A/N: Here I am world! A quick update (well for me that is) and TWO chapters!! There is a reason for posting two chapters and that's because 1 - I got them written and 2 - the next chapter isn't all that original. You'll understand when you read it! You what's nice about me posting more than one chapter at a time? YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ANOTHER AUTHOR NOTE!!!! BUW HA HA HA!!!! (trademark laugh of Zig-zag)
(Zig-zag singing): I LOVE my reviewers!!! I LOVE my ego trip!!! Thank you to all my reviewers!!!!!!!!!! (end song)
Ms. Zeal - I see you like it when Kenshin gets pushed over the edge. Could you tell I really wanted Suiso to say the binding spell? I was worried it too repetitive but you seem to like it. BUW HA HA HA!!! I had fear over nothing!
rain angst - Thanks for the complement!!
Tiger of the Sonic boom - Thanks for the pointers. I went back to the corrections my beta had made for me and she had corrected them too… how did I miss them? (scratches head) I type too fast for my brain to catch up and say… "Hey moron… you spelt that wrong." Also THANKS for the spelling of Neko it really helped!
Chapter 18 – The Eye Of The Storm
Kenshin and Suiso glared at each other. Suiso unsheathed his sword but didn't take a stance. Kaoru ran to Kenshin's side not wanting to be apart from him again. Suiso's men gathered behind him, including Kodo who stumbled away from Kenshin. "You've think you've won Battòsai?" Suiso yelled. "There is no where for you to go." Kenshin remained quiet. "You think that little rowboat will save you? I'll sink it soon enough." Suiso said with a wild smiled.
"Suiso, what do you have to gain in all of this?" Kenshin said calmly wiping some lingering rain drops from his face.
"I have everything to gain." Suiso answered. "Men! Kill the woman and the traitor and do what you like to the Battòsai, just don't kill him." He said as if he was ordering a meal in a restaurant. His men drew their swords and slowly approached the three. Suiso took the opportunity to leave and ran from the impending battle.
Suiso ran to the first room he saw and ran inside. His whole body was shaking from fatigue and he fell to his knees and held himself up with his arms. "They had better take care of the Battòsai… or… or…" Suiso couldn't finish the thought as he sank to the floor and fell asleep.
Kenshin saw Suiso run off but let him go; the advancing men with orders to kill Kaoru and Nakami were the top priority right now.
Kodo was leading the group of sailors. Revenge against Nakami driving him so deeply that he wasn't even afraid to fight the Battòsai. The others were a little slower in their advance fearful of the Battòsai and not wanting to kill their fellow crewmate. Not wanting to waste anymore time Kenshin fell into a Battòjutsu stance. Some men gasped and took a step backwards the rest stopped dead in their tracks. "We can end this without a fight as long as you do not harm Miss Kaoru and Nakami." Kenshin warned always trying to solve things peacefully. Someone let out a laugh and a few men, Kodo included, charged as if it was a single.
In a blur Kenshin unsheathed his sword and quickly knocked down the men that approached. Kaoru turned and grabbed Nakami by the arm and together they ran out of the way so Kenshin wouldn't have to worry about them. Kaoru watched the fight for only a few more moments. "I'm going to find something I can use as a weapon." She informed Nakami before running in search of something she could use.
Nakami followed. "Let's try the kitchen!" He yelled to her. Kaoru nodded and kept running. "Follow me! You're going the wrong way!" Nakami yelled to her. Kaoru skidded to a halt, her face a fine shade of red. "Come on!" Nakami said impatiently grabbing her arm and pulling her in the right direction.
Kodo gasped for air as he squirmed on the deck. Being hit twice by Kenshin was painful but malice drove him to get to his feet. As he tried to pick himself up he watched as Nakami and Kaoru ran off for the kitchen. Kodo quietly got to his feet and followed unnoticed by Kenshin who had his hands full with the men that were attacking him.
Kenshin ducked under a blade that was swung at him. The attacker stared in wonder as Kenshin seemed to disappear in front of him. Kenshin reappeared behind him near the ground. Had the man been faster he would have kicked Kenshin away from him but because he was slow Kenshin knocked the man's feet from under him. Kenshin rose to his full height and parried an attack from his right. Knocking the new attacker off balance Kenshin swung the Sakabato striking the man in the ribs. The man spat and fell to his knees clutching his side.
Three men attacked at once trying to catch Kenshin off guard. Skillfully Kenshin dodged all three attacks and in three brilliant streaks of light the three attackers fell. Now completely afraid the rest of the men backed off slightly not quite sure what to do. In the moment of rest Kenshin scanned the area. "Where's Kaoru?" He thought worried when he couldn't find Nakami or Kaoru. Panic slowly began to creep down his spine as he realized that Kodo was missing also.
Kaoru held up a frying pan and swung it in the air. It would do, but she wished that she had her bokken with her. She looked over to Nakami who held a butcher knife. "Ready?" He asked her.
Her stomach flipped a little at the thought of the boy in front of her actually using that knife and she couldn't find an answer right away. She took the knife from Nakami and tossed it aside. "Here, use this instead." She said handing him another frying pan.
He looked at it with an awkward pout on his face. "Wouldn't that be more affective?" He asked pointing toward the knife Kaoru had thrown.
She grabbed Nakami by the shoulders. "You don't want to kill do you?" She asked him very seriously.
"No. But we don't have a choice." He said a bit scared.
"There is always a choice you don't have to kill. You never have to kill." She told sternly. He looked down at the pan in his hand and gave her a determined nod. "That's it! Come on! Let's help Kenshin!" She said letting go of his shoulders and grabbing her frying pan. She reached for the door but it suddenly opened and in stormed Kodo. He grabbed Kaoru's throat and pushed her back against the wall knocking Nakami to the ground as he did.
"Kaoru!" Nakami yelled from the floor.
Kodo turned a hate filled eye to Nakami. "There you are you little piece of shit." He gave Nakami a swift kick in the side. Nakami cried out and rolled out of Kodo's range before he had the chance to kick him again. Kodo turned his attention back to Kaoru. He lifted her from the wall and then slammed her against it again and again. Kaoru bit her tongue and the next time her head hit the wall blood spilt from her lips. "I'll beat that devil with you. He won't dare hurt anyone who has you." Kodo yelled as he continued to slam Kaoru's head against the wall.
"Leave her alone!" Nakami yelled from behind Kodo. Kodo stopped and turned around to see Nakami standing, butcher knife in hand, ready to strike.
"You gonna kill me Shizuka?" He mocked and slammed Kaoru against the wall again.
"Stop it!" Nakami jumped and embedded the knife into Kodo's shoulder. Kodo screamed and released Kaoru who fell on the floor gasping for breath and spilling blood from her mouth. Nakami pulled the knife free and jumped back.
Nakami looked down at the knife. It had once been shinny and new but now blood and small pieces of flesh clung to it. Nakami felt his legs starting to give as he stared down at the dirtied blade. His gaze finally broke when he heard Kodo unsheathing his sword. "I'm going to kill you." Kodo calmly declared as he charged at Nakami. Nakami ducked under the attack and jabbed the knife into Kodo's thigh. Kodo let out a shrill cry and fell on his back. Nakami pulled the knife free sending a little trail of blood flying ready to strike again.
"Don't!" Kaoru cried. "Don't do it!"
Nakami stopped and looked at her. "Why? You don't know what he's done to me! He should die! He tried to kill you!" Nakami raised the blade ready to give the final strike but his hand was shaking.
"You don't want to do it. Don't do it." Kaoru said unable to move.
Nakami was crying now and his hand was shaking, uncertain of what to do. Kodo's shrills of pain echoed in the room. "He deserves to die. He's not a good person." Nakami cried.
Nakami standing over a screaming and injured Kodo. Kaoru yelling for Nakami to stop. That's how Kenshin found them and it wasn't hard to guess what had happened. He had been standing in the open kitchen door for short while, unnoticed. Without a word he entered and stood waiting to be noticed. Nakami was the first.
"Kenshin! You saw him! He was going to let me drown! He made you drop me! He wanted to kill me!" He yelled. "He shouldn't be allowed to live!"
"Kenshin! Stop him!" Kaoru yelled not sure of what to do. Kenshin just shook his head. "Kenshin?"
Kodo continued to scream as Kenshin talked to Nakami. "So you think he should die. You have the right to chose that." Nakami seemed confused as the naked blade in his hand continued to shake. "Do you remember the stories he told you about me?" Nakami tried to answer but his voice had left him so he nodded. "They were all based on fact, twisted and distorted facts, but facts just the same. I was a demon and I took lives without thought."
Kaoru held her breath unable to believe that Kenshin was being so open about his past. She knew it hurt him to talk so, she could see it in his eyes. She listened awe struck as Kenshin continued. "Taking lives for whatever reason is not bravery nor is it honorable. It is a horrible thing to do and it will stain you, it doesn't matter how hard you try the stain will never come out." Nakami's hand was lowering. "Trust this one. All killing brings is pain and nightmares." Kenshin closed his eyes and waited. His ears were soon greeted with the sound of the knife clanging to the ground and over Kodo's lowering screams a new sobbing could be heard. Kenshin opened his eyes and saw Nakami on his knees staring up at the ceiling, tears streaming down his face.
"I was going to do it." He mumbled. "I wanted to do it." Kenshin walked over to the distraught boy and bent down to be eye level with him.
"It will be alright, that it will." Kenshin said comfortingly. Nakami took a deep breath and sighed. Without a word he wiped his eyes.
"Um… Kenshin." Kaoru said breaking the silence.
"Yes, Miss Kaoru."
"What happened to all the men on the deck?" She knew Kenshin was fast but he couldn't have taken care of all those men so fast.
Kenshin placed his hand behind his head and scratched it. "Well, you see… this one didn't know where you went to and was worried. So this one sort of out ran them. So this one thinks they are looking for us." Kenshin said with a nod.
Nakami moved to a sitting position. "So now what do we do?"
"From what Suiso said Sanosuke is on that ship. Which means they have come for us." Kenshin stated. "We need to stop Suiso before he has the chance to attack again."
"Then we should act now. He'll be weak." Nakami stated. "He must have used quite a lot of power. So now is our best chance." So the three left the kitchen (and the still frantic Kodo) and carefully made their way down the hall. Kaoru and Nakami armed with a pan and Kenshin with his Sakabato. Nakami led the way knowing the ship and Suiso's habits better then Kenshin or Kaoru. "He probably hid himself in the closest room that was empty." Nakami informed them as they made their way back to the deck.
One by one they searched the rooms until they found the room Suiso had collapsed in. Soundlessly Kenshin motioned for Kaoru and Nakami to stay where they were as he entered the room. Suiso was deathly still, Kenshin could barely see the man breathing and that wasn't until Kenshin was over top of Suiso. Suiso was so 'gone' Kenshin could hardly pick up Suiso's ki. As Kenshin looked Suiso over carefully he noted a bulging pocket in Suiso's uniform. Carefully Kenshin bent down and reached into the pocket and pulled out the wood.
"He's got it!" Kaoru and Nakami shook each others hands excitedly then shushed each other for being so loud.
Kenshin ignored their happy cheers as Suiso began to twitch. His ki suddenly came rushing back and his breathing became steady and deep. It was such a dramatic change it took Kenshin by surprise. Kenshin looked down at the block of wood in his hand. He had to get rid of it. "Let's go." He said to his friends not wanting them to be near Suiso when he awakes. Kenshin moved to rise to his feet when he felt something strange rack his entire body. Kenshin let out a cry as he fell to his knees.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried running to his side. "Kenshin are you aright?!" She shook his shoulders gently but Kenshin kept staring ahead of him, eyes wide, mouth open breathing heavily. "Kenshin what's wrong?"
Suiso's eyes snapped open and he sat up. His back was turned to the three intruders in his room as he felt for his pocket. He didn't even hear Nakami yell for Kaoru to get away as he frantically checked every single pocket. Then he turned and saw Kenshin and Kaoru kneeling right next to him and Nakami in his doorway. "You!" He yelled angrily at Kenshin and Kaoru. Slowly his brain began to slow a little and he noticed that Kenshin was shaking. "Give it back!" He didn't need to see what was in Kenshin's hand. Kaoru stood, pan in hand, in front of Kenshin.
"Stay back!" She yelled at him.
"Give it back." Suiso hissed as he rose to his feet and drew his sword. "Give it back or I'll kill you."
From behind her Kenshin let out a gasp and fell to his stomach. "Kenshin!" Kaoru cried turning her attention back to Kenshin. Suiso took the opportunity to push her aside. Nakami ran to Kaoru's side as Suiso turned the unresponsive Kenshin on his back.
Kenshin had the wood clutched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. "Give it back!" Suiso yelled like a madman as he tried to pull the wood free from Kenshin's iron lock grip. As soon as Suiso's fingertips touched the familiar wood he became calmer. He slowly began to think and he came up with a plan to make this work to his advantage. He would allow Battòsai's spirit be consumed to the point of death. Then he would take it back, it should regain most of it's strength back by then. Then while the Battòsai is weak he will kill his friends right before his eyes and this time it would be real. Suiso smiled and looked over at Kaoru ad Nakami anticipation gnawing at him.
Nakami shivered under Suiso's crazed smile. "Captain… please… he… was kind… to me." Nakami stammered. "Can't we…"
"He was kind to you?" Suiso cut him off. "A little kindness and you betray me. After I took you in and everything." Nakami hung his head, ashamed. Kaoru put her hand on Nakami's shoulder she didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything.
"Sister." Kenshin whispered, his eyes wide in fear. All looked to Kenshin and watched.
"Kenshin… has a sister?" Kaoru whispered confused.
(Zig-zag singing): I LOVE my reviewers!!! I LOVE my ego trip!!! Thank you to all my reviewers!!!!!!!!!! (end song)
Ms. Zeal - I see you like it when Kenshin gets pushed over the edge. Could you tell I really wanted Suiso to say the binding spell? I was worried it too repetitive but you seem to like it. BUW HA HA HA!!! I had fear over nothing!
rain angst - Thanks for the complement!!
Tiger of the Sonic boom - Thanks for the pointers. I went back to the corrections my beta had made for me and she had corrected them too… how did I miss them? (scratches head) I type too fast for my brain to catch up and say… "Hey moron… you spelt that wrong." Also THANKS for the spelling of Neko it really helped!
Chapter 18 – The Eye Of The Storm
Kenshin and Suiso glared at each other. Suiso unsheathed his sword but didn't take a stance. Kaoru ran to Kenshin's side not wanting to be apart from him again. Suiso's men gathered behind him, including Kodo who stumbled away from Kenshin. "You've think you've won Battòsai?" Suiso yelled. "There is no where for you to go." Kenshin remained quiet. "You think that little rowboat will save you? I'll sink it soon enough." Suiso said with a wild smiled.
"Suiso, what do you have to gain in all of this?" Kenshin said calmly wiping some lingering rain drops from his face.
"I have everything to gain." Suiso answered. "Men! Kill the woman and the traitor and do what you like to the Battòsai, just don't kill him." He said as if he was ordering a meal in a restaurant. His men drew their swords and slowly approached the three. Suiso took the opportunity to leave and ran from the impending battle.
Suiso ran to the first room he saw and ran inside. His whole body was shaking from fatigue and he fell to his knees and held himself up with his arms. "They had better take care of the Battòsai… or… or…" Suiso couldn't finish the thought as he sank to the floor and fell asleep.
Kenshin saw Suiso run off but let him go; the advancing men with orders to kill Kaoru and Nakami were the top priority right now.
Kodo was leading the group of sailors. Revenge against Nakami driving him so deeply that he wasn't even afraid to fight the Battòsai. The others were a little slower in their advance fearful of the Battòsai and not wanting to kill their fellow crewmate. Not wanting to waste anymore time Kenshin fell into a Battòjutsu stance. Some men gasped and took a step backwards the rest stopped dead in their tracks. "We can end this without a fight as long as you do not harm Miss Kaoru and Nakami." Kenshin warned always trying to solve things peacefully. Someone let out a laugh and a few men, Kodo included, charged as if it was a single.
In a blur Kenshin unsheathed his sword and quickly knocked down the men that approached. Kaoru turned and grabbed Nakami by the arm and together they ran out of the way so Kenshin wouldn't have to worry about them. Kaoru watched the fight for only a few more moments. "I'm going to find something I can use as a weapon." She informed Nakami before running in search of something she could use.
Nakami followed. "Let's try the kitchen!" He yelled to her. Kaoru nodded and kept running. "Follow me! You're going the wrong way!" Nakami yelled to her. Kaoru skidded to a halt, her face a fine shade of red. "Come on!" Nakami said impatiently grabbing her arm and pulling her in the right direction.
Kodo gasped for air as he squirmed on the deck. Being hit twice by Kenshin was painful but malice drove him to get to his feet. As he tried to pick himself up he watched as Nakami and Kaoru ran off for the kitchen. Kodo quietly got to his feet and followed unnoticed by Kenshin who had his hands full with the men that were attacking him.
Kenshin ducked under a blade that was swung at him. The attacker stared in wonder as Kenshin seemed to disappear in front of him. Kenshin reappeared behind him near the ground. Had the man been faster he would have kicked Kenshin away from him but because he was slow Kenshin knocked the man's feet from under him. Kenshin rose to his full height and parried an attack from his right. Knocking the new attacker off balance Kenshin swung the Sakabato striking the man in the ribs. The man spat and fell to his knees clutching his side.
Three men attacked at once trying to catch Kenshin off guard. Skillfully Kenshin dodged all three attacks and in three brilliant streaks of light the three attackers fell. Now completely afraid the rest of the men backed off slightly not quite sure what to do. In the moment of rest Kenshin scanned the area. "Where's Kaoru?" He thought worried when he couldn't find Nakami or Kaoru. Panic slowly began to creep down his spine as he realized that Kodo was missing also.
Kaoru held up a frying pan and swung it in the air. It would do, but she wished that she had her bokken with her. She looked over to Nakami who held a butcher knife. "Ready?" He asked her.
Her stomach flipped a little at the thought of the boy in front of her actually using that knife and she couldn't find an answer right away. She took the knife from Nakami and tossed it aside. "Here, use this instead." She said handing him another frying pan.
He looked at it with an awkward pout on his face. "Wouldn't that be more affective?" He asked pointing toward the knife Kaoru had thrown.
She grabbed Nakami by the shoulders. "You don't want to kill do you?" She asked him very seriously.
"No. But we don't have a choice." He said a bit scared.
"There is always a choice you don't have to kill. You never have to kill." She told sternly. He looked down at the pan in his hand and gave her a determined nod. "That's it! Come on! Let's help Kenshin!" She said letting go of his shoulders and grabbing her frying pan. She reached for the door but it suddenly opened and in stormed Kodo. He grabbed Kaoru's throat and pushed her back against the wall knocking Nakami to the ground as he did.
"Kaoru!" Nakami yelled from the floor.
Kodo turned a hate filled eye to Nakami. "There you are you little piece of shit." He gave Nakami a swift kick in the side. Nakami cried out and rolled out of Kodo's range before he had the chance to kick him again. Kodo turned his attention back to Kaoru. He lifted her from the wall and then slammed her against it again and again. Kaoru bit her tongue and the next time her head hit the wall blood spilt from her lips. "I'll beat that devil with you. He won't dare hurt anyone who has you." Kodo yelled as he continued to slam Kaoru's head against the wall.
"Leave her alone!" Nakami yelled from behind Kodo. Kodo stopped and turned around to see Nakami standing, butcher knife in hand, ready to strike.
"You gonna kill me Shizuka?" He mocked and slammed Kaoru against the wall again.
"Stop it!" Nakami jumped and embedded the knife into Kodo's shoulder. Kodo screamed and released Kaoru who fell on the floor gasping for breath and spilling blood from her mouth. Nakami pulled the knife free and jumped back.
Nakami looked down at the knife. It had once been shinny and new but now blood and small pieces of flesh clung to it. Nakami felt his legs starting to give as he stared down at the dirtied blade. His gaze finally broke when he heard Kodo unsheathing his sword. "I'm going to kill you." Kodo calmly declared as he charged at Nakami. Nakami ducked under the attack and jabbed the knife into Kodo's thigh. Kodo let out a shrill cry and fell on his back. Nakami pulled the knife free sending a little trail of blood flying ready to strike again.
"Don't!" Kaoru cried. "Don't do it!"
Nakami stopped and looked at her. "Why? You don't know what he's done to me! He should die! He tried to kill you!" Nakami raised the blade ready to give the final strike but his hand was shaking.
"You don't want to do it. Don't do it." Kaoru said unable to move.
Nakami was crying now and his hand was shaking, uncertain of what to do. Kodo's shrills of pain echoed in the room. "He deserves to die. He's not a good person." Nakami cried.
Nakami standing over a screaming and injured Kodo. Kaoru yelling for Nakami to stop. That's how Kenshin found them and it wasn't hard to guess what had happened. He had been standing in the open kitchen door for short while, unnoticed. Without a word he entered and stood waiting to be noticed. Nakami was the first.
"Kenshin! You saw him! He was going to let me drown! He made you drop me! He wanted to kill me!" He yelled. "He shouldn't be allowed to live!"
"Kenshin! Stop him!" Kaoru yelled not sure of what to do. Kenshin just shook his head. "Kenshin?"
Kodo continued to scream as Kenshin talked to Nakami. "So you think he should die. You have the right to chose that." Nakami seemed confused as the naked blade in his hand continued to shake. "Do you remember the stories he told you about me?" Nakami tried to answer but his voice had left him so he nodded. "They were all based on fact, twisted and distorted facts, but facts just the same. I was a demon and I took lives without thought."
Kaoru held her breath unable to believe that Kenshin was being so open about his past. She knew it hurt him to talk so, she could see it in his eyes. She listened awe struck as Kenshin continued. "Taking lives for whatever reason is not bravery nor is it honorable. It is a horrible thing to do and it will stain you, it doesn't matter how hard you try the stain will never come out." Nakami's hand was lowering. "Trust this one. All killing brings is pain and nightmares." Kenshin closed his eyes and waited. His ears were soon greeted with the sound of the knife clanging to the ground and over Kodo's lowering screams a new sobbing could be heard. Kenshin opened his eyes and saw Nakami on his knees staring up at the ceiling, tears streaming down his face.
"I was going to do it." He mumbled. "I wanted to do it." Kenshin walked over to the distraught boy and bent down to be eye level with him.
"It will be alright, that it will." Kenshin said comfortingly. Nakami took a deep breath and sighed. Without a word he wiped his eyes.
"Um… Kenshin." Kaoru said breaking the silence.
"Yes, Miss Kaoru."
"What happened to all the men on the deck?" She knew Kenshin was fast but he couldn't have taken care of all those men so fast.
Kenshin placed his hand behind his head and scratched it. "Well, you see… this one didn't know where you went to and was worried. So this one sort of out ran them. So this one thinks they are looking for us." Kenshin said with a nod.
Nakami moved to a sitting position. "So now what do we do?"
"From what Suiso said Sanosuke is on that ship. Which means they have come for us." Kenshin stated. "We need to stop Suiso before he has the chance to attack again."
"Then we should act now. He'll be weak." Nakami stated. "He must have used quite a lot of power. So now is our best chance." So the three left the kitchen (and the still frantic Kodo) and carefully made their way down the hall. Kaoru and Nakami armed with a pan and Kenshin with his Sakabato. Nakami led the way knowing the ship and Suiso's habits better then Kenshin or Kaoru. "He probably hid himself in the closest room that was empty." Nakami informed them as they made their way back to the deck.
One by one they searched the rooms until they found the room Suiso had collapsed in. Soundlessly Kenshin motioned for Kaoru and Nakami to stay where they were as he entered the room. Suiso was deathly still, Kenshin could barely see the man breathing and that wasn't until Kenshin was over top of Suiso. Suiso was so 'gone' Kenshin could hardly pick up Suiso's ki. As Kenshin looked Suiso over carefully he noted a bulging pocket in Suiso's uniform. Carefully Kenshin bent down and reached into the pocket and pulled out the wood.
"He's got it!" Kaoru and Nakami shook each others hands excitedly then shushed each other for being so loud.
Kenshin ignored their happy cheers as Suiso began to twitch. His ki suddenly came rushing back and his breathing became steady and deep. It was such a dramatic change it took Kenshin by surprise. Kenshin looked down at the block of wood in his hand. He had to get rid of it. "Let's go." He said to his friends not wanting them to be near Suiso when he awakes. Kenshin moved to rise to his feet when he felt something strange rack his entire body. Kenshin let out a cry as he fell to his knees.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried running to his side. "Kenshin are you aright?!" She shook his shoulders gently but Kenshin kept staring ahead of him, eyes wide, mouth open breathing heavily. "Kenshin what's wrong?"
Suiso's eyes snapped open and he sat up. His back was turned to the three intruders in his room as he felt for his pocket. He didn't even hear Nakami yell for Kaoru to get away as he frantically checked every single pocket. Then he turned and saw Kenshin and Kaoru kneeling right next to him and Nakami in his doorway. "You!" He yelled angrily at Kenshin and Kaoru. Slowly his brain began to slow a little and he noticed that Kenshin was shaking. "Give it back!" He didn't need to see what was in Kenshin's hand. Kaoru stood, pan in hand, in front of Kenshin.
"Stay back!" She yelled at him.
"Give it back." Suiso hissed as he rose to his feet and drew his sword. "Give it back or I'll kill you."
From behind her Kenshin let out a gasp and fell to his stomach. "Kenshin!" Kaoru cried turning her attention back to Kenshin. Suiso took the opportunity to push her aside. Nakami ran to Kaoru's side as Suiso turned the unresponsive Kenshin on his back.
Kenshin had the wood clutched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. "Give it back!" Suiso yelled like a madman as he tried to pull the wood free from Kenshin's iron lock grip. As soon as Suiso's fingertips touched the familiar wood he became calmer. He slowly began to think and he came up with a plan to make this work to his advantage. He would allow Battòsai's spirit be consumed to the point of death. Then he would take it back, it should regain most of it's strength back by then. Then while the Battòsai is weak he will kill his friends right before his eyes and this time it would be real. Suiso smiled and looked over at Kaoru ad Nakami anticipation gnawing at him.
Nakami shivered under Suiso's crazed smile. "Captain… please… he… was kind… to me." Nakami stammered. "Can't we…"
"He was kind to you?" Suiso cut him off. "A little kindness and you betray me. After I took you in and everything." Nakami hung his head, ashamed. Kaoru put her hand on Nakami's shoulder she didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything.
"Sister." Kenshin whispered, his eyes wide in fear. All looked to Kenshin and watched.
"Kenshin… has a sister?" Kaoru whispered confused.