Disclaimer: Again, Don't own RK, but I do own Shiru, Rushi, Meru, Shakon, and Kashuko.

For the past ten years, Kenshin and Meru have trying to forget the pain in their hearts from the loss of their son. Rushi has helped to accomplish that, although she misses her brother terribly as well. Yahiko finally worked up the nerve and asked Misao to marry him, to much teasing from Sano and Aoshi, but both were knocked speachless when Misao agreed to it. Soujiro has been hanging around, still trying to find his answer as to wether Kenshin, or Shishio was right. Hiko has been teaching Rushi the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, with some help from Kenshin, but only after she begged and pleaded with him to let Hiko do so. Her training, is in equivlince with her brothers, only, hers is not leaving the burning desire for murder in her heart. This side of our story resumes ten years later, amomg those of the living.

"Give it back Yahiko!!"

Kenshin smiled as he hung bedsheets on the clothes line. Yahiko, now age twenty-two, went running past laughing, a hairtie in his hand. Rushi, who was now thirteen, ran after him. They ran around the backyard until Yahiko ran into someone, and looked up to see Misao standing above him.

"Ano, gomen nasi Misao-cha-!!"

Yahiko's apology was cut short as Rushi plowed into him and wrestled him for her hairtie. Kenshin chuckled, and shaking his head went back to work. He didn't notice the officer from the police department until he called

"Hajime Saitou, Yahiko Myojin."

Kenshin looked over as Yahiko and Rushi stopped fighting and Yahiko sat up.

"I'm Yahiko Myojin, what's the matter?"

The officer looked over at Yahiko, and seemed to be considering him when at last he spoke.

"I need to know where Saitou Hajime is, he needs to hear this as well."

Kenshin stood up, uncliping the sleeves of his gi, and looked over at the officer

"I'm afraid Saitou isn't here right now, that he isn't. But maybe we can help you officer?"

"I'm right here Battousai."

Saitou said as he walked into the yard, taking a long drag off the cigarette in his hand. The officer looked at Saitou and said

"Saitou, the cheif wishes to speak with you immediatly. You too Myojin. Apparently a small murder spree has started and we have been able to track a few of the culprits to Mt. Hiei."

He said. Saitou took another long drag from his cigarette as Yahiko stood up and looking at Saitou said

"Isn't that where Shishio's fortress in Kyoto was?"

Saitou looked at him and blew a cloud of smoke at him.

"Yes, but he was killed by the Battousai, and even if that didn't kill him, when the place colapsed, that would've."

"Please sirs,"

The officer cut in.

"Continue this conversation at the station."

Yahiko nodded, and Saitou mearly blew another puff of smoke before turning and walking off for the station. He had been transfered to the Tokyo region a few months ago, and Yahiko had taken a job in the police force about five years ago.

The officer nodded to Kenshin, Rushi, and Misao before he too turned and followed them. Kenshin watched them go, and his eyes held concern and worry. Saitou was right. Shishio was dead, right? Yes, he had to be. As Saitou said, even if he didn't die when he had "killed" him, when his fortress collapsed, that would've. It was probably just some people hiding out in the ruins, nothing to worry about. He went back to his work as Misao leaped the fence and walked off, saying she was going to go inform Lord Aoshi about this just in case. Rushi however, walked over to Kenshin, and grabbing a sheet helped him hang them.

"Shishio did die, right ottosan?"

Kenshin looked her. She had the same look of concern upon her face.

"Hai"

He said as he went back to work.

"Shishio died a long time ago."

Rushi again looked at Kenshin."

"D'you think one of his men killed my oniisan?"

Kenshin paused. This was a question he, himself had been debating on for quite some time now. Choosing his words carefully, he said

"It's possible, that it is."

And went back to work. Rushi could tell by the tone in his voice, that he did not wish to discuss this subject with her, and after they finished Rushi walked for the gate to open it.

"Where are you going?"

Kenshin asked her as she hopped the fence instead. She turned to look at him and said

"To go see sensei-Hiko."

"Oh."

Kenshin said as she walked off. He watched her go befor he walked inside the house, meaning to talk to Soujiro about something.

********************

Yahiko and Saitou walked into the station in downtown Tokyo and both walked into the cheif's office.

"All right, so what's up with Mt. Hiei?"

Yahiko asked as Saitou pulled another cigarette out of his pocket, and lighting it, took a long drag off it. The cheif looked up from his desk at them. He had short black hair and brown eyes, and they were serious as his gaze was directed to them.

"We have a report from Kyoto that a small cerial killing has been taking place. The targets have all been high ranking government officials. Four of them so far. As I'm sure Shakon told you, we've tracked a few of the culprits to Mt. Hiei, which as you know is where Makoto Shishio met his end. Compared with the records of Lord Okubo's assasination by Soujiro Seita, these new killings seem to be being executed in the same way. With the exception of the last one. The sword ryu seems to be different. We have a few pictures of the last victim here, perhaps you can determine what ryu it is?"

He said, before extending a file twards Saitou and Yahiko. Yahiko took it and opening it studied the pictures within. Saitou looked over Yahiko's shoulder and paused for a moment. It's Battoujitsu. He thought. But, it looks familiar. What could it be? It's not Kamiya's Ryu, nor mine or Aoshi's. And it's not Seita's either. But, perhaps....

"It's Hiten Mitsurugi!"

Yahiko exclaimed.

"Hiten Mitsurugi?"

The cheif repeated.

"Isn't that the sword ryu used by the Battousai?"

"Yes it is Kashuko."

Saitou said.

"And I agree, it does look like the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. But the only people who know the style who are still alive, are Hiko, the Battousai, his wife, and his daughter. And they've all been in Tokyo for the last few months."

Yahiko looked up thoughtfully.

"We need to investigate Mt. Hiei, and see what's there. We might be able to find more answers once we know what's going on up there."

Kashuko nodded.

"I already sent someone up there to investigate. We should get a report back within a few days."

Saitou flicked his cigarette butt out the window.

"Well, now that we seem to know what we're doing, I'm going to get out of here."

He said, turning to leave.

"Wait Saitou, you could talk to the Battousai and ask him about this. Bring him along with you when you come back."

Kashuko said to the retreating cop.

"Fine, fine."

Saitou said as he left the office.

"I'll get Misao to tell the Oniwabonshuu. They'll be of a lot of help."

Yahiko said to his superior as he too went to leave. Walking out of the station he ran off in the direction of Aoshi's residence, for he was sure Misao had gone there.

As Saitou walked he was struck with a thought. A seemingly impossible thought, but if they found Shishio was alive, then it was possible.

"Battousai's not going to like this..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And that's chapter 5! Kinda dumb yeah, but I was on a time limit. X.X and Barbara, there's another story that this is suppost to be a sequal to, but I haven't finished it yet and in that one Kenshin had left the Kamiya dojo to take up wandering again, and Sano had gone with him and all this other stuff. I'm going to post that story probably when this one is finished. Thanks to the only two people who have reviewed, and please R&R, as I live for reviews ^.^;