Himura Battousai
Copyright© 2007 by Trojan_85
Chapter 61: A Cruel Man
Aoshi: Where is Himura Battousai?
Megumi: I... I...
Aoshi (kneeling in front of her): Where is Battousai? Answer me.
Megumi: (thinking) He wants Ken-san dead... (aloud) I... I don't know.
(He deliberately places a hand an inch away from her cheek.)
Aoshi: If you don't answer me, I'll kill you.
Saitou (from behind her): Battousai's gone to Kyoto.
Aoshi: Who are you?
Saitou: Fujita Gorou. As you can see, just a policeman. Don't stare. I'll tell you what's happened, since you've been holed up in the mountains up till now.
Aoshi: All right. Tell me.
(the explanation ensues.)
Aoshi: Shishio Makoto...
Saitou: You can believe me or not, but Battousai has undoubtedly gone to Kyoto.
Aoshi (walking away): If so, I'll come again when Battousai has returned.
Saitou: Maybe he won't come back. Maybe Shishio will kill him.
Aoshi: That cannot be. I am the only one who will kill Battousai.
Saitou: You have great self-confidence. (as Aoshi passes) But... perhaps not over-confident.
Megumi: What were you just talking to him for, you worthless cop! He's a dangerous man! All he thinks about is killing Ken-san!
Saitou: If I hadn't been talking to him, that dangerous man would have killed you. Dangerous, but one who became the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu at the age of fifteen is certainly talented. I'm just wondering whether or not we can use him.
Soujirou (sitting in a tree, putting away his telescope): My sentiments exactly. Shinomori Aoshi... certainly a useful man.
(The next day. Aoshi returns to the graves of the Oniwabanshuu, to find four men sprawled in the clearing, eating and guzzling sake.)
Man1: So I came with this woman.
Man2: Next time I get to meet her!
Man: He's here, he's here. You're late, we've been waiting for you. Shinomori Aoshi.
Aoshi: Who are you.
Man: We're from the glorious Lord Shishio. The Abukuma Foursome. Lord Shishio wants to meet with you, face to face. Even we only meet with him once a year; it's a great honor. So come. Lord Shishio is waiting.
Aoshi: If you want to see someone, you go see him yourself. Go back and tell him that. If that's all, go back, and never set foot on this ground again. If you ever profane it again, I'll kill you and your Shishio.
(A pause. Then one of them spits on a gravestone.)
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