DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or ANY of the characters therein. Those characters are copyrights of Watsuki Nobuhiro and/or Sony, etc… In short, They aren't mine.
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Motive


Yui stepped out of the restaurant onto the busy street. She walked slowly down the street. It had been almost four years since she'd left her master. She walked east, toward Tokyo. "Maybe there I'll find him…Hitokiri Battousai…The man whose failure has tormented Shishou for years. When I kill him, then I can rid him of that pain for good." She thought as she walked down the street. She noticed something watching her. She looked up to find a lone man, leaning against the side of a building.

"So you finally came through here, eh? Took you long enough." The man said.

"Do I know you, sir?" Yui said, keeping her hand close to her hidden sword.

"No," He said, stepping away from his place against the wall. He stepped in a very deliberate manner, making sure every step was intimidating. "I've been looking for you for some time." He said.

"I think you've made a mistake." She replied, tucking her hand beneath her obi and grasping her sword. The movement didn't go un-noticed.

"The woman who fights like Hitokiri Battousai, and has killed three men." He was three or four meters away from her, staring directly into her soul. Yui had never fought someone who could read her like this, it disturbed her. She stopped her hand, and stared back, but the more she looked, the more she felt him eating at her mind. they bolted toward each other at the same time, drawing their swords and colliding them together in front of them. A sharp ping sound rang out, Yui slid past, and turned to ready herself for another pass. But something was wrong, Her sword, it seemed lighter. She gave a quick look at her sword, the blade was fractured and crumbling. He lunged for her again, swinging his sword in a single fluid circle. She defended, seeing shimmers fly from her injured blade.

"Ahhhhrrrggg! Ryu Sho Sen!!" She screamed, rising her sword toward his throat. He leered toward her, and used the hilt of his sword to deflect the attack. She brought her sword straight down from its deflected position. He guarded again. Then stepped back and swung an attack that followed an 'S' shape in air, then sliced at her throat. She guarded for the last time with her sword. The end piece flew off and stuck in the wall nearby.

"Is that all? I thought you'd be more of a challenge." He said.

"I'm not through yet." She said grabbing his forearm.

"Nani?!" He said quickly, as she pulled him forward, and slammed her elbow into his forehead. He fell backward landing with a thud on the ground.

"Stop!! Don't move, You're under arrest!!" Three police officers yelled from the end of the street.

"Another time perhaps." She said, turning and running away from them. Her attacker sat up and watched as she ran out of sight. "You can't get away from me Hiko" He thought.

"Don't move!!" One of the policemen said, holding his sword at the man. He looked up at the officer, and smiled.

"It's you're lucky day, Today you get to die quickly in the line of duty." He said gripping his sword.

Blood drops


Kenshin hurried down the street toward the Kamiya home. He'd had feelings like this before, they usually ended in disaster. The closer he got to the house, the worse his feelings got.

"I smell blood." He thought. He slowed to a walk as he approached the front gate; it was open. "Kaoru Dono!" He called as he stepped through the gate. He looked down; there was a line of blood drops leading from the dojo, out the front gate.

"They must've gone to the doctor" He thought. This actually relieved him a little. He turned and ran along the path of the blood drops. They led up the street then to the left, and all the way to the bridge into downtown. Then they crossed the bridge and turned right down the street that runs by the river, then a left through an alley.

"Whoever took this route knew enough to avoid the afternoon crowds." The alley ran straight across to the doctors office. He ran across The street and up the four steps and slid open the door. He drew in a breath to call out Kaoru's name.

"Shhh," Yui said, putting her hand gently over his mouth. "Megumi San is doing her best, She doesn't need distraction Kamiya San."

"Kaoru Dono?" Kenshin said softly; Yui nodded.

"But I think she'll be ok, She's strong and Megumi San is a good doctor." Yui said reassuringly. He stepped over to the operating room door, and slid it open a bit. Megumi was standing in front of her, but he could still see Kaoru's face. She was pale, and the look of pain was still present on her face, even though she was unconscious.

"Kamiya San, her wounds are serious, she'll need to stay here for a few days. We should get her some clean clothes." Yui said, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"Kaoru Dono…" He said softly. he'd gotten used to being the one who always protected or saved her, but now there was nothing he could do. Her life was in Megumi's hands.

"I almost forgot, Ayame Chan found her, I didn't notice until we got here that she hadn't come with us. We need to look for her too."

"…hai" he said softly, turning slowly. He literally had to force his eyes off of her. He turned slowly and headed out the door.
The Demon Sword


Kenshin and Yui walked slowly down the now dark street. Yui was searching for something to say, but she couldn't come up with anything.

"Ayame Dono is probably still there, it can be traumatic for a child to see something like that. Especially when it happens to some one so close." Kenshin said, still distracted by Kaoru's condition.

"What can I say? I think he deserves to know why his wife was nearly murdered. But how will he react? I am responsible for her being hurt so badly. I have to tell him." Yui thought. She stopped and stood there for a moment before Kenshin noticed.

"Yui Dono, What's the matter?" He asked looking back at her; her hair shadowed her eyes.

"Kamiya San…it's my fault Kaoru San was injured." Kenshin's eyes flew wide open in shock.

"Yui Dono?!"

"I know who did that to her. His name is Mori, He was with Shinsen gumi at the time of the Bakumatsu. Now he goes by the nickname Demon Sword."

"But why did he…"

"I met him a few years back in Osaka. We fought, but were unable to finish our fight. He blames me for his son's death." She said softly.

"What happened to his son?" Kenshin asked.

"Mori was a division captain, but he and his wife had a son years before. Mori taught his son Kenjutsu, and after the Bakumatsu, persuaded him to join the police. He was assigned to Kyoto at the same time I was beginning my journey. We met, and I,…I killed him." She said, softer.

"You killed him? In self defense?" Kenshin asked.

"Defense or offense, It doesn't matter, I killed him. He was an excellent swordmaster, but he was using a western sword, and it broke. I was younger, and less experienced. I killed him the first chance I got. Mori vowed to hunt me down and kill me, he told me he's sold his soul so he can kill me." Kenshin instantly remembered, "Aoshi." "That's why he attacked Kaoru San, to get to me. I have to face him now, you're all in danger as long as I stay." Kenshin stopped walking, and turned to his side, and looked out over the river.

"But It's still not your fault. He's the one who brought the fight to the Kamiya Dojo." Kenshin said.

"No, I can't let you fight him, He's too strong for you." She said, looking him straight in the eyes. Kenshin only turned back toward her smiling.

"Thank you for caring about me Yui Dono, but I'll be fine. I will stay with you until he comes for you." He said. She gazed into his eyes for a moment. There was no hint of vengeance in them. She nodded, knowing when the time came, she wouldn't let him fight. "Do you know where he is?" he asked her.

"No, But I'm sure he'll find me when he's ready." She responded.

"Well, we'd better hurry and find Ayame Dono." Kenshin said, continuing across the bridge.

The calm before the storm


Ayame sat motionless in the center of the dojo, gripping Kaoru's Bokutou tightly. There were no tears though, no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't cry. She sat, listening to the sound of nothing, in the center of the dojo, on her knees.

The sound of the footsteps caught her attention, but she didn't move. The footsteps grew closer. "Both in zôri, both around the same weight, one in a yukata, the other in a gi and hakama. One's carrying a sword, Ken-nitan…and probably Yui San."

"Ayame Dono?" Kenshin said as he stepped through the door. Ayame didn't move. He ran toward her, worried that she was hurt. "He's crying" Ayame said hearing tears hitting the well cleaned floors.

"Ayame Dono." He repeated, dropping to his knees in front of her. She looked up at him.

"Are you alright?" he asked, smiling, tears streaming down his face. Ayame finally managed to start crying.

"K…Ken-nitan…" She said, dropping into his arms. "Oniisan is, she's…"

"No, Megumi Dono is helping her, She'll be alright." Kenshin said, partly to comfort her, and partly to reassure himself. Kenshin stood up and started to pick her up, but she stopped him.

"I can walk, Ken-nitan, you don't have to carry me." She said standing up. "I'll go and see if I can help Megumi San." She said, turning and slowly walking out the door.

Kenshin went back into her room, and slowly poked around in her clothes. He pulled out a kimono, and gazed upon it.

"She wore this when we went to Yokosuka, She always looked good in it." He said, smiling. Yui stood quietly watching him. He picked out a quiet Yukata and folded it over his arm. Then a western style nightgown. "She bought this after we were married. She loves to dress up you know." he said, turning to Yui. She smiled in return. He draped it over his arm also. Then he reached down, picking up two clean pair of tabi. "This should be enough for a while, I can come back and get more when she needs it." He said, turning to Yui.

"We shouldn't spend too much time here." Yui said; Kenshin nodded.

They made their way out the door, closing the gate behind. Neither one spoke as the walked slowly in the night air back to the doctors office. Suddenly Kenshin stopped, and looked back.

"What is it?" Yui asked.

"I forgot her underwear." He said softly, blushing a little. Yui smiled. "He's married and it's still embarrassing for him." She thought.

"I'll get them, Kamiya San." She said, turning and running back before he could do anything about it. He stood there for a second or two alone in the street. Then he slowly turned and continued on.

Yui trotted back up to the gate, and pushed it open. She walked up the steps and into the dojo. And headed for the back, when a shadow caught her attention. She stepped back, facing the curious shadow. It lit a cigarette, and used the match to light one of the lanterns hanging in the dojo.

"Mori…" She said, glaring at him.

"You're faster than I thought, I just sent you the message and you're here already." He said, grinning.

"What gave you the right to attack this innocent woman just to get to me?" She yelled.

"You won't stay still long enough, I had to make idle threats to innocent people to trip that discipline of yours. That girl was just unlucky enough to meet you." He replied.

"You son of a bitch." She yelled at him. "This time, I will kill you."

"Yui save the compliments for Enma." He said, dropping his cigarette, and drawing his sword.

"Lets go!" Yui yelled.



Kenshin finally made it back to the doctors office, where he found Ayame just entering.

"Ayame Dono." He called out, She turned to him with a blank look on her face. Kenshin's Ki realized she'd seen the man who'd nearly killed Kaoru. Ayame Dono!" He yelled again, running up to her. The door to the doctors office slid open, and Sano and Yahiko stepped out to see what the commotion was about. Ayame dropped to her knees.

"He said…He told me to tell Yui San…To meet him where the girl was found." She said. Kenshin dropped Kaoru's things, and took off back down the street.

"Kenshin! Oi Kenshin!!" Sano yelled running after him.

"Hey Don't leave me here with the girls." Yahiko yelled following.

The Bloodthirsty blade of
The Demon Sword


Kaoru awoke with a start, nearly sitting up; something inside her could feel the tension Kenshin felt. It took both Megumi and Tae to force her back down.

"Kaoru Chan you have to lay back down, Megumi San isn't finished!" Tae yelled.

"B…But…Kenshin…" She protested weakly, before falling back down to the bed. She turned her head slightly to Megumi. Kenshin…I have….to stop them…he's going to…fight…." She passed out.

"What's she talking about?" Tae asked, picking the lantern back up.

"She's delusional." Megumi said softly, continuing to tend the deep wound in Kaoru's gut. "I'm sorry Kaoru San, I know he has to fight her, but there's nothing either of us can do about it now." Megumi thought.


The sound of steel striking steel pinged in the air as Kenshin approached Kamiya dojo. Yui had cut her kimono down the front, to allow herself better movement. She landed softly after evading one of Mori's attacks.

"You think you're safe there?" He yelled, plowing across the floor. "My Gatoutsu can find you anywhere." He said, launching the sword forward. She twisted to avoid it, slashing at his neck. He ducked, turning his blade and sliced at her waist. She escaped with a high jump.

"Ryu Tsui Sen!" She yelled, brining her sword down. He raised his sword, angling it over his shoulder. She slammed Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's full force down on the sword. He stepped to the right, and twisted his sword, so her blade's edge was touching the broad side of his sword. It slid down the length of his katana, and off onto the floor. She landed with a shock, "He's never done that before." Yui thought. Without having to change position at all, Mori stabbed down at her, sinking his katana deep into her leg.

"Yui Dono!!" Kenshin yelled, bursting through the door. She looked up at him, still clutching her leg. Mori, glared at her.

"Now you die." He said, raising his sword. Kenshin bolted forward, as fast as he could, he kept his hand ready to draw his Sakabatou. Sano and Yahiko hurried up the stairs, to the open dojo door.

"Don't get in my way little man." Mori said, turning the sword to Kenshin.

"Kamiya San!" Yui yelled, expecting to see him die.

::DING::

Right before Yui's eyes, he drew his Sakabatou with lightning speed, knowing exactly where and how to defend Mori's attack. Mori looked at him in a new light. "His Ki is strong, stronger than Yui's" He thought.

"This dojo stands for peace and non-killing, I won't let you kill anyone here." Kenshin said, in his usual stern yet soft voice. Mori noticed his sword and looked up at him, grinning.

"What kind of an idiot are you, to have a sword that can't hurt anyone?" He said chuckling a bit. He drew his sword back from the Rurouni, and took a less offensive stance. "There's too many kids here, I'll just have to kill you later." He said to Yui, taking a step forward. Kenshin shifted his Sakabatou, putting it directly in Mori's path. He looked over at Kenshin. "Do you want to die, boy?"

"I can't let you leave. You see, the woman you attacked here, was my wife, and I'd like for that matter to be taken up by the police. But I don't think you'll go quietly."

"So you want to fight me?" He asked, again chuckling.

"No Kamiya San, You don't know how good he is." Yui said, neither Kenshin nor Mori listening to her.

"If I can't fight then what have you got to lose?" Kenshin said. Mori looked at him, trying to figure him out. "I know he's good, but then why didn't he counter when he defended my attack before. He must be good, but he must also be stupid."

"Come on, Kenshin's challenged you, Are you just gonna stand there, or are you going to fight him?" Sano said, grinning widely. Mori smirked, and stepped back.

"Alright." He said, mirroring Kenshin's steps until they were on opposite sides of the dojo. Kenshin took the standard pacifist stance. The whole dojo was totally quiet. Yui finally was able to stand, She took a step toward Kenshin.

"You don't have to worry about him, Kenshin can take care of himself." Yahiko said, smiling.

"But Mori was Shinsen gumi, They were top notch fighters… It's everything I can do to keep from getting killed." She replied.

"Yui San, Lemme patch up that leg before you bleed to death." Sano said. Yui continued to watch the two men, as Sano tore off part of his shirt to bandage her leg.

"Is he really this calm, or is he using his Ki to mask his emotions? No matter, Nothing can stop my Gatoutsu." Mori thought. "Here I come." He said, leaning toward Kenshin, pushing his sword in front of him.

"Gatoutsu!" Both Sano and Yahiko said simultaneously. Mori sped across the floor A few steps away from him, Kenshin shifted his upper body to the right. Mori countered, by twisting his blade, and following. Kenshin ducked, and started his spin to counter the Gatoutsu. Mori smirked. As Kenshin brought around his sword, Mori ducked. Kenshin swung past his target. And Mori launched an upward stab at Kenshin.

"Kenshin!!" "Kenshin!!" "Kamiya!!"

Kenshin leaned back as fast as he could seeing Mori's attack in slow motion, he watched as the blade slid through his gi and grazed his chest. He turned his head, and leaned back more, as the sword slid up his throat, barely touching. He practically fell backward to avoid it, only catching himself with his Sakabatou. Mori grinned, exposing his rotten teeth.

"Did you think you could beat me using Yui's counter?" Mori said, angling his sword to stab Kenshin's back. He lunged for Kenshin.

"KAMIYA!!!"*

*This was a take on Kaoru always yelling "Kenshiiiin!!" I figured some one had to yell something close.

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