Hi Hi
Ok new and improved. I would like to dedicate this chapter to PsychoSushi who made me realize that the last chapter was poor on my part u.u I hope that you like this one much better. Just let me know.
Hope that every one enjoys
Not much to say just that heres the next chapter I don't own Kenshin though I wish I did. ::laughs:: people threatened me this time so here's the next chapter and I hope that I didn't disappoint you. Especially the people out there that have weapon of mass destruction pointed at me.
Echoe Shayne ^.^
"I know you came to kill me." Kaoru said bowing her head.
The Battousai paused looking at the woman that was kneeling on the floor in front of him. She was nestled in a puddle of blood, Dr. Genzi was still cradled in her arms. He could tell that she had been crying as she had risen the back on her hands to wipe at her face. Pausing there in the door way he just watched her. He had wanted her to hear him. He wanted her to turn around, to look at him. At the same time he didn't want her to, the thought that she would terrified him. Torn by his own thoughts he watched her with cold eyes, his hand closing around the hilt of his Katana.
Kaoru looked threw her bangs. She knew that someone was standing behind her. No she knew who was standing behind it was Kenshin she would have known his presence anywhere. Flexing her fingers she looked down at her bloody hands. Her eyes sliding over Doctor Genzi who lay the blood shining almost black in the moonlight that filtered in the room. She could feel her resolve breaking and she tried to gather the pieces to her. In the mess that she was in right now, she was in no condition to fight. That wouldn't do closing her eyes she tried to center herself.
He could say nothing only stand there observing her. She was still knelt there her shiny hair glistening in the dim light. Her shoulders were shaking slightly and he didn't know if it was because she was still crying or if it was just that she no longer had control over herself. He should just get this over with. It was the only way.. He heard his orders playing through his head once again. ' 'Do not think that you got out of a mission. No matter who the winner is your objective is the same. I require a kill.' It had been made clear to him. The same conflict that had been there eliyier in the night plagued him.
He knew that a kill was required he knew that no matter what had happened in the fight between her and Jin eh that a kill was the objective for him this night. He was torn. Half of him wished that Jin eh had been the one who had won. Then he would have never had to witness this scene. The other part of him was overjoyed that she was alive that she had stood up to the odds and she was right in front of him.
The joy was a short lived one, because though she may be alive for the moment his orders were still hanging in the air around him. Weighting him down. 'his orders would cost Kaoru her'
Kaoru said nothing for the longest time and the silence stretched around them. She didn't trust herself to speak, she didn't trust herself to turn around. Not now she couldn't bring herself to look at him, both because he reminded her of herself and because part of her wanted to do nothing more then to lean on him for support. It was an odd feeling she knew. 'wanting to seek support from someone that had been sent here to kill her.' But over the past few days she had come to expect him to be there for her. That wasn't the way that the real world worked though, she should have known that.
He had done so much for her, he had been there to pick her up. He had saved her life. 'I watched you die' the words that Tae had spoken to her came rushing back. No he hadn't just saved her life he had brought her back to life. In doing so it truly belonged to him. Every breath that she took now was because of him and if anybody in the world had a right to kill her then it was this man that stood in the entrance of the room.
"I know that it's you. You have every right, my life is yours to take." she paused pushing back the emotion that threatened to break to the surface. "But it's something that I'm not ready to give up even to you."
He couldn't understand it even after everything she still wanted to live. He had seen things ripped away her. He had done some of that damage personally. He had ruined her. Yet some how she found the strength to go on.
Kaoru looked down at the man in her arms once more. It was time to let go. Lifting one of her hands she ran her fingertips over her over his open unseeing eyes to close them. Leaning over she kissed his cheek much like she had down when she was little. Tears coming to the corners of her eyes again she tried to blink them away. With much regret she let go, of the man that had treated her like she was his own daughter for the last ten years.
Her eyes still on him she slowly rose to her feet her back still toward Kenshin. She wasn't ready to turn around yet. She didn't think that she ever would be. Tarring her gaze of Dr. Genzi she looked strait ahead at the old worn wooden walls.
Her hand moving instinctively to her side 'nothing' her hand hit nothing but air. She had no weapon. Then she remembered and she could have hit herself. It was the second time in a week that she had been caught of guard, without a weapon. Her sword as well as it's companion had been knocked away during the fight. In her haste to make it here to the clinic she had left them there. Even the broken blade was left lodged in Jin eh's chest. She had been a fool. She had been careless, when it came down to it, that was what she had done. She had let her emotions get away with her and she had rushed off without thinking.
He watched her hand reach of the katana that should have been at her side. He couldn't see her face but he saw he back stiffen as she realized that there was nothing there. Feeling the extra weight at his side he took the additional bundle off and threw it at Kaoru's feet.
In the mists of her panic she heard something clatter to the ground next to her feet. It sounded heavy what ever it was. Curiosity drew her eyes to the floor where she saw that a sword and a companion where laying there on the ground among the blood. Taking a closer look she realized that it wasn't just any sword. It was her katana and short sword.
There was only one way he had known to get these. He had been there. He had been watching her fight from the shadows. Even knowing this he had still come. He was either very confidant in his own skills, or he knew that she was hurt. Her thoughts from before came back to her. She had wondered what it would be like to see him handle a sword. She wondered with what grace he would handle his blade. Now she would find out first hand.
Crouching down she picked up the sword securing it to its rightful place at her side once more. Placing her hand on the hilt of her Katana she took a deep breath in a attempt to pull herself together one last time before turning around before turning around. Her eyes focused on the ground in front of him. Some part of her didn't want to look at the man in front of her. She knew she had to. Slowly she allowed her eyes to drift up over him. Taking in his small stature till she reached his face, his eyes. He looked different, seeing him now. His cold dark blue eyes focused on her. He stood there in a relaxed stance but she knew that he could move forward at any moment.
Nodding her head she looked at him.
He could feel her eyes travel over him. Her face was once more a mask. It looked strained though like she was fighting to keep it there. Her hand was closed over her sword and he watched her anticipating her first move. He wouldn't have thought that she would have been able to pull herself together like this. Silently he wished that if he were to ever find himself in a situation such as this one that he would be able to show the same courage as the proud woman that stood in front of him. Though he knew it would never happen. He never let anyone get close to him.
Would he never understand her? She was always proving him wrong. Him, a man that had thought he was a good judge of character. She had pushed everything away and was facing him like nothing had happened tonight. Like she hadn't lost her house, like she hadn't killed a man in a moonlit clearing. Like the man she thought of as a father wasn't laying on the ground just a few feet away from her. He had to admire her will. He knew now that he would always admire her.
Kaoru stared at the man before of her. Silently she hoped that she could move her arms, they felt heavy, and her side was still bleeding she could feel the steady stream of blood as it poured from the open wound. She needed to stop the bleeding but there was no time for that now.
Why did he have to do this to her? She had so many things taken away from her. It should have been an easy decision. He receives the order and then he carries it out. That was the way that things were supposed to go. No that was the way that everything was going to go. If she could put everything aside for this fight then so could he. He owed her that much respect at least.
'Kenshin.' He could hear her saying his name in his head. What was wrong with him? Where was his focus? He was the Battousai. Yes that is what I am. He silently reminded himself. Once he had chosen this path then there was no reprieve. He could only go forward.
They both stood there in the silence. It felt like time was stretching into eternity but in reality it hadn't been that long.
Kaoru looked at the red headed man that stood there. She couldn't take her eyes off him. She didn't want to fight him. Not Kenshin not the man that had held her through the night. Not the man that she had said she trusted. To think that think of it just that afternoon she had been afraid that she would never see him again. Now to meet him like this.'When I see you again I'll be a different person.' He had known all along, once again she had proven the fool. She should have known that a man like him wouldn't have helped her if it hadn't benefited his cause.
"If it means anything I didn't know that it was going to be you, when I met you." He didn't know why he had said it. The words had just left his mouth before he could call them back. Something about her had pulled the information out of him. That the first time when they had literally stumbled upon each other. It had purely been by chance. They had just been two people that happened to be in the same place at the same time. He would always be thankful for that moment.
"That means more to me then you know." It did to tell the truth. She was glade to hear that, though at the same time it made her want to cry. She would rather go on believing that he had met her with the intent of watching her, it would have made the fight that was unavoidable easier. But she would endure that pain if she could hold on to the thought that when they had first met it hadn't been by design but rather by soothing else that it had been fortune that pulled them together. Though in her current situation she had the feeling that it had been the impending doom that thrown them into this chaos, If they hadn't met. If they hadn't met. 'If we hadn't met then I wouldn't be here right now' a voice screamed at her in the back of her mind bringing her to the subject at hand.
"Like I said if I could, I owe you my life. It is something that you can not collect right now. Something that is not mine to give, you will have to take it."
'why does she fight so hard?' he world hangs around her in tatters yet she still refuses to let go. He found himself asking her just that. "Why do you hold onto this pain? Wouldn't it be easy just to let go?"
She felt emotion crashing on her walls wanting out at his words. She did she wanted to let go. At that moment she wanted everything to be over with. She wanted to have a normal life. 'who was she to have thoughts like this?' It was too late for that she would not allow herself to follow such foolish dreams. Her anger and sorrow would not allow her to turn her back on what she had seen.
"Because I can't. I have something that I must do and till it is done, then I can not die."
The way she said it there was no emotion is her voice. It was cold and chilling he knew that she meant it. Despite the emotionless ness of her tone. It conveyed what she felt perfectly.
"Not for you, not for who ever sent you here, not even for myself. Even if I were to die my vengeance would not offer me peace."
He said nothing to that. What could he say? Should he tell her that if she killed him, that she could let go? That it had been him that had stolen her youth from her that night when he had taken her fathers life. No something selfish in him called out stopping him, he didn't want to see that. He didn't want to see the look on her face when she found out that it was him. That it was him, that she owed all her anguish all her pain to. He wouldn't be able to stand it. He wanted her to remember him like he had left her this after noon. He wanted her to only know him as Kenshin, as a man. Not as a manslayer, not as the Battousai. If he had to shoulder her burden then he would do it.
Her mind should have been fully focused on the fight at hand but something was nagging at her something that was important. Something that would not be ignored. Then it came to her she could hear Dr. Genzai as clearly as if he had just said the words aloud to her. 'Ayame and Suzume.'
The Battousai looked at her something had happened. He saw the mask on her face falter for a just a second. Something was wrong.
She didn't have time to worry about them right now they would be alright till after the fight she could look for them then. Even though she told herself that the need to find them. She need to find them right now, the thought was pressing in on her. Had they been here in house? They had to have been. That was why Dr Genzai had said their names.
"What is it?" he asked wanting to know what was wrong. Her eyes shifted like she was surprised that he had noticed the stubble change in her expression.
"Ayame and Suzume Dr. Genzai had said their names what if they were in the house?" She found herself answering him as he just stood there looking at her. "I understand why you're here. I just need to find them I need to know that they are ok. Once I am sure that they're safe and away from here I will fight you. That is a promise"
Saying nothing he nodded he could understand how she felt even now with the thought that they had been in the house he could feel a small spark of concern.
Seeing him nod she nodded back. "Ayame!!! Suzume!!" she yelled listening for response, nothing only the deathly silence of the house running to the room the two little girls usually shared she saw nothing just a bed that looked like it hadn't even been touch.
It was the Battousai that looked down at the ground now that he knew he was looking for something he saw the trail of blood on the floor. It looked like something had been dragged. Stepping into the hall he saw that it continued along down the narrow corridor.
"Kaoru." He yelled hearing her run out of the room that was in the opposite direction then he was looking in.
Kaoru was frightened when she had heard him yell. Looking at the ground she saw the marks that he was looking at. "Ayame Suzume." The words left her mouth in a whisper. Then she could hear it faintly wafting through the house the sound of muffled crying. At first she thought it was her imagination. That she was hearing them crying in her own mind but the man next to her heard it too.
Walking down the hall following the trail on the floor the crying got louder. Stopping outside the door to a closet she flung open the door. What she saw there terrified her.
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Tae had no idea what was going on all that she knew was that someone had come running into restaurant saying that the old dojo as they called Kaoru's house was on fire. Now she stood there among the masses of people watching the place burn. Men were scrambling to get water to the flames but they were too big and she knew that the house would not be saved. Where was Kaoru? Had she been inside the house? Rushing to grab a bucket she joined in with the men that were milling about trying to quench the blaze. 'Kaoru be safe' The thought kept going through her mind as her body worked mindlessly.
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Suzume was in shock. She had heard someone yelling for her and she knew it was Kaoru but she couldn't answer her voice wasn't working all that she could do was cry. Suzume was sitting huddled on the floor of the closet her older sister pulled close her. Her little hands covering a wound in the other little girls chest. She could feel the blood still pouring out of the wound but she could do nothing more to help. She could do nothing but cry.
Flinging open the door Kaoru saw the two little girls sitting there huddled on the floor she felt her hear stop they were covered in blood it was every where. The front of Ayame's once green Kimono was drenched in it.
Seeing the light and the door open Suzume looked up to see Kaoru standing in the door. He tears turned into violent sobs once she saw the woman. Her eyes darting from Kaoru's face down to her own hands that were covered in her sister blood. It was the first time in a while that she had seen her sister by light that was good enough actually see by. What she saw frighten her.
"I need help. I can't get it to stop." Suzume said her hands pressing down on the front of the kimono. "It won't stop. Make it stop Kaoru niichan." Her voice sound strained and desperate the little girl was on the verge of hysteria.
Kaoru was shocked. Reaching down she pulled the two little girls from the closet. Ayame was laying down on the ground her little sister was kneeling next to her. Reaching her hands out she placed them on Suzume's shoulders. "I need to look at the wound run and get Dr. Genzi's medical bag from his office."
Suzume looked down at his sister. So much blood everything was red. Her mind was panicked but she was vaguely aware that Kaoru was there now. She was there wasn't she? She could feel hands on her shoulders and someone was talking to her. 'go get Dr. Genzi's medical bag' that registered and with out a second thought she was down the hall running.
The Battousai stood there watching. His hand as his sides had tightened into fists. Leaning over Kaoru who was now sitting on the ground next to the little girl he watched as she opened the blood soaked material that covered her. There was a big slash covering her mid section the bad thing was that it was still bleeding. Blood was oozing out of the wound and he watched as Kaoru put her hand over it trying to ebb the flow.
Her hands working quickly she opened the front of the kimono there was a big slash across the little girls mid section and she cringed she was going to need stitches. Kaoru had never personally done stitches before but she had had them. That had to count for something.
She could hear the sound of feet running and she knew that Suzume was back with the supplies. Reaching out took the stuff that she would need.
The Battousai watched as the raven haired girl sat there, with a worried expression on her face. She has no idea what she's doing. He thought as he watched her fumble with the supplies in her hands. Time was of the essence it could not be wasted because she didn't know what she was doing. "Get out of the way." He said kneeling next to her and taking the tools that she held in her hands from her before looking back at the little girl.
What? Turning she saw that Kenshin now knelt next to her. Working quickly he had taken the thread and needle out of her hand. His fingers moved expertly he had the needle threaded and ready to go in a matter of seconds.
"I need some light go and get me some. Bring something to soak up the blood too." He commanded hearing her run to do his bidding. She was back in a matter of seconds and he could see the wound to it's full extent. Things didn't look that good.
Suzume watched everything in a daze her vision clouded by the tears that were still flowing down her cheeks. She felt someone reach for her. She turned to Kaoru wrapping her small arms around her, feeling Kaoru place her own arms around her.
"Is she going to be alright?" She said he voice cracking at the thought that she might not be.
"I hope so." She didn't know what to say to the little girl. How could she tell her that it didn't look good?
"How did this happen?" she asked looking over the top of the little girls head so she could watch Kenshin as he worked.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on already you two I said that it was time for bed and I meant it." Dr Genzi said to his granddaughters though they seemed to pay no attention to him for they kept laughing and playing around on the porch.
"Oh come on just a little while longer please." Ayame said giving her grandpa puppy dog eyes that she knew worked. Her sister catching on they both stood there.
"You guys had that planned. Fifteen more minutes that's all you understand me?" he laughed as they continued to play their little game. Walking back into his office he stopped short in the door. There was a man standing there with his back to him.
"I've been waiting for you." The man said not even bothering to turn around and face him.
Dr. Genzi said nothing he knew that there was nothing he could do. Not with the level of skill that he possessed. The protective part of him wouldn't allow him to just stand there though. He thought of the little girls that were still playing out side and wished that he had already put them to bed. Looking around the room he frowned the man was leaning against his desk. That was a problem he didn't carry a weapon on him, but he kept one in his desk which brought him back to the fact that the man was leaning against his desk.. "Have you?" he said to fill the silence while taking a step forward.
"You know that I have. And I have an appointment to make so I'm on a time restraint." He said still not turning around to look at the elderly man.
"Then you should leave I would hate to make you late." He said his words dripping with sarcasm. He knew it wasn't the smartest thing to say but he wanted to keep the mans full attention on him. He was afraid that he might hear the children playing outside.
"How very kind of you. Just tell me what I want to know and I will be on my way. What can you tell me about the shadow? Tell me what you know about him and I will make your death quick and painless."
"I will tell you nothing." He couldn't tell him anything. If he did then it would put Kaoru in danger. He didn't want anything to happen to her. Though he knew his words sealed his own doom, if that was the only way that he could help her then so be it.
"Then you choose slow and painful." The man said with a smile on his face. Slowly he turned to face the other man who had been inching he was toward the desk.
Dr Genzi didn't know what happened to him. He wanted to move but his body wasn't listening to him. No he needed to move, so why couldn't he? He saw the other man close in on him but still he was held trapped there in place. The man reached for his sword. 'MOVE NOW DAMN IT' he screamed at himself but it was no use. He felt the sting as the blade descending on him tearing apart his chest. The man drew back to strike again. There was a piecing pain as the shaft of the sword entered his flesh. He tried to scream out but the sound died in his throat as he was consumed by his own pain.
"You like that wound old man? It's the one that's going to kill you." He looked at the man as he pulled his hand back taking the katana with him.
Releasing his hold he watched the old man fall back to the ground.
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Ayame stopped playing and looked ahead of her. Why hadn't Grandpa come to get them to go to bed? It wasn't that she didn't like the extra time that she and her sister were getting to play. But it wasn't like their grandpa to forget something like that. Looking around she walked into the house. Not bothering to say anything to her sister but she knew that the smaller girl would follow.
Suzume seeing her sister walked into the house behind her sister in to his office where the older girl had stopped short Suzume not paying attention had slammed into the back of her sister. She had been about to ask what was wrong when she heard the sound of someone talking.
"Do you think that's it? No it's far from over unless of course you're willing to tell me what I want to know." Jin eh looked down at the lump of a man that was on the floor blood was already spreading around him then he heard the sound of someone behind.
Ayame saw that the man was about to strike their grandfather again running across the room she took her place in-between the two men. She hadn't been thinking the only thing that she knew was that she couldn't allow the man touch her grandfather again.
Suzume watched what happened next in a half dazed state her sister ran across the room and stood in front of their grandfather and the man that was standing there. Tears were clouding her eyes as she looked at her Grandpa who was laying on the ground. He was bleeding, it was making a puddle on the ground around him. Hearing her sisters voice it snapped her attention back to Ayame.
"Leave my grandfather alone." Ayame yelled looking up at the very tall man. She would not back down, her feet were standing in blood and she was worried that they were to late panic was spreading though her. It was like she was no longer herself, like someone else had taken over. Then she felt it, before she could even say anything else pain ripped across her stomach. Placing her hand there she hesitantly looked down. Blood, her blood her knees buckling she fill to the ground.
"Ayame." His scream came out a wet gurgle as he struggled to regain his footing.
Suzume was torn, her sister. Running to her she knelt on the ground next to her now in a state of hysterics. "Ayame!!!!" Shaking her she stared down at her willing her to move to give some sign that she was alight. She got none rather she heard her Grandpa yelling at her to get out.
"Get out of here now?" Dr. Genzi said having climbed back to his wobbly feet.
"Oh no, their not going anywhere their going to die in front of you. How do you like that old man?"
"I'll tell you.. I'll tell you... She will kill you and that is all that you need to know about her." He said his vision going in and out of focus he could hear a sucking sound from his chest and knew that one of his lungs had been hit that would explain the reason that he had trouble breathing.
'So the shadow was a woman' With a wicked grin on his face Jin eh drew back his hand to strike the other little girl If that is what it took to make the man talk then he would get more information out of him.
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The Captain entered the room his steely eyes focused on the scene that he was watching he could take no more. They had come there for one specific reason. He would not stand to have the other man torture small children. Especially when the look on his face told him that he was enjoying it.
"Kurugasa." A voice called from the door way. It held a note of authority that could not be ignored. Not even by the heartless man that stood there with his sword posed for a strike.
Jin eh frown his hand lowering as he shifted his eyes to look at the man that was standing in the entrance of the door. He saw his Captain standing there. How he hated that bastard he always ruined his fun. What a fucking hypocrite. Look what he did for a living and yet he was always preaching about vanquishing evil or some crap like that.
"Captain?" turning he looked at he the man out of the corner of his eyes he was standing there calmly his eyes were even closed but he knew that the man was deadly.
"Touch that other child and you will have to deal with me. You must never forget the code. Aku Souku Zan Slay evil immediately."
Jin eh gritted his teeth so as not to yell at the man.
Narrowing his eyes the Captain looked at the other man who was standing there still poised to strike the little girl.
"We came here for the man not for the children. If you should strike that other girl and prove yourself to be evil, then I will have no problem doing away with you." His hand reached for the katana at his side and he looked back and forth between Jin eh and the little girls.
Dr Genzi didn't know what was going on but he knew that he had to get the girls out of there while he could. Catching Suzume's attention he said the only thing he could.
"Run."
Run, the word hit her. She wanted to do nothing more then run but she couldn't leave her sister. She had to get her sister out too somehow. With strength she didn't know she had she had grabbed her sisters shoulders and started to drag her out of the room.
He watched the little girl look around the room a daze like she didn't know what to do. Then she grabbed the injured one and drag her from the room. His attention shifted back to Jin eh. Who was now focused on the old man that had regained his footing. It didn't sit well with him what they were doing to the old man after all he was not the true target. But if he helping her then he was just as much of a threat and that made him the enemy.
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Suzume hadn't known what to do or where to go. She didn't think that she would be able to carry the other girl that far. She couldn't just leave her sister even if it was just to run and get help what would that man do to the person that she brought? That was how she had ended up in a closet.
Staring at the wooded door she pressed her hands to wound on her sisters mid section feeling the warm blood pour out over her hands she was thankful that it wasn't light so she didn't have to see it. She wanted to cry but she didn't want to make any noise incase they changed their minds and decided that they didn't want to let her go after all.
A dull thud was heard in the other room, pulling her sister closer to her she rested her cheek against hers. "It's going to be alright isn't it Ayame?" she asked straining her ears to hear if anything else was happening in the house.
Ayame frowned through the pain she felt her conscious slipping away from her but she didn't want her sister to be afraid. "Yes everything is going to be ok." She managed to whisper to her sister before her eyes slid shut and she was lost to the darkness.
*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru felt her heart wrench at the little girls story. Suzume had buried her face into her shoulder and Kaoru bit her bottom lip at the moment of discomfort.
"If my sister going to be alright?" the little girl asked again turning her face up to look at Kaoru.
What was she supposed to say she still didn't have an answer for her.
The Battousai had listened to the story he was still listening while his hands worked to do worked efficiently. His eyes where trained on the task at hand. 'someone else had been here. He was thankful that the other man had been here, he knew that if they hadn't then the both of the little girls would be dead. It worried him was the identity of the man. A captain of the Shinsingumi. If he was right not just any captain but the Wolf himself. Shifting his eyes he took a quick glance at Kaoru he before turning back to his work.
"She's going to be alright I promise you." He said before he could stop himself.
The little girl had lost a lot of blood and if the wound got infected then chances weren't good. Still he had the feeling that the little girl would live. Snipping the last of the string he looked down at his handy work before he felt the little girl slam into his side.
"I will never forgive them for that they have done." The little girl said staring at her sisters motionless form on the ground. "Never as long as I live I'm going to kill him."
Kaoru felt her heart break at the words that came out of Suzume's mouth. She knew how the little girl felt and that was why the words hurt so bad. She didn't want Suzume to have her life. She would give anything to shelter her from that pain.
"It is already done the man that did this has paid."
It was then that the little girl said something that she hadn't expected to hear.
"I want to see." Suzume looked up at Kaoru, seriousness in her eyes.
The Battousai looked from the pigtailed girl to Kaoru. "She needs to see."
Understanding Kaoru moved to her feet. The little girl still in her arms.
It was then that were leaving that panic hit Suzume they couldn't leave her sister here. "She has to come with me. I wont leave my sister." Her voice had risen and she started to squirm a little to get lose of Kaorus hold.
The Battousai seeing what was happened he stood picking up the other little girl in his arms before moving to stand next to Kaoru.
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Kaoru made her way back to the clearing where she had left the dead body she didn't think it was that far away but she had been wrong or maybe it was because she was so tired she still hadn't gotten a chance to wrap her wound and much to her annoyance it was still bleeding. Her head was starting to feel a little light but she didn't have time to worry about herself. Turning she looked at Kenshin who was walking next to her with the other little girl nestled in his arms.
Up ahead she could see the clearing the moon still shining down illuminating the man that still lay there in the black blood.
Approaching the body she stood there as the little girl squirmed to get down.
Suzume walked slowly to the body that laid there. There was a metal object protruding from the mans chest and she knew that this is what killed him. Not able to retain herself she found herself perched on the mans chest her small fists beating at his face it hurt her little fists but she couldn't stop.
Kaoru was alarmed by what Suzume had done. Closing the distance she put her hands on the little girls shoulders and tried to pull her away but the little girl's anger gave her strength and she had trouble pulling her away. Finally she managed as her fell to the ground with Suzume on top of her.
Suzume couldn't control herself she knew that it was Kaoru but her firsts kept going and she beat at the other woman's chest before finally all her energy had drained away and she was left in sobs clinging to the front of Kaoru's shirt.
"It didn't help I still hurt. why didn't it help."
"I don't know. I don't know."
The Battousai felt his heart go out to the girl and the woman that comforted her, they shared the same pain. Closing the distance he knelt down next to them. "pain is a burden that we all must bear."
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Meyame looked up to the knock on the door wondering who could be here at this time? She knew that was commotion because there was a fire across town but what could someone be knocking on her door for? Making her way out of her room and to the door she opened it.
"Oh my god what happened?" She took in the sight of four people covered in blood. Stepping aside she let them enter the house. What happened? My girls.
Kaoru looked up at the woman with guilt in her eyes. "We need a bed to put them down in."
"Of course this way." She ran off lighting candles in the little girls room. Reaching out she gathered some clothes so that they could get them in some new clothes. Looking at her girls she noticed that they were both pail but Ayame looked deathly white. Reaching her arms out she took the little girl.
"Ayame?" she waiting for her to open her eyes and ask her something but the little girl said nothing. Shaking her slightly her head just lulled to the side her breathing was shallow and she knew that something was wrong. Tears had filled her eyes and she brought her hand up to her daughters cheek her thumb brushing against the dried blood that lingered there. "What happened?"
The tone in the woman's voice bit at Kaoru and she knew that Meyame had a right to know what had happened to her daughter so she told her exactly as Suzume had told them before.
"My fathers gone.. If my daughter dies it's all your fault!" When Kaoru had reached the end of the story Meyame had been consumed with anger crossing the room she drew her hand back slapping Kaoru across the face.
"You have some nerve to come to my house! I hate you. What did you do? You can't have your own family so you take mine away too. They would still be alive if it weren't for you. My father would still be alive if it weren't for you." She tried to quell her rage but with another look at her little girl she felt it flooding back to her. "Unlike you're father he got what he disserved."
Before she could say any more she felt a sting on her cheek now Kaoru was standing there in front of her. "don't you ever say anything about my father. Say what you want about me but I want you never talk about my dad again."
"Get out of my house your not welcome here." She hissed at the other woman.
Kaoru could understand how she felt. She had after all just been told that her father had been murdered and one of her little girls was laying there hurt.
Turning to leave glanced at the little girls one last time wanting to go say goodbye to them but not knowing what Meyame would do. They needed their rest anyway. Plus she didn't know if she could tell them goodbye to their faces. It was best just to walk away. Though it was one of the most painful things that she had ever done.
Meyame watched as she left the room with that man walking out behind her. It was only then that she realized she hadn't even asked for his name. Not that it mattered now she would never see them again if she had her way. Laying down on the bed with her girls she let the tears over come her. Why did this have to happen. Reaching out she took a hand from each of her girls.
"I wish it had been you I wish it had been you that died." she muttered to the girl that had already left the house.
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Pausing outside the house she stood there not able to look back up at it. The sun was rising and the long hell of a night was almost over. Willing the tears that were in her eyes not to fall she stood there a few seconds fighting the dizziness that plagued her.
"Goodbye."
The Battousai looked at her. She staggered forward and he reached out his hand to steady her a little. Her skin was ghostly pail and her eyes looked tired. All together she looked battered it was amazing that she was even still standing.
Feeling sorry for herself she shrugged his touch off. She didn't need sympathy from him. She didn't need it from anybody. She had only herself and that was the only person that she would ever need.
Shifting her gaze to look at the man that stood next to her she had the overwhelming urge to fling herself at him and depend on him to keep her up. But he had fulfilled his part of the bargain he had done more then his share and she would fulfill hers. Yes she answered her thoughts from earlier in the evening. It had been the impending doom that had brought them together and fate was truly cruel.
Taking a deep breath she walked away from the main path and into the darkness that still lingered in the forest.
"Shall we continue where we left off?" steeling herself and reaching for what little defenses she had left her hand went to her side. Drawing her Katana from the ring of steel filled the air.
The impact of their swards jarred her and she stumbled a bit. Her next stroke was unsure and clumsy. It was easily blocked. She tried to recover but it was too late her world erupted in pain as she fell, but by the time she hit the ground she was too numb to feel the impact. Her vision lapsed into red and the last thing that she saw was Kenshin standing above her before everything went black.
That's it for now Please review. ^.^
Kitsune KeNsHiN- I understand school takes away my time too. Thanks for reviewing though. Yep I do have plans for the other chars.
QueenKagom- I know that I'm a bad author you don't have to rub it in. I am evil. ::doges stick::
TYDY girl-updates thanks.
Random-still going
PsychoSushi- yep me made Kaoru good I mean she has been devoting the last ten years to it I thought that she should be good. thanks for the review. Hope you liked this chapter
Shizuka- is that a challenge? I try to make it fell real. Thanks for telling me what you think. It makes me so happy. ^.^ hope to hear from you again and that this chapter didn't disappoint you.
Curls ofSerenity- Me is evil
Calipinary3001-backs away from the weapon I updated I updated.
Tsugoi Kakarlena- 0.0 I did I updated.
Assassin13-^.^ thanks it nice to know that your look forward to my story. I know but the way that the story is structured I need some sadness to move the story on. Hope that you liked this chapter too.
Diane Long-I hope that I did ::crosses fingers:: how good I catch my own error comes and goes.
Ok new and improved. I would like to dedicate this chapter to PsychoSushi who made me realize that the last chapter was poor on my part u.u I hope that you like this one much better. Just let me know.
Hope that every one enjoys
Not much to say just that heres the next chapter I don't own Kenshin though I wish I did. ::laughs:: people threatened me this time so here's the next chapter and I hope that I didn't disappoint you. Especially the people out there that have weapon of mass destruction pointed at me.
Echoe Shayne ^.^
"I know you came to kill me." Kaoru said bowing her head.
The Battousai paused looking at the woman that was kneeling on the floor in front of him. She was nestled in a puddle of blood, Dr. Genzi was still cradled in her arms. He could tell that she had been crying as she had risen the back on her hands to wipe at her face. Pausing there in the door way he just watched her. He had wanted her to hear him. He wanted her to turn around, to look at him. At the same time he didn't want her to, the thought that she would terrified him. Torn by his own thoughts he watched her with cold eyes, his hand closing around the hilt of his Katana.
Kaoru looked threw her bangs. She knew that someone was standing behind her. No she knew who was standing behind it was Kenshin she would have known his presence anywhere. Flexing her fingers she looked down at her bloody hands. Her eyes sliding over Doctor Genzi who lay the blood shining almost black in the moonlight that filtered in the room. She could feel her resolve breaking and she tried to gather the pieces to her. In the mess that she was in right now, she was in no condition to fight. That wouldn't do closing her eyes she tried to center herself.
He could say nothing only stand there observing her. She was still knelt there her shiny hair glistening in the dim light. Her shoulders were shaking slightly and he didn't know if it was because she was still crying or if it was just that she no longer had control over herself. He should just get this over with. It was the only way.. He heard his orders playing through his head once again. ' 'Do not think that you got out of a mission. No matter who the winner is your objective is the same. I require a kill.' It had been made clear to him. The same conflict that had been there eliyier in the night plagued him.
He knew that a kill was required he knew that no matter what had happened in the fight between her and Jin eh that a kill was the objective for him this night. He was torn. Half of him wished that Jin eh had been the one who had won. Then he would have never had to witness this scene. The other part of him was overjoyed that she was alive that she had stood up to the odds and she was right in front of him.
The joy was a short lived one, because though she may be alive for the moment his orders were still hanging in the air around him. Weighting him down. 'his orders would cost Kaoru her'
Kaoru said nothing for the longest time and the silence stretched around them. She didn't trust herself to speak, she didn't trust herself to turn around. Not now she couldn't bring herself to look at him, both because he reminded her of herself and because part of her wanted to do nothing more then to lean on him for support. It was an odd feeling she knew. 'wanting to seek support from someone that had been sent here to kill her.' But over the past few days she had come to expect him to be there for her. That wasn't the way that the real world worked though, she should have known that.
He had done so much for her, he had been there to pick her up. He had saved her life. 'I watched you die' the words that Tae had spoken to her came rushing back. No he hadn't just saved her life he had brought her back to life. In doing so it truly belonged to him. Every breath that she took now was because of him and if anybody in the world had a right to kill her then it was this man that stood in the entrance of the room.
"I know that it's you. You have every right, my life is yours to take." she paused pushing back the emotion that threatened to break to the surface. "But it's something that I'm not ready to give up even to you."
He couldn't understand it even after everything she still wanted to live. He had seen things ripped away her. He had done some of that damage personally. He had ruined her. Yet some how she found the strength to go on.
Kaoru looked down at the man in her arms once more. It was time to let go. Lifting one of her hands she ran her fingertips over her over his open unseeing eyes to close them. Leaning over she kissed his cheek much like she had down when she was little. Tears coming to the corners of her eyes again she tried to blink them away. With much regret she let go, of the man that had treated her like she was his own daughter for the last ten years.
Her eyes still on him she slowly rose to her feet her back still toward Kenshin. She wasn't ready to turn around yet. She didn't think that she ever would be. Tarring her gaze of Dr. Genzi she looked strait ahead at the old worn wooden walls.
Her hand moving instinctively to her side 'nothing' her hand hit nothing but air. She had no weapon. Then she remembered and she could have hit herself. It was the second time in a week that she had been caught of guard, without a weapon. Her sword as well as it's companion had been knocked away during the fight. In her haste to make it here to the clinic she had left them there. Even the broken blade was left lodged in Jin eh's chest. She had been a fool. She had been careless, when it came down to it, that was what she had done. She had let her emotions get away with her and she had rushed off without thinking.
He watched her hand reach of the katana that should have been at her side. He couldn't see her face but he saw he back stiffen as she realized that there was nothing there. Feeling the extra weight at his side he took the additional bundle off and threw it at Kaoru's feet.
In the mists of her panic she heard something clatter to the ground next to her feet. It sounded heavy what ever it was. Curiosity drew her eyes to the floor where she saw that a sword and a companion where laying there on the ground among the blood. Taking a closer look she realized that it wasn't just any sword. It was her katana and short sword.
There was only one way he had known to get these. He had been there. He had been watching her fight from the shadows. Even knowing this he had still come. He was either very confidant in his own skills, or he knew that she was hurt. Her thoughts from before came back to her. She had wondered what it would be like to see him handle a sword. She wondered with what grace he would handle his blade. Now she would find out first hand.
Crouching down she picked up the sword securing it to its rightful place at her side once more. Placing her hand on the hilt of her Katana she took a deep breath in a attempt to pull herself together one last time before turning around before turning around. Her eyes focused on the ground in front of him. Some part of her didn't want to look at the man in front of her. She knew she had to. Slowly she allowed her eyes to drift up over him. Taking in his small stature till she reached his face, his eyes. He looked different, seeing him now. His cold dark blue eyes focused on her. He stood there in a relaxed stance but she knew that he could move forward at any moment.
Nodding her head she looked at him.
He could feel her eyes travel over him. Her face was once more a mask. It looked strained though like she was fighting to keep it there. Her hand was closed over her sword and he watched her anticipating her first move. He wouldn't have thought that she would have been able to pull herself together like this. Silently he wished that if he were to ever find himself in a situation such as this one that he would be able to show the same courage as the proud woman that stood in front of him. Though he knew it would never happen. He never let anyone get close to him.
Would he never understand her? She was always proving him wrong. Him, a man that had thought he was a good judge of character. She had pushed everything away and was facing him like nothing had happened tonight. Like she hadn't lost her house, like she hadn't killed a man in a moonlit clearing. Like the man she thought of as a father wasn't laying on the ground just a few feet away from her. He had to admire her will. He knew now that he would always admire her.
Kaoru stared at the man before of her. Silently she hoped that she could move her arms, they felt heavy, and her side was still bleeding she could feel the steady stream of blood as it poured from the open wound. She needed to stop the bleeding but there was no time for that now.
Why did he have to do this to her? She had so many things taken away from her. It should have been an easy decision. He receives the order and then he carries it out. That was the way that things were supposed to go. No that was the way that everything was going to go. If she could put everything aside for this fight then so could he. He owed her that much respect at least.
'Kenshin.' He could hear her saying his name in his head. What was wrong with him? Where was his focus? He was the Battousai. Yes that is what I am. He silently reminded himself. Once he had chosen this path then there was no reprieve. He could only go forward.
They both stood there in the silence. It felt like time was stretching into eternity but in reality it hadn't been that long.
Kaoru looked at the red headed man that stood there. She couldn't take her eyes off him. She didn't want to fight him. Not Kenshin not the man that had held her through the night. Not the man that she had said she trusted. To think that think of it just that afternoon she had been afraid that she would never see him again. Now to meet him like this.'When I see you again I'll be a different person.' He had known all along, once again she had proven the fool. She should have known that a man like him wouldn't have helped her if it hadn't benefited his cause.
"If it means anything I didn't know that it was going to be you, when I met you." He didn't know why he had said it. The words had just left his mouth before he could call them back. Something about her had pulled the information out of him. That the first time when they had literally stumbled upon each other. It had purely been by chance. They had just been two people that happened to be in the same place at the same time. He would always be thankful for that moment.
"That means more to me then you know." It did to tell the truth. She was glade to hear that, though at the same time it made her want to cry. She would rather go on believing that he had met her with the intent of watching her, it would have made the fight that was unavoidable easier. But she would endure that pain if she could hold on to the thought that when they had first met it hadn't been by design but rather by soothing else that it had been fortune that pulled them together. Though in her current situation she had the feeling that it had been the impending doom that thrown them into this chaos, If they hadn't met. If they hadn't met. 'If we hadn't met then I wouldn't be here right now' a voice screamed at her in the back of her mind bringing her to the subject at hand.
"Like I said if I could, I owe you my life. It is something that you can not collect right now. Something that is not mine to give, you will have to take it."
'why does she fight so hard?' he world hangs around her in tatters yet she still refuses to let go. He found himself asking her just that. "Why do you hold onto this pain? Wouldn't it be easy just to let go?"
She felt emotion crashing on her walls wanting out at his words. She did she wanted to let go. At that moment she wanted everything to be over with. She wanted to have a normal life. 'who was she to have thoughts like this?' It was too late for that she would not allow herself to follow such foolish dreams. Her anger and sorrow would not allow her to turn her back on what she had seen.
"Because I can't. I have something that I must do and till it is done, then I can not die."
The way she said it there was no emotion is her voice. It was cold and chilling he knew that she meant it. Despite the emotionless ness of her tone. It conveyed what she felt perfectly.
"Not for you, not for who ever sent you here, not even for myself. Even if I were to die my vengeance would not offer me peace."
He said nothing to that. What could he say? Should he tell her that if she killed him, that she could let go? That it had been him that had stolen her youth from her that night when he had taken her fathers life. No something selfish in him called out stopping him, he didn't want to see that. He didn't want to see the look on her face when she found out that it was him. That it was him, that she owed all her anguish all her pain to. He wouldn't be able to stand it. He wanted her to remember him like he had left her this after noon. He wanted her to only know him as Kenshin, as a man. Not as a manslayer, not as the Battousai. If he had to shoulder her burden then he would do it.
Her mind should have been fully focused on the fight at hand but something was nagging at her something that was important. Something that would not be ignored. Then it came to her she could hear Dr. Genzai as clearly as if he had just said the words aloud to her. 'Ayame and Suzume.'
The Battousai looked at her something had happened. He saw the mask on her face falter for a just a second. Something was wrong.
She didn't have time to worry about them right now they would be alright till after the fight she could look for them then. Even though she told herself that the need to find them. She need to find them right now, the thought was pressing in on her. Had they been here in house? They had to have been. That was why Dr Genzai had said their names.
"What is it?" he asked wanting to know what was wrong. Her eyes shifted like she was surprised that he had noticed the stubble change in her expression.
"Ayame and Suzume Dr. Genzai had said their names what if they were in the house?" She found herself answering him as he just stood there looking at her. "I understand why you're here. I just need to find them I need to know that they are ok. Once I am sure that they're safe and away from here I will fight you. That is a promise"
Saying nothing he nodded he could understand how she felt even now with the thought that they had been in the house he could feel a small spark of concern.
Seeing him nod she nodded back. "Ayame!!! Suzume!!" she yelled listening for response, nothing only the deathly silence of the house running to the room the two little girls usually shared she saw nothing just a bed that looked like it hadn't even been touch.
It was the Battousai that looked down at the ground now that he knew he was looking for something he saw the trail of blood on the floor. It looked like something had been dragged. Stepping into the hall he saw that it continued along down the narrow corridor.
"Kaoru." He yelled hearing her run out of the room that was in the opposite direction then he was looking in.
Kaoru was frightened when she had heard him yell. Looking at the ground she saw the marks that he was looking at. "Ayame Suzume." The words left her mouth in a whisper. Then she could hear it faintly wafting through the house the sound of muffled crying. At first she thought it was her imagination. That she was hearing them crying in her own mind but the man next to her heard it too.
Walking down the hall following the trail on the floor the crying got louder. Stopping outside the door to a closet she flung open the door. What she saw there terrified her.
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Tae had no idea what was going on all that she knew was that someone had come running into restaurant saying that the old dojo as they called Kaoru's house was on fire. Now she stood there among the masses of people watching the place burn. Men were scrambling to get water to the flames but they were too big and she knew that the house would not be saved. Where was Kaoru? Had she been inside the house? Rushing to grab a bucket she joined in with the men that were milling about trying to quench the blaze. 'Kaoru be safe' The thought kept going through her mind as her body worked mindlessly.
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Suzume was in shock. She had heard someone yelling for her and she knew it was Kaoru but she couldn't answer her voice wasn't working all that she could do was cry. Suzume was sitting huddled on the floor of the closet her older sister pulled close her. Her little hands covering a wound in the other little girls chest. She could feel the blood still pouring out of the wound but she could do nothing more to help. She could do nothing but cry.
Flinging open the door Kaoru saw the two little girls sitting there huddled on the floor she felt her hear stop they were covered in blood it was every where. The front of Ayame's once green Kimono was drenched in it.
Seeing the light and the door open Suzume looked up to see Kaoru standing in the door. He tears turned into violent sobs once she saw the woman. Her eyes darting from Kaoru's face down to her own hands that were covered in her sister blood. It was the first time in a while that she had seen her sister by light that was good enough actually see by. What she saw frighten her.
"I need help. I can't get it to stop." Suzume said her hands pressing down on the front of the kimono. "It won't stop. Make it stop Kaoru niichan." Her voice sound strained and desperate the little girl was on the verge of hysteria.
Kaoru was shocked. Reaching down she pulled the two little girls from the closet. Ayame was laying down on the ground her little sister was kneeling next to her. Reaching her hands out she placed them on Suzume's shoulders. "I need to look at the wound run and get Dr. Genzi's medical bag from his office."
Suzume looked down at his sister. So much blood everything was red. Her mind was panicked but she was vaguely aware that Kaoru was there now. She was there wasn't she? She could feel hands on her shoulders and someone was talking to her. 'go get Dr. Genzi's medical bag' that registered and with out a second thought she was down the hall running.
The Battousai stood there watching. His hand as his sides had tightened into fists. Leaning over Kaoru who was now sitting on the ground next to the little girl he watched as she opened the blood soaked material that covered her. There was a big slash covering her mid section the bad thing was that it was still bleeding. Blood was oozing out of the wound and he watched as Kaoru put her hand over it trying to ebb the flow.
Her hands working quickly she opened the front of the kimono there was a big slash across the little girls mid section and she cringed she was going to need stitches. Kaoru had never personally done stitches before but she had had them. That had to count for something.
She could hear the sound of feet running and she knew that Suzume was back with the supplies. Reaching out took the stuff that she would need.
The Battousai watched as the raven haired girl sat there, with a worried expression on her face. She has no idea what she's doing. He thought as he watched her fumble with the supplies in her hands. Time was of the essence it could not be wasted because she didn't know what she was doing. "Get out of the way." He said kneeling next to her and taking the tools that she held in her hands from her before looking back at the little girl.
What? Turning she saw that Kenshin now knelt next to her. Working quickly he had taken the thread and needle out of her hand. His fingers moved expertly he had the needle threaded and ready to go in a matter of seconds.
"I need some light go and get me some. Bring something to soak up the blood too." He commanded hearing her run to do his bidding. She was back in a matter of seconds and he could see the wound to it's full extent. Things didn't look that good.
Suzume watched everything in a daze her vision clouded by the tears that were still flowing down her cheeks. She felt someone reach for her. She turned to Kaoru wrapping her small arms around her, feeling Kaoru place her own arms around her.
"Is she going to be alright?" She said he voice cracking at the thought that she might not be.
"I hope so." She didn't know what to say to the little girl. How could she tell her that it didn't look good?
"How did this happen?" she asked looking over the top of the little girls head so she could watch Kenshin as he worked.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on already you two I said that it was time for bed and I meant it." Dr Genzi said to his granddaughters though they seemed to pay no attention to him for they kept laughing and playing around on the porch.
"Oh come on just a little while longer please." Ayame said giving her grandpa puppy dog eyes that she knew worked. Her sister catching on they both stood there.
"You guys had that planned. Fifteen more minutes that's all you understand me?" he laughed as they continued to play their little game. Walking back into his office he stopped short in the door. There was a man standing there with his back to him.
"I've been waiting for you." The man said not even bothering to turn around and face him.
Dr. Genzi said nothing he knew that there was nothing he could do. Not with the level of skill that he possessed. The protective part of him wouldn't allow him to just stand there though. He thought of the little girls that were still playing out side and wished that he had already put them to bed. Looking around the room he frowned the man was leaning against his desk. That was a problem he didn't carry a weapon on him, but he kept one in his desk which brought him back to the fact that the man was leaning against his desk.. "Have you?" he said to fill the silence while taking a step forward.
"You know that I have. And I have an appointment to make so I'm on a time restraint." He said still not turning around to look at the elderly man.
"Then you should leave I would hate to make you late." He said his words dripping with sarcasm. He knew it wasn't the smartest thing to say but he wanted to keep the mans full attention on him. He was afraid that he might hear the children playing outside.
"How very kind of you. Just tell me what I want to know and I will be on my way. What can you tell me about the shadow? Tell me what you know about him and I will make your death quick and painless."
"I will tell you nothing." He couldn't tell him anything. If he did then it would put Kaoru in danger. He didn't want anything to happen to her. Though he knew his words sealed his own doom, if that was the only way that he could help her then so be it.
"Then you choose slow and painful." The man said with a smile on his face. Slowly he turned to face the other man who had been inching he was toward the desk.
Dr Genzi didn't know what happened to him. He wanted to move but his body wasn't listening to him. No he needed to move, so why couldn't he? He saw the other man close in on him but still he was held trapped there in place. The man reached for his sword. 'MOVE NOW DAMN IT' he screamed at himself but it was no use. He felt the sting as the blade descending on him tearing apart his chest. The man drew back to strike again. There was a piecing pain as the shaft of the sword entered his flesh. He tried to scream out but the sound died in his throat as he was consumed by his own pain.
"You like that wound old man? It's the one that's going to kill you." He looked at the man as he pulled his hand back taking the katana with him.
Releasing his hold he watched the old man fall back to the ground.
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Ayame stopped playing and looked ahead of her. Why hadn't Grandpa come to get them to go to bed? It wasn't that she didn't like the extra time that she and her sister were getting to play. But it wasn't like their grandpa to forget something like that. Looking around she walked into the house. Not bothering to say anything to her sister but she knew that the smaller girl would follow.
Suzume seeing her sister walked into the house behind her sister in to his office where the older girl had stopped short Suzume not paying attention had slammed into the back of her sister. She had been about to ask what was wrong when she heard the sound of someone talking.
"Do you think that's it? No it's far from over unless of course you're willing to tell me what I want to know." Jin eh looked down at the lump of a man that was on the floor blood was already spreading around him then he heard the sound of someone behind.
Ayame saw that the man was about to strike their grandfather again running across the room she took her place in-between the two men. She hadn't been thinking the only thing that she knew was that she couldn't allow the man touch her grandfather again.
Suzume watched what happened next in a half dazed state her sister ran across the room and stood in front of their grandfather and the man that was standing there. Tears were clouding her eyes as she looked at her Grandpa who was laying on the ground. He was bleeding, it was making a puddle on the ground around him. Hearing her sisters voice it snapped her attention back to Ayame.
"Leave my grandfather alone." Ayame yelled looking up at the very tall man. She would not back down, her feet were standing in blood and she was worried that they were to late panic was spreading though her. It was like she was no longer herself, like someone else had taken over. Then she felt it, before she could even say anything else pain ripped across her stomach. Placing her hand there she hesitantly looked down. Blood, her blood her knees buckling she fill to the ground.
"Ayame." His scream came out a wet gurgle as he struggled to regain his footing.
Suzume was torn, her sister. Running to her she knelt on the ground next to her now in a state of hysterics. "Ayame!!!!" Shaking her she stared down at her willing her to move to give some sign that she was alight. She got none rather she heard her Grandpa yelling at her to get out.
"Get out of here now?" Dr. Genzi said having climbed back to his wobbly feet.
"Oh no, their not going anywhere their going to die in front of you. How do you like that old man?"
"I'll tell you.. I'll tell you... She will kill you and that is all that you need to know about her." He said his vision going in and out of focus he could hear a sucking sound from his chest and knew that one of his lungs had been hit that would explain the reason that he had trouble breathing.
'So the shadow was a woman' With a wicked grin on his face Jin eh drew back his hand to strike the other little girl If that is what it took to make the man talk then he would get more information out of him.
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The Captain entered the room his steely eyes focused on the scene that he was watching he could take no more. They had come there for one specific reason. He would not stand to have the other man torture small children. Especially when the look on his face told him that he was enjoying it.
"Kurugasa." A voice called from the door way. It held a note of authority that could not be ignored. Not even by the heartless man that stood there with his sword posed for a strike.
Jin eh frown his hand lowering as he shifted his eyes to look at the man that was standing in the entrance of the door. He saw his Captain standing there. How he hated that bastard he always ruined his fun. What a fucking hypocrite. Look what he did for a living and yet he was always preaching about vanquishing evil or some crap like that.
"Captain?" turning he looked at he the man out of the corner of his eyes he was standing there calmly his eyes were even closed but he knew that the man was deadly.
"Touch that other child and you will have to deal with me. You must never forget the code. Aku Souku Zan Slay evil immediately."
Jin eh gritted his teeth so as not to yell at the man.
Narrowing his eyes the Captain looked at the other man who was standing there still poised to strike the little girl.
"We came here for the man not for the children. If you should strike that other girl and prove yourself to be evil, then I will have no problem doing away with you." His hand reached for the katana at his side and he looked back and forth between Jin eh and the little girls.
Dr Genzi didn't know what was going on but he knew that he had to get the girls out of there while he could. Catching Suzume's attention he said the only thing he could.
"Run."
Run, the word hit her. She wanted to do nothing more then run but she couldn't leave her sister. She had to get her sister out too somehow. With strength she didn't know she had she had grabbed her sisters shoulders and started to drag her out of the room.
He watched the little girl look around the room a daze like she didn't know what to do. Then she grabbed the injured one and drag her from the room. His attention shifted back to Jin eh. Who was now focused on the old man that had regained his footing. It didn't sit well with him what they were doing to the old man after all he was not the true target. But if he helping her then he was just as much of a threat and that made him the enemy.
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Suzume hadn't known what to do or where to go. She didn't think that she would be able to carry the other girl that far. She couldn't just leave her sister even if it was just to run and get help what would that man do to the person that she brought? That was how she had ended up in a closet.
Staring at the wooded door she pressed her hands to wound on her sisters mid section feeling the warm blood pour out over her hands she was thankful that it wasn't light so she didn't have to see it. She wanted to cry but she didn't want to make any noise incase they changed their minds and decided that they didn't want to let her go after all.
A dull thud was heard in the other room, pulling her sister closer to her she rested her cheek against hers. "It's going to be alright isn't it Ayame?" she asked straining her ears to hear if anything else was happening in the house.
Ayame frowned through the pain she felt her conscious slipping away from her but she didn't want her sister to be afraid. "Yes everything is going to be ok." She managed to whisper to her sister before her eyes slid shut and she was lost to the darkness.
*~*~*~*~*
Kaoru felt her heart wrench at the little girls story. Suzume had buried her face into her shoulder and Kaoru bit her bottom lip at the moment of discomfort.
"If my sister going to be alright?" the little girl asked again turning her face up to look at Kaoru.
What was she supposed to say she still didn't have an answer for her.
The Battousai had listened to the story he was still listening while his hands worked to do worked efficiently. His eyes where trained on the task at hand. 'someone else had been here. He was thankful that the other man had been here, he knew that if they hadn't then the both of the little girls would be dead. It worried him was the identity of the man. A captain of the Shinsingumi. If he was right not just any captain but the Wolf himself. Shifting his eyes he took a quick glance at Kaoru he before turning back to his work.
"She's going to be alright I promise you." He said before he could stop himself.
The little girl had lost a lot of blood and if the wound got infected then chances weren't good. Still he had the feeling that the little girl would live. Snipping the last of the string he looked down at his handy work before he felt the little girl slam into his side.
"I will never forgive them for that they have done." The little girl said staring at her sisters motionless form on the ground. "Never as long as I live I'm going to kill him."
Kaoru felt her heart break at the words that came out of Suzume's mouth. She knew how the little girl felt and that was why the words hurt so bad. She didn't want Suzume to have her life. She would give anything to shelter her from that pain.
"It is already done the man that did this has paid."
It was then that the little girl said something that she hadn't expected to hear.
"I want to see." Suzume looked up at Kaoru, seriousness in her eyes.
The Battousai looked from the pigtailed girl to Kaoru. "She needs to see."
Understanding Kaoru moved to her feet. The little girl still in her arms.
It was then that were leaving that panic hit Suzume they couldn't leave her sister here. "She has to come with me. I wont leave my sister." Her voice had risen and she started to squirm a little to get lose of Kaorus hold.
The Battousai seeing what was happened he stood picking up the other little girl in his arms before moving to stand next to Kaoru.
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Kaoru made her way back to the clearing where she had left the dead body she didn't think it was that far away but she had been wrong or maybe it was because she was so tired she still hadn't gotten a chance to wrap her wound and much to her annoyance it was still bleeding. Her head was starting to feel a little light but she didn't have time to worry about herself. Turning she looked at Kenshin who was walking next to her with the other little girl nestled in his arms.
Up ahead she could see the clearing the moon still shining down illuminating the man that still lay there in the black blood.
Approaching the body she stood there as the little girl squirmed to get down.
Suzume walked slowly to the body that laid there. There was a metal object protruding from the mans chest and she knew that this is what killed him. Not able to retain herself she found herself perched on the mans chest her small fists beating at his face it hurt her little fists but she couldn't stop.
Kaoru was alarmed by what Suzume had done. Closing the distance she put her hands on the little girls shoulders and tried to pull her away but the little girl's anger gave her strength and she had trouble pulling her away. Finally she managed as her fell to the ground with Suzume on top of her.
Suzume couldn't control herself she knew that it was Kaoru but her firsts kept going and she beat at the other woman's chest before finally all her energy had drained away and she was left in sobs clinging to the front of Kaoru's shirt.
"It didn't help I still hurt. why didn't it help."
"I don't know. I don't know."
The Battousai felt his heart go out to the girl and the woman that comforted her, they shared the same pain. Closing the distance he knelt down next to them. "pain is a burden that we all must bear."
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Meyame looked up to the knock on the door wondering who could be here at this time? She knew that was commotion because there was a fire across town but what could someone be knocking on her door for? Making her way out of her room and to the door she opened it.
"Oh my god what happened?" She took in the sight of four people covered in blood. Stepping aside she let them enter the house. What happened? My girls.
Kaoru looked up at the woman with guilt in her eyes. "We need a bed to put them down in."
"Of course this way." She ran off lighting candles in the little girls room. Reaching out she gathered some clothes so that they could get them in some new clothes. Looking at her girls she noticed that they were both pail but Ayame looked deathly white. Reaching her arms out she took the little girl.
"Ayame?" she waiting for her to open her eyes and ask her something but the little girl said nothing. Shaking her slightly her head just lulled to the side her breathing was shallow and she knew that something was wrong. Tears had filled her eyes and she brought her hand up to her daughters cheek her thumb brushing against the dried blood that lingered there. "What happened?"
The tone in the woman's voice bit at Kaoru and she knew that Meyame had a right to know what had happened to her daughter so she told her exactly as Suzume had told them before.
"My fathers gone.. If my daughter dies it's all your fault!" When Kaoru had reached the end of the story Meyame had been consumed with anger crossing the room she drew her hand back slapping Kaoru across the face.
"You have some nerve to come to my house! I hate you. What did you do? You can't have your own family so you take mine away too. They would still be alive if it weren't for you. My father would still be alive if it weren't for you." She tried to quell her rage but with another look at her little girl she felt it flooding back to her. "Unlike you're father he got what he disserved."
Before she could say any more she felt a sting on her cheek now Kaoru was standing there in front of her. "don't you ever say anything about my father. Say what you want about me but I want you never talk about my dad again."
"Get out of my house your not welcome here." She hissed at the other woman.
Kaoru could understand how she felt. She had after all just been told that her father had been murdered and one of her little girls was laying there hurt.
Turning to leave glanced at the little girls one last time wanting to go say goodbye to them but not knowing what Meyame would do. They needed their rest anyway. Plus she didn't know if she could tell them goodbye to their faces. It was best just to walk away. Though it was one of the most painful things that she had ever done.
Meyame watched as she left the room with that man walking out behind her. It was only then that she realized she hadn't even asked for his name. Not that it mattered now she would never see them again if she had her way. Laying down on the bed with her girls she let the tears over come her. Why did this have to happen. Reaching out she took a hand from each of her girls.
"I wish it had been you I wish it had been you that died." she muttered to the girl that had already left the house.
______________-
Pausing outside the house she stood there not able to look back up at it. The sun was rising and the long hell of a night was almost over. Willing the tears that were in her eyes not to fall she stood there a few seconds fighting the dizziness that plagued her.
"Goodbye."
The Battousai looked at her. She staggered forward and he reached out his hand to steady her a little. Her skin was ghostly pail and her eyes looked tired. All together she looked battered it was amazing that she was even still standing.
Feeling sorry for herself she shrugged his touch off. She didn't need sympathy from him. She didn't need it from anybody. She had only herself and that was the only person that she would ever need.
Shifting her gaze to look at the man that stood next to her she had the overwhelming urge to fling herself at him and depend on him to keep her up. But he had fulfilled his part of the bargain he had done more then his share and she would fulfill hers. Yes she answered her thoughts from earlier in the evening. It had been the impending doom that had brought them together and fate was truly cruel.
Taking a deep breath she walked away from the main path and into the darkness that still lingered in the forest.
"Shall we continue where we left off?" steeling herself and reaching for what little defenses she had left her hand went to her side. Drawing her Katana from the ring of steel filled the air.
The impact of their swards jarred her and she stumbled a bit. Her next stroke was unsure and clumsy. It was easily blocked. She tried to recover but it was too late her world erupted in pain as she fell, but by the time she hit the ground she was too numb to feel the impact. Her vision lapsed into red and the last thing that she saw was Kenshin standing above her before everything went black.
That's it for now Please review. ^.^
Kitsune KeNsHiN- I understand school takes away my time too. Thanks for reviewing though. Yep I do have plans for the other chars.
QueenKagom- I know that I'm a bad author you don't have to rub it in. I am evil. ::doges stick::
TYDY girl-updates thanks.
Random-still going
PsychoSushi- yep me made Kaoru good I mean she has been devoting the last ten years to it I thought that she should be good. thanks for the review. Hope you liked this chapter
Shizuka- is that a challenge? I try to make it fell real. Thanks for telling me what you think. It makes me so happy. ^.^ hope to hear from you again and that this chapter didn't disappoint you.
Curls ofSerenity- Me is evil
Calipinary3001-backs away from the weapon I updated I updated.
Tsugoi Kakarlena- 0.0 I did I updated.
Assassin13-^.^ thanks it nice to know that your look forward to my story. I know but the way that the story is structured I need some sadness to move the story on. Hope that you liked this chapter too.
Diane Long-I hope that I did ::crosses fingers:: how good I catch my own error comes and goes.