Chapter Sixteen
The rasp of steel against scabbard was all that could be heard for a few moments, after the three men had gotten into position.
"A living hell is not good enough. Battousai, you will soon see the true hell...That is the answer of Jinchuu! That is my sister's wish!" Enishi hissed; the hate in his voice and eyes enough to tell the two men before him, if they had not heard his words.
"That answer is also wrong. If Tomoe had wished for sessha's death, that path would have been chosen fifteen years ago. Sessha cannot die yet." Kenshin replied; yet was surprised when Hiko said nothing else.
"Let's go!" Enishi snarled, as he crouched, and prepared to deliver his first blow, "Watojutsu! Senran Tosei!"
"Might as well try it..." Hiko mused, then launched himself forward into the Kuzu Ryu Sen; trying to give Kenshin enough time to deflect some of the blows, and counter the attack. With unprecedented speed, Enishi struck at them for all he was worth, his actions kicking up the sand around them. He met Hiko's blade with a snarl; blocking the nine strikes from the elder master's attack, and then attempting to drive the hilt of his sword into the swordmaster's chest.
"You're not breaking my ribs again, yarou." Hiko growled, as he crossed his arms in front of him; blocking the attack with something that looked eerily like the Hadome.
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Kaoru and Yahiko could only stare in amazement, when they saw what the Thirteenth master was using to block the hit to his ribs.
"It's like a reverse Hadome! He caught the hilt instead of the blade!" Yahiko said, in wonder.
"He must've picked it up when I showed you the ougi that time, Yahiko..." Kaoru murmured.
"Feh. Even an old dog can learn new tricks." Saito muttered, sounding vaguely impressed.
"Better not let 'im hear you say that." Sanosuke mumbled; cheering when Kenshin leaped in and broke the temporary standstill apart; freeing Hiko's blade.
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Kenshin couldn't help but notice that his master seemed to having a harder time moving; and not because of his injuries.
"His fears about this terrain were well-founded. With his height and build, fighting in this sand is taking its' toll. He's going to get tired before I will." Kenshin thought, as they both struggled to avoid the overwhelming destruction Enishi's sword style was wreaking around them.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu! Kuzu Ryu Sen!" Kenshin shouted, as he tried that same attack, next. As before, Enishi countered each of the nine strikes; sending Kenshin flying. Yet the rurouni still managed to land on his feet, and race forward again. There was a tremendous blast, as the three men's blades met; the force of it throwing them onto their backs.
"Ow. Haven't seen that happen in a while..." Hiko mentally growled; inwardly cursing and also feeling a little grateful about the sand beneath his back. Cursing it for the bad footing, and feeling gratitude that it wasn't hard-packed earth that had broken his fall.
"Daijobu ka, Shishou?" Kenshin asked.
"Well enough...just winded. This thrice-damned sand isn't helping." Hiko sourly responded.
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The group could only watch in stunned silence as the three men recovered; just what had that been, just now?.!
"...I didn't get that at all..." Misao murmured, when she'd seen that happen.
"To oppose Enishi's attack with centrifugal force while moving, Battousai used the small window of opportunity his master gave him to attack with the Kuzu Ryu Sen. They have been using some big moves, and yet have been defending with the most exquisite sword strikes." Aoshi said, in his usual quiet tone.
"Did you see it?" Misao whispered, to Yahiko who was now standing beside her.
"Are you insulting me? Those three made a full force strike at the end, and were blown back by the impact." Yahiko muttered.
"Is that right? Wow." Misao mumbled, quite taken aback by the power she'd just seen.
"Right." Aoshi confirmed; not taking his eyes off of the fight for even an instant.
"But...It might just be me, but doesn't Enishi look faster than before?" Megumi asked, concernedly.
"When he was at the dojo, he wasn't trying to kill either of them. But now he's using his killing force. That must be the difference." Sanosuke said, pointing out the difference the two Hiten masters had noticed, even before the battle had started.
"I see..." Megumi murmured, hesitantly.
"But Himura-san and Seijuro-san aren't losing either." Sojiro added, as his own young eyes took in the battle, as well.
"Yeah. Kenshin rose from the living hell created by dark-glasses...and used Kuzu Ryu Sen right off the bat. Exhaustion and his serious wounds don't seem to be affecting him. His willpower is stronger than in the previous battle." Sanosuke agreed, then silently added, "And Hiko seems to have gotten his original strength back, as well...Even though this sand must be hell for him to try and fight in."
"Kenshin had said that he will find the answer after this battle...but maybe he'd needed to find it before..." Kaoru said, just now realizing what Sanosuke was saying, and how true his words were, "And did he? Did Kenshin find the answer?"
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For a few moments, the three men stood glaring at each other after they'd staggered back to their feet; trying to catch their breaths.
"Your speed, Battousai, is slightly greater, your master's strength is slightly greater, and my power is slightly greater. At this point, our skills are roughly equal...when all is said, we are equal. But another aspect we can test...is height." Enishi said, gauging their reactions by their expressions. At this, Hiko only uttered a soft curse under his breath.
"We are on sand. You will not be able to use your sword to gain height." Kenshin murmured, darkly remembering their first battle within the dojo compound.
"Are you talking about Choten Tosei? That small move is only the beginning. Simply jumping in the air is only the beginning for Watojutsu." Enishi replied, then asked, "How about it? Will you accept?"
"Was there ever any doubt that your duel has been accepted? No matter what your challenge may be, sessha will accept." Kenshin answered.
"And I will, as well." Hiko muttered, even though his tone held some distaste for this part of the duel.
"Hmph. Fair enough." Enishi muttered, as he unhooked the single earring from his ear, and held it up, "The starting signal." With a deft toss, the earring sailed high into the air; and, when it landed, the sand beneath the swordsmen's feet seemingly exploded. They sensed the relief of the group below them, when both Kenshin and Hiko managed higher leaps than Enishi, yet were unnerved by what Enishi did next.
"Watojutsu! Shikku Tosei!" Enishi cried, as he slashed at both swordsmen above him; taking another leap in mid-air to add momentum. Kenshin barely managed to deflect the attack, and, when Hiko descended to try and use the Ryu Tsui Sen, he got a kick right in the place where the Senwangeki had hit him. Stars seemingly exploded in the Thirteenth master's vision, and pain of the most fiery quality gripped him; doubling him over and sending him falling to the beach again.
"Shishou!" Kenshin shouted, then struck with the Ryu Sho Sen; his anger fully aroused when he saw his master land, and then go still.
"Are you sure you want to force me up even higher?" Enishi snarled, "Don't you understand that you have no control of a midair battle? I control this fight! Shikku Tosei!" With another fierce explosion of sand, Kenshin and Enishi landed. Glancing quickly in Hiko's direction, when he'd gotten back up again, Kenshin briefly reached out with his ken-ki to make sure the older man was still alive. To his relief, he was, but was unconscious due to the re-injury of the organ Iwanbo Version Three had damaged.
"Hang on, Shishou. Don't die here, please." Kenshin silently begged, then returned his attention to Enishi.
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"Deshi!" a voice called, the order in it getting a twitch from the downed Thirteenth master.
"Hiko-sama!" a woman's voice tearfully cried.
"Hiko-sama!" two youthful voices echoed, their tones filled with fear for him.
"Hiko-san!" an echo of Kaoru's voice called.
"Hiko-sensei!" Yahiko's young voice shouted, worried and also trying to get him to wake up.
"Shishou!" a younger version of Kenshin's voice yelled.
"Don't give up! Keep fighting!" the youthful voices shouted, urging him to keep going.
"Don't just lie there, Deshi! Stand!" The Twelfth master commanded.
"Hang on, Shishou. Don't die." Kenshin whispered.
"Don't make Natsu-hime cry, Hiko-sama, by running away through death!" Isshinta's voice pleaded.
"We're all here for you, Hiko-sama. Please, take strength in that." Natsu murmured, before the voices faded into the blackness again; leaving a hollow-feeling silence.
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There was a resounding crack, as Kenshin hit one of the trees at the edge of the beach full-force; snapping it with the impact his body made.
"Kuzu Ryu Sen was..." Yahiko was heard to mutter, in absolute disbelief. Both Hiten masters were down, and it made Yahiko sick to think that they may have lost Seijuro Hiko for real, this time; even though his ability to sense ken-ki was still a bit hit-or-miss, even Yahiko could feel how feeble the elder master's ki had become, in those short moments.
"So the first was a full hit. The second was completely blocked...and now Kenshin can't even get off his first strike..." Sanosuke growled, "Not to mention he may have killed Hiko with that kick back there."
"Enishi's...stronger than before...and it's not just because he's made up his mind to kill this time. It's seeping out from somewhere deep inside..." Megumi whispered, her heart filling with dread with every moment that passed; not only for Kenshin, but also for Hiko as well. The Thirteenth inheritor of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu had not moved since he'd been knocked from the sky, and lay deathly still near the water's edge.
"And this means Kuzu Ryu Sen will not land, no matter what. Ryu Tsui Sen, and Ryu Sho Sen both countered by Shikku Tosei. Ryu Kan Sen does not work against Senran Tosei. Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki has already been countered. In just two duels, all of their finishing moves have been defeated." Saito murmured; his eyes narrowing when he felt how weak Hiko's ki had become, and knew that death would not take long to close in.
"They can't win like this...No matter how strong Kenshin becomes, under the burden of guilt from his crimes, he is overwhelmed by Yukishiro Enishi's strength from his negative emotions! The answer...Kenshin has to find the answer he has been looking for all this time..." Kaoru thought, worriedly; wringing her hands when she remembered what Megumi had said during Hiko's fight with Iwanbo, and knowing that certain death waited, if he was bleeding internally again.
"Hiko-san, please, don't give up!" Kaoru added, her blue-grey eyes widening in fear when Enishi approached the rurouni.
"Are you giving up already? I haven't even revealed my secret move, or even Kofuku Zettousei. Get up. Let's begin your execution...GET UP, HITOKIRI BATTOUSAI!!" Enishi snarled, in barely contained rage.
"There is no need to tell sessha...to get up. The living hell you created was the last place sessha will ever crouch. Sessha finally discovered it in that living hell...the single truth sessha will never change...And the answer this truth led to is...the way to atone for the crimes of the hitokiri, and for murdering Tomoe!" Kenshin gasped, as he slowly stood.
"I see...You've finally realized...Then stop fighting it! Just give in to your punishment!" Enishi roared, before unleashing his final move onto the bleeding rurouni, "Watojutsu! Gotsui Tosei!" There was a spray of blood, and Kenshin was thrown again, this time landing almost directly beside Hiko.
"The crime of murder is paid for by the punishment of death! But there is no way for the dead to carry out this sentence! That is why a loved one will carry it out for them! The criminal will die in regret and anguish! This is the answer! Get up! You've still much preparation to make! GET UP!!" Enishi raged, yet was not expecting to be listened to by one of the warriors before him. Unbelievably, Hiko Seijuro was again on his feet! Yet those near him could tell that something wasn't right.
"He's still unconscious! This is the exact same shape Kenshin was in at one point during his fight against Shishio!" Sanosuke thought, as he watched the Thirteenth master's battered form stand by sheer willpower alone.
"Shishou?" Kenshin asked, his eyes wide when he saw the taller man waver slightly, and then his dark eyes focused.
"How much...did I miss?" Hiko questioned, as he spat out some blood that had pooled in the back of his throat.
"Not much, Shishou...Did you see his final attack?" Kenshin said, when he was certain that his master was steady enough on his feet.
"Part of it...but probably not enough to counter it...Damn...that yarou is going to pay for reopening these wounds again..." Hiko growled, hissing when he felt some blood beginning to soak through the bandages around his waist and his gi.
"Kenshin! Hiko-san!" Kaoru shouted; fearful for the former, and glad the latter was back on his feet again.
"Way to go, Hiko-sensei! I knew you were too tough to go down like that!" Yahiko cheered.
"Feh, fine then...Killing you both would be too easy. Easy, but it is the same...as when you killed my sister in front of my eyes...Take your own lives." Enishi intoned, then added, "Battousai, I want you to throw aside your hypocritical sakabatou, and by your own will take up this sword of justice and die. And then I want your master to do the same. Now! Die! DIE!!!" Enishi ordered, repeating the hated word till the rurouni finally grasped the hilt of the tachi, and lifted it from the sand.
"Kenshin, no!" Kaoru cried, alarmed by what she was seeing, yet being held back by Sojiro when she saw it happen.
"That's it...Now...?.!" Enishi growled, trailing off when Kenshin threw the sword back to him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Enishi asked, more than a little confused by this turn of events.
"As stated before...sessha cannot die yet..." Kenshin gasped
"YOU!! After having taken countless lives...are you still afraid of dying?.!" Enishi howled, as he charged at the two wary warriors before him
"No...He just knows the value of his own life." Hiko replied, as he helped Kenshin block the attack, and then leaped back; ignoring the burning sensation in his mid-section when he did so, since he could see that Kenshin's abdomen was bleeding heavily. Casting a quick look behind him, Hiko found that some fate had smiled on them, for there, sitting not even three feet from where they now stood, lay Megumi's medicine chest!
"Death does not frighten sessha...but it is not the answer to atoning for past crimes. Throwing it all away by committing suicide is even less of an answer." Kenshin said; flinching slightly when he felt someone quickly begin tying off the bleeding in his abdomen; allowing some gratitude to slip into his tired ki when he saw his master hurriedly wrapping the bandages around his waist, not even bothering to remove his gi while doing so.
"Enishi, sessha thought much while in the living hell...About life...about death...about sin...about judgement...And where sessha ended up, was at the origin...the single truth sessha cannot abandon...The wish to protect those within sight...the wish to be strength for those who suffer, those in sorrow...As Shishou had pointed out earlier...Sessha wants to see...even just one more smile..." Kenshin murmured, as he momentarily glanced in Kaoru's direction, then returned his gaze to Enishi.
"For this, many enemies have been slain...and many other lives have been taken...Sessha did not realize that the slain were fighting with the same reason at heart...All of that is sessha's mistake...so any punishment will be accepted. But, for now, sessha will live on, taking on the ideals of those who have been slain. Sessha will live on, bringing as many smiles, as much happiness as possible, and will fight on, with the vow to never kill again! The awaiting punishment my be the death your speak of...or some different form. But until sessha is physically unable to wield a sword, sessha will fight on! 'Vowing to the sword and the soul, this life of battles will be followed through!' This is the answer sessha has come to!" Kenshin said, as he again held his sakabatou strongly.
"Baka Deshi..." Hiko muttered, with a sigh, then mumbled something to the effect of 'Naivete will always be his strong suit', under his breath; his words almost echoing what Kenshin had said about Kaoru's Katsujin-ken, so long ago.
"But in the face of such an awful truth, the naive lie she tells is so much better..." Kenshin's voice echoed, in Kaoru's mind and she sobbed, "Kenshin..."
"Ken-san..." Megumi whispered, also touched by his strong words.
"That's a suitable answer for you." Sanosuke murmured, with a knowing smirk. Saito only snorted in contempt.
"...In some ways, it will be a life harsher than death itself." Aoshi stated, thoughtfully.
"But Himura will do it!" Misao said, encouraged by this.
"He will definitely do it!" Yahiko agreed, wholeheartedly.
"He wouldn't be Himura-san if he didn't." Sojiro added, with his usual upbeat smile.
"And...you think that will make my sister forgive you?" Enishi asked; his voice still low with anger and hatred.
"Sessha is not sure...but...when sessha finally came to the answer and tried to stand...Tomoe finally smiled in return...Enishi...in your mind...is Tomoe smiling at you?" Kenshin in turn questioned, not expecting what happened next.
"KILL...I'LL KILL YOU! In dreams, reality, or illusion! I will make it impossible for you to see my sister in heaven, by slamming you into hell!" Enishi roared, as what appeared to be veins started popping up all over Enishi's body.
"What in the name of the seven hells...?.!" Hiko muttered, as he backed away, as unnerved by this development as those behind him were.
"Wh-wh-what?.!" Misao yelped, in shock.
"So...I was not mistaken when I saw it appear on his face..." Aoshi murmured.
"You saw it too? And what was it? Even you don't know?" Saito asked, seemingly surprised by the emotion that was now showing itself on Aoshi's face as well.
"No...I haven't read anything about it in the Oniwaban records..." Aoshi said, at a loss for what was going on.
"What is that? So creepy..." Misao shuddered; grossed out by what she was seeing.
"Are they veins?" Sojiro asked, as he instinctively got in front of Kaoru to protect her.
"No...They aren't veins...Those are..." Megumi almost whispered; her eyes widening when she realized what they were.
"Enishi...?" Kenshin questioned, feeling equally as aghast as his companions now felt.
"Here I come." Enishi intoned, before moving with ungodly speed towards them.
"What...?.!" Kenshin yelped, when Enishi suddenly got behind him, and Hiko blocked what could have been a lethal blow.
"Don't just stand there! Move!" Hiko shouted, as he held off Enishi's sword just barely. With an almost frantic leap, Kenshin moved out of reach; watching in horror when Hiko almost lost his grip on Winter Moon.
"He's fast! Definitely faster than before!" Kenshin thought, listening to the scream of steel on steel as Enishi freed his sword, and tried again.
"I knew it! Those aren't veins...they're nerves!" Megumi said, shakily.
"Nerves? How can nerves be so huge?.!" Sanosuke asked, not believing what he was hearing.
"They usually aren't...but that's all I can think of. Ken-san, Hiko-san, and Enishi are people with super-human speed. The only way to speed up beyond even that...is to enhance the reaction time of the nerves." Megumi stated.
"True, but...nerves are not something that can be easily trained. And not to the extent that they become visible like that." Saito murmured; sounding strangely subdued, in the face of this.
"An abnormality present from birth...in a way, an ability granted by the heavens." Aoshi said, grimly.
"Ability granted by the heavens...wrong. This ability was given to me...given to me by my sister...in order to take revenge on you! Since that day in the snow, I have hated you...I kept hating, even as my hair turned white and I drifted to Shanghai...Spring, summer, autumn, winter...Sunny days, rainy days...Day and night...It was as though my brain was feeding on my hatred for you. It never slept, and maintained an active state! A normal person rests their body and brain by sleeping, but my brain was active even during sleep! My constantly active brain eventually triggered my nerves to grow thicker, gradually honing them...And, in fifteen years, my nerves have developed to the point that I can sense the electricity flowing within me! This is my hidden hand...Kyokeimyaku, Frenzied Nerves!" Enishi hissed, before disappearing from sight again.
"Himura!" Sojiro shouted, trying to warn them, "Hiko-san!" Even with the two men watching closely, Enishi still managed to tear into them; landing so many blows on them in a few seconds that it left them both bleeding.
"Kyokeimyaku speed is of a different nature! You both speed up your reactions by reading your opponent's moves, but I can react after my opponent has moved, and still make it in time! My eyes can follow every drop of blood in the air! My ears can hear every crack of your bones! My skin can feel every grain of sand! Hiten or not, all of my senses can find you, and my muscles and nerves will STRIKE!!!" Enishi snarled, as he opened new wounds in both Hiten masters' bodies, and ending his thought with an even more powerful kick. Hiko felt himself gag, when blood again rushed up his throat from his injured stomach, and felt more than one of his ribs snap from the force of the blow, yet he grabbed Kenshin from mid-air, and softened the landing for him when they hit the water.
"With height and speed...Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu itself has been defeated." Saito was heard to say, as those around him stared at the spot when both Kenshin and Hiko had gone.
"It seems like...this is it." Sanosuke said, gravely, then added, "Megumi, see if you can get them out of there and treat them. I'd planned on staying out of this duel, but I have no choice...I'll take care of the rest. I can't let them die here."
"Aoshi-sama! I don't want to let them die, either..." Misao tearfully added.
"Right." Aoshi agreed, as some determination appeared in his cool blue eyes as well. And yet, before they could get very far, Yahiko stopped them.
"Hold it. No matter how much of a disadvantage they seem to be at, Kenshin and Hiko-sensei haven't said they've lost yet. This is still their fight. Besides...Kenshin always wins. That is true now...and...will continue to be true." Yahiko said, as he pointed out an unbelievable sight. Kenshin had gotten to his feet again, and was standing still so Hiko could do the same.
"And we can expect the same from Hiko-sensei as well." Yahiko added; when he'd seen the determined glint in the two men's eyes, and sensed their unwavering refusal to back down.
"Shishou?" Kenshin asked, as he turned his gaze to the older man who was now leaning slightly on him.
"Hiko-san?" Kaoru also asked. They were rewarded with a slight smirk.
"Your deshi has such confidence in us, Kamiya." Hiko said, his voice soft, as he struggled to stand on his own, and walk.
"And it's well founded." Kaoru replied, honestly.
"Then it would be best not to disappoint him. Right, Shishou?" Kenshin asked.
"For once you have my agreement." Hiko muttered, as they both limped back onto the battlefield.
"Minna, your good thoughts are graciously accepted, but this battle is something we can't allow others to finish...This battle is a turning point in sessha's life..." Kenshin said, as they stood before Enishi again.
"That's right! Your defeat has no meaning at this point! Your deaths are the only things that will save my sister and me! Your Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is nothing when faced with my Watojutsu and Kyokeimyaku! Despair your deficient swords and die! Here I come! Watojutsu! Shikku Tosei!"
"Enishi...The power of your sword may be greater than sessha's or Shishou's...but you see only power, and judge based only on power." Kenshin said, quietly, as he changed his grip on his sakabatou, and as Hiko did the same with Winter Moon.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu...has protected...people from suffering...in many eras. There is no limit!" Hiko gasped, as he and his apprentice braced themselves for one final stand against Enishi.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu! Ryu Mei Sen!" the two men shouted, as they rushed their opponent, then sheathed their swords with godlike speed. Kenshin winced when Enishi's attack opened a new wound on his arm, and both he and his master found themselves leaning on their sheathed swords afterwards.
"What? What happened?" Megumi asked, bewildered by this.
"They missed...?" Yahiko added, yet turned when Misao winced and uttered a pained yelp.
"What's up?" Yahiko questioned, a little bit concernedly.
"...Nothing. Something's going on with my ears...It's nothing." Misao said, with a slight wince, as she removed her hands from her ears.
"The Oniwabanshu train to increase our hearing ability, thus allowing us to hear our environment well. This is why we're affected now. This is probably...the effect of Ryu Mei Sen." Aoshi said, as he also held one hand over an ear; his eyes slightly pained by the sound that only he and Misao had heard. And yet, they were surprised when Enishi fell to his knees, holding his ears in agony.
"You...Battousai...Seijuro...What did you...What the hell did you two just do?.!" Enishi hissed, painfully, as blood streamed from both of his ears.
"The opposite of god-speed battoujutsu...god-speed noto-jutsu, sheathing! The ultrasonic dragon howl created when the hilt hits the sheath blasts into an opponent's ear, temporarily stunning his auditory nerve. This is Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's 'Ryu Mei Sen'." Kenshin replied, watching as Enishi struggled to stand back up, got dizzy, and had to stay where he was.
"However, because of your Kyokeimyaku...or whatever you'd called it...for you, the effect doesn't end there. The Ryu Mei Sen howl traveled deep into your ears." Hiko muttered, as he forced himself to stand, and return his sword to it's place at his hip.
"I get it!" Megumi said, as realization crossed her face, "Yukishiro Enishi's senses are hyper-sensitive due to his Kyokeimyaku, so he was extremely affected by Ken-san's and Hiko-san's dual Ryu Mei Sen...allowing them to travel through his auditory canal, deeper into his semicircular canal, where equilibrium is controlled!"
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu...can stand up to Watojutsu and Kyokeimyaku." Sanosuke murmured.
"Not only that, but it has revealed a good opportunity. We now know that Yukishiro Enishi's acute senses make him vulnerable. All the stimuli he receives are amplified, and that may even lead his nervous system to self destruct. Kyokeimyaku doesn't make him invulnerable! It's a double-edged sword that increases his offensive powers at the cost of his defensive powers!" Megumi added, for good measure.
"Ba-battousai..." Enishi groaned, angrily.
"It's useless...You may be stronger or faster, but you can barely stand now...Enishi, your moves and personality are all extremely focused on offense. You have unmatched offensive powers...but when forced into the defensive you're..." Kenshin panted, his voice freezing when Enishi drove his fingers right into his own left ear!"
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!!!" Enishi snarled, as blood sprayed from the wounded ear.
"With his own hands...?.!" Megumi yelped, horrified that Enishi had done such a drastic thing.
"Fool. The Kyokeimyaku will just amplify the pain of his wounds to an excruciating degree." Aoshi muttered, as disgust appeared on his normally stoic features.
"You weren't here for the previous fight. That man's mind has already mastered his body. No matter how much pain his body receives, if his mind does not recognize it as pain, then it has no effect." Saito stated; hiding his own horror behind his well-honed mask of aloof calm.
"But his balance is still affected, even though he is standing...His defense doesn't seem any different, but his offensive powers are greatly diminished. It's even now." Sojiro murmured; his own face pale at having seen such a horrible sight with his own eyes. With a rage-filled yell, Enishi attacked the two Hiten masters again, splitting the waves with his swipe when it missed them.
"Enishi, it is useless. No matter how hard you try, your attacks will no longer work..." Kenshin quietly said, as he and Hiko landed on either side of the white-haired man; warily watching his every move.
"So what?.! No matter what happens, all I have is my offense! There is no defense! There is no need for defense! You have already robbed me of the only thing I ever wanted to protect!" Enishi raged, "That's why...I'll kill you! I will kill you both with my own two hands!"
"That stance!" Kaoru thought, her face paling when she noticed what position Enishi had taken.
"Kofoku Zettousei..." those that had been at the dojo that night thought, as they also took in the stance.
"That move again...If I ever get my hands on the thrice-damned book that supplied this maniac with this sword style, I will burn it myself!" Hiko fumed, as he went ahead and assumed the battoujutsu stance.
"Yes...sessha has definitely robbed you...There is no way to go back...But sessha will at least face your anger head on..." Kenshin sadly whispered, as he also took up the same stance as his master. Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki was their only choice, now.
"But...wasn't Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki already defeated by this Kofuku whatever...?" Misao asked, worriedly.
"We'll see...The last time, Enishi had already seen it, while Kenshin had yet to observe Kofuku Zettousei, this time, both hands are known." Aoshi mused, as the tension began to mount.
"Yet, the uneven terrain is more of a factor now. In their condition, can they make the crucial step with their left feet on this sand?" Saito asked, for once sounding just a little concerned.
"Shut up and watch. The die is cast. It's gone beyond knowing one another's moves." Sanosuke muttered, as he watched both men calmly.
"What will the die roll? All we can do is believe in them and watch." Yahiko said, hoping beyond hope that the two Hiten masters would come out on top, this time.
"Kenshin...Hiko-san..." Kaoru thought, as she gazed at them with great concern in her eyes.
"Battousai. You said earlier that my sister smiled at you...What about now? Is she smiling?" Enishi asked. Kenshin shook his head and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"No. This is beyond smiling, or not smiling. Sessha does not see her anymore." Kenshin replied, somberly.
"What?" Enishi again asked, in disbelief.
"That smile was the last one...Not even her shadow is left...Her voice is also gone...But that is okay. Just once was enough...One is all that sessha needs. The most important person...friends...family..." Kenshin said, looking first at Kaoru, then the rest of the group, and then his master in turn as he said that, "And everyone within sight...for their smiles...sessha can make a firm step forward."
"Your lies do not amuse me...if Nee-san is not smiling, then her smile belongs to no one. I will execute you both and bring the smile back to my sister! Let's go!" Enishi snarled, before the final blows were struck. To the bystanders' shock, Kenshin's blow landed first, and then Hiko's (who, by some unspoken agreement, reluctantly turned Winter Moon around in mid-strike and hit Enishi with the blunt side, full force). Enishi's eyes widened, when he felt the sudden pain from both swordsmen's attacks hit him.
"They're different! They're totally different from before!" Enishi thought, as some shock of his own appeared in his eyes. Before, he had defeated Kenshin's Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki twice, Hiko's, once. Yet now, both men had landed their blows on him.
"I see...Last time, Kenshin fought without his answer, burdened with doubts...Therefore, he could not win, even with the ougi. But this time it's different. He's found his answer and has no doubts...And Hiko-san was able to use it because he now knows that he has something to protect...Something he's willing to give his life for...For those reasons, they were able to take firm steps." Kaoru thought; cringing when Enishi uttered a soul-rending scream of pain, then fell...the tachi breaking when he released it.
"They could've lowered their strikes, if they had wanted to. And yet, both chose to end it this way..." Saito muttered, as he allowed an exasperated sigh to escape.
"But...the wato is no longer usable." Aoshi pointed out, with almost a hint of a smile on his face as he said that.
"Match over..." Sanosuke sighed, relieved that it was finally over.
"Kenshin and Hiko-sensei won!" Yahiko shouted, as Megumi and Misao began to rush over to them. Yet they were startled when both fell to their knees; barely catching themselves on their swords to prevent themselves from falling on their faces.
"No!" Megumi cried, fear quickening their steps to their sides.
"Are you two okay?.!" Misao shouted, yet both were made to stop by two words from Kenshin.
"Not...yet..." Kenshin gasped, as he tried to remain standing, and as Hiko leaned his head against the hilt of his sword; knowing that he had to get up again, yet dreading the effort.
"Battousai...Battousai!" Enishi growled, as he slowly got up and approached the two seriously wounded swordmasters.
"Enishi..." Kenshin murmured, yet felt it when Hiko shoved him aside, and raised Winter Moon; deflecting a bullet before it could strike him.
"Shishou!" Kenshin yelped, stunned by his master's bold move, and that he'd managed to block the incoming bullet in his condition.
"Both of you stay down. That yarou up there has a gun." Hiko warned, as he got up, and looked over at Aoshi.
"Shinomori! One of your kodachi! Be quick with it!" Hiko shouted, as he dodged more bullets.
"Right! Here!" Aoshi replied, then tossed one of the weapons to him. With a deft catch, and then throw that would have left even Okina jealous, Hiko threw the kodachi; the point of it ending up in the barrel of one of the handguns!
"Way to go, Hiko-san! You took one of them out!" Misao whooped, as the gun exploded, leaving Heishin with only one left.
"You have all treated me like trash!" Heishin yowled, as he continued firing at the Thirteenth master, "I'll kill you! You are all going to be massacred!" Hiko uttered a pained growl, when one bullet struck him in the right shoulder; hitting him where one of his old gunshot scars was.
"Damn...not again..." Hiko thought, as he fell; hardly even hearing when Kenshin shouted his name, nor seeing when Kaoru suddenly made the split-second decision to get to their sides. With a bravery she didn't think she even had, Kaoru tried to shield both Hiten masters from the bullets with her body; unaware that Enishi was staring in horror at what was about to happen...and was about to make a desperate move.
"DIE!!" Heishin snarled, before he pulled the trigger again. Kaoru closed her eyes when she heard the resounding crack, yet opened them again when she saw that Enishi was now pounding the daylights out of Heishin! One of his blows had actually made the gun miss her completely!
"W-wait! If you do anything more, he'll die!" Kaoru yelped, when she saw how enraged Enishi now was, yet breathed a sigh of relief when Kenshin stopped him.
"Move! Move it!" Enishi shouted, angrily.
"If sessha moves, you will kill this man. No more killing, by sessha or anyone else. Whoever it may be, as long as they are within sessha's sight, nobody will die!" Kenshin said, breathlessly; turning his head and nodding to Kaoru to go and see if Hiko was all right.
"It's time to end this, Enishi...If you continue on like this...you will lose Tomoe's smile forever..." Kenshin whispered, as the sad, haunted look appeared in his purple eyes, once more, then released Enishi's fist.
"Thank you...for protecting...Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin added, as he slowly walked away from the younger man. And, for the first time in fifteen years, tears flowed from Enishi's eyes.
"No! The one I wanted to protect...the one I really wanted to protect was...Curse you...curse you!" Enishi sobbed, as Kenshin limped away from him.
"Kaoru-dono, is Shishou all right?" Kenshin asked, worriedly.
"Megumi-san is helping him now." Kaoru reassured.
"Good. Now, are you all right?" Kenshin again asked, as a slight smile touched his bloodied and bruised features.
"Hai." Kaoru replied, smiling when Kenshin tripped slightly, and fell forward with a soft, exhausted 'Oro' into her arms.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv(divider)
It didn't take long for Hiko to regain consciousness, when he felt some hands try to move him onto a stretcher.
"Watch it...ahou...I'm not dead." Hiko growled, scaring the daylights out of what seemed to be two cops.
"Gomen. Didn't mean to be so rough." one cop said, as he eased an arm behind Hiko's shoulders, and helped him sit up.
"Feh. I guess...seeing you here...means that the fight is over?" Hiko asked; wincing when the movement pulled on quite a few of his injuries.
"Hai. It's been over for a short while. We're just rounding them up, now." the other cop stated, as he pointed out the now-handcuffed Enishi and the members of his private army that were being escorted to one of the just-arrived police ships.
"I see. Any idea where Himura Kenshin has gotten to?" Hiko asked, irritably, as he tried to get back to his feet on his own.
"The whole group is over there. But are you sure you should be moving around? Your wounds look serious." the first cop said, with true concern on his honest face.
"I'll manage." Hiko replied, as he forced himself onto his feet, and started walking in the direction the cop had indicated.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv(divider)
Kenshin could only watch, as the members of Enishi's ring were grouped together for boarding the ships.
"Misao-chan, do you have that thing I asked for?" Kaoru asked, getting a nod from the onmitsu in response, before she handed her Tomoe's diary.
"It's okay, right Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.
"Aa...It is for the best..." Kenshin said, giving her his permission to give the book to Enishi. With a nod of her own, Kaoru rushed forward to give it to him.
"Wait!" Kaoru called; getting a listless look from the young man in answer.
"Take this...with you..." Kaoru hesitantly said, as she handed the diary to him. For a brief moment, a hint of life returned to his now-cobalt blue eyes, then it faded again.
"You sure that was the right decision, Baka Deshi?" Hiko's voice asked, startling everyone into turning around.
"Shishou!" Kenshin said, relieved that the older man was back on his feet, even though it was an evident strain on him to be so.
"Aa. It's time for him to see Tomoe's true feelings for himself." Kenshin replied; smiling slightly when Hiko only sighed.
"If he can make heads or tales out of it." Hiko grumbled.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Megumi asked, peevishly.
"I'm not going to give you any excuse to torture me, Kitsune-onna, and I am going to go and find some sake to drink. Knowing you, it will be quite a while before I am allowed to have any again." Hiko muttered, as he went to do just that.
"You get back here! You're in no shape to be walking around, and you shouldn't have any sake in the condition you're in! You obstinate old man!" Megumi shouted, furiously, as she chased after the elder Hiten master.
"Oro...Megumi-dono..." Kenshin sighed, shaking his head as he did so.
"Your master's about to meet his match, Kenshin." Sanosuke mumbled, as they all watched the irate woman give the Thirteenth Hiten master an earful.
"Sessha thinks...at this point...that he feels sorry for Shishou..." Kenshin stated, as an embarrassed smile appeared on his face for the first time in a long while.
"I think we all do, Himura-san." Sojiro agreed, as they watched a staring contest begin between the two equally stubborn individuals.
Author's Note!
The end is in sight! This fic has been a pretty wild ride, but I hope it's all lived up to expectations! Thanks for all your support, minna, and stay tuned for the epilogue!
Gemini14