Disclaimer: Still do not own Rurouni Kenshin characters, and probably never will.

Hey guys, so I know its been a loooong while, and it probably doesn't even matter anymore, but I'm finally on a computer that will space the chapter out correctly, so I'm going to fix it for yall. So on to……..

Ch. 12

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Everyone in the room turned when the doors were flung open and froze, too shocked that someone had been able to enter the castle without them knowing it.

At first, Kenshin didn't see Kaoru anywhere. Ignoring the other men, he continued to scan the room, looking for his beloved. His eyes narrowed when he finally saw her, pinned to the wall by the man he presumed to be Shishio. Growling low, he stalked into the room, his eyes focused on the man he intended to kill.

Only when Shishio turned to see who the intruders were was Kaoru able to see around him for herself. Her eyes glowed in joy as she saw Kenshin standing there. She shouted out his name, causing his eyes to shift to hers. She saw fury in those eyes, and almost felt a morsel of pity for the men who had taken her. Kenshin certainly didn't look merciful.

Once his gaze shifted back to Shishio and the other men, Kaoru grew more ecstatic as she saw Misao, then Aoshi, and finally…..Sano?

She whispered his name and tears filled her eyes. 'Is it really him? Sano's… alive?' When she heard him shout her name she snapped out of her disbelief and began struggling furiously against Shishio to get to her brother.

Sano was at a loss for words. His sister was really alive and right before his eyes. Only when he heard her whisper his name did he snap out of his trance.

"Kaoru!" he yelled. He couldn't believe it. His mind finally comprehended his sister's situation, and his eyes narrowed in fury as he took in her state. Bruises were already started to form on her face and arms, and one side of her face was beginning to swell. Charging forward, he was pulled back by Aoshi.

"Don't do anything stupid roosterhead. It wouldn't do anyone any good for you to just charge right in there, if you haven't already noticed Kaoru's predicament."

Still mad as hell, Sano knew Aoshi was right. Looking to Kaoru, he silently pled for her to just hold on a little longer.

Meanwhile, Kenshin was still advancing on Shishio. "Let her go," he growled out, not bothering to mask his fury at all.

Shishio flipped Kaoru around, so she was now in front of him. One arm was around her waist, as another now held a blade to her neck.

"I really don't see how you are in any position to be making demands." He then motioned for his now armed men to surround the group.

Smirking, Shishio began to caress her stomach, then inched his way closer to her chest, all the while watching Kenshin's reaction. Kaoru struggled once more, until she felt the cool metal against her neck, willing her to still.

"Don't touch her!" Kenshin and Sano roared at almost the exact same time.

"Do I really have to repeat myself about making demands?" Shishio asked in a seemingly bored voice. "Now if you don't mind, I think I'll just watch the show." Stepping backwards, he pulled Kaoru with him until he was once again sitting on the throne, with Kaoru in his lap. Before the group could even rush forward three feet, he signaled to his men to start the fight.

Although the odds seemed greatly against them, it wasn't long before the small group had the upper hand. Shishio had no idea that he was up against some of the greatest fighters of the time. But he also had an ace up his sleeve. Once Kenshin broke free and rushed forward to get to Kaoru, a man slipped from the shadows.

"Soujiro!" Kenshin snarled out. "I knew you couldn't be trusted."

"Ah yes, I do believe you have already met. This is Soujiro Seta, also known as the Tenken."

Kenshin was getting sick of these obstacles. "Get out of my way."

"Sorry Mr. Kenshin, but I can't do that. I am really looking forward to this fight," he replied, that freaky smile still present.

"So be it." As they got into their stances, and rushed forward for the first clash, Kaoru gasped at the speed and strength of the two swordsmen. She knew of Kenshin's past, but she had never actually seen his skills and abilities. They were so fast that she could only make out a blur of red besides the clash of swords. Her heart clenched in fear, as her wide eyes took in the fight.

They seem so evenly matched. But Kenshin will win. He has to. But will Kenshin have to kill him? He can't! He can't become the Battousai again! I won't let him.

The others had taken care of all of Shishio's men, and were now watching the intense fight before them. Even Shishio seemed unaware of what was happening besides the fight.

It seemed to go on forever, until finally, Soujiro was slammed into the wall, his blade sliding across the marble floor. Kenshin walked up to him, until he towered over him. Closing his eyes, Soujiro was prepared to die. When it never came, however, he looked up and saw that Kenshin was already across the room and standing before Shishio.

He spared me? But I was weak, I thought I was suppose to die? Confused, he decided to see how this was going to play out.

"Release her Shishio. You've lost." Kenshin's low voice echoed throughout the silent room.

Finally realizing that all of his men had been defeated, Shishio began to panic. Standing, he held Kaoru in front of him once more.

"If you haven't noticed, I still have the girl." Suddenly, a kunai flew from behind Kenshin and embedded itself in Shishio's shoulder, causing him to drop the blade.

"Not anymore buddy," Misao was smiling at her accomplishment.

The instant the blade dropped, Kaoru spun around and kneed him once more in the groin, then ran down into Kenshin, and then Sano's arms.

"It's not over yet!" Shishio's eyes glazed in madness as he pulled out a sword from a stand behind the throne. Kenshin raised his sword in the challenge, until a hand rested on his arm.

Looking backwards, he saw Sano glaring at Shishio. Shifting Kaoru from his arms into Kenshins, all he said was, "This is my fight."

Understanding, Kenshin sheathed his sword and held Kaoru tightly to him. They all watched in silence as Shishio moved to the floor with Sano for the fight.

The first few clashes, Sano came out with a few cuts, as it was his fists versus a sword. But with each hit, he seemed to gather strength, until Shishio's sword finally flew across the room. But Sano didn't stop there. He was here to avenge his family.

"This is for my father. And my mother. For Kaoru. For Yahiko. And for me." The last punch sent Shishio flying across the room. Sano picked up Soujiro's sword and continued to advance towards Shishio.

Kaoru knew what he was going to do. She closed her eyes and hid her face in Kenshin's shoulder, while he stroked her hair and whispered to her until it was over.

"This is something he has to do. He won't be happy until he can avenge your parents."

He was surprised when Kaoru's muffled voice said, "I know, and I understand."

Kenshin let her know when it was over, and she turned to look at her brother. He looked at her uncertainly, like he didn't know how she would react to what he had just done. She smiled at him, then ran into his arms. He twirled her around, both of them laughing.

"It is finally over." Aoshi said as he pulled Misao to him.

"Yes," Kenshin smiled at the reunited siblings, "it finally is."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Kaoru, please tell me you didn't help cook this?" Sano pleaded with his sister as they sat down for dinner.

"No, but I can certainly help Tae with breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow if you'd like." She smiled sweetly at her brother.

Sano shuddered in horror, as Yahiko and Tsubame laughed.

Kenshin smiled at the scene. It was one of joy and happiness, something the group had been missing out on for several years. It seemed like it was years ago that they had rid the lands of Shishio and rebuilt the castle and towns to the splendor they had once held, yet it had only been four months.

Sano, as king, had really done some wonderful things to his kingdom, and the people had returned to their villages almost immediately after the Kamiya family had been reinstated as the rightful rulers. Sano was now working on his next task: wooing the family doctor, Megumi. In fact, he was working on that rather unsuccessfully right now, as she was sitting next to him and trying to ignore him completely throughout dinner.

Moving right along, he came upon Misao and Aoshi. Misao was energetically talking to Aoshi, who would listen and say a few words whenever she paused to breathe. They had gotten married soon after the kingdom was righted, and there were rumors that a baby was on the way.

Across from them, Yahiko and Tsubame had their heads bent towards each other, whispering and laughing as children do to one another. Kenshin could certainly see them courting in a few years and even marrying, once they were much older of course.

He then turned to his love, his Kaoru, beside him as always. She was smiling at him, her cerulean eyes shining with happiness. He noticed the jasmine flower necklace she was wearing. He had finally had the chance to give it to her.

He reached over and brushed a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear and gave her a smile of his own, then continued eating, wrapped up in his own thoughts. The last few months, no years, had been pure bliss for him, and tonight, it should get even better.

He had already asked Sano for permission earlier, and later, he would ask her to go for a walk. He would take her through the gardens to the lake in the woods, where the fireflies like to call to one another. It would be a perfect atmosphere to ask her to be his wife. To ask her to remain by his side forever.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

So there's the new Chapter 12, and I actually wrote out an epilogue due to a few requests for more, so I'm going to post that now as well.

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