A/N: I'm alittle down-trodden, I work hard and don't get much for it. Aw, well, I guess you can't have everything that you want right? Well, I think that you will like this one as well.

Fighting

Kenshin was wide-eyed at Enishi. His cruel sick joke was getting really bad. The troops of guards were advancing, and though they weren't unarmed and helpless, four against hundreds or so was not a good bet. And if Kenshin knew Enishi like he knew Enishi, he would fight dirty as he possibly could against everyone.

Kenshin backed up with his arm protectively in front of Kaoru, like she was utterly defenseless. But, Kaoru was comforted and slightly safer knowing that not only was Kenshin on her side, but Aoshi and Misao were too. She seemed to forgot that these average people were not as average as they seemed.

" Aoshi, Misao!" Kenshin called out. Misao looked back while Aoshi waited. " I do not wish to command you, but I think it would be wise that each of you take one army and I'll do anything I can in both." Misao nodded and pulled kunai from her cloak it seemed. Aoshi drew his kodachi. At least they understood that they needed to protect Kaoru and get this obsticle out of the way.

Kenshin had his hand on his sword still in front of Kaoru. She backed herself into the hallway, telling well that that was what Kenshin was trying to do so that she could get away. But, Enishi, with glinting eyes, stood and snapped his fingers. A loud clanging forced Kenshin to turn around and see bars lock Kaoru off on each side of the hall. She was trapped.

Kenshin placed his hands on the bars seeing Kaoru sitting on the ground in awe. She looked past Kenshin opening her mouth and lifting her hand to point to the advancing royal. " Ken..."

But it was too late. Enishi had already launched himself to Kenshin with an unsheathed sword. The red-headed warrior moved to the side as Enishi hit the bars which were well enforced. He turned to Kenshin and swung again, their swords clanging. Kaoru was standing far away from the bars watching everything like she was watching a film. Aoshi and Misao were taking out many of the guards and throwing them to the side of the thrown room in bloody heaps. Aoshi was working twice as hard. They always tried to encircle him. They were of course sadly disappointed.

Kaoru was on the end of the room that protected her from the violence in front of her. She desperately searched for Kenshin that had disappeared with Enishi. The sword clanging was growing weaker and weaker as Aoshi and Misao took out more and more of the enemy. Finally, her husband came into view with the man that she had to say that she was infatuated with. There was no blood yet, but each were both in that stage. Their eyes on each other at every moment. Their opponent having the enemy mirrored in their eyes.

As their swords clashed, sparks more visable in the dim light, the lights flickered from above. Enishi swiped his foot in their close range and Kenshin side-stepped to jump out of the way from it. Enishi then swung his double-edged sword near Kenshin's neck. The red-head warrior ducked. Then, as soon as ducked he started to sweep-kick Enishi who jumped as well as moved backward. Kenshin followed Enishi back, only thinking that Enishi was starting to try and run away. Their swords still clashed as they moved up the velvet red steps to the thrones.

" Stop running!" Kenshin demanded in a hollow voice. There he was. The Battosai that everybody feared. His eyes a shimmering amber tinted widely when the flames struck them. He bared his teeth, acting on an animal instinct. There was so much that he had on his mind that pushed him to fight this man. Not only Kaoru, but Tomoe as well.

The sadistic grin on Enishi's face showed no sign of giving up. But he wa a king, and he didn't get there only by blood. The Eviarians were first a nation that was connected and separated years ago between Antholl and Jubyen, but in rebel they separated to create their own barbarian nation. So, the king had to be at least a little barbaric. And Enishi was definately on the brabaric side.

" Who said anything about running Himura? " he asked between clenched teeth. His hand slipped to the throne and even placed his feet on the pillowed seat. He reached giving another swipe of his sword grabbing a rope and pulling it. Kenshin had no time to react when Enishi plummeted the brick floor beneath him. His sword drug into the cracks appearing. His feet dangled to the bottomless pit below. Something a bit like Sulvin's Cresent, except this had no shelfs to fall on. He forced his arms to pull himself up by the sword handle. Enishi stepped on the half unstuck brick ready to fall. Kenshin's sword started to fall as did he into the pit. He grabbed to the edge scrapping his nails into the wedges between bricks. You could only see half of his face; his intimidating eyes as he struggled not to fall. He glanced over to Kaoru where fear was written heavily on her face.

Enishi stepped forward, the bricks encircling the hole ever frail. " Now, Battosai, you think that I would kill you in such a simple way as this? " he laughed. " Just hang around and watch the show."

Kenshin turned his head the little extent he could as Enishi went to Kaoru who was hanging on the bars to know that Kenshin was alright. She began stepping away. Just the aura that Enishi emitted scared her. He had his hands out to her in this ' what's wrong ' kind of way. She closed her cloak and put herself in the dead center of the prison he held her in. He pressed himself on the bars and slithered an arm through.

" You might lose that Enishi." Kaoru tried to threaten.

" Dearest, you think that you can hurt me? Not even the great Battosai could lay a finger on me. You? Ha!" He pulled his arm from the cell. " Now, how bad of a whore have you became dear?" Kaoru knew not to answer at all. Giving him any opportunity to make her out as one. She only clenched her cloak further and leane dher head to hide the hickey Kenshin had given her.

" You're hiding something from me dear."

" Get away you vile snake."

" I'm being nice. Get over here! Now!"

From a far Kenshin tried to find something to put his feet on, but it was all empty space any way he pushed his feet. Just trying to walk on air. His nails were starting to tug from the skin as they dug further pulling up grout. Misao looked over after she'd finished stunning her opponents. Aoshi also had and they started near Kenshin. Misao dove to get to Kenshin, but the floor beneath her also dropped from her feet. She hooked to the floor like Kenshin had using her kunai. Aoshi made sure to jump and not touch the floor expect to jump back up again. Misao dragged herself up only to have it crumble. Kenshin's eyes looked at eveyone's danger, fearing he'd dragged them all into this mess.

Aoshi dropped close to Enishi, knowing well that he wouldn't drop the floor near his own person. The snowy-haired man looked up to the floors above them and put his hand up. Spears fell from nowhere, attempting to skewer Aoshi. He jumped between them all, his clothes ripping. His cloak was pinned to the ground which he ripped off.

" Aoshi-sama!" Misao called out, her distress more than obvious. Kenshin pulled his person up inch by inch to get his feet nearer the egde to grapple something.

" Now, my pretty..." he said, looking at her sympathetically. Kaoru kept holding her cloak. " Come..." he said breathy. But, he wasn't calling to her. The wall behind her started to creep forward. She inched to find the middle knowing it was the safest spot, but she only got closer to Enishi.

" You want to be paste my dear?" he asked, " just come here and I'll let you go. I promise." he said with his hands up in a surrrender like motion. Kaoru crawled closer, but because she moved slower, the wall began coming much faster. In fear she darted to the bars as a comfort. It stopped when Enishi was able to grab her wrist.

" Good dear, now, let me see what's under your hair child." He pushed away enough hair to see the hickey on her neck. Kaoru swallowed, knowing that she was at his mercy. Though his face showed a smile, evil as it was, his grip only tightened further on her wrist. " He did you didn't he? The wolf. Betraying sister. " He said like he was lost in time. Kaoru tried pulling away from Enishi desperately. As it seemed he had enough pressure to crack the bone, a kodachi was thrusted right by his face. Enishi came from the reverie and moved enough a distance to let the kodachi hit the bar and knick his cheek. .

" Shinomori!" he said slightly in pleasure. But, it wasn't him that threw it, Kenshin had his elbow ready to ram it into Enishi's ribcage.

---

Hiko didn't know what to think after Shougo had came into his office and passed out. Akira? A traitor? He thought as he walked the corridors. Now he was regretting already sending the army out to battle.

Kamatari was behind the general talking in rage.

" Where the hell is Kenshin, and Kaoru? How are they both gone? Why does he always go poof! Errrr...I hate this. And Akira, telling me that Kenshin might have kidnapped her..."

" Enough worry Kamatari...enough. Believe nothing of what you heard from Akira. He's not to trust. And I've already sent them on their way. I can't do anything.

" You could send a pigeon to him..."

" I know...I've done that, but I don't know if he knows if I'm aware or not."

" Who told you?"

" Amasuka. He stumbled into my office wounded." Hiko said turning the hallway. Kamatari looked around at the surrounding area they were in, wondering why Hiko was taking him down the infirmary hallway.

" Why are we coming here?"

" To talk to Shougo,"

" Oh, about Akira?" Kamatari questioned. Hiko tried to resist the urge to turn around and slap Kamatari. Instead he nearly massaged his temples and continued walking as if nothing was said.

" Hai. About Akira." Hiko said.

" Can I skin him? Please, please, please, please pleeeaaaaseeee?" Hiko weighed the pros and cons to this. Akira would be off his back, and Kamatari would be very happy. That did bode well, but then again, that would mean he wouldn't learn a thing from Akira.

" Let me suck the information and then maybe you can."

Behind, Kamatari did a little victory dance while walking along. Hiko shook his head. This is the reason he didn't want to say yes to Kamatari.

He stopped in front of a door where a short grey haired doctor held his hands behind his back looking into the window. Hiko smiled and crossed his arms waiting.

" Gensai?"

The old doctor jumped to turn around and look at Hiko scared.

" Hiko-sama? Must you do that?" he merely shrugged trying to see past the doctor and through the shades that protected the room.

" Is this Shougo?"

" Hai, he is still very, very weak from the blood loss; he refuses to fall asleep as well, even against the medication." Gensai said. Hiko nodded and continued trying to look into the window. " Since he is awake, you may see him but only for a few moments so that he may fall asleep." Hiko nodded and started into the room, Gensai on his tail. Kamatari only peaked into the room to see the white room with the disinfectant. Kamatari only backed away, not liking the way that Shougo was lying almost lifeless.

Hiko floated in quietly as not to disturb any other soldiers that were lying behind partitions. He kneeled close to Shougo looking up to the ceiling with his eyes half-lidded. His shoulder was bandaged and slung up. He turned his head to look at Hiko with bleary eyes.

" I suppose that you want to know more about Akira correct?" he asked very hoarse. Hiko folded his arms tightly and thought about how to appproach this subject delicately. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Shougo closed his eyes and looked back to the ceiling for no real interested reason. He smiled.

" Why?" Hiko asked, seeing as that was all that he could get out.

" Akira is planning something devious against Himura. I don't see why it would be, but it seems to be a past scar." Hiko nodded, and thought about what would touch Akira that hard to want to kill Kenshin and hurt anyone else in the process.

" He's from Eviary, though I think you must have deduced that as well right?" Hiko nodded.

" I can't do all that much at this point. He's sent out to battle and Kenshin is gone with Kaoru." Shougo was beginning to close his eyes in tiredness.

" Maybe, it has to do with love?" he asked, the medicine starting to knock him out.

Hiko stood, with that small piece of information, he was able to configure what must have happened.

--

Sanosuke was looking head-on to a large army. The rest of the men behind him decided that they were ready to fight to protect themselves. Seeing these men prepared to fight so was he. Megumi backed into the rebels knowing that she couldn't fight with no weapons on her. Sanosuke charged, head first, with his fist cocked behind his head ready to hit anyone that came his way.

His first target pratically crushed the man's armor throwing him back into the other soldiers. They looked down to the fallen man, and then up to Sanosuke seething at what he'd just done. They charged to him and the battle commensed.

There was a chorus of clanging and sparks overhead from steel hitting one another. There was growling and blood, a few screams echoing in the cavern. Sanosuke beat down another one of the men and looked to Megumi about to be tackled by a beefy man with no neck. She looked down at her silver medicine box for a moment, then to the no-necked man. She lifted it up high and swung it around to hit his unprotected head hard. He stumbled back for a moment, his sight on the strong-willed doctress. He charged with a sword toward her. Megumi ducked and hit him in the knees with the box again. He fell, and she rose only to be lifted by the waist by another no-necked man.

Sanosuke was not about to take this and ran to Megumi striking the man in the back with his foot as hard as he could. The man started to fall dropping the doctress. Sanosuke catched her before she hit the ground. Though she was slightly shaken, she saw the sword laying on the ground and picked it up. It was pretty heavy, but she gave a few practice swings before the grin formed on her face.

Sanosuke watched her walk into the battle for a moment then disappear with a battle cry. All Sanosuke could think was: Man women are scary.

---

Magdaria knew where she was, she was almost in the border area, seeing Micea draw near. Her butt was sore from all of the riding, and Yahiko was getting alittle sick going up and down so much, but he tried to handle it as they climbed th hill to see Micea, or maybe...,what was left of Micea.

Smoke billowed from the town with a few sparkling embers before them. A few families still lingered on the edge of the town with worry in their eyes. Magdaria was doing all she could from crying at all of this. She lowered her head as she passed all of the people looking at her. She sliently prayed for each of them, and for any at all lost that they reach Heaven safely. Yahiko listened to her chanting as they went through the town at a slower pace. He'd never seen anything this bad, and he'd have to say that it scared the piss out of him to know that they were doing all they could to finish the war.

Soon, they exited the place and Magdaria acted like she never saw a thing. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she galloped on to the border heavily protected. That didn't matter, she stormed through the gates and past the men who yelled, but were only left in the dust by her speed. The journey was still a ways away, but she would get there. And in any hope, that no more cities were turning into cinders.

--

Kenshin found himself against the wall, Enishi's sword sheath pressed against his neck hard enough to make him want to gasp for breath. He held his hands hard on the wall looking at the angered Enishi. He'd tried to hit Enishi, who countered drawing him backward tot he wall with the sheath and the sword as his weapons against the unarmed Kenshin.

" I will teach you suffering!" he roared. The rage in his eyes and the aura he emitted was truly strong. " I will teach you the suffering you bestowed upon my sister. The pain that you have caused to everybody in the Crest. You caused all the tormeny, the war Himura! You started, all because you made one girl suffer!"

" She didn't suffer, she did on her own will..."

" Shut up Himura! You killed her, you made her suffer! It was your sword that struck her!"

" She was doing wanted!"

" I didn't command you to talk you dog! You will listen to me!" He ordered. Kenshin had so much to say, no time to say it. " If you impregnanted my wife, just like you had yours, you will not get the baby. You will not get her! And she will not get it either!" Kenshin didn't want to think what Enishi's twisted mind was coming up with. " The heir will be a bastard, and I don't want a soiled blooded baby in my perfect line! The day it is born, if you're still alive, you two will die together." He said darkly.

" Not in front of Kaoru!"

" Oh, yes, in front of Kaoru. This is your fault too! The day that bastard baby is born, you two will be taken in the gallows and hang you, it will be a beautiful sight to watch." He said ready to rub his hands together. Instead, his hand slithered from the sheath and pulled out a glinting dagger.

" Now, for my favorite part..." he was aiming to torture, yet not kill, the man he had pinned. As it plunged near his chest, Kenshin looked and let out a wince as it struck.

A/N: Okay! Lots of bad things happening, and Enishi is getting to be a really bad psychopath, so...what will happen next? Is Kaoru really pregnant? Who knows. But I will tell you this, the secrets of Tomoe are revealed, next chapter! Till, next time, KenSan out!