Chapter 32: Repetition

"You haven't changed a bit, Jin'e…" Kenshin said, standing at ease but with confidence. "You're even in the same clothing."

Jin'e swung his sword out. "Battousai. You didn't bring your weapon."

"Sessha wasn't planning on battle this evening, to be honest," Kenshin replied.

Kaoru looked up at him from her spot on the floor. Kenshin… something's different… but the same… it's just… A twinge of pain hit her in the forehead. "Ow!" She cried, shutting her eyes.

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin's voice called, and in her head she envisioned him smiling at her, dressed as a samurai, with a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek…

"Jin'e… leave this place in peace, if you will. Sessha has no desire to fight you, but Sessha will if it becomes necessary, he will," Kenshin explained calmly. "Sessha happens to still have his weapon in the car."

"Then, let's see you use it, Battousai," A voice came from the doorway.

The room turned in the direction to catch sight of a burning cigarette, then the owner of such cigarette holding the sakabatou in his hands.

"So good of you to bless us with your presence, Saitou," Kenshin said.

Saitou tossed the sword to Kenshin who caught it effortlessly. "Watching you fight now should be a thrill. You're not held back by that present-day exterior."

"Sessha is sessha, no matter what time period, Saitou," Kenshin replied. "Sessha is not here to humor you either."

Saitou crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. His wolfish, golden eyes danced like the revolution's flames, bright and just as yearning for blood. "We shall see who's humored, Battousai…"

"If we are going to fight, let us take it outside," Kenshin told Jin'e.

Jin'e reached down and grabbed Kaoru by the hair, making her yelp, and he chuckled ever-so maliciously that Kenshin's eyes glazed over with rage.

"Is this your date, Battousai?" Jin'e asked, smirking. "She looks familiar… Ah, yes… I remember. She was the one I captured before. Well, I'm not one who likes change…"

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin shouted, gritting his teeth. "Let her go, Jin'e. This doesn't concern her."

"Oh, but it does…" Jin'e replied. "Doesn't it, girl. You remember."

"I… I don't know what you're talking about!" She cried. "I…" The indigo ribbon fell from her ponytail and fluttered to the floor. She looked to it for only long enough for Jin'e to throw her across the room.

Kenshin's sword was drawn instantly, and he slashed at Jin'e while letting out a shout. Jin'e unfortunately had dodged the attack.

"That's what I like to see from you," Jin'e grinned. "Pure rage, pure hatred."

Kaoru pulled herself up off the floor. "Ken… shin…"

Jin'e smirked. "I wonder if this incarnation is as determined as the last, or if this pampered existence has softened her. Let's liven things up and find out." He turned towards Kaoru and looked into her eyes.

"Eh?" She gasped as air stopped coming into her throat.

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin shouted, horrified.

"Just like before… eh, Battousai?" Jin'e laughed deep in his throat.

Kenshin was trembling with anger as he turned. "You bastard…"

Kaoru clawed at her throat, trying in desperation to breathe. Her whole body felt like it was freezing up.

Jin'e drew his own weapon. "Now, let's finish what we started. You have five minutes."

"I remember," Kenshin growled.

Jin'e stabbed his blade into the ribbon and lifted it up off the floor. "And this is your blood, right? From when I did THIS!" The blade went into Kenshin's shoulder. He'd been caught completely off guard.

Blood sprayed out from the wound, coating the ribbon and Jin'e with it.

"KENSHIN!" Sano, Yahiko, and Megumi all yelled at the same time.

"Doesn't seem as if this original version of Battousai is used to this body," Saitou mumbled, puffing on his cigarette.

"Come on, Battousai. Do a little better than that," Jin'e pulled the blade out and slashed Kenshin across the front, sending him sliding backwards a few feet.

Kenshin huffed, sweat trickling down the side of his face as blood seeped out of his wounds. Sessha needs to concentrate…Stop being distracted by Kaoru's fate, or Kaoru's fate will be an all but good one…

Kenshin took off running at Jin'e and performed a perfect, graceful technique that ended up landing his reverse-bladed weapon into Jin'e with such force that the cut across his chest did not start to spew blood until Kenshin landed on his feet after the attack.

"I will no longer leave myself open to you," Kenshin said darkly, "So I suggest that you don't either." He turned on him, his eyes filled with the malice that he only got when he was transcending into Battousai.

Kenshin moved so quickly that nobody saw him until he'd sliced at Jin'e once more, though Jin'e had placed his sword in front of him, blocking the move. The loud pang of swords colliding echoed through the gym.

"Release Kaoru from your spell," Kenshin growled viciously.

"Why would I do that?" Jin'e mocked.

"Because," Kenshin jumped back from the attack and lifted his head. "I won't kill you if you do." His eyes shined gold.

"Why does this always happen?" Hiko grumbled to the ceiling. "AGH!" A sharp pain entered his head. Behind his eyelids he could see parts of his past life, playing out like a movie. Shinta… Hiten Mitsurugi…

Hiko fell onto his knees, his hand blindly swiping glasses of punch to the floor.

"Hey!" Sano exclaimed, going towards him. "AH! What the hell?!" He shouted as pain shot through his forehead, knocking him to the floor.

And after mere moments, they were all falling, seeing vividly clear visions of their past.

"Very interesting indeed," Soujirou said.

The sound of clashing blades played in the smiling boy's ears. He turned to watch Battousai battling with Jin'e with the most valor he'd ever used in this form.

Kenshin's sword smashed into Jin'e's nose. He floated across the room and landed on his feet, then turned with glowing eyes towards Jin'e. "You shall die where you stand should you mess with Kaoru-dono any longer."

Soujirou's eyes glittered with excitement. "Himura-san…" He was incredibly pale, and his smile didn't seem quite as bright as it used to be. "Just don't go too far…"

"I wonder if I should stop him," Saitou mumbled idly, lighting a cigarette.

"You should," Aoshi growled. Aoshi too would have, had he had a weapon available. Misao had made him leave it at home. Sometimes she was a foolish girl.

Kenshin flipped the blade on his weapon. "Jin'e!!"

Kaoru opened her eyes from her spot on the floor. She was too weak to move, the voice of her former self still playing in her ears. "I… understand…now…" She whispered as consciousness slowly began to recover.

"It all makes sense…" Sano mumbled, getting to his knees.

"I think I get it…" Yahiko moaned, rubbing his forehead.

"But of course…" Megumi gasped.

"Kenshin!" Hiko shouted, eyes flying open.

Kenshin charged Jin'e and slashed at him several times, leaving several bloody wounds about his body.

"That's right, Battousai! Hate me!" Jin'e yelled in psychotic glee. "Destroy me! You know that you want to!"

Kenshin shouted in rage, shattering Jin'e's arm, using his sheath, just like back then. Jin'e grinned at the sight of his peril, despite the pain. It was as if he was enjoying each painful experience, and he was. After all, he was succeeding in his job.

"DIE, JIN'E!" Kenshin yelled, eyes gleaming with malice. He'd lost all control of himself by this point.

"Kenshin!" Sano, Megumi, Yahiko, Hiko, and Kaoru all shouted at the same time.

"I have to stop him," Aoshi growled, taking off towards him just before Kenshin's blade was to land in Jin'e's shoulder.

A clash of blades silenced everyone and left them all staring.

Aoshi even paused mid-step.

"Himura-san…" Soujirou said, holding his block. "You can't do this…"

"Soujirou…" Aoshi whispered, completely lost.

"KENSHIN!" Kaoru shouted, taking off and throwing her arms around him.

Kenshin dropped his blade as he slowly came to. "…Kaoru…" He whispered. She was crying… crying for what he'd almost done… He trembled in fear, then held her tight. "Kaoru, I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" He said shamefully.

"Kenshin… I remember everything now… I understand now…"

Soujirou laughed bitterly as his sword shattered. Aoshi's eyes narrowed as his memory brought him to Kanryuu's mansion. Soujirou…

"History really does repeat itself," He said, hanging his head. "I understand now too…"