A RIVAL FOR KENSHIN Chapter VIII: The Final Fight

My dear friends, we open our next chapter by going back to the scene where our Kenshin just witnessed Yujiro's marriage proposal to Kaoru, and Kaoru tearfully accepting. Now this was pretty intense scene for the Battousai to see, not to mention literally heartbreaking. Well, at least for our Kenshin for he now feels this stabbing pain in his chest and he's finding it hard to breath. Of course when he saw the situation, Kenshin thought that Yujiro was proposing to Kaoru because a gun was pointed at his head and this could be his end. And Kaoru of course was near tears because the man she loves finally proposed to her.even as they face death together, she probably doesn't care. Kenshin closed his eyes for a while, feeling the agonizing fact that he had lost Kaoru forever. A part of him hated himself for keeping his true feeling for Kaoru. "Why didn't you just tell her that you loved her!" Kenshin scolded himself, while his hitokiri instincts unconsciously assessed the situation. He took a deep breath and steeled himself, and gritted his teeth, voiding himself of all emotions before walking on, revealing himself to the party in the inner cave.

The arrival of Kenshin certainly surprised everyone, Kaoru most of all. Kaoru was not surprised by the fact that Kenshin was there to save her, in truth she was actually expecting him. But Kaoru was surprised at the way Kenshin looked. His eyes were yellow, and almost like..they were not the eyes of her Kenshin, but the eyes of Battousai!!! No, even worse than the eyes of Battousai for these eyes were cold and..dead! "Oh Kenshin what's wrong!" Kaoru wanted to ask but she couldn't move or breathe properly as the gun was now pointed at Kenshin's chest. Seeing it pointed at Yujiro scared her, but seeing it pointed at her Kenshin..(like the many times she'd seen Kenshin near death) Kaoru felt herself slowly dying a little inside.

"I don't care!" Kaoru thought. "I don't care about your other woman. I don't care if you love her more! You said you wanted another chance and I'm wiling to give it you. And I need you too much, more than I thought, now more that ever! I love you Kenshin..please, please be safe!" Kaoru's heart cried all these out to Kenshin, but Kenshin seemed oblivious to her, and to Yujiro. It's like all his senses were focused on the enemy..Barkley. Kaoru looked at Barkley, the smirk on his face was gone, and large beads of sweat was forming on his forehead. He must've sensed it too.the raw, primitive danger that Kenshin presents. "So you're the one those stupid assassins told me about! Back off you stupid samurai or you're dead!" Barkley literally whined like a scared pup!(hehehe..I've waited for a long time to say that^_^)

Kenshin didn't flinch. He didn't even react to Barkley's words. He just stood there holding the hilt of his sword and eyeing Barkley like a great beast about to devour his prey! Now Barkley, being the villain, all of a sudden was forced to use his brains for once, then realized that the samurai was here for the girl! He smiled slowly, knowing he now had an edge over his enemy and quickly grabbed Kaoru and before Kenshin or Yujiro could move, slammed the gun point on Kaoru's temple!

This woke Kenshin up like icy cold water. He could live giving Kaoru up to another guy...maybe one day he could even learn to accept it, but he can't take it if Kaoru..if Kaoru.Rats! He couldn't even bring himself to think the word! "Please" Kenshin prayed silently, "I don't care what happens to me, but let Kaoru live!" At this point, Barkley laughed out loud. "Put your sword down on the ground, samurai!" Barkley barked and Kenshin took his sword out and slowly laid it on the ground. He saw Yujiro moving, with the corner of his eye. Barkley seemed too concentrated on him that he had forgotten about Yujiro! Reading Yujiro's movements, Kenshin primed himself up for his turn.

Barkley smiled icily. He took no second thoughts as he pointed the gun straight at Kenshin's heart..and fired!!!!

But Yujiro was able to pounce on Barkley at that point and so the bullet missed its original target..(*sigh* that scared me for a sec.hehehe)

Yujiro, angry and really annoyed with our main villain began to rain punches on him, as Barkley had dropped the pistol...his only advantage. Kenshin, on the other hand, jumped up and carried Kaoru away from Barkley and Yujiro lunged at him. His only concern was for Kaoru's safety. Somehow he knew Yujiro could handle that thin English man until he.Kenshin would return. Right now, he had to get Kaoru away from that gun!

Kaoru froze as Barkley aimed the gun at Kenshin...and almost blacked out from fear when she heard the loud BANG of the gun. She closed her eyes and did all she could do...pray hard to all that is holy that her wanderer would be safe. "Please, Please..." she begged. But things began to happen too fast. First she felt herself falling as Barkley's grip on her had loosened. Then, strong yet gentle arms caught her and literally swept her off her feet!!! Kaoru didn't need to open her eyes to know whose arms they were. She knew him by heart. His firm muscles. His gentle touch. His masculine scent...Her love. Her life. Her Kenshin...

"Kaoru talk to me! Are you alright?!" Kenshin said when he reached the outer cave and he softly stroked Kaoru's cheek. Kenshin, was worried that she might have been hurt because she still kept still and she had not yet opened her eyes. (Of course we all know that Kaoru was just enjoying the moment of being cradled in the arms of the one she loved...hmmm, I would too if I were her - hehehe just commenting^_~..aaarrrherrrmm So.) Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Kenshin. He appeared so concerned for her and there was no trace of the coldness in his eyes anymore..just her.mirrored in his now shining eyes.

Kaoru smiled and blushed as Kenshin began to bend towards her. Lower...and lower.and(ooooops, errr sorry folks but we have to leave them for now and go back to the other scene with Yujiro and Barkley)

Well Yujiro was already winning the fistfight and Barkley could barely move, but he is the villain so he does what is expected of him..he cheats!!! Barkley grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at Yujuro's eyes, "Arggghhh!" Yujiro said as he vigorously rubbed his stinging eyes! This gave Barkley a chance and he hit Yujiro violently across the face knocking him down. Barkley then headed towards the gun that he dropped.

Yujiro, knowing this, abandoned the use of his eyes temporaily and concentrated on all his other senses. He is after all a student of the Kamiya Dojo and he was trained not only to see with his eyes. He could feel Barkley going away. Yujiro's memory told him Barkley was heading towards the gun and he could hear Barkley's every movement clearly and Yujiro could also feel the man's thirst for blood.his blood!!!! Barkley smiled as his fingers felt cold steel. "You're dead you little pest!" he thought as he turned towards Yujiro.

Outside the opening of the cave, a bruised and bandaged Sanosuke and Yahiko came into the picture. "They were a tough bunch but we taught them not to mess with us right?!" Yahiko said smiling proudly. "Yeah, yeah" Sano said sounding bored, but he too was proud and smiling deep down. But their exhilaration was short-lived as they heard a loud thunderous sound coming from within the cave, almost in unison with Kaoru's.....blood curdling scream!!!!!!!

A/N: Eh minna-san, it looks like I have another chapter to go before this story ends ^c^ so stay tuned to find out what happened inside the cave...(I'll give you a hint hehehe..Nah!!!) errrr.that wasn't me, honest!!!! That was the NARRATOR/annoying yet lovable pest - who happens to be very much a part of the story^_^ heehee.