Chapter 13: Amber Gone From One, Replaced By Another
AN: Trust me, this title will make sense later on in the chappie!
After dinner, Kenji went off to finish his school work. Tsumbame and Yahiko went home and Gensai-sensai took his granddaughters home. Kaoru decided that helping Kenji with his homework would get him off to bed faster, seeing as it was very late out. Kenshin took the time alone to practice and refresh his sword techniques. In the main hall of the dojo, his battle cries eccoed off the walls as he swung at imaginary enemies. His Battou Jutsou was in special need of practice.
Whiping the sweat from his brow, he removed the top of his gi. Once again grabbing his Sakabatou, be glanced outside. The moon hovered directly above the dojo, illuminating the yard. A light breeze ruffled his hair and cooled his hot body. Yet he still needed to practice.
"Boy Battousai, you sure have been slacking," he said to himself as he took a offensive stance. With a mighty leap into the air, he raised his sword, but before he hit the ground, he was knocked clear across the room by an unseen force. He hit the wall, his breath escaping him, and his hand clenching the swords hilt, before falling into a heap at the base of the wall. Several plaques above him fell, hitting him.
"what the.?" he whispered hoarsely as he gasped for air. Suddenly, right before his eyes, a man materialized. Laughing in a low, droning voice, he crossed his arms.
"Your skills have weakened, Battousai. It must be your age. But hopefully this threat will give your skills a boost." Waving a hand, two forms appeared to his right. On the ground lay the form of Kaoru and Kenji, tied and gaged. Kaoru's eyes were wide with fear and hate. Kenji's eyes were filled with hate and anger.
"Come to the shrine on the Bloodfield of Edo. I will be waiting in the shrine. But there is a catch, Battousai. If you want these two to live, you must give your life in return. And if you do not come by tomorrow night by midnight, these two will die. And I can assure you, Battousai, it will be a long and painful, torturous death."
The man laughed sinisterly as he once again disappeared. Yet, even when his form was gone and Kenshin could no longer sense his presence, his laugh ecoed threw the dojo's walls, bouncing off the walls.
Kenshin's face was contourted with fury, hate, sorrow and fear. "No, this cant be. How? I knew he was here, I knew it, yet I left the two jewels of my life alone. And now they have been stolen." Kenshin fell onto his knees, letting his hands support him over the floor. Tears dripped down his cheeks, splattering onto the floor. Never had he been faced with such a decision.
The night passed, as well as most of the next day. Kenshin had had a fitfull night's sleep. Actually, there wasn't much sleeping done. As for the rest of the day, he practiced endlessly on sharpening his skills. When dusk fell, Kenshin left the dojo for the Bloodfield of Edo.
As Kenshin walked through the forest to the Bloodfield, memories long forgotten flooded his mind. Memories Kenshin had banished to the back of his mind.
A young man with long red hair pulled back into a ponytail stands at the top of a hill. Below him, the yells and moans of dying men fills the field. The ground is covered in blood. The man's sword is stained with the blood of others, his clothes are splattered with it. And yet, even as the people below cry for help, the man turns and kills a man approaching from behind...
Kenshin soon found himself standing upon the very hill he had stood many years ago. Kenshin surveyed the scene, named for the bloodiest battles that had ever taken place. The very battle Kenshin had contributed to. Finally his eyes came to rest on a small shrine, placed there to honor those who had died and those who had battled. Kenshin's eyes flickered gold for a second, daring to take over once again, but Kenshin withheld him. Inside, Battousai was screaming, yelling, pushing his way out, yet this was a win- lose situation. No matter what choice he made, he would lose. Either his life or the people he loved.
Slowly he made his way to the shrine. Outside the gates was a statue of two men, battling each other. Once inside, there were great walls of stone with the history of the battle and the names of the men who had sacrificed there lives. Kenshin stopped as his eyes rested on a lifesize statue. The mans eyes were focused dtraight ahead, the look in them was of murder and hatred. His hair was blowing in the wind, and his hand clasped a katana. And on the bottom were the words; Hitokiri Battousai the Manslayer. The Man of Legends.
Kenshin studied the statue. How real it looked.
"a very nice state. It closely resembles the real thing." A disembodied voice sounded. Suddenly, a man holding two people materialized before Kenshin.
"Kaoru! Kenji!" Kenshin shouted as he saw his wife and son. Both were bound, but they were no longer gaged.
"Dad!
"Kenshin!"
The man laughed at their pleas. "I'm sure you do not remember me, Battousai. You saw that statue outside the gates, I'm sure. If you looked closely, that statue is of you and myself."
"Get to the point," Kenshin growled dangerously.
The man smirked. "My name is Yusuke Batoyou."
Kenshin's eye twitched slightly as the name resurfaced in his mind. "You were my equal in the Blood Battle. I would've killed you once and for all if you hadn't pulled that little disappearing act on me. It seems you have improved it quite well, too."
Kaoru winced at the tone of voice. It was the one he used when Battousai was near.
Kenji was confused. Statue? Battousai? Killed? This wasn't the man he knew. This wasn't his father.
Yusuke smiled a cruel, hard smile. "Now Battousai, have you decided on what path you wish to take?"
Kenshin nodded.
"Then hand over your Sakabatou, sheath, and any other armor or weapons you have. Otherwise, prepair to see your precious family die."
Kenshin turned to face his son and wife. "Kenji, take good care of your mother." Finally, his face broke into a smile. The same smile Kaoru had seen when Kenshin had told her that he was the real Hitokiri Battousai. His eyes relaxed and his voice softened. Slowly he turned and faced Yusuke, throwing the Sakabatou and sheath at him.
"Kenshin! No!"
"Dad! Are you crazy?!"
Kenshin hung his head so that his bangs shadowed over his eyes. "This is.. This is the only choice I have."
"No its not!" Kenji shouted in despiration, tears welling in his eyes.
Kenshin sighed and looked Yusuke in the eye. "I am ready." He said in a firm and steady voice.
Yusuke crossed his arms and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Do you really think I'm just going to end your life in one swift blow?"
Kenshin's smile disappeared. "No, not you. You always liked to inflict as much torture on one person as humanly possible. And I am prepaired to face that pain, de gozaru ne."
"Oh, I see you remember me. Well, then. Let the torture begin!" Unsheathing Kenshin's Sakabatou with lightning speed, he brought the sword down fully on Kenshin's shoulder. Kenshin grasped his shoulder, crying out in pain, when he felt the cold steel slam into his cheek. Kenshin flew across the ground before slamming into one of the stone walls.
"Dad! No, Dad!" Kenji struggled against the bonds that held him, throwing himself foreword, tears streaming freely down his cheeks. Kaoru shed silent tears, her heart felt like it was being wrenched out threw a tiny hole at the site of her poor son.
Kenshin stood, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek and holding his arm.
"Fool!" Screamed Yusuke, leaping for Kenshin. Taking the sword, he hit the man full on in the stomach. Kenshin nearly folded in two. The sound of air escaping at the same time as blood caused a gurgle to come from his mouth. Blood, mixed with whatever had been in his stomach at the time, spewed from his mouth. Yusuke then took the sword and thrusted it down on Kenshin's leg.
Kenji froze as he heard a sickening crack from his fathers leg, which was bent where their shouldve been solid bone. Kaoru's eyes bugged out of her head. She tried to scream, but her voice caught in her throat.
Kenshin roared in pain. His leg was snapped clean in two, his organs in his stomach area twisted and contracted. His mouth was swollen from the impact of the sword and his right arm was incapacitated from the shoulder blow. He knew now that Yusuke would start to cut him, bleed him until the end was so near, he could smell it. Then, the end would come.
And just as he predictied, Yusuke did just that.
Taking out his own sword, Yusuke slammed the sharp blade into Kenshin's back, Hard enough to pierce the skin, but not enough to snap his spine or kill him. Kenshin screamed in pain at every strike, his facial features contorted with pain.
Kenji's sadness was now replaced with anger. His face turned into a snarl. His breathing was shallow and laybored. Kaoru could sense a change in her son.
So did Kenshin.
So did Yusuke.
So did Kazumi, who was watching in the bushes, preparing to attack with her own sword.
And when Kenshin looked at his son, he had to gasp at what he saw.
So did Kaoru.
So did Yusuke.
So did Kazumi. (AN: am I killing you with the suspense or what? :P)
"Kenji," Kenshin whispered hoarsely from his position on the ground.
Kenji's eyes.. were amber.
AN: God I love suspense!
AN: Trust me, this title will make sense later on in the chappie!
After dinner, Kenji went off to finish his school work. Tsumbame and Yahiko went home and Gensai-sensai took his granddaughters home. Kaoru decided that helping Kenji with his homework would get him off to bed faster, seeing as it was very late out. Kenshin took the time alone to practice and refresh his sword techniques. In the main hall of the dojo, his battle cries eccoed off the walls as he swung at imaginary enemies. His Battou Jutsou was in special need of practice.
Whiping the sweat from his brow, he removed the top of his gi. Once again grabbing his Sakabatou, be glanced outside. The moon hovered directly above the dojo, illuminating the yard. A light breeze ruffled his hair and cooled his hot body. Yet he still needed to practice.
"Boy Battousai, you sure have been slacking," he said to himself as he took a offensive stance. With a mighty leap into the air, he raised his sword, but before he hit the ground, he was knocked clear across the room by an unseen force. He hit the wall, his breath escaping him, and his hand clenching the swords hilt, before falling into a heap at the base of the wall. Several plaques above him fell, hitting him.
"what the.?" he whispered hoarsely as he gasped for air. Suddenly, right before his eyes, a man materialized. Laughing in a low, droning voice, he crossed his arms.
"Your skills have weakened, Battousai. It must be your age. But hopefully this threat will give your skills a boost." Waving a hand, two forms appeared to his right. On the ground lay the form of Kaoru and Kenji, tied and gaged. Kaoru's eyes were wide with fear and hate. Kenji's eyes were filled with hate and anger.
"Come to the shrine on the Bloodfield of Edo. I will be waiting in the shrine. But there is a catch, Battousai. If you want these two to live, you must give your life in return. And if you do not come by tomorrow night by midnight, these two will die. And I can assure you, Battousai, it will be a long and painful, torturous death."
The man laughed sinisterly as he once again disappeared. Yet, even when his form was gone and Kenshin could no longer sense his presence, his laugh ecoed threw the dojo's walls, bouncing off the walls.
Kenshin's face was contourted with fury, hate, sorrow and fear. "No, this cant be. How? I knew he was here, I knew it, yet I left the two jewels of my life alone. And now they have been stolen." Kenshin fell onto his knees, letting his hands support him over the floor. Tears dripped down his cheeks, splattering onto the floor. Never had he been faced with such a decision.
The night passed, as well as most of the next day. Kenshin had had a fitfull night's sleep. Actually, there wasn't much sleeping done. As for the rest of the day, he practiced endlessly on sharpening his skills. When dusk fell, Kenshin left the dojo for the Bloodfield of Edo.
As Kenshin walked through the forest to the Bloodfield, memories long forgotten flooded his mind. Memories Kenshin had banished to the back of his mind.
A young man with long red hair pulled back into a ponytail stands at the top of a hill. Below him, the yells and moans of dying men fills the field. The ground is covered in blood. The man's sword is stained with the blood of others, his clothes are splattered with it. And yet, even as the people below cry for help, the man turns and kills a man approaching from behind...
Kenshin soon found himself standing upon the very hill he had stood many years ago. Kenshin surveyed the scene, named for the bloodiest battles that had ever taken place. The very battle Kenshin had contributed to. Finally his eyes came to rest on a small shrine, placed there to honor those who had died and those who had battled. Kenshin's eyes flickered gold for a second, daring to take over once again, but Kenshin withheld him. Inside, Battousai was screaming, yelling, pushing his way out, yet this was a win- lose situation. No matter what choice he made, he would lose. Either his life or the people he loved.
Slowly he made his way to the shrine. Outside the gates was a statue of two men, battling each other. Once inside, there were great walls of stone with the history of the battle and the names of the men who had sacrificed there lives. Kenshin stopped as his eyes rested on a lifesize statue. The mans eyes were focused dtraight ahead, the look in them was of murder and hatred. His hair was blowing in the wind, and his hand clasped a katana. And on the bottom were the words; Hitokiri Battousai the Manslayer. The Man of Legends.
Kenshin studied the statue. How real it looked.
"a very nice state. It closely resembles the real thing." A disembodied voice sounded. Suddenly, a man holding two people materialized before Kenshin.
"Kaoru! Kenji!" Kenshin shouted as he saw his wife and son. Both were bound, but they were no longer gaged.
"Dad!
"Kenshin!"
The man laughed at their pleas. "I'm sure you do not remember me, Battousai. You saw that statue outside the gates, I'm sure. If you looked closely, that statue is of you and myself."
"Get to the point," Kenshin growled dangerously.
The man smirked. "My name is Yusuke Batoyou."
Kenshin's eye twitched slightly as the name resurfaced in his mind. "You were my equal in the Blood Battle. I would've killed you once and for all if you hadn't pulled that little disappearing act on me. It seems you have improved it quite well, too."
Kaoru winced at the tone of voice. It was the one he used when Battousai was near.
Kenji was confused. Statue? Battousai? Killed? This wasn't the man he knew. This wasn't his father.
Yusuke smiled a cruel, hard smile. "Now Battousai, have you decided on what path you wish to take?"
Kenshin nodded.
"Then hand over your Sakabatou, sheath, and any other armor or weapons you have. Otherwise, prepair to see your precious family die."
Kenshin turned to face his son and wife. "Kenji, take good care of your mother." Finally, his face broke into a smile. The same smile Kaoru had seen when Kenshin had told her that he was the real Hitokiri Battousai. His eyes relaxed and his voice softened. Slowly he turned and faced Yusuke, throwing the Sakabatou and sheath at him.
"Kenshin! No!"
"Dad! Are you crazy?!"
Kenshin hung his head so that his bangs shadowed over his eyes. "This is.. This is the only choice I have."
"No its not!" Kenji shouted in despiration, tears welling in his eyes.
Kenshin sighed and looked Yusuke in the eye. "I am ready." He said in a firm and steady voice.
Yusuke crossed his arms and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Do you really think I'm just going to end your life in one swift blow?"
Kenshin's smile disappeared. "No, not you. You always liked to inflict as much torture on one person as humanly possible. And I am prepaired to face that pain, de gozaru ne."
"Oh, I see you remember me. Well, then. Let the torture begin!" Unsheathing Kenshin's Sakabatou with lightning speed, he brought the sword down fully on Kenshin's shoulder. Kenshin grasped his shoulder, crying out in pain, when he felt the cold steel slam into his cheek. Kenshin flew across the ground before slamming into one of the stone walls.
"Dad! No, Dad!" Kenji struggled against the bonds that held him, throwing himself foreword, tears streaming freely down his cheeks. Kaoru shed silent tears, her heart felt like it was being wrenched out threw a tiny hole at the site of her poor son.
Kenshin stood, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek and holding his arm.
"Fool!" Screamed Yusuke, leaping for Kenshin. Taking the sword, he hit the man full on in the stomach. Kenshin nearly folded in two. The sound of air escaping at the same time as blood caused a gurgle to come from his mouth. Blood, mixed with whatever had been in his stomach at the time, spewed from his mouth. Yusuke then took the sword and thrusted it down on Kenshin's leg.
Kenji froze as he heard a sickening crack from his fathers leg, which was bent where their shouldve been solid bone. Kaoru's eyes bugged out of her head. She tried to scream, but her voice caught in her throat.
Kenshin roared in pain. His leg was snapped clean in two, his organs in his stomach area twisted and contracted. His mouth was swollen from the impact of the sword and his right arm was incapacitated from the shoulder blow. He knew now that Yusuke would start to cut him, bleed him until the end was so near, he could smell it. Then, the end would come.
And just as he predictied, Yusuke did just that.
Taking out his own sword, Yusuke slammed the sharp blade into Kenshin's back, Hard enough to pierce the skin, but not enough to snap his spine or kill him. Kenshin screamed in pain at every strike, his facial features contorted with pain.
Kenji's sadness was now replaced with anger. His face turned into a snarl. His breathing was shallow and laybored. Kaoru could sense a change in her son.
So did Kenshin.
So did Yusuke.
So did Kazumi, who was watching in the bushes, preparing to attack with her own sword.
And when Kenshin looked at his son, he had to gasp at what he saw.
So did Kaoru.
So did Yusuke.
So did Kazumi. (AN: am I killing you with the suspense or what? :P)
"Kenji," Kenshin whispered hoarsely from his position on the ground.
Kenji's eyes.. were amber.
AN: God I love suspense!