Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter #9: Revelations
The residents and guest of Aoiya gathered in in the dining room, centering around th strnger known s Mitsurugi. Only a few candles were light for light and the time past midnight. The story of Hitenmitsurugi was being told, as the story already heard by Kenshin nearly ended most of them returned to sleep. Now only Kenshin, Aoshi, Saitou, and Soujirou remained to converse with Mitsurugi.
“You must stay....” Mitsurugi informed the four of them. “You must hear more of the story.”
“But why did you let them leave?” Aoshi inquisited, already out of his seat and ready to depart.
“Because young one, they need not hear this part, it is no importance to them. It is for you however, for you must know your enemy.” Mitsurgi explained.
Aoshi quickly sat back down.
“Truth be told the four and their minions are not the true evil one.” He continued. “Behind them stands a greater demon. Even further back into the ancient times there was a battle between two sects of the Oni Clan. We call him, Kishin, Demon God, his true name too evil to utter.” He paused to let it sink in.
“The evil one gained much power during the ancient time, so much that no one man or oni could stop. At this time the strongest of our Oni Clan first developed a fighting art known as ‘Hitenmitsurugi.’ There were four of us, we each had a special weapon and style we excelled at. I used two long swords, later dubbed ‘Hitenmitsurugi Nitou Ken-Jyutsu.’ Another used short swords Hitenmitsurugi Ryu Ken-Jyutsu. And also there was Sou-Jyutsu and Tai-Jyutsu.”
(Nitou Ken-Jyutsu = Dual Sword Art
Ryu Ken-Jyutsu = Flowing Sword Art
Sou-Jyutsu = Spear Art
Tai-Jyutsu = Body Art)
“We were barely able to defeat him but because we were still young we were not strong enough to kill him. We had to seal him away in a Torii, it is located at a place you now call Hokkaido.”
“Hold it.” Saitou interupted quite rudely. “Now you have to clear this up, why are you telling us about this Kishin? What does that have to do with us?”
“I’m getting there.” Mitsurugi replyed. “Now, the Kishin had been sealed away for many centuris now but the seal had began to weaked, he was able to communicate with us, to infuence us. He got hold of a few of the Oni Clan who believed that they were superior to the Human Clan, the Kishin promised that if he were to be let loose he and the ones who follow him would exterminate the humans and rule this earth. A few of us followed him, three of the four followed him, they had become full of pride.” He sighed. “But the Kishin did not want to rule, he only wanted death but his lies had swayed the hearts of our Clan. That is when we divided and fell.”
“Who were the original four Mitsurugi-san?” Soujirou asked politely takign advantage of hsi pause.
Mitsurugi looked up into his kind eyes. “There was the one you met today, En of Flame, and the other two are Fuu of Wind and Kai of Sea. And I was the fourth Ten of Sky. That is why it pains me to see my comrades fall into the deciete of the evil one.”
“Please continue Mitsurugi-san” Soujirou urged.
“So after turning on the rest of the Oni Clan, the three of them strove to release the Kishin upon this realm, but luckily I was able to defeat them without killing them. Sealing them away with the Kishin. But they have escaped and hae not changed their ways, they plan to ressurect the Kishin and bring Hell on Earth.” He grimly emphesesized his last line. “I predicted this would happen one day so while they were still free I had them teach their skill to a few select humans so we would not be aloen in our battle, these peopel are you.” He glanced up at Kenshin, Aoshi, Soujirou, and Saitou in order. “You are the ones who will fight to save this era.”
Mitsurugi stood up on his feet and headed to his room in silence.
“Mitsurugi!” Saitou said, demanding him to stop. “What do you want us to do?”
“Go to Hokkaido before they do, and stop the demons from releasing the Evil One.” With that he left the room leaving them to themselves. Each of them left for their own room in silence, conpemplating what information they had just recieved and preparing themselves for the immense task ahead.
As the warriors slept the sun brought light anew upon the land, bringing once again a new day. What is to come remains unknown to the world but forever shall remain in the hearts of a few.
NEXT
