A/N: I guess I need to start a new chapter. I need to say one thing though.

Sparks Fly

Yahiko was getting a little sick from all of the riding, but he still held firm to Magdaria as they pushed on. The capital was in their grasp very soon, which meant that they would probably meet up with Kenshin and the others. The look on Magdaria's face scared Yahiko though. She seemed to grow more sullen the further that she rode. He straightened his back and looked past her shoulder.

" Magdaria, is something the matter?"

" I'm just worried about Shougo, that's all. I don't even know if he's alive." She said. Yahiko understood that plight at least. Magdaria was only doing what Shougo had asked of her. And he left her with only the little bit of hope.

" Your brother's strong right?" Yahiko asked her. Magdaria slowed the horse down a bit to nod her head and cough. " If he's strong as you believe he is, then he'll survive no doubt. He's probably helping Hiko or something."

The way that Yahiko's voice assured was a God send to Magdaria. However, a russel from behind broke her jubilence as she turned to look back. Yahiko had his hand to the bokken on his back, ready to protect that ill Magdaria if his life was lost. But the footsteps, large as they sounded, had begun to slow. Yahiko could hardly see anything in the darkness, and relied on his other senses.

" Who's there?" he barked.

" Oh, so this is were the other horse went."

The deep voice was startling at first, but it quixkly turned to a brightness in both eyes. A branch moved out of the way, and showed the giant before them. The darkness made him seem more foreboding than usual. A smirk came on the general's face to know that Magdaria and Yahiko were out here and hadn't made it to the palace.

" Hiko-sama," Magdaria whispered with surprise.

" Ah, Shougo's little sister right?" Hiko went past her, her head following his movements.

" I am, and do you now how he is?" Magdaria questioned, trying to hold back her fear of whatever Hiko would tell her. But, his face didn't turn grim like she expected it too. Instead, his eyes went to the trees ahead of them, a small crack to see the city in the horizon. He looked back, eyes softening enough as he told her,

" Shougo will survive. It will take some time to heal from his wounds, but he will survive."

" Then...that nasty man was...Shougo..."

" Akira on the otherhand has went against us. It was by Shougo we learned of the conspiracy. It was too late though to get Akira back from leading the troops."

" Why would you put him there in the first place?!" Yahiko growled. " Couldn't you of all peopled tell he was evil?"

" He didn't have an malevolance in him when he came to me. He seemed...sincere. I guess he's one hell of a mastermind to get past even me."

" So...what is he doing Hiko-sama?"

Hiko then seemed alittle frightened as he motioned them forward. Magdaria guided the horse behind Hiko. The last thing he wanted to do was explain to her that he had made a mistake. One that could be costly to Antholl.

" He is leading the regiment I planned Kenshin to lead. He...he is leading them to where he decides that they should go. For all they know, this is what I have told Akira to do." Hiko stated. Though explanation saddening and, excurciating for Hiko to tell, he managed and pressed forward.

On his mind at the moment was that Kenshin still had the oppourtuntiy to bring Enishi down. And, if his memory served, that Sanosuke would also be helping with a band of rogue men and women.

-----

Kenshin was alittle unsure that a bedroom be the sight of a battle. It was roomy, not the problem. But all of the possessions in there could easily be lost. Still, there was no way that he could convince Enishi to move elsewhere.

" What do you think you will accomplish by defeating me Enishi?" asked Kenshin in a clam voice. They were both ready for anything the other would surprise them with, and their guard was almost impossible to penatrate.

Enishi let out a low laugh, one that sent chills down Kaoru's spine. She shook in Sanosuke's arms. " Simply the feel of taking your life in exchange for you taking sisters," he answered smoothly.

" Tomoe made a mistake...she was confused..."

" It didn't matter if she was confused or not, you could have stopped yourself. But you were and always will be a killer. You took her life...no second thought."

Kenshin wanted to bite back, but somewhere deep within what Enishi said there was no way to say that he wasn't right. Because he was. Kenshin knew he had taken Tomoe's life, but not on intention. And, he had to keep telling himself that it was only a mistake. That he didn't mean any harm and didn't even know that Tomoe was going to do what she did. He told her to stay behind, and for whatever reason she decided that it was right to follow anyway.

Kenshin opened his eyes to Enishi again, this time determined to not listne to anything that Enishi said. Enishi wasn't going to talk though. He was ready to fight now. He started to charge forward with his sword in hand. Kenshin had to be quick as he drew and countered. Enishi's strong blow shook him, but he started forward in an attack toward the man. It was mostly an exchange of attack and counter attack. The metal singing as it flew threw the air and clanged in chorus. They circled in the open space of the bedroom. Their eyes on their feet, on the swords. Kenshin and Enishi had traded places and were where each other started the battle. Kenshin could keep his eyes on Kaoru and the others.

But Enishi kept him distracted as he made another swing and pushed Kenshin back. He hit the wall next to a window, only inches away from hitting it had not his footwork been able to avoid it. But Enishi was already poised for another attack by the time Kenshin put up his blade again. They crossed, and the sparks of the metal flew through the air as each of them tried to push the other near the wall and trap them. Kenshin wouldn't allow it.

As Enishi tired another swing, he had enough room to duck and move out. The window shattered at the force, only jagged pieces staying in place as the rest srayed across the ground. Kenshin kept himself crept low to the ground for a few moments. It was only to realize that Enishi had more intentions for the window thanhe originally thought.

Enishi swung low one time to make Kenshin rise, and a second time to force him near the window. It was like a dance to Kenshin. Now, not only was Enishi his enemy, so was the window.

They crossed swords again, and were in a shaking lock to make the other fall. Before either did, Kenshin saw something that he though would never happen. It was like reading Enishi's mind. He was watching the past fly before him. The thoughts that Enishi harbored of hate and spite, the pain that the young king had endured through the loss. No, that wasn't all that was there. He was also thinking about something that Kenshin even forgotten along with the rest of his memories. The days before Tomoe fell into the long sleep and passed. And it came before his eyes, almost like a dream...

---

The room that the red-head sat in now was as dark and as plagued as the darkest caverns. And he waited in silence, brooding in a depression he just couldn't break. The sight that was before him, with a pain that struck his chest each time she sputtered to breath, or let out a wimper of distress. Yet, even when he would jump to ask her if she need anything, her weak voice still told him that she was alright. And she would smile at him.

Lately, more than ever, she hardly spoke a word. Instead she made a motion. Kenshin was not her doctor, but he was her servant. He would do what she said, and what Gensai said to do when nessecary before the kind old doctor could even think to do it. He would cover her when she got cold. He would make sure that she ate enough to keep her body going, even if her weight was dropping dangerously, especially for the baby that she still harbored inside her.

She was on her side for the wound and the baby. Her clothes off her body to show her back to her husband this day. She curled up as best that she could, her body shaking under the blankets. There was nothing left for the warrior to do but to hope that she would get better. She let out a small cry, but stopped and acknowledged the footsteps that Kenshin caught.

Her brother walked in, a guard at the door. He was still dressed grandly, his sword at his waist. He walked in grace with his head tilted down, his eyes menacing toward the warrior, but soft to the injured sister. He sat on the opposing side of Kenshin, and Tomoe lifted her head just barely to see his figure with the blurry eyes. She wanted to lift her hand, but she was too weak. Kenshin found himself on the recieving end of a deathly glare. Only Tomoe's precense was even saving him from a certain onslaught of verbal fighting. But, Enishi was sparing nothing, even in front of his sister. He had enough heart to respect that she was ill and stood again to walk over to Kenshin.

" Outside Himura..." he commanded between grit teeth. Kenshin more than welcomely stood and followed the king to the streets of Micea. On that day, the streets were flourishing, and a storm was brewing just over the hills. An awkward wind seemed to describe the emotion between these two warriors. Both probably would have been content to draw then and there, had there not been a threat of police capture. But then, Enishi would have had diplomatic immunity.

" What is it that you want Enishi?"

" You see what you have done? Explain yourself." He demanded, trying his best not to go into an all out rage against the red-head.

" She is wounded that she is. "

" And I suppose you know who did this Himura? You were the one that found her..." Enishi's voice drew threatening, and spectators stopped to watch the two.

" It was a mere accident Enishi, that it was. She was caught in the middle." The wind circled around the strong aura emitted from the two. ENishi began to walk closer, Kenshin planting his feet firm in the ground. The blood was still on his shirt, the incrimination right there infront of Enishi.

" Then tell me what she was doing there? And in the condition that she was in."

Kenshin hummed and closed his eyes. This was difficult to say the least. His explanation had to be well said, and even if it was put that way it would still anger the royal. He could already see the flames in Enishi's eyes.

" I don't know Enishi."

" And, why did you slash her? You were the one that was suppose to protect her until you died."

" I don't know Enishi."

" Then what the hell do you know?!" he roared.

" She went of her free will. I told her to stay at home." Kenshin stated firmly. Ensihi seemed displeased, but there was no sense of lying in Kenshin that he could find. He lowered his head and kicked the dirt like a child. " Only thing, Enishi, that we can hope for, is that she recovers from this wound." Kenshin said.

Enishi had to nod to agree, he was reasonable to an extent. He walked past Kenshinto co back to the clinic, the spectators scattering since it was over. But before he could enter the clinic he said to Kenshin.

" It will be on your head if she dies. I will not let you get away with this."

" Brother..." the shallow voice called from inside. Kenshin's eyes widened in fear as he went forward. " Brother...please don't fight with my koishii, please.." she begged withthe little strength she had. " I, it was my fault, he...he told me to stay behind...I"

" Shhhh," Enishi hushed her and fell to a knee stroking her head. " I'm not mad at him. You rest now."

" Brother," she said yet again. " Don't hurt him...please..."

Enishi nodded as she closed her eyes to sleep. But he looked back to Kenshin with that spite.

" If he upholds his conditions."

---

Kenshin was thrusted back by the force of Enishi's blow. He stumbled and his hands touche dthe ledge of the window. The glass cut in his rough palms causing him to grimace and screw his face in pain. There was no way to get away from the window with Enishi righ tin him. He removed his hand from the glass and let it drop to the floor. As Enishi attacked again, he fell backward as he blocked. He was hanging by his knees out the window. The darkness changing his vision. There were many of the rogues Sanouske had rounded up outside with the spoils tehy had taken. Kenshin tried to pull himself up. Out of the window hung Enishi, his sword ready to stab Kenshin's knees. His only choice was to let go, and he did just that as Enishi stabbed down. His sword grasped the wood hard, and it took him a few moments to pull it out. When he did, he looked down to see the red as a beacon to Kenshin laying on the roof above the veranda. A few of the shingles were pulled up where he slid, and his body looked like it lay limp on those shingles were he had stopped. Enishi climbed out that window and shimmied down to Kenshin.

On that roof where the red head had slid, he lay trying to get the numbness out of his legs in the awkward position that he had fallen. There was a burning where his shoulder had dragged on those tiles. But there was not much time to recover as Enishi jumped the rest of the way down to the roof. He stabbed at Kenshin again and again, making the red-head block and move back on his elbows. There wasn't much space to move though.

" Feeling trapped Himura?"

But he didn't respond to the comment and over came the numbness and pain to try and stand. But Enishi hit himwith his free hand causing him to stumble back.

" Falling to your death. Fitting to watch you crumble at the ground. Oh, what a sight that wold be..." Enishi laughed and licked his lips at the thought.

" Neither of us will die here Enishi." Kenshin said firm as he raised his sword.

" You won't slay me? Come now, you decided it was alright for Tomoe..." he made several slashed that caused Kenshin to almost lose his balance,"...didn't you!"

" It was an accident. She said herself!"

" That was a lie you told her to tell!" he roared and swung again. Kenshin moved away and jumped to moreopen ara on the small veranda.

" I never said anything to her. She always told you of all people the truth. You were her brother after all." Kenshin decided that it was his turn to fight Enishi back and made a few swings of his own that Enishi countered.

" Then why did she lie to me?"

" She didn't. She was being sincere in those last moments of consciousness. She wanted you to stay the same. She didn't want you to become a monster if anything happened," Kenshin broke the lock of swords and tried to attack. More sparks flew as they crossed swords. It drew attention to the two in the air from down below. Kenshin was gritting his teeth. Enishi was equal to him in strenght. They most likely had the same passion to prove the point about their common bond. " She didn't want you to turn into the thing that she knew that you would. She knew of your foul temper. Your easy hotheadedness that she seemed to calm. The thought of your older sister being mad at you made you cringe down. It made you just want forget everything that you had done. For her sake. When she was gone you had lost your chains to the ground. The thing that kept your fire doused."

Enishi bite back at Kenshin's words as he swung harder and harder to Kenshin. Each blow was causing the red heads arms to shake more. They were continuing to circle about the roof top.

" You don't know what you're talking about Himura."

" But, the reason mainly she made you promise you wouldn't get mad at me, was the reason I only just figured..."

" You never known what her intentions were."

Kenshin closed an eye. All his thoughts were on, were making blocks and telling what he had learned.

" She had never meant to get caught in the first place. She was just thee to observe that she was..." kenshin looked over to the oncoming marching. The thought of what that could be only brought more reason to say what he thought. He shoved Enishi off of him and looked for a way down the roof. He jumped real gently and felt himself fall and braced himself for impact. When he landed, his legs practically giving out on him and forcing him to plant in sword in the ground. Enishi willingly followed suit, but wondered why Kenshin would use his strength to do such a stunt. Though, it became apparent when not only Hiko, Magdaria and Yahiko showed themselves, but when Akira and his army showed in the courtyard.

" This is a surprise..." Ensihi chuckled.

" I didn't expect you Akira!" Enishi yelled.

" Well, I had second thoughts, but a front row seat to Battosai's slaying? To good to pass up."

" Akira, you are also mad at me it seems." Kenshin stated.

" Well, your not as stupid as I thought..."

" Then listen to me as well."

Kenshin back up to be in the direct middle of everything.

" Tomoe died in a horrible way that no human should experiance. And I will say that we all have suffered a loss after her passing. And...we have all suffered her pain." Kenshin was getting shallow on breath. " I know my words will mean nothing to you two, but I think that light should be on the situation."

Akira had his bow at the ready, but he waited for what Kenshin had to say. And, Enishi wanted to heat blah, blah, blah, but that didn't happen. " She died as the cause of my sword, but the way she died, we make excuses for. We blame others, we blame ourselves. She was there, behind that tree, to watch. She was there to watch to make sure that I was alright. I know she was. In the mix up of both rational and irrational, she chose the wrong path. She never intended to get caught in the middle, but she didn't want to see what could have happened. She threw herself in the wind, and planned what she wanted, though the pain be fierce and mortal. None of us will overcome her death, but none of us can keep our grudges when it was no one's fault. Human accident is something that we need to account for..." Kenshin turned to Akira.

" As for you, I'm sorry your love was stripped, but that gives you no reason to start a conspiracy, and Enishi..."

" Himura, you like to babble.."

" If you want to believe that its my fault, then let yourself do that. I will let you take your strike now. Maim me all you want for what pain I've caused. But, once you do, stop this war and turn yourself over. One grudge doesn't mean that you can spill innocent blood in your rage."

Enishi drew his sword, but Akira seemed to see the light in all of this. He put down his bow and lowered his eyes. Enishi started running as Kenshin held his arms out. He could already feel his chest tightening even before Enishi hacked in him two. Everyone watching had stopped breathing. Kaoru felt her heart stop at this sacrifice, tears flowing down her cheeks. Sanosuke turned her head to his chest and closed his eyes tightly. And they heard the sword bite at the wind, and the painful scream. When they opened there eyes though, there was a light in front of Kenshin with its arms out. Enishi was sprawled helplessly on the ground with his sword planted a ways away. He lifted to his elbows and looked at the face.

" Sister..."

She didn't speak, but walked over and kneeled to Enishi with her hand at his face. She msiled briefly causing Enishi's boiling blood to cool down. He smiled back to her.

" Forgive..." the voice said to him, " forgive and move on..."

She gave one last smile before standing and opening her arms to shine bright before disappearing in falling sparks. Clearly destiny wanted Kenshin alive. And, Enishi felt his spite begin to wash away...

On the other side, Kenshin was awe struck at his protecter. The second time she took a sword for him. There was so much going on that confused the warrior. He looked to Kaoru who was ready to cheer at him, and to Hiko smiling at his accomplishment. In the small glory that he felt in the tired body, he let his fallen figure lay down on the ground and close his eyes.

A/N: Not a grand fight, but worthy of Kenshinright? Tell me what you think. This story is about to wrap up. Till next time, KenSan out!