To Be Free
Part 13
The Wolf and the Dragon
By Maria Cline
He stood out over the fallen Shinsengumi members. Blood poured down his katana as he looked around. The inn was burning and there was chaos everywhere. Yet, in the middle of the chaos was a lone figure in Shinsengumi garb. In a blink of an eye, he ran toward the Shinsengumi captain and the captain went into fighting stance.
"Kenshin!"
Kenshin blinked to find himself behind Kaoru and Yahiko. "Gomen, Kaoru-dono." Kenshin said as he hurried to catch up. /Why was I thinking about that now? I hadn't thought of that day for years. Am I finally going insane?/ He thought confused.
"Kenshin, are you sure you're okay?" Kaoru asked concerned. 'He's been having that strange far off look again.'
"Maybe, he's tired." Megumi said as she came up from behind.
"Megumi?!" Kaoru exclaimed as she turned around. "Where did you come from?"
"Oh, nothing much, I was just getting home and I got worried about Ken-san here." Megumi replied as she chuckled. /He is looking distant. There is something wrong with him./
"I'm fine, really." Kenshin smiled the best he could as they came up to the dojo. Kaoru gasped at the sight. Instead of Sano sitting on the porch, they saw a huge hole in the side of the dojo.
"What happened?" Kaoru asked as she ran toward the hole.
Yahiko gasped as he looked around. /He was here already? Why did he do that?/
Kenshin's face paled as a faint aroma snatched his attention. "I smell blood." He said as he rushed through the hole to see Sano lying on his back bruised and with a broken blade stuck in his shoulder.
"MEGUMI!" Kaoru yelled out as Megumi already entered the dojo.
"Oh my…" For once, Megumi was at a loss for words. Her doctor's instincts kicked in and she knelt down next to Sano. "Quick! Yahiko, get some water! Takuni, I need some light so I can see what is going on! Ken-san!" She looked at Kenshin who was looking at a medical peddler's bag.
"These ingredients are genuine." Kenshin said as he studied a salve, he dipped his finger in it and smelled it. "Megumi-dono, here's some medicine for the sword wound." He handed her a small pot of salve.
"Thank you." Megumi said as she accepted it.
Hours passed as the small group fought to save Sano. Megumi wiped her brow as she carefully cleaned the wound and performed the surgery. Fortunately, the assailant left behind a fully functional medicine bag with genuine medicines and Kenshin seemed to know what medicines to use for Sano's injuries. Yahiko and Kaoru worked endlessly as well, providing candles, water, and other stuff to her as she worked.
She could not help but wonder who or what could cause such injuries. Sano was the strongest man she knew, how can he be beaten so savagely? She could not afford to lose her train of thought. The first rule of emergency surgery is to think of nothing but the patient's well being.
"Come on, Roosterhead, you have that huge tab to pay off." She urged as she bandaged his wounds.
Finally, she stopped and wiped her brow. "Will he be all right, Megumi?" Kaoru asked as she and the others relaxed for a moment.
"A normal man would have died from his injuries but like always, Roosterhead is too stubborn. He'll need to rest for a while, I'll have to check on him for the next few hours, and not use his shoulder but he'll be fine." Megumi said as she smiled.
"Oh, Megumi, thank you." Kaoru said as she smiled in relief. There were times when she was annoyed by Sano's presence but she cared for him like the others. He saved her dojo and her life and he appointed himself protector of Kenshin and Yahiko even if they don't ask for it. Sano was still her friend.
"It was nothing. Ken-san have been a big help there." Megumi said as she gestured toward Kenshin who was staring at the bag. "Ken-san?"
He didn't hear her. He stopped hearing her after she said that she will be fine. /That symbol was that of the Shinsengumi. Most of them have died but is it possible that one had survived and know that I am here?/
"I don't get it. Who would attack Sano?" Kaoru asked, "More importantly, how can he hurt him so badly? Sano's not the type to go down easily."
"I don't know." Megumi shook her head. "Whoever did this didn't try to kill him. If he did, he would've cut off his head or stab him through the heart. Roosterhead was left alive for a reason. He could be going after you next or maybe Yahiko-kun." She said to Kaoru.
"I doubt it." Yahiko said as he looked away. /That psycho cop fought Sano even if he had no idea about the Battousai! He's a complete nutcase! What if he tries to kill me next?/
Kenshin sat to the side as his mind spun in turmoil. /He had come here to kill me but Sano paid for it. I must tell them the truth to save them./ /No! They will hate you forever!/ Kenshin gazed up at Kaoru who was trying to meditate.
He didn't look up at the bidders. He learned a long time ago not to look at anyone just to wait to be purchased. The bid was made and he was quickly sold. The slaver forced him down where he will meet his new master. He didn't really care. Most of his masters look alike to him. Roughly, he pushed him down and Kenshin weakly got up. Then, he heard a loud strong voice cry out, "Oi, you don't have to push him like that!"
He gazed up to see a young woman in a yellow and pink kimono with a tall lanky man. There was something about her that was different from his past masters. He looked into her eyes and she looked back with not pride or joy but shock and then sorrow.
/It was the first time that anyone stood up for me and meant it. She deserves to know./ Kenshin thought as he stared at Kaoru with sad eyes. "Kaoru-dono, I'm sorry."
Kaoru opened her eyes as she looked at Kenshin. "About what? It's not your fault Sano got attacked."
"No, it is my fault." Kenshin stared at the medicine backpack. He came up and gently held her. "It's my fault. Sano's attacker came for me. I know it." He closed his eyes as he summoned the strength he needed for the next few moments. "Sano's attacker wants to kill me. It began when I ran away from my teacher when I was fifteen years old. I… I-" He stopped and took a deep breath.
"It's okay, you-" Kaoru whispered.
"No! Don't make me stop." Kenshin pleaded fearfully, "The past matters now because it is haunting me. If you say another word, I may lose the courage to tell you this. You must know because if you don't, you may die."
Kaoru's eyes widened. 'Kenshin is so serious. I've never seen him so scared, not even when he first came here.' She simply nodded.
"I left to fight in the Bakumatsu, so I joined the Chousu forces. I… I… was not a front lines soldier. I became a shadow assassin. Himura Kenshin was my full name." Kaoru shivered as Kenshin placed his hands on her cheeks and whispered, "The name given to me by the enemy was 'Hitokiri Battousai'."
Silence fell over the dojo as Kenshin quickly let go and looked at the others. Megumi was staring at him with horror filled eyes. He didn't blame her, she probably heard all sorts of horror stories about him from Aizu. Yahiko was stunned as well but he didn't seem all that scared. Finally, he looked back at Kaoru who was just standing in shock. He took out his reverse blade sword from the sheath and put it at his side. He took a deep breath and adjusted for the familiar weight. "Forgive me for deceiving you, Kaoru-dono. Please hide for your sakes." He ran out of the door.
Kaoru recovered from her shock. 'Kenshin was the Battousai? How can that be?' She shook her head to see Kenshin was gone. "Kenshin? Kenshin, come back!" She cried out.
Kenshin ran through the streets in the darkness. His eyes adjusted and he can see things quite well. He looked around as he held his hand on his hilt. Kaoru knows the truth so she could have a better chance of escaping. He didn't know if he can see her again but he had to make sure she was safe. /Where is he?/ He thought frantically as he leapt high into the air and landed on the rooftops.
Suddenly, a figure landed on a rooftop away from him. Kenshin looked up to see a tall man wearing a white trench coat with a ninja outfit underneath. "Greetings, Battousai, I trust that you got Saitou's message?" He asked and then flipped away.
"Oh no you don't!" Kenshin said as he ran after him.
Saitou hungrily slurped up his soba as he sensed Kenshin running off. He paused and said, "Looks like the Battousai is on the hunt. Good." He smirked as he looked at Tetsu who was scowling at him. "What?"
"You didn't have to knock him out." Tetsu growled as his eyebrow twitched. "He didn't even know about Kenshin."
"I didn't intend to do that to him, the first strike was not lethal. However, he did attack me again. The idiot got what he deserved."
Tetsu crossed his arms. "You did show good restraint but is it because he reminded you of a certain spear wielding captain of the Shinsengumi?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Saitou said as he sipped his tea. "Well, I better change for the next part of the revised plan. I will be in complete control."
"Okay, fine." Tetsu got up and paid the meal. "I still think that I should come with you just in-" He looked to see Saitou was gone. "case. Swell."
Kaoru could not believe it. If she had all the time in the world, she would not have figured it out. Kenshin, the slave she bought two weeks ago, was really the Battousai. The infamous assassin who could slay squads with just a swing of the sword and was responsible for bringing about the new era was a broken down slave. Yet, it made sense, his infamous speed, his unique dice predicting skills, his desire to remain hidden for so long, and his swordsmanship skill. Why didn't she notice it before?
She and Yahiko helped Megumi move the still unconscious Sano to the next room where hopefully he could be hidden in case something happens. Despite his strength, he was helpless. Megumi wiped her brow as she adjudged Sano's position. "He weighs a ton." Megumi complained, "Must be all that muscle somewhere." She looked at Kaoru who was still stunned. "Hey, Takuni, I'm sure Ken-san is fine. He was after all a fighter in the Bakumatsu."
"I suppose… I know I should be scared of him but I keep on thinking of him as this scared quiet man who needs someone to protect him. I should be angry at him but I'm not. Is that normal?"
Megumi shrugged. "I don't know. You had always been an odd one but I'm not that surprised. I mean, you took in me, Roosterhead, and that little brat."
"I'm not a brat!" Yahiko yelled.
Kaoru sighed as she shook her head. "But, I kept on telling myself that if I see the Battousai, I would fight him but… no matter how hard I try; I can never imagine myself hurting Kenshin. Do you think he hates me for what I say about him, the Battousai?"
"I doubt it." Megumi chuckled.
There was a knock at the door. Kaoru stood up and picked up her bokken. "Who is it?" She asked as she and Yahiko went to the main dojo room and then opened the door. Standing there was a police officer with a katana at his side. "Yes?" She asked.
"I was sent here because there was an attack by a vicious man. I am Lieutenant Fujita Goro." The man said as he bowed, "I figured that I can help you."
"Oh, Jimi-san must've sent you." Kaoru said relieved as she stepped to the side. "Come in."
"Thank you." Saitou took off his shoes and walked into the dojo. He looked at the hole in the wall. "Seems like you have quite a fight here. Do you know who caused this?"
Yahiko gulped as he stepped back and stood closer to Sano and Megumi. /Great, he came back here?! Calm down, Yahiko, this guy is a good guy. He won't kill unless he has a good reason. Yeah right./
"Well…" Kaoru paused as she looked at the medicine backpack. "We think that someone came here and attacked Sanosuke. Ummm…" She was torn. Should she tell this police officer what she knew? There is a good chance that he might not believe her or if he did, he may want to arrest Kenshin for something he did ten years ago. 'I can't let anyone else get hurt! I have to tell him, I'm sorry, Kenshin.' "Lieutenant, I know this is hard to believe but I think that an old member of the Shinsengumi came here to kill a friend of mine."
"Really?" Saitou asked shocked as he looked down at her. "Why?"
Kaoru winced as she looked down. She straightened up and said, "First of all, my friend was a former slave who had endured a lot of abuse at a bunch of masters. He never told me what but I know that it must be bad. So, please, you must understand that he is not a killer. My friend used to be the Battousai but he's not any more and I don't think that you can arrest him because of something he did during the war. Please, you must help him because if anything happens to him… I don't think I can ever forgive myself."
Saitou was stunned. Kaoru had known about the Battousai living under her roof and yet he can sense that she was still overprotective of him. "This man was the Battousai and you are protecting him? Why? Did he threaten you?"
"NO! Of course not!" Kaoru screamed as she tightened her fists. "I… I just don't want him to get hurt any more. That's all. I mean, I know that I'm nowhere near as strong as Kenshin and if I try to fight the guy who nearly killed Sano, I will get killed. But, I just want to keep him safe no matter what his past is."
"I see." Saitou walked away and knelt before the sword stand. /This woman is either completely insane or in complete love over him. Heh, another woman who cares for him… interesting. I might be able to use that./ He drew out his katana and gazed at his reflection on the blade.
Kenshin ran as fast as he could after the ninja. He had to find out where Saitou was. This ninja knows his true name and he was around the dojo. For all he know, Aoshi could be the one who attacked Sanosuke. Finally, they stopped at a field just outside of Tokyo. Aoshi landed in the field and draw out his sword. Kenshin landed in front of him and drew out his sword as well.
"Did you attack Sanosuke?" Kenshin asked as his voice became cold.
"No, Saitou-san did." Aoshi replied.
"Why do you wish to fight me?"
Aoshi sighed as he stared at him. "The Obiwaban Group had dedicated their lives toward fighting for the Government. Most of them had completely disfigured their bodies as a result of the rigorous training they endured. I and a few others remained normal looking but I had to help them out. We resorted to becoming circus freaks for a group of people to look at and poke fun at. I want to show them that we are still ninjas; that we can still fight. If I kill you, then I can restore honor to the Obiwaban group."
"I see." Kenshin stared at him. "You cannot kill me."
"We shall see." Aoshi vanished and attacked Kenshin.
He floated in a sea of bright light. Sanosuke stared out and wondered, "Am I dead?"
"No, you are just hallucinating."
Sano looked up to see Captain Sagara sitting next to him. "Captain! What are you doing here?!" He gushed as he ran up and hugged him.
"I wanted to talk to you." The older man said as he patted the young man's back. "I've been watching you and I have to say that you are lucky you're not dead. How can you make such a stupid mistake?"
"You mean about accusing that beady eye guy to be the Battousai?" Sano asked confused.
"I mean, attacking a man who is obviously stronger and faster than you." Captain Sagara said, "Samurais know how to fight unarmed because they must always anticipate the possibility that their swords can be broken or lost. Your attacker fights on a completely different level. That is why you must be careful on who you fight, especially unarmed. You were always the type to judge quickly so fast based on appearances."
"Name one time." Sano dared feeling embarrassed about being lectured by his dead mentor.
"Ken-chan."
Sano gulped as he looked away. "Okay, maybe I should have thought that Kenshin might be a little older than me and that he may be able to defend himself…"
"He was killing squads of people while you were in diapers." Captain Sagara pointed out.
"So?"
"He is the same level fighter as that guy who just nearly killed you."
"… So?" Sano said as he crossed his arms.
"If he was threatened, he may have killed you, especially after you talked so much about wanting to beat him up."
"I did not say that!" Sanosuke screamed, "I never wanted to hurt Kenshin!"
Captain Sagara tilted his head. "What about the Battousai?"
Sano gasped as he remembered all the times when he told Kenshin about his dream to beat up the Battousai. He didn't know that Kenshin and the Battousai was the same man. "Aw, crap. I didn't know. I swear, I had no idea that the Battousai was enslaved! I thought he was just some general or politician! I hated the Government for what they did to us, Captain. They betrayed us for our hard work. I just wanted to beat up someone. I didn't know they did the same to Kenshin." Sanosuke stared up into the endless light.
"Why not? The Government was scared of Kenshin because of his abilities and that he had killed many people that the Imperialists didn't want the public to know. What will you do now?"
Sanosuke sat down and held his knees. "I really don't know."
Kenshin's heart pounded as he felt the cuts on his arms. He had not been in a serious fight like this in a long time. Aoshi was fast and ruthless. Despite of the fact he was scared for his life, he smiled. The adrenaline rush, the pounding heart, the very smell of steel rubbing steel engulfed him into a welcoming feeling of numbness. Still, he had a fight to finish. "Are you ready to give up, Aoshi?" He asked.
"Not yet." Aoshi said as he focused.
"One more time." Kenshin slipped his katana into the sheath and went into a fighting stance.
The two rushed at each other. Kenshin quickly draw out his sword and bashed at his chest. Aoshi fell to the ground and Kenshin held his sword out at his neck. "Where's Saitou?"
The ninja smirked. Normally, he would stay quiet but his orders were to tell him if he was defeated. "He is at the dojo, waiting for you."
Kenshin paled. Aoshi was clearly telling the truth and it would make sense. "If anything happens to Kaoru-dono, you're dead." He said as he sheathed his sword and ran off.
Tetsu knelt in front of the sword stand holding his katana and side sword. They were the swords Kondo had given him many years ago. Despite the hardships he had, he always had managed to keep the swords. They were a part of him, a symbol of what he is.
"They are going to fight, aren't they?" Saya asked as she knelt next to him.
The man nodded. "It's funny, the first time I met him, he gave me the creeps. He was all dressed up in a black kimono with prayer beads and he was pale with a strange look in his eyes. I thought that he was the walking dead. Now, he still gives me the creeps. I was lucky, Saya. I was able to get through the Bakumatsu while retaining my humanity. I did not become a demon like Hijikata-san, Saitou-san, or even Okita-san. Right now, two demons are going to fight and I'm afraid that one of them might not come back. The idea of seeing two demons fight again is overwhelming… I don't know if I can stop them if things get too out of control."
Saya smiled slightly as she took Tetsu's hand and wrote out with her finger, "I believe in you."
Tetsu gazed down at his hand. "Thank you, Saya." He reached out and picked up the katana and put it into his belt. Like Saitou, he had special permission to use his katana but only in emergencies and to him, the possibility of his partner getting killed is a good enough emergency.
Tension built up as Kaoru and the others waited. It was dark and there were no signs of Kenshin coming back. Yahiko was sitting and watching Saitou for any signs of attack. Kaoru was looking out of the doorway hoping Kenshin will return. Megumi was hovering over Sanosuke checking to make sure he was all right. Saitou just sat on the dojo floor anticipating the Battousai returning.
The door was suddenly flung open and Kenshin stepped in. "Kenshin!" Kaoru said in relief as she got up. "A police officer came to help us!" She gushed and then stopped when she saw he was staring at the officer.
"You are a police officer now?" Kenshin asked somewhat stunned.
"I have always been a police officer." Saitou said as he sheathed his katana and stood up. "You have fallen so far, Battousai. You were nowhere the man you were once."
"You had fallen yourself." Kenshin said as he walked in front of Kaoru. "I never thought you would be the type to attack a defenseless man or threaten to take hostages, Hijime Saitou of the Shinsengumi."
"Hostages? Shinsengumi?" Kaoru repeated. 'What does he mean? Does he mean that… no… NO!'
"I did not intend to take anyone hostage and as for the idiot, he deserved it. I mean, the first wound was not lethal but he did try to attack me again. He is lucky to be alive." Saitou said as he took off his hat. "Funny, while you were gone, I was able to just get in using my uniform. I could have killed everyone here but I didn't. Your skills had dulled to the point you were afraid to fight and that you didn't even know about my little spy."
"I know about Aoshi." Kenshin growled.
"I meant him." Saitou pointed to Yahiko who was looking down.
"YAHIKO?!" Kaoru screamed, "You were working for him?!"
"He was arrested for pickpocketing and I notice that he had potential. He agreed to keep an eye out on the dojo and we drop the charges." Saitou explained, "It was a common tactic. I'm surprised that you didn't notice earlier."
"Is it true?" Kaoru asked as she came up to the boy.
"Yeah, I was supposed to watch Kenshin but I really like you guys." Yahiko insisted as he crossed his arms.
Kenshin stared at the boy. "I did notice that he was curious but I had thought he was like other boys. I didn't know what other boys are like. But that is not important right now, you wish to fight, we will fight." Kenshin said as he held up his reverse blade sword.
"Good. I'm glad to know you are not going to get sick on me." Saitou said as he cracked his knuckles and unsheathed his katana. "Now, we can finally finish our battle from ten years ago."
The two fighters ran at each other. Kaoru watched helplessly as Saitou thrust his sword at Kenshin. Kenshin tried to jump out of the way but got cut anyway. "No…" Kaoru whispered as Kenshin got up and attacked him again. Several times, they vanished from her sight and reappeared when blood was spilt. She never saw anything like it before. Her heart froze at the sight of Kenshin being beaten up and then he was beating Saitou up. They paused and Kenshin landed in front of her. Despite the growing fear in her stomach, she stood up and went straight in front of him and held out her arms, praying that the officer would not kill a woman.
Then, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Kaoru looked behind her to see Kenshin staring at her intensely. Silently, she stepped out of the way and shivered. It was as if Kenshin had willed her to move. Saitou roared and attacked again.
Megumi wiped her forehead. She can hear the fight through the paper thin walls. Her heart pounded at the sounds to two swords clashing. It had been a long time since she heard anything like that. If a swordfight went on this long, that means the two fighters were equally skilled and powerful.
"Oh… Captain…" Sanosuke moaned as he opened his eyes. "Hey, Fox."
"Sano!" Megumi whispered in relief as she helped him up. "You nearly got yourself killed, bad Rooster."
"Hey, I'm a tough guy." Sano smiled slightly and then frowned. "Megumi, Kenshin was the Battousai."
"I know. He told us." Megumi shivered, "I know that Kenshin must have done something bad, sinful, but I had no idea that he was the Battousai."
"Tell me about it." Sano agreed and then heard another yell. "Kenshin's fighting, I have to groan help him. Let me up. I have to see him. I have to see him fight." He struggled as he tried to get up.
"Watch the fight? Have you lost your mind?! There are two demons fighting in there and… that won't stop you, right?" Megumi asked.
"Hey, I'm a sucker for a good fight. Besides, I never saw him fight before." Sano winced as he got up. Supported by the woman, Sano limped out to the main dojo training room to see Kenshin and Saitou fighting. He paled at the sight of Kenshin being kicked to the wall and then getting up. His eyes were cold and were a mixture of violet and dark blue. If it weren't for the scar and hair, he could have sworn it was a different man. "Ken-chan…" He whispered.
Kenshin took a deep breath and attacked again. He leapt high in the air and Saitou thrust his sword into Kenshin's stomach. Blood sprayed down on him and Kaoru put her hand to her mouth. Megumi and Sano watched in shock. Kenshin did not scream as Saitou pulled his sword out. He landed and held his wound. "Kenshin, stop please!" Kaoru pleaded as loud as she could.
Sano felt helpless as he watched. It was the first time he had ever heard Kaoru sound so desperate. He had never seen her like that. She was often the bold type who would whack anyone if they anger her. Yet, around Kenshin she was gentler, softer, and even her blows on her seemed to have lightened. He couldn't help but feel some irony, a legendary manslayer calming a woman.
Kenshin breathed deeply and closed his eyes. Ever since the battle started, he had been having flashbacks of the Bakumatsu. The coldness and numbness is returning to him and he welcomed it. The hole in his side was painful but he can handle it. /I…/ He can see Saitou in his mind wearing his Shinsengumi garb. /will…/ Kaoru's voice was fading into the background despite the fact she was screaming. His hair tie snapped and his long red hair flowed down his back. He opened his eyes and everything became numb. /kill him./
Kaoru and the others gasped at the sight. Kenshin had opened his eyes to reveal a pair of bizarre amber eyes that lit up in the darkness. Sano and Megumi remembered the old sailor's outrageous tale about the Chinese Mafia Member keeping a demon as a slave. Now, they both know that tale might not be as crazy as they thought. He slammed into Saitou who was caught off guard. He was flung into the wall. "Get up, it would be a pathetic way for our fight to end." Kenshin whispered.
"End? I didn't intend for our fight to end like that as well." Saitou said as he got up. At the beginning, he was keeping the bloodthirsty wolf within him contained but the more he fought, the more he remembered how much he missed the final duel. The urges became strong until all he could see was the hitokiri before him. "You will die."
"No, you will die." Kenshin said coldly.
'No, he's reverting to that form again.' Kaoru thought. She had to save him. She had to stop him from killing or being killed because one way or another, she will lose the man she cared about forever. "Stop! Please just stop!" Kaoru screamed louder as she went onto her knees and pounded the floor.
Sano sighed as he looked at the woman. "They can't hear you, Jou-chan. They are not fighting in Tokyo but in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu. Only someone who had tasted the events of the Bakumatsu can reach out to them." He knew what the two fighters went through. During his tougher fights, all he could think about was the opponent. It was a form of shield in his mind that only someone who can understand his grief can break through.
Yahiko's ears picked up. "Another person from the Bakumatsu… I got it! Keep those two busy!" He ordered as he ran out of the dojo. /There is someone who can still get through these guys. Another member of the Shinsengumi!/ "OFFICER JIMI!!!" He screamed as he ran down the street looking around frantically. He ran to the Akabeko where he last saw the officer. /Where is he?/
A tall figure came up from the shadows stood behind him. "Yahiko-chan?"
The boy turned to see Sensei standing there. "Sensei! I have to find Officer Jimi! This might sound crazy but a guy from the Shinsengumi is attacking Kenshin and they are fighting right now!"
Sensei pounded his hand. "Damn it! I was afraid that this might happen. Saitou and the Battousai fighting again."
Yahiko blinked. "You… know about Kenshin being the Battousai?"
"Of course I do."
"What?!" Tetsu exclaimed as he came up. "I had a feeling that Saitou-san would be losing it."
"Saitou's there too?!" Sensei held his head. "Damn it, those two demons fighting like that… one of them will die."
"We better stop this now." Tetsu held out his katana.
"Right." Sensei agreed as he picked up a bamboo pole. The two ran off toward the dojo and Yahiko ran off after them.
Kaoru watched as Kenshin and Saitou fought on. Kenshin had sliced through Saitou's sword and Saitou managed to disarm Kenshin. Now, they are standing face to face with Saitou holding up his fists and Kenshin holding his sheath. Logically, they should've stopped but they kept on fighting. Saitou used his jacket to break Kenshin's neck but then he was smashed by Kenshin's sheath. 'They want to kill each other. They will do anything in their power to kill each other.' Kaoru realized fearfully. It was not just a fight between two swordsmen; it was a battle between two demons. She tensed up and stepped forward to get in between the two only to feel cold. She collapsed on her legs as she shivered. No matter how hard she tried, she could not move.
She yelled at the top her lungs again but her voice could not be heard. The two fought on until a young voice screamed, "STOP IT YOU TWO!"
To Sano, Megumi, Yahiko, and Kaoru, they saw a young police officer and an old man. However, Kenshin and Saitou saw a short boy dressed in a Shinsengumi outfit and a young man dressed in a Mimiwarigumi outfit.
Sensei and Tetsu stepped forward and stood between the two fighters. Tetsu was facing Saitou and Sensei was facing Kenshin.
"Hey! Guys! What are you doing?!" Sano cried out. /Shit, Sensei and Tetsu can't take on those two. They're not skilled fighters! Are they?/
Sensei held up his hand confidently. "Kenshin, I know you are not a killer any more. Please, stop this nonsense and lower your sheath."
"The war is over, Saitou-san, it has been over since Hijikata's death." Tetsu said as he looked up at Saitou. "Please, remember what era this is. You have a responsibility to fulfill."
"I know the pains of killing." Sensei said firmly as he stared into Kenshin's amber eyes. "I know how much it wears down the soul and time alone cannot heal it. I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight again. I just want to teach children and spend the rest of my days in peace. You don't want to kill again. I know you can't bear the burden of another death."
"You are not a cold heartless wolf." Tetsu pleaded, "You don't kill for any reason. Kenshin is not an enemy. He is an innocent civilian now. Shinsengumi do not kill innocent civilians."
Kenshin and Saitou tensed up and finally they turned away from each other.
"You will live another day, Battousai." Saitou growled as he picked up his jacket.
"No, you did." Kenshin whispered back.
Saitou smirked as he walked away. "I need a cigarette."
A moment passed and Tetsu went onto his knees. "I thought my life flashed before my eyes." He said as he relaxed. "I'm sorry for my partner's behavior." He said as he bowed low. "He is a good man but he tends to act strange."
Kenshin glared at him and tightened his fist. Sensei and Tetsu tensed up and watched the man smashed his fist into his forehead. He opened his violet eyes and whispered, "The two of you have plenty of explaining to do, that you do."
"That you… do?" Kaoru repeated. 'Violet eyes, the tone of voice… he's back. The real Kenshin is back!' "Kenshin!" Kaoru gushed as she ran up and hugged him.
"Oro." Kenshin collapsed in her arms.
Kaoru remembered the wound in Kenshin's side. "Mou! Megumi! Help Kenshin!" Megumi nodded as she lowered Sano down and then rushed to the small man.
"I'm surprised he was fighting that far with that wound."
Tetsu watched the scene stunned. /This girl had just watched this man turn into a demon and yet is just as passionate for him. Incredible./
His head spun as he slowly opened his eyes. He found himself lying on a futon. /Was that a dream as well?/ Kenshin wondered as he sat up. He winced as he felt a sharp pain in his side.
"Easy, Kenshin, you were hurt badly." Kaoru said softly as she knelt beside him.
"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin was confused. Didn't he tell her that he was the Battousai? The same Battousai that Sano wanted to beat up and Kaoru wouldn't let into her home?
"It's okay, Saitou's gone. Tetsu and Sensei are here just in case. Megumi told me that your vital organs haven't been cut which is a good thing. I was afraid that you might die or worse." Kaoru said and then looked at Kenshin who was staring at her shocked. "What?"
"Kaoru-dono… didn't I tell you that I am the Battousai?" Kenshin asked hesitantly. "Don't you want to kill me or at least toss me out?"
"Now, why would I do something like that?" Kaoru asked.
Kenshin bowed his head down. "Because… because you hate the Battousai. You said that you would never let the Battousai set foot in this dojo."
Kaoru paled as she remembered the conversation. 'Of course. Baka, Kaoru!' "I didn't mean it! I had no idea the Battousai was you. I was just angry at the time, that's it."
"I'm sorry for deceiving you." Kenshin whispered, "You had been nothing but kind to me and yet I repaid you by allowing my past to be brought up like that. Sano's been critically injured, your dojo was damaged, and now people will know that the real Battousai lived under your roof so your reputation has been tarnished."
Kaoru sighed. 'Typical, he has a hole in his side and all he was thinking about was my reputation.' "Kenshin, I don't care about what others think. You were in trouble and I had to help you. I don't care about your past. You are a nice man, a sweet troubled man who had made a few mistakes in his life."
"I killed over three hundred people with just my sword!" Kenshin screamed. Sweat poured down his face as he wiped his brow. "Many of them didn't even deserve it. I can kill again if I let down my guard. I am a threat to everyone, even to you."
"Come on, you can never kill your own friends." Kaoru denied as she held herself. 'But, the way he fought, he was possessed. Was this why he was so reluctant to fight?'
Kenshin looked away and shivered.
"Are you okay, Kenshin?" Tetsu asked as he came up. "We have to talk."
"You're not going to arrest him are you?" Kaoru asked as she put a protective arm over Kenshin. "I won't allow it."
The young man shook his head. "No, nothing like that. Kenshin had done nothing wrong. All of the deaths caused by his sword were done during the Bakumatsu on the right side. Technically, he should be declared a hero."
"I am not a hero. I am a murderer." Kenshin whispered as he looked away. "We will have that talk, Jimi-san." He painfully got up and straightened himself out. The three walked out to see the group sitting around.
"Hey, Kenshin, feeling better?" Sano greeted cheerfully.
Kenshin blinked and nodded. "Yes, what about you?" /Odd, I expect him to be mad at me but I can't sense any anger from him./
"My shoulder's weak but it will be back to normal in a week or so." Sano grinned as he flexed his muscles.
"Ummm… Sano, aren't you mad at me for being the Battousai?" Kenshin asked hesitantly.
Sano frowned. /Damn, he looks so uncertain like he was afraid of me beating him up again, like I can actually hurt him./ "No, I just thought that you were... spoiled by power but you were pretty humble and you got it worse than I did. I don't hate you. Besides, I have another goal to fight. I'll get that beady eyed freak for what he did!" Sano vowed.
Kenshin tipped over and asked, "You want to fight Saitou?"
"You bet. I will fight him and punch him in the face!"
"And he will cut off your arm." Tetsu said as he sat down and drank some tea.
"Or your head." Sensei added on, "Sano, you were lucky to be alive. Why do you want to fight him?"
"Because… he really makes me mad! I know I can defeat him if he wasn't using that fancy sword of his." Sano said determined.
"And one arm tied behind his back." Tetsu corrected, "Sano, I've sparred with Saitou plenty of times and he's deadly even with just a bokken and full armor. Saitou did not survive the Bakumatsu on luck alone; he's a wolf among wolves. You have decent fighting skills but… you are not in the same league as us. Just give yourself a few years of training and maybe you have a chance."
"Right…" Sano's eyebrow twitched. /Damn it, why do these guys treat me like I'm a kid? I admit, I have never fought in the Bakumatsu but I'm experienced./
"Oh, Sensei, thanks for the help back there." Kenshin said as he bowed, "I wasn't thinking clearly, that I wasn't."
"It's okay. I've been down that path myself." Sensei replied.
"Speaking of which, did you and Kenshin fight before?" Yahiko asked, "When I told you about Saitou, you weren't all that shocked. You even called Kenshin 'Battousai'."
Sensei nodded. "Yes, I was part of the Mimiwarigumi. A Kyoto Police Force that had the same status as the Shinsengumi but we were not as popular."
"Sensei and I had fought once and it was an equal fight." Kenshin recollected, "I sensed that your fighting instincts have not dulled since."
"Not really. I just vowed never to hold a sword after the war. I can still fight unarmed and with a good shovel but I'd rather not." Sensei nodded as he smiled slightly.
"Wait a second; you fought Kenshin during the Bakumatsu? Why didn't you tell me?" Sano asked insulted.
Sensei looked away and replied, "You never asked."
Sano facefaulted and Kaoru leaned over. "No offense, Sensei, but Jimi-san, I need to know, why did Saitou want to fight Kenshin so badly? You obviously told him since the two of you are friends."
The group looked at Tetsu who closed his eyes. "Friends… we were comrades but I won't say friends. Yes, I do owe you an explanation. First of all, let me say that I have nothing personal against Kenshin. True, many of my Shinsengumi friends had fallen to your sword but it was in a war and death is normal especially on the front lines. My real name is Ichimura Tetsunosuke or as everyone else called me 'Tetsu'. I was a page to the Hijikata Toshio, Vice Chief of the Shinsengumi. As a page, I rarely fought in battle so I never killed anyone but I did still feel the pains of war. Hijikata-san had sent me off so I could be safe before the final battles. I was lucky in many ways but it was still hard for me. I had to hide my true identity for fear of being caught by the Government. My brother died from illness in the stomach so all I had was my memories and my wife. I was pardoned by Katsura himself and allowed to become a police officer here in Tokyo. You see, Saitou and I had it hard because we were Shinsengumi members but we survived. When, we saw you just a few weeks ago, you were so broken down that we had to know one thing, how can one of the most influential swordsmen in the Bakumatsu, the strongest of the Imperialists fall so far?" Tetsu asked as he stared at Kenshin.
"So, you just want to know what happened to Kenshin?" Yahiko asked. "Why don't you just ask?"
"I doubt he would say anything besides we also had to test him." Tetsu explained, "Ten years is a long time but it's not enough that it would wear down a person's killing instincts to manageable times. There was this saying by a madman I fought, 'A hitokiri will always be a hitokiri until he dies'. Whether that is completely true or not, I don't really know. We were afraid that Kenshin might become insane or worse if he was attacked by someone else. So, Saitou believed that if he could fight you and test your limits, we can see what condition you are in."
"He nearly killed Kenshin." Kaoru pointed out.
"Okay, so Saitou isn't predicable either. But, he is smart and have a very strong will to live." Tetsu looked at Kenshin again. "Please Kenshin, tell me. Believe it or not you do have friends in the Imperial Government who were worried about you."
"Then, why did they deny the fact that Kenshin even existed!" Sano boomed as he grabbed Tetsu by the collar.
"Sano!" Kaoru chided.
Tetsu glared at him and then reached up to Sano's wrist. He dug his fingers in and Sano winced. After a minute, the taller man let go and hold his wrist. "I understand your hatred for the Government but don't threaten me like that again."
"It's okay." Kenshin patted Sano's unwounded shoulder. "Tetsu didn't mean any harm, that he didn't. I need to tell someone about this anyway. It's a long story."
"Go ahead, we have plenty of time." Kaoru supported as she sat down. Her heart was racing, now she will know about Kenshin's past. She had to wonder how an assassin could become a broken down slave in just ten years.
To Be Continued...
Replies to Reviews
Sailor-Earth13- Thanks.
Somewei- Yeah, Yahiko being a spy is weird but it does make sense. Sort of.
Brittanie Love- Thanks. Hope you love this chapter too.
Invader Zim- Hee hee… I am evil for doing this little cliffhanger. Bwahahaha!!!
Author-chan- Hey, no problem. Yeah, Sano found out before Megumi. He may be dense but he can see things sometimes.
Leah Durose- And now Kaoru knows who Kenshin is.
Bob-san- Kaoru found out in this chapter.
Zxully anti-nostalgic- I'm glad that you were wrong and you like my part of the fic. Hee hee… I had to do the anime fight, there is no other way…
Kenshin's angel- Yeah, poor Sano. He will get better. Kenshin is being more open to Kaoru… hope it lasts. LOL
Thanks for the comments!
