Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin; but I sure wish I did… I want Gundam Wing more!
Chapter Four:
Memories of Pain:
Satsu's Trial of Fate
"Fight me," said she of violence and destruction. Those words struck Kenshin with such force, that he couldn't believe that she said them. Pain ran through his body like the ocean runs through the sand. And like the ocean, the shells of humanity felt like they were slipping away into the dark abyss. He held on tightly as he clenched his fist and his knuckles grew whiter. She grinned at the action and waited for Battousai.
"Satsu, why are you doing this…?" Kenshin said with his head facing the ground. Satsu grin disappeared and she drew out her sword.
"Face me like a man, Kenshin!" She shouted and flew towards him. He drew out his sword and blocked her attack enough so that he only got a small gash on his right arm.
They began fighting. Her eyes began to slowly turn to the fiery blue that has killed many men. Kenshin noticed this and nearly was swept off the ground. She said that she never would get like this towards me, what is going on? Kenshin's mind screamed. Her abilities began rising, but she was still trying with all humanity left within her to hold back.
"Why aren't you answering me?" Kenshin yelled while forward thrusting. She dodged and continued her attack/ defend rutine. "Why are you doing this?" He shouted again. Satsu flew backwards and ran towards him again. Her foot met with his chest and he fell to the ground. She stood over him and had her sword point to his throat. She stood in silence with her face as emotionless as could possibly ever be.
"Satsu, we used to be good friends, why are you doing this?" Kenshin asked noticing the sunrise. She stood in silence. "Good friends never hide anything… answer my question."
"I live by war…" was all she decided to say. Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled. Shock over came Satsu's face noticing that he was smiling when death was extremely close. He opened his eyes and they were not of the Battousai's. They were the kind and gentle eyes of the wanderer. Satsu's eyes began to change also. She forced them back to deadly and piercing.
"I remember when Master picked you up off the muddy street. He said he'd train you as he did me. You were helpless and at first you declined. You hated war and you wished it would end. But he told you that you could avenge for your family's death. And then you thought for several minuets. You finally accepted but only for a short while. You soon wanted to know everything of the Hiten Misturugi Ryu.
"We became friends instantly and never wanted to part. The Master teased us about getting married. We said that we would be best friends for all time but never marry. We soon became well known during the Revolution. We worked together and part. Our friendship grew during the war. We soon were inseparable. Do you remember?" Kenshin asked. He looked at her and saw pain in her eyes. They changed back to their silver color and her hand began to shake.
"Why… why did you do it? Why did you leave?" Satsu managed.
"When the Revolution ended, I felt that there was no need for a swordsman. So Master gave me a reverse blade and I left. I vowed never to kill and I haven't killed yet." Kenshin responded kindly.
"How can you be smiling when you're about to die?" Satsu shouted.
"Because, I know that I lived a life of peace and had friends to help me through all sorts of problems," said Kenshin. Satsu's had begun to shake violently. She stepped away from him slowly and held her sword in a straight line. Blood was slowly dripping off her sword.
"But how can you live a life of peace when you're always fighting the Battousai deep inside you?" She shouted. Kenshin ignored her question and stood up. She held her sword to his chest and tried to hide any emotion. Her body was shaking at the emotional value of this conversation.
"Are you happy now?" He asked.
"What?" She asked with some stray hair clinging onto her face.
"Are you happy now, now that you have the blood of the Battousai on your sword? Many people would kill themselves just to own your sword now," said he. Satsu's eyes widened with fear. Her mind raced and she began to remember all the fun times she had with him in the past. Clear pictures began to sting her mind. She couldn't believe the sanity that she allowed to leave her. She slowly raised the sword to his right cheek. He stood wondering what she would do now that he had cornered her. She sliced his right cheek with the very tip of her sword. A small gash-like cut on his right cheek began to bleed.
She then took his sword from him and cut her right cheek also. Kenshin began to realize something. When they were kids, she promised that if she were ever to hurt him against her will, she would cut him on the face, then use his sword and do the same to herself. She threw his sword on the ground by his feet and then ran off.
"Satsu…" he whispered seeing her run off.
"Hey Kenshin!" A voice from behind shouted. Kenhin turned around and saw Sano, Kaoru, Yahiko and Misao running towards him; Saitou and Aoshi walked. Kaoru ran to him and lightly touched the scar on his right cheek. It was shaped just like the first mark on his left cheek.
"Are you all right?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes, I just feel a little tired." Kenshin answered as if nothing had happened.
~
"You say that an old friend of yours cut your face and nearly killed you?" Misao asked back at the Kamiya Dojo.
"Yes, and I prefer not to talk about what she did and didn't do, that I don't," said Kenshin taking a sip of the tea in front of him.
"I'll take a guess that it pains you to talk about it, eh Kenshin?" Sano asked. Kenshin just nodded and sat in silence.
"Were you able to stop the revolt?" Kaoru asked.
"No, I wasn't even able to prevent my old friend from nailing me to the ground and putting a sword point to my throat…" said Kenshin ashamed like.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru said lightly touching his hand. Kenshin looked at her and the look in Kaoru's eyes frightened him. It looked as if she were scared for him. That she knew that if he were to continue fighting, that he would lose himself.
