Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin Characters. I do own Nori, and Tomi Samuru and the two children.

'Thoughts'

"Dialogs"

(A/N: Please read your reviews keep me alive.) :'-(

Chapter 2: A Look in the Mirror

By InuShemeeko

Nori brought her right hand up to her mouth to wipe the blood away from it. She watched Tomi stagger to his feet her last attack had only knocked him to his knees.

"Very good, Hiromasa and here I thought that you had lost you touch."

Nori's right hand went up to her left shoulder. As she brought her hand back down she caught the sight of blood on her fingers.

'Damn that first attack of his caught me this isn't good. If I don't figure something out soon he will kill me.'

"I still can't help but wonder Hiromasa. What will it take to set the Tiger free again?"

Nori's Reversed Blade Sword clanged against Samuru's sword as she block his attack. Both fighter slide backwards from the impact as sword met sword once again. Images of the past flashed through her head. She remembered a duel like this once before, during the Sengoku Era, but it had no ending for the battle had never truly ended. Tomi Samuru had been on his last knee she had almost killed him. But he had vanished as quick as he had appeared. The sound of cloth tearing brought her back to the present time.

Her blade had caught the front of Tomi's gi and tore it open. A deep menacing laugh escaped from Samuru.

"You see the Tiger is already trying to claw its way out of the cage. But I believe I know the way to open the door."

Nori green eyes narrowed as she stared over at Tomi.

"I have no idea what you are talking about that I am sure of."

Tomi's steel blue eyes seemed to burn right through her.

"Oh but Hiromasa-san I believe you do."

Samuru straighten and took to small steps toward Nori. He then leaned in close to her, and whispered something into her ear.

"For you see Hiromasa I know how much those children mean to you. It would be a shame if something were to happen to them."

"Tome'o come here!"

A very heavy man stomped into the clearing. He was wielding a very large axe and he did not look happy.

"For you see Hiromasa I am never alone."

Nori stared over at the man holding the ax. She waited for him to attack he never did. The man called Tome'o held no emotion in his eyes they seemed to be almost lifeless. Tomi Samuru took this moment to give the man a direct order.

"Tome'o go and find the two children. Once found kill them. Then Hiromasa you will then die next."

"Nooooo!"

Nori charged after Tome'o she slid to a stop in front of him.

"I can not allow you to go. That I surly can not."

Tome'o swung his large axe through the air. Nori jumped out of the way just as the ax came down to the ground splitting it in half.

Kaoru glanced up at Kenshin as he picked up the unconscious boy, as well as the little girl for she refused to release her brother's shirt. Kenshin and Kaoru eyes held as they felt the ground tremble beneath them.

"Kenshin, did you feel that?"

"Yes, that I did Ms. Kaoru."

"You don't think it was an earthquake do you?"

"No, Ms. Kaoru I do not. None of this feels right."

The impact from the axe hitting the ground knocked Nori off her feet. The ax wielder headed off in the direction that both Akira and Kyoko had headed in. Nori's whole body was racked in pain but she was not about to give into it. Once she found her voice she shouted after Tome'o.

"Tome'o do you find pleasure in killing the innocence? If you take one more step into that path I will be forced to end your life."

All Tome'o did was laugh at her.

"You want me to be afraid of a little man-woman like you. Yes if you must know I enjoy hearing children scream as they are about to die"

Once those words slipped from Tome'o mouth something seemed to snap inside of Nori. Her green eyes lost their brightness and became a cool chilling violet. Tome'o took a step away from Nori as he saw this change come over her. He gasped as he listened to the words falling from Hiromasa Nori's mouth. For she sounded more like a man and Tome'o did not scared easily but this swordsman was unlike any other he had fought before. He blood ran cold as a thought ran though his mind, He was sure that either this was the Tiger in front of him or some how the Battousai had found him.

"Then I promise you that you will never have that joy again. For if you move another step I will kill you."

Tomi Samuru watched from the shadows a wicked smiled etched itself across his lips.

'She will kill him soon and when she does she will never be able to wander again.'

Nori's thoughts drifted to Akira and Kyoko. She had to keep this man from going after them. They were all she had left to keep her in this world with out them she had nothing.

Tome'o swung his ax through the air twice creating a huge whirlwind. Nori took advantage of this, using her speed and agility she slid to the left of him.

"Hey, over here!"

Tome'o stumbled in surprise, however he still managed to hold on to his axe. He then sifted his weight so he could swing his axe again. Nori slid under him just missing his attack. The blade of the axe unfortunately grazed the top of Nori's right shoulder. Blood quickly soaked through the blue fabric. This only made it harder for Nori to attack him back for now both of her shoulders were wounded. However her left one was not injured as bad as her right.

Just as Tome'o went to go turn and swing at her again. Nori notice that for three seconds that he was unsteady at the moments he was turning to swing. She took full advantage of this and attacked him in mid-turn.

"Tora Genkido Sen!"

Nori's feet landed on a large rock, to where she then propelled herself into the air to attack Tome'o. Her reversed blade sword was held tightly in her left hand. The blade of the sword caught Tome'o under the chin, forcing him backwards toward the ground. Nori landed gently to the ground in front of where Tome'o lay. She glanced his way once before heading on her way down the path Akira and Kyoko had taken.

Tomi Samuru slowly stepped out of the shadows and walked toward Tome'o. He then kicked Tome'o's foot.

"You idiot get up and go after her."

All Tome'o could do was shake his head as he pulled his heavy body from the ground. His voice was gone for the moment. The imprint of Nori's bade was still on his neck. Tome'o headed off after Nori. Samuru then called after him.

"Oh and Tome'o this time I WANT you to KILL her understand."

Tome'o nodded and headed on his way again.

Akira slowly started to wake up. He heard voices all around him none of them sounded familiar to him.

"It would appear that the young man is know starting to wake up. That he is."

Flashes of the battle between Nori and the strange man flashed inside his brain. Causing him to sit up quickly nearly knocking into his sister.

"Akira, you scared me. Please don't do that again."

Akira then rushed toward the dojo doors. He looked back over his shoulder at Kaoru and Kenshin who just looked at him with baffled looks on their faces.

"Thanks for all your help."

Sanosuke caught him at the door.

"Hey kid, where are you going in such a hurry?"

Akira squirmed for a minute and then started to yell at Sanosuke.

"Hey, you big rooster head let me go! I have to go help our guardian who is being attacked."

Sanosuke let him dropped to the ground. Kenshin's eyes widened as he remembered the strange clouds as well as how the ground had shook minutes ago. Kenshin looked down at the Akira and Akira looked back at him.

"Please sir, someone has to help her if you don't I think he might kill her. She's all we have left, please."

Akira quickly started to wipe the tears from his eyes. He did not wish to appear weak in front of the kind man. Just as Kenshin and Sanosuke headed toward the doors, they opened to reveal a figure standing in the doorway. The person's face was pointed down letting their bangs fall over their eyes. Sanosuke gasped as he looked at the person standing in the doorway to the dojo.

"Kenshin, this guy looks just like you."

Kenshin would have to say that he would have to agree with Sano. This man was the same height as him. He was also dressed in a blue gi much like the one Kenshin had. The more Kenshin stared at this person the more he felt as if he were staring in a mirror and was looking at himself. Kenshin happened to glance down at the swords on each side of the man's waist.

Kaoru looked down at both of the children who had showed up at the Kamiya dojo that afternoon. From the looks on their faces they knew this man yet they did not move.

As a strong gust of wind blew through the dojo, Kenshin then picked up a very familiar smell the coopery smell of blood. Sanosuke then looked down and saw a puddle forming underneath the man's right hand.

Just as Kenshin and Sano headed toward the man he held up his hand and stopped them.

"Don't move."

Kenshin then saw a huge axe come toward him. Both Sano and Kenshin stared at the heavy man as he swung his axe again. They watched in disbelief as the strange man dodged the axe again. Blood was running into Nori right eye making it hard for her to see. Her eyes then caught Tome'o looking away from her and toward the children and a young woman. Kenshin soon realized the danger and his eyes fell toward Kaoru and the two children.

"Miss Kaoru!"

Kenshin didn't even get a chance to move. The wounded stranger slid in front of the two children and Miss Kaoru. The stranger quickly pulled both of his swords out, forming an x as he stayed off the attack. Sparks flew as the axe landed on both swords. Kenshin and Sano watch as the man with the axe slid backwards as his attack was blocked.

The anger that had been on Tome'o face melted at once as he caught the sound of Nori's voice.

"Didn't I warn you earlier? That if you tried to harm them that I would kill you."

That's when Kenshin caught the looked in the stranger's eyes. He knew what it was because he had been there many times himself. Nori then slid away from Kaoru and the children. Both Kenshin and Sanosuke rushed to their sides.

"Are you alright Miss Kaoru?"

"Yes, I'm fine Kenshin."

Kaoru looked down as the little girl covered her face in her kimono. Akira just stared forward his eyes never leaving the battle.

Nori managed to block his attack one more time. This time however a white light sprung from the blades as she used her swords to catch he's wrist. There was a cracking sound as Tome'o dropped his axe. His eyes widened as he stared at his wrist.

"My……My wrist you broke my wrist!"

Nori flexed her Japanese sword in her right hand. Pain shot from her shoulder as she did so.

"Would you prefer that I remove it from your arm?"

Tome'o eyes widened as he started to move limply toward the door, his axe forgotten on the ground. He was able to four steps as he watched Nori place her Japanese sword into its sheath. Nori then ran like lightening toward him, her reversed blade sword ready to strike.

"I do not believe that you are welcome here. That I am sure."

"Tora Toushi!"

Nori sword caught him in the throat once more. Throwing him off again, She then stuck him one last time.

"Tora Jihi Sen!"

This last attacked knocked Tome'o to the ground. The force of the attack made him slid the rest of the way out of the dojo. Nori sheathed her reversed blade sword and then painfully reached out to pull the doors closed her blood staining the handles.

Nori shining green eyes looked from Kenshin to Kaoru and then to Akira and Kyoko. She then gave a small smile.

"I want to thank you for taking care of them."

Without warning Nori then fainted and collapsed to the ground. Akira then found himself running toward her screaming.

"Aunt Nori, Aunt Nori!"

Both Sanosuke and Kenshin were surprised at what they heard the boy screaming. Kenshin and Sano both ran to where Akira sat crying as he held Nori's hand. Kenshin came and smiled at the boy.

"She has lost a lot of blood that she has. But I believe she will be ok."

(A/N: That's it for now you all come back you hear.

Tora Genkido Sen - Tiger Rage Sword, Tora Toushi- Tiger Fighting Spirit, Tora Jihi Sen- Tiger Mercy Sword.

Ja ne!

Tainted InuShemeeko)