Kaoru gasped and sat up in the dark. Her hand snatched up her bokken and she flew from her futon. The sound of wood cracking met her ears as she pried open the door. Kenshin landed in the dust several yards away. He dropped to one knee and brushed his hand along the sakabato's hilt.
His hand touched the guard, about to unsheathe, when his feet jerked out from under him. Kaoru screamed, "Kenshin!"
The red head jumped several feet in the air and hung suspended by his right ankle and left wrist. Kaoru ran for him. The sakabato leaped from its sheath and spun through the air, but was jolted. Kenshin was tossed, his body hitting the ground with a harsh smack. Kaoru was at his side in seconds. Metal wires had been hooked around his limbs like a puppet. He started to stand, only to have his feet ripped out from under him once more.
Kaoru followed the wires' trail. Their origin was perched on the roof. A man crouched there, yanking the wires as though they were nothing. She watched as Kenshin replaced the sakabato into its sheath and grabbed hold of his bindings. He jumped through the air, yanking the wires down. The blunt blade ripped from its sheath and arched for his assailant. The shadow ducked and the metal swiped through the night air.
Yahiko ran outside and stared at the spectacle. "Who the heck…?"
The sakabato rebounded, and the specter blocked with his arms. The metal clanked against steel gauntlets. The stranger lashed out, narrowly missing Kenshin's face with what appeared to be claws. The red head sprang back, but his attacker followed.
The sword bashed against the man repeatedly, but the gauntlets took the hits. The wires yanked again and Kenshin had to steady himself. Kaoru bit her lip as the masked man sprang forward and clawed for Kenshin's throat. The sakabato caught the hand between the fingers and twisted it away. Kenshin launched himself after the man. The sword whirled and struck him square in the chest.
The dark garbed person stumbled. Then he was gone.
Kenshin stared. Kaoru swallowed.
The ninja materialized behind him suddenly, his foot sailing toward Kenshin's head. The red head turned, grabbed the man's foot, and flipped him.
Kaoru's breath caught. The ninja had grabbed her rurouni round the neck. The small man's mouth popped open, gasping as the claws dug into his flesh. Red spurted across Kaoru's vision and she screamed.
Yahiko was yelling too, but she couldn't hear him.
Kenshin's hand grappled against the other's, gripping his fingers. Kaoru saw them snap.
The wanderer's foot flew upward, kicking the other in the face, and the stranger released him. The red head's movements blurred then. Kaoru could hardly see him as he zigzagged over the roof tiles. The ninja went flying as the sakabato smashed into him.
A hand closed over Kaoru's mouth and the tip of a blade pinched the flesh over her spine.