Return of the Manslayer

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, though I wish I did. But I want to own Gundam Wing more!

Chapter Three:

Fires of Blood and Sorrow:

The Bombing of Tokyo

Saitou stood watching as the two old friends fought. He could see that Kenshin was losing even though Satsubaeko was holding back. She's more powerful than I… Saitou thought. Haku sat and watched and noticed instantly that Satsu was holding back, that or she was hesitating. Despite his slight disappointment, he grinned at the girl who seemed to love him.

Kenshin and Satu's godlike speed seemed to make them partially equal. She forward thrust and he blocked and sent his sword towards her side. She blocked and stomped on his foot. He stood on one foot and waited for her next attack. She jumped to the ceiling and flew down. Kenshin did battoujitsu and blocked her first attack and then did double battoujitsu. She flew backwards and landed on her feet in front of Haku with her back to him.

"You still haven't answered my question!" Kenshin shouted as the two flew at each other once again. They blocked each other's same attack and went backwards again.

Their attacks became more rapid and harder to keep track of. Kenshin could suddenly see something he thought he'd never see before. The look in Satsu's eyes made him afraid suddenly. Though he hid it, he couldn't believe it. Her eyes began to flicker with blue flame. Her bloodthirsty madness began to increase as her eyes slowly began to turn that powerful blue. Kenshin could feel himself weakening under her deathly gaze. Saitou suddenly understood why Kenshin had hesitated before. Her eyes were inhuman. There's no way she could be close to human with a gaze that made the great Battousai tremble.

"Satsu," said Haku silently. Satsu nodded her head as if understanding. She stopped fighting and stood quietly. She allowed Kenshin to regain much of his strength. They stood in silence. Satsu then moved faster than Kenshin could have predicted and ran towards him. She used the hilt of her sword to knock Kenshin. Her hands gripped the blade as she thrust the hilt into Kenshin's stomach knocking the air out of him while ramming him into the wall. Her hands dripped blood but she sheathed her sword anyway. Saitou's eyes were wide with amazement, bewilderment and plain shock. Kenshin was clearly knocked out.

"My answer is unimportant right now," Satsu said and went over to Haku. Haku took out some bandages and wrapped up her hands.

"Let's go." Haku said standing up. Satsu and Haku walked out and left the building. Saitou soon heard soldiers or Haku's helpers running along with them. Saitou walked over to Kenshin and helped him up onto his feet. Kenshin's eyes were open. They were lowered and saddened. His body was limp from the attack. Once on his feet, his breathing began to change slightly. It sounded like a low rasping. That attack could have killed him if she hadn't held back. Saitou allowed Kenshin to lean on him and he helped him walk.

"I have a bad feeling Saitou, that I do…" Kenshin said hoarsely. Saitou suddenly got that feeling also. He and Kenshin made their way out of the room when Kenshin heard something. He quickly jumped away from Saitou and weakly walked a few feet.

"What is it?" Saitou asked.

"The building is going to blow in two minuets! We'd better hurry." Kenshin said and ran despite his injuries. Saitou ran after him and they managed their way out of the building but the gate was locked.

"We're trapped!" Saitou muttered. Then they heard rustling in the bushes.

"Over here." Someone whispered. They had no choice but to trust whoever was there. They ran to the bush and found a small opening in the brick wall. Big enough for them to crawl through. Kenshin went through first and then Saitou followed. On the other side, they saw a tall figure.

"Aoshi Shinomori." Kenshin said kindly. A lantern appeared at a lower height and showed a girl. "Misao Makimchi." Kenshin said nodding to her. Misao smiled and handed the lantern to Kenshin.

"Miss Kaoru sent us a pigeon telling us that there would be fire starters. Surprising enough, Aoshi had all ready bought a boat so we got here and helped." Misao said.

"But it would have taken you at least a day to get here." Kenshin responded.

"The wind was on our side tonight," said Aoshi.

"You two look like quite a couple." Saitou said putting his hands in his pockets. Misao smiled and held up two fingers making a peace sign.

~

"You say that a man named Haku Yumagashi is planning to recreate the Revolution?" Misao asked pouring Kenshin and Saitou tea.

"Yes, and they all ready blew up the Tokyo Tower like during the Revolution," said Saitou taking a sip of tea.

"And we were the rats. He used us to buy some time only to do the unthinkable for the Meiji Government." Kenshin said sadly while taking a sip of his tea.

"Hey, Himura, what's wrong?" Misao asked noticing Kenshin's distraught look. Kenshin's eyes only saddened to think about it. Misao looked at him with a confused look and Aoshi instantly caught on. Misao looked at him and he made a motion to stay quiet until Kenshin decided to answer.

"An old friend of mine betrayed me…" Kenshin nearly whispered. Misao sat there in silence and then realized that the girl she and Kaoru met in Kyoto might have been this person. She said her name was Satsubaeko, but Misao thought she was just another woman that Kenshin had impressed.

~

Kenshin and Saitou left Misao and Aoshi's home and thanked them for their hospitality. As soon as they walked out, a huge explosion shook the ground. One after another they went in a row. There were about six explosions in a series and each seemed to have the same affect. Kenshin, Saitou, Misao and Aoshi ran towards the location of the first explosion. When they got there, they saw a huge fire. People were running and screaming everywhere. Children were crying and calling for mommy or daddy. Kenshin's eyes began to slim with anger again. His purple eyes suddenly flashed auburn yellow.

"Misao, Aoshi, go and help as many people as you can. And if you meet them, get Miss Kaoru, Yahiko and Sano to do the same." Kenshin said in a voice not his own. One of Haku's men sat in a burning tree nearby and noticing Kenshin's anger, he jumped down and ran off. Kenshin noticed that and ran after him. Saitou would have followed but decided to help as many people as he possibly could.

~

Kenshin ran after the man right into a dead and burned field. The grass was gone and all life was destroyed. His eyes returned to their purple color and looked ahead. There was someone standing in the distance with a blowing black outfit. He walked forward until he could see perfectly well who was standing in the burned field. Satsu stood there with her black hair blowing to the side along with her outfit. She saw Kenshin standing there waiting for her explanation on why she went along with Haku only to destroy Japan. She opened her mouth and out of it poured two words. Two words that were colder than ice; and sent icy shivers down Kenshin's back.

"Fight me," said she of violence and destruction.