CHAPTER 5

A/N: Ok- on to the fight scene- I know you've been waiting for it- hopefully I won't let you down- Sorry for the delay- I went away for the week- Gen Con Indy! I had soooo much fun there! Gaming (LARP), shopping, watching anime, eating junk food :) It was fun. Then, when I came back- my Internet connection was on the fritz… oh the horror!!!!!!

Not to mention still having boy troubles… But I'll look on the bright side of life……. Um… what exactly is the bright side of life?? ;) jk!!!

"Life's a Bitch and then you marry one." Right?

Or is that

"Life sucks and then you die."

Either way, I'm easily amused and finding some enjoyment out of my soap opera like life…

So without further boring banter, here's the story!

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Disclaimer: Me no own, it's as simple as that! ^_^

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Kenshin assessed the situation carefully. Yahiko and Ms. Kaoru seemed to be all right. Except Ms. Kaoru looked like she was roughed up. That angered him. The red haired samurai's breathing grew heavier as he fought with the mounting anger.

"What's wrong Mr. Rurouni? You won't let the Battousai come out and join me in this little game?" Yosho said as the noise of Sano and the men fighting were completely drowned out. The two fighters stared at each other. Both were trying to better understand the other.

"Is this all a game to you?" Kenshin growled. "Toying with Ms Kaoru's affections… to get to me? And all for a thrill? You are unworthy to be called a swordsman… no… you're unfit to be called a human being."

"Perceptive aren't we? Well Battousai the man slayer- when will you attack?"

"I am not going to, that I will not." Kenshin said setting his sword on the ground at his feet. "I promised… I promised to many people that I wouldn't fight…I've broken that promise to many times." He said. Just looking at him, everyone in the room could see the inner struggle. The fighter inside screamed to be released, but the Rurouni had tremendous will power.

'Not today…' he told himself. 'I cannot… I will not shed any more blood…not in front of Ms. Kaoru… never again!'

"What's wrong? You will not fight to defend your precious Ms. Kaoru's honor? Or is it that you can't?" Yosho laughed, but he was quieted as a fist came and hit his jaw unexpectedly. Spitting a bit of blood Yosho's anger surged in his cold eyes. The Rurouni stood there clenching the fist he had used to hit the man.

"No one disrespects Ms. Kaoru…" He hissed. The gleam of the Battousai surged for a brief moment.

"Oh, and you are going to stop me? I didn't go halfway around the world to hunt you to be disappointed like this!" Yosho said drawing his blade and swinging it at Kenshin. Yahiko and Kaoru gasped as Kenshin dodged the fast swing. "Come on- where is the best fighter in all of Japan? Where is the battousai?"

"He is gone, that he is…"

"No he is not. I see him in you. You just need the right persuasion to get him to come out of your pathetic Rurouni shell." Yosho said as he walked over to where Kaoru and Yahiko were tied. "Well wanderer… are you going to fight me or will you sacrifice them for your silly penance?"

Kenshin could only watch as Yosho drew his blade towards Kaoru. Acing with lighting speed, Kenshin took the blade that was meant for Kaoru.

"Kenshin!" She screamed as blood trickled to the floor.

Yosho pulled his blade from the red haired man's side with a smile.

"I knew you would do that. So why not fight me? You are just going to take wound after wound for them?"

"I will protect them without shedding more blood."

"Fine- have it your way." Yosho said as he rushed forward again stabbing Kenshin.

Kaoru couldn't stand it anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes and dripped down her cheeks.

"Yosho, please… please don't hurt him anymore." She wept. Kenshin, who was now staggering on the floor in pain looked up at his Ms. Kaoru. She was crying… for him.

"Ms. Kaoru…" He whispered with raging breath. She didn't want him to die…why?

"Why should I?" Yosho said looking at Kaoru.

"Because… because I love him. Kenshin… I love you." She cried looking down on the bleeding Rurouni. "Please, Kenshin…"

Kenshin looked at her tear stained face. 'She loves me? Me? Someone who is so stained… so unworthy of someone so light and pure…' His mind couldn't figure out why.

"Kenshin, please. Don't die like this… not now… I love you for who you are, all of you."

"All of me?"

"Yes, all of you. Don't let Yosho do this to you. Fight him as the Rurouni and not the battousai. Like you did so many other times…" Kaoru told him.

Kenshin stood on his feet. Turning his back to everyone, he faced Yosho.

"So finally going to face me? You needed a pep talk from your whore?" Yosho laughed.

Kenshin rolled on the mats to his sword and lifted it with stunning speed.

Yosho smiled, he would now get some fight out of the weakling, he thought. The blades clashed together as both men began the dance that was swordplay.

Kenshin and his reverse blade sword never struck Yosho's flesh, but the sheer force behind the swing sent Yosho flying backwards and through the paper-thin wall material.

Kenshin ran after Yosho to the outside area. It was better to fight away from them, so that he could avoid putting them in any more danger.

As soon as Kenshin and Yosho were out of the room, Sano quickly freed Kaoru and Yahiko.

"Wait a second missy." Sano said in his cool voice stopping her from running out to Kenshin. "Don't go out there."

"But Kenshin needs us…" Kaoru said drying her tears. "I want to be with him."

"I know- but let Kenshin deal with that creep alone…we'll just get in the way." Sano added.

"I wasn't expecting that." Yosho said spitting the blood from his mouth. "But that's all you will get. I've been waiting my whole life for this moment!"

"That's sad, that it is… to live to take away life. I was once living that shadow of a life… but the battousai died a long time ago." Kenshin said re-sheathing his sword and preparing for the coming fight. He would once more take up the sword to protect all that was dear to him, especially Ms. Kaoru.

Yosho came charging with all his power. Letting out a loud scream as he came at the red haired wandered, he sliced through the air. Kenshin, using his cat like skills, dodged the blow easily. He felt the blood of the battousai coursing through his veins once more. But he suppressed the feelings of anger and hatred that had once consumed him for so long.

Just as they had surged, demanding release, a vision of a woman came to him. Her smile was so beautiful and her laugh was even more appealing. The warmth of her spirit warmed the cold blood that wanted release. 'Ms. Kaoru.' His mind recognized the lovely vista before him. 'She loves me for the wanderer, she doesn't care that I have nothing of worldly possessions, or of titles and honors I could bring her… but she is willing to accept all of this unworthy one… I will not let her down…ever!' he told himself giving him even more resolve to fight as the wanderer and finally bury the blood stained hands of the battousai…

Inside the dojo the three could only listen to the clinging of blade on blade, or the howling of Yosho was he attacked their Rurouni.

"Don't worry missy." Sano spoke up. "He won't let you down. He loves you too much." Came the wink of the rooster haired fighter.

Kaoru couldn't help feel the flush of her cheeks. 'He loves me? I have always dreamed that he did… oh Kenshin, can't you see you are worthy enough for me…'