Draconis: Alright now I want a good clean fight...

Kenshin: Really? I'm trying to beat the holy high hell outta this prick!

Hottan: I'm trying to kill the fucker for cripes sake!

Draconis: Ah fuck it who am I kidding? Give each other hell! (rings bell)

Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux

Chapter 9

Overdrive Burnout

Draconis: (leaves) Oh yeah that's right begin!

(start)

Previously on Springfield and Kuroshi Redux.

"Your ambition isn't coming to pass!" "I'm willing to risk it all to stop you!" Kenshin shouts.

"Then face me! !" "One final time!" Hottan yells.

"This was it." Kenshin narrated. "Four years of bidding my time in a hellish nightmare." "Seventy days of training for this." "One last crack at Hottan." "If I failed here then Mom was doomed to be possessed by Hottan for good." "If I failed here who knows who would step up to stop Hottan?" "Who could really?" "Yukari-Chan and Miyuki-Chan had failed." "Dad was unable to use Ryuujin's Avarice and Nagi was still recovering from the effect of the seal he placed on Hottan." "So it fell to me." "However before I get into that let us go check in on Eishun and Amaterasu as well as Dad."

"Amaterasu-San duck!" Eishun shouts. Amaterasu does so and Eishun dives over her and slashes at a group of demons. "Zankusen!" A fierce wind sliced the demons to bits. Amaterasu looked to her left and noticed more demons flying in after her and Eishun. She started spinning her naginata and pointed it at them. "Raimei Tatsumaki!" A large spiraling vortex of wind and lightning fired out from the blade electrifying the demons.

Eishun and Amaterasu stood back to back. "Heh you're pretty good old man." Amaterasu said.

"Not now I'm killing!" Eishun said diving into the fray once more.

"Hey Tatsu Sheena you two doing alright?" Amaterasu said hacking up more demons.

Tatsu devoured a group of unfortunate demons that had been in front of him. "I'm alright."

Sheena clawed a large number in half with a swipe of her claws. "We'll live I'm more concerned about Kenshin." "Those two powers are nearly equal right now and dueling each other for superiority."

Amaterasu looks out into the storm. "Kenshin..." She trails off in thought.

(break)

With Ryuushin.

Ryuushin looked toward a gathering of dark clouds way off in the distance where Kenshin had headed. "So it's begun." "Kenshin's met Hottan and they're fighting." "Dammit." "This body of mine can't take another use of Ryuujin's Avarice or it'll kill me."

"And that's why Kenshin really asked you to stay behind." His inner demon said. Ryuushin's eyes widened. "Wh-What? !" His inner demon laughed. "Come on boss Yukari's met Yuki before and she's nice enough that it seems that Miyuki could trust her from what Kenshin told you."

"So...Kenshin's put his own wellbeing...no his life on the line trying to save Hikari knowing that he is the only one who can fight Hottan on even ground." Ryuushin gritted his teeth. "Dammit."

"Boss." "You do have a weak connection to the Shinigami why not ask Hikari or your kids to show you how to make it stronger and use Ryuujin's Avarice in conjunction with it." His inner demon told him. "Besides you don't need Ryuujin's power to be strong." "You're strong without it."

"Thanks." Ryuushin said turning to look at Yukari and Miyuki. "Kenshin should be fine." "His power hasn't dropped drastically yet."

Suddenly Yukari sprung up panting. Yuki yelped in surprise. "Yukari-San don't spring up suddenly like that!"

"Wh-Where's Kenshin-nii?" Yukari asks. Ryuushin points out toward the dark horizon. "He's out fighting your possessed mother." "He'll be back with her shortly."

Miyuki springs up suddenly causing Yuki to sigh. "Why do I bother?" "Doesn't matter you two are fully healed now anyway."

"No...no no...this isn't good." Yukari said hopping to her feet taking off toward the storm. Ryuushin flashed in front of her. "What's wrong Yukari?" "Everything's going to be fine."

"No it's not Dad!" "Kenshin-nii's in serious danger!" Yukari shouts. Miyuki runs up to the two and nods. "We wanted to tell you and him something else, but our wounds caused us to pass out!." "Niichan might die if we don't get to him!"

Ryuushin crouched down and set his hands on their shoulders. "Calm down and tell me what's going on."

"If Kenshin-nii separates Mom and Hottan the Yuusou Heiken Fuuin will lose effect!" "Kenshin-nii doesn't stand a chance against his full power!"

Ryuushin's eyes widen a margin. "Are you two absolutely certain about this?"

"One hundred percent!" Miyuki yells. "We have to go now!"

Ryuushin turned to Shirota and Yuki. "You two come on!" "We haven't much time!" Ryuushin turned around coating his hand in youki. "Enkou come forth! !" A large red scaled dragon appeared in front of Ryuushin who grabbed Yukari and Miyuki jumping onto the dragon followed shortly by Shirota and Yuki.

"Ryuushin-Sama?" "What's the rush?" Enkou asks. Ryuushin points toward the storm. "I'll tell you on the way Enkou just head toward that storm on the double."

"Alright." "Hang on!" Enkou said lifting off.

(break)

Back with Kenshin.

The two slashed claws at each other forcing past one another. Kenshin turned around holding his hand out. "Fukanzen Ryuu Imari!"

Hottan mirrored his action. "Nekomata Hidama!" A large sphere made of fire met his attack head on exploding in center of the field they were in. Hottan rushed toward Kenshin swinging the Great Grand Master Key at Kenshin who blocked. Kenshin struggled against the force being pushed on him. "Grah!'

"Kenshin!" "Strike now!" Hikari's inner demon shouts. "She's forcing Hottan to remain there!"

"Got it!" Kenshin said turning his hand and forcing the key and Kuroi Jigoku to the ground. He then dipped down and drove his elbow into Hottan's stomach before letting go of Kuroi Jigoku to ram his palm into the possessive man's chest driving him back.

"You just touched your mother's chest." "Strange." Mirai said.

"Ye-" "Shut it Mirai!" Kenshin thought.

"Pay attention!" Hikari says. Kenshin looks up to see Hottan lunging at him. Grabbing Kuroi Jigoku he slashed a gash into Hottan's leg and jumped backward.

"Seems the only thing that key is good for is being a blunt object." Kenshin says. Hottan scowls. "That's what you think." "Rewrite!"

Kenshin's eyes widen as a force hit him dead in the face, yet nothing happens. "Wh-What? !" "Rewrite doesn't work on you? !" Hottan shouts.

"How utterly insulting." Kenshin growls. "Daiken took a blow for me that would have done nothing to me." "You can't beat me Hottan." "I won't allow myself to be defeated by someone who lost himself so easily!" Kenshin flashed in front of Hottan grabbing him by the face and forcing him backward into a large stalagmite. Thinking quickly he grabbed two charms and slapped them onto his mother's body and backed away chanting the incantation. "Raimei Jumon!"

"Gah!" Hottan cursed as he found himself temporarily paralyzed. "Charm-San Charm-San." "Light a fuse and create an explosion!" "Bakahatsu Aikyou!"

Hottan's eyes widen as the remaining charm shone brightly before exploding. Kenshin hunched over panting. "D-Dammit." "That couldn't have finished him, but I'm running low on options." "The more this gets drawn out the more the scales tip in his advantage." Kenshin then winces looking at his hands. Black scales had already begun to spread across his body. "Damn you Ryuujin-teme." "Leave me alone." "Ryuujin's Avarice deact-" Kenshin was cut off by a large ethereal claw shooting out at him cutting a gash into his shoulder. Kenshin flashed backward as the smoke cleared. Hottan stepped out his robe burned away, and he was furious.

"You..." "You little bastard! !" He shouts appearing in front of Kenshin swinging the Great Grand Master Key at his head. Kenshin raised Kuroi Jigoku to block the strike successfully. However Hottan slashed through his defense and sent him flying into another stalagmite. "Audi clamorem meum Antiqua Lunae( 1):" "Agite Tenebrae Abyssi, Ensis Incendens! Et Incendium Caliginis Umbrae Inimicitiae Destructionis Ultionis! Incendant et Me et Eum, Sint Solum Incendentes!" "Incendium Gehennae!"

A large dark fireball roared toward Kenshin exploding as it hit him. "Where is he?" "There's no way that was able to finish him." "Hah." "Dammit I could see better if it wasn't raining so hard." Hottan looked around through his and Hikari's eyes.

"Kenshin...don't die." The woman in question said wrapping her arms around herself squeezing her eyes shut.

"There's..." Hikari heard a familiar voice. "There is no way I'm getting killed without getting you back!" "Even if I can no longer move I will take you back from this bastard!"

"Kenshin...?" Hikari said to herself. "Did he hear me?"

Hottan turned behind him and noticed Kenshin standing with Ryuujin's Avarice deactivated.. "So you wanna break the training wheels off and really get serious?"

Hottan smirks. "I thought you'd never ask." "Let's do so."

Kenshin narrows his eyes. "Abeat!" "Adeat!" "You know I'm getting awfully sick of you dragging my mother's name through the mud." Kenshin spun his naginata a couple of times before holding at his left. "As a matter o' fact it outright pisses me off." "As soon as I extract you from her body I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life!" He shouts as the white aura of his shinigami abilities surrounds him once more.

"Stop going on about it like a broken record and let's fight!" Hottan shouts as the same aura surrounds him.

Kenshin scowled as the both spoke the same words. "Shinigami abilities activate!" Kenshin raised Kuroi Jigoku as Hottan mirrored his action with the Great Grand Master Key. "Ki te( 2)!" The two clashed their weapons together and jumped backward before dashing at one another again. "Code of the Life-Maker!" Kenshin was blown backward only to disappear leaving a substitution stencil behind. "Nani? !"

"Up here jackass!" Kenshin shouts diving for him slashing Kuroi Jigoku downward. "Katensho!"

The attack engulfed Hottan who erupted from the attack unscathed. "You're going to have to do a lot better than that boy!" He looks up and notices Kenshin chanting a spell. "Man Man Terro Terro:" "Kenotētos Astrapsatō de Temetō!" "Dios Tukos!"

Kenshin swung Kuroi Jigoku downward as giant axe of lightning roared toward Hottan hitting him successfully. Hottan however didn't let up as he shot blasts of energy at Kenshin who began moving toward him. "Quingentos Spiritus Ignis." "Coèuntes, sagittent inimicum meam." Kenshin flashes behind Hottan spinning his naginata. "Sagitta Magica!" "Convergentia Ignis!" The fire arrows began to gather in Kenshin's artifact. "Emissa!" "Bureijin Tatsumaki (3 )!"

Hottan turns wide-eyed at the spiraling vortex of fire arrows barreling toward him. "Chikushou( 4)!"

Kenshin looks on as the smoke clears to see Hottan hanging his head. "This is one of the only chances I'll get." "Let's do this!" Kenshin roared toward Hottan. "Seishin Boido!" Ramming his palm toward Hottan it looked as though he got him. "Is...Is it over?"

"Heh...heh." "You fool." Hottan backhanded Kenshin away from him. "Now take your attack back!" "Emittam!" Kenshin's Bureijin Tatsumaki shot back toward him. "This...is gonna hurt." Kenshin's left eye pulsed drawing his attention. "No way...?"

The attack exploded hitting Kenshin. Hottan cackles. "Ha ha ha!" "Done in by your own attack!"

Hottan suddenly stopped laughing as Kenshin walked out of the smoke unscathed with his artifact on his back and Kuroi Jigoku sheathed. "You...how are you still alive? !" "A spell that has already been assimilated can't be assimilated again!"

Kenshin smirks. "It's been five minutes." Hottan's eyes widen a margin remembering what he had said before.

"The ability is called Kami Shouheki." "It defends me against all attacks, but in return I cannot use the ability again for five minutes." Hottan narrows his eyes. "So that's what it was." "You lucked out."

"Lucked out?" "Or bidded for time?" Kenshin questioned rhetorically. "Kenshin you got lucky and you know it." Mirai said.

"I know that, but he doesn't." Kenshin thought.

"You must be getting awfully exhausted." Hottan said appearing behind him. "This is what?" "Your fifth fight in a row?" Hottan kicked Kenshin in the ribs. Kenshin went barreling away from him trying to regain his stability. "Damn...he broke a couple of em' there." "Mirai use some of my energy to prevent them from puncturing my lungs."

"On it." Mirai said.

Hottan appears in front of him punching at Kenshin's face. Kenshin bats his hand away and sends one of his own at the madman. Hottan bats it away and both of them drive their knees into one anothers stomachs. Catching their breath they chop their hands and each others necks gaining some separation between them.

Hottan races toward Kenshin who uncased his wings. "Tsubasa Kamaitachi!"

"Nani? !" "The wind is blowing more fiercely than before!" "It's cutting into me!" Hottan thought as various gashes appeared in Hikari's body. "This means nothing! !" Hottan shouts. "These wounds will heal quickly!" "Haaaahhh!"

Kenshin stared as nothing happened to Hottan. "What's going on?" "I thought Hottan was able to subjugate Mom with that damn key?"

"Damn you!" Hottan yells furiously. "Obey you infernal woman! !" Suddenly Hikari's hand wrapped around her own throat. "No!" "I...I refuse to be your fucking puppet any longer!" "Kenshin!" "Strike!" "Now! !"

"Wh-What should I use? !" "I've barely got any energy left!" Kenshin shouts.

"A-Anything!" Hikari shouts back. "Weaken my body then extract Hottan!"

"I-I...have to hurt...Mom while she's actually conscious?" Kenshin thought stunned.

"Kenshin." "Do it." "It's the only way." His mother's inner demon said solemnly.

"Use that move you used to take out the demons on the way here." "It's the only one strong enough that you can use right now." Mirai said.

Kenshin closed his eyes as a single tear slid down his face. "Very well." Taking out Shiroi Tengoku and Chimei Supairaru he began spinning the naginata while holding the kodachi above it. "Katentou."

He began pumping wind magic into his naginata gathering the knives around his blade. "Kurimuzonharikēn!" "Get ready!" "Here I come!"

(break)

Back with Amaterasu and Eishun.

Both girl and man panted as the last of the demons vanished. "Wh-What's going on?" "That can't be it." Eishun says. Amaterasu looks out to a shining light where Kenshin headed off to. "It is." "Kenshin's beaten him." "Stay here." "Both of us need rest, but I can make it to where he is."

Eishun nods. "Very well." Eishun hands her a charm. "Activate this if something goes wrong." "It will let me know to come after you."

"Alright." Amaterasu says taking off. "Kenshin." "Please be alright." "Bringing back Dad doesn't mean much if he's killed you in the process." "Your energy is so weak right now."

Eishun looks out and sees Enkou flying toward Tatsu and Sheena. "Ryuushin?" "What are you doing here?"

"The girls are healed!" "Get on we've got to move!" Ryuushin shouts. Enkou Tatsu and Sheena all suddenly pulse. "Enkou what's going on? !"

"I-I apologize...Ryuushin-Sama." "I expended all my energy getting us here." Enkou said. "I need to go back to the demon realm."

"Kenshin's energy is running out so we have to return as well." Tatsu said.

Ryuushin turns to the other four on Enkou. "Can you all fly?"

"Yes." Was the unanimous response.

"Eishun you going to be alright? !" Ryuushin shouts as all the summons disappear.

"I'll live." "Now tell me what's got you in such a panic." Eishun said flying over to him.

(break)

At the same time.

With Kenshin.

"Haaahhhhh! !" Kenshin said rushing toward his possessed mother his technique spinning around him furiously. "That's right." "Attack!" Hikari shouts.

"This is it." "I've done it." Kenshin thought as his attack collides with Hikari who put up no resistance. The two conscious Averruncus siblings Quartum and Quintum looked on. "He's done it." "He's beaten Life-Maker-Sama." Quintum said.

Quartum stares indifferently. "I gave him too little credit." "I didn't take him seriously." "Quintum did you catch what Tertium and Sextum were talking about?"

"Yes." "I do agree." "I don't think it would mean much to him if we were to have died at his hands." Quintum said. "He even called us weaklings." "But this kid." "He spared our lives for no reason whatsoever."

"But what do we do?" "He's not going to die that easily." "We'd still be his servants until he kills us." Quartum says.

"I have an idea." "But I cannot mention it here." Quintum said vanishing to gather Tertium and Sextum. "Let's go." "We're heading back."

Quartum nods as the two vanish. Kenshin roared sending his attack away from him sending Hikari barreling toward the ground. He landed across from her. "This is it!" "Last chance!" Kenshin thought as his hand surrounded itself in white energy as he rushed toward Hikari who was still standing after the attack canceled. "Seishin Boido! !"

Kenshin's hand shot through his mother's body. "Gah!" "A-Almost...there." She said as Hottan took control of her for the final time.

"Damn you!" "Damn you straight to hell!" He shouts. "No matter what it takes I will kill you! !"

"Shut the hell up and get out of my mother's body!" Kenshin snaps back. He attached a charm to himself and held up a handsign. "Kaze Tenohira Nifuda! !"

Both Kenshin and Hikari were blown backward as Kenshin kept his grip on his mother's soul as a dark figure shot out of her back hitting the ground. "Hah!" "Hah!" "Haaaah." Kenshin sighs. "Owari ga...Kore de owari ga." (A/N: It's over...It's finally over.)

"Kenshin..." Hikari says looking down at him. Blinking she realizes that she has full control of her body again. "Kenshin!" She shouts embracing him.

"Kaa...-Chan." Kenshin says breathlessly.

"Hai...i-it's really me." She says. "Please...j-just let me hold you here for a moment."

Kenshin nods looking over Hikari's shoulder. His eyes widen as the dark figure from before darts after them. Thinking fast he tosses his mother to the side and takes a blade through the stomach. "Guh!"

"Kenshin! !" Hikari screams. "No!" "I-I can't move!"

"I told you." "No matter what it took...I would kill you! !" He takes the blade out and cuts a diagonal gash across Kenshin's body kicking him away.

"Hm hm." "This turned out to be a blessing in disguise." The man said walking toward Kenshin spinning the boy's own artifact. "The Yuusou Heiken Fuuin has lost effect on the both of us." "The wounds...on this woman's body are just too much to heal quickly."

Kenshin staggers to his feet. "D-Damn you." He spat. His eyes suddenly widen as the golden hue in his left iris vanishes. "N-No!" "My left eye!" "It's gone blind!"

"The eye I gave you needs youki to see." "When you are low on youki it will cease functioning." Kenshin recalls Mirai's words on that day almost two years ago. "No...I'm at my end in energy!"

Suddenly he registered a presence standing right next to him. He turned and saw the man that challenged him in his dream to this fight. "Damn you!" Kenshin punched toward the man only to have his fist effortlessly caught.

"Tsk tsk tsk." He said. "You know you shouldn't stand against the creator." "You recognize me don't you Kenshin-kun?" He said mockingly.

Kenshin's glare toward the man deepened. "Fuck you Hottan!" "I'm going to make you pay for everything you've done to me and my family!"

"Ha ha ha!" "Then by all means try! !" Hottan said batting him away. Hottan appeared under him and drove his palm into Kenshin's back. "Ha ha!" "You can't even fight anymore." He shouts kicking him high into the sky. "Kokuu Eisou!" Several large arms came out of Hottan's body as he rushed toward Kenshin who tried to regain his stability. Hottan chopped him across the neck and buried his fist into the boy's stomach before slamming his fist across the boy's face sending him barreling toward the ground.

"Naze?" "Why...did this happen?" Kenshin thought. "I worked so hard for this." "I was supposed to beat this asshole and give him back to Amaterasu-Chan." "I'm...not supposed to die here! !"

Kenshin regained his balance and landed in front of Hikari. "Kenshin!" "Take it easy I sense someone coming!"

"We'll both be dead by then!" Kenshin shouts. "I'm going down fighting!" Kenshin's shinigami powers flared to life briefly only to cut out. "Wh-What?"

"Fu fu fu." Hottan laughed landing across from him. "It seems you've burnt out." "All that strength you had is gone."

Kenshin grit his teeth. "Mom." "Get moving if you can." "Go toward them and get help." "I'll try to buy you some time."

"Wh-What?" "No!" "It should be the other way around!" Hikari said.

"Just go!" Kenshin shouts. "I'm not about to let all that work I put into getting you back have been for nothing!"

Kenshin stares shocked as Hikari falls to the ground. He turns to find Hottan smirking. "It wouldn't matter much anyway." "She wouldn't get far." Hottan kicks Kenshin into a stalagmite who hit it headfirst. Kenshin tried to get up only for his body to convulse and hit the ground.

Hottan slowly walked over to Kenshin. "You...never stood a chance to begin with." "Not you...nor Nagi Springfield." "All his attempts at hindering me have failed." "Just as your attempts to stop me have failed." "And now..." Hottan trailed off as a menacing aura surrounded him. "You...will...Die..."

Hottan had one of his arms toss Kenshin's body into the air over his head. Spinning Kenshin's naginata he slashed it into Kenshin's stomach and dragged it up between his lungs barely missing his spine. Blood seeping out of his mouth he breathed out. "A...Amaterasu..."

Hottan's curiosity was peaked as Kenshin's body slid off the naginata landing with a dull thud. "What connection does he have to my daughter?" "Oh well it is of little consequence." Hottan looked down and saw Kenshin's finger's twitching. "He's barely alive." "How amusing." "I just thoughtof something." He ripped the boy's shirt off and began drawing a complex seal on his stomach. Drawing a spiral on his stomach while runes sprawled out from the four sides of the spiral. He then began drawing a rune circle around the spiral before putting the kanji character for one in the center of the spiral. "Seal!"

"Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki." "You now hold the soul of the Queen of Calamity until you die." "At which case she will be dragged down to hell with you." Hottan smirks. "Which by my estimate would be in...the next five minutes."

"Father!"

Hottan looked upward seeing Amaterasu flying down at him. "Ah...Amaterasu." "Coming to save your little boyfriend?"

Amaterasu scowled then sighed dejectedly. "No." "Let's go father." "There is nothing left here for us."

"That there is not." "Glad you could see things my way." Hottan said as he began walking away.

A hand shot out and grabbed his ankle. "Wh-Where...the hell do you think you're going?"

Amaterasu stared wide-eyed as Kenshin turned his body around on his stomach. "I'm still alive." "You said you were going to kill me."

"Hmph." Hottan said stabbing Kenshin's artifact into the ground. "Very well if you're so eager to die."

Amaterasu ran toward them and kicked Kenshin's hand away. "Take your hands off my father!"

Kenshin stared up in abject shock at her. "Amaterasu-Chan...what are you saying? !"

"Very well Amaterasu I'll leave you to finish him off." Hottan said vanishing.

"Don't fight anymore." Amaterasu said her voice breaking. "It's over." "Just rest."

"Amaterasu you told me you wanted to have him defeated!" "I still haven't done that yet!" Kenshin yells.

"I don't want him back if it means you have to die! !" Amaterasu screams out.

Kenshin's eyes widen. "Wh-What are..."

Amaterasu squeezed her eyes shut as tears poured out. "I-I'm sorry..." "I'm so sorry!" "J-Just please forget about me!" Amaterasu vanished as Kenshin stared down at the ground. "F-Forget about her?" "I-I...can't." He faintly heard a group of people land on the ground as the storm ended. "Oh my god." "Yuki heal them!"

"I'll start with Kenshin!" "His injuries are far more severe!" "Yukari Miyuki go heal Hikari!" Yuki said panicked.

"R-Right!" The two girls said rushing over to their mother.

Ryuushin scowled down at the ground. "Dammit." "We were too late."

"Ryuushin." "It's going to be alright." "They're being healed as we speak." Eishun said.

Ryuushin turned to him. "Yeah?" "If I had been faster there wouldn't be a need for it."

"Yu...kari...Miyuki...bring me to Kenshin..." Hikari said her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ryuushin-San..." Yuki said cutting off the flow of magic.

"What?" Ryuushin said.

"Kenshin...isn't going to make it." Yuki said solemnly.

Ryuushin's eyes widen. "Wh-What? !" "No!" "Keep trying!" Ryuushin yelled pleading with her.

"I-I can, but his chance of survival is extremely low." Yuki said. The twins placed Hikari in front of them. "Please...let me."

"I-I'd give anything a shot now." Yuki said.

Hikari nods. "Shinigami Powers Activate." "I, Tsuki Hikari give back the life force stolen from Kenshin Kuroshi Tsuki."

"Very well." A deep feminine voice replied.

Kenshin's body started glowing. "Huuuuuuuuhhhhh!" Kenshin took in air as his body slowly began healing. (cough) (cough) "I-I'm...alive?"

"Don't move." "Your life force is replenishing itself." Hikari said.

"Don't think I can move." "I'm hacked up most of my ribs are cracked two of em' broke and my neck's broken." Kenshin said. "I'm just gonna pass out."

Hikari began teetering. "Right...behind you." She fell to the side laying on the ground.

"Kenshin." "Return me to her." Hikari's inner demon says. "My job's done here."

"O...OK." Kenshin thought as he appeared in front of her."Gotta say I'm gonna miss you bein' in my head."

"Aw I'm touched." She giggled. "But you got your Kaa-Chan back so I'm no longer needed."

"Alright." Kenshin reached over and grabbed Hikari's hand. "I'm still kinda low on energy so you'll have to make the trip back yourself."

"That's alright." Hikari said. "And Kenshin?"

"Hm?" "What?"

The inner demon crouched down and kissed the boy. "It's been fun." "Enjoy your new tenant." She disappeared leaving Kenshin confused. "New tenant?"

Mirai heard footsteps as did Kenshin. Both turned around and stared in abject shock. "Arika? !"

Meanwhile in Hikari's soul her inner demon appeared in front of her. "So." "How was it?" Hikari asks. Her inner demon shrugs. "He can really go...if you catch my drift."

Hikari's mouth gaped open as she instantly caught what here inner demon was implying. "You What? ! !"

"Relax relax...(sigh) I'm about to show you why I did so." She stomped on the floor as a screen popped up. "I'll show you events from when he was six up until now." She began walking away.

"Where are you going?" Hikari asks. Her inner demon batted an eye at her. "I like pain and seeing others in pain, but I do not want to witness that again."

"What do you mean?" Hikari said. She received no answer as the feed began.

Hours later her inner demon returned to find Hikari laying on the floor. "No more...I don't want to watch any more." "Make it stop." "Please..." She spoke in a whisper her body quivering.

Inner Hikari set her hand on her lighter self. "Now you know." "Get up."

"How could they?" "He...he was just a boy." Hikari said her voice breaking.

"Don't let it get to you." Inner Hikari said grabbing her hand,

Hikari yanked her hand away. "How can I? !" "I-I just watched my only son being tortured!"

"Yes, but he needs you now more than ever!" Inner Hikari shouts. "Despite getting you Ryuushin and Yukari and Miyuki back he still curses his existence hiding it all behind a facade!" "Because of Daiken being rewritten and losing Amaterasu!" "If he doesn't have you all he'll just leave again to get himself killed!" "He told you he wouldn't die until he got you back, but he was willing to sacrifice himself to buy you time!" "No son should ever have to say that at his age!" "Help him love his life again!"

Hikari looked down. "Inner."

"Yeah?" She replies.

"Thanks." "I needed that." Hikari said looking her dead in the eyes.

Inner Hikari smiles. "Need me to smack you around a bit?" "Just to make sure."

"No thanks." Hikari answers with a deadpanned expression.

(break)

Back Outside.

The group was making their way back toward Hellas. Ryuushin was walking in the front making idle conversation with Yuki while carrying Kenshin who was still passed out. Yukari and Miyuki were asking Eishun if he could show them how to use a sword. Shirota was in the back carrying Hikari on his back.

"Well girls I can show you the basics, but I'd rather leave the rest to Ryuushin." Eishun says.

"Aw alright." Miyuki says. Yukari nods. "That's fine."

"So how long do you think he's going to be out?" Ryuushin asks.

"I...really don't know." "It shouldn't be long though." Yuki said then looked down.

"What's wrong?" Ryuushin said.

"Daiken-Sama." "I couldn't find hide or hair of him after I finished." "With him gone Kenshin's case is as good as screwed." Yuki says.

"I see." Ryuushin said. "This isn't going to be good." "Not for Kenshin nor Hellas."

"Hey Ryuushin!" Shirota yells from the back. Ryuushin turns around walking backwards. "Why do I gotta carry your wife? !" "She's dead freakin' weight right now!"

Ryuushin was about to say something when he felt something. "Eh heh heh." "I'm sorry Shiro could ya repeat that?" "I couldn't hear you."

"I said your wife's dead weight!" Shirota shouts.

Ryuushin bit back a laugh. "OK if you say so." "I don't think she is though."

"You're not the on-" Shirota was cut off as a big feeling of 'oh shit' washed him.

"I'm dead weight am I?" Shirota turns slowly to see Hikari glaring menacingly at him with a crazed smirk.

"N-No..." "Y-Y-You're light as a feather Mrs. Tsuk-" Shirota was sent flying forward by a punch from Hikari only for her to grab his shirt and bury her knee in between his legs.

Ryuushin having heard all this felt a phantom pain cross over his manhood. "I do not envy him."

Hikari walked forward carrying Shirota by the scruff of his shirt. "Well what do ya' know Shirota." "You're dead weight as well."

"Y-You...bitch..." Shirota groaned out.

Hikari turned back around her eyes closed smiling. "What was that?" "I didn't hear you."

Shirota paled. "I'll shut up now."

"Good boy." Hikari says. Yuki turns around. "I'm not healing you."

"D-Dammit." Shirota said forcing himself upward and slowly walking forward.

Eishun narrowed his eyes. "I think Hikari just reminded me why I should never upset her." "I remember when our old friend Kenshin made that remark." "He didn't get up until the next morning."

"Ryuushin you're a prick you planned that didn't you?" Shirota asks.

(stifled laugh) "Whatever do you mean?" Ryuushin says.

"You know exactly what I mean!" Shirota says angrily. "You planned on me calling your wif-"

Hikari turned back around smiling menacingly. "I have a name."

"H-Hai." "Hikari-San." Shirota said.

Ryuushin made a whipping noise. Shirota glared. "Oh piss off Ryuushin!"

"What?" "My wife's got you whipped and I'm willing to bet that Yuki's even got you whipped." Ryuushin said.

"You act like you aren't Ryuushin." Eishun says.

"Please." "I'm no ones whipping boy." Ryuushin said.

Hikari turned to Ryuushin with a half hearted glare and a menacing smirk. "Ryuushin."

Ryuushin paled. "Y-Yes dear?"

"Shut up." Hikari says.

Ryuushin looked forward his head hanging slightly with a dispirited look on his face. "Yes dear."

Shirota made the whipping noise only for Yuki to turn to him. "Shirota-kun...don't start."

"Y-Yes Yuki-Chan." Shirota said.

Eishun narrows his eyes. "At least I'm man enough to admit Konaka has me whipped."

"Ne Eishun-San." Miyuki said. "What does 'whipped' mean?"

Eishun looked down. "You'll find out when you're older."

"Aw!" "That's no fun!" Miyuki said.

"Ugh." "Will you all be quiet." "I'm trying to sleep." Kenshin said.

"Kenshin?" Hikari said.

"Yeah." "Ugh Dad go ahead and put me down." "I'm fine." Kenshin says.

"OK." "We've been walking for several hours." Ryuushin says. Kenshin looks up.

"What is it Ken-Chan?" Hikari asks.

"Something's coming." Kenshin says.

A large ship flew overhead. Shirota looked up. "That's Somo's dreadnought...what is he doing here?"

Speaking of which the aforementioned man appeared in front of Kenshin flanked by two soldiers. "Ah I've found you."

"Somo." "What is it." Kenshin says.

Somo ignores him and turns to his soldiers sighing. "Men." "Arrest Colonel Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin at once."

"Sir." The soldier said moving in toward the boy. Ryuushin Hikari Yuki Shirota Yukari Miyuki and Eishun stand in front of him.

"Over my dead body." Ryuushin growls.

"Ryuushin..." Somo says. "Don't make my job harder than it already is." "The Royal council has ordered me to do this."

"The royal council?" Kenshin said. "What have those old windbags finally gone mad?"

"Regrettably yes." Somo says. "Mad with power." "Sanderson reported to the capital that Daiken has been murdered." "By you."

"Heh...heh...heh...ah ha ha ha!" Kenshin laughed madly. "Can it get any fucking better? !" "I nearly get wasted I lose one of my good friends and now the man I saw as a second father's murder is being pinned on me!" "Tell you what why not just put me down now and save those cocksuckers some trouble eh? !"

Somo was unfazed by this outburst having expected it. "I'm sorry Kenshin." "But you might be right about death." "They've already released the knowledge to the public." "You're now the pariah of Hellas."

Kenshin sighs. "Fuck my life." "Alright let's go." "I'm the one who dragged Daiken to his death so I guess I am responsible." "But leave them out of it."

"I've no orders to arrest anyone else." "However I will at least offer them a ride." Somo says.

"Don't." "As it stands now I'm already on death row." Kenshin says flying up to the ship.

"We accept." Ryuushin said.

Somo sighs. "Thank you." "No one in the nine divisions sparing Sanderson's believes the council's bullshit for a second." "We saw the video file and handed it to a member of the Rikudou organization who happened to be in the area to be checked for tampering." "It shows Kenshin stabbing the emperor in the back so we're hoping that it will at least get him off on the murder charge when it comes back."

"Kenshin would never do that." Ryuushin said. "Daiken was like a second father to him."

"We know." Somo says. "Kenshin was generally well received in the nine divisions, but with the council having all the power now we may have to pursue him."

"He didn't." Eishun says. "I was there." "Daiken took a rewrite to save Kenshin."

Somo's eyes widen a margin. "The emperor...willingly laid down his life for him?"

"Come on Somo-Daisho." His soldiers said. "We don't want to keep the councilors waiting."

Somo nods noticing how they both spat the word councilors like venom. "Yes." "Come on."

Ryuushin turned to his family and friends. "Let's go."

Miyuki turned to Hikari. "K-Kaa-Chan...is Niichan going to be alright?"

"I hope so Miyuki." Hikari said distantly.

(break)

Hellas.

"Hey Vesper!" "You got that untampering done yet?" A male voice asks.

"Yes Sin..." "And call me by my codename we're in the freakin' capital." Vesper said.

"Oops." "Sorry bro." Sin said. Vesper sighs. "It's fine Toushi(5 )."

"So Jouhou(6 )." "What do you think those council fucks have against this kid?" Sin said.

"I heard he defied them and blatantly disrespected the head councilwoman Sakara." Vesper said. "Bout time too." "I was wondering when someone was going to knock that bitch down a peg."

"Want me to hand it in to Lady Noka?" Sin offered.

"Yes, but don't get caught." Vesper says. Sin chuckles. "Please I wasn't the best spy in the army for nothing."

Sin left leaving Vesper alone. "I need to call Rantou...dammit now he's got me doin' it." He picked up a communicator and spoke into it. "Shougai.(7 )" "Come in."

A rough voice came through on the other end. "Did you fix that video?"

"Yes sir." "Toushi is delivering it to her majesty." Vesper said.

"Good." "I'll be waiting for yours and his return."

"Wait Shougai if I may." "We may want to approach this boy." "We need a sixth man."

"You know what he would have to do?" Rantou asks.

"I'm aware of the position he'd have to fill, but I think he'd be suited for it." Vesper said.

"Very well." "We'll approach him after we find out where he's going." "Place a tracer on him." Rantou said.

"It shall be done." Vesper said.

(chapter end)

Draconis: Whelp that's the end of arc one and I will be going into a sub arc before diving right into Mahora.

Ryuushin: Well yeah there's still a lot of unanswered questions.

Hikari: Yeah and it'd seem like a huge middle finger to people who are enjoying the story.

Draconis: Heh. As much as I love giving people the finger I'm not particularly savvy on losing readers. Gotta say though I have more hits on this story than I did when I got to this part in the last story.

Kenshin: (singsong) I'm gonna die...! I am so screwed...!

Draconis: (bashes Kenshin over the head) Shut up you're scaring people! Anyway who or what is this mysterious organization named Rikudou? Will Kenshin be executed? Why am I asking you all these questions? Find out next time!

Edit: Completely forgot the footnotes

(1 ) Audi clamorem meum Antiqua Lunae- Ancient Moon hear my cry. Hikari's activation phrase.

(2 ) Ki te!- Come!

(3 ) Bureijin Tatsumaki- Blazing tornado, fire based naginata attack using fire arrows in convergence.

(4 ) Chikushou- Dammit.

(5 ) Toushi- Stealthy Step. Sin's codename in the Rikudou organization

(6 ) Jouhou- Military intelligence. Vesper's codename.

(7 ) Shougai- Assault. Rantou's codename.

Draconis678 out.