Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rurouni Kenshin created by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Letting Go

Chapter 1 – Trouble

The forest became a blur of green and brown as they ran, but they paid little heed. Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko raced through the woods, in hot pursuit of a fellow with a deep grudge against the Battosai.

Flashback – earlier that day

Kaoru had been teaching classes at the Maekawa dojo that morning. It was only a half-day's study for the students there, so Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko decided to meet her as she came back through town and splurge a bit by going for lunch at the Akabeko. After catching up to Kaoru halfway through the market square, the four had taken only a few steps toward the restaurant when a loud crash sounded behind them.

Turning around, they saw one of fruit carts had been knocked over. Standing next to the overturned cart was a man – as tall as Sano and dressed in Western-style clothing: a dress shirt, pants, boots, and a long trenchcoat. The man was gesturing wildly and yelling, though Kenshin and the others were too far away to tell what he was saying.

Curiosity got the better of them and they moved closer. The man's words were shaking, the tone irregular…he was either pissed as hell, insane, or both.

"I am Katil Kouchi! I'm looking for the Hitokiri Battosai! If any of you know where he is, tell me now!"

To emphasize this last point, he kicked one of the fruits that had fallen when the cart was knocked over. It hit the wall of one of the nearby buildings and smashed, creating a red stain on the wall. Kaoru didn't have to look at Kenshin to know that he was moving from their listening spot to stand in front of Katil.

"Katil, why have you come here to seek the Battosai?"

Kenshin was careful to keep his tone even, regardless of how he wanted to lash out.

Katil paused his rantings to observe his challenger. Short, red-headed, and armed with a sword. Little more than an annoyance, most likely, but Katil answered his question regardless.

"My mother and father were killed in the fires of the Bakumatsu, leaving my brother and I alone. He was my only family…until the Battosai killed him without a care! Since then, I have made it my life's goal to hunt down and destroy the Battosai. This town is rumored to be his last known location."

Kenshin bowed his head, causing his hair to fall and cover his eyes.

"Sessha used to be known as the Battosai. If you must fight him, Sessha must ask that the battle take place away from the town."

Katil raised an eyebrow.

"You? You are the Hitokiri Battosai?"

Katil slowly reached his right hand into the left side of his trenchcoat as he spoke. Kenshin stiffened at the other man's motion.

"Yes, that Sessha is."

At Kenshin's words, Katil rushed at the smaller man, pulling a katana from beneath his coat. Kenshin easily sidestepped him; Katil's sword left a long gouge in the ground.

"If you wish to fight outside of this town, I suggest you follow me, Battosai!"

With those words, Katil turned and ran at top speed out of the market, out of town, towards the forest. After a brief second of shock, Kenshin followed him, followed closely by Sano, Kaoru, and Yahiko.

End Flashback

After running for a long ten minutes through the forest, Katil suddenly stopped. Kenshin and the others stopped a few feet away. Realizing they had stopped in a small clearing, Kenshin was about to call out to his opponent when Katil whistled shrilly and took off again.

"What was that for?"

Yahiko, was shaking his head, as if to clear it from the ringing.

"I think that's what it was for, Yahiko."

Kaoru was looking to the side of the clearing. The whistle had apparently been a signal, for no sooner had Katil made the sound and left, than a group of a dozen men came out of the bushes, ready to fight.

"Kenshin, you go on ahead and leave these guys to me."

Kenshin turned toward his taller friend, about to ask him if he was sure, but when he saw Sano cracking his knuckles with a smirk upon his face, he stopped.

"Alright. Yahiko, stay with him, though, just in case."

"No problem, Kenshin."

Kenshin and Kaoru pushed through the barrier of men, continuing after Katil. The sounds of battle could be heard for a good distance after they left the clearing. Battle cries and shouts of pain could be heard from the men sent to stop them. Intermingled with them were the shouts of both Sanosuke and Yahiko.

"Aw, this is too easy!"

"Oi, idiot!"

Kenshin and Kaoru smiled as they ran.

After another minute or two of running, Kenshin and Kaoru found themselves in another clearing with Katil waiting for them.

Geez, what is it with this forest and clearings?

Kaoru had little time for other thoughts, however, for Katil began the fight.

Kenshin and Kaoru worked well together, considering they hadn't fought an enemy as one before. Separate enemies with the same goal, sure – but both fighting the same person? Kenshin had always made sure that had never happened. Irregardless of the past, now Kaoru's feints and attacks distracted Katil long enough for Kenshin to come in and truly damage him. Simple, but effective.

At least, for a while.

Katil soon caught onto the pattern of their attacks; he placed a smile on his face as he side-stepped a swing from Kenshin, bringing him face-to-face with Kaoru. The smile never left as he swung his leg up and around, catching Kaoru in the stomach sending her flying backwards into a tree.

A sickening crack followed the impact of Kaoru's body hitting the tree; she slid to the ground, unconscious.

Katil turned back to Kenshin, smile still in place.

"Oops…it appears I hurt the woman..."

Kenshin snarled as he leapt toward Katil again, his anger at both Katil and himself for Kaoru's injuries fueling his attack.

The constant clang of swords exchanging blows woke Kaoru up from her enforced nap. She shook her head, trying to clear the last of the fogginess from it. She glanced up, paling at the sight before her.

Kenshin and Katil were still fighting, which she expected. But unexpected was the glimpse of Kenshin's eyes Kaoru got. The hard amethyst she had seen earlier was gone, replaced by a cold amber.

The two fighters were dancing around the clearing, neither landing serious blows. Following their path, Kaoru caught sight of a small hole in the packed ground. Kenshin, at the moment backing away from Katil's attacks, was headed straight for it.

Standing up just as Kenshin's heel stepped into the hole, sending the swordsman to his knees, Kaoru dashed forward. Katil lifted his sword over his head, swinging it down to finish the fallen swordsman.

Okay...so third time's the charm...I think. I think I finally got this where I want it. If you read this before, please read it again and tell me what you think. Or, if you've just come across it, tell me what you think, anyway!

trekker4life