Saga 3: Berserk: Kiya's Deadly Secret

I glanced sideways at Kiya as we walked down over to the Kamiya Dojo. Her eyes were narrow slits and her mouth was set in a thin line. She looked like she was going to her own execution. She had her hand upon the hilt of her kadochi; as if she expected Kenshin to come out and attack at any given moment.

"Here we are," I said as we arrived at the gate of the Dojo. Kiya merely blinked and said nothing as I slowly opened the door.

Kenshin was out in the yard with Dr. Gensai's two granddaughters, Suzumi and Ayame. He smiled as he glanced over at me, but his purple eyes narrowed a bit when he saw Kiya. He turned to Ayame and Suzumi with his 'everything's ok now' smile and quietly asked them to go inside. When they had gone he turned around to face me and Kiya.

"Hello Sano, I see you've brought a visitor with you today," Kenshin's eyes glanced over at Kiya and again narrowed.

I nodded and said," Yeah, this is Kiya Sagara, Kiya, this is Kenshin Himura--"

"The Battousai," Kiya cut in. "I know the signs, cross-shaped scar on his left cheek and long red hair. The infamous killer of thousands during the Revolution."

Kenshin's eyes suddenly became narrow slits. "I left that name ten years ago in Kyoto. My name is no longer Battousai, it is Kenshin Himura and I will never take another life again."

Kiya's left eyebrow twitched.

"That's stupid," She said, stubbornly defiant. "The people who are evil and use their power to destroy and torture the innocent have no right live. That is why I kill every murderer, thief, and even whole gangs of robbers. I get rid of the evil ones and free the innocent from their wrongs and I believe that is my job here."

Just then Kaoru and Yahiko walked out from the house. They stopped and quickly walked over to Kenshin's side. Kaoru rested a hand on Kenshin's right shoulder and glanced at Kiya for a moment as if sizing her up as a possible threat. Yahiko, who now towered over his sensei and still growing like a weed, just glared at Kiya, his brown eyes darker than usual.

"Kenshin, what's going on and who is she?" said Kaoru. Kenshin and turned his head to give Kaoru a small smile of reassurance.

"This is Kiya Sagara and, um, she and I were just getting aquainted here you see."

Kaoru nodded and slowly took her hand away from Kenshin's shoulder to cross her arms.

Kenshin sighed and drew in a breath to speak. "Miss Kiya I will be clear with you, I do not like how you kill everyone of your intended targets. It is very cold-hearted of you. Killing is never right, no matter who it is, evil or innocent."

Kiya pointed to Kenshin's sword at his waist. "Then why do you carry a blade, Himura?"

Kenshin slowly drew his sword and held it up for Kiya to see. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"The blade's on the wrong side….." She whispered.

The red-headed ronin nodded and sheathed his blade with a metallic click.

"It's a reverse-blade sword," he said; nodding sagely.

"Hmph," Kiya crossed her arms and turned; so that her right shoulder was facing Kenshin. "It was nice meeting you, Himura. Ja ne."

And with those words Kiya headed for the gate to leave. I ran after her; and jumped in front of her, stopping her march toward the gate. Kiya glared at me and tried to step around me; I wouldn't let her. She stepped back with an even more angry look across her features.

"Get out of my way, Sano." Kiya growled; clearly irritated her voice dangerously low.

I crossed my arms. "You're going to have to get through me first." Kenshin behind her sighed and shook his head as if to say, 'Sano you idiot'.

Kiya shrugged. "Fine,"

I didn't even see it coming.

The only thing I did see was Kiya withdrawing her fist from my stomach and walking past me; her dark blue eyes cold. I heard the gate shut and I stood up straight; wincing from Kiya's punch. I took a step forward and bit back a yelp as pain ignighted itself inside my torso. Apparently, as Megumi had so kindly put it, one of my ribs had been snapped in two. All that power….and coming from a person, (a girl no less) shorter than Kenshin? Somehow it was humiliating…...

I recovered a few weeks later and was back at the Akabeko enjoying a steaming beef pot and getting lectured by Tae about not paying my bill……again. As I was eating; I overheard a few drunks behind me talking about "big money" and "fun and killing'". Intrigued I kept listening.

"As soon as they're all dead, we take the money AND the kids to Boss, tonight got it?" One guy, obviously the leader said.

"Right! And then we get paid!" another of the five said.

The leader chuckled. "Exactly! Now don't forget the location, the Shinobi house at midnight!"

The other four laughed heartily and started gulping down more sake.

I turned back to my food and ate as a plan began forming itself inside my head. Knock 'em out; drag them to the police house and get paid. Heck, I could pay off my bill at the Akabeko…..finally. I left a few minutes after the drunks had taken their leave.

I exited Ruffian Row with excitement coursing through my veins. Finally, some action; I was afraid my fighting skills might of gotten rusty. But I didn't let that bother me, not tonight. I walked like I had all the time in the world; hands thrust deep into my pockets until I heard it.

One long drawn out scream. I froze and listened as it continued for about three seconds before fading away into the night. But, as I rounded a corner men's screams and cries of pain started to make themselves heard. I began running in a frantic dash toward the Shinobi house; thinking that I was too late to save the family within--

I stopped; frozen in horror behind the Shinobi's shed.

Kiya?

But it couldn't be her……

A woman dressed in Kiya's clothing was holding up one of the five drunks in one hand; by his neck. The woman was unnaturally tall, with two inch claws on each of her fingers and a nasty sneer across her delicate lips. But what really startled me was the pair of small white fangs inching out of her mouth and……those eyes. Her eyes were a bright yellow amber color and they glowed in the dark.

Kiya's were dark blue…..

The man gurgled in the she-monster's grasp; his feet twitching a few inches from the ground. The she-monster grinned and squeezed; her nails digging in the man's soft flesh of his neck. A loud squelching sound was heard and the man's head fell to the ground; the eyes still open in shock. The she-monster still held the body by whatever remained of the neck; smirking through the streams of blood squirting from between her clawed fingers. She dropped the body and lowered her head to lick crimson liquid from her palm; smacking her lips in satisfaction.

I felt my stomach perform somersaults within me and I leaned against the shed wall, feeling weak in the knees. (Seeing a man's head get popped off cannot be good for my sanity,) I thought and slowly åifted my h`ad to look upon the åloody scen` once more.

The she-monster finished licking her hand free of the beheaded man's blood; running her tongåe over her lips to catch the last drops around her mouth. Suddenly she froze; her amber eyes wåde in what looked like fear. Såe lifted h`r head to stare at tåe sky; eyes still fearful.

"Hmph, fine." I heard the she-monster mutter to….whomever.

She closed her amber eyes for a few seconds before opening them with a relieved sigh. I blinked and somehow, when I looked again, the she-monster had shrunk in height. I glanced at her hands; the two inch claws were gone, replaced by normal fingernails. The fangs had also disappeared. She looked over in my direction and at that moment I realized who it was.

Kiya……

Kiya, with her dark blue eyes…..

It began to rain and within minutes I was soaked, but Kiya seemed unfazed by it. She just stood there staring at me through half closed eyes. Suddenly her body began to shake and Kiya instinctively wrapped her hands around her upper arms; gritting her teeth. She wobbled unsteadily on her legs for a minute or so before leaning against a tree for support.

"Damn….." I heard her say before sliding down the tree's trunk to the ground; unconscious.

By then I had snapped out of my shock of seeing murder and had ran over to Kiya's side. I lightly shook her shoulder; hoping to wake her out of her faint. All I got was a soft moan from her. Sighing I gathered Kiya up in my arms and headed for Dr. Gensai's, and Megumi.

I banged my fist against the doctor's gate door loudly and shouted for Doctor Gensai at the same time. Just as I was about to knock again the door opened to reveal Megumi with her usual frown across delicate lips. The Lady Doctor pushed my fist away and out of her face with a single finger, her mouth pursed with irritation. She opened her mouth to scold and stopped; her eyes widening.

"Bring her inside! Quickly Sanosuke!" She said indicating Kiya's prone form still in my arms. She turned on her heel and half-ran toward Doctor Gensai's clinic. I followed her inside.

Megumi slowly untied the dark blue headband that Kiya wore slightly above her eyebrows and released a sigh of sympathy as she did so. The pink scar that ran over Kiya's left eye, half-hidden by the headband and was now revealed to reach over her forehead and end at her hairline. Megumi ran a tentative finger down it's length; shaking her head sadly.

"She's lucky to still have vision in her left eye," Megumi murmured; placing a damp cloth over Kiya's forehead and flicking away the soft strands of black hair obscuring the girl's vision.

"She'll probably wake up soon so," Megumi looked over in my direction; removing the damp cloth from Kiya's forehead and standing up as she did so. "You may stay here for awhile and watch over Kiya until she wakes up. After she does she may leave as soon as she feels ready, all right?" She turned and headed for the door.

I nodded. "Megumi?"

She turned around with that questioning look in her dark purple eyes. "Hm?"

"Thank you, thank you for taking care of Kiya for me," I said, looking away to hide the blush I could feel creeping up my cheeks.

"You're very welcome, Sano." She said and left.

I sat down on a mat in one of the room's corners; leaning my chin on both fists; fingers laced together as I watched Kiya sleep. Her dark brows were still lowered in a deep frown as if she was still glaring at me thorough her eyelids.

A few hours later…..

Kiya's dark eyes snapped open; with a soft gasp. She had finally woken up. Kiya sat up and furiously rubbed her eyes with clenched fists. She stopped and looked around at her surroundings with narrowed oculars. Her gaze softened a little when she saw me sitting behind her.

"Where…am I?" She asked.

"Doctor Gensai's clinic,"

"Tokyo's local doctor?"

I nodded. "Yeah,"

Kiya turned around and pulled her knees up to her chest; wrapping her arms around them. "I see,"

It was silent within the small room for awhile before Kiya suddenly spoke up.

"Why did you follow me today?"

"I didn't!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes!"

"How am I supposed to believe you?"

"I don't know!"

"My point exactly,"

By then both of us were on our feet and glaring daggers at each other. Well, Kiya had to glare up because she was so short.

Kiya yanked me down to her level by my shirt; her nails almost breaking through the cloth, she was so angry.

"Did you see?" She said softly.

I was clueless. "See what……………….oh……..." Kiya's eyes widened in what looked like slight fear.

"Sano…."

"You mean that weird lady with the long fingernails and yellow eyes?" I said

Kiya nodded and let go of my shirt; taking a small step back and turning around. "Sano…that 'lady' IS, well, part of me and--"

"WHAT!?"

The image of the drunk's head being popped off crossed in front of my mind's eye….

"Sano!!"

I jumped as Kiya clapped both of her small hands over my mouth, shutting me up instantly.

"Keep it down you idiot!" She hissed. "I don't want anyone else to know!" She took her hands away from my mouth and crossed her arms.

"Why not?" Instantly, I knew this was a bad question as Kiya narrowed her eyes at me; sending a chill through my spine.

"OK, ok I won't tell anyone," I was lying. I had already told Megumi a few hours before.

Kiya sighed in relief. "Good, I don't want to be considered more of a freak than I already am. The police don't even know about her," she muttered out loud.

"Your other half?"

"Yes." Kiya turned around with her back facing me. "Sano I've heard of my condition before and that it can be cured. I can't let her kill the innocent." She bowed her head; walking toward the wall opposite me and leaning her forehead against it. "She LIKES the sight of blood and killing…." Kiya shuddered and continued talking, but by now I was sure she was just muttering to herself. "Ugh, licking it off her hands….. disgusting bitch……"å Kiya clenbhed ad. unclenched her fists; breathing harshly in anger.

"Damn it!!!" Kiya drove her fist toward the wall; breaking through it with a crack. She pulled her fist out of the thin wood, grabbed her kodachi from off the floor and strode out and down the hall. I heard Megumi gasp in surprise as Kiya swept by her; almost knocking the tray the Lady Doctor was carrying out of her hands. Megumi walked briskly in; setting down the tray by the futon on the floor with a frown across, (in my opinion) her beautiful face.

"Sano…" She began.

"What?! I didn't--"

"I asked you to call me when she woke up and you didn't!" Megumi placed her hands on her hips.

I opened my mouth to attempt an explanation. "I know, but…I…she…just…walked out?"

Megumi rolled her eyes skyward and sighed. "Yes, yes, I know. The girl bumped into me on the way out. By the way, does Kiya ever smile?"

I shook my head. "No, well, since I've seen her that is…"

"Uh huh…" Megumi began to pace back forth; right hand stroking her chin and the left hand cupping the right elbow. Suddenly she stopped, a confident and determined look on her face as she turned in my direction.

"She's a berserk," She said bluntly.

"A what?!"

"A berserk," Megumi repeated. "A demon of anger has literally taken control of Kiya's body and lives inside; feeding off anything that might make her even slightly happy."

I stared at her. Megumi the Lady Doctor, thinking that a stupid superstition was the reason for Kiya's being so cold? A demon of anger? I wasn't believing any of this, at all.

"A demon?" I asked, my tone clearly saying, 'you're kidding right?'.

Megumi shrugged. "I know it sounds silly, but berserkers are real and I've seen one before,"

I gave her a weird look.

Megumi arched an eyebrow at me. "And I'm not talking about Kiya, Sanosuke."

I shrugged and thrust my hands inside my pockets. "Can this demon be driven out?"

Megumi nodded. "Yes, but there's nothing we can do to help,"

I stared at her.

"Or any medicine I can prescribe won't help either,"

I sighed; my shoulders slumping in defeat. "What do we do?"

Megumi turned to walk out and paused, her hand on the door frame. "Absolutely nothing. Kiya must fight this demon on her own and hopefully she will win. The only thing we can do is help her, but only if she asks us to."

"What if she doesn't win?" I asked, curious.

Megumi sighed. "Then all of Tokyo is as good as dead, I doubt even the Battousai will be able to save us if Kiya loses control over her demon."

Megumi sighed and left, leaving an eerie silence in the room.

I leaned back against the solid wall and closed my eyes. What could I do? I wondered what would happen if Kiya really did lose control. She'd probably go after Kenshin first, then Kaoru (Kenshin would probably die protecting her) then Yahiko, and then Doctor Gensai. Suzumi and Ayame….The berserk demon probably wouldn't spare anyone if she breaks loose. Then…

Megumi…..

I smirked. No, I'd die protecting her, just like Kenshin the hero would.

Then all of Tokyo would fall and possibly all of Japan.

I laughed hoarsely, the world might come to an end and I was laughing at the thought of it. I shook my head, still chuckling to myself and left.

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Next time on Rurouni Kenshin…

Kiya looses control of her demon! Will Berserker Kiya kill everyone? Or will a old friend arrive to help them out? Plus someone with sword skills equal to that of Kenshin's comes to Tokyo. Who is it and what does he want with Kenshin? Find out next time on…

                                     

Rurouni Kenshin!!

Berserker Kiya: Demon on the Loose!