Thank you so much to the two people who have reviewed. It is nice to know some people are enjoying this story as much I am :)
Co chan
DISCLAIMER
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters.
Chapter 6
What Doesn't Kill You
Enishi turned to a stone-faced Kaoru, "you stay here out of harm's way."
For a moment Kaoru glared at him before stepping forward towards the manslayer.
"Kenshin please listen…" she started but was interrupted.
"Silence wench, I will deal with your treachery soon enough," he growled as his eyes looked through her at his other target.
Enishi reached for his sword that had been left inside the doorway and moved towards Kenshin. Kaoru looked on as the man who so resembled her former love faced off against the man whom had stolen any chance of her happiness.
The fight kicked off with the only sounds being the roars of the two men and the clashing of blades. It started off fairly evenly with neither man gaining ground. Unconsciously Kaoru shifted closer to the battle, not wanting to miss any crucial moments. Kenshin noticed the movement from the corner of his eye and just the mere sight of her seemed to intensify his rage. His blows increased in strength and began to push Enishi back. As Kenshin's rage grew Kaoru sighted a slight desperation in Enishi's eyes. His eyes darted to Kaoru which gave Kenshin the opportunity he had been searching for. He landed a deep slash across both of Enishi's thighs which succeeded in bringing home down to his knees. Kenshin quickly recovered the ground and prepared to bring down the finishing blow as Enishi closed his eyes, awaiting his fate. To his surprise the blow barely grazed his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Kaoru now situated in-between himself and his opponent, falling after being cut down by the very blow that had been intended for him.
Kaoru watched on at the fight that ensued, cringing inwardly at every near miss for either side. It continued that way until she noticed Kenshin finally notice her. Just glancing at her seemed to push him into a frenzy that proceeded to push Enishi back. As the enslaught continued Enishi threw a panicked look at her. His momentary lack of focus was rewarded with a damaging slash to his legs that brought him to his knees. Kaoru knew what was coming next as Enishi closed his eyes to receive his fate. She moved as if she were in slow motion dashing between the two and stopping to face Kenshin. She opened her mouth to demand him to stop but the sound never left her lips as a slash cut deep into her left shoulder. Blood spewed forth from the wound as she crumpled to the ground in slow motion.
Her eyes never left those of the golden eyes swordsman, "Ken…shin."
Enishi gasped and jumped forward to catch her crumpled body in his arms. He sat there shocked as she lay still against him, blood pooling onto the ground around them.
Kenshin stood observing as if he was not even present at the scene that had unfolded before him. However as he cast his eyes over Kaoru something inside of him gave way and his hitokiri self relinquished its hold. It felt as if he had wakened from a dream only to be present in a nightmare. As he took in Kaoru's limp form covered in blood and the blood on his sword a silent scream clawed at his throat as he fell to his knees.
It was at this time that Enishi found his voice, "KAORU!"
Back in Kyoto after discovering the disappearance of Kaoru the remainder of the Kenshin-gumi sprang into action. Megumi and Sanosuke, using Oniwaban contacts, had managed to secure a ship to charter them to Enishi's island as Sanosuke had been there on the occasion of the rescue. They had managed to convince Yahiko to remain at the Aoiya in case either Kenshin or Kaoru returned. Upon arriving on the island Megumi disregards Sanosuke macho-istic tendency to take charge as his bad reputation with directions precedes him. It is because of her that they stumble upon the very track that Kaoru and Kenshin had used previously that day.
Kenshin manages to pull himself to his feet and stumbles towards Kaoru, "Kaoru-dono…"
"Kuru na Hitokiri Battousai!" Enishi roars. "Do not dare touch her," he says icily before turning back to Kaoru.
"Kaoru, shikarishte. Kuso, there's just so much blood," he gasped as he picked her up and carried her inside.
Megumi and Sanosuke arrive on the scene not much later after they both had the smell of blood assault their senses. They come across Kenshin with his bloody sword in his hands.
"Ken-san…" Megumi starts as she looks over him from a distance and realises that he is not injured.
She turns to look at the pool of blood close by and follows the trail that leads into the house. She enters unannounced and walks in to find a frantic Enishi leaning over Kaoru.
"Kaoru!" she yells as she moves towards her.
Enishi looks up at her, startled by her presence and then notices the medicine bag she carried in her hands. His eyes focussed on it for a moment and he jumps to his feet and approaches her.
"Sensei, Kaoru wa tasukete kudasai!" he yells frantically. "Onegai shimasu," he adds weakly before sinking to the ground once more.
That was when Megumi noticed the blood running down his legs, spurting from his upper thighs. A serious injury but it was not life threatening. Quickly she positioned herself at Kaoru's side and set to work staunching the bleeding. Enishi watched on, his eyes never straying from Kaoru's paling face.
Not long after Sanosuke entered the room and sighted Kaoru, "Jou-chan!"
"Sanosuke could you get some bandages and tend to the gentleman please," Megumi interrupted.
It was only then that Sanosuke noticed the other presence, turning to discover Enishi kneeling on the floor. He let out a hiss.
"You want me to help that… monster? He's the one who caused all of this!" he erupted gesturing at Kaoru.
In the ensuing silence all that could be heard was Kaoru's gasping breath.
Megumi looked from Kaoru to Sanosuke, "Kaoru would not continue to blame him, we both know that. I believe he is currently dealing with a far more severe pain from that fact." She continued, taking in the pain filled eyes of the mafia head. They conveyed not a physical pain, but an emotional one.
Sanosuke's face softened as he looked at Kaoru's face. He then proceeded to walk over and tend to the injured man. Enishi was unresponsive to everything else around him as he was too distracted by Kaoru's fate that lay in the hands of the lady doctor.
A pair of lavender eyes watched on from the doorway. The body slowly turned, casting one last painful look at the damage he had caused. Pain filled his eyes and crossed his face at the reality of what he had done. Kenshin then walked away, never intending to show his face again.
