A/N: Angst busting ahead!
Note: Many have asked, and yes, Battousai and Kenshin are more like two personalities in one person, think MPD. But I'm not trying to make Battousai the mindless killer, because I think he is basically a harder version of Kenshin. Otherwise, Tomoe would have died the night he saw Battousai fight. That's just IMHO of course.
Anyway, reviews make me happy!
Onward!
Chapter 6: Shattered Mind
Battousai watched the two men of the clean up squad running up the hill to fix up the mess and set it up for a proper message. He gazed at them with cold eyes, hating their ignorance and at the same time admiring it. Wanting their innocence and hating their naivete.
"Battousai-san!" A man named Akira called out, "That was incredible! What speed!" He clutched the mop in his hand with fervor, gazing up at BAttousai like a god on a pedestal. One to be admired, gazed at, feared.
"Yea, that was amazing!" Another called, Battousai didn't know his name.
"No." Battousai said softly, "It wasn't amazing, it was murder." He looked calmly at Akira, staring into his eyes for the briefest of eternal moments. Sending the message to his young heart that following a god of war will only end in chaos.
The men were silenced by the statement. Battousai looked into their eyes, seeing only fools in awe of violence and power, because they themselves feared it. Yet, looking into their eyes, he was reminded of Shinta, the naive, innocent child he had once been.
Clenching his eyes shut, Battousai walked past the shell shocked men, blood soaked clothing catching the fading light and creating a bloody halo around his features. Blood of the past mingled with the future as the Bakumatsu's unrequited anger fell once more upon the heads of its children. Battousai merged with the night and was lost in the shadows of his mind.
Behind his retreating form, Akira and the other began to slowly wipe the blood off the stairs. Akira took a note from his pocket and placed the yellowed parchment on the former weapon's dealer's chest. When all the blood was wiped from the stairs, the two men crossed Yasashiku's arms over his chest, holding the note in place. They left the blood on his body as a warning to all who decided that money could sway honor.
As Akira and his partner ran off into the night to report back of the success, the paper caught the last ray of moonlight and fluttered in the coming breeze. Emblazoned on the yellowed paper were the words 'Heaven's Justice'.
It had begun.
*******
"Ne, Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked softly, "He will come back, right?"
"Aa." Sano replied softly. Physically at least.
Sano, Kaoru and Yahiko sat around the low table in the central room of the dojo. The room looked out into the courtyard, the leaves on the trees blowing their leaves across the yard, making the night seem angry and wishing to cleanse itself of the sins of men and beast.
"He'll come back, he always does!" Yahiko said vehemently. Previous fear of his hero long gone in the wake of long endured admiration. Blind faith was the hardest thing in the world to live up to, but yet one of the most durable forces to cross human consciousness.
"Yea, he better come back or I'll kick his rurouni ass from here to China!" Sano said, punching the air. 'I can't let them see what I see. If their faith in him shatters, I don't know what would happen.'
"Ah!" Yahiko cried out, pointing to the sky.
"Nani?" Kaoru questioned.
"Nan de da!?" Sano cried, jerking halfway to his feet. Gasping, he stopped, staring up at the red moon, features awash in the bloody light. "The Killer's Moon....." Sano breathed, eyes wide in shock and an almost fear.
"What?" Kaoru asked, eyebrows drown down over worried blue oceans.
"What are you babbling about, baka!?" Yahiko queried, anger hiding fear.
"The Killer's Moon."
"Yea, we know, aho! What about it!?" Yahiko cried, beaming Sano upside the head. Sano didn't even flinch his eyes remaining fixed on the bloodstained orb.
"Sagara-taichou told me the legend of the Killer's Moon once," Sano said softly, finally breaking his gaze with the moon to scan his cinnamon eyes over his friends, "and then I saw it come true."
"What are you babbling about, baka!?" Yahiko said, jumping up on Sano's shoulders and gripping his spiked hair, "Speak clearly!"
Kaoru's face drained of all color. The Legend of the Red Moon.....her eyes widened in remembrance. "I've heard of it before." Karou said softly.
Yahiko stopped his antics. "You have?" Yahiko looked between Sano and Kaoru, "no way a busu knows what this is when the great Myoujin Yahiko-sama doesn't know!!"
Being surprisingly mature and ignoring Yahiko's antics, Sano nodded to her, "You would have, jou-chan, living in a kenjutsu dojo."
"I remember being afraid of it, but not why." Kaoru said, vulnerable eyes gazing into Sano's. "Is it that terrible?"
Yahiko stared. If Kaoru was afraid then it can't be a good thing.....
"Aa." Sano said with finality. Pulling Yahiko off to set him on the ground, Sano clenched his fists and fixed his gaze on the ground, back to the red night, "I'll tell you the Legend of the end of days, the legend of the Killer's Moon."
~~~~~~
Before the dawn of time, the sun, the moon and the earth all lived together in the realm they had crafted for their use. The sun and the earth were brothers and each secretly sought after the goddess of the moon. The moon goddess was pale and demure, a perfect lady for a wife. However, she had promised been to the sun by the god of all things, the universal one, before the earth came into being, and thus was bound to him as his wife.
This angered the earth god who desired the fair one. But, the earth god, through strong and powerful, was younger than the other two and had not had a chance to claim the moon goddess in the dawn of creation. As such, the god of the earth was bitter and angry at his elder brother, the sun.
One night, the god of the earth alighted to the palace of the moon princess at the height of the night. The moon princess had long watched the young earth god, preferring to gaze at his gentle beauty rather than burn her eyes on the brilliance of the sun. She too desired him and on that night, while the sun slept, the earth and the moon joined as one and gave birth to the human race. Lying locked in the eclipses embrace, the earth and moon slept as their children first awoke on the earth.
The sun awoke and was angered by this new development. He saw the humans and thought his brother to be conspiring against him to overthrow his celestial form. Angered, he stormed into the earth gods palace, and found nothing. He flew to the moon to use her lookout to scout the earths surface for the errant god. In his rage, he stormed into the love chamber of the earth and moon. Seeing them locked in passions embrace, he was blinded by hurt and rage. Drawing out his dagger, he slew the goddess of the moon and the god of the earth in one fatal strike, locking their spirits into the prison of eternal darkness. The blood of betrayal and unrequited love stained the moon red with devilish revenge. When his mind cleared, he was brought before the universal god and was sent to the pits of hell to atone for his crimes. In the pits of hell, the god of the sun festered in his rage. He used his time to interfere in the lives of the bastardized children of the moon and earth. Twisting them to his will, he forced wars and massacres to come down upon the land in endless waves. However, the great god soon caught on to this operation and chained the sun the sky. Thus, only when his rage becomes so great that he can escape his eternal bonds does he once more return to the moon to stain in red with blood. The red moon is the guide of killers, assassins and demons who plague the shadows of our world. When the red moon rises, it is known that the disgraced god has broken free to wreck his wrath upon the world, plunging it into darkness until the coming of dawn when the universal god will rise up and reclaim the god. However, the hearts of those that follow it remain blackened and are forever chained to his will, searching for blood to once more make the moon red. Only the purest force can force back the gods will. Thus is why so many people rise up after the killers moon to commit mass genocide. Simply because once they've tasted blood, they can't live without killing. Once a killer, always a killer.
~~~~~~
Silence followed Sano's rendition of the legend. Sano's face was downcast, eyes darkened by sorrow obscured under bangs of jagged earth. Kaoru stared at Sano, hand in front of her mouth to conceal her shock. She remembered now, the day she heard this tale. It was the day her father went off to war.
~~~~~
"Kamiya-san! Kamiya-san!" A local merchant cried out, "You must get away! The draft for the Seinan war is coming! You'll be killed!"
"No." Kaoru's father stood tall and gazed out at the encroaching line that marked the draft. "What use is a sword if not to protect?"
"Kamiya-san...." The merchant breathed.
"Kaoru-chan." He called out gently to his young daughter, the pride of his life. "I must go to the hills my beloved child."
"But, Father!" Kaoru began, cheeks flushed in anger.
"No, I must go."
"Father...." Kaoru said, eyes downcast, "what if you don't come back?"
Kamiya looked down at the tearfilled eyes of his only daughter. "Kaoru, it is destiny. I chose the path of the sword and thus my fate is dictated by the Killer's Moon."
"Father? What is that?" Kaoru asked, childish inquitiveness winning over sorrow.
"It is the legend of how the sun slew the earth and moon in anger and was imprisoned by the universal god. He festers in rage and when he rises, blood stains the earth as it does the moon." Kamiya looked up at the encroaching night, "Kaoru, look at the moon tonight and remember what hatred brings."
"Father..." Kaoru said, head bowed.
"Goodbye my dearest." Kamiya said bending down to embrace his daughter. With a cry, Kaoru latched herself to his strong frame, hands grabbing fists full of thick cloth. She inhaled her father's scent: earth, wind and sweat.
"I love you father!" Kaoru said tears streaming down fragile cheeks.
"I know." Kamiya placed her down and pulled out his sword. "Stay with Gensai my beloved, I love you forever."
Kamiya ran out the door and down the path to the draft. Kaoru watched him go, tears on moon white cheeks drying in nights chill. The merchant placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her in the direction of the town. He would take her to Gensai, it was the least he could do.
Kaoru spun around and gazed at her father's retreating figure, topknot blowing in the wind.
Kaoru never saw her father again.
~~~~~~
Yahiko gazed at the floor, young mind quieted by the sorrow in the room. Kaoru and Sano were lost in their own thoughts. With quiet determination, Yahiko rose to his feet.
"Kenshin will come back! No stupid legend could beat him!" Yahiko cried out, "come on busu! Get up!"
"Ya-hi-ko-ch-an......" Kaoru growled, rage winning over sorrow. Clutching her bokken she stalked toward the small samurai.
"K-k-kaoru!" Yahiko chattered, backing away.
Kaoru whacked him with her bokken, "hmph."
Yahiko rubbed his head and smiled, 'I can't stand to see them sad...'
Sano blinked, the laughed at the sight. "Good one Yahiko!" "What are you going on about, aho!?"
"Nandemonai." Sano said smiling. Yahiko blinked.
"Hmph." He huffed, nose in the air.
Kaoru yawned, glancing at the clock in the hall. "Ah!" She gasped, "It's already ten o'clock!"
"So?" Sano asked, bewildered.
"Time to go to bed! We have to be up when Kenshin is back!" Kaoru cried out. She grasped Yahiko by the back of his shirt and flung him over her shoulder. She stormed down the hall and flung him into his room.
"Sleep!" Kaoru commanded. Her face was blind in obsessive rage, Yahiko only nodded, muttering about crazy busu's under his breath.
Sano sat in the main room, eyes wide as saucers. 'Kenshin deals with this every night?' Wincing at the bang and subsequent swear from jou-chan's room, he was suddenly reminded why he never slept here....that and he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of a certain samurai.
Sano sighed when the sounds ceased to come from the rooms. He staggered to his feet and flopped down on the porch in full view of the door. He sat back, arms crossed and waited for Kenshin. 'I won't let you destroy yourself, Kenshin.'
*******
What begins with murder will end in tears. Katsura created him, Tomoe awoke his heart and Tomoe destroyed him.
Kenshin stood in front of the gates of the dojo he had just a day ago happily called home. The sounds of joy lingered in the walls, laughter catching on the breezes of the approaching storm. The sky clouded with dark masses, closing off the Killer's moon and alighting the sky with thunder. Kenshin gazed up at the sign above the door, marking the Kamiya dojo of katsujin ken.
"Katsujinken.....ka?" Battousai murmured, "The last place that a hitokiri should be."
Sighing, Battousai pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard. Sano sat on the porch gazing at the darkening sky. He could sense Kaoru and Yahiko in their room, one sleeping, one restless. Both minds cloaked in sorrow.
Battousai walked toward the well, intent on washing himself of the blood of Yasashiku. Sano, completely into his thoughts, did not discover to presence of the hitokiri, and the amber eyed man stalked through the shadows toward the well.
'I must rid myself of the blood!' Kenshin wailed internally.
Shut up, fool! You'll never get rid of it even when every bit is removed from your body, the blood will still remain!
'No!'
Yes
As Battousai stood by the well, locked in internal dispute, the sky opened and cast their rage upon the earth. Thunder rolled through the sky, startling Sano out of his gaze. He spun toward the well, feeling Kenshin's presence in the darkening night. Lightning crashed, illuminating the bloodstained fallen angel that stood before Sano. He openly stared at the transformation the gentle rurouni had undergone.
Amber eyes glimmered demonically in the lightning as blood dripped off blue cloth and stained the ground red. Sano stared into his eyes and Battousai gazed back at him, amber eyes flat on a face expressionless save the blood of vengeance dripping down pale cheek.
"Kenshin..." Sano said softly, rising before the hitokiri. "You're bleeding."
Battousai was shocked by the statement, and Kenshin even more. Rushing to the surface, Kenshin pushed Battousai back.
Sano watched in amazement as flat amber became lamenting, pain ridden violet and tears gathered in the back of vulnerable eyes. Suddenly the man who stood before him was not an assassin to run before, or who brought the bloody rain; but a man to be held and comforted. A fragile soul seeking reason in chaos.
"How can you be concerned with that!?" Kenshin whispered fiercely, eyes flush against the ground, fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. "I....I killed someone!"
Sano was instantly at the rurouni's side as he collapsed onto his knees in the growing mud. Sano knelt before him, lightly placing a hand on his shoulder, wishing to embrace him, but fearing making him upset.
'He doesn't even want to touch me anymore....' Kenshin's mind wailed.
Of course not you fool! Battousai roared You're tainted now.
"I am tainted....." Kenshin muttered aloud.
"No!" Sano cried, grasping Kenshin by the shoulders and shaking his small frame ferociously, "You are anything but tainted. You would only be tainted if you sought it for pleasure!"
"No Sano...." Kenshin murmured, rain mixing with the blood and running down his cheeks in tear like rivers. "Sessha....sessha wa.." Kenshin's voice cracked, "Sessha wa hitokiri."
"Oh, Kenshin..." Sano sighed empathetically, gazing down at the broken creature in his hands. Throwing caution to the wind, he reached out and encircled Kenshin in his strong embrace. Kenshin stiffened against him chest, breath catching in his throat as is heart beat fluttered at super human speeds.
'He touched me....he isn't afraid of being tainted?' Kenshin's awestruck voice rang in his head.
"Never devalue yourself Kenshin." Sano said, squeezing the wanderer tightly, "you are the strongest man I have even known."
Kenshin's chest constricted and the denied tears fell at last, making silver trails down bloody cheeks and seeping into Sano's rain soaked bandages. He shook in Sano's arms, clutching desperately to the man that was his life line. Sano wrapped his arms entirely around Kenshin and pulled the sobbing man into his lap. Bowing his head against the rain, he sat in the mud and held a sobbing Kenshin. "I'll never let you fall." Sano whispered into Kenshin's ears, "I'll catch you."
Kenshin was shocked at the statement, 'how can he care about me? I am a killer! I'm worth less than dirt!'
You're right. A killer is only a killer. A killer can't be loved!
'But Sano..'
He's lying
"I'm not lying Kenshin." Sano said softly, as though he had read his thoughts, "you are the greatest man I've ever met. You're a warrior, and such a kind person....you deserve everything."
The rain ceased its incessant pounding and the lights of dawn broke through the clouds.
Glancing up at the sky, Kenshin sniffed and snuggled into Sano's embrace. "Arigatou, Sano."
Sano smiled down at him. "Come on, let's go inside. You'll freeze in those clothes."
"Aa." Kenshin murmured, sleep overcoming his mind in the aftermath.
"Mataku...." Sano swore affectionately at the sight of the sleeping red head in his arms. He slowly stood, gathering the precious bundle against his chest and making his way into the dojo.
'I'll never leave you alone in this, Kenshin. You may not want me, but I'll always be there.'
TBC..... Chapter 7: Repercussions of the Past
Note: Many have asked, and yes, Battousai and Kenshin are more like two personalities in one person, think MPD. But I'm not trying to make Battousai the mindless killer, because I think he is basically a harder version of Kenshin. Otherwise, Tomoe would have died the night he saw Battousai fight. That's just IMHO of course.
Anyway, reviews make me happy!
Onward!
Chapter 6: Shattered Mind
Battousai watched the two men of the clean up squad running up the hill to fix up the mess and set it up for a proper message. He gazed at them with cold eyes, hating their ignorance and at the same time admiring it. Wanting their innocence and hating their naivete.
"Battousai-san!" A man named Akira called out, "That was incredible! What speed!" He clutched the mop in his hand with fervor, gazing up at BAttousai like a god on a pedestal. One to be admired, gazed at, feared.
"Yea, that was amazing!" Another called, Battousai didn't know his name.
"No." Battousai said softly, "It wasn't amazing, it was murder." He looked calmly at Akira, staring into his eyes for the briefest of eternal moments. Sending the message to his young heart that following a god of war will only end in chaos.
The men were silenced by the statement. Battousai looked into their eyes, seeing only fools in awe of violence and power, because they themselves feared it. Yet, looking into their eyes, he was reminded of Shinta, the naive, innocent child he had once been.
Clenching his eyes shut, Battousai walked past the shell shocked men, blood soaked clothing catching the fading light and creating a bloody halo around his features. Blood of the past mingled with the future as the Bakumatsu's unrequited anger fell once more upon the heads of its children. Battousai merged with the night and was lost in the shadows of his mind.
Behind his retreating form, Akira and the other began to slowly wipe the blood off the stairs. Akira took a note from his pocket and placed the yellowed parchment on the former weapon's dealer's chest. When all the blood was wiped from the stairs, the two men crossed Yasashiku's arms over his chest, holding the note in place. They left the blood on his body as a warning to all who decided that money could sway honor.
As Akira and his partner ran off into the night to report back of the success, the paper caught the last ray of moonlight and fluttered in the coming breeze. Emblazoned on the yellowed paper were the words 'Heaven's Justice'.
It had begun.
*******
"Ne, Sanosuke?" Kaoru asked softly, "He will come back, right?"
"Aa." Sano replied softly. Physically at least.
Sano, Kaoru and Yahiko sat around the low table in the central room of the dojo. The room looked out into the courtyard, the leaves on the trees blowing their leaves across the yard, making the night seem angry and wishing to cleanse itself of the sins of men and beast.
"He'll come back, he always does!" Yahiko said vehemently. Previous fear of his hero long gone in the wake of long endured admiration. Blind faith was the hardest thing in the world to live up to, but yet one of the most durable forces to cross human consciousness.
"Yea, he better come back or I'll kick his rurouni ass from here to China!" Sano said, punching the air. 'I can't let them see what I see. If their faith in him shatters, I don't know what would happen.'
"Ah!" Yahiko cried out, pointing to the sky.
"Nani?" Kaoru questioned.
"Nan de da!?" Sano cried, jerking halfway to his feet. Gasping, he stopped, staring up at the red moon, features awash in the bloody light. "The Killer's Moon....." Sano breathed, eyes wide in shock and an almost fear.
"What?" Kaoru asked, eyebrows drown down over worried blue oceans.
"What are you babbling about, baka!?" Yahiko queried, anger hiding fear.
"The Killer's Moon."
"Yea, we know, aho! What about it!?" Yahiko cried, beaming Sano upside the head. Sano didn't even flinch his eyes remaining fixed on the bloodstained orb.
"Sagara-taichou told me the legend of the Killer's Moon once," Sano said softly, finally breaking his gaze with the moon to scan his cinnamon eyes over his friends, "and then I saw it come true."
"What are you babbling about, baka!?" Yahiko said, jumping up on Sano's shoulders and gripping his spiked hair, "Speak clearly!"
Kaoru's face drained of all color. The Legend of the Red Moon.....her eyes widened in remembrance. "I've heard of it before." Karou said softly.
Yahiko stopped his antics. "You have?" Yahiko looked between Sano and Kaoru, "no way a busu knows what this is when the great Myoujin Yahiko-sama doesn't know!!"
Being surprisingly mature and ignoring Yahiko's antics, Sano nodded to her, "You would have, jou-chan, living in a kenjutsu dojo."
"I remember being afraid of it, but not why." Kaoru said, vulnerable eyes gazing into Sano's. "Is it that terrible?"
Yahiko stared. If Kaoru was afraid then it can't be a good thing.....
"Aa." Sano said with finality. Pulling Yahiko off to set him on the ground, Sano clenched his fists and fixed his gaze on the ground, back to the red night, "I'll tell you the Legend of the end of days, the legend of the Killer's Moon."
~~~~~~
Before the dawn of time, the sun, the moon and the earth all lived together in the realm they had crafted for their use. The sun and the earth were brothers and each secretly sought after the goddess of the moon. The moon goddess was pale and demure, a perfect lady for a wife. However, she had promised been to the sun by the god of all things, the universal one, before the earth came into being, and thus was bound to him as his wife.
This angered the earth god who desired the fair one. But, the earth god, through strong and powerful, was younger than the other two and had not had a chance to claim the moon goddess in the dawn of creation. As such, the god of the earth was bitter and angry at his elder brother, the sun.
One night, the god of the earth alighted to the palace of the moon princess at the height of the night. The moon princess had long watched the young earth god, preferring to gaze at his gentle beauty rather than burn her eyes on the brilliance of the sun. She too desired him and on that night, while the sun slept, the earth and the moon joined as one and gave birth to the human race. Lying locked in the eclipses embrace, the earth and moon slept as their children first awoke on the earth.
The sun awoke and was angered by this new development. He saw the humans and thought his brother to be conspiring against him to overthrow his celestial form. Angered, he stormed into the earth gods palace, and found nothing. He flew to the moon to use her lookout to scout the earths surface for the errant god. In his rage, he stormed into the love chamber of the earth and moon. Seeing them locked in passions embrace, he was blinded by hurt and rage. Drawing out his dagger, he slew the goddess of the moon and the god of the earth in one fatal strike, locking their spirits into the prison of eternal darkness. The blood of betrayal and unrequited love stained the moon red with devilish revenge. When his mind cleared, he was brought before the universal god and was sent to the pits of hell to atone for his crimes. In the pits of hell, the god of the sun festered in his rage. He used his time to interfere in the lives of the bastardized children of the moon and earth. Twisting them to his will, he forced wars and massacres to come down upon the land in endless waves. However, the great god soon caught on to this operation and chained the sun the sky. Thus, only when his rage becomes so great that he can escape his eternal bonds does he once more return to the moon to stain in red with blood. The red moon is the guide of killers, assassins and demons who plague the shadows of our world. When the red moon rises, it is known that the disgraced god has broken free to wreck his wrath upon the world, plunging it into darkness until the coming of dawn when the universal god will rise up and reclaim the god. However, the hearts of those that follow it remain blackened and are forever chained to his will, searching for blood to once more make the moon red. Only the purest force can force back the gods will. Thus is why so many people rise up after the killers moon to commit mass genocide. Simply because once they've tasted blood, they can't live without killing. Once a killer, always a killer.
~~~~~~
Silence followed Sano's rendition of the legend. Sano's face was downcast, eyes darkened by sorrow obscured under bangs of jagged earth. Kaoru stared at Sano, hand in front of her mouth to conceal her shock. She remembered now, the day she heard this tale. It was the day her father went off to war.
~~~~~
"Kamiya-san! Kamiya-san!" A local merchant cried out, "You must get away! The draft for the Seinan war is coming! You'll be killed!"
"No." Kaoru's father stood tall and gazed out at the encroaching line that marked the draft. "What use is a sword if not to protect?"
"Kamiya-san...." The merchant breathed.
"Kaoru-chan." He called out gently to his young daughter, the pride of his life. "I must go to the hills my beloved child."
"But, Father!" Kaoru began, cheeks flushed in anger.
"No, I must go."
"Father...." Kaoru said, eyes downcast, "what if you don't come back?"
Kamiya looked down at the tearfilled eyes of his only daughter. "Kaoru, it is destiny. I chose the path of the sword and thus my fate is dictated by the Killer's Moon."
"Father? What is that?" Kaoru asked, childish inquitiveness winning over sorrow.
"It is the legend of how the sun slew the earth and moon in anger and was imprisoned by the universal god. He festers in rage and when he rises, blood stains the earth as it does the moon." Kamiya looked up at the encroaching night, "Kaoru, look at the moon tonight and remember what hatred brings."
"Father..." Kaoru said, head bowed.
"Goodbye my dearest." Kamiya said bending down to embrace his daughter. With a cry, Kaoru latched herself to his strong frame, hands grabbing fists full of thick cloth. She inhaled her father's scent: earth, wind and sweat.
"I love you father!" Kaoru said tears streaming down fragile cheeks.
"I know." Kamiya placed her down and pulled out his sword. "Stay with Gensai my beloved, I love you forever."
Kamiya ran out the door and down the path to the draft. Kaoru watched him go, tears on moon white cheeks drying in nights chill. The merchant placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her in the direction of the town. He would take her to Gensai, it was the least he could do.
Kaoru spun around and gazed at her father's retreating figure, topknot blowing in the wind.
Kaoru never saw her father again.
~~~~~~
Yahiko gazed at the floor, young mind quieted by the sorrow in the room. Kaoru and Sano were lost in their own thoughts. With quiet determination, Yahiko rose to his feet.
"Kenshin will come back! No stupid legend could beat him!" Yahiko cried out, "come on busu! Get up!"
"Ya-hi-ko-ch-an......" Kaoru growled, rage winning over sorrow. Clutching her bokken she stalked toward the small samurai.
"K-k-kaoru!" Yahiko chattered, backing away.
Kaoru whacked him with her bokken, "hmph."
Yahiko rubbed his head and smiled, 'I can't stand to see them sad...'
Sano blinked, the laughed at the sight. "Good one Yahiko!" "What are you going on about, aho!?"
"Nandemonai." Sano said smiling. Yahiko blinked.
"Hmph." He huffed, nose in the air.
Kaoru yawned, glancing at the clock in the hall. "Ah!" She gasped, "It's already ten o'clock!"
"So?" Sano asked, bewildered.
"Time to go to bed! We have to be up when Kenshin is back!" Kaoru cried out. She grasped Yahiko by the back of his shirt and flung him over her shoulder. She stormed down the hall and flung him into his room.
"Sleep!" Kaoru commanded. Her face was blind in obsessive rage, Yahiko only nodded, muttering about crazy busu's under his breath.
Sano sat in the main room, eyes wide as saucers. 'Kenshin deals with this every night?' Wincing at the bang and subsequent swear from jou-chan's room, he was suddenly reminded why he never slept here....that and he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of a certain samurai.
Sano sighed when the sounds ceased to come from the rooms. He staggered to his feet and flopped down on the porch in full view of the door. He sat back, arms crossed and waited for Kenshin. 'I won't let you destroy yourself, Kenshin.'
*******
What begins with murder will end in tears. Katsura created him, Tomoe awoke his heart and Tomoe destroyed him.
Kenshin stood in front of the gates of the dojo he had just a day ago happily called home. The sounds of joy lingered in the walls, laughter catching on the breezes of the approaching storm. The sky clouded with dark masses, closing off the Killer's moon and alighting the sky with thunder. Kenshin gazed up at the sign above the door, marking the Kamiya dojo of katsujin ken.
"Katsujinken.....ka?" Battousai murmured, "The last place that a hitokiri should be."
Sighing, Battousai pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard. Sano sat on the porch gazing at the darkening sky. He could sense Kaoru and Yahiko in their room, one sleeping, one restless. Both minds cloaked in sorrow.
Battousai walked toward the well, intent on washing himself of the blood of Yasashiku. Sano, completely into his thoughts, did not discover to presence of the hitokiri, and the amber eyed man stalked through the shadows toward the well.
'I must rid myself of the blood!' Kenshin wailed internally.
Shut up, fool! You'll never get rid of it even when every bit is removed from your body, the blood will still remain!
'No!'
Yes
As Battousai stood by the well, locked in internal dispute, the sky opened and cast their rage upon the earth. Thunder rolled through the sky, startling Sano out of his gaze. He spun toward the well, feeling Kenshin's presence in the darkening night. Lightning crashed, illuminating the bloodstained fallen angel that stood before Sano. He openly stared at the transformation the gentle rurouni had undergone.
Amber eyes glimmered demonically in the lightning as blood dripped off blue cloth and stained the ground red. Sano stared into his eyes and Battousai gazed back at him, amber eyes flat on a face expressionless save the blood of vengeance dripping down pale cheek.
"Kenshin..." Sano said softly, rising before the hitokiri. "You're bleeding."
Battousai was shocked by the statement, and Kenshin even more. Rushing to the surface, Kenshin pushed Battousai back.
Sano watched in amazement as flat amber became lamenting, pain ridden violet and tears gathered in the back of vulnerable eyes. Suddenly the man who stood before him was not an assassin to run before, or who brought the bloody rain; but a man to be held and comforted. A fragile soul seeking reason in chaos.
"How can you be concerned with that!?" Kenshin whispered fiercely, eyes flush against the ground, fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. "I....I killed someone!"
Sano was instantly at the rurouni's side as he collapsed onto his knees in the growing mud. Sano knelt before him, lightly placing a hand on his shoulder, wishing to embrace him, but fearing making him upset.
'He doesn't even want to touch me anymore....' Kenshin's mind wailed.
Of course not you fool! Battousai roared You're tainted now.
"I am tainted....." Kenshin muttered aloud.
"No!" Sano cried, grasping Kenshin by the shoulders and shaking his small frame ferociously, "You are anything but tainted. You would only be tainted if you sought it for pleasure!"
"No Sano...." Kenshin murmured, rain mixing with the blood and running down his cheeks in tear like rivers. "Sessha....sessha wa.." Kenshin's voice cracked, "Sessha wa hitokiri."
"Oh, Kenshin..." Sano sighed empathetically, gazing down at the broken creature in his hands. Throwing caution to the wind, he reached out and encircled Kenshin in his strong embrace. Kenshin stiffened against him chest, breath catching in his throat as is heart beat fluttered at super human speeds.
'He touched me....he isn't afraid of being tainted?' Kenshin's awestruck voice rang in his head.
"Never devalue yourself Kenshin." Sano said, squeezing the wanderer tightly, "you are the strongest man I have even known."
Kenshin's chest constricted and the denied tears fell at last, making silver trails down bloody cheeks and seeping into Sano's rain soaked bandages. He shook in Sano's arms, clutching desperately to the man that was his life line. Sano wrapped his arms entirely around Kenshin and pulled the sobbing man into his lap. Bowing his head against the rain, he sat in the mud and held a sobbing Kenshin. "I'll never let you fall." Sano whispered into Kenshin's ears, "I'll catch you."
Kenshin was shocked at the statement, 'how can he care about me? I am a killer! I'm worth less than dirt!'
You're right. A killer is only a killer. A killer can't be loved!
'But Sano..'
He's lying
"I'm not lying Kenshin." Sano said softly, as though he had read his thoughts, "you are the greatest man I've ever met. You're a warrior, and such a kind person....you deserve everything."
The rain ceased its incessant pounding and the lights of dawn broke through the clouds.
Glancing up at the sky, Kenshin sniffed and snuggled into Sano's embrace. "Arigatou, Sano."
Sano smiled down at him. "Come on, let's go inside. You'll freeze in those clothes."
"Aa." Kenshin murmured, sleep overcoming his mind in the aftermath.
"Mataku...." Sano swore affectionately at the sight of the sleeping red head in his arms. He slowly stood, gathering the precious bundle against his chest and making his way into the dojo.
'I'll never leave you alone in this, Kenshin. You may not want me, but I'll always be there.'
TBC..... Chapter 7: Repercussions of the Past