Disclaimer: Don't own Rurouni Kenshin or Samurai X. Wish I did.
A/N: Woohoo! Another short chapter before I take my absence. Umm…okay. What can I say about this chapter? Obviously, it's angsty. And it took me a while to get started on it because I was feeling wiped out due to studying for finals, and wasn't really in the mood for all the angst. Sorry. But I hope you enjoy anyway. Oh yeah, I almost forgot—vocab lesson! The word bumfuzzled means confused
Chapter 7—Please Leave
All is fair in love and war. That statement certainly fell true for our swordsmen, their gazes locked in a fiery glare. They were fighting a war over love—the love of a woman, a love that they were not free to claim in the first place. But this was not of their concern. Their only concern was to win the fair maiden's favor, and take her as their damsel, much like the fairytales of old. Both Enishi and Kenshin wished to fight a chivalrous battle, in which Kaoru was the prize. Both thought the other was the treacherous villain of the story, out to abduct the maiden and torture her, or use her in some cruel, inhuman plot. At the same time, each thought he would be her knight in shining armor, come to rescue her from the perils that threatened to haunt her every thought, sight, and dream.
Kaoru, on the other hand, did not have such childish thoughts. She was completely bumfuzzled by the two men. Each had his own expression of complete hatred plastered over his features, eyes burning passionately. Although she could not understand why Kenshin and Enishi would fight over, her, she was utterly flattered. But her own emotions were pushed to the recesses of her mind as Kaoru in between the two men. "Please stop this foolishness," she requested. However, neither swordsman paid her any mind, but continued to glare daggers at the each other.
The young woman was promptly thrown aside, out of harm's way as both men simultaneously dashed forward. Swords were drawn, and steel clashed against steel, creating a sickening vibration. Kaoru didn't want to watch the heart-wrenching scene before her, but her eyes were drawn to the battle. She winced each time the two blades collided, but it wasn't really painful for her to watch until blood was drawn.
Kaoru didn't even realize she was screaming until her throat began to hurt, a dry, throbbing sensation slowing numbing it. Large tears spilled down her cheeks, leaving hot, wet trails on her raw skin.
Ebony locks flew out behind Kaoru as she raced forward. Her arms were almost instantly around the swordsman, his blood soaking her already tear-stained face as she pressed her cheek against his chest. With a heavy sob, Kaoru turned to look back at the champion of the battle, and her eyes lingered on the blood that slowly, rhythmically dripped from the end of the sword.
"How—how could you?" Kaoru asked through stifled sobs, pleading eyes still gazing intently at the blade.
Kenshin had nothing to say. In fact, he couldn't believe it himself. Why would he turn his blade around? The last time he could remember reversing the blade, even though he didn't use it, was when Jinei had used the Shin-no-ippou on Kaoru, and had threatened her life. But Kaoru's life wasn't in danger, and neither was anyone else's. Kenshin had turned the blade simply because of his own jealousy.
The Sakabatou fell to the ground with a clatter, droplets of crimson blood spattering across the cold stone. The rurouni stared straight ahead of him, unable to do or say anything. He couldn't even bring himself to look down upon the sword at his feet.
After several moments of complete silence, in which only Enishi's strained gasping for breath could be heard, Kenshin turned emotionless, paled eyes to look at Kaoru, her lithe form bent over the larger being that was Enishi. Her tiny body racked with shudders, salty tears spilling down the edges of her face, and onto Enishi's motionless form.
Kenshin opened his mouth to speak, to attempt to explain himself to Kaoru, but no words would come out. All he could do was stare mutely. After several minutes of complete silence, Kaoru turned swollen eyes to Kenshin. "Please leave," was all she said before turning her complete attention back to Enishi.
A hand reached out, but fell limply back to his side as Kenshin nodded in consent. Bending over to retrieve his sword, Kenshin was shocked when he felt a feeling of sickness enveloping him. In his younger years, the Battousai had shed much blood. Why, now, was the rurouni feeling queasy at the sight of the crimson liquid staining his sword? Why now? continued to ring throughout his thoughts as Kenshin hastily shoved the bloodied steel into the scabbard and left.
