A/N School is over!.. dances…. My muse is free!.. Gah! Unicornfan.. are you really going to Draw Tanako and Toshiki?.. That is so nice.. cries…. I only wish I could see it. pouts. And Stomykittykat. I hope reading all the way through the story didn't keep you up all night. .. . and thanks for all the reviews guys. And now, the story.

Disclaimer. I don't own Kenshin

Devotion

By

Melissa x

Battousai was growing tired once again, but thankfully he didn't have to worry much anymore. The gang was fleeing. Those that were still on their feet were starting to fall back. Those strong enough, were picking up or dragging a fallen friend. The field was being cleared, somewhat. Battousai took the much needed breather, his chest heaved for air. His gi was in taters. His flesh was torn up and he was bleeding from the many cuts. Slowly, ever so slowly, he turned to face the white-haired leader. Amber eyes peeked through his curtain of red hair. A growl slowly forming in his throat.

"You killed Tanako" his deep voice ripped the air. Sasorie, who had failed to notice that Tanako had crawled away in the confusion, stalked closer to the Battousai.

"She died because of her betrayal to her people. You of all people should know about that kind of death Battousai. With your…. Honor and all." Sasorie smirked as he drew his blade, the point going to the ground.

"Shut up. What do you know about honor Sasorie. You who beat women… children even." Battousai snapped, Lifting his sword to knock the leaders sword out from under him. "Rob from the government, the public, innocent people. You killed many people, and today, you killed a wonderful young woman." Battousai gripped his sword till his knuckles turned white. "She was an innocent-"

"Oh my dear man." Sasorie interrupted with a laugh, shaking his head. "Tanto was far from an innocent."

"I said shut up."

"She killed many men as well…. more than your other pretty little young woman."

"Leave Karou out of this! You don't know who you are talking about." How dare he speak about Karou like he knew her. "Implying that she had killed some one." He spat on the ground

Sasorie only laughed. "Oh but Battousai, It seems I do know your.. Karou, is it?... A bit better than you. You see, She did kill someone. One of my men in fact… not long from now…. In that forest." He pointed to his right at the forest lining the open field. Battousai dropped his sword point to the ground, his eyes finally showed through his bangs. Her pale complexion, stunned look… the blood yet there was no wound on her.

Everything seemed to point that he was telling the truth, Karou, his Karou, his innocent loving Karou, had blood on her hands. The kind of stain that would never wash from her pale hands. Battousai shook his head. No! he was lying, he had to be lying. Please let him be lying.

Sasorie saw him shaking his head. "Don't believe me? Ask her for yourself when she regains consciousness. I'm sure She wouldn't lie to you."

Toshiki rushed to Tanako's side, dropped his sword and wrapped his arms around her small form. He didn't care that he just exposed himself. He didn't care that he was putting himself in danger by turning his back and dropping his sword. All he cared about was having Tanako back.

"Gods, I thought he killed you." He whispered in a husky voice full of emotion.

Tanako reached down with her free hand and petted his chocolate locks. "Shh," she hushed him loudly, so that she could be heard over the shouts of the gang as they gathered together to flee. Everyone was all but ignoring them now. "I'm alright, for now." Her green eyes had grown hard in her pain and she was happy that he had his face buried in her stomach so that he couldn't see them. "Come," she said, pulling him to his feet. "We have to help Kenshin."

"No Tanako, I don't want you going back in there, I want you to go into the forest and wait for me there-" he was hushed yet again, this time by a blood covered hand over his lips.

"I didn't come this far to cower in the forest Toshiki-san." Her hard eyes grew harder. This was her chance, her chance for revenge. She didn't want to kill anymore, but she had to kill Sasorie… she had to do something to rid her life of him. Whatever life she had left, she thought as she coughed softly, sending pain through her chest. She would have to hurry if she wanted to finish this. Toshiki gazed at her with worried blue eyes, His hand coming to rest on her cheek.

"Tanako, are you going to be alright?" He hadn't seen the wound. So he had no idea if it was bad or not. Tanako shook her head and waved his concerns away. She wasn't about to show him the wound when Kenshin was going to need their help.

"Yes Love." She stated gently, resting her hand on his then taking it in her own hand. "Hurry… we must help Kenshin." Toshiki nodded and ducked to scoop up his sword.

"If you start feeling strange.. swear that you will leave and rest. Swear it." The young man set his lips in a thin line, he was not going to budge till she swore.

Tanako knew that he was serious, there was no way he was going to let her go anywhere without her promise. And she understood, she would have done the same to him, had he been the one who was wounded. "Alright, I swear." With that Tanako turned and headed for Kenshin. But Toshiki refused to let her go. Instead, he pulled her back and caught her lips in a surprise kiss that had Tanako holding on to him to stay upright.

Toshiki refused to let her go till she returned the kiss good and proper, and he was rewarded when her lips parted and he drew him into a deeper kiss. But before he could fully enjoy the taste of her kiss, she pulled away.

Battousai had just about enough of this whole thing. He didn't care about anything anymore, he just wanted to get his friends and get out, and leave this village to rot. Sasorie had tormented him by telling him all he knew about the murder Karou had committed. Twice Battousai had lashed out, but Sasorie was fast, and was able to dodge his attacks. Battousai was slow, he was exhausted, and no amount of anger was going to help him. Battousai was losing hold and Kenshin was showing through. His amber eyes were already fading, purple flecks where starting to form.

"Face it Battousai. Everyone here is a killer, stained with blood. How many have tried to kill you Battousai, only to be the ones killed. You know the code of honor. I raised Tanto, brought her up to be one of the brothers of the gang. And she betrayed me, it was my duty to-"

"Duty?" Battousai interrupted. "Your duty to kill her?"

"To end her shame."

"Enough!" Battousai shouted, Using the rest of his strength to charge Sasorie. The Leader was ready for this and lifted his sword to block his attacks. Kenshin was quickly returning and Battousai wanted to get as many hits as he could, perhaps even kill him. But he was just too tired. Sasorie was fresh, having watched all the fighting from the sidelines. He was much to fast for Battousai to land a hit.

Sasorie only grinned as he danced around the red-head. His sword meeting Sasorie's with sharp rings, never once did the ex-samurai get close to hitting him. Then with a sudden burst of speed. Sasorie began attacking, putting Battousai on defense. Sasorie advanced with a fierce series of attacks, sending the Battousai skidding back with a new set of bleeding cuts across his arms.

The reverse blade sword was shoved into the dirt and Kenshin leaned heavily on it. The Battousai was gone… Purple flooded back and Kenshin was gasping for air. His hands around the hilt of his sword trembled… not because of being so tired or because of his pain, but because of the load of news he was trying to take in. Tanako lay dead… he had failed her… he broke his promise. And Karou… gods, his dear Karou. Pushed beyond her limits…. Unconscious somewhere in the forest, Sano had better be taking good care of her.

She had killed someone, somehow he knew it was true. And Sasorie was right, that kind of blood stain never washed off. Kenshin shut his eyes. He could only imagine what Karou went through to have to kill someone. He knew that her life as they all knew it, was never going to be the same again. Tears burned his eyes, and he didn't bother to rub them away or blink them back.

"You are too weak Battousai. Look at you, already winded." Sasorie drew up his sword and rushed at Kenshin. His speed was great, but Kenshin saw it coming, the trouble was, Kenshin couldn't make his body move fast enough. Sasorie let out a battle cry as he felt his sword sink into Kenshin's left arm. He had been aiming for the heart, but Kenshin was able to move just fast enough that the sword only tasted his arm. Kenshin grunted in pain as he fell to the ground. Blood poured from his wound, and Kenshin was forced to let it bleed. He wasn't about to drop his sword to clamp his hand over the wound, it was his last defense.

Sasorie laughed and raised his sword over his head to finish Kenshin off. "Now Battousai, how does it feel to be on the other end of the sword?" His eyes shone brightly as he awaited the demons' answer.

"I've been on this end of a sword many times, it is no different now than it was then." Kenshin calmly spat out.

"Oh there is a big difference Battousai,… this time. You die!" He brought his sword down to cleave Kenshin in half. Kenshin knew there was no way he could move in time, he could see the attack as if it were in slow motion, but he just didn't have the strength to move. Kenshin shut his eyes, not wanting to see his death make it's way to him. But his death never came. Opening his eyes, he was in for a grand surprise.

Toshiki had stepped in to the fray, with only a split second to spare. He stepped between the two warriors and caught Sasories' sword with his own.

"Yes there is a big difference." Toshiki growled out as she struggled to push the leader away. "He has friends with him now." The young man gave a mighty shove that sent the white-haired leader skidding back.

"A lot of friends." Tanako stated right behind the leader. The man whipped around, eyes wide in shock.

"Tanako!" Kenshin shouted as he struggled to stand. Toshiki rushed to help him back on his feet. "You're alive."

"Barely," Sasorie sneered, noticing the growing stain of blood that covered her side. He pivoted, bringing his sword to slice her across the belly but his sword was once again met by a much smaller dagger. Sasorie recognized it as the one he used on her.

"Alive enough, bastard" Tanako shoved the sword away and took a swipe at him with the tanto. Sasorie dodged it, but only just. The steel ripped his uniform and blood began pouring from the small wound. It was a small wound, but Tanako knew just where to scratch him. Toshiki was already advancing, he wasn't planning on letting Tanako stain herself with blood ever again. If Sasorie was going to die, it was going to be by his hands.

Karou stirred, where was she?... what had happened? And why the heck was she resting on the forest floor with half her body resting against……"SANO!... What are you doing?" Sano hushed Karou by slapping a hand over her mouth.

"You fainted Missy, seemed you pushed yourself a bit too far this time." He said in a grim tone. "And I'm sure the shock of killing someone would do that to anyone like you Karou." She pulled his hand away.

"You know about that?" Karou choked out, suddenly feeling sick again. She refused to let herself think about it till now.

"Yes, the leader told Kenshin."

"Kenshin knows?" Karou whimpered as she slowly stood up with the help of the taller teen.

" 'fraid so Missy… but there is good news… Tanako is alive." He pointed over her shoulder.

"She is?" Karou whipped around and almost fell over had not Sano been holding tightly to her. She peered through the trees and saw that what Sano said was true… there stood Tanako, almost as if nothing had happened. What about Kenshin? She thought, her eyes moving further down the field.. "Kenshin!" He was struggling to stay on his feet as Toshiki let him go to rush the leader. He was bleeding badly from a horrid wound on his arm and he looked too weak to even stand up straight. Without thinking Karou bolted from Sano's arms and weaved through the trees.

"Whoa Missy, Wait!" Sano called as she vanished into the trees. The fighter went after her. "Great, Kenshin is gonna kill me"

Tanako spotted movement out of the corner of her eyes. It was Karou bolting from out of the forest! Karou dashed to Kenshin's side, she held him steady with one arm around is waist and slowed the bleeding with her free hand. Kenshin was struggling to pull Karou in his arms when the tall lanky teen burst from the trees. Sano. He hurried to Karou's side and took over holding Kenshin up as she fashioned and bandaged from bits torn from her gi.

Seeing all this took only moment, but those moment were filled with a fierce battle. Sasorie and Toshiki where exchanging blows. The men where matched it seemed, leader and right hand man. Tanako blinked as her vision of them blurred slightly. And she tried to hold back the fit of coughing, but was unable to. She doubled over in pain, as she coughed. Drops of blood flew from her mouth and speckled the ground beneath her. Was this is? Was it her time. No, she couldn't go yet, not till she made sure Sasorie had paid for all that he did. Vision tipping, Tanako stood straight again. The fight was wearing on, But Toshiki tripped and fell. Sasorie took the opportunity to strike. Tanako had no choice now but the strike first. She flipped the dagger in the air, catching it by the blade and then an instant later, the blade was singing through the air and buried deep in Sasorie's exposed chest.

Surprised, Sasorie dropped his sword and gripped the hilt of the dagger to try and pull it free. But his struggle only lasted a moment. The dagger had pierced his black heart, death was so swift he was dead before he hit the ground.

The sight of his dead body falling on the ground was the last clear thing Tanako saw. In another fit of coughing, she herself fell. Pain blurred her vision further, Her chest heaved for air that she needed. But no matter how much she gasped, she wasn't able to get air.

"Tanako!" Toshiki leapt up, leaving his sword behind and hurried to his love. Karou, Kenshin and Sano hurried as much as they could to her side as well.. Toshiki fell to his knees and scooped her up. She was pale, lips blue, eyes unfocused. She was dying.

A/N Egads don't kill me for leaving it there. I already have the last chapter thought up. I am not leaving you guys hanging much longer. It is a evil cliff though… don't you think? ducks and runs for cover.… Please review.!