Crossing Paths

Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Mou!

A/N: Hello everyone, hope you all had a Happy Holiday!!! Sorry I took so long to update again!

LionHeart823: I updated! I updated! LOL

Sword Master Jeff: Thanks. Your stories are awesome!

Angel of Fire: I hope this chapter is easier to read.

Baka: Thanks!

Cherri Chibi: I really glad you are enjoying my story!!!

Stoictimer: Thanks. I think it's more interesting when they're all assassins!

Chapter 8

Kaoru got into her stance facing Kamatari, with her katana grasped firmly in her hand.

"You are foolish if you think you can defeat me!" Laughed Kamatari, as he also got into a stance.

Kaoru merely sneered at his remark. Suddenly Kamatari charged at her with great speed; his Scythe positioned at a deadly angle. Kaoru barely missed being hit and cursed slightly.

'Damn, he's gotten faster since the last time we met,' thought Kaoru, 'I'm still faster though.'

Kaoru disappeared from sight, and in a blink of an eye, reappeared above Kamatari. With a great force she brought her katana down and impaled it into his shoulder. Blood gushed from the wound, and Kamatari grabbed his shoulder.

"Why you little wench, you'll pay for that!" Kamatari hissed in pain.

With blood still gushing out of his wound, he charged at Kaoru again. But this time his speed was greater and Kaoru was slightly caught off guard. Kamatari took this opportunity to kick Kaoru in the side. She went flying and hit the wall hard; her katana flung from her grasp. Kaoru felt hot, sticky liquid dripping down the back of her neck, but ignored it. Before Kamatari could attack again, she rushed over to her katana. She picked it up just in time to block one of Kamatari's attacks.

"I've had enough of you!" Yelled Kaoru, as she rushed at Kamatari. Their weapons met with tremendous force, and the sound of vibrating metal filled the air.

Kaoru increased the pressure on his weapon, but he pushed back on hers with the same amount of force. Then without warning Kamatari exerted a brute amount of force on her weapon, knocking her backwards onto the floor. But before Kaoru could get up, Kamatari's chain encircled her neck, cutting off her air supply.

"You're wrong if you thought you could defeat me so easily!" Laughed Kamatari, as he tightened his chain around Kaoru's neck.

Kaoru grasped at the chain around her neck in attempts to get it off, but it was no use. Kamatari lazily made his way over to Kaoru, with his scythe in hand, and Kaoru tried desperately to reach her sword, which was only a couple of inches away. 'Almost there!' Kaoru thought as her fingers brushed the hilt of her katana.

"Now you will die!" Yelled Kamatari, as he raised his scythe for the final blow.

Everything seemed to slow down as his scythe came down upon her. Just inches before the metal touched her skin, Kamatari halted in mid blow. Kaoru's katana was imbedded in his stomach. Kamatari gasped in surprise and pain as he fell to his knees. Kaoru's neck was freed from the chains, and she took in a big gulp of air. Kamatari was still on his knees in complete shock.

"How could you win?" He kept muttering to himself. Kaoru got to her feet and looked down upon him with some pity. "You were a worthy opponent." Said Kaoru softly.

Kamatari looked up at Kaoru with hatred. "I do not need your pity," he spat, "for one day I will be together again with Shishio. Even if it is in the afterlife." Kaoru looked away as he took his last breath and collapsed onto the floor. Kaoru stood still for a moment, but then quickly pulled her katana from Kamatari's body. She looked one last time at the body before running in the direction that Kenshin had gone.

A/N: Sorry to all Kamatari fans. I know that this chapter was short, but I'll make up for it in the next chapter!!!! ^_^X