerful I doubt he has put it in all his agents and we are not likely to encounter anymore of them. We will probably encounter more Yakuza but answers can be gotten out of them fairly easily. But from this we need to get to Tokyo as soon as possible. And then we need to stop him by any means." ::There is something else, isn't there Shishou?:: Masujiro asked him, looking across slyly. ::Are you angry I offered to teach Aoshi? It would be dangerous to have an untrained sensitive running around. We would never get any peace.:: ::No, but that's not my question.:: ::You always were too intelligent... Alright. Niijima was waiting for me. He's read that scroll. He's probably read all of them but that's not all. He could have sprung the trap and got me as well. He didn't want to. He left the way out open and that worries me. He had gotten far more powerful in just one day after absorbing Hiten Mitsurugi and he won't fully be used to it yet.:: ::He's gone beyond us, hasn't he? His mastery of Kouken... I know I couldn't set something like that. A trap triggered by such a specific thing, especially since the trigger was so destructive.:: ::I think you are right but I pray you are wrong. This is going to be difficult enough as it is. We will have to be more careful from now.:: ::Should we tell them?:: ::No, we should still be able to shield them. That requires less energy than an attack. Even if he is beyond us, we should be able to hold him and that will be enough.:: Masujiro nodded, his face shadowed in thought. Tokyo was a long way away. End Part 12 Another note: When Shinichi thinks Kumi, I do mean Kumi not Kami. Kumi is a female name and who it belongs to will be revealed in time, if I remember although it should be fairly obvious. (Says she, knowing exactly what I am talking about. Sorry if I am being too cryptic.) Just take Kumi as a female name. She's not important, since she's dead. Next time I promise you Kenshin and Kaoru will finally get into the chapter, since that chapter is also set on the same day. This is one long day for everyone involved. Definitions Onegaishimas, Onegai - Please Gomen nasai - I'm very sorry Okashira - Leader Yosha - Alright Kuso - shit Chikusho - darn, general curse word Shishou - Master Arigatou - thank you Ahou - moron Nani - what Hai - yes Iie - no Tamashii Hitokken Ryuu - Yasutake Ryuichi's and Murakami Seir's technique Tamashii - soul Hitokken - One Sword Kouken Sokuuchi Ryuu - Niijima Akihisa, Segawa Shinichi, and Ryusaki Masujiro's technique Kou - Thought Ken - Sword Soku - Swift Uchi - Strike Fairly simple ne? HUGE Thank you to Tatsuko for helping to create the names of some fighting schools. Any other names that appear in this fic, eg names of people, while I'm sure they mean something, I did not pick them because of any meaning they may have. I picked them because I liked them when I was choosing names. Some I stole from other manga's and animes and one or two I made up myself. Well, I hope ppl enjoyed that chpt. I will be trying to write the next one and comments as fast as possible. 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