Chapter 8

Terror

(Kaoru)

I came running up to the dojo in time to hear a sharp cry from inside. It was Kenshin, I recognized his voice instantly. Megumi, who was running beside me, swore and ran faster, gripping her medical bag tighter.

We both burst into the bedroom at the same time, fearful to see what was wrong. But it wasn't quite what either of us expected, and Megumi dropped her supplies in shock as I gasped.

Kenshin seemed fine, he was sitting up in the bed, but his arms were wrapped around a limp Kenji. My son's eyes were wide, pupils non-existent in his blue-violet depths. His body was jerking, as though he was having some sort of attack, like the ones Kenshin had periodically. The sound of his tortured breathing was enough to make me scream.

I knew then why Kenshin had cried out. He didn't understand, he had to have woken up to find Kenji like that, sprawled on the futon, body jerking in the throes of some seizure. He was afraid, clutching Kenji close to his chest in fear.

I ran forward, prying at Kenshin's hands. He cried out again, this time a coherent word. "IIE!"

I put my hand in his, and I watched recognition dawn on his features, and he loosened his grip on our son. Megumi instantly ran forward, checking over Kenji while I sought to calm Kenshin down. Tears were flowing with no abandon down my husband's face, and he clung to me in fear and worry, my name a whispering cry on his lips.

I petted his hair gently, putting one of his hands to my mouth. "Megumi's here, she'll help Kenji."

He nodded, showing his understanding, but he continued shaking violently, tears still tracing paths down his cheeks. I held him close, watching with fear as Megumi tried to figure out what was wrong with our son.

(Kenji)

I sat in shock for a moment, the strange man in front of me watching silently as I did so. I couldn't believe what I had heard. Dad had been hiding who he was all this time? Sure, he had been having the problems with no sight and no hearing, but he still should have told me. It would have been easier to deal with if I had heard it from Dad himself, not this strange person.

I looked up finally, staring at the figure in shock. "Why are you showing me this? To torment me?"

He snorted. "Himura Kenshin's life is mine, and this will make you understand why. That is all there is to it."

I suddenly frowned. "My father's life belongs to no one, only himself. You have no right to do this to him. Even if he is a murderer, even if he did keep this from me, he probably had his reasons. And I would have much rather heard it from him, not from you!"

I stood, glaring at the man in front of me. He laughed. "Such a strong spirit you have Himura Kenji. You take after your father in more ways than just looks. Perhaps I should get rid of you before I take his life. To cause him even more pain."

I growled. "You'll have to try it before you sound so confident. I won't let you take me that easily."

I heard rather than saw the man's grin as he laughed again. "Very well. I will have to show you the hard way who is the stronger here."

I clenched my hand into a fist, and suddenly something stopped it from closing fully. I looked down, and then my eyes widened. The sakabatou! Its familiar hilt was clenched in my hand, the blade shining faintly in the dim light. I raised it, silently running my fingers over the tsuba. I felt the sheath at my belt, its small but significant weight comforting me in some way. I grinned, sheathing the blade with a sharp click. Now I had a way to fight back, with the faithful sword that I had inherited from my father sometime after my 16th birthday, not long after his deafness had set in.

With the familiar weight of the sakabatou at my side I felt my confidence surge, and I got into a battoujutsu stance. I had seen Yahiko do it before, and my father long ago. It was a faint memory, but I had never forgotten it. I had even trained a little with Master Hiko, without my father's knowledge. I could perform a passable battoujustu, and even a few other attacks, such as the Ryu Tsui Sen and a Ryu Sho Sen.

I heard a chuckle from the figure in front of me. "Well now, just like your father. Do you really think that you can defeat me Himura Kenji?"

I grinned. "I don't know, but I can sure as hell try. For my father, I will try to pound you into the ground. My father deserves better than this, no matter who he was. You have no right."

There was another chuckle, and then he charged me. I set my hand lightly on the sakabatou's hilt, and I could almost feel it thrumming in response to my ki. I smiled. 'Well… it seems as if we are going to get to battle together after all…'

(Kaoru)

Kenji's body suddenly went completely still and his wide eyes slid shut. He was quiet, breathing calming down into a steady peaceful rhythm. Megumi blinked, moving away from him.

"Well, at least he's okay now…" I murmured.

Megumi frowned. "Hai, but I'm still not sure what's going on here. This is certainly confusing. We'll just have to keep a close eye on Kenji to make sure that nothing goes wrong."

I nodded; reassuring Kenshin that Kenji was alright by bringing my husband's trembling hand to rest against Kenji's chest. Kenshin moved closer to Kenji, seeking out the boy's hand and holding it tight in his own.

I sighed, running a hand through my slightly sweaty bangs. They had grown matted to my forehead because of my headlong run to Megumi's clinic, and I brushed them away impatiently. 'I hope you're alright Kenji. Please wake up soon…'

(Kenji)

I dodged again, my breathing only a little unsteady. This man had yet to land a blow on me, but I had only hit him once. I was starting to get a little worried. The man came towards me again, brandishing the sword he had seemed to get out of nowhere, just like the sakabatou had appeared at my side.

"You are doing well Himura Kenji. You truly are your father's son. But I'm getting tired of this nonsense," he said, untying the clasp of his cloak and throwing it away from himself.

I looked upon a bandaged face, the gleaming crimson eyes still watching me idly. I blinked, tilting my head slightly. "I know you…"

"You do? Well this is something I'd like to hear about."

I took a step closer, my eyes narrowing in confusion. "A story… One that my Dad told me… He told me about a scar that I saw on his shoulder…"

"Ah, yes, I remember that… Such a nasty taste he had, your father. I regret taking that bite out of his shoulder."

I felt my face contort into a snarl and I took a step back. "Shishio! You're Shishio! But how… Dad said that you died!"

"I did. And I still blame Himura Kenshin for that. He was at fault, so I have decided that he will also have to suffer a dishonorable death, one that leaves him helpless, unable to even wield the sakabatou, unable to see or hear," said the man I now identified as one of my father's old enemies.

I growled. "You…bastard."

Shishio chuckled at that comment. "Are you going to talk Himura Kenji? Or are you going to fight?"

I sheathed the sakabatou quickly, dropping comfortably into the battoujutsu stance. "Come."

Shishio's crimson eyes closed. "So much like your father… I really should kill you first. Let him suffer more before I claim his life." Those eyes snapped open and he grinned, his grip tightening on his sword. "Very well."

My eyes narrowed, I felt myself calm into a perfect state for fighting. I centered myself, and then the sakabatou left its sheath in a surprisingly fast battousjutsu. It hit Shishio in the middle, knocking him to the side. I was up and going instantly, a Ryu Tsui Sen taking shape as I leapt high.

The next thing I knew there was pain. Blinding pain. A choked gasp escaped my mouth; the sakabatou fell from my limp fingers. It clattered loudly to the ground, and I felt the warmth of blood trickling down my skin.

Shishio grinned up at me. "You forgot to think about the fact that I might not be as hurt as I seemed Himura Kenji. You underestimated me, a costly mistake."

I coughed, and tasted the metallic coppery flavor of blood in my mouth. Shishio withdrew his sword from where it was embedded in my stomach, and I fell heavily to the ground. Black clouded my vision, and I struggled to sit up and face him again.

Shishio stood over me, glaring down at me with nothing but disgust and loathing. I blinked slowly, my eyelids growing heavier and heavier. "Goodbye Himura Kenji."

The world faded.

(Kaoru)

Blood suddenly covered the body of my son, pouring from both a sudden hole in his stomach and his mouth, and the boy choked. I screamed, backing away from him in horror.

Kenshin, who didn't hear nor understand, didn't notice until the warmth of Kenji's blood slid over his fingers. Then he too began to scream, his hand jerking back as though he had been burnt. Megumi pushed him towards me, and I caught him before he could hit the ground.

Megumi began working instantly to stop the blood flow, while Kenshin shivered in my arms. 'What is going on here?' I thought frantically.

I'm an ass, aren't I? Don't worry, I'll update soon!