Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Rurouni Kenshin. But you already knew that. What you didn't know is that you can live to be one-hundred and seven.
A/N: I'm sorry for not doing review responses last chapter! I told myself it was because of the new rule, but really I just ran out of time. Thank you so much for your (seemingly) endless support. I really, really appreciate it.
MSN-chan: You sent this review like a second before I posted, so I'll answer. Actually, that's funny because my sister just posted a fic like two days ago. You'd probably like it, it's Sou/Mi. About Enizu…he always used to ACT kind and generous and all that around Naruku…she never would have stayed with him if he became abusive or negligent to her. Only once Enizu first fought Kenshin, Naruku saw how vindictive he was. One of the reasons Enizu is such a weak spot to Naruku is because he was so manipulative to her. That would be cool, about Soujiro and Kenshin, but unfortunately…well, you'll see what actually happens! Don't worry, Enizu will definitely show some vileness…
Justagirl8225: You're making me blush here…I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you'll like this next chapter!
Crewel: Aww…thank you so much. No need to thank me.
Anithene: Lol. Glad you think it's going well—so do I!
Babygirl: Because it was too good of a cliffhanger to resist! I hope you're satisfied with this chapter.
Long Island Grace: You make me laugh, blush and squeal all at once. Thanks so much for your comments. I'm so happy you liked the fight scene because I was having a little bit of trouble with it, but after a while it just started coming out. The Trust and Betrayal soundtrack helped a lot too! I hope you'll be back in time, too, but do have fun!
Random Person, Hypothetic, mikifiona: Why 'ow?' I hope that you like this chapter. Soujiro and Kenshin are great. :hugs:
Zioncross: Well, I'm glad I managed to take you by surprise. That's always good. You're probably right, Naruku is not going to be unscathed after this…I think I've made quite a few people speechless…go me! Haha.
Kie-san: Don't worry about the 'lame review' you're second one totally made my day. And…oh my god, how did you know? About the woodland creatures and the oompa-loompas and the chimney:cries: am I that predictable? Am I? …damn, I knew I shouldn't have posted that fic. Well, I did that because I had written part of it a while ago during testing and wanted to post it soon…also I was feeling guilty because of lack of Sano/Megumi in this fic. Enizu dying painfully…sounds good to me. But who will kill him?
Another Baka: Haha, I made another person speechless. Thanks for your review!
One and Only: Awww, thanks. I'm happy about the Battousai/non-Battousai part, and other people seem to like it too, so that's nice. You are so right about cliffhangers, by the way!
Hopeless Lady, Love in War, Wanted2000: Thank you so much. I'm sorry I got you worried (well, no I'm not) but I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Thank you sooo much I love getting reviews. I hope I get such a great response to this chapter!
Tanoshimu!
Chapter 22
Naruku: The End of Faith
-
Megumi felt herself being violently jerked away from the spy-hole by a grimy pair of hands. "Hey!" she cried out, whirling around.
A second pair of hands pinned her to the wall.
"Megumi!" Sano yelled, lunging toward her. His advance was cut off when two more assailants grabbed hold of him, pinning his bloodied hands behind his back.
The rest of them, Aoshi, Kaoru and Yahiko, were all in similar positions.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled, her eyes still trying to see the fight that was going on outside.
One of the attackers smacked her in the side of the face. Kaoru's knee jerked up, headed straight for where she knew it would hurt him.
"Struggle and the little one gets it!" a man said, holding a small dagger to Yahiko's cheek. He flinched away from the metal but his attackers held fast.
Megumi felt a similar dagger being pressed to her jaw. She froze.
Sano, who was in the middle of breaking free, ceased movement as well. He couldn't risk it.
"Just what is this about?" Kaoru demanded hotly.
"Your defeat of us was taken a little personally," one of the men grimaced.
"Well I could care less about your pompous superiority complex. I have more important things to do, you bastard," Megumi bit out. "I don't have time for this. I don't care how goddamn arrogant you are, I will not be used as a tool for your ego."
"Listen here you bi—"
"Better not finish that sentence," Sano said darkly.
"Oh yeah?" the man who had been tormenting Megumi sneered, turning toward Sano. "What're you going to do? You can't do anything! You can't even move, vermin."
Before Sano could so much as open his mouth, Kaoru took action. No one spoke to her friends like that! Eyes flaming, Kaoru stepped on her assailant's foot as hard as she possibly could. Another one grabbed her but she bit his wrist and he yelled an obscenity.
She tried to make a break for the spy holes in the door but one of the attackers slammed her back against the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, Kaoru could see Aoshi struggling fiercely and the other men trying to restrain him. Even with Aoshi's broken arm, it was no easy feat for them
"You're gonna pay for this!" Yahiko shouted loudly, ignoring the fear that coursed through his body.
"Oh yeah?" one of the men said mockingly. "Says who?"
"Says me," a gruff voice responded
All eyes snapped toward the doorway in unison. The sight there was surprising enough to cause Kaoru to stumble into the wall and her attacker to momentarily let go of her arms.
"Ro—mpghhh…" Yahiko exclaimed. As soon as he had made a sound, Kaoru had crashed her hand against his mouth, muffling the noise.
"Kujima-san!" one of the attackers said shakily. "What are you doing here?"
"Making sure idiots like you don't screw things up," Rokuro responded, his eyes flickering momentarily over to Aoshi in the corner.
"What are you talking about?" a more gutsy fighter demanded. "Just stay out of this!"
Rokuro's eyes narrowed. "Get back to your positions or taste my sword."
The fighter who has spoken before glared. "Don't tell me these brats won you over."
"Do I look easily persuadable to you?" Rokuro shot back. "Get back to your damn positions. Now."
Instead, the fighter drew his sword. But before he could take two steps forward, Rokuro launched his own attack, unsheathing his sword with lightening agility and taking the fighter down with one fierce strike.
Five more fighters rounded on Rokuro, but he took them down with ease, slamming all of them unconscious into the walls by the force of his blade. There was bloody spraying throughout the room, and Kaoru could only hope that no one was dead.
The rest of the fighters looked like they were about to collapse from how much they were shaking.
"Anyone else who cares to defy me?" Rokuro asked, his voice hard.
Several heads shook, but most of the rest of the fighters just quivered in fear.
"Get back in the hall, then, and leave them to me," Rokuro said, glancing again at Aoshi.
The fighters fled, much too terrified to notice these significant looks.
As soon as the rest of the attackers left, Rokuro shut the door behind them. He turned back to face Kaoru and the others who were all rubbing their wrists and other joints where their attackers had gripped them too roughly.
"They'll be fine," Rokuro said, jerking his head at the six bleeding men who were slumped along the walls.
Megumi ignored Rokuro's words and kneeled down by one of the men.
"Did you hear me? They're fine. As worthless as they are, I didn't kill them. Bloodshed is not for the eyes of women and children," Rokuro continued, his voice growing louder in frustration.
Megumi stared up at him defiantly. "I'm a doctor. It's my job to take care of those who are wounded, whether they are 'worthless' or not." She didn't wait for a response but instead primly opened her medicine chest and carefully laid out bandages and a cotton pad wetted with alcohol.
Rokuro seemed a little taken aback by Megumi's actions, but inquired no further. Kaoru pulled herself away from the group and ran toward the spy holes in the door. She had too see Kenshin. She had to know that Naruku was all right.
"Don't," Rokuro said sharply, and Kaoru's footsteps slowed and then stopped.
She looked over her shoulder at him, a frosty, bold expression on her face for two seconds before she saw what Rokuro was doing and the look changed to surprise.
"Move," Rokuro said to her, his sword held tightly in his hands. "I can get you through to your friends. You may be able to save them."
Kaoru hastily scrambled away from the door, retreating next to Yahiko. She watched breathlessly as Rokuro ran at the door. His wordless yell rang in Kaoru's ears as his sword split the door with a deafening crack.
It looked like the door had been hit with a cannon, not a sword. Using his bare hands to rip chunks of wood away, Rokuro cleared a sizeable hole in the wreckage of the door. Then he moved aside, as if saying "That's all I can do for you…the rest is your job."
Kaoru was the first to step over the threshold, her eyes pinned on what lay on the other side. She felt Aoshi and Sano coming out after her, but it didn't matter. Her mind was in twists as she stared at the scene in front of her, the debris left after the fight.
It was over, Kaoru's mind told her as she looked on.
Kenshin was kneeled on the floor, his eyes darkened and cloudy with the signs of a laden soul, his hand resting on his sakabatou, which lay on the ground beside him. His breathing was harsh, burdened.
On the ground all around Kenshin were kunai, scattered across the marble. Then there was Misao, who crouched on the ground, clutching two of the knives, eyes brimming in tears. Beside her, Soujiro stood, his sword out and hanging at his side. His face was down, and it was impossible to tell his expression.
And then…
Kaoru sucked in breath. Naruku was lay twisted on the ground, looking angelic in the long white furisode. But the canvas of her innocent self was stained with blood. The red life seeped out of a ghastly wound on her side. Through thick red locks Kaoru saw a gash that ran down the length of Naruku's pale face, marring her moon-like skin. The wound bled freely, a stream of crimson blood running all the way across her jawbone, splattering onto her neck. Her eyes were closed, her mouth forming a small line, blocking everything out in an unexpectedly apathetic manner.
As Megumi ambled out of the doorway, she let out a small moan at what her eyes took in.
In the middle of the ballroom Enizu was crumpled on the floor in a pool of his own blood. His eyes were wide open and his lips parted. Kaoru could almost hear the last whispers of life coming from him, those horrid words he had spoken.
On his right side near his arm there was a small dagger, drenched in blood.
Kaoru closed her eyes and let the image wash over her. Her head pulsated in beat with her heart and she felt like the walls were rushing at her, the world growing smaller.
Her eyes flickered open as a noise filtered through the wretched silence.
Soujiro had sheathed his sword and was starting toward Kaoru and the others, his head held low. Behind him Misao clutched her kunai tighter, watching each of Soujiro's steps with a painful expression. Kenshin did not move, his eyes hooded and unblinking.
Soujiro reached the group at the doorway and bowed his head. Then he slowly raised his eyes to meet their questioning gazes.
"What—" Sano began, his voice shaking with an indescribable emotion. "What happened here?"
Soujiro held his burning gaze. "I knew we would have to tell you…I knew I should be the one to do it." His fist clenched but then he relaxed.
As Soujiro began speaking, began retelling the tale Naruku never wanted to hear, she let out a small sigh and turned her head away from them, wishing she could not hear at all. But Soujiro's words were bringing her own mind back to that moment.
-
The next few seconds seemed lost to Naruku. She was there, in front of Enizu, Kenshin's sword coming down on her. But for some reason the only thing she could focus on were Kenshin's eyes. They were huge, widened in shock, but still the loveliest color she had ever seen. To think I might not see those eyes…makes it so hard not to cry.
She felt a wind at her left and suddenly she was being pushed out of the way, thrown to the floor. Where she had been, now another person stood, sword drawn and clashing with Kenshin's battou-jutsu. Naruku recognized that sword.
"My sword…" she said faintly. And the person holding it… "Sou…jiro?"
Beneath inky bangs, Soujiro's face was screwed up in concentration. But he had done it. He had blocked Kenshin's attack, stopped the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. Naruku knew that had Soujiro not arrived at that exact moment, she would be dead. Kenshin might even have been dead. Bailing out on the final technique was very dangerous, but somehow Soujiro had stopped it without fatally hurting either of them.
Kenshin and Soujiro stood with their swords locked for just a split second, and then Kenshin flew backwards and crashed to the ground. At that precise moment, a rain of kunai fell down upon all occupants of the ballroom.
Naruku jumped out of her stupor just in time to avoid one of the knives that was headed for her Achilles' tendon. The kunai cut through her skin slightly before clattering to the ground.
"Misao…"
The kunoichi was standing a few meters in front of Naruku. She was staring vehemently at Enizu on her left. He in turn was wearing the most infuriated expression on his face. His brown eyes burned with a searing hatred.
Naruku could see enough to tell that at least one of Misao's kunai had hit its mark. There was a knife nestled into the bicep of Enizu's left arm. He tore it out with merciless haste and lunged violently at Misao.
"No!" Naruku shrieked, pushing herself off the ground and getting to her feet.
Enizu's arm was all the way around Misao's throat, his sword extended in his right arm to fend off everyone else.
Misao's eyes were squeezed shut as she coughed and choked. She threw three more kunai wildly, struggling in Enizu's iron grasp. One of the kunai sailed downwards, barely missing Soujiro's foot by inches. He was excruciatingly winded from fending off Kenshin's monstrous battou-jutsu, but still he turned, heading toward Misao at an agonizingly slow speed, his face contorted in a look of fear and hatred.
Kenshin was almost completely incapacitated and was sprawled on the floor behind Soujiro, sakabatou still in hand. The failed Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki had almost taken his own life, and he was still much distressed from nearly killing Naruku with it…he couldn't get that vision out of his head. A flurry of white fabric, a splash of blood…the sound of a sword slicing through flesh…
Naruku realized at once that it was up to her. Misao had no part in this battle; this was not her sacrifice to make. She could not be hurt—Naruku would not allow it. She took no time in sprinting forward, extremely fast even with the constriction of her kimono. Her eyes were focused on one thing and one thing alone—Enizu.
He had noticed her rushing at him and with a sinister grin disposed of Misao—tossing her carelessly to the side where her body made contact with Soujiro's, toppling them to the cold marble floor in a heap. Misao's head hit the floor with a sickening smack. Soujiro landed hard on his shoulder, and he was sure by the cracking sound that he had dislocated it.
Even with Misao safely out of harm's way, Naruku still came at Enizu, her blood-red hair flying out like a ribbon behind her. Enizu seized her wrists, pulling her small form roughly against him, twisting her around so that she was held with her back to Enizu, facing out at her friends who lay scattered on the floor.
"Naruku!" Kenshin cried out hoarsely as he watched Enizu's blade go to Naruku's throat. But it stopped there, hesitating at the creamy flesh.
"Perhaps she should have died at your hands…" Enizu said in a quiet voice.
Naruku whimpered, struggling uselessly against Enizu.
"Perhaps then you would have realized. Seen the wrong in your doings," Enizu spat.
A deadly silence overcame the room. Kenshin struggled to stand, wincing and holding back moans of pain. In the end he remained sitting on the floor, unable to do anything to stop what was about to happen.
"Don't you see Battousai?" Enizu said, lowering his head to graze the top of Naruku's ear with his lips. She closed her eyes, fighting to keep tears away.
Kenshin remained silent, a heated rage flowing through his veins.
"I do this not for revenge, but to prove to you that no one, especially not you, can lead a normal life after the bloodshed of the revolution," this was said in the same deathly quiet voice. But the next moment, Enizu seemed to explode with fury, "How dare you! How dare you love this wench with a past as dirty and blood-soaked as yours? How dare you refuse to kill, try to rectify your sins? Nothing can atone for your crimes, nothing!" Enizu shrieked at Kenshin.
Kenshin's head lowered at these words, his bangs covering the expression on his face. "This one does not care what you say about him or his past," he said with bated breath. "Only that you release Naruku-dono."
Enizu smirked. Then he chuckled. "Release her? There you go again, trying to put your name to good deeds. So that you'll be remembered as someone who helped people. You will always be remembered as a killer, Battousai. You fucking hypocrite! Two-faced beast! You think by saving her, it makes up for those that you've killed? That you can go back to your life? I'll show you a good deed—a good deed would be killing this tramp!"
Naruku cried out as Enizu made one clear slash across her waist, cutting into her stomach. She plunged to the ground, dripping crimson blood onto the snow-white of her kimono.
The world ceased to turn as Naruku kneeled on the ground, struggling for breath. Blood oozed out, flowing over the hand that clutched at the wound. No one moved as Naruku lay there, chest heaving with a burdened breathing. Then suddenly Naruku's head flicked upwards, and she stared over her shoulder at Enizu with a most piercing gaze, the lucidity gone from her emerald eyes, replaced with a flat, opaque acid color.
Her hand fell from her wound, instead snaking around her torso to the back of her obi. She reached inside the folds of the dark blue fabric and when her hand was in view again, there was something grasped in it.
Something deadly.
Before Misao, Soujiro or Kenshin had a chance to say anything, Naruku pushed off the ground, her momentum building as she headed at Enizu. Akeri's dagger was gripped in Naruku's hand, pointing at Enizu with lethal steadiness.
Enizu sword was in front of him before Naruku could move, and she felt the very tip slicing at her face. Blood splashed in her eyes, rendering her blind. With her last remaining strength, Naruku threw herself toward Enizu, not caring about his sword, not caring what was about to happen.
The dagger plunged into Enizu, right between two of his ribs. Naruku twisted the blade and the blood gushed out.
She stabbed again. Enizu's katana fell to the floor beside him. His face was a chalky white, his eyes huge in shock. His mouth was open, screaming wordlessly and gasping for a precious breath of air. His hands went to where Naruku's dagger was in his ribs.
She tore it away from him and plunged it into his heart. Blood sprayed up at Naruku, showering her in its crimson glory.
Enizu's lips parted as he sank to the ground. "You can never…escape…" he rasped out before collapsing on the ground, dead.
Naruku flung herself away from where the lifeless Enizu lay, soaked in blood. The dagger fell from her hand and she followed it to the ground. She lay on her side, her torso twisted and her cheek pressed against the cold, hard floor. She looked nowhere but the ground, a mix of tears, sweat and blood blurring her vision.
In a paper-thin choice between life and death, she had chosen death.
A/N: Well…:bites lip: not much to say, huh? The next chapter will, in fact, be the last, and it may be short. I don't know, I haven't written it yet. I can't believe I'm come this far. By the way, this chapter took months of planning. I've been planning the end of their fight for at least four months. Wow. Talk about crazy. This fic has been so refreshing to me, and I hope you'll see it to the end. It's taken me nearly a year to write and I'm glad so many of you find it worthwhile.
