A/N: At last near the end! I promise everyone that I will post the final chapter next week, just for everyone's sakes! I'm really sorry it has been so long! Forgive this one (laughs)! Review kudasai(please)!


Ch-7- Face off

The large house loomed below them, Kenshin and the others looked at the large gates, that suddenly opened. The group was lead in by butlers, they were defiantly at a wealthy home.

Arriving at the door to the room where Mr.Stephen was in, the butler lightly tapped on the door. "Sir you have guests."

"Send them in." Was his reply, as the servant opened the door. Welcoming in the four visitors, Mr.Stephen looked up from his paperwork to greet his guests.

"Johnson! What a pleasant surprise!" Mr.Stephen said warmly,

"It's always a pleasure to see you as well, Mr.Johnson." Michael smiled,

"I'm terribly sorry about Allen," Michael smiled and thanked Mr. Stephen,

"Also hello again, Sagara." Mr.Stephen said acknowledging Sano; Sano said nothing and nodded as a form of greeting. Kenshin sensed right away that Sano did not like this man.

"So...What can I do for you today? Johnson? Sagara?"

"You see Mr.Stephen, we would like to ask some questions regarding Kenneth." Replied Michael,

"What about Kenneth?" Mr.Stephen questioned, the cheerfulness in his voice disappearing,

"Please sir, take a look at this." Kenshin said showing Mr.Stephen the letter from Kenneth and the letter from the newspaper.

"Oh my God...You're not saying James wrote this did you?!"

"We just might think that. But who's James?" Ace asked, "Kenneth's full name is James Kenneth Stephen." Michael whispered,

"What proof do you have that James wrote this!" Mr.Stephen questioned,

"That's why we came to you Mr.Stephen, we believe that Kenneth hasn't even left the country, or has recently come back." Said Sano,

"Sagara! How can you say such a thing! James is all the way in Japan!"

"But how would you explain the letter Mr.Stephen, surely if Kenneth did write it why was it sent from London, and not Japan?" Questioned Michael, Mr.Stephen said nothing.

"What is your explanation, Stephen-san." Kenshin said breaking the moment of silence.

"Alright...James never really left Britain." Mr. Stephen finally admitted,"in fact he has a wonderful job here." He continued,

"Prey tell." Said Michael sounding more interested,

"You see, James wanted to be a trader like his father correct? What James didn't know that was a cover to just leave the country. I wanted to stop him from becoming a trader at every expense without telling him the truth. I finally convinced James to go to collage, considering how smart of a fellow he was. He finally agreed, after graduating as a King's Scholar he eventually became the tutor of Prince Albert Victor."

"Your not serious..."

"I'm indeed serious, Sagara. He didn't wish to tell Allen, since according to James, he would distract him from giving the duke his proper education."

"Prosperous!" Cried Michael, "I don't believe a word of it!"

"Mika, calm down..." Whispered Sano,

"Though one thing bothers me..."

"What might that be Johnson?" Questioned Mr.Stephen,

"If you are indeed telling the truth, and Kenneth has been here the whole time. Were you the one who stole the envelope, that once contained the letter Kenneth sent my brother."

"Where the heck did you come up with that?!" Cried Ace,

"Yes it is true." Michael shot Ace a smirk of victory, Ace just grumbled to himself.

"Yes I stole it, that last time we spoke at your house. I took it ensure James's wishes." Mr.Stephen admitted.

"I see..." Michael trailed off,

"But Johnson, Sagara, and company. If you are to find out, that James could possibly, but highly unlikely. Is the Ripper, please keep it quiet." Pleaded Mr.Stephen,

"Why would that be, Stephen-san?" Asked Kenshin,

"The handwriting of the letter and the one James sent is uncanny. But I don't believe he would do that, there is too much at stake if he indeed were the murderer." Explained Mr.Stephen,

"We'll see." Michael said coldly, exiting the room. Sano shot Mr.Stephen a glare then left along with Michael. Ace and Kenshin bowed, thanked Mr.Stephen for his time and left as well.

---

"There is so much proof! Kenneth has to be the murderer!" Cried Ace,

"As much as I hate to admit it, I think your right for once kid." Replied Sano,

"This one thinks, that if Kenneth is truly after this one, that he would most likely struck at night." Everyone agreed,

"Kenshin, we should arrange a date to go out, Kenneth most likely will target you." Said Sano,

"Why would Kenneth target Kenshin anyways?" Asked Ace,

"Elementary my dear Ace, you see Kenshin and Kenneth are also uncanny in appearance, Mr.Stephen couldn't help but stare at him. Also Kenshin, no offence but you look like a women." Kenshin blinked, "pardon . . . "

"It's true Kenshin. You're too pretty to be a man." Sano laughed hitting Kenshin on the back,

"Oro . . . "

"I'm starting to think of a plan." Ace smirked,

--November 8--

"Sa-sano wait up for this one." Kenshin whined, Sano could only laugh.

"Sano..."

"I'm s-sorry Kenshin, it's just that...you look really good in that dress!" Sano laughed, falling over. Ace and Michael could barely contain themselves.

"Honestly," Kenshin sighed, "what would Kaoru-dono say..."

"You should get going it's dark, that is if Kenshin could walk in those shoes!" Ace said falling over as well, Kenshin merely sighed, as he and Sano left for the night.

"I say Ace, that was a splendid idea!" Michael exclaimed still laughing,

"Tell me about it! Ace always knows what he's doing!" He laughed,

---

"I'll keep watch from here, alright Kenshin?" Sano said disappearing in one of the alley ways, Kenshin nodded and began walking.

"This is a painful plan..." Kenshin sighed,

"The kid really did surprise me, use Kenshin as bait, then bag the ripper." Sano laughed, "couldn't have done it better." He grinned as he secretly watched Kenshin.

The sun set hours ago, the street lamps were lit, the streets were quiet. Kenshin looked around, no one but Sano so far was following him.

Kenshin spied some people after a couple of hours, he had gotten used to the high heels and the dress by now. "Good evening." Replied the pair.

"Good Evening." Kenshin replied back as he passed the couple. During that moment he sensed another presence watching him, but disappeared as he walked away from the couple. Now all that was left was Sano's presence. Kenshin shivered, the presence wasn't evil but most likely not sane.

"Sano," Kenshin whispered,

"What is it?" Sano whispered back,

"Did you sense someone else, when this one walked by that couple?"

"No I didn't." Sano said, as Kenshin began to walk again,

Sunlight began to peek from horizon, Kenshin yawned. He had been walking all night and no one had followed him and Sano save for that instant with the couple.

"Maybe this wasn't a good idea." Said Sano wearily, Kenshin nodded.

"You know when you said, someone was following you around the time you met that couple," Sano said coming out of hiding.

"Maybe just maybe that could have been..." Kenshin shook his head, "the intentions of the follower weren't evil."

"Really? I got goosebumps around then, now that I think about it." Sano said,

"Sano, we should go and re-trace our steps." Kenshin suggested, Sano nodded.

---

"What's going on here!" Sano exclaimed looking at all the bobbies that surrounded a building, along with many women crying, and an undertaker.

"It's terrible sir," One women replied,

"What is?" Asked Kenshin,

"Our friend, she was murdered last night." Another women sobbed,

"Murdered!" Kenshin and Sano cried,

"That man, he must have done it! He must have done this to Ginger!" The same women cried out,

"Calm down, Liz." The other said, hugging her friend.

Kenshin and Sano stepped away from the commotion, "Sano, this one thinks that presence murdered this women." Sano nodded, "it must have been Kenneth, I remember that women you passed by was also a red head. He must have confused you two." Suggested Sano, Kenshin nodded. Sano was most certainly be right, "Sano we have to search, Kenneth must still be near by!" Kenshin said going into one of the alley ways, Sano followed from a distance. Using Kenshin as bait once again.

"I'm closer then you think!" A voice yelled from the dark alley way, Kenshin spun around, to face a man hidden in the shadows.

"Who are you?!" Kenshin yelled,

"The one you were looking for." The man sneered, finally revealing his face. Kenshin gasped, it was Kenneth! Though Kenshin never saw Kenneth, he knew that he looked just like him.

"What a lovely young lady you are, it would be so nice to rip your guts out." He said grinning sinisterly at Kenshin,

"This one is not what you think." Kenshin replied, ripping his dress off. Revealing the kimono he usually wore, and a shinai that was hidden under his dress.

"You're a man!" Kenneth cried, Kenshin nodded.

"This one will punish you for all the trouble you caused."

"Trouble? I'm merely banishing the world of these vermin!" He yelled, taking out his weapon,

"That isn't the knife you used to kill with is it?" Questioned Kenshin,

"Oh but it is. I never thought I'd see the day that this knife would be stained with a lovely man's blood." Kenneth sneered licking the sharp blade. Kenshin cringed, as his other self sent him a sickly look.

"Fight me Kenneth, pay for everything you've done!" Kenshin yelled, Kenneth smiled,

"Looks like I made you angry, very well. You shall die on this day!" Kenneth yelled running towards Kenshin blade in hand.


A/N: Kenshin verses Kenneth! Who will win?! Please wait until next week everyone, so sorry though (heh heh). If they're any spelling/grammar mistakes please let me know! Review kudasai(please)!