Korai Rumikashi: I forgot to say I don't own Rirouni Kenshin in the last chapter, so I'll say it twice here: I don't own Rirouni Kenshin. I don't own Rirouni Kenshin. Hey, did you like chapter three? Well, here's chapter four, the FINAL chapter.I think I did pretty well with this one! Although, I haven't done Kaoru justice. She's not such a weak little damsel in distress.I'll fix that in my next fan fic, that I will. Sorry, excuse the pun (if you can call THAT a pun). Well, enjoy! OH, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!!!!!!! PLEASE! I LOVE reviews **hugs reviews** Yay! K, read so you can review now! .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Chapter Four
Desperate Ending

-THE VINES-

Sanosuke and Yahiko struggled, but to no avail. Finally, Sano had an
idea.
"Hey! Yahiko," he rasped, "can you squeeze your arm out just enough to
reach my boot?"
"I could try." Yahiko stretched, but his arm wasn't long enough. "I
can't, your boot's to far down!" Yahiko gulped in breath.
Sanosuke strained, "I'll see what I can do to fix that."
Sanosuke raised his knees with a tremendous effort. "There, can you
reach my boot now?"
Yahiko reached, "Ugn..Yeah! I got it. Now what?...What's this?"
Yahiko pulled out a long knife.
"Alright, boy, you'd better be careful not to drop that. It's
our ticked out of here!"

-BALLROOM-

Sainon raised his sword above his head, while Kenshin held his
in the 'Katonna' stance. Like lightning the two's swords clashed in
the song of silver steel. Kenshin thrust sharply at Sainon's neck,
which was avoided, then countered by an equally sharp side slash at
Kenshin's waist. Kenshin leapt above Sainon, barely avoiding his
slash. Kenshin planned on using a double-edged strike down upon
Sainon's shoulders. He ended up guarding against an upward thrust from
Sainon. Kenshin landed on one knee and Sainon, once again, licked his
pointed teeth.
Kenshin's mind swarmed with faded images. First of his dream.then the look on Kaoru's face when he'd almost struck her with his blade..then of Sano and Yahiko suffocating in that mass of creepers..the black rings..then Sainon's hideous face..and finally to Kaoru's cold and delicate form lying on the altar.
Kenshin roared. His eyes were brassy amber, flecked with red. With speed unknown to man, Kenshin disarmed Sainon, and aimed his sword for his cousin's throat.
"Prepare for death, Sainon." Before Kenshin could do more, Sainon drew a dagger and slew himself.
"I'd rather slay myself than be beaten by you again!" Sainon slumped to his knees, "You've got a fine woman, there.take care of her-" Sainon slipped an azure bottle in Kenshin's hands. Then his heart ceased to beat, and breath no longer flowed through his lungs. He was gone, for good this time.
Kenshin trembled.he'd almost broken his oath.
Kenshin's thoughts were interrupted as Sano and Yahiko burst in.
"Kenshin.did you." Yahiko stared first from Kenshin, then to Sainon, then back to Kenshin.
"No, he did it himself.." Kenshin thought, 'I almost did do it..I am just as bad as he was.'
"Koaru!" Sanosuke was nearly run over as Yahiko rushed to Kaoru's side. "Koaru..you're so cold..we need to get out of here.fast!"
Sano reached for Kaoru, and lifted her with ease, "Come on, Kenshin.there's nothing more we can do.he was doomed from the start."
Kenshin turned and followed them out of the castle.

-DOJO-

Megumi poured the contents of the azure bottle down Kaoru's throat. "I'm not sure if we've taken care of her in time.the poison was applied directly into her blood stream.Yahiko, I need more blankets. Sano, more water.." when the two had left, Megumi placed Kaoru's hand in Kenshin's.
"She needs you more than she needs me, right now." Megumi left them alone for a few moments.
Kenshin lifted Kaoru, and held her close to him. "There are not words for the feelings I have towards Yahiko.Sano.Megumi.or you. But, every time someone tries to take revenge on me, you, and the rest, end up getting hurt. And every time.I get angrier and angrier..I can't continue to do this to you, that I can't!" he pulled out the hair ribbon she'd given him, and placed it around her neck, then gently laid her back down. "I.apologize, Kaoru.I know you can't hear me.but.." Kenshin pulled his pack over his shoulders, "I'm less of a danger to you when I'm a wanderer.after all, that's what I am. Good bye" he placed a note on the dresser, and walked out the door.

-KOARU'S DREAM-

Kenshin stood framed by the doorway, "You never know when I may pack up, and wander off again." Kenshin turned away from her and plodded away.
"KENSHIN! No.we need you.I need you..KENSHIN! Come back! NO! Kenshin..."
Kaoru's eyes bolted open, and she stared at a very surprised Megumi. "KENSHIN!!!! Where's Kenshin?!"
Megumi said nothing, but looked at the door. Kaoru followed her gaze, and leapt out of bed.
"NO!" Kaoru ran out the door to the porch.
"Kaoru! You shouldn't be out of bed, you're too weak!" Megumi chased after Kaoru, followed by Yahiko and Sano.
Kaoru shrank to her knees, clutching her hair ribbon. She stared at the still swinging double doors..her breath was slow and shallow, "Wanderer."
Sanosuke nodded inwardly; he completely understood Kenshin's reasoning, even if it was foolish.

The group herded Kaoru inside again, with a tremendous effort. When Kaoru had fallen asleep again, Megumi found the note on the dresser. After Megumi had finished reading it, she looked up at Sano and Yahiko, "Don't worry.I'm sure we'll see him again."

-The End-

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~.~.~.~. Will Kenshin return? What did his note say? If you want to know, you should
read my sequel! .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Korai Rumikashi: Yeah, I know, I'm evil. You must be thinking 'WHY DID SHE MAKE IT HAVE SUCH A DEPRESSING ENDING?' well, I'll tell you: Now, there's room for a sequel! So yeah, don't flame me too much, I promise I will right all these wrongs! So, if you would just review now, I'm open to suggestions for my sequel, since I have yet to write it, but I have a basic idea! Yeah. So click GO and then you can flame me or, you can tell me if it was ok, or suggestions! I love my devoted readers! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!! Be Patient, I will write that sequel for you, or I give my cousin permission to slaughter me with a frying pan!