Kenshin's eyes flashed open as a small chack noise signalled the opening of a nearby sliding door. He sat up, looking towards the hall with narrowed eyes. He glanced beside him to his wife, who was sleeping peacefully. He slowly got up, pulling his yukata tight and lifting a bokken from a stand on a nearby cabinet. A cold presence loomed over him and he shivered. A small nag in the back of his mind recognised the presence, but he couldn't place it. He slowly slid the door open and slipped outside, pulling it closed silently behind him. He crept with a silence true to its name and slinked down the corridor. He paused at a corner, the presence just around it. He gripped the bokken tighter. He knew that this person must have been a hitokiri, or another kind of fighter to have such a huge kenki. He idly wondered if he should wake Kaoru, when a creak in the floorboards made him disregard all thoughts aside the one of who was coming round the corner. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he stepped back, preparing to hit the intruder as he came into sight. His hiten mitsurugi-ryu may be loosing itself with his deterioration, but what choice did he have but to fight? A black haired man came into view, about 6 foot 4 and towering over Kenshin. Their eyes met momentarily before both lashed out. Each one stopped a hairsbreadth away from hitting the other, Kenshin's bokken against the intruders neck and the intruders sword against Kenshin's chest. Kenshin looked up into the vivid blue eyes of the intruder, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. He felt his opponent's kenki spike in anticipation of the fight ahead, but he stepped back and lowered his sword. Kenshin lowered his bokken likewise, waiting silently, on guard. The man spoke, and Kenshin couldn't help feeling he did know this man.
"You. I challenge you to a match, Battosai." Kenshin's eyes narrowed further at the mention of his old name, and subconsciously gripped his bokken tighter still.
"I have no intention of fighting. Who are you and why do you come with this challenge?" He was speaking softly, all too aware of his sleeping wife just a small distance away.
"I will not speak my reasons. If you want them, fight and win!" His loud voice echoed down the corridor and Kenshin felt Kaoru's presence stir.
"Not here. I won't fight you." The man grinned as Kenshin stepped back once more.
"Why? Style rotting inside that feeble body of yours, or are you trying to stop before your lover over there gets involved?" Kenshin's features stayed calm, but his heart beat hard in his chest. Was that a threat?
Kenshin felt a build in his kenki and he leapt from his position, gliding past Kenshin as if he were standing still. Kenshin was after him a flash, shouting a warning to his beloved.
"Kaoru!!" He heard her sit up in bed and caught up to the man as he tried to open the door. It slid open with a slam, Kaoru turning to the door and gasping in shock as Kenshin's bokken connected with the man's sword. The blade dug deeply into the wood but didn't break through. Kenshin realised he would have huge problems winning this fight with a bokken and risked a look behind him to see Kaoru, sitting shocked on her knees in their futon. "Kaoru… Yahiko." This time it was the man's eyes that narrowed, and he shoved Kenshin back, whose feet slid a few feet across the floor towards Kaoru before he could stop himself. The man
struck, and Kenshin lifted his bokken in both hands to block. The sword was successfully blocked, but Kenshin realised it was being held in the man's left hand. He moved to free one of his hands, but the man's foot hit him hard in the cheek before he had the chance. Kenshin was fired across the room and slammed into the paper and wood walls, smashing easily through them and landing on the wooden flooring the other side. The man jumped after him, but Kenshin was already on his feet and launched forward, shouting loudly. "Kaoru!!" His shout bought her to her senses and she rose from her position, pulling on a jacket as she sprinted from the room, casting one last worried glance at Kenshin and the man in a deadlock of blade and bokken before running from the dojo, towards town. She had to get Yahiko before it was too late. She wondered if Kenshin intended for Yahiko to fight the man. The warm air quickly made her begin to sweat, her breathing heavy as she ran father into town, preying that Kenshin would be okay until her return with her first student.
"Who is Yahiko then?" The mans voice was taunting, and Kenshin threw his bokken out, making the man's sword fly off him to create an opening. He, however, didn't take it. The man picked up on it and smirked, but let his sword hang in his right hand at his side. "The inheritor of the sakabatou? That Yahiko?" A mute nod from Kenshin made the man throw his head back in a laugh. "You need another to fight your battles for you?" Kenshin did not answer. He finally remembered where he had met this man before. Back when he had been with Tomoe, the children he had played with around their home had etched themselves into his memory. He looked at the vivid blue eyes and knew he was right.
"Why do you raise a sword against this one?" The man bared his teeth.
"You killed, killed and killed, and then with those bloody hands you touched us all! Then you left, and left behind you a string of men each stronger than the last looking for a "Battousai"! They smelt the blood you left on us! They came for us. We had to fight! You tainted us all with your killing and left us to fend for ourselves, outcast from the village!" Kenshin felt his heart beat faster, louder in his chest. He hadn't known. He'd never been back to that place. Kenshin cast his eyes to the floor, ashamed, his heart aching. Were the others okay? Was it true? Had he unwittingly caused their suffering?" Kenshin grunted as the man swung again, blocking another blow. This time, though, the Bokken gave out and the sword sliced it cleanly in two. Kenshin jumped back. It was at times like this he wished that he hadn't given Yahiko the sakabatou. A clatter came from down the hall and Kenshin turned, horrified, to see Kenji standing there with wide eyes.
"No, Kenji! Run!" Kenshin's shout made the boy of five jump, but he couldn't move. He stared at the blade in the other man's hand. It was mere inches from his daddy's neck. Kenshin saw his son's shoulders shaking, and wished he had thought to tell Kaoru to take the boy with her. The man looked at the miniature Himura Battosai before him and grimaced.
"A wife I can comprehend, but a son? A sinner like you holds no right to create life when you stole so much of it! You have no right to bloody more innocent lives with the taint of your filthy hands!" The sword was pulled back, and Kenshin lifted the hilt of the bokken to block
again, but so strong was the swing that it sliced straight through, piercing his side. Kenshin's blood sprayed over the white paper of what was left of the wall and he fell to one knee, forcing himself to stand then turn as the man jumped over him, his crazed sword now turned on Kenji.
"No! Kenji!" Kenshin leapt forward, ignoring the stabbing pain in his sliced side as he jumped over the man, landing between the two, facing the man. His sword sliced from Kenshin's right shoulder to his left hip, leaving a deep gouge that sprayed his crimson life over the floor, ceiling, walls and over the man himself. Kenji screamed loudly as Kenshin fell back, catching him in a way from behind, but being pushed to the floor beneath the weight, not strong enough to stop the fall. Kenshin slowly got to his knees, not turning to check on his son. Just then the door at the front of the dojo slammed open and Yahiko appeared, panting hard with Kaoru, Sanosuke and Megumi at his heels. The man lowered his sword, looking down to Kenshin with a look of disgust on his face.
"You aren't even a shadow of your former Hitokiri self. There is no point in defeating you as you are now. Get stronger and meet me in Kyoto. Else I'll be back here, and I'll wipe out each trace of Hitokiri Battosai, the rurouni and Himura Kenshin, including his heir." He leapt back through the bedroom and out the open door, disappearing in a giant leap over the wall. Sanosuke moved to chase after him, but Kenshin spoke softly.
"Leave him." Kenshin's eyes were shadowed and he turned around, taking his unconscious son in his arms and turning back to them. His heart wrenched as Kaoru gasped, pushing Yahiko out the way and running forward.
"Megumi-san!" Kaoru's cry was unnecessary, as Megumi was already pulling drawers in her medicine chest open. She looked over him, but shook her head.
"So far as I can tell its just shock. The only remedy is rest." Kaoru nodded and Kenshin turned back towards Kenji's room. As he walked away Megumi and Kaoru followed, but Sano and Yahiko looked at all the damage to the dojo. Sano whistled loudly.
"This guy must've been good." Yahiko picked up the end of Kenshin's bokken and Sano looked over his shoulder, then they both looked around the bloodied walls. Yahiko stood up, dropping the bokken's end and subconsciously looking at the sakabatou on his hip. If Kenshin had been wielding this, then he would have stood a better chance. The hits that sliced through the bokken wouldn't have hit him. They both followed towards Kenji's room to see Kaoru fussing over her son while Megumi pulled Kenshin's yukata from his shoulders. They both flinched as they saw the two deep wounds, and Megumi put her hands over her mouth to hold in a gasp. Kenshin closed his eyes as she quickly turned to Yahiko and Sano.
"Water, now. Sanosuke, go and boil some. Yahiko, please bring in his futon and set it." They both nodded and left to do their tasks. Kaoru turned around, satisfied her son was in no danger, and gasped loudly as she saw Kenshin's wounds.
"Kenshin!" She rushed forward and moved to touch him, but Megumi caught her hand and shook her head. Kenshin's eyes were in shadow and he was very still. Kaoru let her hand drop. Why did this happen? She was sure Kenshin was already blaming himself for it.
Yahiko came back in and dropped the futon to the floor, going back out for the covers. Sano came in with a bowl of boiling water and set it beside Megumi, who took the cloth he had been using to hold it and dipped it inside the water, wringing it out, flinching as the boiling water poured over her hands.
"Hey Vixen, don't do that!" Sano leapt forward, taking the cloth from her and wringing it out himself. She smiled, blushing lightly. She took the outstretched cloth from him and dabbed at the wound in Kenshin's side. He flinched, but made no other movement. Yahiko re-entered and dropped the pillow and cover down onto the futon, leaning down and making it, folding back the cover so it was easy to get into. Kaoru smiled a thanks, her pale face showing the shock of seeing Kenshin in such a bad way. Last time he had been so badly hurt was after his battle with Enishi. Although they were a lot worse then. She took Kenshin's hand, and he looked up to her. Kaoru smiled up to him, but he didn't respond to it. Kaoru bit her lip, squeezing his hand tighter. His violet eyes were blank, did he even recognise her? He gently squeezed back, and Kaoru wanted to sigh in relief, but he looked back down to the floor afterwards and she looked to Megumi, who shrugged. Sano wrung out the cloth again and handed it back to her as she dabbed at Kenshin's other wound now. They were both bleeding profusely, and she soon sighed.
"It's no good; they're too deep and won't stop bleeding. We'll just have to bind them." Megumi took bandages from her chest, but first took out a small tin of cream, massaging it around and into his wounds. She quickly bandaged him up and Kenshin looked up.
"I thank you Megumi-dono, that I do." She smiled, glad to hear his familiar phrase, but his voice was heavy and she took out a small pouch from her chest.
"Kaoru-chan, please make some tea and put some of this in it for Ken-san, it will numb the pain." Kaoru nodded, taking the pouch and leaving reluctantly. Yahiko stood behind Kenshin awkwardly, waiting in silence to be spoken to, resisting the temptation to question him. Sano also seemed to be itching to ask questions. Megumi helped Kenshin stand up and moved to take him over to the futon Yahiko had placed out for him, but Kenshin took a step towards the door. "Ken-san?" He shook his head, moving away from her grasp and out into the corridor. He looked over the broken, blood-spattered walls and sighed.
"Yahiko." Yahiko moved to stand beside him, taking the sakabatou from his obi without even questioning. He knelt before Kenshin and held it up to him. He had learnt to use it well, but now the man for whom it existed needed it more. Yahiko looked up in surprise as Kenshin closed his fingers back over the sheathe, pushing it back towards him.
"Kenshin?" Kenshin smiled and shook his head.
"The sakabatou is yours now, Yahiko. The favour this ones asks of you is a different one." Sano turned away from Megumi upon hearing this, his curiosity peaked. "I ask you to protect this one's home." Kenshin started towards the practise hall, and Yahiko ran after him.
"Protect it? But where will you be?" Kenshin ignored the question, walking in silence with Yahiko until they reached the practise hall, where he pulled a bokken from the wall and threaded it into his belt. His eyes were still cast to the floor, and Yahiko shivered slightly. He was radiating a very cold aura.
"Kyoto." Yahiko's mouth fell open.
"Kyoto? Kenshin, you can't be thinking of going?" Yahiko followed as Kenshin left the practise hall and headed towards the kitchen, where Kaoru was busying herself making tea. She looked up as he entered, smiling warmly and pouring some tea into a cup, slipping some of the powder into it. She glanced at the bokken in his belt, but handed the tea to him after stirring it slightly and he took it, sipping it warily. Yahiko was resisting the urge to tell Kaoru about Kyoto. Would he ask her to go with him? Would he even tell her at all? He soon got his answer.
"Kaoru. This one will be going to Kyoto." The teapot fell to the floor, but Yahiko grabbed the handle before it hit, saving it. He sighed, but didn't interrupt as she turned to Kenshin and took his arms in her hands, squeezing them tightly. Kenshin didn't look up, but put his tea on the side. "This one asks that you stay here with Yahiko and Sanosuke, so that you and Kenji are protected." Kaoru shook her head.
"No way Kenshin! I'm staying with you! After all that's happened how could I not stay by your side?" Kenshin lifted his arms and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Kaoru. This one will be facing a man much stronger than you, and cannot run the risk of putting you in harm's way. This one will be back, please do not worry." Kaoru felt tears in her eyes as flashbacks came from when he left for Kyoto the first time. She still had nightmares about that.
"No! I'm coming with you. Yahiko and Sanosuke can look after Kenji." Kenshin shifted in their hug, releasing her and stepping back, looking up to her with empty eyes.
"You are very important to this one, and if this battle isn't seen to, then he will come here for you. It will be fine; this one will not be defeated." Kaoru looked dubious.
"Look at you, Kenshin…" Kenshin nodded, his eyes focusing behind her as if looking straight through her.
"This one knows the danger. He will be taking steps. Please, Kaoru, stay here." Kaoru shook her head, and Kenshin sighed. In a flash Kaoru was falling forward and Kenshin caught her in his arms. Yahiko blinked in surprise, he hadn't even seen Kenshin move. How could he still move that fast if his Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu was ineffective? "Yahiko. Please take her and make
sure that she does not follow this one. That goes for you too, and you Sanosuke." He turned to the door, and Sano peeked around it, laughing nervously.
"Knew I was there the whole time huh?" Kenshin nodded, finished his tea, and then left the kitchen. Yahiko, with Kaoru unconscious in his arms, looked up to Sano and grinned. Sanosuke nodded, they were going to follow him regardless of what he said. His only complaint was having to leave Tsubame.
Just outside the door, though, Kenshin fell forward onto his front and didn't get up, and Megumi appeared at Sanosuke's elbow.
"Take him to the futon in Kenji-chan's room and put Kaoru with him, please. Let's hurry and clean up the mess, then we can prepare." Yahiko and Sanosuke exchanged nervous glances. The vixen was up to something, and had drugged Kenshin without his knowledge.
"Impressive, Vixen." Sanosuke laughed, turning and lifting Kenshin from the floor. Together they all trudged to Kenji's room, and set their cargo into the soft futon.
"So what do we do now?" Sanosuke asked warily, and Megumi grinned.
"We clear up the mess, Sano. Hurry." Sano sighed and nodded.