DJ: I AM NOT CRAZY!
I'm BACK! Heh-heh. I did one last chapter before my trip. I'm sorry it's short. My explanation is at the ending notes. No long notes today. Just a story, climbing to its climax. Hope all of you enjoy!
AuburnMoonlight: Kenshin's reaction will be listed in this and the next chapter. I feel really bad for him. This is starting to get sad and creepy. About the reviews again. I still don't understand why people are so lazy and can't review once at least!
Kyou-kun 15: Hey man! Thanks for the support! Hope you enjoy!
davis45108: I warned you but no one listens. :) I'm torturing Kenshin so much, I feel so evil… In the bad sense!
Final Genesis: After I wrote this chapter, I noticed the thrill and chill that was building in this story. Well, I listed it under angst for a reason. Enjoy!
Sims are awsome: I'm sorry Kaoru doesn't make much of an appearance here. She'll be in a lot of next chapter though. As for when they'll get together, that's awhile off. Just be patient though, they will confess and be happy together eventually. It's inevitable.
Matt: I hope this chapter pleases you. No brutal dying yet. There will be a lot yet to come though. And funky fresh Saito. :)
Khmer Moon Blossoms: Kaoru's fate will be told next chapter. Here I wanted to take time to develop Kenshin's feelings. Nevertheless, enjoy!
Chrnoskitty: Reviews are very good. Tomoe is evil. Not in this story though. I changed her here. I really didn't like her in the OVA. But she's soooo much better in the manga. By the way, pick up the Directors cut edition of Trust and Betrayal. I like it better than the two separate DVDs. Agh, now I'm babbling. :)
Reignashii: Their fates will be sealed next chapter. Until then, enjoy Kenshin's madness.
Now, our feature presentation!
Rurouni Kenshin: The Whispers of InsanityChapter Seven: The Whispers Return
By, DJ Baka-chan
"Anger at lies lasts forever. Anger at truth can't last." - Greg Evans
"Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry." -Henry Ward Beecher
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I walked through the gate, my face a stone mask. Kaoru was there to great me with her usual cheerful smile. She approached me and took my chin in hand. She looked at the bleeding scar on my cheek and appeared to look worried.
"You're bleeding. Let me clean that up for you." I pushed her hand aside with the back of mine and started towards the room in which I stayed. She backed away, shock evident on her face.
"There's no need to worry about it." I hissed, my back to her. "I can take care of it myself." There was an air of hurt radiating through her ki.
What? Had I spoiled her plans to kill me?
"Kenshin! Come back!" I ignored her and walked into the house.
I slid the shoji to my room open then slammed it back hard. Sitting against the wall, I held a cloth up to my still bleeding scar. I sat there silently, hugging my knees to my chest. In the first time in years, I felt like a helpless child.
"Kaoru…why? I thought…you loved me…" I felt the tears and let them come.
It's been so long…
I changed my position and removed my katana from its sayo. I inspected the blade I had used so many years to kill. To kill in the name of Divine Justice.
Since those days have been visited…
How could a blade so clean be so stained? How could a heart like mine be so trusting? And why, did I ever bother to love again?
Tomoe's memory has been long kept hidden. Stashed away in the back of my mind. It's been so long, since I've seen her…
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6 years ago during the Bakumastsu Revolution, Otsu
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"Winters already begun. Time has been passing so fast, koishii." I turned to Tomoe and she smiled up at me. Getting up from her sitting position on the ground, she joined me outside.
"I've always particularly liked winter. The snow is so beautiful. Summer has only reminded me of your departure so long ago." She gave me a sad smile. My lips curved upward and I placed my arm around her shoulder.
"Ah, but that is a thing of the past. Let us not think of the bad, but of the good that is yet to come." I smiled a broad grin and she laughed. Things had always been this way between us.
"Once the war is over, you and I can live in peace for the rest of eternity. But, until then, when I am called upon, I must fight again, for the better of our country." I stared out into the white nothingness, a determined look on my face. Tomoe gave a nod of understanding.
"But we must wait for the revolution to spark again until you leave, ne?" She asked. We had been separated for the past 5 years, and now I know how much she missed me. I smiled again.
"Yes." As turned back to look at the snow, I noticed a large group of figures approaching. The one in lead stopped and the rest followed his action. In blinding snow, I could not see their faces, nor if the were with the Inshin Shishi or the Bakufu.
"Hitokiri, Himura Battosai! Is this your residence?" The leader called to me. It was then I knew it was an execution squad. A whole group of men were here to exterminate me. I pushed Tomoe inside and closed the shoji roughly behind us. I could hear the group approach. I knew they were here to kill but at all coasts I had to protect Tomoe. Even if is coast my life.
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Present, Kenshin's Room
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"Shit…My demons are all coming back." I grasped my forehead. I could still feel the blood running down my body. My soul drenched with it. I could see those red petals flying through the sky, the swords rising and falling. Over and over, a never ending cycle of death.
It was painful to have all this rushing back to my head. My mind was so unstable. I could feel that kindled flame begin to spark. Battosai wanted control.
No! I won't let you kill her!
Himura, you, are the fool. You played yourself right into her hand. You walked into the trap and now I've got to get you out.
Nobody needs to get out of anything but her! She can still leave him, she can still be with us…
FOOL! Didn't you hear what she said? Didn't you hear that tone she used? She hates you! She couldn't give a damn about you; she was letting you walk right into the lion's den. And you fell for it.
I though she loved me… I though…that she really cared…
Love is only foolishness. Didn't you see where it landed you last time? It's worthless. It will only get you killed. Didn't you see how immortal you were when I was in control? When you were emotionless? Demons can only fall when love is born. Ever since then you've been WEAK. To hell with the girl. Enemies only bring death. We should kill her then find Enishi and torture him slowly until he BEGS for forgiveness. He's killed her Himura. Not you.
Enishi killed her…
That's right Himura. He's the whole reason she's in this mess. She's getting what she deserves for messing with the one and only Hitokiri Battosai.
She's, getting what she deserves…
Right…
He was burning through my mind. There was no way to escape the Battosai this time. He was there. I reached my ki out to look for Kaoru's whereabouts. She was in her room.
I had to do this sometime or other. It's time, to confront those demons of mine.
I grasped my sheathed katana tight in my hand. I was so indecisive. I had already agreed to Battosai's plan. Now I need to follow through with it. It was hard, could I do it? Could I?
The only way…
Could I take the blade in hand again?
Is to punish…
Could I stain my soul and hands?
Her actions…
Could I kill?
With death.
These whispers of insanity once again grasped at my soul. It was time to take my title again. Kenshin no longer existed. He will be erased, and become nothing. Battosai will reign dormant. He shall be the one whom stains the history of this country.
The whispers lulled my body and mind. "Kill her." They breathed into my ear. "Kill her." I closed my eyes, took a breath then opened my eyes again. They were burning flames of amber rage. They were the same eyes I bore during the revolution. They meant only one thing. Death. My grip loosened on my katana and became a more relaxed, firm grip. The killer was back. Battosai's flame burned yet again.
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This is really Kenshin's decent into madness. He's let go of Kaoru and let the Battosai take control. There's a reason I called this "The Whispers of Insanity." There is always a method to the madness. :) I'm really sorry it's short. It was originally longer but when I got to the last line, I just had to leave it there. I mean, it's a perfect cliffhanger. (Just like last chapter.) Well, this is better than nothing right? I thank you for reading, and I'll thank you even more when you review! Now, make sure you click that cute little review button and write something. It'll make the authoress very happy.