Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Fourteenth Master ❯ Assitance ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Fourteenth Master

Ch. 2

Assistance

_ _ _ _
The moon hides again from the fallen soldiers.
_ _ _ _


"We hope for this to be the final fight."
A boy, no more than 16, raises his eyes to look at the man issuing the orders.
"Sounds small."
The man, partly bald with hazel eyes, nods once then his pleasure turns grim,
"General Saigo is otherwise occupied."
"Your point?"
"Without his brilliant strategies, we'll need our ablest available men."
"Aren't I already going?"
"Your troop alone would be outnumbered... so we'll send another to accompany
you."
"Fine," then under his breath,
"I could win alone bastard."
"Well Saizen, you should get going."
"Yeah."
--|-------
"Do you understand, Himura?"
"My men from the east and north positions and the other group from the west?"
"Good."
Kenshin stands and places his sheath through his obi.
"And Himura,"
"Nani?"
"Go in health."
"...Save that for a lesser warrior. Have you forgotten who I am?"
"Your arrogance will murder you."
"Provided your silliness does not. I have work."
Kenshin pushes a few strands of hair from his eyes. He walks out and soon relays the
information to his men. An excited cheer can be heard. The officer stares at the door,
"Oh... Kami-sama... let this be the end of this hell... young blood... is so... precious."
--|-------
The two troops meet at the crest of a hill, on the south side of the enemy's fort. The leaders,
Saizen and Kenshin nod to each other and rush into the forests on each side of the fort.
As Kenshin's troop splits partly to strike the side and back of the enemy, four men fall by
gunshot. A swarm of soldiers attacks the group from the rear and Kenshin's battle begins.
***
Meanwhile, Saizen's troop reaches the eastern gate of the fort. Bombs fly over the side
and kill instantly three men. A large group comes from behind and another group through the gate.
Several scores of soldiers battle the fifteen remaining men with Saizen.
***
Most of Kenshin's allies lay fallen as the ambushers are driven back from the western gate.
As the few Meiji soldiers rest, Kenshin partly climbs into a tree. He looks on to see the outnumbered
men of Saizen.
"Come! Our battle's not quite over!" shouts Kenshin as he leaps out of the tree. He and
his men run toward the east gate and are halted as another score of soldiers supporting the shogun
burst through the main gate. All but three of Saizen's men are dead. The four soldiers fight a few
dozen men down to two dozen. Saizen's three men fall one-by-one just as Kenshin reaches the
eastern gate. As he parries and counterattacks a kill on one man, Saizen yells.
"Where are your men?!"
"Dead."
A hidden soldier fires a shot into the trees then clubs Kenshin over the head with the butt of
the rifle. Kenshin passes out.
Saizen sees this and rages. The twenty-odd Bakufu soldiers are cut down to three. But the
gun-armed soldier, still hidden, fires and knicks Saizen's right arm. The bullet stops his swing and
another bullet grazes his left leg. In this instant a soldier tries to slash him as he leans backward.
His chest is cut and he falls to the ground. The soldier prepares for the coup d' e grace
when his stomach is torn apart from behind. The heads of the other men lie on the ground and their
guns in twin pieces. Kenshin reaches out and Saizen takes the hand. Once mostway onto his feet,
Saizen releases Kenshin. He touches his bloodied arm to his chest. He tears his clothing from the
sash up and uses them as bandages. He tries to stand.
"You won't make it alone."
"I... don't... need your... advice."
"Don't be stupid. You can barely stand, how're you gonna walk a few kilometers?"
"Shimatta... fine. Let's go before I wise up."
The two young soldiers, together struggle back to their headquarters and make a report
on the battle.
"Well boys... you're truly the best... and the most fortunate. You've got someone on
your side."
Simaltaneously they say,
"Yeah... sure."

~To Be Continued~

a/n: bye for now: Ja!