The flames roared as they hungrily consumed the wooden crates lining the edge of the warehouse, their reddish light flashing off the blades of the two combatants. Kenshin lashed out viciously with the sharp edge of his reversed blade sword. The blow was aimed for the other boy's neck, but Shishio danced out of the way with ease.
"You're rusty, Battosai," he chuckled. "Your demon claws have grown dull."
Kenshin's amber eyes burned with pure rage. He lunged forwards to his full extent, thrusting the sword point at Shishio's heart. The brown haired teen easily flicked the blade away with his sword, leaving Kenshin open. The redhead pulled away quickly, feeling the attacking blade tip brush against his chest. They paused there, both gasping for air.
"You said you'd kill me, Battosai, but you've yet to even lay a scratch," Shishio laughed.
"I will keep my word, don't worry," responded Kenshin icily. His cold rage seemed to suck the very heat out of the air, his merciless eyes calculating his next move. "I'll send you to the depths of hell!"
He charged forwards, bringing the blade before him. Shishio chuckled, parrying the blind thrust, knocking it away. He then swung his katana at Kenshin's face. The redhead ducked under it, springing forwards, coming in low like a shot.
He felt his blade slice through Shishio's flesh. Kenshin kept moving until he was sure he was out of range, before turning with grim satisfaction. He flicked the droplets of blood from his sword, before bringing it up into an on guard stance.
"Not bad," complemented Shishio, examining the wound on his thigh. "But it could have been much deeper. Tell me Battosai, are you still holding back?" Kenshin felt his anger build but refused to answer Shishio's taunt. "How many more of your friends must I kill before you'll take me seriously?"
"I'm right here Shishio," Kenshin answered coldly. "You'll not lay another hand on my friends."
"How do you intend to stop me?"
"I'll cut your head off if I must."
Shishio's face contorted into a smile. "That's what it'll take. Otherwise your friends will end up just like that girl and Tomoe."
"Don't you dare say her name!" screamed Kenshin.
He launched himself off the ground, sailing through the air towards Shishio, sword raised above his mane of wild crimson hair. Shishio instinctively brought his sword up, just in time to block the attack aimed for his skull.
He was taken by surprise when the redhead kicked him squarely in the gut. He crumpled to the ground, coughing. A foot knocked his sword across the floor, out of reach. Slowly, the Juppongatanna leader looked up.
Kenshin stood over him, his fierce golden eyes just visible from behind a curtain of blood-red hair. He kicked Shishio violently, forcing him onto his back. The bandaged teen stared at the silver blade that hovered steadily above his heart. His eyes flickered up to Kenshin's face, an expressionless mask with two unwavering amber orbs.
"What are you waiting for?" Shishio wheezed. "Strike me that you may exact revenge."
There was no change in Kenshin's expression. His eyes stared down at the place were his blade would puncture. It was such an easy gesture. He just had to push the blade forward. A few inches and Shishio wouldbe dead.
Dead…
He would be gone, never again causing Kenshin pain. He would never hurt anyone again. This would be over, Kaoru and Tomoe would be avenged.
Avenged?
Is that what this was about? Is that what he wanted? Shishio had to die, there was no question about that. The bastard had to suffer for what he'd done- he had to. But still, the redhead hesitated, did he really want this? Could hereally do it?
"Why was Tomoe killed?" his voice sounded strange to his own ears, hollow of all emotion.
Shishio was taken by surprise for a second. Then he began to chuckle before it turned into a mocking laugh. "What's the matter Battosai, don't you remember?"
"Answer," hissed Kenshin. He let the point sink into Shishio's skin, allowing a small stream of blood to escape the wound.
Shishio grinned viciously. "She was sent to destroy you. But her heart got in the way." He laughed at his own sick joke. "That's two women that have been killed right before you, both dying right in this very place, while you did nothing to save them. How does that feel, Battosai? To know that Tomoe died right in your arms, saving your pathetic life."
Shock rocketed through Kenshin's system, his mind suddenly wheeling. He felt lightheaded as he struggled to concentrate. He could see the memory before him, Tomoe in his arms, dying. Her face deathly pale as she carved the mark across his cheek. Whispering words in her final breath that he could no longer remember.
His vision blurred before him, his feet becoming unsteady. "Not now, not now," he thought repeatedly.
He struggled against the murky darkness that was crawling steadily towards him. The stabbing pain in his left side was back. He felt dizzy, the world dimmed into indistinguishable sounds and colours. He thought he heard voices shouting his name but he couldn't tell. He couldn't see anything as the world suddenly fell away.
"This is… what it's like. Being completely empty. Devoid of everything… feeling, pain, love, joy, anger, there's nothing left. No blood, no life... I'm going to die here. I know that and yet… I'm not scared."
"Why?"
"Death… is the end of everything that lives. I don't fear what naturally comes to all."
"Can't you keep a promise?"
Suddenly he was staring into a dream like world, looking at it but not truly there. The world was forever frozen, the sun stuck just on the horizon. The waves stilled from there eternal movement. The only living thing of that silent world was a girl. She stood, watching him with sorrowful dark eyes. Her scarf swayed around her, long hair playing in a none existent wind.
"Tomoe…"
She opened her mouth, speaking words that seemed out of sink with her gentle voice.
"A promise asked but never answered as this hand carved a piece of that scar on your cheek."
She raised her left hand before her. A scene flashed before him, her blood flowing away from her. He was cradling her cold limp form in his arms. Tears and crimson flowing down his face mixing with hers, her blood and his blood, pools of life that swirled together into one.
"Stop it!"
The image dissolved away before him.
"No more, I deserve to die. Let it take me, I don't fear it."
"You fear life, Kenshin."
She'd hit the mark, he knew it.
"Live to protect those special lives around you."
He couldn't meet her eyes.
"Everything I care about is gone."
She regarded him with the saddest look.
"Is that what you think? Everything, everyone is gone?"
"It is. That is what I, Kenshin Himura the Battosai do. I destroy everything around me… that I do."
"Will you not keep your word?"
"How can I? How can I keep a promise of something I don't even remember! I can't hold myself to something like that, that he cannot."
"You're scared."
"I already know that. I've done so many terrible things, I can never be forgiven."
"This world, like your heart, is frozen. Forever stuck in the past, in one time. A place you'll never be able to forget and yet, somehow, forgotten."
She paused for a moment, gazing out at the unmoving sea.
"The question is, will you forgive yourself?"
His eyes were glued to the ground before him.
"No, this one can not."
There was a sound of metal sliding free and an object clattering to the ground. He looked up, fear filling him. Tomoe regarded him calmly, the strange sword held before her. She didn't move, standing as still as the world around her.
"This is a sakabato, a reverse blade sword designed so the wielder may fight without fear of taking a life. It is a sword that has never tasted blood or death: an innocent blade. It's a fitting weapon for you, Kenshin."
"I don't believe that, that I don't."
She raised the sword before her the sharp edge pointed towards herself.
"You have the same spirit as this sword. Used wrongly and this blade will slice its master, losing all that it stands for."
With a quick flick of her wrist she turned the blade. Kenshin felt himself involuntarily tense.
"Easily flipped, destroying all that its holder believes in."
She lowered the sword.
"A sharp painful past, but you have a future."
"Dull, undefined and useless. How is that a future?"
"Do you really believe that?"
"Anyone who's ever cared about me ends up dying! And I can't do anything to stop it. I just stood there, watching uselessly, as you and Miss Kaoru were killed. I was right there! And yet… all I did was watch. You were murdered right in front of me. I couldn't do anything… I just- just… … you know, I think Shishio was right. I did nothing to save either of you. Maybe… maybe it would be better… for everyone, if this one just died. It's funny, I tried so hard to redeem myself for… everything I've done and yet… here I am, not any different, still making the same mistakes and causing others to suffer needlessly because of it. I've hurt so many people and yet… there is nothing I can ever do that will forgive what I have done. If I die, then maybe… no, if I die no one else would have to suffer. I won't ever cause anyone pain again. There's nothing left for me. I can't be forgiven.Let Shishio have my life, I… this one welcomes death."
"A quick death is all to good for you. It shall not be granted to you, Battosai." It wasn't her voice. Her mouth was moving but it wasn't her words.
Kenshin struggled to understand as everything in that strange world dissolved. All at once, he was returned to a place of fire and agony. He tried to scream, but he couldn't tell if the sound was escaping his throat. His eyes finally began to focus. Small pinpricks of light appeared in his vision and the darkness began to recede.
Shishio knelt above him, a delighted smirk on his face. "Welcome back Battosai," he teased.
Kenshin struggled to pull himself away. Shishio laughed, grabbing the wound on his side. Kenshin screamed, crashing against the blood slick floor. His voice echoed around the large structure, filling it with his anguished cries.
"Stop it!" yelled Megumi. Shishio glanced up at her with piercing scarlet eyes. They'd moved the remaining two prisoners down to the floor as the final stages of Shishio's plan took place.
"Why should I?" he sneered.
"Cause," answered Sano fearlessly, meeting the gang leader's glare. "If you don't I'll-"
"You'll what?" Shishio rose to his feet, releasing Kenshin's side. The redhead fell still, a weak whimper escaping his mouth as his breath came in shaky gasps. Shishio gave him a quick look of disgust before advancing towards his trapped pray. "What can two weak little fools like you do?" He raised his sword, causing the two prisoners to cringe slightly. He laughed, resting his katana against his shoulder. "The only thing you've accomplished in coming here is destroying the once great and powerful Battosai." His tone was mocking, a smirk of pure malevolence upon his face. "Weakness only bread weakness, I really should thank you though. If it weren't for you, Battosai wouldn't have fallen so far. I owe my victory all thanks to you and to show my great appreciation, I'll end your suffering first."
Kenshin froze, his mind realizing what Shishio was about to do. The redhead's vision swam, he took a shaky breath, trying desperately to steady himself. He had to act, if he didn't he was going to lose another friend. He couldn't let that happen. He had to do something, anything! He pushed himself up off the floor, forcing his body to move. Time seemed to slow down as Shishio raised the sword above his head, the blade shining crimson in the light.
Kenshin's body screamed as he struggled to his knees. He wasn't going to make it. Time was running out. He gritted his teeth, he had to do something.
Even if it meant drawing his last breath, the redhead knew he had to protect them. He mustered the very last of his strength, grabbing the object in his pocket. He pulled it free and hurled it with all his might, praying silently that his aim was true. His vision blurred, the firelight almost completely disappearing from his sight. He wondered weakly how throwing something could be so hard. His last memory was the sensation of falling as darkness descended upon him again.
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This chapter is a little weird yes, well I blame that on my slight insanity after having to write a bunch of exams. Had to focus and study so much that the creative side of my brain went wacky.
I usually don't plan my stories out too much, when I write them, mostly because things never turn out like I planned them. This chapter, for example, I expected the plot to go one way but instead Kenshin decided to go his own way in this chapter. Which is slightly annoying since I had to think a bit of what I'm going to do exactly next...
I hope you guys weren't too impatient waiting for this chapter. Heh… (looks around nervously) heh heh?
Big thanks to my reviewers Stella-neko, summer star, Reignashii, MikaylaMae, and Seta.
Stella-neko: My lips are sealed.
Summer star: I was going all out with my word choice in that chapter. Really glad I managed to capture the moment so well.
Reignashii: Heeeeheeeeheeeee. I find in anime that the main girl character is always yelling a guys name and never ends up distracting him so I thought I'd go for a change of pace.
MikaylaMae: Nothing more on Kaoru in this chapter you're just going to keep reading to find out what happens.
Seta: Mwahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
See you all next chapter till then!