Disclaimer: None of the RK characters are mine; plot and original
characters are though.


Chapter Eleven: Blind Risk


"I know that...Sagara-san..."

And that smile...Sano wondered just how much Saitou had told his wife
about them even as they raced through the back allies and streets,
careful to keep out of sight. Kenshin could not risk being spotted,
Saitou Tokio had emphasized more than once. "If you are seen Himura-san,
there will be no way of salvaging the situation."

'I suppose that means she's got a plan,' Sano thought. Somehow that
didn't surprise him. Saitou wouldn't have married a woman who wasn't at
least capable of taking care of herself. But just how did Tokio fit into
the picture? And what was she doing here without her husband? Come to
think of it, just where was Saitou? Sano had the feeling that whatever
was happening in Tokyo was a smaller piece in a whole puzzle that they
had yet to learn of.

..................


While Tokio conferred with a man who bore a striking resemblance to
himself, Kenshin spent the first few minutes of his arrival reassuring
an alarmed Yahiko and Tsubame that he and Kaoru were unharmed and
explaining what had happened. There was nothing she could do for their
bloodstained clothes but Tae brought out clean cloths for them to wipe
themselves and soon had cups of hot tea and snacks on the table. Kenshin
really didn't feel like eating, to tell the truth, he was feeling ill
and it had nothing to do with his physical pains.

Kaoru had been busy inside the dojo and he had been outside scrubbing
the floors when he had sensed their presence, insidious and subtle, well
concealed. By the time he had reached Kaoru, the battle had already
begun. At once he recognised the assassins. They had crossed swords with
him several times; he had all but killed two of their members the last
time they met. Obviously the Spiders had regrouped. And obviously, they
had not forgotten him.

A sense of déjà vu had gripped him then, almost more strongly than the
instinctive fear he had felt for Kaoru's safety. If he closed his eyes,
he could see the street where they had last fought, in Kyoto, close to
the imperial palace. In a second that battle had replayed itself in his
mind and the past had come out of the darkness, reaching out for him.
And then the killing started...all over again...

If blood had a distinctive smell, then death had just as unique a feel.
There was a ghastly finality to it, an empty void in place of the
living, breathing life that had once occupied the flesh. If Tokio and
her companion had not gotten to Kaoru before him, she might have been
dead already. But death had still been there, brought by the sharp
blades that had saved his wife. He had not been able to stop Tokio and
Ittetsu from killing. In other words.........

"Kenshin." The gentle pressure of Kaoru's hand over his brought Kenshin
out of his thoughts. "I know what you are thinking, anata," Kaoru said
so softly that only he could hear her. "It is not your fault." She
emphasized that with a little squeeze and he gave her a small smile. But
she could see that he was already feeling guilty about what happened.
'It's not like he didn't try to stop them.' But Tokio had ignored him.
Kaoru's gaze shifted over to the woman. She had mixed feelings towards
her. She was definitely grateful for the latter's assistance. But there
was no way to condone the killings. Even those whom Kenshin had rendered
unconscious had not been spared. 'No mercy,' Kaoru thought. Saitou's
wife was just like him.

........................

After Tokio had explained what was happening and more importantly, why,
the group in silence, absorbing the news. And then the silence was
broken by the sound of Sano's fist slamming onto the table.

"Damn it," he swore furiously, summing up just about everyone's mood.
"It isn't fair! Just because some maniac-"

"Sano!" Megumi hissed, elbowing him in the side. "You aren't making
Ken-san and Kaoru-san feel any better." He shot her a disgruntled look
but did as she said, grumbling something about doctors that she couldn't
quite pick up.

"So, I suppose you must have some plan then?" Yahiko asked tentatively.

Kyosuke shot her a look but Tokio ignored him. "Yes, I do."

"I don't think Sekihara-san agrees with your plan," Kaoru pointed out.
"Just what do you have in mind Tokio-san?"

"No more killing, if that is what you are concerned about Kaoru-san. But
I will need your help, Sagara-san."

"Me?" Sano's eyes widened. "To do what?"

"Well, the main thing is, we can be sure that it was Shinohara Sasaki
who gave out the rumour of your whereabouts, Himura-san," Tokio nodded
at Kenshin. "However, rumours, however convincing, are still rumours. As
long as you are not identified, there can be no confirmation of it as
truth. So, in order to undo what Shinohara has done, I'll need to spread
a little rumour of my own to counterfeit his."

"You want me to speak to Katsu," Sano interrupted.

"Well guessed, Sagara-san. It looks like Hajime was right about you."

It took him a moment to realise that Tokio was speaking about her
husband. "Err...you mean he..."

"He said that you were rather smart." Six pairs of eyes widened in
astonishment.

"I can't imagine that husband of yours complimenting anyone," Kyosuke
muttered, recovering himself.

Actually, what Hajime had really said was, "Sagara Sanosuke may behave
like an idiot but he isn't that stupid when he decides to use his
brain." Technically speaking, it was a type of compliment, Tokio
decided. Her husband like teasing Sanosuke simply because the
ex-gangster was too gullible to either see through his cutting remarks
or to ignore them. But she could see why Hajime bothered about Sanosuke
enough to give him a lesson or two. The young man had promise.

"Tsukioka-san has connections with sufficient underground sources to
help effectively spread the rumour that the Meiji government, in order
to arrest all political dissidents in hiding, used the name of Battousai
in order to lure them out of hiding and get rid of them."

"Are you sure that will work?" Megumi asked sceptically. "It sounds a
little-"

"Farfetched? Yes indeed. However, just such a hunt took place twelve
years ago. I should know. After all, I participated in it. The Meiji
government used every tactic available, even using some of its
lower-ranking politicians as bait. Even bounty hunters like me who
refused to get involved in political captures were drawn in, one way or
another." For a moment her eyes turned hard as flint before she blinked,
hiding her emotions. "Naturally, the public knew nothing about this.
However, it is a well-known tale in the underworld."

"Still, in order to make that work, we need not just Tsukioka-san's
help, we also need the help of Tsukiyono Rie," Kyosuke added before
Tokio could stop him.

"What?" Tae exclaimed in alarm. "You can't be serious! Tokio-san......"

"Just who is this Tsukiyono Rie?" Yahiko broke in impatiently. "Can
somebody please explain the plan fully without trying to leave out any
details?"

"I was about to ask the same thing myself." All eyes turned to Kenshin
who had until that moment, chosen to remain silent. "Besides, you have
not really answered my wife's initial question, Tokio-donno. I know that
your purpose here is not solely for our benefit. But since I am the
cause of the current situation, I would like to know what kind of risk
you intend to undertake on my behalf."

Tokio shrugged gracefully. "Believe me Himura-san, any risk I do take is
based solely on necessity and nothing more. And as you said, my purpose
here more than anything else is to stop Shinohara's plot." Ignoring the
glares shot at her, she continued. "Tsukiyono Rie is the matriarch of
the Tsukiyono Clan, a society of bounty hunters that control the Saitama
region. Undoubtedly, she is aware of all that has taken place recently.
I'm not sure whether she knows about your presence, Himura-san, although
it would not surprise me if she did. We need her help to confirm the
rumour that your name is merely a trap set by the Meiji government for
enemies of the state. The Nakamura Spiders hated the government and are
responsible for several political assassinations. The man you saw
Ittetsu kill today, Sagara-san, was Yamada Toshi. He was an ardent
supporter of the Bakufu and a dangerous man the Meiji government has
been trying to arrest for the past five years. These men, and others,
were killed in less than a day after entering Tokyo. As far as the rest
know, something strange is going on. Word on the street has it that
either the Hittokiri Battousai is striking back, thus confirming his
presence here, or something else is afoot. If the Tsukiyono Clan will
agree to spread the word that they have an agreement with the government
to aid in the capture of such people, than that will serve to confirm
Tsukioka-san's rumour and protect the truth of your presence here in
Tokyo."

"And what is she getting from you in return for going through all this
trouble?" Sano asked. Nothing in this world came for free, he knew that
very well. Tokio was asking a great deal from this Tsukiyono Rie.
Whatever price she was going to have to pay obviously worried Kyosuke.
Sano couldn't help stealing a glance at the man sitting beside Tokio.
Damn, but the resemblance to Kenshin was almost freaky. Aside from the
hair and eyes, their features and builds were similar. And to think Tae
had been married all this while without telling them!

"It won't cost her anything. The Tsukiyono Clan owns a great number of
businesses in Tokyo itself. It is to their advantage that the city
remains safe and secure. And also, since Tokyo is under their control,
it becomes a matter of saving face. By now they would have made several
captures already and they won't stop until all the trouble dies down.
What I am asking of her is a simple thing that will cost her nothing.
But..." Here Tokio hesitated. "what she will ask of me is another matter
entirely."

"She wants your life." When Tokio did not deny this, Kenshin's eyes
narrowed slightly. "Tokio-donno, there has been enough killing today.
Even if this is the best solution you can think of, it is unacceptable."

"This is the only solution."

"And what will have been won in the end? Shinohara Sasaki will be
stopped and you will be dead. As far as I see it, the losses will be
equal on both sides. Perhaps where Saitou is concerned, the loss will be
greater than the gain." He said that last part gently, knowing that it
would be a sensitive point with the woman sitting before him.

A faint smile touched her lips. Himura Kenshin was hoping to sway her
using Hajime. "Of course I have considered that, Himura-san. But my
husband trusts me and I intend to keep his trust."

Before she could say more, the door slid open and in stepped Ittetsu
along with four other men. "It is alright," he hastily assured the
group. "These men are escorts from Tsukiyono Rie. She has accepted your
request for a meeting. However, she insists that Himura Battousai come
along as well. The rest of us are to remain here until further notice."

The plan had been for Ittetsu to take the Spider, worth a hefty sum, to
Tsukiyono Rie and present the request for a meeting. Tokio had expected
to encounter some difficulty in securing this request; she had not
expected Rie to send an escort at once. By all the unwritten laws and
etiquette of the bounty hunters, the old woman could not make an
outright demand on her life. But there were always ways of circumventing
rules. And judging from her actions, Tsukiyono Rie had obviously worked
out a way to do that.

...........................

Sano, Yahiko, Megumi and Kaoru waited for approximately five minutes
after Kenshin left before jumping to their feet. "Nope Kitsune, you are
staying here while me and Yahiko go keep an eye on Kenshin," Sano firmly
told Megumi. "Not a word Jou-chan," he turned to Kaoru. "Yahiko and I
will see that Kenshin gets back here fine."

"You'll get him killed is what you'll do," Ittetsu drawled. The blonde
man had settled against one of the walls and now he held a cup of tea,
seemingly preoccupied with staring into its depths. "Didn't you hear
Rie's instructions?"

"I don't give a damn quite frankly," Sano snapped back. "At least I care
about my friends enough to bother."

"We would only have embarrassed Tokio and ourselves if we had
protested," Kyosuke interrupted. "Bounty hunters have codes and rules,
we have to obey them. However, your outbursts will not be counted
against you since you don't belong to the same circles as us." Kaoru had
grabbed onto Kenshin and refused to let him leave. The other three had
reacted in a similarly fashion until Kenshin had persuaded them it was
for the best.

"Right now there are at least twenty men watching the Akabeko." Ittetsu
drained his cup, running a finger along the rim. "If you so much as
attempt to follow, the escorts will be informed, the meeting will be
cancelled and within an hour everyone in this city and beyond is going
to know where Battousai lives, what he looks like and who his wife and
friends are. You would risk that? I doubt Battousai would thank you."

"Stop calling him that," Yahiko scowled. "Kenshin no longer goes by that
name, he doesn't kill anymore. But how can we be sure that he'll come
back safely? Tokio can't even be sure she'll be fine."

Porcelain shattered. Everyone jumped and Tsubame gave a little shriek.
Ittetsu nonchalantly opened his hand, letting the shards fall to the
ground before slowly drawing the remaining slivers from his left palm.
"Battousai will be fine. Rie intends to use him, which is why she sent
for him. But if anyone is going to die, it will be Tokio." With that, he
picked up his sword and left.

Kyosuke half considered asking Ittetsu to come back but decided that his
cousin would be smart enough to look after himself. Letting Tokio go
like that was hard but they had to respect her choice as well as
consider the situation. 'But you aren't the one who has always been in
love with her,' he thought soberly. But this wasn't exactly easy for him
as well. Not only had he let a good friend go to what was possibly her
death, he had no idea what was in store for the man known as Himura
Kenshin. Going outside, he sat by the edge of the well, aware that his
wife had followed. She came up beside him and slipped her hand into his.

"Well?" she asked softly, stroking his knuckles with her thumb. "What do
you think?"

"I'm not sure. Rie surely must have something planned for him, otherwise
she would not have asked him to go along with Tokio..."

"I don't mean that anata. I'm asking what you think about Himura-san. I
wrote you the moment I saw him. For a moment I thought that I was
looking at you! And I know you never really found your younger brother-"
She stopped when he squeezed her hand, shaking his head.

"I can't be sure it is him. It's been too long. And I gave up looking
for him years ago..."

When he was five, he had been given up for adoption to an elderly
childless couple that had paid his parents well. The day he left, his
younger brother, barely two years old, had watched tearfully from their
mother's arms, those huge purple eyes striking against the soft red hair
that was the same exact shade as his own. When he was old enough, he had
tried to contact his family only to discover that the village had been
raided and all the survivors sold as slaves. Amongst them had been a
little boy with red hair and amethyst eyes......




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Author's Notes: Hmm... will reveal what happened between Tokio and Rie
in the next chapter. And Kenshin is not as safe as the rest think. I'm
working up something evil for him, must have Kenshin more involved in
the story. Is Kyosuke his brother...? That's up to you to decide...I'm
not saying more on this. Just thought I would dabble with Kenshin's
past, which is not well known at all. (is it??)

Although I did mention that "Time and Tide", another story about Saitou
and Tokio, had no links to anything else written, somehow I find myself
writing connections between this story and that. If anyone wants to find
out how Tokio got tricked into the hunt mentioned in this chapter, they
can check out TAT. (which is incomplete at the moment)
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