CHAPTER 8- VANISHING STRENGTH
Houji's predictions gradually came true. With two brutal fights behind him and an unrelenting opponent in Shishio, the Battousai was beginning to tire. Though the deadly fire continued to burn in his eyes, his rapid charges slowed. His strikes seemed to grow weaker. The tremors that accompanied every blow failed to undulate out as far as they had.
Everyone could sense it, especially as the seconds ticked by. While Saitoh continued puffing on his cigarette, Sanosuke watched with a shaking fist. "Damn it!" he rasped. "Kenshin's getting tired! When that bastard Shishio takes the offensive, he's gonna be screwed!"
Yumi continuously peered down at her watch. 'Fifteen minutes is the limit.' she told herself. 'Lord Shishio can only fight for 15 minutes!'
POW!!! Another furious strike lit up the air. Smoke stacks surrounding the tower burst with flames. The warriors fell back a good distance away.
Battousai could feel his heart racing. He could also feel the sting of open cuts and bruises through his torn clothes. But he didn't care. His mind kept uttering one word, a word that he had never relied so much on before.
'Revenge.revenge.revenge.REVENGE!'
Shishio reached up and wiped the blood from his charred lips. The liquid scorched the wraps on his hand. 'My blood.' he thought. "My blood is boiling.' How he relished this battle!
He straightened, keeping his sword tucked close to his side. He smirked menacingly, a toreador tempting the bull. But the Battousai held back, his senses telling him to do so. Shishio would have to take the offensive.
Houji crossed his arms over his chest confidently. "Yup, that's it. The Battousai's finished."
"..." was all Yumi could reply.
"It is time for you to join your little girl in Hell, Battousai!" Shishio charged in.
The Battousai charged to meet him. "HYAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
CRACK!!!!! KABOOOOOOOOOOMM!!!!!!!!!!
The balcony was swallowed by smoke and fire.
......
Back at the Aioya, the battle against Shishio's henchmen was over. The Juppon Gatana had been led away by police officers, leaving the Kenshin's allies to wonder about his fate.
Kaoru was sipping some water that Okon had given her when a loud explosion reached her ears. Her eyes widened with fear. "Kenshin!"
Houji's predictions gradually came true. With two brutal fights behind him and an unrelenting opponent in Shishio, the Battousai was beginning to tire. Though the deadly fire continued to burn in his eyes, his rapid charges slowed. His strikes seemed to grow weaker. The tremors that accompanied every blow failed to undulate out as far as they had.
Everyone could sense it, especially as the seconds ticked by. While Saitoh continued puffing on his cigarette, Sanosuke watched with a shaking fist. "Damn it!" he rasped. "Kenshin's getting tired! When that bastard Shishio takes the offensive, he's gonna be screwed!"
Yumi continuously peered down at her watch. 'Fifteen minutes is the limit.' she told herself. 'Lord Shishio can only fight for 15 minutes!'
POW!!! Another furious strike lit up the air. Smoke stacks surrounding the tower burst with flames. The warriors fell back a good distance away.
Battousai could feel his heart racing. He could also feel the sting of open cuts and bruises through his torn clothes. But he didn't care. His mind kept uttering one word, a word that he had never relied so much on before.
'Revenge.revenge.revenge.REVENGE!'
Shishio reached up and wiped the blood from his charred lips. The liquid scorched the wraps on his hand. 'My blood.' he thought. "My blood is boiling.' How he relished this battle!
He straightened, keeping his sword tucked close to his side. He smirked menacingly, a toreador tempting the bull. But the Battousai held back, his senses telling him to do so. Shishio would have to take the offensive.
Houji crossed his arms over his chest confidently. "Yup, that's it. The Battousai's finished."
"..." was all Yumi could reply.
"It is time for you to join your little girl in Hell, Battousai!" Shishio charged in.
The Battousai charged to meet him. "HYAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
CRACK!!!!! KABOOOOOOOOOOMM!!!!!!!!!!
The balcony was swallowed by smoke and fire.
......
Back at the Aioya, the battle against Shishio's henchmen was over. The Juppon Gatana had been led away by police officers, leaving the Kenshin's allies to wonder about his fate.
Kaoru was sipping some water that Okon had given her when a loud explosion reached her ears. Her eyes widened with fear. "Kenshin!"