Disclaimer: RK is not mine, blah, blah.

Note: This fic is AU and begins from the end of the Seissou Hen, and involves elements of established fantasy genres.

Heaven's Dragon is Reborn

Sano stretched out on the front of the dojo, as he always did so long ago, with Kenshin sitting quietly and peacefully beside him. The taller man rubbed the coarse hair that covered his face, chuckling and shaking his head. "This is just like old times, eh Kenshin?"

The purple eyes sparkled and his contentment shone clearly. "Indeed it is, Sanosuke." Kenshin's expression softened, and turned contemplative, thinking about Junzo and his purpose. Kenshin frowned slightly and glanced over at Sano. "Sano, it may be quite abrupt, with your return to Japan and all now but I have to tell you something."

Sano scratched his head, a smile gracing his face, and the ever-present fishbone between his teeth. "Heh, sure, sure, you know me." He chortled. "Wait, don't tell me, you're going to go get your sakabatou back from Kenji and Yahiko and take up Hitten Mitsururi Ryuu once more to banish some maniac?" He laughed out loud as he finished, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Yes, that's right."

Sano's laughter stopped, his face frozen in a mask of laughter and surprise. "You're kidding me." He managed to say, staring at the redhead incredulously.

This time it was Kenshin who smiled, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips.

Sano stood up suddenly with a mien of astonishment and anger. "You can't do this! You're not fit enough to go out and fight, I mean you're sick and all…" At that moment Sano looked close at Kenshin, with his index finger outstretched. He pressed the finger into the side of Kenshin's face, poking the hapless examination subject. After a few moments of Sano's scrutiny, the man straightened a hand scratching his head. "Gee, Kenshin, you look good for a guy who's dying of illness."

"Ah…Sano, I'm cured."

Sano didn't seem too hear and began another round of inspection. Poking Kenshin's arms and back. "Whoa, your muscles seem to have gotten better, they don't feel like a mash of strings anymore."

"Ah..Sano."

"I mean, for a guy who's pushing past forty you're okay you know. Especially with that sickness and all."

"Sano…"

"I know!" The fighter smiled a hand raised in the air, then pointed straight at the swordsman's face. "Kenshin, you're cured!" Sano laughed at his declaration, while the former rurouni face-faulted.

"Orooo…"

The bells of the Akabeko's entrance chimed softly as a new customer entered. Despite the relative noise, the woman who managed the place, Sekihara Tae managed to hear it and welcomed the newcomer. Her expression faded slightly when she saw whom it was, and a frown of puzzlement appeared on her face. The tall man, dressed in dark pants and a buttoned shirt took a seat at the side. He pushed back up his dark glasses, tapping the table.

Tae shrugged, and went towards the inner part of the restaurant. She called out to a youthful lad and told him to help and get the new customer's order. The boy quickly wiped his hands and walked out, his head turning here and there until he caught sight of the man Tae had mentioned. He strode up to him and flashed a polite smile, as he was told to do. "Good noon sir, what would you like to have?"

The man, who was looking out through a glass window murmured something indistinct before turning to look at the boy. As he saw the lad, his eyebrow was raised in a faint gesture of surprise. He mumbled something else, the only part which was understandable being, "…just like Himura…"

The boy frowned in annoyance. "Your order, sir?"

The man's expression faded, becoming a clouded and unruffled one. "Chrysanthemum tea, and some…no, never mind. Just the tea, that's all." The boy shrugged and turned around, making his way back to Tae. The man stared at the boy's back, a faint smile of amusement adorning his lips.

Kenji shook his head, slightly annoyed at the last customer. He was done with helping out in the Akabeko for now. He wanted to go visit Chizuru, who was staying with some relatives in town. He told Tae that, and jogged off to get Yahiko's sakabatou in the shed. He opened the small wooden building and found that the sword was exactly as he had left it. He took it up and skillfully wore it on side. He was adjusting it as he was going out when a silhouette covered the entrance. It was the man from the Akabeko, the last customer.

"That sword, should not be left behind like that. It has much history behind it." The man spoke levelly, as if dictating a fact, which he was. Kenji scowled and ran past the man, and into the streets of Tokyo, vanishing easily into the noontime crowd of people. Brushing a few strands of hair from his face, the man smiled faintly and just as easily vanished from the scene.

Moments after Sano's discovery, the two friends were again reseated. Sano lay back, idly chewing his fishbone. "How did you get so well so quickly Kenshin?"

The redhead ran his hand over his hakama and replied nonchalantly, "Oh, Junzo healed me and Kaoru. You can ask Yahiko if you want, he knows about it too."

"Junzo? That other guy's a doctor then? Some miracle worker I suppose, I mean, Doctor Gensai and the Fox couldn't help you much…" He trailed off at that, remembering the raven-haired beauty of years ago. As he mumbled incoherently, Kenshin remembered Junzo's words. "I know that I could not hope to defeat him without allies of skill, allies that can only be found here." The words echoed deeply in his mind. He glanced at Sanosuke, and he knew that the wanderer would be useful, skilled as he was in the martial arts as any. And if he felt the effects of age, well, he supposed that Junzo could help remedy that. He frowned at the though, also remembering Sano's distaste for anything to do with magic, or new technology, preferring a stable world, the one he'd grown up in.

He looked at the now quiet man once again. Perhaps his travels had changed that though, and it may not be so difficult to convince him of the necessity. It would be a good idea to take Sanosuke along, Kenshin decided, after all he'd relied on the man more than once long ago. After a few more moments of thought, Kenshin turned to look at Sano, ready to speak his words to invite the fighter in this new adventure. "Sano, there's something I need to tell you…" He had turned to see a Sanosuke deep in dreamland leaning against the dojo post. "Oro…" The redheaded man cradled his face in one hand.

At that moment, a shadow crossed his line of sight, causing Kenshin to look up at its' source. His eyes met Junzo's, a serious expression on the other man's face. The man nodded respectfully, but from the expression on his face Kenshin knew what was on his mind. "Himura-san."

Kenshin nodded. "Hai. I know what it is you are thinking. But, I cannot fight without my sword, Junzo-san."

Junzo nodded once more. "I see. When will you be able to get your sword back?"

Kenshin blinked, turning to look off at the side towards the entrance to the dojo. "When my son returns."

Sensing the strands of emotion in Kenshin's voice, Junzo quietly retreated from the scene. "I'll be waiting by the river, Himura-san. Remember, time is not on our side. It must be today." A cool breeze swept the leaves in the garden, and the faint sounds of the early afternoon kendo class.

Kenji walked around the marketplace of Tokyo, a slight frown on his face. Who was that man? He shook his head in annoyance. He reminds me of father. Kenji let out a soft sigh, as he kept his pace, tiredly walking along.

"Kenji, Kenji!" The boy turned around to see Yahiko behind him a somewhat serious expression on his face. Kenji smiled, seeing the older youth come along.

"Hi, Yahiko-kun!"

"Oi, Kenji. I've been looking for you." The swordsman stopped in front of the redheaded boy, his hands on his knees as he got his breath back. "At any rate, I'd like to ask you for something."

Kenji frowned, somewhat perturbed by his senior's demeanor. "Eh, what is it?"

"Could I borrow your sakabatou?"

"Nani?" Kenji took a step back in alarm, as Yahiko showed him an open hand.

"I only need to borrow it for a short while, Kenji-chan."

"Oi, don't call me Kenji-chan!" The boy thunked Yahiko lightly on the head with the hilt of the sword, his face in an expression similar to a pout.

"All right then I won't, but I need to borrow the sword." Yahiko rubbed his head. Compared to his mother's smacks, this is nothing though.

"Mmm…well, take care of it then, okay?" He looked down, and began to adjust his obi, loosening it then slowly handed the weapon over. Yahiko straightened, a smile on his lips mixed with sadness. Kenji failed to notice this however, and only looked back up when the expression on Yahiko's face had passed.

"Let's head home."

"H-home? I think I'll go home later, Yahiko." Kenji stammered, watning to avoid being with his father.

"Iie. You're coming home, with me. Now." Yahiko spoke to Kenji but softly, but there was no denying the undertone of command that lay in those words.

"Ah, hai." Kenji pouted, looking at his feet. Yahiko turned around and started walking towards the Kamiya Kasshin dojo, with the redhead child trailing behind him.

It wasn't too long before they reached the dojo, and Yahiko opened up the doorway. Some clouds gradually shadowed the afternoon sun that shone above, and he felt a cool breeze sweep the compound. He suppressed a shudder, and continued on with the sakabatou in his hands. He turned around, satisfied that Kenji had followed him home. The young boy scowled at Yahiko, but kept his mouth shut and instead scampered off, disappearing around one of the dojo buildings.

He paid little notice of that, and walked around the other side of the dojo, where he knew Kenshin was waiting for him. The former-rurouni spotted the young man the moment he turned the corner, and a lips crossed his lips as he saw the sakabatou in Yahiko's hold.

"Ah, Yahiko-kun." He smiled at the youth, and waved him over. As the other neared, the redheaded man stood. The two stood in front of each other in silence for a short while, before Yahiko handed over the sword with a sigh, and a smile on his lips.

"Kenshin."

The former rurouni looked down, putting the weapon at his side. It has been…long.

"Kenshin."

"Aa, hai?"

"Beat him. I know you can."

A soft chuckle filled the air. "I will try, Yahiko-kun." The older man looked at the youth's eyes and nodded serenely. "Thank you for your words though." Kenshin took a step forward, his hand patting Yahiko's shoulder.

One step.

The soft *chink* sound that his sword made when he took that step reached his ears. And a different smile crossed his lips. "Tell Kaoru, I and Junzo-san will return late this afternoon." He took another step, and another. Soon, the faint sounds of footfalls receded, leaving Yahiko alone with a sleeping Sanosuke.

In a grassy field, not too far away, the crimson beams of the slowly setting sun splashed across the green like blood staining the land. Or like the fires of war upon a tapestry of woven silk, if such a thing could have been made. Junzo serenely sat upon one of the large boulders that littered the area, his two daishos at his side. One set for the test, the blades of his true soul. And the other set, for the world he never wished to have se foot iin. Yet, it was his fate, his destiny. His eyes slowly opened, the natural beauty of the glowing red sun captivating. Then, he saw another shade, that brought a smile to his lips just as well as the sun.

He breathed in deeply, and his hands moved towards his daisho, the ones he'd readied for this battle. His legs uncrossed, and he slowly stood up. He adjusted his obi, and fixed his clothes. By the time he was finished, Kenshin had stepped up onto their battlefield, no more than twenty paces away from Junzo, who had walked to the center of the field as well. He flashed a sad smile at Kenshin. "I would rather that I could know your true skill already, without a fight. But…"

"It is a chance you do not want to risk. I understand. Especially after the dojo incident."

"Hai." Junzo looked down on at the ground for a moment, then back up. "Are you ready, Himura?"

The once-retired warrior nodded slowly, his stance shifting to a battou-justu form.

Junzo nodded, and shifted into his own battle stance, a battou-jutsu one as well. The smile on his lips disappeared, and the friendly look in his eyes faded to one of seriousness. Kenshin noted this, and his eye narrowed down as well.

The silence was palpable.

"Hajime!"

The flash of blades was all one could see.

Glossary:

No uncommon terminology in this chapter, so no glossary for now. ^_^

Thanks/End Notes:

My deepest apologies to my readers (if any remain, or if I had any in the first place) for my hideously large delay in updating. I ran into a massive writers block and an obstacle. Namely, college. In any case, I'm back up and writing again, so you'll be seeing at least up to the Kenshin-Junzo fight scene! And if I get any reviews for either this chapter or the next, I'll keep writing. Gomen, gomen!

In the next chappie, you'll get to see Junzo's techniques! Maybe I'm the only one excited about it though…-_-;

I'd like to thank Tyrant-Scizor, as this dude's why I'm back. For some…weird reason, seeing his reviews (around 2 months old) kind of got me going again. And for L. Sith Junzo doesn't equal Scorpion-clan. He's honorable. ^_^ Just wait for Saitou's appearance, hehehe…