Rurouni Prom

"Finally, after ten long years it's about to begin for the last time. This fight will put an end to our feud once and for all, Shishio."

Shishio laughed, "Yes, finally I'll be able to defeat you once and for all, but before we fight answer my question, how did you get out?"

Kenshin smiled, "Your 'daughter' helped me, she's really a good distraction."

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothing, she's just a little tied up at the moment is all. So how'd you come to adopt her any ways?"

"Her parents were killed by a very skilled swordsman and he decided to take care of her and raise her as his own since he killed her parents. I knew one day she'd be of use to me and she was, she found out your main weakness for me."

Kenshin's eyes went wide, "You killed the girl's parents and trained her to be your spy? That's sick, Shishio, even for you, I never thought you'd stoop so low as to kidnap a child."

"Well I did and I'm quite proud of her, she's really good at finding out information for me."

Shishio laughed and Kenshin couldn't help but shake his head, "What else have you done in the past ten years or do I really want to know?"

"Since you asked, I've accomplished many decent kills, a few government officials here and there, a few women and kids, you know, the usual for me. It was always such a pleasure to watch my enemies as they died."

Kenshin felt his stomach churn when he said 'woman and kids,' so Shishio had completely lost his mind after all. He glared at the man in front of him and clenched his teeth together in anger, "So it was you who committed all of those murders. I should have known it was you, you're the only man I know sick enough to murder innocent people, especially children. I thought maybe you may have changed in the past ten years and I was right. You have changed except you've gotten worse, you have no mind left whatsoever, do you, Shishio?"

"I have enough of one to enjoy myself when I kill, it's particularly enjoyable to watch little kids squirm and try to run away from you as you're trying to kill them."

Shishio started laughing and Kenshin growled in anger, putting the sword into his belt and flicking it out of the sheath with his thumb, "Enough talk, let's get this over with, I have more important things to do."

"Right, let's get this started then, Battousai."

Shishio charged at Kenshin and he drew his sword, fending off Shishio's attack before slashing at his side; Shishio easily evaded the move and thrust near Kenshin's chest. While they were battling Shishio's guest slipped into the other room and got out his cell phone, "They've started the battle, it should be over with very soon and when it's done you need to come in and finish the job. I don't know who's going to win but my bet's on Battousai, he hasn't lost any of his skill, in fact he's gotten a little better. I don't know what he's been doing the past ten years but apparently it's kept him in shape. No, don't do anything right now, but you're right, we need to take him down tonight, just wait for my signal."

He hung up the phone and went back into the room just as Kenshin knocked Shishio down, raising his sword to finish the fight. Shishio's guest ran in between them and pushed Kenshin away before helping Shishio up. Kenshin looked at his attacker and his eyes went wide at who he saw, "Saito! I should've guessed that you were somehow in on this!"

"I never pass up an opportunity to watch a good fight, it looks like you're still pretty good, I figured you'd be rusty after going so long without practicing."

"I never stopped training with a sword, I just don't use it to fight anymore, until now that is. You just stay out of this and let me and Shishio fight."

"Fine then, after you two are finished I'll tally up the score."

Saito chuckled and stepped off to the side to watch the fight and Shishio took the opportunity and grabbed his sword, "It's time to end this, Battousai."

"I agree."

Kenshin sheathed his sword and got into the Battou-Jutsu stance, getting a laugh out of Shishio as he did so, "Your famous Battou-Jutsu attack, I wondered when you were going to use it. So do you still know how to do it or have you completely forgotten?"

"I've never forgotten the Battou-Jutsu, after all it's the technique that earned me that name Battousai. Now shut up and prepare for death, Shishio."

"You don't have what it takes to kill me."

"Really? Well we'll see, won't we? But don't get your hopes up, Shishio, now that I've said that I will kill you, your death tonight is more than assured."

Shishio chuckled and let out a battle cry as he charged at Kenshin. He drew his sword with god-like speed and locked it against Shishio's in a stalemate for several seconds until Shishio somehow managed to break away. Before Shishio could attack again Kenshin stepped forward with his left foot and spun around in a split second, long enough to gain enough speed and momentum to hit Shishio directly in the side with his sword. Shishio went flying across the room and laid on the ground for several seconds, allowing Kenshin enough time to catch his breath. Kenshin's eyes went wide as he heard Shishio getting up, he turned around and watched as Shishio tried to stand, coughing up blood as he did so, "He's getting up! But how! No one's ever gotten up after that attack, not even my Master got up immediately! This guy is unreal but he's weaker from that attack, I've got to end this now!"

Kenshin stood up and prepared to fight again but Shishio threw something at him and it embedded into his shoulder. He cried out and pulled it out, seeing a long dagger in his hands, he groaned softly when he saw that it had gone in deeper then he thought, there was blood all the way to the hilt, "I'm gonna feel that in the morning." He tossed it aside and watched as Shishio fell to the ground again, he waited until he was sure that he was down before going up to him and raising his sword, "This is the end, Shishio, goodbye..."

Kenshin brought his sword down to finish the job but someone caught his wrist and pulled him back before his sword could make contact. He turned around and glared at Saito, "What're you doing, Hajime!"

"Just relax, it's over now, let us take care of things from here."

"What do you mean?"

Saito pulled out his phone and pushed a button, his voice calm as he spoke to the person on the other end, "It's over, Himura's won, time to finish this up."

All of the sudden several police officers came in threw the door and started to search the house for the rest of Shishio's men. One went up to Saito and asked, "Where's his daughter?"

"I don't know, ask Himura."

"Sir, where's the girl?" he asked Kenshin softly

Kenshin was so dumbfounded that Saito had to nudge him to get his attention before he answered, "Oh um... she's off in the back room... she's tied up."

"Tied up?"

"I did it when I got loose so she wouldn't follow me or warn any of the henchmen."

"Thank you, do you need any medical attention?"

"No... I'm fine..."

"Good, excuse me."

The officer walked off and Kenshin turned to glare at Saito, "What the hell is going on here, Saito!"

Saito smiled at his shocked expression, "Simple, I'm an undercover detective for the police department, I do a lot of work at the school because the kids trust me since I'm their teacher but mostly I do things like this. I go in to some moron's meeting and try to join him and once he confesses to the crime I'm looking for I arrest him. That's what I did with Shishio. When I heard that you were here I was amazed, how did they manage to kidnap you, any ways, Himura?"

"I was getting in my car and I got shot by a dart!"

Saito busted up laughing and Kenshin punched him in the arm, "Shut up! I did all the work here! Why didn't you tell me what the hell you were up to!"

"That would've blown my cover, I was very impressed with that last attack you pulled, what was it?"

"It's called the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki, it's the ultimate attack of the Hiten-Mitsurugi style. It's an advanced Battou-Jutsu, I was surprised that it didn't kill him."

Saito smirked, "It would have... if you'd had a real sword that is."

"A real sword? What do you mean?"

"Look at your sword, stupid."

Kenshin looked down at the sword in his hands and gasped when he saw that the blade was on the wrong side, "A reverse-blade sword! How did I get this!"

"We had a lead that you would be here tonight so we got hold of your old friend Enishi and he gave it to us. I figured you'd get away from the girl and so I put it on the wall and moved all the others so you would grab it instead of one of the real ones."

"Why did you do that?"

"I know about your silly vow and why you made it, I knew that Shishio wasn't worth killing so I decided to return that favor I owed you by helping you keep your promise to Tomoe."

"What favor are you talking about?"

"Ten years ago you saved a woman from being raped and killed and took her to the hospital, do you remember that?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with you?"

"That woman you saved was my wife, Tokio, she told me about what her rescuer looked like and I immediately knew it was you. I made a promise to myself to return the favor one day and now I have, so we're even."

Kenshin opened his mouth to say something but some cussing in the background drew their attention to the door to see Shishio and his daughter arguing. Negumo turned to Kenshin and gave him a look that would kill if it were possible before she was pushed out the door. Shishio turned his head and smirked at Kenshin, "Good fight, but one day I will get out and when I do I will kill you, Battousai."

"Anytime Shishio, anytime, just leave my family out of it next time."

Shishio chuckled before he was taken outside to the ambulance to be taken to the hospital. Kenshin turned to Saito and shook his head, "This has been one hell of a day! I'm tired and you don't need me anymore so I'm going home and crashing! See ya later, Hajime, it's been fun."

Kenshin headed to the door but a hand on his shoulder stopped him as Saito laughed softly, "Let me take you home, if you go out like this you'll get killed and I want to be the one to murder you."

Kenshin rolled his eyes at the playful threat and smiled, "Fine, just as long as you hide my body to where Kenji don't find it, I don't care."

They chuckled and headed out to Saito's patrol car before he drove off towards town. Saito stopped at the diner close to Kenshin's house and they got out, "Can you make it from here, Himura?"

"Of course, I've traveled farther than this, thanks."

"DADDY!"

Kenshin looked over and watched with surprised eyes as a little boy ran up to Saito and hugged him around the legs, "Hey Daddy!"

"Hello Kogoro."

Saito smiled and picked the child up into his arms, getting a slap from him as he did so, "You're late Daddy!"

"I'm sorry, work took longer than I thought it would. But listen, when we get home we'll watch a movie to make up for it, how's that?"

"YEY!"

Kenshin smiled and shook his head, "I can't believe you're a father."

"Believe it, and this little trooper already knows what he's going to do when he grows up."

"Really? What're you gonna do when you grow up, kiddo?" Kenshin asked the young boy

"I'm gonna be a wocker like Daddy!"

"A rocker, huh? You play Saito?"

"Yes, guitar, I've been playing since I was little, I just never mentioned it."

"Maybe I can kick your ass at a competition one of these days, then."

Saito laughed, "I'd enjoy that."

"Who's your fwiend, Daddy?"

"This is Kenshin Himura."

"Are you Battousai?" the little boy asked innocently

Kenshin smiled, "Yes, how do you know that?"

"My daddy tells me storwies about how he fought a man named Battousai and how good he was. Nice to meet you, Battousai."

The little boy held out his hand and Kenshin smiled, shaking his hand, "Nice to meet you, too, what's your name, little man?"

"Kogowo."

"Kogoro, huh? You do know what happens to people who know who I am, don't you?" Kenshin winked at Saito and he smiled, knowing what he was about to do to his son.

"No, what?"

"When people find out who I am I have to kill them. So when you're asleep I'm gonna come and get ya."

Kenshin tickled him and the little boy giggled, "No you won't!"

"Why not?"

"Because you don't kill no more!"

"That's right, you're a smart kid."

"Yep! Hey Daddy, I'm hungwy!"

"Alright, let's go find your mother then, see you later, Himura."

"See ya, Saito, you keep your dad out of trouble, ok?"

"OK!"

Kenshin chuckled and started off towards his house but Saito's voice stopped him, "Himura."

"What?"

He turned to look at him and was surprised when he bowed ever so slightly, "Thank you... for saving Tokio."

Kenshin smiled and returned the small bow, "You're welcome, thanks for the sword."

Kenshin watched as Saito set Kogoro down, laughing when the little boy started pulling the once fierce warrior into the diner, tugging roughly on his sleeve with playful anger. He turned around and walked away, heading towards his house as his thoughts drifted to Kaoru, "One day Kaoru and I will have a family too, I just hope that I'll be a good father."

It didn't take ten minutes for him to get home, heading straight for the shower and rinsing off before headed off to his room. But before he could enter he felt someone pick him up by the waist, "Kenshin! You're alive! Where have you been! What happened to you!"

Kenshin laughed, "Put me down Kenji and I'll tell you."

Kenji set him down and allowed his younger brother to lead him to the livingroom where Aoshi and Sanosuke were waiting to hear the story as well. Kenshin explained everything that happened and Sanosuke busted up laughing, "You got molested by a girl! That's hilarious!"

Aoshi chuckled and pretended to hold up a microphone, changing his voice to sound silly as he joked, "News flash... the mighty Hitokiri Battousai was found dead this morning, numerous kiss marks and hickeys were discovered all over his body but there is no exact proof as to how he died."

"Ha, ha, ha! Very funny, Aoshi! Oh wait! I have to check on Kaoru!"

"No need, she's fine, I stayed with her until she went to bed." Kenji explained

"Did anything happen?"

Kenji smiled, "Well... there were a couple of thugs outside but they... decided to take a nap for awhile."

Kenshin playfully hit him in the shoulder and laughed, "You little psycho, I can't believe you! Did you actually kill them?"

"No, I knew you'd rip my head off if I did that, I just knocked em out and called the cops."

"That's a relief."

Sanosuke nudged Aoshi and whispered to him, "I bet Kenshin had some 'relief' with that girl."

They started chuckling before receiving a well deserved slap across the head by a playfully angry Kenshin, "All of you can kiss off! I'm going to bed, goodnight!"

Kenshin ignored their laughter and headed off to his room, flopping on the bed and grabbing his phone where Kenji had set it on his table. He dialed a number and waited for several seconds until a groggy voice answered, "Hello?"

"Kaoru?"

"Yes, who's this?"

"It's me, Kenshin, I just... wanted to tell you something."

"What's that?"

"Sorry to call you so late but I couldn't sleep without telling you how much you mean to me."

Kaoru giggled, "You woke me up to sweet talk me? Are you going to be doing that after we get married?"

"Oh definitely, but once we're married there will be many more reasons to wake you up than to just say 'I love you.'"

Kenshin laughed to himself when she paused, knowing full well that she was blushing fiercely on the other end, "Pervert! I'll get you for that tomorrow, now go to sleep."

"Alright, I love you, my sweet Kaoru."

"I love you too, Kenshin, now goodnight Dracula."

Kaoru hung up and he laughed and he set his phone aside, she'd been calling him 'Dracula' since he pulled off the fake fangs at the club, he was starting to think it was his new pet name. He sighed happily and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of his future with Kaoru and the joy that was to come once they were husband and wife.