.

.

The clap of a prayer stick.

She is in the great hall.

The shadows
the droning humming prayers of the shamans
the half-dead daimyo
the haughty priestess -

Outside is
Chaos
Carnage

Here there is
Restraint

And this time she is standing with them
Silent
staring out from the shadows.

Mortal men are approaching -

mortal
weak
ephemeral
Shadows

At the far end of the hall, the shadow-men find their places and bow.

The daimyo turns to look at her.

She bestows her regard upon him.

Half-dead old human.
His soul wheezing;
its breath is cold.

He speaks to her.

The shadow-men kneel,
waiting.

His skull smiles its death grin
And he tells her,

"I knew you would return."

.

"Missy! Hey, Missy!"

Kaoru startled, turned her head, nearly stumbled over a root in their path. "What?"

"Aren't you supposed to be leading us? You hardly look awake. This damn cart is heavy enough without us carrying you if you pass out."

Kauro realized she was confronted by the same ruffian the priestess had spoken harsh words to. It had probably served him right. It was bad enough they were striking out alone, with the battle behind them, possibly destroying everything they had known. Bad enough, traveling through dangerous country, miserable weather, with winter approaching. They were all frightened. Why did this man have to make it worse?

"Look, Sir-"

The young man laughed bitterly and sneered his reply. "Sir nothing, your ladyship. The name Sanosuke is rich enough for me."

"Look, Sanosuke, we've got a long road ahead of us. Why don't you just worry about your end of this caravan and I'll worry about mine? Nobody's going to pass out." At least she really hoped so.

He grimaced at her. "Whatever you say, Ladyship."

"And it's Kaoru, just Kaoru."

He huffed, but then turned his focus back to his corner of the cart, helping to push it over rocks and through the mud, muttering to himself.

Kaoru glared at him a moment for good measure, then glanced at the other members of the party to see what they made of the exchange. The old woman sitting on top of the cart seemed to be smirking. The little girl, her granddaughter, was asleep. The other young man pushing the cart was watching Sanosuke. Other than that, no one else appeared to have paid attention. Naturally, they all had heavier things on their minds. What was Sanosuke's problem, anyway? So she'd been distracted. Kaoru couldn't even remember what her thoughts had been - just something about the villa, something about the attack.

Naturally she felt tired and cold, just like everyone else.

She was leaving behind the only person she'd ever felt she'd known, and the future before her was just as dark and uncertain as it had ever been.

Kaoru refused to dwell on what might happen, what might have already happened - she just hoped Kenshin would catch up with them soon.

.

.

Kenshin was racing toward the manor, where the battle had descended, where the battle was consuming and destroying everything it touched.

Are you thinking to take her from me again?

Suddenly he stopped and spun around. He thought he'd heard something, but he could see no one. Misty, drizzly rain and fog made some of the distant hills difficult to discern.

But something in the corner of his eye - Kenshin turned and gripped his sword before he understood what he saw. A samurai approaching. The man must have been hiding among the fallen.

Something about his stance - for a moment Kenshin was certain... but that was impossible. Kenshin felt himself weakening. He must be losing too much blood. He shook his head to clear it and crouched low, gathering his strength, prepared to run forward, prepared to draw his sword and strike.

Kenshin squinted to make out the face of the approaching samurai, but even when the man stopped, standing tall, his face seemed to be veiled by shadow. Then he spoke, and his voice shuddered through the rain like an echo.

"Kenshin," Akira addressed him. He bowed in a courtly greeting. Kenshin froze.

"I should hate you, Kohai, but I don't. I don't begrudge you all you have been given, even what should have been mine." Smiling. That same easy smile in his voice. "In fact, I thank you for your service."

He spoke lightly, as he always had, and Kenshin almost choked with sudden emotion. He felt like a boy again. He wanted to approach his sempai, his older brother, wanted to touch his face, wanted to shout at his betrayal, wanted to punch him.

But then Akira lost his gentle manner. He shook his head in warning, bent his knees, and readied his sword for the strike.

"For abandoning us," he spoke in the formal tongue, "for taking her away, for the dishonor you bring, I must fight you."

You're a ghost, Kenshin remembered in protest, but then Akira was sprinting toward him and Kenshin shouted and leapt forward in response and the crash of steel on steel was as solid as anything Kenshin had ever known.

.