Disclaimer: I don't own or claim Rurouni Kenshin or Ranma1/2. I don't make any money from this or have intentions of copyright infringements, so please don't sue me.

Bushido

He stood up, ready to open the gates when he heard a familiar little squeak from somewhere beside him. He frowned and was about to spring towards the bushes where the squeak had come from when he heard Nabiki's voice from just beyond the wooden fence.

"I'm home, everyone!!"

The door creaked open and Nabiki came through, smiling. She stepped aside to let those standing behind her enter with her.

Ranma felt a chill run down his neck and spine. His pigtail felt like it was standing on end and his fighter instincts rose a few levels. His eyes met those of the man standing directly behind Nabiki. Ranma clenched his fists.

"Kasumi! Akane! Come out here, I have some people for you two to meet!"
"Coming," Kasumi's voice said from just inside the house.

"Nabiki, you're just in time for lunch," Kaoru said, walking towards Ranma. Akane followed just beside her.

"I've already eaten, actually. I brought some guests though if you don't mind."

"Not at all--" Kaoru began, then she gasped as she beheld the coldness of the man standing before her. She restrained herself from pulling out her bamboo shinai and made herself act politely. "Please, introduce us to your guests."

Nabiki heard Kaoru's tone change and she searched Kaoru's face. She switched her gaze to Eiji and introduced then in a confused voice. "Kamiya Kaoru, Tendo Eiji."

"Hurry up!" Saitoh Hajime, a former captain of the Shinsengumi, stuck his head out of the carriage window and yelled at the driver.

"Sir, this is all the activities of the last four days that the scout we sent reported back," the subordinate that sat across from Saitoh said, handing Saitoh a packet of paper.

Saitoh leafed through them, wishing that there were more. As soon as the figure left that night, he had immediately sent a scout to spy on the Kamiya dojo and their activities. Then the next morning, he had ordered a ticket for passage from Osaka to Tokyo, and now he was in the last lag of the journey. And it was taking too bloody long getting there!

"Where are the other reports that I asked for?" Saitoh asked in his calm but dangerous voice.

The subordinate cleared his throat and loosened his tight collar. "Well, sir, since we had only two days notice they're - uh- not yet ready."

Saitoh glanced up slowly and stared at the man through narrow eyes. His nose flared at this new setback and he slammed the paper in the empty space next to him. "Fine. But as soon as they arrive, you give them to me."

"Yes, sir," the man replied, feeling a little relieved. But his relief was short lived when he saw the little grin that played about Saitoh's lips. A grin that had the other man hoping that it had nothing to do with him.

"So, the rumors are true, after all… the Tendo and the Saotome..."

Kenshin, Ranma and Sano snapped out of their relax stances and turned around to face the figure that stood at the gate of the Kamiya home. The battle aura around this individual was surprising. Kenshin's hand fell to the hilt of his sakaba, his body tense but still. Ranma, Sano and Yahiko did the same thing.

"Who are you?" Kenshin asked harshly. In a manner of seconds, he had converted into his hitokiri persona without lowering himself in a battle stance or making any other moves.

"Just as this young lady had said, my name is Tendo Eiji, son of Lord Fujitaka of the Tendo Clan."

Nabiki stared at him. "You never told me that you were -the- son of the head of the clan."

Emi moved next to Nabiki. "I'm sorry we had to omit that, Nabiki-san. My brother told me that he had good reasons not to tell."

"He did, did he?" Nabiki's tone changed from warm to cold.

Ranma was quite familiar with that tone, and felt the shivers run down his spine despite it all. He smirked, thinking that Eiji had just made a big mistake: lying to Nabiki. He's gonna be in big trouble, Ranma chanted in his head. Just then, Eiji's words penetrated Ranma's thoughts.

"… declare a temporary truce. Should I find it needful, I shall deem this truce as void and will not be responsible of the consequences of what may happen to---"

"What are you blathering about?!" Ranma asked rudely. "You can't just come in here, and say stuff like you're the big boss man or something. Nobody asked you to be here."

"Do you oppose my presence and reject my truce then, Saotome?"

"You bet I do, jerk!"

"Then you willingly risk the lives of those around you."

"Hey--that's not what I meant!"
Kenshin almost felt sorry for Ranma. He was in way over his head, and he probably didn't even know the importance of Eiji's offer.

"Then tell me what you meant. Beware, this is your last chance to accept my offer of truce before I run you through my sword."

"You arrogant--!"

"That's enough!"

Everyone turned to the voice that rang with authority. Kenshin and Eiji narrowed their eyes at the man who stood calmly smoking a cigarette at the gates.

"Saitoh."

Saitoh Hajime looked up and smirked at the red haired swordsman. "Bathousai."

"What the hell is going on?" Ranma asked.

"Yes, just what -is- going on?" Akane agreed. She turned towards her second oldest sister. "Nabiki?"

"I think I'll get some tea," Kasumi said, seemingly unaware of the tension in the yard.

Nabiki turned to the young woman right next to her. "Emi, why don't you help Kasumi with the tea?"

The girl, Emi, looked at Nabiki nodding. "Please be patient with my brother, Nabiki-san."

Nabiki nodded and watched as Emi went inside the house, giving Saitoh a fearful glance and a wide breath.

"Nabiki, I think you can explain what this is about, can't you?" Akane asked her sister.

Eiji, who had remained quiet through the confusion finally turned to Akane and looked fully at her. His eyes, as most of the martial artist in the yard noticed, took on a soft gentleness, and his lips curled slightly upward. However, as soon as he recalled Ranma, who stood at Akane's side protectively, he frowned and his eyes darkened.

"Saitoh-- ," Kenshin said, his one word leaving a question in the air.

Sano cracked his knuckles and grimaced. "You here for your duel with me?"

Saitoh threw the cigarette he was smoking to the ground and put it out with his booted foot. "Ahou. I came here on family business."

"What!" Kaoru exclaimed. "You have no family!"

"Hmph," Saitoh walked past the group and made his way into the house, inviting himself in. Everyone else stared at him, confusion all over their faces. He turned around just before entering the building. "Don't you want to know what's going on or are you all just going to stay out here with your mouths open?"

"No need to be so rude, Saitoh," Kenshin said, following the other man inside the house.

"And it's my house," Kaoru muttered.

Ranma felt Eiji's cold gaze watching him and Akane, but he kept moving. If he had learned anything over the years, it was that impetuosity led to trouble that he didn't need.

By the time everyone had gathered in the dining area of the Kamiya home, tea was already set out on the table, with Kasumi readying the cups and Emi pouring tea into them. After a moment of silence, Ranma's impatience won out.

"Well, Saitoh - or whatever your name is?" Ranma said, glaring at the man who calmly and slowly took a small sip of his tea. "Are you going to explain to everybody what the heck is going on?!"

Saitoh finally glanced up. "Fool."

"Hey!" Akane said, leaning towards Saitoh.

Sano pretended to ignore them, muttering under his breath, "At least, I'm not the only whose gonna get verbally abused around here."

Saitoh heard him and glance towards Sano. "Ahou."

Sano's head snapped up and he glared at Saitoh. "Just who do you think you are, coming in here and acting as if this place belonged to you or something."

Kenshin, though silent, showed his support by sitting taller and awaiting for Saitoh's answer. He had known right away that Saitoh hadn't come to the Kamiya Dojo to socialize, yet he didn't know what the other man had up his deceitful sleeve.

Saitoh turned to look balefully at Emi and Eiji. Eiji glared back at him while Emi cowered behind her brother. Next, Saitoh looked at Ranma who sat across from Eiji. Ranma, too, glared at him, still waiting for a response to his question.

"Well, since I have such a captive audience awaiting me, I shall begin," Saitoh started, earning himself more grumbling and harsh looks. "Saotome Ranma."

Ranma sat up. Saitoh smirked at this.

"What's your problem anyway?!" Ranma yelled across the table, angry that he had unthinkingly reacted like an insubordinate to his superior's command.

Saitoh glared at him but never lost his cool once. "It's not me that's the problem here. It's you."

"What's that suppose to mean?!"

"Only that you, a relative of my mine just happens to appear one day out of nowhere. Meanwhile, the Saotome clan is in an uproar over your engagement to a Tendo."

"What?!" Akane screamed. "What's the matter with being a Tendo?"

Nabiki thought that it was finally time to re-introduce her guests into the argument.

"Kasumi, Akane," Nabiki began, catching both her sisters' attention. She gestured towards Eiji and Emi. "Meet our ancestors. Tendo Eiji and Tendo Emi."

The whole table was stunned to silence, except Saitoh, who took a sip of his tea and paid no heed to the others around him.

"Ancestors?" Akane asked, stupefied.

"Think about it Akane. Why wouldn't we have relatives in Tokyo?" Nabiki asked her little sister. "And if you don't believe me, just take a closer look at Emi. With her hair down and over her shoulder, and maybe a normal everyday dress, she'd be a dead ringer for…"

"Kasumi," Akane finished. She looked between Emi and Kasumi, noticing the differences now that it had been brought to her attention. "I can't believe it!"

Kasumi looked at Emi and paused in pouring tea. "Oh my. It seems like we're twins." She smiled at the younger and shyer woman.

"Famous?" Akane asked.

Eiji chose this time to add his portion of the story. "The Saotomes and the Tendos, the two most powerful clans of the Meiji era."

"You mean the two most bloodthirsty clans in Japan," Sano put in.

Eiji glared at him. "What do you know? You're too young to have understood the war."

Sano sat up, ready to pound the arrogant Tendo into the floor.

"Why don't we all calm down and let the respective people tell the truth about this matter?" Kenshin asked. "Let's start with you, Eiji Tendo. I know that there's some bad blood between the two clans but how has it gone on for so long without anything happening?"

Eiji snorted. "Just shows what you know after having vanished for ten years, bathousai. Obviously you haven't been in touch--."

"Why don't you enlightened us then?" Kaoru interrupted, unaware of Saitoh's appreciative gleam he shot her way. She was tired of having the arrogant man looking down at the rest of them. Ever since he had come into the picture, he had been acting like an arrogant and selfish samurai that's out for blood.

Eiji glanced and dismissed Kaoru as insignificant, earning him a hostile look from Kenshin. Eiji ignored this too and instead slammed his hand on the low table, causing some of the tea from the cups to spill. "If it weren't for the Saotomes, my clan would've been better off! It was your womanizing ways that caused the war between the clans, Saotome. For all of you ignorant of our history, allow me to elaborate… four centuries ago, your ancestor, Saotome Takezo, engaged his son to my ancestress, the beauteous Tendo Keiko. He could have had it all for his son… the estate, the wealth and support of a powerful clan, and even a beautiful and faithful wife. What he did do? He reneged on his promise and betrothed his son to several other women!"

Ranma and Akane facefaulted, Nabiki sweatdropped (not having heard it before), and Kasumi continued to smile and pour tea.

Eiji chose not to notice anything as he continued on with his perceived tragedy. "Oh, what a dishonorable cur that man was! As soon as Keiko-sama found out about her unfaithful betrothed (fiancé), she took herself into the forest and disappeared from the face of Japan! The clan was outraged and declared war against the Saotomes…"

"That is sad, but you know, it happened so long ago," Kaoru said softly. "Can't you find it in yourself to forgive, at least, one Saotome?"

Eiji turned sharply in her direction. "How can you understand years of hatred?! You all say that this is a pitiful excuse for a feud?! But what do you know? Huh?! I have cut down men for less than you have said to me today…"

At this, Kenshin, Sano, Yahiko and Ranma prepared to stand up, fists and swords ready for battle.

Eiji thought it wise to end his words less violently. "My anger at this Saotome has eclipse all other emotion that I might have felt in normal circumstances."

"Hey, you shouldn't talk to a girl like that in the first place, ya moron!" Ranma said, settling back in his seat.

"Yeah, even though she is an ugly hag," Yahiko added that one in. He earned a bonk on the head for it.

"Excuse, my brother," Emi spoke up. She had remained quiet for the longest time, sitting back and observing everyone else. She had studied her relatives, the Tendo sisters, and found them to be innocent in the matter, for they seem to have no recollection of the feud that has lasted for the past four centuries.

The bathousai and his group seem to be harmless as well. They were the mediators that were badly needed in this volatile situation, and Emi was grateful for their presence. They were the only reason that she felt she had to excuse her brother.

The other two persons, Saotome Ranma and Saitoh, scared her. She had been watching them from beneath her eyes and felt her heart thud at the sight of them. Ever since she had heard that the Saotomes had managed to ally themselves to Saitoh Hajime, the feud had somewhat quieted down. There were no more open declarations of war in public roads and cities. There were no more mysterious assassinations and no more riots. The feud had been silenced, if only for awhile.

However, the presence of a new Saotome, and one that is evidently a worthy fighter, has appeared out of the blue. Emi was afraid of what that would mean for her family. The Tendos were renowned swordfighters, but were very deficient in the hand to hand combat fighting that this Saotome Ranma was reported to be a master of. She had learned from Nabiki that Ranma has been engaged to Akane for the last three or so years. And Emi could see for herself how much awareness there is between the two. How could that be? All her life she had been taught that Saotomes live only to make the Tendo Clan suffer…

And now, the fate of the Tendos was uncertain.

"Please excuse my brother, Kamiya-san," Emi said again, bowing politely to Kaoru.

Kaoru nodded her head in acceptance. "I understand his anger, Tendo-san."

"Still," Saitoh spoke up. He lighted another cigarette for himself. "That is no excuse for a so called hitokiri to let his emotions get the better of him, is it Tendo?"

Eiji snarled at Saitoh. "What do you know! You are not truly a Saotome. You would not know the meaning of this hatred that is between our two families."

"Would you care to find out how much hatred there is in me, Tendo?" Saitoh challenged softly.

"The fight is not with you---"

"Since I married a Saotome, it has been my fight also."

Sano and Yahiko gasped, but it was Ranma that spoke out loud. "You're married to a Saotome?!"

Saitoh looked blearily at Ranma and nodded. "Yes. And I thought that I knew all of my wife's relatives. That is…until now."

"Kuso, this is getting way too deep," Sano said. Ever since Eiji had mentioned the blood feud, Sano couldn't think of anything else but the sunny morning when he had saw Ranma and Genma practicing in the yard. There had been so much intensity in what they had called 'practicing' and 'play-fighting.' He couldn't imagine how it would be if they were actually serious.

Yahiko, too, had similar thoughts running through his head. If Ranma was going to end up fighting against the Tendo clan, who still retained their traditional samurai values in a place where samurai were not wanted or needed, then the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu would be the best weapon to use. And if Kenshin was a man who had let himself turn into a hitokiri bathousai, despite his desire to help the people fight against oppression, then what would happen to Ranma Saotome should he find out about the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and learn its secrets? Could the new and yet fragile Meiji Era handle a third sword-wielding assassin? Especially one that has a blood feud as an excuse to kill yet has no experience to handle the darkness that would inevitably come to his mind.

Yahiko and Sano shivered at the thought of the coming days and what they will bring.

Saitoh, unaware of the thoughts of Sano and Yahiko, glanced surreptitiously at Kenshin. For all his show of being nearly omniscient, Saitoh often wondered what the famous hitokiri thought, especially since Saitoh had no experience in thinking like a pacifist.

Kenshin sat through the discussions, responding accordingly to what was being said and done. The part of the feud, though, did not make him worry as much as Sano and Yahiko did. Rather, he hoped. It was not a hope that sprung from worry that Ranma will use his powerful technique against the Tendos. Instead, it was something that springs from the glance that he had seen passing between Ranma and Akane. A glance that might end a feud that has lasted for centuries.

Well, Ranma- kun, let us see whether or not your ideals will bring you out of this one.

**** to be continued ****

email: kenshin_oro@hotmail.com