Kyaa Kyaff here!
Disclaimer: * glances nervously at the lawyer before sighing* Kenshin & co does not belong to me!
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'…' Kaoru thoughts
*…* Kenshin thoughts
"…" Dialogue
An Alternate Place and Time
Chapter 20: I have to.
"Aoshi-sama!" Misao said running forward.
She stopped short as he pointed his kodachis in her direction, "Get out of my face. I have come for Kaoru."
Misao's mouth opened but she was unable to say anything. She kept a strong front, but on the inside she was crumbling apart. Kaoru watched Misao with concern.
"Aoshi, I will not fight you!" Kaoru said.
"You have no choice. Soon the Battousai will be dead, and you will follow him," Aoshi replied.
"What are you talking about!?" Kaoru asked alarmed.
He stepped back from the door readying himself to fight, "No more discussion."
Kaoru gripped the hilt of her sakabatou uncertainly. She looked over to Misao, who was in a state of shock.
"Everyone stay inside. I will take care of this," Kaoru stated calmly.
"Ao…shi…" Misao stuttered.
Kaoru came forward from the house, "You too, Misao-chan."
"No! no, you can't! Aoshi, what's wrong? What will fighting Kaoru prove? This is nonsense. You…" Misao started finally finding her voice.
"That's enough!" Aoshi said harshly.
"Don't worry Misao-chan," Kaoru said.
Misao looked at her with a painful expression. Kaoru turned to look at Aoshi her eyes narrowing. Pulling her sakabatou free she waited for his attack.
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Sano slammed against a tree knocking it over with the force of the collision. Slowly standing up he rubbed his back. Anji advanced fists ready. He was proving to be a difficult opponent. All of Sano's punches were landing, but the man seemed unaffected. It was time for him to get serious.
Jumping forward he punched full force striking the man across the face, and landed behind him. Anji stumbled slightly but swung around to catch Sano with his fist. Sano ducked low, coming up with an uppercut but hit thin air instead. Next thing he knew he was punched painfully in the back. On his hands and knees he coughed up a little blood. Standing up he wiped his chin. Widening his stance he watched the man Anji. Anji pulled a sword out from behind him. Sano's eyes widened.
"Not very fair, but I'm not one to complain," Sano said.
Instead of striking at Sano he slammed it into the ground. Next thing Sano knew he was flying through the air again. He landed with a thud five feet away.
"What the hell…?" Sano said.
He cautiously stepped forward only to be slammed back again. He watched Anji as he concentrated. He was focusing his energy through the sword. Sano thought a second before running forward and jumping high coming down with a strong strike connecting with the other man's fist as he punched back. Sano felt pain shoot through his hand as he landed. Anji jumped back up using his other hand to strike Sano in the ribs, Sano returning a punch to his face. He moved back his ribs hurting, and he found it painful to breathe.
This was it. He didn't have much energy left and it was only his stamina and will that kept him fighting. With a fierce cry Sano ran forward to engage Anji one last time.
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Kenshin made his way up the trail. He needed to find Tomoe. He concentrated on taking one step after the other. He seemed to be walking forever when he came upon a small shrine. Looking around slowly he saw Takasugi step out of the shrine with a huge smile on his face.
"Himura, it is so nice to see you again. I had hoped Shishio would have killed you. That's okay. I will have the pleasure of doing it myself," Takasugi said.
"Takasugi," Kenshin growled stepping closer.
"Shinta!"
Kenshin turned in surprise at the voice, "Tomoe…"
She stood by the door of the small shrine. He was more shocked at what she had called him.
*Does she remember? *
Blinking to try and clear his vision, he instinctively jumped back as Takasugi without warning attacked. Tomoe gave a short cry. Kenshin deftly drew his sword out. Takasugi laughed as Kenshin wavered slightly.
"What's the matter Himura? Did you run into some trouble? I am surprised you were hurt. And everyone thinks you are so great," Takasugi said bitterly.
Tomoe started forward but Kenshin yelled at her to stay back. Kenshin waited for Takasugi to attack. Takasugi rushed forward, their swords clashing together. Backing up Takasugi swung at Kenshin, who parried slower then usual, giving Takasugi an opening. Kenshin twisted out of the way but was stabbed in his left arm. Moving back he held his arm for a second before defending himself against Takasugi's next attack. Kenshin was breathing heavy his wounds burning in pain. Takasugi smiled at his state.
"Once I kill you, I will kill that woman. Maybe even find Kamiya. Of course that is if she is still alive after Aoshi finds her," Takasugi said.
Kenshin's eyes widened as he processed this information. He hand tightened on his sword. With a short step he used all of his strength and speed in his next move. Takasugi was barely able to see him before he was knocked off his feet after narrowly escaping being sliced in half. Kenshin stopped and began to cough. Blood dripped from his arm staining his clothes. Turning he approached Takasugi a deadly glint in his eyes. Takasugi stood. His sword was broken now, so he threw the hilt to the ground.
"You would kill an unarmed man?" Takasugi asked backing up toward the shrine.
"Yes," Kenshin hissed stepping unsteadily forward, while trying to focus.
Raising his sword he prepared to attack.
"Shinta!" Tomoe screamed running forward.
"Tomoe!" someone shouted that Kenshin did not recognize.
He was too far-gone, he swung his sword down slicing through the person in front of him. Pulling his sword back he looked down his eyes widening in horror.
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Kaoru braced her hand on the ground as she slid backward. Aoshi gave her no chance to recover as he rushed forward slicing at her with one kodachi while the other came at her with a forward thrust. She blocked the first strike and just barely dodged the other as it sliced through her clothes. He immediately switched direction bringing it sharply into her side. She cried out in pain leaping backward.
"Kaoru-san!" Misao cried.
Misao had no idea what to do. She couldn't stop the fight. She was breaking apart inside with each strike and attack. The look in Aoshi's eyes, his voice, his determination to kill Kaoru scared her beyond belief. What had happened to her Aoshi-sama, she wondered. For now all she could do was watch and pray. Everyone else stood at the door watching the fight. Yahiko wished he could use his ability, but he could no longer command as he had that night when he had lost control. He hadn't wanted to figure out how to use it again. It frightened him. Tsubame gripped Yahiko's arm as she watched the fight worriedly. Megumi was prepared to help in anyway she could after the fight.
"Aoshi! Why are you doing this?" Kaoru cried holding her side.
"I will be the strongest. My men will not have died in vain," Aoshi replied.
"They didn't! How will this be helping them Aoshi?!" Misao yelled fists clenched.
He didn't even bother to look at her. Switching his grip on the kodachis he immediately slashed at Kaoru with one and continuing the turn he attacked with the other before again striking with the first in an intricate combination of moves. Kaoru was barley able to avoid and had to go completely defensive. Once she recovered from the attack she came at him. He defended each blow, but she was able to strike him in the ribs hard. He grabbed his side before attacking her again. Kaoru struck him several more times. After various attacks Kaoru was breathing heavily, but Aoshi was in the same shape. It seemed they were evenly matched.
Kaoru watched Aoshi carefully trying to calculate his next move. They both ran forward with amazingly incredible speed landing on opposite sides of each other. Kaoru's gi fell partially off at the many slices through it that had just barely scratched her skin. Aoshi did not give her the chance to recover. As he brought his kodachi down toward Kaoru, Misao rushed forward throwing a kunai into his arm. Kaoru rolled out of the way having anticipated the attack. Aoshi approached the stunned Misao. Pulling the kunai from his arm he dropped it into the snow. Misao only watched as he lowered his hand before grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up.
"Misao-chan!" Kaoru yelled alarmed.
He was fully into the battle and his senses told him she was a threat. She grabbed his hands trying to get them loose, but suddenly stopped. Staring at him as she gasped for breath she smiled.
"Ao…shi-sa.m..a, I …I …forgive…y..ou," Misao struggled to say.
Aoshi's eyes widened and he promptly dropped her to the ground staring at her then to his hand. His eyes softened slightly and a look of regret filled his eyes before the stoic mask once again slipped over his face. Misao held her sore throat as she coughed and recovered her breath. With a small oath Aoshi turned and began to leave.
"Aoshi!" Kaoru cried.
"Another time," he said before disappearing.
Kaoru stood up quickly as she ran after him. She needed to catch up to him. She needed to talk to him. She needed to bring him back for Misao. She had seen his face as he released Misao. He was struggling with himself. She was determined to find him and continue where they had left off if necessary. Kaoru pushed herself faster as the others shouted after her.
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Sano lay on the ground breathing in sharp intakes of breath. Sitting up slowly he saw the other man lying in the snow. Anji was breathing heavily and staring at the sky.
"You are a worthy opponent," Anji said suddenly.
"You're not too bad yourself," Sano replied.
The man sat up grimacing, "This fight is over. You have won."
Sano looked at the guy confused.
"My loyalties lie with myself. I am going now. Next time we meet do not expect to win so easily."
"That was easy?" Sano said in disbelief as the big man walked away.
Sano was really confused now, but he decided not to think about it. He needed to find Kenshin and see how he was doing. With painfully slow progress he began to make his way up the trail Kenshin had taken.
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Tomoe lie in the snow where she had been pushed out of the way. Akira with a horrible wound on his chest lie dying. Takasugi was already dead. Tomoe cried out moving over to Akira pulling him onto her lap. He raised a bloody hand to her cheek as Kenshin watched numbly.
"I just fou..nd you. I wasn't…going to let you get …hurt. I was here to protect you this time," Akira said smiling weakly.
"Akira, Akira please don't die. Please," Tomoe begged her eyes filling with tears.
"I always…thought…of you," he said.
"Akira," Tomoe begged.
He smiled one last time before his last breath left his body her name carried with it. Tomoe leaned over hugging him to her. She was sobbing now calling out his name begging him not to die. Kenshin watched silently. A pair of turquoise blue eyes watched Kenshin from the forest before turning to leave. Tomoe finally looked up through her tears.
"Shinta…" Tomoe was unable to continue as she fought her tears.
Kenshin dropped his sword into the snow, backing up.
"Shinta, it's not your fault," she said seeing the horror and guilt in his eyes.
Kenshin shook his head softly. Stumbling backward he turned away from her. Before he could go further he dropped to his knees his head bowed. Tomoe moved away from Akira going over to Kenshin. Touching his shoulder she kneeled next to him, trying to stop her tears, so that she could be strong for his sake. He had always been strong for her.
"I've killed him," Kenshin said, "What was he doing here? I almost killed you."
"Shinta please. Calm down. It's cold and you are hurt. We have to go inside," she said making him get up and leading him into the small shrine.
Tomoe trembled in grief but held back. She needed to remain calm.
"How did you regain your memory?" he asked quietly.
"Shortly after you visited me…Akira," she had to repress the sob threatening to stop her, "He found me. He was searching for me, and he had finally found me. Something triggered my memory, and he was there to comfort me. It was amazing. He told me…he told me that he loved me and was always thinking of me…" Tomoe stopped not willing to say more.
The short time her and Akira were together was the most wonderful moments she had experienced in a long time. He had promised they would be married. He was finished fighting and realized how foolish he had been to leave her in the first place. Then that man had come. Akira must have followed. He had pushed her out of the way just as Kenshin struck. Tears began to slip from her eyes again. Kenshin brought his hand up to her cheek.
"I destroyed your happiness," Kenshin said knowing that there had been more between the two.
"No, stop Shinta," Tomoe said.
"My name is Kenshin. Never call me Shinta," he said softly.
"Oi!" Sano's voice could be heard coming from outside.
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Kaoru ran through the trees trailing Aoshi. She ignored her wounds; they were minor. Kaoru had to talk to Aoshi, reason with him. She was worried for Kenshin but strongly believed he would be fine. Running through the forest she burst from the trees and tried to stop as she realized there was a cliff ahead. But she didn't stop quickly enough and slid on the icy snow. Crying out she grabbed a branch hanging from the side of the cliff's edge. She tried to tighten her grip as her numb fingers began to slip. Looking down she saw the rushing icy water. Trying to reach up with her other hand she couldn't grab the edge of the cliff. She felt herself slip even more.
'No, please. I can't…'
But she was helpless to do anything. She finally lost her grip and began to fall. She gave a short cry that was abruptly cut off as she was engulfed by the raging water. The water current pulled her strongly. The shock of the cold water had her numb for several seconds before she tried to weakly struggle against the force that kept dragging her under. As she felt herself getting weaker and weaker her last thought was of Kenshin's smiling face.
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Yahiko stood outside waiting for Kaoru's return, worry evident on his face. Tsubame came out into the cold coming to stand next to him.
"Why don't you come inside? It's cold out here," Tsubame suggested quietly.
"I just want to wait a little longer," Yahiko said.
"Then I will wait with you," Tsubame replied with a smile.
Yahiko looked at her and smiled back. Wrapping an arm around her he pulled her close, to help keep her warmer and just for the simple joy of holding her close to him. It had been an hour and a half since Kaoru had run after Aoshi. Why she had, Yahiko had no idea. If the man wanted to leave, let him. Yahiko started in surprise. Out of the woods came Kenshin, a woman Yahiko did not know, and Sano. Yahiko started at the look in Kenshin's eyes. Something had happened but what?
Kenshin glanced up searching for Kaoru. Although there was a fresh layer of snow on the ground, the area where the fight had taken place was clearly visible. He saw Yahiko and Tsubame outside. On the way back no one had spoken. They had placed Akira's body in the shrine to rest. Kenshin's mind was filled with torment. He just wanted to see Kaoru's face. She would smile for him. He just wanted to hold her. She would comfort him like no one else could. He desperately needed her at that moment.
*Where is she? She couldn't have lost. *
Yahiko ran up to the group, "What happened?"
"Where's Kaoru?" Kenshin asked immediately.
Yahiko's face fell, "I don't know. Aoshi showed up wanting to fight her. He took off before the fight was finished and she went after him. She hasn't come back yet. Misao went looking for her."
"Ken-san," Megumi called in delight running over to him.
She stopped short of grabbing him noticing his wounds and Sano's.
"What I don't get a hi?" Sano asked indignantly.
"Come inside all of you. I have to treat your wounds," Megumi grabbed them both dragging them toward the house.
Tomoe followed silently behind. Yahiko decided to go inside so he wouldn't miss anything important. He glanced one more time toward the woods before going inside. Megumi was treating Kenshin first, whose wounds were more serious. After finishing with Kenshin she spoke to the woman she assumed was Tomoe.
"Do you have any injuries?"
"No," Tomoe replied.
"Alright tori-atama, let's see what's wrong. Take the shirt off."
"Trying to get me out of my clothes already. Can't you wait until we're alone?" Sano said.
Megumi resisted the urge to hit him, when she noticed he was breathing painfully. If he had broken ribs she didn't want to make it any worse. The door suddenly opened and Misao came in her face distraught.
Yahiko immediately jumped up, "Did you find her?"
Misao looked down at Kaoru's sakabatou she held in her hand, "This is all I found. It was in a river a little ways from here."
Kenshin stood up quickly disregarding his injuries. He felt his heart clench in fear.
"I have to go look for her," Kenshin said.
Megumi stopped him, "You can't. You need to rest. Your injuries are not minor ones."
Kenshin moved Megumi out of the way and grabbed Kaoru's sakabatou placing it at his side. Yahiko jumped up.
"I'm coming too!" he declared.
Misao was not one to be left out, "I'll show you the area."
"The rest of you stay here, just in case she comes back." Kenshin ordered.
Everyone was silent deciding not to argue with Kenshin. He looked like he was about to snap any second. Desperation and fear now filled his eyes.
*I can't lose her! I can't lose her! I will find Kaoru. I have to. *
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Hope you liked the chapter!
On to the individual thanks!
Crystal- Yeah I must agree! Iwanbo is quite detestable! Definitely not the brightest either! Well, thanks for the constant encouragement! Hope to hear from you again!
ewunia- Yep! My story is going to be long. I just can't stop it yet! And I couldn't kill Kenshin off. *stares dreamily at him* ahem but anyway thanks for reviewing!
Lina- I hope you liked Kaoru's fight. It was kind of short, but anyway! Thanks again for motivating me with your reviews!!!
Chiki- Hey girl! Where would I be without you!? I am glad you liked the waffy part. Had to have that before all this happened! And I am so happy you liked how I portrayed Hiko. I wasn't exactly sure how I should go about it. But anyway! Thanks for the constant support! Love you lots! Can't wait to hear from you again! ^o^
Naomi- Yay! You like how I did Hiko and Kenshin. I was having difficulty at that part. I am glad you think it went well. I hope you had a fun vacation! Can't wait to hear what you thought!
Kame hime- Good luck with the homework. Ack! The stuff is always piling up and getting in the way! But I am glad you make time for my fic! Definitely motivates me to write faster!
SwtRkGurlz- Aoshi will be coming back! I hope you liked the whole scene with the fight between the Kaoru and Kenshin! Tell me what you thought! Hoping to hear from you!
Me me me and only me- I try to update fast so as not to leave you guys hanging! As always I appreciate your review! It keeps me motivated!
Marstanuki- Here's the next chapter! And I will try to get the next one out asap! No longer than a week, I promise!
Kawaii sakura-chan- No KxK, I know! And now Kaoru is… but anyway as always I hope to hear from you again!
Joey- Kenshin is a baka!!! I wholeheartedly agree! He! He! But anyway! I happy to hear from you again! The constant feedback keeps me going! Hugs and greetings back!
Shunu no Miko- Did you like the fight scene, I know I really didn't go into it much. I am not real good at the fight scenes, but I try! Hope to hear what you thought!
Blue Moon- Here's the next chapter! Sorry it isn't big and long, but I do try to update fast! Love hearing from you!
Omochi- Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for your constant reviews. They really get me to write more sooner.
Demon Wolf- *tries to revive the squeezed Kenshin* Uh oh, he needs to wake up before the next chapter! *drags him off to go find Kaoru, and comes back seconds later* can't wait to hear from you again.
Lizzie- No KxK this chapter! Gomen! Yeah I love trying to twist things around and throw in a surprise or two. Can't wait to hear what you thought of this chapter!
Kamimura Kaoru- Couldn't let Tomoe die. Decided to change it around a bit! Hope it worked out good! Tell me what you thought! I'll be waiting to hear from you!
Jim- *grabs a bokken this time and with an innocent smile gives Jim a hard whack to the head* Oh no! I am so sorry! I didn't see you there! Gomen ne! Next time it will be the sakabatou! *blinks in surprise* did I just say that out loud! *covers mouth with hand a mischievous look on her face*
Hosi-ni-onegai- *trying to hold in the suspense for hosi-ni-onegai* Here's the next chapter! Hope you liked this one as well. And I'll be waiting for the next chapter of your story!!!
Shizuka- *dances around happily* thank you sooooooo much! You always motivate me so much! Thanks for that wonderful review! Wow! Love hearing from you and I can't wait to see what you thought!!!
Apple- I did the individual reviews especially for you! *big smile* I wasn't going to but then I saw your review and I just had to! You always make me so happy with your reviews. Thanks for the support! Love you lots, can't wait to hear from you again!
Onna Oji- He! He! But cute pun too! But anyway it was nice hearing from you and I hope to again!
Okay! I think I got everyone! Motivate me once again by telling me what you thought! I'll be waiting to hear from you!
Kyaa Kyaff saying til next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!