Disclaimer: No. I STILL do not own Kenshin. Trust me. I don't. Okay?
Author's Notes: Okay. I'm seriously going to try and make this chapter better than the last few ones. There will not be many more after this, so prepare to be seeing the end of this fic in about......... 2 or 3 more chapters, okay? And there will not be a sequel to the sequel............ sorry guys. Would you call that a triquel? . Ignore the blondeness. I have too many other stories going on for one, and I can't keep this one going on forever for two. And apologize for taking forever. __
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 13- Battles Won and Battles Lost***
The people from the Juppongatana surrounded the dojo immediately, causing much chaos. Misao stood in her rim rod stance, scouting out among the hoards of followers that had now enclosed around them all. The woman stood in from of her, a strange glint in her eyes.
"Alright doll, I suppose it's going to be you taking on me, Kamatari the Large Scythe?" she questioned.
Misao stood tall all of the sudden, scoping out the person before her. "Kamatari? You're voice......... it doesn't sound like........."
"Right sweetheart, I'm a man." Kamatari declared. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to start this fight and get revenge for Shishio-sama!"
Misao glared. "Vital areas........." she reminded herself. "Fine, Kamatari! Lets get this show on the road!"
Kamatari fell into stance, that same strange glint in his eyes that was there before. Sano rounded to the left of the dojo, keeping his eye on Kamatari. The guy seriously creeped him out, but Aoshi had demanded that Sano make a diversion to give Misao a chance to get into range so she could attack with her kunai. Making a mental note to be sure that Aoshi repaid him dearly for this, Sano set out to make the diversion.
He pulled his jacket off quickly, reaching for a bucket to chill himself out. Kamatari's eyes flew over toward him long enough to watch as Sano poured the water of his body. Misao took advantage of the suddenness of Kamatari's gaze aversion and sent her kunai flying.
Kamatari heard the call, and set up his scythe in a position that would block most of Misao's attack. Taking the initiative of Kamatari's compromised position, Misao shot forward with a punch to the chin that forced Kamatari forward and back. Misao landed easily, taking a chance to glance over at what Kamatari had been distracted by. She didn't see anything but a large puddle of water and mud. Her eyes fell again upon Kamatari's body, watching as he forced himself to stand up again and stare at her.
Taking a blind swing at her, Kamatari aimed his weapon with preciseness, making Misao's only option to jump. Misao leap high, only in time to the see the chain and ball flying toward her side. She turned her body quickly and put her hands before her, catching the ball and letting it fling her toward the gates of the dojo. She landed roughly and slid down the wall, but remained standing, her hand holding a new set of kunai as her other hand held her ribs.
"That was a dirty trick, Kamatari!" Misao cried. "A double weapon."
"It's not a trick, sweetheart; you just have to pay more attention. I'm going to get you for making me rip this new kimono." Kamatari responded, stepping arrogantly Misao.
Misao winced as she began leaning against the wall, prepared to shoot her kunai at Kamatari's eyes. That way, if Kamatari was blinded, there was no way he could continue fighting and she could end her fight early. She could feel Aoshi's eyes keeping a steady gaze upon her, and she was determined to win this fight on her own.
To prove herself.
************ ************
Along the walk back to the dojo, Kaoru had regained enough strength to walk on her own. She wasn't as tipsy as she had been in the beginning, but Kenshin kept his eyes glued upon her back anyway, being positive that she wouldn't fall over. His hands grew into angry fists again. She hadn't been injured badly, but the lack of oxygen was still affecting her. She had been complaining of a headache at first, and now she just stared onward, like a bad omen or something had penetrated into her thoughts.
"Kenshin, do you think......... do you think that maybe the dojo is under attack?" she questioned him. "I don't know why, but I just have this strange feeling........."
Kenshin nodded. "It's possible, and everyone at the dojo was prepared for a battle, so don't worry, Kaoru."
She nodded and continued on. "If it is, I'm fighting. I don't care what you say, Kenshin. It's my dojo, and I'm the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. I haven't been able to use my skills to their full extent yet, and I will protect my home and my son. You can't stop me."
"I understand." Kenshin murmured. "But if at any time I don't think you can handle yourself......... I'm pulling you out."
"Understood." Kaoru responded, her eyes forming small slits that told of her preparation of battle.
************ ************
Yahiko stood before a strangely thin man, with disgusting wings. He reminded Yahiko of a bat, but he kept that thought to himself. Right now his top priority was defeating the guy and being able to prove to Kaoru had he could fight just as well as she could, maybe even better. He'd never admit it, but he really looked up to her skill and realized just how much he had left to learn from her. He wasn't positive, but battling a man with bombs for a weapon didn't exactly seem like the strong point of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.
"Hey bird brain, you ready to battle or what?" Yahiko questioned, falling into his stance quickly. "Come at me!"
"Bird brain?" Henya asked, looking unnervingly angered. "You shouldn't be talking. A little kid like you couldn't possibly defeat me."
"We'll see about that. You're attacks couldn't do much to me." Yahiko taunted, nearing Henya without a second thought.
The man flew into the air, hovering above Yahiko at precarious level. Yahiko had to cover his eyes to block the sunlight that was obstructing his sight.
"You can't defeat someone who's above you!" Henya called, and then he threw down a bushel of bombs.
*********** ***********
Aoshi took his eyes off of Misao and motioned for Sano to take his stance in front of the giant man named Fuji. No one was positive yet over the exact power he held, but Sano was used to fighting people larger and stronger than him. Besides, Saitou had himself stated that they could take the chance of putting 'the moron' out after the giant. Aoshi hadn't been so sure, but he had resided from fighting until he could be positive Misao's own battle was over with.
Saitou stood off to the side, looking over the young boy with a carbon copy smile plastered on his face. He was slightly confused as to why he couldn't sense any form of a fighting spirit from the boy, but resided in waiting for the boy to attack him. No one knew of his gatotsu zero style, so he was in safe hands. He let his own smirk linger on his lips while he puffed on a cigarette for enjoyment. He averted his gaze to see Sanosuke take his own position up and glare at Fuji.
"You don't seem too strong." Sano stated, cracking his knuckles. "I have a feeling this'll be a fun fight."
The giant stared blankly down upon Sano, and then he turned to lift his weapon behind his head, putting both hands on the hilt and preparing to swing down. Sano kept his eyes glued on the man's hands, and backed up slightly. He hadn't practice his Futae-no-kiwami on a metal weapon, especially one as big as the one that was going to hurtling at him at any moment. He resided that he could at least crack the thing, and if, not, and then he'd jump on it and get the guy in the face.
************* *************
Kamatari swung his scythe again, and Misao rolled out of the path of the huge weapon and its chain surprise. She stopped on her feet with her hand still out holding her kunai, and glared at Kamatari.
'I just have to get the eyes, that's it............ the eyes............'
Misao whipped her arm back, and then released the kunai and set them hurtling toward Kamatari. Kamatari lifted his scythe high in the air and began to swing it around, effetely blocking all the kunai. Misao's eyes grew wide. One of the kunai to have hit something, there was no way.........
"Misao!" came a cry of a familiar voice.
Misao looked up to see Kaoru running full force with her bokken in hand, setting her eyes directly upon the scythe before pulling the bokken up. Kaoru twisted and slammed her wooden weapon against the staff of the scythe, and smiled as she saw half of it go flying and stick into the gate of the dojo. She pulled herself up into a more capable position, setting the remainder of her bokken into a new stance. It may have been only the hilt, but she still had a chance to win.
Kamatari grinned. "I'm surprised. Two on one is more exciting, and I think I like these odds."
"You can leave now or you can be beaten and humiliated, Kamatari. Which would you prefer?" Kaoru stated. "I'd prefer for you to leave and take your men with you."
Kamatari grinned. "I'm not leaving, doll. I can still fight." Kamatari stated, reaching into the sleeves of his kimono. "You'll see."
Shining objects went flying at her.
"Poison needles!" Misao cried.
Kaoru watched the needles and adjusted her bokken hilt's position, affecting getting all of the needles stuck in the bokken. All except one, which scraped her arm. She ignored it, since it wasn't a deep would and didn't even bleed. Kaoru turned the hilt and went flying at Kamatari, landing the broken bokken squarely on Kamatari's knee.
Kamatari fell, and then Kaoru dropped to her knees. "What poison was in those needles, Kamatari?"
"Nothing there is a cure for, I assure you." Kamatari smiled.
Kaoru's teeth gritted together. "I assure you that Megumi can find a cure for any poison you throw at her."
Misao stood and looked over toward the dojo doors. Kenshin stood next to Aoshi, watching as Yahiko battled off the flying man with bombs, and as Sano deflected the sword of Fuji. Then his gaze fell upon the young boy named Soujiro, who seemed to simply be enjoying the other battles raging around him.
Another one of Henya's bombs shook the ground, catching Misao off guard and making her stumble backward.
"Misao......... run and get Megumi." Kaoru cried out. "Tell her......... that I was hit with a poison needle and she's got to come and check it out."
Misao turned to see Kaoru's concentrated face as she watched Yahiko battle, and one of her hands were over her arm. Misao couldn't see any blood, but the pain she was in was obvious as her face broke out into a premature sweat. Misao nodded and found herself a way through the gates and out onto the streets in search of Megumi.
Yahiko jumped back, noticing Kaoru's gaze upon his battle. Now, more than ever, he had to prove himself worth her time and patience with training him. He lifted up his shinai and aimed it for Henya's throat. There was no other way he was going to get around the battle now. Henya had stupidly landed on the ground, which was just long enough for Yahiko to close in on the man.
Yahiko twisted his body and flung out his sword arm, feeling his shinai connect grotesquely with Henya's shoulder and neck. The man bent forward before he landed on the ground, cracking in his body heard around. Yahiko grimaced at the sound before he stood up again, forgetting the slash mark in his back from one of Henya's swooping attacks. He looked over at Kaoru and saw the proud smile on her face. She gave him a thumbs up sign and then forced herself to stand.
"Good job Yahiko. You did it." She stated. "Maybe you're a better apprentice than I give you credit for."
"Of course I am busu." Yahiko stated nonchalantly like it was regular knowledge. "It's you who needs to learn how to teach better."
Kaoru glared at him but didn't comment. She didn't have the power to.
She kept her hand over the wound in her arm and slowly walked toward the dojo so she could stand with Kenshin. She tripped accidentally on the porch steps but regained her balance. Her eye sight started to blur but she ignored it as she stumbled toward Kenshin and leaned on his arm.
"Are you okay?" Kenshin asked.
"I got hit with a poison needle." She told him truthfully. "I blocked most of them but that one......... it didn't hit me very well because I'm not bleeding. It just skimmed the skin and that's it. It might have gotten in, so I sent Misao to get Megumi for me."
Kenshin motioned for her to wait inside for Megumi. He sent Yahiko in after her. There was no reason for anyone else to stand outside while the rest of this battle raged outside. He didn't need Kaoru standing out there while she had a chance of being poisoned. Yahiko could take care of her until Megumi was there long enough to figure out what medicine to make.
The battle between Sanosuke and Fuji still raged. Sano had perched himself upon the giant's shoulder, and was preparing to send a rough punch into his sword arm. With the Futae-no-kiwami, he was capable of breaking the bone enough to make it impossible to continue the fight. Sending his arm down onto the shoulder of his opponent, a loud cry escaped the giant's lips as he howled in pain. Sano jumped down of off his foe and landed gracefully on his feet.
Fuji fell back as Sano kicked his foot, and landed roughly on the ground before he groaned in pain. Sano stood up calmly and adjusted his trademark jacket.
"There. All done. That was interesting." Sano stated before turning. "Hey Kenshin, we're Jou-chan?"
Kenshin motioned Sano inside, and then he turned toward Saitou and Aoshi.
"Which one of you will I defeat first?" Soujiro's voice came, somewhat happily.
Kenshin turned. "I believe I will."
Soujiro nodded. "Good. You're the one I came to fight, Himura the Battousai."
Author's Notes: Okay. Sorry, I know I didn't give justice to Sano's battle or Yahiko's. I wanted to focus more on Misao's fight with Kamatari. So I apologize. That battle work wasn't as good as my others. Another excuse: I started to watch Inuyasha and have been slowly growing into obsession with it, therefore, my mind isn't ON this story. __ I'm sorry, so I'll keep apologizing! It's been a month since I updated, I realize this. Forgive me!
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee
Author's Notes: Okay. I'm seriously going to try and make this chapter better than the last few ones. There will not be many more after this, so prepare to be seeing the end of this fic in about......... 2 or 3 more chapters, okay? And there will not be a sequel to the sequel............ sorry guys. Would you call that a triquel? . Ignore the blondeness. I have too many other stories going on for one, and I can't keep this one going on forever for two. And apologize for taking forever. __
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 13- Battles Won and Battles Lost***
The people from the Juppongatana surrounded the dojo immediately, causing much chaos. Misao stood in her rim rod stance, scouting out among the hoards of followers that had now enclosed around them all. The woman stood in from of her, a strange glint in her eyes.
"Alright doll, I suppose it's going to be you taking on me, Kamatari the Large Scythe?" she questioned.
Misao stood tall all of the sudden, scoping out the person before her. "Kamatari? You're voice......... it doesn't sound like........."
"Right sweetheart, I'm a man." Kamatari declared. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to start this fight and get revenge for Shishio-sama!"
Misao glared. "Vital areas........." she reminded herself. "Fine, Kamatari! Lets get this show on the road!"
Kamatari fell into stance, that same strange glint in his eyes that was there before. Sano rounded to the left of the dojo, keeping his eye on Kamatari. The guy seriously creeped him out, but Aoshi had demanded that Sano make a diversion to give Misao a chance to get into range so she could attack with her kunai. Making a mental note to be sure that Aoshi repaid him dearly for this, Sano set out to make the diversion.
He pulled his jacket off quickly, reaching for a bucket to chill himself out. Kamatari's eyes flew over toward him long enough to watch as Sano poured the water of his body. Misao took advantage of the suddenness of Kamatari's gaze aversion and sent her kunai flying.
Kamatari heard the call, and set up his scythe in a position that would block most of Misao's attack. Taking the initiative of Kamatari's compromised position, Misao shot forward with a punch to the chin that forced Kamatari forward and back. Misao landed easily, taking a chance to glance over at what Kamatari had been distracted by. She didn't see anything but a large puddle of water and mud. Her eyes fell again upon Kamatari's body, watching as he forced himself to stand up again and stare at her.
Taking a blind swing at her, Kamatari aimed his weapon with preciseness, making Misao's only option to jump. Misao leap high, only in time to the see the chain and ball flying toward her side. She turned her body quickly and put her hands before her, catching the ball and letting it fling her toward the gates of the dojo. She landed roughly and slid down the wall, but remained standing, her hand holding a new set of kunai as her other hand held her ribs.
"That was a dirty trick, Kamatari!" Misao cried. "A double weapon."
"It's not a trick, sweetheart; you just have to pay more attention. I'm going to get you for making me rip this new kimono." Kamatari responded, stepping arrogantly Misao.
Misao winced as she began leaning against the wall, prepared to shoot her kunai at Kamatari's eyes. That way, if Kamatari was blinded, there was no way he could continue fighting and she could end her fight early. She could feel Aoshi's eyes keeping a steady gaze upon her, and she was determined to win this fight on her own.
To prove herself.
************ ************
Along the walk back to the dojo, Kaoru had regained enough strength to walk on her own. She wasn't as tipsy as she had been in the beginning, but Kenshin kept his eyes glued upon her back anyway, being positive that she wouldn't fall over. His hands grew into angry fists again. She hadn't been injured badly, but the lack of oxygen was still affecting her. She had been complaining of a headache at first, and now she just stared onward, like a bad omen or something had penetrated into her thoughts.
"Kenshin, do you think......... do you think that maybe the dojo is under attack?" she questioned him. "I don't know why, but I just have this strange feeling........."
Kenshin nodded. "It's possible, and everyone at the dojo was prepared for a battle, so don't worry, Kaoru."
She nodded and continued on. "If it is, I'm fighting. I don't care what you say, Kenshin. It's my dojo, and I'm the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. I haven't been able to use my skills to their full extent yet, and I will protect my home and my son. You can't stop me."
"I understand." Kenshin murmured. "But if at any time I don't think you can handle yourself......... I'm pulling you out."
"Understood." Kaoru responded, her eyes forming small slits that told of her preparation of battle.
************ ************
Yahiko stood before a strangely thin man, with disgusting wings. He reminded Yahiko of a bat, but he kept that thought to himself. Right now his top priority was defeating the guy and being able to prove to Kaoru had he could fight just as well as she could, maybe even better. He'd never admit it, but he really looked up to her skill and realized just how much he had left to learn from her. He wasn't positive, but battling a man with bombs for a weapon didn't exactly seem like the strong point of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.
"Hey bird brain, you ready to battle or what?" Yahiko questioned, falling into his stance quickly. "Come at me!"
"Bird brain?" Henya asked, looking unnervingly angered. "You shouldn't be talking. A little kid like you couldn't possibly defeat me."
"We'll see about that. You're attacks couldn't do much to me." Yahiko taunted, nearing Henya without a second thought.
The man flew into the air, hovering above Yahiko at precarious level. Yahiko had to cover his eyes to block the sunlight that was obstructing his sight.
"You can't defeat someone who's above you!" Henya called, and then he threw down a bushel of bombs.
*********** ***********
Aoshi took his eyes off of Misao and motioned for Sano to take his stance in front of the giant man named Fuji. No one was positive yet over the exact power he held, but Sano was used to fighting people larger and stronger than him. Besides, Saitou had himself stated that they could take the chance of putting 'the moron' out after the giant. Aoshi hadn't been so sure, but he had resided from fighting until he could be positive Misao's own battle was over with.
Saitou stood off to the side, looking over the young boy with a carbon copy smile plastered on his face. He was slightly confused as to why he couldn't sense any form of a fighting spirit from the boy, but resided in waiting for the boy to attack him. No one knew of his gatotsu zero style, so he was in safe hands. He let his own smirk linger on his lips while he puffed on a cigarette for enjoyment. He averted his gaze to see Sanosuke take his own position up and glare at Fuji.
"You don't seem too strong." Sano stated, cracking his knuckles. "I have a feeling this'll be a fun fight."
The giant stared blankly down upon Sano, and then he turned to lift his weapon behind his head, putting both hands on the hilt and preparing to swing down. Sano kept his eyes glued on the man's hands, and backed up slightly. He hadn't practice his Futae-no-kiwami on a metal weapon, especially one as big as the one that was going to hurtling at him at any moment. He resided that he could at least crack the thing, and if, not, and then he'd jump on it and get the guy in the face.
************* *************
Kamatari swung his scythe again, and Misao rolled out of the path of the huge weapon and its chain surprise. She stopped on her feet with her hand still out holding her kunai, and glared at Kamatari.
'I just have to get the eyes, that's it............ the eyes............'
Misao whipped her arm back, and then released the kunai and set them hurtling toward Kamatari. Kamatari lifted his scythe high in the air and began to swing it around, effetely blocking all the kunai. Misao's eyes grew wide. One of the kunai to have hit something, there was no way.........
"Misao!" came a cry of a familiar voice.
Misao looked up to see Kaoru running full force with her bokken in hand, setting her eyes directly upon the scythe before pulling the bokken up. Kaoru twisted and slammed her wooden weapon against the staff of the scythe, and smiled as she saw half of it go flying and stick into the gate of the dojo. She pulled herself up into a more capable position, setting the remainder of her bokken into a new stance. It may have been only the hilt, but she still had a chance to win.
Kamatari grinned. "I'm surprised. Two on one is more exciting, and I think I like these odds."
"You can leave now or you can be beaten and humiliated, Kamatari. Which would you prefer?" Kaoru stated. "I'd prefer for you to leave and take your men with you."
Kamatari grinned. "I'm not leaving, doll. I can still fight." Kamatari stated, reaching into the sleeves of his kimono. "You'll see."
Shining objects went flying at her.
"Poison needles!" Misao cried.
Kaoru watched the needles and adjusted her bokken hilt's position, affecting getting all of the needles stuck in the bokken. All except one, which scraped her arm. She ignored it, since it wasn't a deep would and didn't even bleed. Kaoru turned the hilt and went flying at Kamatari, landing the broken bokken squarely on Kamatari's knee.
Kamatari fell, and then Kaoru dropped to her knees. "What poison was in those needles, Kamatari?"
"Nothing there is a cure for, I assure you." Kamatari smiled.
Kaoru's teeth gritted together. "I assure you that Megumi can find a cure for any poison you throw at her."
Misao stood and looked over toward the dojo doors. Kenshin stood next to Aoshi, watching as Yahiko battled off the flying man with bombs, and as Sano deflected the sword of Fuji. Then his gaze fell upon the young boy named Soujiro, who seemed to simply be enjoying the other battles raging around him.
Another one of Henya's bombs shook the ground, catching Misao off guard and making her stumble backward.
"Misao......... run and get Megumi." Kaoru cried out. "Tell her......... that I was hit with a poison needle and she's got to come and check it out."
Misao turned to see Kaoru's concentrated face as she watched Yahiko battle, and one of her hands were over her arm. Misao couldn't see any blood, but the pain she was in was obvious as her face broke out into a premature sweat. Misao nodded and found herself a way through the gates and out onto the streets in search of Megumi.
Yahiko jumped back, noticing Kaoru's gaze upon his battle. Now, more than ever, he had to prove himself worth her time and patience with training him. He lifted up his shinai and aimed it for Henya's throat. There was no other way he was going to get around the battle now. Henya had stupidly landed on the ground, which was just long enough for Yahiko to close in on the man.
Yahiko twisted his body and flung out his sword arm, feeling his shinai connect grotesquely with Henya's shoulder and neck. The man bent forward before he landed on the ground, cracking in his body heard around. Yahiko grimaced at the sound before he stood up again, forgetting the slash mark in his back from one of Henya's swooping attacks. He looked over at Kaoru and saw the proud smile on her face. She gave him a thumbs up sign and then forced herself to stand.
"Good job Yahiko. You did it." She stated. "Maybe you're a better apprentice than I give you credit for."
"Of course I am busu." Yahiko stated nonchalantly like it was regular knowledge. "It's you who needs to learn how to teach better."
Kaoru glared at him but didn't comment. She didn't have the power to.
She kept her hand over the wound in her arm and slowly walked toward the dojo so she could stand with Kenshin. She tripped accidentally on the porch steps but regained her balance. Her eye sight started to blur but she ignored it as she stumbled toward Kenshin and leaned on his arm.
"Are you okay?" Kenshin asked.
"I got hit with a poison needle." She told him truthfully. "I blocked most of them but that one......... it didn't hit me very well because I'm not bleeding. It just skimmed the skin and that's it. It might have gotten in, so I sent Misao to get Megumi for me."
Kenshin motioned for her to wait inside for Megumi. He sent Yahiko in after her. There was no reason for anyone else to stand outside while the rest of this battle raged outside. He didn't need Kaoru standing out there while she had a chance of being poisoned. Yahiko could take care of her until Megumi was there long enough to figure out what medicine to make.
The battle between Sanosuke and Fuji still raged. Sano had perched himself upon the giant's shoulder, and was preparing to send a rough punch into his sword arm. With the Futae-no-kiwami, he was capable of breaking the bone enough to make it impossible to continue the fight. Sending his arm down onto the shoulder of his opponent, a loud cry escaped the giant's lips as he howled in pain. Sano jumped down of off his foe and landed gracefully on his feet.
Fuji fell back as Sano kicked his foot, and landed roughly on the ground before he groaned in pain. Sano stood up calmly and adjusted his trademark jacket.
"There. All done. That was interesting." Sano stated before turning. "Hey Kenshin, we're Jou-chan?"
Kenshin motioned Sano inside, and then he turned toward Saitou and Aoshi.
"Which one of you will I defeat first?" Soujiro's voice came, somewhat happily.
Kenshin turned. "I believe I will."
Soujiro nodded. "Good. You're the one I came to fight, Himura the Battousai."
Author's Notes: Okay. Sorry, I know I didn't give justice to Sano's battle or Yahiko's. I wanted to focus more on Misao's fight with Kamatari. So I apologize. That battle work wasn't as good as my others. Another excuse: I started to watch Inuyasha and have been slowly growing into obsession with it, therefore, my mind isn't ON this story. __ I'm sorry, so I'll keep apologizing! It's been a month since I updated, I realize this. Forgive me!
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee