Himura Battousai
Copyright© 2007 by Trojan_85
Chapter 53: A Call and Answer
(Saitou's upward thrust pins Kenshin to the ceiling.)
Yahiko: Kenshin!
Saitou: Twisting your waist so you at least avoided being impaled. A better response than I thought, but (twisting the blade free) your finish is weak!
(Kenshin hits the floor.)
Saitou: An avoided thrust can become an attack from the side in an instant. The Hiratsuki, as devised by the tactics genius Hijikata Toshizou, the second-in-command of the Shinsengumi, has no weak points. And my Gatotsu is even more so.
Kaoru (thinking): That stance... he's going to do it again...
In real combat, it's extremely rare to meet the same enemy twice. When it does happen, if there is one technique that can bring him down, all others become useless. To polish one's own specialized techniques until they become certain death. The Shinsengumi's true strength isn't fighting in groups, it's here. (Saitou charges; Kenshin rushes forward to meet him.)
Yahiko (thinking): The sword--a weapon breaker!
Saitou (sending Kenshin flying back into the wall): You struggle in vain! It is nameless, but my beloved blade and these techniques have served me well in countless dangers from the time of the Bakumatsu until now. You won't break them now.
Yahiko (thinking): No good. He's too strong...
Kaoru: Kenshin! (she rushes over to him) Ken...
(Kenshin's eyes are cold and angry. She stops, surprised.)
Saitou: Stand aside, little girl. (she whirls around to face him.) You're in the way.
(Kaoru refuses to move. Kenshin puts a hand on her shoulder.)
Kenshin: Let's go.
Saitou (thinking): The response to the second attack, trying to break the sword, must have been faster than to the first one. He's taken a deep wound to the chest and yet... Since he's settled here he's fought Zanza, the Oniwabanshuu, Shinomori Aoshi and Raijuuta all in a short time. He's learned to accept victory by awakening the strength of the Hitokiri that sleeps inside him. It's as I thought. When he picks up the sword, although he doesn't know it --little by little he's reverting to Hitokiri Battousai. (Kenshin charges.) He wasn't this fast before. (Kenshin is a blur before him.) He disappeared! Below--
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