A/N: This story is of my creation after I saw only the first two seasons of the show. Therefore, there are some things (like how Kenshin got his scars) that are not going to follow the storyline of the anime or the manga. So please don't yell at me, I know it's wrong Thanks
-Anev
A crescent moon gleamed in the sky above us as Kimmaru and I looked down at the Kamiya dojo grounds. The night was clear and warm, a perfect night to finish my journey.
"Are you sure it's really him, I mean, you could be wrong." He said. I nodded as checked to make sure my hair was tight in its bun.
"The hit that was put out on him by that fool Gohei said that this is where his lives now. Isn't it ironic that he resides in a place with wooden swords and teaches peace?" I said with scorn. I didn't understand people that live under the delusion of peace without swords, there was no such thing as peace; there was only life. I sighed.
Kimmaru shifted, I could tell he didn't like this, "But, many people have claimed to be him before, you could end up spilling the wrong blood." I took his face in my hand. He had been by my side through many years and I loved him like my own brother. I smiled a sadly.
"He was at the restaurant. I saw him, our eyes locked. Kimmaru, he's here. After all these years, I have finally found him." I looked back at the dojo grounds, "it will be here that I will have my final battle." The ninja's hand gently held my shoulder.
"Is this really what you want, Utasai?" he asked with concern. I placed my hand on his and nodded.
"Yes. I have waited over ten years for this day, there will be only one Hitokiri leaving these grounds tonight." I jumped of the wall to the dojo grounds inside. I could feel the Battosai inside the dojo itself, waiting. I glanced over Kimmaru with a smile.
"You got my back?" I asked. He solemnly nodded; he would prevent anyone from disturbing my battle tonight. I heard the door of the dojo slide open and I turned to greet my opponent. Kimmaru tensed, I didn't blame him. The stories about the Battosai were legendary, and I knew they held true. I closed my eyes, tonight all my pain would end.
"I knew you would come, that I did." He said solemnly. "I could see the contempt behind your eyes at the Akabeko." The night held a dead silence, as if the world stopped to watch our fight.
"As I knew you would answer my becken call, Hitokiri Battosai." I said with a smile and opened my eyes. He stood on the platform in front of my with a sad expression set upon his face. Scars that etched across his face, etched across my heart. Everything in my being pounded as I stared at him with dark eyes.
"I believe you are mistaken Miss, the Hitokiri Battosai is not here. I am just a simple ronin that goes by the name of Himura Kenshin. That's all." I wanted to slice his throat for playing such a game, but instead I played along.
" You carry a sword, ronin, in this era that's a crime." I hissed. I watched him slightly lift the sword from its sheath.
"My sword is just a simple, foolish Sakabato. I can not harm anyone with such a thing. As I said, I am not the man you seek." I laughed spitefully.
"I'm done with your pathetic games Hitokiri. Don't bother me anymore with your lies. Your face has been burned into my heart since the first night I fought you and will stay in my nightmares until the day your blood stains my sword." Behind the red-haired Hitokiri, three others emerged from inside the dojo.
"Send them to bed Battosai, this is between you and I." I said, "…or my friend will send them there for you." A man stepped forward with a clenched fist.
"Anything you have against Kenshin, you will have to take it up with me as well." He said. I could tell by his garb that he was a typical fighter, not a samurai. The boy behind him stepped forward as well.
"Yeah Sanosake is right! You're going have to take it up with us!" he yelled out. Beside me I heard Kimmaru whisper the fighter's name back in disbelief.
"but he's dead…." He whispered. The Battosai put a hand out in front of the other two.
"I'm sorry Yahiko, but I am afraid she is right, that she is." He said still staring into my eyes.
"But Kenshin!" the woman gasped. The ronin just smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru." He stated, "but this too is a battle I have wished to finish." Slowly, he walked down to the open land in front of him. The ninja beside me backed away, keeping a watchful eye on the fighter he seemed to know.
"Hitokiri Kattari…" the Battosai stated quietly, " I will promise to give you the fight you've waited so long for. If I was the reason for the dead pain behind your eyes, then I will let you carryout your revenge tonight. This is under one condition, give me your word as a samurai not to harm Miss Kaoru or the others no matter the outcome." I bowed. Kaoru was perplexed, Kenshin never acted like he was expecting to lose before.
"As little as you know me, Battosai, you know me better than to sink that low. I was a Hitokiri, not a murderer." I said the last part with a growl, "besides, we both know the true murderer here tonight…" Kenshin drew his Sakabato. I sneered, with his sword he could never carry the fight that I wished. I knew I had to force his past to emerge.
I crossed my arms and unsheathed two Chisa-Katanas. A style of sword fighting that had been lost to the world over ten years ago. It was the style of my father's dojo.
"Two blades…" Kaoru whispered in shock. Her father had told her once that no honorable samurai was aloud to wield two swords, yet Kenshin had called her a Hitokiri. She shook her head, she had never heard about any female samurais either.
"Make the first strike, Battosai." As soon as the words came out of my mouth, he was on top of me with his Katana coming down.
The others watched as we moved through the night, matching strike for strike, blade for blade. I began to lose myself in the air of the battle. Nothing else existed, no one else mattered. I was in a dance; the only way to stop it, was death itself.
"I see…" Sanosake said amazed, "with this girl's duel swords she can make up for Kenshin's speed. Also with the double edged blades, she can attack in any position." Kaoru didn't want to think about it. She hated to watch Kenshin fight, with each swing, she could see him grow closer to becoming the Battosai. They fought, never faultering, neither one ever getting the advantage. She couldn't help but marvel at the woman's ability as well. Kaoru had seen some of the other manslayers fight, but none ever matched Kenshin's ability so well. There had never been so much passion in the fight either. She looked over at the fighter.
"Sano, what do you think she meant by murderer?" she asked with haunted eyes. He just shook his head and wrapped an arm around her.
"Don't worry about it. Just remember he had a lot of enemies from the war, and many have the wrong outlook of him. Besides –"he paused when something caught his eye on the top of the dojo. He looked over to Kimmaru, it wasn't him.
"Then who…" he started. A kunai whizzed by Kaoru's head clipping a part of her long hair. She screamed as shadows began to jump over the dojo wall.
The sound of the girl's voice shook me out of my trance. The Battosai's fighting began to faulter as he nervously glanced at the assassins pilling into the dojo. It seemed that Gohei's price was enough to entice men to their deaths.
"Kimmaru! Stop them from interrupting us!" I yelled, but I saw the ninja already taking down men, there were too many for him.
"Shit! Watch out!" I cried and the Hitokiri and I jumped back as a flail with a spiked ball as big as my head, clashed between us. I glared at the wielder with a boiling anger. He was a huge scruff of a man that looked as he hadn't bathed in months.
"Sorry little geisha, I'll be the one taking the Battosai's head tonight. Though later on, you can show me some of your moves in my bedroom." I clenched my teeth. I quickly glanced at my surroundings. The dojo had become a battlefield, the scum had no respect. I looked back to the large man a growled.
"I wouldn't bed you if I was a diseased saseko and you won't get his head as long as I live!" As flash came from in front of me, the Hitokiri lunged forward, he had caught me off guard. The sakabato slashed by my head, hitting a man behind me. I nodded to Himura, he had gained a little respect in my eyes. Our battle would have to wait. I turned to the large man with the flail, and released my anger on him.
Kenshin fought quickly through the chaos checking on Kaoru and the others. All were fighting, but their opponents were barely amateurs, and easily taken down. He looked over at me.
"I'm glad you're on my side right now, that I am," he whispered, and knocked down another man. At the dojo entrance two small bodies at the entrance of the dojo grounds. His heart stopped.
"Uncle Kenshin… what's going on?" Suzume asked scared. Sano whipped his head at the small girl's voice. Kaoru had mentioned that they were coming over. The doctor had left them, oblivious to the warfare that occurred inside the dojo walls.
I hit the wall hard, I was so out of practice. I picked myself up and looked at my opponent. His size was becoming a problem, so was his damn flail. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and started to run along side the dojo wall. The assassin released the spike ball sending it at me. Dust and rubble fell upon me as it ripped through the wall right above my head; he was a pretty decent shot. As he wiped the flail out of the rubble, the wall finally began to give away. That's when I heard the screams erupt.
Out of the cornor of my eye I saw the Hitokiri and the man Sanosake start running towards the entrance of the dojo. Turning I watched the overhead slabs of the entrance fall on two small girls.
Kenshin and Sano ran as hard as they could, however it was too late. The pieces of the concrete fell on the two.
"Suzume! Ayame! Noo!" Himura cried out as he fell to his knees. He wasn't fast enough. He watched the dust settle and his mouth dropped in shock.
I stood over the girls, my body protecting them from the stone that had fallen. The sting of blood and sweat ran into my eye. I wanted to collapse, one of my shoulders was shooting a sharp pain throughout my body.
"Are you two okay?" I asked with a smile. They were both shaking with fear, but untouched nevertheless.
"Look out!" the fighter screamed. I looked up to see the spiked ball of the flail barreling towards us. I fling my swords into the dirt, wrapped my arms around the children, and jumped. A burning pain hit me as the ball tore into my calf and sent me flying towards the ground. I threw my weight just enough to land hard on my back. I gasped as the wind was knocked out of me. I smiled, the girls were safe. In an instant, I was back on my feet, limping over to a tree. Through the emense pain that burned through me I smiled sweetly at them.
"You two stay right here, you'll be safe." I said in a soft voice. The oldest looked up at me and wiped the tears from her eyes, I could see a strong woman growing behind those eyes.
"What is your name?" she asked timidly. I brushed a bit dust off her shoulder.
"My name is Arrari Utasai." I said, as the little girl smiled and bowed.
"Thank you Aunty Utasai!" she said, as the younger one mimicked her movements.
"Yeah, thank you!" My heart warmed as I nodded. I took my leave of them, moving back to retrieve my swords. I grabbed the duel chisa-katanas and surveyed the area. The only assassin left standing was the one with the flail. The Battosai faced him off.
"Attacking Miss Suzume and Miss Ayame was not very nice, that it was not. No man should ever endanger a child." I stared in amazement at the man I watched now. A darker, more mencing chi encircled him, I knew this was the true Battosai. It hit me, if this was the true Battosai from the past, then what he was saying…
I dropped my head as tears welled up in my eyes. I had been wrong. All this time I had revenging a lie.
"Kimmaru!" I yelled choking back the tears. The ninja landed beside me with a grace only he possessed.
"Miss Utasai?" he asked out of breath. I smiled through my torment.
"We should go." I said. He blinked in surprise,.
"But… isn't this what you've waited for?" he asked. I waved my hand dismissing his words.
" I think I'm too wounded to actually give a good fight. Honestly, I'll need your help getting home." I said with a laugh although I wasn't joking. I looked back to see Kenshin hugging Ayame and Suzume, "besides, those two girls have seen enough terror for one night, don't you think?" Kimmaru nodded with a smile. Putting an arm around the ninja's neck for support, we left.