Book the Third: Fight in the Akabeko

"Let's go!" Yahiko yelled at Xianshua pulling out his wooden sword. "You remember the rules, right?"

"Yahiko, every time I arrive here you fight me. Hopefully I know them by now…." Ruan sighed annoyingly. "You ready to fight kiddo!"

"What did you call me!"

"You heard me!"

"That's it, your going down!"

He disappeared suddenly and appeared right in front of Ruan and swinging his sword. Ruan lazily dodged it and appeared on the roof of the Akabeko. "You'll have to try harder than that to beat me."

"Darn it all……!" He bolted himself up on the roof after her. She showed no emotion as she avoided all of his attacks. Soon they were off the roof and on the ground. He clutched his weapon tightly. Instantly he realized that Ruan hadn't even drawn her weapon yet. "To scared to draw your weapon!"

"Do you think I'm stupid! If I drew my weapon you'd be killed!"

"Yeah, right."

"Wanna see how close death can get to you? Hmm!"

"Sure! Show me!"

"You asked for it—"

"STOOOP!" Xianshua screamed. "Just stop fighting!" She was now right in the middle of them. "This is stupid, okay? Do you seriously want to be killed!"

Yahiko stood there. He didn't move. The two girls questioned if he didn't even blink. No way… please God…. Don't tell me……….. life is officially over for me if it's true….. Ruan thought quickly. Now, she was the one freaking out. He…. He—

"Yahiko!" Kenshin waved from across the road. The crowd was now clearing and it was just the odd group of five. "Are you and Ruan still fighting? You two are quite the odd ones….." He looked over at Xianshua. "Oh, you must be Ruan's friend. I'm Himura Kenshin. What's your name?" Xianshua probably would've responded, if it weren't for the fact that Kenshin was the person that Xianshua's world revolved around (or close to it anyway).

"Kenshin…… Himura…….. is standing…….. in front off me………" That's all she said. It happened so slowly yet it happened fast. She just fainted.

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"Xianshua…….. Xianshua……… Xianshua…….!"

"……. Ngh………." Xianshua mumbled to herself as she sat up. "Where am I…..?" She looked around. Ruan was leaning over her. She could make out Kenshin, Yahiko, Kaoru, and…

"Is that Sanosuke!" She pointed at him. He was sitting. He glared at her.

"How the heck do you know who I am!"

Ruan jumped over and interrupted. "Isn't it almost dinnertime?"

"Yeah! Let's go eat!" Yahiko and Sano ran off. "Come on Kaoru. Let's make sure that they don't hurt themselves. They do get carried away…" She nodded and followed him out of the room.

Ruan sighed and slid the door shut. "Ambitious, aren't they?" She slightly chuckled to herself and started folding some clothes. Xianshua sat silently. She spoke suddenly.

"You are Erin, right?"

Ruan snapped her head and met eyes with Xianshua. "What?"

"Back there…. that was you, right?"

Ruan gaped at her. "What on earth are you talking about? Why would it not be me?" "But……… I heard a voice….. when you pulled out your weapon….."

What!

"………. Telling me that the person I saw, you, wasn't completely you….." she played with her fingers, "……. Who was it…..? Who did I hear……?" She looked up at Ruan as if she thought she knew the answer.

"…….I don't know……….." she said standing up. "I'll be back. Stay put."

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The sky darkened up and a steady rainfall poured down upon the dojo. Yahiko, Kaoru, and Sanosuke sat inside rambling on about random things as they ate. Ruan walked outside on the muddy path with Kenshin.

"I need to talk to you about Xianshua."

"Alright. What about?"

"Well……" Ruan felt an urge to stop. She didn't want to admit that Xianshua was one of the chosen elements, bound to her own destruction. Then, she'd be admitting that she was the one to destroy her. That was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

"She is one of the chosens?" Ruan looked away.

"……… Yeah…….." she muttered.

He frowned. "I was afraid this would happen."

"Huh!" she said, now meeting her eyes with Kenshin's.

"When I first saw her, I sensed a strong fighting spirit. Then I noticed, that she was very close to you."

"Are you saying…..?"

"Exactly. But, before I go in full detail, I think it'd be best if you had Xianshua hear it as well."

"I can't let her hear this! I won't let her!"

"Trying to protect her, from what she really is, is not wise. She needs to know." He handed her the umbrella, and tucked his arms in his gi. "Think about it," he said as he walked off.

Ruan sighed deeply and rubbed the back of her neck as she walked through the flooded piles of mud. She walked around for quite some time, apparently frustrated. Finally, she sat down on a bench nearby and closed the umbrella. Xianshua slid her screen open just slightly. A look of shock overcame in her as she watched Ruan sitting alone on the bench. It was hard to tell, but to her, it appeared that Ruan was crying.

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"How long has she been out there?"

"An hour or so," Yahiko sat back, "I'm growing impatient…."

"Leave her be Yahiko," Kenshin interrupted. The rain was pouring even harder now, and everyone cautiously waited for the girl's return. A sudden sound seemed to alarm everyone.

Thump. Xianshua entered the room slowly. "Xianshua, shouldn't you be in bed!" She smiled at Kaoru. "No, no. I'm fine, really." Kaoru sat back still worried but, then Kenshin's voice came in.

"Are you still hearing voices?"

"How did you—"

"Don't listen to those voices. What they say is only partially true." Xianshua was obviously already lost. "But…. Why only partially…?"

"Let me explain, your history. Maybe then will you understand where Ruan comes in."