Chapter I: Embers of the Revolution

Onibasu sighed in relief. "Let's go, then," she said as she stepped out the door.

-----------

"I'm Hiraku Raiden." he introduced himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you. It's a good thing you were there, I might not have been able to carry him so quick myself. You're a literal lifesaver."

Souji started to laugh. He watched Onibasu prepare to leave. None of the Shinsengumi had moved from their seats the entire time. Souji patted the mat where she had sat, his eyes gazed playfully up at her from where he sat.

"No need to rush. We were making plans on striking the police chief of Kyoto, we weren't planning on going tonight. We just returned from that showdown in front of the Shirobeko. The Shinsengumi does not jump into business prospects right off the bat, Onibasu-san, we wait for the right moment to strike." Shinpachi said as he took a sip of tea.

Souji nodded at Shinpachi's explanation. The Shinsengumi were renowned assassins, and regarded as the greatest swordsmen force during the Bakumatsu. They had learned, through many years, that rushing to do a job is the worst way. Their philosophy concerning their occupation was sound and stagnant. However, all Shinsengumi knew when the best time to strike would come.

"The same goes for you," Ryouichi said to Hiraku. "We are equally responsible for saving that man. I do not even know his name, or his cause, but every life is worth saving to me. Just because someone is the way they are now, doesn't mean they can't change."

He leaned forward and peered sideways into the room where they seemed to be working on the Westerner. He had taken a heavy blow after all and would need lots of medical treatment for a while. Ryouichi was thankful the man didn't die. He saw something in the Westerner; some sort of ki flowed from him that was stronger than most samurai he had seen. That man just needed some help releasing the ki and using the sword like he was meant to. Guns were not for his soul. He had the soul of a warrior. Ryouichi leaned back again, hoping he didn't seem a little too curious.

"Those men back there were nothing but trouble," Ryouichi said to Hiraku. "Who do you think they were, anyway? I know that most were of the Shinsengumi of so long ago, but one of the men... He was different."

"I don't know who that man was," Hiraku said, "but he was clearly a samurai, and one of great skill. Whoever they are, it is my responsibility as a warrior to protect this peace. I cannot watch men try to bring war back to a world where people live happily for their own stubborn desires."

------------

Onibasu sighed. "Of course," she said, "our conversation became a bit heated, and I wasn't thinking clearly." She took her seat again and looked down, trying to hide her slight embarrassment. "So what is our plan, then?" She said, returning to her usual posture.

Souji looked to everyone and laid out a long map of the Government Building in Kyoto. He pointed to different points of entry. The building was obviously of the western style, modernized and new. Positions where guards stood were accounted for, as well as other positions marked in blue for the Shinsengumi's positions before invasion.

"Here is my plan. One third of you will enter from this area, only after killing the gates guards of course." Souji started, pointing at the far southern wall surrounding the government building. "Next, I and Shinpachi shall enter from the left side, where the defense is somewhat weaker. On the right, Onibasu, that is where you may enter from the woodlands. Once we are all within the compound, invasion starts through the various building exits. Take down any doors, and we will meet on the first level's lobby before the stairs going to the next. Any questions?" Souji asked.

Ryouichi nodded at the man's words. Hiraku seemed to share Ryouichi's ideas on the situation. He did not like the Meiji government or believe in it, but peace still had to be maintained no matter what the cost was.

"If only more people thought that way, then this world would be a better place," Ryouichi said thoughtfully. "I have bad feelings about the new Shinsengumi and that other samurai. They must have foul intent. That assassination a little while ago.... It was the Shinsengumis' doing. I don't think this is the last time we will hear of this either."

Ryouichi sighed with mild frustration. Kyoto would likely become a crazy place with people like that roaming around. They had to be stopped.

"These men cannot be allowed to continue," Ryouichi said to Hiraku. "You said that your responsibility as a warrior is to protect, right? These men wish to disrupt peace and cause terror for their own ideas, just because of a disagreement. That is wrong, and I want to stop it no matter what. You and I....we both have experience with blades. We could stop them if we tried hard enough! The police alone cannot defeat them, so we could take them together!"

Ryouichi smiled. He didn't know where he was going with this. He suddenly had the urge to speak these things.

"What do you say, Hiraku?" he asked the man. "Will you help me stop the Shinsengumi?"

Hiraku smiled and sighed to himself. This man was getting quite worked up, it was clear he didn't talk like this often.

"Definitely," he said, "like I said, as a swordsman, I can't just stand by and let this happen. I fought to create this era of peace, now I shall fight to protect it. For now, however, it's been a long day. I need some rest." With that, he stood up to walk into his home next door.

----------------------

"Seems to be a sound plan," Onibasu said, "simple, but no less effective. Well, if that's all, I'll be taking my leave-" she suddenly remembered something, "-I almost forgot, the real reason I was sent here was to give you this," She handed Okita a small envelope. "That contains the location of the Tenken Clan's hideout. If we ask to meet with you, or if you ever need our assistance, that is where you can find us."

She walked toward the door, then stopped. She thought she felt some kind of presence, but it was soon gone, and she continued out.

--------------------

Hayate walked away from the building briskly, trying to remain inconspicuous.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, "I think they noticed me. They didn't seem to make any moves, though, so they might have doubted my presence. Either way, I'm going to carry out the plan."

Ryouichi waved goodbye to the man and sat for a while, brewing over his thoughts. He had never been so excited in a long time. Maybe this would be his chance to finally be part of something good so that he could help people escape from the evil that destroyed his childhood. He hated the new government, but he loved peace, so he had to come to a compromise. Killing was horrible no matter what, no matter whom, and no matter why. These Shinsengumi seem to think killing will change the world for the better, but Ryouichi heartily disagreed. If they were not stopped, Japan would fall to chaos.

He stood up from the bench and started to walk home. He hoped the doctors would be able to care for that westerner, whoever he was. That man needed to learn much so he could use that hidden fighting ki. Ryouichi felt that it was his duty to help the man. Getting on good terms with someone from the police force wasn't a bad idea as well. Ryouichi sighed.

"This was a crazy night," he said to himself, walking through the door of his home and preparing his bed for sleep.

Udea was just walking down the road he would be looking down at the ground watching a small bug crawl forward the come to a complete stop, but seeing as how Udea wasn't very good on his reaction he would continue until he stepped straight into a woman, knocking both himself and her down to the ground. Udea quickly jumped up and put his hand out towards the woman.

" I am so sorry, I was not watching where I was going. " he said sorrowfully to her hoping that she would forgive him.

He quickly picked up some basic info on her just by looking at her: around 20-30, long black hair, ebony colored eyes, possible fighter in some way? This was a woman that he might actually need to be careful about, he just hoped to god that she wasn't a very angry person. Cause if so he didn't exactly know what he would do.

He was completely capable of holding off foes, but this one was a woman. He couldn't fight a woman no matter what it was just morally wrong to him now and reminding of what he had done in his past. As he held out his hand his face began to appear more and more flustered as he continued to think. This was why he didn't like to get himself in this situations, they always ended out bad for him.

Onibasu got up quickly, barely noticing the man who had offered her help until after she was already up. She had lost her usual composure in her meeting with the Shinsengumi, and was disturbed to see she still hadn't regained it. She shook her head and began to brush him off before she regained her focus and noticed his eyes. He appeared nervous and shaken, but behind that, in his eyes, she could see a warrior. Perhaps the kind of warrior Daisuke was looking for. She looked at him for a moment before turning around.

"Don't worry about it," she said and briskly walked until she was out of sight. As usual, one of her Kagede Ittai was lurking in the shadows nearby awaiting orders. "Watch that man," she whispered to the ninja, "He may be another who can be useful to us."

-----------

Hayate arrived at his office in the police station to meet an officer holding a report for him.

"Detective Hazama," he said, handing him the report. "some discontented swordsman started trouble outside of the Shirobeko restaurant tonight. Few of the policemen managed to escape with their lives! Once backup arrived, the men were gone."

Hayate skimmed the report. He intended to give it a thorough reading later, but now he wanted to go over the details quickly before he made a detailed analysis. "You say the men outside the restaurant wore Shinsengumi uniforms?" he inquired.

"Yes sir, save one." the officer said, "we suspect they may be the same men you are investigating."

"I think you're right," Hayate said, "and those same men are also planning an attack on Vice-Commisioner Takeda. I know where they will be striking, and so I suggest we increase security there. However, we should keep it subtle. I will stay there with Takeda, and I will take a flare gun. Have men ready nearby, and send them all in if you see that flare fired. This is my plan. I'll relay it to the chief first, but I suspect he'll trust my judgment." Hayate eyed the police report one more time, and something caught his eye.

"One of our officers, a westerner, was taken to a nearby hospital by another swordsman, you say?"

"Yes sir," the man said, "we sent a man there to check on him and everything seemed in order."

"Did you get the swordsman's name?"

"Yes, it was Raiden, Hiraku Raiden."

Hayate smiled. "I see. I'm going to write a letter, and I want it sent to that man, understood?"

"I suppose so, sir." the officer said, somewhat confused as he left.

Ryoichi walked down the streets of Kyoto, looking at all the thriving businesses around him. It was a good day today, and he decided it would be a nice idea to check and see how the Westerner was doing. He was quite worried about his condition and wondered if he would be able to survive. He knew the Westerner had a strong soul, but those attacks he received were quite vicious.

He had grabbed both his ninjato and tanto for safety reasons this time. Last time he could hardly help in the situation because he only had a small weapon. This time, he would be able to in as many ways possible. After a brisk walk downtown, Ryoichi found himself at the medical clinic. He walked in to see one of the nurses.

"How is the Westerner doing?" he asked.

"He should be fine," she replied. "His wounds were great, but we fixed him up as well as we could. He'll need some rest, but he will live."

"Thank you," Ryoichi said to her with a kind smile. He walked outside and took a seat on a bench in front of the clinic, wondering if that man, Hiraku, would come over to the clinic from his home soon.

OOC: Sorry, I am gonna speed this up, alright?

Souji stood on a branch of a tall tree. All his comrades were in position around the exterior of the compound. Putting two fingers to his mouth, he blew a shrill whistle that could be heard all around the building. He could see the guards alerted and looking around to see where it came from. Some shrugged it off, probably surmising that the sound came from a bird.

Souji lept from the tree with Shinpachi and into the front courtyard. His other comrades, the last six, broke a window at the left side to the building and jumped in. Guards in the front courtyard were shocked, but not quick enough to blow their own whistles. There were five of them, and soon, they lay at the ground in a pool of their own blood. Onibasu attacked from the left into the courtyard, claiming two of the guards quickly and with ease.

Souji broke open the front gates before advancing at the front doors. As he got to the threshold, the double doors flew open and in a line stood musketeers within. Souji nodded to Onibasu and Shinpachi, who charged forward, slaughtering the opposition with only a single misguided shot fired. They moved within, quickly splitting up toward other rooms, clearing them systematically of guards.

Souji stood in the marble stoned lobby before a long pair of steps to the second level. From a hallway to his right, a group of sword-bearing police ran out. They stopped immediately after realizing who he was. Their shaking hands reached for their sabers. Souji stopped them, surprisingly with a hand in the air.

"Tell me, swordsmen, do you appreciate this Meiji Government?"

The police looked to each other, unsure of what to say. Souji had them where he wanted them. He lowered his hand, nonthreatening to his side.

"I am sure you, of all people, have seen the corruption of our current government. You must remember the times before the Bakumatsu... what the Shogunate fought for... you must realize what the Shinsengumi fought for too. Join me, proud warriors, and I shall bring forth a new age of peace for the good people of Japan! The Shinsengumi's old ideals have not faltered!" Souji stated persuasively.

The police who had gathered there stood motionlessly. They knew in their hearts the corruption that they involved their selves in. They all remember the times before, with the proud name of the Shinsengumi, revered among everyone in Kyoto. All of their hands left the hilts to their sabers and they suddenly bowed before Souji.

"We see the truth in your voice, Kirikami-sama! We shall serve the Shinsengumi, as long as your ideals stand true." The supposed leader of the group announced.

"I see. You all are proud, and shall make grand members of the Shinsengumi. Cast away the western blade, and take up the Katana once again! Peace WILL come back to Japan, and the Shogunate of the Tokugawa will prevail! The innocent will be protected by us." Souji said.

He told the converted police to meet them all in the courtyard. As they did, they met with three others who were converted by the second group of Shinsengumi. Souji waited for two minutes more, before his comrades met up with him alongside Onibasu.

"The compound is secure, no others live within aside from the target." Shinpachi informed.

"Good, let the Wolves of Mibu greet this Takeda scum in office. Advance up the stairs. Any opposition shall be slain." Souji commanded.

OOC: Sorry this took so long. Seriously, I think I exhausted my allowed time, but I'm certainly not complaining.

Hayate waited at the top floor. Finally, the Shinsengumi made their arrival, barreling through the door. He looked over the group to see that most of them wore the Shinsengumi uniform, but one was a woman in shinobi garb, and there were a few men in uniform, who Hayate assumed were defectors.

"The Shinsengumi!" Hayate said, opening his arms. "I'd give you one chance to surrender, but to men as prideful as you, I'd just be wasting my breath. You're a sorry lot, you know that? In the end, you're nothing more than a dangerous band of sore losers who can't accept the flow of the times, trying to change the past. Tokugawa Yoshinobu has accepted his defeat humbly, why can't you? Who will be your Shogun? Face it, what you're fighting for is nothing more than a dream, made impossible by the choices of the times."

----------------------------------

Hiraku stepped out of his room to find a large envelope waiting for him. "What's this?" he thought aloud as he picked it up. He opened it and read the letter it contained.

Hiraku Raiden. I know you to be an exceptional fighter. Because of that, I would like to ask you to serve your government and meet me at the nearby government compound tonight, and bring your sword.

Hayate

"What the..." Hiraku breathed and grabbed the other contents of the envelope, a small package. He opened it up to find it contained a small flare gun with a note attached. Fire this into the sky before entering the building.

"If this is the Hayate I'm thinking of," he chuckled, "I'm not surprised he'd just throw me into the situation like this." He stuffed the flare gun away and grabbed his sword as he walked outside, where he saw his new acquaintance, Ryouichi. "Come to check on that man again?" Hiraku asked him.

-----------------------------

"Who will be your Shogun?"

The answer was obvious for Onibasu, but she was curious to hear the answer these men had. It seemed clear to her that they felt respect, not loyalty, for Daisuke. Who was their Shogun?

Ryouichi nodded at Hiraku, who has just arrived.

"He seems to be recovering, at least," he replied, confirming that man's survival. "Not sure how long it will take for him to heal. He's a stubborn one it seems, so I feel he'll be fine."

Suddenly a loud ruckus was heard from inside. The sound of something crashing to the ground and a few yelps from the caretakers. William walked through the door outside, right in front of Ryouichi and Hiraku. His chest and stomach areas were covered in bandages, a blood spot showing where that man had stabbed him. He panted as he walked.

"Dammit," he said, his voice full of foolish rage and determination. "Where the hell is that bastard? I'm gonna cut his arms off!"

Ryouichi was at loss of what to say. It had been only a day and this man was walking? His pure will to live and fight seemed to push him on beyond the limits of a normal person. This was not expected of a Westerner. He would make a fine swordsman...

"Where do you think you are going in that condition?" Ryouichi said in shock to the man.

"Like I said," William replied, his face red with anger. "I want to find that bastard and cut his arms off!"

He collapsed to one knee after that sentence, his face full of strain because of the pain. He looked up at Ryouichi and Hiraku.

"Who are you guys anyway?" he asked, his teeth clenched together in pain. "Why do you care where I go?"

Souji chuckled a bit at the man's question. The Shinsengumi and Onibasu all stood within the lobby and before the long stairs to their target. Souji advanced a pace and stopped. He looked, with narrowed menacing eyes, into his opponents. Anyone who was sensitive enough could feel the roar of his Ki.

"Who will be the Shogun? What kind of question is that? The Shinsengumi of now are not as you would call us... a 'band of losers'... we are the very same hitokiri from the Bakumatsu. We are still defending our creed, and the rightful leader of this country. The Shinsengumi shall always be working for the Tokugawa. Yoshinobu might be in retirement, but he still has the will of the Shoguns." Souji said. "The Bakumatsu will continue even into this Meiji Era, until the true victor is decided!"

Hayate shook his head. "Like talking to a wall," he sighed, "you're certainly warriors to the core. You understand nothing but the sword. Very well then, I can speak that language." He produced and unsheathed his blade from his coat. "Come at me then, and I shall put an end to your foolish dream!"

Damn, am I scared? I don't need to kill them all, just hold them until help arrives. But I can't be thinking about that. I think about that, I'm dead. All I can do is trust Hiraku. I just need to focus on fighting an entire band of assassins single-handed. But I love taking risks, don't I?

Hayate grinned and looked Souji in the eye. "Whenever you're ready, you thick-headed fool."

-----------------

"I was just trying to help you," Hiraku said, "and I'd appreciate it if you'd lie back down so that I know saving you wasn't a waste of effort. But I don't have time to convince you," he went on, sliding his sword into place at his belt, "I've got an important errand to run."

Souji grinned slightly and drew Kikuichi-Monji from its sheath and held it firmly in his hands. He looked directly into his new foe's eyes with his own. He felt his Ki, and he could tell that his opponent felt his as well. Their blades glinted in the chandelier's light above them.

"If you don't understand simple Japanese, then maybe you will know my true intentions when our blades clash." Souji said.

With great speed, he sprinted up the stairs, blade held in something like a Gatotsu stance however slightly lower and the blade was poised upward. His haori of light blue and white fluttered with the light as he ran, and his other blade bounced against his hip with each step.

Souji's comrades still stood at the end of the steps, in no way making a move to join the battle between their captain and his foe.

William fumed.

"I feel fine, dammit!" he replied.

Ryouichi raised his eyebrow. This man truly was as stubborn as a mule. It was typical of a westerner such as himself. Ryouichi didn't like to use stereotypes, but this man was really living up to his name. He looked at William in the eye.

"You can't go getting revenge in that kind of condition," Ryouichi said to him, sighing. "You'd probably make a fool of yourself and die in the process. If you were smart, you would rest. Unless you wish me to use force to get you back into that clinic."

William glared. He didn't like being told what to do, but the man was right. He couldn't fight that master swordsman, no matter how much he thought he could. Besides, he didn't even have a proper gun on his person.

"Fine," William said through his teeth. "One more day! I'm not waiting any longer. I'm tired as all hell, anyways. Whatever."

William turned to walk back into the clinic, not turning back. Odd man, Ryouichi thought to himself. He's almost like a child. Scold him and he'll turn around and sulk. I'll see how hard it takes to turn him into a man later. Ryouichi looked at Hiraku quizzically when he mentioned an errand.

"Errand?" Ryouichi asked. "Whatever it is, would you mind if I accompanied you? It's not exactly exciting sitting around the clinic all day while listening to that Westerner complain from the inside about his situation."

"I'm not sure this is the kind of exciting you're looking for," Hiraku said, "I'm not sure what I'm getting into myself, but I'm sure it's going to be dangerous." He grabbed the hilt of his sword, "I don't have this with me for nothing."

-------------

Hayate dove to the left and swung at Souji's hand with his sheath.

He's fast, I'd expect no less from the Shinsengumi. But maybe I can disarm him with this strike...