Heavenly Incarnations Chapter 6: Part 6, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

heavenlypart6 HEAVENLY INCARNATIONS
A Rurouni Kenshin/ On a Pale Horse Crossover
By Ashley Auld

* Disclaimer* All rights to the Rurouni Kenshin Characters are Watsuki-sama's, Jump Comics, etc. All right to the character " Incarnations" Are property of Piers Anthony. There are references made to his book " On a Pale Horse." But you do not need to have read the book to understand what is happening. =) This is only a little fanfic by a crazed Kenshin fan, I'm a poor college art student, and not even worth suing! Enjoy!
Authors Note-
Well, I came up with this fic when I still believed Kaoru was dead. But I liked the idea of it so much that I decided to keep on writing it. (Even though it's been established that, yes… she IS alive) Consider this a "what if this happened" fic. Kind of like an alternative where Enishi does actually kill her. I know, it sounds awful, but believe me; this ISN'T going to be depressing! I'm determined to make it happy! And to appease all those Kenshin and Kaoru fans out there…well… >=)

A little pre-fanfic know-how about "On a Pale Horse."
The incarnations mentioned in this fic are taken from " On a Pale Horse." In Piers Anthony's book, he takes these aspects of life and creates people for them-- much like we imagine there being a "Father Time," and a "Mother Nature." Here, I will be making references to human incarnations of " Death," "Fate," "Time," and "Nature." ( So far-- I don't know what other ones I shall bring in from his book yet.)
Oh-- Death also rides a horse, Mortus, which can also conveniently be a car (limo), boat, etc. Whatever Death might need as a mode of transportation in the moment.

CHAPTER 25- A Soul to the Rescue

He clenched his fists and watched as the courtroom emptied quietly. The Archangel had long departed with his Advocates.
" This isn't over yet--" He thought angrily. " No way… I'm NOT giving up this time!" Kenshin whirled around to face Thanatos.
" Thanatos." He said low and cool. " How can we fix this mess?"
" Huh-- Umm... Himura-- the Archangels word is final. There's nothing I can do." Thanatos looked down at Kenshin sadly. Kenshin shook his head.
" No way. I'm not giving up hope yet! There HAS to be a way! Who could override the verdict?"
" The only person higher than the Archangel is God himself."
" Well-- then we'll just have to appeal to God." Kenshin said.
" WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Thanatos looked at him stunned. " God doesn't just accept any normal court appeal. That's why he leaves things like this up to the Archangel!"
" I'll handle the appeal." Came a voice from the far side of the room. The two men turned to face the middle aspect of Fate.
" Lachesis." Thanatos said startled. " You-- what?"
" Oro?"
Fate approached and bowed respectfully to Kenshin. " Hajimemashite, watashi wa Lachesis desu."
" Oro… Sessha wa, Himura Kenshin de gozaru. Doozo Yorushiku." Kenshin hastily greeted her.
" I am the middle aspect of the Incarnation of Fate. The other girls are with me as usual. But I think it's mainly my fault that you're in such a bad position."
" Fate?!" Kenshin gawked.
" Yes. I wasn't paying attention to your threads and they got all tangled. I need to do something to fix this mess that I've caused."
" No, it's not just you Fate. I think we all got tangled up in this mess." Thanatos said calmly. " But, you honestly think God would accept a court appeal?"
" This is a very unusual case Thanatos! The whole history of the afterlife has never faced a case such as this before! And Himura Kenshin is quite a popular name around here." She smiled at Kenshin; he looked to the ground. " I have a feeling I can convince God to look over the appeal."
" Fate, thank you." Kenshin smiled up at her. " But-- what about Kaoru?"
Fate bit her lip. " She's already been taken to Hell."
Kenshin's teeth were immediately set on edge. Whenever he thought of her-- in that PLACE… He just went out of his mind. Quickly pushing down the raging Battousai inside of him, he clenched his teeth and looked up to Fate determined." I have to do something! I can't stand thinking about her in Hell. She doesn't belong there!"
" Well-- at least it's only the FIRST level of Hell…" Thanatos said, trying to cheer him up. " Umm-- the torture isn't nearly as bad as say, the second or third…or ...any...other…" He trailed off at the stern look Lachesis gave him. She patted Kenshin on the back encouragingly.
" Well, you don't have to worry too long! As soon as God sees this appeal, Kaoru'll be taken out of Hell for a second trial! And hopefully things will go smoother then."
" When was the last time God held a trial?" Thanatos asked.
" Well-- he's a very busy Incarnation you know-- being God is not as easy as everything thinks." Lachesis muttered. " But-- If he does have a trial, I think that all seven of the major Incarnations will be called to Jury."
Kenshin blinked. " Only seven? I thought you needed 9 on a Jury."
" Yes, Death, Time, Nature, War, Evil, Good, and the Three Aspects of the Incarnation of Fate make up 9 jurors."
" Three aspects?" Kenshin blinked at Fate. Lachesis immediately changed form to that of a lovely young lady, about Kaoru's age with honey golden hair and long lashes.
" I am Clotho, the first Incarnation of Fate who spins the threads of Fate."
Then she quickly turned into an old grandmotherly lady, garbed in a black shawl and conservative looking Grey dress.
" I am Atropos, the third Incarnation of Fate, who cuts the threads of Fate."
" And you've met me." Lachesis appeared before him again, the old woman disappearing. " I measure the threads of Fate and weave them into the tapestry of Life."
Kenshin didn't notice his mouth was hanging wide open. He quickly caught himself staring and then shook his head in amazement. " Oro-- well, it's nice to meet all three of you Ladies."
" Yes-- now, the only problem at hand…" Thanatos trailed off, deep in thought. Fate and Kenshin looked up at him questioningly.
" Yes?" Fate asked.
" Well, how long is it going to take you to see God? Sometimes it takes years to see him after you've booked an appointment."
" YEARS?!" Kenshin looked at Fate horrified. He wasn't about to wait years to save Kaoru from Hell. Angrily gripping his Sakaba he started towards the door.
" Ah-- where are you going?!" Death called after him.
" I'm going to go to Hell." Kenshin said angrily.
" Masaka-- you can't go to Hell! You're not dead!"
" But YOU can take me to Hell, can't you!?" Kenshin whirled around. Fate hung back, watching their exchange in awe.
" But…"
" You've been there before-- Kaoru told me that Incarnations are human. You're NOT dead! That proves Mortals can also go to Hell!"
" Yes, but I'm immortal, there's a difference!"
" Still, you MUST have a way to do it!" Kenshin challenged him. " Tell me!"
" But-- no… it's way to dangerous. You'd be up against Satan yourself!"
Gaea's words ran through Kenshin's head.

" Her fate will depend on you from now on. Be brave Kenshin, don't let yourself be consumed by grief-- you must never give up again. No matter what happens."

" I'm not going to let that stop me. I'll face Satan if I have to."
" But--" Deaths voice cracked with worry. " But… You've never tangled with a character such as Satan before in your life! He's devious, the Prince of Lies and Deception! Tricky and--"
" And you're wrong." Fate interrupted him. Death whirled around giving her an angry glare.
" Nani?"
" Himura-san HAS faced him before…" Fate stepped forward, facing Kenshin. " I'm sure he'll remember, his old enemy-- Shishio Makoto…"
Kenshin's throat was suddenly very dry; he managed to mutter the words. "Satan-- is… Shishio Makoto?"
" Hai-" She nodded her confirmation. " Perhaps, if there's one person qualified to go to Hell to save Kamiya Kaoru-- that one person would be you, the very man who sent him to Hell in the first place."
" FATE! SHUT UP!" Death bellowed. " You have NO idea what you're saying! Kenshin was a match for Shishio Makoto on earth because Shishio was mortal at the time… but now he's the Prince of Evil. He's an Immortal who's got all the powers of an Incarnation and probably the only person that would be even CLOSE to fighting him would be God!"
" You DON'T know if Shishio will want to fight Kenshin or not!" Fate countered. " I've dealt with Satan before and he enjoys playing cruel games and making challenges more than hand to hand combat.
" That was his Predecessor!"
" QUIET!" Kenshin broke in between the two. He looked up to Death sternly. " I appreciate that you're thinking about me. But understand that I promised Kaoru I would protect her no matter what. Even if it means facing Shishio again. I'll do it! I have to get her out of Hell-- I can't wait years for God to agree to the court appeal, I have to get her out NOW!"
" But--" Death looked at him nervously. " You must be a soul to enter Hell."
There was a long pause. Kenshin looked at the ground, as if in a deep inner conflict with himself.
" Himura-san…" Fate whispered.
Kenshin looked up at Death, burning fires of determination lighted his eyes. " If that's the way to do it-- then fine."
" WAIT!" He stopped Kenshin, putting his hand on the hilt before the Rurouni could unsheathe his Sakaba. He shook his head hastily.
" Death, take your hand away." Kenshin ordered.
" No--" Death swallowed hard. " There's another way to get your soul… a way without killing your body."
Kenshin looked at him sternly " Please-- do tell."
Death hung his head in defeat. " You must allow me… to take your soul for you."

****
Kenshin sat down on the comfortable couch in Thanatos's study. The Incarnation sighed long and hard.
" Now-- you understand the risks? If I take your soul from your body, you're body will remain here- completely vulnerable to anything around it. Your body can survive without your soul for up to 24 hours providing it's in the same state that you left it in. "
" 24 hours…" Kenshin repeated. " I have to find Kaoru within that time."
" I've been to Hell before, and I know a bit about where things are on the first level. But I doubt Satan will make it easy for us. So you have to be on guard. While in Hell you can't prevent your soul from being tormented or even tortured, despite the fact that your current balance would take you to Heaven. I can't be harmed because I am an Incarnation, but those rules don't apply to you."
" Has Fate has gone up to Heaven, to see God yet?"
" Yes, she left at the same time we did from Purgatory. I only hope God sees this matter important enough to take precedence over the other things he's doing."
"Ok then… let's go." Kenshin closed his eyes and sat back. Death stood up nervously and approached him.
" Ok-- just yell out if you want me to stop… This will not hurt but you may feel a little out of sorts for a moment." He extended both his bony hands towards Kenshin's chest. Kenshin sat stiffly, he closed his eyes tightly, envisioning Kaoru's smiling face.
" Kaoru… I'll find you!"
He didn't even feel Death's hands enter into his chest. But then a strange tightening sensation took over him. An odd feeling of parting washed over him-- As if he was a flower, which was carefully plucked from the rich soil so that the roots were still intact. Cold flooded his bones and he panicked, he opened his eyes abruptly to see Death had his soul pulled halfway out. It looked like a thick spider web protruding from his chest.
" Let it go." Death said soothingly. " Don't fight it."
Kenshin closed his eyes again and let out a long breath. Blackness overtook him for a moment before he opened his eyes again to see himself slumped over on the couch. Kenshin looked back over to Death, who was supporting him at his shoulders.
" Are you ok?" Death asked him. Kenshin looked at his hand, surprised that he could see straight through it, he was truly just a soul now. It was strange, that he felt no different than when he was in his body.
" Y-Yeah I am." He muttered. To his relief, he found his Sakaba still at his belt. And Gaea's flower and Kaoru's ring safe in his sleeve.
" I guess that sword of yours is truly a part of you. " Death commented. Kenshin smiled.
" A warrior and his blade must become one if he is to fight the way of the Hiten School…" he repeated what his Master had once told him.
" Where did you get that flower?"
" Gaea gave it to me."
Death's voice betrayed his surprise. " Gaea!? You got a visit from Gaea!?"
" Yes."
" My--she's a mysterious one all right, she's very picky about who she meets. And to have received a gift from her--" He shook his head in disbelief. " You really must be someone special.
" Oro…"
" Keep that flower close-- it will prove invaluable somehow-- I'm sure."
Kenshin nodded and stowed the flower away again, then quickly turned towards the door. " Let's go!" He walked out of Deaths reach and immediately found himself sinking into the floorboards.
" Baka!" Death grabbed his arms and pulled him out of the floor. " You JUST became a soul-- you need to adjust. Concentrate on keeping your feet on the ground!"
Kenshin bit his lip. "I don't have the time for this!" He thought. "I've gotta save Kaoru… But-- damn it…Ok-- here it goes." He closed his eyes and concentrated, willing himself to stand on the floor.
" There-- good."
Kenshin felt Death's grip on him lighten, he opened his eyes to see he was standing on the floor all on his own.
" Ok-- let's go." Kenshin walked from the room.
Death was close on his heels " I can't believe you talked me into this-- " he mumbled under his breath. " You just learned how to stand, and now you're going off to face Satan? Jeez…"
Kenshin ignored his grumbling. "Does your horse know the way to Hell?"
"… Yes-- to the Gates of it."
" Good enough--"
The sleek white Limo was waiting for them when they left the house. Death opened the door for him and Kenshin got inside without hesitation.
" Mortus!" Thanatos called out loud and the engine hummed in greeting. " Take us to the Gates of hell-- and quickly!"

CHAPTER 26- The Prince of Lies

Kenshin was expecting Gates carved from black stone that towered above you ominously, decorated in writhing bodies and hell fire. But instead the limousine landed out in the countryside of Purgatory near a very large oak tree.
" Oro? What are we doing?" Kenshin asked.
" We're here."
" Oro? Where?"
" The Gates of Hell." Thanatos got out of the car, Kenshin followed him confused until they stood in front of the tree. Thanatos lifted a skeletal hand and the bark seemed to shimmer and vanish. Leaving a gaping hole large enough to be a doorway in the side of the tree. Kenshin blinked startled, Death nodded his head to the silent question. " Yes, This is the elevator which will take you down to Hell. The ways are always hidden, and only Incarnations can go there of there own free will and come back again."
" Elevator?" Kenshin looked at Death nervously.
" Modern technology again…"
Kenshin was satisfied with that answer, he'd seen enough "modern technology" to not be surprised with this device. They boldly stepped into the elevator and the doorway instantly disappeared. They were boxed in and Kenshin felt a strange sense of vertigo.
" Don't be alarmed, we're just going downward at a very fast pace." Death reassured him. " Now, while we're moving, I'm going to tell you a few of the dangers your soul will face in Hell."
"…" Kenshin didn't respond, but Death could see he was listening.
" First-- you must take care of your soul as if it was your own body. Your soul may be the living essence of you, but it needs nourishment, rest, it feels pain and can be killed through the sorts of things a body could be killed by."
Kenshin looked confused. "But--"
" --But if you're soul is killed, by suffocation or fire or drowning… then you will die for the rest of that day, and the next day you will revive again. That is the torture souls endure in Hell. They suffer until they die then wake up again, and the cycle repeats itself. But you don't have much time-- if you die, then the 24 hours will be over by the time you revive and you'll be stuck a soul forever."
They traveled for about a minute longer when the sense of vertigo instantly stopped and Kenshin grabbed for the side in order to keep his balance. The doorway opened again and he gawked amazed at what he saw.
Beyond the doorway was a great chamber that seemed to stretch for miles. Tall columns of black stone towered up, supporting a high vaulted ceiling. The walkway seemed to float above a sea of fire and lava, which lit up the hallway in an eerie luminescent glow. The instant heat hit Kenshin like a ton of bricks. They stepped from the elevator only to be stopped by a towering demon with horns and an ugly looking spear. He looked down on the two intruders with small, beady red eyes and his gaping mouth was filled with sharp teeth that dripped saliva.
" No unauthorized spirits!" The demon growled.
" I am Death." Thanatos said boldly. " I come to speak with Satan!"
" I can allow you passage then, but the other spirit may not go to see Him!" The demon eyed Kenshin angrily. Kenshin threw him his best death glare."
" I will come with Death to see Satan as well." Kenshin demanded. The demons skin seemed to sizzle, as if it was heating up with anger. It took its spear and pointed it straight at Kenshin, who instantly crouched ready with his hand on his hilt. He'd anticipated the demon's actions perfectly.
" Stop!" Death yelled. " The spirit is under MY authority!"
Instantly, the demon disappeared in a cloud of smoke. However Kenshin was still tense; he looked around cautiously.
" What is it?" Death asked him.
" We're still not alone…"
" Well--" A familiar voice seemed to speak inside both their heads. " You sensed My presence, that's admirable-- Himura Battousai." Kenshin and Thanatos both straightened in alarm.
" Shishio!" Kenshin called.
" Yes it's Me. You recognized Me, I'm flattered."
" Kisama, show yourself!"
" That's no way to treat a friend." A chill laugh followed making both Kenshin and Thanatos shiver. A figure materialized before them. However this was not the bandaged mummy that Kenshin remembered. He looked very different. His skin was no longer burned.
" Shishio?" Kenshin stepped back.
" Yes?" He smiled maniacally. " You must be wondering about My appearance. Satan can command any form he chooses. It feels good to back to my own self again. And Yumi likes it even more too."
" Shishio…" Kenshin's voice fell down a few octaves. He kept his hand resting on the hilt of his Sakaba. Shishio eyed it with little interest.
" Keep that sword in its sheath Battousai, I don't want to fight you. I should really thank you for what you've done for Me." He turned around, spreading out his arms widely above his head. "You've given Me all of this!"
" Shishio, you may keep your thanks, I only ask that you return a certain soul to me that you've recently acquired."
Shishio let his arms drop. " Kamiya Kaoru?" He questioned without even turning around. Kenshin stiffened.
" Yes…" Death answered for him. " I am here to make sure you don't try and cheat him."
" How noble." Shishio turned around again, his grin still on his face. " But I'm rather fond of our newest addition to the family. I really don't want to give her up. A fallen angel is a rarity to be found in Hell."
" Don't treat her like she's some sort of Trophy!" Kenshin said through clenched teeth. Shishio snickered at him.
" Something about that girl really lights a fire in you-- I only wished I known about her when we fought before… I could have really gotten the Battousai out of you then I bet."
Death could see Kenshin was doing everything in his power to keep from drawing his sword and charging in. His eyes were flickering dangerously.
" Shishio," Death said quickly. "If you don't want to fight, how can we win her back?"
" Hmm-- This should be fun." Shishio grinned, " What do you say to a challenge?"
" Challenge?" Kenshin blinked, his eyes back to normal. " What do you mean?"
" I mean, I shall let you and Death loose in the first level of Hell. If you can find the Kamiya girl within the time you have remaining,"
" That's a little less than 24 hours." Death said. "What happens if he doesn't find her?"
" Then his soul shall remain trapped here, for eternity."
Death shot a nervous look at Kenshin. But the Rurouni's face betrayed nothing; he still had his hand on the hilt of his Sakaba, staring hard at Shishio.
Shishio nodded in approval. "So-- what do you say Himura? Do you agree?"
Death shook his head quickly. " No! Don't! Despite what you think Hell is HUGE! You can't even walk from one side to the other in 5 days!"
Kenshin narrowed his eyes a bit more. Death could tell his was thinking hard.
" Very well…" Shishio chuckled. " I shall make it so that she is within your range. Those are my rules, do you accept?"
Kenshin was silent for a long moment, and then finally he let his hand drop from his hilt. He stood up straight and nodded affirmatively. " Yes."
" HIMURA!" Death gawked at him. Shishio didn't say another word, the area around them grew very misty until all scenery faded away and they found themselves standing knee deep in mud. Kenshin looked about at the barren wasteland that apparently was the first level of hell. Shishio's voice was in his head again, though fainter than before.
" Oh-- and do be careful, there are Hell Hounds in these parts…"
" Hell Hounds…" Death said grimly as he brought out his scythe and held it ready. " Be ready Himura, Hell Hounds are not something you want to tangle with."
Kenshin nodded as they slowly moved out of the marsh and found a dry patch of land to stand on.
" We need to find her…" he said quietly. " She must be scared."
" I know, but we also need to keep our heads. The first thing we should do is look for some people to ask."
They hurried along, jumping from dry patch to dry patch, and waded through muck that sometimes went up to their waist. Kenshin's ears picked up what sounded like a howl. They both turned to see dark blotches on the horizon.
" Hell Hounds!" Death gasped. " Hurry! HURRY!"
They scrambled out of the mud and onto a path that was relatively firm; both dashed along it until they stumbled upon some workers. The souls were covered from head to foot in mud, with only rags for clothes and their skin hung on their bones as if they were living skeletons. They were digging out a trench vigorously but as soon as they managed to get a spot cleared more mud seeped into it. Kenshin didn't have time to be sympathetic however; he stopped for a moment and leaned over the hole cautiously.
" Has anyone seen a Japanese girl with long black hair wearing a white Kimono and blue obi? She used to be a Guardian Angel!"
One man who was also Japanese stopped for a moment and looked up. " Who hasn't heard of the infamous Kamiya Kaoru!" He responded in Japanese. " I heard a rumor that she was sent to the Bone Desert."
" The Bone Desert…" Death repeated. " Damn it-- we'd need to cross the river Lethe to get to that!"
" Thank you!" Kenshin called back to the man in the trench and they resumed their run.
" Hell is composed of several "quarters." Death explained as they moved. " We're in the Marsh right now. To get to the desert, we have to cross the River of Sorrow. After that is the Winter Quarter where the temperature is always several degrees below freezing and you find yourself up to your neck in snow… then after crossing that, we must cross the River Lethe to get to the Bone Desert."
" What's wrong with the River Lethe?"
" I'm not worried about the River of Sorrow-- but the River Lethe is also called the River of Forgetfulness… if even a drop of the water gets in your mouth you'll forget your purpose--- and dally in Hell until your time runs out. If it gets in your eyes then you forget how to see… "
"…" Kenshin was silent, as if deep in thought. The howling was steadily growing louder.
" No matter how fast we run, they're faster!" Death said anxiously. " They can't harm me, but I'm worried about you--"
" Don't worry about me. Worry about Kaoru!" Kenshin responded. The words 'Bone Desert' weren't very encouraging to him. " Kaoru…" he though desperately. "Hang in there!"
They didn't run for more than about 100 yards before the path that they'd been following abruptly stopped, ending in a steep slope with more marsh beyond.
" Damn it!" Death looked behind him nervously to see that the Hell Hounds were gaining ground on them.
" Can't we just jump?" Kenshin asked him.
" Jump! But-- we don't know how deep it is! The mud could suck you right down like a whirlpool and you wouldn't be able to get out."
" Can THEY chase after us in the swamp?" Kenshin asked, thumbing back to the Hell Hounds, they were getting close enough so you could distinguish their grotesque features, dripping fangs and gaping jaws that hung loosely open, set in a ferocious snarl. The black fur on their backs prickled up on end and they were about two times larger than your ordinary wolf.
Thanatos got Kenshin's drift and he nodded affirmatively. " They wouldn't be able to swim in muck like that, they'd get sucked straight to the bottom and suffocate."
Without a word Kenshin jumped down into the muck. The mud instantly sucking him in as Death had warned.
" HIMURA!"
Kenshin was thankful he was only up to his chest before he felt his feet touch solid ground. He slowly began to wade away from the edge, holding his Sakaba above his head to keep it from getting dirty. He called back to Thanatos.
" COME ON! THEY CAN'T FOLLOW AND I CAN TOUCH THE GROUND!"
Death didn't hesitate, he jumped in, careful to keep his Scythe above his head. He began wading after Kenshin. After they were a good 30 feet from the edge of the path, they looked back to see the Hell Hounds leaning over, snarling and howling angrily.
" Good-- they can't follow us." Death breathed a sigh of relief. " If they're going to be able to pursue us any more, they'll have to find another way around this swamp."
" Yes, let's hurry… how much more time do I have?" Kenshin turned and began to walk further. Death looked down at his watch on his bony wrist.
" About 22 hours."
Suddenly, he heard a strange sucking noise. Death shot his head up and looked horrified to see that Kenshin's head was no longer above the mud. He'd fallen into an invisible hole and the only thing showing was his one hand holding his Sakaba, it was sinking fast.
" HIMURA!" He lunged forward but the muck kept him from making it fast enough, Kenshin's hand and the Sakaba sword disappeared from sight.
" HIMURA!!!"

CHAPTER 27- On the Edge of Death

Kenshin had thoughtlessly taken a step forward and before he knew it his head was under the muck. He'd had enough time to gasp a breath before he'd been pulled under. His foot had fallen into a hole and something had grabbed him. Something…
Something was wrapped around his ankle. He couldn't move fast enough in the muck to unsheathe his Sakaba. He still held onto the Saya tightly, he prayed that Death would grab his hand, grab the Sakaba… grab anything! Whatever it was that had caught him was dragging him down swiftly. Struggling wasn't doing any good, and he couldn't hold his breath much longer…

Death looked about frantically, he reached into the muck as deep as he could but found nothing. Then he spotted some air bubbles hitting the surface a few feet away.
" HIMURA!" Without a second though, he thrust the long end of his Scythe into the muck and stirred the mud in hopes of finding him, he knew that there was a hole directly in front of him that Kenshin had fallen through. Death willed the Scythe handle to lengthen; it plunged its way down into the hole through the mud.

Kenshin felt his lungs were about to explode and the thing that had itself wound around his leg wasn't giving way. He'd managed to wedge his Saya between it and his leg and he tried to pry it off. But it held fast.
" Is this it? The end?" He thought. Then remembered what Death had said-- if he died… then Kaoru would be trapped in Hell forever-- along with his own soul. He COULDN'T die!
He felt something hard jab him on his shoulder. It came from up above! He flailed his arms upward; his fingers closed about something smooth and long. He held onto it and pulled.

Death uttered a cry of alarm as he felt the handle hit something. He braced himself as something immediately began pulling at the handle. He prayed to God it was Kenshin. But it wasn't just that he was sinking… no one would PULL on the handle if they were only sinking…
" Himura isn't just sinking-- he's being PULLED down by something!" Thanatos thought in shock. He grabbed onto the handle of the scythe and pulled backwards as hard as he could. His muscles strained as he fought for every inch of ground. Whatever it was, it was strong. He arched his back, straining with all of his might until he noticed something rise from the muck. A lump of mud… He wasn't sure if it was the swamp monster or Kenshin. Moments later he could see the face as Kenshin tilted his head up and gasped for air.
" HIMURA!" He yelled again.
" KEEP PULLING!" Kenshin gasped back. He held onto the handle of the Scythe tightly as he rose his other hand up out of the mud. The Sakaba was still with him, He adjusted his grip so he now held the handle… and with a flick of his wrist the Saya was off and the spotless blade unsheathed and held ready. He switched it around without hesitation.
" Himura--"
Kenshin was motionless; he seemed to be listening intently. " It's coming…"
Death kept himself braced; he strained his ears but couldn't hear anything but his own pounding heart.
Then, as swiftly as his own heartbeat, a monstrous worm erupted from the surface of the swamp right in front of Kenshin. Death froze in terror when he heard it's high-pitched scream as it dove for Kenshin. It had no eyes but it did have a round jaw filled with row upon row of sharp, dagger like teeth. Kenshin was waiting for this though, the worms head was disconnected from it's body in another heartbeat. The long body writhed for a moment, then fell lifeless at the surface. The tension instantly slacked on Kenshin's body, and he started sinking again down into the hole.
" PULL!" Kenshin demanded.
" Oh--" Death quickly shook his head, back to the matter at hand and pulled Kenshin from the hole. The Rurouni breathed heavily, relieved to be touching firm ground again.
" Sorry…" Death muttered, still in awe of the display of Kenshin's skill. He'd always heard of his reputation, but had never witnessed it for himself.
" Are you ok?" Kenshin asked.
" W-What? Heh-- yeah… " Death shook his head. " I should be asking YOU that question! Damn--"
Kenshin reached down and unwound the worms body from his leg then looked back to Death. " I think I woke it up when I stepped into the hole. Come on- let's get out of here." He found his Saya sticking half way out of the muck and resheathed his sword.
" Aa-Aaa--" Death nodded dumbly.
Kenshin felt his way around the hole carefully. Death followed but quickly caught Kenshin's shoulder before he tried to venture further. The Rurouni looked up at him questioningly through mud caked strands of red hair.
" What happens if you fall into another hole? We might not be so lucky again." Death cautioned. " I'm going ahead and I'll use the handle of my Scythe to detect the holes, you follow straight behind."
Kenshin narrowed his eyes and nodded understanding. " Ok-- be careful."

The role of Thunder sounded soon after they began to navigate their way through the swamp. The mud went up as high as their necks at times. And soon a cold rain began to pelt down on them. And by the time they reached the far side of the swamp and climbed onto the high bank, Kenshin was shivering uncontrollably. The rain had helped to cleanse them of the mud, but it didn't help that they didn't have the luxury of building a fire.
" There's no time to warm up…We've got to keep going! How much more time do I have?" Kenshin said, sweeping his hair out of his eyes in one fluid motion.
" 17 hours."
" It took us 5 hours to get through that muck? And we still have two rivers and that winter quarter to pass? Damn--"
" Don't forget the Hell Hounds. Our cutting through the swamp may have set us ahead again-- but they won't give up so easily."

The rain stopped as soon as they began moving towards the border. Kenshin ignored the icy chill that pulled at his limbs and he curled his fingers into his palms for warmth as they ran.
" This isn't good…" Death said. " You'll never survive in the next quarter like this. We have to get some warm clothes or you'll freeze as soon as we cross the river.
" I'm already starting to dry off a little." Kenshin said.
The sky was darkening now and as much as Kenshin tried to cover it, he couldn't keep his teeth from chattering. Fog crept up around them, and like a thick blanket settled to make it impossible to see anything.
" I don't even know what direction we're travelling in!" Death grumbled. Kenshin stopped and looked about, up ahead there was a small glow.
" Do you see that light?" He pointed towards it. Death followed his gesture and nodded.
" There must be someone up there. Maybe they can help us."
" Come on." They veered off of their path towards the dim light. Wading through knee deep marsh until they finally stumbled upon a small group of bedraggled workers huddling about a small fire. They constantly fed it with small dry bits of marsh grass and dead wood. Kenshin approached the group cautiously. One middle-aged woman looked up in greeting, her eyes instantly lighted, as she seemed to recognize them.
" Are you the Incarnation and the soul in search of the Fallen Angel?" She asked in an enthusiastic voice. Kenshin gawked at her-- she spoke in English. He laughed nervously.
" J-Japanese…" He pointed at himself while saying the word in English. The lady tilted her head confused.
" He speaks Japanese. We are looking for the soul of Kamiya Kaoru…" Death responded to her in English and she nodded her confirmation, then gestured for them to take a seat by their small fire. Gratefully, they both did so.

The woman's name, they found out was Elizabeth. She had been sent to Hell because she'd committed the sin of cheating on her husband. And currently she was working to tip her balance towards Heaven. Other than that one sin, she'd been a good woman. The people around them all committed sins that weren't extremely grave, but were enough to tip their scale to send them to Hell. Normally they got no rest and the fire certainly wasn't allowed, but they were all taking advantage of the fact that their supervisor demon was passed out drunk. Kenshin saw the creature asleep on the ground about 30 yards away from the group.
" Can you ask her how far we are to the border of this quarter?" Kenshin inquired. Death nodded and relayed the question. They discovered that the bridge spanning the River of Sorrow was just about a mile down the road, but it was heavily guarded (as most of the bridges were) by demons. Kenshin narrowed his eyes.
" What are Demons like?"
" They're stupid." Thanatos stated bluntly. " They always quarrel with each other… all muscle and no brains at all."
" Then what's the problem?"
" If they have a competent leader to follow, they can be very dangerous. And they carry guns that shoot fire which will incinerate you instantly upon contact."
" Is there any other possible way to cross the river without having to confront the demons?" Kenshin asked.
The woman said that the river wasn't extremely wide like the River Lethe or Styx. It was about 50 meters wide and shallow enough to walk across without putting your head under the water. The only trick was that there were dangerous monsters swimming about it, and so no one dared try to cross for fear of getting eaten up instantly.
" We can deal with monsters." Death muttered under his breath. " Be sure you don't let any of the water in your mouth-- you'll be overcome by sorrow."
They rested briefly by the fire until they could feel life coming back into their stiff limbs. Kenshin stood with a firm hand on his Sakaba, he turned to Death.
" We'd better go."
" Yeah-- 14 hours left."
They thanked the small group and set off at a brisk pace. The night was pitch black, the fog didn't help any… and Death had to feel his way along the raised path with the end of his Scythe to make sure they didn't stumble down the bank into the marsh. The last thing they needed was a tangle with another worm.
As the woman had said, about a mile down the road they saw the lights of torches marking the gateway to the bridge. Kenshin and Death hung back behind the knarled trunk of a dead tree.
" They only allow other Demons to cross… and there are a lot of them. " Death muttered. "It's not worth the risk. Let's go upriver and find a good place to cross."
Kenshin nodded agreement and they stealthily made their way past the gate, concealed in the shadows. A call from above froze them in their tracks.
" WHO'S THERE!?"
In an instant about 15 demons were outside the Iron Gate. Kenshin and Thanatos crouched low in the shadows, afraid to breathe.
" Kuso…" Thanatos muttered. " I forgot some have infrared vision…"
" Infra-wha?"
" They're over THERE you fools! Catch them!" The demon on the watchtower called to his comrades. He was pointing straight at them as if they'd walked out in broad daylight.
" No other choice…" Kenshin muttered.
" Wha?"
But all he heard was the sudden whistling of the wind and Kenshin was no longer beside him. A split second later he heard a howl from one of the demons as the gun it'd been holding was sliced into two. Like a bolt of red lightning he tore down the row, slicing above 5 guns before the others turned and fired straight at him. Searing red fire burst from the guns.
" HIMURA!" Death gasped. Kenshin jumped out of the way not a second too soon. The tips of his ponytail singed off in an instant as it barely missed the stream of fire, the tie holding his hair broke and the red locks spilled out around his shoulders. He dropped to the ground, crouching low in the firelight; his Sakaba flashed back into it's Saya. The demons with weapons' still in tact hovered about him menacingly.
" Heh-- take a look…" One demon sneered at his friend who'd gotten his weapon sliced. " You got your gun sliced by a mere girl!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed. They'd apparently taken him for a female!
" No girl could move like that!" Another demon snarled. " Look what it did to my gun!"
" You CALLIN' ME A LIAR?" The first demon shot back.
" JUST KILL IT!" Another shouted.
" DON'T TELL me what to DO! You ain't the boss!"
" I say she's a DAMN GIRL!"
" HELL IF SHE IS!"
" WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING! JUST KILL HER!" The demon from the watchtower shouted.
" IT'S NOT A GIRL! IT'S A GUY!" The other bellowed.
" SHUT YOUR TRAP-- YOU GOT BEATEN BY A GIRL!"
" Just EXACTLY what are you saying!?!"
" I'LL PROVE SHE'S A GIRL!" One of them began to walk over towards Kenshin but another Demon pulled him back by his horns.
" HELL NO! I'M GONNA DO IT!"
" YOU GOT THE LAST ONE!"

The demons all grouped together, throwing angry curses and threats at each other, apparently completely forgetting about Kenshin and Thanatos. Kenshin blinked up at them wide eyed, then glanced back to Thanatos who shrugged his shoulders. They soon began to throw punches at each other and the quarrel turned into a full-fledged brawl. Kenshin stood up with a large "oro" look on his face. Then drew his Sakaba out again and raised it high in the air.
" HITEN MITSURUGI RYU…" He shouted. The brawl instantly ceased as they all looked over to him open-mouthed. "…RYU KAN SEN!"
He sent his Sakaba whistling downwards and before they knew it. Every demon found itself hurtled through the air. All going in different directions. They'd been so clumped up that one Do Ryu Sen had decimated the entire squad. Thanatos gaped as Kenshin silently sheathed his sword and walked through the sea of writhing bodies.
" For your information…" He muttered, looking down menacingly through the loose strands of red hair. " I'm a guy."
He wasn't sure if any heard him; most lay unconscious or very close to it. Kenshin looked up to the demon in the watchtower.
" Open the gate." He demanded. " Or suffer the same fate as your brainless comrades."
The demon looked about helplessly for some form of reinforcements. He knew the penalty for letting unauthorized spirits cross the bridge was too unholy to even think about. And Kenshin's punishment certainly was nothing compared to Satan's! He glowered down at Kenshin.
" Reinforcements will be here shortly." The demon spat. "They'll take care of you."
Kenshin walked over to the base of the tower. The demon following his every movement and grew pale as he unsheathed his sword.
" What are you doing?" The demon called down to him.
" Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, RYU KAN SEN!"
Again, the ground erupted below the tower and stones flew from the base in all directions. The demon shrieked as the structure shuttered under it's own weight, then slowly began to fall.
A huge cloud of dust flew up and about them and the ground shook as the ponderous tower toppled down with a huge boom.
When the dust cleared, Death found Kenshin kneeling next to the unconscious watch-demon that was partially buried under a pile of stones. Kenshin found a ring of keys and walked over to the gate swiftly.
" Himura…" Death shook his head in amazement. " I never thought--"
Kenshin smiled at him as the lock gave way and the gate opened with a creak. "Let's hurry on."
" Wait--" Death did a quick search of the bodies and came up with a heavy fur coat and a pair of well-worn boots. "Wear these."
Kenshin looked at it confused for a moment. " These--are?"
" They were one of the demons-- you need to keep warm in this upcoming quarter."
" But, what about you?"
" I can feel the cold but it will do nothing to harm me. That is the power of an immortal."
Kenshin reluctantly slipped the large coat on and then the boots on over his Tabi and sandals. The coat smelled horrendous but he knew he couldn't afford to take any chances with the state of the weather that they were about to face. The boots were about three sizes too large… but they would be adequate protection from the cold snow. Kaoru was depending on him to rescue her, he couldn't die yet.
They crossed the bridge swiftly and instantly found themselves knee deep in snow drifts. Kenshin drew the jacked closer about him, he felt the winds cold chill sting his face and cheeks. Sheltering his eyes with one hand, he set forth through the blizzard with Death close on his heels.

****

" How are you doing?" Kenshin heard Deaths voice through the howling wind. He turned back momentarily, squinting his eyes against the stinging whiteness of the snow.
" I'm ok!" He called back. " How much longer?"
" 10 hours!"
The snow blew around them in a flurry, wind whipping Kenshin's free hair about his face and neck and stinging his cheeks. But they pressed onwards with even more determination than before. They moved not only to save Kaoru, but also now to keep their own limbs from freezing up. They couldn't afford to stop. Kenshin tried to ignore the fact that he couldn't feel his toes. Even with the heavy boots he'd "borrowed" from one of the demons it was still inadequate for moving through such freezing snow for so long. And the coat he wore didn't cover his pant legs. His skin tingled until it became an unbearable itch that threatened to cramp. He gritted his teeth and tortured his muscles to keep moving… they pressed ever onwards.
The path began to taper upwards, as time passed it became steeper and steeper and snow gave way to slippery ice.
" We'd better find another way around!" Death said. The wind continued to sting them like a whip, but the snow had subsided for the moment and they could see they were at the base of a steep mountainside covered in snow and ice. It tapered up into a sheer cliff wall that extended upwards for about a mile.
" Do we need to cross this to get to the River Lethe?" Kenshin asked.
" We have to find some way around it. There's no way we're going to be able to climb up it though. We don't have any equipment for this kind of work!"
" We'll just have to be extra careful…" Kenshin turned and continued upwards.
" Wha? H-Himura! If you fall--"
" I'll die-- I know." Kenshin continued picking his way up the side carefully. He used the handle of his Sakaba to dig footholds into the ice and began scaling the Cliffside. " But if we can make it up this cliff, then it would save us a lot of time."
Death let out a long sigh and the reluctantly followed after him.
It seemed like the cliff would never end as they carefully made their way up. Kenshin's fingers were as red as his hair and just as bloody by the time they stopped at the nearest ledge. It was about two feet wide but long enough so that they could both stand and lean against the wall's edge. Death was careful not to look down. He eyed Kenshin who was slapping his hand violently against his pant legs to try regaining circulation.
" Maybe I should lead next." Death offered nervously. " Give your hands a break from seeking out those hand and foot holds."
" I'll be fine." Kenshin muttered, cupping his fingers to his mouth and blowing.
" Don't be so stubborn, what's Kaoru going to say when you tell her you lost all your fingers trying to scale a mountain to find her?"
Kenshin stopped his motion and let his hands drop to his sides and returned Death's serious gaze. He paused thoughtfully and then sighed.
" She wouldn't like it…"
" That's right."
" Ok ok-- you can lead." Kenshin gave his fingers one last warmer and then they commenced their climb.
Death was almost to the peak when they heard that familiar, bone chilling howl.
" Damn it…" he cursed under his breath as he scrambled over the ledge, and helped Kenshin up. They stood at the top, Kenshin slapping his hands against his legs again to bring back their circulation.
" What is it?"
" The Hell Hounds are back--"
Kenshin looked out over the vast expanse of white that they'd just crossed and saw the black specks moving ever closer towards the base of the cliff.
" It'll be all right though-- they can't climb cliffs can they?"
" Baka-- They'll find a way around this-- let's go…"
The downward slope was steep but not ice covered so it wasn't particularly treacherous. There were a few dead trees littering the sides of the hills and a lot of rocky outcroppings. And the best of all, they were sheltered from the wind. They walked for about a half an hour and Kenshin was relieved to be able to feel his fingers again after keeping them warm in the sleeves of his jacket.
" What's with that smile?" Death asked. Kenshin looked up at him.
" Oh-- nothing, I was just relieved…"
" About what?"
" Well--" Kenshin brought his hands up and cupped them against his mouth and blowed. " I don't have to worry about being scolded by Kaoru for loosing my fingers."
Death chuckled. " When all this is finished… what do you think you'll do?"
Kenshin was silent for a long moment; he let his hands drop to his sides. " You mean-- when I make sure that God allows her back into Heaven?"
" Yes-- you know that she won't be allowed back to earth…"
" I know-- I haven't thought of what I'd do afterwards, I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it."
Death nodded. " Just as long as you don't do stupid things…"
Kenshin blinked at him surprised. " Like?"
Death shot him a stern 'You-know-what-I-mean' gaze. Kenshin put his hands up reassuringly.
" Oh no no-- heh-- no… you don't need to worry… I wouldn't do-- umm… that."
"…Oh really?"
Kenshin sighed heavily. " It's about time I accepted her death-- and if we must separate… then I'll live the best that I can with Yahiko-- I'll make sure he grows up to be the student that Kaoru always dreamed him of being."
" What about you? What will you do for YOURSELF?"
"… I haven't thought of that yet." He said again. He walked in silence for a while before continuing. "…Honestly, it pains me to even try to imagine living a life without her. But if that's what it comes down too-- then I'll have to cope. I've been alone all my life already… both people that I'd ever dared to love have been taken from me before I ever had a chance to be truly happy with them… I think it must be my destiny…"
" …If you really believe that, then it will come true."
" Huh?"
" …So-- don't say that such bad things must be your destiny… because you shape your own destiny. "
Kenshin was silent, thinking about what Death had said as they continued walking. The path was getting steeper and Kenshin had to pick his way down with increased care.
" Watch for the patches of ice…" Death warned.
" I know--"
The dead trees grew thicker in population as they continued down. And soon they found themselves in a dense wood. A loud howl broke through the serenity of the atmosphere just behind them. Kenshin and Death whirled around to see a snowy white Hell Hound bound out from behind the trees.
" Damn it-- even here…" Death brought his Scythe forth from the folds of his cloak, snapping it into position. Kenshin brought his hand up and poised to draw his sword.
" That's not the only one-- there are more of them…" Kenshin said. " They're in the woods, watching us."
The beast stood looking down on the travelers menacingly, and then brought its head up and uttered another bone-chilling howl. It reverberated throughout the woods.
" It's letting everything know we're here!" Death cried. Kenshin narrowed his eyes as he saw a flash of white in the corner of his eye. He turned not a second too soon and whipped his sword out to bat away the Hell Hound, which had pounced on him. Others came out of hiding now, surrounding them in a tight circle. Kenshin stood back to back with Death.
" The only way to defeat these things is to hack them to pieces…" Death warned. " They're demon dogs and just chopping off legs isn't going to do any good. They'll continue biting and attacking even if they're nothing more than a head…"
Kenshin tightened his grip on his Sakaba. " But--" He hadn't had a problem with beheading the worm…" --But--" the idea of hacking some intelligent creature like this to pieces-- he just couldn't…
The scene froze before them. It was a long, lingering second before Kenshin felt an eerie trembling underneath his feet. The Hell Hounds felt it too and they looked at each other, seemingly confused as to what it was as well.
" What's that? An Earthquake?" Death asked. Kenshin looked up the mountainside and what he saw made his heart skip a beat. There was snow… and lots of it…
" No--" His voice shook as fear gripped him. The booming shake of millions upon millions of tons of snow grew louder and louder, sliding downwards in a deadly cascade. " An Avalanche!!!"

CHAPTER 28- At the Loss of an Eye

Kenshin stood dumbfounded next to Thanatos, who simply gawked. Both looking up at the vast expanse of white as it tumbled down the cliff. The Hell Hounds were gone in an instant. Thanatos turned to Kenshin, whose face had gone a sickly shade of white.
" RUN!" He grabbed Kenshin by the Gi to get him started, and Kenshin didn't need any more encouragement. They turned and half ran-half fell down the slope. The thundering roar grew ever louder but they dared not look back. They didn't want to know how close it was to the inevitable.
" CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING" Kenshin yelled at Thanatos.
" NOT WHILE IN HELL!" Thanatos shot back.
Snow slid down around their feet faster and faster; it was certainly catching up to them. Thanatos looked about desperately and spotted a narrow outcropping off to the right. He grabbed Kenshin's arm and tugged. " OVER HERE! HURRY!"
The sudden tug sent Kenshin's feet flying up from under him and he fell hard on the slick ice. The snow poured down between them. Thanatos found his bony hand held nothing and then he too was swept away by the snow.
Thanatos clawed at nothing but white snow, desperate for something that would stop him. It carried him further down the mountainside. White… it was so white-- and then black… and then white again. And he could hear only the sound of thunderous pounding… then silence… then pounding again. Then only blackness, and silence.
Kenshin searched desperately for some sign of his comrade. Of Thanatos' cloak, or the glint of his Scythe but there was only white. The pounding of the deadly cascade that engulfed him drowned his screams. He gasped for air but there was none. And just as he thought it was really over, he could suddenly breath again.
A strange sense of vertigo took him, his eyes shot open. Amongst the white powder of the snow around him, he could see downwards, he was falling. He'd slid off the side of a cliff and there was a river below him. On the other side of that river-- was a desert. Just like that-- he'd made it to the last quarter. And he was falling headfirst into the River Lethe.
" Kaoru… I'm sorry." He thought, closing his eyes he felt himself hit the surface of the water. Cold instantly stung him. Biting, chilling cold that tortured his muscles, cramping them so he couldn't even move. He could only sink downwards; he had to keep his mouth and eyes tightly shut.
" Kaoru…" He thought desperately. He flailed his arms out, beating at the water, praying to find something to hold on to that would pull him up or he could use to climb upwards with. His hands touched something soft and clammy, and it shifted at his touch. He held onto it tightly. The thing moved again more violently, as if trying to shake him from its back. But Kenshin continued to hold on.
His lungs were about to burst. Whatever it was that he held onto, it was moving upwards quickly. As Kenshin reached towards the surface he felt a strong current pushing him further upwards and then let go of whatever creature it was that he'd held onto. Still keeping his eyes tightly closed he gasped for air as he shot up to the surface, and then quickly took another breath, clamping his mouth shut.
" Kaoru…" He couldn't forget. And he was so close to finding her too-- The picture in his mind of her dimmed slightly. He'd gotten some of the water in his mouth after all.
The river was carrying him downstream now. He opened one eye slightly and saw a rock up ahead. A chance!
Kenshin slammed up against it and clung to it for all his life. The ferocious current beat at him, threatening to tear him away from his only hope for survival. He edged his way further up onto it until his face was safely away from the splash of the current.
Lying with his cheek pressed hard against the cold stone, he gave into his exhaustion, letting sleep take him as the water beat hard against his still submerged lower body. The memory of Kaoru and his mission still strongly imbedded in his mind. The River Lethe hadn't taken him yet.

***

The first thing that Thanatos sensed was the ache in his bones. He wondered what it could be. And why was he so cold? He tested his fingers, they moved stiffly. And then tested his toes; they did the same. He dared to finally open his eyes. There was nothing but white all around him. He was wedged up against something hard. First feeling with his fingers, and then tilting his head to see with his eyes, he was up against a tree. It must have stopped his decent. He remembered the last thing that had happened… the avalanche-- and he'd been separated from Kenshin. With a cry he tried to sit up but something prevented him. Something was on top of him, pressing him down.
" W-ha?" He raised his head but there still was nothing more than crystal whiteness entrapped about him. He swallowed hard as he realized he was buried under the snow. How thick? How could he dig his way out? If he hadn't been immortal-- he surely would have suffocated by now.
Then fear gripped him. Where was Kenshin? Was he in the same predicament? Death frantically tried to claw the snow away. The flakes sifted lightly down on him as he shifted his position, forgetting his soreness and set his bony hands to work. He had no time to waist! Oh God- how long had he been unconscious? He looked at his watch.
" There was five hours left…"
He called as loud as he could. " HIMURAAAAA!!!!! HIMURAAAA!!!" Then dug at the snow still more. " HIMURAAA!!"
He shouted until his voice was hoarse, continuing to dig with fevered determination. Using the tree as his guide he dug upwards. Minutes seemed like hours, and hours seemed like days-- And then he heard something very soft. He stopped and listened, cursing the sound of his own heartbeat that thundered in his ears. But softly-- faintly…he heard a voice calling.
" Where are you?" The voice came from above.
" HIMURAAA!" He didn't know if it was Kenshin. But it was help-- and it sounded human. That was good enough for him.
He dug harder now, calling more and more and the sound from above grew louder and louder. The snow he dug at grew lighter and lighter as he neared the opening.
His hand burst through the surface, not a moment later, he felt the inviting touch of another hand, which grasped his and pulled. More worked the hole larger and he was hoisted from it. Thanatos sheltered his eyes from the sudden brightness of the sky, he looked about in wonder at his rescue party. Sadly, Kenshin was not among them. The party looked no better off than the souls he'd encountered in the previous realms of Hell. They wore tattered cloaks and some had no shoes at all in the freezing cold snow. Several held shovels about them protectively.
" Thank you." He said hoarsely.
One man fell to his knees amazed. " You! You're Death aren't you!"
Death looked at him surprised. " Y-Yes…"
" I knew it!" He glanced at his companions, who turned to gawk similarly.
Another damned soul stepped forward. " But-- where is your companion?"
Death swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible. " You haven't found him? A man with red hair and a cross scar on his left cheek?"
They all exchanged glances and then shook their heads.
" He might have fallen off The Edge." One said.
" The Edge?"
" Yes-- The Edge of our quarter is a 40 foot sheer drop into the River Lethe."
Death stared at the man appalled. His heart leapt in his chest." River…Lethe?"
" Yes--It's just down that way." The man pointed downwards. " You're lucky you weren't carried over. The snow from the avalanche all fell into the river and created a natural bridge to the other Quarter."
" Thank you." Thanatos said softly before he stood up and turned to stumble down the hillside, heading towards the fearful Edge.

***

Kenshin first became aware of the faint sounds of running water. Then the hard, rough surface on which his cheek rested. He slowly opened his eyes, running over in his mind what had happened.
" What-- am I doing here? Where am I?" He blinked, noticing the water that surrounded him, and the soggy feel of his legs still submerged. It came back to him little by little. "I-- there was an avalanche and-- I fell…" He gasped as realization hit, his head shot up, he took in his full surroundings in an instant. " Kaoru!! I need to save Kaoru!"
How long had he been asleep? Where was Thanatos? He was still clinging to a large rock set near the far shore of the Bone Desert. The water was relatively still and calm, much different than he'd remembered it when he'd first fallen into the water.
He turned his head to look back and his eyes widened. There was a huge bridge of snow that suspended the entire river. The avalanche... It had blocked the violent current. What was more-- The water he sat in was surprisingly warm.
" Does the temperature change as you get closer to the desert?" He'd fallen into the Winter quarter side of the river and the water had been so cold he though he was surely going to die. He shook his head, still not remembering exactly how he ended up on this rock, only thankful that he had.
He had to get to the Desert shore-- he had to find Kaoru! Even if he'd been separated from Death, he had to move onwards, he didn't have any idea how much time he had left. And he had the most uncomfortable feeling that he was forgetting something else very important.
" My Sakaba!" He felt at his waist-- but it wasn't there. Panicking, he glanced back at the giant bridge of snow, it could be there.... Or down stream… it could be anywhere!
Kenshin clambered up onto the rock and looked down into the clear water of the River Lethe, hoping that it had fallen out of his belt when he'd hit the rock earlier. The river was shallower than he'd expected it to be. He could see the bottom, but it was still a good 20 feet down.
" Where could it be?" He squinted his eyes, searching around him and his heart jumped as a flash of light caught his attention. Kenshin looked closer and, tangled in among the weeds he thought he saw the Sakaba's handle.
Not a moment later, a huge dark shadow passed over it. Kenshin bit his lip; a river monster was the LAST thing he needed.
The only chance he would have would be to swim quietly and quickly, so that the next time the monster passed he would be able to get the Sakaba and then hopefully make it to shore before it realized him. The only problem was... how was he going to see it?
" Well-- I have two eyes…" Kenshin muttered. " But… I can see well enough with just one."
He crouched down low, waiting for the monster to make another circle, and then just as it passed over the Sakaba Kenshin slid into the water, and pushed off of the rock like a bullet. He kept one eye open and held the other closed with his hand. Within moments he had his right hand around the hilt of the sword and arched upwards towards the surface. The Saya was tightly tangled in the weeds but the sword slid free of it easily. Before he could make it to the surface he felt something brush against him and then turned underwater startled to see a giant gaping mouth closing down on him.
Without hesitation he jabbed the sword up into the roof of the Monsters mouth. The huge beast let out a piercing echo, violently shaking its head from side to side. Caught up in the current it made, Kenshin yanked out the Sakaba and kicked his legs hard to shoot up towards the surface.
The minute his head touched the air the one eye he'd used to see with went black. Still keeping the other one tightly shut; he steered his way towards the warmth of the other Quarters water, feeling the temperature getting warmer and warmer until it was getting rather uncomfortable. Within moments, he could feel the bottom of the riverbank and trudged out of the water, still clutching the naked sword tightly in one hand.
" So-- tired…" He thought as he collapsed down on the riverbank, instantly aware of the scorching heat of the sun beating down on him. He shrugged out of the soggy coat and boots. " No time for that though--"
Even if he had lost his vision in his right eye, at least he still had his memory. And it was crystal clear-- he had to find Kaoru! Forcing his weak limbs to move, he stood up and looked out at the vast expanse of Desert about him. The Bone Desert.
" Yet-- another wasteland…"

***

The heat was so intense that the water evaporated from Kenshin's clothes almost instantly, he soon found his throat parched and dry. But he continued moving, dragging his feet up one sandy dune after another…
He stopped to take a short breather as he reached the peak of a particularly high dune. Squinting his eyes in the brilliant sunlight, he looked ahead, hoping to see some sign of life. However to no avail, there was nothing but more of the same dry desert as far as he could see.
It took a while to adjust to the fact that he couldn't see anything in his right peripheral vision, but he kept telling himself that things could have been much worse. Sighing heavily, he continued his journey towards nowhere in particular. He could only hope to stumble upon some lost souls that would hopefully give him a clue to Kaoru's whereabouts.
He climbed up another dune, stopping to savoir a precious cool gust of wind. But something else caused his eyes snapped open with alarm. That wind brought with it a familiar scent.
" Jasmine…"
Daring not to get his hopes up, he lowered his gaze into the valley below. Sure enough he saw something move as he peered over the edge. There was another person just below him who was trying to climb up the next dune but wasn't getting very far. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders and her white Kimono was in tatters.
" KAORU!" Kenshin stumbled forward with such eagerness that he went head over heels and rolled down the steep sandy slope towards her.

Kaoru stiffened when she heard her name, she whirled around to see a brilliant streak of red hair and the flash of a sword as the Rurouni tumbled down the slope. He landed heavily at the bottom.
" KENSHIN!" She cried, lunging over to him. Kenshin sat up slowly, shaking his head to try and gather his senses. He looked up and was immediately knocked onto his back again as she threw her arms around him. Kaoru buried her face in his chest; sobbing uncontrollably. He felt the familiar weight of her slight frame, the coolness of her tears as she wept. " Kenshin no baka! What are you doing here?! BAKA!"
Closing his eyes, he put his arms around her comfortingly. That voice, that smell, that familiar way she fit to him and only him. " Kaoru--"
Kaoru brought her head away from his chest and looked full into his gaze, then gasped as one purple eye and one pale violet eye returned the gaze. Only the pale violet eye didn't move as he glanced up at her. " Kenshin! Your eye! What happened?"
" I'm ok- I can't see out of my right eye."
Kaoru put her hand over her mouth in shock. " How?"
" I fell into the River Lethe and sacrificed my vision in my right eye to get here."
Kaoru gasped. " You remember me though?"
Kenshin nodded and then slowly stood up, Kaoru did the same. " Yes-- I was lucky to lose only my right eye."
Now that she was standing, Kenshin could see the full extent of her state of undress. Her Obi was carelessly tied in a simple knot and didn't do a very good job of holding her Kimono together. The neck dipped in a very wide V and one sleeve was completely ripped off. The other sleeve was in tatters as well as the bottom hem. Kaoru noticed how he was staring and hastily tried to close her top. Kenshin quickly averted his eyes.
" Sorry-- I--"
" No-- It's ok. If it wasn't for those horrible Hell Hounds…"
Kenshin's gaze shot up to her again. " Nani?"
" It's my punishment to be forever pursued by them. I've gotten lucky up until now. But-- I'm so tired of running away…"
" It should be ok now! I've found you-- so… Shishio should…" Kenshin looked about him. It was true! He won the competition! But why was no one appearing? Was he really too late?
" Huh?" Kaoru blinked confused.
" I challenged Shishio that if I could find you in Hell before my time ran out, then we could go back to Purgatory together."
" You're time?" Kaoru took a moment for the fact to sink in before she understood his full meaning. She gasped, taking a step back. "OH! Kenshin-- you're a SOUL!"
"--Yes."
" Kenshin--" She frowned at him. "What did you--?"
"--It's not what you think!" He stopped her before she could finish her thought. "I didn't kill myself. Thanatos just took my soul from my body; and my body is still alive in his home in Purgatory. But it can only survive with my soul for 24 hours." His fist tightened. " I don't even know how much time I have left. It might be too late already. Thanatos has the device which keeps time."
" The watch?"
" Yeah! How do you know that?"
" Oh! Well- I… Thanatos told me." Kaoru laughed nervously then turned from him and commenced her climb up the next dune. " Come on Kenshin! We can't linger too long or the Hell Hounds will find us."
Kenshin turned to follow her; this dune was particularly steep. " Where are you trying to get to?"
" I don't know-- Just anywhere but here."
As they climbed Kenshin was deep in though. If his time was over, wouldn't Satan have showed himself? Kenshin knew how Shishio liked to gloat… Unless-- he still had some time and maybe he needed to have Thanatos with him as well to completely win the challenge. But there had been no mention of Thanatos when they'd decided on the terms! Kenshin had challenged him singularly. But-- he couldn't leave Thanatos in Hell-- unless Thanatos could just leave whenever he wanted too. He'd said earlier that Incarnations had the power to come and go from Heaven and Hell as they pleased…
That would have to do--
" Damn Shishio…" He muttered.
" What Kenshin?"
" Nothing."
Kaoru was directly above Kenshin, and just as she reached the top of the dune he jumped startled as her scream pierced the air.
" KAORU?! WHAT--"
Before he could finish his sentence she slid down the slope, crashing into him in the process and the both of them tumbled down back into the narrow valley together. Kenshin landed with Kaoru sprawled on top of him.
" Wh-What is it?!" He scrambled up, holding his Sakaba readily.
" Th-There was something…" Kaoru whimpered, holding onto his tattered Gi tightly. " --At the top…"
Kenshin put his hand over his eyes to block out the sun and squinted upwards. He could make out the faint outline of a dark figure.
" Could it be… Satan?" Kaoru shivered.
The figure brought out a familiar object and held it up so the profile was easily visible in the light. It was a Scythe.
" Thanatos!" Kenshin called out, relaxing instantly.
" Huh?" Kaoru blinked up at the figure, putting her own hand up to shield her eyes from the sun's bright light.
Kenshin chuckled as he helped her to her feet. " It's only Thanatos-- He always comes out of nowhere and scares me too…"
Kaoru smiled at him sheepishly. " Heh-- stupid me…"
" Are you ok?" Thanatos called down to them.
" Aaa!" Kenshin called back affirmatively. The recommenced their climb and Thanatos met them half way.
" I'm so relieved that you're ok." The incarnation said. "I found the coat lying by the bank and then followed your tracks." Thanatos sounded cheerful as he helped Kaoru climb the rest of the way to the top. Kenshin following close behind.
" I didn't know what had happened to you, but I knew I had to continue on to find Kaoru." Kenshin said.
" That was a wise decision. I would have died if I hadn't been immortal. How did you survive?"
" Heh--" Kenshin smiled at him. " That's a long story-- But let's just say I got out only one eye short."
Thanatos peered at him. " I see… you got some water in your right eye?"
" Yes…"
" Well-- it should be ok. We won! Where is Satan?"
" You mean there is still time?"
Thanatos looked at his watch. " Yes-- a little over an hour left."
" The bastard hasn't shown up yet." Kenshin looked about him. They were on one of the highest dunes around and there was no sign of any creature alive or dead as far as he could see.
" Ohh…" Kaoru slid to the ground, putting her hand up to her forehead in exhaustion. " Kenshin…"
" Kaoru?!" Kenshin quickly knelt down next to her. " Are you ok? What's wrong?"
Death put his bony hand on her forehead. " She's burning up! She must have heat stroke. She's been out here far too long."
" Kenshin-- do you have any water? Anything?" Kaoru looked up at him pleading.
" Ohh-- well… Let's see…" He felt around in his sleeves and came up with the flower.
" That flower again?" Death looked at it. Even through all the elements it had gone through-- it still looked as beautiful and fresh as if it had been picked only moments ago.
" It's so beautiful." Kaoru reached out to touch it, but as her fingers closed around it she screamed in pain and recoiled her hand in horror.
" Kaoru?!"
" It burned me!"
" Let me see that…" Thanatos took the flower from Kenshin. The Rurouni knelt and examined Kaoru's hand gingerly. There indeed were red swells on her fingertips.
" Kenshin--" Kaoru's eyes filled with tears. " I'm so tired Kenshin… I'm tired of all of this--"
" W-What?"
" Just stay with me here… I don't want to fight anymore-"
" Kaoru! Don't say that! We came to get you out! God will--"
She seemed to wince at the word 'God.' Then looked over at the flower again. "What flower is that?"
" Gaea gave it to me. The Incarnation of Nature."
" Gaea?!" Kaoru looked at him appalled. Kenshin wondered why she was taking so much offense. He smiled at her reassuringly and nodded.
" She's not in her right mind-- it must be the heat." He told himself.
" Kenshin!" The eagerness in Thanatos' voice turned Kenshin's attention as he held the flower out to him. " Look!"
Thanatos had opened up the petals that until now had been closed in the center of the flower. Inside the flower, at the very center, was a single drop of water.
" A drop of water?"
" No-- this is one of Gaea's tears. THIS is her real gift! The flower was holding it for you."
" A tear?"
" Give it to me!" Kaoru burst out. Both looked at her stunned. She held her burnt hand out entreatingly. " Please-- give me that drop!"
" But--"
" Please!" Kaoru pleaded again. She seemed so pitiful... Kenshin found it impossible to say 'no.' He took the flower from Thanatos' hand and dipped his finger into the flower to retrieve the tear.

The sudden attack came with a rush of wind and from the side of Kenshin's blind eye so that he had no way of knowing. It had crept up on them silently and stealthily, and pounced as Kenshin was off-guard. Before Kenshin knew it, a single Hell Hound burst over the side of the mound and pounced straight on Kaoru.
" KENSHIN!" Kaoru screamed. The Hell Hound tackled her and in the blink of an eye, both were tumbling down the side of the hill.
" KAORU!" Kenshin threw the flower to the sand and with his sword upraised he jumped down the slope after them, letting the loose sand take him halfway to the bottom. Before he landed he jumped up high in the air on the unsuspecting Hell Hound who had collected its wits and was about to pounce on Kaoru for the final kill.
" HITEN MITSURUGI RYUU, RYU TSUI SEN!"
He came down on the Hell Hound, but as it heard his battle cry it jumped out of the way just before he could connect. Kenshin crashed to the ground, hitting nothing but sand. He turned to it stunned.
" How-- it anticipated my attack!" He gaped.
" Kenshin!" Kaoru slowly sat up; her right arm was twisted at an odd angle. Kenshin felt his rage rising. How dare this beast hurt her-- HIS woman… The huge monster's fur bristled, it growled at Kenshin menacingly. It didn't seem to be after him. It was after Kaoru instead and Kenshin was the one between it and its prey.
Kenshin readied his sword and then took off in a whirlwind, ready for his upper cut technique, " Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, DOU RYU SEN!"
The Hell Hound jumped backwards, barely missing Kenshin's upper cut to its jaw. It had anticipated him again!!! Kenshin wasn't going to be fooled twice though, from his high advantage point, he thrust down hard with his sword, knocking the Hound across the head. It collapsed at the impact, shaking its head violently.
" WATCH OUT HIMURA!" Death cried. Kenshin turned to look up at Death who was sliding down the slope, about five other Hell Hounds on his tail. Kenshin cursed under his breath as he ran in front of Kaoru, ready to meet the onslaught.

Kenshin slashed with his Sakaba. These other Hell Hounds weren't nearly as skilled as that first one which had anticipated two of his special attacks. But his non-cutting Sakaba was doing little to no good against these creatures. What normally would maim did absolutely nothing-- it was like they didn't feel pain.
On the other hand, Death's Scythe flew in a deadly arch, carnage followed in its path as he chopped the Hell Hounds one after another to pieces.
" Kenshin!" Kaoru cried.
" Himura! Don't be afraid to turn your Sakaba around!" Death called as he chopped a snarling head into two. " They feel no pain and they were never alive! They are merely creatures designed by Satan! They'll wake up tomorrow morning good as new!"
" KENSHIN! ON YOUR RIGHT!" Kaoru screamed. Kenshin turned swiftly as a Hell Hound pounced on top of him.
" AHHHH!" He unleashed all of his Ken-ki, using all his strength to push upwards and somersault over so that he was now on top of the snarling beast. He jumped clear of it before it could retaliate. But as he jumped clear of the beast, he also jumped clear of Kaoru. His heart stopped as he saw the first Hell Hound that had attacked her come bounding through the spot that he'd been, it had been waiting for this opportunity to get to her.
" KAORU!"
Her frantic scream rang in his ears as the beast pounced her.
" NO!" Kenshin saw the beast sink its teeth into Kaoru's neck, "KAORU!" Kenshin was at her side in a flash. He kicked the monster off of her, sending it flying to the side. It landed hard on its side but rolled over and was on it's four feet in a flash. Kenshin held his sword up, switching sides. Yellow flashed dangerously across his one working eye.
" For Kaoru…"
" STOP!" Death commanded, intercepting Kenshin's sword with his Scythe before it could deliver the final blow. Kenshin gawked at Death, and then back at the Hell Hound which obediently lowered its head to the ground.
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Kenshin cried, his yellow eye glaring at Thanatos furiously. " It-- Kaoru... KAORU!"
" That ISN'T Kaoru!" Death cried.
There was a long pause, then Kenshin swiftly looked down at Kaoru. Her neck was completely gone, but-- she… she was still MOVING!? There was no blood; it was as if the monster had bit the neck off of a clay doll.
" That's not Kaoru! Look! There is no blood…" Death knelt next to her. The impostor looked up at him angrily.
" Damn you…" she muttered.
" Wha--? Kaoru?" Kenshin walked over to her appalled. " But-- I don't…"
" Real spirits feel pain and you would see blood if they were hurt." Death explained. "But she is not a real spirit-- she's a mere demoness… disguised to look like Kaoru… Satan almost had us fooled!"
" Humph!" She stuck her tongue out at him. " Too damn smart for your own good." Then she looked over at Kenshin; she smiled and winked at him. " Honey-- do you mind putting my head back on my body? It would be a real help."
" You…" Kenshin narrowed his eyes darkly, he tightened his grip on his sword. "Where is the real Kaoru?"
" Beats me." She chided with a laugh. " You only have one hour left ya know-- Satan was more than happy to let you wander around the desert with me for eternity-- but I guess you messed that up didn't you? Ha! Some protector YOU are…"
" SHUT UP!" Kenshin yelled, " WHERE IS SHE!?!"
" Idiot…" She snickered at him.
" Kenshin… the Hell Hound!" Death said.
Kenshin watched Death whirl around and stalk over to it, the beast lay on the ground, glowing red eyes watching him curiously.
" What about it?" Kenshin followed him.
" This thing… knew about her--"
Kenshin narrowed his eyes. " It anticipated two of my special techniques… it's not an ordinary Hell Hound."
" Do you think it knows where she is?"
" Baka's…" Kaoru's voice chided them again. Kenshin ignored her and he knelt down next to it.
" Where is she?" He demanded. The hound rose up onto its feet with a snarl, Kenshin jumped back, instantly on guard.
" Kenshin-- wait…" Death put his hand on his shoulder. Kenshin glanced back at him with his good eye, his gaze fell on the flower in Deaths hand.
" What's this for?" Kenshin held out his open palm as Death dropped the flower into it. Death gestured his head towards the Demoness, who regarded it with horror.
" W-What are you going to do with that?" The demoness demanded.
" Does this thing bother you?" Kenshin held it up. The demoness stiffened.
" This teardrop must be the key-- " Thanatos said.
" Ha!" The demoness laughed. " Only if you know what to do with it!"
Kenshin looked down at the drop for a long time; he tipped the open flower and allowed the drop to slide down the petals onto his awaiting fingertip.
" The Hell Hound-- anticipated my moves… only very few people know my moves well enough to anticipate them…" Kenshin muttered.
" What are you going to do?" Thanatos said.
Gaea's words ran through his mind.

" It will help you to see past the illusion and bring forth the reality."

"See past the illusion…"

"Bring for the reality…"

" Thanatos… put this in my eye… my blind eye." Kenshin held out his finger with the teardrop. Reluctantly, Thanatos took it.
" WAIT!" The demoness cried. " WAIT! IF YOU STAY--then…"
Kenshin glanced at her darkly.
" If you stay--" She continued. "Satan will give you WHATEVER you desire! I can take whatever form you want! I can be WHOMEVER you desire!"
" Don't listen to her-- she's only a tool of Satan." Thanatos said, Kenshin nodded.
" STOP! LISTEN TO ME! IF YOU DO THIS THEN YOU'LL BE DOOMED!" She cried.
" She's lying to you Kenshin."
" I know." Kenshin tilted his head back and Thanatos brought his extended finger up. The tear hovered just above it, and then dropped it into Kenshin's blind eye.

CHAPTER 29- Floating Forever

" STOP!" The Demoness cried. But it was in vain. Kenshin blinked a few times, his vision slowly coming back to him.
" Himura?" Thanatos asked hesitantly. Kenshin squinted his eyes, seeming confused for a moment. " Kenshin? Are you ok?"
Kenshin nodded wordlessly. He closed his left eye, so that he could only see with the one the drop had been put into. " I can see with it again."
" What do you see?"
" The truth."
"…" Thanatos watched as Kenshin stooped down next to the growling Hell hound and held his hand out to it. He instantly jumped forwards, hand extended. " Himura! What are you doing? It'll bite your hand off!"
" No—" Kenshin smiled down at it. " It wouldn't do that to me."
What Kenshin saw when he put the tear in his blind eye didn't surprise him. Instead of the Hell Hound, he saw Kaoru. She sat on the ground, her eyes pouring tears.
" Kenshin." She looked up at him earnestly. " Do you reckognize me?"
" Of course, Kaoru." He knelt next to her and put his hand on her cheek, he felt the soft skin of her cheek, and the wetness of her tears. The hound was truly just an illusion. " Satan almost tricked me."
" H-Himura??" Thanatos asked nervously.
" What do you see Thanatos?" Kenshin asked.
" You're stroking the head of that beast!"
" This is Kaoru."
" WHAT?!"
" It's her—I knew it was. She's the only one who could reckognize my attacks like that. Satan almost played me for a fool." He stood up, his eyes narrowed. "But, not any more!"
He looked over at the impostor of Kaoru. This time he didn't see Kaoru, only a horned demoness, her scaled body was red with rage.
" Where is Shishio?!" Kenshin demanded. "I succeeded in my challenge! So he has to keep his part of the agreement! I'm going to take Kaoru out of here!"
" Are you so sure you want to do that?!" The voice of Shishio suddenly spoke up in Kenshin's head. And the Demoness instantly vanished. Kenshin gripped his sword tightly, he and Thanatos looked about hastily for the Incarnation of Evil.
" Shishio!" Kenshin yelled. " Let us go back now! Release that illusion and allow us to go back as you promised!"
" Hmph… very well, I'll release the illusion." Shishio appeared before them. With a simple gesture, Kenshin could see Kaoru again with both eyes. From Thanatos's reaction, he could tell she no longer appeared as the Hell Hound. Kenshin knelt next to her, he gathered her up into his arms protectively.
" Kenshin! Oh—Thank God…" She was only able to manage to talk in a hoarse whisper. She leaned her head against his chest, allowing her tears to spill onto his Gi. " Kenshin!!!"
" Shhh…" He smiled, gently rocking her. " I'm going to take you out of here.
" Oh, well isn't that touching." Satan snickered. Kenshin regarded him with a glare not to far away from the golden eyed Battousai.
" Now, I'm taking her out of here." He said dangerously, standing up with Kaoru sitting in his arms. She kept her face hidden against his chest.
" By all means, go." Satan waved him away with one hand. Kenshin couldn't help but shiver at the smile he gave him. He was up to something.

"Satan!" Thanatos turned to him. " Where is the elevator?"
"Oh, how silly of me." Shishio smiled maniacally and then made a small gesture. A door composed entirely of bleached white bones appeared. " This will take you back, if you REALLY want to go… but I wouldn't recommend it."
Kenshin stopped his advance towards the elevator, he turned back to throw Shishio a dirty look.
" What's that supposed to mean?!" Kenshin demanded. " You SAID that if I found her, I could take her back with me!"
" No—" Kaoru's whisper was barely audible.
"K-Kaoru?" He blinked down at her, Her voice was muffled, but this time she said it again with more force.
" NO!"
" W-What's wrong? Kaoru… I thought—"
" Kenshin… you mustn't take me back with you…"
" N-Nani?" Her entire body began to shiver. " Kaoru? Are you sick? We'll fix it once we get out of here! It's ok—I'll--"
" NO!!" Kaoru cried more forcibly this time. Kenshin saw her lift her head and meet his gaze, her eyes quivered, He gasped, instead of that bottomless amethist, they were purple, much the shade of his own.
"W-What?"
" If you do… then… Ohhhh…" She clutched her stomach, her face contorted in pain. " Kenshin!!"
" S-Shishio?! WHAT did you do to Kaoru?!" Kenshin whirled on him in an instant rage.
" You should know by now, that The Incarnation of Evil never looses." Shishio let out a bone chilling laugh.
Kenshin staggered back as Kaoru violently recoiled from him. He hastily wrapped his arms about her tighter, holding her to him.
" Kaoru—what's wrong, where does it hurt?"
" NO! NO!!!" She fought against his embrace. " NO!"
" Shishio… what is the meaning of this?! This was NOT covered in our deal!" Thanatos cried.
" Exactly." Shishio snickered. " The deal said nothing about making sure Kaoru was the same angel that entered. Do you know what happens to an angel once they enter Hell?"
" K-Kaoru…" Kenshin whispered. She'd finally given up her struggle against his strong embrace. But her tears glowed now, flowing down her cheeks like two shimmering waterfalls.
" Kenshin…" she whispered. " Something… in me…"
" Kaoru?" His voice broke with worry. " What do you mean?"
" Something… evil…" She cried out and doubled over in pain. Her body shook convulsively. Kenshin hastily lay her onto the ground, he looked up at Shishio in a rage.
" Return her to normal. I don't know what you did to her, but FIX it! I DEMAND you do it!"
" Demand? Me?" Shishio laughed. " Don't be ridiculous."
" ARRRGGHH!" He charged him, breaking into a faster than God-speed. " Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, DO RYU SEN!"
He sliced through air. Kenshin's momentum carried him into the air, he crashed to the ground.
" What—happened? I KNOW I would have connected!"
" Himura!" Thanatos's voice broke through his thoughts and Kenshin instinctively rolled to the side to avoid getting skewered. He jumped up to his feet, instantly on his guard. Shishio wielded a long sword.
" No mortal has hopes of defeating me, I am an immortal."
" Then I'll be the first, since I'm the one who sent you to Hell in the first place." Kenshin's voice had a dangerous ring to it. Shishio realized that he used the form " Ore."
" Heh—" He lowered his sword. " Shouldn't you be worried about your girlfriend right now?"
" Kaoru?" Kenshin turned his head and noticed Kaoru was now hunched over in a tight ball, her face recoiled in pain.
" K-Kenshin…" Her voice sounded a bit stronger. She lowered her head, her hair spilled down over her shoulders in a black curtain. Sweat broke out on her forehead.
" Be careful Kenshin…" Thanatos cautioned.
" A-Aa…" He took a step towards her but stopped in shock as huge, black bat wings suddenly burst out of her exposed back. Ripping through her Kimono. Kaoru screamed, arching her back, her eyes opened wide.
" KAORU?!" Kenshin was at her side in an insant. " KAORU?!"
She collapsed to the ground, the shivering ceased.
" K-Kaoru!?"
" K…" She sounded as if she was trying to say her name. Her face was covered by her hair, she slowly turned her head to the side so she could glimpse him through the shiny black strands. Kenshin's voice caught in his throat as he was caught in her stare. Her eyes… glowing red eyes!
" K…" She tried again.
"This is INSANE! What have you done to her?!" Kenshin whirled around.
" I turned her into a fallen angel." Shishio smiled at him cooly. " I think it's quite an improvement."
" K…Kao…" She seemed to be trying hard to say it, Kenshin turned back to her in a panic.
" Yes! You're Kaoru! You're not—"
" Kaoru!" She finally said.
" Kaoru…" Kenshin reached out towards her, but she recoiled from his hand. It seemed that she did not to reckognize him.
" Kaoru---" She repeated. "…Is not here!"
"Nani?!"
" Not here…" She repeated, She sat up, smiling coldly at him, her eyes igniting a strange flame.
" Come here my fallen Angel." Shishio demanded.
" Don't!" Kenshin reached out to put his hands on her shoulders, with a hiss and a beat of her wings, she was out of his reach. Kenshin looked upwards helplessly. She hovered in mid-air. Her Kimono was torn around her shoulders, but still held together by her Obi.
" Come!" Shishio repeated.
She looked down at Satan, and then swooped low, circling his head before landing gracefully at his feet.
" KAORU!" Kenshin took a step towards her but stopped at her cold stare.
" Good girl." Shishio grinned. He rested his hand on her head. " So… sempai, do you still want to take her back with you?"
" Kisama…" Kenshin narrowed his eyes. " Turn her back!"
" You should have figured it out by now, no one orders Me around." Shishio grinned at him cooly.
Kenshin tightened the fist holding the Sakaba. " What will it take to turn her back?"
" Himura!" Thanatos cried. " We don't have the time for this! You need to get back to your body within 10 minutes! Just leave her here!"
" Heh—I love to bargain. It's my new favorite past time." Shishio smiled coldly. " But this time you loose. You should learn never to tangle with the devil."
" Give her BACK!"
Shishio lifted his hand from her head. " Very well, I'll give her to you, though if you take her out of Hell—I don't know what kind of havoc she may cause. She only obeys Me."
" That's NOT Kaoru!" Kenshin cried, he pointed his sword at him again, his eyes flickering dangerously. " Give the REAL Kaoru back."
Kaoru flashed an angry glare his way, she let out a low growl from the back of her throat.
" She doesn't like how you're treating me." Shishio said matter-of-factly. " I think I'll let Kaoru do what she wants to in this case. If you want a fight, I'll give you one."
" N-Nani?" Kenshin took a step back as Kaoru abruptly stood up, looking at him darkly. His heart skipped a beat as she began to advance on him slowly. The look on her face frightening him to no end. He knew that look, the look of blood lust. " What are you doing? Shishio?"
" You seemed so eager to fight, so I'm giving you your wish."
"S-Stop it!" Kenshin had never felt so helpless before. Kaoru opened her palm and a large Scythe on a long handle appeared before her. With a grin, she took it in both hands and lifted into the air with grace.
" Kenshin!" Thanatos cried.
" Kill…" Kaoru said with a grin. " I will kill you."
" Kaoru!" Kenshin made a huge gesture of lowering his sword. " I don't want to fight you!"
" Kaoru…" She repeated.
" Yes, you're Kaoru, you're no Fallen Angel!"
" Kaoru… is not HERE!" And with that she dove straight for him, swinging her scythe in a deadly arc. Kenshin ducked just in time to avoid getting his head cut off.
" KENSHIN! LEAVE HER HERE AND LET'S GO BACK!" Thanatos cried. "You CAN'T expect to beat a Fallen Angel!"
" I'm NOT leaving Kaoru!" Kenshin jumped to the side to avoid another down cut by Kaoru. She darted around in the air with perfect control, changing directions in the blink of an eye. Kenshin was already exhausted… First the swamp, then the Snow, then the desert, and now this?! There was no way he could pick up his sword against her.
" What can you do?" Thanatos pleaded. " I've tangled with a Fallen Angel! I'm not that dumb! Let's just go and come back later!"
" No way." Shishio laughed. " I shall not allow a mortal into my domain again. That was a mistake the first time."
" Kaoru! You're not like this!" Kenshin cried. He crashed low to the ground and Kaoru swooped over him. Hot blood ran down his chest, Kenshin kept his eyes glued to her movements though, it was like she defied all forces of momentum, turning and changing directions in the wink of an eye. And her Scythe—that thing seemed to act by itself.
" I'll KILL you!" She laughed, with Scythe upraised, she dove down towards him. Kenshin rolled to the side as she raked the ground where he'd just been.
" KAORU! STOP IT!"
" Himura! Pick up your sword!" Thanatos cried. " If you won't leave her, then at least put her out of her misery!"
" N-Nani?"
" Look! Don't you see?"
Kenshin looked up and saw the glowing tears in her eyes. They ran down her cheeks, clashing with the look of pure hatred that she gave him.
" Kaoru…" He picked up his sword. Those tears… inside, she was crying…" She's still there—only trapped."
" Ah, so you will try and fight back now? Interesting." Kaoru smiled cruelly down at him. Kenshin stood facing her fully, he returned her gaze with determination.
" What are you going to do? Himura?!" Thanatos watched in amazement.
Kenshin made as if he was sheathing his sword, only without his sheath. He held the hilt tighlty, his battle cry ringing out loud and clear as he charged her. Kaoru, with her scythe whirling in a deadly arc, dove down towards him, her call seemed like the call of a fierce bird of prey. They closed in on each other in moments. Thanatos winced at the thundering sound of the ring of metal as the two weapons clashed.
It was like time stopped in that moment. Kaoru still hovering in the air, Kenshin's sword raised up above his head. The glint of metal brought both back to the present as Kaoru scythe broke with a loud crack. The blade flew up and imbedded itself in the ground beside Thanatos, carried by it's momentum. The power of their collision sent her crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, Kenshin threw down his sword and jumped onto her back, he knee grinding in between her desperately beating wings. He grabbed both her arms and pinned them in back of her.
" KAORU!" He cried. " I KNOW you're still there!"
" LET GO!" She screeched. Her wings beat fiercely against him, but Kenshin took the beating, he lent all his strength to keeping her on the ground.
" Ha ha!" Shishio laughed. " She's no longer Kaoru! How long are you going to try and deny that?"
Kenshin ignored him. " KAORU! IT'S KENSHIN! REMEMBER ME!?!"
She screeched like a wounded bird. It didn't seem as if she heard or even understood him.
" Please…" Kenshin thought. " Please! Let her remember me! Let her remember herself!"

Suddenly he was aware of a strange warmth. It washed over him and a feeling of déjà vu took him, he'd experienced that warmth before. It was like the time she'd held him in her arms in Rakininmura to comfort him. Yes—it was like that. But, where did it come from? Looking around confused, he realized a brilliant white light surrounded them both.
" Wh-Where?" The light came from above, breaking through the clouds like a huge white beacon.
" WHAT?!" Satan took a step forward, his eyes open wide in shock. " What is THIS!?"
Kaoru stopped her struggle, she went slack underneath him, her glowing tears slowly turning back to normal.
" K-Kaoru?" Kenshin gingerly let her arms go, watching in awe as the sharp bat wings shimmered and vanished. His heart skipped a beat. " Kaoru!? Daijobu!?"
" Mmmm…" She opened her eyes. Relief took Kenshin when he reckognized the familiar reflective pools of blue. He could see himself reflected in them. She lifted her head ever so slightly. " W-What happened?"
" Don't move." Kenshin hastily tried to support her as she struggled to sit up.
" My body—it's so sore!" She winced and put her hand to her head. " What happened?"
Kenshin remembered how she'd crashed to the ground, and guilt washed over him. She must have hit her head in the process.
" COME!" Shishio demanded. He extended his hand towards her. Kaoru took one look and then shrank back away from him.
" Kenshin!"
They were still in the aura of the light. Shishio seemed to be trying to summon her but wasn't doing a very good job. Gritting his teeth, he strode forward, but the light was like a barrier, he couldn't enter.
" What IS this!?" He shot an accusing look at Death. Thanatos shook his head and shrugged.
Another womans voice answered for him…
" This is the Light of God."
Thanatos reckognized it instantly. A woman materialized before Kenshin and Kaoru, she stood within the light, looking out at Shishio with her arms crossed and a smile on her face. " Fate!"
Fate was in her middle aged aspect. She turned towards Kenshin and then looked down at Kaoru. " I see that you've found her and she's all right. That's good news."
" Fate?" Kaoru looked at her questioningly. Kenshin put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and held her to him. Kaoru melted at his touch, closing her eyes contentedly. She would question Fate and everything that had happened later. At the moment, she just wanted to be held.
Fate nodded with approval at the two, then turned to Satan with a smirk.
" Looks as though I came just in time."
" Fate! What are you doing here? You have no business here!" Shishio growled under his breath.
" Au Contraire." Fate corrected with a catty smile. " God has decided to review Kamiya-san's court appeal. So she's to be brought back to purgatory until the trial takes place. Her sentence is postponed until that time."
" WHAT?!"
Fate nodded her confirmation. " It's true. So don't be such a sore looser."
" This is outrageous!" Shishio shouted angrily. " God and I are on the same level! He doesn't get to take her from me."
" Her case is on God's jurisdiction, not yours… Oh!" She tossed him a rolled up scroll. " You're also being called for Jury Duty. Don't be late!" Shishio caught the scroll, his face turning red with rage.
" Fate! This ISN'T over yet!"
" Maybe not for you." She turned away from him, ignoring the string of curses which followed her remark.
" Ne—what now?" Kenshin looked at her questioningly.
" Hold her tightly, Himura-san." Fate smiled at him.
Kenshin stood up with Kaoru sitting in his arms as before. In the blink of an eye, he realized that he was no longer on the ground. Amazed, he looked down to see he was floating slowly upwards. As if his body was suddenly lighter than air, soft, warm hands were lifting him upwards.
" We're going back to purgatory." Fate explained. She looked down and gestured to Thanatos. " You're not just going to stand their gawking are you?"
Thanatos entered the wall of light and instantly found himself floating up with the other three.
Kenshin risked a glance back down at Shishio. The Incarnation of Evil threw him one last Death Glare, then disappeared in a burst of flame.

Kaoru's senses were slowly returning, a strange sensation enveloped her that she couldn't quite pinpoint… what was it? She was warm, and she was in the arms of the one she loved. Then, she remembered, that familiar feeling of being lighter than air, when she'd been a Guardian Angel and could walk on air with no difficulty at all. She was floating!
" Could this be a dream?"
Cautiously, she opened her eyes, afraid that the sensation would disappear. But it was there, and it was real. She found herself staring into Kenshin's bare chest, his Gi ripped and tattered from the ordeals he'd been through in Hell. Blood dripped from a slim wound angling down from his shoulder.
" Kenshin?" She said softly.
" Kaoru…You're awake?"
"Kenshin, what happened to you?"
Kenshin gave her a reassuring hug. " Everything will be ok. We're going back to Purgatory, I'm taking you away from this place."
" Kenshin…" She shivered and snuggled into him, images of her experience came back to her. She'd been all alone in the dark, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness as she screamed at the top of her lungs and no one would listen. No one cared. Pain, Anguish. Emptyness…

That was Hell.

" Do you remember now?" He said softly.
Wordlessly, she nodded her head. " It was so horrible. Kenshin—I don't ever want to go through that again!"
" Shhh… It's ok. You won't, I'll protect you."
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself up so that she could see his face. She leaned in close to his ear.
" We're both floating." She whispered.
" Aa—" His body shook with a silent laugh. Kaoru drew back so she could gaze into his eyes fully.
" I want to float like this with you forever."
He reached up and put his hand to her cheek, it was pink from crying. Her eyes were still moist and red around the rims, but she was beautiful nonetheless. He couldn't help but smile, she was safe. He'd saved her. He hadn't failed. And she was in his arms again.
" Kenshin…what's so funny?"
" Nothing."
" Mou…" She managed a pouty look, it only made his smile broaden.
" Kenshin?"
" Oro?"
" Where are we going now?"
" We're going to Death's home first, I need to get back into my body, or I'll remain a soul forever."
Kaoru's eyes widened.
" Don't worry—we'll make it." He smiled reassuringly. His hand slid down from her cheek to hold her chin between his thumb and forefinger. Kenshin guided her face up towards his and Kaoru closed her eyes, she felt his warm lips touch hers. Her embrace instantly tightened about his shoulders.

" I want to float like this forever…"she thought to herself. " Forever…"

[End oif Part 6]

Continue to Part 7?