A/N: After re-reading the last chapter, I found a whole bunch of spelling and word errors. Eeep! Deepest apologies, my friends. I will try to do a better job proof-reading this time around. Also, apologies for taking so long to update. God Bless KnT

Glossary: HakuBrother(humble), KakeiElder brother, KoishiiDear/Darling, Kodorasmall tiger, DoroganDragon, Sochi-My son, SotsuMy son, ChichiFather(humble), OtousanFather, AosokuBeloved son, Ojii/OjiissanGrandfather,

Chapter Twenty-four

Walking the Last Mile

Part I

There was no reason to wait for the fall of darkness or the light of the full moon this time. It would not matter either way when they chose to meet The Bane, it's power and strength would be the same irregardless of the time or season. So, the morning following the marriage of his sons to their lifemates, Kenshin called a meeting of all the senior Samurai and fighting warriors in his family requesting a counsel of minds to begin planning the necessary venue of attack. By midmorning the main room of the Saitou home was filled with the ex-hitokiri's most trusted and beloved friends.

Shinomori Aoshi, the one time Okishira of the Oniwabanshu now blood and soul brother to Himura Kenshin. They share a piece of each others soul after a mind fusion that helped heal Kenshin's damaged ki. Saitou Hajime, once the feared leader of the fourth squad of the Shinsengumi and the Wolf of Mebu, one of the most deadly swordsmen from the Bakumatsu. He now stands beside his one time mortal enemy as a friend and ally. They owe each other a life debt. Seta Soujiro, the famed Tenken. The boy assassin called 'The Sword of Heaven' for his unnatural speed and efficient killing abilities. Adopted as Kenshin's oldest son at the age of twenty and becoming the elder swordman's 'beloved son' and older brother to Yahiko, Soujiro is one of the leading forces of power and stability in the Himura family. Segara Sanosuke, the one time street fighter and gambler known only as 'Zanza' because of the massive sword he had once carried and because of his incredible strength. He stands beside Kenshin as his long time best friend and strongest fighting partner. Seijuro Hiko, the 13th Master of the Hiten Misturugi Ryuu and one of the few remaining true Samurai left in Japan as well as being Kenshin's Sensei and adopted father. Myojin Yahiko, once a troubled young boy with a wild ki. He was adopted and raised by Kenshin as his own son and then trained by both himself and Hiko in the sword arts and the Code of the Samurai.

And kneeling at the head of this honorable and powerful circle of men is Himura Kenshin himself flanked on either side by his two blood-born sons. Himura Kenji, The Hand of Justice and Himura Christian, The Avenging Angel. Together the three of them were the triad of immeasurable power and the men kneeling with them waited mutely for the eldest of them to speak.

"My friends," Kenshin began in a quiet voice, his head bowed. "You are my family, my father, my brothers and my sons. Each of you holds a place within my heart that can be filled by no other and your lives are dearer to me than each breath I take to sustain my own life. Long ago many of us knelt together in a circle much like this one and I asked you risk those very same lives to help me do a thing that was both treacherous and necessary. We kneel together today for much the same reason only this time it is not our lives that will be in jeopardy but those of our children. My children," Soulful violet eyes lifted and locked with worried amber as one fathers soul reached out for the others. "And yours, my old friend."

"Hai, so it would seem." Saitou replied as his fists gripped into tight balls on his thighs. "Shouldn't 'they' be here as well, Himura? They are as much a part of this sharing of knowledge as any of us?"

"Hai, Saitou-san, you are right, and they are." Kenshin motioned to the left with his chin and the group of men turned as a collective to see the two dark-haired women kneeling in the shadows off to the side. Both heads were bowed and their hands were folded primely in their laps, but an aura of strength radiated from them as their presence became known and a pale glow of golden light enveloped them. "All who need to be present are, my friend, and there is much to be done."

"And, as always, time is against us."

"Hai, that it is." Kenshin's eyes saddened as he gazed upon the bent heads of his two sons and felt his heart contract painfully as he wished there were another way but knew there was not. "Just as before, Destiny has made all of the choices for us and we are left with the task of building a plan that will hopefully bring those we love back to us alive."

"What must be done this time, Otousan?" Soujiro's voice drifted softly over Kenji's bowed head as the elder of the four Himura sons addressed the family head. "The Bane must die, of course, but what are the deeds that must be wrought to make this happen?"

"The Bane is unlike anything we have seen before in this life, Soujiro. Not even The Beast Acuma held such power as this creature, and it will take a weapon unlike anything the world has known to defeat it."

"I see, and that is what Kenji and Chri-stan have to do with all of this. Hai?"

"Hai. They must do it together."

"Sochi," Hiko's deep baritone penetrated Kenshin's thoughts as the red head started to become lost in his visions of what was to come. "Not everyone truly understands what it is the boys must do or how they are going to do it. You have been hopping around here for days on end screeching something about warping incompatible ki energies into a massive weapon, but it sounds like jabbering bullshit to most of us."

"You mean 'to you', Chichi." The corner of Kenshin's mouth twitched as he locked eyes with the older man setting beside Soujiro. "Are you trying to find a polite way to ask me to explain how this is suppose to happen?"

"Hai. That would be nice."

"Hmmm, well, you failed miserably. You are as rude and uncivilized as ever."

"Humph, you ought to know, Sochi."

"I learned from 'The Master', Chichi."

Hiko shot him a sharp glare that was laced with a respectful dose of humor and then nodded waving a hand in Kenhin's direction. "Then speak, Great Sochi. Grant us all the pearls of your fine wisdom and explain to this uncivilized old man how in the hell these two whelps of yours are supposed to pull this great escape off... and still kill the demon bitch in the process."

"That is the whole point, isn't it Hiko-san?" Aoshi leaned forward from his seat next to Yahiko, who sat beside Christian. "Getting them out alive. All four of them and still accomplishing the task that has been set."

"Hai, that it is my brother." Kenshin nodded at the Water-spirit Master and then leaned back taking a deep breath into his lungs. "What we faced nearly 20 years ago when we took on Elsbeth and Acuma was the power of magick and the forces of Hell. Not a simple thing, but we were victorious because we pulled our ki's and our gifts together and fought as a single force. We will not be able to do that this time."

"We cannot help this time, can we?"

"Ne, Aoshi-san. We cannot."

"Then what in the hell is supposed to happen?" Sano blurted out as he glared around the group of solemn faces. "We aren't just going to throw these kids into the fire are we? There is no way they can handle a fight like this alone, Kenshin. Not after what you told me about this 'Bane' thing, there is no way."

"They have to, Sanosuke." Kenshin met the furious brown gaze with golden tinted violet crystals. "There is nothing we can do to help but assist in making a plan that might save their lives. You must understand that. WE. CANNOT. HELP. THEM."

"That's bullshit!" The ex-gangster snorted in frustration as he stretched one of his long legs out the side. "There has to be more we can do than just help plan this thing."

"There is one thing, Otou." Soujiro intervened between the two old friends.

"Nani, Sotsu?"

"Provide a diversion." His wide blue-gray eyes swept the suddenly quiet group as the softly spoken statement made its impact. "Kenji, Chri-stan, Quii, and Kuumi are going to be very busy doing what needs to be done and they are not going to have a great deal of time to do it in. Just as it was before, Otou, time is always against us and each second saved is precious."

"Hai, that it is." Kenshin shivered as he looked deeply into his son's steady gaze. "What is your plan?"

"I still remain the fastest with my shicuchi and Yahiko the most violent with his 'bloody' ki. He and I should take the forefront and keep The Bane occupied while The Chosen Ones do what they must to prepare."

"Hai, I agree." Yahiko nodded his dark head and then locked eyes across the circle with his older brother. "I may not be able to do a lot of damage to that unholy bitch, but I can definitely give her a gut ache. That should slow her down a bit if nothing else."

Kenshin studied his dark-haired son carefully and took note of the tint of bloody red that shimmered within the depths of the light-brown eyes. Unbidden, a shiver of remembered horror laced its way up his spine as he recalled the atrocities that particular ki could wreck upon its wielders surroundings... and those within it. "You could be right, Yahiko. I do not believe any of us have the capacity to do 'her' any true damage, but a diversion such as one created by you and Soujiro may be exactly what is needed in order to get everything else into place."

"Hai, Otousan. I am glad you agree... for once." A thin, ravens wing eyebrow arched mockingly at Kenshin as Yahiko threw him a sideways grin. "It is much easier when you agree with us. That way we don't have to beat you into submission."

"Beat me??" Kenshin stared at the wicked gleam of mischief in the sherry colored eyes and suddenly had a very good picture of the devious, fierce hearted boy this man had once been. "Humph! The day has not yet dawned, Raion, that you or anyone in this room would succeed in 'beating me into submission'."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... so you say. But you aren't 30 anymore either, Otou, and you are way out numbered."

"I've heard this speech before."

"Which one?"

"About being out numbered." Kenshin offered his grinning progeny a smile and then chuckled as the room full of men burst into laughter. "It was just as we were preparing to meet Elsbeth to save Kaoru and Kuumi and stop her from opening the doorway to Hell as I recall."

"Hai, brother, it was and you thought you could do it alone."

"That I did." Green-blue eyes locked with violet and the two men grew silent. "But I was wrong. It took all of us."

"Hai. It did at that. And it will take us all again now. We each still have a part to play in this dance of death if we wish to destroy this thing and bring the Kodora and the Doragon back to us."

"The 'Doragon'?" Kenshin's face lost all color and expression as he gazed hard into the face of his soul-partner. "The Dragon? Aoshi? Did you call Chri-stan 'The Dragon'?"

"Hai, Kenshin. I did." Not often did Aoshi address the red-headed swordsman by his given name, and as it slipped humbly from his lips the room fell into hushed silence. Quii and Kuumi sat unmoving their eyes wide as moons in their small faces, and from the doorway Kaoru covered her mouth in shock. "The two strongest ki forces in the Universe are 'The Tiger' and 'The Dragon'. Can you not see and feel the enormity of your own son's greatness as he kneels beside you? Can you not see the aura of dark power that hovers around his soul and breaths Hellfire even as his powerful wings beat at the boiling winds of oppression? Look at him, Kenhin." The voice pierced into the frozen brain and Kenshin visibly jerked. "LOOK AT YOUR SON!"

"You have called him 'The Avenger' to Kenji's 'Hand of Justice', but WHAT IS HE, Kenshin? WHAT IS YOUR SON?"

It was true, he had never once given any thought as to the core of Christian's ki spirit and now faced with the fierce glaring eyes of his soul-brother and the truth tumbling from his lips, Kenshin felt shattered and suddenly fragmented. Could it be true? Could he have fathered a being capable of such extraordinary gifts. 'Of course, it is, Himura-san.' He met Aoshi's icy jade glare as the man's voice echoed inside of his mind. 'You fathered the wielder of the White Power, why is it so difficult to accept that you could father the wielder of the Black Power as well... and that he would be a good spirit?' Tears burned Kenshin's eyes as his fists gripped white on his knees. 'Your soul has been shared equally between your sons, Himura, both the light and the dark, and your strength has been blessedly passed on so that the powers that come with those gifts can be controlled. You are the Father of the Future, Himura... it is time to embrace the responsibility.'

Hai... that it is." Violet eyes closed and tears trailed down pale cheeks. Silence reigned in the small room as each man wondered what was meant by those softly spoken words.

"Otousan?" The touch of a gentle hand on his clenched fist brought Kenshin's head up and he turned to look deeply into the worried royal blue eyes of his gentle hearted son. "Maybe I dragon, like Uncle Aoshi say, maybe I just a man." His strong tan hand closed around his father's hand, and then clasping it against his heart he gazed earnestly into the emotional filled depths of his fathers violet eyes. "I may be many things, but they are the least of me."

"The least of you? How can you say that, Aisoku? Your ki is the essence of the warrior you are... the power of your spirit and the greatness of your soul. It is what you are." Kenshin reached out his other hand and tenderly touched the solemn face. "It is what makes you strong."

"Ne, Otou." Christian shook his head causing his hair to fall into his face. "It may be part of what makes me strong, but it not what I am." Once more he locked his gaze with that of his father and then he reached across his lap and grabbed his brother's gi pulling a surprised and teary-eyed Kenji into the conversation. "'This' what I am." His voice was as hard as his look as his gaze devoured his father and brother. "Only my spirit bonds with you and Kenji saved my soul to become what it is. Without you, I nothing but a body full of meaningless knowledge. You are the greatness in me, and the love between us make me strong."

"Chri-stan... Aisoku. Your Japanese has much improved." Kenshin's voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion as he pulled the young man against his heart.

"Kenji is good sensai." Was the muffled reply.

"Hai," Shining violet eyes caressed the face of his youngest son as he pulled him to his side and held him in a fierce embrace. "That he is. That he is." Pressing his lips into the shining mane of brilliant red hair, Kenshin whispered. "Kenji-san... aishiteru, aisoku."

"I hate to interrupt such a touching and necessary moment here, but..." Saitou cleared his throat and looked around the silent circle. "It has just occurred to me that we don't even know if this so-called weapon will work, let alone HOW to make it work."

"Damn!" Hiko turned and glared at his friend in open frustration. "You're right. We're so wrapped up in coming up with a plan we haven't so much as considered if this bloody thing is even possible. Sochi?" He looked at the emotionally overloaded father and raised one of his ebon brows expectantly. "Don't you think we should find out if this 'doom's day' weapon of yours works?"

"Hai." Kenshin's voice was quiet and when he looked up at his companions, the glowing amber gold of his gaze reached out to embrace each of them within its warmth. "I think that is a very important fact that needs to be discovered. That I do. We should go somewhere outside of the city where no one will be harmed and then try testing it. Hai?"

"Hai." Hiko turned to Saitou who nodded with a grim face. "Then it is time. We've put this off long enough. Talk is helpful but there has been more than enough of it for now. We have more important things to do than set around and talk all day."

"Hai, Chichi."

"Good, now get up off your asses and lets go do this. We'll never know anything until we try... and we have to know." The big man shoved his large body upward and grunted as he reached his feet. "I'm getting to old for this, Sochi."

"Ne, Chichi." Kenshin replied in his soft way. "You will never be too old. We all age in our bodies, but we never grow old."

"I'll try to remember that, Sochi."

"See that you do."

OOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo

It was a long walk into the forest but a necessary one. Kenshin was looking for something big enough to test the power of the 'weapon' on as well as determine if the theory in his mind and his sons was sound. During the walk he took careful pains to explain to everyone how he thought the 'weapon' was supposed to work and why it would take all four individuals to wield it.

"We are dealing with a power of enormous proportions." He said, meeting the intense glare of his father's emerald gaze with his level amethyst one. "By wrapping Kenji's positive ki around Chri-stan's negative one they should be able to create something we have never seen before."

"Not even Raion's 'bloody ki' compares?" Hiko narrowed his gaze as he listened to his son.

"Ne, Chichi. I do not think so. If I am right, this combination should produce a 'weapon' capable of almost anything..."

"Including killing all of us if it can't be controlled."

"Hai. I have considered that as well, but the risk to ourselves is secondary when we consider the greater need."

"Greater need? Explain."

"The innocent people around us, Chichci. If we do not find a way to destroy 'The Bane', then everything we know and love is as good as gone and there will be no reason to worry about living." Kenshin's voice was low and filled with a powerful conviction as he spoke. "There would be no future with a monster such as that hunting among the living. It would only be a matter of time until the world of darkness rose to cover the land with the Beast loping in the forefront as the undisputed leader."

It was difficult for Hiko to admit whenever Kenshin was right, but this was one of the few times when he realized he was going to have to. Because of the physiological and spiritual make up of 'The Bane', everything the younger man was saying could very well be true. Kami save them if it was.

"You must listen to Himura, Hiko-san." Aoshi strode up next to the large man and put his hand on the broad shoulders. "It is exactly as he believes. Because of the massive infusion of magick that the beast stole from your grandson, it is now capable more than ever before of becoming the catalyst that could bring ruin to the entire world. Not just Japan."

"I am beginning to understand, Aoshi, but what if this weapon does not work the way we hope it will or if the power source is unwieldable? What then?" Worry and doubt colored his deep baritone voice as Hiko struggled to gain a better outlook on the situation. "If the 'weapon' does not function, then we are casting effort after foolishness."

"Sofu," The gentle but strong sound of Kenji's voice wormed its way into the confusion of Hiko's mind and the big man stopped to turn and look at one of the most beloved souls in his heart. "You have always taught me that we are greater than the sum of what our bodies allow us to be, and that if we believe a thing in our heart it will be so."

"Hai. But this is different, Kodora." He tried to reason as an unnameable fear wrapped itself around his heart. "This is not mastering Ryu Tsui Sen."

"Trust us, Sofu." The large gold tinged aqua-green eyes searched the craggy features as Kenji tried to instill inside of his grandfather a sense of comfort. "We will not fail, and we will not kill everyone. Only The Bane is going to die. I promise you."

"Ne, Ojiissan." Christian moved up to flank his grandfather on the other side settling his deep blue gaze steadily on the older man's face. "Trust Kenji and me. We not fail."

"You don't know that, Dorogan."

"Hai. Ojii... I do."

Faced with the power of both of his grandsons staring him in the face, Hiko realized he was going to have to deal with the fact that this was a situation he could not control or even completely fathom. This was not explosive, bone-jarring power of Raion's bloody ki, this was a God-given weapon that had been bestowed upon two of the strongest souls he knew and he was losing the argument.

"Trust them, Chichi, just as you finally trusted in me. It is their destiny to do this thing, we must believe that Kami-sama would not give them such a powerful gift and not provide the will or the way to use it."

"Hai. Ojii." Christian reached out and offered one of his rare touches to the large man beside him. "God would not give us empty power. He not a fool. Weapon will work and we will cleanse world of my Madre."

"Chri-stan," Hiko gripped the shoulder of the younger man and stared hard into his face. "Do you truly understand what you are about to do, Dorogan? Have you thought it through? Did you hear what you just said?"

"Hai. I stopping my Madre's evil magick. It must be done, Ojii, and God gave me the power to do it." Christian heaved a shuddering sigh as he rose to his full height and faced the stern Samurai. "I must finish what 'The White Warrior' could not, and I must do it with my brother. We must kill my Madre."

"Ne, Dorogan." Hiko met the serious gaze of the grandson he knew so little about and felt an affinity toward the man he had not before. "You and the Kodora are destroying the most evil, and most powerful entity to cross the soil of this land and you are doing it with gifts and powers that are yet untried. You do not know what will happen."

"Hai. Ojii... I do. We not fail. Kenji is the sword and I am the hand. Together we God's justice and we will win."

"I pray you are right, my dear boy. Kami knows we need a miracle."

"Kenji and I are Gemini. We are miracle, Ojii. You must believe and trust."

"I will try, Chri-stan." Hiko finally pulled the man into his embrace and held him close. A gentle caress stroked over Christian's dark hair as the grandfather he wanted so desperately to accept him murmured soft words into his ears. "You are the miracle, Dorogan. Perhaps more than any other of us, you are the miracle. I will place my trust in you and the Kodora because I can do nothing else. You are your father's son, dear boy, and I am honored to call you mine. Welcome to my heart, Himura Chri-stan."

A muffled cry was all but lost inside the folds of Hiko's shirt as the younger man wrapped strong arms around his back burrowed against his strength. "Ojiissan..."

OOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOooooOOOO

"You stand here like this, and Kenji you must stand here." Kenshin carefully placed Quii in the center of the clearing they had found and then positioned her lifemate at an angle to her right hand. "Chri-stan, you must stand here." He pointed to the same spot on the opposite of the golden-eyed girl and the dark-haired man moved into position. "Kuumi, you are in the front about here." Each of the four young people took up the place the red-haired Samurai assigned to them and then stood waiting for further instructions.

"You must be in physical contact with each other... Quii, you must hold one of Kenji and Chri-stan's hands in each of yours. Hai. That is right."

Trembling with apprehension, Quii reached out and grasped first Kenji's hand and then Christian's. Her eyes were tightly shut as she mentally prepared and waited for the agony she was certain was coming but nothing happened. Each man's hand lay cool and pliant within her grasp and as her eyes opened she found both grinning at her.

"Nani?" She spluttered trying to cover her embarrassment with indignation.

"You look like you eat something bad, Quii-san." Christian chuckled and winked at the girl as her cheeks blushed pink. "The face you make." Screwing up his handsome features in a mockery of her pervious expression brought a resounding peal of laughter from his brother.

"That's great, you look just like her."

"Kenji!" Quii glared at her lifemate as he leaned over and kissed her. "You aren't helping matters."

"What are you so worried about, Koishii?" His voice was tender and his aqua-gold eyes twinkled at her. "Otou said you wouldn't be hurt by Chri-stan and I. Didn't you believe him?"

"Well... I... I guess I was a little scared, huh?"

Both men burst into laughter and Chri-stan kissed the mortified girls blazing cheek. "You kirei face, Quii-san. I joke with you."

"Quii, you are such a baby." Kuumi's voice was laced with mirth as she giggled into her sisters face. "If they were going to hurt you, don't you think it would have happened a long time ago? I mean, Chri-stan has been with us all for some time now." Quii glared angrily at her sister, but said nothing.

"Quii-san?" Her golden gaze shifted from the chuckling brothers and her grinning sister and found the laughing violet eyes of her Uncle. "I told you everything would be alright. They cannot harm you, I promise. You are the power that keeps them from melding too soon."

"Well, how was I supposed to know?" She raised her chin defiantly and met the gently mocking faces of the three Himura's. "You've been talking all morning about how these two could blow up the whole world. How am I supposed to feel about touching them at the same time? They might have burned me to ashes for all I know."

"Ne, Quii-san." Christian chuckled again. "We not harm you. You shielded from us. You safe."

"Am I?"

"Hai. Koishii, you are." Kenji squeezed her hand.

"Fine... let's get this over with, you two are having way too much fun with this."

The brothers grinned at each other for a moment and then turned back toward their father. "We ready, Otou. What now?" Christian locked eyes with Kenshin and the two men shared a long poignant look as the Elder considered the 'diamond shape' the four young people made. Something was wrong.

'If Kuumi is meant to wield, how is she going to hold the power and stay in contact with the boys at the same time? She must touch them both, but they must touch each other to warp their ki's... why does this feel wrong?'

"Otou?" Kenji called to his father trying to gain the man's attention as his face took on a look of deepest concentration and worry. "Doushita, Otousan? You look confused."

"I am, Kenji-san." Kenshin turned toward the group of men behind him and motioned for Aoshi and Soujiro to join him. "This is the configuration that has been in my mind ever since the answer to warping their ki's came to me, but... it feels wrong. What is wrong?"

Aoshi cocked his head to the side and studied the four people trying to see if he could see what his soul-brother was talking about. Quii stood with her feet spread apart Kenji on her right and Christian on her left. She held each of their hands in hers, and Kuumi stood between them on the other side not touching anyone. 'What is wrong with this?' His eyes narrowed as he considered that she would also have to hold hands with the men to complete the 'connection', but then how was she supposed to wield the power? "You are right, Himura. This is wrong."

Aoshi walked over to the silently standing group and separated Quii and Christian. Then he placed Kuumi's hand in that of her new husband and turned the couples to face each other. As they stood Kenji looked across at Kuumi and Christian at Quii. This put the brothers at an angle across from each other leaving both of their right hands free and the girls their left.

"Wait," Soujiro moved to stand next to the tall ninja and stopped him from doing anything else. "I think I know what needs to happen."

"Nani, Soujiro-san?" Aoshi looked down at the smaller man patiently as he released his hold on Christian's shoulder. "What do you see?"

"What do your eyes see, Sotso?" Kenshin moved to stand beside his son and placed a hand on his arm. "What do you know?"

"We have been talking about warping Kenji and Chri-stan's ki's into a single weapon for so long we failed to consider any other alternatives. I think both Kuumi and Quii can touch the two of them without being harmed."

"What do you see, Soujiro-santhat we do not?"

"Perhaps it is not the combination of their power into a single stream that is the answer." Slowly Soujiro approached Quii and took her free left hand and placed it on Christian's shoulder, and then he rounded the group and stood prepared to do the same with Kenji and Kuumi. "Perhaps we have been looking at this from the wrong perspective. Perhaps it is not a combining, but a sharing between them that it intended and the girls are the link."

"That is an amazing thought." Kenshin stared at the square configuration and let the idea form in his mind. 'Their sword hands are free... is that the answer? Are they meant to fight together through a ki bonding instead of being the creators of the weapon for Kuumi to wield? Are the girls the augmenters and catalysts provided to bridge the gap between the Light and the Dark so they can combine without chaos? Is it that simple?'

"Everyone step back." Kenshin motioned the two men to walk away with him. "I think you may have figured it out, Sotso."

"What are you thinking, Himura?" Aoshi clasped his soul-brothers shoulder.

"Not one weapon, Aoshi, two."

"Two?" The tall ninja stared in confusion at the smaller man and then turned to look back at the four younger people. "What are you saying?"

"Augmentation and bonding to create a natural catalyst that will allow Kenji and Chris-tan to 'share' their powers with each other. It is the last link to bind them together and that in itself should create powerful weapons. I don't know why I didn't consider it before."

"They are meant to be the wielders?"

"Hai. They always were. The Sword and The Fist. To achieve their full potential they must bond their ki's and become one power. The power of the Holy Gemini. Two men, one soul so to speak."

"I think you might be right this time, Sochi." Hiko's hand descended onto his son's shoulder and he gripped the muscle hard. "They are meant to do this together, not vicariously through another person. This is their task just as it was yours once before. It is time to join the souls of the Tiger and the Dragon and reach for the power that is waiting for them. Together."

"Hai. Thank-you, Chichi." Kenshin gripped the hand that held his shoulder. "Let us pray we are right."

"We are." Soujiro met his father's worried violet gaze steadily. "Kami-sama promised redemption for the repentant soul, Otou, this is her gift to you."

"Gift? To me?" The voice was colored with confusion as Kenshin studied Soujiro's face. "What do you mean by that?"

"You are the most powerful among us, Otousan. You are 'The White Warrior'. Within you all of our powers were combined to create the perfect warrior and you wielded that power with honor and dignity. You have risked your life for each of us more than once and you have bled for our safety and happiness. You are given the two most sacred souls in the Universe to call your blood, and the Gods have given your gifts of strength, honor, and truth to both of them. As they become what they are meant to be before all our eyes, your sins are forgiven you, Otousan. Your redemption for the Battousai is complete. You are free."

The entire group of people all stood silently stunned at the finish of Soujiro's speech. It all made perfect sense when considered from a spiritual aspect. Kenji bore all of Kenshin's honors and triumphs as he stepped forward to be bathed in the White Light of the Hand, and Christian bore the oppressive weight of all his sins as the Dark Light embraced him. Together his son's carried the essence of his life's soul within them, and as Christian stepped forward to receive his father's love and forgiveness the oppression washed away leaving only the purity of his spirit.

In saving Christian from the Darkness of the de'Angeles magick Kenshin had at last saved himself.

"Kami..." The red-haired Samurai dropped to his knees as the impact of this fact was spoon-fed to his mind. "I am free? Chichi?" Astonished violet eyes darted upward and found the glowing emerald gaze of the Mitsurugi Master as he reached out and grabbed one of Hiko's hands. "Is it true? Chichioya? Am I free?"

"I believe you will be, Sochi. You have payed for your sins long enough. It is time to put the Battousai and his deeds to rest."

As Kenshin buried his face in the large palm of his father's hand, Kenji cast a tear filled meaningful, glance at his brother who returned the look just as fiercely. "It is time, Kakei." The younger brother whispered

"Hai. My Haku. It is time."

Kuumi lifted her left hand slowly and locking eyes with the young Samurai across from her, she breathed a fervent prayer. "May all our deeds and sacrifices be for the better good." And then she reached out and grabbed Kenji's shoulder. "Let it become you, Kenji-san."

An explosion of blinding golden light burst upward from the four people and the ground beneath their feet trembled as Christian's ki surged through his beloved and into the body of his brother. Kenji's head snapped back as he was consumed with a pain he could not name and a scream of agony tore its way free from his throat. And then suddenly the light about them changed and took on the blinding hue of the most brilliant sky. Kenji cried out again, and then Quii's body shuddered violently beside him. Her golden eyes were blown wide open as she stared into the swirling blue eyes of the man in front of her.

"Let it become you, Chri-stan-san." The words tumbled from her mouth and in the next moment Christian's head was thrown back to the point of nearly breaking his neck as a scream of purest pain erupted from him. He writhed beneath the onslaught as it consumed him and Kuumi began to quack uncontrollably beside him.

The link was complete. The four of them collapsed unconscious into a pile on the ground.

"Quii! Kuumi!" Saitou raced across the grass toward the fallen group shouting the names of his daughters as he went. Hot on his heels were a gapping Yahiko and Soujiro crying the names of their brothers in high anxious voices.

"Dear God," Sano rushed forward and caught Kenshin as he crumpled into himself screaming the same as his sons. "What the hell is happening? Hiko-san? Aoshi? What the fuck is going on here?"

"The bonding string is complete, my friend." Aoshi knelt beside the stricken gangster and put his hand out to touch Kenshin's sweaty forehead. "The three of them are irrevocably connected by their blood... Himura's blood. The Blood of The Warrior. They are finally whole."

"Whole? You mean their souls are bonded together now, don't you?"

"Hai, Sano-san. The blood of Himura is united into a single driving force and the powers unleashed will be beyond any of our imaginations. The Two Tigers and The Dragon. The Triad of Power is born."

"Triad? Aoshi... are you saying this was supposed to happen? All three of them together, not just the boys?" Hiko dropped down next to the solemn ninja as he tenderly caressed Kenshin's hair. "Three weapons? Three Warriors?"

"Hai. I believe that is what is meant to happen. How it has come to this, I do not know, but it is by the blood of Himura the world will be cleansed."

TBC

Review Responses....

Marlingrl: Welcome to my fan family. I am so pleased you like both stories. I humbly thank you for the amazing compliments. Anne Rice is one of my mentor Authors. Thank-you for your kind words and encouragement. God bless

Captain Stu: Yahiko and Soujiro are back. :) Thanks for reading both stories. I am flattered you are reading all my stories. God Bless

Nguardian: I love you girly. You say the most wonderful things to me. Thank you for seeing the references back to the original story (and understanding them). I'll be updating 'Bad Kid' soon. I think I got rid of my writers block. Love you, sweetie.

JD Fielding: My dearest friend. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long to update. Things for me have been very complicated lately and writing has just not been something I felt like doing. I bask in your praise and hope to see something from you soon. Tsuki-san

Lere: Beloved Lere... after reading your review I think I remember you suggesting it to me. LOL. I have not quite figured out what she is going to have to do with all of this... I hope it comes to me soon. God Bless you, my sweet friend. I love you. Tsuki

De Lazy Lime: You are so funny. I love your reviews, sara. I knew you'd like the lime wink. As for Kaoru being old to be having a baby... yup! But my sister was the same age when she had her last baby so I know its possible. LOLOLOL. God Bless you crazy girl. Tsuki-san