Prompt: Short End Of The Stick

Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin

Setting: Scifi AU, (ISO VR, part 10), continues "Innocent until proven guilty".

Characters: Kenshin Himura, Kaoru Kamiya

Word count: 996

The hollow feeling in Kenshin's stomach could only be dread. However, there was no running away, not now, not from her… even if he wished she had never heard of the blood staining his soul. Slowly raising his gaze, Kenshin swallowed and met her shocked blue eyes.

"You…"

The single word felt like a dagger twisting in the wound, and his breath caught. "Miss Kaoru…"

"Hah! The witch didn't know who you are, Battousai?" Even better!" The leader of the thugs boasted. Stepping backward, the giant swordsman grasped the thief's shoulder, and shouted: "Take them!"

There was no time, nor words to explain, to soothe that pain of betrayal etched on her face… because all around them, men appeared from the shadows of the courtyard. Kenshin tore his eyes away from hers, and focused his ki to summon his sword. Not daring to look back, he uttered: "Please, Miss Kaoru… you should stay back, that you should."

Then, crouching into a stance for quick draw, Kenshin addressed the men circling them: "This one doesn't care for violence… please, step back and let us pass."

The threat from the Choshuu's most feared killer caused some hesitation among them, and for a brief moment Kenshin hoped it would be enough.

"What are you waiting for? Attack!" The leader's command broke the straw holding the men back, and screaming madly they charged from all sides. Suddenly there was no time for thought, only for action, and Kenshin drew his blade, letting the endless hours of repetition from training and bitter experience both guide his steps.

The weapon that his ki had settled into after her death became an extension of his will, as he darted around their attacks with lightning fast precision, bringing his targets down one by one. Her final wishes echoed in his mind, setting the beat for this primal dance of steel: protect the innocents; use your skills for good. You aren't a killer anymore, beloved.

That I am not, never again. Kenshin huffed a breath and paused to stare at the twenty-three men lying unconscious before him. However, behind him, there were still noises of a fight…?

Spinning around, his eyes widened in shock; "Oro?"

Miss Kaoru was fighting the leader of the thugs, dodging around his giant cleaver's path, using her small size and agility to her maximum advantage. Her wooden sword delivered a hit after a hit, and the leader was growling in frustration, unable to stop her with his slower weapon. Around them, the last two of his followers were circling the battle, trying to find the opportune moment to step in.

…she is actually winning? Kenshin stared in disbelief. Sure, he had known she was a capable fighter in her own right, but knowing and seeing were two entirely different things.

Especially considering how she was so new to this world.

A few days ago she hadn't even known what ki was - now she was unconsciously using it to dance around the larger swordsman's attacks. It was impossible! Whatever the world she was from, whatever the reality she remembered, that she didn't entirely understand the violence so inherent in the war-torn and broken Yamato. Even so…

"…beautiful…" Kenshin whispered in stunned awe as she brought her bokken down to the junction of her enemy's shoulder and neck, bringing him down to his knees. The two remaining followers charged to shield their leader, who had dismissed his blade to cradle his injury; "What witchery is this? Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm Kaoru Kamiya – and I'm gonna break you into pieces if you don't let Yahiko go this instant!"

"Who? The boy…?" The leader grunted in pain, glancing at the boy hiding on the stairs. "You can have the brat for all I care! But first…" His guileful eyes flashed, and he screamed to his two remaining men: "KILL HER!"

It was like seeing an impending disaster: Miss Kaoru readying her defense, the faster of the followers dashing first, the burlier at his tail, and hidden behind their backs… the leader pointing his hand straight to her, his teeth bared in a mad grin as he summoned his blade. The ki materialized into the weapon, piercing through the slower thug's torso, the long blade stretching through the second's and continuing –

"NO!"

The world stopped as if it heard his desperation, and in the blink of an eye he was there, shielding her from harm.

"…Kenshin, you…" She gasped, staring at him in utter horror. "Why..? Why did you do this?!"

Drawing a breath, he coughed up blood and smiled, "I didn't tell you enough, it seems."

"FUCK, Battousai! I need you alive to get Saigo's reward!" The thug leader raged behind them, and pulled out his sword. Kenshin gasped as the steel slipped out of his back, fell to his knees and desperately hacked up the blood flooding his lungs.

The pain was excruciating, but he couldn't give up now. Blinking the tears from his eyes, Kenshin directed his ki to heal while fought to breathe.

"You bastard!" Kaoru screamed, and shook his shoulders, shouting "Kenshin, no!"

"Miss Kaoru… it's alright." Swiping his mouth, Kenshin grimaced at the blood covering his hand and climbed to his feet awkwardly. Glancing at the evaporating figures of the dead men the thugs' leader had killed in his cruel finishing gamble, he said: "This is not the world you know, that it isn't."

"…what?"

Kenshin inhaled, feeling his breath run easier as his regeneration knitted the wound together. "There is a lot this one will have to tell you, Miss Kaoru. Later, that is."

"My blade pierced your lungs… how can you stand already? What are you?!" The leader shouted in alarm and crawled backwards on his hands and knees, his eyes spinning madly. "No! Not me! The boy, take him!"

Stalking closer, Kenshin pointed his sword at the thug and whispered: "We will. However, first… have you ever heard of Takamori Shintarou?"