Last time on Battousai's apprentice the master and student faced a former manslayer Jinei Udoh, who bested both of them. Now because of Derek's big mouth Jinei has kidnapped Miss Kaoru to force Kenshin into another confrontation to the death, will the two find a way to defeat him and rescue Miss Kaoru...well don't ask me :) read review and enjoy.

Kenshin and Derek walked along the stream, heads hung low as they proceeded to where they knew Jinei would be…waiting for them.

Kenshin had become uncharacteristically quiet since Derek had told him of his giving away Miss Kaoru's name to Jinei; Derek could hardly stand the silence from his usually talkative sensei.

"We will rescue Miss Kaoru Kenshin-sensei," Derek said at last, breaking the silence. "Together we have the strength."

"Of that I am not so sure," Kenshin muttered, his voice now deep and serious. "It is not likely that Jinei will permit us to attack him at once, he will force one on one confrontations to the death."

Derek's eyes went wide, from the past two fights he had seen that Jinei was superior to them both individually.

"I must remember who I was ten years ago if I am to have a hope of defeating him…that I must," Kenshin finished, though his last words seemed forced.

"But is there not a way to become stronger?" Derek asked, desperate to prevent his master from reverting back to the merciless killer he used to be. "Isn't there someway to become stronger than one who kills without becoming an unrepentant killer yourself?"

"If you remember my lessons young one, then you should know the answer yourself."

Derek thought hard, attempting to remember back to the numerous lessons Kenshin had taught him over the last ten years, finally he remembered what Kenshin meant for him to.

Flashback

Derek was 9, together he and Kenshin sat beneath a waterfall, permitting its water to strike their unprotected backs.

Derek hated this exercise, the water was always too cold and stung his back after the first few minutes.

"Kenshin-sensei," the boy started. "Why do we need to do this everyday, isn't there a different way to get stronger?"

Kenshin merely looked over at his new pupil, smiling broadly.

"That is a secret I am afraid even I do not know, for it is known only to the ultimate master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style."

"Isn't that you master?"

Kenshin chuckled before answering. "No pupil Derek, that title falls to my own former master…Seijuro Hiko."

"Seijuro Hiko?"

"Yes, he is the true master of Hiten Mitsurugi, and only passes down the secret to his phenomenal strength when his student has learned all there is to know about Hiten Mitsurugi."

"You mean you haven't?"

"Unfortunately in my arrogance as a child, I neglected to finish my training," Kenshin lowered his head as he continued. "The meiji revolution had broken out, and I was determined to protect who I could from the suffering, but my master forbade me from going, stating that I would become a mass murderer and that whichever side got my sword would be the victor…I guess he was right."

Derek lowered his head as well, continuing to concentrate on the water rushing over his body, thinking to himself.

"Seijuro Hiko…I hope I get to meet this man someday."

End Flashback

"So," the 18 year old Derek began. "Without the secret to ultimate strength we must battle Jinei in the only way we have open to us, just promise me one thing sensei."

"What?"

"Even if you are forced to go back to being Battousai the Manslayer…promise me that you will always remain Kenshin…the teacher and wanderer."

A hint of a smile appeared on Kenshin's face as he nodded, together they walked toward the shrine where Jinei awaited, the sun setting early that day.

It was quite dark by the time we arrived at the shrine, Jinei was sitting several feet from it smoking a cigarette, a bound Miss Kaoru was present within the shrine.

"Ah so the quarry arrives," Jinei spat, tossing the remains of his cigarette aside.

Both Kenshin and Derek approached Jinei, their hands upon their swords.

"Ah ah ah," Jinei taunted, placing his sword at Kaoru's neck. "If you both come at me I shall slit her throat."

"This is my battle pupil," Kenshin said, laying a hand on Derek's shoulder. "You must ensure Miss Kaoru's safety that you must."

Derek nodded solemnly; slowly he walked pass Jinei towards Miss Kaoru, a spark of electricity leapt between him and the former manslayer as they crossed paths.

"Those are good eyes," Jinei said, staring at Kenshin. "It shows you hate me, that's good." The eerie smile never left his face as he spoke.

As soon as Derek was beside Miss Kaoru Kenshin leapt into the air, swinging his blade towards Jinei.

Jinei parried, however just barely, Derek could scarcely believe the sudden increase in his teachers speed.

The two opponents parried and slashed at each others blades, neither one of them giving an inch. Derek could tell that Kenshin was incredibly focused on the battle, attempting to anticipate Jinei's moves, at first it appeared as if he was succeeding.

Turning his sword upside down he caught Jinei's strike on his hilt, breaking his stance, Kenshin moved in to finish him.

He didn't see Jinei's hidden knife.

He rolled out of the way once he finally saw Jinei draw the hidden weapon, yet he still caught a portion of it in the side, drawing blood.

"Sensei!" Derek shouted.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru yelled simultaneously.

However, despite his injuries Kenshin staggered to his feet, he seemed different somehow.

Jinei lunged again, however Kenshin vanished, appearing behind the former manslayer. Jinei however was still faster, knocking his blade aside.

"That's good," Jinei cackled. "Despite your injuries your latest attack was faster than the first. But its still not good enough, you still do not wish to kill me."

Turning towards Kaoru Jinei leered his eyes towards her, a red flash appearing in them for a brief moment.

"K-Ken-shin," Kaoru stuttered.

"Miss Kaoru!" Derek shouted, shaking her softly by her shoulders. "What's wrong, what did you do to her?"

"A stronger version of my shin-no-ippou," Jinei was smiling more than he ever had before. "So strong that she can't even breathe."

"What?" Derek shouted, drawing his sword.

"There are but two ways to break it. Either for her swordsman spirit to break mine…which is utterly impossible for that girl, or for the user to die."

"Jinei…" Kenshin whispered.

"Sensei…" Derek whispered, knowing what was coming.

Kenshin disappeared from where he had been kneeling, even faster than Jinei could follow.

He appeared mere inches from Jinei, plowing his sword into Jinei's face, a loud crack could be heard as Derek knew Jinei's nose had broken.

"That was perfect!" Jinei shouted, snapping his nose back into place. "Not only couldn't I see your sword swing, but I didn't even see your body move! Battousai the manslayer has returned!"

"Enough talking," Kenshin said his voice now devoid of any emotion other than anger. "You are about to die so why don't you come on over here?"

Jinei sneered, quickly he rushed towards Kenshin, however as he was about to reach him he jumped to the side, as if he thought Kenshin was going to attack him early.

"I see, it's hard to predict your movement when you intend to kill" Jinei whispered. "Watch this battle closely boy," he said, referring to Derek. "This is how we fought in the revolution."

Kenshin sheathed his sword, getting into a classic sword stance; however Derek could tell what he was doing.

"Do not worry Miss Kaoru," Derek said to her, trying to calm her to give her more time. "That is my sensei's battojutsu stance, he can draw his sword with god-like speed with that." He neglected to mention that a reverse blade sword is slightly slower while using battojutsu.

Jinei sneered once more, suddenly he raised his sword up to his face, using it like a mirror. He seemed to use his Shin-no-ippou upon himself, however the effect was different than when he had used it before.

His muscles seemed to get bigger, and he started swinging his sword with one hand, as if it weighed nothing at all. With a series of swings he slashed a nearby boulder in two, his strength had become phenomenal.

"This is my ultimate ability," he cackled. "This version of the shin-no-ippou puts me in a trance which pushes me to my limit, you cannot beat me now!"

Kenshin never even moved as he spoke.

"Sensei…." Derek whispered to himself once more. The only time he had seen his beloved teacher like this was upon the hilltop where he had rescued Derek ten years ago. It seemed as if the manslayer Jinei had spoken so much of had indeed returned.

Jinei rushed Kenshin, his speed suddenly unreal, as he neared him Kenshin swung his sword, increasing its speed using his battojutsu skill.

It was too slow, Jinei narrowly dodged it, the blade swinging by his face harmlessly.

Jinei rushed towards Kenshin, his sword ready to finish him off. "I win this battle Battous…GAH!" Jinei croaked, as Kenshin unexpectantly brought his sheath up, using it in a double battojutsu, catching Jinei in his arm.

A cracking sound could be heard.

Jinei fell to knees, cradling his battered arm.

"Nice work sensei!" Derek shouted, caught up in the moment of victory.

"Your arm is shattered," Kenshin muttered, his voice now emotionless. "Your life as a swordsman is over."

He stood over Jinei for several seconds, the two of them simply gazing at each other.

Kaoru coughed slightly, Derek cradled her gently.

"She doesn't have much time left," Derek thought to himself. But the only way to break this is….to kill Jinei.

"What's the matter Battousai," Jinei asked, he was still smiling through the pain in his arm. "The little girl doesn't have much time left."

"In order to protect Miss Kaoru…" Kenshin began, turning the sharp edge of his blade to face Jinei. "I shall become a manslayer once again!"

With that he brought his sword down.

His blade was stopped by another, parried to the side by….Derek's own reverse blade sword.

"Don't do it sensei!" Derek shouted, shaking Kenshin by the shoulders. "You have done so much to keep your oath to never kill. If Jinei must die…then I shall do it."

Kenshin stared at him for several seconds before responding.

"If I recall correctly you made the same oath…yet you have never killed before."

"But I have sworn to use my sword to assist you sensei…as I must do now!" Derek raised his sword, about to bring it down on Jinei.

"STOP!" came a shout from the side.

It was Miss Kaoru, staggering out of the shrine, gasping for air.

"Don't…kill….either of you…..you both….swore," with that she collapsed to her knees, exhausted.

"Miss Kaoru!" Kenshin shouted, emotion filling his eyes once again, rushing to her side, Derek sheathed his sword and followed suit. "You must not die now that you shouldn't!"

"That you…shouldn't?" Kaoru asked weakly, a smile could be seen on her face.

"He's back," Derek thought to himself. The manslayer had lost…for now.

"To think my ability could be broken by a girl like her," Jinei muttered, reaching behind his back, pulling out a short sword.

Derek approached him, placing his hand upon his sword. "Don't do it Jinei, you could not defeat Kenshin with just that blade and your one good arm."

"Who said I'm using it on him?" Jinei snickered, lunging at Derek.

Derek barely avoided the slash, even with how wounded Jinei was, he was still a threat to an inexperienced swordsmen. However Derek was no so weak as Jinei had presumed, bringing his own sword out he swung at Jinei. In Jinei's weakened state he could not dodge it, as the reverse blade caught him in his side, breaking several ribs.

"To lose…to you," he spat, coughing up blood. "Guess its time to end it." He turned his blade towards himself…and thrust it.

The blade was knocked away, Derek stood triumphantly over Jinei's still living form.

"So that's it?" he asked, standing over the defeated manslayer. "You lose so you kill yourself? What kind of honor is there in that?"

Derek looked into Jinei's eyes, for a moment they seemed normal to him.

"Hey! They're over here!" came a voice from afar. It was Sanosuke, accompanied by Yahiko and a police squad.

"I guess that's it, I'm done," Jinei said, using up the last of his strength, he collapsed onto his back, utterly exhausted.

"Don't go killing yourself in prison," Derek said, kneeling down to Jinei's face. "You need a rematch with me before you go off doing anything foolish."

With that Derek pulled Jinei to his feet, handing his broken body over to the dozen police men nearby.

Turning around he saw Kenshin and Kaoru walking up to him, a sincere smile upon their faces.

"That was a good thing you did there Derek that it was. You have saved a life here today."

"Yea," Derek replied, trying to act tough. "But now I guess I really do owe him a rematch someday."

As the sun rose the five friends started their walk back to the dojo, all of them exhausted from the nights activities.

"Aw man," Yahiko could be heard complaining behind them as they walked. "I cant believe we missed the fight."

"I am afraid so young one," Derek said smiling. "But there was nothing you could have done anyway with your level of skill."

"What's that supposed to mean!" Yahiko shouted, glaring at Derek with all his might. "Don't think so highly of yourself just because Kenshin agreed to teach you Hiten Mitsurugi. At least I'm not some stupid punk."

Derek's eyes became just as evil looking, returning Yahiko's glare. "What was that you little brat?"

The two continued to burn holes in each others faces with their eyes, in a flash Derek started running, Yahiko close behind.

"Get back here!" He shouted, Derek mockingly pointed at him as he continued running.

After several moments Kenshin ran alongside his pupil, Kaoru chasing after him as well.

"What did you do now sensei?" Derek asked as the master and student fled from Kaoru and Yahiko.

"Something about ruining her favorite ribbon heh," Kenshin sighed as the four of them continued to run across the bridge into the new day ahead of them.

Far behind, Sanosuke simply grumbled something about not understanding some people.

Jinei survived? Hope you didn't see that coming, whew that was fun writing that chapter. I hope you liked the foreshadowing of Seijuro Hiko, I cant wait to get to the part where Kenshin's apprentice meets him. Don't get too comfy with the new peace…the Aoshi arc is coming up next, don't miss it. Don't forget to review, I need to know if I'm doing it good :)