Control

Sorry folks for the long wait on an update for this. In between leaving grad school and finding a job I’ve been a bit tied up. I’ve had this written for some time, but hadn’t typed it up. I’d love to hear what you think. Good, bad or just eh. Thanks!!!

“dialogue”

‘thoughts’

I don’t own…duh

Control
Chapter 12

Kenshin opened his eyes and followed the sword his had met. Surprised amber met fierce gold.

“I always knew it was just a matter of time before you reverted to your old ways, Battousai,” Hajime Saito sneered. “Now we can finish our duel from the Revolution.”

The two men jumped apart. Lord Yamagata rushed to the doors of his office, throwing them closed before any servants became intrigued by the strange noises. Turning around, his eyes widened and breath caught as he watched the two swordsmen leap at each other. Each clang and hiss of the blades meeting and sliding, echoed in the room. Saito and Kenshin were blurs as they rushed and parried. Lord Yamagata knew he had to end this soon.

“STOP this right now!” he shouted, momentarily distracting both swordsmen. Kenshin and Saito remained in their stances, each showing small cuts received from the other. They turned to face Yamagata.

“You will both lower your swords this instant,” Yamagata commanded. When both swordsmen hesitated he shouted, “Now!” They quickly complied.

Taking a deep breath, Yamagata steeled himself. The tension in the room was palpable, both Saito and Kenshin were wound tightly, even with their swords lowered.

Yamagata again broke the silence.

“Saito, I appreciate your efforts this evening, however I want to know who or what is forcing Himura’s hand. Kenshin, this goes against your vow. Why are you doing this?”

Kenshin hung his head.

“I’m sorry Yamagata-san, but I cannot tell you,” he said, staring at the floor.

“Hmph, cannot or will not? I always knew the assassin in you would come out someday,” Saito said, disgust evident in his voice.

“Saito…,” Yamagata warned. “Please Kenshin, tell me what is preventing you from telling me?”

Unbidden, an image of Miyori in the woods surrounded by Kido’s men entered Kenshin’s mind. Standing still, Kenshin recalled the threat to Miyori and her…no his child. Kenshin’s eyes burned with barely restrained anger. Saito narrowed his eyes as he felt Kenshin’s ki begin to flare with barely restrained rage. Even Yamagata, who could not sense ki, could feel something dangerous building in Kenshin. Yamagata again asked what caused Kenshin to break his vow.

Kenshin raised his rage-enflamed eyes to Yamagata.

“I was taken hostage by an Ishin Shishi patriot, given drugs to force me to rape and impregnate an innocent girl. If I do not accomplish my assignment, she and the child will be tortured and killed,” Kenshin spat out.

Saito flinched momentarily at Kenshin’s words. Lord Yamagata stood in shock. Closing his eyes, he sighed.

“I am truly sorry Himura. What has happened to you is abominable. Only a sick man would do such a thing,” Yamagata said, sadness permeating his words.

Saito chuckled. Kenshin glared at the former Shinsengumi. Yamagata looked taken aback.

“You find this funny?” Kenshin asked, his hand tightening on his sword hilt.

“No, you ahou. I find it ironic that this is the work of your own former group. Sad to think that for all your ideals, an Ishin Shishi would stoop so low. Of course, it’s irrelevant. Aku. Soku. Zan. That is all I need to know in this instance,” Saito said, beginning to pull out a cigarette.

“We do agree on that, Saito,” Yamagata broke in. “Himura, whoever is doing this to you must be brought to justice. You must help us stop this person.”

Kenshin shook his head.

“There is no time, Yamagata-san. I must have this assassination completed by tomorrow and you leave tomorrow for Satsuma. My hands are tied,” Kenshin said, despair echoing in his voice.

“How is your employer to know?” Yamagata asked.

“He is in the government, he told me he’d hear about it,” Kenshin said.

“There must be something we can do,” Yamagata said. “There must be some way to deceive them.”

Saito lit his cigarette.

“With this man in the government, there’s little you can do. Unless we were to make it look like a cover-up.”

Kenshin stared at Saito with wide eyes.

“A cover-up?” he asked.

Saito took a deep drag on his cigarette. Blowing smoke out, he leveled his gaze at the rurouni.

“If we make it look like Yamagata is dead, but there’s no body, word will spread through the government. Everyone will assume the army is covering it up to keep things stable. Word won’t reach the public for awhile because the government will want to keep things quiet until they can gain some control of the situation. I expect you’ll have a week, maybe two, until the public is notified and a new leader is chosen for the army. During that time, you’ll want to find the girl. Once a new leader is chosen for the army, Yamagata’s disappearance will no longer matter. Depending on who they choose it could send the country into a worse state,” Saito said, staring Kenshin down.

“So tell me Battousai, will you risk the stability of the country for one girl and a child?” Saito sneered.

Kenshin lowered his eyes. Guilt washed over him. How could he risk all that for Miyori and his child. Clenching his eyes, he took a deep breath and prepared to respond.

“It’s a chance we’re just going to have to take,” Yamagata broke in. “Japan owes Himura that much.”

Kenshin blinked. It took a moment for Yamagata’s words to register. Saito snorted.

“So be it. I know the perfect place for Yamagata to hide,” Saito said. “I’ll take care of the arrangements to make it look as though he was murdered, but without the body present.” Fixing his eyes on Kenshin, Saito glared. “Battousai, you’ll have a week, two tops. You’d better find this girl. We’re risking the future of Japan over her.”

Kenshin nodded absently. Pulling his eyes away from Saito, he stared at Yamagata.

“Are you sure about this Lord Yamagata?” he asked.

Yamagata nodded.

“This country owes you not only for your help with the Revolution but also for your assistance with Shishio and Shougo Amakusa. I’m willing to put my position on the line for this. It’s the least I can do. I have faith in you Himura. What’s been done to you is a crime and I would be less than a man and of little worth as a leader, if I didn’t do what I could to see justice served. Go, bring the girl and your child home safely,” Yamagata said, walking up to Kenshin and clasping his shoulder.

Kenshin bowed deeply.

“Thank you Lord Yamagata,” he said.

Yamagata nodded.

“Come on ahou, I’ll walk you part of the way. Yamagata, pack a few items of clothing, but don’t allow your servants to see you. I will return shortly with the items needed to make it look as though a murder occurred,” Saito said, putting out his cigarette and walking over to one of the large windows in the office. Opening it, he stepped out into the garden.

Kenshin bowed one final time and followed Saito. The two men crossed the garden to the back wall. Saito jumped up and over first, with Kenshin close behind. The two men walked down the side street to a square where they would part company.

Kenshin stopped and faced Mibu’s wolf. Looking Saito in the eye, he asked the question that had been bothering him.

“Saito, why were you at Lord Yamagata’s tonight?”

Saito exhaled as though he were weary.

“There have been threats against his life. Word came to me that a red-headed man with a sword was asking about Yamagata’s whereabouts. I decided to see if you had taken up your old ways. It’s a shame too. If you hadn’t been forced, you would have been worthy of duel with me. I guess it’ll have to wait til next time,” Saito said.

Saito began to walk away.

“If I were you Battousai, I wouldn’t spare a moment. Time is short,” Saito called over his shoulder.

Kenshin watched him walk away.

“Domo arigato, Saito,” Kenshin said quietly.

Turning he began to walk back to the dojo. Along the way he thought of Lord Yamagata’s risk and faith in him. Examining the current situation, Kenshin scowled. There was little time and Kenshin had yet to hear from Aoshi with any clues. Approaching the dojo, Kenshin reached out with his senses. Both Yahiko and Kaoru were home, but judging from the peaceful state of their ki, he figured they were asleep.

Kenshin let himself into the dojo grounds and quietly made his way to his room. Softly sliding open the shoji Kenshin’s eyes were drawn to something on the floor glowing in the moonlight. Picking it up, he realized it was an envelope.

Tearing it open, he devoured the contents by moonlight. Grabbing his small bag, he shoved extra clothes in it. Exiting his room, Kenshin was halfway down the hall when the hiss of a shoji opening stopped him in his tracks. Turning, Kenshin saw Yahiko standing in his doorway with his arms folded.

“Sneaking out in the night?” Yahiko questioned.

Kenshin’s gaze dropped to the floor and he sighed.

“Yahiko…,” he began, but was cut off by the Tokyo samurai.

“Did you know she’s been worried sick all day?” Yahiko asked, indicating Kaoru’s room. “Megumi gave me something to put in her tea so she’d sleep tonight. Otherwise she’d still be up waiting for you. What’s going on Kenshin? Does it have something to do with that letter you received? You’ve been holding something back ever since we rescued you. It’s time to stop hiding things from us!” Anger burned through Yahiko’s words.

Kenshin’s eyes widened at Yahiko’s words. His words were the talk of a man, not a boy. Kenshin looked him over. He felt pride at the man Yahiko was becoming. Yahiko scowled. Kenshin took a deep breath.

“I am sorry, Yahiko. I do not like to hide things from my friends, but until I can be sure of another’s safety, I dare not say anything. Please, try to understand. I have to go. Time is working against me,” Kenshin’s voice echoed the desperation he felt.

Yahiko stood and looked Kenshin over for a moment. Furrowing his brows, he addressed the rurouni.

“Go ahead, leave. When she wakes up tomorrow morning we’ll be right behind you. I won’t stop her from going after you. But I’ll warn you, she can’t take much more of this. If you don’t want her, tell her. Don’t hurt her if you don’t have to,” Yahiko said, with a maturity exceeding his years.

Kenshin heard the protectiveness in the young boy’s voice.

“I do want her,” Kenshin said softly. Kenshin flashed back to her telling him that she loved him. In the next moment, the image of Miyori with Kido’s men entered Kenshin’s mind. “I don’t want to hurt her, but that decision may be out of my hands,” Kenshin said, his voice quavering.

Yahiko watched the emotions roll over Kenshin’s face. Steeling himself, he looked into his idol’s eyes.

“You said time is against you. Go! I’ll bring her after you,” Yahiko said, as he turned to re-enter his room. Kenshin’s voice stopped him.

“Arigato, Yahiko-san,” Kenshin said, bowing low.

Yahiko nodded his acknowledgement and entered his room as Kenshin turned and left the dojo.

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Whew! There you have it people an update. And the story is moving right along. I figure maybe five or six more chapters and it’ll be done. Please leave a review. Any thoughts are truly appreciated. Thanks!!!!