Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter #4: The Red Cloak


It was early morning in Tokyo, the sun hadn’t risen yet, but Himura Kenshin had. He had gathered equipment he would need for travel to Kyoto, he bundled up some food and strapped the three swords to his belt with a bag containing the scrolls that his master had given to him. In less than a hour he was ready to go, while his friends slept. This new threat was more than he could handle and this time Kaoru and the others could not come, or should they? He remembers the last ime he left for Kyoto, they had followed him anyway and put themselves in danger. Kenshin, learning from his mistake decided to leave a note.

“Kaoru-dono,

I have decided to leave for Kyoto and see what’s going on for myself. I also have decided that it might be dangerous for you to go with me, so I’ll go ahead to make sure the roads are safe. I will stay at Aoiya once I get to Kyoto so I will meet you there. So, until then.

Kenshin”

Kenshin left the note by Kaoru’s pillow, careful not to wake her and hoping that she’ll be able to read his sloppy writing. With that done and his things packed Kenshin left the dojo for Kyoto.


It was early morning in Aoiya aw Soujirou sat in the dining room enjoying his breakfast. He sat alone in the rather large room, he had not seen Aoshi or Misao all morning, ‘they must still be asleep’ was his guess and he left it at that. All night he wondered how he would meet with Kenshin, he couldn’t just walk into the dojo and say ‘Hey what’s up?’ now can he. As Soujirou enjoyed his morning tea that had been brought to him by the chef, he didn’t notice one more person enter the dining room.

A tall man walked up behind Soujirou, lokking down at him with cold eyes. All of a sudden the man grabbed his chair and tipped it on its two hind legs so the man could look in his eys.

“What the Hell are you doing here?” the man asked in a monotonic voice, it was Saitou. He was out of uniform and in a bath robe, his hair was all wet and matted down. For once he didn’t carry his sword and wear white gloves, but he had a cigarette in his mouth.

Soujirou looked up at him with amazement. “I thought you were dead.” He said smiling.

With a sigh Saitou spoke. “Must you all assume that?”

“Well you haven’t showed yourself after tht incident.”

“Well, that’s because... Hey! You haven’t answered me, what are you doing here? You are a fugitive, why do you show yourself in public?”

“Um... well... I don’t know.” Saoujirou answered with a smile, which was really getting on Saitou’s nerves.

“Are you planning to go anywhere, or are you here just to annoy me?” With that said Ssaitou put out his cigarrette on a ash tray on the table.

“You shouldn’t get angry, it’s bad for your health.” Soujirou struggled to get his chair back on all four legs.”Now, if you would, you’re making a scene and you’re making me unconfortable.”

By now of course Aoshi and Misato noticed Soujirou’s presence. Aoshi had gotten up and approached Soujirou.

“What is your business here?” Aoshi inquisited. He set both of his hands flat out on the table, his eyes stared him down.

‘Ohhh boy, what have I gotten myself into?’ Soujirou asked himself in his mind, here we sat surrounded, tipped over, and weaponless, a less than confotable situation.


Kenshin walked down the unoccupied road. It was still morning and the sun was barely up in the sky. He had spent the past hour walking, he wasn’t too fond of vehicles, never had much luck with them, so he decided to walk to Kyoto like he did last time, but not throught the woods.

All morning he hadn’t seen a single creature, besides the occasional birdsong and winds it was completely quiet, Kenshin liked the peace. At times like these Kenshin had realized what he had protected a year ago. If Shishio had defeated him all this would not exist, all of Japan would be under his rule and peace would be a thing in the past. He shook these thoughts from his mind, he didn‘t want to think about fighting until it was necessary.

Kenshin’s thoughts were completely diverted when he heard the sound of a boot digging into gravel from behind. He turned slowly to see what it was. A hooded man stood there. His huge body completely covered, he wore a black tunic and pants, his face could not be seen because of the mask over it, only a pair of pupil-less eys were seen.

“Who are you?” Kenshin asked instinctively, his hand slowly reached for his Sakaba hanging from his belt.

Instead of a verbal reply the man grabbed a sickle from behind his back.

“I see....” Kenshin immidiately took a fighting stance, with his body twisted and his hand gripping the Sakaba, a Battou-jyutsu stance.

The man ran at Kenshin without a sound, his size decieved his great agility, in a split second he was in front of Kenshin, then he leapt.

Kenshin’s body knew what to do, he also leapt after the man. The Sakaba was drawn and it was poised to strike. The man’s body decended and Kenshin struck, his blade was swung upward into the man’s belly.

The man’s body was knocked off course in mid-air and fell backwards, but he spun and landed on his feet, completely un affected by the blow.

Kenshin also landed soundly on his feet, and was amazed by the man, he had taken a full force blow and was completely unharmed. He quickly took a fighting stance again, ready for another attack.

“You can’t beat them like that!!” A woman’s voice called from behind the man. Before any reaction could take place the man standing infront of Kenshin was instantly cut into pieces.

The bodyparts fell to the ground with a thud and a shower of blood. “That’s how you beat him.” The voice said again. Before Kenshin stood a figure with a deep red cloak covering her. A blood stained sword hung from her visible hand.