Sanosuke, the spiky-haired soldier of fortune, learned about the Shadow Sword and decided to steal it from Hikawa Jinja. He decided to learn more about Kuri.

Meanwhile, Kenshin was relaxing when Kuri arrived. "This new relic is the Shadow Sword, capable of turning anyone it cuts into a demon. The one who stole it was the man who is a soldier of fortune, who has been following me all my life, Sanosuke Sagara."

"He has?" Kenshin asked upset.

"Yes it's true," Kuri said. "I assume he's just one of the many men who wants to kill me. But he never harms me."

"Strange." Kenshin said.

She headed out. She passed by Sanosuke who out of nowhere attacked her. She attempted to telekinetically knock him back like she had done before.

For a moment it worked and she turned to run, but she heard the whistle of his steel as it passed by her ear just as she dodged.

She squinted her eyes and the sword flew from his hands to the pavement.

"Parlor tricks, miko," Sanosuke said. "They will not work on me!"

He jumped forward quickly and knocked her hard to the ground, knocking her out before she could attempt the Shikon.

"Miko, you are important to the rurouni, which means you are the perfect prey for me," Sanosuke said and sliced her across the forehead.

After a moment, he looked at her face, and a look of recognition crossed his face.

"No…" Sanosuke whispered. "Sister…"

The miko's eyes fluttered open. "You…you're the one who has shadowed me all my life, Sanosuke Sagara. I thought perhaps….But…I suppose I was wrong…you are just another man waiting to kill me for my power…"

Her eyes closed and the eye on her forehead started to open.

"No…it was never that way!" Sanosuke touched her head. "Sister!"

"What have you done…?" Kuri whispered.

xxx

"Rurouni. I have your woman," came the voice of Sanosuke as Kenshin sensed him nearby. "Come and get her."

Kenshin relayed the message to Yahiko. "It was strange. He seemed almost like he was sorry. This changes nothing!"

"I agree, but he seems unhinged, ya know," Yahiko said. "Be careful. I'm gonna come with you."

As they arrived at the place they were welcomed by people with red circles in their forehead.

"Kuri was right," Yahiko said. "Sanosuke has the sword."

"She was correct," Sanosuke said.

He presented Kuri, out cold. "I want the sheathe in exchange for her."

Kenshin handed it over.

Sanosuke double-crossed Kenshin. "Fool! I still control her life!"

A red demonic eye suddenly formed over her forehead, and Yahiko took her to one side to keep her from becoming a demon.

Kenshin prepared himself to fight Sanosuke.

"The antidote for the eye was in the sword I am carrying," Sanosuke said. "I dare you to try and get it if you can."

Out of the blue, Kenshin flew high and smashed him in the jaw, and an unexpecting Sanosuke fell down. Now enraged, Sanosuke used his hyperspeed to daze Kenshin, but he followed the demon's movements and landed another right hand on his jaw as he tried to attack. Sanosuke beat up Kenshin, and then as he was about to land the finishing blow with his sword, Kenshin suddenly stepped into the way and absorbed the attack. He also made an effort of blinding Sanosuke with his blood, giving himself enough time to recover a little bit. Now stronger than before, he matched up with Sanosuke, landing every attack as he was getting hit by his opponent at the same time. When Kenshin realized he wouldn't win this way, he ran away from Sanosuke. As Sanosuke followed Kenshin turned back and threw his sword, plunging it through Sanosuke's chest. Kenshin won the battle and returned to Kuri and Yahiko only to find that she didn't need the antidote.

"Sanosuke gave it to her before the battle began," Yahiko said. "He was never gonna hurt her."

"So there was more to that man," Kenshin said, picking up the Shadow Sword and Kuri and heading home.

Xxx

As Kenshin relaxed in the backyard, he looked up in the trees. "Sanosuke."

"I still cannot believe it was her." Sanosuke said.

"You accused me of being a masochist; why won't you tell her you are her brother?" Kenshin said.

"She would never want to be related to a criminal like me." Sanosuke said.

"You are making it so that she will never have a chance."