…a piercing silence bled through the room as the rage of Kenshin and Sano built upon recognizing the hated voice that poisoned the air.
"Why are you here?" questioned Sano in a gentle rage.
"You as much as any should remember what you have done to me in the past and you shall pay for what you have done," responded the stranger.
"Shishio, we have beaten you may a time and you return for vengeance, I pity how foolish you are," Kenshin calmly speak, "And now, more than ever you shall pay for what you have done."
Movement, unlike any felt by men escaped the soul of united kin in the rage and fury of ridding the earth of its menace forevermore but the quick stealth and strike of the blade harmed none. Countless blows upon the damned soul left Sano's fists and Kenshin reverse katana but still the damnation faltered not.
"Enjoying yourself Kenshin, because if you're not I can change things around," Shishio stated as both Sano and Kenshin fell to the solid wood of the dojo, "of course you failed to remember that you slaughtered me therefore, I am an immortal soul who cannot be harmed."
"Damnit Kenshin how the hell are we supposed to beat him if he doesn't live?" questioned Sano as Shishio's voice bellowed with laughter.
"Quiet Sano for he fails to remember, I am Hittokiri Battasoai, and I always win in the end," Kenshin retorted in calm confidence.
Whispers filled the air of Kenshin's voice, a chant simultaneous with movement of his hands rattled earth beneath the feet of all as slowly the lofty soul of Kenshin escaped from Kenshin's ragged corpse. Soon thereafter Sano joined him in the midst between life and death.
"Now Shishio," stated in the Battasoai's menacing voice, "you shall see hell itself and be damned for eternity with men far worse than yourself."
"How did you learn such magic, how are you able to manipulate your own life and death!" Shishio shouted in terror.
"Simple, I wasn't always the best of men."
Left in the air above an unconscious Yahiko and nearing death Kaoru was Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Shishio whom left nothing to waste as blades clashed once more between Himura and Shishio, as Sagura Sanosuke quickly left their presence to aid Kaoru.
…deep in Kaoru's mind…
"Is anyone there, help me please!" screamed a voice frightened by the darkness and the light nearing her.
"Kaoru come back towards the darkness!" exclaimed a voice in simple reply, "Do not get any closer to the light we would miss you too much."
"Who is that, and why must I walk into the darkness the light is so warm?"
"For if you do, you will never be able to return to the realm of the living, and not only I but Himura will be grieved for all we did only to lose you."
"Sano, is that you?"
"Yes, it is I please come back to us."
Slowly the frightened girl walked into the darkness from whence she came. Deeper into the darkness she fell and closer to one man whom she trusted as arms reached out to catch her as she fell towards the floor.
"What the hell did you do to her you bastard!" Kenshin shouted seeing Kaoru wake week and bleeding profusely.
"Ah, the anger of the Battasoai awakens once more." Shishio responded in a happy growl.
"You fail to realize, me and the Battasoai are one and he no longer controls me, and I do not need to control him."
"No it cannot be, I heard but did not believe it to be true, how were you able do this?"
"It was actually quite easy," Kenshin retorted as his blade brandished above Shishio's head…