Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Norbuhiro Wasuki-dono, not mine.

Authors note: IMPORTANT NOTICE! I'm sorry to say that this will be the last chapter of Rurouni Kaoru. With all the other stories that I'm working on this one has become low on the list. I have decided to end it here, but I have a proposition for any of my readers. I know that many of you sent many great and helpful reviews and if any of you want you may continue this story from where I have left off. So enjoy and hopefully I'll be seeing another Rurouni Kaoru from one of you!

Act IV Kasshin-Ryu Reborn

"NO! That's not how you hold it!" bellowed a red faced Kenshin.

"Oh! Then how about this…ONNA!" came Yahiko's rather louder retort.

It had been a week since Yahiko had fully recovered from his injuries and the dojo once again had a student. Though it seemed that the student and teacher butted heads more then bokkens. Kaoru sat to the side her face a mask of calm as the two continued to fight one another tooth and nail.

"I told you I'd strangle your little neck if you called me…THAT again!" growled Kenshin, his bokken knocking the floor threateningly.

Yahiko glared back and retorted, "go ahead already! That is if you CAN!"

Kaoru sighed and smiled softly and said in a rather small and unsure voice, "We aren't making much progress are we?"

This just caused more strife then really stopping it. Kenshin turned to Kaoru and said, "you're the woman Kaoru, you tell him, then you can wash his mouth out!"

Yahiko turned from a glare to a down right enraged stare. Apparently he wasn't happy with the thought of the Hitokiri Battosai cleaning his mouth out with soap…especially soap that Kenshin might have used.

"I'm here to become strong, not to train against some 'man/woman'!" said Yahiko once again regaining his cool.

Kenshin grumbled, "man/woman!" and glared at Yahiko.

"Kaoru, you told me that learning a sword technique would make me stronger. If that's so, then you teach me!" Yahiko aimed his stare to Kaoru.

Kaoru stifled a giggle and grimaced at the floor as she answered, "the style that this one learned will not be passed on to the next generation that it will not. This one is just an observer. Yahiko should learn from Kenshin-dono, the skills that he teaches will help many." Kaoru finished her little speak, the light shining ever so right to shin on her porcelain skin. Making her look ethereal and magical. That is until she turned to Kenshin and Yahiko, to find the two trying to beat each other up. Kaoru sighed, "They aren't even listening to me…"

"Yahiko!" yelled Kenshin as he headed out doors looking for the wayward child. "He's skipped practice for the second time in a row! That stupid filthy mouthed, stubborn brat, not to mention he's got no guts to speak of. What did Kaoru see in him to think that he could take me on?"

Unknown to Kenshin, Yahiko had once again sat himself on the roof and heard everything that Kenshin had said about him. And of course the anger spurred his movements as he threw his bokken at Kenshin's head, which connected.

Yahiko leaned over the edge, and yelled back at Kenshin. "I knew if I hid I'd find out what you really thought of me! I'll be better off out there then in here with some 'man/woman'!" Yahiko leaped down from the roof and glared at Kenshin. "You aren't even good enough to teach me sword fighting."

Kenshin sighed, and glancing at the ground, "it's true that I'm teaching myself…but…"She glanced back at Yahiko and picking him up by the front of his shirt with his bokken proceeded to take him back into the house. "At least I'm still stronger then you, you little punk." Finished Kenshin as he lifted Yahiko over his head.

Yahiko disgruntled that he was yelled, "Oi! Let me down!"

Just as the two were about to enter the dojo, the gates were slammed open. In the door way stood two young men, neither older then 20 and no younger then Kenshin himself. "K-Kenshin-san" gasped the younger of the two. "Please help us…"

Kenshin stopped in mid stride and looked at the two. "Hira-chan…" he whispered, shock evident in his voice. "Sato-kun too! How did you get hurt? What on earth is going on?" Kenshin left Yahiko to his own devices as Kenshin went to tend to his former students. Just then two unseemly characters entered the dojo.

"You two can't get away now! We'll kill you one way or another!" they yelled and dashed over to the three.

Kenshin, his voice steady said, "who are you and what have you done to my former students?"

One of the men answered back, "Shut the hell up. This doesn't concern you!" as the intruder's bokkens made their arks to the three Kenshin was up on his feet and speeding between the two. Kenshin came up behind the two and his bokken connected with the backs of their heads.

Yahiko mean while watched in aw.

After Kenshin had dealt with the men he turned back to his students. "What is the meaning of this? Explain!"

Sato looked from Kenshin to Hira, and swallowing the lump in his throat began. "Well…we…umm ran into a gang of drunks, yeah a bunch of drunks and they were bothering everyone so we tried to calm them down. But then they called their friends. They said something about 'revenge' and…"

Behind them they heard voices. Then all of a sudden the gate was filled with men dressed much like the other two that still lay unconscious on the ground.

Sato's eyes bugged out of his head as he stammered, "t-there's so many of them…"

Kenshin, thinking on his feet thought 'there are too many of them. We can't hope to win this one.' Out loud he said, "everyone into the dojo, NOW!"

They dashed into the dojo and slammed the doors shut. But through them the could hear the men shuffling around and the voice of the man who appeared to be the leader saying, "show them what happens to those who oppose the mighty Hishi-Manji Guren gang, and their leader Hachisuka!"

Now inside Kenshin had a chance to deal with the situation. "The Hishi-Manji Guren gang…now I understand."

Yahiko being the child he was asked, "who are they?"

"A band of delinquents…they are like an army reserve…for criminals. They can be more dangerous then the yakuza because they don't have anything to lose." Kenshin broke away from his thoughts and looked to the door. "Why is it whenever Kaoru's no here we always end up in trouble?"

Yahiko as well looked to the door, surprise on his face, "what? That's why I haven't seen her, where did she go?"

Kenshin grinned sheepishly and said, "well I sent her out for rice and some other things…"

Yahiko glared and bit his lip, "idiot."

Sato looked to Kenshin and begged, "what should we do Kenshin-san?"

Yahiko sighed at them and said sarcasm in his voice, "what do you mean 'we'? You fools are the ones that started all of this!"

Kenshin trying to defend his students snapped back, "they're not responsible for this!"

Yahiko glanced at Kenshin and answered, his voice steady, "I'll say it again, 'idiot'. You don't really believe that they're innocent, do you?" all three sets of eyes riveted themselves to Yahiko's face. "Or maybe it was because you didn't notice the stench of alcohol on their breath. You were the ones to start the fight. You two got drunk and caused problems, didn't you? Then had to go and pick a fight with those bad asses out there and bring them back here."

Kenshin's back stiffened and look at the two, "is that true?"

Hira and Sato looked to the floor, unable to face their teacher. They had brought all of this down onto their heads and they couldn't deal with it.

"Well! Is it?" Kenshin practically begged. He was terrified that students of his would actually use their skills to deliberately hurt another.

Hira was the first to speak, his voice small, "I'm sorry…"

At that opportune moment the wall exploded. Splinters and shards of wood littered the floor and walls.

Hachisuka the leader with annoying electric hair laughed, "Walls are nothing to Hishi-Manji! Come on out, otherwise I'll demolish this pathetic dojo!"

Kenshin looked back finally able to catch his breath and saw a huge wooden canon. "No…"

Yahiko as well was more then surprised at the weapons that these thugs had. "How can they have something as powerful as that, here?"

"Never be surprised by Hishi-Manji. We don't scrimp on the good stuff. Now…hand over the punks that broke on of my men's arm. And we'll leave."

Kenshin stilled. Broken arm. "You…you two used swords for a drunken brawl…and hurt someone?"

Both men were quiet and Sato was shivering. They knew they had done wrong but now was a little too late to do anything about it.

Yahiko was the one to deal with them. "The people outside maybe crude and stupid but you guys are even worse! Besides, 'former students' mean that you ran away from this dojo when things got bad. And now when things get tough for you, you come running back here for help!"

Just as Yahiko finished his little tirade the rest of the wall was banished with a puff of smoke and more splinters. Hachisuka entered, a smug grin on his lips. "You can't get away now. Get out here!"

"Go ahead and take them. We don't care." glared Yahiko.

Sato stammered, "w-what!"

Hachisuka glared. "Forget it. You were harbouring them. We'll take you out too."

Yahiko had a retort on his lips when Kenshin's arm stopped him from moving forward.

Kenshin stood forward and said, "bring your revenge to me. Leave these three out of it."

Yahiko yelled after Kenshin as he stepped away from them. "What the hell are you going Kenshin!"

"My father and I taught these two. Even if they are no longer my students, their misuse of the sword is my responsibility. I thought that what I was doing was right. That teaching people the way of the sword that gives life was a way to save the world. But it seems that I was wrong. Yahiko, you have the skills that will take you far. Don't give up on your dream and keep striving for it. Train hard." Kenshin's back was to Yahiko as he finished his speech.

Yahiko could not believe what was going on, Kenshin suddenly seemed so strong and determined. There standing before him as what a real samurai should do and say. Not the cowards behind or in front of him.

The leader looked Kenshin over and said, "you'll take the blame huh? Well I guess we can find a place for you pretty boy." (I'm making the boss and gay and very raunchy perv, just because that sounds so much nastier) The man's hands itched to touch Kenshin, though Kenshin's face never showed the discomfort that this thought brought on.

"Stop this idiocy!" screamed Yahiko as his foot came flying down on to Hachisuka's face. "Don't make me, Myojin Yahiko, out to be one of these scum bags! Do you actually think I'd let you die alone!"

Hachisuka staggered back to his feet, "why you little brat. I was going to let you live after your teachers kind proposition but now, now you're all gonna die!"

"That doesn't sound very friendly that it doesn't." came a soft yet brutally hard voice from the gate.

"Kaoru!" cried Yahiko and Kenshin.

"Perhaps the two in the back have been up to no good but still, did you have to resort to the cannon? Now, lets calm down and work this out, like actual adults." Kaoru set down the groceries that she had been carrying and took her stance.

Hachisuka turn around and yelled, "Who the hell are you woman to tell me what to do?"

One of his men turned to him and stammered, "Master Hachisuka this is bad. That is no ordinary woman. Remember the Rurouni who beat up all those policemen? I think that's her!"

Hachisuka's answer was to yell some more. "Coward! You gonna get all scared over some sword toting woman? We have this cannon on our side. So fire you morons. FIRE!" the cannon turned to Kaoru as she continued to stare the goons down. Yahiko would have called out but for the fact that she would never have heard.

Just as fast as the ball left the cannon Kaoru unsheathed her sword, the glint of steal almost like a lighting stroke. Her movement was so fast that no one saw the blade enter and exit the ball. All they saw as the two severed halves embed themselves in the opposite sides of the gate.

Kaoru set the point of her blade towards the gang that stood huddled around their useless cannon. "It is pointless to hesitate when using this blade on inanimate objects. Once again…this one asks that we discuss this as adults."

When the dust had settled from the speedily departing gang Kaoru spoke again, "my, my. So much happens when this one goes away. Even for a few hours." It was spoken with no malice and all the kindness that she felt to her adopted family.

Hira and Sato turned to Kaoru their mouths opening and closing without any words actually coming out.

"It does not matter any longer, go home. And forget that you ever learned swordplay and forget this place. Never hold a sword again." Kaoru looked at the two with kind but cold eyes. They had jeopardised the lives of two innocent people there was no way that she could go kindly on them.

The two began to walk away when Kenshin's voice stopped them.

"Hira-chan…you should get that wound on your shoulder looked at." Even though he was addressing the two he never looked their way.

Hira looked to his once teacher and with tears in his eyes, bowed his respect and left with Sato.

Kaoru made her way to Kenshin and rested her hand on his shoulder, which was shaking either from anger or sadness. "Cheer up Kenshin-dono. No matter how hard you try some people will never understand the meaning of caring a sword. Some times your wishes for them never reach them.

"Quit crying you baby. It doesn't suit a man. I won't turn out like them." Came Yahiko's overly confident voice. Kenshin had to look up to see the determined look the boy gave him. "I'll enter your dojo. I know now that it's impossible for me to be like Kaoru right away. So I'll let you teach me to your level…for now." And he turned and made a beeline to the slightly destroyed dojo.

Kaoru looked at Yahiko's back as he departed and smiled softly. "But then…there are the few that hear your wishes and run with them."

"Oi, get over here! I've got no time to waste Kenshin. Get over here and fight me, I've got to get stronger!"

Kenshin raised an eyebrow and gazed at the boy questions running through his mind. "I think I liked it better when you called me onna, or man/woman…I can't believe I just said that…"

Kaoru stood by smiling. This was going to be interesting.