The next morning Kaoru woke up at sunrise. Expecting Kenshin to be the courtyard doing chores she quickly got dressed and went outside, after realizing he wasn't there she went to his room. Kenshin is usually up by now, is he ok? As she peered in she noticed the window was cracked open and a sharpening stone on top of a piece of paper. Did he leave? As she picked up the paper she started to read: Kaoru-dono, I have gone to find Shishio that I have. Remember what I had told you last night and don't worry. I promise I will comeback.
-Kenshin.
Don't worry? He went out in the middle of the night after a murderer and he tells me not to worry? If Shishio is in Tokyo then Kenshin can't be far. "Sano! Get your butt out of bed right now!"
"Doushite de gozaru ka?" yawned Sanosuke half asleep.
"Ya, what's all the yelling for busu!"
"Busu! Yahiko, how can you be joking at a time like this!"
\"In a time like what?" asked Yahiko.
"Kenshin is gone! He went looking for Shishio!"
"Then what are you doing standing around here for slow poke?" yelled Yahiko finely realizing what's going on. "We have to find him!"
Sano just crossed his arms and leaned against the wall shaking his head. "Personally I think we should leave him."
"WHAT!" Kaoru and Yahiko yelled sequence at Sano.
"I'm just saying we give him a day to look for Shishio before we go looking for him." He replied calmly.
"HE COULD DIE IN A DAY!" screamed Kaoru.
Still staying calm he said, "This is something he has to do. If we don't let him fight Shishio now how do we know he's not going to looking for Shishio again? He said himself he is still a rurouni."
Knowing he was right Yahiko and Kaoru went grumbling inside. "I'll go fix breakfast then." Mumbled Kaoru as she headed to the kitchen.
Then being only an earshot from Sano Yahiko grumbled "Great, couldn't you have waited to eat Sano? Now we have to eat Karou's slope for Breakfast."
"I HEARD THAT YAHIKO!" yelled Karou as she stuck her head out of the kitchen.
On the other side of Tokyo, Kenshin was walking along the river when he saw something familiar sitting against a rock. Who is that? It looks like…Shishio! Every muscle in his body stiffened, he tightened the grip on his Katana as he looked on. He could feel his anger rising, the Battousai wanting to kill. He wanted to charge right at him and strike but instead he walked calmly onto the shore.
"I've been waiting for you." greeted Shishio. As he was getting up he started to unsheathe his sword, Kenshin noticed this and jumped back with Shishio just missing him. Just then Kenshin let go off all control and the Battoussi took over. Shishio noticed the change in Kenshin's eyes and could sensed his anger, "I see the Battousai has come to visit?" asked Shishio with a smirk on his face.
"I have not come to talk that I have not, I have come to kill you!" yelled the Battousai as he charged at Shishio with his god-like speed. And with that their fight began.
"Where are you going, Sano?" asked Karou noticing Sanosuke sneaking out the gate. "I was…"started Sano having no clue what he was going to say "I was just thinking about going to the bar. I have some buddies that I gamble with who are meeting me there, that's all."
"Ok Sano, and while you're in town could pick up the things on this list? It will save me the trip latter today."
"Sure." He replied taking the piece of paper. I'll get the things on the list first and leave them at the Akabeko before I start asking people about Kenshin, he decided as he walked to the village.
Though Kenshin wasn't doing too good he did have the advantage. He had noticed that Shishio was a little slower then last time and that his wounds hadn't healed as well as Kenshin's had. If only I could hit him on a weak point, I might be able to weaken him more "Hiten Mitsurugi Ouki Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki!" yelled Kenshin as he spun around performing the first strike.
As Shishio blocked it Kenshin then spun around, striking him on the other side…
"….so you're sure you haven't heard from Kenshin all day?" "
Yep, I'm sure." answered the the bar keeper.
"QUICK, some one come quick!" Sano and some other people turned to see what the boy was talking about. "Quick, there is a fight by the river! Two men with swords! They're going to kill each other!"
Kenshin…he must have found Shishio!
"Kid, were one of these men rapped in bandages?" "Hai, and the other one had a scare on his face…"
"Thanks kid!" was all Sano said as he rushed out of the bar towards the river.
"Sano? Is that you?" Yelled Karou after catching her balance from being knocked over by Sanosuke.
"Huh?" Sano spun around to a halt as he looked at Karou with a surprised look on his face.
"Why are you here Ojouchan?"
"I was looking for you Sanosake. You've been gone almost two hours. It only takes one to pick up a few groceries!" Karou straitened up and looked at him more closely, "Where are the groceries? Where are you going?"
"There at the Akabeko. And I'm going to get Kenshin…" Sano caught him self but it was too late. He closed his eyes as he imagined the yelling that he was about to get from Karou for leaving her out of it.
"What? You've been looking for Kenshin!"
"Well, I was at the bar and some kid came in yelling about two guys fighting with sword down by the river and I thought I'd check it out. It was just a hunch. I swear!"
"Fine, but I'm going with you. C'mon!" Sano then headed towards the river as he ran after Karou.
As they reached the shore Karou froze in the soft white sand as she looked on at the motionless body lying against the rocks. KENSHIN! She couldn't move, had her worst fear come true?
Sano went ahead of her and lifted up Kenshin's body. "Hey Kenshin? You ok? Kenshin wake up!"
O gods please let him be ok! Please! Thought Karou as she stood there praying. Suddenly Kenshin's head moved and they heard him say "I'm alright…Sano, this sessha is alright." He then tried to get up but fell back down. Sano helped him to his feet and put one of Kenshin's arms around his neck for support.
"Where is Shishio?" asked Karuo. Looking around Kenshin replied "He combusted in the water; the current must have washed his ashes away."
"Combusted!" Kaoru yelled not sure if she heard him right.
"His ashes!" questioned Sano.
Sano and Karou just looked at each other, then at Kenshin who explained what had happened. When they started walking back to the dojo Kenshin fell and relized he couldn't use his right leg. As Karou knelt down to examine it, "Kenshin! Your leg is cut deep. How could you not realize that when you were fighting?"
Kenshin just shrugged, "I do not know Karou-dono. When I fight I guess I ignore the pain, that I do."
Getting up Karou said with a no doubt tone "Well, you can't walk to the dojo like that. Sano will just have to carry you."
Trying to get up Kenshin started "Oh no Karou-dono, Sano doesn't…Ow!..."
"Oh don't worry Kenshin, I'm sure Sano wouldn't mind would you Sano?"
"Umm…well…"
"It's settled then, Sano, you're carrying Kenshin."
"Umm…ok". Scratching his head he picked up Kenshin and they started on there way.
When they reached the dojo Yahiko was on the roof of Karou's house keeping a watch out for them.
Seeing him Kaoru yelled "YAHIKO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE!"
"I was waiting for you!" replied Yahiko as he started to climb down.
"Well hurry up and go get Genzei-san!"
"Why? What happened?"
"Kenshin is hurt! Now go!"
Yahiko nodded his head and started on his way.
Sano then took Kenshin to his room and laid him on his futon. "Hmmm" Kenshin eyes squinted at the pain that went up his back. Sano's eyes got wide as he looked at his own arm that was covered in Kenshin's blood.
"Karou get in here quick! I think I found another injury!"
Karou ran into the room. As she looked at Sano's arm she could feel herself get a little queasy. "Ummm….." She didn't no what to do.
"Karou, Sano, tadaima!" With that Karou diapered outside to greet Megumi.
"Megumi, I'm glad Yahiko found you. Kenshin in another fight with Shishio."
When Karou and Megumi walked into the room Sano had washed the blood off his arm and was holding Kenshin while he flicked cold water into his face, trying to keep him awake.
"I'll take it from here, thank you Sano." said Megumi as she knelt down beside Kenshin.
Sano nodded, laid Kenshin back down and left. "I'm staying with him this time." said Karou as she knelt down on the other side.
Setting things up Megumi replied "Aa, you're not." "Hai, I am Megumi; I'm not a chibi musume."
Megumi just shook her head. She knew she couldn't argue right now. "Fine, but don't get in my way." Karou nodded her head.
"Could you open the window? It's hard for me to see in here."
As Karou started to get up Kenshin grabbed her hand. Kneeling back down she started to gently rub his head, "Dijabou Kenshin, I'm here. Dijabou." As his grip loosened she got up and opened the window.