|
|
by Serizawa Kamo
SEVERAL NOTES : ^_^
1) This is my first fanfic, so please have mercy with me! ^_^
2) I am a terrible writer in English, so could you please point out any mistakes/weirdness you happen to come across? Please? ^_^
3) This fanfic is set soon after the Kyoto arc and before the Revenge arc mayhem.
4) As usual, comments & criticism are highly welcome.
5) This fanfic involves some actual history of Japan. If you find any mistakes, please let me know!
6) And I intend to present here some actual kenjutsu styles. But I know nothing about them, so please don't flame me ! ^_^
7) All due credits to manga genius Watsuki Nobuhiro and Shuueisha. Rurouni Kenshin would not come to life without them.
"Some Meetings"
"Nice to meet you, Mister Sagara Sanosuke", greeted a smiling Kiyokawa.
"Howdy.", was the dry response of Zanza.Katsu expected a more talkative Zanza. After all, this introduction was meant to be a chance for Zanza to get acquainted with the people they were going to share the same ideas for some time. Or maybe not - smiled Katsu, remembering the character of the only friend of his, worthy to be called as such.
Of course, there were many people in Kiyokawa's estate yet to be introduced, but that was only a matter of time. They had met the most important person - Kiyokawa Kosuke - and that was enough for now.
"Gentlemen", said Kiyokawa, "I understand you must be tired due to the travel. I suggest a bath and dinner before we talk about business."
Both Katsu and Zanza were relieved and gladly accepted Kiyokawa's offering. At night, they held a meeting with the allies of Kiyokawa. They were introduced to a stout man called Ibaragi and to another man, whose name was Koike Ichirou. As the natural leader of the group, Kiyokawa started talking."Mister Tsukioka told me a lot about you, Mister Sagara. I believe you are a valiant person, deeply concerned with the future of this country, probably much more than we can even conceive. A person highly indignant with the present situation, and also with a strong will to change this unbearable hell to a blessed heaven.
Your openly stated commitment to helping humanity is not only admirable and heartening; it also helps us to better understand the kind of personality that we believe is especially resistant to authoritarian influence. We believe those who are more equivocal about their personal opinions and values are also more vulnerable to having those opinions easily influenced by other people.
Is it our imagination, or does the fabric of society appear to be unraveling as we near the new century? Crime is running rampant at every level of society. Terrifying new diseases have made even the most vital functions like breathing into a matter of life and death. From insane people firing bullets in broad daylight, to homeless people lying
destitute in the streets, the old images of security we once relied upon in envisioning the future appear to be breaking down.As old institutions give way to new insecurities, we can expect to see many dangerous new authority figures -- from self-appointed cult leaders and would-be visionaries forming new authoritarian movements, to overly-ambitious political figures promising simplistic solutions in exchange for sweeping levels of political reform -- moving in to fill the empty spaces formed by the slow dissolution of life as we have known it.
In the struggle against insidious new forms of authoritarianism and dangerous cults that threaten to undermine our freedom, a handful of committed people working together selflessly for the common good can make an enormous difference. Our best hope of leading humanity toward a more profoundly positive destiny may lie in the kind of basic power
for fundamental change that can emerge out of mutual cooperation in the service of a more responsive body politic. None of us can make the vital social changes that must take place on our own. It is crucial, therefore, that we support an effective new leadership that will help guide us all toward making the essential changes in our social and political priorities that are the birthright of a free society.
Real change must begin at the grassroots level. It begins with a commitment to working together with like-minded people who share common goals - whether those goals are economic, social, spiritual or personal. By working together to support our highest priorities, we can all share in the rewards of a more secure and better world."Kiyokawa stopped abruptly, surprised and irritated, at a loud yawn from Zanza. Katsu was no less surprised and hurried to apologise on behalf of his friend. Ibaragi was almost drawing his katana, such was his anger at the complete lack of respect that young guy was showing.
"Listen, Mister Kiyokawa", said a bored Zanza, "you can do that nice talk as long as you want, but you won't get me interested. You want me
to fight Battousai along with you, don't you? So just give me a weapon and I'll be on my way."(Such a "gakaku" (knight of the pen) against a completely ignorant rogue fighter...), thought an amused Koike.
"Hold your tongue, you reckless young man", warned a fierce Ibaragi, his katana already drawn. "I don't tolerate such manner here."
"Calm down, calm down", was the conciliatory tone of Kiyokawa. "Mister Sagara, if you are not interested in sharing your ideals with us, it's fine. I wonder what kind of weapon you are proficient on ?"
Zanza thought a little. "Give me a zanbatou", was his answer.
"You must be kidding!", laughed Ibaragi. "No one can wield such awkward and cumbersome weapon! Why don't you pick a katana?"Zanza didn't bother to answer. Who was that man to tell him what weapon to choose?
"Mister Ibaragi is right, I'm afraid", agreed Kiyokawa. "I can teach you some kenjutsu, if you like. I am a "menkyo-kaiden" (the highest qualification a person can achieve in kenjutsu, allowing him to teach the style to other people) in Kyoushin Akechi Style, and Mister Ibaragi here is also a menkyo-kaiden, although in Shinkeitou Syle."
"Wow", Zanza yawned again. "Now, are you going to get me a zanbatou or not?"
A cold blade was pointed to his neck, as Ibaragi threatened Zanza furiously, "Go and act like that once more, and I'll make you regret bitterly your arrogant manner!"
"I'll write a letter to Mister Koike to get your desired weapon" , Kiyokawa stood up, visibly disturbed with Zanza. "And I wish you good luck."
When Zanza was leaving with the letter, he accidentally bumped into a tall man, who was entering the estate.
It was just a moment, but the glance both exchanged was enough to instantly aware Zanza of the strength the other possessed, and vice-versa. The man watched the young rogue as he desappeared in the maze of streets, as he was suddenly interested in the "Aku" - Evil - character drawn on Zanza's back.
"Ah, Mister Sugimura, we were waiting for you.", the anxious voice of Kiyokawa could be heard.
Aoshi was still reciting the sutra, as many things were taking place. From a distance, it could still be heard,
"... Jyu-sou-gyou-shiki-yaku-bu-nyo-ze.
Sharishi. Ze-sho-hou-kuu-sou Fu-shou-fu-metsu
Fu-ku-fu-jou Fu-zou-fu-gen Ze-ko-kuu-chuu
Mu-shiki Mu-ju-sou-gyou-shiki Mu-gen-ni-bi-zetsu-shin-i Mu-shiki-shou-kou-mi-soku-hou
Mu-gen-kai Nai-shi-mu-i-shiki-kai
Mu-mu-myou Yaku-mu-mu-myou-jin
Nai-shi-mu-rou-shi Yaku-mu-rou-shi-jin
Mu-ku-shuu-metsu-dou Mu-chi-yaku-mu-toku I-mu-sho-toku-ko..."
Meanwhile, in another room at the Aoiya, Misao let out all her frustration, as she complained with Okina about Aoshi.
"Why Aoshi-sama doesn't make his move?! What happened to his
responsibilities?! Is he going to sit there for eternity, reciting I-don't-know-what-the-hell-is-that ?Isn't he, after all, the head of the Oniwabanshuu?! ""And that's why he is still reciting his sutras. As a Okashira, he can't make twice the same mistake, specially when it comes to a former Oniwabanshuu member.", was the answer of Okina.
"Kokeshi...""He has to know in exact detail what he has to do. And the answer lies not outside, but inside him."
"But..."
"No buts.", cut off Okina.
At night, Kenshin was once again on the rooftop, thinking silently under the starry sky. So concentrated he was, he was greatly surprised when he realized Kaoru was beside him, looking at the stars.
"Kaoru-dono, what are you doing here?", asked a smiling Kenshin.
Kaoru returned the warm smile. As it was dark, Kenshin could not notice the slight blush in Kaoru's cheeks, as she spoke:
"Kenshin, I... "-- I've realized how deep you lie within my heart --
"...um, I, well, I'd like to say..."
-- "I love you"? No, it's impossible, I can't say such a thing... --
"...thank you. That's it, I'd like to say thank you."
Kenshin couldn't wipe the warm smile from his face, "Why are you thanking me, may I ask?"
"Because... because you really returned alive, Kenshin. I'm so glad you came back alive...", Kaoru answered almost in a whisper, her head bowed.
Kenshin looked a bit surprised, but his smile widened a bit as he spoke softly, "No, Kaoru-dono. I am the person who should be showing thanks here." Kenshin couldn't help remembering that, in the fight with Shishio, as he almost yielded to death, Kaoru was the only thread that linked Kenshin with this world and she was the very person who brought him back from the gates of hell. "It's getting a bit cold for summer. Let's go inside, Kaoru-dono", invited Kenshin.
But the privacy of the couple was a complete illusion, for everybody could see and hear them via a window in the second floor of the Aoiya. Yahiko, watching as Kaoru held Kenshin's hand to go back to her room, said to himself, with a playful smiling in his face, "Even though I'm almost breaking myself down because of my love to you I can show you only a third of my emotions towards you. The purest feelings can't express themselves I can't even say "I love you", my heart..."
"Hey, where did I hear something like that?", thought Misao.
The next day, early in the morning, Kaoru knocked on the door.
She asked, "Kenshin? Are you there? Breakfast's ready."
"He's not here", answered Yahiko, as he opened the fusuma(door). "I woke up half an hour ago and he was already gone.""Strange. Where has he gone?"
Hiko was completely and thoroughly annoyed with Kenshin.
"Idiot. The smoke wasn't a sign of farewell. It was meant to say: 'Go away and never come back, you stupid pupil!'""Master!", a large sweatdrop rolled down from Kenshin's face.
"I thought I had told you I wasn't your master anymore. Looks like I thought WRONG! Why should I care with you?""I've already given the answer, master." Kenshin's look was serious as he faced his master, "I've just explained about the letter and the bombing affair. And I acted as you taught me, as the precepts of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style teach, the precepts of a sword free from political binds, aiming to protect as many people as posible. I had to
save those people in danger at any cost, or else the ideals of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style is worth nothing. Behold now the results: a valuable companion now has deserted me, misunderstanding completely the entire situation. Is this what I was meant to achieve then? Is this what Hiten Mitsurugi strives for? You, as the 'Hiko Seijuurou', should have
the proper answer!"Hiko sighed, "The more I hear, the more I'm convinced you're REALLY a stupid pupil." Sipping his sake, he said, "Take the wax from your ears and listen well . A diamond is an extremely hard and rigid gem, but if you hit it with a hammer, it does shatter with ease. You can be compared to the diamond: your principles is what gives color and glitter to the stone and your stubbornness is what makes it rigid. You take your own
precepts till the very limit, and that's why you can't understand why your friend reacted like that. The strength of your clinging to the code of honor is unshakable, and that's good, however the same strength sets boundaries hard to break through, acting as walls of prejudice that makes you have only a single point of view, no matter whether it is proper or not. That's why you left the training to indulge yourself in the bloodbath called Bakumatsu. That's why you couldn't find the one thing you lacked to learn the Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki. And that's why your friend has left you now. Your diamond is shattering after three
hammer blows, that's the truth.After drowning yourself in blood of countless people, you took eleven years to find the "rurouni" answer. You eventually mastered Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki, discovering the "will to live" answer in the fine line between life and death. True, those answers are correct, but you learned them at what cost? Can't you conceive the amount of suffering you caused just to learn them? Can't you see the ghosts of your mistakes
haunting you in this pretense new era?Remember when I passed down the secret technique of the Hiten Style to you? I said, 'If you act as a pious saint, sacrificing yourself to protect the loved ones and the weak ones, sorrow will still linger in their hearts, so true happiness will never come.'"
"If you act as an enraged demon, sacrificing yourself to calm down the troubled waters of history, you'll be nothing but a small pebble in the long road of history. The will to live is strongest than anything, never forget that.", completed Kenshin.Hiko still kept his serious face, "But is it worth adhering to such ideas if you can't make people happier? Can you live peacefully in a world that even your friends can't achieve happiness? To protect people from the vicissitudes of the times, that's what Hiten Mitsurugi Style is all about! So, how dare a stupid pupil, who can't even keep a friend, come to me babbling about the precepts of the Hiten?!", asked a furious Hiko, glazing fiercely at a silent Kenshin. "How much suffering do you intend to cause before you straighten up your stupid precepts?! You were saved from the hell of the hitokiris by a woman and it was also a woman who gave you strength to be alive in the fight with Shishio. When you'll cast aside your petty egoism and start serving people instead of taking from them?! Can't you see the problem lies within you?! Can't you see that your rigidness is the very door leading to your death?"
After a pause, Hiko ended his talk in harsh tones, "Go now and don't come back again. A person who knows not how to find his own answers doesn't deserve to wield the sword of the Hiten."
As Kenshin bowed and left the hut, Hiko thought, (a sword whose wings are bound with heavy chains can't soar into the heavens, can it?)
Saitou was back to the Police Headquarters, analysing a whole bunch of documents. Now and then he picked up and underlined some relevant data, smoking a lot and awaiting eagerly for the data he needed to accomplish his mission. Eventually, Chou entered the room, grinning broadly.
"I've got it. The guy's name is Koike Ichirou."
Okay, before I get arrested due to copyright violation ^_^ , here goes the due credits:1) "I've realized how deep you lie within my heart "I love you"? No, it's impossible, I can't say such a thing..."
~ Kiroro, "Nagai Aida" ("For a long time"), Avex Trax (a "sugah overload" (as would "Tanabata" author put it ^_^)piano ballad!)
The original lyrics:
"Kizuitano anata ga konna ni mune no naka ni iru koto Aishiteru masakane sonna koto ienai..."2) "Even though I'm almost breaking myself down because of my love to you
I can't show you even a third of my emotions towards you.
The purest feelings can't express themselves
I can't even say "I love you", my heart..."~ Siam Shade, "Sanbun no Ichi no Junjou na Kanjou" (no comments on this song ^_^)
The original lyrics:
"Kowareru hodo ai shitemo
Sanbun no ichi mo tsutawaranai
Junjou na kanjou wa karamawari
"I love you" sae ienaideiru my heart..."
End Chap 5