Heart Of The Battousai
Chapter 12 - Hiko Or Kenshin?
Tamaiya awoke with a soft groan and opened her foggy eyes to look around but she could only make out blurry shapes and shadows. She shook her head several times and finally managed to clear up her vision enough to where she could get a good look at her surroundings. She was in what seemed to be an old shrine, the old wood was cracked and breaking in numerous places and the thick layer of dust on the floor made her cough a little, "Where... where am I?"
"So you're finally awake, good, now we can talk."
Tamaiya looked up and was greeted by a familiar, yet unwelcome, face, "Kai? Where am I?"
"It's just a small temple on the outskirts of town. I figured you would need to rest and wear off the drug before we went home."
"The only place I'm going is back to my father."
"Silly girl, I am your father." (I just couldn't resist, I had to :)!
"You're not my father, Kenshin Himura is."
"He's brainwashed you, he has no right to you, he's nothing but an old manslayer who likes to kidnap children."
"He didn't kidnap me, that he didn't, he found me, you're the one who has no right, Kai. I am not going anywhere with you, that I'm not, now nor ever."
Kai growled angrily and, without warning, slapped her hard across the face, getting her to groan softly from pain as her head whipped to the side sharply. Kai reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her around to face him, "Don't you ever speak to me that way, you are my daughter and you will do as I say, do you understand me?"
Tamaiya's eyes blazed into a bright silver as she stared coldly into his dark ones, "I will never listen to you, that I won't."
Kai raised his hand to hit her again but a hand grabbed his wrist and held him back. He looked up and met a pair of warning, almost black eyes, "What're you doing, boy?"
Tonoi ignored the insult, "Don't hit her again, once is more than enough, and besides, Mr. Himura's here."
"You deal with him, Kiri and I are busy."
"No, you go and deal with him, it's your duty as a parent to protect your children from your enemies, isn't it? You claim to be her father, right? Then why don't you start acting like a father and get out there and settle this little dispute like a man."
Kai glared daggers at the young man but the warning glint in his dark eyes told him not to press his luck. He twisted his wrist away and headed outside, leaving Tamaiya and Tonoi alone in the shrine, missing the glare she shot at her friend as he left, "You're in on this! I should've guessed... what is your problem, Tonoi?"
"I don't have a problem."
"Obviously you do, first you get drunk and force a kiss on me then you help to kidnap me! If that's not a problem then I don't know what is, that I don't."
"Tamaiya, it's not like that, Kai just wanted his daughter back and he has the right to have you, Mr. Himura took you ten years ago..."
"I know what happened ten years ago! Kenshin was out killing, he found a baby, he tried to find the parents, Kai denied me, he took me in and took care of me and raised me like his own. If anyone has a right here it's Kenshin, he's my father, not Kai."
"Tamaiya listen..."
"No, Tonoi, you listen! Kenshin loves me and would do anything for me, that he would, including give his life. There were so many times that he put himself in danger to make sure that I was happy and safe and no matter how miserable he was inside he always made me smile and feel loved. What has Kai done for me besides make my life a living hell the past couple of days?"
Tonoi was silent, he didn't know how to answer that question and now that he thought about it she did have a point but it was too late to back out now but he didn't want to force her to do something she didn't want either. Tamaiya apparently noticed his inner conflict and decided to change the subject, "And any ways, are you the one who grabbed me earlier?"
"Yes, why, did I hurt you?"
"Not physically, but you did hurt my feelings, that you did. You're supposed to be my friend Tonoi, I trusted you and then you... how could you?"
"Tamaiya, I know this is strange but I didn't take you to make you angry or upset."
"Then what was your reason? Why did you bring me here!"
"I wanted to get you away from Myojin."
"Yahiko? Don't tell me you're still angry with Yahiko about the other night..."
"Yes, I just don't understand what's up with you. First you told me that you weren't interested in anyone then you go and let Myojin kiss you."
"How do you know about that?"
"I followed you and watched, but that's not important, what's done is done. I still want to be with you if you'll let me."
"Is that why you brought me here, to get me to go out with you? Did you honestly believe that kidnaping me would help me open my heart to you?"
"I... wasn't sure... but once Mr. Himura goes home we can settle this..."
"The only way that he's leaving is if I'm with him, I already told him that I wanted to stay with him and he will make sure that we go home together!"
"I don't think so, girl."
They looked over and saw a man standing in the shadows, "Who are you?" Tamaiya asked
"My name is Enishi Yukishiro."
"What do you want?"
"Oh my demands are simple, I just want Kenshin's life."
"WHAT!" both asked together
"It's simple, Kai will tire him out and then I will kill him and avenge my sister's death." Enishi explained with a wicked smile
"Hold on, you said that no one would get hurt!" Tonoi yelled at the white hared man
"No one's going to get hurt, someone's just going to die."
"No! You promised that you would only talk to Mr. Himura, you said nothing about killing him! If I'd known what you really had in mind I never would've agreed to this!"
"I know, that's why I made up lies for you. You're actually a pretty stupid kid, you should know to never trust strangers." Enishi looked outside and smirked, "Well, well, it looks like Kenshin's fairing quite well, he's stronger than I thought but he still doesn't stand a chance against me. You two sit tight and I'll be back shortly to deal with you."
"I won't let you hurt my father!"
Tamaiya ran at Enishi and managed to hit him in the stomach and he punched out at her but before his fist could make contact Tonoi pushed her away and took the punch himself, falling to the ground from the force of the blow, "Stupid boy, I'll have to get rid of you too it seems, don't move, this won't take long."
Enishi walked out and shut the door and Tonoi stood up and wiped the blood from his mouth as Tamaiya looked at him with shock, "Why did you do that?"
"Because, it's my job to hurt you not his, and besides, I've already let you get hurt enough. I'm so sorry, I honestly didn't know that this was going to happen, Enishi said that he was Kenshin's brother and he simply wanted to work out some old problems, he didn't mention anything about wanting to kill him."
"Well as you said, what's done is done lets see what's happening."
They slid the door open and looked outside to see Kenshin fighting with Kai but what surprised them was the bright gold eyes that stared into the retired assassin behind his raised sword. Kai seemed to be getting the worst end of the fight, he already had numerous bruises and cuts all over him and his gi was torn in several places; his breathing was short and labored, apparently not able to keep up with the swift, skilled wanderer before him, "You... won't win... Battousai! Kiri is going home with me!"
"You're wrong, Tamaiya will be returning to the Kamiya dojo with me, that is where she wants to be and so that is where I'm taking her, whether you like it or not."
"Damn you! She's my child!"
"You're wrong, she's nothing to you."
"What!"
"If she meant anything to you at all you would've recognized her ten years ago the instant I showed her to you, yet you denied ever seeing her before. You gave up your rights as a father then and there. True, I took her but if I could go back I'd do it again, I'm not ashamed of raising that little girl."
"You just don't get it do you, Battousai? Kiri is my daughter and..."
"No she's not! Where were you the first time she walked or the first time she fell and hurt herself? Where were you that time that she was so sick that she almost died or the first time that she picked up a sword and pretended to be a samurai? You never had to comfort her in the middle of the night when she was scared or not feeling well, you weren't there to tell her stories and teach her how to write or use a sword! You weren't the one who was there to take care of her, I was! I raised her, I took care of her, I watched her grow up and become the beautiful young woman that she is now, you did nothing like that! You didn't do anything except bring her into this world and thank you for that, because your lose was my gain and I'm not leaving without my little girl and if that means that I have to kill you then so be it."
"You don't have what it takes to kill me, you're just a wanderer now."
Kenshin smiled almost evilly as he sheathed his sword and got into the battou-jutsu stance, "Why don't you come over here and we'll see if I still have what it takes or not."
Kai snarled and charged at him but Kenshin simply drew his sword and cut Kai's in to, hitting him in the ribs and sending him flying to the ground. Kai tried to get up but the sharp pain that shot through him made him fall back to the ground as Kenshin moved to stand in front of him, getting Kai to chuckle darkly, "You know that this isn't over, Battousai, I'll be back for Kiri."
"I know... and that's why I'm going to make sure that you never have that chance again."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you will never come near Tamaiya again."
"How do you plan on doing that, cut my legs off?"
"No... I'm going to kill you."
"W... what? I thought you vowed to never kill again!"
"That was before I had a good reason to break it, I told you, I will do anything for my daughter, including take a life. I can always remake my vow and repent for what I've done but I can't look the other way and let my child get hurt when I can stop it before it starts, this battle is over Kai, and so is... your life..."
Kenshin flipped his sword over and raised it over his head, preparing to deal the final blow, watching with a stone face as Kai's eyes went wide with fear, "Wait... don't do this..."
"Too late."
"Battousai..."
"Die!"
Kenshin brought his sword down but a loud scream reached his ears and made him pause in mid-swing, "DON'T!"
He looked over and was knocked back a couple of feet when Tamaiya ran up to him and threw her arms around his waist, "Daddy... please don't kill him... I know he deserves to pay for what he's done but you can't break your promise, that you can't!"
"Tamaiya... get out of the way."
"No! You taught me that everyone deserves a second chance even when they've committed the highest of crimes, doesn't Kai deserve the same opportunity?"
"Tamaiya he..."
"I know what he did was wrong but two wrongs don't make a right, that they don't! If you kill him then you will regret it later, that you will. I honestly don't care if he dies or not... I care about what you'll feel later on, that I do! Please Daddy... let's just go home... please?"
She looked up at him with her big blue eyes and he couldn't help but let his heart soften at the sight of her, no matter how he tried he just couldn't resist her. He lowered his sword and smiled down at his daughter, "Alright, let's go home now."
Tamaiya smiled and they started off back down the road, not noticing Kai as he got back up and grabbed the tip of his broken sword, charging up behind them. Kenshin sensed someone coming up behind him and he pushed Tamaiya away from him and reached for his sword but Kai was too close and he thrust out at Kenshin's chest but just as the blade reached him someone shoved him out of the way, "LOOK OUT!"
The blade made its mark and embedded itself into the chest of its victim and everyone looked on in shock as they saw who had rescued Kenshin. Kai's eyes went wide and he snarled at his opponent, "Damn you, boy! You gave your life for Battousai!"
Tonoi smiled, "Yes I did... and I'm glad... I may have done a lot of bad things these past few days... and I may die... but you're going with me!"
Without warning Tonoi pushed him back and yanked the blade out of his chest before thrusting it into Kai's throat, twisting it and jerking it out sharply before Kai's lifeless body fell to the ground. Tonoi smiled to himself and slumped onto the ground, his strength giving out as his injuries began to take their toll on him. Tamaiya ran up to him and put his head in her lap as tears began to sting her eyes, "T... Tonoi?"
He slowly opened his eyes and smiled up at her, "Hey... Tamaiya... you look horrible..."
"Don't joke, save your strength, we'll get you to a doctor, that we will and..."
"No, I'm not going to make it, I know that but I don't regret saving your dad..."
Kenshin knelt next to them and patted Tonoi's hand, "Thank you, young man, I owe my life to you."
"Just look after Tamaiya... she's a troublemaker..."
"Tonoi come on, who's going to help me set up pranks and who's going to help me with sparring? I can't fight Yahiko like I do you, that I can't."
"Yes you can... just pretend it's me."
"Tonoi..."
"Tonoi," Kenshin interrupted, "why did you give your life for me? You're so young, you had your whole life ahead of you."
"I know... but I just couldn't let Tamaiya lose her father, could I? I'm sorry... I know that doesn't mean much but... I'm sorry... I didn't know this was going to happen."
"Think nothing of it, I forgive you."
Kenshin smiled at him and ruffled his hair, getting a smile from him, "Thank you... what's wrong, Tamaiya?"
Tamaiya looked down at the wound in his chest and she had to fight back the tears, "You... you can't die... you're going to be ok, that you are... just get up..."
"I can't... I'm sorry..."
He paused to let out a pained cough and Tamaiya laid her hand over his wound as if to try and stop the bleeding, "Tonoi..."
He looked up and smiled at her lovingly, reaching up to place his bloody hand on her scared cheek before pulling her down to him, placing a tender kiss on her lips before closing his eyes, "I love you... samurai girl... that... I do..."
Tonoi's hand fell from her face and his head rolled to the side as his life left him and Tamaiya let a single tear fall onto his still face, "Tonoi... don't leave me..."
She pulled him to her and let several tears fall into his hair before she felt a large, yet gentle hand rest on her shoulder, "Tamaiya..."
She looked up at her father and smiled, "I know... he's dead..."
"Yes... I'm sorry, I know how much it hurts to lose someone you love, believe me I do, I'm just sorry that you understand that kind of pain now."
"It's alright, that it is, it was his choice... let's just go home... please."
"Alright, come one, little one."
Tamaiya gently laid Tonoi down and reached up, pulling the ribbon out of her hair and tying it around his wrist, "Goodbye my friend... I'll never forget you."
Tamaiya caught up to Kenshin at the edge of the woods and they headed off towards home, never looking back as they headed into the darkness.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking in silence Kenshin looked down at Tamaiya and sighed, she looked exhausted and he knew she was, he knew how hard it was on your physical body when your heart and mind were in so much pain. Without saying a word he reached down and took her into his arms, getting a startled cry from her as he held her close to him, "Put me down, Daddy."
"No, I know you're tired, you need to rest."
"I'm alright, that I am, you don't need to carry me, that you don't."
Kenshin smiled, "Does it embarrass you now to let me carry you?"
Tamaiya flushed, "A little..."
"Alright, but if you want me to carry you just tell me."
"I will."
Kenshin set her back down and she took his hand into her own, laying her cheek against his arm as they walked side by side. She breathed deeply through her nose and a feeling of safety washed over her as his familiar scent assaulted her senses, she had always liked the way he smelled, like earth, soap and blood, a nice combination she always thought. She looked up at him and smiled when she saw his scar, she had always wondered how he'd gotten it but she never bothered to ask but it reminded her so much of her own, "Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"How did I get my scar?"
"When you were about a year old the Shinsengumi attacked one night and one was trying to kill you. I killed him, of course, but when I was trying to comfort you another soldier snuck up on me and stabbed through my shoulder and the blade caught your face."
"I see... thank you."
"For what?"
"For coming to help me, I appreciate it, that I do."
"You're welcome... I'm sorry about your friend, he was a brave young man."
"I know but what's done is done, right?"
Kenshin opened his mouth to say something but a deep, familiar voice made him pause, "It's about time you two got back."
They looked up and saw that they were already back at the dojo and they couldn't help but smile at the man standing against the gate, "Master, what're you doing out here?"
"I came to see how you were and also to say goodbye, I have to get back to Kyoto."
"I see, well we're fine, thank you for looking after Kaoru and the others for me."
"Any time but I need to talk to you for a moment, Kenshin."
"Sure."
Hiko pulled Kenshin off to the side and nodded towards Tamaiya, "What happened?"
"Tonoi was killed, he died in her arms."
"How is she?"
"She's like I was, she's lost a lot of her emotions tonight, it'll be a long time before she goes back to being somewhat normal, if she ever does at all."
"I know, but listen, how much of the Hiten Mitsurugi style have you taught her?"
"Not much, why?"
"I'm not going to beat around the bush I'm just going to say it, let me take her to Kyoto and finish her training."
"But... Master..."
"Listen, you have taught her so much but I've watched you train with her, you're far too soft to teach her how to survive. She's a very skilled young woman but you have too much heart towards her thus you can't teach her the style properly. And think about it, this place is full of reminders of what happened to her friend and she doesn't need that right now, she needs to get away. We'll come to see you, of course, I won't deny you your child and if you wish you can save us the trouble of traveling around and come see us in Kyoto. You know she'll be safe with me, I won't let anything happen to her, so what do you say?"
Kenshin smiled, "It's not my choice to make... hey Tamaiya."
"Yes sir?"
"Come here."
She walked up to him and he smiled down at her, "Do you like Hiko?"
"Very much, why?"
"Well... how would you like to stay with him in Kyoto for awhile?"
"Do you... want me to leave?"
"No, it's just that Hiko has offered to finish your training and he can teach you far better than I can. He is still the master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style and he was the one who taught me, you can learn so much more from him than you can from me. It's up to you, you're a responsible young woman and you can make your own decisions, it's your choice, Star."
Tamaiya thought for a long moment then smiled, "I'd like to finish my training, that I would."
"Then you can go, I'll come to see you and I'll write as well, I promise."
"I know."
"Let's go then, so long stupid." Hiko said as he started to walk off.
Tamaiya kissed Kenshin on the cheek and smiled, "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you, be good."
"I will, goodbye."
"Bye."
Kenshin watched as they disappeared into the night but this time he didn't feel the pain and guilt of her leaving that he had felt the last time, this time he knew exactly where she would be and he more than trusted his master, he knew that she was safe with him. Once they were out of sight he went into the dojo and gasped at what he saw, Sanosuke lay on the ground unconscious and he ran up to him and lifted his head up, "Sano! Sano wake up! Sano!"
"Ken... shin..."
"What happened! Where's Yahiko and Kaoru!"
"Yahiko's fine but... Kaoru..."
"What about Kaoru! What happened, Sano!"
Sanosuke didn't answer, instead he went unconscious again and Kenshin ran through the dojo, throwing doors open and screaming as loud as he could, "KAORU! WHERE ARE YOU! ANSWER ME! KAORU!"
The last place he checked was the dojo and on the door was a note that read, "You took my happiness from me and now I've taken yours from you. Enjoy your present, now maybe you'll understand what I felt like when you murdered my sister. Enjoy being alone, Kenshin."
Kenshin flung the dojo door open and his mouth hit the floor as his eyes went wide with shock at what he saw. Kaoru was against the wall, pinned there by a sword embedded deep within her chest, causing her blood to pool around her. But what hurt him the most was the bloody cross carved into her beautiful face as she stared out at him with blank eyes. He ran to her and knelt next to her, gently touching her face before he pulled the sword out of her and pulled her against him, letting out a painful, agonized scream as he held her bloody, lifeless body tightly against him. He wept into her dark hair for what seemed like an eternity but he finally managed to pull back and look at her, running his hand along her face before choking out, "I'm sorry... my love... I'm so sorry... if I'd known... oh please forgive me... I'm so sorry... it should be me that's dead, not you!"
All of the sudden a feeling of despair and guilt overwhelmed him and he clutched her to him again, but this time he screamed as loud as he could, "KAORU!"
I want to thank 'Royal-blue-kitsune' for this idea, I was going to stop it with Tamaiya leaving with Hiko but this is a nice ending too, thanks for the idea! Hope you liked reading the ending as much as I enjoyed writing it. I've got another story in the works and I'll have it up soon, until then, see ya later.