Author's note: A regretfully short chapter, but a chapter filled with emotion and ideals none the less. I respect Yahiko-kun a great deal, and I think he deserves much more credit as an idealistic swordsman than most people give him. Beneath the shell of a child is a mature young man who knows the difference between right and wrong and is not afraid to stand up for what he knows to be true. And yet at the same time he still is a kid in many ways. I hope you find this delicate chapter satisfactory. More chapters to come.

-Until our paths traverse again

-The wandering KatDrama

-Riding off into the painted sunset

'Divided Waters'

Chapter Ten:

Tears of Rage

By KatDrama

The rain slowly cascading unto the roof was the only measurement of time inside of Akio's humble hut. As Kenshin wordlessly applied his medical knowledge to Akio's daughter's head Yahiko stood in the doorway, his young mind unable to comprehend the entire moral implications of the scene. His brown eyes focused on the figure that sat still in the mud, her lifeless eyes staring at the blade drowning in the mud before her. Beside the doorway, under a simple awning Sano sat on a mat and followed his young companion's gaze. "What must be going through their minds right now…" Sano finally broke the silence in a reverent tone.

Yahiko's young fist trembled with strong, troubled feelings as he sighed with frustration and strode out into the rain. Sano opened his mouth with protest, then decided it better for them to work things out and went inside Akio's house.

"Have you come to punish me as well?" She spoke in a low, mocking tone, her lips curved in a small, sarcastic smile, her impassionate eyes never leaving the stained blade set before her.

Yahiko lifted a fist as though to strike out at her as Kenshin had, then groaning with frustration he let his fist sink to his side and allowed himself to fall down, to sit beside her in the lingering drizzle, his back facing hers. Only one word could escape his baffled mouth. "Why?"

Finally drug out of her stupor Sachi's lips freely moved, though her emotions were well guarded behind the wall of an unexplainable melancholy smile that to Yahiko seemed to be mocking the old Sachi he once knew. "Why what?" Sarcasm laced her voice. "Why protect? Why fight? Why live? I think you know the answers to all those."

Anger boiled into Yahiko's response. "Why kill?" He growled. "And why did you never send word to us that you were alive?" There was a long pause, and the remnants of thunder could be heard in the distance, a sign that the storm had moved on. The small laughter that flowed from her caught Yahiko off guard and caused him to turn to look at her. Her scarred face was upturned towards the gray sky, the light rain washed away the blood that had splattered unto her face, and ran in stained rivers down her neck. The smile Yahiko recognized, but those eyes, those haunting ice blue eyes that stared coldly up at the sky, those eyes Yahiko did not know.

Slowly Sachi clenched and unclenched her bloodstained hands. "You kill because you have to, not because you want to. I had no choice…"

"You're wrong!" Yahiko shouted and suddenly sprung to his feet. He was surprised to feel hot tears stinging his eyes as he faced Sachi. "Kamiya Kasshin-ryu teaches to defend without taking life! And Kenshin has fought countless battles, hard battles, and yet has stayed true to his vow to never kill again!" The tears spilled from his confused eyes. "Sachi…you didn't have to kill! You've gone too far!"

Kenshin stood in the doorway, silently observing Yahiko's lecture; his hardened eyes met Sachi's and never let up for a second. She met his gaze, and this time did not avert her eyes. Her stubborn ice-cold eyes held no resentment for what she'd done, and yet they held no pride for it either. Her answer was long in the coming, and her voice held a more serious edge to it. "What would you have me do? What's done is done. I dealt justice as I saw fit."

Yahiko's fists shook with unprecedented anger. "It's people like you, with your twisted sense of 'justice' that Kenshin's been fighting so hard to stop!" His eyes, pure with rage glared down at Sachi, forcing her to break her contact with Kenshin and look into his own. Finding her feet beneath her she stood, towering over the boy. Her eyes, like cold steel, held no emotion, which caused Yahiko's sudden outburst to falter. After a moment she turned and began to limp away. "Wait, Sachi! I-" Suddenly awash with some sort of guilt he called out to stop her, but could not find the words.

The bloodstained stranger limped a distance before her leg suddenly cramped and caused her to crash into the mud. "Sachi!" He rushed to her, but she pushed away his help. Her face twisted from the agonizing pain she slowly rose back to her feet and managed to hold her head up high.

Standing dumbly in the muddy path he watched her limp away and sadly came to realize that the Sachi he had known was no more. He turned around and was surprised to see Kenshin standing in the doorway, a blank expression on his face. Despite all his willpower Yahiko could not stop the tears that flowed down his face. Stepping slowly forward the rurouni wrapped his arms about the boy and allowed him to cry in his arms. With a sad expression on his face he watched Sachi limp away, his heart filled with the same sorrow as the boy's that they had not arrived sooner.