Chapter Two of Golden Eyes

The moon was high on the horizon. Its dim light was shining down upon the land. She took a deep breath. She had been thinking about it all day. Why would someone like the Battousai be with children that young? Or with children at all?

She cursed at herself over and over again every time she thought about it. It was her job to kill… Nothing else. Many people's blood was laced through her blade.. And his would be as well. It's what she did best. She had tried to be a wife, she had tried to be a mother. It didn't work out as well as she thought it would.

She took another breath, she was getting anxious. She wanted to do it now. But, she would wait just a little bit longer. She wasn't stupid, she knew the Battousai had seen her. She knew he would be waiting. But she would wait. She didn't want the children to see it, or anyone else for that matter.

Her dark hair swayed around her like a cloak. She moved a lock of her hair from her pale face, opening her eyes slowly. They glowed like golden fire in the darkness surrounding her.

She pushed herself from leaning on the wall and started to walk down the deserted alleyway where she had been all day. Her fingers were tightly clasped around the sheath of the katana. It would taste his blood, as would his probably taste hers. He was dangerous, she knew that for a fact. But so was she.

He had changed, she knew that as well. Would he be able to fight the same way he had ten years ago? Could she defeat him if he'd returned to his old ways? There was only one way to find out.

Kenshin had sat out on the porch of the dojo all day, watching the Sun slowly drop behind the trees beside the dojo. His face had never changed, just the same cold and deadly stare. He knew he should have taken care of Gohei when he had the chance. He should have taught him more of a lesson than he did; he should have realized that just because he could no longer hold a sword with either of his hands that he was still going to be a nuisance. He cursed at himself mentally. This game was only causing more and more people trouble.

He looked back into the dojo, hoping that Ms. Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sano was asleep already. His eyes narrowed as he lifted himself, the katana held tightly in his hands. He wondered what Gohei had told them this time. He stepped from the dojo, his head down. He sighed heavily. Why did this feel so different from all of the others?

He looked seeing a dark figure in the distance, katana in hand, golden eyes burning brightly. His eyes widened looking into hers.

She came closer and closer, the moonlight finally landing upon her face. There was a scar down her right eye. She seemed familiar, had he seen her before? He didn't know. He stepped forward. "I do not wish to fight you, that I do not."

"Well, than you are in deep shit. Because I have came to fight you." Her eyes narrowed. "I have come to kill the Battousai, the Manslayer. Get ready, Himura. Get ready to meet your end."

Kenshin looked into her eyes as he placed his hand on the hilt of the katana. "I do not wish to harm you, that I do not." His fingers twitched, ready to pull the blade out any second.

She just smiled a smile that only a demon could give and unsheathed her sword ever so slowly. The blade reflected in the moonlight making her smile widen even more. She placed it right in front of her, her hand gripping it tightly. "…Goodbye, Battousai."

The katana swung at him quickly, but he blocked it without even the slightest hint of effort. She grinned widely, this was going to be interesting. He might have blocked that, but she hadn't even gotten started.

The attacks came faster and faster, more and more of them. Kenshin was moving constantly, disappearing from her sight or at least that's what he thought. He would have to be quick once again to dodge another attack. Who was she? How was she--?

His jumped into the air, landing behind her. He swung the reverse blade towards her, but she wasn't there. He looked up in front of him, seeing her charging the blade pointed towards his chest. She screamed, getting only a slash of him.

Kenshin jumped back and looked down to his kumono, seeing that it was cut in three places across his chest. He could feel the sting on his chest. She was almost as fast as he was.

She attacked once again, this time charging with blind fury. Kenshin had the opportunity. He charged for her as well, hoping that he would be able to do what he wanted fast enough. He swiped at her and landed on the other side, breathing heavily.

When the dust settled, he placed his katana back into the sheath and turned around to see her on the ground holding her shoulder. She laughed, cracking her shoulder back into the joint. "You'll have to do better than that, Battousai. I'm not like your other opponents," she pushed herself up.

His facial expressions did not change. "..Why exactly are you doing this?"

She smiled. "I only do what I am asked, Battousai. A killer, such as yourself does not deserve to live. He only deserves to die by the hand of another."

"I have left my passed behind me," he said. "Though it does seem to come back and take a bite at me at times.. I try to leave what is done in the past. Whatever Gohei has told you are lies, that they are. He is a nuisance."

She picked the sword up from the ground and laughed. "So are you.. I shall kill him after I kill you, as well. Would that sound fair?"

Kenshin's eyes hardened. "Not exactly."

"…Tough!" She charged towards him, her eyes full of hatred and power.

Kenshin had no choice, he gripped the reverse blade tightly and stood still as she came closer and closer. His eyes were closed. He took a breath and just as she got there, he disappeared. "CUZUREUSAN!" (sorry, if I spelled it wrong.. hides) With many of flashes of light and yelps and screams of pain, Kenshin attacked.

She closed her eyes.. Goddamn, he was fast.. She could feel each hit with a tremendous amount of force behind it. She dropped to the ground, trying to hold on to consciousness. She was still holding the katana tightly as her head hung from her shoulders as she laid on her knees. She closed her eyes, coughing up blood along with laughter. "You're better than I thought you would be." She spit blood at his feet. She looked into his eyes. "…If you wish not to be hunted, I'd suggest you kill me now."

Kenshin placed the reverse blade back into the sheath. How could she be conscious after something like that? She was right; she was different than any other opponent he was pitted against. In more than one way. "My sword is no longer for killing."

She laughed, slowly pushing herself up. "Than you're an idiot." She wiped away the blood from her lips. "You think that just because you use a reverse blade, and can cripple someone so easily.. Do you really think that there is no one out there that could and will kill you? It doesn't matter what your belief's are. There is only one truth: Kill or be killed." She stood straight, the pain fading.. Slowly. She was used to a lot of pain in her life, so it didn't matter. "I have already chosen my side. Which side do you choose?"