Disclaimer: No. I still do not own Kenshin!

Author's Note: Ahh…such fun! I FINALLY GOT MY MOVIES BACK! LOL! Yes, that is my excuse for now posting this chapter sooner. Yes. Yes. Good excuse, and a TRUE one at that! LOL. Well, without further adieu, HERE IS THE NEW CHAPTER! Yes! AND A NEW CHARACTER!

The Legend of Himura Kenshin

EPISODE 10- Aoshi: Someone So Beautiful It's Frightening

Aoshi's View

This woman was blindly brave. Megumi Takani understood that we were there, watching her every move as she attempted to stab Kanryu with her tanto. The Oniwabanshu may have saved him from her, but it is only because of the inevitable ending she would have found. We are going to leave Kanryu after this.

But first, I believe it is time to talk some sense into this obstinate woman. She's finally starting to stir. I'll leave her here in the observatory. If she's smart, she'll lay all of this to rest tonight before any of her friends can reach her.

Which, of course, they will not do. The Battousai is not the man he once was, even if he is still a formidable foe. But I am stronger than he. The Oniwabanshu are the strongest there is.

"Your friends from the Kamiya Dojo are here. They've been demanding that Kanryu let you go, however I highly suggest that you do not get your hopes up too high. There is not much of a chance that they will get up this far. What awaits you isn't rescue, I am afraid, but torture and death from Kanryu. This is the dagger that you brought with you. Suffering or escape, it's up to you to decide."

I truthfully hope this woman chooses to pick up her dagger and save herself from the tortures Kanryu is capable of. There is no way her friends will make it this far. If Hannya cannot slow them down in the front, I can be positive that they are all rid of before they arrive at the staircase to the observatory.

I'm done preaching to this woman. It is her decision if she is to blindly believe in a false strength possessed by the Battousai and his companions. I will leave her here to decide on her path. There is no further reason to persist this mater. It is her choice, not mine. She cannot fight herself, and if this is so, it is the smartest option to save herself from the pain she will be forced into before it occurs. No reason, even to see the family she lost long ago, should get in the way of her dignity.

For now, I must prepare myself for the Battousai's chance appearance between the two doors before me. My kodachi along with the kenpo techniques I have mastered will leave him with no place to attack. The Battousai's technique is strong on the offensive and weaker upon the defensive. If he cannot land a strike, he has no hope of winning.

Besides, it will be now that I will finally be able to prove to the world that the Oniwabanshu is the strongest of all. The only thing I need to achieve this goal is to defeat the strongest swordsman of the Bakumatsu to prove this.

With the demise and death of Hitokiri Battousai, the title of the strongest will be placed upon the Oniwabanshu and grace us for the rest of eternity.

Author's Note: OH MY GOD! I'm sorry if Aoshi is compeletly out of character. He's hard to write! Let me know what you thought!

Love and hugs—

Crystal Renee