Chapter 28

(Kaoru)

I looked down, watching as Sano walked below us. He had not said anything as Kenshin had gathered me up and shot into the air, only walking below us silently. I looked back to Kenshin's face. He was focused on Enishi's castle, his silvery eyes glinting. I reached up, tracing one of the white marks with my fingers. He looked at me sharply, a little startled.

"What is it Kaoru?" his deep voice rumbled.

I smiled slightly. "It's just that you're so different Kenshin. You don't seem like you're the same person."

He smiled back. "I'm still the same old Kenshin, just… well…" he trailed off, giving another powerful sweep of his wings between words. "A bit more powerful."

I giggled lightly. "I'll bet. You seem to be radiating it. I can feel it."

"Can you?" he questioned wondrously. He focused back on the castle that was fast approaching us. "I didn't realize that." He sighed suddenly. "I'm worried about you Kaoru. I don't think that you and Sano should come with me into the castle. I don't want you to get involved in this fight."

I frowned. "Don't you dare tell me that Kenshin Himura. I would never leave you to do this on your own, even if you told me. I will come with you, whether you like it or not."

He smiled, chuckling lightly. "I had a feeling you would say that, but I had to see." He nuzzled my cheek gently with his nose. "And that's really why I love you Kaoru. You're so selfless. You'd be willing to go into battle, where you might be injured, all for me."

I tightened my grip on his neck, looking up at the sky. "Well of course I would do that Kenshin. I love you, and I'll always be there for you."

He nodded slightly. "I know. I know…"

His wings tilted and he began to go down, drifting towards the ground. I tightened my grip on him again, closing my eyes slightly. I heard his chuckle as he alighted on the ground, and I realized then what he had meant about difficulty breathing. It was a little hard for me, and I had to focus on the action for a moment.

He, however, had no trouble with it. I glanced at him. "Kenshin?"

He smiled. "Because I'm a full Angel at the moment I have no trouble with it. I also suspect it's because of my mother's gift."

I giggled. "Lucky you…"

Sano ran up to us, we had landed a bit farther in front of him. "Are you ready guys?"

Kenshin nodded, looking up at the big door not far in front of us. "Hai. I am ready."

I stepped up beside him. "As ready as I'll ever be."

(Enishi)

I sighed, looking over my room, memories flooding back to me. I knew that by now the Battousai was long dead, and now I was remembering what he had been like. He had always been so quiet and submissive when I had had him. I had grown to enjoy him after a while, to my great surprise….

"Oni-chan, you know what?"

I got no answer from him, just like always. He never spoke, my little pet, but he was very understanding, and a good listener. He looked at me, turning his golden eyes on me.

"I think that Tomoe smiled at me the other day." I said quietly, musing out loud.

A small smile came to his face, and I knew that he was glad that Tomoe had smiled. He, just like me, wanted to make her happy. The only difference was he didn't want to have her smile at his own suffering. I learned that over the months, it wasn't his suffering that made Tomoe smile; it was when I was gentle and kind to the boy that she was happy.

I put a hand out, running it along the redhead's slender back. We were lying in my bed, and I had only just finished with my fun for the day. Although I could tell my oni-chan didn't like these times, he didn't resist anymore, and sometimes I found that he was kissing back, pressing himself against me with a fever that surprised me.

I ghosted my fingers up his pale, bruised skin, pressing lightly on the biggest of bruises. He winced, whimpering slightly and trying to move away from me. I wrapped an arm around his waist, drawing me close to me and putting my mouth next to his ear. "I've told you this before oni-chan. You are mine, so stop struggling. You are mine to hurt, mine to do whatever I want with. Even kill you."

He whimpered again, shivering in my grip. I looked down into his face, noticing that his eyes were clenched shut and he was tensed, waiting for a blow. I sighed, relinquishing my tight grip on his skinny body. I ran my fingers up his ribcage, where every bone was easily visible beneath his skin. "Oh oni-chan, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with you anymore."

He opened his eyes, blinking. I smiled slightly. "You're such a mystery, and I don't think I'll ever understand what goes on in your head."

He looked down, and then turned over, putting his back to me; I played with the tattered feathers on his wings lightly, pulling one out every now and then. He winced every time one left his skin, but he was relaxed. Hai, I would never understand my oni-chan.

It was then I heard a strange cry outside of my castle. I moved to the window of my room, looking out over my grounds. What I saw I would never forget.

It was my oni-chan, standing there in the grass. Power was swirling around him, blowing his crimson hair around his face. Silver was streaked in those strands, flowing easily and blending with the color. His wings were different, featherless and slimmer than normal. I looked into his eyes, and almost took a step back. They were blazing silver, glowing holes in his face as he stared at me.

My eyes were wide, and I was astonished. How was this possible, he should be dead! I had administered the correct poison, he should be long gone!

His lips peeled back to reveal long glistening fangs, and I heard his snarl around me even though he was far below me. "ENISHI!"

I whirled, running from my window. I ripped open my closet, pulling out my sword and quickly strapping it to my belt. I would meet him down there, if that was what he wished. I would meet him, and then I would have my pet back. He couldn't win against me, I would use his fear against him.

(Kenshin)

I knew I had made quite an impression on the man, I had seen the fear in his eyes and face. I let my wings drift away from my body, creating the illusion that I was bigger than I really was. I was guided mostly by instincts now, playing all of my cards as they came to me. My magic was swirling around me, blowing my shoulder-length crimson hair around my face.

I spotted Enishi as he came out of the castle, his sword hanging from his belt and his face set. I knew what he wanted, he wanted to either capture me, or kill me. It would all end with either death or enslavement. His or mine. He would die this day, I would see to that.

I reached down, putting my hand on the hilt of my sakabatou. I would fight with the blunt edge for the time being, but in the end I would have to flip it. And as much as I detested doing that, I knew that it had to be done, or I would never be free. 'I'm sorry Tomoe…'

Somehow I knew that she would understand. I knew that she would forgive me for this one kill, this one last one. I would have to do it, and I would make sure that I would be free for the rest of time, free to stay with the woman I loved.

I felt Kaoru's presence not far away from me, and I looked for her out of the corner of my eyes. She was standing a little behind me, her bokken out and ready. Sano was near her, fists clenched and in a fighting stance.

I crouched, preparing myself for Enishi. He drew his sword, and then charged for me. "YOU ARE MINE! I WILL GET YOU BACK!"

I growled, meeting him in midair with a powerful battoujutsu. He managed to block the sword, but my brute force flung him backwards. He flipped, landing easily on his feet. I swore slightly, getting into a ready position with the sakabatou pointing straight at him.

He panted slightly. I could see the shock in his face. He hadn't expected me to be this strong after the effects of his poison, hell; he was probably wondering why I was still alive. I grinned, showing off the fangs I knew I had, hissing a challenge to him.

I saw his slight shudder, and this made me even more confident. I was frightening him, and I knew it. I would play this to my advantage.

(Kaoru)

I watched as Kenshin shot into the air, using his wings to help him gain altitude. He folded them, and he fell like a stone towards Enishi. The man put up his sword to try and block, but Kenshin broke through, the sakabatou striking along Enishi's shoulder. I heard his cry, and I knew that the force had probably either dislocated his shoulder, or broken his collarbone. With either, Enishi was going to have some trouble fighting from here on out.

Kenshin sprang away from Enishi easily sinking back into his ready position. His eyes were still glowing faintly with power, but it was toning down as he relied more on his body's abilities and less on the magic.

My grip on my bokken's hilt was tight, and I knew inwardly that I wouldn't get much of a chance to fight in this battle. Kenshin was dealing well with it, but I still wanted to be ready. I had known all along that I wouldn't be participating, but I had wanted him to know, that if the need arose, I would be there to help him.

Sano was bouncing on his toes beside me, rooting silently for Kenshin. His eyes were bright with the excitement of battle, and a grin was on his face. I smiled slightly. He was in his element, the thrill of the fight.

I focused back on Kenshin, where he was sparring easily with Enishi. He seemed to be playing with the man, letting him attack him at leisure, and then fighting him back with only a few blows. Kenshin suddenly sheathed the sakabatou, and then flung it out again in a blindingly fast battoujutsu. Enishi cried out as the blade struck his ribs, sinking into his skin and breaking quite a few things.

I winced slightly. If that hadn't punctured a lung, that man was not going to enjoy his last time of life. I knew that had to be incredibly painful, and Kenshin darted away, the sickening crunch of the sakabatou being removed from Enishi's side reaching my ears. He'd broken quite a few ribs, that was for sure.

"You don't seem to be at top par Enishi." Kenshin said mockingly, tilting his head slightly. "Whatever could be wrong?"

Enishi didn't answer; he was panting heavily and holding his side with one hand. The grip on his sword was lessening; I could now see that his collarbone was broken. He was having difficulty holding onto it.

I blinked at Kenshin, watching his eyes. There was more gold swirling in those silver depths now, and it was frightening me. What was happening to him? This wasn't the Kenshin I knew!

Kenshin stood, sheathing his sakabatou and spreading his arms and wings. "I'll bet you can't even hit me now! You're pathetic. And to think that I ever submitted to you," he sneered.

Enishi let out a cry, running towards Kenshin and swinging his sword. Kenshin easily leapt out of the way, a sadistic grin on his face. My eyes widened. Something wasn't right, Kenshin was acting strangely.

I watched as Kenshin landed in a crouch, getting ready to attack. He put his hand on the sakabatou's hilt, and I watched as he waited. Enishi came running towards him, his rage blinding him. Kenshin's eyes narrowed, and then he just disappeared. I blinked, and then Enishi was flying backwards, blood spraying from a huge gash across his chest. He was lucky that strike didn't cut him full in half, but I knew that before he hit the ground he had died.

I looked to Kenshin, who was standing with the sakabatou's tip pointing to the sky, blood soaking the blade. He slowly rose from his crouch, flicking the blade and cleaning the blood from it easily. The blade flipped and he sheathed it. "What did I tell you Enishi? You are weak."

I ran up to him, spinning him around by a hand on his shoulder. "Kenshin, what was that? What's wrong with you?"

He grinned again, the strange look on his face. "I was right Kaoru. Enishi was pathetic. I can't believe I wasted my time with him."

I growled. "You're not yourself!"

His grin turned mischevious, and he stepped closer to me, his eyelids sinking to half lid his eyes. "Oh, but I think I'm fine…Kaoru…"

I growled louder, drawing back my hand and slapping him full across the face. "Snap out of it!"

I watched as the color faded from his eyes, leaving them that shining silver they had been when he had first completed his strange transformation. His eyes widened, and he looked towards Enishi's body. "Kaoru? What…"

I sighed. "It's okay Kenshin. This is over. Let's go home." I took his arm, leading him away from the battlefield.

He walked with me for a moment, and then he fell from my hold, landing gently on the ground. I heard the sound of wings, and I stepped away from Kenshin's body. A shape landed beside him, putting a hand on his back. Kenshin began to glow, the strange markings fading from his skin, his wings gaining back their feathers and growing larger again.

You are forgiven itoshigo. Live in peace…

I watched as the figure turned to look at me, and I saw beautiful violet eyes and shining red hair. I realized that I was looking at Kenshin's mother. She smiled gently at me, and I bowed. "Arigatou…"

I felt the ghost of a touch across my hair. You will make him happy Kaoru Kamiya. You have my blessing, as well as that of my husband. Live happy together.

And then she was gone, and I walked forward to help Sano lift Kenshin's limp body from the ground. He was sleeping peacefully, his face free of worry lines. I brushed some of his crimson hair from his face. 'Hai, we will live happily together. For the rest of our lives…'

Wow, longest chapter. Yay, battle scene! NO MORE ENISHI! If you're confused about anything, let me know! Please review, and I'll update as soon as I can!