No More Treading Water
Kenshin rose his eyes for what seemed to be once since a very long time. Surprisingly enough, it was night, and someone was pressing their body against him, smuggling him.
"Oh Kenshin…"
Kenshin's strength started failing again and he could feel his eyes lids pulling down. Miss… Kaoru…?
------
He woke up yet again, as a warm wet cloth pressed itself upon his forehead. He looked up to see a woman covered in patches over him, treating to him.
"It seems that he has come back to his senses." She said, aloud.
Immediately, Sano, Yahiko, and Miss Kaoru appeared before his vision.
"Kenshin are you—"
"Hey, how'd you let—"
"—all right?"
"—someone get you like that—?"
"Ishimo was killed—" Yahiko said, pained, "He slaughtered him on the spot—"
Kenshin blinked, looking up at miss Yuki above him, "I… feel like I had been dreaming..."
"The assassin attacked as soon as they left." Yuki informed, "He must've caught you by surprise. It's even a miracle that you survived. Those marks across your chest are a big X. The shape of a double attack of the battousai."
Sano gulped, "Aye Kenshin—those marks look a lot like the one you gave Aoshi with your Hiten Mitsurugi attack… Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki."
"Whatever this Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki attack is…" Yuki said, "It made you numb for the entire night. I wasn't expecting you to wake up, ever."
"It's not possible to survive a double Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki without the weapon being a reverse blade sword, like my own." Kenshin said, "And then afterwards kill a boy using the same sword."
"Unless the sword was reversed for that purpose." Yuki said, plainly.
Kenshin weakly smiled at her, "I see. So how were you able to make it back safely?"
"I screamed out as soon as I saw you fall. Fortunately when your friends rushed back, this boy and Kamiya-chan, the assassin shifted targets and escaped through the shadows." She nudged her head towards Kaoru, "She was brave, she decided to stay with you while she sent this boy with me towards the Mirameki, because it was the closest sanctuary at the time."
Sano jumped in, "Yeah, when Yahiko went to the Mirameki, he told me all about everything. We decided to leave Yuki and Yon-san together in the Mirameki and we rushed as quickly as we could to Missy here. Luckily, when we went back she was still there."
"I… I told everyone to search for Ishimo. I let you stay in the nearest inn for safety, and we went out into the night."
"Miss Kaoru-!" Kenshin said, sitting up. However, he found his movement too rash. His chest began to start burning. He grasped it and winced in pain and spoke weakly, "That's dangerous. You knew the assassin had strength greater than mine. You shouldn't have—"
"We had to save the boy… after seeing how he already aimed for Yuki."
"I still don't understand why that coward wouldn't take us on right there." Sano said, "If he was so good why would he run just because of us?"
"Assassin's hide in the shadows and pick their prey one by one." Yuki said, "That way it is more unlikely for any witnesses to develop. One cannot underestimate the power of another. Therefore no chances are taken."
"Hey, how do you know all of this?" Kaoru asked.
"I was a little girl living in Kyotou during the revolution." She answered, apathetically, "Assassinations and endless manslaughter occurred endlessly, every night. After living in Kyotou for years, that is how I learned how to survive. Assassins such as the Battousai carry on such a pattern that I've seen it so much I can adapt to it."
"But… this isn't battousai we're dealing with." Kaoru said, pointing to Kenshin, "HE was battousai… ten years ago."
Yuki widened her eyes, "Oh?!" she blinked three times in a row, "He's not just some Ronin looking for a challenge?"
"No, Missy. The truth is that imposter that left that X across Kenshin's chest doesn't know who he's dealing with. This guy is the real thing."
"Is that so? I never would have guessed."
Kaoru gasped, "How old were you when you were living in Kyotou?"
"I was born in Kyotou. I've been living there for a long time."
"You said your parents were killed… is it possible it was…" she stopped.
"I don't remember." She said, "I was only six at the time. And the assassin was too fast for me to see. I was blinded by the blood of my mother as she splattered across the room."
"Ow." Sano said, acknowledging her words, "So you were only six back then? So how old are you…"
"17." She said plainly.
"17?" Kaoru blinked, "You're three years younger than me. You seem older though."
"My life is one that forces you to mature faster." She said coldly, "But if you wish to see my face…" she pulled off some bandages.
"Oh my god." Sano practically screamed, "I mean… wow…"
Kaoru turned red. Kenshin's eyes widened.
With her bandages off, she certainly looked 17 years old. Her skin seemed smooth and perfect, and even more, her eyes were shaped in a beautiful almond way. The only thing was what was in her eyes… which seemed like darkness.
There was also something that Kenshin didn't see, a cross-shaped scar.
Her eyes widened an inch as well, "Is there something wrong?" she asked.
Kenshin blinked, "Well… you look 17, that you do…"
"Thank you." She concealed her face again, "I actually put these bandages as a decoy. My real pain is in my legs, but I tend to cover my face all the time so perverts won't come after me."
"Nice plan…" Kaoru said, "I wish I was that attractive…" she blushed, "I mean… haha, what am I saying? It's not like I'm jealous or anything."
"Seems like it." Yahiko grunted.
"Hey, shh already!" Kaoru said, a little loudly, "Well, we thank you for reviving Kenshin back."
"He won't be able to be back to normal until a day." Yuki said, "If he tries anything too strainful, it may be fatal."
"Aren't we forgetting something?" Yahiko said, "Ishimo was assassinated last night!"
"We were just getting back to that." Sano protested, "Kenshin… the assassin knows the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Suitsuen. He used it perfectly in front of our faces."
"Yeah, right in front of us!" Yahiko yelled, "That cheap. He gives me a bad face. I've been training hard to mimic it, and he just pulled it off to assassinate someone."
"Yahiko, calm down, don't assume Kenshin knows everything about what happened yet." Kaoru said, "It's not like the assassin just used the Ryuu Suitsuen publicly for everyone to see."
"We saw him leap off the rooftop as soon as Ishimo left the Izure Midori. One slash, one Ryuu Suitsen. We were a couple of feet away." Sano continued.
"And then he fled…" Kaoru said, "We were all stunned. Blood was everywhere… splashed over a range of six feet."
"Yahiko was stunned for 3 hours after the incident." Sano said, "He couldn't believe what he saw. It was the first time we saw something so brutal."
Their faces looked very grieved for a moment. It seemed to Kenshin that the only reason they had regained any happiness at the moment was the joy of his revival.
"You have to get him, Kenshin." Sano said, "You only have three days to clear your name."
"Promise me you'll whack that guy hard." Yahiko said, looking at the ceiling, "I already hate his guts. More than ever."
"Now now…" Kenshin said, "That's no way to think about it."
Yahiko couldn't hold it any more. He blinked his eyes, tears streaming down them, and he glared at Kenshin, "You don't understand. He was just a kid, Kenshin, just a kid! And he died!"
Kenshin closed his eyes, "Yahiko-! I am aware of that, that I am. However, what is done is done, and killing someone out of revenge is no way to ease the pain. But you're right, justice must be done. I will make sure it is served." He laid back down, "I must rest. Tomorrow night I will face off the assassin and stop him. I would appreciate it if you all keep near tonight, that way the assassin will not be able to get me."
Sano, Kaoru, and Yahiko looked at each other.
"I will not be taken by surprise so easily next time." Kenshin assured them, "This time it will be open. One on one against the battousai." He coughed, and spoke weakly, "But I need my rest… I would like to be treated to in private."
They didn't need to ask, they already understood. Kenshin was in no mood to talk, they knew he wasn't in the mood at all. They left quickly and decided to go to a restaurant for some food to condolence their grief.
As soon as Yuki saw them leave from the window, she spoke.
"Why are you angry?" she asked blankly.
"Why did you save me?" Kenshin growled at her.
"I wanted you to feel the pain that I felt long ago." She said, coldly, "When you slew my parents in front of my eyes."
A deep wound from the past felt like it would erupt once again, but Kenshin blocked it. Pain was searing through Kenshin's senses, but he knew he made a vow with himself never to become battousai again.
"Do you wish to kill me?" she asked him, "Your friend definitely does, I see it in his eyes. Should I arrange a match with him?"
"No. It's me you want, not him." Kenshin said weakly, "Don't get anyone else involved in this."
"Do you think justice has been served?" she asked, her voice rising, "I certainly think we are far from it."
"Yuki… for the past eleven years I have thrown away the title of battousai. I am very much aware of my guilt… I made a vow never to kill again. Now the only purpose I live is to help those who need it."
"I am sorry. You've left me with a strong desire to kill you since 11 years ago. There isn't anything else I would want, no matter what you say. You ended my life that day, and the only reason I lived was to destroy you."
An old sense of pain hit Kenshin again. He had not felt this since 10 years ago, when he found out that his lover had turned her back on him to kill him. Kenshin's head automatically grew weaker, and he felt his weakness growing upon him.
"You're still young." Kenshin said, one last attempt to stop her, "Killing me won't do anything... you'll still feel that pain."
"I'm not as young as you think." She said, "I was 12 when you killed my parents. I'm really 23 years old and I still have a clear picture of the assassin in my mind."
"If you so wish to serve justice… why don't you do it?"
"That's why I kept you alive." She said, a hint of joy in her voice, "It doesn't pain me to assassinate children in the night. But it does to you—"
"Stop! Enough already!" Kenshin said, "Why are you doing this—?"
"I think you're right; about what you told the boy." Yuki said softly, "Killing isn't the way to do it. It must be worse than that. That way justice is served." She grinned evilly and pulled off her bandages, revealing her face.
"Maybe this is what I deserve…" Kenshin said softly, "I'm sorry that I killed your parents. But this isn't justice, you're only washing away blood with more blood!" tears were streaming down his face.
"You're right." She said, caressing his face, wiping his tears, leaning towards him, "If you don't want me to kill Yahiko tonight, I won't. Only if you do one thing."
"I promised I would not do any sense of injustice or kill again."
She smiled, "It doesn't deal with that." she leaned towards his ear and whispered something to him. Kenshin's eyes closed and he choked. His mind was unclear, his guilt was overwhelming him more than ever.
"… or not the boy dies tonight."
Kenshin blinked, "… you're willing to give up your body to the one who killed your parents?"
"You say you live for justice, but you don't seem like it." She said coldly
". . . I believe I shall pay for my crimes…" he said, "…however, I want you to know that I'm not going to participate in this for the sake of Yahiko. It is oblivious to the fact that you will get what you want with or without my volition."
"Good…" She smiled, "Then ease my heart… make love to me."
"On the promise… I will face you in three days once more in order to stop you once and for all."
She smiled more, showing her teeth "I accept… hitokiri battousai, the man-slayer." she went over the window and closed the shutters…
Kenshin closed his eyes shut. I'm sorry… Miss Kaoru…
------
"How's it possible…" Kaoru asked again, "How can someone else know the Hiten Mitsurugi style?"
A flashback from the day before replayed itself before their eyes. That god-like speed, that clean smooth move… the assassination.
Tears slid across Yahiko's cheeks as he recalled the loud scream of Ishimo as the blade split him apart and spurted out across the dirt. The blur as the assassin, whom they had seen as only a glimpse of dark blue and black jumped back into the rooftops. Sano leaped up as well, but there was no more sign. By the time anyone else had reached the scene, it was too late. Ishimo had died and the assassin was gone.
When Sano, Kaoru, and Yahiko reached the Mirameki, Yon san had already died, and Yuki was sitting next to him, pressing her hand upon his forehead with a sincere look on her face. When she was informed on what had happened, she did nothing, as if she knew it was inevitable, and instead demanded where Kenshin was. When they told her they left him at an inn she got angry and scolded them and insisted immediately to be taken to Kenshin in order to treat him.
That night they lit the candles and lay Kenshin on a matt. Two deep wounds engraved themselves across his chest, yet there was no sign of blood whatsoever. Yuki ordered for a clean cloth and some hot water. They removed the top of Kenshin's kimono and treated his chest. Afterwards they stayed up all night, worrying endlessly.
It was one of Kaoru's scariest moments in her life. She thought that Kenshin would not make it. Even Sano, convinced that a double Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki was fatal enough judging that with just one strike it was enough to take someone out. Yahiko was the only one who had no doubt that Kenshin was too strong to be destroyed so easily.
"There's only one way to find out." Sano said, taking a bite out of some of the fried fish before him, "We have to confront Kenshin's master again."
"We can't leave Kenshin here, though." Kaoru said, "He's…" she covered her mouth, tears dripped down her face, "He's weak…" she said in a high-pitched voice.
"If there's anything I know about Kenshin…" Yahiko said, "He's bound to recover quicker than we can imagine. He's probably reached half of his strength back already. We can start going to Kyotou later today."
"Don't be so rash." Sano said quickly, "That double attack rendered him helpless. Although he's gained conscious, he's still not going to move until another few hours."
"You under-rate Kenshin, SANO!" Yahiko started to yell, "He's the best!"
"If he was so good then why was he caught off guard?!" Sano shouted.
"Because the assassin knows Hiten Mitsurugi!" Kaoru screamed at them. Both of them stopped fighting and looked at her, eyes wide open, "From all the battles Kenshin has fought, he has never fought anyone who used his style. Nevertheless expected anyone else to know about the ultimate attack! I bet if he knew he wouldn't have been caught off guard!"
"Even if he fought the assassin, none of this makes any sense." Sano said, "Because as Kenshin said before, the only way he could've survived that attack is if the assassin used a reverse blade sword." He paused, "Or in this case, two reverse blade swords."
"Unless it was reversed for that purpose." Kaoru repeated… her voice growing still.
"Wait! What does that mean?!" Yahiko protested.
"Hmm… I see. After all that's happened, it's only obvious." Sano said, making a serious voice, "The assassin isn't just killing for the heck of it. He's doing it on purpose in order to draw Kenshin towards him."
"How though?" Kaoru asked, "Sano… why would…?"
"When I was talking to Yon-san before he died." Sano said, angered, "There was something unusual about how he said the assassin killed those ten shinsengumi members two days ago."
"What do you mean?"
"It wasn't from stealth."
"HuH? But then how..?"
"It was arranged. The Shinsengumi had their swords, and they were dressed up. It took place in the meadow beyond the village. Yon-san was just happening to return from the village after seeing his grandmother when it occurred."
"And what did he see?"
"It seemed to be a battle. He was caught in the onslaught… sliced through the chest. He only pretended to be dead. He must've done a good job at it… by the time Ishimo had informed the police about the fight, they were able to recover him."
"Where does Ishimo come in?"
"I don't know… we'll never know. But according to Yuki, he saved her life because the assassin went after him instead of her. He was able to make it to the police… which means he must've been considerably close to this village at the time.
"But what would both of them be doing during that night?" Kaoru asked.
"That's my point." Sano said, clenching his fist "I figure… miss Yuki seems to be a little out of place. I don't trust her." He paused, "No, I don't."
"Sano!" Kaoru protested immediately.
"I'm going to have a little talk with her." He said, "Even if she did live in Kyotou during the revolution, it's impossible for her to survive twice after two nights of the assassinations."
"No, don't! We all know that she just revived Kenshin—"
"I don't give a damn. Something stinks, I smell a rat." Sano said, "Yon san was a good man. He didn't deserve to die."
"Ishimo was still a child, there was no excuse for him to die like that." Yahiko said, "If Yuki has anything she's hiding, I say we find it."
"Kenshin was injured, but because of Yuki he's still alive! What more could we ask for? Kenshin…"
"Kenshin was a manslayer and killed thousands of people during the revolution." Sano said, "Even he knows that he puts the innocent's life ahead of his. Stop being so possessive. Kenshin acts with so much valor it's only right to follow his example and stop making excuses."
"…" Kaoru stopped, "Fine. We'll ask her more about it." She said, "Let's go."
"Afterwards." Sano said, "When he's healed we have to rush to Kyotou to his master."
"Is that necessary?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes." He said, "We need to see who we're dealing with. Not even Kenshin knows about this person he's dealing with. For all we know, he could be…"
"We know that he's not some fraud." Kaoru said, "He pulled off the ultimate attack. Only a trained student can master such an attack."
"But we don't know his story, or anything about him." Sano said, "Or if he has a secret pact with Yuki."
"I don't know why you would even think of such a thing!" Kaoru yelled at him, "You jerk! Yuki wouldn't have saved Kenshin last night if she wanted him dead."
"Don't be so blind!" Sano said, his eyes wide open, giving a scary face, "Maybe she didn't want him dead! We don't even know her. Trusting her would be like offering to shake hands with Shishio."
Yahiko grinned, "I know she wears patches, but I doubt she's that dangerous."
Sano made a face, "I didn't mean for it to be a joke. For all we know she could be that dangerous. Let's go."
------
"They're coming…" Yuki moaned and stared down at Kenshin, whose eyes were still closed, "Thank you… I have never screamed in so much delight in my life."
"I promise it will be your last." Kenshin said, snapping his eyes open, "That it will."
------
The door slammed open.
"Hey!" Sano called out, "Miss Yuki, we need to talk."
She was kneeling beside Kenshin, patting his forehead with the damp cloth, "Yes? Is there something you needed?"
"Yeah." Sano said, taking a bold step forward, "I have some questions."
"It seems your chat with Yon-san has arose some suspicions about me."
"Yeah, it has. Like how it just so happens that you were able to survive twice without getting as much as a scratch on your body."
"Well, doesn't it so happen that I am a survivor of the Kyotou Revolution? I hope that it doesn't come as a surprise to you that I am used to this."
"Yeah, but that was 11 years ago, and you're injured. Or are you?!"
"I'll admit I'm better off than you think, but that's none of your business."
"I think it is." Sano said, his voice growing, "Because I don't trust you. Your heart is cold, like an assassin's."
She blinked and smiled, "I must implore you, sir, you are sounding quite awkward. You mustn't remember the way I acted when I found out you abandoned your friend?"
"Our friend is battousai, most likely the man who killed your parents." Sano said.
"Sano!" Kaoru said, "That's enough, you're assuming too much!"
"Quiet!" Sano said, "That'd give you even more of a reason to lead him here so he could fight with the assassin. From what I think, you may be working along-side this guy, for revenge against Kenshin!"
She blinked, "I'd say, that is quite a wonderful theory." She said plainly, "Except the fact that I was only six at the time. There is no way I would recall anything about my parents assassin at such an early age…"
"Lies." Yahiko yelled, "I'm eleven, and I'd say I could remember someone's face when I was six!"
Her eyes shot open, peering into Yahiko's as a conviction, shocking him, "Oh is that so, little boy? Have you ever witnessed an assassination when you were six? Have you even recalled the assassin's face from the night before?"
Yahiko was taken aback, "Well… I… no…"
"And you are what? Eleven?"
Sano took another step forward, "Don't look at him like that." He spat, "We aren't putting a mark on you, we're just suspicious, so don't take it out on us if we touch a soft spot!"
Her eyes went back to normal, shaping back into that soft, cold, beautiful almond shape, "Oh sorry, my past is just such a distressing issue."
"Yeah, but let's get back to two nights ago. What were you doing, why were you out there so late at night?"
"None of that is your concern."
"What was that?" he stepped forward again, now they were almost face to face, considering that Sano was considerably taller than her.
"Stop, Sano—!" Miss Kaoru said.
"I said it was none of your business." She said coldly. Sano couldn't help it anymore. He took a swing at her face.
SmAsH!
"Ugh!" she said, taking a step back, holding her lips.
"Sano! STOP!" Kaoru said, "What are you doing?!"
"We need to know! Ishimo is dead! Yon-san is dead! You're the only one left who can tell us anything else!" Sano said, clenching his fist, "Maybe you don't fear the assassin, but you'll start getting afraid of me if you keep acting like that!"
"I don't fear death." She said coldly, "And I'm not telling you anything."
"Don't worry, I'll make you-" Sano said, gritting his teeth, raising his fist.
"NO SANO! She's only 17!"
"I…DoN'T…CARE!" he said, swinging his fist, connecting with Yuki's stomach, the impact of the force causing her to fly back to slam across the wall against the window. The force was enough to break the window. She sat up against the wall, her legs spread out forward ahead of her.
She looked up at him and made an evil smile, blood dripping down her mouth, "I hope you're happy."
"I'm far from it!" Sano said, running up to her, kicking her face.
"UggGHHhh!" she said, her head snapping upward from the force.
"Sano! Stop already!" Kaoru shouted, "Stop!" she took out her wooden training sword, which was strapped on her back, "I said stop Sano! NOW!" she stomped on the ground as she took her stance, causing a loud sound to echo across the room. Sano and Yahiko both looked back at her.
Sano was still breathing hard, "You're a tough one, missy." He said, to both of them, "Look, we NEED that information."
"Stop or else." Kaoru said her sword poised to fight.
"Or else, what?" Sano said, turning to face her.
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Kenshin Ending Theme Song…