I'm finally back! After months of school, two weeks in Japan and Taiwan, and being sidetracked by other fics, I'm finally getting back to work on Swords of Heaven. Sorry for the long wait. I hope you enjoy the story.

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Soujiro watched Amakusa and Himura stare each other down. He was reminded of the duel he had had with Himura in Shingetsu village. Soujiro knew that soon, Himura would strike using a very swift attack.

Himura charged, snapping out his sakabattou and twirling around to gather momentum. On the final spin, he swung his sakabattou. He struck nothing but air. Amakusa had disappeared.

"Was that supposed to be the Ryu Kan Sen?" Amakusa shouted down to his opponent. Everyone's eyes turned towards the sky, where the Son of God had leapt. "You shall now see what a Ryu Kan Sen nurtured by Heaven looks like!" He shot down towards Himura like a bolt of lightning, his sword twirling in a similar move. Amakusa's blade bit deep into Himura's flesh as he landed. Before Himura had a chance to react, Amakusa struck with a powerful Ryu Kan Sen Tsumuji, flew into the air, and landed effortlessly.

"A superb Ryu Kan Sen followed by the Ryu Kan Sen Tsumuji," said Himura. "I suppose you would follow with a Ryu Tsui Sen?"

"Yes," answered Amakusa. "I would like to see your Ryu Tsui Sen as well."

"As you wish," answered Himura. The two combatants leapt high into the air together. Himura performed the powerful overhand strike of the Ryu Tsui Sen only to strike the air once again. Amakusa reappeared behind him and delivered his own Ryu Tsui Sen to Himura's left shoulder.

"He changed direction in midair!" gasped Kaoru. "But - that's impossible!"

"Not for the Child of God!" Genemon shouted back. "Lord Shougo truly is the Son of God. Right, Lady Magadalia?"

"Yes!" answered Magadalia, her voice sounding happier than Soujiro had ever heard it.

"Lady Magadalia?"

"Yes, Tenken?"

Soujiro glanced at the ground. "Watching this battle has shown me how truly powerful Lord Shougo is. But there is something I don't understand. I'm sure that any of the attacks Lord Shougo used in this fight would have defeated me. Yet when we first met, I was able to defeat his Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. Why is that?"

Magadalia stared at the battle before her as her brother exchanged words and blows with the demonic Battousai. She lifted her face to the moonlight, as if listening to some unheard voice. Finally, she answered Soujiro's question. "My brother's sword is meant to perform the will of God, no more and no less. You live because it was not God's will for you to die. I know that you will play an important part in our holy cause."

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"I can tell that you are not fighting at your full strength. You do not intend to kill me, do you?" said Kenshin.

"Not with the ordinary attacks of the Hiten Mitsurugi," answered Shougo. He stood erect with his sword directly in front of him. The stance of the Kuzu Ryu Sen.

'This is it,' thought Kaoru. "He's going to make Kenshin use the ultimate attack.'

Kenshin slid his sakabattou back into its sheath and took the battou-jutsu stance.

"Hiten Mitsurugi Style. Kuzu Ryu Sen," said Shougo. "Here goes!" Shougo sped towards his opponent, his rapidly moving sword aiming for the nine targets on Kenshin's body.

Kenshin countered Shougo's Kuzu Ryu Sen. Not with the ultimate attack, but with another Kuzu Ryu Sen. The counter was sloppy and Kenshin collapsed, seriously wounded.

"Why? Why didn't you use the ultimate attack?" Shougo demanded.

Supporting himself on his sakabattou, Kenshin looked up into Shougo's eyes. "That Kuzu Ryu Sen has told me everything about you."

"What?" Shougo snarled.

"I've seen to the very depths of your heart."

For a moment, Shougo stood dumbfounded. Then, his face contorted in unbridled rage. A great bolt of lightning shot down from the heavens and struck the blade of his sword. "A mortal like you has no right to see the heart of God!" Shougo roared. The light on his sword intensified and became so bright that none of the onlookers. "I'll grant you a defeat one thousand times worse than death! I grant you eternal darkness!" He brought his fiery blade down on Kenshin's head. With a final flash, Kenshin was sent flying off the cliff.

Without thinking, Soujiro shot into a full Shuku-chi, grabbed Kenshin's wrist and pulled him back onto the cliff.

"What are you doing, Tenken?" asked Shougo.

"Mr. Himura was pretty badly injured when he was fighting against my old master. I don't think he could take a fall from a cliff. If he were injured, he might not be able to use the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki against you," said Soujiro. "But I have a question, Lord Shougo. How do you feel, now that you've fought Mr. Himura?"

Shougo turned away. "I've already said it, Tenken. A mortal has no right to see the heart of God." As he walked away, he said to Magadalia. "Sister, deal with the Battousai in whatever way you see fit."

As Shougo left the cliff, he couldn't help but think of Soujiro's question. I feel…irritated.