To Reveal All
Chapter 16: Revealing Blade
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: Whoa! The chapter's out on time for once! Battousai managed to beat the Writer's Block!
(Battousai: It was easy.
Nix: /eyebrows raised, sarcastic/ Yep. Ab-so-lute-ly.
Battousai: Well, maybe not easy, but I did it!
Nix: /eyebrows threaten to disappear into hairline/
Battousai: Okay, okay, it was difficult, but… Hey! Why're you threatening me? I'm the invincible assassin!
Nix: /realises it's a bad idea to be around/ Yes, that you are…
Battousai: /evil grin/
Nix: /runs/)
I dunno why I put that bit in… Battousai writing for me, again, I think…
(Battousai: HEY! You wrote it!)
Okay, I have… odd… moments occasionally… That was one of them. There's little enough humour in this chapter, that's my humour writing for the week…
It's necessary to include the last bit of the last scene, because originally, the first two paragraphs of this chapter were going to be the last two paragraphs of the last chapter… but then I decided that you had suffered enough from my cliffhangers, and so they became the first paragraphs of this chapter.
Also, a note about the 'chi well' in the last chapter: it is purely of my own invention.
Language Notes: None. (Weird!)
Warnings:PG-13 for violence and sexual situations/scenes. No language warnings.
Kaoru's smile could have lit a thousand candles. "I'd never be scared by you, Kenshin. I love you!"
What seemed like long time, an eternity – probably about ten seconds – passed.
"Really?" A masculine whisper.
"Yes." A feminine reply.
Kaoru leaned forwards, and, almost as if to prove it, kissed him lightly. As she broke away from him, Kenshin gently took her right hand in his.
An infinity and an infinitesimal amount of time passed, as they smiled into the other's eyes.
---
A clank on the pavings broke their reverie, and as they looked around, they saw a katana resting point downwards beside them. As their eyes travelled up the slightly-curved blade, they met a black glove and a bandaged arm.
Shishio stood over them, sword outstretched. "So, you love each other… how sweet. You can die together."
His sword swept through the space where they had been, but he had reckoned without the godlike speed of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style. In the instant that the bandaged man had swung, Kenshin had grabbed Kaoru, and leapt upwards, just in time to avoid the blade.
It barely missed Kenshin's feet, and he landed with a stagger, barely managing to keep his feet. Kaoru grounded her feet, and turned to him in concern. The pain in his shoulders throbbed incessantly, exacerbated by the effort – brief though it was – to lift Kaoru in their jump. He hunched over, clinging to Kaoru's hand desperately.
I'm not going to do that again for a while… I'm too badly wounded…
The serrated blade stabbed down between the two of them, attempting to wound them both, but both Kenshin and Kaoru managed to get out of the way - Kenshin through his speed, and Kaoru, from anticipating Shishio's move.
But their hands had been split up.
---
Sano watched in horror as Shishio kept randomly lashing out at the couple. The long katana swished with deadly intent, and they both could see that Kenshin was tiring, slowed by his wounds, and Kaoru, though speedy, was not able to match Shishio's lightning-fast movements.
"Breaking his collarbone only made him angrier," stated Sano, half to himself, half to Megumi.
"Lift me up, Sano…" Megumi asked, quietly. "I can't see what's… happening to Kaoru, down here."
"But it'll hurt you!" Sano's attention was immediately given completely to Megumi.
Megumi grimaced. "I'll be fine… I just have to see…" if she's okay, she finished in her thoughts.
As gently as he could, the fighter lifted Megumi from the pavement. He saw the clenching of her teeth as she battled the pain of her movement. The deepness of the wound meant that every movement she made was agony.
But if it hurts this much for me, what about Kenshin…? The suffering the redhead must be going through with three wounds, each just as painful – if not more so – than hers, made her gasp.
Sano halted his raising of her as he heard the gasp. Worry filled him as he questioned her. "Megumi? Are you alright? Megumi?"
A brief tear slipped down Megumi's cheek. To think that the small fighter would be able to endure so much… "If it's this painful… for me, how bad… must it be for Kenshin?"
Sano's brow knotted at her words. He knew the pain Kenshin was going through – as a fighter-for-hire, he'd been badly wounded many times – but equally, he knew that Kenshin had a strong enough will to banish the pain, and fight on regardless. How do I tell Megumi that?
"It hurts, yeah… but Kenshin's strong. He can… well… ignore the pain." Sano grimaced at the vagueness of his explanation.
Apparently Megumi knew what he meant. She nodded, then commanded, "Lift me up, Sano."
The rooster-headed man finished the movement, and settled her against his chest. Then his eyes returned to the battle, and he urged on the two who were fighting Shishio. "Come on, missy… Kenshin… You can win…"
---
With each lunge of Shishio's sword, Misao was willing it to miss. She'd never seen these people before today, but the strength of their love was enough to endear them to her. She'd been thrilled when Battousai woke up, but now that they were fighting – or rather, running – for their lives, Misao was slightly disappointed.
Battousai's supposed to be a legendary warrior, her puzzled thoughts said. How come he isn't beating Shishio? And why did he drop his sword? But he was getting kissed by that girl… Kaoru? Is that her name? I suppose I'd drop my kunais if Aoshi-sama kissed me…
She glanced up at Aoshi, and saw that his eyes were fixed on the fight. Aoshi-sama's all expressionless again… this is bad. She knew that once Aoshi became expressionless, he was hard to reach – he was blocking himself off from the world.
"Aoshi-sama?" she pulled at his sleeve, willing him not to ignore her… trying to stop himself from cutting himself off.
The tall Okashira glanced down at her, and she was relieved at the small smile that manifested itself. "Misao? What is it?"
She blushed. "You were… going all… blank-faced again…"
"I'm sorry, Misao. I do that when I concentrate." She's worried by that? About me? A minute smile stuck to his lips. "Don't worry."
The smile remained even as he watched, and analysed, the fight.
She dropped her katana when she went to him, and he dropped the sakabato when he held her hand… And now they're both weaponless… against Shishio. This is bad.
---
DAMN! I shouldn't have dropped the sakabato! Kenshin yelled at himself in his mind. But it was because Kaoru kissed me…
Watching the woman in question, he saw that she had just dodged another of Shishio's attacks. She was fast, nimble, and lithe, avoiding attacks that should have skewered her.
She's a much better fighter than I gave her credit for earlier… She could hold her own, if she still had the katana…
That only reminded him of his weaponlessness, and his utter inability to do anything for her right now.
I can't protect her…! Though she can protect herself… very well.
Kaoru's next dodge was even closer than the previous one. She was doing exactly as Kenshin would have, using minimal energy to maximum effect. A true swordsman's – swordswoman's – trait, he noted.
As Shishio missed the lunge at Kaoru, he spun around so it followed through and was aimed at Kenshin, enraged enough that he would attempt to use the same strike to kill both of them.
The godlike speed of Hiten Mitsurugi was again put to the test, and he dodged the attack with a bare fingerlength spare.
That is the essence of Hiten Mitsurugi – dodge their attacks by a hair, aim your attacks by a hair, speeding like the kami to deliver justice. The teachings of his Master, Seijurou Hiko, slipped into Kenshin's mind as he applied them in this desperate battle.
---
Shishio swept past Kenshin, turning as he did.
Halting, he extended his katana outwards and downwards in the now-familiar pose that announced the Homuradama.
Kenshin gave him a one-sided smile. "And you accuse me… of having only… one trick, Shishio?"
Kaoru, who was moving towards the two, stopped, listening to the tones in Kenshin's voice. The halting quality of his speech was not lost on her. His wounds are starting to get to him… she knew that with Kenshin panting like he was, he wouldn't last long.
Shishio snarled, and the katana scraped across the ground, igniting. Kaoru's eyes went wide. She had noticed that the Leader's blade had flickers of flame across it when she had entered the courtyard, but she had been too preoccupied with reviving Kenshin to notice that they were actual flames, not mere reflections of the torchlight, as she had previously thought. Even when the katana had hit Megumi, she had not realised.
I should have… but… how does he…? Her question was cut off even in her thoughts as the flaming blade was stabbed at Kenshin. Her gasp at the closeness of Kenshin's evasion was loud in the silence of the courtyard. All were entranced by this epic battle, unable to move in their places.
Even Kaoru, a combatant in this fight, seemed to be frozen.
But she wasn't. Her mind was working furiously, though her body appeared to be motionless.
What can I do?
Her brain feverishly generated and discarded ideas, the facts pulled in and pooled rapidly.
I must help Kenshin! He could be wounded again
Shishio lunged at Kenshin again, and the flaming katana was again dangerously close to Kenshin's jugular vein.
There's nothing…
Then she caught sight of the fallen katana and sakabato. The two swords were lying on the pavings, side-by-side, where she and Kenshin had dropped them.
OF COURSE! Her mind yelled in elation. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner…?
I just have to wait for the opportune moment…
Another strike from Shishio, and this time he dove right past Kenshin. The redhead moved with his customary – though now slowed – godlike speed, and was at the other side of the circle of faces by the time Shishio had turned.
It's almost as if he read my mind… thought Kaoru, but didn't stop to bless the Kami of Fortune. She threw herself into the centre of the circle, barely pausing in her run, even when she saw Shishio turning away from Kenshin towards her.
Her pace slowed momentarily as her hand reached down, scooping up the nearest sword, but as she fastened her hand around the hilt, her waraji slipped on blood-slicked stones.
THUD!
She hit the ground hard, her forehead coming into contact with a solid object for the second time that night. However, this time, she'd been able to slow her fall somewhat, and only stars danced in her eyes, not the full-blown fireworks induced by the tree root.
I've got to move… Shishio…
The Leader of the Kokuryukai saw a blur of blue material as the geisha had impulsively flung herself across the courtyard. Turning to follow her flight, he judged that she would be too fast to let him get near her – at least, before she regained a sword.
Then her foot slipped, and he saw his chance. I can get her now!
He lunged forwards.
---
Kenshin saw Kaoru's run, and subsequent fall. The deep thud as her body hit the stones prompted a shiver through his whole body. He had noticed the growing bruise on her forehead, and while he didn't know what had caused it, he did know that being hit in the head twice in one night wasn't good for anyone, least of all his Kaoru.
Then, as she struggled to rise, he saw the grin on Shishio's face at her prone position. Kenshin had a brief moment to think, He's going to do something to Kaoru, when the Leader of the Kokuryukai dove forwards.
Horror filled him as he realised that Shishio was going to be able to catch her while she was still on the ground.
She won't be able to do anything…
She might not be able to raise the katana in time… No, she definitely won't be able to…
But I MUST PROTECT HER!
There's only one thing I can do… repeat what happened earlier…
---
"Hahahahaaaaah!" An exultant laugh filled Shishio's mouth as he sprinted for his target – once again, Kaoru.
I finally have her! The Leader knew that he had the girl where he wanted her to be – stunned, prone, and utterly unable to do anything.
There's no way she can do anything, and Battousai will be frozen again, like he was when I threw the dagger at her! He can do nothing!
And if he killed the girl, Battousai would be totally vulnerable. He would be the perfect target.
I can kill her! I've won!
---
Kaoru looked up from the pavement, stars and fireflies flickering in her eyes. The ache in her head from her encounter with the tree root had escalated to a full, thumping headache, and her mind was clouded.
But she still remembered the danger she was in.
Shishio… I have to move…
She rolled over on to her back – quickly, now… hurry up, body! – and put her hands down to lift herself into a sitting position. The swordhilt made using her right hand difficult, but she managed to climb to her knees.
Then Shishio was upon her.
---
"KAORUUUUUU!!!!"
---
Hiten Mitsurugi's godlike speed allowed Kenshin to get to Kaoru before Shishio.
But only a moment before.
Kenshin did not have time to do as he planned, scoop Kaoru up into his arms.
---
I won't have time! I can't lift her!
Change of plan.
---
A hand to Kaoru's shoulder.
Push.
Turn towards Shishio.
Block.
---
A splatter of bright blood hit the dark stones. Three sakura petals floated to rest.
White on red on black.
---
Kaoru tumbled over, shoved away by Kenshin's hand. Lying on the ground for a second, she shook her head, and looked up at where she expected Shishio to be.
He was there.
Kenshin was there also.
Shishio's blade had taken him through his right side, just at the waistline. A spray of blood painted random gruesome patterns across his stomach, and a trail of blood began to slip downwards from the wound, thickening with each second.
---
"KENSHIIIIIIN!!!!"
---
He sacrificed himself for me! Kenshin…!
This is Shishio's fault…
Shishio… you will pay…
---
Determination, anger, resolution, impulse, all mixed in Kaoru's mind.
She gathered her legs beneath her, and lunged at the two motionless figures.
Her blade, keen and swift as winter wind, passed neatly between the fifth and sixth rib on his left side, and nicked the muscular tissue of Shishio's heart.
He convulsed, once, briefly.
Horrified at what she had done, Kaoru let go of her blade's hilt, and with an awful rush, he fell backwards.
Even in dying, he refused to let go of his sword, and it was jerked out of Kenshin's side. The redhead fell to his knees, clutching the agonizing wound.
Silence reigned.
Author's Notes: Whew. That was exhausting, and emotional, to write. So no Author's Notes.
That's almost it. There's a couple more chapters to go, though.
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers.
Videl621 (for TRA4 review) – /bows/ You're welcome! I wonder if you'll be up to continue reading, if you crash at 2:30 a.m…
Lydia-Blessing – Thanks. The bit with Kenshin was one of the hardest to write, but I'm glad you liked it!
Big-Purple-Lizard – Yeah, the 'battle of wills' is something we've all experienced… but I didn't really think of that when I was writing it /sweatdrops/, just how to portray the clash between Battousai and Rurouni. As for who'll win… I can't tell you that, that would be giving away the plot…
Crewel – Updating soon isn't my be-all and end-all, but I do like doing it. As for SxM fiction… I dunno. I've been having ideas (which you may or may not like), but I'll finish TRA first…
inuyasha/kenshin gurl – Yay! I like people saying my writing is kawai'i!
anime-luney – Ah, right! You were getting me a bit confused there, saying the were like twins! Don't worry about being lazy… sessha is lazy too… and really surprised that she manages to get chapters out on time…
(Battousai: /coughs/)
…or maybe not… Battousai's a good Muse.
(Battousai: /Soujirou-type smile/ Thanks. Glad you give credit where it's due.
Nix: Don't do that smile… it's creepy!)
RangerDo'Urden – I hope this answers your question of what Shishio's going to do… Glad you liked the quote, and the 'chewing' bit. I was kinda grossed out, when I was writing it.
HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE – Kenshin had already admitted his feelings, remember? Hope you liked the chapter!
Bradybunch4529 – Kaoru has to defend herself! She's the type of girl who shouldn't be all weak and powerless… I really hate that, because, like you said, she has such a strong hold on both Battousai and Rurouni… she wouldn't if she were weak!
kenshinlover2002 – I had to have Kaoru blocking the knife, it shows more of her fighting skills, and I like her as a fighter. As for Shishio's bite, I'm glad I took someone by surprise there, like I intended!
Videl621 (for TRA15 review) – Thanks very much!
nikki – Thanks! I'm glad you like the plot twists, I was trying to make it twisted – not that it turned out as warped as I'd have liked… Thanks again, and enjoy the update!
thechickenlittle2000 – As I said at the top, the 'chi well' is of my own invention. Permission granted to use it – just do say that you borrowed the concept off me! I'm so glad it inspired you, though! Battousai's doing well, isn't he? /pats aforementioned Muse on head/
(Battousai: /pulls katana out, rests it against Nix's throat/)
…ah, won't be doing that again. Onto other topics… Rurouni's smile… aaahh. Indeed. Who couldn't get lost in it? /hugs aforementioned almost-Muse/
(Rurouni: /gives that gorgeous smile, hugs back/
Battousai: /gags/)
Nanakiyoda – I'm getting the hang of writing battle sequences now – I'm glad you liked them!
DakBug – You're welcome, for the update! And you have a baby nephew? Aaaawww! Babies are soooo cute! But yes, they do require patience… heh. As for taking my sweet time, is five days enough to make you wait? /grins/
scythe195 – Here's the next chapter! Glad you think it's awesome! /hugs Rurouni again in happiness/
Peachie-Chan – You've been waiting for it? Not such a long wait this time… Never mind about the late review… I'm not sure you'll like think chapter, though… no ass-kicking by Kenshin… meh. I hope you liked it anyway.