Warnings: Unbeta-ed. Violence and blood.

The morning frost glittered in the bright dawn, refracting prisms of color when seen just at the right angle. The air tingled with a frigid coolness, another signal that autumn was fast fading and the winter season approached with no intention of slowing down. Silence filled the private section of the clinic where Megumi lived. Then, a few minutes later, Kenshin heard a faint noise of footsteps treading around in the house, the shouji opening to dispel the stale air inside, and quiet humming as the young doctor prepared for her patients. The clinic would open shortly afterwards, and the waiting room would fill rapidly with patients old and young, hopeful that she could help them.

Megumi's normal routine eased some of the tension from his shoulders. Whatever else happened in the next few days, Kenshin knew her dedication to her patients would overrule all, including her own safety. So he sat nearby to offer silent protection, listening to Megumi get herself ready, put on her healer's smock, and set out commonly used supplies within easy reach.

With the ordinary activities happening within the home, his thoughts kept returning to what happened last night. He had finally uncovered most of Kaoru's secrets. It was startling, yet somehow satisfying to find someone who finally understood him and his reasons why he would no longer kill. Of course Sano and Megumi were sympathetic, but they didn't truly comprehend how it felt to take a life with their own two hands. And Kenshin fervently hoped they never would.

But Kurogasa's appearance was both unexpected and troubling. A fight between two hitokiri, like this was some kind of kabuki show, seemed inevitable. And it was complicated by several factors, one of which was Kamiya Kaoru who would insist on fighting him herself. She saw it as her duty as Inspector and, as admirable as that sentiment was, it would get her killed. Not necessarily because she wasn't skilled enough, but because of her vow and her sword - or lack thereof.

At least he had his sakabatou, which was more than he could say about Kaoru's weapon.

So not only did he have to figure out a way to defeat Kurogasa without breaking his own oath, but he had to consider her pride as a swordsman and an officer of the law. Kenshin's chin sank deeper into his chest, remembering the malicious air surrounding Kurogasa and how much it affected him being in his presence even for a little while. Very few people were left in this world with that kind of strength derived from the blood of countless victims, rendering them nearly invincible. Perhaps ten years ago he could have won against the black hat stranger. But these days, in the time of peace when the edge of his skills had worn off, he wasn't so sure. Another worry was the current state of his body with the potential of a prolonged fight. And if Kenshin wasn't careful, the other hitokiri's presence could bring out the killer in himself.

With all things considered, perhaps that was his greatest fear: the soul of one killer calling out to his, to battle for domination and warrior's pride. Kenshin wasn't so full of himself to think his bloodthirsty side would forever remain buried when challenged so openly by a skilled fighter. After all, that part helped shape him into who he was today.

He sighed. What would Kaoru think of him when he revealed his past completely? Would she be disgusted? Or would she continue to understand him based on her own experiences and revelations? Just because he had been fortunate to meet and make two good friends who accepted him as he was didn't mean others would do the same. After all, she had killed one person and realized immediately what took him years to learn. How would she react when she knew he had killed dozens, even hundreds, as the hitokiri Battousai?

Well, he would just have to risk his pride to find out. Kaoru was like a kindred spirit, one he had never met before in all his years of traveling, and he would be the fool his Shishou called him if he didn't even try to explain himself.

Hearing the side gate open, Kenshin felt the familiar presence of his friend venture into the courtyard. He remained still, sitting with his back against the wall and sword leaning against his right shoulder, knowing he would be found soon enough.

As expected, Sano spotted him almost immediately. "Yo, Kenshin." The fighter sauntered up and stared down at him. "You never came to my place last night. Did you sleep here?"

"No, something came up so I left the city and returned only a little while ago."

Sano braced one arm against the column of the engawa and continued to study him with an intensity Kenshin found unusual. "Yeah? What happened?"

Kenshin debated on how much to tell him. He didn't usually keep things from Sano, but in this case, it would be better for him to stay close to Megumi and Kaoru rather than run off to challenge Kurogasa himself. Sano would do just that to protect his friends, never mind the consequences to himself. "Inspector Kamiya received another challenge, but I managed to divert his attention to me." He tilted his head up. "Why are you up so early?"

"Another challenge, eh?" Sano waited but when Kenshin didn't respond, he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket and waved it around. "I was happily asleep when a messenger woke me up with an urgent request from our esteemed Inspector. But she's explained things about as well as you have, which is not at all. Between you and Jou-chan not communicating, it's a huge pain trying to figure out what's happening. Because something is going on, and don't think you can hide anything from me. Care to let me know what occurred last night?"

Kenshin smiled ruefully and got up from his seat, dusting off his hakama absently. So much for keeping his friend out of this. "I didn't mean to keep things from you, Sano. I was just hoping to spare you the unnecessary details."

"Yeah, well, that's not up to you, is it? Especially if, as my friends, you're involved and Jou-chan's asking for help. So spill it."

"You're right, you deserve to know," Kenshin admitted. He recounted last night's meeting of Kurogasa, the challenge issued, the impression of madness, and something else he couldn't quite put a finger on which bothered him immensely.

At the end of the quiet recital, Sano grunted and folded his arms across his chest, staring out into the yard for a long moment. "You don't think it's a coincidence that someone that crazy and strong just happened to wander by and decided to target a Police Inspector?"

"What would he have to gain by challenging the police?" Kenshin countered. "I know men like Kurogasa. He might be looking for a fight, but he's not interested in politics or the law. And yet, he was specifically targeting Kaoru-dono."

Sano slanted him a sideways glance. "Kaoru, eh? Anything else happen, like between you two?"

Kenshin shot him a 'not now' look before continuing on. "I left the city yesterday to ask an old friend to look into Kurogasa for me. He promised to let me know as soon as he found something."

"Well, you two certainly think alike. Jou-chan asked me to question my 'deadbeat friends' about this killer, except she called him a newcomer. What I find most upsetting, though, is that my long-time friend doesn't think to ask me first, while a girl whom I've barely known for six months turns to me immediately."

Sighing at the palpable indignation from the fighter, Kenshin replied carefully, "It's unfortunate Kaoru-dono is still so young. If she had some more experience, I'm sure she wouldn't involve you or Megumi-dono in this matter."

Sano opened his mouth, then shut it abruptly. The intense outrage faded bit by bit as he studied Kenshin's face for several long heartbeats, puzzling over his words. Finally, realization dawned on him and he straightened up to exclaim, "You don't think you can win the fight!"

As always, Sano's perceptive nature surfaced at the right time. The fighter was such a unique soul, a curious mix of raucous behavior tempered by moments of profound insight that jarred anyone who didn't know him well, when he chose to show it. And more than that, his sense of loyalty was unmatched by anyone he'd ever met. Kenshin had learned early on that once Sagara Sanosuke considered you a friend, he would support said friend to hell and back as many times as necessary.

And he could do no less than to honor his friendship in return with the truth. Kenshin replied with a lopsided smile. "No, I can't. Not with my vow to never take a life again. That is why Kurogasa wants to fight Battousai. He knows he could defeat me as I am right now."

"Whoa, whoa, Kenshin! Are you sure he's that strong? I mean, I've seen you take down a lot of guys all at once as a rurouni." Sano shook his head in half-disbelief and half-denial.

"I'm sure. And while Kaoru-dono senses his immense skills as well, she'll insist on taking him on herself, in her duty as Inspector." Kenshin turned to look at Sano, knowing his eyes reflected urgency. "Protect her and Megumi-dono. Stay with them as close as you can. We don't know what Kurogasa is up to, and I wouldn't put it past him to cause some chaos in the meantime."

Conflicting emotions crossed Sano's face, torn between protecting his friends and helping Kenshin, especially in light of his admission. "How am I supposed to do that when one runs around the entire city, and the other one stays here?" he asked plaintively.

"Kaoru-dono should be fine for the most part," Kenshin said. "But if the police whistle blows to signal trouble…"

"It could be Kurogasa," Sano finished with a grim look. "What are you going to do? If you can't beat him, he'll kill you."

Kenshin let a small smile appear on his lips. "I still need to try. I'll wait to hear from my informant and think about what to do from there." The smile faded away. "And Sano, you are one of the best men I have the privilege of knowing, and an extremely strong fighter. I wouldn't entrust the safety of Megumi-dono and Kaoru-dono to anyone else except you."

Sano stared at him for a long moment. Then he loped a hand behind his head with a disgruntled huff. "Don't think just because you made a pretty speech right now I'm not mad at you anymore for not telling the whole story. You owe me, Kenshin, and you'd better survive so I can collect. Got it?"

The rurouni hid a chuckle at the other man's embarrassment. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Sano." Hearing Megumi unbar the front gate to allow the patients to enter the clinic, Kenshin added, "I'm going to see if my informant has found anything. Could I ask you for one more favor?"

"What is it?"

"Could you ask Megumi-dono to make a restorative potion for me? She'll know which one I'm talking about."

Shrugging, Sano answered, "Sure."

"Thank you." Kenshin flashed him one last smile over his shoulder before leaving through the side gate Sano had entered.

But he didn't leave the city right away. He felt eyes on him the second he stepped out of the clinic and deliberately turned to stroll towards the outskirts of the residential area and main roads. The direction led him away from the open gates where people flowed through and towards a shaded copse of trees lovers sometimes used for privacy. No one was there now, so Kenshin waited a heartbeat before calling out, "Games like these are tedious, don't you think, Kurogasa?"

A cackling sound erupted from somewhere to his left but Kenshin didn't move until he felt the air stir with the arrival of the other man. "As expected of the man once called Himura Battousai."

Turning to face him, Kenshin narrowed his eyes. Kurogasa had seen him leave the clinic and might have overheard the conversation. He was glad Sano agreed to stay close to Megumi. "If you know who I am, you know you're playing a dangerous game."

"Uhu-hu-hu, games are for children, Battousai. Oh, I'm not playing at all." Kurogasa waggled his finger in reprimanding gesture. "The question is, are you? Let's find out, shall we?"

A blur of black and white and glinting silver rushed him and Kenshin drew his sword to block the first blow, staring into the unusual pinpoint pupils of his opponent. Kurogasa stretched his mouth into a pleased smile before they sprang apart.

"Fast enough," he mused. "But are you skilled enough to defeat me and save your little woman?"

The implied threat to Kaoru made Kenshin's hand tighten in anger on his sword and the corresponding laughter told him Kurogasa had seen his reaction. Without answering, Kenshin let out a battle cry as he charged the other man. Their swords clashed again and again, but each time, Kurogasa's attack seemed to gain more strength and more speed. Kenshin searched for an opening as he blocked and parried and slashed, but he didn't see any weakness to exploit. Faltering for a split second under the onslaught, he grimaced as his opponent's blade found an opportunity to slice through his gi and leave behind a three inch long scratch on his left arm.

They broke apart and Kenshin felt blood dripping from the wound. It wasn't deep, but it proved Kurogasa's point and Kenshin's fear.

"I'm so disappointed," the taller man said, examining the crimson liquid on his blade. "You really have become soft. Where is the famed speed and accuracy and killing intent? You've forgotten what it feels like to take a life."

"In this age of peace, what use is there for manslayers? There's no need to fight which leads to death," Kenshin replied coolly.

Kurogasa let out a bark of laughter. "How the mighty have fallen, Battousai. You, who bathed in the blood of so many slain warriors, now say we shouldn't fight to the death? Such foolishness. I thought you above all people would understand that life is not worth anything unless people see the terrible beauty of death. We hitokiri exist to show people they must appreciate life while they can."

"Death is present enough without your sword to hurry it along," Kenshin retorted. "And don't try to hide your true purpose behind noble sounding words. You simply enjoy killing."

The laughter, low and ugly, filled the area with oppressive malevolence and reached out to envelop him in its darkness. "Once a hitokiri, always a hitokiri."

Trying to ignore just how deep those words resonated within his soul, Kenshin asked instead, "Why are you after Inspector Kamiya? It seems unusual that you would challenge her when you have no interest in politics whatsoever."

"Uhu-hu-hu! Fishing for answers, Battousai?" Kurogasa's teeth gleamed as he flashed Kenshin a predatory smile. "Fight me as you once were. Become the famed hitokiri again. If you win, I'll tell you everything you want to know. The information will be worth the effort, I promise you that. Not to mention it will be fun, fun fun!" He turned and vanished, leaving behind the hollow sound of his gleeful cackles.

Kenshin grimaced as he sheathed his sword. This encounter had not gone as he hoped, and he was no closer to answers he needed. Kurogasa was teasing him now, but what would happen once he decided to get serious? Standing there for a moment, he considered multiple angles, but there seemed little he could do for now. Kenshin eventually turned and strode back to the clinic, resigned on getting chided by Megumi and Sano for getting hurt.

Ten minutes later, he headed outside the city gates and towards the road heading west. The scolding by the doctor was just as blistering as he had feared, and Sano alternated between glaring at him, annoyed at missing a fight, and showing concern that Kenshin didn't even scratch Kurogasa. It was a sober reminder of their difference in skill, and what it would mean in a real match.

But that wasn't Kenshin's only concern. It kept bothering him that someone of Kurogasa's skill would suddenly arrive in the city and challenge Kaoru to a fight. There would be little reason for a hitokiri who didn't care to follow the law in challenging a city Inspector, so it had to be significant for the man to come all this way. Thus far, according to Sano, Kaoru had defeated everyone who tried to attack her. But most of these people were local thugs wanting to keep the chaos alive within the city. Kurogasa was the first outsider.

He didn't have enough information and he hoped his informant would provide the missing pieces. After nearly three hours of following the main road that would eventually lead to Kyoto, Kenshin glanced at the older man who had fallen in step next to him. He knew immediately this was no ordinary person. Most wouldn't walk alongside him; even after ten years, people somehow knew to avoid getting too close. "You found something?"

The man beamed and gestured with his head to the side of the road. Kenshin followed behind him until they ventured into a wooded area, beyond eyesight of the well-traveled lanes, and far from earshot of anyone passing through.

The old man turned around to face him, and then slid off the disguise, replacing it with a porcelain mask in a smooth, practiced gesture. He offered a little bow. "Greetings, Himura-san. Okina sends his regards."

Kenshin smiled warmly at the other man. "It's good to see you, Hannya. I didn't expect you to come so far personally. A message at our agreed upon location would have sufficed."

"Okina thought it would be more prudent if I came to share what we've learned personally. I understand this situation is time-sensitive." Hannya extracted a folded paper from within his shinobi shozoku and handed it to the rurouni. "Here is what we found, but allow me to highlight the most important information."

Listening intently to Hannya's cultured voice outline the findings, disbelief and outrage welled up as Kenshin finally connected the reason behind Kurogasa's presence and how it would affect Kaoru. Armed with this knowledge, he now had even more reason to defeat the other hitokiri, and bring an end to all these challenges to Kaoru's authority. She would be safe, or as safe as her profession allowed.

"I also have further details on Inspector Kamiya," Hannya added, once he finished the debrief. Pulling out a smaller square paper, he pressed it into Kenshin's hand. "She seems like a very interesting young lady."

Kenshin glanced at the spy as his hand wrapped over the note. That casual comment either held a wealth of meaning or it was merely a simple observation from Hannya. It was hard to tell. He would wait for some privacy before reading both papers. "Thank you, Hannya. The Oniwabanshu, once again, has my deep appreciation for your speed and discretion."

Hannya bowed again. "Please be safe. Okashira will be sorely disappointed if you are defeated by Kurogasa, and peace is disrupted in the prefecture." He faded from view as he spoke until the last word echoed throughout the trees in an ominous warning.

Kenshin turned and headed back towards the road, precious information in hand. The fact that Okina had sent a senior member of the Oniwaban to meet him with the information they had uncovered created a foreboding sense of urgency to return back to the city. He would protect Kaoru and find a way to defeat Kurogasa without breaking his vow. The situation was going to take some strategy to keep everyone safe and remove all current and future threats to the Inspector but he would do it.

Kenshin arrived back at the clinic just after the noon hour, but neither Sano or Megumi were there. Frowning, he saw the front gate was disbarred and the door slightly ajar.

It wasn't unusual for Megumi to go off and see patients at their homes or the site of accidents, so Kenshin wouldn't have thought anymore about their absence. But she would never be in such a rush that she wouldn't close the door at the very least. He took a closer look around the home. The yard seemed undisturbed, but when Kenshin slid the shouji back to Megumi's office, nothing appeared intact. Papers containing patient information and recipes to well-used medicines littered the floor. Splintered wood that used to be a desk and a shelf were scattered across the room, ripping the far end of the rice paper wall and into the hallway. Ink splattered over all surfaces, still shiny and wet, so the mess was recent. An ornamental pot Kenshin knew Megumi cherished lay broken, a large chip from the delicate pottery shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces, as if someone had stepped on it.

If there had been a fight, it was a short one.

Kenshin swept his gaze around, taking everything in with narrowed eyes. He struggled to contain his anger, berating himself for his naivete in hoping that Kurogasa wouldn't play dirty and adhere to his rules. His only comfort was that there was no blood, and the mess seemed contained within this room.

Turning around to leave, he noticed a paper stuck at the column of the engawa with a knife. Kenshin read it and instantly dashed for the gate. There was no time to lose.

"Udo Jinei!" Kenshin shouted, not bothering to hide his fury. Even with his preternatural speed, it had taken a good ten minutes to get to the abandoned shrine east of the city. Kenshin panted lightly as he stalked through the gate and towards the tiny, wooden, door-less hut that once held tribute to the minor kami Moriya. His eyes settled on Kurogasa standing in front of his two hostages, katana out and resting on his shoulder. Sano, sprawled face-down on the ground, didn't move. Megumi, kneeling beside the fighter, didn't say anything, but her shoulders lost some of its tenseness when she saw Kenshin.

"Oh, I see you took some time into finding more about me," Kurogasa said with a mocking smile, turning to face him. "No wonder it took you so long to get here."

"Megumi-dono, are you hurt?" Kenshin demanded, ignoring the jibe.

"We're both fine, Ken-san," the doctor replied. Her voice quavered, but then she made an effort to employ her usual calm demeanor. "Sanosuke is unconscious but he's not hurt too badly. You know how hard-headed he is."

He nodded, grateful for the reassurance, and turned back to the other hitokiri. "Let them go, Jinei," Kenshin ordered. "They aren't involved in our fight."

"On the contrary, the fact that you rushed over here so quickly means they're important to you," he drawled. "Consider them motivation to be your best self." Kurogasa pointed his sword at him. "Don't let me down."

"This is breaking our agreement that others wouldn't be included in our fight," Kenshin snarled. Worry gave way to anger, making his hands twitch with the desire to teach Jinei a lesson on keeping his word.

The taller man shrugged, unconcerned. "The male is still alive. He was foolish enough to think he could attack me with just his bare fists. And the woman wouldn't leave him alone. So, they're safe for now. But how long they stay that way depends entirely on you."

At the challenge, Kenshin unsheathed his sword. He took a moment to analyze his current physical status. It wasn't optimal, considering he had stayed up most of the night and only managed to get a few hours' rest. Traveling for miles back and forth didn't help either. But a familiar surge of energy coursed through every inch of his body, priming it for a fight. It would be enough. It would have to be.

"Hmm, that look in your eyes is a good start," Kurogasa said in approval. "You're angry I took your friends." He shifted to bring his blade to the ready. "Show me your skills, Battousai."

There was nothing else left to say. Kenshin darted forward and their swords clashed, vibrating through the air. They pressed against each other before breaking apart for another attack. Silver flashed and caught the afternoon sunlight before it blurred and reappeared.

Kenshin let fury fuel his attacks, keeping a tight leash on the energy he poured out through each thrust. If this fight lasted a long time, it would be wise to conserve some strength. He ducked under a horizontal slash aimed for his neck and brought his weapon up for a diagonal cut to Jinei's torso. Kurogasa smirked as he twisted his body away and used the momentary opening to turn his wrist and swing his katana back towards Kenshin's leg. Kenshin jumped to avoid the second attack, yelling as his sword streaked towards his opponent's neck. Jinei jerked his head to the opposite side, avoiding the thrust while simultaneously blocking and knocking the sakabatou away from him.

Kenshin allowed the momentum to carry him back a few feet, skidding to a halt with his left hand on the ground to extra balance. He locked gazes with the other hitokiri. With their initial clash, he knew Kurogasa was no longer playing, but deadly serious. There weren't any easy answers as to how he was going to handle this, but he didn't have the time or luxury to figure it out. He would just have to trust in himself and his blade.

For his part, Kurogasa stretched his neck from side to side until tendons popped. "I see you're still using that ridiculous sword. Are you not serious about saving your friends? Or do you truly think you can beat me as you are right now?"

"We've only just begun," he replied coolly. And without waiting for a response, Kenshin pushed on his feet and hurled towards his waiting opponent. Their swords crossed and they pressed forward so close he saw Kurogasa's eyes gleamed with excitement and pleasure. Springing back, Kenshin rushed forward again, parrying a thrust and launching an attack of his own. In a blur of metal, they traded blows without one or the other gaining any ground.

Sweat broke out on Kenshin's forehead and back, soaking the back of his gi as he searched for any openings to exploit. Kurogasa remained cheerful and unperturbed, taking everything thrown at him and returning it in the exact same measure. Kenshin frowned as he blocked another thrust towards his stomach, turning the point of his katana down. Letting go of the hilt, his left hand caught the tsuka and he twisted the other man's sword up and away to render it harmless for a split second, leaving Kurogasa wide open. With his freed hand, he grasped the Jinei's right wrist and twisted it in an effort to make him drop his blade.

Kurogasa growled and slammed his left elbow into Kenshin's cheek, causing the smaller man to stumble back as a burst of pain crossed his eyes and blinded him. Their swords slid free, neither man willing to lose their grip on their weapon and Kenshin spun away to allow himself a moment to gather his wits.

But his vision still remained spotty and only instinct saved him from being cleaved in two from a downward thrust as Kurogasa leapt up and brought his sword straight down on his head. Joining his hands together on the hilt, Kenshin blindly lifted his katana up to block the thrust, only to get a boot to his midsection which knocked him away until he slammed into the ground. Rolling back while trying to gather his bearings, he surged to a low crouch, bangs matted against his forehead from sweat and nearly obscuring his vision. He should have asked Megumi for a haircut earlier.

"Ken-san, are you okay?" he heard the doctor call.

He only gave a terse nod, still focused on Kurogasa who advanced on him with the sword transferred to his left hand. He shook his right wrist out. "Not bad," he admitted. "But it's still not a tenth of your true power. If things don't change soon, this will get tedious very quickly, Battousai, not to mention deadly."

Kenshin breathed in deeply and slowly climbed to his feet as he took a brief inventory of his body. His right cheek ached; eating was going to be interesting for the next day or two until the swelling subsided. Sweat and blood from when he scraped the ground tickled his back while his abdomen felt tender under shifting muscles. With the way this fight was progressing, maybe he wouldn't have to worry about eating.

"What, done already?" Kurogasa rested his sword on his shoulder and gave him a critical once-over. "Pathetic. Maybe I should carve up one of your friends and see if that'll give you some of your energy back."

"Don't you dare touch them," Kenshin snarled. He straightened upright and tasted something metallic on his tongue. Using his thumb, he wiped away a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth where the elbow had split his lip. Narrowing his eyes, Kenshin set both hands on the sakabatou and lifted it up. "Come!"

"Uhuhuhu, now we're getting somewhere," Kurogasa replied with an approving grin. "Here I go!"

Kenshin roared as he surged forward, using the two handed grip to double the power of his attacks. They met again between their crossed weapons and Kenshin glowered at the dark pinpoint pupils laughing at him before they continued trading blows, swords clashing and sliding against each other in an effort to overpower the other. Concern for Megumi and Sano surged through him, lending him more strength and speed. His body hummed and fell into a familiar rhythm, his muscles contracting as it remembered every kata drilled into him, all the practice and sweat and blood. His mind whirred and eyes hardly blinked, watching every move Jinei made, predicting the responses to his attacks while blocking or dodging. He would take a few calculated slices of damage from Kurogasa's sword if it meant getting an opening to end this fight.

He saw such an opportunity when the taller man hesitated a split second in between attacks. Kenshin had trapped Jinei's sword close to hitokiri's chest and pushed hard to catch him off balance. At the same time, Kenshin slid his own sword free and aimed for the closest vulnerable spot, the left shoulder. The sakabatou found its mark and dug home before Kurogasa could jerk away. The blade was buried a few inches into skin before Kurogasa growled and swiped his sword at Kenshin.

Kenshin jumped back, pulling his weapon out as he landed on his feet. A spurt of blood followed the exit of the blade and Kurogasa put a hand over the wound.

"Better, better," he commented. "But you didn't get away unscathed either, Battousai."

Looking down, Kenshin saw a horizontal, line through his gi. Beneath the tattered cloth, a thin cut of broken skin appeared just below the ribcage. It was fairly shallow but long, going from one side to the other. The wound was so precisely cut he didn't notice it at first, but then crimson liquid blossomed and began steadily dripping from it, accompanied by stinging pain. "I'd say you got the worst end of the deal," he replied curtly.

"Oh, you think so?" Jinei said with a sly grin. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see." He shifted his position until his sword was in front of him again.

"Kenshin!"

Kenshin spared a glance towards his friends and saw Sano slowly climbing to his feet with Megumi's help. The doctor protested at him moving but the fighter ignored it, his eyes narrowed at the two fighters. "Leave some of him for me. I owe him a punch or two for ambushing us like that." Sano clenched his fists together.

Relief hit Kenshin hard that Sano was fine, even if he had to lean on Megumi for support. Nodding in understanding, he turned back to his opponent. "Let's end this foolishness, Jinei."

"Not like this," he denied. "You're still clinging onto your ridiculous rurouni persona and it's boring me. I'll make the Battousai come out by killing your friends!" Kurogasa turned and ran straight for Sano and Megumi.

"Jinei!" Kenshin snarled, anger surging high, and sped towards him in hopes of blocking his way. From the periphery of his vision, he saw Sano shoving Megumi behind him and readying his fists for the attack, but Kenshin knew the fighter didn't stand a chance against a sword wielded by a hitokiri.

But he also knew he wouldn't make it in time either and his eyes flared in dismay as he saw Jinei closing the distance to his target in mere seconds. "No!" Kenshin screamed, his heart beating so frantically it was all he heard pounding in his ears. He stretched his hand out in a pathetic attempt to stop the attack from occurring.

Then Megumi stepped to the side and threw something at Kurogasa's eyes. Dirt, perhaps? As Kurogasa slowed, blinded from the particles obscuring his vision, Sano surged forward and shot a punch towards his jaw. Whatever the doctor had thrown caused Jinei to pause but he still managed to sense and dodge the fist, slashing at the fighter. Sano grinned ferociously as his swinging blow that just missed Kurogasa's face continued moving until it hooked Kurogasa's sword arm, stopping the attack before it cut him.

"Oi, don't underestimate us," Sano told the hitokiri. "You got in a lucky hit or two before, but it won't go that way again."

Kenshin was just two steps away when he heard Kurogasa sneer as he flipped the sword so the hilt was now facing up and the blade down. Instead of fighting the arm pressing against him, he drove the katana towards Sano's leg, driving it deep through his thigh. The fighter's brown eyes widened as he felt the wound.

"No!" Megumi exclaimed as she saw the end of the weapon protruding from the other side of Sano's left leg. As Kurogasa yanked the weapon free, Sano grunted in pain and swayed for a split second before falling backwards. Megumi tried to break his fall by catching him and staggered under the dead weight before they both landed heavily on the ground, the doctor half under Sano's body.

"Jinei!" Kenshin growled, leaping up and aiming for his opponent's shoulder. But the other hitokiri lifted his blade up to block the downward slash. A spray of crimson arced from the bloodied katana and it hit Kenshin in the face, causing him to blink. Casually, the taller man used the crossed weapons to throw Kenshin back against a barren tree ten feet away.

The impact knocked the breath from him and branches shook in annoyance from the collision. A few remaining leaves cascaded down around him. Kenshin took a precious moment to gather his wits before realizing Kurogasa loomed over him with his sword pointed down. Kenshin threw himself to the right to escape the sharp edge driving into his stomach but he wasn't fast enough; he felt the blade bite into his left side and slide straight through, leaving behind a gaping wound.

Rolling away, Kenshin crouched to his feet, left hand pressing against the large, pulsating injury. He didn't look down but he knew that, somehow, Kurogasa had cut right where his earlier laceration had ended at his side. At this rate, the hitokiri was going to literally perforate him in half with the gash going all around his body.

His body still thrummed with adrenaline, but in the wake of frequently using his preternatural speed and the constant damage, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. Kenshin blinked several times to clear the sweat falling from his bangs and into his eyes, panting heavily from exertion and trying to regain his breath from hitting the tree. This wasn't going well; if he didn't stop Jinei soon, neither he nor his friends would survive.

Kurogasa flicked his blade free from the excess blood before examining his sword. "Clever of your friends, Battousai, but not clever enough. You'd better hurry and defeat me or that man is going to bleed out, no matter how good a doctor the woman is."

"That's the plan," Kenshin said tersely. He straightened up, feeling the side wound stretch with his movement and more lifeblood streamed out, dripping to the ground in a fast cadence. The adrenaline dulled some of the pain, but he felt his body starting to responding sluggishly as pain unfurled all over his torso. Ignoring the all-too familiar sensation, he pulled out his saya and sheathed his katana, shifting his right foot forward until his body was slightly turned as a result of his new position. Holding the sword with his left hand and thumb ready to disengage the tsuka, Kenshin lowered to a crouch, bent his upper body forward, lowered his head, and held his right arm up and ready.

"Battoujutsu, eh? I was hoping you'd show me why you're called the Battousai," Kurogasa remarked casually. "But are you sure you want to use this attack? If you fail, you leave yourself wide open and then all three of you will die."

Kenshin didn't respond, holding his body still and breathing deeply, concentrating on his opponent. He didn't look up to see what Kurogasa was doing, but his senses all stretched out to tell him the information he needed. Every bit of energy he had left would go into this one move, so the fight would be finished. Kaoru was going to be upset with him, but Kenshin didn't care. He would batter his body to save her the pain from going against Udo Jinei. He would protect her and his friends from this madman. No other outcome would be acceptable.

His instincts stirred; a split second later, Kurogasa bore down on him with a battle cry. Kenshin snapped his head up, eyes opened and, with a roar of his own, yanked the saya back while unsheathing his sword. The sakabatou cleared the sheath and cut through the air, aiming for the other man's torso.

Jinei managed to evade the brunt of the attack as the blunted edge scraped across his chest, leaving nothing but a deep red welt. But Kenshin expected only a minimal amount of damage with that first swing. Without pausing, he reversed the direction of the saya to follow up his initial assault by aiming for his opponent's right elbow. By his estimation, with the way Jinei's arm was positioned, a solid strike to arm joint would shatter muscles and bones and render him unable to hold a sword again.

But Kenshin's eyes widened when, instead, he felt the solid impact of the scabbard against something hard that was most definitely not the elbow. Kurogasa had apparently guessed his move and used his own weapon to block the second strike before it could hit its target. They froze. For a moment, the only sound was Kenshin's harsh breathing as he met Jinei's gaze.

Then the hitokiri started to cackle. "Double battoujutsu, very devious. It would have worked too, had I not seen it coming. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to finish this fight quickly, Battousai. And why is that? Could it be that you're no longer able to physically handle a long battles? Has your body weakened that much in ten years?"

Kenshin almost heard Megumi drawing in a sharp breath and he imagined the shock on her face as pieces started to fall into place for her. But he didn't dare look at her, and relief suffused him as Sano groaned and diverted the doctor's attention. "I will fight you as long as I need to, Jinei," he told the other man evenly. Adrenaline still flowed through his body, but his knee joints started to ache, and his sword started feeling just a bit heavier. His speed must have slowed down enough to the point that Kurogasa had seen the attack to block it.

"Oh?" Kurogasa tilted his head slightly as if listening to something. "It seems as though the good Inspector is on her way here. Are you going to be able to finish this battle before she gets here? After all, you don't want her to get hurt, do you?"

Kaoru's familiar chi was indeed drawing closer. Kenshin briefly wondered how she knew where they were before realizing he had left the note on the column back at Megumi's clinic. He silently cursed at his lack of foresight and broke away from the other man, half expecting an attack. Surprisingly, Jinei let him go.

Or perhaps not a shock after all, Kenshin silently amended as one knee buckled and dropped to the ground. He would have collapsed completely, but he managed to dig the sakabatou point first into the dirt and leaned against it for support. Kurogasa didn't seem too interested in battling him anymore; his focus had shifted to the woman racing towards them.

He wanted to fight, to end this before Kaoru arrived. But his body wouldn't cooperate, no matter how many times he tried to climb back to his feet. Kenshin exhaled slowly and reached into the pocket of his gi to touch the pouch of the restorative potion Megumi had made for him nearly six months ago. Her forceful warning had kept him from taking it thus far, but if there was a time to use it, it was now.

Hunching his shoulders so Megumi couldn't see what he was doing, Kenshin opened the bag and pulled out a tiny vial. The liquid was deceptively clear and inviting him to partake so he could regain his strength, never mind the potential consequences. He uncorked it and drank down the mixture of bitter herbs.

Kaoru was close and moving even more swiftly as she approached the shrine. But the potion would take some time to take effect. He didn't like the idea, but perhaps she could buy him some time to recover his stamina and strength. But how much damage could Kaoru do with her weapon? How would she fare against a hitokiri?

He would find out soon enough because, just then, Kaoru stormed through the gate, her blazing eyes raking in every detail with one glance. "Kurogasa!"

AN: Wish I could have made the fight scenes more explanatory and realistic but oh well. Inspiration (and a few moves) taken from the live action Rurouni Kenshin movies.

Next Chapter: The fight continues...