Dedication: To Sara-chan, who listens to my nightmares and is constant to spur me on to embrace my dreams. And for Misty, ruler of Antarctica and Mistress of all penguins.

"Goodbye doesn't mean forever/
Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean/
we'll never be together again/
Though we may be so far apart you still/
will have my heart."/

-"Goodbye Girl" (David Gates)

The Beginning of the End

His feet hurt, he realized slowly as the searing pain came to mind. Damned Battousai, dragging him all the way out into the middle of nowhere. He growled, then pulled himself back, regulating his breathing. 'I should be grateful, now Kaoru-dono and the others won't be hurt.' He thought to himself.

He leaned on a rock and looked down at his worn feet. No blood, he could carry on, but they'd hurt like hell. He leaned back, glad to be off his feet at last. The sky almost glowed an incomparable sapphire, if he imaged hard enough, it bled into the color of her eyes. But he was not worthy of her and as much as he told himself such, she haunted him…

Thick trees darkened the sky, yet the ever-hopeful light fought its way through the branches, casting dappled shadows over the earth. A small waterfall rumbled down across the path, rushing over smooth rocks before beating the water like a drum. Violet eyes watched it with enchantment. It was a wonder of nature, a wonder seen less since the urbanization of the times.

He ran a hand over the hilt of the Sakabatou, thinking about the past and coming days. That was all it took to unleash the demon. Blackness consumed him and the world froze and faded away.

::Foolish Rurouni. This ends now.::

||Hai. That it does.||

Two men stood in an endless scape of darkness. The boundaries could not be  seen, but the echoes were deafening. Two blades were drawn quickly, the metallic sound echoing in the refines of their mind. They took up stance. The better swordsman would win control of the body. Two swords slipped simultaneously out of their sheaths.

He could feel cold sweat dripping from his temple, but what was dream and what was reality, who he truly was, they were all melting into each other and combining together. He wasn't sure whose katana he held anymore. Battousai's or the Rurouni's? He couldn't even think anymore. All anything would add up to was violet, gold, and blazing sapphire.

::Die.::

And there was silence.

………

"Where the hell could he have gone?" Sano's aggravated voice tore through the thick air.

It was humid, sticky. All were soaked in sweat and water both- from a romp in the river to keep them cool enough to keep walking. The path was dusty as the three figures walked it, kicking up the dirt, letting it fall back like corrupt snow to the dearth earth. One had proposed this path, but who it was, no one could remember. The only things that ran through their minds were of finding a friend.

Kaoru had long abandoned her tears along this path. There were leads to follow, there were places to go. She would not cry. With a determined stare, she continued on.

………

Bronze locks fell into the face of the woman as she stood, staring at the back of a filled seat. He was just like that, the boss. Never wanting anyone to see his face, even when handing out assignments.

"Sir?" She questioned after a prolonged silence.

Smoke greeted her, spiraling upward from the chair. "Himura Battousai. Find him. Kill him."

Confusion met the woman's face, twisting it into uncertainty.

"But- Sir, I don't- Why?"

"Don't question. For once, Miyuzuko, don't question."

"Yes, Sir. I understand, Sir."

Miyu rolled her eyes, pure ruby red. How they'd gone that color, she didn't know, but it happened around that time that her family was slaughtered… Otherwise, she was a beautiful creature, thin and tall, but not lanky. She carried a swift and deadly elegance, unmatched and she killed with such accuracy.

That was how 'the boss' had hired her. That was the only name she knew him by. So formal when they'd claimed to be a 'family' in the beginning. She knew better now. They were a strange dojo, brainwashing and teaching others to kill under guise of 'defense.' But she had nowhere else to go, and so she remained.

Boss once said that there was no place for red eyes more fitting than the last thing an 'attacker' sees just before you slay him. She was beginning to doubt, to think that maybe she could function in society with them than she could in the hell she lived from day to day. Just one last job though- there was a manslayer to be dealt with. But why he'd assigned her such a daunting job, she didn't know.

She was only twenty-five, still young by all standards, why would he?

She shrugged simply and glided out the door. She might as well finish her career with a bang.

"Himura Battousai……… Say your goodbyes, you shan't see the rising of another sun."

………

Fiery hair was crushed beneath him; he was lying on the ground again with another agonizing headache. He moaned and struggled to his feet. He opened his eyes to stare at the sky. Had he been victorious? He couldn't recall…

He struggled to the small pond just off the waterfall, splashing water onto his face. He was feeling quite drained, and a blazing pain was becoming more and more apparent in his shoulder. He remembered being struck there, by his opponent's blade, but no mark was visible as he examined a nonexistent wound. The water reflected a strange sight. He looked into its depths and saw himself, though his eyes were so strange… one was violet, but the other pure amber.

A stick cracked behind him, and he swore he heard a rough curse, but not more than the wind greeted him. Her rubbed his eyes and returned his gaze to the glassy surface. Only purple… He sighed, relieved. This battle, at least, was won, but more lingered close. He could not return to Tokyo, it would be too dangerous.

"Going somewhere?" The icy voice caught him off guard, but as he turned to look, she was already next to him. "Tsk, tsk. Slowing down, are we Battousai?" She hissed the name with such hatred he immediately suspected an old enemy. But in the glance he caught, he didn't recognize her. Red eyes. He was sure he would have remembered such a woman, but alas, none came to mind.

Her clothes were less than modest under the short kimono she wore. Black, skintight fabric held her under it, a pliable armor. She was quick to discard the kimono, revealing a silken sash holding many a weapon, no longer so concealed. 

"Who are you?" He demanded.

"Miyuzuko, but you may call me Miyuu if you desire it." She returned in sultry tones.

He was obviously not amused, she noted sourly. With a shrug, she had drawn a tarnished silver katana. But it took less than a moment for him to realize that it was not tarnish that soiled her blade, but dried blood. Though not a new sight, it sickened him all the same.

Miyuu watched his eyes flash over her sword and darken. She chuckled, leaning against a tree nearby, looking off. "Well, I came to do a job and I won't be leaving until it's done."

"And what job is that, Miss Miyuzuko?"

"Why, I've been sent to destroy the Kamiya dojo, and that destruction begins with your demise. Draw your weapon and prepare to die, Battousai."

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I've been told I'm confusing people, so I'll try to explain myself. Kenshin doesn't exactly have anything; it's a sort of internal struggle that's throwing him of physically as well as mentally. I imagine fighting with a manslayer alter-personality would be exhausting and straining. This is more what Kenshin is going through. Last chapter, he snapped and lost control, therefore, feeling guilty he's left. I can't believe I made him leave. I hate fics where he leaves. Bad Kitty!

Miyuu is an original character (*dun dun dun DUN!*). She's not to be used without permission. Thank you.

bootleg: Thanks. I hope I explained it a bit better. I was going to put the explanation in the story as a conversation between Misao and Kaoru, but it occurred to me that neither could comprehend it to explain it well enough, plus, I would have to edit every chapter somewhere to make Misao's visit not seem out of place. I did a short soliloquy with Ken-san, but it seems easiest just to write it out. I appreciate the honest review; I'll go back into the story and explain if I can. Angsty. That's a new one to me… I guess I've never done angst before this one. Ooh, it feels good. I should do it more often…

Invader Zim: Thanks very much. Hope I'm not disappointing you.

Brittanie Love: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm updating once to twice a week, but the whole story is written on paper now. I just have to type it in and upload at will.

d2k3001: Thank you, and I shall update! Ha ha!