Summary: When Yahiko summons Battousai, a powerful djinn, all he wants is revenge on Master Mage Shishio by stealing the legendary Sword of Pai Mei but Yahiko’s vendetta plunges everyone including Battousai and his best friend Kaoru into an adventure they had never thought possible. KK.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me. It is the creative work of the inimitable Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Rating: T just to be safe. For language and violence.

Dedicated to Shiro-san!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed this story. You guys make it all worthwhile!

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The Mage and the Swordsman

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Chapter 5: The Sword of Pai Mei

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This is I. This is Pai Mei, lord and master of all swordsmen.

I gazed spellbound at the sword in front of me. The wood gleamed softly as the silvery light of the stars fell upon it. I looked up at them, feeling lost, confused and even a little angry. Damn it! Why me? Why now of all times? The weight of the sword suddenly seemed greater than it had been since I escaped from Shishio’s home. Then, it had been a nuisance, an errand I had been forced to undertake, a task allotted to me by the power of the mage who knew my name. But in the space of a few hours it had become so much more than that.

It was now an essential part of the world to which I belong. It was no longer just a sword; not just a weapon but it represented something far greater. It was Pai Mei, the greatest swordsman to have ever walked the earth. He was the man who had become immortal, as immortal as his legend, the master, the beginning and the end. Pai Mei was the first of the great sword masters of the Golden Century and the only one whose name had not been tarnished by defeat or decline. His immense skill had no rival and his strength and speed had never found a match. He had won the unconditional admiration and favour of the gods. According to the legend, known by heart to every child and young man who ever dreamt of being a swordsman, the gods themselves had forged him a sword from their steel. It was a blade that would never rust with time nor blunt its edge; it was a weapon that would forever be deadly. This was the weapon I now held in my hands.

I swallowed haltingly. My breath seemed to stick in my throat so I coughed once or twice. Gripping the sheath tightly, I gently pulled the sword out. The blade hissed softly as it slid past the metal mouth of the sheath, softly whispering a long overdue greeting. The sword gleamed in the light of the moon and the stars. I tipped the blade forward, letting the moonlight crawl slowly across it. A sliver of light ricocheted off the blade and shone upon the bark of the tree. Shadows seem to swirl around in the dark puddle water on the ground.

None of this meant any good for me. Pai Mei’s appearance in the form of his own sword, a sword that was currently being fought over by mages, could hardly mean a walk in the park for me. My troubles had just been added to, and there could be no consolation for that. All I had to do was take the sword to the little mage and I would have been free but now, the visions of freedom and a swift return to the magical rift were drifting further and further away from me.

The most immediate problem however, was the manner in which I was expected to address Pai Mei. The sword was Pai Mei and Pai Mei was the sword, no doubt about it and for now, that was my biggest problem. The trouble with legends is that they become very difficult to deal with when you neglect to do them the proper honour. Now here’s the tricky part, the proper honour of course varies according to the honoured entity in question and the one giving that honour.

So, the question still remained, was I supposed to bow my head and kneel before him, accepting him as master and lord (and saying inanities like ‘Most Exalted and Fearsome lord of the sword’) or could I avoid the act of swearing fealty altogether? Fealty is such a risky thing to get into and it makes one do stupid things, such as volunteer (good lord!) to fight someone’s battles for them. And I never resorted to doing stupid things, not if there was some way to get out of it.

“Cat got your tongue?” Pai Mei’s dry voice floated out into the night. The sword seemed to shimmer as the disembodied voice spoke. I frowned slightly. The world has gone mad; does nobody remember their manners anymore?

He was trying to provoke me. It’s the oldest trick in the book. I ignored his quip and slid the sword back in its sheath, leaned forward and set it upright against a branch of the tree. Settling back at arm’s length, I leisurely folded my arms across my chest and regarded Pai Mei carefully.

I replied. “I’m thinking.” He was sadly mistaken if he thought he could order me about. After all, I am the Battousai, one of the most terrible djinns that ever existed.

“Far be it from me to criticise your glacial pace.”

“I don’t like to rush into things.” I retorted. Nasty old man, won’t stop criticising even though he’s no longer in his true form. If there was ever a reason why I never opted to return to my old master to complete my training, here it was! Masters are same the world over. Brash, sarcastic, misanthropic, and whiny.

“Advance with caution when faced with a stranger. The fifth rule from the Code of Conduct. But to apply the rules when faced with your liege lord is somewhat unnecessary, isn’t it? It is strange. You haven’t yet committed yourself in my service. As a swordsman, your loyalties should lie unconditionally with me.”

I pursed my lips together and stared back squarely at the sword. “You are right, as a swordsman my loyalties lie irrevocably at your feet, but I am not merely a swordsman. I am a djinn. While a swordsman has an easy task of swearing fealty, negotiating a djinn’s loyalty is slightly more complicated.”

I could feel the sneer in Pai Mei’s voice as he replied. “Djinn or not, as long as your weapon of choice is a sword you remain a swordsman. And if you are a swordsman, you belong to my realm, and you owe me your loyalty.”

My blood boiled with anger and irritation. I have never tolerated being treated like a slave or vassal. I was exasperated beyond bearing with the little mage already without having a sword tell me what to do.

“I am Battousai, and I owe nothing to anybody! My loyalty is not so cheap, that it may be bought so easily by a voice that floats on the air!” I snapped back at him.

The sword quivered in anger. I could feel the waves of fury emanating from its aura. If it were possible, it would have struck me soundly for my daring.

“Insolent whelp! Do not forget who it is you are speaking to! Even in this form I am more than a match for the likes of you.”

I ground my teeth. Like I didn’t know that. “It is your form that worries me.” I shook my head inwardly. I couldn’t lose focus now, not when I was so close to losing Shishio’s minions far behind. I forced myself to relax. Lifting my arms above my head, I bent backward. My hair touched the ground. The muscles of my back were bunched and tense. I was weary and the argument was not helping my predicament.

I lowered my arms slowly and sat cross-legged. “I do not understand. How did you get trapped in your own sword? Who would have had the skill to defeat you and trick you like this?”

The sword’s light dimmed slightly. I leaned forward, persisting although my senses were telling me to back off. “Tell me what happened.”

The sword pulsed into movement once more. It shook, the tremors seemed to pierce through the air and shoot across the small distance between us. I felt the shield of my aura singe with Pai Mei’s fury. I flinched and inadvertently lifted my arms to shield my face against the overwhelming heat that was springing from the sword. Little black sparks of electricity raced across the sword and sheath, they spoke for the black mood of the soul trapped inside. The wind tore through the leaves of the tree as though it understood Pai Mei’s anger.

Glancing away from the sword, I muttered an incantation under my breath. Instantaneously, a cold breeze engulfed me and the silver flames leaping from the sword were quelled. I heard a snicker. Pai Mei was laughing at me.

“Well, you aren’t completely useless. You can defend yourself when the need arises.” The sword seemed to have forgotten its black mood and was trying to be humorous. Or so I thought. I scowled and clenched my fist in anger.

“Never before has anyone dared to question me. To hold me ransom, to demand answers of me in exchange for loyalty is blasphemous! Loyalty that is mine! It is promised to me by your decision to be a swordsman. Djinn! You are my vassal. You must do as I bid.”

I swiftly rose to my feet. I knew my eyes were blazing; they were hot. I felt as though they were on fire. The swirling wind that had accompanied my appearance in the little mage’s house returned. I had not felt such anger and irritation in centuries. There was a reason why the Battousai was such a feared spirit. I was not a man to be trifled with, I had never been one. In the days when I was still human and had not yet shed my mortal coil, my reputation had been forged on the strength of my skill and my integrity. I believed in a brand of justice and valour that was written by the blood of the men I had vanquished. I had laid waste thousands of men who were evil, who exploited those around them and whose cruelties had become unbearable. I was a revolutionary. The principles of our war had been precious to me, so much so that I sold my own soul into slavery to create a better world.

How could I bear to be treated as though I was no better than a simpleton who had found a rusty sword in his father’s attic and decided to be a paper samurai? My swordsmanship was real. The wounds I had sustained on my soul and the punishment that was exacted for the lives I had taken were real. They were not imagined, they were not the ramblings of a man lost in drink or intoxication. I could not sit and be mocked at, even though the perpetrator was none other than Pai Mei. The legendary swordsman may well be the greatest swordsman to have ever lived, but I was the Battousai. And I would kow-tow to no one.

“I must? I must do nothing! A curse upon your stubborn head! You are consumed by your own tale. Your legend has destroyed what you were. You boast and claim loyalty but cannot justify why that loyalty should be given to you. You’re hankering after false pride even now, when you have nothing to be proud of! You have been reduced to a plaything for mages but even so, your stubborn pride hasn’t worn off!”

The sword dimmed a bit more. The light was waning. I turned away in disgust and slammed my fist into the tree, sending tremors through it.

“I asked to know nothing more than what is my right. If you ask me to serve you, I must know what I am putting myself into. Is that so unreasonable?”

Pai Mei didn’t reply. Perhaps he was thinking about what I had just said or maybe he was thinking about how to get back at me for screaming at him like that. I would’ve waited for an answer if there was any chance of receiving one. But old habits die hard, and I doubt Pai Mei would begin to behave any differently simply because I threw a tantrum. There was really nothing to do. The scouts following us had lost us; they had probably flown further ahead. We were safe for now. Considering that, I decided to try and ask Pai Mei once more.

I seated myself across him once again. Pointedly staring at the sword, I asked, “Why are you trapped inside your sword?”

There was an eerie silence during which neither I nor the ghostly voice of the sword spoke. We both waited patiently for the other to speak first. I looked at the sky overhead. It was becoming lighter. The sun would rise in a few hours. I glanced sidelong at Pai Mei. The sword was silent; it did not even hum or move. I gave up this line of questioning since it had absolutely no effect on the sword and looked at the sky once more and affected a huge yawn.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me. It’s almost time to leave anyway. And once the mage has you, my work here is finished and I can go home. In fact we’re lucky the djinns following us haven’t found us yet. If they do however, I will leave you behind.”

The sword bristled. “What did you say? Ungrateful dog! I saved your life in that mansion. You would have been ripped apart by the force of that blow had I not absorbed it. Is this how you repay me?”

Seeing him so riled gave me a strange sense of satisfaction. I stared back at him smugly. “Aaah yes. I remember, so that was you? I was wondering what on earth had happened to Soujirou. He’s not one to throw ki askew. Come to think of it, he’s probably on his way even as we speak, to take you back to his mage master.”

“Take me back to his master? I refuse to return to that place.” Pai Mei retorted.

I smirked. “Why, didn’t you enjoy your stay there?”

The sword was silent. I looked around cautiously. I could sense a couple of very faint ki signatures on the breeze. I leaned forward, stealthily peering through the leaves to look upon the path below. Two pixies were pushing their way through the bushes, searching carefully as they went along. They hadn’t thought of looking above into the trees as well, so they passed right under the branch where I sat with the stolen sword. I tensed for a few moments but relaxed when the pixies flew away beyond his sight.

Turning slightly to the right, I picked up the sword, and secured it to my hip once more. I checked my surroundings for any stragglers following the pixies, then leaped off the tree and began to run across the park. I spoke a word of command and lazy plumes of fog sprung from the air and enveloped me. The hazy fog would shield me, making me invisible to the human eye. Only someone with powerful ki detecting skill would be able to see me now.

The sword spoke softly, “Djinn! Where are you taking me?”

A high wall crowned with iron spikes rose before me. I slowed enough to glance around checking for witnesses. But there was nobody to be seen. The world was asleep. Nobody was around to see me vault over the wall to land on the other side. I was close to the little mage’s house now. Soon the sword and Pai Mei’s arrogance would no longer be of concern to me and the mage would have to deal with him in the way he knew best.

“I have been charged with the task of bringing you to a certain mage. We are now going to his house.”

“A mage! You asinine apparition! You are delivering me to a mage! A puny, supercilious, moronic conjuror that throws incense on fire and chants absurdities!” Pai Mei sputtered with anger.

I grinned. The sweet taste of vindication. “Any reason I shouldn’t?”

The sword was silent once more. I strained my ears to hear him but Pai Mei did not speak. I heaved a sigh of relief. I wasn’t going to be drawn into any trouble concerning Pai Mei after all. After all, there was nothing I could do for him unless I knew what was happening. I wasn’t idle; I had other things to take care of, like making that insufferable mage forget my name and let me go. If everything went well, then I could hope to be out of the mortal realm as soon as I handed over the sword to the little mage. I raced towards his house, leaping over houses, racing across shadowed streets consumed by these thoughts. The murky darkness of the night was lifting. The sky was steadily turning lighter. The streets were visible; I could see without drawing upon magic.

I stopped abruptly when the road forked off into two. I had taken a different route to return; nothing seemed familiar. I stood there for a few moments, trying to remember he road to take. I couldn’t recall anything! I turned to look behind me but there was no one following us. Swearing softly under my breath, I dug my fingers into a pocket inside my sleeve. I groped about till I found a small leather purse. I pulled it out unceremoniously and flicked the strings open.

I tipped it over and watched as the golden grains of sand filled my palm. I shut the purse and shoved it back into my pocket. I strode towards the fork in the road and stood at the vertex. I closed my eyes and recalled the mage’s face.

Slowly, his face materialised in my mind, I muttered a quick spell of search, and tossed the sand in an arc towards the fork. The grains of sand fluttered momentarily in the air then as they began to settle, I drew my sword and cut across them, finishing the spell. The grains of sand stilled in mid air before swerving towards the right and landing in a heap.

The spell had worked! I had to take the road angling off to the right. I bent and touched the sand with my finger. It burst into action. The sand formed an arrow and sped away down the street, guiding me towards the house of the little mage. I raced behind it, running past houses and shops. The arrow stopped at a wall, then shot straight up and crossed it. I stomped my foot into the ground and sailed over it just in time to see the sand arrow dive into an underpass. I shot behind it. It had stopped at the base of a flight of stairs. As I reached the base, the sand arrow sped up the stairs, across the roof and stopped. We had arrived.

I recognised the house. The sand had led me straight to the mage. I bent to scoop it in my hands. The sand curled into a ball and gladly jumped back into my palm. Pulling the purse out of my sleeve again, I slid the sand back. Running my eyes around, I made sure nobody had followed. There was no one around who could have seen me, cloaked in fog as I was. I turned towards the wall and leaped gracefully into the air. As I landed on the roof to the mage’s attic, I glanced at the sword at my hip. I lifted the latch on the skylight and dissolved into air once more. The purple smoke that filtered into the attic was me. The room was empty so I meandered around the room directionless. Ignoring Pai Mei’s threats, I placed the sword inside my pentacle. I couldn’t touch the pentacle where the mage had stood; the mandrake used by the mage for security stung my essence. Having your essence slowly and painfully cut away wasn’t pleasant by any standard, and I wasn’t about to subject myself to that ordeal for no reason.

Pai Mei fidgeted inside the pentacle. “What witchcraft is this? Take me out of this accursed symbol!”

There was no need to disguise myself here, so I drew away the veil of fog surrounding me and stood in my true form. Pai Mei clattered noisily on the ground as he attempted to move out of the pentacle. I stretched an arm and held him down.

“This is magery and you will suffer it quietly.”

“And why should I do that?” Pai Mei spat back at me. He really has such scandalous manners. It’s outrageous, the liberties I have allowed him.

“The price is my freedom.”

The sword clattered once more as another sound echoed in my ears. It was the sound of laughter; bitter and cruel laughter. There is nothing more unsettling than the laughter of a man who has seen the truth of the world.

“The price is your freedom? Does a djinn have any freedom?” The sword gleamed. “A djinn has no freedom. All it has is power and a command to follow. It must answer the call of its master. Isn’t that why you are here?”

His words rankled in my heart. “I have no master.”

“Except… for this mage.”

“He is not my master!”

“Then why do you do his bidding Djinn? Fly away now! What stops you?”

I shook. My helplessness in the face of the mage’s incantation cut at my heart. I was compelled to do the bidding of a child because he had found my name. He had my name and there was nothing that I could do to stop him. I had to serve him.

“He…. has my name. That is why I serve him, by my name. Pai Mei, there nothing more I want than to be free of him, but till he has my name I must obey. I must….but only till he has my name.”

Pai Mei was silent. He could say nothing more. I turned away and sat facing the skylight. The sun had risen. Light filtered inside the attic. I waited for the mage to reappear.

At first I did not hear it, but Pai Mei repeated himself. “Take your name away from him then.”

I froze and turned back towards him. “What did you say?”

“I said ‘take your name away from him’,” the sword shimmered. It knew I was listening. “The mage can hold you hostage only as long as you let him. Take away the power your name gives him and he will have nothing to bind you with.”

“That’s impossible. My name is my soul, and he knows it.”

“A djinn’s soul can be held captive against his wishes, but……”

I leaned forward. “But, what?”

“A djinn’s soul may be held captive, but a mortal’s is not so easily conquered.”

I sat back again. All the excitement he had roused in me washed away. He was making no sense. I was djinn, not a mortal. I hadn’t been a mortal for centuries.

“I am not a mortal. I am a djinn, in case you forgot.”

“True. You’re not a mortal……now. But……you could be.”

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Hey all.

I took a sabbatical on this story. It’s been about a year since I last updated it. I hope there are still some people around who are reading it.

Excuse the typos and possible spelling mistakes. I think I may have missed a few, I’m not sure. I just hope you all like it.

Thank you.