Author's Note: I still hope you guys are enjoying this! Let me know what you think of it….I promise I Do Not bite….! As is my standard, Personal Review Replies are at the end of the chapter…Thanks to all who reviewed! I would also LOVE to hear from some new reviewers too, don't be shy! This story is over the halfway-done mark now…but there will still be at least two if not three more chapters….we shall see! But rest assured…it will be done before September!

This is a side story to Breaking That 'Sessha' Habit of His, From Chapter 5I hope you guys enjoy! This is also a REMAKE of the two episodes with Kaoru acting more like herself as I would see her doing…More take charge and no one had better even look at me funny if they want to live….however, I have changed and added things here…so don't be surprised if there are a few of similarities between the episodes and this fic.! You Have Been Warned!!!!

The episodes used are titled: The Strongest Opponent from the Past: Merciless Fangs Strike! And The Devil of Vengeance: Makoto Shishio's Plot

Disclaimer: As always, I only own Rurouni Kenshin in my wildest dreams, and not in real life! Reality is ever so very CrUeL!! #goes back to sleep…the series is mine!# Plus, even if I did own RK….what would I be doing writing fan fiction? I for one would know that I would be working on getting the Jinchu Arc animated!

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By LadySword04

August 21, 2004

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DEDICATIONS: This chapter is dedicated to those reviewers who have stayed with this story so far from the beginning! Nakashima-Michiyo, Leah Durose, Valese, and WhiteRabbit5 You guys Rock!!

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Previously on WEWNMWAAT:

"His breathing….Kenshin is pushing himself past his limits. His body does not have the strength to keep fighting like this, yet his mind is willing his body to obey and fight. He's not going to be able to keep this up for too much longer. His body is going to give out long before his mind will." Kaoru whispered fearfully to herself.

All eyes were locked on Kenshin, pondering what would happen in the next few minutes….Life or Death…for One or Both?

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Chapter Four: A Time for Bravery and Action; Kaoru's Call Into Battle

Collecting his thoughts, Kenshin began the process of slowly dragging himself off the floor and into a standing position once more. His head was bowed down toward the floor, with eyes closed, as he used his sword as a crutch to assist in his attempt at standing. Once upright, he closed his mouth, and began breathing normally through his nose. Much to everyone's horror, when he opened his eyes, everyone was greeted by the swirling pools of gold only possessed by the Legendary Manslayer.

"Good! How nice of you to join us Battousai. Sure took you long enough to revert back to your former self. Now I can attack you with the true form of the Gatotsu without having to hold back. You see, I wanted to fight you to my full power when you were the Real You. I was worried earlier that in your weaker form, the true power would surely kill you. I was only fighting at a fraction of the skills and power I usually fight at…Glad to know playtime is over!" Saito began his statement as a joke, which later became more and more serious in nature until he shouted out the last sentence in an angry tone.

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With Kaoru and Yahiko

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While the conversation was going on, Yahiko walked backwards to where he knew Kaoru was standing. 'A swordsman never takes his eyes off of his opponent' was the thought that rang in his mind. 'Even though I am not fighting, you never know what that lunatic of a wolf will do….he could come after me, throw something at me, or I could get caught up in one of his attacks. Better not show him my back….plus I don't want to miss a minute of the action.'

"This is unbelievable! Saito wasn't even trying before? I am seriously worried for Kenshin….if he was not showing us his true strength back then, how much more has he yet to show? Will Kenshin be able to hold him off?" Yahiko whispered to Kaoru, fear clearly evident in his voice, and etched onto his face.

"I know the situation doesn't look or sound good, but we have to believe in Kenshin. He will pull through." Kaoru calmly stated. However, lucky for her, Yahiko did not take notice of her eyes. If he had, he would have noticed that they contradicted her words; Kaoru was glad her voice was calm and reassuring, even though she was genuinely concerned for the Rurouni, and thought her voice would quaver.

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With Saito and Kenshin

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With a growl, Saito lunged with his impressive speed once more at Kenshin. Kenshin was able to easily read his opponent's emotions, facial expression, and path of travel, therefore being prepared to side-stepped the attack with relative ease. Knowing full well that Kenshin would side-step his attack, Saito swung his sword in a sideways motion.

Kenshin gauged this to be the most likely response his opponent would use, and countered by parrying the pathetic excuse that Saito considered an attack. After this, Kenshin swiftly spun around in a crouched position. Rapidly standing, and using the momentum gained by spinning around, Kenshin stood up and swung his sword into the back of Saito's neck, right under the base of his skull.

Much to Saito's surprise, he found himself airborne and on a collision course for the far wall. To make matters worse, he couldn't feel any of his limbs, therefore was unable to do anything to save himself. Seconds after impact though, he found that he was only momentarily paralyzed because of the force and location of the attack.

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With Yahiko and Kaoru

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"YES! Alright! Kenshin was able to block Saito's attack as if that were something he did every day! You were right Kaoru! Kenshin's gonna' send Saito running home with his tail between his legs!" Yahiko beamed at the turn of events.

"And whimpering the whole way home!" Kaoru added in a slightly more upbeat tone.

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Back to Kenshin and Saito

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However, Battousai's tone was not at all light when he spoke. In fact, his tone was more stern, cold, and overflowing with malice as he spoke to the opponent that still lay inside the crater his body created in the dojo's far wall.

"Back in the time of the Revolution, I had a need for an attack that would easily fell any opponent regardless of sword style, in only one swing. For you wolf, the worthless and repetitive Gatotsu is the kind of attack that you chose and has worked for you…until now. As you are going to find out, it is not the invincible and ultimate attack you make it sound to be. I can easily defeat it, that much I assure you. I have now seen it four times up close and personal, and the experience has shown me a few attacks that can easily defeat it leaving you open and vulnerable to an attack of my own. Get off the floor you waste of a human life and swordsman's chi. After ten years of not fighting, you ending up dead after only one attack would be a lousy ending to a mediocre fight. Or maybe I guess MY skills have not diminished as much as you said they have. Maybe instead your skills have decreased…or your mind is strong, but your body is no longer. I get it, you are all bark and very little bite….just like back in the days in which we fought."

"All bark and no bite? A pathetic end to a mediocre fight? Come now Battousai, I was merely letting you talk. While a death match was not originally in the plan, I don't think that matters anymore. Killing you now sounds like an even better idea. It will keep you from talking me to death and boring me with your mindless drivel." Saito scoffed.

"I am afraid you misunderstood me. I have every intention of being the only one standing after your little game. I will kill you, not the other way around." Kenshin ground out in a murderous tone.

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With Kaoru and Yahiko

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With that last statement, Kaoru gasped and collapsed to the floor as she was in disbelief at what she had just heard. However, she kept her eyes trained on the two former manslayers.

"Kaoru!" Yahiko shouted at her.

"I am fine Yahiko. Just a little shocked is all." She stated though never taking her eyes away from the scene in front of her.

After a few seconds had elapsed she whispered, "Good! I can go get my bokken!"

Yahiko had only heard the 'good' part, and looked skeptically at her. Kaoru looked over at him, and saw the questioning look in his eyes.

"Yahiko, I did that to see if the two of them would notice me. I have no weapon now, and wanted to know if I could sneak around to the other wall and get one or two without them noticing. It appears that they are so focused on each other and their fight, that they don't even pay any attention to what is going on around them! If I am going to stop this fight to prevent Kenshin from willingly killing Saito, I have to get a bokken at the very least. I have to do something, and sitting around hoping someone somewhere will do something is getting me nowhere. I am the only one here that is able to save him." Kaoru stated with fervor.

"Oh. I see! Good thinking! Um, Good Luck too…be careful…" Yahiko somewhat stammered in disbelief to his sensei, to shocked at her show of bravery to even tease her with one of his trademark Busu or Tanuki remarks. 'If anyone is going to break this up….it will be Kaoru. I just hope she doesn't get herself killed in the process.' He thought as he crossed his fingers and watched with anticipation as his sensei crept silently and slowly in the shadows to the bokken rack. Task accomplished in what seemed like an hour, Kaoru painstakingly crept back to where Yahiko was standing frozen in fear.

'I have been called into battle to help save Kenshin, and fight I will. I will not fail him…I simply cannot.' Kaoru promised herself.

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Meanwhile with Saito and Kenshin

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Both swordsmen returned to their battle with a vengeance. Blow after blow landed onto the two swords that were moving so quickly they couldn't be seen by anyone other than the one in their path. Each of the manslayers used the floor, the ceiling, and the walls to push off of and dart towards their enemy. Clangs resound almost constantly around the interior of the dojo as the two figures and the swords locked in battle, are illuminated in the shadows by the beams of light from the full moon.

After one particularly strong connection, Kenshin was forced back against one of the walls. The swords were then elevated to the level of Kenshin's neck, and Saito used his brute strength to shove both his sword and Kenshin's within an inch of the Battousai's throat.

Knowing that he is in trouble and being overpowered, Kenshin kicked Saito in the side to throw him off balance, and distract him, along with throwing a punch into the side of his face. As Saito was recovering, Kenshin leapt into the air and behind Saito.

After recovering a few seconds later, Saito spun around, and spat out a broken tooth before coming at Kenshin with his Gatotsu once more. The blow landed and parried by Kenshin's sakabatou proved to be too much for Saito's sword. With a snapping noise of protest, the sword broke into two jagged pieces; one remaining in Saito's hand, and the other flying across the dojo to implant itself in the wall a few feet in front of Kaoru and Yahiko.

"Your sword is not the only thing that will be finished off tonight Saito. Now, to finish you off…I think I will take your head." Battousai seethed.

Will Kenshin accomplish this gruesome goal, or will Kaoru be able to do something before it happens…..?

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To Be Continued

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Personal Replies:

Nakashima-Michiyo: #Smiles big# Another chapter down….glad to hear you liked it, and hope you liked this one too!

Leah Durose: Me? Inspirational? Wow! I can't wait to see the new RK story I inspired you to write! You have to let me know when it comes out! Your review was Hilarious! I was rolling on the floor laughing for a long time! Sugar highs are good…and fun too! Hopefully this update is fast enough for you! Yeah…I have a bad habit of ending a fic. too soon….but it keeps you coming back for more ne? I am so bad….next chapter will be longer I promise….just for you! See you next chapter!

ValeseWow!! Two reviews for a chapter! #Feels warm and fuzzy….smiles and hugs!# Thanks for the compliments! I don't take offense to you liking the last chapter better than the first one….don't run and hide! Yepper…Kenshin is still fighting! Kaoru will be saving him soon, don't worry! #Smiles# No worries about not reading sooner…I should be apologizing to you! I only got halfway through your next chapter of The Depth of Her Love….and I am soo bad on IM…sorry, the party went longer than expected last night…#looks sheepish, cries big tears# Talk to you later!

WhiteRabbit5: Would you suggest I go back and change it a bit…or should I just leave it until later…or permanently? LOL….I am glad you liked Kaoru's statement! #smiles# I have every intention of putting them in around the same time as in the series….I hope this chapter was a bit different from the series….#hides if it is not# I LOVE the Kenshin and Saito fight….as well as the other decisive battles…though that is still my fav. People should take your comments to heart! They are really good…always constructive….thanks for helping me improve this story! It wouldn't be as good without your help! #pats WhiteRabbit5 on the back# I am sooooo glad you are sticking with this story! See you next chapter!