Author's note: Wow! Chapter 12! There should be two more chapters after this to finish the story and I will endeavor to get them done as soon as possible, but I start a new job tomorrow and that will seriously cut into my writing time. However, I promise I will finish this story soon, so stay tuned!
Racing through the corridor, Kaoru's heart beat a pattern against her chest wall as the heat of battle hummed and sang in her blood. Her head ached with the effort of keeping her three zephyrs corporal, but they were so far doing an excellent job of scouting for her: one racing ahead to look for an escape route and the other two front and back to keep an eye out for enemies. Panting, Kaoru thought fleetingly of what two months of Hiko's edict against her sword training had done to her endurance, aware that she shouldn't be breathing hard quite this quickly.
Remembering why she had been out of training, Kaoru placed a hand on her stomach, feeling the roundness through her hakama. Sorry about this little one, she thought. Don't worry, Mommy has everything under control and Daddy is coming to rescue us. Everything is alright. Just be calm and don't worry. Clenching the bokken with her other hand, Kaoru narrowed her eyes. It's not just my life but my baby's as well, I have to fight with all my strength, she told herself firmly. She could feel the baby's chi, but it was hard to pinpoint what exactly she was sensing. If anything, there was a strange awareness and purposefulness about it, and Kaoru was struck with an odd feeling that the baby was tapping into her own chi, feeding energy into it. She felt stronger, more alive, more courageous, and mother instinct rose up in her, the roar of a lioness determined to protect her cub at all cost.
As Kaoru charged forward, feeling her way through the ripple of chi growing stronger in her belly, she gasped in shock and delight as another wave of chi, powerful and hot and intimately familiar, captured her senses. "Kenshin!" she exclaimed, pausing for a second to gladly snatch the energy into her being, feeling it fill her. A zephyr stopped, puzzled, and Kaoru laughed in joy, "He's here! Kenshin's here! We have to go to him!" Latching onto the Soul Bond, Kaoru pinpointed Kenshin's location. He was moving fast, but she had a lock on him and eagerly launched herself forward, calling her zephyrs to her side.
So great was Kaoru's happiness that she forgot momentarily that she was in enemy territory and needed to be on guard for she soon blundered around a corner almost into the arms of two guards. "Hey!" they snarled in surprise, hands going for their katanas. Instinct snapped in place and Kaoru launched herself forward, feeling well-honed reflexes and long hours of training take over. Whump! Whump! The two guards hit the ground, knocked senseless, and Kaoru was already charging forward without pausing for breath. Remembering her zephyrs, she snapped out commands, sending two of them ahead and one of them behind to scout out for more guards.
Through the Soul Bond, Kaoru could feel Kenshin become aware of her too and suddenly waver, torn between a determination to keep pressing forward and an overwhelming desire to abandon his path and go to her. I'm okay! Keep going! she desperately tried to telegraph at him. I'll catch up to you, don't stop! You've got to defeat Shishio or none of us are getting out of here alive! Kaoru felt the waver continue and was also suddenly aware that there was a strange taint to Kenshin's chi, something dark and malevolent clinging to it. Recalling his words of four months ago, the calm, sorrowful confession of who he had been long ago, she pushed back, Fight it! You're not that person anymore! The baby and I need you to stay true to your vow. Keep fighting! I'm almost there!
A warning hum in her brain alerted her that there were more guards up ahead, and Kaoru quickly ducked down a side hall. Kenshin was far away and moving quickly, but she could easily track his steps. Don't stop, she chided herself. Keep going!
Kenshin, Aoshi, and Saito paused on the threshold of the door, taking in the enormous, high-ceiling room with battle-narrowed eyes. A snap of black cloth fluttered and a strange, bat-like figure appeared in front of them. "I am Henya Kariwa," it said in a reedy, creaking voice. "The only flighted member of the Juppongatana. Who wishes to pit himself against me and my bombs?"
Aoshi stepped forward, drawing his sword. "An inferior Fire Master with no weapons aside from bombs against a Water Master who is Okashira of the Oniwaban," he said coldly. "Bombs are useless when wet. You are going to die."
Henya unfurled his wings and flew upwards, landing on a jutting buttress. Levelly, Aoshi said to the other two men, "I need no assistance here. Battousai, Shishio is further ahead. You should find him so that you may rescue your wife. Saito, there will be other challengers ahead. The Battousai cannot be expected to handle them all himself."
"I don't intend for him to have all the fun," Saito sneered, lighting a fresh cigarette. Turning to Kenshin, he said, "Shall we?"
Nodding, Kenshin left the room, moving forward quickly.
Another room, another challenger, this time one so steeped in evil that the room itself seemed several degrees colder than the passageway outside. Inside was a seated warrior, clothed in a robe decorated with embroidered eyes along the hem. A bandage, also similarly decorated, covered his eyes. "Hmm," he said in a voice which rang of ice in every syllable. "Two of you? Which one wants to die first?"
"Don't flatter yourself," Kenshin responded, reaching for his katana but he was stopped by Saito's upraised hand blocking his path.
"I'll handle this one, Battousai," the wolf of Mibu stated and stepped forward to intercept the warrior, but their attention was momentarily diverted as Sano came galloping up to Kenshin's side.
"Whew! You guys are a little tough to catch up with, but I made it! Hope you haven't divvied up all the bad guys by now." Sano was bruised and bleeding but on his feet, grinning.
"Oh goodie, the calvary's here," Saito rumbled sarcastically, "Why don't you two run ahead? I'll be along shortly."
"Brave words to say in front of Uonuma Usui," the man pronounced smoothly.
"No, not brave, simply truthful," Saito said, unsheathing his blade and dropping into the First Stance of his Gatotsu as a wicked smile crept up on his face.
Running on adrenaline and hope, Kaoru charged forward, the Soul Bond tracking Kenshin's movements. She knew that the gap between them was starting to lessen and she was closer to intercepting him. He had decided to press forward, resisting the urge to abandon the quest and rush to her side, and she was glad for it. The tickle of chi in her belly kept feeding her own, giving her new strength and courage. Troll doll down, two guards down, and a clear road ahead, she thought. I've just got to keep going until I catch up with Kenshin!
The zephyr scouts kept racing ahead, and their thoughts bounced around inside her mind, giving her warnings as she cut through rooms, avoided hallways, and hid at times to avoid oncoming guards. However, the seemingly endless hallways were overall rather sparsely populated, and Kaoru was not encountering much resistance as she raced towards Kenshin. Just as she was beginning to feel a trickle of relief, suddenly all three zephyrs began clamoring in alarm. Kaoru winced as the bouncing energies in her head increased in speed and volume and three whispering tongues began shrieking in alarm Danger! Turn! Enemy! Master, wait! It was extremely difficult to break down exactly where the threat was coming from but through the chaotic tumble of voices in her head, Kaoru discerned that there was one major threat up ahead and that guards were slowly closing around her from the other hallways. Trapped! she thought frantically.
A third room, this one making Kenshin stop suddenly and gaze at it narrowly. "Kenshin?" Sano panted, "What's wrong?"
"I cannot feel any emotion coming from this room," Kenshin replied slowly. "There is someone in there, but I cannot sense his emotions." Sano grunted and charged at the door, obliterating it with his Futae no Kiwami. The shattered door crumbled to dust, revealing the small, smiling boy who had kidnapped Kaoru.
"Welcome, Mr. Himura and Mr. Sagara," he said, bowing slightly. "I am Sojiro Seta, Mr. Shishio's right-hand man. I will be challenging you today, Mr. Himura, if you would be so kind."
Through the clamor of alarmed zephyrs, Kaoru knew that one attacker was ahead and several guards were behind, all passageways filled. Making her choice, she continued forward, wondering grimly what was awaiting her.
She was soon to find out as she paused on the threshold of a room, staring in shock as another woman met her glance. "There you are!" she said gaily in a high-pitched voice. "I, Kamatari Honjo, have been waiting for you. Took you long enough." Pursing full lips, Kaoru's opponent pouted, "It would have been so much more fun to fight one of those delicious men trying to rescue you, but, well, I suppose I'll just have to settle for the fun of watching you die beneath my scythe." Whipping it up into the air, she twirled an enormous scythe that had a heavy ball and chain attached to it. The entire weapon gained momentum, spinning around the woman in a seemingly impenetrable shield of wood and metal.
Crap! Kaoru thought frantically, hands clenched on her bokken. How do I get through that to her? A zephyr's voice in her ear twittered, Man, not woman! startling Kaoru greatly. Okay, how do I get around the crazy cross-dresser? she rephrased that and realized that she was going to have to figure it out extremely quickly because the woman/man was advancing on her rapidly.
However, the zephyrs had decided independently that their best course of action was simply to launch themselves at the attacker, hissing. They flew forward as Kamatari summoned four of his own zephyrs. Element clashed against element, twirling and snapping in circles, and Kaoru felt her zephyrs' anger and alarm reverberate in her head as Kamatari advanced on her, sending Kaoru leaping and dashing out of the way. I can move faster than him, that big weapon keeps him from moving forward all that fast, she thought quickly, but I can't just simply keep dodging him. He may tire out soon and slip his guard, but I can't rely on that! How do I get through his defenses?
As Kaoru ducked and dodged the advancing volley of razor-sharp blade and heavy ball and chain, something tight and hot churned in her belly and to her complete astonishment, a tiny ball of flame erupted into thin air. It was wavering and effervescent but very much real. Kaoru's zephyrs immediately abandoned their opponents and flew to the flame. Instantly, it expanded, turning into a hot ball of colorful fire that roared upwards and sailed towards Kamatari. The heavy chain passed through it and two of Kamatari's zephyrs raced hissingly towards the new threat, intent on protecting their Master, but nothing could stop the advancing ball of flame. Kamatari gave a high-pitched shriek as it hit him directly in the eyes, burning flesh and blinding him. His scythe chain wavered violently, its rhythm severely disrupted, and the shock of the suddenly off-balance weight sent the man staggering backwards.
Seeing her chance, Kaoru charged forward, bokken at the ready. Her wooden sword made solid contact with Kamatari's exposed knee, and Kaoru felt the bone shattered under her blow. Kamatari screamed again, dropping the heavy weapon as Kaoru rolled out of the way and popped up to her feet. However, it was clearly over; Kamatari was writhing on the floor screaming and tearing at his eyes as one leg lay limp and useless.
"Let's go!" she screamed to the ball of fire but it was flickering and diminishing; within a moment or two, it had disappeared, leaving only three zephyrs behind. They flew to Kaoru, and she sent one out in the hallway. It quickly telegraphed back that one hall was clear. Gasping in a lungful of air, Kaoru raced into the hallway. Reaching for the Soul Bond, she pinpointed Kenshin's location and urged her tired legs towards it.
The strange boy was defeated; Kenshin had left him wounded and down, but still alive. Using his advanced training, Kenshin had managed to destroy Sojiro's elemental powers, leaving behind one who was now only a Sword Master. Sojiro was unconscious but Kenshin knew that soon he would be on his feet and frantically trying to summon his element to no avail. No more will you do evil with magic, Kenshin thought grimly. His salamanders, crazed with the heat of battle, shimmered around him, hissing and snapping with energy.
Within moments of Kenshin's victory, Aoshi and Saito came running into the room, and the four men stopped briefly for a rest. All of them were injured, Aoshi only lightly so with some burn and blast marks on his skin and clothing. Saito was bleeding from several cuts, and Sano was heavily bruised with one eye swollen almost completely shut. However, the small redhead in their midst had been the most heavily marked by his opponent, and looking at him, Sano rumbled, "Hang on a second, boss, we have to treat your injuries."
Kenshin started to protest, but a quick feel into the Soul Bond told him that Kaoru was alive and currently unthreatened. Tiredness suddenly filled him and he nodded at Sano. "Alright, but one thing first." Swiveling his head, Kenshin turned to the stone-faced Okashira. "Aoshi, I am asking a favor of you. Would you find my wife and bring her to me? I believe that all our enemies are defeated except for Shishio and that I will take on myself. You have defeated your enemy, so will you find Kaoru and escort her to me?"
The stone-faced Oniwaban leader nodded. "For the sake of my woman's friendship with yours, I will do this. You have my word."
"Thank you, Aoshi," Kenshin responded and a salamander shimmered into being. "This will guide you to where she is and the both of you back to me." The salamander was clearly unhappy about being ordered to cooperate with a Water Master but it obeyed, sailing ahead with Aoshi following it quickly.
Sano gave a final tug of the bandages. "Okay, that should hold you for now, Kenshin." Thumping the redhead on the shoulder, he said, "Geez, anyone but you would be in a coma now. Alright, guys, let's go kick Shishio's ass into the next era!"