Bright red blood gushed out as Kenshin yanked the sword out with the last of his strength and collapsed onto the hard, unyielding concrete ground. His body remained motionless, save for the stream of blood that trickled out at the corner of his mouth.
Ken…Kenshin…… Kaoru stared at the still figure through disbelieving eyes. This can't be happening……it has to be a nightmare… She squeezed her eyes shut to shake off the painful memory, to wake up from this horrible dream, but when she reopened them, Kenshin was still there, lying in a pool of blood. Helplessly racked with tears, she turned to her companions but saw them still stunned and in a daze, at a loss for words or thoughts.
"The end of Battousai!" Jin-eh roared with laughter. He kicked and prodded the unmoving figure with a foot heartlessly and smirked with satisfaction. "Revenge had never felt so good!"At the snap of his fingers, two of his henchmen appeared. "Get this thing out of my sight," He gestured impatiently at Kenshin's lifeless form, oblivious towards the vicious stares he was getting from Misao and Sano. If looks could kill, Jin-eh would probably be lying dead alongside Kenshin.
Having disposed of Kenshin, the two men reappeared, their bloodstained hands being evidence of their gruesome task. "We got rid of him, Master." "And rather a neat job too, if I may say," one of them added smugly. "We left no trace at all."
"Good…..good…good….," Jin-eh muttered absent-mindedly, already stroding towards the door. "What about these others, Master?" The men gave Misao and Kaoru hungry looks, sending a shiver down their spines. "Can we have a little fun with them, Master? A little entertainment perhaps?"
'Eh? Oh….them? Yeah, do whatever you like with them….and kill them all when you're done."
"Of course, Master!" The door slammed shut and the two delighted men exchanged wicked looks. "Our lucky day! Two of us….two women…….there's one for each of us, Kagura," the bushy-haired guy sniggered. "Your choice, buddy….the ferocious looking one in ninja attire or the demure one in the kimono."
Kaoru broke out in cold sweat, shivering uncontrollably with horror while Misao thrashed about and would have yelled the whole building down if it wasn't for the gag. Sano, Yahiko and Aoshi were furious and frustrated over their helplessness.
Kagura appeared to ponder deeply for a moment or two. "I guess I'll go for the kimono one, she looks the tamer type, if you know what I mean." The two men hooted with laughter. "And I know your tendency for wild, enthusiastic girls, Taku." Kagura nudged his partner and laughed uproariously.
"Oops…I almost forgot," Taku nipped over to the door and silently locked it. "We don't want to be disturbed, do we?" He grinned and reached for Misao with outstretched arms while Kagura captured Kaoru in a passionate embrace.
Engulfed in a burning fire of hatred, Sano watched Kaoru squirmed helplessly under Kagura's hold with vengeful eyes. He was consumed with guilt for being unable to protect her, a task which Kenshin had faithfully entrusted to him. Kenshin….Kenshin….I'm hopeless…..I've failed to protect you and even Jo-chan……. Wait a minute! What's that smell? Sano drew in a deep breath and the familiar cigarette smoke wafted towards his nostrils again. I know that smell! Think, Sano, THINK! His pulse quickened when he finally hit upon the answer. Could it be…..? A glance at Aoshi who was peering at him with alert interest in his eyes confirmed his judgment. SAITO HAJIME!