Omega's Alpha

Three days later…

Miss Megumi smiled at Kenshin, "Everything is back to normal sir Ken." She told him, happily, "Your body is in optimal condition." Her smile disappeared quickly, "Promise… promise me that you won't hurt yourself too much."

Kenshin sighed, "Miss Megumi?"

"Yes, Kenshin?"

"I feel like I have to end somebody's life… that is in much pain, frustration, confusion, and torture. What do you think about my thought?"

Megumi winced, "Definitely… ending their life is ok. But… killing… on the other hand… I would think would not be alright."

Kenshin nodded, "I thought so as well." He paused, "The only question is… how do you end somebody's life if you don't kill them?"

Miss Megumi made a sad face, "I'm sorry, I can't… think of anything right now. But I'm pretty sure there is something that you can do."

Kenshin took a deep breath, "I can't kill… the assassin." He said.

"Then stop him."

"I… can't stop the assassin."

"Why not, sir Ken?!"

"Because the assassin lives… to destroy me." He walked away from her, "My mind is still not clear." He said, "I thought I would come to think of something, but I've realized that I can't. There is no answer."

"Some answers…" Miss Megumi said, "Weren't meant to be known to us." She said, "But you must have faith in your decision."

"Thank you." Kenshin said smiling, "I am thankful, that I am."

Miss Megumi closed her eyes and smiled back gently at him, "Your welcome, it's all I can really do… afterall."

"I've been training Sano… also. He's gotten really better, that he has."

"I'm sure." Megumi said, "He went to the waterfall north from here this morning. He's been meditating there ever since."

Kenshin smiled, "He will be able to help me… most definitely."

"It's nice to have a lot of friends to help you out."

"Yes… that, it is."

"Are you sure you'll be able to meet with the assassin today?" she asked, "I mean, he hasn't appeared for the entire week."

"I know where he lurks." Kenshin said, "I've known all along, where the assassin has been." Miss Megumi's eyes widened, "I think we made a compromise to not fight each other until I was ready." He closed his eyes, "It's time."

------

As Sano started to walk back to town, a mysterious figure cloaked in the shadows, underneath a tree, loomed before him.

"Saitou, is that you?!" Sano called out, "Look, I don't have time, I've rested this whole day just so I could recover all my strength."

"No, I am not Saitou." The mysterious figure said, holding out two blades before him, "But I've seen your training, it's efficient only if it works on the real thing." Aoshi Shinamuri stepped out from underneath the tree, revealing himself.

"Shinamuri?!" Sano made a face, "What do you want now?"

"Only to test your skills." Aoshi said, "Which seems impressive."

Sano suddenly went into stance, "Ok, you're on." He said, smiling, "I can't wait to try out my new moves! I'm so fast now!"

Aoshi made a face, "Enough talk. Do not compare yourself to the battousai, you are still much farther away from him."

"Who said I was comparing myself…?"

"Let's go… Zanza!"

The name rang a bell to Sano as Aoshi lunged. Right away, Sano's body was energized, and he found himself twisting and turning, avoiding all of Aoshi's attacks.

"You have no sword, so it is impossible for you to block… which makes it easier to attack with both swords at the same time!" He lunged and made an "X" with his double kodachi's.

Sano made a high kick, sending the gripped blades up above Aoshi's head.

"Impressive." He said, "So you haven't forgotten that counter from last night."

"As long as it works." Sano grinned.

Aoshi launched again, this time, performing his Kaiten Kenbu attack. Sano was able to dodge all these attacks at once.

"HA!" He screamed in joy, "how's that?! And that's your best attack!"

"Slowed down by 1/3." Aoshi said, coldly, "Enough, you are finished." He turned away from him, "You'll be prepared for whatever's coming at you. That's for sure."

Sano ran up to him, "Hey, but why are you here? Did Missy reach Kyotou and inform you about--?"

"Yes, she told us a little too much, if you ask me." He said, cooly, "This assassin will not be strong enough to hold back all of us if we attack at once. The Wolf of Mibu, The Battousai, and myself alone would be enough to destroy him."

"Well… it's a shame." He paused, "Hey… we've been worrying all along where Missy has been."

"Even the battousai?"

"Kenshin assumed that Sir Hiko made Missy go through a tremendous task before giving her his information." Sano said, "Kenshin said… because his master is just like that. He said he knows him."

"I see. Well, I can answer you." From behind the same tree, Shuura, Misao, Sir Okina, and the other three members of the Aoya, appeared. Some stepping from behind, others jumping from the branches above.

"Wow." Sano said, amazed.

"We all wanted to see the show." Sir Okina said, "I'm terribly sorry if you think we're intruding."

"Shuura?" Sano asked, more surprised of her appearance.

"It's been awhile, Sanosuke Sagara." Shuura bowed nicely, "I met Miss Kamiya on her trip to Kyotou. I've been accompanying everyone ever since."

"Well… this is definitely overkill." Sano said, "I mean it…"

"Yes." Aoshi said, obviously, "Don't tell Kenshin, but we'll be watching his fight from behind. If he needs our help, we'll be there to back him up."

"Where's Missy, though?"

"She's still with Sir Hiko." Misao said, "She's… probably done with her task though, by now. Whatever he wanted her to do, she must've done already."

"Good, then we can finally find out the identity of the assassin."

"She should be arriving sometime today."

"I'm glad…"

------

As the sun began to set, Kenshin began to walk towards the snow arena, where he had first fought Yuki before. Saitou and Sano followed behind him.

"Missy's not here yet." Sano suddenly said while walking, "We still don't know the origin of who we're fighting."

"It's alright." Kenshin said, "I have my own hunch already."

"I guess it's alright." Sano said, "Well, at least she won't stress herself too much. She would if she were here."

Kenshin stopped, "We're here."

The wind started to rise. As a que, the sun began to finally settle down, and the afternoon sky was painted a dark red across the earth.

"How do you know he's here?" Saitou asked, "And if he does show, let me fight him first. I've got a score to settle. He's been slaughtering those ten Shinsengumi like it was nothing. I will owe them their revenge."

"Be careful, Saitou… she has…"

"Don't worry, I'll save the death strike to you." Saitou grinned, and glanced at Sano "Or you, boy, if 'Kenshin Himura' doesn't have the heart to do so."

"Look Saitou, I'm not one to kill either!"

"Ok, then don't complain after I'm done, I already warned you and gave you each a chance. Now live with it, while I have all the fun."

They finally reached their destination and stopped. By this time, a supreme cold began to emenate throughout the area. A light snow was falling overhead, and the sky was now white as it sprinkled snowflakes over the three men.

The light dimmed a little, and for a moment there was a silent hush over the area. Then a figure stepped out into the snow. Wearing a dark blue kimono, two swords slabbed over the waist, hair styled up like that of the young Kenshin.

"I must admit." Saitou said, in a suppressed voice, "If it wasn't for my common sense, I would think you were the battousai. Except…" he glanced at the figure, "your hair, and no scar."

The assassin remained silent and took a step towards them, imprinting a footstep into the snow. There was no words, or no expressions. Just silence.

"You're right." Kenshin said, "He does resemble me."

"No…" Sano said, "But… he looks… like someone else."

"Enough talk!" Saitou said, "It seems he's not interested in words." He reversed his blade, "The spirit of the battousai resenates within you… I can sense that same feeling of hatred and merciless cruelty." He laughed, "I will finally settle my score, with YOU!"

He lunged, his Gatotsu slicing through the air. The assassin drew his katana from one side and blocked it easily. Saitou flung his sword again, horizontally, while the assassin used another hand to draw his other sword, blocking it twice. Then the assassin used both blades and twirled it in such a way like uncrossing an "X", causing Saitou's sword to fly out of his hands and plunge itself into a tree 5 meters away from them.

"Gatotsu is easy." The assassin said. Saitou looked up and widened his eyes.

"I never expected…" he said normally, yet, blinking, "It's preposterous."

"Yes." The assassin said, "It's me. Can't you recognize my voice?"

Saitou's eyes narrowed, "Trying to match the skill of a man. Your effort is futile!" he slid backwards, to where his sword was, in a flash, and drew it out of the trunk, as Sano gasped, "Yet, your technique is remarkable. I see that I can no longer fight you like I had fought the battousai before."

"I am two times better than him." She said, her eyes focused on his, speaking coldly, "You stand no chance. If you continue you will perish."

"You are almost exactly like him." Saitou said, "This is good, I'll enjoy destroying you, whether you are a man or not."

The assassin laughed, "I've found the leader of the den. The wolf of Mibu has finally arrived. Although a vicious beast, he is obsolete to a human."

"Yuki?!" Sano screamed out. He looked at Kenshin, who didn't react, "Kenshin, did you know?"

Kenshin nodded, "I found out a few days ago that she was trained in the Hiten Mitsurugi."

Saitou lunged again, this time, slashing with all his might, trying to penetrate the two swords. She blocked calmly, sometimes with one, sometimes with both swords.

"Damn it!" Sano said, "If Saitou's even having trouble, then how will I do against her?!" he started sweating, "I've been preparing all this time… but if Saitou can't even…"

Saitou executed three Gatotsu's at once, causing sparks to fly as both swords of hers blocked the attacks. "ARRRGH!" He yelled, slashing at one of her swords, causing it to sway away from her body, and reversed his slash immediately, aiming towards her chest. It seemed that he was sure to catch her that time, and he did.

Unfortunately, only part of her kimono was ripped, the drape from beneath her arm. "Urgh." She said, "Annoying…"

"You have no strength!" Saitou exclaimed, "It's useless to keep blocking."

Yuki laughed, "I've just been warming up this whole time."

Saitou began slashing through again. Horizontally, Diagonally, and Vertically. Before his first blow came close enough, all in a split second she had spun her blades 180 degrees forward, and then in a flash right after sheathed both swords inside their sheaths without even the outmost effort. Then she began to dodge.

"No!" Sano said, "That's my thing!"

"You are a fool!" Saitou shouted, as he lunged more attacks her way.

"Ya think?" She winked at him.

Yuki laughed evilly as she continued to dodge all of Saitou's strikes. Then, just as he was about to perform the ground zero attack on her, she did a jumping high kick that connected straight towards his chin. It knocked his head back. Still in mid-air, she unsheathed one of her swords.

"NOOOO!" Sano screamed.

It was too late. Saitou yelled out in pain as she impaled him through his shoulder. Then she pulled the sword back out, the same way it went in, leaving the hole in his shoulder. Saitou looked at her, anger in his eyes.

"Your attacks are very fast. I realized I had to do something before I made a mistake." She turned her head away from him, "Your right shoulder is injured, you won't be able to fight with the same power."

Saitou laughed, "This cut is nothing." He said, "You've been toying around all along. You've watched our midnight training. I expected that." He smiled, "But I never went all out, to let you know."

"You will die." She said, "Don't get in my way. Himura is mine."

"You are mine." He said, holding his Gatotsu. She stood in stance. He lunged again.

"Fast!" Kenshin said, shocked at the speed.

As she blocked, her swords flew back, one of them left her hand.

"All right!" Sano said, "I knew he wasn't going to go down easily."

"One on one!" Saitou yelled, "HuuuAAAAH!" He lunged quicker than before. In the background, Kenshin blinked, his eyes filled with a nostalgic, ineffable, trance.

"It's like in the revolution." He said, "Exactly like in the revolution." It seemed like his eyes were elsewhere, in the past. Sano looked at Kenshin.

He's really trying his best Sano thought, looking back at Saitou, as he and Yuki countered each other again and again. Block—strike! Block—strike-strike- block-counter! He thought to himself, reading their attacks. Good, I think I can react to her attacks if I ever get to fight her.

"Enough!" Yuki said, and made a quick sidekick, and then slashing at Saitou across the chest. Saitou leapt back.

"Saitou, take a break!" Sano said, "Let me get a shot at her while you rest!"

"Fool, the wolf of Mibu never retreats." He said, "I'll take one more attack, and if it doesn't penetrate, I'll leave the rest to you." he faced Yuki, "That is the way, of a death match."

Sano choked, "This is his last resort…"

"Gatotsu, ZERO STYLE!"

The sword engraved itself into the ground.

"Too slow." Yuki said. She crossed both her swords, intersecting both like an X into Saitou's sword, breaking it in half. Then she did something that Sano thought she'd never do. She did a Gatotsu, exactly like how Saitou had done to him the first time they met, and plunged her sword through his other shoulder, and sending him back, 'nailing' him to the tree.

"Urg!" Saitou's eyes closed. Yuki pulled the sword out of the tree, and out of Saitou, and he fell onto the ground, motionless.

"NO! Saitou!" Sano said, "URRRGHHH!" He looked at Yuki.

She smiled at him, "Hahahaha. He was your mentor, now wasn't he?" she chuckled wickedly, "I'm glad I could supply you with some pain as well."

"If only I knew better…" Sano said, "I would have hit you a lot more harder a week ago!" he made a grunt, "I thought it was a dream… but it wasn't! That was YOUR face that shined when the lightning struck the night I fought you!"

"That's most correct, Sanosuke Sagara." She said, she smiled, "I couldn't fight you back then, so you were able to strike me as much as you wanted. You should be honored." She threw down her swords onto the ground, "You were planning to disarm me, but you don't have to worry about that this time. I'll face you without fear."

Sano made a face, "I'll pulverize you!"

"Sano… don't take her lightly." Kenshin said, "If you do, she may destroy you."

"No, she won't, Kenshin." Sano said, between grit teeth, "I'll make sure she gets what she needed all along. A Futae no Kiwami to the sucker!" He rushed at her.

He threw a punch, and as she blocked it with both hands, as he expected, he went one step further and delivered and bone-shattering head-butt to her forehead.

"uH!" she said, her head moving back, "New…"

"You feel dizzy yet?!" Sano screamed, delivering a combo of attacks. She smiled, and dodged all of them.

"My heads alright, thank you." She said, socking him straight in the jaw, then kneeing his groin.

"URGH!" Sano's eyes shot open.

She side-kicked his face, causing him to arch back. As he was doing so, she grabbed him by the collar, pulling him back to her.

"You're a very interesting, handsome, man." She said, "I'll admit. But you're just-too-weak!" she head-butted his face, as hard as she could. Sano felt pain, all over his face. His nose was definitely going to start bleeding, and his lip had been cut as the impact crushed his lip into his teeth, making a long cut from within his inner lip.

His face landed straight into the snow

"If you weren't going to die, you'd have at least two black eyes and a distorted lip tomorrow." She said.

Sano rose, "Screw you." He said, spitting blood out of his mouth.

Yuki laughed, "Now you look as crappy as your technique."

"Sano, that's enough." Kenshin said.

"It's alright, Kenshin." Sano said, "I'll be fine."

"Here." Yuki said, "I'm so nice I'll let you return the favor. Free shot, anywhere." She said, convincingly.

"Fine." Sano said, walking towards her. She showed no signs of attack.

"SANO, don't!" Kenshin said.

"It's alright." Sano said, one of his eyes was so sore that it was slightly slanted, "I'll land a good hit on her."

"Sano, with all due respect…"

"Let him do what he wants." A voice called from behind him. Kenshin's eyes widened.

"Aoshi…" Kenshin muttered, "Shinamuri…"

"Someone new?" Yuki tilted her head, "You don't suppose it'll make a difference, do you?"

"Worry about me first." Sano stepped up towards her again. They looked at each other into the eyes.

"One free punch, go ahead, I'll let you."

Sano blinked. Kenshin looked straight ahead at them, eyes blinking. He wanted to warn Sano somehow, or something. But he knew he had to let Sano do this on his own. This was a man's battle.

"FUTAE NO KIWAMI!" Sano screamed, and punched upwards towards her face.

Right before the punch fully extended, Yuki twirled, and while she did so, executed a grab technique that would reverse the attack.

That was supposed to reverse the attack.

When she looked back, she realized a split second before she launched her reversal that Sano had not aimed for her face, but only right next to it! Her arm that was meant to grab his fist went directly towards thin air. She gasped in shock.

"I knew it! You BITCH!" Sano yelled, copying the way of the Gatotsu and swinging his fist horizontally, catching the side of her head, "I kNeW you were going to do something like that!" upon collision, she cried out in pain, and fell sideways into the snow.

She immediately sprung up, tears in her eyes, "You—dirty—scum!" she screamed back at him.

"It seems that I was smarter than you thought." Sano said, "Aiming at the air right next to your face, making you believe that I was actually going to strike you!" he made a smirk, "I knew what you would do because of what you did to Saitou!" he shouted.

"Hmph… You're better than I thought." she said, wiping her tears, "For that, you'll be joining him." She lunged at him and disappeared. Sano stood still.

She reappeared, behind him, with both swords on her.

"Damn it." Sano said, taking up a stance.

"Rest." Aoshi said, from behind Kenshin, "You and the battousai are connected to her emotions, which makes you a very important figure."

Sano looked sideways, "Aoshi!"

"It is my turn to take this battle." He said, stepping forward.

"I'm not finished with him." Yuki said, calmly at him, "If you wish to get in my way, you will definitely not live to see the light of day."

"We will see about that."

"Ok" She faced Aoshi, "HERE!" without warning, she lunged at Sano, with incredible speed, elbowing him straight in the chest, causing him to fly towards them. Sano choked, and blood flew out of his mouth. He landed a few feet before them.

"Let him rest, in peace." She said, regaining her calm, as Sano twisted in agony upon the snow. She started giggling.

"Sano!" Kenshin ran over and kneeled down to him.

"Kenshin…" Sano coughed out blood, "I'm… sorry…" his eyes closed.

"SANO!"

"He's still alive, battousai." Aoshi said, who was now stepping closer to Yuki, "You know that. Now's not the time to get angry over nothing. You vowed not to become the battousai. If you didn't for our reunion, you would dishonor our battle by becoming the battousai in this situation."

"I know… Aoshi…" Kenshin said, his voice cracking with anger, "I promise, I won't…"

"Good."

Aoshi stepped forward and faced Yuki.

"From seeing the past battles, I know that you haven't been hurt… physically, as of yet." He said, "Only mentally, by underestimating your opponent."

"I'm not Shishio." Yuki said, "But those two blows did hurt, I admit." She looked over to Kenshin, "Letting all your friends do all the dirty work before jumping in?"

"The reason…" Aoshi said, "That the Battousai is stronger than you, is because he has a lot more friends than you do."

"I disagree." Yuki said, "If he was truly stronger he'd fight me himself."

"Aoshi… I appreciate your concern, but she's right." Kenshin said, "I came to fight her. Saitou and Sano went first because they had matters to take care of. I promised them they would have the chance to take part of this battle on my behalf."

"I see."

"Let me take care of this." Kenshin said.

"You overexert yourself." Aoshi told him, "Unlike you, this woman hasn't been fighting for 11 years in a row. If you look at the situation accurately, you've been more strained that she has."

"Aoshi—"

"Miss Kamiya was crying when she went to the Aoya." Aoshi continued, "In regards to you. She said she heard from her friend that the next time you'd fight someone like Shishio, you were unlikely to survive. So please understand… this is only because she wants you alive."

"Aoshi."

"That's why we came, to release the burden from you." He said, "Right now, your body is refreshed, but your mind is not. We've been watching you."

Kenshin blinked, "…we've…?"

"Yes… Himura." Okina, Misao, and Shuura jumped down from separate trees, in the background.

"You have someone who cares for you, very much." Shuura said, "That's why she went on her own, for your sake!"

"We'll do whatever we can to make sure you won't die!" Misao said.

Kenshin's eyes widened, "I must implore you all, this is my fight!" he said, loudly, "She's the way she is because of me! I will NOT…"

"So you will die before she comes back?" Aoshi asked him, "You may feel responsible towards Yuki, but you have a greater responsibility towards Miss Kaoru!"

"Kenshin…he's… right…" Kenshin looked down, at Sano, "You… worry… too much on the past… you've forgotten… about… the… present…"

"You helped me last time, because I was blinded." Aoshi told him, "Now it's my turn, battousai. Now it is I, who must do the honorable thing."

Yuki just smiled.

"Let go." Aoshi said, "It's time to let go of the past, and focus on the present."

Kenshin's eyes widened.

"You've been so preoccupied of the past, just as she has, that you've been trailing behind her suffering." Aoshi said, "She is responsible for her choices. Yet, she focuses on the past. You've told her countless times to let go of the past, but she hasn't. She's been persistent. But that doesn't mean that you have to be like her. But you have. You've been playing her game all along."

Yuki's smile dropped, "Kenshin, don't listen to him, fight me. Alone."

Kenshin's eyes spun and looked at her.

"Kenshin, you know it won't be the same if you let them attack me first. You're letting them do all the work for you. You know it!" Kenshin twitched, "You'd be just as low as you were in the past, when you killed my family!"

"Miss Kaoru is yearning for you to live." Aoshi told him, "Yuki's actions are her own problems. If she wants to get to you, she has to get through us."

"No Aoshi…" Kenshin said, "I must. It's my battle."

"Battousai." Aoshi paused, "You said a long time ago, when you last fought me, that the strongest power is the will to live. If you decide to be honorable and accept your death penalty… you have thrown away the strongest thing that you ever possessed. The strength that I admired from you that I had not had before."

Kenshin stopped.

"You are not accountable for her actions." Aoshi said, "She is." He turned towards Yuki, "Now we will fight."

Kenshin looked at him, and nodded, "Thank you… Aoshi."

Aoshi and Yuki glared at each other, and their clothes began to flutter from the wind. It was only in a moment of time that they would begin to attack.

------

Kenshin Ending Theme Song…