The True Battousai Revealed

Kenshin gently moved the blade away from his neck. Kiriko dropped the sword. "I'm sorry daddy."

He looked at her with a confused expression. "Sorry? Sorry for what? Miss Kiriko you have done nothing wrong. I am the one who needs to apologize to you." He hugged her tightly and whispered into her hair. "All this time I have been under estimating you. I kept thinking you we just my little girl. Beautiful, small, and weak but I was wrong. Very, very wrong. You are strong, physically and mentally. You are able to handle any situation…….and I hope…no….I know you'll be able to handle what I'm about to tell you right now but this is going to be very difficult for you." Kenshin pulled away from her and looked into her eyes.

Kaoru realized at that moment it was time for everyone to leave but to her surprise both the families were gone. They must have understood that this was going to get personal and that we needed our privacy, she thought. She was actually happy that she didn't have to kick out her friends. Kenji and Kano were still in the dojo. Kaoru got up and ushered them out without saying a word.

Kenshin and Kiriko were left alone. He picked up Laplatina and handed it back to her. After she sheathed her sword then they sat down in the middle of the training hall.

"Miss Kiriko, have you ever heard about the legendary Battousai the man-slayer?"

"Huh?" Where did this come from all of a sudden, Kiriko thought. "Um…I've heard of the name before."

"Do you know anything about the legend? If you do then please tell me, Miss Kiriko." Kenshin could see she didn't want to say too much but he needed to know what Shio might have told her.

"Well……….I heard that he killed a lot of people during the Revolution and that he was a deadly monster that was unstoppable. And……." Kiriko swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. "….and a friend of mine told me that he murdered his father."

That was what Kenshin wanted to know. Shio HAD told her what he is going to do. "Did your…friend tell you this?" She didn't answer.

"Well, he was correct. During the Revolution, Battousai the man-slayer killed many people. He was a deadly assassin that was hired to kill off head government officials. The strongest of all the Imperialist. He did this in hopes of making a better future for others. However, a very special person. Her name was Tomoe. She opened his eyes to the fact that he was killing people. Good or bad, a life was still a life. When he finally realized what he was doing it was too late. He accidentally killed the one he loved so dearly…"

"That's terrible." She whispered to herself.

Kenshin continued, "…After the war, he vowed that he would never kill again. So he wandered Japan for ten years helping those who needed it and protecting the weak. He did this to repent for the lives he took and to honor the death of his beloved."

"Wait a minute. He vowed to never kill again?" Kiriko asked. I've heard that somewhere before, she thought hard as to where she heard that statement.

"Yes he did. He also used a form of swordsmanship that was unmatched. It was how he became the ultimate man-slayer. During our fight I noticed you had similar techniques like the Battousai. Your speed, accuracy, and skills were a lot like his but your technique is not meant to kill-"

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Kiriko shook her head to get all this information straight. "I'm completely confused. What in the world are you talking about? What does the Battousai have to do with what we were duelling about? I thought we were going to talk about me being able to protect myself and others. Why are we even talking about him in the first place?"

Kenshin sighed. "I brought him up because he is the real reason why we had that duel."

Kiriko frowned up her face. "What?"

"Let me finish…….Master Hiko was extremely impressed by your swordsmanship skills. He thought they were the same abilities as Battousai the man-slayer. When he told me this, I knew I had to see for myself. That was the true purpose of this duel. I'm sorry for misleading you."

"Huh?…..But daddy, I've never met this man. How can that be? I taught myself how to fight by watching mom, by going to other dojo's and reading books about it. I don't even remember any books on Battousai the to think of it. How do you know so much about him? Do you know him? Is he still alive?" Kiriko asked excitedly. Maybe if her father told her she could some how find Shio and tell him of his whereabouts even though she still didn't want him to kill the man and that reminder her. "And another thing. The Battousai must have broken his vow because he killed my friend's father and that happened way after the Revolution."

"I guess I should just come out and say it." Kenshin took a deep breath. "Yes I do know the Battousai and yes he is still alive. The reason I know so much about him and the reason why you have such great abilities is..." He paused, "...because I was him. I was Battousai the man-slayer."

"ORO!" Kenshin yelp. The reaction that he got complete shocked him. Kiriko started to laugh. She actually burst out laughing like it was the best joke she had ever heard in her life. Kenshin just stared at her with wide eyes. He couldn't believe she was laughing so hard.

"YOU! Battousai the man-slayer! YEA RIGHT!" Kiriko held her stomach as she laughed. When she noticed the serious expression on his face, she slowly got herself under control. "Oh come on daddy. You're pulling my leg, right?"

Kenshin didn't answer.

Kiriko stopped laughing all together. "You are joking, right?"

He pushed his bangs back with his left hand. With his right index finger he traced the scar going downward. "This happened during an assignment where I killed Tomoe's fiancée." He traced the scar going across. "This happened when I killed Tomoe." Kenshin took his sakabatou from his tie, unsheathed it, and placed it on the floor in between them. "This is the type of sword I used after the Revolution when I vowed never to kill again. The same sword that Seiku's father made…Do you want to know why I'm so protective of my family?"

Kiriko just stared at him. She was utterly flabbergasted.

"It is because I didn't want my kids to ever live in fear of my past. Your mother went through a lot with me. She had been threatened, attacked, and kidnapped but she stayed with me to the end. I never wanted what happened to us to happen to my children. I also didn't want my children to live in fear of me…..After the war, I became a wanderer but as time went on and I came up against new foes the Battousai would come out of me. Your mother was the saving grace for my soul. She kept me from killing again. Unfortunately, when I had children I didn't know I would pass on myself, Kenshin Himura, AND the Battousai to …….. to you, Kiriko."

She sat there and said nothing. She didn't move and it looked like she wasn't even breathing. Kenshin figured that she was in shock. And why wouldn't she be. The shock of her being born with the Battousai abilities didn't even hit her yet. All she could think about was her sweet gentle father was Battousai the man-slayer. Killer of uncountable numbers of people and the murderer to Shio's father and that's when Kiriko snapped out of her daze. Did he really kill Shio's father? She had to know.

"Just tell me one thing." Kiriko whispered.

Kenshin sighed with relief when she finally spoke. He was getting a little scared when she went so pale. "Yes? Anything."

"Tell me you didn't break your vow. Tell me that you didn't break it not even once because if you did…….then that means you really did kill him………and I don't know if I could ever forgive you for that. Just please tell me that you didn't kill him."

For a moment Kenshin had no idea who she was talking about and then it dawned on him. She was talking about Shishio Makoto. He could see in Kiriko sad eyes that she care for Shio and the fact that her father had murdered his father was tearing her up on the inside. She probably thinks that somehow it is her fault that his father is dead, the thought made Kenshin pull her into his arms and hug her tightly.

Kiriko began to sob quietly into his shoulder because that was exactly what she was thinking. She kept thinking that it was her fault that some how Shio's misery, his loneliness, his longing to be loved was her fault. That some how, deep inside her heart, she had killed Shishio Makoto.

"Kiriko don't even think that way." Kenshin said as if reading her thoughts. "It is not your fault that Shishio is dead." He pulled away from her. "Kiriko, I don't know what Shio has told you but even he does not know the whole story about his father. So I'm going to tell you what really happened. Are you ready to hear this?"

Kiriko wiped away the tears. For some reason she didn't want to hear the story but she had to know the truth.

She nodded, "Yes, I'm ready."

Kenshin began his story of Shishio Makoto and the Juppengatana.

Meanwhile, in the market place, Saganno, Meya, Sanni and Yatsume were picking up some items for their parents. While they were walking through the streets the girls kept chattering about Kiriko and her duel with Kenshin.

"I've never seen someone fight like that." Yatsume exclaimed. "She was really good."

"No she was better then good she was….umbreelevable!" Little Sanni said excitedly.

"You mean unbelievable." Meya giggled.

"That's what I said, umbreelevable." Sanni said angrily. She didn't like to be corrected.

"Okay, okay what ever. But you're right. I don't really like watching sword matches unless it's Kenji but I have to say I really enjoyed that fight. What about you Saganno?" Meya asked.

Saganno didn't answer. His thoughts were still on Kiriko and the way she looked during the fight. He had known her all his life and he'd never seen those eyes before. He didn't know what to make of it. They were extremely frightening but some how strangely beautiful.

"Hellooooo! Saganno! I'm talking to you!" Meya snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"Huh! What!…I'm sorry what did you say?"

"Oh never mind. Come on let's hurry up and finish this shopping." Meya walked towards a rice stand. Yatsume followed quickly behind her. Little Sanni tried to catch up with them through the thick crowd. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going and (BAM) ran right into someone leg.

She landed on her butt hard. "OUCH!" She yelped. Tears started to flow down her chubby cheeks.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

Sanni looked up at the extremely tall figure that she ran into. He knelt down in front of her. "Are you all right?" He asked again.

Sanni's little mouth dropped open as she stared into the most beautiful pair of red eyes she had ever seen. She blushed madly when he smiled at her.

"Are you all right?" Shio asked for a third time with a little chuckle in his voice. He couldn't help but to laugh at that way she was looking at him. He could almost see little hearts floating around her cute face.

She couldn't speak so she nodded instead.

"Here, let me help you up." He held out his hand. It took Sanni a minute to realize what he had just said. Finally she placed her little hand on his palm. She blushed again when he gently held it and helped her to her feet. By this time, Meya, Yatsume, and Saganno were coming to her side.

"What did you do now-" Meya's sentence cut short when the guy helping Sanni stood up and looked at her. He's gorgeous, she thought. Yatsume was thinking the same thing.

"No it's not her fault. I wasn't paying attention." Shio looked down at Sanni again and smiled at her. She started blushing again. "I'm sorry. Do you accept my apology?"

This time Sanni was able to speak. "Um…..o-okay."

Saganno look at all three of the girls. He could see the hearts floating around their faces too. He rolled his eyes and took Sanni's hand. "Um…Thanks for helping her out. Sorry about that."

"No. It's no problem. Goodbye um…." He knelt down in front of her again. "What's your name?"

"S-Sanni." She answered. The dreamy look was still in her big brown eyes as her face turned into a big cherry. She reminded Shio of the way Kiriko would blush.

His smile widened as he got up again. "That's a pretty name. Well, goodbye Sanni." She smiled. Sanni like the way he said her name. "Take care." Shio said. He nodded goodbye to the others and continued on his way.

The girls watched him leave. Saganno rolled his eyes again. "Will you guys come on! We have to go." He turned them around and practically pushed them back towards the rice stand.

"Don't push me, Saganno!" Meya yelled. Saganno paid her no attention.

About thirty feet up the street, Shio stopped in his tracks when he heard the girl say 'Saganno'. He turned around to see if the three girls and boy were still standing there but they had disappeared amongst the crowd. Did she say Saganno or am I just hearing things? He thought but soon dismissed it. He turned back in the direction he was heading. He had one last place to go and then he would know exactly where the Battousai was hiding.

"………well that's pretty much the whole story." Kenshin finished.

Some of the things he told her were the same things Shio had said but her father's version was much more detailed. From what her father was saying Shishio was not this great person Shio was making him out to be. He sounded like a lunatic. The things he wanted to do. The countless people that would have died for his cause. It was horrible. Kiriko could now understand why her father had to stop him. She guessed if she were in the same situation, she would have tried to stop Shishio too.

"Do you think I killed him?" Kenshin asked.

Kiriko thought about it for a moment then answered. "Actually…….yes you did…" Kenshin eyes saddened a little but he said nothing.

"…on the other hand, no you didn't." Kiriko continued.

Kenshin smiled he understood what she meant. After his duel with Shishio, while he was recovering, he had question himself about Shishio's death. Did he break his vow? Had he killed him? He wanted to know what another person thought about it because after all these year he still didn't have a final answer.

"What do you mean, Miss Kiriko? Please explain it to me."

Kiriko thought about it to see if she could explain it right. "Well………when I say you didn't kill him I mean that in a technical sense. Technically, Shishio killed himself because his body could not handle anymore of the fight. He overexerted himself which made him burn up……….and when I say yes you did kill him I mean if you hadn't put all your will into the fight he would have lived but you would have died………I guess my decision on the whole thing is……….that I think you did kill him."

Kenshin frowned again because that was the same answer he kept coming up with. He looked down at his hands. He felt terrible even though it happened nearly twenty years ago.

Kiriko touched his hand. "But it was an accident." Kenshin looked up at her again. She had a small smile on her face. "I think if you could have just knocked him out, you would have let the authorities take care of the rest. You didn't mean for him to die. Did you daddy?"

He was trying to get his emotion under control but it was extremely hard. For years that question had bothered him but he never told anyone. Not even Kaoru because he didn't think she could understand but here he was telling his daughter and here she was giving him the answer that he needed to hear.

"No. No I didn't mean to. It was an accident."

Kiriko smiled brightly. "That's what I thought." Her smile quickly faded. "But Shio doesn't know that. He thinks, no, he wants to believe that his father was a great man so that it would be easier to…kill……….but, but daddy, Shio's not like his father. He's kind and gentle and sweet and caring. He's trying desperately to be like Shishio but he's not. Daddy, please believe me that it's not in his blood."

"But how do you know this? I mean…the Battousai's blood is in you." Kenshin said this carefully. He didn't want her to get too upset about that comment but she surprised him yet again.

"Yes. You keep telling me that the Battousai is in my blood but that's not who I am. I'm Kiriko Himura, that's all I'm going to be and that's all I want to be. I'm my own person because I chose to be. And that makes me happy. You see, Shio doesn't seem to realize that…" She trailed off.

"I'm glad you understand that you are who ever you want to be. Unfortunately, Shio wants to be like his father-"

"NO, that's not entirely…true." Kiriko stopped talking.

"Kiriko, I already know that Shio has been looking for me and that he wants revenge for the death of his father. However, you keep telling me that he's not like Shishio. I have a feeling that you believe there is another reason why he is seeking revenge….I understand that whatever Shio told you was confidential but time is short and pretty soon he'll find out where we live. I don't want anyone to get hurt and that includes him. I don't want to fight Shio. I want to help him but I can't help him if I don't know what he's going through. If you really care for him then please help me understand him."

Kiriko looked into her father's beautiful violet eyes. They reminded her of Shio's unique red ones. She could see her father really wanted to help him and so did she. So Kiriko took a deep breath and told Kenshin what she thought Shio was fighting for.