Heart Of The Battousai

Chapter 13 - Got Ya!

This is going to be VERY, VERY similar to Samurai X - Reflections, if you've seen it, cool, if not this may be a spoiler, so just read on and enjoy either way! This chapter has A LOT of talking in it so be prepared for almost speech like conversations between the characters, 'k. Oh and... sorry about the false ending, I was exceptionally hyper when I wrote it and I've got a sick sense of humor (like you couldn't already tell:). Any ways, have fun and this one is the real last chapter so on with the show!

Kaoru awoke and rubbed the sleep from her blurry eyes and rolled over onto her back to look up at the ceiling, realizing quickly that she wasn't in her room. She sat up and looked around the strange room, it appeared to be a western style home and the bed she lay on confirmed her suspicions. She didn't know how she'd gotten there but she vaguely recalled being at home with Sanosuke and Hiko waiting on Kenshin to come back, then she remembered Hiko went outside for a moment to get some air. A few minutes later she heard Sanosuke scream out in pain, then she felt a hand over her mouth and that was all. She looked down at herself, and to her surprise, she saw that she was unharmed aside from being a little dizzy, "Where... am I? And where're the others?"

She saw a large glass door a few feet away and she made herself get up and walk out onto the large balcony that lay beyond those doors. She was greeted by a lush, green forest and just beyond that was a large beach, a short distance from that was a vast ocean but she could see nothing past the large body of water, "How... do I get out of here?"

"Simple, you don't."

Kaoru turned around with a gasp and saw a man with white hair standing next to her, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you can't get away even if you tried to. This place is a natural fortress so it is futile to try and escape."

"Who are you and why did you bring me here?"

"My name is not important, and as for why I brought you here, well let's just say that it is an experiment."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a waiting game to see if Kenshin will come for you or not."

"What will happen if he does come?"

"From what I can tell Kenshin loves you and holds you close to his heart, if he even has one, that is. And if he comes for you then that will mean that you are sacred to him and he truly does care for you and if that is the case then I will kill you right in front of him."

Kaoru gasped, "Why... why would you want to do that?"

"So he will know how I felt when he killed my sister."

Kaoru took in a sharp breath, Kenshin had only killed one woman in his days as a manslayer and that was Tomoe, then this man had to be... "Enishi... Yukishiro... you're Tomoe's brother!"

"That's correct, I see he's told you of his crime and now you know why he must suffer. If and when he comes he will watch you die and finally understand what I've been going through for the past fourteen years."

"But... what if Kenshin's doesn't come?"

Enishi smiled and turned to walk inside, "If he doesn't come then that proves that you mean nothing to him, just like Tomoe and you won't cause him any pain by dying. If that is the case then you'll be free to go, so just wait around for awhile, you may one day return to your home."

So she waited and watched the waves crash against the shoreline, going inside only when it became too dark to see anymore. That was her new routine, she would get up, make something to eat, and then wait on the balcony, looking out into the deep blue ocean for any sign of a ship, but none came. Days passed and then a week and Kaoru actually began to lose hope but Enishi would make a crude comment about Kenshin and her determination and faith would return stronger than ever.

Over that time she had watched Enishi train and practice every now and then and found him to be quite a skilled swordsman, although she didn't recognize the style he was using. Also during that time, she had gotten to know the man called Enishi Yukishiro and learned that he wasn't as bad as he appeared to be. She found out that he was just a troubled, heartbroken man with no one to comfort him or soothe his pain, a lonely man with no one to keep him company, save for his anger and a grudge against his former brother-in-law.

A week soon turned into two, then three, after a month Kaoru began to feel as though she would never be rescued. One day she just lay on her bed and her mind wandered to where Kenshin could be and why he hadn't come for her. Surely he knew where she was by now, didn't he care, was he sick or hurt and couldn't come to save her? She didn't care about dying if he came to her, she was just so desperately wanted to know if he loved her like he said he did. That night he proposed to her there had been no doubt in mind that he loved her, the gentle sparkle in his eyes and the tenderness of his kiss made her feel safe and secure about how he felt towards her, but... now she wasn't so sure. It had already been a month and there had been absolutely no sign of her red-hared wanderer, did he already think her for dead and thought that there was no point in going to rescue a body? Did he know where she was but just simply didn't care anymore?

Suddenly her thoughts drifted to Tomoe and how fond of her Kenshin was. She knew that part of him still loved Tomoe, she had been his wife after all, but she had a special relationship with Kenshin that Kaoru herself could never have. Kaoru looked down at the floor and saw the shadow of a cross staring back at her from the window pane and her mind once again drifted to Tomoe.

"Tomoe is the heart of Kenshin's cross-shaped scar, and through that scar she forever shares a special relationship with him that I cannot. I know I shouldn't but yet... how strangely I envy her for being with him in this way... her death keeps that bond between them. Can I die for him the way she did... can I save his life and mind and not leave a scar on him? Kenshin... if I died for you as Tomoe did... would you remember me always?"

On impulse, she got up and went over to the wall, sliding down to the floor with a heavy sigh. Something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she saw a wooden sword in the corner. She picked it up and folded her legs up to where one was almost to her chest while the other one curled underneath her. She then rested the wooden sword against her shoulder and grasped it tightly in her hands before closing her eyes, imitating the way that Kenshin slept, "So... this is how it feels to sleep against the wall with a sword. I wonder how long it took Kenshin to get used to sleeping like this?"

All of the sudden a shadow came across her and she looked up to see Enishi standing in front of her, a solemn look on his face, "It's been a month and there's still no sign of him yet you still sit here and wait to be rescued by that murderer."

"Kenshin will come... I know he will."

"You realize that if he does come that I will kill you?"

"Yes but I'm not scared of dying for him, sometimes people feel more pain living than dying, even you know this living hell... but... for me a living hell for me would be to live without my Kenshin. I don't know if he truly loves me or needs me but... I want to believe that he does... I want to believe... and I do."

"That man destroyed so many lives, without a single thought of regret or mercy he slaughtered them, yet you still love him? How can you possibly have any shred of emotion for that monster! He killed my sister as well as countless others, yet you allow him to live in peace and happiness! He gave up his right to ever be happy when he left so many people in misery and despair!"

"Kenshin never enjoyed killing, he simply did what he had to in order to survive. It was a war, Enishi, thousands of men murdered and took lives just as Kenshin did and as for Tomoe... Kenshin loved your sister with all of his heart and he would've done anything for her. Each time he looks at his scar he remembers what he did to her and that image will continue to haunt him until the day he dies. Don't you think that it's punishment enough for him to live with the guilt of knowing that he killed his love? Tomoe gave her life for him and I will do the same because I understand the man that he truly is, I understand why Tomoe gave up her life to save him because I see Kenshin as she once saw him." Kaoru raised her head and looked up into his eyes, hers full of emotion and question, "Enishi, even she, your own sister whom he killed with his own hands forgave him, so why can't you?"

Enishi was quiet for a moment before he answered, "My sister may forgive him... but I never will, you didn't see the look of pain in her eyes when she found out that Kiyosato was dead. You weren't there that horrible day, you didn't watch helplessly as Kenshin cut through her body with his filthy sword! You didn't see her crying in pain as she died in those murderous arms of his, the same arms that took away her happiness and caused her so much pain!"

Kaoru looked to the ground for a moment before meeting his eyes again, her voice confident yet quiet, "Kenshin's arms may have taken Kiyosato away from Tomoe... his arms may have slain their love but Tomoe apparently felt safe enough in those arms to forgive him and let him live on. Kenshin is a complicated man, he has the face of a wanderer but deep down he bares the heart of a manslayer, the heart of the Battousai... but even so he still tries to find a way to repent for what he has done. He does his best to save a life even if they may not deserve that chance to live on. It doesn't matter to Kenshin how evil someone is, he still protects them and gives them a chance all the same... Enishi?"

He wasn't listening to her, instead he was looking out into the sea, a smile appearing on his face as he turned back to her, "You say that he is seeking a way of atonement? Well, I think it's time that I gave him an answer."

Kaoru quickly stood up and looked out the window to see an approaching ship. Her heart leapt with joy at the sight of the large sails, Kenshin had come for her after all, he did care! Enishi led her through the dense forest and it didn't take long for them to reach the beach, seeing a familiar mop of red hair standing next to a small boat on the edge of the shore. Kaoru smiled and tried to run to him but Enishi pushed her back and yelled at Kenshin, "So you decided to come for her after all! If you want her back alive you'll have to fight me!"

Kaoru was completely stunned by his words, she thought that he was going to kill her in front of Kenshin... why did he suddenly decide to change his mind at the last minute? Kenshin simply looked up and smiled sweetly at Kaoru, "Don't worry, Kaoru, there's nothing for you to fear, just be patient for me a little longer."

Kaoru smiled and nodded, watching closely as Enishi and Kenshin prepared to fight. There was a momentary stare-down before Enishi drew his sword and charged forward, but Kenshin drew his sword and blocked the attack. They exchanged several blows and blocks before Enishi managed to kick Kenshin in the stomach, sending him back a few feet. Kenshin quickly got back up and locked swords with Enishi before they started slashing at one another with blinding speed.

Kaoru shielded her eyes to block out the sand that shot up as Kenshin hit Enishi with a stunning blow. As she watched the battle she realized that Kenshin had never fought like this before, his sword showed absolutely no hesitation as he attacked the younger man. She looked at his face but couldn't see his eyes since they were shielded by his long bangs but she could only guess that they were a gentle violet, the Battousai didn't fight like this so that gave her a small bit of relief, knowing that Kenshin was alright, at least mentally at the moment. Enishi let out a loud cry and she looked over to see him glaring daggers at Kenshin, "Do you honestly think that you have what it takes to beat me now! You don't stand a chance, you've gotten weak over the past ten years, you no longer have the strength of a murderer! Now die!"

Kenshin hardly had time to react as Enishi appeared behind him and slashed at him, but he moved at the last second and the blade only grazed his shoulder. Enishi was behind him in a second and he brought his sword around to slam it into Kenshin's throat but he brought his sword up and blocked the attack, Enishi's sword cutting into the hilt as they each struggled against each other to gain the upper hand.

A few moments into the stalemate Enishi leaned down close to Kenshin's ear, snarling softly, "You say that you are seeking a way to repent for your sins but the only atonement that you will ever find will be that of your own death! You will be severely punished before you ever find the peace and happiness in which you seek, Kenshin! That is what jinchuu means, 'those who live must act in the place of those who have died!' You have so many lives that you must suffer for and I will be the one to make you scream and beg for mercy just as your victims did! You are a criminal and you must die as one!"

Enishi slammed his head into Kenshin's and stunned him before he brought his fists down on the back of his neck, knocking him to the ground. Kenshin tried to get up but Enishi stomped the back of his head before grabbing him by the hair, lifting him up to punch him in the face, "You took my sister! You took away her happiness and for that you will pay!" he punched him several times in the stomach and ribs, "Suffer Kenshin! Suffer as Tomoe did! Now die!"

Enishi threw him to the ground and picked his sword up again but before he could attack Kenshin grabbed his sword and used his Do Ryu Sen to send sand flying up at Enishi. He jumped out of the way and when the dust settled he could see Kenshin standing, looking to the ground for a moment before he coughed up some blood and looked directly into Enishi's astonished eyes, "I have no fear of dying... but this life is no longer only mine to live... I also must live for my family and for Tomoe who died for me."

Kenshin brought his sword up in front of him and the wind suddenly picked up, causing the tie that held his hair back to fall free, allowing his long red locks to flow freely with the breeze, his sword concealing his mouth as he spoke passionately, "For the rest of my days I risk my sword and my mind for the people who survived the blood-ledding of my youth! This was the answer I received as a way of atonement from the smile that Tomoe last offered to me... this is my promise!"

"You don't get it! I don't give a damn about everyone else that you hurt and are trying to make amends for, all I care about is what you did to my dear sister! I have nothing now! Tomoe was the only thing I had left in this world and you made my life completely pointless because you took her away from me! You have Kaoru but who am I to protect now? All I am left with now is this burning hatred and anger!"

Kenshin simply shook his head and sheathed his sword, getting into the battou-jutsu stance, "Enishi... I realize that it was my hands that started this burning fire inside of you, however, if this anger is the only truth that you know now then so be it, it isn't my concern, but whether I win or lose today will not decide the course of our fates."

Kaoru looked on helplessly as they stared each other down for what seemed like an eternity, then they both suddenly charged forward and Kenshin drew his sword, using his ultimate attack on Enishi, easily breaking his sword in two and knocking him to the ground as blood trickled down his chin. Kenshin stood still for a moment before he suddenly dropped his sword and bowed down in front of Enishi, resting his head on the bloody sand, his long hair hiding his face from view as he spoke, "Enishi, I'm sorry... it... it's just no use, there's no stopping this guilt I bare! But... if there is any chance at all that my life in payment for Tomoe's will relieve you of this hatred... then I gladly give you my life so that you may finally be happy once more."

Enishi slowly stood up and grabbed Kenshin's sword, using it as a cane to stand up, "You finally except your punishment then... you will bare it, die Kenshin!"

Enishi raised the reverse-blade sword over his head but stopped in mid-swing when he saw Kaoru covering Kenshin's body with her own, looking up at him with determined, un-fearful eyes. He let out a soft gasp... all of the sudden he no longer saw Kaoru protecting Kenshin, instead he saw his beloved sister covering his body, just as she had fourteen years before on that horrible day that he took her life. Guilt suddenly engulfed his being and he dropped Kenshin's sword and sunk to the ground as tears of pain slid down his face, "I can't... I can't do it... please forgive me for trying, Tomoe but... I just had to try... how can I ever forgive him for what he has done!"

Out of nowhere he felt a gentle hand rest on his cheek and lift his face up to meet a pair of understanding blue eyes and he laid his head on her lap and hugged her waist, "Please... tell me how... sister... Tomoe... tell me how to end this..."

Sometime later Enishi finally bid farewell to Kenshin and Kaoru, the slightest trace of a smile curling his lips as he whispered, "Your answer... your life of battle... I will watch it until the end... farewell, Kenshin."

He left without another word and they stood silently for several moments until Kenshin spoke softly, "Kaoru?"

"Yes?"

"Let's go home... this is over."

Kaoru was surprised when he turned to her and smiled but she nodded and they started off and got in the small boat before Kenshin rowed them out to the ship that had brought him there. Once they were on the ship one of the deck hands gave them some bandages and cloths to clean up and Kaoru helped Kenshin tend to his wounds, neither speaking a word until she just couldn't stand the silence any longer, "Kenshin?"

"Yes?"

"Why... why didn't you come? What took you so long, I mean."

"Truthfully... Sano and Megumi wouldn't let me leave."

"What do you mean?"

"After Tamaiya went with Hiko I came inside and I found Sano unconscious but I woke him and he told me that you were hurt. I ran to the dojo and... I found you dead... or so I thought. Enishi had put a doll that looked like you in the dojo and I thought that he had killed you. Everyday for a week I would wake up and look in your room to see if you were there... hoping that it had all been a horrible nightmare but you were never there. About two weeks after I had found the doll I received a letter from Enishi saying that it had been a hoax to piss me off and make me suffer and that you were really alive and were on the island. I tried to leave but Sano and Megumi thought that I had lost just my mind."

"Why would they think that?"

Kenshin smiled sadly, "They thought I had lost my mind with grief because I kept telling them that I needed to leave and save Kaoru. They told me over and over that you were dead and they didn't believe me about the letter so they... locked me in my room and wouldn't let me leave because they were afraid that I would return to being Battousai and just start killing people

in general for revenge... to ease my pain."

"How'd you finally get away?"

"You'll hate me if I tell you."

"No I won't, please tell me, Kenshin."

Kenshin sighed, "Well... I tried for a couple of days to convince them to let me out but they wouldn't so... I..."

Kenshin looked to the ground as if in shame and Kaoru began to feel a slight twinge of worry, "Kenshin... no matter what you did I won't hate you just..." she paused when she reached out to grasp his wrist, feeling something rough scraping her fingers as he jerked ever so slightly from pain. She turned his hand over and gasped at what she saw, on his wrist was a long cut, sewn together with thick black thread, tears came to her eyes and she looked at his other wrist to see a similar marking there, "Kenshin... what happened... what did you do!"

Kenshin smiled slightly and looked down at his hands, his voice soft but firm, "When they wouldn't let me out I did the only thing I could think of, I... cut my wrists and screamed out so they would come in and check on me. They took me to the clinic but... I'd miscalculated how deep I'd cut myself and I lost a lot more blood then I'd anticipated so I had to stay at the clinic for about a week to regain my strength. Once I was strong enough I snuck out and got on this ship and came here."

Kaoru let the tears slid down her face as she looked at the cuts, guilt filling her heart as she choked out her words, "Kenshin... why did you do this! You shouldn't have hurt yourself for me! I'm not worth that..."

Kaoru was cut off when Kenshin placed a hand to her lips before grasping her chin to make her look up at him. She let out a soft gasp when she met glowing amber eyes, cold but loving as he laid his forehead against hers, "Don't you ever say that to me, you are worth everything to me, Kaoru and I would do anything for you. Truthfully, there were so many times those two weeks that I thought about killing myself to be with you but Yahiko would yell for help or Ayame and Suzume would ask me to play with them and I couldn't go through with it, plus... I knew that you would never forgive me if I did that so I just went day by day the best that I could. You don't know how much it hurt me to look around for my sweet Kaoru only to go back into the bloody dojo and remember that you were dead, you don't know that kind of pain and I hope you never do. If I thought that killing myself would've brought you back then I would've done it without hesitation, you are worth so much to me, and there is nothing I wouldn't do to see your beautiful face or see your sweet smile, you are my life and don't you ever think other wise."

"But... Kenshin... when you didn't come I... for a moment I... thought you didn't care... I..."

Kaoru was cut off when Kenshin suddenly leaned into her and crushed his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss, sending her senses reeling as his tongue pushed past her startled lips to dance against hers. After several minutes he finally pulled away from the mind-numbing kiss for air and laid his palm against her cheek, "Never think that I don't care for you, no matter how far apart we are I will always find a way to you. I'm sorry you were put in the middle of this, I want nothing more than my past to just go away and leave us to be happy but I know that will never happen. All I can do is wait until it catches up to me but as long as you're by my side I know I can overcome anything, but I will never let anyone hurt you again, I promise you."

Kaoru looked into his eyes and saw them change slightly, turning more into a honey color rather than a piercing amber. As she looked into those eyes he put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, brushing his lips against hers for a tender, loving kiss to let her know just what he was feeling in his heart. After what seemed like an eternity, yet only a few seconds, he pulled away and flashed the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen, "I love you, my sweet Kaoru."

"I love you, my Kenshin... even if you are a jerk."

Kenshin laughed and hugged her to him, both falling into a deep sleep as the ship sailed towards home. Later that day Kaoru awoke from a nightmare to look up with fear, relieved to see that she was still wrapped tightly in Kenshin's arms. She sighed and laid her head on his chest, her mind wandering back to what had happened earlier, "Enishi said that he would watch his life of battle but... how can one make atonement for one's sins without the forgiveness of those that you've hurt? No matter how hard you try there's always the chance that you may never be forgiven, no matter how much you may suffer for your past."

She looked up at him again and saw a genuine smile on his face and smiled herself, "Even so... he still smiles at me, as if he can hide this terrible sadness that has made him so very gentle. I know that I'm just an ordinary girl but whatever I have I give to him so that he can have some degree of healing, even if it's only fleeting, there is nothing I wouldn't give or do to see him smile at me from the other side of his pain. I know that we can never exchange our suffering but I will share his pain, that's my answer, for him I will bare the guilt and sin so that he may be happy, just as he's made me happy."

Kenshin stirred and looked down at her, kissing her forehead lightly, "Did I wake you, love?"

Kaoru shook her head, "No, I was just thinking is all... thank you for coming to rescue me, Kenshin."

Kenshin was silent for a moment then his voice came softly, almost hesitantly, "The name... 'Kenshin' was given to me by my master, it was a name for a man of swordsmanship but... after everything that's happened I just don't feel like Kenshin anymore, I feel as though the name is no longer appropriate. The name my parents gave me was different... Shinta... that is my real and true name."

Kaoru looked into his eyes and whispered, "Shinta..."

Kenshin raised his hand and rested it against her cheek lightly, smiling softly at her, "When we return home... will... will you instead call me by that name?"

Kaoru smiled playfully and kissed his lips, "I'll have to think about it, let's see if you tick me off between now and then."

Kenshin smiled and kissed her, ignoring the deck hands that were whistling at them as he did so.

A day later they arrived back at the dojo and everyone immediately hugged Kaoru and welcomed her home. Megumi and Sanosuke profusely apologized to Kenshin but he just shook his head and let it drop. After the excitement had finally died down Kenshin went to sit off by himself to rest, it had been one hell of a day and it was starting to catch up to his tired body. Out of nowhere he felt familiar, warm arms wrap around him and he couldn't help but smile, "Hey love, have you come to drag me back into the danger zone?"

"No, I was wondering if you'd go get some tofu for me... if you don't mind, that is..."

"Not at all, I'll be right back."

Kenshin gave her a kiss and locked the gate as he left, running to town so that he could hurry back to Kaoru, any time he spent away from her he was worried and he refused to take anymore chances. It didn't take him long to get the tofu and return home, hurrying to the kitchen before he let out a sigh, relieved to see his beloved Kaoru standing at the counter cutting vegetables. He went up and hugged her waist, kissing her pulse lightly, "I'm back."

"Thank you, did you miss me?"

"Always, do you want me to help you?"

"No, I want to try myself tonight, if that's ok?"

"It's fine, call if you need me."

Kenshin kissed her cheek and started out the door but Kaoru's gentle voice called out to him and stopped him, "Wait!"

"What is it, Kaoru?"

Before he could do anything else Kaoru ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately before staring lovingly into his deep gold eyes, "I love you... welcome home... Shinta."

THE END!

What did you think? Was it ok, was if bad? Sorry about the other ending, I couldn't help it but I hope you liked the real ending. As I said, I have another story in the works and I'll have it up soon and it will hopefully answer a lot of questions about our mysterious red-haired wanderer, so if you have a burning question that you're dying to ask Kenshin if you could tell me and I'll try to answer it in my new story, 'k. Thanks for all the reviews and support, I wouldn't be anything without you guys, love ya and see ya soon!