One year has passed since Sachi has gone to Kyoto to train with Hiko. He made sure to send work to Kenshin that Sachi was fine and that she kind of found a love interest but really hasn't followed through with it. He also informed Kenshin that she was almost ready to go home and he could come and get her at any time.

Back at the dojo Kenshin handed the later to Kaoru. "She is doing well there, that she is" he said his voice full of concern.

"But…?" she questioned.

He shook his head. "I need to get Ichi and go to Kyoto to bring her back, that I do"

Kenshin got up and had Ichiro pack his bag so they could go to Kyoto on the next train. By the time they were ready to leave Kaoru and Yahiko were ready to leave as well.

"We're going with you" Kaoru told him.

He sighed. He really didn't want them to go with him and Ichiro but he knew Kaoru well enough to know she wouldn't back down without a good reason and him stating he didn't want her to go wasn't a good enough reason. She was scary in own way and he didn't like the scary Kaoru, he liked the happy Kaoru.

"Alright Miss Kaoru, I know better than to say no to you, that I do"

They all left for the train station together. Once boarded Ichiro sat next to the window.

"Father, have you been on once of these before?" he asked happily.

"Yes, with Miss Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko, it was a fun trip, that it was" he told him.

The train started moving and Ichiro loved looking out the window watching the world go by. Kenshin watched him and smiled. Before long they were in Kyoto.

"That was fun! Are we coming back on the train?" he asked.

Kenshin nodded. "Let's go and get your sister"

Ichiro was excited to see his twin, he missed her very much and couldn't wait to tell her of all the things that has happened while she's been gone.

Kenshin led the way to his master's house. He stopped briefly at Tomoe's grave. 'Tomoe; I hope you have guided Sachi on her journey here. I hope you have spoken to her as a friend. I miss you every day and still think about you a lot. I do still love you' he prayed to her.

He stood up and sighed softly before rejoining Ichiro, Yahiko, and Kaoru.

Kaoru watched him. She could see that he still loved her but he wasn't going to admit it to her. She followed him as he started walking.

Ichiro looked around chatting happily not really paying attention to Kenshin's face or body language. They got to Hiko's cottage where he was waiting with Sachi.

Ichiro ran ahead of them to his sister.

"Ichiro stop!" Kenshin warned.

Ichiro just barely stopped at the end of her blade. "Move Ichiro" she told him looking directly at Kenshin.

"Hello Shinta, master has told me all about you and how you grew up learning this sword style…told me you were a pain in the ass at first then eventually learned the ways. He also told you that Tomoe was a traitor and that you killed her and that she gave you the cross to your cross shaped scar"

The three of them blinked. "Shinta?"

He looked at Hiko then at Sachi. "Sachi, this NOT the way to do this…"

"It's Sachiko now, master said my name was to soft"

"THIS is why I didn't want you to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Style…I KNEW this would happen. As I know you are wanting to fight me, am I right? Sachiko?" he asked as his voice and eyes went dark and deep. "And it's Kenshin if you please"

She smirked and took off running baiting Kenshin. Kenshin gave chase as Kaoru and Yahiko followed him to watch. Sachi stopped at the edge of the woods.

"Here is where we fight, here is where we see who's the best" she told him.

Ichiro followed them and sighed. "You don't have to do this! You don't have to fight father!" he told her.

She looked at him. "Yes, I do…you don't understand"

"Draw your sword Battousai"

"I do not go by that name anymore, that I do not. I have no attachments to the name Battousai any longer" he said getting into his stance.

Sachi drew first and made the first move and Ichiro stood in front of Kenshin who moved him out of the way and ended up with a gash on his side.

"KENSHIN" Yahiko and Kaoru yelled.

It took Kenshin a moment to stand up after the blow he had received. She smirked again at Kenshin, then looked at her brother.

"Don't make another foolish move Ichiro" she told him.

"Stop it, father is hurt…YOU did this Sachi! YOU DID THIS TO HIM!" he yelled

She glared at him as Kenshin glared at her. Ichiro felt uncomfortable being in the middle like this.

Sachi charged Kenshin again who dodge easily without Ichiro in the way. He knew all of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Style and easily able to deflect blow after blow, strike after strike. She tired out before he did. She gave it her all one last night.

As she came towards Kenshin with the sword Ichiro stood in the way determined to protect his father from his sister. Sachi still had the blood lust in her eyes as she thrusted the sword forward she caught Ichiro in the back going through to his stomach.

She quickly let go of the sword and dropped to her knees as Ichiro did.

"ICHIRO" the three screamed and ran to him.

He looked at Yahiko and Kaoru before looking at Kenshin.

"Father…thank…you" he said struggling to breathe. "For the best…year…of my….." he said as his eyes glazed over.

Sachi snapped out of her bloodlust and looked at her twin. "Ichiro…" she whispered. "No…Ichiro" she said crawling over to him. She took her sword out from her brother's back and raised it towards herself.

Kenshin 'flew' over to her and took the sword from her hands. "There will be no more bloodshed here today" he said his voice still different. "Now do you truly understand why I did NOT want you to learn this style of swordsmanship?" he asked her.

She nodded and looked up at him and started crying.

Hiko started to walk away.

"And as for you master, we will not be handing down the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Style to anyone else. Sachi now has to atone for taking her brother's life. I am taking her back to Tokyo and I'm burying him here with Tomoe so she can watch over and protect him in the afterlife for me" he told Hiko.

Hiko grunted and walked away. He wouldn't admit it but both Sachi and Kenshin were his best students. He will take that secret to the grave.