Chapter 6

Kenshin and Yahiko finally arrived at the dojo, and Kenshin stopped talking for awhile. Yahiko collapsed on the floor, yawning.

"Yeah, and then what happened, Kenshin?" he asked impatiently.

Kenshin kept silent. He found it difficult to go on, for the next part of his tale was a tragic one, and it still kept haunting him for all these years. He had tried very hard to make amends for his past, but he knew that nothing could ever make it right.

He took a deep breath, and prepared to speak again, but Yahiko was gone.

Kenshin facefaulted. "Yahiko? Where'd you go off to?"

Yahiko had in fact gone to investigate, for he suddenly heard a strange noise outside. Kenshin joined him, a puzzled expression on his face.

"What's going on, Yahiko?"

"I could have sworn--" Yahiko began, then he stopped, and snatched something from the ground.

"Aha!" It was a stone with a piece of paper wrapped around it.

Kenshin got it from the boy, and unwrapped the paper. It was a note, written in fiery, blood-red letters, and it said:

Himura-san,

Kamiya Kaoru is with us. If you still want to see her alive, go to the old Amano mansion at the edge of the town. And I advise you to come alone, if you value her life.

Yamazaki Kenji

Kenshin's hand began to shake, and he crumpled the piece of paper. He let it fall to the ground, and turned back to the dojo.

"Hey, oiya, Kenshin!" Yahiko yelled, running to catch up with him. "What's going on?"

"They took Kaoru hostage," Kenshin said, grabbing his sakabattou. "I'll have to go and meet them."

"Why are they doing this?" Yahiko demanded bitterly. "What do they want from you?"

"Revenge," Kenshin replied softly. "Because of what I did to him…a long time ago…"

Kaoru watched the cold, oddly unemotional Yamazaki, whose back was to her. He was looking out the window into the beautiful, endless sea, which lay right below the high cliff where the house was situated.

Kaoru hated this silence. Yamazaki always came to this room, always regarding her coldly, never talking to her, and she wondered why he ever bothered to come at all.

Why did he kidnap her anyway? He said he didn't want revenge, but that did not make sense at all. Why was he doing this then? What did Kenshin do to him?

Oddly, it was Yamazaki who broke the silence. "I love the sea. It reminds me of my mother…she also loved the sea once."

"Your mother?" Maybe that was the answer. Maybe Kenshin did something to his mother. "What happened to her?"

"She was murdered." For the first time that day, Yamazaki turned to her, and Kaoru felt slightly hopeful. Maybe she would get answers after all.

Kenshin's eyes swept across the town, and he found what he was looking for. The Shinsengumi were once again chasing another patriot down the street, their swords drawn, ready to kill. Kenshin stepped out of the shadows, blocking their way.

"Withdraw," he said coldly, his katana glittering in the moonlight. "If you withdraw now, I will spare you. But if you do not…"

"Red hair—cross scar on the left cheek—" one alarmed Shinsengumi member cried out in horror. "It can't be! It's Hitokiri Battousai!"

The battle began, and Kenshin fought the men, quickly but methodically. His katana sliced through flesh, taking their lives away in one single stroke. Blood splattered at him from all sides, but he went on, until only one man was left standing.

"I will never give up!" the man screamed at him.

Kenshin nodded grimly, and he sheathed his sword. He moved into a fighting stance, putting one foot forward and his hand on his sword.

"Fight me, Battousai!!!!!" the man shouted, and lunged.

Kenshin kept his eyes on his opponent, when suddenly a thin, haggard-looking woman stepped in the middle of the ongoing battle, kneeling in front of the man in supplication.

"My dearest brother, please!" the woman pleaded, stopping him in his tracks. "Do not fight him! You can never hope to win!"

"Let go of me, Nabiki!" the man yelled, pushing her aside.

"No, please! I beg of you! Do it for your nephew! He needs a father, someone to look up to—"

"Nabiki, no!!!" the man continued to resist, dismay and anger on his face. He looked as if he was torn between choosing his honor or his beloved nephew, and Kenshin felt sympathy for what the man was going through.

He regarded him coldly for a moment, his hand drifting ever so slightly away from his sword.

Without warning, the woman ran to Kenshin. The man moved to stop her, but he was too late, for the woman had already reached the red-haired assassin, clutching at his leg, her heartrending sobs filling the air.

"Nabiki, get away from there!" the man yelled in alarm. "Don't! He's a cruel, heartless killer, and he'll—"

"Please…" she whispered to Kenshin, not heeding her brother's cries. "Have mercy on my brother...please…Himura-san…"

Kenshin stared at the woman in confusion. How had she known his name?

He was given no chance to think it further, though, for the man suddenly spat, "Get the hell away from there, Nabiki!"

"You'd better do as he says," Kenshin said to the woman, eyeing her coldly. "You can join him now, for I am sparing him."

The woman's eyes glittered with happiness, and she looked up at him, at a complete loss for words.

Kenshin turned his back on her, and wordlessly began to go on his way.

Nabiki tearfully threw her arms around her brother, her laughter mingled with her sobs. Her brother, however, did not look the least bit pleased.

"This was my fight, Nabiki," he whispered heatedly. "Why did you interfere?!"

"But, Takeshi, I—"

Takeshi cut her off with a brusque gesture. He glared at her, and he tightened his grip on his sword.

I will get Battousai, he thought, smacking his lips with satisfaction. The poor fool fell for it! Nabiki doesn't know it, but she actually bought us fame and honor with her naïve pleas to that heartless killer. And now…

He gripped his sword tighter, and glared at Battousai's retreating back. Never turn your back on your opponent, Battousai! he thought cruelly. That was your mistake. He stood up rapidly, his hand poised to strike.

"Thank you for your kindness, Battousai," he whispered, his tone giving no indication of his intentions.

Kenshin did not respond, and only went on walking.

"And for that I give you a token of my thanks," Takeshi went on. On his lips came a horrible smile, and he finally lunged at the red-haired assassin. Victory would be his, and the Shinsengumi would call him a hero—

"Himura-san, abunai!!!"

Kenshin, alerted by Nabiki's cry, turned around just in time. Takeshi's sword missed its target, and Kenshin jumped away, unharmed.

"Kono yarou, Battousai!!!" Takeshi swore, and lunged at him again.

"I gave you a chance," Kenshin said grimly, going into his fighting stance again. "And you wasted it. I have no choice but to terminate you…"

He swung his sword, and it hit flesh…

"I don't think so, Battousai," Takeshi said, a grim smile of satisfaction on his face.

Nabiki's lifeless body slid to the ground, her wide, unblinking eyes staring back at Kenshin's horrified face. She had stepped in the middle of the fight to try and stop Takeshi from fighting, but Kenshin didn't even realize it until it was too late.

"It's your turn to die, Battousai!!!" Takeshi moved to thrust his sword at Kenshin, but he never made it. Kenshin suddenly sailed into the air, and slashed Takeshi with one swift stroke.

Kenshin stepped over Takeshi's body, grimly sheathing his katana. He bent over Nabiki's body, suddenly feeling cold all over.

He shut the poor woman's eyes, his hand shaking. Suddenly, for one, fleeting moment, Nabiki's face changed…into the pale face of Tomoe Yukishiro, lovely even in death.

Kenshin turned away, shivering uncontrollably. No! he thought in dismay, Not her again! He struggled to control his feelings, but the horror was still there.

Suddenly, he heard a small whimper in the darkness, a whimper which reflected his own feelings. He whirled around, eyes wide, and saw a young boy, bent over Nabiki's corpse.

"Mother…mother!!!" they boy cried.

Kenshin quietly took leave, allowing the boy to mourn in peace. Besides, he couldn't stand seeing that boy crying for someone he himself had killed.

But the boy had other ideas. He was courageous—probably even reckless—and he ran after Kenshin, and began pummeling the red-haired assassin with all his strength.

"You killed my mother and my uncle!!!" he yelled. "You're a cold-hearted, merciless killer—"

Kenshin gave no notice, and continued walking, head bowed.

"No, you stop right there, you murderer!" the boy shouted, and he ran in front of Kenshin. "I'm not letting you go until you—"

The boy's words trailed off abruptly, and he lifted a tear-streaked face to stare at Kenshin.

"Himura…Himura-san?"

At this, Kenshin looked at the boy, and stared at him in amazement.

It was Kenji.

Yahiko was thunderstruck.

They continued running for several minutes, before Kenshin finally spoke up.

"So now you have it," Kenshin said, a note of self-mocking bitterness in his voice. "He wants revenge because I killed his mother."

"But…it was an accident, Kenshin!" Yahiko protested, though still shocked. "You didn't want to kill her…"

"Yes, but her blood's still on my hands," Kenshin replied softly. "Kenji does have a reason to kill me…"

Yahiko pursed his lips, and kept silent. I thought that after the incident with Enishi this would all be over…he thought in dismay. Why does Kenshin's past always has to come back to haunt him? Can't he just be left in peace?

"Why can't you just leave him in peace?" Kaoru shouted angrily, after Yamazaki told her all about his mother's death. "He didn't mean to kill your mother! Besides, don't you think he's already paid for his sins already? He has suffered much for his sins, so much that it almost drove him insane! So leave us all alone!" She burst into hot, bitter tears, and turned her face away from Yamazaki's cold stare.

"You don't understand." Yamazaki stared out into the window again, and a small smile appeared on his face.

"Aah," he said, more to himself than to Kaoru, "He's here." And without another word, he left the room, with Kaoru staring after him.

Kenshin…Kaoru thought in dismay. This was supposed to be a happy day for us…why did all of these have to happen? Why?

"Why?!" Kenji shouted, pummeling Kenshin again. "Why did you do this? Why did you have to kill my mother?!"

Kenshin could not even reply, so dismayed and shocked was he.

"I looked up to you," Kenji continued, hot, bitter tears falling down his cheeks. "You were my mentor, my master, my shishou—and I now realize…"

His words trailed off, and his hands fell to his sides.

He retreated to his mother's side, his back turned to Kenshin.

"Kenji…I…" Kenshin still could not find any words to say.

"Go away," Kenji whispered.

Kenshin lingered, not making any move.

"I said, go away," Kenji whispered coldly. "I now know who you really are. You are not Himura Kenshin—you are Hitokiri Battousai. You are not my shishou."

Kenshin looked as if he was slapped. Kenji's words stung him, but he knew that they were the truth. He was a cold, heartless killer.

He was Hitokiri Battousai. And always will be.