WOW! 102 reviews! Thanks a lot everyone for the support in writing this fic. Check the end of this chapter for the Hundred Review Review!


Chapter 13:
Clash of the Titans

The two groups stood on opposite sides of the back lawn. The afternoon soon beat down on their cloaked bodies, causing each to sweat. The breeze that blew passed only brought a wave of hotter air, further fueling the atmosphere for the pending storm. Yahiko walked towards Kaoru, but

Kenshin drew his katana, halting his advance. He sneered at the sword and pushed it aside.

"I will deal with you in a moment. First, I want to talk to Kaoru," he said, glaring Kenshin down.

"I believe it was you that said no conversation was necessary, Yahiko. Leave now, or we will have to kill all of you," she said, her tone as cold as ice. Her blue eyes pierced into Yahiko's heart.

Kill?

Would Kaoru kill anyone? Not the Kaoru he knew. The Kaoru he knew stood for what was right, stood for justice. There is no way she was the Hitokiri, no way! He had killed only to get to Kenshin, to make him pay for his sins. He had run away from them always, he was going to make him pay. Why was she stopping him?

"You are not the Hitokiri, are you," he finally asked. You could hear the urgency in his voice, though he tried to hide it. Saitou could very well hear it…he wanted to strangle the boy for being so

weak.

"So what if I am? There is no reason for you to hunt Kenshin down and kill just to get at him. This is not you, Yahiko," Kaoru said, walking closer to for former student.

"Hypocrite! You kill people for money. You are a murderer for hire. You are no different from me. At least I do it for a reason. What is your reason, eh? What's your excuse? I track down Kenshin and train for six years to defend your honor only to find out you have none left and have become his
wen…" he was on he ground before he could finish the sentence. The right side of his face felt as if it were on fire. He slowly rose to his knees and grabbed his jaw. He looked up at Kaoru, who still had her fist balled. She had always been intimidating, but never as much as at this singular
moment.

"Get up," she spat, looking down at him as if he were vermin. Her eyes seemed as if they were on fire, her face as hard as rock. She unfastened her cloak and let it fall to the ground, revealing a body Yahiko had not known. He had been such a thin-framed girl back then, but very strong. Now, her legs and arms were very well toned, the definition could be seen through the thin cotton shirt she wore. Her hands were bound by tape, those hands surrounding her holster. Yahiko had never intended on fighting his former sensei. Hell, he wasn't sure if he would ever see her again. This is not how he planned things to turn out.


"What, did the truth offend you, Kaoru no Hitokiri," Saitou finally interjected. He walked over to Yahiko and placed a hand on his shoulder. He pushed him out the way and smiled."You take care of Kenshin like we originally planned. I'll deal with her."

Kaoru chuckled a bit at his comment, making Saitou cock his brow. Then, she disappeared before Saitou's eyes, her movements like the wind. Even he was surprised by her speed. He stepped to his left and withdrew is sword just in time to block a blow meant to make his upper and lower body distant friends. He smirked and pushed Kaoru off. She was no pushover, that's for sure.

"Hmm, I expected a bit more from you. If I moved as fast as I could you would have been dead," she said, placing her sword back in her hilt slowly.

Saitou did not respond to her taunt. As a top-notch swordsman, he knew not to show his emotions during battle. To show his anger would mean his death. Instead, he took her words and examined them. Yes, he had underestimated her. He had only taken into account the speed she had shown when fighting Misao. He figured her to be able to move only a bit faster. Another mistake like that would plot his grave just as quickly, too.

As the crickets chirped in the background, Saitou moved his left foot forward into a stance unlike any she had seen with her own eyes. She had heard of the left-handed lunge before, but to see it for herself was a treat. The destructive power has been fabled since the Revolution and she would be pleased to defeated it, as she knew she could. Kaoru smiled and put her right foot forward and right hand over her hilt. This would be an excellent test of speed and power. Everyone else around them was silent. Kenshin knew that Kaoru was as skilled as he, but if Saitou was as strong as he remembered, she damn near had to be stronger than him. It wasn't that it was impossible, but her cockiness may get in the way. She needs to take her own words to heart, he thought to himself.

The pair stood perfectly still for one moment before the grass around them shot up and both charged at each other with a roar. Saitou was nearly laughing, for Kaoru hadn't even drawn her sword as his was about to pierce her chest. He lunged his arm forward, preparing to make contact when he saw his sword move up and Kaoru lean back to miss being impaled. She had withdrawn her sword to parry his blade and her flexibility allowed her to dodge any counterstrike. Moving all the way back, Kaoru lifted her legs off the ground and kicked Saitou in the chin, sending him flying in the air.
She flipped down, sheathing her sword as Saitou landed on the ground. Kenshin's eyes were wide as saucers. She dodged the Gatoutsu in the first try. She did not show this skill when she fought him. She did not show this power. How much was she holding back?

There wasn't much time for questions, for it did not take long for Saitou to regain his footing and get back into stance. This time, the blade was raised slightly above his shoulder, his lips curling into a little smirk. Kaoru shrugged her shoulders and moved into a different stance as well. It was a basic defensive stance.

"So, you are going to use your full power finally," Kaoru said running towards Saitou.

This time, she wasn't moving as fast, which had Saitou wondering what she was going

to do next. She was running straight at him, her katana leaning towards her right side. She

was going to strike the blade from the left. Saitou sped up leapt in the air over Kaoru's head.

She stopped, and brought her sword to the left where Saitou had slashed in an attempt to take her

arm off.

The battle was on now. The pair clashed swords at a speed that a normal person could not see. Yahiko was in awe of his former master. A murderer she may be, but she is most of all skilled beyond measure. She deserved her title.

While she did not land a hit, neither did Saitou, which was curiously odd for him. One could say the difference was Kaoru's inborn flexibility, which allowed her to block most of his attacks by simply dodging them in a way nearly impossible for a male. Not to mention her speed was impossible to predict. He could tell she was still holding back. He could not show his full strength himself until she did.

"Enough with the games," he said, stepping back. Kaoru stood down and wiped some sweat from her brow.

"Yeah, yeah...you are right. It's too hot to be out here toying with each other,"she said while rolling up her sleeve. Misao twitched in anger and disbelief. This whole time they were only sparring and not using their full potential!

Kaoru moved into a stance that was meant for a machete. She held her sword high over her head in her right hand, guiding it with the left, showing great strength. Saitou, his smirk gone, got into another Gatoutsu stance. In the blink of an eye the two superpowers darted after each other. Saitou knew he would have to dodge a downward slash aimed for his heart. In the split second he dodges blow, he will use his Zero Stance. For a moment, it seemed he had predicted correctly. The slash came as expected and he hopped back just half a step, but Kaoru continued to drive the blade into the ground and used it as a brace. Her feet came of the ground and connected with Saitou's chest. Jaws dropped as he flew through the air and Kaoru snatched her katana and slashed Saitou across the chest. Blood gushed from his wound as he hit the ground hard. Kaoru stood over his frame, wiping his blood off her blade.

"You and I both know the Katana is too heavy and is not properly shaped to be used as a machete. But I knew in the heat of the battle, that knowledge would flee you. Your brain betrayed you, leaving you with your chest wide open. It is not fatal, though," Kaoru said as she finished cleaning the sword, leaving Saitou time to rise to his feet. She was right, he was able to move, but it would be his death if he continued to fight. He would bleed to death from exertion. But, he could never run away from a fight.

Never.

Saitou got into stance again, blood pouring from his chest. Kaoru smiled, seeing that he took the bait. She had heard about the Wolves of Mibu. They would never run away from their opponent, even if it seemed impossible for victory to be obtained. She knew even injured, he would not back down, even if the injury would only get worse if he continued to fight. That meant, he would put everything he had into this final bout. She was only trying to see the true measure of his strength.

She would finally see it.

And now it's time for the 100 Review Review, where I interview the main characters and get their feedback on their project up to this point. Opinions expressed may not be necessarily those of the writer.

Interviewer: So, Sosoru Kenshin, Kaoru and Sanosuke, thank's for being here.

Kenshin: I'm not worthy to be here, that I am not.

Sosoru: Oh, don't say that, Kenshin! You are the star!

Kenshin: *blushes* Oh no, Sosoru-sama, that I am not.

Kaoru: *turns red and grows fangs* What did you call her?!

Kenshin: Kaoru-dono, calm down!

Sosoru: Yes, calm down, woman. Geez, I know aikido, yanno.

Kaoru: *turns to Sosoru* Is that a challenge, missy?!

Sosoru: *gets out of chair* Do you want it to be?

Interviewer: Umm, ladies, let's not fight in front of the readers...

Sosoru: *looks about and sits back down* I suppose you are right.

Interviewer: Ok...good, let's continue, eh. So, Kenshin, how do you feel about your part.

Kenshin: Well, I am lucky to have any part, that I am.

Interviwer: Ok, but, how do you LIKE it?

Kenshin: Oro?

Sosoru: Com'on, this isn't the fic, you don't have to act dense.

Kaoru: Are you getting smart with him? Because if you are I'm gonna rip all that pretty auburn hair of yours out, Sosoru!

Sosoru: Oh hell naw! It's on!

Kenshin: Kaoru-dono, let's not fight with the woman that produces the story.

Sanosuke: *holding Sosoru back* Man, hurry up and calm her down. She's strong.

Sosoru: *yelling over Sano's shoulder* I'm gonna turn that ponytail into a pigtail, heifer!

Interviewer: Well, this is all the time we have for today. *rumbling and screaming is in the background* As you can see, our folks have a very interesting relationship. See you in the next 100 reviews!