DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: Kaoru believes that Kenshin is dead after his fight with Shougo. She vows to avenge his death. After defeating Shougo, she begins a reign of terror against some of Kenshin's former enemies. Who will stop her? K&K romance. (Please note, this fic is not based off the movie "An Eye for an Eye" I just couldn't think up another title.) An Eye for An Eye Drama/Romance Fanfiction by Gypsy-chan Enjoy!
Light Shimabara Arc Spoiler Warning (This story does not follow every detail of the actual Shimabara Arc episodes, especially in places where I've indicated that Shougo uses a corrupt blade. I changed that part for the sake of my story.) Also, this fanfic is totally OOC.
Part One
Two fierce swordsmen are battling high a top a mountain. As they battle, they ignore the signs of the inpending storm. The sky has suddenly filled with gloom and darkness. Raging winds began to sweep across the sea creating massive waves that crash violently against the jagged edges of the mountain.
As the battle intensifies, the taller swordsmen, named Amakusa Shougo, knocks down the shorter redheaded swordsman, named Kenshin Himura. Both swordsmen are using the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu technique in the battle.
Kaoru Kamiya is standing on the side, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the battle. Deep in her heart, she knows that Kenshin will win. But she feels something unusual about this fight. She has a gut wrenching feeling that something horrific is about to happen.
Shougo is incensed that Kenshin doesn't use the final attack, Ama-Kakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki against him. He glares down at Kenshin shouting,
"If you will not use the final technique in this battle, then I will give you a loss worse than death!"
Shougo raises his sword towards the heavens drawing the lightening and directing it towards Kenshin's eyes.
"I GIVE YOU ETERNAL DARKNESS!!"
The sword reflects the brilliant light from the lightening casting it into Kenshin's eyes blinding him. Kaoru clutches her hands over her heart. Her body is now frozen in place as she stands by helplessly watching the full force of Shougo's corrupt version of Hiten Mitsurugi Rai Ryu Sen, knock Kenshin's limp body over the mountain's edge and down into the sea.
Kaoru immediately runs to the edge of the mountain and yells, "KENSHIN!!"
Her voice echoes back to her followed by a deadening silence. Kaoru rushes past the crazed man who has just smitten her beloved Kenshin. She quickly descends the mountain hoping to find him at the bottom.
After reaching the basin of the mountain, she sees that Kenshin is nowhere in sight. Kaoru plunges into the cold dark sea waters, not caring for her own safety, in search of her one true love. As she come up for air, she finds no trace of Kenshin.
Yahiko runs along the sandy beach and find Kaoru frantically searching through the water. He's puzzled by her actions.
"Hey Busu! What are you doing in the water? What happened," he called out.
"It's Kenshin! He's missing," she cried. "Shougo's last attack knocked him off that mountain," she pointed, "and down into the sea. Please help me find him."
Yahiko felt his stomach balling up in knots.
"What's going on around here? First Sano disappears and now Kenshin. I've got to find Kenshin!"
Yahiko quickly cast off his outer clothing, and plunges into the water with Kaoru. They swam in different directions trying to find Kenshin.
Kaoru and Yahiko's voice could be heard miles away calling out for Kenshin, but it was all to no avail. The only sounds to be heard were the echos of birds flying over their heads. Yahiko swam over to Kaoru.
"It's no use Kaoru, he's not here," he said while spitting out the salty sea water that had gathered in his mouth. "We've been searching for an hour. Let's go back."
"No," she cried, "I know he's here. Kenshin would never leave me! We have to keep looking. He needs us Yahiko!"
Yahiko nodded and started swimming opposite from Kaoru.
Sano finally emerged from the dark cavern that he had been imprisoned in. Earlier, he was surrounded by a pack of wild dogs. He was glad to have escaped the vicious dogs before they could get their fangs on him. After dusting his clothes off, he strolled along the beach murmuring to himself.
"Geez, I though I would never escape those stinking dogs. Hmm.... I wonder where Kenshin and the others are?"
Suddenly he heard the faint voices of Kaoru and Yahiko calling for Kenshin. Sano turned towards the sea and arched his eyebrows at Yahiko as he swam around in the water.
"From the expression on his face, something terrible has happened."
"Hey Yahiko! What are you doing? Where's Kenshin?"
"He was knocked off the mountain by Shougo's attack," yelled Yahiko as he pointed up the mountain.
Sano cupped his hands over his eyebrows and allowed his eyes to travel up the mountain and back down toward the sea. He also noticed all of the jagged rocks that surrounded the basin of the mountain. Sano suddenly got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"No! Kenshin couldn't be…. No! I won't believe it," uttered Sano in disbelief, "Kenshin's too stubborn to die!"
He quickly snatched his shirt off and yelled, "I'm coming in," while jumping into the water.
"Geez Kenshin! Why'd you have to go and get yourself knocked into the water," he grumbled to himself while swimming toward Yahiko. "You know how much I hate the water."
Upon reaching Yahiko he asked, "Where's jou-chan? I thought I heard her voice a minute ago."
Yahiko looked around and answered, "I don't know. I think she is swam over by those rocks or something."
"Don't worry, I'll find her. Did you search over there for Kenshin," he asked while pointing to the left.
"We've searched everywhere Sano," sniffed Yahiko as he wiped the salty tears from his eyes. "It doesn't look good. We can't find Kenshin."
"Hey kid, pull yourself together," said Sano while padding in the water beside Yahiko. "Kenshin's a tough guy. You know he's not going to let a little water keep him down. He probably swam ashore somewhere around here."
Yahiko perked up and smiled, "You really think so Sano?"
"Yeah squirt I do. Now go over there and search along the beach," he instructed. "And let me know when you find him. I'm going to find jou-chan."
Yahiko smiled and then swam with restored hope, into the direction Sano told him to search for Kenshin.
Sano looked over and saw Kaoru on the far side of the beach. She was huddled into a small ball rocking back and forth crying.
"Something's wrong," he uttered while swimming over to her.
Upon reaching Kaoru, he cast his eyes down upon the grief-stricken young girl. He watched her small form rock back and forth while softly chanting Kenshin's name. Sano prayed silently for Kenshin to be alive, for Kaoru's sake. He knew how attach she had always been to Kenshin. Now, worry and concern for Kaoru took precedence over his own feelings of loss.
"Oi jou-chan, I told Yahiko to search over there for Kenshin," he said while pointing along the beach. "I'm sure he's probably…."
Kaoru shook her head without looking up toward Sano. "Kenshin isn't coming back," she softly uttered.
Sano fought back the tears that were welling up inside him. He knew that Kaoru was not one to give up on Kenshin so easily. But seeing her in such a sadden condition, broke his heart. He knelt down beside Kaoru and gently rested his hands upon her shoulders in order to comfort her.
"Don't say that jou-chan. You can't give up now. I know Kenshin is around here somewhere. We're probably not looking in the right place."
"No," she replied while sniffing and wiping her tears, "He's gone." Kaoru lifted her head up toward Sano and held up Kenshin's tattered pink gi.
"I found his gi against that jagged rock," she said as she pointed toward the jagged rock on the other side of him. "His sakabatou was washed ashore in this spot."
Sano watched as Kaoru cradled Kenshin's sakabatou and tattered pink gi back into her arms. He looked over to the jagged rock and saw bloodstains. Kaoru began to cry again. Sano muttered curses under his breath as he pulled Kaoru into a warm comforting embrace. Her tears were now flowing heavily against his bare chest.
"It wasn't suppose to end this way," she cried, "He asked me to be his wife. We were suppose to get married and have children. Now he's gone! Kennnssshinnnn!!!"
Sano's eyes widened upon hearing that Kenshin had finally proposed to Kaoru. No one had told him of the blessed news. He assumed that Kenshin proposed to her sometime after they returned from Kyoto. He noticed that they had been spending a lot of time together, but never thought much of it. Kenshin kept his feelings for Kaoru private and he didn't like to be teased about it. But now, it was all over. "Kenshin.... my brother..... my friend." Sano held her tighter as she continued crying into his chest.
A memorial service was held for Kenshin Himura a week later. Within the shallow coffin lies Kenshin's tattered pink gi and sakabatou. His body was never found.
Many well wishers paid their final respect to the Legendary Hitokiri Battousai. Top government officials were there, such as Yamagata Aritomo. Misao, Aoshi and other members of the Oniwabanshuu came to support Kenshin's surrogate family. Even Hajime Saitoh stopped by to give his condolences. However, Hiko Seijuro, thirteenth master of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, was nowhere to be found.
After the memorial service was over, Kaoru went alone to the gravesite to arrange the flowers upon Kenshin's grave.
"These flowers should have been for our wedding," she sniffed while wiping away the fresh tears that began flowing down her tear stained face.
"You wanted something simple and small, but I wanted a big wedding. I wanted to invite all our friends and have a big celebration. You smiled and said I could have the wedding however I liked. All you wanted was me. You made me so happy. But now..... Oh Kenshin, I miss you so much. Why did this have to happen?"
Kaoru doubled over Kenshin's grave and wailed, "Kennnssshinnnn!!" She continued to wail out in grief for several hours. Finally, Kaoru picked up Kenshin's sakabatou, which she chose not to bury, and held it tightly to her chest. She rose slowly to her feet and glanced down at her father's headstone. She had arranged to have Kenshin buried next to her father's grave.
"Father, I have always tried to live my life according to the teachings of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, which teaches the sword that protects. I met a wonderful man, Kenshin Himura, who also believed in using his sword to protect. He took a vow of non-killing. But as I stand here today and look down upon your grave, I am left in this world without the two men I loved the most. What good is Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu or Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, if it can't protect the ones whom I've loved?"
Kaoru wiped the stinging tears from her cheeks and took Kenshin's sakabatou and held it in front of her.
"I'm sorry father, but I shall no longer follow your teachings. Amakusa Shougo is a murderer. He must be punished for his evil crimes. I will make him pay dearly for taking Kenshin away from me. I swear it!"
Kaoru suddenly paused after making her personal vow. She heard the sound of a twig snap, indicating someone's presence. Kaoru quickly spun around and shouted, "Who's there," while pointing Kenshin's sakabatou toward the intruder.
The face of a smiling young boy had come out of the shadows. He held his hands up in front of him and politely answered, "Please forgive the intrusion. I've come to pay my respects to Mr. Himura."
Kaoru kept in her fighting stance with the sakabatou drawn in front of the boy and asked, "How did you find this place! No one knows of this place except for me!"
"I followed you after you left the dojo," smiled the boy.
Kaoru glared daggers at him and shouted, "How dare you follow me!"
The young boy felt Kaoru's ki growing. He knew he had to try to calm her down. "I mean you know harm Miss. As I said, I've come to pay homage to Mr. Himura."
"What's your name," she demanded.
"Oh, how rude of me," he giggled softly. "My name is Seta Soujirou. Mr. Himura and I fought once."
Kaoru narrowed her eyes at Soujirou's smiling face. "Now I know why you are here. You've come to see if Kenshin is really dead so that you can gloat over his grave. I will never...."
"Oh no, that is not my intentions," he quickly interjected. "I respect Mr. Himura and what he stood for. During my fight with him, I learned many things. Mr. Himura helped me to see that it's okay not to be the strongest. He gave me a lot to think about. But I still had many questions. So I decided to go on a journey hoping to find the answers I needed. As I was passing through town, I heard the tragic news of Mr. Himura and I...."
Kaoru lowered her sword and softly uttered, "It's enough, I believe you." She knew how Kenshin always tried to save others. Kaoru remembered how during Kenshin's last battle with Shougo, he used his final breath trying to convince Shougo to give up his evil ways.
An awkward silence befell them. Finally, Soujirou cast his eyes toward Kenshin's grave and back to Kaoru. She nodded in response. Soujirou slowly approached Kenshin's grave. He closed his eyes and respectfully bowed before the grave and offered up a brief prayer. Kaoru watched pensively as the young boy finished giving his respect.
"Uhm.... I know this is none of my business, but I overheard you say that you wanted to avenge Mr. Himura's death."
Kaoru glared over to him. "As you said, it is none of your business. If you have finished...."
"Wait, please," he humbly responded. "I want to help. I can teach you how to defeat the man who took the life of Kenshin Himura."
Kaoru remained a little skeptical. "Why do you want to help?"
"Because if it weren't for Mr. Himura, I would never have found the peace that I so desperately sought. Offering my help to you is a small way of showing my gratitude for what Mr. Himura has done for me."
Kaoru looked at the young eighteen year old boy thinking,
"He doesn't look no older than me. But yet, I do remember Sano speaking of a young boy who almost defeated Kenshin when they were in Kyoto. Could this boy be the one they called Tenken, Sword of Heaven? If so, then I know I could defeat Amakusa Shougo, by training with him."
"I accept your offer," Kaoru respectfully said, "But you must never mention our training to anyone."
Soujirou shrugged his shoulders and smiled, "As you wish, Miss....."
"Kamiya... Kaoru Kamiya."
"Please to meet you Kaoru-dono," smiled Soujirou.
Kaoru noticed his small bag over his shoulders. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"No.... not at the moment," he smiled again.
"Then you may stay at the dojo with me while we train," replied Kaoru.
The two left Kenshin's gravesite and headed back to the dojo.
TO BE CONTINUED.......