I catch my breath, finally able to separate myself from the fighting. I think I’ve stalled them long enough to let Imai get away. But as for the rest of the men left behind, they’ll have to fend for themselves. I have no loyalty nor affiliation with them.
There’s unfinished business…
I stumble back into the great hall where the Shizoku congregated the past few months. It would be like them to let the carnage outside continue while they wait for an opportunity. That is the type of men that followed Itou Kashitarou. Well not all of them. Todou Heisuke wasn’t a follower, he was a forerunner until even he was deceived by Itou’s glib tongue.
Such a waste… He was a good man and -kind- especially to her.
Let’s Finish This!
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He’s as fast as I remember but the difference is the power of his strikes unlike Tadao. I make a wide slash and he jumps just out of reach and I catch my breath. Breathing heavily I look at his form, the Shinto Munen style but not -exactly-. He learned under his brother Itou Kashitaro so the base is the same as Tadao’s Hokushin Itto Ryu but I recall him learning the Shinto Munen style due to it’s popularity back in the bakumatsu. His style is a combination of both, continuous strikes and power!
“I see you’re not the same as you used to.” He swipes his thumb across his nose, “Heh.”
“I’m just not sure if I should show you my moves.” I smirk back, “I mean, it seems like you’re not as good as your brother.”
“Don’t talk about him!” He charges at me and our swords meet again. This time however thanks to the pause, I’m able to push his strikes back. I’m careful however at the angle of my blade. This sword she’s chosen for me has already taken a beating but has held up well but I don’t want it broken!
“You Shinsengumi dogs killed my brother!” He shouts and takes the upper part of his blade with his free hand to push me back to the wall.
I look him straight in the eye as I try not to get my throat slit, “-I- didn’t kill him.” That’s true. “But if I -were- there, I’d -do- him in.” I manage a grin.
“Liar! You leaked our information to Kondou.” His eyes go wide and I grit my teeth as his power seems to get stronger with his hate. “Then you escaped with the Imperial Tomb’s finances and spent it on that tayu and then ambushed us in Abura-no-koji!”
The stories these men had in their heads… I did steal the money however, I was not involved in that ambush that killed Heisuke! If I were -there-… I’d make sure he’d lived just like Kondou-san wanted!
I kick him in the stomach and push him back, finding some strength back into my arms. It’s my turn as I bring alternate slashes and thrust against him. He grunts as he swipes them away and suddenly he jumps into the air.
A mistake!
I pull my shoulders back, flattening my blade with the live edge turned outward and thrust above!
“Fool! Who doesn’t know that Hirazuki move!” He cries and pulls his blade back and brings the thicker flat edge against the top of my katana, sliding against it and thwarting his impalement unlike Battousai. He rolls to the ground and I turn quickly, swiping my foot low to the ground and kick him, sending him to roll further back. I needed the distance.
“Heh. Still up to your dirty tricks?” He gets up, “Using hand to hand combat like jujuitsu in a -sword- battle, you were never was a pure swordsman, even if you -now- wear your katana on your right side after my brother called you out for wearing it on your left. You were only trying to get into his good graces.”
“Ah well” A smug look comes over my face, “In certain things you can say Itou-san and I were the same. -Flexible-.”
“Damn you! I told you to stop talking about him!” He runs at me and I finally decide we should finish this. I crouch lower and bring forward my right hand to aim. The 9th Captain should at least see the perfected “inside” gatotsu.
“KYAA!!!!” I look to my right and Tadao is charging at me and I’ve no choice but to break my form and deflect his strike. So much for a duel but I don’t mind two men coming at me at once
I parry both of their attacks, both styles call for continuous barrages and speed so all I could do was parry, evade and take counters when I could. Tadao manages to cut my hakama slightly close to my old wounds from Shishio but I ignore it. Mikisaburo manages to swipe his blade across my kimono and it falls slightly open. He flicks his sword and I can see the small amount of blood he drew from the -slight- cut on my chest. It’s then that I realize here in this enclosed space, I am at a disadvantage.
Tadao smirks and tries to cut my head off and I duck and roll closer to the door. His sword is caught on the wooden pillar and he struggles to get it out. I can’t help but grin, Weak!…
But that grin didn’t last long as Mikisaburo is already on me as he tries to bring his sword down to my face. I grapple his hakama and pull him down, making us roll on the floor. Getting up I push us out, using him as a brace to break the shoji windows… Outside we can make things even.