10 The Truth

The skies were clear by the beach; the sun's arms dancing across the sand and clear blue waters. Yumi stood in the shade, watching idly as the waves hit the shore. Their tempest was coming; she knew it as sure as she knew Shishio would have his shot at revenge. Oh, yes, it was still to come; all that had past was merely an interlude; her genius attempt to prolong the pain her wonderful – enemy would feel from the pain of losing what he held dear.

Does he really deserve it, though? Oh, how many times had that question filtered into her mind? Once; twice; millions of times in those six months – but she would have made it so that he played no part in it; that is, if she had a choice. The fact of the matter remained, however, that Shishio needed his closure… just as she needed hers.

Yumi's eyes were led back to the mansion by the beach wear two women – one forlorn and the other blank – sat upon the balcony. Tools, the woman reminded herself; just tools that will be freed once the deed was done.

She looked away and stared at the waters – crystalline azure expanse that foamed as it edged closer and rushed towards the white soft sand. They seemed to get closer – but they weren't. It was still low tide – not even time for the waters to rise. Closing her eyes she breathed in the clean, diamond air. She almost choked, but she hid it well.

She opened her eyes – once so blue and now so purple – and glanced over her shoulder at the approaching figure. The man – with electric white hair, a piercing cobalt look – was trusted by her Shishio. Yukishiro Enishi – a man dedicated to destroying Kenshin just as much as Shishio; his reasons beyond her comprehension.

"It's been over three weeks since you sent those damn letters, Yumi-san," he growled once she was within earshot of him. "Where the hell are those good-for-nothings?"

She regarded him coldly before looking away, squinting her eyes to dim the glare of the early afternoon. "They shall come in their own time. They are a stubborn two; surely you know that?" She paused as he grunted in answer. "We must be patient. We will all have our revenge."

"See," the white-haired man began with a bemused smile upon his face, "that's what I don't get. Why the hell has Luthor been dragged into this shit anyway? He's barely got a connection with –"

"Time will reveal all things," Yumi clipped. "You best wait until It's ready. Now if you will excuse me, I must go see to Shishio."

She barely managed to turn when he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards her. The woman with ebony-coloured hair pursed her lips and glared at Enishi. His intense eyes drilled into hers, searching for answers…

And he smiled in revelation. "It's you…" he breathed with a sneer. "That's why –"

"I'd think twice before I touch my boss's woman if I were you," a frosty, low voice stated.

As if scalded, the azure-eyed man let go of Yumi's arm and bowed stiffly towards the bandaged man. "Sumimasen, shishou."

"I'd beat you to a pulp if we weren't expecting guests, you know, Enishi." The younger man clenched his teeth but said nothing to his superior. "Count yourself lucky… this time." Shishio turned to the woman – his eyes piercing. His touch – as he lifted the arm that Enishi gripped – contrasted greatly to his fierce expression. "Are you alright, my dear?"

She nodded stiffly and smiled. Sparing one more furious look at the other man, the two walked off, deep in conversation. Cobalt eyes followed them for a moment imagining what it would be like to tear them apart.

I got this far waiting patiently. When those idiots come, I'll kill Shishio and that bitch of his and get my revenge on the one that killed my sister all those years ago… Enishi clamped down the urge to laugh wildly, but couldn't stop the crazed smile from stretching his lips.

The waves crashed harder upon the beach, carrying with it whatever it could take.

o0o

Sunset.

Perhaps the world should have looked beautiful – this picturesque beach with a mild breeze and the sun tinting everything in a deep orange or red hue. Kaoru stared wistfully out from the outcropping of the balcony, however, a frown marring her face. His face was no longer solid in her mind – his laughter muddled by the sound of crashing waves. Closing her eyes she tried once more to recall his voice, so soothing and sweet –

"Kaoru-dono…"

She froze. It was a bare whisper over the sounds of the water, but she heard it. Perhaps it was a figment of her imagination. Surely, he was not really there. She had already lost hope – hope for someone to save her from this beautiful nightmare. It was not possible for him to actually be –

"I'm here, Kaoru-dono."

There was a coil in her stomach – twisting tighter and tighter together. She couldn't open her eyes; she refused to. A callous hand touched her face and she stifled a laugh. Slowly she opened her eyes. Soft amethyst met her blue ones.

"Ken… shin…" she whispered disbelievingly.

The callous hand caressed her cheek and the man before her – with fiery red locks – smiled.

"Aw, well isn't this so sweet!" an acerbic voice chortled. Kenshin's eyes snapped towards the person who spoke and narrowed his gaze upon him.

"Enishi," he replied softly.

"Quick! Someone get a camera and take a picture," the white-haired man crowed with a highly amused grin before it turned truly malicious, "before I hack this son of a bitch into a billion pieces!"

Kaoru cried out as she was pushed away from him, skidding across the wooden planks painfully. Her eyes widened in horror as Enishi pushed Kenshin off the balcony and she screamed out his name only to see him fall out of her line of vision. She knew that he would only be mildly hurt from the tumble. It was his opponent she was truly fearful of. She crawled towards the broken wooden banister and peered over to see the white-haired man getting up painfully, while Kenshin stepped away from the debris that had gone over with them.

Kaoru could only watch as Enishi commenced their fighting once again – with swords in hand.

o0o

As Aoshi downed another dozen men, Lex ran forward, checking the next room down the hallway. He turned the knob silently as he could before pushing it open, constantly keeping his back against the wall right by the door. When Aoshi stepped before it and sensed no immediate danger, he nodded to the Luthor and Lex went in, a gun cocked and aimed ahead of him. The room was dark; the windows shaded save for a sliver of light that managed to enter through the almost covered window. He searched the darkness, narrowing his eyes and scanning the area carefully.

He was about to step forward when Aoshi's hand clamped down upon his shoulder in a strong grip. Lex was about to hiss an angry retort at the raven-haired man when a female's voice permeated the air.

"She's a lucky one," the woman said aloofly.

Both the men turned to the left. They heard a step – saw the bare outline of a body; curvaceous and full. Aoshi couldn't breath. There was something oddly familiar about –

"Who are you?" Lex seethed. "And where is Chloe?"

Someone moved to turn on the light. It was startling at first but their eyes adjusted quickly and they moved to see who it was. Yumi stood by the door, leaning back against the wall as she watched them coolly. Aoshi pursed his lips tightly and balled his fists at his sides. Blue drilled into purple and for an instant, he saw the same blue piercing back.

"Your wife is safe, Luthor," she answered calmly.

"She had better be," he growled.

The raven-haired man felt a flood barrel through him – memories of a young girl berating her two younger siblings for getting into a physical fight with each other; an older girl graduating from Med School; a young woman being sent to spy for a father only to return in tears and –

"Megumi," he breathed.

Yumi stopped and her gaze flew to him, horror evident in her look.