Hiro woke up on a bed. He remembered something in his brain snapping and him giving up on life. His hand went to his stomach. There was a large bandage on his stomach. Hiro looked around to see Kenshin sitting at a table drinking tea and Sano standing next to the door. Hiro groaned. "I don't suppose you'll let me die..."

"No." answered Kenshin sternly. "You better explain. Why are you killing them and what's your connection with Hashara?" Hiro sighed again.

"I guess I should start from the beginning, the very beginning. My father (before I was born) got mixed up with the Hashara. He figured that if he got good with them during their peak he would become rich. He gave them a big gift and he got on their good side. When the revolution was over he ran. He managed to hide from them for quite a few years, and then they caught up to them..." Hiro choked a little, paused, and then continued. "Then they killed him. He was standing outside a building. Inside my mother was in labor with me." He paused again. "They came rushing in, killing everyone inside...including my mother." Hiro choked again. "Then they found me...when I was born...I didn't cry like most babies. They thought I was different, so they took me in. I became their greatest assassin. From the very time I was born they had toughened me up. One day my assignment was to get the little daughter of a politician to trust me. She did...a little too much. When I betrayed her she looked up at me..." He buried his face in the covers. A few moments went by until he continued. "...My heart just sank...One of the other members threw a dagger at her and I watched her die. I didn't understand it. Why should I have cared? It took me a while, but I finally came to the conclusion that there had to be more to life than this...so, before I left I blew up their headquarters. I ran around Japan. Going everywhere. Everywhere I went people immediately called me an assassin and sent me away. When you did...I just...gave up..." Hiro relaxed his body as he felt a wave of relief came over him. He finally let I out.

"Why do you kill them?" asked Kenshin calmly. It was obvious he was still had a grudge in his voice.

"I don't have a choice."

"Why don't you just disable them!" there was anger deep in his voice.

"It's not that simple...one person in the Hashara had his arms and legs chopped off. He stayed in a wheelchair and swung a ball and a chain from his neck. They don't stop, they never stop. The only way to make them stop...is to kill them." Kenshin kind of froze.

"How many more do you have to kill?" asked Sano for the first time.

"As far as I know, five more are left in the group...and I'm not waiting for them anymore." Despite his injury he stood up and saw his sword in the corner. He grabbed it before anyone had a chance to react. "Kenshin, Sano, I have to ask you to stay out of my business. Promise."

"I will." Said Kenshin.

"Yeah, sure." Said Sano.

'Good.' Thought Hiro. 'There's more to this than they could ever comprehend. The Hashara is nothing compared to what I have to face.' He trudged out. Ayame was right out the door.

"Hir..." she was abruptly stopped by Kenshin's hand. "Wha..."

"Stay away from him." He said sternly. Ayame's eyes were watery as Hiro walked of down the road into the distance.

About ten miles away, a member of the Hashara was begging his leader to spare him. "Please, I'll get him! Please!" A sword was raised in the shadows. "NO!!!" The sword came down and went through the man.

"Leader, was that necessary?" asked one of the three men that were watching.

"Those who prove themselves worthless should be eliminated." Said a girl's voice. She raised her ear to the air. "He's coming." She descended back into the darkness. About two seconds later the door came barging down.

"So Hiro, you've come to finish it." Said one of the men. Hiro just drew his sword. "I'll handle this." He ran forward. His nun chucks came out of nowhere as he slung them at Hiro. Hiro blocked all of the attacks.

"Your not even a challenge..." Hiro's sword went through the chain and then through the man. "Don't you even underestimate me!" The other men backed away. Then there were two sounds like something going trough bodies. They both fell to the ground.

"You've killed my entire group Hiro." Said the girl from the darkness.

"If you hadn't pursued me then I wouldn't have had to, Juri." A sword appeared from the darkness.

"Never say my name." She said in a deadly voice. Hiro thought for a moment. He wanted Juri to have a peaceful life like him...then he had an idea.

"Let's make a little wager." Said Hiro. The sword went down a little.

"What kind of wager?"

"If you win I do what you want."

"Join me and become an assassin again to fight our enemy."

"Okay, but if I win you have to give up killing and lead a peaceful life." Juri paused for a moment.

"Deal."

"I don't believe you Kenshin!" shouted Ayame. Kenshin tried to reason with her.

"I saw him Ayame, he is an assassin." He said calmly.

"He isn't!!" Ayame was the only one who was defending him. She saw something in him. He couldn't be. By the way he was acting, no way. Ayame starting running.

"Ayame!" shouted Kenshin, but she didn't listen. She ran all the way to the spot that Hiro had taken her in the forest. She sat down by a tree and cried on her knees. Then she remembered what he said, 'When you fist look at the forest all you see is trees, but when you come into it you can see that the forest is full of life and beauty. People are the same...' She jerked her head up. Was he...was he referring to her...did he...did he...

The battle between Juri and Hiro was a great one. They were going throughout the countryside destroying all sorts of things. The force of their swords clashing together caused craters in the ground and knocking over different things. They did this all the way to Tokyo. Hiro unknowingly fought his way all the way back to the forest he had taken Ayame into. In a clearing he clashed with Juri. Ayame saw them both. Her heart fluttered when she saw him, but then sank when she saw Juri. 'He probably would prefer her over me...' she thought. Hiro didn't see Ayame and kept going towards town. Ayame ran after him.

"Kenshin!" shouted Yahiko. "Hiro's fighting with some girl close to town!!" Kenshin quickly grabbed his sword and ran with Yahiko. Everyone else followed him.

In a field Hiro realized he was near people and decided to end it. Just as everyone got there Juri and Hiro lunged for one final attack. Somehow Hiro got faster. They both landed on opposite sides. Hiro brought his sword to one side and jerked the blood off his sword. Juri grabbed her side and fell to the ground. "You've gotten slower. You remember our deal?" Kenshin noticed Yahiko was staring with his mouth open at Juri.

"What is it?" asked Kenshin. Yahiko closed his mouth.

"Nothing." He turned away.

"I will never give it up..." Juri pulled out a dagger. Hiro rushed over and hit Juri on the neck. "You little..." she said while twitching.

"I always keep my deals." Hiro smiled as Juri fell over. Kenshin didn't move. Hiro turned to him. "Uh, you probably think I was getting rid of the Hashara to save myself, but I wasn't." Kenshin's expression changed.

"Well, whom were you fighting for?" Hiro opened in the direction of the girl. Ayame's heart sank.

"Uh guys, meet Juri, my sister."