DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor will I ever own Rurouni Kenshin. I am making no profit from this and I will remove this if requested to do so for any legitimate reason.
WARNING: This story is rated R for violence, so if you do not like graphic depictions of people dying I suggest you find something else to read.
Author's Notes: A little later than I wanted but still about a week, been busy writing new chapters. Also remember to review and leave your constructive criticism.
The Last Battle of the Bakumatsu
Chapter 19
Kaoru pensively stared out at the bustling yard of her dojo. Word of Yahiko and Yutarou's fight had spread through the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu students and even some of the afternoon students had appeared to witness it. To her right Yahiko appeared calm but his eyes showed that his mind was anything but.
Kaoru had been against the fight at first but after a serious discussion with Sano that morning she had understood his intentions. She would referee the fight and Sano had told her to make sure she did it objectively.
Kaoru turned to her left where Sano was engaged in a playful wrestle with Outa with Misao encouraging the young boy. At first she had thought Sano had returned to Japan more like Zanza than anything else but she was slowly changing her mind. He still retained his crass and intimidating manner but he seemed to have gained a deeper level of thought and patience that came with maturity.
She would acknowledge that she was harsh on him at first but his presence was becoming welcome as she started to understand him more. Although in that respect, she believe she was behind to the woman sitting next to her.
"He might still be a little dense but he would make a good father," Kaoru offhandedly remarked to Megumi who was also watching Sano.
"I haven't thought about that," Megumi admitted as she tried to prepare herself for what was to come. With all that had happened, Tae was the only one who had noticed the time she had spent with Sano and the subtle changes in their behaviour. However it seemed as though both Misao and Kaoru were beginning to catch up.
"I guess, I mean with a body like that you probably haven't thought passed the conception," Megumi stared blankly at how casually Kaoru had made the remark. Megumi had enjoyed taunting Kaoru in the same way in the past but now she found that she was the one with the embarrassed blush on her face.
"I'm surprised a married woman like you would notice something like that," Megumi couldn't quite make her voice reach its normally superior tone. Consequently she only seemed to encourage the younger woman into provoking her further.
"I'm married but that doesn't mean I'm blind, see," Kaoru redirected Megumi's attention to Sano.
He had lost his gi to Outa and was trying to retrieve it as Misao aided the young boy. Sano's wounds had healed to the point where he no longer needed bandages. His well muscled chest, back and arms were clear to see as he chased after Misao and Outa.
"Well you are his doctor, so I suppose you know how they feel as well," Kaoru smirked as she saw Megumi's blush intensify.
Megumi wasn't helped by Sano pacing in her direction after retrieving his gi but not putting it back on. He stopped in front of as he noticed the red tint to her cheeks.
"What's up Fox, feeling sick?" he place a hand on her forehead and felt the warmth of her skin rise dramatically.
"On no, she's just got something else on her mind," Kaoru spoke up when Megumi appeared to have nothing to say.
A bemused Sano looked at Kaoru and then back to Megumi and then followed her gaze to his bare chest, a sly grin spreading across his lips.
"Like what you see?" he whispered seductively as he flexed his arm, his grin widening as Megumi stared at the rippling muscles.
"There are children here," Yahiko muttered having endured the conversation for long enough.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, Yahiko-chan," Sano replied mockingly as Yahiko scowled at him.
Kaoru found Yahiko's face amusing in a display that was reminiscent of her life five years ago. She decided then she might forgive Sano despite her earlier misgivings but that was subject to him paying back some of the money he owed her and showing her his new house.
Thoughts of a truce were pushed aside as the students blocking the gate made way for Yutarou to pass. Yutarou didn't waste time in striding out to the middle of the yard.
"Use this," Kaoru ordered as she tossed a bokken to Yutarou. He caught it in his left hand and waited as both Yahiko and Kaoru joined him in the middle of the yard. Yahiko looked uncertainly at Yutarou who looked back with a little contempt.
"This will be a full contact fight. The winner will be the fighter who remains standing after his opponent has fallen. Both of you are expected to abide by the bushido and I expect you to yield to my directions. Do you understand?" both teenagers nodded and then stepped back with Kaoru standing in the middle.
"Hey Jou-chan!" Sano's call stopped Kaoru starting the fight and she looked at him feeling a little annoyed. Sano nodded in the direction of the front gate and she saw a familiar face hiding in the shadows at the back of the crowd of students.
"Tsubame-chan, I think you'd get a better view if you sat over there," Kaoru gestured for her to sit on the porch between Sano and Kenshin.
Tsubame eventually conceded but she would have preferred to stay in the shadows as an anonymous viewer. She sat down on the porch and appeared to want nothing more than to have the attention diverted away from her. She got her wish as Kaoru announced the commencement of the battle.
"Good to see you made it. No matter what happens don't look away and that goes double for you Round Cheeks." Sano patted Outa on the head as he sat on the ground in front of him.
"I didn't want them to see me," Tsubame quietly confessed as Yahiko and Yutarou sized each other up.
"Can't be helped but this fight isn't about you and if either of them think that then they are sorely mistaken. Besides I think your heart has belonged to one of them for a long time," Sano chuckled as Tsubame tried to hide her flushed face.
"Now is not the time to be teasing her," Megumi chided Sano as his laughter died down.
"Well they're not doing anything," Sano gestured to the two teens still eyeing each other off.
"Will you two get on with it!" Misao's sudden and impatient scream startled Yahiko and allowed Yutarou the first opportunity to attack.
Yutarou raced forward yelling his battle cry as he went but his attack was meet with a defensive parry from Yahiko. Yutarou didn't waste time in swinging his bokken again and again in a concerted barrage of attacks.
"Yutarou is focusing on Yahiko's injured shoulder," Misao observed as Yahiko started to feel the strain on his body.
"Is that allowed?" Tsubame inquired of Kenshin as Yahiko tried to counter Yutarou's attacks.
"It is not disallowed and Yahiko should have expected it since his shoulder is a weakness because of his injury," Kenshin responded as he appraised the fight with calm eyes.
"The longer the fight goes, the greater Yutarou's advantage but if Yahiko can recover what he lost, his spirit will overcome that and more."
Tsubame looked at Sano, only partially understanding what he just said but she found some hope in it. Her attention was drawn back to the fight as Yahiko grunted in pain from a strike from Yutarou that hit his upper right arm.
Yutarou's triumphant smile was short lived as Yahiko's first attacking stroke hit him in the stomach. They both paused and then lunged forward in attack, the sound of clashing wood echoed around the yard as their wooden swords locked.
"Now that she's here, this isn't just about the sakabatou," Yutarou hissed as he tried to over power Yahiko.
"This fight has nothing to do with her," Yahiko replied as he matched every inch of Yutarou's strength despite the pain in his shoulder.
"Maybe but she won't want to go out with you when she sees what a loser you are," Yutarou spoke freely apparently not aware that everybody could hear what they were saying.
As much as Yahiko tried not to think about it, an image of Tsubame walking away with a victorious Yutarou flashed into his mind. The distraction allowed Yutarou to push Yahiko back before he lunged forwarded and speared his bokken into Yahiko's right shoulder. Yahiko growled as the twisting bokken torn open his stitches and warm blood started to flow over his skin.
Yahiko refused to cry out at the pain and brought his bokken up to knock Yutarou's away. It gave Yahiko a free shot at Yutarou's stomach but he lacked power in his swing due to his shoulder.
Yutarou shrugged off Yahiko's attack and brought a heavy blow down on the top of Yahiko's shoulder. Yutarou followed up by spinning and swinging his bokken into Yahiko's back.
Yahiko grunted as he flew forward, skidding to a halt face down on the ground. He groaned as he pushed himself up and stared hard at the ground as his body ached.
He realised that his bokken had slipped from his hand and turned to the side to see it lying in between himself and Outa. With it out of reach he pushed himself up to a kneeling position but immediately felt the burning pain in his shoulder. The blood had already soaked into his gi and was forming a large red blotch on his training clothes.
Behind him Yutarou was eager to continue the fight but held his ground when Kaoru indicated he should wait.
Yahiko looked at the bokken, hesitating as he tried to decide if he could continue. Before he made a decision, Outa stretched forward and pushed the bokken into arms reach.
"My brother believes in you and I think you'll win because you wear the symbol for evil on your back like us." Yahiko stared at the boy who, despite his appearance, seemed to fully understand what the symbol he wore meant.
Now feeling obliged to continue he grasped his bokken and rose to his feet. He turned to face Yutarou and nodded to Kaoru that he was ready to recommence.
Kaoru waited a moment before signalling that they could fight.
Yutarou charged but it was straight into a downward strike from Yahiko. Yutarou only just managed to deflect it away from his head but it was still strong enough to land a blow to Yutarou's shoulder. He stumbled slightly but confidently blocked Yahiko's next attack. He then parried Yahiko's third attack and immediately took the opportunity to counter attack.
His bokken smashed into Yahiko's side and knocked the air out of his lungs. Yahiko stumbled back, dodging several swings before Yutarou struck him across the side of the head.
Yahiko heard the distinctly female cry of fear through the ringing in his ears. He saw the painfully frightened face of Tsubame as she looked on with her hands almost completely shielding her eyes. The sight sharpened his reflexes enough to enable to jump back away from Yutarou and regain some balance.
Suddenly he was yelling, running forward and swinging his bokken down towards Yutarou but the blow never connected. Through the haze of a slight concussion he was able to make out what exactly had happened.
"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu succession technique, Hawatari," Yahiko breathed as he recognised the form Yutarou used to block his stroke. Yahiko's world suddenly blurred as Yutarou countered and his bokken cannoned into Yahiko's head. Yahiko flew back landing on his face before coming to rest on his stomach.
The crowd of students was silent as they stared at the motionless body after having trained under the belief that Yahiko was the strongest swordsman. Even Yutarou seemed to be surprised by his assumed victory but both Kenshin and Sano looked unconcerned.
"You know we forgot one yesterday, one time where I gave up," Sano's comment seemed absurd but Yahiko coughed before his eyes lazily opened.
"The fight is over, what does this have to do with you?" Yutarou implored as Yahiko moved but seemed unable to stand up.
"The fight isn't over and I'm talking about the time Yahiko was stronger than both Kenshin and myself." Everyone looked at Sano in disbelief but Kenshin appeared to understand what Sano was about to say.
"I was… I was never stronger than you two," Yahiko spluttered as he still lay on the ground.
"There was one time, when everyone thought Enishi killed Kaoru," there was a chorus of noises from the students as they spoke amongst themselves trying to find out if anyone knew the story.
Yahiko continued to look at Sano without moving but his eyes were beginning to clear.
"I was never…" Yahiko began but Sano cut him off, pretending that Yahiko had never spoken.
"Everyone thought that Kaoru was dead and the dojo was destroyed. Kenshin gave up and I walked away but you never did. You showed the true faith and pride of a descendant of the Tokyo samurai, you showed spirit that rivalled Kenshin by fighting against the odds. If you remember that, then you will know what you need to win. Prove that you are still the ten year old boy who fought alongside the Hitokiri Battousai and Zanza the gangster and made them both proud." Yahiko stared at both Kenshin and Sano before his gaze fell onto Tsubame who sat between them.
Yahiko's eyes closed as he pictured what had given him strength in those dark days and it was the girl that sat between his idols. After the Akabeko had been blown away she had stayed at the dojo and even though they hadn't spent much time together he saw it as his duty to protect her. The days after that had been hard but she had been there and had even rushed to find Kenshin in a desperate attempt to save him. He silently promised himself that one day he would tell her how much of his motivation had come from her.
Yahiko gritted his teeth and to the astonishment of everybody he rose to his feet and took his guard.
Yutarou gripped his bokken tighter and prepared himself as he stared at the sorry looking sight that was Yahiko. His clothes were filthy with blood, sweat and dirt but his face had hardened to show his grim determination.
They stared at each other as the crowd stared at them. The tension of the moment was overbearing and even Kaoru found it hard to understand what she was seeing. She knew about his strength but this was by far the toughest fight she had seen him in and she wanted to add that she was also proud of him.
They suddenly screamed simultaneously and charged forward, they passed each other as if they hadn't attacked but Yahiko staggered slightly from a blow to his side.
They turned and repeated the process but this time they both scored hits. Neither of them fell but the both stumbled as they felt the impact of their opponent's blows.
They turned again and made a third pass at each other, both scoring hits on vital areas. They staggered as they reeled back from the pain but neither of them was willing to fall and they squared off, preparing to start again.
"This can't go on forever," Misao spoke as she cringed at some of the bruises that were appearing on the teenager's bodies.
"It won't, Yahiko is getting faster and stronger with each pass. All he has to do is stay standing and he'll win." Sano glanced down to Outa after he spoke to see the he was watching intently.
"But his lost so much blood," Tsubame trembled as Megumi spoke, unable to look away from Yahiko. She was focused purely on his face and didn't want to see the growing red patch on Yahiko's shoulder.
They made their forth attempt at toppling the other but this time Yutarou succeeded in knocking Yahiko to his knees. Yahiko was breathing heavily, his right hand barely able to grip his bokken but he slowly rose to his full height.
Yutarou gritted his teeth in anger as he tried to understand how Yahiko was able to remain standing despite the injuries he had.
Yutarou screamed again as he charged, determined to knock Yahiko down for good. Yahiko blocked the attack but Yutarou persisted and swung again. Yutarou's attacks were increasing in ferocity but he didn't seem to be tiring as Yahiko's defence steadily declined.
Yutarou gained the ascendancy when Yahiko slipped and fell to one knee. His downward strike was blocked but he maintained the downward force in an attempt to push Yahiko to the ground.
Yahiko was unable to force Yutarou away as Yutarou's bokken pushed him down after being forced onto his injured shoulder.
"Why won't you stay down?" Yutarou grunted as Yahiko appeared unable to lift Yutarou's bokken off his shoulder but Yahiko still wasn't close to conceding.
Yahiko growled as he stood up, taking the full pressure of Yutarou's bokken on his shoulder.
Yutarou was stunned and didn't realise that it meant that Yahiko's arms were free for a counter attack. Yutarou gagged as Yahiko delivered a crushing blow to his stomach, forcing his away and causing him to choke back his own vomit.
There was a momentary pause before Yahiko launched himself into the air and prepare to come down on Yutarou like a tonne of bricks.
"Now the brat thinks he's Kenshin," Sano sarcastically commented as Yahiko reached the full height of his jump and began his descent onto Yutarou. Yahiko yelled as he descended and Yutarou fearfully thrust his bokken up to defend.
There was a resounding crack as the wooden swords clashed and that moment seemed to pause in the mind of everybody who saw it. The moment was broken as both bokkens shattered and a cloud of splinters. The ground beneath Yutarou cracked and crumbled under the force and the dust momentarily obscured the two warriors from view.
When it settled they were both on the ground but Yahiko was on all fours. His eyes were screwed shut and his breathing came in raspy gasps but he still clutched the remains of his bokken. He pushed himself up and slowly stood even though he was obviously suffering extreme pain with every movement. He hadn't opened his eyes but he stood defiantly even though it was taking everything he had just to stand.
"I can still fight," Yahiko asserted in a hoarse whisper.
"Not much point since you already won," Sano replied nonchalantly.
Yahiko's eyes opened and he immediately saw the unconscious Yutarou lying on his back in front of him. As the tension flowed from his body his face showed his relief. It was never more evident than when he turned to face Tsubame and smiled making the girl almost cry with joy.
However the moment was only fleeting as Yahiko's eyes glazed over and he blacked out, heavily falling on the ground. There were panicked cries as Megumi, Tsubame and Kaoru rushed to his aid while Kenshin had the control to make sure Yutarou was okay.
"Well that was entertaining," Sano announced as he watched the others rush around, too busy to chastise him.
"You know we could try and help," Misao commented as she watched on with Sano.
"And what are we supposed to do?" Sano asked gesturing to the two teens that had been surrounded by their friends and several students.
"We could try and get rid of the students, I don't think there will be any lessons today and I think Kenshin wants you to help carry them inside." As she spoke, Misao gestured in Kenshin's direction to divert Sano's attention.
Sano looked at Kenshin who was trying to get his attention through the mulling students who were trying to get a better look. Sano stood up and walked to the edge of the crowd, taking a deep breath as he stopped.
"Shows over and there will be no lessons today, so get the hell out of my way!" Sano's roar startled everybody and the petrified students hastily scrambled out of his way and joined the others who had already started escaping through the gate.
With Megumi still attending Yahiko, Sano moved Yutarou inside after Kenshin cleared him of any major injury, although he would be very sore when he woke up. Sano returned to do the same to Yahiko once Megumi was ready to have him moved.
Not really caring for the tense, concerned atmosphere permeating the inside of the house Sano stepped outside.
"How are they doing?" Misao quietly asked as Sano exited the house to find her lounging around in the sun like a cat.
"They'll be fine," Sano grunted as he sat down, not really having too much to say.
Misao eyed him in annoyance as if she was expecting something more before she bounced to her feet.
"Could it hurt for you to be a little more upbeat and energetic like me?" Misao stood proudly but Sano just gave her a look that said he thought she was crazy.
He especially didn't understand how she could claim to be energetic when she had been lounging around his house, the clinic and the dojo ever since his fight with Aoshi.
"Fine, if you have so much energy then I have something we can do," Sano stood up and walked towards the gate.
"Where are you going?" Misao called after him as she stood steadfastly on the porch.
"We are going to do some training," Sano emphasised the 'we' as he waited at the gate for her.
"Training?" Misao's bounded after him her energy suddenly overflowing with anticipation of something interesting to do.
"If you have any better ideas then tell me but you did want to be strong, didn't you?" Sano watched as Misao steeled herself against Sano's doubt.
"I will be strong and I'll prove it to everybody, not just Shinomori Aoshi," Misao's determined speech was watched approvingly by Sano. He continued to walk out of the dojo and Misao followed but neither of them noticed Outa watching them.
After they were out of sight he looked down at the bucket of water he'd been asked to fetch then back to the gate and finally to the door into the house. He carried the water inside as fast as he could without spilling any before bursting back out into the yard. With the ends of his red bandana trailing behind him and his gi with the symbol of evil fluttering in the wind as he ran he rushed to catch up to his big brother.