Ok, I know I'm gonna die this time around… *screams and ducks* Don't kill me! There's a sequel! *dodges tomatoes* It comes to an end in the sequel! I just don't know where to go with it… *tomato smacks her* Oro? O_o

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Out with a Bang

Chapter 39

"You say she did what?!" Tanya asked, her ears swiveling, "That's impossible! There's no way! How and why would she do that?!"

"I'm not sure," Vash said trying to answer their questions. The plant was tired and wanted nothing more to escape. 'Head hurts. Pounding like crazy. I don't know if even a hang over hurts this much…'

Inuyasha seemed to read his mind, "Why don't we let Vash sleep?"

Everyone in the room was disappointed that their questions weren't going to be answered right away but they could see that Vash was tired. He wished them good night and headed up to Kat and his room.

She was sleeping when he got there and he quickly changed into his sleepwear. He climbed into bed next to Kat and shut off the light.

She stirred and mumbled, "I'm sorry Vash. I didn't want you to see that."

He turned over to look at her. Her new black and white locks framing her face. He didn't know what to say. Kat opened her eyes slightly and a few tears escaped.

Vash sat up, "Don't cry."

Kat just cried harder, "I don't know what came over me. I don't know what happened. I don't know why I've changed. Perhaps I'm now a part of you like Tanya now is of Inuyasha? I'm half Battousai, half plant angel, half of what ever demon is in you, half dog demon since Inuyasha gave me some of his power when he told me he loved me, and half fox demon since Kurama gave me some of his power as a gift for saving his life. And…that's too many halves isn't it?"

Vash wiped her tears away, "I'm guessing that that display back there unleashed the powers. The sides must have had trouble merging and that's what must have created the energy. It was only fueled by your rage."

Kat lay there, "Guess I'm really messed now aren't I?"

They laughed slightly at her joke just to ease the tension. "I think the new you looks good," Vash said.

Kat ruffled the black parts of Vash's hair, "You don't find my golden eyes, odd hair and new tattoo/ birthmark/ scar strange?"

"It's a little odd but it's what makes you, you," Vash said.

"Did you notice that Vix now has fox ears and a tail? Jasmine also seems to have new abilities. Her eye color matched Knives'," Kat pointed out.

"You don't think….?" Vash trailed off.

Kat blushed, "Maybe…?" She coughed, "Well I'm tired. Night Vash."

"Good night Kat." 

^_^

I swear if you were any stupider you'd be dubbed a cat. Kageunsei growled.

Who? Me?! Saku asked as she flicked her ears to catch any sound.

Kat opened her eyes and found herself face to face with a massive wolf. She let out a muffled screech of shock and scooted backwards. She bumped Vash. His eyes shot open as he felt himself begin to fall. He caught himself just before he went over the edge of the bed. He turned to see what had spooked Kat.

Kat heard a loud thump as Vash scooted back from shock and fell to the floor. Problem was he took the sheets and Kat with him. They lay there panting from being so scared.

"Maybe it was a dream?" Kat asked.

Vash gazed at her wide-eyed, "Maybe."

Kat sat up and looked over the top of the bed. Whatever had been there was gone. She sighed with relief and turned to help Vash up. When she looked at him his face was pale, "What?" Kat looked behind her and paled.

The wolf was not but a few inches from her. It was at least three or four times the size of Kageunsei. The wolf was grey-brown and had crystal blue eyes. Vash rolled to the side and stood. He helped Kat up and the wolf watched them amused.

I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here simply because I'm here. My name is Reikoku. I assure you though, that despite my name, I'm not coldhearted or cruel. Please call me Rei. I'm Kat's spirit guardian. Forgive me if I startled you.

"There must be some purpose you're here," Vash said.

I'm here simply because I am. One of the reasons though may be because someone out there is curious at how you were able to produce such power. I assure you though what I'm here for is just to be you're friend and protector.

"Does this make Kageunsei and Saku obsolete?" Kat asked.

Of course not. I'm just the mirror image of what you are. I know you are wondering why I'm a lot bigger and it's because of all the different parts of you. Not all of the power you possess could be copied and put into such a small spirit such as Saku's. Rei changed the subject. Kageunsei, aren't you supposed to be with Mayonaka?

As soon as Rei had spoken, the black wolf had vanished into thin air. Kat knew that Rei was telling the truth, "Nice to meet you Rei."

The grey wolf bowed slightly Pleasure is mine. It's nice to finally meat Vash too.

Vash was still baffled and all he could manage was a simple 'hello.'

I'll let you two alone for now. Call if you need me! Rei disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, leaving the room smelling of lavender. Kat sat there a moment not able to move. Vash was just about the same.

Well that was unexpected. Saku said simply. Hope the real you isn't that…chipper.

"You know the real me! I hate being chipper!" Kat defended.

She sighed and threw some clothes on. Vash tossed a shirt on and followed Kat into the kitchen. He instantly perked up when he spotted a box of doughnuts. Kat rolled her eyes and looked over to where Kenshin sat.

He looked up and said, "I need to speak with you."

Kat frowned but followed him out onto the porch. The scenery outside instantly changed and Kat was shaken a bit. She noticed that they were back at the hut. Then she remembered Rei. 'Perhaps Rei has the powers to bring us here without my permission? How strange. Spirits usually only obey their masters.' Kat peeked to make sure everyone else was there and smiled in relief. They were a bit startled but no one had been left behind. Kat turned her attention back to Kenshin.

She followed him out to the river and he spoke, "I've been meaning to tell you…" He paused a moment, "That I don't love you. I'm sure my past self must have loved you to death but I'm not him anymore."

Kat was a bit taken aback, "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have expected so much from you."

"There's something else too," he said warily, "I'm loosing control… It feels like I have a split personality. I'm afraid I'm going to snap again. I apologize for last time."

"I don't blame you for what happened. I guess I should have mentioned that you have two personalities. Please warn me when you're feeling like snapping next time ok?" Kat said. 'I really don't need something like that happening ever again! I really hope Kenshin will be ok.'

Kenshin seemed to turn pail. He clutched his head, "So much for a heads up. It's happening again." He hissed in pain and Kat watched as his eyes changed to gold.

The Battousai stood and glared at her, "You know I love you right?"

Kat blink a few times thinking her ears had deceived her. "I've been noticing that you've been spending more and more time with that angel," he hissed angel like it had been venomous, "I suspect you of cheating."

Kat's own eyes darkened, "You said yourself that you didn't love me."

"I suppose it's not really true. This side of me never had feelings. I'm still and always will be tied to Kenshin, the one you remember and the mindless dolt wandering around now. Forgive me if I sounded corny but this side of me loathes you as much as a cat hates water."

"I never thought you really loved me," Kat said trying to cover the hurt in her voice.

"You've lead me on too long. It's time for you to die," he pulled a gun and fired.

'REI! I could use you're help! Think u could give me a gun?'  

The wolf appeared next to her and a plain colt 45 landed in her hand.

'Thanks!'

No problem. But that's all I can do. This fight is beyond my powers.

Kat nodded, "Kenshin! Even as you are now I'll never hurt you!"

The Hitokiri smirked, "I thought you might say that so I brought someone to change you're mind." The Hitokiri sidestepped and a bruised Mayonaka lay bound hand and foot. Cuts and bruises covered him from head to foot. Trails of blood seeped out from gashes on his face. Kageunsei was lying motionless next to Mayonaka; a pool of blood surrounded the wolf proving he was dead. Kat faintly wondered if it was too late for Mayonaka.

Kat's eyes glowed red as anger coursed through her veins. She was too angry to speak. Her gaze lingered a moment longer on the pool of blood that ran through the grass and sand of the shore line. Kat fired and her bullet grazed Kenshin's arm. She curled her toes in the sand waiting for him to react. He fired in return and Kat hissed as a bullet grazed her cheek. The wind began to pick up. It stung her eyes and licked at Kenshin's gi and hakama. Blood stained the rims of his hakama proving that it was him that had done the deed that killed Kageunsei and beaten Mayonaka. Kat wondered how Kenshin had managed to drag them there without her noticing. A wave washed over their feet and the blood on the ends of Kenshin's hakama dissolved. Vash stepped out onto the porch to see what the commotion was about. A bullet flew past and grazed his ear. "Stay out of this!" Kenshin snarled from the river bank. The wind blew his voice away before it reached Vas's ears.

Vash raced to the river, Saku at his heels. When he got there he was more than shocked to see Kat and Kenshin firing at each other. Vash took out his gun but Kat stopped him, "This is my fight!" Vash reluctantly tucked his gun away and stepped back out of the line of fire. His hand hovered over his gun incase of emergency.

Saku dodged as a bullet that just missed her leg. It sailed past and made a dull thud as it connected with sand. The tiny grains were kicked up with the impact and rained down upon Saku. The wolf didn't bother to shake herself off. Kenshin shifted stances and ran towards Kat. She shifted to meet him halfway. Kat flew across the water. It showered them and parted as she passed. Kat's hair lay matted against her head. Little torrents of freshwater ran down her body. They fired, dodged each other's bullets and came face to face panting. Kat placed her gun to his head and he mirrored her movements. Water dripped off the ends of their hair. Droplets formed on the end of their guns. They fired. Their guns clicked signaling there were no more bullets left. Kat clicked the barrel open and spit a concealed bullet she had hidden in her mouth into it. The barrel shut and Kat stood there, gun to her former husband's head. He glared at her with hatred blazing in his eyes. Kat's hand shook from fear. 'What happens if I kill him? Do I want to kill Kenshin? Does he deserve it? Why am I the one to decide his fate?'

"Don't make me do this," Kat said almost at the point of tears. She choked back a sob.

Kenshin dropped his gun and reached for something in his back pocket. Kat's finger tightened around the trigger. Vash saw what Kenshin was reaching for and whipped out his gun. The leather bindings around his arms creaked. His red duster coat rippled in the wind. His orange glasses glowed eerily as the setting sun's rays reflected off them. He aimed…

Kenshin's fingers clasped onto a gun hidden one of the folds of his hakama. Kat guessed at what it was and her fingers shook with fear. The tip of her gun was buried into Kenshin's flame red hair making a small dent in his usual puffy style. Tears streamed down her face. Her eyes shone with the fear of loosing him. 'I don't want to do this. Please god, don't make me do this!' Her mind screamed.

Time slowed.

The birds stopped chirping. The sound of the river disappeared. Kat's heart was in her throat.

Kenshin's arm moved from behind his back and his gun pointed at her. Their fingers tightened on the triggers … a shot rang out in the forest.

Vash slumped against the wall of the hut staring in disbelief. His glasses slipped farther down his nose. Kenshin continued to glare at Kat, hatred shone in his eyes. Kat's expression was one of pure horror. She reached to touch her side and drew her hand back in shock. She was bleeding. A large wave came up and over their knees. Kenshin continued to glare at her a moment longer. Kat's gaze returned to Kenshin and her horror turned to disbelief and misery.

She stared at Kenshin a moment longer before he crumpled into the sand and water. The wave was sucked out back to the river. A pool of blood began to quickly form around him. Kat went down on her knees after him. They dug into the sand. She pulled him into her arms. His scar began to fade and Kat knew that it would be the last time she would ever be able to hold him.

His anger melted away and his expression changed completely. His blood coated him and soaked her shirt and arms. It dripped in rivers off her hands and legs. A wave came up around them again and washed away the blood. His eyes turned back to purple and he looked into Kat's eyes with that of love and agony, "I remember now..."

Kat's vision blurred and Kenshin appeared to be a red blob in front of her. Kat choked through her tears "…My scarlet ibis..."

His scar faded completely and he went limp. Kat was unaware that she was screaming over and over. All she could feel was the emptiness left in her soul.

Kenshin was gone…

(A/N: Don't kill me! *runs away* PLEASE REVIEW!!!)