Sanosuke was about to protest, but the shadows highlighting Kenshin's face, along with the depressing look locked deeply within his eyes stopped him dead within his tracks. It was the same look Kenshin had given him the night they had fought for the second time. When he had been the one betraying the rest of the group. But now...the roles had been switched.
Solemnly, he walked away, regrettably leaving Kenshin with Arurisonu. "I don't know what you're planning on doing, Kenshin. But promise me you won't do anything Kaoru might find inconsiderate."
At the mention of Kaoru, Kenshin's heart sank.
Arurisonu looked from the retreating figure of Sanosuke to Kenshin. She frowned and jerked him back into reality. "Himaru, who is this girl of whom the man spoke of?"
"The one for whom my heart has fallen for, and the reason I begin to question my allegiance to you." The ex-manslayer continued to stare blankly at the trees. "Forgive me for being blunt, but times have changed, that they have."
"Times have changed, and I intend on putting them back to their original position." She turned away from Kenshin for as long as she had known him, even during his man slaying years, she had always cared from him in that extra way.
"I don't have time to waste on your deciding..."Bending down she picked up her sword's sheath and tucked it with her belt. "If you choose to side with me, my actions start tonight. If not, I respect your wishes, but I do wish that you would aid me this last time."
She walked away, out of the forest, her sword hilt hitting her side as she left. The burning embers of the once dancing fire flashed her form until it was enclosed in the darkness.
Kenshin was left alone. His heart and thoughts were like the embers, unsure of whether to keep burning or just give up and die out. After what seemed ages, or actually twenty minutes, Kenshin rose to his feet a new ambition burning within his heart. He pulled his sword from its sheath and turned it to the reverse side.
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
"I can't believe you're actually doing this, Kenshin!" Sanosuke ran through the village. Speeding his pace, he tried to get to Kaoru's so he could tell her what was going on. "Don't do anything stupid before I get there..."
As Sanosuke rounded a corner and Kaoru's dojo was in clear view, Yahiko waved anxiously. "Sano! What were you doing?! And where's Kenshin?"
"Yahiko! Get Kaoru and Megumi, I'll explain when everyone's here."
Nodding, Yahiko sunk back inside of the dojo and ran straight to where Kaoru and Megumi's split room was. He knocked upon the wood pane and called inside. "Kaoru! Megumi! You two better get out here, and now!"
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
"Ugh!" The guard flexed in pain, as a sword blade impaled his chest. His head bowed and he fell over silently at death's door.
Arurisonu removed her blade and wiped it clean upon the guard's shirt. She sneered, and stared at the gun locked beneath his arm. Continuing down the street, she began to execute the first step of her plan in creating a new age.
"If I were you, Arurisonu, I wouldn't do that." A voice broke her focus, and the dark was no longer silent.
"Stay out of this, Dogan." She sneered without turning around to face the figure.
"And miss out on the chance to not only kill you but also the great Battousai? What kind of a fool do you think I am?"
"A terribly large one." Arurisonu mumbled beneath her breath.
Raising his riffle so that it was beneath Arurisonu's neck, Dogan smirked. "You were saying something?"
