Two paths, diverging
Summary: In the endless moments before drawing an unknown katana and striking down Chou the Sword Collector, Kenshin sees two paths laid out before him.
A/N - I am endlessly fascinated by Kenshin's fight with Chou.
Chou the Sword Collector moves towards the baby, Iori, daring Kenshin to stop him. In that instant, Shakku-dono's son throws Kenshin a sheathed katana –
It arcs through the air, finding Kenshin's hand with terrible inevitability.
In the endless heartbeats afterwards, crouching poised for battoujutsu, Kenshin has no time for moral quandaries.
He sees only two choices:
He acts, draws an unknown blade – whether a true katana or not – and saves Iori.
He hesitates, and Iori dies.
There is no choice.
And in that final moment, as he uncoils and draws the sword from its sheath, Kenshin strikes to kill.
