Disclaimer: I do not own the Rurouni Kenshin series or any of its creations. However, I do own Mina, Chanelle, Kenka and Toya. ^-^x
Code Catfight – Chapter 13 – By Cherry Chibi
'The Lone Wolf'
* * * *
She was about to move to the next area when a sight froze her. Among the four corpses was…
"Kenshin, why would there be a male in the Mibu Wolves' type of uniform?" Kaoru asked.
Kenshin frowned. "Saitoh..."
* * * *
Kaoru looked slightly confused. "You mean this dead guy is Saitoh?"
Kenshin shook his head. "No, he is one of the captains. Saitoh is around here somewhere," Kenshin wiped the blood away from his blade and then sheathed it. "We've got to hurry. Let's go." He ran and Kaoru followed
They leapt high and landed on the ledge of an open window. Kaoru looked out and spotted many groups of Mibu Wolves on patrol. She quickly slipped inside and Kenshin followed. There was no noise besides the sounds of dripping liquid that echoed.
"This way," Kenshin whispered. They silently sped through the grey concrete halls and stopped at a room where screams were heard. Kaoru recognised the voice.
"Tsubame!" She took haste. Kenshin grabbed her shoulder and held her back. "Let me go, they're torturing her!" Kaoru said in a loud whisper. She glared at him and he glared back. A few moments passed before Kaoru gave in.
"Allow me." He opened the door and slipped in. Kaoru watched through the opening. Tsubame was tied by chains against the wall outstretched. Cuts and bruises were patched across her skin. Her uniform was torn and ripped in several areas. She backed away from the opening just in time before blood sprayed.
"Kaoru."
Kaoru entered quickly and reached Tsubame in time before she fell onto the ground when Kenshin and sliced the chains. "Tsubame, Tsubame…" Kaoru whispered, she brushed a couple locks of brown hair from the girls face, "How are you feeling?"
"Akurei…" Tsubame said with choking sobs, "Where's Yahiko?" She held onto Kaoru's forearms. "Is he OK?" Dried blood clung from her wounds on her arms, legs, chest and face.
"He'll be fine." Kaoru said. "Tsubame, are you able to get yourself out?"
Tsubame gritted her teeth and pushed herself to stand. "I can move but I don't think I will be able to fight." She reported. Kaoru nodded. Kenshin was silent.
"Alright," Kaoru pulled out a phone and dialled to call Shuura. She waited until she heard a woman answer, "Shuura, come around the back, through the open window and straight pass three halls turn right on the fourth and to the first red door. Pick up Tsubame and get her out to safety." She said her commands clearly.
"I'll be there."
Kaoru tucked her mobile back into its pouch. "Tsubame, stay here and keep the door closed."
"Here are the keys. Lock the door." Kenshin passed a key to Tsubame which he had removed from one of the corpses. Tsubame caught them and nodded. He turned back to Kaoru, "We have to go."
Kaoru nodded. "Take care Tsubame."
"You too Akurei."
Kaoru followed Kenshin out of the room. After they left, Kaoru heard the Tsubame lock the door. She kept up with Kenshin as they made their way through the maze of halls. As they went, Kenshin felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out of its pouch and answered it. "What is it?"
"Zanza here, we've got the Fox-lady."
"Right, get her out of the area and tend to her wounds if need be." Kenshin commanded. He tucked the phone in its pouch immediately when he felt a strong ki. His eyes burned amber and ceased running.
Kaoru stopped. She sensed it too.
"Kaoru, keep going, I'll deal with him." Kenshin said, "I'll catch up with you in twenty minutes. Make sure you avoid wolves that are on patrol." Kaoru nodded and continued running.
"Battousai, it's been a long time." A voice echoed through the hall.
"Not long enough." Battousai said. At the corner of his eyes, he watched Kaoru.
* * * *
'I mustn't draw my sword,' Kaoru thought, 'But Kenshin never said anything about me fighting with a sheathed one.' She grinned, 'Yeah, it'll be different but I'll do it.'
"Akurei!"
Kaoru stopped and turned around. A bullet fired. She back up against the door but tumbled through, the bullet missed. She flipped back onto her feet and looked around the huge empty area. She ran to the centre of the room.
"Akurei! Give yourself up!" A wolf entered. "Or your friend will fall to her death."
Kaoru looked up and saw Misao being held on both arms by two wolves. They were on a platform. She didn't say anything. 'How will I get her safe?' She caught a glimpse a person who had opened the door which led to the platform. 'Okashira will handle that.' "I won't give myself up without a fight!"
"Then I, Chiku of the Mibu Wolves will kill you."
"I don't think so."
* * * *
Silence took hold of the corridors again. Battousai approached the tall thin man dressed in navy blue. "Why are you here Saitoh?"
"I'm not letting a good name become tainted by sins." Saitoh said, "Kill. Evil. Instantly. Remember Battousai, those are the words which I follow. Mibu Wolves have become categorised as the group who are known as the Wolves of Hell in the underworld. I'm here to clean up the mess which the Kamiya-girl has caused."
"Shedding Akurei's blood will only worsen situations." Battousai said.
"We've got a score to settle Battousai." Saitoh took up his Gatotsu zero-tsuki stance.
"If you wish." Battousai unsheathed his sword. "Ryu-kan-sen!" Swords clashed. He attacked without hesitation. He took advantage of Saitoh's blind spot caused by his sword. Battousai wounded Saitoh's right leg.
"Tai-ku-Gatotsu!" Saitoh stabbed his sword through Battousai's left shoulder. Blood sprayed and he fell back, teeth gritted. Saitoh tried to deliver the final blow but Battousai was too fast.
"Ryu-sou-sen!"
Saitoh dodged and attempted to do another Tai-ku-gatotsu attack. He failed.
"Enough foolish play! Ryu-Shou-Sen!" Battousai wounded Saitoh across the chest and avoided being sprayed by blood. He landed with a skid and watched as Saitoh fell back in defeat.
Saitoh waited for the finish but the attack never came. He staggered to his feet and found Battousai gone. 'If you play like Battousai, then I must say that Kamiya-girl has softened you. This fight isn't over yet Battousai.' He coughed and retreated to tend to his wounds.
* * * *
Akurei dodged another attack made by Chiku. "Draw your sword Akurei!" Chiku shouted ironically. Akurei swung her sheathed sword at Chiku and made impact at Chiku's neck.
"Have a nice sleep."
Two bloody bodies fell onto the ground. She looked up and found Aoshi helping Misao out. Her phone rang. "Akurei here."
"I've got Tsubame here at safety. Flight personnel along with Rising Sun have taken over the eastern areas of the base Street Fighters and Poison Vixens are at the northern. Oniwabanshuu are taking the underground."
"Good. Where are the Dark Blood and Black Hearts?"
"Black Hearts are making their way to the southern while Dark Blood are on standby. It seems that there are wolves evacuating. Persephone is still in the building somewhere though."
"Alright. Thanks." Kaoru hung up. 'We have to find Yahiko and then I'll deal with Persephone.'
She sensed a ki. She spun around. Kaoru eyed Kenshin and her immediate reactions happened without her being aware. She tore the bottom of her shirt around and swiftly tied the strips of black material around Kenshin's shoulder wound. He felt her tighten the strips. "Thank you."
"Everything's going according to plan." Kaoru said. "We have to find Yahiko and then Persephone." A part of her was beginning to fall deeper in an unknown pain. She knew that Kenshin would disappear if this continues. She couldn't let him go though. The ki that he was emitting was freezing cold.
Kenshin looked down at Kaoru. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't want you to become someone who I don't know." Kaoru said. "Just remember that."
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AN: Hey! I've updated! *looks proud* Well, hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for the feedback!!!! And I'm assuming most of you are expecting the ending to come soon, well, I think about 2-4 more chapters left. So yeah.
Ixchen: *smiles* Thanks so much for being so consistent with the support. I'm really grateful. Nowadays, I'm getting more and more criticism and strange comments about me being a 'freak', 'crazy' and 'loser', just because I write. Your support really brings a smile to my face! (sorry... I blab alot)
PoPlAr: Hey there! Lol. Hope you got some answers in this chapter. Mibu Wolves is or should I say, was a female group. ^-^x Thanks for the feedback!
Moonlight's Sorrow: *nods confused* I'm confused... you were complementing? Oh well. I guess it was. Haha. Ah... er... m... well, now I'm confused. *shrugs and grins* Well, I'll just move on from that and continue. Hope you enjoyed this chap and thanks for reading!
Chibi Battousai: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad that you still like this fic. ^o^x
^_^( ): Well, I don't know who you are but I'll just say thanks for reading!
Tsugoi Kakarlena: Sure! I'll read your fic as soon as I can and it's alright if you used Kaoru's title 'Akurei' from this fic. After all, Akurei is just a Japanese word which means 'Demon'. In fact, I'm quite flattered that you liked the title. Lol. I'm looking forward to reading your fic! ^-^x
Fanfiction Wanderer: Oh no, no, no, no! Saitoh didn't die! ... ... Lol. And the confrontation between Kaoru and Persephone will be coming along soon, maybe a couple of chapters later but you never know... might come real soon. *shrugs* Thanks for reading!
Nee-chan: Oh that's alright. Server problems always happen. Anyway, I'm glad that you've reviewed!!! And thanks for your feedback. ^o^x
Arizosa: Oh my... I think I really understand the Mistress of Torture now. *continues wrapping bandages over arm while the ligaments regenerate painfully with an amused smile* Call me crazy but I think I like this colour... *points to odd liquid oozing from wrist and licks it away, eyes fill with pure white, fangs grow* Muahahahaha....
BTW, if any one of you love reading supernatural fics that are at the 'believable' stage if you know what I mean, check PoPlAr's fic... 'Spring of the Sun'. It's absolutely enjoyable. Of course, there are many other wonderful authors out there!
See ya around everyone! *blood trickles from corner of mouth*
~ Catto Crimson -- (usually takes over Cherry when big bloody battles come... Cherry no likes battle too much)