Kenshin's eyes snapped to Kaoru's pale face. A second ninja had shown himself, his gloved hand wrapped tightly over her lips. "Miss Kaoru!" Her name had hardly passed over his tongue before the wires pulled. His stance gave out and Kenshin plummeted off the roof. He caught and hung, halfway between the earth and the sky.
A roar erupted from the dojo and Sanosuke burst from his room, running straight for the man holding Kaoru. The masked man never had a chance. Sano's fist collided with his forehead and the fool dropped instantly.
Kaoru crossed her arms. "And what took you so long?" she demanded.
The man shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a heavy sleeper."
Yahiko let out a cry as the wires broke and Kenshin hit the earth. The first ninja dropped down and Kenshin rolled to the side, avoiding him. Blood leaked from the five nail pricks in his neck. He brushed at it with his sleeve, only managing to smear it. A burning sensation started around the wounds and he coughed.
Kenshin glared. "It's lye," he whispered.
The masked man laughed. "Not bad, Battosai."
Kenshin crouched and leaped forward. His body vanished in a blur and Kaoru took a nervous step closer.
Sano held her back with one hand. "Don't," he said. "I don't know if he's still Kenshin."
Kaoru felt the blood drain from her face and she looked wildly around, trying to follow the wanderer's motions. Kenshin's speed was rising as were the amount of his strikes.
The stranger lunged, but Kenshin bashed the sword's kashira into his face. The sakabato spun. The blunt edge smashed into the man, who went flying. Sano cussed as the man's body bashed into the nearest tree and sprawled out in the dirt. The boys ran to his side, Sano pinning him down with one massive hand. Kaoru ran to Kenshin.
The small man knelt, holding his sleeve against his neck. She could easily see the dark stains seeping through it.
Sano had the man in a head lock and shook him. "Who the heck are you? What do you want?" he hollered.
A dart shot through the darkness, splitting open the skin on Sanosuke's hand. His captive broke free of his grip, hopped over the fence, and disappeared. The second one followed.
Yahiko crossed his arms. "Cowards."
Kaoru sat in the earth beside her rurouni. His head was bowed, his bangs shading his face. "Kenshin?"
He panted a bit, swallowed, and met her unsure eyes. His own softened, and he smiled upon seeing her face. "Miss Kaoru."
Too late. She'd seen his darkened, murderous eyes.