Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. But I do own this story so don't even think of stealing it.

' ' thoughts

" " dialog

Finding You

By: Kayla Thurston

Chapter 29: We're Under Attack!

Misao practically ran down the stairs as she headed for the back door of the Aoiya, she couldn't breathe, she needed air. Lord Aoshi had just told her the words she'd been waiting to hear for so long, but she felt… overwhelmed, confused and… she didn't know what else she felt. She loved Soujiro and Lord Aoshi and they both loved her in return. She didn't know what to do, what had been an easy decision before… wasn't so easy anymore, because Lord Aoshi loved her more than the little sister he never had… and she loved them both with all her heart. She couldn't deal with this… she didn't know how.

Misao rushed out the back doors onto the porch and was about to head out into the yard when she felt someone grab a hold of her arm. She spun to face the person who dared stop her escape… it was Soujiro.

"SOU WHAT THE HELL…" she started to yell at him but cut herself off when she saw the serious expression on his face and his narrowed eyes, but he wasn't looking at her. His attention was fixed on the forest behind the Aoiya. She looked at Himura who was standing next to Soujiro and saw the same narrowed eyes and serious expression on his face, his attention fixated on the forest. Something was wrong. "Sou?" she asked looking at him again before looking back at Himura. "Himura?"

She saw Himura draw his reverse blade sword and felt Soujiro pull her behind him before he released her arm and drew his reverse blade sword. "Sou? Himura? What's going on you guys?" she asked. Soujiro kept his gaze fixed on the forest as he responded to her question.

"We're under attack…" Misao's eyes widened. "Please go inside Misao." He said before he and Himura stepped off the porch and into the yard. Misao looked out in the direction of the forest to see men jumping down from the trees; they were dressed in black ninja outfits with masks covering their faces, only their eyes showing. There had to be at least fifty of them, all armed with katanas'. Misao turned and rushed inside.

Misao ran up the stairs two at a time and when she reached the top, turned left, heading to her room, she couldn't let Soujiro and Himura fight that many men on their own. She burst into her room to see Lord Aoshi still sitting on her futon. "Lord Aoshi!" Aoshi's attention snapped to Misao.

"What is it Misao, what's wrong?" he asked as he stood, he could hear the urgency in her voice. Misao rushed over to her chest and flung it open, pulling out her reverse blade sword. "We're under attack!" she said as she quickly strapped her sword to her hip before rushing out of her room.

Aoshi rushed out behind Misao, running into his own room, to grab his kodachi's. He'd been too busy thinking over Misao's reaction to his confession to even notice, but he did now. He could sense two very powerful ki's, as well as about fifty others, much weaker than the other two. He grabbed his kodachi's and exited his room, flying down the stairs and into the backyard. He had noticed the sword Misao had, but now was not the time for questions, those would come later.

SOUJIROMISAOSOUJIROMISAO

Misao rushed into the kitchen where the others were preparing dinner. "Omasu, Okon, Shiro, Kuro we're under attack!" Misao said as she rushed past them and out into the backyard. They saw Aoshi rush by right behind Misao. They dropped what they were doing and rushed to their rooms to grab their weapons.

Sano, Kaoru and Yahiko had heard Misao from the dining room. Sano stood and rushed into the backyard while Kaoru and Yahiko rushed upstairs to grab their wooden swords. Everyone grabbed their weapons and rushed into the backyard. They were met by a line of men dressed in black ninja outfits, masks covering their faces.

The line parted in the middle as two men stepped forward. The first was a tall man with deep piercing gray eyes that had flecks of silver in them. His long jet black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and he was dressed in a dark gray gi and black hakama with a katana and wakizashi strapped to his hip. The other was about the same height as the first man. He had piercing forest green eyes and short dark brown spiky hair. He was wearing a hunter green western style shirt under a black gi with matching black hakama pants. Strapped to his back in two sheaths were two kodachi's.

"We met again Tenken." The first man said looking at Soujiro before he turned his attention to Kenshin. "Battosai."

"You must be Izo Matsumoto I presume." Kenshin replied before looking over at the man standing next to him. "And you are?"

The other man smirked as he looked at Kenshin. "I am Raidon Takai. Who would have thought that the legendary Battosai the manslayer would look as thin and frail as a woman." Raidon said with amusement in his voice. Kenshin ignored his words; it wasn't like it was the first time someone had said that to him. Memories of when he had met young Mr. Yutaro in Aizu flashed through his mind. Raidon then turned his attention to Soujiro. "The same goes for the Tenken. To look at the two of you, you'd never guess you were master swordsmen that were once the most feared assassins in all Japan."

Soujiro didn't let Raidon's words get to him. He remembered his second fight with Mr. Himura on Mt. Hei when Mr. Sagara had said something along those lines, well his exact words had been, 'So that's him, I was wondering what kind of guy he'd be, but I never imagined someone as wimpy looking as Kenshin.' If he wasn't facing a battle right now he would have laughed. Soujiro felt someone step up beside him and he spared a glance to the side. It was Misao and she had her reverse blade sword. He didn't want her out here, she wasn't safe… she wasn't weak, but… he didn't want her putting herself in danger.

"Misao…" he started to say, but she cut him off with a glare as she spoke.

"Sou, I'm not standing by while my friends fight, I am not weak. Besides I am the Leader of the Oniwaban Group and it is my duty as the Leader to defend my own head quarters." Soujiro glance back at the enemies before them. She had a point and he understood, but the part that loved her, the protective part of him, didn't want her out here.

"But Misao these guys aren't ordinary guys, it's dangerous…" he started to protest; once again she cut him off.

"Are you saying you gave me wimpy training?" Misao asked. If Aoshi didn't have the control he had his jaw would have dropped. 'The Tenken's…been training her?' The others were just as shocked as Aoshi was. They had been wondering where Soujiro and Misao went everyday, they had seen how close they had become, they had thought they were out doing what young lover's do…they had never expected that he was training her to use a sword.

They heard a sigh and focused their attention back on Izo and Raidon. "Are you two done with your lover's quarrel?" Izo asked, he didn't give them time to answer. "Attack!" Izo ordered his men. The men raised their katanas' as they rushed forward.

Five men went straight for Soujiro, lashing their swords out at him. They had smirks on their faces when their blows connected, but… their smirks quickly disappeared as the image of Soujiro faded. "What… an afterimage but that's…" they began to say in unison, but they were cut short as they fell to the ground unconscious. Soujiro had appeared behind them in the blink of an eye and hit them, none of them having time to react. Izo and Raidon stood to the side, observing the movements of the Tenken and Battosai, as well as the others.

Five more men charged at Kenshin. Kenshin stuck his sword into the ground before bringing his sword up towards them, causing debris of earth and rock to fly at his attackers' with sizable force. "Hiten Mitsurgi Style Dou Ryu Sen!" he cried as the debris of rock and earth connected with his opponents, knocking them back before they fell to the ground.

Misao got into the stance for Battoujutsu as three men charged towards her. Just as they were about to reach her she grabbed the hilt of her sword and stepped forward, drawing her sword with god-like speed. The three men were caught by surprise as her sword connected with their midsections simultaneously; they were flung backwards losing consciousness before they hit the ground. Aoshi could only stare at her in awe. 'The Tenken taught her Battoujutsu and she learned it in just this short period of time?'

Aoshi was pulled from his thoughts when he felt the ki's of five men lunging toward him. As the first man reached him Aoshi pulled the kodachi in his left hand up, just as the man was bringing his katana down to strike him, blocking the blow. Then in one swift graceful motion he struck with his second kodachi, thrusting it through the chest of his opponent. He repeated this as the next man reached him, then the next and the next, until all five of his opponents lay on the ground dead, blood seeping out of the wounds in their chests, staining the ground.

Raidon watched as Aoshi effortlessly took down the five lackeys that had charged him. He smirked. "Onmyō Kōsa." He said, he had to admit Aoshi had made a good choice using the Onmyō Kōsa; it was good for taking down a few foes like that effortlessly.

"Raidon, remember the plan." Izo said, drawing his second in command from his thoughts and observations of Aoshi Shinomori. Raidon wanted to fight Aoshi Shinomori more than anything, because they were both masters of the Kaiten Kenbu. Izo had to admit it would be an interesting fight to watch, though he knew how it would end. He smirked; the former leader of the Oniwaban Group would die.

"Yes Lord Izo, I remember." Raidon said with a smirk. "I'm just waiting for the perfect opportunity." Izo smirked at this; so far everything was going according to plan.

Kaoru and Yahiko stood side by side as four lackeys charged them. Kaoru side stepped the first swipe of her opponents' swords before lifting her wooden sword above her head and quickly bringing it down on one of the lackeys' heads, he fell to the ground unconscious. She ducked as her other opponent swung his sword at her head, intending to decapitate her, she saw it coming and quickly ducked before twisting around and slamming her wooden sword into the side of her opponent. She heard him groan as he fell to the ground, joining his unconscious comrade.

Yahiko jumped back as his first opponent swung his sword at his stomach, just barely missing him. The man lunged further, lifting his sword over his head, preparing to strike, Yahiko didn't give him the chance as he lashed out, driving the tip of his wooden sword into his opponents stomach. The lackey let go of his sword to clutch his stomach and then his sword fell on his head, the hilt hitting him square in the forehead, he dropped to the ground unconscious, not from Yahiko's blow the his stomach, but from his own sword falling on his head. "What a retard." Yahiko said as he looked at the unconscious man.

Yahiko quickly snapped his attention to his other opponent just as he lunged at him, swinging his sword to the side, trying to catch Yahiko in the stomach, Yahiko jumped up into the air as the blade passed under his feet. While in mid air Yahiko raised his wooden sword over his head, mimicking one of the moves he'd seen Kenshin use. Using all his weight he brought his wooden sword down on his opponents head. "Hiten Mitsurgi Style, or close to it anyway Ryu Tsui Sen!" He cried as his wooden sword connected with his opponents head with a thud as Yahiko drove him into the ground.

Five men charged at Sano, swords raised as they swung at him. Sano easily dodged and ducked under their swords as they swung at him. "Way too slow." Sano said as he thrust his fist forward, connecting with the jaw of the first lackey. Sano smirked when he heard a satisfying crack sound through the air. Well he wouldn't be eating properly for awhile.

Sano ducked as the second lackey swung his sword at Sano's head. Sano ducked and shot his fist out, connecting with the man's rib cage. Four loud cracks were heard as his fist connected and the man fell to the ground. "Sorry about that, but I think I broke four or five of your ribs just now." Sano said as he looked at the man crumpled up on the ground.

Sano turned around just as two of his other opponents swung their swords at him simultaneously. Sano dropped to the ground, landing on his hands and swinging his leg around, knocking both opponents off their feet, they hit their heads on the ground with a loud thud, rendering them unconscious. Sano jumped back onto his feet just as the last opponent lunged at him, his sword above his head as he swung down, preparing to cut Sano in half. Sano brought his hands up, catching the blade between his hands with ease. "Is that all you got? I didn't even break a sweat." Sano said as he pushed the sword backwards, the hilt of the sword catching the man in the throat. The man gasped as he coughed up blood before he fell to the ground unconscious. "These guys are pathetic. I don't know where you guys got your fighting skills, but you should take them back." Sano said as he gazed at the unconscious men around him. He was disappointed; he hadn't even broken a sweat, let alone got a workout.

The remaining lackeys spread themselves out between the fighters. Misao was about to swing her sword at the opponents when she felt a sharp pain in her neck. She dropped her sword and brought her hand to her neck, feeling something sticking in her neck. She began to feel dizzy as she began to sway on her feet, losing her balance. Her eye sight was becoming blurry and she felt her self falling to the ground.

Kaoru struck her opponent in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain, then she prepared to bring her sword up and hit him over the head, but then her wooden sword dropped from her hands as she brought her hand to the back of her neck when she felt a sharp pain. She felt something there and grabbed a hold of it. She began to feel dizzy and began to lose her balance as she began to sway on her feet. Her eye sight became blurry as she pulled the object from her neck and brought it to her face. "A poisoned needle…" she said as she began to fall to the ground at the same time as Misao, the last thing the both of them heard were the shouts of Soujiro, Aoshi and Kenshin as they began to fall to the ground, but neither of them hit…

SOUJIROMISAOSOUJIROMISAO

Soujiro swung his sword to the side, catching his opponent in the side, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious. He looked up in the direction of Misao to see her sword fall from her hands as she brought her hand to the back of her neck and she began to sway on her feet as she started to fall to the ground. His eyes widened.

"MISAO!" he shouted as he started to run to her, just as he was about to reach her she disappeared, as if into thin air just before she was to hit the ground. The only thing left on the ground where she had been was her reverse blade sword.

Aoshi looked in the direction of Soujiro when he heard him shout Misao's name, just in time to see Misao disappear before she hit the ground. "MIASO!"

SOUJIROMISAOSOUJIROMISAO

Kenshin dropped his opponent in one move, having jumped into the air and bringing his sword down on the shoulder of his opponent. "Hiten Mitsurgi Style Ryu Tsui Sen!" he cried as he drove his opponent into the ground. He looked up to see Kaoru strike her opponent in the stomach, causing the man to double over in pain as she lifted her wooden sword above her head, but her stroke never fell as her sword dropped from her hands. Her hand flew to the back of her neck as she pulled something from there, bringing it to her face. She began to sway on her feet and began to fall to the ground.

"MISS KAORU!" Kenshin shouted as he began to run toward her, but before he could reach her, she disappeared; the only thing left was her wooden sword that she had dropped. His eyes widened, "MISS KAORU!"

"MISAO!" he heard Soujiro shout and then heard Aoshi shout Misao's name, he snapped his attention to where Soujiro was and then saw Misao falling to the ground, only to see her disappear just as Kaoru had. Kenshin felt someone charging at him from behind and turned just in time to stop the lackeys attack, bringing his sword up and blocking his sword. Kenshin knocked his sword to the side as he slammed his sword into the lackey's side, knocking him unconscious.

The last of the lackeys' fell to the ground and they all turned to face Izo and Raidon, their eyes widened, they were gone. The only thing left in the spot they had been was a sword sticking out of the ground, with a piece of paper tied to the hilt of the sword. Kenshin walked over to the sword and untied the piece of paper, then opened it. The others came up behind him, Soujiro and Aoshi standing on either side of him so they could read the letter as well. Kenshin began to read the letter out loud.

Battosai and Tenken,

Come to the Shinamagi Yakuza compound, if you wish your women to live.

Izo Matsumoto

Soujiro sheathed his sword and began walking away from them, heading into the forest. He stopped when Aoshi called out to him. "Where are you going Tenken?"

Soujiro turned to face Aoshi, his eyes narrowed in a deadly glare; his ever present smile was now gone from his face. "I'm going to rescue Misao and Miss Kaoru."

Kenshin walked away from the group and stood next to Soujiro, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go Soujiro." Kenshin said as he began to walk into the forest, Soujiro following right behind him, but they stopped when they heard Sanosuke call out to them.

"You're not going alone." Sano said as he walked up to them and stood beside them. They both turned to look a Sano.

Aoshi walked up to them, holding something in his hand, he held it out to Kenshin and Kenshin took it. "A sedative." Aoshi said, in his calm monotone. Outwardly he appeared calm, but inside was a different story.

"They had this planned, that they most certainly did." Kenshin said as he looked at the needle in his hand.

"I'm coming with you Battosai." Aoshi said before sending a glare at Soujiro. "I will be the one to rescue Misao." Soujiro returned Aoshi's glare full force.

"Hey I'm coming too." Yahiko said as he jogged up to them and stopped in front of them. Sano crossed his arms and looked at Yahiko.

"Not this time Yahiko, this is beyond you." Sano said. Yahiko glared at Sano, a vein popping out on his forehead.

"WHAT MEAN BEYOND ME!" Yahiko shouted before looking at Kenshin. "Kenshin, I defeated a member of the Juppongantan during the fight with Shishio didn't I? I can help please let me come. I want to help, please." Yahiko pleaded. Kenshin walked over to Yahiko and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright Yahiko, you can come." Kenshin replied. Yahiko's face lit up with a huge smile. Kenshin looked up to see Okina and the other's approaching them.

"Himura we're coming too." Okina said. Kenshin noticed that Okina, Omasu, Okon, Shiro and Kuro all had on their ninja attire and weapons at hand. Kenshin nodded to Okina and the others before turning and heading into the forest, followed by his nine companions, to rescue Miss Kaoru and Miss Misao… and bring down the Shinamagi Yakuza…

To be continued...


Author's Note: Chapter 29 is COMPLETE! YAY! Wow that was a long chapter! PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!I hope you all enjoyed it! This is my first time writing a big fighting scene, please let me know how I did. YOUR REVIEWS ARE WHAT KEEP THIS STORY GOING!! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far and my loyal readers'! I love you guys!! Chapter 30 will be up soon!! See you all next chapter!!