Title: Tears of Blood Author: Kenshin's Radish

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Rurouni Kenshin. That's only wishful thinking.

Chapter 8: Kenshin's Grief

Sano reached the ledge that Soichiro had previously sat. "Jou-chan! Yahiko! I'm here to rescue you!" panted Sanosuke, wincing from the exertion.
"Sano! Where's Kenshin? Where is he!?" cried Kaoru as she swung herself closer to Sano.
"I don't know! I haven't been able to find him! Hurry! The rope looks as if it's about to break!"
"Kaoru no!" yelled Yahiko but it was too late. Both the ropes snapped. Sanosuke lunged at Yahiko and Kaoru, as they began to plummet towards the river. They screamed.

The sound of death screams pierced the night. The Battousai's eyes faded from amber to violet and abruptly stopped his attack at his enemy. "Kaoru-dono! Yahiko!" A loud splash exploded from the river, and there was nothing Kenshin could do.
Soichiro cackled sadistically, "Your friends are dead. You failed to protect them once and for all. And now you will die too Battousai!" Kenshin didn't react. He was struck dumb and paralyzed in anger. Soichiro lunged at Kenshin grabbing him by the neck and knocking the sword from his limp hands. Gripping with all his might, he strangled Kenshin as he walked over to the river. "This is the river where your friends have died, and now so shall you." Soichiro thrust Kenshin to the side of the river and held him underwater.
Lights swirled in his mind, pictures, random memories flashed. Air wouldn't come. His eyes began to roll when he remembered the scream. Kaoru.Yahiko. The amethyst eyes flashed golden. The Battousai thrashed his legs, catching Soichiro in the chest and the grip on his throat disappeared.
The Battousai leapt for his sword, and grabbed it. He held it to a stunned Soichiro's throat, "You killed Kaoru-dono and Yahiko. They were innocent, now you shall pay."
Soichiro laughed once again, "Now you know how it feels Battousai. To lose somebody you love. It hurts doesn't it?"

The sword inched closer to his jugular, "I already know how it feels Miyazawa. I accidentally stabbed and killed my own wife, I know what pain is." The Battousai drew back his sword and sheathed it, eyes changing back from gold to violet. You made it rain.rain of blood, echoed through his mind.Tomoe's words. He would never make it rain of blood again, never.

They hit the water with a tremendous force. Sanosuke had grabbed both of them as they fell and shielded them from the water with his own body, he took all of the impact. Kaoru and Yahiko survived the impact of the water and Sano was knocked unconscious. Using all of their strength, the two swam against the current to shore, lugging the ex-gangster behind them.
Once to shore, Sanosuke began coughing water all over. Hacking coughs wracked his bruised and broken body. "We have to go find Kenshin," he rasped pulling himself up.
"No we aren't. You are staying here Sanosuke, you are terribly weak and have over exerted yourself. Thank you so much for saving us.I.I." trembled Kaoru.
"Yeah, yeah, shut-up and go already! Go find Kenshin!" gasped Sanosuke just before he passed out. Kaoru bolted, she heard the sound of clashing swords, and Yahiko followed.

"Giving up Battousai? Feh, you aren't as strong as you used to be. You make me sick, to know such a pathetic weakling murdered my brother," said Soichiro as he stood up and picked up his sword. "Hajime Saitou is dead; your friend Sanosuke is probably dead; Yahiko, that stupid boy that always looked up to you is dead. And Kaoru.your lover I suppose.is dea."
"Shut-up!" screamed Kenshin as his eyes once again transformed amber. Grabbing his sakabatou he sprinted to Soichiro. You made it rain.rain of blood. He held his sword above his head and struck at Soichiro, it was blocked and deflected. The Battousai's breathing was heavy. You made it rain.rain of blood. He didn't care. He had nothing to live for. His friends were all dead, and it was all Soichiro's fault. He lunged again, but missed. What was happening? Before he always at least hit the sword.how did he miss?
His anger and grief is clouding his ability to think and move clearly. Excellent. He is in the perfect condition to defeat, thought Soichiro maliciously as he whipped his sword at the Battousai, he clumsily evaded it but not without injury, and a gash appeared on his shoulder.
The Battousai put his sword back in his sheath and got into the stance for Battoujutsu. He crouched down low and with a sudden burst of strength leapt at his enemy, sword brandished, and he missed again. What the hell is going on? I can't even hit him, thought the Battousai. Soichiro laughed at the Battousai's plight. He couldn't hit the broad side of a cliff with the way he was going. He tried to shake his head but it was a jumble of screams, sobs, Kaoru, Yahiko and you made it rain.rain of blood.it continued to haunt him repeating in a cycle over, and over again. That's when the Battousai lost all control.

"Hurry Yahiko! I hear Kenshin's voice! We have to get to him!" cried Kaoru as she ran along the river.
"I'm going as fast as I can Kaoru! I." Yahiko was cut short by a horrible yell that reverberated in the forest. "What was that!" asked Yahiko, eyes wide.
"I think it's Kenshin." whispered Kaoru, with that they took off running once again.