A/N: Ok, if this goes as well as I hope, this will be the last chapter. (Not including the epilogue.) There will be an implication of…stuff…but only a bit. And there will also be violence. Sorta kinda.
Disclaimer: Saying I do not own Rurouni Kenshin is ALMOST as bad as what I did in this chapter.
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Bright light penetrates Kaoru's dreams.
"Kao-Kaoru?"
Her eyes fly open instantly, 'Kenshin!'
Kei moans and pulls her back against him. Kenshin stands in the doorway, shoulders slumped, mouth agape.
"I- I can explain…"
Kenshin's face turns to stone and his eyes flash amber. "No need."
Kei nuzzles Kaoru's neck. She rolls over, careful to keep the blanket covering her while she shakes Kei awake. As soon as he sees Kenshin he grins; but it isn't the fun-loving one Kaoru liked…it is malicious.
"So little bro, how's it feel to walk in on your brother and lover in the same futon?" Kenshin's hand strays towards his sakabatou.
"Get out now."
"But we were just getting started." Kei wraps an arm around Kaoru's waist and draws her to him. All of her exposed skin turns a bright shade of crimson.
"Get your filthy hands off her." Kenshin growls. Kei holds them up defensively. "Now get dressed and draw your sword."
"Whoa, dude, shouldn't we let the lady decide?"
Kenshin growls. "She is mine."
"She isn't something you can own."
The Battousai surfaces further, flecking violet with amber. "Don't push me."
Kei shrugs, "Kaoru, it is up to you to decide. Who do you love?"
"I…I…I love Kenshin." Kei glares at her.
"After what we just shared?!"
Kaoru stares at him coldly. "Seducing does not count."
"You weren't exactly fighting it!"
"I know. I also now realize that your original intention here was to do that very thing. I made a mistake. I do not love you and you do not love me. You just wanted to hurt Kenshin."
Kei pulls himself out of the futon. "We are going to settle this now."
"But sessha thought you said it was up to Kaoru to decide." Kenshin sneers.
"What? Are you scared I will beat you and she will be mine?" Kei is finished dressing. He reaches down and picks up his katana. The Battousai is surfacing again.
"You think you can beat me?"
"It has been awhile, you have no idea how strong I've become."
Kenshin/Battousai scowls and walks outside. "Bring it on."
Kaoru hurries into something and limps out after them. Kenshin and Kei are standing opposite each other, not taking a stance, just staring each other down, noting weaknesses.
"Kenshin, don't do this…" Kaoru pleads, hobbling down the steps, but he holds up a hand to stop her. This isn't just about her. It is from the year of pain each has suffered because of the other.
Kei makes the first move, pulling into a stance similar to Saitoh's gatotsu. Kenshin takes one that Kaoru has never seen before. It looks as if it could pass as either a defensive or offensive. Kaoru ponders whether it is either highly powerful or the complete opposite as Kei attacks.
Kenshin easily blocks him and gracefully swings his sakabatou around. He has not yet reversed the blade. Kei ducks and counters, almost catching Kenshin in the back of the knees. Kenshin is above him in the tree, but only momentarily. He dives, sword pointed straight down. Kei rolls out of the way.
"You have gotten better." Kenshin notes.
"And this time, I will win! Come on, attack me!" Kei opens his arms in a welcoming gesture, only making Kenshin angrier. He charges, Kei's katana clanging brutally against his sakabatou. As metal meets metal, who walks in but Saitoh himself. He avoids the battle and stands next to Kaoru. Saitoh rolls his eyes.
"Is he going to 'let' the Battousai out?"
Kaoru glares at him, pretending not to hear his remark.
"What are they fighting about?" he sneers.
"I don't know," she answers coldly.
The two men fighting do not notice or do not care and continue their battle. Metal rings against metal, their bodies thrown into it. Kaoru sees Kei's lips moving, but cannot hear what he is saying; Kenshin does: his eyes lose any violet that was left and his face contorts with anger. He pulls away. Both are breathing heavily. Kei laughs gleefully as Battousai reverses his blade. Kaoru runs to stop him, crying "NO!" but Saitoh catches her arm.
"If you go now he will kill you too."
"You don't know that!" she cries. Saitoh shakes his head and does not let go, though he loosens his grip.
Kei and Kenshin are at it again. Kei looks as if he has the upper hand; he is doing all the attacking and all Kenshin can do is block and run.
'He is so much stronger then he used to be, but not stronger than me.' Kenshin thinks as the katana swipes a millimeter away from his neck.
"What's wrong little bro? Can't fight back? Do you not have enough pride to? Or do you just not want the little whore?"
Battousai growls. "My turn."
Kei's happy expression instantly turns fearful. Battousai comes at him forcefully, barely giving Kei time to defend himself. Kaoru squints from the porch.
"What's happening?!"
"He is now truly the Battousai. One of these men is going to die today."
"Kenshin…" Kaoru whispers. Kei doesn't know what to do; Kenshin's ki changed abruptly and almost completely.
'If he is the Battousai I can't win. I should have killed him when I had the chance!' Battousai feeds off of Kei's fear and accelerates. Kei separates himself from the tangle and opens his arms once again in a welcoming gesture. Battousai's sword pierces him in the chest. Kei smiles in true happiness as he falls to the ground. "Thank you…" he gasps. Battousai flicks the blood off his sword and Kaoru's screams bring him back to the present. She stops after he punches himself in the forehead. He stares down at his brother. Kei looks at peace. Finally.
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A/N: Sorry people, I had to…Don't hate me! I'm sorry! Really!
Disclaimer: Saying I do not own Rurouni Kenshin is ALMOST as bad as what I did in this chapter.
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Bright light penetrates Kaoru's dreams.
"Kao-Kaoru?"
Her eyes fly open instantly, 'Kenshin!'
Kei moans and pulls her back against him. Kenshin stands in the doorway, shoulders slumped, mouth agape.
"I- I can explain…"
Kenshin's face turns to stone and his eyes flash amber. "No need."
Kei nuzzles Kaoru's neck. She rolls over, careful to keep the blanket covering her while she shakes Kei awake. As soon as he sees Kenshin he grins; but it isn't the fun-loving one Kaoru liked…it is malicious.
"So little bro, how's it feel to walk in on your brother and lover in the same futon?" Kenshin's hand strays towards his sakabatou.
"Get out now."
"But we were just getting started." Kei wraps an arm around Kaoru's waist and draws her to him. All of her exposed skin turns a bright shade of crimson.
"Get your filthy hands off her." Kenshin growls. Kei holds them up defensively. "Now get dressed and draw your sword."
"Whoa, dude, shouldn't we let the lady decide?"
Kenshin growls. "She is mine."
"She isn't something you can own."
The Battousai surfaces further, flecking violet with amber. "Don't push me."
Kei shrugs, "Kaoru, it is up to you to decide. Who do you love?"
"I…I…I love Kenshin." Kei glares at her.
"After what we just shared?!"
Kaoru stares at him coldly. "Seducing does not count."
"You weren't exactly fighting it!"
"I know. I also now realize that your original intention here was to do that very thing. I made a mistake. I do not love you and you do not love me. You just wanted to hurt Kenshin."
Kei pulls himself out of the futon. "We are going to settle this now."
"But sessha thought you said it was up to Kaoru to decide." Kenshin sneers.
"What? Are you scared I will beat you and she will be mine?" Kei is finished dressing. He reaches down and picks up his katana. The Battousai is surfacing again.
"You think you can beat me?"
"It has been awhile, you have no idea how strong I've become."
Kenshin/Battousai scowls and walks outside. "Bring it on."
Kaoru hurries into something and limps out after them. Kenshin and Kei are standing opposite each other, not taking a stance, just staring each other down, noting weaknesses.
"Kenshin, don't do this…" Kaoru pleads, hobbling down the steps, but he holds up a hand to stop her. This isn't just about her. It is from the year of pain each has suffered because of the other.
Kei makes the first move, pulling into a stance similar to Saitoh's gatotsu. Kenshin takes one that Kaoru has never seen before. It looks as if it could pass as either a defensive or offensive. Kaoru ponders whether it is either highly powerful or the complete opposite as Kei attacks.
Kenshin easily blocks him and gracefully swings his sakabatou around. He has not yet reversed the blade. Kei ducks and counters, almost catching Kenshin in the back of the knees. Kenshin is above him in the tree, but only momentarily. He dives, sword pointed straight down. Kei rolls out of the way.
"You have gotten better." Kenshin notes.
"And this time, I will win! Come on, attack me!" Kei opens his arms in a welcoming gesture, only making Kenshin angrier. He charges, Kei's katana clanging brutally against his sakabatou. As metal meets metal, who walks in but Saitoh himself. He avoids the battle and stands next to Kaoru. Saitoh rolls his eyes.
"Is he going to 'let' the Battousai out?"
Kaoru glares at him, pretending not to hear his remark.
"What are they fighting about?" he sneers.
"I don't know," she answers coldly.
The two men fighting do not notice or do not care and continue their battle. Metal rings against metal, their bodies thrown into it. Kaoru sees Kei's lips moving, but cannot hear what he is saying; Kenshin does: his eyes lose any violet that was left and his face contorts with anger. He pulls away. Both are breathing heavily. Kei laughs gleefully as Battousai reverses his blade. Kaoru runs to stop him, crying "NO!" but Saitoh catches her arm.
"If you go now he will kill you too."
"You don't know that!" she cries. Saitoh shakes his head and does not let go, though he loosens his grip.
Kei and Kenshin are at it again. Kei looks as if he has the upper hand; he is doing all the attacking and all Kenshin can do is block and run.
'He is so much stronger then he used to be, but not stronger than me.' Kenshin thinks as the katana swipes a millimeter away from his neck.
"What's wrong little bro? Can't fight back? Do you not have enough pride to? Or do you just not want the little whore?"
Battousai growls. "My turn."
Kei's happy expression instantly turns fearful. Battousai comes at him forcefully, barely giving Kei time to defend himself. Kaoru squints from the porch.
"What's happening?!"
"He is now truly the Battousai. One of these men is going to die today."
"Kenshin…" Kaoru whispers. Kei doesn't know what to do; Kenshin's ki changed abruptly and almost completely.
'If he is the Battousai I can't win. I should have killed him when I had the chance!' Battousai feeds off of Kei's fear and accelerates. Kei separates himself from the tangle and opens his arms once again in a welcoming gesture. Battousai's sword pierces him in the chest. Kei smiles in true happiness as he falls to the ground. "Thank you…" he gasps. Battousai flicks the blood off his sword and Kaoru's screams bring him back to the present. She stops after he punches himself in the forehead. He stares down at his brother. Kei looks at peace. Finally.
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A/N: Sorry people, I had to…Don't hate me! I'm sorry! Really!