Disclaimer: don't own them, wish I did.  Oh but I do own any mysterious characters that I made up.

AN:  AHHHHH, I am absolutely so excited about the upcoming updates I have to write.  This is what I have been waiting for a struggling to get to.  I just hope that in all my anticipation and expectations, I don't manage to ruin my story with crappy writing.  Hopefully not.  Anyway, if you guys who liked the darker side of the story were sitting around getting sick of the waffy feeling, welcome back to darkness.

Two Hitokiri – Honored Warriors

This pair of men had been true warriors, not just mercenaries.  The fight had been absent of words, there was no need for insults of introductions.  All were aware that two people would die that night, even if the two men had not expected it to be them.  Introductions would have been pointless.  In the end, their sword skills had failed them, and they accepted their deaths, as only real samurai would.  The night was silent as the final blows fell. 

~

Kaoru took the katana from her lovers hand and wiped the blade clean with her sleeve before returning it to his sheath.  She looked up at him with shadowed sapphire eyes and gingerly kissed his lips, basking in the normalcy of the moment.

He took her hand and together they walked the streets of Kyoto, her head leaning gently on his shoulder.  She appreciated nights like this, when there were no masks between them.  They could enjoy the simple pleasures of their love aside from the hasty, but passionate love making.  She touched her hand to his arm, drawing his attention down to her.  He smiled and it was then that Kaoru had notice this man was her Kenshin, and that no remnants of the Battousai lingered.

Their stroll had been a quiet one until a stumbled noise resounded from the darkness.  The two assassins immediately parted, both reaching for their swords at the same time.  Eyes roamed the shadows, tracing the sound a gentle feet padding against the graveled road.

Another loud sound and yellow eyes emerged from the darkness.

Kaoru sighed and snapped her sword back into its place.  "A damn cat," she muttered in both relief and annoyance.  She kicked her foot up, scaring the feline away with the abrupt motion. 

Kenshin chuckled and returned his blade to its sheath as well before holding his hand out to her. 

She began to walk to him when the sound of purring drew both their attentions back into the shadow which the cat had retreated. 

No sooner than Kaoru made another comment of the cat did she feel the familiar sensation of sharpened steel against her neck.  "Looks like I caught a raven."

The voice and Kaoru's heightened ki had alerted Kenshin and he looked back to see his lover wrapped in the arms of another man, blade pressed firmly to her neck.  His eyes widened and he stepped forward in pursuit but the man shook his head and gestured back into the shadows where four men had emerged.  The smallest of them petting a yellow eyed cat in his arms. 

"First Shishengumi squad leader Okita Soushi."  Kenshin growled in a low voice, signaling the return of his inner murderer.

"The Battousai and Karasu.  Finally, the demons themselves.  I've been waiting for this."  He set the cat down and watched it scamper away to safer territory.  Okita drew his sword with an entertained smirk framing his face. 

The red haired man glanced behind him, looking to his woman still in the man's captivity. 

"Thinking about freeing her first?"  Okita patronized in his childlike voice.  "You shouldn't.  One move on Saitou and his will slice her throat.  And that wouldn't be very much fun for any of us.  After all, he won't get to fight her, and I will have to cut you down as well, robbing us of the battles that we have both been looking forward to."

Amber eyes stared down sapphires in concern, but her eyes quickly pulled from his.  She wriggled slightly in her captor's embrace.  "Battousai, forget about me.  Do your job.  You are an assassin, and so am I.  I will fight for my own life, as you fight only for yours.  Don't be concerned with me!"  She yelled with fervor trying to ensure that he remained the Battousai and saw her as Karasu.  She could not let him be distracted by her.  He had to remember that he had a job and that Kamiya Kaoru had nothing to do with that job.  This is what Katsura meant, and this was her mission.  He could not be Kenshin now; he could only be his inner murderer.  It was the only way they would make it out alive.

Her eyes returned to his, but this time as a glare, showing him nothing but the dark eyes of a killer.  She watched with pleasure as his eyes hardened to hers.  He turned back, facing the men, staring each of them down, reading them.

"Oh not to worry Battousai, this fight is to be between you and I.  They are just here in case things get a little out of hand."  Okita spoke softly before giving another smirk.

"You mean if I start winning."  Battousai replied, his voice humming in the night.

Okita gave a slight cough and smiled.  "Shall we?"

Both fighters charged at each other with a speed reserved only for serious times.  Their contacted metal rang through the night air. 

Okita Soushi was rumored to be the best swordsman among the Shishengumi, and it was for that fact that he was given command of the first squad.  Tonight proved the rumors to be true at an extent.  He and the Battousai were well matched in speed.  One attacked, the other countered. 

All eyes were on them with interest, even those of the Karasu.  She watched as the two men attacked and their blades met in a lock just above the hilt.  Had one of them been bigger, the lock would have ended by forcing one of them their knees.  But they remained locked, both seeming to be of equal strength.

The whole stillness of the moment managed to draw Kaoru from her entranced state.  She noticed as all the other men still had their eyes on the battle.  She wondered at that moment, how she could escape but it seemed that the swordsman that held her so tightly was not to be underestimated.  He had sensed the change in her ki even as he was still engrossed by the fight. 

"I wouldn't think of it."  His smoky breath whispered in her ear. " Don't worry, our time will come soon." 

"I'm not worried.  But I'm surprised that you aren't more anxious Saitou Hajime.  Didn't you want your try at the Battousai as well?  How did you get to be the one stuck babysitting the girl?"  Kaoru let her voice taunt him with the same tone that men used to taunt her about the very same subject. 

The blade moved so that the flat side rubbed against the skin under her chin.  "It won't work Karasu.  Don't undermine yourself so.  You are an excellent target as well.  As for the Battousai, he is Okita's treat.  I am plenty satisfied with the chance to test your legendary skill."

She could almost feel his lips against her skin and found it induced a chill down her spine.  She watched the battle a bit longer, collecting her thoughts.  She was surprised to see that this man who only appeared to be a boy was equally matched with her lover.  True, Kenshin and she looked like youths themselves, but they had exceptional circumstances when it came to swordplay.   It was their ways of the sword that gave them what seemed like eternal youth.

She watch as Okita lunged back and coughed into his sleeve.  Blood was already trickling down the corner of his mouth. 

"Oh I understand."  Kaoru spoke in her cool, steady voice.  "You don't expect your friend to win.  After all, he is deathly ill and will probably die in this battle.  Well what does that mean for Saitou Hajime?  Of course!  It means he gets to try his hand at both of the deadly assassins.  How devious of you."

"Shut it!"  Saitou snapped, his voice indicating he was ready to start the battle at that instant which she had been hoping.  Captivity did not help their situation, but if she could draw him into battle, they would both be saved.  However, this man proved to be more dedicated to the plan than she had expected.  "Don't try me little miss, I won't be fooled by your antics.  Now you shut your damn mouth or I will have to silence you myself."  He pressed the blade harder on the flesh of her neck and blood slowly emerged and ran down past her collar bone into the folds of the gi.

In the midst of battle, the Battousai raised his head.  The scent of new blood had stained the air.  He lifted his eyes to meet those of his lover and saw it was her blood he could taste. 

In that moment of inattention, in that moment of shock, was when the pin fell and broke the silence of their fight.  The hitokiri hissed in pain as a swift slash was delivered to his abdomen.   He raised his arm to retaliate but came to realize that it had been knocked from his hand sometime when his allowed his eyes to fall upon the woman's blood trail.

He fell to his knees, feeling the second wave of pain from his belly.  He was bleeding profusely now, and all he could do was grip at his bloodied clothes.  His eyes looked down at the wound then back up at his woman.

Kaoru watched as those amber eyes shifted and softened.  She watched Kenshin's eyes emerge from the Battousai, and he was all that remained.  They cried out to her even as he made no sound.  He only mouthed her true name, and it nearly brought her to tears.

Okita coughed into his sleeve once more before giving a childish smirk.  "And with that, the Battousai has been defeated."  He circled the kneeling man, the point of his blade at Kenshin's neck, drawing a faint line not worse than a scratch all the way around.  "Would this man like to admit his defeat and die like a true samurai?  Or would you rather I leave you hear to weep in a pool of your own blood?"

Kenshin looked up at Okita with eyes masked by red bangs.  The motion had elongated his neck area, making it more accessible, effectively giving the other man his answer.

"I always knew you had to be an honorable man.  All the tales I heard of your battles, there was never an innocent, never a wasted death.  Though many of them were our men, I can see your purpose.  Do not worry Battousai, I will not let your death be a shameful one."

Okita Soushi raised his blade to Kenshin's neck, just above his shoulder.  "Good bye Battousai.  It has been an honor fighting you."

And….cliff …..TBC

Mirage- hmmm I wonder who said that last line too.  Actually I know, but we'll let you keep wondering

Noner_89- he is sweet.  Sometimes it hard to remember he has to kill people and have a dark side

Gaby- thanks, I try

Kawaiililaznkitsune- I updated as soon as I could

Alex- don't worry, I don't plan to just fall out on this fic.  It will always continue…until of course it ends.  Then it just stops.

Houndingwolf- I guess you had to wait no more. 

Crystal Renee- no worries.  I know you are at my side.  Sometimes I just post strange hours, just as long as you keep reading when you get the chance.

Zsilver- yay on the no homework.  I can sympathize with you mom being on the phone.  My mom is loud when she is on the phone.  I have to remind her that she doesn't have to shout as if she were trying to talk without the phone.

Battousai-katana- wow you guys are so polite with the pleases

Mishorou mie-  I have to say, I dread the day that you might say you don't love it.  But I will enjoy so long as you say it.