From: "L. Sith" <l_o_sith@hotmail.com>

I decided to post a revised version of this chaper.  In this version, I 
combined the two parts of this chapter into one and made some changes.  Most 
of them are just slight phrase and grammar modifications, but I do have one 
minor plot addition.  (summary of change:  I had Timi and Nako witness a 
prior murder and the two of them can't decide whether the killer used the 
right or left-handed Gototsu =) )

And special thanks to Erin Ellis for helping me with the revision!

--Sith



Mibu's Wolves

Chapter 2


Disclaimer:  The usual (don't own Rk characters, not for profit)



	"If I want to kill you, you'd already be dead."  Jie observed lazily 
showing no particular interest in the conversation or the opponent standing 
before him.

	"Another pest that should have died during the Bakamatsu."  Saitoh replied 
as the corners of his mouth slowly curled upwards.  For most humans, this 
gesture would have conveyed friendship.  But for Saitoh, it gave the 
impression of a bloodthirsty wolf.

	Jie immediately dropped the shuriken in his hand and unsheathed his 
kodachi.  Saitoh sneered at Jie's little maneuver and dropped into his 
Gototsu stance.  But before either could charge, the sound of running 
footsteps in the hallway intruded their awareness and broke the tension.  
Some of the policemen who had heard the earlier commotion had come to help.

	"Is everything all right Lieutenant Fujita?" One of the policemen asked 
with concern.

	Saitoh responded by slamming the door in the man's face.

	"Your concern for your men has always been so inspiring."  Jie commented in 
a level tone, his voice showed none of the sarcasm he had felt.

	"If you want to be coddled, go back to your mother."

	For several minutes, the two men regarded each other across the dark room 
in silence. Saitoh scrutinized Jie like a predator studying a fascinating 
prey while Jie watched Saitoh like a statue staring at a detestable insect. 
Both silently examined the other's sword ki, pondering on possible strengths 
and weaknesses.

	"To allow your skills to deteriorate so completely, you are beginning to 
remind me of a certain rooster head." Saitoh finally broke the silence.

	"I'm here only to verify rumors that you are still alive.  But unlike you, 
I'm not a homicidal maniac.  I don't go around killing people just because 
they resemble cockroaches "

	"It took you ten years to find out that I'm still alive?  Ahou.  So what do 
you want?"

	"Nothing.  I'm just bored."

	"So you came to town to slaughter some people."

	"Growing soft Saitoh?  Three dead men is hardly a slaughter.  But no, I'm 
only here to watch.  I haven't seen a good killing for quite a while."

	Saitoh's eyes narrowed.  <Why would one of the best assassins of Bakumatsu 
want to watch a bunch of idiotic politicians getting killed by a second rate 
hit man?  Besides, what can possibly compel Jie to crawl out of whichever 
hole he's been hiding in and put on this little charade?   He has probably 
been monitoring my whereabouts for the past ten years, why is he suddenly 
risking his precious neck by coming to see me?  What is he up to now?  I 
better keep an eye on him.>

	"Why don't you join me?  It would be like the old times."

	For an instant, Saitoh's voice sounded almost nostalgic.  And in response, 
Jie's features seemed to soften by a fraction.  But the moment passed by too 
quickly.  Even if someone had observed the minute changes, they would have 
dismissed it as a product of their imagination.

	For a moment longer, the two men studied each other across the dark room. 
Then with an unreadable expression, Jie sheathed his kodachi.  As he brushed 
past Saitoh to leave, Saitoh growled a warning, "This is my city, if you 
cause any trouble, I'll kill you."

	"You are welcome to try.  But don't bother preventing me from leaving or 
send your men after me, they'll all be dead before they even know what I 
look like."  Jie replied mildly without even looking back.

	And with those final words, Jie walked out of the document room, out of the 
police station, and disappeared into the city of Tokyo.


**********************************************************************



	Jie sat down at the table and watched two sixteen-years-old boys slowly 
shovel their breakfast into their mouths. The boys' wild hair and miserable 
expressions clearly indicated that they were recovering from a hangover

	"Good morning dad," Nako and Timi greeted without even looking up.

        "Considering what happened in the tavern a couple of days ago, you 
two still went out and got drunk last night?"  Jie asked in exasperation.  
"Which reminds me, have you two decided what technique the killer used?"

	"The left handed Gatotsu."  Nako mumbled.

	Timi stared at Jie blankly for a minute before answering, "No, it was the 
right handed Gatotsu."

	Jie could feel his anger rising.  Saitoh had the amazing ability to ruin 
anyone's day.  After a visit with that psychopath, he really didn't have the 
patience to deal with the antics of his two sons.  <Why did I adopt them?!  
What made me think that I am capable of raising children?  I should have 
left them to starve on the streets!  Those two brats!>

	Jie abandoned his usually calm demeanor.  "If I ever catch either one of 
you drunk again, I will
break your legs!  There is a killer running loose out there, a hitokiri who 
may want to eliminate all witnesses.  If you aren't careful, you'll end up 
dead.  I didn't feed you two for nearly a decade just to find your bodies in 
a gutter!"

	"Good morning father," Reina halted her father's tirade with a simple 
greeting as she walked into the room.

	"Good morning sister," Nako and Timi smiled at her gratefully.

         Reina ignored the two boys and turned her attention to her father.  
  "I've dropped Meiko and Kaji off at school.  The baby is sleeping.  And 
you've got an appointment with the accountant in half an hour, so hurry up 
or you'll be late."

	Jie shifted his attention from his sons to his daughter.  <Thank heavens 
that Reina isn't as stupid and irresponsible as those two.  Does being three 
years older make that much of a difference?> Jie had been asking himself the 
same question for the past year.  < Nah.  Timi and Nako are just simpletons. 
  I should have been more selective when I decided to raise orphans.>

	"Cancel all my appointments for the week and please take care of things 
around here.  Until the killer is caught, I am going to guard Senator Ikaji 
personally."  Jie sighed as he got up and headed towards his study.

	Reina followed her father. "You think that Uncle Ikaji* will be the next 
target?"

	"I don't know, but it's better to be safe."

	"Saitoh …"

	"Didn't do it and probably has no clue who did it."  Jie sighed as he 
handed Reina stacks of documents.  With the draught affecting the farmlands 
near Tokyo, there was so much to do. Nonetheless, protecting Ikaji was his 
top priority.  He had hoped that Saitoh was the perpetrator, then he would 
at least know that Ikaji wouldn't be the next target.

	But life rarely worked out the way Jie wanted it to.  So after a lengthy 
explanation of all the current projects and tasks, Jie left Reina alone in 
the study and headed back towards the dinning room.  He needed to find a way 
to keep his moronic sons out of trouble before heading to Ikaji's office.  
However, when he got to the dinning room, only the dirty dishes remained.  
He stared at the mess on the table and felt strangely comforted.  <Isn't 
this what living a normal life is all about?  Arguing with the kids over 
breakfast, keeping them safe and out of trouble.  Ten years, ten peaceful 
years, why do I have the feeling that those days are about to end?>


**********************************************************************


	Misao opened her eyes and stretched.  From the direction of the sun, Misao 
could tell that she had slept through the whole morning and half of the 
afternoon.  She sighed, another morning wasted.  But she had been sleeping 
so well ever since she came to visit Kamiya Dojo and it would be so cruel to 
deny herself the simple joys of life.

	Misao jumped out of bed, quickly got dressed and ran out of her room.  In 
the yard, the afternoon breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby tree, the 
butterflies rested on the petals of blooming flowers, and the birds chirped 
beautiful summer melodies.  Yahiko counted each stroke as he swung his 
bokken, and Kenshin blew the soap bubbles at the girls as he washed the 
laundry.  All in all, the scene was so ...  BORING!  Misao needed excitement 
in life!

	So she sprinted towards the kitchen.  And as soon as she's within earshot, 
she yelled, "Karou, can we go shopping today?"

	Karou ceased her losing battle against the vegetables as Misao came into 
sight and said with much delight,  "Sure Misao.  And I can show you around 
town afterwards!"

	Misao jumped up and down excitedly, "That sounds great!  When can we 
leave?"

	After saying brief good-byes to Kenshin and Yahiko, the two women left the 
dojo and began their activities for the day.





	The full moon shone brightly from the cloudless sky, covering Tokyo in a 
soft silver glow.  The cool night breeze carried away the stifling summer 
heat, making it a perfect time for outdoor activities.  Although it was 
already well past mid-night and the streets of Tokyo were deathly quiet, 
neither Misao nor Karou felt like heading back to the dojo quite yet.  Karou 
had forgotten how much fun it was to go shopping with another female.  
Together they had browsed hundreds of stores and tried on numerous dresses.  
And the play they went to afterwards was the best that Karou had seen.  All 
in all, the day couldn't have been more perfect and this respite couldn't 
have came at a better time.  The ordeal with Shishio might have ended a 
month ago, but neither of them had truly relaxed since the whole mess begun. 
  It felt good to be away from the source of all those worries.

	As they wandered aimless through the most affluent neighborhood in Tokyo, 
the conversation naturally centered on their favorite topics: Kenshin and 
Aoshi.  Being well-mannered and civilized, Karou and Misao took turns 
recounting the deeds of their beloved.  However, their conversation was 
rudely interrupted by a scream that pierced the night air.  Karou and Misao 
immediately sprinted towards the source of that distress call.  They had 
hoped to arrive in time to rescue the damsel in distress.  However, once 
they got to the location, they discovered high battlements that impeded 
their rescue mission.  Fortunately, Misao's omnitsu training came in handy.  
She immediately leaped onto the top of the walls that encircled the estate 
and looked into its courtyard.

      Misao almost wished that she didn't.  Staring back at her was not the 
adoring gaze of damsels in distress, but the lifeless stares of several 
corpses.  Misao tried not to retch as she jumped back off the wall and 
landed next to Karou.  "Please go back and get Himura.  I'm going to get 
back into the estate and see if I can help."

	"But …"  Karou started to protest then stopped.  Both of them knew that 
Karou would not be able to scale the high walls.  After a brief pause, Karou 
nodded and ran towards the dojo.

	Misao watched Karou's retreating back and swallowed the urge to ask Karou 
not to leave. <I can't chicken out now, there is a job to do and there are 
lives to be saved.>  With that in mind, Misao jumped into the estate's 
courtyard and quickly made her way towards the main structure.

	Once inside, the sounds of frenzied footsteps, terrified screams, and 
frantic pleading assaulted her.  Misao almost collapsed under the intensity 
of it all.  But instead, she steeled herself and sprinted towards the source 
of those heart-wrenching cries.  Her swift strides covered the distance 
within minutes, but the trip felt more like hours.  She prayed that she 
would get there in time to help, but she had the sinking feeling that she 
might already be too late.  And as Misao turned the last corner, she 
witnessed the realization of her worst fear.  The killer had already trapped 
his last victim against the wall.  And the victim, out of desperation, tried 
dashing sideways to escape from her murderer.  But how could a young girl 
possibly be fast enough to evade a trained assassin?  So in the end, all the 
girl could do was scream in absolute terror as the blade rushed to meet her 
throat.

	And the sound of the child's last cry echoed throughout the hall for a 
moment longer.  Then the house was plunged into complete silence.  And in 
that cold and oppressive stillness, the flames of anger raged inside of 
Misao.   <He wouldn't even spare a child?!  I'm going to make him pay for 
what he did!>  So without even pausing to think, Misao jumped into the air 
and threw a handful of kunais at the killer.

	The killer slowly turned around to face Misao.  Then with a casual wave of 
his sword, the killer knocked all the kunais out of the air and charged 
towards his new target.  Misao's eyes widened in momentary surprise.  She 
had not anticipated the assassin's level of expertise.  And before Misao 
could even plan her next move, the assassin had already arrived within 
striking distance.  He brought his katana up high and swung it horizontally 
at Misao's neck.  Misao ducked slightly, turned sideways and aimed a kick at 
the killer's midsection with her right foot.  Noting her new attack, the 
killer stepped forward to his left and pivoted, bringing himself parallel 
behind Misao.  Misao sensed the impending disaster and tried to move away 
from the threat at her back.  Unfortunately, she was not fast enough.  
Before she could put enough distance between herself and the assassin, he 
had already swung his kanata diagonally across her exposed back.  
Nonetheless, her foresight, although not much, had saved her life.  Instead 
of being a death blow, the strike was merely a debilitating one.

	However, Misao's latest mistake had put her sprawled face down on the 
floor.  Misao knew that if she stayed in that position, her chances of 
survival would be zero.  So she flipped herself onto her back even though 
every muscle in her body protested against the movement.  But as soon as she 
accomplished her task, she regretted it.  She had turned around just in time 
to see her death angel coming to take her life away.


*  NOTE:  The use of the title, "uncle", is purely honorary.  There is no 
blood relation.

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