11 Their Loss

Alexander Luthor

He says her name – says it and I hear a high-pitched buzz fill the air. Black hair – black hair purple eyes – no, blue eyes. Her voice is harsher; pointed like a finely sharpened knife. I feel as if I should expect blood to come rushing from my ears. Instead there is nothing – not a drip of red liquid. It used to be so soft

(when she wasn't crying for mercy – not her; not her; she wasn't at fault!)

and soothing

(when she wasn't screaming in pain as you took her brutally; punishment for the innocent; blinded by a veil of darkness; cloaking the eyes from the truth – who she really was and not who you believed her to be)

like warm wax against the skin. Her now-purple eyes are watching her (former) brother now; I can see the blue shining through – seas of liquid sadness.

"You weren't supposed to find out," I hear her murmur through the haze. "You weren't supposed to lose the same sister again… you weren't supposed to find out."

"I could never forget kin – no matter what disguise you hide behind, it is inevitable for me to know it's you – or Kaoru – or Yahiko. You are family." Aoshi's plain words are thick with meaning.

And the blue spills from her eyes tracing a path down her close to ebony skin – grasping desperately at the smoothness before falling and disappearing into her clothes. A melancholic smile graces her lips. Megumi is shining through now and I can't say a word.

"I wanted to punish him one last time, oniisan; wanted to make him pay just a bit more… then I would finally rest in peace. Such shame that I brought to the family… I cannot allow myself the luxury of life any longer."

"All you have done – and are doing is running away, Megumi." He looks away from her; I do the same, bringing my eyes to examine my shaking hands.

I don't know why.

o0o

Kaoru fiddled with her hands anxiously. She'd just gotten him back and how he would fight once again. For her – for him – for their own field of sunflowers. She watched as he dodged another powerful blow by Enishi – one that had downed three sturdy trees in a row – a path of destruction is what he leaves. Something wrapped around her heart – sheltering it; numbing it to the display before her – a web of an arachnid.

The white-haired man cried out in anger as he charged once again – exposed arms rippling in the brilliant red hues of dusk. Kenshin watches with cheerless concentration before evading the downfall of his opponent's sword – golden glowing skin; amethyst eyes tinted slightly amber… a little dangerous. He had placed his sword back in its sheath – waiting for his opponent to wear himself out. He didn't realize the other man was merely showcasing his strength and not his full capabilities.

Minutes of charge, slash and dodge – until finally one charge made Enishi grin fiercely and slashed the blade at a different angle, forcing it along its path with his free hand, increasing the velocity. Kenshin, who had made the mistake of growing accustomed to the other man's attacks, reacted a little slowly. He didn't experience the full sensation of the blade slicing through his body; merely felt a lick of the toned edge upon his arm.

They came to a stop – Enishi breathing heavily, his sword still poised and his back to the red-haired man. Liquid crimson began to show on the sleeve of Kenshin's right arm. Blood trailed down his hand and dripped onto the ground. The white-haired man was not satisfied.

More blood – more blood – let it rain blood – his blood…

"Che, such a small cut," he scoffed, righting himself and facing his opponent. He gave him a once over and sneered. "You deserve a bigger one, ne?"

Kenshin grimaced as he stood straight, his right hand limp at his side. His eyes were sad as he regarded the other man. "I may deserve it, but what good is a dead body when a live one can pay retribution by helping others who are suffering in the world as penance for mistakes of the past?"

"Don't go Confucius on me, you bastard!" the other man raged, his hand cutting through the air – as if physically pushing aside what was said. "You killed my sister in cold blood! I saw it with my own eyes! It was your sword that ended her life!"

"She put herself in the way willingly – she did it to stop the bloodshed – to change my ways; to make me aware of the consequences of my job – my mindless assassinating."

Kenshin could see Enishi's body begin to shake – some unspoken thought overwhelming him that was so evident in the turquoise of his eyes. A sound of rage gurgled out of his throat and he acted out of craze throwing his sword almost desperately around.

"She loved you! She loved you when she could have been loving me! You took my sister away from me! You son of a bitch! You deserve to die!" It was his mantra – his drive to killing the only thing that took away his familial happiness.

After several moments of moving away from the attacks Kenshin unsheathed his sword and the two metals clashed loudly. They pushed violently at each other and they moved back, skidding to a stop a distance away from one another. Enishi instigated their deadly dance once again, sprinting towards the red-headed man, who stood at attention, eyes narrowed, pained, sad… determined. He was meters away when suddenly a vision of black hair and ivory skin interrupted.

Kaoru had closed her eyes as she launched herself in the path that Enishi was going to strike Kenshin. She would willingly give her life for that of the one she loved. She felt the wind from his body – an indication of just how fast the white-haired man was moving. But the contact never came. Instead she became aware of sobs before her. Her eyes opened slowly and she found herself confronted with the bent body of one of her captors – this man who seemed so invincible and willing to destroy everything obstructing his path to revenge. As if sensing her gaze upon him, he looked up at her – eyes wet and desperate – a little less wild.

"I don't understand… why? Why would you put your life in danger for a killer?"

"Because I love him," she answered simply, voice soft and soothing.

"Why? You left me, neesan; left me alone," he gurgled, grabbing onto her pant leg in a tight grip.

Kaoru smiled sadly, and he blurred before her very eyes. Two drops of liquid blue fell upon his extended arm. "I'm sorry. I am the one at fault, not him. I'm sorry for your sufferings. I can only hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me…"

The man on his knees did said nothing but crawled closer to her and embraced her legs, muttering incoherently against her. Kenshin watched – knowing that this was exactly what the man needed – some kind of confrontation with someone who knew exactly what Tomoe, Enishi's sister, felt.

The darkness enveloped their bodies and the wind blew calmly across the beach.

o0o

They said nothing for a long time. Just stood there in silence's embrace. Lex was at a loss. Here was the woman who had jointly created a beautiful blessing and she was out to prolong his pain as much as possible. He didn't know what she had in mind, but he knew that as long as she was alive, he would be happy. I just want my sunflower field back, he thought.

"Luthor." The bald man's eyes returned to the woman, whose voice was authoritative, yet tired. "You want to see her, do you not?"

He clenched his jaw. "Yes."

"She is residing in the room at the end of the hallway; the door to the right." He began to go when she continued speaking to him. "Step lightly, Luthor. She is asleep… you wouldn't want to disturb her… yet."

Impatient to see her, he gave a quick nod and went down the hallway. He was panting heavily when he finally got to the door. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. Something began to build inside him – indefinable and profound. He slowly turned the door knob and opened the door. Inside the room was dark. The windows were open, but the evening sky showed through the sheer curtains. A gentle breeze drifted inside, yet Lex still shivered.

There was an outline of a body in the bed. Lex moved closer. The gun was still in his hand, just in case it was a sham. Just in case…

He could hear a faint drumming begin – the closer he got, the louder and faster it beat. thump – thump thump – thump Her hair was a little longer than he remembered – still that dirty-blonde hair. His hand trembled at his side, and a small spasm ran through the limb. He could see the bare evidence of her face

(that smiled and laughed and smirked and pouted and shot daggered looks)

He was merely a foot away when her eyes opened suddenly and she rolled out of the other side of the bed. thumpthumpthumpthump– He met her wild green eyes – a foreign look upon her face. She was breathing hard. He looked down at her hand with a confused frown; an expression that transformed into that of utmost disbelief. It was then that he noticed the dagger in her hand.

He was about to speak – say something; anything that would make her remember who he was – when she interrupted. "Who the hell are you and what in the world are you doing in my bedroom!"