Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux

by Draconis678

Revised edition of Springfield and Kuroshi. "I am here to tell mine and Negi Springfield's story will you lend a listening ear once more?" -Kenshin. OC-Centric at first then OC and Negi-centric. Fem and Teenage Negi.

34. A Father's Farewell

Draconis: As if it weren't obvious enough already I'm being forced into taking a lemon hiatus. Anyway welcome back everybody.

Serizawa: Writer's block?

Draconis: Hell to the yes.

Serizawa: OK...anyway why are we back at Redux? Don't you need to start working on A Retold Tale again.

Draconis: Yeah, but I want to draw the Kyoto Arc to a close before I move on.

Serizawa : (stares incredulously) That would make this chapter long if you're taking them back to Mahora this chapter.

Draconis: (facepalms) I meant the fights stupid! Aren't you supposed to be in Mahora anyway? !

Negima! Springfield and Kuroshi Redux!

Chapter 34

A Father's Farewell.

Draconis: Begin!

(start)

"For my sake...I hope I know what I'm doing too Atsuki." Kenshin thought keeping his eyes locked on Hachidai, as if to dare him to make a move toward the retreating inu youkai. "Can I..really do this?"

He wasn't disappointed when Hachidai bolted toward Atsuki. Kenshin flashed in between them and forced Hachidai backward. "Don't even think about it. This fight is between you and me."

Hachidai furrowed his brow in annoyance before stabbing Kazeken at Kenshin who fluidly dodged to the left and slashing Kuroi Jigoku at his neck. Hachidai lifted Ryuuga to block the slash. "Nice try boy, but both your hands are occupied."

"Is that right? !" Kenshin says taking his right hand off Kuroi Jigoku and thrusting it at Hachidai's head.

"!" Hachidai broke away and backflipped putting distance between him and Kenshin.

"Come on." Kenshin says glaring. "I haven't got all night."

"Kenshin. Kenshin!" A familiar voice rang in his head.

"?" Kenshin dashed at Hachidai who moved to defend against Kenshin's barrage of slashes and stabs. "Evangeline? What do you want? I'm kind of busy." "Also, just how the hell are you talking to me anyway?

"I figured." Evangeline says ignoring his second question. "The old man got a call from Negi and your twin sister telling us what's going on."

Kenshin ducked under a slash from Hachidai, but received a backhand for his troubles. Kenshin staggers as Hachidai went on the offensive. "So?" "It's not like you two can do shit about it from Mahora."

"Very funny!" Evangeline says. "The old man is trying to devise a way to fool the barrier so I can come over there." "Problem is it will take half an hour or so."

"I don't care what you do." Kenshin says. "Just stay the hell out of my fight when you get here."

"Right..." Evangeline's voice tapered off as Kenshin's focus returned to solely being on Hachidai.

Hachidai slashed Ryuuga at Kenshin. "Katensho! !"

Kenshin narrowed his eyes throwing a charm out in front of him and flashing through a few handsigns. "Hyoumenka Suimon Level Two Defensive!" "Suijinheki! !"

Water shot from the charm and met the blaze in an explosion of steam. Hachidai dove into the steam that seemed to linger like mist. "Heh heh heh."

Hachidai looked around hearing Kenshin's dark chuckling coming from all directions. "Come on out boy!" "Even you can't see in all this mist!"

"Hm hm hm hm." Kenshin's voiced resounded in amusement. "I am a top tier assassin...I don't need to see to strike at you."

Kenshin appeared in front of Hachidai with his eyes closed Kuroi Jigoku in his left hand while his index and middle fingers pointed directly upward on the right.

Hachidai dove forward. "You fool! !"

Kenshin fluidly dodged a slash at his neck and planted his knee into Hachidai's stomach. "Like I said." "I don't need sight." Hachidai glared flipping backward and kicking at Kenshin's skull who leaned back and dodged. Hachidai glared and stabbed right at Kenshin's heart only for him to step to the left and ram the butt of Kuroi Jigoku's hilt into Hachidai's chest. Hachidai growled under his breath and retreated again.

"That's it!" Hachidai shouts. "Enough with this damned mist!"

Kenshin opened his eyes to see Hachidai surrounded by an white aura of power that blew all of the mist away. "Tch." "No fun."

"I...will show you...THE PRICE! FOR MAKING A FOOL OUT OF ME!" Hachidai roared.

Kenshin's eyes widen slightly seeing his hair dyeing white. "He can use the Shinigami abilities even in Dad's body? !" "Dad always had the weakest connection to the Shinigami!"

"Maybe he was the reason why...you ever think about that?" Ryuujin mentioned.

"Not now Tatsu!" Kenshin thought.

"Hey my name is still Ryuujin, the Avaricious!" Ryuujin shouted.

"WHATEVER!" Kenshin thought.

Hachidai sheathed Ryuuga and held Kazeken with both hands closing his eyes "Come to me O' sacred powers of the ruler of the dead and let me vanquish this fool who pretends himself my superior!" Hachidai's eyes quickly snapped open at the end of that sentence. "SAMASU!" "SHINIGAMI NO CHIKARA! !" (A/N: Awaken, Power of the Shinigami)

"Heh heh heh." Ryuujin chuckled darkly as Kenshin readied himself. "Now you're going to get your first taste of a god class opponent." "I wonder how you will fare?"

From his standpoint in Kenshin's mind Mirai watched with a stone faced expression. "So father...you've allowed Kenshin to get under your skin and now you've resorted to using that power." Mirai looked down at the seal on his hand. "You have ten minutes."

(break)

With Kaede and Yukari.

"Vanish!" Sextum shouts. "Freeze Lancer!"

Yukari vaulted out of the way landing hard on the ground. "Nngh!" She coughed getting back to her feet. "Damn...maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come out here." "It hurts enough just to breathe."

Kaede appear next to her throwing a couple of kunai at Sextum which were easily blocked. "Are you OK Yukari-San?"

"I'm fine Kaede." Yukari replies. "Just the old wounds acting up."

"Do you want to sit this one out?" Kaede asks. "She's not really out for blood..if anything she's just bored."

"That's one hell of a boredom." Yukari says. "Anyway...I've got a special move I've been holding back for awhile." "I need you to distract her while I prepare it and then attack her when I give the word."

"Very well." Kaede says. "Be careful."

"Whatever it is you're planning it won't work!" Sextum exclaimed whipping her water at them.

"!" Kaede grabbed Yukari's wrist and looked to the left. "Shukuichi!" Kaede and Yukari vanished as Kaede's shuriken was left behind to get doused in water.

Sextum smirked and clenched her fist. "Freeze!

Kaede looked over at her shuriken now frozen in ice and cursed. "Damn." "Going to have to go hand to hand now."

"Abandoning the two pronged assault tactic?" Sextum asks sending a pressurized water needle at Kaede. "You foolis-!"

The needle made contact only for Kaede to vanish. Sextum's eyes darted around to find several other Kaedes around her. "Let's just say I've taken the two pronged assault and increased it."

Sextum's water circled around her to defend as one Kaede dashed toward her with four others circling around her. The water shot toward the five only for the formation to disperse. Sextum looked to her left only to narrowly avoid a palm strike aimed right at her head. Sextum raised her left hand to block a kick and twisted her right hand around to punch at Kaede. The chuunin dodged and slammed her palm into Sextum's ribs knocking her back.

Yue walked up to Yukari. "How long does this move take to prepare?"

"Not long usually." Yukari says flashing through handsigns. "Problem is it requires me to focus entirely on it." "I'm having a problem doing that with my body in the shape it's in."

Sextum meanwhile decided to try to go on the offensive dashing at the clones throwing water to her left and right catching two clones. "Freeze! !" The water solidified around them as Sextum snapped her fingers. "Shatter!" The ice broke into thousands of shards taking the clones with it.

Kaede looked over at Yukari then to Sextum. "Ok...I can't let that hit me again." "Yukari-Dono looks like she's almost done." "One more should do it."

She nodded at each of her remaining clones. They each appeared at Sextum's back and sides while Kaede herself took Sextum's front. Sextum looked around before sending a command to her water to get ready to defend.

However the second Sextum took to look around was all Kaede needed as she and her clones darted forward. "Kaede Ninpo!" "Oboro Juuji!"

The force from the attack was enough to send Sextum flying into the air. Yukari's eyes widen seeing this. "There's my chance!"

She flashed above Sextum and thrust her hand down at her. A large black sphere appeared in front of Sextum whose eyes widened. "She actually knows that sp-!" Sextum didn't have time to finish her thought as her body slammed painfully into the ground.

The sphere disappeared as Yukari landed next to her. "You...actually know...Albireo Imma's gravity magic?" Sextum strained out painfully.

"I was the only one of my siblings that showed aptitude for it." Yukari replied. "I was originally going to use a illusion spell on you, but I don't know much about you and the illusion I had in mind brings your greatest fear out."

Sextum's eyes widen before letting out a relieved sigh. "My brother and I don't really need to be going all out here." "So I'll hand this victory to you and the ninja."

"Good...because..." Yukari starts to cough violently falling to a knee. "I can't keep this up."

"Yukari-Dono!" Kaede exclaimed running toward her.

"She'll be fine." Sextum replied "She's merely overexerted herself."

"Heh...What can I say?" "I've always hated feeling useless." Yukari says.

"Alright come on you crazy demoness." Kaede says helping Yukari to her feet.

Yukari would have laughed her off if not for the power spike she felt coming from where Kenshin and Hachidai were fighting. "! !" "Th-That's not Kenshin-nii's power."

Yukari tried to pull away from Kaede who held her there. "Yukari-Dono, I know you're worried about that fight going over there involving Kenshin-Sensei, but you're too injured to be of any help to him."

"I know...but.." Yukari says keeping her eyes on the location.

"Yukari-Dono, Kenshin-Sensei is a strong man, you're going to have to trust him to handle things by himself." Kaede says. "He wouldn't want you putting yourself in harms way."

Yukari hung her head biting her lip. "Kenshin...please stay safe."

(break)

With Chigusa.

The ritual was going smoothly. Tertium sighed impatiently. "Are we almost done here?"

"Excuse me boya, but this delicate procedure takes time!" Chigusa says. "I'm goin' as fast as I can!"

"I see." Tertium says looking off in the distance. He sensed an energy source, although weak and incomparable to his own, it roared toward them. "Somebody's coming."

"!" Chigusa focused her peripheral vision on where he was looking. "Please for the love of god tell me it's not Zettai."

Tertium cut her off. "No no Kenshin-kun still very much busy with his father." "It's.." Tertium furrowed his brow as he say an explosion of water given off by the force of acceleration. "...his girlfriend."

"That brat? !" Chigusa says. "Sheesh what a stubborn little bitch."

Tertium held his hand out with a charm in between his fingers. "Just continue the ritual...I'll be more than enough to handle this."

"Fine." Chigusa says returning back to her task.

Tertium threw the charm out in front of him. "Raku!" The charm shined brightly and a large demon wielding a sword appeared. "Rubicante, stop her..." He peeled his eyes noticing someone else. "Make that them."

The demon nodded and shot toward an accelerating Negi who began to chant a spell. "Save your magic!"

Negi turned to find Atsuki shooting by her. "Atsuki-San? ! What are you doing here? !"

"Not important!" Atsuki says keeping her eyes on Rubicante who hauled his sword back to strike. Atsuki ducked under the oncoming slice and swung her maul at his chest tearing a large hole where his heart was.

"Whoa!" Chamo exclaimed. "That neesan is powerful!"

"You got a plan?" Atsuki says turning toward Negi.

"Yeah." Negi says. "Come on!"

Negi charged forward chanting a spell. She slammed her hand downward. "Flans Saltatio Bluerea!"

The area surrounding the altar became enshrouded in mist. "Ahhgh!" Chigusa coughed. "What is this? !"

"Do they intend to strike under cover?" Tertium says. "There is two of them now so I need to plan for the to strike us both." Tertium thought sending a circle of sand around Chigusa's feet.

He felt Negi's magic welling up as a result of activating a contract and turned toward her. "There you are." What he hadn't fully expected was for Negi's staff to shoot by him. He turned to find Negi on a column and jumping at him. "Foolish..." He said as Negi's fist collided with his barrier not giving an gi inch.

"Neeehhh? !" Chamo shouts. "His barrier didn't even budge from that hit? !" "Just what kind of mage is this guy? !"

"You're boring." Tertium commented. "Nagi Springfield and Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi were at least able to fight me on even terms." "You, however are far weaker than either of them." "Also, you are not used to close quarters combat so why challenge someone more powerful that you in that respect?" The mist cleared to find Atsuki struggling against Tertium's sand. "You'll find yourself hard pressed to break through that sand wall unless you incapacitate me."

He heard Negi's giggling and turned to see her and Chamo smirking. "Did we fool you?" She slammed both her hands into Tertium's stomach. "Sagita Magica: Aer Captorae!"

Tertium's eyes widen marginally as wind arrows bound him where he stood. "Interesting...where you lack in strength..you make up for in intelligence."

"Damn right!" Chamo says flipping Tertium the bird. "Aneki chanted a delayed Sagita Magica and fired it a point blank!" "Even your barrier has a minimal effect when it hits you directly!"

"It's surprising to see the amount of progress you've made with only a bit of actual combat experience." Tertium says. "My opinion of you has changed slightly." He said with the same stone faced expression he had been wearing throughout most of the short fight.

Negi called back her staff. "It's just a basic spell, but it should take you at least a minute to get out of there." Negi turned to the altar to see Atsuki, Chigusa and Konoka gone. "Huh? !" "Where'd they go?"

"Look up." Tertium says.

"! !" Negi's eyes widened. "WHAT THE? !"

Kenshin and Hachidai were about to resume their fight when they saw the pillar of light at the altar brighten. "What the? !" Kenshin shouts. "Oh no..."

"Heh heh heh." Hachidai chuckled darkly. "So that woman actually succeeded."

Kenshin turned toward him. "Was that you're plan this whole time? !" "To stall me while Amagasaki released the Ryomen? !"

"HA!" Hachidai says. "My plan? !" "The release of that demon was more of a fringe benefit for me!"

Kenshin narrowed his eyes as Hachidai's right eye shined brightly. "Now then...let's continue you." Kenshin's eyes widened as Hachidai disappeared. "What the?" "That wasn't Shundou."

"Behind you!" Hachidai shouts ramming the butt of Kazeken into Kenshin's spine.

Kenshin fell forward and rolled away as Hachidai stabbed down at him. "Shit...what the hell was that?" He muttered under his breath.

At the same time with Setsuna, Miyuki and the others they each noticed the pillar of light brighten. "S-Setsuna-San what is that? !" Asuna says noticing the pillar take form of something.

"! !" Setsuna's eyes widen. "WH-WHAT IS THAT? !"

Ku Fei turned toward it in confusion. Mana felt a sense of foreboding from it while Miyuki felt a dread washing over her. "Oh dammit...this is not good."

Chigusa meanwhile smirked down at Negi and Atsuki. "It seems...you two are too late." "Say hello to the four armed, two faced Ryomen Sukuna no Kami. A giant demonic god defeated 1600 years ago."

Atsuki fell toward Negi. "What do we do now Atsuki-San? !" Negi says.

Atsuki narrowed her eyes before hanging her head. "If everyone were together we might be able to do something, but we absolutely would need Kenshin-kun here."

"Well we need to do something!" Negi says chanting a spell using all her magic. "Veniant Spiritus Aeriales Fulgurientes! Cum Fulguratione Flet Tempestas Austrina!"

"Wh-What are you doing Aneki!" Chamo shouts. "You still haven't recovered from fighting that Sextum chick!" "If you use that type of spell in the condition you're in you'll burn yourself out!"

"No choice!" Negi says. "We have to go all out!" "Iovis Tempestas Fulguriens!"

The attack barreled forward striking Ryomen in the chest. The dust cleared, yet the demon god was unharmed.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Chigusa laughed. "I said it was a demon god!" "You can't possibly scratch it with an attack like that!"

"Haaaahhhh!" Atsuki dashed forward reeling her hand back aiming to strike Ryomen in the face with her maul.

"..." Ryomen reeled it's hand back and back handed Atsuki back toward the altar

"Gah...!" Atsuki strained out. "Damn...I think..that broke a few bones..." She began coughing out blood..

Negi fell to her knees panting. "What do we do? !" "Of all the times for the dark power to leave me be it had to pick now? !"

Tertium who at this time had freed himself from his bindings walked toward Negi. "You fought well, but sadly it wasn't enough...too bad Negi-kun."

Negi glared back at Tertium. "This is bad...this is really bad!"

(break)

With Asuna, Setsuna and Miyuki.

"Didn't Negi and Kenshin make it in time? !" Asuna says.

"Onii-Chan might be dealing with someone else right now!" Miyuki says.

"Regardless we have to get over there and help Negi-Sensei!" Setsuna says.

"Not as long as I'm around Sempai!" Tsukuyomi shouts cheerfully as she lunged toward her.

Mana turned and shot two bullets at her stopping her in her tracks. "That's enough out of you." She turned over to Setsuna. "Setsuna!" "You and Kagurazaka go help her then!" "We'll be fine cleaning up here."

Miyuki who was busy fending off another assault from the staff wielding tiger demon jumped back as a rush of dogs surrounded him. "What the?" "That could only be one person..."

"Heeey Miyuki-Chan!" Kotarou says crashing down in front of her.

"!" "Kotarou-kun!" Miyuki says.

"I already heard what was goin' on from Onee-Chan." Kotarou says. "You go on and help too."

Miyuki puts away her staff. "Thanks." "This makes us even for last year got it!"

"Yeah yeah whatever!" Kotarou shouts as Miyuki uncases her wings and flies off toward the Ryomen.

"Aaannn!" Tsukuyomi whines. "More interferences! You do know that projectiles will have little to no effect on us of the Shinmei-ryuu right?"

Mana readies her pistols as Setsuna and Asuna take off. "I know."

"Ane-San!" "Setsuna-San are you there? !" Chamo's voice rang in the duo's head's at they rushed toward the altar.

"Chamo? !" "Chamo-San? !"

"We are in deep shit!" "We need you here now!" Chamo says.

"Miyuki-San's on her way toward you and so are we!" Setsuna says placing her card at her head.

"Won't make it in time!" "We'll summon you to us!" Chamo says

Tertium made his way toward Negi. "I'm not going to kill you, but someone who tried to fight me better be prepared to get hurt and hurt badly."

"Aneki!" "Do it now!" Chamo says tossing Negi her pactio cards.

She lifted them up. "Summon!" "Ministra Magi! Kagurazaka Asuna and Sakurazaki Setsuna!"

"Oh?" Tertium says. "More opponents?" "Very well." "Visju Tal Li Sjutal Vangèit: Basiliske Galeōte meta Kōktō Podōn kai Kakoin Ommatoin Pnoēn Tou Iou Ton Chronon Parairousan!

Negi's eyes widened. "That spell!" "I've got to act fast!"

Tertium extended his hand out toward the three. "Pnoē Petras!"

"Barrier encompass my allies!" Negi intoned as they all jumped back.

"Hah...it seems we got away from it." Setsuna says. "It doesn't seem he noticed yet."

Asuna turned to Negi. "Are you OK Negi? ! You look terrible."

"Gee thanks Asuna...you too." Negi says looking down at her left hand

Setsuna turned and saw that her hand was petrified. "Negi-Sensei your hand!"

"Heh...heh..." "Yeah...I know." Negi says.

"NEGI! !" Asuna shouts.

(break)

With Kenshin.

Kenshin heard Asuna's scream and turned his head toward the altar. "What happened?"

"Pay attention boy!" Hachidai shouts.

Kenshin slid across the water's surface before sinking in. "This isn't good...I can't let him beat the crap out of me like this."

"You know boy you could always use my power." Ryuujin says.

"What?" Kenshin thought.

"What the hell are you getting at?" Arika says. "You're just trying to."

"Shut your mouth woman." Ryuujin says. "It's pathetic watching this brat get his shit kicked in by this false god." "If he is going to have a god to demon contract with me he will carry his weight." "I will not accept a weakling."

Kenshin strained as he swam back up. "He's right." He thought.

"Alright then." Ryuujin says. "Tak-"

"Keep your damn powers to yourself however you scaly wind bag." Kenshin says. "I'll handle this myself."

"Hmph." Ryuujin smirked. "Very well then."

Kenshin surfaced on the water. "Come on." "That can't be all you got."

"Kenshin are you sure that you can handle this?" Arika says.

"I don't have a choice." Kenshin thought his eyes darting back over to the altar momentarily. "Evangeline still isn't due here for another 23 minutes." "By that time Ryomen will have demolished most of Kyoto."

"Exactly...so the boy needs to kill this bastard and then stall the Ryomen." Ryuujin says.

Mirai looked down at his hand. "Three more minutes." "You had better quit screwing around."

Hachidai rushed toward Kenshin reeling his blade backward for a stab. Kenshin tossed a charm out and flashed through handsigns. "Kaze Tenohira Nifuda Level Two Reversal." "Kaze KyuuNyuu!"

Hachidai's brow went into his hairline as he was pulled forward toward Kenshin who cocked his fist back with a red aura surrounding it. "Imari Fist!"

"Guuh!" Hachidai shouted as he smashed into the embankment. Kenshin appeared above him and slashed downward. Hachidai rolled out of the way and kicked him in the stomach before pulling him by his shirt and placing him on the ground. He slashed down at Kenshin who uncased his tails batting his sword away as Kenshin pulled a charm out of his sleeve and flashed through hand signs. "Daichi Guntou Level Two Offense!" "Pillar Upheaval!" Kenshin slammed his hand down as a long pillar of earth sprung out of the ground where Hachidai was standing and drove him away.

Kenshin hopped to his feet and ran along the pillar toward Hachidai. He noticed his opponent darting toward him and pulled out yet another charm. "Flash brilliantly and Blind my enemy!" He threw the charm at Hachidai and interlocked his fingers. "Eimei Issen!"

"Ahrrgh! !" Hachidai says covering his eyes.

Kenshin jumped over him and held his hand downward at him. "Akuma Hirameki!"

"Huuurrrahh! !" Hachidai roared painfully as the blast engulfed him. As soon as the blast cleared Kenshin flew down and landed over him and held his sword at Hachidai's throat. "Time to end this."

Hachidai looked up at him. "Time to fall back on my trump card.(cough) (cough) "You...wouldn't...really kill me would you son?"

"! !" Kenshin's eyes widened as he recognized that voice. "Father!"

"Wake up kid!" Ryuujin says. "That's not your father!"

"My son, would you really do this?"

Kuroi Jigoku shook in Kenshin's hands, his hesitation clearly written on his face. "Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT!" Kenshin thought. "I know it's Hachidai pulling this shit, but it's still Dad's body!"

Hachidai pulled both legs back and planted them both in Kenshin's chest. Kenshin staggered backward clutching his chest panting. "Arika." He thought.

"Don't worry Kenshin I got you covered." Arika says.

"Look kid." Ryuujin says. "If you don't kill him, he will kill those two sister of yours and finish the job he started with your mother, all after he does away with you." "Think of it this way, would that man who raised your family really want that?"

"!" Kenshin hung his head look down at the reflection in the water.

"Ryuujin...?" Arika says staring at him.

"Don't look too much into it." Ryuujin huffed. "I'm only doing this to keep my ass off the frying pan."

Kenshin sighed. Hachidai narrowed his eyes at him. "What's this all about." He says as Kenshin allowed his arms to transform.

Kenshin looked up at him. "Come on old man." "Let's settle this." Kenshin's left eye glew as he vanished.

"! WHAT? !" Hachidai roared as Kenshin slashed at his neck from behind. His right eye glew as the blade fazed through his body and Hachidai turned around and grabbed Kenshin's throat. Kenshin smacked it away and slammed his fist into Hachidai's face before knocking him into the air.

"How the hell...did he? !" Hachidai couldn't finish his thought as he heard a chuckle in his head.

"Your endless posturing has screwed you Hachidai." "No wonder you were the Arrogance aspect in your group.

Kenshin sheathed his sword and quickly unsheathed it slashing at Hachidai. "Katensho Iai!"

Hachidai extended his hand. "Assimilate!"

Kenshin grabbed hold of Shiroi Tengoku's hilt and prepared for an onslaught. Hachidai smirked. "I don't know how you awakened the second techinque of that eye, but you've given me the key to your demise."

"Shut up and get on with it." Kenshin says evenly.

"!" Hachidai lost his smirk for a moment before chuckling darkly. "Very well then." "Here you go!" Two seals flashed to life on Kazeken and Ryuuga's blades. "Katensho Fuuin! Kazan no Yaiba!"

Kenshin readied his blades. "My demise huh?" "Could you at least make it something original?" "You're just biting off my father's moves."

Kenshin raised Shiroi Tengoku to block and oncoming Ryuuga. "For someone who claimed to be a god you sure are vain."

"Don't you dare play psycho analyst with me boy!" Hachidai says sweeping Kenshin's feet out from under him. "One stab is all it takes!" "DIE!"

Kenshin held his hand out in front of him and caught the blade. "!" Hachidai jumped backward and glared. "These blades were supposed to be able to cut through anything!" "What the hell is going on? !"

"You aren't their true master." Kenshin says getting back to his feet and dashing toward him. "Also, these black scales on my arms are the strongest defense imaginable." "You aren't going to slice through them with a power you can't control!"

Hachidai's eyes widen as the Kazen no Yaiba dissipates and widen further as Kenshin grabbed hold of his head and slamming him into the ground. Kenshin backflipped and took to the sky where he lifted Shiroi Tengoku upward. "Katentou!"

The blades signature knives of flame filtered out of the blade as he lifted Kuroi Jigoku up in it's place. "Converge..."

The knives all gather into one singularity as Kenshin pointed it at Hachidai's prone form! "KAEN HIRYUU-KI!" The blast exploded outward forming a large dragon's head as it roared toward Hachidai.

"! !" "I can't move! WHY CAN'T I MOVE? ! !"

"Heh heh heh." A familiar voice resounded in his mind.

"!" "RYUUSHIN! !" Hachidai's thoughts roared against the bodies' original owner.

"This is the end inner." Ryuushin says. "That blast is gonna hit us and then it's bye bye."

"!" Hachidai's eyes widened. "ARE YOU MAD? !" "WE'RE BOTH GOING TO DIE!"

Ryuushin smirked at his inner. "Better than you making a complete mockery out of me."

"NNNOOOOO! ! !" Hachidai roared as the blast impacted him.

Kenshin landed on the water's surface and put away Shiroi Tengoku. "I may not use you much White Heaven, but you sure help me out of a bind when need be." He turned his attention back to the blast. "This is done. Now to."

"Be sure to make certain that your opponent has no allies." "That's one of the first rules of being in the killing business, isn't it Kenshin?" Kenshin's eyes widen hearing someone else behind him.

"Wha-? !" Kenshin turned only for someone to slam their palm into Kenshin's spine sending him vaulting painfully forward.

Kenshin turned around panting only for his eyes to widen in shock. "You!"

Standing across from him was Mirai who glared in differently at him. Ryuujin cursed. "Son of a bitch! I knew I was forgetting to do something!"

"I am released from my bonds at long last." Mirai says. "I believe you have something that belongs to me."

Kenshin's eyes widened as Mirai disappeared and reappeared in front of him. Mirai grasped him by the throat and lifted him up off the ground. (cough!) (cough!) Kenshin grabbed hold of Mirai's forearm glaring weakly at him. "Why...?"

"Why what?" Mirai says applying more pressure to Kenshin's throat.

"AcK!" Kenshin strained. "You know...what I'm talking about." "Why...is your...family trying to kill mine?"

Mirai sighed and held his hand out over Kenshin's left eye. "You and your family are merely victims of circumstance." "That's all you need to know."

Mirai's left hand began glowing. Kenshin felt unimaginable pain coming from his left eye. "RRRGGHHH!" "What kind of answer is that? !"

"The only one you need." Mirai says "After I take my eye back...I'm going to kill you."

"!" "Why Mirai? !" Kenshin roared. "I trusted you!"

"Your trust was misplaced from the very beginning." Mirai says.

"Kid transform your leg and knee him as hard as you can in the elbow!" Ryuujin roared.

Kenshin nodded seeing no other alternative and transformed his leg and rammed Mirai's elbow. "Arg!" Mirai reflexively dropped Kenshin who retreated backward grasping at his left eye. Mirai grasped at his as well glaring. "So you managed to break the connection before I completely took it hm." Mirai moved his hand to reveal his was healing. "No matter." "You will just die with two eyes." Mirai held his hand out as Saigo-Shi appeared in his hand. "Less grotesque really."

Before Mirai began moving both heard slow footfalls coming toward them. Mirai turned toward it and smirked at what he saw. "Ah I see." "Hachidai you're still alive. Very well I'll leave this to you."

Kenshin POV

I extended my hand as Mirai disappeared. I hadn't heard what he said. "Wait!" I heard a footfall and turned my eyesight toward the source. My eyes widened in shock. "You...no...how did you?"

"It's time...to finish this."

"Is he immortal or something? !" My thoughts raged as Hachidai shambled toward me.

Hachidai hunched over and coughed violently, blood pouring into his hand. "I'll...make up..for my failure...right here...and now."

Hachidai got closer to Kenshin as he backed away. "I...I can't...I couldn't do it after all..."

(trip!) (thud!)

I tripped on an upheavaled piece of land, but hastily got back to my feet still backing away. Fear washed through my entire body. A twinge of confidence sparked inside me and I rushed toward him stabbing my sword forward.

"Kami...Shouheki..." Hachidai remarked as a barrier all, but repelled me knocking Kuroi Jigoku and Shiroi Tengoku away from me.

I quickly got back to my feet. "What the...?" "The barrier's still there...I have to break it!"

I quickly threw all my Bakahatsu Aikyou charms at the barrier and activated them. "Come on...Come on."

The smoke cleared and Hachidai was still walking toward me. The same fear from before crept through my body as he had already walked by my blades and nothing I could use was going to break that barrier

(thud!) (gasp)

I turned my head to find I had back into a tree. I turned my head again to find Hachidai directly in front of me. This was it...I was done. My breath stopped.

"It's over..." Hachidai said reaching for my head with his right hand.

I heard him say something and smile at me, but due to my fear I couldn't make out what it was. Suddenly Kami Shouheki died away and Hachidai fell backward. Breathless, unmoving, Dead.

End Kenshin POV

"Haaaahhhh!" "Haaaahhh!" Kenshin's breathing slowly returned to him as his fear died away. He looked down at his father's body after he calmed down with solemn eyes.

He felt sadness that he had effectively ended his father's life, despair because of the same reason, but more than anything...he felt angry. Angry at himself for not catching onto it sooner and angry at Mirai for his betrayal. He looked over glaring at the Ryomen Sukuna no Kami remembering that it was Chigusa Amagasaki that had distracted him from the problem going on with his father, by targeting Konoka. He looked back over at his father and closed his eyes. "No matter what happens...I'll...I'll be back."

He grabbed his swords as his left eye shone brightly and he disappeared.

(break)

With Negi.

Tertium had taken to beating on Negi and Asuna as Chigusa worked on reigning in the Ryomen and fending off Setsuna who had revealed she was a demon to Asuna and Negi. "You lost your magical power awhile ago Negi Springfield." "Give up."

Negi fell to a knee panting. "Where's...the fun in that?"

"Negi are you OK? !" Asuna says.

"I'll be fine Asuna-San." Negi says. "Just give me a minute."

Tertium flashed toward them his fist cocked back ready to strike. "Incoming!" Asuna says shielding Negi.

"Haaahhh!" Tertium was kicked backward by Miyuki who stood in between them.

Tertium wiped his chin which had a bit of blood on it. "Tsuki Miyuki." "The one that master worked on."

Miyuki glared. "Shut up."

"Hmmm?" Tertium says. "He made you more powerful did he not?" "It's because of him after all that you can cast spells without the activation phrase."

Miyuki flashed toward Tertium. "I said SHUT UP!"

Tertium caught Miyuki's quarterstaff and slammed her into the ground with it. "You still need training." "You're too weak to be thinking of taking me on."

Miyuki smirked extending her hand. "Miyuki Imari!"

The orb smashed into Tertium and Miyuki got back to her feet. "This is no good." "I expended most of my energy fighting those demons." "I'm in no shape to be trying to take down Tertium.

The smoke cleared to reveal Tertium chanting a spell. "!"

"Doru Petaras!" Tertium intoned shooting a stone spear right at Miyuki's chest.

(flash!) (slice!) (splash!)

Miyuki's eyes widened as Kenshin appeared in front of her and sliced the spear in two. "O-Onii-Chan? !"

Tertium narrowed his eyes at him. "Kenshin-kun...does this mean you did the unthinkable?" "That you actually went through with his murder."

Kenshin said nothing his glare deepening. Miyuki stared at Kenshin. "O...Onii-Chan?"

"It must have been hard for you." Tertium comments. "However...it had to be done I'm sure."

"SHUT UP!" Kenshin spat venomously.

"Kenshin...?" Negi says.

"Hmph." Tertium says getting ready for a fight. "I still have an obligation here."

"Yeah?" Kenshin says. "Did your obligation involve PETRIFYING INNOCENT STUDENTS? !"

"..." Tertium flashed forward and punched at Kenshin's head. Kenshin caught his fist and buried his own right in Tertium's armpit rendering the arm momentarily useless. Kenshin released his arm and chopped Tertium in the side of the neck and grabbed the back of his head driving the third Averruncus' face right into his knee. Tertium retreated panting trying to work feeling back into his arm. "He's not even using magic, but his strike are so powerful!"

Kenshin's left eye flashed and he appeared next to Tertium and planted his shin right in Tertium's stomach doubling him over. Kenshin stood upright and dropped his elbow onto the back of Tertium's neck.

Kenshin glared down at him. "Any last words?"

Tertium coughed out blood into his hand. "We had...a partnership remember?" "I still...need your help to free my own family."

Kenshin glared. "My target isn't even you." "Unpetrify the students and leave."

Tertium looked up at him. He saw his irises turning black along with the whites of his eyes and his pupil dyeing red. "Ryuujin's abilities are taking him over." "If what that Inu youkai told me is true his negative emotions are fueling his power." "I get it now...it wasn't magic he was hitting me with it was youki."

"Well, get moving...before I change my mind." Kenshin says thinly

"Very well." Tertium says. "Remember our arrangement."

"Whatever." Kenshin says turning his attention toward Ryomen as Tertium vanished.

Chigusa looked down at Kenshin. "Ho?" "You want a sho-!"

Kenshin appeared in front of her and grabbed her by the throat. "Keep quiet...or I'll tear your windpipe out." "Got it?" Kenshin says. He turned his head toward Setsuna. "Come get Konoka, Setsuna."

"Monkey...demons..." Chigusa strained out.

Two demons appeared in between Setsuna and Konoka.

Kenshin turned his gaze toward the demons. Chigusa wrested herself from his grip and jumped back. Setsuna meanwhile sliced the two demons apart and grabbed Konoka flying away.

Kenshin looked over at Setsuna and nodded. "Now get outta here!" "This area's a danger zone!"

"R-Right!" Setsuna says. "What's wrong with him? His youki feels erratic and violent."

"Ken-kun..." Konoka whispered looking over at him.

Kenshin reappeared down at the altar lane. He looked up at the Ryomen. "HEY YOU!"

The Ryomen looked down at Kenshin. "I, Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin, Eldest Son of the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans and Onmyoudou of the Ancient Order of demon summoners hereby challenge you to a Taming Duel!"

Ryomen stared down at Kenshin pensively as Setsuna shouted at him. "Kenshin are you insane? !"

"Ha ha ha ha!" "Ryomen we don't have to heed the words of this boy!" Chigusa says then looks over to see the demon god glowing brighter. "Ryomen?"

The demon god spat out a figure with four arms which landed in front of Kenshin. Once it stood it was revealed to be a woman with long pink hair that reached down to her knees, she had an hourglass figure that was accentuated by her pink half jacket with the bottom edge tucked underneath her breasts and a pair of purple hakama pants. Her eyes were a deep shade of red that gazed downward at Kenshin who looked up at her.

"Who the hell are you?" Kenshin says.

"I am the one you just challenged...Kenshin was it?" She said. "This is my human form if you will."

"Alright then." Kenshin says glaring into her red eyes. "Do you accept?"

"Very well then." "If you defeat me I will be your servant demon." Ryomen replied. "However, if you fall to me then you must become my slave...my consort...and most importantly...my mate."

"! Onii-Chan!" Miyuki shouts. "Don't do it!"

"Kenshin just turn away!" Negi shouts. "None of us could so much as leave a scratch on her!"

"Ryomen what are you thinking? !" Chigusa shouts. "You're my demon!"

"SILENCE!" Kenshin and Ryomen shout shutting everyone up.

Kenshin turned back to Ryomen who was glaring at Chigusa. "I accept."

Ryomen smirked and appeared behind Kenshin's back. "Hm hm hm." "I am going to have so much fun with you later." She went to lick his ear when.

(slam!)

Kenshin's knuckles smashed her in the nose. Ryomen jumped back and rubbed her face. "You little bastard."

"Quit posturing and fight me." Kenshin says. "I got enough talking from my last opponent."

Ryomen smirked. "Be careful what you wish for boya." The sky began to cloud up as she leapt into the air shooting three spikes into the ground around Kenshin. "Thunder Arrow!"

Kenshin roared painfully as bolts of lightning struck the spikes and directed their electrical current right at him.

"Kenshin!" Negi shouts. Ryomen turned to her. "He know what he's getting into girl." "If he falls that's his fault."

Kenshin pulled out a charm from his pocket and held it out in front of him. The electric current was absorbed into the charm as Kenshin landed back on his feet and slammed his fist into Ryomen's stomach. "Raimei Juumon!"

"Aahhgh!" Ryomen howled in pain as her own attack coursed through her body.

Kenshin rushed forward Shiroi Tengoku in hand. "Katentou!"

The knives exploded out of Kenshin's blade's sheathe and hit Ryomen point blank. Kenshin glared at the flame burning as he clutched both his blades in his hands. "Come on out! I know that didn't finish you!"

"Hm hm hm." Ryomen walked out of the blaze as a gust of wind extinguished it. "That was impressive boya." "Using one of your charms to absorb my Thunder Arrow and then use it against me?"

Kenshin's glare deepened slashing Kuroi Jigoku at Ryomen a Katensho sent barreling toward her. Ryomen extended all four of her hands and blocked the attack sending it flying upward. She then pointed up then down confusing Kenshin until Miyuki screamed. "ONII-CHAN LOOK OUT!"

"!" Kenshin looked up as Ryomen's demonic body launched one of it's fists right at him. Kenshin jumped in the air to avoid only for Ryomen herself to follow him upward burying her foot into his stomach. She took her arms and chopped his shoulders sending him flying back to the ground. She looked up at her demon body. "Attack now!"

Ryomen's demon body opened it's mouth charging something inside. It opened up wide as a purple blast shot toward Kenshin who opened his left eye. "Whatever power I activated out of this eye I need your help now!"

Kenshin vanished as the blast impacted the altar lane. Ryomen turned and deadlocked Kenshin. "Hmph...so your skin is stronger than it looks." Kenshin says as Kuroi Jigoku was unable to cut through.

"I'm a demon god boy." Ryomen says. "You're going to need more than that glorified butterknife to slice through me."

"Well then...will this work? !" Kenshin says firing an imari right in her face.

Ryomen reached through the smoke and slammed Kenshin to the ground. "Ahg!" Kenshin began coughing violently as his heart rate quickened. "Oh god!" "NOT NOW!" He thought.

"Hmmm?" Ryomen says. "You have a weak spot?"

Kenshin transformed his leg and buried his foot into Ryomen's stomach and got to his feet staggering, panting heavily. "Dammit...I was hoping to avoid having this exposed."

Ryomen dove forward grabbing Atsuki's maul off the ground and swinging it at Kenshin's heart. Kenshin held Kuroi Jigoku his arm having barely enough strength to block it. "Hurrrhh." Kenshin groaned under the exertion glaring at the demon goddess. "Some god you are..." He coughed. "Having to target a weak spot is rather low." "Do you think you can't beat me on your own power?"

Ryomen glared at him bringing the maul back and swinging it downward toward his head. "I am dueling for my freedom boy." "All matters of so called 'godhood dignity' go flying out the window in that case."

"Pathetic." Kenshin says. "So you can't beat me straight up." "How humorous."

Ryomen pulled the hammer back and stepped away. "Kenshin!" "Are you OK? !" Negi says.

"I'm fine!" Kenshin says turning toward her scowling. "Why the hell haven't you four left yet? !"

"But Onii-Chan!" Miyuki says.

"NO BUTS!" "GO!" Kenshin shouts.

"Kenshin-baka, Negi can't move right now!" Asuna says pointing at Negi's shoulder and leg which were both turned to stone.

"!" Kenshin's eyes widened. "What?" "Negi's petrified? When? !" "HOW? !" "Didn't I tell Tertium to...NO!"

"Unpetrify the students and leave..." His words from earlier rang in his head.

"Pay attention boy!" Ryomen shouts rushing toward Kenshin.

"!" Kenshin turned around just in time for Ryomen to wrap two of her hands around his throat and lift him up off the ground.

Ryomen smirked. "I have you now boy."

Kenshin coughed as his windpipe was squeezed painfully.

"ONII-CHAN!" Miyuki screamed rushed toward Ryomen her quarterstaff in hand.

Ryomen scowled and batted the girl painfully into the water. Kenshin's eyes widened. "MIYUKI!"

"Nekomata Hidama!" An orb of red fire crashed into Ryomen's side drawing her attention to the one who fired it. Kenshin turned and saw Yukari. "STAY BACK! RUN AWAY! !"

"Attack." Ryomen ordered.

Yukari turned herself to find Ryomen's demon body upper right fist launching toward her and prepared for impact. She crashed into the embankment next to the altar lane.

Asuna looked down at her fan. "Wait this thing can dispell demons right?" "Maybe it could work on her!"

"Hang on Kenshin!" Asuna shouts rushing up to Ryomen with her fan ready.

"Don't be stupid!" Kenshin shouts desperately.

Asuna's fan connected with Ryomen's arm, but it had no effect. "What? !"

"You foolish girl." Ryomen says forcing Asuna backward with a gust of wind sending her crashing into a tree.

"Lets end this." Ryomen says. "I won't kill you, but I will put you out." Ryomen says as Kenshin glared at her clenching her wrists with his hands.

Ryomen took her lower left hand and thrust it through Kenshin's right lung her hand coming out the other side. Kenshin's body began to slacken before his hands fell limply

"KENSHIN! ! ! !" Negi screamed.

Kenshin struggled to keep a steady breath as Ryomen smirked at him. "Now while you hang there...I think I will begin to do away with the crowd here." "Starting with that petrified redhead."

"Kenshin-Sensei!" Setsuna shouts flying toward her with Yuunagi in hand."

Ryomen turned to her ready to strike her down when.

(clench!) (snap!)

Setsuna stopped staring in shock as Kenshin's hands reached up for Ryomen's right arm snapping the forearm causing her to let go. Kenshin landed on his feet glaring maliciously at Ryomen who held her broken limb as it healed. "How?" "That wound coupled with the other injuries you've seemingly already endured should have made you pass out."

Kenshin tore his shirt off as the flesh around his wound twisted and grew. Negi stared in shock. "Is...he healing himself?"

"Negi-Chan!" Konoka shouts running up to her.

"Konoka-San." Negi says turning toward her.

"What's happened to you?" Konoka says noticing her petrification that spread each second.

"Ahh!" "Crap!" Chamo says. "This little happening made me forget about it!" "What do we do? !"

"Ch-Chamo-kun...if I made one of the pactio things with Negi-Chan...would it help?"

"K-Konoka-San!" Negi says. "Now is hardly the time to be thinking of that! Kenshin-kun is in danger!"

"I know that, but if we don't help you he may never come back!" Konoka says.

"Actually Negi...it's not a bad idea." Chamo says drawing the circle hastily. "According to Kenshin-niisan, Ane-San has a lot of magic potential." "If we tap into that it could heal you."

"F-Fine." Negi says keeping her eyes on Kenshin as they pulled her into the circle. "Do it"

"Pactio!" Chamo intoned hurriedly as Kenshin stared down Ryomen.

Konoka grabbed hold of Negi's face and quickly placed a kiss on her lips. Chamo raised his hands to the air. "Pactio complete!"

A card appeared and Negi's petrification was dispelled. Negi stood up and began walking toward the fight. "Aneki." "Don't go in right now."

"Why Chamo-kun?" Negi says glaring down at the ermine."

"You walk into that I guarantee you'll get hurt." Chamo says. "Kenshin-niisan is not himself right now. I can feel it." "Wait for the right moment."

Ryomen stared down Kenshin who was hunched over. "Interesting. You tapped into a high speed regenerative ability."

Kenshin growled ferally as his cat ears shrunk into his head. Ryomen's eyes widen slightly as dragon horns shot out of his head and he leaned his body forward a collection of black energy gathering in front of his horns.

"That's!" Ryomen thrust her hands forward a collection of purple energy gathering at the center and fired it off to block his own. Ryomen glared moving toward him when he extended his hand outward. "?"

Kuroi Jigoku sprung out of the water and into his hand he slashed it back creating a wave the swept Miyuki back onto land.

Negi shielded her eyes unable to see what was going on due to the waves.

Ryomen narrowed her eyes at Kenshin as she got a good look at him. "Dragon horns on his head. His arms from his elbows on down resemble a dragon's...and..." "!"

In Kenshin's hands was not Kuroi Jigoku. Instead it was a large zanbatou type blade with a curved tip. It was blood red in color with crimson scales surrounding the hilt and guard of the blade. There was white kanji on the blade that read. "Dragon Cutter."

"ZanRyuu..." Ryomen says. She scowled immediately. "How did you acquire the blade of my former master?"

Kenshin said nothing letting out another feral snarl. Ryomen's scowled deepened. "Very well I'll force the information out of you!"

Kenshin disappeared as Ryomen stepped forward. "Where is he?"

Suddenly her body was forced to the left as a hand grabbed the side of her head and threw her into the leg of her demon body. "!" She dodged to the left as Kenshin slashed ZanRyuu at her neck. He cut into the demon body's leg slicing a deep gash into it.

Ryomen jumped back. "Dammit." She turned as Kenshin slashed upward and used her hands to keep ZanRyuu down.

Kenshin removed one of his hands and gripped the forearm he had broken earlier. Ryomen winced as Kenshin applied copious amounts of pressure to her injury. "Damn you!" Ryomen slugged him in the face forcing him backward. Kenshin held ZanRyuu in front of him revealing a decoration of a dragon's face on the front facing toward Ryomen. The dragon's eyes glew and Kenshin slashed at her. Ryomen dodged to the left as a large blast of pure energy cut into the water.

Ryomen stared backward as a large section of water was falling into the crevasse were the slash had hit. "That power...I haven't seen something like it since my master...no...since Ryuujin wielded the blade!"

Kenshin roared lurching forward and grabbing hold of Ryomen's hand. She turned to face him as he sliced her upper left arm off at the shoulder. She immediately pulled away as she felt the cut.

"Yes...that blade...can wound me." Ryomen says. "But." The stump on her arm bulged and sprouted another arm. Kenshin watched choosing to do nothing. "You stand there as if taking my arm means something." Ryomen scowled. "I am a demon as you are." "We both have the ability to restore lost limbs." "Now then..."

Kenshin's left eye glew as he disappeared and reappeared behind Ryomen. She turned to stare in shock at him. "That was...Taimu Agata." "One of the abilities of the eye of the gods." "But...you have to train for years to unlock that ability!"

Kenshin turned toward Ryomen's demon body crimson energy gathering around ZanRyuu. "What are you doing? !" She demanded.

"RYUUJIN TAIHOU!" Kenshin roared slashing ZanRyuu toward the titanic body as the same attack Ryomen just dodged roared toward her demonic body.

Chigusa watched as the attack came and immediately retreated away from it. Ryomen roared in disdain as the attack impacted her demon body when the smoke cleared the body was gone. Kenshin narrowed his eyes a bloodthirsty smirk on his face.

Chigusa gaped. "It's...It's gone!" She turned around. "Screw this I'm out of here!"

Ryomen glared hatefully at Kenshin. "I see...you're nothing more than a mindless beast right now." "A mindless beast I must now DESTROY!"

Kenshin was driven back as he blocked Ryomen's hand thrusting toward his heart. He brought down ZanRyuu at her head and forced her to retreat. However Ryomen didn't stay back for long as pointing her finger at him gathering energy at the tip. Kenshin flashed away and kicked her in the back sending the energy collection into the altar obliterating it.

Kenshin lunged forward and slashed down diagonally cutting a a deep almost severing gash into Ryomen's torso. Ryomen staggered backward reeling from the pain. She extended her hand outward to him. "Tidal Wave!"

Keshin looked up as a massive torrent of water came down on him looking to submerge him. He slashed ZanRyuu forward as a massive burst of wind split the waves and flew upward sliced another gash into Ryomen's body. Kenshin grabbed her by the throat and slammed her back down to the earth mere meters from Negi, Konoka and Chamo.

"Neeaah!" Chamo says. "We gotta go!"

Kenshin held ZanRyuu at Ryomen's throat. A neutral look was painted across her face. "Even though this was a taming duel...you wouldn't heed a surrender..." "End it."

Kenshin drew his sword back looking to end the demon god's life when Negi crashed into him. "KENSHIN STOP!"

"!" Kenshin's eyes widen. He looked down at Negi who was holding him back with all her strength.

"Kenshin please stop it's over." Negi says looking up at him tears leaking out from her eyes. "Everyone's going to be OK." "Come back to us please."

"..." ZanRyuu slowly began reverting until Kuroi Jigoku was held in his hands once more. The dragon horns on his head shrunk back and his cat ears regrew as all traces of Ryuujin's Avarice left his body.

Ryomen stared up at him. "Boy?"

"..." Kenshin stared down at her with dead eyes. "What...happened?"

"Does he not remember?" Ryomen thought.

Kenshin lifted his hand over his right lung. "Wait...wasn't I just wounded?"

"Ken-kun...you went berserk." Konoka told him.

Kenshin turned toward her wide-eyed. "What?"

"She speaks the truth." Ryomen says. "You allowed the power of Ryuujin to overtake you after I dealt you what I thought was a knockout blow."

Kenshin sheathed his blade. "It looks as though neither of us are in any shape to continue the fight."

"Hmph...how unfortunate." Ryomen says. "Although..." She smirked tiredly at him. "You've tamed me." "I've always hated losing, but I suppose there are worse fates than being the slave to a man like you."

"Very well." Kenshin says staring indifferently at her. "Go back for now." "I'll summon you later to hammer out the terms of our partnership."

"Hm...hm..." Ryomen laughed tonelessly. "I'll see you then..."

Ryomen disappeared and Kenshin fell to a knee. "Kenshin!" Negi says.

"I'm fine." Kenshin says panting.

"Well I see I'm not needed here."

Negi and Kenshin turn to find Evangeline and Chachamaru staring, one neutrally and the other in annoyance.

Kenshin peeled his eyes seeing a disturbance behind her. "Hey Evangeline look out!"

"Huh? !" Evangeline says turning her head.

"Relax..." A familiar voice says. The person walked out to reveal Hikari. "It's just me."

Yukari looked up wincing. "Mom?"

"Kaa-Chan?" Miyuki says.

Kenshin looks off in the distance wide-eyed. Negi looked up at him. "Kensh-"

Kenshin took off toward the area where he fought Hachidai. Hikari sighed. "Miyuki, Yukari,...Negi come with me." "We're going to follow him."

"R-Right." Negi says.

"OK." Miyuki and Yukari says.

Evangeline sighed looking up at the sky. "So...you are dead now as well huh...Ryuushin." She closed her eyes. "Goodbye."

(break)

With Kenshin.

He had made it back to where his father's body was. He slowly walked up the body and stood over it. Kenshin was exhausted...weak...and emotionally drained.

"Dad..." He says simply his eyes barely open as he absorbed the soulless, dead look on his father's face. His rage was all but gone...and all that was left was the sadness, despair and regret that it had came with.

He recalled what he had heard his father say before he died. At the time he thought it was Hachidai, but the way it was said and the smile on his face told him clearly...that it was his father.

"Sorry Kenshin...I won't be back this time."

Just those words made Kenshin think back to when he was younger.

Flashback

A five year old Kenshin ran up to Ryuushin who was getting dressed for another job.

"Dad! Dad!" Kenshin says.

"Hm?" Ryuushin looked down and smiled at him. "What is it Kenshin?"

"Can you show me how to do the Katensho? !" Kenshin asks excitedly.

Ryuushin opened his mouth to say something when Nagi's voice called out to him. "Ah! Coming Nagi just give me a minute!"

Kenshin looked up curiously at him. Ryuushin crouched down and pet Kenshin on the head smiling. "I can't right now Kenshin."

"Awww! Please!" Kenshin says.

Ryuushin chuckled softly and jabbed his fingers softly onto Kenshin's forehead. "I'm sorry I keep leaving you alone like this with Aunt Arika or Uncle Eishun, but I promise I'll be back soon OK."

Kenshin hung his head slightly. "OK..."

Ryuushin smiled and stood up. "I will be back OK."

"Yeah." Kenshin says averting his eyes depressed.

He didn't notice Ryuushin doing the same as he turned away.

Flashback End

Kenshin stood in front of his father. "He always said that...he always promised...he would come back..."

"Sorry Kenshin...I won't be back this time."

It began raining heavily as Kenshin heard footsteps coming closer to him. He turned his head his eyes still barely open to find Hikari, Miyuki, Yukari and Negi.

Slowly a red liquid welled up in both his eyes and trickled down his cheeks as his body began swaying. Hikari's eyes widened slightly. "Tears of blood?"

"..." Kenshin's eyes slid shut as he fell forward landing to the left of Ryuushin.

Hikari closed her eyes and walked up to Kenshin. She bent down and scooped him up in her arms. "Miyuki, Negi...come get Ryuushin."

"K-Kaa-Chan...i-is Tou-Chan...?" Miyuki says her eyes filling with tears.

Hikari stood up and slung Kenshin's shoulder around her neck. "..."

Yukari turned and hugged Miyuki tightly. "Imouto...Dad's...gone."

"No...!" Miyuki cried. "NO! !" "DAD! ! !"

Yukari tightend her embrace struggling to not break down herself.

Negi walked up to Ryuushin and picked him up the same way Hikari was with Kenshin. "Hikari-San...maybe we should just..."

"I understand." Hikari says. "Let's go."

Negi followed Hikari as she jumped into the forest back toward Eishun's manor.

"Hikari-San...are you OK?" Negi says.

Hikari looks down at the ground. "Just...Just focus on getting to Eishun's OK?"

Negi nodded. "OK..."

They soon arrived at the manor where Eishun was waiting. "Hikari?" Eishun says. "You're awake...is everything alright?"

"Kenshin tamed the Ryomen Sukuna no Kami and the Rouge Chigusa retreated." Negi answered. "He needs rest."

"I understand." Eishun says then takes notice of Ryuushin's body. He turned to Hikari. "Come on...we need to prepare for Ryuushin's funeral."

"Right." Hikair sets Kenshin on the ground and takes his communicator out of his pants pocket. "Negi...please stay with Kenshin." She gathered up Ryuushin's body and left with Eishun.

Negi sat down next to Kenshin. "...if..I wasn't so weak...maybe I could have been of some help." She said. "I-I promise you...no matter what...I will help you."

Negi pulled him up and took him to a room in the mansion. When she though he was comfortable enough she kissed him on the cheek and exited the room. "Good night Kenshin."

She shut the door and went to check on her students.

(Chapter end)

Draconis: And that's the end of that. I will probably write the next chapter and post it before moving on just to move us out of the Kyoto Arc completely.

Ryuushin, the father of Kenshin, Yukari, and Miyuki and husband and brother to Hikari has passed away. How will the remaining members of the Kuroshi Tsuki family cope with the new void in their family. And what did cause Ryuushin's health to deteriorate if it wasn't Ryuujin?

Find out next time on Springfield and Kuroshi Redux.

Draconis678 out