HM: Okay, I'm a bit faster this time. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

(Kyla)

"Battousai! You're still alive!" the man snarled angrily. I shifted my grip on my katana, narrowing my now ice green eyes.

Shinta moved forward, his empty gaze locked on the man. He could sense the ki of him, so he knew right where he was. Though he was blind, his eyes still portrayed the changing ability mine did. They burned with gold, boring into the man. "What do you want?"

"Your life," the man replied, drawing out a few kunai. He flung them, and I pulled Shinta out of the way. The man chuckled. "Ah, so you're blind." He looked to me. "And who might you be?"

"I am his sister," I growled, tightening my grip on the hilt at my side.

"Sister?" the man said, shocked. "Battousai has a sister?" The man hesitated in some way, though he did not fully stop. He withdrew a few more kunai, preparing to throw them with deadly accuracy. I felt Shinta's hands on my back, his fear transferring through his touch. "No Kyla! You mustn't kill, not for me!" he pleaded, though the force in his voice was not lost to me.

As he said this the man threw the kunai and I leapt to the side, taking Shinta with me. As I slid to a stop Shinta tugged me around to look at him. "No! I won't allow this." I opened my mouth, but it was as though he sensed I was going to speak. "I may be the younger, but I won't let you do this Kyla."

My attention was drawn away as the man charged, pulling out a katana. I whirled around to meet steel with my blade. This enemy was skilled as both a samurai and a ninja it seemed. I continued to fight with him, though he was getting more confident as I allowed him to believe he was winning. A moment more….

"Kyla!" Kaoru's voice came from the dojo, Shinta's mirroring hers. I whirled around, barely missing as the man dodged away from me. A split second later I noticed a spark of ki behind me. I darted around, though I knew I would not escape a slight wound. Kaoru's scream startled me and my counter attack was altered as the power I had been pumping into the sword exploded.

Kaoru's voice echoed. "Kenshin, NO!"

My eyes widened. Shinta had leapt in the way, taking the unknown man's attack for me. My own power exploded over him and I screamed inwardly.

Shinta's hair lifted from his shoulder in the power-induced wind, his mouth opening. The scream of agony pierced my heart and I let loose a cry, twirling and slaying the unsuspecting man behind me. I turned, darting around Shinta's convulsing form to slay his attacker, tears escaping to flow down my cheeks.

I dropped my katana as Shinta's scream came to an end and he crumpled to the ground. "Shinta!" I gathered him close, discovering fearfully that he wasn't breathing. I quickly lay him down, tilting his head back and pinching his nose. I breathed into him, and then pumped his chest. "Come on otouto-chan!" I cried. "Breathe!" I breathed into him again, and then listened for breath. Nothing. "Please Shinta!" I sobbed, placing my hands on his chest again. "Come back to me…."

I pressed once more, and then there was a flash in my vision. Shinta suddenly inhaled sharply and began to cough. I pulled him to me, petting his hair and crying. "Oh thank Kami-sama…."

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I felt my gi grow wet with tears. "Shinta?" I murmured, pressing my forehead against his. His eyes were closed, tears trekking down his face. "What's wrong?"
He opened his eyes and I gasped. The spark of life was back, his violet gaze shining with tears. "I can see you onee-san…" he whispered. "I can see you…"

I hugged him tightly, pressing my cheek against the top of his head. "Oh Shinta… Kami, I thought I'd lost you." I looked down at him. "Why did you do that Shinta? I could have killed you!"

He smiled and hugged me tighter. "I couldn't let you get hurt Kyla. I just couldn't."

I smiled and sighed, hugging him. I silently thanked the gods for giving me back my brother, my only reason for living.

(Kenshin)

Kyla held me for a moment more, petting my hair lightly. I pulled back from her, seeing tears sparkling on her cheeks. She smiled and gave me a light push. "Go to Kaoru. She fears for you."

I nodded, standing and looking behind her. Kaoru was in a heap on the ground, her back and shoulders heaving. I moved to her side, touching her back. "Kaoru…."

She looked up, and then threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Oh Kenshin! I thought you were dead….."

I pushed her back, and then pulled her to me as I crushed her lips to mine. I kissed her deeply, then pulled back to rest my forehead against hers.

She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, and then gasped. "Kenshin, your eyes…."

I smiled and nodded. "I can see again Kaoru. I can see you."

She buried her face in my neck, crying into my gi. "Oh Kenshin, I love you so much…."

I smiled, stroking her hair lightly. "I love you too Kaoru." I pulled away from her embrace, and kissed her lightly, then smiled again. "I love you with all my heart Kaoru. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
She gasped, then nodded and closed her eyes. "I will Kenshin. I will."

I hugged her, allowing tears of joy to stream down my cheeks. I was happy.

(Kyla)

I watched Shinta and Kaoru, smiling lightly as I heard Kenshin ask Kaoru to marry him. Kaoru nodded and I grinned. My brother had found love, and I had found a home. I was happy, as was my brother. I smiled again. 'When will it awaken within you brother? When will you learn the truth? Till then, I will wait, and help you though life…..'

HM: The end. I will write a sequel, it's in production right now. It's going to be really weird, so be ready for a humor/just plain creepy story. Thanks for reading!