Standard disclaimer applies.

A huge thank you goes out to Fanfiction Wanderer, who helped me write this action scene.

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The Sound of Jasmine

By: Luna

Part Five: Tension

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I watched in shock as Enishi froze and stared coldly into Kenshin's burning amber eyes. Kenshin had frozen as well, and tension was rolling off him in waves.

Enishi stared a bitter moment longer. Rage boiled in his scream as he lunged forward with his sword. I gasped before a cry escaped my lips. "Kenshin!"

Kenshin's eyes widened for only a split second before he unsheathed his katana and blocked the fierce attack.

The wind seemed to enhance the ferocity of the battle as it whipped across both fighter's figures.

I trembled in fear as I watched in horrified silence.

Blind hatred could be seen in the cold depths of the white haired man, as he sidestepped and slashed horizontally at Kenshin. Kenshin quickly composed himself, it seemed, as he narrowed his own eyes in determination and deflected the blow with his katana.

I watched in horror at what was taking place in my front yard, fear choking the words that I wanted to cry out, making me unable to do anything but watch.

The seemingly nice man that had taken my basket and escorted me home, was now transformed into some sort of wild animal, his eyes reminding me of Kenshin just a few nights ago. Only Enishi's eyes didn't hold the fear Kenshin's had. He was blinded by hatred and impulsive rage, though behind it, I felt there was hidden sorrow and depression.

"Stop!" I wanted to scream, but my voice was still paralyzed. "Why are you fighting? Stop it!" But still, my gaping mouth stayed quiet.

Enishi caught Kenshin's sheath, as he was attempting sóryúsen with the smaller man's head.

"No . . ." The whispered word barely escaped my lips before I moved without even thinking. "I don't want you to die!"

Without thought of my own safety, I felt myself start to run. Running to Kenshin. And then I threw myself into his arms, sobs bursting through my once paralyzed throat. I can't bear any more death!

I looked pleadingly into Enishi's eyes, begging him not to kill Kenshin. Kenshin was . . . he was too special to me to disappear! Despite my whispered thoughts, the sword kept its steady path towards me. Towards Kenshin. A strangled cry escaped my lips, and I closed my eyes and waited for the final blow, but only heard the sharp clang of metal on metal.

Kenshin's sóryúsen had been reversed, using his sheath first and then his blade. Holding the hilt firmly in his hand, the blade forbidding Enishi's own sword from even touching one hair on my head. Kenshin glared unflinchingly at Enishi.

My head was buried in Kenshin's chest and my hands were bunched up into fists in his gi. I slowly looked up and over my shoulder to the white haired man, feeling protected by the arm Kenshin held fast around my shoulders. I knew for a certainty that he would not let anything happen to me.

Enishi's eyes no longer held that blind hatred. Instead the bluish green orbs widened in horror for what he was about to do; about to do to me. His gaze held self-loathing as realization for what he almost did seemed to replayed in his mind, and I felt a moments sorrow for him.

He slowly backed away, dragging his sword off and away from Kenshin's katana; away from my head.

Kenshin, deeming that Enishi was no longer a threat to either of us, lowered the weapon in his hand. "Are you okay, Miss Jasmine?"

I nodded mutely, then buried my head back into his chest as sobs started to rack my form. I couldn't help it. I was terrified that Kenshin could have died, and no matter who he was, I didn't want him to die and leave me alone once again.

"I . . ." I heard Enishi's deep voice faintly behind me, and Kenshin stiffened, his arm tightening around me. "I'm sorry . . ."

I lifted my head and looked back at him once more, and was surprised to a hooded sadness glaze over his beautiful eyes.

"Battousai, did that remind you of anything . . .?" His voice was soft, but held an aching sadness that made my heart clench. But he didn't look at Kenshin when he spoke. No, his sad, tender eyes were on me.

Kenshin didn't say anything, and, if possible, his body seemed to tense up even more. I looked up at him in confusion, and was surprised to see raw and unhindered pain in his eyes before he squeezed them shut.

Enishi continued to stare tenderly at me. "He called you Jasmine, correct?" At my nod he continued. "Would you find it improper of me to ask if I may continue to visit you?"

My eyes widened. A minute ago I wouldn't have minded his company, but the image of his blinding hatred as he attacked Kenshin floated back to my mind. "Only if Kenshin is with me." My voice was hoarse from my sobs, but I knew he heard me.

Enishi nodded once before swinging his sword over his shoulder and marching out the gate.

Kenshin's sword and sheath clattered to the ground, and I felt myself being crushed once again into Kenshin's chest. "Don't . . ." His voice was whispered and laced with a pain I didn't understand. "Don't ever do that again."

I stayed silent. And I knew, without a doubt, that if the situation would happen again and again, I would react the same way, over and over. "Kenshin?"

He heard the question in my voice, and I felt him hesitate.

Would he tell me? Would he tell a girl who wouldn't even give him her real name?

He pulled away from me, but his hand came up to cup my elbow, as if reluctant to relinquish contact. He led me inside the house where we both settled comfortably on mats.

There was a long silence before he started speaking.

"Enishi was . . . my . . . brother in law." His voice was low and he kept his eyes downcast.

My eyes widened in shock. Kenshin was married?

"He blames me for his sisters death, and that is why he hates me."

My eyes were sad as I brought my free hand up to cup his cheek. "Kenshin . . ."

I didn't know what to say.

He smiled at me, one of the first I've ever seen grace his lips, and I felt myself giving him a small smile in return.

"It's alright, Miss Jasmine." He hesitated only a moment before he continued, looking the most uncertain than I've ever seen him. He pulled my hand from his cheek and held it tightly in his own. "I . . . I have someone else with me now . . . Someone else to care about."

My smile was tremulous as I felt a fresh batch of tears start rolling down my cheeks. "Yes, Kenshin, you do."

Enishi, true to his word, came and visited me often, and only when Kenshin was around. He never spoke to him, never even glanced in his direction, but I didn't mind too much.

I wondered what had happened in the past that made Enishi hate Kenshin so much. Kenshin had said Enishi blamed him for his sister's death, but he didn't give me a reason, and I didn't know Enishi well enough to feel free to pry. After all, it wasn't any of my business.

But the feeling was there, lodged deep within my heart; the burning need to know everything. The desire to understand.

Enishi was visiting me today, too, when he suddenly brought up the subject of Kenshin.

"He killed her. Did he tell you that?" He was staring at the sky when he spoke, his tone so low and casual I almost missed what he said entirely, as I was focusing on my sewing.

My head snapped up and stared at him, but he continued to look up in the sky. "What did you say?" I gasped. No way would Kenshin kill his own wife!

A small smirk spread across his face, and he finally turned towards me. "I figured he'd take the cowards way out and not tell you everything. So what did he tell you?"

I looked down at my embroidery; the gift I was going to give to Kenshin. "All he said was that you blamed him for her death."

He leaned back against the porch post and snorted, then brought his hands up behind his head. "At least he didn't lie to you."

"Will . . . will you tell me?" I asked hesitantly. I reminded myself to ask Kenshin later on, for Enishi was obviously not over his sister's death, and may exaggerate the story.

"Sure. But I'm only going to give you the short version." Curbing my impatience at his stalling, I waited for him to continue. "I was returning from a . . . trip to visit my sister, only to find out she'd been kidnapped. I arrived just in time to see him slash Tomoe in the back. That bastard murdered her." He growled out the last words and I looked down so he wouldn't be able to see the fear in my eyes.

"You only saw half the battle though. It could have been an accident." I whispered the words softly, but I didn't look up to his smirk when he heard the uncertainty in my voice.

He leaned over close to me. "You don't the extent of the Hitokiri Battousai's power. Nothing," He emphasized in a growl. "Nothing that man does is an accident."

I shivered, but tried to hide it by busying myself in my embroidery. I wanted the conversation to end, but Enishi continued despite my obvious discomfort.

"Not even I am as strong as he is. But," The grin on his face was odd, and there was a strange look in his eyes. "I will get my revenge. I will take the most precious thing away from him, just like he did to me." His grin turned lopsided. "Well, maybe not the exact way."

The man was mad, I thought to myself. Kenshin didn't have anything special to him. I frowned. Well, except his swords. I sighed. I had tried to touch them one time and he drew them away so fast for a moment I thought they hadn't been there at all.

I voiced my confusing thoughts to Enishi. "But . . . he doesn't have anything special to him. What could you possibly take away from him?"

He eyed me for a moment before the charming grin he had given me the first day I met him appeared on his lips, and he sat back once again to stare up at the sky. "Oh, he has something special alright. And I'm going to take it from him before he realizes he had it in the first place."

He left me shortly afterwards, musing over what he had said.

But still, even with all the new information Enishi gave me, I knew in my heart that whatever had happened, Kenshin did not murder his wife.

But still. Despite what my heart was telling me, there was a niggling little voice at the back of my head that told me I could be wrong.