Fatality of the Strong

Chapter 8: Miss Kaoru

By: Nikumu Chan

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Author's note: Okay people, I got major inspiration so I'm making another chapter and I think this is the final one so that's cool right? It's finally going to be done!

******Previous Chapter******

Kureno backed up into the moon light. "I now understand that they were very wrong about the Battousai, that he was a caring, selfless man, and I now understand why you loved him."

The moon pulsed violently.

******Chapter 8******

A pale, eerie blue light flooded the courtyard of the dojo, stunning Kaoru to silence but Kureno didn't seem to notice; he was too busy staring at Kaoru.

The moon pounded powerfully, emitting an immense pulse of blue light.

Kaoru felt her jaw fall open as she saw Kureno glow faintly. "Ku-Kureno? Y- you're glowing!" She gasped as she pointed a weak arm to him.

Kureno blinked. "What the--" Kureno looked down at himself and jumped, utterly startled. He tried to shake it, jumping around.

If Kaoru wasn't so surprised at the moment, she would have laughed at Kureno's attempt to shake away the glow. It was quite amusing, watching him jump around in odd angles, but she couldn't laugh. She was completely mesmerized; for God's sake, he was glowing!!

Kureno stopped, panting. His eyes widened . . .

Kureno was levitating!!! Oh no! That definitely means something's wrong! Kaoru practically flew to the courtyard, where Kureno was previously standing . . . and now floating! "Kureno, what the heck is going on?!"

Kureno shot her an incredulous look. "Act like I know, why don't ya?!"

"I am! What, in all sanity, is going on?!"

"I don't know!"

The blaze around Kureno grew brighter and spread out around the courtyard; Kaoru fell silent and grew worried.

What could be happening to him? Why was it happening to him? What did he do to have this happen? And what, exactly, was going on!?

. . . Could it have anything to do with the memories? . . . With Kenshin? Is this how that replacement was to work?

A bright light caught Kaoru's eye. It seemed to pulsate repeatedly . . . it was the moon. What did the moon have to do with the levitation and the light?

It seemed to pulse contently, as if it was planning something. But what the heck did that have to do with Kureno?

Suddenly, the pulses became more powerful and the moon grew brighter. Kaoru's eyes grew round and widened slowly at the sight . . . the moon was giving off powerful light! But, it wasn't supposed to do that . . . right?! The moon doesn't give away light, does it?!

As a blinding flash erupted from the moon, Kaoru shielded her eyes protectively.

What was happening?!

For God's sake, she had a right to know, ne?!

Why was this happening to them?!

Did they angry the Gods somehow . . . what had they done?!

What was that light doing?!

It wasn't hurting Kureno, right?!

Too many questions ran through her mind to comprehend.

The light died down and Kaoru rubbed her eyes. Kureno was sitting on the ground, motionless.

"Kureno!!" Kaoru hissed, just remembering that it was the middle of the night and the others were sleeping. She hurriedly kneeled down beside Kureno. "Kureno, are you okay?!"

No answer

"Kureno, answer me!"

Kaoru felt tears well in her eyes when he didn't answer again. "Kureno?" she asked slowly. "Will you answer me? Please? Talk? Open your eyes, please? Kureno?" she asked her friend. "I don't want to loose another friend . . . please? Do something, dammit!!" Tears fell down Kaoru's cheeks but she just shook Kureno, giving no signal to know the tears were even there.

"I don't . . . want to ever . . . do that again! What . . . happened?!" Kureno groaned quietly. He cracked open an eye, almost sleepily.

Kaoru smiled happily, tears still spilling down her cheeks. "Kureno?" se asked softly.

"Who?"

"What do you mean 'who'? You know who you are!"

"I thought I did, Miss Kaoru."

Kaoru's eyes rounded, all tears dried momentarily. "What . . . did you just call me?"

"I called you Miss Kaoru . . . is there something different about that? I've always called you that."

Kaoru felt tears well again. "Ken . . . shin? Kenshin, is it you?"

He smiled. "That I am,"

A tear rolled down Kaoru's cheek as she hugged Kenshin/Kureno tightly. "You're back! You came back, Kenshin!!"

"I left?"

"You died, you idiot!" she yelled, crying profusely.

"I didn't leave. I was with you the whole time Kaoru. I may not have been there physically, but I was always in your heart as long as you thought of me. I would never leave completely." He said hugging her back.

************

Sanosuke and Yahiko walked outside rubbing their eyes, being shaken awake by yelling.

Sanosuke was first to get sight of Kaoru and, the still known as, to him, Kureno. "What the--" he stopped himself when he heard Kaoru speak.

************

"Why'd you do that, Kenshin? Why'd you kill yourself . . . ? We could have managed . . ."

"No, we couldn't have. It was the only way for me to guarantee everyone's safety. I didn't want to take the chance of something like that happening again."

************

Did she say Kenshin?

Sanosuke peered over his shoulder to see Yahiko, jaw practically on the floor. He'd heard it, too.

"Kaoru! What the--" Sanosuke started.

Yahiko interrupted. "Is Kenshin really back, Kaoru?!?!" he yelled.

************

Kenshin looked to the voices. "Sano, Yahiko!"

Kaoru looked to Yahiko, broke out into a huge grin, and nodded vigorously. "He's back . . . Kenshin's back," she whispered, "And I'm not letting him leave again."

************

Nikumu: Bad ending? Tell me what ya think! Please review! It's OVER!!!