A/N: I know, I know... it's about time.
Chapter twenty-five
The Washing of The Moon
The three men stood quietly, calmly looking across the now frozen grounds surrounding the ancient palace. A keen sense of foreboding surrounded the building and an aura of death and evil pulsated through the air, staining it an eerie green in the failing light of the evening sky. Despite their earlier assumptions that they would be facing the Bane during the light of day, the sun was rapidly slipping beneath the edge of the distant horizon. Once more, the warriors of truth would walk into the fray of battle beneath the watchful eye of the Mother Moon.
Somehow, Kenshin had known it would be inevitable. Nothing that thrived within the world of darkness could ever be found basking in the arms of the daylight. The Bane was not inside the palace as they suspected it would be. Rather, it had found a new lair knowing the three of them would seek it out there.
"It is more clever than I gave it credit for." Kenshin mused as he faced his sons. "However, I am certain it will return."
"What makes you believe that, Otou?"
"Because, Kenji-san, everything began in this place. Thus, everything must end here as well. The Bane will be drawn back to the place like a child is drawn to ..."
"It's Okaa, Si?" Christian's dark blue eyes met the surprised violet of his fathers and the older man nodded in silence. "You are right, Otousan, me Madre will return. We wait, and she will come."
"Hai. Chri-stan." Kenshin placed a sorrowful but understanding hand on his eldest's shoulder. "This will give us time to prepare as well. The others will be here soon and we can coordinate our efforts."
"Si, Otou." Christian raised his eyes toward the dark evening sky. "This is where the past and the present meet and the future chooses what fate is offering. It must end tonight. The evil, the blood letting, and the death. It must all end."
"Hai. My son. It must end tonight, and it must end by our hands. We are the ones meant to cleanse the world of this beast, and only through us can it be done."
"Then let us be prepared, Otou." Christian let his gaze slide to the face of his beloved brother. "Let us all be prepared."
"Hai. Chri-stan." Kenji walked forward and placed his hand on Christian's other shoulder. Since their powers had already been shared and combined, there was no reaction. The brothers spirit energies were fused together at the most basic cellular levels and they had become more like halves of the same entity. Each harbored within him as much of his brothers power as he did his own.
"Is this a private party?" Sano wandered up to the trio and grinned when he received the same irritated look from the three Himura faces. "Geez, you know, you guys get to looking more like each other everyday."
"What do you expect, Sagara? They're all related, you idiot." Saitou smacked the ex-gangster in the back of the head sending him stumbling a couple of steps while he offered Kenshin a dry look. "Are you really sure about this?" He asked. "The man's got to be the biggest moron I ever met, and age doesn't seem to have worked in his favor."
"Hey! I heard that."
"You were supposed too." Saitou sighed and rolled his eyes. "Do you see what I mean?"
"Saitou," Kenshin was doing his best trying not to laugh. "Sano has always been good in a fight. You know that, and right now we need all the help we can get."
"Hmmm, I suppose, but if that baka rooster gets in my way, I'm pulling out his pin feathers." Behind him, Hiko burst into roaring laughter causing Yahiko and Sou to grimace even as they smiled.
"Sofu seems to be in a good mood." Yahiko jabbed his brother in the ribs as they separated themselves from the large Mitsurugi Master.
"Indeed, it is just a shame it has to be at Sano-san's expense."
"Hey, be grateful. It could be at our expense."
"Ah, good point." Soujiro smiled, chuckled, and offered Yahiko a conspirital wink as the two samurai made their way to their fathers side. "We are here, Otousan." he announced needlessly to the smiling redhead. "Despite the company you left us in."
"That you are, my son." Kenshin lost his grip on his laughter. "You must forgive me for that. It was not intentional."
"I'll try to remember that." Soujiro cast a wicked look over his shoulder at the two older men who were lost in deep conversation over the flaws of the rooster head and flexed his sword arm. "You will just have to remind me who the enemy is, Otou, so I don't try to behead the wrong the 'beast'."
"Hey, what is this? I thought I was surrounded by friends here? You guys are worse than I ever was." Sano scowled and let his eyes dart from one laughing face to another. "Are we gonna fight, or what? I'm getting tired of all this standing around doing nothing."
"Don't be so impatient, Uncle Sano." Kenji moved to stand next to the tall man. "Once you get a look at The Bane, you're going to wish you were somewhere else."
"Indeed, my friend. This in not a confrontation you should be trying to rush." Aoshi walked slowly up the small group, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his pants.
"It's about time you got here, Ninja-boy. Where you been?" Sano glared at the calm, dark man.
"I was right with you all the time, Sano-san. I just like to keep my distance when Saitou and Hiko are in such close proximaties to one another. It has often boded ill for those around them when they get off on one of their tirades. I find it easier to just avoid the situation."
"Well someone might have warned me."
"Where's the fun in that?" Yahiko's brown eyes danced with wicked mischief as he enjoyed the fighters discomfort.
"Hey, you shut-up, runt. You're not so big I still can't teach you a lesson." Sano shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and glowered at the grown visage of the impudent boy he'd once known.
"Uh-huh," Yahiko guffawed and slapped Sano on the back. "Don't even think about it, rooster head. I'm way out of your league now. So, unless you want a whole new lesson in the art of pain, you may as well laugh and get used to being the butt of jokes... again."
"Why you little..."
"Sano!" Kenshin's sharp use of his name brought the fighter up short as he doubled his fists up preparing to pummel the younger man.
"What?" He growled.
"I wouldn't suggest you test yourself against Myojin-san. At least not until after we finish what we need to do here." Violet eyes glittered gleefully.
"Huh... why not? He's still just a kid."
"Not quite, rooster head." Saitou thumped him on the shoulder and grinned. "You remember anybody talking about a 'bloody ki'?"
"Well, yeah."
"And you remember than it was Raion and Soujiro that dispensed Acuma in our last gathering?"
"Well, yeah, I guess so." Sano's face was suddenly taking on the look of old parchment.
"Then I suggest you save your little fight for later when your wife can lend her expertise to your lengthy list of wounds. You're going to need it." A feral cascade of laughter followed the old wolf as he walked away leaving the fighter feeling a little sick to his stomach.
"Umm, I really don't want to do this do I?"
"Not unless you want to vomit your lungs and guts up whole in the next 5 minutes." Hiko's look was nothing less than hopeful.
"Ah, I'll pass." Sano swallowed hard and cast a wary look in the direction of the young samurai. Were these people really serious?
"Good choice, rooster." Yahiko grinned and thumped him in the shoulder. "I really don't enjoy fighting family. There's no sport in it."
"N-no sport?"
"Nah, I can't inflict any real damage, and it just seems like such a waste of effort sometimes."
"Huh?!"
Yahiko burst out laughing at the pale, wide-eyed face that looked back at him. "I'm joking, Sano. Geez, get a grip will ya. I'd never hurt anyone in the family–not even you." Reaching out with his strong, young arms, he snagged the older man in a fierce hug. "You were a great big brother, uncle person to me before Otou and Okaa took me in permanently. I owe you a lot."
Everyone was getting in on the laughter, even Saitou, when the growing darkness was shattered by an ungodly roaring scream that left the group of men shivering and crouching down in the low shrubs. Silence followed but was soon desecrated again by another screaming cry that left the hair on the backs on their necks and arms standing on end. They had been so involved in the little game with Sanosuke that none of them had noticed how dark the world had become, or that the moon was rising high into the sky.
"She's here." Christain cast a hard look into his father's face and watched understanding cross the older features. "She smells our scents. There are too many for her to determine the three of us are here, but we must mask our ki's."
"Hai." Kenshin nodded and turned to lock gazes with his other son. "She will try to locate us through our spirit energy when she cannot discern our scents. Mask your ki, Kodora, and you Dorogan." He nodded at Christain. "And I will do the same."
"There is not much time, Himura." Aoshi placed his hand on Kenshin's arm. She will not wait very long before she comes searching the grounds."
"I am well aware of that, my brother. What do you have to offer me?"
"The Tenken, Raion and I have planned a series of diversions to confused her while the three of you decide the best place to make your stand. Have you considered that yet?"
"Hai. There is a large clearing in the brush and ground cover on the south side of Palace. It looks to be where the construction workers used to have their camp. It should do well. It is just the matter of getting there without getting cut down."
"Leave that to us. We will give you the time you need."
"Do not get yourselves dead, brother." Violet eyes met and held jade ice as the two men exchanged a long poignant look. "I require your presence and that of all my sons for the rest of my life."
"As we do yours." The embrace was swift and tight and then Aoshi grabbed both Yahiko and Sou by the sleeves of their gi's and yanked them away. "Come, we have little time."
"You will see them again, Sochi."
Kenshin looked up into the craggy features of his father and nodded. "What do you bring me, Chichi?" His voice was hoarse.
"Saitou and I bring you our swords... and Sanosuke's Futae no Kiwami. What Aoshi and the boys don't get, we will."
"Hai. Chichi. And will I see you again?"
"Hai, Aisoku. Kami-sama has promised me this."
"Arigato." Kenshin reached out and gripped the old man's hand in his for a long quiet moment. "Aishiteru, Otousan." He said quietly.
"Aishiteru, my shining son." Hiko pressed his lips into the softness of Kenshin's hair and then turned and disappeared into the dark with Saitou and Sano. "We will meet again, Sochi." The sound of his voice floated back and enveloped the red-haired man in a cocoon of love. "In this world or the next. We will meet again."
OoooooooooooOooooooooooooOooooooooooooOooooooooooooooOoooooooooooooOoooooooooo
"I can smell you, Himura. You and both of your fucking brats. How dare you steal my son. How are dare you turn him against all that he should have been. He could have been magnificence itself, you bloody samurai. I could have made him into one of the most powerful beings this world has ever seen."
The Bane snorted and sniffed the air, trying to judge where the scents of her former lover and his two weakling angels were coming from, but there were at least four, maybe five others whose foul stench was causing her confusion. Several of the scents were vaguely familiar... especially one.
"HE is here? My shining boy? Oh what fun, what fun we will have when I crush his heart in my fist and scrape the flesh from his face with my claws. You should have stayed away, boy. You should have stayed close to your mother's side and never strayed so close to my touch. I shall enjoy making you pay for humiliation you heaped upon me, and for destroying everything I loved and called mine. Hai, little demon-spawn, you will pay."
"She is close, Raion. Remember what I told you. Don't try and take her on by yourself. You are powerful, but not even you can do this alone."
"Hai, Uncle. I remember." Yahiko's brown eyes shifted and shimmered beneath the pale moon and then they became almost black as the blood red of his ki rose to fill them. "I owe that bitch some pain anyway, but I won't do her on my lonesome. You coming?" He looked over his shoulder and briefly met the steady blue-gray eyes of his brother.
"Hai, I am right behind you." Soujiro's voice grew sharp pitched as his eyes paled and lightened to a magnificent azure. "We have done this before, Raion."
"Yeah, I know, but the stakes are little different this time. It's not just the whole of Japan we have to protect, it's our entire family–more so than ever before."
"Hai, you are right, but we are not the boys we were all those years ago. We have both changed and learned much from this world. You must keep your faith, little brother. Together we are all but invincible."
"Hai, I guess I forgot." The smirk was back on his face and answered by the age old merry smile of the Tenken. "Let's go before we think about this anymore."
"Indeed," Soujiro grasped the arm of the older man crouching beside them and bowed to him. "Do not let her passed you, Uncle. We must steer her to the south side."
"Hai, she will not break this line. Soujiro?" He grabbed the sleeve of the young Samurai's gi. "Remember how much your father loves you and your brother, so watch your every move with care. You too, little lion. If he were to lose either of you, it would be the end of him."
"Well, I don't know about you, Uncle, but I don't intend on being dinner for that bitch. I have better things to do with my life like go home and be a father myself." Yahiko's dark eyes looked up into the night sky and he whispered a fervent prayer in his heart. 'I will be coming home, Tsumbe, my Aisai. I will hold you again, and the children. That I will.'
"Hai, that is my wish also. I am not ready to be a ghost in my wife's bed. Now, let us do what the God's gave us gifts for. Let us fight that which threatens to spread darkness over our world, and pray we have the ability to give your father and brothers the time they need."
"Hai, Uncle." Soujiro bowed to the great ninja once more and then turned to his younger brother. "It is time." And the two of them leapt free of the shadows and sprinted across the moon lit ground, dodging and weaving through the bushes and overgrown weeds.
"They are on the move, Otou." Kenji's sharp eyes picked up the racing forms of his brothers and a lump of fear congealed inside his throat. "Please, Kami. Don't let anything happen to them."
"It is time for us to go," Kenshin grabbed Kenji by the shoulder. "We will not have much time to get to the clearing."
"Hai, Otou. I'm ready."
"No you aren't," Kenshin's voice dipped low and became rough as he pulled his son close to his heart for a moment. "But you will be." And then he was flying across the ground, no more than a blur of color in the air as his god-like speed carried him toward his fate. Behind him, both of his sons had dissolved into the world the same as he, and he could just make out the thrum of their steps in his wake.
'Kami-sama, protect my family. Shield them from the evil and death that lives in this place. Lend they benevolent strength and fortitude to our cause and bring us safely home to our loved ones once again.'
'Fools! Do you think you can surprise me? I can hear you breathing as well as smell the filth that clings to your clothes. Come then, little lambs. Come and let us dance beneath the moon as we should have so long ago.'
As Yahiko and Soujiro closed in on the beast, both instinctively gripped the hilt of their katana's and prepared to draw them. Years of study and discipline prevented either from embracing his fear as the liquid silver eyes turned and locked gazes with them. It was the moment of truth. Was Soujiro's shicuchi fast enough to keep him out of harms way, and was Yahiko's bloody-ki strong enough to prevent The Bane from tearing him to pieces? Only time would tell from this point. The Samurai open their mouths and let out the blood curdling cries of battle and descended upon the hell spawn with their swords glinting brightly in the moonlight.
The Bane roared its challenge and raised up on its hind legs meeting the deadly downstroke of both razor sharp swords with one mighty lunge forward. Sourjiro's katana bounced harmlessly off the powerful left shoulder, but then found successful purchase in the softer flesh of the exposed flank. Feeling the tissues give beneath his blade, the Tenken put his weight behind his attack and dug the edge of his katana as deep into hide of The Bane as he could before bounding away to safety. Looking back he saw the bloody shine of exposed ribs peaking out of the dark brown fur. He had cut it to the bone.
On the left, Yahiko dodged beneath the outstretched forearm and turned sharply inside. His katana sliced deeply into the hindquarter nearly severing the hamstring but just missing it by a fraction. Then, he too was jumping out of range of those slashing claws. But as he threw himself back, the power of his ki spiked dramatically and he sent a crushing wave of energy outward slamming it into The Bane's side with enough force to sending it violently careening head over heels across the yard.
A loud, screaming cry rose up from the beast as the duel wounds were inflicted, and then the roar of pain Yahiko's blow extracted from its belly to shatter the night bringing gooseflesh to the men observing the exchange. The bane lay on its side unmoving for a long moment, and then rolled to its feet shaking its massive head. Bloody froth dripped from the jagged mouth as it turned and trained a hateful gaze on the two enemy that inflicted the wounds upon its being, and with a howling scream filling with vengeance, it sprang into the air and began running them down at an incredible speed.
Soujiro leapt high and veered off to the right bringing his sword down making contact with the heavily muscled neck as the beast flew past him. He could feel the steel biting deep, be he knew it was not deep enough to take the head off or severe any bones or nerves. Still, he drove the blade in as deep as his strength would allow.
Blood-red eyes watched in fascination as the Tenken sprang into action attempting to behead The Bane with a single blow, but Yahiko knew that even though his brother was a powerful samurai, that was a feat even he could not accomplish. He watched aptly as The Bane screamed and twisted in the direction of the pain, snapping its massive jaws trying to catch the man before he could get away. It was going to be a close call.
'You bloody, fucking fools! How dare you do this to me? For this, I am going to crush your skulls and rip your bloody hearts out.'
Suddenly The Bane reared back screaming out in a voice filled with such agony it sounded as if it were being torn apart or eaten alive. It writhed and clawed the air howling. More dark blood appeared around its jaws and it dropped to the ground and curled up into a shuddering ball. The liquid silver eyes were wide and filled with pain and confusion.
"What... are... you do–ing to... me?" The words leaked out of the shivering maw. The sound guttural and raspy but understandable.
"I'm bursting your organs, Bitch." Yahiko approached the trembling beast and looked It straight in the eyes. "Feels good, don't you think?" An evil, satisfied grin curled his lips. "Just deserts for everything you've done, I'd say. How about you? How does it feel to be on the receiving end for a change?"
"You're a... dead man."
"Hmm, I don't think so, Busu. You failed to kill me before. I don't think you're going to have any better luck this time around either. You just aren't meant to win. Haven't you figured that out yet?"
"I know... more... than you... th-think I do... boy" A lazy smile of sorts crossed The Bane's features, and then it began to laugh. "I have many s-secrets. Would... you like to hear...one?"
"What secrets? What do you think you know?"
"I'm not hurt as bad as you think I am." Suddenly the beast was back upon its feet and leaping toward Yahiko in a blur of fur and feet. "And now, you are dead!"
Just as his brain was registering the extreme danger he was in, Yahiko felt the pressure of two very strong arms seize him around the chest and yank him violently out of the way. Astonishment and gratitude filled him because he knew he would not have been able to move in time under his own speed. Somehow, Soujiro had made it across the distance that separated them and pulled him to safety. The snapping crunch of those powerful jaws was right next to his ear and he could feel the heat of the beasts foul breath brush across his cheek. It was a near miss. He was lucky to still have his head.
Soujiro clutched the body of his brother tight against his chest as he raced over the ground toward a safe place. It was time to let Sofu, Uncle Saitou, and Sano have some of the fun. The last encounter had been too close for comfort. If not for his shicuchi, Yahiko would most certainly be dead with his head crushed between those massive jaws like an over ripe melon. They had managed to wound the beast fairly significantly. The left hindquarter wound would slow it down on jumps and running speed over distance, and the neck wound should increase the blood loss. Hopefully between the two it would weaken it enough to make it vulnerable even for a short time.
Hiko watched with wide, terrified eyes as Soujiro managed to pull an all but doomed Yahiko out of deaths pathway and spirit him off to a distance in a matter of seconds. For the briefest moment he was certain that his hot-tempered grandson was going to meet his demise and fall victim to the very creature that nearly killed him all those years ago. A long, slow breath passed his lips and the pressure in his lungs dissipated. He was not even aware of holding his breath.
"Dear Kami. That was too damned close."
"No shit! Damned stupid kid. What was he trying to do getting so close to that fucking thing? Talking about old times?" Saitou's voice sounded just as incredulous as his face looked, and shaking his head in angry exasperation, he adjusted the weight of his katana over his hip. "You ARE going to say something to him about that? Aren't you?"
"Like what?" Hiko glared daggers at his friend. "Don't talk to monsters, it's a real bad idea."
"I was thinking more along the lines of, 'Don't do anything stupid, you're father would kill us.'"
"Fine, whatever." Hiko scowled and returned his attention to the howling beast. "Come on, Saitou. You too, rooster head. It's our turn. We have to lead that damn thing to Sochi and my grandson's." As Saitou and Sano took their places as Hiko's side, there was a flash of pale color across the yard followed by a high pitched squall of pain and fury.
Aoshi used every ounce of his strength and ki power to drive his kodachi into either side of The Banes rib cage burying them as deep as the heavily muscled flesh would allow. By the horrible sound of pain it made, he felt he succeeded in inflicting a significant amount of damage, and he leapt off the hairy back, tucked, rolled over the ground to his feet, and sprinted away to safety. Looking back over his shoulder, he witnessed the beast rising to her back legs screaming in pain as she craned her head to either side trying to reach the short shorts imbedded in her sides. But they were too far out of her reach. She could not pull them out. The Water Spirit smiled.
"Yeah, Aoshi!" Sano shouted and raised his fist in the air saluting the tall Ninja. "Kick that bitches ass!" Too late Sano realized his mistake, when the pain-crazed beast landed back on all fours and swung those swirling silver eyes in the direction of his voice. "Oh shit..."
"Oh shit? That is all you can say, you fucking, baka rooster?" Saitou smacked the gapping man upside the head with his white-gloved hand. "I guess we don't have to worry about getting it's attention, now do we?"
"Ne, that does not seem to be the thing that is going to cause us any problems." Hiko drew his katana and stepped out into the moonlight. "But staying alive until we pass its ugly ass off to Sochi... That's another problem entirely."
"Terrific. What do we do now?"
"We fight, Sanosuke. What do you think?" Just then the hair on all three mens arms stood up as The Bane howled her challenge and rushed their position. The great rolling hulk of hair and bone hurled itself through the moonlit yard at an alarming speed becoming no more than a dark blur as it approach. The three men took up position forming a tight 'V' and waited. It would not take long.
"Kami-sama, save our souls."
TBC
Review Responses:
De Lazy Lime: Aloha, Limey-chan!! How I love to see you here and everywhere else you pop up. Yes, it is the beginning of the end. Hopefully only a couple of chapters left and then I can close the saga of the 'White Warrior'. It's been a long ride... over a year with this epic. Can you believe it? Tsuki-san
Lere: I am so excited that I can talk to you now!! It's like having you living just around the corner. Talking to you the other day was the best Christmas present I got. I know your mother is back home now, but I do hope she is doing better. All my love to you and yours, dear shin-yuu. God bless and happy new year. Tsuki-san
JD Fielding: Ah, Mr. Fielding. You are just a light in my life. I can always tell if my chapter was good by how long your reviews are. :) I am already in love with your new story, and patiently waiting for you to update either it or 'After The Fall'. We are both reaching the end of our epics and our feet are dragging. I don't know if that means we hate to see the end coming or we're just too damn tired of the whole thing to finish. LOL God Bless, sweetie. Tsuki-san
Captain Stu: Thank you for the support. I like knowing that I have done something to entertain and please my reading fans. It is also nice to hear you've read others of my work. Thank-you again. I need all the encouragement I can get. God Bless, Tsuki-san
Lisica: Both stories together, eh? Wow! I don't know if even I could do that. Plus you're reading 'The Bad Kid'. I am truly honored that you're so involved with so much of my work. Arigato, my young friend. And thank-you for the support and encouragement. It is greatly appreciated. Tsuki-san
kenji25samx: You do me the greatest honor with your words, young one. It is rare that one showers me with so much praise and respect in one review. Arigato, you have humbled me to the roots of my heart. I am hopeful that I will always be able to meet your expectations and offer you something of value. God Bless, Tsuki-san
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