Rain of Blood
Standard disclaimers apply.
Digital*girl: There¡¦s someone that I would like to thank for the battling part¡KKamimura Kaoru!! ^O^ She offered me to help with the drama scene, and oh boy was I ever so grateful!!! So a BIG thank you is presented to you girl!! *clap clap clap* I couldn¡¦t have done it without your great help¡Karigatou de gozaru!!!
Also, Kamimura Kaoru requested me to tell you fans that she will be a little buzy of her schoolwork¡Ktests and all T-T so she might be a little slow to update. DEMO NE! She said that she hasn¡¦t forgotten you fans out there who supported her and will update ASAP!!! ^_^ GOOD LUCK GIRL!! XD
Chapter sixteen¡XIt¡¦s better this way
The dagger shot deep into the wood. Its sound vibrated through the peaceful air, causing the birds to spread their wings and flew into the never ending sky.
A silent old man took the dagger and stared at the note tied beside it. The leaves flew caused by the soft wind, just as his heart swayed inside.
He sighed.
==============
¡§Himura¡K¡¨ Okina called out quietly behind the thin paper door.
Just as he expected, no answer came.
He cleared his throat lightly, ¡§I-uh, have something for you. Actually it¡¦s not from me but¡KI¡¦ll place it behind the door.¡¨ He said and rested the note neatly beside the doorway. He turned to leave when stopped, taking a last look then left.
Inside, empty violet eyes stared out into nothingness. He took no note to the faded footsteps that echoed in his blank mind.
¡§Don¡¦t go.¡¨
¡§I need to go.¡¨
¡§I want you to stay,¡¨ she whispered.
Breathing unevenly, his eyes shimmered with something wet.
¡§I need you.¡¨
She cried. ¡§I care for you Kenshin¡Kso much that it hurts.¡¨
He turned his head to face the paper door, hoping, expecting for her long lost smile.
¡§Kenshin¡Kno matter what happens we¡¦ll always be together, ne?¡¨
Letting out a cry of anger, he picked up his katana and threw it against the paper door, while the tearing sound split. He curled up and clenched his fist, his whole body trembled.
A few moments later of shedding tears, he got up jadedly about to retrieve his katana when something out of the ordinary caught his blurry eyes.
A note.
Eyes half burnt, he wearily picked up the note and stared.
He saw the graceful curls of the handwriting as the declaration stated nakedly; right there, in front of his eyes, on the note¡K a demand.
His grip on the paper trembled, as he felt anger starting to surface.
It was very short.
Battousai- It began.
Come to the edge of the forest at midnight.
Where the round moon splashed its immoral light on us,
All the answers would be revealed-
Including the key to this anomaly cycle.
I await your presence with the woman we both cherished.
It was simply signed Yukishiro.
Battousai snatched his katana and dashed out of the empty room.
Inside, the note fell quietly down on the mattress, the black marks blemished by something wet on the paper. Tears.
==============
She really tried to picture the future that they¡¦ll be having together after this is all over. Really. She had always dreamed about marriage. She planned them all over a long time ago, ever since she met him. They could have two kids¡K a boy to make the family proud and a girl to be a good spouse. Or maybe three kids would be nice. The more the better. And every night, after they finished telling bedtime stories to their children, he and she would sit under the starry night, gazing past those memories behind them that would never cross their lives again. They would kiss, laugh, and embrace until sleep overcame. Not even a trace of guilt or pain could be seen in that picture. Pure happiness.
Pure happiness. No doubts. No faults.
Kaoru smiled then, it was one of a genuine smile.
¡§What are you smiling about?¡¨ a voice brought her back to reality.
¡§Oh, nothing.¡¨
Enishi cocked an eyebrow.
He stood firmly on two feet, weighing his watou on his shoulders while Kaoru sat, with a faraway look in her eyes and a peaceful smile on her lips.
Their stillness? To wait.
Minutes passed as two hearts wished for something that were so different, yet so appealing at the same time.
And, finally¡K
¡§Battousai.¡¨
The name escaped Enishi¡¦s lips like a deadly hiss. Kaoru¡¦s head snapped up, ¡§Kenshin!!¡¨ she stood and almost tripped over, reaching out to her Hitokiri.
¡§K-Kaoru¡K¡¨ Battousai¡¦s amber orbs wavered at the sight of her, and he felt his knees went weak. His eyes began to burn when he saw Enishi, gripping on his woman¡¦s hands and forced her to stay back. Immediately he focused on the white haired man.
¡§So you¡¦ve came, Battousai.¡¨
¡§Unhand her,¡¨ Battousai snapped, not listening to a word Enishi spoke.
Enishi simply smirked.
¡§Kenshin¡K¡¨ unable to sustain her emotions anymore, Kaoru broke out and cried, right in front the two men.
Concern and worry weighed on him as he glared at Enishi once more, and yelled, ¡§Unhand her!¡¨
Enishi closed his eyes and stared down at the woman he loved for so many decades, sobbing uncontrollably.
¡§No.¡¨
¡§What do you want?!¡¨ Battousai cried out angrily, although he already knew the answer. The three of them did.
¡§To end this tiring game,¡¨ he stated coldly. Battousai widened his eyes. Kaoru stiffened and stared up at Enishi wordlessly, her tears flowing freely down her face.
¡§Move out of the way,¡¨ Enishi spat coldly to Kaoru. She was about to protest but stopped when she saw Battousai nod, telling her to stay in a place where it was safe. She stumbled hesitantly. The Hitokiri¡¦s eyes stayed on her trembling form until she reached a shadowed spot under the tree. Safe. He then sighed in relief, eyes penetrating through Enishi after.
Battousai¡¦s golden eyes glowed like a panther¡¦s eye in the dark. His hand hovered above the hilt of the katana. Enishi sneered as he twirled his watou around and settled to his own stance. They stayed in position for god knew how long.
Kaoru calmed her ragged breathing and gulped uneasily. The tension that hung about the air was sticking to her skin like the beads of sweat, eating her alive.
¡§Kenshin¡K¡¨
All happened in a sudden as Battousai drew his katana and lunged towards Enishi as he pounced upwards flipping away easily to dodge the familiar attack. Just before Enishi managed to touch the ground again, Battousai swirled behind, executing his katana to Enishi¡¦s ribs. Instead, a sharp sound of metal reverberated through the air. Enishi had anticipated him well. He pushed his sword heavily, letting out an anguish cry. He smirked ruthlessly.
¡§Angry Battousai? You should... you should because we will end this tonight!¡¨ The Hitokiri gritted his teeth and more force was thrown on Enishi. The white haired man stole a glance toward the erratic Kaoru aside. Battousai noticed and soon his angry words echoed in the forest.
¡§Don¡¦t even think of touching her you bastard!¡¨ He growled as he slid his katana along the length of the watou and slammed his katana back onto it again and stepped forward. Kaoru trembled with fear. She gasped audibly when Battousai jumped away from Enishi and towards the sky in a leap. Her unwavering gaze never left the Hitokiri with red hair.
Suddenly, images of her undying dream reached her unexpectedly. She shut her eyes and she breathed raggedly again. When she opened them, she wasn¡¦t watching the battle between Kenshin and Enishi anymore. No. Instead, she found herself staring at the blood plastered wall.
Fear.
¡§Oh kami-sama¡K no.¡¨ she breathed out as tears blurred her vision.
¡§No.¡¨
There was the dream again. She could hear the cries, the sobs, and even the soft winds that blew past by every so often. She wasn¡¦t able to contain the staining tears when she saw the figure¡K oh no it wasn¡¦t true.
¡§It wasn¡¦t true!¡¨ she screamed.
Battousai suddenly froze. He plunged down toward Enishi and jumped away, worry plastered on his face as he stared at her.
Blank.
¡§Kaoru?¡¨ he called out her name.
¡§Getting occupied would not be appreciated!¡¨ Enishi shot as a slight pain tore through Battousai¡¦s skin. The assassin stopped his attacks and leapt a far distance away from Enishi, stealing a longed glance from Kaoru. Immediately, he saw a pair of concern and worried eyes frown at him. He smiled inwardly as he stood up using the help of his katana.
¡§Are you all right?¡¨ he asked her while glaring at the platinum-haired man.
¡§Stop caring about me Kenshin! You¡¦ll get distracted!¡¨ Kaoru shouted in fear.
Oh, Kaoru. After Battousai made sure his Kaoru was fine he focused on Enishi again. Without hesitation he plunged his katana down onto the ground and forcefully dragged the katana out in a forceful pull.
¡§Dou Ryuu Sen!¡¨ Battousai shouted as he jumped up into the sky again. Rock, sand and dust flew towards Enishi, blurring his vision for a second. He slashed at the yellow mist, just in time to see Battousai disappearing to the sky.
¡§The same trick would not work against me Battousai!¡¨ Enishi barked as he snapped his head towards the sky and got ready his stance on counter-attacking that fool. A battle cry was heard as Kaoru took a step nearer, heart racing and pumping worrying for the Hitokiri.
¡§Kenshin!¡¨ Kaoru yelled.
¡§Don¡¦t get involved woman!¡¨ Enishi shouted as the assassin came down to his shoulder.
¡§Ryuu Tsui¡K¡¨ With that Kenshin placed a fist under the blunt side of the katana and pushed it upwards to connect Enishi¡¦s chin.
¡§Sho Sen!¡¨ It met his chin hard. Blood was starting to draw out slowly from the corners of his mouth. Instead of falling like every normal man, Enishi held a lop-side grin.
¡§Was that the best you could do Battousai?¡¨ Enishi was far from normal. Both jumped away from each other and panted for air. Sweat filled their foreheads and soaked their clothes. Enishi had a devilish stamina; all his five senses were beyond believe. If that were the case then this would be a good method. Kenshin took out the sheath and held the katana on the other hand. Enishi on the other side crouched down like a tiger.
¡§Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu! Ryuu Mei Sen!¡¨ Battousai yelled as he shot just above Enishi¡¦s ear as he sheathed his katana back into its original place in a fast movement that created a sharp sound that momentarily, killing off Enishi¡¦s sense of hearing. Not only that, all his nervous system went numb. Enishi growled as he fell to the ground and trembled.
He was going crazy.
¡§You!!¡¨ he glared deathly at him.
¡§Everything is fair in a fight Yukishiro,¡¨ Battousai answered coldly and flicked his katana.
¡§It¡¦s just the beginning!¡¨ Enishi cried out as he dug at his ear, shocking Battousai. Kaoru stood at her ground as she watched blood spewed out of Enishi¡¦s left ear. Her hand covered her mouth as she saw how much Enishi and her Kenshin was going through because of her. She had to do something. Fast.
¡§Watou jutsu Shuugeki Tousei!¡¨ Enishi brought his watou up and at the same time he applied a kick force to the middle of the watou, launching it with full energy. Battousai managed to block the attack last minute as he flew to the nearby tree. He spat the blood that was collected in his mouth to the brown soil as he held the sword with both of his hands in front of him. Enishi however stood with his watou resting on his shoulders.
¡§Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, Kuzu Ryuu Sen!¡¨ Battousai soared towards Enishi in god-like speed splitting into nine images aiming for the nine critical points of an enemy. Enishi felt a side of his lips going up as he lifted his watou to an idle stance.
¡§Watou jutsu Senran Tousei!¡¨ Enishi crouched down as he countered all the attacks with his multiple hits. The last hit managed to contact with torso to his waist diagonally. Everything stopped running. Enishi went pass Battousai as he stood not believing what had just happened. Kaoru held her breath as her eyes kept focus on Battousai. Everything had happened so sudden.
The wound opened as gushes of blood splashed upon the green grass as he fell forward gasping for air. Kaoru¡¦s mind couldn¡¦t register anything. Amber eyes shocked that his ultimate fighting skill had actually failed his master. But he was determined. Slowly, the ruby red blood immersed through his gi. He tried to stand with his katana but the pain was too great even for him to bear. Slipping away subconsciously his weary eyes stayed on Kaoru, the woman he promised to protect.
Tears streamed down Kaoru¡¦s beautiful face as she sobbed.
¡§Kenshin¡K¡¨ she intended to run to him. ¡§Kenshin!¡¨
¡§Don¡¦t come near Kaoru,¡¨ he panted and tried to stand up. ¡§I don¡¦t want you to get hurt!¡¨
He finally stood up but was kicked at his injury by Enishi as he clutched at his abdomen. Enishi kicked his katana out of his hands and raised his watou.
¡§Die Battousai!¡¨ Down came the infamous weapon. All the energy was drained from him. His katana was not with him¡K
She inaudibly reached out her hands to the Hitokiri. Everything was slow motion in her eyes¡K even when his hopeless eyes laid on her, as if telling her that he was sorry.
Sorry?
¡§Don¡¦t come any closer Kaoru!!¡¨ he shouted hoarsely with so much blood on him.
¡§Promise that you¡¦ll be okay¡Kpromise me that¡K¡¨ she breathed in sharply as more blood coughed up.
The furious shouts became soft whispers in her ears as she stumbled, her eyes gazing past his golden ones trembling in fear.
Everything happened so fast.
¡§Promise me that¡K¡¨
Angry sobs.
Wet tears that fell on her face¡K
Ken¡Kshin¡K
¡§Kaoru!!!¡¨
Opening his blood red eyes, a pair of cerulean clear eyes gazed down at him lovingly, plastered on her mouth was a sheepish smile. Her slender fingers caressed his blood caked cheeks, while it felt like icicles stabbing him.
Battousai grasped her falling form unexpectedly as they both fell onto the bloody earth, bringing down his last flame of life.
¡§Ne¡Kpromise me something¡K¡¨ words so soft reached into his deafened ears as every inch of his body froze, unregistered of the weak form that he held onto so dearly in his trembling arms.
Everything suddenly became so foreign.
¡§Hold me¡K¡¨ she gasped for breath, even when she clung onto him.
Tears stung his angry eyes as he stared down at the creature. He asked in a light tone, ¡§There was so much blood on you¡K¡¨ he smiled in concern. ¡§Are you all right?¡¨ he asked, denying the crashing truth.
¡§W-we¡¦ll get this fixed¡Kdon¡¦t worry¡KI-I¡¦ll get you a doctor,¡¨ he croaked, looking around.
Kaoru blinked and smiled after weakly.
¡§Does it hurt? I promise I¡¦ll stop the pain¡Kjust wait for a few minutes okay?¡¨ he asked, stroking her pale cheeks. ¡§Hold on¡Konegai,¡¨
¡§Kenshin¡K¡¨ she grasped his bruised hands. Battousai gasped abruptly and returned his amber eyes on her, just as reality hit him, just when he began to understand.
Her hands fell from his grasp. His eyes became numb.
¡§It¡¦s better this way¡K I love you.¡¨
An anguished scream of agony ripped through the silent sky.
Dun Dun Dun!!! YEAH another chappie!! XD Sorry if I took so long, it¡¦s because of the length _ but OH YEAH I did quite a job on it!! Don¡¦t you minna-san think so?? I realized the end of this chapter is kind of like my other story ¡¥Obsession¡¦¡K I know. I¡¦m so mean. :P
Kenshin: I hate you. I hate you so much I wish you can burn in hell. T-T KAORU!!! *runs away to hug her*
Oro? ^^¡¦ anyways~ I hope you can all wait for mah next chappie as soon as possible! Since I finished the exams and such¡K and NO WORRY I¡¦ll make sure our beloved Kaoru wouldn¡¦t die or anything like that¡Kahahaha¡K *receives a glare from Kenshin*
REVIEW!!! Happy digits dances!