Battousai Reborn.
Chapter 1.
Cause and Effect.
Synopsis: What happens when Kenshin Himura finally loses control?
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Into the sunset he ran quickly towards the mountains. "I'm coming, Kaoru!" he thought to himself, "I'm coming to save you!"
Earlier…
"What did you say, Sano?" interrogated Kaoru.
"Uhh, your cooking is horrible … that's what I said!" replied Sano, who already began running, knowing that Kaoru would've picked up anything in reach to throw at him.
Instead, she calmly turned around and walked back into the kitchen where she found Kenshin doing the dishes.
"Oh, Kenshin, my koishii, you don't have to do that," she said, "Remember, this is your home now too."
"I know Kaoru," he responded quickly, "but I feel as though I should at least help out around the house."
Not a few months earlier, Kenshin had defeated Shi Shio and the Juppon Gatana. He now remained secluded in his new home. Kaoru had become more than a friend to him as she told him her feelings towards him and they were engaged to be married.
A few minutes later, Sano returned back. With him, was a familiar face.
"Saitou!" exclaimed Kenshin, "It's great to see you again."
"It's nice to see you too, Himura," he replied.
Sano explained to the household, which included Yahiko, that he literally ran into Saitou in the road and decided to bring him to see everyone. (In Sano's mind still lay the will to fight with Saitou, to get his rematch that he wanted for such a long time.)
After a few hours of reminiscing, Kaoru finally remembered that she had to cook dinner. She asked Kenshin to go catch some fish in the nearby river. Kenshin agreed and went to fetch his fishing pole and some bait. He walked out with a smile on his face, not knowing that his smile would soon fade. A few minutes after Kenshin left, Saitou told Sano that he was ready for their long-awaited battle. Sano jumped up in joy, as this was his chance to finally show everyone that he was stronger than Saitou. The two fighters went into the dojo, followed by Kaoru and Yahiko, the two spectators.
"You ready to be defeated, Sanosuke?" intimidated Saitou.
"Yeah…rite!" was Sano's reply.
Kaoru and Yahiko stood in the sidelines. Anxiously awaiting the beginning of the battle, Yahiko was easily losing his patience.
"Well start the fight already!" he shouted obnoxiously.
Knowing his true motive, Saitou thought to himself, "I've got no time to lose!"
Saitou steadied himself into his usual stance, sword drawn out in front of him, directly pointing to Sano's forehead. Before the next second could pass, Saitou leapt into action and flung himself across the floors of the dojo, quickly advancing towards Sanosuke. Sano watched intensely and waited for the last nanosecond to jump out of the way. He then spun around with fists flying at Saitou's side. Saitou saw it coming and reacted to dodge the oncoming blows.
"Pretty slick!" cried Sano.
"You're not too bad yourself --- but I'm still the better of the both of us, so there's no way you can beat me!" Saitou wittingly replied.
He hadn't even waited before he pulled forth his sword and went into another of his deadly stances. He saw Sano in his mind and the path of his motion to follow and then sprang into action. This time he successfully stabbed Sano in his right knee. Sano then fell to the floor, blood seeping from his wound. He got up once more, as he was determined to win, and faced Saitou.
"Give up Sanosuke!" shouted Saitou, "I'll kill you if I have to!"
"Never!" was Sano's response.
Sano watched down at his injured knee and realized he had to end this fight now before things got more complicated than they already were. He quickly drew up his strength and ran toward Saitou with his fists ready to send flying. He aimed directly for Saitou's forehead as this was everyone's weak point. Saitou predicted what he would do and easily counter attacked, striking Sano with such force and skill that he went flying straight through the wall of the dojo and out into the open. Sano struggled to pick himself off the floor but fell again. He was bleeding profusely all over and was down for the count. Saitou laughed maniacally and then faced the young samurai's son.
"You're next!" he said.
Kaoru was in shock. She couldn't believe what she just had heard and shouted back at Saitou.
"What do you want, Saitou?" she asked.
"I want you, Kaoru. You're the only one Himura would fight for. He would fight as himself to save you, his real self," he replied. "I want to fight the man-slayer and I finally figured out how I can get that opportunity!"
Kaoru then told him to leave Yahiko alone and to just take her. Saitou declined.
"I need to show Himura that I am very serious. So I'm sorry Yahiko but you're gonna have to take a beating, just like Sano did," Saitou explained.
"Yeah! I'm ready! Come and get me you big moron!" mockingly shouted Yahiko.
Saitou flung forward and then went into his position in midair and struck Yahiko with a force equal to that impacted upon Sano. Yahiko spat out blood as he rolled across the dirty ground and then came to a stop next to the wall, his face buried in the dirt.
"Yahiko!" Kaoru shouted.
"It's no use," said Saitou, "he's out of the count. But don't worry, someone will find them both and take good care of them. Now you must come with me!
"Oh, I almost forgot. I must leave a note for Himura to know exactly what happened here because those two won't be able to speak, or do anything for that matter, for a little while," murmured Saitou.
Himura, I've got your most prized possession in this world of yours. Come alone in 3 days to the riverside at Mount Fiji and you will be allowed to fight for your chance to free her. I expect you to be at your best for your best will not be good enough to defeat me. Signed, Saitou Hajime.
Kaoru and Saitou departed.
About an hour later, Kenshin returned home.
"Kaoru! I'm back!" he shouted into the empty dojo. "Anybody home?"
No one answered and Kenshin began to search around the dojo. He noticed the huge hole in the wall where Sano was flung through and rushed outside. There he saw Sano and Yahiko still lying motionless, but alive, on the ground.
"Sano! Yahiko!" he shouted.
Kenshin felt the anger raging within him. He had been in control of it for so long but he felt as though he would soon lose it. He breathed slowly and got back his senses. He watched across at Yahiko, and on him was the note Saitou had left. After Kenshin read the note, he ran to Megumi to come take care of Sano and Yahiko. Megumi readily accepted and rushed back to the dojo with him.
"I must go now," Kenshin told Megumi. "I've got something to take care of."
"Just be careful Kenshin," Megumi replied, "Remember you're still not in good enough health for a major battle."
Kenshin knew that what she said was true but he did not have time to recover enough. Kaoru needed him and he needed her. He decided, without reluctance, that he would take the chance of not coming back alive, for without Kaoru in his life, he had no reason to live.
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Author's Notes: I was bored lol…that's all! But still I can see some more chapters of this story in my mind already. Any suggestions/ideas are welcomed.