Anime Angel: Hey I'm back!! Sorry to take so long on this, but I was
hoping to get a positive review on this. I'm also apologizing to the
readers. This chapter is short, but I'm hesitant to write anymore on this,
until I positive feedback.
AA, after a pause: This next part is for Rkobssessed, should he/she be reading this. You're right about Kenshin not killing, but the Battoussai did. Also, Kenshin killed Shishio, to save Japan. If you read this chapter, you will understand his actions last chapter. He killed an assassin, so in doing this he saved many politicians and the government that he had originally killed for. I just couldn't put that in the first chapter. More of his reasoning will be explained as the story continues.
Yahiko: Are you done yet? She's been a nightmare to deal with this week!! First, not getting reviews for either of her non-one shots made her depressed. It took a considerable amount of persuasion from Draco and Harry to even get her to write and it took forever for her to finish "In Your Absence" (as dragona), where she had gotten positive reviews. You all are just lucky that she had already written this. We finally got her to write the author's notes, since she finally got the evanescence cd and the fifth Harry Potter book yesterday.
Kenshin: That's enough, Yahiko, that it is. Start the story!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mastery Chapter 2- Wounded By Anime Angel
The next morning
Kenshin's POV
*Two down one more to face. And that's excluding Kami knows how many student assassins. I really don't know what to expect from this other assassin. Is he more powerful than Hojo was, or could he possibly be even stronger than myself. I really hope that is not the case. I really hate this new gi. Was this really the first one they could find or did they just want to torture me.* It was five in the morning, and Kenshin was washing the laundry. Akira and Kaiyame were practicing their katas.
"Both of you were very sloppy on the last three moves. Please repeat them." Kenshin said, breaking his thoughts. Both women sighed and repeated the movements. "Much better. Now continue."
Third Person POV
Akira managed to finish her kata first, since she had been under the watchful eyes of both her brother and former teacher for the last three years. Kaiyame finished right when breakfast was finished around nine o'clock. Hiko had been watching the whole time, along with Kenshin, but he decided that Kaiyame wasn't ready to take his more spiteful comments just quite yet. He let Kenshin handle that aspect of mastery with his gentler, yet sterner comments. Soujiro had shown his ever smiling face around seven- thirty, which was a record time for the teen to get up.
Over breakfast, the group resolved to finally go shopping for Kenshin's and Akira's new outfits, which the group had failed to have time for, yet. (Let's just say that the siblings really know how to wear out clothes.) The group left, and headed to Kaiyame's place to finish the sale of it. Then, they were off to shopping.
Officer Fujita was strolling through the markets, today being his regular day off. A murder that had occurred the previous day was still on his mind. His impending divorce, however, wasn't. Ever since the issue with Shishio, he had been unable to stand Tokio's nagging. Three months ago, she had been on him to stop working so much. And there was only so much nagging a man could take.
He promptly forgot this case, as he spotted the red-haired beauty, Akira Himura, walking with a dark haired woman dressed like Sanosuke, Soujiro Seta, her former master, and her overprotective brother. He ran to catch up with them. The day before, when Kenshin had stopped by to register his dojo, the officer had been disappointed that Akira had not been there. He had fallen in love with her at first sight, after her fight with Kenshin.
"Himura-san, Himura-chan, Soujiro-san, Hiko-sama, wait up!!!" he called to the quickly departing group. Hearing their names being called, they stopped. Finally catching up to them, the first thing that he noticed was Kenshin's ice blue eyes glaring at him. Then, he saw the light blush that stained Akira's beautiful cheeks.
"Is there anything that we can help you with, Officer?" Soujiro asked with his customary smile.
"Actually no. I was just wondering why you were here, since you would most likely be at home taking care of your laundry fetish, Himura-san." Everyone found this hilarious, except Kenshin, whose eyes turned to a full blown amber, and Kaiyame, who was really confused. Akira saw the confused look on the woman's face and pulled her aside to explain the joke to her, while Hiko and Soujiro held Kenshin in place and calmed him down.
"Actually, we are shopping to get my brother and I, a few new outfits. Would .you like to .come with us?" Akira nervously asked the man she had started to fall in love with as soon as she saw his passion for life and justice when he had faced Shishio, three years ago. She had really missed his company, in the three years that they had not seen each other. After the battle they had spent a good deal of time getting to know one another and flirting with each other, to the dismay of her recovering and overprotective older brother.
"I would. It has been a long time, Akira-chan." Saitou replied.
The group headed into the first clothing store.
Meanwhile, at the Kamiya dojo
*I really wish Kenshin were here. I miss him. And to think, we were so close to finding him. If only I had known that Misao was running after him. Instead, we ended up following Aoishi, and finding out that Misao actually knew Kenshin. Oh well, that was the past. I know he lived from the attack on Shishio. Aoishi in his right mind again, told us that the Battousai restored his sense of pride and survived. Where are you now, Kenshin. Where did you go in such a hurry? No one has been able to find you. Or the sister that mysteriously appeared at Shishio's base. The police can't find you. That much Saitou has told me. Although now, I wonder why he wants to find Kenshin in the first place. Misao and Aoishi can't even find him. He really is amazing to escape the web of knowledge of the disbanded Oniwaban group. Even Katsu doesn't know. And a journalist's web of knowledge is nothing meager.
I just wish I knew where he is. I want to see him again. I want to tell him that I don't blame him for killing Shishio. I want to tell him that I love him with all my being and find if he loves me in return.* "I miss you so much, Kenshin."
The others at the table started snickering unfairly at Kaoru, who didn't realize that she spoken her last thought out loud. She blushed crimson, and returned to making breakfast. Megumi had been *very* patient when teaching the (then) assistant master how to make edible food, three years ago when the group realized that Kenshin might not come back to the dojo. The lessons had paid off and now her food was edible.
The dojo was even more packed than before Kenshin had left. Kaoru had become the master of the Kamiya Kasshin style, when Yahiko had had succeeded her as the assistant master. Yahiko, who was now sixteen, ever since he became assistant master six months ago, had been very busy. He divided his time in between teaching classes and spending time with his girlfriend, Tsubame.
That was another thing that had greatly changed in three years. Upon a Kenshin-less arrival back in Tokyo, many had seen the hidden power in the Kamiya Kasshin style. Many parents immediately signed their children up for lessons. Now the dojo was more prosperous than it had ever been.
It was this prosperity that allowed the dojo to fill up as it seemed to have. Aoishi and Misao had left Kyoto, shortly after disbanding the Oniwaban group, to move in the Kamiya dojo, in the hopes of seeing the rurouni, eventually. Aoishi had started to talk more, but in comparison to the others of their little group, he was still the quietest of the group. Misao had gotten over her crush and at age nineteen, was looking for a husband. Her problem with actually finding one, was her own pickiness and Aoishi's over protectiveness.
Megumi had decided to use some of her own money to establish a clinic of her own right next to the dojo. Sanosuke had, two years ago, proposed to his fox and, one and a half years ago, married her. As a result of being so close, the Sagaras ate every meal at the dojo, in exchange for free service at the clinic. The couple even had a reserved room at the dojo if it was necessary for them to stay at the dojo.
Finally breakfast was served to the hungry group. Kaoru's spoken thought had silenced the table. Even Yahiko and Misao were not exchanging their usual harmless and amusing insults. A knock was heard, through, the tense silence of the table. Without being told, Yahiko got up to who would have the audacity to visit at a time like this.
Yahiko ran to the giant doors of the dojo and opened them to see a man wearing a sword. "Can I help you?" Yahiko asked respectfully.
"I am Unozawa Shin, of the Hiten Mitsurugi style. I have some information about a Kenshin Himura for a Miss Kaoru Kamiya. Is it true that I may find her here?" The man introduced himself and politely inquired.
"I will take you to her, now. Follow me, please." Yahiko said, not seeing the signal that Shin gave to the hundred children assassins that were hiding expertly in the trees. As the pair entered the main building of the dojo, no one noticed the assassins surrounding the said building with katanas raised. "A Unozawa Shin of the Hiten Mitsurugi style," Yahiko indicated the man, "has information concerning Kenshin."
"Yes, I do. You are all bait for my trap against him." Shin had a truly evil smile as he said this. "You and you, find the Battousai. I assure that he is somewhere in this city. I won't harm them, until I kill the Battsousai, but if you come here without him, the whole group will die, before I kill the both of you. Now go. And by the way, I have the building surrounded, so there is no hope of escape." Shin said pointing to Misao and Yahiko in turn. The two ran from the room, desperate to find their old friend.
Market Street Tokyo
"That color actually suits you, Himura-san." Saitou complemented on the emerald green gi that the rurouni was forced to hold up.
"I still don't like it." Said rurouni pouted.
"Go try it on now, or you have kitchen duty, laundry duty, and sword shining duty for a month." Akira threatened, eye turning amber as she spoke. Saitou shivered violently, as the former Battousai scampered into the changing room, appearing less than a minute later.
"Very handsome. Yes, I was right!!! That is a good color for you. I told ya, Kaiyame-chan." Akira started to jump up and down in excitement. Kenshin walked back in the room and stepped out in the detested ice blue gi.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. But then again, I suppose you know from personal experience." Kaiyame teased at the girl. Kenshin bought the gi, and the group left the store.
Across the street, Yahiko spotted the telltale shot of red hair. Both Misao and Yahiko sprinted toward who they thought was the rurouni that they knew and loved.
"Kenshin, you need to hurry. Kaoru and the others are in danger." Yahiko pleaded desperately.
The red-headed figure turned around fuming. "As much as I love my brother, I am not KENSHIN HIMURA!!!"
"Sorry, wait, you're his sister. Do you where we can find him?"
"Sure, Nii-chan get the heck out of here now." She shouted.
The rurouni appeared out of thin air. "Yes, you needed me?"
"There is someone here to see you." She merely replied.
"Kenshin, Kaoru and the others are in trouble at the dojo and a guy named Shin Unozawa his holding them hostage at the dojo." Yahiko said in a single breath.
"We have no idea why, but the only way to save them is if you face him and win." Misao said, after taking a deep breath.
"Very well then. Akira and Saitou, head over to the dojo that I fought at yesterday. Take out any and all assassins that are there. Then, Saitou, I will need you escort Akira to the Kamiya dojo as soon as possible. Hiko, Soujiro, and Kaiyame, come with me straight to the Kamiya dojo."
"Right." The other five said without hesitation.
"Come on, we need to go now!!" The group of eight spilt up.
Kenshin's group arrived at the Kamiya dojo without obstacles.
Meanwhile, at the Hiten Mitsurugi dojo, Saitou and Akira could not sense a single ki. But the Hiten Mitsurugi assistant master did explain the necessity for their course of action. Saitou agreed wholeheartedly, having a similar sense of justice, and the two headed for the Kamiya dojo.
Back at the Kamiya dojo, Kenshin entered the one place he had never hoped to never enter again, in the one capacity that he had never wanted to enter it in: Himura, the Battousai. Kaiyame, Soujiro, and Hiko entered next and whipped out their sakabatous in unison. Within the second, their feet touched the ground, the three of them started to attack the Hiten assassins that were guarding the main building of the dojo. Kenshin had entered the main building without obstacle, and said, "Shin Unozawa, I, Kenshin Himura, challenge to a duel to the death."
"And I, Shin Unozawa, accept your challenge. You will pay for your callous murder of my partner, Hojo Oka."
With that, the battle started. Kaoru and the others who had been held as hostages watched in amazement as the flashes of light that represented their captor and old friend repeatedly hit each other. In a brilliant flash of light, the battle suddenly concluded. Kenshin had used the ougi on his enemy with his sakabatou reversed. Shin was dead. Megumi started to run toward the felled man, until Kenshin suddenly said, in one the coldest voices, that any of the Kamiya group had yet to hear, "Don't, he's dead."
Akira and Saitou had arrived and managed to finish off the last of the child assassins. They, as well as the other three, looked to the Hiten master, and wondered what would happen next. In the same cold voice, Kenshin said, "It's time to leave. Let's go." With that, the six people that had just killed in cold blood, left the bloody courtyard of a once innocent dojo, leaving the inhabitants of it stunned.
Once the group arrived at the dojo, Akira promptly invited the officer to eat and stay the night at the Hiten Mitsurugi dojo, to the aggravation of Kenshin. Saitou accepted with grace and eloquence. While the others, celebrated the night away, Kenshin decided to turn in early and get a decent amount of sleep. Once in the safety of his room, Kenshin allowed the pain of his unknown injury to overtake him. Tolerating it, Kenshin decided to meditate.
*I can't let her see what I've become now, an assassin for hire. One of the types of people that I fought before. A manslayer with morals. A pitiful and hypocritical fool. It was better when I was the Batoussai, but the Batoussai is gone. He left with the Rurouni. Both of were disgusted after my fight with Shishio. The Batoussai, because I allowed him to die of his wounds, instead of killing him outright. The Rurouni, because of the fact that I gave him such deadly wounds and inadvertently killed him. All that's left for me is a lifestyle similar to Saitou's. Destroy Evil Immediately. Jin'e, old foe, you were right. A manslayer is a manslayer until the day he dies. And my beloved Kaoru cannot see that. I don't want her to. I want her to only know the rurouni. But I am not the rurouni. I can act like one, but I am truly a monster. No one can understand that fact.* Kenshin's thoughts returned that day's events.
*Tonight was sloppy. I actually allowed the bastard to stab me in the stomach three times. He was a worthy opponent, though. Damn, this hurts. I'll see a doctor about it in the morning. Just not Dr. Genzai or Megumi- dono. After that, extra katas for me.* Kenshin passed out, just as Saitou walked in the room, since he was to sleep on a second futon that had been placed there. He had just received a token of thanks for his assistance that afternoon from Akira: a very chaste kiss on the cheek. Since he was in seventh heaven at the moment, he failed to notice the Hiten master that was out cold.
The next morning
The laundry had remained untouched so far, and of the early risers (everyone, except Soujiro), everyone except Kenshin had made an appearance. He failed to show up, even after Soujiro had awoken at a very late ten in the morning. Saitou left and requested that the group formally come to the police office later that day, concerning the attack on Kamiya dojo.
After the officer left, Akira trudged up to her brother's room and threw open the door in fury. Then, she noticed the puddle of blood that surrounded him and screamed fearing that he had been murdered in his sleep for a past crime. The scream caused Kaiyame, Hiko, and Soujiro to come running.
After seeing the gruesome sight and a weeping Akira, Hiko determined that Kenshin was merely unconscious, and asked Soujiro to run and catch Saitou and bring him to the dojo. Meanwhile, Kaiyame had taken Akira to another room to calm the girl down. Hiko picked up the injured master and told Kaiyame to wait for Soujiro's arrival with Saitou and for his own return.
Hiko left and jumped rooftops, until he reached the clinic that he remembered seeing by that dojo from yesterday. He carried his former apprentice in and a black haired woman seeing the blood showed Hiko to an empty room where he laid Kenshin on the operating table. He quickly explained to her how he had been found and learned that her name was Megumi Sagara. Hiko asked that she take very good care of Kenshin and left without leaving his name.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yahiko: Please review this time. Nicely, please. Flames will be used to roast what's-his-name, Mikaa. A notice on Mikaa's health. His burns have healed. R&R
Anime Angel
AA, after a pause: This next part is for Rkobssessed, should he/she be reading this. You're right about Kenshin not killing, but the Battoussai did. Also, Kenshin killed Shishio, to save Japan. If you read this chapter, you will understand his actions last chapter. He killed an assassin, so in doing this he saved many politicians and the government that he had originally killed for. I just couldn't put that in the first chapter. More of his reasoning will be explained as the story continues.
Yahiko: Are you done yet? She's been a nightmare to deal with this week!! First, not getting reviews for either of her non-one shots made her depressed. It took a considerable amount of persuasion from Draco and Harry to even get her to write and it took forever for her to finish "In Your Absence" (as dragona), where she had gotten positive reviews. You all are just lucky that she had already written this. We finally got her to write the author's notes, since she finally got the evanescence cd and the fifth Harry Potter book yesterday.
Kenshin: That's enough, Yahiko, that it is. Start the story!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mastery Chapter 2- Wounded By Anime Angel
The next morning
Kenshin's POV
*Two down one more to face. And that's excluding Kami knows how many student assassins. I really don't know what to expect from this other assassin. Is he more powerful than Hojo was, or could he possibly be even stronger than myself. I really hope that is not the case. I really hate this new gi. Was this really the first one they could find or did they just want to torture me.* It was five in the morning, and Kenshin was washing the laundry. Akira and Kaiyame were practicing their katas.
"Both of you were very sloppy on the last three moves. Please repeat them." Kenshin said, breaking his thoughts. Both women sighed and repeated the movements. "Much better. Now continue."
Third Person POV
Akira managed to finish her kata first, since she had been under the watchful eyes of both her brother and former teacher for the last three years. Kaiyame finished right when breakfast was finished around nine o'clock. Hiko had been watching the whole time, along with Kenshin, but he decided that Kaiyame wasn't ready to take his more spiteful comments just quite yet. He let Kenshin handle that aspect of mastery with his gentler, yet sterner comments. Soujiro had shown his ever smiling face around seven- thirty, which was a record time for the teen to get up.
Over breakfast, the group resolved to finally go shopping for Kenshin's and Akira's new outfits, which the group had failed to have time for, yet. (Let's just say that the siblings really know how to wear out clothes.) The group left, and headed to Kaiyame's place to finish the sale of it. Then, they were off to shopping.
Officer Fujita was strolling through the markets, today being his regular day off. A murder that had occurred the previous day was still on his mind. His impending divorce, however, wasn't. Ever since the issue with Shishio, he had been unable to stand Tokio's nagging. Three months ago, she had been on him to stop working so much. And there was only so much nagging a man could take.
He promptly forgot this case, as he spotted the red-haired beauty, Akira Himura, walking with a dark haired woman dressed like Sanosuke, Soujiro Seta, her former master, and her overprotective brother. He ran to catch up with them. The day before, when Kenshin had stopped by to register his dojo, the officer had been disappointed that Akira had not been there. He had fallen in love with her at first sight, after her fight with Kenshin.
"Himura-san, Himura-chan, Soujiro-san, Hiko-sama, wait up!!!" he called to the quickly departing group. Hearing their names being called, they stopped. Finally catching up to them, the first thing that he noticed was Kenshin's ice blue eyes glaring at him. Then, he saw the light blush that stained Akira's beautiful cheeks.
"Is there anything that we can help you with, Officer?" Soujiro asked with his customary smile.
"Actually no. I was just wondering why you were here, since you would most likely be at home taking care of your laundry fetish, Himura-san." Everyone found this hilarious, except Kenshin, whose eyes turned to a full blown amber, and Kaiyame, who was really confused. Akira saw the confused look on the woman's face and pulled her aside to explain the joke to her, while Hiko and Soujiro held Kenshin in place and calmed him down.
"Actually, we are shopping to get my brother and I, a few new outfits. Would .you like to .come with us?" Akira nervously asked the man she had started to fall in love with as soon as she saw his passion for life and justice when he had faced Shishio, three years ago. She had really missed his company, in the three years that they had not seen each other. After the battle they had spent a good deal of time getting to know one another and flirting with each other, to the dismay of her recovering and overprotective older brother.
"I would. It has been a long time, Akira-chan." Saitou replied.
The group headed into the first clothing store.
Meanwhile, at the Kamiya dojo
*I really wish Kenshin were here. I miss him. And to think, we were so close to finding him. If only I had known that Misao was running after him. Instead, we ended up following Aoishi, and finding out that Misao actually knew Kenshin. Oh well, that was the past. I know he lived from the attack on Shishio. Aoishi in his right mind again, told us that the Battousai restored his sense of pride and survived. Where are you now, Kenshin. Where did you go in such a hurry? No one has been able to find you. Or the sister that mysteriously appeared at Shishio's base. The police can't find you. That much Saitou has told me. Although now, I wonder why he wants to find Kenshin in the first place. Misao and Aoishi can't even find him. He really is amazing to escape the web of knowledge of the disbanded Oniwaban group. Even Katsu doesn't know. And a journalist's web of knowledge is nothing meager.
I just wish I knew where he is. I want to see him again. I want to tell him that I don't blame him for killing Shishio. I want to tell him that I love him with all my being and find if he loves me in return.* "I miss you so much, Kenshin."
The others at the table started snickering unfairly at Kaoru, who didn't realize that she spoken her last thought out loud. She blushed crimson, and returned to making breakfast. Megumi had been *very* patient when teaching the (then) assistant master how to make edible food, three years ago when the group realized that Kenshin might not come back to the dojo. The lessons had paid off and now her food was edible.
The dojo was even more packed than before Kenshin had left. Kaoru had become the master of the Kamiya Kasshin style, when Yahiko had had succeeded her as the assistant master. Yahiko, who was now sixteen, ever since he became assistant master six months ago, had been very busy. He divided his time in between teaching classes and spending time with his girlfriend, Tsubame.
That was another thing that had greatly changed in three years. Upon a Kenshin-less arrival back in Tokyo, many had seen the hidden power in the Kamiya Kasshin style. Many parents immediately signed their children up for lessons. Now the dojo was more prosperous than it had ever been.
It was this prosperity that allowed the dojo to fill up as it seemed to have. Aoishi and Misao had left Kyoto, shortly after disbanding the Oniwaban group, to move in the Kamiya dojo, in the hopes of seeing the rurouni, eventually. Aoishi had started to talk more, but in comparison to the others of their little group, he was still the quietest of the group. Misao had gotten over her crush and at age nineteen, was looking for a husband. Her problem with actually finding one, was her own pickiness and Aoishi's over protectiveness.
Megumi had decided to use some of her own money to establish a clinic of her own right next to the dojo. Sanosuke had, two years ago, proposed to his fox and, one and a half years ago, married her. As a result of being so close, the Sagaras ate every meal at the dojo, in exchange for free service at the clinic. The couple even had a reserved room at the dojo if it was necessary for them to stay at the dojo.
Finally breakfast was served to the hungry group. Kaoru's spoken thought had silenced the table. Even Yahiko and Misao were not exchanging their usual harmless and amusing insults. A knock was heard, through, the tense silence of the table. Without being told, Yahiko got up to who would have the audacity to visit at a time like this.
Yahiko ran to the giant doors of the dojo and opened them to see a man wearing a sword. "Can I help you?" Yahiko asked respectfully.
"I am Unozawa Shin, of the Hiten Mitsurugi style. I have some information about a Kenshin Himura for a Miss Kaoru Kamiya. Is it true that I may find her here?" The man introduced himself and politely inquired.
"I will take you to her, now. Follow me, please." Yahiko said, not seeing the signal that Shin gave to the hundred children assassins that were hiding expertly in the trees. As the pair entered the main building of the dojo, no one noticed the assassins surrounding the said building with katanas raised. "A Unozawa Shin of the Hiten Mitsurugi style," Yahiko indicated the man, "has information concerning Kenshin."
"Yes, I do. You are all bait for my trap against him." Shin had a truly evil smile as he said this. "You and you, find the Battousai. I assure that he is somewhere in this city. I won't harm them, until I kill the Battsousai, but if you come here without him, the whole group will die, before I kill the both of you. Now go. And by the way, I have the building surrounded, so there is no hope of escape." Shin said pointing to Misao and Yahiko in turn. The two ran from the room, desperate to find their old friend.
Market Street Tokyo
"That color actually suits you, Himura-san." Saitou complemented on the emerald green gi that the rurouni was forced to hold up.
"I still don't like it." Said rurouni pouted.
"Go try it on now, or you have kitchen duty, laundry duty, and sword shining duty for a month." Akira threatened, eye turning amber as she spoke. Saitou shivered violently, as the former Battousai scampered into the changing room, appearing less than a minute later.
"Very handsome. Yes, I was right!!! That is a good color for you. I told ya, Kaiyame-chan." Akira started to jump up and down in excitement. Kenshin walked back in the room and stepped out in the detested ice blue gi.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. But then again, I suppose you know from personal experience." Kaiyame teased at the girl. Kenshin bought the gi, and the group left the store.
Across the street, Yahiko spotted the telltale shot of red hair. Both Misao and Yahiko sprinted toward who they thought was the rurouni that they knew and loved.
"Kenshin, you need to hurry. Kaoru and the others are in danger." Yahiko pleaded desperately.
The red-headed figure turned around fuming. "As much as I love my brother, I am not KENSHIN HIMURA!!!"
"Sorry, wait, you're his sister. Do you where we can find him?"
"Sure, Nii-chan get the heck out of here now." She shouted.
The rurouni appeared out of thin air. "Yes, you needed me?"
"There is someone here to see you." She merely replied.
"Kenshin, Kaoru and the others are in trouble at the dojo and a guy named Shin Unozawa his holding them hostage at the dojo." Yahiko said in a single breath.
"We have no idea why, but the only way to save them is if you face him and win." Misao said, after taking a deep breath.
"Very well then. Akira and Saitou, head over to the dojo that I fought at yesterday. Take out any and all assassins that are there. Then, Saitou, I will need you escort Akira to the Kamiya dojo as soon as possible. Hiko, Soujiro, and Kaiyame, come with me straight to the Kamiya dojo."
"Right." The other five said without hesitation.
"Come on, we need to go now!!" The group of eight spilt up.
Kenshin's group arrived at the Kamiya dojo without obstacles.
Meanwhile, at the Hiten Mitsurugi dojo, Saitou and Akira could not sense a single ki. But the Hiten Mitsurugi assistant master did explain the necessity for their course of action. Saitou agreed wholeheartedly, having a similar sense of justice, and the two headed for the Kamiya dojo.
Back at the Kamiya dojo, Kenshin entered the one place he had never hoped to never enter again, in the one capacity that he had never wanted to enter it in: Himura, the Battousai. Kaiyame, Soujiro, and Hiko entered next and whipped out their sakabatous in unison. Within the second, their feet touched the ground, the three of them started to attack the Hiten assassins that were guarding the main building of the dojo. Kenshin had entered the main building without obstacle, and said, "Shin Unozawa, I, Kenshin Himura, challenge to a duel to the death."
"And I, Shin Unozawa, accept your challenge. You will pay for your callous murder of my partner, Hojo Oka."
With that, the battle started. Kaoru and the others who had been held as hostages watched in amazement as the flashes of light that represented their captor and old friend repeatedly hit each other. In a brilliant flash of light, the battle suddenly concluded. Kenshin had used the ougi on his enemy with his sakabatou reversed. Shin was dead. Megumi started to run toward the felled man, until Kenshin suddenly said, in one the coldest voices, that any of the Kamiya group had yet to hear, "Don't, he's dead."
Akira and Saitou had arrived and managed to finish off the last of the child assassins. They, as well as the other three, looked to the Hiten master, and wondered what would happen next. In the same cold voice, Kenshin said, "It's time to leave. Let's go." With that, the six people that had just killed in cold blood, left the bloody courtyard of a once innocent dojo, leaving the inhabitants of it stunned.
Once the group arrived at the dojo, Akira promptly invited the officer to eat and stay the night at the Hiten Mitsurugi dojo, to the aggravation of Kenshin. Saitou accepted with grace and eloquence. While the others, celebrated the night away, Kenshin decided to turn in early and get a decent amount of sleep. Once in the safety of his room, Kenshin allowed the pain of his unknown injury to overtake him. Tolerating it, Kenshin decided to meditate.
*I can't let her see what I've become now, an assassin for hire. One of the types of people that I fought before. A manslayer with morals. A pitiful and hypocritical fool. It was better when I was the Batoussai, but the Batoussai is gone. He left with the Rurouni. Both of were disgusted after my fight with Shishio. The Batoussai, because I allowed him to die of his wounds, instead of killing him outright. The Rurouni, because of the fact that I gave him such deadly wounds and inadvertently killed him. All that's left for me is a lifestyle similar to Saitou's. Destroy Evil Immediately. Jin'e, old foe, you were right. A manslayer is a manslayer until the day he dies. And my beloved Kaoru cannot see that. I don't want her to. I want her to only know the rurouni. But I am not the rurouni. I can act like one, but I am truly a monster. No one can understand that fact.* Kenshin's thoughts returned that day's events.
*Tonight was sloppy. I actually allowed the bastard to stab me in the stomach three times. He was a worthy opponent, though. Damn, this hurts. I'll see a doctor about it in the morning. Just not Dr. Genzai or Megumi- dono. After that, extra katas for me.* Kenshin passed out, just as Saitou walked in the room, since he was to sleep on a second futon that had been placed there. He had just received a token of thanks for his assistance that afternoon from Akira: a very chaste kiss on the cheek. Since he was in seventh heaven at the moment, he failed to notice the Hiten master that was out cold.
The next morning
The laundry had remained untouched so far, and of the early risers (everyone, except Soujiro), everyone except Kenshin had made an appearance. He failed to show up, even after Soujiro had awoken at a very late ten in the morning. Saitou left and requested that the group formally come to the police office later that day, concerning the attack on Kamiya dojo.
After the officer left, Akira trudged up to her brother's room and threw open the door in fury. Then, she noticed the puddle of blood that surrounded him and screamed fearing that he had been murdered in his sleep for a past crime. The scream caused Kaiyame, Hiko, and Soujiro to come running.
After seeing the gruesome sight and a weeping Akira, Hiko determined that Kenshin was merely unconscious, and asked Soujiro to run and catch Saitou and bring him to the dojo. Meanwhile, Kaiyame had taken Akira to another room to calm the girl down. Hiko picked up the injured master and told Kaiyame to wait for Soujiro's arrival with Saitou and for his own return.
Hiko left and jumped rooftops, until he reached the clinic that he remembered seeing by that dojo from yesterday. He carried his former apprentice in and a black haired woman seeing the blood showed Hiko to an empty room where he laid Kenshin on the operating table. He quickly explained to her how he had been found and learned that her name was Megumi Sagara. Hiko asked that she take very good care of Kenshin and left without leaving his name.
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Yahiko: Please review this time. Nicely, please. Flames will be used to roast what's-his-name, Mikaa. A notice on Mikaa's health. His burns have healed. R&R
Anime Angel
