Ice Assasin

Chapter Three: Fight!

Author: Setzu

Rated: R

"How would fighting help me regain any lost memory?" asked a confused Kaoru. She tossed the idea around in her head. Obviously Setzu was still an assassin, or at least still working with what her mother had taught her. Kaoru however only knew the Kasshin Ryuu. She watched a small smirk slide onto Setzu's face.

"You will see, follow me Kaoru-chan. Another time old Geezer," Setzu tossed over her shoulder as she headed out to the streets. Kaoru quickly scrambled up and bowed to Dr. Genzai before running after Setzu.

"Wait will ya!" Dr.Genzai just watched the two leave before getting up with a shake of his head. The peace at the Kamiya Dojo wasn't going to last much longer.

"Kaoru-dono?" Called out Kenshin as he and Yahiko walked through the gates of the Kamiya dojo. Kenshin looked around curiously as both he and Yahiko walked into the kitchen. He set down the container of tofu as Yahiko shrugged.

"The busu's probably sleeping, it is late afternoon and she's been going to bed earlier lately, almost like she doesn't get enough sleep," Yahiko told Kenshin, but he could see it didn't help much, he could see the worry in his eyes. He sighed and leaned against the counter as Kenshin went to check and see if Kaoru was in her room, when he noticed a piece of paper. He looked at it curiously.

"Hey Kenshin! She's not here, she's at Dr. Genzai's," He called out. When Kenshin reappeared he shoved the note to him. "I'm going to go do the dojo floors before she comes back and gives me more work to do," He grumbled as he stalked off.

Kenshin read the letter and sighed. Perhaps she went to see him about her nightmares, though he would have though she'd gone to Megumi, she might be busy. Relieved he went and began the task of cooking the tofu.

Yahiko grumbled as he walked into the dojo with a bucket filled with more water. He had at least half of the dojo floor scrubbed, and already it was beginning to get dark out. The sun was half way down and the air was becoming slightly chillier. He wondered what Kaoru was doing at Dr.Genzai's that was taking her so long. Maybe she was playing with Ayame or Suzume?

He got down on his knees and put the rag in the bucket of water, ringed it out, and started to clean again. Normally he would have put up more of a fight and try for a different punishment since he hated this one so much, but he didn't want to push her. He could tell she wasn't getting much sleep and at first had teased her that she and Kenshin had been 'getting it on too much', though he knew that those two haven't even admitted their feelings for one another yet, and had received a hard smack for it too.

But he had cut down on the teasing after he realized that something must really be wrong, though he never asked. If Kaoru wanted to tell him she would let him know. He put the cloth into the bucket and wiped his sweaty brow, and was about the reach for it again when he heard voices. He turned got up and walked to the dojo door and peaked around the corner. He saw Kaoru and was about to greet her and ask her what took so long when he noticed the other girl and the serious looks on their faces. He hadn't seen those kinds of looks for a long time. He slipped into the shadows and watched them walk in.

"Are you ready Kaoru-chan?" Kaoru-chan? She must be a friend of Kaoru's if she's letting her call her that, but he's never met her. He watched curiously as they each turned and faced each other.

"Yes, I want to remember." Remember what, he wondered? His eyes widened as he watched her grab her bokken and the other girl draw a sword. They were going to fight! He quietly snuck out as he watched them charge at eachother. They were really fighting, not just sparring, he needed to get Kenshin. He quietly and slowly slipped from the shadows and out the door of the dojo.

"Kenshin! Kenshin!" Yahiko yelled as he skidded into the kitchen. Kenshin immediately looked up and stiffened at the boys worried look.

"What is wrong Yahiko?" He walked over to the boy trying to calm him down.

"Kaoru, She's…"

"What Yahiko?" He tried to ask in a calm voice, but his eyes betrayed his calmness. Something was wrong with Kaoru and he needed to know.

"I was cleaning the dojo floor when she and some other girl came in. The other girl called her Kaoru-chan, so I figured she was a friend of Kaoru's, but, then, they began fighting!"

"Sparing?" Questioned Kenshin hopefully.

"No, real fighting. Kaoru has her bokken and the girl is carrying a sword, a real Japanese sword."

"You stay here, that you should while I go help Kaoru."

"No! I'm coming with!" With that said both ran off towards the dojo.

Setzu smirked at Kaoru, her new opponent. She would start out slow, and then get more and more fierce. Hopefully under such pressure, this would bring out the old assassin in Kaoru.

"Are you ready Kaoru-chan?" She questioned carefully. Even if she said no she would attack, in a real fight you couldn't just make a time out.

"Yes, I want to remember." As the last word left Kaoru's mouth Setzu charged. She swung her sword to slice at Kaoru, but Kaoru ducked and made a swipe at Setzu with her bokken. The two went on for several minutes like that before Setzu decided it was time to get a bit rougher. As Kaoru swung her bokken down at Setzu, she quickly ducked to the side and did a roundhouse kick into Kaoru's stomach.

Kaoru skidded to the dojo floor, breathing heavily and covered in sweat which poured down her head. She clutched her stomach as she looked up to Setzu. The woman's eyes had slowly turned into a bright flashing green.

"Get up," Setzu demanded in a low dangerous voice as she looked down at Kaoru. She smirked as she watched her slowly get up. Right as Kaoru got up she attacked again, swiping her legs under feet and hitting the butt of her sword into her already bruised stomach. Kaoru gasped, her eyes going wide as she hit the hard ground again.

It was at that moment that Kenshin and Yahiko came to the dojo, each of their eyes wide at the scene. Kenshin seethed as he watched the woman fight Kaoru, his eyes turning their deadly amber color. He slid his sword out of his sheath and Setzu turned to face him. She glared at the red headed man.

"Stay out of this Battousai. This is not a fight for you."

"That it is when you are involving my friends," His voice was monotone as he spoke. He began to walk towards Kaoru, intent on stopping this fight. He watched as she got up and looked at him. She was clutching her stomach and a dribble of blood was trailing down her chin. He cursed himself for not arriving sooner.

"No Kenshin. No," His eyes widened at Kaoru's comment and he stopped in his tracks as she turned to the woman and charged her with her bokken. Surely she didn't think she could win the fight against the woman with a bokken?

Setzu smirked and dodged Kaoru's attempt to attack her as she brought her blade up and sliced the Bokken in half.

"Tsk, now you don't have anything to fight with. You boy," Setzu motioned to Yahiko as she flung her braid behind her. He looked around for a minute then pointed to himself. Setzu rolled her eyes and nodded.

"There is a bag next to you, give Kaoru-chan the weapons in there," She winked at Kenshin who glared back at her. Yahiko did as he was told and grabbed the bag he hadn't noticed before, and pulled out two Kodachies. They were absolutely beautiful. On the handle of both kodachies were dragons, carved out with small sapphire jewels as the dragon's eyes. He walked over to Kaoru and handed them to her while whispering to her.

"Just let Kenshin fight her."

"No, now go and stand by Kenshin," Yahiko stared in wonder at his Sensei, there was something different about her. Her voice was almost like Kenshin's when he was fighting as Battousai. He backed away nervously.

Kaoru fumbled with the weapons for a moment, not sure on how to use them, but fought the best she could with them when Setzu charged again. Setzu dodged each attack of Kaoru's with the ease and grace of the assassin she was. However, Kaoru was a different story. She kept getting hit and thrown to the ground, and was sweating like she never had in her life and was breathing very heavily. Kenshin and Yahiko attempted to intervene several times, but each time Kaoru demanded them to stay back. Kenshin didn't know how much more he could take before he would ignore Kaoru's wishes and stop the fight, he wasn't even sure why they were fighting.

Setzu drew in a deep breath as she kicked Kaoru to the ground, her sword pressed to Kaoru's neck. She ignored the Battousai and the boy.

"You're weak Kamiya, you and your whole family, that is why they died," She could see that just fighting wasn't enough to anger Kaoru and bring out the assassin within, so she'd taunt her about her family's death which was sure to make an impact. She wasn't fond of the decision, but it had to be done. Kaoru needed to be an assassin again for her own sake.

Kaoru's eyes widened and she glared up at Setzu who was smirking down at her.

"Your family was worthless, they died because of you. Your still weak and worthless. You need the Battousai to fight all your battles for you," She hissed. She could feel the anger boiling within Kenshin for treating Kaoru like this, but she let a smile curve to her lips when she saw it paid off.

Kaoru closed her eyes, trying to calm her seething breath. Her bangs covered her eyes, so when she opened them only Setzu could see their icy color and the rage they held. Setzu let out a laugh.

"Is little Kaoru mad? Then fight me with all you have!" She jumped away and let Kaoru get up with her kodachies, and watched as the young girl took a fighting stance. A deadly air riveted around her that shocked the two men watching. Kaoru let out a chilling laugh as Sanosuke and Megumi entered behind Kenshin. They had been on their way to visit when they heard the ruckus and came to check out the problem, but never had they expected to see this. All watched as Kaoru and Setzu truly began to fight, each drawing blood from the other until they came to a stand off. Setzu once again had her sword to Kaoru's neck, but this time metal pressed against her own skin as well. Kaoru's eyes flashed icily as she pressed her Kodachies a bit harder into Setzu's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.

"I remember."

"Good."

Each withdrew their weapons from each other, and stood staring for a moment, lost in their own world. Setzu finally sighed and slid her sword into her sheath and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and neck.

"Your sheathes for the kodachies are in the bag, welcome back Kaoru-chan," She said rather cheerfully as she slapped Kaoru on the back. Everyone stared at the braided woman utterly confused at the change of personality. Sanosuke leaned over and whispered to Megumi.

"Think she has a personality disorder?" Setzu turned slowly and glared at Sanosuke who in turn held up his hands in defense.

"What did you say!"

"Nothing!"

"Better not have," Kaoru laughed, her eyes returning to their usual color as she retrieved the sheath from the bag and placed her new kodachies in them. She turned to Kenshin who stared unsure at her. She sighed and walked over to him, hugging him. Slowly he hugged her back.

"Don't worry Kenshin, I'll explain it to you, to all of you."

"That you should Kaoru. You had me scared for awhile, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, now come, all of you. Setzu and I have much to explain."